fell the same yeare and tyme. an. 1228. betwene the Prior & Couent of Durham, and this Kyng Henry the iij. vpō this occasion. After the death of Richard Byshop of Durham, the Prior and Chapter of the sayd Church, came to the K. to obteine license for the electyng of their byshop: The kyng offered to them one Lucas a Chaplaine of his, requiryng them instantly to elect him for their Byshop. To this the Monkes aunswered, that they would receaue no man, but by their order of Canonicall election. MarginaliaCanonicall election.Meanyng belyke by their Canonicall election that is, when as they elect either some Monke out of their owne company, or els some monkish Priest, after their owne likyng. Contrary, the kyng agayne sendeth word vnto them and bound it with an othe, that they should tary vij. yeares without a Byshop, vnlesse they would admit the foresayd Lucas to that place of that dignitie. All which notwithstandyng, the monkes proceding in their election, refused the sayd Lucas, and preferred an other Clerke of theirs, named William Archdeacon of Worcester, and hym they presented to the kyng. But the kyng bringyng in exceptions and causes agaynst the party, would not admit him. MarginaliaThe monkes of Dyrham send to Rome agaynst their kyng.Then the monkes in all hasty speede sent vp to Rome certaine of their Couent, to haue their election ratified, by the autoritie Apostolicall. On the other side the kyng likewise hearyng, sendeth also to Rome agaynst the Monkes, the Byshop of Chester, and the Prior of Lentonie on his behalfe, to withstand the purpose of the monkes. MarginaliaAppellation to Rome, agaynst the kyng.
Ex Mat. Paris.And so the matter beyng trauised with great altercation on both sides, dyd hang in suspense, sayth myne author, till at length thus it was concluded, betwene both that neither master William, nor yet Lucas should be taken, but that Richard Byshop of Sarum should be translated to Durham and be Byshop there. an. 1228. Ex Mat. Parisiens.

MarginaliaAn other contention betwen the monkes of Couentry, and the Chanons of LichfieldThe like styrre also happened both the same yeare and for the lyke matter, betwene the monkes of Couentry, and the Canons of Lichfield, about chusing of their Byshop, which of them should haue the superiour voyce, in the election of their prelate. After much a do, the cause at length beyng hoysted vp to Rome, had this determination: that the monkes of Couentry, and the Church of Lichfield should chuse their Byshop by course, ech part keepyng hys turne the one after the other: prouided notwithstandyng, that the Prior of Couentry should alwayes haue the first voyce in euery election, where as the old custome was, sayth myne author, that the Couent with the Prior of Couentry was wont to haue the whole election of the Byshop without the Canons. This was, an. 1228. Ex Parisiens. pag. 68.MarginaliaEx Mat. Parisiens. Pasg. 68.
Stephen Langhtō Archb. dyed. The chapters of the bible first divystinced Steaphen Langhton.In the which yeare dyed Stephen Langhton Archbyshop of Canterbury by whom (as is recorded by Nic. Triuet) the chapters of the Bible, in that order and number, as we now vse them were first distincted: The sayd Langthō also, made Postiles vpō the whole Bible. The same moreouer builded the new hall in the palace of Canterbury.

After the death of this Langthon, insued an other variance about the election of the Archbyshop of Canterbury betwene the Monkes of Canterbury and the king. The perturbation wherof as it was no lesse seditious, so the determination of the same was much more costly. After the death of Stephen Langthon, the Monkes of Canterbury obtaynyng licence of the kyng to procede in the election of a new Archbyshop, did chuse one of their owne society named master Walter Hemesham. MarginaliaAn other contentious dissentiō between the mōkes of Canterbury & k. Henry the. 3.Whom when the Monkes had presented to the kyng, he after long deliberatiō, began to obiect agaynst that election, saying: MarginaliaObiections laid against the new Archb.first, that the monkes had elected such one as neither was profitable to him nor to his kyngdome. Secondly, he obiected agaynst the partie elect, that his father was conuict of felony, & hanged for the same. Thyrdly, that he stode in causes against his father K. Iohn in the tyme of the interdict. Moreouer the byshops his suffraganes charged the partie elect, that he had lyen with a certaine Nunne, and had children by her: addyng farther, that the election of the Archbyshop was without their presence, which ought not to be. &c. MarginaliaAppeale sued to Rome.But the archbyshop agayne stoutly standyng to his election, appealed vp to Rome, and eftsones takyng with him certayne monkes presented him selfe to the Popes owne proper person, there to sue his appeale: instantly intreating, that his election might stand cōfirmed by his authoritie pontificall. But the Pope, vnderstandyng that the sayd electiō was resisted by þ^e kyng & the bishops, differred þ^e matter, till he did heare farther of þ^e certeinty therof. The kyng and the byshops hauyng intelligence that the archbyshop with his monkes were gone to Rome, thought good to articulate the foresaid obiections aboue alledged in writyng: MarginaliaK. Henry sendeth to the pope.and sealyng the same with the seales both of the kyng and of the byshops to exhibite them to the Byshop of Rome. The messengers of these letters were the Byshop of Rochester, of Chester, and the Arch-deacon of Bedford master Ihon &c. Who cōming to Rome, & exhibityng their message with their letters vnto the pope (consideration beyng had vpon the same) were cōmaunded to wayte attēdaunce agaynst the next day after Ashewedensday: then to haue a resolute aunswere cōcernyng the cause, which was the second day of March, the yeare next folowyng vidz. an. 1229. In the meane season, the kynges proctors ceased not with all instaunce to labour the Pope and his Cardinals to be fauourable to the kynges side. But findyng them somwhat hard and strait in the matter (as is the guise of that Court) they began to misdoubt there speding. Wherfore consultyng together with themselues vpon the premisses, they came to the pope, MarginaliaTithe of all moueable goods in England and Ireland, promised to the pope for grāting the kinges sutepromising in the kinges behalfe, to be geuen and graunted to him out of the realmes both of England and Scotland the tith or tenthe part of all the goodes within the sayd Realmes moueable, to susteine his warres against the Emperour, so that he would incline fauourably to the kynges sute and petition herin. At Dominus Papa (sayth Parisiens.) MarginaliaO Auri sacra fames.
It is pitie the pope will take no bribes.qui rebellem Imperatorem super omnia æstuabat deijcere, tantis promissionibus exhileratus trahitur ad consensum. That is. But the Pope (sayth the author) which boyled with desire aboue all measure, to haue the Emperour his enemy cast downe: beyng cheared with so great promises, graūted his consent to th?ē: who sitting then in his consistory had these wordes, as here follow.

MarginaliaThe popes answere to the election of Walter Archbishop of Cant.There hath come a late to our intelligence, the election of a certaine Monke named Walter, to be Archbishop of Cant. wherupon after that we heard and aduised as well those things, which the sayd Monke hath sayd for himself, and for his election: as also on the contrary side, the obiections and exceptions of the bishops of England alleging against hym, and against his election: Namely of the bishop of Chester, the bishop of Rochester, and Ihon Archdeacon of Bedford: we vpon the same committed the examination touching the person of the man, vnto our reuerend brethren, L. Cardinall Albane, L. Cardinall Thomas de Sabina, ō maister Peter. And when the foresayd elect comming before them was asked of them, first concernyng the Lordes descending into hell, whether he descended in flesh, or without his flesh, he aunswered not well. Itē, beyng asked touching the makyng of the body of Christ on the aulter, he aunswered likewyse not soūdly: Beyng asked moreouer, how Rachell wept for her children, she beyng dead before, he answered not well. Item beyng asked concernyng the sentence of excommunication denounced agaynst the order of law, he answered not well. MarginaliaNo, but whē your darling T. Becket came, he was heard with out such communications.Agayne beyng required of matrimony, of one of the maried parties be an infidele, and do depart, he answered therto not well. Vpon these articles he was (as is sayd) diligently examined of the Cardinals to the which (we say) he answered not only not wel, but also very il. For so much therfore, as the church of Cant. is a noble churche, and requireth a noble prelate, a man discrete, and modest, & such as ought to be taken out of the bosome of the Church of Rome: and forasmuch as this new elect (whome not onely here wer pronounce to be vnworthy, but also shoulde say more of hym, if we would proceede with hym by the rigour of lawe) is so insufficient, that he ought not to be admitted to such a roume: MarginaliaThe election of Walter archb. of Cāt. dissolued of the pope for the kinges money.we do vtterly infringe, annihilate, and euacuate his election alwayes reseruyng to our selues the prouision of the sayd church. Hæc ex Mat. Parisiens. ad verbum.

Thus the election of Walter being frustrate and dissolued, the kings procurators bringing forth the letters of the king and of the Suffraganes of the church of Canterbury, MarginaliaRichard Chācelor of Lincolne cōmended to the pope to be Archbishop of Cant.presented the same vnto the pope for the ratification of Richard Chauncellor of Lincolne, to be appointed Archb. of Caunterbury, whom they with great commendation of wordes did set forth to be a man of profound learnyng and knowledge: of an honest conuersatiō: and which was greatest of all, Ţ^t he was a man much for the profit of the church of Rome, as also for the realme of England. MarginaliaRichard made archb. of Cant. by the pope without election.And thus the sayd Richard being commended to the Pope by the letters procuratory of the king and of the bishops: had the consent of the pope and of the Cardinals, and so was made Bishop of Cant. before he was elected. MarginaliaThe effect of the popes letters to the suffraganes of Cant.Wherupon the sayde Pope Gregory in his behalfe directeth downe hys letters to all & singular Suffraganes of the Church of Cant. declaring thus,MarginaliaThe pope beginneth first with a lye.and beginning first with a lie, that for so much as by the fulnes of ecclesiasticall power, the charge of pastoral office is committed to him in generall vpon all Churches: he therfore for the sollicitude he heareth as well to all other churches in generall, as in speciall to þ^e metroplitan church of Cant. repudiating and disanullyng the former election of Walter the monke, vpon iust causes: hath prouided for that see, a man as in all other good gifts perfect and excellent, by the report of them that know hym: so for that function ve-