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.…

The bishops of France being called upon daily, with the popes letters, ¹were compelled to obey the decree of the council, but the residue of the clergy manfully and stoutly withstanding the Popes decree, and enforcement of their bishops would not agree, but repined thereat, & said, that the council did manifestly repugn against the word of God, & that the Pope did take from Priests, that which both God and nature had given them, and therefore that person to be an heretic, and Author of a wicked doctrine, which ruled and governed not by the spirit of God, but by Satan. The decree and act set forth, to tend directly against the word of God, and the saying of Christ: Non omnes capiunt verbum hoc, all men have not the gift and capacity of the word. Item, to be against the sound doctrine of S. Paul writing these words: As concerning virginity, I have no commandment of the Lord, &c. Again, he that cannot otherwise live continently, let him marry. Item, that it was against the Canons both of the Apostles, and of Nicene council. Moreover, that it was against the course of nature which he required, that men being sequestered from their natural wives, and women, should be coacted to live as angels, that is, to perform that which nature doth not give. And therefore the bishop therein did open a pernicious window to uncleanness and to fornication. In sum, giving up their answer, thus they concluded, that they had rather give up their benefices, then to forsake their natural and lawful wives, against the word of Christ. And finally, if married priests could not please them, they should call down Angels from heaven to serve the Churches. But Hildebrand nothing moved, neither with honest reason, nor with the authority of holy Scripture, nor with the determination of Nicene council, nor any thing else: followeth this matter, calleth upon the bishops still, with his letters and Legates doth solicit their minds, accuseth them of negligence and dastardness, threateneth them with excommunication, unless they cause their priests to obey his decree enjoined them. Whereupon, a great number of bishops for fear of the Popes tyranny, laboured that matter with their priests, by all means possible to bereave them of their accustomed matrimony.

The bishops of France being called vpon daily, with the popes letters, ¹were compelled to obey the decree of the councel, but the residue of the clergy manfully and stoutly withstanding the Popes decree, and inforcement of theyr bishops would not agree, but repined thereat, & sayd, that the councell did manifestly repugne agaynst the worde of God, & that the Pope did take from Priestes, that whiche both God and nature had geuen them, and therefore that person to be an heretike, and Author of a wicked doctrine, which ruled and gouerned not by the spirit of God, but by Sathan. The decree and act set forth, to tende directly against the word of God, and the saying of Christ: Non omnes capiunt verbum hoc, all men haue not the gift and capacitie of the word. Item, to be against the sound doctrine of S. Paule writing these wordes: As concerning virginitie, I haue no commaundement of the Lord, &c. Agayne, he that cannot otherwise liue continently, let him marrie. Item, that it was agaynst the Canons both of the Apostles, and of Nicene councell. Moreouer, that it was against the course of nature whiche he required, that men beyng sequestred from their naturall wiues, and women, shoulde be coacted to liue as aungels, that is, to performe that which nature doth not geue. And therefore the bishop therin did open a peruicious windowe to vncleannes and to fornication. In summe, geuing vp theyr answer, thus they concluded, that they had rather geue vp their benefices, then to forsake their naturall and lawfull wiues, against the worde of Christ. And finally, if maried priests could not please them, they should call downe Angels from heauen to serue the Churches. But Hildebrand nothing mooued, neither with honest reason, nor with the authoritie of holy Scripture, nor with the determinatiō of Nicene councell, nor any thing els: followeth this matter, calleth vpon the bishops stil, with his letters and Legats doth sollicitate their mindes, accuseth them of negligence and dastardnes, threatneth them with excommunication, vnles they cause their priests to obey his decree enioyned them. Whereupon, a great number of bishops for feare of the Popes tiranny, laboured yt matter with their priests, by all means possible to bereaue them of their accustomed matrimony.