Prolicionycion [sic]

¶De preconijs sanctorum / ¶ Capitulum 36

HCre Graldus maketh mynde that as men of this nacion ben more angry than other men and more hasty for to take wreche whyles they ben alyue. So seyntes and halowes of this londe ben more wrecheful than sayn••es of other londes / Clerkes of this lande ben chaste and sayen many prayers and don grete abstynence a day and drynketh al nyght. So that it is acounted for a myracle / that lecherye regneth not there as wyne regneth· And they that ben euyl of them ben worst of all other / so good men amonge them though they be but fewe ben good atte beste / Prelates of that coūtrey ben ful slowe in correction of trespaas and besym contemplacion and not in prechyng of goddes worde· Therfore it is that alle the sayntes of that lond. ben confessours & no martir emonge them and no wonder. For alle the prelates of this londe ben chosen oute of abbayes in to the clerg••e / ¶ And don as monkes sholde· what Clerkes and prelates shulde doo is to them vnknowen· therfor whan it was put ayenste the bisshop of Cassil how it myght be that so many sayntes ben in Irlond & neuer a martir amonge hem alle syth that the men ben so shreud and so angry / and the prelates so recheles and slowe in correction of trespaas / the bisshop answerd frowardly ynowgh and sayde our men ben shrewd and angry ynowgh to hem self. but to god¦des seruaūtes they ••eye neuer honde / but do to hem grete reuerence

and worship· But Englysshe men come in to this londe that can make martres and were wont to vse that craft / ¶R The bis¦shop sayd so by cause that kyng harry the second was tho newe comen in to Irlond fresshly after the marterdom of seynt thomas of Counterbury / ¶Gir· in this lond in wales and in scotland ben belles and staues with croked heedes and other such thynges for relyquyes in grete reuerence & worship / So that men of this londe dreden more for to swere vpon ony of thylke belles & gold staues than vpon the gospel· The chyef of all suche relyquyes is y holde Ihesus staf· that is at deuelyn / with the which staf· they saye that the first seynt patrik droo•• the wormes oute of Irlond ¶Augustinus de ciuitate d••i / Capitulo septimo. yf men axe how it maye be that dyuerse maner beestes and of dyuerce kynde that ben kyndly goten bitwene male und female come and ben in I∣londes after noes flood / Men supposen that suche beestes swam in to Ilondes aboute· And first to the nexte and so forth in to other Or els men seylly•••• in to ylondes brought with hem such beestes f••r loue of huntynge or angels at god almyghtyes commaun∣dement brought suche beestes in to Ilondes aboute. or the erthe brought hem forth firste and fulfylled tho goddes commaunde∣ment that commanded the erthe to brynge forth gras and quyck beestes