A07146:268
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.
Pope Celestinus the third gave licence to the Emperor Henry the fifth if that name,1 to marry & take unto wife a certain vowess or professed Nun, called Constantia the daughter of Rogerius king of Cecilia, In the year &c. 1188. Mar. Polonius. Joan. Laziardus. D. Barnes.
POpe Celestinus the thirde gaue licence to the Emperour Henry the fyft yf that name,1 to mary & take vnto wife a certayne vowesse or professed Nunne, called Constantia the daughter of Rogerius king of Cecilia, In the yere &c. 1188. Mar. Polonius. Ioan. Laziardus. D. Barnes.
1Pope Theodorus made a law, that if any man chanced to marry, after that he hath vowed chastity, he should not ⟨p. 38⟩be divorced from his wife, but that his marriage should stand in full strength, and virtue, notwithstanding the former vow. In the year of our Lord. 902. Disti. 27. capit. Si vir votum. Bergom.
1Pope Theodorus made a lawe, that if any man chaunced to marry, after that he hath vowed chastitie, he should not ⟨p. 38⟩be diuorced from his wife, but that his mariage should stand in full strength, and vertue, notwythstandyng the former vow. In the yeare of our Lord. 902. Disti. 27. capit. Si vir votum. Bergom.
There was an Abbot at Reading, whom men for his perfect living called abbot saint.1 This man being in danger of a certain disease, by the reason he had no wife, sent unto the Pope, desiring him to dispense with him for his vow. And the Pope dispensed with him and gave him licence to marry a wife, but under a condition, that it should be secretly done, and not in facie ecclesie. D. Barnes. in Libro. De coniugio sacerdotum.
There was an Abbote at Redyng, whō mē for his perfect liuīg called abbot saint.1 This mā beīg in daūger of a certain disease, by the reason he had no wife, sent vnto the Pope, desiring him to dispense wyth hym for his vowe. And the Pope dispensed with him and gaue hym licence to marry a wife, but vnder a condition, that it should be secretly done, and not in facie ecclesie. D. Barnes. in Libro. De coniugio sacerdotum.
Saint Cyprian being demanded,1 what should be done with those religious persons that could not keep their chastity, as they had vowed, answered on this manner: Thou doest ask what we do Judge of those Virgins, which after they have decreed to live chastely, are afterward found in one bed with a man. Of the which thou sayest, that ⟨image 68⟩one of them was a Deacon. We do with great sorrow see the great ruin and fall of many persons,2 which cometh by the reason of such unlawful and perilous companying together. Wherefore if they have dedicated them selves to Christ out of faith to live purely and chastely: then let them so remain without any fable, and strongly and steadfastly abide the reward of Virginity: But if they will not abide, or else can not abide: then is it better to marry than to fall into the fire of concupiscence. And let them give unto the brethren and systern none occasion of slander. &c.
Sainct Cyprian beeyng demmaunded,1 what shoulde bee done with those religious personnes that coulde not keepe theyr chastitie, as they had vowed, aunswered on thys maner: Thou doest aske what we doe Iudge of those Uirgines, whyche after they haue decreed to lyue chastlye, are afterwarde founde in one bedde wyth a man. Of the whyche thou sayest, that ⟨image 68⟩one of them was a Deacon. We doe with great sorowe see the great ruine and fall of many persons,2 which commeth by the reason of suche vnlawfull and perillous companying together. Wherfore if they haue dedicated them selues to Christe out of faythe to lyue purely and chastly: then let them so remayne without any fable, and strongly and stedfastly abyde the rewarde of Uirginitye: But if they wyll not abyde, or elles canne not abyde: then is it better to mary than to fall into the fyre of concupiscence. And let them geue vnto the brethren and systern none occasion of slaunder. &c.
Some affirm, saith S. Austen, that such as marry after they have vowed chastity are adulterers.1 But I say unto you that they sin grievously, that separate and put asunder such.
Some affirme, saith S. Austen, that such as marrye after they haue vowed chastitie are adulterers.1 But I say vnto you that they synne greuously, that seperate and put asunder such.
There are that say, that for religion sake marriage ought to be dissolved and broken. But we must understand, that although mans law hath granted this yet the law of God hath forbidden it. For he that is the self truth sayeth: Whom God hath coupled together,1 let no man separate. He saith also: It ⟨p. 39⟩is not lawful for a man to put away his wife, except it be for fornication. Who then may speak against the giver of this law?
There are that say, that for religion sake mariage ought to be dissolued and broken. But we must vnderstand, that although mās law hath graunted this yet the law of God hath forbidden it. For he that is the selfe truthe saieth: Whome God hathe coupled together,1 let no man seperate. He saith also: It ⟨p. 39⟩is not lawful for a mā to put away his wyfe, except it be for fornication. Who then maye speake agaynst the geuer of this lawe?
In evil promises break thy faith, in a filthy vow change thy determination.1 That thou hast uncircumspectly vowed, look that thou perform not. For that is a wicked vow and promise, that is accomplished with sin.
In euil promises breake thy faithe, in a filthy vowe chaunge thy determinatiō.1 That thou hast vncircumspectly vowed, loke that thou perform not. For that is a wycked vowe and promise, that is accomplished with sinne.
If any man swear or promise any thing contrary to faith and charity,1 which being kept should turn into a worse end: it is rather to be changed than to be fulfilled.
If any man sweare or promise anye thing contrary to faithe and charitye,1 which beyng kepte shoulde turne into a worse end: it is rather to be chaunged than to be fulfilled.
Would God sayeth S. Bernard,1 that they which cannot live chaste, would give over the single life, that they might not burn, it were without doubt better to marry than burn and to be saved in a low degree than to live worse in the noble state of the clergy.
Woulde God sayeth S. Bernarde,1 that they whiche cannot liue chaste, would geue ouer the single lyfe, that they mighte not burne, it were wythout doubt better to marry than burne and to be saued in a lowe degree than to lyue worse in the noble state of the cleargy.
Pope Gregory the tenth gathered a council at Lions six hundred bishops and a thousand Prelates: ⟨image 69⟩wherein it was decreed,1 that no person should have any spiritual promotion with cure, except he were first of all a Priest, and also able to discharge it. Moreover that no man should from thenceforth pay his tithes, where he listed, as the use was tofore, but that all tithes be paid to the mother church of every diocese. Again: that it should not be lawful for any priest to have moe than one benefice with cure. Item, it was decreed in that council, that all persons and Vicars should be called for ever after, Priests, and no more Prelates. In the year of our Lord. 1271. Ranulphus Cestrensis. Chronica. Angl.
POpe Gregory the tenth gathered a counsell at Lions sixe hundred bishops and a thousande Prelates: ⟨image 69⟩wherein it was decreed,1 that no person shoulde haue any spirituall promotion with cure, except he were first of all a Prieste, and also able to discharge it. Moreouer that no manne should from thenceforth paye his tythes, where he listed, as the vse was tofore, but that al tithes be payde to the mother church of euery diocesse. Agayne: that it shoulde not be lauful for any priest to haue mo than one benefice with cure. Item, it was decreed in that councell, that all persons and Uicares shoulde be called for euer after, Priestes, and no more Prelates. In the yeare of our Lorde. 1271. Ranulphus Cestrensis. Chronica. Angl.
1Pope Calixte the second ordained, that no lay man under pain of the great curse should meddle with the ten thes, oblations or houses of the Priests, nor with the goods of any bishop that dieth. In the year of our Lord. 1120 Joan. Laziard.
1Pope Calixte the seconde ordayned, that no lay manne vnder payne of the great curse should meddle with the tē thes, oblations or houses of the Priestes, nor wyth the goods of any bishop that dieth. In the yere of our Lord. 1120 Ioan. Laziard.
1The aforesaid Pope also made a law, that that bishop or priest which leaveth his benefice, and is not resident upon it to do his duty, should be taken ⟨p. 40⟩for an adulterer. Plot. Antonin.
1The aforesayde Pope also made a law, that that bishoppe or priest which leaueth his benefice, and is not residēt vpon it to do his duety, should be takē ⟨p. 40⟩for an adulterer. Plat. Antonin.
Pope Evaristus decreed that a bishop or priest may no more forsake his benefice,1 than a married man may forsake his wife.2 For saith he, he that seeth a woman and lusteth after her in his heart,3 hath committed adultery. In the year. &c. 110. lib. Concil. Chroni.
Pope Euaristus decreed that a bishop or prieste may no more forsake his benefice,1 than a maried man may forsake hys wyfe.2 For saith he, he that seeth a woman and lusteth after her in hys heart,3 hath committed adultery. In the yere. &c. 110. lib. Concil. Chroni.
