M. Hardinge.
After this fowle lye foloweth an* 1.1 other. Let him remember (say these Defenders) that they be his men that haue decreed, that a priest for fornication ought not to be remoued from his cure. To this we may saye, that although he be not depriued of his cure, yet he may be punished other wise. But let vs see, how they would proue that they saye.‡ 1.2 By their note in their margent they send vs for proufe to the canon lawe. 3. quaest. 7. Lata. Extra de bigamis. Quia circa. As touching the chapter Lata, in the decrees we finde none suche And, in Causa. 3. quast. 7. there is nothinge to this purpose. The paragraphe Quia circa. Extra. is vnderstanded of them, who being in the state of bigamie, are not to be promoted to holy orders, and not of one who is already made priest, that he be not for Fornication remoued. But, to vnderstande, what was donne to a priest, that had committed fornication, by order of lawe.* 1.3 in case any Bishop, or priest, or deacon, after degree of deaconship taken, had benne con∣uict of fornication, or aducutrie, he was deposed, and castout of the Churche, and enioined to doo penaunce amonge the lartie. VVhiche thinge S. Syluester at length mercifully changed, enioininge † 1.4 ten yeres penaunce after a prescript forme, whiche to oure newe cleregie woulde seeme very harde, and straite.
Yea further the lawe of the Churche in this case so litle beareth with the sinnefull life of Clerkes, that,‡ 1.5 if any Bishop in his Dioces had consented and borne with the fornication of Priestes, or Deacons, or with the crime of incest, for money, or praier, or had not by Auctoritie of his Bishoply Office duly punished sutche faultes committed: the same shoulde be suspended from his Office. And this muche wee haue shewed touchinge the remouinge of a Prieste, not onely from his benefice, but al∣so from his office, for cause of fornication: wherein these menne moste falsely haue slaundered the Churche, as now to any man it may* 1.6 appeere.