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.…

After Calixtus (whose story and rime is before discoursed) succeeded Pope Honorius, ii. Notwithstanding that the cardinals had elected another, yet he by the means of certain citizens obtained the papacy, an. 1125. About the second year of his induction (as is to be red in Math. Paris.) there was a certain legate of his called Joannes-Cremensis, sent down to England, from the Pope for the redress I cannot well tell whereof. But in deed the chiefest purpose of his coming (as of all other after him in those days) was to fill their pouches with English money, as may further appear by their proceedings. This Legate coming then with the Popes letters directed both into england & Scotland (after he had well refreshed himself in Bishops houses, and amongest the Abbots) at length resorted to London, where he assembled the whole Clergy together, inquired of Priests concubines (otherwise called their wives) & making there upon a statute in the said Synod of London,¹ after this tenor: Praesbyteris, diaconibus, subdiaconibus, & canonleis, uxorum, concubinarum, & omnium omnillo foeminarum concuberniat autoritate Apostolica inhibemus praeter matrem, aut sororem vel amitam, aut eiusmodi quae omnino careant suspitione. Et qui decreti huius violator extiterit (confessus vel convictus) ruinam-ordinis patiatur. Inter consanguineos, seu affinitate propinquos, usque ad septimam generationem, matrimonia contrahi prohibemus. That is, unto priests, deacons, subdeacons, and canons, we do utterly inhibit by authority Apostolical, all manner society and conversation with all kind of women, except only their mother, sister, or Aunt, or such whereof can rise no suspicion. And whosoever shall be found to violate this decree (being convict thereof) shall sustain thereby the loss of all that he hath by his order.² Moreover, amongst kindred or such as be joined in affinity,³ we forbid matrimony, unto the seventh generation, &c. But see how God worketh against such ungodly proceedings. The next night after, it happened, the same Cardinal (ruffling & revelling with his concubines) to be apprehended in the same vice, whereof he had so straightly given out precepts the next day before, to the no little slander and shame (as Math. Paris doth write) of the whole clergy.

After Calixtus (whose story and ryme is before discoursed) succeeded Pope Honorius, ii. Notwithstanding that the cardinals had elected another, yet he by the means of certain citizens obtained the papacie, an. 1125. About the second yeare of his induction (as is to be red in Math. Paris.) there was a certaine legate of his called Ioannes-Cremensis, sent downe to England, from the Pope for the redresse I cannot well tell whoreof. But in deede the chiefest purpose of his commyng (as of all other after hym in those dayes) was to fill their pouches with English money, as may further appeare by their procedings. This Legate commyng then with the Popes letters directed both into england & Scotland (after he had well refreshed himselfe in Bishops houses, and amongest the Abbotts) at length resorted to London, where he assembled the whole Clergy together, inquired of Priestes concubines (otherwise called theyr wiues) & making there upon a statute in the said Synode of London,