Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (08 of 12): Henrie the Third, the Eldest Sonne of King IohnHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (08 of 12): Henrie the Third, the Eldest Sonne of King Iohn
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Henry III, 1216-1272; Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
Moreouer, in this meane while the pope trusting more than inough vpon
the kings simplicitie and patience, who indéed durst not in any case
séeme to displease him, had sent an other collector of monie into
England named Martine, not adorned with power legantine, but furnished
with such authorities and faculties as had not béene heard of. He
was lodged in the temple, where he shewed what commission he had to
gather vp the popes reuenues, and to exact monie by sundrie maner
of meanes, and so fell in hand therewith, vsing no small diligence
therein, vnto the great gréefe and hurt of conscience of manie: he
had power to staie the bestowing of benefices, till he was satisfied
to the full contentation of his mind. Benefices of small value he
regarded not greatlie, but such as were good liuings in déed felt his
heauie and rauenous hands extended towards them. He had power also to
excommunicate, to suspend, and to punish all such as should resist his
will, although neuer so wilfullie bent, in so much that it was said, he
had sundrie blankes vnder the popes bulled seale, bicause that vpon the
sudden he brought foorth such as séemed best to serue for his purpose.
He vsed this his vnmeasurable authoritie to the vttermost, and therein
did not forget his owne profit, but tooke palfries and other presents
of religious men.
¶ But to declare all the practises of this the popes agent, as it would
be too long and tedious a processe, so it is nothing strange that
these his landloping legats and Nuncios haue their manifold collusions
to cousen christian kingdoms of their reuenues. For if they were not
furnished with foxlike fraud and wooluish rauine, they were no fit
factors for him; sith it is required that like maister haue like man.
And therefore he is aptlie described in the likenesse of a man, his
head and face excepted, wherein he resembleth a woolfe; besides that,
he is set foorth with a crosiers staffe in his hand, at the hooke
whereof hangeth his Iudas pursse, wherein are powched vp his pilfered
Peter pence, and I wot not what extorted paiments and pretended duties.
As for his deceits and crafts, he hath more varietie of them, than the
cat of the mounteine hath spots in his skin, or the pecocke hath eies
in his taile. Wherevpon it is trulie said of a late poet,
[Sidenote: _Antithesis de Christi & papæ facinorb. sub authore
anonymo._]
Sydera nemo potest quot sunt numerare polorum,
Quot neq; vere nouo gramina campus habet,
Sic quoq; nemo potest vafri ludibria papæ
Eius & innumeros commemorare dolos:
Huic scopus immensum seducere fraudibus orbem,
Huic scopus humanum ludificare genus.
[Sidenote: The nobles complaine to the king of the popes collector.]
[Sidenote: The king writeth to the pope.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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