Innocent III. had not overlooked such a state of discipline, especially after the transactions between himself and John had rendered him the suzerain of England, and doubly responsible for the morals of the Anglican Church. Thus as early as 1203 we find him expressing to the Bishop of Norwich his surprise that priests in his diocese contend that they can retain their benefices after having solemnly contracted marriage in the face of the church. All such are peremptorily ordered to be removed without appeal, either by the bishop himself, or by his superior in cases in which he had personally conferred the preferment.[702] His zealous efforts to effect an impossible reform are chronicled by a rhymer of the period, who enters fully into the dismay of the good pastors at the prospect of the innovation, and who argues their cause with all the sturdy common-sense of the Anglo-Saxon mind. Prisciani regula penitus cassatur, Sacerdos per hic et hæc olim declinabatur; Sed per hic solummodo nunc articulatur, Cum per nostrum præsulem hæc amoveatur. * * * * * Quid agant presbyteri propriis carentes? Alienas violant clanculo molentes, Nullis pro conjugiis fœminis parcentes, Pœnam vel infamiam nihil metuentes. * * * * * Non est Innocentius, immo nocens vere, Qui quod Deus docuit studet abolere; Jussit enim Dominus fœminas habere, Sed hoc noster pontifex jussit prohibere. Gignere nos præcipit vetus testamentum; Ubi novum prohibet nusquam est inventum. A modernis latum est istud documentum, Ad quod nullum ratio præbet argumentum.[703]