Ancient funerall monuments within the vnited monarchie of Great Britaine, Ireland, and the islands adiacent with the dissolued monasteries therein contained: their founders, and what eminent persons haue beene in the same interred. As also the death and buriall of certaine of the bloud royall; the nobilitie and gentrie of these kingdomes entombed in forraine nations. A worke reuiuing the dead memory of the royall progenie, the nobilitie, gentrie, and communaltie, of these his Maiesties dominions. Intermixed and illustrated with variety of historicall obseruations, annotations, and briefe notes, extracted out of approued authors ... Whereunto is prefixed a discourse of funerall monuments ... Composed by the studie and trauels of Iohn Weeuer.

CHAP. XII. Of the fall or backsliding as well of religious persons, as of lay-people from the foresaid zealous ardour of pietie.

THis heate of deuotion, which I haue spoken of, continued not long in this Island. For as the Clergie and other religious orders, grew rich in

faire buildings, proud furniture, and ample reuenues, so they daily increa∣sed in all kindes of disorders; which was no sooner perceiued, but put in pra∣ctise by the Laitie: our kings declined from their former sanctitie, and (which the worst was) after their examples, many others (especially of the Nobilitie) did follow their licentious traces. Examples of Princes being al∣wayes of greater force then other lawes, to induce the people to good or to euill.* 1.1 Nam haec conditio Principum, vt quicquid faciant praecipere vide∣antur.

To proue as much as I haue spoken.* 1.2 In the yeare of Grace, 747 Cuth∣bert Archbishop of Canterbury, by the counsell of Boniface Bishop of Mentz, called a Conuocation at Cliffe beside Rochester, to reforme the ma∣nifold enormities wherewith the Church of England at that time was ouergrowne. Our kings forsaking the companie of their owne wiues, in those dayes delighted altogether in harlots, which were for the most part Nunnes. The rest of the Nobilitie following their example, trode also the same trace. The Bishops likewise, and other of the Clergie, that should haue beene a meanes of the reforming these faults in others, were themselues no lesse faultie; spending their times either in contentions and brables, or else in luxurie and voluptuousnesse, hauing no care of study, and seldome or ne∣uer preaching Whereby it came to passe, that the whole land was ouer∣whelmed, with a most darke and palpable mist of ignorance, and polluted with all kinde of wickednesse and impietie, in all sorts of people. In which Conuocation, after long consultation with those his Bishops, or Suffra∣ganes, and the rest of the Clergie which were holden in greatest esteeme for their learning, in number thirtie, for the reformation of these horrible abuses, endeauouring thereby (like a good Pastour) to turne away the wrath of God which seemed to hang ouer this land, and to threaten those plagues which not long after fell vpon it, when the Danes inuaded the same.

Edgar, surnamed the peaceable, King of England in the yeare, 969. called together his Bishops, and other of his Clergie, to whom hee made this or the like Oration, as followeth.

Forsomuch as our Lord hath magnified his mercy to worke with vs it is meete (most reuerend Fathers) that with worthy workes we answer his innumerable benefits:* 1.3 for neither by our owne sword possesse we the earth, and our owne armes hath not saued vs; but his right hand and his holy arme; for that he hath beene pleased with vs. Meete therefore it is, that we submit both our selues and our soules to him, that hath put all things vn∣der our feet; and that we diligently labour that they whom he hath made subiect vnto vs, may bee made subiect vnto his lawes. And truly it is my part to rule the Laitie, with the law of equitie, to doe iust iudgement be∣twixt man and his neighbours, to punish Church-robbers, to represse re∣bels, to deliuer the weake from the hands of his stronger; the poore and needie from them that spoile them. And it also belongeth to my care, to haue consideration to the health, quietnesse, or peace of the Ministers of the Church, the flocke of Monkes, the companies of Virgines, and to prouide the things needfull for them. The examining of whose manners belong∣eth vnto you, if they liue chastly, if they behaue themselues honestly to∣wards

them which bee abroad, if in diuine seruice they bee carefull, if in teaching the people diligent, if in feeding sober, if moderate in apparell, if in iudgement they be discreet. If you had cured these things by prudent scru∣tinie (by your licence I speake O reuerend Fathers) such horrible and ab∣hominable things of the Clerkes had not come to our eares. I omit to speake, that their Crowne is not large, nor their rounding conuenient, but wantonnesse in apparell, insolencie in behauiour, filthinesse in words, doe bewray the madnesse of the inward man. Furthermore, how great negli∣gence is there in the Diuines, when in the holy Vigils, they will scarce vouchsafe to be present, when at the holy solemnities of the diuine-seruice, they seeme to bee gathered together to play and to laugh, rather then to sing.

I will speake that which good men lament, and euill men laugh at. I will speake with sorrow (if so be it may be spoken) how they flow in banquet∣tings, in chambering and wantonnesse, that now Clerkes houses may bee thought to be brothell houses of harlots, and an assembly of plaiers. There is dice, there is dancing and singing, there is watching till midnight, with crying and shouting. Thus the patrimony of Kings, the almes of Princes, yea (and that more is) the price of that precious bloud is ouerthrowne. Had our fathers therefore for this purpose emptied their treasures? hath the Kings bountifulnesse giuen lands and possessions to Christian Churches for this end? that Clerkes harlots should be pampered with delicious dain∣ties, that riotous guests may be prepared for; that hounds and hawkes, and such like toyes may be gotten. Of this the Souldiers cry out, the common people murmure, the i••sters and scoffers sing and dance, and you regard it not; you spare it, you dissemble it. Where is the sword of Leuy, and zeale of Simeon, which killed the circumcised Sichimites, being the figure of them that defile the Church of Christ, with polluted acts, abusing Iacobs daugh∣ter as an harlot? Where is the spirit of Moses, that spared not his hous∣hold, kinsfolke worshipping the head of the calfe? Where is the dagger of Phin••es the Priest, who killing him that played the harlot with the Madia∣nite, with this holy emulation pacified Gods wrath? where is the spirit of Peter, by whose power couetousnesse is destroyed, and Simoniall heresie condemned? Endeauour to imitate, O ye Priests in God: It is time to rise against them that haue broken the Law of God. I haue Constantines, you haue Peters sword in your hands, let vs ioyne right hands, let vs couple sword to sword, that the Leapers may bee cast out of the Church, that the hallowed place of our Lord may bee purged, and the sonnes of Leui may minister in the Church. Go to carefully, I beseech you, lest it repent vs to haue done that which we haue done, and to haue giuen that which wee haue giuen, if we shall see that not to be spent in Gods seruice, but on the riotousnesse of most wicked men, though vnpunished libertie. Let the re∣liques of holy Saints, which they scorne, and the reuerend Altars before which they rage, moue you: Let the maruellous deuotion of our Ance∣stours moue you, whose almes the Clerkes furie abuseth, &c. To you I commit this businesse, that both by Bishoplie censure, and kingly authority, filthie liuers may be cast out of the Church, and they that liue in order may be brought in.

Not long after,* 1.4 to wit, in the raigne of Etheldred, commonly called, The vnready, it was foretold by an holy Anchorite; that forsomuch as the peo∣ple of this Nation were giuen ouer to all drunkennesse, treason, and careles∣nesse of Gods house; first by Danes, then by Normans, and last of all by the Scots they should be ouercome. Of which hereafter.

Edward the Confessor,* 1.5 whilest he lay sicke of that sicknesse whereof he died, after he had remained for two dayes speechlesse, on the third day ly∣ing for a time in a slumber, or soft sleepe, at the time of his waking, he fetch∣ed a deepe sigh, and thus said. O Lord God Almightie, if this be not a vaine fantasticall illusion, but a true vision which I haue seene, grant me space to vtter the same vnto these that stand here present, or else not. And herewith hauing his speech perfect, he declared how he had seene two Monkes stand by him, as he thought, whom in his youth he knew in Normandie to haue liued godly, and died Christianly. These religious men (said he) protesting to me that they were the messengers of God, spake these words. Because the chiefe gouernours of England, the Bishops, and Abbots, are not the mini∣sters of God, but the deuils, the Almighty God hath deliuered this king∣dome for one yeare and a day into the hands of the enemy, and wicked spi∣rits shall walke abroad through the whole land. And when I made answer that I would declare these things to the people, and promised on their be∣halfe, that they should doe penance in following the example of the Nini∣uites: they said againe, that it would not be, for neither should the people repent, nor God take any pitie vpon them And when is there hope to haue an end of these miseries? said I: Then said they, when a greene tree is cut in sunder in the middle, and the part cut off, is carried three acres breadth from the stocke, and returning againe to the stoale, shall ioyne therewith, and be∣gin to bud and beare fruit after the former manner, by reason of the sap re∣newing the accustomed nourishment, then (wee say) may there bee hope that such euils shall cease and diminish. With these words of the dying king, though many that stood by were strucke with feare; yet Stig and the Church-chopper, Archbishop of Canterbury, made but a iest thereof, say∣ing, that the old man doted, and raued now in his sicknesse. Neuerthe∣lesse within the same yeare the truth of this propheticall dreame or vision did plainly appeare. When the conquerour William seized into his hands, to glue vnto the Normans, the most part of euery mans possessions in Eng∣land; tooke from the Bishops Sees all their ancient priuiledges and free∣domes, bereaued all the Monasteries and Abbies of their gold and siluer, sparing neither Shrine,* 1.6 nor Challice, appropriating the said religious hou∣ses, with their reuenues to himselfe, degrading and depriuing as well Bi∣shops, as Abbats of their seats and honours, and detaining many of them in prison during their liues, that others of his owne followers might bee placed in their roomes.* 1.7 By which meanes there was scarce left any man in authoritie of the English nation to beare rule ouer the rest, insomuch that it was counted a reproach to be called an Englishman.

William surnamed Rufus, sonne to the Conquerour, and king of Eng∣land, endeauouring to abate the tumorous greatnesse of the Clergie, restrai∣ned his Subiects from going to Rome,* 1.8 withheld the annuall payment of Peter pence, and was oftentimes heard to giue forth these words, They fol∣low

not the trace of Saint Peter, they greedily gape after gifts and rewards, they retaine not his power whose pietie they do not imitate.* 1.9 Nothing was now more in vse then seasing, farming, and merchandizing of Church-li∣uings, and the chiefe agent in this businesse was one Ranulf Flambard, the Kings Chaplaine, afterwards Bishop of Durham, for which he gaue a thou∣sand pounds. Robert Bluet gaue for the Bishopricke of Lincolne, fiue thou∣sand pounds: and one Herbert Prior of Fiscane in Normandy bought for his father, whose name was Losinge, the Abbacie of Winchester, and for himselfe the Bishopricke of Norwich.* 1.10 Whereupon a versi••ier of that age made these rythmes.

Surgit in Ecclesia monstrum genitore Losinga, Symonidum secta, Canonum virtute resecta. Petre nimis tardas, nam Symon ad ardua tentat: Si praesens esses, non Symon ad alta volaret. Proh dolor Ecclesiae nummis venduntur & aere, Filius est Praesul pater Abbas Symon vterque. Quid non speremus si nummos possideamus? Omnia nummus habet, quid vult facit, addit, & aufert, Res nimis iniusta, nummis sit Praesul & Abba.

Thus translated by Bale in his Votaries:

A monster is vp the sonne of Losinga, Whiles the law seeketh Simony to flea: Peter thou sleepest, whiles Simon taketh time; If thou wert present, Simon should not clime. Churches are prised for syluer and gold, The sonne a Bishop, the father an Abbot old. What is not gotten if we haue richesse? Money obteineth, in euery businesse In Herberts way yet, it is a foule blot, That he by Simony, is Bishop and Abbot.

But Simonie was not so common now as other sinnes; for the Clergie in generall gaue themselues strangely to worldly pleasures,* 1.11 and pompous va∣nities; they wore gay rich garments, gilt spurres, embroidered girdles, and bushie locks.

The Monkes of Canterbury, as well nigh all other Monkes in England, were not vnlike to secular men,* 1.12 they vsed hawking and hunting, playing at dice, and great drinking; thou wouldest haue taken them to haue beene great Magnificoes rather then Monkes, they had so many seruants and at∣tendance of goodly aray and dignity.

Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury, by the permission of King Henry the first,* 1.13 assembled a great Councell of the Clergie at Westminster; where∣in he depriued many great Prelates of their promotions for their seuerall offences, and many Abbots for other enormities; forbidding the farming out of Church dignities.

In the raigne of King Henry the second, the abuses of Church-men were growne to a dangerous height, saith well the Monke of Newborough, lib. 2. cap. 16. for it was declared, saith he, in the Kings presence, that Clergie

men had committed aboue an hundred murthers in his raigne: Of which nine yeares were, as then, scarcely expired. And in the 23 of his raigne, the Nunnes of Amesbury were thrust out of their house, because of their in∣continent liuing. Rog. Houed.

Richard Cordelion, king of England, being told by a certaine Priest called Fulco, a Frenchman, that he kept with him three daughters, namely, pride, couetousnesse, and lechery, which would procure him the wrath of God, if he did not shortly rid himselfe of them:* 1.14 answered, That he would present∣ly bestow his three daughters in marriage; the Knights Templers (said he) shall haue my eldest daughter Pride: the white Monkes of the Cis••••ux order, Couetousnesse: and my third daughter Lechery, I commit to the Prelates of the Church, who therein take most pleasure and felicitie. And there you haue my daughters bestowed among you.

In the raigne of Henry the third,* 1.15 the Templars in London being in great glory, entertained the Nobilitie, forraine Embassadours, and the Prince himselfe very often, insomuch that Matthew Paris, Monke of Saint Albans, who liued in those dayes, cried out vpon them for their pride, who being at the first so poore as they had but one horse to serue two of them (in token whereof they gaue in their seales two men vpon one horsebacke) yet suddenly they waxed so insolent, that they disdained other orders, and sorted themselues with Noblemen. But this their insulting pride had a quicke period:* 1.16 for shortly after, to wit, in the beginning of King Edward the seconds raigne, in the Councell at Vienna, this their so highly esteemed order, was, vpon cleare proofe of their generall, odious, abhominable sins, and incredible Atheisticall impieties by them practised, vtterly abolished throughout all Christendome: And by the consent of all Christian Kings, depo••ed all in one day; taken all and committed to safe custody: And thus being polit••kely apprehended, their lands and goods were seised vpon: the heires of the Donours here in England, and such as had endowed these Templars with lands, entred vpon those parts of their ancient patrimonies after this dissolution,* 1.17 and detained them vntill not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred vnto the Knights of the Rhodes,* 1.18 or of S. Iohn of Ierusalem.

A litt••e before the vniuersall extinguishment of this order of the Tem∣plars,* 1.19 Philip the French King caused 54. of that Order with their great Master to be burnt at Paris; for their hainous vngodlinesse.

In the raigne of Edward the third, the Clergie of England exceeded all other Nations in the heaping vp together of many Benefices,* 1.20 and other spi∣rituall promotions; besides, at that time, they held the principall places both of trust and command in the kingdome. Some of them had twenty Bene∣fices with cure, and some more, and some of them had twenty Prebends, besides other great dignities.

William Wickham at the death of William Edington Bishop of Win∣chester, was made generall Administratour of spirituall and temporall things pertaining to that Bishopricke, and the next yeare was made Bishop of Winchester. This Wickham besides the Archdeaconry of Lincolne, and Prouostship of Welles, and the Parsonage of Manihant in Deuonshire, had twelue Prebends.

Simon Langham was Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chancelour of England.

Iohn Barnet Bishop of Bath, and Treasurer of England.

* 1.21The foresaid Wickham Keeper of the priuie Seale, Master of the Wards, and Treasurer of the Kings reuenues in France.

Dauid Wellar Parson of Somersham, Master of the Rolles, seruing King Edward, in the Chancery fortie yeares and more.

Ten beneficed Priests, Ciuilians, and Masters of the Chancery.

William Mu••se, Deane of S. Martins le Grand, chiefe Chamberlaine of the Exchequer, Receiuer, and Keeper of the Kings Treasure and Iewels.

William Ashby, Archdeacon of Northampton, Chancellour of the Ex∣chequer.

William Dighton, Prebendary of Saint Martins, Clerke of the priuie Seale.

Richard Chesterfield, Prebendary of S. Stephens, Treasurer of the Kings house.

Henry Snatch, Parson of Oundall, Master of the Kings Wardrobe.

Iohn Newenham, Parson of Fenistanton, one of the Chamberlaines of the Exchequer, and keeper of the Kings Treasurie, and Iewels.

Iohn Rouceby, Parson of Hardwicke, Surueior, and Controuler of the Kings works.

Thomas Britingham, Parson of Ashby, Treasurer to the King, for the parts of Guisnes, and the marches of Caleis.

Iohn Troys, Treasurer of Ireland, diuers wayes beneficed in Ireland.

Pope Vrban the first, made a decree against the heaping together of many Benefices, or spirituall promotions by one man, for the execution whereof he sent commandement to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and by him to all his Suffragans, to certifie in writing, the names, number, and qualities, of euery Clerke, Benefices, or liuings, within their seuerall Dio∣cesse. Whereupon this or the like certificate was brought in.

I finde, inter Breui•• Regis▪ Ed. 3. Ann. 24. that William Fox Parson of Lee neare Gainsborough,* 1.22 Iohn Fox, and Thomas of Lingeston, Friers Minors of that Couent in Lincolne, were indited before Gilbert Vmfreuill, and other Iustices, in partibus de Lindesey, apud Twhancaster, die Sabbati post festum s••ncti Iohannis Baptiste, in the said yeare, for that they came to Bradholme, a Nunnery in the County of Nottingham, the eighteenth of the Kal. of February, and then and there rapuerunt, & abduxerunt inde, contra pacem Domini Regis, quandam Monialem nomine Margaretam de Euernigham Sororem dicte Domus, exeuntes eam habit. Religionis, & induen∣tes eam Rob. virid. secular. ac etiam diuersa bona ad valenc. quadragint. so∣lid. Violently tooke and forcibly from thence carried away, against the peace of their Soueraigne Lord the King, a certaine Nunne by name Mar∣garet de Euernigham, a sister of the said house, stripping her quite out of her religious habit,* 1.23 and putting vpon her a greene Gowne, Robe, or Gar∣ment of the secular fashion, and also diuers goods to the value of forty shillings.

In this Kings raigne Robert Longland a secular Priest, borne in Shrop∣shire, at Mortimers C••liberie, writ bitter inuectiues against the Prelates, and

all religious orders in those dayes, as you may reade throughout this book, which he calls, The vision of Piers Plowman.

Presently after, in the raigne of Richard the second, Iohn Gower flourish∣ed, who in his booke called,* 1.24 Vox clamantis, cries out against the Clergie∣men of his time; first, Quod Christi scholam dogmatizant, & eius contrari∣um operantur. 2 Quod potentiores alijs existunt. 3 Quod carnalia appetentes vltra modum delicatè vinunt. 4 Quod lucris terrenis inhiant, honore Pre∣lacie gaudent, & non vt prosint, sed vt presint, Episcopatum desiderant. Quod legibus positi••is quae quamuis ad cultum anime necessarie non sunt, in∣finitas tamen constitutiones quasi quotidie ad eorum lucrum nobis grauiter im∣pon••••t. Quod bona temporalia possidentes, spiritualia omittunt. Quod Chri∣stus pacem suis discipulis dedit & reliquit; sed Prelati propter bona ter∣rena guerras contra Christianos, legibus suis positiuis, instituunt, & prose∣quuntur. Quod cleri sunt bellicosi. Quod scribunt & docent ea quae sunt pa∣cis, sed in contrarium ea quae sunt belli procurant. Quod nomen sanctum sibi presumunt, appropriant tamen sibi terrena, nec alijs inde participando ex ca∣ritate subueniunt. Quod intrant Ecclesiam per Symoniam. Quod honores & non onera Prelacie plures affectant, quo magis in Ecclesia cessant virtutes, & vitia multipliciter accrescunt. Quod Rectores in curis residentes, cu••••s ta∣men negligentes, venationibus praecipue, & voluptatibus penitus intendunt. Quod Presbyteri sine curis, siue stipendarij non propter mundici••m, & or∣dinis honestatem, sed propt••r mundi otia gradum Presbyteratus appetunt & assumunt. Much more he speakes against the abuses and vices of Church∣men, as also against the lewd liues of the Schollars in Cambridge and Ox∣ford, which he calls the Churches plants: concluding thus his third book:

Sic quia stat cecus morum sine lumine clerus Erramus Laici nos sine luce vagi.

In his fourth booke hee speakes of Monkes, and all other religious Or∣ders: Quod contra primi ordinis statuta abstinentie virtutem linquunt, & delicias sibi corporales multipliciter assumunt. Ripping vp their faults in particular.

Chaucer who was contemporarie and companion with Gower, in the Plowmans tale, the Romant of the Rose, and in his Treatise which hee in∣titles, lacke Vpland, writes as much, or more, against the pride, couetous∣nesse▪ insatiable luxurie, hypocrisie, blinde ignorance, and variable discord amongst the Church-men, and all other our English votaries. As also how rude and vnskilfull they were in matters and principles of our Christian institutions; to whose workes, now commonly in print, I referre my Rea∣der, for further satisfaction.

In a Parliament holden at Westminster, the eleuenth yeare of King Hen∣ry the fourth, the lower house exhibited a Bill to the King and the Lords of the vpper house in effect as followeth.

To the most excellent Lord our King,* 1.25 and to all the Nobles in this pre∣sent Parliament assembled, your faithfull Commons doe humbly signifie, that our Soueraigne Lord the King might haue of the temporall possessi∣ons, lands, and reuenues which are lewdly spent, consumed, and wasted, by the Bishops, Abbats, and Priors, within this Realme; so much in value

as would suffice to finde and sustaine one hundred and fifty Earles, one thousand and fiue hundred Knights, sixe thousand and two hundred Es∣quiers, and one hundred Hospitals, more then now be.

* 1.26But this Petition of spoiling the Church of England of her goodly patri∣monies, which the pietie and wisedome of so many former ages had con∣gested, was by the King (who was bound by oath and reason to preserue the flourishing estate of the Church) so much detested, that for this their proposition, he denied all other their requests: and commanded them that from thenceforth they should not presume to intermeddle with any such matter.

This King, as also his sonne, and grandchilde, were wondrous indulgent to the Clergie; although they were daily disquieted with the bellowing of the Popes Prouisorie Bulls. For Henry the fifth was so deuour and seruice∣able to the Church of Rome and her Chaplaines, that he was called of ma¦ny, the Prince of Priests.* 1.27 And Henry the sixth, surnamed the holy, wa an obedient childe, and no lesse, nay more obsequious to the See Apostolicall, then any of his predecessours; howsoeuer I finde that once he reiected the Popes Bull,* 1.28 concerning the restoring of the Temporalities of the Bishop∣pricke of Ely.

And now giue me leaue a little to digresse, speaking somewhat by the way of the denomination of this word Bulla, and why the Bishops of Rome call their leaden Seales, by which they confirme their writings, Bulls. This word Bulla was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.29 id est, à Consilio, of councell. For that anciently a golden Bull, broach, or ornament, round and hollow with∣in, was vsually fastened about the necks or breasts of young children, and semblablie to all their pictures, signifying thereby, that their render vn∣bridled age ought to be gouerned by the graue councell, and good aduise of others, of more maturitie in yeares. And from hence the Bishops of Rome borrowed the name for their leaden Seales; vpon one part of which the name of the Pope is to be read: on the other, the head of Saint Paul on the right side of the Crosse, and of Saint Peter on the left are to bee seene. Honoris tamen non praelationis gratia factitatum hoc ab Ecclesia. Nam quanquam S. Petrus sit Princeps Apostolici ordinis, tamen Ecclesia voluit eos indiscretae esse excellentiae. But this was done of the Church (saith my Author) in regard of honour, not of preheminence; For although Saint Peter be the head of the Apostolike Order, yet the Church will haue them to be of an vndistinct excellence.

Now the Popes per liter as suas bullatas Regi directas, did preferre whom they pleased, and how they pleased, to any Ecclesiasticall promotion here in England. One example for all.

Innocent the seuenth by his Bull preferred Richard Fleming, first to the Bishopricke of Lincolne, then to the Archbishopricke of Yorke, and last∣ly driue him backe againe by his roaring Bull to his first preferment of Lin∣colne. All which this King thus ratifies.

Cum nuper summus Pontifex Richardum tunc Episcopum Lincoln: a vin∣culo quo eidem Ecclesie tenebatur absolnerit;* 1.30 ad Ecclesiam Ebor: transtulerit. Nec non à vinculo quo eidem Ecclesie Ebor. cui tunc preerat, tenebatur, ab∣soluit ipsum; ad prefat. Lincoln. Ecclesiam duxerit restituend. & transfe∣rand.

ipsumque in Episcopum Ecclesie Lincoln. prefecerit. Rex fidelitatem cepit ipsius Episcopi & restituit ei temporalia. Teste Rege apud West. 3. Au∣gusti.

Such was the absolute authority of the Pope;* 1.31 whose name (saith a namelesse Author) was neuer Peter, except you grant Saint Peter to bee one and the first, (howsoeuer many of them haue had that name giuen vn∣to them in baptisme) the reason whereof is thus diliuered:

Nemo ex omnibus Romanorum Pontificibus Petri nomen sibi assumpsit, (etsi nonnulli in Baptismate ita nominati) ex quadam erga Apostolorum Principem reuerentia.

Now let me returne, this Digression being much longer then I expect∣ed, as also this Chapter, which I will conclude as briefly as I may; in the meane while take this short story, which I finde in the fourth part of Sir Edward Cokes reports, Act. de Scandalis.

The Abbot of S. Albons commanded his seruant to go into the Towne,* 1.32 or some place neare adioyning, and to desire a certaine mans wife to come vnto him, with whom (he said) he had an earnest desire to talke: The ser∣uant obeyed, and (like a good trustie Roger) performed his Masters com∣mandement, in bringing the woman to his priuate chamber. Now so soone as the Abbot and the wife were together, the seruant (well knowing his masters minde) withdrew himselfe out of the way; and left them together alone in the chamber. The Abbot then began to accoast the wise; telling her first, that her array was meane, poore, and grosse array; to which she answered, That her array was according to her small abilitie, and the abi∣litie of her husband. The Abbot (knowing in what most of women take the greatest delight) told her that if she would be ruled by him, she should haue as good array to weare, as the best woman in the Parish where shee dwelt; and so began to sollicite her chastitie. The woman giuing no eare to his libidinous motions, the Abbot assaulted her with struglings and baudy embracings, thinking to get that by force which hee could not obtaine by faire meanes. But she still resisted all his encounters, promises, and perswa∣sions, by which he detained her in his chamber a long time against her will. The husband hauing notice of this abuse offered to his wife; began to talke of the matter, and said that he would haue an Action of false imprisonment against the Abbot, for detaining his wife against her will so long in his chamber. The Abbot hearing of this (adding one sinne to another) did sue the innocent poore husband in the Ecclesiasticall Court vpon an Action of defamation, because (forsooth) the husband had giuen out, and publish∣ed abroad, that my Lord Abbot would haue made his wife a dishonest wo∣man. The matter being opened in the Court, the husband had a Prohi∣bition, &c.

This cunning sinne (amongst other their crimes) was vsually put in practise by the Church-men of other countries; witnesse Francis Petrarch Archdeacon of Parma in Italy, in one of his Epistles, sine titulo, to his namelesse friend; wherein he anatomises the Romane Clergie. Thus trans∣lated.* 1.33

Here Venus with her wanton toyes, Is honour'd with base bauds and boyes;

Adulterie, whoredome, and incest, Is honour'd here among the best: And counted but for sports and playes Euen with our Prelats of these dayes. The wife is rauish'd from her spouse, And to the Papall seat she bowes. The poore go••d man must leaue the Towne, Such ordinances are set downe: And when her bel••••e riseth hie, By Cardi••als who with her lie, The husband must not dare complaine, But take his wife with childe againe.

And dangerous it was for a Lay-man in Iohn Gowers dayes, to accuse any of the Clergie with a matter of truth. As you may perceiue by the sequele.

* 1.34Hoc dicit clerus quod quamuis crimine plenus Sit, non est laici ponere crimenei. Alter & alterius cleri peccata fauore Excusat, quod in hijs stat sine lege reus. Non occusari vult à caliis, tamen illos Accusat, que sibi libera frena petit. Libera sunt ideo peccata placentia Clero Sit nisi quod Laici iura ferantur ibi. Presbiter insipiens populum facit insipientem, Et mala multa parit, qui bona pauca sapit.

* 1.35Chaucer writes of the same.

Mennes wiues they wollen hold, And though that they been right sorye, To speake they shull not bee so bold For sompning to the Consistory: And make hem saie mouth I lie Though they it sawe with her iye, His Lemman holden openly No man so hardy to aske why. They ••aine to no man that it longeth To reproue them though they erre.

Sir Thomas Moore reports how (in this kings dayes) a poore man found a Priest ouer-familiar with his wife;* 1.36 and because hee spake it abroad, and could not proue it, the Priest sued him before the Bishops Officiall for de∣famation, where the poore man in paine of cursing was commanded, that in his Parish Church, he should vpon the Sonday stand vp, and say, Mouth thou liest. Whereupon for fulfilling of his penance, vp was the poore soule set in a pew, that the people might wonder at him, and heare what hee said; and there all aloud (when he had rehearsed what he had reported by the Priest) then he set his hands on his mouth, and said, Mouth thou liest. And by and by thereupon, he set his hands vpon both his eyes, and said, But eyne, by the Masse, ye lie not a whit.

Abbots and Priours in these dayes did ouer-awe all sorts of lay-people, yea the greatest Potentates: which made Edward the fourth write thus to the Priour of Lewes in Sussex, more like a poore petitioner then a great Prince, concerning a matter wherein the Prior and Couent went about to cosin his seruant Vincent.

Deare and welbeloued in God,* 1.37 we greet you well: and wher we been enformyd yat many yeres past, by yowr letters endentyd, vndre yowr Cou∣uent Seal, grauntyd to owr trusty and welbelowed servant, Iohn Vincent, Esquyr, fader to owr ryght welbelowed seruant Bryan Vincent, certain of yowr londes and rentes within yowr Lordshyp of Conesburgh; to haue to the seyd Iohn, and to his heyres, beryng therfor a certayn yerly rent spe∣cyfyd in yowr seyd indentures, and afterwards the seyd Iohn, and Bryan his son, hadd of yowr graunt, the same londes and tenements, with othyr, by yowr othyr indentures, yervpon made betwex yow & tham, whych enden∣tures wer seald by yow, and the seyd Iohn in thabsens of his seyd son, dely∣uered and left in yowr kepyng of trust, and soon aftyr fortuned him to be sleyne, at the lamentable conflyct of Wakfeld, in the seruice of the ryghte noble and famous Prynce owr fader whom God rest: And now, as we hear, ye labor and entend to put owr seyd servant hys son from the seyd londes and tenements, contrary to yowr fyrst and latyr graunte, a for expressyd, and agenst ryght, and good conscyens, yf hit be as is surmysed: We therfor exhort, and desyr yow to suffre owr seyd servant to have, and enioy the seyd londs and tenements according to yowr forseyd couenants, and graunts, and to delyuer vnto him the seyd later endentures concerning the same, as his fader so left of trust in yowr kepyng; And beside that to shew to owr seyd servant in any othyr matyrs lawfull and reasonable, that he shall a have adoo with yow, yowr beneuolences and herty fauors; and the rathyr, and mor especyally at owr instance and contemplacyon of theys owr letters; wherin ye shall not only doo vs a singular plasur, but caus vs, for the sam, to have yow and yowr plas, in the mor herty fauor and recomendacyon of owr good grase. Yeuen vndre owr Signet at owr palas of Westminstre the xix day of Iun.

To ouerpasse the short time during the Protectorship and raigne of King Richard the third, let vs come vnto Henry the seuenth, in whose dayes reli∣gious persons did wallow in all kindes of voluptuousnesse; to the Kings no little griefe, who by his breeding vnder a deuout mother, as also in his owne nature was euer a zealous obseruer of religious formes. To bridle whose in∣continent liues, he caused an Act to be made bearing this title.

An Act to punish Priests for their incontinencie. Of which, so much as will serue for this purpose:

Item. For the more sure and likely reformation of Priests, Clerks, and religious men,* 1.38 culpable, or by their demerits openly reported of inconti∣nent liuing in their bodies, contrary to their Order: It is enacted, ordained, and stablished by the aduice and assent of the Lords spirituall and tempo∣rall, and the Commons in the said Parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, That it be lawfull to all Archbishops, and Bishops, and other Ordinaries, hauing Episcopall iurisdiction, to punish and chastice Priests, Clerks, and religious men, being within the bounds of their iurisdiction,

as shall be conuicted before them by examination and other lawfull profe, requisite by the Law of the Church, of Aduoutrie, Fornication, Incest, or any other fleshly incontinencie, by committing them to ward and prison, there to abide for such time, as shall be thought to their discretions conue∣nient, for the qualitie, and quantitie of their trespasse: And that none of the said Archbishops, Bishops, or other Ordinaries aforesaid, be thereof charge∣able, of, to, or vpon any Action of false or wrongfull imprisonment, but that they be vtterly thereof discharged in any of the cases aforesaid, by ver∣tue of this Act.

In his sonnes raigne, the Pope being (here in England) at the point ver∣ticall of his all-commanding power, and religious Orders growne to the height of their abominable sinnes, both of them had a sudden downfall, as will appeare in the subsequent Chapters.

But of the pietie and impuritie of Monkes and other religious Votaries, of the first and latter times, take for a conclusion of this, as also of the pre∣cedent Chapter, these riming Hexameters as I haue them out of the booke of Rufford Abbey, in Nottinghamshire: a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie.

Inuectio Walonis Britonis in Monachos.

Sacrilegis Monachis emptoribus Ecclesiarum Composui Satyram. Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus esse solebat, Dura cibaria dum per agrestia rura colebat. Nulla pecunia, nulla negocia prepediebant, Sobria copia, parua colonia sufficiebant. Pro venialibus & capitalibus inuigilabant; Tam venalia quam capitalia nostra placebant. Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est violenter Ecclesiastica comparat omna dona potenter. Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine fructu, Intrat ouilia desuper ostia non sine luctu. Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine causa, Clamat ad ostia spiritualia iam sibi clausa. Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus inde vocatur, Quando rapacibus atque tenacibus assimulatur. Terra, pecunia, magna Palatia, templa parantur Vnde potencia, siue superbia magnificantur. Desunt caetera.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Quint. declam. 4
• * 1.2

  Godwin. Presul. Aug. in vit. ••ut. Wil••. Malms de gestis ••oni. lib. 1. de Epis. Do∣rober.
• * 1.3

  Allernd. ••••uall. a M ss in ••ib. Cot.

  Stow Annal.
• * 1.4

  Hen. Hunting. li. 6.
• * 1.5

  Will. Malms. Matt. West. Ran. Higde••. in Pol▪ chron. lib 6 cap ••8.

  Holli••s in vit. Howa••d.
• * 1.6

  Sir Iohn Hay∣ward in vit. Will. Con.
• * 1.7

  R. Wendou•••• in bib. Cotton.
• * 1.8

  Sir Iohn Hay, in v. t. Will. Rufi.
• * 1.9

  ••. ••••gden in Poly. lib. 7. cap. 9.
• * 1.10

  Will. Malms. de Reg. Mut. West. mon. Treuisa.
• * 1.11

  Higd. in Polych. lib. 7. cap. 6.
• * 1.12

  Idem. lib▪ cod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.13

  Mat. Paris.
• * 1.14

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.15

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.16

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.17

  Tho. de la 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.18

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.19

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. M••rtyr. pag 33••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Edit.
• * 1.20

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.21

  Godwin in vit. Wichami.
• * 1.22

  Ex Archiuis ••urris London.
• * 1.23

  A greene Gowne giuen to a Nunne.
• * 1.24

  A Manus. in Sir Robert Cot∣tons Library.
• * 1.25

  Tho. Walsing. Fabian The like bill or petition was exhibited in Parliament, an. 9. Ric. 2.
• * 1.26

  Speed. Walsing.
• * 1.27

  ••ox. Martyr. pag 6.•••• vlt. Ed.
• * 1.28

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arch. Turris London. An. 16. ••••. 6.
• * 1.29

  Ioseph. Castaleon. pag. 288.
• * 1.30

  Ex Arch. ••urris Lon. 2. pars. pat. An 4 Hen. 6.
• * 1.31

  In bib Cott.
• * 1.32

  An. 22. Ed. ••. Rot. 20.
• * 1.33

  Epist ••0.
• * 1.34

  Vox Clam. lib. 3. ca. 21.
• * 1.35

  Plough mans ••••le.
• * 1.36

  Camd. Re••iq.
• * 1.37

  Transcribed out of the o••••••ginall.
• * 1.38

  In Pa••l. anno 3. Hen. 7. cap. 4.