1576 Edition | Book 4 | Page 424 
| 50 Gualter Reynald. 15 | After the decease of Rob. Winchelsey, who departed an. 1312. Thomas Cobham a lerned man, was elected by full consent of the Monkes: who came to Auinion, to haue hys election confirmed. But þe pope reseruyng the vacaunt seat to his own handes put in Walter Reynald B. of Worcester, Chācelor of England, who gouerned the seat xv. yeres. The chronicler of S. Albans, recordeth also how in the dayes of this Archb. an. 1319. certayne Lepers conspiryng with the Turkes and Iewes went about to impotionate, and infect all Christendome, by inuenemyng there fountayns, lakes, pits, barels, and such other places. Of the which cryme diuers of thē beyng conuict, wer worthely burned in Fraunce. About the which yeare, the sayd author maketh also relation, how in the realm of England much morain fell among the beastes: in so much, that the dogs eatyng vpon their flesh (infected belike by the waters and fountaynes) fell downe dead incontinent. Neyther durst men for that cause almost tast of any bife. an. 1318. 1319. Ex Chron. Alban. This Walter Archb. takyng part with Quene Isabell agaynst k. Edward her husband, dyed the same yere in which he was deposed. an. 1337. Ex Chr. S. Alban. After Walter the Archb. as affirmeth the chron. of S. Alban, succeded Simon Mepham. Of whom I meruel that Polydor. maketh no word mention: belike he sate not long, after folowed I. Stratford. | |
| 51 Ihon Stratford. 29 | In the story of Adam Mirimouth is recorded that this I. Stratford intending to visite the dioces of Norfolk, was not receyued by the bishop the chapter & clergy there, allegyng that he obserued not the ordinary canon therin. To whom the Archb. sayd agayne, he had the Popes letters and shewed the same. But the other aunswered, that those letters were falsly obteyned and tended to þe suppression of the Clergy, and therfore they would not obey: wherfore, the Archb. excōmunicated the bishop, & suspended the prior, and interdicted the couent. an. 1343. | |
| 52. Ihon Offord. 10. monethes. | M. Ihon Offord Chauncelor of England was elected & confirmed Archb. of Cant. but not consecrated, and sate but x. months, about the yeare of our lord. 1350. Pestulētia in Anglia. | |
| 53. Tho. Braidwarden. 1. | This Tho. Braidwarden followyng after I. Stratford, sate not long but dyed within x. monethes of the plage, as they say. MarginaliaThe first great plague in England.Which was called then the first great plague in England, raging so sore in all quarters, þt it was thought scarse the tēth part of men to be left aliue. | |
| 54. Simō Islepe 17. | In the time of Simon Islepe which followed after Bradwarden: K. Edward. an. 1362. is reported after the blynd superstition of those dayes, MarginaliaThe vestments wherin S. Peter sayd Masse, or els the papistes do lye.to offer in þe church of Westminster þe vestements wherin S. Peter did celebrate Masse. Which belike were wel kept frō mothes, to last so long. Ex Chrō. Albā. The same Simon Islepe, among other constitutiōs ordeyned through all churches and chappels vnder payne of excommunication: that no man should abstayne from bodily labors vpon certayne Saintes dayes, as is before touched. Which fact of his is not a little noted in our monkish histories. This Simon builded Cant. colledge in Oxford. |
MarginaliaThe conclusion of this booke.¶ For so much as Sathan beyng cheyned vp all this while, for the space of a thousande yeares, beginneth about this tyme to be losed and to come abroad, according to the forwarnyng of S. Ihons reuelation. MarginaliaAntichrist in hys pride.Therefore to conclude this fourth booke, wherin sufficiently hath bene described the excessiue pride and pompe of Antichrist, florishing in his ruffe and securitie, from the tyme of William Conquerour hitherto: now (Christ willing and assisting vs therunto) we mynde in these latter bookes hereafter followyng, in order of history to expresse the latter persecutions and horrible troubles of the church, raysed vp by Satanas in hys minister Antichrist, with the resistance agayne of Christes church agaynst him. And so to prosecute (by the mercifull grace of Christ) the proceeding and course of tymes till we come at length to the fall and ruine of the sayd Antichrist. MarginaliaThe loosing out of Sathan.To the intent that if any be in such errour to thinke that Antichrist is yet to come, let hym consider and ponder well the tragicall rages, the miserable and most sorowfull persecutions, murders, & vexations of these latter 300. yeres now folowyng, and I doubt not but he will be put out of all doubt to know, that not onely Antichrist is already come, but also to know where he sitteth, and how he is now fallyng apace (the Lord Christ be thanked for euer) to his decay and confusion.
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