resistere. Regnum hujusmodi Statuta decent: Cogita si te talia inspicientem silere oporteat, et non magis clamare, contradicere. et pro viribus Estne ista filialis Reverentia? Estne ista Christiana devotio quam Regnum Angliæ suæ Matri Ecclesiæ ac Sedi Apostolicæ exhibet? Potestne Catholicum Regnum dici, ubi hujusmodi statuuntur profanæ leges et observantur, ubi prohibetur adiri Vicarius Christi, ubi oves suas Successor Apostoli Petri pascere juxta mandatum Domini non permittitur ? Christus dixit Petro suisq; Successoribus, Pasce oves meas; Statutum autem Regni pascere ipsas non sinit, sed vult ut Rex ipse pascat, devolvendo ad eum in certis casibus Apostolicam Auctoritatem. Christus ædificavit supra Petrum Ecclesiam; sed Regni Statutum, id prohibet: Nam non patitur Petri Cathedram de Ecclesia prout judicaverit, expedire, ordinare vel disponere. Christus voluit quod quicquid summus Pontifex in terris solverit aut ligaverit, solutum ligatumve esset in cœlis; Statutum huic divinæ voluntati non assentit: Nam si quos Sacerdotes ad ligandum solvendumq; animas Christi Vicarius in Regnum contra Statuti tenorem destinaret, non modo ipsos non admittit Statutum sed exulare jubet, bonis privari, aliisq; pœnis affligi, et censuram seu Processum Apostolicum in Regnum deferens, tanquam Sacrilegus capite punitur. Quid ad hoc tua Discretio respondebit? Estne hoc Catholicum Statutum? Potestne sine Christi injuria, sine Evangelii transgressione, sine animæ interitu tolerari aut observari? Cur igitur non clamas, et quasi tuba exaltas vocem tuam, annuncians populo tuo peccata sua, Domui Israel scelera eorum, ne sanguis eorum de manibus tuis requiratur. Quod et si omnes quibus populorum cura commissa est, facere teneantur, quanto magis id tibi erit necessarium exequi, cui populos et populorum ministros, oves et ovium pastores, tuæ solicitudini Romana deputavit Ecclesia, a qua et Primatum et Sedis Apostolicæ legationem super Anglicanas Ecclesias suscepisti, et ipsius gloriosissimi Martyris Beati Thomæ olim Cantuariæ Archiepiscopi Successor effectus es, qui adversus similia decertans Statuta, holocaustum se Deo offerens pro libertate Ecclesiastica occubuit. Tu certe ob hæc, omnium primus qui vexillo assumpto in aciem prodire deberes, et fratres Co-episcopos tuos tuo exemplo in certamine sistere, primus omnium terga vertis, et aliquos qui forte resistendi impetum caperent, tua sive pusillanimitate, sive dissimulatione, sive (ut omnes attestantur) evidenti prævaricatione a bono proposito dejicis. Itaq; si de te queritur Ecclesia, si in te omnis culpa transfertur, non mirari sed dolere, immo potius teipsum corrigere debes, et debitum quo ovium jure astrictus es audacter exolvere: pro qua re efficienda, si velis quam potes operam adhibere, non magnum certamen subeundum est. Persuade tuo pro officio et Auctoritate tua, secularibus, et eos veritatem instrue. Ostende eis peccatum quo observantes prædictum Statutum illaqueantur: Et erunt (ut omnes asserunt) prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas. Ne ergo, si tacueramus et nos, tuam aliorumq; desidiam dissimulantes similis apud omnipotentem Deum culpæ reos efficiat, neve ovium nostrarum sanguis (si neglexerimus) de manibus nostris exigatur, tuam fraternitatem qua possumus instantia, toto corde, totoq; affectu hortamur, monemus, requirimus, et in virtute Sanctæ obedientiæ, et sub Excommunicationis pœna cui (si neglexeris) ipso facto te subjicimus, districte præcipiendo mandamus, quatenus quamprimum ad locum ubi Consiliarii Charissimi in Christo Filii nostri Henrici Angliæ Regis Illustris conveniunt, personaliter accedas, eosq; tam Ecclesiasticos quam Seculares pro sapientia tua, quam tibi Dominus inspiraverit, rationibus ac monitionibus reddas instructos, ut prædictum Statutum in proximo Parliamento tollant penitus et aboleant: Cum enim Divinæ et Humanæ rationi, veteris ac Novi Testamenti, Conciliorum, Sanctorum Patrum, Summorum Pontificum Decretis, ipsius denique Universalis Ecclesiæ observantiæ evidentissime contradicat, nec sine interitu salutis æternæ quovis modo servari possit. Illudq; inter alia dicere non omittas, qualiter Ecclesiasticæ libertatis violatores, facientesq; Statuta aut consuetudines contra libertatem servari, Officiales, Rectores et Consiliarii, locorum ubi hujusmodi Statuta vel consuetudines editæ fuerunt vel servatæ, Ac etiam qui secundum prædicta judicaverint, ipso jure Excommunicationem incurrunt, quæ quantum sit Christi fidelibus metuenda, ipsis plene poteris declarare. Idem sub pœna eadem te facere volumus cum Parliamentun inchoabitur, tam erga prædictos Consiliarios quam Communitates, et alios qui vocem in ipso habuerint Parliamento. Insuper ut pluribus viis honori Dei et Sanctæ Matris Ecclesiæ, et animarum saluti provideatur, sub simili pœna mandes ac præcipias omnibus tam Rectoribus Ecclesiarum, quam aliis officium prædicationis obtinentibus, Secularibus et Religiosis, ut frequenter in sermonibus suis populos de prædicta materia instruere non omittant. Volumus autem ut quicquid super prædictis feceris per tuas literas (quibus saltem duæ graves personæ, quæ ipsis requisitionibus per te faciendis interfuerint, se subscribant) nos certiores efficias. Rom. apud Sanctos Apostolos quinto die Decembris, Pontificatus nostri Anno decimo. Dat. XXXVIII-A Letter to King Henry the Sixth for repealing that Statute. MARTINUS Episcopus, Servus Servorum Dei, Charissimo in Christo Filio Henrico Regi Angliæ Illustri, salutem et Apostolicam Benedictionem. Quum post multos nuncios ad tuam Serenitatem pro abolitione illius detestabilis Statuti contra libertatem Eccle siasticam editi olim transmissos, postremo salutem et Apostolicam Benedictionem. bus, pro debito pastoralis officii, vos ac Reg XXXIX.—A Letter to the Parliament upon the textu vos ab hac nostra Catholica Doctrina same occasion. MARTINUS Episcopus, Servus Servorum Dei. venerabilibus Fratribus et dilectis Filiis, Nobilibus viris Parliamenti Regni Angliæ, submoveat, ecce nos promptos paratos offerimus, omnibus causis, propter quas dictum Statutum conditum esse prætenditur, salubriter providere, ita ut nec Regao nec cuiquam privata personæ præjudicium ali DIE Veneris, penultimo mensis Januarii, Anno Domini secundum cursum et computationem Ecclesiæ Anglicana millesimo quadringentesimo decimo septimo, indictione sex ta, Pontificatus Sanctissimi in Christo Patris et Domini nostri Domini Martini Divina Pro videntia Papæ quinti Anno undecimo, Reverendissimi in Christo Patres et Domini, Domini, Henricus Dei Gratia Cantuariensis et Johannes Eboracensis Archiepiscopi, necnon Reverendiss. Patres W. Londinensis, Benedictus Menevensis, Philippus Eliensis, Jochen et W. Norvicensis, Episcopi, et cum eis venerabiles Patres et viri religiosi Westmonasterii et Radingiæ Abbates de palatio regio Westmonasteriensi de Camera, viz. Ubi tam Domini Spirituales quam Temporales in Parliamento adtunc tento negotia Regni tracta verint et tractare solebant, recedentes, et dimissis ibi Dominis Temporalibus, in simul transierunt ad viros illos qui pro communitate Regni ad Parliamentum hujusmodi venerant in loco solito, viz. in Refectorio Abbatie Westmonasteriensis prædictæ personaliter existentes, et incontinenter eisdem Dominis Spiritualibus cum reverentia debita, prout decuit a viris bujusmodi communitatem Regni facientibus et repræsentantibus, receptis Præfatus Reverendissimus Pater Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis causam adventus sui et con-fratrum suorum ad tunc exponere cœpit in vulgari; Protestando primitus, et protestabatur idem Dominus Cantuariensis vice sua et confratrum suorum prædictorum, quod pro dicendo tunc ibidem non intendebat ipse Reverendissimus Pater, aut aliquis confratrum suorum, Domino Regi Angliæ aut Coronæ suæ vel communitati Regni in aliquo derogare, et sic adhærendo Protestationi suæ hujusmodi, idem Reverendissimus Pater prosequebatur et exposuit solemniter causam adventus sui et confratrum suorum, sumpto quasi pro themate, Reddite quæ sunt Cæsaris, Casari, et quæ sunt Dei Deo. Super quo precedendo, ea que ad Jurisdictionem Ecclesiasticam, et ea quæ ad Cæsaream pertinebant, notabiliter et ad longum declaravit, materiam Provisionis et pro Statuti illius contra Provisores editi abolitione, cum bona et matura deliberatione prosequendo, et in processu declarationis hujusmodi jura nonnulla et Sacræ Scripturæ Auctoritates convenientes allegavit, pro jure Domini nostri Papæ in Provisionibus habendis, sicut Sancti Prædecessores sui summi Pontifices in Regno Angliæ et alibi per Universalem Christianitatem habuerunt, ipseq; Dominus Papa modernus in cæteris Regnis habet et possidet in præsenti: Unde præmissis, Bullisq; et literis Apostolicis, quas pro hac re idem Dominus Papa jam tarde ad Regnum transmiserat, diligenter consideratis, et quod dictus Dominus noster Papa tot Ambassiatas et nuncios solemnes ad prosequendum jus suum et Ecclesiæ libertatem in præmissis, non absq; laboribus magnis, periculis et expensis, de Curia Romana ad Regnum Angliæ destinavit, idem Reverendissimus Pater Cantaur. Archiepiscopus, nomine suo et confratrum suorum ad tunc ibidem præsentium, et absentium in dicto Parliamento per Procuratores comparentium, ad quos ut asseruit divisim saltem principalis cura animarum totius Communitatis Regni pertinere dignoscitur, dictos viros omnes et singulos tunc præsentes, Communitatem (ut præmittitur) repræsentantes, requisivit et in Domino exhortabatur, quatenus ob salutem animarum suarum totiusq; Regni prosperitatem et pacem, materiam prædictam sic ponderarent, et taliter in eodem Parliamento super eadem deliberarent, ut Sanctissimus Dominus noster Papa placari, ac Regis zelum ad Sedem Apostolicam totiusq; Regni devotionem in hac parte habere posset materiam commendandi. Et addidit ultra hujusmodi Requisitionem et Exhortationem præfatus Reverendissimus Pater Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis; et ex corde, ut apparuit, exposuit, lacrymando, pericula per censurarum, viz. Ecclesiasticarum et etiam Interdicti fulminaticnem, et alias tam Regi quam Regno (quod absit) verisimiliter eventura alia, in casu quo responsio Parliamenti illius, in materia tunc declarata, grata non foret Domino Papæ et accepta, sic dicendo; Forte videtur quibusdam vestrum, quod hæc quæ Regni Prælatos potissime concernunt ex corde non profero, Sciatis pro certo, et in fide, qua Deo teneor et Ecclesiæ, affirmo coram vobis, quod magis mihi foret acceptum nunquam conferre aut etiam habere aliquod beneficium Ecclesiasticum quam aliqua talia pericula seu processus meo tempore in Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Scandalum venirent. Ulterius idem Reverendissimus Pater expresse declaravit, qualiter dictus Dominus noster Papa in diversis Bullis suis obtulit et promisit, se et Sedem Apostolicam, ad quascunq; causas et occasiones editionis Statuti prædicti rationabile, remedium apponere, et materias causarum et occasionum hujusmodi Statuti in toto tollere et abolere; et sic Requisitione, Exhortatione et periculorum hujusmodi expositione finitis, Reverendissimi Patres Cantuar. et Eborac. Archiepiscopi, cum confratribus suis Episcopis et Prælatis prædictis, recesserunt, Regui Communitate, sen saltem dictis viris Communitatem Regni repræsentantibus remanentibus, et circa materiam eis expositam tractantibus, præsentibus, et Declarationen., Requisitionem, et Exhortationem, hujusmo- Prelates, and this Realm; Which Annates diq; periculorum expositionem per dictum Dominum Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem (ut præmittitur) factas audientibus, venera bilibus viris Richardo Coudray Archidiacono Norwici in Ecclesia Norwicensi, Magistro Joanne Forster Canonico Lincolnensi, &c. et Johanne Boold Notario Pub.ico et multis aliis. XLI.-Act 33. Anno Regni vicesimo tertio. or First Fruits, were first suffered to be taken within the same Realm, for the only defence of Christian People against the Infidels, and now they be claimed and demanded as mere duty, only for lucre, against all right and conscience. Insomuch that it is evidently known, that there hath passed out of this Realm unto the Court of Rome, sithen the Prince of famous memory, King Henry the second year of the Reign of the most Noble Seventh, unto this present time, under the Annates to the See of Rome. name of Annates, or First- Fruits, payed for FORASMUCH as it is well perceived, by the expedition of Bulls of Arch- Bishopricks long approved experience, that great and in- and Bishopricks, the sum of eight hundred estimable Sums of Mony have been daily thousand Ducats, amounting in Sterling conveyed out of this Realm, to the impove Mony, at the least, to eightscore thousand rishment of the same; and especially such pounds, besides other great and intolerable sums of Mony as the Pope's Holiness, his Sums which have yearly been conveighed to Predecessors, and the Court of Rome, by long the said Court of Rome, by many other ways time have heretofore taken of all and singu- and means, to the great impoverishment of lar those Spiritual Persons which have been this Realm. And albeit, that our said Sonamed, elected, presented, or postulated to be vereign the King, and all his natural Sub Arch Bishops or Bishops within this Realm jects, as well Spiritual as temporal, been as of England, under the Title of Annates, other- obedient, devout, Catholick and humble Chilwise called First-Fruits. Which Annates or dren of God, and Holy Church, as any PeoFirst Fruits, have been taken of every Arch- ple be within any Realm christned; yet the Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, within this Realm, said exactions of Annates, or First-Fruits, by restraint of the Pope's Bulls, for Confir- be so intolerable and importable to this mations, Elections, Admissions, Postulations, Realm, that it is considered and declared, by Provisions, Collations, Dispositions, Institu- the whole Body of this Realm now repretions, Installations, Investitures, Orders, Holy sented, by all the Estates of the same asBenedictions, Palles, or other things requi- sembled in this present Parliament, that the site and necessary to the attaining of those King's Highness before Almighty God, is their Promotions; and have been compelled bound, as by the duty of a good Christian to pay, before they could attain the same, Prince, for the conservation and preservation great Sums of Mony. before they might re- of the good Estate and Common-Wealth of ceive any part of the Fruits of the said Arch. Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, whereunto they were named, elected, presented, or postulated; by occasion whereof, not only the Treasure of this Realm hath been greatly conveighed out of the same, but also it hath hapned many times, by occasion of death, unto such Arch-Bishops, and Bishops, so newly promoted, within two or three years after his or their Consecration, that his or their Friends, by whom he or they have been holpen to advance and make paiment of the said Annates, or First-Fruits, have been thereby utterly undone and impoverished. And for because the said Annates have risen, grown, and increased, by an uncharitable Custom, grounded upon no just or good title, and the paiments thereof obtained by restraint of Bulls, until the same Annates, or First-Fruits, have been paid, or Surety made for the same; which declareth the said Paiments to be exacted, and taken by constraint, against all equity and justice, The Noble Men therefore of the Realm, and the Wise, Sage, Politick Commons of the same, assembled in this present Parliament, considering that the Court of Rome ceaseth not to tax, take, and exact the said great Sums of Mony, under the Title of Annates, or First Fruits, as is aforesaid, to the great damage of the said this his Realm, to do all that in him is to obviate, repress, and redress the said abusions and exactions of Annates, or FirstFruits. And because that divers Prelates of this Realm being now in extream Age, and in other debilities of their Bodies, so that of likelyhood, bodily death in short time shall or may succeed unto them; by reason whereof great sums of Mony shall shortly after their deaths, be conveighed unto the Court of Rome, for the unreasonable and uncharitable Causes abovesaid, to the universal damage, prejudice, and impoverishment of this Realm, if speedy remedy be not in due time provided: It is therefore ordained, established, and enacted, by Authority of this present Parliament, That the unlawful paiment of Annates, or First-Fruits, and all manner Contributions for the same, for any Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, or for any Bulls hereafter to be obtained from the Court of Rome, to or for the foresaid purpose and intent, shall from henceforth utterly cease, and no such hereafter to be payed for any Arch-Bishoprick. or Bishoprick, within this Realm, other or otherwise than hereafter in this present Act is declared; And that no manner Person, nor Persons, hereafter to be named elected, presented, or postulated to any Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, within this Realm, shall pay the said Annates, or First- Fruits, for the said Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, nor any other manner of Sum or Sums of Mony, Pensions or Annates for the same, or for any other like exaction, or cause, upon pain to forfeit to our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Heirs and Successors, all manner his Goods and Chattels for ever, and all the Temporal Lands and Possessions of the same Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, during the time that he or they which shall offend, contrary to this present Act, shall have, possess, or enjoy, the Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick; wherefore he shall so offend contrary to the form aforesaid. And furthermore it is enacted, by Authority of this present Parliament, That if any Person hereafter named and presented to the Court of Rome by the King, or any of his Heirs or Successors, to be Bishop of any See or Diocess within this Realm hereafter, shall be letted, deferred, or delayed at the Court of Rome from any such Bishoprick, whereunto he shall be so represented, by means of restraint of Bulls Apostolick, and other things requisite to the same; or shall be denied, at the Court of Rome, upon convenient suit made, any manner Bulls requisite for any of the Causes aforesaid, any such Person or Persons so presented, may be, and shall be consecrated here in England by the Arch Bishop, in whose Province the said Bishoprick shall be, so alway that the same Person shall be named and presented by the King for the time being to the same Arch-Bishoprick: And if any Persons being named and presented, as aforesaid, to any Arch-Bishoprick of this Realm, making convenient suit, as is aforesaid, shall happen to be letted, deferred, delayed, or otherwise disturbed from the same ArchBishoprick, for lack of Pall, Bulls, or other to him requisite, to be obtained in the Court of Rome in that behalf, that then every such Person named and presented to be ArchBishop, may be, and shall be, consecrated and invested, after presentation made, as is aforesaid, by any other two Bishops within this Realm, whom the King's Highness, or any of his Heirs or Successors, Kings of England for the time being, will assign and appoint for the same, according and in like manner as divers other Arch-Bishops and Bishops have been heretofore, in ancient time by sundry the King's most noble Progenitors, made, consecrated, and invested with in this Realm: And that every Arch-Bishop and Bishop hereafter, being named and presented by the King's Highness, his Heirs or Successors, Kings of England, and being consecrated and invested, as is aforesaid, shall be installed accordingly, and shall be accepted, taken, reputed, used, and obeyed, as an Arch-Bishop or Bishop of the Dignity, See, or Place whereunto he so shall be named, presented, and consecrated requireth; and as other like Prelates of that Province, See. or Diocess, have been used, accepted, taken, and obeyed, which have had, and obtained compleatly, their Bulls, and other things requisite in that behalf from the Court of Rome. And also shall fully and entirely have and enjoy all the Spiritualities and Temporalities of the said Arch-Bishoprick or Bishoprick, in as large, ample, and beneficial manner, as any of his or their Predecessors had, or enjoyed in the said Arch Bishoprick or Bishoprick, satisfying and yielding unto the King our Sovereign Lord, and to his Heirs and Successors, Kings of England, all such Duties, Rights, and Interests, as before this time had been accustomed to be paid for any such Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, according to the Ancient Laws and Customs of this Realm, and the King's Prerogative Royal. And to the intent our said Holy Father the Pope, and the Court of Rome, shall not think that the pains and labours taken, and hereafter to be taken, about the writing, sealing, obtaining, and other businesses sustained, and hereafter to be sustained, by the Offices of the said Court of Rome, for and about the Expedition of any Bulls hereafter to be obtained or had for any such Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, shall be irremunerated, or shall not be sufficiently and condignly recompensed in that behalf. And for their more ready expedition to be had therein, it is therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Spiritual Person of this Realm, hereafter to be named, presented, or postulated, to any Arch-Bishoprick or Bishoprick of this Realm, shall and may lawfully pay for the writing and obtaining of his or their said Bulls, at the Court of Rome, and ensealing the same with Lead, to be had without payment of any Annates, or First-Fruits, or other charge or exaction by him or them to be made, yielden, or paied for the same, five pounds Sterling, for and after the rate of the clear and whole yearly value of every hundreth pounds Sterling, above all charges of any such ArchBishoprick, or Bishoprick, or other mony, to the value of the said five pounds, for the clear yearly value of every hundreth pounds of every such Arch-Bishoprick, or Bishoprick, and not above, nor in any other wise, any things in this present Act before written notwithstanding. And forasmuch as the King's Highness, and this his High Court of Parliament, neither have, nor do intend to use in this, or any other like cause, any manner of extremity or violence, before gentle courtesie or friendship, ways and means first approved and attempted, and without a very great urgent cause and occasion given to the contrary, but principally coveting to disburden this Realm of the said great exactions, and intolerable charges of Annates, and FirstFruits, have therefore thought convenient to commit the final order and determination of the Premisses, in all things, unto the King's Highness. So that if it may seem to his high wisdom, and most prudent discretion, meet to move the Pope's Holiness, and the Court |