holye church as any Thomas euer was seyng he was as able the newe Thomas Then the newe Thomas as glorious as the old toke the mater in haÌ„de and persuaded the kinges grace And â—hen the kinges grace toke a dyspensatyon for hys othe made vppon the apoyntment of peace betwene him and the French king and promysed to helpe the holy seate where in Pope Peter neuer sate But the Emperour Maximilian myght in no wyse stand still lest the frenchmen shuld money hym get ayde of hym seynge the Almaynes refuse not money wheÌ„ce soeuer it be profered then quod Thomas wolfse Maximliâ— Oh and lyke youre grace what an honoure shulde it be vnto youre grace if the emperour were youre sodyare So greate honoure neuer chaunced any kyng christened It shulde be spoken of while the world stode The glory honour shall hyde and darken the coste that it shall neuer be sene though it shulde coste halfe youre realme Dixit factum est it was euen so And theÌ„ a parliament and then paye and then vpon the Frenche dogges â–ª with cleane remission of all his sinnes that slew one of them Remision of synnes â–ª or if he be slayn for the pardons â–ª haue no streÌ„gh to saue in thys life but in the lyfe to come only theÌ„ to heauen strayght wythout felynge of yâ— paynes of purgatorye Then cam oure kyne with all hys might by se and by lande and the Emperour wyth a strong army and the Spanyardes and the pope the Uenecyans all at once against king Lewes of fraunce As sone as the pope had that he desyred in Italy then peace immediatlye And frenchmen were chrysten men and pytie yea and great synne also were it to sheade their bloud and the frenchkinge was the most chrysten kyng agayne And thus was peace concluded and oure Inglyshmen or rather shepe came home against winter and lefte theyr fleces behynde them Wherfore no smal number of them whyle they sought them better raymente at home were hanged for theyr laboure ¶ Why the kinges syster was turned vnto fraunce WHen this peace was made oure holye Cardynalles and Bysshoppes as their olde Gyse is to calke and caste .xl â–ª L. yea an hundred yeare before what is lyke to chaunce vnto theyr kingdome considered how the Emperour yâ— now is was moost like to be chosen Emperour after hys graundfather Maximilian for Maximilian had already obteyned of dyuerie of the ELECTOURS that is shulde so be They coÌ„sidered olso howe mightye he shuld be first Kyng of Spayn with all that perteyneth therto which was wont to be v. vi or .vij. kyngdoÌ„s then Duke of Burgoyne Earle of FlauÌ„ders of Hollande Zelande and Braband wyth all that parteine therto then Emperour aÌ„d hys brother Duke of Austrych and hys sister quene of Hungrye Wherfor thought our prelates if we take not hede betymes oure kyngdome is lyke to be troubled we to be brought vnder the fete For thys maÌ„ shal be so myghty that he shall with power take out of the french kynges handes out of the haÌ„des of the Uenetians and froÌ„ the Pope also what soeuer parteyneth vnto the empyre aÌ„d what soeuer belongeth vnto hys other kyngdoÌ„s and dommions therto And then he wyll come to Rome and be crouned there and so shall he ouerlooke our holye father and see what he doth And then shall the olde heretykes ryse vp agayne say that the Pope is Antichryste and styrre vp agayne and bryng to lyght that we haue hyd broghâ— a slepe with muche cost payne and bloudeshedyng more then thys hundred yere longe Considred also that hys aunte is quene of England and hys wyfe the king of EnglaÌ„ds sister consydred the old amitie betwene the house of burgom the old kinges of eÌ„gloÌ„d so that they coulde neuer do ought iÌ„ frauÌ„ce with out theyr helpe last of all coÌ„sidered that course of marchauÌ„dise yâ— iÌ„glaÌ„d hath iÌ„ those parties also the naturall hart that eÌ„glishmeÌ„ bear to freÌ„chmeÌ„ Wherfore if we shall vse oure old practyse and set the french king agaynst hym Then he shall lyghtelye obtayne the fauour of the king of Ingland by the meanes of hys Aunte and hys wyfe and ayde wyth men and money Wherfore we must take hede betimes and breake thys amytie Whych thinge we maye by thys oure olde craft â—easely bringe to passe Let vs take a dispensation breake thys maryage and turne the kinges sister vnto the French king Yf the frenche Kynge Practyse gette a male of her then we shall lyghtly make our kyngepro tectoure of fraunce and so shall Inglande and Fraunce be coupled together and as for the quene of Inglande we shall trymme her well ynough and occupye the kynge with straunge loue and kepe her that she shall beare no rule And as the goddâ—s had spoken so it came to passe Our fayre yong doughter was sent vnto the old pocky king of fraunce the yeare before our mortall eÌ„nemye and a myscreaunt worse then a Turke and disobedient vnto oure holy Father and no more obedient yet then he was coÌ„pelled to be against his wyll The cause of the iourney to Calyce IN shorte space thereafter Thomas wolfse now Cardinall and Legate a latere and greatlye desyrous to be Pope also thought it exceading expedient for his many secrete purposes to bring our Kyng and the Kyng of Fraunce that now is together both to make a perpetual peace and amitie betwene them and that whyle the two kynges and their lordes dalyed together the greate cardinalles and Bisshoppes of both parties mighte becraye them both and the Emperour and all Chrysten kinges therto Then he made a iourney of gentelmen arayed all together in sylk so much as thâ—ir very showes and lynynge of theyr boutes much more lyke their mothers then meÌ„ of warre yea I am sure yâ— many of theyr mothers wolde haue bene ashamed of so nyâ—â— and wanton aray how beit they went not to make war but peace for euer and a daye longer But to speake of the Pompouse apparell of my lorde hym selfe and of hys chaplaynes it passeth the .xij. apostles I dare swere that if Peter and Paule had sene them sodenly aÌ„d at a blush they wold haue bene harder in beleue that they or any such shuld be theyr successours then Thomas â—â—dimus was to beleue that Chryst was rysen agayne from death When all was concluded betwene the kyng of Fraunce and ours that Thomas wolfâ—e had deuised and when the prelates of both parties had cast theyr peny worthes agaynst all chaunces and deuysed remedyes for all mischeues· Then the ryght reuerend father in God Thomas cardinall aÌ„d Legaâ—â— wolde go se the young Emperoure newlye chosen vnto the roume and haue a certayne secrete communicacion wyth some of his prelates also And gatte him to bridges in Flaunders Prelates where he was receaued with great solempnitie as belongeth vnto so mighty a pyllar of Christes church and was saluted at the
popes cleane contrary And the poÌ„pe of hys consecratyon was after his old worldly fation How be it yet he is made a saynte for his worshyppyng of the holy seate of sainct peter not that seate of peter which is Christs gospell but an other lyed to be peters is in dede cathedra pestilencie a chayr of false doctrine And because he could no skyll of oure lordes gospell he sayde of matens with oure lady saye they If any maÌ„ vnderstaÌ„d the laten let hym reade his lyfe compare it vnto the scriptur theÌ„ he shal se such holynes as were here to long to be rehersed And euery abbay euery cathedral church did shrine theÌ„ one God or other mingled the lyues of the very saintes wyth starke lyes to moue men to offre which thyng they call deuocion And though in all their doinges they oppresse the teÌ„poralty their comeÌ„ wealth be greuous vnto the rych and paynfull to yâ— poore yet they be so many so exercised in wyles so subtyl so knit sworne together that they coÌ„passe the teÌ„poralty make theÌ„ beare theÌ„ whether they wil or wyll not as the euye doth the oke partly with iugglinge besyde that with wordly polycy For euery abbot wyl make him that may do most in the shyre or wyth the kynge the stuarde of hys landes geue hym a fee yerely and wyl leÌ„d vnto some feast other that by such meanes they do what they wyll And lytle master parsoÌ„ after the same maner if he come into an house the wife be snoutefaire he wil rote him self there by one craft or other ether by vsiÌ„g such pastime as the good man doth or in beinge benefycyall by one waye or other or he wyll lend hym and so bryng hym into hys daunger that he can not thruste hym oute when he wolde but must be coÌ„pelled to beare him aÌ„d to let hym be homely whether he wyll or not ¶ An ensample of practyse out oâ— oure owne chronycles Take an ensaÌ„ple of their practise out of our owne stories Kyng Herolde Kyng Herold exiled or banished Robert Archbisshope of Canterburye For what cause the Inglysh polychronicon specifieth not Robert of caÌ„terbury But if the cause weare not sum what suspect I thynke they wolde not haue Passed it ouer with scylence Thys Robert gat hiÌ„ immediately vnto kynge Wylliam the conqueroure then duke of Normandye And the pope Alexander sente duke Wylliam a baner to go and conquere Ingland and cleane remission vnto whosoeuer wold folow the baner and goo wyth kynge Wyllyam here marke how streight the pope folowed-Christs steppes aÌ„d his apostles Remission of siÌ„nes to conquere englande they preached forgeuenes of synnes to all that repented throw Christes bloude shedyng the Pope preacheth forgeuenesse of synnes to all that will slea their bretheren bought with Chrystes bloud to subdue them vnto hys tyraÌ„nie What so euer othâ—r cause duke wyliaÌ„ had against kynge Herold thou maiest be sure that the pope wolde not haue medled yf Herold had not troubled hys kingdom â—â—e neyther shuld duke willyam haue bene able to conquer the land at that tyme except the spyritualtie had wroughte on hys syde What bloud did that conquest cost England thorowe whych almoost all the lordes of the Inglysh bloude were slayne â— the Normandes became rulers and all the laâ—es were chaunged into Frenche But what careth the holy father for sheading of laye mens bloude It were bâ—tter that .x. hundred thousand laye knaues loste theyr liues then that holy church shuld louse one ynch of her honour or sainct Peters seate one iote of her ryght Ancelmus And Ancelmus that was bysshoppe in shorte time after neuer left striuinge with that myghtie prince kynge Wyllyam the second vntyll he had compelled hym maugre hys teth to delyuer vp the inuestiture or election of bysshops vnto sainct Peters vycare whych inuestiture was of old tyme the kynges duetâ—e And 〈…〉 when the sayde kyng Wyllyam 〈…〉 the tribut that pryestes gaue 〈…〉 to their bysshops for theyr whores 〈…〉 dyd not Raffe bisshop of Chich◠〈…〉 goddes seruice as they call it 〈…〉 the church dores with thornes thorow out al hys diâ—cese vntyll the kynge had yelded hym vppâ— hys trybute agayne For when the holy father had forbidden pryestes theyr wyues the bysshop permitted theÌ„ whores of their owne for a yearely tribute do yet in all laÌ„des saue in Ingland where they maye not haue any other saue mennes wyues onely And agayne for the election of Steuen langton archbysshop of Canterbury what miserye and wretchednesse was in the royalme a longe ceason TheÌ„ was the land interdited many yeares And when that holpe not then Irelande rebelled agaynst kinge Iohn immedyatly Note and not wythout the secrete workinge of oure Prelates I dare well saye But fynally when neyther the interditing nether that secrete subtiltie holpe â–ª wheÌ„ Ihon wold in no meanes consent the saint peters vicar shuld raygne alone ouer the spiritualtye ouer all that perteyned vnto theÌ„ and that they shulde synne do all mischefe vnpunisshed the pope sent remissyoÌ„ of synnes to the kynge of FrauÌ„ce for to go and conquere hys land 〈◊〉 â–ª of synnes to coÌ„quere Wherof king IhoÌ„ was so sore afrayd that he yelded vp his croune vnto the pope sware to hold the laÌ„d of hiÌ„ aÌ„d that his successours shuld do so lykewise And agayn in Kyng Richardes dayes the second Thomas Arundell archbysshop of CaÌ„terbury chauÌ„celare was exyled with the Earle of Darbye Thomas AruÌ„dell The outwarde preteÌ„ce of the varyaunce betwene the Kynge aÌ„d his lordes was for the delyueraunce of the towne of Braste in Brytayne But our prelates had an other secret mystery a bruing They coulde not at they re owne luste slea the poore wretches which at that tyme were conuerted vnto repentaunce and to the true faith to put their trust in christs death bloudsheadyng for the remission of their sinnes by the preachinge of Iohan Wyclefe As sone as the archbysshop was out of the royaume Practyse the Irishmen began to rebell againste kynge Rychard as before against Kynge Ihon But not hardelye withoute the inuisyble inspyration of them that rule bothe in the courte and also in the consciences of al men They be one kingdom sworne together one to helpe an other scatered abroade in all royalmes And howe be it that they stryue amonge them selues who shal be greatest yet agaiÌ„st the temporall powr they be always at one though they disseÌ„ble it and fayne as thogh one helde againste the other to know theyr enemies secretes to betray them with all They caÌ„ inspyre priuelye into the brestes of the people what myschefe they lyst no maÌ„ shal know wheÌ„ce it coÌ„meth Their letters go secretly froÌ„ one to an other thorow out all kyngdoÌ„s SaiÌ„ct peters vicar shall haue worde in .xv. or .xvi. dayes froÌ„ the vttermost part of christendom The
mariage of som doughter vnto the duke of Uenyce then the holy father that succedeth wheÌ„ he seeth his ceason sendeth for it agayne sayenge that it is not laufull for lay men to with holde sainct Peters patrimony Yf they allege that they bought it and so forth his fatherhod answereth that the old Pope had none auctoritie to make any such cheuisaunce with sainct Peters enheritaunce he coude haue but the vse of it his lyfe longe and after it must nedes returne vnto his successoure agayne And vpoÌ„ that he interdytâ—th them and curseth them as blacke as coles and doune to the pyt of hell But the Uenecians knowing more of oure holye fathers practyse for their nyenes then we which dwel a farre of and wyser then we of cold contrees perceauing also that their colour chauÌ„geth not with his cursynge and that they syncke not aÌ„d that their meate digesteth as well as before and that as Erasmus sayeth they sâ—yte as easyly as before with reuerence of the holy course I speake it therfore feare not his interdiction nor excommunicatyon Then our holy father raiseth vp all his power that he is able to make in Italy agaynste them sendeth for the zwytzers to come and helpe Yf he be not yet strong ynough then he sendeh vnto the bysshops of fraunce warning them that if hys seate decaye theyrs can not longe prosper and therfore that they put theyr kynge in remeÌ„braunce how that he is called most chrysten kyng and that they desyre hym to do somwhat for hys tytie against this disobedieÌ„t rebellyons vnto the most holy se of Rome our mother holy churche FreÌ„chmen Yf an other tyme the frenchmen come to nye our holy father as they be euer gaping for Italy to brynge the empyre home agayne to fraunce Then the moost holy vicare bryngeth his whole power agaynste them with the power of the venecians and with hys old frendes the zwytzers If he be not yet stronge ynough then he sendeth to the bisshops of England EnglishmeÌ„ to help their god and to moue their kyng to do somwhat for holy churche puttyng him in remembraunce of whom he holdeth his croune of hys othe and how many cappes of mayntenaunce haue bene euer sent vnto hys forefathers and what honour it was vnto them and that he maye easely gett as greate honoure as they and happly a more excellent title yf he wyl take our holy fathers parte besydes that he shall purchase remyssyon of all hys synnes Then must the peace and all the apointementes made betwene vs and fraunce be broken and the kynge must take a dyspensacion for hys oth For the kynge of fraunce wyll attempte nothing in Italy vntyll he haue sent hys ambassadours and haue made a perpetuall peace wyth oure kynge the Sacrament of the bodye of oure sauiour broke betwene them to confyrme the appointement But I suppose that the breakyng signifyeth that the appointemeÌ„t shall not long endure for a greate deale of flower wolde not make so manye hoostes The abuse of the sacrament as they call them or synginge loues as hathe bene broken in our dayes betwene christen princes as they wylbe called to confirme promises that haue not long bene kept Other vse of that blessed sacrament wyll the priÌ„ces none know but christ ordeined it to be a perpetuall memorye that his bodye was brokeÌ„ for oure sinnes vpoÌ„ the crosse that all that repent shuld receaue as oft as they eaâ—e of it forgeuenes of their misdeades thorow fayth Yf the kiÌ„gs of the earth wheÌ„ they breake that sacrameÌ„t betwene them do say on this wyse The body of our sauiour which was broken on the crosse for the synne of al the repeÌ„t haue good harts wold faine kepe his law be brokeÌ„ vnto my daÌ„nacion if I breake this oth theÌ„ is it a terrible oth and they had neade to take heade how they make it â—d if it be lawfully made not to breake it at all But as they care for the â—rothe whiche they make in wedlockeâ— so they care for this Whatsoeuer nead the pope hath he wyl not send to the Emperour to come helpe hiâ— in Italy for feare lest he wold take to hiÌ„self what soeuer he coÌ„quered of the freÌ„chmen and waxe to strong and minish oure holy fathers power and become our holy fathers vicar as he is saint Peters Neuerthelesse if we englishmen will hyre the Emperour to com and fyght agaiÌ„st frauÌ„ce for the right of the church in these quarters that â—e next vnto vs his fatherhod is coÌ„tent to admyt his seruice When our king hath graunted to take our holy fathers part then the pretence cloke out ward must be that the kyng wil â—alenge his ryghte in fraunce And to ayde the king in his ryght must the commens be mylked tyll they blede agayne Then to do the king seruice the lordes sell or laye their landes to morgage Then is cleane remission geuen to sleo french dogges Remissioâ— of synnes He that dyeth in the quarell shall neuer see purgatorye but file tor heauen streyght euen with a thought WHen the Pope hath what he desyreth in Italye then muste we make peace wyth the Frenchmen agayne immediatlye that fraunce be not all together trodeÌ„ vnder the fete but that it remaâ— alwaye in a meane state stronge Inough to match the emperour to kepe hym doune but not to myghtye for oppressinge the pope and then oure prelates to bringe the peace about sende immediatly a fryer forest or a vicar of croiden to preach before yâ— king his lords which preacher roreth aÌ„d cryeth vnto theÌ„ as though he halowed hys houndes and maketh exclamations sayenge Alas what wyll ye do spare Chrysten bloude wyll ye slea youre owne soules Be not the freÌ„chmeÌ„ as well christeÌ„ as ye Moreouer ye slea pore innocents that neuer offeÌ„ded make peace for the passioÌ„ of christ kyll not one an other as though Christ had not dyed for you but fyght rather agaynst the turkes TheÌ„ come in the Ambassadours of frauÌ„ce and money a fewe prelates and certayne other the kynges playfellowes yâ— be sworn with them to betraye both the kinge and the royalme too And then is peace concluded But outwardelye there is nothinge saue a truce taken for halfe a yeare tyll our souldiers be at home again for feare least they wold not be conteÌ„t â–ª Then coÌ„meth the whole host home beggerd both great and smal And the poore that can not sodenlye gette work fall to stealyng and be hanged at home Thys could More tell in hys Utopia before he was the cardenalles sworn secretarye and fallen at hys fete to betraye the truth for to gett promocyon HeÌ„ry the .v. Take an ensaÌ„ple the bysshops sent king Henrye the fyft out to conquere Fraunce The cause was sayth the chronicles that the kynge went about to take theyr temporallyes from them And therfore to bringe the kynge into an other imaginacyon they monyed hym and
neuer be out of syght But where oure Charles was there must that lord also be and what charles dyd that must he be preuye vnto vntill that thâ—s lord perceauing that it came because of this enchaunted rynge for very paine and tedyousnesseâ— toâ—â— and cast it into a well at acâ—n in douchland And after yâ— the rynge was in the wel â–ª the Emperour coulde neuer departe from the towne but in the sayde place where the ring was cast though it were a foule maâ—resse yet he bylt a goodly monasterye in the worship of our ladye and thether brought relikes from whence he coulde gett theÌ„â—aÌ„d pardons to sanctifye the place and to make it more hauÌ„ted And there he lyeth and is 〈◊〉 sainte as ryght is For he dyd for chrystes vicar asmuch as the greate Turke for mahomete but to saue hys Holynesse that he myght be canonysed for a saint they fayne in his lyfe that hys abydyng there so continuallye was for the hote bathes sakes with be there AFter Charlemain lewes the milâ— was emperour which was a verye pacieÌ„t maÌ„ an other phoâ—â—â— an other pray for the pope so meke and softe that scaâ—elye he coulde be angrye â—f any thynge at all Whan oure holy fathers had sene his water and spyed what complexion he was they chose Steuen the iiij of the name Pope with out his knowlege and bad him nother good morowe nor good eueÌ„ nor once god spede about the matter pope steueÌ„ 〈◊〉 .iij. against theyr own graunt vnto hys father for his good seruice And hys softnes was yet somwhat dyspleased there with in as muche as the electyon of the Pope partayned vnto his right But the Pope sent Ambassadoures and wrote al the excuses that he coud and cam after him self to frauÌ„ce to him pleased him aÌ„d crouned him yeâ—e emperour and passed the tyme a ceason with him and they became verye famylier to gether After that they chose Paschalis pope of the same maner pope paschale which phascalis sent immediatly legates vnto the emperour softe lewes excusing him selfe and sayeng that it was not his faute but that the clergy and the comen people had drawen hym therto with violence agaiÌ„st his wyll Then the emperour was conteâ—tâ—or that ones and bad they shuld no more do so but that the old ordinaunce ought to be kept The softenesse of this Lewes did him much care For he was after presoned of his owne sone 〈◊〉 helpe of pope Gregory the fourth After this mans dayes the popes neuer regarded the Emperours nor did the clergy of Rome sue any more to the emperour ether for the electioÌ„ or coÌ„firmacioÌ„ of the pope Moreouer after this Lewes there was nev emperour in christeÌ„doÌ„ of any power or able of his owne might to correcte any pope nether was there anye kyng that coud correct the outrages vices of the spyritualty of his owne realme after this tyme For this Lewes lefte .iij. sonnes amonge which he deuided the realme of Fraunce and all douchloÌ„d Which same for pride disdaynâ— that one shuld haue more then aÌ„other fell to gether as we say by the eares eche destroyeng others power so that fraunce was afterward of no might to do any great thiÌ„g And theÌ„ the pope reygned in Italy alone without care of any Emperour Alone pope Niclaus the .i. in so much that Nicholaus the firstâ— decreed that no seculare prince or emperoure shuld haue ought to do or be at the counsels of the clergy pope adriaÌ„ the ij ¶ And after that AdriaÌ„ the secoÌ„de was choseÌ„ pope the eÌ„perours debite beyng in Rome and not ones spoken to of the matter And when the emperours ambassadoures disdained they answered who can resiste the rage of the peple prayed theÌ„ to be coÌ„tent to salute him as pope And Adrian the third decreed that they shuld not abyde aÌ„d tarye for the Emperours confirmation or aucthoritie in chosing the pope and hatâ— the pope onely shuld call a generall councel and not the emperour or if the Emperour wold presume that to do the councell shulde be of none effecte though all the prelatâ— of chrystendom were there though what soeuer they did were but GODS worde So mighty was the beast now waxed when he ones began to raygne alone And from this tyme hâ—therwarde perysshed the powr of the Emperours and the vertue of the pores saith platina in the lyfe of popes For sins that tyme as there was none emperour of myght so was there no pope of any vertue Alter thys lewes the empyre of Fraunce and of all doutchlande was diuided betwene his thre sonnes which as I sayde fought one with an other and destroyed the strength of the empyre of fraunce And froÌ„ that time to this which is aboue .vij. hundreth yeares thou shalt reade of fewe popes that haue not led their lyues in bloudsheading in so much that if thou consydre the storyes well thou shalt easely perceaue that there hath bene slayn about theyr cause farre aboue .xl. C. thousand meÌ„ besides that there hath bene but fewe princes in christendom that hath not bene busyed and coÌ„bred a greate parte of his lyfe about their mater Eyther in warres begonne at their setting on ether in ceasing scismes or diuision that hath bene amonge the clergye who shuld be pope or striuing of bysshops who shulde be greatest as betwene the bisshop of Yorke and Caunterbury in Ingland betwene the bisshops of InglaÌ„de Wales wherof al the chronycles be ful or in reforming friers or monks or in sleing them that vttered their false hypocrisy with goddes woorde When the Emperour was downe no man in christendom of any powr to be feared then euery nacion fel vppon others and all landes were at variaunce betwene them selues And then as the Danes cam into Ingland and vexed the Inglishmen and dwelt there in spyte of their hartes euen so came straunge nacions whose names were scace hearde of before in these quarters as the Uandales Hunnes and Gothes and ran thorowout all christeÌ„doÌ„ by C. thousands together Uandales â–ª Hunnes· Gothes and subdued the landes and dwelt therin maugre the inhabitours as thou mayest se in Douchlond how diuerse nacions are inclosed in the middes of the land of a straunge tongue which no douchman vnderstandeth and that rule continued wel .viij. or ix score or .ij. huÌ„dred yeres And in all this ceason who soeuer wan the maystrye him the spiritualtye receaued and him they crouned king aÌ„d to him they cleaue And what so euer any tyrauÌ„t had robbed al his lyfe that or most parte therof must he deale amoÌ„g them at his death for feare of purgatory The spirytualty all that ceasoÌ„ preached the pope myghtely bylt abbayes for recreatyon and quietnesse shryninge them alwaye for sayntes which purchased theÌ„ priuileges or fought for their liberties or disputed for the popes powr how so euer they lyued but after L. yere wheÌ„ their liues were forgotten aÌ„d if any resisted
without office except it be that on some Holydaye in steade of ministringe the goodes of the church vnto the poore they syng a pistle or Gospell to begge more from the â—â—ore And as his 〈…〉 the â—oodes of the church 〈◊〉 the poore euen so doo hys pryesâ—es preacâ—â— Chrysts gospell vnto his flocke And the almesse that was geuen to the sustencacion of the poore which thou shalt reade in storieâ— that it was in some cities aboue xx.xxx.xl yea an hundred thousaÌ„d pounde How the pope diuydeth the poore people and all the landes geuen for the same purpose they haue sâ—olen from them haue diuyded it amonge them selues And ther with did they at the beginning corrupt the greate men of the woorlde and clam vp to this heigth were they now be And for that haue they strouen among them selues this viij hundred yeares And to mainteyne that which they haue falsely gotten hath the pope sturred vp aswerde of warre in all christendom this .viij. hundred yeares hath taken peace cleane out of the worlde When the bisshoppes preastes and deacons were fallen and had receaued of the pope the kingdom that parteyned vnto the poore people and had robbed them and parted their patrymony among them selues then sprange the orders of monkes Whose professyon was to abstayne froÌ„ flesh all theyr liues to were vyle raymeÌ„t to eate but once in the daye aÌ„d that but butter chese egges frutes rootes and suche thynges that weare not costly aÌ„d myght euery where be founde And they wrote bokes aÌ„d wrought diuerse thynges to get their lyuinge wyth all When the laye men sawe that the preastes were fallen in to suche couetuousnes that the Monkes were so holy they thought these be mete men to minister our almesse vnto the pore people For theyr profession is so holy that they can not deceauâ— vs as the preastes do aÌ„d made the moÌ„kes tutors and ministers vnto the pore aÌ„d gaue great Landes and rychesse in to theyr handes to deale it vnto the poore WheÌ„ the monkes sawe suche aboundaunce they fell after the ensample of the preastes and toke dispeÌ„sacyoÌ„s of the pope for their rules aÌ„d strait professioÌ„ whiche now is as wyde as their coules and deuided all amonge them â–ª and robbed the poore once moare And out of the abbayes toke he the most parte of his Bysshoprickes and cathedral churches and the moste parte of all the landes he hathe besydes that there Remayne yet so Many myghtye abbayes and nun ryes therâ—â— As sone as the monkes were fallen theÌ„ sprang these beggynge fryres out of Hell the last kind of kater pillars Beggyngâ— fryers in a more vile apparell and a more strate relygion that if ought of relefe were lefte amonge the laye men for the poore people these horseleches might sucke that also Which dranebees as sone as they had learned their crafte had bylt them goodly costly nâ—stes and their lymiters had diuided all contrees amonge them to begge in and had prepared lyuynges of a certayntie though which beggynge then they also toke dispeÌ„sacyons of the pope for to lyue as largely as lewdelye as the monkes And yet vnto the laye men whom they haue thus falselye robbed from whyche they haue deuyded them selues and made them a seuerall kyngdome amonge them selues The charge of the lay people they leaue the payenge of tolle custome and trybute for vnto all the Charges of the Royalmes they wyll not paye a myte and the finding of all the poore the fyndyng of scolars for the moste parte The fynding of these forsayde horseleches and carcepillers the beggynge fryers the reparyng of hye wayes and brydeges the buyldynge and recreacyons of they re abbayes and cathedrall churches chapelâ— coleges for which they send out theyr pardons dayly by heapes and gather a thousand pounde for euery hundred that they bestow truely If the laye people haue warre or what soeuer charge it be they wyll not beare a myte If the warre be theirs as the one parte almost of all warre is to defende them they wyl with falshed make theÌ„ beare the greatest parte besydes that they must leaue their wyues and children go fight for them and loose their liues And likewise iÌ„ al their charges they haue a cast to poll the laye people The Scottes cast downe a castell of the bysshop of dirams on the scottysh bancke called Noram castell And he gat a pardon from Rome for the buyldynge of it agayne wherwith I dout not buâ— he gat for euerye pennye that he bestowed thre Howe the spyritualtie bestowe theyr treasure And what do they with their store that they haue in so greate plenty every where so that the very beggyng fryers in short space to make a cardinal or a pope of their sect or to doo what feate it were for theyr proffytt wold not stycke to brynge aboue a Kyngs rauÌ„soÌ„ â–ª Uerely make goodly places and parkes of pleasure and gaye shrynes and paynte postes and purchese Pardons wherwyth they yet styll polle and plucke a waie that litle where wyth the pore which peryshe for neade and faulle in to greate in conâ—enyences myght be somwhat holpeÌ„ aÌ„d releued And laye vppe in stoare to haue alwaye to paye for the defeÌ„diÌ„g of their faith â—nd for to oppresse the truth ¶ How the pope made hym â— lawe and why AFter that the pope wythe tyrannye was clom vppe aboue hys brethren and had made all the Spyrytualtie hys subiectes and had made of them and hym a seuerall kyngdom among them selues and had seperated them from the laye in all thynges and had got pryuileges that what so euer they dyd no man shuld medle wyth them and after also he had receaued the kyngdoms of the earth of Sathan and was become hys vicare to dystrybut them and after that the Emperoure was fallen in lyke maner at hys fete and had worshypped hym as God to receaue hys empyre of him and all kings had done lyke wise to be anoynted of him and to be crouned of him and after that the worlde both greate and smale had submitted them selues to receaue the beastes bagge then because that christes doctryne was contrary vnto all such kingdomes and therfore had no law ther in howe to rule it he went and made him a seuerell lawe of hys owne makyng which passed in cruelty and tyranny the lawes of all hethen priestes And in his lawe he thrust in fayned gyftes of old emperours that were out of memory What subtiltâ— the pope vseth to stablysh hys kyngdome sayeng that the emperour Constantinus had geuen vp the empyre of Rome vnto S. Syluester which is proued a false lye for diuerse causes one that saiÌ„t siluester being so holy a man as he was wolde not haue receaued it contrarye to his masters coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes doctrine an other that the emperours raygned in Rome many yeares after and all bisshopes sued vnto the emperour and not to the pope which was but
bysshops of England at their nede caÌ„ wryte vnto the bysshops of Ireland scotland denmarke douchland fraunce and spayne promysiÌ„g them as good a turne an other tyme puttyng them in remembraunce that they be all one holy churche that the cause of the one is the cause of the other sayenge if our â—ugglyng breake out yours can not be longe hyd And the other shall serue their turne aÌ„d bring the game vnto their handes no man shall know how it cometh about As sone as king Richard was gone to Ireland to subdue these rebellyous the bysshope cam in agayn and preuented the kinge and toke vp his power against him and toke him prisoner and put him downe aÌ„d to death most cruelly and crouned the earle of darby kiÌ„g O mercyfull Christ what bloud hath that coronacion cost England But what care they Their causes muste be auenged He is not worthy to be kynge that wyll not auenge their quarels· For do not the kynges receaue their kyngdome of the beast and sweare to worshyp hym and maynteine hys throne And then when the erle of Darbye whych is kyng Henry the fourth was crouned the prelates toke hys swerde and hys sonnes Henry the fifth after hym as all the kinges swerdes syns and abused them to shed christeÌ„ bloude at their pleasur And they coupled their cause vnto the kynges cause as now made it treasoÌ„ to beleue in Christ as the scriptur teacheth to resyst the bisshopes as now and thruste theÌ„ in the kynges prysons as now so that it is no new inueÌ„cion that they now do but euen an old practyse though they haue done their busy cure to hyde theyr science that their conueyaunce shuld not be espyed And in kyng henrye the .vj. dayes how raged they as fierce lions agaiÌ„st good duke Humfre of Gloceter the kynges vncle and protectour of the realme in the kings youth and childehod Duke Umfre because that for him they myght not slea whom they wold and make what cheuysaunce they lusted Wold not the bysshop of Wynchester haue fallen vppon him and oppressed hym openly with myght and power in the Citie of London had not the cityzens come to hys helpe But at the last they found the meanes to contryue a dryft to bryng their matters to passe and made a parlament farre from the cityzens of London where was slayne the good duke and only welth of the royalme and the myghty shylde that so longe before had kept it from sorow which shortly after his death sell theron by heapes But the cronicles can not tell wherfore he dyed nor by what meanes No meruell verely For he had nede of other eyes then such as the world seeth with all that shud spye out theyr priuye pathes Neuerthelesse the cronycles testifye that he was a vertuous man a godly and good to the comen welth Moreouer the Protectour of Purgatorie sayth in hys Dialoge quod I aÌ„d quod he and quod youre frende how that he was a noble man and a great clerke and so wyse that he coulde spye falce myracles and dysclose them and Iudge them from the true whych is an hatefull science vnto our spyrytualtye and moare abhorred them necromancie or wytchcrafte and a thynge wherfore a man by their lawe I dare well saye is worthy to dye and that secretly yf it be possible Now to be good to the comen welth and to se false miracles and thirdely to witâ—stande that Fraunce then brought vnder the fete of the Inglyshmen shuld not be set vp agayn by whose power the pope holdeth doune the Emperour reygneth in his stead becauses why he myght dye though by what meanes be not knowen For to be good to the comen wealth is to be hurtefull to the spiritualtye thre causes seing the one is the others pray as the lambe is the wolues Secondaryly if a man be so cleare eyed that he can spye false myracles howe can iugglers gette theyr lyuinge and be in price where such a fellow is Thyrdlye to kepe doune the kiÌ„gdoÌ„ of frauÌ„ce is to pul S Peters vicar out of his seate Now if the great baude yâ— whore of babylon were destroied then wold the bordel and stues of our prelates shortly perish Yf Abadon that destroyer king of the grassehoppers which deuoure all that is greane were destroyed then were the kingdom of our caterpyllers at an ende ¶ By what craft the pope kepeth the Emperour doune Marke an other practise of our most holy prelates When the empyre was translated vnto the germaynes though the emperour was fallen doune and had kyssed the Popes fete and was become his sworne seruauÌ„t yet there was much strife and open warre oftimes betwene the popes and the emperours And the popes haue put doune many good Emperours by helpe of the Bisshopes which euery where secretly persuaded the lordes to forsake the emperouâ—s to take dispensacioÌ„s of the pope for their othes And coÌ„trary wyse the emperours haue now and then deposed dyuerse popes at request of the Cardinalles other great prelates by whose helpe onely they were able to do it For els verely though al Kynges christened had sworne to depose one Pope out of his seat if they had not yâ— fauour of other prelates therto they might haply by the secret practise of them to be put out of their own seates in the meane tyme. The pope therfore to be sure of him self out of the feare dauÌ„ger of the emperour were he neuer so mighty that the emperour shuld not se his dayly open pastimes made frendship and amytye with the Uenecianâ— on the one syde of him and let them com in to certayne cyties of the Emperours in Italy and with the French king on the other syde and late him also vp into certayne Cytyes and possessyons of the Emperoures and he himselfe in the middes And shotte out the Emperoure froÌ„ coÌ„minge any more to Rome and euer sent him his coronacion home to hym No maÌ„ rebuk the pope And then he made a lawe that no man shuld rebuke the Pope for what so euer myschefe he dyd sayeng that the Pope was aboue al and iudge ouer all and none ouer him and therfore forbade in his law Distinctio .xl. Si Papa sayenge though the pope be proued negligent aboute him self aÌ„d also the soule helth of his brethern and slacke in his worke and speachlesse as concernynge anye good and drawe with him by his ensample inumerable people to hell to be punished with him with diuerse tormeÌ„tes euerlastingly yet se that no mortal maÌ„ presume once to rebuke his fautes here For he shall iudge all men and no man him O antichryst Is he not aÌ„tichrist that wyll not haue his lyfe tryed by Gods worde â—enecians Yf the Uenecians catch any of our holy fathers townes or possessions whether by warre or that they haue bought it or that it be layde to morgage vnto them or that the olde Pope hath geuen it with the
sent him into fraunce When they had sent out the kyng he coÌ„quered more then was theyr will and more then they supposed possible for hym in so shorte space and brought fraunce cleane vnder fete so that oure prelates had much secrete busynes to set it vp agayn but what is impossyble vnto so great Gods In kynge Henryes dayes the .vi. oure holy father of Rome made the bysshop of Wynchester a cardynall HeÌ„ry the .vi which went shortly after into fraunce to treate of a truce betwene Ingland fraunce And him mette a legate of Rome a cardinall also after which meating Inglyshmen had euer the worse in fraunce and theyr chefest fryende the duke of Burgayne forsoke them For wheÌ„ cardinalles bysshops mete together they haue their secrete counsell by them selues wherin they conclude neyther what is good for Inglande nor yet for fraunce but what is best for our holy fathers proffytt to kepe him in hys state When kynge Henry was of age there was a maryage made betwene hym and the earle of Arminackes doughter in GiaÌ„ with the which shuld haue bene geuen manye castels and townes in Gian and a greate soÌ„me of money therto But the maryage was broken not without the secret workyng of oure prelates and dyspensation of our holye father thou mayest be sure And a mariage was made betwene hym and the kinges doughter of Cecyle for which Ingland gaue vp the whole dukedom of Gyan and Earledom of Mayme wherby we lost all Normandye wherof they were the kaye And besyde yâ— the coÌ„munes gaue a xv an half to â—ette her in wyth pompe And then was the good duke of Glocetter traytourously murthered partely because he could iudge false myracles partely because of the delyuerauÌ„ce of these two contreys For he being a lyue they durst not do it And when kyng Edward had put doune kyng Henryâ— a mariage was made and coÌ„cluded betwene hym the kynge of spaiue this quenes mother yâ— nowe is But yer the Ambassadours were come home oure Prelates had be witched kynge Edwarde by theyr apostle Fryer bongay and maried him vnto a wyddowe that was a knyghts wyfe lest yf spayne and Ingland had bene wyned together kynge Edward shuld haue recouured fraunce agayn But what followed after the breakiÌ„g of that mariage betwene kynge Edward the earle of warwick aÌ„d what came of his chyldren ye aÌ„d what came on king HeÌ„ry of windsores children also But what care our prelates what vâ—geaunce or mischefe faâ—â—e on princes or on theyr royalmes so theyr kyngdome prospere In Kynge Henryes dayes the .vij. the cardinall Murton bysshop â—ox of winchester delyuered vnto the kinges grace the confessions of as many lordes as hys grace lusted Who soeuer was mistrusted it he shroue hym self at the chartâ—rhouses syâ—n Grenewich at sainct Ihoâ—s CoÌ„fession or where soeuer it waâ— the confessour was comaunded by the aucthorite of the pope to delyuer his confession wryteÌ„ sworne that it was al. And cardinal Murton had a lycâ—nce of the pope for fourtyne to study nycromancyâ— of whych he him selfe was one and other I haue heard named whiche at thys tyme I passe ouer with scilence And how the holy fryers obseruauntes caryed feyned letters to trye who was true I passe ouer with silence also How beit such temptacions and fained profers were ynough to moâ—e them that neuer wold haue thought amysse yea and in confession men wyll shryue them sâ—lues of thoughtes which they neuer went about in the outwarde dead WheÌ„ any great maÌ„ is put to death how his coÌ„fessour entreateth him what penaunce is enioyned him concerninge what he shall say when he comeÌ„th vnto the place of executioÌ„ I coud gesse at a practise that might make mens eares glowe And did not the subtil counsell of the sayde two prelates fayne the sege of Bolen to make a pretence to gather in a fiftene wheÌ„ there was no more warre betwene the king of Fraunce and of Englond then is betwene a mans head that hath lust to slepe his pilow Which sege yet cost many a maÌ„ their lyues yea some great men therto which knew not of that faining The kinges grace went ouer with a ten thousaÌ„d men to coÌ„quere all Fraunce and spent haply an huÌ„dred thousand pound of which he saued the fourth part in the daÌ„dyprattes and gathered at home .v. or .vi. huÌ„dred or more And two other such fayned viages could I happly reherse which I passe ouer for diuerse causes where many an Englishe man lost his lyfe But what care they for mens lyues And did not our cardinall with like polycy thiÌ„cke ye to gather yâ— which he thoght wolde not well be payed excepte the commens sawe somâ— cause briÌ„g a great multitude of scottes vnto the english pale ethâ—â— by some bysshopes of Scotlande or by some great man whom he corrupted with some yerelye pencion agaynst which the poâ—re northen meÌ„ must goo on their owne cosâ— to kepe them out And generall processyon was commauÌ„ded at London thryse in the weke and thorow out all the lande while â— Kynges receauers gathered the taxe of the comen people Which plage and such like after the thretning of god Leui. xxvi Deute xxviij aÌ„d .xxix. I am sure wyll faule on all christendome without cease vntyll they ether defye the name of chryst with the turckes or if they wylbe called christen they turne and loke on his doctrine Yea and what fayned the cardinall at the great loue to begyle his owne pryestes to make theÌ„ swere what they were wroth and the better wyllyng to paye for the comen priestes be not so obedient vnto theyr ordinaryes that they wyl pay money excepte they know why Now it is not expedyeÌ„t that euery rascall shulde know the secretes of the very true cause for many coÌ„syderacyons And therfore aÌ„ other pretence must be made aÌ„d an other cause alleaged And therfore the priestes were charged by theyr ordynaryes to appeare before the gentelmâ—â— of the court and tâ—mporal officers sweaâ—e what euery maÌ„ was worth Now the pryestes had â—euer be slayne and dye marters after the eÌ„sample of sainct Thomas of CauÌ„terburâ— then to sweare before a laye iudge for they thinke it greater synne then to slea their owne fathers and that then the lyberties of the church were clean lost and they no better then the vyle lay peple And wheÌ„ they were in that perplexitie that they muste eyther sweare or runne into the kyngs dauÌ„ger lose theyr goddes I wold say theyr goodes then my lorde cardenall sent downe hys graciouse powr yâ— they shuld swearâ— vnto theyr ordinaryes onely And then the pryests for ioye that they were ryd out of yâ— laye mennes handes were so glad and ioyous that they wyste not what thankes to geue my lorde cardinall and so were obedyent to sweare and to lende or els for all the curses that my lord Cardinall hath and the Pope to they wold neither haue
is ynough that we so say of our owne head for we can not erre· Which reason is lyke as though yong monkes newly professed A similitude shuld com by the rules of their order ordinaunces of their olde founders and wolde go about to kepe them the old cankered moÌ„kes shuld call them backe vnto the corrupt and false maner that now is vsed sayiÌ„g ye er Do only as we teach you for your profession is to obey your Elders According vnto the rules of our order and ordinaunces of our founder shal they saye We can teache you none other shall the old monkes say nor caÌ„ ly vnto you ye ought therfore to beleue vs and to do as we byd you The yong monkes shall answere we se that you ly cleane coÌ„trary vnto all that is writeÌ„ in our rules and ordinaunces The old moÌ„kes shal say ye can not vnderstande them except we expounde them vnto you nother yet know yâ— they be your rules excepte that ye beleue yâ— we can not lye vnto you For how can ye knowe that these be your rules and ordynauÌ„ces but as we your elders tell you so Now wheÌ„ we tell you that these be your rules aÌ„d ordinaunces howe can ye be sure vndoutedlye that it is so excepte ye beleue vndoutedly that we can not lye Wherfore if ye wylbe sure that they be your rules ordenaunces then ye must first beleue that we can not lye Leue such imaginations disputations therfore and laye your rules and ordinauÌ„ces out of youre haÌ„des and loke no more on theÌ„ for they make you erre And come and do as we tell you and captiuate youre wyttes and beleue that we can not lyr vnto you and that ye can not vnderstande your rules and ordynaunces Euen so yf thou saye it is contrary to the scrypture they aÌ„swere that thou vnderstandeste it not and that thou must captiue thy wytte aÌ„d beleue that though it seame neuer so coÌ„trary yet it is not contrarye no if they determe that christ is not risen agayn though the scripture testyfy yâ— he is rysen againe yet say they they be not coÌ„trary if they be wisely vnderstande Thou must beleue say they yâ— there is some other meaning in the scripture yâ— no maÌ„ vnderstaÌ„deth it but yâ— we say whether wtout scripture or agaiÌ„st it that must thou beleue that it is true And thus because that the scripture wolde not agre with them they thrust it out of the way fyrst shut vp the kingdome of heauen which is Christs gospel with falseâ—â—â— posicyons and with such sophistry with false principles of naturall wisdom And the abottes toke the scripture froÌ„ their moÌ„kes lest some shuld ever barke against the abottes lyuyng the abottes kepe yâ— moÌ„kes in ignoraunce the bisshopes the priestes and set vp suche longe seruyce and syngyng to werye them wyth all that they shulde haue no leasure to rede in the scripture but with their lippes and made them good chere to fyll their bellyes aÌ„d to stop theyr mouthes And the bysshops in lyke maner to occupy their priests with all that they shulde not study the scripture for barkyng agaynste them sett vp longe Seruyse wonderovse intricate so that in xij yâ—ares thou coudest scace learne to turne a ryght vnto it Long mateÌ„ses long Euenâ—onges longe Masses long Dyryges with vauntage yet to mitigate the tediousnes quia leuis est labor cum lucro for lucre say they maketh the laboure lyght euer noselyng them in Ceremonies and in their oune coÌ„stitucyons decrees ordinauÌ„ces and lawes of holy church And the promises and testament which the sacrament of Christes body and bloud did preach daylye vnto the people that they put out of knowlege aÌ„d say now that it is a sacryfyce for the soules of purgatorye that they myght the better sell their masse And in the vniuersytes they haue ordened that no man shall loke on the scriyture vntyl he be noseled in heatheÌ„ learning .viij. or nyne yere and armed with false principles the cast of the vniuersities â–ª with which he is clene shit out of the vnderstonding of the scripture And at his fyrst coÌ„miÌ„g vnto the vniuersitie he is sworne that he shall not defame the vniuersytie what soeuer he seeth And when he taketh fyrste degre he is sworne that he shal hold none opinion coÌ„demned by the church but what such opinioÌ„s be that he shall not know And they when they be admitted to studye diuinitie because the scripture is locked vp with such false exposicions and wyth false priÌ„ciples of naturall philosofye that they can not enter in they go aboute the out syde and dspute all their lyues aboute wordes and vayne opinyons pertaynynge as muche vnto the healyng of a mannes hele as helth of his soule Prouiso Prouided yet alway lest god geue his syngular grace vnto any parson that none may preach except he be admitted of the bisshopes TheÌ„ caÌ„ Thomas de aquino he made the pope a god with his sophystry Saint thomas de Aquino the pope made him a saynct for his labour and called him doctour sanctus for whose holynes no man may deny what soeuer he sayth saue iÌ„ certayne places where amoÌ„g so many lyes he sayd now aÌ„d then true And in like maner who so euer defendeth his tradicions decrees and priuileges him he made a sainct also for hys labour were hys lyuyng neuer so coÌ„trary vnto the scripture Saintes as Thomas of Canterbury with many other like whose life was like Thomas cardinalles but not Christs neyther is Thomas cardinalles life any thing saue couÌ„trefaytynge of sainct Thomas of canterbury Thomas becket was first sene in marchauÌ„dise temporall Thomas of caunterbury and then to learn spirituall marchaundyse he gatt him to Theobald Archbisshop of Canterburye which sent him diuerse tymes to Rome about busines of holy church And when Theobald had spied his actiuitie he shore hiÌ„ deacoÌ„ lest he shuld go backe made him Archdeacon of Canterbury vpon that presented him to the kinge And the king made him his chauÌ„celare in which office he passed the pompe pryde of Thomas cardinall as farre as the ones shrine passeth the others tombe in glory ryches And after that he was a maÌ„ of warre captayn ouer .v. or .vi. thousaÌ„d men in full harnesse as bright as saiÌ„ct George aÌ„d his speare in his hande aÌ„d encouÌ„tred who soeuer caÌ„ against hiÌ„ ouerthrew the iolyest rutter that was in al the hoste of FrauÌ„ce And out of the feld hote froÌ„ bloud sheading was he made bisshop of Caunterburye and did put of hys helme and put on his mytre put of his harnesse and on with his robes and layde downe his speare and toke his crosse yet his haÌ„des were colde so cam wyth a lustye corrage of a man of warre to fyght an other whyle against hiâ— prince for the pope Where hys princes causes were with the law of God the