The Acts of English votaries, comprehending their unchaste practises and examples by all ages, from the worlds beginning to this present year, collected out of their own legends and chronicles By johan Bale. ¶ Learn herein (good reader) to prove all sprites, and to judge false miracles, rebuking no Christian believer, but those obstinate hypocrites only, which yet live after their pope's old rules. Read, but laugh not. O thou maiden of Chaldea, Thu shalt no more be called tender and pleasant. Thy shame shall be discovered, and thy brevities shall be scene, for I (saith the lord) will avenge me of thee, and no man shall let me. Esa▪ 47. ❧ The preface of this book. GIldas that ancient britain, in his first treatise of the dolorous destruction of his coutreye, hath this worthy sentence against them which were the chief cause thereof▪ And borrowed it is of the xxiiii chapter of salomon's proverbs. Who so ever commendeth the wicked (saith he) and reporteth them righteous or holy, the same shall once have the curse of the people, and the commonalty shall abhor him. plenteous hath the Pope's clergy been in this point, specially in the church here of England. Not only have they commended unto us whoremongers, bawds, bribers, Idolaters, hypocrites, traitors, and most filthy Gomorreanes, as Godly men and women, but also they have canonized them for most holy saints, set them up gilt Images in their temples, commanded their vigils to be fasted, appointed them holy days and the people's to do them honour with evensonges, hours, processions, lights, masses, ryngynges, singings, sensings, and the devil and all of such heythnysh wares. They have done by us as their old predecessors the Idolatrouse priests did by the auncyeut Romans. They have set us up a sort of lecherous Gods to be worshipped in our temples, to be our advocates, and to help us in our needs. Old gods etc. new. In stead of jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, juno, Proserpina, Diana, and Venus, which did all their feats in whoredom, as the poets verefyethe, they have given us Wenefryde, Cuthbert, Dunstane, oswald, Anselme, Becket, Brigyde, Audrye, Modwen, Edith, Osith, Ethelburge, and a great sort more of unpure workers out of marriage. Mark the lives of their english saints, almost from the beginning, & ye shall not find one of them canonized for preaching Christ's verity a right, neither yet for leading a life after the perfect rules of the Gospel. Not one commend they for worshipping God without men's traditions, nor yet for executyuge the works of Mercy, unless see it were to their advantage. Never reckoned they wedlock any Godly estate of living, though it were an only order instituted of God in the beginning, yea, for his priests also. Commonly they have dyswaded both men and women from it, as from a most pernicious evil, Dyffa▪/ or from a mischief of all mischiefs, calling it foolishness, filthiness, beastliness, mations of Marriage. a walking in darkness, a maintenance of lechery, a fulfilling of fleshly desires, a ground of all vice, an entrance of death, a corrupting of maidenhead, a lake of misery, a clay pit of uncleanness, a thraldom of Egypt, a net of Satan, a snare of the devil, & a pond of perdition, look johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie, specially in the lives or legends of Clarus, Eanswyde, kyneswyde, Etheldrede, wenefrede, Mylburge, and Myldrede with such other like, and ye shall find my words most true. In the history of Saint Ursula have they named them Angels of darkness which hath persuaded marriage lawful. blasphemy. Of whose number was first God the eternal Father, and than Moses and the Prophets for the old law. And afterward jesus Christ his eternal Son, with Peter, Paul & the other apostles for the new law. Were not the men (think you) we'll overseane? So perverse stomachs have they borne to women, that the more part of their tempting sprites they have made she devils (look their Saints legends) but he that tempted Christ was an he devil, a religious devil, and a prestlye devil. When they have been tempted with lecherous sprites in the likeness of wommen, The devils. they have (they say) by the suffren virtue of holy water, turned them into denyls again. But never were they yet so comiyuge with all their holy water, as to make of their whores honest married women. No▪ it is not their order, to do such miracles In the life of Saint Godrick is mention of a she devil, but in the conclusion, he appeareth with hanging ware of no small quantity, having his young ones following him with shaven crowns. Of a likelihood therefore he was some spiritual he tempter, and his children within holy orders. Soche power had Saint Guthlake over those watching worms, that he made them to tarry with him, and to build him up a monastery at Asendyck, now called Crowlande, some say. To be short in this matter. Saints unmarried Their saints in a manner were all unmarried. If any were married that would needs be saints, they were anon compelled by oath, or by the way of penance, to leave their makes to the occupying of others, the man his wife, and the woman her husband, as ye shall behold in this book by most plenteous examples. For matrimony hath ever been such a black bug in their synagogue and church, that never would canonisation serve yet, where he was in place. notwithstanding we are thoroughly ascertained by innumerable scriptures and arguments, that matrimony is of God, and by their innumerable examples of filthiness, that their vowed wifeless and husbandelesse chastity is altogether of the devil. Votaries. Sens the glorious appearance of the Gospel have that Sodomitical swarm or broad of Antichrist (that ye call the spiritualty) been oft times admonished of their fleshly errors by the manifest scriptures thereof, that they should once repent their most horrible mischiefs, and grant unto marriage the freedom due thereunto. And what have they done, think you? Nothing else at all but laughed them to scorn, reporting them to be but fables and lies. The learned allegations, reasons, & arguments of philip Melanchton, Christian doctors. Luther, Lambert, Pomerane, Barnes, and such other, they have heard, but the answer is yet to make. They mock and mow at them like jack a napes, or like them which went up & down by the cross when Christ was crucified, and that is enough for them. For they have it of their pope's law to answer no man, yea although they write their abominations to the uttermost, unless they have him in preson. I have therefore thought it best, The antour. saying they regard not the sacred scriptures, to lay before them their abominable practises and examples of filthiness, by their own legends, chronicles, and saints lives, that all men may know what legerdemains they have used, and what lecherous lives they have led here in England since the worlds beginning. let them now be ashamed of their beastliness, or else put on their mother's face altogether. In the first part of this book, may men briefly behold how and by whom this realm was first inhabited, which thing hath been hitherto in all English chronicles, chronicles. doubtfully, unagreablye, yea, and untrue treated, upon conjectures, fantasies, and lies only, by reason of ignorance in the scriptures and most auctorysed histories. They shall also perceive, what peoples have here by all ages remained, what doctryves, hath been taught by their true and false prophets, what worshippings of God they have used, and what laws in religion they have followed. finally they shall know clearly, the deceitful workmanship of the instruments of Satan, their bishops, priests. priests, & monks, with other disguised locusts of the same generation. Whose continual study, labour, and seeking was always to blind them by a colour of chaste living, Marriage. making them to believe, that their marryenge of wives was a profane layte, a brutish beastliness, and a thing which greatly disposed God. Their own vowing of virginity was again (they said) a spiritual order, Vyrgynyte. a life of Angels, and an holy religion which pleased God above all other, what though they never had it in their lives. For true virginity is a faith uncorrupted, Faith or a believe governed by the only word of God without all superstitions of men. This was the only virginity that mary was commended of, Luce. 1. This virginity pertaineth chiefly to marriage, as testyfyethe Saint Paul. 2. Cor. 11. 2. Cor. ●●. And as appeareth in Abraham and other just fathers which had faithful wives. No people are less acquainted with this uprgyvyte than sectaries, or they that vow uprgynyte, for they thefelye depend upon men's traditions and rules. But if a tree may be known by his fruits, and a man by his deeds, as our saver saith they may, Math. 7. ye shall easily perceive by their acts, Mat. 7. that these virginal votaries hath been the very Angels of darkness. Mark their ghostly conveyawces, and their other good works (as they will have them yet called) like as they are here registered in course. And ye shall find them more fit for hell than for heaven. Yet must they be canonized saints, and do most wonderful miracles. Miracles. But those miracles are the strong delusyons (saint Paul saith) that the lord will send unto them that shall perish for their unbeliefs sake. 2. Thessalon 2. I doubt not but this labour of mine, though it be very simple, will minister some light as weal to the learned as unlearned. At the least it shall teach them to judge false miracles, that they be no more so devylyshly deceived. let not the oft citing of authors be grievous to the readers, my occasion justly considered. authors. For thereby shall the papists have shame always, if they report them fables, or else me a liar for the telling of them, being in their writings so manifest. And as conceruyuge those authors, they were their own dear friends, and wrote the best they could of them. If they had been their enemies, and so showed the worst of them, or else but indifferent writers as they were most partial wytuesses, it had been a far other show of their mischiefs than here will apere. Men trusted they would have scene themselves in this clear light of the Gospel, and so have repent their former facts of falsehood. bishops But truly they are of a far other kind than so. Their nature is not to repent, do they never so many mischiefs. Rather study they out new practises of tyranny and cautels of cruelty, to add mischief to mischief, till the great vengeance promised, light fully upon them. Who so ever hath promoted forward God's verity (they thank God of it) they have been none of them as yet. Gospel If they should make their boasts with Paul. 1. Corin. 15. that they have done therein more labours than the other disciples, men of knowledge would by and by say, that they lied most falsely. In deed they have with Menelaus, Alchinius, Ananias, & with Capphas gone afore all worldly tyrants in the murdering up of them which hath done it. And for errors, Error they say. But who ever erred as they have done, since the worlds beginning? truly none as yet. Neither, Turk, jew, Saracene, pagan, nor devil, as the examples hereafter will show, they shall not be able to avoid it, unless they dispute with fire and faggots as they have done hitherto. For stark nought are they in disputations, where as they are not at hand. For this book, I shall have their common livery, and be called a thousand times heretic. But neither look I for reasonable answer of them, nor yet for amendment of their knaveries. In this book of mine, Face of Antichrist. is one face of Antichrist chiefly disclosed (peraventure iij. under one) wherewith he hath of long time painted out his whore, the Rome church, that she might to the world apere a glorious madame. That face is her vowed chastity, whereby she hath deceytfullye boasted herself spiritual, being but whore and thief, Marriage maketh lay. and disdained marriage as a vile draff sack and dirty dish clout, calling all them but lewd lay persons that were under it, though they were kings and queens, lords and ladies. Ye noble governors and learned layers, unto whom God hath in this age delivered the measuring rod of his word, as he did to johan. Apocal. 11. that ye should measure all things rightly. Be not now slack in your offices, as in the blind time, but throw fourth that wretched bond woman with her daughter, that Rome church with her whorishness. No point of nobility were it, nobility. nor yet of learned worthiness, to be as ye have been of late years. still servant slaves to a most filthy whore, and to her whoredom and whoremongers. Our most christian Emperor of England, king Henry the. King Henry. viî. of that name, as a most worthy minister of God, hath gone before you in that behalf. He hath made open unto ye the way, and driven away from your gates the great adversary that should most have noyed you. disdain not than you to follow, Take from your true subjects, the pope's false Christ with his bells and babblings, Christ. with his miters and masteries, with his fannoms and fopperies, and let them have freely the true Christ again that their heavenly father sent them from above fashioned out unto them in the Gospel. For much more beautiful is he in the sight of true believers, than are all the corrupt children of men, with all their grievous apparelings. Look you thereunto with earnestness, for nothing will be at the latter daymore straightly required of you than that. ⸫ The Acts of English votaries, comprehending their unchaste practises and examples by all ages, from the worlds beginning to this present year, collected out of their own legends and chronicles By johan Bale. ¶ Marriage instituted of God. IN paradise our eternal and merciful father instituted marriage, matrimony. inmedyatlye after man's first creation, and left it with him as an honest, comely, wholesome, holy, and needful remedy against all beastly abusions of the flesh that should after hap, and granted thereunto his eternal blessing. Increase (saith he) multiply, and fill the earth, Gene. 1. And this repeated he thrice after that▪ Gene. 8. ct. 9 to the intent it might be groundedly marked, and weal known of men to be his most earnest ordinance. the first religion This was the first order of religion that ever was made, and of must holiness, if we duly respect the maker thereof with the other circumstances besides, preferring his wisdom to man's wisdom. And for that it should not be reckoned a thing unadvisedly done of him, he looked thereupon again among all his other works, and could behold no imperfection therein, but perceived that it was of exceeding goodness. Yet hath there since risen a sort, which have against God's heavenly wisdom, unmarried priests. set their fleshly foolishness, which are non other to be reckeved than the very seed and of spring of the serpent. Though these have known that there is a God, yet have they not glorified him in faith and meekness, but have become most vain in their imaginations. Where as he hath declared marriage excedynglye good, God's adversaries. they have condemned it as a thing execrable and wicked. And where as he hath spoken it by his own mouth, that it is not good for man to be alone, they have improved that doctrine and taught the contrary, as a thing more perfect and Godly. ¶ Marriage contemned of Satan. THus Satan erected himself against God in that wicked generation, which began first in Cain, Cain. and hath ever since continued in that posterity. For this presumption God gave them clearly over, and left them to themselves with all their good intentes and vows, whereupon they have wrought since that time filthiness unspeakable. Their chaste women, vestals Monyals, nuns and Monks. nuns, and Begynes, changing the natural use, have wrougth unnaturally. Like wise the men in their prelacies, presthodes, and innumerable kinds of monkery, for want of women hath brent in their lusts, and done abominations without number, so receiving in themselves the just reward of their error. Of these most hellish & dyabolyck trutes, holy Saint Paul admonished the Romans, in the first chapter of his epistle unto them, knowing afore hand that out of their corrupted, sodomites. should rise soche a filthy flock as should work them every where. But neither of Paul nor yet of Peter have the forewarning away led, but those brockysh boors have gone freely forward without check till now of late days, where in God hath given us as more pure sight to behold their buskelynges. ¶ Marriage of priests in both laws. TO make manifest unto them, what wives the lord appointed by his servant Moses, priests wives. unto the levitical priests in the sacred posterity of Aaron levit. zi. et Ezech. 44. it were but labour lost. priests wives. Either to put them in remembrance that Christ was borne in marriage, though his mother were always a maid, and that he left unto his Apostles marriage in liberty evermore it were in vain also. For all this hath God showed unto them plainly, by his true prophets in this latter age, declaring the final desctruction of that wretched kingdom. As by Martin Luther, Haters of the Pope. johan Pomerane, Frances lambert, Oswaldus Myconius, Philpp Melanchton, & such other (as is said afore) but all have they taken for fables. That lord sent them one unto their own doors, which effectually did his message, even Robert Barnes by name, ●arnes. of whose grounded arguments they have not yet discharged the least, besides that they have had from him by good William Turner and George joy. And all this have they dysdaynouslye laughed to scorn. considering therefore that no gentle speech will amend them, nor yet sharp threatenings call them to repentance, The autour. he will now cast their own vile dung in their faces, that it shall cleave fast upon them, Mala. 2. He will throw in their tethe by this book and such other the styuking examples of their hypocrytysh lives, with their calkings and cloynings to patch up that dauberye of the devil, their vowed wifeless and husbandelesse chastity. ¶ England inhabited afore Noah and after. ANd for as much as the tittle of this present treatise only respecteth England, England. only shall it treat the unchaste examples of the spiritualty thereof, with certain examples of Romish Popes which than wrought their iuggeling masteries there. To fetch the matter from the first foundation, & so to stretch it forward, I am fully ascertained by ancient writings, that this land was with people replenished long afore noah's days. Afore Noe. Yea, such time as men were multiplied upon the universal earth, Gene. 6. As they than had left God appointed religion, and had taken ways unto them after their own good intentes, such unspeakable filthiness followed, as brought upon them the great dyluuye or universal flood, which left non alive, The flood. but drowned them up as it did all other quarters. This witnesseth both Moses and Berosus, the most ancient writers we read of. After the said flood, was it again inhabited by the of spring of japheth the third son of Nor. japheth For of them (saith Moses) were the Isles of the gentiles sorted out into regions, every one after, known diverse from other, by their languages, kind reeds, & nations, Gene. 10. And in the days of Phaleg the son of Heber, Phaleg was that division of provinces, like as followeth in the same chapter. Samothes the Brother of Gomer (whom the Bible calleth Mesech) restored than again this land in his posterity, Samothes gygas. the priests thereof called Samothei, for so much as he was the first that furnished it with laws, as witnesseth joannes Annius in commentarijs Berosi. ¶ Albion with his Samothytes. AFter this grew it into a name, & was called Albion. Albion gigas. Not ab albis rupibus, as friar Bartylmew hath fantasyed in his work De proprietatibus rerum. Nor yet ab Albiana the kings dougter of Syria, as Marianus the monk hath dreamt it. For of latin words could it have no name, before the latin it self was in use. And the other without grounded authority, appeareth a plain fable, as witnesseth both Volateranus and Badius But rather it should seem to be called Albion, ab Albione Gygante, the son of Neptunus, Neptunus. which was afterward slain of Hercules for stopping his passage at the entrance of Rhodanus, as testifieth Diodorus Siculus and also Pomponius Mcla. Not only because the said Albion was a giant, like as the afore said Samothes was afore him, but also for that his father Neptunus was than take for the lord of great God of the see, wherein it is enclosed. What the chastity was of the Samothytes or priests for that age, Samothytes. the poets doth declare at large. Venus was than their great Goddess, and ruled all in that spiritual family, as she hath done ever since. ¶ The Samothytes and their chastity. THey had in their temples, vestals (whom now we call nuns) who see office was to maintain the fire for performance of the sacrifices, lest it should at any time go out. vestals. These were chosen in before they were xvi years old, there remaining unmarried the space of xxx years, and others always by that time succeeded in their rooms. Some of these were presbyteresses, as they pleased the spiritual fathers. And as the lights went out by their negligence, their ponnyshmentes were to be beaten of the bishops. More over if any of them chanced to fall in adultery, except they did it in the dark with them, chastity their judgement was to be buried in the ground quick. Always they went away virgins from them (what so ever was done in the mean season) & at the xxx years' end, they were in liberty to marry if they would. This testifieth Hermanus Torrentinus, and johannes Textor, Tyranny now. with other authors. Yet was not this abominable superstyeyon so tyrannously handled among them than, as it hath been since a 'mong their successors the papists, whom by their cruel conceyons (syned they never so long) they sent at the last to hell with a conscience adust, were not the lord more merciful. ¶ Brute with his druids. IN process of time, goat Brutus Silvius brutus syluius. this land of the Albyons by conquest, in the xviij year of Heli the high priest of the israelites, like as Aeneas did italy, and other great adventourers their regions. And of him was it called britain, and the people thereof britains. After he had furnished it with new regiments and laws, there entered in a new fashioned sort of priests, all diverse from the other, and they were called druids. druids. These dwelled in the forests like hermits and procureth both public and private sacrifices to be done. To them was it always put, to dies usse all matters of religion, to appoint thereunto the ceremonies, to bring up youth in natural discipline, & to end all controversies▪ Plinius, Strabo, Cornelius Tacitus, Caius julius, and other approved authors, report than to have their first original in this land, but that appeareth not true. Rather should they seem to come first hither from Athens, Athens a most famous city of the Greeks. johan Hardynge reporteth in his chronicle, that king Bladud brought them first from thence, alleging there merlin for his autour. ¶ The druids and their chastity. What their rule was concerning women, we shall not need to seek farther than to the vi chapter of Baruch, and the xiiij chapter of Daniel in the Bible. whore's Baruch saith there, that their custom was to deck their whores with the jewels and ornaments of their Idols. Daniel saith, that they with them devoured up the daily offerings and sacrifices of Bel. Yet Hector Boethius writeth in the second book of his scottish chronicle, that there were some among them, one god which taught one everlasting God alone to be worshipped, without Image made or other similitude else. Neither allowed they them (saith he) that applied unto their Gods the similitudes of beasts after the Egyptyanes' manner (as the papists do yet to this day Saint Mark to a Lion, beasts worshipped Saint Luke to a calf, and Saint johan to an eagle, beside Saint Antony's pig, Saint George's colt, and saint Dunstanes devil) but greatly reproved them. Nevertheless yet were they great teachers of sorcery. For as testifieth johan Textor in his offycynes, so expert were the britains in art magyck in the days of plynye, that in a manner they passed the Parthians, which were the first masters thereof. ¶ priests married and unmarried. NOw as concerning the priests of the hebrews or israelites for all these ages (which were the peculiar flock of God) they had all wives that were righteous among them, priests married according to the religion that he first appointed them. Not, Melchisedech, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Phinees, Samuel, Nathan, Zorobabel, jesus, Esdras, Mathathias, & such other, were all married men and had children. The Scriptures report that these men were beloved with God, and that ' in holiness non were ever found like unto them. But neither was that for their vows nor yet for their good intentes, Eccli. 44. and so fourth vi chapters more. If any were chaste vowers that time the two Votaries. priests that lusted after Susanna, were of them, Daniel. 13. So were the wanton sons of Heli and Samuel, 1. Reg. 2. & 1. Reg. 8. with such other like. Which were afore God very reprobates, for despising his order, as we'll in that as in other things. Of such chaste vowers were there some, at the very time when Christ was borne, both religious priests and levities, which were most high lie taken among them. These thinking marriage unholy, abstained from the use of women, but they spared not to work execrable filthiness among themselves, Zacharye married. and one to pollute an other. Zacharye a married priest, and father of holy johan baptist, a man for his marriage found just afore God, reprehended that abomination in them, & was cruelly slain for it, as testifieth Epiphanius li. 1. To. 2. De heresibus. He was put unto death (saith Philip Melanchton upon the xi chapter of Daniel) for rebuking the vices of his college. ¶ Christ alloweth marriage in his. Jesus Christ the eternal son of God, never contemned the first ordinance of his everlasting father, but had it insuche reverence, that he would not be borne but under it. He found his worthy mother Mary no professed Nun, Marry a wife. as the doting papists have dreamt, to cover their sodometry with a most precious colour, but an honest man's wife, married according to the custom than used, Matt. 1. and Luce 1. In her so married without either vow or promise of virginity, No nun. by the holy Ghosts most wonderful working was he incarnated and so became man, to redeem us from the captivity of sin, and restore us again to the full favour of his father. He honoured marriage with the first miracle that he outwardly wrought in our manhood, and called unto his Apostleship, not wifeless vowers, but married men. joan, 1. & Mar et. 1. Peter married He went very gently unto Peter's house, and healed his wives mother which lay there syeke of a fever, taking his repast there, tarryenge with them all the night, and doing great cures there also. And at his departure in the morning, he neither commanded Peter to break up household, nor yet to forsake his wife and make her a vowess. Marci. 1. Luce. 4. Math. 8. He never commanded, No vows commanded nor yet exacted the vow of virginity in all his whole Gospel, but left all men in liberty to marry if they list, forbidding all men firmly, to make any law of coaction or of separation, where God hath set freedom in marriage. Math. 19 Marci. 10. No forsaking of wife and children admitted he ever, but as the unmovable & constant standing by his word requireth it, in them that he hath appointed to suffer death under the worlds tyranny for it. The Apostles & first preachers married Peters' wife went with him in the time of his preaching. Peter's wife. 1. Cori. 9 and was put to death at Antioch for confessing jesus Christ, as witnesseth Clemens Alexandrinus in .7. li. Stromatum, and Eusebius Caesariensis li. iij. Ca 30 Ecclesiastice history. Paul left his wife at Philippos, Paul married. a city of the Macedoneanes, by consent of them both. Phillip 4. & 1. Cor. 7. For this only cause (saith both Clemens and Eusebius) that he might the more easily thereby and with the less comberaunce, preach the Gospel abroad. Isidorus híspalensis in his book De ortu & obitu sanctorum patrum, and Freculphus lexouiensis in the second book and fort chapter of his chronicles, reporteth both, that Philip the Apostle preached in france to the very extent of the ocean see, Phylpp married. and was afterward done unto death in hierepoli a city of the Phrygiaves, and at the last honourably buried there with his daughters. By whose occasion this real me than called britain was converted unto the Christian believe For in the year from Christ's incarnation joseph of Arimathe. An. do. 63 lxiij. was joseph of Arimathe and other disciples sent over of the said Philip to preach Christ, and entered both with their wives and children, Armagus than being King of the land. This testifieth johan Capgrave in Catologo sanctorum Anglie, Thomas scrope de anti. carm. Scrope ca, 7. johan Harding in his. 47. chapter, and Polidorus vergilius. li. z. Anglice history. britain first converted by men married. THese were surely the original beginnings (saith Polidorus of the Christian religion in britain. Gildas witnesseth also, in his first treatise De excidio Britanny. That the britains took the christian faith at the very spring or first going forth of the Gospel, gospel. when the church was most perfectly, and had most strength of the holy ghost. All that time and a long season after, the ministers held their wives, according to the first order of God, without, vowing or yet professing of virginity, and so continued to the days of Lucius, which is called in the chronicles the first Christen King. King. Though this Lucius were a good man, Lucius. and began weal to incline to the Gospel, yet was he worldly minded, and thought that it wanted dew authority so long as it was ministered but of simple and poor lay married men. Anon therefore he sent unto Rome two Rome. of those ministers called Eluanus and Meduinus unto Eleutherius the Bishop (for they had than no pope) to have some authority from thence. And this was done in the year of our Lord. L. lxxix. Anno domini 179. Whereupon Marcus Sabellicus saith, Enneade. 7. li. 5. That of all provynces' britain was the first that received the Christian faith the with public ordinance. ¶ christianity somewhat corrupted. THan Eleutherius sent hither two of his doctors, called fugacius and Damyanus, to set here an order. These first baptized lucius with a great part of his nobility and commons, and than with his consent changed the Idols temples into christian churches (as they no we all them) the flamynes or Idol sacrificers, Churches. which were than xxviij in number, into so many bishops, and the three archyflamynes into iii archbishops, as witnesseth Galfridus Monemthensis in his second book. authors De origine & gestis Britonum. cap. i Alphredus Beuerlacensis in his chronicle, Vincencius, Antoninus, Nauclerus, Bergomas, Polidorus, and a great sort more. This chrystianyte endured in britain, Chrystianyte the space of. CC. and xvi years, unto the persecution of Dyoclesyane, saith Ranulphus in Polichronico. li. 4. Ca 16, Upon this took the Rome church first occasion, Dyoce●ses parishes. to divide the christian provinces into dioceses and parryshes. Mark weal these first buildings of Antichrist, or of Nembroth the yongar, and consydre out of what good stuff they rise without God's word. All this have I written hitherto, not as matters corresponding to the tittle of my book, but that their spiritual fruits may apere what they are, even from the very roots. ¶ The first spring of monkery in britain. AS this new chrystiantye from Rome, had gotten here of the Pagans both temples and possessions, Temple's and were weal faverdlye settled (their bishops and priests perchance being the same ministers that had served the Idols in them afore) anon after there arose out of it a certain kind of monkery, Monkerye. not in apparel, but in appearance of a more sober life. These within a while seemed better learned than the other, and more deeply fell into the people's estimation. Whereupon arose soon after great strife and unquietness among them, Heresyeu. and out of that strife most detestable he resye●…. For one of them called pelagius, Pelagius. being of the great monastery of Bencornaburch in Chestre shire (though so me call it Bangor) begun to dispute with them for the strength of man's free will, and said that man might be saved thereby, free-will without the grace of God, so devyenge the effect of Christ's blood, as his followers are not ashamed to do yet to this day. Against this heretic pelagius, wrote Saint Augustyn, Saint Hierom, Cyrillus, Orosius, Innocencius, Gennadius, and at the last Thomas Bradwardin a doctor here in England, with diverse other. ¶ Heresy in britain ariseth of monkery. YEt came there in no vowing of chastity all this time, neither was vyrgynyte thought any holyar among them than marriage. For one Severus being both a monk, severus priest, and bishop, had a son there called leporius a monk also and a priest, Leporius which vexed the land with that learning taught of his father, in the year of our Lord. CCCC xxxij. 432 as witnesseth both Prosper Aquitannus, and also Flores historiarum. This leporius made his boast, that he was able to live purely of himself, and by force of his own free will, without the assistance of God, as reporteth of him, Gennadius Massiliensis, Antors Honorius Augustudunensis, & joannes Tritemius, in suis illustrium virorum Catalogis, and now last of all, Conradus Gesnerus in universali bibliotheca.. Of the same sort was there an other called Agricola, Agricola. a priests son also, which in the year of our Lord. CCCC. xivi. troubled the britains with the same doctrine, 446. as flores historiarum showeth. The errors of both these were at the same time confuted by Germanus and Lupus with other french doctors, which came thydre than for the same purpose, specially of Saint Augustine in Africa. ¶ A priests son was Saint Partrick. Saint Partrick the great Apostle of Ireland, Partrick was borne here in this britain about the year of our Lord. CCC.lxi. and had a priest to his father called Calphurnius, 361. which was also a deacons son that was named Fodunus. His mother's name height Conches, and was holy Saint Martynes sister. Martinus. Thus testifieth Ranulphus Cestrensis in Polychronico, li. 4, ca 29. and johan Capgrave in Catologo sanctorum Anglie. If this had been fowl play in those days, Saint Martyne would never so patiently have suffered it. For we read that he was very tender unto the said Partrick, Patricius. after that his friends had sent him thither, and taught him many Godly things. What rule this partrick kept in that behalf, I have not red. Yet find I in his life written, that he had a lad waiting on him called Benignus, Benignus. which always reported him, to be his own proper father, he never devynege it. I read also that one Moduenna an Irish woman was very familiar with him, whether it were by the way of marriage or no, that can I not tell. Ex ante nominatis autoribus. ¶ Saints were begotten in whoredom. TO entre more deeply into the people's oppnyon, chastity. a chastity was pretenced anon after in that monkerye, Modwenna. but not yet solemnly vowed, & in many places of the realm were monasteries builded both of men and women, But mark what followed thereof immediately after. Christ chanced in those days to have many brethren. For many virgins had than children with our fathers, at the least the fathers of them were never yet known. Saint Dubrice that was after ward the great archbishop of Cairlegyon and metropolytane of all the land, Dubritius. had a maid to his mother, called Eurdila, but never would she confess him to have any father. Kentigernus. Saint Kentigerne bishop of glasghu) that ye now call Saint Asses or Asaphes (had in like case a fair maid to his forth bryngar, but father would she grant none to him, for no compulsion. merlinus merlin also the great sooth sayer of wales, was an holy nuns son in saint Peter'S of Cairmardyne, no father yet known to him but a spirit of the air. The first two showeth johan capgrave in cattle sanc. Ang. And this latter wondre is mencyoved of all famous writers. A great sort of the histories roude I rehearse, but these are enough at this time. ¶ Like examples are among the Turks. SOche an other knavery is used among the Turks religious buggers to this present day, Turks and those children that are begotten among them, are holden for most holy saints, as these were. They take it for no marvel that Christ was borne of a virgin, for (they say) they have such among them at all times. But to turn again to my purpose. The cause why the fathers of the afore said children might not than be known, was this, johan capgrave saith. A awe The law was that time in britain, that if a young wench had be begotten with child in her father's house, or any where els●, this was her judgement. judgement. She should have been brought unto an high mountain, and there throune down headlongs, her corruptour being byheaded. If this law had still continued, and never so been put to the spiritual court without conscience, never had the vow of their chastity run so far as it hath done, to many a thousands damnation. ¶ Moore Saints yet begotten in whoredom Saint David of wales the great archebysehop of Mentuia, David. which had so many prophecyers and so many Angels sent afore to give warning of his coming xxx years ere he was borne, was begotten out of marriage in stinking whoredom. For his mother was a Nun, and his father the earl of a country there called Cairdigam shire. A prince called Dyhocus in King Arthur's time, inflamed at the devils suggestion with the fleshly love of his own natural daughter, begat of her Saint Kynede the holy hermpte, kynedus that in Wales wrought so many great miracles. One Dubtacus an Irish man begat holy saint Brigyde of his maid servant called brocsech, brigida. even underneath his wyure nose to spite her with it, which had so many revelations from heaven, and so many pope's pardons from Rome. Saint Cuthbert the great God, Cuthbert. of the north, and he that was wont to defend us from the Scots, was a misbegotten also, for his mother was unmarried. And his father in Ireland to have the good occupying of her, slew both her father and mother. These were the spiritual beginnings of the Saints of that age. If ye believe not me, look johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie. capgrave. and he shall tell ye much more of the matter. I could show you many more yet of such holy saints births, but let these for this time suffice. ¶ Whoredom esteemed most holiness. Mark how abominable whorishness in all these whorish fruits, whoredom is holy is advanced of that whorish Rome church, to the great blemishing of Godly marriage. The spiritual sodomites and knaves hath not been ashamed to write it in the lives and dying legends of all these, that is to say of Dubricius, David, Kynedus, Kentigerne, Cuthberth, and Brigyde, with such like, and solemnly so to read and sing it as God's service in their semples, Their God's service that they were sanctified in their mother's wombs. See what advancements they have for stinking whoredom, and now little devotion to chaste marriage instituted of God. Never were the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, of Moses, Eleazar, and Phinees, so painted out with miracles and wonders, nor yet so pranked up with tabernacles and lights, sensings and massings, as these whores birds. Thus judge they whoredom holiness, & wholesome marriage sin, Come out of Sodom ye whoremongers and hypocrites, The Popes. chaplains. popish bishops and priests, for as yet ye have not reformed this abomination, but still uphold it for your romish God's service. Come out thieves and knaves come out. ¶ Women grievous and solacyouse. What a do these holy saints of theirs had and their vowers (when they come once to vows making) for women and with women, women as to keep them out of their monasteries, & to make them bear children when they were barren, it were in infinite thing to write. David Saint David's monks were sheared away with naked women at a broke side in Rosidavalle. So were Saint thelia's hermits also in an other place not far from thence. dubricius Saint Dubrices' brethren had many hot movings in their flesh, and were fain oft times to stand naked in the cold river. Kentigernus. Saint Kentigernes disciplen took great pains upon them, to make barren women fruitful. When saint Brigyde was at the very point of marriage, brigida she stole away privily with her iij. maids, and waited long after upon bishop Machyll, doing many great cures in his service with holy water. Saint Modwen Saint Modwen. also after such an other sort, waited upon bishop Hiber and his brethren with her maids. A woman the same season accused bishop Broon for begetting her with child, brigida. and Brigyde like a good body, by a charm or ij made all safe again. As one of her maids was going to her lover a priests bed, for returning again in time, she could her moche thank. All these holy histories shall ye find in johan capgrave. ¶ A spiritual example of a votary. Saint Iltute, Iltutus which had been always a most valiant captain among the britains, at the suggestion of saint of Cadoc an Hermpte, put from him his most virtuous and chaste wife, leaving her nothing else to live upon, but barley bread and water, an homely repast for her that had been a lady and tenderly brought up. his wife. And as she on a time resorted unto him only to have heard the sweet word of the Lord, her coming thither so sore discontented his mind, that with a charm he put out both her eyes. For I am certain, it come by no Godly power, she being led of so Godly a spirit. Not Paul's learning If this be saint Paul's learning, a man so miserably to leave, his wife, and so ungodly to use her for asking good counsel, I report me to you. Yet must he be still a faint in the Pope's holy church, because he was a tyrant to marriage, for non other holiness had he. So the Saints reckon I more fit for hell than for heaven. Wale, this story hath also johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie ¶ Ursula with her sort, appointed to marry. OF Ursula and her xi Ursula cum xi millibus thousand companions, have the spiritual hypocrites by help of their spiritual father the devil, practised innumerable lies, by them to make their newly sought out vyrgynyte to apere somewhat glorious to the worldly dodypolles that never will be wise. The verity of the history is this, after all just writers. When our britains had once gotten by their war, Armorica. the land of Armorica (that we now call the lesser britain) and were put in perpetual possession thereof by their King Maximus about the year of our Lord. CCC. and XC. 390 they accorded among themselves through the assent of Conanius their captain, Conanus. only to marry with their, own nation, and in no wise to have a do with the french women there, for diverse perils. Dionothus. Whereupon they sent by and by over the see to Dionothus the duke of cornwall, which than in the kings absence had governance of all the realm, instantly desiring him, to make provision for them Which immediately gathered from all parts of the land, For marriage to the number of xi thousand maids and other women, and so shipped them at London upon the Thamies with his own dear daughter Ursula, for so moche as Conanus despered to have her to wife. And as they were abroad upon the main sees, soche contrary winds and tempests fell upon them, Drowned. as drowned some of their ships, and drove the residue of them into the hands of their enemies the hunnes and the pyctes, which slew a great number of them, as they found them not agreeable to their fleshly purposes. This showeth Galfredus Monemuthensis, li. 2. authors ca, 4. Alphredus Beverlacensis, Ranulphus Cestrensis, joannes Harding, Robertus Fabian, Tritemius in Compendio, Volateranus, & Polydorus. ¶ An history to their ghostly purpose. But see here the conveyance of these spiritual gentlemen, in Playstering up their unsavoury sorcerye●. With lies. They say, they all vowed virginity, & were persuaded of saint Michael the Archangel & of saint johan the Evangelist, never to marry (as though they were dyswaders of marriage for their lecherous vows) & so went from thence religiously to Rome on pilgrimage, Pilgrimage with great devotion two and two together, & were honourably received there of the Pope and his clergy. If this be not good ware, tell me. I think there wanted no spiritual occupying, for the time they were there, if the story were true. For Daniel saith, that the lust of that proud kingdom, should be upon women. Daniel. 11. Dan. 11 In all fleshly desires (saith Hieremye) they are become like rank stoned horse, neyenge at every man's wife. Hieremi. 5. Hiere. 5. And in deed foam writers have uttered it, that they were never good since their being there. Now mark the sequeses. In their return homeward again towards Coleynt, they had in their company (say their writers) pope Ciriacus Names teyned. (if there ever were any such) Poncius, Petrus, Vincencius, Calixtus, kilianus, Florencius, Ambrose, justinus, and Christianus, all cardinals. Cesarius, Clemens, Columbanus, Ywanus, Lotharius, Pantalus, Mauricius, Maurilius, Foillanus, Sulpicius, jacobus, Guilhelmus, Michael, Eleutherius, Bonifacius, and seven more of the Pope's household, all bishops, besides a great number of priests and chaplains. Hystoryames diversly is this holy legend handled of jacobus Bergomas in Li. De claris mulieribus, of Sigebertus, Vincencius, Antoninus, Hartmannus, Carsulanus, Vorago, Vuernerus, Nauclerus, Mantuanus, Vuicelius, Caxton, Capgrave, Hector Boethius, Maior, and a great sort more, scarcely one agreeing with an other. ¶ fine workmanship to be marked, HE that would take the pain, Prove the sprites. to confer their chronicles and writings, but concerning this only matter, observing diligently their diverse bestowing of times, places, and names, with other things pertaining to the circumstance of history, should anon perceive their subtile conve yaunce in many other matters. The solemn feast of these xi thousand she pilgrims, for their going to Rome, is yet no small matter in their Idolatrouse church, and yet they poor souls never came there, as the most auctentyve writers doth prove. Only to marry. Their going out of Brytanie was to become honest Christian men's wives, and not to go on pilgrimage to Rome, and so become bishops bonylasses, or priests playefers See what our ancient english writers hath said in this matter, which more experimentlye knew it, and let the foreign liars go, which being far of cared the less to lie. In deed this is a very strange procuring of Saints, if ye mark it weal, but that the monks and prebends of Coleyne thought to do somewhat for the pleasure of their nuns there, nuns of Coleyne. which had gathered together an heap of dead men's bones. For their bones could they not have, being drowned in the great ocean see, as Galfredus and the other authors verifieth afore. But both Christ and Paul once told us, that we should be subtly cyrcumuented of that wily generacyan, when they should work their deceitful wonders. Math. 24. and. 2. Thes. 2. ¶ vowings did not yet constrain. ALl this time were there no constraining vows but all was free to leave or to hold. For Constans Constans the eldest son of king Constantyne the second, being a monk of saint Amphibalus abbey in Cairguent, that ye now call Saint Swythunes in wynchestre, was taken out of it without dispensation, about the year of our lord. CCCC. xliij. 443. and crowned king of britain, being in full liberty of marriage. Galfredus, Ranulphus, Harding, Capgrave, Caxton, and Fabyan. In like case Maglocunus Maglocunus. (as Gildas reporteth) was first a monk, and afterward constitute king in the year of our lord. CCCCC. lij. continuing still by the space of more than xxxiiij 552. years, and had for the time two wives besides his concubines. This Maglocunus was reckoned the most comely person of all his region, and a man to whom God had than given great victories against the Saxons, Norweyes, and Danes. Yet was he in his age as was long afore him, Mempricius Mempricius. his predecessor, given to most abominable sodometry, which he had served in his youth of the consecrate chastity of the holy clergy. Galfredus, Ranulphus, Hardynge, Fabian, and Flores Historiarum. Very vehement was Gildas being than a monk of Bencornaburch not far from Chestre, Gildas prophesieth. in his daily preachings, both against the clergy and layte, concerning that vice and such other, and prophesied afore hand of the subversion of this realm by the Saxons for it, like as it soon after followed in effect. Look in both his books, De excidio Britanny, et in scriptis Polidori, Galfredi, et Ranulphi, with the preface of William tyndal's obedience. ¶ The Saxons entre with new christianity. ANon after the Saxons had gotten of the britains the full conquest of this land, Saxons. the name thereof was changed, and hath ever since been called England of Engist which was than their chief captain, England as wytneseth johan Harding, johan Maior, christianity. Hector Boethius, Caxton, Fabyan. Than came there in a new fashioned christianity yet once a gain from Rome with many more heythnysh yokes than afore. And that was upon this occasion, as all writers agree. Gregory the first of that name (now called Saint Gregory) beheld in the open market at Rome, Gregory. English boys to sell. Mark this ghostly mystery, for the prelate's had then no wives. And women in those days might sore have distained their newly rysyn opinion of holiness, if they had chanced to have been with child by them, and therefore other spiritual remedies were sought out for than by their good provyders and proctors, ye may (if ye will) call them apple squires. In stead of marriage. And as this Gregory beheld them fair skinned and bewtyfullye faced, with hear upon their heads most comely, anon he axed, of what region they were. And answer was made him, that they were of an isle called England. We'll may they be called Angli Angli. (saith he) for they have very Angelyck visages. See how curious these fathers were, in the weal ●yenge of their wares. Wares Here was no circumstance unlooked for to, pertaining to the sale. Yet have this bishop bend of all writers reckoned the best since his time. This story mention jacobus de Voragine, Vincencius, Antoninus, joannes Capgrave, Maior, Polydorus, & an hundred authors more. ¶ More English boys sold at Rome. AN other example like unto this, telleth the saide johan Capgrave in his catalogue. That as one Macutus Macutus. an English britain, and Bishop of Aleph in Ireland, being at Rome about the year of our lord. CCCCC. 100LS. perceived certain English boys to be lolde there openly. He gave the price of them, and sent them home again. Of a like lyhode he smelled the spiritual occupying there, and pysyed the most damnable casting away of those poor innocentes, whom Christ had so dearly redeemed with his blood. Soche an other act of christian pity wrought king Etelwolphus Ethelwolphus there (after diverse writers) when he in the year of our lord. DCCC. xlvij. 847. made suit to Pope lo the fort, to be clearly dispensed with for the order of subdeacon, which he had in his youth received (wholesome ware I warande you) of Helmestane than Bishop of wynchestre. For by that time they had crept into the seat of the Serpent, Apoca. 13. Apo. 13. and obtained full authority to dispense with all pacts, professions, promises, vows, uthes, obligations, and sealings to the Beasts holy service. Mark always the times. times This story hath Vuylyam of malmsbury, li. 2. De regibus, ranulph, Harding, Fabyan and Polydorus with other. And that the one wanteth, the other always habundauntlye supplieth. possession was taken of that seat of the Beast under phocas the emperor in the year of our lord. DC and vij 607. when the papacy first begun. ¶ Augustyne entereth with his Monks NOw to return again unto Gregory. He sent upon the aforesaid occasion, into England in the year from Christ's in carnation. CCCCC. xcvi. 596. a Romy she monk called Augustyne, Augustinus. not of the order of Christ as was peter, but of the supersticious seat of Benet, there to spread abroad the romish faith and religion, for Christ's faith was there long afore. With him entered Melitus, justus, Laurencius, joannes, Petrus, Rufinianus, Paulinus, and a great sort more to the number of xl all monks Monks & Italians. We'll armed were they with Aristotle's artylerye, as with logyck, philosophy, and other crafty sciences, crafty science. but of the sacred scriptures, they knew little or nothing. If ye believe not me, read in johan Capgraves' catalogue, Inu ita Augustini, his interrogations, Ad Gregorium per laurencium et Petrum, and ye shall find them void of all christian learning, either of law or Gospel. yea, most incypyent & foolish. Yet was the said Augustyne the best learned among them. ignorant apostles. These took with them a great number of french interpreters, because they were all ignorant of the languages there. Here was a noble christianity towards, when the preachers knew neither the scriptures nor yet the speech of the people. Well, yet they did miracles. Miracles. Yea, so said Christ they should do, when he bade us in any wise to be ware of them. Mat. 24. For this story, mark specially johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie, Sigebertus, Vincē●ius, Antoninus, Tritemius, Christianus Masseus, and the church legendary. diversly were they of women entreated ANd as concerning women, Women grevousslye were they vexed with them coming hitherward, specially at a village called Say, Say. within the county of Angeu in france. In the which was builded immediately after, a church (they say) in the honour of the said Augustyne, where as no women come, but are plagued with most sudden death, for the displeasure there showed them than, angry saints yet did thy but laugh upon them. This showeth Alexander the prior of Esseby in his Annual of Saints by these verses. Cetus aput say vexavit eos mulierum, Quas peccasse probat, lux nova fonsque novus. Plebs parat ecclesiam, mulieribus haud reserādā, Introitum tentat una, sed inde perit. This story hath also johan Capgrave, and the old English festival festival. of Saints, which was sometime the only taught Gospel of England. notwithstanding this displeasure of women abroad, yet found they women favourable within England. For Bertha the queen of Kent, than being a french woman, caused King Ethelbert to admit them with all their tyr●erye trash. Ethelbert. Yet for the small trust he had unto them at their first meeting, he would in no wise comen with them within any house (the story saith) lest they should after any sorcerous sort by witch him. The first point of religion they showed, was this. They spread fourth a banner with a painted crucifix and a silver cross thereupon, and so come to the king in procession, procession. singing the tyranny. We'll might this be called a new christianity, for neither was it known of Christ nor of his Apostles, nor yet ever scene in England afore. It came altogether from the dust heap of their monkery. ¶ Their first spiritual provisions here. AS the king admitted their entrance, he covenanted thus with them, and very wisely. That his people should always be at liberty, liberty. and no man constrained to their new found religion, sacrifices▪ and worshippings. But alac that freedom con●yaued not long with them, as ye shall weal perceive here after. Than did Augustyne get him into France again, and caused one Etherius than archbishop of Arelas, Etherius to consecrate him the great bishop of all England, without election or consent of the people that we read of. And in the year of our Lord even. DC. 600 did Gregory send unto him from Rome, justrumentes. his primates pall, with superaltares, ch●lyces, copes, candlesticks, vestiments, surplices, altar clothes, singing books, relly●kes, and the blessings of Peter and Paul. And so admitted him for the first metropolitan of all the whole realm, appointing his seat from thence fourth at Canterbury, than called Doroberna, Doroberna. the worthy city of london ever after deprived of her former title, and so made an underling. But the spiritual fathers knew weal enough what they did, beholding afore hand many hidden mysteries. They perceived that Caunterbury was weal out of the way, canterbury. and much nigher the see than was London, and so much the fitter for their crafty conveyances, and flyghtes to their holy father if need should require it, with many other commodities else. Mark always these numbers of Syxes and their mysteries, Numbers. for the age of Man and the Beast, Apoca, 13. ¶ Their preparations for Antichrist, THe first study of these fathers after they were once settled, primity was all about mass offerings, ceremonies, bishops seats, consecrations, church hallowings, orders giving, tithes, personages, puryfycacyous of women, and such like. Whereupon a Syunode was called, Synodus. and there commandments were given that all things should be here observed according in the customs of Rome. In England was there afore their coming a christianity, christianity. but it was all without masses, and in a manner without choice of either days or meats. The britains in those days had non other God's service but the Gospel. britains, Seldom admitted they any difference of times with the jews, either any Idol sacry●yces with the gentiles, but followed the plain rules of the scriptures. If any superstitions were among their Monks, they had nought to do there with, but were evermore. at liberty. For Princes at that time were not yet becomen the Beasts Images, Prince's to speak out of their sprites, or to make laws according to their lusts. The labour of Augustyne with his monks, from the foresaid year of our Lord DC. 600 was to prepare Antichrist a seat here in England, against the full time of his perfyghtage, of. 666. 666 For though he were first conceived in the wicked church of Cain, yet could he not show himself in his own likeness, that is to say, Christ's open adversary, till Christ came in the flesh. And than he appeared at all one time with him, in the malignant church of the jews or spiritualty of Herode, Antichrist which than first began to persecute him and to seek his death. ¶ The proving of Augustine's Apostleship. IN the year of our Lord. DC. 602 and ij held Augustyne an other counsel in the west part and county of worcester, Synodus in a place that is yet called augustine's oak, whereunto he called by commandment, the seven. bishops of the britain church with their principal doctors. And as they were taking their journey thydreward, they counseled with a certain solitary man, which was known to be of a most perfect Christian life, solitary man. what was to be done concerning the afore said Augustyne. Anon he made them this christian answer: If he be a man of God (saith he) in any wise follow his counsel. If he be not, utterly refuse it. How shall we know that? Christian counsel say they. Ye shall weal perceive it by his gentle spirit, saith he again. For Christ bade his scholars, learn of him to be meek hearted. If he be of that sort, he is like to bring ye none other than Christ's moste easy yoke. But if ye find him proud, be ware of the importable burdenes of the high minded pharisees. A proud monk. And as they were comen thydre, they found him sitting a fit in a throve of high honour, showing unto them no countenance of gentleness. Wherefore they regarded him not, but utterly withstood all his enforcements. ¶ The English church beginneth with tyranny. AFter long disputations and other wayward wranglings, he laid unto their charges, that they were in many things, contrary to the universal Christian church, notwithstanding, Three points if they would consent unto him in these three points. That is to say, to baptize after the Romish manner, to celebrate the feast of Eastre as they do there, and preach to the English Saxons as he should appoint them, he would weal bear with them in all other causes. In no case would they grant unto him, nor yet accept him for their archbishop▪ but said plainly, they would still hold their ancient traditions, which they perfectly knew to be agreeable to the holy Apostles doctrine. A tyrant Than said Augustyne furyouslye unto them, that if they would not peaceably grant to his requests, they should be enforced thereunto by most cruel battle. And so in the year next following, were slain of their preachers by augustine's procurement, A murderer. to the number of a thousand and ij. hundred, with their great master Dionothus. Look Flores Historiarum, Amandus Zierixensis, Galfrede, Ranulph, Capgrave, Caxton, Fabianc, their church legendary, and other. A carnal synagogue. Thus did that carnal synagogue (than called the English church) which came from Rome with Augustine, most cruelly persecute, at her first coming in, the Christian church of the britains in these holy martyrs. Their synefull Zion builded they than in blood, Bloody Zion. for that their wicked instytutes were Godly disobeyed. But he they sure, it shall be ploughed up in this latter age, and lie waist like a void field, according to Mycheas prophecy. Mich. 3 ¶ What the britain church was afore. TRue is the faithful saying of johan Leylande in assertione Arturij. johan Leyland. fo. 35. That the Romish Bishop sought all means possible to uphold the English Saxons in a kingdom falsely gotten, the britains hating him for it, and he again of mischief provoking those Saxons fearcelye to invade them. Mark it hardly, for it is worthy to be noted. Mark also the agreement of the britain church with the seven. britain church. churches of Asia in Saint Johan's time. Not only for the just number of their bishops, but also for their observation of Eastre afore this Augustine's coming. For in their argumentations about that matter, they laid always for themselves the usages of that church received first of johan the Evangelist, Philip the Apostle, Policarpus, Traseas, Sagaris, Papirius, and Meliton, alleging the sayings of Polycrates, and Eusebius, in that behalf. The church that Augustyne than planted in England, english church was more governed by bishops policies for their advantage, than by the express word of God to his honour, as it hath been ever since. And therefore it was and is yet in outward observations, rather a politic church than a Christian church, the jewish and Heythnishe superstitions not reckoned. God grant it ones a shape after his prescript laws and ordinances. Amen. ¶ Antichrist approached fast to his full age. IN the year of our Lord (as I said afore). 607 DC. and vij Antitechrist fast approaching to the fullness of his age, full age grew into a universal fatherhood. For than first began the papacy at Rome under the false emperor phocas, as witnesseth Abbas Vrspergensis, Hermannus Contractus, Sigebertus, Ranulphus, Matheus Palmarius, Christianus Masseus, Archilles Pirminius, joannes Carion, et Martinus Lutherus in Mundi supputacione. Than obtained Bonifacius the third of that name, The papacy. of the said Phocas for money, in the mids of all schism, strife, mischief, and murder, to be Satan's great steward here, & the devils leftenaunt. For in his power it was not, to make him Christ's vicar, nor yet saint Peter's successor. Thus gave the Dragon, than his authority and power to the Beast with vij heads, that arose out of the see, or from the supersticious wavering multitude, Apoco. 13. Apo. 13. Than wanted he nothing else, but to sit in the place of God, which is the conscience of Man, 2. thes. 2 that he might there exalt himself above all that is called God. 2 Thessa. 2. To bring that to pass, the Monks and the priests stirred quickly about them, and left no cautels unsought out to bring all Christian realms under his devilish dominion. For than had the Monks authority to preach, Mon●●s authority. baptize, and assoil from sin, which they never had afore. How and what th●y wrought here in England, is evident by that hath been showed af●re, and will be yet more plain in that which hereafter followeth. Mark it therefore in the name of God, for now is the time, wherein he must he revealed, that the Lord jesus may consume him with the breath of his mouth. Esa, 11. Esa. 11 and 2. Thes, 2. ¶ The chastity of his massmongers. NOw concerning the continency of this new broached brood or newly fashioned clergy. For so moche as they were Monks and came from Rome, they had professed a false chastity, A false chastity to apere more holy than the priests, and thereby in process of time to rob them of their benefices or appointed livings. Gregory. Though Gregory in his time made these constitutions, that none should be admitted a priest which had married ij wijues, nor yet they be accepted that in priesthood, kept concubines, as testifieth Sabellicus, yet durst he not utterly condemn priests marriage, Example by reason of a most terrible example of innumerable children's heads scene drowned in a pond. But mark the spiritual occupyenge of these hot fathers, for grievously were they than vexed with night pollutions. Whereupon Augustyne sent unto Gregory, Monks chastity to know if they might weal say mass having them the night afore. Unto whom after many words, he maketh in effect this answer. That like as they chance unto men iiij. ways, that is to say, by superfluity of nature, iij. by glottenouse eating & drinking, ways. by intyrmyte of the flesh, and by filthy cogitations of the mind, so ought they to have four considerations. For the first three a priest ought not (he saith) to abstain from his mass saying. Coloured sodomy. The fort he describeth by suggestion, delectation, & consent, leaving it without any conclusion. If this be not good wholesome divinity of your holy Romish dayntes, tell me. This hath johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie. ¶ Contempt of marriage, with tails. I think a man might find as honest stuff as this, stews divinity. in the schools of my lord of wynchestres' rents at the bank side at London, if he had need of it. Ye may see by this, the virtuous study of these holy chaste fathers, & the clarkelye conveyance of their fleshly movings. Great pity had it been, but it had had place in their holy saints legends to the ghostly information of other, but that we should not else we'll have known their bawdy hypocrisy. If their unuirginall vows had not been, Votaries learning. little should the world have needed this lecherous learning. Honest marriage hath no knowledge thereof, and yet is it a pleasyuge service unto God. Is not that (think you) a strange kind of chastity, that is thus every week polluted? Yet may they after this learning, every day say Mass, their vow never hindered, but in marriage they may not so under pain of death. Now forsooth it is wholesome ware, & it should come even unto from the devils black bowgett. This is the reverence these polluted wretches have to matrimony, being Gods clear institution, Marriage contemned. that they prefer all their fleshly knaveries unto it. For it only, have they named men lay & women lewd, Say, with tails appointing their children tails here in England in disdain and scorn. For nought was it not that Saint Paul called their learning hypocrisy, and the detestable doctrine of devils. 1. Timoth 4. johan Capgrave and Alexandre of Esseby saith, that forcasting of fish t●yles at this Augustyne, Dorsett shire men had tails ever after. But Polydorus applieth it unto kentish men at Stroude by Rochestre, Dorset & Stroude. for cutting of thomas Beckettes horses tail. Thus hath England in all other lands a perpetual dyffamye of tails by their written legends of lies, yet can they not weal tell, where to bestow them truly. ¶ Strife about the easter celebration. NExt after this Augustyne was Laurencius archbishop of Caunterburye. And after him Melitus. Than justus, Laurencius cum alijs. than Honorius, than Theodatus, and Theodorus, all black monks and Italians borne to the number of vij This Laurence held a great Synod with his other prelate's in the isle of man, disputing there with the scottish and Irish bishops, Synodus. for the feast of Eastre, what day it should be yearly celebrated, writing from thence unto their other prelate's a treatise of the same. More than an hundred years space, were the papists than in controversy for the day of that easter celebration, ere they could be quieted. the feast of Eastre. Great pains the religious fathers took in those days to strain out a gnatt, that their lecherous posterity after them, might the better swallow in a mighty camel. Math. 23. In things of small value they were than very scrupulose, but the wayghtyer causes they could let slip weal enough. What so ever this Laurence was to women by his life, Women he was (they say) very cruel unto them after his death. For in a sexton town called fordune, was a church builded in his name, where no women might entre with offering nor without offering, but they had ever more sore bellies of it. Sore bellies. I pray God they went not many times thence with child, for there were many fat Canons and prebends. This superstyeyouse fable borrow they of the pagans, whose opinion was that no woman might enter into the temple of Venus their great Goddess in the mount of Olympus, Venus with out a great villainty. jacobus Zieglerus in sua Syria. ¶ Great business for their other traditions. HEre pass I over the clouting in of their canonical hours, Ceremonies & rites. of their absolutions for sins, their temples, their altars, their bell ryngynges, their lents, their diversity of orders and divisions of parishes, lest I should be therein to tedious unto the readers. Aidanus, Good men. Finnanus, and Colmamnus, being all iij. bishops of lyndysfarne in Northunberlande one after an other, & scottish men borne, could not weal away with the pride and wanton toys which they beheld in their romish rites, but persevered still in the simple order of the primitive church, not contented to change it. For the which in those days, they had much a do with these high stomached Romans. Hilda in like case, that was than abbess of Streneshalt (that we now call Whytby) a woman learned, Hilda et Colmamnus. wise, and virtuous, disputed with them in their general counsel upon Colmannus side, in the year of our lord. DC. and lxiiij. concerning the day of their easter celebration, 664. their head shaving, and other unsavoury ceremonies, and wrote afterward an earnest treatise against Agilbertus a french man and at that time bishop of Wynchestre. Agilbertus. All this might not help than, but in process of time they had their whole minds, magry all their hearts. Bedas Girwinus li. 3. Ca 25. De gestis Anglorum, Guilhelmus malmsbury li. 3. De Pontificibus Ranulphus. li. 5. Ca 17. joann es Capgrave and other. ¶ religious examples dysuading marriage. AFter Laurencius followed Melitus melitus in the archbishops' seat of Caunterburye, in the year of our lord. DC. and xix which (they say) both alive & dead, 619. dysuaded young men from christian marriage. As Saint Columbanus a Scott, Columbanus. about the same time, came to the sell of an holy Nun for ghostly counsel. She bade him, away, least wanton youth would bring them together wild they nylde they. Saint edwin king of Northumberlande gave unto saint Paulinus the archbishop of york, Paulinus. his young daughter Eanfleda, so soon as she was baptized in the year of our lord. DC. and. xxvi. that he should make her an unholy Nun. And the day after the said edwin was slain, he took with him both the daughter and mother, and so fled with them unto Rochestre in kent be water, never returning thither again. fiacrius Saint fiacre a scottish hermit had so great malice unto women, that he plagued so many of them with the fowl evil, as came within the precynct of his monastery, because one woman had once complained to the bishop of his prodigious charmynges. Hector Boethius. Foillanus. Saint Foillanus an Irish Bishop with his brethren was very famy●yar and serviceable unto saint Ger●ruyde and her nuns at Nigella, & made diverse barren women full graciously to conceive. Saint keynwirye a Keyna. virgin of wales, contemmpning marriage, fled from thence to Saint Myhels of the mount, to keep her vowed virginity among the holy fathers there, as vower with vowers. All these stories hath johan Capgrave. ¶ Other religious examples of that age. SEbba king of the East Saxons, Sebba is monked. was so bywytched of the Bishop of London and his casking collygeners there for his substance, that he had made himself a monk, leaving unto them both his wife and possessions, if she had been no wiser than he. Yet was she by their incantacyous at the last deceived, they having of him an innumerable sum of money, and he nothing of them again but a mangy monks cowl and his burial in Paul's. Egbinus When Saint Egbynes father was once departed in wales, his mother resorted with him to the abbey of Saint Samson, Samson and there received of him the habit of a Nun, bestowing the rest of her life among the good brethren there. Eanswida. Saint Eanswyde abbess of folkstane in kent, inspired of the devil, defined christian marriage to be barren of all virtues, to have but transytoryouse fruits, and to be a filthy corruption of virginity. Yet ware mary, johan baptist, and jesus Christ sweet fruits, thereof, Fruits of marriage. the just fathers of the old law not reckoned. Saint Paul saith also, that by virtue of marriage, the unfaithful man is sanctified by the woman that is faithful. 1. Cor. 7. Neither deed he at any time teach marriage to be either a corruption or yet an impediment of christian virgynite, when he coupled the Corintheanes (which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ed still married) a chaste virgin to Christ. 2. Cor. Eanswida. 11. But this gentlewoman Eanswyde was moche better acquainted with the monks learning than with Christ's, and with a chastity rather to their behove than to his. Yet drove she out all the giants there, if their church legend be true. These stories showeth johan Capgrave. ¶ The wanton toys of the holy fathers. ABout this same time sent Pope Bonyface the fift, a shirt with a golden colour, babyshe joys. and a fine petticoat of strange making, unto king edwin with the blessings of Peter and Paul. And unto his wife Ethelburge a silver glass and a comb of yvoriye with the same, to uphold them in this new christianity. See these wanton fathers what toys they use, to set up their kingdom here. Never shall ye read that Christ's disciples had any such witty policies. Saint Petrock an hermit of cornwall, Petronus. was fain every night from the crow of the cock to the spring of the morning, to stand naked in a pit, to abate the hot movings of his flesh. And never could he have remedy of that disease, till he went on pilgrimage to Rome & Jerusalem. Here was a new sought out salve for that sore. Piranus Saint Pyrane a Bishop also in cornwall, had a fair dammesell in the monastery of his mother wingell, called Brunett, whom the Lord of the soil took up for his occupyenge. At the last he a greed with him no longer to have her, than the barnacle or butture should break him of his sleep, which chanced soon after, & than he sent her home again. If these be not good honest legends to be red in the pope's holy church, legends tell me. plenteous shall ye find johan Capgrave in the rehearsal of them and such other. The ghostly bestowing of their vows A Nun belonging to saint Cota, chastity of ●●●ar●es. and a monk pertaining to saint Pyrane, about the same time struck up a covenant of love. And as they met in a wode for performance of the same, a young pigeon fell betwixt them and made them both ashamed, & so they went home again▪ i● like matter. Soche an other pageant was played at york, but it was long after. Vows observed. The monks of saint mary abbey, and the nuns of Clement thorpe met together there at hay making, the abbots fool being with them. And as the abbot inquired of him at supper for pastime, where he had done all that day. He fell in a great laughing and declared before all his gests, that a sore battle had been fought that after none betwixt his monks and the monks of clement thorpe. But he thanked God that his monks had the best, for they lay ever aloft. Because that one of Saint modwens maids, Modwenna. had laid her best beloves shoes at her beds head, the sprites of heaven that were wont to visit her, would not come there that night. After she had been at Rome, and was comen home again, she dwelled at Scalesclyf, Eremite. where as an holy hermit dead oft times visit her, and moche refresh her with a legend book of saints lives. But no tidings was there among them, of Christ's holy gospel. Look johan Capgrave. ¶ Erkenwalde and Osith, with their Nunneries. Saint Erkenwalde the son of Vffa the first King of the east angles, Erkenwaldus abbot of Cherteseye and Bishop of London, builded a Nondrye at Berking. And because there were at that time in England no nuns to his mind (for Hilda his kinswoman was to great a scripture woman in those days) he sent over the see for an old acquaintance of his called Hildelitha, learned in art, but not in Christ's divinity, Her made he there abbess, committing unto her governance, his sister Ethelburge and a great sort more of young maids, Ethelburga to be taught and made nuns there. Soche rule was kept among them within a short space after, that God sent upon them a plague of pestilence, which took away all their chaplains, the cruel Da●●…s following and burning up that was left, monastery, nuns and all. Saint Osith was married to Sigher King of the East Saxons. Ositha. But because she loved the spiritualty moche better than him, whiles he was on a time in huntynge, she sent by a privy lettre for Accas, and Bedewinus, Spiritual knavery. bishops of the East Angles, containing Norfolk and Sothfolke, causing them to put upon her a nuns apparel. So made she him to believe in his return, that she had professed the vow of chastity, and gave him thereby a most wretched occasion to live all the days of his life after, in most sinful adultery. But a just plague followed. For in the year of our Lord. DC.liii. 653 was she slain of the Danes, and her whore house (nondrye I should say) utterly destroyed. Yet was she in the Pope's church allowed for a stinking martyr, for contemning marriage. johan Capgrave. ¶ The perfect age of the Beast. THeodorus a Greek, Theodo●●s was of pope uptelianus constitute the sixth archbishop of Caunterburye, from Augustyne or sens the papacy began, to make all sure here to Antichristes' behove, in the sixty and six year of his age, and in the year from Christ's incarnation six hundred, syxtie, and six, which is in saint Johan's Apocalyps the full age of the Beast, Apoc▪ 13. & the full number of man. Mark it good reader. For now of a Beast, The fully complete age. becometh he a king, ye, as Daniel calleth him, the unshame fast King of faces. Daniel. 8. Presuming to sit above God in every man's conscience 2. Thessa. 2. Named it is there, the number of man, and the number of the Beast, Number of the beast for so moche as it was the time, wherein man's learning most strongly withstood the learning of God, to the pranking up of that odious adversary, the very man of sin, and son of perdition, all blasphemies thereupon following. evident is it, by all the English chronicles, that than this Theodorus came hither with the seal of that execrable Beast, to mark up all to that most blasphemous kingdom. For never afore wrought the spirit of Antichrist, the mystery of iniquity so strongly as at that time. For hither than brought he all vain & crafty sciences, Crafty sciences. of counting, calking, measuring, singing, rhyming, reasoning, arguing, dyffyning, shaving, oiling, exorcizing, incanting, & conjuring. Look johan Capgrave, in vitis Adriani, et Theodori Besides that Bedas writeth li. 4. Capit, 2. and Ranulphus li. 5. Ca▪ 18. ¶ For the variance had in supputations TO avoid controversies in the supputation of years, for so moche as some writeth him to have comen hither in the year afore rehearsed, & some ij years after. Ye shall understand that Theodatus which was his predecessor, Theodatus departed in the year of our Lord. DC.lxv. as witnesseth Hermamnus Contractus in Chronico de sexetatibus mundi. In the year following was this Theodorus admitted of V●●elianus, Theodorus & received his full authority of binding and losing (saith Platina) to hold the english nation still in that faith. Mark it. But by reason of certain delays, it was more than a year after ere he entered into England. One cause of his tarryaunce (johan Capgrave saith) was the growing of his hear concerning his crown, Shaving which was shaven afore after a far other sort, he being a Greek. His abiding there for that only cause, was more than four Months, besides other needy matters. So that it was the year of our Lord. DClxviij. 668. the xxvi. day of may, and the second year of his consecration ere he came into Kent, as witnesseth both Bedas and Ranulphus With him sent Vitelianus a monk borne in Aphrica, called Adrian, Adrianus. to look to his doctrine, lest he taught any thing in the english church that were not agreeable to the romish faith (as the marriage of priests, and the houseling with leavened bread) for he deed not in all points trust him, because he was a Greek borne. A school. Anon after he set up a Greak school at Caunterburye of all manner sciences, as Rhetoryck, Logyck, philosophy, Mathesye, Astrology Geometrye, Arithmetyck, and Musyck, and taught them there openly both in latyve and Greek, Strange sciences besides the art Magyck Sortilege, Physuomye, Palmestrye, Alchemy, necromancy, Chyromancye, Geomancye, and witchery, that was taught there also. Bedas, Ranulphus, and johan. Cap ¶ sealings to the Beasts obedience THan constitute he the said Adriane both abbot and general reader there, Adrianus whiles he compassed about all the whole region for the easter celebration & other romish rites. This is the first archbishop (saith johan Capgrave) that all the english church was sworn to. Character. Mark here the Seal of the Beast. Apo. 13. In the year of our Lord. DC.lxxij. 672 he held a Synod at Thetford in Norfolk, Synodus where as he inquired of every man's faith towards the Church of Rome. Than constitute he bishops for every quarter, and deposed all them that were not confirmed by the pope's authority, of whose number Ceddas the bishop of york was one. Ceddas More over he published there a book of the church's ordinances, Ordinances made by the foresaid Vitelianus, with permission of organs to make them miry, commanding it only to be observed, Christ's order set a part. If this were not the departing that Paul prophesied to come .2. The .2. where shall we look for any. A saying hath joannes de Molinis, joannes de Molinis in speculo carmel. Ca 6. which (though he were a papist) I find here most true. From the days of Heraclius the Emperor (saith he) unto our times, the day drawing towards night, the church suffering a sore eclippes, is come to a down going. Yea, she is almost at the case of a full departing, et c. I think a truer sentence could not then be uttered all circumstances thereupon considered. Great pity was it, that the church's posterity than perceived not so manifest a defection. ¶ More sealings yet to Antichristes' kingdom. IN the year of our Lord DC. 680 and lxxx. Synodus. held this Theodorus an other counsel at hatefelde in the west parties. Where as he demanded a reckoning of the bishops and other curates, what faith and favour their peoples had than to the church of Rome, as pope Agathon had commanded him to do by his writings, Agathon which wrote than unto him, to do all things wisely. Ye know what that meaneth▪ I think. Here was none inquiry made, what believe they had than there in the Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ. No, it was an other manner of matter, No Gospel. that they sought. Oh, wonderful was the working of that Serpent's generation. Polidorus saith, li. 4. Anglice history, that false religion & counterfeit priesthood, was than throughly settled and placed there, the Acts of thee, iiij general counsels received in stead of the four evangelies. Synodus generalis. In the next year following, was a general Synod kept at constantinople in Grece, where as marriage was for ever permitted unto the Greek priests, and utterly forbidden the latins, or all other besides than, Mass. the latin mass receiving there his first confirmation. But Theodorus & his monks were at a good indifferent point for that, which had veiled within one mounsterye in the isle of Thanete lxx. Mildreda. nuns, making fair Myldrede their abbess. Look johan Capgrave ranulph and other english authors. In spite of the former Act, Vitiza. did Vitiza the king of Spain, permytt his priests by a law newly made, to keep so many concubines as they would. Michael Ricius de regibus Hispanie, et Paulus Constantinus Phrigio in Chronicis regnorum. ¶ chastity, Monks, monasteries, and Penance. Wernerus Cartusiensis saith, in Fasciculo temporum, chastity fire. that vowing of chastity was free without constraint, in the time of Saint Gregory & somewhat after. Bedas reporteth li. 3. Ca 6. De gestis Anglorum, et joannes Mayor in gestis Scotorum li 2 Ca 11. That a monks cowl, after they had ones vowed chastity, was holden in such reverence, that no man would in a manner than journey, unless he had their blessings Into a most wonderful madness were the people than brought, hypocrisy worketh by their hypocritical wytcherye, the very elect persons scant free from that damnable error. Matth. 24. Marci. 13. For the unthankfulness of men (saith job) in setting his verity light, doth God permytt the hypocrites to reign over them in all power of deceitful wonders. job. 34. 2. Thessaly. 2. They did than speedily set up monasteries without number, monasteries. all the realm over. johan Hardynge saith in his chronicle, that king Oswye builded within Nor thumberlande. oswius. xii. in one years' space. In the year of our lord. DC. and lxxxiiij 684. held Theodorus yet an other counsel in the North parties at Twyforde, Synodus. where as he published a certain book of his own making, called A penytencyall sum, commanding his clergy to put it every where in practise. Therein were contained all manner of sins and excesses, with aggravacyons, Summa peniten●ialis. reservations, penalties, sorrows, penuaunces, and ponnyshmentes. And this was to terryfye, captive, and snare the wretched consciences of men, even to utter desperation. And where could have been sought out a practise of more devylyshnesses Sigebertus, Sabellicus, Tritemius, et Scriptores ferme omnes. ¶ The foundation of their purgatory. AT the same very time, was there one Drithelmus in Northumberlande, which leaving both wife and children in the year of our lord. DC. and lxxi Drithelmus 671. made himself a monk at Mailros, Saint Cuthbert than being abbot there. The said Drithelmus feigned himself on a time to be dead there was knavery upon knavery) and reported in his return, foundation of purgatory. that he had scene by an Angel's demonstration, both purgatory and paradise, hell and heaven. After that he had subtilely declared this unto king alphred and other great men of the country there, at the request of the monks, moche people resorted unto him for counsel for their souls from all quarters of England. So ready are the fools of this world to hear lies and illusions, illusions. which never had love to the verity. This knave evermore commended unto them confession and penance, confession. fasting, prayer, and alms deeds, specially and above all other, mass sayings, Masses and monasteries building. Was not this think you, a virtuous christianity of these chaste fathers, to begin their holy church with? Were it not pity but they were canonized saints, and their feastful days solemnized twice in the year, canonized devils? with ryngynges, singings, sensings, and massings, as this Cuthbertes were and are yet to this day? I think the Turks church had never more knaves to their Saints than these. For this Drithelmus is one of their saints also. johan Capgrave post vitam Adriani, Sigebertus, Vincencius, Antoninus, with diverse other, ¶ chastity of Cuthbert and doctrine of Colfride. SO cruel was this Cuthberte unto women, Cuthbertus. after he became a Saint of theirs, that none might come within his sayntuaryes (they say) at Doilwein, Coruen, and Mailros in Scotland, nor yet at Durham, Tynmouth, and Lyndefarne here in England, under pain of sudden death, their chambers and sells exempted always. Yet was the said Cuthbert very familiar in his time with Ebba, nuns. Elsteda, & Verca iii holy abbasses, and builded for his pleasure, a solemn nondrye at carliel. finally for the special good love he had unto Verca above all other, Verca. he commanded in his testament, that his body after his departing, should be wrapped in the fine linen cloth that she had given him. Ye may see by this, that these chaste fathers had their lovers, and set somewhat by their own precious bodies. Saint Colfryde abbot of Girwin in Northumberlande, Colfridus. wrote unto Athon king of the Pyctes, that it was as necessary for the vow of a monk or degree of a priest (priests were than no vowers) to have a shaven crown for restraint of their lusts, shaven crowns. as for any christian man to bless him against sprites when they come upon him. What wise learning this is, I report me unto you. Yet is it regettred of Bedas in his .v. book, De gestis Anglorum, Walden and also of Thomas Vualden in his volume, De sacramentalibus. ti. 9 Ca 80 to stop heretypkes mouths with, besides that johan Capgrave hath said in it. ¶ The fallen star, and two Horns of the Beast. ABout this time were many wonderful things scene in diverse quarters of the world, specially a great Comet or blazing star, A comet. which seemed with flamynges of fire to fall into the see, great murrain following both of beast and man. Not all unlike was this to that is described, Apoca. 8. And betokened than (in my opinion) both the utter fall of the princely governance and also the christian priesthood, Regnum et sacerdotium. or of both under one, as powers of one God. For both they being as stars in the firmament or powers from about. Romano. 13. most wretchedly than declyved from the true obedience and faithful administration of God's eternal verity, unto the beastly subjection and traditions of that execrable Pope. Sens that time have they comen from the see. They have taken their authority of that Beast which rose out of the see. Apocal. 13. Apo. 13. (till now of late days) the two horns of the other Beast, that is to say, of hypocrisy, pricking them than forward. Those. ijhornes two horns of that earthly Beast were here in England, the two monkish sects that in those days first entered. The first of them were the black monks of Saint Benet, which entered first of all with the afore named Augustyne in the year of our lord. CCCCC. Augustinus. and xcvi. 696. to pervert the South Saxons and kentish men. The other were the black Canons of the other Saint Augustyne (both black) which came in with Berinus the archbishop of Dorcestre in the year of our lord. DC.xxxvi. Berinus from Pope Honorius the first, 636. to deceive the west Saxons. For each Pope and bishop preferred evermore the sect he was of. ij. sects These two wrought so their wicked feats in those days, with dying signs in hypocrisy, that they caused the afore named stars, Regnum et Sacerdocium, Regalyte and priesthood, to fall clearly from heaven. johan Capgrave, Ranulphus, et Polydorus. ¶ The fall of kingdoms, and raise of the papacy. Mark in the chronicles, and ye shall find this most true. Papacye. That like as the papacy had his first raise in and of the fall of the Empire, so had those kingdoms which first obeyed it, their original beginnings of the overthrow of the inferior kingdoms. As England under king Inas by the fall of the britains, Kyngedomes' popysh● and France under king Pypyne by the putting a side of the merovyngean. Sens these lecherous locusts crept first into England, never throve that kingdom of the ancient britains (whose spiritual head was God alone) but every day more and more decayed, britains. till it was fully ended. Mark it hardly from the first coming hither of the said Augustyne, cadwal till the year of our lord. DC.lxxxix. lader. 689. wherein Cadwallader their last king died a most desolate pilgrim at Rome, offering himself up there most miserably to the Pope. Ever since hath it been to him obedient in all blasphemous errors and do ●ryues of devils, by the space of. DCCC. and xliiij years, Mark it. 1533. till the year of our lord. M.D. and xxxiij wherein at our noble kings most wholesome request, we utterly by oath renounced that odious monster. Now is it Gods own free kingdom again, and our king his inmedyate minister. That Lord grant of his infinite mercy, england that like as we have put a side his name, we may even from the heart also cast over his Idolatrouse yokes▪ following from henceforth the uncorrupt rules of the Gospel. Amen. A like conparyson hath Paulus Orosius, li. 2. Ca 4. Historiarum mundi, Roma et Babylon. of Babylon and Rome. Very like beginnings (saith he) had Babylon and Rome, like powers, like pride's, like contynuaunces, like fortunes, and like ruins, saving only that Rome arose of the fall of Babylon, and so fourth. ¶ An old prophecy of merlin disclosed. AS I was in writing this matter an old prophecy of merlin came unto my remembrance. merlin. That after the manifold irruptions of strangers, the kings of this realm should be one's again crowned with the diadem of Brute, Brute. and bear his ancient name, the new name of strangers so vanishing away. He that applieth unto this a right understanding, shall find it very true. The diadem of Brute is the princely power of this whole region, of God inmedyatlye given of God without any other mean mastery worker to Antichristes' behove. F●re was that power f●m the great whore's dominion (which is the Rome church) till the violent conquest of the English Saxons▪ Saxons. which they had of the britains for their iniquities sake▪ And now (praise be unto that Lord) it is in good way to that freedom again, & would fully attain thereunto, were her heythnysh yokes in religion once thrown a side, as I doubt it not but they will be within short space. As weal may ye give credence to this merlin when he uttered the verity, merlin. as unto old Balaam the soothsayer, Balaam. which at a time prophesied the coming of Christ. Numeri 24. And as concerning the return of the name, mark in this age the writings of learned men, and ye shall weal perceive the change, for now commonly do they write us for English men, britains. ¶ The whore's flesh eaten of the x. horns. THe ten horns of the first Beast (which were kingdoms maintaining that whore (now joined all into one, The ten horns of the Beast. doth mortally hate her at this present instant▪ & is making her desolate and naked in England. In the end they shall eat her flesh, and clearly consume her with the fire appointed. England was sometime into vij kingdoms divided, by the consent of all writers, and wales into two called Cambria & Demecia or north wales & South wales; Ireland making up the tenth. Or if ye hold wales but for one, let scotland supply that room, which oweth unto England perpetual homage. As all these are now in one most worthy & victorious King but one, so will God put into all their hearts one consent to fulfil his will, and to give her kingdom unto the Beast, or to send it again to the devil from whence it first came. Apoca. Apo. 17 17 consider with your selves the late overthrow of the monasteries, covents, colleges, and chantries, alleges of unclean sprites, and holds of most hateful birds by the manifest word of God. And think not but the filthy habitations of the great master devils will follow soon after. Apoc. 18. Apo. 18 let the goggle eyed Gardyner of wyncestre gird at it till his rib ache, and an hundred digging devils upon his side, Wynker of wiles yet shall not one jote of the Lords promise be unfulfilled at the time appointed for that blasphemous whores overthrow, his most holy mother. Pray in the mean season (good christian readers) pray, pray, pray, that his heavenly will be done in earth and not man's, and fashion your lives to the form of his most dear son jesus Christ's doctrine. Amen. ¶ Acts of vowed virginity for that age. NOw to return again to their spiritual acts of chastity for that age. Sedia. When one Sedia the father of saint Aidus, perceived that he by no means could have a child by his wife, he brought her to these continent fathers for remedy of her barrenness, & she was sped the next night after by a miracle, for all were miracles they ded. joan Cap, Guenhera Guenhera a Cornysh woman (whom some writers call fair Elyne) that made King Arthure a cuckold, was after his death devoutly received into Ambesburye nondrye, as a penitent to their spiritual use. Oswaldus. Guilhelmus malmsbury. Saint oswald laid his wife Bebla in bed with a religious hermit. Bebla And when the great heat came upon him (as the spiritual fathers are hasty ●he found the means that he was cast in cold water to abate his hot courage. This is one of the holy acts whereupon the pope hath made the said oswald a saint. johan Harding. Ebba. Saint Ebba which was in those days the mother of all nuns, was generate of an whore, as were all her father's children besides her ij. of them only excepted. This Ebba had in the monastery of Coldyngham not far from Barwyck, both men & women dwellynge together sell by sell) as the manner was than of all Nunneries in England) which exercised the battles of chastity so long, that in their night meetings they went to bed together by couples, their religious love was than so great, till God sent a wild fire upon them for that contempt of marriage. jonnes' Mayor. libro secundo. Capittulo. 12. & joannes Capgrave. ¶ A spiritual conveyance to be marked. ETheldred (whom ye call Saint Audrye of helye) married two Etheldreda great princes, Tombert of the South Girwyes, and Egfride the King of Northumberlande, mocking them both by the space of more than xiij years, in not giving them due benevolence according to the holy doctrine of saint Paul 1. Cor. 7. And in occasioning them to adulterous living. The latter of them knowing that she minded wilfryde than Bishop of york moche more than him (for the story saith that she loved that monk above all the men living) required him in God's behalf to admonish her of her duty, Wilfridus. that he might according to his laws have increase of succession by her. And he like a false traitor knave, not withstanding his promise to the contrary, knavery. persuaded her to persever in her obstinacy and utterly to resist him, alleging her vow and requiring a divorcement from him. Whereupon he was than compelled to marry an other wife, called Ermenburgis, and Eteldrede was professed a Nun in Coldynghan with Ebba, by the said wilfryde. This King after that perceiving his knavery, Theodorus by assent of Theodorus the archbishop of Caunterburye, banished him out of his land. Than followed she after a pace, and whiles he was bishop of Eastsexe, A waiting hound. she became abbess of hely, not far from his elbove, Mark this conveyance for your serving. If this were not knavery, where shall we find knavery: Yet was this gentylmii conveyer admitted for a saint, because he builded a college at Rippon, where myself was once baited of his Basan bulls, The autour. for maintaining the Kings prerogative against their Pope, as good master johan Hercye can full we'll tell. joannes Capgrave in vitis Etheldre de, &. Vuilfridi. ¶ Kings became pilgrims, and their wives nuns. A Very proper cast the women had in those days, by the ghostly counsel of the prelate's. pilgrims. They sent their husbands to Rome on pilgrimage by heaps, whiles they kept them spiritual company at home. Ethelburge made great haste and left no calling on, till her husband King Inas was thydrewardes, Inas with scrip hat and staff, she looking for his no more coming home in the abbey of Berking, This Inas became a monk there, and was the first that clogged the west Saxons with payment of the Rome shot, or Peter Pens to the Pope. Volateranus, and Fabiane. After him followed ethelred King of Mercia in like fashion of pilgrimage, Ethelredus. and became afterward abbot of Bardeneye. johan Capgrave. Conredꝰ Conredus also King of the same province, died a foolish monk at Rome. So did King Offa of the East Saxons, Offa the self same year of our Lord. DCC. and ix 709 besides Kenredus, Kenredus Ethelwolphus, and a great sort more. Hermannus Contractus, Platina & Polidorus. Colwolphus King of Northumberland, Colwolphus returned again to Gyrwyn, and there died a monk. Robert Fabiane, Great leisure would it require, to show here how many of such Kings, the ghostly fathers sent at diverse seasons unto Rome, that they for the time might have the spiritual occupying of their wives, and how many of their own bastards they made Kings for them. Bastards. And therefore at this time I pass them over. Innumerable knaveries wrought they in those days, and all under the colour of vowed chastity. ¶ Great experiments of virginity. AS Saint Aldelmus, Adelmus. the bishop of Sherborne (that ye now call salisbury) chanced to be at Rome, the people there made a fowl exclamation upon Pope Sergius the first, for begetting a wench with child, which he (they say) by a little strange working pacified. Synodus In whose return, a Synod was holden in England against the britains or welsh men, for not comforming their churches to the Romish observations, he there required to inveigh against them. Upon the which motion, he wrote than two books, ij. books one for the easter celebration, and an other in the praise of virgins, to blemish the marriage of their priests there, and also to advance their newly professed chastity. For that he had also in commandment of Sergius, Sergius. not withstanding his own known lechery. This Aldelmus never refused women, but would have them commonly both at board and at bed, to mock the devil with. In the time he was abbot of Malmesbury, he appointed oft times to his flesh this martyrdom. As he felt any sore movings thereof, he laid by him naked, the fairest maid he could long time as an whole David's psalter was in saying. And when his heat was past, he sent her home again as good a maid as he left her. Is not this (think you) a strong argument to prove that all priests may live chaste? This telleth Bedas, Ranulphus, johan Capgrave, and many other English authors more. ¶ Images admitted, with chaste examples. ABout the same time, Egwinus saint Egwine abbot of Euesham, and bishop of Worcestre (than called wyckes) hearing tell that labour was made to the pope, to have the christian temples replenished with Images, Images to promote that market forward, he hied him apace to Rome. And there he declared to the holy father, the secret revelations and commandments of our lady that he had, to set up an Image of her to be worshipped at Worcestre, Lady of worcester. delivering him a book which he had written of the same apparitions, besides the life of Aldelme. The pope than called Constantyne the first, hearing this new wondre scent him home again with his bulls of authority, Brithwaldus commanding Brithwalde than archbishop of Caunterburye (with all haste) to call a general Synod of all the clergy for confirmation of the same, sinodus the kings required not to be absent that day. And thy● was done in the year of our lord. Dcc and ix 709. This Brithwalde being also a monk, was the first English man that was Archebyshopp of Caunterburye. Mark it. Saint Guthlake an hermit of Rependon, Guthlacus. told a certain abbot the same time, that going homeward, he should find in a widows house two of his holy monks which had lain with her the night afore for easement of their chastity. Bartellinus. Saint Bartellyne hermit of Stalforde, stolen out of Ireland the kings daughter there. And as she was afterward traveling of child in a forest, whiles he was seeking the midwife, a wolf came and devoured both her and her child. These stories hath at large johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie, Guilhelmus malmsbury et Ranulphus. ¶ English monks become Antichristes' Apostles. IN those days the monks of England were becomen so mighty in supersticious learning, Monks dispersed. that they were able to pervert all other christian regions, as they did than in deed. Some of them went into germany, some into France, some into italy and Spain, and became the Pope's instruments of all falsehood, falshyoning him up there a new kingdom of all devilishness to withstand the manifest glory of God, and subduing thereunto all princely Powers. You that are exercised in chronicles and Saints lives, mark for that age what is written of Columbanus, Colomannus, Totimannus, Vuenefridus, Vuilibrordus, The pope's apostles. Vuilibaldus, Vuenebaldus, Burghardus, kilianus, Vuigbertus, Egbertus, Hewaldus the white and the black, Etto, Bertwinus, Eloquius, Lullius, Lebuinus, Livinus, joannes, Embertus, Gallus, Gaudus, Ga●abaldus, Gregorius, Megingolus, Sturmio, and a great sort more with their women, and ye shall see in them practises wonderful. I will give ye out one here briefly for an example, for to much it were to write of them all. Wenefridus. Wenefridus was admitted of Pope Gregory the second, for the archbishop of Magunce & great Apostle of all germany, and for his bold countenance was of him named Bonifacius. Bonifacius. In London was he first borne, and professed a black Monk at Cissancestre (now called chichester) under abbot wolfharde. After the great Synod holden at London by the afore named Brithwalde, Synodus. about the year of our Lord. DCC. and ten 710. where as priests Marriage was judged fornication, and the honouring of Images accepted for a christian religion. Daniel Daniel than bishop of Wynchestre, sent this wenefride to Rome with his letters of commendation for his manfulness there showed. johannes Capgrave. et Georgius Vuicelius in Hagiologo de sanctis ecclesie. ¶ The great Apostle of all germany. THe Pope after certain conmunications, perceiving him in all points fit for his purpose, apostle of Germanye. sent him anon into germany with his full authority (as afore is specified) to do his false feats there, and to bring that stiff necked people under his wicked obedience, whom they call the holy Christian believe. I think since Christ's incarnation was there never none that more lively wrought the properties of the other Beast in Saint johans Apocalyps, Alia Bestia Apo. 13. which rise out of the earth having two horns like the lamb, if ye mark if weal. Apocal. in the .13. chapter. For he was next in authority to the Pope, by the Pope's own witness, such time as he came with the high legacy from his own right side, into all the quarters and provinces of the said germany. him concerning vowed chastity, rellyques, Images, the Pope's primacy, Kings depositions, oaths breaking, and such like errors. errors Look the works of Nauclerus, Vuicelius, Bernardus Lutzenburg, and Alphonsus de castro. ¶ Doctrine of Bonyface, with sale of whores. MOst damnable was the doctrine of this Bonyface, Doctrine. concerning the Pope. In a certain epistle of his we find this most execrable sentence. That in case the said Pope were of most filthy lining, and so forgetful of himself and of the whole christente, that he led with him to hell innumerable souls, yet ought no man to rebuke his ill doing. For he (he saith) hath power to judge all men, and aught of no man to be judged again. This have the canonists registered in the pope's decrees for a perpetual law, Canonystes. and for a necessary article of Christian believe. Dist. xl Ca Si Papa. Yet wrote he at another time to Pope Zacharye, to see the manifest abusions of Rome reform, Rome. specially their maskings in the night after the pagans manner, Open sale of whores. and their open selling of whores in the market there. For they were (he said) sore impediments to his preachings. For they that had scene those revelings there, mistrusted much that faith. He wrote also unto king Ethelbalde and other great men in England, Ethelbaldus. requiring them to leave the adulterous occupying of nuns, least such a plague fell on them, as chanced upon king Colfrede and king Ofrede for like doings. Colfredus. Osredus. And though this Bonyface allowed not christian matrimony in priests but hated it, yet after that one Geraldus a married bishop was slain in Thuringia in time of the wars there, geraldus he permitted his son Geilepus to succeed him in that office. geilepus Helinandus monachus, Vincencius, Antoninus, Capgrave. etc. ¶ The monasteries of fulda & floryake. HE builded the great monastery of Fulda in Germanye, Fulda. in the year from Christ's incarnation. DCC. & xliiij 744. Into the which no women might entre, but only Lieba & Tecla ij English nuns his best beloves. Lieba. The body of the said Lieba, he commanded by his life, of most tender love, to be buried in one grave with his own precious body. Monasterium fuldense. So rich was that monastery within few years after, that it was able to find the emperor in his wars lx thousand men. For the which the abbot had always this privilege, to sit upon the right hand of the said emperor at the high feasts. An other abbey was buylden afore that at floriake in france, Floriacus. and not far from orleans, in the year of our lord. Dc.li 651. These two monasteries floriake and fulda with their old inhabitants, would I counsel all chronicle readers to mark, as they fall in their way, for wonders which hath comen from thence, as will apere after. A custom the holy fathers had in those days, To ease their vows. to lead nuns about with them in strange lands where they went. As we read of walburga, Hadeloga, Lieba and such other. I think it was to help them to bear their chastity, whose carriage was sometime very cumbrous unto them, and they found not than in all countries such plenty of Nunneries as hath been since. Sigebertus, Capgrave, Tritemius, Nauclerus, Vuicelius. ¶ Oxforde shurned. And Aleuinus monks. AShamed are not these prestygyouse papists, to utter it in their stories and read it in their Saints legends, in contempt of their christian governors, that no king may enter the town of oxford without a mischief, Oxford because one Algar a Prince about this age would have had Saint frideswyde to wife. Frideswyde. As though to be a king were a far viler or unworthier office, than to be a pilled shitten Nun. O blind bluddering Balaamytes, without all judgements godly. Of God only is the worthy office of a King. A King. Prover. 8. where as your fysting nuns, were of Antichrist and the devil. Capgrave, Fabiane, Polidorus. About the same time, was Alcuinus a doctor of England, made abbot of Turonia in France by the gift of Charles the great, Alcuinus. which on a night found all his monks dead in the dorter, by the sudden stroke of God for their sodometry, one only excepted. Odo cluniacensis, Guilhelmus malmsbury Vincencius, Antoninus, Ranulphus, & Capgrave post vitam Ythamari. authors. A great matter had it been in the pope's books, if these men had had wives. For than he could not have sent them to the devil so fast, according to general commission, which he had of Satan his great master; in that vycarshypp of his. ¶ english men punished at Rome. AFter King Ethelwolphe being subdeacon, Ethelwolphus through wanton occupying had had a bastard, by the pope's dispensation he married Osburga his butler's daughter, and had by her iiij. sons, which all succeeded Kings after him. Guilhelmus malmsbury, & joannes Harding. As this King on a time chanced to be at Rome, he see many English men there wearing fetters and gives delivered of child without midwife and so died. Wherein God declared manifestly to the world, that their glytie ring church was altogether an whore, An whore. to make good that was written in the revelation of Saint johan. Apo. 17. Oh he that had scene the countenance of the prelate's then, should have beholden a great change. ¶ Pope's chosen from thence fourth by their. N. Since that time hath pope's always been chosen, Pope's chosen by their stones as stoned horse are in a colt feyer, by their dontye dymyceryes, that they can no more be deceived that way. For at the solemn stalling of them, the last deacon cardinal doth grope them brechelesse, at an hole made in the seat for that ghostly purpose, and than crieth it out before all the multitude, that he hath ware sufficient to prove him no woman. More over the street where she was delivered, hath ever since been shurned in all general processions, for fear of ill haps. An example. As is of women a sexton bridge in a scottish Isle called Levissa, where as if but one woman should pass over (they say) there are no salmons scene in that river, all the year after. Hector Boethius in Scotici regni descriptione. For the history afore rehearsed of this woman Pope, was it partly my desire that ye should mark that monastery of fulda. Fulda For she was one chaste fruit of our english clergy, issuing from thence, ye may chance after this yet to hear of more. Soche an enemy to priests marriage was not in his time, as was that Boniface, which was thereof the first builder. For every where did he, in all his general Synods, matrimony condemned. condemn if for adultery by the pope's canon laws, For the scriptures would not serve him. The life of this female pope showeth more at large, jacobus Bergomas in li. De claris mulieribus, Platina, Sabellicus, Martinus Carsulanus, Volateranus, Nauclerus, Mantuanus, johannes Stella, joannes textor, & Robertus Barnes in vitis Romanorum Pontificum. ¶ Holy water, with a book against marriage. IN the year of our Lord. DCCC. LVIII. 858 as a certain daydevyll at the foresaid Maguncia was hunted of the priests with procession and holy water, A priest. for diversly vexing the city, he hid himself for fear (they say) under one of the priests copes▪ saying. He might weal be bold there, considering he had by him the fleshly occupying of the general proctors daughter there. This religious example of holy church showeth Sigebertus, Vincencius, Antoninus, Capgrave in vita etheldred. Ethelstanus a monk, Ethelstanus a monk married at one time taking priesthood with Dunstane and Ethelwolde, within a while after left all his orders and took him to a wife. Wherefore they prophesied of him that his end should be miserable. And because they would apere no false Prophets, they enchanted him, charmed him, and changed him in to an eel, A miracle. and so he lived in the water ever after with a great sort more of his company. Whereupon (they say) that monastery and town hath ever since been called Elye. Elye. Guilhelmus malmsbury et joannes Capgrave. A young infant called Brithgina, Brithgina. being no more then one day old, professed Elphegus into the monastery of wylton about the same time. So did he also an other called Wilfhilda, into the nondrye of Wynchestre, so soon as she was weaned from suck. Whom afterward king Edgare claimed in marriage, Wilfhilda. but she was to familiar with Ethelwolde a monk and a bishop, to grant thereunto. When he came to the house where she was afterward abbess, there was no small filling in of cups, joannes Capgrave. ¶ Miracles and wonders wrought. When Odo the bishop of salisbury ●as elected archbishop of Caunterburye in the year of our lord. DCCCC. and xlvi Odo. he would in no case be consecrated, 946. till he was by the abbot of Floriake professed a monk. Floriacus. partly because all his predecessors in that seat to the number of xxi had been monks, and partly for that the priests in those days were in hate of the people for their marriage at the monks suggestions. And after he had received his pall with Antichristes' authority from Rome, the kings concubines he waxed so frantic upon the kings concubines, that some of them he sealed in the faces with hot burning Irons most shamefully, and some of them he banished into Ireland for ever, but unto his own store he was gentle enough. For most heinous heresy held he than the christian marriage of priests, and made synodal constitutions against it, to enrich the monks through that crafty colour with their great possessions. constitutions. His nephew Oswalde found he to school at floryake the wellspring of necromancy, Oswalde. to learn there all crafty seyences. Floriacus. In his time was a strife among the clergy at Caunterburye, for Christ's flesh and blood in the Sacrament, the priests most earnestly affirming it to remain still bread 〈◊〉 an only figure of Christ's body, The sacrament. and the monks to be Christ's essential body, yea Christ himself. But when scriptures failed once upon the monks side▪ they were driven to false miracles o● plain experiments of sorcery. For Odo by a cast of legerdemain, showed unto the people a broken host bleeding, Miracles. as a popish priest called sir Nicolas Gerues ded a. ij. years' a go in Surreye, by pricking his finger with a pynnne. ¶ monkery augmented by Dunstane. Saint Dunstane here in England being taught of Irish monks at Glastonbury, Dunstanus magnus. was found very cunning in wanton musyck, in sorcery, and in Image making out of all manner metals, stone, and kinds of wode. By these and such like occupyings, he found the means to augment and enrich the monasteries of monks and nuns every where within England, not withstanding he had oft times much a do with devils and with women. Yet had he at length these privileges than above all other spiritual doers. He wan by his musyck and fair speech, musyck the good favour of diverse women, yea, of some which had been the kings concubines, as Alfgyne, wilfrith and such other, though he afore had put them to pains. By his sorceries, sorcery he always made the kings fit for his ghostly purpose, as will apere hereafter, specially by king Edmonde that was Ethelstanes brother, whom by his necromancy he brought to the point, invysysyblye to have been torn in pieces. What he goat by his Image making, Carving. the scripture showeth plain, which curseth both the hand and the instrument of the Image maker. Sapi. 14. and Deutro. 27. This story declareth more at large Osbertus monachus in vita Dunstani, Vincencius. li. 24. Ca 74. Antoninus par. 2. authors ●i. 16. Ca 6. Martanus Scotus, Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, Ranulphus Cestrensis li. 6. Cap. 10. Volateranus, Bergomas, Nauclerus, johan Capgrave, johan hardynge Vuyllyam Caxton, johan Lydgate gate, and Robert fabian. The religious occupying of Dunstane. AS Dunstane in the house of a widow was fashioning a priests stool, his harp hanging upon the wall without touching sounded the note of Gaudent in celis. A cast or feat. Whereupon the wenches astonied, went out of the house with the widow & all her household, proclaiming it a broad, that he had moche more learning than was good. For this & such like feats, certain men told I think this play somewhat passed course legerdemain. After that was Dunstane the high steward of his house, & had over all the realm a jurisdiction. Of Glastonbury was he put in perpetual possession, Glastemburye. to make thereof what he would. And so became it first of all Saint Benettes patrimony. Antedicti Autores. let all the Pope's army stand up here, and allow this still for a miracle, as they have done hitherto in his legend, yet do not I doubt to prove it against them all, abominable knavery by the scriptures. ¶ He vexeth king edwin, retaining his concubine. AS king edwin upon the day of his coronation occupied Alfgina his concubine, having than none other wife, Edwinus. alfgina Dunstane being at that time but a monk and abbot of Glastonbury, plucked them both vyolentlye from the bed, and brought their before the archbishop Odo, Odo cantuariensis. threttening the woman suspension, ye may call it hanging if ye will. For the which the king after that exiled the said Dunstane into Flanders, & wrought the monks many other dyspleasurs, till they found the means to depose him, by the virtue of ear confession. Confession. Voleteranus. li. 3 Geographic, Osbertus, Vincencius, Antoninus, Guilhelmus Ranulphus & joannes Capgrave. Yet in the conclusion (they say) he delivered King Edwin'S soul, after he was dead, from hell (I pray God he killed him not afore) and vanquished all the devils there by virtue of a Requiem mass, Mass of requiem. so bringing him into their purgatory. This was (I trow) no bad ware. As a certain noble woman called Alfgina (the Kings former concubine I fear me) possessing great substance, alfgina loveth. had once commoned with Dunstane, she so delighted in his fair words (for his advantage) that she would never after from him, but dwell with him still for term of life. Strong love. She left her own house and builded her an habitation by the church, lovingly entertaining men of holy orders. In conclusion when she departed the world, she left her great coffers and treasure bags with Dunstane to dispose for her soul (she had heard of King edwin) with the which he after that builded fine monasteries. joan. Cap. in Cat. sanc. An. ¶ Dunstane keepeth the Kings of England under. DVnstane was exceedingly beloved with Cadina King Eldredes mother (these are the plain words, Cadina loveth. of the history) & he loved her exceedingly again. And when he once became like unto the tyranny of these spiritual Antichristes', thus cruelly handling, a man that is dead. This showeth more at large, Liuthprandus Ticinensis▪ li. 2. Capi. 13. authors ac li. 3 Cap, 12. rerum Europicarum. Blondus Flavius, Baptista Platina, joannes Stella, Abbas Vrspergensis, Ptolomeus Lucensis, Vincencius, Antoninus, Bergomas & alij. ¶ The chastity of holy church there. THeodora a most execrable whore, Theora cum filiabus and advonterouse mother to the foresaid Marozia and theodora the yongar (both unshamefast whores also) so burned in concupiscens of the beauty of one johan Ravennas a priest, joannes Ravennas, than sent in message to the pope by Peter the archbishop of Ravenna, that she not only moved him, but also compelled him to lie with her, and so become her paramour dear. This whore for his lecherous occupying of her, made him first Bishop of Bologna, than archbishop of his own native city Ravenna, and finally Saint Peter's vicar in Rome, called johan the ten joan the x pope of that name, that she might at all times have his company nigher home. This was done in the year of our Lord. DCCCC. and. xv. 915 and he governed the papacy there xiij years and more. Liuthprandus Ticinensis li. 2. Dap. 13. rerum per Europam gestarum. It is easy to see by this open experiment, that she and her two daughters might do moche in the holy college of cardinals. whore's rule all. He that judgeth not that church to be whorish, which was so deeply under the rule of whores, that they at their pleasure might appoint thereunto what head rulers they would, hath little good judgement in him, I think. ¶ A pope's bastard is made pope GVido the marquis of Thuscia, Guido & Mazozia. at the latter married Pope Sergius whore Marozia. Which willing to prefer unto Saint Peter's seat, the bastard whom she had by the said Pope, caused him to enpryson her mother's dear paramour johan the ten and to stop up his breath with a pillow. immediately after, which was the year of our Lord. DCCCC. and xxix. 929 was he constitute pope, and called johan the xi. joan. xi but the same self year he was deposed again. Whereupon she clearly left all spiritual occupying, and in displeasure of the prelate's, married herself love after her husbands death to one hugh the King of italy, Hugo rex Italy. which was her other husbands brother by the mother's side, and made him the monarch of Rome to recover again this lost dignity for her bastard. Thus showed she herself to be a plain Herodias, besides her other unshamefast whoredoms in the spity●●●… This holy successor of Peter and vicar of Christ (as they call pope's) was accused of his cardinals and bishops unto the Emperor Otho in the general Synod at Rome, that he would say no service, Synodus Rome. he massed without consecration, he gave holy orders in his stable, he made boys bishops for money, he would never bless himself, he forced not to be perjured, and made the holy palace of Laternense a very stews. For he kept therein Raynerathe wife of him that was knight for his own body, rainera and gave her great possessions, with benefices, golden chalices, and crosses. He held also Stephana and her sister, Stephana (which had been his father's concubine) and had by her a bastard not long afore. He occupied at his pleasure Anna a fresh widow, Anna her daughter also and daughters daughter. He spared neither high nor low, old nor young, poor nor rich, fair nor foul (they said) so that no women durst come unto Rome on pilgrimage in his time. Rome sacrifice. Neither reverenced he any place, but would do it every where, yea, upon their very altars. He would hawk, hunt, dance,, leap, dice, swear, fight, riot, roune, stray abroad in the night breaking up doors and windows, and burn many men's houses, One of his cardinals he gelded, He might be chaste he put out an others eyes which had been his godfather. Of some he borrowed an hand, of some a tongue, a finger, a nose, an ear. In his dice playing would he call upon ill sprites, and drink to the devil for love. Thus was he in the end deposed, Their spiritual father. till his dear diamonds set hands unto it (for they ruled all) and caused the Romans to set him in again. ¶ Dunstanes authority against married priests. THe papacy held this johan the twelve joan. xii. for the space of ix years three months, and .v. days, and was s●●…kē of the devil (they say) as he was dying in bed with a man's wife, & so died within eight days after without housel or shrift, they say. All this writeth of him the foresaid Liuthprandus Liuthprandus. li. 6. Ca 6. and so fourth .v. chapters more to the end almost of his book, which at the same self time dwelled at Ticina in italy. This is he of whom the byword rise, As miry as Pope johan. By word. Unto this holy vicar of Satan & successor of Simon Magus, went Dunstane out of England in the year of our lord. DCCCC. and lx 960. to be confirmed archbishop of Caunterburye. Dunstanus. And there received therewith for a great sum of money, authority & power of the Beast, Apoca. 13. utterly to dissolve priests marriage, that his monks by that means, might possess the cathedral churches of England, as within a while after they ded. This Dunstane (as witnesseth johan Capgrave) was the first that in this realm compelled men and women to vow chastity and to keep claustrale obedience, the first compulsion. against the free doctrine of saint Paul. 1 Cor. 7. et Gala. 5. forbidding marriage instituted of God, which is the very doctrine of devils. foundation of chastity 1. Timoth. 4 This is the worthy original and first foundation of monks and priests professed chastity in England. mark it with the sequel, and tell me hereafter, whether it be of the devil or nay. ¶ Dunstane executeth his devilish commission. This crafty merchaunde Dunstane, The devils commissioner. as he was returned again into England, by authority of this most execrable monster and wicked Antichrist, gave a straight commandment that priests out of hand should put away their lawful wives (whom that brent consepenced hypocrite called the vessels of fornication) else would he (he said) according to his commission, A thief put them both from benefice and living. And where as he perceived the benefices most wealthy, there was he most greedy upon them, and showed most violence & tyranny. For when the high deans of cathedral churches, A tyrant. masters of colleges, prebends, persons, and vicars would not at so beastly a commandment, leave their wives and children so desolate without all natural order, he goat unto him the great power of king Edgare, King Edgare to assist that cruel commission of his, procured for money of the former Antichrist of Rome, and by force thereof in many places most tyrannously expelled them. joannes Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie. Read all the Bible and chronicles over, of Nembroth, Pharaoh, Antiochus, Nero, Decius, Traianus, with other like, Tyranny spiritual. and I think, ye shall not find a more tyrannous example. No, not in cruel Herode his self. For though he slew the innocent babes, yet demynyshed he not the living of the fathers and mothers, but this tyrant took all with him. If he had sought a Godly reformation where marriage was abused, it had been somewhat commendable. But his hunting was to destroy it all together, Marriage condemned. as an horrible vice in priests, and in place thereof to set up Sodom and Gomor by a sort of hypocrite monks, so changing all godly order. ¶ King Edgare is brought under thereby. THus became the face, first of the Brytonysh and than of the English church sore changed, Fancies ecclesiarum. blemished, and by whorish commissions from the whorish bishops of the whorish synagogue of Rome, was made all together whorish. Prove me herein a liar and an heretic if ye can, for I will, by the help of God, stand by that I writ here to the end of my life. If ye can not (I speak only to you papistical bishops and priests) grant your selves to be the most thieves, heretics, Heretics and thieves. and seducers of the people, that ever yet reigned upon the earth, for maintaining for holiness so devilish a knavery. immediately after this be fell a sore chance, as God walled. King Edgare which was ever a great whore master and a tyrant (as the chronicles report him) had a do with a young maid called wilfrith, wilfrith brought up in the nondrye of wylton (peraventure to their use) whereupon by force of the former commission, he was condemned of Dunstane to vij years' penance, and might in no wise be dispensed with, Penance. till he had builded for their commodity the great nondrye of Shaftesburye with twelve other monasteries besides. specially till he had fully granted to the utter condemnation of priests marriage through out all his realm, and firmly promised to put the monks in their rooms in the great cathedral churches, An apyshe liave writing to the pope for the same. For as witnesseth both Vuyllyam of malmsbury, Ranulph of Chestre, Guido de columna, and Robert sabyane, he was not crowned till the twelve year of his reign. ¶ Dunstane fashyoneth the king to his purpose. IN the end, this adultery of the king made greatly for their purpose. For when it was once openly known, Dunstane with his bull went by and by unto him, and by force thereof denounced him accursed. The beasts authority. The king of gentleness, as he was coming towards him, arose out of his regal seat to take him by the hand and give him place. The history saith, that he than disdained to give him his hand. And looking upon him with bend brows and most spiteful countenaunte, he said thus unto him. Thu that hast not feared to corrupt a virgin made handefast to Christ, A proud knave presumest to touch (a knave) the consecrate hands of a bishop? Thu hast defiled the spouse of thy maker (a monks wanton) and thinkest by flattering service, to pacify (a But what matter maketh it which of them it was, when all they are allowed now for canonized Saints in the pope's whorish church. All saints Yea, the whoremonger, the whore, the whorish bastard and all, to set whorishness forward and make it apere holy, where marriage is thought unholy. And as for the mother of Edward, The mother. johan Hardynge nameth her elfled, Polydorus Elfrede, William of malmsbury, ranulph, & fabian calleth her white Egelflede, & Caxton dare give her no name, and therefore the matter is doubtful. Dunstane. As Dunstane was on a time hallowing of a church in the honour of Saint devil, saint Devys I should say, he beheld the right thumb of the foresaid Edithe, Editha. than being abbess of wylton, as she was crossing and blessing her forehead. And much delighting therein, he took it in his hand, and said. Never might this thumb perish. immediately after he being at Mass and dolouroussye weeping, said unto the deacon that served him. Alas this flourishing flower will fade, Great love showed. this redolent rose will be gone, this dainty diamond will perish, this sweet bird will away for ever. And after her death he found all her body resolved into ashes, except that thumb and the secret part under her belly, for those two parts of her, he had blessed afore. In deed he was very homely to search so far. A narrow searcher. But the cause of this (they say) she afterward declared unto him in a secret vision. This story showeth Vuillyan of malmsbury. li. 2. de pontificibus. Ranulphus in polychronico, li. 6. Ca 9 Vincencius, li. 25. Ca 33. Antoninus. par. 2. ti. 16. Ca 8 johannes Capgrave in vita Edithe. ¶ Kings become th' Beasts Images. When King Edgare had ones performed his vij Edgar years' penance for his advowterye with fair Wilfrith (whom Dunstane peraventure prepared for his own store) he became altogether the dumb Image of the Beast, Imago Bestie. and might not utter from thence fourth, but as they gave him spirit. Apo. i●. Than caused they him to call a general counsel (at London some say) in the year of our lord Synodus. . DCCCC. and lxix 969 by the ungracious authority of the aforesaid pope johan. And there was it fully enacted, and established for a law ever to endure, that all canons of cathedral churches, collygeners, persons, curates, vicars, priests, deacons, An Act for sodom. and subdeacons should either live chaste, that is to say, become sodomites (for that hath been their chastity ever since) or else be suspended from all spiritual jurisdiction. This more than pharaonical constitution, Tyranny. was the king sworn to aid, maintain, and defend with the material sword, by the pope's antoryte. Than were there chosen out two principal vysytours, Ethelwolde the bishop of Wynchestre (that nest is ever ungracious) & oswald the bishop of Worcestre, both monks, to see this through out the whole realm executed. Vysytours. Vincencius li. 24. Cap. 83. Antoninus par. 2. li. 16. Cap. 6., Guilhelmus malmsbury, Ranulphus, Guido de columna, joan Capgrave. et opus nowm De utraque potestate. fo. 57 ¶ Dunstane is accused of ill rule. IN this counsel were some wise men (as all these writer's witness, though it be somewhat faintly) which laid for their marriage the scriptures, For marriage. and substancyallye proved themselves the maintainers of virtue therein, and not of adultery as they were there uncharytablye noted. But that would not serve them. The holy Ghost might in no wise prevail, Bulls the pope's bawdy bulls being in place, but they must needs have the preferment, no remedy. another sort were there which accused Dunstane of ill rule in the dark. Dunstane accused For Petrus Equilinus saith in Catalogo Sanctorum li. 8. Ca 49. that he was put to his purgation of many things there laid against him. Of a lyekelyhode therefore they had smelled out somewhat that was not all to his spiritual honesty. Neither would these accusations help, the pope's Power once so largely published. The king durst utter nothing that was against him, Edgar for fear of new penance, and for as much as it was weal known that in the time of his old penance he had occupied one minion at Wynchestre, an other at Andover, alfreda. besides alfred whom he at the latter goat to wife by the crafty mourther of her husband Ethelwolde an earl. ¶ The king defendeth Dunstane & destroyeth wolves. But to pacify and please this Dunstane, Oratio ad clerum king Edgare in his oration there to the clergy, rebuked the priests very sore, for banqueting with their wives, for slackness of their mass sayings, for pretermitting their canonical hours, for their crowns havings with their unprestlye apparelings, and such other like. More over he alleged unto them in the said oration the lamentable complaints (good knavery I warande you) of his father's soul appearing to Dunstane, knavery. and reproving the wanton behaviour of the priests with their wives. He also told them, in repressing their former accusements, that by his paramour Stephana) of his breams and visions for the time of his progress, Stephana desyering his power against the priests also, with many other wonders. johannes Capgrave in Catal. Guilhelmus malmsbury, Vincencius, Antoninus, Ranulphus, Guido de columna▪ et Polydorus. ¶ oswald with his beastly authority. ON the other side went oswald with his authority from that wicked counsel, Oswaldus magus. which had studied necromancy with other unpure sciences at floryake besides orleans in france, where he was first made monk, and afterward in England became bishop of Worcestre. Floria●us. This fellow so weal armed with deceits as ever were Pharaoes' sorcerers, was thought a man meet to deceive with dying signs the common sort. So trudged he fourth with his crafty ca●kynges, and first expelled the Canons of the cathedral church of worcester with their careful wives and children, priests expelled and out of vij other churches more within that his diocese, and there placed for them the laysye lean locusts, which not long afore had leapt out of the bottomless pit. Apoca. 9 Apoc. 9 the monks which at that time were bare and needy. Than went he farther abroad, and wrought there like masteries, whereof England hathdepelye felt ever since. His suggestions were like the other, a colour as that the priests lived wantonly, and would not mass in due form. For his travail in this, was he made archbishop of York by the labour of Dunstane. To tell his other feats it would axe to much time, and therefore I pass it over. iij. false knaves. These two promoted the said Dunstane above all other, as men having most wily crafts, to assist him in his business. These three Monks brought the Kings so under, that they had than all the realm at their pleasures. joannes Capgrave, malmsbury, Vincencius, Antoninus, Ranulphus, Guido de Columna, et Polydorus. ¶ Dunstane maketh a King at his pleasure. AFter the decease of King Edgare, in the year of our lord. DCCCC. and .lxxv. 975. was a wonderful varyetes and schism through out the whole realm, Scisma partly for him that next should succeed King, and partly for the great injury done to the married priests. Alpherus. The queen alfred with Alpherus the duke of Mercia and other great lords favouring her quarrel world needs have ethelred King which was her son by Edgare, Ethelredus. on the one side. Dunstane and his monkyshe bishops with the earl and Eastsexe and certain other lords part both of the nobles and commons, judged the priests to have great wrong, and sought every where by all means possible, Backare, sir monk. to bring them again to their old possessions and dignities. Yea, sum where with good earnest blows and buffets. Robertus Fabyane cum antedictis Autoribus. ¶ Dunstane maketh an Idol to speak. This caused Dunstane in the year of our lord. DCCCC. and lxxv. 975. to call an other solemn counsel. Synodus. But that was where they thought themselves most strong, and might best do their feats, at Wynchestre. Where after great words had between the duke of March and the earl of Eastsexe (which were than appointed as arbyters) Dunstane perceiving all to go with the priests, brought fourth his former commission, commission. thinking thereby to stop their mouths. And when that would not serve, they sought out a practise of the old Idolatrouse priests, which were wont to make their Idols to speak, by the art of necromancy, wherein the monks were in those days expert. A rood there was upon the frayter wall in the monastery where the counsel was held, Aroode & (as Vyncent & Antoninus testifieth) Dunstane required them all to pray thereunto, which was not than ignorant of that spiritual provision. knavery. In the mids of their prayer, the rood spoke these words, or else a knave monk behind him in a trunk through the wall, as Bonyface did after for the papacy of celestine. God forbid (saith he) ye should change this order taken. The rood speaketh. Ye should not do weal, now to alter it. Take Dunstanes ways unto ye, for they are the best. At this work of the devil all they were astonied, that knew not thereof the crafty conveyance. If this were not clean legerdemain, tell me. Oh, that there was not a johan Boanerges at that time, to prove the sprites of that workmanship. 1. joan. 4. 1. joan. 4 If there had been but one Thomas Cromwell, Thomas cronwell. they had not so clearly escaped with that knavery. Polydorus Vergilius, which alloweth them in many other lewd points, smelled out their boverye in this, and reporteth diverse other to do the same at the day. ¶ That Idol is crowned King of England. IN remembrance of this knavery (miracle, they say) were afterward written upon the wall under that roods feet, Verses these verses following. Humano more, crux presens edidit ore, Coelitus affata, que perspicis hic subarata, Absit ut hoc fiat, et cetera tunc memorata. With lie and all. Capgrave. Whom johan Capgrave reporteth that he see there more than CCCC. years after, the rood translated from thence into the church for his miracles sake. About the year of our lord a. M. and xxxvi 1036. as king Canutus being at Southampton was boasted of one of his knights to be the great lord of the see, Canutus he thought to prove it by a commandment of obedience. And as he weal perceived that it would obey him in no point, The crown. he took the crown from his own head, acknowledging that there was a lord moche higher & of more power than himself was. And therefore he promised never more to wear it, but to render it up unto him for ever. With that, Egelnothus. Egelnothus than archbishop of Caunterburye, informed him of this rood which had dissolved priests matrimony and done many other great miracles. Which provoked him anon after to go to Wynchestre, and to resign unto him his regal crown, constituting him than king of this real me. An Idol made king. Was not this (think you) good wholesome counsel of this Idolouse bishop. Zacha. 11. if a man had need of it? A plain token is it that they were than the Images of the Beast. Image of the Beast. Apoca. 13. & no godly governors, yea, very Idols 〈◊〉 no kings, that were under such ghostly fathers. Henricus Huntyngtonensis Archidia conus. li. 6. Ranulphus li. 6. Ca 20. Fabianus. li. 1. Ca 206. et Polydorus li. 7. with other authors more. ¶ An example of Cloister virginity. MArianus Scotus & certain other writers besides, do testify in their chronicles, that when this Canutus could have no fruit by his wife Elgyne of hampton, Canutus Elgius. and was not througlye contented therewith. She fearing that he should either cast her up, or else resort to some other, got her among religious chaste women, to know what good cheer was among them. And anon she found one to her mind, Clanstrall chastity which was big with child by a monk, not withstanding the great chastity that was boasted afort. But Marianus saith, she was a presbyteresse or a priests ●e●●…an, to save the honour of that order, because he was a monk his self. Algyne bad this nun be of good cheer, and if she would agree unto her, it should be to her great honour. A monks bastard. But it must (she said) be kept wonderfully close. immediately after the queen feigned herself to be great with child, and by the conveyance of a mother. B. going betwixt them both, as the time appointed of labouring, she was delivered of the nuns child, making the king to be leave it was his, to no small rejoice of them both. Sweno This child was called Sweno, and the year afore Canutus died, was constitute king of Norweye. Some writers have thought that Heraldus the first (which after succeeded king of England) to come fourth also the same way, Heraldus. and his own brother hard Canutus report it not far otherwise. Ranulphus li 6. Ca 20. cum ceteris autoribus. ¶ Dunstane disputeth with sorcery and murder. NOw let us return unto Dunstane again. Dunstanus. Though the aforesaid controversy between the priests & the monnkes ceased for a time, by reason of their legerdemain in the rood, knavery. yet was it not all finished. For some men of wisdom there were in those days, which smelled somewhat (as Polydorus reporteth) judging it to be as it was in deed, very subtile knavery. And plainly Ranulphus saith, that the speech came from the wall. Mark it bardelye. Whereupon Alpherus the duke of March with his company, Alpherus. in the year following (which was from Christ's incarnation. DCCCC. and lxxvi) 976. sent into Scotland for a certain learned Bishop, a learned bishop. which was known both eloquent & witty, to dys●●●…te the matter with them. Than was the place appointed in a street or village of the Kings, called Calua, for they trusted no more close houses in the monasteries. And when the bishop had laid for the married priests such invincible scriptures, Dunstane an ass. reason, and arguments as Dunstane and his dodypoll monks were not albe to avoid, the blind ass had none other shift but to lay these faint excuses for himself. As that he was an aged man, sore broken in the labours of holy church, and that he had at that time given over all study, A blind beast and only addicted himself unto prayer. But for as much (he said) as they would not leave the disquieting of him, but still vex him with old quarrelings, they might weal seem to have the victory, yet should they not have their minds. And with that he arose in a great fury, for a colour committing his cause unto Christ, A limb of the devil. but he set the devil by his necromancy to work. For so soon as he was gone, with such as it pleased his pontifical pleasure to call with him, suddenly (saith fabian, antonine, Vyncent, and johan Capgrave) the joists of the fit failed, and they that were under it, perished there. ¶ Dunstanes provision in England for Satan. THus have this most cruel and wicked generation continually builded their sinful Zion in blood. Michee. 3. Mich. 3 and are not yet ashamed of these their manifest knaveries. For these belly founders, thieves, and mourtherers of theirs yet advance they for their principal Saints. saints And when their feastful days come, they are yet in the papystych churches of England with no small solemnity, mattensed, ●…assed, candeled, lighted, processyoned, sense●, smoked, perfumed, and worshipped, the people brought in believe, that the latin reading of their wretched acts there in their legends, is Gods divine service, God's service. being without fail the most damnable service of the devil. Like as holy johan baptist by preaching repentance, prepared a plain pathway, to Christ and his kingdom, Luce. 3. So did this unholy Dunstane by sowing of all superstitions, Precursor Antichristi. make ready the way to Satan and his filthy kingdom against his coming fourth from the bottomless pit, after the full thousand of years from Christ's incarnation. Apoca. 20. Apo. 20 Miracles. which is the spirit of Antichrist, He raised up in England the pestilent order of monks, he builded them monasteries, he procured them substance innumerable, finally he brought into their hands the cathedral churches with the free election of bishops, that nothing should there be done within that realm, but after their lust and pleasure. Than was Christ'S kingdom clearly put a side, and his immaculate spouse, or church upon his word only depending, The church Apo. 12. compelled to flee into the desert. Apoca. 12. Men and women that rightly believed, durst not than confess their faith, but kept all close within them. For than was Satan abroad, Satan these monks every where assisting him in the furnishing out of that proud painted church of Antichrist. superstition, hypocrisy, and vain glory, were afore that time such vices as men were glad to hide, Vices. but now in their gaudyshe ceremonies, they were taken for God's divine service. ¶ Signs and plagues following these mischiefs. But now see what followed of these afore rehearsed mischiefs. In the year of our lord. DCCCC. & lxxxviij. 988 (which was the twelve year before that full thousand) departed this Dunstane, a swarm of devils frequenting his tomb, devils. as I shall in the next book she we more plainly. Within the same year appeared a bloody cloud in the sky, A bloody cloud. which covered all England, as witnesseth johan harding with diverse other chroniclers, and it rained blood over all the land. Danes. After that entered the Danes so fast (saith ranulph) at every port, that no where was the english nation able to withstand them. And the monks to help the matter we'll forward, by counsel of their archbishop Siricius, Siricius. gave them ten thousand pound to begin with, that they might live in rest and not be hindered. For little cared they what became of the reest, so their precious bodies were safe. After this by diverse compulsyons they augmented that sum, from ten to xvi to twenty to xxiiij to xxx and so fourth till they came to the sharp payment of xl thousand pound, Monks were England's destruction. and till they had no more money to give. The Danes stregthned. For the more the Danes had, the more covetous and cruel they were evermore. Thus did they to the land innumerable harm, in seeking their own private commodity, and so brought their own native people in most miserable thraldom. For by that means were the Danes made strong, and the english nation became feeble and weak, yea, so wretched at the last, that they were fain to call every vile slave among the saide Danes, Lord Dane. their good lord. But now mark the end concerning these monks. In the year of our lord a thousand & xij which was the xxiiij 1012. year from Dunstanes departing. and the twelve from the devils going fourth, the Danes after many great victories within the realm, Caonterburye. fired the city of Caunterburye and imprisoned the archbishop than Elphegus. Elphegus. And as he and his monks were able to give no more money, they tithed than after this sort. They slew always ix and reserved the tenth to perpetual sorrow and servitude, till they had mourthered of them to the number of more than ix. tithings. hundred, there and in other quarters abroad. And the most part of them they hang up by the members, A just Plague. which was a plain signification, that plague to come than upon them for their sodometry and most violent contempt of christian marriage. Ranulphus Cestrensis li. 6. Ca 13. et. 15. Fabianus Par. 1. Cap. 199. ¶ The Conclusion of this first book. HEre have I painted out before your eyes (most dearly beloved country men) the chaste, Extent of this book holy, consecrate, and spiritual acts of your english votaries, priests, Monks, & bishops, from the worlds beginning, to a full complete thousand years sens Christ's incarnation. Not all have I here rehearsed, for that were a labour without end, they being so innumerable, but a certain of them for every age, that ye may by them perceive what the rest hath been. The other book. In the next part or book, which shall begin at Satan's going fourth at large, after his thousand years tying up. Apoca. 20. and so continue to this year of our Lord a. MD. and xlvi 1546. that ye may know what cheer hath been among them, what occupying they have had, what masteries they have played, and what miracles they have done, for that time and space also. I think it will apere an other manner of thing, than that which hath gone afore. Satan at large For so moche as Satan their ghostly governor hath for that time wrought most strongelye. no more will I be ashamed to rehearse their filthy facts (let them trust upon it) than they have been to do them in effect, and to set them fourth for holy, spiritual, consecrated, chaste, honourable, Good works and ghostly good works, being abominable and most stinking knaveries. The world shall weal know what sodomites and devils they are, Sodomites. that have all this time contemned christian marriage instituted of God, and do not yet repent their most damnable doings in that behalf, but continue still the saint, leading their lives in unspeakable fleshly filthiness. Christ promised once to all such as they are, that all their hidden mischiefs should come to light, if they would not at the call of his most holy Gospel, repent. Nothing (saith he) is so closely hidden among those spiritual murderers, but will be clearly opened, neither yet so secretly covered, but shall apere manifest and be known to the world. Math. 10. Mat. 10 Marci. 4. Mar. 4. Luce. 12. Christ suffered very long the pharisees and bishops, Luc. 12. the lewd predecessors of our proud spiritualty. But when he once perceived none other in them but contempt of his verity with wilful resistance of the holy Ghost, Christ rebuketh. he went fearcelye upon them with woe upon woe, calling them all that nought was. As hypocrites, dissemblers, dodypolles, fools, blind beasts, bellygoddes, scorners, false prophets, perjures, vipers, serpents, devourers, raveners, bribers, thieves, tyrants, murderers, and fire brands of hell. Look the xxiij chapter of Matthew, Mat. 23 & ye shall find that he poured all this upon them, and doubled it in the captivity of Jerusalem, when the great vengeance of all innocent blood light grievously upon them. For in the siege of that city were slain by vespasianus & Titus, Vespasianus et Titus to the number of ten hundred thousands of jues. Not only of the inhabitants of that region there, but from all quarters of the world about, which at that time came thither to their easter celebration. Besides there, were there led fourth from thence captive xcvij thousand, captives. of whom some were sold to the Romans to become their continual servants and slaves, and the residue given unto the Lions and wild beasts, that they should daily devour them and be fed with their flesh. All this witnesseth Egesippus judeus, li. 5. Ca 49. De Hierosolimorum excidio. Example And now after his most manifest example, Christ willeth us also extremely to rebuke these cruel corrupters of the christianity, for their most spiteful contempt of his wholesome warnings, the Christian magistrates hereafter, Magistrates. or else some other enemy of theirs, following with double vengeance upon the heads of them. Apoca. 18. This plague, when it shall fall, as it is not far of, will be the most ryghtouse hand of God, upon the malygnaunte generation. Great wondre will it be unto many (I know it weal) to behold their chief english saints thus rebuked. english Saints. And peraventure they will think, that I might as weal speak against Peter and johan, Paul and james, with the other Saints, Apostles and Martyrs of the primitive church, as against these ungodly hypocrites of theirs. But I tell those men afore hand, The Autour. that they are wretchedly blind, for want of lively knowledge in the sacred scriptures. They have no true judgement in them to discern the fallen star, stars. from the star so fyermelye fixed in the firmament as never could be yet from thence removed. Never shall he that declyveth to men's inventions, be all one with him which only followeth the pure word of God. But undoubtedly of no small time, great honour will it now be to you (yea, rather much greater) to flee the seed of the Serpent by the word of God, as ever it was to Saint George that noble captain, Saint George to slay the great hydre or Dragon at Silena, as Baptista Mantuanus specifieth. I speak not this for that I would ye to fall upon that sort with material weapon, but with the mighty strong word of the Lord. For as Isaiah, Daniel, and Paul reporteth, they shall be destroyed without hands. Esa. 11. Dani. 8. et. 2. Thes. 2. Only is it Gods true knowledge, What maketh noble. that nobleth you before him, be therefore no longer negligent. An unrecurable dishonour were it unto you, from hens fourth to be led blind field of these bushardes in the dark. The most of you are all ready very plenteously entered (that lord be praised) think him only blessed which persevereth to the end. Having the governance of Christ's dear heritage, Laws. draw not your laws out of Antichristes' rules now that ye know Christ's wholesome doctrine. Doctrine. Neither yet fetch the bread that ye shall feed your commons with, out of his bawdy beggarly bowgettes, but let them have the pure purveyance of God out of the undefiled scriptures. Be once so merciful to that christian flock, that ye clearly deliver them from that vile generation, let them no longer worship devils as they have done, in these dead monks and thieves, devils. but let them look freely towards their eternal & living God, both to their souls health and yours. Amen. ¶ Thus endeth the first part of this work, called. The Acts of english votaries. Collected by johan Bale. Anno. 1546. ¶ The authors names both english and other, out of whom this present Book is collected. Abbas Vrspergensis. Achilles' Pyrminius. Alphonsus de Castro. Alphredusbeu●rlacēsis Amandus Zierixensis. Antoninus Florentinus. Baptista Platina. Baptista Mantuanus. Bartholomeus Anglus. Bedas Girnuinus. Bernardus Lutzemburg Berosus Chaldeus. Biblia Sacra. Blondus Flavius. Caius julius. Christianus Masseus. Clemens Alexandrinus. Colfridus Abbas. Conradus Gesnerus. Cornelius Tacitus. De utraque Potestate. Diodorus Siculus. Edgari Oratio. Egesippus judeus. Epiphanius Cyprius. Eusebius Cesariensis. Festiuale Sacerdotum. Flores Historiarum. Franciscus Lambertus. Freculphus lexouiensis. Galfredus Monemutensis. Gennadius Massiliensis. Georgius joy. Gorgius Vuicelius. Gildas Britannus. Giraldus Cambrensis. Guido de Columna. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis. Guilhelmus Caxton. Guilhelmus Tyndale. Guilhelmus Turner. Hartmannus Shedel. Hector Boethius. Helinandus Monachus. Henricus Huntyngtonensis. Hemamnus Contractus. Hermamnus Torrentinus Honorius Augustudunensis. jacobus Vorago. jacobus Bergomas. jacobus Zieglerus. jodocus Badius. joannes Capgrave. joannes Harding. joannes Stella. joannes de Molinis. joannes Annius. joannes Nauclerus. joannes Lydgate. joannes Textor. joannes Tritemius. joannes Pomeranus. joannes Carion. joannes Maior. joannes Lelandus. Isidorus hispalensis. Legendarium Ecclesie. Liuthprandus Ticinensis. Marcus Sabellicus. Marianus Scotus. Martinus Carsulanus. Martinus Lutherus. Matheus Palmarius. Merlinus Ambrose. Michael Ricius. Nauclerus, joannes. Nennius Britannus. Odo Cluniacensis. Osbertus Cantuariensis. Oswaldus Myconius. Otto Phrisingensis. Paulus Orosius. Paulus Aemilius. Paulus Constantinus. Petrus Equilinus. Philippus Melanchton. Plinius Secundus. Polycrates Ephesius. Polydorus Vergilius. Pomponius Mela. Prosper Aquitannus. Ptolomeus Lucensis. Ranulphus Cestrensis. Raphael Volateranus Robertus fabian. Robertus Barnes. Sigebertus Gemblacensis. Strabo Cretensis. Thomas Braduuardin Thomas Vualden. Thomas Scrop. Vincencius Beluacensis. utraque potestas. Wernerus Cartusiensis. Wilibaldus Anglus. Finis. The holy Ghost shall rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement. joan. 16. Into the new Jerusalem shall entre no unclean thing, neither that which worketh abomination, nor yet what maketh lies. But they only which are written in the lambs book of life. Apoca. 21. The man of sin shall be opened, before the Lords coming, even the son of perdition, which is an adversary, and is exalted above all that is called God, whom he shall consume with the spirit of his mouth. 2. Thes. 2. ❧ Printed at Wesel In the Year Of our Lord God. 1. 5. 4. 6.