how and by whom thys realme was first inhabyted whiche thynge hath bene hytherto in all Englysh Chronycles doubtfullye vnagreablye yea and vntrulye treated vpon coniecturs fantasyes and lyes onlye by reason of ignoraunce in the scripturs and moste auctorysed hystoryes They shall also perceyue what peoples haue here by all ages remayned what doctryues hath bene taught by their true and false prophetes what worshyppynges of God they haue vsed and what lawes in relygyon they haue folowed Fynallye they shall knowe clerelye the deceytfull workemāshyp of the instrumētes of Sathan their byshoppes prestes monkes with other dysgysed locustes of the same generacyō Whose contynuall stodye labour and sekynge was alwayes to blynde them by a colour of chast lyuynge makynge them to beleue that their marryenge of wyues was a prophane layte a brutysh beastlynesse and a thynge which greatlye dyspleased God Their owne vowynge of vyrgynyte was agayne they sayd a spirytuall ordre a lyfe of Angels and an holye relygyon which pleased God aboue all other what though they neuer had yt in their lyues For true vyrginyte ys a fayth vncorrupted or a beleue gouerned by the onlye worde of God without all superstycyons of men Thys was the onlye vyrgynyte that Marye was commended of Luce. 1. Thys vyrgynyte perteyneth chefelye to marryage as testyfyethe Saynt Paul 2. Cor. 11. And as apereth in Abraham and other iust fathers which had faythfull wyues No people are lesse acquaynted with thys vprgyuyte than sectaryes or they that vowe vprgynyte for they thefelye depende vpon mennys tradycyons and rules But yf a tre maye be knowne by hys frutes and a man by hys dedes as our sauer sayth they maye Math. 7. ye shall easelye perceyue by their actes that these vyrgyuall votaryes hath bene the verye Angels of darkenesse Marke their gostlye conueyauuces and their other good workes as they wyll haue them yet called lyke as they are here regestred in course And ye shall fynde them more fyt for hell than for heauen Yet must they be canonysed sayntes and do most wonderfull myracles But those myracles are the stronge delusyons saynt Paule sayth that the lorde wyll sende vnto thē that shall perysh for their vnbeleues sake 2. Thessalon 2. I doubt not but thys labour of myne though yt be verye symple wyll mynystre some lyght as wele to the lerned as vnlerned At the least yt shall teche thē to iudge false myracles that they be no more so deuylyshly deceyued Lete not the oft cytynge of authors be greuouse to the readers my occasyon iustlye cōsidered For therby shall the papystes haue shame alwayes yf they report them fables or els me a lyar for the tellynge of them beynge in their wrytynges so manyfest And as conceruyuge those autours they were their owne dere fryndes and wrote the best they coude of them If they had bene their enemyes and so shewed the worst of them or els but indyfferent wryters as they were most parcyall wytuesses it had bene a farre other shewe of their mischefes than here will apere Men trusted they wolde haue seane themselues in this clere lyght of the Gospell and so haue repented their former factes of falsehede But trulye they are of a farre other kynde than so Their nature is not to repent do they neuer so manye myschefes Rather stodye they out newe practyses of tyrannye and cautels of cruelte to adde myschefe to myschefe tyll the great vengeaunce promysed lyght fullye vpon them Who so euer hath promoted forewarde Gods veryte they thanke God of yt they haue bene non of them as yet If they shuld make their boastes with Paule 1. Corin. 15. that they haue done therin more labours than the other discyples men of knowlege wolde by and by saye that they lyed most falselye In dede they haue with Menelaus Alchinius Ananias wyth Capphas gone afore all worldlye tyrauntes in the murtheringe vp of them which hath done yt And for errours they saye But who euer erred as they haue done sens the worldes begynnynge Trulye non as yet Neyther Turke Iewe Saracene Pagane nor deuyll as the examples herafter wyll shewe they shall not be able to auoyde yt vnlesse they dyspute with fyer ād faggottes as they haue done hytherto For starke nought are they in dysputacyons where as they are not at hāde For this boke I shall haue theyr cōmō lyuerye and be called a thousande tymes heretyke But neyther loke I for reasonable answere of them nor yet for amendement of theyr knaueryes In this boke of myne is one face of Antichrist chefelye dysclosed parauenture iij. vndre one wherwith he hath of longe tyme paynted out his whore the Rome churche that she myght to the world apere a gloryouse madame That face is her vowed chastyte wherby she hath deceytfullye boasted herself spirituall beynge but whore and thefe and dysdayned marryage as a vyle draffe sacke and dyrtye dyshe cloute callynge all them but lewde laye persones that were vndre yt though they were kynges and quenes lordes ād ladyes Ye noble gouerners and lerned lawers vnto whom God hath in thys age delyuered the measurynge rodde of hys worde as he ded to Iohan. Apocal. 11. that ye shuld measure all thynges ryghtlye Be not now slacke in your offyces as in the blynd tyme but throwe fourth that wretched bonde woman with her doughter that Rome churche with her whoryshnesse No poynt of nobylyte were yt nor yet of lerned worthynesse to be as ye haue bene of late yeares styll seruaunt slaues to a most fylthye whore and to her whoredome and whoremongers Our most christen Emprour of Englande kinge Hērye the. viî of that name as a most worthye mynystre of God hath goue before yow in that behalfe He hath made open vnto ye the waye and dryuē awaye from your gates the great aduersarye that shuld most haue noyed yow Dysdayne not than yow to folowe Take from your true subiectes the popes false Christ with hys belles and bablynges with hys myters and mastryes wyth hys fannoms and fopperyes and lete them haue frelye the true Christ agayne that their heauenlye father sent them from aboue fashyoned out vnto thē in the Gospell For moche more bewtifull is he in the syght of true beleuers thā are all the corrupt chyldren of men with all theyr gorgyouse aparelynges Loke you thervnto with ernestnesse for nothinge will be at the lattre daymore strayghtlye requyred of you thā that ⸫ The Actes of Englysh votaryes comprehendynge their vnchast practyses and examples by all ages from the worldes begynnynge to thys present yeare collected out of their owne legendes and Chronycles By Iohan Bale ¶ Marryage instytuted of God IN paradyse our eternall and mercyfull father instytuted maryage inmedyatlye after mannys first creacyon and left yt with hym as an honest comelye wholsom holye and nedefull remedye agaynst all beastlye abusyons of the fleshe
and no man constrayned to their newe founde Relygyon sacryfyces â–ª and worshyppynges But alac that fredome conâ—yaued not longe with them as ye shall wele perceyue here after Than ded Augustyne get hym into Fraunce agayne and caused one Etherius than Archebyshop of Arelas to consecrate hym the great byshop of all Englande without eleccyon or consent of the people that we reade of And in the yeare of our Lorde euen DC ded Gregorye sende vnto hym from Rome hys prymates pall with superaltares châ—lyces copes candelstyckes vestymentes surplyces alter clothes syngynge bokes rellyâ—kes and the blessynges of Peter and Paule And so admytted hym for the fyrst metropolitane of all the whole realme appoyntynge hys seate from thens fourth at Canterburye than called Doroberna the worthye cytie of london euer after depryued of her former tytle and so made an vnderlynge But the spyrituall fathers knewe wele ynough what they ded beholdynge afore hande manye hydden mysteryes They perceyued that Caunterbury was wele out of the waye and moche nygher the see than was London and so moche the fytter for their craftye conueyaunces aÌ„d flyghtes to their holye father yf nede shuld requyre yt with manye other commoditees els Marke alwayes these nombers of Syxes and their mysteryes for the age of Man and the Beast Apoca 13. ¶ Their preparacyons for Antichrist THe first stodye of these fathers after they were ones satled was all aboute masse offerynges ceremonyes byshoppes seates consecracyons churche hallowynges orders geuynge tythes personages puryfycacyous of women and soche lyke Wherupon a Syunode was called and there commanÌ„ dementes were geuen that all thinges shuld be here obserued accordynge in the customes of Rome In Englande was there afore their commynge a christyanyte but it was all without masses and in a maner without choyce of eyâ—her dayes or meates The Brytaynes in those dayes had non other Gods seruyce but the Gospell Seldome admytted they any dyfference of tymes with the Iewes eyther anye Idoll sacryâ—yces with the Gentyles but folowed the playne rules of the scripturs If anye superstycyons were amonge their Monkes they had nought to do ther with but were euermore at lyberte For Prynces at that tyme were not yet becomen the Beastes Images to speake out of theyr spretes or to make lawes accordynge to theyr lustes The labour of Augustyne with his moÌ„kes from the forseyd yeare of our Lorde DC was to prepare Antichrist a seate here in Englande agaynst the full tyme of hys perfyghtage of 666. For though he were first conceyued in the wycked churche of Cain yet coude he not shewe hymself in hys owne lykenesse that is to saye Christes opeÌ„ aduersary tyll Christ came in the fleshe And than he apered at all one tyme with hym in the malygnaunt churche of the Iewes or spyrytualte of Herode which than first began to persecute hym and to seke hys death ¶ The prouynge of Augustynes Apostleship IN the yeare of our Lorde DC aÌ„d ij helde Augustyne an other counsell in the west part and countye of worcestre in a place that is yet called Augustynes oke wherunto he called by coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the vij byshoppes of the Brytayne churche with their principall doctours And as they were takynge their iournaye thydreward they counselled with a serten solytarye man which was knowne to be of amost perfight chri sten lyfe what was to be done coÌ„cernynge the afore seyd Augustyne Anon he made them this christen answere If he be a man of God sayth he in anye wyse folowe hys counsell If he be not vtterlye refuse it How shall we know that saye they Ye shall wele perceyue yt by his gentyll sprete sayth he agayne For Christ bad hys scolers lerne of him to be meke harted If he be of that sort he ys lyke to brynge ye non other than Christes moste easye yoke But yf ye fynde hym proude be ware of the importable burdenes of the hygh mynded Pharysees And as they were commen thydre they founde hym syttynge a loft in a throue of hygh honoure shewynge vnto them no countenaunce of gentylnesse Wherfor they regarded hym not but vtterlye withstode all hys enforcemeÌ„tes ¶ The Englysh churche begynneth with tyrannye AFter longe dysputacyons and other weywarde wrangelynges he layed vnto their charges that they were in many thynges contrarye to the vnyuersall Christen churche NotwithstaÌ„dynge yf they wolde consent vnto hym in these .iij. poyntes That ys to saye to baptyse after the Romysh maner to celebrate the feast of Eastre as they do there and preache to the Englysh Saxons as he shuld appoynt them he wolde wele beare with them in all other causes In no case wolde they graunte vnto hym nor yet accept him for their archebyshop â–ª but sayd playnelye they wolde styll holde theyr auncyent tradycyoÌ„s which they perfyghtlye knewe to be agreable to the holy Apostles doctryne Than sayd Augustyne furyouslye vnto them that yf they wolde not peceably graunte to hys requestes they shuld be enforced therunto by most cruell battayle And so in the yeare next folowynge were slayne of their preachers by Augustynes procurement to the nombre of a thousande and ij hondred with their great mastre Dionothus Loke Flores Historiarum Amandus Zierixensis Galfrede Ranulph Capgraue Caxton Fabianc their churche legendarye and other Thus ded that carnall Synagoge than called the Englysh churche which came from Rome with Augustine most cruellye persecute at her first commynge in the ChristeÌ„ churche of the Brytaynes in these holye martyrs Theyr synefull Syon buylded they than in blood for that theyr wycked instytutes were Godlye dysobeyed But he they sure yt shall be plowed vp in thys lattre age aÌ„d lye wast lyke a uoyde felde accordynge to Mycheas prophecye Mich. 3 ¶ What the Brytayne churche was afore TRue is the faythfull saynge of Iohan Leylande in assertione Arturij fo 35. That the Romysh Byshop sought all meanes possyble to vpholde the Englysh SaxoÌ„s in a kyngedome falselye gotten the Brytaynes hatynge hym for yt and he agayne of myschefe prouokynge those Saxons fearcelye to invade them Marke yt hardelye for yt ys worthye to be noted Marke also the agrement of the Brytayne churche with the vij churches of Asia in Saynt Iohans tyme Not onlye for the iust noÌ„bre of theyr byshoppes but also for their obseruacyon of Eastre afore thys Augustynes coÌ„mynge For in their argumentacyons aboute that matter they layde alwayes for themselues the vsages of that churche receyued first of Iohan the Euangelist Philip the Apostle Policarpus Traseas Sagaris Papirius and Meliton allegynge the saynges of Policrates and Eusebius in that behalfe The churche that Augustyne than planted in Englande was more gouerned by byshoppes polycyes for their aduauntage than by the expresse worde of God to hys honour as it hath beue euer sens And therfor yt was and is
worke For so sone as he was gone with soche as yt pleased hys pontyfycall pleasure to call with hym sodenly sayth Fabyane Antonyne Vyncent and Iohan Capgraue the ioystes of the loft fayled and they that were vndre yt peryshed there ¶ Dunstanes prouysyon in Englande for Sathan THus haue thys most cruell and wycked generacyon contynuallye buylded their synnefull Syon in blood Michee 3. and are not yet ashamed of these their manyfest knaueryes For these belly founders theues and mourtherers of theirs yet aduaunce they for their princypall Sayntes And whaÌ„ their feastfull dayes come they are yet in the papystych churches of Englande with no small soleÌ„pnyte mattensed â—…assed candeled lyghted processyoned senseâ— smoked perfumed and worshypped the people brought in beleue that the latyne readynge of their wretched actes there in their legendes ys Gods dyuyne seruyce beyng without fayle the most dampnable seruyce of the deuyll Lyke as holye Iohan Baptyst by preachynge repentaunce prepared a playne pathwaye to Christ and hys kyngedome Luce. 3. So ded thys vnholye Dunstane by sowynge of all superstycyons make redye the waye to SathaÌ„ and hys fylthye kyngedome agaynst hys commynge fourth from the bottomlesse pytt after the full thousande of years from Christes incarnacyon Apoca. 20. which ys the sprete of Antichrist He raysed vp in EnglaÌ„de the pestylent ordre of monkes he buylded them monasteryes he procured them substaunce innumerable fynally he brought into their handes the cathedrall churches with the free eleccyon of byshoppes that nothyng shuld there be done within that realme but after their lust and pleasure ThaÌ„ was Chrystes kyngedome clerelye put a syde and hys immaculate spouse or churche vpon hys worde onlye dependynge compelled to flee into the desart Apoca. 12. Men and womeÌ„ that ryghtlye beleued durst not than confesse their faythe but kept all close within them For than was Sathan abrode these monkes euerye where assystynge hym in the fournyshynge out of that proude paynted churche of Antichrist Superstycyon hypocresye and vayne glorye were afore that tyme soche vyces as men were glad to hyde but now in their gaudyshe ceremonyes they were taken for Gods dyuyne seruyce ¶ Sygnes and plages folowynge these myschefes BVt now se what folowed of these afore rehersed myscheues In the yeare of our lorde DCCCC lxxxviij which was the .xij. yeare before that full thousande departed thys Dunstane a swarme of deuyls frequeÌ„tynge hys tumbe as I shall in the next boke she we more playnelye Within the same yeare appered a bloodye cloude in the skye which couered all EnglaÌ„de as witnesseth IohaÌ„ Hardinge with dyuerse other Chronyclers and yt rayned blood ouer all the lande After that entered the Danes so fast sayth Ranulphe at euerye porte that no where was the Englyshe nacyon able to withstande them And the monkes to helpe the matter wele forewarde by counsell of their Archebyshop Siricius gaue them .x. thousand pounde to begynne with that they myght lyue in rest and not be hyndered For lytle cared they what became of the reest so their precyouse bodyes were safe After thys by dyuerse compulsyons they augmented that summe from .x. to .xvi. to .xx. to .xxiiij. to .xxx. and so fourth tyll they came to the sharpe payment of .xl. thousande pounde and tyll they had nomore moneye to geue For the more the Danes had the more couetouse and cruell they were euermore Thus ded they to the lande innumerable harme in sekynge their owne pryuate commodyte and so brought their owne natyue people in most myserable thraldome For by that meanes were the Danes made stronge and the Englyshe nacyon bycame feble and weake yea so wretched at the last that they were fayne to call euerye vyle slaue amonge the seyde Danes their good lorde But now marke the ende coÌ„cernynge these monkes In the yeare of our lorde a thousande .xij whiche was the .xxiiij. yeare from Dunstanes departynge and the .xij. from the deuyls goynge fourth the Danes after manye great vyctoryes within the realme fyered the cytie of Caunterburye and enprisoned the Archebyshopp than Elphegus And as he and hys monkes were able to geue no more moneye they tythed theÌ„ after thys sort They slewe alwayes .ix. and reserued the tenth to perpetuall sorowe and seruytude tyll they had mourthered of them to the noÌ„bre of more thaÌ„ ix hondred there and in other quarters abrode And the moste part of them they hynge vp by the members which was a playne sygnyfycacyon that plage to come than vpon them for their Sodometrye and most vyolent contempt of christen marryage Ranulphus Cestrensis li. 6. Ca. 13. et 15. Fabianus Par. 1. Cap. 199. ¶ The Conclusyon of thys fyrst boke HEre haue I paynted oute before your eyes most derelye beloued contreye meÌ„ the chast holye consecrate and spirituall actes of your Englyshe votaryes prestes Monkes Byshoppes froÌ„ the worldes begynnynge to a full complete thousande years sens Christes incarnacyon Not all haue I here rehersed for that were a laboure without ende they beynge so innumerable but a serten of them for euerye age that ye maye by them perceyue what the rest hath bene In the next part or boke which shall begynne at Sathans goynge fourthe at large after hys thousande years tyenge vp Apoca. 20. and so contynue to thys yeare of our Lorde a MD. and .xlvi. that ye maye knowe what chere hath bene amonge them what occupyenge they haue had what masteryes they haue played aÌ„d what myracles they haue done for that tyme aÌ„d space also I thynke yt wyll apere an other maner of thynge than that which hath gone afore For so moche as Sathan their ghostlye gouernoure hath for that tyme wrought most strongelye Nomore wyll I be ashamed to reherse their fylthye factes lete them trust vpon yt than they haue bene to do them in effect and to sett them fourthe for holye spirytuall coÌ„secrate chast honorable and ghostlye good workes beynge abhomynable and most stynkynge knaueryes The worlde shall wele knowe what Sodomytes and Deuyls they are that haue all thys tyme contempned christen marryage instytuted of God and do not yet repent their most dampnable doynges in that behalf but contynue styll the saint leadynge their lyues in vnspekeable fleshlye fylthynesse Christ promysed ones to all soche as they are that all their hydden myscheues shuld come to lyght yf they wolde not at the call of hys most holye Gospell repent Nothynge sayth he ys so closelye hydden amonge those spirytual murtherers but wyl be clerely opened neyther yet so secretlye couered but shall apere manyfest and be knowne to the worlde Math. 10. Marci 4. Luce. 12. Christ suffered verye longe the Pharysees and Byshoppes the lewde predecessours of our proude spirytualte But whan he ones perceyued non other in theÌ„ but contempt of hys veryte with wylfull resystaunce of the
was put to deathe at Antioche for confessinge Iesus Christ as wytnesseth Clemens Alexandrinus in .7 li. Stromatum and Eusebius Caesariensis li. iij. Ca. 30 Ecclesiastice historie Paule left hys wyfe at Philippos a cytie of the Macedoneanes by consent of them both Phil 4. 1. Cor. 7. For thys onlye cause sayth both Clemens and Eusebius that he myght the more easelye therby and with the lesse coÌ„beraunce preache the Gospell abrode Isi dorus hÃspaleÌ„sis in hys boke De ortu obitu sanctorum patrum and Freculphus lexouiensis in the seconde boke and fort chaptre of hys Chronycles reporteth both that Philip the Apostle preached in fraunce to the verye extent of the Occeane see aÌ„d was afterwarde done vnto deathe in hierepoli a cytie of the Phrygiaues and at the last honorablye buryed there with his doughters By whose occasyon this real me than called Brytayne was conuerted vnto the Christen beleue For in the yeare from Christes incarnacyoÌ„ lxiij was Ioseph of Arimathe and other dyscyples sent ouer of the seyd Philip to preache Christ and entered both with their wyues and chyldren Armagus than beynge Kynge of the lande This testyfyeth Iohan Capgraue in Catologo sanctorum Anglie Thomas scrope de anti carm ca 7. IohaÌ„ Hardyng in hys 47. chaptre and Polidorus uergilius li. z. Anglice historie Brytayne first conuerted by meÌ„ maryed THese were surelye the orygynall begynnynges sayth Polidorus of the ChristeÌ„ RelygyoÌ„ in Brytayne Gildas witnessyth also in his fyrst treatyse De excidio Britannie That the Brytaynes toke the christen faythe at the verye sprynge or fyrst goynge forth of the Gospell whaÌ„ the churche was most perfyght and had most strengthe of the holye ghost All that tyme and a longe season after the mynysters helde their wyues accordyng to the fyrst ordre of God without vowynge or yet professinge of vyrgynyte and so contynued to the dayes of Lucius which ys called in the Chronycles the first ChristeÌ„ Kynge Though thys Lucius were a good man and began wele to inclyne to the Gospell yet was he worldlye mynded and thought that yt wanted dewe auctoryte so loÌ„ge as yt was mynystred but of symple and poore laye marryed men Anon therfor he sent vnto Rome .ij. of those minysters called Eluanus and Meduinus vnto Eleutherius the Byshop for they had than no pope to haue some autoryte from thens And thys was done in the yeare of our Lorde L. lxxix Wherupon Marcus Sabellicus sayth Enneade 7. li. 5. That of all provynces Brytayne was the fyrst that receyued the Christen fay the with publique ordynaunce ¶ Christyanyte somwhat corrupted THaÌ„ Eleutherius sent hyther .ij. of hys doctors called fugacius and Damyanus to set here an ordre These fyrst baptysed lucius with a great part of hys nobylyte and commons aÌ„d than with hys consent changed the Idols temples into christen churches as they no we all them the flamynes or Idoll sacryfycers which were than .xxviij. in noÌ„bre into so manye byshoppes and the .iij. archyflamynes into .iii. archebyshoppes as wytnessyth Galfridus Monemthensis in hys seconde boke De origine gestis Britonum cap. i. Alphredus Beuerlacensis in hys Chronycle Vincencius Antoninus Nauclerus Bergomas Polidorus and a great sort more Thys chrystianyte endured in Brytayne the space of CC. and .xvi. years vnto the persecucyon of Dyoclesyane sayth Ranulphus in Polichronico li. 4. Ca. 16 VpoÌ„ thys toke the Rome churche first occasyon to deuyde the christen prouynces into dyoceses and parryshes Marke wele these fyrst buyldynges of Antichrist or of Nemroth the yongar and consydre out of what good stuffe they ryse without Gods worde All this haue I writteÌ„ hytherto not as matters correspondynge to the tyttle of my boke but that their spirytuall frutes maye apere what they are euen from the verye rootes ¶ The first sprynge of monkerye in Brytayne AS this newe chrystiantye from Rome had gotten here of the Paganes both temples and possessyons and were wele fauerdlye satled their byshoppes and prestes perchaunce beynge the same mynysters that had serued the Idolles in them afore anon after there arose out of yt a serten kynde of monkerye not in apparell but in aperaunce of a more sober lyfe These within a whyle semed better lerued than the other aÌ„d more depelye fell into the peoples estymacyon WherupoÌ„ arose sone after great stryfe and vnquyetnesse amonge theÌ„ and out of that stryfe most detestable he resyeâ—… For one of them called pelagius beynge of the great monasterye of BeÌ„cornaburch in Chestre shyre though so me call yt BaÌ„gor begaÌ„ to dyspute with them for the streÌ„ghte of maÌ„nys fre will and sayd that man myght be saued therby without the grace of God so deuyenge the effect of Christes blood as hys folowers are not ashamed to do yet to this daye Agaynst this heretyke pelagius wrote Saynt Augustyn Saynt Hierom Cyrillus Orosius Innocencius Gennadius aÌ„d at the last Thomas Braduuardin a doctour here in Englande with dyuerse other ¶ Heresye in Brytayne aryseth of monkerye YEt came there in no vowynge of chastite all this tyme neyther was vyrgynyte thought anye holyar amonge them than marryage For one Seuerus beynge both a monke prest aÌ„d byshop had a sonne there called leporius a monke also and a prest which vexed the lande with that leruynge taught of hys father in the yeare of our Lord. CCCC xxxij as wytnessyth both Prosper Aquitannus and also Flores historiarum Thys leporius made hys boast that he was able to lyue purelye of hym selfe and by force of hys owne fre wyll without the assisteÌ„ce of God as reporteth of hym Gennadius Massiliensis Honorius Augustudunensis Ioannes Tritemius in suis illustriuÌ„ uirorum Catalogis and now last of all CoÌ„radus Gesnerus in uniuersali bibliotheca Of the same sort was there an other called Agricola a prestes sonne also which in the yeare of our Lorde CCCC xivi trobled the Brytaynes with the same doctrine as flores historiarum sheweth The errours of both these were at the same tyme confuted by Germanus and Lupus with other frenche doctours which came thydre thaÌ„ for the same purpose specyallye of Saynt Augustine in Affrica ¶ A prestes sonne was Saynt Partrick SAynt Partrick the great Apostle of Irelande was borne here in this Brytayne aboute the yeare of our Lorde CCC.lxi and had a prest to hys father called Calphurnius which was also a deacons sonne that was named Fodunus His mothers name hyght Conches and was holye Saynt Martynes systre Thus testyfyeth Ranulphus Cestrensis in Polychronico li. 4 ca. 29. and Iohan Capgraue in Catologo sanctorum Anglie If this had bene fowle playe in those dayes Saynt Martyne wolde neuer so pacyentlye haue suffered yt For we reade that he was verye tendre vnto the seyd Partrick after that his fryndes had
yet in outwarde obseruacyons rather a polytyque churche than a ChristeÌ„ churche the Iewyshe and Heythnishe superstycyons not reckened God graunt yt ones a shappe after his prescripte lawes and ordynaunces Amen ¶ Antichrist approched fast to hys full age IN the yeare of our Lorde as I sayd afore DC and .vij. Antitechrist fast approchynge to the fulnesse of hys age grewe into a vnyuersall fatherhode For than first beganne the papacye at Rome vndre the false Emproure phocas as wytnesseth Abbas Vrspergensis Hermannus Contractus Sigebertus Ranulphus Matheus Palmarius Christianus Masseus Archilles Pirminius Ioannes Carion et Martinus Lutherus in Mundi supputacione Than obtayned Bonifacius the thirde of that name of the seyd Phocas for moneye in the myddes of all seysme stryfe myschefe and murther to be Sathans great stewarde here the deuyls leftenauÌ„t For in hys power yt was not to make hym Christes vycar nor yet saynt Peters successour Thus gaue the Dragon then hys autoryte and power to the Beast with .vij. heades that arose out of the see or from the superstycyouse wauerynge multytude Apoco 13. Than wanted he nothynge els but to sytt in the place of God which ys the conscyence of Man that he myght there exalte hymselfe aboue all that is called God 2 Thessa. 2. To brynge that to passe the Monkes and the prestes sturred quycklye about them and left no cautels vnsought out to brynge all Christen realmes vndre hys deuylysh domynyon For than had the Monkes autoryte to preache baptyse and assoyle from synne which they neuer had afore How and what thâ—y wrought here in Englande ys euydent by that hath bene shewed afâ—re and wyll be yet more playne in that which herafter foloweth Marke yt therfor in the name of God for now ys the tyme wherin he must he reueled that the Lorde Iesus maye consume hym with the breathe of hys mouth Esa 11. and 2. Thes 2. ¶ The chastyte of hys masmongers NOw conceruynge the contynencye of thys new broched broode or newlye fashyoned clergye For so moche as they were Monkes aÌ„d came from Rome they had professed a false chastyte to apere more holye than the prestes and therby in processe of tyme to robbe them of their benefyces or appoynted lyuynges Though Gregory in hys tyme made these constytucyons that noÌ„ shuld be admytted a prest which had marryed ij wijues nor yet they be accepted that in presthode kepte concubynes as testyfyeth Sabellicus yet durst he not vtterlye condempne prestes marryage by reason of a most terryble example of innumerable chyldrens heades seane drowned in a ponde But marke the spyrytuall occupyeÌ„ge of these hote fathers for greuouslye were they than vexed with nyght pollucyoÌ„s WherupoÌ„ Augustyne seÌ„t vnto Gregory to knowe yf they myght wele saye masse hauyng them the nyght afore Vnto whom after manye wordes he maketh in effect thys answere That lyke as they chaunce vnto men iiij ways that ys to saye by superfluyte of nature by glottenouse eatynge drynkynge by intyrmyte of the fleshe and by fylthye cogytacyons of the mynde so ought they to haue .iiij. consyderacyons For the first .iij. a prest ought not he sayth to abstayne from hys masse saynge The fort he describeth by suggestyoÌ„ dylectacyon consent leauynge yt without anye conclusyon If thys be not good wholsome dyuynyte of your holye Romysh dayntes tell me Thys hath Iohan Capgraue in Catalogo sanctorum Anglie ¶ Contempt of marryage with tayles I thynke a man myght fynde as honest stuffe as thys in the scooles of my lorde of wynchestres rentes at the banke syde at London yf he had nede of yt Ye maye se by thys the vertuouse stodye of these holye chast fathers the clarkelye conueyaunce of their fleshlye mouynges Great pytie had yt bene but yt had had place in their holy sayntes legendes to the ghostlye infourmacyon of other but that we shuld not els wele haue knowne their bawdye hypocresye If their vnuirginall vowes had not bene lyttle shuld the worlde haue neded thys lecherouse lernynge Honest marryage hath no knowlege therof and yet ys yt a pleasyuge seruyce vnto God Is not that thynke yow a straunge kynde of chastyte that ys thus euerye weke poluted Yet maye they after thys leruynge euerye daye saye Masse their vowe neuer hyndered but in marryage they maye not so vndre payne of deathe Now forsoth yt ys wholsom ware yt shulde come euen unto frome the deuyls blacke bowgett Thys ys the reuerence these poluted wretches haue to matrymonye beynge Gods clere instytucyon that they preferre all their fleshlye knaueryes vnto yt For yt onlye haue they named men laye women lewde appoyntynge their chyldren tayles here in Englande in dysdayne aÌ„d scorne For nought was yt not that Saynt Paule called their lernynge Hypocresye and the detestable doctryne of deuyls 1. Timoth 4. Iohan Capgraue and Alexandre of Esseby sayth that forcastynge of fyshe tâ—yles at thys Augustyne Dorsett shyre men had tayles euer after But Polydorus applyeth yt vnto kentysh men at Stroude by Rochestre for cuttynge of thomas Beckettes horses tayle Thus hath Englande in all other landes a perpetuall dyffamye of tayles by their wrytteÌ„ legeÌ„des of lyes yet can they not wele tell where to bestowe them trulye ¶ Stryfe aboute the Eastre celebracyon NExt after thys Augustyne was Laurencius archebyshop of Caunterburye And after hym Melitus Than Iustus than Honorius than Theodatus and Theodorus all blacke monkes and Italyanes borne to the nombre of .vij. Thys Laurence helde a great Synode with hys other prelates in the Ile of MaÌ„ne dysputynge there with the Scottyshe and Iryshe Byshoppes for the feast of Eastre what daye yt shuld be yearlye celebrated writynge from thens vnto their other prelates a treatyse of the same More thaÌ„ an hondred years space were the Papystes thaÌ„ in controuersye for the daye of that Eastre celebracyon ere they coude be quyeted Great paynes the relygyouse fathers toke in those dayes to strayne out a gnatt that their lecherouse posteryte after them myght the better swallowe in a myghtye camell Math. 23. In thynges of small value they were thaÌ„ verye scrupulose but the wayghtyer causes they coude lete slyppe wele ynough What so euer thys Laurence was to women by hys lyfe he was they saye verye cruell vnto them after hys deathe For in a seâ—teÌ„ towne called fordune was a church buylded in hys name where no women myght entre with offerynge nor without offerynge but they had euer more sore bellyes of yt I praye God they went not manye tymes thens with chylde for there were manye fatte Canons and prebendes Thys superstyeyouse fable borowe they of the paganes whose opynyon was that no woman myght entre into the temple of Venus their great Goddesse in the mounte of Olympus with out a great vyllanye Iacobus Zieglerus in sua Syria ¶ Great
busynesse for their other tradycyons HEre passe I ouer the clowtynge in of their canonycall houres of their absolucyoÌ„s for synnes their temples their aulters their bel ryngynges their leÌ„tes their dyuersyte of orders and dyuysyons of paryshes least I shuld be therin to tedyouse vnto the readers Aidanus Finnanus and ColmaÌ„nus beynge all iij. byshoppes of lyndysfarne in Northunberlande one after an other Scottysh men borne coude not wele awaye with the pryde and wanton toyes which they behelde in their Romyshe rytes but perseuered styll in the symple ordre of the prymatyue churche not contented to chaÌ„ge yt For the which in those dayes they had moche a do with these hygh stomaked Romanes Hilda in lyke case that was thaÌ„ abbasse of Streneshalt that we now call Whytby a womaÌ„ lerned wyse and vertuouse dysputed with them in their generall counsell vpon Colmannus syde in the yeare of our lorde DC and lxiiij concernynge the daye of their eastre celebracyon their head shauynge and other vnsauerye ceremonyes and wrote afterwarde an ernest treatyse agaynst Agilbertus a frenche man and at that tyme byshop of Wynchestre All thys myght not helpe than but in processe of tyme they had their whole myndes magry all their hartes Bedas Giruuinus li. 3. Ca. 25. De gestis Anglorum Guilhelmus Malmesburye li. 3. De Pontificibus Ranulphus li. 5. Ca. 17. Ioann es Capgraue and other ¶ Relygyouse examples dysuadynge marryage AFter Laurencius folowed Melitus in the Archebyshoppes seate of Caunterburye in the yeare of our lorde DC and .xix. whiche they saye both alyue dead dysuaded yonge men from christen marryage As Saynt Columbanus a Scott about the same tyme came to the sell of an holye Nonne for ghostlye counsell She bad hym awaye least wanton youthe wolde brynge them togyther wylde they nylde they Saynt Edwyne kynge of Northumberlande gaue vnto saynt Paulinus the archebyshop of yorke hys yonge doughter Eanfleda so sone as she was baptysed in the yeare of our lorde DC and. xxvi that he shuld make her an vnholye Nonne And the daye after the sayd Edwyne was slayne he toke with hym both the doughter and mother and so fled with them vnto Rochestre in kent be water neuer returnynge thydre agayne Saynt fiacre a Scottysh hermyte had so greate malyce vnto women that he plaged so manye of theÌ„ with the fowle euyll as came within the precynct of hys monasterye bycause one woman had ones complayned to the byshâ—p of hys prodygyouse charmynges Hector Boethius Saynt Foillanus an Iryshe Byshop with hys bretherne was verye famyâ—yar and seruysable vnto Saynte Gerâ—ruyde and her nonnes at Nigella made dyuerse barren women full gracyouslye to conceyue Saynt keynwirye a virgyne of wales conteÌ„mpnynge marryage fled from theÌ„s to Saynt Myhels of the mounte to kepe her vowed virgynyte amonge the holye fathers there as vower with vowers All these storyes hath Iohan Capgraue ¶ Other relygyouse examples of that age SEbba kynge of the East SaxoÌ„s was so bywytched of the Byshop of London and hys caskynge collygeners there for hys substaunce that he had made hymselfe a monke leauynge vnto them both hys wyfe and possessyons yf she had bene no wyser than he Yet was she by their incantacyous at the last deceyued they hauynge of hym an innumerable summe of moneye and he nothynge of them agayne but a mangye monkes cowle and hys buryall in Paules Whan Saynt Egbynes father was ones departed in wales his mother resorted with hym to the abbeye of Saynt Sampson and there receyued of hym the habyte of a Nonne bestowynge the rest of her lyfe amonge the good bretherne there Saynt Eanswyde abbesse of folkstane in kent inspyred of the deuyll dyffyned christen marryage to be barren of all vertues to haue but transytoryouse frutes and to be a fylthye corrupcyoÌ„ of virgynyte Yet ware Marye Iohan Baptyst and Iesus Christ swete frutes therof the iust fathers of the olde lawe not reckened Saynt Paule sayth also that by vertue of marryage the vnfaythfull man ys sanctyfyed by the woman that ys faythfull 1. Cor. 7. Neyther ded he at anye tyme teache marryage to be eyther a corrupcyon or yet an impedymeÌ„t of christen virgynite whan he coupled the Corintheanes which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ed styll marryed a chaste vyrgyne to Christ. 2. Cor. 11. But thys gentylwoman Eanswyde was moche better acquaynted with the monkes lernynge than with Christes and with a chastyte rather to their behoue than to hys Yet droue she out all the gyantes there yf their churche legende be true These storyes sheweth Iohan Capgraue ¶ The wanton toyes of the holye fathers ABout thys same tyme sent Pope Bonyface the fift a shyrte with a golden collor and a fyne petycote of straunge makynge vnto kynge Edwyne with the blessynges of Peter and Paule And vnto hys wyfe Ethelburge a syluer glasse and a combe of yvoriye with the same to vpholde them in thys newe christyanyte Se these wanton fathers what toyes they vse to set vp their kyngedome here Neuer shall ye reade that Christes dysciples had anye soche wyttye polycyes Saynt Petrock an hermyte of Cornewale was fayne euerye nyght from the crowe of the cocke to the sprynge of the mornynge to stande naked in a pyt to abate the hote mouynges of hys fleshe And neuer coude he haue remedye of that dysease tyll he went on pylgrymage to Rome HierusaleÌ„ Here was a newe sought out salue for that sore Saynt Pyrane a Byshop also in Cornewale had a fayre dammesell in the monasterye of hys mother wingell called Brunett whom the Lorde of the soyle toke vp for hys occupyeÌ„ge At the last he a greed with hym no loÌ„gar to haue her thaÌ„ the bernacle or butture shuld breake hym of hys slepe which chaunced sone after than he sent her home agayne If these be not good honest legendes to be redd in the popes holye churche tell me Plentuouse shall ye fynde Iohan Capgraue in the rehersall of them and soche other The ghostly bestowynge of their vowes A Nonne beloÌ„gynge to saynt Cota and a monke perteyninge to saynt Pyrane aboute the same tyme strake vp a couenaunt of loue And as they mett in a wode for perfourmaunce of the same a yonge pygeon fell betwixt theÌ„ aÌ„d made them both ashamed so they went home agayne â–ª iâ— lyke matter Soche an other pagent was played at yorke but it was longe after The monkes of saynt Marye abbeye and the nonnes of Clement thorpe mett togyther there at haye makynge the abbottes fole beynge with them And as the abbot enquyred of hym at supper for pastyme where he had done all that daye He fell in a great laughynge and declared before all hys gestes that a sore battayle had bene foughten that after none betwixt hys monkes and the monkes of clemeÌ„t thorpe But he thanked
aÌ„d the deuyll Capgraue Fabiane Polidorus Aboute the same tyme was Alcuinus a doctour of Englande made abbot of Turonia in Fraunce by the gyft of Charles the great which on a nyght founde all his monkes dead in the dorter by the soden stroke of God for their Sodometrye one only excepted Odo cluniacensis Guilhelmus Malmesburye Vincencius Antoninus Ranulphus Capgraue post uitam Ythamari A great matter had yt bene in the popes bokes yf these men had had wyues For thaÌ„ he coud not haue sent them to the deuyll so fast accordynge to generall commyssyoÌ„ which he had of Sathan hys great mastre in that vycarshypp of hys ¶ Englyshe men ponnyshed at Rome AFter Kynge Ethelwolphe beynge subdeacon through wanton occupyenge had had a bastarde by the popes dyspensacyoÌ„ he marryed Osburga hys butlers doughter and had by her iiij sonnes which all succeded Kynges after hym Guilhelmus Malmesburye Ioannes Harding As this Kynge on a tyme chaunced to be at Rome he se manye Englysh men there wearynge fetters and gyues delyuered of chylde without mydwyfe and so dyed Wherin God declared manyfestlye to the worlde that their glytie rynge churche was altogyther an whore to make good that was written in the reuelacyon of Saynt Iohan. Apo. 17. Oh he that had seane the couÌ„tenaunce of the prelates than shuld haue beholden a great change ¶ Popes chosen from thens fourth by their N. SEns that tyme hath popes alwayes bene chosen as stoned horse are in a colte feyer by their dontye dymyceryes that they can nomore be deceyued that waye For at the solempne stallynge of them the last deacon Cardynall doth grope them brechelesse at an hole made in the seate for that ghostlye purpose and than cryeth yt out before all the multytude that he hath ware suffycyent to proue hym no woman More ouer the strete where she was delyuered hath euer sens bene shurned in all generall processyons for feare of yll happes As ys of women a sexten brydge in a Scottyshe Ile called Leuissa where as yf but one woman shuld passe ouer they saye there are no salmons seane in that ryuer all the yeare after Hector Boethius in Scotici regni descriptione For the hystorye afore reherced of this woman Pope was yt partlye my desyre that ye shuld marke that monasterye of fulda For she was one chast frute of our Englyshe clergye yssuynge from thens ye maye chauÌ„ce after this yet to heare of more Soche an enemye to prestes marryage was not in hys tyme as was that Boniface which was therof the first buylder For euerye where ded he in all his generall Synodes condempne yf for aduouterye by the popes canon lawes For the scripturs wolde not serue hym The lyfe of this female pope sheweth more at large Iacobus Bergomas in li. De claris mulieribus Platina Sabellicus Martinus Carsulanus Volateranus Nauclerus Mantuanus Iohannes Stella Ioannes textor Robertus Barnes in uitis Romanorum Pontificum ¶ Holye water with a boke agaynst marryage IN the yeare of our Lord DCCC LVIII as a serten daydeuyll at the forsayd Maguncia was hunted of the prestes with processyon and holye water for dyuerslye vexynge the cytie he hyd hym selfe for feare they saye vndre one of the prestes copes â–ª saynge He myght wele be bolde there consyderynge he had by hym the fleshlye occupyenge of the generall proctours doughter there This relygyouse example of holye churche sheweth Sigebertus Vincencius Antoninus Capgraue in uita Etheldrede Ethelstanus a monke at one tyme takynge presthode with Dunstane and Ethelwolde within a whyle after left all hys orders and toke hym to a wyfe Wherfor they prophecyed of hym that hys ende shulde be myserable And bycause they wolde apere no false Prophetes they inchaunted hym charmed hym and changed hym in to an ele and so he lyued in the water euer after with a great sort more of hys companye Wherupon they saye that monasterye and towne hath euer sens bene called Elye Guilhelmus Malmesburye et Ioannes Capgraue A yonge infante called Brithgina beynge nomore than one daye olde professed Elphegus into the monasterye of wylton aboute the same tyme So ded he also an other called Wilfhilda into the nondrye of Wynchestre so sone as she was weaned from sucke Whom afterwarde kynge Edgare claymed in marryage but she was to famylyer with Ethelwolde a monke and a bysshop to graunt therunto Whan he came to the howse where she was afterwarde abbasse there was no small fyllynge in of cuppes Ioannes Capgraue ¶ Miracles and wonders wrought VVhan Odo the Byshopp of Salysburye â—as elected Archebyshopp of Caunterburye in the yeare of our lorde DCCCC and .xlvi. he wolde in no case be consecrated tyll he was by the abbot of Floriake professed a monke Partlye bycause all hys predecessours in that seate to the nombre of .xxi. had bene monkes and partlye for that the prestes in those dayes were in hate of the people for their marryage at the monkes suggestyons And after he had receyued hys palle with Antichristes autoryte from Rome he wexed so frantyck vpon the kynges concubynes that some of them he sealed in the faces with hote burnynge Irons most shamefullye and some of them he bannyshed into Irelande for euer but vnto hys owne store he was gentyll ynough For most haynouse heresye helde he than the christen marryage of prestes and made synodall constytucyons agaynst yt to enryche the moÌ„kes through that craftye colour with their great possessyons Hys neuye Oswalde founde he to scole at floryake the welsprynge of Necromancye to lerne there all craftye seyences In hys tyme was a stryfe amonge the clergye at Caunterburye for Christes fleshe and bloode in the Sacramente the prestes most ernestly affyrmynge yt to remayne styll breade 〈◊〉 an onlye fygure of Christes bodye and the monkes to be Christes essencyall bodye yea Christ hymselfe But whaÌ„ scripturs fayled ones vpon the monkes syde â–ª they were dryuen to false myracles oâ— playne experymentes of sorcerye For Odo by a cast of legerdemayne shewed vnto the people a broken host bledynge as a popishe prest called sir Nicolas Gerues ded a. ij years a go in Surreye by pryckynge hys fyngar with a pynnne ¶ Monkerye augmented by Dunstane SAynt Dunstane here in EnglaÌ„de beynge taught of Iryshe moÌ„kes at Glastenburye was founde verye connynge in waÌ„ton musyck in sorcerye and in Image makynge out of all maner metals stone and kyndes of wode By these and soche lyke occupyenges he founde the meanes to augmeÌ„t and enryche the monasteryes of moÌ„kes and nonnes euerye where whithin Englande not withstandynge he had oft tymes moche a do with deuyls and with women Yet had he at length these pryuyleges than aboue all other spirytuall doers He wanne by hys musyck and fayre speche the good fauer of dyuerse women yea of some
name and therfore the matter ys doubtfull As Dunstane was on a tyme hallowynge of a churche in the honoure of Saynt deuyll saynt Deuys I shuld saye he behelde the ryght thombe of the foreseyd Edithe thaÌ„ beynge abbesse of wylton as she was crossynge aÌ„d blessynge her forhead And moche delyghtynge therin he toke yt in hys hande and sayd Neuer myght thys thombe peryshe Immedyatlye after he beynge at Masse and dolouroussye wepynge sayd vnto the deacon that serued hym Alas thys floryshynge floure will fade thys redoleÌ„t rose wyll be gone this dayntye Dyamonde wyll peryshe thys swete byrde wyll awaye for euer And after her deathe he founde all her bodye resolued into ashes except that thombe and the secrete part vndre her bellye for those .ij. partes of her he had blessed afore In dede he was verye homelye to serche so farre But the cause of thys they saye she afterwarde declared vnto hym in a secrete vysyon Thys storye sheweth VuillyaÌ„ of Malmesburye li. 2. de pontificibus Ranulphus in polychronico li. 6. Ca. 9. Vincencius li. 25. Ca. 33. Antoninus par 2. ti 16. Ca. 8 Iohannes Capgraue in uita Edithe ¶ Kynges become th Beastes Images VVhan Kynge Edgare had ones perfourmed hys .vij. years penauÌ„ce for hys aduowterye with fayre Wilfrith whom DuÌ„stane paraueÌ„ture prepared for hys owne store he became altogyther the dumme Image of the Beast and myght not vtter froÌ„ thens fourth but as they gaue hym sprete Apo. iâ— Than caused they hym to call a generall counsell at London some saye in the yeare of our lorde DCCCC and .lxix. by the vngracyouse autoryte of the aforeseyd pope Iohan. And there was yt fullye enacted and establyshed for a lawe euer to endure that all canons of cathedrall churches collygeners persons curates vycars prestes deacons and subdeacons shuld eyther lyue chast that ys to saye become Sodomytes for that hath bene their chastyte euer sens or els be suspended from all spirytuall iurysdyccyon Thys more than Pharaonycall constytucyoÌ„ was the kynge sworne to ayde maynteyne and defende with the materyall swerde by the popes antoryte ThaÌ„ were there chosen oute .ij. pryncypall vysytours Ethelwolde the Byshopp of Wynchestre that nest ys euer vngracyouse Oswalde the Byshopp of Worcestre both monkes to se thys throughe out the whole realme executed Vincencius li. 24. Cap. 83. Antoninus par 2. li. 16. Cap. 6. Guilhelmus Malmesburye Ranulphus Guido de columna Ioan Capgraue et opus nouum De utraque potestate fo 57. ¶ Dunstane ys accused of yll rule IN thys counsel were some wyse men as all these writers wytnesse though yt be sumwhat fayntly which layed for their marryage the scripturs and substancyallye proued themselues the maynteyners of vertu therin aÌ„d not of aduouterye as they were there vncharytablye noted But that wolde not serue theÌ„ The holye Ghost myght in no wyse preuayle the popes bawdye bulles beynge in place but they must nedes haue the preferment no remedye An other sort were there which accused Dunstane of yll rule in the darke For Petrus Equilinus sayth in Catalogo Sanctorum li. 8. Ca. 49. that he was put to hys purgacyon of manye thyngs there layed agaynst hym Of a lyekelyhode therfore they had smelled oute sumwhat that was not all to hys spirytuall honestye Neyther wolde these accusacyons helpe the popes Power ones so largelye publyshed The kynge durst vtter nothynge that was agaynst hym for feare of newe penaunce and for as moche as yt was wele knowne that in the tyme of hys olde penaunce he had occupyed one mynyon at Wynchestre an other at Andouer besydes alfrede whoÌ„ he at the lattre gote to wyfe by the craftye mourther of her husbaÌ„de Ethelwolde an earle ¶ The kynge defendeth Dunstane destroyeth wolues BVt to pacyfye and please thys Dunstane kynge Edgare in hys oracyon there to the clergye rebuked the prestes verye sore for banketynge with their wyues for slacknesse of their masse saynges for pretermyttynge their canonycall houres for their crownes shauynges with their vnprestlye aparellynges and soche other lyke More ouer he alleged vnto theÌ„ in the seyd oracyon the lamentable complayntes good knauerye I waraÌ„de yow of hys fathers sowle aperynge to Dunstane and reprouynge the wantoÌ„ behauer of the prestes with their wyues He also tolde them in repressynge their former accusementes that by hys peramoure Stephana of hys breames and vysyons for the tyme of hys progresse desyeryng hys power agaynst the prestes also with manye other wonders IohaÌ„nes Capgraue in Catal. Guilhelmus Malmesburye Vincencius Antoninus Ranulphus Guido de columna â–ª et Polydorus ¶ Oswalde with hys Beastlye autoryte ON the other syde went Oswalde with hys autoryte froÌ„ that wycked counsell which had stodyed necromancye with other vnpure scyeÌ„ces at floryake besydes Orleaunce in fraÌ„ce where he was first made monke and afterwarde in Englande bycame byshopp of Worcestre Thys fellawe so wele armed with deceytes as euer were Pharaoes sorcerers was thought a man mete to deceyue with lyenge sygnes the commoÌ„ sort So trudged he fourth with hys craftye caâ—kynges and first expelled the Canons of the cathedrall churche of worcestre with their carefull wyues and chyldren and out of .vij. other churches more within that hys dyoces and there placed for them the laysye leane locustes which not longe afore had leaped out of the bottomlesse pytt Apoca. 9. the monkes which at that tyme were bare and nedye ThaÌ„ went he farther abrode and wrought there lyke masteryes wherof EnglaÌ„de hathdepelye felt euer sens Hys suggestyons were lyke the other as that the prestes lyued wantonlye and wolde not masse in due forme For hys trauayle in thys was he made archebyshop of Yorke by the laboure of Dunstane To tell hys other feates yt wolde axe to moche tyme and therfor I passe yt ouer These .ij. promoted the seyd DuÌ„stane aboue all other as men hauynge most wylye craftes to assyst hym in hys busynesse These .iij. Monkes brought the Kynges so vndre that they had than all the realme at their pleasures Ioannes Capgraue Malmesburye Vincencius Antoninus Ranulphus Guido de Columna et Polydorus ¶ Dunstane maketh a Kynge at hys pleasure AFter the decease of Kynge Edgare in the yeare of our lorde DCCCC and .lxxv. was a wonderfull varyete and scysme through out the whole realme partlye for hym that next shuld succede Kynge and partlye for the great iniurye done to the marryed prestes The quene Alfrede with Alpherus the duke of Mercia and other great lordes fauorynge her quarell worlde nedes haue Ethelrede Kynge whiche was her sonne by Edgare on the one syde Dunstane and hys moÌ„kyshe byshoppes with the earle and Eastsexe and serten other lordes part both of the nobles and commons iudged the prestes to haue great wronge and sought euerye where by all meanes possyble
to brynge them agayne to their olde possessyoÌ„s and dygnytees Yea sum where with good ernest blowes and buffettes Robertus Fabyane cum antedictis Autoribus ¶ Dunstane maketh an Idoll to speake THys caused Dunstane in the yeare of our lorde DCCCC and lxxv to call an other solempne counsell But that was where they thought themselues most stronge and myght best do their feates at Wynchestre Where after great wordes had betwen the duke of Marche and the earle of Eastsexe which were than appoynted as arbyters Dunstane perceyuynge all to go with the prestes broughte fourthe hys former commyssyoÌ„ thynkynge therby to stoppe their mouthes And whan that wolde not serue they sought out a practyse of the olde Idolatrouse prestes which were wont to make their Idolles to speake by the art of Necromancye wherin the monkes were in those dayes expert A roode there was vpon the frayter wall in the monasterye where the counsel was holdeÌ„ as VynceÌ„t Antoninus testyfyeth Dunstane required theÌ„ all to praye therunto which was not thaÌ„ ignoraunte of that spirytuall prouysyon In the myddes of their prayer the roode spake these wordes or els a knaue moÌ„ke behynde hym in a truncke through the wall as Bonyface ded after for the papacye of Celestyne God forbyd sayth he ye shulde chaÌ„ge thys ordre takeÌ„ Ye shuld not do wele now to alter yt Take Dunstanes wayes vnto ye for they are the best At thys worke of the deuyll all they were astoyned that knewe not therof the craftye coÌ„ueyaunce If thys were not cleane legerdemayne tell me Oh that there was not a IohaÌ„ Boanerges at that tyme to proue the spretes of that workemaÌ„shyp 1. Ioan. 4. If there had bene but one Thomas Cromwell they had not so clerelye escaped with that knauerye Polydorus Vergilius which alloweth theÌ„ in manye other lewde poyntes smelled out their bouerye in thys and reporteth dyuerse other to do the same at the daye ¶ That Idoll ys crowned Kynge of Englande IN remeÌ„braunce of thys knauerye myracle they saye were afterwarde writteÌ„ vpoÌ„ the wall vndre that roodes fete these verses folowynge Humano more crux presens edidit ore Coelitus affata que perspicis hic subarata Absit ut hoc fiat et cetera tunc memorata Wyth lye and all Whom Iohan Capgraue reporteth that he se there more thaÌ„ CCCC years after the roode translated from thens into the churche for hys myracles sake Aboute the yeare of our lorde a. M. and .xxxvi. as kynge Canutus beynge at Southampton was boasted of one of hys knyghtes to be the great lorde of the see he thought to proue yt by a commaundemeÌ„t of obedyence And as he wele perceyued that yt wolde obeye hym in no poynt he toke the crowne from hys owne head acknowlegynge that there was a lord moche hygher of more power thaÌ„ hymself was And therfor he promysed neuer more to weare yt but to rendre yt vp vnto hym for euer With that Egelnothus than archebyshopp of Caunterburye infourmed hym of thys roode whiche had dysolued prestes matrymonye aÌ„d done manye other great myracles Whiche prouoked hym anon after to go to Wynchestre and to resigne vnto hym hys regall crowne coÌ„stytutynge hym than kynge of thys real me Was not thys thynke yow good wholsom counsell of thys Idolouse byshopp Zacha. 11. yf a man had nede of yt A playne token ys yt that they were thaÌ„ the Images of the Beast Apoca. 13. no godlye gouernours yea verye Idolles 〈◊〉 no kynges that were vndre soche ghostly fathers Henricus Huntyngtonensis Archidia conus li. 6. Ranulphus li. 6. Ca. 20. Fabianus li. 1. Ca. 206. et Polydorus li. 7. with other autours more ¶ An example of Claustrall virgynyte MArianus Scotus serten other writers besydes do testyfye in their Chronycles that whan thys Canutus coude haue no frute by hys wyfe Elgyne of hampton and was not througlye contented therwith She fearynge that he shuld eyther caste her vp or els resort to some other gote her amonge relygyouse chast women to knowe what good chere was amonge them And anon she founde one to her mynde whiche was bygge with chylde by a moÌ„ke not withstandynge the great chastyte that was boasted afort But Marianus sayth she was a presbyteresse or a prestes â—eâ—â—…an to saue the honoure of that ordre bycause he was a monke hys selfe Algyne bad thys nonne be of good chere and yf she wolde agre vnto her yt shuld be to her great honoure But yt must she sayd be kept wonderfully close Immedyatlye after the quene fayned herselfe to be great with chylde and by the conueyaunce of a mother B. goynge betwixt them both as the tyme appoynted of labourynge she was delyuered of the nonnes chylde makynge the kynge to be leue yt was hys to no small reioyce of them both This chylde was called Sweno and the yeare afore Canutus dyed was constytute kynge of Norweye Some writers haue thought that Heraldus the first whiche after succeded kynge of Englande to come fourth also the same waye aÌ„d hys owne brother harde Canutus reporte yt not farre otherwyse Ranulphus li 6. Ca. 20. cum ceteris autoribus ¶ Dunstane dysputeth with sorcerye and murther NOw let vs returne vnto DuÌ„stane agayne Though the aforesayd controuersye betwen the prestes the moÌ„nkes ceased for a tyme by reason of their legerdemayne in the roode yet was yt not all fynyshed For some men of wysdome there were in those dayes which smelled somwhat as Polydorus reporteth iudgynge yt to be as yt was in dede verye subtyle knauerye And playnelye Ranulphus sayth that the spech came froÌ„ the wall Marke yt bardelye Wherupon Alpherus the duke of Marche with hys companye in the yeare folowynge whiche was from Christes incarnacyon DCCCC and .lxxvi. sent into Scotlande for a certen lerned Byshop which was knowne both eloquent wytty to dysâ—â—â—…te the matter with theÌ„ Than was the place appoynted in a strete or vyllage of the Kynges called Calua for they trusted no more close howses in the monasteryes And whan the Byshopp had layed for the marryed prestes soche invyncyble scripturs reasone and argumentes as Dunstane and hys dodypoll monkes were not albe to auoyde the blynde asse had non other shyft but to laye these faynte excuses for hymself As that he was an aged man sore brokeÌ„ in the labours of holye churche and that he had at that tyme geuen ouer all stodye and onelye addycted hymself vnto prayer But for as moche he sayd as they wolde not leaue the dysquyetynge of hym but styll vexe hym with olde quarellynges they myght wele seme to haue the vyctorye yet shuld they not haue their myndes And with that he arose in a great furye for a coloure commyttynge hys cause vnto Christ but he sett the Deuyll by hys necromancye to
Prestes maryed Votaryes Zacharye marryed Marye a wyfe No nonne Peter maryed No vowes coÌ„mauÌ„ded Peters wyfe Paule marryed Phylpp marryed Ioseph of Arimathe An. do 63 Scrope gospell Kynge Lucius Rome Anno domini 179. Churches Autours Chrystianyte Dyoceâ—ses paryshes TeÌ„ples MoÌ„kerye Heresyeu Pelagius frewyll Seuerê° Leporiê° 432 Antors Agricola 446. Partrick 361. Martinus Patricius Benignus Chastyte Modwenna Dubritius KeÌ„tigernus merlinê° Turkes A awe Iudgement Dauid kynedê° brigida Cuthbert capgraue whoredome is holye Theyr Gods seruyce The Popes chaplaynes women Dauid dubriciê° Kentigernus brigida Saynt Modwen brigida Iltutus hys wyfe Not Paules lernyng Vrsula cum .xi millibê° Armorica 390 Conanus Dionothus For mariage Drowned Autours With lyes Pylgrimage Dan. 11 Hiere 5. Names teyned Hystoryames Proue the spretes Onlye to marrye NoÌ„nes of Coleyne CoÌ„staÌ„s 443. Maglocunus 552. Mempricius Gildas prophecyeth SaxoÌ„s EnglaÌ„d Christyanyte Gregorye In stede of marryage Angli Wares Macutus â—00 Ethelwolphê° 847. Apo. 13. Tymes 607. 596. Augustinus MoÌ„kes craftye scyence Ignoraunt apostles Myracles WomeÌ„ Saye angrye sayntes Festyuall Ethelbert Processyon lyberte Etheriê° 600 IustrumeÌ„tes Doroberna â–ª CauÌ„terburye Nombers primitie Synodus Christyanyte Brytaynes Princes 600 666 Antichrist 602 Synodus Solytarye maÌ„ ChristeÌ„ counsell A proude monke Thre poyntes A tyraunt A murtherer A carnall Synagoge Bloody Syon Iohan LeylaÌ„d Brytayne churche Englyshe churche 607 full age The papacye Apo. 13. 2. thes 2 Monâ—â—s autoryte Esa. 11 A false chastyte Gregory Example MoÌ„kes chastyte iij. wayes Coloured Sodomye stewes dyuynyte Votaâ—yes lernynge Marryage conteÌ„pned Laye with tayles Dorset Stroude Laurencius cuÌ„ alijs Synodus the feast of Eastre WomeÌ„ Sore bellyes Venus Ceremonyes rytes Good men Hilda et ColmaÌ„nus 664. Agilbertus melitus 619. Columbanus Paulinus fiacrius Foillanus Keyna Sebba ys monked Egbinus SaÌ„pson Eanswida Frutes of marryage Eanswida babyshe ioyes Petronus Piranus legeÌ„des Chastyte of â—â—â—arâ—es Vowes obserued Modwenna Heremite Erkenwaldus Ethelburga Ositha Spirituall knauerye 653 Theodoâ—â—s Apoc â–ª 13. The fullye complete age NoÌ„bre of the beast Crafty scyeÌ„ces Theodatus Theodorus Shauynge 668. Adrianus A scole Straunge sciences Adrianus Character 672 Synodus Ceddas OrdinauÌ„ces IoaÌ„nes de Molinis 680 Synodus AgathoÌ„ No Gospell Synodus generalis Masse Mildreda Vitiza Chastyte fre Hypocresye worketh Monasteryes oswius 684. Synodus SuÌ„ma penitenâ—ialis Drithelmê° 671. FouÌ„dacyon of purgatorye Illusyons Confessyon Masses Canonysed deuyls Cuthbertus NoÌ„nes Verca Colfridus ShaueÌ„ crownes WaldeÌ„ A comete RegnuÌ„ et sacerdotium Apo. 13. ijhornes Augustinus 696. Berinê° 636. ij sectes Papacye Kyngedomes popyshâ— Brytaynes cadwal lader 689. Marke yt 1533. englaÌ„de Roma et Babilon Merlyne Brute of God SaxoÌ„s Merlyne BalaaÌ„ â–ª The .x. hornes of the Beast â–ª Apo. 17 Apo. 18 Wynker of wyles Sedia Guenhera Oswaldus Bebla Ebba Etheldreda Wilfridus Knauerye Theodorus A waytynge hounde The autour Pylgrimes Inas Ethelredus CoÌ„redê° Offa 709 Kenredus Colwolphus Bastardes Adelmus Synodus ij bokes Sergius Egwinus Images Ladye of worcestre Brithwaldus sinodê° 709. Guthlacus Bartellinus MoÌ„kes Dyspersed The popes apostles Wenefridus Bonifacius Synodus 710. Daniel apostle of Germanye Alia Bestia Apo. 13. errours Doctryne Canonystes Rome OpeÌ„ sale of whores Ethelbaldus Colfredus Osredus geraldê° geilepê° Fulda 744. Lieba Monasterium fuldeÌ„se Floriacus 651. To ease their vowes Oxforde Frideswyde A Kynge Alcuinus Autours Ethelwolphê° An whore Popes chosen by their stones An exaÌ„ple Fulda Matrimonye coÌ„dempned 858 A prest Ethelstanê° a monke maryed A myracle Elye Brithgina Wilfhilda Odo 946. Floriacus the kynges concubines ConstytucyoÌ„s Oswalde Floriacus The sacrameÌ„t Myracles Dunstanus magnê° musyck sorcerye Caruynge autours A caste or feate GlasteÌ„burye Edwinus alfgina Odo caÌ„tuariensis Confession Masse of requiem alfgina loueth StroÌ„ge loue Cadina loueth autours Theora cum filiabus IoaÌ„nes Rauennas Ioan the .x 915 whores rule all Guido Mazozia 929 IoaÌ„ xi Hugo rex Italie Synodus Rome rainera Stephana Anna Rome sacryfyce He myght be chast Their spirytuall father IoaÌ„ xij LiuthpraÌ„dus By worde 960. Dunstanus the first compulsyon Foundacyon of chastyte The deuyls coÌ„myssyoner A thefe A tyraunt Kynge Edgare Tyrannye spirytuall Maryage condeÌ„pned Facies ecclesiarum Heretykes and theues wilfrith PenauÌ„ce An apyshe liaue The beastes autoryte A proude knaue All sayntes The mother Dunstane Editha Great loue shewed A narrowe sercher Edgare Imago Bestie Synodus 969 An Acte for sodome Tyrannye Vysytours For maryage Bulles Dunstane accused Edgare alfreda Oratio ad cleruÌ„ Knauerye Stephana Oswaldus magus Floriaâ—us Prestes expelled Apoc. 9 a colour iij. false knaues 975. Scisma Alpherus Ethelredus Baâ—kare sir monke 975. Synodus CoÌ„myssyon Aroode Knauerye The roode speaketh 1. IoaÌ„ 4 Thomas croÌ„well Verses Capgraue 1036. Canutê° The crowne Egelnothus An Idol made kynge Image of the Beast Canutê° Elgius Clanstrall chastyte A monkes bastarde Sweno Heraldus Dunstanus Knauerye Alpherus 976. a lerned byshop Dunstane an asse A blynde beast A lymme of the deuyll Mich. 3 sayntes Gods seruyce Precursor Antichristi Apo. 20 Myracles The churche Apo. 12. Sathan Vyces 988 Deuyls A bloodye cloude Danes Siricius MoÌ„kes were Englandes destruccyon The Danes stregthned Lorde Dane 1012. CaoÌ„terburye Elphegus Tythynges A iust Plage Extent of thys boke The other boke 1546. Sathan at large Good workes Sodomites Mat. 10 Mar. 4. Luc. 12 â–ª Christ rebuketh Mat. 23 Vespasianus et Titus Captyues ExaÌ„ple Magystrates englysh Sayntes The Autour starres Saynt George What maketh noble Lawes Doctryne deuyls