feceris quod postulo ab hac te fidei sponsione absoluam I am in the apostles sea and yf thou wylt do that which I request I wyl absolue thee from this promise of thy fidelitie Well sayth the kyng I wyll entreate of this hereafter and shortly sent vnto hym his messengers to signifie that it is not for the kynges honour to consent to such absolutions agaynst a mans fayth And farther sayde that except Thurstone woulde make his profession to the sea of Canterburie he shoulde neuer sit in the Churche at Yorke whyles he was kyng of Englande by compulsion of any edict from the pope whatsoeuer this haue I promised and this sayth he wyll I obserue But it may be thought peraduenture vnlike to be true that the pope would come so farre as to Gisors aforesaid his owne person to speake with the kyng it may so be obiected by some Romanistes who labour so hye to aduaunce his deitie but to such as be indifferently read in storie it is not incredible For Matthewe Paris reporteth howe that pope Innocent vsed his craftie deuice by his Cardinals towardes kyng Henrie the third in the .xxix. yere of his raigne Which Cardinals only louers of money craftyly sent to the kyng vnder the colour of great frendshyp their counsell which they auouched to be both holsome honorable glorious to the Realme and very profitable that was that he shoulde sue by his messengers to the popes holynes to come personally into his Realme which say they shoulde be honor most excellent to Englande and immortall glorie that in your dayes the lorde pope whiche is knowen to be the father of all fathers shoulde appeare personallye within the coast of the Englyshe nation For say they we remember well that hym selfe hath sayde whereof we reioyce that he would very gladly see the daintie sightes of Westmonasterie and the riches of London When this was knowen to the kyng he was very glad and woulde easelye haue bowed to this subtyll councell except he hadde ben holden vp by the contrary counsayles of his subiectes learned to gaynesay it or dissent to satisfie this his desire Qui dicebant quòd satis imo nimiū iam suorum caursinorum vsuris Romanorum ac Italicorum rapinis simoniis Angliae puritas maculatur quamuis non presentialiter bona ecclesiae regni dissipet predetur Which sayde that the puritie of the Realme of Englande was alredy enough yea to much defyled by the vsuries of his cormorantes and by the extortions and simonies of the Romanistes and Italians though that he do not by his presence waste and robbe the goodes of the Churche and of the Realme And farther they sayde for that the sayde pope was denyed any entrie into the Realme of Fraunce though that he required the same by his solempne ambassadours so his entrie was denyed to enter into the realme of Aragon For saith the writer Infamia enim curiae papalis id promeruerat cuius fetor vsque ad nubes fumā teterrimā exhalabat The infamie of the papall court had deserued this repulse the stinche whereof dyd breathe out euen vp to the cloudes a most detestable fume Edm. lib. 6. And as concernyng any commyng of any legate into the Realme he woulde neuer admit one as long as he lyued And though that pope Calixt sent into the Realme afterwarde his moste solempne legate Petrus Romanus monachus Cluniacensis commyng in a more portly glorie then euer any dyd before the kyng so disposed the matter that after he was come into Englande wylled that he shoulde neither visite churche nor monasterie commaunded that he shoulde be brought to be at hoast with him for he sayde his Realme of Englande was free from the iurisdiction of any legate and so shoulde be duryng his lyfe for so had Calixtus promised hym Wherevpon after some liberalitie bestowed vpō him on the kynges behalfe the king sēt him ouer againe the way he came out of England though his cōmyng was to haue exercised his office of legatship thorough the hole Realme If the reader wyl know the cause why that Thurstone fell into the kinges displeasure was for that he askyng licence of the kyng to go to this councell of the bishop of Rome and coulde not possiblie obteyne the same before he made his promise vpon his allegiance that hè would do nothyng with the pope in preiudice of Canterb. churche nor woulde by any mans perswasion receaue his episcopall consecration at his handes which so faythfull a promise to the kyng he contemptuously brake notwithstandyng wherat both the kyng and the nobilitie dyd much maruell for such infidelitie But suche was the obedience in those dayes to their princes for the more fauour they bare to this forrayne vsurper that is in playner tearmes falsely forsworne to the kyng their liege lorde and enemie to the Realme so farre as it myght stande to the aduauncement of the popes iurisdiction whose creatures they were and so reioyced in common speache to call them selues and as it myght with the satisfiyng of their owne gaynes dignities and pleasures Thus farre out of the common written stories haue ben alleaged the rather by the occasion of entreatyng of byshop Anselmes tumultuous doynges who was the firste that euer in England toke vpon hym to diuorce lawfull matrimonies in all priestes so many hundred yeres vsed in quiet possession in the Realme and many of them stablyshed by Lanfranckes constitution and as he the first so the most extreme agaynst all ryght and conscience vntyll the raigne of Quene Marie in whose dayes Hildibrandes spirite was raysed vp agayne and Anselmes whot Munckyshe zeale in lyke sorte prosecuted as it was in his tyme. If any man be offended with so much in particularitie vttered let hym vnderstande these matters to be fetcht out of the bokes of such stories most written by munckes who both in wordes deede and wrytyng professed the state of perfection expressyng all charitie therfore can not be thought to rayle in the writing of their stories which saith both Matth. Paris and Henrie huntyngton muste be perfourmed in all trueth without any parcialitie eyther of personages for honour and holynes nor maye not be transgressed for loue of kyn or frendes whatsoeuer After Anselme archbyshop folowed Rodulph a seuere muncke in profession also Rodulph first an Abbot in Normandie after that byshop of Rochester and in conclusion archbyshop of Canterburie of whose dayes no great recorde is extant of makyng or forcyng any decrees or constitutions agaynst maryed priestes although it is reported of Edmer that he was very seuere agaynst the said Henrie the first Ioannes Hagustaldensis beyng a prince of such godlynes that one Cronicle writeth so much to his cōmendation that he saith Post quem princeps non surrexit alius qui sic iniustas regni exactiones interdiceret subditos in pacae modestia sapientius disponeret c. After whose death there folowed no
that he woulde so shewe his duetie to the kyng as he myght perfourme his obedience to the pope In his exequendis saith the storie omnes episcopi Angliae primati suo suffragium negarunt But in perfourmyng these thynges attempted by Anselme all the byshops of Englande dyd denye to ioyne with their primate Which sturryng nature of Anselme no maruayle though it displeased both the byshoppes and the nobilitie whose desire suite was after Anselmes death that the kyng shoulde chose any byshop of the seculer state or any clarke of the kynges chappell to this office rather then of this order And howesoeuer it be interpreted it is not vnlyke but that both Wylliam Rufus kyng and Henrie the first kept the office voyde so many yeres the rather for suche wylfull abusyng of their place to the disquiet of the kyng and agaynst the liberties of the Realme For so irritable was Anselme and so soone prouoked without any iust cause to go to Rome to his holy father If any thyng went agaynst his mynde then straygh-way he woulde appeale to Rome to displease the prince As this lyghtnes of his is vttered by a frende of his wrytyng vnto hym beyng at the seconde tyme as he calleth it in his exile Edm. fo 187. that he went away sponte nullo paenitus cogente neither feared with imprisonment nor otherwyse tormented nor that his sea was denyed vnto hym but only for one poore worde VVilli warewaste spoken by one certaine man named William he determined to flee and so by his fleeyng gaue the aduenture that there folowed saith his frende hereof innumerable inconueniences the vnmerciful tirannie of the prince the spoylyng of the poore the damages of the Churches the lamentation of wydowes the bewaylynges of old men for losyng their lyuynges the rauyshyng of virgins and inceste in their vnlawfull companies and that saith he that is the chiefest mischiefe to the shame of our honestie priestes to mary wyues Oh conscience brent with an hot iron makyng lawfull maryage worse then all vices rehearsed But a very litle cause myght geue any Byshop Abbot or Muncke or any of the cleargie to go to Rome at those dayes to accuse the prince and to procure the interdiction of their lande as all suche as wyll searche stories shall soone perceaue this vsuall trade In conclusion after the sayde Anselme returned agayne into Englande he dyd besturre hym selfe to restore the religious to their loste quietnes and forced on his extreme decree vpon the priestes returned to their wyues takyng the oportunitie of the kynges absence in Normandie warryng there agaynst his enemies and had the victorie of them Which Anselme thought it not only enough to remoue them from their office but also to depriue them from their benefices and drawe them quite out of the cleargie not once permittyng them to be in the quyers amongste the clarkes and suche as were not conformable pronounced them infamous and decreed farther that whosoeuer would not relinquishe his lawfull wyfe the moueable goodes of suche priestes deacons subdeacons and prebendaries that should haue any familiaritie with their wyues or shoulde haue any other women in their houses but such as were of consanguinitie nye vnto them shoulde be forfayted and delyuered vnto the Byshoppes and that their wyues with their goodes shoulde be vsed as adultresses Surely a man to much addict to his owne wyll Edm. lib. 5. without any humanitie not not shewyng his loyall affection vnto his prince in his requestes howe reasonable soeuer they were not to his owne brothers requestes For when he had decreed determinatly to go to Rome to complayne his brothers requesting him that the kinges ambassadour who should likewise go to Rome prayed that he might go in cōpanie with hym he vtterly denied the same and was vnremouable saying Quod dixi dixi which yet pretended holynes constancie discipline of the Churche for his defence In whiche extremitie yet he continued vnto his lyues ende About whiche tyme when the kyng dyd requeste hym for Thomas the younger newe elected Archbyshop of Yorke to respyte his profession wherat the sayde Thomas dyd stande doubtfull he seuerely aunswered the kinges messengers that he would the kyng to vnderstande that he woulde rather suffer hym selfe to be torne into small peeces then that he would remit any of the olde antique constitutions of the fathers or that he would remoue one houre from this his purpose Wherevpon a litle before his death he wrote his letters vnto the sayde Thomas to discharge hym of his priestlye orders whiche he had of late receaued at the handes of one of his Suffragans nor no more to presume to meddle with anye pastorall cure tyll he had made his subiection profession and that yf he woulde perseuere he forbad vnder perpetuall curse all the Byshops of whole Britanie that none of them shoulde laye handes vpon hym to the promotion of his Byshopricke And therevpon he writes Tibi quoque Thoma sub eodem anathemate ex parte dei interdico vt nunquam benedictionē episcopatus Eboracensis suscipias nisi prius professionē facias c. And to thee Thomas also I forbyd vnder the same curse on gods behalf that thou neuer take vpō thee to be consecrated into the Byshopricke of Yorke before thou makest first thy profession c. The copie of which sayd epistle sealed with his seale he sent to euery byshop of his prouince chargyng commaundyng that they vpon their obedience shoulde demeane them selues towardes the same Thomas accordyng to the tenor of the letter aforesayde Immediatly after this he departed this life the eleuenth kalends of May. Loe thus ye see that he coulde sooner make an ende of his lyfe then make an ende of his rigour If the reader wyll farther heare the storie to the ende of this controuersie concernyng the ryght of his profession as it is written by Edmer it foloweth At the feast of Pentecost ensuyng where the kyng kept his court at London in great glory and honour after the feastfull dayes past he began to enter communication with the Byshoppes and the noble men of the Realme what were to be done concernyng the consecration of the elect of Yorke and wylled the Byshoppes to go apart to discusse this cause which were in number xi They determined to call vnto them Sampson the byshop of Worcester to knowe his opinion The which byshop beyng father to the sayde elect Edmer thus aunswered Licet hunc qui in pontificatum Eboracensē electus est olim ex coniuge silium susceperim eique iuxta seculum et carnis naturam honoris ac dignitatis prouectu ius aequissime debeam multo maxime tamen id matri meae ecclesiae Cantuar. debeo c. Although this elect of Yorke be my sonne in tyme past had by my wyfe therfore owe vnto hym accordyng to the course of the world and coniunction of blood to wyshe the preferment of his honour and dignitie
inconuenience And let not the scrupulous consciences of men be blynded in them selues as to iudge any impuritie in the bodyes of them which honestly vse gods institution of matrimonie De virg cap. 33. No Saint Austen doubteth not to say Quia fancta sunt etiam corpora coniugatoruÌ„ fidem sibi domino seruientium that the bodyes euen of the maried folke be holye of such as preserue their fayth to them selues one to the other and their fayth to god And there in that discourse saint Austen proueth that the graces of continencie was not vnlyke in Iohn Cap. 21. who neuer had a do with maryage and in Abraham who had chyldren so that the chastitie of the one the matrimonie of the other came to one ende to serue the Lorde Agayne it may not be thought that for the worldly cares which may be in matrimonie priestes be more charged than for other cares and turmoyle of the worlde For suche carefulnes may assone defyle the puritie of the mynde as the cares which be in matrimonie Aswell be these carefull trauayles of the worlde forbydden to the priestes as cares which be in wedlocke De bono viduitatis cap. 23. God forbyd saith S. Austen to the wydows that ye shoulde be entangled with the desire of riches in steede of the cares of matrimonie that in your heartes money should beare the chiefe rule and so loue of money should be your husbandes Wherevppon Chrisostome wryteth Audiant hoc virgines Hom 19. 1. Cor 7. quòd non in hoc definita est virginitas corpore solum virgines esse c. Let virgins heare that virginitie is not in this poynt so concluded for the bodyes only to be in virginitie For she which hath the cares of seculer matters she is neither virgin nor honest And Theophilact saith 1. Cor. 7. When thou shalt beholde any virgin which hath vowed carefully inclined to worldly matters knowe thou certainly that she differs nothyng from a maryed woman And saint Hierome saith It wyll profite nothyng to haue the body of a virgin yf the mynde haue inwardlye maryed This affirme I saith Athanasius that euery virgin wydowe or woman continent yf she haue the cares of this worlde De virg those very cares be her husbande Whervppon I must conclude with saint Austen to these Desinant isti contra scripturas loqui Epist. 89. quest 4. Let these ceasse to speake against the scriptures And let them in their exhortations excite mens myndes to the more perfect state that yet they do not condempne the inferiour gyftes For some saith he in their exhortations can not otherwyse perswade virginitie but that therwith they condempne the matrimonial estate forasmuch as S. Paule saith plainely euery man hath his gyft of God one after this maner and another after that Thus farre S. Austen Better saith he is meke matrimonie then vauntyng virginitie In Psal. 99. And therfore the sayde saint Austen exhorteth virgins that they conioyne other agreable vertues as handmaydes which in deede do moste beautifie the true virginitie In Psal. 75. without which saith he the virginall lyfe either is dead in it selfe or els defourmed in it selfe and let the state be holy both in body and spirite seruyng God without seperation at all Of such myndes were the fathers in olde tyme so exhortyng to the single state of lyfe as mens frayleties myght beare the perfection and vsed no condempnation or compulsion but left it indifferent to the conscience of euery man So dyd that learned abbot Aelfricus afterwarde as some affirme archbishop of Canterburie prescrybyng a synodal sermon to be spoken by the bishoppes to the priestes after his reasons and swasions to the sole lyfe vsed these wordes Non cogimus violenter vos dimittere vxores vestras sed dicimus vobis quales esse debetis si non vultis nos â—rimus securi liberi a vestris peccatis quia dicimus vobis canones sanctorum patrum We do not compell you by violence to forsake your wyues but we declare to you what ye shoulde be and yf ye wyll not we shal be cleare and free from your offences for we haue shewed vnto you the canons of holy fathers This writer in all his whole sermon neuer chargeth the Englishe priestes with any vowe but only standeth vpon the constraynt of canons ecclesiasticall For before the conquest was neuer matrimonie once forbydden nor vowes of seculer priestes once receaued Nor Gildas that auncient Britaine in his sharpe inuection against all estates of his tyme after he had reproued the greatest personages and the regulers of their abuses he proceedyng to speake agaynst the seculer priestes yet in his processe he neuer chargeth them for breakyng any vowe but chiefely for that they were not contented with saint Paules graunt to be the husbandes of one only wyfe but contemned that his precepte and were the husbands of more wyues at once in such lewd libertie as he charged before the laitie to haue vsed them selues in renouncyng their former wyues to take newe and to haue many wyues at once without all regarde of Gods lawes and coÌ„maundement after such lyke sort as the Irishe men vsed tyll Henrie the seconde his dayes what tyme the kyng dyd write to pope Adrian of his purpose to reduce the Irishe nation to better religion Girardus Cambrensis The pope in his rescripte dyd well commende his good zeale and councelled hym to go forwarde but with this prouiso that because saith he all Ilandes that be turned to the fayth belong to the ryght of S. Peter and the moste holy churche of Rome the lande shoulde pay yerely to S. Peter for euery house a penye as pope Alexander folowyng ratified the same with the reseruation of the sayde payment for Irelande and bryngyng to memorie also his pencion for euery house of Englande So that whosoeuer toke payne and coste to set any nation in order or to bryng them to better beliefe the pope would lose nothyng thereby where yet tyll that tyme his fatherhood dyd most strangely suffer that people so outragiously to liue tyll the kyng toke the reformation Upon which letters sent by the kyng â–ª the sayde Adrian dyd confirme to hym and to his heyres of that kyngdome VValter Couent and did constitute them kinges therof for euer And further in the letters of the said king Henrie sent to the pope he professed to refourme their abuses to put Christes religion better amongst theÌ„ Shortly after the kyng sent his learned men to the archbishops bishops there who kepte a great councell at the citie of Cassalense wherein they dyd constitute that where before the Iryshe vsed to baptise the children of the greater men in mylke and of the poorer sort in water and that where the Irishe laitie had as many wyues as they woulde nowe they decreed that water only should be the element indifferently for all their chyldren and that they shoulde mary
.27 b. compareth the scripture to a nose of waxe .100 c. Pius pope his opinion of priestes mariages .198 c. Plagues notable .130 Popes decrees not aboue princes lawes Fol. 5. pag. 1. a. the causer of dissention betweene the Greke Churche and Latine .55 c. he is Luminare maius .67 d bounde to acknowledge his wyfe .200 a. one disanulles the other doth graunt .204 c. called Antichrist by the byshop of Duresine .214 diuers of them byshoppes and priestes sonnes .313 Pope Sergius purged by Aldelme of his fornication .200 b. Popes matters .33 pag. 158. Pontificall of Rome falsely brought in for the Pontificall of England .183 a. 185. a Polidorus iudgement of forced chastitie .262 b. Pontificall bookes .282 Pretence of Martins booke Fol. 2. pag. 1. b. Prelates discretion in tyme of the pope Fol. 4. pag. 1. b. Priestes maryed vniustly entreated .2 a. leafe 4. pag. 1. a. Fol. 13. pag. 2. a. their mariages to be defended as a cause publique Fol. 7. pag. 2. b. continued maryed .1000 yeres Fol. 15. pag. 1. b. massyng priestes pag. 25. b. haue ordered .26 d. maryed priestes in estimation .30 a. 60. a. maryed in the Primatiue Churche .42 b. vncontinent priestes a shame to the Cleargie .31 a. Priestes had wyues and sayde Masse .41 c. maryed not to be seperated .59 c. their contractes iustifiable by lawe .67 a. and some maryed after order .76 c. their incontinencie excused .84 b. 85. b. 86. a. not reformable by lawes .87 c. whose maryages yet more punished then fornication .88 a. and clarkes incontinent may not be put to open penance .89 b. nor their immunities to be iudged of .91 c. priestes laye heauie burdens on other mens neckes .68 c. Priestes offendyng seldome repentyng .82 d. who by vowe renounce mariage not fornication .93 d. and beyng incontinent maye not by othe abiure incontinencie .93 d. forbidden certayne women in their houses .94 a. their crownes .108 a 110. priestes chyldren slaundered to bryng famine into the Realme .125 c. 133. a. their mariages honourable by Iustinian .197 the forbiddyng whereof was not before Siritius tyme .230 d. 258. yet after resumed their wyues agayne .194 for in orderyng they make no promise to renounce maryage .182 b. the prohibition of it was not the Apostles doctrine .153 c. Prayer fastyng holyday and chastitie not forbidden but the hypocrisie of them .166 a. Primatius denieth that all may take the gyft generally .141 c. Profession of priestes denied by them to be made .282 Profession of religious in young age .310 Prosper a byshop maryed .271 Phileas byshop maryed .349 Priestes marying without consent of their byshops depriuable .357 Pascall pope complayneth of kyng Henrie .300 Pascall offereth to dispense with the kynges promises 301. Pope meetyng with the kyng at Gisors .301 Popes craft towardes the kyng for commyng into Englande .301 Papall court burdenous to the Realme and infamous .302 Q Queene Marie in her Commission charged the ordinarie to execute no canons agaynst the lawes of the Realme .175 a. R Rabanus fled out of his order .292 Richarde Archb. of Cant. decrees agaynst concubines .317 Richarde the kyng taken prisoner .321 Rome what store of harlottes it hath .202 b. Rigour of discipline to be moderated .273 Remigius Archbyshop at .xxij. yeres .347 Restitutus byshop of London maryed .348 Redmayn Iohn Doctour◠opinion .352 Rodulph Archbyshop of Cantorburie .304 Robert byshop of Lincolne maryed .307 S Sampsom byshop of worceter his testimonie agaynst his sonne .298 Separations of maryages hurtfull to the common wealth .181 a. Scriptures and Doctours compared .73 b. Scripture ought to haue preeminence .74 a. Scripture most certayne iudge by Athanasius .100 c. Scriptures and Christe must be iudge .246 a. Simon Magus disciples .80 c. Semel malus semper presumiter malus .106 c. Seritius pope first decreed continencie .152 a. Seritius first forbad maryage .230 d. 258. c. Sinesius byshop elect woulde not consent to leaue his wyfe .274 b. Simonie .283 Si non caste tamen caute .329 b. Sole lyfe a rare gyft which all can not take .65 b. 136. d. Sodomiticall sinne publique .285 Spanishe heretiques .115 a. Statutes of the Realme corrupted by Martin .169 a. Statute of Queene Marie or repeale but for afterwarde .171 d. Statutes made by kynges not to be reuoked by popes .178 a. Statutes chaungeable for tyme and place .205 a. Single lyfe why so much forced .276 Saxon rules of priestes .346 Scottishe lawes .350 T Tertullian of seconde maryages .163 d. Thinges neuer done are not therfore vnlawfull to be done .253 a. Thomas de Aquino his counsayle to a clarke y◠cannot cōtayne .206 a. Thurstone Archbyshop of yorke repelled of the munckes .312 Theophilact counsayleth to mary for auoydyng fornication .138 b. Thurstone Archbyshop brake his fayth with the kyng .303 V Virginitie not so necessarie as the ministerie Fol. 7. pag. 1. a. 276. Uirginitie compared with Matrimonie Fol. 18. pag. 1. c. Fol. 18. pa. 2. c. d. Uirginitie aboue our reache .146 c. Uirginitie vrged by the fathers .276 Votum simplex et solemne .104 c. 231. c. 242. Votaries not to mary howe it is lawfull or vnlawfull or expedient .142 v. Vnius vxoris vir expounded pag. 32. a. pag. 61. a. Uotaries mariages alowed by Austen .207.209 d. by Cyprian ibidem by Hierome .208 c. by Gelasius .209 a. by the counsayle at Orleans .210 b. Uowes perfourmable must come from the gyft of God .147 d. 148. a. what circumstaunce they shoulde haue .149 howe they shoulde be made .236 Uowes solemne be of the Churches constitution .229 d. Uirginitie howe it is defined .342 Uirginitie ought to be otherwise qualified .343 W William Archbyshop of Canterburie .289.307 Williams decree agaynst maryed priestes helde not .308 Wattune Abbey .310 Waltham Abbey turned to reguler chanons .319 Writers of Louane to Malapart .335 Wyues many to one man .350 FINIS ¶ Imprinted at London by Richarde Iugge printer to the Queenes Maiestie Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis
the infirmitee of suche incontinente persones and in comparison of worse permitted that whiche was euill If Origen disalowed not their prudence in dispensation not to tollerate it ones dooen but to geue licence before it was begunne euen in that matter which be iudged to be againste the Lawe of God If Pope Martin the v. as the aucthour of Summa Angelica reporteth did after great deliberation and consultation with diuerse learned in Diuinitée and Lawe despence with hym that had taken his sister germain to wife to kepe her still and if the Pope despensyng with a man to marrie her to wife whose mother or sister he had defiled before by corporall fornication be not to bee blamed nor this mariage to be disalowed as Antonine saieth part 3. tit I. cap. II. para christiana infine And if Antoninus auditor generalis causarū Palatij dn̄i Pape testifieth that he sawe very many despensed with in this matter in Summa lib. 3. tit 6. ca. 3. li. 2. ca. 2. tit xi If Martin Peresius thus writeth Si sacerdotes non matura deliberatione se astrinxerunt videat Romanus pōtifex qui circa haec solet dispēsare quid sit agendum in particularibus If the Priest haue boūd hym self not by due deliberation let the Romane busshop who is wont to dispense in suche cases take hede what he ought to do in suche particularitées Yea Erasmus in clementiam Alberti Pij artic 40. saieth that the Pope doeth wel to dispense in solempne vowes and alledgeth Cardinall Caietanes aucthoritée for hym What reasonablenesse then cā there be thought in this Ciuiliā not to suffer these mariages that be doen and made already not by stealth or of priuate head but by aucthoritee of his Soueraignes lawe with the assent of all the body of the realme not one woorde of Goddes Lawe against it but many woordes of Gods Lawe bearyng with it and approuyng it I maruaile what this Lawier meaneth Hath he neuer reade what Pope Nicholas did answere to Busshoppe Osbalde vpon his question Dist. 50. studeas what should be doen with that beneficed Prieste that had striken a Deacon and after his death his sculle was founde broken Searche saieth he whether he died of the stroke or whether the Deacō fell of his horse and so brake his sculle and died If the Deacon died of the fall suspende the Prieste a little tyme for saiyng Masse and afterwarde let hym returne to his seruice againe But if case the deacon be dead by occasion of his strype then in no case let hym any more minister Lo here the 〈◊〉 of the churche so prouided for by the canons Nothwithstandyng saith he yf he be very necessarie for your purpose let hym haue out of his benefice for the comfort of his sustenaunce Lo sir the canons the lawe playnly depriue him of his benefice which is sequestred frō his ministration And yet saith the lawyers vpon this place He was reasonablie dispensed with to kepe his benefice styl lest els for necessitie of his lyuyng he should turne hym selfe to fylthy and vnlawfull occupying Compare this matter maister Martin An open pretenced murtherer If ye say true maister Martin your cleargie should not haue all the benefices they haue But ye must vnderstand his rule against maried priestes onlye As for others do they neuer so litle a nothyng yet be they worth◠to haue all as they haue a◠Cau 1. q. 7. Requiritis shall for the necessitie of his lyuyng to auoyde further inconuenience be aduaunced to lyuing out of his benefice against the canons though he ministreth not and yet as ye write The benefice is geuen for the office sake And shall mariage be thus dealt with in your very fine charitie Dyd ye neuer reade what is written vpon that epistle that Leo the fourth dyd write to the bishoppes here in Englande settyng out what great auctoritie bishops only haue not restrayned nor in case reserued to the bishop of Rome howe they may dispence with sacrilege with heresie with adulterie with simonie with a scismaticke in orders and dignities for necessities sake and for auoydyng sclaunder and further inconueniences And can not all the bishops in Englande be able to dispence with mariage of priestes to auoyde the sclaunder that els myght rise aswell to them selues as to some of them by whom they were alowed to auoyde the sclaunder suspition of suche faigned heartes as were in them to the kynges auctoritie to auoyde the sclaunder that myght ryse to the priestes to their wyues to their chyldren c. But ye wyll say such as be sory for their fault and wyll returne the church mercifully openeth her lappe to receaue thē againe into new benefices lyuynges though they haue lost their olde where they had done cost Why maister Martin had the churche so spent all her mercie vpon her Iacobs that she had nothyng for poore Esau She myght haue blessed sufficiently her supplantyng Iacobs with the fattest benefices and superfluous dignities of the best of the cleargie and yet some litle benediction myght haue ben reserued and bestowed vpon the poore Esaus that nowe haue nothing at all left thē neither rent nor mouables to relieue their necessitie Is this the churches mercyfull lappe in receauyng her owne begotten chyldren to ministration againe that yet first they muste speake their owne shame in bylles of their penaunce lying against them selues moste vylely and moste shamefully disablyng their credite and estimation for euer As they fynde such fytte malt horses in diuers places of the realme whiche for a litle prouender sake and for curryng them with their combes wyll take whatsoeuer byt is put in their mouthes As one man of Winsor made a goodly confession of his heartie and earnest repentaunce there the .29 day of Iune last to the great comfort of al the good catholike people that hearde hym Whiche proposition was so finely penned and so catholikely tracted that I warraunt you it was none of the smallest fooles that forged it Whiche for the excellencie that it hath shall one day haue an interlinial glose tyll some man shall take payne to make a large commentarie Be ashamed O hypocrites be ashamed iuggle not in suche foolyshe sort to make all the worlde to wonder at you What a gods name wyll ye daunce starcke naked in your wyde masked nettes in this so cleare lyght at hye noone dayes in open market and yet promise your selues that no man can see you But to returne to the churches great mercie agayne Surely in some places the churches mercie was so sore extended that whose wyues were two or three yeres past before departed yet they coulde not be admitted againe to ministratiō but must do open penaunce and go before the crosse without any redemptiō or entreatie that coulde be made and the parties suche as by whom the very commissaries them selues coulde aleage not one poynt of dishonestie or euyl opinion in al their conuersation besides
where he a freshe renewed the old prohibitions and decrees agaynst priestes concubines Roger Houenden Geruasius anno 1174. Chro. Ierouallensis who yet of his fatherly pitie dyd consecrate one Galfride Ridel archdeacon of Canterburie to be bishop of Elye who was the thirde in order of the first erection as the catologes of the bishoppes of Elye doth recorde Which sayde Galfride shoulde haue gone to Rome with the sayde Richard elect of Canterburie and with Reginald elect of Bathe for the confirmation of their elections Whereas Alexander then pope dyd much blame the absence of the others elect bishops of Englande vidz elect of Winchester Herforde Chichester and of Elye Whiche pope dyd more earnestly aske why the elect of Elye came not with them The bishop of Orleans aunswered Forsooth sayde he Habet excusationem Euangelicam He hath the excuse of the Gospell What is that saith the pope Sir saith he he hath maryed a wyfe and therfore can not come And though there was then much altercation brought before the pope and cardinalles yet the pope dyd foorthwith consecrate the elect of Canterburie And he after he was returned home to Englande dyd consecrate the said Richarde anno 1174. pridie nonas Octob. anno regni Hen. 2 xxi who lyued bishop there vntyll he dyed though he ended his lyfe at Winchester intestate anno 1189. the firste yere of kyng Richarde In which sayde catologe is also recorded that the sayde Richarde before his election dyd openly purge his innocentie by oth that he procured not the death of Thomas Becket neither by worde nor deede nor wrytyng which was also required of Roger archbishop of Yorke and of Gilbert bishop of London and so in the Assention day in his owne churche he was intronizate whereto he gaue very great giftes saith the storie Thus hytherto this holsome decree of Anselme belyke howesoeuer saith the storie it had fauour of some at the first and what earnestie soeuer he shewed therin was not kept nor yet receaued vniuersally seyng that this Richarde wyttyngly dyd consecrate the sayde Galfride hauyng a wyfe and so aduouched before the popes holynes and the whole consistorie of cardinalles In this Richarde his dayes was a synode holden by hym and some of his brethren at Wodstocke anno 1175. Hen. 2.21 to chose a bishop for the bishopricke of Norwich and for chosyng of abbottes whiche were many vacant Amongst which their election they dyd elect Galfride the kynges sonne to the bishopricke of Lyncolne after that it was voyde xvij yeres almost by reason of the morgagyng therof into the kynges handes But king Henrie his father would not haue hym then consecrated for that he was within yeres and knewe not whether he was necessarie to the gouernement of suche a dignitie VVil. Neu. lib. 2. cap. 22. and therfore the kyng sent hym to Towres to haue some exercise in the scholes there vntyll he was thought worthy that he might take the dignitie of such honor Though yet his sonne aunswered not his expectation and thervpon for his vnworthynesse compelled hym to resigne it agayne Nubrigen lib. 4. cap. 2. whom notwithstandyng kyng Stephen his brother next succeedyng hym preferred to the archbishopricke of Yorke See here this good kynges zeale whiche he had in the election of a bishop Belyke it may appeare that the kyng had more regard then all the bishoppes had besides Which acte is worthy to be had in remembraunce to shewe to all princes to cleargie men and noble men specially patrones of benefices to haue a conscience with them in preferring men to such heauenly chargeable and worthy office of the cure of mans soule And in the dayes of this bishop the kyng was counsayled to build an Abbey to the honor of God and S. Thomas of Canterburie Rog. Houeden anno 1177. Rex Hen. 2 23. for the remission of his sinnes as the storie saith And so was the churche of seculer prebendaries in Waltham turned out they expulsed for their wyues belyke and reguler chanons brought in That is vi chanons from the abbey of Circester and vi of Osney and iiij of S. Oses and of some of them made officers and replenyshed the house with chanons about the number of an hundred or fourscore at the least besydes their externe officers of the house Thus was religion the decaye of seculer learned men a cause of their expulsions so much had they blynded the eyes of princes at that tyme to multiplie dumbe munckes and to hynder preachyng prebendaries VValter Couentriensis Neuerthelesse the kyng gaue to the Deane in recompence a manour of his duryng his lyfe and gaue the prebendaries accordyng to the value of their prebendes and suche prebendaries as woulde not receaue such recompence that they shoulde holde their prebendes duryng their lyues at the discretion and estimation yet of archbishop Richard who was present with other bishops as were also the deane and the prebendaries when the kyng in his owne person put the reguler chanons in possession In deede the Romishe sleyght wrought in this kynges facte Fabian ann Henr. 2.28 for such alteryng the house of Waltham abbey is to be considered the grounde wherof was as it is tolde by storie that the kyng had vowed and sworne before two cardinalles to go in his owne proper person to warre agaynst Christes enemies in the holy lande they so deuising to bereue the realme of their prince and to ieoperde his person to the reuenge of Thomas Beckets death whiche was layde to his charge But the wyle was perceaued and he promised for dispensation of his oth to buylde three Abbeys in Englande Which sleyghtie iniunction of the cardinalles the kyng was councelled as prudently to fulfyll For he turned as is sayde the seculer chanons of Waltham into reguler chanons for one foundation and for buyldyng of the seconde Abbey he turned the Munkes out of the Abbey of Almesbury and set in their steede Nunnes and for the thirde foundation he renewed sparyngly the charterhouse of Witham besides Salisburie and thus perfourmed the condition of his dispensation of buyldyng of three Abbeys But thus was not the Romyshe quarrell quieted towardes the kyng For the pope Lucius the thirde was well contented when one Heracleus patriarch of Ierusalem came into the Realme to moue hym to trauayle agaynst the Sarasens and was very instant vppon hym to take that iorney puttyng hym in mynde of the oth that he once made before the two cardinalles aforesayde But the kyng perceauyng the craftie dryft aunswered that he would liberally bestowe of his owne to the charge of such vyage but he myght not depart from his owne lande and leaue it as a pray to the aduersarie This aunswere the Patriarch toke very displeasauntly and angerly The kyng yet somewhat to pacifie hym accompanyed hym vnto the sea syde but the more the kyng laboured to satisfie hym the more was the Patriarch offended speaking spytefull wordes agaynst the kyng
it must be continuall and long vsed For yf vppon any sodayne deteynyng of his possession of her he shoulde fall into this greeuous payne then it were to to rigorous a lawe consideryng the frailtie of our tyme and for that this frailtie of the fleshe doth moue to pitie and not to rigour And thus throughout this gentle gloser wypeth awaye the wordes of this decree in such wise that nether this lawe nor any lyke shoulde euer take such place eyther to hynder the ordinaries commodities or charge the prieste except he wyll hym selfe Thus here ye see the practise of the chaste churche to what poynt they haue brought all their harde constitutions either to abiure mariages or els to learne the priestes an immunitie to lyue in fornications and adulteries without checke or coste except the charge of a litle tribute yerely to pacifie the officiall or commissarie c. with their returne after iniquisition non est inuentus May it here haue place that VV. Nubergensis writeth li. 2. ca 16. Episcopi dum defendendis magis clericorum libertatibus vel dignitatibus quam eorum vitus corigendis resecandisque inuigilant arbitrantur obsequiū se prestare deo ecclesiae si facinorosos clericos quos pro officii debito canonicae vigore censure coercere vel nolunt vel negligunt contra publicā tueantur disciplinam et episcopalis circa eos sollicitudo sit languida Whyle the bishops be more busie to defende the liberties or dignities of the priestes then to correct cut of their vices then they thynke they do good seruice to God and to the churche yf they may maintaine the wicked priestes agaynste the churches discipline which priestes they eyther wyll not or neglecte to restrayne as their duetie is by the sharpe censures of the churche so that the bishoppes care is nowe become verye colde and dead As this lawyer aforesayde vseth fauourable expositions in priestes concubines so in the chapter before he hath one fauourable glose for priestes whiche do mary after their order For he saith though by the rigour of the lawe he must needes lose his benefice yet yf by this mariage he incurre not Bigamie then may they dispence with them in his ministration and in his benefice For if he were made Bigamus by his maryage then it cannot be dispenced with but by the pope only Finally to plaister vp the matter to the priestes commodities in this cause besydes lawes they haue no bad councell of some diuines to of great name For it is written yf the clarke beyng in lesse orders as Benet or Colit haue a benefice and can lyue chaste by no meanes and therfore is in ieopardie to lose his benefice not for being vnchaste but for hauyng a benefice and mariage together then let him saith he by the aduice of his ghostly father liue secretely with a wyfe and so secretely deceaue the eyes of his ordinarie yea and though he come after to holy orders yet thynketh he to be lesse sinne to lyue with a wife then against Gods precept to lyue in fornication Thus you see that all the matter was handeled to lyue openly cleane and chaste but secretelye to lyue as they woulde For as many of the cleargie lyued in adulteries c. and some in vices sodomiticall so dyd diuers whose consciences were better and in knowledge more wise lyued secretly with wyues and prouided for their chyldren vnder the names of nephewes and other mens chyldren chosyng rather so to do in obeying S. Paules precept Rom. 14. Tu fidem habes penes temetipsum sit habe coram deo And folowyng agayne his councell Videte ne bonum vestrum hominum malidicenciae sit obnoxium vnusquisque in suo sensu abundet Qui sapit diem dn̄o sapit Thou hast fayth haue it to thy selfe before God and take heede that your libertie be not subiect to the euyll tongues of men and let euery man abounde in his owne sense He that is wise and can discerne the day let hym discerne it to God In whiche contemplation not vnlyke that not onlye this archbishop Bonifacius and other bishops of olde dayes but some of late dayes dyd lyue though all the worlde dyd not barke at the matter Nowe yf Boniface archbishop of Canterburie had a wyfe Richarde bishop of Chichester had a wyfe yf Galfride bishop of Ely was auouched before the pope hym selfe to haue maryed a wife yf Robert of Lincolne had his sonne besydes others that stories make mention of sence the conquest as of Archdeacons and Priestes Munkes and Nunnes by the popes dispensations innumerable howe vnaduised be they which write checkyngly that of all the bishoppes that euer were in Englande none were maryed before Crammer Is nothyng to be proued by storie true but such as they lyst to agree vnto or haue read If the bishoppes of Salisburie of olde tyme and all other bishoppes of the Realme dyd holde for trueth in the sacrament of the Lordes supper before the conquest as doctrine common the which doctrine is nowe more openly set out by Caluine and most learnedly proued by witnesse of the auncient auctours by the bishop of Sarum that nowe is and others If it be euidently testified by hystorie that the pope had no such clayme of auctoritie amongst the christian Britanes nor were at any tyme so receaued as Austen when he came in sent as cardinall saith one wryter from pope Gregorie to haue had the christian bishoppes and other of the cleargie whiche he founde in the realme at his commyng to be subiect vnto his legacie and trade of his religion which they denyed him wherevpon folowed that shamefull murder of the Britanes both ecclesiasticall and laitie amountyng to a very great summe as Bede and other manie do testifie What vanitie is it to affirme the contrarie so openly so confidentlye as though these outlandyshe wryters had read all recordes concernyng these causes or quia faenum habent in cornu they may haue such boldnes and trust in their slypper pennes to dryue all men vnder the hatch to discredite all men whom they dislyke yea to ouerthrowe and to turne ouer the imperiall state of their naturall countrey to the shamyng of the prince to the chargyng of all the nobilitie with scisme and error to the defacyng and disablyng yf they coulde the honestie learnyng and estimation of the better sorte of the cleargie so declaryng what spirite they styll shewe them selues to be of That where almyghtie God who be praysed therefore haue restrayned their olde furious wonted crueltie that they can nowe hang and bren no more stocke or imprison any more their aduersaries yet can not ceasse by their vnruly natures to persecute the whole Realme with their pennes and styles to daunger the state to the peryll of sedition to shame such men as so modestly aunswere them with their vyle wordes and tauntes more meete for Ruffians then graue deuines who of reuerent conscience shoulde debate the wayghtie
of the cleargie in their booke wherein they instructe a christian man to lyue godlye that it was lawfull for hym by gods worde to abrogate canon lawes repugnaunt to the lawes of the Realme and affirmyng further by testimonie of olde wryters that whatsoeuer was so enacted in this Englyshe churche had sufficient strength aucthoritie and power beyng a catholike and an apostolyke churche in it selfe the rather for doing their endeuour to returne all the order of the primatiue church agayne and therfore beyng more agreeable to Christes doctrine makyng more to edifiyng and benefite of Christes church What learned men standyng only to learnyng and reason can iustly eyther impugne the late state and order in this behalfe taken in the raigne of the noble prince king Edwarde the sixt or yet can reasonably suggill the doctrine and assertions published and set out in the dayes of that famous prince kyng Henrie the eyght by al his best learned cleargie as makyng way and preparation by their wrytynges and preachynges to put in execution that which was of late so vsed and practised If the fathers of Rome Churche diuers of the best learned by their prudence thought it meet to release the rigour of canons and rules of the churche whervpon they sometyme did dispence in diuers cases of great importaunce geuyng theyr assent before they were done sometyme bearyng and tolleratyng many thynges passed without auctoritie after they were done If their scribes and registers expositors of their lawe leaned alwayes to the equitie of the lawes fauourablie expoundyng them to the moste benefite and sauegarde of suche as were offenders agaynst Goddes morall lawes If the head fathers and pastors of other churches in their pastorall prudence vsed their tollerations in such cases as Origen doth testifie that the bishoppe in Alexandria permitted without agaynst the scripture a maryage to be made with a certaine woman in respect of her infirmitie as Millane churche and Constantinople churche vsed in the election of their bishoppes Ambrose Nectarius contrarie to the rule of the apostle as not yet christened as is before rehearsed And if that sayde holy bishop Ambrose dyd in his churche permit priestes to be maryed as Barnardinus Corius in his chronicle maketh report saith further that one Henribaldus Cotta a lawyer by profession beyng one of the first that woulde forbyd priestes to marry wyues was slayne of them for his importune extremitie Whiche thyng is reported of Ioannes Neuisanus doctor of lawe in his booke entituled Silua nuptialis where he aleageth howe the canonistes and schole men racke violently the lawes scriptures and gospels in this cause agaynst the true sense of the wordes and aduoucheth further that these canonistes make large thonges of other mens leather euen lyke saith he as the strumpet dyd of an other bodies chylde and that because they haue no wyues them selues Who when they haue any be aboue al other men burnyng in the fire of gelosie as he bryngeth his auctoritie therfore But nowe thus they speake saith he because them selues hauyng not only one paramour but haue many wyues and paramours and otherwhyles concubines also at one tyme together Whervpon he wysheth the lawe of continencie to be remitted and bryngeth in to ioyne with hym in this his iudgement not only the famous lawyer Panormitan but that notable man Felinus also with others And furthermore he affirmeth that the reasons of the canonistes of these dayes do proue that priestes after they be ordered may not marry be to no purpose because saith he they be grounded in couetousnes whiche is not conuenient to the true folowers of Christe And there in that his disputation he citeth diuers doctors who do disclose the corrupte intention of the canonistes in deprauyng and falsyfying the letter textes of Ambrose other doctors in the same cause If the churche of Ptolomais attempted so muche agaynste Christes religion and his apostles consentyng to electâ— a platonicall philosopher miscredityng the principall articles of our fayth and that after his open protestation that he woulde not as then either relinquishe his opinion or yet his wyfe and was accepted with them both What wyse man indued with any consideration of christian pollicie can iustly quarrel with the head pastor of our churche of Englande to tollerate thynges standing against no scripture at all so passed as they be Yea though they should vse more mercie and clemencie towarde the miserie of those ministers then some euyll and vncharitable instigatours woulde wishe they dyd If the vniforme assent and consent of wryters haue attributed so large auctoritie to counselles and bishoppes decrees to dispence so vniuersally that they say a bishop a mere diocesan may dispence with heretickes that other may the sooner returne agayne with scismatickes with simoniackes with suspended and excommunicates with adulterers with murtherers in theft in sacrilege in deacons matrimonie for afterwardes to be contracted with their protestation in priestes matrimonies alredy contracted so it be with a virgin and that he may dispence in orders and dignities vnder the state of a bishop If he ought saith the lawe as bounde by necessarie constraint of spiritual gouernaunce to dispence either in such cases where either some greater commoditie to folowe may be hoped or where the peryll of some greater inconuenience may be feared and sometyme in respecte of the multitude and to auoyde sclaunder of offence that els might be taken What may be gathered hereof by the wise reader and what auctoritie is and may be iustly thought to be resiaunt in the whole order and seignorie knit and conioyned al wholly togethers in one yf so muche be graunted to euery one of them seuerally alone If the Canons of one councell be drawen commonly to expounde an other as one lawe to declare an other then where it is decreed in the fourth councell at Tollet Quod Clerici qui sine consultu Episcopi sui vxores duxerint c. seperari eos a proprio Episcopo oportebit That clarkes that without councell or consent of their byshops haue maryed wyues c. must be seperated by their owne byshop agayne Howe reasonably then do these men crie for seperation of such of the Cleargie who dyd not vpon their owne heades attempt the state they be in and diuers of them neyther without the counsell nor yet instigation of their onely proper Diosesant but with the consent and aucthoritie of the whole order of all the Metropolitanes and Diocesantes in Englande in their deliberat consultation first among them selues and after so exhibited to the state of the Parliament afterwarde in their priuate diocesses commendyng the statutes passed and sendyng their Chaplaynes abrode in their diocesses to declare the commendations and necessitie of the same as be yet at this day auncient Bishoppes styll alyue remaynyng that can beare witnesse of this whiche is here affirmed yf they were therto required Last of all where that noble prince of famous memoriâ— kyng Henrie the
eyght vsed so much prudencie in reducyng and reposyng his Realme in such godlye knowledge and christian peace as the measure of Gods giftes graunted vnto hym dyd moue hym to the same where in this case what clemencie he vsed it is not vnknowen and yet vnder sharp lawes so tempred the rigor of them that of his owne disposition a verie few felt the extremite of the execution though many were drawen into feare by them His onely example myght reasonably stande agaynst all detractours for the defence of all such his naturall subiectes left behynde hym of whom he promoted many so much that they can not forget hym so soone after his departure which deserued so much at their handes when he was here lyuyng Wherby all estates as be aliue may by prudent comparison gladly assure them selues to see the lyke after their departure of those whom they fauour and preferre in the tyme of their lyues These thynges I say considered may I trust be thought of indifferent and learned christian men not out of tyme spoken nor out of due order of obedieÌ„ce or charitie vttered at the lest way no otherwyse then charitably meant and intended by the writer of the same Who as charitably desireth the christiaÌ„ quiet reader to peruse as benyngly to interprete that which is written which yet be it alway subiect to reformation of all such as of conscience and godly zeale wisheth the aduauncement of Gods glorie the trueth of his worde the honour of the Churche and quiet of this our naturall countrey Amen Aug â–ª de nup et concupis Ista controuersia iudicem querit iudicet ergo Christus Iudicet cuÌ„ eo et apostolus quia et in apostolo ipse loquitur Christus This controuersie requireth a iudge let Christ therfore be iudge And let thapostle iudge with hym for in thapostle also Christe speaketh Non afferamus stateras dolosas vbi appendamus quod volumus et quomodo volumus pro arbitrio nostro dicentes Aug. contra donatist li 2 ca 6. Hieronim 24. q. 1. cap. non afferamus hoc graue est hoc leue est sed afferamus diuinam stateram de scripturis sacris tanquam de thesauris dominicis et in illa quid sit grauius appendamus immo non appendamus sed a domino appensa recognoscamus Let vs not bryng foorth deceytfull balaunces wherein we may waygh what we wyll and howe we wyll saying after our owne opinion this is heauy this is lyght But let vs bryng foorth Gods balaunces out of the holy scriptures as out of the treasures of the Lorde and in that let vs waygh what is more wayghtie nay I say not let vs not waygh but let vs acknowledge the thynges alredy wayghed of the Lorde FINIS A Table of the principall matters conteyned in this booke A ABbesse of Ramsey maryed .316 Abbesse of Amesburie depriued for incontiuencie .316 Abbottes depriued by Anselme .285 Alphonsus vpon the place propter fornicationem vitandam 140 228. a. 264. a. 235.103.206 Aldelme purged pope Sergius .200 b. Ambrose chosen bishop before he was baptised .267.274 writeth vpon melius est nubere c. 145. a. Amalarius testimonie for church seruice .337 Anselme entreated the pope for priestes .15 b. first separated priestes mariages in Englande .214 b. his superstition .214.281 his boke contra offendiculum sacerdotum .280 entreateth for simoniackes .284 resorteth to the pope .294 whose auctoritie he defended .294 his intreatable seueritie .293.295.296 against Thomas of york .298 his decre how it succeeded .298.299 Antonine witnes of priestes dispensations .267 b. Apostles all had wyues pag. 32. b. 33. d. 156. b. 157. a. they dyd not constitute sole lyfe .258 c. 260. c. Appollinaris a priest maryed after order .157 b. Ariminensis sinodus .212 Augustine preferryng scriptures before councels and doctors .98 d. proueth votaries mariages to be good .101 b. 102. a. 225. a. not callyng their mariages adulteries .150 b. 229. b. Augustine corrupted by Gratian .153 a. he reproueth the Nouatians for seconde maryages .163 b. in whose tyme the churche had not defined vowes to be indispensable .233 a. Aethelwolfus subdeacon maryed .272 Alfricus â—â—dgement of priestes maryages .243 Auentâ—â—â— Iohn of priestes maryages .345 Apostles canon against priestes leauyng their wyues .354 B Barnardus against restraynt of maryages .287 Brennyng of diuers abbeys and churches .308.309 Boniface archbishop resisted in his visitation .323 charged to haue a wyfe .323 his habilitie and qualities .324 Boniface pope the eyght terrible to princes .173 a. Bishops charge Fo. 3. pag. 2. a. their ryght stablyshed by parliament Fol. 5. pag. 2. d. they are charged Fol. 6. pag. 1. b. not enioyned to conteyne of necessitie .251 their slacknes to refourme priestes .333 Bishop of Ely Galfride maryed .317 Bishoppes maryed before bishop Cranmer .355 Bookes de potestate Regia and institution of a christian man neuer aunswered .176 b. Barnardinus Corius .346.356 C Calixtus decree not obserued .151 c. Canon of Gangrense councell .259 a. Canon of Matiscone councell for honoryng of priestes .96 c. Canons of the churche howe allowed Fol. 4. pag. 2. b. Canons of the church be not reuiued vpon the repeale of a statute to empeache that was done by force of the statute .172 b. and they do not disable the lawes of the Realme .174 b. 180. and be receaued as they make to the policie of the realme .176 a. Conuocation abolished lawes of continencie .351 Canons of another iurisdiction not allegeable .60 b. Canons rehearsed which do but depriue and not seperate maryed persons .168 a. Canonistes reasons against maryage of priestes vaine .356 Canterburie munckes described by William Malmesbury .215.291 Cardinall legates returned home againe .303 Cardinalles delecte bewray errors of the Churche .187 b. Cardinall Caietane of orderyng .227 a. Carnall reasons against maryage .237.239 Carterius Hispanus named by S. Hierom .212 a. Catholique name abused .79 c. Cayns boy of Cambridge .99 d. Chastitie a rare gyft .148.251 a. Chastitie lesse fauoured then lecherie .272 Chastitie is not to be charged by necessitie .248.347 Churche buylded on Peters confession not on his person .76 a. Churche of Englande hath defined votaries maryage to be good .233 c. Churche of Englande a catholique churche .355 Church of the pope cruel .269 a. Churche tollerateth the cryme of open harlottes .328 Chrisostome of votaries mariage .102 b. Chrisostome councelleth to auoyde the daunger of fornication by goyng to maryage .138 d. Chrisostome exacteth not of a bishop to be vnmaryed .276 d. Cleargie some of them expostulated with Fol. 11. pag. 2. d. Clarkes maryed do open penaunce .89 b. Concilium Agathenâ—e .222 b. Concilium Epaunense .221 c. Councelles hath Christe really present saith Martin .210 a. Concuâ—mate must needes folowe after prohibition of mariage .286 Constitutions ecclesiasticall howe to be obeyed .329 Constantines fauour in hydyng priestes incontinencie .94 c. Constantine sharpely threatneth the cleargie .96 a. Cremensis Cardinall .217.307 D Deacons at their