gouernaunce and also the christen presthode or of both vndre one as powers of one God For both they heynge as starres in the firmament or powers from about Romano 13. most wretchedlye than declyued froÌ„ the true obedyence and faythfull ad ynystracyon of Gods eternall veryte vnto the beastlye subieccyon and tradycyons of that execrable Pope Sens that tyme haue they comen from the see They haue taken their autoryte of that Beast whyche rose out of the see Apocal. 13. tyll now of late dayes the .ij. hornes of the other Beast that is to saye of hypocresye pryckynge them than forewarde Those .ij. hornes of that earthlye Beast were here in Englande the .ij. monkysh sectes that in those dayes firste entered The first of them were the blacke monkes of Saynt Benet which entered first of all with the afore named Augustyne in the yeare of our lorde CCCCC and xcvi to peruerte the South Saxons and kentysh men The other were the blacke Chanons of the other Saynt Augustyne both blacke which came in with Berinus the archebyshopp of Dorcestre in the yeare of our lorde DC.xxxvi from Pope Honorius the firste to deceyue the west Saxons For yche Pope and byshopp preferred euermore the secte he was of These .ij. wrought so their wycked feates in those dayes with lyenge sygnes in hypocresye that they caused the afore named starres Regnum et Sacerdocium Regalyte and presthode to fall clerelye from heauen Iohan Capgraue Ranulphus et Polydorus ¶ The fall of kyngedoms and rayse of the Papacye MArke in the Chronycles and ye shall fynde thys most true That lyke as the Papacye had hys firste rayse in and of the fall of the Empyre so had those kyngdomes which firste obeyed yt their orygynall begynnynges of the ouerthrowe of the inferyour kyngedomes As Englande vndre kyng Inas by the fall of the Brytaynes and Fraunce vnder kynge Pypyne by the puttynge a syde of the Merouyngeanes Sens these lecherouse locustes crepte first into Englande neuer throue that kyngedome of the auncyent Brytaynes whose spirytuall head was God alone but euerye daye more and more decayed tyll yt was fullye ended Marke yt hardelye from the first commynge hyther of the seyd Augustyne tyll the yeare of our lorde DC.lxxxix wherin Cadwallader their last kynge dyed a most desolate pylgryme at Rome offerynge hymselfe vp there most myserablye to the Pope Euer sens hath yt bene to hym obedyent in all blasphemouse errours and doe â—ryues of Deuylles by the space of DCCC and .xliiij. years tyll the yeare of our lorde M.D. and .xxxiij. wherin at our noble kynges moste wholsome request we vtterlye by othe renounced that odyouse monstre Now ys yt Gods owne fre kyngedome agayne and our kynge hys inmedyate mynystre That Lorde graunte of hys infynyte mercye that lyke as we haue put a syde hys name we maye euen frome the harte also cast ouer hys Idolatrouse yokes â–ª folowynge from henceforth the vncorrupt rules of the Gospell Amen A lyke conparyson hath Paulus Orosius li. 2. Ca. 4. Historiarum mundi of Babylon and Rome Verye lyke begynnynges sayth he had Babylon and Rome lyke powers lyke prydes lyke contynuaunces lyke fortunes and lyke ruynes sauynge onlye that Rome arose of the fall of Babylon and so fourth ¶ An olde prophecye of Merlyne dysclosed AS I was in wrytynge thys matter an olde prophecye of Merlyne came vnto my remembraunce That after the manyfolde irrupcyons of straungers the kynges of thys realme shuld be ones agayne crowned with the Dyademe of Brute and beare hys auncyent name the newe name of straungers so vanyshynge awaye He that applyeth vnto thys a ryght vnderstandynge shall fynde yt verye true The dyademe of Brute ys the pryncelye power of thys whole regyoÌ„ inmedyatlye geueÌ„ of God without anye other meane mastrye worker to Antichristes behoue Fâ—re was that power fâ—m the great whores domynyon which ys the Rome churche tyll the vyoleÌ„t conquest of the Englysh SaxoÌ„s â–ª whiche they had of the Brytaynes for their iniquitees sake â–ª And now prayse be vnto that Lorde yt is in good waye to that fredoÌ„ agayne wold fully attayne therunto were her heythnysh yokes in relygyoÌ„ ones throwne a syde as I doubt yt not but they will be within short space As wele maye ye geue credeÌ„ce to this Merlyne whan he vttered the veryte as vnto olde Balaam the sothsayer which at a tyme prophecyed the commynge of Christ. Numeri 24. And as concernynge the returne of the name marke in this age the wrytinges of lerned men and ye shall wele perceyue the change for now coÌ„monlye do they write vs for Englysh men Brytaynes ¶ The whores fleshe eaten of the x. hornes THe .x. hornes of the first Beast which were kyngedomes maynteynynge that whore now ioyned all into one doth mortallye hate her at this present instaunt â–ª ys makynge her desolate and naked in Englande In the ende they shall eate her fleshe and clerelye coÌ„sume her with the fyre appoynted Englande was sumtyme into .vij. kyngedomes deuyded by the consent of all writers and wales into .ij. called Cambria Demecia or north wales South wales Irelande makynge vp the tenth Or yf ye holde wales but for one lete Scotlande supplye that rowme which oweth vnto Englande perpetuall homage As all these are now in one most worthye vyctoryouse Kynge but one so wyll God put into all their hartes one conseÌ„t to fulfyll hys will and to geue her kyngedome vnto the Beast or to sende yt agayne to the Deuyll from whens yt first came Apoca. 17 Consydre with your selues the late ouerthrowe of the monasteryes couentes collegys and chaunteryes alleages of vncleane spretes and holdes of most hatefull byrdes by the manyfest worde of God And thynke not but the fylthye habytacyons of the great mastre deuyls wyll folowe sone after Apoc. 18. Lete the gogle eyed Gardyner of wyncestre gyrde at yt tyll hys rybbes ake aÌ„d an hondred dyggynge deuyls vpon hys syde yet shall not one Iote of the Lordes promes be vnfulfylled at the tyme appoynted for that blasphemouse whores ouerthrowe hys most holye mother Praye in the meane season good christen readers praye praye praye that hys heauenlye wyll be done in earthe and not mannys and fashyon your lyues to the fourme of hys most dere sonne Iesus Christes doctryne Amen ¶ Actes of vowed virgynyte for that age NOw to returne agayne to their spirytuall actes of chastyte for that age WhaÌ„ one Sedia the father of saynt Aidê° perceyued that he by no meanes coude haue a chyld by hys wyfe he brought her to these coÌ„tyneÌ„t fathers for remedy of her barrennesse she was spedde the next nyght after by a myracle for all were myracles they ded IoaÌ„ Cap Guenhera a Cornysh woman whom some wryters call fayre Elyne that made Kynge Arthure a cuckolde was
was Gildas beynge thaÌ„ a monke of Bencornaburch not farre froÌ„ Chestre in hys dayly preachynges both agaynst the clergye and layte concernynge that vyce and soche other and prophecyed afore hande of the subuersyon of thys realme by the Saxons for yt lyke as yt sone after folowed in effect Loke in both hys bokes De excidio Britannie et in scriptis Polidori Galfredi et Ranulphi with the preface of Wyllyam Tyndals obedyence ¶ The Saxons entre with newe Christyanyte ANon after the Saxons had gotteÌ„ of the Brytaynes the full coÌ„quest of thys laÌ„de the name therof was changed and hath euer sens bene called EnglaÌ„de of Engist which was thaÌ„ their chefe captayne as wytneseth Iohan Hardyng IohaÌ„ Maior Hector Boethius CaxtoÌ„ FabyaÌ„ ThaÌ„ came there in a newe fashyoned Christyanyte yet ones a gayne froÌ„ Rome with manye more heythnysh yokes than afore And that was vpon thys occasyoÌ„ as all writers agre Gregorye the first of that name now called Saynt Gregorye behelde in the open market at Rome Englysh boyes to sell. Marke thys ghostlye mysterye for the prelates had than no wyues And womeÌ„ in those dayes myght sore haue dystayned their newlye rysyn opynyoÌ„ of holynesse yf they had chaunced to haue bene with chylde by them and therfor other spirytuall remedyes were sought out for theÌ„ by their good prouyders and proctours ye maye yf ye wyll call theÌ„ apple squyres And as thys Gregorye behelde them fayre skynned and bewtyfullye faced with heare vpon their heades most comelye anoÌ„ he axed of what regyon they were And answere was made hym that they were of an yle called Englande Wele maye they be called Angli sayth he for they haue verye Angelyck vysages Se how curyouse these fathers were in the wele â—yenge of their wares Here was no cyrcumstaunce vnloked to perteynynge to the sale Yet haue thys Byshopp bent of all writers reckened the best sens hys tyme Thys storye mencyoneth Iacobus de Voragine Vincencius Antoninus Ioannes Capgraue Maior Polydorus an hondred Autours more ¶ More Englysh boyes solde at Rome AN other example lyke vnto thys telleth the seyde Iohan Capgraue in hys Cataloge That as one Macutus an Englysh Brytayne and Byshop of Aleâ—h in Irelande beynge at Rome about the yeare of our lorde CCCCC perceyued serten Englysh boyes to be lolde there openlye He gaue the pryce of them and sent them home agayne Of a lyke lyhode he smelled the spirytuall occupyenge there and pysyed the most daÌ„pnable castynge awaye of those poore innocentes whome Christ had so derelye redemed with hys blood Soche an other acte of christeÌ„ pitye wrought kynge Eteluuolphus there after dyuerse writers whan he in the yeare of our lorde DCCC xlvij made sute to Pope leo the fort to be clerelye dyspensed with for the ordre of subdeacon whiche he had in hys yowthe receyued wholsome ware I warande yow of Helmestane thaÌ„ Byshop of wynchestre For by that tyme they had crepte into the seate of the Serpent Apoca. 13. and obtayned full autoryte to dyspense with all pactes professyons promyses vowes â—thes oblygacyons and sealynges to the Beastes holye seruyce Marke alwayes the tymes Thys storye hath Vuylyam of Malmesburye li. 2. De regibus Ranulphe Hardyng Fabyan and Polydorus with other And that the one wanteth the other alwayes habundauntlye supplyeth Possessyon was taken of that seate of the Beast vndre phocas the emproure in the yeare of our lorde DC and .vij. whan the papacye first begoÌ„ne ¶ Augustyne entreth with hys MoÌ„kes NOw to returne agayne vnto Gregorye He sent vpon the aforesayd occasyon into Englande in the yeare from Christes in carnacyoÌ„ CCCCC xcvi a Romy she moÌ„ke called Augustyne not of the ordre of Christ as was peter but of the superstycyouse seete of Benet there to sprede abrode the Romyshe faythe and relygyon for Christes faythe was there loÌ„ge afore With hym entered Melitus Iustus Laurencius Ioannes Petrus Rufinianus Paulinus and a great sort more to the nombre of .xl. all monkes Italyanes Wele armed were they with Aristotles artylerye as with logyck Phylosophye and other craftye scyeÌ„ces but of the sacred scripturs they knewe lyttle or nothynge If ye beleue not me reade in Iohan Capgraues Cataloge Inu ita Augustini hys interrogacyoÌ„s Ad Gregorium per laurenciuÌ„ et Petrum and ye shall fynde theÌ„ voyde of all christen lernynge eyther of lawe or Gospell yea moste incypyent folyshe Yet was the seyd Augustyne the best lerned amoÌ„ge theÌ„ These toke with theÌ„ a great nombre of frenche interpretours bycause they were all ignoraunte of the languages there Here was a noble christyanyte towardes whaÌ„ the preachers knewe neyther the scripturs nor yet the speache of the people Well yet they ded myracles Yea so sayd Christ they shuld do whaÌ„ he bad vs in anye wyse to be ware of theÌ„ Mat. 24. For thys storye marke specyallye Iohan Capgraue in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie Sigebertus VinceÌ„â—ius Antoninus Tritemius Christianus Masseus and the churche legendarye Dyuersly were they of womeÌ„ intreated ANd as coÌ„cernynge womeÌ„ greuousslye were they vexed with them coÌ„mynge hytherwarde specyallye at a vyllage called Saye within the couÌ„tye of Angeu in fraunce In the which was buylded immedyatlye after a churche they saye in the honour of the seyd Augustyne where as no women come but are plaged with most sodayne deathe for the dyspleasure there shewed them than yet ded thy but laugh vpoÌ„ theÌ„ Thys sheweth AlexaÌ„dre the prior of Esseby in hys Annuall of Sayntes by these verses Cetus aput Saye uexauit eos mulierum Quas peccasse probat lux noua foÌ„sque nouus Plebs parat ecclesiaÌ„ mulieribus haud reseraÌ„daÌ„ Introitum tentat una sed inde perit Thys storye hath also Iohan Capgraue and the olde Englysh Festyuall of Sayntes which was soÌ„tyme the onlye taught Gospell of Englande Notwithstandynge thys dyspleasure of women abrode yet founde they womeÌ„ fauorable within England For Bertha the quene of Kent than beynge a frenche woman caused Kynge Ethelbert to admyt theÌ„ with all their tyrâ—erye trashe Yet for the small trust he had vnto them at their first metynge he wolde in no wyse commeÌ„ with theÌ„ within anye howse the storye sayth least they shuld after any sorcerouse sort by wytche hym The first poynt of RelygyoÌ„ they shewed was thys They spred fourth a banner with a paynted crucifixe and a syluer crosse thervpon and so come to the kynge in processyon syngynge the letanye Wele myght thys be called a newe christyanyte for neyther was yt knowne of Christ nor of hys Apostles nor yet euer seane in Englande afore It came altogyther from the dust heape of their monkerye ¶ Their first spirytuall prouysyons here AS the kynge admytted their enteraunce he couenaunted thus with them and verye wyselye That hys people shulde alwayes be at lyberte
and no man constrayned to their newe founde Relygyon sacryfyces â–ª and worshyppynges But alac that fredome conâ—yaued not longe with them as ye shall wele perceyue here after Than ded Augustyne get hym into Fraunce agayne and caused one Etherius than Archebyshop of Arelas to consecrate hym the great byshop of all Englande without eleccyon or consent of the people that we reade of And in the yeare of our Lorde euen DC ded Gregorye sende vnto hym from Rome hys prymates pall with superaltares châ—lyces copes candelstyckes vestymentes surplyces alter clothes syngynge bokes rellyâ—kes and the blessynges of Peter and Paule And so admytted hym for the fyrst metropolitane of all the whole realme appoyntynge hys seate from thens fourth at Canterburye than called Doroberna the worthye cytie of london euer after depryued of her former tytle and so made an vnderlynge But the spyrituall fathers knewe wele ynough what they ded beholdynge afore hande manye hydden mysteryes They perceyued that Caunterbury was wele out of the waye and moche nygher the see than was London and so moche the fytter for their craftye conueyaunces aÌ„d flyghtes to their holye father yf nede shuld requyre yt with manye other commoditees els Marke alwayes these nombers of Syxes and their mysteryes for the age of Man and the Beast Apoca 13. ¶ Their preparacyons for Antichrist THe first stodye of these fathers after they were ones satled was all aboute masse offerynges ceremonyes byshoppes seates consecracyons churche hallowynges orders geuynge tythes personages puryfycacyous of women and soche lyke Wherupon a Syunode was called and there commanÌ„ dementes were geuen that all thinges shuld be here obserued accordynge in the customes of Rome In Englande was there afore their commynge a christyanyte but it was all without masses and in a maner without choyce of eyâ—her dayes or meates The Brytaynes in those dayes had non other Gods seruyce but the Gospell Seldome admytted they any dyfference of tymes with the Iewes eyther anye Idoll sacryâ—yces with the Gentyles but folowed the playne rules of the scripturs If anye superstycyons were amonge their Monkes they had nought to do ther with but were euermore at lyberte For Prynces at that tyme were not yet becomen the Beastes Images to speake out of theyr spretes or to make lawes accordynge to theyr lustes The labour of Augustyne with his moÌ„kes from the forseyd yeare of our Lorde DC was to prepare Antichrist a seate here in Englande agaynst the full tyme of hys perfyghtage of 666. For though he were first conceyued in the wycked churche of Cain yet coude he not shewe hymself in hys owne lykenesse that is to saye Christes opeÌ„ aduersary tyll Christ came in the fleshe And than he apered at all one tyme with hym in the malygnaunt churche of the Iewes or spyrytualte of Herode which than first began to persecute hym and to seke hys death ¶ The prouynge of Augustynes Apostleship IN the yeare of our Lorde DC aÌ„d ij helde Augustyne an other counsell in the west part and countye of worcestre in a place that is yet called Augustynes oke wherunto he called by coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the vij byshoppes of the Brytayne churche with their principall doctours And as they were takynge their iournaye thydreward they counselled with a serten solytarye man which was knowne to be of amost perfight chri sten lyfe what was to be done coÌ„cernynge the afore seyd Augustyne Anon he made them this christen answere If he be a man of God sayth he in anye wyse folowe hys counsell If he be not vtterlye refuse it How shall we know that saye they Ye shall wele perceyue yt by his gentyll sprete sayth he agayne For Christ bad hys scolers lerne of him to be meke harted If he be of that sort he ys lyke to brynge ye non other than Christes moste easye yoke But yf ye fynde hym proude be ware of the importable burdenes of the hygh mynded Pharysees And as they were commen thydre they founde hym syttynge a loft in a throue of hygh honoure shewynge vnto them no countenaunce of gentylnesse Wherfor they regarded hym not but vtterlye withstode all hys enforcemeÌ„tes ¶ The Englysh churche begynneth with tyrannye AFter longe dysputacyons and other weywarde wrangelynges he layed vnto their charges that they were in many thynges contrarye to the vnyuersall Christen churche NotwithstaÌ„dynge yf they wolde consent vnto hym in these .iij. poyntes That ys to saye to baptyse after the Romysh maner to celebrate the feast of Eastre as they do there and preache to the Englysh Saxons as he shuld appoynt them he wolde wele beare with them in all other causes In no case wolde they graunte vnto hym nor yet accept him for their archebyshop â–ª but sayd playnelye they wolde styll holde theyr auncyent tradycyoÌ„s which they perfyghtlye knewe to be agreable to the holy Apostles doctryne Than sayd Augustyne furyouslye vnto them that yf they wolde not peceably graunte to hys requestes they shuld be enforced therunto by most cruell battayle And so in the yeare next folowynge were slayne of their preachers by Augustynes procurement to the nombre of a thousande and ij hondred with their great mastre Dionothus Loke Flores Historiarum Amandus Zierixensis Galfrede Ranulph Capgraue Caxton Fabianc their churche legendarye and other Thus ded that carnall Synagoge than called the Englysh churche which came from Rome with Augustine most cruellye persecute at her first commynge in the ChristeÌ„ churche of the Brytaynes in these holye martyrs Theyr synefull Syon buylded they than in blood for that theyr wycked instytutes were Godlye dysobeyed But he they sure yt shall be plowed vp in thys lattre age aÌ„d lye wast lyke a uoyde felde accordynge to Mycheas prophecye Mich. 3 ¶ What the Brytayne churche was afore TRue is the faythfull saynge of Iohan Leylande in assertione Arturij fo 35. That the Romysh Byshop sought all meanes possyble to vpholde the Englysh SaxoÌ„s in a kyngedome falselye gotten the Brytaynes hatynge hym for yt and he agayne of myschefe prouokynge those Saxons fearcelye to invade them Marke yt hardelye for yt ys worthye to be noted Marke also the agrement of the Brytayne churche with the vij churches of Asia in Saynt Iohans tyme Not onlye for the iust noÌ„bre of theyr byshoppes but also for their obseruacyon of Eastre afore thys Augustynes coÌ„mynge For in their argumentacyons aboute that matter they layde alwayes for themselues the vsages of that churche receyued first of Iohan the Euangelist Philip the Apostle Policarpus Traseas Sagaris Papirius and Meliton allegynge the saynges of Policrates and Eusebius in that behalfe The churche that Augustyne than planted in Englande was more gouerned by byshoppes polycyes for their aduauntage than by the expresse worde of God to hys honour as it hath beue euer sens And therfor yt was and is
doughters doughter He spared neyther hygh nor lowe olde nor yonge poore nor rytche fayre nor foule they sayd so that no women durst come vnto Rome on pylgrymage in hys tyme. Neyther reuerenced he anye place but wolde do yt euerye where yea vpon their verye aulters He wolde hawke hunte daunce leape dyce sweare fyght ryot roune straye abrode in the nyght breakynge vppe dores and wyndowes and burne manye mennys howses One of hys Cardynalles he gelded he put out an others eyes whyche had bene hys godfather Of some he borowed an hande of some a tunge a fynger a nose an eare In hys dyce playnge wolde he call vpon yll spretes and drynke to the deuyll for loue Thus was he in the ende deposed tyll hys dere dyamoÌ„des sett haÌ„des vnto yt for they ruled all aÌ„d caused the Romaynes to sett hym in agayne ¶ Dunstanes autoryte agaynst marryed prestes THe papacye helde thys IohaÌ„ the .xij. for the space of .ix. years .iij. monthes and .v. dayes and was sâ—â—…keÌ„ of the deuyll they saye as he was lyenge in bedde with a mannys wyfe so dyed within .viij. dayes after without howsell or shrift they saye All thys writeth of hym the foreseyd Liuthprandus li. 6. Ca. 6. and so fourth .v. chapters more to the ende almoste of hys boke whiche at the same selfe tyme dwelt at Ticina in Italye Thys ys he of whome the byworde ryse As myrye as Pope Iohan. Vnto thys holye vycar of Sathan successour of Symon Magus went Dunstane out of Englande in the yeare of our lorde DCCCC and .lx. to be coÌ„fyrmed archebyshop of Caunterburye And there receyued therwith for a great summe of moneye autoryte power of the Beast Apoca. 13. vtterlye to dyssolue prestes maryage that hys monkes by that meanes myght possesse the cathedrall churches of Englande as within a whyle after they ded Thys Dunstane as witnesseth IohaÌ„ Capgraue was the first that in thys realme compelled men and women to vowe chastyte and to kepe claustrale obedyence agaynste the fre doctryne of Saynte Paule 1 Cor. 7. et Gala. 5. Forbyddynge marryage instytuted of God whiche ys the verye doctryne of deuils 1. Timoth. 4 Thys ys the worthye orygynall and first foundacyon of monkes and prestes professed chastyte in Englande marke yt with the sequele and tell me herafter whether yt be of the deuyll or naye ¶ Dunstane executeth hys deuylyshe commyssyon THys craftye merchaunde DuÌ„stane as he was returned agayne into EnglaÌ„de by autoryte of this most execrable monstre and wycked Antichrist gaue a strayght commaundemeÌ„t that prestes out of haÌ„de shuld put awaye their lawfull wyues whoÌ„ that breÌ„t consepenced hypocryte called the vessels of fornycacyon els wolde he he sayd accordynge to hys commyssyon put them both from benefyce and lyuynge And where as he perceyued the benefyces most welthye there was he most gredye vpon them and shewed most vyolence tyrannye For whan the hygh deanes of cathedrall churches masters of colleges prebendes persones and vycars wolde not at so beastly a commaundement leaue their wyues and chyldren so desolate without all naturall ordre he gote vnto hym the great power of kynge Edgare to assyst that creull commyssyon of hys procured for moneye of the former Antichrist of Rome and by force therof in manye places most tyrannouslye expelled them IoaÌ„nes Capgraue in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie Reade all the Byble and Chronycles ouer of Nemroth Pharao Antiochus Nero Decius Traianus with other lyke and I thynke ye shall not fynde a more tyrannouse example No not in cruell Herode hys selfe For though he slewe the innocent babes yet demynyshed he not the lyuynge of the fathers and mothers but thys tyraunt toke all with hym If he had sought a Godlye reformacyon where marryage was abused yt had bene sumwhat commendable But hys huntynge was to destroye yt all togyther as an horryble vyce in prestes and in place therof to sett up Sodome and Gomor by a sort of Hypocryte monkes so changynge all godlye ordre ¶ Kynge Edgare ys brought vndre therby THus bycame the face first of the Brytonysh and than of the Englysh churche sore changed blemyshed and by whorysh commyssyons froÌ„ the whorysh byshoppes of the whorysh Synagoge of Rome was made all togyther whoryshe Proue me herin a lyer and an heretyke yf ye can for I wyll by the helpe of God staÌ„de by that I write here to the ende of my lyfe If ye can not I speake onlye to yow papystycall byshoppes and prestes graunt your selues to be the most theues heretykes and seducers of the people that euer yet reigned vpon the earthe for maynteynynge for holynesse so deuylysh a knauerye Immedyatlye after thys be fell a sore chaunce as God walde Kynge Edgare which was euer a great whore mastre and a tyraunte as the Chronycles report hym had a do with a yonge mayde called wilfrith brought vp in the nondrye of wylton parauenture to their vse wherupon by force of the former commyssyon he was condempned of Dunstane to .vij. years penaunce and myght in no wyse be dyspensed with tyll he had buylded for their commodyte the great nondrye of Shaftesburye with .xij. other monasteryes besydes Specyallye tyll he had fullye graunted to the vtter condempnacyon of prestes maryage through out all hys realme and fyrmelye promysed to put the monkes in their rowmes in the great cathedrall churches writynge to the pope for the same For as witnesseth both Vuyllyam of Malmesburye Ranulph of Chestre Guido de columna and Robert sabyane he was not crowned tyll the .xij. yeare of hys reigne ¶ Dunstane fashyoneth the kynge to hys purpose IN the ende thys aduoutrye of the kynge made greatlye for their purpose For whan yt was ones openlye knowne Dunstane with hys Bulle went by and by vnto hym and by force therof denounced hym accursed The kynge of gentylnesse as he was coÌ„mynge towardes hym arose out of hys regall seate to take hym by the hande aÌ„d geue hym place The hystorye sayth that he than dysdayned to geue hym hys hande And lokynge vpon hym with bende browes and most spyghtfull countenaunte he sayd thus vnto hym Thu that hast not feared to corrupte a vyrgyne made handefast to Christ presumest to towche a knaue the consecrate handes of a byshopp Thu hast defyled the spowse of thy maker a monkes wanton and thynkest by flatterynge seruyce to pacyfye a But what matter maketh yt whiche of them yt was whan all they are allowed now for canonysed Sayntes in the popes whoryshe churche Yea the whoremonger the whore the whoryshe bastarde and all to sett whoryshnesse forewarde and make yt apere holye where marryage ys thought vnholye And as for the mother of Edwarde Iohan Hardynge nameth her Elflede Polydorus Elfrede Wyllyam of Malmesburye Ranulphe Fabyane calleth her whyght Egelflede Caxton dare geue her no
name and therfore the matter ys doubtfull As Dunstane was on a tyme hallowynge of a churche in the honoure of Saynt deuyll saynt Deuys I shuld saye he behelde the ryght thombe of the foreseyd Edithe thaÌ„ beynge abbesse of wylton as she was crossynge aÌ„d blessynge her forhead And moche delyghtynge therin he toke yt in hys hande and sayd Neuer myght thys thombe peryshe Immedyatlye after he beynge at Masse and dolouroussye wepynge sayd vnto the deacon that serued hym Alas thys floryshynge floure will fade thys redoleÌ„t rose wyll be gone this dayntye Dyamonde wyll peryshe thys swete byrde wyll awaye for euer And after her deathe he founde all her bodye resolued into ashes except that thombe and the secrete part vndre her bellye for those .ij. partes of her he had blessed afore In dede he was verye homelye to serche so farre But the cause of thys they saye she afterwarde declared vnto hym in a secrete vysyon Thys storye sheweth VuillyaÌ„ of Malmesburye li. 2. de pontificibus Ranulphus in polychronico li. 6. Ca. 9. Vincencius li. 25. Ca. 33. Antoninus par 2. ti 16. Ca. 8 Iohannes Capgraue in uita Edithe ¶ Kynges become th Beastes Images VVhan Kynge Edgare had ones perfourmed hys .vij. years penauÌ„ce for hys aduowterye with fayre Wilfrith whom DuÌ„stane paraueÌ„ture prepared for hys owne store he became altogyther the dumme Image of the Beast and myght not vtter froÌ„ thens fourth but as they gaue hym sprete Apo. iâ— Than caused they hym to call a generall counsell at London some saye in the yeare of our lorde DCCCC and .lxix. by the vngracyouse autoryte of the aforeseyd pope Iohan. And there was yt fullye enacted and establyshed for a lawe euer to endure that all canons of cathedrall churches collygeners persons curates vycars prestes deacons and subdeacons shuld eyther lyue chast that ys to saye become Sodomytes for that hath bene their chastyte euer sens or els be suspended from all spirytuall iurysdyccyon Thys more than Pharaonycall constytucyoÌ„ was the kynge sworne to ayde maynteyne and defende with the materyall swerde by the popes antoryte ThaÌ„ were there chosen oute .ij. pryncypall vysytours Ethelwolde the Byshopp of Wynchestre that nest ys euer vngracyouse Oswalde the Byshopp of Worcestre both monkes to se thys throughe out the whole realme executed Vincencius li. 24. Cap. 83. Antoninus par 2. li. 16. Cap. 6. Guilhelmus Malmesburye Ranulphus Guido de columna Ioan Capgraue et opus nouum De utraque potestate fo 57. ¶ Dunstane ys accused of yll rule IN thys counsel were some wyse men as all these writers wytnesse though yt be sumwhat fayntly which layed for their marryage the scripturs and substancyallye proued themselues the maynteyners of vertu therin aÌ„d not of aduouterye as they were there vncharytablye noted But that wolde not serue theÌ„ The holye Ghost myght in no wyse preuayle the popes bawdye bulles beynge in place but they must nedes haue the preferment no remedye An other sort were there which accused Dunstane of yll rule in the darke For Petrus Equilinus sayth in Catalogo Sanctorum li. 8. Ca. 49. that he was put to hys purgacyon of manye thyngs there layed agaynst hym Of a lyekelyhode therfore they had smelled oute sumwhat that was not all to hys spirytuall honestye Neyther wolde these accusacyons helpe the popes Power ones so largelye publyshed The kynge durst vtter nothynge that was agaynst hym for feare of newe penaunce and for as moche as yt was wele knowne that in the tyme of hys olde penaunce he had occupyed one mynyon at Wynchestre an other at Andouer besydes alfrede whoÌ„ he at the lattre gote to wyfe by the craftye mourther of her husbaÌ„de Ethelwolde an earle ¶ The kynge defendeth Dunstane destroyeth wolues BVt to pacyfye and please thys Dunstane kynge Edgare in hys oracyon there to the clergye rebuked the prestes verye sore for banketynge with their wyues for slacknesse of their masse saynges for pretermyttynge their canonycall houres for their crownes shauynges with their vnprestlye aparellynges and soche other lyke More ouer he alleged vnto theÌ„ in the seyd oracyon the lamentable complayntes good knauerye I waraÌ„de yow of hys fathers sowle aperynge to Dunstane and reprouynge the wantoÌ„ behauer of the prestes with their wyues He also tolde them in repressynge their former accusementes that by hys peramoure Stephana of hys breames and vysyons for the tyme of hys progresse desyeryng hys power agaynst the prestes also with manye other wonders IohaÌ„nes Capgraue in Catal. Guilhelmus Malmesburye Vincencius Antoninus Ranulphus Guido de columna â–ª et Polydorus ¶ Oswalde with hys Beastlye autoryte ON the other syde went Oswalde with hys autoryte froÌ„ that wycked counsell which had stodyed necromancye with other vnpure scyeÌ„ces at floryake besydes Orleaunce in fraÌ„ce where he was first made monke and afterwarde in Englande bycame byshopp of Worcestre Thys fellawe so wele armed with deceytes as euer were Pharaoes sorcerers was thought a man mete to deceyue with lyenge sygnes the commoÌ„ sort So trudged he fourth with hys craftye caâ—kynges and first expelled the Canons of the cathedrall churche of worcestre with their carefull wyues and chyldren and out of .vij. other churches more within that hys dyoces and there placed for them the laysye leane locustes which not longe afore had leaped out of the bottomlesse pytt Apoca. 9. the monkes which at that tyme were bare and nedye ThaÌ„ went he farther abrode and wrought there lyke masteryes wherof EnglaÌ„de hathdepelye felt euer sens Hys suggestyons were lyke the other as that the prestes lyued wantonlye and wolde not masse in due forme For hys trauayle in thys was he made archebyshop of Yorke by the laboure of Dunstane To tell hys other feates yt wolde axe to moche tyme and therfor I passe yt ouer These .ij. promoted the seyd DuÌ„stane aboue all other as men hauynge most wylye craftes to assyst hym in hys busynesse These .iij. Monkes brought the Kynges so vndre that they had than all the realme at their pleasures Ioannes Capgraue Malmesburye Vincencius Antoninus Ranulphus Guido de Columna et Polydorus ¶ Dunstane maketh a Kynge at hys pleasure AFter the decease of Kynge Edgare in the yeare of our lorde DCCCC and .lxxv. was a wonderfull varyete and scysme through out the whole realme partlye for hym that next shuld succede Kynge and partlye for the great iniurye done to the marryed prestes The quene Alfrede with Alpherus the duke of Mercia and other great lordes fauorynge her quarell worlde nedes haue Ethelrede Kynge whiche was her sonne by Edgare on the one syde Dunstane and hys moÌ„kyshe byshoppes with the earle and Eastsexe and serten other lordes part both of the nobles and commons iudged the prestes to haue great wronge and sought euerye where by all meanes possyble