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SECT. 20.
What infinite Treasure was there carried out of the Realm by th•• Pope's Collectors, and by Bankers for Bulls and Dispensations, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man can tell. Therefore the French King hath many times made E¦dicts against the Carrying out of Money for Bulls out of France, a•• of a thing that spoiled the Realm of their Treasure; using the Ter•• Epuiser les Treasors du Royaume, as a man doth draw the water of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Well, to dry up the Water.
The Sums that were yearly made of Dispensations and Absolution in Cases reserved, were infinite; as also of Pardons and Indulgence•• and other Faculties. It appeareth by the Book of Taxes made fo•• Dispensations in the Reign of Henry VIII. that there were foun•• Two hundred and sixteen Letters of Dispensations given by th•• Pope, and that the Taxe of some of them were Two hundred Marks of others an Hundred Pounds, &c.
Thomas Walsingham writeth, That in the time of King Richard th•• Second, one Pileus the Pope's Legate, made such a Market wit•• Sale of Faculties, that his Officers that were about him in that Ser∣vice, grew weary of taking Silver; and did not stick to say, Th•••• they had Silver enough, and therefore would not afterwards be paid fo•• their Wares in any Coin but in Gold.
Robert Grosted Bishop of Lincoln, being suspended his Bishoprick for opposing the Pope's Provisions, and trampling them under hi•• feet, caused his Clerks to take a view of all the Spiritual Livings o•• Aliens in this Realm, and to make a diligent Inquiry to what an An∣nual Sum they amounted unto; who found them to exceed above Seventy thousand Marks. And it may be easily collected what the Pope's Share was in those Gifts.
What the ordinary Payments were, that were yearly made to the See of Rome, he that shall make the strictest Inquisition, shall hard∣ly understand.