as wel for the discouerie of so greate vntruthe, as also for the better satisfaction
of the Reader, I haue thought it good, briefely, & by the waie to touche, what maie
be founde in olde Recordes of good credite, touchinge the same.
Firste therefore the Archebishop of Canturburie paide vnto the Pope for his
Annates, or Firste fruites, at euery vacation, tenne thousande Florenes: bisides o∣ther
fiue thousande Florenes for the vse, and right of his Palle.
The Archebishop of Yorke paide likewise for his Firste fruites tenne thou∣sande
Florenes, and, as it is thought, other fiue thousand Florenes for his Palle.
The Bishop of Elie paide for his Firste Fruites seuen thousand Florenes.
The Bishop of London paide for his First Fruites thrée thousande Florenes.
The Bishop of Wincester paide for his First Fruites xij. thousande Florenes.
The Bishop of Exceter paide for his Firste Fruites six thousande Florenes.
The Bishop of Lincolne paide for his Firste Fruites fiue thousande Florenes.
The Bishop of Lichefielde, and Couentrie paide for his Firste Fruites thrée
thousande Florenes.
The Bishop of Herforde paide for his First Fruites one thousande, and eight
hundred Florenes.
The Bishop of Sarisburie paide for his First Fruites foure thousande, and fiue
hundred Florenes. And so the reaste, eche man accordingly after his rate.
Here is to be noted, that a Florene is an Italian Crowne, of the valewe of
four shillinges and six pense sterlinge.
Thus mutche I haue noted onely for example. By these few the discréete Rea∣der
maie easily gheasse the Exactions, and paimentes of the other Bishoppes.
The whole value of the Popes Firste Fruites throughout Europe, as I finde
in one Recorde (although very vnperfite, for that it lacketh sundrie great, knowē,
& notable Bishoprikes, as Durham, Carlile, Worcester, Norvviche, Bathe, Chi∣chester,
whiche, with many other moe Archebishoprikes, & Bishoprikes, as wel
within the Dominions of our Kinges of Englande, as also in sundrie other Chri∣stian
Kingedomes, and Countries, are leafte vnreckened) ariseth to the Summe of
twoo thousande thousande, foure hundred thrée scoare thousande, eight hundred
fouretie and thrée Florenes.
Notwithstandinge yée make your Pope as bigge, as an Elephante, yet, M. H.
these reckeninges are ouer huge, in any reasonable proportion, to be resembled to
a gnatte. Here I leaue out the yéerely perquisites, that ye Pope made of his E∣lections,
Preuentions, Dispensations, Pluralities, Trialities, Torquottes, Tole∣rations:
for his Bulles, his S••ales, his Signatures: for Eatinge Fleash, for Egges,
for White Meate, for Priestes Concubines, & for other like marchandise. I knowe
not what. The summe whereof not withstandinge amounteth to more then niene
hundred thousand Florenes. As for your Smoke farthinges, & Peter pense, I make
no reckeninge: by the vile, and contemptuous reporte whereof, ye shewe your self,
not onely ignorante, & vnskilful, in that yée write, which argueth somme folie, but
also iniurious vnto your Countrie. Reade Matthias Parisiensis, & yée shal find,
bothe by what tyrannie, and treacherie, and also what masses, and intolerable
summes of monie the Popes Ministers haue caried out of this Realme.
The Pope, saith he, beinge diseased vvith a Spiritual dropsie, that is to saie,
with an vnquencheable thirst of monie, shooke out al the Priestes purses, & spoi∣led
the Abbies of al theire Treasures.
Againe, The Pope made a Decree in Rome, that the goodes, and monies of al Bi∣shoppes,
and Priestes decessed within Englande, shoulde be taken to his vse.
The Pope gaue straite commaundemente to the Bishoppes of England, that al Per∣sonnes,
and Vicares beinge resident vpon theire Benefices, shoulde paie yeerely vnto him the
thirde parte of al the valewes of theire saide benefices: And, that al Parsonnes, and Vicares,