Enormytees vsyd by the clergy here floweth dyuers enormytees vsyd by the clergy, and by some wryters theyr adherentis, and specyally agaynst the heresy of symony vsyd by the clergy : how some of the clergy and theyr adherentis causeles haue skla[n]derously spoken agayns this noble realme of Englande and agayns dyuers of the kynges lay subiectes, and haue prechyd & wrytyn agaynst small offe[n]sys, leuyng ye greter offensys in the law of God vntouhcyd [sic]. 1532 Approx. 44 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 25 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2013-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A00299 STC 10421.5 ESTC S2110 23035060 ocm 23035060 26122

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A00299) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 26122) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1795:57) Enormytees vsyd by the clergy here floweth dyuers enormytees vsyd by the clergy, and by some wryters theyr adherentis, and specyally agaynst the heresy of symony vsyd by the clergy : how some of the clergy and theyr adherentis causeles haue skla[n]derously spoken agayns this noble realme of Englande and agayns dyuers of the kynges lay subiectes, and haue prechyd & wrytyn agaynst small offe[n]sys, leuyng ye greter offensys in the law of God vntouhcyd [sic]. [46] p. John Skot, [S.l. : 1532?] Publisher from printer's mark at colophon. Date of publication suggested by STC (2nd ed.). Signatures: A-C⁸ (last leaf blank). Reproduction of original in the Trinity College (University of Cambridge). Library.

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 eng Church of England -- Clergy. Simony -- Early works to 1800. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2012-08 Assigned for keying and markup 2012-08 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2012-10 Sampled and proofread 2012-10 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2013-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
Enormytees vſyd by the Clergy. Here floweth dyuers enormytees vſyd by the Clergy / and by ſome wryters theyr adherentis / and ſpecyally agaynſt the hereſy of ſymony vſyd by the Clergy.
¶How ſome of the Clergy and theyr adherentis cauſeles haue ſklāderouſly ſpoken agayns this noble realme of Englande and agayns dyuers of the Kynges lay ſubiectes / and haue prechyd & wrytyn agaynſt ſmall offē ſys / leuyng ye greter offenſys in the law of god vntouheyd. Ca. i.

THe grace of our lorde Ihu Chryſt / the charyte of god / and the comunycacyon of ye holy goſte / be euer with our noble Kyng with his nobles & counſellours and with vs all Amen.

OF late tyme aboute the begynnȳg of this preſente parlyament / that was begonne the thryd day of November in the .xxj. yere of the Reygne of our moſte drad ſoueraygne lorde yt now is / Kyng henry the yght, defenſor of our feyth / when the clergye hard tell that the greate extorcyon that they had long tyme vſed / in the wrongfull takyng of mortuaryes / and by probate of teſtamentys / ſhulde be reformed / and more meanely qualyfyed to the greate relyfe and comforte of all the kynges laye ſubyectes / Then one of theym ſtode vp / and ſayde opynly / that it was to be feared that the comons of this realme of Englonde / be mych infected with hereſye bycauſe they intendyd to minyſhe and to plucke from the churche ye lybertyes of Chryſtes churche / dredyng that thereby it myght fortune to this realme / as lately be fell to the realme of Boeme / that was the ſubuercion of that ſame realme / But it ſemyth that therin ye clarke there opyned his couetous ſtomake / then callynge theyr wrongfull exaccyōs to be the lybertyes of Chriſtes church / nat conſideryng that there be .ii. lybertyes in the churche / one that is temporall that hath be geuyn by the kyng & by his noble progenytours which may be reſumed by lyke auctoryte And there is an other ſpirytuall lyberty that comyth only from god / that is ſpokē of .i. Coryn .iij. ſayeng Our lorde is the ſpyryte / and where the ſpyryte of god is / there is lybertye / and that lybertye none Emperoure ne Kyng can ne may take from the churche.

¶Now although percaſe the ſayde clerk be a famouſe doctor / & precher of ye worde of god / and be alſo a chaſte man of his body / yet it aperyth euydētly by yt ſeyeng that he is ſore infected wt Aueryce / which is the ſeruytude and bondage of Idolls and is alſo roote of all euylls / god of his grace amend it in hym and all other / but he wolde nat there ſpeke of ye volupteous conuerſacion / and extorcion / and other abhomynacyōs of the clergy / that ryſeth of the ſuperfluite of theyr temporall poſſeſſions / and of the myſuſyng thereof / neyther of the vſurpacion of theyr temporall dyngnytes and auctorytes / neyther yet of the grete and moſte deteſtable hereſye of ſymonye vſed and longe tyme accuſtomed among theym ſelfys / as ſhall be ſayde here after.

¶And alſo ſythyn that tyme of ye begynnyng of this ſame forſayd preſente parlyamente it hath byn a comon ſayeng of dyuerſe of the clergy / that there were neuer ſo many herytykes in Englond / as be now at this preſent day / yea and alſo dyuerſe of the lay gentlemen lerned in the comon law of this realme / and other folkes beyng of kynred or hauyng offyces / fees or rewardes or belyechere of the clergy / with a counterfett petye / monefully affyrme / and openly ſpeke theſame / wherein it ſemyth that they be nat well circumſpect in theyr ſayenges / for onleſe that they be able to name / and to bryng forth thoſe perſons that they ſpeke of / and meane it by / and alſo that they can ſhew theyr opynyons / and can proue them to be heretycall / It ſhulde ells ſeme to be a greate blaſphemy to the Kynges hyghnes / beyng moſte catholyke and chryſtyane defenſor of the feyth And alſo to be an vnnaturall and execrable ſclander to his moſt honorable counſel / to this his hygh courte of parlyament / and to all this noble and good catholyke realme / wherein is no lytell offence yf it be well conſidered. ¶And yet percaſe in theyr ſo ſayng all though they myſtake the lay fee therein yet regardyng the clergy in theyr ſayd ſayenges / they may fortune to ſay more trewly therin than they be ware of / as ſhalbe ſayd hereafter / ¶And although the hereſye of dyuerſe of the clergye ſhalbe here ſum what ſpoken of / yet the good ſorte of good catholyke and vertous clerkes be nat offēded thereby / for this wryter and compyler / euer hath ſayd / and contynually wyll ſay with ſaynt Auſten / O veneranda ſacerdotum dignitas / in quorum manibus dei filius velud in vtero virginis incarnatur / O felices ſacerdotes / ſi ſacerdotaliter vixeritis. &.c. yet of the voluptuous and heretycall ſorte of the clergye it may be ſayde in contrary wyſe as thus / O miſera et deteſtanda ſuperborum / cupidorum / Iracūdorum / luxuriancium / guloſorum / Inuidorum / accidioſorum / voluptuoſorum & hereticancium ſacerdotum / animalis & diabolica condicio / in quorum manibus dei filius iterum quantum in vobis eſt) crucifigitur & morti traditur / et non defensi ſepulcro / sed fetido ſterquilinio mittitur / videlicꝪ in ora et corpora ſacerdotū multiphariis viciis & hereſi plenorum / O infelices ſacerdotes / ſi non ſacerdotaliter vixeritis / And it is ſayd Diſt. xl. Ca. multi ſunt. &.c. that there be many preſtes / and that there be but few preſtes / many in name and but few indede / and therof reade in aboke called Dextra pars oculi ſacerdotis.

¶And alſo where ſome men haue lately taken greate ſtudy & pleaſure / to ympung a vertuous Clerke & a good holſom precher of ye word of god / ſo eſtemed to be in the opyniō of many good mē / & alſo dyuerſe mē hath byn ſett wt theyr talles in theyr handes to wryte & to marke many of his ſayenges in ye pulpit thynkyng therby to confounde / to abiure or to brenne hym / wherein appered greate lacke of good benygnyte / & of charyte / & therby ſemith to appere greate plentye of craftye & ēuyoꝰ cruelnes / & alſo ſome mē wryte agaynſt dyuerſe good catholyke & cryſtyn laymē / callyng ſome of theym ī mockage / ye pacyfyer & ſome other of them Euāgelyke broders / & other dyuerſe names at theyr pleſure / wtout any louȳg & frainall ſpryte of good councell / or of charytable or ſecrete reformacyon.

¶And alſo they haue taken greate ſtudy in confutyng of ſome other mens wrytynges / which they thought to be erroneous / and it ſemyth to them to be welldon ¶But yet percaſe it may be ſayd to ſuche wryters of thoſe thynges which be but tryfles in comparyſon of other great matters that they neuer luſt to ſpeke ne to wryte of / & yet they be greate errours & comōly vſed / as Chryſt ſayd to ye pharyſeys Ipocrytys / Math. xxiij. & Luc. xi. Woo be to you ſcrybys and pharyſeys Ipocrytys / that teche to pay tythȳges of Myntys / Rwe / Annes / Cūmyn / & ſuche other potteherbys / and ye leue vntaught gretter thynges of more grauyte in ye lawe Iugment / mercy / charyte / and feyth / Theſe thynges (ſayth Chryſt) muſt be done / and the other nat lefte vndone / ſuche blynde guydes ſpytt out a flee or gnatt / and ſwalow the greate Camell / and outwardely ſhew them ſelfys lyke to be Iuſt men / but inwardly they be full of Ipocryſe and of inyquyte / Trewly ye be witneſſys to your ſelfys (ſeyth Chryſt) for ye be the ſonnys of them that haue kylled the prophettys / and ye be (ſayth Chryſt) ſerpentes and ye broode or ſpawne of venemous adders / ¶And Theſe wordes be now here ſpoken and alſo reherſed for cauſes folowyng / for there be farre greater vycys and more deteſtable ſynnys / cuſtomably vſed / contrarye to the law of god / than theſe thynges before reherſyd / which of neceſſite ought to be wryten and prechyd of / And as yet belefte vnſpoken / vnprechyd / and vnwryten of / as of late ſeaſon / As of Irregularyte of dyuerſe of the clergy / ſacrylege by them vſually comytted in myſependynge the tythynges & oblacions of Chryſtes churche / on freſſhe apparell on them ſelfes / theyr ſeruantes / theyr horſys / mulys / and wenches / And in theyr coſtely byldynges and repayryng of theyr houſys and the ſuperfluous apparell of the ſame / with Arras and other thynges theyr wyne & pompous plate / The great expencys and coſte in dayntye vytells / The vnlaufull coniuracyons vſed by frerys and other clerkes / The vſuall bre-Kyng of the .iij. eſſencyall vowes of relygyon The dylygent ſtudy of dyuerſe of the clergye in ye ſleyght of craftye handlyng and ſettynge of dyſe and cardes to theintent to begyle all men that playeth with them as doctor dewys aſe / byſhope prymero / and ſuch other The felonyes and murders oftyntymes conmytted by clerkys Theyr conuicciō therof / and theyr acquitall from ye conuycte pryſone by wylfull periury of .xii. forſworne clerkys / The hauyng & myſuſyng of tēporall poſſeſſions of the clergy / contrary to the comaundement of god in ye olde lawe / and contrarye to the example and techyng of Chryſt in the newe lawe of his goſpell / and cōtrary to ye ordynaūce of many holy canōs ī ye decrees / & cōtrary to ye wrytȳgꝭ of diuers holy doctors now ſaȳtes ī heuē / ¶The vſuall ſymonye of dyuerſe of the clergy / which is mooſt greate and mooſt deteſtable hereſy / as partly ſhalbe ſayde hereafter / Theſe and ſuche other be the greate offenſys agaynſt the law of god / and yet fewe or none of the comoun prechers / do ſpeke agaynſt any of them / nether yet he nor any of them which hath taken vpon thē to wryte agaynſt ye ſayde tryfels beyng worthy to be called but tryſyls in comparyſon of the ſayd more greuos offencys wryte no thyng of the foreſayd greate and greuous offencys in the lawe / nether ons ſterr theyr pennes therto.

¶Wherfore it ſemyth that it maybe ſayd to dyuerſe of the prechers and to other of the clergy & to ſuch wryters of ſuch leſſe offencys / as Chryſt ſayd to the pharyſeys Ipocrytys Mat. xxiii. woo be to you ſcrybys & pharyſeys Ipocrytys which theche / preche or wryte / of / or agaynſt ye ſmaller offēcys in goddes lawe / & vſe your ſelfes to cōmytt ye greater offēcys / & ye neyther 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 vſe to teche / to preche neyther to wryte agaynſt them / which if the great mercye of god / were nat ouer vs / were myche lyke to be the cauſe of ſubuerſion of this noble Realme / and of all other Regiōs where they be vſed / without correccyon God and oure noble Kyng defēſor of ye fayth a mende it amen.

¶Of the kynges grete benyngnyte and fauor vſyd alwey toward ye clergy And of theyr grete preſumpcyon and cruelte ſhewed agaynſt his grace and his lay ſubiectys. Ca. ij.

¶It is wryten in the holy decrees that yf any man at any tyme after his baptyſme / happen to ſlee a pagaue / although it were in his defence / he ſhall neuer be Receyued into holy orders / yf he happē to take any holye orders / he ſhalbe put from them as it aperyth Diſtinci. .l. de hiis clericis / yet that natwithſtādyng / it hath oftyntymes beſeen that one preſt hath Robbed / and wylfully murdered a good criſten man / yea and ſomtime one preſte hath wylfully Robbed and murdered an other preſte / and theruppon he hath byn attached / indyted / arayned / and conuicted / wheruppō / his ordynary hath byn redye at ye barre and there hath alowed and Receyuyed him for his clerke / contrary to the ſayd canons / and thereuppon / he hath byn cōueyed to the conuycte preſon / and in ſhort tyme therafter / he hath byn acquytt by a queſt of xij. Forſworne clerkes / and after that he hath ſong and ſayde maſſe at his pleaſure and hathe ſeruyd a cure / and hathe ſonge trentalles for ſoulis / contrary to the ordyuauncis of the ſayd canons / And alſo in the ſayd / .l. Dyſtincion / Cap. i. expremiſſis & ſecūdo / Si lapſus / and other canons there / as Qui igitur / and Si quis Ep̄us / And ſi poſt ordinacionē / and other / ¶It is alſo there ordeyned that if any clerke at any tyme after the Receyuyng of holye orders, happen to fall in ſynne of the fleſſhe / thā he ſhalbe put frome all holy orders / and from mynyſtryng at the Aulter / & that ſame is affermed by ſaynt Gregory. xi. q̄. iii. Ip̄e ligādi / & there p̄uilegni oino / & ther by ſaynt Auſtyn Rediclin eſt / And ſuche a clerke ons depoſed or diſgradyd ſhall neuer be admytted ageyne to any holye orders / as it aperith Diſt. l. Si / quis / and / qui ſemell / and preſbiterū de quo / Suche preſtis haue hadde to myche fauoure here / in this lande / of ye Kyng / of his lordys tēporall / and of all his laye ſubiectis / for godis ſake / and yet they be none of goddis ſeruaūtes / as it aperyth in dyuers holy canons Diſt. l. As is beforeſaid / And alſo it aperyth by / chriſtꝭ goſpell Math. vij. that god vtterly Refuſyth all ſuche clerkys / To be any of his. ſeruauntis / where it aperyth that ſuche clerkys preſomtuouſly ſhall ſaye to god / Lorde, Lorde, haue nat we propheſied & preched in thy name / and in thy name / we haue caſt out deuyles / & in thy name we haue done or made many vertues / And thē Chriſt ſhall knowlege to them / that he neuer knew theym (as to theyre ſaluacion) and wyll bid theym / go ye frō me all ye ſynners / & workers of īyquite. ¶And here ye ſhal ꝑceyue on ye one ſyde ye great ſuperfluous fauour heretofore ſhewed to ye clergye, by ye Kyng / & by his noble ꝓgenytours / & by ye lordes and by other theyr laye ſubiectꝭ / and on ye other ſyde ye ſhall ꝑceyue the great crueltye / & ꝑcyalyte of ye ordynaries & of other Clerkys of auctoryte / cuſtumably ſhewed to the Kynge & to his noble ꝓgenytouris / to his lordis & to other his laye ſubiectis / ¶For where Clerkis many tymes by theyr euyll gouernaunce / as by theyr thefte / murder / ſacrilege & other theyr greuous offēcys haue loſte the pryuylege of theyr Clergy / as hath byn ſayd before / by theyr owne law / yt is by many holy canons in ye holy decrees / & by Chriſtis goſpell / yet ye Kyngꝭ hyghtnes / & his noble ꝓgenytourꝭ ye lordys / & other theyr laye ſubiectis haue alweys ben contented at theyr deſyrys and requeſtys / to make ſtatutys / in fauour of ſuche clerkys murderers and other / thynkyng thereby / to haue deſerued thanke of god / and of the other good ſorte of ye clergy / where they in recompēce of ſuch reuerence & greate curteſy / and good fauorable humanyte ſhewed to them / haue alweys ī contrary wyſe ſhewed to ye noble progenytourys of ye kyng / & to his grace / to his lordys temporall / and to all other ye kynges lay ſubiectys / all cruelty / and cuſtomable percyalyte in ſuche theyr auctorytes as they haue vſyd / ſumetyme preſomtuouſly and cruelly / & few tymes or neuer louyngly / nether fauorably nether yet indyfferently / as now ſhalbe ſayd And fyrſt of theyr preſumpcyon.

¶Where god by ye mouth of the prophet Eſaye .x. curſyth all them that maketh any wyked lawes / yet the prelatys and other the clergy nat dredyng that curſe haue made ſecretely in theyr conuocaciō houſe / here within the Kynges realme preſumtuouſly certeyne conſtituicions that they call prouyncyall / wherein ī ſum caſe they ſpare nat to curſe & to ēterdyte ye Kynges caſtels royall / & other honorable his dominyons & all the inhabytaūce therof / how noble / how good / how vertuous / howſyke / and how nygh the artetycle of deth ſo euer they be / as it appreth in the conſtitucions prouynciall in ye chapiter / Contingit aliquando / and all that is done for mayntenaunce of theyr temporall poſſeſſions and of theyr temporall honourys / where it ſemyth yt none ſuch ſhulde be longyng to them.

¶And here now folowith ſōwhat more of the cruelte and percyalyte longe tyme ſhewed and contynued by the prelates and other yt Clergy to all ye Kynges laye ſubiectes and of the vnlawfull and parcyall fauour borne by the ſayd prelatys to the vnthryfty & curſyd ſorte of the clergy In the holy decrees Diſt .l. There is a lytell chapter yt begynyth thus / Si quis viduam / wherin it is ordeyned that yf any man marye a wedow or woman lefte of an other man he ſhall neuer there after take any holy orders / and yf he hapen to take any ſuche holy orders he ſhalbe put from them / And in the ſame chapiter it is ordeyned yt who ſo euer at any tyme after his baptyſme be in dede / or by counſell / or in his defence / gyltye or agreable to any murder / or manſlaughter / he ſhal neuer take holy orders / And yf he happen to take any then he ſhallbe put from them / and he ſhall neuer take communyō or howſyll but lyke a laye man / And alſo in the nexte chapiter folowyng Peruenit ad nos There it is ordeyned that yf any clerke at any tyme after holy orders by hym taken / fall in lapſe of ye fleſſhe he ſhalbe put from all holy orders & he ſhall neuer ſerue at the aulter as before is ſayd.

¶Now / no man can rede that euer any lay man hath byn fauoryd or dyſpenſed withall by his ordynary in this caſe / how honeſt / how good / and how vertuous ſo euer he and his wyfe or wyffys were / and yet all his doyng in that caſe / hath be done by ye law of god & of the holy church / wherin the ſayd ordynaryes haue vſyd eyther to hygh Iuſtyce or to greate cruelte without dyſcrecyon or mercy.

¶And on ye other ſyde few men or none can tell or hath redd that euer any of the clergye comyttȳg felony wylfull murder fornycacyō adultery inceſte ſacrelege / or tape before takyng of holy orders / or aft takyng of them / hath at any tyme loſt any orders / or yt he hath ben forbodyn or denayed minyſtraciō at the aulter at any tyme / wherin the prelates hath ſhewed theyr vndyſcrete fauour and great percialyte / Therfore it were a charytable dede to make an acte of parlyament that all ſuch vnhappy preſtes whom the holy canons puttyth from mynyſtracyon at ye aulter / ſhulde at ye temporall law loſe all maner of benefytes of theyr clergy / and ſhulde dye for felony or morder done by them for they be no clerkys ne ſhall neuer be admyttyd to theyr clergy as before is ſayd. Diſt. .l.

¶And although diuers prelates may percaſe trewly ſay yt they neuer comytted nether ſuch preſumptuous rygoure nether ſuche vndyſcrete & ꝑeyall fauour as now hath byn ſpokȳ of / yet they can nat excuſe them ſelfys / but that they know that hyt hath byn ſo this long tyme vſyd / and yet euery one of them ſufferyth it / and neyther ſpeke / neyther preche / neyther yet wryte agaynſt it / wherefor it may be ſayd to them as chryſt ſayd to ye phareſeys Ipocrytys Math. xxiij. wo be to you. &.c.

¶And yet ouer this the ſayd clergy hath made an ordynaūce and decre that who ſo euer teche preche or frowardly menyth contrary to any of the fore ſayd decrees decretallys or ordynaunces in theyr conſtitucyons prouyncyall ſhallbe Iugyd an heretyke / as it aperyth in the ſayd conſtytucions ꝓuyncyall titulo / de hereticis Cap. nullus quo que / And where the kyng of his Iuſtyce and gracyous fauour proclaymyth all his Actys made in his hygh courte of parlyamente / in euery ſhere within this his realme / and cauſyth them to be in prynte bycauſe no man ſhulde be excuſyd by ygnoraunte / The clergye doth in a contrary wyſe / make theyr conſtycyons to be ſecrete from / the temporall & lay ſubiectes of ye Kyng / whereby they may daylye fall in daunger of hereſye / and that Ignorantly / wherin ſemyth to be myche craftye cruelte

¶Of the moſt deteſtable hereſye of ſymonye vſyd cuſtomably by them of the clergy and the moſt cōuenyēt order for the punyſhment of the ſame. Cap. iij.

¶Alſo he that luſteth to rede in the holy decrees. i. .q̄. i. he ſhall there fynde a greater daūger amonge the clergy thā is yet ſpoken of / or moche preched / or wryten of / that is yt euery Symonyte is an infydele and an heretyke / and that he is no member of Chryſtys church / and that he is ſo curſed that nothyng cā be bleſſed by hym / And yet moſte comonly they be the gouerners and rulers of the church here in this world / yea and among manye ſundry kyndys of hereſyes reherſyd xxiiij. q̄. iij. Quidam autē heretici / That hereſy of ſymony is furſt named as moſt deteſtable before god / yea and it is ſo deteſtable & abhomynable yt it can nat welbe otherwiſe lykoned but to ye treaſon of Iudas yt ſolde and betrayed god / yea and yet morouer it is ſo deteſtable before god / that euery man beyng of auctoryte that knowyth it / and is nat vehemently chaufed therwith / & agaynſt ye offēders therin is curſed with Symon Magus / which as clerkys ſay is dāpned in hell.

¶What prelate or other clerk of Auctoryte / can a voyde now that curſe / that fell on Symon Magus / And alſo ye Clergy tell the lay men / that who ſo euer know any maner of perſon / to be an heretyk and doth nat dyſcloſe that perſon / and alſo his hereſy / he is afauorer of ye hereſy / and he may be thought as gyltye therin as the pryncypall heretyke / as it apperyth .xxiij. q̄. iij. Qui poteſt obuiare / & Alſo it is wryten Conſenciētes & agentes pari pena punientur / And alſo Ioh .ij. Qui dixerit ei aue cōicat operibꝰ eius malignis Ecce predixi vobis vt in die dn̄i nō cōfundamini / Now than by the Kynges comaundement or aſſente It may be aſked of ye Clergy / in theyr houſe of conuocacyon which and how manye of them can trewly ſay / that he neuer comytted that hereſy of ſymony / nether hath conſentyd therto / nether hath at any tyme knowyn one or mo clerkꝭ to haue offendyd therein / & yet he hath nat dyſcloſed it / It is to be thought by vehemēt ſuſpiciō / yt fewe of thē can Iuſtely excuſe thē ſelfys therof / And yet they be nether attached / impryſoned / examyned / abiured / neyther burned therfore But they be alwayes cruel on the Kynges lay ſubiectys / in areſtyng thē / by force / by cruell impryſonyng of theym in theyr Darke and cloſe pryſons / where none of theyr frendes or other good charytable / and catholyke men / can be ſuffred to cum to theym / to ſee theym and to Relyefe the vnholſom diete of theym / with theyr refuſe of a lytell colde meat / ſmall & palled drynke / with honger thurſt / and coulde / with harde lodgyng among vermyn / wt many ſubtyll and crafty oppoſyngys / & thretinyngꝭ for theyr lucure / yea and in abiuryng or burnyng of theym / which ſūtyme ſkantely know what good fayth / & hereſye meaneth / ¶The grace of god / and of good Kyng harry amend it / and graunte that the byll of the laye cōmons callyd the byll / ex officio may haue good furtheraunce and ſpede / or ells the crueltye of the clergye is lyke to encreaſe / & nat to be pacyfyed / for it ſemyth that they had as leue dye / as to forgoo any parte of theyr temporall power in ſuche cruell hā delynge the Kynges laye ſubiectys with the ſworde of vengeaunce and of cruell blodeſhedyng / as it apperyth in theyr aunſwer to the ſayd byll exofficio / alleggyng for theym this text / Non veni mittere pacem / sed gladiū / wherin they ſhew theyr foule Ipocryſye couered with ſāctite / And vnder that name and coloure of charyte / they be cruell murderers & blode ſheders / as before is ſayd / It is alſo ſayd that euery good Chyriſtyn man ſhulde rather ſufferdeth than to receyue the holy ſacrament of the handys of anye heretycall preeſt knowyngly / as it apereth / xxiiij. q̄. i. Si quis dederit.

¶Symony is comyttyd thre dyuers ways / furſt by reward of the tonge / as by flateryng or fayre wordes of requeſt / or crauynge / geuyn by your ſelfe or by any other perſone for you to ye entente to haue therby ſpūall promocyon / ye knowyng it furſt or laſt / are bounde in medyately to reſygnacyon and to reſtytucyon / Secondly by reward of vndewe ſeruyce as when ye or any other perſon for you do ſeruyes / or promyſe ſeruice to any man to thentente to haue ſpyrytuall promocyon / ye that knowyng are bounde to reſtytucyon / Thrydly by reward of money or of any thyng that is money worth as yf ye or any perſon for you geue or ꝓmyſe any ſume of mony any catell or ferme any ſtuffe of houſholde or any other thynge that is money worth / as ſone as ye may haue knowlege therof / ye are bounde to reſygnacyon and to reſtytucyon of all your profytes before reſeyuyd therof / as it appreth .i. q̄. iii. Saluator predicit / and alſo ī deſtructorio vicō rum in the tytle and chapyter of Symony.

¶It hath byn oftentymes knowen to many men that dyuers Clerkes haue comytted and vſyd this hereſye of ſymonye / But it hath nat byn myche knowyn that any of them hath truly repentyd thē therof / nether by fre reſygnacyon / of theyr benefyces ſo ſymonytely gotyn / nether yet by reſtytucyon of theyr temporall goodes ſimonytely and heretically gotē / nether in theyr teſtamētes at the poynte of deth / wherfore it is to be ſuppoſed and is myche to be fered / that all ſuche heretycall clerkys haue lacked / and ſhall lack grace of trew repētaunce / and of ſatyſfaccion / In confyrmacyon whereof / it is nat redd / yt balam / of whom it is wryten Nū. xxii. and deut .xxiiij. nether of Geyſye of whom .iiij. regum. v. nether of Iudas ye traytour of whō Mat. xxvi. neyther of the fals Byſhoppys ſcrybes & phareſeys Ipocritꝭ / which bought Chriſt of Iudas / of whom in many placys of holy ſcrypture nether of Symon Magus of whō Actū. viij. All whiche were ſymonytys / byyng or ſellyng ſpūall thȳges for tēporall rewarde / of whō it is nat fownd that euer any of thē dyd frutefull penāce but by all lykelyhod / they dyed Impenytente / and out of the ſtate of grace / And here ye may marke a meruelous vſurpacion in the pope / for where ſaynt Peter neuer dyd / ne wolde aſſoyle Symon Magus of that deteſtable cryme and hereſye of Symony / but ſuffered hym to peryſh both in body and in ſoule / yet the pope hath vſyd to aſſoyle all ſymonyte clerkes for money / yea and alſo to dyſpence with them / and to lycence them contynually for terme of theyr lyues / to retayne and enioye the benefycys and all the frutys and profytes of the ſame ſymonytly and heretycally gotten / without ſcrupuloſyte of conſcyence.

¶And yet the pope and the clergye wyll nat be contented / that the Kyngys hyghnes ſhall at any tyme perdone the lyfe of any lay heretycall perſone / that they haue onys Iuged to the fyer or haue put from them to the lay handes / although it be euydently knowen / that the kyng hath more power ouer the bodyes of his ſubiectes / than the pope and all his clergye hath / where by it ſhulde ſeme that the pope is nat only an heretyke hym ſelfe / but alſo a cuſtomable maynteyner and vpholder of heretykes and hereſies And yet herof we can here no prechyng nether ſee no wrytyng of late ſeſon / but ſome one hath ſcornefully ſayd / I pray you be good to the clergye / wherefore it may be ſayde to many of the prechers / and to ſuch wryters and confuters of ye ſmaller hereſyes / that leuyth the greter offencys in goddys lawe as the ſayde ſymonycall hereſyes and other be / to be vnprechyd / vnwrytyn and nat cōfuted / as Chriſt ſayd to the phareſeys Ipocrytꝭ Math. xxiii. as before is wryten / wo be to you. &.c.

¶The correccion of all ſuche enormytes in the clergye of this realme be longyth to the kynges hyghnes as to his ſeculer-power / as it aperyth by dyuerſe holy canons yt is .xxiii. q̄. i. Si apud carnales. xxiii. q̄. iii. Qui pōt. xxiii. q̄. v. Sunt que dā enormia / and there de lyguribus & vene ticis / and there Regum officium eſt & ther / Qui malos ꝑcutit / and there Si ꝓpterea / and in manye other dyuerſe placis of the holy decrees.

¶And euery man both temporall and ſpūall is bownde to be obedyent and to beleue in all the holye canons / and to maynteyn / nothing contrary to any of theym vppon payne of hereſye as it is ſayd and cōmaunded in the ſayd cōſtitucions ꝓuyncyall / Titulo de hereticꝭ Ca. Nullus quo que and alſo .xxv. q̄. i. violatores canonum / ¶And in cōfyrmaciō of the Kynges Auctoryte for correccion of all enormytees in the Clergye / ye may harkyn what is ſayd therof Ioh. xix. Whan Chriſt ſtode before Pylate and was there vntrewly accuſed of treſon agaynſt Ceſar / there Pylate ſayd to Chriſt / knoweſt nat thou that I haue power to crucyfye ye / and alſo to dyſcharge and to forgyue the / Chryſt denayed it nat / but affermed it / ſaying / Thou ſhuldeſt haue no power vppon me, but yf it had be geuyn the from aboue / as from god / Harkyn alſo ſaynt Paule Ro. xiii. Wher he wylleth euery man to be obedient to the hygh power of ye Kyng ſeying lett euery man be ſubiect to the powers / There is no power but of god / he that reſyſteth power / doth reſyſt ye ordynaunce of god / And they that ſo reſyſte gere dampnacion to theym ſelfys / for pryncis be nat ſett here in drede of anye good warke / but of euyll &.c. He berith the ſword nat without cauſe / he is goddys mynyſtre and auenger wrathfullye to hym that euyll doth. &c.

And ſaynt Peter. i. Petri. ii. ſayth Be ye ſubiect to euery humayne creature for god &.c. to the vengeaunce of euyll doers and to ye laude and prayſe of good men. &.c.

¶The prechyng / wrytyng / & ſhewyng of theyſe forſayd and other great and greuous offēſys agaynſt ye lawe of god / And the declaraciō of ye Kynges power in punyſſhyng therof / had byn and yet wylbe moche pleſant to god / And alſo it ſhuld haue bene good acceptable ſeruice to the Kynges hyghnes / for it ſhulde haue put / and yet may put his grace in good perfyte knowledge / what belōgyth for a Kyng or prynce to do herafter in all ſuche outrageous offēſis / yf ye Clergye / do nat ceaſe ther of / And ſo the correcion thereof had byn / and yet may be a helpe & furtheraunce to the mayneteynaūce of the Kynges honour / and of his prerogatyfe reyall / For by eſtymaciō the knowlege therof hathe byn longe tyme kepte from his grace / and from his noble progenytours / and from ye temperall lordes peeris of this Realme / wherfore in the honoure of god and for the dewtye that ye owe to the Kyng / ye prechers & wryters that haue herto fore prechyd / and wryten / of ſuche tryfyls and ſmaller of fenſys in godys lawe as is before reherſed / Now preche ye and wryte ye furſte in reprouyng and oppreſſyng of theſe for ſayde greate and deteſtable vycys / and that done than may ye preche and wryte of other ſmaller offencys at your pleaſure (quia ipſa oportet facere & illa non omittere) And ſo ye maye alſo a voyde frō your ſelfys ye greate & perelous curſe that is fallen on Symon Magus / or els the foreſayde holy canon. i. q̄. i. quisquis per pecuniam / reporteth that ye be in greate daunger therof / And in ſo doyng / the tyme ſhalbe well ſpente / and god and the Kynge ſhalbe well ſeruyd / and the comynaltye of this realme may be therby ſett at moche reſt and peace / ¶For the clergye in theyr cruell perſecucyon of the kynges laye ſubiectes do all contrarye to Chryſtes doynges and to his comaundementes and alſo contrary to ye holy canon. xxiiij. q̄. iii. Cap. vltimo in which holy canō is reherſed Chryſtes acte and comaundement Math. xiij. Seyeng / ſuffyr ye as well the cokell as the good corne to growe bothe to gether tyll haruyſt tyme / for drede that when ye wolde wede and plucke vp the cokell ye ſhall alſo therwith plucke vp the goode corne by the rote / And there the ſayde holy canon ſeyth It is neceſſarye that ſome hereſyes & heretykes be / And alſo Math. xv. where Chryſtis appoſtolys ſayd to hym / Thou knowyſt that in this thy worde the pharyſeys be ſklanderyd / And there Chryſt bade & comaunded thoſe pharyſeys to be ſuffred / ſeyyng they were blynde and leders of blynde men or of blynde thynges / And no clerk dowtyth but knowyth thoſe pharyſees to be heretykes / and yet Chryſt bade ſuffer them / But ye ſayd cruell ſorte of the Clergye hath nat of late ſeaſon done ſo / But ſome tyme it hath ben thought that they wold abiure a good cryſtyan man cauſeles / as yt ſemyth by ſome perſons lately beyng in theyr daunger & priſon / wherefore theſe premyſſys well conſydered it ſhulde ſeme to be very neceſſarye counſell to the ordynaryes ſpūall and to other the Clergye / to aduyſe thē / to leue theyre cruell handelyng of the kynges lay ſubiectes for ſuch hereſyes as be but ſmall hereſyes in comparyſō of greter / tyl they may clere and clenſe theym ſelfys from ſymonye that is the greteſt and moſte abhomynable hereſye or ells tyll they can proue by good auctoryte that ſymony is none hereſye / for it ſemyth to be agreat abuſe that where a prelates dewtye is to fede Chryſtes flocke that is put to his kepyng with holſom doctryne / yea and to anoynte and to hele them that be infected or ſcabbed / louyngly with ſofte ſalnys / and nat to bete them / nether to ſhere or poll them / nether to ſlee theym in there good name / ne other wyſe / but louyngly and ſecretely to reforme them that be in errours / lyke a good ſhepherd and nat to be amonge them lyke awolfe or lyke a bere / that all weyes fedyth hymſelfe on ye flocke / and neuer chereſſheth them / for to ſuche one it may wel be ſayde ye Ipocryte and archeherytyke / yf ye luſt to pyke a ſtrawe or mote out of myne eye / furſte it wylbe myche neceſſary / that ye drawe out the greate poſte or beame from your owne eye / and ſo ſhall ye the better ſee to pyke the ſtrawe or more out of myne eye.

¶And yf ye Clergye wyll nat be therewt contented / then it is to be thought that the kynges hyghnes hathe good cauſe to ſay to them / as Chryſt ſayd to the ſcrybys and pharyſeys Ipocrytes as is before ſayd Math. .xxiii. ye be wytteneſſys to your owne ſelfys for ye haue wryten in your byll of anſwere / to the byll of complaynte that my lay ſubiectes hath put to me in theyr ſupplycacyon agaynſt you ye ſpūall ordynaryes of this my realme / called the byll ex officio / that ye were neuer greuous to your bretherne / and goſtly chylderne but onely to ſuche as were infected with the peſtelent poyſon of hereſye / with whom (ye ſaye) that ye are cō maunded by Chryſtes goſpell to haue no peace ſayenge. Math. x. Non veni mittere pacem sed gladiū / And although yet as it ſemyth by the proſeſe of that chapyter / it is nat in tended nether mente as ye haue applyed yt / for in foure or fyue hundered placys of ſcrypture / god hath comaunded loue & peace / and nat ſtryfe warre / nether blod ſhedȳg / And therfor it aperyth that it may be Iuſtely ſayd to you as Chryſt ſayd to ye pharyſeis Ipocrytes in the foreſayd goſpell Math. xxiii. ye be the ſonnes of them that ſlewe the prophetys / ye wyll ſay ſeyth Chryſt that yf ye hadd byn offycers in that tyme whē your fathers ſlew the prohetꝭ that ye wolde nat haue byn theyr felowes in blode ſhedyng / but it is nat ſo / for at this day ye ſay ye loue your brothers / and yet ye wyll kyll them / but ye cā nat do both / and therfore Chryſt calleth you in that ſayde goſpell / the ſpawne or ſeede of venemous Adders and ye wolde blynde the people and ſay that therin ye eſteme that ye do acceptable ſeruyce to god in all ſuche your craftye cruelte / but ye know the contrarye / though ye luſt to applye and to expounde holye ſcrypture at your pleaſure and to your wretched and ſynfull appetytis / to colour and to hyde your cruelty and your Ipocryſye / And yf any of my lay ſubietꝭ ſhew to you holy ſcrypture ſuffycyent to confoūde your wrong applynge of ſcrypture / and your Iwyſh fables / Anon ye ſay that no lay man ſhulde medell with holy ſcrypture / but therin Chryſt cōfoundeth you / Luc. .xi. ſayeng to you of ye clergy wo be to you yt be lerned in ye lawe / yt haue taken or borne away ye kaye of cūnynge / & your ſelfe haue nat ētred or gone ī / & ye haue forboden thoſe yt ētred / & hereby ye thynke to coloure & to hyde your greate cruell Ipocryſy / but it is wrytē by a famous doctor in a boke called Deſtructoriū victorū / That by dyuers wayes a mā may know an Ipocrite / wherof one now folowyth / ¶Ccognoſeuntur ipocrite ex opp̄ſſione bono rum / Opprimunt enim bonos ꝑſequē do factis / & detrahēdo verbis / cuiuſmodi uidēt ur eſſe hoēs multi ſuꝑiores eccle tā ſeclares quam regulares / qui fideles & humiles ſeruos xp̄i perſeqūtur / id eſt eos incarcerādo & aliquādo comburēdo occidūt / sed , quare hoc faciunt / Certe experientia do cente / pro eo ꝙ eorum vitam reꝓbant voluptuoſam / & negligenciam reprehendunt / SꝪ o miſer qui taliter agis / quare reſpiciendo ſcripturas ſacras / & ſpecialiter euangelia / non conſideras / ꝙ ī aug mentacionem ſue proprie dampnacionis ita fecerunt predeceſſores tui pontifices falſi / ſcribe & phareſei / qui de bonis eccleſie voluptuoſe vixerūt / ſicut tu nunc Nonne ep̄i occiderunt rp̄m / aplos & ſcōs martires / reputando eos hereticos ꝓeo ꝙ eorum peccā reꝓbauerunt / ſic tu reputas eos hereticos qui tuam vitam reprobant voluptuoſam. &.c.

¶Now ſythens it is ſuffycyently layde and prouyd to you by dyuerſe greate auctorytees of ye holy lawe canon / that clerkes ſymonytes be gretteſt heretykes / yea and archeheretykes in cōparyſon of a lay man that is an heretyke / and ſythens alſo that the ſame holy law canon affermyth and declareth euery man of auctoryte that is nat vehemently chafyd and dyſpleſed with you for yt ſame your ſymony / and hereſye / to be curſed with Symon Magus which all ye wyll grāte and afferme to be dampned in to hell perpetually / And alſo ſythens it is ſufficiētly prouyd by holy ſcrypture and alſo it is decreed by dyuers of the ſayd holy canons before alleged / that the punyſſhmēt therof belongyth to me that am your kynge & gouernour / as to our ſeculer power / what cā ye now ſay but yt of very Iuſtice in goddys cauſe and in eſchewyng / and avoydyng of that terryble curſe yt fell on Symon magus / from which almyghtye god of his great mercy ſaue and defende vs / wee muſte be vehementley ſterede and chaufed agaynſte you / and accordyng to your demeritis / and to your for ſayd aunſwere to the ſayd byll ex officio / to haue no peace with you / and to ſay to you with criſte / Math. x. Non venimittere pacem sed Gladium / for heryn ye be wytteneſſis to your owne ſelfis / And ſo of neceſſite we muſt ſe you punyſſhed with the ſworde of ſharpe execuciō / as ye haue cauſed other ſmall heretykys beyng but ſmall in cōparyſon of them yt be gretter heretykes of late tyme to be punyſſhed / as with cruell areſtyng you / harde impreſonyng opynlye abiuryng you / and greuouſly amerſyng you with great fynys / and with takyng from you / all that ye haue here / before ſymonytely and heretycally goten / and longe receyued / or elles with fyer conſume you / yf ye luſte nat to abiure / for in this caſe ye be wyttneſſys to your ſelfys as before is ſayd ¶And it is congruent / and well conſonant and agreable to good reaſō / and to all lawes of god and of man / furſt to punyſſhe / and to confownde the greatter offenders / and archeretykys / and afterwarde the leſſe / for euery byſſhop and preeſt heretyk maye trewly be called an Archeherytyke in comparyſon of a laye heretyke / aſwell for the qualytees and dyfference of theyr ſpūall dygnyte / as of theyr offenſys / and therfore it ought aſwell to be furſt punyſſhed / as alſo moſt greuouſly / and moſt openly punyſſhed / wytnes of ſaynt Bar. ſayyng / Non enim par debet eſſe pena / vbi diſpareſt cauſa.

¶Nowe yf any clerke luſt to make anſwer here to / then for the loue of god lett theyr aunſwere be put in wrytyng charytably / that it may be Replyed to / yf nede be / Or elles lett theym yelde theym ſelfys gyltye therin / and put theym ſelfys holye to ye mercye & grace of the Kynges hyghnes / whiche is / and hath alweys ben / mercyfull and gracyous /

¶Viuat Rex Gaudeat grex Luceat lex In Regno maieſtatis. ¶Salus ſeniori bus Concors coī bus Et pax hoī bus Bone volūtatis.
¶Amen amen ſey euery man.

¶Impreſſum / Cum priuilegio regali.

¶Tabula. ¶How ſome of the Clergy and theyr adherentis cauſeles haue ſklāderouſely ſpoken agayns this noble realme of Englande and agayns dyuers of the Kynges lay ſubiectes / and haue prechyd & wryten agaynſt ſmall offē ſys / leuȳg ye greter offenſys agaynſt the law of god vntouched. Ca. .i. ¶Of the kynges grete benyngnyte and fauor vſyd alwy to ward ye clergy And of theyr grete preſumpcyon and cruelte ſhewed agaynſt his grace and his lay ſubiectys. Ca. .ij. ¶Of the moſt deteſtable hereſy of ſymony vſyd cuſtomably by them of the clergy and the moſt cōuenyēt order for the punyſhment of the ſame. Ca. iij. ¶Finis.

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