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.

IN crastino itaque procurante Rege Francorum supervenit Lodovicus ad colloqui∣um,* 1.1 & torvo vultu respiciens Legatum juxta Patrem suum resedit. Quo facto, Legatus multis precibus caepit rogare Lodovicum, ne iret in Ang∣liam ad invadendum, vel occupandum patrimonium Romanae Ec∣clesiae, et patrem ejus, ut prius fecerat, ne ipsum permitteret ire. Rex autem Francorum Legato protinus respondit, dicens; Ego Domino Papae, & Ecclesiae Romanae devotus semper fui, & fidelis, & in omnibus agendis suis negotia sua omnia efficaciter hucus{que} promovi: Sed nec modo per consilium meum, vel auxilium Filius meus Lodovicus contra Romanam Ecclesiam aliquid attentabit. Veruntamen si jus ali∣quod de regno Angliae sibi vendicat, audiatur, & quod justum fuerit, concedatur eidem. Ad haec miles quidam, quem Lodovicus procuratorem suum constituerat, surgens, au∣dientibus cunctis respondit: Domine Rex, res notissima est omnibus, quod Johannes dictus Rex Angliae, pro Arthuri nepotis proditione, quem propriis manibus interemit, in curia vestra, per judicium Parium suorum ad mortem sit condemnatus: ac post∣modum a Baronibus Angliae pro multis homicidiis & enormitatibus aliis, quas ibi∣dem fecerat, ne regnaret super eos reprobatus. Unde Barones contra eum guerram moverunt, ut ipsum a solio regni immutabiliter depellerent. Praeterea Rex saepe dictus, praeter assensum Magnatum suorum, regnum Ang∣liae Domino Papae contulit et Ecclesiae Romanae, ut iterum illud reciperet ab eis tenendum sub annuo tributo mille marcarum. Et si coronam Angliae sine Baronibus alicui dare non potuit, potuit tamen dimittere eam. Quam statim cum resignavit, Rex esse de∣siit, et Regnum sine Rege vacavit. Vacans itaque regnum sine Baronibus ordinari non debuit. Unde Barones elegerunt dominum Lo∣dovicum ratione uxoris suae; cujus mater, Regina scilicet Castellae, sola ex omnibus fratribus & sororibus Regis Angliae vivens fuit. Tunc Legatus proposuit, quod Rex Johannes erat Cruce signatus, unde ex constitutione generalis Concilii pacem habere debuit usque in quatuor Annos, & omnia sub protectione sedis Apostolicae secura permanere: unde medio tempore Lodovicus non debuit guerram dicto Regi mo∣vere, nec eum a regno privare. Ad haec procurator Lodovici respondit: Rex Jo∣hannes ante crucem sumptam guerram moverat Domino Lodovico; & castrum de Buncham obsederat & illud destruxerat, &c. Legatus itaque his rationibus non contentus; prohibuit, sicut prius, sub paena excommunicationis, ne Lodovicus Ang∣liam intrare praesumeret: & patrem ejus, ne ipsum ire permitteret. His audi∣tis, Lodovicus Patri suo dixit: Domine: etsi ego homo vester ligeus sum de feudo quod mihi dedisti in partibus Cismarinis, de regno Angliae ad vos non pertinet statu∣ere quicquam: unde me subjicio judicio Parium meorum, si debetis cogere me ne prosequar jus meum: quia pro haereditate uxoris meae usque ad mortem, si necessi∣tas coegerit, decertabo. Et his dictis Lodovicus cum suis a colloquio recessit: Quod videns Legatus, Rogavit Regem Francorum, ut salvum sibi conductum praeberet usque ad mare. Cui Rex respondit: Per terram nostram propriam conductum li∣benter praestabo; sed si forte incideris in manus Eustachii monachi, vel aliorum hominum Lodovici, qui custodiant semitas maris; non mihi imputes, si quid sinistri tibi contingat. Haec audiens Legatus, iratus a Curia recessit.

By which passages it is apparent, that the King of France, his Son Lewis, and all the Nobility of France, unanimously resolved, with highest indignation and detesta∣tion,

this Charter to be a meer nullity, because made by King John, then no law∣full King, and without the Barons consent, and of dangerous president to all other Kingdoms; thereupon thus slighted the Popes command, and his Legates, not to War upon King John, or invade England, being St. Peters Patrimony. And dare any Pope or other Champion of the Church of Rome, now own or justifie such a universally condemned Charter as this?

12ly. King Henry the 3d. (King Johns heir, and next successor) though much devoted to the Pope and his Legate, as * 1.2 instrumental to Crown and restore him to the actual possession of his Kingdoms, after his Fathers death, not only disclaimed and endeavour∣ed by the assistance of his Chancellor and whole Kingdom, to free himself from the Vassallage of this pretended Rent and Charter, Anno 1231. as you have heard, but in the general Council of Lyons, Anno 1245. (about 31. years next after this grant and Oblation) by his Ambassadors and Advocate, made a special protesta∣tion against it, as a meer Nullity, extorted by War, Force from King John, against the Archbishops protestation, and against the Barons consent; thus related by (a) Matthew Paris, and (b) Matthew Westminster. * 1.3

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. Paris, p. 270. 271.
• * 1.2

  See Mat. Pa∣ris, Mat. West∣minster, Holin∣shed, Daniel, Speed, & others Anno 1 H. 3.
• * 1.3

  a Hist. Angl. p. 639, 646. b Flores Hist. pars 2. p. 193, 195.