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.

CArta itaque Regis in scriptum, ut dictum est redacta, tradidit eam Rex Pandulpho Romam Papae Innocentio deferendam, & continuo cunctis videntibus homagium fecit subscriptum. Ego Iohannes Dei gratia Rex Angliae, et Dominus Hyberniae, ab hac hora et in antea fidelis ero Deo et Beato Petro, et Ecclesiae Romanae, et Domino meo Papae Domino Innocentio ejus∣que successoribus Catholice intrantibus. Non ero in facto, in dicto, consensu vel consilio ut vitam perdant vel membra, vel mala captione capiantux. Eorum damnum si scivero impediam, et remanere faci∣am si potero, alioquin eis quam citius potero intimabo, vel tali per∣sonae dicam, quam eis credam pro certo dicturam. Consilium quod mihi crediderint, per se vel per nuncios suos, seu Literas suas secre∣tum tenebo, et ad eorum damnum nulli pandam me sciente. Patri∣monium Beati Petri et specialiter Regnum Angliae, et Regnum Hyberniae, adjutor ero ad tenendum et defendendum contra omnes homines pro posse meo. Sic me adjuvet Deus, et haec Sancta E∣vangelia, Amen.

Acta autem sunt haec, ut praedictum est, in vigilia Dominicae Ascensionis praesentibus Episcopis, Comitibus, & Magratibus supradictis. Pandulphus autem (with most An∣tichristian pride, and intolerable insolency) pecuniam, quam in arram subjectio∣nis Rex contulerat, sub pede suo conculcavit, Archiepiscopo dolente et re∣clamante.

Having thus presented you with a full and faithfull History of King Johns resigna∣tion of his Crown and Kingdoms of England and Ireland, to Pope Innocent and his Successors, the successive Interdicts, Excommunications, Abjudications from the Crown, Treasons of his Prelates, Subjects, Forces of his invading foreign Enemies, unchristian Frauds, unrighteous Policies by which it was effected, and this gallant Kings enforcements to it, against all his former Heroick Oppositions, Resolutions: I shall desire the greatest Votaries to the See of Rome, to resolve these Quaeres.

1. Whether Pope Innocent (who in all his former Epistles, proceedings against

King John, pretended that he sought nothing else or more but King Johns repentance, and reception of Stephen Langhton Archbishop of Canterbury, and greived at no∣thing so much as Englands desolation) did yet by all the premised circumventions, frauds, practises, display to all the world, that the principal thing he sought after, was the very Crown, Kingdoms of England and Ireland, to united them to the See of Rome, as St. Peters pretended Patrimony, though with the Kings and King∣doms great greif and desolation?

2. Whether this Resignation gained, extorted from King John by so many years suc∣cessive unchristian detestable Perjuries, Treasons, Interdicts, Excommunications, Abjudication from the Crown, Hypocrisies, Frauds, Menaces, Lyes, false suggestions by Pope Innocent himself, (who was sole Judge of King John in his own case) and his confederates, and such unjust invasions of the Rights of his Crown, can in point of Justice, Law, Reason, Conscience be reputed a Good, Valid, Legalor equitable Title for him and his successors to claime the Realms of England and Ireland, as part of St. Peters Patrimony, or the rents reserved annually out of them, as a just Papal revenue, admitting King John had a legal power to resign his Kingdomes without the joynt consent of all his Nobility, subjects, Kingdoms, which he had not, as they oft protested both in and out of Parliament?

3. Whether all or many of these abominable, insolent, injurious, Machivilian if not A∣theisticall practises, proceedings against King John, diametrically repugnant to all rules of Christianity, Piety, Justice, moral honesty, and expresse precepts of Christ himself, St. Peter and Paul forecited, proclaim not this Pope Innocent one of the grand∣est Nocents, Hypocrites, Antimonarchs, Impostors, Usurpers, Athiests, Mon∣ster of Impiety, Arrogancy, Covetousness, Ambition, that ever sat in St. Peters pretended chair; and King John the only Innocent and patern of patience, justice, clemency, and unparalleld humility, farre below his Royal dignity, and the place, person, and pub∣lick trust he then sustained, notwithstanding our Monkish Historians defamations of him?

4. Whether the serious consideration of these proceedings of Innocent, seconded with those succeeding them, were not of themselves a sufficient ground for the King and Kingdoms of England and Ireland, without any guilt of Scisme or Injustice, for ever to exterminate the Usurped Antimonarchical Usurpations, and forraign jurisdiction of the Bishops and See of Rome, and to hold no future communion with them, to prevent the like attempts? especially when so magnified, justified by our Mon∣kish Historians in that age, by late Popish Parasites of all sorts, and most succeding Popes, who still make fresh successive claimes to the Crown, King∣doms of England and Ireland, and the annual rent then reserved out of them as St. Peters undoubted Patrimony. But more of this in due place.

Pope Innocent and Pandulphus having thus cheated, decoyed King John of his Crown, Kingdoms, yea all his Regal Honour, Glory, Wisdom, Magnanimity and Renown acquired by his former oppositions against them; and the King of France (their mear stalking horse to gain this rich booty, to his vast and frutlesse expence) of his elevated hopes to possesse and enjoy it by the Popes donation, his next designe was, how to take off and pacify the French King from his intended invasions; and so sent the Archbishop and his confederates into England, there to insult over and trample upon King John, as they had done abrode; wherein he thus proceeded.

Notes

• Mat. Paris, Hist. Angliae p. 227, 228.
• How this came to be St. Peters Patrimony, a∣gainst his ex∣presse precept, 1 Pet. 2. 13, to 18. c. 5. 2, 3, 4. I cannot define.
• Book. 1. Chap. 4. 5.