The Commune of London, and other studiesRound, John Horace
History
The Commune of London, and other studies
Round, John Horace
Great Britain -- History -- Norman period, 1066-1154; London (England) -- History -- To 1500
Ubi, requisitis et auditis publice terræ illius et gentis tam
enormitatibus quam spurcitiis, et in scriptum etiam sub sigillo
legati Lismoriensis, qui ceteris ibidem dignitate tunc præerat,
ex industria redactis, etc. (v. 280).
(ALEXANDER’S ‘PRIVILEGIUM.’)
Cum, _prænotatis_ spurcitiarum literis in synodo
Cassiliensi per industriam quæsitis, directis ad curiam Romanam
nunciis, ab Alexandro tertio tunc præsidente privilegium
impetravit, etc. (v. 315).
Miss Norgate, both in her History and in her article, seems to have
overlooked this latter important passage, doubtless from its occurring
in another part of Gerald’s work. She has thus not only missed his
sequence, but has failed to adduce his direct testimony to the despatch
of documents to Rome after the Council of Cashel. Roger Hoveden is
the only chronicler she quotes as an authority for the statement that
“the bishops joined with Henry in sending to Rome a report of his
proceedings and their own.[394] Now the ‘Gesta Henrici’ is a better
authority to quote from here than Hoveden; and from it, therefore, I
take the following statements”:
(1) The Irish kings “seipsos ei et ejus dominio dederunt
et homines ejus devenerunt de omnibus tenementis suis, et
fidelitates ei juraverunt” (i. 25).
(2) The prelates “eum in regem et dominum susceperunt et
fidelitates eo juraverunt contra omnes homines. Et inde recepit
ab unoquoque Archiepiscopo et episcopo litteras suas in modum
cartæ, extra sigillum pendentes, et confirmantes ei et heredibus
suis regnum Hyberniæ, et testimonium perhibentes ipsos eum et
heredes suos sibi in reges et dominos constituisse imperpetuum”
(i. 26).
(3) “Cum autem hoc factum fuisset predictus rex Angliæ misit
nuncios suos ad Alexandrum summum pontificem cum litteris
archiepiscoporum et episcoporum Hyberniæ ad confirmandum sibi et
heredibus suis regnum Hyberniæ, sicque factum est. Nam summus
pontifex, auctoritate apostolica, confirmavit ei et heredibus
suis regnum illud, et eos imperpetuum reges constituit” (i. 28).
We have then the independent evidence of Gerald and of the ‘Gesta’--
(_A_) That Henry sent “nuncii” to Rome after going to
Ireland.
(_B_) That these “nuncii” took with them documentary
evidence, in the form, according to Gerald, of “letters” from
the Legate and prelates at Cashel, but according to the ‘Gesta’
of sealed recognitions, by the several Irish prelates of Henry
and his heirs as kings (of Ireland).
(_C_) That the Pope in reply, according to Gerald, sent a
“privilegium” empowering Henry to rule the Irish, and reform
their ecclesiastical condition,[395] but, according to the
‘Gesta,’ confirmed Henry in possession of the kingdom of
Ireland, and appointed him and his heirs kings thereof for ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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