William Cowper Esqr. Clerk of the Parliaments.  FAX MENTIS HONESTAE GLORIA   

The first two parts of the Acts, or unchaste examples of the English votaries, gathered out of their own legenades and chronicles by johan Bale, and dedicated to our most edoubted sovereign king Edward the sixth▪  
¶ Beware of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing hid, that shall not be discovered, neither secret, that shall not be known. Therefore, what so ever they have done in darkness, that same ●●all be known in the light. Lu. xi●   

To the most virtuous, mighty, and excellent prince, king Edward the. vi. by the grace of God king of England, France, and Ireland, defendar of the faith, and in earth under Christ, of the churches of the saide England and Ireland the supreme head, his most humble subject johan Bale, wisheth all honour, health, and felicity.  
LIke as man was of. ij. substances constituted (most worthy and excellent prince) that is to say, of soul and of body, so were there for his special commodity in them both, & for his wholesome continuance in long succession, ordained of God. ij. necessary functyous or administrations from the worlds beginning. Neither might the one of them without the other at any time be, no more than the body without the soul, but anon after a deadly decay thereupon followed in that common wealth. In the books of kings and of Paralipomeno●, is this so plainly declared, ●or the divided kingdoms of Israel and juda, that at no hand it can be denied, The first of them, was the explanation of the heavenly doctrine, whom we now call the godly office of a preacher. The other we understand to be the public or politic regimet, which is in the high governance, authority, & power o● a king. The first of these. ij. most necessary offices, the eternal son of God instituted in paradise. The other took beginning of god the father, which held an everlasting monarchy before the worlds constitution, and on the earth by his special gift it took success in man. Through me do kings reign (saith he) through me do princes make just laws prover. viii. In the Godhead are they here alone, but in person diverse. The one governeth, the other teacheth. The said son of God as an everlasting priest & bishop first called Adam & Eva to repentance, by the voice of such a law as both detected and rebuked their sin.  
furthermore he published the promise concerning the holy seed of the woman, which should break the head of the wicked serpent. Thus preached he than the first Gospel of salvation, which is a joyful massage declaring full remission to be given freely in christ, or for Christ's only sake, a righteousness in the holy ghost following thereupon▪ with the life everlasting. As Adam was confirmed the image of God, & appointed to rule the whole earth. Gen. i. He succeeded him & his eternal son in these. ij. high offices of governance and of doctrine, through the gydaunce of his holy spirit, so be coming to the one a vicegerent or lief tenant, and to the other an high vicar general. He instructed his posterity in the right rules of faith for that age, and prudently used their politic regiment. In this perfect trade succeeded the fathers, Enos, Cainan, Malalehel, Jared, Henoch, Mathusalah, and Lamech, one after an other, till the days of Noe. Which governed most godly, and preached repentance for an hundred and. xx. years' space. After the general flood stood Noah up again, and executed these. ij. offices more earnestly than afore. Melchysedech his son was both a king and a pressed, so was faithful Abraham and his children after him, as appeareth both by their wars and sacrifices.  
And all though Moses at times executed but one of these. ij. offices, and Aaron his brother the other, yet were they afterwards again both united in joshua and his successors, assisted by the bishops and levities, till the jews despred a king. Than held Saul the temporal dominion, and Samuel the high priesthood, David and Abiatha●, Solomon and Sadoch, in the same trade following, till the realm was divided into Israel and juda for the wickedness of rulars. And as the false worshippings or execrable idolatries began to increase by the devilishness of false priests, God raised up the prophets, with an earnestness to rebuke them and again to renew the heavenly doctrine and governance. And as their course was out by a miserable mutation through wars and captivity, that lively doctrine of salvation, by the sects of pharisees, Saducees, & Esseanes was yet once again obscured, and the high governance clearly decayed and also removed from the chosen flock of God, the sceptre translated to Herode a cruel stranger. The son of God the eternal father, called jesus Christ, than entered into the flesh at his time appointed, and became our high king and pressed everlasting by his triumphant passion and ascension, restoring these. ij. offices, and reserving them in his glorified humanity to a sempiternal monarchy. To his Apostles and disciples he appointed the administration of his heavenly word, leaving to the worldly rulars the high governance of peoples. This hath been briefly the very order, course and process, concerning these. ij. most high offices since the worlds beginning.  
How the great adversary of God Antichrist hath since Christ's ascension wrought in his wicked course, to deprave these ij. ministrations of God, and to cause them to serve his most blasphemous and filthy affects, the first. ij. parts of my english votaries here present, doth plenteously show. And my hope is that the ij. lattre parts, which will, God willing, most spedylye follow, shall declare it yet much more at large. I have therein decreed for difference of the books and apt arguments of the matters contained in them, to give them. iiij. several titles, of rising, building, holding, and falling. For the first part treateth of their up ryspng to mischief, by the old idolaters in the reign of perdition. The second part showeth of their hasty building by the hypocrytyshe monks to establish the wicked kingdom of Antichrist. The third part will declare the crafty upholding of their proud degrees & possessions, by the wily and subtle slayghtes of the. iiij. orders of friars. And the fort part shall manifest their horrible fall in this lattre age by that grounded doctrines of the true preachers & writers. These votaries do I take for those instruments of Satan, which continually from time to time have destroyed these. ij high mynistrations, by darkening the doctrine of God, and perverting justice in the rulars. Next to the scriptures I take their most wicked examples for witnesses in that matter.  
If your learned majesty, in this second part do mark their wicked proceedings in taking from princes the investing of prelate's, and from the church's ministers their married wives, ye shall find them the greatest traitors that ever were on this earth, both to God and to man. For by taking from princes the investing of prelate's, they deminyshed more than half their authority, making them bound servants to antichrist. And by condemning of marriage in the ministers, they not only perverted the doctrine of faith, but also of godly preachers they made idle workmen and unclean doers, idolaters conjurers, liars, oppressors, tyrants, whoremongers, and most execrable buggers, so secluding their names from the lambs book of life, and their souls from salvation in Christ, Apo. xxi. This simple work have I dedicated to your excellent majesty, partly to declare my obedient heart to the same, and partly to detect the subtle slaightes of the hypocrites, your mortal enemies in the kingdom of Antichrist. Therein may your highness as in a mirror, behold the ancient enemies of your noble predecessors, see their proceedings, know their conveyances, and clearly perceive their practises of deceit. Ye may also thereby be ascertained diverse ways by a number of their ungodly examples of life, that your noble father of famous memory, did run for his time a most profitable course to the christian comen wealth, when he first overthrew that most audible monster of Rome with his unclean generation. The eternal father of our lord jesus Christ, send your learned majesty long life on the earth, that ye may in the spirit of Helias, double his victorious doings, as I have no doubt but ye will. So be it.  
Domine, in misericordiatus, saluum facregem.   

¶ The authors names both English and other, out of whom this present book is collected.  


A  
ADelbaldus Traiectensis.  
Aegidius Faber.  
Aneas Silvius.  
Alanus Teukesbury.  
Albertus' Crants.  
Alexander Tertius.  
Alphredus Beverlacensis.  
Andrea's Althamerus.  
Andrea's Osiander.  
Anonymus Anglus.  
Antoninus Archiepiscopus.  
Aulus Gellius.    


B  
Baptista Platina.  
Baptista Mantuanus.  
Barnefridus Vrspergensis.  
Bedas Girvuinus.  
Benedictus de burgo Petri.  
Benno Cardinalis.  
Berengarius Turonensis.  
Bernardus Clarevallensis.  
Bernardus Lutzenburgus.  
Berosus Chaldeus.  
Biblia sacra.  
Blondus Flavius.    


C  
Caius Sempronius.  
Caesarius Monachus.  
Christianus Massaeus.  
Christophorus Marcellus.  
Chronicon Calesianum.  
Chronicon Buriense.  
Compendium novi chronici.  
Conradus Gesnerus.  
Cornelius Agrippa.    


D  
Doctor Origenes.  
Dunelmensis Monachus.  
Damianus Cardinalis.  
De utraque potestate.    


E  
Eadmerus Cantuariensis.  
Egesippus Historicus.  
Erasmus Roterodamus.  
Etheiredus Rhievallensis.  
Eusebius Caesariensis.    


F  
Fabianus Chronographus.  
Fabius Pictor.  
Flavius Blondus.  
Flores historiarum.  
Franciscus Bonadus.    


G  
Georgius Wicelius.  
Giraldus Cambrensis.  
Godfridus Viterbiensis.  
Gracianus Monachus.  
Guido Perpinianus.  
Guilhelmus Malmesbury.  
Guilhelmus Cantuariensis.  
Guilhelmus Caxton.  
Guilhelmus Horman.    


H  
Haremannus Shedel.  
Hector Boethius.  
Helinandus Monachus.  
Henricus Huntendunensis.  
Henricus Bradsha.  
Herebertus Boseham.  
Hieronymus Stridonensis.  
Hildebertus Cenomanensis.  
Huldricus Mutius.    


I  
jacobus Meyer.  
jacobus Bergomas.  
joannes Hagustaldensis.  
joannes Sarisburiensis.  
joannes Fiberius.  
joannes Baconthorpe.  
joannes de Columna.  
joannes Wiclews.  
joannes Tyssyngton.  
joannes Trevisa.  
joannes Euersden.  
joannes harding.  
joannes Boccatius.  
joannes Capgrave.  
joannes Annius.  
joannes Liechtenberger.  
joannes Hagen.  
joannes Paleonydorus.  
joannes Nauclerus.  
joannes Stella.  
joannes Huttichius.  
joannes Tritemius.  
joannes Cibenius.  
joannes Textor.  
joannes Carion.  
joannes Maior.  
joannes Functius.  
joannes Scuish.  
joannes Eckius.  
joannes Rivius.  
joannes Lelandus.  
Irenaeus Lugdunensis.  
justinus Martyr.    


L  
Lambertus Shafnaburgensis.  
Lanfrancus Archiepiscopus.  
Legendarium Ecclesiae.  
Lelandus Antiquarius.    


M  
Macrobius Aurelius.  
Marcus Cicero.  
Marcus Sabellicus.  
Marianus Scotus.  
Martialis Valerius.  
Martinus Carsulanus.  
Martinus Lutherus.  
Matthaeus Paris de S. Albano.  
Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis.  
Monachus Dunelmi.  
Monumenta coenobiorum.    


N  
Nauclerus Historicus.  
Nicolaus Treueth.  
Nigellus Eliensis.    


O  
Odo Cluniacensis.  
Origines Doctor.  
Osbernus' Cantuariensis.  
Otho Phrisingensis.  
ovidius Naso.    


P  
Pamphilus Graecus.  
Paulus Phrigio.  
Paulus Aemilius.  
Petrus Damianus.  
Petrus Blesensis.  
Petrus Equilinus.  
Philo Historicus.  
Plutarcus Chaeronaeus.  
Poenitentiarum Romanum.  
Polydorus Vergilius.    


R  
Radulphus de Diceto.  
Radulphus Niger.  
Radulphus Cogeshale.  
Ranulphus Cestriensis.  
Raphael Volateranus.  
Ricardus Hagustaldensis.  
Ricardus Divisiensis.  
Ricardus Praemonstratensis.  
Ricardus Croilandiensis.  
Ringmannus Philesius.  
Robertus Montensis.  
Robertus Gaguinus.  
Robertus Goulet.  
Robertus fabian.  
Robertus Barnes.  
Rogerus Hoveden.  
Rogerus Cestriensis.  
Rodolphus Gualtherus.    


S  
Scalamundi.  
Sebastianus Murrho.  
Sigebertus Gemblacensis.  
Simeon Dunelmensis.  
Stephanus Langton.    


T  
Thomas Rudborne.  
Thomus Monmouth.  
Thomas Walden.  
Thomas Scrope.  
Titus Livius.  
Turstinus Eboracensis.    


V  
Valerius Martialis.  
Valerius Anselmus Rid.  
Vergilius Maro.  
Vergilius Polidorus.  
Vincentius Bel●●censis.  
Wernerus Cartusiensis.    


X  
Xenophon Atheniensis.    
FINIS.   

Faults escaping the printer in the first part of this work.  
Fo. 15. pag. 2. li. 9 Orosius. fo. 16. pag. 2. li. 12. pretenced. fo. 17. pa. 1. li. 7. of these. pa. 2. li. 26 revelations. fo. 32. pa. 10. li. 2. the gantes or his stardes there. fo. 42. pa. 1. li. 19 she found. pa. 2. li. 6. capite. fo. 46. pag. i li. 26. Apoca. xiii. fo. 49. pag. 1. li. 18. to the general. fo. 51. pa. 1. li. 15. Carsulanus. fo. 59 pa. 2. li. 31. Cap. xiii. fo. 71. pag. 2. li. 9 Hardecanutus. fo. 72. pad. 1. li. 7. reasons, fo. 73. pag. 1. li. 28. the. xii. year. fo. 74. pag. 1. li. 12. alvuayes. fo. 78. pag. 1. li. 5. let them. pag. 2. Hermannus Contractus.  

Faults escaping the printer in the second part of this vuorke.  
Fo. 3. pa. 2. li. 28. deficiunt S●urius, Lucretius, Spurius Papyrius. fo. 6. p●. 2. li. 9 deficit. Yea, that great mother of mischief, Apoca. xiii. foe 11. pa. 2. li. 11. his books. fo. 13. pag. 2. li. 28. feast of all saints. fo. 15. pag. 1. li. 20. no drink. fo. 17. pag. 1. li. 32. He shrined. fo. 51. pag. 2. li. 26. If this. fo. 52. pag. 1. li. 3. but also. pag. 2. li. 25. Whole consent. fo. 54. pag 2. li. 25. famous. fo. 57 pa. 2. li. 7. fame. fo. 59 pa. 2. li. 21. set ordinance. fo. 46. pag. 2. li. 5. deficit. Thus are these verses to be Englished. fo. 64. pa. 2. li. 29 deficit. Thus do I English them. fo. 65. pa. 1. li. 9 disposed. fo. 66. pa. 2. li. 20. the abbess. foe 69. pag. 1. li. 4. both of Christ. fo. 89. pag. 2. li. 15. deficit. Thus to be englished.    

¶ The first part of the Acts of English votaries, comprehending their unchaste practices and examples by all ages, from the worlds beginning to the year of our Lord a, M. 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, Thou shalt no mo●● be called tender and pleasant, Thy shame shall be discovered, and thy brevities shall be scene, for I (saith the lord) will avenge 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 country, hath this worthyesen thence against them which were the chief cause thereof. And borrowed it is of the. xxiv. chapter of salomon's proverbs. Whosoever commendeth the wicked (saith he) and reporteth them righteous or holy, 
Pro. 24  the same shall once have the course of the people, and the comminalte shall abhor him. plenteous hath the Pope's clergy been in his point, specially in the church here of England. Not only have they commanded unto us whoremongers, bawds, bribers, Idolaters, 
Romish saints.  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 heythnyshe wares. They have done by us as their old predecessors the idolatrous priests did by the ancient Romans. They have set us up a sort of lecherous Gods to be worshipped in our temples, 
Old gods & new.  to be our advocates, and to help us in our needs. In stead of jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, juno, Proserpina, Diana, and Venus, which deed all their feats in whoredom, as the poets verefyeth, they have given us Wenefryde, Cuthbert, Dunstane, oswald, Anselme, B●tket, 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 executing the works of Mercy, unless 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, a walking in darkness, 
Mations of Marriage.  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 ne●te of Satan, a snare of the devil, & a pond of perdition, look johan Capgrave in Catalago sanctorum Anglie, specially in the lives or legends of Clarus, Eanswyde. kyneswyde, Etheldrede, wenefred, Mylburge, 
blasphemy.  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. 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 par●e 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 women, they have (they say) by the suffren virtue of holy water, 
The devils.  turned them into devils again. But never were they yet so cunning 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 tempted, & his children within holy orders. Such power had Saint Guthlake over those watching worms, that he made them to tarry with him, and to build him up a monastery at Ascendyck, now called Crowlande, some say. To be short in this matter. Their saints in a manner were all unmarried. 
Saints 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 as 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. 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, 
Votaries.  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, and arguments of Philip Melanchton, Luther, Lambert, Pomerane, Barnes, and such other, they have heard, 
Christian doctors.  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 autour.  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▪ sens 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 brevelie behold how and by whom this realm was first inhabited, which thing hath been hitherto in all English Chronicles, 
Chronicles.  doubtfully, unagreablye, yea, and untruely treated, upon coniecturs, fantasies, and lies only, by reason of ignorance in the scriptures and most authorized histories. They shall also perceive, what peoples have here by all ages remained, what doctrines hath been thought by their true and false prophets, what worshippinges 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/ making them to believe, that their marrying 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, a life of Angels, 
Marriage.  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, 
virginity.  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/ Lucc. 1. 
Faith  This virginity pertaineth chiefly to marriage, as testifieth Saint Paul. 2. Cor. 11. 
2. Cor 11  And as appeareth in Abraham and other just fathers which had faithful wives. No people are less acquainted with this virginity than sectaries, or they that vow virginity/ for they chiefly 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, 
Mat. 7.  ye shall easily perceive by their acts, that these virginal votaries hath been the very Angels of darkness. Mark their ghostly conveyauntes, 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. Yea must they be canonized saints, and do most wonderful miracles. But those miracles are the strong delusions (saint Paul saith) that the Lord will send unto them that shall perish for their unbeleves sake. 
Miracles.  2. Thessalon, 2. I doubt not but this labour of mine, though it be very simple, will ministre 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 devylishly deceived. let not the oft citing of authors be grievous to the readers, 
authors  my occasion justly considered. 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 concerning 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 witnesses, 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. But truly they are of a far other kind than so. 
Bishops.  Their nature is not to repent. do they never so many mischiefs. Rather study they out new practises of tyranny and cantels 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, Alchimus, Auantas, and with Cayphas gone afore all worldly tyrants in the murdering up of them whice hath done it. And for errors, 
Error.  they say. But wha 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 wylll 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, is one face of Antichrist chiefly disclosed (peraventure iij. under one) wherewith he hath of long time painted out his whore, 
Face of Antichaist.  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, and disdained marriage as a vile draff sack, 
Narriage maketh lay  and dirty dish clout, calling all them but lewd lay persons that were under it, though they were kings and queens, Lords, & 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 thorough fourth that wretched bond woman with her daughter, that Rome church with her whorishnesse. 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. viii. of that name, 
King Henry.  & now his most learned & gracious son king Edward the vi a most worthy ministre of God, hath gone before you in that behalf. They have 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, with his mitres & masteries, 
Christ.  with his fannoms and fopperyes, 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 gorgeous aparelinges. Look you thereunto with earnestness, for nothing will be at the lattre day more straightly required of you than that.   

¶ The first part of the Acts of English votaries, comprehending their unchaste practices and examples by all ages, from the worlds beginning to the year of our Lord a. M. collected out of their own legends and chronicles By johan Bale.  

¶ Marriage instituted of God.  
IN paradise our eternal and merciful father instituted marriage immediately after man's first creation, 
Matrimony.  and left it with him as an honest, comely, wholesome, holy, and needful remedy against all beastly abusions oft he flesh, that should after happen, 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, 9, & 30, to the intent it might be g●●undedlye marked, and weal known of 〈◊〉 to be his most ●ernest ordinance. This was the first order of Religion that ●uer w●s made, 
the first religion  and of most 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 unaduyselye 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, set their fleshly foolishness, which are non other to be reckoned than the very seed and of springe of the serpent. 
unmarried priests.  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 exceedingly good, 
Gods-aduersaries.  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 thought 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, 
nuns & Monks.  and Begins. changing the natural use, have wrought unnaturally. Like wise the men in their Prelacyes, 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 & diabolic fruits, holy saint Paul admonished the Romans, in the first chapter of his epistle unto them, knowing afore hand that out of their corrupted christianity, 
Sodomites.  should rise such a filthy flock as should work them every where. But neither of Paul nor yet of Peter have the forewarning avayeled, but those brockishe boors have gone freely forward without check till now of late days, where in God hath given us a more pure sight to behold their buskelinges.   

¶ Marriage of priests in both laws,  
TO make manifest unto them, what wives the Lord appointed by his servant Moses, unto the levitical priests in the sacred posterity of 
priests wives.  Aaron Leuiti. 21. &. 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 lattre age, declaring the final destruction of that wretched kingdom. 
Haters of the Pope.  As by Martin Luther, johan Pomerane, Frances lambert, Oswaldus Myconius, Philip 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 massage; even Robert Barnes by name, 
Barnes.  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 disdaynouslye laughed to scorn. considering therefore that no gentle speech will amend them, nor yet sharp threatenings call them to repentance. he will now cast their own vile dung in their faches, 
The authors.  that it shall clean fast upon them Mala. 2. He will thorough in their tethe by this book and such other the stinking examples of their hypocrytyshe lives, with their calkynges and cloynynges to patch up that dauberye of the devil, their vowed wynelesse and husbandeles chastity.   

¶ England inhabited afore Noah and after.  
AND for asmuch 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 then wrought their iuggeling masteries there. To fetch the matter from their first foundation, and 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 then had left Gods appointed Religion, and had taken ways unto them after their own good into utes, such unspeakable filthiness followed, as brought upon them the great dylunye or universal flood, 
The flood  which left none alive, but drowned them up as it did all other quarters. This witnesseth both Moses and Beresus, the most ancient writers we read of. After the said flood, was it again inhabiteth by the of spring of japheth the third son of Noe. 
japheth.  For of them (sayeth Moses) were the Isles of the gentiles sor●●d out into regions, every one after, known dyveses from other, by their languages, kindreds, and nations, Gen. 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 then again this land in his posterity, 
Samothes gigas.  the priests thereof called Samothei, for so much as he was the first that furnished it with laws, as witnesseth johannes Annius in commentarijs Berosi.   

¶ Albion with his Samothites.  
AFter this grew it into a name, and was called Albion. 
Albion gigas.  Not ab albis rupibus, as friar Bartylmew hath fantasyed is his work De proprietaribus rerum. Nor yet ab Albiana the Kings daughter of Syria, as Marianus the monk hath dreamt it. For of latin words could it have no name, before the latin itself were 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 Seculus and also Pomponius Mela. Not only because the said Albion was a giant, like as the afore said Samothes was afore him, but also for that his father Neptunns was than taken for the Lord or great God of the sea, wherein it is enclosed. What the chastity was of the Samothites or priests for that age, 
Samothythes.  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.  

Vestals  THey had in their temples, vestals (whom now we call nuns) whose office was to maintain the fire for performance of the sacrifices, lest it should at any time go out. These were chosen in before they were sixteen years old, there remaining unmarried the space of. thirty. years, and others always by that time succeeded in their rooms. Some of these were presbyteresses, as they pleased the spiritual fathers. And as uhe 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 soever was done in the mean season) and at the. thirty. years end, they were in liberty to marry if they would. This testifieth Hermanus Torrentinus, and johannes Textor, with other auctors. Yet was not this abominable superstition so tyrannously handled among them than, 
Tyranny now.  as it hath been since among their successors the papists, whom by their cruel coactions (lived 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 this land of the Albion's by conquest, 
Bruns syluius.  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 procured both public and private sacrifices to be done. To them was it always put, to discuss all matters of religion, to appoint thereunto the ceremonies, to bring up youth in natural discipline, and to end all controversies. Plinius, Strabo, Cornelius Tacitus, Caius julius, and other approved authors, report them 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 author.   

¶ The druids and their chastity.  
What their rule was concerning women, we shall not need to seek farther then to the sixth chapter of Baruch, 
Whore's  and the fourteen chapter of Daniel in the Bible. Baruch sayeth there, that their custom was to deck their whores with the yewels and ornaments of their Idols. Daniel sayeth, 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, which taught one everlasting God alone to be worshipped, 
One god  without Image made or other similitude else. Neither allowed they them (sayeth he) that applied unto their Gods the similitudes of beasts after the Egypcianes manner (as the Papists do yet to this day Saint Mark to a Lion, Saint Luke to a calf, 
Beasts worshipped.  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 officines, so expert were the britains in art magyck in the days of Pliny, that in a manner they passed the Parthianes 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. Noah, Melchisedech, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Phinees, Samuel, Nathan, Zorobabel, jesus, Esoras, Mathathias, and such other, were all married men and had children. The Scriptures report that these men were beloved with God, and that in holiness now were ever found like unto them. But neither was that for their vows nor yet for their good intentes, Eccl. 44. and so fourth. vi. chapters more. If any were chaste vowers that time the. ij. priests that lusteth after Susanna, 
Votaries.  were of them. Daniel. 13. So were the wanton sons of Heli and Samuel. 1. Reg, 2. &. i Re. 8. with such other like. Which were afore God very reprobates, for despising his order, as well 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 levites, which were most highly taken among them. These thinking marriage unholy, abstained from the use of women, but they spared not to work execrable filthiness among them selves, and one to pollute another. Zachary a married priest, 
Zacharie married.  and father of holy johan Baptist, a man for his marriage found just afore God, reprehended that abomination in them, and was cruelly slain for it, as testifieth Epiphanius lib 2. Tob. 2. De heresibus. He was put unto death (sayeth 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 condemned the first ordinance of his everlasting father, but had it in such 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. Mat. 1. and Luce, i. In her so married without either vow or promise of virginity by the holy Ghosts most wonderful working was he incarnated and so became man, 
No nun.  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 Apostelshyp, not wifeless vowers, but married men. johan 1 and Marci. 1. He went very gently unto Peter's house, 
Peter marries  and healed his wives mother which lay the sick 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 vowesse. 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 unmoveable and 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. Cor. 9 and was put to death at Antioch for confessing jesus Christ, as witnesseth Clemens Alexandrinus in. 7. lib. Stromatum, and Eusebius Caesarienfis li. iij. Ca 30 Ecclesiastice history. Paul left his wife at Philippos, 
Paul married.  a city of the Macedoneanes, by consent of them both. Philip. 4. & 1. Cor. 7. For this only cause (saith boat Clemens and Eusebius) that he might the more easily thereby and with the less comberaunce, preach the Gospel abroad. Isidorus hispalensis in his book De ortu & obitu sanctorum patrum, and Freculphus Lexouíen this 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 sea, 
Philip married.  & was afterward done unto death in Hierapole a city of the Phrygianes, 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. lxiij. was joseph of Armathe and other Disciples sent over of the said Philip to preach Christ, 
joseph of Arimathe. Anno. 63.  and entered both with their wives and children, Aruiagus then being King of the land. This testifieth johan Capgrave in Catologo sanctorum Anglie, Thomas scrope de auti. carm. cap. 7. 
Scrope.  johan Harding in his. 47. chapter, and Polidorus vergilius. li. 2. Anglice history.   

britain first converted by men married.  
THese were surely the original beginnings (sayeth Polidorus of the Christian Religion in Brytayny. 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 christian king. 
King. Lucius.  Though this Lucius were a good man, 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. 
Rome.  ij. of those ministers called Eluanus and Meduinus unto Eleutherius the Bishop (for they had then no pope) to have some authority from then. And this was done in the year of our Lord. C. lxxix. 
Anno domini 179.  Whereupon Marcus Sabellicus sayeth, Enneade. 7. lib. 5. That of all provinces britain was the first that received the Christian faith with public ordinance.   

¶ Christianite somewhat corrupted.  
THen Eleutherius scent hither. ij. of his doctors, called fugacius and Damianus, to set here an order. These first baptized lucius with a great part of his nobility and commons, and then with his consent changed the Idols temples into Christian churches (as they now call them) the flamynes or Idol. sacryficers, 
Churches.  which were then. xxviij. in number, into so many bishops, and the. iij. archyflamenes into. iij. archbishops, as witnesseth Calfridus Movemuthensis in his second book. 
authors  De origine & gestis Britonum. cap. 1. Alphredus Beverlacensis in his chronicle, Vincensius, Antoninus, Nuclerus, Bergomas, Polidorus, and a great sort more. This christianity endured in britain, 
Christianite.  the space of. CC. and. xvi. years, unto the persecution of Dioclesiane, saith Ranulphus in Polichronico. li. 4. Ca 16. Upon this took the Romish church first occasion, to divide the christian provinces into dioceses and parryshes. 
dioceses parishes.  Mark wile these first buildings of Antichrist, or of Nembroth the yongar, and considre out of what good stuff they rise without God's word. All this have I written hitherto, not as matters corresponding to the fyttle 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 christianity from Rome, had gotten here of the Pagans both temples and possessions, 
Temples.  and were weal faverdlye satled (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, 
Monkery  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 some after great strife and unquietness among them, and out of that strife most detestable heresies. 
Heresies  For one of them called pelagius, 
Pelagic  being of the great monastery of Bencornaburch in Chestre shire (though some call it Bangor) began to dispute with them for the strength of man's fire will, 
Fre will  and said that man might be saved thereby, without the grace of God, so denying 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 Hieron●, Cyrillus Orosius, innocensius, 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 virginity thought any holier among them then 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. CCCCxxxij. 
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, 
authors  Honorius Augustudimensis, & johannes 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. xlvi. 
446.  troubled the britains with the same doctrine, as Flores historiarum showeth. The errors of both these were at the same time confuted by Germanus and Lupus with ●ther french doctors, which came r●ydre then 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. 
361.  and had a priest to his father called Calphurnius, which was also a deacons son that was name Podunus. His mother's name height Conches, and was holy Saint Martynes sister. 
Martinus.  This testifieth Ranulphus Cestrensis in Polychronico, lib. 4. cap. 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 Patrick, 
Patricius  after that his friends had sent him thither, and taught him many Godly things. What rule this Hartrick kept in that be half, I have not red. Yet find I in his life written, that he had a laddy waiting on him called Benignus, 
Benignus.  which always reported him, to be his own proper father, he never denying it. I read also that one Moduenna, 
Modwenna.  an Irish woman was very familiar with him, whether it were by the way of marriage or no, that can I no● tell. Ex ante nominatis autoribus.   

¶ Saints were begotten in whoredom.  
TO entre more deeply into the people's opinion, a chastity was pretenced anon after in that monkery, 
chastity.  but not yet solemnly vowed, and 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 then children without fathers, at the least the fathers of them were never yet known.  
Saint Dubrice that was afterward the great archbishop of Cairlegion and metropolytane of all the land, 
Dubricius.  had a maid to his mother, called Eurdila, but never would she confess him to have any father. Saint Kentigerne bishop of glasghon (that ye now call Saint Asses or Asaphes) had in like case a fair maid to his forth bryngar, 
Kentigernus.  but farther would she grant none to him, for no compulsion, 
merlinus  merlin also the great soothsayer 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. ij. showeth johan Capgrave in Catalago sanctorum Anglie, And this lattre wondre is mentioned of all famous writers. A great sort of these histories could 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 saide children might not then be known, was this. johan Capgrave saith. 
A awe.  The ●●w was that time in Britain, that if a young wench had be begotten with child in her father's house, or any where else, 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 begatten in whoredom.  
Saint David of wales the great archebyschop of Menevia. 
David.  which had so many prophecyers and so many Angels sent afore to give warning of his coming thirty. 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 fleshly love of his own natural daughter, begat of her saint Kynede the holy hermit, 
kinetus.  that in Wales wrought so many great miracles. One Dubtacus an irish man begat holy saint Brigide of his maid servant called Brocsech, 
brigida.  even underuech his wives nose to spite her with it, which had so many revelation 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 Catalpgo sanctorum Angliae., 
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 blemyshing of Godly marriage. The spiritual Sodomites and knaves hath not been ashamed to write it in the lives and lying legends of all these, that is to say of Dubricius, David, Kinedus, Kentigerne, Cuthberth, and Brigide, with such like, and solemnly so to read and sing it as God's service in their temples, 
Their God's service.  that they were sanctified in their mother's wombs. See what advancements they have for stinking whoredom, and how 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 massinge, as these whoresbirdes. Thus judge they whoredom holiness, & wholesome marriage sin. Come out of Sodom ye whoremongers and Hypocrites, popish bishops and priests, 
The Popes.  for as yet ye have not reformed this abomination, but still uphold it for your Romish Gods service. 
chaplains.  Come our thieves and knaves come out.   

¶ Women grievous and solaciouse.  
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 monasterirs, & to make them bear children when they were barren, it were an infinite thing to write. Saint David's monks were skeared. 
David.  way with naked women at a broke side in Rosidaevalle. So were Saint Theliaes' hermits also in an other place not far from thence. Saint Dubrices' brethren had many hot movings in their flesh, 
dubricius.  and were fain oft times to stand naked in the cold river. Saint Kentigernes disciples took great pains upon them, 
Kentigernus,  to make barren women fruitful. When saint Brigida was at the very point of marriage, 
Brigida  she stole away privily with her iij. maids, and waited long after upon bishop Machill, doing many great cures in his service with holy water. Saint Modwen also after such an other sort, 
Saint Modwen  waited upon bishop Hiber and his brethren with her maids. A woman the same season accused Bishop Broon for begetting her with child, and Brigide like a good body, 
brigida  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 much thank. All these holy histories shall ye find in johan Capgrave.   

¶ A spiritual example of a votary.  
SAint Iltute, 
Iltutus  or Elcute, which had been always a most valiant captain among the britains, at the suggestion of saint Cadoc an Hermit, put from him his most virtuous and chaste wife, leaving her nothing else to live upon, but barley bread and water on homely repast for her that had been a lady and tenderly brought up. And as she on a time resorted unto him only to have heard the sweet word of the Lord, 
his wife.  her coming thydre so sore discontented his mind, that with a charm he put out both her eyes. For I an certain, it came by no Godly power, (he being led of so Godly a spirit. If this be saint Paul's learning, 
Not Poles 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 saint in the Pope's holy church, because he was a tyrant to marriage for non other holiness had he. Such saints reckon I more fit for hell than for heaven. We'll, this story hath also johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglye.   

¶ 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 virginity 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, 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. 
Armorica.  CCC. and XC. 
390.  they acccorded among themselves through the assent of Conanus their captain, 
Diounus.  only to marry with their own nation, and in no wise to have a do with the French women there, for diverse parels. Whereupon they sent up and by over the see to Dionothus the duke of cornwall, 
Dionothus.  which than in the kings absence had governance of all the realm, instantly despering him, to make provision for them. 
For marriage.  Which immediately gathered from all parts of the land, to the number of. xi. thousand maids and other women, and so shipped them at London upon the Tham is with his own dear daughter Ursula, for so much as Covanus desired to have her to wife. And as they were abroad upon the main seas, such contrary winds and tempests fell upon them, as drowned some of their ships, 
Drowned.  and drove the residue of them into the hands of their enemies the Hunues and the pyetes, which slew a great number of them, as they found them not agreeable to their fleshly purposes. This showeth Galfredu, Monemuthensis li. 2. cap. 4. Alphredus Beverlacensis, 
authors  Ranulphus, Cestrensis, joannes Harding, Robertus Fabian, Tritemius in compendio Volateranus & Polydorus.   

¶ An history to their ghostly purpose  
But see here the conveyance of these spirtival gentle men in plastering up their unsavoury sorceries. They say, 
With lies.  they all vowed virginity, & were persuaded of saint Michael the archangel & of saint johan the Evangelist, never to marry (as though they were diswaders of marriage for their lecherous vows & so went from thence religiously to Rome on pilgrimage with great devotion, 
Pylgry  ij, and. ij. together, and were honourably received there of the Pope and his clergy If this be not good ware, tell me. I think there wanted no spiritual occupy, 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 rauke stoned horse, neyenge at every man's wife. Hieremi. 5. 
Heir. 5  And in deed some writers have uttered it, that they were never good since their being there. Now mark the sequel. In their return homeward again towards Coleyne, they had in their company (say their writers) pope Ciriacus) if there ever were any such. 
Names feigned.  Poncius, Petrus, Vincencius. Calixtus, Kiltanus, Florencius, Ambrose, justinus, & Christianus, all cardnales Cesarius, Clemens Columbanus. Ywanus Lotharius Pantalus. Mauricius. Maurilius Poillanus, Sulpicius, jacobus, Guilhelmus. Michael, Eleutherius, Bonifacius, and. seven. more of the Pope's household, all bishops, besides a great number of priests and chaplains. diversly is this holy legend handled of jacobus Bergomas in Li, 
Historiours.  Declaris mulieribus. of Sigebertus, Vincencíus, Antoninus, Hartmannus, Carsulanus. Vorago, Vuernerus, Navelerus, Mantuanus, Vuicelius. Caxton, Capgrave. Hector, Boethius. Mayor, and a graet sort more, scarcely one agreeing with an other.   

¶ Fyne workmanship to be marked.  
HE that would take the pain, to confer their chronicles and writings, 
Prove the sprites.  but concerning this only matter, observing diligently their diverse bestowing of times, places and names with other things perceiving to the circumstance of history, should anon perceive the●e subtile conveyance 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 idolatrous church, and yet they pour souls never came there, as the most auc●entyue writers doth prove. Their going out of Brytanye was to be come honest Christian men's wives/ and not to go no pilgrimage to Rome, 
Only to marry.  and so become bishops bonilasses, or priests playeferes See what our ancient English writers had saith in this matter/ which more experimently knew it, and lere the foreign liars go, which being faere 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, which had gathered togyter an haeye of dead men's bones. 
nuns of Coleyne.  For their bones culde they not have, being drowned in the great ocean sea, as Galferdus and the other authors veryfyeth afore. But both Christ and Paul once told us, that we should be subtly cyrcumuented of that wily generation, when they should work their deceitful wonders. Math. 24. and. 2. Thes. 2.   

¶ Vowynges did not yet constraint.  
ALl this time were there no constraining vows but all was free to leave or to hold. For Constans the eldest son of king Constantyne the second, 
Constans.  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 and crowned king of britain, 
443.  being in full liberty of marriage. Galfredus, Ranulphus Harding, Capgrave, Caxton, and Fabyan. In like case Maglocunus (as Gildas reporteth) was first a monk, 
Maglocunus. Gildas.  and afterward constitute king in the year of our lord. CCCCC lij. 
552.  continuing still by the space of more than. xxxiiij. years, and had for their he thyme. ij wives besides his concubines. This Maglocunus was reckoned the most romelye person of all his region, and a man to whom Gon had than given great victories against the Saxons, Norweyes, and Danes. Yet was he in his age as was long afore him, Mempricius his predecessor, 
Mempricius.  given to most abominable so dometry, which he had learned 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 Beucornaburch not far from Chestre, in his daily preachings, 
Gildas prophesieth.  both against the clergy and layte, concerning that vice and such other, and prophesied afore hand of the subversion of this realm by the Saxyns for it, like as it soon after followed in effect. Look in both his books De excidio Britanny & in scriptis Polidori. Galfredi & Ranulphi. with the preface of William Cindals' obedience.   

¶ The Saxons entre with new Christianite.  
ANon after the Saxon● 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 Mayor. Hector Boethius. Caxton. Fabyan Than came there in a new fashioned christianity yet once again from Rome 
christianity.  with many more heythuysh pokes 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 be sold. Mark this ghostly mystery, for the prelate's had then no wives. And women in those days might sore have distained their newly rysin opinion of holiness, if they had chanced to have been with child by them, and therefore other spiritual remedies were sought out for them by their good providers and proctors, ye may (if ye will) call them applesquires. 
Instede of marriage.  And at this Gregory beheld them fair skinned and bewtifully fared, 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 Angly (saith he) for they have very A●gelyck visages. 
Angly.  See how curious these fathers were, in the weal eyenge of their wares. Here was no circumstance unlooked for, pertaining to the sale. 
Wares  Yet have this Bishop been of all writers reckoned the best since his time. This story mencïoneth 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 theseyde johan Capgrave in his catalogue. That at one Macutus an English, 
Marutus.  britain, and Bishop of Aleth in Ireland, being at Rome about the year of our Lord. CCCCC perceived certain English boys to be sold there openly. 
500  He gave the price of them, and sent them home again. Of a likelihood he smelled the spiritual occupying there, and pitied the most damnable casting away of those poor innocentes, whom Christ had so dearly redeemed with his blood. Such an other act of christian pity wrought king Etelwolphus there (after diverse writers) when he in the year of our lord 
Ethelwolphus  DCCC. xlvij. 
847  made suit to Pope Leo the fort, to be clearly dispensed with forth 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, athes, obligations, and sealynges to the Beasts holy service. Mark always the times. 
times  This story hath Vuyllyam of malmsbury. li. 2. De regibus, a Raulphe. Harding. Fabyan and Polidorus with other. And that the one wanteth, the other always abundantly supplieth. Possession was taken of that seat of the Beast under phocas the emperor in the year of our Lord. DC. and seven. 
607.  wean the papacy first begun.   

¶ Augustine 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 Romish monk called augustine, not of the order of Christ as was Peter, 
Augustinus.  but of the superstitious sect of Bevet. 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 and Italyanes'. 
Monks  We'll armed were they with Aristotle's artillery, as with logyck, Philosophy, and other crafty sciences, but of the sacred scriptures, they knew little or nothing. 
crafty science.  If ye believe not me, read in johan Capgraves' catalogue, Inuita Augustini, his interrogations. Ad Gregorium per laurencium & Petrum, & ye shall find them void of all christian learning, either of law or Gospel, yea, most insypient and foolish. Yet was the said Augustine the best learned among them. These took with them a great number of french interpreters, 
ignorant apostles.  because they were all ignorant of the language 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, Yea, so said Christ they should do, 
Miracles.  when he bade us in any wise to be ware of them. Math. 24. For this story, mark specially johan Capgrave in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie, Sigebertus Vincencius, Antoninus, Tritemius, Christianus Masseus, and the church legendary.   

diversly were they of women entreated  
ANd as concerning women, grievously were they vexed with them coming hitherward, 
Women.  specially at a village called Say, 
Say.  within the county of Angevin france. In the which was builded immediately after, a church (they say) in the honour of the said Augustine, where as no women come, but are plagued with most sudden death, 
angry saints.  for the displeasure there showed them than, yet did thy but laugh upon them. This showeth Alexandrethe 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 reserandam  
Introituntentat una. sed inde perit.   
This story hath also johan Capgrave. and the old English festival of Saints which was sometime, 
festival.  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 tyrlery trash. 
Ethelbert.  Yet for the small trust he had unto them at their first meeting he would in nowise comen with them within any house (the story saith) lest they should after any sorcerous sort bywytche him. The first point of religion they showed, was this. They spread fourth a banner with a painted crucyfyre and a silver cross thereupon, and so come to the king in procession, 
Procession.  singing the Litany. We'll might this be called a new chrystyanyte, for neither was it known of Christ nor of his Apostles, nor yet everseane in England afore. It came altogether from the dust heap of their monkery.   

☞ Their first spiriituall 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 continued not long with them, as ye shall weal perceive hereafter Then did Augustine 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, his primates pall, with super altars, chalices, copes, 
Instruments.  candlesticks, vestiments, surplices, alter clothes, singing books, relics, 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 well enough what they did, beholding afore hand many hidden mysteries. They perceived that Caunterbury was well out of the ways, 
Caunterburye.  and much nigher the sea than was London, and so much the fytter 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. xiii.   

¶ 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 hallowynges, orders giving, tithes, personages, puryfycations of women, and such like. Whereupon a Synuode was called, 
Synodus  and there commandments were given that all things should be here observed according to the customs of Rome. In England was there afore their coming a Christiaanite, 
Christyanytye.  but it was all without masses, and in a manner without choice of either days or meats. The britains in those days had none other God's service but the Gospel. 
britains.  Seldom admitted they any difference of times with the jews, either any Idol sacrifices with the gentiles, but followed the plain rules of the scriptures. If any superstitions were among their Monks, they had nought to do therewith, 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 augustine 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 or his perfect age, 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 then he appeared at all one time with him, 
Antichrist.  in the malignant church of the jews or spiritualty of Herode, which then first began to persecute him and to seek his death.   

¶ The proving of Augustine's Apostelshyp.  
IN the year of our Lord. DC. & two. 
602.  held augustine 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, 
Solynarye man  which was known to be of a most perfect christian life, what was to be done concerning the aforesaid augustine. Anon he made them this christian answer: If he be a man of God (sayeth he) in any wise follow his counsel. If he be not utterly refuse it. How shall we know that? say they. Ye shall well perceive it by his gentle spirit, sayeth he again. For Christ bade his scholars to learn of him to be meek hearted. 
Christian counsel.  If he be of that sort, he is like to bring ye none other than Christ's most easy yoke. But if ye find him proud, be ware of the importable burdens of the high minded Pharysees. And as they were comen thydre, 
A proud Monk.  they found him sitting a fit in a throne 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 wrangelynges, he laid unto their charges, that they were in many things, contrary to the universal Christian church. Notwithstanding, if they would consent unto him in these. iij. points. 
Three points  That is to say, to baptize after the Romish manner, to celebrate the feast of Easter as they do there and preach to the english Saxons as he should appoint them, he would well 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  Then said augustine furyouslye unto them, that if they would not peaceably grant to his requests, they should be enforced theronto 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, Fabiane, their church legendary, and other. Thus did that carnal synagogue (than called the English church) which came from Rome with Augustine, 
A carnal synagogue.  most cruelly persecute, at her first coming in, the christian church of the britains in these holy martyrs. Their sinful Zion builded they then in blood, 
Bloody Zion.  for that their wicked institutes were Godly disobeyed. But be they sure, it shall be ploughed up in this lattre age, and lie waist like a void field, according to Mycheas prophecy. Mich. iij.   

¶ What the britain church was afore.  
TRue is the faithful saying of johan Leylande in assertione Arturij fol. 35. 
johan Leyland  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 for 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. churches of Asia in Saint johans time. 
britain church.  Not only for the just number of their bishops, but also for their observation of Easter 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. 
English church.  The church that Augustyne than planted in England, was more governed by bishops policies for their advantage, then 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 Heythnyshe superstitions not reckoned. God grant it once a shap after his prescript laws and ordinances. Amen.   

¶ Antichrist approached fast to his full age.  
IN the year of our lord (as I said afore). DC. &. seven. 
607.  Antichrist 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 yrspergensis, Hermannus Contractus, Sigebertus, Ranulphus, Matheus Palmarius, Christianus Masseus, Archilles Pirminius, joannes Carion, et Martinus Lutherus in Mundi supputacione. 
The papacy.  Then obtained Bonifacius the third of that name, of the said Phocas for money, in the mids of all schism, strife, mischief, & murder, to be Satan's great steward here, and the devils leftenaunt. For in his power it was not to make him Christ's vicar, nor yet sait peter's successor. Thus gave the Dragon, than his authority & power to the beast with. seven. heads, that arose out of the sea, or from the superstitious wavering multitude, Apoca. xiii. 
Apoc. 13.  Then wanted he nothing else, but to sit in the place of God, which is the conscience of Man, that he might there exalt himself above all that is called God. ij Thessa. ij. 
2. Tes. 2.  To bring that to pass, the Monks and the priests sturrred 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, baptize, and assoil from sin, 
Monks authority.  which they never had afore. How and what they wrought here in England, is evident by that hath been showed afore, and willbe yet more plain in that which hereafter followeth. Mark it therefore in the name of God, for now is the time wherein he must be revealed, that the Lord jesus may consume him with the breath of his mouth. Esa. xi. 
Esa. xi.  and. ij. Thes. ij.   

¶ The chastity of his massmongers.  
NOw concerning the continency of this new broached brood or newly fashioned clergy. For so much as they were Monks & came from Rome, they had professed a false chastity, 
A false chastity.  to appear more holy than the priests, and thereby in process of time to rob them of their benefices or appointed livings. Though Gregory in his time made these constitutions, 
Gregori  that none should be admitted a priest which had married. ij. wives, nor yet thereto be accepted that in priesthood kept concubines, as testifieth Sabellicus, yet durst he not utterly condemn priests marriage, by reason of a most terrible example of innumerable children's heads scene drowned in a pond. 
Example.  But mark that spiritual occupy of these hot fathers, for grievously were they than vexed with night pollutions. 
Monks chastity.  Whereupon Augustine sent unto Gregory, to know if they might well 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, 
iij. ways.  that is to say, by superfluity of nature, by glottenouse eating & drinking, by infirmity of the flesh, and by filthy cogitations of the mind, so ought they to have. iiij. considerations. For the first. iij. a priest ought not (he sayeth) to astayne from his mass saying. The forth describeth by suggestion, delectation, and consent, 
Coloured sodomy.  leaving it without any conclusion. If this be not good wholesome divinity of your holy romish Saints, 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, in the schools of my lord of wynchestres' rents at the bank side at London, 
Stews divinity.  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 well 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 not knowledge thereof, and yet is it a pleasing 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 do under pain of death. Now forsooth it is wholesome ware, and it should come even now from the devils black bowgett. 
marriage contemned.  This is the reverence these polluted wretches have to matrimony, being Gods clear institution, that they perferre all their fleshly knaveries unto it. For it only, have they named men lay & women lewd, appointing their children tails here in England in disdain and scorn. 
Say, with tails.  For nought was it not that Saint Paul called their learning Hyprocrysye, and the detestable doctrine of devils. i Timo. iiij. johan Capgrave and Alexander of Esseby saith, that for casting of fish tails at this Augustine, Dorset 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 infamy of tails by their written legends of lies, yet can they not well tell, where to bestow them truly.   

¶ Strife about the easter celebration.  
NExt after this Augustine was Laurencius archbishop of canterbury. 
Laurencius cum alijs.  And after him Melitus. Then justus, than Honorius, then Theodatus, & Theodorus, all black monks & Italyanes' borne to the number of seven. This Laurence held a great Synod with his other prelate's in the isle of man, 
Synodus  disputing there with the scottish and Irish bishops, 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 then in controversy for the day of that easter celebration, 
the feast of easter  ere they could be quieted. Great pains the religious fathers took in those days to strain out a gnatt, that their lecerouse posterity after them, might the better swallow in a mighty camel. Math. twenty-three. In things of small value they were then very scrupulose, but the wayghtier causes they could let slip well 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 certain town called fordune, was a church bulded 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 superstitious table 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.  without 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, 
Ceremomonies & rites.  of their absolutions for sins, their temples, their altars, their belryngynges, their lentes, their diversity of orders and divisions of parishes, lest I should be therein to tedious unto the readers. Aidanus, Finanus, & Cosmannus being all. iij. bishops of lyndiffarne in Northumberlande one after an other, 
Good men.  & scottish men borne, could not well away with the pride and wanton toys which they beheld in their Romish rites, but persevered still in the simple order of the primative 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, 
Hilda ●t Colmannus.  that was then abbess of Streneshalt (that we now call Whytby) a woman learned, wise, and virtuous, disputed with them in their general counsel upon Colmanus side, in the year of our Lord. DC. and lxiiij. 
664.  concerning the day of their easter celebration, their head shaving, & other unsavoury ceremonies, and wrote afterward an earnest treatise against Agilbertus a french man and at that time bishop of Wynchestre. 
Agilberbertus.  All this might not help then, but in process of time they had their whole minds, magry all their hearts. Bedas Giruninus li. 3. ca 25. De gestis Anglorum, Guilhelmus malmsbury li. 3. De Pontificibus Ranulphus. lib. 5. cap. 17. johannes Caphrave and other.   

¶ religious examples dysuading marriage.  
After Laurentius followed Melitus in the archebyshoppes' seat of Caunterburye, 
melitus.  in the year of our lord. DC. and. nineteen, 
619.  which (they say) both alive & dead, 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 Northumberland 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. 
626.  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. Saint Fiacre a scottish hermit had so great malice unto women, 
Fiacrius.  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. Saint Foillanus an irish Bishop with his brethren was very familiar and serviceable unto Saint Gertruyde and her nuns at Nigella, 
Foillanus.  & made diverse barren women full graciously to conceive. 
Keyna.  Saint keynwirye a virgin of wales, condemning 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 by wytched of the Bishop of London and his calking 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 wife than he nor more godly disposed.  
Yet was she by their incantations 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. When Saint Egbynes father was once departed in wales, 
Egbinus.  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. Saint Eanswyde abbess of Folkstane in kent, 
Eanswida.  inspired of the devil dyffyned 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, the just fathers of the old law not reckoned. Saint Paul sayeth also, that by virtue of marriage, 
Fruits of marriage.  the unfaithful man is sanctified by the woman that is faithful. i Cor. seven. Neither did he at any time teach marriage to be either a corruption or yet an impediment of christian virginity, when he coupled the Corintheanes (which continued still married) a chaste virgin to Christ. 2. Cor. two. But this gentlewoman Eanswyde was much better acquainted with the monks learning then with Christ's, 
Eanswida.  and with a chastity rather to their behove than to his. Yet drove she out all the gantes or bystardes there, if their church legend be true. These stories showed 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 toys.  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 yvorye with the same, to uphold them in this new christianity. See these wanton fathers what toyrs they use, to set up their kingdom here. Never shall ye read that Christ's disciples had any such witty policies. Saint Petrock an her mite of cornwall, 
Petrocus.  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 onpilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. Here was a new sought out salve for that sore. Saint Pyrane a Bishop also in cornwall, 
Piranus.  had a fair dammesell in the monastery of his mother wyngell, called Brunet, whom the Lord of the soil took up for his occupying. At the last he agreed with him no longer to have her, than the bernacle 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, and a monk pertaining to saint Pyrane about the same time struck up a covenant of love. 
chastity of votaries.  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. A like matter. Such an other pageant was played at york, 
Vows observed.  but it was long after. 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 been 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, 
Modwenus.  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 Scaleselyf, where as an holy hermit dead oft times visit her, 
Heremita.  and much 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 Nondryes'.  
Saint Erkenwalde the son of Vffa the first King of the east angres, 
Erkenwaldus  abbot of Chertesye 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 to be thought and made nuns there. 
Ethelburga.  Such 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 Danes 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 much better than him, whiles he was on a lime in huntynge, she sent by a privy lettre for Accas, and Bedewinus, Bishops of the East Angels, 
Spiritual knavery.  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. liij. 
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. Look johan Capgrave.   

¶ The perfect age of the Beast,  
THeodorus a Greek, 
Theodorus.  was of pope Vytelinaus constitute the sixth archbishop of Caunterbury, from Augustine 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 in carnation six hundred, syxtye, and six, which is in saint johans Apocalyps the full age of the Beast, 
Apo. 13.  and the full number of man, Mark it good reader. For now of a Beast, becometh he a king, yea, as Daniel calleth him, 
The fully complete age.  the unshamefast 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, 
Nō●re of the beast.  for so much as it was the time, wherein man's learning most strongly withstood the learning of God, to the pranking up of than 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 and crafty sciences, 
crafty sciences  of comiting, calking, measuring, singing, rhyming, reasoning, arguing, diffining, shaving, oiling, exorcizing, incanting, & conjuring. Look johan Bapgrave, in vitis Adriani, & Theodori. Besides that Bedas writeth li. 4. Cap. 2. and Ranulphus. li. 5. Cap. 18.   

¶ For the variance had in supputations.  
TO avoid controversies in the supputation of years, for so much as some writeth him to have commonly there in the year afore rehearsed, and 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 desex etatibus mundi. In the year following was this Theodorus admitted of Vitelianus, 
Theodorus.  and 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, which was shaven afore after a far other sort/ he being a Greek. 
shaving  His abiding there for that only cause, was more than. iiij. Months, besides other needy matters. So that it was the year of our Lord. DC. lxviij. 
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, least he thought 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. Anon after he set up a great school at Caunterburye of all manner sciences, 
A school.  as Rhetoryck, Logyck, Philosophy, Mathesy, astrology/ Geometrye, Arithmetyck, and Musyck, and taught them there openly both in latin and Greek, 
Strange sciences.  besides the art Magyck, Sortilege, Physnomye, Palmestrye, Alchemy, necromancy, Chiromancy, Geomancy, and witchery, that was thought there also. Bedas, Ranulphus, & 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 To mysh 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, 
sinodus  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 (faith 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, etc. I think a ●ruer sentence could not than 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. and lxxv. 
680  held this Theodorus an other counsel at Hatfeld in the west parties. 
Synodus.  Whare 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 inquire made, what believe they had than there in the Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ. 
No Gospel.  No, it was an other manner of matter, that they sought. Oh, wonderful was the working of that Serpent's generation. Polidorus saith, li. 4. Anglice history, that false religion & counterfeit presthyde, was than thoroughly salted and placed there, the Acts of the. iiij. general counsels received in stead of the. iiij. Euangelies. In the next year following, was a general Synod kept at Constantynople in Grece, 
Synodus generalis.  where as marriage was for ever permitted unto the Greek priests, and utterly forbidden the latins, or all other besides them, the latin mass receiving there his first confirmation. 
Mass.  But Theodorus & his monks were at a good indifferent point for that, which had veiled within in one monastery in the isle of Thanete lxx. nuns, making fair Myldrede their abasse. 
Mildreda.  Look johan Capgrave ranulph and other English authors. In spite of the former act, d●d Vitiza the king of Spain, 
Vitiza.  permit his priests by a law newly made, to keep so many concubines as there would. Michael Ricius de regibus Hispanie, & Paulus Constantinus Phr●gio in Chronidis regnorum,   

¶ chastity, Monks, Monasteries, and Penance.  
Wernerus Cartusiensis saith in Fasciculo temporum, that vowing of chastity was free without constraint in the time of saint Gregory and somewhat after Bedas reporteth, 
chastity fire.  li, 3, ca 6, De gestis Anglorum, & 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 hypocryticall wytcherye the very elect persons scant frefrom that damnable error. Math. 24. Marcy. 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. 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 Northumberlande. 
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, 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 aggravations, reservations, 
Summa penitencialis.  penaltes, sorrows, penances, and ponnishmentes. 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 devilishenesse? Sigebertus. Sabellicus. Tritemius. & Scriptores ferme omnes.   

¶ The foundation of their purgatory.  
AT the same very time, was there one Drithelmus in Nortoumberlande, 
Drithelmus.  which leaving both wife and children in the year of our Lord. DC. and. lxxi. 
671  made himself a monk at Mailros, Saint Cuthbert than being abbot there. The said Drithelmus feigned himself on a time to be dead (here was knavery upon knavery) and reported in his return, that he had scene by an Angel's demonstration, both purgatory and paradise, 
foundation of purgatory.  hell and heaven. After that he had subtly declared this unto King alphred and other great men of the country there, at the request of the monks, much 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 chrystyanyte of these chaste fathers, to kegynne their holy church with? Were it not pity but they were canonized saints, and their feastful days solemnysed twice in the year, 
canonized devils.  with ryngynges, syngynge, sensings, and massynges, 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 Adriam, Sigebertus, Vincencius, Antoninus, with diverse other.   

¶ chastity of Cuthbert and doctrine of Colfride,  
SO cruel was this Cuthbert unto women after he became a Saint of theirs, 
Cuthbertus.  that none might come within his sayntuaryes (they say) at Doilwem, Cornen, and Mailros in scotland, nor yet at Durham, Ty●mouth, 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. Elsteda, 
nuns.  and Verca iij holy abbasses, and builded for his pleasure, a solemn vondry 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 Colfride abbot of Girwin in Northumberland, 
Colfridus.  wrote unto Athon king of the picts, 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 it is registered of Bedas in his. v. book. De gestis Anglorum. and also of Thomas Vualden in his volume, 
Walden  De sacramentalibus. two. 9 Ca 80 to stop heretics mouths with, besides that johan Capgrave hath said in it.   

¶ The fallen star. and. ij. 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 in to the sea, great morren following both of beast and man. Not all vulyke 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 above. Romano. 13 most wredchedly than delcined from the true obedience and faithful administration of God's eternal verity, unto the beastly subjections and traditions of that execrable Pope. Sens that time have they comen from the sea. They have taken their authority of that Beast which rose out of the sea. Apoca. 13 (till now at late days) the. ij. horns of the other Beast, 
Apo. 13.  that is to say, of hypocrisy, pricking them than forward. Those. ij. horns of that earthly Beast were here in England, 
ij horns  the. ij. monkish sects that in those days first entered. The first of them were the black monks of Saint Bernet, which entered first of all with the afore named augustine in the year of our lord 
Augustinus.  CCCCC. and xcvi to pervert the South Saxons and kentish men. 
596.  The other were the black Canons of the other Saint augustine (both black) which came in with Byrinus the archbishop of Dorcestre in the year of our lord 
Berinus  DC. xxxvi from Pope Honorus the first, 
636  to deceive the west Saxons. For each Pope and bishop preferred evermore the sect he was of. These. ij. wrought so their wicked feats in those days, 
ij. sects.  with dying signs in hypocrisy, that they caused the afore named stars, Regnum et Sacerdocium. Regalite and priesthood, to fall clearly from heaven. johan Capgrave, Ranulphus et Polidorus.   

¶ The fall of kingdoms, and raise of the Papacy.  
Mark in the Chronicles, and ye shall find this most true. That like as the papacy had his 
Papacy  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, and France under King Pypyne by the putting a sydy of the Merovyngeanes. 
kingdoms popish.  Sens these lecherous locusts crept first into England, never throne that kingdom of the ancient britains (whose spiritual head was God alone: 
britains.  but every day more and more decayed, till it was fully ended. Mark it hardly from the first coming hither of the said augustine, till the year of our Lord. DC. lxxxix. 
689.  wherein Cadwallader their last King died a most desolate pilgrim at Rome, 
cadwalader.  offering himself up there most miserably to the Pope. Ever since hath it been to him obedient in all blasphemous errors and doctrines of devils, by the space of. DCCC. and. xliiij. years, 
Mark it.  till the year of our Lord. M. CCCCC. and. xxxiij. 
1533.  wherein at our noble kings most wholesome request, we utterly by oath renounced that odious monster. Now is it Gods own kingdom again, and our King his immedyate ministre. 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 idolatrous yokes, following from henceforth the uncorrupt rules of the Gospel. A like comparison hath Paulus Orosius. lib. 2. Cap. 4. Historiarum mundi, of Babylon and Rome. 
Roma et Babylon.  Very like beginnings (saith he? had Babylon and Rome, like powers like prides, like continuaunces, 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 Merline came unto my remembrance. 
merline  That after the manifold eruptions 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, immediately given of God without any other mean mastery worker to Antichristes' behove. 
of God.  Fre was that power from 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, and would fully attain thereunto, were here heythnysh yokes in religion once thrown a side, as I doubt it not but they will be within short space. As well may ye give credence to this merlin when he uttereth the verity, as unto old Balaam the soothsayer, 
merlyne Balaam  which at a time prophesied the coming of Christ. Num. xxiv. And as concerning the return of the name, mark in this age the writings of learned men, & ye shall well perceive the change, for now commonly do they write us for englishmen, britains.   

¶ The whore's flesh eaten of the. x. horns.  
THE. x. horns of the first Beast (which were kingdoms maynteynyge that whore (now joined all into one, 
The. x. horns of the beast  doth mortally hate her at this present instant, & is making her desolate and maked in England. In the end they shall eat her flesh, and clearly consume her with the fire appointed. England was sometime into. seven. kingdoms divided, by the consent of all writers, and wales into. ij. called Venedotia & Demetia or north wales & South wales, Ireland making up the truth. 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 and victoryouse 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. xvij. 
Apo. 17.  Consydre with yourselves the late overthrow of the monasteries, covents, collegis, and chaunteries alleges of unclean sprites, and holds of most hateful birds by the manifest word of God. And think not but the fyltye habitations of the great master devils will follow soon after. Apoca. xviij. 
Apo. 18.  Let the goggle eyed Gardyner of wyncestre gird at it till his rib ache and an hundred digging devils upon his side, yet shall not one jote of the lords promise be unfulfilled at the time appointed for that blasphemous whores overthrow, 
Winker of wiles  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. When one Sedia the father of saint Aidus, 
Sedia.  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 speed the next night after by a miracle, for all were miracles they did, joan. Cap. Guenhera a Cornysh woman (whom some writers call fair Elyne) that made king Arthure a cuckold, 
Guenhera.  was after his death devoutly received into Ambesbury non dry, as a penitent to their spiritual use. Guilhelmus Malmesbury. Saint oswald said his wife Bebla in bed with a religious hermit. 
Oswaldus.  
Bebla.  And when the great heat came upon him (as the spiritual fathers are hasty) she 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 hardyng. Saint Ebba which was in those days the mother of all nuns, 
Ebba.  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 ●●om Barwyck, both men & women dwelling together fell by fell (as the manner was than of all Nondryes' in England) which exercised the battles of chastity so long that in their night metynges they went to bed together by couples, their religious love was then so great, till God sent a wild fire upon them for that contempt of marriage. joannes Maior. libro secundo. Capite. 12. & joannes Capgrave in catalogo sanctorum Anglie.   

¶ A spiritual conveyance to be marked.  
ETheldred (whom ye call Saint Andrye of helye) married. 
Etheldreda.  ij. great princes, Tombert of the South Girwyes, and Egfride the King of Northumberlande, mocking them both by the space of more then. xiii. years, in not giving them due benevolence according to the holy doctrine of saint Paul i. Cor. seven. And in occasioning them to adulterous living. The lattre of them knowing that she minded wylfryde then bishop of york much more than him (for the story sayeth 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, 
knavery  notwithstanding his promise to the contrary, persuaded her to persever in her obstinacy and utterly to resist him, alleging her vow and requiring a divorcement from him. Whereupon he was then compelled to marry an other wife called Ermenburgis, and etheldred was professed a Nun in Coldynghan with Ebba, by the said wylfryde. This king after that perceiving his knavery, by assent of Theodorus the archbishop of Caunterbury, 
Theodorus.  banished him out of his land. Then followed she after a pace, and whiles he was bishop of Eastsexse, 
A waiting hound.  she became abbess of hely, not far from his elbone. Mark this conveyance for your learning. If this were not knavery, where shall we find knavery? Yet was this gentleman conveyer admitted for a saint, because he builded a college at Rippon, 
The autour.  where myself was once baited of his Basan bulls, for maintaining the kings prerogative against their pope, as good master johan Hercye can fulwell tell. joannes Capgrave in vitis etheldred, & 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. They sent their h●sbandes to Rome on pilgrimage by heaps, 
pilgrims.  whiles they kept them spiritual company at home, Ethelburg made great haste and left no calling on, till her husband king Inas was thydrewardes, 
Inas.  with scrip ha●●e 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, & Fabiane. After him followed ethelred king of Mercia in like fashion of pilgrimage, 
Ethelredus.  and became afterward abbot of Bardeney. johan Capgrave. Conredus also king of the same province, 
Conredꝰ.  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 Northumberlande, 
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 Salysbury) 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. In whose return, a Synod was holden in England against the britains or welsh men, 
Synodus  for not conforming their churches to the Romish observations, he there required to inveigh against them. Upon the which motion, he wrote then 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.  notwithstanding his own known lechery. This Aldelmus never refused women, but would have them commonly both at board & 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 get, so 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, saint Egwine abbot of Euesham, 
Egwinus  and bishop of Worcestre (then called wickes) hearing tell that labour was made to the pope, to have the christian temples replenished with Images to promote that market forward, 
Images  he hied him a peace 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 then called Constantine the first, hearing this new wondre scent him home again with his bulls of authority, 
Brithwaldus.  commanding Brithwalde then archbishop of Caunterburye (with all haste) to call a general Synod of all the clergy for confirmation of the same, 
Sonodus  the kings required not to be absent that day. And this 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 archbishop 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. ij. of his holy monks which had lyeu with her the night afore for easement of their chastity. Saint Bartellyne hermit of Stafforde, 
Bartellinus.  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 Malmesbury et Ranulphus.   

¶ English monks become Antichristes' Apostles.  
IN those days the monks of England were becomen so mighty in superstitious learning, 
Monks Dispersed.  that they were able to pervert all other christian regions, as they did then 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, fasshioning him up there a new kingdom of all devilishness to withstand the manifest glory of God, and subduing thereunto an princely Powers. You that are exercised in chronicles and Saints lives, mark for that age what is written of Columbanus, 
The Pope's apostles.  Colomannus, Tolimannus, Vuenefridus, Vuilibrordus, Vuilibaldus, Vuenebaldus, Burghardus, Kilianus, Vuigbertus, Egbertus, Hewadus the white and the black, Etto, Bertwinus, Elcquius, Lullius, Lebuinus, Livinus, joannes Embertus, Gallus Gaudus, Gaiabaldus, Gregorius, Megingoius Sturmio, and a great sort more with their women, and ye shall see in them practices wonderful. I will give ye out one here briefly for an example, for to much it were to write of them all. Wenefridus was admitted of Pope Gregory the second, 
Wenefridus.  for the archbishop of Magunce and great Apostle of all Germany, and for his bold countenance was of him named Bonifacius. 
Bonifacius.  In exeter was he first borne, and professed a black Monk at Exancestre (now called exeter) under abbot wolfharde. After the great Synod holden at London by the afore named Brithwalde, 
Synodus  about the year of our Lord. DCC. and. x. 
710.  where as priests Marriage was judged fornication, and the honouring of Images accepted for a christian religion. Daniel then Bishop of Wynchestre, 
Daniel.  sent this Winifred to Rome with his letters of commendation for his manfulness there showed. johannes Capgrave, & geor-Vuicellius in Hagiologo de sanctis ecclesie.   

¶ The great Apostle of all germany.  
THe Pope after certain communications, perceiving him in all points fit for his purpose, sent him anon into germany with his full authority (as afore is specified) to do his false feats there, 
Apostle of Germany.  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.  which rise out of the earth having two horns like the Lamb, if ye mark it well. apocalypsis. xiii. 
Apo. 13.  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. An hundred thousand consciences, 
Character.  did he seal with the Pope's hot Ironic adust with his romish faith in the land of bavary, besides that he did in Thuringia, Hassia, Saxonia, Frislande, Swethen, 
Acts of this beast  Denemarke, and in other regions there more. He held many great counsels, he ordained bishops, he builded monasteries, he canonized saints, he commanded relics to be worshipped, he sent nuns about a preaching contrary to the doctrine of saint Paul, with many other wonders, and all by force of the Pope's decrees. 
To worship the first Beast.  Of kings he made monks, and caused emperors to kiss the Pope's feet, Princes to lead his bridle, and Dukes to hold his steruppes. Look in the Chronicles of joannes Nauclerus, Generacione. 25. &. 26. Look also Vuicelius, Vincencius, Antoninus. Capgrave, and Vuilibaldus in vita Bonifacij, and ye shall find all this there and a great sort of wonders more. For there are they showed at large.   

¶ Kings deposed, with other miracles.  
BY such authority as he received of pope Zachary, he afterward deposed king Hylderyck of France, 
Hildericus.  dyshereting in him for ever the most lawful succession of king Merovens, which first received the true christian ●●yth there, as witnesseth Sabellicus, & admitting in his room Pypyne with his advonterouse stock, 
Pipinus.  for receiving their false faith by oath, to reign there ever after for their carnal commodity. He also assoiled all the people from the oath of allegiance made afore to the said Hylderich and his of spring, as testifieth Paulus Aemillius, Platma, Nauclerus Tritemius, Otto Phrisingensis, and other. 
Kingdoms translated.  In conclusion, by this means became the noble kingdom of lombardy the unlawful patrimony of Saint Peter, & the mighty empire of Rome was wonderfully translated from the Greeks to the Germans. These were no small miracles, if ye mark them well. If Antichrist turned not here the roots of the trees upward, 
antichrist  never did he it in his life. All these things wrought this Bonyface or wenefride, that the dwellers upon earth should worship the first Beast. Apoca. 13. 
Apo. xiii.  Innumerable multitudes of peoples brought he to the Pope's faith in Germany and in France, and in some other places, more by terrible coactions then by any gentle callings. For extremely did he handle with cruel inprisonmentes, one Adelbert a french man, 
Alderbertus.  and Claudius Clemens a Scott. ij. learned men, 
Claudius  for reasoning with him concerning vowed chastity, rellyques, Images; the Pope's prymarye, Kings depositions, oaths breaking, and such like errors. 
Errors  Look the works of Nauclerus, Vuicelias', ●ernardus Lut●●enburg, & Alphonsus de castro.   

¶ Doctrine of Bonyface, with sale of whores.  
Most damnable was the doctrine of this Boniface, 
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 living, 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, 
canonists.  and for a necessary article of Christian believe. Dist. xl. Ca ●i Papa. Yet wrote he at an other time to Pope Zacharye, to see the manifest abusions of Rome reform, 
Rome.  specially their maskynges in the night after the pagans manner, and their open selling of whores in the mark in there. 
Open sale of whores.  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 vn●o king Ethelbalde and other great men in England, 
Ethelbaldus.  requiring them to leave the adulterous occupying of nuns, lest such a plague fell on them, as chanced upon king Colfrede and king Osrede for like doings. 
Colfredus. Osredus.  And though this Boniface allowed not christian matrimoney in priests but hated it, yet after that o●e 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. 
Lieba.  ij. English nuns his best beloves. 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. So rich was that monastery within few years after, 
Monasterium fuldense.  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 builded afore that at floriake in france, 
Floriacus.  and not far from orleans, in the year of our lord. Dc.li 
651.  These. ij. 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 appear 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 then in all cotreyes such plenty of Nondryes' as hath been since. Sigebertus, Capgrave, Tritemius, Nauclerus, Vuicelius.   

¶ Oxforde shurned. And Alcuinus monks.  
AShamed are not these prestygiouse 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 mychefe, 
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 unworthyer office, than to be a pilled shitten Nun. O blind bluddering Balaamytes, without all judgements godly. Of God only y● the worhy office of a King. 
A king.  prover. 8. where as your fisting nuns were of Antichrist and the devil. Capgrave, Fabiane, Polidorus. About the same time, was Alcuinus a doctor of England, 
Alcuinus.  made abbot of Turonia in France by the gift of Charles the great, 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 postuitam 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 the general commission, which he had of Satan his great master, in that vycarship of his.   

¶ English men punished at Rome.  
AFter King Ethelwolphe being subdeacon and priest, 
Ethelwolphus.  through wanton occupying had had a bastard, by the pope's dispensation he married Olburga his butler's daughter, and had by her iiij. sons, which all succeeded Kings after him. Guilhelmus Malmesbury, et joannes Harding. As this King on a time chanced to be at Rome, he see many English men there wearing fetters and gives of Iron, 
Penitentes at Rome.  as they had been murderers or thieves. And as he inquired what the cause should be, answer was made him, that it was for spyrytualll offences done. For those wily watchers by that time had put many things in practise, by force of their penytenciall Sum, made by Theodorus afore. They might then make what sins they would, and send unto Rome whom so ever it pleased them, 
Sit in the consciences  upon the reservations of cases Pontifycall and papal, or by reason of the aggravacyons of circumstances of sins, making men believe they could not dispense with them, when the matter was not worth. ij. haste nuites. And this was the cause of their grievous corrections then. For redress of this the King convenaunted than with the Pope, to give him by year● a penny of every fire house within his land, as Inas and Offa had done before him for their dominions. 
The Rome shot  He promised him also in acquyting the church's tributes, to give him. iij. C. mark yearly And finally he repaired the English hospital there, 
hospital.  which had been decayed by fire. Ranulphus. Platina, Petrus Equilinus, Fabianus et Polidorus.   

¶ An English monks paramour, is a Pope.  
THe monastery of fulda in Germanye, 
Fulda.  was in those days much frequented of English monks, because it was first builded of the foresaid archbishop Boniface, which was an english man borne, A young wench borne and brought up in Maguncia thereby, Gilberta by name, 
Gilberta.  so minded one of those monks, that she changed her apparel, and went away with him like a waiting boy or lackey into strange lands, and became in all sciences of learning very couning, and was called english johan. As it chanced this monk to die, she get her unto Rome, 
A wom● pope  and became there a common reader of public lectours. and was had in such wonderful estimation, that Pope Leo the fort being dead, she was solemnly elected and intronysed Saint Peter's vicar in the year of our Lord. DCCC.Liiij. 
854.  called johan the, viii. after diverse writers. By help of a Cardinal her most familiar chamberlain, she was in conclusion beget with child, when she had been pope almost. ij. years and an half. And in a most solemn procession to Laterane, when their church was in the most pride by fall of the empire and subjection of christian princes, 
Pride hath a fall.  & the prelate's in their most pompous apparel, the day shining very fair, she was openly delivered of child without midwife and so died. Wherein God declared m●nifestlye to the world, that their glittering church was altogether an whore/ to make good that was written in the revelation of Saint johan. 
An whore.  Apo. 17. Oh he that had scene the countenance of the prelate's than, should have beholden a great thange.   

¶ 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 doutye dimiceries, 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. Moreover the street where she was delivered, hath ever since been shurned in all general precessyons, for fear of ill haps. As is of women a certain bridge in a Scottysh I'll called Levissa, 
An example.  where as if but one woman should passed over (they say) there are no salmons scene in that river, all the year after. Hector Boethius in Scoteci regni descriptione. For the history afore rehearsed of this woman Pope, was it partly my desire that ye should ●arke 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. Such 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 it for adultery by the pope's canon laws. For the scriptures would not serve him. The life of this female pope sheweeh more at large, jacobus Bergomas in li. De claris mulieribus, Platina, Sabellicus, Martinus Carsulanus, Volateranus, Nauclerus, Mantuanus, joannes Stella, joannes textor, & Robertus Barnes in vitis Romanorum Pontificum.   

¶ Holy water, with a book against marriage.  
IN the year of our Lore. DCCC. LVIII. 
858.  as a certain day devil at the foresaid Maguncia was hunted of the priests with procession and holy water, 
A priest.  for dyverstye vexing the city, he did 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 occupy of the general proctors daughter there. This religious example of holy church showeth. Sigebertus. Vincencius. Antoninus, Nauclerus, and Masseus. Herein affirm they their holy water to be of more strength, 
Holy water.  than either their priesthood or yet their eaten maker, and more able to drive away the devil. In the year of our Lord. DLCC. lxxv. 
875.  was the Emperor Ludovicus the second tormented in purgatory (say they (only for that he would not regard the admonishments of Gabriel the Archangel against priests marriage, 
Gabriel  called there of them the heresy of Nicolaitanes. Mark these packynges. The religious fathers had than made a book of their religious facts and practices, comprehending. xii. chapters, 
A book of. xii. chapters.  to put down matrimony and set up Sodom and Gomor in their spiritual generation. Which they had sent unto the said Emperor by one Emarchus, Sigebertus, Vincencius, Antoninus, et alij. far unlike was this Gabriel to him which appeared unto Zachary the priest in the time of his sacrifice. For that Gabriel both allowed and commended his marriage. This Gabriel condemneth it utterly. Of such Saint Paul warned the corinthians to be ware, 
diverse Gabriels'.  telling them that Satan would resemble the Angel of light. 2. Cor. 11.   

¶ Other chaste miracles of that age.  
Saint Odulphe a priest about the same time going to his mass, 
Odulphus.  was suddenly taken up and carried over the sea to trier in germany to do that office there upon Eastre day, because Saint Frederick the Arcyebyshop there had lain the night afore with an holy nun which was his own natural sister, 
Fredericus.  to help forward the law. Deut 27. The bones of this Odulphe were first buried at London, and than from thence translated to Euesham abbey in the west country, Saint Clarus of Orchestre, 
Clarus.  judging marriage sin and wickedness by the doctrines that than were taught, in dyspyght of the Christian persuasions of his friends, made himself first a priest and after a Monk, so fleeing into Normandye. Where at the last he was slain by procurement of a woman. These. ij. histories showeth johan Capgrave, & their church legendary. As the Danes over went this land, 
The Danes.  their common custom was to have a do with nuns where they found them, for lack of their own wives. Till at the last they came to a nondrye (Coldyngham some say) where all the good sisters had cut of their own noses & their over laps to disfygure them selves, 
Coldyngham.  & so to escape the danger, ye may believe it and ye will. In those days king alphred made Donwolfe the contend of Ethelyngay, Bishop of Wynchestre, which had both wife and children. These. ij. lattre stories shall ye find in johan Harding, Ranulph, and Fabian.   

¶ A perilous & foul bug is marriage.  
NOt long after him was there a Bishop of Wynchestre called Elphegus the Bald. 
Elphegus.  Whose tyrannous custom was always in the beginning of lent to seclude all public penitentes from the church's entrance, and to require all married men not to lie with their wives till Eastre were fully passed. peraventure that he and his priests might for that time of their mart have the fire occupying of them. 
Ghostly fathers  For other goodness know I none belonging thereunto, non other consideration had. This story hath Guilhelmus malmsbury. li. 2. de pontificibus, & Ranulphus Cestrensis. li. 6. Cap. 6. 
contention  In the first election of this Elphegus, much strife was there between the priests and the monks, the priests electing out of their own sort to uphold them still concerning their wives and children, and the monks choosing this Hypocrite to place them in their rooms because they had no wives, as at the lattre it came to pass. 
Egelricus.  johan Capgrave. At the same time was there a poor priest in the diocese of Durham, Egelricus being Bishop, which had both wife ●nd children. 
a married priest  Him have the Sodomytysh knaves defamed in the legend of Cuthbert, that for using his own wife, the bread and wine at his Mass appeared so black as pitch. But never writ they in their legends, what change it hath when they lie with other men's wives, or play the most filthy sodomites for lack of women. Much be holden is marriage unto them. 
Marriage contemned.  For though all filthy sins may weal stand with their offye. yet can they not agree therewith. I think they tell here a good worshipful tale for their mass, if it be weal marked. Look johan Capgrave. In vita Cuthberti.   

¶ misfortune of. ij. married priests and other.  
AN other married priest, at the same very season, attempted (they say) to touch the dead bones of Saint Audrye the Nun at Helye, such time as married priests inhabited that monastery. 
A married priest.  And for his presumption, because he was married, both he, his wife and children, his kindred, friends, and acquaintance, died all suddenly. For marriage may touch nothing that long to that generation, unless whorishness be good masters unto it, and come as a mean betwixt both. Look johan Capgrave in vita etheldred. Ethelstanus a monk, 
ethelst●nus a monk married  at one time taking priesthood with Dunstane and Ethelwolde, within a while after left all his order's a●● 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, and so he lived in the water ever after with a great sort more of his company. 
A miracle  Whereupon (they say) that monastery and town hath ever since been called Elye. 
Elpe.  Guilhelmus malmsbury et joannes Capgrave. A young infant called Brithgina, 
Brithgida.  being no more than one day old/ professed Elphegus into the monastery of wylton about the same time. So did he also an other called Wilfhilda, 
Wilfhilda.  into the nondrye of Wynchestre, so soon as she was weaned from suck. Whom afterward King Edgare claimed in marriage, 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 fyllinge in of cups, joannes Capgrave.   

¶ Miracles and wonders wrought.  
When Odo the Bishop of salisbury was elected archbishop of Caunterburye in the year of our Lord. 
Odo.  DCCCC. and. xlvi. 
946.  he would in no case be consecrated, till he was by the abbot of Floriake professed a monk. 
Floria●us.  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, he waxed so frantic upon the kings concubines, 
The kings concubines.  that some of them he sealed in the ●aces with hot burning Irons most shamefully, and some of th●m 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 constytutions against it, 
Cinstitutions.  to enrich the monks through that crafty colour with their great possessions. His nephew oswald found he to school at floryake the wellspring of necromancy, 
Oswalde.  to learn there all crafty sciences. 
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● are only figure of Christ's body, 
The sacrament.  an● 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 or 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 ago in Surrey, by pricking his fingar with a pin.   

¶ Monkery augmented by Dunstane.  
Saint Dunstane here in England being thought 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 occupienges, 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 the good favour of diverse women, 
musyck.  yea, of some which had been the kings concubines, as Alfgine, wilfrich 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, invysyblye to have been torn in pieces. 
Carni●ge.  What he goat by his Image making, the scripture showeth plain, which curseth both the hand and the instrument of the Image maker. Sapi. 14. and Deutro. 27. This story declareth morat, large Osbertus monachus in vita Dunstani Vincencius li. 24, Ca 74. Antoninus par. 2. li. 16. Ca 6. 
authors  Marianus Scotus. Guilhelmus Malmeshuriensis. Ranulphus Cestrensis. li. 6. Cap. 10. Volateranus. Bergomas. Nauclerus. johan Capgrave. johan hardynge. Vuylliam Caxton johan Lydgate. and Robert Pabyane.   

¶ The religious occupying of Dunstane.  
AS Dunstane in the house of a widow was fashyoning a priests stool, 
A cast or feat,  his harp hanging upon the wall without touching sounded the note of Gaudent in celis. Whereupon the wenches astonied, went out of the owse with the widow and all her household, proclaiming it a broad, that he had much more learning than was good For this and such like feats, certain men told King Ethelstane, 
Ethelstanus.  that he was given to ill science, and wrought many things by the devil, whereupon he put him clerlye than out of service. For he had been afore committed unto that king by Athelmus his uncle (I will not say his father) than archbishop of Caunterburye, 
Athelmus.  to work feats to his mind for that spiritual generation. From thence went he to Elphegus an other kinsman of his, 
Elphegus.  at that time bishop of Wynchestre, which put upon him a monks apparel, that he might thereby avoid both the fire of concupisbence & the fire of hell. I think few wise men will believe this physyck to be true, as that a monks cowl were able to restrain those. ij. heats. 
a monks cowl.  Rather should it seem to procure them, else had we never had so many lecherous luikes and prodigious sodomites among them as we read of. Saint Paul admonished Timothe, that such hypocrites should follow in the christian congregation as having a shine of Godly living, 
hypocrites.  should utterly deny the power thereof. These (he said) should run from house to house (as this Dunstane deed) and bring into bondage women loaden with sin. 2. Timo. 3.   

¶ Dunstane by sorcery terrifieth King Edmonde.  
NOw to return again to King Edmonde, 
Edmondus rex.  which succeeded his brother Ethelstane. Complaints were made also unto him of this Dunstane, by many noble men, for his prodigious feats. Whereupon he took such displeasure with him, that not only he deprived him of offices (which he had there) but also utterly banished him the court. 
Dunstanes devil worketh.  The third day after, as it chanced the King in a park to ride on hunting, and to follow his game among rocks and bushes, he suddenly happened into a most perilous place, where as he neither could go forward nor yet turn back again. The heart which he followed was before his face torn in small pieces, so were the hounds most terryblye to behold, 
homely Play.  nothing there perceived that should do it. The King so sore laboured to return with his horse, that he broke both bridle and steruppes, and yet could in no wife prevail, nor yet light from his back. Than called he Dunstane to remembrance, and (he being absent) before God there axed him forgiveness. 
time I trow.  So were both the beast and hounds restored again unto him safe and found, his bridelll and steruppes hole. I think this play somewhat passed course legerdemain. After that was Dunstane the high steward of his house, and 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 Edwine/ retaining his concubine.  
AS King Edwine upon the day of his coronation occupied Alfgina his concubine, 
Edwinus: alfgina.  having than none other wife, Dunstane being at that time but a monk and abbot of Glastonbury, plucked them both violently from the bed, and brought them before the Archebishopp Odo/ threttening the woman suspensyon, 
Odo cantuariensis.  ye may call it hanging if ye will. For the which the King after that expled the said Dunstane into Flanders, and wrought the monks many other dyspleasurs, till they found the means to depose him, by the virtue of ear confession. 
Confession.  Volateranus, li, 2. geography, 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. joannes Capgrave in Cat sanct. Anglie.   

¶ Dunstane keepeth the kings of England under.  
DVnstane was exceedingly beloved with Cadina King eldreds mother (these are the plain words, 
Cadina loveth.  of the history) and he loved her exceedingly again. And when he once became the kings corectour & master, yea rather his king & Emperor (saith the text) by her means he was elected Bishop of wynchestre after the decease of E●phegus. But he enjoyed it not by reason of his tyranny against king edwin that succeeded him. 
Edwinus rex.  Whose concubines he can said the archbishop Odo (as is said afore) to seal in the face with hot Irons and to bannysh them, specially one he sore blemished & sent into Ireland. And when Dunstane was for this presumptuous pageant exiled, the monks caused the commons to rise against him, 
The commons rise.  from the water of Humbre to the flood of Thamis, & so to depose him. joannes Capgrave in vitis Dunstani & Odonis. Never were the concubines of David & Solomon thus ordered of Samuel & Achimelech, Abiathar & Sadoch, the bishop of that age. In a certain vision received Dunstane. iij. swords (they say) of. iij. 
iij. swords.  apostles, Peter, Paul, & Andrew, with the administration of. iij. bishoprics in England, Worcestre, London, & Caunterbury, to keep the kings under, & to bring monks into the plenteous possessions of the cathedral churches that priests with their wives & children by violente expelled. 
Married priests.  Of him also the foresaid Odo thus prophesied at his consecration. This will be a most mighty captain (come down knows come down) & valiant warrior against the worldly princes. Vincencius, Antoninus, Capgrave. Thus grew the hungry lean locusts into most sturdy wild horses with lions heads. Apo. ix. 
Apoc. 9  neyeng after men's wives. Hiere. 5. 
Hiere. 5.    

What rule was at Rome in those days  
TO fetch this matter where about we go, from the very well spring or first original, as the fruit from the tree and the tree from the root, we will somewhat show what chaste order was at Rome in those days. 
Rome chastity.  In the year of our lord. DCCCC. and seven. 
907  was one Sergius a man without all virtue and learning made Pope, and became the third of that name. 
Sergius  This Sergius kept a young whore in the time of his holy papacy called Marozia, 
Marosia  & had by her a bastard, which was pope long after him, called joan the. xi. and reigned in all filthiness more them. seven. years. Some writers hold that he begat of her johan the. x. also, but the contrary of that shall appear hereafter. This filthy tyrant caused pope formosus (whom his predecessor Steven had afore disgraded & buried among the profane lay multidude) to be taken up again, 
Formosus.  decked like a pope, set in a chair, to be byheaded, and his. iij. fingers cut of, his carcase so to be thrown into the raging flood of Tiber. 
Tyranny.  See if there were ever any tyranny like unto the tyranny of these spiritual Antichristes', thus cruelly handling, ● man that is dead. This showeth more at large, Liuthprandus Ticinensis. lib. 2. Capi. 13. ac. lib 3. Cap. 12. rerum Europicarum. 
authors  Blondus Flavius, Baptista Platina, joannes Stella, abbess Vrspergensis, Ptolemeus Lucensis, Vincencius, Antoninus, Bergomas & alij.   

¶ The chastity of holy church there.  
THeodora a most execrable whore, 
Theoracum filiabus.  and adulterous mother to the foresaid Marozia & Theodora the yongar (both unshamefast whores also) so burned in concupiscens of the beauty of one johan Ravennas a priest, 
joannes Ravennas  them sent in massage 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. x. 
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 and he governed the papacy there. 
915.  xiii. years and more. Liuthprandus Ticinensis lib. 2 Cap. 13. rerum per Europam gestarum. It is easy to see by this open experiment, that she and her. ij. daughters might do much 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 there unto 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, at the lattre married Pope Sergius whore Marozia. 
Guido & Mazozia  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. x. and to stop up his breath with a pillow. Immediately after, which was the year of our Lord. DCCCC. and. xxix was he constitute pope, 
929.  and called johan the. xi. 
joan. xi.  but the same self year he was deposed again. Whereupon she clearly left all spiritual occupy, and in displeasure of the prelate's, married herself sone 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 spiritualty. Liuthprandus. li. 3. Ca 12. Pope Leo the. vi. which followed the next, 
Leo et Stephanus.  hel● the papacy not. iij. quarters of a year. And after him Steven the. seven. little mo●e then. ij. years. They might not long tarry here, but had a cast of sour physic to send them well hens, that they might give place to the right heir. For next them he succeeded again, and continued almost. v. years after. All that hath written since platynaes time, 
Writers deceived  have been foully deceived with him, concerning this johan the. xi. some of them taking one johan for another, and some two for one, forwante of the afore saide work of Liuthprandus, which wrote about the same very time.   

¶ Three whores made Goddeses for whoredom.  
AT Rome were. iij. whores of name notable, 
iij. whores.  about the year of our lord, DCCCC. and. thirty. 
930  called Bezola, Roza, & Stephana. Which in all prodigious lechery has been brought up there among the religious cardinals, bishops, monks & priests, from their very youth. As these whores came once to the occupying of king Hugh, 
Hugo rex.  he ever after abhorred his other wife Berta, a lady most fair and beautiful. And for their cunning feats in that bawdy occupation, he gave them ever after the names of. iij. Goddeses. 
Goddeses for Whoredom.  He called Bezola venus, Roza juno, and Stephana Zemele. Of these harlots one made Boso her bastard Bishop of Placencia, the other made Theobaldus her mysbegetten the archdeacon of milan, and the third was not all behind with her filthy fruit also. Liuthyrandus Ticinensis li. 3. Ca 6. That vow of chastity (I trow) is somewhat worth, 
spiritual chastity.  when it hath such feats in bawdy bytcherye, as all the world besides is ignorant of. It were great pity but it were so high advanced, and maintained by princely polityque laws, they becoming servants thereunto by making laws for the upholding thereof.   

¶ A most high example of holy churches chastity.  
ALbericus the son of Marozia by her first husband Albert, 
Albericus  being Marquis of Hetruria and king of italy, compelled the Romans his subjects, partly by great rewards, & partly by strong threatenings, to admit his son Octavyane to the papacy, 
Octavianus.  which was given to all riot and vice from his very infancy. notwithstanding for his pleasure they agreed thereunto, in the year of our lord. DCCCC and. lvi. 
956.  and named him johan the. xii. 
joan. xii  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, 
Synodus Rome.  that he would say no service, 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 Raynera the 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 (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, run, 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 Godfathers. 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 spirits, and drink to the devil for love. Thus was he in the end deposed, till his dear diamonds set hands unto it (for they ruled all) and caused the Romans to set him in again. 
Their spiritual father.    

¶ Dunstanes authority against married priests.  
THe papacy held this johan the xii. 
joan. xii  for the space of. ix. years. iij. months, and v days, and was stricken of the devil (they say) as he was dying in bed with a man's wife, and so died within. viii. days after without housel or shrift, they say. All this writeth of him the foresaid Liuthprandus lib. 6. Cap, 6. 
Liuthprandus.  and so forth. 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. 
byword.  As miry as Pope johan. 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, authorize & power of the Beast, Apoc. 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 did. 
The first compulsion.  This Dunstane (as witnesseth joan Capgrave) was the first that in this real me compelled men and women to vow chastity and to keep claustrale obedience, against the free doctrine of saint Paul. 1. Cor. 7. & Gal. 5. forbidding marriage instituted of God, which is the very doctrine of devils. 1. Timot. 4 This is the worthy original and first foundation of monks and priests professed chastity in England. 
Foundation of chastity.  Mark it with the sequel, and tell me hereafter, whether it be of the devil or nay.   

¶ Dunstane execute his devilish commission.  
THis crafty merchaunde Dunstone, as he was returned again into England, 
The devils commyssyoner.  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 conscienced 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 ●pon them, and showed most violence & tyranny. 
A tyrant.  For when the high deans of cathedral churches, 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 Edgar.  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 Catologo sanctorum Anglie. Read all the Bible and chronicles over, of Nembroth, Pharaoh, 
Tyranny spiritual  Antioch, Nero, Decius, Traianus, with other like, 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, 
marriage condemned.  it had been somewhat commendable. But his hunting was to destroy it all together, 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 then of the English church sore changed, 
Fancies ecclesiarum.  blemyshed, and by whorish commyssions from the whorish bishops of the whorish synagogue of Rome, was made all together whorish. Prove me here in 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 yourselves to be the most thieves, heretics, 
Heretics and thieves.  & 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 would. 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. seven. years penance, 
penance  and might in no wise be dispensed with, till he had builded for their commodity the great nondrye of Shaftesbury with. xii. 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 apish slave  writing to the pope for the same. For as witnesseth both William of Malmesbury, Ranulph of Chestre, Guido de columna, and Robert Fabiane, he was not crowned till the. xii. 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, 
The beasts authority.  Dunstane with his bull went by and by unto him, and by force thereof denounced him accursed. 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 then disdained to give him his hand. And looking upon him with bend brows and most spiteful countenance, he said thus unto him. 
A proud knave.  Thou that hast not feared to corrupt a virgin made handefast to Christ, presumest to touch (a knave) the consecrate, hands of a bishop? Thou hast defiled the spouse of thy maker (a monks whore) and thinkest by flattering service, to pacify (a thief) the friend of the bridegroom? No, 
No king but a fool  speak not of it. His friend will not I be, (O colour of dissimulation, which hath Christ to enemy. This said he, to make him believe that she was a professed nun. But the crafty knave lied falsely, and so mocked his king to make of him a very dysarde fool. For the chronicles all agre in a manner that she was no nun but a wench soiornaunt in the nondrye. 
A witless Beast.  Thus when he found him well faverdlye submitted and well brought under, he put him to his penance and deprived him of his crown for the term thereof, as afore is specified. Vincencius, Antoninus, Guilhelmus malmsbury, Ranulphus Cestrensis, Guido de columna, et joannes Capgrave.   

¶ The wiles of the serpent prevail.  
This crafty pageant was played of Dunstane, to put all other inferrioure subjects the more in fear to disobey the pope's filthy commission. 
practise  For when the king was once brought under (as they are not ashamed to write it) who durst hiss there against? For William of Malmesbury saith, & Ranulphus allegete the same li. 6. Ca 10. of his Polichronicon. 
Craft.  That by this means he assuaged the grudge of the great men, the murmur of the commons, and the malice of the priests. O wily servantes, I trow the devil of hell his ●elfe can not go beyond you in subtlety and craft for your beastly generation. When this victory was once gotten, 
priests go out.  then went the priests out by heaps from the cathedral churches and colleges with their wives and children, and the monks came in as fast with all prodygiouse lechery, but all their feats were done in them dar●e. Than was it blown abroad (as all such knaveries must have a pretenced colour) that priests lived wantonly and would not serve God, 
A colour  with such like. But they could not in those days accuse them so largely of occupienge other men's wives, nor yet of abominable sodometry, as they have been known of since that constrained filthiness.   

¶ Dunstane chiefly loved the fruits of adultery.  
IOhan Capgrave, Vyncent, and antonine reporteth in their writings, that this adulterous child was Edward, 
Edward  surnamed the martyr (whom Dunstane took for his own, as peradventure he had just cause) or else for that he was his Godfather. Not withstanding diverse other auctors hold that Editha was that child. 
Editha.  But what matter maketh it which of them it was, when all they are allowed now for canonized Saints in the Popes whorish church. 
All saints.  Yea, the whoremonger, the whore, the whorish bastard and all, to set whorishness forward and make it appear holy, where marriage is thought unholy. And as for the mother of Edward, johan Harding nameth her elfled, Polidorus Elfrede, William of Malmesbury, 
The mother.  ranulph, & Fabiane calleth her white Egelflede, and Caxton dare give her no name, and therefore the matter is doubtful. As Dunstane was on a time hallowing of a church in the honour of Saint devil, 
dunstane.  saint Denis 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 delyghting therein, he took it in his hand, and said. Never might this thumb perish. immediately after he being at Mass and dolorouslye 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. ij. parts of her, he had blessed afore. 
A narrow searcher.  In deed he was very homely to ser●he so far. But the cause of this (they say (she afterward declared unto him in a secret vision. This story showeth Vuillian of malmsbury. li, 2. de pontificibus. Ranulphus in polichronico, li. 6. Ca 9 Vincencius. li. 25. Ca 33. Antoninus. par. 2. li. 16. Ca 8 johannes Capgrave in vita Edithe.   

¶ Kings become the Beasts Images.  
When King Edgare had ones performed his. 
Edgar  seven. years penance for his adultery with fair Wilfrith (whom Dunstone peraventure prepared for his own store) he became altogether the dumb Image of the Beast, 
Image Bestie  and might not utter from thence fourth, but as they gave him spirit. Apo. 13. Than caused they him to call a general counsel (at London some say) in the year of our Lord. 
sinodus  DCCCC. and. lxix. 
969  by the ungracious authority of the afore said pope johan. And there was it fully enacted, and established for a law ever to endure, that all canons of cathedroll churches, collygeners, persons, curates, vicars, priests, deacons, 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. 
An Act for sodom.  This more than Pharaony●all constitution, 
tyranny.  was the King sworn to aid. maintain, and defend with the material sword, by the pope's authority. Than were there chosen out. ij. principal visitors, 
visitors.  Ethelwolde the bishop of Wynchestre (that nest is oft ungracious) and oswald the Bishop of Worcestre, both monks, to s● this through out the whole realm executed. Vincencius li. 24. Cap, 83. Antoninus par, 2, ti. 16. Cap. 6. Guilhelmus malmsbury, Ranulphus, Guido de columna, joan Capgrave. & opus nowm de utraque potestate. ●o. 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 substantially proved themselves the maintainers of virtue therein, and not of adultery as they were there uncharitably noted. But that would not serve them. The holy Ghost might in no wise prevail, the pope's bawdy bulls being in place, 
Bulls  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 likelihood 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, besides alfred whom he at the lattre goat to wife by the crafty mouther of her husband Ethelwolde an earl. 
alfreda.    

¶ The king defendeth Dunstane & destroyeth wolves.  
But to pacify and please this Dunstane, 
Oratio ad clersi  King Edgare in his oration there to the clergy, rebuked the priests very sore, for banketinge with their wives, for slackness of their mass sayings, for pretermytting their canonical hours, for their crowns shavings with their unprestly aparellinge, 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 his said dead father in that vision reported Dunstane to be the pastor, bishop, and keeper of his soul (Christ was nothing) making him still to believe, 
A devilish Illusion.  that the building of monasteries was always the most healthsome good work, expedient help, price, remedy, redemption, and deliverance of the soul from damnation. Ex oratione regis Edgari ad clerum Anglie. Look the book of both jurisdictions. Of this king Edgare is it verified by ranulph, that by a yearly tribute of. C C C. wolves out of Wales/ he destroyed all the wolves in that land. But within his own land, the fierce greedy wolves that devoured Christ's flock. 
wolves.  Acto. 20. 
Act. 20.  and the wily foxes that destroyed the sweet vineyards of the Lord. Can. 2. 
Cant. 2.  he left untouched yea, rather he set them up, maintained them, and fed them at his own table with most wicked jesabel. 3. Reg. 18. For in his time they obtained more than. xl great monasteries. 
Monasteries.  As were Glastonbury, Abindon, Thorneye, Ramseye, Peterborowe, Wenton, Wylton, Shaftesburye, Sherborne, Worcestre, Wynchestre, Hyde, Helye, Saint Albon, Beanflede, and such other, besides innumerable gifts and promotions else,   

¶ Ethelwolde with his lewd commission.  
FRom this afore named general counsel, went first Ethelwolde with his commission, 
Ethelwoldus impostor.  which had been abbot of Abyndon and was than bishop of Wynchestre, being hasty, heady, subtile witted, & learned in Profane letters, 
magus  as the hystoryanes writeth of him. This busy whelp of antichirst leaving Christ's pure ways, to follow the foot steps of the Esseanes, Tacyanes', Priscyllyanystes, Marcyanystes, and other heretics more, 
Heretics.  began first his feats at Wynchestre in the old college, And there drove out the priests with their wives and poor children, and put in monks of Abyndone for them. And this was his suggestion abroad to colour the matter. 
a colour  They kept very ill rule there (he said (they would not do their masses in due order, and they seemed no holier than the other lay people. But Polydorus reporteth. li. 4. Anglice history, that they were men of an honest life. From thence he went unto other towns and cities, and there did like wise, and bore the name to be a vygylaunt father over nuns and religious women. 
a father  This same one Bishop did more (saith Vincent) than could the King of the realm with all his whole power. In the end he wrote to pope. johan the. xiii. 
joan. 13  (which was the bastard of pope johan the. xii. by his paramour Stephana) of his dreams and visions for the time of his progress, 
Stephana.  desiring his power against the priests also, with many other wonders. johamnen Capgrave in Catalo. Guilhelmus Malmesbury, Vincencius, Antoninus, Ranulphus, Guido de colunna, et Polidorus.   

¶ oswald with his Beastly authority.  
ON the other side went oswald with his authority from that wicked counsel, 
Oswaldus magus.  which had stodied necromancy with other unpure sciences at Floryake besides orleans in france, 
Floriacus.  where he was first made monk and afterward in England became Bishop of Worcestre. This fellow so well 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 calkynges, and first expelled the Canons of the cathedral church of worcester with their careful wives and children and out of. 
priests expelled  seven. other churches more within that his diocese, and there placed for them the laysy leave 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 hath deeply felt ever since. 
a colour  His suggestions were like the other, as that the priests lived wanton, 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 are to much time, and therefore I pass it over. These. ij. promoted the said Dunstane above all other, as men having most wily crafts, 
iij false knaves.  to assist him in his business. These. iij. 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 Polidorus.   

¶ 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, 
Scisms.  partly for him that next should succeed King, and partly for the great injury done to the married priests. The queen alfred with Alpherus the duke of Mercia and other great lords favouring her quarrel would needs have ethelred King which was her son by Edgare, 
Alpherus.  on the one side. 
Ethelredus.  Dunstane and his monkish Bishops with the earl of East sex and certain other Lords suborned by them, on the other side would needs have Edward, 
Edwardus.  whom some reported to be Edgares bastard. Anon as Dunstane perceived the queens part to prevail (for she had the most of the lords) he called for his metropolytanes cross, and there like a bold yeoman and a tall, 
legatus  showed himself among them as the pope's high legate from his own right side. For he had by that time procured of Pope johan the. xiii. 
joan. 13  (which was the other pope's bastard) a renovacyon of his former authority, to double the whorishness thereof. And by force of the same, he made Edward king in spite of them all, and showed himself (johan Capgrave saith) a very natural father unto him ever after. 
a father  Nevertheless it cost him his life in the forth year of his reign. Than to make all holy towards their side, 
A deceit  and to blemish the other party, specially to stop men's mouths abroad (for many things were in those days spoken) they canonized him a Saint, finding the means to show miracles for him, and that made all whole every way. Prefati Autores.   

¶ The priests with their wives restored  
ANon after this kings coronation, Alpherus the Duke of Mercia with other great men, 
Alpherus.  by counsel of the queen, drove the monks out of the cathedral churches and restored again the priests with their wives and children. For the priests had laid for themselves, 
priests restored  that it was uncomely, uncharitable, yea, and unnatural, to put out an old known dweller for a new unknone: A neighbour, a citizen, and a child brought up among them, for a forover & a stranger. 
The priests.  They knew it (they said) to be unpleasing unto God, that man should take from them that he had ones given them. Finally they alleged this grounded precept of God for them selves. let men do none otherwise than they would gladly be done to. The Monks on the other side, 
The monks  laid for their part, that Christ cared not an half penny for the old dweller/ but allowed him only that would take the cross of penance upon him. Whether that be in a monks cowl without just tittle to enter into an other man's possessions or no. I put it to the judgement of them that are christianly learned. The troblouse cares in marriage, 
A cross in marriage.  as are the necessary provisions for house keeping, the virtuous bringing up of children, and the daily helping of poverty, should rather seem a christian cross to Godly wise men, than easy Idleness in monkery. In the rude of this controversy, the greater 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, somewhere with good earnest blows and buffets. Robertus Fabiane 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. But that was where they thought themselves most strong, and might best do their feats, 
sinodus  at Wynchestre. Where after great words had between the duke of March and the earl of East sex (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 idolatrous 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 holden, 
A rood  and (as Vincent & Antoninus testifieth) Dunstane required them all to pray thereunto, which was not than ignorant of that spiritual provision. In the mids of their prayer, the rood spoke these words, or else a knave monk behind him in a trunk through the wall, 
knavery  as Boniface did after for the papacy of celestine. 
The rood speaketh.  God forbid (saith he) ye should change this order taken. Ye should no do weal, now to alter it. Take Dunstanes ways unto ye, for they are the best. All this work of the devil at all they were astayned, that knew not thereof the crafty conveyance. If this were not cleave 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. Polidorus Vergilius, which alloweth them in many other lewd points, smelled out their bovery in this, and reporteth diverse other to do the same at that 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, these verses following. 
Verses.   

Humano more, crux presens edidit ore,  
Coelitus affata, que perspicis hic subarata,  
Absit ut hoc fiat, & cetera tunc memorata   
With lie and all. Whom johan Capgrave reporteth that he see there more than CCCC. years after, 
Capgrave.  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 sea, 
Canutus.  he thought to prove it by a commandment of obedience. And as he weal perceived that it would obey him in no point, he took the crown from his own head, 
The crown.  acknowledging, that there was a Lord much 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 than Archebyshopp of Caunterburye, 
Egelnothus.  informed him of this rood which had dysolued 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, constytuting him than King of this realm. 
An Idol made king.  Was not this (think you (good wholesome counsel of this Idolouse Bishop. Zachary. II. 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 Archidiaconus. li. 6. Ranulphus. li. 6. Ca 20. Fabianus li. 1. Ca 206, & Polydorus. li. 7. with other authors more   

¶ An example of Cloister virginity.  
MArianus Scotus and certain other writers besides, do testify in their chronicles, that when this Canutus could have no fruit by his wife Elgive of hampton, 
canutus Elgiva.  and was not trouglye 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, which was big with child by a monk, not withstanding the great chastity that was boasted afore. 
Cloister chastity.  But Marianus saith, she was a presbyteresse or a priests leman, to save the honour of that order, because he was a monk his self. Algyne had this nun be of good cheer, and if she wooed agree unto her, it should be to her great honour. But it must (she said) be kept wonderfully close. 
A monks bastard.  immediately after the queen feigned herself to be great with child, and by the conveyance of a mother. B. going betwixt them both, at the time appointed of labouring, she was delivered of the nuns child, making the King to believe it was his, to no small rejoice of them both. This child was called Sweno, 
Sweno  and the year afore Canutus died, was constitute King of Norwey. 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 no 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 and the monks 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 hardly. Whereupon Alpherus the Duke of March with his company, 
Alpherus.  in the year following (which was from Christ's incarnation. DCCCC. and. lxx vi. 
976 ) sent into scotland for a certain learned Bishop, 
a learned  which was known both eloquent and witty, 
Bishop.  to dispute the matter with them. Than was the place appointed in a street or village of the Kings, called Calna, for they trusted no more close houses in the monasteries. And when the Bishop had laid for the married priests such invincible scriptures, reasons, and arguments as Dunstane and his dodypoll monks were not able to avoid, 
Dunstane an ass.  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, but he set the Devil by his necromancy to work. 
a limb of the devil.  For so soon as he was gone, with such as it pleased his pontifical pleasure to call with him, suddenly (saith fabian, antonine, Vincent, and johan Capgrave) the joists of the fit failed, and they that were under it, perished there.   

¶ Dunstanes provision in England for Satan.  
This 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 those 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 papystyck churches of England with no small solemnity/ mattensed, massed, candesed, lighted, processyoned, sensed, 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.  which is the spirit of Antichrist. 
miracles.  He raised up in England the pestilent order of monks, he builded them monasteries, he procured them substance innumerable, finally he brought ●nto the●r hands the cathedral churches with the free eleccion of bishops, that nothing should there be don● within that realm, but after their lust and pleasure. The● was Christ's kingdom cle●elye put a zion, and his immaculate spouse, or church upon his word only depending, 
the church.  compelled to flee into desert. Apoc. xvi. 
Apo. 12.  Men and women that rightly believed, durst not than confess their faith, but kept all close within them. For than was Satan al●●de. 
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 gandyshe 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. and lxxxviij. 
988  (which was the. xii. year before that full thousand) departed this Dunstane, as warm of devils frequenting his tomb, 
Devils.  as I shall in the next book show more plainly. Within the same year aptare & a bloody cloud in the sky, 
A bloody cloud.  which covered all England ●as witnesseth johan harding with divers other chroniclers, and it rained blood over all the land. After that entered the Danes so fast (saith ranulph, 
Danes.  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. x. thousand pound to begin with, that they might live in rest and not be hindered. For little cared they what became of the rest, so their precious bodies were safe. After this by diverse compulsyons they augmented that sum, from. x. to. xvi. to. 
Monks were.  xx. to. xxiv. to. thirty. ●nd so fourth till they came to the sharp payment of. xl. thousand pound, 
England's destruction.  and till they had no more money to give. For the more the Danes had, 
The Danes strengthened.  the more covetous and cruel they were evermore. Thus did they to the land innumerable harm, in seeking their own private commodity, & 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 said Danes, 
Lord Dane,  their g●o● lord. But now ●arke the end secerning these monks. In the year of our lord a thousand &. xii. 
1012  which was the. xxiv. year from Dunstanes departing, and the. xii. from the devils goingge fourth, the Danes after many great victories within the realm, fired the city of Caunterburye and imprisoned the archbishop than Elphegus. 
Caunterburye. Elphegus.  And as he and his monks were able to give no more money, they tithed them after this sort. They slew always. ix. and reserved the tenth to perpetual sorrow and servitude, till they had mourtered of them to the number of more than. 
tithings.  ix. hundred, there and in other quarters abroad. And the most part of them they hang up by the members, which was a plain sygnifi●aon, that plague to come then upon them for their sodometry and most violent contempt of christian marriage. 
A just Plague.  Ranulphus Cestrensis lib. 6. Ca 13. et. 15. Fabianus par. 1. Ca 199.    

¶ The conclusion of this first book.  

Extent of this book.  HEre have I painted out before your eyes (most dearly beloved country men) the chaste, holy, consecrated, & spiritual acts of your En●lyshe 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 up them perceive what the rest hath been. In the next part or book, 
The other book  which shall begin at Satan's going fourth at large, after his thousand years tyenge up. Apoca. 20. and so continue to this year of our Lord a. MD. and LI. 
1551.  that ye may know what cheer hath been among them, what occupying they have had, what masteries they have played, & what miracles they have done, for that thyme and space also. I think it will apere an other manner of thing, then that which hath gone afore. For so much as Satan their ghostly governor 
Satan at large.  hath for that time wrought most strongly. 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 four the for holy, spiritual, consecrated, chaste, honourable, and ghostly good works, 
Good works.  being abominable and most stinking knaveries.  
The world shall well 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 same, 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 (sayeth he) is so closely hidden among those spiritual murderers, but willbe clearly openeed, neither yet so secretly coveted, but shall apere manifest and be known to the world. Mat. x. 
Mat. ●  Marc. iiij. 
Mar. iiij  Luc. xii. 
Luc. 12.  Christ suffered very long the Pha●ysees and bishops, 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 to buketh.  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. twenty-three. chapter of matthew, 
Mat. 23.  and 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 & Titus.  to the number of. x. hundred thousands of jews 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 these, were there led fourth from thence captive. 
captives.  xcvij thousand, 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. And now after his most manifest example, 
Example.  Christ willeth us also extremely to rebuke these cruel corrupters of the christyanite, for their most spiteful contempt of his wholesome warnings, the Christian magistrates hereafter, 
Magistrates.  or else some other enemy of theyes, following with double vengeance upon the heads of them. Apoc. xviij. This plague, when it shall f●ll, as it is not far of, will be the most ryghtouse hand of God, upon that malygnaunte generation.  
Great wondre will it be unto many (I know it weal) to be hold their chief english Saints thus rebuked. 
English Saints.  And peraventure they will think, that I might as well 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. 
The Autour.  But I tell those menafore hand, that they are wretched lie 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 declineth to men's inventions, be all one with him which only followeth the pure word of God.  
But undoubtedly of no small time, have the fallen stars darkened the clear stars of heaven, 
Fallen stars.  the pope's hypocrytysh Saints, the true Saints of Christ and perfect children of Abraham. The chief cause of this hath been the cruel contempt of holy wedlock, and the brag boasting out of their unholoye chastity. Never saw ye yet any holy days made of Adam, 
Holy days.  Seth, Enos, and Eunuch for the first age. Neither yet of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, jacob, joseph Moses, David, Zorobabel, and such other for the other ages. I think if Peter and Paul with the other Apostles, 
Peter & Paul.  had been known meryed men, they had never had so many perfuminge and sensings.  
It is only marriage that hath made men secular abjects, 
secular & lay.  and unholy, lousy, lewd, lay people. In spite of that have the spiritual sodomites in the legends of their sanctified sorcerers, disfamed the english posterity with tails, as I have showed afore. That an english man now can not travail in an other land by way of merchandise or any other honest occupying, 
Called Startsmen.  but it is most contumeliously thrown in his ●ethe, that all english men have tails, 
Tails.  That uncomely note and report have the nation gotten without recover, by these laysye and Idle lubers the Monks & the priests, which could find us matters to advance their canonized Cay●sby, at their Saints (as they call them) but manifest lies and 〈◊〉. In the mean time have they boosted their own most filthy whores, 
whores.  their nuns and veiled sisters, for sanctified virgins and the pure spouses of Christ. Never was there yet so precious and orient a colour to hide all their knaveries, as was that counterfeit chastity of theirs. That fair face of the subtile serpent, 
Face of the Serpent.  hath hitherto deceived all the world, and wrought innumerable mischiefs therein. But if those their sorcerers be Saints as they say they are, then may the devils of hell be Saints also. Let Dunstanes devil stand than checkmate with Dunstane his master, 
Dunstanes devil  and be a popish Saint as he is, for he never did a quarter of so much mischief as he hath done. Stand up ye noble men and women in the true knowledge of your lord God, 
Noble men.  if ye will hereafter be noted valiant. Be not as your fore fathers have been afore you, beastly ignorant in the ways of his truth.  
Follow the Christian principles of your most worthy jounas, 
King Henry.  king Eduward the sixth and his noble father afore him which have graciously begun to smell out in that fulse generation the engy●●es of the devil. As 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 flee 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, & Paul reporteth, 
What maketh noble.  they shall be destroyed without hands, Esa. xi. Dan. viii. and two. Tes ij. Only is it Gods true knowledge, that nobleth you before him, be therefore no longer negligent. An unrecurable dishonour were it unto you, from hence forth 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 d●●e heritage, draw not your laws out of Antichristes' rules now that ye know Christ's wholesome doctrine. 
Laws.  Neither yet fetch the bread that ye shall feed your commons with, 
Doctrine.  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 cle●elye 〈…〉 them 〈◊〉 t●at vile generation. Let them no longer worship devils as they have done, 
devils.  in these dead monks and thieves, but let them look freely towards their eternal and living God, both to their soul's health & 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' Pyrminuis.  
Alphonsus de Castro.  
Alphredus beverlacensis  
Amandus Zierizensis.  
Antoninus Florentinus.  
Baptista Platina.  
Baptista Mantuanus.  
Bartholomeus Anglus  
Bedas Girwinus.  
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 Cesariensi●.  
Festivate Sacerdotum.  
Flores Historiarum.  
Franciscus Lambertus.  
Freculybus jexovi enste  
Galfredus Monemutensis.  
Gennadius Massiliensis.  
Georgius joy.  
Georgius Vnteelius.  
Gildas Britanus.  
Giraldus Cambrensis.  
Guido de Columna.  
Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis.  
Guilhelmus Caxton.  
Guilhelmus Tyndale.  
Guilhelmus Turner.  
Hartmanus Shedel.  
Hector Boethius.  
Helmandus Monachus.  
Henricus Huntyngtonensis.  
Hermamnus Contractus  
Hermamnus Torrentinus  
Honorius Augustudunensis.  
jacobus Vorago.  
jacobus Bergomas.  
jacobus Zieglerus.  
jodoeus Badius.  
joannes Capgreve.  
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.  
Nanclerus, joannes.  
Nennius Britannus.  
Odo Chariacensis.  
Osteirus Cantuariensis.  
Osunaldus Myconius.  
Otto Phrisingensis.  
Paulus Orosius.  
Paulus Aemilius.  
Paulus Constantinus.  
Petrus Equilinus.  
Philippus Melanchton  
Plinius Secundus.  
Polycrates Ephesius.  
Polydorus Vergilive.  
Pomponius Mela.  
Prosper Aquitannus.  
Ptolomeus Lacensis.  
Ranulphus Cestrensis.  
Raphael Volateranus  
Robertus fabian.  
Robertus Barnes.  
Sigebertus Gemblacensis.  
Strabo Cretensis.  
Thomas Bradunardin.  
Thomas Vualden.  
Thomas Scrope.  
Vincensius Beluacensis.  
utraque potestas.  
Wernerus Cartusiensis.  
Wilibaldus Anglus.   
Finis.  The holy Ghost shall rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, & of judgement. joan. xvi. 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. xxi. The man of sin shall he 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. ij. Thes. ij.  

¶ Imprinted at London by Abraham Vele, dwelling in Paul's churchyard at the sin of the Lamb. Anno. 1551.  
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.   

¶ The second part or continuation of the English votaries, comprehending thayr unchaste examples for. CC. years space, from the year a thousand from Christ's incarnation, to the reign of king johan, collected of their own writers by johan Bale.  
¶ Behold (thou idolatrous church) I will gather together all thy lovers, unto whom thou hast made thyself comen, yea, and all them whom thou favourest, and every one that thou hatest, and will discover thy shame before them, that they all may see thy filthiness. Ezech. xvi.  
Imprinted at London, for johan Bale, in the year of our Lord a M. D. & LI. and are to be sold within Paul's chain, at the sign of S. john Baptist.  
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.   

The Preface of this book.  
FOr so much as Rome hath been so sinful a sink and pernicyouse puddle, as hath all the world infected by the sodometrouse vow of their symulate chastity, necessary I think it in this preface of the second part of my English votaries, 
ij. part.  to show what foundation it hath had in the same. Xenophon saith in his book of hunting, that Rhoma is the name of a dog, & johan Textor affirmeth the same both in his Epithets & Officines. A dog in the scripture is judged a beast most vile, 
A dog  his price being all one with the reward or wages of an whore for her whoredom. Thou shalt (saith the lord to Moses) neither bring the hire of an whore, nor the price of a dog into the house of God in no manner of vow, for both of them are abomination unto the Lord thy God, 
False teachers  Deuter. twenty-three. They in the scriptures of the sacred Bible, are compared unto dogs, which both profess and teach the verity of God unpurely, snaring the simple souls with the unprofitable traditions of men sinful. Dogs are ungentle barkers, cruel byters, lascivious lechers, greedy devourers, and insatiable raveners, much delyghting in blood. The malicious and covetous Romans, 
Romans.  with those unpure Apostles, which they from time to time have sent unto this our nation, hath most apertly showed themselves to be those vile dogs and swine, whom Christ admonished us to be ware of. Matthew. seven.  
¶ In the Bible text, S. Jerome saith, that Roma was the wife of Nahor Abraham's brother. 
Nahor.  Gene. xxij. Whose children were afterward, observers of the Planets and so became Idolaters, after the mind of Philo and other old writers. Cechim the son of javan, 
Cechim.  Genesis. x. otherwise called Italus, had a daughter named Roma, as testifieth Berosus the Chaldean, Fabius Pictor, & Caius Sempronius, whom he constitute queen of the Aborygenes or people of an unknown beginning. Which queen first builded the great city so named, Whom after long tract of time Romulus most gorgeously finished. 
Romulus.  This mention also Paulus Constantinus, Christianus Massaeus, and joannes Functius in their Chronolagies, besides that joannes Annius did therein afore them. Now let us consider how lady Lechery the virginal Goddess of the Sodomyticall Papists, hath compassed in, this great city on every side with her fleshly filthiness. And first let us begin with Romulus and Remus, the first setters up or advancers thereof. These. ij. bloody brethren had an whore to their mother, called Rhea ilia, 
Ilia Rhea  which being a professed nun to Venus, committed whoredom both ways, that is to say, both in soul and in body. For under the vow of chastity she served the idols, as the manner was that time, and so dallied besides in the dark, as was well perceived by her game.  
¶ After the minds of Virgil, ovid, and such other fabulous poets, these. ij. cruel captains Romulus and Remus, received their first nurryshment of a she wolf whom they sucked, in signification of the wonderful tyranny which should follow in that great city Rome, whereof they were the first amplyfyers. Other authors report, that they were first nursed of an harlot called Lupa, 
Lupa.  not far from the flood of Tiber, where as the Romish Pope holdeth now his palace, of whom all brothel houses, stews, or places where such filthiness is wrought, have their names, and are called to this hour Lupanaria. 
Lupanaria.  Romulus thus preserved by a thief called Paustulus, nurryshed by a wolf, and brought up by an whore, given also of himself to outrageous lechery, covetise, and ambition, became such a traitor to his own stock, as in the end most cruelly slew his natural brother Remus, to establish his great builded city in the wickedness of cursed Cain. Mark for this story Titus Livius, Plutarch, Bedas, and johan Boccatius. Chloris otherwise called Flora, 
Chloris.  a most notable harlot, obtaining infinite riches by her execrable whoredom, made Rome her heyer and the only inheritor of her filthy possessions, execrated of God, Deuter. twenty-three. For the which the Romans admitted her for a great Goddess, and dedicated unto her once in the year in Apryle, certain feasts, called Floralia sacra. 
Floralia.  This hath Marcus Cicero, which calleth her the mother of the Romans, so hath Aulus Gellius, and johan Textor.  
¶ Of these authority among these Romans were there many, both consuls and senators, which were named by this uncomely word Spurius, 
Spurij.  signifyenge a bastard, as is to be scene in the chronicles of Eusebius, and Paulus Constantinus, by Spurius Verginius, Spurius Tarpeius, Spurius Carbilius, Spurius Posthumus, Spurius Scruilius, Spurius Largus, Spurius Cassius, Spurius Nautius, Spurius Medullinus, Spurius Vectius, Spurius Furinus, Spurius Herminius, Spurius Paulus, Spurius Opius, Spurius Crassus, & a great sort more. By this should it seem that unchaste living was not only unpunished: but also advanced to great honour among the Romans. Priapus called in the Bible, 
Priapus  Miplezeth, iij. Reg. xv. and. ij. Parasip. xv. was such a disformed child of Venus, and most execrable idol of the Cananytes, as had never the like (for in his groves the bawds of that land, both wrought their filthiness, and also taught the fowl feats of the same) his story is far to uncomely to be rehearsed. Yet was he so deified of the Romans, that he both became the God of their gardenes, 
A God.  and had his feastful days every year with solemnity observed, a garland of flowers set upon his head, and an he ass always offered in sacrifice to him. ovidius primo libro fastorum, Textor, Althamerus, ac Cibenius. Non other were admitted in those days by the high senate of the Romans, 
Romish goods.  neither yet by commandment and custom worshipped, but such lecherous monsters as these were, of whom they had great number.  
¶ Resort we now to the Empire of this Rome, after the overthrow of the other three general monarchies of the world, of the Assyreanes, Perseanes, and Greeks, and see what entrance and progress lady lechery had therein. With Cleopatra the queen of Egypt, which was a woman (as testifieth Egesyppus) of a most corrupt life, julius Caesar the first Emperor, 
julius  had very long occupyenge without all honesty. Look Bedas de temporum ratione. Iac●bus Bergomas, and other like authors. Of Nero Domicius, 
Nero.  whose fleshly appetite could not with women be fully satisfied, the doings were to execrable to be here rehearsed. As Marcus Aurelius, 
Aurelius.  for the debility of nature, could no longer follow in that filthy course of living, which he had continued in from his youth, he caused his own privy parts to be cut away, and so dedicate himself to Venus, taking upon him from thence fourth the name and office of a woman, to prove th●t uncomely occupying in an other prodigious kind. Freculphus hath this in the first chapter of his second Tome, so hath Ado Viennensis with others more. 
Clergy.  What acceptacy●n and favour this most devilish example hath obtained in our Romish spiritualty, gelding excepted, the sequel of this book shall declare. Bede also reporteth in his former treatise, de temporum ratione, that Constantius the Emperor begat great Constantine here in England, 
Constantinus.  of Elene his concubine. Which Constantine, as a great number of Romish authors testifieth, was the first that builded Christian temples at Ro●e, 
Temples.  & that furnished the clergy ther●e with such possessions and body ease, as in process brought them into all kinds of wantonness in the flesh.  
¶ In continuance of years, the Romish Emperor became the elder son of Antichrist by profession and oath, 
ij. sons.  to defend the patrimony of S. Peter, as they call their thievish possessions, and so to maintain them in all idleness, pride, & lechery. The French king also on the other side, became his yongar son, being sworn always at his coronation, with fire and with sword to support the same. Of our English kings I speak not, which nevertheless were his adoptive children from the days of king Alpheede the great, to the middle age of king Henry the. viii. The Emperor after that, 
Emperor.  was appointed by office to hold the Pope's styroppe whiles he leapt on his mule, and the French king to hold his bridle and to wait upon his jennet of Spain Ex Christophoro Marcello in ritibus Romanae Ecclesiae. 
French king.  tedious were it to declare here the whole circumstance, how lechery reigned in this second son also. As how Childericus the French king, 
Childericus.  being expulsed for his unsatiable adultery, begat Clodoucus of an whore which was an other man's wife, of whom descended (as they report) all their Christened kings. Look Gaguinus, johan Liectenberger, and Franciscus Bonadus in Anacephaleosi. Angisus the son of Arnolde bishop of Metis, 
Angisus  usurping the high stewardship of France, at leisure made the king to go pike a salett, & defeated him of his crown by help of the priests, as witnesseth Abbas Vespergensis, Tritemius in compendio, and joannes Nauclerus. The kings by that means (saith Otho Phrisingensis) became very idyotes, Pipinus of a bastard stock in Alpaida the harlot, 
Pipinus.  admitted by Pope Zachary to the crown, as testifieth Robertus Goulet in compendio sexaetation mundi.  
¶ Necessary is it, that somewhat be said here of their chaste religion also. In Rome were and are yet certain temples, 
Temples.  into whom neither honest matron nor yet chaste virgin were suffered to enter, what was permitted to comen whores, oppressers of the people, and Sodomytysh priests in that behalf, I think all the world knoweth at this day. This mad superstition (saith jacobus Zieglerus in sua Syria) had her first original in the mount of Olympus within the isle of Cypress, 
Olympus.  where as a solemn temple was dedicate to Venus, into whom no woman was permitted to enter, and passed from thence to the Romans, being there admitted for a most high religion. Nevertheless the comen whores had there allowed them for their lascivious occupying, 
Whore's  most fair mansions in a street called Suburrs, as both Martialis and Pamphilus hath uttered. Neither hath any man's doctrine, since the worlds beginning, been more highly accepted of the Romans and their clergy, than the crafty and dark learning of bawdy Aristotle, 
Aristotle  which not only besides his Sodometry kept a most filthy whore, called Hermia, but also after her death, ded sacrifice unto her as to a great Gods, and made hymns in her praise. This showeth Origene and johan Textor in his offycynes. Both Simon Magus and his whore Selenes, 
Simon Magus  which at Ty●us a city of Phoenices had maintained the brothel house or stews, were admitted of the Romans for their execrable sorceries, to be worshipped for Gods with yearly sacrifices. Look justinus, Irenaeus, and Eusebius Caesariensis, all ancient writers.  
☞ In England here sometime, might no bishop ride, 
Bishops.  but upon a mare, as testifieth Bedas li. ij. ca xiii. Cestriensis, li. v. ca xii. & Robbert Fabiane, Pa. v. ca cxxx. Which holy observation they had from Rome, & it is not without mystery of their buggerysh beastliness. The great adulterer Pope Sergius, 
Sergius  after certain revelations and miracles of the devil, brought fourth a great chyste full of dead men's bones, and caused the people both to kiss them and to worship them in the head church of Rome, to double the whoredom there. This witnesseth first Bedas de temporum ratione, and than both Platina and Petrus Equilinus. All these uncomely histories considered, Rome with her unchaste vows and votaries, 
Rome.  is that blasphemous Babylon, Apocal. xvo. & that Sodom and Egypt, Apo. xi. whom all the scriptures detesteth. Her citizens are they, whom God hath given up into most prodigious lusts of uncleanness, for changing his truth to a lie. For they under the profession of chastity, leaving the natural use of women (saith S. Paul) have brent in their own lusts one to an other, 
sodomites.  that man with man, that is to say, monk with monk, nun with nun, friar with friar, & priest with priest, wrought filthiness. Roma. i. besides that they did with boy's bitches and apes with other beasts, yea, the holiest fathers of them. If ye spell Roma backward, 
Roma.  ye shall find it love in this prodigious kind, for it is preposterus amor, a love out of order or a love against kind. I shame no more to tell this to the Pope's remnant here in England, than they shame to blaspheme marriage which is God's holy institution, 
Papists.  and to play still the whoremasters & sodomites in every corner. The eternal God ones clearly deliver this Christian laud from that monstrous generation. Amen.   

johan Bale to the Reader.  
IT will be thought of many (most gentle reader) that I have not herein done weal, in bringing so many filthy examples of the Pope's unchaste masmongers to light, 
Examples.  which ought rather to have been buried in oblivion. I wish these to consider whose vices the scripture hideth, and whose it detecteth to rebuke and shame. The same God which covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve with skins after their fall, 
Adam.  Gene. iij. The same God hath discovered the shame of Babylon (which now is the Romish church) and showed fourth her uncomely brevities, according to promise, Esay. xlvij. Behold (saith the lord of hosts) I will bring thine own ways upon thine head, Ezech. xvi. I will upon thee, 
Holy church.  thou beautiful harlot and masters of witchcraft (saith God) and will pull thy clothes over thy head, that I may show thy nakedness among the Heythen, and thy shame among the kingdoms. I will cast dirt upon thee, to make the be abhorred and a gazing stock, Nahum iij for he that committeth adultery, getteth himself shame and dishonour, such as never shall be put out of memory. prover. vi. 
The author.  Partly have these with a great sort more of the scriptures, provoked me to finish this work, partly the incessant calling on of a great number of men both worshipful, godly, and learned, which with David, Psal. Cxxxviij. do perfectly, and thoroughly hate these bandy brothels, contemners of marriage, and utter enemies of God. I have oft told them (I hope, in the zeal of God) that I would as little abash to show their filthy acts, by the witness of their own legends & chronicles, as they have abashed to do them. I have tarried these four years, 
tarried.  sens I wrote the first part of this work, to behold their repentance for this kind of wickedness, and I find them now more wilful and perversed in their devilish opinion than afore. Therefore will I now earnestly detect the Sodometrouse acts of their holy Romish chastity. The admonyshementes of S. Paul, to their forefathers the Romans, of their hypocrisy, 
Ghostly fruits.  ly●s, falsehood, uncleanness, idolatry, prodigious lusts, defylynges of body, changing of the natural use into an use against nature, and other unspeakable beastliness, Roma, i. have they not regarded, but have wrought those most execrable mischiefs, and work them still in effect without repentance. Therefore will I declare them in effect to cause gods people (as necessary it is) effectually to abhor them. judge me not herein to give a doctrine of vice, 
Doctrine.  but rather an earnest doctrine to the contrary, in contempt of such abominations as that college of the devil hath offered to the world for precious fruttes of spiritual holiness. Vale.  
¶ The shame of Egypt shall be discovered. They that dwell in the isles, shall see even the same day.  Esay. xx.  

Ad illustrissimum Anglorum regem Edvuardum sextum, joannes Balaeus.  
 
Of old histories we have it, not only to consider what things hath happened unto us afore, but also to be ware in time to come, that we may make the kingdom guyet and peaceable for all men. Hester. xvi.   

¶ The second part or continuation of the English votaries, comprehending their unchaste examples for. CC. years space, from the year a thousand from Christ's incarnation, to the reign of king johan, collected of their own writers by johan Bale.  

¶ The ring leader of our votaries.  
IN the. xx. chapter of S. johans' revelation, is it said, that when the thousand years are once expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his preson, 
Satan.  
1000  and shall go out at large to deceive the people, which are in the. iiij. quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog. By Sylvester the second of that name, 
Sylvester. ij.  sometime a monk of Floryake, which by his Necromancy obtained the Papacy of Rome, or general vycarshypp of the devil, in this full thousand year from Christ's incarnation, was that comen adversary set at large, to work his unspeakable mischiefs by the lecherous locusts of the pit bottomless, the bishops, monks, and priests. Benno Cardinalis in vita Hildebrandi.  
This Sylvester and his successors were those Angels of darkness, 
Darkness.  which took from him the chain, wherewith Christ had tied him up, for that thousand years space, which was the true ministration of his mighty word, & so sent him forth abroad by most devilish doctrines, in hypocrisy to maintain all kinds of idolatry and fleshly fylthouse living. For the more lucky speed of this new enterprise, this Sylvester relygyousely gelded himself, as Saturnus did his father, 
Saturnus.  as the old poets feign, and as was also scene by the wanton examples of Nero, Aurelius and Palumbus the priest, dedycating his stones in a foul sacrifice to Satan, that the pretenced chastity of his unchaste clergy, 
chastity  might thereby have the more prosperous success. This stone offering of Sylvester, found I registered in an old written chronicle at Calys. xxviij. years ago, Martinus Carsulanus, Vincentius, Vuernerus, and Albertus' Crants, agreeing somewhat to that same. In the same thousand year from Christ's incarnation a most terrible earthquake befell, 
1000  & a most horrible comet or blazing star was sent in the sky, the. iiij. day of Decemb. as testifieth Christianus Massaeus, Vincentius, & Antoninus.   

☞ The former histories declared.  
FOr a further manifestation of the matters alleged, concerning Saturnus, Nero, Aurelius, & Pasumbus, ye shall first understand, that Saturnus being the son of Coelum and Vesta, 
Saturnus.  with a sickle cut of the privy parts of his father, and threw them into the sea. Whereof with the froth of that raging gulf, the fabulous poets reporteth Venus to be engendered, which was the first mother of the pagan priests chastity, and Vesta the begynnar of their nuns, 
Vesta.  of her called vestals. This writeth Marcus Cicero in libro ij. de natura deorum, Macrobius in saturnalibus, & ●ebastianus Murrho in commentarijs Mantuani, So was Nero, and after him Aurelius given to lascynyousnesse, 
Aurelius.  that the one gelded male children to use them in stead of women, and the other when his lusts were passed, gelded himself into a preposterous office of Venery. joannes huttichius in vitis Caesarum Palumbus was a priest of Rome, 
Palumbus  in the art of necromancy most deeply learned. This chaplain of the devil, was a general provider for the oiled fathers there, that their fleshly heats might be quenched in the dark, by other men's wives and daughters, without blemish of their virginal vow. When this priest should die, 
An offering.  he slytt of his genytalles, and threw them to the devil, as a reward for all his labours taken in that conveyance, as will hereafter apere more at large. Ex Guilhelmo Malmesburiensi, Ranulpho Cestrensi, Matthaeo Westmonasteriensi, Vincentio, & Wernero.   

☞ The study and succession of Prelates.  
BEnno the cardinal saith, in the life of Pope Hyldebrande, that this most devilish Syluestre, 
Syluestre.  after the full accomplyshement of this myllenary of years, 
Apo. xx.  rising out of the deep pit of God's permission, did many times to his dyshonouring, make sacrifice to the devil, obtaining thereby an end somewhat like his deserving. Yet left he disciples many behind him, whom he had diligently taught in the most devilish art of Necromancy, to hold the Romish church in that school, and to prosper the kingdom of Satan in his going forth at large, most specially. ij. Theophylactus & Laurentius, which poisoned all the world with that mischief. After the death of this Syluestre, continual strife was among his disciples, 
disciples.  who should obtain the Papacy. But he that had Theophylactus and Laurentius on his side, he went away with the garland most commonly, and sat in that seat of Pestilence, till a poison were provided to fetch him away, if he wrought not to their commodity. Thus followed in that race, johan the .xviij which within five months was poisoned, 
Father's  than johan the nineteen. that tasted of the same ere the year came out, than Sergius the. iiij, than Benedict the. viii. and johan the. xx. which both were uncles to Theophylactus. After that followed the said Theophylactus, called Benedict the ix. which after. xv. years sold the Papacy to johan gracian his sorcerous companion for a great sum of money, 
Sorcerers.  & was in the end strangled of the devil, as he was doing his feats in a forest. The rest of this rabble will I show in Hildebrand, which was of them in that art, a most diligent disciple. Martinus Carsulanus and Baptista Platina in vitis pontificum, 
Two princes.  doth plainly report, that Otho the third Emperor and Robert the French king, were Syluesters disciples in the science of art Magyck, and did their true service in the kingdom of Antichrist, becoming his two sons in their posteritees.   

¶ The sorcerous proceedings of Sylvester.  
NEcessary do I think it, not to leave this sorcerous Sylvester thus, but further to declare his ungodly beginnings and proceedings. William of Malmesbury, Vincentius, Ranulphus & Rogerus Cestrenses, & Matthew of Westminster reporteth in their famous writings, that he was a French man borne, called Gerebertus first of all, and also that he was a professed monk of Fleryake not far from orleans, where as he tasted the first principles of Necromancy. 
Necromancy.  From thence he went to Hilpalis in Spain, and so long remained there with a Saracene most expert in that art, till he had coppyed out and stolen all his bobes, by help of his daughter with whom he had been familiar, specially one book which was to himself most secret. To prosper in this pelf, chiefly to escape the mortal danger of this Saracene, 
oblation.  till he were on the other side of the sea, he gave himself wholly to the devil, promising to be his perpetual servant. Many disciples he had in this art, as is said afore, Chiefly Constantyne the Abbot of Saint Maximyne by orleans, Lotharius the archbishop of Senona, Adelbolde the bishop of Wirtzenburg, Otho the emperor's son, and Robert the son of Hugh Capet the French king. 
Princes.  By this Robert was he first made archbishop of Remis in France, than by Otho archbishop of Ravenna in Italy, and last of all the great bishop of Rome by the devils provision. According to this old verse. Scandit ad R. Gerebertus ab R. post Papa vigens R. He climbed from R to R till he thryftely came to R. That is to say, from Remis to Ravenna, and from Ravenna to Ro●e. He set up a brazen head, 
promotions  of whom he always received answers, as that he should be Pope, and that be should not die till he sang Mass at Jerusalem.   

☞ The Pope's election from hen● fourth.  
Immediately after this solution or setting at large of Satan, many wonderful things followed to the performance of his wicked kingdom in the Romish Papacy. 
Papacy 1001.  First the election of their monstrous Pope, the next year after was taken clearly from the comen people by the clergy, and given to his own famylyars, which anon after were called the college of calkers, Cardynalles I should say, with these. ij. crafty clauses. Docendus est populus, non sequendus. The people is to be taught of us, but not followed. 
joonnes Baconthorpe.  Maior est dignitas legis quae regit spiritu sancto, quam legis saecularis. More worthy is that law which governeth by the holy Ghost, than the law secular, or the law whereby the multitude is governed. By this they judged God to be the auctor of their devilish decrees, 
Decrees  and the civil laws, of princes a thing of nought. Look johan Baconthorpe in prologo quarti sententiarum. quaest. x. Not long after this was the empire of Rome, 
Empire 1002.  in their high displeasure, translated from their old friends the French men to the sturdy Germans, as afore from the Greeks to the French men, as they found them not fit for their turn. And this was their policy. They perceived the Germans to be the stronger people, 
Germans.  and at that day their high friends by the monks conveyances, and therefore most fit to defend their fleshly liberties. Anonymus quidam de nobilitatis origine cap. xi. Thus became the French king Antichristes' younger son, 
Yongar son.  which afore time had been his whole right hand in Pipyne & in Charles the great. Rinngmannus Philesius in descriptione Europae, cap ix.   

☞ The electors and confirmation of the Emperor.  
IN the second year after a thousand from Christ's incarnation, the electors of the Emperor were appointed. 
electors. 1002.  seven. for that great Antichristes' commodity, his confirmation, oath, and coronation always reserved to his own precious fatherhede. Of these. seven. electors, three were archbishops, three were temporal princes, & the last was a king. The archbishop of Magunce over all Germany, the archbishop of Tryere over all France, and the archbishop of Coleyne over all Italy, were constituted high chancellors of the Empire, 
chancellors.  as watch men to take heed, lest any thing should in those quarters pass to the holy father's dishonour. The marquis of Brandenburg was ordained chamberlain, the duke of Saxon, the sword bearer, 
Prince's  and the Palatyne of Rhine the chief servitor at the emperor's election, with cup, key, and sword afterward to dispatch him (as hath been scene) if he were not to holy church profitable. The king of Beme being butler, cometh in last of all as an arbiter or umpire, if they can not agree to their spiritual behove. After that, 
Pyllars  four dukes, four marquesses, four landgraves, four burgraves, four earls, four barons, four free lords, four knights, four cities, four boroughs, and four carls were appointed as strong mighty buttrasses to assist this new ordinance. Martinus Carsulanus in chronico, Ringmannus Philesius in praefato opere, & Rodolphus Gualtherus in Homilia ij. de antichristo. By this occasion (saith William Caxton in his English Chronicle, Par. vi.) the Eagle lost many feathers, 
The Egle.  and in the end shall be left all naked.   

☞ Mass, Purgatory, and music.  
ABout this time (saith johan Wycleve) began the heresy of the consecrate host, or breed God of the Papists, whereby they sought the utter destruction of faith, by setting up of a most perilous idol of their own making, 
An ydol  in the place of jesus Christ our saver and redeemer. Which heresy anon after Berengarius Turonensis by the word of God most strongly withstood, so did one Bruno the bishop of Angew, and Waleranus the bishop of Medburg, which were men of most excellent life and learning, as their very enemies witnesseth, Hildebertus Cenomanensis, Thomas Walden, and joannes Tritemius. Odilo the abbot of Cluniake, 
Odilo abbess 1010.  practised about the same very time, by help of ij. most crafty knaves an anchor and a pilgrim, to deliver souls by Masses and diryges, from the terrible torments of a flaming purgatory, 
Purgatory.  whom they had conceived by S. Gregoryes dyaloges and by the boiling mount of Ethna in the land of Cycyle. This Odilo procured of Pope johan the nineteen. the commemoration of souls to be celebrated in the church, the next day after the feast of all saints. Ranulphus Cestrensis, li. vi. ca xv. & Petrus Equilinus. Osbernus' a monk of Canterbury, 
Osbernus' 1010.  which had been familiar with Dunstane, practised new points of musyck, and his example in Italy followed Guido Aretinus, to make the veneration of idols more pleasant. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, Vincentius, & Tritemius. Thus began the hypocrisy of lecherous monks and priests, 
hypocrisy.  to abuse the simplicity of the ignorant people, and strongly to confound their Christian believe by trifling superstitions and ceremonies. Anon after did they add the crafty inventions of profane philosophers, that they might the more wittily deceive the plain sort, 
Philosophy.  and the more craftily deprave the holy scriptures.   

☞ A priest and his lovely daughter.  
ALl things in the Papacy and empire to their carnal commodity thus disposed, the Romish clergy satled themselves all the world over, in the abundant pleasures of Sodom, 
Sodom  which were (as the prophet rehearseth) pride, plenty of feeding, solacyouse pastimes, idleness, and cruelty, Ezech. xvi. Given were they to lascivious lusts and most prodigious occupyings in the flesh, burning in adultery (for contempt of marriage) as it were an oven that the baker heateth. Osee. seven. Mark our english histories in confirmation of the same. For about this time (johan Capgrave saith, in catalogo sanctorum Angliae) a devout holy priest (an idle kneane you will say) went fourth every morning into his church yard, 
A priest 1010.  and hallowed the grains there, with the. seven. Psalms & the Litany for all Christian souls. On a time this priest found a maid child a● the cross there, all wrapped and swaddled in clouts, for whom he not only provided a nurse, but also brought her up in nurture and learning, taking her ever after for his daughter, as (I doubt it not) but he had just cause. As this wench once grew to convenient age, 
A wench  her beauty so tangled his fleshly heart, that he unfacyably brent in her concupiscens. And as he on a day had couched her naked in his bed, anon he remembered his chaste vow (they say) and so turned his face to the door, dysmembring himself with a sharp cuttle in her presence. And so throwing fourth that trash which tempted him (if the legend be true) at the last he made her an holy vowesse & veiled nun to serve the spiritualty. This act of prestish maidenhead, was disclosed first in Ireland by a parliament of devils, 
devils  within the garden of an old father hermit, not far from S. Partrykes purgatory, where as they showed themselves sore grieved with this priest, for redeeming souls by latin Psalms, out of their dark dominion, Look johan Capgrave postuitam Vu●fini episcopi.   

☞ Other histories more of this age.  
Wilfhilda was a young wench, 
Wilfhilda.  whom king edgar ones chased, in the way of lechery, from Wynchester to Warwell, and from Warwell to Wylton. And as she by the secret counsel of monks, was become a professed nun, he gave her the nunnery of Barking, 
barking.  adding thereunto the revenues of. xxiv. villages, gorgeously to maintain both her and her sisters to the religious occupying of bishops and of monks. For when Ethelwolde bishop of Wynchester came thydre on visitation, her love was so plenteous and mighty towards him, that there was no good cheer to seek. 
Good cheer.  Though the tap were all day steering (the story saith) yet was there o drink wanting at night, and all by miracle of the said Wilfhilda▪ Nevertheless at the last, by special help of Altrude the queen, the priests with their wives obtained Barking, the monks veiled spouses removed from thence to Horton, for more than. xx. years space. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, & joannes Capgrave. A like example to this latter act, showed Ethelgarus the archbishop of Canterbury after the death of Dunstane, 
Ethelgarus.  which more than. xx. years afore, drove the monks out of Canterbury & brought in the priests with their wives. But he was shortly dispatched for his labour, not continuing in that room a year▪ And Siricius a monk succeeding in that office, 
Siricius  restored again the hypocry●y●h monks in the year of our lord. DCCCC and. xc. 
990.  the priests with violence expelled. Anonymus quidam in historiarum rhapsodijs. Many such turmoylynges had England in those days by Satan's procurement, to make that Romish spiritualty a very Sodom and stinking jakes of hell.   

☞ devils buffeting and tempting of monks.  
IN the city of bath, Elphegus builded a great monastery of monks, 
Elphegus 1010.  which in process fell to so corrupt kinds of living, that one of them which had been a ring leader in their night potacyous and lecherous watchings, suddenly fell mad and died. The abbot at midnight hearing a noise, looked out at the window, and beheld. ij. devils lashing upon the monks carkeys. 
ij. devils  And as that wretch (saith the story) made claim to the suffrages of the mass, they gave him this answer. Thou obeydest not God, therefore we will not obey the. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, li. ij. de pontificibus, 
Their power.  & Ranulphus Cestrensis, li. vi. ca xvi. Rogerus Cestrensis, li. vi. ca twenty-three. By this ye may see that the devils power is greater than is the power of the pope's mass, or yet of a monks cowl. Yet find we it written, that in an other monastery, a monk showed unto his abbot, how grievously he was in his flesh tormented, by the fiery concupiscence thereof. Anon he gave him his own coat to do on, 
A cowl.  and with that his lust so abated, that ever after he was found chaste, the devil making great lamentation for it. Vincentius in speculo, & Antoninus in secundo historiarum to●●o. This story confoundeth the other, a monks cowl so terryfyenge the devil, and assuaging the heats of the flesh. A wonderful thing was it, that so much virtue could not be found in wholesome marriage, 
The virtue.  being Gods necessary institution, as in the superstitious coat of a handy brothel monk. God of a likelihood was not wise enough in his first provisions, that he so negligently forgot these monkish remedies against those heats in the flesh. O hypocrite knaves and sodomites. 
hypocrites.    

☞ Saint jues' water, and Saint Walstanes miracles.  
SAint jews water was in those days, about the year of our lord. 
S. 〈◊〉  a M. and. xii. very wholesome for the feminine gender. For a certain woman complained her unto the prior of Ramsey in in confession, that a lecherous spirit had many nights occupied with her in the likeness of an hare. I pray God it were not some hungry sorcerer of that abbey. And he gave her counsel devoutly to drink of that water, 
The water.  which was unto her ever after (the story saith) as a water well against all his busy assaults. If ye search johan Capgrave in vita juonis episcopi ye shall find it a matter more uncomely, than may with honesty be expressed. Saint Walstane of Bawburgh. 
S. Walstane.  iij. miles from Norwych, was neither monk not priest, yet vowed he (they say) to live chaste without a wife, and performed that promise by fasting of the friday and good saints vygyls, without any other grace or gift given of god. He died in the year of our lord a M. and xvi in the third kalends of june, 
1016.  and became after the m●ner of Priapus the God of their fields 〈◊〉 Norfolk and guide of their harvests, 〈◊〉 mowers and sith followers seeking him once in the year. Look his legend in the catalogue of johan Capgrave, 
Capgrave.  provincial of the augustine fryres, and ye shall find there, that both men and beasts which had lost their privy parts, had new members 
members.  again restored to them by thy● Walstane. Mark this kind of miracles for your learning, I think ye have seldom red the like.   

☞ A blazing star, Canulus and Fulbertus.  
IN the year of our lord a M. & xvij apared in the sky by the space of iiij months, 
1017.  a most wonderful blazing star, in manner of a great burning beam, as showeth Sigebertus and Sabel●icus Many have judged this, to be the same star, 
A star.  which fell from heaven like a flaming creshet, Apoca. viii. for the alteration of doctrine and of conversation, which in those days chanced in the universal church, and specially h●re in England. For Canutus a Dane, 
Canutus.  be●nge the same year constitute king of England, followed much the superstitious counsel of Achelnotus than archbishop of Canterbury, as witnesseth Polydorus, fabian and Caxton. He builded the abbeys of S. Benett●s in Norfolk and S. edmond's Bury in Sothfolke, 
Abbeys.  he translated the stinking bones of Elphegus from London to Canterbury, and provoked the people to worship them. He went undyscretly on pilgrimage to Rom●, and there founded an hospital for English pilgrims. He gave the Pope most p●ecyouse gifts, and burdened his land with an yearly tribute, called the Rome shot. 
Rome shot.  He shrymed the body of Berinus, and gave both lands & ornaments to the cathedral church of Wynchestre. Anonymus quidam, Alphredus Beverlacensis, & Ricardus Divisiensis. Yea, by the sorcerous enchantments of that lecher Achelnotus, he feared dead men, he judged monks bastards to be his own children, 
Bastards.  he crowned an idol with the crown of this realm, and believed that Mary Christ's mother nurryshed Fulbertus the bishop of Carnote in France, 
Fulbertus  with the milk of her breasts in his sickness. Radulphus Niger, Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, Wernerus & Vincentius. See here what power the devil had in this kingdom of darkness. The prelate's were able in those days, to make the great princes of the world to believe, that our lady gave suck to an old bishop a thousand years almost after her death. 
Gene suck.  Mark this point for your learning.   

☞ The conveyance of prelate's in this age.  
But ye must consider that at Carnotus was a church of our lady in building, 
A church  which could not weal be finished without such clarkly conveyances. And by this means became Canutus a great benefactor thereunto. The prelate's, as bishops, abbots, and priests (for their commodity, ye must weal know) were so good to this Danysh usurper (the chronicle saith) that they in receiving him for their king at Southampton, utterly renounced by oath, the succession of their natural English king Etheldrede, causing the no●ylyte to consent to the same. Yea, & to bring the spyghtful enterprise of theirs to full effect, they hired a cruel traitor, 
O traitors.  called Edricus, to slay king Edmonde ●ronsyde his natural heir, and caused ye●eyd Canutus to send his. ij. sons Edmonde and Edward into Denmark to be slain, 
O caitiffs.  to extynguysh that succession or ●yscent of English blood, & so to overthrow the majesty of this nation for there ●ryuate commodity. Alphredus Beuerlacen●is, Ranulphus, Rogerus, Trevisa, joannes Cap●raue, Polydorus, atque alij historiographi. By means of this Achelnotus also, an hun●red talents of silver, and one talon of ●olde were given at Papia in Italy, for ●he withered arm of S. augustine, therewith to augment the idolatry here in En●lande. 
For Idolatry  Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, li. ij. de ●gibus. And as concerning bury ab●eye afore mentioned. 
Bury abbey.  It was first a col●ge of priests, founded by king Ethel●ane in the year of our lord. DCCCC. ●●v. 
925.  and now at the suit of Ailwyne ●yshopp of Helmam in Southfolke, it ●as changed by king Canutus, to a mo●●sterye of Benettes monks, in the year of our lord a M. and xxi. 
1021.  the priests with their wives and children discharged. Chronicon Buriense, ac ●oannes Lelandus in commentario cygneae cantionis.   

☞ The Emperor married Canutus daughter.  
IN the year of our lord a M. and xxxvi. 
1036.  Henry the second Emperor of that name, married Guynylde the daughter of the aforesaid Canutus the king of Euglande. This Henry had a sister, which was a professed nun. So inteyrly he loved this sister of his, that oft times he would have her to lie within his palace, very nigh to his own privy chamber. In a winter night a soul chaplain of the courtelaye with her, 
A chaplain  which had been diverse times complained of afore. In the morning, lest his foting should be scene in the snow newly fallen that night, she took him up in her neck, and carried him out of the court towards his chamber. 
Coveyaunce.  The Emperor chanced to rise at that hour, as his custom was, to make water, and see the pageant. Anon after fell a byshopryck which the priest gaped for, and the governance of a nondrye which the nun desired. Whereupon the Emperor called them unto him, the one after the other. Take that benefice to you. (saith he to the priest) but saddle no more the nun, 
promotions.  And you the abbey (saith he to his sister) and horse no more the priest. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, li. ij. de regibus, Ranulphus, li. vi. ca xxi. Polychronicis. & Vincentius, li. xxv. ca xviij. Speculi historialis. Here were a couple of no bad governors in that spiritualty, 
All holy  but all was chaste religion, so long as marriage was absent. Thus could the worldly rulers than laugh upon wickedness, and suffer virtue and righteousness to dwell under contempt with Christ.   

☞ Two diverse examples for that age.  
ANother nun was there, at the same very time, whom a certain rich man took out of the monastery and married, 
A nun  not far from the said Emperor, because she complained her that she could not live chaste. The bishop of the diocese having knowledge thereof, by this emperor's assistance, dissolved that marriage, and sent her again to the cloister. afterward this man, when he see his time, 
As a wife,  took her out again, and kept her in house with him. In the end they were both excommunicated of the bishop, and could never obtain their absolution. Antedicti autores cum joanne Trevisa. This Emperor had also in his chapel a singing man, a priest, 
A priest.  which had both a good voice and was weal learned, but inordinately he loved a certain whore not far of, which was not unknown unto him. On a day to prove a mastery, the Emperor commanded him to say mass before him, which he utterly refused to do, for so much as he had lain with that whore the night afore. If thou say no mass (saith the Emperor) I bannysh the both the court and country. 
say Mass  I am weal contented, saith the priest, and so by and by with his stuff departed. The Emperor with that, called the priest again, and much commending his constancy, rewarded him with the next byshopryck that fell. autores praefati cum Antonino. Thus is whoredom much made of still, 
Whoredom.  but marriage (whom God left for an honest, yea and an holy remedy for that disease) is not yet by the doctrine of S. Paul persuaded, i. Cor. seven.   

☞ Lechery for lucre doth great miracles.  
ALwinus the bishop of Wynchestre in the year of our lord a M. & xliiij. 
Alwinus.  
1044  was of S. Edward the king committed with imprisonment, to the examination of the clergy, for being to familiar with Emma his mother, 
Emma.  or for dying with her whether ye will, & she put to the nondry of Warwell till the day of her purgation. It was laid to her charge (saith Polydorus) that she of mischief had married Canutus the Ta'en which was a cruel enemy to the land, consequently that she had nothing holpen but rather hindered her natural children in exile, whom she had afore by king etheldred, & finally the rumour was, that she had dysceytfully sought their destructions to prefer the Danysh blood to the crown of England, 
Danysh blood  to the great derogation of the same. Ricardus Diu●siensis reporteth, that Robert the archbishop of Canterbury gave evidence against her, that she had consented to the murder of her elder son alphred, 
A traitor.  & procured poison for her yongar son S. Edward, & that she had joined herself in that treason with her lovely paramour the bishop of Wynchestre afore named. But see what followed in the end. After she had ones commoned with the spiritual prelate's, and given unto S. Swythunes abbey in Wynchestre, the possession of ix. lordships or mayners, she was able by help of S. Swythune to go barefooted upon ix. burning plough shares of Iron, 
Miracles.  for that bishops trial and hers. On. iiij. for herself, & on. v. for her sweet lover, & to do other miracles besides. But ye must first consider, that she was borne over them between. ij. bishops, which knew afore hand how to qualyfy those heats, & that the king being a simple man, was easy to deceive. Ricardus Divisiensis, 
An ydyote.  Guilhel. Malmes. Marianus Scotus Thomas Rudborne, joannes Capgrave post vitam wlstani, & Robertus Fabiane, part. vi. cap. ccx   

☞ S. Edward voweth chastity in bed.  
REported it is in the legend of lies which was wont with solemnity to be red in temples of the Papists, that after this king Edward was married to Editha the daughter of earl goodwin, 
Edward  they both bring together in bed, vowed a perpetual chastity, and therein persevered to the end of their lives. There continued in them (saith the legend) a conjugal love without conjugal act, and favourable imbracynges without the deflowering of byrgynite. As though marriage were an entrance into violent whoredom, 
Marriage.  & a filthy deflourer of virginity, which rather sanctifieth it to increase to God's honour, as in Abraham & Sara, Zachary and Helisabeth. For in them was marriage a great blessing of God, Gene. xxi. and a way of righteousness without reprove, Luce. i. as it is in all them which be of like faith. Edward was beloved (saith the legend) but not corrupted. 
Legenda  Editha had favour, yet was she not touched. As a new Abisag, she warmed the king with love, but she loosed him not by lecherous lust. She delighted him with sweet obsequys, yet made she him not pliant to fleshly desires. In the same lousy legend more over is it written, that this Edward called marryaged a fearful ship wreck of maidenhead, 
Blasphemy.  comparing it to the fiery furnace of the Caldeanes, Dani. iij. to the mantel, which joseph left in the hands of an whore, Gene. xxxix. to the lascivious outrage of the. two. false priests, which would have oppressed Susanna, Dani. xiii, and to the filthy enticements of drunken Holophernes towards fair judith the servant of God, judith. xii. Of a far other spirit was S. Paul than was this Edward, 
S. Paul  when he called the married Corintheanes a chaste virgin coupled to Christ for their Christian believes sake. ij. Cor. xi.   

☞ The chronicles confuteth this devilish dream.  
FOr a confutation of this practised fable & most devilish error, 
Error.  let vs se what the chronicles showeth of the matter, which contain much more truth than their quere legends. Ricardus Divisiensis saith, that by fear & terror of death, Edward was compelled to the marriage of Editha. And Polydorus reporteth, that for hate of her father, which had slain his elder brother alphred, he utterly refused her again, feysing her goods at his pleasure. Ranulphus and Anonymus showeth, 
testimonies.  that he deprived her of all quenely honour, and put her into the abbey of warwell, with one only maid to wait upon her, so committing her to the straight keeping of the abbess there. Wy●lyam of Malmesbury & Marianus Scotus saith, that after he had married her, 
Editha.  he neither put her from his bed nor yet carnally knew her. But whether that was for hate of her kindred, or in purpose of chastity, they can not define. And Robert F●byane confesseth the same in his chronicle, part. vi. ca ccx. These testimonies considered, see what sure ground these oiled hypocrites the monks and the priests have to advance in Edward their sodomytycal chastity against God's free institution, 
hypocrites.  magnifying his wife to the stars in their litanies, with Sancta Editha ora pro nobis. johan Capgrave rehearseth, that the peers of his realm had persuaded him to marry, that his own lawful children might succeed him in that governance thereof, to the godly queting of the same, as did David, Solomon, Ezechias, 
Examples.  josias, and other holy kings of the hebrews. But see what plague followed of this Edward's hypocrisy by the perverse counsel of those idle whysperers and lecherous leaders. Such an whores bird, bastard, stranger, & enemy obtained the crown, as brought English people in most miserable subjection, 
subjection.  that weal was he which within his own nation might say. I am none English man. Ranulphus, Mattheus Paris, Capgrave, Fabianus, & Polydorus.   

☞ A voice heard, but not much regarded.  
Nevertheless it is red of this Edward, the dying on his death bed, he heard this voice in a dream. 
A voice  The iniquity of England (of the clergy it would have said) provoked God to wrath. The priests have swerved from the lords testament, & with polluted heart & hands do their office unpurely. These be no natural shepherds, but hired strangers. 
Strangers.  These defend not the flock, but suffer the wolf to take his pleasure of them. They only seek the milk & the wool, the sheep they care not for, that hell is now ready to swellowe them in both. The guides of the people are become unfaithful, next companions to thieves, & robbers of their country. Neither fear they God nor regard the law. The verity they hate, the right they contemn, & cruelty they only regard. Neither have the prelate's righteousness, 
Prelates.  nor their chaplains & curates any godly discipline. Therefore will the lord whet his sword, his bow hath he bend & made it ready. His ire & indignation will he show to the people, & send them ill angels to vex them, according to his appointment. All this and much more hath johan Capgrave, in Catalogo sanctorum anglicorum. Yet were not those lecherous lubbers by these forewarnynges amended. 
Lubbers  But this Edward they exalted above the moan, and for his unprofitable chastity (yea most hurtful mischief unto this whole realm) they have ever since placed him next Mary the mother of Christ and the holy Evangelist johan. Neither omitted they Editha in their litanies, nor yet Emma his mother in their commendations, 
New saints.  which had been so deeply in love with Alwyne the forenamed bishop of Wynchestre, that she both forgot him and his brother. Ricardus Divisiensis cum caeteris autoribus.   

☞ The Papacye, order of cardinals, and Swanus.  
GRegory the vi. about the same time, 
Gregory.  found the Papacy so impoverished, and the possessions thereof so demynyshed, by the lecherous rule, riot, & excess of his bawdy predecessors, in the year of our lord a M. and xlvi. 
1046  that he had nothing left him, to sustain his own holy fathered and his cardinals with, in the religion of spiritual idleness, but the bare offerings and a few rents there besides. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis de regibus, Vincentius, li. xxv ca xxij. joannes de columna, & Antoninus' part. ij. tit. xvi. ca i. About this time (johan Carion saith) the glorious name of cardinals 
cardinals.  came into an use, estimation, or fame, and so was noised abroad. Whose proud estate to maintain in all voluptuous pleasures, this Gregory took in hand the material sword, and did therewith such murder and mischief, that the prelate's their selves denied him christian burial. Ranulphus cestriensis, ac Platina in vitis ponti ficum. Swaws the first son of goodwin the earl of West saxons & of Kent, 
Swaws.  lay many times with Edgyne the abbess of Leof, about the year of our lord a M. and xlix. 
1049  minding in the conclusion to have married her. And was therefore compelled of king Edward to flee the realm of England, into Flanders, till such time as his peace were procured by Aldrede than archbishop of York and bishop of Worcestre also. Whereupon in his return he slew earl Beorne his own uncle, for that he had thereof accused him. At the last was he sent to Jerusalem in penance, 
Penance.  and died in that journey towards Licia, of a cold. Marianus Scotus, Ranulphus li. vi. ca twenty-three. & Fabianus, par. vi. ca ccxij.   

☞ Palumbus the priest, and the witch of Barkeley.  
PAlumbus a priest at Rome, 
Palumbus.  a great Necromanser and a mighty worker of knaveries spiritual (which after some writers, had a Pope to his son) wrought innumerable sorceries & legerdemains of lechery for that holy chaste prelate's there, to bring every man's wife, daughter, or servant that they coveted, to their beds in the dark. So cunning he was in his feats of conveyance, and might do so much among the sprites of venery, that if an other workman of his speculation, had sent fourth a devil of that science, he could cause his devil to supplant that devil, 
devils  and so convey the woman where his mind was to bestow her. Which in conclusion set the devils at variance, and made them cry out of God for so long time suffering that Palumbus in his wickedness to reign. And when this holy masmonger should die, he cut of his own members (as is afore rehearsed) and gave them to the devil, 
Members.  byquething his evil deeds (which were mischiefs unspeakable) to the holy church & city of Rome. Anonymus, Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, li ij. de regibus, Vincentius, li. xxv ca, xxix. Ranulphus, li. vi. cap. xxvi. & Antoninus par. ij. two. xvi. ca seven. A like example find we in our English chronicles, of Heyla the woman of Barkeley in berkshire, which was both a witch and a bawd, knowing all necessary feats in spiritual provision at need. 
A witch  As this woman was dead (which had always been a friend to holy church) the devil road away with her (they lay) upon a black horse. Forty masses a day with other good suffrages, 
Masses.  provided by her son and daughter an holy monk and a nun, were not able to stop that passage. Guilhelmus Malmes●uri. li. ij. de regibus. Ranulphus. li. vi. ca xxv. Pabianus par. vi. ca ccxiij. Wernerus, & Hermannus Shedel. In these. ij. examples ye may behold, what wholesome study holy church had in those days, 
Holy church.  & what labours the ghostly governors took upon them, to observe their solemn vow of chastity, which may not yet be dispensed with.   

☞ Other chaste miracles about the same time.  
IN the year of our lord a M. and liij. 
1053.  a solemn fatherly priest in Ireland, pretending much soberness, kept a great school of lads and young wenches. And for so much as he had shorn some of those wenches and appareled them like boys, 
Wenches.  the more aptly to come to the fl●shely occupying of them, he was anon after perceived, taken, and with shame banished that land. Marianus Scotus, Ranulphus, & Trevisa, li. vi. cap. xxiv. This feat hath been among our votaries much practised in time of their prodigious heat●s, as an holy spiritual remedy. Victor the second Romish Pope of that name, 
Victor.  in the year of our lord a M. and lvi. held a general synod at Florence in Italy, 
1056.  where as he deposed many bishops & abbots for simony and fornication. Guil. Mal. li ij. de pontificibus, Ranulphus, li. vi. ca xxiv. Martinus carsulanus, Pl●tina & joannes stella. A subdeacon (they say) which ministered to him at mass, put venom in his chalice, & so poisoned him for his labour Benno cardinalis, 
Poison  & Valerius anselmusryd Edward the son of king Edmonde Ironsyde, had. ij. daughters being in exile, Margrete and Christian. Margarete was godly married to Malcomus the king of Scots, and had viii. children by him, of whom. iiij. reigned as kings after him. Christian by counsel of lascivious monks, became a superstitious nun abhorring marriage, 
Christian.  as Polydorus reporteth her, by their doctrine of devils in hypocrisy, so becumming a foolish virgin, or else a meet damsel to serve them in the dark.   

☞ They laugh at lechery, that frown at marriage.  
Never yet came plague of mischief to this realm, that the Prelates have not turned to their private commodity, 
O traitors.  and finely laughed and sported the rat in the end. To promote the Danysh blood to the crown of England, they sought unnaturally to destroy the English blood rial, and through fine conveyance brought it weal to pass, as is written afore. And when it was restored again in Edward, they threw him into such a cold of hypocrisy, 
hypocrisy.  or symulate chastity whether ye will, that he died without issue, to give place to the normans our most grievous enemies in the base blood of a Bastard. And see what a toy they made thereof, to show themselves no less joyful of his bawdy conception in whoredom, than the people of jury were in the blessed nativity of holy johan Baptist in godly marriage. As Robert the duke of Normandy (say they) road through the town of Faloys, 
Duke Robert.  he beheld a skinners daughter called Arlet, dancing among maidens, whom he took with him from thence to his bed for her bewtyes sake. And as he was coming towards her, to accomplish his fleshly desire, she rend her smock from the chin to the feet, 
Brotheis.  to make room for him. And as he inquired, what she meant thereby, she made him this praty answer, say they. It were neither fit nor comely, that the neither part of my smock should be turned up, & so touch the lips of my lord. At this merry sentence the duke had great sport, and so have the prelate's had ever since, for they caused it to be registered, holy matrimony frowned at and evermore set at nought. At this filthy fit was William Bastard beget, 
A bastard.  which was afterward called the great conqueror of England, to the great misfortune, yea, to the utter shame, confusion, and undoing thereof in those days, he being a stranger, a mylbegotten, and so cruel a tyrant, as in the wrath of God he showed himself there, for the ponnyshement of their sins. Anonymus, Guil. Malmes. li-iij. de regibus Vincentius, 
Autores.  li xxv. ca xxxix. Ranulphus, li. vi. ca nineteen. Pabianus, par. vi. ca ccvij. & Polidorus, li. viii.   

☞ Of Stigandus a lecherous monk with like companions.  
STigandus an hypocrite, 
Stigandus.  covetous, ●echerouse, and unlearned, which had defiled his father's bed (johan Capgrave saith) & diversly oppressed the poor, for his good rule keeping about the year of our lord a M. and liiij. 
1054.  became bishop of Shirborne, than of Wynchestre, and finally archbishop of Canterbury. He made havoc of the church's goods, and spent them in most prodigious filthiness. And as witnesseth William of Malmesbury, li. ij. de pontificibus, unmeet was he reckoned to be a bishop in those days, 
A bishop.  that could not ruffle it out with all pompous apparel, horses, galant servants, wanton meats, and women, in all lechery and sew denesse. And as they were sometimes cast in the teeth, that their conversation was not according to the Apostles lives, they made a mock at it, commonly excusing themselves by this hombly verse, Nunc aliud tempus, alij pro tempore mores. 
Versus.  Now is it an other manner of time than was than, and requireth a far other fashion of living. Marianus Scotus, Ranulphus, lib. vi. ca xxiv. Pabianus par. vi. ca ccxij. & Polydorus, li. ix. About the year of our lord a M. and. lxxxij. 
1082.  one William bishop of Durhan dyspossessed the priests of the college or cathedral church of Durham because of their wives, 
william  and placed the monks there in their rooms, as witnesseth Polydorus, li. ix. Anglicae historiae, as he had heard, that king Edgare had done long afore in the church of exeter. Oliver a monk of Malmesbury, 
Oliver.  of some authors called Elmer, was at the same time so we'll scene in Necromancy, that he could with wings fly abroad and work many wonders Ranulphus li. vi. ca xxviij. Vincentius, Nauclerus & alij.   

☞ Saint Freswydes, and Westmynster sanctuary.  
IN the year of our lord a M. and lx. 
1060.  was the church of S. Frideswyde in Oxford given unto the monks by the chaste king Edward, 
Edward  of whom we have spoken afore, at the request of Pope Nycolas the. ij. in recompense of his pilgrimage that he vowed to Rome, the priests with their wives displaced utterly. Yet was it afterward restored to them again by his successor king harald, which with other like matter against our prelate's, cost him peraventure his life, the monastery at the last consumed with fire. joannes Capgrave in vita Prideso●d●e. This Romish Antichrist Nycolas, 
Nicolas  constytuted king Edward his vicar here in England, because he was a chaste vower, that he and his successors should see that his sodometrouse chastity were weal there maintained. Moreover he gave freedom to the sanctwary of Westminstre for thieves and for whores, 
Westminster.  not only to be unto them a place of refuge, but also a safeguard from punishment for term of their lives. joannes Capgrave in vita Ed●uar di cum alijs autoribus. O ●hostly founders of chastity. This great patryaeke of Sodom, sent fourth Petrus Damianus a monk and cardinal, 
Petrus Damianus.  to preach S. Gregory's Dyaloges against married priests. For he afterward wrote a book, Antoninus saith, par ij. ●i xvi. ca viii. De direptione nuptiarum, of the taking away or utter dissolving of marriage. Tritemius mention also, that he wrote. ij. books against married priests, one de incontinentia sacerdotum, an other de clericorum uxoribus, and. ij. for the unmarried monks, the one called regula solitariorum, the other de monachorum profectu.   

☞ Berengarius, and the synod of Wynchestre.  
MVche a do had Berengarius Turonensis the archediacon of Angew, 
Berengarius.  with the foresaid Popet Nycolas, for Christ's natural presence in the eucharistical bread, which he had in open preaching and disputation denied, calling both him & his massmongers pulpifices, that is to say, flesh makers, in his book de Eucharistia. Truly not an holy church (saith he) have the verity proved that congregation, but a malignant church, a counsel of vanity, and the very seat of Satan. 
Church  Lanfrancus contra Berengarium. Which opinion he afterward compelled him to recant, not by force of argument, but by terror of cruel threatenings. notwithstanding he returned again, persysting more strong than afore. Anon after in the year of our lord a M. and lxix. 
1069.  in the general synod at Wynchestre, 
Wynchestre.  were many bishops and abbots deposed by the legates of Pope Alexander the second, for ill rule keeping in banquets of bawdry. Among whom Stigandus was one, which miserably died in preson. Ricardus Divisiensis, Guilhelmus Malmesbu. li. i de pontificibus. Ranulphus lib. seven. ca i Fabianus, & Polydorus, li ix. This Alexander made a constitution general, 
Alexander.  that none should hear the mass of priest, which kept a concubine under pain of excommunication, meaning a married wife. Gracianus monachus in volumine decretorum, Wernerus in fasciculo temporum, & jacobus Bergomas. Yet granted he that priests sons might by the Apostles authority receive holy orders, 
A proviso.  which includeth contradiction. Idem Gracianus.   

☞ Lanfrancus and his lousy legerdemaynes.  
A Young monk assisting Lanfrancus the archbishop of Canterbury at his mass, 
Lanfrancus.  not far from the shrine of Dunstane, beheld a swarm of devils, and was suddenly possessed of one of them. Anon he opened his mouth, and uttered the good rule of his lecherous brethren, such matters (saith the story) yea, 
A counsel.  so abominable and filthy, as are not to be spoken. Than were they all called to the chapterhowse, where as it was among them decreed, that all the holy brethren should be shriven of Lanfrancus. Whereby they were anon so new bournyshed, that in their return the devil had nothing to lay against them. For the virtue 
Confession  of confession and absolution is such (they say) that it taketh from the ●euyll both his wits and remembrance, that he hath no longer any power to accuse them. Forget not this workemanshypp, but mark it weal. So good was the foresaid Dunstane (they say) to this Lanfrancus, 
Dunstanus.  that. iiij. score years after his death, he taught him how to recover again the possessions and lands pelfered away by the kings from his archebyshopryck. He made open unto him (if dead men may speak) the crafts of all his enemies, 
Dead men.  and showed good ways to recover at their hands, & to avoid their cantels. joannes Capgrave in vitis Dunstani & Lanfranci, Vincentius li. xxv. ca xxxvii. & Antoninus par. ij. ti. xvi. ca x. The which Antoninus saith, that Lanfrancus played the same part again at Rome, 
Lanfrancus.  such time as he impugned there the doctrine of Berengarius concerning the sacrament. For the which lordly act, Pope Alexander gave him. ij. mantles or Legates robes, one of honour, an other of love. Ranulphus cum caeteris autoribus.   

☞ bishops change their seats and titles.  
IN the days of king William the bastard, the Pope's bastard bishops here in England, 
Bishopryckes  changed their seats and titles, from the mean villages to the most famous cities of the realm to apere more glorious in the reign of their father Antichrist. As from Dorcestre to Lyncolne, from lichfield to Westchestre, from Thetford to Norwych, from Shirborne to Salysbury, from wells to bath, from Kyrton to Excetur, from Selwey to Chychestre, with such like. And this was done (some writers saith) in the year of our lord a M. and lxviij. 
1068.  by a decree of the Pope's canons. Ranulphus. li. i ca. lij. 
An oath.  under the same king also a solemn oath and profession by writing to the bastard bishop of Rome was demanded and taken by his vicar Lanfrancus, in the year of our lord a M. and lxix. 
1069.  and so ever after continued from thence fourth. A sore strife besell in the same self year, 
A strife.  between these bastard bishops, specially between Lanfrancus of Canterbury & Thomas Norman of York, which of them should be highest in that mitred kingdom of idleness. And as they met at Rome, they fell into a great disputation of that matter afore Pope Alexandre. Where as Lanfrancus, 
Lanfrancus.  to amend his own matter, proved the said Thomas to be a priests son, Remigius the bishop of Dorsett being present, which (fabian saith) was a priests son also. In the end this Lanfrancus, by the help of Aristotle's logyck, Gregoryes old constitution, and the pope's authority, obtained both at Rome & at Wyndesore in England, that Canterbury should from thence fourth have the superporyte over the see of York. 
Canterbury.  He that will behold the mad foolishness of this doltysh disputation, let him look William of Malmesbury, li. i. de pontificibus, Ranulphi Polychronicon, lib. seven. ca ij. Antoninum, Fabianum, atque Polydorum, li. ix.   

☞ An old bawdy bishop slain of a wench.  
IN the diocese and city of Herford was a grey headed bishop, called Walter, 
Walter.  that inordinately loved a young wench there, which was very cunning sowster, in the year of our lord a M. and lxx. 
1070  Yet remembering in himself (saith the story) that nothing was more buseming, than an old doting fool, specially a bishop, so to rage, oft times withdrew from following that affect. At the lattre as the devil would, she entered the bishops bed chamber, by enticements of his chamberlains, the pretence being, that she should there cut them out shirts and napkins. And as she was in doing her work, those privy provyders avoided, 
A wench  and the old bawdy bishop came in, as was appointed. He fell to the talk of as fine brothelry, as any crafts man in that art might utter. And when that would not help, he fell to her by force, wrestling and tumbling with her for the best game. But see what followed immediately. As she perceived herself overcomen, 
Overcome.  and that she was no longer able to withstand his lecherous purpose, she thrust her sharp shears whom she had in her hands, up into his share or under his privy members with violence, and so slew that Babylonysh boar, or ij. horned goat of the devil, as chaste judith dead Holophernes. Guil. Malmes. li. iiij. de pontificibus, & Ranulphus, li. seven. ca ij. A comen practise of chaste religion keeping, 
A practise.  have this been among the horned prelate's and oiled priests in all ages of Antichrist. Would God those idle bellygoddes had always in that filthy occupying been thus worthily handled. For than had not the world been so deeply deceived in them and their knaveries.   

☞ Cecila king Wyllyams' daughter. and Thurstinus.  
MAtthaeus Westmonasteriensis in the flowers of histories, and Polydorus Vergilius in the ix. book of his chronicle, reporteth that Cecyly the daughter of king William Bastard, 
Cecilia.  professed herself a nun in the year of our lord a. M. and. lxxv. 
1075.  to serve the devil in the monks hypocrisy, & in the burning heats of Sodom. So dainty mowthed were these greasy grouteheades, and so crafty in their generation, that they could find out kings daughters to serve their lusts, and yet apere chaste ghostly fathers to the world. Thurstinus a monk of Cane in Normandy, 
Thurstinus.  was of the said king William, constitute abbot of Glastenbury for a great sum of money, in the year of our lord a M. and lxxxiij. 
1083.  This holy abbot consumed the substance and possessions of that rich abbey, in all kinds of lechery and other prodigious filthiness. On a time there fell between him & his monks, a great strife, 
A battle.  for that he had restrained their accustomed fare. He brought in men of arms to defend his cause, the monks laid about them like praty men, with stoles, pots, and candel●●yckes, till the warryours' heads were weal faverdly broken. In the end of the battle were. iiij. monks found slain, 
ij. slain  and xviij grievously wounded, their blood flowing on the pavement Henricus huntington, li. vi Guilhel. Malmes. li. ij. de pontificibus, Matthaeus Paris in historia anglorum. Ranulphus, li. vi ca iij. Fabianus, par. seven ca ccxxij. Was not this (think you) a religious rule? Had it not been much pity, but the commons of this realm, 
commons.  had been beggared for their maintenance? being such ghostly vowers? O blindness and madness of ungodly governors.   

☞ Hildebrande by sorcery and murder, obtaineth the Papacy.  
HIldebrandus a monk of Clunyake, 
Hildebrandus.  being high archdeacon of Rome, was taught the art of necromancy by Theophilactus afore mentioned, whose custom was in wild forests and on high hills, to do sacrifice to devils & by magycall art to make women both to love him and follow him. Other instructors he had besides (saith cardinal Benno) which had been Syluesters disciples, 
disciples.  & were most cunning in that speculation, that is to say, Laurence an archbishop, & johan gracian afterward called Pope Gregory the sixth. In shaking his sleeves or myttaynes, to delude the eyes of the simple, many times he sent out sparkles of fire, which was judged a wonderful miracle, & a sign of holiness in him. For so much as the devil (saith Benno) could not persecute Christ in the open face of the world, 
Adversary.  he sought fraudulently to deface his name & honour, by this hypocrite & false monk Hyldebrande, under a monastical coat & coloured pretence of religion. This judas ●ote of his master Pope Gregory the sixth, to be the high steward of S. Peter's altar, & so received the offerings of pilgrims, till all his bags were full. Than hired he one Gerardus Brazutua, a man given to mischiefs incomparable. This forcerouse wurker to make him Pope, in the space of. xiii;, years, poisoned. 
seven. Popes poisoned.  vi of his predecessors one after another, that is to say, Clement the. ij. Damasus the. ij Leo the. ix. Victor the. ij. Steven the. ix. & Benedict the. x. Nycolas the. ij. his own self poisoned, and violently murdered Alexander the. ij. in preson. Thus by great and outragyose murders he enjoyed the papacy, 
A murderer.  & was called Gregory the. seven. his first ordinances were these. He transubstancyated the Eucharistycall bread, condemned the marriage of priests, & commanded monks to abstain from flesh, Valerius Anselmus Rid.   

☞ The first busy buildings of this Hyldebrande.  
BEnno Cardinalis reporteth of this hellish Hyldebrand, 
practises.  that in the first entrance of his Romish Papacy, he had all these devilish provisions to work his mischiefs with. The scriptures he had so trained with the rules of logycke, that by them he was able to maintain all falsehood. The temporal powers he provided by all flattery, false fryndeshyp, gifts, and other subtile means to depress. He had for money his secret spies and traitorous searchers in the emperors and every great princes house, 
A traitor.  to know things to his mind. After demands and answers again from devils, he took upon him to prophecy lies in hypocrisy. His exceeding tyranny was such, that his enemies he never spared, but gave them death without remission, to the terryfyenge of others. And always he had about him a book of Necromancye, with a number of devils to work feats to his Papal pleasure, 
devils  As the good Emperor Henry the. iiij. perceived in those days, most shameful abuses to grow in the church, he laboured by all ways possible to abolish them. He secluded schismatics, suspended symonyakes, suppressed sacrilegers, ponnyshed per●ures, bamnished bawds, imprisoned deceivers, and condemned idolaters. This perceiving Hyldebrande, which was a religious maintainer of all these, sought by his privy trayttours to dispatch him. 
A traitor.  And on a day whiles this virtuous emperor was in prayer, he hired a despertate knave to lay stones of great weight upon the roof beams of the temple right over his praying pew, and to let them fall upon him to his utter destruction. But see the righteous hand of God. 
God striketh  One of those stones being more than this wretch could weal rule, bore him down to the ground and so slew him.   

☞ Other practises in mischief, of the said Hyldebrande.  
ANd when he perceived that this way would not take, 
Mischief.  than sought he out an other mischief by colour of religion. He made an extreme and terrible act against all them that had entered any spiritual promotion by simony, and sent out commissyons upon the same, his self being the greatest symonyake that ever was on this earth. 
ij. cantels.  This had a great shine of holiness, and is no less judged of a great number of the hystoryanes, yet was it to. ij. most mischievous ends. The one was, that he might thereby confound all those that favoured not his ways. An other, that for execution of that act. the good emperor might run into the deep hate of the clergy, that they might also seek his undoing. For the religion of this Hyldebrande, was never other than treason, neither was his doctrine any other than deceit of the devil. On a time after many sorcerous incantations, 
Sorcerer.  he demanded of that God which he thought he had made of bread by virtue of transubstantiation, by what kind of mischief the Emperor might be destroyed. And when he once perceived, that that God of his could make him none answer, as the gods of the pagans did, and as his familiar devils would do, he threw him with violence into the fire. 
God brent.  As joannes Portuensis openly declared at Rome in the church of S. Peter. The same day (Benno saith) that he openly cursed the good Emperor, his chair that was most strongly made b●ast a sondre in. ij. in token of the great schism which thereupon followed, Sigebertus confirming the same by an horrible earthquake. All these examples hath Benno in vita hildebrandi, 
Autores  Barnefridus Vrspergensis, Matthaeus Parisiensis, Hulricus Mutius, and Robert Barns in vitis Romanorum pontificum.   

☞ An act of condemnation for priests marriage.  
IN the year of our lord a M. and lxxiiij. 
1074  Which after most writers, was the second year of his Papacy, this hellish Hildebrande held a general synod at Rome with the bishops of Italy. Wherein he made this most devilish decree against priests, not that they should no more beget children, but that they should never after marry wives. This wicked decree extended yet further, as if they had wives already, they should utterly forsake them, 
deprived.  or else be deprived of their benefices and priesthood without redemption, & so made lay men. And that no man from that day fourth, should be admitted to their orders, that had not professed a perpetual chastity, a sodomy it would be called, having a name according to the fruits. The Germans and the French men did mightily resist this decree by the strong authorities of Christ and of Paul, and by the unreprovable examples of the Apostles and other holy fathers in the primitive church, 
Examples  besides other scriptures, reasons, and arguments And when he perceived that the priests had despised & mocked his abominable ordinance, he cursed them with book, bell, and candle, and utterly forbade them the church, commanding their tithes to be brent, And when that would not help the matter neither, than made he an other tyrannous decree, 
Tyrant.  that their wives should be taken for whores, their children for bastards, & that no man from thence fourth should hear the mass of him that kept a concubine, as he than judged them, perversely alleging Malachyes prophecy, as though Maledicam benedictionibus vestris, in his mouth might unualue or dysable their masses. Thus was the church filled with unpure ministers. Rogerus Hoveden li i historiae anglorum. Matthaeus Paris in chronico, Ranulphus Cestrensis, 
Autore●  li. seven. ca iij. & Rogerus Cestrensis, li. seven. Lambertus Shafnaburgensis, Sigebertus, Martinus, joannes de Columna, joannes Nauclerus, Duneimense chronicon, Mutius, & alij.   

☞ What mischief sprang of that pectyferouse act.  
VIncentius saith in speculo historiali, li. xxix ca xlv. and Matthew of Westmynst●e in his second book de floribus historiarum, 
Cestes.  Antonious in the second part of his chronicles and Radulphus de Diceto confirming that same, that this example of Hyldebrand was strange and prodigious, done without all Christian consideration to the great prejudice of the saints. A sore slander (say they) grew thereupon, and so grievous a schism as was never afore in the church for any kind of heresy, 
schism  and all under name of religion. Very few or none were found chaste in the church, after that constitution was on●s published, some counterfeiting a cleanness for lucre and promotion only, some dissembling. some boasting, some lyengr, and some being perjured, turning marriage into secret whoredom, and honest living into most vile buggery. By this ●ccasyon (say they) arose in the church pernicious teachers, 
Seducers.  averting the people by their profane novelties, from the Christian sincerity and doctrine of the Gospel. This horrible Hyldebrand the great patriarch and first founder of the order of prodigious buggers, otherwise called unwyving massmongers, notwithstanding his unrelygyouse constitution for others, yet kept he Maude the duchess of Lorraine, 
Maude.  whom he for that purpose divorced from her second husband Azon the marquis of Esten. Their occupyings were furtivi complexus (the story saith) imbracynges in the dark, or such cullynges when the candale was out, as might not scene of all the world. She is called in the chronicles, S. Peter's denout daughter (see the unshamefastness of these holy whoremongers) collateralis pontifici, 
An whore.  ac nimium amans pontificem, being check mate with the Pope, and his own dear paramour. And when she should die, she gave to the Romish church a great part of Hetruria, which is yet called the patrimony of S. Peter. Blondus li. iiij. deca ij. Martinus, Platina, & Robertus Barnes.   

☞ Of whom it was in those days resisted.  
AS an apt policy to advance the clergies estimation, augment their possessions, and increase their rythes, 
A craft  brought Hyldebrande in this inhibition of priests marriage. For by that deceitful face of the old wily serpent, were the lecherous massing priests, monks, canons, and fyesting nuns, judged terrestrial angels of the foolish world, when they were the very dross of the devil and poison of all christianity. 
resistance.  A great number therefore of godly men both in Germany & France, perceiving the great abominations that would follow thereof, mightily still resisted both Hyldebrande the Pope, and also his great synod of Italysh prelate's, calling him a cruel heretic and author of pernicious doctrine, and them the malignant counsel of Satan, This wickedness is wrought (say they) not by any spirit of God, but by the only suggestion of Satan. 
Satan.  For their most devilish decree is directly repugnant to the word of God. Christ said, that no man can away with that saying, save they to whom it is given. S. Paul had no commandment for virginity. The Apostles would not require it, the old counsels durst not attempt it. But always was marriage free to them that could not refrain. 
Marriage.  What mean these hypocrites than to compel natural men by force of tyranny to live the life of Angels, which is a thing impossible to their weak nature. By this cruel constitution they make open the way to all filthiness in the flesh. If they will have such ministers, let them fatche them from heaven, for in the earth they are not to be had. This was the clamour of them which in that age feared God, & doubted the mischiefs of Antichrist. 
Angels.  Lambertus, Sigebertus, Vrspergius. Nauclerus, & Robertus Barnes.   

☞ Hyldebrande made the church a full Sodom.  
NO small commendations hath this sorcerous monk and vicar of the devil, among the hystorianes and chronicle writers after his time. 
Vicar.  As were Otho Frisingensis, Platina, Stella, Sabellicus, Blondus, Bergomas, Aeneas, Wicelius and such other. He is magnified above the stars for his rebellious treason and tyranny against the virtuous emperor, & holden of them for a most earnest, mighty, and constant defender of Antichristes' oiled kingdom, which they call holy church. 
Holy church.  This master of mischief and organ of the devil, brought by that means, the ministers to an idleness, and defiled the church with most execrable buggery. Among all his canon laws and synodal constytutions, he gave out no commandment that priests should do no lechery, nor yet get children, but only that they should not marry. And this was to put in full practise, 
Warning.  that God had afore premonyshed his church of, by his son jesus Christ, by his holy Angel, & by johan his elect Apostle, three able witnesses, Apoca. i. That is to say, the great city which is called a spiritualty, and is the church malignant, should be in effect, a very Sodom and Egipte, Apoca. xi. Of necessity might that be no fable, that was of so able witnesses uttered afore hand so earnestly. 
witnesses.  Some therefore must have fulfilled it, no remedy, and none so effectually as this hellish sodomyte Hyldebrand, by forbidding of marriage in his clergy, and by deifyenge the Eucharistycall bread. These. ij. points chiefly made the Romish church a Sodom and an Egipte, by dissembling vows and a counterfeit priesthood. 
provisions.  How nondryes anon after were builded, boys, apes, and bitches provided, to qualyfie the breach heats of these holy buggers, and to save the outward shine of their boasted chastity, it requireth further process to be declared.   

☞ Married priests are baited with a bull.  
ROger Hoveden plainly reporteth it, in the first book of his chronicles, that the clergy contemning the bishop of Rome's malicious threatenings, 
priests.  chose rather to dwell still under his great curse, than to leave their married wives. Than practised the said bishop to vex them and to punish them by others, as testifieth Matthew of Westmynstre in the third book of his flowers of histories, procuring the comen people to be the instruments of his tyranny. 
Tyranny  That he might the more fiercely chastise them (saith he) and so utterly drive them from the embracings of their wives, he forbade the lay people to hear their masses, and charged them finally to destroy their livings, by this bull following. 
A bull.  Gregory the Pope, otherwise called Hyldebrā●, the servant of the servants of God, sends the Apostles blessing to all them within the kingdoms of Italy & Germany, that showeth their true obedience unto S. Peter. If there be any priests, deacons. & subdeacons, that still will remain in the sin of fornication, we forbid them the church's entrance by the omnipotent power of God and by the authority of S. Peter, till time they amend and repent. But if they persever in their sin, 
Masses.  we charge that none of you presume to hear their service. For their blessing is turned into a curse, and their prayer into sin, as the lord doth testify by his prophet. I will curse your blessings &ce. This bull hath simeon of Durham, and Roger Hoveden, the one in the second & the other in the first book of their chronicles, besides other writers.   

☞ Say people worshippeth the beast and his Image.  
MVche good stuffing is in this bull, 
Preposterously  when it judgeth marriage a fornication, condemning it by S. Peter's authority, whose doctrine to this day both alloweth it and commendeth it for a state of righteousness, comparing the married persons to Abraham and Sara. i Pet. iij. Neither is the blessing of any man turned into a curse, or his prayer into sin for marriage, but rather for seducing of God's people by superstitions and hypocrisy, 
deceivers.  wilfully resisting the holy ghost, Mala. ij. & Psal. cviij. as in this handy bull maker and his other bullish begles, whose blasphemous acts are weal known. Radulphus de Diceto saith in his Image of stories, that in the year of our lord. a M. and lxxv. 
1075.  this terrible turmoiling against priests marriage, gave more occasion of blasphemous slander, than ever did heresy in the church. For by that means (saith he) the lay people contemned holy orders, 
Contempt  they rejected ecclesiastical subjection, and abhorred the mysteries of God. They despised the priesthood of their curates, in fury & madness they brent their tithes, & trod under their filthy feie their consecrate hosts. Thus honoured they the fouled beast and his image, Apocal. xiii. But this gave a great raise to Antichristes' proud and ambitious reign, 
Antichrist.  as hereafter shall apere. Thomas Rudborne and Matthew of Westmynstre saith, that in the next year following, was a terrible earthquake with a certain blustering noise over all England, whereby God declared to the world his anger for such exceeding wickedness, as he hath done other times more, at the lattre day to be revenged utterly.   

☞ The treason of prelate's and extorsyon of bishop Walter.  
bishops, abbots, and prelate's of the English broad, not having William conqueror a king to their minds, 
william  caused it by little and little to be noised a broad among the people, in the said year of our lord a M. & ixxu. 
1075.  how it neither stood with reason nor yet with conscience, that a bastard or mysbegetten man, as he was, should have the English nation in governance, what though they had afore with all practises possible assisted him to the same. 
Rebellion  Whereupon grew wonderful commotions in diverse quarters of the realm, specially at Norwych, Helye, and York, the great earls, Ralph Roger, and Waldeof, aiding the rude commons in that rebellion, which provoked him to show double hatred to the English nobility. The next year following, 
1076  as the earl Waldeof of Northumberland, was worthily deprived and at Wynchestre byheaded for the same, Walkerus a lecherous monk & ambitious prelate, 
Walker.  not finding himself satisfied with the rich byshopryck of Durham, bought than of the king that earldom, to augment his pomp, possessions, and vain glorious dignity. He brought thydre a swarm of idle and lascivious monks out of other parties, 
Satisfactyon.  thinking thereby to be even with God, and with their howling and wawling to pacify his anger, what mischief so ever he had done afore. But see what followed about. v. years after. For his outrageous oppression and tyranny, 
1080.  the commons fell upon him, and slew both him and an hundred of his best men. Simeon Dunelmensis, Henricus Huntendunensis Matthaeus Paris, Rogerus Hoveden, Thomas Rudborne, & alij.   

☞ The monks dyspossesseth the priests at Durham.  
AFter him succeeded in the bishopric, one William an abbot, a man of more words (the story saith) than of godly wit. This prelate (as Simeon writeth in chronicis Dunelmí) persuaded the king that the priests of the church of Durham were vicious livers, 
Durham.  because they had wives and would not leave them, and that bishop walkers monks were the holy Ghosts children & most fit to keep S. Cuthbert, because they were wifeless watchmen. He recited unto him by the chronicle of Bede and by other old writings, 
Reason.  that from the time of Aidanus their first bishop till the violent slaughter of the Danes, it had been possessed of monks. The king not much regarding the matter, had him consult with Pope Hildebrande, as he resorted unto him to Rome for his confirmation, as all bishops were than confirmed by the great Antichrist of that sinful synagogue. 
Confirmed  The which once performed to his mind, he returned home with Hyldebrandes commission. And in the year of our Lord a M. and lxxxiij. 
1083.  obtaining therewith the whole consent of the prelate's in the kings parliament at Westmynstre, he drove the married canons & their wives out of his cathedral church of Durham, and placed idle monks in their rooms, to keep Saint Cuthbertes shrine, 
keepers.  unjustly depriving them of all possession. Rogerus Hoveden, li. i. & Polydorus, li. ix. Other prelate's anon after dead work the like, in diverse other quarters of the realm, and filled all the land with the secret occupyings of wicked Sodom and Gomor, as weal appeared in their last visitation in our time, the register yet remaining.   

☞ The vision of Boso, and act of Tostius chaplain.  
JOHAN Capgrave reporteth in Saint Cuthbertes life, that one Boso a knight, 
Boso.  was rapt or depr●●ed of all manner of feeling, by the space of more than two days. And in the third day, as he was comen again to himself, he instantly desired to be confessed to the prior of Durham at the time called Turgotus, 
Turgotus.  to whom he declared what visions he had in that wonderful trance. He beheld (he said) on the one side of hell, all the monks of his abbey going sadly in procession, & on the other side a sort of wanton gyglot wenches, rejoicing in fleshly delights and uncomely enticements. He saw there also in a dark desolate place, an high house all of iron. 
visions  And whiles the door thereof oft times opened and speared again, at the last he beheld William their bishop, which had been Hildebrandes commissyoner, putting forth his head & calling for Godfrey the monk, which was at that time the general procurator of his whole diocese. And this was judged a token, 
A token.  that they two should not live long after. See what noble success this decree of Hildebrande had here in this realm. The wife of Tostius sometime earl of Northumberlande, called judith, gave many rich ornaments about the same time, to S. Cuthbertes church. This lady bade a lusty chaplain, which coming of devotion to Tynmouth abbey, to see the translation of the body of S. Oswyne king & martyr, 
pilgrimage.  as martyrs went than, could within the town have no lodging for the exceeding resort of people that than was there. Howbeit upon acquaintance he found such favour, that a bed was prepared for him within the parrysh church. And because he thought it not pleasant to lie a love, he conveyed in a wench in the dark to keep him company that night. But as he began to fall, 
Prestlyke.  to his accustomed night work, all the whole church moved (the story saith) as it would have fallen upon them. Whereby he was than compelled to leave his occupying. joannes Capgrave in vita Osvuini martyris.   

☞ The miracles of Lanfrancus the archbishop.  
LAnfrancus the archbishop of Canterbury, held a synodal counsel at Paul's in London, in the year of our Lord a M. and lxxvi. 
1076.  Where as it was enacted by their comen consent, that bishops from thence forth should sit in counsels & parlementes (by like they stood on foot afore with cap in hand) & that they should generally remove their seats from the mean villages to the cities of name (as some had done afore) to apere more notable, and to augment their authority and fame. Was not this a great study (think you) for the Christian comen wealth? Thus clome they up from one degree of pride to an other, 
Prydee  till they became here in England, like their father at Rome, exalting themselves, as S. Paul prophesied of them above God and his Christ, ij. Thes ij. This Lanfrancus the next year after, made one Paulus a young monk of Lane in Normandy, 
1077.  the abbot of S. Albon. 
A bastard.  This Paul was his nephew, some say, his son, which is all one among the Italyane prelate's (as he was one) saving that nephew is a name more spiritual. Other great miracles this Lanfrancus did in his lattre age. At Canterbury he enriched the monks with great lands, sumptuous buildings, and with precious ornaments, He repaired their temples, & appointed strange worshippings. He wonderfully augmented the pride here of the clergy, 
Lanfrancus.  & finally builded ij. great hospitals for pilgrims, to increase the daily idolatries, which than began to spring. Simeon Dunelmensis. Matthaeus Westmonast. Matthaeus Paris. Ranulphus Cestrensis, Rogerus Cestren. Thomas rudborne, joannes Capgrave, Fabianus & alij.   

☞ Of Osmunde the bishop, and of Salisbury use.  
OSmundus was a man of great adventure & policy in his time, not only concerning robberies, but also the slaughter of men in the wars of king William conqueror. 
A warrior.  Whereupon he was first the grand captain of Say in Normandy, & afterwards earl of Dorsett and also high chancellor of England. 
1077  As Herman the bishop of Salisbury was dead, he gave over all and succeeded him in that byshopryck, to live, as it were, in a security or ease in his lattre age. For than was the church become jesabels' pleasant and easy couch, Apoca. ij. his cantels were not so fine in the other kind for destruction of bodies, but they were also as good in this for destruction of souls. To obscure the glory of the Gospel preaching, and augment the filthiness of idolatry, 
Blasphemer.  he practised an ordinary of popish ceremonies, the which he entitled a Consuetudynary or usual book of the church. His first occasion was this. A great battle chanced at Glastonbury, whiles he was bishop, between Turstinus the abbot and his monks, 
1083.  where in some of them were slain, and some sore wounded, as is said afore. The cause of that battle was this. Turstinus contemning their quere service, than called the use of Saint Gregory, compelled his monks to the use of one William a monk of Fiscan in Normandy. Upon this Osmundus devised that ordinary, 
Osmundus.  called the use of Sarum. Which was afterwards received in a manner of all England, Ireland, and wales. Every sir Saunder Slyngesby had a book at his belt thereof, called his portasse, containing many superstitious fables and lies, the testament of Christ set at nought. For this act was that brothel bishop made a popish God at Salisbury. 
canonized.  Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, Ranulphus, Rogerus, Capgrave, Hoveden, & alij.   

☞ Of Kenredus a priest, which was gelded.  
AN act was made in the year of one lord a M. & lxxxvij. 
1087.  by king William conqueror, that who so ever were found stealing of dear, he should lose one of his eyes, and he that was deprehended in ravishing a woman, should lose both his stones without redemption. This hath Henricus Huntendunensis, li. v. Ranulphus Cestrensis, li. seven. ca iiij. Rogerus Cestrensis, li seven. & joannes Trevisa. Not many years after, a pressed called Kenredus was taken in the isle of Anglesey by the English captains, 
Kenredus  and gelded, some say, for offending the statute, though the monkish chronicles far of otherwise interpret that matter. By reason of this and many other like examples (for he was not alone in that age ye may be sure, when they were so straightly sequestered from women) the clergy sought busyly to be exempted from the lay or secular power, 
exemption.  & in fine made lechery a spiritual matter, to have the correction thereof in their spiritual courts I think the devil was never more crafty than they have been, to shadow their filthy enormities by a vain show of holiness, which is plain hypocrisy. But how so ever they prospered in those days, the nobility and commons of this realm were wonderfully oppressed (Matthew of Westmynstre saith) so that both noble men and gentle men of the English blood, 
nobility.  deprived of their possessions, and being ashamed to beg, were with their children and famylyars, compelled to spoil and robbery, 
robberies.  when huntynge would no longer serve them. Of this pressed Kenredus, writeth Simeon, Henry Huntendune, Ranulphus, Hoveden, johan Capgrave, and fabian.   

☞ priests paid a tribute for their wives.  
MVche a do had king William Rufus with Odo the proud bishop of Bayon his uncle, 
Styngers.  which was also earl of Kent, with Egelwinus the bishop of Durham, with Ralph the bishop of chichester, and with other like heady prelate's, specially with Anselme, whom of a beggarly monk he had made archbishop of Canterbury. The said Anselme sought utterly to deprive him and all his successors, 
Anselme  of the investing of prelate's, or making of bishops and abbots within his own realm, labouring to turn that authority from the lawful power of Christian princes, to the usurped iurisdictyon of the proud Romish bishop, as it anon after came to pass, for the which he was worthily exiled this realm. This king william Rufus, partly of pity but chiefly of covetousness (for he had than many buildings in hand) permitted the priests for an yearly tribute, to hold still their wives in spite of the prelate's specially in such dioceses as had monks than to their bishops, 
wives.  which straightly had commanded Hyldebrandes wicked constitution to be observed, that no pressed having a wife, should hold his ben●fyce. Ralph the bishop of chichester than stood up like a praty man, 
1097.  & not only rebuked the king for taking that tribute, which like an a dust conscyenced hypocrite he called the fine of fornication, but also he withstood his officers, stopping up the church porches with great stakes, thorns and bryres, and interdycting the temples. But when the gentle king had once given him that tribute for his own diocese, 
Tribute  he could take it weal enough, and make no great noise thereof. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, li. ij. de pontificibus, Ranulphus li. seven. ca ix. Rogerus li. seven. & Fabianus.   

☞ variance among bishops for married priests.  
A little afore, that is to say, in the year of our lord a M. and xc. 
1090.  a sore contention had been among the bishops. They that had been priests and no monks favourably permitted the priests to remain with their wives in their dioceses, at the least (saith Roger of Chestre) some of them held their peace and would not see them. The other sort which had been monks, vexed them, troubled them, 
Styngers.  and most grievously molested them, depriving them of their livings, and most cruelly banishing them out of their countries. For the which violence, some of those bishops that had been priests, thrust the monks out of their cloisters, and put in secular priests, as they called them in their rooms. Of this band or factyon was Walkinus the bishop of Wynchestre the chief door or beginner, 
Walkinus.  having the kings agreement ●o the same. But in the end they prevailed not, first Lanfrancus, and than Anselmus, being both monks and archeby●hoppes of Canterbury, and writing ●o the Romish Nenroth against them. Notwithstanding when Walter was bishop of Durham, which succeeded Egelwinus, and had been the kings chaplain, to spite the monks therewith, he compelled them to leave their frayter, 
Walterus.  to dine in his open hall, and to eat such meats as by their rule were forbidden them. He also caused them to be served at the table, with women which were not very sober, neither in apparel nor yet in gesture or countenance. And all was to try out their hypocrisy. But some of them (I think) took not the matter very grievously. 
Trial.  Guilh. mali. i. & iij. de ponti. Ranulphus, li, seven. ca xi. & xi. Polychronicis, Rogerus, li. seven. joannes Trevisa, & alij.   

☞ God by signs manifesteth the mischief of this age.  
But mark how God fulfilled in this age, that he had secretly showed afore to S. johan the Evangelist, Apoca. vi. & viii. For afore warning to his elects. 
Warning.  Many stars were scene falling down from heaven in the year of our Lord a M. & xcv. 
1095.  specially a blazing star in likeness of a great burning beam, reaching from the south to the north, a wonderful dearth following, not only of victuals, but also of the fowls food, Amos. viii. Which is the verity of God and seed of salvation. Mark chronicon Sigeberti, Matthew Paris, Matthew of Westmynstre, Roger Hoveden, Scalamundi, and chronicon chronicorum. Yea, to make the matter more plain unto us, 
Stars  for the fulfilling of those hidden scriptures in our own nation, Radulphus de Diceto, Sigebertus, and Thomas Rudborne in their chronicles, addeth thus much to the story. Among the which fallen stars (say these authors) one which was the greatest of them all, seemed to fall on the other side of the sea, in France, as it had been a blazing fire brand. And when the place was marked in Normandy, 
The place.  and diligently sought out, the searchers beheld a fearful fluttering and terrible boiling in a certain water, an horrible stinking smoke arising thereof. By this particular fallen star, is signified first Lanfrancus & afterwards Anselmus. ij. Normandy monks & archbishops of Canterbury, by whom in those days was all the hurly-burly, turmoil, and change in religion here in England, 
A change.  Lanfrancus contending for transubstantiation of the Eucharysticall bread to advance idolatry, and Anselmus condemning the marriage of priests and authority of princes for investing of prelate's, to set up sodometry & impunyte of sin in the clergy. Whereby the one was constitute the adoptive son of Antichrist, and the other the pope of England, as hereafter will apere. The water betokeneth the wavering multitude, 
Mark it  and the stinking smoke the filthy doctrine of those fallen stars.   

☞ Of a lecherous bishop, and ij. superstitious earls.  
RObert Bloet, which had been a monk of Euesham abbey, 
simony.  went not thence so poor, but that he was able to give for the byshopryck of Lyncolne five thousand pound, in the year of our lord a M. & xcij 
1092.  after the death of Remigius. By like he had been abbot of the place, that he was so weal movyed. Never was Orpheus, Palemon, nor Sardanapalus more expert (they say) in the fine feats of lechery, than he was. For William of Malmesbury reporteth, that he was totus libidinosus, all given to filthy living. And yet he was brought up in the cloister under Saint Benet's rule, 
A lecher.  a great professor of chastity and a worthy governor in that religion. At the last he died suddenly, and was buried at Lyncolne, where as the church keepers were sore annoyed (they say) with his soul and other walking sprites) till that place was purged by prayers. 
Spretes  Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis. li, iiij, de pontifi. Ranulphus, Rogerus, Thomas Rudborne, ac Polydorus. When Roger the earl of Shrowesbury perceived once that he could not live much longer, 
1093.  he sent reynold the prior of Shrowesbury to Clunyake in France, for the kirtle of holy Hugh the abbot there, that by licence of Adelyse his wife, he might for succour of his soul, depart to God in the heat of his holiness. As much meed had he thereof (Trevisa saith) as had Malkyn of her maidenhead, 
Reward  which no man was hasty on. Hugh the old earl of Chestre, being spoke unto death in the same self year, caused by the enticement of Anselme, the priests clearly to be expelled out of the high church of Westchestre, and the monks to be placed there for them. 
Chestre.  So frantyck were the worldly rulers in this age. Henricus huntendune, li. xi. Ranulphus, Rogerus, Trevisa, Fabianus, & alij.   

☞ Of bishop Herbert, which builded Christ's church at Norwych.  
This Herbert was called by surname, 
Herbert.  losinga, & the father which bigate him, was Robert the abbot of Wynchestre. But who was his mother the story telleth not, to leave it as a secret matter within religion. First was he here in England by fryndeshyp, made abbot of Ramseye, and afterwards bishop of Thetford by flattery and fat payment, in the year of our lord a M. & xci. 
1091.  For the which he is named in the chronicles yet to this day, the ●yndelyng match of simony, and that noteth him no small door in that feat. notwithstanding he so repented that simony (they say) that he went to Rome, and there resigned up his ring & pastoral hook to Pope Vrbanus the second in the year of our lord a M. & xciiij. 
1094  not without an other great sum of money, ye may be sure, for there might nothing pass without ready payment. But here ye may axe me, why the buying of a bishopric was simony in England, and not at Rome? Whereunto I answer. For in England a king received the money, which hath none authority to meddle in that mart of buying & selling, 
No merchant.  wanting the character or mark of the beast, which they have at Rome, Apo. xiii. Also they have liberty in that generation to judge black white, evil good, sour sweet, and darkness light, & also to work thereafter, Esa. v. And when he had once returned home again, 
1095.  by virtue of Antichristes' commission, he removed his seat of poisoning Christ's flock, from Thetford to Norwyche in the year of our lord. a M. xcvi. 
1096  dyspossessing the priests and their wives, and placing the monks in their rooms, to make that church a Sodom. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, Radulphus de Diceto, Matthaeus Paris, Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis, Ranulphus, Rogerus, Thomas rudborne, joannes Eucresden, joannes Capgrave, Fabianus & alij.   

☞ The robbery, simony, and sacrilege, of the said Herbert.  
OF this bishop Herbert, 
testimonies.  were many strange things written, but yet very covertly and craftily (I think) to hide the open show of his evils, because he was so great an abbey foundar. Some there were that scoffyngly bestowed upon his predecessor Arfastus and him this text, Non hunc, sed Barrabam, joan, xviij. Not him, but Barrabas. For Arfastus had translated the byshopryck from Helmam to Thetford, which were in those days but villages. But he translated it from thence to Norwych, 
Norwych.  which was a famous town, and of great occupying. another sort gave this text, by the way, Amice, ad quid venisti? Mathae, xxvi. Friend, wherefore art thou come? Thus slily they compared him to Barrabas and judas, which both were thieves, Malmesburius, Ranulphus, & Trevisa. Moreover a Poet or versyfyer of that age, made these verses of him.  

Surgit in ecclesiam, monstrum genitore losinga, 
A monster.   
Simonidum secta, canonum virtute resecta.  
Petre nimis tardas, nam Simon ad ardua tentat,  
Si praesens esses, non Simon ad altavolaret.  
Proh dolor ecclesiae, nummisuenduntur & aere,  
Filius est praesul, pater abba, Simon uterque.  
Quid non speremus, si nummos possideamus?  

Money.  Omnia nummus habet, quod vult, facit, addit, & aufert.  
Res nimis iniusta, nummis fit praesul & abba.   

¶ A monster is up, the son of Losinga,  
whiles the law seeketh, Simony to flea.  
Peter thou sleepest, whiles Simon taketh time,  
If thou wert present, Simon should not climb.  
Churches are prised, for silver & gold,  

Symoners.  The son a bishop, the father an abbot old.  
What is not gotten, if we have richesse?  
Money obtaineth, in every business.  
In Herbertes way yet, it is a fowl blot,  
That he by simony, is bishop & abbot.   
Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, li. iiij. de regibus. 
A devil  Great suit made the monks of Norwych, to have had this Herbert a canonized saint But such impediments were always in the way, that it could not be obtained.   

☞ Other anointed prelate's of the lame race.  
SImon the high Dean of Lyncolne, 
Simon.  occupied that room not without a cause. For his father Robert Bloet, was the lecherous bull, bishop I should say, of that large diocese. This Simon was a lusty blood (the scory saith) & as good a treading cock as ever was his father, with stern looks on both sides, as proud as a peacock. Henricus huntendunensis in libro de contemptu mundi, Ranulphus in polychronico, & Guilhelmus Horman in fasci rerum Britannicarun. It is also reported of Radulphus de Diceto, in his chronicle called Imagines historiarum, that Robert Peche the bishop of Chestre, Coventre, and Lychefelde, begat Richard Peche the archdeacon of coventry, 
Richard Peche.  which afterward, as reason was, succeeded his father as bishop on same dioceses by inheritance. Radulphus praefatus, Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis in opere de pontificibus, & Guilhelmus Horman in abreviatione etusden. The third example will I there bring iii, though it chanced long afore, which I have left out in the first part of my votaries. Ethelwolf the son of king Egbert, 
Ethelwolf.  was professed a monk at Wynchestre, and received the order of a subdeacon under bishop Helmestane. 
A bishop  Afterwards ascending from one degree to an other, he was constitute bishop of Wynchestre, and a cardinal as some chronicles hath, about the year of our lord. viii hundredth and iij. By dispensation of Pope Gregory the fourth, 
803  he reigned king after his father, and married Osburga his own butler's daughter, by whom he had four sons, which all reigned kings after him and one daughter. In the time of his monkery, afore he was married, he begat a bastard called Adelstane, 
A bastard  whom he made under him the duke of Westsaxons, Rogerus Hoveden, Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis, Henricus Bradsha, jacobus Mayer, & jonnnes Scuysh.   

☞ Of Wulstane the mysbegotten bishop of Worcestre.  
Wulstanus the canonysed bishop of Worcestre, 
Wulstane.  had a monk of that abbey to his father, called Estanus, and a nun not far of to his mother, that was named Vulgena. By bishop Brithegus was he made a monk, & so was sent fourth to the monastery of Peterburg, to be instructed and so brought fourth in the idle rules of monkery. When it came to pass that he was once bishop, 
Lovers.  much love (they say) he had of fair women, and yet lived always a virgin, which is a matter very hard to be believed. The pontifical ring wherewith he blessed the streets in stead of Christian preaching, 
to bless.  he would never put from him, no, not at his very death, but commanded it to be buried with him (I think) to bless therewith, when he should arise at the lattre day. Matthaeus paris, Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, Ranulphus, Rogerus, Radulphus de Diceto, Thomas Rudborne, joannes Capgrave & alij. Old wives in Worcestre shire, by the help of idle headed monks, to whom peraventure they had been bawds, practised upon the Ethymology of his name a most shameful and foolish fable, 
A fable.  which yet remaineth among them. His father (they said) willing to have a do with his mother upon good friday, and she not consenting thereunto for the days sake, was compelled to leave his begetting upon a stone, which she finding there & lamenting the loss thereof, wrapped it up in a lock of wool, and so nourished him up underneath her arm hole. By this means (they say) he was first called Wulstone. 
Wolstone  This had been a strange begetting of a child, but that it was in monkery, whose ways were not in that working, like other men's ways. O most prodigious sodomites, how have ye illuded the simple with hypocrisy and lies?   

☞ Of Steven Hardynge and his Cysteanes.  
Steven Harding was first a monk of S. Benet's error, 
Hardin●  order I should say, at Sherborne not far from Salysbury. This man to spread abroad the branches of hypocrisy, went from thence into scotland, and so fourth into France and italy till he came to Rome. We read not all this time that ever he taught any Christian doctrine by the godly office of preaching or yet of writing. But after he had visited Rome and wandered over all italy (much good stuff ye may think, he gathered there) he returned into the province of Burgundy, and there made himself a monk again. Yet was he not so quieted (mark the subtile working of Satan) but he took with him a certain of his idle companions, and fled into the wilderness of Cistercium, and there he began the wicked sect of Cisteanes, 
Cisteanes.  otherwise called the white monks, to be noised abroad a new author of religion. And this was in the year of our lord. a M. & xcviij. 
1098.  It remaineth yet to the glory of England (saith William of Malmesbury) that the order of Cisteanes was first begun by an English man. Vincentius, Antoninus, Hoveden, Capgrave, Bergomas, Aegidius Faber, Thomas Scrope, joannes Paleonydorus, ac Polydorus Vergilius de iventoribus rerum. Of the ambition, lechery, and covetousness of this abominable sect, and how it came first into England, I will show more at large hereafter. 
1135.  About this time arose other sects of perdition, 
Sects.  as the Grandimontensers, Camalduleanes, Cartusyanes', dark alley brethren, Rhodyanes', Templars, Hospytelers, Premonstrates, josephytes, and others, with innumerable swarms of their laysye leave locusts, creeping slowly out of the smoky bottomless pit, Apocal. ix.   

☞ Grave sentences, declaring. the malice of this age.  
Wernerus Rolevinke, a Charterouse monk of Coleyne, thus reporteth in his work called fasciculus temporum, 
fasciculus  that we coming after should mark thereof the danger. A wanton time (saith he) began about the year of our lord a thousand, 
1000  and so followed on. For than the Christian faith very much decayed, utterly declining from her accustomed strength and old manliness, to a feeble faint folwing, as maid Hildegarde showeth in her prophecy. For in many regions of the Christianyte, were the rites of the church polluted with men's inventions, and the sacraments with sorceries defiled, the ministers becoming both soothsayers and conjurers. 
sorceries.  So that many thought, and not without cause, that Antichrist was than in full power, Benno saith also in the life of Hilbebrand, that the religion of the clergy was none other in those days, than a very treason or utter betraying of the worldly governors, to maintain their insatiable ambition, covetousness, & lechery. Thus were the golden calves had in honour in that age (saith Wernerus) meaning the glittering prelate's, And the other sort slain or ill handled, by them understanding the true simple preachers, as was Berengarius, Oclefe, and such other like, impugning their new idolatries. 
1094  johan Capgrave writeth, that a great reformation (a difformation he should have said) was than in the Scottish church, by procurement of queen Margarete, which was an English woman borne. What changes were here in the church of England, I have & will hereafter more plenteously declare.   

☞ Hildegardes prophecy, with other notes and examples.  
IN the year after Christ's incarnation a thousand and an hundred (said maid Hyldegarde) the Apostles doctrine and fervent righteousness, 
1100.  which God had planted in the faithful christians, begun to go back and to change, as it were, into a doubtful staggering. But that womanly or fickle time will not so long endure, as it hath been in breading, Vincentius, li, xxix. ca xxi. And jacobus Meyer in chronicis Flandriae, saith, that in the year of our lord a M. and xcvi. 
1096  avarice, ambition, and lechery, so strongly took place in the head rulers of the clergy, that scarce one could be found out among them to resist the wicked, by the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Many stars than seemed to fall from heaven. Sigebertus saith, Realyte they joined to their sacramental bread, 
Realyte.  to make the people believe it to be Christ's natural body. They set up school doctrine and the Pope's canon laws, sophystycally to maintain all filthy superstitions. commonly they disputed with cheanes and imprisonmentes, to terryfye their withstanders. Matthew of Westminstre saith, that Paulus the abbot of S. Albon, 
Paulus  following the footsteps of his father Lanfrancus, was than here in England a most busy doer, for so much as in England, france, and italy, the great●● 〈◊〉 of men followed in those days the opinion of Berengarius, and Oclefe. 〈◊〉, saith Henry the fourth Emp●●o●, to his son than having the governance, and he being under him a woeful ●●ysoner. Those hypocrites deceive thee, 
deceivers.  for they instruct not the multitude. They seek not thine honour, but deny it. under the colour of faith, they prepare the snares of deceit, whiles they prefer the traditions of men to Gods holy commandments. Adelboldus Traiectensis in vita Henrici Caesaris.   

☞ The first fit of Anselme with king William Rufus.  
ANselmus a Normandy monk, at the instant request, labour, and long suit of the clergy, 
1094  was constitute archbishop of Canterbury, by king William Rufus. The reason why he was of our prelate's afore all others preferred to that dignity, was t●ys. They perceived in him great copy of learning, pregnancy of wit, a stought stomach, a boldness unshamefast, an adventerouse and folehardy head, and a face without bashfulness. 
Anselme  Whereupon they thought him a man most meet to withstand the kings proceedings, which were in those days nothing to the●r contentacy●ns. For king William was such a man as would not in many points agree to their horrible ambition, 
King william  avarice, & incontynencyes. Which than they used without all shame, He did not much favour the church of Rome (Matthew Paris saith) because the holy prelate's were so unsacyably given there to filthy lucre. Such indignation he had against the Pope, by reason of the schism, which than was at Rome, that he in his parliament enacted it, that none of his subjects should thydrewarde repair under forfeiture of body and goo●●s or ●is under pain of perpetual exile. They could not be Peter's vicars (he 
Vycars  said) that studied so much for covetousness. Neither should they seem to hold his power, whose virtuous life they had not in practise. Concluding that the bishop of Rome neither had nor yet should have any thing to do in his realm. He also restrained the Rome shot, fabian saith. Whereupon Anselmus judging the king a schismatic, 
Anselme  a rebel, and a tyrant, obstinately withstood him to the very face like a ruffling rover. For the which he was reckoned a traitor, as he was weal worthy, the other bishops holding their fingers in their noses. Matthaeus Paris, Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, Radulphus de Diceto, joannes Capgrave, & joannes Scuysh.   

☞ Fyne conveyances of these wily worms.  
IT was no long time after that, ere the bishop of Rome had knowledge of this matter by secret messengers, 
Spies.  as the clergy hath evermore had their betrayers of princes. Whereunto he made this wily and foxish answer. Dum furor in cursu est, currenti cede furori. Whyls' fury is in course, give place to it, as though he would at leisure recompense it, when he should see hystyme. 
1095.  The next year after was Gualtherus Albanensis a bishop cardinal sent into England from Pope Urban the second, bringing with him the metropolycall mantel of Anselme, to augment his cockysh authority. This Gualtherus craftily pacified the wrath of the king, and colourably or dyssemblyngly reconciled both Anselme and the Pope unto him, only to serve the time. Anselme from thence fourth showed a merry countenance (Matthew Paris saith) to cause king William to think that he bore him no displeasure, 
falsehood  but had forgotten all injuries. O most crafty fox. Anon after upon this dissimulation, he axed lycens of the king to go to Rome with this cardinal, which he very prudently denied him for doubt of wrong appellations and increase of schism, unless he would go & no more return again. For there was no cause why he should go thither, 
A traitor.  having his primates pall brought to him, unless it were to work some secret mischief, as he meant no less by these five colours of deceit. Than played he the part of a traitorous renegade right out, fleeing out of the realm without lycens. All this hath Matthew Paris in the second book of his ch●onycles, and Radulphus de Diceto.   

☞ An other fit of Anselme with king William Rufus.  
Mark the arrogant spirit of Antichrist in this obstinate Anselme. In a bitter malice he suddenly departed from the king, 
A Satan  not taking his leave as became a good subject. To Canterbury he ro●e in post haste, and so forth to Dover, privily to steal a passage over by night, more like a thief than a true man. But where was than his kings obedience, according to this doctrine of Paul? Let every soul submit himself to the hyghar power. For who so resisteth that power, resisteth the set ordinance of God, Roma. xiii. This was far from our Anselme. See now what followed therefore. When this packing was once known & detected by secret spies, 
A rebel.  the kings office William Warelwast prevented the passage, searching by the kings straight commandment, all his trusses, coffers, males, bowgettes, sacks, satchels, sleeves, purse, napkin, and bosom, 
A search  for letters and for money, and so let him go like a vagabond, all his goods seized as a forefeyture to the kings use. Nevertheless when he came once to Rome, he was reverently and joyfully received of Pope Urban, & made lord high president of all his general counsels. He persuaded the said Pope to take from the temporal princes the whole power & authority of making bishops and abbots, declaring unto him, what commodity and profit he might have by the same. 
suggestion.  He taught him also many other fine properties and feats, how to play the Pope in deed, and how to become a full Antichrist in length and in breadth, in pride and in all other ungodliness. Look Matthew Paris, and johan Capgrave.   

☞ Anselmes' good devotion and prayer for women.  
RAnulphus and Trevisa saith, that when this Anselme was yet but a lousy abbot, 
1089  in a certain counsel holden at Turon in France, Pope Urban at his instigation enacted it, that the jewish sabot should be altogether turned to the service of our lady, and that every day in the week her matins and hours should be said of all the whole clergy. Wherein I would this point to be specially marked of all my readers. In the respond afore. Te deum at matins, & in the anteme after Magnificat at even song was this solemn petition both song and said. 
petition  Ora pro populo, Interueni pro clero, Intercede pro devoto foemineo sexu. Pray for the people, be a gracious mean for the clergy, and make intercession for the deuo●te kind of women, It this devout kind had been taken for the whole kind of women, 
women.  it had never been placed so nigh the 〈◊〉 But surely it was some 〈…〉 of women, that they there 〈…〉 for, And not only of them, that gave aultre clothes and towels, wax candles and eches, mass groats and trentals, but also of them that served their other secret needs, when the natural beats were importable. Tush, they never had hearts to do so great things, and continually for nought, but a provoking cause there was in the way. Truly this was a fryndly foundation of Anselme for priestly women, 
Fryndly  though he were not very fryndely to their marriage, as afterward shall apere. What worthy acts he did in the other. iij. counsels, at Cleremount, Baren, and Rome, the process following shall weal declare.   

☞ His crafty conveyance in those. iij. counsels.  
IN the year of our lord a M. and xcvi. 
1096  Vrb●nus held a general counsel at Cle●emount in france, whereas by the subtile persuasions of Anselme, he moved the Christian princes to war upon the Turks and Saracenes for the defence of Jerusalem and recover of other noble cities of the holy land, as they called it, giving them a cross to fight under. And this was chiefly to occupy their idle hyades, whiles they were practising and bringing to pass other matters for the full establishment of antichrist's reign. 
practises.  Never. was there such a knavery practised under so precious a colour, as was this winning of Jerusalem. Mark it for the space of more than. ij. hundred years. For under that they brought all their false packynges to pass, demynyshed the temporal power, wrought all their mischiefs, and made themselves rich without measure. The next year after, to occupy the time, was an other counsel holden at Baren in Apuita, 
1097  where Anselmus played the man, disputing against the Greeks for having leavened bread in their communion and for admitting the marriage of priests. though the chronicles name an other thing. For Sigebertus saith, that Nichetas a learned Greek and monk of constantinople, 
Nichetas.  had written a little afore, de azimis Latinorum ac sacerdotum nuptijs, of the unleavened bread of the latins and the necessary wyning of priests, against that blasphemies of the bishop of Rome. In the great synod at Rome the next year after that, 
1098  was the stalling of prelate's and admitting to benefices clearly taken away from the temporal rulers by the whose ● sent of that counsel, at the importune calling on of our Anselme, all lay men being accursed that from thence forth should attempt it. I told ye afore, they would work wonders, 
wonders  when they were ones from home that should have controlled their doings. Matthaeus Paris, Rogerus Hoveden, Radulphus de Diceto, Thomas rudborne, joannes Capgrave, & alij plures.   

☞ A wonderful overthrow of the temporal power.  
SIgebertus, Vincentius, Matthew Paris, and diverse other writers reporteth, that in these. iij. counsels they both renewed & confirmed the wicked decrees of Pope Hildebrande. 
Counsel's  Moreover they enacted that the church, as they than called their shorlynges, should be faithful among themselves, should outwardly profess a chastity, & be clearly exempted from the lay powee. They ordained that bishops, abbots, and priests, should in no wise receive any spiritual promotions of princes or kings, 
for lucre  neither yet of any lay person, but only of the Pope for money, and that they should not meddle with handy labours, which they called worldly occupyings, but lead all their lives in a slothful idleness. They appointed the lay people to fast the lent, their massmongers and shavelings Septuagesime. advent, rogation days, and quater-temper, and their whorish orders only to be given on their fasting days. They ordained also that he which rob a prelate should ●e outlawed, 
Acts.  and he that struck a priest, should be accursed. They decreed that kindreds should not marry to the seven. or viii degree in blood, in pain of their great curse, that lay men should buy no tithes, that none should be chosen bishops unless they were priests or deacons afore, neither yet any priests sons admitted to holy orders, 
Monks.  except ●hey had been professed monks, All th● 〈◊〉 Matthew Paris, li. ij. historiae 〈…〉 bruynge had the Babylon builders, whiles the undiscrete princes of Christendom were fighting for Jerusalem among the Turks, they keeping their wives warm till they came fool home again. A conveyance was this, I think never any so wily and subtile afore.   

☞ blasphemies are uttered against God and his Christ.  

Make speed.  IN this lattre counsel of Rome, as in the closing up of the whole, they went more sharply to work than afore, Simeon of Durham and Roger Hoveden saith, in their chronicles. For than they gave open sentence of excommunication upon all lay persons, what so ever they were, that should from thence fourth prohibit any spiritual promotions, upon them also that received them of their hands, either yet should consecrate any such receivers. Moreover they accursed all them that for benefices or other promotions should serve any great man, 
A curse.  king, prince, duke, or earl, of the layte. For it was unseming (they said) yea, they called it a thing very execrable and wicked, that the hands which were converted into so high working, as was granted to no Angel, that is to say, to create him with their crossynges which created all (o abominable Antichristes') and to offer him up for man's redemption, 
o devils.  which redeemed all (o thieves and soul murderers) unseming it is (say they) that their holy hands should be brought to such a slavery, as to be subject to those filthy hands (o hypocrite knaves) which both day and night are polluted with shameful touchings, 
Blasphemy  robberies, and blood shed. This was the closing up of that wicked counsel, the priests clapping their hands for joy. Which turned all Christendom to a most heavy ruin, as hereafter will apere. Simeon Dunelmensis, libro secundo. Rogerus Hoveden, libro primo Radulphus de Diceto, & Capgrave. What was this counsel else, but the mouth of the beast speaking blasphemies? 
A mouth  Daniel. seven. & Apocal. xiii. Though these matters were first proponed at Cleremount in France, and after enacted at Baren in Apulia, yet were they not so straightly knyttt up till they came to Rome.  
Mark the good conveyance.   

☞ Anselmus, made Pope of England for his practises.  
FOr the witty inventions, forecastynges, 
sorceries.  polecyes, disputations, & other laborious affairs of Anselme about the overthrow of princely authority, and uprearing of Antichristes' tyranny, and for his earnest provocaations to have them performed in the crafty wurkynges of Satan, to see him horribly, honourably I should say, rewarded for his pains, Pope Vrbanus appointed both him and them that should afterward succeed in the patryarcall seat of Canterbury, 
A seat.  to sit at his right foot in every general counsel, and that he also ratified by a special decree. And thus was it proclaimed when that place was given him, in the open synod. Includamus hunc in orb nostro, tanquam alterius orbis Papan●. let us include or admit this man in our world here, as the Pope of an other world, meaning great britain or England, 
England  which the old cosmographers and famous hystoryanes called an other world, for so much as it seemed from the great world by sea divided, as Virgyll also showeth in his Bucolyckes. Never was there any place peculiarly appointed to the archbishops of Canterbury afore that day. All this hath Thomas Rudborne in medulla chronicorum, johan Capgrave in a manner confirming the same, where as he calleth him the Apostle and patriarch of the other world. I have always been of this opinion, that S. johans Apocalyps hath as weal his fulfilling in the particular nations, 
A pope.  as in the unyversall church. I speak it here for Anselme, which was the great Pope or Antichrist of England. Mark it hardly in him, and a great sort more of his wicked successors.   

☞ The chastity of Anselme, and death of king William.  
ANselme anon after departed from his holy father Vrbanus, as he might weal spare him when his turn was once served, and so came to Lions, 
1099  where as he remained till the death of king William Rufus. In the mean time for his recreation (johan Cagrave saith) he sometime resorted to Hugh the abbot of Clunyake, and to his, praty nuns at Marceniacum. I think not the contrary, but it was to ease him of some great burden. For Roger Hourden, Matthew Paris, & other writers affirmeth, 
A son.  that he had a nephew called junior Anselmus, which after the rule of the Roman prelate's, is as much to say as a son. He beheld it in a vision at Lions (they say) how S. Albone and other English saints, sent fourth an evil spirit to slay the said king william, for oppressing their abbeys. But I beshrew their cruel hearts, their privy legerdemains were not much to be trusted, that king so suddenly slain. They feign in an other fable, 
A fable.  that he tore with his teeth Christ's flesh from his bones as he hang on the rood, for withholding the lands of certain byshopryckes and abbeys, Polydorus not being ashamed to rehearse it. Some where they call him a read dragon, some where a fiery serpent and a bloody tyrant, for occupying the fruits of their valiant benefices about his princely buildings. Thus rail they of their kings without either reason or shame, in their legends of abominable lies. Look Eadmerus, Helinandus, 
Railers  Vincentius, Matthew of Westmynstre, Rudborne, Capgrave, William Caxton, Polydore, and others. Where ever heard ye afore, that their superfluous, idle, and slow belly livings were Christ's flesh? either yet that an old painted rood had flesh? let not this be forgotten.   

☞ King Henry marrieth a votary without dispensation.  

1101.  HEnry the first of that name, constitute king, Anselmus returned into England again, & married him to a professed nun of Wynchestre, called Maude, which was the daughter of Malcolme the king of Scots. Much a do had her father and mother, confessor and abbess (Matthew Paris saith) to persuade her to this marriage, and to obtain her consent in the end, by reason of her former profession and vow. Yet cursed she the fruit that should come of her body, 
Ill change.  which afterward turned her children to great misfortune (Polydorus saith) for thereupon were her two sons William and Richard drowned in the sea, and her daughter Maude the empress an infortunate mother in bringing forth Henry the second, which put unto death holy Thomas Becket. Here was (I trow) no bad judgement. As scrupulose as Anselme was in other causes, yet found he no fault in this marriage, 
No fault.  when he coupled them together, neither sought he to have that vow dispensed with. If Ranulphus and Trevisa he brought in to prove her vow a dissimulation, and that the said Anselme so found it. I have Matthew Paris, Rudborne, Polydore, and other authors more to confound them, which largely hath declared it a full vow & profession. But of one thing I somewhat marvel, why they and william of Malmesbury should judge it an unwor thy marriage, 
judgements.  & commend her for spending her substance so prodigally, upon syngars, mynstrels, & poets, delyghting in their balettes and vain praisings, & oppressing her tenants to maintain them. Guilhelmus Malmesburiensis, li. v. de regibus, & Ranulphus. li. seven. ca xvi.   

☞ Anselme worketh wiles, and Randolfe plain treason.  
SOme writers have thought, specially Matthew of Westminstre, that Anselmus bore with king Henry in this matter concerning his marriage, 
A practise.  to win him in an other much more weighty & profitable purpose. For in that generation they are more wily (Christ saith) than are the children of light, Luce. xvi. But he failed of his purpose at that present. For immediately after the king made Reinalmus the queens chancellor, bishop of Herforde without the clergies election, 
Like a king.  and put him in possession without the Pope's authority, contrary to the oath of his coronation, as testifieth Radulphus de Diceto, Matthew Parts, and Roger Honeden. But when Randolfe the bishop of Durham, whom the king put in the Tower of London for oppression and ill rule keeping, had once broken out of the prison in the drunkenness of his keepers, and fled into Normandy, persuading duke Robert Courtoys, to subdue the king his brother, 
Randolfe  and so to usurp his crown, promising also that he had made him friends within the land by his secret counsel and letters. In his coming (as the said duke took it once upon him) a great commotion was within the realm, the prelate's freshly rejoicing thereat, and causing it to be noised a broad, that this sudden invasion was, for that king Henry had disobeyed their holy father of Rome, defeated his eldar brother, and married Christ's professed spouse. And all this they subtylye had practised, 
Practice  to take the people's hearts from him that he might the more easily have been subdued (as they thought) to their commodity. Yet God of his great mercy gave him than, as he head oft after that, the victory over his enemies unlooked for, to their utter shame and confusion. Matthaeus Paris, & alij.   

☞ The chaste proceedings of diverse holy prelate's.  
IN the same very year, which was the year of our lord a M. a C. and one, 
1101  Thomas the archbishop of York, surnamed the eldar, whom Lanfrancus proved a priests son afore pope Alexandre the second, as is uttered afore, departed the world. This Thomas had a nephew (Ranulphus saith) called also Thomas the yongar. 
ij. Thomas.  Ye know what a nephew is by the rules of Rome, whose footsteps the father's most studiously followed in that age as natural subjects and children of their creation. By right he should have followed his father in that office, as a natural inheritor to the mitre, but he was prevented by one Gerarde (William of Malmesbury, 
Gerard.  ranulph, & Roger of Chestre saith) which was a man as the comen same went, given all to lecherous lightness & to sorcerous witchcrafts. For when he on a time was found dead in an herber, a book of curious arts was found under his pillow, made by julius Firmicus, whom he used to read to himelfe in the none tide. For the which his own clergy would scarcely suffer him to be buried without the church under tyrfes or sods of the grass. Roger Hoveden saith, that this yongar Thomas at the last being archbishop of York and dying in extremes, 
1114.  was a persuaded of his phesycyanes to take to him a woman for remedy of his disease, which he utterly refused to do, and so died. If this were true, as I much doubt of it, than was he a phoenix in that generation, for Danyel saith, that their hearts should be set all upon women Danie. xi. But who so ever shall resort to his doctrine and fruits in Antichristes' prelacy, 
doctrine  shall find him a virgin of a far other sort than Christ hath allowed in the scriptures.   

☞ priests marriage condemned of our Anselme,  
HEnry of Huntyngton in the first book of his chronicles saith, that in the year of our lord a M. a C & ij. 
1102.  which was the iij. year of king Henry the first, at the feast of S. Michael the archangel, Anselme the archbishop of Canterbury held a great counsel at London, at Westmynstre some chronicles hath, which is all one. King William Rufus for his time, would suffer the clergy to hold no such assemblies, and therefore they mortally hated him. In the which counsel (saith the said Henry, Roger of Westchestre confirming the same) he forbade the priests of England their wives, never afore the day prohybeted. 
Marriage.  Mark this. Which seemed to many (say they) a very pure religion, but some men there were which thought it a matter full of apparel, and would not have had it so pass, lest the priests professing a chastity above their strengths, should thereby fall into most horrible ●yndes of filthiness (a Christian sentence) to the great blemish and shame of Christianyte. 
sodometry  And because I would this point to be the more earnestly marked of my readers, to the confusion of antichrists bullish buggers of Anselmes' & hildebrand's broad, I put here the v●ry words of those authors, as they stand in their latin works. In quo concilio (inquiunt) Anselmus prohibuit uxores sacerdotibus Anglorum, 
mark it  antea non prohibitas. Quod quibusdam mundissimum ursum est, quibusdam periculosum, ne, dum munditias viribus maiores appeterent▪ in immunditias horribiles ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent. For other English writers showeth not the mat●er so lively, as doth this Henry & Roger.   

☞ The acts of Anselmes' great synod.  
FIrst they enacted in this counsel, by virtue of Hyldebrandes constitution and Vrbanes bull, 
Acts  that the horrible vice of simony should be condemned for ever, which was not committed when they sold bishopryckes, abbeys, deaneryes, prebends, orders, dedications, consecrations, benefices, or any other ecclesiastical doings or promotions, but only when the king or any other lay person did give them or dispose them. This was their spiritual meaning. Next unto that, they enacted, that no archdeacon (th●y spoke of no bishops) pressed, 
Exempt.  deacon, subdeacon, collygener nor canon, should from thence fourth marry a wife, nor yet keep her still, if he had been married to one afore. They ordained also that a pressed keeping company with his wife, should be judged unlawful, & that he should say no mass, & if he said mass, that it should not be heard. They charged that none were admitted to orders from that time forward (mark the time) unless they professed a chastity, 
chaste profession  neither yet that any priests sons should claim by heritage the benefices of their fathers, as the custom had always been, Other acts they made there else, concerning priests garments, havings, shopynge, offerings, tithings, buries, buildings, confessynges, eatynge, and slepynges (no preachings) to foolish to be rehearsed. 
All a like  Look the book of Anselmes'. ccc. lxvij. epistles. See here hardly, if the king were not as weal dispatched of his princely power and authority one way, as the priests of their wives an other way. O wily wurkers in that kingdom of iniquity. Nothing was done here by the word of God to his glory, but by the bishop of Rome's authority to their vain glory.   

☞ Penaltees for them which broke these acts.  
Besides their synodal acts, these injunctions gave they to the priests which were dyvorced, 
Iniunctyons.  First that they and their wives should never more meet in one house, neither yet have dwelling within their parryshes. If any of them should be accused by ij. or. iij. witnesses, and could not purge himself again by six able men of his own order, he should be judged a transgressor of the statute, deprived of his benefice, and made an infame or be put to the open reproach of all men. 
Shamed  He that rebelled, or in contempt of their new statute held still his wife, and presumed to say mass, upon the. viii. day after should be solemnly excommunicated. All archdeacon's and deans were straightly sworn, 
forfeits.  not to colour their meetings, neither yet to bear with them for money. And if they would not be sworn to this, that than they should lose their offices without recover. All the movable goods of them that were proved to transgress the former statute, remained as forfeits to the bishops, their poor wives condemned for comen whores. Anselmus in epistolis. Never was there any tyranny against the let ordinance of God, like unto this tyranny of Antichrist, since the worlds beginning, neither under Pharaoh, Antiochus, Nero, nor yet Dioclecyane. All this time was not the shameful sodometry, 
Buggers.  which secretly lurked among the idle monks, once reformed nor yet spoken of. Was it not happy (think you) for England, that these filthy buildings of Antichrist, had the good help of Whynchesters' vows of. xxi. year, to uphold them 
1539.  when they were dropping away in this lattre age? If ye consider it well, ywys it hath passed all stage play.   

☞ Abbots deposed, and priests in Norfolk deprived.  
IN this solemn counsel a great number of abbots were deposed and dysgraded, chiefly these by name. guy the abbot afperscour, 
Abbots  Aldewyne the abbot of Ramseye, Wymunde the abbot of Tavestoc, Godryck the abbot of Peterburgh, Haymo the abbot of Ceruel, Agelryck the abbot of Mydelton, Richard the prior of Hely, Robert the abbot of S. Edmondes' Bury, the abbot of Mycelney, the abbot of Stoke, & certain others. I think it was for haunting of whores, 
For whores.  or for bandy rule keeping. For Simeon of Durham, Radulphus Niger, Roger Hoveden, johan Euersdene, and other historyanes report, that they lived without all honesty. bishop Herbert of Norwych had much a do with the priests of his diocese anon after this counsel. For they would neither leave their wives, nor yet give over their benefices. 
Herbert.  Whereupon he wrote to Anselme the archbishop for counsel, what was to be done therein Which Anselme required him by writing to persuade the people of Norfolk and Southfolke, that as they professed a Christianite, they should subdue them as rebels against the church, and utterly drive both them and their married wives out of the country with rebukes and shame, placing monks in their rooms. Look the C. & lxxvi. epistle of Anselme. 
Anselme  This was the reverence that the fallen stars had in those days of hypocr●sye, to that holy ordinance of marriage, which God had provided for man's natural necessity. O subtile sodomites, how devylyshely demented you men's eyes in that age, that they deed not perceive your wicked sorceries?   

☞ The railing rhyme of a foolish monk.  
ABout the same time as malicious monk or beast without all good learning, 
A iestar.  made these foolish verses in dyspyght of the married priests, and set them upon doors and posts, to cause the people to abhor them for their marriages.  

O male viventes, versus audite sequentes.  
Vxores vestras, quas odit summa potestas,  
Linquite propter eum, tenuit ꝗ morte trophaeum.  
Quod si non facitis, inferni claustra petetis.  

Babylon.  Christi sponsa jubet, ne presbyterille ministret.  
Qui tenet uxorem, domini quia perdit amorem.  
Contradicentem, fore dicimus insipientem,  
Non exrancore, loquor haec, potius sed amore.  
Ye priests that live so naughtyly,  
Hear these my verses by and by.  
Your wives forsake, whom God doth hate,  
For the lambs sake immaculate.  
If ye do not, ye shall to hell, 
Monkelyke.   
The spouse of Christ bade me so tell.  
She willeth no priest, any mass to say,  
Which hath a wife, but that he decay.  
We call him a fool, that believe not thus,  
I speak not of hate by sweet jesus.   
This found I at Ramseye abbey, in a little treatise de monachatu. Was it not good stuff to confound priests marriage with? 
Good stuff.  Where found this rascal monk, that marriage was a naughty life? either yet that God ever hated the wife of a pressed? considering that Abraham, Aaron, and Peter, pleased their lord God in marriage. Who would for righteousness threaten hell, but a filthy Antichrist knave? 
Antichrist.  Never was it Christ's dear spouse that forbade the ministration of a married minister, but the sorcerous synagogue of the devil. They are godly wise that withstand this hypocrisy of Satan, and no fools, though this beastly fool so call them, of a spiteful hate against the verity of the lord.   

☞ The earnest resistance of York diocese.  
GErarde the archbishop of York, when he was once settled at home after the aforesaid great counsel, laboured to set that way of wickedness in his province of York, that Anselme had planted afore him in the province of Canterbury. For as the kings had their regions of God, so had these sorcerers their sorted out provinces of the tyrannt of Rome, and would be above them within their own nations, as their wicked master would be above God in his monarchycall meddelynges. When this Gerarde had begun his feats, 
Gerard.  to deprive the priests of their wives, not only did they knit him up with biting words, but also they manfully reasoned, argued, and disputed with him. And when that would not help, they sharply threttened him and reviled him, saying, if they might not by the new statute hold wives of their own, 
wives  they would not spare the wives of their neybers, make what laws they would. profession of chastity would they none make, otherwise than was their old custom. Neither could he cause them by any persuasion to take their new orders, which had none orders afore, for doubt of the vow annexed newly to them. And much a do he had with the archdeacon's son, whom for a certain sum of money he had made sure of his father's livings afore his dysseace. Because it was done afore that great synod, 
for lucre  he would gladly have dissolved it, but it would not so come to pass. Look the epistles of Anselme, in the lattre end.   

☞ An other Synod at London for sodomites.  
IN the next year after this great counsel at Westmynstre for priests divorcements, which was the year of our lord a M.a. C. and. iij. 
1103.  rumours and complaints were brought to Anselme, that the land was sore replenished with the execrable vice of Sodometry. sens the clergy was inhybyted marriage. Thus entered in this plague here, with the wickedness of the Romans for our unbeleves sake, as S. Paul afore prophesied, Roman. i. Than was Anselme compelled to call an other counsel at Paul's within London, 
a synod  where as he specially enacted it among other matters, that every sunday in the year, the sodomites should be pronounced excommunycate. Ranulphus. Rogerus & Trevisa. He ordained also that no cattle should be sold that day, to seem to sit upon other matters so weal ae upon that, & somewhat to shadow the filthienesse of his masmongers. wily were the wurkers in that wicked generation, to blind so the sight of the simple. The act for sodometry was this. 
An act.  Sodomiticum flagitium facientes, & eos in hac voluntate invamtes, gravi anathemate damnamus, donec poenitentia & confession absolutionem mercantur. With a grievous curse we condemn both them that occupy the ungracious vice of sodometry, 
sodomites.  and them also that willingly assist them or be wicked doars with them in the same, till such time as they may deserve absolution by penance and confession. Is not here (think you) good matter, and religiously handled? Where was the learning of the lord, yea, where were godly governors in this wicked age? Oh that the people of God should be led by such hellhounds and thieves, as these sodometrouse shavelings were.   

☞ A general curse against Buggers.  
NOw followeth the rest of this act, mark it (good reader) & thou shalt behold these holy canonized devils in their own right colours. 
saints  Qui vero in hoc crimine publicatus suerit, statutum est, siquidem fuerit persona religiosi ordinis, ut ad nullum amplius gradum promoveatur, & si quem habet, ab illo deponatur. Si autem laicus, ut in toto regno Anglie legali sua condignitate privetur. Et ne huius criminis absolutionem ijs quise sub regula vivere non noverunt, aliquis nisi episcopus deinceps facere praesumat, 
An act.  Statutum quoque est, ut per totam Angliam in omnibus ecclesijs & in omnibus diebus dominicis, excommunicatio praefata publicetur ac renovetur.  
It is enacted, that what so ever he is, that is noised or proved to be of this wickedness, if he be a religious person, he shall from thence fourth be promoted to no degree of honour, and that which he hath already shall be taken from him. If he be a lay person (a secular pressed he meaneth) he shall be deprived of all his freedom within the land (of benefice he meaneth) and be no better than a foroner. 
Say priest.  And because that none else but a bishop shall presume to assoil them that be not professed monks, it is also enacted, that on every sunday in the year, and in every pareysh church of England, the said excommunication or general curse be published and renewed. 
published.  This shall ye find in the volume of Anselmes' epistles. Behold (I pray you) how nicely this matter is touched. I wis poor matrimony thou cannyst find no such tender handling. No, thou shalt not dwell in the monasteries, neither yet abide within the diocese.   

☞ A right understanding of the same.  
SEE how this most shameful matter of bugrery is untowardly tossed and conveyed here of these beastly buggers, 
Conveyance.  the maintainers thereof finely lawhed to scorn. So have these holy fathers by their good discressyons qualyfyed the matter, that by confession and penance without repentance, of their own appointing, may be able to discharge them. If he be a religious father, as they have appointed religion, he shall have no more harm but the loss of his dignity till they restore him again. 
Tenderly  But if he be a lay man, he shall lose his freedom, that is to say, if he were a secular priest, or one unprested by them, he should clearly lose his benefice, prebend, or other living, some sodometrouse monk taking the profyghtes thereof. None might dispense with a lay pressed, but his bishop, which than was most commonly a monk, to dispatch him of his living at his pleasure. 
Practice  A buggerysh monk might be assoiled of his own abbot at home, & remain still a filthy buggerar for term of life, & never feel harm of it. This general curse was only for priests, deacons, subdeacons, canons, and college men, which the year afore this lived honestly in marriage, and now were becomen prodigious buggers, 
Buggers.  as the monks were in their cloisters, for want of their natural wives. The monks were not threatened to be under this curse, because they had vowed a symulate chastity, and because that what mischief so ever they did, the monastery walls were able to hide it.   

☞ This curse is published, and again dysolued.  
ANselmus after this, declared by a large epistle to his archdeacon William, 
william  what order he and the curates should take in the publishing of this general curse or excommunication for buggery. He willed them to show favour in penance giving under his authority, as we'll to them that were ignorant of the constitution that was made, as to them that sinned afore the act. He admonished them also to consider their ages, and to way their contynuaunces in that sin, 
A rope  with other circumstances more, and whether they were such as had wives afore or nay, that they might so lose their benefices. Anselmus in epistola. CC. lxxviij. Ye would wondre to hear the whole tragedy. Here was a great reformation of this horrible sin, without taking away of the cause. O wicked and abominable hypocrite, 
Hypocryte.  though thou be now a canonized devil. But mark I pray you, what it came to in the end. This general curse was called back again at the instant suit of the monks. Ye must know than, it touched them. They persuaded to Anselme, that the publication or opening of that vice, gave kyndelynges to the same in the 
A craft.  hearts of idle persons, ministering occasion of more boldness to do the like. So that it hath continued ever since in the clergy unpunished. Ranulphus Cestrensis, Rogerus Cestrensis, & joannes Trevisa. I would they had as weal considered, that the secret occupying thereof among themselves, 
No, not so.  had been a most manifest sign of their damnation, But that the blind beastly asses remembered not, for still it was nourished in the monasteries, & none ill spoken of it, to the utter perdition of thousands.   

☞ Anselmus is at contention with the king.  
IN the end of this year, a contention fell between Anselme and the king, 
A strife.  and this was the full occasion ●herof. The king had made one Roger which was his chancellor, bishop of salisbury, and an other Roger which was his larderer, the bishop of Herforde, for Reinalmus had given it over, he made also William Gyfforde the bishop of Wynchestre. This might the king do by the laws of God, 
Lawful  for David, Solomon josaphat, and Ezechyas, among the people of God had done the like, & were allowed in it. But because it was restrained by the bishop of Rome, this Anselme swelled, fretted, and waxed so mad, that he would neither consent to it (Radulphus de Diceto saith) neither yet confirm them, nor communicate or talk fryndely with them. But spiteful and maliciously he called them abortynes or children of destruction, dysdaynously rebuking the gentle king as a defyler of religion and polluter of their holy ceremonies, as witnesseth Polydorus. With this uncomely outrage the king was much disposed, as he might full weal, & required Gerard the archbishop of york, as he ought him allegiance, to consecrated them, which without delay he performed, saving to William Gyfforde which refused it for doubt of Anselme. 
Anselme  Thus in a great heat he once yet again departed the realm with his dysgraded abbots and the said William Gyfforde, making of the king a sore complaint to his holy father as he came once to Rome. 
to Rome  The king anon after sent his messengers after him, to declare the truth, that is to say, bishop Herbert of Norwych, bishop Robert of lichfield, and William Warelwast his trusty and familiar counsellor, 
Warelwast.  which in the end deprived him both of lands and goods in the name of the s●yd king. Simeon Dunelmensis, Rogerus Hoveden, Matthaeus Paris, Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis Ricardus praemonstratensis, Ranulphus, Euersden, Capgrave, Caxton, & Fabiane.   

☞ The matter on both sides debated at Rome.  
Upon a day when the matter should be reasoned afore Pope paschal, 
Paschalis.  William Warelwast the kings aturneye stood fourth in defence of his cause, constantly alleging in the end, that the king would not lose the authority of investing or admitting his prelate's within his own dominion, for the crown of his rea●me. Whereunto that proud bishop of Rome made this spiteful lewd answer. Though thy king (saith he) would not lose the giving of spiritual promotions in England for the loss of his crown, as thou hast said here. Know thou t●ys determynatly, I speak it here afore God, that he shall not obtain it at my hand, though he would also give his head and all. O arrogant Antichrist, 
Antichrist.  full rightly showest thyself. This hath Matthew Paris, li iij. Anglorum historiae, and johan Capgrave. When Anselme was about to have pleaded his own cause there, thinking to have had therein the assistance of Richard the prior of Helye, 
Richard  which was a man that time both witty and learned, he utterly fell from him, and took the kings part very earnestly, confuting all his false accusations and malicious detrectyons, for the which in his return the king showed him much favour, as Radulphus de Diceto reporteth. Anon after Anselme entreated for his dysgraded abbots and unconfirmed prelate's, which was granted forthwith, and they restored to their dignities. 
restored.  For that gentle seat (Matthew Paris saith) was never wont to fail. when either read or white came in the way. The next year after was Anselme clearly forbid to return into England, unless he would observe the good laws of the land, which he refused to do, the said Matthew saith.   

☞ The conveyances of Anselme by epistles and writings.  
When the kings messengers were returned home again with these crooked news, and with straight commandment from the cruel bishop of Rome, 
From Rome.  that he should nevermore intermeddle with appointing out of prelate's or by giving to them the ring and pastoral hook, but to leave it only to his absolute authority, he was sore displeased, turning all the possessions & richesse of Anselme to his own use. What letters & crafty counsels, 
Knaveries.  blasphemous bablyng●s and abominable wrastynges of the scriptures went betwixt that lewd bishop of Rome and Anselme, for the space of. iij. years after, it would require a great field of matter to show, as I find in his epistles. Moreover it is a wondre to behold there, the subtlety that this Anselme useth, 
subtlety.  to bring his devilish purpose to pass, for demynyshment of the christian princes authority and augmenting of Antichristes' usurpation. That prince he flattereth to give over his right, and an other he commendeth in his folyshness that hath done it already, their foolish wives always suborned to put the cause forward. That doltyshe pressed he praiseth, which hath contemned his princes liberality, to an other he promiseth much hyghar promotion. These are the enginings of a crafty devil, if ye mark them. His letters to sister Frodelina, sister Ermengarda, sister Athelytes, sister Eulalia, sister Madily, and sister basil, 
sisters  to Maude to abbess of Cane in Normandy, and to Maude the abbess of Wilton here in England, declareth him to be very familiar with nuns. Ex epistolis Anselmi. He also made a treatise about the same time, called planctus amissae virginitatis, a bewailing of maidenhead lost.   

☞ The first order of tippet men, or secular priests.  
IN the year of our lord a M. a. C. & v● began first the order of Sarisburianes, 
6.  Matthew Paris saith. What manner of order this should be, I can not conjecture, unless it were the order of portasse men, tippet knights, or new shaven sir johans, professing the unsavoury use of Sarum. By like when these men were once clearly separated from their married wives, they were at the last contented at their bishops suggestion, to live peaceably under him, to come, as it were into a unyformyte of religion in outward appearance, as the monks did in their cloisters, and so to win again some favour or good opinion of the people, 
An order  which they for their wives had lost. Than begun they first to shine in one show, or to muster in one livery, as the colts of one mare, one short an other long, one high an other low. For afore that time were they dispersed by many dysgysinges, one diverse from an other. As the monks had their cowls, caprones or hoods, and their boats, so had they than their long typpettes their priests caps, 
Religion like.  their side gowns girt to them, & their portasses religiously hanging with great buttons at their girdles. They had also their crowns shaven, and their hear docked, like as the monks had, though not so much as they, to appear also religious rabble. When they had on●● received that mark of the beast in their foreheardes and ryghthandes, by the profession of a false chastity they were made free of Antichristes' mart, & might by his authority both buy and sell, 
merchants.  Apoc. xiii Yet could they never obtain of the say multitude, so great an opinion of holy perfection as did the monks, unless it were here one hypocrite and there an other, but in conclusion continued under the slendre name of secular priests or hedge chaplains. 
Secular  For in most places they dwelled uploude, and wanted religious habitations to have s●t them forward or made them mo●e Pope holy.   

☞ How the emperor was used in the time of their sorceries.  
NEcessary were it, to mark an other crafty conveyance of these holy hellhounds. A question might here be axed, 
A question.  where Henry the iiij. Emperor was for the time if this tragical turmoil, that he looked not more narrowly to their hands, being a man so wise & so godly. This question is sufficiently answered by the chronicle writers of that age. The prelate's occupied him with such mortal wars, from Hyldebrandes time hitherto, that he knew not which way to turn him. They made his own subjects in every quarter to rebel against him, 
O traitors.  and his own natural son in the end, upon desire of the crown imperial, most falsely to betray him, subdue him, captive him, emprison him, and cruelly at the lattre to murder him. The story is a matter very lamentable & heavy, as Athelboldus Traiectensis, Barnesridus Vrspergensis, & joannes Nauclerus hath described it. When this man which was called Henry the v. was once settled in the empire, tidings were brought him the next year after, that paschal the bishop of Rome held a general council at Trecas in France, 
1106.  against his father. Wherein he prosecuting the former acts of Hildebrande, prohibited lay princes the investing of prelate's, and the priests their wives in the realm of France as he had done in other nations, 
Antichrist.  dysgrading those bishops and abbots whom the French king and emperor had made. The said emperor hearing of this, sent learned men unto him, gently requiring that he would not take from him, that his predecessors without interruption had used from the time of Charles the great, by the space of more than. CCC. years. The boshopp at that time deferred the answer till he came to Rome. Godfridus Viterbiensis, 
Deceit.  Albertus' Crants, Paulus Aemilius, jacobus Bergomas, joannes Stella, joannes Capgrave, li. i. de nobilibus Henricis, & Robertus Barnes.   

☞ The homblye handling of prelate's at Rome.  
When this emperor see his time, 
1112.  he came into Italy with a great host of men, paschal the Romish bishop not pleased therewith, to whom he sent this massage. give unto Cesar that is Caesar's meaning the imperial crown and unction, with power of investing prelate's. For he required also that he should confirm the bishops whom he had admitted afore, which all he refused to do. The emperor with that, set his men of war upon him and his calkers, cardinals I should say, which took the very breeches from their arses (Christianus Massaus saith) and committed them almost naked to prison. 
breeches  Whereupon in the end, in all things he consented to the emperor, subscrybing and sealing unto him a perpetual privilege, for admitting bishops and abbots within his whole dominion, cursing all them that should at any time after that withstand it. But as he was once departed out of Italy, he called an o●●●r synod at Laterane in Rome by counsel of our Anselme and such other, 
A counsel  and dissolved all again that he had granted, excommunycating the said emperor and dysdaynouslye changing his privilege to the scornful name of a pravylege, or writing that stood for nought. For Gesnerus saith in his universal Biblyotheke, that Paschalis wrote to Anselme an epistle for his excuse. 
An excuse.  By like than he had laid it somewhat sharply to his charge. Thus mocked they in that age the great princes of the world, deprived them of power, and trod their high dignities under their filthy feet, all contrary to the wholesome documents byth' of Christ and of his Apostles. This story is tenderly touched of the Italysh writers for hurting themselves, yet hath Robert Barnes described it at large in vitis Romanorum pontificum. 
Barnes.  Ye shall understand that this was that emperor, which married king Henry's daughter that was called Maude the empress. joannes Capgrave li. i. de nobilibus Henricis.   

☞ Anselme bringeth the king in subjection to Antichrist.  
Matthew Paris showeth in the third book of his large chronicle, that after king Henry the first had taken his brother duke Robert prisoner, 
King Henry.  and obtained other great victories, in the year of our lord as M.a. C. &. seven. 
1107.  he received the archbishop Anselme again into his favour at Becca in Normandy, restoring him to his old possessions. And as touching the bishop of Rome (saith he) the learned king never feared him for his spiritual authority, but only for his temporal power. In the same year was a great counsel holden in the kings palace at London, 
A counsel  where as the prelate's were agreed by the space of, iij. days, that the king should hold still the authority of admitting prelate's and appointing spiritual offices, as other kings his predecessors did, notwithstanding the Pope's late inhibition. This hath Simeon of Durham, and Roger Hoveden. But when Anselme was once come, 
Anselme  which was high precedent of that counsel and Pope of this whole isle of britain, all was clearly dashed again, and this contraryouse sentence of his took place, that from that day forward no bishop nor abbot should receive ring or pastoral hook of the king or yet of any other lay man's hand within England. He added moreover this spiteful clause unto it, 
O traitor.  that when a prelate was once chosen, the want of due homage to his king should be no impediment of his consecration. Look Radulphus de Diceto, Matthew Paris, Matthew of Westminstre, and Roger Hoveden. O manifest traitor without all shame and honest obedience. Than consecrated he. seven. bishops at ones, 
A Pope.  which never was scene in England afore, but at one time. Thus goat Anselme (johan Capgrave saith) the victory long looked and laboured for, for the churches liberty.   

☞ An other synod of Anselme, for dyssoluing priests marriage.  
IN the year of our lord a M.a. C. and viii. 
1108.  Anselme held an other great synod at London, wherein yet once again he made solemn process against all priests, deacons, and subdeacons, that had married wives, renewing all his former statutes and acts made against them, by consent of the king and his barons. For afore that time, they did all without their consent, which they afterwards found not in all points to their minds commodyouse. No women were from thence fourth permitted to dwell in house with them, 
Women  saving only they which were so nigh of kin as they might not marry with (though they lay with some of them at times) as mother, sister, grandam, aunt, and such like. Utterly was it forbidden them ever after to have any talk with them that had been their wives, unless it were in the open streets before two able witnesses. Simeon Dunelmensis, & Rogerus Hoveden. 
witnesses.  Who would thus so ungodly and presumptuously have taken upon him to have separated those whom God had joined, but proud Antichrist and his dyabolycal rabble of sorcerous Gomorreanes? How stood this with the holy Ghosts doctrine uttered of S. Paul, i. Corinth. seven. 
Antichristes'.  Unto the married (saith he) command not I but the lord, that the wife be not separated from the man? But what else went these execrable hypocrites about in all these their ungracious proceedings, 
papists.  but to make Gods holy commandments of none effect, for their filthy rathers traditions? and with their new doctrine of devils in hypocrisy, to pollute the Christianyte with the prodigious occupyings of stinking Sodom.   

☞ The closing up of Anselmes' unsavoury doings.  
ALl the next year after, did Anselme bestow in a strange kind of scolding, with Thomas the newly elected archbishop of York, 
1109.  till such time as death clearly took him from the world. He utterly forbade him the pastoral cure, till such time as he had submitted himself to his papacy, and professed a canonical obedience, which he called a submission to the church of Canterbury. If thou wilt not do thus (saith he) we charge all the bishops of England, 
A Pope.  under pain of the great curse, that none of them presume to consecrate thee, neither yet to receive the for a bishop, if thou any where else be consecrated, with many other obprobryouse taunts. Matthaeus Paris, & Radulphus de Diceto. Many idle matters disputed this Anselme, with very weak, raw, and frivolous reasons, as is to be scene in his feeble works of the souls original, 
wurkes.  of leaven and bread unleavened, of the measuring of the cross, of the moving of the aultre, of mary's conception, of the church's offices, and such like, which Christ calleth gnatt strayving. I marvel with what conscience Polydorus called him that good shepherd, which daungereth his life for the sheep, and in the mids of all his false packynges. 
A wolf  He doth Christ much wrong therein which only fulfilled it in effect. He doth no pastors office that robbeth Christian kings of their princely power & authority, to enhance the tyrannous usurpations of Antichrist, as this Anselme did, but rather he showeth the fashions and robberies of a thief. I can away at no hand with so blasphemous handling of the scriptures.   

☞ The moan was darkened and what it signified.  
MAthew Paris writeth, matthew of Westmynstre repeating the same, that in the year of our lord a M. a C. and x. 
1110.  the moan appeared all dark without light. Whereby God declared in the open face of the world, that his church by the monks hypocrisy in that age was darkened with a beastly ignorance of his lively doctrine. For the moan betokeneth commonly in the scriptures, the congregation of the lord. About this time (saith johan Tritemius) entered all the crafty learning. 
Tritemius.  Yea, the subtile philosophy of the pagans began here to defile our sacred theology with her unprofitable curyosytees The Gospel was put a part, saving only to be red by parcels in the temple, in a foreign language without understanding, and the corrupted doctrine of filthy bastards Peter Lumbarde, Peter the great eater, and Gracyane the monk, which were three children of one bawdy nuns fornication, 
iij. bastards.  received and only had in price for it. The monks of that age (saith johan Carrion in his chronicles) perceiving the knowledge of the holy scriptures to wax faint and to be nought set by, for the study of the popish layers, they thought also to practise a new kind of divinity, 
divinity.  and set up scholastical disputations of divine matters. But be ware of subtile sophisters in the doctrine of the church (saith johan Baconthorpe in prologo quarti sententiarum. viii. quest.) For their property is to withstand the verity, and to snarl men's consciences by darkening the clear light thereof. If it be to the contrary reasoned (saith he) that sophistical arguments are fit to confound heretics by. I utterly deny that reason. For only is it the open verity that must confound them. As for sophysives, their wicked nature is to bring in all error and heresies. All this hath Baconthorpe. 
Baconthorpe.    

☞ Ralph the archbishop of Canterbury, honoureth his king.  
IN the year of our lord a M. a. C. and xiii. 
1113.  the king was minded to have given the archebyshopryck of Canterbury, to Faricius the abbot of Abendon. But at the instant request & suit of the clergy in the counsel of Wyndesore, he altered his purpose, and gave it to Ralph the bishop of Rochestre, 
Ralph.  a ruffelar to their minds. Him he adorned with his own princely hands, ministering unto him both the ring and metropolycall cross. For than ones again (Matthew Paris saith) he had taken an earnest stomach against the bishop of Rome's unshamefast proceedings, his brother duke Robert imprisoned, and his other enemies brought under. In the year of our lord a thousand a. C. and xv. 
1115.  was the said Ralph consecrated, & received his patryarchal pall of Anselme the other Anselmes' nephew, which was than the pope's great legate a latere. As the king was same year married, after his first wife's ●●sseace, to Adelphe the duke of Loraines daughter and was again crowned with her by the bishop of Wynchestre, this heady archbishop fell into a palsy for woodenness, and said unto him the next day after, that either he should leave that crown, 
The crown.  unlawful (he said) for so much as it was not taken of him, or else he would leave of his mass saying, which was no small matter. And the lords about him had much a do to stay the lunetyke prelate, from striking down the crown from the kings head and stamping it under his foot. Yet did the gentle king give him fair words, the chronicles saith. Look William of Malmesbury, li. i de pontificibus, Ranulphus li. xii. ca xv. Rogerus, 
Authors.  li. seven. and johan Capgrave, li. ij. de nobilibus Henricis And Trevisa addeth unto it in fine English, that this haughty prelate was a great japer, the term is somewhat homely. Deed I not tell you afore, that kings for their power, had sped as ill, as the priests for their wives? And I think, I told the truth.   

☞ Of Pope Calixtus and the head church of Wales.  
MVche were it to rehearse the turmoylynges of Pope Calixte the second, 
Calixtus,  for renewing of the execrable acts of hellish Hyldebrande and prestygyouse paschal, against the marriage of priests and power of princes for investiture of prelate's. In the year of our lord a M. a. C. and xix 
1119.  He held counsel at Remis in France, and in the year a M.a. C. &. twenty-three. 
1123  he held an other with CCC. bishops at Rome. And in these ij. councils he deprived all priests of the comen Christianyte, that held still their wives, willing them from thence fourth to be taken for no better than pagans and hellhounds, and to want their Christian burial. The princes that had given out ecclesiastical offices, he condemned of sacrilege, preposterously alleging the scriptures, 
Scriptures.  that they which were admitted by them, entered not by the door, but they scattered from Christ, dividing his coote without seem. As though in their exceeding pride and covetousness, they had been the same Christ which was full of Godly simplicity and lowliness, and their glittering synagogue that simple coote without seem. 
1123  In this lattre year died Ralph the heady archbishop of Canterbury, and William Curbo●l, which was a canon, succeeded. From the time of augustine till that day, by the space of more than five hundred and. xxiv. years, none occupied that seat but monks, and that caused so many corruptions to enter into the church of England, for all they maintained Antichrist, A little afore this, that is to say, in the year a. M.a. C. and. ij. 
1102.  became the archebyshopryck of Menevia or primates seat of. S. David in wales, first subject to the church of Canterbury. And from the days of king Lucy to the year a. M.a. C. and. xv. 
1115  none other were archbishops there than britains or Welchemen, and all that time had their ministers wives. 
Wives.  But since the english monks occupied, they have had concubines for wives, and will not change at this day, men say. Thus entered fylthienesse in that quarter also, the time would be marked. Suncon Dunelmensis, Rogerus Hoveden, Giraldus Cambrensis, & Ranulphus.   

☞ King Henry plagued, for suffering marriage to be condemned.  
ALl foreign wars ended, and controversies pacified, in the year of our Lord a. M. a C. and xx. 
1120  King Henrye the first with great joy and triumph departed out of Normandye, and entered after his great victories, by sea into England. But within few days following was this gladness turned into a most heavy and horrible sorrow. For William and richard his. ij. sons & mary his daughter, with Otwell their tutor & scholemaystre, richard the earl of Chestre and his wife the kings niece, all the merry chaplains, companions, and ruflars of the court, chambrelaynes, buffares, and seruytours, the archdeacon of Herforde, the princes play fellows, sir Jeffrey Rydell, sir Robert Malduyte, sir William Bygot, with many other great heirs, lords, 
Lords.  knights, and gentlemen, ladies and gentlewomen, 
Ladies.  to the number of a. C. and xl. Besides the yeomen and mariners, which were more than half an hundred, taking passage by night, were all drowned in the bottom of the sea, except one man, their bodies never found. Guilhelmus Malmesbury, Simeon Dunelmensis, Rogerus Hoveden, Matthaeus Paris, & joannes Capgrave. Libro. ij. De nobilibus Henricis. Some monkish writers hath judged the curse of queen mand, 
writers.  which was a professed votary, to be the cause of this ruin, as is said afore, some other attributeth it to the vice of sodometry, which many of them had learned of the monks and the priests after the solemn profession of their new vow of chastity. But I do think it to be a plague of God upon the kings posterity, 
A plague.  for suffering so great a mischief to enter in his time without contradiction as that sodometry was, and as was the condemnation of the Christian ministers marriages. For in him (Polydorus saith) utterly ended the dissent of the Normannes' blood in the male kind, according to the wise man's sentence, Sap. iiij. The plants of adultery shall take deep roting. As he was the son of a bastard, 
Bastard  and suffered this preposterous religion or bastardy of priests without wives, to take place here in his days, to the uprayse of buggery, and never resisted it being gods immediate minister.   

☞ Celsus an archbishop had both a wife and children.  
CElsus the great archbishop of Armach and high primate of Ireland, 
Celsus  had both a wife and children in the time of his archebyshoprye, according to the usage of that country. That archebyshopryck, S. Bernard saith) with the primacy of the whole land, was holden as an inheritance in one kindred, by xv. generations, the son always succeeding his father. And. viii. of them he reporteth to be wonderfully weal learned, but always they took their orders for that long season, without any vow of profession. 
No vow.  Neither would the people suffer any other to take that high office, save only them which were of the same house and progeny. This hath S. Bernard in vita Malachiae, so hath Vincentius, Antoninus, Petrus Equilinus, and johan Capgrave in their histories of saints. What a beastly fool is johan Eckius then, 
Eckius.  which reporteth in his Enchiridion, that it hath not been heard since the death of Christ, that any priest hath married a wife, doctor Cool and other Papists maynteining the same here in England? This Celsus at the lattre, being an old doting man, and seduced by them which taught lies in hypocrisy, was the first that brought into that region, that doctrine of devils which condemned marriage in the clergy. For he sent his wife in a vision (they say) a woman of a large and reverend countenance, 
Reverend  to surrendre, as he lay a dying, he pastoral cross to one Malachias which had professed chastity about the year of our lord a M.a. C. & xx. 
1120.  Many mad packynges were among these Romish saints, when the byshopryckes waxed fat. Pope Adryane the. iiij. xxxiiij. years after which was an English man, and Pope Alexander the third. xvi. years after that, 
Irel ●  in their tyranny commanded king Henry the second, to subdue the Irish nation as heretics and rebels, because the people there withstood their proceedings for their bishops and priests marriages. And for that victory they confirmed him lord of Ireland. Look the chronicles of Nicolas Treueth and johan Hardynge.   

☞ A lecherous cardinal condemneth priests marriage.  
Joannes de Crema, the priest cardinal of S. Grilog in Rome, was sent into England and scotland, from Pope Honorius the second, as high commissyoner and legate from his right side. in the year of our lord a M.a. C. & xxv. 
1125.  to see that all things were weal there in the clergy to his behove. Besides his general commission, he sent private letters to the kings and the prelate's of both those regions, to receive him as his own dear son and as S. Peter's holy vicar, which declareth his authority not small. This legate with great pomp thus entering into England about the feast of Eastre, 
A legate  was horribly, honourably I should say, received of the prelate's, and went banquesting and prowling from bishop to bishop, and from abbot to abbot, till he came to the water of tweed and the town of Rorburgh in scotland, where as he found David the scottish king. His legacy there performed and all his bags we●e stuffed, 
Bags  he returned again to London and at Westmynstre upon the ix. day of Septemb. he held with. ij. archbishops. xxiv. bishops. xl. abbots, & an innumerable multitude of the clergy and comen people, a great synod. Where as he rigorously and stoutly replied against those priests, that would for no commandment forsake their married wives, repeating oft this unseeming sentence, 
Sentemce  that it was a shameful matter to rise from the sides of an whore to make Christ's body. A clause was this in quality not unlike to him that uttered it, which was an idolatrous whoremonger. He ordained in that synod, that priests should keep company with no kind of women, he condemned marriage to the. seven. degree in blood, and that no priests son should claim church or prebend by inheritance, foolishly concluding with this verse of David, 
A verse.  Psal. lxxxii. Pone illos ut rotam, etc. Make of them a wheel, lord, that say, we will have the houses of God in possession. Simeon Dunelmensis, Rogerus Hoveden, Henricus Huntendunensis, Radulphus de Diceto, Matthaeus Paris, Ranulphus & Rogerus Cestrensis atque alij.   

☞ This cardinal showeth the first fruits of that chastity.  
THe priests being moved with the furious act of this Cardinal, 
cardinal.  & therewith perceiving him to be a man of light conversation, so narrowly watched him the night following, that they ●oke him in bed with a notable whore. The matter was very open (saith Roger Hoveden) for it was done at London, where great plenty is of witnesses. It could not weal be hidden (saith Henry of Huntyngton in the viii. book of his chronicles) neither was it fynt to have been kept secret from the knowledge of men. 
secret.  If any be offended (saith he) that a priest should marry, let him keep it to himself, least he fall in like danger as did this lordly legate. This cardinal was he (Polydorus saith) that beheld a small mote in an other man's eye, and could not perceive the great beam in his own. The priests did him no wrong, that in this case disobeyed his unjust proceedings. Nothing was found more unfit, 
Vnfytt.  than to require to straightly of others that his lief could not do. Thus he that entered with honour and pomp, went home again to his father with shame and confusion. The acts of S. Peter's vicar were all turned over, and the religious syttynges of the prelate's there, were utterly laughed to scorn. The bishops and fat ab●ottes departed thence with read cheeks, 
Ashamed.  not glad of the bawdy chance that happened, and they let that matter pass for the space of more than three years after. For the slander was not small, Matthew Paris saith. So returned the priests once again to their wives, & were much more bold than afore. Praefati autores cum Polydoro & Fabiano.   

☞ The king derideth the bishops proceedings.  
NOt all forgetful of their wicked father's affairs, the prelate's of England in the year of our lord a M.a. C. and. xxix. 
1129.  gathered themselves together at London yet once again, in the first day of August, to put the priests clearly from their wives. At this great counsel (saith Ricardus Premonstratensis) were all the bishops of England, except. iiij. which died, as it chanced, the same year, that is to say, of Wynchester Durham, Chestre and Herforde. Their process was all against the cocasses or she cooks of the curates, 
Process  that they should not dwell in house with them. For after the priests had been compelled to renounce the titles of their wives, they kept them in most places under the name of their cocasses, lawnders, and serving women. The king perceiving the malice of the bishops, and saying advantage to grow thereupon, 
Lucre.  by this proper policy deceived them. He took upon him the correction of them, and promised to execute true justice. But in the end (Matthew Paris saith) he laughed them all to scorn, and taking a pension of the priests, he permitted them still peaceably to hold their wives. Polydorus reporteth, that the king got of the clergy this authority over the priests, by a fine craft of conveyance. 
A craft.  And when he had so done, misused it. A very fine judgement of a man learned, so to define of a princes power. The king deceived them (Roger Hoveden saith) by the simplicity of William the archbishop of Canterbury. For when they had once uncircumspectly granted him to execute justice upon the priests wives, 
wives  it turned in the end to their rebuke and shame, the priests for money set again at liberty for them. Praedicti autores cum Ranulpho, Matthaeo Westmonasteriensi, & Rogero Cestrensi.   

☞ A middle swarming of Antichristes' sects in England.  
FOr causes diverse, which some of my readers shall find necessary to be known, I have added here the times wherein the second swarm of locusts, or sinful sects of Antichrist hath entered into this realm of England. 
Sects.  The first swarm was of the Benedictynes and canons of S. augustine, called the black monks and black canons, of whose fatting up I have reasonably treated both in the first part of this work, and also in this second. The first of this lattre swarm▪ were the Cisteanes, 
Cisteans.  otherwise called the white monks, which came into this land in the year of our lord a M. a. C. and. xxxij. setting their first foundation in the desert of Blachoumor by the water of Rhie, whereupon their monastery was called Rhievallis. Saint Robertes fryres began at Gnaresborough in York shire in the yearr of our lord a M.a. C. and xxxvij. 
S. Robert.  And the order of Gilbertines at Sempynghan in Lincoln shire in the year of our lord a M.a. C. &. xlviij The Premonstratensers or white canons, came in to the realm & builded at Newhowse in Lyncolne diocese in the year of our lord a M.a. C. and xlv. The Chartrehowse monks came into the land & were placed at Wytham in the diocese of bath, 
Charterers.  in the year of our lord a M. a. C. & lxxx. I reckon not the hospytelers & Templars, with such like. joannes Hagustaldensis, Ricardus Praemonstratensis, joannes Capgrave, Thomas Scrope, & Polydorus Vergilius. All these at their first entrance, were very lean locusts, 
Locusts.  as they are in S. johans' revelation described, barren, poor, and in outward appearance very simple. But in process of time, through symulate holiness, they grew fat like their fellows. 
Fat.  They goat them lions faces, and were able to buckle with kings. Their lecherous acts, I shall hereafter declare.   

☞ King Steven professeth a slavery to Antichrist.  
HOw king Steven became an instrument to their wicked use, in the year of our lord a M. a. C. and xxxv. 
1135.  it is easily known by the oath which they compelled him to make at his coronation, what though he deed not in all points observe it. This is the oath, as Ricardus prior Hagustaldensis hath written it in his small treatise de gestis regis Stephani. Mark it. I Steven by the grace of God, 
Steven.  good will of the clergy, and consent of the commons, elected king of England, and by William the archbishop of Canterbury and legate of the holy Rome church under Pope Innocent the second, confirmed, make faithful promise to do nothing here in England in the ecclesiastical affairs, 
A vow.  after the rules of simony, but to leave, admit, and confirm the power, order, and distribution of all ecclesyastycal persons, and their possessions, in the hands of the bishops and prelate's of the same. The ancient dignities of the church confirmed by old privileges, and their customs of long time used, 
Customs.  I promise, appoint, and determine inviolably to continue. All the church's possessions, holds, and tenements, which they hitherto have had, I grant them from hens forward without interruption, peaceably to possess, etc. Behold here what popettes these lecherous luskes made of their kings, 
Mark it  & see (I pray you) if they sought any other comen wealth than of their idle bellies in that proud kingdom of Antichrist? Was this a following of Christ after the Gospel, thus to illude their Christian governors? Nay, it was rather a ronning after Satan in the blasphemous imitation of the bishop of Rome's decrees. The last plague of God light upon this unfaithful generation, 
A plague.  if they will not yet behold these evils of their wicked fathers, and abhor them from the heart.   

☞ The rebellion and cantels of bishops against the king.  
IN the next year following, notwithstanding this oath, 
1036.  king Steven reserved to himself the investing of prelate's, Matthew Paris saith, and showed unto the clergy many other displeasurs. Wherefore in process, they caused Maude the empress, contrary to their oaths of allegiance, to come into the realm, and to make claim to the crown and strongly to war upon him. For the which he imprisoned and banished certain of the bishops, 
Prelates.  chiefly Alexandre of Lyncolne, Nigellus of Helye, and Roger of Salisbury. He feared not to go unto Oxford, and to sit there in open parliament, which no king might do (they said) without a shameful confusion. From Roger the bishop of Salisbury he took the. ij. Castles of Vyses and Sherburne, finding in them more than. xl. thousand marks in money, wherewith he performed the great marriage between constance the French kings sistre and Eustace his son and heir. 
A help.  This bishops son (by like he had a wife) which had been the other kings chancellor, this king handled hard, to come to his purpose. He kept him fastening, threttened him hanging, and at the lattre banished him the realm, which cost the bishop his life. A natural father. 
A synod  Anon after the bishop of Wynchestre being the pope's great legate and perceiving the clergy not to be regarded, the realm being than in division betwixt them both, that is to say, the king and Maude the empress, he called a counsel of prelate's and enacted it for a law, that what so ever he were, that laid violent hands upon a church man, he stood accursed with book, 
Accursed.  bell, and candle, and might of none be assoiled, but of the pope's own person. He ordained also that no pressed from thence fourth should assist any king in his wars, joannes Hagustaldensis in historia xxv. annorum, Rogerus Hoveden, Giraldus Cambrensis, Mattheus Paris, Polydorus, & Ranulphus.   

☞ The king enprisoneth the canons wives of Paul's.  
RAdulphus de Diceto doth show it plainly in his abreviations of chronicles that in the year of our lord 1137. 
1137.  The king was in displeasure with William the dean, Ralph Langforde, Richard Belmeis, and th● other canons of Paul's at London, about the election of their bishop. For contrary to his expectation they had chosen Amselme the other Anselmes' nephew, which was than abbot of Bury, & a man of suspected living, as witnessed Turstanus in an epistle to the pope. 
Turstan.  Whereupon the king took all their wives otherwise called their kichine maids for doubt of the spiritual laws, in their best apparelinges, and put them all in the tower of London. Where as they were kept very straightly, and not delivered again without bodily shame, deminishment of their fame, and grievous expenses, the story saith The bishops, archedeacons', 
Prelates.  chauncelloures, & deans were in those days most commonly, all of one kindred, as the said Radulphus reporteth. The bishop of Ro. Innocent, than wrote into England, that Peter's little ship being long tossed on the water vexed, troubled, & oppressed of enemies, was very like, if remedy were not found in time to be over rowne & drowned, the shourges of schismatics & of heretics were so great. Look Ricardus Hagustaldensis in his small treatise de bello Standardico, 
Heretics.  & joannes hagustaldensis in descriptione eiusdem belli. By the schismatics he meant those priests, which would not leave their wives at his wicked persuasions, and by the little ship, his own sorcerous synagogue of besmered shavelings.   

☞ An other counsel holden against priests and their wives.  
Upon this occasion came Albericus the bishop of Hostyense, in post from Rome, in the year of our lord a M.a. C. and. xxxviij. 
1138.  as the vycege rend of Pope Innocent the second in England and scotland. This Albericus called a synod at Westmynstre in the xiii day of Decembre, for this whole region, wherein he had to associate him. xviij. bishops and. thirty. abbots, besides the great number of other disguised prelate's. His chief acts were, that no pressed, deacon nor subdeacon should hold a wife or woman within his house, 
No wife  under pain of dysgrading from his Christendom, and plain sending to hell. That no priests son should claim any spiritual living by heritage. That none should take benefice of any lay man. That none were admitted to cure which he had not the letters of his orders. That priests should do no bodily labour. And that their transubstancyated God should dwell but. viii. days in the box, for fear of worm eating, mowly●ge, or stinking, with such like. In all their counsels they song still one song, following the rusty voices of Hildebrand and paschal. Ricardus & joannes Hagustaldenses. Wonders were scene in the sky about this time, Matthew Paris saith. In England was felt a palpable darkness with a terrible earthquake, 
1140.  the sun appearing like sack cloth, Apo. vi. Such an horrible eclipse (saith he) was over all this land, that men feared the heavens to have been decayed. The sun in some places (joannes Hagustaldensis saith) appeared like quick silver, 
Mark it  to the wondering of many. These marvels would be marked of them, which covet to understand the mysteries of times after the holy scriptures.   

☞ The true meaning of signs in the firmament declared.  
BY this time had the prelate's a number of crafty wits in the universytees, 
wits  which were as able by school learning to defend a falsehood, as ever were Christ's disciples by his heavenly doctrine to maintain a verity. These by a continual exercise in disputations, became very crafty and subtile. They took it for an ornature of learning, and for a thing very conducyble to the understanding of the scriptures, to define and divide all things, 
Define.  as did the peripatetyckes or natural philosophers of Aristotle's sect, and so to prove them by natural demonstrations. Gloryenge in the sublymyte of their wits, they would be taken for men much wiser than were the Apostles and prophets, and in their doings preferred the Idees or imaginations of Plato, 
Plato.  to the eternal spirit of Christ. In the room of the lively philosophy of God, they placed faint and unfruitful allegories, as did the old Esseanes, and as doth in our time the wicked sect of anabaptists, imputing those things to our sinful wurkes, which only pertaineth to the kingdom of faith. Thus did the wisdom of the flesh erect herself against God's heavenly wisdom, 
wisdom.  preparing a way to Antichrist and the devil. These doctors busyly disputed of Peter's authority, and of the worthienesse of monkery, to make good the pride of the bishop of Rome, and to confirm the shining show of hypocrisy. Of this number was Ricardus de Sancto Victore a Scott in Paris, 
1140.  Alexandre Nequam and Robert Crikelade here in England, all regular canons. By this may ye understand, what it meant, that the sun appeared so dark in the sky. For the heavens (David saith) declareth the glory of God, 
David,  and the firmament showeth his handy work, or deeds of his permyisyon, Psal. xviij.   

☞ Moore examples, declaring those marvels.  
ABout the same time were the bishop of Rome's laws brought into this realm, 
1140  by Baldewyn the archbishop of Canterbury. But so soon as king Steven had knowledge thereof, he condemned them by act of Parliament, commanding by proclamations and straight iniunctyons, that no man should retain them under great penalty. By means whereof, they were in some places torn to pieces, and in some places brent in the fire, as by good men's judgement they were no less worthy. 
Decrees  For they were very much against the commodity of kings and their comen wealths, christian magistrates & powers joannes Sarisburiensis in Polycratico de nugis aulicorum libro viii. cap. xxij. Both the monk Gracianus which collectyd together the Pope's decrees into our volume, called the concord of laws dyscordaunt, and also Peter Lombarde his brother, in the rabblement of his unsavoury sentences, complained very sore, 
Petrus.  that many in their time believed, the only substance of bread to remain in the sacrament of Christ's body. Yea, the best learned masters of Paris (johan Tyssyngton saith, in his book against the confession of Wycleve) were at the same season of this opinion, that in the sacramental words, Esse was to be taken for significare. 
Esse.  Against whom these adulterous children, Gracianus and Petrus, brought forth this smoky conclusion, not out of the scriptures, but from their own soystered wits. That the only similitude of bread and wine remained, but not the substance of them. Many such mists of madness were brought in, this season, only to darken the clearness of the sun, 
To darken.  or to turn the verity into a●ye, Roman. i. But as dust at the lattre shall they vanish from the earth. We partly behold it now.   

☞ priests marriage at Norwyche, praised and scorned.  
SAint William of Norwyche, a martyr. which was there shrined in Christ's church abbey, in the year of our lord a. M.a. C. &. xliiij. 
1144.  was crucified of the jews dwelling than in a place yet called abraham's haul. Elwina this S. Wyllyams' mother, had a priest to her father, whose name was called Wulwarde, 
Wulwarde.  which was a man famous, the story saith, both in good life and learning, plenteously having the gift of expowuing secret mysteries. Her other sister Livina, being also this priests daughter, was joined in lawful marriage to an other pressed, called Goodwin. 
Goodwin.  This priest had a son called Alexandre, which was a married deacon, and looked after the decease of his father, to enjoy his benefice by inheritance. Either must this legend of S. William, written of Thomas Monmouth a monk of the same abbey, be a wicked thing for allowing these two priests marriages, 
Marriage.  either else that city of Norwyche hath had most wicked and tyrannous rulers in this our time. For a v. years ago, which was the year of our lord a. M. D. and xlv. 
1545.  upon the x●v. day of june, 
Corbet Rugge  a cruel justice and as wicked a mayre within the same city of Norwych, imprisoned a faithful woman, and sought to put her to most shameful and cruel death, having none other matter against her, but only that she had been the wife of a pressed, which had been (weal bestowed) a preacher among them. 
Men godly.  But God in conclusion provided a learned lawer and a righteous judge for her deliverance to both their confusyons. A wonderful thing, that this should be cried lawful in their cathedral church with ringing, singing, and sensing, and in their yield haste condemned for felony and treason. There did they worship it in it in their scarlet gowns with cap in hand, and here they improved it with scorns and with mocks, 
mockers  grennying upon her like termagauntes in a play. But let them no more look to be forgotten of their posterity, than were judas and pilate whom the world yet speaketh of. Beastly buzzards and ignorant asseheades, more fit keep swine, than to rule God's people.   

☞ The tyranny of those wicked ministers of Antichrist.  
HEr coming to that city was to see, as became a mother, 
A mother.  an order for her child, which had undiscretely bound himself prentyfe within years, to one which was neither honest nor godly. As this false justice & as frantic a mayor, had knowledge of her being there, they sought not to rectify her just cause, being a desolate woman, but they convented her afore them as she had been an ill door, and laid unto her charge both felony and treason. They straightly first examined her, where and when she was married, 
examination.  and what they were which were at that marriage. And when she had made them a true and honest answer, they lawhed, toyed, and scorned, demanding of her, if she were not ashamed of that doing. But let them be ashamed of sin, of oppression, bribery, idolatry, and tyranny which they have largely used, for there belongeth no shame to the holy institution of God, 
No shame.  sanctified of him to man's use, though the great devil of Rome hath made them believe so. Than as wise as. ij. wyspes and as godly as. ij. goselynges, they examined her what her believe was in the sacrament, to bring her into more deep danger of death, calling her husbands doctrine, erroneous, heretical, and seditious doctrine. But this I protest unto them, which am her husband in deed, that I will be able to defend my doctrine, 
doctrine  when they shall not be able to justify their most cruel and wicked example, in defending of the bishop of Rome's tyranny. I am deeply in their books, men say, therefore let them not blame me, if they be in my books again. It is the nature always of an history to declare the goodness and malice of times by the diverse acts of men, to the warning of others, which I in my writings have decreed to follow. 
I. Bale.  I have known their city in my time grievously plagued with fire, water, pestilence, and war, above all other cities within this realm. let them therefore repent their wickedness, lest the lattre plague be most grievous of all.   

☞ Of Tundalus visions, and the priests with their sea crabs.  
TVndalus a knight of Ireland, which had in his youth been a man given to much mischief, 
1148.  had in his lattre age many strange apparitions, and talked in hell (they say) both with devils, and angels. A book he made of those apparitions, which the fathers reserved as most precious treasure, to terryfye therewith the weak consciences of the simple, that they should gladly give their money to be delivered from the fearful fire of purgatory. 
terror.  Look Vincentius, Antoninus, and Cornelius Agrippa. johan Hagena charterouse monk, by a commentary had enlarged it, to set the matter in his time forward. Look Tritemius and Gesnerus. To maintain the mart of money masses, the priests practised both in this realm and others, many fine seats in that age, and one of them was this. Where as they dwelled not far from the sea side, they took of these sea crabs and tied eches unto them light, 
Crabs.  and so put them upon dead men's graves in the dark within their church yards, to make the country ydyotes to believe that their sprites did walk. But in one place the person was deprehended in his falsehood, and all the others thereby discovered. 
discovered.  For the carpenters and masons coming thydre the next day after all soul night, to their works, found among the timber and broken bryckes, a certain of these crabs with their candles out. This pressed was not wise enough byleke, that he took no better heed where his sprites became. But I think these wucke men came sooner than he looked for. joannes Rivius de spectris & apparitionibus, 
Autores  Andrea's ●ssiander in coniecturis, & Erasmus in epistolis. I could here show ye wonders of weeping roods, and sweeting ladies, but I let it pass for length.   

☞ An english pope hath a monk to his father.  
POpe Adrian the fourth was an Englishman, bred, borne, & brought fourth at S. Albon. xx. miles from London, and afore his papacy was named Nicolas of S. Albon. 
Nicolas  This Adryane, or Nicolas whether ye will, is reported of certain old writers, to be the natural son of a rich and fat abbot of the same monastery, his mother not once remembered. And when he required after his father's decease to be taken in a monk among them, 
A monk.  they contemptuously refused him. Wherefore he went over the sea into france and made himself there a regular canon, becoming at the lattre the abbot of S. Rufus in province. Thus clome he up from one degree to an other till he got the papacy, wherein he wrought such wonders as did his predecessors. Oft times in familiar talk with johan of Salisbury his country man, 
Salisbury  he had these fine tricks and sentences most true. To take the papacy (saith he) is to succeed Romulus in murder, and not Peter in sheep feeding. For never is it gotten without the shedding of our brother's blood. None is more wretched than the romish bishop, neither is any man's condition more miserable than his. The seat is thornye and hath sharp pricks on every side, 
All true.  and the crown is fiery, fierce, and as hot as hell, with such other like. This hath Helinandus Monachus, Radulphus de Diceto, Ranulphus of Chestre, and chiefly joannes Salisburiensis, lib. viii. &. ca twenty-three. De nugis aulicorum. At the last was the breath of this Adriane stopped up with a fly, 
1159.  which entered into his throat, and the papacy left to an other, in the fift year of the same.   

☞ S. William of york. S. Wulfryck, and S. Robert.  
ME thinketh, it is a very strange thing to consider the end of S. William the archbishop of York which died in the year of our lord a. M a. C. and. liiij. conpling it with the degree of his sayntwode. 
S. William.  For he died a martyr, and is allowed in their temple service, but for a confessor only. But I think, there hangeth some mystery in it, Roger Hoveden saith, that he was poisoned at his mass, 
poisoned.  by the treason of his own chaplains. And matthew Paris showeth, that in the time of his celebration, such a deadly venom was put into his chalice, as dep●yued him of life. johan Euersden cometh after, and he declareth the same. Why should he not than be allowed for a martyr? I suppose the answer to rest in this point. They were no lay men that put him to death, but anointed and spiritual confessors. 
Spiritual.  And the sheep of their slaughter can become no martyrs, as appeareth by all them whom they have slain and brent, sens Satan went at large. It is enough (I trow) that they have made him a saint for his recompense, for other virtues we read none that he had. If york minstre had had afore as other great churches had, 
York.  a shrined patron, he might weal have chanced to have lost that promotion. O subtile sorocerers, your crafts now apere, so that ye can not hide them. I should write of S. Wulfrycke, which died the same year, because he so cunningly, 
1154.  with cold water could quench the hot flames of his flesh, and discharge so many priests of their lecherous heats. I should also show the virtue of. S. Roberte, 
1159.  the religious abbot of Guaresborough, that so familiarly did visit good wholesome matrons But at this time I leave it to johan Capgrave and such other, for want of leisure.   

☞ The marriage of mary the abbess of Ramseye.  
Marry the daughter of king Steven, being a professed nun, and abbess of the famous monastery of Ramseye, 
1155.  in the year of our lord a M. a. C. and. lv. became weary of her profession, and consented to marry with Matthew the earl of Bolayne, preferring gods holy institution to the ungodly yoke of the Romish bishop. Matthew Paris & Thomas Rudborne saith, that being in the cluystre, she was afore that, infamed of light conversation. 
No better.  Could there be any better way than, for cutting of that uncomely slander, than God's first ordinance? Well, she married him & he her, some writers say, by dispensation, and some say, without dispensation. But how so ever it came to pass, she had two daughters by him, called Ida and Matilda. Thomas Becket that time being high chancellor of England, 
Becket.  showed himself to this marriage a continual adversary, but he could not therein prevail, the king and the great lords of the realm so deeply holding therewith. But of this arose the first grudge that the king had against him, as some of the historyanes reporteth it. In the end, after that she had continued with her husband by the space of xvi. years, she was compelled by the bishop of Rome's tyranny & Beckettes' calling on, to return again with many slanderous rebukes of the world, 
rebukes.  to her cloister. This hath Robertus Montensis in additionibus Sigeberti, & Ricardus Premonstratensis in annalibus Anglorum. Thus ded that wicked Antichrist tread under his filthy feet, all power in heaven and in earth, exalting himself above the great God of all, ij. Thes. ij.   

☞ The beginning of the order of Gylbertynes.  
IOcelyne a knight of Lyncolneshire, perceiving his son Gylbert to be a man much deformed & not fit for the world, 
Gylbert  procured him to be made a pressed, & gave him the two fat benefices of Sempyngham and Tiryngton within his own dominion. The exercise of this Gilbert, was chiefly to teach boys and girls, of whom, as they were grown to more persyght age, he made a new religion, called of his name the order of Gilbertynes. As he ones became person of Sempyngham, 
A order.  with his p●rrysh priest was he hosted in the house of one which had a fair daughter, as the custom hath been always of priests for the most. And being tangled with her beauty on a time as she had served at the table, he a dreammed the night following, that he had put his hand so far in her bosom, as he could not pull it back again. This maid (saith the legend) was one of the first. seven. of whom he began that holy religion. He secluded them from the talk of the world and from the sight of men, 
1148.  enclosing them up within high walls, teaching them monastery rules. His buildings were such, that though he had both men and women within one monastery, yet were the men so dissevered from the women, that they could not meet, and they had diverse rules. The monks observed the rule of S. augustine, 
Rules  and the nuns the rule of S. Benedyct, but who kept S. Christ's rule there, I can not tell. Thyrtene covents he had within the realm, containing afore his death, to the number of. DCC. brethren and a. M and D. sisters. Look johan Capgrave in vita Gilberti confessoris.   

☞ A nun at watton biget with child by a monk.  
EThelredus the abbot of Ryenall, uttereth in his small treatise de quodam miraculo, 
1159.  that in an house of the same order, at Watton in york shire, was a young nun, put thither by Henry Murdach the archbishop a Cysteane monk, when she was but. iiij. years old. I pray God she were not his daughter in the dark, for of such packynges were plenti in those days. As this wench grew in years, so grew she in lascyvyousnesse. Her eyes, her talk, her pace, all were unsober, wild, and wanton. This nun fell in love with a young monk of that house, 
Wanton.  which was somewhat pleasant. She looked smoothly upon him (the story saith) and he as gentyllye vysed her again. They began with loving looks, and continued with becks for breaking of silence. At the lattre they came to talks and to nygthe metynges, till she was left with child. For Nigellus Wireker saith in Speculo stulto rum which he wrote in the same age. 
Nigellus.   

Quid de Sempyngham, quantum vel qualia sumam,  
Nescio, nam nova res me dubitare facit.  
Hoc tamen ad presence, nulla ratione remittan,  
Nam necesse nimis fratribus esse reor,  
Quod nunquam nisi clam, nullaque sciente sororum,  
Cum quocumque suo, fratre manner licet.   

☞ Thus are these verses englished.  
Of Sempingham, what should I much prate? 
Gilbertynes.   
An order it is, begun but of late.  
Yet will I not let, the matter so pass,  
The silly brethren, and sisters alas.   
Can have no meetings, but late in the dark. And this ye know weal, is an heavy work. When this young monk once perceived that her belly was up, he threw of his disguised garments, and fled by night out of the monastery, thinking at his leisure to have conveyed her away also. 
Hefled.  But she poor soul tarried behind, being unreasonably beaten and punished in the prison.   

☞ The nun dismembreth the monk, and is delivered.  
AS this young man resorted to the abbey again, minding in the dead of the night to have stolen away his lover, 
Returned.  the nuns watched him and took him. Yea, they stripped him all naked, & bound him fast to a stole. Than brought they forth the young nun & put a sharp knife in her hand, compelling her by most cruel enforcements, to geld him. And when she had unconnygly performed that act, 
whores.  they took up the pieces, and with violence thrust them into her mouth. The young monk was never heard of after for I think, he could none other but die of that incision. The nun returned to prison again. 
1153.  When the hour was come of her deliverance, Henry Murdach the archbishop of York sometime, which was dead more than. vi. years afore, brought with him (the story saith) two handsome midwives' from heaven, which discharged her of her child without pain, and took it fourth with them, (if the jakes swellowed it not in) so that it never was scene after. Their holy father Gylbert allowed this miracle by his life time, and declared it to the foresaid Etheldred, that he should chronicle it. 
A shift  If this be not an honest conveyance to excuse these shameful murders, I report me to you. But this story was not alone, if there had been more Etheldredes to have brought them to light. Of these double Gylbertynes of both genders, men and women, thus writeth the foresaid Nigellus. 
Nigellus.   

Canonici missam tantum, reliquumque sorores,  
Explent officij debita iura sui.  
Corpora, non voces murus disiungit, in unum  
Psallunt, directo psalmatis absque mero.   

Thus are they to be englished.  
The monks sing the mass, the nuns sing the other, 
ij. sorts.   
Thus do the sister, take part with the brother  
Bodies, not voices, a wall doth dissever,  
Without devotion, they sing both together    

☞ The chastity of all other monks and nuns in that age.  
NIgellus the foresaid Poet, doth largely touch the corrupt living and hypocrisy of his time, 
hypocrisy.  chiefly in bishops, priests, abbots, monks, canons, and nuns. His book is all in old latin verses, and is named the glass of fools, that every dissolute prelate might behold his folly therein. Of the abbots this judgement he giveth among other.  

Qui duce Bernardo gradiuntur, vel Benedicto,  
Aut Augustini sub leviore iugo.  
Omnes sunt fures, quocumque charactere sancto,  

thieves.  Signati veniant, magnificentque Deum.  
Ne credas verbis, ne credas vestibus albis,  
Vix etenim factis est adhibenda sides.  
Quorum vox lenis, vox jacob creditur esse,  
Caetera sunt Esau, brachia, colla, manus.  

Mark it  Rursus in Aegyptum, quam deseruere reversi,  
Dulce sibi reputant a Pharaone premi.  
Carnis ad illecebras nullo retinente ruentes,  
In foveam mortis carne trahente cadunt.   

They that pretend, to follow S. Bernard,  
Benet or Austen, which is not so hard.  
False thieves they are all, seem they never so good,  
Nor yet so devout, in their cowl and whode.  
Believe not their words, nor apparel white,  

all void  For nothing they do, that afore God is right.  
As gentle as jacob, in words they apere,  
But in all their works, they are Esau clear.  
To Egypt again, they are come to dwell,  
under great Pharaoh, fearing no apparel,  
They follow the flesh, & seek no restraint,  
Which will at the last, with hell them acquaint,  
This also he writeth of the nuns.  
Harun sunt quaedam steriles, quaedam parientes, 
Nigellus.   
Virgineoque tamen nomine cuncta tegunt.  
Quae pastoralis baculi dotatur honore,  
Illa quidem melius, fertiliusque parit.  
Vix etiam quaevis sterilis reperitur in illis,  
Donec eius aetas talia posse negat.  
Some nuns are barren, and some bearing beasts, 
Fruitful.   
Yet are all virgins, at principal feasts.  
She that is abbess, as her both befall,  
In fruitful bearing, is best of them all.  
Scarce one shall ye find, among the whole wrought,  
Which is unfruitful, till age cometh about.    

☞ Malcolmus, S. Edward, and abbot Eldrede.  
OF Malcolmus the king of Scots which was the. iiij. of that name, 
Malcolme.  we read that at the suggestion of superstitious monks, he vowed never to marry. Arnoldus the bishop of S. Andrew's, having knowledge thereof, and considering the inconvenience that might ensue for want of succession, wisely and Godly dyssuaded him again from that vain purpose. He required him to consider, by the saying of Plato, that he was not borne only to himself, neither stood it with his vocation, being the high head or king of that comen wealth, 
A king  to die without an heir of his own body, with other necessary counsels. Hector Boethius, li, xiii, Scotorum historiae. If our great S. Edward had had store of such good counsellors, as he had of Romish hypocrites (I think the clown of this realm had never been distamed with the bastards blood, first of the Normannis and than of the french men, the noble english blood so extinguished, and the land decayed, till God railed it up again. But as johan Maior thought in his scottish chronicle of this Malcolmus, 
Maior.  so do I think of our S. Edward. that he might weal be numbered among the foolish virgins. Which seeking heaven by that kind of virginity, ded find the gate shut up against them, Math. xxv Thomas Becket of a great devotion to chastity, by lycens of pope Alexandre the iij. translated the corrupted carkeys of this Edward in the year of our lord a M. a. C. and. lxiij. 
1163.  and set a shrine over it, garnished with gold, silver, pearl, and precious stone, to cause the people to do thereunto idolatry. Thomas Rudborne in medulla chronicorum. 
Water.  Cold water was of great virtue in this age byleke. For johan Capgrave saith, that Ethelredus the abboth of Rievall, not only by it abbated the ardent heats of his flesh, but extinguished also the flames of all other vices.   

Sentences wonderful in those days uttered.  
PEirus Blesensis a worthy learned man, 
1160.  being at sundry tym●s the archdeacon of bath, of London and of Canterbury, spared not at times, sharply to reprehend the enormitees of the clergy. diverse of his epistles are yet to be scene, wherein he eloquently toucheth and rebuketh the puffed up arrogancy of Thomas Becket the archbishop of Canterbury. Oft he compared the clergy to Samaria and Edom, and called our high countenanced prelate's, sometime the glittering calves of bethel and the idols of egypt, 
Calves.  sometime the fat hulles of Samaria, the chaplains of Baal, and those judges which made wicked laws, with such like. To take the lord with the household (saith he) nothing is more damnable than is a bishops house, if ye seek virtue. Nothing further from honesty, if ye look for manners. Nothing more filthy, if ye judge after conscience. Nothing more rebukeable, if ye respect fame. 
Fame  Nothing more pernicious, if ye mark the example. O lord (saith he) deliver thy house from the great idol, break the horns of that sinful one. At Rome filthy lucre perverteth all things, & suffereth monks to perform their likings, in all kinds of fleshly abusions, which they redeem by a yearly pension. Their lewdness is told in the pavilions of Geth, and published also in the open streets of Ascalon. Thus is their head captain becomen the prince of Sodom, 
Antichrist.  his disciples accompanying him in the chair of pestilence, with a great number more of the like. Wernerus coucludeth in fasciculo temporum, that it was than a rare thing to find a chaste monk in the cloister, and a more rare thing to find an honest pressed abroad.   

☞ The fresh and lusty beginnings of Thomas Becket.  
AS those authors report, which chiefly wrote Thomas Beckettes' life, whose names are Herbert Boseham, 
writers.  johan Salisbury, William of Canterbury, allen of T●ukesbury, Benet of Peterburgh, Steven langton, and richard Croilande, he bestowed his youth in all kind's of lascivious lightness and lecherous wantonness. After certain roderies, rapes, and murders committed in the kings' wars at the siege of Tolouse in L●ngu●docke and in other places else, 
Tolouse  as he was comen home again into England, he gave himself to great study, not of the holy scriptures, but of the bishop of Rome's lousy laws, whereby he first of all obtained to be archdeacon of Canterbury under Theobalde the archbishop, than high chancellor of England, metropoly●ane, archbishop, primate, pope of England, and great legate from Aut●christes own right side. 
Becket.  In the time of his high chauncellourshyppe, being but an ale bruars son of London, johan Ca●graue saith, that he took upon him as he had been a prince. He played the courtier all together, and fashioned himself wholly to the kings delights. He ruffled it out in the whole cloth with a mighty rabble of digised ruffianes at his tail. 
A ruflar  He sought the worldly honour with him that sought it most. He thought it a pleasant thing, to have the flattering praises of the multitude. His bridle was of silver, his saddle of velvet, his styruppes, spurs, and bosses double guilt, his expenses far passing the expenses of any earl. 
pleasure  That delight was not on the earth, that he had not plenty of. He fed with the fattest, was clad with the softest, and kept company with the plesauntest. Was not this (think you) a good mean to live chaste? I trow it was.   

☞ His chastity at Stafforde, and stoughtnesse at Clarendon.  
IN the town of Stafford was (William of Canterbury saith, 
a wench  johan Capgrave confirming the same) a lusty minion, a trull for the nonce, a piece for a prince, with whom by report, the king at times was very familiar. Betwixt this wanton damsel or primrose peerless & Becket the chancellor, went store of presents, and of love tokens plenty, 
for love  and also the lovers met at times. For when he resorted thydre, at no place would he be hosted and lodged, but where as she held residence. In the dead time of the night (the story saith) was it her general custom, to come alone to h●s bedchambre with a candle in her hand, to toy & trifle with him. Men are not so foolish, but they can weal conceive, what chastity was observed in those praty, 
All chaste  nice, & wanton meetings. But they say, he sore amended when he was on●s consecrated archbishop of Canterbury, and left we●e his accustomed enbracynges after the rules of love, & became in life religious, that afore in love was lecherous. At his said consecration was he made a pressed, which required a change of life. 
Change  He received a monks cowl from Pope Alexandre (Matthew Paris saith) made our lady his general advocate, and shryved the body of S. Edward a virgin, and therefore he could no longer be unchaste. In the year of our lord a M. a. C. & lxiiij. 
1164.  at Clarendon, johan of Oxford being high president of the counsel, many things were proponed concerning the investytures, offices, and enormities of the clergy, 
priests.  and laws made thereupon. Whereunto the archbishop Becket with the other bishops condescended and were sworn. But when he once perceived that they were repugnant to the terrestrial godhead of the bishop of Rome, he fretted for woodenness, and was angry with himself, adding to his oath this subtile clause to make it of none effect, 
addition  salou in omnibus ordine meo, & honore sanctae ecclesiae, mine order saved always, and the honour of holy church reserved. By this he was able to deny all again at his pleasure. Matthaeus Paris, & alij.   

☞ Antichrist he preferreth to his kings obedience.  
within the same year the king made an act, 
An act.  that men of the church committing offences notable, should be exautorysed or dysgraded by the bishop of the diocese, a justice being present, & so delivered to secular keeping, till he suffered according to his demerits. The occasion of this act was one Philippe Broic a pressed and canon of bedford, 
A pressed.  which conwardly had killed a man. This proud sturdy canon bearyng● him self very bold upon his Romish orders, was at utter contempt and diffyaunce of the justice, giving him full many obprobryouse words, as though his office had been but a slavery to his oily priesthood. Than stirt up Becket, and starkeled like a lion, seeking by all traitorous means to bring the king under, 
under.  and to exalt the tyrannous kingdom of Antichrist to the very heavens. He furiously contended with him to the very death, that priests and other within oily orders, ought not for theft, murder, buggery, and other like deadly offences, to be examined and punished by the public magistrates, as the lay sort were. He affirmed it also with stomach, 
Becket.  that the church's freedom was such, as the temporal kings h●d nothing ado with them which were anointed and shaven, they being thereby the Romish Pope's creatures and not his. Radulphus Niger, Radulphus de Diceto, Matthaeus Paris, Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis, Rogerus Hoveden. Ricardus Croilande, 
Autour.  Nicolaus Treueth, & alij plerique An exceeding great thing were it, to declare the subtile practises, deu●ses, dysguysynges, crafts, colours, conveyances, & other tryfelynges, to bring all his matters to p●sse against the king, and a weariness to the reader to rehearse them, wherefore I let them over pass.   

☞ articles, for whom Becket is admitted the Pope's martyr.  
diverse of our chronicle writers, doth testify in their works, that these were the articles wherefore he strove with the king. 
articles.  That no spiritual cause ought to be pleaded in the temporal court. No clerk may be compelled to answer in matters before the kings officers. Patrons' may lawfully and freely give benefices without the kings allowance. A bishop or pastor may freely go out of the realm without the kings lycens, for the right of his church. 
Cursed.  He that is ones excommunicated, must have his discharge of the spiritual court, and not of the king. The clergy and layte must be cleared of their offences by the ordinaries, and not by the kings justices. appellations made from one degree to an other, as from lowar o●dynary to the hyghar, may be ended without the kings consent. Lands and teneamentes may lawfully be given to the clergy in alms, without the kings commission. spiritual promotions ought only to remain in the hands of the superior ordinaries, when their occupiers are dead, 
No king  till others succeed in their rooms, and not in the hands of temporal men. religious men men ought not in the quarrel of their kings, to go to the wars. They that flee unto sayntwaryes, ought there to be succoured against the temporal power, & their deeds made open to the judge ecclesiastical. Clerks, 
Clerks  curates, and priests, are not bound to come to the comen judgements at sessions, or assizes, neither yet to be at them though they be commanded. See what good stuff here is, to make a martyr. All is to demynyshment of a kings power, and nothing else.   

☞ Becket stayeth the Pope's church, by confounding heretics.  
IN the same year of our lord a M. a C and. lxiiij. 
1164.  was Thomas Becket reckoned (Matthew Paris saith) such a mighty, steadfast, and strong sure pillar, as the whole church both leaned upon, and was also stayed by. But ye must consider, that it was the Pope's church that he meant and not Christ's, for that hath a stay strong enough of him without man's help. Mark the foresaid articles. The church (saith he) shaken, was ready to have fallen, and the Pope which was set up as a staff to have stayed it, 
a church  was at that time so broken, that the shivers or pieces wounded him, Thomas looking for nothing else, but martyrdom for the church. In the same year were in England certain godly men, whom some popish writers dysdaynously calleth Waldeanes, some publycanes, some false Apostles. 
christians.  Th●se were at Oxford straightly examined of the bishops, and so brought to judgement by this Becket, for holding these opinions. That the church of Rome was that whore of Babylon, which had forsaken the faith of Christ, and that barren fig tree without fruit which he reproved, and that no Christian man was bound to obey the Pope and his bishops. That monkery was as the dead carreyne that stinketh, 
Monkery.  and that their vows were frivolous, idle, and abominable, being the upsprynging branches of Sodom. That their orders were the great beasts characters, and their temples the worse for their hallowynges. That purgatory, saints worshipping, masses, and prayenges for the dead, with such like, were most devilish inventions. For maintaining these and other like opinions, 
opinions.  against the proud synagogue of Rome, they were sealed in the faces at Oxford, with hot fiery keys, and so banished the realm for ever. Radulphus de Diceto, Matthaeus Paris, Guido Perpinianus de heresibus, Thomas Walden ad Martinum quintum, & Bernardus Lutzenburgus.   

☞ His traitorous end, and advancement above Christ.  
When Becket was returned again into England, in the year of our lord a. M. a. C. and. lxxi. 
1171.  after. vi years exile, he outrageously troubled certain of the bishops, to the kings great dishonour. matthew Paris saith. For the only cause why he so hatefully persecuted them, was, for that they had fulfilled the kings desire, in anointing his son Henry the yongar to reign after him, not having his consent being pope of England. For this he entered the pulpit, more like a mad Bedlam than a sober preacher. 
franrick  Not to teach christ in meekness, but in his wode fury to execrate those bishops, to curse them with book, bell, and candle, and by the pope's authority to condemn them to hell. Upon this the kings servants fell on him, in purpose (as they took it) to revenge their liege lords great injury, and his sons dishonour. They pared his pilled crown with their swords, and cut of the pope's mark to his very braive whiles he in idolatry commended himself and the cause of his church, 
idolatry.  to his patron S. devise, being but a dead image there standing upon the aultre. Stephanus Langton, Richardus Croilande, Rogerus Hoveden, Nicolaus Treueth, & joannes Capgrave Thus ended he his life in most rank treason, & was for his labour made a god of that papistes. Yea, they charged christ in the end by commandment, 
A devil  to deliver us heaven freely by the shedding of Thomas blood, as though that had been a payment of satisfaction for our sins. And as thereby appeared, they put Christ clean out of office for him, by this coniuracion. Tu per Thome sanguinem, quem pro te impendit, fac nos christ scandere, quo Thomas ascedit. O thou Christ suffer us to climb up to that place, by the blood of Thomas which he shed for that, to the which Thomas manfully ascended. Mark this hardly, for such a defection from Christ as Saint Paul speaketh of, 
Defection.  and for the strong delusion that they should have which believed lies, that they might be dampened. ij. Thessalo. ij For here Thomas redeemeth Christ and ascendeth to haven, leaving us his blood to climb thither by. Were there ever greater heretics, thieves, & soul murderers, than were our Papists? I can not think it.   

☞ The false miracles, and canonisation of Becket.  
OF Christ and of all his Apostles and prophets, are not written so many great miracles, 
Miracles.  as of this one Becket. As that so many sick, so many blind, so many blear eyed, bedrid, crooked, browsed, mangled, lamed, drowned, palseyd, leprosed, sorrowful, exiled, with child, enprysoned, hauged, and dead, were by them as by him delivered. Neither were there ever so many writers of any popish saints life, or so many great volumes made as of his, as is showed afore. And all this was to blemish the king, 
Books.  and to depress the high power both in him and in all his successors kings after him. In the third year after his death, 
1173.  was he proclaimed a saint by the pope's authority, and his day triumphasitly celebrated over all England, his mass beginning with Gaudeamus. The king came in all naked, saving that he had a liven breach about his neither parts. He received of the monks a discipline with rods, and was so absolved of them in their chapter house. 
Assoiled  He resigned his power upon their high aultre, consented to their usurped liberties, and professed himself a perpetual subject to Antichrist and the serpent, Apo. xiii. O blasphemers of God, and shameless mockers of men. But Cesarius saith in the. viii. book of his dyaloges. ca lxix. that in the. xlvij. year after his death, 
1220.  a question was moved in the open schools at Paris, whether he were saved or dampened. Where as Roger Norman proved him worthy to be dampened for obstinate rebellion against his king, 
A rebel  which was Gods appointed minister, Peter the great chauntre of Paris having nothing to object in the church's quarrel to the contrary, but his miracles, which were most manifest lies and illusions.   

☞ King Henry smelleth out Antichrist and is again blinded.  
SVmwhat must I say here of the king, called Henry the second, 
Henry. ij  which was a very wise, well learned, and godly prince, Petrus Blesensis saith, in epistola ad Gualterum archiepiscopum Panorimtunum. Though he in the year of our lord a. M.a. C. and. lxvi. 
1166.  permitted at the pope's request, a groat to be given of every plough land within all his dominions, for aid of the christian wars against the Turks, yet perceiving. ●. years after, the crafty bestowing thereof, 
1168.  and how the said pope had mayteined the treason of Becket against him, he caused all his people to forswear his obedience, from the child of. xii. years to them of extreme age Look Matthew of Westminstre li. ij de floribus historiarum. 
1169.  In the next year after, to please him again, pope Alexandre confirmed unto him the bull of Adriane the. iiij. for the conquest of Ireland, and made him the high lord of that region under him, the Peter pens for every chimney that smoked, always to his fatherhede reserved. And this was (johan hardynge saith in his chronicle) for an error which the Irish men held, 
Error.  against the spiritualty, and for certain heresies wherewith they had been long infected. In the year therefore of our lord a. M.a. C. and. lxxi. 
1171.  were both the nobility and clergy of the land sworn unto him, to take the kings of England for their lords ever after. Rogerus Hoveden. A like chance had the Scots in the year of our lord a. M. a. C. and. lxxxviij. 
1188.  Pope Clement the third in his high displeasure subiecting that whole realm to the crown of England, willing their kings, nobility, and clergy, to give always to the kings of England, their oath of obedience, as to their superioure lords. Nicolaus Treueth.   

☞ A patronage proved lawful by v. married priests.  
Now will I bring a matter, which Barnes rehearseth in his book of priests marriage, 
Barnes.  because it fell in this age. In the time of pope Alexandre the. iij. (saith he) there was a controversy for the patronage of a benefice, between the prior of Plympton in devonshire, and one johan de Valletorda. 
1176.  judges were deputed to hear the master, richard the archbishop of Canterbury, and Roger the bishop of Wynchestre. Before whom the prior of Plimpton proved his parsonage, by reason that he was in possession thereof, 
A prior  & had given it out afore to diverse persons. first (he said) there was a pressed of Plympton called Alphege, which had by the gift of the said prior of Plympton, the benefice of Sutton, now called Plymmouth. This Alphege had a son called Cedda, 
Alphege  which had also the benefice after his father. And after this Cedda was there an other pressed called Alnodus which had the benefice like wise. This Almodus had a son called Robert Dunpruste, which after the decease of his father had also the said benefice. And after this Robert Dun●rust William Bacon his son, 
Bacon.  enjoyed the benefice like wise▪ Ex monumentis eiusdem coenobij. This is a witness suffycyente, to prove that it is no new learning, nor yet so long a go sens priests had lawful wives, as the idle headed papists do make the ignorant multitude believe. And this was in those days an use through out the realm, that the son should in benefices succeed the father, 
the son  either else the next of his kin that was learned, till the monks hypocrisy procured the alteration for their bellies sake.   

☞ Examples diverse that priests in that age had wives.  
furthermore the saide pope Alexandre, in his epistles decretal showeth many of the ●yke examples. 
Examples  And in one, to johan of Oxford than bishop of Norwyche, he commandeth, that William the new person of Dysse, for claiming the benefice by inheritance after the decease of his father person Wulkerell, which begat him in his priesthood should be dyspossessed, no appellation admitted. The dean and chapter of Salisbury in an other place he chargeth, not to admit Hugh Howet to the prebend of Baphorde which was his fathers afore him, 
priests  lest it so should grow again into a custom. The like he wrote to the archdeacon of Lyncolne, and to other diverse prelate's of the realm, specially to the bishop of exeter, of one johan a priests son, which after like sort would have succeeded his father. 
success.  To the bishop of Wyncestre he showeth there also, that the monks of Lenton abbey by Notyngham, molested one Oliver a priest which had peaceably holden the benefice of Mapleshalle by the space of. thirty. years. The greatest matter they had against him, was, that he had been that priests son, which had been curate of the same parish afore him. But in this he defeated the monks, and showed him favour, 
Curates  because he had there continued so long. The exampels of this kind are so many, that I leave them for tediousness. let those lewd papists be ashamed than, which following, the lousy learning of that bawdy drunkard johan Eckius, 
Eckius.  in his foolish. Enchiridyon, reporteth with him and with doctor Cool in their ignorant frenzy, that it hath not been heard since Christ's ascension, that a pressed ever married, or had a wife. Questyonlesse their brutish heads are to blockysh.   

☞ remedies taught of S. Godrycke for vows keeping.  
saint Godrycke borne at Walpole in Norfolk, went first abroad with pedlary wares, 
Pedlar.  and afterwards on pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. In his return he professed the chaste life of an hermit at Fynkale by Durham, and became the great founder of dyspersed hermits here in England. Much was he tempted with the spirit of fornication, and had no small a do to keep his vow of chastity. To abate the great heats of his flesh, 
Heats.  he sought diverse remedies, but marriage was none of them, for that was not thought in those days holy, though it were of God. He tumbled all naked among bryres and thorns. He wore sometime a shirt of hear, and sometime a coote of mail next his skin. Of barrels he made within his own chapel a well, 
Water.  wherein he stood to the chin in the time of his heats, For in the night always was he most grievously tempted with she devils. But one of them transformed into an he devil, turned up his broad bum, (if devils have buttocks) & made such a show there, as I am ashamed to write. He that hath devotion to know the whole story, let him resort to the holy legend of his life, 
legend.  that was wont to be red upon his feastful days with no small devotion. This devil had a number of young devils following him, like pratye black boys with shaven crowns, and I think he was the great abbot of our votaries. So was S. Godrycke terryfyed with this lecherous devil, 
Gears.  that all the hears of his holy body (the legend saith) stood up like sows bristles. Such men as had barren wives, complained to this holy Godrick, and he made them fruitful by tyenge hy● girdle about them. This fat carl and fowl fornycatoure (the story saith) died at Fynkale in the year of our lord a. M. a. C. and. lxx. 
1170.  doing more than CC. and. xxviii. miracles within few years, and was made a saint with Thomas Becket. Look johan Capgrave.   

☞ A counsel at Rome against Buggers.  
THe buggery of priests and religious prelate's was in that age so noised abroad and complained of, that in the year of our lord a. M. a. C & lxxix. 
1179.  Pope Alexandre was compelled to call a general counsel at Rome, of. CCC and. x. bishops. Where as he ordained again that priests in any wise should live chaste. And if it chanced any of them to be found a buggerer (as they were none other but sodo●ytes and whoremongers all the pack) he should be first excommunicated, and than hidden from the sight of the people, 
Sequestered.  till such time as they dyspensed with him. Here was a sore ponnyshement for so horrible a mischief, but that they somewhat tendered themselves in the same, as occupiers in one arte. He ordained also that archbishops should ride in visitations, 
Riders.  with no more than half an hundred horses, bishops with. thirty. legates with. xxv. archdeacon's with. seven. and deans with. ij. sequestering all ecclesiastical persons from the judgements of the lay magistrates. For by that time had they gotten of king Henry the second, a full revocation of ●egal customs, a confirmation of the church's liberties, that they might freely appeal to the pope against all powers, that no clerk should be brought afore a lay judge for no manner of wickedness, 
Pryvyleges  & that he which struck a priest should be always punished at the bishops pleasure. Matthaeus Paris, & Matthaeus Wes●monasteriensi●▪ About this time were the secular can●●● removed from Waltham by this Pope's authority, 
Waltham  because some of them had wives, and regular canons which were men without wives, unless they were other men's, placed in their rooms, the king of gentleness recompensing guy the dean & certain other of those canons an other way. Radulphus de Diceto, Rogerus Hoveden, Ranulphus, Trevisa, & joannnes Euersden.   

☞ Notable sentences of a learned man in this age.  
IOhan Salisbury, a chaplain first of the court, and afterwards bishop of Carnote in France, 
1120  being a man exercised in all kinds of good literature, and perceiving abuses intolerable daily to increase in the clergy, with very sharp rebukes as with fiery darts, oft touched them, both in his familiar epistles and also in his great work called Polycraticon. In the Rome church (saith he) sitteth the scribes and the pharisees, and upon men's shoulders they lay burdens importable. 
Burdens  The great bishop there is grievous to all men, and scant to be suffered of any man. His legates are so furious and raging mad, that a man would think, as they step foewardes, that Satan were sent from the face of God to flagelle the church. They noye where they go, and therein are they like to the devil. Right iudgem●●● with them, is none other than an open buying and selling. gain take they for godliness, & the gathering of goods for most high religion. 
Lucre.  For money they justify the wicked, and overload the afflicted consciences. They deck their tables with gold & silver, and rejoice in things which are most wicked. They eat the sins of the people, & are clothed with the same. Yea, they diversly abuse themselves in likings of the flesh, whiles the true worshippers worship God their heavenly father in spirit and verity. He that in any point dyssenteth from their doctrine, 
Dissent.  is either judged an heretic or a scysmatike. Christ therefore of mercy in this age show himself, and teach us what way we may walk a right to his pleasure, with many such other clauses. Ex lib. v. cap. xvi. & ex li. vi. ca xxiv. Polycratici.   

☞ The insatiable gluttony of Benettes monks.  
GIraldus Cambrensis reporteth in his wurthye work called Speculum ecclesiae, 
1187.  li, ij ca iij. that as king Henry the second was hunting at Gildeforde, the prior of S. Swithunes of Wynchestre and. xiii. of his monks, fell down upon their knees afore him i● the lapre, and with weeping tears complained, that Richard More their bishop, had demynyshed their face of. iij. dishes at every meal which their founders had allowed them for the maintenance of God's service. 
dishes  The king demanded of them, how many remained? They answered, but. x. only, where as afore of custom they had xiii continuing from the days of S. Swythune to that present. With that the king called his lords unto him, and swore, as his fashion was. By the eyes of God (quoth he) I judged of these monks, that their house had been brent, or that some other ill chance had fallen unto them. And now I perceive their matter is none other, but that their bishop hath shortened them of their belly cheer. 
Belly  If their bishop do not by them, as I which am their king, do by my court, that is to say, bring them to. iij. dishes, I pray God, he be hanged. Than said the monks. This request of ours, is chiefly to refresh the poor thereby. No (said the king) it is rather to pamper your glottonouse maws, 
Pamper.  which never are satisfied. The poor may otherwise and in more honest order be provided for, than to read of your so glottonouse leavings, to the public slander of Christianyte. A like story he showeth of the monk●● of Christ's church at Canterbury, which were served with xvi. dysh●s every day, 
dishes  and of other more. He 〈◊〉 that the cattle which was th● 〈◊〉 fed, were as ra●●e as stoned horses, and as unable to perform their vow of chastity, as ever were they. Sancti ordinis professores, de ferculorum numerositate contendunt, saith Petrus Blesensis upon job. They are holy votaries that strive for so many fat dishes.   

☞ The abominable lechery of the same monks.  
IN the diocese of S. David in Wales, and within the province of Goer, the prior of Langenith which was a cell of the order of Clunyakes or monks without boats, 
A prior  beholding a certain young woman, first by wanton looks, and after by other lewd enticements, made her at his pleasure, to serve his lascivious purpose. And when it was once grown to a public infamy, that all men spoke ill of it, with money he corrupted the offycyals, 
Conveyance.  to escape the open reproach. And when none other way else would serve, he gave her in marriage to a young man not far of. Yet left he not so her company, but abused her after as he had done afore, till such time as he was deposed by the dyocesyane, and lo with shame exiled the country. The like was done also by two other monks of North-wales, of whom one was prior of Sagia, 
Two priors.  an other of Breckennoch, both celles of Clunyakes and not far from the haven of Myluerd. Which were for their whoredoms most shamefully deposed and banished. Yea, the said gerald reporteth it to be a comen thing among them, where as such celles were builded, and wished for his time, that not one of them had been within the whole realm of England, for the mischiefs that he knew by them. And when they went abroad (he saith) about the affairs of their religion or houses, 
Abroad  they would in none other inns be lodged, but where as they might have whores at their pleasures. Giraldus Cambrensis in Speculo ecclesiae, li ij. ca i. Was not this (think you) an holy religion, and an high profession of chastity?   

☞ Of two English votaries, one a traitor, the other a thief.  
AS Heraclius the patriarch of Jerusalem was returned home again out of England, in the year of our lord a M.a. C. and. lxxxvi. 
1086.  an English votary of the order of Templars, called Robert of S. Albon, betrayed that holy city with all the Christian inhabytauntes to Saladinus the soldan of Babylon, upon this covenant, that he should have his niece to marry. And so it came to pass in the end, the king taken prisoner, 
prisoner  and the patriarch compelled to flee, so that the kingdom was destroyed forever. another english votary of the same order of Templars, called Gylbert Ogerstan, king Henry appointed with certain others to gather up the money which he had determined to be given to relieve the holy land and city of Jerusalem against the Turks. And when he had deprehended him in an horrible theft in doing the same, 
A thief.  to the maintenance of his accustomed lecheries, where as he might justly have hanged him, he only committed him to the master of the temple at London, that he should punish him according to their statutes. Rogerus Houeden libro secundo, historiae Anglorum. The hospytelers and Templars were two fygtinge orders, 
ij. order's  instituted first in the country of palestine or holy land, as they call it, for the only defence of Christian pilgrims going to and fro. In process of time they grew to so great richesse, that as the adage goeth, the daughter devoured the mother. They exempted themselves from the pa●ryarkes jurisdiction, which was their first father and foundar, and became servants to the great Antichrist of Rome. 
They serve.  Not only to fill all that land with his filthy superstitions, but also to bring the profyghtes to his insatiable hands that were gathered from all other nations. For where as collections were, to maintain those wars (Roger Hourden saith) that always a Templar was one gatherer, and an hospyteler was an other. But in the end, about the year of our lord a thousand three hundredth and twelve, 
1312.  they had their deserved reward, for than were the Templars destroyed, Matthaeus Paris, Ranulphus, Aegidius Faber, joannes Paleonydorus, joannes Nauclerus, Paulus Phrigio atque Polydorus.   

☞ A crown of Peacocks feathers, sent to king Henrye.  
ROger Hoveden writeth it, as a matter seryouse and earnest, that in the year of our lord a M. a. C. and. lxxxvi. 
1186.  Pope Urban the third hearing tell that king Henry had appointed his yongar son johan to the lattre conquest of Ireland, sent him a crown of Peacocks feathers finely woven and wrought together with gold. The next year after he sent one Octavian a cardinal, 
1187.  and Hugh Nouaunt, which was bishop of Coventry and Chestre, as legates from his right side, to have crowned the said johan king of Ireland. But the king not being so Pecockysh as he judged him, discreetly and wisely deferred the time, till the cardinal was gone. See what five toys these fond fathers had in their crafty heads, to mock Christian princes with for advantage. 
mockers  Here was a gnat workmanly strained out to swallow in a camel for it. He was at great cost that sent Peacocks feathers. So was it a precious kingdom towards, whose king should have been crowned with them. But I marvel that he sent not therewith, a fox's tail for a sceptre, and a whode with two ears. Rightly hath the scriptures set out this generation for moc●●rs. Hierem. xx. A great dissensyon arose the same time at Canterbury, 
1187.  between Baldewyne the archbishop and the covent of monks, because he had begun to build a new college of secular priests next joining to them. They caused Pope Urban the third, to dissolve it again, fearing thereby in process to have lost their privilege of electing their archbishops, and so not to have their pleasures as they had afore. 
Pleasure  Whereupon he was compelled, to remove his building from thence to Lambheth by Westmynstre, Radulphus de Diceto, Rogerus Hoveden, Ranulphus, Trevisa, & Fabianus.   

☞ A bishop made both an earl and high justice.  
immediately after king richard the first was crowned, and sworn to defend all Antichristes' affairs, in the year of our lord a. M. a. C. &. lxxxix the bishop of Durham Hugh Pusath, 
1189.  for a great sum of money bought of him the earldom of Northumberlande. And when the king should do the ceremony over him of making an earl, and was girding the sword about him. See (saith he to his lords and noble men) what a miracle I can do. 
miracle  I can make of an old bishop, a young earl. Am not I (think you) a very cunning artificer? Like frates he played many in the same year, in making prelate's barons and viscounts, to have riches to his pleasure. In this the king thought, he mocked them, but they mocked him after a far other sort in the end. This doting bishop was not yet all satisfied, 
Durham  but added thereunto a. M. marks more to be admitted the high justice of England. And for that he might dwell at home without check, and poll at his pleasure, he gave to the pope an unreasonable sum of money, to be dispensed with for his vow to the holy land, and obtained it. After this he decreed with himself, to live long on the earth, 
Long life.  upon this admonition of Godryck the Hermit, which said, that he should be stark blind seven. years afore he should die. But he understood not, that there was as weal a blindness in soul as in body. And that made him so unready when he should have died, and also so wretchedly soeth to depart from this world. Mattheus Paris, Radulphus de Diceto, Ranulphus, Rogerus Trevisa & Polidorus. 
authors  See here, how they keep their own spiritual laws, for intermeddling with temporal matters. But that for lucre they may break all order.   

☞ The privy member of a fish, swalloweth in a monk.  
GIraldus Cambrensis declareth in the second part of his work, 
Giraldus.  called the glass of the church, ca seven. That by the sea coast a she fish was found of a wonderful greatness, called a thirlepoole. The people in great number came from all quarters there about, some to behold the monstrous shape of the fish and same to cut it in pieces and to carry them home to their houses, to so●ne profitable use. Among other there was a monk more quick and steering to perceive all things than any other there. 
A monk.  This monk drawing very nigh to the fish, beheld, viewed, and marked the privy part thereof above all. Which was (the story saith) as it had been the opening of a great door or gate. He looked thereupon very seriously, and much wondered, neither could he in any wise be satisfied with the sight thereof. At the last without modesty, shame, and all bashfulness, he approached so nigh, 
A fall  that by the slime and fatness thereof, which than lay upon the said, his foting failed him,- and he fell flat into the fowl hole, so being swallowed up of that which his lecherous heart most desired. So that these adages might then have been found true Such saint, such shrive, such bear, such bottle, such treasure, such trust. As much was it to recover him and to save his life as all they could do which stood about, with long pools, pro● hooks, lives ropes, and other hasty provisions. A subtle enemy was it (saith Giraldus) that provided him so ridiculous and obprobrioule a fall. 
Drowned.  But this is the good fortune of our votaries. In the end they fall head linges into the gulf of that filthiness which they have so ardently, all their life time affected.   

☞ The lascivious heart of an other monk perceived.  
AN other like story showeth the said Giraldus in the next chapter following, 
Canterbury.  of a monk of Glastenbury. It chanced (saith he) at the kings request & suit of the abbot, that the grave of king Arthour between. two. high pilers of stone, was opened within the holy Saintwary of Aualon. There found they the flesh both of him and of his wife Guenhera turned all into dust, within their coffynes of strong oak, the bones only remaining. A monk of the same abbey standing by, 
1101.  and beholding the fine bruydinges of the womannis hear, so yellow as gold, there still to remain. As a man ravished, or more than half from his wits he leapt into the grave. xv. foot deep, to have caught them suddenly. But he failed of his purpose. For so soon as they were touched, they fell all to powder. No less was this monk (saith Giraldus) a figure of that insatiable hell of lechery, 
Giraldus.  than was the other monk, for he showed as deeply the signs of a shameless mind, as did the other. Giraldus lib. ij cap, viii. Speculi ecclesiastici, & in opere de institutione principis, Radulphus Cogeshale, joannes Fiberius, Richardus Premonstratensis, 
Autores  Mattheus Westmonasteriensis, Ranulphus, Rogerus, Trevisa, & joannes Lelandus in assertione Arturij. All this maketh good the foresayenge of Tamel, that the hearts of them in this generation should be all upon women Dame. xi. I would not that this also were forgotte●n in this age by the way, 
Stryses  but marked and remembered, for it includeth a great mystery. When strifes and controversies were risen between monks and their bishops for sleeveless matters the king might not meddle in so spiritual causes, but a legate must all ways come from Rome to do it.  
Notate verba, signate mysteria.   

☞ King richard is sent abroad, and a bishop ruleth.  
Never were there any people, either scarce any devils of hell, in crafts and wordly wiles comparable to these sprites of Rome, 
Wiles.  the bishops, monks and priests. They could send kings abroad on pilgrimage, and in the mean time occupy their whole realms to their romish masters behove. King Richard the first, for his stoughte stomach called Cor de Lion, 
1191.  was sent in to the land of palestine, to fight with the great Turk for Jerusalem, which an english votary and bird of their unclean cage, had both betrayed and lost a little afore, and could never be recovered since. For the time of his absence, one William Longeshampe, being chancellor of England and bishop of Helie, holding the governance of the whole realm, 
A ruler.  wonderfully oppressed the same. Having the kings whole power and his pope's authority, he road continually with no less than a. M. horse, the noble men's sons being glad to become slaves to him. With the best barons and earls married he his cousins, neces, and kinswomen, yet was his grand father a poor plough man and his own father a cowherde. Being and holy votary, 
a votary  he refused the use of women, and in his bed chamber abhomynablye occupied with buggery boys, as the comen rule was than of that mischievous spiritualty. So long he ruffled it out in all kinds of tyranny, till at the last, johan the kings brother, being than the greatest duke within the land, began to couple with him. Than fearing to have been called to a very straight reckoning, he fled with a small company of his most trusty servants to the castle of Doue●, 
Accounts.  minding in the night to have stolen over the sea. But as hereafter shall follow, he came to short of that passage. Hugo Novaunte in libello de fuga Guilhelmi Heliensis, & Rogerus Hoveden. li. ij. Anglorum historiae.   

☞ This bishop counterfeiteth a woman, and is taken.  
Inventing a new craft of conveyance, he came down halting from the castle above, to the seaside beneath, 
disguised.  apparelled in all points like a woman, whose kind nevertheless above all things he abhorred. A side green garment he had upon him, and a cloak with wide sleeves of the same colour. His head was all covered with a fair great kerchief and his face with a proper mufflar. In his right hand he bore a piece of linen cloth, 
A sowster.  and in the left hand a met yard. And as he was set upon a great stone, a fisher man coming from the water, and inpyosing him to be an whore, ran fast upon him, and clasped one hand about his neck, with the other he searched for his privy parts. When he once understood him to be a man and no woman, he called to them about and desired them to come and to see a marvel, for he had found (he said) a man in a woman. His servants therewith drewenygh, 
A monster.  and with gentle words pacified this fisher. Anon after approached two women, requiring to know the price of his linen cloth. He played momme chance and would make none answer. With that they suspecting the matter, plucked of his mufflar from his face, and so perceived him to be an old man newly shaven. Than called they to them more company, 
A pressed.  and cried with loud voices. let us stone this wild monster, which hath deformed both kinds. Than threw they of all that was upon his head, and made his priests crown all bare. They rated him, reviled him, railed upon him, 
A play.  byspatled him and byspitted him. Yea, they threw him down on the gr●unde, and dragged him from place to place upon the sands, some by the arms, and some by ●he legs. His servants not able in any wise to help him. A● the last they brought him into a dark cellar, where as they cawched him with rebuke and shame, till the high counsel of the realm sent for him. Hugo Nouaunt, & Rogerus Hoveden, in praefatis opuscalis.   

☞ He dieth, & is lamented of an old rood.  
AFter this was he brought to the Tower of London, enprysoned, examined, deprived, 
deprived.  discharged of his governance, and so permitted to departed out of the land, and Walter constance the archbishop of Rohan being an English man borne, by the kings letters was placed in his room. He that will see this story treated of, more at large, let him resort to the foresaid works of Hugh Nonaunt and of Roger Hoveden. Dyerse other aunours maketh mention of the same, as Radulphus de Diceto, 
Meue●  Ricardus Praemonstrataensis, Matthew Paris, johan Euersden, johan Scuysh, Robert Fahyane, and Polydorus Vergilius, but not so copiously. Hugh Nouaunt wisheth in the end of his small treatise, the excess of this lewd prelate so to be punished, that the kings dignity might be conserved, and the order of priesthood not utterly confounded. After long travail in the year of our lord a M. a. C. and xcvii. 
1197.  He came to the city of Pictanis or Potyers where as he ended his life. And so long as he lay in extremes, a certain road (they say) in the cathedral church there, which was called the church of Saint Mar●yale, ded piteously weep & lament, so that the tears fell down from his eyes, as it had been a flood of water. Belike the bishop had been some great friend to that road, 
A friend  that he took his death so heavily. But they say, it was his accustomed use, always to mourn when a bishop departed. Look Roger Hoveden. And it may weal be, for the scripture saith, that both they are idols, that is to say, both the painted road, and the bishop that preacheth not, Baruch. vi. & Zacha. xi.   

☞ Antichrist detected, by joachim abbess.  
Wills king Richard was yet in the land of palestine, 
1191  he sent to the isle of Calabria for abbess joachim, of whose famous learning & wonderful prophecies he had heard much. Among other demavades, he axed him of Antichrist, what time and in what place he should chesely apere. Antichrist (saith he) is already borne in the city of Rome, and will set himself yet hyghar in the seat Apostolycke. 
Antichrist.  I thought (said the king) that he should have been borne in antioch or in Babylon, and to have comen of the stock of Dan. I reckoned also that he should have reigned in the temple of God within Jerusalem, and only have travailed for the space of three years and a half where as Christ travailed, and to dispute against Enoch and Helias. Not so (saith joachim) but as the apostle reporteth, 
joachim.  he is that only adversary which extolleth himself above all that is called God. For where as the lord is called but holy, he is called the most holy father. Thus Antichrist shall be opened, and him shall God destroy with the spirit of his mouth, and light of his coming. When this was once known in England and in other quarters of the kings dominion, the prelate's begun to starkie. Yea, Walter constance the kings deputy, with other archbishops, bishops, abbots, and prelate's of the clergy, 
prelate's.  cast their heads together, impugning this new doctrine with all power possible. And though they brought fourth many strong arguments in appearance (saith Roger Hoveden) yet could they never to this day bring their matter to a full conclusion, 
Arguments.  but left it always in doubt. Rogerus Hoveden, & Radulphus Cogeshale.   

☞ Antichrist appeareth in his full pride.  
CElestine the third Pope of that name, crowned that emperor at Rome, 
1191.  called Henry the. vi. and gave him a votary to wife which was named Constantia, a professed nun of Panorme in Cycyll, and the daughter of king Roger. This coronation was celebrated on this wise. He first met the Emperor without the church door, and afore his entrance took a solemn oath of him, that he should for term of life, with sword defend holy church, 
Defend.  support all her customs, laws, and liberties, & finally preserve the patrimony of S. Peter. When this was once granted, the entered into the church, where as the same Pope erected into a throne of magnificence most marvelous, took the imperial crowns betwixt his. ij. feet, and with them crowned first the emperor and than the empress his wife. This done, with his right foot he spurned the emperor's crown of his head again, 
Antichrist.  adding this unshame fast clause, that he had as we'll power to depose him, as to crown him. And the crown fell to the ground. The cardinals standing by, took it up again, & set it upon the said emperor's head. Rogerus Hoveden, Ranulphus & Rogerus Cestrensis, ac Trevisa, This story have I here rehearsed, 
Mark it  that my readers might thereby know, the Antichrist was now at the highest, & in the full of his abominable pride, both in this celestine, and also in his predecessor Alexandre the third▪ which Alexandre made the father of this emperor, called Fridericus Barbarossa, in S. Marks church at Venyce, to lie flat at his feet upon the pavyment, he setting his foot in his neck, and unsesonably uttering this sentence. 
o Inciset  Upon the adder and cockatrice shalt thou walk, the lion and dragon shalt thou tread under foot Psal. xc. Look jacobus Bergomensis. Hartmannus Shedel, joannes Nauclerus, joannes Stella, and Barnes,   

☞ An archbishop execrated, and a bishop wounded.  
IN the next year following which was the year of our lord a. M.a. C. &. xcij 
1192  Geffrey the archbishop of york, which was the kings bastard brother, resorted to London by commandment. And as he came towards Westmynstre with his cross borne afore him, the bishop of London with certain other prelate's met him full in that face, 
charity  & without frindely salutation excommunicated him for that only act, & suspended the new temple both from singing & ringing, where he was lodged, so that he was compelled to departed again from London, the purpose of his coming not performed. Rogerus Hoveden. Lo here was much a do for a thing of nought. And no small matter was it in those days, to break their apish traditions: about the same time: Hugh Nonaunt the bishop of Chestre 
Novant  drove all the black monks out of coventry, and turned their monastery into a college of priests, sorting their livings into prebends. The cause was this. They had kept naughty rule, and would not be reformed. Moreover they were in daily contention with the bishop, 
Contention.  so that on a time, not only they violently struck him, but also they drew blood of him afore their high aultre. Radulphus de Diceto, Radulphus Cogeshale, Ricardus Divisiensis, Ricardus Praemonstratensis, Rogerus Hoveden, Matthaeus Paris, Ranulphus, Trevisa, & Fabianus. 
1198.  About. seven. years after this, at the commandment of Pope Celestine the third, the monks were restored again and the priests rejected, by Hubert the archbishop of Canterbury, 
Hubert.  Hugh the bishop of Lyncolne, & Samson the abbot of S. Edmondes' Bury. Radulphus de Diceto, joannes Euersden in Anglorum aunalibus, atque Polydorus.   

☞ priests provided poisons diverse ways.  
AS a certain chaplain belonging to the archbishop of York, and called Ralph Wygetoft, in the year of our lord a. M.a. C. and xcvi. 
1196.  lay upon his death bed at Rome, he openly confessed that he had sent into England false letters and poisons to the dyspachement of his enemies, And when diligent search was made at London, by them that followed Roger of Rippun a priest which was the conveyar thereof, it was so found in deed, This poison was brought thydre, 
Poison.  to have destroyed master Simon the dean of York and certain of the canons there. And chiefly it was in a ring and girdle, which both were brent at Totehyll before a great multitude of people, the priest imprisoned. This mischief was laid to the archbishop Geffreye of his enemies, but it was found otherwise. Rogerus Hoveden & Radulphus Cogeshale. Was not this (think you) a vertuouste study of these holy votaries? 
Study.  At the same time was there a crafty knave, an holy monk, I should say, in the abbey of Euesham, which lay long in a trance. And afterwards he wrote a new apocalypse or book of revelations, concerning the pains of hell and joys of heaven, not unlike to Tundalus. praefati autores cum joanne Scuish. another false toll was there in the diocese of London, which about the same season, 
Sisions.  had visions wonderful (they say) of the pains of purgatory. Thus went the devil about in this doubtful age, after diverse sorts to deceive the ignorant multitude, and very few there were than, which in the true faith resisted him.   

☞ A bishop and an archdeacon taken in the wars.  
IN time of the wars, which were betwixt the french king and king Richard Cor de lion, johan the kings brother and Marchades a great captain went abroad with a number of horsemen to ●roue masteries. 
johan.  Anon as Phylyp the bishop of Beluace, a man more given to war than to preaching, had knowledge thereof, thinking them to be a meet pray for him, came freshly out of the city with sir William Marlon and his son and a great number more of valiant warryours. 
Warryres.  In the end, the bishop, the archdeacon, and all the chief captains were taken, the residue all slain and dispersed. These. ij. prelate's johan presented with great triumph to the king his brother, as those which had been afore time his great enemies. I have gotten (saith he) the great chanter. 
A chanter.  and a good quere man to answer him in t●e same note, and here I deliver them to you. The king smiled, as one very glad that they were taken, considering the displeasurs which they had done, and commanded them, armed as they were, to be imprisoned. Pope celestine hearing thereof by the canons of that church, commanded him to deliver again his sons. 
Canon's  To whom he sent their armour with this massage in question. Are these the garments of thy sons, or meet apparelynges for thy children? No (saith the Pope) nor yet of my brethren, but rather they are the vestures of the children of Mars. And so he let them be still, at the kings pleasure. Where as they remained for the space of. iiij. years after. Matthaeus Paris, 
Contimae  Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis, Rogerus Hoveden, Rogerus Cestrensis, Ranulphus, Trevisa, Nicolaus Treueth, joannes Euersden, & joannes Scuish.   

☞ Fulco for the marriage of. iij. spiritual wives.  
Wyls these wars yet endured, thee came unto king Richard, one Fulco a french priest, 
1197.  which had preached very much against usurers and whores, This Fulco required the king in any wise to put from him. iij. abominable daughters which he had, and to commit them to marriage, lest God punished him for them. little was marriage beholden to such a preacher. Thou liest hypocryte (saith the king) to thy very face, for all the world knoweth, that I have not one daughter. I lie not (saith Fulco) for thou hast. iij. daughters. One of them is called Pride, an other covetousness, and the third lechery. With that the king called unto him, his lords & his barons. This hypocrite (saith he) hath required me here, 
Hypocrite.  to marry fourth my three daughters. And now that I have found out apt husbands for them, 
Husbands.  I will do it in effect, I therefore biquethe my pride to the high minded Templars and Hospytelers, for they are as proud as hell. My covetousness I give to the Cisteane monks, for they cover the devil and all. My lechery I commit to the prelate's of the church, for they have therein most felicyte. With this was the preacher confused, for he knew it was no lie. 
Fulco.  Compendium novi chronici, Matthaeus Paris, Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis, Rogerus Hoveden, Radulphus Cogeshale Ranulphus, Rogerus, Trevisa, & joannes Scuish. To this agreeth that which Giraldus Cambrensis writeth, li iij. ca xii. Speculi ecclesiastici. Which is, that Pope Alexandre the third was wont to say, that he had iij. houses whom he inteyrly loved, 
Three houses.  that above all others enjoyed his special protection. Which were the three religyons of Templars, Hospytelers, and Cysteanes. Ye may be sure, it was for no goodness, that they so highly stood in his favour.   

☞ Men possessed of devils, and Ci●teane monks.  
ROger Hoveden showeth, li. ij. historiae Anglorum, that in the year of our lord a. M. a. C. and xcviij. 
1198.  many were possessed of devils & vexed with horrible frevesyes, For remedy of this many monks were sought to, as men of most holy conversation, chiefly the Cysteanes. Among whom there was an abbot which took upon him to expel them in the name of Christ. And as he was doing with one, the evil prete spoke in him and said. We are the same legion of devils which Christ drove out of the Gergesytes into the heard of swine, 
Legion.  and that drowned them in the sea, Math. viii. A power we have received to enter into all blasphemers, as we have found some in this city, If we therefore be expelled out of these mad men, we will next of all entre into thee, thou hipocryt, and into thy dissembling order, and torment you as we have done the others. Not passing. iij. years afore (saith the said Roger) certain pagans, 
1196.  wasting the land of Sanctius the king of Portugal, came towards an abbey of the Cysteanes to destroy it. The monks having knowledge thereof, came fourth and submitted themselves, desiring their lives with tears. The pagans commended their conversation, and said, that they might in that order be saved, if they had women. The monks judged of this true sentence, as they had done of marriage, 
Women.  that it was very whoredom. But the pagans thought of the monks, as the truth was, that under that colour of religion they were filthy buggerars. And so the pagans were much better than the sodometrouse monks were. Ex eodem Rogero.   

☞ Two archbishops rebuked, for collegys' building.  
Many grievous accusations were made the same year to pope Innocent the third, 
1198.  by the monks of Canterbury, against Hubert their archbishop. Chiefly that he had builded a chapel at Lambeth, to the horrible prejudice of the mother church of Canterbury, placing priests or secular canons therein, and appointing them livings out of their yearly rents to their utter undoing. For there he intended (they said) to consecrate bishops, 
consecrat  and to deprive them of their elections, contrary to their ancient customs. So that they much feared that the dignity of there church, which always had been a true handmaid to the church of Rome, should have been translated to that chapel Apostatrice, as they than called it full wisely. Thus was the archbishop at the last compelled, as was Baldewin his predecessor, 
Baldewyn.  to strike it down flat to the ground, whom after like fort they had also vexed for building the like at Canterbury. Neither was the king nor yet all the realm, at that day able to stay them. Ralph Cogeshale saith. For they feared thereby also to have lost their prerogative in choosing always the archbishop. They much disdained priests in those days (Ranulphus saith) & judged them men of much less perfection than they were of, 
priests  for their monkish cowls sake. But these. ij. archbishops were men of good knowledge (Trevisa saith) for they understood that Christ which was the only head of the church, reckoned no perfection in monks & friars, when he left his poor Apostles the governors thereof. 
apostles  Look Roger Hoveden, Matthew Paris, Matthew of Westmin, Ralph Cogeshale, Ranulphus, Trevisa, Fabian, and johan Scuish.   

☞ A lecherous votary assoiled at Rome for money.  
IN an old book of confession reckenynges, 
1199.  and of absolutions sought at Rome by bawdy priests and monks of this realm, and obtained for money, I found this abomination to close up my book with, whereat I much wondered. The petition of an holy votray of England (it should serve that he was a prebend of Lincoln) to Anselme the bishop of Albanense, contained this heavy complaint. That he at times by the devils suggestion, had accupied all sorts of women as weal in the churches as in other sacred places. 
Occupied.  He began first with the mothers, and than followed on with the daughters, neces, & nigh kinswomen, From them he went to the nuns, and had to do with a sort of them also. For the which he honestly desireth absolution for his money, and hath it as honestly of this bishop being the Pope's deputy, after this form. To your digression (saith this bishop by writing to the bishop of Lyncolne) do we commit it, 
digression.  to assoil this clerk in forma ecclesiae, from the sentence of excommunication, in case he hath run into the danger thereof for his fornications, adulteries, incests, and other sins. We will you also to enjoin him pena●ace, as ye shall see it convenient, for the health of his soul. Datum etc. A great, number of these bawdy bruynges, found I in that book, 
A book.  called poenitentiarium Romanum. See how tender these fathers are to their own lecherous occupyings, and marriage among them is yet indyspensable O devils birds and promoters of all prodigious whoredoms and knaveries.    

The conlusyon of this second book.  
THus have I brought to an rude, the second part of the acts of my English votaries, 
Acts.  which is a continuation of them for. CC. years space, from Satan's coming fourth from the bottomless pit. Apocal. xx. after the full thousand of years from Christ's incarnation, to the reign of king johan in the year of our lord a M. and CC. If it be marveled of, 
Years.  that the first part should be so short, containing so many years, and this part so long of so few years, I desire them that so marvel, to take this for a full reason thereof. He that is in prison, can not build so fast to his contentation, as he that is abroad and at liberty. I told ye afore, that Satan was tied up for the time. 
Satan.  Not from doing of mischief, for ●hat hath he wrought in all ages of the world. But he was sequestered from doing this greatest mischief of all, in the Christian church, for their unthankful receiving of the Gospel of salvation, which had professed the same. When Noah by his preaching, had admonished the people long afore, of the flood, that was coming, if they repented not their sins, it layserlye came forward. But when it was once entered, than was there no stop but in it flowed apace. 
no stop.  In like case was it with this flood of darkness and beastly ignorance, prescribed of S. johan the evangelist, at the time appointed, it fell fast upon them that were drowned therein for their unbelieves sake.  

Hidden  That Satan did afore, for the more part was secret. But that he hath done since, hath been open and aparaunte both ways. Idolatry and superstition, which are the devils own fruits, by the space of those. CC. years, and of more than. CCC years after them, had a beautiful show and a glorious shynde of religion, holiness, perfection, and of Gods only high service. Such crafty colours and deceivable mists, 
Mists.  were cast upon them, by Satan's subtile sophisters and sorcerous divines. Thus were they scene, wondered at, worshipped, and had in great honour for that. v. hundred years space, but not known a right, for lack of godly discretion and knowledge of Gods word, whereby all sprites are discerned and proved. But now in this lattre age, by the light of the lords appearance they are both scene and known, 
Light  what they are in deed. The words of the lords own mouth in the sacred scriptures, hath declared and manifested them to be most filthy abominations in their best aparellynges. More copy of writers in this age than in any other afore, 
Autour.  is also a lively proof and declaration of the same. Therefore am I now compelled, ere I pass any further, to show in few words the summarye contents of the. iiij. parts of my votaries acts, that my reader may know the difference of them, by their diverse grounds and arguments.  
In the first part, after long engendering, breeding, and bryning, my votaries have risen fast, by the crafty inventions of idolaters. In the second part, they have builded fast, by the witty practises of a monks and canons. In the third part, 
iiij. paroes.  shall they hold fast, by the busy calkynges of the. iiij. orders of fryres. And in the fort part, shall they fall fast, by the mighty assaults of the preachers and writers. The first part comprehendeth all the time from the worlds beginning to a full thousand years after Christ's incarnation. 
contents  The second part containeth CC. years more, from that thousand of years to the reign of king Iohan. the third part shall continue for. CC. years after that, which is from the entrance of king johan to the reign of king Henry the fort. And the last part shall conclude with an hundred and fifty years, 
The last  which is from the first year of king Henry the fort, to the lattre end of this present year from Christ's incarnation a. M. D. and l. or this next after that, which is. li. Thus may these. iij. books be known diverse, 
diverse  the one from the other, by their diverse titles, of fast rising, fast building, fast holding, and fast falling, though all they proceed out of one only argument of English votaries.  
He that shall with wisdom consider in this second part, 
Craftes.  the wily proceedings of these Babylon builders, how they pranked up their stought sturdy Antychrist above God and his Christ, he shall find that these were their chief practises of mischief. They perceived that God of his infinite wisdom had placed. ij. high administrations in the christianity for the conservation thereof, and that they were, the public authority of noble princes, and the gracious office of godly preachers. 
ij. offices  The one was for the outward wealth of the body, the other for the inward wealth of the soul. They thought, if these. ij. were not perverted and poisoned, they should never come to their full purpose. Wherefore they sought first of all to bring them under by sophistycall sorceries. 
the first  And first they began with the weaker concerning the world, which were the curates, preachers, or ministers of Gods wurd for they were (as appeared) the more easy to overcome. Christ the son of God, the holy Apostles, and the godly fathers of the primative church, upon diverse considerations, permitted them to have wives. 
Wives.  S. Paul most earnestly wrote it both to Timothe and Titus; that it should stand as a building unremovable. Oportet episcopum irreprehensibilem esse, 
oportet.  unius uxoris maritum, i, Timo. iij. & Tit. i. A bishop must be unrebukable. A pastor must be the husband of one wife. Mark weal that, Must be.  
If this wivinge (thought they) might be brought to an ill opinion, that the people might trecken it nought, than should we make that office of pastoral cure, 
Wretches.  which afore served God in painful study of his word to serve us in all vanities and pleasures of the flesh. To bring this to good pass, we must pretend a perpetual chastity. We must outwardly profess never to touch a woman, 
women.  what so ever we do else in that dark By this shall we have these commodities We shall apere more holy than other people. We shall have the preachers obedient to our affects. They shall not rebuke our horrible dark doings by the Gospel. No, for they shall for want of women, have uncomely lusts in their hearts, whereby they will be given over of God to themselves. So shall they become buggers and whoremasters. 
Buggers  Yea, and such blind buzzards and beasts, as will be able to abide no truth. So shall our wickedness in the sight of people, become a life of perfection and holiness. By these chiefly and by other like practises, came that administration for the souls behove, to an utter decay and ruin, as is showed at large in this former book. Now let us go to the other, which is the Christian regiment of princes, and declare by what ways these wicked builders brought that also to a counterfeit shadow of Christian governance, 
The. ij.  they being made the dumb images of the beast. Apoca. xiii.  
All for the public wealth, and conservation of Christian com●ynaltees, had they their attorite and pow●r. 
authority  This administration sought these enemies to destroy an other way. They first took from kings the investing of prelate's, or the power of admitting them to spiritual offices. They made the great princes believe, that they were but lay men, and might not intermeddle in spiritual causes, or in the appointing of the ecclesiastical functions. See here, how one mischief grew upon another, 
Deceit.  as that overthrow of Christian princes authority, upon the condemnation of priests marriage. They said, it was unconuenyent, that he which had touched a woman (as the kings did their wives) should lay hands upon him, or admit him to office, that should make Christ's body. 
o Satan,  O blasphemause buggers. Where found these execrable hypocrites, that it was ever sin a man to touch that vessel which was sanctified to his use? Either yet, where was power granted to their buggerysh generation, to make Christ's bobye? O devils merydyane, 
Mockers.  as the Prophet doth call you, when will ye leave to illude both God and man? But to conclude. By this mean, at the last they had their full purpose, and thereby made the Christian princes to become their slaves, Yea, to hold their stiroppes with cap in hand, to kiss their filthy feet, & to lead their mules and their horses.  
Yea, they played with those worldly rulers, for all their great power and wisdom, 
Traitors.  as the bearwardes do with their apes and their bears. They led them in the cheaves of their iniquity, and compelled them at times, to do such feats as they appointed them. Moreover when they would not obey to their minds, they feared them with the whip. They terryfyed them with their black curses. 
Curses.  They fraybugged them with the thundreboltes of their excommunications and interdictions, and threatened to set all other nations upon them. But our noble king Edward, and his valiant father king Henry afore him, threw of from their shoulders, the execrable yoke of those obstinate infidels. Neither needeth he to fear, to tread still under his feet that odious hydre and his sing serpent of Rome. 
An hidre  For the eternal God, which hath given to him the power of a king, is stronger than is Satan their great master. Long were it to treat, how these lecherous locusts have used their kings here in England, both afore the conquest and after. Before the conquest they showed favour ●o none, 
Faver.  save only to them that were monastery builders. The other, like locusts they vexed, and sought by all means to suppress them. They have not much rested, since their master the devil was at large, after his thousand years inprisonment.  
first they deprived the english succession of regal regiment, to advance the Danysh blood to the crown of England. Than brought they in the Normennes and French men procuring their bastard a banner from Rome to subdue the land. 
Traitors.  And when they were stayed by the sufferance of God, for the sins of the people, than did they turmoil with them also. They rebelled against king William conqueror, and laboured to subdue him, because (they said) he was both a bastard and a tyrant. 
rebels.  They sent fourth S. Albon (if dead men might stray abroad) to kill king William Rusus, because he was their enemy. They made their dead bishops, to prick at king Henry the first with their pastoral hokes, the chronicles saith, because he had much disposed them. They tell of king Steven, that their maker flew away, 
Blasphemers.  when he should have received him, the taper in his hand did break, and the pixte fell out of his tabernacle, at his coronation. Of king Henry the second they report that he came of the devil by the father's side, and from the curse of God by the mothers, for killing Thomas Becket, and yet he killed him not. They sen● fourth king Richard Cordelyon, 
deceivers.  to fight for Jerusalem, whiles they occupied his realm here at home, diffaming him of lechery, pride, and covetousness. Thus have they handled their kings hitherto. How they used the rest of them, ye shall know, God wyssing, in my next, ij. books following.  
Briefly to conclude upon that is said afore concerning the dacayed authority of princes, 
ij. matters.  and condemned marriage of priests, which wonderfully gave way to Antichristes' usurpations. The pretence of those wicked workmen, which thus pranked him up with untempered buildings, was in their general counsels, to condemn the fowl heresy of simony, and lecherous commixtion of Nicolaitanes. Such were the prodigious and filthy names that they gave to the investytute of prelate's in the hands of a prince, 
Verlettes.  and the marriage of Christian ministers, at that time at liberty, to make their own wicked acts to apere very godly. They said, 〈◊〉 was the great error of Simon Magus, 〈◊〉 a king should admit a bishop, either yet have power to give fourth any spiritual promotion, & yet Simon Magus was no king, 
Simon Magus  but a member of their spiritualty. They affirmed it also, to be the abomination of the Nicolaitanes, when a Christian minister took to him a wife, and yet the Apostles had power to lead about with them, sisters to wives. i Corin. ix. But doubtless they foully forgot themselves in these matters. For Simon Magus would have so●●e the holy Ghost, as they did all their spiritual promotions and cures. And Nicolaus Antiochenus, made his wife common, as they have done other men's wives to their own lecherous uses, besides boys, bitches, and apes. For the said Nicolas was never condemned for marriage, but for abusing that honourable estate. 
judge.  By these may ye measure their other buildings, till more matter come forward, and sawde the eternal God, for the light ●●yche we have in this a●● received, both to know them and to beware of them. So be it.  
☞ Thus endeth the second p●rt of this work, called, The Acts of English votaries. Collected by johan Bale, Anno. M.D.L.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.