Bischopis in the firste and ije. chapitris of his decree; [See Coleti, Concil. tom. l. pp. 636, 637. This Epistle is spurious, being one of the forgeries of Isidorus Mercator. The Chronicles, such as that of Martinus Polonus (Supp. A.D. 226), who says, "Hujus tem|pore cœpit primum Romana ecclesia prædia possidere," are probably de|rived from it.] and also by manye mo ȝeeris bifore the daies of Pope Siluester and of Constantyn Emperour in the daies of Pope Eleutheri and of Luci, king of Britouns, the hool al chirche of Englond was endewid with temporal immovable possessiouns large and greete, forwhi with the same large and grete possessiouns with whiche bifore the hethen bischopis and hethen chirchis in Ynglond weren endewid, as stories wit|nessen [Geoffrey of Monmouth (De Gest. Brit. lib. v. c. l.) seems to be the original authority for this state|ment. How far it is "worthy and credible" the reader may judge from Fuller's Ch. Hist. of Brit. book l. cent. ii., and Collier's Eccl. Hist. of Brit. book l. cent. ii.] ; as of these bothe endewingis oold stories and cronicles [croniclees, MS. (first hand).] (being famose and worthi and credible and not being apocrifis) maken mension. And ther|fore not for the firste now bifore seid cause thilk voice was maad and spokun in the eir.
Thou maist not seie that for the ije. cause now bifore seid thilk voice was maad in the eir: Forwhi, as anoon her aftir it schal be proued, the seid Em|perour Constantyn endewid not the [not pope, MS. (first hand).] Pope Siluester neither eny chirche in Rome with eny greet ha|bundaunt immouable possessiouns, but oonli with possessiouns competentli and mesurabily, with suf|ficience seruying for the fynding of the preestis and mynystris of the chirchis whiche he endewid; except oon chirche clepid [clepid is added in the margin by a later hand.] Constantynyana, into which chirche he ȝaf a certein of possessioun for fynding of liȝtis and for fynding of bawme into brennyng of laumpis, ouer the competent vnmouable endewing
