the first of the 23rd of Henry the Eighth,* those CH. 3. who were within the degrees might commit A.D. 1529. murder with impunity, the forms which it was necessary to observe in degrading a priest or deacon being so complicated as to amount to absolute protection.†

against the

the clergy. in the re

Consistory

Among the clergy, properly so called, how- Evidence ever, the prevailing offence was not crime, but character of licentiousness. A doubt has recently crept in among our historians as to the credibility of the cords of the extreme language in which the contemporary courts. writers spoke upon this painful topic. It will scarcely be supposed that the picture has been overdrawn in the act books of the Consistory courts; and as we see it there it is almost too deplorable for belief, as well in its own intrinsic hideousness as in the unconscious connivance of the authorities. Brothels were kept in London for the especial use of priests; the confessional'

* An Act that no person of this representation, but quite committing murder, felony, or inadequately.-RYMER, vol. vi. treason should be admitted to part 2, p. 96. his clergy under the degree of sub-deacon.

In May, 1528, the evil had become so intolerable, that Wolsey drew the pope's attention to it.

Priests, he said, both secular and regular, were in the habit of committing atrocious crimes, for which, if not in orders, they would have been promptly executed; and the laity were scandalized to see such persons not only not degraded, but escaping with complete impunity. Clement something altered the law of degradation in consequence

Thomas Cowper et ejus uxor Margarita pronuba horribiles, et instigant mulieres ad fornicandum cum quibuscunque laicis, religiosis, fratribus minoribus, et nisi fornicant in domo suâ ipsi diffamabunt nisi voluerint dare eis ad voluntatem eorum; et vir est pronuba uxori, et vult relinquere eam apud fratres minores pro peccatis habendis.HALE, Criminal Causes, p. 9.

Joanna Cutting communis pronuba at præsertim inter presbyteros fratres monachos et canonicos et etiam inter Thomam

was abused in the most open and abominable manner. Cases occurred of the same frightful

profanity in the service of the mass, which at Rome startled Luther into Protestantism;† and

Peise et quandam Agnetam, &c. | aliarum secretarum conventionum
-HALE, Criminal Causes,p. 28.
See also Ibid. pp. 15, 22, 23,
39, &c.

A.D. 1529.

ment of

inconti

nency and incest.

acts of incest between nuns and monks were too CH. 3. frequently exposed to allow us to regard the detected instances as exceptions.* It may be said that the proceedings upon these charges prove at least that efforts were made to repress them. The bishops must have the benefit of the plea, and the two following instances will show how far it will avail their cause. In the Records of the London PunishCourt I find a certain Thomas Wyseman, priest, priests for summoned for fornication and incontinency. He was enjoined for penance, that on the succeeding Sunday, while high mass was singing, he should offer at each of the altars in the Church of St. Bartholomew a candle of wax, value one penny, saying therewith five Paternosters, five Ave Marys, and five Credos. On the following Friday he was to offer a candle of the same price before the crucifix, standing barefooted, and one before the image of our Lady of Grace. This penance accomplished, he appeared again at the court and compounded for absolution, paying six shillings and eightpence.†

An exposure too common to attract notice, and a fine of six and eightpence was held sufficient penalty for a mortal sin.

Even this, however, was a severe sentence compared with the sentence passed upon another priest who confessed to incest with the prioress of Kilbourn. The offender was condemned to bear a cross in a procession in his parish church,

* HALE, pp. 75, 83; Suppression of the Monasteries, p. 47. † Ibid. p. 80.

Ca. 3. and was excused his remaining guilt for three shillings and fourpence.*

A.D. 1529.

Feelings of

the laity.

I might multiply such instances indefinitely; but there is no occasion for me to stain my pages with them.t

An inactive imagination may readily picture to itself the indignation likely to have been felt by a high-minded people, when they were forced to submit their lives, their habits, their most intimate conversations and opinions to a censorship conducted by clergy of such a character; when the offences of these clergy themselves were passed over with such indifferent careless

*HALE, p. 83.

I have been taunted with my inability to produce more. evidence. For the present I will mention two additional instances only, and perhaps I shall not be invited to swell the list further.

1. In the State Paper Office is a report to Cromwell by Adam Bekenshaw, one of his diocesan visitors, in which I find this passage:

'There be knights and divers gentlemen in the diocese of Chester who do keep concubines and do yearly compound with the officials for a small sum without monition to leave their naughty living.'

2. In another report I find also the following :

The names of such persons
as be permitted to live in adultery
and fornication for money :-

The Vicar of Ledbury.
The Vicar of Brasmyll.
The Vicar of Stow.

The Vicar of Cloune.
The Parson of Wentnor.
The Parson of Rusbury.
The Parson of Plowden.
The Dean of Pountsbury.
The Parson of Stratton.
Sir Matthew of Montgomery.
Sir of Lauvange.
Sir John Brayle.
Sir Morris of Clone.
Sir Adam of Clone.
Sir Pierce of Norbury.
Sir Gryffon ap Egmond.
Sir John Orkeley.

Sir John of Mynton.
Sir John Reynolds.
Sir Morris of Knighton, priest.
Hugh Davis.

Cadwallader ap Gern.
Edward ap Meyrick.
With many others of the diocese
of Hereford.'

The originals of both these documents are in the State Paper Office. There are copies in the Bodleian Library.-MS. Tanner, 105.

A.D. 1529.

ness. Men began to ask themselves who and CH. 3. what these persons were who retained the privileges of saints,* and were incapable of the most ordinary duties; and for many years before the Symptoms burst of the Reformation the coming storm was storm.

Skelton gives us a specimen

of the popular criticisms:-
'Thus I, Colin Clout,
As I
go about,

And wondering as I walk,
I hear the people talk:
Men say for silver and gold
Mitres are bought and sold:
A straw for Goddys curse,
What are they the worse?
'What care the clergy though
Gill sweat,

Or Jack of the Noke?
The poor people they yoke
With sumners and citacions,
And excommunications.
About churches and markets
The bishop on his carpets
At home soft doth sit.
This is a fearful fit,
To hear the people jangle.
How wearily they wrangle!
'But Doctor Bullatus
Parum litteratus,
Dominus Doctoratus

At the broad gate-house.

Doctor Daupatus

And Bachelor Bacheleratus,

Drunken as a mouse

At the ale-house,

In the pulpit solemnly;
More meet in a pillory;
For by St. Hilary
He can nothing smatter
Of logic nor school matter.
'Such temporal war and bate
As now is made of late
Against holy church estate,
Or to maintain good quarrels ;
The laymen call them barrels
Full of gluttony and of hypo-
crisy,

That counterfeits and paints
As they were very saints.
'By sweet St. Marke,

This is a wondrous warke,
That the people talk this.
Somewhat there is amiss.
The devil cannot stop their
mouths,

But they will talk of such un-
couths

All that ever they ken
Against spiritual men.'

I am unable to quote more
than a few lines from Roy's
Satire. At the close of a long
paragraph of details an advocate
of the clergy ventures to say that
the bad among them are a mi-

Taketh his pillion and his cap nority. His friend answers :—

At the good ale-tap,

For lack of good wine.
As wise as Robin Swine,
Under a notary's sign,
Was made a divine;
As wise as Waltham's calf,
Must preach in Goddys half;

of the rising