The first-[third] tome of an exact chronological vindication and historical demonstration of our British, Roman, Saxon, Danish, Norman, English kings supreme ecclesiastical jurisdiction from the original planting, embracing of Christian religion therein, and reign of Lucius, our first Christian king, till the death of King Richard the First, Anno Domini 1199 ... / by William Prynne, Esq.

Circa hos denique dies, Maugerus Bishop of Worcester one of the Rebellious* 1.1 Bishops dying in exile at Pontiniac (ob libertatem Ecclesiae Anglicanae, & ex∣ecutionem Justitiae write our malicious partial Monks,) Stephanus Archiepisco∣pus Cantuariensis, Willielmus Londinensis, & Elias Eliensis Episcopi Romam pro∣fecti, innuerunt Domino Papae multimodas rebelliones, & enormitates quas fecerat▪ Rex Anglorum Johannes (they should rather have remembred and re∣pented of their own manifold Treasons, and Rebellions against their King) a tempore interdicti usque in presentem diem manus s••vitiae et crudelitatis con∣tra Dominum sanctum{que} Ecclesiam infatigabiliter aggravando. Unde humiliter Domino Papae supplicabant ut Anglicanae Ecclesiae ••am quasi in extremis laboranti dignareturi pie miserationis intuitu subvenire. Tunc Papa gravi maerore propter desolationem regni Angliae confectus, de consilio Cardi∣nalium, Episcoporum, et aliorum virorum prudentium, sen∣tentialiter definivit, ut Rex Anglorum Johannes a solio regni de∣poneretur, et alius Papa procurante, succederet, qui dignior ha∣beretur. Ad hujus quo{que} sententiae executionem scripsit Dominus Papa poten∣tissimo Regi Francorum Phelippo, quatenus in remissionem omnium suorum peccaminum, hunc laborem assumeret, ut Rege Anglorum a solio Regni expulso, ipse et successores sui regnum Angliae jure perpetuo possiderent. Scripsit insuper omnibus Magnatibus, militibus, aliisque bellatoribus per diversas nationes constitu∣tis, ut ad Regis Anglorum dejectionem sese cruce signarent, Regem∣que Francorum in hac expeditione ducem sequentes, vindicare injuriam Universalis Ecclesiae laborarent. Statuit preterea ut qui∣cunque ad expugnandum Regem illum contumacem opus im∣penderint vel auxilium, sicut illi qui sepulchrum Domini visitant, tam in rebus, quam in personis, et animarum suffragiis in pace Ecclesiae securi permaneant. His ita gestis, misit Dominus Papa a latere suo Pandulphum subdiaconum ad partes Gallicanas, cum Archiepiscopo & Epis∣copis supradictis, ut in ipsius presentia, ea quae superius digesta sunt, exequa∣tur. Sed Pandulphus a Papa recedens, remotis omnibus secretissima allocutione sciscitatus est, (of purpose to overreach and trepan both the Kings of England and France, and work his own designs on both) si forte in Rege Anglorum Fructum poenitentiae inveniret it a quod vellet satisfacere Domino, & Ecclesiae Romanae, at{que} aliis omnibus illud negotium spectantibus, quid sibi inde fieri placeret? Tunc Papa Pandulpho quandam pacis formam evidenter expressit, cui si Rex assentire decreverit, apud sedem Apostolicam poterit gratiam invenire. Haec autem pacis forma inferius descripta continetur. Per idem tempus Rex capi fecit Galfridum de Norwic. clericum suum fidelem, prudentem, & elegantem, & in Castro de Nottingham paena excogitata usque mortem torqueri. Quod videns Magister Williemus de Neccoto socius dicti Galfridi, vir non minoris valoris, fugit in Franciam, & apud Curbolium diu latitavit, ne sicut Galfridus immerito necaretur.

These Clerks then secretly confederated with the Bishops to depose the King; who

to secure himself against their confederates by special Writs (issued to all the Sheriffs of England, remaining on Record though not printed in our Historians) banished all those out of the Realm, who had received any Churches, or Rents from the Archbishops or Bishops of England, or Priour of Canterbury then beyond the Seas, who deprived of him his Crown, and to seise their Churches and rents to his use, and return them into his Exchequer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. Dom. 1212. Mat. Paris Hist, Angl. p. 223. Mat. Westm, p. 91, 92.