Middle English Literature

part of obedience to the pope. Indeed, there are ten provinces in it, of
which eight (as defined above) are subject to the English nation, and the
king of England now peacefully possesses seven of them under temporal rule
and will soon, with the grace of God, possess the rest. The aforementioned
English nation also has one hundred and ten dioceses, as is discussed below.
Insofar as they also write that Wales is not subject to the king of England
and neither are the prelates and clergy of those parts, and they do not want
to be part of the English nation, as is evident in this council: after making
our protestation in advance, it is answered that they should blush to write
something so contrary to the well-known truth because all Wales obeys the
archbishop of Canterbury in his office of primate in spiritual matters and the
most serene king of England in temporal ones, and does so peacefully and
quietly, inasmuch as is evident in part even to this council since a number
of venerable doctors and other graduates and clerics from Wales are here
among the glorious English nation. In accordance with this also it is evident
that they speak less accurately of Ireland, which contains four provinces and
sixty spacious and ample dioceses, which are recognized indubitably and by
common knowledge to belong to the glorious English nation.
Insofar as they also suppose that suffragans of the kingdom of Scotland
are not and do not want to be of the English nation: having made our
protestation in advance, it is answered that the suffragans are (by common
knowledge) and ought to be of the English, or British, nation, since they
cannot make any denial that Scotland is part of Britain, though not so great
a part as England (which is known to the entire world), and they even have
the same language as the English.
28
Benedict XII’s division of Britain into four provinces.

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It is also strange that such authors want to write that Wales, Ireland, and
even Scotland are not of the English nation because they are not subject to
the king of England. This is a given and not a concession, which has no use
with regards to the proposition because it is well known that it makes no
difference whether a nation is subject only to a single ruler or to several. Are
there not many kingdoms in the Spanish nation, which are not subject to
the king of Castille, the ruler of the Spanish? And even so it does not follow
that they are not of the Spanish nation. Are there not Provence, Dauphiny,
Savoy, Burgundy, Lorraine, and several other lands that have nothing to do
with our adversary France and nevertheless are contained in the nation of
France, or the Gallic nation? And thus likewise among other nations?
Third, as well, having made in advance as always our protestation here
repeated, it is answered: it is the truth that to make any comparison among
kingdoms accords with neither law nor reason since such comparisons are
odious and first devised by the prince of darkness. But inasmuch as those
who write from the opposite position perceive the superiority and nobility
of the kingdom of France to the kingdom of England yet speak without
prejudice or making any comparison, and in order to satisfy those who write
from the opposite position, we state that the renowned kingdom of England
is recognized to be of no less antiquity or prestige than the aforementioned
kingdom of France but rather is more truly of more ancient and greater
faith, dignity, and honour, or at least equal in all things, even in royal
power, and in the divine favours of the great number of its clerics and
peoples, and in the richness of its possessions.
From the time of the second age of the world, the preeminent royal
house of England has flourished and thus far has existed continuously and
in fact. Moreover, the royal house of England has been found to bring
forth, among the several holy branches it produced, which could not easily
be counted, St. Helen, with her son Constantine the Great, Emperor, born
in the royal city of York.
29
They returned several lands of the infidels and
the cross of the Lord from the peoples of the infidels to the hands of
Christians and into their trust. Furthermore, that most religious man first
gave permission throughout the whole world to those who lived under
his rule not only to become Christians but also to build churches; he also
established rewards to be given to them, bestowed enormous donations,
and initiated the construction of the temple of the first seat of St. Peter so
as to relinquish the imperial residence and yield it to St. Peter and his
29
Medieval legend states that St. Helen, mother of Constantine the Great, the first Christian
emperor (306–37), found the true cross.
The English and England
57

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58
Force and Order
successors in the future. He also first granted permission for Christians
freely to convene general councils for the destruction of heresies and schisms.
In addition, he honoured the church so much that he called the clerics
themselves gods. Indeed, the most powerful royal house of England never
departed from obedience to the Roman church but under it has fought thus
far in a most Christian manner . . . [The English writers continue by disput-
ing France’s claim to contain more provinces, diocese, counties, and churches,
as well as a greater area than England. They also claim an older Christian
origin than France, citing the story that Joseph of Arimathea and twelve
others made their way to England after the crucifixion and converted the
English.]
It is also generally agreed, according to Albertus Magnus and Bartho-
lomeus’ On the Properties of Things,
30
that the whole world is divided into three