The Reign of Henry the Eighth Part 29

[201] HALE, p. 12.

[202] Ibid. pp. 75, 83; _Suppression of the Monasteries,_ p. 47.

[203] Ibid. p. 80.

[204] Ibid. p. 83.

[205] I have been taunted with my inability to produce more evidence. For the present I will mention two additional instances only, and perhaps I shall not be invited to swell the list further.

1. In the State Paper Office is a report to Cromwell by Adam Bekenshaw, one of his diocesan visitors, in which I find this pa.s.sage:--

"There be knights and divers gentlemen in the diocese of Chester who do keep concubines and do yearly compound with the officials for a small sum without monition to leave their naughty living."

2. In another report I find also the following:--

"The names of such persons as be permitted to live in adultery and fornication for money:--

"The Vicar of Ledbury.

The Vicar of Brasmyll.

The Vicar of Stow.

The Vicar of Cloune.

The Parson of Wentnor.

The Parson of Rusbury.

The Parson of Plowden.

The Dean of Pountsbury.

The Parson of Stratton.

Sir Matthew of Montgomery.

Sir ---- of Lauvange.

Sir John Brayle.

Sir Morris of Clone.

Sir Adam of Clone.

Sir Pierce of Norbury.

Sir Gryffon ap Egmond.

Sir John Orkeley.

Sir John of Mynton.

Sir John Reynolds.

Sir Morris of Knighton, priest.

Hugh Davis.

Cadwallader ap Gern.

Edward ap Meyrick.

With many others of the diocese of Hereford."

The originals of both these doc.u.ments are in the State Paper Office. There are copies in the Bodleian Library.--_MS. Tanner,_ 105.

[206] Skelton gives us a specimen of the popular criticisms:--

"Thus I, Colin Clout, As I go about, And wondering as I walk, I hear the people talk: Men say for silver and gold Mitres are bought and sold: A straw for G.o.ddys curse, What are they the worse?

"What care the clergy though Gill sweat, Or Jack of the Noke?

The poor people they yoke With sumners and citacions, And excommunications.

About churches and markets The bishop on his carpets At home soft doth sit.

This is a fearful fit, To hear the people jangle.

How wearily they wrangle!

But Doctor Bullatus

"Parum litteratus, Dominus Doctoratus At the broad gate-house.

Doctor Daupatus And Bachelor Bacheleratus, Drunken as a mouse At the ale-house, Taketh his pillion and his cap At the good ale-tap, For lack of good wine.

As wise as Robin Swine, Under a notary's sign, Was made a divine; As wise as Waltham's calf, Must preach in G.o.ddys half; In the pulpit solemnly; More meet in a pillory; For by St. Hilary He can nothing smatter Of logic nor school matter.

"Such temporal war and bate As now is made of late Against holy church estate, Or to mountain good quarrels; The laymen call them barrels Full of gluttony and of hypocrisy, That counterfeits and paints As they were very saints.

"By sweet St. Marke, This is a wondrous warke, That the people talk this.

Somewhat there is amiss.

The devil cannot stop their mouths, But they will talk of such uncouths All that ever they ken Against spiritual men."

I am unable to quote more than a few lines from ROY'S _Satire_. At the close of a long paragraph of details an advocate of the clergy ventures to say that the bad among them are a minority. His friend answers:--

"Make the company great or small, Among a thousand find thou shall Scant one chaste of body or mind."

[207] Answer of the Bishops to the Commons' Pet.i.tion: _Rolls House MS._

[208] Joanna Leman notatur officio quod non venit ad ecclesiam parochialem; et dicit se nolle accipere panem benedictum a manibus rectoris; et vocavit eum "horsyn preste."--HALE, p. 99.

[209] HALE, p. 63.

[210] Ibid. p. 98.

[211] Ibid. p. 38.

[212] Ibid. p. 67.

[213] Ibid. p. 100.

[214] CAVENDISH, _Life of Wolsey_, p. 251.

[215] HALL, p. 764.

[216] Ibid. p. 764.

[217] _State Papers_, vol. vii. p. 361.

[218] 6 Hen. VIII. cap. 16.

[219] The session lasted six weeks only, and several of the subjects of the pet.i.tion were disposed of in the course of it, as we shall see.

[220] The MS. from which I have transcribed this copy is itself imperfect, as will be seen in the "reply of the Bishops," which supplies several omitted articles. See p. 137, et seq. It is in the Rolls House.

[221] The penny, as I have shown, equalled, in terms of a poor man's necessities, a shilling. See chap. i.