It
is necessary that I should trespass upon my reader's attention while
I endeavour to explain the nature and the value of these two classes
of documents before proceeding to deal with their testimony.
I. Students of English history know that few aggressions of the Pope
of Rome during the thirteenth century caused more deep discontent
among the laity than those which threatened interference with their
right of patronage to ecclesiastical benefices, and actually did
interfere with those rights. The disgraceful recklessness with which
Italians, ignorant of our language, were forced into English livings,
and the best preferment was claimed for Papal nominees, produced an
amount of irritation and revolt against Roman interference which had
never been known before. The feeling of the laity became more and
more outspoken, and at last Innocent IV. gave way, and the rights of
private patronage were assured to the great lords--assured, at any
rate, in word--though the Papal rescript "paltered with them in a
double sense" and the quibbles and reservations, which could always
be resorted to under colour of the _non obstante_ clause,
constantly afforded excuse for fresh encroachments and evasions when
the opportunity occurred. The jealousy of Roman interference
continued to increase, and the legislation of the first half of the
fourteenth century was largely taken up with enactments to guard the
rights of English patrons, from the King downwards.
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