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.

N. Tusculanensi Episcopo, Apostolicae sedis Legato. Olim (prout bene memi∣nimus)* 1.1 Venerabilibus fratribus S. Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo, Sanctae Roma∣nae Ecclesiae Cardinali, W. London. E. Elyensi, E. Herefordensi, & H. Lincolniensi E∣piscopis, nostris dedimus Literis in mandatis, ut viros Eeclesiasticos qui Cha∣rissimo in Christo filio I. Regi Angliae Illustri, tunc excommunica∣tionis vinculo innodato, Ministerium, consilium vel auxilium praesti∣terunt, in hiis quae sunt contra Justitiam et libertatem Ecclesiasti∣cam attemptata: Illos quoque qui ab eodem Rege post excommu∣nicationem, vel ab aliis excommunicatis scienter per collationem vel praesentationem Ecclesiastica beneficia sunt adepti, et similiter eos qui ob causas excommunicati praedictas, excommunicationis suae tempore beneficia contulere, similiter Clericos et viros Religiosos qui publice communicaverunt praefato Regi, et aliis exc••ommunica∣tis Authoritate Apostolica nominatim in Casibus non concessis, ab

officiis et beneficiis Ecclesiasticis suspenderent, donec se Apostolicae conspectui praesentarent, cum suarum testimonio literarum plenam et meram continentium veritatem. Illis duntaxat exceptis qui per satisfactionem condignam ad mandatum Ecclesiae redierunt. (This was the first sentence denounced against them, which because it now seemed too severe and burdensome, was thus qualified.) Quia vero divina gratia inspirante idem Rex ad mandatum Ecclesiae rediit, propter quod ejus meruit gratiam & favo∣rem, et nimis onerosum esset ac durum ut tanta Clericorum multi∣tudo, praesertim cum quidam illorum minus, quidam vero gravius in praemissis deliquisse noscantur, ad nostram praesentiam elaboret. Man∣damus quatenus cum eis quos minus excessisse constiterit, mi∣sericorditer agas, prout pensatis undique circumstantiis videris expedire.

How mercifully these Ecclesiastical persons were dealt with for their Loyalty to the King, is evident by the * 1.2 fore-mentioned proceedings against the White Monks, but especially against Alexander Cementarius, (enforced to beg his bread) who had many other fellow sufferers in a very high degree, instead of being advanced, re∣warded, or at least indempnified, for their fidelity to their Soveraign.

* 1.3 Illis diebus, per praedictum Legatum depositus est Radulphus de Arundel, Abbas Westmonasteriensis in crastino Sancti Vincentii per N. Abbatem de Wastham, missum ex parte Legati; fracto ipsius sigillo in capitulo. Cujus loco substitutus est Williel∣mum de Humes; Prior Frontoniae Monachus Cadonensis; by this Legates usurped power, who plaid the part of a Pope as well as King in England.

The turbulent, trayterous Archbishop after the Interdict released, out of malice and discontent, stirred up the Barons to a new insurrection against the King about their Liberties, the ground-work whereof he had laid the year before; in pursuance of which, * 1.4 Convenerunt ad colloquium apud Sanctum Edmundum Comites & Barones Angliae, quasi orationis gratia, licet in causa aliud fuisset. Nam cum diu & secretius tractare coepissent, producta est in medium Charta quaedam Henrici Regis primi, quam iidem Barones à Stephano Archiepiscopo (ut praedictum est) in Urbe Londoniarum acceperant. Continebat autem ••harta quasdam Libertates, & Leges Regis Edwardi Sancti, Ecclesiae Anglicanae pariter & Magnatibus Regni concessas, ex∣ceptis quibusdam Libertatibus quas idem Rex de suo adjecit. Itaque convenerunt Ʋni∣versi ad Ecclesiam Sancti Edmundi, & incipientibus Majoribus, juraverunt super majus altare, quod si Rex Leges et Libertates jam dictas concedere diffu∣geret, ipsi ei guerram tam diu moverent et ab ejus fidelitate se sub∣traherent, donec eis per Chartam sigillo suo munitam confirmaret omnia quae petebant. Atque in hoc tandem, communiter consense∣runt, ut post natale Domini simul omnes ad Regem venientes, Li∣bertates praescriptas sibi peterent confirmari. Atque interim in equis sibi et Armis taliter providerent quod si forte Rex a proprio vellet juramento, quod bene credebant, resilire propter suam dupli∣citatem, ipsi protinus per captionem Castrorum suorum, eum ad satisfactionem compellerent. Et his ita gestis unusquisque ad propria remeavit.

* 1.5 After the Nativity, Anno 1215. they all coming to the King, demanded the* 1.6 confirmation of this Charter, who craved time to advise thereon till after Easter, being a great and difficult matter, highly concerning both himself and his Crown; the Archbishop and two more becoming his sureties, that then he should give satis∣faction to all of them. The Barons against the time, rather preparing themselves for a Battle, then Conference with the King, assembled together at Stamford, with an Army inestimable for number, having Archbishop Stephen their principal A∣bettor and Conspirer, who yet seemed to side with the King, and was most assiduous about him: The Barons marching as far as Brackly, the King sent the Archbishop to treat with them, who brought back a Schedule of their claimed Liberties, with this Message; That if he presently confirmed them not to them by his Charter, they would force him to it, by seising all his Castles and Possessions. Whereupon the King replyed,

Why do they not also demand the Kingdom; swearing never to enslave himself to such a concession? The Archbishop returning with this peremptory answer, the Barons forthwith seized Bedford Castle, and were admitted into London, the Citizens siding with them: whereupon the King appointed to treat with them at Running-meed, whither the Barons came with armed multitudes from all parts of the Realm; where after some parly, the King granted them their utmost desires, not only for their Li∣berties specified in Magna Charta, and Charta Forestae, which he then sealed, and by his Writs commanded to be put in due execution, but also that 25. Peers elect∣ed by them (to whom all were sworn to obey) should force the King to observe these Charters, if ever he receded from them, by seizing all his Castles, * 1.7 Juratum est etiam a parte Regis; Quod Anglicana Ecclesia Libera sit, & quod omnes homines de Regno nostro habeant & teneant omnes Libertates praefatas, jura & consuetudines benè & in pace, liberè & quietè, plenè & integrè, sibi & haeredibus suis, de nobis & haeredibus nostris, in omnibus rebus & locis in perpetuum: Et quod omnia supradicta, bona fide & sine malo ingenio, observabimus. All the Barons and Commons of the Realm then and afterwards taking the same Oath.

The Archbishop and Barons thrust into this new Charter many Articles, Clauses for their own, the Churches, and Popes advantage, not extant in the Charter of King Henry the 1. For whereas the first branch of his Charter runs thus: * 1.8 Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam liberam facio: Ita quod nec eam vendam, nec ad firmam ponam, nec mor∣tuo Archiepiscopo, vel Episcopo, vel Abbate, aliquid accipiam de dominio Ecclesiae, vel de hominibus, donec successor in eam ingrediatur. This clause is thus altered and inlar∣ged in King Johns Charter: * 1.9 In primis concessisse Deo, et hac praesenti Charta nostra confirmasse pro nobis et haeredibus nostris in perpe∣tuum, quod Anglicana Ecclesia libera sit, et habeat jura sua in∣tegra, suas et libertates illaesas, et ita volumus observari, quod ap∣paret ex eo, quod libertatem electionum quae maxima et magis ne∣cessaria reputatur Ecclesiae Anglicanae, mera et spontanea volunta∣te, ante discordiam inter nos et Barones nostros manifeste motam, concessimus, et Charta nostra confirmavimus, et eam obtinuimus a Domino Papa Innocentio Papa tertio, confirmari: quam et nos observabimus, et ab haeredibus nostris in perpetuum bona fide volu∣mus observari. By which Clause the Archbishop and Bishops cunningly obtain∣ed and wrested a new Charter from the King, concerning the freedom of Elections to Bishopricks and Abbies, (never insisted on before) to deprive the King of his antient Right and Prerogative of recommending such as he though fit and faithfull to him and the Kingdom thereunto, as right Patron of them. And whereas no Archbishop, Bishop, Abbot, Clerk, or Religious person could go out of the Realm, or repair to Rome, or to the Pope upon any occasion or Appeal, without the Kings special license first obtained, nor return without it in cases of contempt; they in∣serted this Article into this Charter: * 1.10 Liceat unicuique de caetero exire de Regno nostro, et redire salvo et secure per terram et per aquam, salva fide nostra; nisi in tempore guerrae per aliquod breve tempus, propter communem utilitatem Regni; exceptis Imprisonatis et Utlagatis, secundum Legem Regni, et gente contra nos guerrina et Mercatoribus. By which they obtained liberty to depart the Realm, and re∣pair to the Pope or Court of Rome, to all foreign Monasteries, Councils, and to re∣turn again freely at their pleasure, to the great prejudice of the King, Kingdom, and enlargement of the Popes usurped power and encroachments on the Crown. They likewise inserted for the Clergies advantage: * 1.11 Nulla Ecclesiastica persona amercie∣tur secundum quantitatem beneficii sui, sed secundum Laicum tenementum suum, (of which they had seldome any) & secundum quantitatem delicti. Moreover the Arch∣bishop and Clergy would not be satisfied with this Great Charter, thus ratified and sworn unto by the King, without another special Charter to themselves con∣cerning the freedom of Elections, which the King himself must not only confirm and seal, but the Pope too: * 1.12 Concessit insuper eodem Anno Rex Johannes, ut pro∣nius corda Praelatorum et Magnatum sibi conciliaret, liberas in omnibus Ecclesiae Angliae electiones. Et procuraverunt tam ipse

Rex, quam Magnates et Praelati, ut illa sua similiter hac Charta et concessio, A PAPA CONFIRMARETUR, (an Innovation not for∣merly usual, much advancing, countenancing the Popes usurped power above the Crown, as if his ratification were more valid then the Kings Charter under his Great Seal) unde ad maiorem securitatem, Regalis▪ Charta in Papali con∣firmatione inseritur Bullata. Volens autem Rex Johannes ad maiorem securi∣tatem et robur diuturnitatis haec inviolabiliter observari; (as if the Popes Bull were then more valid and perpetual then his own Charters) misit ad Dominum Papam Innocentium: rogans constanter, ut huic piae concessioni et confirmationi suae favorem dignaretur exhibere, et eandem Bullae munimine confirmare. Quae quia jam factus fuit obsequens Papae vassallus (an honourable Title for a King of England) et Rex Apostolicus, meruit quae petiit citius impetrare sub hac forma.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Charta 16 Jo∣hannis Regis, m. 8. intus.
• * 1.2

  Here, p. 257, 258, 259.
• * 1.3

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 240.
• * 1.4

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 243.
• * 1.5

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 143, 144, to 254. Speeds History, p. 581, 582. Roger de Wendover. Holinshed, Grafton, Da∣niel.
• * 1.6

  Anno 1215.
• * 1.7

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 252.
• * 1.8

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 230, 231.
• * 1.9

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 246.
• * 1.10

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 249.
• * 1.11

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 248.
• * 1.12

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 252, 253.