lawe of Almesse Fleshe was not eaten before Noe. Example of fastyng True fast Lent Telesphorus didappoint it afore Easter Quinquagesima â—â—uent Embryngdaies Romaynes had thre sacrifices for fruites Supersticion turned into religion Watches Vigilles wer made fastes Egyptians rite in watches Nighte sacrifices ar abholished Diagundas Wednesdaie Fridaie Daies were turned into feries Dominicus dies Sundaie Sabbatum Easter is appointed on y e Sundaie Dayes were called of the Planetes White meates is forbodeÌ„ of fastyng daies Grace at meate Readyng the bible at meat Sabboth dayes of the Iewes Holy daies Workes due for y e holidaie Easter is instituted bi the Apostles Victor Easter is too bee kepte in Marche Sainct Ihon kept y e Iewes Easter Paschal candelles Birthe daies Easter Feastes instituted by y e Apostelles Pentecost TraÌ„sfiguracion Festes instituted at the couÌ„saill of LioÌ„s Alhallowday Gregori chauÌ„ged Alholow daie Crosse daies Corpus Christi daie LaÌ„mas daie Memory of Martyres Dedication daies Reconsiliacion of Churches Deifiyng of ded menne or women Canonysyng of sainctes The Pope must alowe sainctes Diriges or exequies Mournyng Lawes of mournyng Tenne monethes was the commoÌ„ tyme of weddyng Expiacion of hastye mariages Apparell in mournyng White coloures for mournyng Frenche quenes in theyr widowehode weare white clothyng Blacke garmentes of mournyng Mournyng is supersticioÌ„ Hypocrisie Washyng dedde bodies Solle Masse daie â–ª Odilo Nouemdialis SeueÌ„th daie Thirtie daie Mariage vowes renued Buriall is an ende of all thynges Massiliens vsage at buryalles Rite of buryalles Fare well we shal come after Chalices of woode Chalices of Glasse Chalices of siluer or gold Corporaces Hallowyng of clothes of priestes Ringyng to seruice Tollyng the Aue belle Vse of belles came of the Hebrewes Baners Vowes Vowes came of y e Hebrues Goyng barefoote Bernice sister of Agrippa Supplications Letanies Letania maior Nesyng Why we say Christ helpe Yawnyng crossyng of our mouth Images Abagarus Veronica Images were coÌ„maunded to be honored Philip emperour is proclamed an heretike Hyrene Tythes Origenes opinion of tithes Homelia .xi. Luke .ii. Christ alloweth tythes Holy bread Fyrst fruites were offered of diuers countries Possessions are permitted 〈◊〉 the clergy Beginnyng of religions Essees Paule the hermite Hilarion Antonyâ—s perfection Disciples of Antony Antony liued an C.v. yere ReligioÌ„ hath growen to supersticion Benet Benet builded an abbay at Cassinum Thre vowes Basilius ordeyned The yere of probacion CluniaceÌ„ses â–ª Camaldimenses Shadowed valle order Monkes of Oliuere Grandimontensers Cistercians order Humiliates Celestines Gilbertines Iustinians Nunnes Hieronimians Heremites HicronimiaÌ„s Eusebius CremoneÌ„ris ChaÌ„non reguler Chanons apparel Hermites Augustines The order of Chanons or Hermites Scopettines Frisonaries Brethren of saint Gregory de Alga Charterhous monkes Carmâ—lites Carmâ—lites clothyng is chaunged Piemonstratenses Crochfriers Dominicke Fraunces Friers Dominickes Dominicke is canonised Fraunces Minorites Frauncisse is made a sainct ObseruaÌ„tes Clara. Penitencers Order of the Trinite Brigidians Iesuites Newe hermytes Bonhomes Grauekepers or sepulchre knightes Magdalene systers Ramundus Knightes of the Rhodes Templer knightes Duch lordes Knightes of sainct Iames Calatrauean knightes Knightes of Iesus Christ Alcantarian knightes Knightes of sainct Mari de Mercede MountesiaÌ„s Minimes Apostolike brâ—thren Whyte secte Niniuites Rites of Niniuites Whippyng wheÌ„ce it came Lupercalia An vsage of the EgiptiaÌ„s Fraternities Assirians Egyptians Craftes of y e Egytians The Egyptians excuse Goddesse of Siria Libro .viii. de asmo aureo Antonians The token of Antonians Ceretanes Ceretanes play in somer and begge in wynter Mahometanes Mahomete Abdemonaples Sergius Mahomete preached sediciously When Mahomete died Mecha Caliphas Homar Homar wan Hierusalem â–ª Reliques Many bishopes of Rome suffered marâ—tyrdome Martyres wer seuerally buried Churches of our Lady Peters churche Letanies Stacions Iubile euery hundred yere Ludiseculares Iubile at fifti yeres Iubile at .xxv yeres Pardons PardoÌ„s wer profitable to the purse Iubylee was sente into all countrees for money Moses was first authour of the Iubilee Titles of the Bishoppes of Rome Diuus Gregorius Seruus seruoruÌ„ dei Salutem Apostolicam benedictionem Christes gretyng The Hebrues salutyng Scribes Collage of Scribes Taxes of benâ—fites Penitencers Price of all wryttes Bulles sealed with leade Carolus magnus sealed first w t golde Breuiatours Solicitours Notaries Collage of secretaries Somoners Annates A general decree of Annates Simon Magus SimoÌ„ profered monei for too haue power too gyue the holi ghost Symon was made a God SimoÌ„ did fly in the ayre SymoÌ„ brake his legge Simoniakes Menander Samaritanê° Nicolaians Corinthus Hebion IhoÌ„ did write his Gospell against HebioÌ„ Basilides Marchion Valencianus Montanus Apelles Sabellius Paulus Samosatenus Schismes Nouatianus Mundi Arrius A Schisme Schisme of a later tyme. Counsailes Matthias elected by a counsaill Corneliê° called the firste counsaill Counsail of Cartage Counsail of Antioche Counsail of Nicea Counsail at CoÌ„staÌ„tinople Counsail at Ephesus Counsail at Chalcedonie Counsail at Byzance Deipara Another couÌ„sail at BizaÌ„ce No counsaill may be called without the popes coÌ„sent Counsailes should be called euery teÌ„th yere Senesin euery diocese Christ was a witnesse of the trueth Stephyn disputed with al the learned men of Iury. Stephyn is stoned to death Stephin first open defeÌ„der of oure faith Nero fyrst persecutour of al the heathen princes Halfe Rome was burned by Nero â–ª Persecucion done by the Emperour Dioclesiane made the greatest persecution Maxencius ConstaÌ„tinus first staied the christen faith Stephyn was the fyrst martyre
neuer rode out nor might not lie one night out of y e citee lest any sacrifices shuld be neglected by suche absence Sweryng was cleane forboden him bycause an othe is a maner of punishement to any fre borne manne and namely to a priest whiche hath charge of all diuine obseruaunces For his worde should haue the weight of an othe I would wishe y t our bishoppes would marke and folowe bothe those properties of these Heatheâ— religiouse for then the state of our religion should be in better case then it is and other would not enforse so lightely a priest to the necessitie of an othe whiche should haue no other termes but yea naye to confirme or denie their saiyng Beside this Flamen y t was called Dialis bicause he was consecrated to Iupiter there were by the same Numa ordeyned two other one to Mars and another to Quirine albeit Plutarche saieth it was Romulus that instituted priestes to Iupiter and Mars Virgyns vestals were of his bringyng in also and founded in honour of Vesta daughter to Saturnus The fyrst that euer was chosen in to y e religion was called Amata and of her al were named likewyse a mayde might not be vnder sixe yeres of age nor aboue ten if she were created of this religion These continued in their profession xxx yeres whereof the fyrst ten they spent in learnyng the rites the other ten they ministered the last of their yeres they taught other nouices and when her terme of yeres was expired she might marie or tarie in that religion styl They were fouÌ„d at the charges of the common cheste and yf any of them committed any carnall acte with any man she was borne in the sight of all the people out of the cytie and at the gate named Collina was buried quicke They roade in a wagoÌ„ and other magistrates roase to them and if they came by in tyme of execucion the condemned was quite deliuered This religion begaÌ„ne at Alba by the institucion of Ascanius was renued in Rome by kyng Numa A highe bishoppe was also deuised by him to haue the chiefe stroke in al ceremonies of sacrificyng and he prescribed the daies and places of sacrifices and in what fourme thei should be done He ordeined also to gradiuus Mars twelue priestes named Salii bicause they daunsed in a solemne maner and went aboute the cytie with songes they weare a brodered coate with a brasen brestplate and a round tergate It semeth that Numa toke this rite of the Hebrues for Dauid went afore the Arke of the lorde dauÌ„sing Heraldes of armes whiche wer called Facialis Sacerdotes were inuented by him to haue charge to prouide that no battaile were vniustely taken in hande they also made leagues stablished peace or if it wer not duely made he myght breke it offer oblacion for the offences of the capitain and the whole armye Pater Patratus was an officer that made all leagues or bondes and was created by y e Heraldes as Marcus Valerius first Herald ordeined Spurius Fusius fyrst into y e offyce of Pater Patratus After the expulsyng of kynges was an office called Rex Sacrificulus appoincted whiche should do all suche customable obseruaunces as the kinges should do albeit he was vnder y e high priest or bishoppe the fyrst that did beare that office was Marcus Papyrius Epulones had the office of appointyng feastes and solemne bankettes to Iupiter the other goddes these were also called Sodales Titii whiche were ordayned by Romulus after he ioyned felowshyp with Titus Tatius ¶ The ende of the abrydgement of the fourth booke The fifth booke The fyrst Chapiter ¶ Of the deckyng of churches on holy daies offeryng of Images of waxe and tables of miracles solemnisyng first masses of priestes THERE be many supersticious customes crepte in among the Christen congregacion whiche came of a geÌ„tile opinion bicause they could not altogether be abolished and extirped at the lest way they were transposed to a better vse and remoued from Idolatrie to the garnishyng of churches and temples of the faithful people As trimmyng of the temples with haÌ„gynges floures boughes and garloâ—des was taken of y e heathen people whiche decked their Idols houses with suche array In like maner it is to be thought of the rite of hangyng vp Images of waxe tapers afore sainctes or as aften as any membre is diseased to offre the same in waxe as legges armes feete pappes oxen horse or shepe whiche were haÌ„ged vp in the churche afore that saincte by whom as they beleued they had obtaigned health of the sayd membre or beast For this came of an olde Paynyme fashion of sacrifices that the Paganes offered to Saturnus Pluto in an Isle of Italy named Cotyllia wherof I spake afore I thynke the beryng of candels that we vse on the feast of the Purificacion of oure Lady called Candelmasday came of this gentile rite also that in burnyng them we might worship the sainctes as they honoured their false God Saturne It semeth that lampes hangyng lightes beganne of the candels that Moses set vp to burne in the tabernacle The fastenyng vp of tables wherin the miracles are written for a monumente and testimony to the posterite came of a custome as Strabo writeth that is vsed in Grece where the maner is that whosoeuer was releued of any sickenesse or maladye should hang vp a table conteignyng the recouerye of his health in the teÌ„ple of that God that had preserued him and specially there were many set vp in Aesculapius temple at Epidaurus The vse of feastyng on holy daies and at the fyrst Masse of priestes was borowed also of Gentilitee whiche honored the day of consecratyng their religiouse as solemnely as the day of their natiuite with denoute and religiouse breakfastes and feastes callyng it the natiue daye of theyr sacred parsonages wherof Apuleius maketh mencion And it is a good vsage bycause the daye of the birth bringeth but onely life the day of consecratyng a priest bryngeth or els ought to procure a good and godly life Albeit on Maunday thursday hath bene the maner from the beginnyng of the church to haue a general drinkyng as appeareth by s Paules writyng to the Corinthians Tertuliane to his wyfe The .ii. Chapiter ¶ The maner of castyng mony to the people Newyeres giftes daunsyng Maâ—yng Christenmas lordes IT smelleth also of geÌ„tilite that the bishop of Rome emperours and Kynges at theyr coronacion are wont â—o scatre mony amoÌ„g the commons make royall feastyng whiche is a pretence or comforte of the benificence or liberalitie that is to come afterwarde For the old Romaynes vsed the same order and institucion in their triumphes games and funeral as Suetonius recordeth Geuyng of newyeres giftes had it original there likewyse for Suetonius Tranquillus reporteth that the knightes of Rome gaue yerely on the
Therefore we must receiue confession for the absolucion sake that is geuen into the handes of the ministers The .ii. Chapiter ¶ Matyns singyng of psalmes by course Legendes of sainctes MATINS with Pryme and houres wer appointed fyrst by Hierom for one Eusebius of Cremona diuerse other that liued with him to y e entent that they might haue certain laudes and praisyng of God to syng in the churches And the fathers and old gouernours of congregacions receyued them folowyng this verse of Dauid in the .c.xix. psal Seuen tymes in y e day haue I geuen and song praise to the. Cipriane writeth that the Pryme and other houres toke their originall of Daniel Whiche after the custome of his countre thrise in y e day mornyng noone euenyng on his knees vsed to praye It was also the rite of the Heathen to haue mornyng prayers for Apuleius saieth that their religious when all thynges were duely finished song salutacions of the newe light and shewed that it was Prime of the daye where he meaneth by salutacions the mornyng songes that we cal Matyns and there declareth howe the houres of the day were sorted and deuided for sacrifices prayers Pelagius the secōd was the fyrst that cōmaunded priestes to say them daily that like as the iust mā falleth vii tymes on the daye so by instante continual praier he might as often ryse and amende Gregorius put to the beginnyng of euery houre Deus in adiutorium and Gloria patri c. Vrbanus the seconde ordayned the lady Mattyns to be sayd dayly and cōfirmed them in the counsel whiche he had at mount Clare in Fraunce The diuision of Dauids psalter in to .vii. partes called nocturnes accordyng to the .vii. dayes in the weke was the worke of Hierome at the request of Damasus bishoppe of Rome whiche also gaue cōmaūdement that it should be redde so in the churches and added Gloria patri to the end of euery psalme The Gloria patri was made in the counsel of Nicene Damasus also instituted that the psalmes should be song and sayd by course Albeit some say Ignatius did deuyse that afore his tyme whiche thyng was learned of Dauid or Asaph for in the olde sinagoge they vsed to syng their psalmes after that sorte but oure singyng is farre from their maner For our singers cry out so loude that we heare nothyng saue a noyse and those that be present can not be edified with the word It wer great furtheraunce to the religion if those singers not far vnlike to Iaies were either vanished out of the temples or elles their syngyng were so modifyed with more sobernesse that the wordes myght be vnderstande to the edifiyng of the layitie whiche is sore blinded with singyng and sound of instrumentes that be not fyt to edifye but to delight the eares This modest singyng was vsed by the holy Athanasius byshop of Alexandria through all his prouince and diocese as Austen witnesseth Damasus commaunded that the cōmon Crede shuld be sayd at euery houre Vitalianus inuented the decente tunes wherein the hymnes be song and ioyned the Organs to them Legendes of sainctes were made the yere of our lorde D.ccc. by Paulus Diaconus and Isuardus a monk at the desire of Charles the great And forsomuche as the persecucions wer so great that in the time of Dioclesian y e emperour there died .xvii. M. christē men within .xxx. daies space thei could not particulerly write al their lyues but made certaine general Legendes of martyres Cōfessours virgyns whiche we now cal the cōmon the fathers cōmaunded those to be red in y e churche on suche sainctes daies Afterward many thinkyng that they should be hearde rather for their muche bablyng sake deuised sundrye maners of praiyng diuerse vses as Benettes mōkes had one vse Barnardes another and Domynickes brethren had one order by thē selues euery prouincial byshop made a seueral vse in his diocese and all were confirmed by the bishoppes of Rome The .iii. Chapiter ¶ The beginnyng of fastyng almesse Aduent Lent Embryng daies FASTYNGE and Almesse deedes be as sainct Austen saieth the two wynges of praier wherewith it is made strōger and lighter to flye into y e presence of God and be more acceptable in his sight Fastyng hath bene vsed frō the beginnyng of the worlde What tyme the fruite of the tree of knowing good and euyl was forbodden to our fyrst parentes in Paradise bycause by suche abstinence thei myghte obteyne and enioye the felicitie euerlastyng Almesse in lyke maner sprong of the infirmitie and nedines of the nature of men for as thei felte hunger colde nakednes and suche other calamities as be in our mortall lyfe thei were constrayned to desyre aide and succour of other men and of almes Albeit Moses was fyrst that euer prescribed any lawe of gyuyng almes as apereth in the boke of Deutronomie Thys charitable almes must bee so freelye gyuen that we exempte none from the vse and part takyng of it and as the scripture sayth without respecte of parsonnes As for fastyng of that original proceded further for the vse of flesh and wyne from Adam tyl the time of Noha was vnknowne And Moses forbare meate fortie dayes and Helias dyd lykewyse Our sauioure Christe fasted the same space And God pardoned the Niniuites of their crimes because they fasted with repētaunce The Iewes also in their lawe so ofte as they either asked any benifite of God or would pacifie his wrath or render thankes for his benefytes or kept any solemne feastes vsed commonly to fast And certees he kepeth 〈◊〉 the true fast whiche forbeareth 〈◊〉 or forgoeth his supper but he that mynysheth his affections abateth his anger swageth hys pryde modifieth his desires mortifieth his lustes suffereth paciently all aduersitie that chaunseth to him that mā is the true faster Albeit the other is a coadiutoure to that thyng and helpeth muche that purpose Therfore to the intent we myght reclayme suche corrupcions of oure olde Adam The Apostles dyd ordeyne the fast of Lente as Hierome in a pistle to Mercella doth playnely declare Wherfore they that referre it to Telesphorus be foulye disceyued for he dyd not institute it fyrst but appoint that it should be kepte afore the Easter And added another weke to it that we cal Quinquagesima This weke he commaunded priestes to fast more then the layitie bicause y t thei which ought to be holier then the rest shuld in this ordinarye fast shewe more abstinence thē other The Apostles also instituted that .iii. wekes afore y e Natiuite of our Lord named Christmas shuld be solemnely fasted which cōstitucion was a while kept vniuersally but afterward it was resigned to the monkes and religious persons Calistus or as some thynke Vrbanus dyd begyn the Embringdaies quarterly for the preseruacion and amplificacion of fruites ordayned for the sustenaunce of man
and beast Albeit I cā rather take it to be an imitacion of y e olde Romayne feastes whiche thrise in the yere had sacrifices for the prosperous successe of their corne one Vinalia for their wynes the other Robigalia for all their grayne least it should be mildued The third Floralia for all their fruites These vayne superstitious old bishoppes of Rome turned to a godly vse and trāsposed their feastyng into fastyng that the rather at the contemplacion of oure praiers and fasting God might prosper the increse of al the fruites to the sustentacion of his creatures The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Watches were turned into fastes fastyng of Fridaies and Wednesdaies namyng the daies of the weke in sundry wise IT was the maner from the begynnyng of oure christen faith that for so much as it pleased our sauioure to be borne in the night priestes dyd ryse in the nighte season and song the houres canonical otherwyse named the Matyus the laye people was accustomed on those sainctes euens that were any solemne feastes to watch at the tombes of Martyr spraiyng and singyng holy psalmes Which thing the testimony of Plinie doeth well approue wher he writeth in a pistle to Traiane how that much nomber of people was slaine in whom he could neuer espye any faulte sauyng that afore daye at certayne tymes and feastes they arose and song of cōmendacion of Christ whom they called God But as tyme is corrupter of al thynges worldely in processe as deuocion beganne to abate in stead of hymnes they song dissolute balades praier was turned into wanton daliaunce The youth went about lyght amorous companye the eldest personnes practised baudry women were not ashamed to geue them selues to be corrupted in al kynd of whordome Vpō this occasion the olde fathers seyng least it myght growe to a further in conuenience turned the Vigilles into fastyng dayes Notwithstandyng the priestes vsed their ordinarye tymes of seruyse as they were wont to do and suche feastes were called by the name of Vigilles and obserued with no lesse reuerence then the faste of Lent This remedy was prouided after sainct Hieromes tyme whiche died the yere of oure Lorde cccc.xxii when Bonifacius the seconde was bishoppe of the sea of Rome The lyke custome was also obserued among the Egyptians whiche on the euens of theyr hyghe feastes fasted and after thei had slepte thei offered a cowe all suche night sacrifices and obseruances for like causes wer by a perpetuall lawe in Grece abrogated by Diagundas a Thebane The faste of wednesdaie and Fridaie was cōmaunded by the fathers bicause on the one daie Christ was crucified and on the wednesdaie Iudas purposed in his minde to betray him as Apolonius the eloquent oratoure supposed Siluester the first bishoppe of Rome abhorryng the memorial of the vain Gentile godes decreed that the daies of the weke whiche had afore the names titles of the Sonne Moone Mars Mercury Iupiter Venus and Saturne should be called the first second third fourth fifth sixte seuenth ferie in semblable maner as the Iewes coumpted their daies frō the Sabboth daie He did also call y e firste ferie Dominicus dies that we name Sonday and called Saturday Sabbatum of the olde holy daie and rest of the Hebrues al these thynges wer dooen at the sute of Constantine then Emperour Albeit the Apostles afore that tyme had consecrated the Sondaie to the Lorde bicause that daie he rose from death the Iewes Sabboth was turned into it as maie appere by the decree of Pius that ordained the Easter to bee kepte on the Sundaie and therfore I thynke Siluester did but onely renewe thesame acte of the Sundaie It was the inuencion of the Egiptians y t the daies wer firste named after the seuen planetes as Diodorus recordeth Sācte Gregory was the authour that neither fleshe nor any thyng that hath affinitee with it as chese milke butter egges should bee eaten on suche daies as were fasted Wee haue also a maner vsage of hallowyng the table and meate afore wee bee set that begonnen of the imitacion of Christ whiche vsed thesame fashiō ouer the fiue loues in the wildernesse and at Emaus also he did insemblable wise consecrate the table in the presence of his disciples so was the fourme of saiyng grace after supper taken like wise of the custome that Christe commonly kept at his suppers The maner to reade apart of the Bible at dyner tyme hath been of long continuance and did proceade of the Godly doctryne that Christe instructed his disciples in at all tymes but namely at his last supper wherein he treated of y e perfecciō of al y e misteries of our religiō And thus our fathers to kepe in memory suche an holsom instituciō did bryng in this maner of readyng the scripture at meate or meale tyme. ⧠The .v. Chapiter ¶ The originall of holy daies Paschall candelles birthe daies LYKE as the Iewes had in their law whiche was but onely a shadawe of thynges too come holy daies appoyncted for the execucion of the misteries of their religion whom thei in one generall terme named Sabboth dais of the rest and vacasiō that thei had from bodely labours semblably our fathers haue ordaigned festiuall daies in the new testament wherein Christen men all profane businesses and eiuil maters laied aparte might wholy apply and bend themselfes to Godly and spirituall meditacions As the perusyng and readyng of scriptures heryng of deuoute sermons renderyng honor to God by sacrificyng praiyng and well dooyng bee woorkes fete and conuenient for the holy daie and also reuerencyng the memoriall of sainctes on suche daies as bee assigned to that purpose is on the holy daie laudable For oblacion is onely due to God as Paule Barnabas did openly testifie at Listra For whē he had commaunded by the power of the worde of God that the man whiche was lame from his mothers wombe should arise and walke the people for wonder and maruaile of the miracle would haue dooen sacrifice to them but thei renting their clothes departed out of the prese and with sharpe woordes rebuked their enterprise as a thyng vnmete to bee dooen to any mortall man or worldly creature Firste of all the feaste of Easter was instituted by y e Apostles and prescribed by Pius the first to be solemnised on the Sondaie Afterward as it chaunsed that alteracion of that matter arose Victor that was bishop of Rome aboute the hundred nynetie and sixe yere of our lord decreed that it should altogether bee kepte and celebrated on the Sondaie frō the fourtene daie of the firste moneth that was Marche vntill y e .xxii of the same least our ordre coumpte should agree with the Iewes whiche kept it somewhat soner then that appoyntemente speaketh of albeeit many foreyne bishoppes at the firste refused that cōstitucion bicause thei thought it not out of
y e one was more then a prophete so the other was aboue the state and condicion of Monkes Some assigne the original of it to Antony other referre it to one Paule a Thebane surnamed Heremite bycause he laide the fouÌ„dacion of y e maner of liuyng solytary Neuertheles for so muche as euery maÌ„ may speake his phantasye in a thing doubtful I thynke y e institucion of this monastical life to haue proceded of y e Essees a religiouse brotherhod among y e Hebrues that liued after a greater perfection then the Monkes did in their supersticiouse phaÌ„tastical tradicioÌ„s as appeareth by the .viii. boke of Eusebius de preparatione euangelica Of their precedence Antonye and Paule the Thebane toke example of orderyng the rules and preceptes of theyr religiouse scolars Albeit it shal agre of good right to ascribe the oryginal of it to Antony whiche although he were not the fyrst yet he did specially encorage the endeuours of al other to lead that lyfe and aucthorised the discipline of Monkes in Egypt And afterwarde Basilius in Grece and Hilarion in Syria dyd muche augment amplifie that purpose For this Hilarion a man of great vertue by callyng on the name of Iesus healed at the cytie of Gaza the sonnes of a noble woman whervpon the brute of him was so noysed that many out of Syria Egypte repayred vnto him he fouÌ„ded abbeys in Palestine instructed theÌ„ w t rules of liuyng As for Antony he liued in the wildernes of Thebais in Egypt builded there an abbeye where he him selfe w t Sarmatas Amatas and Macarius his disciples liued in so ernest contemplacion and praier â–ª that they liued onely with bread and water his holynes was suche that Helena mother of Constantine dyd commende her selfe and her sonne to his praiers He dyed in the wyldernes when he was an C.v. yeres olde the yere of oure saluacion CCC.lxi his disciples Amatas and Macharius encreased muche the religion after his death Sarmatas was slayne by the Saracenes The institucion of this state of liuyng came I graunte of a good zeele to godlynes but the deuil peruerter of all good thynges dyd so empoysone the heartes of them that folowed that they had more trust in their workes then fayth in Christes blod then euery man beganne new rules of workes to be theyr owne sauiours and went so supersticiousely to worke that al was out of rule and abhominable in the sight of God ⧠The .ii. Chapiter ¶ The diuision of monastical life into sundry secâ—â—s and â—actions AN hundreth .lxvi. yeare after y e death of Antony Benet an ItaliaÌ„ borne at Nursie in Vmbria when he had liued long in solitarines resorted to a cytie of Italy named Sublaque a cytie of the Latines forty miles from Rome And forbecause he was greatly delited with wyldernes and also the people preased there muche to see and heare his preachynges he departed thence to Cassine And in y e tyme of Iohn the fyrst about y e yere of our lord CCCCC xxiiii he buylded ther an abbey and assembled the Monkes that were dispersed alone in diuerse places into one couente and ordered them with instructions of maners rules of liuyng confyrmed with thre vowes that is chastitee wylfull pouertie and obedience because they shuld al together mortify their owne wyl and lustes These thre forenamed vowes Basilius bishop of Gesaria did fyrst institute and publishe in the yere of oure lorde CCC.lxxxiii And also assigne the yere of probacion or trial that religiouse persons had afore they were professed The order of CluniaceÌ„ses were ordeyned by one Odon an abbotte at Masticense a village of Burgundie And WilliaÌ„ duke of Aquitany gaue them on house the yere of our lorde ixC xvi in the tyme of Sergius the thyrd Not long after the religion of Camaldimenses was begoÌ„ne by Romoaldus of Rauenna in the mounte Apenninus the yere of our lord .viii. C.l. they kept perpetual sileÌ„ce euery wednesday friday they fast bread water they go barefoote lye on the ground In a part of the same mountayne called Vallis Vmbrosa or the shadowed valey in y e yere of Christes incarnacion M lx vnder Gregory y e vi Iohn Gualbert begaÌ„ne a new sect of Monkes named theÌ„ of the place where the abbey stode the shadowed valie order The Monkes of Oliuere sprong vp as a fruite of discorde the same yere that the variance was amoÌ„g the thre bishops were instituted by Barnardus Ptolomeus y e yere of Christ M. cccc.vii vnder Gregory the .xii. The faction of Grandimontensers beganne by Steuen of Auerne in Aquitany or Guyen the yere of our lord M.lxxvi vnder Alexander the second had theyr tytle of y e mountayne where their abbey stode A litle after y e same tyme Robert abbot of Molisme in Cistercium a Forest of Burgundie dyd institute y e order of Cistercians albeit some ascrib this to one Ordingus a Monke that persuaded Robert to the same aboue the yere of our lord M.xcviii vnder Vrbane the second Of this religion was the great clerke s Barnarde Almost an C. yere after this in y e yere of our lorde M.C.lxvi The order of Humiliates was diuised by certeine persons exiled by Fredericus Barbarussa which when thei were restored to theyr couÌ„tre apparelled the selfes in white liued by a kynd of vow in praiers penury workyng wulle were admitted by Innocentius the thyrd and other his successours Celestines were founded by Celestinus the fyfte of that name bishop of Rome in the yere of our lorde M.C.xcviii In England saint Gylbert at Tyrington Sempringham begaÌ„ne an order called after him Gylbertines in the tyme of Eugenius the fourth the yere of Christes incarnacion Mcxlviii The Iustinianes were inuented by Lewes Barbus a religiouse man of Venice In the abbey of sainct Iustine at Padway the yere of our saluacion M. CCCC.xii in the daies of Iohn the .xxiii. There were also orders of NuÌ„nes diuised after the same rules of supersticion as the other be ⧠The .iii. Chapiter ¶ Of the Hierominians Chanons Chatterhouse Monkes Whyte frears Crouchefryes with other HIERONIMIANS had theyr beginnyng of s Hierome whiche leauyng his natyue couÌ„tre went into Iury and ther not farre froÌ„ Bethlehem builded him an house where he liued very deuoutly the latter ende of his life in the tyme of Innocentius the .vii. The yere of our lorde M. CCCC.v After his example other counterfetted a resemblant of perfeccion namyng theÌ„ selues Hieronimians wearyng their cloothes of whyte and a coope playted aboue ouer their coate girde with a leather gyrdel There were also certayne Heremites called Hierominians of the foundacion of one Charles Grauel of Florence which made him selfe an Hermite of the same religion in the mouÌ„taynes of Fessulus other there
bie or sell benefices and spirituall promocions whiche thyng although it bee often vsed is playnely forboden by the scriptures Next Simon succeded his disciple Menander a Samarytane borne whiche called hymself a sauiour sente from heauen to preserue and saue menne and promised theim â–ª 〈◊〉 receiued his baptisme should liue immortally he did more harme and peruerted more then his master Simon had doen. In thesame tyme the heresie of the Nicolayans beganne whiche taughte that wifes should bee vsed in common as the Anabaptistes dooe nowe at this tyme. Then also Corinthus enterprised to mixte the newe lawe with the olde affirmyng that circumcision oughte too bee obserued and kepte and that after the resurreccion menne should liue a thousande yeres in carnall lustes and pleasures At those daies Hebion his heresie broke oute whiche saied that Christe was not afore his mother agaynste this felowe Ihon wrote his Gospell laste of all the Euangelistes Aboute that tyme were other diuerse heretikes as Basilides that affirmeth there wer twoo beginnynges or principall causes of thynges contrary his scholer Marchion a Stoicien that denied Christe to bee the sonne of GOD and Valenciane that saied Christe tooke no fleshe of the virgins body but passed through her as it were through a pipe or condute theÌ„ also Montanus named hym self the comforter or holy ghoste Apelles was then also whiche saied Christe was but a phantasie in the sight of men and Sabellius that said the father the sonne the holy ghost wer but one persone and Paulus Samosatenus whiche denied the twoo natures to bee in Christe and that he beganne but of his mother and that she had after hym mo children by Iosephe And thus beganne heretikes firste to spryng vp As for Schismes whiche sprong of suche heresies and erronious opinions Nouatianus a prieste of Rome was authoure of the firste in the yere of our Lorde twoo hundred fifty and fiue in the tyme of Cornelius bishoppe of Rome he named his disciples Mundi that is pure and cleane and offeÌ„ders he affirmed that thei ought not to bee admitted but reiected although thei wer penitente for their synnes whiche openioÌ„ the Anabaptistes now maintain He was condemned â—i Cornelius bishop of Rome as an heretike with all his adherentes Aboute foure score yeres after in the reigne of Constantine the greate Arrius a priest of Alexandria was the beginner of a secte schisme that denied the sonne too bee of the substaunce of GOD the father but this was conuicte in the counsaill of Nicene albeet not extincted THE thirde Schisme was when Damasus was bishop of Rome wher in thei contended not onely with voices and woordes but also with violence and weapons by reason of the ambicion of the bishoppes there asseÌ„bled Other Schismes haue sproÌ„gen in our tyme to the great disquietnes and confusion of Christen religion destruccion of common welthes whâ—che I praie God maie bee redressed staied to the honor of hym to the confirmacioÌ„ of y e faithfull to the subuersioÌ„ of hipocrisy to the auanncemeÌ„t of Goddes woorde too the mitigatyng of the trouble of poblike weales too the establishement of perpetuall vnitee of herte and continuall peace all discencion and warre extinguished ¶ The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ When the firste generall counsaill was kepte and whiche wer alowed by the fathers THE custome of assembling couÌ„selles to take deliberacioÌ„ of thynges doubtefull or matters seriouse is of a greate ancientie aswel emong the Hebrues as other nacions And by suche a maner counsail was Matthias surrogated and substituted in the steade of Iudas into the number of the Apostelles And by a counsaill holden at Hierusalem the Apostles discharged the Gentyles of Moses lawe Cornelius was the first as plainly appeareth that called to gether any counsaill and that was in Rome of sixe hundred bishoppes as many priestes with a greate multitude of deacons In this counsail the heresie of the Nouatianes was coÌ„uicted and at thesame tyme satte also a counsail at Carthage where sainct Cypriane was bishoppe Eusebius writeth also that once in the dayes of Dionisius and likewyse in y e tyme of Felix the fathers somoned another counsail at Antioche to condemne Paule Samosatene whiche denied the two natures of Christ as is aforesayd FIVE other counsailes wer celebrated in the reigne of Constantine the Emperour and al were in Grece one at Nicea a cytie of Bithine wher were gathered thre hundreth .xviii. bishoppes to confuâ—e Arrius and his secre This was the yere of Christ thre hundreth twenty and foure the same tyme that Siluester y e fyrst was bishoppe of Rome THE seconde was at Constatinople when Damasus was bishoppe of Rome wherein Macedonius and Eudoxus wer coÌ„demned bicause thei dyd deny the holy ghost to be God HHE thirde was at Ephesus Celestyne the fyrst then occupiyng the sea of Rome There was Nestor his heresie abholished that sayd Mari the virgyne was mother of Christ a man but not as he was of God and that the persone of the God hede and his manhod wer .ii. sundry persones THE fourth was at Chalcedonie vnder Leo the fyrst where Entiches an heretike was improued these .iiii. sainct Gregorye thought worthye to be admitted and allowed to the establishyng of our religion THE .v. was soleÌ„nely kept at Byzance at the coÌ„maundement of Vigilius bishop of Rome and in this was Theodorus reasoned with whiche affirmed that Marie dyd beare onely a man and not God and man For that cause the counsail there then decreed that Christes mother should be called Theotocos or Deipara that is bearer of God and the actes of this counsail were receiued by Gregorye THE sixte counsail Constantine the fourth at the request and suite of Agathon called also at Byzance where two hundreth bishoppes condemned Macarius of Antioche This counsail was accepted by Hadriane the fyrst That no counsail might be legitimate or lawfully asseÌ„bled without the bishoppe of Rome his consent and assente was the constitucion and decree of Marcellus the fyrst and afterwarde Iulius Damasus and Gregorie ratified the same Martine the fifth made a law that euery tenth yere the bishop of Rome and al Christen princes should meete together to consulte of matters concernyng our religion christen faith It was decreed at the counsail of Nicene that euerye bishop should twise yerely haue a sinode or senes general within his diocese to correcte and refourme suche thynges as were out of order But now the matter is so handeled that senes be onely courtes to gather their senage and proxie with a procession and a sermon that the half vnderstand not other correction I heare of none The .v. Chapiter ¶ Of the fyrst persecutours of the christen and fyrst Martyres CHRISTE whiche came into this worlde and was incarnate to beare witnesse