Here were many examples to be brought in, how the pope hath dispensed both with Monks, Friars, and Nuns, the which I will pass over, and will she we as near as I can out out of Chronicles, how long▪ it is, that the pope hath gone about to bring in the vow of chastity. Doctor Eckius doth say, that Calixtus primus did first make the statute, that priests should vow chastity, b•t that is false. For all Chronicles beareth witness, that priests had wives in the Council, of Nicene, the which was almost an hundred years after Calixtus days. Wherefore it can not be supposed, that yt statute was made before the Council of Nicene. But authentical histories doth make mention, that Nicholas the first, which was 1Bishop of Rome, the year of our Lord 860. did go about this thing: but he could not bring it to pass by the reason of an holy man S. Huldericke, Episcopus Augustensis, the which wrote a very sharp Epistle against him, reproving him sore, because he would compel priests to vow chastity. His words be these. Thou hast not swerved a little from discretion, that where as thou oughtest to have counselled priests to chastity, thou hast with a Lordly violence compelled them to it. Is not this after the judgement of all wise men, a 2great violence, when that thou against the institution of the Gospel, and against the decree of the holy ghost, wilt compel men to observe thy private decree? &c. He reciteth also against the Bishop of Rome all those same scriptures, that I have brought herein my book of this matter, and al•o certain of the counsels, to that purpose, that I have brought them. So that men ought not to think, that I am the first, that thus hath understand the Scriptures, nor yet the first, that hath spoken against priests vows.
Here were many examples to bée brought in, how the pope hath dispensed both with Monkes, Friers, and Nunnes, the which I will passe ouer, and will she we as neare as I can out out of Chronicles, how lōg▪ it is, that the pope hath gone about to bryng in the vow of chastitie. Doctour Eckius doth say, that Calixtus primus dyd firste make the statute, that priestes should vow chastitie, b•t that is false. For all Chronicles beareth witnesse, that priestes had wyues in the Councell, of Nicene, the which was almost an hundreth yeares after Calixtus dayes. Wherfore it can not bée supposed, that yt statute was made béefore the Councell of Nicene. But authenticall hystories doth make mention, that Nicholas the first, whiche was 1Byshop of Rome, the yeare of our Lord 860. did goe about this thyng: but hée could not bryng it to passe by the reason of an holy man S. Huldericke, Episcopus Augustensis, the which wrote a very sharpe Epistle agaynst hym, reproouyng hym sore, bycause hée would compell priestes to vow chastitie. Hys woords bée these. Thou hast not swarued a litle from discretion, yt where as thou oughtest to haue counsayled priestes to chastitie, thou hast with a Lordly violence compelled them to it. Is not this after the iudgement of all wise men, a 2great violence, whē that thou agaynst the institution of the Gospell, and agaynst ye decrée of the holy ghost, wilt compell men to obserue thy priuate decrée? &c. Hée reciteth also agaynst ye Byshop of Rome all those same scriptures, that I haue brought herein my booke of this matter, and al•o certain of the counsels, to that purpose, that I haue brought them. So that men ought not to thinke, that I am the first, that thus hath vnderstande the Scriptures, nor yet the first, that hath spoken agaynst priestes vowes.
- 1Nicholaus. 1
- 2Compelled chastity is against the institution of the Gospel.Compelled chastitie is against the institution of the Gospell.
