when the Archdeacon would amende this thing they vtterly despised with wicked pride his warning and worthy commaÌ„dement to be receiued Then he calling together many religious men and obedient Priestes excommunicated worthely the proud disobedient that beastly despised the curse and were not afraid to defile the holy Ministerie as much as lay in them c. Unto these letters aboue prefixed I haue also adioyned an order of the sayde Anselmus touching a great case of conscience of a Monkes whipping of himself Wherein may appeare both the blind and lameÌ„table superstition of those religious men and the iudgement of this Anselmus in the same matter An other letter of Anselmus Anselmus Archbishop to Bernard Monke of the Abbey of S. Warburg greeting and prayer I Heard it sayde of your Lorde Abbot that thou iudgest it to be of greater merite when a Monke either beareth himselfe or desireth himselfe to be beaten of an other then when hee is beaten not of his owne will in the chapter by the commaundement of the prelacie But it is not so as you thinke For that iudgement that any man commaundeth to himselfe is kingly But that which he suffreth by obedience in the chapter is Monkish The one is of his owne will the other is of obedience and not of hys owne will That which I cal kingly kings rich proud men coÌ„maÌ„d to be done to themselues But that which I call moÌ„kish they take not commaunding but obeying The kingly is so much easier by how much it agreeth to the will of the sufferer But the monkish is so much the grieuouser by how much it differeth froÌ„ the wil of the sufferer In the kingly iudgement the sufferer is iudged to be his own In the monkish he is proued not to be his own For although the king or riche man when he is beaten willingly sheweth himselfe humbly to be a sinner yet he woulde not submit himselfe to this humblenesse at any other commaundement but would withstand the commander with all his strength But when a Monke submitteth himselfe to the whippes humbly in the chapter at the wil of the prelate the truth iudgeth him to be of so much greater merite by howe much he humbleth himselfe more and more truely then the other For he humbleth himselfe to God only because he knoweth his sinnes But this man humbleth himself to man for obedience But he is more lowly that humbleth himselfe both to God and man for Gods cause then he which humbleth himselfe to God only and not to Gods commandement Therfore if he that humbleth himselfe shall be extolled Ergo he that more humbleth himselfe shall be more exalted And where I sayde that when a monke is whipped that it differeth from his wil you must not so vnderstande it as though he woulde not paciently beare it with an obedient wil but because by a natural appetite he would not suffer the sorrow But if ye say I do not so much flie the open beating for the paines which I fele also secretly as for the shame know then that he is stronger that reioyceth to beare this for obedieÌ„ce sake Therfore be thou sure that one whipping of a monke by obedience is of more merite then innumerable whippings taken by his owne minde But where as he is such that alwaies he ought to haue his heart ready without murmuring obediently to be whipped we ought to iudge him then to be of a great merite whether he be whipped priuily or openly c. And thus much concerning Anselmus archb of Cant. whose stout example gaue no litle courage to Thurstinus and Becket his successors and other that folowed after to doe the like against their kings and princes as in processe hereafter by the grace of Christ shall appeare About this time An. 1105. two famous Archbishops of Mentz being right vertuous and wel disposed Prelates were cruelly and tirannously delt withall and intreated by the B. of Rome Their names were Darry and Christian This Darry hauing intelligence that he was complained of to the pope sent a learned man a special frend of his to excuse him named Arnolde one for whome he had much done and promoted to great liuing and promotioÌ„s But this honest maÌ„ Arnold in steede of an excuser became an accuser bribing the two chiefest Cardinalles with good gold by which meanes he obtained of the Pope those two Cardinals to be sent as inquisitors and only doers in that present case The which comming to Germany somoned the sayd Henry and deposed him of his Archbyshoppricke for all he could doe either by lawe or iustice substituting in his place the foresaid Arnolde vpon hope truely of the ecclesiastical gold Whereupon that vertuous honorable Henry as the storie telleth spake vnto those his peruerse iudges on this wise If I shuld appeale vnto the Apostolik see for this your vniust proces had against me perhaps the pope wold attempt nothing any more therein then ye haue neither should I win any thing by it but only royle of body losse of good affliction of mind care of heart missing of his fauour Wherfore I do appeale to the Lord Iesus Christ as to the most highest iust iudge and cite you before his iudgement there to answere me before the high iudge For neither iustly nor godly but by corruption as it pleaseth you you haue iudged Whereunto they scoffingly answered Go you first and we wil folow Not long after as the storie is the saide Darry died whereof the 2. Cardinals hauing intelligence sayd one to the other testingly behold he is goue before and we must follow according to our promise and verely they sayde truer then they were aware off for win a while they died in one day For the one sitting vpon a â—akes to ease himselfe voyded out all his intrails into the draught and miserably ended his life The other gnawing of the fingers off his handes and spitting them out of his mouth al deformed in deuouring himself died And in likewise not long after the ende of these men the foresaid Arnold most horribly in a sedition was slaine and certaine daies lying stinking aboue the grouÌ„d vnburied was open to the spoyle of euery rascall harlot The Hystoriographer in declaring hereof crieth vpon the cardinals in this maner O ye Cardinals ye are the beginning and authors hereof Come ye hether therefore come ye hether and heape and cary vnto your couÌ„tries the deuil and offer yourselues to him with that money whereof ye haue bene most gluttonous and insatiable About the same time and yeare when king Henry began his raigne Pope Paschalis entered his papacie succeding after Urbanus about the yeare of the Lorde 1100 nothing swaruing from the steps of Hildebrand his superiour This Paschalis being elected by the Cardinals after that the people had cried thrise S. Peter hath chosen good Raynerus He than putting on a purple vesture atice vpon his head
letter of Byshop Waltram Well said when ye are not able to withstand hys wisedome call him a foole Note howe the earle here calleth light darcknes and darcknes light He hath vttered more 〈◊〉 then you are able euer â— aunswereth Whether euery poweâ— is to be obeyed or noâ— Osee. â— If euery power which offendeth on subiectes is to be call out then hath this Earle 〈◊〉 a fayre argument How 〈◊〉 these Papistes describe themselues in their owne colours But Paule iudged the Emperour to be an ordinary power when he appealed to him This is â—â— ly that the Emperour would 〈◊〉 his owne wife a common 〈◊〉 Euill will neuer sayd well A zeale but faâ—â—e from knowledge And when they shall slay you they shall thinke they doe God great seruice Iohn 16. Yea true if he had cópelled you to forsake the name of Christ which hee neuer did Oh how craftely doth Sathan here shape himselfe to an Angell of light Exvetusto chronico Kinges ceased in Wales Anno. 1100. Henry Beuclerk the first king of England What learning doth in a prince Lawes of King Edward reduced The measure of England made after the length of King Henries arme Wanton persons remoued out of the court Ex Math. Paris Flor. Hist Example what it is to leaue of the Lordes busines Duke Robert taken prisoner The hospitall of Bartholomew founded Rayer and Richard Whittington founders of S. Bartholomewes in London Ex Henr. lib. 7. Anselmus The king ordayned and inuested Byshops without the Pope Herbert bishop of Norwich dinorsing hys priestes from their wiues had much a doe Anselmus cruell and fierce agaynst maryed Priestes Ex epist. Ansel. 176. Versus malò feriati ex biblio Ramsey Anno. 1103. A strife betwene K. Henry and Anselme the Archbish. of Cant. Gifford Bishop of Wint. refuseth to be consectrate by the Archbishop of Yorke A strife betwene King Henry and Anselmus Archb. of Cant. Ex Guli lib. 1. de Gestis A. 〈◊〉 Romanes Councel agaynst 〈◊〉 men 〈◊〉 any 〈…〉 Nospirâ—â— person to it vnderloâ—â—ction to 〈◊〉 lay personage Ex lorâ—â—lensis 〈◊〉 others â—ihistoria Anselme resuseth to do homage to his King Messengeâ— sent to Rome Ex Mathâ— Paris Ex Gulâ—â— lib. 1. de gestis 〈◊〉 Ang. The king hath nothing to do with the Pope hys letters Messenger sent agayn to Rome The letter of K. Henry the first vnto the Pope Spoken like a king The â—ing is a point to 〈◊〉 the â—opes obeâ—ince Another â—tter of K. Henry the 〈◊〉 sent to â—he Pope A place of Polydorus Virg. found â—aultie Ex Guliel lib. 1. de â—ont Anglo The pope othe to go agaynst hys owne proâ—it He meaneth beside the two bishops Giâ—ardus whiche made the third Anselme a deuout chaplaine to the Church of Rome Anselme iournieth agâ—yne to Rome The effect of the oration of W. Warlwast at the popes court Ex Galial De gestis pont of â— lib. 1â— Ex Math. Paris lib. 3. A proud aunswere of the pope Excommunication abused Anselme restrayned from comming to England Ex Redulph Londimensi A letter of Anselme to kyng Henry The proude stoutnes of a prelate in a wrong cause Anselme about to excommunicate the king Reconcile â—ent made betweene the king and Anselmus Ambassage to Rome Guliel Malmes lib. 1. de gestis pontisi Priestes receaued their wiues agayne by the Absence of Anselme The faultes of ecclesiasticall ministers long to none but to byshops to correct quod Anselme The K. brought vnder the Archbishop Conditions graunted by the king to Anselm Lawfull matrimony punished Anselme returneth into England Priestes driuen agayne from their wiues Anno. 1106. Exlib 〈◊〉 liel de 〈…〉 lib. 1. c◠〈…〉 Priests 〈◊〉 parres Archbâ— concie 〈◊〉 to be â—â—med Marriaged Priestes forbidâ— Vowe of chastiâ—â— brought in Benefice not to 〈◊〉 hesitate How he was 〈◊〉 Gates â— Lord Châ—â— celerâ— Queen Mariesâ—â— Priestes crownes Tythes Bying of prebendes Building of Chappels Euery Churches finde hys own Priest Abbot to mayntayne no want Monkes admitted in geuing penaunce Monkeâ—â— Godfather nor nunce godmothers Abbey landes Improperptions restreyned Priuy concontractes Rounding Mariage within the 7. degree restrayned Buryinges No holines to be geuen to shrines and places Selling and buying of men Sodometry A flap with a soxe tayle for sodomitry Ranulph Cestrensis lib. 7. Note the preposterous proceding of Anselme in ceasing the vice of Sodomitry Penalties and forfaits agaynst priestes that kept their wiues In the latter dayes shall come false teachers forbidding mariage and eating of meates c. PurificatioÌ„ of priestes that had bene maried K. Henry permitted priestes to haue both churches and wiues Ex Epist Ansel. 77. 377. Pope Paschal hath so decreed it at Rome Ergo prieste must haue no wiues Ex Epist. Ansel. 33. If profite of the Church may come by priestes children what hurt then were it to the church for priestes to haue wiues K. Henry and hys nobles ready to forsake the romishâ— Church A letter of Anselme agaynst priestes receauing agayne their wiues Ex Epist. 37. Priestes excommunicated for receauing agayn their wiues A letter of Anselmus Ex Epist. 255. Whether is more merite for a monke to cause himselfe in the chapter to be whipped or to suffer obediently the whippingeâ— of his Abbot The iudgement or conclusion of Anselme vpon the case False opinion of merite Anno. 1105. Iudges corrupted A terrible example for corrupt iudges to beware Pope Paschalis the 2. The pope tyremâ—â—â— The seuenfold power of the pope Of Antichrist borne and manifest The bishop of Fluenceâ— martyr Sabellicus A councell at Trecas A tragicall history of the Pope Paschalis setting the sonne agaynst the father Ex historia Helmoldâ— The prelates set the sonne agaynst the father A gratefull example of a good and thankefull Duke A naughty sonne of a good father Ex Helmolds â—â— Gorâ—rido Viterbiensi The vnkindnes of a proud prelate Anno. 1106. The Emperour v. yeares with out buriall Anno. 1107. Henricus Emperour Ex Chronico Casionis lib. 3. The pope taken prisoner We raysed vp by the Pope and his papistes Peace concluded betweene the Emperour and the P. Bernardus the Abbot Bernardine monkes came in The Citty of Worcester almost all consumed with fire Mathildis Example of the Lordes iust retribution and iudgement Two popes striuing together Pope Calixtus the 2. The Pope excommunicate 〈◊〉 the Emperour Gregorius brought into Rome 〈…〉 broughten and whea Dist. 76. cap. Ieiunium The order of Monkes PraemonstrateÌ„ses Scripture clerkly applyed of the pope Priestes and ministers compelled to leaue their wiues Anno. 1109. The Bishoprick of Ely first planted Henry first Bishop of Ely Anno. 1110. Trent dyed vp An earthquake Morayne and pestilence Ex Gualthero Gisburnensi Anno. 1113. Wirceter consumed with fire Anno. 1114. Rodulphus Archbishop of Cant. Thurstinus Archbishop of Yorke Dissention betweene Thurstinus of Yorke and Rodolph Archb of Cant. for subiection The letter of Paschalis to K. Henry Ex Gualthero Gisburnensi Ex Gulie De
yeres and halfe til Edwine the eldest sonne came to age This Edrede with great moderation and fidelitie to the young children behaued himselfe during the tyme of his gouernement In his tyme Dunstane was promooted through the means of Odo the Archbishop from Abbot of Glastenbury to be Bishop of Wirceter and after of London By the counsayle of this Dunstane Edrede was much ruled and too much thereto addicted In so much that the sayd Edrede is reported in stories to submit himselfe to much fond penance and castigations inflicted to him of the said Dunstane Such zelous deuotion was then in princes and more blynd superstition in bishops And here agayn is an other miracle as fantasticall as the other before forged of Dunstane That whē that Edrede beyng sicke sent for Dunstane to be hys confessor by the way Dunstane should heare a voyce declaring to him before that Edrede was already departed at the declaring wherof Dunstans horse fel immediately dead vnder hym with lye and all * King Edwine EDwine the eldest sonne of king Edmund afore mētioned after his vncle Edrede began his raigne about the yere of our Lord 955. being crowned at Kingston by Odo the Archbishop of Caunterbury Of this Edwine it is reported of diuers writers that the first day of his coronation sitting with his Lordes brake sodainly from them entred a secrete chamber to the company of a certaine woman whom he inordinately retained being as some say an other mans wife whose husband he had before slayne as other say being of his aliance to the great mislikyng of hys Lordes and especially of the Clergy Dunstane was yet but Abbot of Glastenbury who following the king into the chamber brought him out by the hand and accused him to Odo the Archbishop causing him to be separate from the company of the foresayd partie by the which Odo the king was for his fact suspended out of the Church By reason whereof the king beyng with Dunstane displeased banished him his land forced him for a season to flee to Flanders where he was in the monastery of S. Amandus About the same season the Monasticall order of Benedict Monkes or blacke monkes as they were called began to multiply and encrease here in England In so much that where before tyme other priestes Canons had bene placed there monkes were in their roumes set in and the secular priests as they then were called or Canōs put out But king Edwine for the displeasure he bare to Dunstan did so vexe all the order of the said monkes that in Malmesbury Glastenbury other places mo he thrust out the monkes and set in secular priestes in their stead Notwithstanding it was not long but these priestes and Canons were agayne remooued and the said monkes in their stead restored both in the foresayd houses and in diuers other Churches Cathedrall besides as in the next story of Kyng Edgar Christ willyng shall at more large appeare In fiue kyng Edwine beyng hated by reason of certaine his demeanours of all his subiectes especially the Northumbrians and Mercians was by them remooued from his kingly honour and his brother Edgar in his steade receiued so that the Riuer of Thamis deuided both theyr kingdomes Which Edwine after he had raigned about the terme of foure yeares departed leauing no heyre of hys bodye Wherefore the rule of the lande fell vnto Edgar his younger brother ¶ King Edgar EDgar the second sonne of Edmund and brother to Edwine being of the age of xvj yeares began his raygne ouer the realme of England in the yeare of our Lord 959. but was not crowned till 14. yeares after the causes whereof here vnder follow Christ willing to be declared In the beginning of his raigne he called home Dunstane whome king Edwine before had exiled Then was Dunstane which before was Abbot of Glastenbury made bishop of Worcester then of London Not long after this Odo the Archbishop of Cant. deceaseth after he had gouerned the Church 24. yeares After whom Brithelinus bishop of Winchester first was elected But because he was thought not sufficiēt to furnish the roome Dunstane was ordained Archb. and the other sent home agayne to his old Church Where note by the way how in those dayes the donatiō and assignyng of ecclesiasticall dignities remayned in the kings hand onely they fet their palle frō Rome as a token of the Popes confirmation So Dunstane beyng by the kyng made Archb. tooke hys iourny to Rome for his palle of Pope Iohn the 13. which was about the beginning of the Kings raygne Thus Dunstane obtayning his palle shortly after his returne agayne from Rome entreateth King Edgar that Oswaldus who as is said was made monke at Floriake and was nephew to Odo late bishop of Cant. might bee promooted to the bishoprike of Worcester which thyng to him was granted And not long after through the means of the sayd Dunstane Ethelwoldus whom stories doe fayne to be the great patrone of Monkery first Monke of Glastenbury thē Abbot of Abbendon was also made Bysh. of Winchester Of this Ethelwold Gulielmus libro de gestis pōtificum recordeth that what tyme he was a Monke in the house of Glastenbury the Abbot had a vison of him which was this How that there appeared to him in hys sleepe a certayne great tree the branches wherof extended through out all the foure quarters of the Realme which branches were al couered with many little Monkes coules where in the top of the tree was one great maister coule which in spreading it selfe ouer the other coules inclosed all the rest which maister coule in the tree top myne Authour in the interpretation applyeth to the lyfe of this Ethelwold Of such prodigious fantasies our monkish histories bee full and not onely our histories of England but also the Heathen histories of the Gentiles be stuffed with such kynd of dreames of much like effect Of such a lyke dreame we read of the mother of Ethelstane how the Moone did spring out of her wombe gaue light to all England Also of king Charles the Emperour how he was led by a threed to see the torments of hel Like wise of Furceus the Heremite mentioned in the third booke of Bede who sawe the ioyes of heauen and the 4. fires that should destroy the world the one of lying for breakyng our promise made at Baptism The second fire was of couetous The third of dissention The fourth was of the fire of impietie and wrongfull dealing Item in like sort of the dreame of Dunstane and of the same Ethelwold to whom appeared the three bishops Bristanus Birinus and Swithinus c. Itē of the dreame of the mother of this Ethelwold who beyng great with him did see a golden Egle flee out of her mouth c. Of the dreame likewise or the vision of Kyng Edgar concerning the falling of the two apples and of
wherin they had iniuried him Itē that the thinges which had bene graunted before to the Prior in the Court might be called in againe Thirdly that the archb might haue licence to proceed in building his Colledge of Canons c. After this was called in M. Pilleus the attourney for the Monkes of Cant. Who alledging many great thinges against the archb for his contempt and disobedience to the popes precepts required that he rather should make restitution to the Monks for his iniuries done to them also that his new foundation of secular canons tending to the ouerthrow of the conuentuall Church of Cant. should be vtterly rased and throwne down to the ground Thus betweene these two parties pleing repleing one against the other much hard hold there was But in conclusiō for al that kings letters for all that the Archb. and Bishops could do the matter wēt on the Monks side So that there was no remedy but the pope would nedes haue y◠archbishops new building to come down and the Monks to be restored agayne to their full possessions The executiō whereof was committed to the 3. Abbottes aforesayd to witte of Battail of Feuersham of S. Austens in Cant. to Beffrey Supprior of Cant. Which things being thus determined at Rome then Raduph Granuille Lord Stuard of England writing to the sayd Abbot of Battaile and to the Supprior and Couent of Cant. commaundeth them in the kings name and vpon their othe fealtie geuē vnto him that they nor any of them do proceed in this controuersy betwene the monkes and the archbishop of Cant. before they come and talk with him there to know further of the kinges pleasure furthermore charging the Couent of Cant. not to enter further in any examinatiō concerning the archb matters and also citing the Supprior of the sayd house to appeare before him at London at the feast of S. Iames the same yere which was 1187. Notwithstanding he excusing him selfe by sicknes sent two Monkes in his sted and so kept himselfe at home To whom commaūdement was geuen that the Monks of Cant. within 15. dayes should saile ouer to Normandy to the king and there to shew the tenor and euidences of their priuiledges And also that such stuards and Balifs whom they had placed in their farmes lordships cōtrary to the wil of the archb should be remoued And likewise the 3. Abbots in the kings name were commaunded in no wise to execute the popes commaundement agaynst the archb Not long after this the Archb. took shipping at Douer and went ouer to the king where he ordeyned three principall officers ouer the Monkes of Christs Church the Sacrist the Cellarer and Chamberlaine contrary to the will of the Couent with other greuances mo wherby the Monks were not a little offended so that vpon the same they made a new appellation to the Pope Wherupon pope Urbane by the setting on of Honorius the prior who was now come agayn to the court wrote to him another letter after a sharper and more vehement sort to the effect as followeth The Tenor of Pope Vrbanes letters to Baldwine Archb. of Cant. VRbanus Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei Baldwino Centuar Archiepiscopo Apostolicae sedis Legato salutem Apostolicam benedictionem c. In that we houe borne with your brotherhood hitherto and haue not proceeded in such grieuous maner agaynst you as wee might although being thereto greatly prouoked the chiefest cause was this that we supposed your hart would haue relented from the oppression of the conuentuall church of Cant. committed vnto you if not for our reuerence which you seeme to haue contemned more then became you yet at least for feare of Gods iudgemēt For well we hoped our conscience perswading vs to the same that after you had obteined that high state dignity in the church of England you would haue bene an example to other of obedience and reuerence to be geuen to the sea Apostolick of all Ecclesiasticall persons Wherfore at the first beginning both of our and also of your promotion we did not spate to aduaunce and honor you as we haue done few other besides thinking no lesse but that we had found a faithfull frend of the church for our honor Wherein We perceiue now which 〈◊〉 vs not a litle to maruell our expectation greatly deceiued And whome we well trusted to be a sure stay for the maintenaunce of our estate him now we finde a persecuter agaynst vs in our members For where as we sondry times haue written to you in the behalfe of our brethren and the church committed to your charge that you should desist from disquieting them and not vexe or disturbe their liberties at least for reuerence of vs you not onely in this but in other thinges moe as commonly is reported of you in all places setting at light our letters and appellations made to the Apostolicall Sea what you haue wrought agaynst them after their so manifolde appellations layd vnto vs and our inhibitions agayn vnto you we are ashamed to vtter But reuolue and consider in your minde if ye haue well done and aduise in your owne conscience what you haue done We for our part because we may ne ought not with deafe eares to passe ouer the clamours mours of the brethren and such contempt of the Apostolick Sea although our biddings and warninges geuen to you seeme to be all in vayne yet notwithstanding we send our mandates agayne to your brotherhood in these Apostolicall writinges districtly and in vertue of obedience commaunding you that whether ye be present in your Church or absent all that notwithstanding whatsoeuer you haue done in building of your Chappell which you to the destruction of the Monastery of Cant. haue erected after the time of their appeale made to vs or our inhibition sent to you you fayle not of your proper costes and charges to demolish vndoing agayne and making voyde whatsoeuer ye haue begon and innouated concerning the institution of the canons and other things belonging to the erection of the sayd Chappell accounting moreouer and reputing the place where the Chappell was to be accused and prophane and also that all such whosoeuer haue celebrated in the same place shall stand suspended till the time they appeare before our presence Commaunding furthermore that all those Monkes whom you haue presumed to remoue from their office or to excommunicate since the tyme of their appeale made you shall restore and affoyle agayne rendring also and restoring all such farmes manors tenementes and oblations as you alter their appeale made haue inueigled from them And finally that you innouate nothing touching the state of that Monastery during the time of this controuersye depending before vs. Geuing you to vnderstand that in case you shall continue in your stubbernesse and rebellion vpon this present warning or differre the execution of this precept 30. dayes after the
Lordes I will not affirme anye thing to be lawful in this matter as in other matters before that is not agreable to charitie And that for because it is a hard matter for a man to take another mans goods from him without breaking of charity because peraduenture he that taketh away is the more mooued to suche maner of taking away be reason of the desire he hath to those goods which he indeuoureth to take away or els because of some displeasure or hatred to the person from whom he goeth about to take away those goods then that hee from whom those goodes be taken should be amended Therefore vnlesse he that taketh away be onely mooued of charity to the taking away of such goodes I dare not affirme that such taking is lawfull And if such takyng away proceede of charitie I dare not iudge it vnlawfull because that the Byshop of Rome which receyued hys temporall dominion of the Emperour when the Emperour rebelled and was not obedient vnto hym he depriued him frō hys temporall iurisdictions Howe much more then may temporal Lordes do the same which haue bestowed vpon them many temporall dominions and lordships onely to the intent that they might the better intende to serue God and keepe his commaundementes Howe if they perceiue that they be against the lawes of God and that they be ouer busily occupied about worldly matters I cannot see but that they may wel inough take frō them those temporall goodes which to a good purpose they gaue them But if in time to come after this those that be temporal lordes shall take from ecclesiastical persons such temporalties let him that desireth to vnderstand this read the prophet Ezechiel in the chapiter of the shepeherds of Israel which fedde themselues in stead of their flocke and also let hym reade the Apocalips of the fall of Babylon Let hym also reade the Popes decretalles agaynst heretikes and in those hee shall fynde that the takynge awaye of the temporaltyes from the Cleargy shall come to passe for the multitude of their sinnes Thus reuerend father haue I made mine aunswere of the matter wherof I am accused beseching you that as I haue bene obedient to your desire and that euen as a sōne declaring vnto you the secrets of my hart in plain words although rudely so I desire to know your opinion and craue your fatherly beneuolēce that now your labor may be for my instruction and amendment not to accusation and condemnation For like as in the beginninge I haue promised you that if any man of what state sect or condition soeuer he be can shew me any errour manye of my wrytings by the authoritie of holy scripture or by any probable reason grounded in the scriptures I will receiue hys information willingly and humbly After that all the foresaid thinges were exhibited geuen by the foresayd Walter Brute vnto the foresayd B. of Herford he further appointed to the same Walter that third day of the month of October at Herforde with the cōtinuance of the dayes followyng to heare hys opinion Which third day now at hande beinge Friday in the yeare of our Lord God 1393. the sayde Walter Brute appeared before hym sitting in Commission in the Cathedrall Churche of Hereford at sixe a clocke or thereabout hauing for his assistentes in the same place diuers Prelates and Abbotes and xx Bachelers of Diuinitie wherof xii were Monks and two Doctors of the law Amongst these was Nicholas Hereford accōpanied with many other Prelates and worshypfull men wyse Graduates in sundry faculties Now was the foresayde Walter apposed of his wrytings aforesaid the cōtents therin Earnest were they in pycking out of those writings his heresies in shewing his schismes sundry errours and diuers other things Now after that they had cōtinued al that day and the two dayes following that is Fryday Saterday Sunday in their informations examinations agaynst the same Walter Brute The same Walter Brute submitted him selfe to the determination of the church to the correction of the sayd Iohn Bishop as it appeareth word for word in a scroule written in the English tong The tenour of which scroul is as followeth ¶ I Walter Brute submit my selfe principally to the Euangely of Iesus Christ and to the determination of holy kirke and to the general Counsels of holye kirke And to the sentence and determination of the foure Doctours of holye write that is Austen Ambrose Ierome and Gregory And I meekely submie mee to your correction as a subiect ought to his Byshop Which scroule as afore is recited in the English tong the foresayd Walter Brute read with a lowde and intellible voice at the Crosse in the churchyard on Monday that is to say the 6. day of the sayd month of October before the sermon made vnto the people in presence of the sayd byshop of Herford other aboue written as also other Barons knights and noble men cleargy and also a great multytude of people After which reading of the scroule the foresaid Tho. Crawlay bacheler of diuinitie made the Sermon vnto the people toke for hys theame the wordes of the Apostle to the Rom. the xi chap. that is as foloweth Be not ouer wise in your owne conceites but stand in feare c. ☞ Out of these declarations and wrytinges of Walter Brute the Bishop with the Monkes and doctours aboue rehersed did gather and draw out certaine articles to the number of 37. which they sent to the Uniuersitie of Cambridge to be cōfuted vnto two learned men M. Colwill M. Newton Bachelors of diuinitie Which M. Colwil Newton did both labor in the matter to the vttermost of their cunning in replying aud aunswering to the said 37. articles * Besides them also W. Woodforde a Frier who wrote likewise against the articles of Wickliff labouring in the same cause made a solemne a long tractation compiling the articles of the said Brute to the nūber of 29. All which treatises as I wish to come to the readers hande that the slendernes of them myght be knowen so it maye happen perease that the same being in my handes may hereafter bee further published with other like tractations moe as cōuenient time for the prolixitie therof may hereafter better serue then now What after this became to this Walter Brute orwhat end he had I find it not registred but like it is that he for this time escaped Certain other writings I finde moreouer which albeit they beare no name of this Walter nor of any certaine anthor yet because they are in the same register adioined to the history of him I thoght therfore most fit here to be inserted Of the which the one was a letter sēt to Nicholas Hereford a little aboue specified who beinge at the first a great folower of Iohn Wicklif as appereth before pag. 438. was now in the number of thē which sate vpon thys Walter as is
vitious this soueraygne herein is to blame but the subiect for his obedience deserueth meede of God For obedience pleaseth more to God than any sacrifice ☞ And I sayd Samuell the Prophet sayd to Saule the wicked king that God was more pleased with that obediēce of his commaundement then with any sacrifice of beastes But Dauid saieth and S. Paule and S. Gregory accordingly together that not onely they that do euill are worthy of death and damnation but also they that cōsent to euill doers And sir the law of holy Church teacheth in the decrees that no seruant to his Lord nor childe to the father or mother nor wife to her husband nor monke to his Abbot ought to obey except in lefull things and lawfull ¶ And the Archbishop said to me All these alledgings that thou bringest forth are not els but proude presumptuousnesse For hereby thou inforcest thee to proue that thou and such other are so iust that ye ought not to obey to Prelats And thus against the learnyng of S. Paule that teacheth you not to preach but if ye were sent of your owne authoritie ye will go forth and preach and do what ye lift ☞ And I saide Syr presenteth not euery Priest the office of the Apostles or the office of the disciples of Christ And the Archbishop sayd yea And I sayde Syr as the x. chapt of Mathew and the last chapter of Marke witnesseth Christ sent his Apostles for to preach And the x. chapter of Luke witnesseth that Christ sent his two and seuēty disciples for to preach in euery place that Christ was to come to And S. Gregorie in the cōmon law saith that euery man that goeth to priest hoode taketh vpon him the office of preaching For as hee sayth that Priest stirreth God to great wrath of whose mouth is not heard the voyce of preaching And as other more gloses vpon Ezechiell witnesse that the Prieste that preacheth not busilye to the people shall be partaker of their damnation that perish through his default And though the people be saued by other speciall grace of God then by the Priestes preaching yet the Priests in that they are ordeined to preach and preach not as before God they are manslears For as farre as in them is such Priests as preach not busily and truely sleyeth all the people ghostly in that they withholde from them the word of God that is life and sustenaunce of mens soules And Saynt Hydore sayd Priestes shall be damned for wickednesse of the people if they teach not them that are ignoraunt or blame not them that are sinners For all the worke or businesse of Priestes standeth in preaching and teaching that they edify all men as well by cunning of fayth as by discipline of workes that is vertuous teaching And as the Gospell witnesseth Christ sayd in his teaching I am borne comē into this world to beare witnesse to the truth and he that is of the truth heareth my voyce Then Sir since by the word of Christ specially that is his voyce Priestes are commaunded to preache whatsoeuer priest that it be that hath not good wil and full purpose to doe thus and ableth not himselfe after his cunning and power to doe his office by the example of Christ and of hys Apostles whatsoeuer other thing that he doth displeaseth God For loe S. Gregory sayth that thing left that a man is bound chiefly to do whatsoeuer other thing that a man doth it is vnthankfull to the holy ghost and therfore sayth Lincolne The Priest that preacheth not the word of God though he be seene to haue none other defaulte he is Antichrist and Sathanas a night theefe and a day theefe a sleyer of foules and an aungel of light turned into darckenes Wherefore Syr these authorityes and other well considered I deme my selfe damnable if I either for pleasure or displeasure of any creature apply me not diligētly to prech the word of God And in the same damnation I deeme all those Priestes which of good purpose and will enforce thē not busily to do thus also all them that haue purpose or will to let any Priest of this busines ¶ And the Archbishop sayde to those 3. Clerkes that stoode before him Lo Syrs this is the maner and busines of this Losell and such other to picke out such sharpe sentences of holy Scripture and Doctours to mayntayne theyr sect lore agaynst the ordinaunce of holy Church And therefore Losell it is thou that couetest to haue agayne the Psalter that I made to be taken frō thee at Caunterbury to record sharpe verses agaynst vs. But thou shalt neuer haue that Psalter nor none other booke till that I know that thy hart thy mouth accordfully to be gouerned by holy Church ☞ And I sayd Syr all my will and power is euer shal be I trust to God to be gouerned by holy Church ¶ And the Archbishop asked me what was holy Church ☞ And I sayd Syr I tolde you before what was holye Church But since ye aske me this demaund I call Christ and his Saintes holy Church ¶ And the Archbishoppe sayd vnto me I wore well that Christ and his Saintes are holy Churche in heauen but what is holy Church in earth ☞ And I sayd Syr though holy Churche be euery one in charity yet it hath two partes The first and pricipall part hath ouercomen perfectly all the wretchednesse of this life and raigneth ioyfully in heauen with Christ. And the other part is here yet in earth busily continually fighting day and night agaynst temptations of the fiend forsaking and hating the prosperity of this world dispising and withstāding theyr fleshly lustes which onely are the pilgrimes of Christ wandring toward heauen by stedfast fayth groūded hope and by perfect charity For these heauenly pilgrimes may not nor will not be letted of their good purpose by the reasō of any doctors discording from holy scripture nor by the floudes of any tribulation temporall nor by the wind of any pride of boast or of manasing of any creature For they are all fast grounded vpon the sure stone Christ hearing his word and louing it exercising them faithfully and continually in all their wittes to do therafter And the Archbishop sayd to his Clerkes See ye not how his hart is indurate and how he is trauelled with the deuill occupying him thus busily to alledgr suth sentences to mayntaine his errours and heresies Certayne thus he would occupy vs here all day if we would suffer him One of the clerkes aunswered Sir he sayd right now that this certification that came to you from Shrewsbury is vntruely forged agaynst him Therefore sir appose you him nowe heare in all that points which are certified against him so we shall heare of his own mouth his answeres and witnesse them And the Archb. took the certification in his hand looked theron a while and then
Paruus This Sigherius and Sebbi first fell to Idolatry then through the meanes of Wolferus King of Mercia were reduced at last Sebby became a Monke  Sebbi Sonne of Sewardus which was made a Monke  Sigehardus and Suefridus brethren 8   Offa. 5 Offa after hee had raigned a while became a Monke at Rome  Selredus or Colredus slaine 38  Swithredus  Thys Swithredus was subdued vnto Egbert King of Westsaxons Albeit London remained vnder the Mercias to the time that they also were subdued to the Westsaxons This kingdom began An. 561. and so continued till the time of Egbertus Some stories say it continued to the time of Edward sonne of Aluredus about the cōming of the Danes and contained vnder it the Lordship of Midlesex and London The Metropolitane sea of this prouince of Essex was London where the famous Church of S. Paul was builded by Ethelbert king of Kent and Sigebert king of Essex whō Ethelbert had lately before turned to Christes faith wherof the first bishop was Mellitus the ij byshop was Ceddus the third came in by Simonie whose name was Wine Malmesb. de vitis Pont. After him was Erkenwaldus of whom writeth Bede that he being diseased in hys legges that he could neither go nor ride yet would be caried about in a litter to preach in his Dioces c. Although W. Malmesb wryting of the Byshoppes of London in his booke De vitis Ponti sayth that Mauritius first the kings Chauncelor then Byshop there did first begin this so large and famous building of the Church of S. Paul in London Which worke after him Richardus his successour did prosecute bestowing al the rents of his Bishopricke vpon the same and yet was scarsely seene yet herein may be answered peraduenture that the Church builded before by King Ethelbert and king Sigebert myght be ouerthrowen by the Danes and afterward was reedified by these Bishops aboue mentioned 561 ¶ The kinges of the Eastangles with the yeares of their raigne Eastangles Vffa or Vlfa 30 Of thys Vffa the people of Northfolke were then called Vfkyns  Titulus or Titila 13 Redwaldus first was conuerted in Kent afterwarde through the wicked perswasion of his wife and other ioyned Idolatry with Christianitie  Redwaldus 12  Erpwaldus or Corpwaldus slaine 38 Notwythstanding his sonne Erpwaldus through the meanes of Edwyn king of Northūberland was brought to the perfect faith of Christ therein faithfully did continue  Sigebertus or Sibrect first a mōke slaine 3 Thys Sigebert made hym selfe a Monke and afterwarde brought out to fighte agaynst Penda wyth a white sticke in hys hande was slayne in the field The kings of the Eastangles Egnicus or Egricus slaine 3 Anna slaine 3 The daughters of Anna were Sexburga Ethelberta and Saint Etheldreda Adelhere or Adelredus slaine 2  Adelwoldus or Ethelbaldus 9   Adulphus 25   Elkwoldus 12 This Ethelredus for hys holinesse godly vertues is counted for a Saint he innocently comming to Offa kyng of Mercia to marrie wyth Althrid hys Daughter by the sinister suspicion of Offa and wicked counsaile of Kineswina his wife was cruelly put to death in the house of Offa. For the which cause Offa afterward repenting went to Rome where he made him selfe a Monke  Beorna 26  Ethelredus slaine 52  Ethelbritus slaine 5 ¶ After this sinfull murther of Ethelbert the kingdome of Eastangles during the time of certaine yeares was in great trouble and desolation vnder diuers kings and tyrants sometime the king of Westsaxe somtimes of Kent or of Mercia hauing dominion ouer them till the comming of S. Edmund whych was the last King there ruling vnder the Westsaxons S. Edmund Martyred 16. ¶ After the death of S. Edmund being slaine of the Infidel Danes the kingdom remained with the Danes .50 yeares till at length Edward King of the Westsaxons expulsed the Danes and ioyned it to hys kingdome It began about the yere of our Lord .561 and continued neare about 377. yeares Fabian numbreth but 12. kinges but in other I finde moe The Metropolitane sea of this prouince of Eastangles which was first at a towne called Dunmoke or or Dūwich which in time past hath bene a famous populous towne with a maior 4. bailifs also diuers Parish Churches hospitals whereunto great priuiledges by diuers kings haue bene graunted whych towne is nowe fallen into ruine and decay and more then half consumed by the eating in of the Sea as also greatly impouerished by losse of the Hauen which heretofore hath flourished wyth diuers tall shippes belonging to the same the inhabitantes therof being not able of them selues to repaire it wythout the helpe of other good people where the first bishop was Felix a Burgundian who sate there 14. yeres After this vnto the time of Egbert King of Westsaxe thys prouince was euer ruled by two Bishops wherof the one had hys sea at Dunmoke now called Dunwich The other at Demaham where 12. sate one after an other From thence it was translated to Thetford where sate three Bishops At last by Byshoppe Herbert it was remooued to Norwich where he erected a Monasterie of Monkes And thus standeth the order and race of the Saxon kinges raigning together wyth the Britaines in thys Realme Nowe foloweth the description of the Britayne kings raigning with the Saxons in like maner Although the miserable Britaines thus were beriued of their land by the cruel subtilty of the Saxons yet were they not so driuē out or expulsed but that a certaine kingdom remained amōg them in some part of the lād namely about Cornewall and the partes of Cambria which is deuided in two partes Southwales called Demetia and Northwales called Venedocia The sayd Britaines moreouer through the valiant actes of their kings sometimes raigned also in other countreis displacing the Saxons recouering againe their owne somtimes more somtimes lesse till the time of Carecius when as the Britaines being deposed by Godmundus whose help they themselues sent for out of Irelande agaynst Carecius theyr wicked King vtterly lost their land and kingdome being thence driuen vtterly into Wales and Cornewale the yere of our Lorde 570. What the order of these kings was what were theyr actes their names and times when they raigned in this briefe table vnder wrytten is expressed Wherein first is to be premonished that Constantinus secundus had three childrē to wit Constans whych was made a Monke in Winchester and after made a king the seconde was Aurelius Ambrosius the thirde was Vter Pendragon This being premised we wil now enter the description of our Table beginning with Vortigernus ¶ A Table declaring the Kings of Britayne which raigned together with the Saxones after their comming into this land Kinges of Britaine whiche here raigned in the time of the Saxones Vortigernus Vortimerius Vortigernus againe Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthurus Constantinus 3. Aurelius Conanus
come in with you or els if you tary out I will likewise tary out together with you c. As touching the actes and deedes of Gregory aboue mentioned how he withstood the ambitious pryd of Iohn Patriarche of Constantinople which woulde be the vnyuersall Priest and onely chiefe Byshop of all other declaring him to be no lesse then the forerunner of Antichrist that woulde take that name vppon him howe and wyth what reasons he aunswered againe the letters of the Emperor Mauritius in that behalfe sufficient relation is made thereof in the first entry and beginning of this booke This Gregory among manye other thinges induced into the Churche the specialties whereof hereafter shall followe Christ willing more at large fyrst beganne and brought in thys title among the Romaine Bishoppes to be called Seruus seruorum Dei putting them in remembraunce therby both of their humblenes and also of their duetie in the Churche of Chryst. Moreouer as concerning his acte for the sole lyfe of Pryestes fyrst begonne and then broken againe Also concerning the order of Gregoryes Masse boke to be receaued in all churches hereof who so lifteth to read more shall fynde the same in other places hereafter namelye when wee come to the tyme of Pope Adrian the first After the death of Gregory aboue mentioned first came Sabinianus who as he was a malicious detractor of Gregory of his works so he continued not long scarse the space of two yeares After whom succeded next Bonifacius the 3. which albeit he reigned but one yeare yet in the one yeare he did more hurt then Gregory with so great labours and in so many yeres could do good before for that which Gregorye kept out he brought in obtaining of Phocas the wicked Emperour for him and his successours after him that the sea of Rome aboue al other churches should haue the preeminence and that the Bishop of Rome should be the vniuersall head through all Churches of Christ in Christedome alleadging for him this friuolous reason that S Peter had and left to his successours in Rome the keyes of byndyng and loosing c. And thus began first Rome to take an head aboue all other Churches by the meanes of Boniface the 3. who as he lacked no boldnes nor ambitioÌ„ to seeke it so neither lacked he an Emperour fit and meete to gyue such a gift Thys Emperours name was Phocas a man of such wickednes and ambitioÌ„ most like to his owne Bishop Boniface that to aspire to the Empire he murthered his owne maister and Emperour Mauritius his children Thus Phocas coming vp to be Emperour after this detestable vilanie done thinking to establish his Empire with friendship and fauour of his people especially with the byshop of Rome quickly condescended to al hys petitions so graunted him as it is sayd to be that he would the vniuersall and heade Bishop ouer all Christen Churches But as bloud commonly requireth bloud againe so it came to passe on the said Phocas For as he had crueltye slayne the Lorde and Emperour Mauritius before so he in lyke maner of Heraclius the Emperour succeedyng hym had his hands and seete cut of so was cast into the Sea And this wicked Phocas which gaue the first supremacy to Rome lost his owne But Rome would not so soone loose his supremacy once giuen as the gyner lost his life for euer since froÌ„ that day it hath holden defended and maintained the same still and yet doth to this present day by al force policy possible And thus much concerning Boniface whoÌ„ by the words of Gregory we may well call the runner before Antichryst For as Gregory brought into their stile Seruus seruorum Dei so this Boniface brought into theyr heades first Volumus ac mandamus Statuimus ac praecipimus That is We will and commaunde we enioyne and charg you c. Mention was made a little before of Ethelbert kyng of Kent and also of Ethelfride king of Northsaxone or Northumbria This Ethelbert hauing vnder his subiection al the other Saxon kinges vnto Number after he had fyrst receaued himselfe and caused to be receaued of other the Christian faith by the preaching of Austen being coÌ„firmed afterward in the same faith amoÌ„g other costly dedes with the helpe of Sigebert kyng of Essex his nephew then reigning vnder him began the foundation of Paules Church within the Citie of London ordained it for the Bishops sea of LondoÌ„ For the Archbishops sea which before tyme had bene at London was by Austen and this Ethelbert at the praier of the Citizens of Dorobernia translated to the said Citie MalmesberieÌ„sis Lib. de pontific Wherfore such authors as say that Paules was diuided by Sigebert say not amisse which Sigebert was the king oâ— Essex â—n which prouince standeth the Citie of London This Ethelbert also founded the Church of Saint Andrewe in the Citie of Dorubres in Kent nowe called Rochester of one Rot distaunt from Dorobernia 24. miles Of this citie Iustus was bishop ordained before by Austen Moreouer the â—orenamed Ethelbert styrred vp a dweller or Citizen of London to make a Chappell or church of Saint Peter in the west end of LoÌ„don then called Thorny nowe the Towne of Westminster which Church or Chappell was after by Edward the confessour inlarged or newe builded lastly of Henry the 3. it was newly agayne reedified and made as it is nowe a large Monasterye c. After these Christian and worthye actes this Ethelbert when he had reigned the course of lvj yeares chaunged thys mortall life about the yeare of our Lorde 616. whome some stories say to be slaine in a fyghte betweene him and Ethelfride king of Northsaxons In the meane time the foresaid Ethelfride king of Northumberland after the cruell murther of the Monkes of Bangor escaped not long vnpaied his hire for after he had raigned 24. yeares he was slaine in the fielde of Edwine who succeded in Northumberland after him This Edwyne being the sonne not of Ethelfride as Galfridus Monumetensis saith but rather of Alla as Giraldus Gambrensis 〈◊〉 to witnes more truely was first a Panim or 〈◊〉 afterward by Paulinus was Christned and the first 〈◊〉 king in NorthoÌ„berland The occasion of which his calling or conuersion as is in sundry stories contained was this Edwine being yet a Pagane maryed the daughter of Ethelbert king of kent called Edelburge a Christian womaÌ„ otherwise called Tace But before this mariage Edwyne beyng yet young Ethelfride the king conceyuing enuy agaynst him persecuted him so sore that he was forced to flee to Redwaldus king of Eastangles as in the table of the kings is expressed The which Redwaldus what for feare what with bribes being corrupted of Ethelfride at length priuily had inteÌ„ded to haue betrayed Edwyne But as gods will was Edwyne hauing warning thereof by a secrete frynde of his was mooued to flee and
presented to the king Queene And thus the innocent king Ethelbert was wrongfully murthered about the yeare of our Lord 793. but not without a iust reuenge at Gods hand For as the story recordeth the foresayd Queene worker of this villanie liued not iij. monthes after and in her death was so tormented that she was fayne to bite and rent her tong in pieces with her owne teeth Offa vnderstanding at length the innocencie of this king and the haynous cruelty of his fact gaue the tēth part of his goods to holy church and to the church of Hereford in remembraunce of this Ethelbert he bestowed great landes Moreouer builded the Abbey of S. Albons with certayne other monasteries beside And so afterward he went vp to Rome for his penāce where he gaue to the Church of S. Peter a peny through euery house in his dominion which was called common̄ly Romeshot or Peterpence payed to the Church of S. Peter and there at length was transformed from a king to a monke about the yeare of our Lord .794 with Kenredus king of Northūberland aboue mentioned although some storyes deny that he was a Monke After Offa king of Mercia when he had raigned xxxix yeares succeded his sonne Egfretus who raigned but foure monthes of whome thus writeth the foresayd Alcuinus Non arbitror quòd nobilissimus iuuenis Egfretus propter peccata sua mortuus sit Sed quia pater suus pro confirmatione regni eius multum sanguinem effudit c. That is This noble yong man died not so much for offences of his owne as for that his father had spilled much bloud to confirme him in his kingdome Next to which Egfretus succeeded Kenulphus in the said kyngdome of Mercia which Kenulphus keping and retaining the hatred of Offa his predecessor against the Cantuarites made warre against them where he tooke Egbert their king otherwise called Wren whom he bound and led prisoner to Mercia Notwithstanding shortly after being mollified with princely clemency in the towne of Winchcombe where he had builded the same tyme a church vpō the day when he should dedicate the same in the presence of xiij bishops and of Cutbert whom he had placed in the same kingdom of Canterbury before and x. Dukes and many other great estates Kyng Kenulphus brought the sayd Egbert king of Kent out of prison into the Church where he enlarged him of imprisonment and restored hym to his place agayne At the sight whereof not onely Cutbert the foresayd king reioyced but also all the estates and people beyng there present made such an exclamation of ioy and gladnes that the church and not onely the Church but also the streetes range withall At which tyme such boūtifulnes of gifts and iewels was then bestowed that from the highest estate to the lowest none departed without somthing geuē according as to euery degree was thought meete Although Fabian referreth this story to king Offa yet causes there be why I assent rather to Malmesbury and to Polychronicon which attribute the same to Kenulphus the second king of Mercia after Offa. A little before in speaking of certain bishops of Rome mention was made of Pope Constantine the first Pope Gregory the second Pope Gregory the third of Pope Zachary which deposed Childerike set vp Pipinus the French king c. Next after this Zachary in order followed Pope Stephen the second to whom the foresayd Pipinus to gratitie agayne the sea of Rome for this their benefite shewed to him gaue and contributed to the said sea of Rome the exarchat or Princedome of Rauenna the kingdome of the Lombardes and many other great possessions of Italie with all the Cities thereto adioyning vnto the borders of Uenice And this donation of Pipine no doubt if the truth were rightly tried should be found to be the same which hitherto falsly hath bene thought to be the donatiō of Constantine For els how could it be that the exarchate of Rauenna could belong all this while to the Emperours of Constantinople if Constantine before had geuen it and all Italy from the Empire to the sea of Rome To this Pipinus as witnesseth Polychronicon was sent first into France the mention of the Organs out of Grecia by Constantine Emperour of Constant. 757. Next to this Stephen the ii succeeded Paule the first who following his predecessors thundred out great excōmunications against Constantinus the Emperor of Constantinople for abrogating and plucking downe Images set vp in Temples Notwithstandyng this Constantine neglecting the Popes vaine curses perseuered in his blessed purpose in destroying Idolatry till the end of his lyfe Then came to be Pope Constantinus the second a lay man and brother to Desiderius the king of Lombardy for the which cause he was shortly deposed and thrust into a monastery hauing his eyes put out In whose stead succeeded Stephen the iij. who ordained that after that no lay man should be Pope condemnyng moreouer the councel of Constantinople the vii for heretical because in that councell the worshipying of Images was reprooued and condemned Contrary to the which Councell this Pope not only maintained the filthy Idolatry of Images in Christian Temples but also aduaunced their ueneration commaunding them most Ethnically to be incensed c. At this tyme Carolus Magnus called Charles the great a little before mentioned began to raign by whom this Pope caused Desiderius the Lombard king to be depriued Then in this race of Popes after this Stephen the iij. commeth Hadrianus the first who likewise followyng the steps of his forefathers the Popes added and attributed to the veneration of Images more then all the other had done before writing a booke for the adoration and the vtilitie proceding of them commaunding them to be takē for lay mens Calenders holdyng moreouer a Synode at Rome against Felix and all other that spake against the setting vp of such stockes and Images And as Paul the first before him made much of the body of Petronilla S. Peters daughter so this Hadrian clothed the body of S. Peter all in siluer and couered the aulter of S. Paule with a Palle of gold This Pope Hadrian was he whome we declared in the former part of this treatise to ratifie and confirme by reuelation the order of S Gregories Masse aboue the order of S. Ambrose masse for vnto this time which was about the yeare of our Lord 780. the Liturgie of S. Ambrose was more vsed in the Italian churches The story whereof because it is registred in Durandus Nauclerus and Iacobus de Voragine I thought here to insert the same to this especiall purpose for the Reader to vnderstand the tyme when this vsuall Masse of the Papists began first to be vniuersall vniforme generally in churches to be receaued Thus it foloweth in the story by the foresayd authors set forth Iacobus de Voragine in the life of Pope Gregory
second booke before are to be collected and noted especially touching the monasteries builded the kings which haue entered the life and profession Monastike also Queenes Queenes daughters which the same tyme professed solitary life in monasteries which they or their auncetors had erected The conclusion of the story precedent concerning the seuen kingdoms of the Saxon kings aboue mentioned ¶ And thus hast thou gentle Reader concerning the vij kingdoms of these Saxons ruling altogether in England the course and order of their doings briefly described and discoursed vnto thee in such order as the matter beyng so intricate in such confusion diuersitie of things incident together would permit followyng especially in this story hitherto the line of the Northumberland kings as the other stories most folow the line of Westsaxō kings The which seuen kingdoms of these sayd Saxones after they had vntruely expulsed and chased out the Britaine 's from their land like as they neuer were in quietnes amōg themselues raigning thus together till the tyme of this Egbert so also after the raigne of Egbert the whole realme beyng reduced into one regimēt no lesse were they impugned afflicted by the Danes continually frō tyme to time till the last conquest of William the Normand Thus it pleseth God euer lightly to reuenge with bloud bloudy violence and the vniust dealings of men with iust and lyke retribution But of this let the christian Reader consider as Gods grace shall worke in him In the meane tyme we as much as in vs did lye satisfiyng the part of an Historician haue thus hetherto set forth and declared concerning these vij foresayd kingdoms first the names and lineall descent of the kings seuerally by themselues as by the table precedent may appeare then what were the doings and actes of the same How first being Pagans they were conuerted to the christian faith what things in their time happened in the church how many of them of kings were made monkes how deuout they were then to holy church and to the churchmen and especially to the church of Rome But the churchmen then were much otherwyse in lyfe then afterward they declared themselues to bee Through which deuotion of the said kings first came in the Peterpence or Romeschots in this Realme as by Iue first in his dominion then by Offa in his Lordship afterward by Adelwulph brought in and ratified through the whole Realme where also is to be noted that by the foresayd Kings and Queenes of the sayd Saxons the most part of the greatest Abbais Nunneries in this realme were first begun and builded as partly the names of some here follow to be seene First the Church or Minster of S. Paule in London was founded by Ethelbert king of Kent and Sigebert kyng of Essex about the yeare of our Lord. 604. The first crosse and aulter within this realm was first set vp in the North partes in Heuenfield vpon the occasion of Oswald king of Northumberland fighting against Cadwalla where he in the same place set vp the signe of the crosse kneelyng and praying there for victory Polychron lib 5. cap. 12. An. 635. The Church of Winchester was first begon and founded by Kingilsus king of Mercians hauing 9. myles about it after finished by his sonne Kewalcus where Wyne of englishmen was first bishop An. 636. Guliel Malmesb. Lib. De gestis pont Ang. The Church of Lincolne first founded by Paulinus Bishop An. 629. The Church of Westminster began first by a certayne Citizen of London through the instigatiō of Ethelbert king of Kent which before was an I le of thornes Bed An. 614. The common schooles first erected at Cambridge by Sigebert king of Eastangles An. 636. The Abbey of Knouisburgh builded by Furceus the Hermite An. 637. The monasterie of Malmesbery by one Meldulfus a Scot about the yeare of our Lord 640. Afterward inlarged by Agilbert bishop of Winchester The Monasterie in Glocester first builded by Ofricus King of Mercia as Cestrensis sayth But as William Malmesb writeth by Vlferus and Etheldred brethren to Kineburga Abbesse of the same house An 679. The monastery of Mailrose by the floud of Twide by Aidanus a Scottish bishop The Nunnery of Heorenton by Heui who was the first Nunne in Northumberland Bede Lib. 4. cap. 1. The Monastery of Hetesey by Oswy Kyng of Northumberlād who also with his daughter Elfred gaue possessions for twelue monasteries in the partes of Northūberland An. 656. The monasterie of S. Martine in Douer builded by Whitred king of Kent The Abbey of Lestingey by Ceadda whom we call S. Cedd through the graunt of Oswald sonne to S. Oswald King of Northum An. 651. The Monastery of Whitby called otherwise Strenhalt by Hilda daughter to the nephew of Edwyne Kyng of Northumberland An 657. Item an other monastery called Hacanos not far from the same place builded by the sayd Hilda the same yeare The Abbey of Abbington builded by Cissa Kyng of Southsex An. 666. Item an Abbey in the East side of Lyncolne called Ioanno by S. Botulph Polychro Lib. 5. cap. 16. An. 654. The monastery in Ely founded by Etheldred or Edeldrida daughter of Anna king of Eastangles and the wyfe of Elfrid king of Northumb. An. 674. The Monastery of Chertsey in Southrey founded by Erkenwald bishop of London an 674. thrown down by the Danes after reedified by king Edgar Item the Nunnery of Berking edified by the sayd Erkenwaldus bishop of London about the same tyme. The Abbey of Peterborough called otherwise Modehamstede founded by King Ethelwald King of the Mercians An. 675. Bardney Abbey by Etheldredus King of the Merciās An. 700. Glastonbury by Iua king of the Westsaxons and after repayred and enriched by King Edgar an 701. Ramesey in the tyme of king Edgar by one Ailwinus a noble mā an 973. King Edgar builded in his tyme 40. monasteries who raigned an 901. The Nunnery of Winburne builded by Cuthburga sister to Ingilsus king Iua his brother an 717. The Monastery of Sealesey by the I le of Wight by Wilfridus bishop of Yorke an 678. The Monastery of Wincombe by Kenulphus Kyng of the Mercians an 737. S. Albanes builded by Offa King of the Mercians Anno. 755. The Abbey of Eusham by Egwinus Byshop An. 691. Ripon in the North by Wilfridus Bishop An. 709. The Abbey of Echelinghey by king Aluredus an 891. The Nunnery of Shaftesbury by the same Aluredus the same yeare Thus ye see what monasteries in what tyme began to be founded by the Saxons kings newly conuerted to the Christian fayth within the space of 200. yeares who as they semed then to haue a certain zeale deuotion to godward according to the leading teaching that then was so it semeth againe to me two things to be wished in these foresayd kings
of euery fire house a peny to be payd through his whole land as king Iue in his dominion had done before Also he gaue grauÌ„ted yearely to be payd to Rome 300 markes that is to the mainteining of the light of S. Peter C. markes to the light of S. Paul C. markes to the vse of the Pope also an other hundreth This done returning home through Fraunce maried their Iudith the daughter of Carolus Caluus yeâ—reÌ„ch king whom he restored afterward contrary to the lawes of Westsaxons to the title and throne of a Queene For before it was decreed among the Westsaxons by the occasion of wicked Ethelburga who poisoned Brigthricus her owne husband that after that no kinges wife there should haue the name or place of a Queene And forsomuch as I haue here entred into the mention of Iudith daughter of Carolus Caluus the occasion thereof putteth me in memory here to insert by the way a matter bone although not in this Realme yet not impertinent to this ecclesiasticall history And first to deduct the narration hereof from the first originall The father of this Carolus Caluus whose name was Ludouicus first of that name called Pius king of Fraunce had two wiues whereof by the first he had iij. sonnes Lothary Pipin and Lewys Which iij. sonnes vnnaturally and vnkindly coÌ„spiring against their father and his second wife with her sonne their youngest brother persecuted him so that through a certaine councell of Lordes spirituall and temporall they deposed the same their naturall and right godly father dispossessing and discharging him of all rule and dominion Moreouer caused him to renounce his temporal habite inclosing him in the Monastery of S. Marke for a monke or rather a prisoner All which done they deuided his Empire and kingdome among themselues Thus was Ludouicus Pius of impious sonnes left desolate But the power of God whiche worketh when all earthly power ceaseth of hys deuine mercy so ayded and recouered him out of all this tribulation to this Imperial dignitie agayne that it was to all his enemyes confusion and to all good men a miracle But this by the way By his 2. wife whose name was Iudith he had this Charles the Bald here mentioned Which Iudith was thought and so accúsed to the Pope to be within such degree of aliance that by the Popes law she might not continue hys wife without the popes dispensation It so fell out in the meane time that this Ludouicus the Emperour had promoted a young man named Frederick to be Bishop of Utrickeâ—and to hym had geuen sad and good exhortation that he remembring and following the constancy of his predecessours woulde mayntayne right and trueth without all exception of anye person punish misdoers with excommunication as wel the riche as the poore with such like wordes of godly couÌ„saile Fredericke hearing the king thus to say sitting at dinner with him as the manner was beyng newly inuested in these words answered to the Emperor again I thanke your maiestie saith he which with your so wholesome exhortation putteth me in mind of my profession But I beseech you of your benigne fauour patience that I may freely disclose that which hath long encombred and pierced my conscience To whoÌ„ leaue being geuen thus he began I pray you Lord Emperor to shew me herein your mynd pointing to the fish before him whether is it more according to attain this fish here present beginning first at the head or at the taile What a tale is this quoth the Emperor of the taile of the head At the head quoth he Then Frederike taking thereof his occasion proceedeth Euen so let it be Lord Emperour sayth he as you haue sayd Let Christian fayth and charitie first begin with your selfe as with the head admonishing you to cease froÌ„ your face and error that your subiects by your example be not boldned to follow your misdoing Wherefore first forsake you your vnlawful wedlock which you haue made with Iudith your neare kinswoman These wordes of the new Bishop although they moued Ludouicus the Emperor not a litle yet he with a gentle modestie and modest silence was contented suffring the bishop to go home in peace But the word beyng vttred in such an audience could not so be concealed but spread and brast out in much talke in the whole court and especially among the Bishops consultyng earnestly with themselues about the matter Through whose counsail and labour so at length it fell that the Emperour was constrained to leaue the company of his wife till hee had purchased a licence of the bishop of Rome to retaine her again who then forgaue the said bishop all that was past But the woman hired two knights that slew him in hys vestimentes when he had ended his masse Ranulphus and Guliel Libro de pontificib geue forth this story in his great commendation to dye a Martyr Whereof I haue not to iudge nor here to pronouÌ„ce but that rather I think him to be comended in his dying then the women for her killing And for asmuch as mention hath bene made of Ludouicus Pius here is to be noted that in Fraunce then was vied of Priestes and Churchmen precious and shewing vestuce and golden and rich staring girldles with rings and other ornamentes of golde Wherefore the sayd Lewes purchased of the Bishop of Rome a correctioÌ„ for all such as vsed such disordinate apparell causing them to weare browne and sad colours according to their sadnes Fab. Of this Lewes the Papistes doe fayne that because he conuerted certayne of their Church goodes and patrimonie to the wages of his souldiours his body say they was caryed out of his tombe by deuils and was no more seene And thus a little hauing disgressed out of our course now let vs returne out of Fraunce into England agayne kyng Ethelwulfus who comming from Rome by the couÌ„trey of Fraunce was now returned agayne into his own dominion where he continued not long after This Ethelwulfus had especially about him two Bishops whose counsell he was most ruled by Swythinus Byshop of Winchester and Adelstanus Byshop of Syreborne Of the which two the one was more skilfull in teÌ„porall and ciuill affayres touching the kings warres and filling of hys coffers and other furniture for the king The other whiche was Swythinus was of a contrary sorte wholly disposed and enclined to spirituall meditation and to minister spirituall couÌ„cel to the king who had ben scholemaister to the king before Wherein appeared one good coÌ„dition of this kings nature among his other vertues not onely in following the preceptes and aduertisementes of his old schoolemaister But also in that he like a kinde thaÌ„kfull pupille did so reuerence hys bringer vp and old scholmaister as he called him that he ceased not till hee made hym Byshop of Winchester by the consecration of Celnoch then Archbishop of Canterbury But as concerning the miracles
of the first institutors and commenders of that superstition Chrysostomus Nazianzenus Euagrius Sozomenus Dionysius and diuers other In the number of these monkes which then were deuided into Herâ—mites or Anachorites and into Coenobites wexe Antonius Paulus Ioannes wyth diuers other recluses Among the which was Hierome Basile Macarius Isidorus Pambus Nilammon Simeon with infinite other both in Palestina Syria Thebaide Mesopotamia in Egypt in Africa and Scythia In so much that Cassianus Lib. 2. cap. 4. de Canon Noctur orat maketh mention of a certaine Monastery in Thebaide wherin were aboue 5000. monks vnder the gouernment of one Abbot And here also in England mention is made before of Bangor wherein were two thousand two hundred Monkes vnder one mans ruling in the yeare of our Lord 596. wherby it appeareth that Monkes were then and 2000. yeares before in the primitiue tyme of the Church But what monks these were is to be considered Such as either by tiranny of persecution were driuen into solitary and desert places or els such as not constrained of any but of their owne voluntary deuotion ioyned with some superstition among for the loue they had to spirituall contemplation and for hatred of the wicked world withdrewe themselues from all company either hauyng nothyng to themselues proper or els all things common with other And all these were then nothing els but lay men Of which lay men there were two sundry sortes one of the vulgare common people which onely were pertakers of the Sacraments the other in folowing a Monasticall kynde of lyfe were called Monkes beyng nothing but lay men leadyng a more seuere and straighter trade of lyfe then the other as may sufficiently appeare by August Lib. de moribus Ecclesiae cap. 13. Item Lib. de operibus Monachorum Item Epistola ad Aurelium Also by Hierome ad Heliodorum writing these wordes Alia Monachorum est causa alia clericorum Clerici pascunt oues ego pascor c. That is One thing pertaineth to Monkes an other thing to them of the Clergy They of the Clergy feede their flocke I am fed c. Et ex Dionysio Also the same appeareth likewise by the 4. Canon of the Councel of Chalcedone where it is prouided Ne Monachi se Ecclesiasticis negocijs immisceant That is That Monkes should not intermedle with matters of the Church c. Et Leo Epistola 62 vetat Monachos laicos etsi scientie nomine glorientur admitti ad officium docendi concionandi By these foresayd authors alledged it is euident that Monkes in the former age of the church albeit they lyued a solitary life yet they were then no other but only lay meÌ„ differing from priests differing from the other monkes which succeeded them afterward in the middle age of the Church and that in iij. pointes First they were tyed and bound to no prescript forme eyther of diet or apparel or any thing els as we may see testified by the wordes of S. Augustine which be these Neque inter haec nemo vrgetur in aspera quae ferre non potest Nulli quod recusat imponitur Nec ideo contemnitur à caeteris in quod eis imitandis se fatetur inualidum Meminerunt enim quantoperè commendata sit in Scripturis charitas Meminerunt omnia munda mundis c NoÌ„ quod intrat in os coinquinat hominem sed quod exit Itaque non reijciendis generibus ciborum quasi pollutis sed concupiscentiae perdomandae dilectioni fratrum retinendae inuigilat omnis industria And Sozomenus Lib 3. cap. 16. speaking of the Monkes of the same time which in cities had seuerall mansions froÌ„ other sayth Alij in turba ciuitatum conuersabantur sic seipsos gerentes vt nullius momenti viderentur à multis nihil differrent c. 1. Some liued in cities so behauing themselues as seeming nothing worth and they differed nothyng from the multitude c. The second point wherin they were discrepant from the latter Monkes was in that they remained no other but in the order of lay men onely beyng of a straighter lyfe then the rest and had nothing to do in matters charges Ecclesiasticall Which was afterward broken by Pope Bonifacius the 4. as followeth more the lord willing to be sene and sayd Thirdly the foresaid monkes of that age albeit the most part of them liued sole single from wiues yet some of them were maried certes none of them were forbidden or restrayned from mariage Of such as were maried speaketh Athanasius in Epistola ad Dracontium qui ait se nouisse Monachos Episcopos coniuges liberorum patres c. That is which sayth that he knew both Monkes and Bishops maried men and fathers of children c. And yet the said Monkes of the old tyme though they were better then the other which folowed them yet al that notwithstanding superstitioÌ„ with them and among them begaÌ„ then to creepe into the church through the crafty subtilty of Sachan and all for the ignorance of our free iustification by faith in Iesus Christ. Examples do declare the vaine and prodigious superstitioÌ„ of these Monasticall sort of men which examples do not lacke if 〈◊〉 rather did not lacke to bring them in But ij or iij. shal suffice for many which I purpose the Lord willing here to insert to the intent the mind of the godly reader may the better consider and vnderstand how shortly after the tyme of Christ and his Apostles the doctrine of christian iustification began to be forgotten true religion turned to superstition the price of Christes passion to bee obscured through the vayne opinion of mens merites c. A certaine Abbot named Moses thus testifieth of himselfe in the Collations of Cassianus that he so afflicted himselfe with much fastyng and watching that sometimes for ij or iij. dayes together not onely he felt no appetite to eate but also had no remeÌ„braunce of any meat at all and by reason thereof was driuen also froÌ„ sleepe In so much that he was caused to pray to God but for a little refreshing of sleepe to be geuen him some piece of the night In the same author mention is made of a certaine old man an Hermite who because hee had conceiued in himselfe such a purpose neuer to eat meat without he had some guest or straÌ„ger with him sometyme was constrained to abstaine v. daies together vntil Sonday while he came to the Church and there brought some stranger or other home with him Two other examples yet more will I adde out of the said Cassianus to declare how the subtiltie of Sathan thorough superstition and false colour of holynes blindeth the miserable eyes of such which rather attend mens traditions then the word of God In the xl chap. of the sayd author in his booke de Gastrimargia is told of a certain Abbot named Ioannes
and such as be mad receiue their health agayne if they worship the tombe of this Elfleda c. The like fainings and monstrous miracles we reade also in chronicles of doting Dunstane drowned in all superstition if he were not also a wicked sorcerer First how he beyng yet a boy chased away the deuil set about with a great company of dogs and how the Angels did open the church dore for him to enter Then how the Lute or Harpe hanging vpon the wall did sing or play without any finger these wordes Gaudent in coelis animae sanctorum qui Christi vestigiâ— sunt sequuti qui pro eius amore sanguinem suum suderunt ideo cum Christo regnabunt in aeternum Item where a certayne great beame or maisterpost was â—â—â—ed out of the place he with making the signe of a Crosse set it in right frame agayne Moreouer how the sayd Dunstane being tempted vpon a tyme of the deuil with the cogitation of women caught the deuill by the nose with a whore paire of tongs and helde him fast Item how ofte heauenly spirits appeared to him and vsed to talke with him amiliarly Item how he prophesied of the birth of king Edgar of the death of king Egelred of the death of Editha and of Ethelwood bishop of Winchester Also how our Lady with her fellowes appeared visibly to hym singing this song Cantemus Domino sociae cantemus honorem Dulcis amor Christi personet ore pio Agayne how the Angels appeared to him singing the Hymne called Kyrâ—â— Rex splendens c And yet these prodigious fantasies with other mo are written of him in Chronicles and haue bene beleued in Churches Among many other false and lying miracles forged in this corrupt tyme of Monkery the fabulous or rather filthy legeÌ„d of Editha were not to be ouerpassed if for shame and honesty it might well be recited But to cast the dyrt of these Pope holy monkes in their owne face which so impudently haue abused the church of Christ and simplicitie of the people with their vngratious vanities let vs see what this miracle is how honestly it is told Certayne yeres after the death of Editha saith Will. of Malmes which yeres Capgraue in his new Legend reckoneth to be thirtene the said Editha also S. Denys holding her by the hand appeared to Dunstan in a vision willing and requiring him that the body of Editha in the church of Wilton should be taken vp shrined to the entent it might be honored here in earth of her seruants according as it is worshipped of her spouse in heauen Dunstan vpon this comming from Salisbury to Wilton where Editha was interred commaunded her body to be taken vp with much honor solemnitie Who there in opening her tombe as both Malmes and Capgraue with shame enough recorde found all the whole body of this Editha coÌ„sumed to earth saue only her thombe her belly the part vnder the belly Wherof the said Editha expounding the meaning declared that her thombe remained found for the much crossing she vsed with the same The other partes were incorrupted for a testimony of her abstinence and integritie c. Ex Malmes Capgrauo What Sathan hath so enuied the true sinceritie of christian faith and doctrine so to contaminate the same with such impudent tales such filthy vanities Idolatrous fantasies as this Such Monkes with theyr detestable houses where Christes people were so abhominably abused and seduced to worship dead carcases of men and women whether they deserued not to bee rased and pluckt downe to the ground let all chaste Readers iudge But of these matters enough and to much ¶ Here followeth the Epitaphe written by Henricus Archdeacon of Huntington vpoÌ„ the prayse and commendation of king Edgar Autor opum vindex scelerum largitor honorum Septiger Edgarus regna superna petit Hic alter Salomon legum pater orbita pacis Quod caruit bellis claruit inde magis Templa Deo templis monachos monachis dedit agros Nequitiae lapsum iustitiaeque locum Nouit enim regno verum perquirere falso Immensum modico perpetuumque breui Among his other lawes this king ordained that the Sonday should be solemnised from Saterday at ix of the clocke till Monday morning King Edward called the Martyr AFter the death of Edgar no smal trouble arose amoÌ„gst the Lordes and Bishops for succession of the crowne the principall cause wherof rose vpon this occasion as by the story of Symon of Durham and Roger Houeden is declared Immediately after the decease of the king Alferus Duke of Mercia and many other nobles which held with Egelrede or Ethelrede the onely right heyre and lawfull sonne of Edgar misliking the placing and intrudyng of Monkes into churches the thrusting out of the seculare Priestes with their wiues and children out of their auncient possessions expelled the Abbots and Monkes and brought in againe the foresayd priestes with theyr wyues Against whom certayne other there were on the contrary part that made resistance as Ethelwine Duke of Eastangles Elfwoldus his brother and the Erle Brithnothus saying in a councell togither assembled that they would neuer suffer the religious Monkes to be expulsed and driuen out of the Realme which held vp all Religion in the land and therupon eftsoones leuied an army whereby to defend by force the Monasteries such as were within the precinct of Eastanglia In this hurly burly amongst the Lordes about the placing of Monkes and putting out of Priests rose also the contention about the crowne who should be their king the bishops and such lordes as fauoured the Monkes seeking to aduance such a king as they knew would inclyne to their side so that the lordes thus deuided some of them would haue Edward and some consented vpon Egelred the lawfull sonne Then Dunstane Archb. of Cant. Oswold Archb. of Yorke with other their fellowbishops Abbots and diuers other Lordes and Dukes assembled in a councel together In the which councell Dunstan coÌ„myng in with his crosse in his hand bringyng Edward before the Lords so perswaded them that in the ende Edward by Dunstans meanes was elected consecrated and annointed for theyr kyng And thus hast thou good Reader the very truth of this story according to the writing of authors of most antiquitie which liued nerest to that age as Osberne and others which Osberne liuyng in the dayes of William Conquerour wrote this story of Dunstan through the motioÌ„ of Lanfranâ—us and alledgeth or rather translateth the same out of such Saxon stories as were writteÌ„ before his tyme. Besides which Osberne we haue also for witnesse hereof Nic Trinet in his English story written in French and also Ioannes Paris in his French story written in the Latine tong where he plainly calleth Edward non legitimum filium that is no lawfull sonne Whereunto adde moreouer the testimony of Vincentius
and Antoninus who in playne termes likewyse report the same Nowe hauing sayd the foundation for the truth and ground of this matter let vs come to examine how truely our latter writers do say which write that Editha and not Edward was the child for whom Dunstane enioined to the king 7. yeares penaunce and also how truely they report Edward to be a lawfull heyre and Elflede to bee a lawfull wyfe to king Edgar For first touching Editha this is confessed by the sayd writers themselues that she was of good yeares at what tyme Edgar her father was enioyned his penaunce After the which seuen yeares of his penaunce expyred he lyued at the most but in yeares and a halfe Which seuen yeares and 3. yeares and a halfe make in all but x. yeres a halfe But now the said authors themselues do graunt that she was made Abbas by her father he beyng then alyue And how can this then stand with her Legend which sayth that she was not lesse then 15. yeares of age By which account it must needes fall out that she could not be so little as v. yeres old before the birth of that chyld for whom the kyng did penaunce And thus much touching Editha Now in like maner to consider of the tyme of Edward First this by all writers is graunted that he was slayne in the 15. yeare of his age Which yeares do well agree to that chyld which king Edgar begate in bastardy for the which he did hys penance For the more euidence whereof let vs come to the supputation of yeares in this sort First the penaunce of the king after the byrth of this child lasted 7. yeres Then the king after the same lyued 3. yeres a halfe After whose death Edward raigned other 3. yeres and a half which in all make the full summe of 14. yeres About the count of which age the said Edward goyng on his 15. yeres by their owne reckoning was slaine And thus haue ye by manifest demonstration prooued by the right casting of the yeres after their owne graunt rekoning that Editha daughter of Wlfride in no case can be the child which was borne after Edward for whom the king was enioyned penance but that Edward rather was borne after Editha and was the childe for whom the penance was enioined contrary to the opinion commōly receiued in the church which for ignorance of the story hath hetherto holden Edward to be an holy Martyr and right heyre vnto the crowne Which error and opinion how it first sprang and by whom albeit it pertaine not to my story to discusse yet were it no hard matter to coniecture First after that Dunstane and Oswolde wyth other Bishops Abbots and certayne Lordes Dukes of that faction for the maintenaunce of Monkery had aduaunced Edward to be king against Queene Alfrith mother of Ethelred Alferus duke of Mercia and certaine other Nobles which held with the contrary side of the Priestes agaynst the Monkes In processe of tyme the monkes that came after to write stories perceiuing Dunstane to be reputed in the Church of Rome for an holy Saint and the sayd king Edward for an holy Martyr and partly also to bolster vp their owne religion of Monkery so muche as they could to the intent therfore they would saue the credite both of Dunstane and of the kyng and especially bearing fauour to their owne religion and partly that the reputation of the church of Rome should not be disteined by opening the truth of this matter either did not see or would not confesse herein what they knew but rather thought best to blanch the story and colourably to hide the simple truth therof making the people falsly beleue that Elfleda the mother of Edward was wife to king Edgar and Edward to be lawfully borne and also that Editha was born after Edward to be the child for which the king was enioyned penance All which is false and cōtrary both to the order of tyme aboue declared and also to the plaine words of Malmesbury which speaking of king Edgars last concubine sayth in plaine wordes Dilexit vnicè integram lecto vni deferens sidem quoad legitimam vxorem accepit Elfthride filiam Ordgari That is he had a concubine whom he loued entirely keping true faith of his bed to her alone vntil the tyme he maried for his lawfull wife Elfride the daughter of duke Ordgare c. Wherby we haue to vnderstand that whatsoeuer concubine this was which Malmesbury speaketh off certaine it is that Edgar liued in whoredome till tyme he maried his lawfull wyfe Furthermore and finally to conclude beside these arguments and allegations aboue recited let this also be perpended how the said Dunstan with his complices after the killing of king Edward leauing the right heyre of the crowne which was Ethelred went about as Capgraue and their owne Legend cōfesseth to set vp Editha the other bastarde to possesse the crowne but that she more wise then her brother Edward refused the same Wherby what is to be thought of the doyngs of Dunstane and what should be the cause why hee preferred both Edward and Editha to the crowne rather then the lawfull heyre I leaue to all indifferent Readers therof to iudge After that Dunstane and his fellowes had thus set vp Edward for their king they were now where they would be supposing all to be sure on their side and that they had established the kingdom of Monkery for euer through the helpe of the young king and the Duke of Eastangles and certaine other nobles whom they had drawn to their part Howbeit this matter passed not so wel with them as they hoped For shortly after the coronation of this yong king Alferus duke of Mercia who folowed much the deedes of the Queene with other great men stoutly standing on the contrary side droue out the Monkes from the Cathedrall churches which king Edgar before had set in and restored agayne the Priests as Ranulphus sayth with their concubines but in the historie of the Librarie of Iornall I find it plainly expressed with their wiues The wordes of the very author be these Alferus princeps Merciorum caeterique plures eiectis monachis de magnis monasterijs quos rex Edgarus nuper instituerat clericos cum vxoribus reduxerunt That is Alterus duke of Mercia with other great men mo droue out the Monkes from the great monasteries whom king Edgar had there set in before restored againe the priests with their wyues Wherby it doth euidently appeare that priests in those dayes were maried and had their lawfull wiues The like before that in king Inas tyme is plaine that Bishops then had wiues and children as appeareth by the words of the lawe then set forth extant in the history of the said Iornalensis which be these Si quis filiolum alterius occidat vel patrinum sit simile cognationi
crescat emendatio secundum Weram eius Regi sicut cognationi Si de parentela sit qui occidit eum tunc excedat emendatio patrini sicut manbota Domini Si Episcopi filiolus sit sit dimidium hoc c. And thus much by the way for Priestes wyues and their children Now to the purpose agayne of our matter which is to declare how the Duke and Nobles of England expulsed the Monkes out of the Monasteries after the death of kyng Edgar Whereof let vs heare what the Monkish story of the Abbey of Crouland recordeth Monachis de quibusdam Monasterijs eiectis clerici sunt introducti qui statim monasteriorum maneria ducibus terrae distribuebant vt sic in suas partes obligati eos contra monachos defensarent Tunc de monasterio Eueshamensi monachis expulsis clerici fuerant introducti Terraeque tyranni de terris Ecclesiae praemiati sunt quibus Regina nouercali nequitia stans cum clericis in regis opprobrium fauebat Cum monachis autem Rex sancti Episcopi persistebant Sed tyranni fulti Reginae fauore potentia super monachos triumphabant Multus inde tumultus in omni angulo Angliae factus est Ex Chronico Ingulphi Abbatis de Crouland c. That is The Monkes beyng expelled out of certayne Monasteries the Clarkes agayne were brought in who distributed the Manors or Fermes of the sayde Monasteries to the Dukes and Lordes of the land that they beyng obliged to them should defēd them against the Monkes And so were the monkes of Euesham thrust out and the seculare Clarkes placed the landes of the church giuen to the Lordes with whom the Queene the Kings stepmother holding the same time tooke part also with the sayd Clerkes against the king On the contrary part stood the king the holy bishops taking part with the monkes Howbeit the lordes pieres of the Realme staying vpon the fauour and power of the Queene triumphed ouer the monkes c. Thus as much ado there was through all quarters of the realme about the matter among the Lordes so arose no lesse contention betwene the priests monkes of England The Priestes complainyng to the Kyng and Dunstane layd for themselues that it was vncomely vncharitable yea and vnnaturall to put out an old known dweller for a new vnknowen and that God was not pleased that to be taken from the auncient possessor which by God was geuen him neither that it could be to any good man accepted to suffer any such iniury to be done least peraduēture the same thing wherein he was preiudiciall to an other might after reuert redound vpon himself at length The monkes on the other side layd for their part the Christ allowed neither the old dweller nor the new commer nor yet looked vpon the person but who so would take the crosse of penaunce vpon him and follow Christ in vertuous liuing should be his disciple These such other were the allegations of the monkes But whether a monkes coule or a wiueles life make a sufficient title to enter into other mens possessiōs or no I referre it to the iudgemēt of the godly The troublous cares in mariage the necessary prouision for house keepyng the vertuous bringing vp of children the daily helping of pouertie and bearing of publike charges with other manifold perturbations and combraunces daily incident to the state of matrimony might rather appeare to godly wyse men to come nearer to the right crosse of penance then the easie loytring idlenes of monkery In the end vpō this controuersie was holden a Councell of Bishops other of the Clergy First at Reading or at Winchester as Guliel saith where the greater part both of the nobles commōs iudged the priestes to haue great wrong and sought by all meanes possible to bring thē agayne to their old possessions and dignities Iornalensis here maketh rehearsall of an Image of the Crucifixe or a roode standing vpon the frater wall where the Councell was holden To this roode Dunstane requireth them all to pray beyng belike not ignorant of some spiritual prouisiō before hand In the middest of their prayer the roode or els some blind monke behynd him in a trūke through the wall is reported to speak these words Absit hoc vt fiat absit hoc vt fiat iudicastis benè mutaretis non benè In remembraunce whereof these verses were written vnder the roodes feete Humano more crux praesens aediditore Coelitus affata quae perspicis hic subarata Absit vt hoc fiat vt cae tera tunc memorata Of this Dunstanicall or rather Satanical oracle Henricus maketh no mention nor Ranulphus nor yet Houedenus nor Fabian in their histories Gulielmus in his booke de Regibus reporteth it but by hearesay in these wordes saying Aliae literae docent c. Wherfore the lesse it seemeth to be of credite Albeit if it were of credible truth yet it prooueth in this matter nothing els but Dunstan to be a Sorcerer as Polydorus Virgilius also himselfe seemeth to smell something in this matter Notwithstanding for all this yet the strife ceased not In so much that a new assembly of the Clergy and other was appointed after at a place called the streete of Calue where the Councell was kept in an vpper lofte In this Councell many grieuous complaints were obiected as Malmes buriensis saith against Dunstane But yet he kept his opinion and would not remooue from that which hee began to maintaine And while they were there in great contention and argument which way should be admitted and allowed if it be true that in the stories is written sodenly the ioyses of the lof◠failed the people with the nobles fell downe so that certaine were slaine many hurt But Dunstane they say onely standing vpon a poast of the sollar which remained vnbroken escaped without dāger Which thing whether it so happened to portend before the ruine of the Realme and of the nobles as Henry Hunting doth expoūd it which after ensued by the Danes or whether it was so wrought by Dunstanes sorcerie as was not vnpossible or whether it were a thing but fained of the monkish writers and not true all this I leaue to the Readers to thinke therein what them liketh The stories say further that vpon this the matter ceased and Dūstan had all his will These things thus done at Calue it hapned not long after the same that king Edward whom the writers describe to be a vertuous and a meeke prince much pitifull beneficiall to the poore about the iiij yeare of hys raigne came vpon a season from hunting in the forest alone with out the company of his seruaunts to the place in the West countrey where Alfeith his mother with her sonne Egelred did lye When the Queene the mother was warned of his comming by her men anone she calleth a seruaunt
the porte of Southhampton But as Polydorus sayeth and Fabian affirmeth the same that it was by Thames side at London When his flatterers comming about him began to exalt him vp with high wordes calling him a king of all kings most mighty who had vnder his subiection both the people the land and also the sea Canutus reuoluing this matter in his minde whether for pride of his heart exalted or whether to trâ—e and refell their flattering words coÌ„maunded his chaire of estate to be brought to the sea side at what time it should begin to flowe Polydore sayth that no seate was brought but sitting vpon his garments being folded together vnder him there charged and commaunded the floudes arising comming toward his feete that they shoulde not touch neither him nor his clothes But the water keeping his ordinary course came nearer and nerer First to his feete and so growing higher began to wash him welfauoredly Wherewith the king abashed partly also afeard starte backe and looking to his Lordes Loe sayth he ye call me such a mighty king yet can I not commaunde backe this litle water to stay at my worde but it is ready to drowne me Wherfore all earthly kings may know that all their powers be but vaine and that none is worthy to haue the name of a king but he alone which hath all things subiect to the power authoritie of his word which is the Lord of heauen earth the creatour aboue of all thinges the father of our Christ and Lorde who with him for euer is to be glorified him let vs worship and extoll for our king for euer After this as histories witnes he neuer suffred the crowne to come vpon his head but went to Winchester or as some say to Canterbury but both those may be true for his going to CaÌ„terbury was to acknowledge that there was a Lorde much higher of more power then he himselfe was and therewithal to render vp his crowne for euer With that Egelnothes Archbyshop of Canterbury informed him of the image of the Crucifix before meÌ„tioned which dissolued the matter betweene maried Priests and life of Monkes and did many other myracles moe being then at Winchester Wherewith the King prouoked to go to Winchester to the roode there resigned vp hys regall Crowne and made the roode king ouer all the land Here is also to be noted in this Canutus that although as is said he coÌ„descended in the beginning of his raigne vpon king Edgares lawes yet after in proces of time hee set forth peculiar lawes of his own Among which diuers there be that concerne as well causes Ecclesiasticall as also temporal Whereby it may appeare that the gouernmeÌ„t of spirituall matters not to depende then of the Bishop of Rome but to appertaine to the lawfull authoritie of the temporall Prince no lesse then of matters and causes temporall As for example by these ordinaunces of the foresayd Canutus may be well considered as here folowe Pecunia sepulturae iustum est vt aperta terra reddatur Si aliquod corpus a sua parochia deferatur in aliam pecunia sepulturae c. In English It is mete and right that in funerals money be geuen for opening the earth If anybody or corse be caried from his owne Parishe into an other the money of the buriall shal pertaine by the law to his owne Parish Church All ordinaunces and ceremonies of God let them be obserued as neede in all things requireth Uppon the Sonday we forbid all publique â—ayres or markets all Synodes or conuenticles huntinges or any such seculare actions to be exercised vnlesse vrgent necessitie compell therunto Let euery ChristeÌ„ man prepare himself thrise a yere to approche to the receauing of the Lords body so to eate the same as not to his iudgemeÌ„t but to his wholsome remedy If a minister of the altare doe kill any man or haue intangled himselfe in any notorious crime let him be depriued both from his order and dignitie If any maried woman her husband being aliue haue committed adultery be proued with the same to her opeÌ„ shame in the world let her haue her nose and eares cut of Let euery widow after the death of her husband so remaine sole xij monethes or if shee marrye let her loose her ioynter And heere an ende of the Danish kyngs Nowe to the English kings againe whose right line coÌ„meth in againe in Edward here following King Edward called the Confessor FOr so much as God of his mercye and prouidence who is onely the maker of heires thought it so good after the wofull captiuitie of this Englishe nation to graunt now some respite of deliuerance in taking away the Danish kings without any issue left behind them who reigning here in EnglaÌ„d kept the english people in miserable subiection about the space of xxviij yeares and that from their firste landing in the time of King Brightricus wasting and vexing this land the terme of cc. â—v yeres Now their tiranny here comming to an ende the next election right of the crowne fell as appertained to Edwarde the yonger sonne of king Egelred and Emma a meere Englishman who had bene now long banished in Normandy as is aboue declared A man of gentle and soft spirite more appliable to other mens couÌ„sailes then able to trust to his owne of nature condition so geuen from al warre and bloudshed that being in his banishment he wished rather so to continue all his life long in that priuate estate then by warre or bloudshed to aspire to any kingdome This Edward after the death of Canutus the seconde or Hardecanute being sent for of the Lordes into NormaÌ„die to take possession of the Realme although he something mistrusted the vnconstant and fickle heads of EnglishmeÌ„ yet hauing sufficient pledges laid for him in Normandie came ouer with a few Normands accompanied and not long after was crowned at Winchester an 1043. by Edsius then Archbishop of Cant. And not long after that he maried Goditha or Editha daughter of Earle Godwyne whome he entreated after such sort that he neither put her from his bed nor yet delt with her fleshly Whether it 〈◊〉 for hate of her kin as most like it was or for loue of chastitie it remaineth vncertaine But most writers agree that he continued his lyfe without offence with women â—or the which he is highly exalted among our story writers and called holy king Edwarde After he had thus taken vpon him the gouernement of the realme he guided the same with much wisedome and iustice the space of 24. yeres lacking two monethes from whome issued as out of a fountaine much godlinesse mercy pitie and liberalitie towarde the poore gentlenes and iustice toward all men and in all honest life he gaue a vertuous example to his people He discharged the Englishmen of the great tribute called Dane gelt which before
perswaded perchance by Harding and afterward in the yere of our Lord 1135. it was brought into England by a certaine man called Espek which builded an Abbey of the same order called Merinale In this order the monks did liue by the labour of their hands They paid no tithes nor offrings they weare no furre nor lyning they weare red shoes their coules white and coate blacke all shorne saue a little circle they eate no flesh but only in their iourney Of this order was Bernardus c. This Urbanus held diuers Councels one at Rome where he excommunicated all such lay persons as gaue inuestiture of any Ecclesiasticall benefice Also all such of the Clergy as abiected themselues to be vnderlings or seruants to lay persons for Ecclesiasticall benefices c. An other Councell he held at Cleremount in France Where among other things the bishop made an Oration to the Lords being there present concerning the voiage recouering of the holy land from the Turkes and Sarazens The cause of which voiage first sprang by one Peter a monke or Hermite who being in Ierusalem seing the great misery of the Christians vnder the Paganes made therof declaration to Pope Urbane was therin a great sollicitor to all christian Princes By reason whereof after the foresaid Oration of pope Urbane 30000. men takyng on them the signe of the crosse for their cognisaunce made preparation for that voiage whose Captains were Godfrey Duke of Loraine with his two brethren Eustace and Baldwine the bishop of Pody Bohemund duke of Puell and his nephew Tancredus Raymund Erle of S. Egidius Robert Erle of Flaunders and Hugh le Graund brother of Phillip the French king To whome also was ioyned Robert Courthoyle duke of Normandy with diuers other noble men with the foresayd Peter the Deremite who was the chiefe causer of that voiage At that tyme many of the sayd Noble men layed theyr lands lordships to morgage for to prouide for the forenamed voiage as Godfrey duke of Lorayne who sold the Dukedome of Boloine to the Bishop of Eburone for a great sumine of money Also Robert Courthoyse Duke of Normandy layd his Dukedome to pledge to his brother William king of England for x. thousand pounds c. Thus the Christians which passed first ouer Bosphorus hauing to their captaine Peter the Heremite a man perchance more deuout then expert to guide an army beyng trapped of their enemies were slaine murthered in great number among the Bulgars and nere to the towne called Ciuitus When the nobles and the whole army met together at Constantinople where Alexius was Emperour passing ouer by Hellespontus goyng to Ierusalem they tooke the cities of Nicea Eraclea Tarsis and subdued the country of Cicilia appointing the possession thereof to certayne of their Captaines Antioch was besieged and in the ix month of the siege it was yelded to the Christians by one Pyrrhus about which season were sought many strong battayles to the great slaughter and desolation of the Sarazens and not without losse of man◠Christian men The gouernance of this Citie was committed to Boamund Duke of Pucil whose martiall knighthood was often prooued in tyme of the siege thereof And not long after Corbona maister of the Persians Chiualry was vanquished and slayne with an hundreth thousand Infidels In which discomfiture were taken 15000. camels Ierusalem the 39. day of the siege was conquered by the Christians Robert Duke of Normandy was elect to be king therof But he refused hearing of the death of king William of Eng. wherfore he neuer sped in all his affaires well after the same Then Godfrey captaine of the christian army was proclaimed the first king of Ierusalem At the taking of the City was such a murder of men that bloud was congeled in the streete the thicknes of a foote Then after Godfrey raigned Baldwine his brother After hym Baldwine the second nephew Then Gaufridus duke of Gaunt and after him Gaufridus his sonne by whom many great battails there were fought against the Sarazens and all the countrey thereabout subdued saue Ascalon c. And thus much hetherto touching the voyage to the holy land Now to our owne land agayne About this tyme as Mathaeus Parisiensis writeth the kinge of England fauoured not much the sea of Rome because of their impudent and vnsatiable exactiōs which they required neither would he suffer any of his subiectes to go to Rome alleaging these wordes in the author thus expressed Quòd Petri non inhaerent vestigijs praemijs inhiantes non eius potestatem retinent cuius sanctitatem probantur non imitari that is because they follow not the steppes of Peter hunting for rewardes neither haue they the power and authoritie of him whose holinesse they declare themselues not to follow c. By the same Urbanus the seuen Houres whiche we call septem horas Canonicas were first instituted in the Church Item by this pope was decreed no bishop to be made but vnder the name and title of some certaine place Item that Martins and Houres of the day should euery day be sayd Also euery Saterday to be sayd the Masse of our Lady and all the Iewes Sabboth to be turned to the seruice of our Lady as in the Councell of Turon to the which seruice was appointed the Antheme Ora pro populo interueni pro clero intercede pro deuoto foemineo sexu Item all such of the clergy as had wyues to be depriued of their order Item to be lawfull for subiectes to breake theyr othe of allegeaunce with all such as were by the Pope excommunicate Item not to be lawfull both for husband and wyfe to christen one child both together with matters many moe By the same Pope thus many chapters stand written in the Canon law Dist. 7. Sanctorum dist 31. Eos qui 1. q. 1. Si qui dist 56 praesbyterorum 11. q. 3. quibus 15. q. 6. Iuratos 16. q. 7. congregatio 19 q. 2. Statuimus 23. q. 8. Tributum 30. q. 4. quod autem c. In the 6. yere of this kings raigne Malcoline king of Scots which foure times before had made great slaughter of old yong in the North partes as is before shewed braste into Northumberland with all the power he could make and there by the right iudgement of God was slain with his sonne Edward and also Margaret his wife sister to Edgar Adeling aboue mynded a vertuous and deuout Lady within 3. dayes after The same yeare he gaue the Archbishoprike of Caunterbury after that he had detayned the same in hys owne bandes 4. yeares to Anselmus Abbot of Becke in Normandie This Anselme was an Italian in the Citie of Augusta borne and brought vp in the Abbey of Becke in Normandy where he was so straight a folower of vertue that as the story recordeth he wished rather to bee without
Urbane according to the tenor and forme of a certaine Epistle of his wherin among many other thinges in the same Epistle conteined these wordes he wryteth to Pope Paschalis the third yere after his banishment after the death of Urbane and a little before the death of the king To the Lord and reuerend father Paschalis high bishop Anselme seruant of the Churche of Cant. offereth due subiection from his heart and prayers if they can stand in any stede Ex Epist. 36. Paulò post initium I See in Englād many euils whose correction belongeth to me and which I could neither amend nor suffer without mine owne fault The king desireth of me that vnder the name of right I shuld consent to his pleasures which were against the lawe and wil of God For he woulde not haue the Pope receaued nor appealed vnto in Englande without his commaundement neither that I should send a letter vnto him or receaue any from him or that I shuld obey his decrees He suffered not a Councell to be kept in his realme now these 13. yeares since he was king In all these things and such like if I asked any counsaile all my suffragane Byshops of his realme denied to geue me any counsaile but according to the kinges pleasure After that I sawe these and such other thinges that are done against the will and lawe of God I asked license of him to goe to Rome vnto the sea Apostolicall that I might there take counsaile for my soule and the office committed to me The king sayd that I offended agaynst hym for the onely asking of license And propounded to me that eyther I should make hym amendes for the same as a trespasse assuring hym neuer to aske this license any more to appeale to the pope at anye tyme hereafter or els that I shoulde quickly depart out of hys land Wherefore chosen rather to goe out of the land◠then to agree to so wicked a thing I came to Rome as ye know and declared the whole matter to the Lord Pope The king by and by as soone as I went out of England inuaded the whole Archbishoprike and turned it to hys owne vse taxing the monkes onely with bare moate drinke and clothe The king being warned and desired of the Lord Pope to amend this he contēned the same and yet continueth in his purpose still And now is the third yere since I came thus out of Englande and more Some men not vnderstanding demaund why I did not excommunicate the king But the wiser sort and such as haue vnderstanding counsayle me that I doe no this thing because it belongeth not to me both to complayne and to punish To conclude I was forewarned by my frendes that are vnder the king that my excommunication if it should be done would be laughed to scorne and despised c. By these here aboue prefixed appeareth how Anselme the Archbishop comming to Rome made hys complaynt to the Pope Urbane of the king and how the Pope writing to the king in the behalfe of Anselme hys letters and commaundementes were despised And now to our story In the meane tyme while the popes letters were sent to the king Anselme was byd to wayte about the Pope to looke for an aunswere backe Who perceauing at length how little the king reputed the popes letters began to be weary of hys office desiring the pope that he might be discharged thereof But the Pope in no case woulde thereto consent chargying hym vpon hys obedience that where soeuer he went he shoulde beare with him the name and honour of the Archbishop of Cant. Whereunto Anselmus agayne sayd hys obedience he neyther durst nor woulde refuse as who for Gods cause was ready to suffer what soeuer should happen yea though it were death itselfe as he thought no lesse would follow thereof But what shold we think sayth he is there to be done where not onely iustice taketh no place but is vtterly oppressed and where as my suffraganes not onely doe not helpe for dread the righteous cause but also for fauour do impugne the same Well sayth the Pope as touching these matters we shal sufficiently prouide for at the next Councell at Baron where as I will you the same tyme and place to be present When the tyme of the Councell was come Anselme among other was called for Who first sitting in an vtter side of the Byshops afterward was placed at the right foote of the Pope with these wordes Includamus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam alterius orbis Papam Wherupon the same place after hym was appoynted to the successours of the sea of Cant. in euery general Councel by the decree of Urbane to sit at the right foote of the pope In this Councell great sturre and much reasoning there was agaynst the Grecians concerning the matter and order of proceeding of the holy Ghost Where is to be noted that the Greeke Church hath of long tyme dissented from the Latine church in many and sondry poyntes to the number of xx or almost xxi◠Articles as I haue them collected out of the Register of the Church of Hereford Whereof lyke as occasion hereafter may serue God willing for a further more ample tractation to be made so here by the waye partly I meane to touch some The first is Wherein the Greeke Church differeth from the Latine THe first article wherein the Greeke Churche altereth from the Latine or Romish Church is this Quòd sunt extra obedientiam Romanae ecclesiae pro eo quòd ecclesia Constantinopolitana non est subiecta sed ei aequalis 1. Dicunt Dominum Apostolicum non habere maiorem potestatem q̄ iiii Patriarc hae Et quicquid sit praeter scientiam eorum per Papam vel sine eorum approbatione nullius est valoris c. In Englishe First they are not vnder the obedience of the Churche of Rome because that the Church of Constantinople is not subiect but equall to the same 2. They hold that the Bishop of the Apostolicke Sea of Rome hath greater power then the 4. Patriarches And whatsoeuer the Pope doth beside their knowledge or without their approbation it is of no valor 3. Item they say whatsoeuer hath bene done or concluded since the second generall Councell is of no full authoritie because from that time they recount the Latines to be in errour and to be excluded out of the holy Church 4. Item Dicunt Eucharistiam consecratam per Romanam Ecclessam non esse verum corpus Christ 1. They hold the Eucharist consecrated by the Churche of Rome not to be the very body of Christ. Also where the Romish Churche doth cosecrate in vnleauened bread they cōsecrate in bread leauened 5. Item they say that the Romish church doth erre in the wordes of Baptisme for saying I baptise thee when they should say let this creature of God be baptised c. 6. They hold moreouer to
the Pope did hold a councell at London In the which councel first began new found appellatiōs from councels to the Pope found out by Henry Bishop of wint For as the wordes of myne author doe recorde In Anglla namq̄ appellationes in vsu non erant donec eas Henricus Wint. Episcopus dum legatus esset malo suo crudeliter intrusit In eodem namq̄ concilio ad Rom. pontificis audientiam ter appellatū est c. That is For appellations before were not in vse in England till Henry Bishop of Winchester being thē the Popes Legate brought them cruelty in to his own hurt For in that Councell thrise appeale was made to the Bishop of Rome In the tyme of king Stephen died Gracianus a mōke of Bononie who compiled the booke called the Popes decrees Also his brother Petrus Lambardus bishop of Paris which is called the maister of Sentences compiled his foure bookes of the sentence These two brethren were the greatest doers in finding out and stablishing this blynde opinion of the sacrament that the only simnitude of bread and wyne remayned but not the substaunce of them and this they call the spirituall vnderstandyng of the mysterie And therefore no meruail if the sunne in those dayes were seene blacke and dimme Some also affirme that Petrus Comestor writer of the Scholasticall history was the third brother to these aboue named In the same tyme and raigne of the said king Stephen was also Hugo surnamed De sancto victore About the which tyme as Polychronicon reciteth liued and died Bernardus Clareuallensis The author of the history called Iornalensis maketh also mention of Hildegare the Nūne and propheresse in Almaine to liue in the same age Concerning whose prophesie agaynst the Friers hereafter by the grace of Christ more shal be said when we come to recite the order and nūber of Friers and religious men crept into the Church of Christ. We read moreouer of one named Ioannes de temporibus which by the affirmaunce of most of our olde histories lyued 361. yeares seruaunt once to Carolus Magnus and in the raigne of Stephen king of England dyed Polychron lib 7. Continuator Henr. Hunt Iornalens in vita Steph. Nicol. Triuet c. In the dayes also of this king and by him was builded the Abbey of Feuersham where his sonne he were buried He builded the monastery of Finerneys of Fomitance the castle of Walingford with a number of other Castles mo During the tyme of the sayd kyng Stephen the yeare of our Lord 1144. the miserable Iewes crucified a child in the Citie of Norwich N. Triuet alij Much about the same tyme came vp the order of the Gilbertines by one Gilbert sonne to Jacoline a knight of Lincolnshire c. Mention hath bene made before of certayne English Councels holden in the tyme of this kyng where it was in one of them vnder Theolbald the Archbishop of Canterbury decreed that bishops should lyue more discretely should reach their flocke more diligently that readyng of scriptures should be frequented more vsually in Abbeys that Priests should not be rulers of worldly matters and that they should learne and teach the Lordes prayer and Creede in English Malmesb. Matth. Parisiensis writeth how Stephen king of England in these dayes reserued to himselfe the right and authoritie of bestowyng of spirituall liuyngs and inuestyng Prelates an 1133. At which tyme also Lotharius the Emperour began to do the lyke in recouering agayne the right priuiledge taken away from Henricus his predecessor had not Bernardus geuen him contrary counsaile Here came into the Church the maner of cursing with booke bell and candle deuised in the Councell of London holden by William bishop of Winchester vnder Pope Celestinus which succeeded after Innocentius an 1144. Also Lotharius succeeded in the Imperiall crowne Conradus the nephew of Henricus the v. afore mentioned an 1138. which only amongst many Emperors is not found to receiue the crowne at the Popes hand In the dayes of this Emperor who raigned 15. yeres were diuers Popes as Celestinus 2. Lucius the 2. Eugenius the 3. at which time the Romaines went about to recouer agayne their former olde maner of chusing theyr Consuls and Senators But the Popes thē being in their ruffe in no case would abide it wherupon rose many commotions with much ciuile warre amongest them In so much that Pope Lucius sending for ayde to the Emperour and he otherwise letted at that tyme could not come armed his souldiours thinking to inuade them or els to destroy them in their Senate house But this comming to their knowledge before the people was all in aray and so much add was amongst them Pope Lucius beyng also amongst thē in the fight wel pelted with stones blowes liued not long after Likewise Pope Eugenius after him an 1145. pursuing the Romains for the same matter first did curse them with excommunicatiō After when he saw that would not serue he came with his host and so compelled them at length to seeke his peace and to take his cōditions which were these That they should abolish theyr Consuls and take such Senators as he by his Papall authoritie should assigne them Then followed Anastacius the 4. after him Hadrianus 4. an Englishman by his name called Breakespere belonging once to S. Albōs This Hadrianus kept great stirre in like sort with the citizens of Rome for abolishyng their consuls and Senate cursing excommunicating and warring agaynst them with all power he could make to the tyme he remooued the Consuls out of their office and brought them all vnder his subiection The lyke businesse and cage he also styrred vp against Apulia and especially against the Empire blustering and thundering agaynst Friderieus the Emperour as the Lord graunting you shall heare anone after we haue prosecuted such matter as necessarily appertayneth first to the continuation of our English story King Henry the second HEnry the secōd of that name the sonne of Jeffrey Plantagenet and of Maude the Empresse and daughter of king Henry the first beganne his raigne after king Stephen and continued 35. yeares The first yeare of his raign he subdued Ireland and not long after Thomas Becket was made by him Lord Chauncellour of England This king cast downe diuers Castles which were erected in the time of king Stephen He went into the North partes where he subdued William king of Scotland who at that tyme held a great part of Northumberland vnto new Castell vpon Tyne and ioyned Scotland to his owne kingdome from the South Ocenm to the North Iles of Orchades Also he put vnder his dominion the kingdome of Wales and there let to fall downe many great wooodes and made the wayes playne So that by his great manhood and policie the seignorie of England was much augmēted with the addition of Scotland Ireland the Iles Orchades
as both the Bishops are slacke in their charge doyng and also the prerogatiue of their order exempteth thē frō the secular iurisdictiō c. And thus much out of Nuburgensis To this matter also pertayne the words of Cesarius the monke in hys 8. booke of Dialogues cap. 69 about the 48. yeare after the death of Thomas Becket which was the yeare of the Lord. 1220. whose wordes in summe come to this effect Quaestio Parisijs inter magistros ventilata fuit vtrum damnatus an saluatus effet ille Thomas Dixerat Rhogerius tunc Normānus fuiffe illum morte ac damnatione dignum quòd contumax esset in dei ministrum regem Protulit econtra Petrus Cantor Parisiensis quòd signa saluationis magne sāctitatis essent eius miracula quòd martirium probasler Ecclesiae causa pro qua mortem subierat c. In English There was a question moued among the maisters of Paris whether Tho. Becket were saued or damned To this question answereth Roger a Norman that he was worthy death and damnation for that he was so obstinate agaynst Gods minister hys K. Contrary Peter Cantor a Persian disputed saying affirming that his miracles were great signes and tokens of saluatiō and also of great holines in that man affirming moreouer that the cause of the Church did allow and confirme hys martyrdome for the which Church he dyed And thus haue ye the iudgement and censure of the schole of Paris touching this question for the saincting of Thomas Becket In which iudgement for so much as the greatest argumēt resteth in the miracles wrought by him after hys death let vs therefore pause a little vpon y◠same to try and examine these his miracles In the tryall wherof we shall finde one of these two to be true that eyther if they were true they were wrought not by God but by a cōtrary spirit of whō Christ our Lord geueth vs warning in his gospell saying whose comming shal be with lying signes and wonders to deceiue if it were possible the elect Math 24. for els we shall finde that no suche were euer wrought at all but fayned and forged of idle Monkes and religious bellies for the exaltatiō of their churches profit of their powches whiche thing in deede seemeth rather to be true And no lesse may appeare by the miracles thēselues set forth by one of his own Monks of his owne time who in fine solemne books hath comprehended all the reuelation vertues and miracles of this archb the which bookes as yet remayning in the hands of William Stephenson Citizen of London I haue seen and perused wherein is contayned the whole summe of all his miracles to the number of 270 being so far of from all trueth reason some ridiculous some monstrous vayne absurd some also blasphemous some so impudēt that not onely they deserue no credit altogether sauoring of mere forgery but also for very shame will abash an honest penne to write vpō thē First if miracles serue for necessity for infidels what cause or necessity was there in a Christian realme hauing the word of God for God to worke such miracles after his death who neuer wrought any in all his life Thē to consider the end of these miracles whether do they tend but onely to bring men to Canterbury with their vowes and offeringes to enrich the couent Beside the nūber of the miracles which he sayd so many that they lose theyr owne credit what disease is there belonging to man or woman in the curing whereof some miracle hath not bene wrought by this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as feuers fistula the gout toothache palsey consumption falling sicknesse leprosie headache broken armes maymed legs swelling throates the raysing vp of the dead which haue bene two dayes departed with infinite other And as all these haue healed for the most part by one kinde of salue as a certayne panacea which was with the water onely of Caunterbury like as a cunning Smith which should open with one key all maner of lockes so agayne in reading of the story of these miracles ye shall finde the matter so conueyed that the power of this dead Saynt was neuer twise shewed vpon any one disease but euery diuers disease to haue a diuers miracle To recite in order all these prodigious reuelatiōs and phātasticall miracles falsely imagined and ascribed to this archbishop were nothing els but to write a legend of lies to occupy the people with tristes Which because it pertaineth rather so the idle professiō of such dreaming monks and cloysterers that haue nothing els to maintain that religion withal I will not take their profession out of theyr hands Wherfore to omit all suche vayne lying apparitions and miracles as how this angry sainct 3. dayes after his death appeared by vision at the altar in his pontificalibus commaunding the quere not to sing but to say this office of his masse Exurge quare obdormis Domine c. Which vision the author himselfe of the book doth say he did see To omit also the blasphemous lye how in other vision the sayd Archbishop should say that hys bloud did cry out of the earth to God more then the bloud of iust Abell Itē in an other visiō it was shewed to a monk of Lewes how S. Thomas had hys place in heauen appoynted with the Apostles aboue Stephen Laurence Uincent and al the other Martyrs whereof of this cause is rendered for that ◠Stephen Laurence and such other suffered only for their own cause But this Th. suffered for the vniuersal church Item how it was shewed to a certayne young man Ormus by name xij yeares before the death of this Becket that among the Apostles martyrs in heauen there was a vacaunt place left for a certayne priest as he sayd of England which was credibly supposed to be this Tho. Becket Item how a certain knightes sonne being two dayes dead was reuiued agayne so soone as he had the water of Caunterbury put in his mouth had by his parentes 4. peeces of siluer bended to be offered in Caūterbury in the childes behalfe All these I say with such other like to omit the number wherof commeth to an infinite varietie onely this one story or an other that followeth shall suffice to expresse the vanitie and impudent forgery of all the rest In the fourth book of this fabulous author and in the 3. chap. a miracle is there contayned of a certayn countryman of Bedfordshire in kinges Weston whose name was Gilwardus which Gilwardus in his dronkēnes brusting into an other mans house which was his debter took out of his house a great whetstone a paire of hedging gloues The other party seyng this value not sufficient for hys cōdemnation by the councell of the towneclerk entred an action of felony agaynst him for other thinges besides as for stealing
fayn to post to Rome and there to bring the Archb. in hatred in the Court of Rome made his Abbay tributary to Pope Alexander The Pope well contented with this not onely graunteth the Abbot his desire but also in cōtumely of the archbishop dubbeth the Abbot with all such ornaments as to a Prelate apperteined and so in the yeare 1178. sent home the Abbot triumphantly with his ring and mitre and other ensignes of victory with letters also to the Archbishop inioyning him immediatly vpon the sight thereof to consecrate the Abbot in his own Church without making any profession Although with these letters the archbishop was shrewedly pressed yet notwithstanding hys stout hart would not stoupe for this but layd his appeale against the same and so the consecratiō for that time was suspended Then Roger for his more defence getting the kings letters trauailed vp the second time to Rome where greuously he complayned to Pope Alexander of the Archbyshop At the same time a generall councell was summoned to be kept at Lateran where Richard the foresayd arch bishop was also looked for amongst other Bishops to be present Who thē came as farre as Paris but being there durst approch no further so retyred home again Wherupon the Pope being offended with his contēpt without any more delay exalted the Abbot with his own consecration and inuested him with all pompe and glory howbeit prouiding before that the sayd consecration should redoūd to no preiudice agaynst the liberties of the mother church of Canterbury and so vpon the same wrot to the Archbishop his letters of certificate with this additiō annexed Saluo iure dignitate Cant. Ecclesiae that is to say Sauing the liberties and dignity of the Church of Cant. c. After the counsell ended Roger the Abbot returneth home although with an empty purse yet full of victory triūph The Archbishop againe thinking to worke some greuaunce to the Austen Monkes had procured in this meane time letters from Pope Alexander to the Bishop of Durhā and Abbot of S. Albons that they should cause the sayd Roger Abbot of the Austen monks to shew vnto the Archbishop at y◠old priuiledges of his house which in deed being shewed seemed to be rased new written with Bulles of lead not after the maner nor stile of that age nor pretending no such antiquity as should seeme to reach frō the time of Austen but rather newly coūterfeit All this notwithstanding the Abbot bearing him bold vpon the Popes fauour ceased not stil to disquiet ouercrow the Archbishop by all wayes he could in exempting all his Priestes and laimen belonging to his iurisdiction from the archb obedience forbidding also that none of his should come to his Chapters or Sinods nor to feare any sentence of his curse or excommunication Wherupon the Archbishop about the month of Nouember the same yere sayling ouer to Normandy where the king was thought to take his iourney to the pope to complain of the Abbot but being stayd by the king was not suffered to passe any further the king labouring what he could to bring them to agreement neuerthelesse the Pope and his Romaines sayth my story Aurum argentum magis quà m iusticiam sitientes seditiones inter eos litigia commouebant that is caring more for golde and siluer then for iustice still stirred coales of sedition and debate betweene them Ex Historia Geruasij The next yere after this insuing which was the yeare of our Lord 1184. dyed Richard the Archbishop aforesaid in the 38 yere of king Henry 2. After whose dicease much trouble happened about the election of a new Archb. betwene the king and monkes of Canterbury And now to enter here into the story of Baldwin aboue mētioned first the king sēt to the monks that they should consider with themselues about the election of their Archbishop and to be ready agaynst the time that he would send for them to the court Vpon this the Couent gladly assembling together agreed in themselues vpon one whom they thought chiefly to preferre yet naming foure moe that if the king would refuse one the other yet might stand Now the practise in the monkes was first to keepe the election only in their owne handes as much as they could And secondly euer to geue the election either to some Prior or Monk of their own house or to some Abbot or Bishop which some time had bene of theyr company Wherby as much inconuenience and blind superstition was bred in the church of England so the same disliked both the king and the Byshops not a litle As this past on the king when he saw his time willed the monks of Canterbury to be cited or sent for to vnderstand what they had concluded in their election Wherupō the Monkes sent vp their Prior called Alanus with certaine other Monks to Reding where the king thē lay about the moneth of August Who at first were curtuously enterteined but after the king had intelligēce whom they had nominated elected they were sēt home agayne with cold cheare the king willing thē to pray better and to aduise more earnestly vpon the matter amongst themselues Alanus the Prior with his felowes thus departed who comming home in conclusion so concluded amongst them selues that they would remitt no iote of their liberties to the king without the popes consent and knowledge The king vnderstanding hereof sent his Ambassadours likewise to the Pope for the fortefying of his cause being in that mean time grieuously offēded with the Prior saying that he was proud would make archbishop whom he listed and would be the second Pope in England c. Not long after this as these letters were sent vp to Rome the king sent for Alanus the Prior and moe of the monks to come to him Whom he entreateth desiring thē in gentle speech that they would shew so much gentlenes fauor to him being their Lord King as becōmeth hys frendes and subiects to doe as to conferre with the Byshops of the Realme about this matter and to take some better councel so as might redoūd to Gods glory his honor wealth of the publicke state with other like words to the same effect To whom when the Prior agayne had answered with thankes due reuerence according to the kinges request the Bishops and Monks went to confer together about the matter And first the Bishoppes maruelled why the monks should exclude them out of the election seing they were professed Suffraganes to the sayd church of Canterbury Neither is there any Prince quoth the bishop of Bathe that will refuse our counsell There be some counsels sayd the Monkes whereat you may be called but as touching the doing of this electiō it pertaineth nothing vnto you further then to publish onely and denounce y◠party whō we haue chosen The bishop of London then asked if
they had already made any election No election sayd the Prior as yet but onely we haue denominate the persons Thē haue ye proceeded further quoth he thē ye ought hauing a cōmaundement from the pope not to proceed with out vs. And with that was brought forth the popes letter commaunding that within xl dayes the bishops of England and the Prior Couent of Canterbury should elect an able and fitte person to be their Archbishop About the scanning of these letters was much a doe The Byshops sayd they were first named therfore ought to haue most interest in this election The Mōks said agayne that they also were not excluded and required to haue a transcript of the letter wherof much doubt was made After long concertation whē they could not agree the king comming betwene them both called away the Byshops from the Monks supposing by separating the one from the other to draw both parties to his sentence But that would not be for the Monks stifly stāding to their liberties would loose no preeminēce of their church still alledging how by the auncient priuiledges of the church of Canterbury the Couent should choose their Pastor Byshop and the Prior to publish and denoūce the persō The Byshops again replied that it was their right to appoint their Archbishop Metropolitane which were Bishops and Suffraganes and namely the byshop of London also being Deane of the saide church of Canterbury The king thē as vmpere betwene them yet fauoring rather the side of the Bishops desired them to agree together in peace Whē that would not preuaile he set the Lord Stuard and other noble mē to entreat the Prior to draw to some agrement at least to be conteuted with this forme of election which was that the Bishop of London or some other Bishop should declare the election in these wordes We Byshoppes and the Prior and Couent of Christes Churche in Caunterbury with the assent of our Lord our Kyng doe choose suche a person to be Archbishop c. or els thus that the Prior shoulde pronounce forth the election in these wordes saying The Byshoppes of England and I Prior and the Couent of Caunterbury with the assent of our Lord King do choose such a person c. Vpon this the Prior sayd he would conuent with his Couent Who with much ado were contēt to graūt to the kinges desire but afterward being required to put downe the same in writing that they refused to do yet notwithstāding relented at last to the king But when the Byshops made excuses for the absēce of theyr felow Byshops so the matter for that time stayd And the king sending home the Monkes agayne to their house in peace deferred that busines to a further day which was till that first day of Decēber cōmaunding the Prior with his felowes the same day not to fayle but to be at London about the choosing of the Archbyshop As the day prefixed came the Prior with his company were also present who geuing attendance all that day and the next day also following so were driuen off till the third day after At lēgth the Lord Stuard with other nobles of the realme were sent to them from the king to declare that where as the king before had deuided the bishops frō the Monkes that they both might haue theyr election by themselues after the forme of a bill which was put downe in writing now the minde of thel King was that the Monks taking an other way should ioyne with the Byshops and so hauing the matter in talke together shoulde proceed ioyntly in the election Agaynst this many things were alledged by the prior his mates complaining much vpon the bishops which sayd that the Byshops had euer holden with the kings astaynst the liberties of their Church and Archbyshops As first they stood agaynst Anselme for king William Then agaynst Theobalde for king Stephen After that agaynst Thomas Becket for king Henry And after him did supplant the election of Richard their Archbyshop And now again went about to practise and worke against this their election present c. At last the Prior with his felows concluding desired they might speake with the king himselfe Who estsoones comming to them willed them as good mē to be contented and goe talke with the Byshoppes about the election promising that whō they agreed vpon he also would graunt his assent to the same To whom when the Prior agayne had obiected the writinges that before were made truth it is sayd the king such writings were made but I neither may nor will go agaynst the councell of my realme and therfore agree sayd he with my Bishops and Abbots and remember that the voyce of the people is the voyce of God Vpon this the Prior with his Monkes seing no other remedy went to the Byshops to confer according to the kinges request about the election Who then were willed by the bishops to nominate whom they would the Byshops would likewise name theirs So that whē the Prior with his cōplices had named three after their choosing the Bishops said they woulde nominate but one so did which was the Bishop of Worcester willing the Prior to go home and to cōferre with his Couent about the same To whom shortly after the Bishops sent certeine Priests to signify to the Couent that they according to the Popes letters should repayre to the Bishops concerning the election of the Archbishop also to declare moreouer to them that the persons whom they had named were good mē but he whom they had nominated was a more worthy man whom they both had nominated also would elect The Monkes maruelling hereat sent two Monkes with the Arcedeacon of Canterbury to the king This done immediatly after the returne of the priests the Bishops caused all the bels of the city to be rong and Te Deum to be song for the Archbishop new elect Whereof when the two Monkes brought tidings to the Couent at Canterbury what was done at Londō they were all in a maruellous dumpe The king hearing this perceiuing the stifnes of the monks in all haste sēt messēgers to Caūterbury with gentle wordes to will the Prior to come to the king certify him of the purpose of his Monks Vnto whom the Prior estsoones being come declareth in the name of the whole Couēt that in no case he nor the Monks would neuer while the world stood agree to that election of the bishops vnles the king in his own persō would come to Canterbury and there ouenly before the whole Couēt protest by his own month y◠forsayd election to be nought and voyd and so returning to London again openly likewise before the Clergy the people would repudiate and reiect the same And furthermore that the partye also elected should openly in the same place protest say that he neither would nor ought to take that functiō
of theyr appeale made to the Apostolick Sea to surcease those his doinges forbidding also the Parson of the Church in no wise to suffer those secular Clerks to be admitted into the Church All which yet notwithstanding the Archb. procedeth in his businesse And first placing in his Clerkes he suspendeth the Prior from his administration Thē he adiureth the Porters of the gate vpon theyr othe to let none of the Monks passe out of the house without his licēce The Monks likewise he cōmaūded by vertue of obediēce not to stray any where abroad without his leaue And further more one of the foresayd Monks which serued the appeal against him he vtterly banished from that Couent Vpon this the day next folowing Honorius the Prior trusting sayth the story on God and S. Thomas tooke his way to Rome sent in commission by the Couent to prosecute the appeale agaynst the Archbishop In this meane season a new iar began betwene that said Archb. and the Monkes about their rents and reuenues which the Archb. would haue committed to the receiuing keeping of 3. Monkes but the Supprior Geffray with the Couent in no case would suffer that wherabout there was a foule stirre The Archb. crauing the ayd of the king first had 3. Bishops sent downe to him of Couentry Norwich and Worcester Who being instant with the Monks to submitte their cause into the kinges handes like as the Archb. had done they vtterly refused it especially seing they had already referred the whole state of their cause to y◠determinatiō of the Apostolicall sea The king seing no other remedy came himselfe with the Archb. into the chapter house where he commaunded first the dores to be kept fast that none should enter but which by name were called for Amongst whō were two Bishops to wit of Norwich and Durham and one Petrus Blesensis a learned man whose Epistles be yet extant in Libraries a chiefe worker in this matter against the Monkes Then was called in Geffrey the Supprior with a few other Monks whom he brought with him The king then first talking with the Archb. and his companye afterward with the Monkes labored to entreat them that they would let fall their appeal and so stand to the arbitremēt of him and of the Bishops concerning the cause which was betwene y◠Archb. and them in trauers To this the Monkes answered that these were good wordes but serued not for that time for somuch as theyr cause was alredy translated to the court of Rome now was presently in hearing before the Popes holinesse and therfore they could not ne would that iniury to their lord pope to refuse him and to put the matter to the iudgemēt of any other Then was it required of the Monkes that they would put the matter in comprimise in case the prior would consent thereto vpon this entent that if the Prior consented and the Monks not then should they runne in contempt and disobedience or if the Monkes would consent and the Prior not then should the Prior be excluded the Realme The wily Monkes being not vnprouided of this subtlety made theyr answere that seing they had sent their prior forth in their commission it stood not with their honesty to geue any determinate consēt without the knowledge and before the returne of the sayd Prior vnlesse the Archb. first would promise to make full restitution of all that he had wrongfully wrasted from thē When the king could get no other answere of the Monks neither could moue the Archb. to release the sentence of their suspension vnles they would confesse and knowledge theyr fault he so parting from them passed ouer into Fraunce Not long after this came a messenger frō Rome bringing letters from Pope Vrbanus to the Archb. wherin the pope considering tendering as he sayd the enorme greuaunces done against the Monkes straightly enioined commaunded him within x dayes after the receiuing therof to release the sentence of his suspension against that Prior and other of the sayd Couent and also to retract restore agayne to the Monkes whatsoeuer he plucked from them since the time of their appeale first made Who in case he should deny or forslack the doing hereof commission was geuen to 3. Abbots of Bartaile of Feuersham of S. Austens with ample authority to performe the same c. The Archb. receiuing these letters brought to him by a Monk of the foresayd house first made his excuse that the Pope was misinformed But the Monkes not contented wyth that excuse when they would needs know what answere he would make to the Popes nuncio his answere was that he had yet x dayes geuen him of the pope In which mean time the Archb. went to Lōdon and there in the church of S. Paul consecrated his holy oyle creame making one of the Popes 7. Sacraments which was grieuously takē in the church of Cant. At last the x. daics being ended whē the Archb. refused to accōplish that was in the popes letter enioyned him the 3. Abbots aforesayd to execute the Popes commaundement came at their day assigned to Cant. and there assoyled all such as the Archb. before had suspēded and in the end certified pope Vrbane by letters what they had done The Archb. hearing this within 4. dayes after sent 2. of his Clerks which appealed the 3. Abbots aforesayd vp to Rome and he himselfe in the mean time prepared busily for the building vp of his church sending to al churches in England vpon releasement of their sinnes to confer to the same and to make the more haste for lack of free stone he made vp his building with timber and such other stuff as he could get The prior Honorius all this while remayned still at y◠court of Rome geuing attendaunce vpon the Pope who hauing intelligēce of the archbishops doings procured an other letter of Pope Vrbane to the whole clergy of England straightly enioyning them that none should confer to the new fraternity of Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury To these letters the Archbish. shewed such reuerence that where before he had planted his chappell of wood and boordes now he prouided the same to be builded of lyme and stone By this time Petrus Blesensis with other messengers of the Archb. seing Honorius the Prior to be gone from the court to Fraunce resorted to the court of Rome bringing with them letters of credite from the king from the Archb. also frō other Bishops of the realme but the pope reading onely the kings letters the archbishops the residue he cast into a window by saying he would read thē at further leisure Thē the pope geuing audience in his cōsistory to heare their cause first came in Petrus Blensensis with the agents of the Archb. exhibiting their letters and propounding their requests to the Pope which were that restitution should be made by the Monkes to the Archb.
dissolue the buildyng of hys new Church though he chaunged the place yet thought not to chaunge his intent and therefore making exchaunge of landes with the Byshop and Monkes of Rochester purchased of them their ground in Lambeth an 1191. which done he came to hys Clerkes whome he had placed to be Canons in his new Colledge of Hakingtō and willed them to remoue al their goodes furniture to Lambeth ouer agaynst Westminster where he erected for them an other church and there placed the said Canōs About which colledge of Lambeth afterward much trouble likewise ensued by the styrring of the sayd Monkes of Cant. in the time of Hubert the archbish in the reygne of the sayd King Richard and in the yeare of our Lord. 1196. Furthermore after the deposing of Roger Norys Pryor of Cant. aforesaid Baldwyn the archb enforesaid to graūt them an other Pryor by the assent of the king and of the Couent assigned Olbernus to theyr Pryor who had takē part before with the archbish but the monkes not pleased with him after the death of Baldwine the Archb. remoued hym agayne And thus haue you the tedious discourse of this Catholike tragedy betweene the monkes of Cant. and theyr Archb. scarse worth the rehearsall Notwithstanding thys I thought to geue that reader to see of purpose first to shewe forth vnto the world the stout sturdines of this monkishe generatiō who professing profoūd humilitie in their coat what little humilitie they had in their hart what pride arrogancie in their conuersation and what hipocrisie in theyr religiō this one example amongst a thousand other may geue some experience Secondly that the posteritie nowe may see how little kinges coulde then doe in theyr owne Realmes for the Pope And thirdly to the entent it may more notoriously appeare to all readers what stryfe and debate what dissention and deuision what little vnity and concord hath alwaies followed the popes Catholicke church wheresoeuer the corrupt religiō and vsurped ambition of the pope preuayled For not to speake onely of this monkishe house of Cant. what Churche Cathedrall Collegiate or Conuentuall what sea Church Monastery or Chappell was vnder all the popes gouernement but euer there happened some variance eyther betweene the king and the archb as betwene K. William Lancfranck king Henry 1. and Anselme king Stephen and Richard king Henry 2. and Becket king Iohn Stephen Lancton king Henry 3. and Boniface c. or els betwene archb and archb for making profession for caryeng y◠Crosse for sitting on the right hād of the popes Legate c. or els betweene archbishops and their Suffraganes or betweene Archbishops and their Couentes or betweene Byshops and monkes betweene Deane and the Chapter betweene monkes and seculer Priestes monkes of one sorte agaynst an other Fryers of one order agaynst an other students against Friers townes men against scholers c. As for example what discord was betweene the archb Of Canterbury and Richard archbish of York Betweene Lancfrancus and archb Thomas betweene Theobalde archb of Cant. and Siluester Abbot of S. Austens betweene Walter of Christes Church and Siluester Abbot aforesaid betwene William archb of Cant. and Ieremias Prior of Cant. an 1144. betweene the monkes of Cant. and O do their Prior for translating the reliques of Dunstane betweene King Stephen and Roger bishop of Salisbury the byshop of Lincolne and Roger byshop of Ely hys sonne an 1138. betweene Pope Innocent and Anacletus the space of seuen yeares the Cardinals for money sayth Gernasius sometyme holdyng with the one sometyme with the other at at last the election was determined by a sore battayle betwene Lotharius Emperour Rogerius Duke of Apulia an 1137. Also betwene pope Innocent 4. and Fredericke Emperour 2. betweene R. Hēry 3. and William Rale byshop of Winchester when the kyng had the gates of Winchester towne to be shut against hym an 1250. betweene Boniface Archbishop of Canterb. and Canons of S. Paule Item betweene the sayd Boniface and Monkes of S. Bartholomew who sate there in harnes in hys visitation an 1250. betweene the Abbot of Westminster and monkes of the same house an 1251. Itē betweene the foresayd William Rale Byshop of Winchester and Boniface archbishop of Canterbury for a priest of the Hospitall in Soutwarke an 1252. betweene the sayde Boniface and Canons of Lincolne after the death of Robert Grosthead for geuing of Prebends an 1253. betwene the monkes of Couentry and Canons of Lichfield for chusing their byshop in the time of R. Henry 3. And what should I speake of the discord which cost so much money betweene Edmund archbishop of Canterb. and the monkes of Rochester for chusing Richard Wandour to be their bishop an 1238. betwene Robert Grosted Byshop of Lyncolne and Canons of the same house for which both he and they were driuen to trauaile to Rome an 1244. betwene Gilbert byshop of Rochester delegate to archbishop Baldwine and Robert the Popes Legate for sitting on the right hand of the Legate in his councell at Westminster an 1190. betwene the Abbot of Bardeney and the sayd Grosted about the visitation of their Abbay an 1243. Item betwene the Couent of Canterb. the sayd Robert byshop of Lyncolne an 1243. betwene Hugo B. of Durham and Hubert Byshop of Sarum and Geffrey Archbishop of Yorke an 1189. betwene William Byshop of Ely the kings Chancellor the Canons of Yorke for not receauing him with procession an 1190. betweene the Abbot of Westminster and hys Couent of Black monks whom king Henry the 3. had much adoe to still and agree an 1249. Item betweene the foresayd bishop of Lincolne the Abbot of Westminster Likewise betweene Nicolas bysh of Durhā and Iohn Abbot of S. Albones an 1246. Also betweene Hubert archbishop of Canterbury and the monks there for the house of Lābeth an 1146. And what a styrre was betwene the preaching Fryers and the gray Friers mentioned In. Math. Paris for superioritie an 1243. Also betweene the sayd gray Friars and the Prelates and Doctors of Paris about ix conclusions and condemned of the Prelates to be erroneous 1. Concerning the deuine essence that it can not be seene of the aungels or men glorified 2. Concerning the essence of the holy Ghost 3. Touching the proceeding of the holy ghost as he is loue 4. Whether men glorified shal be in coelo Empyreo or in coelo Christallino 5. That the euill Aungell at his first creation was euill and neuer good 6. That there haue bene many verities from the beginning which were not God 7. That an angel in one instant may be in diuers places 8. That the euill angell neuer had wherby he might stād no more had Adam in his state of innocencie 9. That he whiche hath meliora naturalia that is to say more perfect strength of nature working in him shal haue more full measure of necessitie to obtayn grace and glory To the which
article the Prelates aunswering did excommunicate the same as erroneous affirming that grace and glory shall be geuen according to that God hath elected and predestinate c. Ex Math. Paris fol. 167. In like maner betweene y◠sayd Dominicke Fryers the gray Fryers what a braule and tumulte was about y◠Conceptiō of our Lady whether she was without original sinne conceaued or not in the raigne of R. Henry vii Kyng Henry viii an 1509. Ad moreouer to these the 24. haynous schismes not so few which happened betwene Pope and Pope in the Churche and Sea of Rome But what doe I stand to recite the deuisions and dissentions the popes Church which is as much almost as to recken the sandes of the sea For what Church Chapter or Couent was in all that Religion which either had not some variaunce with themselues or with others Upon which continuall strife and variaunce among them the readers hereof may iudge of them their religion as pleaseth thē In the meane time my iudgement is this that where such dissention dwelleth there dwelleth not the spirit of Christ. These thinges thus discoursed touching the tragicall dissention betweene Baldwyne archbishop and monks of Canterbury Now to proceed by the Lords assistance in conuocatiō of our story After king Richard had thus as is declared set the monkes and the Archbishop in some agreement had composed such thinges as were to be redressed within the realme he aduaunceth forward his iorny came to Turon to meete with Phillip the Frenche king so after that went to Uizeliace where the French R. and he ioyning together for that more continuance of their iourney assured them selues by solemne othe swearing fidelitie one to the other the forme of whose othe was this That eyther of them should defend and mayntayne the honour of the other and beare true fidelitie vnto hym of lyfe members and worldly honour and that neyther of them shoulde fayle one the other in their affayres but the Frenche king shoulde ayde the king of England in defending hys land and dominions as hee would hymselfe defend hys owne Citie of Paris if it were besieged and that Richard King of England likewise shoulde ayde the French king in defending his land and dominions no otherwise then he woulde defend his owne Citty of Roan if it were besieged c. But how slenderly thys othe dyd holde betweene these 2. kinges and by whose chiefe occasion first it fell asunder the sequele of the story the Lord willing shall declare hereafter Furthermore touching the lawes and ordinances appointed by the king Richard for his nauy the forme therof was this 1. That who so killed any person on shypbord should be tyed with hym that was slayne and throwne into the sea 2. And if he killed him on that land should in like maner be tyed with the party slayne be buryed with him in the earth 3. He that shal be cōuicted by lawful witnes to draw out his knife or weapon to the intent to strike any man or that hath strickē any to the drawing of bloud shal lose his hād 4. Also he that striketh any person with his hand wtout effusion of bloud shall be plunged three times in the sea 5. Itē who so speaketh any opprobrious or contumelius words in reuiling or cursing one an other for so oftētimes as he hath so reuiled shall pay so many vnces of siluer 6. Item a theefe or felon that hath stolne being lawfully conuerted shall haue his head shorne and boyling pitche poured vpon his head fethers or downe strawed vpon the same wherby he may be knowne so the first landing place they shall come to there to be cast vp c. These thinges thus set in a readines kyng Richard sending his nauy by the Spanish seas and by the straytes of Iubaltarie betweene Spayne and Africa to meet hym at Marsilia he himselfe went as is sayd to Uizeliace to the French King Which two kinges from thence went to Lyons where the bridge ouer the floud Rhodanus for presse of people brake and many both men womē were drowned By reason whereof the two kinges for the combraunce of their traynes were constrayned to deceiuer thēselues for tyme of their iourny appoynting both to meete together in Sicilia and so Phillip the French king tooke his way to Genua king Richarde to Marsilia where he remayned 8. dayes appoynting there his nauy to meet him Frō thence crossing ouer to Genua where the Frenche king was passed forward by the coast of Italy and entered into Tyber not farre from Rome where meeting with Octomanus Cardinall and Byshop of Hostia he did cōplayne greatly of the filthy Symonye of the pope and the Popes Court for receauing vii hundred Markes for cōsecrating the Bishop Cenomanensis Also a thousand and fiue hundreth Markes of William Byshop of Ely for hys office Legatiue And likewise an infinite summe of money of the Byshop of Burdeaux for acquiting hym when hee should be deposed for a certayne cryme layd to hys charge by hys Clergye c. The vii day of August in the yeare aforesayd R. Richard departed out of Marsilia after he had there wayted viii dayes for hys nauy which came not so hyeryng xx Gallyes and x. great Barkes to ship ouer hys mē sayled by the Coast of Italy and came to Naples so partly by horse and wagon partly by the sea passing to Falernum came to Calabria where after that he had heard his ships were arriued at Messana in Sicilia he made the more speed and so the xxiii of September sent to Messana with suche a noyse of trumpets and shalmes with suche a route and shewe that it was to the great wonderment and terrour both of the French men and all other that did heare and behold the sight To the sayd towne of Messana the French kyng was come before the xvi of the same month of September and had taken vp the Pallace of Tancredus R. of Sicilia for hys lodging To whom R. Richard after hys arriual estsoones resorted and when the two kings had communed together immediately the same day the Frenche R. tooke shypping and entring the seas thinking to sayle towarde the land of Hierusalē But after he was out of the hauen the wynd rising contrary agaynst hym returned him back agayne to Messana Then R. Richard whose lodgyng was prepared in the suburbes without the City after he had resorted agayne talked with the French R. and also had sent to Tancredus R. of Sicilia for deliueraunce of Ioane his sister who had bene sometymes Queene of Sicilia and had obtayned her to be sent vnto hym the last day of September passed ouer the floude of Del far and there getting a strong hold called De la Bagmare or Le Bamre and placing therein his sister with a sufficient garison he returned agayne to
Cum itaque in nostra nunc habeatur potestate ipse semper tua molestauit turbationis operam praestiterit ea quae praemisimus nobilitati tuae insinuare curauimus scientes ea dâ—â—ectioni tuae beneplacita existere animo tuo vberrimam importare laetitiam Datum apud Ritheountum V. Kalendas Ianuar. King Richard thus being traiterously taken and sold to the Emperor by the duke of Austrige for 60000. marks was there kept in custodie a yeare ano iii. monethes In some stories it is affirmed that K. Richard returning out of Asia came to Italy with prosperous winde where hee desired of the pope to be absolued froÌ„ an othe made against his will and could not obtaine it And so letting out from thence toward England passing by the couÌ„try of Conradus the Marques whose death he being slaine a little before was falsely imputed by the French king to the king of England and there traiterously was taken as is before saide by Limpoldus Duke of Austrige Albeit in an other story I find the matter more credibly set forth which saith thus that king Richard slewe the brother of this Limpoldus playing with him at chesse in the french kings court And Limpoldus taking his vauntage was more cruel against him and deliuered him as is â—aid to the Emperor In whose custody he was deteined during yâ— time aboue mentioned a yere and 3. months During the which time of the kings endurance the French king in the meane season stirred warre in Normandy And Erle Iohn yâ— kings brother made stir and inuaded England but the barons and bishops of the lande mightely wtstode him And besieged him in the Castell of Windsore where they tooke from him all the castels munitions which before hee had got Thus the Erle seeing no hope to preuaile in England suspecting the deliuerance of the king his brother made in to France kept with the French king At length it was so agreed and concluded with the Emperor that K. Rich. should be released for 14000. pounds Of the which mony part should remaine to the duke of Austrige the rest shuld be the Emperors The summe of which money was here gathered made in England of chalices crosses shrines candlesticks and other church plate also with publik contribution of friers abbeis and other subiectes of the realme Wherof parte was presently paid for the residue remaining hostages and pledges was taken which was about the 5. yeare of his raigne And then it was obtained of the Pope that priestes might celebrate with chalices of latin and tinne And so was granted continued long after which mine author in his Chronicle entituled Eulogium doeth testifie himselfe to haue scene At what time this foresayde mony was paid and the hostages geuen for the ransom of this king I haue an old storie that saith how the foresaide duke of Austrige shortly after was plagued by God with v. sondry plagues First with burning of his chief towns Secondly with the drowning of x. M. of his menne in a floud happening no man could tell how Thirdly by turning all the eares of his corne field into wormes Fourthly by taking away almost all the Nobles of his lande by death Fiftly by breaking his own legge falling from his horse which leg he was compelled to cut off with his own hands after died vpon the same Who then at his death is said to forgeue K. Richard 50000. Markes sent home the hostage that was with him ex varijs Chron. The booke intituled Eulogium before mentioned declareth thus that the sayde Limpoldus Duke of Austrige fell in displeasure with the bishop of Rome and died excoÌ„municate the next yeare after An. 1196. Thus the sayde King Richarde being raunsomed as hath ben declared from the couetous captiuity of the Emperour was restored againe and made his repaire into Englande At whose returne Erle Iohn hys brother resorting to him with humble submission desired to be pardoned of his transgressions To whom king Richard answering againe would God saith he this your trespasse as it dieth with mee in obliuion so it may remaine wyth you in remembraunce And so gentlely forgaue him And after he had againe recouered his holdes and castles caused himselfe to be crowned againe Whych done he made hys power agaynst the French king and draue hym out of Normandy After that he turned his viage against the Welshmen and subdued them The next yeare following which was the 1197. yere of the Lord Philip yâ— french king brake truce made betwene him and king Richarde whereuppon the king was compelled to saile ouer againe to Normandy to withstand the malice of his enemy About which time my story recordeth of one called of some Fulco some say he was the Archbyshop of Roane called Gualter This Fulco being then in England and comming to the kings presence sayde vnto him with great courage boldnes Thou hast O mighty King three daughters very vicious and of euill disposition take good heede of them and betimes prouide for them good husbandes least by vntimely bestowing of the same thou shalt not onely incurre great hurt and damage but also vtter ruine and destruction to thy selfe To whom the king in a rage sayde Thou lying and mocking hypocrite thou knowest not where thou art or what thou sayest I thinke thou art mad or not well in thy wittes for I haue neuer a daughter as all the world knoweth and therefore thou opeÌ„ liâ—r get thee out of our presence To whom Fulco aunswered no and like your grace I lie not but say truth for you haue iii. daughters which continually frequeÌ„t your court and wholy possesse your person and such iii. whoores naughty packes as neuer the like hath bene heard off I meane mischieuous pride gredy couetousnes and filthy luxurity And therfore againe I say O king beware of them and out of hand prouide mariages for them least in not so doing thou vtterly vndoe both thy selfe and all the whole realme The which his wordes the King tooke in good parte with correction of himself confession of the same Wherupon incontinently he called his Lordes and Barons before him vnto whome he declared the coÌ„moning and monition of Fulco who had willed hym to beware of his iii. daughters pride auarice and luxurie with counsel out of hand to marrie them least further discommoditie shoulde ensue both to him and the whole realme whose good couÌ„sell my Lordes I entende to follow not doubting of all your consents therunto Wherefore here before you all I geue my daughter swelling pride to wife to the proude Templars my greedie daughter auarice to the couetous order of the Cistercian Monkes and last of all my filthie daughter luxurie to the riotous prelates of the Churche whom I thinke to be very meete men for her and so seuerally well agreeing to all their natures that the like matches in this our Realme are not to be found for
set vpon certain of his townes and castels in Normandy and put him to much disquietnes But he the Lord so prouiding which is the geuer of all victory had such repulse at the Englishmens handes that they pursuing the Frenchmen in their flight did so follow them to their hold so enforced vpon them that not onely they tooke the sayd Arthur prisoner with many other of the Frenchmen but also gaue such an ouerthrow to the rest that none was there left to beare tidings home This Arthur was nephewe to king Iohn sonne to Geffrey which was the elder sonne to Iohn For king Henry the 2. to make the matter more euident had viij children one W. which died in his childhoode the seconde Henry which died also his father being yet aliue the third Geoffrey Erle of Britain which likewise deceassed in his fathers daies leauing behind him two children Arthur Brecca The fourth Richard coeur de Lyon King the v. Iohn now reigning and 3. other daughters besides The same Arthur being thus taken in warre was brought before the King at the castell of Falesic in Normandie who being exhorted with many gentle words to leaue the French king and to incline to his vncle answered againe stoutly with great indignation requiring the kingdom of England withal the other dominions therto beloÌ„ging to be restored to him as to the lawfull heire of the crowne By reason whereof he prouoking the kings displeasure against him was sent to the tower of Roan where at length whether by leaping into the ditch thinking to make his escape or whether by some other priuy hand or by what chaunce els it is not yet agreed vpon in stories hee finished his life By occasion whereof the foresaide K. Iohn was had after in great suspicion whether iustly or vniustly the Lord knoweth The yere folowing Historiographers write that king Iohn for lacke of rescue lost all his holdes and possessions in Normandy through the force of the French king After these losses came other troubles vpon him with other as great or more greater enemies that is wyth the Pope and hys Popelings by occasion of chusing of the Archb. of Cant. as in this history followeth by Christ hys grace to be declared The yeare of our Lord 1205. about the moneth of Iuly Hubert the Archbishop of Canterbury deceased whose decease after it was in Cant. to the Monks knowen and afore his body was yet committed to the earth the yonger sort of the monkes there gathered themselues together at midnight and elected their superior Reignold and without the kings licence or yet knowledge priuely placed him in the Metropolicall seate singing Te deum at midnight And because the king shuld not make their electioÌ„ of none effect they charged him by vertue of his othe to kepe al secret by the way and to shew nothing what was done before he came to the pope but he contrary to his oth so sone as he came in Flanders opened all abroad the matter and vttered their counsel whereupon the monkes being not a litle agreued with him sent him priuely to the court of Rome out of hand The next day the elder monks sent to the king desiring him of his gracious licence Canonically to choose their Archb. The king most gently fauorably graunted their petition requiring them instantly and desiring that for his sake they would shewe fauour to Iohn Gray then B. of Norwich as they did in dede erecting him into that seat of their high primacy Moreouer because the authority of kings and princes was then but small in their owne dominion without the Popes consent confirmation to the same he sent also to Rome of his own charges to haue the foresaid election ratified by the pope The suffraganes of Canterbury then being not a litle offended at these two elections sent speedely to Rome to haue them both stopped for that they had not bene of counsell with them And hereupon at the last grew a most prodigious tumult The next yeare after the suffraganes of the prouince of Canterbury on the one side and the Monkes of Canterbury on the other side came afore the Pope with their brawling matter First the Monkes presenting Reignold their superiour desired that their election might be confirmed The Suffraganes likewise complained that the Monkes wold presume to chuse the Archbishop without their consent and therefore desired by diuers reasons the first election to be of none effect The Pope deciding the matter betwene both pronounced with the Monkes charging the suffraganes and Bishops to meddle no more with that election but to let the monkes alone The monkes of Cant. nowe hauing the whole election in their owne hands fell also at square among themselues the yonger sort with the elder The yonger sort which had chosen Reignolde theyr superior would that election to stand The elder sort of the Monks replied againe saying that the first election was done by stealth and by night and by the yonger part also without the counsell of other monkes ouer and besides it was done wythout the kings liceÌ„ce or appoyntment and without the one solemnitie therunto belonging And as concerning our election said they it was done in the cleare light of the day by which it had authoritie in presence of our liege Lord the king and his counsell being willing to the same This allegation thus proponed the suffraganes proctour or man of law stode â—orth proued the former election to be good and this latter to be voyde and of no value after this sort Whether the first election saith he were iust or vniust ye ought first by the law to haue condemned it afore ye should haue presumed to the second but thus yet did not Therefore is this your latter doing no election at al and the first therfore is rather to be ratified than yours When they had thus multiplied talke on both sides with many friuolous allegations a long time and coulde not agree vpon one person Pope Innocent condemned both their elections coÌ„maunding them to chuse Stephen LaÌ„gton then Cardinal of S. Chrisogone for their Archb. The monkes then answered that they durst not so do without coÌ„sent of their king and for that it was preiudiciall to their ancient liberties The Pope by and by sayeth the text as one in a furie taking the words out of their mouthes said thus vnto them We wil ye to know that we haue ful power and authority ouer the church of Cant. neither are we wont to tary the consent of princes therfore we command you in paine of our great curse that ye chose him only whom we haue appoynted The Monkes at these wordes abashed and terrified though they much murmured in their hearts yet consented they all in one and therupon sang Te Deum Only doctour Helias Brantfield withdrew himselfe from that election whome the king had sent for the admission of the Bishop of
Minimi other of the Gospell other de Caputio They all differ in many things but accord in superstitiō hipocrisie And for somuch as we haue here entered into the matter of these 2. orders of Friers by the occasion hereof I thought a little by the waye to digresse from our story in reciting the whole catologue or rablement of Monkes Fryers and Nunnes of al sectes rules and orders set vp and confirmed by the Pope The names of whome here in order of the Alphabet followe vnder written The rablement of religious orders AVstinians the first order  Ambrosians two sortes 490 Antonies heremites 324 Austines heremetes 498. Austines obseruauntes 490 Armenians sect  Ammonites and Moabites  Basilius order 384 Benets order 524 Bernardus order 1120 Barefooted Friers 1222 Brigits order 1370 Beghartes or white spirites 1399 Brethren of Ierusalem 1103 Brethren of S. Iohn De Ciuitate blacke Frier 1220 Brethren of wilfull pouertie  Cluniacensis order 913 Canons of S. Augustine 1080 Charterhouse order 1086 Cisterciensis order 1098 Cros bearers or crossed Friers 1216 Carmelites or white Friers 1212 Clares order 1225 Celestines order 1297 Camaldulensis order 950 Crosse starred brethren  Constantino politanish order  Crosse bearers  Chapter monkes  Dutch order 2216 Dominicke blacke Friers 1220 Franciscanes 1224 Graundmontensis order 1076 Gregorian order 594 Georges order 1407 Guilhelmites 1246 Gerundinensish order  Galilei or Galileans  Heremites  Helenes brethren Humiliati 1166 Hospitall brethren  Holy Ghost order  Ieromes orders two sortes 1412. Iohns Hermites  Iustines order 1432. Iohns order Ioannites 380 otherwise knightes of the Rodes 1308 Iniesuati 1365 Ieromes heremites 490 Iosephes order  Iacobites sect  Iames brethrens order  Iames brethren with the sword  Indians order  Katherine of Senes order 1455 Keyed Monkes knightes of rhodes  Lazarites or Mary Magdalens our Lady brethren 1034 Lordes of Vngary Minorites which be deuided into Conuentuales Obseruauntes Reformate Collectane De Caputio De Euangelio Amedes Clarini and other  Minors or Minorites 1224 Maries seruaunts 1304 Monkes of mount Oliuete 1046 Marouinies sect  Moronites sect  Monachie and Monache  Morbonei and Merestei  Menelaysh and Iasonish sect  New Chanons of S. Austen 1430 Nestorini  Nalharte brethren  New order of our Lady  Nazarei  Paules Hermites 345 Premonstratensis order 1119 Preacher order or blacke Friers  Peter the Apostles order 1409 Purgatory bethren  Rechabites  Sarrabaites  Sambonites 1199 Scourgers the first sect 1266 Souldiours of Iesus Christ. 1323 Scopenites or Sainct Saluators order 1367 Specularij or the glasse order  Sepulchers order  Sheere order  Swerdes order  Starred Monkes  Starred Fryers  Sclauony order  Scourgers the second sect called Niniuites  Stoole brethren  Scotland brethren order  Sicarij  Sainct Sophis order  Templar Lordes 1110 Templar knightes 1120 The vale of Iosophat hys order  Vallis vmbrose 1400 Waldensis sect  Wentzelaus order  Wilhelmer order  White Monks of mount Oliuet 1406 Zelotes order  Thus hast thou if thou please gentle reader to know what orders and what sectes of religion haue bene set vp by the pope the catalogue and number of them all so far as we could search them out not onely in bookes printed of late in Germany namely by the reuerend father Martine Luther but also conferred with an other english book which came to our handes containing the same like notes of auncient antiquitie the number of whiche rablement of religious persons came to 101. Now as I haue reckoned vp the names and varieties of these prodigious sectes it commeth to minde consequently to inferre the prophecie of Hildegardis as well agaynst the whole route of Romish prelates and the fall of that Church as especially agaynst the begging Fryers and suche other vnprofitable bellyes of the Church Thus Hildegardis is holden of the papistes themselues to be a great Prophetisse whose prophecie proceedeth in this maner first agaynst the Priestes and prelates of the Romishe Church as followeth The prophecie of Hildegardis of the ruine of Rome and agaynst the begging Friers HIldegardis a Nonne and as many iudged a prophetisse liued in the yeare 1146. In her prophecies she doth most greeuously reprehend not only the wicked and abhominable lyfe of the spirituall papistes but also the cōtempt of ecclesiasticall office also the horrible destruction of the church of Rome In a certayne place shee hath these wordes And now is the law neglected among the spirituall people which neglecte to teach and doe good things The mayster lykewise and the prelates do sleep despising iustice laying it aside In a certayne vision the Churche appeared to her in the shape of a woman complayning that the priestes had berayed her face with dust rent her coat c. and that they did not shyne ouer the people neyther in doctrine neyther in exāple of lyfe but rather contrariwise that they haue driuen the innocent lambe from them She sayd moreouer that all ecclesiasticall order did euery daye become worse and worse and that priestes did not teache but destroy the law of God And for these horrible crimes and impieties she threatneth and prophecieth vnto them Gods most heauy wrath and displeasure and dolefull punishmentes There is no cause why the spirituall papists should flatter themselues vpon this that she promised agayne to the ministers of the Church those good things to follow lyke as Ioannes de Rupe scissa doth and other suche like prophetes for they say it will come to passe that they must repent before the tymes be amēded By which thing vndoubtedly they meane the godly ministers in the reformed Churches which for the most part were of the spirituall nūber and yet did forsake the dishonest lyfe those wicked idolatries Now where as the priestes monks that is the whole rable and spiritualtie doe account Hildegard for a true prophetisse howe they ought to consider that by her they are more seuerely accused not as by a woman but as by God hymself And I pray you what abhomination impiety and idolatry hath bene committed since that tyme by the spiritualitie I wil note heare a certaine prophecy of hers taken out of the common places of Henry Token because we see it manifestly fulfilled in our time She prophecieth of the reformation of religion and sayth that it shall be most godly Then shall the crowne of Apostolicall honour be deuided because there shal be found no religion among the Apostolicall order for that cause shall they despise the dignitie of that name and shal set ouer them other men and other Archbish. In so much that the Apostolike sea of that tyme by the diminution of hys honour shall haue scarse Rome and a fewe other Countryes thereabout vnder hys crowne And these thinges shall partly come to passe by incursion of warres and
sent to the sayde Leoline William Brues a noble man was caused there traitrously to be haÌ„ged c. These wyth other crimes whether true or false were suggested to the king against the sayd Hubert by his aduersaries Wherunto he was required to answere by order of law Hubert then seing himselfe in such a strait refused to answer presently but required respite thereunto for that the matters were weighty which the king obiected to him which was graunted to hym till the 14. day of September but in the meane time Hubert being in fear of the king fled from London to the priory of Merton And thus Hubert who before for the loue of the king and defence of the realme sayth mine author had got the hatred of all the nobles of England now being out of the kings fauor was destitute of comforte on euery side saue onely that Lucas Archbishop of Dubline wyth instant prayers and teares laboured to the king for him By this example many like is to be sene howe vnstable and variable a thing the fauor of mortall mutable princes is To teach all such as haue to doe about princes howe to repose and plant their trust not in man but in their Lord God by him to finde help in Christ the true Prince of all Princes which neuer faileth By like example was Clito serued of king Alexander Ioab of king Dauid Bellisarius of Iustiniane Harpagus of Astiages Cromwell of king Henry with innumerable moe which in histories are to be found When the day was come that this Hubert should answer keeping among the monks of Merton he durst not appeare Then was it signified to him from the King that hee should come vp and appeare in the court there to answer to his charge Wherunto he answered againe that he misdouted the kings anger therfore he did flie to the church as the vttermost refuge to all such as suffer wrong From whence he would not stirre till he heard the kings wrath to be mitigated towards him With this the king mooued sore displeased directed his letters in all hast to the maior of London commanding him at the sight therof to muster and take vp all the citizens that could beare harneis in the Citie and to bring to him by force of armes the foresaid Hubert either quicke or dead out of Merton Wherupon the Maior immediately causing the great bell to be ronge assembled together the people of LoÌ„don and opening before them the kings letters commaunded them to prepare and arme themselues in al readines to the executing of the kings will and message The Citizens hearing this were therewith right glad and ready for they were all in great hatred wyth Hubert because of the execution of Constantine their citizen aboue mentioned pag. 269. Notwithstanding certaine of the citizens namely Andrew Bukerel Iohn Trauers other mo men of more graue sage discretioÌ„ wisely pondcrying with themselues what inconuenience might rise heereof went in haste to the Byshop of Wintchester lying then in Southwarke and waking him out of hys sleepe desired him of his counsaile in that so sodeine and daungerous distresse Declaring to him what perill might thereby ensue as well to the church of Merton as also to the citie by the fury of the vnordinate fierce multitude which wil hardly be brideled from robbing and spoiling neither wil spare sheding of bloud c. Unto whoÌ„ againe the bloudy byshop gaue this bloudy counsaile sayth Pariensis Daungerous it is quod he both heere and there but yet see that you obey and execute the precept of the king I counsaile you plainely At the which counsail of the bishop they being amased went with an euill will about the businesse enioyned But the people inflamed with hatred gladly coueted to be reuenged and to shed the bloud of the sayd Hubert ¶ The cause why Peter Byshop of Wint. was so cruelly set against the Iustice was partly for the damages hee had done to the Romane Priestes as is before touched Partly also for the olde grudge because the king comming to his lawful age before through the counsail of this Hubert losed himselfe froÌ„ the gouernment of the sayd B. who had him then in custodie And thus rose vp the grudge and displeasure of this bishop him On the next morowe the Londiners issuing out of the citie to the number of xx M. setfoorth toward the Abbey of Merton where Hubert was lying prostrate before the altar commending himselfe to God In the meane season while the Citizens were in their iourney raging against the poore erle of Kent it was suggested to the king by Radulfe B. of Chichester and Lorde Chauncelor that it was daungerous to excite vp the vulgare and vnruly multitude for feare of sedition leâ—t peraduenture the rude and heady people being stirred vp will not so soone be brought downe againe when the K. would haue them Moreouer what shal be sayd quod he among the French men and other nations which of great things loue to make them greater of euill things to make them worse then they are but thus iestingly mockingly See what a kind bird is the yong king of England whych seeketh to deuour his old nurse vnder whose wings he had ben brought vp and nourished in his youth And thus the king by the perswasion hereof chauÌ„ging his councell seÌ„t in all hasty wise after the army againe willing them to retract theyr iourney and to retire And thus the Londiners although much agaynst their wils returned home missing of theyr purpose Wherein is to be obserued another notable example of Gods working prouidence For when yâ— king sayth the history had sent by 2. messeÌ„gers or purseuants to reuoke and call back again the army of the Londiners going with gredy mindes to shed the bloud of the innocent Iustice One of the messengers posting with all speed possible with the kinges letters ouertook the army and comming to the foreward where the Captains were by vertue of the kings letters staied their course and bloudy purpose wherby they could proceed no farther But the other messeÌ„ger crafty and malicious who bearing hatred to the sayd Hubert rather wishing him to be slayne then to be deliuered lingred by the way of purpose although being commaunded to make haste when he came went onely but to the middle sort More like a messeÌ„ger meet to serue a dead mans arrant then to serue the turne of them which be aliue And â—o in like maner by the iust hand of God it fell vpon him For the same messenger stombling with his horse riding but a soft or a foote pace and rather walking then riding fell down backward from his horse backe and there brake his necke and dyed This mercifull message of the king was as is said sent by the instigation of Radulph B. of Chichester Lord Chaunceller a vertuous and a faythfull man and one that coulde skill to
Basset which before was appoynted to worke that feat wyth mattockes and other instruments of yron and men prepared for the nonce neare to the monasterie of S. Andrewe did vndermine the wall of the Citie And by this meanes the wal fel downe lightly and there was made a great plaine so that in one forefront there might haue gone together on a row 40. horsemen And of this subteltie the alian Monkes that were there were thought to be the workers because they made way and entraunce for them that came in But when they that passed by saw this the kings banners were erected ready to enter in There was a great howling made the noise of the people came to the eares of the Barons they made speede to resist them but it was all in vaine because they were already preuēted of a great cōpany of their enemies But Simon Mountfort the yōger after he had valiantly fought a while in the middest of his enemies wyth Peter Mountfort and a fewe that were with him when Edward the kings sonne came was by his commaundement taken and led away prisoner But the clearks of the vniuersitie of Oxforde which vniuersitie by the Barons commandement was trāslated thether did worke against the kings men more hurte then the other Barons wyth their slings long bowes and crossebowes for they had a banner by themselues and that was set vp a hie against the king Where withall the king being greatly moued sware at his entring in that they should al be hanged Which when they hard many of them shaued their crownes they that were able ran away as fast as they coulde And when the king entred the Citie many fled in their armour into the Castell other left their horse and harnesse and ranne into churches and a few were slain and those were of the common people But there was not much bloudshed because all things were done as vppon a sodaine When the Citie was at the length set in a quiet the king commaunded his othe to be executed vpon the Clarkes But his counsellers said vnto him This be farre from thee O king for the sonnes of thy Nobles and of other great men of thy kingdome were there gathered together into the Vniuersitie whome if thou wouldest cause to be hanged or slaine euen they that nowe take thy parte would rise vp against thee not suffering to the vttermost of their powers the bloud of their sonnes and kinsfolkes to be shed And so the king was pacified and his wrath against the Clerks was stayed In the same day after little more then an houre the kings host assaulted the Castell and the new hold keepers were afraide for that they had not victuals other things necessary for their resistance therfore they sent immediatly messengers vnto the King and yeelded themselues to the kings mercy There were taken that day these Knights Barons vnder wrytten Lord William de Ferrers Lorde Peter Mountfort cōpanion of the sayd Simon de Moūtforte the yonger Lord Baldwyn de wake Lorde Adam de Newmarche Lord Roger Bertram Lord Simon the sonne of Simon a valiaunt warriour which first erected hys banner against the king Lorde Berengarius de waterwile Lord Hugo Bubiam Lord Thomas Maunsell Lord Roger Botemlam Nicolas wake Lord Robert de Newton Lord Philip de Driby Brimbald de Pauncefoote All these afore hand did the king take prisonners and many more of whom he committed some to the Lord Nicolas of Hauersam to be kept in the same Castle well defēsed some he led away with him and some he sent to diuers Castels and appointed Simon Mountfort to be cast into windfore Castell And all these things as touching the taking of Northampton were done on the Sabboth day in passion weeke being the thyrd of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord. 1264. And the king went forward euen to Notingham burning and wasting the manners of the Lords and others his enemies and there he gathered together his nobles and greatly increased hys number When this ill lucke was tolde of them that there were run away to the Earle Simon whiche was comming towardes Northampton with a great hoste he was in a great rage yet was not discouraged But immediatly going to London caused a chariot to be made him after the maner of lytters or couches wherein he might ride as though he were sicke for he fayned himselfe to be feeble and weake whereas he was in deede a stout and valiaunt warriour And there gathered to him other noble men that were cōfederate with him Earles and Barōs euery one bringing with them their seuerall armies And preparing their ingynes of woode they went to besiege Rochester for the Earle of Worcester in the kynges behalfe kept both the towne and castell When they had gotten the first gate and the bridge they were partly wounded and compelled to retire and there that valiant knight Roger de la Bourne was wounded and very il handled And whilest they continued siege there a while it was told them that the kyng was comming toward London with a mighty host And they sayd one to an other if the king at hys cōming should take London we shall be shut in as it were in a straight corner Let vs therefore returne to London that we may keep in safety both the place and the people Therefore appointing certaine persons to keepe the siege they returned to London At the length when the king came they went forth with the Citizens to meere him not with floures and palmes in their handes but swordes and speares The K. shunned them and after he had the Castell of Kingston which was the Erle of Glocesters he went from thence to Rochester where after he had killed a few he brake that siege and from thence the king went to Tunbridge And the towne and Castell now being geuen vp to him he tooke there the Countesse of Glocester put her into an Abbey not to be kept in hold but to goe at libertye whether she would And he left for the custody of the Castell and City a great part of his hoast to the number of aboue xx picked out ensignes for that it was commonly said that the Earle of Glocester would come out of hād to assault them Which being done he continued on his iourney to Winchester where he receiued to peace the seamen of the hauē townes And three dayes alter vpon the sonday following he came to the towne of Lewes and was receaued into the Abbey and his sonne Edward into the Castell Then the Barons sent letters to the king the 12. day of May the tenor wherof followeth TO theyr most excellent Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitania hys Barons and other his faythfull subiectes being willing to keep their othe and fidelitie to God and him send greeting and due obedidience with honour and reuerence Whereas by many
omitted for that euen from and about the beginning of this kings raigne sprang vpp the very welspringes of all mischiefe and sectes of Monkish religions and other swarmes of Popish orders which with their grosse and horrible superstition haue encombred the Church of Christ euer since First to omitte the repeticion of Pope Innocent the third the great Graundsire of that fowle monster Transustantiation and auriculer Confession with the fryers Dominick and Franciscane Fryers Thomas Aquinas Iacobus de Uoragine Uincentius with Pope Honorius the third coyner of the Cannon Lawe and the Cardinall Hostiensis as also Bonauenture Albertus magnus with Pope Urbane the 4. first founder of the feast of Corpus Christi and procuror of the adoration of the body of Christ in the Sacrament besides Durandus and many moe followeth further to be noted that the Tartarianes aboute the yeare 1240. issuing out of Moscouia into the partes of Polonia made great waste in Christendome so muche the rather because the Princes about Polonia beyng at variaunce amongest themselues vsed none other remedie for theyr defence but heapes of Masses Inuocation of the dead and worshipping of Images whiche in deede dyd nothing relieue them but rather encrease theyr trouble The next yeare following the whole nation of the Scithians mustering like Locustes inuaded the partes of Europe with two mightye armyes whereof the one entring vppon Polonia made great hauocke and caryed away many Christians from thence Captiues the other ouerrunning Hungaria made no lesse spoyle there Adde hereunto an other freshe armye of Tartarianes to the number of 5000000. Who at the very same tyme ioyninge themselues together entered into Muscouia and Cracouia and made most horrible slaughter sparing neyther sexe nor age noble nor vnnoble within the Land From thence passing to Uratislauia made great spoyle there also and thinkyng there to winne the Castle were by the miraculous workyng of the Lorde at the instaunce and prayers of good people discomfited beyonde all expectation of man by thundringe and lightning falling vpon them from heauen in most terrible wise The same yeare immediately after Easter an other armye of Tartarians were gathered agaynst Lignicium drawing neere to Germnany By the bruyte whereof the Germaynes being put in great feare were altogether dismayed but yet not able to helpe themselues by reason they lacked a good guyde and gouernour amongest them All which came to passe specially by the mischieuous practize of the Romayne Popes raysing variaunce and discorde amongst them notwithstanding Dentry prince of Polonia and Silicia gathering a power as well as he coulde dyd encounter with him but in fine hys whole armye was vanquished and the kyng hymselfe slayne Notwithstanding whiche ouerthrowe of Christians it pleased God to strike such a feare into the heartes of the sayd Tartarianes that they durst not approche anye further or nearer into Germany but retired for that tyme into they Countrye agayne who recounting theyr victory by taking each man but one eare of euery of the Christians that were slayne founde the slaughter so great as that they filled it great sackes full of eares Neuertherles after this viz the yeare 1260. the same Tartarianes hauing the Moskouites to theyr guides returned agayne into Polonia and Cratonia where in the space of three monethes they ouerranne the land with fire and sword ouer to the coastes of Silesia And had not the princes of Germany put to theyr helping hand in this lamentable case they had vtterly wasted the whole lande of Polonia and the Coastes thereaboutes This yeare also in the month of Aprill Richard Kyng of Almayne dyed at the Castell of Barchamsted and was buryed at the Abbey of Dayles whiche he built out of the ground The same yeare also at Norwich there fel a great controuersie between the monks and the citizens about certayn tallagies and liberties At last after much altecration and wrangling wordes the furious rage of the Cittizens so much increased and preuayled and so litle was the feare of God before theyr eyes that altogether they set vpon the Abbey and Priory and burned both the church and Byshops Pallace whē this thing was heard abroad the people were very sory to heare of so bold naughty an enterprise much discommended the same At the last K. Dēry calling for certayne of hys Lords and Barons sent thē to the city of Norwich that they might punish and see execution done of the chiefest malefactors in so much that some of them were condemned and burnt some of them hanged and some were drawne by the heeles with horses throughout the streetes of the Citty and after in muche misery ended theyr wretched liues The same yeare Adam the prior of Canterbury and Bishop elect in the presence of pope Gregory the 10. refused to be archbishop although he was elect wherefore the pope gaue the same archbishopricke to Frier Robert Kilwardby the Prouost of the preaching Friers a man of good life and great learning He was cōsecrated at Caunterbury the fourth day of March by sixe bishops of the same Prouince The same yeare also at Michelmas the Lord Edmund the sonne of king Richard of Almaine maryed the sister of Gilbert Erle of Gloucester Also in this yeare of our Lord 1273. the 16. day before the Calendes of December vpon S. Edmundes day the archbishop and confessour died King Henry in the 56. yeare of his raigne and was buryed at Westminster leauing after him two sonnes and two daughters to wit Edward the Prince and Edmund Earle of Lancaster and Leicester Beatrice and Margaret whiche Margaret was maryed to the king of Scottes This king Henry in his life tyme beganne the building of the Church steeple at westminster but did not throughly finish the same before his death King Edward the first IN the time of the death of K Henry Edward his eldest sonne was absent in Dasconia as a little before you heard yet notwithstanding by Robert Kilwarby Archb. of Caunt and other bishops nobles he was ordeined heire and successour after hys father who after he had heard of hys fathers death retourned home to his Countrey and was crowned the yeare of our Lord 1274. who then layd downe his crowne saying he woulde no more put it on before he had gathered together all the landes pertayning to the same This Edward as he had alwayes before bene a louing and naturall Childe to his Father whom he had deliuered out of prison and captiuity afterward hearing both together of the death of his sonne of his father wept and lamented much more for his father then for his sonne saying to the French king which asked the cause thereof that the losse of his child was but light for Children might after increase and be multiplied but the losse of his parent was greater which could not be recouered Robert Auesbury So almighty God for the same his pietie to his father shewed rewarded
none of them whom he could there finde so he neuer ceased all hys life after to enquire out and to be reuenged of all suche as had bene in any part or consenting to that matter For the which his extreme and implacable tyranny he was in such hatred of all the people that as he sayd he could not fynde one of all the commons to take his part when need required Among all other which were for that matter troubled was one Adam Byshop of Hereford who being unpeached of treason with other moe was at length arested in the Parliament to appeare and answere to that should be to him obiected Many thinges there were layde agaynst him for taking part with them that rose agaynst the Kyng with matters moe and haynous rebukes c. Whereunto the Byshop a great while aunswered nothing At length the Byshop clayming the liberties and priuiledges of the Church answered to the king in thys form The due reuerence of your Princely maiesty euer saued Ego Sanctae Ecclesiae Dei minister humilis membrum eius Episcopus consecratus licèt indignus ad tam ardua nequeo respódere nee debeo absque D. Cant. Archiepiscopi post summum pontificem mei directi iudicis cuius etiam sum suffraganeus autoritate aliorum parium meorum Episcoporum consensu That is I an humble minister and member of the holy Churche of God and Byshop consecrate albeit vnworthy cannot neither ought to answere to these so hye matters without the authoritie of the Archbishop of Caunterbury my direct iudge next vnder the high Bishop of Rome whose suffâ—agane also I am and the consent likewise of the other my fellow Bishops After which wordes by him pronounced the Archbishop and other Byshops with him were ready to make humble intercession for hym to the king and did But when the king would not be wonne nor turned with any supplication the sayd Byshops together to the Archbishop and the Clergy comming with their crosses tooke him away challenging him for the Churche without any more answere making charging moreouer vnder the censures of the Churche and excommunication none to presume to lay any further handes vpon him The king moued with thys boldnes and stoutnes of the clergy coÌ„mandeth notwithstanding to proceede in iudgement and the iury of 12. men to go vppon the enquiry of his cause who finding and pronouncing the Bishop to be gilty the kyng caused immediately al his goods possessioÌ„s to be coÌ„fiscate vnto himselfe moreouer made hys plate and all his housholde prouision to be throwne out of his house into the streete but yet he remained so stil vnder the protection and defence of the Archbishop c. This Archb. was Walter Winchelsey after whom succeeded Simon Mepham in the same see of Caunterbury an 1327. Ex Thom. Walsingham After pope Clement the 5. by whose decease the Romish see stood vacant as ye heard two yeares and 3. moneths next was elected Pope Iohn 22. a Cistercian monke who fare in that papacy 18. yeares He was stout and inflexible geuen so much to the heaping of riches that he proclaymed them heretickes whiche taught that Christ and hys Apostles had no possessions of theyr owne in thys world At this time was Emperour Ludonicus Bauarus a worthy man who with this Pope and other that folowed hym had no lesse contention then had Fredericus before mentioned in the time of king Henry the thyrd Insomuch that this contention and variaunce continued the space of 24. yeares The cause and first origene of this tragical conflicte rose vpon the constitution of ClemeÌ„t the 5. predecessor to this pope by whom it was ordayned as is afore meÌ„tioned that Emperours by the Germayne Princes elected might be called kinges of the Romaynes but might not inioy the title or right of the Empyre to bee nominated Emperour without theyr confirmation geuen by the Pope Wherefore this foresayd Emperour because he vsed the emperiall dignitie in Italy before he was authorised by the pope the sayd Pope therefore excommunicated the Emperour And notwithstanding the Emperoure oftentimes did profer himself to make intreaty of peace and coÌ„corde yet the Pope inflexible woulde not bend The writinges of both partes yet be extant wherein the sayd Byshop doth make his auaunt that he had full power to treat and depose kinges and Emperours at his pleasure In the same time were diuers learned men which seeing the matter did greatly disalow the Bishop of Romes doynges among whome was Guillerne Ocham whose tractations were afterward condemned by the Pope for writing agaynst the temporall iurisdiction of theyr see And an other named Marselius Patauius which wrote the booke intituled Defensor pacis geuen vp to the handes of the sayd Emperour wherein the controuersie of the Popes vnlawful iuiurisdiction in things temporall is largely disputed the vsurped authoritie of that see set forth to the vttermost It is found in some wryters that a great cause of this variaunce first began for that one of the Emperours secretaries vnknowing to the Emperour in certayne of hys letters had likened the Papal see to the beast rising out of the sea in the Apocalips At length when the Emperour after much sute made to the pope at Auinion could not obtayne his coronation comming to Rome was there receaued with great honour where he with his wife were both crowned by the full consent of all the Lordes and Cardinals there and moreouer an other pope there set vp called Nicholas the fift After which thinges done the Pope not long after departed at Auinion in France after whom succeeded then Benedictus 12. a monke of Benedicts order and rayned 7. yeares Who by the counsayle of Phillip the French kyng confirmed and prosecuted the censures and cursinges that Iohn his predecessour had published agaynst Lewes the Emperour Moreouer depriued him of his Emperiall Crowne and also of hys Dukedome of Bauaria The Emperour vpon this commeth to Germany and assembling the Princes electors Dukes Bishops Nobles and the learned in a councel at Francford there declared before them out of the auncient lawes and customes of the Empire how it standeth onely in the Princes Electours and in none other to elect the k. or the Emperors of the Romaines for in both these names was no difference so that the same Electors in chusing the king of the Romaynes did also elect and chuse the Emperour whiche Emperour so by them constitute had lawfull right without any information of the Apostolicall see to exercise the administration of the Empyre And if he were lawfully elect ought to be annoynted of the Romayne Byshop which if hee doe refuse then might hee be annoynted and declared Emperour and Augustus by any other Catholicke Bishoppe thereunto appoynted as by the olde maner and custome hath bene especially seeing these iniunctions are but certaine soleÌ„nities added and inuented by the bishops onely for a token of vnitie betweene the church
and against inuocation of Saintes and preached sincerely of our free iustificatioÌ„ by grace referring al mans trust onely to the mercy of God and was an enemy to all superstition With whom also may be adioyned FraÌ„ciscus Petrarcha a wryter of the same age who in hys works and hys Italian meeter speaking of Rome calleth it the whore of Babylon the schole and mother of error the temple of heresy the nest of traichery growing and increasing by that oppressing of others and sayeth farther that shee meaning the Popes Court extolleth her selfe against her founders that is the Emperours who first set her vp and did so enriche her And semeth plainly to affirme that the pope was Antichrist declaring that no greater euil could happen to any man then to be made Pope Thys Franciscus was about the yeare of our Lord. 1350. And if time would serue vs to seeke out olde hystories we should finde plenty of faithful witnesses of old and ancient time to geue witnesse with vs against the Pope beside the other aboue rehearsed as Ioannes de Rupe scissian 1340. Who for rebuking the spiritualtie for theyr greate enormities and neglecting their office and duety was cast in pryson Illyricus a wryter in our dayes testifieth that he founde red man old Pamphlet that the sayd Ioannes should call the church of Rome the whore of Babylon and the Pope to be the minister of Antichrist and the Cardinals to be the false prophetes Being in pryson he wrote a booke of Prophesies bearing the title Vade mecum in tribulationem in which booke which also I haue seene he prophesied admonished affliction and tribulation to hang ouer the spiritualty And pronouÌ„ceth plainly that God wil purge his Clergy and wil haue priestes that shal be poore godly and that shal faithfully seede the Lordes flocke moreouer that the goods of the church shal returne againe to the lay men He prophesied also the same time that the French king and his army should haue an ouerthrow Which came likewise to passe during the time of his imprisonment Of this Ioannes de Rupe wryteth Froysard in hys time and also Wicklisse of whose prophecies more may be said at more leisure Christ willing hereafter About the same yeare of our Lorde 1340. in the Citie Herbipoli was one named master CoÌ„radus Hager who as appeareth by the old bulles and registers of Otho byshop of the said citye is there recorded to haue mainteined and taught the space of 24. yeares together the Masse to be no maner of sacrifice neither that it profiteth any man ether quicke or dead and that the money geuen of the dead for Masses be very robberies sacrilege of priests which they wickedly do intercept and take away from the poore And sayd moreouer that if he had a stooue full of golde and siluer hee would not geue one farthing for any Masse For the same his doctrine thys good preacher was condemned and inclosed in pryson what afterward became vpon him we doe not finde There is among other old and ancient recordes of antiquity beloÌ„ging to thys present time a certain monument in verses Poetically compiled but not wythout a certaine morall intituled Poenitentiarius Asini the Asses confessor bearing the date and yeare of our Lorde in thys number Completus An. 1343. In this treatise be brought foorth the Wolfe the Foxe and the Asse comming to Christ and doing penaunce First the Wolfe confesseth hym to the Fox who easely doeth absolue hym from all hys faultes and also excuseth hym in the same In like maner the Wolfe hearyng the Foxes shrifte sheweth to hym the like fauour agayne After thys commeth the Asse to coÌ„fession whose fault was thys that hee being hungry tooke a strawe out from the cheafe of one that went in peregrination vnto Rome The Asse although repenting of his fact yet because he thought it not so heynous as the faults of the other the more hee hoped for hys absolution But what followed After the sely Asse had vttered his crime in auricular confession immediatly the discipline of the lawe was executed vppon hym with seueritie neither was hee iudged worthy of any absolution but was apprehended vpon the same slayne and deuoured Whosoeuer was the author of thys fabulous tale had a misticall vnderstanding in the same for by the Wolfe no doubt was meant the Pope But the Foxe was resembled to the Prelates Curtisans Priestes and rest of the spiritualtie Of the spiritualtie the Lord Pope is soone absoyled as contrary the Pope soone doeth absoyle them in like manner By the Asse is ment the poore laitie vppon whose backe the straite censure of the law is sharpely executed especially when the Germane Emperors come vnder the Popes Inquisition to be examined by hys discipline there is no absolution nor pardon to be found but in all haste he must be deposed as in these stories may partly appeare before And though the matter be not the weyght of a strawe yet what sayeth the holy father the Wolfe if it please hym to make any matter of it Immensum scelus est iniuria quam peregrinâ— Fecisti stramen subripiendo sibi Non aduertisti quòd plura pericula paslus Plurima passurus quòd peregrinus erat Non aduertisti quòd ei per maxima terrae Et pelagi spacia sit peragranda via Non aduertisti sanctos nec limina sancta Sanctorum sanctam sed nec Hierusalem Ille retransiuit eadem loca tam violentum Ex inopinato sensit adesse malum De Papa Taceo cuius protectio talem Conduxit cuius tu vilipendis opem Totius Ecclesiae fuerit quam nuncius iste Pertulit abstracto gramine damna viae c. And thus they aggerating and exaggerating the fault to the vttermost flye vpon the poore asse deuour him By the which Apologie the tyrannicall and fraudulent practises of these spirituall Romanistes are liuely described Not long after those aboue rehearsed about the yeare of our lord 1350. Gerhardus Ridder wrote also against the Monkes and Friers a booke intituled Lacrima Ecclesiae wherein he disputeth agaynst the foresaid religious orders namely against the begging Friers prouing that kinde of life to be farre froÌ„ Christian perfection for that it is against charitie to live vppon other when a man may liue by his own labours And affirmeth them to be hipocrites filthy liuers and such as for mans fauour and for lucre sake doe mixt with true diuinitie fables Apocriphas and dreames of vanitie Also that they vnder pretence of long prayer deuour widdowes houses and with their confessions sermons and burials doe trouble the Church of Christ manifold wayes And therfore perswaded the prelates to bridle and keepe short the inordinate licence and abuses of these Monasticall persons c. Yet I haue made no mensioÌ„ of Michael Cesenas prouincial of the gray friers nâ—r Petrus de Corbaria of whoÌ„ writeth Antoninus in
profite vs Because that therby he should seperate vs from all his wicked lawes and frō the charges of sustaining of so many thousand shauelings which with smal deuotiō or none at all patter and charter a new solid song seoundum vsum Sarum So that not whatsouer the pope in his generall counsell hindeth in earth is bound of God in heauen either for that he hindeth vnreasonably and cōtradictorily doth agaynst himself or els for that he hath forsaken the iudgement of God As touching the preaching of the Gospell whoseuer receiueth or taketh vpō him the office of a priest or of a bishop and dischargeth not the same by the example of his good cōuersation and faythfull preaching of the Gospel is a theef excommunicate of God and of holy church And further if the curates preach not the word of God they shal be damned and if they know not how to preach they ought to resigne their benefices So that those prelates which preach not the Gospel of Christ although they could excuse themselues from the doing of any other euill are dead in themselues are Antichristes and Sathans trāffigured into angels of light might theues manquellers by day night betrayers of Christ his people Concerning the sacrament of Matrimony Notwithstanding any spirituall kinred or gossopry a man and woman may lawfully mary together by the law of god with out any dispensatiō papistical And in the same place he sayth that if our realm do admit one not borne in matrimony or illegitimate to the imperiall crowne so that he doth well discharge the office of a king God maketh him a king and by cōsequence doth reiect an other king or heyre of the kingdome being borne in matrimony and legitimate So for such spirituall kindred there ought no diuorse to be made Also notwithstanding the Cap. Si inter de sponsalibus If any man shall make any contract with any woman by that wordes of the future tence by an oth taken afterwards shall with an other woman make the like contract by the wordes of the present tence that then the second contract standeth Also it a man make any cōtract with a womā by the wordes of the future tence vpō his oth taken maketh afterwardes the like contract with another not altering the words and hath carnal copulation vpon the same the first contract maketh the matrimony good and not the second Also if a man before witnes assure himselfe to a woman by a contract made in the present tence hath children by the same woman afterward the same man marieth another woman with the like wordes in the present tence before witnesse Although the first witnesses be deade or els by bribes corrupt and the second bring his witnesses before the iudge to proue the second contract the first cōtract yet standeth in force although the Pope allowing the secōd contract doth compell them to liue in adultery agaynst the conmaundement of God Also he condemneth the decretall of the restitution of things stollen Cap. Literas tuas which wrileth that a man and woman hauing carnall copulation in the degree of consanguinity forbiddē and hath no witness hereof If the woman will depart from the man she shall be compelled by the censures to remayne with him and to yelde her debt Also in case where a man hath made cōtract with two women with one secretly hauing no witnesse and wich the other openly hauing witnesse Then were is better to acknowledge the insufficiency of the law and to suffer men to be ruled by their owne consciences then by the censures to compell them to committe and lyue in adultery As touching the keping and making of vowes That vow or othe is beastly and is without al discretion made which to performe and keep a man hath no power but by grace geuen him of God Because that some such there be whom god doth not accept to perseuere in the state of chastity and perpetuall virginity and such a one cannot keep his vow although he make the same Also that euery one making a vow of continencye or chastitye when making the same he shall not be accepted of God doth very vndiscretly and as one without al reason maketh the same whē he is not able of himself without the gift of God to fulfil his promise according to that saying of the wise mā cap. 8. No man hath the gift of cōtinency vnles that God geue it vnto him For otherwise if god help not such a one to perform the vow or othe which he hath made and sakē No prelate can compell him vnles he do cōtrary to Gods ordinance but he ought to cōmit himself to the gouernment of Gods holy spirit and his owne conscience For the possessions of the Church In another treatise it is declared how the king the Lordes and commōs may without any charge at all kepe 15. garrisons finde 15000. souldiours hauing sufficient landes and reuenues to liue vpon out of the temporalties gotten into the hands of the clergy fained religious men which neuer do that which pertayneth to the office of curates to doe nor yet to secular lords And moreouer the king may haue euery yere 20000 pound to come freely into his cofers and aboue Also may find or sustaine 15. Colledges more and 15000. priestes and clerkes with sufficient liuing and a 100. hospitals for the sicke euery house to haue one hundreth marks in lands And all this may they take of the foresayde temporaltyes without any charge to the realme wherunto the king the Lords and the commons are to be inuited For otherwise there seemeth to hang ouer our heads a great and maruelous alteratiō of this realme vnlesse the same be put in execution Also if the secular Priestes and sayned religious which be simoniackes and heretiques which sayne themselues to say masse and yet say none at all according to the Canons which to their purpose the bring and alledge 1. q 3. Audiuimus cap. Pudenda cap. Schisma By which chap. such priestes and religious do not make the Sacrament of the aultar That then all Christians especially all the soūders of such Abbeyes and indowers of bishoprickes priories and chaunteries ought to amend this fault and treason committed agaynst their predecessors by taking from them such secular dominiōs which are the mayntenance of all their sinnes And also that Christian Lords princes are bound to take away from the clergy such secular dominion as noseleth nourisheth them in heuesies ought to reduce them vnto the simple and poore life of Christ Iesus and his Apostles And further that all Christian Princes if they will amend the maledictiō and blasphemy of the name of God ought to take away their temporalities frō that shauen generation which most of all doth nourish them in such malediction And so in likewise the fat tithes from Churches appropriat to rich monks other religions fained by manifest
since that time we read of very few But in deede since that same time one hath put down an other one hath poysoned an other one hath cursed an other and one hath slayne an other and done much more mischiefe besides as all the Chronicles telleth And let all men consider well this that Christ was meeke and mercifull The pope is proude and a tyraunt Christ was poore and forgaue The pope is riche and a malicious manslear as hys dayly actes doe proue hym Rome is the very neast of Antichrist and out of that neast commeth all the disciples of him Of whome Prelates Priestes and Monkes are the body and these pud Friers are the tayle which couereth his most filthy part Then said the Prior of the Fryers Augustines Alacke sir why do you say so That is vncharitably spoken And the Lord Cobham said Not onely is it my saying but also the Prophet Esayes long afore my time The prophet saith he which preacheth lyes is the tayle behind For as you Fryers and monkes be like Phariseis deuided in your outward apparell and vsages to make ye deuision among the people And thus you with such other are the very naturall members of Antichrist Then said he vnto them all Christ saith in his Gosspell Woe vnto you Scribes and Phariseis Hipocrites For ye close vp the kingdome of heauen before men Neyther enter ye in your selues nor yet suffer any other that wold enter into it But ye stop vp the wayes therūto with your owne traditions and therfore are ye the housholde of Antechrist ye will not permit Gods veritie to haue passage nor yet to be taught of his true ministers fearing to haue your wickednes reproued But by suche flatterers as vphold you in your mischiefes ye suffer the common people most miserably to be seduced Then sayd the archbishop By our Lady syr there shal none such preach within my dioces and God will nor yet in my iurisdiction if I may know it as either maketh diuision or yet dissention among the poore commons The Lord Cobham sayd Both Christ and hys Apostles were accused of sedition making yet were they moste peaceable men Both Daniell and Christ prophecied that such a troublous tyme shoulde come as hath not bene yet since the worldes beginning And this prophecy is partlye fulfilled in your dayes and doinges For manye haue yee slayne already and more wil ye ssay hereafter if God fulfil not his promise Christ sayth also if those dayes of yours were not shortened scarsly shold any flesh be saued Therfore looke for it iustly for God will shorten youre dayes Moreouer though Priestes and deacons for preaching of Gods word and for ministring the sacraments with prouision for the poore be grounded on Gods lawe yet haue these other sectes no maner of ground hereof so farre as I haue read Then a Doctor of lawe called maister Iohn Kempe plucked out of his bosome a copy of the bil which they had afore sent him into the tower by the Archbishops counsel thinking thereby to make shorter worke with hym For they were so amased with his aunsweres not all vnlike to them whiche disputed with Stephen that they knewe not well how to occupy the time their wits and sophistry as God would so fayled them that day My Lord Cobham sayth this Doctor we must briefly know your minde concerning these foure poyntes here following The rest of them is this And then he read vpō the bill The fayth and determination of holy churche touching the blessed sacrament of the aulter is this That after the sacramentall wordes be once spoken of a Priest in his masse the materiall bread that was before bread is turned to Christes very body And the materiall wine is turned into Christes bloud And so there remayneth in the sacrament of the aulter from thenceforth no material bread nor materiall wine which were there before the sacramentall wordes were spoken Sir beleue ye not this The Lord Cobham said This is normy beliefe But my fayth is as I sayd to you afore that in the worshipfull sacrament of the aulter is Christes very body in forme of bread Then sayd the archbishop sir Iohn ye must say otherwise The Lord Cobham said Nay that I shall not if God be vpon my side as I trust he is but that there is Christs body in forme of bread as the common beliefe is Then read the doctour againe The second poynt is this Holy Church hath determined that euery Christen mā liuyng here bodely vpō earth ought to be shriuen of a priest ordeined by the church if he may come to him syr what say you to this The Lord Cobham aunswered and said A diseased or sore wounded man hath need to haue a sure wise Chirurgian and a true knowing both the ground and the daunger of the same Most necessary were it therefore to be first shriuen vnto God which onely knoweth our diseases and can helpe vs. I deny not in this the going to a priest if he be a man of good life and learning For the lawes of God are to be required of the priest which is godly learned But if he be an idiote or a man of vicious liuing that is my curate I ought rather to flee from him then to seeke vnto him For sooner might I catch euill of him that is nought then any goodnes towardes my soules health Then read the doctour agayne The third poynt is this Christ ordayned S. Peter the Apostle to be his vicare here in earth whose sea is the church of Rome And he graunted that the same power whiche he gaue vnto Peter should succeede to all Peters successours which we call now popes of Rome By whose special power in churches particular be ordayned Prelates archbishops parsons Curates and other degrees more Vnto whom Christen men ought to obey after the lawes of the Church of Rome This is the determination of holye Church Sir beleue ye not this To this he answered and sayd He that followeth Peter most nighest in pure liuing is next vnto him in succession But your Lordly order esteemeth not greatly the lowly behauiour of poore Peter whatsoeuer ye prate of him Neither care ye greatly for the humble manners of them that succeeded him till the time of Siluester whiche for the more part were martirs as I told you afore Ye can let all their good conditions go by you and not hurt your selues with them at all All the world knoweth this well inough by you and yet ye can make boast of Peter With that one of the other doctors asked him thē what do ye say of the Pope The Lord Cobham answered As I said before He you together maketh whole the great Antichrist Of whō he is the great head you bishops priests prelates monks are the body and the begging friers are the tayle for they couer the filthines of you both with
thou sayest so thou geuest offence Luke 11. The 16. Article is that they in many places lende money or goodes to haue treasure or vsurie and they haue in cities and townes yearely paiments and perpetual reuenues as great Princes and Lordes Wherein they doe against the Gospel which sayth do not ye possesse gold nor siluer And wheras they lend for gaine and vsury againste that speaketh the Lord Deu. 24. Lend not to vsury to thy brother c. Ye honest discrete and well beloued Lords all the foresaide Articles we wil prooue against the Pope and all his priests with many testimonies of the holy Scripture which for breuities sake we haue not here mētioned But note ye chiefly these 4. Articles for which wee striue and desire to defend them to the death The first Article is that all publicke and customably mortall sinnes ought to be forbidden and prohibited to all Priests and lay men according to the commaundement of the holy Scripture The seconde Article is that richesse ought to be taken from the Pope and all hys Priestes from the hyghest to the lowest and they ought to bee made poore as the Disciples of our Lord Iesus Christ were who had nothyng of their own neither possessiōs in this world neither worldly power The third Article is that the word of God ought to be free for euery mā appointed and ordained therto to preach and read in al places whether they shal come without resistance of any man or without any inhibitiō of either spirituall or earthly power openly or manifestly The fourth article is that the body of our Lord Iesus Christ ought to be deliuered to euery christian as our lord hath ordained it and as the holy Euangelists haue wrytten We haue also vnderstood that there shal be a Councell in Basile Wherfore let no mā be exalted but let them diligētly kepe their wiues their daughters and their virgins from Byshops Priests and Monkes And do not thinke that there is made any holy assembly of Bishops and Priests for the common commodity and profit of Christendom but onely to thys end that they may hide their secret vices and heresies with the cloke of hypocrisye and let and hinder the righteousnesse of God which is muche contrary to them and for this cause consider ye diligently that they will not make an holy assembly but the congregation of Sathan And take ye heede that it be not done as some did at Constance who tooke money of Bishops and Prelates suffered them to sleepe with their wiues Ye welbeloued and honest Lordes if ye finde any thing in these aforesaide Articles or wordes wrytten somewhat sharply we did it not to offend or contemne you but to the ende that ye shoulde diligently consider and deuise howe Christendome is so ill kept and led by the Priests of this present age Our Lorde Iesu Christ keepe you both in body and soule Amen In the yeare of our Lord. 1430. Preropus Smahors Conradus Samssmolich Capitaines of Bohemia Nowe to prosecute the warres of the Bohemians againe after Zisca was dead wherof we did intreat before there was great feare sorrow and lamentation in the army the soldiers accusing fortune which gaue ouer such an inuincible captaine to be ouercome with death Immediatly there was a diuision in the host the one parte chusing Procopius Magnus to be their captaine the other parte saying that there was none could be found worthy to succede Zisca whereuppon they chusing out certaine to serue the warres named themselues Orphanes Thus the Thaborites being deuided into two armies the one part retained their olde and accustomed name and the other by meanes of the death of their captayne named themselues Orphanes And all be it that oftentimes there was dissension betwene them yet when soeuer any forein power came towards them they ioyned their powers together in one campe and defended themselues They seldome went vnto any fensed townes except it were to buy necessaries but liued with their wiues and childrē in theyr campe tents They had amongst them many cartes the which they vsed as a Bulwarke For when so euer they went vnto battell they made two wings of them whyche closed in the footemen The winges of the horse men were on the out side and when as they sawe their time for to ioyne battell the wagon men which led the wings going forth vnto the Emperors standerd and compassing in such part of their enemies as they woulde did close themselues in together whereby the ennemies being inclosed so that they could not be rescued they were partly by the footemē partly by the men that were in the carres with their dartes slaine The horsemen fought without the fortification and if it happened that they were oppressed or put to flight by and by the carres opening themselues receiued them as it were into a fensed Citie and by this meanes they got many victories for so much as their enemies were ignorant of their pollicies These 2. armies went foorth the one into Slesia and the other into Morauia and returned againe wyth great pray before their enemies knewe of their comming After this they besieged the towne of Swetley in Austrich where as the Thaborites and the Orphanes two nightes continually assaulted the walles wythout ceasing but Albert Duke of Austrich comming with his hoste to aide the Citizens they fought by the space almost of foure houres the valiauntest warriers being slaine on both partes At the length the battaile was broken of and the Thaborits lost their carres and Albert was put out of his camp tents Within a while after Procopius Magnus came agayne and inclosed the citie of Rhetium in Austria with a notable siege They of Prage were in his army and Boslaus Cygneus of whome we spake before was slaine there with a dart the city of Rhetium was taken by force sacked and burnt The Burgraue of Malderburge Lord of the towne was also taken and caried vnto Prage where also hee dyed in prison These thinges thus done the Emperour sent for the nobles of Boheme which went vnto him vnto a town of Hungary called Posonium in the borders of Austria vpō the bāks of the riuer of Danubius but they wold not enter into the towne but remained wtout the towne in their tents whether as the Emperoure going out vnto them communing muche with them as touching his right title and the recouering of his fathers kingdome promising if there were any cause which did alienate the Bohemians minds from him that he would take away al the occasion therof They made answer that he had made warre vpon them without cause and that he had suffred their countrey men cōtrary to his promise to be burnt at Constance not being heard and the kingdom to be contumeliously interdited and the Nobles of Boheme to be condemned by the church of Rome as heretickes and that he should thincke the force
forced to obiure and suffred like penance as the other before had done THomas Moone of Ludney was apprehended and attached for suspition of heresy agaynst whom were obiected by the Bishop the articles before written but specially this article that he had familiarity communication with diuers heretickes and had receiued comforted supported and mayntayned diuers of them as sir William White syr Hugh Pye Thomas Pert and William Callis Priestes with many other more vpon the which articles he being coÌ„uict before the bishop was forced to abiure and receiued the like penance in like maner as before In like maner Robert Brigges of Martham was brought before the Bishop the 17. day of February in the yeare aforesayd for holding and affirming the foresayd articles but especially these hereafter folowing That the sacrament of confirmation ministred by the Byshop did auayle nothing to saluation That it was no sinne to withstand the ordinaunces of the Church of Rome That holy bread and holy water were but trifles and that the bread and the water were the worse for the conturacions characters which the priestes made ouer them Upon which Articles he being conuict was forced to abiure and receiued penance in maner and forme as the other had done before him The like also albeit somewhat more sharp happened vnto Iohn Finch of Colchester the 20. day of September who albeit he was of the dioces of London being suspecte of heresye was attached in Ipswich in the dioces of Norwich brought before the bishop there before whom he being conuict of the like articles as all the other before him was enioyned penance three displings in solemne procession about the Cathedrall Church of Norwich three seuerall Sondayes three displinges about the market place of Norwich three principall market dayes his head necke and feet being bare his body couered onely with a short shirt or vesture hauing in his handes a taper of waxe of a pound waight which the next Sonday after his penance he shoulde offer to the Trinity and that for the space of 3. yeres after euery Ashwednesday Maundy Thursday he should appeare in the Cathedrall Church of Norwich before the Bishop or his Vicegerent to do open penaunce amongest the other penitentiaries for his offences There were besides these men which we haue here rehearsed diuers and many other who both for the concordaunce of the matter and also for that theyr Articles punishmeÌ„ts were all one we haue thought good at this time to passe ouer especially forsomuch as their names be before recited in the Catalogue The burning of Rich Houeden Nicholas Canon of Eye NOw to proceed in our story of Norfolke and Suffolk in folowing the order of yeres we finde that in the yere of our Lord. 1431. One Nich. Canon of Eye was brought before the Bishop of Norwich for suspicion of heresy with certayne witnesses sworne to depose against him touching his maners and conuersatioÌ„ which witnesses appointing one William Christopher to speak in the name of them all he deposed in maner and forme folowing First that on Easter day when all the parishners weÌ„t about the church of Eye solemnely in processioÌ„ as the maner was the sayd Nicholas Canon as it were mocking deciding the other parishioners went about the Church the contrary way and met the procession This article he confessed and affirmed that he thought he did well in so doing Item the sayd Nicholas asked of maister Iohn Colman of Eye this question Maister Colman what think you of the Sacrament of the aulter To whome the sayde Colman aunswered Nicholas I thinke that the SacrameÌ„t of the aultar is very God and very man the very flesh and very bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ vnder forme of bread and wine Vnto whom Nicholas in decision sayde Truly if the Sacrament of the aultar be very God very man and the very body bloud of our Lord Iesu Christ then may very God and very man be put in a small roome as when it is in the priests mouth that receiueth it at mas And why may not we simple men as well eate flesh vpon Fridayes and al other prohibited dayes as the priest to eat the flesh and the bloud of our Lord euery day indiffereÌ„tly The which article the sayd Nicholas denied that he spake vnto Maister Colman but vnto a Monke of Hockesney And furthermore he thought he had spoken well in that behalfe Item that on Corpus Christi day at the eleuation of high masse when all the parishioners other straungers kneeled downe holding vp their handes and doing reuerence vnto the sacrament the sayd Nicholas went behinde a piller of the church and turning his face from the high aulter mocked them that did reuerence vnto the sacrament This article he also acknowledging affirmed that he beleued himselfe to do well in so doing Item when his mother would haue the said Nicholas to lift vp his right hand and to crosse himselfe froÌ„ the craftes and assaults of the deuill forsomuch as he deferred the doing therof his mother tooke vp his right haÌ„d crossed him saying In nomine patris filij spiritus sacti Amen Which so ended the sayde Nicholas immediately deciding hys mothers blessing tooke vp his right hand of his owne accord and blessed him otherwise as his aduersaryes reporte of him This Article the sayde Nicholas acknowledged to be true Item that vpon Alhallowen day in the time of eleuation of high masse when as many of the parishioners of Eâ—e lighted many torches and caried theÌ„ vp to the high aultar kneling down there in reuerence and honor of the Sacrament the sayd Nicholas carying a torche went vp hard to the high aultar and standing behind the priestes backe saying masse at the time of the eleuation he stood vpright vpoÌ„ his feet turning his back to the priest and his face toward the people and would do no reuerence vnto the sacrament This article he acknowledged affirming that he thought he had done well in that behalfe All which Articles the Byshops coÌ„missary caused to be copied out word for worde to be seÌ„t vnto M. William Worsted Prior of the cathedrall church of Norwich and to other doctors of diuinity of the order of begging Friers that they might deliberate vpon them and shew their mindes betwene that and Thursday next folowing Vpon whiche Thursdaye being the last of Nouember the yeare aforesayd the sayd Nicholas was agayne examined before M. Barnam and diuers other vpoÌ„ two other articles which he had confessed vnto I. Exetor notary Tho. Bernsten bacheler of diuinity and others Whereof the first Article was this that the sayd Nicholas Canon being of perfect minde and remembrance confessed that he doubled whether in the Sacrament of the aulter were the very body of Christ or no. This article he confessed before the Commissary to be true Item that he beyng of perfecte minde
may appeare that he neyther careth for GOD nor the health of the Churche Item that the preceptes and commaundementes of the pope and prelates be no otherwise but as the Councels and preceptes of Phisitions binding no further then they are founde to be holesome and standing with the trueth of the word Item that the Pope can commaunde no man vnder payne of deadly sinne except God commaund him before He sayth that the keyes of the Pope and of the prelates be not such wherwith they open the kingdome of heauen but rather shut it as the Phariseis did Concerning vowes he disputeth that such as be foolish and impossibile ought to be brokē that the hearers ought to discerne and iudge of the doctrine of their Prelates and not to receiue euery thing that they say without due examination He sheweth moreouer that the sentence or excommunication is of more force proceeding from a true godly honest simple and learned men then from the Pope as in the Councell of Constance Bernard was more esteemed then Eugenius Also if the pope with hys prelates gouern and rule naughtely that the inferiours be they neuer so base ought to resist him Writing moreouer of two Popes Pius the second and Sixtus the fourth he sayth that Pius the second dyd vsurpe vnto hymselfe all the kingdomes of the whole world that Sixtus the pope did dispense with al maner of othes in causes temporall not onely with suche othes as haue bene already but also with all suche as shal be made hereafter which was nothing els but to geue libertie and licence for men to forsweare themselues and deceiue one an other This Weselus beyng a Phrisian borne and now aged in yeares vpon a certayne time when a yong man called mayster Ioannes Oftendorpius came to hym sayd these wordes Well my childe thou shalt lyue to that day when thou shalt see the doctrine of these new and contentious diuines as Thomas and Bonauenture with others of the same sort shal be vtterly reiected and exploded from al true Christen deuines And thys which Oftendorpius then being young heard Weselus to speake he reported himselfe to Nouiomagus which wrote this story an 1520. heard it of the mouth of the sayd Weselus an 1490. Martij 18. Philippus Melanchton writing of the lyfe of Rodolphus Agricola sayth that Iosquinus Groningonsis an auncient and a godly man reported that when as he was young he was oftentimes present at the Sermons of Rodolphus and Weselus wherein they many times lamented the darckenes of the church and reprehended the abuses of the Masse and of the single life of priestes Item that they disputed oftentimes of the righteousnes of sayth why S. Paule so oftentimes did inculcate that men be iustified by faith and not by workes the same Iosquine also reported that they did openly reiecte and disproue the opinion of monks which say that men be iustified by their works Item concerning mens traditiōs their opinion was that all suche were deceiued whatsoeuer attribued vnto those traditions any opinion of Gods worship or that they could not be broken And thus much for the story of doctour Wesellianus and Wesilus By this it may be seene and noted how by the grace of God and gift of printing first came forth learning by learning came light to iudge and discerne the errors of the pope from the truth of Gods word as partly by these abouesaid may appeare partly by other that followe after by the grace of Christ shall better be seene About the very same tyme and season when as the Gospell began thus to braunch spring in Germanie the host of Christes church began also to muster to multiply likewise here in Englād as by these historyes here consequent may appeare For not long after the death of this Weselus in the yeare of our Lorde 1494. and in the 9. yeare of the reigne of K. Henry 7. the 28. of Aprill was burned a very old woman named Ioane Boughton widow and mother to the Lady Young which Ladye was also suspected to be of that opinion which her mother was Her mother was of foure score yeares of age or more held 8. of Wickleffes opinions which opiniōs my author doth not shew for the which she was burnt in Smithfield the day abouesayd My author sayth she was a Disciple of Wickleffe whome she accompted for a Sainct and helde so fast and firmly viij of his x. opinions that all the Doctours of Lōdon coulde not turne her from one of them and when it was told her that she shoulde be brent for her obstinacie false beliefe shee set nothing by theyr manacing wordes but defied them for the sayde she was so beloued of God and hys holy aungels that she passed not for the fire in the midst therof she cryed to God to take her soule into his holy handes The night following that she was burnt the most parte of her ashes were had awaye of suche as had a loue vnto the doctrine that she dyed for Shortly after the martyrdome of this godly aged mother in the yeare of our Lord 1497. and the 17. of Ianuary being Sonday two men the one called Richard Milderale and the other Iames Sturdy bare Fagots before the procession of Paules and after stoode before the preacher in the time of hys Sermon And vpon the sonday following stood other two men at Paules crosse all the sermon tyme the one garnished with paynted written papers the other hauing a Fagot on hys necke After that in Lent season vppon Passion Sonday one Hugh Glouer bare a Fagot before the procession of Paules after wyth the Fagot stoode before the preacher all the sermon while at Paules crosse And on the sonday next following foure men stoode and did there open penaunce at Paules as is aforesayd in the sermon time many of their bookes were burnt before them at the Crosse. FUrthermore the next yeare following whiche was the yeare of our Lord. 1498. in the beginning of Maye the king then being at Canterbury was a priest burnt which was so strong in his opinion that all the clerkes doctors then there beyng coulde not remoue him from his sayth whereof the king beyng enformed caused the sayd priest to be brought before hys presence who by hys perswasions caused him to reuoke and so he was burnt immediately The burning of Babram ABout which yere likewise or in the yere next folowing that xx day of Iuly was an old mā burnt in Smithfield IN the same yeare also which was of the Lord. 1499. fell the martyrdome and burning of Hieronimus Sauonarola a man no lesse godly in hart then constant in his profession Who being a Monke in Italy singularly well learned preached fore agaynst the euill lyfe liuing of the spiritualty and specially of hys own order compsayning fore vpō thē as the springes and authors of all mischieues wickednes
England one for Greeke the other for latine Ex historia Guliel de Regibus Ang. Pleimondus teacher to king Alfred and after Bishop of Canterbury Bookes translated out of latine by K. Alfrede None permitted to haue any dignitie in the court except he were learned Polycron lib. 6. cap. 1. The Psalter translated into English by king Alfrede The cause why the king turned latine bookes into English Learned men sent for and placed about the king The dialoges of Gregory translated Neotus â— Abbot The schole and vniuersitie of Oxford first begonneâ— King Alfrede The newâ— Colledge in Oxford Ioan. â—â—â—tus The aunswere of Ioannes Scotus to the French king Ioan Scotus translated Hierarchiam Dionâ—tij from Greek to Latine The booke of Ioannes Scotus called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioannes Scotus adicted more to the Greeke Churche then the Latine Ioan Scotus accused of the pope for an heretike Ioannes Scotus slayne by hys owne scollers Ioan Scotus a Martyr This Ethelwitha builded first the house of Nunnes at Winchester The children of K. Alfrede All hys daughters learned The decease of King Alfred An. 901. Etheredus Plâ—imundus Athelmus Vlâ—elmus Odo Archb. of Canterbury 9. Popes in ix yeares at Rome Fermosus first Pope Ex Chroniâ—oâ— Sigeberti Schismes among the Popes Character indâ—lebilis Whether the pope with hys Cardinals may erre Bonifacius 6. Pope Stephen 6. Pope Ex Chroni Martini panitentiarij Sigebert Ex Polych alijs Pope Theodorus 2. Pope Iohn 10. One councell burneth an others decrees Pope Benedictus 4. Pope Leo. 5. imprisoned and vnpoped by hys own chaplayne Pope Christoferus 1. Pope Sergius Pope Formosus after hys death be headed of Pope Sergius A false fayned myracle vpon the body of Formosus Popish miracles not to be credited Bearing of candels on Candlemas day how it came vp Pope 〈◊〉 Pope Lâ—â—â—do 1. Pope 〈◊〉 11. Harloâ—â— this time ruled 〈◊〉 Rome P. Iohn 1. P. Leo. 6. P. Stâ—â— â— restored Liuthpranâ—dus 〈◊〉 sis lib. 3. P. Steph. â— P. Leo. â— P. Marâ— â— P. Agapetus 2. Ordo Clâ—niacensis beginnâ—â— King Edward the elder The Edwardes before the â—â—quest A comparison betweene Alfrede and hys sonne Edward Vse and long exercise of things maketh perfectnes Clyto Ethelwold rebelleth agaynst K. Edward An. 904. An. 913. Chesâ—er repayred and enlarged The Castle of Herford builded Castles builded vpon the riuer of Auene and Ouse The townes of Towcetour and wigmore builded The newe towne of Nottingham builded Thilwall Manchester repayred Elfleda Cittyes Townes and Castles builded by Elfleda The lawes of king Alfred and K. Edward Note howe kinges of England in tymes past had authoritie in spirituall causes Anno. 925. The Children of K Edward the elder Prince Ethelwald excellâ—nt in learning Galiel de Regib The bringing vp of K. Edwardes Children King Ethelstine or Adelstane Duke Elfrede sodenly stroken by the hand of God for periury Guliel lib. de Regib in vita Ethelstani The copie of an old Cart of K. Ethelstane Anno. 927. Northumberland subdued to king Ethelstane The Scots subdued to the king of England It is more honour to make a king then to be a king A fabulous miracle falsely reported of king Athelstane Bristanus Byshop Anno. 933. A ridiculous miracle forged vpon Bristanus Byshop of Winchester A miracle of soules aunswering Amen A sore battaile sought at Brimford An other vnlike myracle of K. Athelstanâ— sword Odo Archbishop of Cant. Analanus The North Brittaynes brought to tribute The South Brittaynes subdued K. Ethelstane seeketh the death of his owne brother A note to learne not to sowe discorde betwixt brother and brother The cause of building Abbeyes examined Otho first Emperour of the Germaine Precious iewels sent to king Ethelstane from the French K. Concerning one of the nayles wherewith our Sauiour Christ was crucified Kinges of England gouernors as well in 〈◊〉 ecclesiastical aâ—â—â—mporall Extractum on legib 〈◊〉 Athelstane * alias 〈◊〉 * alias minoribus * alias scristes dictionum * alias seruitistimentalas * 〈◊〉 sunt * alias seristes mensia 〈◊〉 * in sua scrysiseyra A lawe how that maisters ought to condiscend and beare sometime with their seruauntes The law of king Ethelstane concerning tythes Tythes The K. woulde vsurpe no mans goodes wrongfully The law of K. Ethelstane concerning fealous stealing aboue xii d. Epitap in Ethelst Sol illustrauit bisseno scorpion ortu Cum regeÌ„ cauda percuâ—â—t ille sua Anno. 940. Edmundus kyng of England Ex historia Cariona Monkes put out of Eusham the yeare of our Lord. 941. The difference betweene Monkes and priestes Chastitie wroÌ„gly defined Holy mariage by the definition of Paphnutius is chastitie Monkes how they differed from Priestes and how they first began in England Guliel de pontiâ—â—â—â— The monâ—stery of Fâ—â—riake Oswaldes Byshop of Yorke a great paâ—â—â—â— of Monkery Guliel lin 3. de pontif The origâ—â— of monkery how it first began in England Dunstane Abbot of Glastonbury The sonnes of King Edmund The impâ—dent vanitie of the Popes Churche in forgyng false myracles Guliel lib. 1. de pont The monastery of Glastonbury Dunstane Abbot of Glostanbury The Abbey of Glostenbury was first builded by K. Iue by the couÌ„sell of Adelmus after beyng destroyed by the Danes Guliel lib. 2. de Regib The lawes of king Edmunde touching as well the state spirituall as temporall Vlstanus Archbishop of Yorke Odo Arch. of Canterbury Guliel de pont lib. 1. Polycron lib. 6. ca. 6. Odo made monke at Floriake after he was Archb. of CaÌ„terbury Guliel de pont lib. 1. Guliel lib. 3. de pont Ebor. The difference of habite and garmentes among men of the Church False and lying myracles noted vpon Odo A note to the reader Transubstantiation not yet receaued The letter of Odo Archb. to the prelates Elsinus Archb. of Caunt elect S. Edmundesbury The children of King Edmund Anno. 946. Edrede gouernour of the Realme Dunstane made byshop of Wirceter and after of London With lye and all K. Edwyne Anno. 955. The king suspensed by the Archbishop K. Edwyne an enemye to Monkes Monkes put out and seculâ—r priestes placed in their roomes The death of K. Edwyne Anno. 959. K. Edgar called Pacificus Dunstane made Bysh. of Worceter and of London Ex hist. Rog. Houenden Spirituall liuinges geuen by the king and not by the Pope Oswaldâ—â— byshop of Worceter and after â— Yorke Ethelwâ—â—â— byshop of Wint. a great â—â—â—tayner of Monkery An. 96â— Ex Guliel Malmâ—sâ—â—rieâ—â— de gostis ponâ—â—â— Aâ—g Monkishe dreames Dreames not necessary to be regarded Difference of dreames How and wheÌ„ monks first began to swarme in England Dunstane Ethelwold Oswald three setters vp of Monkishe religion 40. Monasteries builded and repayred by K. Edgar Priestes thrust out of Cathedrall houses and monkes set in Roger Houeden lib. Continuationum post BedaÌ„ Chronicon Iornalense Guliel de gestis pontifi lib. 1. Oswald Byshop of Wytceter and Archb. of Yorke The pollicy of Oswald in driuing out priestes to place
in Monkes An 969. Galiel lib. 3. de Gest. pontifi Chr. Iornalense in vita Edgarâ— Prebendaries and Priestes slacke in their duety Priestes voyded of Cathedrall Churches and monkes set in The difference order and institution of Monkes examined Two sortes of Monkes in the primitiue Church Cassianus lib. 2. cap. 4. de canon Nâ—ctor orat Two sortes of lay men Monkes in the olde tyme were no other but lay men leading a stricte lyfe August de mor ecclesia Hieron ad Heliodor Dionysius Concilium Chalced. Can. A. Monkes forbidden to intermeddle with matters ecclesiasticall Monkes differing froÌ„ Priests Monkes in the primitiue tyme differyng from Monkes in the ij age of the Church August de institutis monachorum Zozomen lib. 3. cap. 16. Monkes of the primitiue time were no clerks but mere lay men Monkes of the old tyme some marryed none restrayned from mariage Athanasius epistola ad DracoÌ„ Superstition crept in with monkery The ignoraunce of our free iustification by Christ is the cause of all superstition Ex Cassia cap. 17. collat 2. 〈…〉 Example â— declaring the blinde superstition of the Monkes of the olde tyme. Cassianus lib. de spiritu Gastrimarg cap. 40. Superstition Cassian lib. 6. cap. 2. Monkery mother of superstition and hipocrisie Basilius Magnus Nazianzenus Monkes of the middle and latter age of the church described Causes of the founding of monasteries and Nunneries tending to the derogation of Christes passion and Christian fayth Most part of monasteries were builded vpon some murther The order of Monkes Cluniacâ— by Othoâ— vp in King Edgars time Monarch flagellants Monkes are subiect and ruled by the knocke of a bell Monkes made spirituall ministers contratrary to the old decrees and custome of the Church Priestes is King Edgars tyme had wyues The worthy actes of K. Edgar The King a good iusticiarie England reduced into one full and perfect monarchie â—dgerus Rex Pacificuâ— King Edgar and King Alfrede compared together A note for men of nobilitie to marke A notable example of a prince to admonishe all princes what to do Wolues first driuen out of Englend The prouision of kyng Edgar in keeping the seas A notable example in a prince for all good princes to marke and to follow The deuise of K. Edgar to auoyde dronkennes Vlij kinges do homage to K. Edgar The Glory of king Edgar reprehended Wherein kinges ought to glory K. Edgar a superstitious vpholder of Monkery Ex Edmero Vices noted in King Edgar King Edgar circumuented by one of hys own counsell Cruelty in king Edgar noted Great detriment happening in this Realme by King Edgar W. Malmesb. The incontinent life of King Edgar Editha base daughter of Wilfrede the kinges lemman Edward borne in bastardie of Elflede King Edwardes concubine King Edgar a great mayntayner of monkery K. Edgar seduced by Dunstane and Ethelwold bishop of Winchester Ex Osberno in vita Dunstani Fol. 27. Malmesb Houeden alijs The death of K. Edgar Ex Chronico Saxonico Ecclesia Wigornensis Ex Osberno in vita Dunstani Dunstane refuseth to take the king by the hand The wordes of Dunstane to K. Edgar Penance enioyned 〈◊〉 K. Edgar 〈◊〉 Dunstane K. Edward raygned 〈◊〉 three years crowned king Elflede proued a NuÌ„ne and Edward her sonne a bastard Errours in Malmesbery and retayne other Monkes â—â—râ—â—s The 1. error The kinges penaunce not enioyned for Edith but 〈◊〉 Edward The 2. error Elflede the mother of Edward proued to be a professed Nunne The lying myracles of Elflede Dunstane and Editha reproued Idolatrous worshipping the tumbe of Alflede The idle phantasies and forged myracles of Dunstane A doubt whether Dunstane was a sorcerer Dunstane a post â—etter Dunstane caught the deuill by the nose with an hote payre of tonges Our Lady appeareth tâ— Dunstane What maruell if certayn bookes and epistles be falsly intituled to the Doctours wheÌ„ the papistes shame not to ascribe other mens verses also to the virgin Mary her selfe A foule filthy Monkish myracle in the story of Editha An other dreame of Dunstane Ex. W. Malmesteriensi Capgrauo in legend â—oua The death of K. Edgar An Epitaph commendatorie of king Edgar written by H. Huntington Sonday first halowed from saterday at ix of the clocke to monday morning An. 975. The story of king Edward Ex Simone Durham Contention amongst the Lordes about the putting in of Monkes Contention amongst the Lordes for chasing the king Edward the bastarde made K. and the right heyre put back Ex Osberne Nic. Trinet Ioan. Paris Vincentio Antonino Editha proued not to be the childe for whom King Edgar was enioyned penance The yeares of Editha and Edward cast by the supputation of Legendes and stories King Edward called martir proued to be a bastard The cause perpended why thys story of K. Edward is so falsely corrupted in Monkish â— stories Malmesb. in lib. de Regibus Dunstane suborneth Editha the bastard to take the crowne from the right heyre Ex Capgrauo in vita sanctae Edithae Duke Alpherus Priestes with their wiues restored Historia Iornaelensis in vitae Edgari Byshops and Priestes in those dayes maryed in England Iornalens de In eo Rego Ex Chronico Ingulphi Abbatis de Crowland Greatâ—nes in the land aboâ—â— placing Monkes 〈◊〉 displacing Priestes A contâ—â—uersie betweene Priestes 〈◊〉 Monkes Priestes â—â—â—riage 〈◊〉 for an 〈◊〉 custoâ—◠〈◊〉 England The obieâ—â—â—â—on of prieâ—â— agaynst the Monkes Guliel de Regib lib. â— The aunswere of Monkes agaynst the Priestes Maryed mens liues compared with the lyfe of Monkes An. 977. A vayne miracle of Dunstanes roode that spake Here lacâ—eâ— a Thomas Cromeâ—â—â— to try out false iugling An other assembly called at Calue Dunstane an enemy 〈◊〉 Priestes wiues A sodayne fall of the people at the councell of Calue Henricus lib 5. Guliel Ranulph Iornalensis Fabian The horrible wickednes of the Queene the mother K. Edward traterously murdered by hys stepmother and her seruant K. Edward found dead and buried not knowne to be king Coref Castle The body of king Edward after three yeares honorably taken vp and translated to Shaftesbury Two Nunneries founded vpon murther An. 979. Three Edward kinges before the conquest Continuation of the romish Bishops or Popes Pope Iohn xiii a wicked Pope Liuthprandus lib. 6. As merry as pope Iohn Prouerb Pope Iohn xiii deposed Pope Iohn restored Pope Iohn wounded in adultery Pope Benedictus 5. Pope Leo. 8. The election of the Byshop of Rome geuen to the Emperour The donations of Carolus Magnus and Otho to Rome Pope Iohn 14. Pope Iohn 14. cast into prison The cruell reuenge of the pope Christening of belles first began Pope Benedictus 6. Pope Benedict slayne in prison Pope Donus 2. Pope Bonifacius 7. Two Popes together Pope Iohn 15. Pope Iohn slayne Pope Boniface drawne through the streetes of Rome Pope Benedictus 7. Otho second Emperour Gilbertus a Necromanser made Archb. Pope Iohn the 16. Pope Iohn the xviii Pope Gregory the v. Pope Iohn the viii Two Popes together in
Rome Pope Iohn had his eyes put out and so put to death Pope Gregory restored Vii electours of themperors ordayned in Germany and who they be Ex Chronico Martini King Egelred Anno. 979. The life of Egelred Anno. 981. The coronation of Egelred The prophecie of Dunstane as monkishe storyes geue it The Danes recoursed to England Houeden lib. continuationum London coÌ„sumed with fire The king warred against the Byshop of Rochester An. 990. The bloudy flixe and hote feuers reigned in this land The death of Dunstane Ethelgarus Elfricus Siricius Elphegus Archb. of Canterb. An. 995. The Byshops sea of Dyrham London besieged of the Danes The Dane spoyled the land Great tribute leuied of the Englishmen Danegelt The sorrowfull affliction of the English nation What disseÌ„tion and discorde doth amoÌ„g the nobles in a realme The pride and wretchednes of the Danes toward the Englishmen Lord Dane Lurdaine Anno. 1000. Henrie Archidiat lib. 6. The first ioyning betweene the Norm and Englishe men King Egelred marieth Emma the Dukes daughter of Normandy Richard Duke of Normandy The Danes by secret coÌ„mission slayne in euery towne of England Suanus K. of Denmarke ariueth in England Exeter beat down Norwiche spoyled and wasted by the Danes Anno. 1004. A tribute payd to the Danes of xxx M. pound to haue peace The persecution of Turkillus a Dane Euill counsell about a king what hurt it doth The second returne of Suanus into England The persecution of Suanus king of Danes Caunterbury besieged Treason of a false Deacon Caunterbury takeÌ„ and brent The tything of the Monkes of Caunterbury A cruell murther of the Danes Elphegus the Archb. of CauÌ„t stoned to death Anno. 1013. King Egelred driuen 〈…〉 I le of Wigâ—â— from then 〈◊〉 Normandy The vertue of Christen mens prayer The death and end of Suanus The Abbey of S. Edmundelburie builded King Egelred returneth into England Canutus cutteth of the noses and handes of hys pledges Canutus taketh Westsaxon A lessen for all Iudges and Iustices Brybes Euill Iudges worse in a common wealth then bloudy enemies Wicked officers Agaynst wicked Iudges A wicked Iudge deposed and depriued by the king Anno. 1016. Edmund Ironside sunne of Egelred king Canutus sonne of Swanus king The battayles betweene Edmundus and Canutus A witty oration to stay bloud betweene 2. armyes Two 〈◊〉 fight 〈◊〉 to hand The 〈◊〉 murtherd king Edmund Two soâ—ne of Edmund Yâ—onside Flattery 〈◊〉 fidelity 〈◊〉 vntrueth in English Lordes False vnfaythfulnes and vnconstant mobilitie in Englishe Lordes and rewarded Duke Edrike the false traytor and murtherer of 〈◊〉 king worthely rewarded for hys wicked falshode The end of pernicious traytours The brother of Edmund Yronside banished reconciled and lastly slayne Edmund and Edward two sonnes of Edmund Yronside sent out to be slayne Canutus K. of Denmarke Canutus maryeth Emma wife before of Egelred Lawes of K. Edgar Hâ—rold Harefoot K. of EnglaÌ„d a Dane Anno. 1039. Hardecknout king last of the Danes that reigned in England Erle Godwyn The miserable wretchednes of Godwyn agaynst the Normands The Normandes tythed and yet the tenthes retithed agayn Alfredus sonne of Egelred right heyre of the crowne tormented with cruell death The cause expended why God suffered this land to be conquered by the Normandes Example of Gods righteous iudgement The death of K. Hardeknout The sonnes of Erle Godwyn The story of Alfred repeated Taken out of the english story or chronicle compiled of certayne englishe Clerkes Alfred of Alâ—red sonne of K. Egelred Ex historia ignati autoriâ— Gunilda wife to Henricus the Emperour Canutus went to Rome The hospitall builde at Rome for English pâ—â—grimes Rome shote confirmed by Canutus The Cathedral Churche of Wintchest inritched by Canutus S. Benets in Norfolke builded Bury Abbey turned to Monkes Flatterers and clawbackes about Princes Canutus chargeth the sea to stand backe but it would not be A lesson notable for kinges and Princes God onely the king of all kings and Lord of Lordes The kinges crowne put on a roode Kinges of England haue as much right in causes spirituall as temporall Certaine lawes of K. Canutus for the ordering of matters ecclesiasticall Adultresse woman to loose their eares and noses Anno. 104â— King Edward the conâ—ellour England aâ—flicted by the Danes the space of 255. yeares K. Edward crowned Holy king Edward a virgine iâ— maryage Methe iâ— Greeke signifieth drâ—kennes Aceasation of the Archbish. against Emma the kinges mother False accusation purged by hote yron A straunge thing if it were true and without false conueyance Great snow and mortalitie in England Variaunce betweene the king and Godwyn Godwyn with hys v. sonnes outlawed Godwyn reconciled to the king vpon pledges geuen William D. of Normandy came into England to king Edward Marianus Scotus wheÌ„ he liued The end and death of vngodly Godwyn Ex lorna Malmesberiensi Polydor. Fabiano alijs Gods iust punishment vpon Godwyn for the murthering of Alphred Periurie plagued Edward the outlawe sonne of Edmund Yronside sent for to England Anno. 1056. The death of Edward sonne of Edmond Yronside William Duke of Normandy admitted heyre to the crowne The enuy and discorde of brethren Vngracious children of a wicked father A place of Polydorus Virg. examined Harold taken of the Normands Harold promiseth Duke William to marry hys daughter and to keepe the realme for hys behoofe Erle Leofricus euer true and faythfull to hys prince How Couentry was made free Godina wife to Leofricus The Abby of Couentry builded by Leofricus Edward the outlaw Edgar Edeling Margaret Queene of Scottes Matilde Queene of England Dauid King of Scots The death of King Edward Westminster repayred Guliel Malmesber Ex lornalen Ex Historia Richardi 2. iussu composita The lawes of K. Edward Ex Mathaeo pariensi William Conquerour sworne to K. Edwardes lawes yet went from it Ex libro Reg. antiquorum in praetorio Londinensi The office of a king described in the lawes of K. Edward A king the vicare of God in earth The limits of the kingdome of England how farre they doe extend The office of a king farther described 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 king 〈◊〉 to haue 〈…〉 iecâ—ion Anno. 1066. Harold 〈◊〉 K. of Saxons Harold king of Denmarke and Tostius slayne The Pope sendeth a banner to Duke W. vpon bone vâ—age into England Duke William landeth at Hâ—stinges Three causes why Duke William entred England Three conditions offered to Harold by D. William The fight betweene Harold and Duke William K. Harold slayne The consanguinitie betweene K. Edward and William Conquerour Murther iustly recompensed Archbishops of Caunterb Liningus Egelmothus Robertus Stigandus The decay of the Church Pope Siluester 2. Siluester the. 2 a soule sorcerer Ioannes Stella Platina Petrus Praemostratensis Nancleâ—us Antoninus Robertus Barnus Ioannes Baleus Ex Ioan Stella An admonition for sorcerers and wicked coniuâ—ers The feast of all soules brouâ—ht into the church Benedictus the 9. Gregorius the 6. A constitution no pope to be chosen but by the
had lost and that he should desist heereafter from all wrongs and iniuries against the Christians Upon these conditions the Turke being agreed so was truce concluded on both parts for tenne yeares and with solemne othe betweene them confirmed This done Amurathes the tyraunt addresseth himselfe toward Asia to resist the inuasion of Caramannus aforesaid At what time Pope Eugenius so soone as he heard the Turke to be returned into Asia sendeth Iulianus Caesarianus his Cardinall whose story is before touched page 683. vnto Ladislaus the foresaid king with full dispensation and absolution to breake his othe and league wyth the Turke promising moreouer great hope of aide if he would go in armes stoutly against the tirant ¶ Where by the way is to be noted that as there is no truth of promise in that pestilēt sea of Rome neither was there euer any war prospered which was taken in hande by the Popes counsaile so was there neuer any counsaile of the Pope that brought with it more detriment to Christianitie then this But the Pope belike thought that as he might lawfully breake promise with Iohn Hus and with other Christians so also he needed not to obserue anye league or truce taken with the Turke but it turned much otherwise then the Popes blinde braines imagined as by the sequele is to be seene For Ladislaus being thus excited by the vnaduised and sinister instigation of Pope Eugenius contrary to the truce stablished a little before set out with his army from Seledinus and so proceeding to Walachia and Burgaria came to Uarna a towne of Bulgary where he fell sicke It was not long but the Turke hauing thereof intelligence left his warres begon with Caramannus in Asia and with great iourneis made haste into Europe passing ouer by the straites neare to Calipolis where all the Italian nauy still looking on and whether of purpose or whether for cowardlines would not stirre one ore to stop the passage of the Turkish army When Amurathes was come to Adrianopolis in Thrasia vsing such celeritie as no mā looked for within viij daies he was in Burgaria there encamped himselfe against Ladislaus The day of battaile being set the armies ioined on both sides Huniades was himself there present but all the matter was ruled by Iulianus the Cardinall and the Popes Clergy The fight cōtinued three daies and three nightes together with great courage much bloudshed on each side insomuch that the field did stand with lakes of bloud They semed at the first to incline to the Christians by breaking the first ranks of the Turkes But the Priests and Prelates which were at the field which had bene more fitte to haue bene in the Church seeing the Turkes to begin to flie vnskilfully left their array to pursue the enemy so that they leauing the other standings of the Christians naked gaue great aduantage to the Turks with their darts shot to disturbe the Christian rankes By the which occasion Amurathes inclosing the Christiās with his army roūd about obteined the victory In the which field Ladislaus the yong king of Polony hauing his horse first killed vnder him was strooken downe slaine The Popes Bishops flieng to saue themselues fell into the marishes and there were destroied susteining a durtey death condigne to their filthy falshode and vntruth Iulianus the Cardinall which with the Pope was the chiefe doer in breaking the league in the way was found dead being full of wounds and spoiled to his naked skinne Of the rest of the army that escaped by flieng part was drowned in the marishes some perished miserably for hunger some for cold watching wādering in the woods Huniades hardly escaped the danger by the mercifull prouidence of God being reserued to the further profite and commoditie of Christendome This Iohn Huniades the worthy warrier was borne in Walachia being Earle of Bistrice of all Captaines that euer went against the Turkes most famous singular prudent in wit discret in counsaile expert and politike in warre prompt of hand circumspect before he attempted quicke in expedition in whom wāted almost no good propertie requisite in a warlike Captaine Against two most mighty and fierce tirants Amurathes and Mahumetes through the Lords might he defended all Pannonia and therefore was called the thunderbolt and terrour of the Turkes Like as Achilles was vnto the Grecians so was he set vp of God to be as a wal or bulwarke of al Europe against the cruell Turkes and enemies of Christ and of his Christians Neither was there any King or Prince that euer achieued such noble victories either so many in number or so profitable for the publique vtilitie of all Europe as did he and that not onely in the daies of this Amurathes but also of Mahumetes his successour as heereafter remaineth further to be seene This battaile of Amurathes against the Christians at Uarna in Bulgaria was fought in the yeare of our Lord 1404. Amurathes by reason of this victorious ouerthrow againste the Christians surprised with no small pride directed his iourney incontinent toward the Grecians where Castriotus was otherwise called Scanderbcius And first commyng to Peloponesus and breaking downe the wall about the straits of Corinthe encoūtred with the brother of the Emperour of Constantinople whom with his sodeine commyng he oppressed with all the Greekes army ere they were prouided Paleologus the Emperour after that did build vp the wall againe but at the Turkes biddyng he was cōpelled to vndoe it agayne which wall afterward the Uenetians did repayre After the demolitiō of the wall Amurathes entring into Peloponesus tooke diuers townes and Cities as Sycione and Patris and moreouer made all the parts of Thessalia and Achaia tributaries vnto him The next yeare after this battaile of Amurathes fought agaynst the Christians at Uarna the Turke beyng now about the partes of Grecia purposed to bend all his force and mayne agaynst the countrey of Epyrus belongyng to Georgius Castriotus Scanderheius Of this Scanderbeius mētion was made before how he was brought vp in the Turkes Court from whence we declared also how subtillie he conueyed him selfe and came to the possession of his owne patrimony of Epyrus Which Epirus this noble and victorious Scanderbeius whom the Lord also had raysed vp the same tyme with Huniades to bridle the fury of the Turkes valiaūtly defended agaynst all the power of Amurathes In so much that he discomfited and vanquished vij of the most expert Bassas or Dukes of the Ottomā Emperour one after an other with all their armies of most piked and chosen souldiours dislodged them of their tentes and expulsed them vtterly out of all Epyrus Also when Amurathes himselfe with his whole puissaunce had enuironed about the Citie of Croia with cruell siege and ordinaunce out of measure yet notwithstandyng the sayd Scāderbeius through the power and blessing of the Lord beate him out of the field repulsed him from his
siege After this discomfiture the saying is that Amurathes to keepe his vow made before after his victory at Uarna gaue himselfe into a religious order liuyng a contemplatiue life with certaine other Priestes ioyned vnto him in the forest of Bithynia renouncing the gouernement of his realme to the handes of Haly one of his Princes for thou must vnderstaÌ„d good Reader that the Turkes also be not without their sondry sectes of Religion no more then we Christians are without our Friers and Monkes In the meane tyme while Amurathes this Turkishe tyraÌ„ne was cloystered vp in his Monkish Religion Ioannes Huniades in the kyngdome of Hungary and Castriotus Scanderbeius in Grecia kept great styâ—re against the Turkes By reason wherof Amurathes was takeÌ„ againe from his Monkish vow and profession brought agayne into the field For first Huniades had rescued the whole couÌ„trey of Hungary and had propulsed moreouer all the might of the Turkes farre froÌ„ Seruia And although the peuishe practise of Grgins Prince of Servia had oft tymes disclosed his counsailes vnto the Turkes whereby twise he was brought in daunger yet notwithstandyng through the Lordes gracious protection he was preserued and deliuered by the sayd George vnto the Hungarians agayne after that manfully vaÌ„quished the Turkes so that they had no resting place about those parts of Seruia and Bulgaria so long as he liued On the other side in Grecia Castriotus ScaÌ„derbeius so foyled the Turke in defence of his couÌ„trey Epirus and Macedonia and kept Amurathes so short that not ouely he was not able to wynne any great Towne in all Epyrus but also commyng from Epyrus in the straites was so intaÌ„gled by Castriotus that he was forced to geue battaile In the which battaile he was so vanquished most part of his army slayne that for grief and sorrow conceaued he fallyng into a rauyng sicknesse was traÌ„sported out of his pauillon vnto Adrianople and there in fury madnesse dyed after he had reigned 34. yeares which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1450. This Amurathes first ordained the order of Ianizarites Which were the men children of such Christians as he conquered tooke captiue whom he forced to renounce the faith of Christ wherein they were Baptized brought them vp in Mahumetes law exercised them in the same feates of warre as he did his owne people and after that they came to mens estate he named them Ianizari that is to say souldiours of a straunge countrey and made them to garde his person They weare on their head is stead of an helmet a white attire made of the grossest sort of woll and in so manifolde aboute their head that it can not bee pierced with a sword It haÌ„geth downe on the backe with a taile and before on the forehead it is garnished with golde and siluer They were woont to vse bowes and launces in the fielde but nowe they vse dagges as oure horsemen do At the first institution there were but 8000. in theyr garrison but now they be twise so many This of all bondage and seruitude that the Christians suffer vnder the Turke is most intollerable and greatly to be of all true Christians lamented For what can godly mindes behold more to their griefe then to see their children pulled from the faith of Christ wherein they were baptised and by whose bloud they should eternally be saued and to be instructed and nourished with the blasphemous doctrine of Mahumet and to be professed enemies of Christ and hys Churche to make warre against heauen and to perish euerlastingly And finally what a lamentable thing is it to see and beholde our owne children borne of our owne bodies to become our mortall and cruell enemies and to cut our throtes with their owne hands This seruitude of minde is farre greater then death it selfe which if oure Princes would well consider it would cause them the rather to agree and bende their whole force and power against this cruell enemy ¶ Mahumetes second the ix after Ottomanus AMurathes left behind him three sonnes Mahumete borne of the daughter of Despota Prince of Seruia being twentie yeares of age the second sonne called Turcines the third named Calepinus This Turcines being an infant and but eighteene moneths old was strangled at the commandement of the Turke by his seruant Moses himselfe being there present and beholding the horrible murther And when Moses the executour of the murther had desired him not to pollute his handes with the bloud of his brother he answered that it was the manner of all the Ottoman Turkes that all the other breethren being destroied none should be lefte aliue but one to gonerue the Empire Wherefore Moses was commaunded by the tirant there presently and in his sight to kill the infant This horrible fact when the mother of the childe vnderstoode she crieng out and almost mad for sorrowe cursed the tirant to his face But he to mitigate the rage of his mother at her request being desirous to be reuenged vpon the executour of her sonnes death deliuered the said Moses bound into her hands who then in the presence of the tirant thrust him to the hart with a knife and opening his side tooke out his liuer and threw it to the dogges to be deuoured The third sonne called Calepinus which was but sixe moneths old the foresaid Amurathes his father commended to the custody of Halibassa one of his Nobles who to gratifie and please the tirant betraied the infant brought him vnto him and thereupon he at the tirants commandement was strangled Some affirme that in the stead of Calepinus another child was offered vnto the tirant and that Calepinus was conueied to Constantinople and after the taking of Constantinople was caried to Uenice and then to Rome to Pope Calixt where he was baptised and afterward came into Germany to Fridericke the Emperour and there was honorably enterteined kept in Austrich during his life Where note how the mercifull prouidence of God whom he list to saue can fetch out of the diuels mouth And note moreouer touching the foresayde Halibassa the betraier of the infant how he escaped not vnreueÌ„ged For Mahumet vnderstanding him to be a man of great substance and richesse thorough forging of false crimes with great torments put him to death to haue his richesse for this tirant was geuen to insatiable auarice Thus this bloudy Mahumete began his regiment with horrible murther after the example of other cursed tirants his predecessours Although this Mahumete notwithstandyng that hee came of a Christen mother being the daughter of Despota prince of Seruia and by her was brought vp and instructed from his childhood in the precepts of Christian religioÌ„ and maners yet he soone forgetting all gaue himselfe to Mahumetes religion and yet so that he being addicted to neyther Religion became an Atheist beleeuing and worshipping no God at all but onely the Goddesse of