Henry VIII,the Reign

Extract from the History of the English Church
John’s Surrender of the Kingdom to the Pope in 1213

This took place at Dover, before Pandulf, the legate, 15 May 1213, and was renewed at London, before Nicholas, Bishop of Tusculum, on 3 October when the homage here promised was rendered.

John, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, earl of Anjou to all faithful in Christ who shall inspect this present charter, greeting.

We will it to be known by all of you by this our charter, confirmed by our seal, that we have offended God and our mother the holy Church in many things, and being on that account known to need the Divine mercy. And unable to make any worthy offering for the performance of due satisfaction to God and the church, unless we humble ourselves and our realms – we willing to humble ourselves for Him who humbled Himself for us even to death, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit’s grace, under no compulsion of force or fear, but of our good and free will and by the common consent of our barons, offer and freely grant to God and His holy apostles Peter and Paul, and the holy Roman Church, our mother, and to our lord the Pope Innocent and his catholic successors, the whole realm of England and the whole realm of Ireland with all their rights and appurtenances, for the remission of our sins and those of all our race, as well as quick and dead.

And from now receiving back and holding these, as a feudal dependent, from God and the Roman Church, in the presence of the prudent man Pandulf, sub deacon and familiar of the lord the pope, do swear fealty for them to the aforesaid our lord the Pope Innocent and his catholic successors and the Roman Church, according to the form written below, and will do liege homage to the same lord the Pope in his presence if we shall be able to be present before him.

Binding our successors and heirs by our wife, for ever, that in like manner to the supreme pontiff for the time being, and to the Roman Church, they should pay fealty and acknowledge homage without contradiction.
Moreover, in proof of this our perpetual obligation and grant, we will and establish that from the proper special revenues of our realms aforesaid, for all services and customs that we should render for ourselves, saving in all respects the penny of blessed Peter, the Roman Church receive 1000 marks sterling each year, to wit at the feast of St Michael 500 marks, and at Easter 500 marks;700 to wit for the realm of England and 300 for the realm of Ireland; saving to us and our heirs ,our rights, liberties and royalties.

All which as aforesaid, we willing them to be perpetually ratified and confirmed bind ourselves and our successors not to contravene

And if we or any of our successors shall presume to attempt this, whoever he maybe, unless he come to amendment after due admonition, let him forfeit right to the kingdom, and let this charter of obligation and grant on our part remain in force for ever.

The ​​Oath of Fealty

I, John, by the grace of God king of England and lord of Ireland, from this hour forward will be faithful to God and the blessed Peter and the Roman Church, and my lord the Pope Innocent and his successors following in catholic manner.

I will not be party in deed, word, consent, or counsel ,to their loosing life or limb or being unjustly imprisoned. Their damage, if I am aware of it, I will prevent, and will have removed if I can; or else as soon as I can, I will signify it or will tell such persons as I shall believe will tell them certainly.

Any counsel they entrust to me, immediately or by their messengers or their letter, I will keep secret, and will consciously disclose to no one to their damage. The patrimony of blessed Peter and specially the realm of England and the realm of Ireland, I will hold and defend against all men to my ability. So help me God and these holy gospels.
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Witness myself at the house of the Knights Templars near Dover, in the presence of the lord H., Archbishop of Dublin; master J., Bishop of Norwich; G., the son of Peter Earl of Essex, our justice; W., Earl of Salisbury, our brother; W. Marshal, Earl of Pembroke; R., count of Boulogne; W., Earl of Warrene; S., Earl of Winchester; W., Earl of Arundel; W., Earl of Ferrieres; W, Briwer; Peter, son of Herbert; Warin, son of Gerold; on the 15th day of May, in the 14th year of our reign.

King John Kneeling before the Pope's Legate