commanded Heaven, pleased with the holy violence of so many and migh∣ty
petitioners. By these and other artifices they undermined all Priests in the
affections of their own people, and procured from Pope and Prince, that many
Churches Presentative, with their Glebes and Tithes, were app-ropriated to their
Covents, leaving but a poor pittance to the Parish Vicar: though the Pope (as
styling himself but a Vicar) ought to have been more sensible of their sad con∣dition.
3. Besides appropriation of such Churches, Abbeys also wronged Parish-Priests,
by procuring from the Pope Paschal the second, Anno Dom. 1100, in the Councel
of Mentz, that their Demesnes, Farmes, and Granges (antiently paying Tithes
like the Lands of other Lay-men) should hereafter be free from the same. But
this exemption was afterwards by Pope Adrian the fourth, about the year 1150,
justly limited and restrained: Religious Order being enjoyned the payment of
Tithes of whatsoever increase they had in their own occupation (save of new im∣provements
by culture of pasture of their cattle, and of garden fruits. Onely
three Orders, namely, the Cistertians, Templers, and Knights-Hospitallers (other∣wise
called of S. John's of Jerusalem) were exempted from the generall payment
of all Tithes whatsoever.
4. And, why Cistertians rather than any other Order? Give me leave to con∣jecture
three Reasons thereof:
- 1. Adrian the fourth, our none Countrey-man, was at first a Benedictine-Monke
of S. Albans, and these Cistertians were onely Benedictines
refined.
- 2. They were the Benjamins, one of the youngest remarkable Orders of
that Age, and therefore made Darlings (not to say Wantons) by the
Holy Father the Pope.
- 3. It is suspitious, that by bribery in the Court of Rome, they might obtain
this priviledge, so beneficial unto them. For, I finde, that K. Richard
the first disposed his Daughter Avarice to be married to the Cister∣tian-Order,
as the most grasping and griping of all others.
I leave it others to render Reasons why Templers and Hospitallers, being meer
Lay-men, and divers times of late, adjudged in the Court of Aides in Paris, no
part of the Clergie should have this priviledge to be exempted from Tithes. But we
remember they were Sword-men, and that aweth all into obedience.
5. However the Lateran-Councell, holden Anno 1215, Ordered, That this pri∣viledge
of Tithe-freedome to the aforesaid three Orders, should not extend to Post∣nates
(as I may term them) to Covents erected since the Lateran-Councell, nor to
Lands since bestowed on the aforesaid Orders, though their Covents were erected be∣fore
that Councell. Therefore when the covetous Cistertians (contrary to the Ca∣nons
of that Councell) purchased Bulls from the Pope to discharge their Lands
from Tithes: Henry the fourth, pitying the plea of the poor Parish Priest, by
Statute nulled such Bulls, and reduced their Lands into that state wherein they
were before.
6. Once it was in my minde to set to down a Catalogue (easie to doe, and usefull
when done) of such houses of Cistertians, Templers, and Hospitallers, which were
founded since the Lateran Councell, yet going under the generall notion of Tithe∣free,
to the great injury of the Church. But since on second thoughts, I conceived
it better to let it alone, as not sure on such discovery of any blessing from those
Ministers which should gain, but certain of many curses from such Lay-men who
should lose thereby.
7. Now, when King Henry the eight dissolved Monasteries, there was put into
His hand an opportunity and advantage to ingratiate Himself and His memory
for ever; namely, by restoring Tithes appropriated to Abbeys, to their respective