MarginaliaDiscipline of the church abused for priuate reuenge.the liuings of the clergy throughout the realme, & that they should enioy no part therof. Which beyng done, the Bishops (seyng the same) cursed all them that kept or should meddle with Church goods, agaynst the will of thē that ought them: and vnderstanding for all that, that the king nothing regarded their doings, they went ouer sea to the byshop of Canterbury, and informed hym what had happened. Who hearyng the same, willed them agayne to returne to Caunterbury, and he would come thither to them, or els send certayne persons thither in his stede, that should do as muche as if he were there hymselfe. Then when the bishops heard this, they returned agayne into England, to Caunterbury, which tidings came shortly to þ^e king, that they were come agayne thether. And because he might not hymselfe trauaile to them, he sent thether bishops, erles and abbots, to intreat them, that the Archb. Stephan whom he had chosen, might be admitted. Promising the Prior and all the Monkes of Caunterbury in hys behalfe: that he should neuer take any thyng of the Church goods agaynst the will of them that owe them, but would make amendes to them of whome he had taken any such goods: and that the church should haue all her frauncheses in as ample maner as in S. Edwardes tyme the Confessor it had.

When the forme of agreement was thus concluded, it was engrossed in a payre of indentures, which the foresaid 4. bishops, to the one part therof set their seales: & the other part the sayd bishops, Erles and abbots caried to show the kyng. When the K. saw the order therof, he lyked it well: MarginaliaThe incōudetate stoutnes of the prelates against the kyng.sauyng he would not agree to make restitution of the church goods. So he sent to the 4. bishops agayne, þ^t they should put out that point of restitucion But they answered stoutly þ^t they would not put out one word. Then the kyng sent word to the Archb. by the 4. bishops, that he should come to Cant. to speak with hym and for hys safe conduit to come and go agayne at hys will: he sent his Iustices as pledges, Gilbert Peitcuin, William de la Bereuer, and Iohn Letfitz. Which thing thus done, the Archb. Stephan came to Cant. and the K. (hearyng therof) came to Chilham: MarginaliaStephen Langton stout agaynst hys kyng.from whence he sent hys treasurer the B. of Winchester to him, to haue hym put out of the indentures the clause of restitution aforesayd: who denying to alter any word of the same, moued þ^e K. in such sort, that immediatly it was proclaimed throughout England at the kinges commaundement, that all those that had any church liuyng, and went ouer the sea, should come agayne into England at a certaine day, or els lose their liuings for euermore. And further in that proclamation he charged all Shirifs within the realm, to enquire if any bishops, Abbots, Priors, or any other Church man (from that day forward) receiued any commaūdement that came from the pope, & that they should take his or their body, and bring it before hym. MarginaliaThe king moued agaynst the Archbishop Langhton.And also, that they should take into their handes for the kings vse, all the church landes, þ^t were geuen to any man through the Archbishop Stephan, or by the priors of Cant. from the tyme of the election of the Archb. And further charged, that all the woods that were the Archb. should be cut downe and sold.

When tidinges came to the Pope, that the K. had thus done, beyng moued therby with firy wrath: MarginaliaTwo Legates sent from the pope.sent to þ^e kyng two Legates (the one called Pandulph, and the other Durant) to warne hym in the popes name, that he should cease hys doynges to holy church, and amend the wrong he had done to the Archb. of Cant. and to the Priors and þ^e monks of Cant. and to all the Clergy of England. And further, þ^t he should restore the goods agayne that he had taken of thē, agaynst their will, or els they should curse the K. by name: & to do this, þ^e pope tooke them hys letters in Buls patent. These two Legates commyng into England, resorted to þ^e king to Northhampton, where he held hys Parliamēt, and saluting hym, sayd: they came from the pope of Rome, to reforme þ^e peace of holy church. MarginaliaRestitution required of the king.And first sayd they we monish you in the popes behalfe, that ye make full restitution of the goods & of the land that ye haue rauished holy church of: and that ye receiue Stephan the Archb. of Cant. into his dignitie, and Prior of Cant. and his monkes. And that ye yeld agayne vnto the Archb. all his landes and rentes without any withholding: And sir, yet moreouer, that ye shall make such restitution to them, as the Church shall thinke sufficient.

Then aunswered the K. as touching the Prior and his Monkes of Cant. all that ye haue sayd I would gladly do, and all thing els that ye would ordayne: but as touching þ^e Archb. I shall tell you as it lieth in my hart. Let the Archbishop leaue his bishoprick: and if the pope then shal entreat for him, peraduenture I may like to geue him some other bishoprick in England. And vpon this condition I wil receiue and admit hym.

Then sayd Pandolph vnto the K. holy Church was wont neuer to disgrade Archb. wythout cause reasonable: but euer she was wont to correct Princes that were disobedient to her.

What? howe now (quoth the K.) threaten ye me? Nay sayd Pandolph, but ye haue now opēly told vs as it stādeth in your hart: and now we will tell you what is the popes will, and thus it standeth. He hath wholy interdicted & cursed you, for the wrongs ye haue done to holy Church, and to the Clergy. And forasmuch as ye dwell still in your malice, and will come to no amendement, ye shall vnderstand: that from this tyme forward, the sentences vpon you geuē haue force and strength. And all those that with you haue commoned before thisMarginaliaSentence of the Popes curse pronounced agaynst the king.tyme, whether that they be Erles, Barons or Knights (or any other whatsoeuer they be) we assoyle them safely from their sinnes vnto this day. And from this tyme forward (of what condition soeuer they be) we accurse them openly: and specially by this our sentence, that do with you common. And we assoyle moreouer erles, Barons, knightes, and all other maner of men of their homages, seruice, and fealties, that they should do vnto you. And this thing to confirme, we geue playne power to the B. of Winchester, and to the bishop of Norwich. And the same power we geue against Scotland to the byshop of Rochester and of Salisbury. And in Wales, we geue the same power to the Bishops of Saint Dauid, and of Landaffe, and of saint Asse.

MarginaliaThe pope author of rebellion & disobedience of subiectes towardes their prince.Also sir king (quoth Pandolfe) all the kinges, princes, and the great Dukes christened, haue laboured to the pope to haue license to crosse themselues, and to warre agaynst thee, as vpon gods enemy, and win thy lande, and to make k. whom it pleaseth the Pope. And we here now assoile all those of their sinnes that will arise agaynst thee here in thine owne land.

Then the K. hearing this, answered: What shame may ye do more to me then this.

Pandolfe agayne: We say to you in verbo dei: that neither you nor any heire that you haue, after this day shall be crowned. So the king sayd: by him that is almighty God, if I had known of this thyng before ye came into this land, & that ye had brought me such newes: I should haue made you tary out these xij. monethes.

Then aunswered Pandolfe. Full well we thought (at our first commyng) that ye would haue bene obedient to God, and to holy church: and haue fulfilled the popes commaundement, which we haue shewed and pronounced to you, as we were charged therwith. And nowe ye say, that if ye had wist þ^e cause of our cōming, ye would haue made vs tary out a whole yere: which might as wel say, þ^t ye would haue taken a whole yeres respite without the popes leaue. MarginaliaLike master lyke man.But, for to suffer what death þ^t ye can ordeine, we shal not spare to tell you all the popes message and will, that he gaue vs in charge.

In an oher chronicle I finde the wordes betwene the Kyng and Pandolfe somethyng otherwise discribed, as though the kyng should first threaten hym with hanging if he had foreknowen of his commyng in. To whom Pandolf agayne should answer, that he loked for nothyng els at hys hand, but to suffer for the Churches right. Wherupon the K. beyng mightely incēsed departed. The K. the same time beyng at Northampton willed the Shirifs and bayliffes to bring forth all the prisoners there, that such as had deserued should be put to death: to the entent (as some thinke) to make Pandolfus afrayd. Among whome was a certayne Clerke, who for counterfaiting the Kinges coyne was also condemned to be hanged, drawne, and quartered. And moreouer, by the K. was commaunded (therby to anger Pandolfus, the more as may be thought) to be hanged vp hyest aboue the rest. Pandolfus hearing therof, notwithstanding he somewhat began to feare lest he should be hanged himself, yet with such courage as he had, he went to the church to fet out booke, bell and candle, charging that no man vnder payne of accursing, should lay handes vpon the Clarke. MarginaliaPandolph worse afrayde then hurt.Vpon this the K. and the Cardinall departed in no little anger. And Pandolfe went to Rome and reported to the pope and the Cardinals what had bene done.

Then the pope summoned all the bishops Abbots and clarkes of England to come to repaire to Rome, to consult what was to be done therin. This councell began the first day of October. In the which councell it was decreed by the pope and his assembly, that Iohn king of England should be accursed with all such as helde with him, euery day so long as that Councell endured. Albeit this was not yet graunted, that the people should be crossed to fight against him, because as yet he had shed no bloud. But afterward, the sayd Pope Innocent seyng that K. Iohn by no