History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 100-1300 · Century 12 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Of BRITANNY.
1. HENRY I. the third Son of William the Conqueror, began to reign Henry I. oppoſeth the Pope.in the year 1100. for his knowledge of the Liberal Arts, he was called, The Clerk. He paid Peter-pence unto the Pope; but he would not ſuffer his Subjects to appeal unto Rome, becauſe the Popes have not continued in the ſteps of Peter (ſaid he) and hunt after earthly lucre; they have not his power, ſeeing (as all may now ſee) they follow not his holineſs. And when Pope Paſchalis did challenge him, he returned anſwer, ſaying, Let your Holineſs know, that while I live, by God's grace, the Prerogative and Cuſtoms of the Kingdom of England ſhall not be empaired; and though I would ſo far abuſe my ſelf (which God forbid) my Nobles, yea, all the Commons in England would not ſuffer it. Wherefore, moſt dear Father, let your bountifulneſs be ſo moderate toward us, that you do not inforce me (which I ſhall unwillingly do) to depart from your obedience. Matth. Pariſien. And contrary to the Roman Canons, and without licence of the Pope, he married Maude (Daughter to Malcolm Cammore) being then a Nun in Wincheſter. In the year 1125. John, Biſhop of Cremona, was ſent from Rome, and in a Synod at London, he did urge the ſingle life of the Clergy, and ſaid, It is a vile crime, that a man riſing from the ſide of his concubine, ſhould conſecrate the body of Chriſt: The ſame night he was taken with a whore; It was ſo notorious, that it could not be denied, ſaith the ſame Author.
2. DAVID (the third Son of Malcolm Cammore) did erect four Alterations in the Church of Scotland.Biſhopricks, and ſeven Abbeys, and other religious places (as they called them) and repaired ſundry decayed Monaſteries; therefore the Clergy called him, Saint David: but his Succeſſor called him, a good Saint to the Church, and an ill Saint to the Crown. The fruit of ſo large donations (ſaith Buchan. Hiſt. lib. 7.) was, As the uſe of the members faileth in them, who ſtuff their bellies with too much meat, ſo from thenceforth the ſmall ſparks of wit being oppreſſed with luxury, did dayly decay, the ſtudy of learning failed, piety was turned into a formality and ſuperſtition, and as in untilled land, the ſeeds of all weeds and vices ſprang up; And the Prelates ſhook off the care of preaching, as a work not beſeeming their Dignity; and becauſe the Monks had the favor of the people for preaching, the Prelates gave unto them liberty above the Pariſh Prieſts, to the end, that the Monks might the more recommend them in their preachings.
3. When HENRY I. King of England died, without a Son, Steven, Earl of Bolonia, and his Siſters Son, uſurpeth the Crown about the year 1133. His Brother Henry, Biſhop of Wincheſter, procured the firſt Law that ever was in England, for appealations to Rome; (Ia. Vſſer. de ſtat. & ſucceſ. eccle. Appeals to Romecap. 8. ex Hen. Hunting. Hiſt.) but Steven reſerveth to himſelf the right and power of beſtowing Benefices, and inveſting Prelates. In the beginning of his reign, William, Dean of London, Ralph Longford, Richard Belmeys, and others of the Chapter, did elect a Biſhop without the King's recommendation; wherefore he cauſeth to be impriſoned (not their perſons, but) their wives, until they had ſatisfied for their contempt. Io. Bale ex Rad. de Dicet. Whence it appeareth, that as yet the Prieſts had wives, notwithſtanding all former Acts. Thereafter Albericus, Biſhop of Oſtia; was ſent by Pope Innocentius II. and in a Synod at Weſtminſter, condemned the marriage of Prieſts again; and ordained that Chriſt's body (as they ſpoke) ſhould not be kept above eight days, leſt it become hoary and rot. At that time Robert Pully deſerved commendation, for reſtoring, or erecting the Univerſity of Oxford, and was Rector thereof.
4. HENRY II. (Nephew of Henry I. by his Daughter Maude) diſclaimed … forbidden.all the Authority of the Pope, refuſed to pay Peter-pence, and interdicted all appealation to Rome. At that time Philip de Brok, a Canon of Bedford, was queſtioned for murther; he uſed reproachful ſpeeches to the King's Juſtices, for which he was cenſured; and the Judges complained unto the King, that there were many robberies, and rapes, and murthers, to the number of an hundred, committed within the Realm by Church-men. The King commanded that juſtice ſhould be executed upon all men alike in his Courts. But Thomas Becket, Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, would have the Clergy (ſo offending) judged in the Spiritual Court, and by men of their own coat; who if they were convicted, ſhould at firſt be deprived of their Benefice; and it they were found guilty again, they ſhould be judged at the King's pleaſure. The King ſtood for the ancient Laws and Cuſtoms; and in a Ancient Laws are reſtored.general Aſſembly at Clarendon, in the year 1164. with conſent of the Arch-Biſhop, Biſhops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons and great men, was a rehearſal and acknowledgement of ſome ancient Cuſtoms and Laws: among which that were authoriſed (being ſixteen in number) were theſe; 1. If between a Lay-man and a Clark were any ſtrife for Church-goods, the plea ſhould be in the King's Court. 2. No Biſhop nor Clark ſhould go forth of the Realm without the King's licence; and then he ſhall ſwear upon the Book, that he ſhall procure no hurt to the King, nor any of his Subjects. 3. None who holdeth of the King in chief, or in ſervice, ſhall be accurſed without the King's licence. 4. All the Biſhopricks and Abbeys, when they be vacant, ſhould be in the King's hands until a Prelate be choſen; and he ſhould be choſen out of the King's Chappels; and before he be confirmed, he ſhould do his homage unto the King. 5. If any plea were brought to the Conſiſtory, a party might appeal unto the Arch-Deacon, and from him to the Biſhops Court, and thence unto the Arch-Biſhop, and from him to the King, and no further. 6. All debts that were owing of truth-plight, ſhould not be pleaded in Spiritual, but Temporal Courts. 7. The Peter-pence which were gathered for the Pope, ſhould be collected for the King. 8. If any Clark were taken for felony, and it were ſo proved, he ſhall firſt be degraded, and then after judgement, be hanged; or if he were a traitor, he ſhall be drawn in ſunder. They did all ſwe…r, and by word of mouth faithfully promiſe to obſerve theſe Laws unto the King and his Heirs, ſimply and without fraud. Mat. Pariſi. calleth them, wicked and deteſtable Acts: But Tho. Becket's teſtimony is the ſtronger, de facto. Tho. Becket ſent unto the Court of Rome, to ſignifie the grief of the Church and his own, for conſenting unto theſe Laws, and asked abſolution from the bond which he had unwiſely entered into; and he obtained it. The ſame year the King required to have puniſhment of ſome miſdoings among the Clergy: The Arch-Biſhop would not permit; and when he ſaw (in his judgement) the liberties of the Church troden under foot, he, without the King's knowledge, took ſhip, and intended toward Rome, but by a contrary winde he was brought back: Then he was called to account for his receipts, that came to his hand while he was high Chancellor: He appealeth to the See of Rome; and under pain of excommunication forbad both Biſhops and Nobles to give ſentence againſt him, ſeeing he was both their Father and their Judge: Nevertheleſs they, without his confeſſion, gave ſentence againſt him. Then he, ſeeing himſelf forſaken of all the other Biſhops, lifted the croſs which he held in his hand aloft, and went away from the Court; and the next day got him over into Flanders, and ſo to the Pope. Matth. Pariſien. hath many Letters betwixt the Pope and this King, and the King of France, and ſundry Biſhops of France and England, for reconciliation betwixt the King and this proud Prelate; but all to no purpoſe, till Henry of his own accord did cauſe his Son (Henry III.) to be crowned, and then he (being in Normandy) was content, by the mediation of the French King, to accept the Prelate. Thomas, returning into England, excommunicateth all the Biſhops which had been at the Coronation of the yong King, becauſe it appertained unto him (forſooth) to inaugurate the King. The King ſent unto him, and required to abſolve them, ſeeing what was done unto them, was done for his cauſe. The Prelate refuſeth. On Chriſtmas day he ſolemnly excommunicateth two Gentlemen, for cutting his horſe tail. On the fifth day four Gentlemen did kill him, in the year 1171. At Eaſter Pope Alexander canonized him as a Saint, and would have excommunicated the King for his death; but the King by his Ambaſſadors purged himſelf, that he knew not of his death: yet becauſe he did carry grudge at him, he was forced to renounce the inveſtiture of Biſhops, and thereby his Kingdom became more ſlaviſh then before. And the Pope, in token of his victory, to the ſhame of the King, and credit of the Clergy, did pretend ſome miracles as done by this Thomas after his death, and commanded his feaſt to be kept throughout the Kingdom; and the Cathedral which before was called Chriſt's Church, was after that called St. Thomas Becket's: and to the end the King might ſuffer this infamy the more patiently, and alſo to make Ireland the more ſubject unto the See of Rome, Pope Alexander confirmed again unto King Henry the Lordſhip of Ireland; and ordained that the Biſhops there, ſhould obey the Laws of England. For in the year 1155. Murchard (or as ſome call him Dermot mac Morrog) King of Leinſter, being exiled by O. Roricy King of Midia, ſought aid from Henry II. he ſent Richard Strongbow, Earl of Penbrok, (who had married the onelyonly Daughter of Murchard) with a conſiderable Army into Ireland; and within a ſhort ſpace he reſtored his father in law, and conquered other Lands, ſo that Henry was jealous of his power, and commanded by open Proclamation, him and all his Army to return under pain of forfeiture. In obedience, Richard gave into the King's hand all his purchaſe, and his wifes inheritance, and again received (as his vaſſal) Weisford, Oſſoria, Carterlogia, &c. But in the year 1172 Henry went perſonally into Ireland, and the moſt part ſubmitted themſelves unto him, as unto their onelyonly and lawful Soveraign, whereas in former times, that Nation was divided into four petty Kingdoms, and ſeveral Dukedoms, and one of them was choſen Monarch. The ſame Henry did claim the Lands of Northumberland, and—from the Scots; Malcolm the maiden, and his Brother William, at two ſeveral times went to London, and did acknowledge the King for theſe Lands, whereas in former times the Heir of the Crown did onelyonly perform that ceremony. But then Henry would have more, that all the Biſhops of Scotland ſhould be under the yoke of the Arch-Biſhop The Bishops of Scotland will not ſubmit to the Primate of York.of York as their Metropolitan. At the firſt meeting at Norham, the Scots put it off, but with ſlender delays. The next year Hugo, Cardinal de S. Angelo (ſent into England) was for Henry in this purpoſe, and did cite the Biſhops of Scotland to compear before him in Northampton; they went thither, and the Cardinal had a ſpeech of humility and obedience, all to perſwade the Scotch Biſhops to ſubmit themſelves unto the Primate of York, who was a Prelate of great reſpect, and whoſe credit in the Court of Rome might ſerve them to good uſe. A yong Clerk ſtood up, and ſpake in name of the others; his ſpeech is written diverſly; I ſhall ſhew it, as I have copied it out of an old Regiſter of Dunkel (by the favor of Biſhop Alexander Lindſay) It is true, Engliſh Nation, thou mighteſt have been noble, and more noble then ſome other Nations, if thou hadſt not craftily turned the power of thy Nobility, and the ſtrength of thy fearful might, into the preſumption of tyranny, and thy knowledge of Liberal Science, into the ſhifting Gloſſes of Sophiſtry; but thou diſpoſeſt not thy purpoſes as if thou wert lead with reaſon, and being puft up with thy ſtrong Armies, and truſting in thy great wealth, thou attempteſt, in thy wretched ambition, and luſt of domineering, to bring under thy juriſdiction thy neghbor Provinces and Nations, more noble, I will not ſay in multitude or power, but in linage and antiquity; unto whom, if thou wilt conſider ancient records, thou ſhouldeſt rather have been humbly obedient, or at leaſt, laying aſide thy rancor, have reigned together in perpetual love; and now with all wickedneſs of pride that thou ſheweſt, without any reaſon or law, but in thy ambitious power, thou ſeekeſt to oppreſs thy mother the Church of Scotland, which from the beginning hath been Catholique and free, and which brought thee, when thou waſt ſtraying in the wilderneſs of heatheniſm, into the ſafe-guard of the true faith, and way unto life, even unto Jeſus Chriſt, the Author of eternal reſt; ſhe did waſh thy Kings and Princes, and people, in the laver of holy Baptiſm; ſhe taught thee the commandments of God, and inſtructed thee in moral duties; ſhe did accept many of thy Nobles, and others of meaner rank, when they were deſirous to learn to read, and gladly gave them dayly entertainment without price, books alſo to read, and inſtruction freely; ſhe did alſo appoint, ordain and conſecrate thy Biſhops and Prieſts; by the ſpace of thirty years and above, ſhe maintained the primacy and pontifical dignity within thee on the North ſide of Thames, as Beda witneſſeth: And now, I pray, what recompence rendereſt thou unto her, that hath beſtowed ſo many benefits on thee? is it bondage? or ſuch as Judea rendered unto Chriſt, evil for good? it ſeemeth no other thing. Thou unkinde vine, how art thou turned into bitterneſs? we looked for grapes, and thou bringeſt forth wilde grapes; for judgement, and behold iniquity and crying. If thou couldeſt do as thou wouldeſt, thou wouldeſt draw thy mother the Church of Scotland, whom thou ſhouldeſt honor with all reverence, into the baſeſt and moſt wretchedſt bondage. Fie for ſhame! what is more baſe, when thou wilt do no good, to continue in doing wrong? even the ſerpents will not do harm to their own, albeit they caſt forth to the hurt of others; the vice of ingratitude hath not ſo much moderation; an ungrateful man doth wrack and maſacre himſelf, and he diſpiſeth and minceth the benefits for which he ſhould be thankful, but multiplieth and enlargeth injuries. It was a true ſaying of Seneca, (I ſee) The more ſome do owe, they hate the more; a ſmall debt maketh a grievous enemy. What ſayeſt thou, David? it is true, They rendered me evil for good, and hatred for my love. It is a wretched thing (ſaith Gregory) to ſerve a Lord, who cannot be appeaſed with whatſoever obeyſance. Therefore thou Church of England, doeſt as becomes thee not; thou thinkeſt to carry what thou craveſt, and to take what is not granted; ſeek what is juſt, if thou wilt have pleaſure in what thou ſeekeſt. And to the end I do not weary others with my words, albeit I have no charge to ſpeak for the liberty of the Church of Scotland, and albeit all the Clergy of Scotland would think otherwiſe, yet I diſſent from ſubjecting her, and I do appeal unto the Apoſtolical Lord, unto whom immediately ſhe is ſubject; and if it were needful for me to die in the cauſe, here I am ready to lay down my neck unto the ſword: nor do I think it expedient to adviſe any more with my Lords the Prelates, nor if they will do otherwiſe, do I conſent unto them; for it is more honeſt to deny quickly what is demanded unjuſtly, then to drive off time by delays, ſeeing he is the leſs deceived who is refuſed betimes. When Gilbert had ſo made an end, ſome Engliſh, both Prelates and Nobles, commend the yong Clerk, that he had ſpoken ſo boldly for his Nation, without flattering, and not abaſhed at the gravity of ſuch Authority; but others, becauſe he ſpoke contrary unto their minde, ſaid, A Scot is naturally violent, and In naſo Scoti piper. But Roger, Arch-Biſhop of York, which principally had moved this buſineſs, to bring the Church of Scotland unto his See, uttered a groan, and then with a merry countenance laid his hand on Gilbert's head, ſaying, Ex tua phareta non exiit illae ſagitta; as if he had ſaid, When ye ſtand in a good cauſe, do not forethink what ye ſhall ſay, for in that hour it ſhall be given unto you. This Gilbert was much reſpected at home after that. And Pope Celeſtin put an end unto this debate, for he ſent his Bull unto King William, granting that neither in Eccleſiaſtical nor Civil affairs, the Nation ſhould anſwer unto any forain Judge whatſoever, except onelyonly unto the Pope, or his Legate ſpecially conſtituted. So far in that Regiſter of Dunkel.
5. The above named Henry II. was ſo admired thourgh the world for his Henry II. prudent and unfortunate.prudence and proweſs, that Manuel Emperor of the Greeks, Frederick Emperor of Germany, the French King, with many other famous Princes, ſent unto him, as a School-Maſter of juſtice, for determination of obſcure doubts. Alfonſo King of Caſtile, and Saucius King of Navar, being at variance for ſome poſſeſſions, did of their own accord ſubmit themſelves unto his judgement, and he found an overture to both their good liking. This is to be marked, becauſe the worſhippers of Becket call him a vitious Prince. In the year 1181. the Patriarch of Jeruſalem, and the Maſter of the Templaries, having no King, and being diſtreſſed by Saladin, did profer unto the ſame Henry the Kingdom of Jeruſalem, and brought unto him the keys of their Cities. He refuſed, becauſe of his weighty affairs at home. They were oppreſt by the Infidels; and he had no more proſperity; for his Son would have the Government, as well as the Title of the Kingdom; and the Father did the ſervice of a Steward unto his Son; yea, and more diſdainfully did the Son entreat his Father, till he was taken away by death; and his Brother Richard was alſo a grief unto his Father, and ſo was the third Brother, John. The true cauſe of all his woes, may be thought the oppreſſion of ſome profeſſors of truth; for Pol. Virgil. in Hiſt. Anglor. lib. 13. teſtifieth, that about the year 1160. thirty teachers came from Germany into England, and taught the right uſe of Baptiſm, of the Lord's Supper, &c. and were put to death. It is true, Virgil calleth them worſhippers of Divels; but we ſhall hear anon, how all profeſſors of truth were reviled: and John of Sarisbuny, at the ſame time, wrote, ſaying, He who ſpeaketh for the truth of faith, or ſincerity of maners, according to the Law of God, is called ſuperſtitious, envious, and which is capital, an enemy of the King. After four years, others which were (in contempt) called Publicans and Waldenſes, taught in England, that the Roman Church had left the faith of Chriſt, and was become the whore of Babel, the barren fig-tree; no obedience ſhould be given unto the Pope, or his Biſhops; Monks were dead carion; their vows frivolous; their characters were the mark of the Beaſt. Io. Bale. Cent. 2. §. 96. in Appen. And in the year 1166. the ſame Henry drew ſome profeſſors unto judgement at Oxford, becauſe they were ſaid to diſſent from the doctrine of the Roman Church; he cauſed them to be burnt with an hot iron, and baniſhed them. I. Fox in Act. & Mon.
6. At that time were many married Prieſts in Britanny. Ephleg left his Married Clerks.Son Cedda to be his Succeſſor in the Prieſthood at Plinmouth. Arnold Dunpruſt left his Son Robert likewiſe, in the ſame County; unto Robert did his Son ſucceed. In Norfolk Wulkerel dimitted his Prieſt-hood at Dyſſa, unto his lawful Son William. Hugh Howet in Sarisbury, John in Excheſter, and Oliver in Nottingham, all ſucceeded unto their Fathers. Io. Bale Cent. 3. §. 10. in Appen. In Ireland fifteen Biſhops of Leſmore ſucceeded lineally and hereditarily, for the ſpace of 200. years, and of them eight Sons ſucceeded unto their fathers (Bernard. in Vita Malac.) until the year 1121. when the Biſhop Celſus, having no Son, did (as by teſtament) name Malachias Biſhop of Connereth, to be his Succeſſor; and his friends, as heirs, did reſiſt for five years. Malachias had correſpondence with Bernard of Claraval, and had two Monks ſent from that Abbey, to begin an Abbey of that Order in Ireland; but they returned againſt the Biſhops will: wherefore Bernard wrote unto him his 317. Epiſtle, exhorting that he would not leave off the purpoſe, but rather be more vigilant in that new place and Land, ſo unaccuſtomed with Monaſtical life; and excuſing the Monks, that their returning was occaſioned by the unto wardneſs of theſe brethren, living in a Land without diſcipline, and eſpecially not accuſtomed to ſubmit unto ſuch counſels. This Malchias did urge the ſingle life of Prieſts in Ireland. He went to Rome, and became Legate, but died in the way beſide Bernard.
7. John of Sarisbury, Biſhop of Carnotum, was familiar with his Countreyman Iohn Bishop of Sarisbury.Pope Hadrian IV. when they were alone in a chamber at Benevento, Hadrian asked him, what the world thought and ſpake of him and of the Church? After a little form of excuſe, he ſaid, I will tell what I hear ſpoken every where; they ſay, The Church of Rome, which is the Mother of all Churches, is become a ſtep dame unto them; and the Pope is called, acroſs and grief unto all men, and intolerable for pride; as the zeal of their Fathers had erected Churches, ſo now they do decay; and the Pope was glorious not onelyonly in purple, but in glancing gold; the Cardinals and Biſhops are called Scribes and Phariſees, laying heavy burthens on mens ſhoulders, which themſelves will not touch with their finger; their Palaces are glorious, and the Churches of Chriſt are polluted by their hands; they ſpoil the Nations, as if they would ſcrape together the treaſures of Croeſus: But the moſt High dealeth moſt wiſely with them, for they become often a prey unto others; and I think, ſo long as they ſtray out of the way, they ſhall never want a ſcourge from God. Then ſaid the Pope, What thinkeſt thou? He anſwered There is danger on every ſide: I fear the blame of flattering or lying, if I alone do ſpeak contrary unto the world; and I fear, laeſe-Majeſty, leſt it ſeem that I deſerve the gibbet, as opening my mouth againſt the heaven; nevertheleſs, becauſe Wido Cardinal of St. Potentiana beareth witneſs with the people, I dare not altogether contradict them; for he ſaith, There is a root of duplicity in the Roman Church: and I do ingenuouſly profeſs, I never ſaw more honeſt Clergy-men, then in the Church of Rome: but ſeeing you preſs and command me, and it is not lawful to lye unto the holy Ghoſt, I profeſs ye are not altogether to be followed in your works; for he who diſſenteth from the truth, is a Schiſmatick and Heretick; but of the mercies of God, there be ſome who will not follow all our works; but I fear, leſt while you continue asking theſe things, as you are pleaſed, you hear from your fooliſh friend, things that will not pleaſe you: Why is it Father, that you ſearch other mens lives, and ſearch not your own? all men rejoyce with you; you are called the father and Lord of all men, and all the oyl for ſinners is poured on your head: If you be a Father, why craveſt thou gifts from thy children? or if thou be a Lord, why cauſeſt thou not the Romans to ſtand in awe of thee? and having brideled their preſumption, bringeſt them not again into the faith? But thou wilt preſerve the City unto the Church by thy gifts; did Pope Sylveſter ſo conquer it? thou art a Father in the by-ways, and not in the right ways; it is to be conſerved by ſuch means as it was purchaſed, &c. The Pope told him the fable, of the members grumbling againſt the womb; and the ſame (ſaid he) would befal unto Chriſtendom, if they ſhould not reſort unto Rome their head. And then the Pope, ſmiling at the mans boldneſs, did require him, that how oft he heard any thing ſpoken amiſs of him, he would preſently advertiſe him. Without doubt this Biſhop had more things in his minde, which he uttered not. P. Morn. in Myſt. ex Io. Sarisbu. in Policrat. lib. 6. cap. 24. In the ſame work, lib. 6. cap. 16. he ſaith, The Roman Legates do ſo rage, as if Satan were come forth from the face of the Lord to oppreſs the Church; oft do they harm, and herein they are like the divel, that they are called good, when they do not evil; with them judgement is nothing but a publick reward; they do account gain to be godlineſs; they do juſtifie the wicked for gifts, and vex the afflicted ſouls; they adorn their tables with ſilver and gold, and rejoyce in the worſt things; ſeeing they eat the ſins of the people, they are clothed with them, and in them do they riot many ways, whereas true worſhippers ſhould adore the Father in the Spirit; if any do diſſent from them, he is judged a Schiſmatick or Heretick. O that Chriſt would manifeſt himſelf, and openly ſhew the way wherein men ſhould walk! Lib. 7. cap. 10. We ſhould be ſervants unto the Scriptures, and not domineer over them, unleſs one will think himſelf worthy to rule over Angels. Cap. 17. One cometh into the Church truſting in the multitude of his riches, and followeth Simon, nor findeth he any that ſaith, thy money periſh with thee. Another feareth to come unto Peter with his gifts, yet privily Jupiter ſlideth in a ſhower of gold into Danae's boſome, and the inceſtuous wooer entereth ſo into the boſome of the Church. The Author of Catal. teſt. ver. lib. 14. ſheweth, ex Petro Pariſ. Cantor. in Abbreviat. Verbo, how this John did oppoſe the Pope and the Cardinals, when they would enjoyn ſome new Rites, and ſaid, ye ſhould be ſo far from enjoyning new Rites, that ye ſhould rather take away ſome ancient ones, albeit they were profitable; for Chriſtians are much burthened with the multitude of theſe uſeful traditions; ye ſhould rather endeavor, that the word of Chriſt may be kept; for now it may be objected unto us, that the commandments of God are made of no effect, in reſpect of mens traditions.
8. Edmond Rich Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, about the year 1181. was The cauſe of the ruine of the Church.wont to ſay, By gifts that are given on the one ſide, and taken on the other, Chriſtianity is already corrupted, and it will fail ere they be aware, unleſs they be ſo wiſe, as to cure themſelves from this peſt. By theſe gifts, ſome do underſtand not ſo much what was given by Intrants, as what the Popes and Biſhops gave to ſtop the mouths of ſuch as ſpoke againſt their vices and errors, to divert their reproofs. Catal. teſt. ver.
9. Petrus Bleſenſis, once Chancelor of Canterbury, and then Biſhop of Rotomagum, for his learning and honeſty of life, was in great favor with Princes and Prelates, ſaith Trithem. He did very ſharply rebuke the manners of the Clergy, eſpecially that they did abuſe the power of the keys to ſatisfie their avarice. In Epiſtle 25. unto a friend, who was an official of a Biſhop, he ſaith, Becauſe I love thee affectionately in the bowels of Chriſt Jeſus, I have decreed to exhort thee with wholeſome admonitions, to come timely out of Ur of the Chaldees, and from the midſt of Babylon, and forſake the miniſtry of that damnable ſtewardſhip; I know covetouſneſs hath ſubverted thy heart, in ſo far as thou art become an official unto a Biſhop; I think officials have their name, not from the nown officium, but from the verb officio; all the buſineſs of the official is in lieu of the Biſhop, to ſtrip and excoriate the ſilly ſheep which are concredited unto him; theſe are the Biſhops blood-ſuckers, ſpuing out other folks blood after they have drunk it; the riches which the wicked hath gathered, he ſhall ſpue it out, and God ſhall draw it out of his belly; theſe are as a ſpunge in the hand of a ſtrainer—what he hath gathered by oppreſſing the poor, goeth unto the Biſhop's pleaſures, but to the official's torment; as the bees gather honey not for themſelves, but for others; ſo ye gather riches not for your ſelves, but for others: theſe are the privy doors, by which the ſervants of Bell do thieviſhly carry away the ſacrifices which the King had laid on the table; ſo the Biſhop taketh away other mens goods with long hands, and layeth the blame of the crime and infamy on the official; they have their eye on the reward, but look not to the fatherleſs and widow—what is done under pretence of counterfeit Religion and juſtice, availeth not unto life, nor edifieth unto ſalvation. Saul did ſpare the fatteſt of Amaleks flocks, as if he would ſacrifice unto God, and he did provoke God unto wrath—I could the more patiently endure that damnable office, if thou wert not eminent in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures; theſe cauſes and judgements wherein thou haſt entangled thy ſelf imprudently, I will not ſay impudently, are fitter for a ſecular man; a learned and eccleſiaſtical man, ſhould not meddle with ſecular affairs—I wiſh that thou wouldeſt forſake theſe noiſome things of the world, that the Prince of this world may not finde any thing that is his in thee, &c. He did oft call the Clergy, Syria, Edom, the calves of Bethel, Idols of Egypt, Prieſts of Baal, &c. In his other Epiſtles he ſaith, If thou hadſt once taſted the ſweetneſs of wiſdom (i. e. of the holy Scripture) thou wouldeſt loath all other things in compariſon; for this giveth abundantly the incomparable treaſures of pleaſure, and the grace of all gifts. And again, It is neceſſary to read the Scriptures, for that is the table of the tabernacle—that is the food by which we breath and live. Certainly Chriſt did uſe the onelyonly teſtimony of the word, againſt all the tentations of Satan in the wilderneſs; if therefore an hoſt ſhould come againſt you, guard your ſelf with the buckler of a good conſcience, and with the ſword of the Spirit. Again, The exhortation of man, without the grace of God, is but as ſounding braſs, and a tinkling cymbal; he onelyonly can give a mouth and wiſdom, which ſaith, Without me you can do nothing—Lord, take thou away my ſtony heart, and give a new, humble, contrite, and a heart of fleſh. In the laſt of his Epiſtles, he reckoneth the Books of Wiſdom, Eccleſiaſticus, Eſdras III. and IV. Judeth, Tobias, Maccabees, among the Apocrypha. Catol. teſt. ver. lib. 14.
10. Richard de St. Victor, a Scot, was held for a learned and good man, about the year 1140. He wrote much. On Cant. c. 2. The reading and meditation of the Scriptures do ſtrengthen the minde, and weaken the enemy; ſo long as they keep this in minde, and do it, they are hereby moſt expert to encounter with the enemy. De ſtatu. hom. inter cap. 12. How juſtly is fr…ewill ſaid to be dead, ſeeing by it ſelf it is never moved unto any good? for what good can it do of it ſelf, ſeeing it cannot ſay, Jeſus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghoſt? and indeed it is often moved unto good, but never accept by the holy Ghoſt. De ſacrif. Abrah. & Mariae, If the grace and protection of God be withheld, man is thrown down at every ſuggeſtion of the enemy, and into whatſoever evil, and being once thrown down, he can never riſe by his own power—A man can bring forth no bud of good work of himſelf, without working grace; and when he hath begun to work, he can no way continue without its cooperation. Par. 2. in explanat. aliquot locor. Apoſt. The Law teacheth onelyonly what we ſhould do, and addeth not how we may obey; and therefore it can juſtifie none: the Goſpel teacheth what ſhould be done, how it may be done, and how that which is not done may be ſupplied. In Apocaly. lib. 3. OnelyOnly that prayer is acceptable in heaven, which the Son offereth unto the Father. Catol. teſt. ver. lib 15. He was the firſt which taught that the Virgin Mary was born without original ſin, Io. Maior in geſt. Scot. lib. 3. cap. 12.
11. Malcolm IV. King of Scots, did command Roger Arch-Biſhop of The Pope's Legate is forbidden to come into Scotland.York, and Roman Legate, to depart out of the Realm, and ſaid, It was not reaſon that the Land ſhould be oppreſſed by ungodly men, bearing glorious names. He. Boet. Hiſt. lib. 13. Again in the year 1188. Pope Clement ſent another, and he had not better ſucceſs, for all did refuſe him, except John Biſhop of St. Andrews; and therefore he was baniſhed: and he had refuge unto the Pope, who by and by ſent unto Henry King of England, and gave unto him the right of the Crown of Scotland, Io. Bale. Cent. 3. §. 26. in Appen.
12. It is recorded, that one Fulco came and ſaid unto the Engliſh King King Richard's three daughters.Richard, with great boldneſs, O King, thou haſt three very bad daughters; take good heed unto them, and provide unto them good husbands, leſt by inconvenient beſtowing of them, thou run not into damage onelyonly, but utter perdition unto thy ſelf. The King ſaid, Thou art mad, fooliſh hypocrite, I have no daughter. Fulco replieth, I do not lye, O mighty King, for you have three daughters continually in your Court, and wholly poſſeſs your perſon; and ſuch whores are they, that the like hath not been heard; I mean, miſchievous pride, greedy covetouſneſs, and filthy letchery; therefore I ſay again, beware of them, and out of hand provide marriages for them. The King then took his words in good part, & by and by calling his Nobles, declared unto them them the words of Fulco, whoſe counſel (ſaid he) I intend to follow, not doubting of your conſents, my Lords, thereunto: wherefore, here before you all, I give my eldeſt daughter, ſwelling pride, to wife unto the proud Templars; my greedy daughter, avarice, unto the Ciſtertian Monks; and filthy luxury, unto the riotous Prelates of the Church; ſo ſeverally agreeing with all their natures, that the like match is not to be found unto them. This was about the year 1198. ſaith I. Fox in Act.
13. Here it ſhall not be amiſs to remember the example of Simon Thurvey, Simon Thurvey.an Engliſh man of Cornwal, for a warning to temerarious Students; He was a ſubtil Logician, and expert in all Liberal Sciences; he left his own Countrey, and was a Doctor in Paris many years; and truſting to his Philoſophy, he vaunted that he knew all Chriſt's Law, and by force of diſputation, he could diſprove it all: on a ſuddain he became forgetful of all learning, and could not ſay the Lord's Prayer, nor knew the a, b, c. Mat. Pariſ. reporteth, that when he was writing his Hiſtory, Nicola. epi. Danelm. told him this, and had ſeen this Simon learning to read from his own baſtard ſon, as if he had been a childe of ſix years onelyonly.
14. King William went into England to congratulate the ſafe arrival of Richard from Judea, in the year 1199. at that time Harald Earl of Orknay, and Caitnes, took the Biſhop of the Countrey priſoner (becauſe he had ſtopped ſome ſuit he had demanded of the King) and bereft him of his eyes and tongue. William at his returning would revenge this inhumanity, and Harald would defend himſelf by force; but his forces were ſcattered, and he was apprehended; it was done unto him by the hangman, as he had unto the Biſhop, and then ſtrangled: all his male-children were gelded; and many of his friends (as acceſſories) were fined in money, Buchan. lib. 7. When this was reported unto Pope Innocentius III. he ſent his Legate John Cardinal de monte Celio, with a ſword richly ſet with precious ſtones, a purple hat in form of a diadem, and a Bull of large priviledges, exempting the Church of Scotland from all cenſures, except onelyonly of the Pope, or Legate ſent by the Conclave; the Bull was dated in the year 1209. H. Boeth. Hiſt. lib. 13. cap. 8.