Editing Edward II of England (section)

===Religion===
Edward's approach to religion was normal for the period, and the historian Michael Prestwich describes him as "a man of wholly conventional religious attitudes".<ref name="Prestiwch2006P67">{{Harvnb|Prestwich|2006|p=67}}.</ref> There were daily chapel services and [[almsgiving]] at his court, and Edward blessed the sick, although he did this less often than his predecessors.<ref name=Prestiwch2006P67/> Edward remained close to the Dominican Order, which had helped to educate him, and followed their advice in asking for papal permission to be anointed with the Holy Oil of St. Thomas of Canterbury in 1319; this request was refused, causing the king some embarrassment.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=65–66}}.</ref> Edward supported the expansion of the universities during his reign, establishing [[King's Hall, Cambridge|King's Hall]] in Cambridge to promote training in religious and civil law, [[Oriel College]] in Oxford and a [[Trinity College Dublin#History|short-lived university in Dublin]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Musson|2006|p=157}}; {{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=61–62}}.</ref>

Edward enjoyed a good relationship with [[Pope Clement&nbsp;V]], despite the king's repeated intervention in the operation of the English Church, including punishing bishops with whom he disagreed.<ref>{{Harvnb|Menache|2002|p=60}}; {{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=263}}.</ref> With Clement's support, Edward attempted to gain the financial support of the English Church for his military campaigns in Scotland, including taxation and borrowing money against the funds gathered for the crusades.<ref>{{Harvnb|Menache|2002|pp=66, 70–71, 73}}.</ref> The Church did relatively little to influence or moderate Edward's behaviour during his reign, possibly because of the bishops' self-interest and concern for their own protection.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=337}}.</ref>

[[Pope John XXII]], elected in 1316, sought Edward's support for a new crusade, and was also inclined to support him politically.<ref name="Phillips 2011 263">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=263}}.</ref> In 1317, in exchange for papal support in his war with Scotland, Edward agreed to recommence paying the annual Papal tribute, which had been first agreed to by King [[John, King of England|John]] in 1213; Edward soon ceased the payments, however, and never offered his homage, another part of the 1213 agreement.<ref name="Phillips 2011 263"/> In 1325 Edward asked Pope John to instruct the Irish Church to openly preach in favour of his right to rule the island, and to threaten to excommunicate any contrary voices.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=286}}.</ref>