England enslaved under popish successors being a true history of the oppressions this nation groaned under in times of popery.

SECT. 16.

16. Soulders have been Mustered and sent to Foreign Wars out of the Realm upon the Popes Commandment; which Case hapned in the time of King Richard the Second, the Pope gathering with∣in this Realm a Band of Souldiers for the Wars of the Holy, La••d, and appointing them for their Captain the Bishop of Nerwich: The Realm generally misliked that their Souldiers should be commit∣ted to the Guidance of an Eccles••astical Person, unacquainted with the Wars and therefore resisted for a while; but at length sudden∣ly yielded upon a superstitious Conceit taken in their Heads.

The Cro••sado's for the Relief of the Holy Land was a Papal Chea•••• for Popes and others to pick simple Christians Purses for Popes De∣signs, to maintain: Wars against Christian Emperors and Princes•••• the Greek Church and the Albigenses detesting and opposing Papal Usurpations and Corruptions, to inthral, depose, and murder them. So great was Pope Innocent's Animosity against the Emperor Frede∣rick, that when Forces of the Cro••sado came out of France or Eng∣land, or other parts; to sail into Syr. •••• to defend Jerusalem, and the Holy Sepulchre against the Sarac ••s, he stopt them, and gave them the same Graces and Indul, enc••s, as if they had performed the Journey into the Holy Land, upon Condition that they should turn their Armes against Frederick whose Power lay upon him, be∣cause he stiffly maintained the Rights of the Empire.

The Pope proceeded so far, as to give the Empire to Robert Bro∣ther of Lewis IX. King of France. upon condition that he should conquer it. But Robert sent his Present back to the Pope, both be∣cause he sent him no Money to furnish him for that Conquest; and because he found it very strange, that the Pope would give that which was none of his. Also because he shewed himself an Enemy to a great and vertuous Prince, who had done and suffered so much, bravely fighting for the Cause of the Christians against the Infidels. Then he added, That the Popes are lavish of the Blood of others, and that their ••nd is to tread all the Princes of the world under their feet, and to put on the Horns of Pride.

Mean-while persecution grew sore against those whom they cal∣led Vaudo•••••• and Albigenses; against whom the Pope caused the Crai∣sado so be preached, and an infinite number of them to be mas∣sacred.

Pope Gregory IX. (who compiled the Decretals) needing Mone••

for his War against the Emperor Frederick, sent a Legar into Eng∣land, named Stophen, who exacted a tenth part of all their move∣able Goods (that is) of all their Flocks, Rents, Fruits, Wares, Offerings, and Gifts to the Church. And the said Legat had power to Excomunicate all that should refuse to pay, and to put the Churches in Interdict. He injoyned the Prelates upon pain of Ex∣communication, to make that Collection speedily, and without delay. All that should cross that Holy Work, he Excommunicated ipso facto. He would be paid in new Coin, and of good Weight. He took the Tithe, even of the Corn in the first Blade, that is, of the Crop of the year after.

In these Exactions he was so urgent and griping, that the Parishes were forced to engage the Chalices and Church-Plate to satisfie his Covetousness. And he had certain Usurers with him, who lent Money upon double use, to those who had no ready Money. This caused a great Clamour and Lamentation over all the Countrey, but without effect. The Money was imployed by the Pope in in∣vading many Towns belonging to the Emperor in Italy. And the Emperor could not defend them, because he was ingaged against the Saracens in the Levant, where he took Jerusalem, and put the Affairs of the Christians in a flourishing Estate. And it is probable, that he had utterly destroyed the Saracens, if the Injuries which he received from the Pope had not re-called him. For the Emperor making a League for ten years with the Saracens. and returning unexpectedly from the Holy Land, interrupted the Popes proceed∣ings, and soon recovered all his Castles; so that the Pope was forced by meditation of Friends, to stoop to the Emperor, and make his peace with him beyond all Expectation.

Scarce was the Collection ended made by Stephen the Legate, when Pope Gregory inventing Extortions grounded upon fair Rea∣sons, sent Nuncios with power of Legats, who by Sermons, Ex∣hortations, and Excommunications, brought an infinite number of English Men to Mendicity, and turned them out of their Houses. This was done under a pretence of contributing to the expence of the Holy War, of which himself hindered the success; and yet he pro∣mised to them that should contribute Money for it, the remission of all their sins, and to them that should go in Person, an Augmentation of Glory; yet the Pope never gave any part of the Money raised for that expedition, to any Prince that paid Armies, and fought for that Quarrel. All was thrown into the Popes Coffers, as into a Gulph, and by him imployed to make War against Frederick,

for he presently broke the Covenant sworn unto him.

Moreover, Wars made by the Pope, were oftentimes supported at the Charges of Forreign Countreys, the Pope bearing them in hand, that they were the Wars of the Church, and therefore did in common concern every of their States and Interests; under which colour large Contributions have been drawn out of this Realm.

In the year 1240, the Pope forced all Aliens within this Realm, to contribute to the Wars against Frederick, the fifth part of the Re∣venues of their Spiritual Livings; and in the same year took ano∣ther fifth part of all Bishopricks to the same use.

The Pope ceased not thus, but immediately commanded new Collections to be made, still pretending his Wars with the Emperor; a∣gainst which Commandment the Clergy made divers Exceptions, which are at large set down by Matth. Paris, sol. 714. and 7••5.

In the year 1255, Alexander IV. sent a Legate into the Realm, who exacted the tenth part of all the Goods and Chatels in England, Scotland, and Ireland, pretending the Church-wars against Mansred, who had invaded the Kingdom of Naples, which the Pope claimed to appertain to his See.

Notes

• Souldiers mustered and sent out of the Realm.
• Mat. Paris p. 351, 352. Matth Westm. p. 128, 129.
• The Trea∣sure of the Realm spent in the Popes Wars. Mat. Paris fol. 703, 704.
• Idem 1219.