English literature -- Middle English, 1100-1500; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 1066-1485 -- Sources
_For, from the highest priest to the lowest, all (as who say) study,
that is, they imagine and travail busily how they may please this world
and their flesh. This sentence and many such others dependeth upon them,
if it be well considered; either GOD the Father of heaven hath deceived
all mankind by the living specially and teaching of JESUS CHRIST, and
by the living and teaching of his Apostles and Prophets; all else all
the Popes that have been since I had any knowledge or discretion, with
all the College of Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, Monks, Canons,
and Friars, with all the contagious flock of the comminalty of
priesthood, which have, all my life-time and mickle longer, reigned and
yet reign and increase damnably from sin into sin, have been and yet be
proud obstinate heretics, covetous simoners_ [trafficers in
ecclesiastical preferments], _and defouled adulterers in the ministering
of the Sacraments, and especially in the ministering of the Sacrament of
the Altar._
_For, as their works shew (whereto CHRIST biddeth us take heed!) the
highest priests and Prelates of this priesthood challenge and occupy_
[hold] _unlawfully temporal lordships. And for temporal favour and mede,
they sell and give benefices to unworthy and unable persons; yea, these
simoners sell sin! suffering men and women in every degree and estate,
to lie and continue, from year to year, in divers vices slanderously.
And thus, by evil example of high priests in the Church, lower priests
under them are not only suffered, but they are maintained to sell full
dear to the people for temporal mede, all the Sacraments. And thus all
this foresaid priesthood is blown so high, and borne up in pride and
vainglory of their estate and dignity, and so blinded with worldly
covetousness, that they disdain to follow CHRIST in very meekness and
wilful poverty, living holily, and preaching GOD's Word truly, freely,
and continually; taking their livelihood at the free will of the people,
of their pure almose_ [alms], _where and when, they suffice not (for
their true and busy preaching) to get their sustenance with their
hands._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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