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.

REX Abbati Sanctae Genovefae, & Conventibus suis, salutem. Cum cognitio* 1.1 omnium Causarum tangentium fundum aliquem, sive res ali∣quas

in Regno nostro, exceptis causis Matrimonialibus, et Testa∣mentariis, seu Decimarum, ad dignitatem et Coronam nostram spectant: Ita quod de eis alibi quam in foro nostro cognosci non debeat, nec consueverit temporibus praedecessorum nostrorum aut nostro; vos rogamus, quatenus causae motae coram vobis auctori∣tate Apostolica inter quosdam Canonicos Eboracensis Ecclesiae super venditione Manerii de Brumford, siti in Regno praedicto, Supersedea∣tis omnino. Alioquin Magistro Nicholao Archidiacono Elyensi et Henrico de Helegeya, vel eorum alteri quem praesentem esse contigerit, damus potestatem appellandi Apostolicam sedem pro nobis in causa praefata. Teste Rege apud Geytinton sexto die Augusti.

King Henry the 3d. having conquered * 1.2 Wales, subdued the Welshmen, and brought them under the Lawes of England, notwithstanding they had put themselves under the Popes protection rendring him an annual Tribute, to defend them against the English; the Welsh Bishops, siding with their Countrymen against the King, had their Bishopricks, Churches so spoyled and destroyed, that they were enforced to beg their bread, and live upon the Alms of others, the Archbishop of St. Davids dying for grief: whereupon a new Bishop was elected by the Kings license, to whose election he gave his royal assent: Exercising the same regal Prerogative in the e∣lection and confirmation of all Bishops in Wales from thenceforth, as he did in Eng∣land, thus registred to posterity.

Arctabatur Wallia eisdem diebus, cessante eorum cultura, commercio, & pecudum* 1.3 custodia Pastorali, & caeperunt consumi inedia, Anglorum & invitilegibus incurvati. Emarcuit antiqua eorum superba nobilitas, & etiam virorum Ecclesiasticorum citha∣ra, conversa & in luctum & lamenta. Obiit ergo quasi prae dolore contabescens, Epis∣copus* 1.4 Menevensis, id est Sancti David. Episcopus vero de Landaff Willielmus, caecita∣te percutitur. Episcopus de Sancto Asaph, & Episcopus de Bangor; destructis Episco∣patibus caede ac incendio, mendicare, ut de alieno viverent, cogebantur. Eodem tempore venit ad Sanctam Albanam Episcopus de Bangor Richardus, ut eidem depauperato sinus pateret misericordiae, & ibidem cum Domino Abbate, donec Episcopatus ejus, qui per bellum destructus erat, aliquantulum restauraretur, habitaret, & ipse cum Clericis suis à pressuris quae circumdederant eos, respiraret.

* 1.5 Vacante igitur sede Menevensi, post innumeras Walliae tribulationes per bellum & Principum eorum mortem, electus est in eundem Episcopatum Magister Thomas, cogno∣mento Wallensis, eo quod in Wallia fuerat oriundus, Lincolniensis Ecclesiae Archidia∣conus; Cui electioni, licet Episcopatus pauperrimus extitisset, consensit, tum propter E∣piscpum* 1.6 Lincolniensem, qui Canonicos suos superaverat, tum propter hoc, quod in na∣tali patria ad curam vocabatur, & ad dulcedinem originis suae quilibet naturaliter attra∣bitur, tum ut miseros compatriotas suos; sua praesentia, consilio et auxilio consolaretur. Cui etiam electioni Dominus Rex gratanter consensit, et electum ac∣ceptavit, non multum constituens super hoc difficultatis, cum exilis fuerit Episcopa∣tus.

King Henry the 3d. having thus presented to the Bishoprick of St. Davids, (as you heard before) the Dean and Chapter of St. Asaph having obtained a License from the King to elect a new Bishop, by their Letters Patents made this observable Pro∣testation and acknowledgement of the Kings antient right to grant a Conge deslier or License upon their request, to elect a Bishop for their See upon every avoidance, be∣fore any election could be made, and to assent to the person elected after his election.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ibid. memb▪ 4▪
• * 1.2

  See here, p. 621, 622, 623.
• * 1.3

  Anno 1247. Mat. Paris Hist. Angl. p. 715, 718.
• * 1.4

  Misera oppres∣sio Walliae.
• * 1.5

  Thomas Wal∣lensis Episcopus Menevensis.
• * 1.6

  Mat. West. An. 1247. p. 228.