Against the Begging Friars, Treatise
A TREATISE OF IOHN VVickliffe against the orders of Friars.
Cap. 1. Friars orders perfiter then Christs.
FIrst Friars seyen, that there Religiō foūden of sinful men, is more perfit, then that Religion or order, the which Christ himselfe made, that is both God and man. For they saie that ech Bishop and Priest, maie lawfully leaue there first dignitie, and after be a Friar: But when he is once a Friar, hee maie in no manner leaue that, & liue as a Bishop or a Priest by the forme of the Gospel. But this here sie saies that Christ lacked wit, might, or charitie, to teach Apostles and his Disciples the best Religion: But what man maie suffer this foule heresie to be put on Jesu Christ? Christian men saie, that the Religion and order that Christ made for his Disciples and Priests, is most perfit, most easie, and most siker. Most perfit, for this reason; for the Patron or Founder thereof is most perfit, for he is verie God and verie man, that of most wit and most charitie gaue this Religion to his deare-worthe friendes. Also the rule thereof is most perfit; sith the Gospel in his freedome withouten errour of man, is rule of this Religion. Also knights of this Religion bene most holie, and most perfit. For Jesu Christ & his Apostles bene chiefe knights thereof, and after them holy Martirs and Confessours. It is most easie & light; for Christ himselfe saies; that his yoke is soft, and his charge is light, sith it stands all in louelove and freedome of hart, & bids nothing but reasonable thing, and profitable for the keeper thereof. It is most siker; for it is confirmed of God, and not of sinful men, and no man may destroie it or dispense there against: but if the Pope or anie man shalbe saued, hee mought be confirmed thereby, and els he shalbe damned. But men saien that other new orders & Rules ben nowght worth, but if they ben confirmed of the Pope, and other sinful men, and then they bene not worth but if they bin confirmed of the diuel, and in case the Pope shalbe damned, for then he is a diuel, as the Gospel saies of Iudas; and thus men sayen, that Christs religion in his owne cleannes and freedome, is more per fit then anie sinful mans religion, by as much as Christ is more perfit then is anie sinful man. And if newe religions sayen, that they keepen all that Christs religion bidds, they sparen the soth, for they lacken the freedōe and measure of Christs Religion, and ben bounden to errours of sinful men, and therby bin letted to profite to Christian mens soules, & not suffered to teach free lie Gods law, ne keepe it in themselfe. For by the first and most commandement of God, they bene holden to louelove God of al their heart, and al their life, of all their minde, and al their strengthes, and their neighboures as themself▪ but who maie doe more then this? then maie noe man keepe more then Christs religion bidds. And so if this newe religion of Friars bee more perfite then Christs religion, then if Friars keepen wel this religiō they bin more perfit then Christs Apostles, & els they bin Apostataes; and if men bin Apostataes they leauen the better order, & taken an other lesse perfit. And the order of Christ in his cleannes, and freedome is most perfit, and so it seemes that al these Friars bin Apostataes.
Cah. 2. Friars hinder the free preaching of the Gospel
ALso Friars sayn plainlie, that it is Apostasie and heresie for a Priest, to liue as Christ ordained a Priest to liue by forme of the Gospel. For if ther be anie Friar that is a Priest cunning in Gods law, and able to travel to sowe Gods words among the people, if he doe this office freely going fro countrie to country, wher he may most profit & cease not, for Priour ne anie other Satrap, and charge not singular habite, and begge not, but be paied with common meat & drinke as Christ and his Apostles were, they wil pursue him as Apostata, & draw him to prison, & saie that he is cursed for this deed. For if this free going about, and free preaching is lawful to such a Friar, sith it is ensampled & commanded of Christ, & not to be closed in a Cloister, as it were Caymes Castle, and so Friars shoulden be nedid to leaue this liuing of Cloister and fained obedience, by singular profession, and to dwel amonge the people to whom they maie most profite Ghostlie. For charitie ne did Christ and Baptist to come out of desart, to teach the Gospel to the people, til they were dead therfore, much more charitie showld driue Friars to come out amōgst the people, & leaue Caymes Castels that bin so needeles & chargeous to the people; sith they cannot occupie themself so wel in such solitarie life and contemplation, as couthen Christ & Iohn Baptist. And to this same Christ ordained all his Apostles and Disciples, to liue an open good life, in mecknes and wilful pouertie, and discreet penance, to teach busilie his Gospel to the people, and not be closed in great Cloisters and costly as Caymes Castels. And it seemes an opē doeing of Antichrist not to suffer Priests freely to doe this office of Christ, but need them vppon paine of prisonning to be ruled in this after the wil of a simple Idiot, and in case a damned diuel of hel, and so there leaues no meane to hold these sects together, but if it bee this blasphemie, to prison a man for as much as he does after the wil of God. And thus this newe profession is harmeful for manie skilles. For it is not ensampled of Christ, ne anie of his Apostles, & he taught vsus al that was needful and profitable. Also this profession serues of nowght, but if it bee to make fooles doe more after the errours of sinful men, then after the commaundement of God. For by virtue of Christs teaching, each man is holden to doe after each other, in as much as he teacheth Christ commaundement or counsel, & more maie no man bind an other. Also Christ gaue his Disciples power of each worke, that turnes to profite of their soules, and help of other men, & this freedome is letted by this professiō made to sinful men, and in case to …iends of hel. But here mē wil not destroy Friars ne flee them ne curse them, but destroy their errours, and saue the persons, and bringe them to that liuinge that Christ ordained Priests to liue in. For that is algats the best, to the most worship of God, to most profite of holie Church, and to Friars also. But what man showld not helpe therto vppon al his power, wit and will.
Cap. 3. A man once professed to their religion may neuer leaue it.
ALso Friars saien, that if a man be once professed to their religion, he maie neuer leaue it and bee saued; thowgh he be neuer so vnable therto, for al time of his life; and they wil nede him to liue in such a state euer more to which God makes him euer vnable, and so neede him to be damned. Alas, out on such heresie that mans ordinance is holden stronger then is the ordinance of God. For if a man enter into the newe religion against mans ordinance, hee maie lawfully for sake it; but if he enter against Gods ordinance when God makes him vnable therto, he shall not bee suffered by Antichrists power to leaue it. And if this reason were wel declared, sith no man wote which mā is able to this new religion by Gods dome, and which is not able, no mā showld be constrained to hold forth this new sect; and thus this new religion maie not last, but if it be by this blasphemie to constraine a man vnable by Gods dome to hold this new sect, & suffer him not to come to freedome of Christs order.
Cap. 4. No preaching without licēe of their Soueraigne how bad soever.
ALso Friars saien if a man bee professed to there holie order, he shal not preach freelie and generallie the Gospel of Christian men without en licence of his Soueraigne, for virtue of obedience; be his Soueraigne neuer so cursed man of life and vncunning of Gods law, and enimie to Christian men soule. and in case a foule deuil of hel; thowgh this man professed hauehave receaued of God neuer so much cūning of Gods law, and power, and wil to worke after this cunninge, and so this mā shal nedes be damned for misspending of Gods treasure. For sith Gods law saies, that he is out of charity that helps not his brother with bodily almes if he maie in his nede, much more is he out of charity, that helpes not his brothers soule, with teachinge of Gods law, when he sees him runne to hel, yea by ignorāce. And thus to magnifie and maintaine there rotten sects, they neden men by hypocrisie, false teaching, and strong paines, to breake Gods heasts and leese cha ritie. Out one this false heresie and tyrantrie of Antichrist, that men be neded strongly to keepe more his lawes, and obaye more to them then to Christs commandements euer rightful.
Cap. 5 The lawfulnes of beging maintained by Friars. Deut. 15.
ALso Friers saien and maintainen, that begging is lawful, the which is damned by God both in the old testament & in the new. For in the fifth booke of holy writ God saies to his people Algats a needy man an begger shal not bee amongst you. Also the holy ghost tawght Salomon to pray these two thinges of God God make vanitie and leasinge wordes farre fro me, and giuegive not to me begging or beggingnesse; but giuegive only thinges that beene needfull for my liuelode; inanter lest I fulfilled be drawen to renaye and saie who is Lord? As who say, I knowe no Lord: and lest I be compelled, or made of force by needines to steale, and to for swere the name of my God. Also the wise man saies. It is a wicked Ecclesi. 1. 29.or way word life, to seek there berowgh fro house to house and he shal not doe trustily, there he shalbe hereborowed, and he shal not open his mouth. Also Christ bidds his Apostles and Disciples, that they should not beare a sachel ne scrippe, but looke what meynes is able to heare the Gospel, and eate and drinke therin, and passe not thence, & Luc. c. 9. &. 10.passe fro house to house. Also S. Paul laboured or travelledAct. Apost. with his hands for him, and for men that weren with him, and covered nether gold ne silver, ne clothes of mē that he taught, to giuegive other teachers ensample to doe the same in time of neede; and S. Peter fished afterIo. 21. 2, Thess. Christs resurtectiō. Also S. Paul bids that men that wil liue in Idlenes and curiositie, and not travel, should not eate. Also S. Clement ordained, that Christian mē should not begge opēly. And for to put away this begging S. Austen makes two books how Monkes oughten to trauel with there hands for there liuelode. And the same teaches Be…et to his Monkes and S. Bernard, and so does Frauncis to Friers. And Ierome saies that Monkes shoulden travel with there hands, not only for need, but rather to exclude idlenes and vanitie. For in state of Jnnocencie God ordained man to trauel, & afterward in the state of sin God gaue this labour to mā for his pennance. Then sith each open begging is thus sharplie dāoed in holie writ, it is a foule error to maintaine it; but it is more error to saie that Christ was such a begger; for then he must hauehave beene contrarie to his owne law; but it is most errour to continue in this dā ned begging, and rob thus against charitie the poore people, & make them to beleeue that Christ was such a beggar, and that this begging is wel done.
Cap. 6. Friars draw al almes from poore & needy mē tomain tenance of their sinful & superfluous order.
ALSO Fryers saien, that it is meedful to leaue the cōmādemēt of Christ, of giving of alms to poore feeble men to poore crooked mē, to poore blind men, and to bedredden men, & giuegive this almes to Hypocrits, that sainen them holie and needie, when they beene strong in body, & hauehave over much riches, both in great wast houses, & pretious clothes, in great feasts and many Jewels & treasure▪ & thus they slayen poore mē with ther false begging, sith they take falsly fro thē there worldlie goods, by which they shoulde sustaine there bodilie life, & deceiven rich men in there almes, and maintainen or comforten them to liue in falsenes against Jesu Christ. For sithen there were poore men enough to take mens Almes, before that Fryers comen in, and the earth is now more barren then it was; our Fryers or poore mē moughten want of this almes: but Fryers by subtil hypocrisie getten to themselues & letten the poore men to hauehave this almes.
Cap. 7. Traditions of Friars preferred before Christs commandements.
ALso Fryers chargen more breaking of there own Traditions, then breaking of the cōmandements of God. For a Fryer shal more bee punished for breaking of one of thē, then for breaking of Gods hests. For breaking of Gods hests is not charged of them, & in this they shewen how they louelove there own worship more then Gods, & thus they taken to themselues the worship that is appropred to God, and so beene blasphemers and here…icks, & so they chargen more there bodilie habit then charitie and other vertues. For if a Frier leaue his bodily habite to the which hee is not bound by Gods law, he is holden Apostata, & sharplie pursued; sometime to prison, & sometime to the death, though hee serue better God without his habit, then therein: but though he trespasse against charitie by impatiency, and false leasings, or pride, or covetousnes, it is little or naught charged; but rather praised, if it bring them worldly mucke.
Cap. 8. Friars great Hypocrits, as poore as Christ in shew as sumptuous as Lords and Prelats in deed.
ALso Fryers fainen them as Hypocrits, to keepe streitlie the Gospel and povertie of Christ, & his Apostles; and yet they most cōtrarien to Christ and his Apostles, in hypocrisie, Pride and covetise. For they shewen more holines in bodily habit, and other signes then did Christ and his Apostles, and for there singular habit or holynes, they presume to be evē with Prelats & Lords, & more worthie then other Clarks, & in covetise they can neuer make an end, but by begging, by queething, by burying, by salaries, & …rentals, and by shriving, by absolutions and other false means crien ever after worldly goods, where Christ vsed none of al these; and thus for this stinking covetise, they wor shippen the Fiend as there God.
Cap. 9. Their stealing of childrē & entising of them to there order.
ALso Friars drawen children fro Christs religion into their priuate order, by hypocrisie, leesings, and stealing. For they tellen that there order is more holy then anie other, and that they shall hauehave higher degree in blisse, then other men that beene not therein, and sayen that men of there order shal neuer come to hel, but shal deeme other men with Christ at Doomes day: and so they stealen childer fro father and mother, some time such as beene vnable to the order, and sometime such as showlden sustaine there father, & mother by commandement of God. And thus they beene blasphemers, taking vppon them ful counsel in doutouse things, that be not expresly commanded ne forbidden in holie writt: sith such counsel is apropried to the holy Ghost. And thus they beene therfore cursed of God, as the Pharisees were cursed of Christ, to whome he saies thus: woe be to you Scribes and Pharisees that beene writers of Lawe, and men of singular religion, that compassen about the water and the lande to make a man of your religion, and when he is made of your religion ye maken him dowble more a child of hel. And sith he that steales an Oxe or a Cowe is damnable by Gods law and mans also: much more he that steales a mans child that is better thē al earthlie goods, & draws him to the lesse perfit order: And thowgh this singular order were more perfit then Christs; yet he wote neuer whether it be to damnation of the Childe, for hee wote not to what state God hath ordained him, and so blindlie they done against Christs ordinance.
Cap. 10. Curats defrauded of their duties by means of Friars.
ALso Friars for pride and couetise, drawen fro Curats there office and Sacraments, in which lyen winning or worship, and so maken dissention betwixt Curats and there Ghostlie childer. Friars drawē to them confession and burying of rich men by manie subtil meanes, and Massepence and Trentals, but they wil not come to poore mens Dirige, ne receaue them to be buried amongst them. And they cryen fast that they hauehave more power in confessiō thē other Curats; for they maie shriue al that come to thē: But Curates maie no farther then their owne parishees. But Curates sain that sith they shal awnswere before God for the soules of ther sogettis, they wil knowe their life; & Friars saien it is no need, for they hauehave more power then the Curat; and thus dissention & hate is made betwixt Curats and there children, and pride and couetousnes of Friars is cause of al this & many other sinns and thus for they maken discord among christian mē, they bene hatcd and cursed of God almighty.
Cap, 11. Friars come in vnderunder the name of Saints & forsaken the Rule.
ALso Friars come in vnderunder the name of Saints, & for saken the Saints rule, and liue & putten there owne errours to the Saints, and so slaundrē both them and God. For if men speken of Frauncis, hee vsed and taught much meeknes, pouertie, and penance: & Minours now vsen the contrarie. For they maken statuts of their owne will, and them they keepen fast, and make men to weene that Frauncis made them. But Preachou…s sayen that Dominick founded them, & thē he kept Austens rule, fith he was a Canon before; for els he was Apostata, if Austens rule were good. But Austen would algats sue yea Apostles liuing, & preachours done euen the contrary. And Friar Austens founded then on Austen the great Doctor; but his rule speakes not of Friars, and so they beene grounded on leasings, for they hauen no Patron Saint. And of tho carmes knowen men nother founder ne rule, and so the Friars that hauehave founders done against there foū ders teaching, and Christs also, and colouren there owne wicked lawes vnderunder name of these Saints, and so ben grounded on leasings, and slaundren there Patrons and Christ also. And other Friars that hauehave no Patrons liuen after themselues & puttē there errours on Saints, and so slaundren them and Christ, and so hypocrisie raignes, and sinne is maintained, by colour of holynesse.
Cap. 12. Persecution of true Priests by false Friars
ALso Friars pursuen trew Priests, and letten them to preach the Gospell, notwithstandinge that Christ enioined Priesthood, & preaching of the Gospel, and so they departen that thing that God ioined together, and so (as much as in them is) they foredone Gods ordinance, and so they harmen Christian men more cruelly, then the Souldan of Sarracens, for they beene nere and more malitious. For sith Christ charges al his Priests to preach truely the Gospell; and they pursuen them for this deed, yea to the fier, they wil slea Priests, for they done Gods bidding, and therefore they beene man▪ slaiers and irregular and cursed of God. For they letten his people to be saued, and so need them to be damned. And sith the principal point and end of Christs dyeing and his passion, was to saue mans soule, and the Principal worke of Sathanas is to leese mens soule, they bene traytours to Christ & Angels of Sathanas transformed into Angel of light and cruel traitours of al men.
Cap 13 Capped Friars serued as Lords or Kings at table
ALso Capped Friars, that beene called Maisters of Diuinitie, hauehave there Chamber and service as Lords or Kings, and senden out Idiots ful of couetise, to preach not the Gospel; but Chronicles, Fables, & Leesings, to please the people, & to rob thē. A what cursednes is this, to a dead man, as to the world, and pride & vanitie therof, to get him a Cap of masterdome by praier of Lords, and great gifts, & making of huge feasts, of a hundred and manie hundred pounds, and then be idle fro teaching of Gods law; but if it be seldome before Lords and Ladies, or great gatherings, for name of the world, & then to leaue there povertie & simplenes that he is bounden to, & devour poore mens almes in wast, and feasting of Lordes and great men, and so giuegive slaunder to his brother, & other men to liue in pride and covetise, glotenie and idlenes, and leaue the seruice of God as though they were exempt fro al gods; & yet forfending of these covetous fooles, that beene Limitours, goes much Simonie, envie, and much foule marchandise; & who can best rob the poore people by false begging▪ and other deceipts, shal hauehave this Iudas office, and so anest of Antichrists Clerks is maintained by subtle cauteles of the Fiend.
Cap. 14. Great flatterers of the people nether reproving nor removing there sinnes from among them.
ALso Fryars shewen not to the people there great sinnes stably, as God bids, and namelie to mightie men of the world, but flatteren thē, & glozen & nourishen them in sinne. And sith it is the office of a Preacher to shew men there foule sinnes and paines therefore, and Friars taken this office and done it not, they beene cause of dānation of the people. For in this they beene foule traitours to God and …eke to the people, & they been nurses of the Fiend of hel. For by flattering and false beheasts, they letten men liue in there lusts, & comforten them therein, and sometime they pursuen other true preachers for they will not glose mightie men, & comfort them in there sinnes, but wil sharply tel them the so the: and thus mightie men hire by great costs a false traitour, to lead thē to Hel. And ensample men maie take how Fryars suffren mightie men, fro yeare to yeere, liue in avowtrie, and covetise, and extorsions doing, and manie other sinnes. And when men beene harded in such great sinnes▪ and wil not amend them Friars, should flee there homely cō panie, but they doe not thus, lest they leese worldlie Frendship, favour, or winning; and thus for the monie they sellen mens soules to Sathanas.
Cap. 15 How much & how oft they deceaue and coosē the laypeople by then letters of Fraternity.
ALso Friars by letters of Fraternitie deceiven the people in faith, robben them of temporal goods, & makē the people to trust more in dead p…rchment, sealed with leasings, & in vaine praiers of Hypocrits, that in case beene damned Diuels, then in the helpe of God, and in there owne good living. Commonlie these letters beene powdred with hypocrisie, covetise, Simonie, blasphemie, and other leasings▪ With hypocrisie; for therin beene told withouten end many good deeds, and sometime beene false, & more to shew them holy to get worldly goods, than to saue mens souls. With covetise; for they done this to winne the peny, for a poore man that may not geue them be hee neuer so trewe to God, shal not hauehave them: but a rich, be he neuer so cursed, shal hauehave such letters, and weanes that he is siker enough thereby, doe he neuer so much wrong to poore mē. With Symonie; for they sellen this supernal good, for temporal goods & that vnskilfully for luch chaffering and graunting of letters was neuer ensampled of Christ, …e his Apostles, & yet they loued best mens soules. With blasphemie; for these sinfull wretches taken vppon them yea dealeing of good deeds, but this thing is appropried to God, & so they beene blasphemers: For they passon Bishopps, Popes, and eke God himselfe. For they graunt no pardon, but if men be contrite and shriuen, and of merite of Christs passion, and other Saints, but Friars maken no mention nether of contrition, ne shrift, ne of merit of Christs passiō, but only of ther own good deeds. And so Christ graunts to no sinful man continuing in his sinne such part; but Friars graunten rather to cursed men for worship or winning them to good poore men. And thus falsly they passen Christ. For Christ wowld not graunt to his Cosens part of his Kingdome but if they wowlden suffer passion as Christ did: But Friars wil make men heyres in the blisse of heauē, sith they graunten men part of there good deeds after this life, & they maie not hauehave then part but if they showlden be saued, But christian beleef teaches, that al men in charitie, ben procurers by graunt of God of al▪ meedeful deeds▪ Why then graunten Friars this part, for they wil hauehave propretie of Ghostly goods where noe propertie may be, and leauen propretie of wordlie goods where christian men maie hauehave propretie▪ And thus they teachen the people that it is more needfull to giuegive such hypocrits bodilie almes, then to geue it to poore needy men after the Gospel. And thus they deceauen the people in beleef, and robben them of tē poral goods, and maken to recke lesse of there owne good liuing for trust of these false letters.
Cap. 16. Friars peruert the right faith of the sacrament of the Aultar by making it to bee an accident without subiect.
Also Friars perverten the right faith of the Sacrament of the Auter, and bringen in a new heresie. For whā Christ saies that the bread that he brake and blessed is his bodie, they say it is an accident with outen subiect, or nought. And when holie w…it saies openlie, that this Sacrament is bread that we breaken, and Gods body; they saien that it is nother bread, ne Gods bodie, but accidēt withouten subiect, & nought. And thus they leauen holy writ and taken new heresie on Christ & his Apostles and on Austin, Ierom, Ambrose, Isidore, and other Saints, & the Court of Rome, & al true Christ men, that holden the faith of the Gospel. For Christ saies that this bread is my bodie. And S. Paul saies The bread that we breaken is the communication of the Lords body: and S. Austin saies, that that thing that we seen is bread, but as to faith, fully taught the bread is Christs bodie. Ambrose saies that thing that is bread, shalbe Christ body▪ Ierome saies, that that bread which Christ brake and gaue to his Disciples, is the bodie of our Saviour; for Christ saies this is my bodie. Berengary by approuing of the Court of Rome saies thus: I acknowledge with heart and with mouth, that the bread that is laied on the Auter is not only the Sacrament but verie Christes bodie. Ah Lord what hardie Devil durst reach these Friars to denie thus openly, holie writ and al these Saints and the Court of Rome, and al true Christian men and to find this heresie, that this Sacred host is accident withouten subiect or nought; sith this is not taught openlie in holie writ, and reason and wit is against this and Austin in 3. or 4. great books saies expresly, that none accident maie be withouten subiect; and al wise Philosophers accorden here with Austin. Lord what should moue Christ Almightie, al wittie, & wel willing, to hide this beleefe of Friars by a thousand yeare, & neuer to teach his Apostles, and so manie Saints the right beleefe; but to teach first these Hypocrits, that comen never into the Church, til the soule F…end Sathanas was vnbounden. Hereby shoulden al Christiā men know the Friars he▪ resie, and not receiue them into there houses, before that they confesseden vnderunder there general Seale, the right beleefe of Christian men and had forsaken there old heresie.
Cap. 17. There excesse in buil ding of great Churches and costly houses & Cloisters▪
ALso Friars builden many great Churches, & costly waste houses and Cloisters, as it were Castles, and that without need, where thorough Parish Churches, and common waies beene paired, and in manie places vndone. And so they teachen in deed that men shoulden hauehave heritage and dwelling Citie in earth, & forget Heaven against S. Paul. For by this new housing of Friars, though it raine on the Auter of the Parish Church, the blind people is so deceiued, that they will rather giuegive to waste houses of Friars, then to Parish Churches, or to common waies, though men, cattle, and beasts beene perished therein. Before that Friars comen in, there was more people, and the earth more plenteous, and then were Churches enowgh. What skil is it now to make so much cost, in new building, and let old parish Churches fal downe? And if mē sayen that in these great Churches God is fayre served; certes great houses make not men holie, and onlie by holinesse is God wel serued. For in heauen that was so faire Lucifer serued God vntruely and so did Adam in Paradise. And Iesu saies that tho great Temple of Hierusalem that was a house of prayer, and sometimes Gods house, was made a den of thiefes, for couetous preachers dwelliden therein. But Iob serued Gode full wel on the Dunghil, and so did Adam out of Paradise, and Christ before when he prayed in hills and desarts, and baptisteke. And therfore Christ and his Apostles made no great Churches ne Cloisters; but wenten fro countrie to countrie, preaching the Gospel and teaching men to doe there almes, to poore men and not to wast houses. For Christ tawght men to praie in spirit and truth, that is, in good wil and deuotion and holie liuing. And to destroie this hypocrisy, he ordained the Temple of Hierusalem showld be destroied for sinne done therein.
Cap. 18. Friars teaching the vow of obedience contrary to Gods law.
FRiars also destroien obedience of Gods Lawe and magnifien singular obedience made to sinful men and in case to divels, which obedience Christ ensampled neuer nether in himselfe ne in his Apostles. For by teaching of S. Paul, each man owght to be subiect to other in the dread of Christ, that is in as much as he teaches them Gods wil, & no man showld obey more to anie man▪ And euer the more that a mā were, the more showld he thus meeke himself, as Christ did, to al his Apostles. But Friars tellen nowght by this obedience, but if they maken singular profession, to sinful fooles that manie times teachen and commanden them against Gods wil, and sayen that in such thinges as ben not expresly commanded, ne forfended in Gods law, they should algats doe after there Soueraines; yea thowgh it be vnwi…tinglie against Gods wil: And sith it is appropred to the holy Ghost to giuegive ful counsel in such points, they maken there sinful Priours euen with the holy Ghost. And where they showld bee gouerned in such doutie points by the holy Ghost, they leauen his counsel and ruling many times and taken them to the ruling of a sinful foole, and in case a damned fiend in hel, And thus they leauen obedience that Christ tawght and ensampled as vnperfit & not sufficient▪ & praysen more fained obedience to sinnfull fooles, that they taken of there owne presumption, as if such fools had founden perfiter obedience then euer did Christ God and mam.
Cap. 19. How they forsake the perfection of ther order for wordly respects
ALso Friars forsaken perfection of there order for worship of the wordle, and couetise, and beene not suffren to take the freedome of the Gospell for to preach Gods word to the people. For Friars ben made Byshops, yea many times by Simonie, & sworē strongly to goe and preach and conuert heathen men and leauen this Ghostlie office, and beene Suffragans in England and robben men by extortions, as in punishing of sinne for money & suffren men to lie in sinne, fro yeare to yeare, for an annuel rent, and so in hollowing of Churches and Church-yards, and Auters, and commonly al other Sacraments for money. And thus these Friars Byshopps liuen commonly euer after in Simonie, pride, and robberie, and thus they beene exempt by Caiphas Byshoppricke fro all good obseruances of Godes lawe, and of there owne order and bee free to liue in sinne and to robbe our land and envenime it by manie cursings. And so they bearen out first the golde of our lande to Aliens, and sometimes to our enemies, to get of Antichrist this false exemption, & euer after liue in robbing of poore men, & maintainen much sin, cursing, & simonie, that is passing heresie. And other Bishops of thē that hauehave Dioceses in this land, forsaken povertie, and penance, and obedience: for they looken to be Masters of al Friars of that order in this land, and to liue in pride, lusts of there flesh, idlenes and spoiling of the people, more subtilly thē other. And thus a Friar shal dwel in Courts of Lords and Ladies to be there Confessour, and not displease them for nothing, though they liuen in never so cursed sins, for to liue in his lusts and to get falselie mucke to Antichrists covent, & let poore men of there almes, and thereto he shal hauehave leaue & commaundement vponupon vertue of obedience: but he shal no leaue hauehave, to go generallie about in the world, and preach truelie the Gospel without begging, and liue an open poore and iust life as Christ and his Apostles didden. For this were destroying of there fained order. And therefore they louen more pride covetise & lustes of there owne flesh, then the worship of God and heale of mans soule. And thus they maken sacrifice to Lucifer, to Mammon and to there owne stinking bellie.
Cap. 20. There rotten habit esteemed aboue Christs bodie.
ALso Friars praisen more there rotten habit, then the worshipful body of our Lord Iesu Christ. For they teachen Lordes, and namelie Ladies, that if they dien in Fraunces habit they shall never come in Hel, for vertue thereof, and certes this is an open heresie damning all that trusten thus into there liues end. But a man maie hauehave the Sacrament of the Auter, & that is verie Gods bodie in his mouth, and straight flee to Hel withouten end: & the more be damned for the evil taking of this Sacrament. Such Heretickes beene vnable to be amongst Christian men.
Cap. 21. Friars begge without need whē the poore want without remorse. See Chap. 6.
Also Friars beggen withouten need for there own rich Sect, & not for there poore bedradden men that maie not goe and hauehave no man to sende for there liuelode: but rather drawen rich mens almes fro such poore men. And therefore charitie is outlawed among them, and so is God: & leasings, & covetise and Fiends beene enhabited among them, for they decea▪ ven men in there almes to make costlie houses, not to harbour poore men but Lords, and mightie men; and teachen men to suffer Gods Temple, that beene poore men, to perish for default; & thus they beene traitours to God, and his rich people whom they deceaven in there almes, and manquellers of poore men, whose liuelode they taken awaie fro them by false leasings, & therefore they beene irregular before God & despisen him, and harmen the people when they saien Masse or Matines in this cursed life, as Holy writ teaches and Austin and Gregorie declaren fullie.
Cap 22. Friars reproue not there Brethrē as the Gospell willeth but as thēselues wil.
FRiars also keepen not correption of the Gospel against there brethren, that trespassen, but cruellie done them to paineful prison; but this is not the meeke suing of Iesu Christ, for he & his Apostles prisoneden not sinful men in this life, but sharplie reproved there sinne and at the last, when they would not amend them taughten good men not to cōmune with them: But these Friars shewen there tyrantrie at the ful: who so knew wel there paines and torments: and it seemes no wisedome, ne profit, to giuegive Friars power to prison men. For when the King by his officers prisōs a man, that is commonly done for great & open trespasse and that is good warning to other misdoe…s, and some profit comes of the Kings Ministers: But vvhen Friars prisonen their brethren the paine is not knowē to mē, thowgh the sinne were neuer so open & slaunderous, and that does harme to other liege men, and profit of Kings Ministers is away, And when the potestatis of Friars beene proud, couetous, and sinfull and haten the truth, they will soone prison trewe men that reprouen there sinnes, and spare other shrewes that they maie flatter them and mainetaine them in there sinne; and so beside the Kinges leaue tormenten trewe men, for they wolden doe Gods heasts, & sith the king graunts occasion thereto, the King is holdē to reuoke and let Friars prisoning, lest he bee guilty of the sinne that comes therby, sith he may destroy it, & does not: & thus did beggers Friars leapen vp to Kings power, and manie times more then the Kinges dare doe, and maken the King the Fiends torment or to prison trew men, for they saien the troth. And so the King stoppes Gods law to be knowen in his land, and nourishes euill men, and prisons good. For this dread and manie moe, showld the King revoke this prisoning, & make Clarks be ruled after the Gospel by simplenesse and holy liuinge.
Cap. 23. Friars lawlesse egging the King and the mightie ones of the land to maintaine there sect begging there almes & beggering the whole land.
ALso Friars maken our Lond lawles; for they leaden Clarks and namely rulen Prelas and Lords and Ladies and Commons also; and they beene not ruled by Godes lawe, ne lawes of the Church, …e lawes of the King. For they glosen Gods lawes as them likes, and been exempt fro Byshops and other ordinaries & leaden the Byshops of Rome, as them likes. And men saien they beene not liege men to the King, ne subiect to his lawes. For thowgh they stealen mens children, it is said there goes no lawe vppon thē, and that seemes wel; for they robben the Kings liege men by false begginge of sixtie thowsande marke by yeare as men dowbten reasonablie, & yet they be not punished therefore. And the lawlesse Friars by there false ruling, maken our lande lawlesse. For they letten Clarkes, Lords, and Commons to knowe the truth of holy writ, and maken them to pursue trew men to the death, for they teachen the commandements of God, and crien to the people the foule sinnes of false Friars. And thus falsnesse is maintained, and false men beene raised to great estats, and truth is put on back, & trewe men been pursued, yea to prisoning, to losse of al there goods, and to sharp iudgement, for as much as they wowlden destroy sinne that was openly and cursedly done, and in point for to fordoe our land. And of this ruling beene Friars most guiltie, for they leaden Prelats Lords and Ladies, Justices and other men by confession, and tellen them not speedely there sinnes. For if they tellen them there sinnes, and they wowld not amend them, the Friars that beene there confessours, showlden leaue them vp as Christ and Paul teachen; but they done not thus, for then they showlden leese winning and fauour of the wordle. And thus for louelove of money and welfare of there body, they leaden our land out of the lawe of God and alrighteousnes.
Cap, 24. Friars no peacemake is but makebates striuers themselues & stirrers vp of others to warrs & dissentions:
ALso Friars beene irregular Procuratours of the fiend, to make and maintaine warres on christiā men, and ennemies of peace & charitie. For Friars counsellen and openly preachen that men shoulē flee to heauen withouten paine, if they woulden goe and slea in there owne person, or maintaine and finde one at there cost to slea christian men. And the ende was to make Christs Vikar most rich to the wordle, the which Vikar showld be most poore, …suing in this most highlie Christ & his Apostles: But Christ died to make peace & charitie & if men mighten thus freely graunt pardon, they showlden yea to leese there owne life, graunt pardon to make peace. Yet they preachen noe pardon ne meede to make peace and charitie: And yet they been bounden of God to make men siker to hauehave the blisse of heauen if they wil truly procure for peace and charitie. But of the pardon that men vsen to daie fro the Court of Rome, they hauehave no sikernes by holy writ ne reason, ne ensample of Christ, of his Apostles. And so of other warrs and debats that Friars mighten let if they wolden, and sith they done not; but rather counsel thereto, and comforten men therin. and tellen not the peril▪ of them, they been cause and Procuratours of al war…s & specially of this warre in Flaunders, for they preacheden that & haden it forth against the King, the Duke, and other Lords and Clarks, & sharplie pursueden Priests that stoden by charitie, and profite of the Realme, And so they weren then aboue the King, Lords and trew Priests, and robbeden the Kings liege men by false leasings, of manie thowsand pounds that thowgh the King showld now be taken and our land now conquered or destroied, the King might not raise so much to help himselfe & his land. And certes there was treason to God and the King, and false deceit of al men, both of cattaile and of foule, and letting and destroying of peace and of charitie.
Cap. 25, Iudas children seling Christ & al for money.
FRiars also beene Scariots children, betraying true men of the Gospel, and so Christ for monie, & for monie they senden souls to Sathanas by example of there evil liuing, by counsel to warres, & nourishing and comforting men in sin, for lusts of there flesh. For in pleasing of Bishops and other men, they preachen against pouertie of Christ and sain that Preachers of the Gospel and Christs life beene Hereticks, worthie to be brend. And so for gifts of Bishops and other men, and worldly fauour, they sellen truth of the Gospell & so Christ as Iudas did. For S. Bede & S. Ambrose saien, sith Christ is truth, he that for monie saies falsenes and leaues the sooth, does such sinne as Iudas did, and so they counsailen to wars for they winnen much thereby and for defaut of charitie they senden soules to Hel, when men by there counsaile taken false warres & enden in them, weening that they done wel, and therefore dien withouten sorrow of them. And for to harte men in this cursed warring, they gone with them into warre and beene there Confessours and sometime slaien men in there owne person, and thus they been Antichrists Martyrs and fleene to Hel to draw other menthither after them.
Cap. 26. They sclaunder …rue Priests & flatter wicked men.
ALso Friars distroien this worlde most of al cursed men for they backbitē good Clarks & saien that they distourblen the worlde, and flateren euill Clarks in there sin, & so they praisen Lords that beene tyrants, extortioners, and evil liuers, and Ladies also. And they despisen Lords and Ladies that bee giuen to leaue pride and vanitie of the world, and saien it was not merrie sithen Lords and Ladies tooken reward to the Gospel, & leften there ancestors māners, that weren worshipful to the world. And so of rich men and other they praisen them that bring them much monie with wrong, and many deceits & saien that they been holie: but other men that giuen not Friars much more then enough, they lacken at the full, though they done there almes much better to there poore neighbours. And sith God saies that euill teachers beene cause of destruction of the people, and Grosted declares it well, and Friars beene principal euil teachers, they beene principal cause of destroying of this world. For they beene Confessours Preachers and Rulers commonlie of al men, and they teachen thē not there foule sinnes and perils of them but suffren them in there sinnes, for winning of stinking mucke and lusts of there own bellie, that is foule wormes meat, and a sacke of dirt.
Cap. 27. Friars most impatiēt of al men liuing, in bearing reprooff.
ALso Friars beene most rebel against the teaching of Christs Gospel, and most out of patience and pittie. For they beene most vnpatient against reproving of sinne and destroying thereof. For a Lorde wil meekelier suffer sharpe despising of his little sinne, then they wil suffer meeke and soft reprouing of there great heresies. For they beene wood that mens almes should be rightly departed among poore needie men, feeble, crooked and blind, for then they saien they been vndone, but they been of vaine religiō as S. Iame saies: For this is a cleane religion withouten spot anentis God the Father, to visite the fatherles & modirles children & widdowes in there tribulation, and to keepe aman vnfouled fro this world, that is, fro pride covetise & vanities. But Friars done al the contrarie, for they visiten rich men, and by hipocrisie getten falslie there almes, and withdrawen it fro poore mē; but they visiten rich widdowes for there mucke, and maken them to be buried at the Friars, but poore men comen in not there. And wilful povertie they forsaken, and most covetous of al men and boasten more of there holines, and been most dislanie of there vaine speech and worldlie, & as true men tellen, Friars saien apertlie: if the King and Lords and other men stonden thus against there false begging, and wil not suffer Friars to rob there Tenāts, but giuegive there Almes to there poore neighbours, Friars wil go out of the Land, & come againe with bright heads. And looke whether this bee treason or none.
Cap. 28. The Holy scripture accused by these vnholy men of falshood.
ALso Friars teachen and maintainen, that Holie writ is false, and so they putten falsenes vponupon our Lord Jesu Christ, and on the Holie Ghost, and on all the Blessed Trinitie. For sith God Almightie taught, confermes, and maintaines Holie writ; if this writing be false, then God is false, and maintainour of errour and falsenes, but certes then he is no God: yet knowen we neuer that anie sect would saie that lawes of there God were false, and there with beleeue on the same God: but this despite done these blasphemers to the Holie Trinitie. Alas who maie suffer this blasphemie, that Christ in whom is al treasour of wit, wisdom & truth, couthe not or would not saie true words, and sentence, but sinful fools hauehave true māner of speaking, contrarie to the speech of our Lord Jesu Christ. For if this be, sinneful fooles, yea in case Devils of Hel, been wiser & truer then is Jesu Christ. And whē this cursed ground is sought, it stands in this error. For I am Maister of vanitie and of Heresie, misvnderstond the words of God, therefore they beene false▪ But these Hereticks shouldē know, that it sues of there cursed ground, that God is the falsest thing in earth or heauen or in Hell. Why? for men falslie vnderstonden most falsenes of him. And thus might ech Panime or Sarracene make our God false, as him liked. But why saien they that Holie writ is false, for they been wont so much to leasings and falsenes that they taken falsenes for truth. As men saien, a man maie so long be nourished little & little by venime, that he weanes it be wholsome, meet, & good. Also Holie writ damnes there foule▪ Hipocrisie, begging, couetise, and other sinnes, & therfore they saien that it is false to colour by there falsenes. Also Holie writ praises much Christs religion and tels how newe Sects, ful of Hipocrisie & covetise shullen come & deceaue Christian men, and bids them know them by there couetise and Hipocrisie. And therfore they saien as Sathanas Clerks, that Holy writ is false.
Cap. 29. How strongly wedded to there rotten habit.
FRiars also beene stronglier wedded with there rotten habit against the freedome of the Gospel, thē the husband is with his wife by ordinance of God. For the husband maie lawfully be absent from his wife by a month, an halfe yeare, & sometime seauen yeare, & by cōmō consent of them both by al there life: But if a Friar be out of his rotten habit, yea an houre, he is Apostata, though he louelove more God, & serue him better, and profit more to christian men. And they puttē more holynes in there rottē habit thē euer did Christ or his Apostles in there clothes. For Christ was thrise on a day out of his clothes, and yet hee was not Apostata. But they chargen so much this rotten habit, for therby the people weanes that they beene holy, and giuen them more dirt then is needful, or profitable▪ & therefore ech partie drawes an other to hel. So Friars for there false taking of almes whē no need is, ne hauehave they leaue of Gods law thereto, blind the people, for they drawen there almes fro there poore and needie neighbours where they showlden doe it by the heast of God and maintainen Friars in there false begginge hypocrisie and other sinnes manie.
Cap. 30. The Popes dispensation or commandement of the superior more regarded then Christs commandement.
ALso Friars teachen that it is not lawefull to a Priest or anie other man to keepe the Gospell in his bounds and cleannes withouten errour of sinnful men but if he hauehave leaue therto of Antichrist. And thus they sayen it is not lawful to a Christian mā to doe Gods commandement, but if a fiend giuegive them leaue therto: as if the leaue & commandement of God be not enowgh thereto. For they saien that a Priest that has bounden himselfe to errours of sinful men by new profession, maie not goe to the freedome of the Gospel and liue thereafter as Christ tawght Priestes, but if they hauehave dispensation of the Pope. And J suppose that he be Judas, and shalbe damned, then he is a diuel as Christ saies: & then it is plaine, sith this Priest maie not keepe the Gospel in his freedome withoutē his leaue, and he is in this case a diuel, then a Priest may not keepe the commandementes of God withouten leaue of a fiend: But for to get this leaue, is our golde giuen to Aliens, and sometime our enemies; & yet the Priest shalbe bounden commonlie to the rotten habit and be exempt fro goodnes, and bolded in sinne.
Cap. 31 There vsery. Symony Couetousnes, extortion, sapine & theft.
ALso Friars beene receit, and a swallow of Symonie, of vsurie, of extortions, of rauines, & of theft and a neast or hoord of Mammons treasure. For thowgh men liuen in Symonie they wil not counsaile them, and charge them in shrift to resigne there benefice, but comfort them to hold it stil, and bringe them much dirt thereof, and they will vndertake for there sinn. And so of vsurers they chargen them not speedelie to make restitution, but rather colouren this sinne to be partner of this winning, and so of other robberie they receauen it priuelie, and so maintainen & colouren thefts in there theft, where other liege men should be punished therefore, and so they beene more couetous, then the wicked Jewes that bowghten Christ for they wowld not take the money of Judas and doe it to there money ne treasour, for it was the price of Christs bloud▪ for Christ was sold and traied to death for that money. But Friars wil receaue money, gotten by as great sinnes or more to make great houses and great feasts to Lordes, and not buie a field to burie in pilgrimes as the Iewes didden; but rather laien it vp in there treasure, to maintaine wrongs against there Curates and other poore men, by false plea at Roome and marchandise in England,
Cap. 32. Friars cannot indure to heare of Christs pouertie preached.
FRiars also crien lowd that poore Priests beene hereticks, for they teachē by Gods law how Clarks showlden keepe wilful pouertie and Christs Gospel, and the King and Lordes owen to compell them thereto. And thus they damnen holy writ, & the kings regalree. For sith poore Priestes hauehave tawght both in English and in latin, how many open laws both in the old Testament and in the new, forfend al Priestes & Deacons to hauehave secular Lordshipp and these lawes beene confirmed by Christs life and his Apostles, and Friars saien that this is heresie, they damnen openlie holie writ: and sith the Kinges regalie askes by old stat…te, that the King maie in manie, in case take Temporalties fro Clarkes, and Friars saien that this takeing is errour against Gods law, they damnen this rightful regalie of our King, and also our Kings and Lords, as heretickes if they maintaine this rightful lawe to stable peace of our Realme. And sith by Gods law the office of the King and Lords is to praise reward, & maintaine good and rightful men, and to chastise sharply wicked mē, & constraine Clarks to hold the state that Christ put them in and algates wilfull▪ pouertie: Friars saie if the King and Lords done there office of Godes lawe that they beene foule hereticks. But whie showlde the king maintaine in his land such traitours both to God and him and cruel ennemies of al Christian men.
Cap. 33. Friars like theeues co…g into the Church by the window not by the dore.
ALso Friars beene theeues, both night theeues, and daie theeues, entring into the Church not by the dore, that is Christ. For withouten auctoritie of God, they maken new religions of errours of sinful men, and yet they maken worse rules ever the longer that they lasten, & they seeken not meeklie the worship of God and profit of Christian mens soules, & this thing they musten do if they comen in by Christ: but they chosen & finden a new order lesse perfit and profitable then is that that Christ made himselfe, and so they maken division in Priesthed against the cōmandement of God; and sith they beene not grounded on Christ & his law, they moten needs be drawen vp, and the ordinance of Christ mot stond in his cleannes and perfection.
Cap. 34. Bindē there novices to impossible things.
ALso Friars by hipocrisie binden them to impossible thing that they maie not do, for they binden them over the commandements of God, as they saien themselues, but they maie doe no more then the commandement of God. For God bids in his most commandement, that thou shalt louelove the Lord thy God of al thy hart, of al thy life, of al thy mind & of al thy strengthes & mights, but who maie doe more then this? No man. Then they binden them to more then they maie do, & sith it si not counsaile of Christ to make singular profession to a sinful Jdeot and in case a Diuel, and they bidden thē to such one that they done ouer the coūsaile of Christ: but al that is over the coū saile of Christ, is algats euil, sith Christs counsailes to ech good thing. And thus manie blind fooles bindē thē to the high counsailes of Christ that cannot keepe the lest commaundement: but see hipocrisie of them; sith ech counsaile of Christ is commaundement for some time, and some circumstances, how binden they them to more then to the cōmandements? Not by the counsailes, for they beene commādements but they fainen this to draw yong children into there rotten Habit, & other fooles that knowen not the perfection of Christs order.
Cap. 35. The necessitie and multitude of there vaine & chāgeable Ceremonies.
FRiars also been worse Hereticks, thē weren Jews, that woulden keepe Ceremonies of the olde law with freedome of Christs Gospel. For the Jewes kepten reasonable lawes made of God and meedefull for time that God ordained them: But Friars keepen new lawes fained of errours of men, mo then God ordained in the old Law, and more vncertaine: for to day this law is holden among thē, & to morrow destroied; but this vncertaine was not Gods law, and these lawes of Friars beene more against the Gospel. For the laws of the old Testament were figure of Christs comming & passion, & ledden men to the Gospel: but new lawes of Friars beene not such figure, and letten men to hold freedome of the Gospel. Ah Lord, sith good lawes ordained of God musten need cease for freedome of the Gospel, much more moten euil lawes ordained of errour of sinful men, & worldly cease and let not men to keepe the Gospel in his freedome,
Cap. 36. Friars returne euil for good.
ALso Friars beene adversaries of Christ and disciples of Sathanas, not yeelding good for euil as Gods law teaches, ne good for good as kinde and mans law teachen; but yeelding evill for good, as the Fiends law teaches. For they casten and imagine the death of true men, that desiren and travailen to deliver them fro the Fiends mouth and everlasting death, & to bring thē to that state in which Christ ordained Priests to liue in. And they proferen Friars this condition, if they wil teach by holy writ or reason, that Friars order & living is best for Priests, they wil gladly be professed to the Friars order. And if Priests may teach both by Holy writ and reason, that there order is better then Friars, sith Christ himselfe made there order and not Friars, they praien Friars for louelove of God to take that order and to leaue there singular order, in as much as it drawes them fro the freedome of the Gospel. And thus they pursuen Priests, for they reprouen there sins as God bids, both to bren thē, and the Gospel of Christ written in English to most learning of our nation. And thus for the great almes that men giuen to Friars they letten men to con Gods law, and so letten them to bee saued, for they may not be saued withouten conning & keeping of Gods law, and so Friars needen our lond to be damned with Fiends in Hel.
Cap. 37. Friars vnderunder the habit … holines le…d men into sinne.
FRiars also beene worse enemies and slaiers of mās soule, then is the cruel Fiend of Hel by himselfe. For they vnderunder the Habit of holines, leaden men and nourishen them in sinne, and been speciall helpers of the Fiend to strangle mens soules. For the name of holines & of great Clarks in reputation of the people, that the people trusts not to few true men preaching against there covetise hypocrisie and false deceit. And the Friars for louelove of a little stinking mucke, & welfare of there foule bellie, sparen to reproue the cursed sinne of the people. For commonlie if there be anie cursed Jurour, extortioner, or a…outrer he will not be shriuen at his owne Curate, but go to a flattering Friar, that wil assoile him falsly, for a little mony by yeare, though he be not in wil to make restitution & leaue his cursed sinne. And thus if the foule Fiend might be shewed in his shape to the people, as men saien he was in time of S. Bartholmew the people would be ferde to dwel in his seruice, that is sinne: But the cursednes of sinne is h…d, and the people is made sicker by false Pardons & Letters of Fraternitie though they al breaken the heasts of God and keepen not charitie and certaine then is the Diuel sicker of both parties.
Cap. 38 They perswad men to reckō more of there Anathemaes then of Gods curse.
ALso Friars leaden and nourishen our Prelats, our Lords & Commons in great blasphemie, against God. For they teachen al this people to recke lesse of the most rightfull curse of God, then by the wrong curse of sinful man, thowgh he be a damned diuel. For they callen the curse of God the lesse curse, & the curse of sineful man the more curse. For thowgh a man be neuer so cursed of God for pride, enuie, couetise or avowtrie, or anie other this is not charged ne pursued nether of Prelat ne Lord ne Commons: But if a man with stand ones the Citation of a sinful Prelate yea after the commandement of God, then he shalbe cursed and prisoned after fortie daies, and al men shullen goe vponupon him, thowgh the mā be pursued for truth of the Gospel, and be blessed of God. And thus sinfull mens dome and in case of the fiends is more dread & magnified thē is the rightful dome of God almighty.
Cap. 39. Friars heresie in affir ming the wick ed to be members of Christ Church.
FRiars also destroien this Article of Christian mēs faith: I belief o common or general Church. For they teachen that tho men that shalbe damned bee members of holy Church, and thus they wedden Christ and the diuel to gether. For Christ is ghostly wedded with each member of holy Church, and some of these as they saien shul be damned, & then as Christ saies, they beene frends: Therefore by them Christ & the diuel beene wedded to gether. But God saie, by Paul, that there is no commining ne consent to Christ and to Belial, and then maie there no wedding be betwixt them, but this general holy Church is the congregation of Christ that is head and al good Angels in heauen and al men and weomen in erth or in Purgatorie that shullen be saued & no moe. For Christ saies that none of his members shal perish, for no man shal take them out of his hands. And Iohn Evangelist saies of false teachers that they went out of vsus but they were not of vsus. And therefore Chrysostome saies that tho that keepen not Gods law but dien out of charity weren neuer Christs body the which shal not raigne with him: & sith ech part of Christs ghostly bodie of which Austine speakes, as Holy writ does, shal raigne with him in blisse. then no man that shalbe damned is part of Christs ghostly bodie and so part of member of Holie Church: But Friars saiden thus, for men shulden giuegive them much monie to praie for all both good and euil; and also to please Bishops and Possessioners.
Cap, 40 Arrogating vntounto themselues glorie due vntounto other men and somtimes to God him selfe.
ALso Friars seeken busily there own worldlie worship, and putten the worship of God behinde, against the teaching of Jesu Christ and S. Paule, yea that is worse, they taken vponupon themselues glorie that is appropred to God and so maken them euē with God, for they seeken fast by great gifts and vaine costs to be called Maisters of Diuinitie, and speake before Lords, and sit at the meate with them, and not to teach truly the Gospel to al manner of men by meeke life, & freelie as Christ bids. Also to be Confessours of Lords and Ladies algats to be much told by and fare wel, and not seeke poore men, though they hauehave more neede. And so of other busines of Friars who so takes good sight to them. For if a Friar doe little wel that shal bee praised algats: but if another man do much better that shalbe lacked or despised. Also they shullen sweare by him that they callen Patron of there order, and leaue God behinde, & yet they done so for worship of there owne Patron and there owne Sect, and natheles God teache to sweare by him in need, and not by his Creatures, but for there prowde swearing and ydel, they de spisen God and there Patron also.
Cap. 41. Exalting themselues aboue Christ himselfe.
FRiars yet highen yet falsly thē selfe aboue Christ. For where Christ bids that men trow not to him, but if he do the workes of the Father of Heauen, Friars chalengen that men trust and obay to them, as needful to souls health when they done not the works of God. For els they maie not aske that men doe after them when they witten not whether the thing that they commanden is against Gods dome or there wit. And thus no man shoulde doe after them, but when they teachen certainely the heasts of God or his counsailes, lest men doing after there teaching, in this do against the wil of God, but farewel then this new fained obedience, with this new profession.
Cap. 42. Christs rule no sufficient warrant for them to be ruled by.
ALso Friars falsely enhaunsen themselues aboue Christ and his Apostles. For they wil not be paied with Christs rule in the Gospel, to teach truly the Gospel, and hauehave meate and drinke freelie of a good man and devout to God, ne be apaied with food and hylling as Christ and his Apostles weren, but they robben Curats of there office, and ghostlie worship, and letten them to know Gods law, by holding bookes fro them, & with drawing of there vantages, by which they shulden hauehave books and lerne. And also they robben Lords of there rents, & some by more hypocrisie taken free annual rents of Lords cofers, and they robben the Commons of there liuelode by hypocrisie & false begging, damned by Gods law. And thus at the beginning they fainen them most poore of al Clarkes, but at the last they passen al other in great Houses and costlie Libraries, and great feasts, & many other prides and covetises and euer they passen foule Christ & his Apostles. For where Christ had not to rest in his head, Friars fained beggars hauehave Lordly places, that almost thorough Englād they may ech night lie on there own.
Cap. 43 Friars policie in binding there nouices to vnknowē things
FRiars also of great cautele binding nouices to vn knowen thinge. For they will not suffer them to knowe there priuities of there rule and there life til that they ben professed, & then they shullen not be suffered to leaue there rule thowgh they witten wel that they maie not keepe it; and this is openly against Christs teaching and Iohns Gospel. For Christ saies that he spake openly to the world, and in hiddennes nothing, & Friars done here fullie the contrarie. For first they shewen great deuotion and sweetnes of holy life to yong childre til they be professed, and then maistren them by tyrauntrie to doe manie thinges against there conscience, and so needen them to goe to Hell or to prison, or some time to cruel death.
Cap. 44 Mispenders of the treasure of this land.
ALso Friars beene wasters of treasure of our land by manie blind and vn…kilfull manners. For first they blinden them blindlie fro freedome of the Gospel, and then spenden much gold to get them dispensatiō. And manie times bring vaine pardons couuienales & other vaine priuileges, & in al this the gold of our land goes out, and Symoney and curse and bold nesse in sinne comes againe. And God wote where priuities of our land beene thus shewed to our ennemies And God wote where matrimonie be thus departed for monie by such Friars makeing false suggestion and false pursuit after. Also it seemes that in this they magnifien a sinful caitife, and in ca…e a damned fiend, more then God almightie. For they dare not by free graunt of god doe a good thinge to please him therewith, but if they hauehave leaue of such a sinnful caitife: and if they hauehave leaue of such an vnwittie caytif they dare doe against Gods pleasing an vnreasonnable thing and sinful and slaunderous to al christian men.
Cap. 45. Friars holier then other men.
FRiars also by Lucifers pride highen themselues, & holden them hollier thē al other out of there sect, for as much as they binden thē to new Traditions of sinful mē, the which ben ful of errour, over the most sufficient rule of Jesu Christ, that left no profitable ne needful thing out of his rule. For though a Priest or Bishop do neuer so truly the office that God bade Priests do, yet they saien he is more holie if hee come to there new fained religion and obedience. But sith boasting and reioicing of sinne is one of the greatest sinnes of al, and these Friars boasten so much of there sinful errour how they hauehave founden a better religion then Christ made for his Apostles and Priests, it seemes they been most sinful and cursedlie prowde ouer al other wicked men. For it seemes that they maken themselues wiser then Christ more wittie and more ful of charitie, sith they teachen better way to heauen, then did Christ as they fainen.
Cap 46. Friars altogether …et vppon couetousnes.
ALso Friers setten more by stinking dirt of wordly goods, then they done by vertues and goods of …lisse. For if a Caymes castel of Friars has much dirt of worldly goods, though the Friars therein be ful of pride covetise Symonie and false robberie by false begging & flattring yet they saien, that that rich House is better then a poore house of Friars, though they liven in meeknes povertie and penance and much holines. And they travellen more to get dirt of this worlde then to get the blisse of heauen, and they commenden more a Friar that con subtillie & thicke get this worldly dirt, then an other, that con doe & teach much vertuous life. And thus these Friars make sacrifice to false Gods for there coveti…e and forsaken God Almightie, sith they louen more worldlie mucke then vertues and the louelove of Jesu Christ.
Cap 47. Friars dead vntounto the wordle but raised by Antichrist to pride Couetousnes and maintenance of sinn
FRiars also shewen & witnessen in themselues Antichrists miracles, right as Lazar and other raised by Christ sheweden and witnesseden Christs miracles. For as Lazar and other weren verilie dead and verilie raised by Christ to liue of kind & grace: so these Friars …ainen them dead to pride of the world & other sinnes but they beene raised by Antichristes doing to pride of States covetise and subtle maintaining or colouring of sinne. For though men beene cursed avowterers, extortioners and wrongful maintainers of falsenes and debates: yet Friars wil colour these sinnes and vndertake for these sinful men, if they wil giuegive them much dirt, and maintaine there vaine sect, & cōmend it more then Christs owne religion. And they beene quicke to striue, pleet, & fight bodilie for worships & states of this world: and so they beene dead to meeknes charitie and good religion, and beene raised to cursed life of sin, and this is Antichrists miracle.
Cap. 48. Friars spiritual Sodomits.
FRiars also beene fowly envenimed with ghostlie sinne of Sodome, & so been more cursed then the bodilie Sodomits, that weren sodainelie dead by hard vengeance of God; for they done ghostlie leacherie by Gods worde, when they preachen more there owne findings for worldly mucke, then Christs Gospel for sauing of mens souls, & whē they leauen to preach the seed of Gods word & leesen it, by which mē shoulden by ghostly gendure be made Gods sons, they done more sin then though they losten mans seed, by which the bodie of man should be gendrid. For the misvsing of the better vertue is more sin, but the seed of Gods word is better then the seed of man, therfore it is worse to mispend that then to miswast mans seede. And Rob. Grosted declares this reas…n wel against cruel Curats.
Cap. 49. Friars notable factors for the Pope herein England.
FRiars also beene most priuie & subtil procurators of Simonie and soule winning and begging of benefices of indulgences, and trauels, pardons and vaine priniledges. For men saien, they wil get a great thing of the Pope, or of Cardinals in England better cheape then other Procuratours, and they been more wilie, and more pleasantlie can flatter the Pope & his Court, and most priuely make Lords to maintaine the Pope and his, in rob…ing our lond of Treasure by his Pardons, priviledges, and the first fruits of benefices in our lond, and Dimes & Subsidies to warre on Christian men, for stinking worldly Lordship that God has forbidden to him and al Priests; and in false confession they stirren Lords much thereto & needen to destroie the lond, when they maintainen the Pope & this false robbing.
Cap. 50. Friars most Perilous enemies to ho ly Church & to al our land.
YEt Friars beene most perilous enemies to holy Church and al our lande, for they letten Curates of there office, and spenden commonly & needlesse sixtie thowsand marke by yeare, that they robben falsely of the poore people. For if Curats didden there office in good life and trewe preaching as they beene holden vppon paine of damning in hel, there were Clarks enowgh of Bishops, Parsons, and other Priests; and in case over money to the people, and yet not two hundred yeare agone, there was no Friar, & then was our land more plenteous of Cattel and men, and they were then stronger of complexion to labour thē now, and then were Clarks enowgh. And now beene manie thowsand of Friars in England and the old Curats stā den stil vnamended, and among al sinne is more encreased and the people charged by sixtie thowsande marke by yeare, and therefore it mowght needs faile, and so Friars suffren Curats to liue in sinne so that they maie …obbe the people and ▪liue in there lusts. For if Curats done wel there office Friars weren superflue, and our Land showld be discharged of manie thowsād marke, and then the people showld better paie there rents to Lords, and dimes and offerings to Curats, and much flattering and nourishing of sinne showld be destroied and good life and peace and charitie showlden raine amonge Christian men: and so when al the ground is sowght Friars saien thus indeed, let old Curats waxe rotten in sinne, and let them not doe there office by Gods lawe, and we wil liue in lusts so long, & wast vainelie and needlesse sixtie thowsand marke by yeare of the poore Commons of the land, & so at the last make dissention betweene them, & there childer for dimes and offerings that we wil get priuilie to vsus by hipocrisie, and make dissention betweene Lords & there Commons. For we wil maintaine Lords to liue in there lusts extortions and other sinnes, & the Cō mons in couetise leacherie & other deceits, with▪false swearing and manie guiles, And also the Curates in there damnation for leauing of there Ghostly office & so be procuratours of the fiend, for to drawe al men to hel: thus they done indeed, howeuer they faynen in hypocrisie of pleasing of words.
Of these fiftie Heresies and Errours, & manie moe if men wil seeke them wel out, they maie knowe that Friars been cause, beginning, wel, and maintaining of perturbation in Christiandome, and of al evils of this wordle, and these errours shullen neuer be amended til Friars be browght to freedome of the Gospel, and cleane religion of Jesu Christ.
God for his endlesse mercy and charitie make verie peace and charitie among Christian men, & bring al Priests to Christs cleane religion withouten errour of wrong by-lawes.
Amen.