II2
Constitutional History.
not the less a blunder ; it involved him immediately in the
great quarrel which was going on at the time between the
SoΛtιfort⅛ church and state of England and the papacy; it to some
extent alienated the national goodwill, for the legation of a
cardinal was inextricably bound up in the popular mind with
heavy fees and procurations ; and it gave Gloucester an oppor-
tunity for attack which he had sought for in vain before. His
share in the ecclesiastical struggle forms part of a very intricate
episode in our church history which cannot be touched upon
here. The bearings of his promotion on popular opinion and
on his relations to Gloucester were immediately apparent. He
returned to England in 1428, and was solemnly received at
London by the lord mayor and citizens on the ɪst of September.
Gloucester in the king’s name refused to recognise his Iegatine
authority, and published a solemn protest against it as con-
trary to the immemorial and constitutional custom of the
realm1. The cardinal had already forwarded to Chichele the
papal bull under which he was commissioned to raise money
for the Hussite crusade. On the 23rd of November two papal
envoys informed the convocation of Canterbury2 that the pope
had imposed the payment of an entire tenth for the Bohemian
war. Some similar proposition had been made to the council
in the preceding May, but little notice was taken of the subject
Aiarmathis until the cardinal returned. The alarm of a new impost, on
inconnexion a nation already bearing its burdens somewhat impatiently,
Hnssite gave Gloucester his opportunity. The cardinal was treated
with great respect, and allowed to go on his mission to
CUoncester Scotland3, but on the 17th of April, 1429, a question was
raised in council which involved his right to retain the
bishopric of Winchester; ought he, being a cardinal, to be
allowed to officiate as bishop of Winchester and prelate of the
Order of the Garter at the approaching feast of S. George.
1 Gregory, p. 162; Amund. ɪ. 26; Foxe, Acts and Monuments, iii. 719:
Brown, Fascic. Iter. Bxpetend. ii. 618 sq.
2 The convocation opened July 5, and closed about Nov. 30, after
granting a half tenth to the king, and making some ordinances against
the Lollards; Aniund. ɪ. 24, 32 ; Wilkins, Cone. Hi. 493 sq. 496 sq., 503.
3 Amund. ɪ. 33, 34: he passed through S. Alban’s on his way Feb. 12,
and on his return about April ɪɪ ; ib. ; Ordinances, Hi. 318.
xvni∙] End of t⅛e Protectorate. u3
The lords being severally consulted refused to determine the
noiιιt, but begged the bishop to waive his right1. Notwith-Heisai-
ɪ . ° . r∙ι∙ 1 τ, lowed to
standing this indication of his weakness, Beaufort, on the ι8th enlist forets,
of June, obtained leave from the king and council to retain
500 lances and 2500 archers for his expedition2. On the
same day was fought the battle of Patay, in which Talbot the
English general was taken3; and this, coupled with the relief
of Orleans by the Maid of Orleans in the preceding month,
had a marked effect on the council. On the ɪst of July, at Beaufort’s
, forces lent
Rochester, the council agreed with the cardinal that his forces to Bedford,
should be allowed to serve in France under Bedford for half
a year4. He yielded the point graciously; the approaching
parliament would have to decide whether he had bettered his
position.
335. The parliament met on the 22nd of September3. The Parliament
condition of France was such that the council of that kingdom
had strongly urged the coronation of the young king6. Before
he could be crowned king of France he must be crowned king
of England ; pɪeparations were accordingly made somewhat llenly'ts. ɪɪ
hurriedly, and the ceremony was performed at Westminster on Nov. 1429.
the 6th of November7. As soon as England had a crowned
king the office and duty of the protector terminated, and the
lords spiritual and temporal voted that it should cease ; on the End of
x x _ _. 1 . the pro-
15th of November Gloucester was obliged to renounce it, tectonite,
retaining only the title of chief counsellor, but leaving it open
to Bedford to retain or surrender it as he pleased3. This
1 Ordinances, iii. 323 ; Rymer, x. 414.
3 Ordinances, iii. 330-332 ; Rymer, x. 419-422.
3 Monstrelet, liv. ii. c. 61.
4 Ordinances, iɪi. 339. On June 22 the cardinal had set out for
Bohemia, but remained in France with the regent, and returned for the
coronation ; Gregory, p. 164 ; Hall, p. 152 ; Amund. ι∖ 38, 39, 42 ; Rymer,
x. 424, 427 ; Chron. Giles, p. 10. He lost his legation on the death of
Martin V in 1431, and the whole project came to an end.
5 Rot. Parl. iv. 335 ; Amund. i. 42. William Alyngton was speaker.
6 Rymer, x. 413, 414: letters to this effect were laid before a great
council on April 15, 1429; Oruinances, iii. 322; and the king announced
his intention of going to France, Dec. 20 ; ib. iv. 10.
7 The ceremonies are detailed in Gregory’s Chronicle, pp. 165 stɪ. Th©
ampulla was used; Ordinances, iv. 7.
fi Rot. Parl. iv. 336; Rymer, x. 436.
VOL. HI. ɪ