A. +Source.+--_Matthew of Westminster_, vol. ii., p. 196. (Bohn's
Libraries.)
A.D. 1240.--And about the same time, a friend and relation of the lord
the Pope came into England, the Master Peter Rubeus, who passed rapidly
through England, and coming to Scotland, collected with great energy
one-twentieth of everything in that country for the use of the Pope.
About the same time, Master Peter de Supion, being sent into Ireland
diligently to collect the same twentieth in that country, carried off
all he could from thence, like a genuine inquisitor of the Pope. And the
booty which he collected is said to have amounted to the number of
fifteen hundred marks and more. But the collection of Peter Rubeus,
which he extorted from the Scotch territories, is supposed to have
reached the double of that sum. And subsequently, returning through
England, he looked into all the houses of the religious Orders with a
new spirit, and exacted money for the use of the Pope with exceeding
strictness, compelling them to swear that they would keep that oath as a
secret of the confessional for half a year. By which conduct he turned
aside the hearts of the faithful from any devotion and affection towards
the Church of Rome, and wounded them with great anguish.
B. +Source.+--_Matthew of Westminster_, vol. ii., pp. 222-223. (Bohn's
Libraries.)
A.D. 1244.--About the same time, the Pope, relying too much on the
King's simplicity and patience, sent into England a new extorter of
money, not invested with the insignia of a legate, but fortified with
unheard-of powers, by name Martin, who immediately betook himself to the
usual abode of all the Papal legates, and nuncios, and secular clergy,
that is to say, to the New Temple in London; and without delay displayed
his power of receiving revenues, and extorting money in all kinds of
ways, and practised it diligently, to the great distress of many hearts,
and to the wounding of men's consciences. For he had the power of
prohibiting all collation to benefices, until satisfaction should be
made to him according to his wish. And, despising all scanty revenues as
so many husks, he laid rapacious hands on all rich booty. He had also
power of excommunicating, suspending, and punishing in various ways, and
just as he pleased, all who resisted his will, though it might have been
a mere hasty action; just as if on that very day he had, according to
established custom, produced authentic Bulls, drawn up in the Papal
chancery. On which account it was said by some people, and not without
reason, that he had brought over a great many papers sealed with a
Bull,[15] but not filled up, for him to fill up himself as he pleased;
but I would hope that this was not the case. Accordingly, the aforesaid
Master Martin began to exact presents on all sides from the prelates in
an imperious manner, such as desirable palfreys and precious vessels,
and to extort them even by force (especially from those who belonged to
any religious Orders) for his own use (for that man prays foolishly who
forgets himself); and for the use of the Pope he extorted sums of money
and prebends to which men had been already elected, using this odious
additional form of words: "notwithstanding any privilege to the
contrary," etc. And as a certain rich prebend at Salisbury was vacant,
the aforesaid Master Martin, a diligent searcher out of such things,
laid his greedy and hooked hands upon it, and without consulting, or, I
may rather say, against the express wish of the Bishop of that See, he
conferred it on a young man, a nephew of the lord the Pope. And in a
similar manner the unwearied Master Martin, before-mentioned, conferred
other benefices on the kinsmen of the Pope, of whom there was an
astonishing number, not without causing great astonishment to many
persons of experience. For many people believed, and because they
believed, hoped that the Roman Court, having been so repeatedly
chastised by God, would, in some degree, at least, check its accustomed
avarice by the bridle of moderation.
[15] Technically, the Bull was the leaden seal affixed to a Papal
document.