English literature -- Middle English, 1100-1500; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 1066-1485 -- Sources
_To this true sentence, grounded on CHRIST's own living and teaching of
his Apostles; these foresaid worldly and fleshly priests will not
consent effectually. But, as their works and also their words shew,
boldly and unshamefastly these foresaid named priests and Prelates
covet, and enforce them mightily and busily, that all Holy Scripture
were expounded and drawn according to_ their _manners, and to_ their
_ungrounded_ [unwarranted] _usages and findings. For they will not
(since they hold it but folly and madness!) conform their manners to the
pure and simple living of CHRIST and his Apostles, nor they will not
follow freely their learning. Wherefore all the Emperors and Kings, and
all other lords and ladies, and all the common people in every degree
and state, which have before time known or might have known; and also
all they that now yet know or might know this foresaid witness of
priesthood; and would not, nor yet will enforce them, after their
cunning and power, to withstand charitably the foresaid enemies and
traitors of CHRIST and his Church; all these strive, with ANTICHRIST,
against JESU! And they shall bear the indignation of GOD Almighty
without end, if in convenient time they amend them not, and repent them
verily; doing therefore due mourning and sorrow, after their cunning and
power._
_For through presumptions and negligence of priests and Prelates (not of
the Church of CHRIST, but occupying their prelacy, unduly in the Church,
and also by flattering and false covetousness of other divers named
priests), lousengers, and lounderers are wrongfully made and called
Hermits; and have leave to defraud poor and needy creatures of their
livelihood, and to live by their false winning and begging in sloth and
other divers vices. And also of these Prelates, these cokir noses_ [?]
_are suffered to live in pride and hypocrisy, and to defoul themselves
both bodily and ghostly._
_Also by the suffering and counsel of these foresaid Prelates and of
other priests, are made vain, both Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods, full of
pride and envy; which are full contrary to the Brotherhood of CHRIST,
since they are cause of mickle dissension: and they multiply and
sustained it uncharitably, for in lusty eating, and drinking
unmeasurably and out of time, they exercise themselves. Also this vain
confederacy of Brotherhoods is permitted to be of one clothing, and to
hold together. And in all these ungrounded and unlawful doings, priests
are partners and great meddlers and counsellors._
_And over this viciousness, hermits and pardoners, ankers_ [anchorites],
_and strange beggars are licensed and admitted of Prelates and priests
for to beguile the people with flatterings and leasings_ [falsehoods]
_slanderously, against all good reason and true belief; and so to
increase divers vices in themselves, and also among all them that accept
them or consent to them._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account