these stories aboue hath bene declared, partly by other in like case followyng is to be sene.

MarginaliaAn vnreasonable exactiō of the Pope.For so it followeth in the history of the sayd Math. Paris. how the Pope takyng more courage by his former abused boldnes, and perceauyng, what a tame asse he had to ride vpon, ceased not thus, but directed a new precept the same yere. 1246. to the Prelates of England, commaundyng by the authoritie Apostolicke, that all beneficed men in þ^e realme of England, which were Resident vpon their benefices, should yeld to the Pope the third part of their goodes, and they which were not resident, should geue the one halfe of their goods, and that for the space of 3. yeres together, with terrible comminations to all them that did resist: and euer with this clause withall, MarginaliaNon obstante.Non obstante, which was lyke a key that opened all locks. MarginaliaThree score thousand poundes exacted of the Clergie to be payd to the Pope.Which summe cast together was found to amount to lx. M. poundes: which summe of mony could scarce be found in all England to pay for king Richardes raunsome. Paris. fol. 207. The execution of this precept was committed to the bishop of London: who conferring about the matter with his brethren in the Church of Paules, as they were busily consultyng together, and bewailyng the importable burden of this contribution, which was impossible for them to susteine, sodainely commeth in certayne messengers from the kyng: Sir Iohn Lexintune Knight, and M. Laurence Martine the kings Chaplain, MarginaliaThe kyng against the popes contribution.straightly in the kings name, forbiddyng them in any case to consent to this contribution, which should be greatly to the preiudice and desolation of the whole Realme. Parisiens. fol. 207.

MarginaliaA Parliament.This beyng done about the first day of December, in the yeare aboue sayd, shortly after in the beginnyng of the next yeare. 1247. about February the kyng called a Parliament, where by common aduise it was agreed, that certaine Embassadours should be sent to Rome, to make manifest to the Court of Rome the excedyng greuaunces of the Realme, deliueryng moreouer these letters to the Pope in the name both of the Temporaltie and also of the Clergy, as here followeth.

MarginaliaA letter sent to the Pope in the name of all the estates & commonaltie of the realme.SAnctis. Patri in Christo ac Do. Innocent. Dei prouidentia summo pontifici vniuersitas cleri & populi per prouinciam Cant. constituti deuota pedeum oscula beatorum. Cum Anglicana Ecclesia &c. To the most holy father in Christ and Lord Innocent, by Gods prouidence chiefe byshop: The whole communitie both of the Clergy and laity within the prouince of Canterbury, sendeth deuout kissinges of his blessed feete. Lyke as the Church of England since it first receaued the Catholicke fayth, hath alwayes shewed her selfe faithfull and deuout in adhering to God and to our holy mother the Church of Rome, studiyng with all kind of seruice to please and serue the same, MarginaliaMore fooles you in giuing to the Church so much.and thinketh neuer otherwise to do, but rather to continue & increase as she hath begon: euen so now the same Church most humbly prostrate before the feete of your holynes, intierely beseecheth your clemencie to accept her petition, in sparing this impositiō of money, which so manifold wayes for the subuention of other nations, by the commaundement of your holynes is layd vpon vs: considering that not onely it is importable, but also impossible which is enioyned vs. For although our coūtrey sometimes yeldeth forth fruite for the necessary sustentation of the inhabitaunts, yet it bringeth forth neither gold nor siluer, MarginaliaThe Pope thinketh belike Englād to swimme with golde and siluer.neither were able to bryng forth of long tyme, so much as now a dayes is required. Which also beyng burdened and ouercharged of late dayes with an other such like imposition, but not so great as this, is not able any whit to answere to that which is exacted.

Furthermore, besides this commaundement of your holynes, there is required of the Clergie a subsidie for our temporall kyng, whose necessities neither possibly we can, nor honestly ought to forsake, whereby he may both withstand the inuasion of the enemy, and mainteine the right of his patrimony, and also recouer agayne that hath bene lost. In consideration wherof we haue directed the bearers hereof to the presence of your holynes with our humble supplication, to explane to you the daungers and inconueniences which are like to ensue vpon the premisses, which by no meanes we are able to susteine: although notwithstāding we know our selues by all bondes of charitie to be obliged to your deuotion and obedience. And because our generall communitie hath no seale proper, we haue signed therfore these presentes with the publike seale of the Citie of London. &c. Ex Paris. fol. 209.

The like letters were sent also vnto the Cardinals to the same effect. The Pope vnderstādyng these thyngs, and perceauing that there was no striuing agaynst such a generall consent, and yet loth to forgoe hys sweete haruest, which he was wont to reape in England, craftely deuised to send this aunswere agayne to the kyng, much like to the same which he sent before, which was: MarginaliaThe Popes answere agayne to the kyng of England.that although the Pope in tyme past vpon his owne will and pleasure to the importable greuaunce of the Realme of England, hath euery where and without respect, through the whole land made his prouisions, in geuing their benefices vnto his Italians: yet now the Lord be praysed, that tempest (sayd he) is ouerblowen: so that hereafter if the Pope shall graunt his prouision for any of his nephewes, or of hys Cardinals, they shall come first and make their instant sute vnto the king, without all inforcement, so that it shall stand wholy in the kings free arbitrement to do herein what he thinketh good &c. Paris. fol. 209. b.

MarginaliaThe Pope false in his promise.This aunswere of the Pope albeit it was but a subtile shifte for the tyme: yet neither did he long stand to that he had thus promised vnto the kyng. For shortly after and within few dayes vpon the same, and in the tyme also of þ^e sayd Parliament holden at Winchester, the Pope sent two English Friers into the realme, whose names were Iohn and Alexander, with full authoritie after the largest sort for new contributions. MarginaliaNote the subtle practise of the Pope to get money.Who first pretending lowly submission to the kyng, while they had leaue graunted to range about the Realme, afterward commyng to the Byshops and rich Abbots, shewed themselues forth in their full authoritie, in such sort, as they became rather tyrauntes then extortioners.

Amongest other, commyng to Robert Byshop of Lincolne, who of all other bare a speciall mynde to the order of Obseruauntes, these two Fryers as proud as Lucifers, bringing forth the terrible Mandate, with the popes Bulles, required, and eke commaunded vnder the Popes mighty curse, to haue the gathering in hys Dioces of vj. thousand markes. Likewise of þ^e Abbot of S. Albans they required iiij. hūdred markes, vnder great penaltie, and that in short tyme to be payd.

MarginaliaThe Bishop of Lincolnes aunswere to the friers the Popes messengers.The Byshop although well lyking before that order of those Friers, yet seeing the impudent behauiour, and more impudent request of those Marchauntes, thus aunswered to them agayne: that this exaction (sauing, sayd he, the Popes authoritie) was neuer heard of before, and neither was honest, nor yet possible to be performed: and moreouer was such as did not onely concerne hym, but the whole publicke state of the Clergie, and of the whole Realme in generall, and therfore it should be absurdly and rashly done of hym to geue them aunswere herein, before the kyng and the rest of the Counsell, wyth other, to whom the matter generally did apperteine, were made priuy therunto &c. and so for that tyme he shoke them of. Paris. fol. 210.

MarginaliaThe Abbot of S. Albons maketh great sute to the Pope for the 400. markes that he should pay.Furthermore, as touchyng the Abbot of S. Albanes, when he also alleged the same causes, he pretended moreouer that he would appeale, and so dyd, to the Pope and hys Cardinals. Wherupon immediatly was sent downe from Pope Innocent, another Legate called Ioannes Anglicus, MarginaliaThis Iohannes Anglicus was the more fierce against the Abbot, because he receiued him, not with such reuerance as he though meete for the popes legate.an English Frier and Cardinall, who bringing downe a new speciall precept to the foresayd Abbot, cited hym eyther to appeare at London the morow after S. Giles day, or to disburse to the vse of the Pope the foresayd iiij. hundreth Markes. By reason wherof the Abbot was driuen to send his Proctours, agayne with a new supplication to þ^e Pope at Lyons, who in the ende through great instaunce of monyed friendes, agreed with the Abbot for two hundreth Markes, besides his other charges borne, & so was that matter compounded, little to the Abbots profite. Parisiens. fol. 213.

To recite all damages and greuaunces receaued by the B. of Rome in this realme of England, neyther is any history sufficiently able to comprehend, nor if it were, vnneth is there any that would beleue it. Notwithstanding to those aboue declared, this one I thought to commit likewyse to memory, to the intent, that they which liue in this age now, may behold and wonder in themselues to see in what miserable slauery, passing all measure, not onely the subiectes, but kings also of this realme were brought vnto, vnder the intolerable yoke of the popes tiranny, which in those daies neither durst any man cast of, nor yet was able to abide. As by this example ensuyng, with infinite other like to the