A07146:1261
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times past been brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherents: faithfully gathered out of the most faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and now newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singular profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.
London: printed by John Day, 1563London: printed by Iohn Day, 1563
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Good men and women, it is ordained by the council of all holy church, first of our holy father the pope of Rome, and his Cardinals, and by all his council: and sithen of all Archbishops and Bishops, and by all the Clergy of holy church, that every man of holy church, that hath cure of mans soul, that is to say, persons, vicars, and parish priests, should show among his parishioners four times of the year, the articles that been written in the general sentence, that is to say, the points that longen to the great curse. The one day is the first sunday of Advent. ⟨p. 244⟩The second day is the first Sunday in clean lenten. The third day is the sunday next after Whitsuntide. And the fourth day is the next sunday after the Assumption of our Lady. And the points must openly be taught and showed to the people, or lewd men, that they may know the great mischief and disease thereof, that no man or woman should be perished for default of learning, nor have matter to excuse hem by.1 Wherefore ye shoullen understand at the beginning, that this word Curse, is thus much to say, as departing fro god and all good works.2 Of two manner of cursing holy church telleth. The one is cleped the less curse.3 The other is cleped the more curse. That we clepen the less curse, is of this strength, that every man and woman that falleth therein: it departeth him fro all the Sacraments that been in holy Church,4 that they may none of hem receive, till they be assoiled, for right as a sword departeth the head or the life from the body: right so as to say ghostly, Curse departeth mans soul fro god,5 & fro all good works. The more curse is much worse, & ⟨image 273⟩is of this strength, for to depart a man fro God, and fro all holy church, and also fro the company of all Christen folk, never to be saved by the passion of Christ nor to be holpen by the Sacraments that been done in holy Church, nor to have part with any Christen man.• Clerks say, that a child before that he is christened: it hath a wicked spirit dwelling within him in his soul: the which wicked spirit is halsed or conjured, or caste out of him through the prayer of the priest before the church door, when it shall be christened.
GOod men and women, it is ordayned by the councell of al holy church, fyrst of oure holy father the pope of Rome, and his Cardinalls, and by all hys councel: and sithen of al Archbyshops and Byshops, and by all the Clergye of holye church, yt euery man of holy churche, yt hath cure of mans soule, that is to say, persons, vicares, and paryshe priests, should shewe among hys parishoners foure tymes of the yeare, the articles that bene written in the generall sentence, that is to saye, the poyntes that longen to the greate curse. The one daye is the fyrst sondaye of Aduente. ⟨p. 244⟩The second day is the fyrst Sonday in cleane lenton. The thirde daye is the sondaye next after Whitsontide. And the fourth day is the next sonday after the Assumption of our Ladye. And the poyntes muste openly bee taught and shewed to the people, or leude men, yt they maye knowe the greate mischiefe and disease thereof, yt no man or womā should be perished for defaulte of learning, ne haue matter to excuse hem by.1 Wherefore ye shoullen vnderstande at the beginning, yt thys worde Curse, is thus much to say, as departing fro god and al good workes.2 Of two manner of cursing holy church telleth. The one is cleped the lesse curse.3 The other is cleped the more curse. That we clepen the lesse curse, is of this strength, yt euery man and woman yt falleth therin: it departeth hym froe al the Sacraments yt beene in holy Churche,4 yt they maye none of hem receaue, tyll they bee assoyled, for ryghte as a swearde departeth ye head or ye lyfe from ye body: right so as to saye ghostlich, Curse departeth mans soule fro god,5 & fro al good workes. The more curse is much worse, & ⟨image 273⟩is of this strength, for to departe a man fro God, and fro all holy church, and also fro ye company of all Christen folke, neuer to be saued by ye passion of Christ ne to bee holpen by the Sacramentes that bene done in holy Churche, ne to haue parte with any Christen man.• Clerkes sayen, that a childe before that he is christened: it hath a wicked spirite dwelling within hym in hys soule: the whiche wicked spirite is halsed or coniured, or caste out of hym thorowe the prayer of the prieste before the churche dore, when it shall be christened.
The which sacrament of baptism is groū dead in holy writ, and is beginning of all other sacraments, and was verily betokened in the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ by water that ran out of his side from his heart, when all his blood was agone & shed for our sakes. And so by sacrament of Christening he is full made Christs child, and he receiveth there part of the passion of Christ, and part of all the Sacraments and prayers that been done in holy church. Also he receiveth part of all good deeds, that been done among all ⟨p. 245⟩Christen people. And if he hold meekly the covenant, that he maketh there to god: he may be sure for to have a dwelling place for ever in the bliss of heaven. But what time that he trespasseth so against the law of God, that he falleth into curse by sin, or that he is worthy to be cursed of holy church: then he is departed from God, and all good works, till he come to amendment. And he is than delivered again to the fend of hell for to put him for his sin into the pain of hell withouten end, but he him amend & thereof be assoiled or he hence pass. And therefore there is nothing in all this world, that a Christen man or woman ought so grisly to dread, as for to fall into sin, that bringeth him into the sentence of curse: the which departeth him from God that is his father, & from holy church that is his mother. Also as holy scripture or the law beareth witness, Cursing is cleped the sword of holy church. For right as we seen, that the stroke of the sword it slayeth and departeth the life fro the body: right so the stroke of this ghostly sword, Cursing, departeth and doth away our ⟨image 274⟩Lord God from man & woman, which is accursed: the which Lord God is life of her souls,1 & withouten him all her works been dead evermore after, but they have special grace of God for to amend hem here, ere they pass out of this world. For as many Clerks proven, at the day of dumb, would our lady S. Mary, and S. John Baptiste, & all saints that been in heaven kneel down at once before the blessed face of almighty God: they shoullen not in that time through the prayer of them all deliver the soul of man or woman, that dyeth in deadly sin: For truly it were expressly against the holy Gospel, where Christ saith thus: that he shall truly give to every man and woman, their right there, as he hath deserved here.
And if the day of dumb shall be so hard to all those that dyen in any deadly sin: by all reason full mich harder shall it be at the time with all these, that be founden openly cursed of God and of holy Church. In this perilous way of damnation been all thylke men and women, that I shall speak of. And therefore I beseech you, and ⟨p. 246⟩charge you for the love of god almighty and for the salvation of your souls, that ye understand well all these points. And if any of you feel him guilty in any of all, that he amend him by sorrow of heart, shrift, and penance, and that betimes.
And if the day of dumme shall bee so harde to all thoe yt dyen in any deadly sinne: by al reason ful myche harder shall it bee at ye tyme with all these, yt be founden openly cursed of God and of holye Churche. In thys perillous waye of dampnation beene all thylke men and women, that I shall speake of. And therefore I beseeche you, and ⟨p. 246⟩charge you for the loue of god almighty and for the saluation of your soules, that ye vnderstand wel al these points. And if any of you fele hym giltye in any of all, yt he amende hym by sorow of hearte, shrifte, and penaunce, and that betimes.
First and formest we denouncen accursed all that holy Church falsely depriven of any right or profit, that it falleth to have either by law written, or else by good custom, which that hath been holden and used of old time. And in this point fallen three manner of folk. First all those that stelen any Church goods, in what place so that they be done to keep, or ells that stelen unhallowed thing out of holy place, or things that been hallowed out of place unhallowed. And all those that wittingly breaken or destroyen any point of freedom that longeth to holy Church. And this is not alonely understand of the freedoms that longen generally to all holy Church, but also of other special freedoms, which that some church hath more than an other, temporal or spiritual whether so it be. ⟨image 275⟩The third point is, that all those been accursed, that purchasen writs or letters of any lewd court for to let the process of the law of holy church of causes that longen skilfully unto Christen court, the which should not be deemed by none other law. All those also that breaken or distroublen the franchises and the freedom of holy church. And all that been against the peace and the right state of holy church, or thereto assenten with word, deed, or counsel. And all that maliciously biriven holy church of her right, or make holy church Lay fee, that is hallowed and blessed. And all those that let Archbishop or Bishop, or any other that hath jurisdiction and power by the law of holy Church that they may not visit her sugettes, or dare not use her law for to amend the souls of hem that they have to keep. And all those that falsely fleen away from one place to an other, that holy church may not chastise them, nor rule them as she should. Also god & holy church accursen all those, that lay hand in malice on priest or clerk, on man or woman learned or lewd within church or churchyard, ⟨p. 247⟩or man or woman of Religion, but it be hemself defendant, so that they may not else save hemself: or else that it be in certain points, that the law giveth licence: and all that thereto procure or mainteinen such deeds by coū sail or strength.
Fyrst and formest we denouncen accursed all that holy Churche falsely depriuen of any ryghte or profyt, that it falleth to haue eyther by law written, or elles by good custome, whiche that hath bene holden and vsed of old time. And in thys poynte fallen three manner of folke. Fyrst all thoe yt stelen any Churchegoodes, in what place so that they bee done to kepe, or ells that stelen vnhalowed thyng oute of holye place, or thynges that beene halowed oute of place vnhalowed. And all thoe yt wittingly breaken or destroyen anye poynt of freedome that longeth to holy Churche. And thys is not alonely vnderstande of the fredomes yt longen generally to all holy Churche, but also of other speciall freedomes, which yt some church hath more thā an other, temporal or spiritual whether so it be.
Also all yilke been accursed that drawn out any man or woman in violence out of holy Church to have succour and help, or else out of any holy place that is hallowed, but and it be in certain points, as the law giveth leave, or let them to have sustenance the while they been there. And also all those, that for malice or wrath of person, vicar, or priest, or of any other, or for wrongful covetise of himself withholden rightful tithes & offerings, rents, or mortuaries from her own parish Church, and by way of covetise falsely again taking to God the worse, and to himself the better, or else turn him into an other use, than him oweth, or done him in other place after their own will, so that they be not done to the same place that they should be: or let by word or by deed any man or woman for to do her good ⟨image 276⟩will and her devotion to god and to holy church. For all Christen men & women ben hard bound upon pain of deadly sin, not only by the ordinance of man, but both in the old law, and also in the new law, for to pay truly to God and holy church, the tithe part of all manner increase that they winnē truly by the grace of god, both with her travel, and also with her crafts, what so they be truly gotten. Also the tithe part of all manner fishes, and fowls, & beasts both wild & tame And all manner of fruits that grown out of the earth. Also all that wittingly or wilfully tithen falsely, that is to say, that given not to god and to holy church the tenth part of every winning lawfully wonnen in merchandise, or in any other crafts. withdrawn only the expense and the costage that needfully must be made about the thing, whereof the winning is gotten, not tithing the winning of one merchandise with the loss of another And all tho, that of the fruits of the earth, or of beast, or any thing that neweth in the year, given not the tithe wholly withouten any costage. Al those that falsely ⟨p. 248⟩tythen, taken to God the worse, and holden the better to her own profit against the ordinance of Boniface sometime the Archbishop of Canterbury: by the which ordinance through out the province of Canterbury should be one manner axing of tithes in this manner wise. Of all manner of fruits, of herbs of gardens with outen any manner of cost abating: of hay where ever it groweth, in great medes or in small, as oft as it neweth.
Also all yilke bene accursed that drawen out any mā or woman in violence out of holy Church to haue succour and helpe, or els out of any holy place that is halowed, but and it be in certaine poyntes, as the lawe geueth leaue, or letten them to haue sustenaunce the while they bene there. And also all thoe, that for malice or wrath of person, vicare, or priest, or of any other, or for wrongfull couetise of himselfe withholden rightfull tythes & offerings, rentes, or mortuaries frō her owne parishe Churche, and by waye of couetyse falselyche agayne takynge to God the worsse, and to himself the better, or els turne him into an other vse, than him oweth, or done him in other place after their owne will, so yt they be not done to the same place that they shoulde be: or let by worde or by deede any man or woman for to do her good
Of newing, of all manner of bestial, of calf, or of lamb fro seven upward in the tenth: and fro six downward for everich of hem an half penny, but if the person or vicary will abide till another year, and tell thilke that leaven, and take the other beast that followeth. Of wool that is waxen: of fells fro purification of our Lady. Of milk all the while that it dureth, as well in winter as in summer, but if they will do gree therefore to the person or to the vicary for the profit of holy Church. Of fishing, of fouling, of venison, of been, of all other good rightfully wonnen, y• newen by the year. Of profit of mills, & weirs of fishing no cost abate, but to the ⟨image 277⟩very value shall the tithe be paid. Of lesewys, communis, severelis, shall the tithe truly be paid, after the number of the beasts or the days, as it is most profit to holy Church. All workmen & chapmen that wynnen on her crafts & on her merchandise shall truly pay her tithe to God, and to holy Church. Also Carpenters and smiths, weavers, and all other craftsmen, and all other hired men and women shall tythen of the they getten, but if they will give any certain therefore to holy Church at the persons or vicaries will. Also of fowls, of calves, of pigs, of gees, of hens, of flax, of hemp, of corn, and of all that neweth by the year. Also of shredding of trees, and of all man ner of underwood waxing or hewed. Also men of holy church mowen curse by name hem that woollen not pay her tithes, as it is written in many places of the law of holy Church.
Of newing, of all manner of beastial, of calfe, or of lambe fro seuen vpwarde in the tenthe: and fro six downewarde for euerich of hem an halfe penye, but if the person or vicarye will abyde till another yeare, and tell thilke that leuen, and take the other beaste that followeth. Of wulle yt is woxen: of fellis fro purification of our Lady. Of milke al the while yt it dureth, as wel in winter as in sōmer, but if they will do gree therefore to the person or to the vicary for the profyte of holy Church. Of fyshing, of fouling, of veneson, of been, of all other good ryghtfully wonnen, y• newen by ye yere. Of profyt of milles, & weris of fyshing no cost abate, but to ye ⟨image 277⟩very value shall the tithe be payde. Of lesewys, communis, seuerelis, shall the tithe trulich be paide, after the number of the beescis or the dayes, as it is most profite to holy Churche. All werckmen & chapmen that wynnen on her crafts & on her marchaundise shulen trulyche paye her tythe to God, and to holye Churche. Also Carpēters and smithes, weyuers, and al other craftysmen, and all other hyred men and wimmen shulen tythen of ye they getten, but if they wulle geue any certaine therfore to holy Churche at the persons or vicaries wil. Also of foules, of calues, of pigges, of gees, of hennes, of flax, of hempe, of corne, and of all yt neweth by the yeare. Also of shriding of trees, and of al mā ner of vnderwoode woxing or hewed. Also men of holy church mowen curse by name hem that wolen not paye her tythes, as it is written in many places of the lawe of holy Churche.
Also all those been accursed by all holy Church, that breaken or disturben the peace & the unity first of the king, and afterward of the realm, by power or by counsel, by word, or by deed, ⟨p. 249⟩or else by any other manner to caste, or imagine his death, or any other traitorie to him, or to the realm. And all tho, that falsely withholden his heritage, or any other right, that him oweth lawfully to have. Also all those that given meed, or else taken any manner gifts for to let or distrouble the pees, for to procure and make strife and debate among Christen people, where love and charity should be in any degree either more or less.
Also all thoe bene accursed by al holy Churche, that breaken or disturben the peace & the vnitie first of the kyng, and afterward of the realme, by power or by counsaile, by worde, or by deede, ⟨p. 249⟩or els by any other manner to caste, or imagine his death, or any other traitorie to him, or to the realme. And al tho, that falsly withholden his heritage, or any other right, that hym oweth lawfully to haue. Also all thoe that geuen mede, or els taken any manner gyftes for to let or distrouble the pees, for to procure and make strife and debate among Christen people, where loue and charitie shoulde be in anye degree eyther more or lesse.
Also all those that falsen or counterfeyten the Popes Bulls, or his seals, or any other seal authentic. And all ye wittingly use such false letters purchased or counterfeited. And all those that falsen & counterfeten the kings seal, or the kings money, or clippen it, or make it less, or thereto assent because of winning Also all ye falsen the kings standard, or use any false weights, or false yards or ells, or any false measures, that is to say, to bye with one & sell with an other for to deceive the common people. And all false conspirators, & beginners of false quarrels, & helpers thereto. And all ye falsely forsweren them upon the holydom, ⟨image 278⟩and yet known well that it is false, when they begin to swear, namely in quests, or in assizes, or in any other false causes. And all thilke that hiren such men, or make to be hired, or procure, or mainteinen thereto, or teach hem thereto by word or by deed, for to make a man lose his good. And all that let true cause or lawful matrimony, or heritage, or any testament, to be discussed and ordained. And all those, that for hate or for winning make men lessen her cattle maliciously before any doomsman in willing of vengeance. And all that purchasen writs to outlaw any man unwittingly in another shire than he wonith in, all that pursuen such writs, or procure thereto, or given counsel, consent, help, or favour, or ells have firm or stable such writs in her name purchased. In self doing or consenting, they fallen into the great curse. Also all false advocates, that allegen any false exceptions or quarrels in cause of matrimony: and all that let rightly Matrimony. And all thilke procurators or advocates, or other men ⟨p. 250⟩of law of holy church, the which in plea of Matrimony, or any other cause make exception or delays wittingly, with advisement, for to destroy, let or tarry a true cause, that it may not be helped, discussed, & ended after the right process and course of law. And all that make privily wedlock in church or in chapel withouten banes axing lawfully and solemnly against forbidding of holy church. And all those, that for winning of friendship, or for kindred, or for love, intermeddle with such pretty wedlock.
Also all thoe that falsen or counterfeyten the Popes Bulles, or his sealis, or anye other seal autentike. And all ye wittingly vsen suche false letters purchased or coūterfeted. And al thoe yt falsen & counterfeten the kings seal, or the kings mony, or clippen it, or maken it lesse, or therto assēt bicause of winning Also all ye falsen the kings standard, or vsen any false weights, or false yardes or elnes, or any false measures, yt is to say, to bye with one & sel with an other for to deceaue the cōmō people. And al false conspirators, & beginners of false quarelis, & helpers therto. And al ye falslishe forsweren thē vpon the holydom,
And all those, that for wrath, or hate, or meed, or any other encheson falsely do slaunderen, or diffamen any man or woman, so that they been brought out of her good fame into wicked name: or make hem to lose her worldly goods, wherefore they han need to purge hem by that law. And all those, that stelen, or distrain, or falsely withholden charters or testaments that longen to other men, wherefore they lessen her heritage, or any right, that they shoulden have by law. And all those, that let or distroublen a testament or the last will of man or woman lawfully made, ⟨image 279⟩although they be dead, of the things that were their own, and that they might rightfully make a testament of, and skilfully biqueth: and all that let the fulfilling of any rightful testament and all that withholden the goods, so that the deeds will skilfully may not be performed. And all those, that been sworn and charged by executory, and fulfyllen not the deeds will, as her charge axeth. And all that let the kings writ, cleped a Significavit, that is to make hem that been accursed after forty days to do hem to prison, and those that procure her deliverance unrightfully, before they be buxom to holy church. Also lewd men that intermeddle with offerings in churches or chapels against the will and the leave of him that it longeth to. And all secular justices or judges that been in offices, and han the law to keep, when they be proved and required to do her office in helping of the people that han suffered wrongs and harm, but if they do rightfulness and truth by her coming, be they learned men or lewd: else they ben accursed. And all those, that ben wedded together against ⟨p. 251⟩the law of God and of holy church in degrees that been forbidden, as in consanguinity, or in affinity, or gossibred. And all that been professed in any religion, and broken out of her order, and become wedded men or women. Also priests that been within holy orders, & forsaken her order, and be comen wedded, and all that procure, helpen, or assenten thereto. And all that known in matrimony, when it shall be made, any great default or letting, but if they by some way do holy church to know it.
And all thoe, that for wrathe, or hate, or mede, or any other encheson falsely doe slaunderen, or diffamen any man or womā, so yt they bene brought oute of her good fame into wicked name: or make hem to lose her worldly goodes, wherefore they han nede to purge hem by yt law. And al thoe, yt stelen, or distreine, or falselich withholdē charteries or testamentes yt longen to other men, wherfore they lesen her heritage, or any righte, yt they shoulden haue by lawe. And all thoe, that letten or distroublen a testamente or the laste will of man or woman lawfully made,
And when any church or chapel is suspended or interdicted by law, they been accursed openly that constreynen any priest for to sing therein, or by ringing of bells, or by any other way make hem to hear mass, that been openly accursed by name. And also when any man of holy church by commission doeth out of holy Church, or curseth any man or woman, and nameth him by name on holy church behalf, that he go out of the Church while mass & gods service is in doing: but if he do his bidding, he is accursed. And also all that maynteynen hem, or bidden ⟨image 280⟩hem, hold them still in the church: and none of them may be assoiled but by the court of Rome. And all that her goods given in dread of death in fraud of holy church, or to forbore her debts: and all those also y• such gifts taken, or coū celen, or helpen thereto, been accursed. Also all those that let Prelates or Ordinaries, or Chapter, for to enquire of sin there need is for help or health of mans soul. And all those, that against the law of holy church byen or sellen any benefice of holy church, And all that byen or sellen holy orders, or falsely stelen […] those been accursed, that make any •ate or plea in the patronage, wherethrough the very patron is let of his right. And all that breken any point of the Kings great Charter, or else any point of the Charter of the forest, in which been written the freedoms of this land, ye diverse Kings han granted both to learned & to lewd. In the great Charter been contained .xxxv. points: and the Charter of the forest comprehendeth xv. points, ut in tractatu vocato, Pars oculi in prima parte, et in tract, vocat, Regimen animarum, in prima sui part plenius continetur. ⟨p. 252⟩Also all men and women, that which in peril of death been assoiled, or in any other perils, of him that hath not power by law out of peril of death to assoil hem as soon as they be recovered, but they take absolution of him that hath power to assoil hem: they turnē again, & been in the same curse as they were before, & worse for• unbuxumnesse. Al that been open lechouris, open aduouteris, common women, & all those that wittingly and quietly defend them, that they be not punished by the law after monishing upon pain of cursing, that no man let them house to hire, nor receive hem into her house, after the time that they be known.
Also all that comynen with hem that been accursed in eating, drinking, in receiving, in helping, in favouring, but only in hope to bring hem to amendment. And all Okereris, and usurers, that is to say, if man or woman lend good or cattle to her neighbour for to take advantage for her lending: and those that it maintain, & assenten to such giving or taking or filling the dearer therefore. And if there were such one in a city, the city should be interdicted, and no ⟨image 281⟩mass, nor sacrament done therein, till he were out of the city. And all those ye make, when usury is taken, that it be not restored again. And all that beleven on witchcrafts, or use it. And all that wilfully sleen hemselfe, or ells any man, woman, or child: and all witches, and all that on witchcraft beleven, maynteinen, or use, Also all that heresy maynteinen or sustaynen, and all heretics that beleven not in the sacrament of the alter, the which is Christs own body, his flesh and blood in form of bread: and in other Sacraments of holy Church that touchen health of soul. And all those women that distroyen her own children, or any other woman's children with drinks, or with any other witchcraft, either work unlawful. And all ye fadren her children wrongfully on any man for malice or covetise. And all that her children wilfully sleen or cast away, or leyen at churches or Church doors, or at hospitals, or in fields, or in high ways, or leaven her children christened or unchristened and goen away from hem, and forsaken hem. And ⟨p. 253⟩all those, that offerings that been offered in holy Church, or in chapels, or in oratories, or in any other stead within a parish, with holden or put away into other places against the will of the person, vicary, or curate, but if they be privileged. Also John Stratford sometime Archbishop of Canterbury, having regard to much harm of mans soul,☜ and default of devotion through villainy and sin that were used & done about dead bodies ligging up, & yet is used about in many places, or the body be borne to church: there that sometime were used and ordained about a corpse for holy prayers for the soul: now it is forbidden by constitution upon pain of the great curse, that no man undersong or take any folk into his house, where the dead bodies been watched, to make any manner plays, but pray for the soul.
And all that there ought ells done, or thither comen, than to bid for the soul they mowen dread of the same curse. And all ye use simony, or given, or undersongen in way of simony. Al sacrilegiers, that is to say, all ye wrongfully done away any thing hallowed, or given to ⟨image 282⟩holy church ligging to be kept, where […] it be: or that any thing with violence bear out of holy church & all that this procure or assentē. Also all those, y• done in holy church, or in holy place any foul sin, wherefore it hath need to be newly hallowed or reconciled. Also all those that withholden any mans good unjustly wittingly, that hath been axed openly in holy church three times. And all that in violence lien hand or drawn blood on father or mother: and that is to understand both of bodily & ghostly, but it be himself defendant. And all that helpē the Saracens against Christen men in war of arms, or in any other thing. Also all those that letters purchasē in any lords court, that no process of right may be determined, nor judged in holy church court. Also all those ye blood drawn of any man or woman in violence, or in any other villainy in church or in the churchyard, where through the church or churchyard is interdicted, polluted, or suspended. And all robbers & rovers by day or by night, that any mans good stelen, for the which goods a man or woman were worthy to hear judgement. ⟨p. 254⟩And all those that out of houses of holy church, granges, personages, or vicaries, or any maneries of mens of holy church against her will or her keepers will any manner of goods with violence beren out of holy place, church, or abbey, or any house of religion, which were left there for sikernesse or succour for to keep, & all that thereto assenten. Also all those that withholden a widow her right, or her dowry after her husbands death, or taken her good wrongfully. All that procure or given leave or commandment any other to flea, or to maim, or to beat, or by any other way a grieve any Ordinary or judge of the law in body or in goods. Al these aforesaid, been accursed with the greater curse. Et cetera. Many other points also longen unto this great sentence: but I trow to God, it be no need to rehearse here no more.
And al yt there ought ells done, or thither comen, than to bidde for the soule thei mowen drede of ye same curse. And al ye vsen simonye, or geuen, or vndersongen in way of simonie. Al sacrilegiers, yt is to say, al ye wrongfulliche doen away any thing halowed, or geuen to
Et sic finitur.
But through authority of our Lord God almighty, & our Lady S. Mary, and all Saints of heaven, of all Angels, or Archangels, Patriarchs and Prophets, ⟨image 283⟩Evangelists, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors and Virgins, also by the power of all holy church, that our Lord Jesus Christ gave to S. Peter: We denounce all those accursed that we have thus reckoned to you: And all those ye maintain hem in her sins, or given hem thereto either help or counsel, so that they be departed from God and all holy church, and that they have no part of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor of no Sacraments that been in holy Church, nor no part of the prayers among Christen folk, but ye they be accursed of God and of holy church fro the sole of their foot unto the crown of her head, sleeping and waking, sitting and standing, and in all her words, and in all her works: and but if they have grace of GOD for to amend hem here in this life, for to dwell in the pain of hell for ever withouten end. Fiat. Fiat. Do to the book. Quench the candle. Ring the bell. AMEN. AMEN.
BUt thorowe authoritie of oure Lord God almightye, & our Lady S. Marye, and all Saintes of heauen, of all Aungells, or Archeaungells, Patriarches and Prophetes, ⟨image 283⟩Euangelists, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessours and Virgines, also by ye power of all holy church, yt oure Lord Iesu Christ gaue to S. Peter: We denounce all thoe accursed yt we haue thus reckned to you: And all thoe ye mayntayne hem in her sinnes, or geuen hem thereto eyther helpe or councell, so that thei bee departed from God and all holye churche, and that they haue no parte of the passion of our Lord Iesu Christ, ne of no Sacramentes that beene in holye Church, ne no parte of the prayers among Christen folke, but ye they bee accursed of God and of holy church fro the sole of theyr foote vnto the crowne of her heade, sleapyng and wakyng, sitting and standing, and in all her wordes, and in all her workes: and but if they haue grace of GOD for to amende hem here in this life, for to dwel in the payne of hel for euer withouten ende. Fiat. Fiat. Do to the boke. Quenche the candle. Ring the bell. AMEN. AMEN.
The which sacrament of baptisme is groū ded in holy writ, and is beginning of al other sacramentes, and was veriliche betokened in the passion of oure Lord Iesu Christ by water that ranne oute of hys side from hys harte, when al his bloud was agone & shed for our sakes. And so by sacrament of Christening he is ful made Christes childe, and he receaueth there parte of the passion of Christ, and part of all the Sacraments and prayers that beene done in holye churche. Also he receaueth parte of all good deedes, yt beene done among all ⟨p. 245⟩Christen people. And if he holde mekely the couenaunt, yt he maketh there to god: he may be sure for to haue a dwelling place for euer in ye blysse of heauē. But what tyme yt he trespasseth so agaynst the law of God, yt he falleth into curse by sinne, or yt he is worthye to be cursed of holy church: then he is departed from God, and al good works, till he come to amendment. And he is than deliuered againe to ye fende of hel for to put him for his sinne into the payne of hell withouten ende, but he hym amend & therof be assoyled or he hence passe. And therefore there is nothing in al this world, yt a Christen mā or woman ought so griselich to dread, as for to fall into sinne, yt bringeth him into the sentence of curse: the which departeth him from God yt is his father, & from holy church that is his mother. Also as holy scripture or the lawe beareth witnesse, Cursing is cleped the sweard of holy church. For right as we seen, yt the stroke of the sweard it sleaeth and departeth the life fro the body: right so ye stroke of this ghostly sweard, Cursing, departeth and doth away our ⟨image 274⟩Lord God from man & woman, which is accursed: the which Lord God is life of her soules,1 & withouten him all her workes bene dead euermore after, but thei haue special grace of God for to amende hem here, ere they passe oute of this world. For as many Clerkes preuen, at ye day of dumme, would our lady S. Marye, and S. Iohn Baptiste, & al saints yt bene in heauen knele down at once before ye blessed face of almightye God: they shoullen not in yt time thorowe the prayer of them all deliuer the soule of man or woman, yt dyeth in deadly sinne: For trulich it were expresselich agaynste the holy Gospell, where Christ sayth thus: that he shall trulich geue to euery man and womā, their ryghte there, as he hath deserued here.
