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.

HONORIUS Episcopus servus servorum Dei. Dilecto filio Nobili viro* 1.1 Hugoni de Lezimaco Comiti Marchiae, & Isabellae Uxori ejus, Pictavens. Dioc. salutem & Apostolicam Benedictionem. Intelleximus ex relatione Venerabilis fra∣tris nostri Pandulphi Episcopi Norwicensis, quod tempore treugae initae, inter charis∣simum in Christo filium nostrum Henricum Regem Anglorum illustrem, ex parte una, & vos ex altera, mediante praedicto Episcopo tunc electo, vos juxta intentionem Episcopi memorati pro vobis & complicibus vestris, mandatis nostris stare iu∣rastis, super hiis pro quibus in personas vestras, et fautorum vestrorum, ac com∣plicum excommunicationis et in terras vestras et ipsorum, Interdicti fue∣rant per Venerabiles fratres nostros, Xantonen. Lemovicen. Episc. & dilectum filium Decanum Burdegaley, sententiae authoritate Apostolica promulgatae pro eo videli∣cet, quod dotem sororis ejusdem tu fili Comes, ea rejecta, reddere contempnebas, & quia Ca∣strum de Campniaco, quo tu filia, priusquam invicem copularemini, spoliaras Regem & fideles ipsius, detinebatis indebite occupatum, & post inhibitionem nostram, ne Regem infestares eundem, Castrum suum Merpisii, tu Comes obsederas & occupaveras vio∣lenter; (all Temporal matters no wayes belonging to his Papal Jurisdiction) Verum quia pati nec volumus nec debemus, ut mandata nostra vel

per alienam eludantur astutiam, vel per proterviam contempnan∣tur, nec vos decet abuti gratia in relaxatione praedictarum sententia∣rum vobis exhibita, cum potius expediat ut vos nostris et Regis ejus∣dem beneplacitis coaptetis, nobilitatem vestram monemus attente per Apostoli∣ca vobis scripta sub debito praestiti juramenti, praecipiendo mandantes, quatenus infra festum Sancti Andreae futurum proximo, dotem et Castra prae∣dicta cum fructibus inde perceptis, et aliis, necnon et Castrum Mer∣pisii praefato Regi, vel cui mandaverit ipse, sublato cujuslibet difficul∣tatis et appellationis objecto, reddatis; de dampnis et injuriis irro∣gatis sibi et ejus fidelibus nihilominus satisfacientes eidem; alio∣quin praedictis Episcopis et Decano nostris damus Literis firmiter in praeceptis, ut vos et Complices vestros, et vestras et ipsorum ter∣ras in pristinas sententias reducentes, ex tunc vos excommunicatos denuncient, et perjuros et sententias ipsas pulsatis campanis, et accensis candelis singulis diebus Dominicis et festivis publicari solempniter faciant, et usque ad satisfactionem condignam inviolabi∣liter observari. Praelatos, quoque ac Clericos, si qui vobis in hac parte faventes, sententias non servaverint memoratas, ad praesenti∣am nostram cum suis testimonialibus Literis suspensos venire com∣pellant. Nos quoque contra vos severius spiritualiter et temporali∣ter procedemus. Dat. Lateran. vij. Kalend. Iulii. Pontificatus nostri Anno sexto.

This Original Bull under seal (with sundry more) I found in the White Tower, with this in the leaden Seal,
Honorius
Papa 3.

Thus did this insolent Pope in meer Temporal affairs cast abroad his Thunder∣bolt of Excommunication with highest arrogance, to terrifie and trample all Kings and Temporal Princes, Nobles, under his Papal feet. What Ecclesiastical censures were then inflicted upon Impost••rs and Blasthemers, this president will inform us.

Hoc Anno comprehensus fuit quidam, paucis diebus ante Concilium celebratum* 1.2 Cantuariae, (mistaken for Oxoniae) a Magistro Stephano Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo, habens in corpore & membris, scilicet in latere, manibus, & pedibus, quinque vulne∣ra Crucifixi, & in dicto Concilio simul cum eo, utriusque sexus, scilicet Hermaphrodi∣tus, ejusdem erroris quo Prior obcaecatus, fuit cum suo complice praesentatus. Su∣per quo convicti, et publice confessi, iudicio Ecclesiae puniti fuerunt. Simili∣ter & quidam Apostata Iudaeus, factus ex Christiano Diaconus; qui similiter est iudicialiter punitus, quem Falco statim arreptum suspendi fecit: by Judge∣ment of the Kings Temporal Court, (not Council) as Bracton informes us. The first imposter who counterfeited himself to be Christ, with two women his followers, counterfeiting themselves to be the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ, and Mary Magdalen, were immured together with him without any victuals, and starved to death, as some relate, and others that they were crucified.

In this Council held at Oxford under Archbishop Stephen, many Constitutions were made, most of them very usefull to reform extortions, abuses, Procurations in Visitations, the taking of any Fees for Letters of Order, Funerals, or admini∣string any Sacrament; as also against Pluralities, Non-residence, aud other abuses of Clergy-men: Only it begins with this extravagant general form of Excommunica∣tion, enchroaching upon the Kings Prerogative and Subjects Liberties in sundry particulars, warranted by no Authority from God the Father, or Blessed Virgin, as it pretends.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. Dom. 1222 6 Hen. 3.
• * 1.2

  An Dom. 1222. Mat. Paris Hist. Angl. p. 304, 305. Mat. Westm. Anno 1222. Walsing∣ham Ypodigma Neustriae, An. 1222. Mat. Parker Antiqu. Eccles. Brit. p. 25. Hen••▪ de Bracton, l. 3. c. 9. f. 123, 124. &c. 23. f. 144. b. Fleta l. 3. c. 1. Polychron. l. 7. c. 34. Holin∣shed, Speed, Stow, Grafton, Anno 6 H. 3.