may see the pityfull blindnes of those ignoraunt dayes, wherin our English nation here did so blyndly humble them selues, and stand to the Popes courtesie, whō rather they should haue shaken of as the Grecians did. Secōdly, that the pride of the Pope might the better appeare in his colours, who so disdaynfully reiected the humble sute of our Lordes and nobles, whom they had much more cause to disdayne rather, and to tread hym vnder their feete. The tenour of the Supplication was this.

MarginaliaAnno. 1245.
The supplication of þ^e Lords and commōs of England exhibited to the Pope in his generall coūcell at Lyons.¶ To the reuerend father in Christ Pope Innocent, chief Bishop, the nobles with the whole cōminaltie of the Realme of England sendeth commendation, with kyssing of hys blessed feete.

OVr mother the Church of Rome we loue with all onr hartes as our duety is, and couet the encrease of her honour with such much affection as we may, as to whom we ought alwayes to flye for refuge, wherby the grief lying vpon the child may finde comfort at the mothers hand. Which succour the mother is boūd somuch the rather to imparte to her child, how much more kynd and beneficiall she findeth hym in releuyng her necessities. Neither is it to þ^e sayd our mother vnknowē, how beneficiall & bountifull a geuer the Realme of England hath bene now of lōg tyme for the more amplifying of her exaltation, as hath appeared by our yearely subsidie, which we terme by the name of Peterpence. MarginaliaPeterpence, read before pag.Now the sayd Church not contēted with this yearely subsidie, hath sent diuers Legates for other contributions, at diuers and sondry tymes, to be taxed and leuyd out of the same Realme, all which contributions and taxes notwithstandyng haue bene louingly and liberally graunted.

MarginaliaThe supersticious founding of monasteries in England.Furthermore neither is it vnknowen to your fatherhode, how our forefathers like good Catholickes, both louyng and fearyng their maker, for the soules health as well of them selues, as of their progenitours, and successours also, haue foūded monasteries, & largely haue endewed þ^e same, both with their own proper lādes, & also patronages of benefices, wherby such religious persons professing þ^e first & chiefest perfection of holy Religion in their monasteries, might with more peace and tranquillitie occupy them selues deuoutly in Gods seruice, as to the order appertained: And also their Clerkes presented by them into their benefices, might susteine the other exteriour labours for them in that second order of religiō, and so discharge & defende them frō all hasardes: so that the sayd religious monasteries can not be defrauded of those their patronages and collations of benefices, but the same must touch vs also very nere, and worke intolerable grief vnto our hartes.

MarginaliaIniuries receaued in Englād by the Pope.And now see, we besech you, which is lamētable to behold, what iniuries we susteine by you & your predecessours, who not cōsideryng those our subsidies and contributions aboue remembred, MarginaliaBenefices in Englād wickedly geuē away to Italians.do suffer also your Italians and foreners (which be out of number) to be possessed in our Churches and benefices in England, perteinyng to the right and patronage of those monasteries aforesayd: which foreners neither defending the said religious persons, whom they ought to see to, nor yet hauing the language, wherby they may instruct the flocke, take no regarde of their soules, but vtterly leaue them, of wild wolues to be denoured. Wherfore it may truly be sayd of them, that they are no good shepheardes, where as neither they know their sheepe, nor yet the sheepe do know the voyce of their shepheardes, neither do they kepe any hospitalitie, but onely take vp the rentes of those benefices, carying thē out of þ^e realme, wherwith our brethren, our nephewes, and our kinsfolkes might bee susteined, who could and would dwell vppon them, and employ such exercises of mercy and hospitalitie as their duetie required. Wherof a great number now for mere necessitie are lay men, and fayne to flye out of the Realme.MarginaliaSixty thousand markes yearely geuen to Italians out of the church of Englād.

And now to the entent more fully to certifie you of the truth, ye shall vnderstand, that the sayd Italians & straungers receauyng of yearely rentes out of England, not so litle as lx. thousand Markes by yeare, besides other auayles and exises deducted, do reape in the sayd our kingdome of England more emolumentes of mere rentes,then doth the kyng him selfe beyng both the tutour of the Church, and gouernour of the land.

MarginaliaItalians receaued more in this land of mere rentes then dyd the kings crowne.Furthermore, where as at the first creation of your Papacie, we were in good hope and yet are, that by meanes of your fatherly goodnes we should enioy our franchises, and free collation of our benefices, and donatiues, to be reduced againe to the former state: now commeth an other greuannce, which we can not but signifie vnto you, pressyng vs aboue measure, which we receaue by M. Martinus: who entryng late into our land without leaue of our kyng, with greater power thē euer was sene before in any Legate, although he beareth not the state & shew of a Legate, yet he hath doubled the doyngs of a Legate, chargyng vs euery day with new mādates, and so most extremely hath oppressed vs: MarginaliaDetestable dealings of the Popes Legate in England.First in bestowyng and giuyng away our benefices if any were aboue xxx. markes, as soone as they were vacant, to Italian persons.

Secōdly, after the decease of the sayd Italians, vnknowyng to þ^e patrons, he hath intruded other Italians therin, wherby the true patrons haue bene spoyled and defrauded of their right.

Thirdly, the said M. Martinus: yet also ceaseth not to assigne and conferre such benefices stil to the like persons: And some he reserueth to the donation of the Apostolike sea: And extorteth moreouer from religious houses immoderate pensions, excommunicatyng and interdicting, who soeuer dare gaynstand him.

MarginaliaComplaint of M. Martine þ^e popes Legate.Wherfore, for asmuch as the sayd M. Martinus: hath so far extended his iurisdiction, to the great perturbation of the whole Realme, and no lesse derogation to our kynges priuilege, to whom it hath bene fully graunted by the sea Apostolike, that no Legate should haue to do in his lād, but such as he by speciall letters did send for: we with most humble deuotion besech you, that as a good father will alwayes be ready to supporte his child, so your fatherhode will reach forth your hand of compassion to releaue vs your humble children from thee greuous oppressions

And although our Lord and Kyng, beyng a Catholicke Prince, and wholy giuen to his deuotions and seruice of Christ Iesu our Lord, so that he respecteth not the health of his owne body, MarginaliaK. Henry the 3. vsed euery day to heare 164 masses by note.will feare and reuerence the sea Apostolicke, & as a deuout sonne of the Church of Rome, desireth nothyng more then to aduaunce the estate and honour of the same: yet we which trauaile in his affaires bearyng the heate and burden of the day, and whose duety together with hym, is to tender the preseruation of the publicke wealth, MarginaliaThe stout wordes of the Lordes to the Pope.neither can paciently suffer such oppressions so detestable to God & man, and greuaunces intolerable, neither, by Gods grace, will suffer them, through the meanes of your godly remedy, which we well hope and trust of you spedely to obteine. And thus may it please your fatherhode, we besech you to accept this our Supplication, who in so doyng shall worthely deserue of all the Lordes and Nobles, with the whole comminaltie of the Realme of England, condigne and speciall thankes accordyngly. an. 1245. Ex Mat. Par. fol. 188.

MarginaliaThe supplicaiton of þ^e English nation toke no place with the Pope.This Supplication being sent by the handes of Syr R. Bygot Knight and W. de Powyke Squyer, Henry de la Mare, with other Knightes and Gentlemen, after it was there opened and read, Pope Innocent first keepyng silence, differred to make aunswere therunto, makyng hast to procede in his detestable excommunication & curse agaynst the good Emperour Fridericke. The which curse beyng done, & the English Ambassadors waityng still for their aūswere, the pope then told them flat, they should not haue theyr request fulfilled. MarginaliaThe Englishe ambassadours agreeued with the Pope.Whereat the English men departyng in great anger away, sware with terrible othes, that they would neuer more suffer any tribute, or fruites of any benefices, namely wherof the noble mē were patrons, to be payd to that insatiable and greedy Court of Rome worthy to be detested in all worldes. Ex Mat. Paris. fol. 193.

MarginaliaThe Pope in an anger with England.The Pope hearyng these wordes, albeit makyng then no aunswere, though to watch his tyme, and did. First incontinent vpon the same, duryng þ^e sayd Coūcell, MarginaliaThe byshops of England set their seales to þ^e Popes tribute.he caused euery Byshop of England to put his hand and seale to the obligation made by kyng Iohn for the popes tribute, as is aboue specified. Thretning moreouer & saying, that if he had once brought downe