Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…

My great grandfather (as ye know) gave the tenth part of all his lands to Churches and Abbeys. My great great grandfather Alfredus of holy memory, thought it not meet to spare his Treasures, his goods, no costs, nor rents, that he might enrich the Church. My grandfather the elder, Edward, your fatherhood is not ignorant, how great things he gave to the Churches It becometh you to remember with what gifts my father & his brothers did enrich Christs altars. O father of fathers Dunstan, behold I pray thee the eyes of my father looking on thee, from that bright place of heaven. Hearken his complaining words, sounding in thine ears thus pitifully lamenting. O father Dunstan, thou, thou I say, givest me counsel to build Abbeys and Churches, thou wast my helper and fellow worker in all things. I chose thee as a shepherd and bishop of my soul, and a keeper of my manners. When did I not obey thee? what treasures did I prefer in respect of thy counsels? What possessions did I not despise, if thou bad me? If thou thought meet to give any thing to the poor, I was ready. If thou thought meet to give any thing to Churches, I deferred not. If thou complained that Monks or Clerks wanted any thing, I supplied. Thou saidest that alms lasted for ever, and that there was none more fruitful then that which was given to Abbeys or Churches. For with that, both Gods servants are sustained, and that which remaineth is given to the poor. O worthy alms. O worthy price of the soul. Oh wholesome remedy for our sins, which now doeth stink in the sweet furs of priests lemmans, wherewith they adorn their ears & deck their fingers, apparelling their delicate bodies with silk and purple. O father, is this the fruit of mine alms, is this the effect of my desire, and of thy promise? What wilt thou answer to this complaint of my fathers? I know, I know, when thou didst see a thief, thou runnest not with him, neither hast thou put thy portion with adulterers. Thou hast rebuked, thou hast exhorted, thou hast blamed them, but words have been despised. Now we must come to stripes of correction, thou hast here with thee the worshipful father Edward bishop of Winchester.

My great graundfather (as yee know) gaue the tenth parte of all hys landes to Churches and Abbeys. My greate greate graundfather Alfredus of holy memorie, thoughte it not meete to spare hys Treasures, his goodes, no costes, nor rentes, that he might enriche the Church. My grandfather the elder, Edward, your fatherhoode is not ignoraunt, howe great things he gaue to the Churches It becommeth you to remember with what gifts my father & his brothers did enrich Christes altars. O father of fathers Dunstane, beholde I pray thee the eyes of my father looking on thee, from that bright place of heauen. Harken his complaining words, sounding in thine eares thus pitifully lamenting. O father Dunstane, thou, thou I say, geuest me counsell to builde Abbaies and Churches, thou wast my helper and fellow worker in all things. I chose thee as a shepheard and bishop of my soule, and a keper of my maners. Whē did I not obey thee? what treasures did I preferre in respect of thy counsels? What possessions did I not despise, if thou badde me? If thou thought meete to geue any thing to the poore, I was ready. If thou thought meete to geue any thing to Churches, I deferred not. If thou complained that Monkes or Clearkes wanted any thing, I supplied. Thou saidest that almes lasted for euer, and that there was none more fruitfull then that which was geuen to Abbeis or Churches. For with that, both Gods seruaunts are sustained, and that which remaineth is geuen to the poore. O worthy almes. O worthy price of the soule. Oh wholesome remedie for our sinnes, which nowe doeth stincke in the sweete furres of priests lemmans, wherwith they adorne their eares & decke their fingers, apparelling their delicate bodies with silke and purple. O father, is this the fruite of mine almes, is this the effect of my desire, and of thy promise? What wilt thou answer to this complaint of my fathers? I know, I know, when thou didst see a thiefe, thou runnest not with him, neither hast thou put thy portion with adulterers. Thou hast rebuked, thou hast exhorted, thou hast blamed them, but wordes haue bene despised. Nowe we must come to stripes of correction, thou hast here with thee the worshipfull father Edward bishop of Winchester.