But how ye came to all, that ye had, & being but Copper, uttered the same for Old Gold, it is an easy matter to be answered. For you your selves will not say, ye had it, either from Christ, or from the Apostles, or from any the Ancient Fathers. It were double robbery, to make any of these the Authors, and Fathers of your robberies. Your own Doctor Cochlaeus1 confesseth, as it is said before, that the Multitude of your Masses sprang, not from God, but from the Negligence, and Slothfulness, and want of Devotion, that grew both in Priest, and People. Then ye began, to tell the simple, that it was sufficient for them to •itte by: that your Mass was a Propitiatory Sacrifice for their sins: that it was available unto ⟨p. 481⟩them Ex opere operato, although they understood not what it meant: that you had power to apply it to quick, and dead, and to whom ye listed: and that the very hearing thereof, of it self was meritorious. Upon this foundation, ye erected up your Chantries, your Monasteries, your Pardons, your Supererogations, and I know not, what. Thus was the Holy Communion quite forgotten: Thus were your Masses multiplied above number: Thus ye came by that, ye would have called your Old Gold.2 Then this doubt first grew in question, whether Christ being in one of your Hosts, might see him self, being at the same time in an other Host. Then ye began to devour up poor Widows houses. In consideration hereof, your own Gloss saith of your Soul Priests: Malus Presbyter aequiparatur Coruo, 3in nig•edine vitiorum, in •aucedine vocis, in voracitate oblationum mortuorum, in faetore Spiritus, in garrulitate, & in furto. An evil Priest is resembled unto a Raven, for the Blackness of his vices, for the hoarseness of his voice, for his ravening of the Oblations of the dead, for the stink of his breathe, for his unpleasant voice, and for his theft. Unto such chevisance these words of S. Augustine may be well applied:4 Si Presbyter intercessions vendit, viduarum munera libenter amplectitur, negotiator magis videri potest, quàm Clericus. Nec dicere possumus, Nemo nos inuasores arguit: violentiae nullus accusat: quasi non interdum maiorem praedam à viduabus blandimenta illiciant, quàm tormenta. Nec interest apud Deum, utrùm vi, an circumuentione quis res alienas occupet.
But how ye came to al, that ye had, & beinge but Copper, vttered the same for Olde Golde, it is an easy mater to be answeared. For you your selues wil not say, ye had it, either from Christe, or from the Apostles, or from any the Ancient Fathers. It were double robberie, to make any of these the Authours, and Fathers of your robberies. Your owne Doctour Cochlaeus1 confesseth, as it is saide before, that the Multitude of your Masses sprange, not from God, but from the Negligence, and Slouthfulnes, and wante of Deuotion, yt grewe both in Priest, and People. Then ye beganne, to tel the simple, that it was sufficient for them to •itte by: that your Masse was a Propitiatorie Sacrifice for their sinnes: that it was auaileable vnto ⟨p. 481⟩them Ex opere operato, although they vnderstoode not what it meante: that you had power to applie it to quicke, and deade, and to whome ye listed: and that the very hearinge thereof, of it selfe was meritorious. Upon this fundation, ye erected vp your Chaunteries, your Monasteries, your Pardons, your Supererogations, and I knowe not, what. Thus was the Holy Communion quite forgotten: Thus were your Masses multiplied aboue number: Thus ye came by that, ye woulde haue called your Olde Golde.2 Then this doubte firste grewe in question, whether Christe beinge in one of your Hostes, might see him selfe, beinge at the same time in an other Hoste. Then ye beganne to deuoure vp poore Widowes houses. In consideration hereof, your owne Glose saithe of your Soule Priestes: Malus Presbyter aequiparatur Coruo, 3in nig•edine vitiorum, in •aucedine vocis, in voracitate oblationum mortuorum, in faetore Spiritus, in garrulitate, & in furto. An euil Priest is resembled vnto a Rauen, for the Blackenes of his vices, for the hoarsenes of his voyce, for his raueninge of the Oblations of the deade, for the stinche of his breathe, for his vnpleasant voice, and for his theafte. Unto suche cheuisance these woordes of S. Augustine may be wel applied:4 Si Presbyter intercessiones vendit, viduarum munera libenter amplectitur, negotiator magis videri potest, quàm Clericus. Nec dicere possumus, Nemo nos inuasores arguit: violentiae nullus accusat: quasi non interdum maiorem praedam à viduabus blandimenta illiciant, quàm tormenta. Nec interest apud Deum, vtrùm vi, an circumuentione quis res alienas occupet.
- 1Cochlaeus de Sacrif. Missae.
- 2Rob. Holcot. li. 4. quaest. 3.
- 3•. Quaest. 7. Non oes. In Glosa.
- 4De verbis Domini in Evangel. Matthaeiserm. 19De verbis Domini in Euāgel. Matthaeiserm. 19
