| Note 2 |
Ye that are Lords and Burgesses of the Parliament house, I require of you in the name of all my poor brethren that are English men and members of Christs body, that ye consider well (as ye will answer before the face of Almighty God in the day of judgement) this abuse, and see it amended. When as antichrist of Rome durst openly without any vizard, walk up and down thorowout England, he had so great favour there, and his children had such cra•ty wits (for the children of this world are wiser in their generation then the children of light) that they had not onely almost gotte • all the best lands of England into their hands, but also the most part of all the best benefices, both parsonages and vic•raged, which were for the most part all impropred unto them. And when they had the gifts of any not impropered, they gave them unto their friends, of the which alwaies some were learned, for the monks found of their friends children at school. And though they were not learned, yet they kept hospitality, and helped their poor friends. And if the personage were improprated, the monks were bound to deal almes to the poor, and to keep hospitality, as the wri•ings of the gifts of such personages and lands do planly declare in these words, in puram ele••of••om. And as touching the •l•es that they deale and the hospitality that they kept, every man knoweth that many thousands were well releeved of them, and might have been better, if they had not had so many great mens horses to feed, and had not been overcharged with such idle gentlemen, as were never out of the abbeys. And if they had any vicarage in their hands, they set in sometime some sufficient 〈 ◊ 〉 (though it were but seldome) to preach and to teach. But now that all the abbeys with their 〈 ◊ 〉 goods and impropriated personages be in temporall mens hands, I doe not here tell, that one halfepenny worth of almes, or any other profit cometh unto the people of those parishes. Your pretence of putting down abbies, was to amend that was amisse in them. It was far amisse that a great part of the lands of the abbies (which were given to bring up learned men, that might be Preachers to keep hospitality, and to give almes to the poor) should be spent upon a few superstitious monks, which gave no• fourty pound in almes, when they should have given two hundred. It was amisse that the monks should have personages in their hands, and deal but the twentieth part thereof to the poor, and preached but once in a year to them that paid the tithes of the personages. It was amisse that they scarcely among twenty set not one sufficient vicar to preach for the t•thes that they received. But see now, how •t that was amisse, is amended for all the godly pretence. It is amended even as the devil amended his dames legge (as it is in the proverb) when he should have set it right, he br•ke it quite in peecet. The monks gave too little •lm, and set unable persons many times in their benefices. But now where twenty pound was given yearly to the poor, in more then in a hundred places in England, is not one meal• m••t given. This is a fa•• amendment. Where they had alwaies one or other vicar, that tither preached or hired some to preach, now is there no vicar at all, but the farme• is vicar and parson alltogether, and onely an old castaway monk or 〈 ◊ 〉 which can scarcely say his mattens, is 〈 ◊ 〉 for twenty or thirty shillings meat and drink, yea in some places for meat and drink alone without any wages. I know, and not I alone, but twenty thousand more know more then five hundred vicarages and parsonages, thus well and gospelly ferved, after the new Gospel of England. And if a man say to the farmers, why have the people no preachers? seeing ye have the tithes and offerings ye should finde Preachers. They will answer, we have hired the personages of this or that Lord, and he or he is parson or vicar, we pay for the tithes and offerings to the Lord that is person. Well then, I say unto thee my Lord, parson, and vicar, thou doest wrong, to have personages and vicarages, to have the tenth pig, the tenth lamb, goose, fleece, and so of all other things, seeing that thou art no Minister nor no priest of Christs Church; teach, nor do any office of a parson or of a vicar, but polle and pille. What canst thou say of thy self my Lord parson and vicar? thou wilt say peradventure, the King gave me the abbey and all that belongeth thereto, which had then given him by the Parliament, Therefore if thou speak against my being person and vicar though I neither preach nor teach, nor yet procure none to do it for me, thou art a traitour, for this the thirteenth article of our creed added of late, that whatsoever the Parliament doth, must needs be well done, and the Parliament, or any proclamation out of the Parliament time, cannot erre. But to you my Lord parsons, how can ye defend your selves if a man should bring this argument against you, and prove you all the theeves, that have personages and vicarages in your hands, and cannot preach. Christ saith Iohn 10. he that entreth not into the sheepfold by the door, but climbeth in an other way is a thief and a murtherer, but ye entred in an other way, wherefore ye are theeves and murtherers. That you come not in by the door, I will prove it thus, Christ is the door, but by Christ ye came not into the sheepfold, that is, to be parsons and vicars, for ye grant that ye came in by the act of Parliament, and the act of Parliament is not Christ, for it is not confirmed by Christs word, therefore ye came not by Christ, and so be ye theeves and murtherers, as your works proved of late, in shedding of the bloud of so many true preachers and shepheards, which spent their lives for their sheep. If this argument be not strong enough, what say you by this? All they that come before me (saith Christ) are theeves and robbers, ye come into the sheepfold, before Christ, ergo ye be theeves and robbers. To come in before Christ, is to be a parson or a vicar before Christ send him ▪ and ye came in before Christ sent you, for he sendeth none to be sheepheards, but such as he knoweth to be able to feed his flook, ergo he never sent you, for he knoweth you unable to do that office. And thus to conclude, ye be theeves and robbers, for a theef cometh not but to steal and to kill. Wherefore give over your parsonages to learned men, and enter not into other mens vocations, to rob the Ministers both of their office and of their living, that ye be not punished of God. But if ye will needs be parsons and vicars still, and have all the profits of the parsonages, and will have all, even to the tithe egge of a poor woman that hath but two hens, ye must have the pains that belong to such persons as you be. Hear what Almighty God saith unto you, my Lords. which will be parsons and pastors, Ezek •3 If I say unto the wicked thou shalt die the death, and thou speak not unto him, to keep the wicked from his way, the wicked his own self shall dye in his wickednesse, but his bloud shall I require of thy hand. Mark well, Lord parson, for this is said to all them that are parsons, and take wages, and living of the people, as tithes and offerings, for feeding of them with Gods word, or else by what title canst thou challenge the tithes? look well upon this matter, and build thy conscience upon Gods word. The complaint of Roderick Mors to the Parliament in Edw 6. time. |
You that Are lords and Burgesses of the Parliament house, I require of you in the name of all my poor brothers that Are English men and members of Christ body, that you Consider well (as you will answer before the face of Almighty God in the day of judgement) this abuse, and see it amended. When as antichrist of Room durst openly without any vizard, walk up and down throughout England, he had so great favour there, and his children had such cra•ty wits (for the children of this world Are Wiser in their generation then the children of Light) that they had not only almost got • all the best Lands of England into their hands, but also the most part of all the best Benefices, both parsonages and vic•raged, which were for the most part all impropered unto them. And when they had the Gifts of any not impropered, they gave them unto their Friends, of the which always Some were learned, for the Monks found of their Friends children At school. And though they were not learned, yet they kept hospitality, and helped their poor Friends. And if the personage were improprated, the Monks were bound to deal alms to the poor, and to keep hospitality, as the wri•ings of the Gifts of such Personages and Lands do planly declare in these words, in puram ele••of••om. And as touching the •l•es that they deal and the hospitality that they kept, every man Knoweth that many thousands were well relieved of them, and might have been better, if they had not had so many great men's Horses to feed, and had not been overcharged with such idle gentlemen, as were never out of the abbeys. And if they had any vicarage in their hands, they Set in sometime Some sufficient 〈 ◊ 〉 (though it were but seldom) to preach and to teach. But now that all the abbeys with their 〈 ◊ 〉 goods and impropriated Personages be in temporal men's hands, I do not Here tell, that one halfpenny worth of alms, or any other profit comes unto the people of those Parishes. Your pretence of putting down abbeys, was to amend that was amiss in them. It was Far amiss that a great part of the Lands of the abbeys (which were given to bring up learned men, that might be Preachers to keep hospitality, and to give alms to the poor) should be spent upon a few superstitious Monks, which gave no• fourty pound in alms, when they should have given two hundred. It was amiss that the Monks should have Personages in their hands, and deal but the twentieth part thereof to the poor, and preached but once in a year to them that paid the Tithes of the Personages. It was amiss that they scarcely among twenty Set not one sufficient vicar to preach for the t•thes that they received. But see now, how •t that was amiss, is amended for all the godly pretence. It is amended even as the Devil amended his dams leg (as it is in the proverb) when he should have Set it right, he br•ke it quite in peecet. The Monks gave too little •lm, and Set unable Persons many times in their Benefices. But now where twenty pound was given yearly to the poor, in more then in a hundred places in England, is not one meal• m••t given. This is a fa•• amendment. Where they had always one or other vicar, that tither preached or hired Some to preach, now is there no vicar At all, but the farme• is vicar and parson altogether, and only an old castaway monk or 〈 ◊ 〉 which can scarcely say his Mattens, is 〈 ◊ 〉 for twenty or thirty shillings meat and drink, yea in Some places for meat and drink alone without any wages. I know, and not I alone, but twenty thousand more know more then five hundred vicarages and parsonages, thus well and gospelly ferved, After the new Gospel of England. And if a man say to the farmers, why have the people no Preachers? seeing you have the Tithes and offerings you should find Preachers. They will answer, we have hired the Personages of this or that Lord, and he or he is parson or vicar, we pay for the Tithes and offerings to the Lord that is person. Well then, I say unto thee my Lord, parson, and vicar, thou dost wrong, to have Personages and vicarages, to have the tenth pig, the tenth lamb, goose, fleece, and so of all other things, seeing that thou art no Minister nor no priest of Christ Church; teach, nor do any office of a parson or of a vicar, but Poll and pille. What Canst thou say of thy self my Lord parson and vicar? thou wilt say Peradventure, the King gave me the Abbatiae and all that belongeth thereto, which had then given him by the Parliament, Therefore if thou speak against my being person and vicar though I neither preach nor teach, nor yet procure none to do it for me, thou art a traitor, for this the thirteenth article of our creed added of late, that whatsoever the Parliament does, must needs be well done, and the Parliament, or any proclamation out of the Parliament time, cannot err. But to you my Lord parsons, how can you defend your selves if a man should bring this argument against you, and prove you all the thieves, that have Personages and vicarages in your hands, and cannot preach. christ Says John 10. he that entereth not into the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in an other Way is a thief and a murderer, but you entered in an other Way, Wherefore you Are thieves and murderers. That you come not in by the door, I will prove it thus, christ is the door, but by christ you Come not into the sheepfold, that is, to be parsons and Vicars, for you grant that you Come in by the act of Parliament, and the act of Parliament is not christ, for it is not confirmed by Christ word, Therefore you Come not by christ, and so be you thieves and murderers, as your works proved of late, in shedding of the blood of so many true Preachers and shepherds, which spent their lives for their sheep. If this argument be not strong enough, what say you by this? All they that come before me (Says christ) Are thieves and robbers, you come into the sheepfold, before christ, ergo you be thieves and robbers. To come in before christ, is to be a parson or a vicar before christ send him ▪ and you Come in before christ sent you, for he sends none to be shepherds, but such as he Knoweth to be able to feed his flook, ergo he never sent you, for he Knoweth you unable to do that office. And thus to conclude, you be thieves and robbers, for a thief comes not but to steal and to kill. Wherefore give over your parsonages to learned men, and enter not into other men's vocations, to rob the Ministers both of their office and of their living, that you be not punished of God. But if you will needs be parsons and Vicars still, and have all the profits of the parsonages, and will have all, even to the tithe egg of a poor woman that hath but two hens, you must have the pains that belong to such Persons as you be. Hear what Almighty God Says unto you, my lords. which will be parsons and Pastors, Ezekiel •3 If I say unto the wicked thou shalt die the death, and thou speak not unto him, to keep the wicked from his Way, the wicked his own self shall die in his wickedness, but his blood shall I require of thy hand. Mark well, Lord parson, for this is said to all them that Are parsons, and take wages, and living of the people, as Tithes and offerings, for feeding of them with God's word, or Else by what title Canst thou challenge the Tithes? look well upon this matter, and built thy conscience upon God's word. The complaint of Roderick Mors to the Parliament in Edward 6. time. |
pn22 cst vbr n2 cc n2 pp-f dt n1 n1, pns11 vvb pp-f pn22 p-acp dt n1 pp-f d po11 j n2 cst vbr np1 n2 cc n2 pp-f npg1 n1, cst pn22 vvb av (c-acp pn22 vmb vvi p-acp dt n1 pp-f j-jn np1 p-acp dt n1 pp-f n1) d n1, cc vvb pn31 vvn. c-crq p-acp n1 pp-f vvb vvd av-j p-acp d n1, vvb a-acp cc a-acp p-acp np1, pns31 vhd av j n1 a-acp, cc po31 n2 vhd d j n2 (c-acp dt n2 pp-f d n1 vbr jc p-acp po32 n1 av dt n2 pp-f n1) cst pns32 vhd xx av-j av vvd • d dt js n2 pp-f np1 p-acp po32 n2, cc-acp av dt av-ds n1 pp-f d dt js n2, d n2 cc j-vvn, r-crq vbdr p-acp dt av-ds n1 d vvn p-acp pno32. cc c-crq pns32 vhd dt n2 pp-f d xx vvn, pns32 vvd pno32 p-acp po32 n2, pp-f dt r-crq av d vbdr j, p-acp dt n2 vvn pp-f po32 n2 n2 p-acp n1. cc cs pns32 vbdr xx j, av pns32 vvd n1, cc vvd po32 j n2. cc cs dt n1 vbdr vvn, dt n2 vbdr vvn pc-acp vvi n2 p-acp dt j, cc pc-acp vvi n1, c-acp dt n2 pp-f dt n2 pp-f d n2 cc n2 vdb av-j vvi p-acp d n2, p-acp fw-la n1. cc p-acp vvg dt n2 cst pns32 vvb cc dt n1 cst pns32 vvd, d n1 vvz cst d crd vbdr av vvn pp-f pno32, cc vmd vhi vbn jc, cs pns32 vhd xx vhn av d j ng2 n2 pc-acp vvi, cc vhd xx vbn vvn p-acp d j n2, c-acp vbdr av-x av pp-f dt n2. cc cs pns32 vhd d n1 p-acp po32 n2, pns32 vvd p-acp av d j 〈 sy 〉 (cs pn31 vbdr cc-acp av) pc-acp vvi cc pc-acp vvi. p-acp av cst d dt n2 p-acp po32 〈 sy 〉 n2-j cc vvn n2 vbb p-acp j ng2 n2, pns11 vdb xx av vvi, cst pi n1 j pp-f n2, cc d j-jn n1 vvz p-acp dt n1 pp-f d n2. po22 n1 pp-f vvg a-acp n2, vbds pc-acp vvi cst vbds av p-acp pno32. pn31 vbds av-j av cst dt j n1 pp-f dt n2 pp-f dt n2 (r-crq vbdr vvn pc-acp vvi a-acp j n2, cst vmd vbi n2 pc-acp vvi n1, cc pc-acp vvi n2 p-acp dt j) vmd vbi vvn p-acp dt d j n2, r-crq vvd n1 crd n1 p-acp n2, c-crq pns32 vmd vhi vvn crd crd. pn31 vbds av d dt n2 vmd vhi n2 p-acp po32 n2, cc vvi p-acp dt ord n1 av p-acp dt j, cc vvd p-acp a-acp p-acp dt n1 p-acp pno32 cst vvd dt n2 pp-f dt n2. pn31 vbds av cst pns32 av-j p-acp crd vvb xx pi j n1 pc-acp vvi p-acp dt n2 cst pns32 vvd. cc-acp vvb av, c-crq av cst vbds av, vbz vvn p-acp d dt j n1. pn31 vbz vvn av p-acp dt n1 vvn po31 ng1 n1 (c-acp pn31 vbz p-acp dt n1) c-crq pns31 vmd vhi vvn pn31 av-jn, pns31 vvd pn31 av p-acp fw-la. dt n2 vvd av j n1, cc vvd j n2 d n2 p-acp po32 n2. p-acp av c-crq crd n1 vbds vvn av-j p-acp dt j, p-acp dc cs p-acp dt crd n2 p-acp np1, vbz xx crd n1 av vvn. d vbz dt n1 n1. c-crq pns32 vhd av crd cc j-jn n1, cst av vvd cc vvn d pc-acp vvi, av vbz pc-acp dx n1 p-acp d, cc-acp dt n1 vbz n1 cc n1 av, cc av-j dt j n1 n1 cc 〈 sy 〉 r-crq vmb av-j vvi po31 n2, vbz 〈 sy 〉 c-acp crd cc crd n2 n1 cc vvi, uh p-acp d n2 p-acp n1 cc vvi av-j p-acp d n2. pns11 vvb, cc xx pns11 av-j, cc-acp crd crd dc vvb dc cs crd crd n2 cc n2, av av cc av-j vvn, p-acp dt j n1 pp-f np1. cc cs dt n1 vvb p-acp dt n2, q-crq vhb dt n1 dx n2? vvg pn22 vhb dt n2 cc n2 pn22 vmd vvi n2. pns32 vmb vvi, pns12 vhb vvn dt n2 pp-f d cc d n1, cc pns31 cc pns31 vbz n1 cc n1, pns12 vvb p-acp dt n2 cc n2 p-acp dt n1 cst vbz n1. uh-av av, pns11 vvb p-acp pno21 po11 n1, n1, cc n1, pns21 vd2 vvi, pc-acp vhi n2 cc n2, pc-acp vhi dt ord n1, dt ord n1, n1, n1, cc av pp-f d j-jn n2, vvg cst pns21 vb2r dx n1 ccx dx n1 pp-f npg1 n1; vvb, ccx vdb d n1 pp-f dt n1 cc pp-f dt n1, cc-acp n1 cc n1. q-crq vm2 pns21 vvi pp-f po21 n1 po11 n1 n1 cc n1? pns21 vm2 vvi av, dt n1 vvd pno11 dt n1 cc d cst vvz av, r-crq vhd av vvn pno31 p-acp dt n1, av cs pns21 vvb p-acp po11 n1 n1 cc n1 cs pns11 av-dx vvb ccx vvi, ccx av vvi pix pc-acp vdi pn31 p-acp pno11, pns21 vb2r dt n1, p-acp d dt ord n1 pp-f po12 n1 vvn pp-f av-j, cst r-crq dt n1 vdz, vmb av vbi av vdn, cc dt n1, cc d n1 av pp-f dt n1 n1, vmbx vvi. p-acp p-acp pn22 po11 n1 n2, q-crq vmb pn22 vvi po22 n2 cs dt n1 vmd vvi d n1 p-acp pn22, cc vvb pn22 d dt n2, cst vhb n2 cc n2 p-acp po22 n2, cc vmbx vvi. np1 vvz np1 crd pns31 cst vvz xx p-acp dt j p-acp dt n1, cc-acp vvz p-acp dt j-jn n1 vbz dt n1 cc dt n1, p-acp pn22 vvd p-acp dt j-jn n1, c-crq pn22 vbr n2 cc n2. cst pn22 vvb xx p-acp p-acp dt n1, pns11 vmb vvi pn31 av, np1 vbz dt n1, cc-acp p-acp np1 pn22 vvd xx p-acp dt j, cst vbz, pc-acp vbi n2 cc ng1, c-acp pn22 vvb cst pn22 vvd p-acp p-acp dt n1 pp-f n1, cc dt n1 pp-f n1 vbz xx np1, c-acp pn31 vbz xx vvn p-acp npg1 n1, av pn22 vvd xx p-acp np1, cc av vbb pn22 n2 cc n2, c-acp po22 n2 vvn pp-f av-j, p-acp vvg pp-f dt n1 pp-f av d j n2 cc n2, r-crq vvd po32 n2 p-acp po32 n1. cs d n1 vbb xx j av-d, r-crq vvb pn22 p-acp d? d pns32 cst vvb p-acp pno11 (vvz np1) vbr n2 cc n2, pn22 vvb p-acp dt j, c-acp np1, fw-la pn22 vbb n2 cc n2. p-acp vvi p-acp p-acp np1, vbz pc-acp vbi dt n1 cc dt n1 p-acp np1 vvb pno31 ▪ cc pn22 vvd p-acp p-acp np1 vvd pn22, c-acp pns31 vvz pix pc-acp vbi n2, cc-acp d c-acp pns31 vvz pc-acp vbi j pc-acp vvi po31 n1, fw-la pns31 av-x vvd pn22, c-acp pns31 vvz pn22 j pc-acp vdi d n1. cc av pc-acp vvi, pn22 vbb n2 cc n2, p-acp dt n1 vvz xx p-acp pc-acp vvi cc pc-acp vvi. q-crq vvb a-acp po22 n2 p-acp j n2, cc vvb xx p-acp j-jn ng2 n2, pc-acp vvi dt n2 d pp-f po32 n1 cc pp-f po32 n-vvg, cst pn22 vbb xx vvn pp-f np1. p-acp cs pn22 vmb av vbi n2 cc ng1 av, cc vhb d dt n2 pp-f dt n2, cc vmb vhi d, av p-acp dt n1 n1 pp-f dt j n1 cst vhz cc-acp crd n2, pn22 vmb vhi dt n2 cst vvb p-acp d n2 c-acp pn22 vbb. np1 r-crq j-jn np1 vvz p-acp pn22, po11 n2. r-crq vmb vbi n2 cc n2, np1 n1 cs pns11 vvb p-acp dt j pns21 vm2 vvi dt n1, cc pns21 vvb xx p-acp pno31, pc-acp vvi dt j p-acp po31 n1, dt j po31 d n1 vmb vvi p-acp po31 n1, cc-acp po31 n1 vmb pns11 vvi pp-f po21 n1. vvb av, n1 n1, p-acp d vbz vvn p-acp d pno32 cst vbr n2, cc vvi n2, cc vvg pp-f dt n1, c-acp n2 cc n2, p-acp vvg pp-f pno32 p-acp npg1 n1, cc av p-acp r-crq n1 vm2 pns21 vvi dt n2? vvb av p-acp d n1, cc vvb po21 n1 p-acp npg1 n1. dt n1 pp-f np1 fw-la p-acp dt n1 p-acp np1 crd n1. |
