A Disclosing or Opening of the Man of Sin, Book 2 · Part 8
The manne of ſynne.
¶ 1 And more ouer ageynſt good vvorkes / 2 ſpecyallye 3 faſtīge / prayer almes dede 4 ageynſt auriculer cō feſſyon / 5 ageynſt the vovve of chaſtyte / 6 ād for the mariage ofpreſtes.
Hys dyſcloſynge.
DEd not I tel ye afore, we ſchuld notMy lorde bonerproueth hymſelfe a fowle lyar. nede to ſeke farre to proue yow a lyar, for your owne confeſſyō wolde do it? ye ſaye theſe bokes are ageynſt good workes, and ye declare here what good workes ye meane. Specyally faſtynge (ye ſaye) prayer, and almes dede. I maruelé ye are not aſhamed, to be ſo double of your wordes. A fore ye ſayd, there was in theAlwayes hath antichriſt a ſhameleſſe face. Daniel. 8 ſachell a boke of prayer made by Luther and here now ye ſaye, they are ageynſt prayer. Of prayer ād ageinſt prayer is not all one, by anye godlye mannys iudgement. But fyrſt lete vsus go to good workes. If it be a good worke to abhorre vnfaythfulneſſe, to deteſt Idols, toAll theſe are good workes and requiaed in thoſe bokes. ſhurne hypocreſye to repent wyckedneſſe, to reſort to chriſt, to ſeke hys glorye alone, to obeye chriſten rewlers of lone, to lyue after Gods cōmaundemētes, to praye without ſuperſticion, to brynge vp yow the in vertu, with ſoche other like, thā are yow a moſt wycked blaſphemer. For allTher monye ſacricesare not in thē cō mended. they are in theſe bokes moſt erneſtlye deſyred. Marrye in dede the good workes that myght make to the fyllynge of your ſpirituall purſes, are not there greatlye cared for and that is the cauſe of yowr great anger.
2 As moche care yow for true faſtyngeEccle. 34. Za. h. 7. Eſayc. 58 Luce. 6. Baruch. 2 (whych is to ceaſe from ſynne, and to do the workes of mercye) as doth the deuyll of hell. Vvhan delyuer yow the oppreſſed? Vvhan dyſolue yow vngolye promiſes? whan hūger yow for the ryght ouſneſſe of God? Abſtynēce from meates maketh vsus not Gods ſeruauntes. For than were the deuyll moſt holye, which neuer eateth nor drynketh. The faſtynge that yeMath. 6. 1. Tim. 4. Euſebius in hiſtor. Eccl. 11. 5. ca. 16. 17. …. 18. call vponupon doth Chriſt name hypocreſye, and ſaint paule the doctrine of deuyls. Mō tanus a peruerſe heretyque was the fyrſt that made the lawes of compulſyon in faſtynge, whom yow ſtyll occupye to thys preſent daye. Ageynſt whom at the ſame tyme wrote Melciades, Appolonius, and Serapion with other notable fathers, and therfor, ye had nede to condēpne ther bokes alſo, The cauſe now whye ye take ſoche peynes in thys matter, ys to holde vp (yf it may be) your lēt made by pope TheBlondus & platina in vitis pontificū Roma. oleſpherꝰ, your ēbrynge dayes ordayned of pope Calixtusthe firſt, your fryday faſt cōfermed by pope leo the fort, as wytneſſeth maſter Eckius, your ſatturdaye vygyle cōſtytute by pope Innocent the firſt and pope Gregorye the ſeuenth, wyth yowr rogacyons and ſayntes vygyls. Se yow to yt that ſoche ware fall not to the groū de for breakynge, A wonderfull thynge is it that yow (whoſe god ysyour bellye)Phil. 3. Baptiſta man… nus aeglo ga. 1. doth call ſo moche vponupon abſtynence. No menne doth leſſe occupye yt than yow, whych daylye ſtuffe your panches to the verye vomete. No manne can make vsus beleue, ye wolde euer take ſoch peynes, were there not more profyght to be had vponupon the callynge on than vponupon the obſeruacyon therof. Saint Paule ſayth, thatRom. 14. 1. Cor. 8. Hebr. 13. Act. 11. the kyngedome of god ys not meare and drynke, but peace and Ioye in the holye ghoſt. Good is it (ſayth he) not to ſtablyſhe the hart with meates, but with grace.
3 And as concernynge prayer, who is more ageynſt it thā yow? whych hath clerelye changed the ryght vſe of yt into a brawlynge in the temple and a bletynge in the ſtretes, in a foren ſpeche and in the3. reg. 18. Eſa. 29. Mat. 6. Act. 10. ſyght of menne, where as Chriſt hath required yt to be ſecretlye done and frō the hart with out moche bablynge, Theſe manye clogges alſo hauehave ye layed vponupon yt to confoūde yt altogether, your canonicall houres, mattens, maſſe, proceſſyon, ſenſynge,The hypocrites burdens and yokes confoundynge prayer ſayntes honorynge, holydayes, euenſonge, complyne, letanyes, inuocacyons, knelynge to Images, dyryges for the dead owr ladyes pſalters, with baptyſed belles bedes, organes, ſonge, waxe, lyght, pycturs, rellyques, banners, croſſes, aultres. holye water, and the deuyll and all of ſoche Idolatro uſe beggerye. Ye bynde it fynallyeMore ſuperſtycyouſe than mahomete. to the cyrcumſtaūce of place and tyme more ſuperſtycyouſlye than euer ded Mahomete with all hysfalſe prophetes, enforcynge the poore cōſcyences of the ſymple to the cōfydēce of creaturs. Ye hauehave (ſayth the prophete Amos) ſett vp tabernacles toAmos. 5. Leuit. 20 yowr God Moloch (whych ys all that ye worſhypp beſydes God, after rabi Moyſes) and the fygurs of yowr Idols, to hauehave them worſhhpped. All theſe do the lordeEſa. 1. Hier. 6. zach. 7. Doctours tell yow by hys prophetes that he doth abhorre, ād yet ye beleue yt not. Ageynſt yow alſo in theſe pointes, are ſaint Iohan chriſoſtome, Cipryane, Cyrill, Auſtyn, Hierome, Ambroſe, Clement, fulgencius and other, I maruele therfor ye condempne them not.
4 No menne maye with leſſe honeſteThe artycle of almes. complayne of them whych are ageynſt almes than yow. For nō hath bene ſo great ennemyes vntounto yt as yow, whych hathcuer ſens your begynnynge conſumed the patrymony of the poore. Remember whatThe clergye hath robbed the poore emprours, kynges, dukes, and other menne of power hath leſt in yowr handes to the behoue of the ſycke, nedye, impotent, halt, lame, and blynde, and what they hauehaveHiere. 23. luce. 6. zach. 11. Daniel. 14. now of it at your handes, and hardelye leaue ſekynge of motes in other mennys eyes, iudgynge yowr ſelues verye yll ſtewardes. Cōſydre alſo your daylye pollage in offerynges, confeſſyons, deuocyōs tythes, courtes of bawdrye, and ſoch other, wherin with out iuſt tyttle of Chriſtes goſpell, ye ſucke vp the ſweate, and eate vp the labour of the poore māne that ysmore vertuoſe than you, deuourynge aEccl. 34. Ezech. 16 Math. 23. great camel for ſtrayninge out a g…at, or doynge a thynge of nought. Vvhat your almes ys to the poore, ſpecyallye yf they be of god, ye hauehave largelye inſtruct vsus by Iohan porter whom ye latelye famyſhedBonners almes vponupon Iohā porter. or els ſtrangled vpp in newgate, and by other more that hath ſelt your benyuolēt charite. Soche a benefactour are ye to faſtynge, prayer, and almes dedes, that ye cā do ſoche myracles yet. Ye can murther the lyuynge ſayntes, and make ye aduocates of them that are dead, though ther endesAmbroſi us in epis tolam ad Roma. 1. were doubtful. Ye can dāpne them for heretyques, and ſett vp the other for ſayntes. Ye canne burne the bodyes of the lyuynge, and decke the graues of the dead for auauntage. For ſoth great ys your charyte I dare ſaye ſo moche for yow, that there was no martir thys fyue hondreth yeare, ſens ſathan was throughlye at large, that hath not bene putt to deathe by your holyeByſſhoppes almes ys to makemartirs generacyō, ſo Good almes menne are ye, Lete other menne iudge therfor whether ye be ageynſt yt or naye. Neuer are Good workes ſpoken ageynſt but whan yowr abhomynacyons are touched. Soche myſtes ye hauehave ſtyll, to blynde the eye ſyght of the worlde wyth.
5 Now come ye in with confeſſyō inThe artycle of confeſſyon. the eare, that theſe heretyque bokes ſchuld be ageynſt that alſo. But ye ſpeake nothynge of confeſſyon to god ād owr neyber whan we offende them, (whych onlyePſal. 32. Apoc. 18. Hirem. 6 are allowed in the ſcirpturs for they brynge in no ſwete profyghtes with thē. Some of the frutes of thys your eare confeſſyon, hauehave I tolde yow afore. Notwithſtandynge whan newe occaſyōs be offred newe matters cometh oft to remembraunce. Gracianus monachus the firſt ſowerGracianꝰ diſt. 1. de penitēcia et Gloſſator. togyther of your popyſhe lawes, in the firſt dyſtynccyon of penaunce, leaueth it all in doubt whether a manne be bounde to confeſſe hymſelfe to a preſt or no, beynge onlye but an ordynaunce of manne. The grekes (he ſayth) were neuer bounde bycauſe they receyued not the ſame conſtytucyon. Begonne yt was in dede at conſtantynoplezozomenus in hiſtoria tripert li. 9. ca. 35. by Nectarius the byſſhopp, and by hym ageyne putt downe vponupon thys occaſyon. A gentyll woman confeſſed there to a preſt, and enioyned to faſt and praye in the churche, was in the tyme of her penaunce conſtuprate by an holye deakon, whych toke great peynes there in the ſaynt warye, to obſerue the vowe of chaſtyte. And therfor vponupon the peplesCiprianꝰ Epiſto. 11. exclamacyon, yt was vtterlye there dyſſolued ageyne. Chriſoſtome ſayth ypon the. 12. chapter to the hebrues. I ſay not vntountochriſoſtomus hom 31. in epiſtolam ad hebr. Ambroſius ſuper lucam. the that thu ſchuldeſt bewraye thyſelfe abrode neyther yet accuſe thyſelfe before other. But I wyll that thu obeye the prophete whych ſayth, Shewe vntounto the lorde thy waye. Peter mourned ād wept (ſayth ſaynt ambroſe) bycauſe he erred as a manne, but I fynde not what he ſayd. I knowe that he wept, and I reade of hys teares, but I reade not of hys ſatiſfaccyon. Vvhat hauehave I to do with menne (ſayth ſaynt Auſtyn)Auguſtinus li. 10 confeſſio. num ca. 3. that they ſchuld heare my conſcyence, as though they coude heale all my dyſeaſes? here ys a curyouſe and a byſye kynde of menne, to knowe an other mannys lyfe, and a ſlowe ſort to amende ther owne. Vvherfor ſeke they to heare of me what a manne I am, whych wyll not heare of the (o lorde) what ther ſelues be? SocheThe olde doctours are ageīſt eare confeſſyon. ſentences are there innumerable amonge the olde doctours both grekes and latynes, I maruele therfor that my lorde doth not bagge them vp and condempne them at paules croſſe. All thys yet denyeth not owr cōmynge to the preſt for counſell, in caſe he be a ſober wyſe māne ād lerned in the ſcripturs. For the lorde ſayth, we ſchal1. Eſdre. 7 Aggei. 2. Oſee. 5. Malach. 2 Hier. 23. Mat. 7. Act. 20. Ezech. 13. ſeke the lawe at the mouthe of the preſt, but not nombre our ſynnes in a bōdage▪ we ſchall requyre to be taught, but not coacted to accuſe owr ſelues. But yf he be a blaſphemouſe and vnlerned papyſt (as the moſt of them are) we ought to ſhurne hym as the moſt noyful poiſon. For in thē hath confeſſyon bene a ſure holde of conſpyrycye and treaſon thys fyue hondreth years and more, as all the cronycles wytneſſeth.Captayne cobler ād maſter Aſke. That made captayne cobler and maſter aſke full notable captaynes, ād rayſed them vp a valeaunt armye in ther late pylgrymage of grace.
6 More ouer, theſe bokes (ſayth my lorde) are ageynſt the vowe of chaſtyte. yea, ſo ys my lorde alſo wyth hys wholeMath. 12. 2. Cor. 11 Iude. 1. 2. Pet. 3. generacyon, yf we ſpeke of that chaſtyte that ſaynt Paule commendeth in the coryntheanes, beſydes ther fornycacyon, whoredome, ſodometrye, ſacrylege, and all other fylthyneſſe els. I wolde fayneEzech. 16 Apoc. 17. &. 19. Prou. 6. Pſal. 17. Hebr. 12. Eccl. 13. but knowe how they coude be chaſt, hauynge an execrable whore to ther mother, ād they brought vp in whory ſhneſſe all the dayes of ther lyfe. Canne hys clothes be vnbrent that hath fyre in hys boſome? Is yt poſſyble that he hath whole fete whych euermore goeth vpō hote cooles? Naye, who ſo toucheth pytche, wyth the ſame ſchall be defyled. what hauehave yow els to kepe your chaſtyte wyth but Idle vanitees? All the worlde knoweth, ye abhorrePapyſtes abhorre holye ſcripturs. the ſcrypturs, and all godlye verytees els, whych ſchulde make ye chaſt. If menne want probacyons of thys, lete them come hyther and proue thys doctryne of yours and they ſchall fynde yt ſo true as ys poſſyble. Fewe exāples hauehave we of your honeſt lyuynge, but innumerable of your fylthyneſſe.linthprandus ticinē ſis li. 2. ca. 13. Iohan the. 10. pope of that name was begote in aduouterye by pope Sergius of an whore called Marozia in the tyme of hys holye papacye. Pope Iohan the. 13. by Iohā the. 12. alſo, after ſoche an other contynēt ſort. Betwixt an holye nōne andIoannes textor, & a preſt were borne at one tyme Petrus lō bardus the maſter of yowr ſentences or ſcole dyuynyte, Petrus commeſtor the maſterhenricus agrippa de anne monogamia. of your hyſtoryes, and Gratianus monachus the compyler of yowr canon Iawes. And wyth the doctrine of theſe. 3. frutes of one fornycacyon, hath both the churche and the ſcripturs bene corrupted theſe. 4. hondreth years, yet are they not brought to yowr ſatchel. Phylypp the holyevolateranus, & loannes textor, in officinis. abbott of valliſolett and archebyſſhopp of hiſpalis in ſpayne, kept hys owne brother Alphonſus wyfe called Chriſtyane the kynge of denmarkes dowter, he beynge a lyue. Petrus mendoſa the cardynall of valence in the ſame regyon occupiedGermanus quidam. helyſabeth the wyfe of kynge Ferdinandns, and had by her. 2. baſtardes he beynge alſo alyue, beſydes other wōders whych are not to be named. Ower laſt cardynall Thomas wolſaye was not all behyndeThe cardynall of englande wolſaye Pope Iulius. wyth hys part, as apereth by maſter wynter, and other more abrode. what buſyneſſe popeIulius made wyth the cardynall of Nātes to hauehave had the occupyē ge of. 2. yonge laddes whych the frenche quene Anne had commytted unto hym to be brought vp in vertu, yt wolde abhorre anye māne to heare, and therfor I wryte yt not. Soche noble ſtewes ded pope SixtusHenricus agrippa, de incerti tudine ſci enciarum. buylde at Rome in hys tyme, as yet bryngeth in yearlye more than. 20. thouſande duckates to the augmentacyon of ſaynt peters patrimonye. Iohā ſtokyſlaye yowr predeceſſour, a myghtye mayntener of that vowe, dyed not wythout yſſue, as hys frutes declareth not farre out of london. Neyther yet wyllyam warhamThe chaſt examples of owr tyme in the byſſhops. the olde archebyſſhopp of caunterburye, whoſe increaſe ys wele knowne in kēt, beſydes hys dallyaunce wyth the holye mayde there. Manye prodygyouſe wonders are yet tolde in ſothfolke by ſerten worſhypfull gentylwomen of Rychard nyxe the blynde byſſhopp of norwych (whych putt maſter bylneye the true martyr of god to moſt cruell death by the coū ſellThomas bylneye the verye martyr of god. of P…lles and Godſalue) beſydes hys contynuall occupyenge wyth the balyes wyfe of hoxton. Dyuerſe fyne tryckes of good relygyouſe bawdrye wrought by byſſhopp Brygett, kyte, and vnderwode, all thre holye p̄lates, are not yet all forgote amonge the peple. Not manye yearsSpirituall prouyſyō for the holye vowe of chaſtyte ago a byſſhopp remoued a nonne from ycklyngton in cambryge ſhere, vntounto dat forth in kent whych hath had in her tyme a good honeſt increaſe, I coude name them both yf I lyſt. wylye wyncheſter alſo hath not wrought ſo warelyein the wanton workes of venus ſens hys 21. years, but he hath bene ſmelled out of ſome partyes, beſydes the ſtore that heThe ſtewes of lō don. Deut. 23. Apoc. 2. is ſteward of for the common welthe of the cyte. The peple of Iſrael were longe without whores, lyke as God had commaunded them. But owr Nycolaytanes condempnynge the ſcripturs and all godlye ordre, wyll hauehave no common welthe without them, hycauſe they wyll hauehave aforeBaruch. 6 Pſal. 49. God ther porcion with theues and aduouterers. There is yet alyue an other byſſhop in Englande which ſchall be nameleſſe at thys tyme, that kept a mannys wyfe and my coſyne. 20. years ago, before he was byſſhopp, whom I chaunſed toAduowtery of. 20 years hurteth no ſpirituall vowe. Manye wonderfull examples are in the cronycles. fynde ſyttynge at hys table within theſe .iiij. years. If I ſchuld recyte all the wholſom frutes of your chaſt vowe, which I hauehave redde in cronycles and hyſtoryes, ād knowne by your exāples beſydes forth, manye menne wolde maruele that ye ſynke not to hell with yowr prodygiouſe chaſtyte. For innumerable knaueries hath your holye abbottes, priors, doctors, preſtes, perſons, curates, and relygiouſe (as ye cal thē) done. Some one ghoſtlye father of yowrs hath for hys lyfe tyme corrupted an hondreth nonnes and maydes, ſome. 2. hondreth that we rede of, ſome more ſomeIoan boccacius &, Pogius. leſſe, and yet hauehave they bene chaſt geldynges and good wyuelleſſe virgyns. So longe as they hauehave not marryed, all hath bene wele. For ſome of ther doctoursHenricus Agrippa aduerſus louanienſes. Spirituall rentes. Hericus a grippa de incertitudine ſcien ciarum. hath not bene aſhamed to write yt, that monkes and preſtes hath not vtterlye for ſworne whoredome, but marriage only. It is no ſmall ſōe of moneye that ſome of yow in the worlde and yowr notaries taketh of preſtes for whore kepinge, and al is (I knowe well) for the abatemēt of that vowe, which ye call your ſeconde baptym. Henricus agrippa doth teſtyfye that a ſertē byſſhopp boaſted at hys table, that he had in hys dyoceſe a .xi. thouſande preſtes, which paeyd yearlye a frenche crowne a pece for whore kepynge, beſydes thecap. 64. pryce of occupyenge with other mennys wyues. And therfor it is no maruele though it ſtyll be maynteyned, and matri monye put backe, for the profyghtes ther of are ſwete,
☞ 7 Now commeth in the ſoreſt matterMarryage of Byſſhops deteſted moſt of all. of all, and that doth moſt erneſtlye moue yow. And that is the marryage of preſtes. Afore were theſe bokes ageynſt frewyll, faſtinge, prayer, ād ſo forth, which in the kynde ye vſe them, are your owne propre wares. Now are they with marriage, which is nō of yours. Ye vtterlye for1. Tim. 4. ſake it as a thynge hurtfull to your holye orders, whych whoredō ād buggerye cā not defyle. Though God the father hath inſtytute yt, God the ſonne conſecrate it,Gene. 2. Ioan. 2. Prou. 8. and God the holye ghoſt moche commended it in the ſcripturs, yet is it not wholſō for yow. Though it were in Abraham, Iſaac, ād Iacob, i Moyſes, Aaron, and Samuel, in Gedeō, Iob, ād Tobias, a waye of rightouſneſſe in the lordes ſight. ThoughGala. 3. Luce. 1. Math. 1. Luce. 2. 1. cor. 9. it were in Zacharye the preſt and Helyſabeth hys wyfe a walkynge before hym without rebuke. Yea, though Ieſus chriſt were borne vnderunder it, and his bleſſed mother lyued longe in it, and the apoſtles embraced it, yet is it no honeſt ſtate of lyuynge for yow, for your office (ye ſaye) is aboue all thers. Though ſaynt Paule doth ſaye that wedlock is honorable amongeHebr. 13. 1. theſ. 4. Ephe. 5. 1. tim. 4. all peple, and the chambre therof vndefyled. Though he ſayth alſo that God wyll condempne aduouterers and whore kepers, and that the forbyddynge therof is the verye doctryne of deuyls, all that can not moue yow. Though the primatyueEuſebius. Platina. Nauclerꝰ Apo. 20. churche had it in great pryce, and ſo ſtyll ded vſe it tyll Sylueſter the 2. ded fatche the deuyll fron hell by his nicromancye (where as he was a fore tyed vp for a thouſande years) to ſeale the obligacyon of his papacye. yet do yow take it for carnall be aſtlineſſe, bycauſe maſter Eckius doth ſoIoan. Eckius. report it, which neuer the leſſe had. 3. baſtardes the ſame ſelfe yeare that he diſputed that matter at lipſia. Oh, verye ſede ofGeneſis. 3. Eſay. 1. Math. 12. Marci. 8. the ſerpent, and cytezens of ſodome. Not without cauſe was it that Chriſt called yow a falſe and an aduouterouſe generaciō. Full wele knewe he what we ſchuld hauehave of yow, the heauenlye father be mercyfull vntounto vsus. Vvith all abhominacionsStyll ymagyne they fylthyneſſe. hauehave you fylled the worlde, and yet to thys daye Imagyne ye non other thynge. Is your doctrine in thys anye other than the dyrt of the pope, and the fylthye ſhytynges of olde heretyques? The Tacyanes taught that matrymonye was in no caſeIuſtinus. Hirencus. Euſebius. Epiphan. lawfull. The Marcianiſtes wolde admytt nō to baptim, vnleſſe they renoūced wed locke. The Euſtachyanes helde opynyon that non coude be ſaued in marryage. Mō tanus with hys ſect, leadynge women abought, with hym, noted yt a lyght thynge,Alphōſus de caſtro. and ſayd it myght be broke wele ynough. The priſcyllyanyſtes ſeparated the menne from ther wyues, and the womē from ther huſbandes ageynſt ther willes. The Abelynes allowed maryage, butguido per pinianus … lib. de heſibus. no carnall copulacyon therin. The Adamytes improued it as an vncleane thynge for that Adam knewe not hys wyfe before he ſynned. The Nicolaytaynes were of thys opynyon, that wyues ought to be cō mon.Clemēs alexādrinꝰ 3. lib. ſtromatum. Bernardꝰ lutzenburgus. The pope agreth with al heretyques a ageynſt marriage. The Cataphrygeanes, Catharyſtes, and Tartulyanyſtes, condempned for aduoutrye the marryage of widowes. The Eſſeanes, Nouacyanes, Carpocracianes, Apoſtolyckes, Iouynyaniſtes, and other more, hath opinion of matrimonye in dyuerſe other reſpectes. Laſt of all commeth your holye father of Rome with hys rable of rutters, myters, hattes, hoodes, cappes, crownes, conyes ſkynnes, cattes tayles, in all maner of colours and proporcyons, and he hath an ore with them all, as an vpholder of al heretiques ageynſt this holy eſtate. Yea, holy I ſay ageyn, though it be vnreuerentlye vſed of manye. For itTher vowes maketh innumerable ſodomites maketh neyther whore keper not ſodomyte as yowr chaſtyte doth daylye innumerable. Vyhan now in thys latter age, thys buyldinge of yowrs through the goſpell preachynge ſuffred a great earthquake, and was lyke to fall to the grounde without recouer, commeth forth maſterIoā Ecki. Eckius a verye connynge artifycer in the ſe workes of yours, and he vnderproppeth it with an olde broken ſparre. MarryageDe celiba tu clericorum decre tū Calixti. maye be graūted to no preſt (ſayth he) by no maner of diſpenſacion, for the vowe that is ānexed to ther chaſtite. And for the eſtablyſhment of thys doctrine, he bryngeth in the inhibicion made by pope Calixtus, bycauſe no ſcripturs wyl ſerue hym. But where as he ſayth with noHenricus Agrippa. ſmall cyrcumſtaūce, to make hys matter good, that the pope neuer yet diſpenſed with that vowe, He lyeth of hys holye father. Raphael volateranus ſayth that a ſertenVoleteranus & Sabellicus. Lambertus ſhafna burgenſis monachus monke called Nicolas marryed Anne the duke of venys dowter by the popes conſent. Burghardus the prouoſt of tryere or vttereth in Germanye had to wyfe the prince of the ruzeanes ſyſter by the diſpē ſacyon of pope Gregorye the. 7. otherwiſe called hyldebrande, the ſame ſelfe yeare he inhybited the maryage of preſtr̄es. Pope pelagius ded create a biſſhopp at ſyracuſaDiſt. 28. canonū. in the lande of ſycill, and he had both wyfe and chyldren. Henricus agrippa maketh mencion of a Cardinall in Rome, whom the Pope permytted to take a wyfe in maryage, and at hys pleaſure to returne ageyn to hys cardinalſhypp afterAgrippa aduerſꝰlouanienſes Achilles & paulus phrigio. he had chyldren, without anye maner of irregularyte. Colomannus the byſſhopp of uaradyne, left that ſpiritual office and was made kynge of hungarye by the Popes dyſpenſacyon of purpoſe to hauehave yſſue, about the yeare of owr lorde. M. lxxvi. and regned there .xix. years. Daniel aGaguinus & paulus Phrigio. preſt was lyke wyſe conſtytute kynge of fraunce by a lyke dyſpenſacion, and was called after warde Chylpericus, gouernynge that regyon the ſpace of .iij. years. Petrus Elſacius a preſt and elect ByſhoppIacobus meyer in Cronicis flandrie. of Cameryk, was dubbed a knyght and marryed leonor the counteſſe of nyuerne, which had bene called Sybyll. Reme lius a monke beynge aged, was taken out of hys monaſterie by the popes lycēs,Robertus abbas mō tenſis. and made kynge of Aragone after the diſſeace of hys father Sanccius about the yeare of owr lorde, a thouſande a C. and lx. ād had by hys wife Mawde a dowter which was afterwarde marryed to Raymondus the erle of Barchinona. Pope CePlatina & nauclerus leſtyne the thirde lycenſed Henrye the. 6 emprour, to hauehave to wyfe Cōſtaunce kynge Rogers dowter of ſycyll for a yearlye penſyon, whych was a profeſſed nonne at panorme. Fredericus dongianus was releacedIn vita diui alber ti drepanenſis. of hys vowe to the Carmelytes order, ād conſtytute kynge of Sycyll▪ Sardo nye, and Calabre, for the ſyngular cōmodyte of thoſe landes. Mathew the erle of bulleyne marryed Marye kynge Steuens dowter of englande, and had her out ofFlores hiſtoriarum anglie. Iacobus guiſianus in ānalibus hānonie. ramſaye abbeye where as than ſhe was ab baſſe, ād had. 2. dowters by her called Ida and Matilda. Bochardus auenienſis a man ne of great byrthe and lernynge forſoke hys preſthode and benefyces (whych than he had manye) ād Ioyned hymſelfe in we diock to Margarete, the emprour Baldewyne of conſtantynoples dowter, and had manye fayr chydren by her, pope Gre gorye the. 9. after moche ſute and expēſes iudgynge yt godlye. Iohan the baſtardePolydorus in cro nicis āglo rum li. 10 ſonne of Fardynandus beynge a cyſteane monke was conſtytute kynge of portyngale, Iohan of gaunte thā beynge duke of lācaſtre ād kynge of caſtele geuynge hym hys dowter Phylypp to marrye after that he had in the yeare of owr lorde. 1388. optayned a dyſpenſacyon of pope vrbanus the. 6. Iames the laſt kynge of cypres beynge byſſhopp of Nycoſe not longe aforeAchilles et paulus phrigio. was permytted of pope paule the ſeconde to hauehave a Venecyane to wyfe, to that intent that hys lande ſchuld become the Venecyanes, as yt now ys in dede. In lyke caſe Canutus, whych had bene a profeſſedAlbertus crantz. monke. 6. years at clunyake, was dyſpenſed wyth for moneye to hauehave a wyfe. Sowas a ſertē abbott of Redynge here in Englande. So was vrſynus a preſt of nurſiaIoannes rauiſius textor. vo lateranus et nauclerus. and a great nombre els, as we fynde in dyuerſe cronycles ād wrytynges. Vvhye ſchuld ſoche a furyouſe beaſt than ſo ſhamefullye lye, to eſtablyſhe an errour of de uyllyſheneſſe? But that he ys ignoraunt in the hyſtoryes, and alſo that ſoche dyrtye doctrine ſtandeth onlye by lyes. IoannesIoannes tex tor & pogius Damaſus platina & nauclerus Ranulphus ceſtrenſis in policroni co .li. 7. Ca. 2. andreas (whom they call the fountayne of ther canon lawe) was a preſtes ſonne, ſo was Franciſcus phylelphus that famouſe oratour and poete, ſo was my lorde Boner of london by report of hys next neybers, wyth dyuerſe other more. I reade of more than. 13. popes that had preſtes to ther fathers. I moche maruele where ther vowe of chaſtyte dwelte in thoſe dayes. Soche tyme as contencyon was betwyn Lanfrancus and Thomas norman the arche byſſhopp of yorke for the prehemynence of Caunterburye, he proued hym a preſtes ſonne before pope Alexandre the ſeconde. Eckius wolde fayne hauehave ſum…yncheſter helpeth Eckiꝰ with hys xxi. yeares. what to proue a thynge of nought, but yt cōmeth ſcant wyſelye to paſſe. Than worketh wyncheſter on the other ſyde wyth hys one and twentye years, to holde vpp thys broken byldynge of vnadduyſed vowes and as vnaduyſedlye made. If theſe 2. ſtoles holde not, we are lyke to fall to the grounde wyth owr vnchaſt vowe, for theſe are the laſt ſtayes1. Reg. 25. Marci. 14. Math. 14. Act. 23. in that matter. Therfor ſtande faſt now or els neuer. Vvhan Dauid made a ſolem pne vowe to deſtroye Nabal and all that Belonged vntounto hym, Peter to ſtande by hys maſter to the deathe, Herode to graunte what ſo euer Herodias dowter axed, And the xl. menne at Hieruſalem neyther to eate nor drynke tyll they had ſlayneHerode onlye perfourmed hys vowe. Paule, were aboue .xxi. years of age. Yet was there non of them that perfourmed hys vowe but Herode, whan yt had bene better for hym to hauehave brokē yt, for all the ſtandynge of a kynges worde. wyncheſter alſo was beyonde that age whan he made hys ſolēpne vowe in Cā bryge to be the popes true ſeruaunte, yet hath he ſens made a vowe to the contrarye, and broken that alſo in maynteynynge a freſhe the ſame dyrtye doctrine of his. If ye wyll nedes hauehave ſoche voweswyncheſter hath broken hysvow… on both ſydes. obſerued, ſett vp your monaſteryes and cloyſters ageyne. Lete them hauehave ageyne the howſes ye toke from them, yf ye wyll hauehave the ſame relygyon kept. Geue them not abrode more occaſyons to fall, and than ponnyſhe them worſe than afore. Oh tyrannye tyrannye, God gaue ye to knowe the abhomynable frutes of thatvnmercyfull tyranny deſtroynge bodye and ſowle. ſtynkynge vowe in the generall vyſytacyon of abbeyes and pryoryes, yet wyll ye ſtyll yoke the poore wretches wyth yt. So vnmercyfull are ye to that peple, whom ye ought to gyde and not to deuoure, to norryſhe and not thus ſhamefullye to deſtroye. Vvolde ye conſydre yowr owne lyues in that behalfe, yezach. 11. Ezech. 13. 1. Petri. 5. Iude. 1. Luce. 11. 2. Tim. 4. Rom. 14. Ioan. 8. ſchuld fynde them bad ynough. Ye ſnare ther conſcyences wyth that ye ought to take from them (whych ys ſynne) were ye as ye ſchuld be. All that ys beſydes the wyll of the ſprete and the ſacred ſcripturs. (as ys that popyſhe vowynge) ys playne Idolarrie and wyckedneſſe. Parauēture ye wyll now laſhe at me wyth Eckiꝰ firſt argumēt vpō, Vouete et reddite,Pſal. 75. Deut. 23. ſaynge wyth dauid. Vowe ād perfourme, promyſe and paye. But than ye muſt take with yow the clauſe that foloweth,Ione. 2. whych is. Onnes qui in circuitu eius affertis munera. All you rounde about that brynge offerynges with yow. Here are no monkyſhe vowes mencyoned, for thereNo monkyſhe vowe but obedyence vntounto God. were no ſoch ſhorne ſodomytes in thoſe dayes. Here is no chaſtyte called vponupon, for yt was ſpoken to them that had wyues Not withſtandynge marryage is a chaſtyte, or a gyft of God to auoyde fornycacyon. But herin was than requyred a faythfull obedyence vntounto god in the fulfyllynge of hys commaundementes, ād no ſo8. reg. 15. 1. pet. 2. Nume. 25 Eccl. 5. Baruch. 6 domytycall ſacrifice to Belphegor as ye wolde hauehave yt yet ſtyll. In folyſhe vowes (ſayth the wyſe manne) hath the lorde no pleaſure. I coude tell ye wonders of chyldren that hath bene buryed in the lakes, for ſauynge the honour of that vowe,Myracles done for that holy vowe. wyth other maruels els, but I lete yt alone for thys tyme. The vtteraunce of yowr vertuouſe examples in that holye obſeruacyō, myght teach more myſchefe thā goodneſſe. To confute thys obieccyon of yours Saynt Paul ſayd he had no commaundement1. Cor. 7. 1. Tim. 3. Gal. 3. for vyrgynyte. Moche leſſe than for a popyſhe promes, or a ſnare of the deuyl If we ſchuld (ſayth he) obſerue the vowes thā vſed, we ſchuld hauehave no maner of porcyon with Chriſt. Soche vyllenouſe contempt of matrimonye, ſpryngynge now of late out of Eckius olde dyuynyte and wyncheſters newe canon lawe, hath broughtEckius and wyncheſter. 1. reg. 17. Deut. 28. 2. reg. 12. 2. reg. 16. vponupon Dauid for all hys wonderfull vyctorye ouer the lyon, beare, and phylyſtyne, the plage promyſed of the lorde for ſoche vngodlyneſſe, the ſunne lokynge brode vpō yt in the myd daye to no ſmall dyſhonour. I canne not iuſtlye tell whether yow perſeyue yt or no, but wele I wote all the whole worlde els beholdeth yt. And that maye chaunce herafter to apere,Dyſhonoure foloweth of vngodlyneſſe euermore. Thus are they plaged that foloweyll counſell. whan mēne ſchall be occaſyoned to ſeke examples in ſoche purpoſe. I wryte thys with heuyneſte as a premonyſhment afore, lamentynge the thynge and fearynge worſe to folowe yf repentaunce come not in tyme. Vvhere as other mēne maye chaunce after thys with Moyſes and Samuel to deſcribe yt at large, to the warnynge of other in that behalfe, and to owr perpetuall reproche. Vvyth ſoche holye prophetes and coūſellers (as yow are) now a dayes were Ioram, Achab, Ochoſias, Ioachim, Sedechias, and other kynges more of Iſrael and Iuda deceyued, and brought into the great indygnacyon of God.Ioannes nauclerus gen. 36. & Benno cardinalis Thys tyrannouſe coaccyon to fylthyneſſe came in firſt of all by pope Hyldebrāde a ſuperſtycyouſe monke, a nycromanſer, a murtherer and a cruell ſuppreſſer of Chriſten princes, in the yeare from Chriſtes in carnacyon. M .lxxiiij. as all the cronycles mencyoneth. Vvhych Hyldebrande neuer the leſſe that pharaonycall conſtytucyon,Lambertus ſhafna burgenſis mona chus in cronicis. kept Mawde the ducheſſe of lotharye both by the lyfe dayes of her huſbande Gozilon, and alſo after hys deathe, leadynge her abought with hym, and ſhe maynteynynge hym ageyne in myſchefe wyth the great poſſeſſyons that ſhe had there ād in Italye. He toke like wyſe Agnes theSigebertus & Benno cardinalis. emprours mother clerelye from hym, not without a blacke report alſo vponupon her ſyde. At the ſame ſelfe tyme begāne the byſſhoppes and great benefiſed preſtes to buylde nonncryes for remedye of that ſore dyſſeaſe. He that ſchall reade the hyſtoryeHermannus ſchedel & wernerus carthuſianus. of V do the archebyſſhop of magdeburgh and prymate of almayne, how he ordred hys nōnes in hys holye vyſytacyōs, ſchall fynde yt no badde matter. Vvhat cōmocyons, ſcyſmes, lyghtenynges, tēpeſtes, earth quakes, ād other terryble mouīges apered at that tyme, yt were a wondre to reherce.Ioannes nauclerus genera. 36 Ex Ioanne capgraue anglo. Amonge all other a Comete was ſeane at that ſeaſon, of whom Elmerus a monke of malmeſburye in Englande gaue thysſentē ce. Art thu come (ſayth he) art thu come? VntoUnto manye mothers haſt thu brought wo ād ſorowe. I ſawe the longe afore, but now in dede I beholde the more terryble, Euen the verye deſtruccyon of thyslande. Soche an other warnynge brought the laweIacobus mayer in cronicis flandrie. maſter of Turnay in maſſage vntounto Coleyne to the emprour at the ſame verye tyme, of a woman prophecyenge that antichriſt was thā in hys full courſe. Vvhych woman ſo vanyſhed awaye and was neuer more ſeane. Yet coude not thys cruell enforcemēt be receyued in Englande, tyllRanulphus ce ſtrenſis & Robertus fabianus in ſuis cronicis. Anſelmus a frenche monke alſo, and arche byſſhopp of Canturburye brought yt in by a ſynode holden at london, in the yeare after chriſtes natyuyte, M. C .ix. whych Anſelme bad longe contended afore with kynge wyllyā rufus and kynge Henrye the firſt for the commodytees of antichryſtes gloryouſe kyngedome, and had than gote the vyctorye of them in dede. YetRanulphus in polycronica li. 7. Ca. 13. Guilhelmus malmeſbury… washe at that tyme ſo accombred with ſo domytes, that he was euerye ſondaye compelled openlye to excommunycate them. After thys kept the preſtes concubynes otherwyſe called whores (for that was more holye than marryage) the ſpace of more than .xv. years, tyll loannes de Cremona an holye legate frō the popes ryght ſyde, came in a great heate from Rome, and toke that from them alſo hy an other coū ſell holden at Paules, hys ſelfe taken wyth an whore the nyght folowynge to begynne the relygyon wyth. Se how buſyeflores hiſtoriarum & henritꝰ huntyngdon .li. 7. thei are yet with al deuylyſhe deuyſes poſſyble to holde vp thys wyckedneſſe ſtyll, whych was begonne with ſoche myſchefes, and hath contynued with fylthyneſſe vnſpekeable. The multytude of preſtes (ſayth Oſeas the prophete) is lykeThe dayly ſtodye of byſſhoppes. an heape of theues, murtherers, bloudthurſtye rauenours, for they hauehave wrought ab homynacyon. In the deſyre of vnclenlye luſtes (ſayth Heremye) they are become altogyther lyke ranke ſtoned horſe neyengeOſee. 6. Marci. 11. Apoc. 18. hiere. 5. euerye where after ther neybers wyfe. They go about (ſayth the lorde) with ther owne inu… ̄ …yōs, but I ſe thē well ynough. They make the kynge and princes to hauehave delyght in ther wyckedneſſe and lyes.Oſee. 7. Michee. 3 Hiere. 20 proue. 29 All theſe burne in aduouterye as yt were an ouen that the baker heateth, whan he hath left knedynge. I wyll vyſyte all thoſe (ſayth the lorde alſo by Sophonias the prophete) whych weareth ſtraunge clothynge,Sopho. 1. Math. 23. zacha. 12. Oſee. 10. Gal. 6. Apoc. 18. Hiere. 5. and treadeth ouer the threſholde ſo proudelye, whych fyllther lordes houſe with roborye and falſhede. But now they hauehave plowed wyckedneſſe they ſchall ſurelye reape ſynne, and eate the frute of lyes wherin the mother ſchall peryſhe wyth her chyldren and the braunches with ther ſtocke, bycauſe they are not the lordes.