the Church, we, above all other princes, are bound by a special reason to it: for when, whilst still young in age, we were deprived of our father, with our kingdom not only turned from us, but even fighting against us, our mother, the Roman Church, through the lord cardinal Gualo, then legate in England, brought back the kingdom to peace and subjection to us, and consecrating us king crowned us.'"

"This reply of the king," adds the bishop, "at his order I have written to you, so that you may know for certain what devotion the said lord has for you and the Roman Church."'

1 Grosseteste, Epist., 338-339.

CHAPTER XIV

THE YEAR AFTER THE COUNCIL OF LYONS

THE representations of the English at the Council of Lyons do not appear to have produced any appreciable change in regard to the chief of their grievances. The bishops and the embassy from the king had returned in the autumn of 1245; and although the papal collector, Martin, was no longer present in the country, many things rendered it apparent that no great change of papal policy was contemplated. On 18th March, 1246, consequently, the king assembled a parliament in London to discuss the situation.' The grievances complained of by the English representatives at the Council were laid before the meeting, and as one result of its deliberations, letters were written to Pope Innocent to solicit his serious attention to their complaints. The king in his communication to the pope, called God to witness that he had always shown love for his "mother, the Roman Church," for whom he could not have too great an affection. To her, he said, he turned with confidence in his needs, as a son "to the parent who has nursed him at her breasts." He could not, however, be deaf to the outcry of his nobles, clergy, and people, who invoked his royal aid to put a stop to oppressions, practised on them by the pope's nuncios, especially at

1 Ann. Mon., iii., 169.

that time, and he prayed the Holy Father to listen to the representations that are made to him.'

The barons write at somewhat greater length, and inclose a schedule of matters to which special exception is taken. Addressing Innocent IV as their "most holy and beloved father in Christ," they remind him that they are all children of the Church, and that their interests should be safeguarded by him, who is their common father. "Our mother the Church," they say, "is bound to cherish her sons, gathering them under the shelter of her wings (so to speak) in such a way, that the children are not dishonoured by their obedience to their mother, but are ever ready to defend her from attack in case of need." "A mother should remember the children of her womb, lest, if she act in such a way as to deprive them of their milk, she may be reputed to be a step-mother. A father, withdrawing his love from his sons, should be called a stepparent rather than a father, as he treats his own children as if they were not his." They then urge the pope not to turn a deaf ear to the words of the agents they are sending to represent their case. If he were to do so, then "a great scandal must certainly arise;" for unless the king and kingdom are forthwith freed from the evils of which complaint is made, "it will be necessary to build a wall to protect the house of God and the liberties of this kingdom." This they "hitherto, and until the return of their embassy, have hesitated to do, out of reverence to the Apostolic See." But "unless the said evils are quickly corrected by you, your Holiness must clearly understand what is really to be feared, namely, that the situation will become so dangerous both to the Roman Church and to the king, that it will be difficult to find any remedy." 2 Ibid., 265.

1 Rymer, i. 265.

The messengers to the pope took with them also a letter from the abbots and priors of England, and another from the bishops. In the first document the religious superiors of England say that they turn with confidence "to the supreme pontiff of the Universal Church." The providence of the Divine Majesty "which has ordered all things in measure and number and weight,' has so set the foundations of His Spouse, the Church, upon the solid rock, that on that firm foundation rendered strong by the blood of His Son, the building to be erected might the more easily and happily rise up. For the Universal Church—at the will of its Spouse-is ruled, like the ark at the deluge, by one Father and one Shepherd." The writers then go on to say that the English Church had ever been renowned as "a special member of the holy Roman Church, but that now it was rendered not a little sorrowful, sad and disturbed by exactions, oppressions, and manifold troubles." Therefore, they say, "to you, Reverend Father, the English Church has recourse, as to a column of strength, which God, not man, has set up," knowing that you will see justice done and protect it from all oppression. "Since, therefore, we are all faithful and devoted sons of the holy Roman Church, and since blows that are expected are less hurtful, we have determined to make known our difficulties to the Apostolic See," for it is to be feared that unless matters are quickly remedied, there will be a "popular tumult, a scandal, and a schism." The "people are stirred up against the king and are ready to withdraw their fidelity from him unless by his royal power he stays the evil. The bishops and nobles say that if the churches and other benefices given by them to monasteries are bestowed on Italian clerics, they can justly take back these benefices and

1 Wisd. xi. 2.

churches, since their revenues ought to be spent on the poor and pilgrims, this being the intention of the donors and the reason of the gifts."'

The bishops were not less explicit as to the danger of continuing the present policy of the Curia. The archbishop of Canterbury was not then in England, but the letter was sent in the name of all the bishops of the province. They had heard, they say, with great grief, the complaints which had been made in the late Council at Lyons on behalf of the king, nobles, and entire English people. Their love for the Holy See had always made them most desirous of keeping the people and kingdom in "the unity of their mother the Church." Discontent, however, was rife, and had increased since the Council, as nothing in the way of a remedy which the pope had then been understood to promise, had been attempted. They entertained the gravest fears as to the result of all this discontent, and they begged Pope Innocent to regard "the fervour of the English faith, and to remember how the kingdom was always most devoted to the holy Roman Church," and to find some remedy for the dangers which threaten even the peace of the nation."

The messengers bearing the complaints of the English nation and the accompanying letters, set out for Lyons on 9th April, 1246. At their head was the same William de Powick who had been spokesman at the Council for the king's proctors. Already there were rumours that the officials at the Curia were inclined to give way on some points, and it was apparently quite certain that the pope had promised that henceforth no Italian should be appointed to any English benefice unless the king had first been petitioned on the matter. On the other hand there was a