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.

EOdem Anno surrexit murmuratio non modica a Magnatibus Angliae, contra Hu∣bertum* 1.1 de Burgo Justitiarium, qui pacem Regni conati sunt perturbare. Dice∣bant enim ad invicem, quod animum Regis exasperabat contra illos, & quod simili∣ter non aequis legibus Regnum regebat. Accessit praeterea ad majoris odii incenti∣vum, adventus nunciorum Regis, quos Romam miserat, qui Bul∣lam Domini Papae Archiepiscopis Angliae, et eorum Suffraganeis deferebant, quae talem continebat sententiam, videlicet, quod Do∣minus Papa Regem Angliae plenae aetatis adjudicaverat, quod ex tunc negotia Regni idem Rex principaliter cum suorum domestico∣rum consilio ordinaret. Significavit etiam executoribus praeliba∣tis Dominus Papa in Literis supradictis; quatenus authoritate Apostolica denunciarunt Comitibus, Baronibus, Militibus, et aliis uni••ersis, qui custodias habebant Castrorum, honorum et villa∣rum, quae ad Regis dominium spe••tabant, ut continuo visis Literis, Regi illas redderent: Contradictores autem per censuram Ec∣clesiasticam ad satisfactionem compellerent. Unde pars maxima Co∣mitum & Baronum, quorum corda concupiscentia possidebat, hujusmodi praecepta indigne ferens, bellumque suscitare disponens, convenit in unum, & conspiratione absque follibus conflata, supradictas occasiones praetendebat, ut pacem Regni per∣turbaret. Custodias autem jam dictas, per admonitionem Archiepis∣coporum et Episcoporum, Regi reddere supersedit, volens potius arma movere, quam Regi satisfacere de praemissis.

Hereupon, Anno Domini 1224. Rex Henricus ad natale tenuit Curiam suam apud* 1.2 Northamptonam, praesente Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, cum suis Suffraganeis, & mi∣litia magna nimis. Comes vero Cestrensis, cum suis conspiratoribus, apud Leicestri∣am tenuit festum suum; tumens, & minas contra Regem & Justitiarium intendens, pro custodiis Castrorum ac terrarum, quas idem Rex exigebat ab illo. In crastino autem post Missarum solemnia, Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis, cum suis Suffraganeis Episcopis albis induti vestibus, et candelis ac∣censis, excommunicaverunt omnes Regis et Regni perturbatores, et Sanctae Ecclesiae, et rerum Ecclesiasticarum invasores. Deinde idem Archiepiscopus misit solemnes nuncios apud Leicestriam ad Comitem Cestriae et suos complices; firmiter denuntians singulis et universis, quod nisi in crastino resignarent in manus Regis om∣nia Castella et honores ad Coronam spectantia; ipse et omnes Episcopi nominatim excommunicarent illos, sicut a Domino Papa fuerat demandatum. Tunc Comes Cestrensis & ejus complices, cum per explora∣tores edocti fuissent, quod Rex majorem quam ipsi, haberet numerum armatorum, consternati sunt valde: quia si facultas eis suppeteret, in Regem propter Justitiarium potencer arma moverent. Sed cum proprium conspexissent defectum, verebantur dubium certamen mire: et praeterea timuerunt Archiepiscopum et Epis∣copos, ne forte illos excommunicarent, nisi desisterent ab incoeptis. Unde saluberimo usi consilio, venerunt apud Northamptonam ad Regem universi, et a Comite Cestrensi incipientes, reddiderunt sin∣guli Castella et municipia, honores et custodias Regi, quae ad Coro∣nam spectare videbantur.

Thus the Popes Bulls, and Bishops Excommunications, (which here accidentally produced the best effect I read of, for want of power in the Barons to resist the Kings Temporal Sword, Forces, not this Ecclesiastical Thunderbolt) were then made use of in most secular affairs, and not only the Temporal Lords and Commons thereby sub∣jected, enthralled to the Popes and Prelates Jurisdictions, but the King and Kingdom

too, upon meer politick and secular concernments and affairs. The same year, * 1.3 Fal∣catius de Brent seizing upon Henry de Braybroc, one of the Kings Justices Itinerant, for giving Judgement against, and imposing Fines upon him in Assizes of Novel-disseisin, for Lands and houses he had forcibly entred into in Luton, and afterwards carry∣ing him Prisoner to Bedford Castle: The King, Bishops and Barons then sitting in a Parliamentary Council at Northampton, presently went and besieged the Castle, Tunc Archiepiscopus, & Episcopi universi; (after a treble summons and admonition to sur∣render it, withstood) ipsum Falcatium, & omnes qui in Castelli praesidio erant, candelis accensis, excommunicationis mucrone percusserunt: Which Excommunication they slighting and deriding, manfully defended the Castle near 9. weeks space, till taken by force. Falcatius by judgement abjured the Realm for ever, and lost all his goods. After which, Romanam Curiam adiit, qui sciebat eam pro pecunia sibi de facili in quacunque causa propiciandam. Sed machinatio sua non est a Deo permissa, vel a sanctis quibus tot irrogavit injurias, writes Matthew Westminster. Yet Alexander de Savenesby sped better, who was then consecrated Bishop of Chester, Romae a Domino Papa Honorio, die Paschae; no doubt for current money.

King Henry to pacify and gratify the Archbishop (of whose fidelity he formerly had cause to doubt) writ this ensuing Letter to the Pope, to give way for the return of his Brother Simon Langeton, into England, out of which (it seems) he was formerly banished, (as well as * 1.4 excommunicated, and deprived of all his Ecclesiasti∣cal Benifices) for adhering to Lewes and contemning the Popes excommunications.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. Paris, Hist. Angl. p. 306.
• * 1.2

  An. Dom. 1224 Mat. Paris, Ibidem.
• * 1.3

  Mat. Paris Hist. Angl. p. 309, 310. Mat. Westm. Anno 1224. p. 115, 116.
• * 1.4

  Here p. 371. 372.