MarginaliaWhat incōuenience commeth by the Popes dispēsations.As there was nothing so hard in the wide world wherwyth the Pope would not dispense for money: so by the sayd dispensations much mischiefe was wrought abroad. For by reason therof the people trustyng vpon the Popes dispensation, litle regarded what they did, what they promised, or what they sware. As well appeared by this king Henry. 3. who being a great exactor of the poore commōs, as euer was any king before him or since, and thinkyng thereby to winne the people sonner to hys deuotion, most faithfully promised them once or twise, and therunto bound hymselfe wyth a solemne othe, both before the Clergie and laytie, to graunt vnto them the old liberties and customes as well of Magna Charta, as Charta de Foresta perpetually to be obserued. Wherupon a Quindecim was graunted to the kyng. But after the payment was sure, the kyng trusting by the Popes dispensation for a litle money to be discharged of hys oth & couenaunt, went from that he had promised and sworne before.

MarginaliaWilfull periurie maynteyned by the Popes dispensations.In like maner the sayd king an other tyme, beyng in neede of money, signed hymselfe wyth the Crosse, pretendyng and swearing deepely in the face of the whole Parlament, that he would hymselfe personally fight in the holy land agaynst the Saracens. But as soone as the money was taken, small care was takē for performance of hys oth, beyng so put in þ^e head by certeine about him, that he needed not passe of that periury, for so much as the Pope for an hūdreth pound or two would quickely discharge hym therof. Ex Math. Paris. fol. 273.

Out of the same corrupt spring of these popishe dispensations, haue proceded also many other foule absurdityes. For where many young men were in those dayes, which enioyed benefices, and were no priestes: and when by the procurement of Robert Grosted Byshop of Lincolne, the sayd young men should be forced, whether they woulde or not, to enter orders, they laying their purses together, sent to Rome, and obteyned of the Pope a dispensation to remayne still as they were, MarginaliaEnormities which spring out of the Popes dispensations.that is, to haue the fruites of benefices to finde them at schoole or vniuersitie and yet themselues neither ministers to take charge, nor yelding any seruice for their profites taken. Ex Math. Paris. fol. 256. Besides innumerable heapes of enormities moe, procedyng of the Popes dispensations, as dispensing one man to haue sondry byshoprikes, to encroch pluralities of benefices, to make children Parsons, to legitimate bastardes, with such other like, the particulars wherof, for breuities sake I do omit to further oportunitie.

MarginaliaThe miserable impouerishing of the Realme by the Popes prouisitions & contributions.ALthough these emolumentes thus rising dayly to the Popes purse by Symonie and brybery, by elections & dispensations myght seeme sufficient to satisfie his greedy appetite, yet so vnsatiable was the auarice of that sea, that he not yet contented here with, ouer and besides all this, sēt euery yeare almost some Legate or other into this realme to rake for his aduauntage. In so much that during all this kinges tyme, the Realme was neuer lightly without some of the Popes liegers with all violence exacting and extorting continuall prouisions contributions, and summes of money to be leaued out of Celles, Abbayes, priories, fruits of benefices, and Byshoprikes, and also lay mens purses, to the miserable empouerishing both of the clergy, & temporaltie, as here vnder foloweth.

MarginaliaCardinall Otho legate in Englād.First after Pandulphus, was sent into this Realme Cardinall Otho, procured by the kyng without the assent of his nobles, to the entent to assiste him in certeine affaires, he had to doe. MarginaliaThe receauing of Otho the popes Legate into the Realme.
An. 1237.At receauing of which Legate, great preparuance was made, many rich and precious giftes in scarlet, in plate, in iewels, in money and palfreyes were geuen him. Whom the kyng also himselfe went as far as the Sea side to receaue, bowyng downe his head in low coursie to the cardinals knees. To whom also the Byshop of Winchester for his part gaue toward keepyng of his house, fifty fat Oxen, a hundreth seme of wheate, and viij. great vessels of pure wyne. This Legate at his first commyng begynneth first to bestow such benefices as he found vacant, vpon them whō he brought with him without respect, whether they were meete, or vnmeete. Ex Paris. fol. 103.

After this the Pope hearyng how the nobles and commons of the Realme began to stomacke the Cardinall for his excessiue procurations and exactions, sent for him home: but the kyng, by reason he stode in feare of his nobles, and thought to haue a stay by the Cardinall agaynst all occurrentes, entreated him to stay while he wrote to the Pope, to obteyne further licence for him to tary: & so did, not without some English money, ye may be sure.

MarginaliaOtho the Legate seeketh to come into England.In this meane tyme of vacation, Otho thinkyng to lose no tyme, but to gather also some crōmes in Scotland, made as though he would set thynges there in order, which were in the Church of Scotland to be reformed, and so commeth to the kyng of Scots, beyng then in Yorke with kyng Hēry, to haue leaue to enter. Vnto whom the kyng thus made aunswere, MarginaliaThe king of Scotes hys aunswere to Cardinall Otho.that he neuer saw, to his remēbraunce, any popes Legate in his land, neither was there any such neede (God be praysed) for any such to be sent for. Matters there were well enough, and neded no helpe of his. MarginaliaThe realme of Scotland hetherto neuer troubled with any Popes Legate.And as he could neuer learne either in the dayes of his father, or any his predecessours, that any such entrance to any Legate was graūted, so he for his part would not now begyn. But yet notwithstanding, for somuch as I heare (sayd he) that you are a good man, this I tell you before, that if ye will needes aduenture in, do it warely, and take heede to your selfe, lest it happen to you otherwise, then I would wish: for they be a sauage and vnruly people, geuen much to murder, and sheding bloud, whō neither I my selfe am scarse able to bridle, so that if they fall vpon you, I shal not be able to helpe you. And how they also inuaded me, and sought to expell me frō my kyngdome, ye heard alate. And therfore I warne you before, take hede by tyme, what ye thinke best to do. MarginaliaCardinall Otho stopped frō going into Scotlād.After the Cardinal heard the kyng speake these wordes, he pluckt in his hornes, and durst procede no farther but kept him still by the side of kyng Henry. Notwithstandyng shortly after, the same Legate comming to the borders of Scotlād, there called the Byshops to him, & so when he had well filled his bagges came backe agayne. Ex Mat. Paris. fol. 106. 123.b.

It was not lōg after, but licence came from Pope Gregory to his legate Otho, for his longer abode here in the realme (as welcome as water in the shyp) with new authoritie also to proceede in the Popes affaires. Who first shewyng to the Bishops and the Clergy his letters of longer tarying, required of them, for somuch as no mā (sayd he) warreth of his owne Charges, to be supported w^t new procuratiōs, which was to haue of euery able Church iiij. Markes, and where oneMarginaliaOppressions of the church of Englād by Cardinall Otho the Popes Legate.Church was not able to reach therto, that other Churches should ioyne with all, to make the said money. Notwithstandyng the Byshops a great while stode in deniall therof. Parisiensi. fol. 123. 128. 132.

Besides he assembled together all blacke Monkes of S. Benedictes order, giuyng to them strait orders, which shortly after for money, he released to them agayne. Parisiens. fol. 116. 119.

Marginalia1238.Moreouer by the sayd Otho, and other the Popes executours with speciall Bulles directed downe for the same, collation of benefices beyng taken out of the handes of the patrons, were giuen to light and vyle runagates, commyng from Italy and other places, such as pleased the pope and his Legate to bestow them vpon, to the great preiudice of the auncient libertie and right of the true patrons therof. MarginaliaThe nobles of England write to Pope Gregory for collation of benefices wrasted out of their hands.Wherupon the Earles and Barons and nobles of the Realme addressed letters vnto Pope Gregory, by Syr Robert Twyng knight, for redresse of such wrōg and iniuries, who otherwise should be forced (they sayd) to inuocate the succour of their kyng, who both was able and no lesse was willyng according to his duety (they trusted) to reforme such enormities, and to defend the liberties of his Realme. The tenour of whose writyng is to be read in Mat. Parisiens. fol. 128.a.

Not long after the same, in the yeare of our Lord. 1240. came a new precept from Pope Gregory, by Petrus Rubeus the Popes nuncio, MarginaliaPetrus Rubeus the Popes carier.to the foresaid Otho, MarginaliaAll beneficed men in Englād compelled to giue the fift part of their reuenewes to the Pope. an. 1240.that all beneficed men in the Clergy as well in England as Fraunce, should pay to the Pope the fift part of their reuenewes. Wherupon when the Clergy men made their complaint to the kyng, seekyng to be releued by him, the kyng aunswered them agayne that he neither would, ne durst stand agaynst the Pope in any case, and so without all hope of succour sent them away. Parisiens. fol. 132. Marginalia1240.Then were the Archbishops, Byshops, Abbats, and Prelates of the Church commaūded to assemble together at Redyng, there to heare the popes pleasure and commaundement, concernyng the payment of this fift part. Where in the end thus the matter concluded, that the Prelates desired a further tyme to be giuen them to aduise vpon the matter, and for that season, the assembly brake vp. Parisiens. 122.b. MarginaliaExcuses of the Clergie why they would not contribute to the pope.Notwithstāding at last after many excuses and exceptions layd in by the Clergy, first that because the money was gathered to fight agaynst the Emperour, they ought not to contribute their money contrary to the liberties of the church. Item, for somuch as they had payd a tenth not long before vnto the Pope, vpon condition that no mo such paymentes should be required of thē, much