1583 Edition | Book 8 | Page 1205 
Close(c. 298 - 373) [Catholic Encyclopeda; Gams]
Patriarch of Alexandria (326 - 73); doctor of the church; opponent of Arianism
Athanasius praised Origen and used his testimonies against the Arians. 1570, p. 87; 1576, p. 60; 1583, p. 60.
Athanasius wrote that he knew monks and bishops who were married. 1570, p. 1350; 1576, p. 1152; 1583, p. 1181.
Close(c. 1125 - 1190) [ODNB]
Bishop of Worcester (1180 - 85); archbishop of Canterbury (1185 - 90)
After being elected archbishop, Baldwin became a monk. 1570, p. 1350; 1576, p. 1152; 1583, p. 1181.
Foxe says that in Balwin's time priests were allowed to have wives and that their wives and children had the right to inherit property. 1570, p. 1335; 1576, p. 1138; 1583, p. 1167.
Close(d. 615) [Kelly]
Pope (608 - 15); converted the Pantheon into a Christian church
Boniface gave a decree that monks could preach, baptise, hear confessions and offer absolution. 1570, p. 1350; 1576, p. 1152; 1583, p. 1181.
Close(943/4 - 975) [ODNB]
King of England (959 - 75); crowned in 973 at Bath
Younger son of Edmund I and Aelgifu; king of the Mercians in 957; welcomed Dunstan when he had been expelled by Eadwig.
Edgar rebuilt the abbey of Chertsey founded by Bishop Earconwald and the abbey at Glastonbury. 1570, p. 177, 1576, p. 134, 1583, p. 133.
Pope John XIII wrote to King Edgar, telling him to appoint only monks as bishops and to replace the secular prebendaries at Winchester with monks. 1570, p. 1350; 1576, p. 1152; 1583, p. 1181.
Under Edgar, emphasis on the monastic profession of a celibate life and opposition to clerical marriage increased. 1570, p. 1339, 1576, p. 1142, 1583, p. 1171.
Close(1133 - 1189) [ODNB]
King of England (1154 - 89)
Duke of Normandy (1149 - 89); duke of Aquitaine (1152 - 89); count of Anjou (1151 - 89)
After Becket's murder, Henry II was compelled to agree to allow appeals to Rome from England.1570, p. 5, 1576, p. 4, 1583, p. 4.
Henry was made to remove the secular canons from Waltham church and install regular canons.1570, p. 1350, 1576, p. 1152, 1583, p. 1181.
Close(d. 972) [Kelly]
Bishop of Narnia; Otto I's candidate for pope
Pope (965 - 72); imprisoned in the Castle of Sant' Angelo, escaped; permitted to return 966; crowned Otto II joint emperor with his father in 967
John XIII wrote to King Edgar, telling him to appoint only monks as bishops and to replace the secular prebendaries at Winchester with monks. 1570, p. 1350; 1576, p. 1152; 1583, p. 1181.
Close(c. 1200 - 1259) [ODNB]
Benedictine monk and English chronicler, based at St Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire; cartographer, artist, hagiographer
Matthew Paris suggested that Paul, nephew of Lanfranc and abbot of St Albans, was actually the son of Lanfranc. 1570, p. 1331; 1576, p. 1135; 1583, p. 1164.
Close(c. 1140 - 1191) [ODNB]
Bishop of Bath (1174 - 91) and archbishop-elect of Canterbury 1191; on his deathbed, requested the monastic habit from Prior Walter of Bath
As archbishop-elect, Reginald became a monk. 1570, p. 1350; 1576, p. 1152; 1583, p. 1181.
CloseNièvre, France
Location of the monastery of St Benoît-sur-Loire, where the relics of St Benedict were preserved
Coordinates: 46° 50' 0" N, 3° 19' 0" E
Close[Walthan]
Essex
OS grid ref: TL 385 005
CloseHampshire
OS grid ref: SU 485 295
Historic capital of Wessex; former capital of England; county town of Hampshire; cathedral city
Benedict, enioyning to them a prescribed forme of goyng, of wearing,MarginaliaMonkes diuers from other in apparell. of watching, sleeping, rising, praying, of silēce, sole life and diet, and all thinges almost differing from the vulgar sort of common Christians.
Whereby men seeing theyr austerity, beganne to haue them in great admiration. And thus growing vp in opinion of holines, of lay men and laborers they came at length to be Clergy men,MarginaliaMonkes of lay, men made Clergy men. and greatest doers of all other in Christes religion: In so muche that at last there was none reputed almost for a religious man or perfect christian vnles he were a monk: neither almost was any aduaūced to any dignity of the Church, but either he was a monke, or afterward he put on a monkes weede: According as in the stories of this Realme is to be seene, howe in the tyme of Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury, of Ethelwold Byshop of Worcester, and of Oswald Bishop of Winchester, MarginaliaPope Iohn 13. wrote to K. Edgar, that none should be made Byshops but Monkes.Pope Iohn. 13. writing to king Edgar, willed him in hys letters, to see in his Cathedrall Churches none to be promoted to be Bishops, but such as were of the Monasticall religion: and willed him moreouer to exclude the secular prebendaries at Winchester, and to place in Monkes, and that none of the secular Clerkes there should be chosen bishop, but either taken out of the same Couent of that churche or of some other Abbey.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaSecular Priestes put out, and Monkes intruded into Churches.So was also king Henry the second commaūded to do in the house of Waltham, where the secular Canons were remoued out, and regular Canons intruded. The same did Oswald Bishop with the Church of Worceter, likewise in their Sees did Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury, Osketellus Archbishop of York, Ethelwold Bishop of Worcester (who in storye is reported to be Multorum fundator Monasteriorum,) Leswinus also Bishop of Dorcester, with other Bishops moe about the time and raign of king Edgar. Odo Archbishop of Caunterbury before Dunstane, an. 934. after his election refused to take that dignity vpon him, before he had receiued the habite of a monk in the Abbey of Florence in Fraunce, because as the story telleth (if it be true) Nullus ad id tempus nisi monachali schemate indutus, Archiepiscopus fuisset. &c. That is, Because all the Archbishops of Caunterbury before him, had bene Monkes. &c. In like maner Baldwinus also an. 1114. after he was elected Archb. of Canterbury, tooke vpon him the habite and profession of Mereton Abbey
CloseArchbishop Baldwin became a monk at Ford, not Merton, abbey.
MarginaliaMonkes first lay men, thē made regulars and votaryes: at length made Churchmen Pope Boniface.As concerning therfore the origene of Monks, ye haue heard how first they began of lay mē onely, leading a straiter life from the society of other persons, who then folowing the rule of S Benet, were called regulars & votaries, and yet all this while had nothing to do with any Ecclesiasticall ministery, til the time of Pope Bonifacius þe fourth an. 606. who then made a decree, that monkes might vse the office of preaching, of the christening, of hearing confessions and assoyling thē of their sinnes, MarginaliaDifference betweene Monkes Priestes.differing from priestes onely in this, that they were called Regulares, and priestes were called Seculares, the monkes were votaries, the priestes had free liberty to haue wiues, til the time of Lanfranke and Anselme, as is aforesayd. Albeit Athanasius in his Epistle Ad Dracontium, witnesseth also, that he knewe Monkes in the olde time and Bishops, which were marryed and had children. Furthermore, as ignorance & superstition with time encreased, so the number and swarme of monkes still more and more multiplied, in such sort, as not onely they thrust out secular Priestes frō their houses, but also out of them were made, Popes, Cardinalles, Archbishops, and Bishops, to gouerne Churches. Of which nūber began Austen the first Archbishop of the See of Cant. and the most part of all other Arbishops after him, vntill the time of the Conquest, and after.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe comming in of the Fryers.All this while the Friers were not yet come, neyther the discipline of S. Dominike, nor the Testament of S. Fraunces, nor the order of the Austen brothers, nor of the Carmelites was yet heard of. Which last of all came in wt theyr pageans, and played theyr part likewise, an. 1220. being much more full of hipocrisy, blindnesse, Idolatry, and superstition, then were the monkes: So that, what with monkes of þe one side, & wt the friers, of the other side, while all thinges were ruled by the Rules of S. Benet, by þe Canons of the Pope, by the doctrine of S. Dominike, and by the Testament of S. Fraunces, Christes Testament was trode vnder foote, the rule of Gods word neglected, true Christian religion defaced, fayth forgotten, the right way of saluation abolished, sound doctrine oppressed, Christes seruants persecuted, and the peoples soules vncomforted: yea and the true Church of Christ almost cleane extirped, had not almighty God (who can not forgette his promise, prouided remedy in time, in raysing vp this Cromwel his seruaunt, and other like champions, to cut vppe from the roote of the houses of them, which otherwise would vtter-ly haue rooted vp the house of the Lord, & had subuerted a great part already.
[Back to Top]Wherefore, whosoeuer findeth himselfe agreeued with Cromwels doinges in suppressing these Monasteryes of Monkes and Fryers, let him wisely consider with hymselfe, first the doctrine, lawes and traditions of these men, which he shall find rebelling to the religion of Christ, pernitious to our saluation, derogatory to Christes glory, full of much blasphemy and damnable idolatry. MarginaliaThe lyfe of Monkes and Fryers considered.Secondly, let him likewise wel aduise the horrible and execrable liues of these Cloysterers, or at þe least search out the rolles and registers of matters found out by inquisition in king Henry the eight his dayes, agaynst them: which here is not to be spoken of, vnles we will speake as Mathew Paris speaketh of the Court of Rome: Cuius fœtor vsque ad nubes fumum teterrimum exhalabat: That is. Whose filthy stinch (saith he) did breath vp a most pestiferous fume, euen vnto the cloudes of heauen. &c.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe Lord Cromwell defended in suppressing Abbayes.All which thinges well considered, what maruell is it then, if God of his iust iudgement did set vp the foresayde Lord Cromwell to destroy these sinfull houses, whō theyr owne corruptions could suffer no longer to stand? MarginaliaDissipation of Abbay landes in England expedient.And as touching the dissipation of theyr landes and possessions to the handes of such as they were bestowed vpon: if it so pleased the king in bestowing those Abbey landes vpon his Nobles and Gentlemen, either to restore them againe vnto them from whence they came, or els to gratifie hys nobility, by that meanes of pollicye not to mislike his doings, what is that to Cromwel? But they might (say you) haue bene much better employed to other more fruitfull vses. Briefely to aunswere thereunto, what may be done presently in a common wealth, is not enough to say: but what may also folow must be considered. If thys throwing downe of Abbeys had happened in such free and reformed cities or countryes, as are amongest the Germanes, where the state gouerned & directed by lawes, rather then by rulers, remayneth alwayes alike and vnmutable, who doubteth but such houses there standing still, þe possessions might well be transposed to such vses abouesayd, without any feare or perill? But in suche Realmes and Kingdomes as this, wher Lawes and Parliamentes be not alwayes one, but are subiect to the disposition of the prince: neither is it certayne alwayes what Princes maye come: þe surest way therfore to send Monkery & Popery packing out of the realme, is to doe with their houses and possessions as king Henry here did, through þe motion of þe counsell of Cromwell. For els who seeth not in Queene Maries time, if either the houses of monkes had stand or their landes had bene otherwise disposed, then into the handes of such as they were, how many of them had bene restored & replenished agayn wt monkes & fryers, in as ample wise as euer they were? And if Dukes, Barons and the Nobilities scarse were able to retayne the landes and possessions of Abbeyes distributed to them by king Henry, from the deuotion of Queene Mary, seeking to build agayne the walles of Hierico, what then shoulde the meaner sorte haue done, let other men coniecture. MarginaliaThe vtter ruine of Monasteryes was Gods worke.Wherfore it is not vnlike, but that Gods heauenly prouidence did well foresee and dispose these thinges before by this man, in workyng the destruction of these Abbeyes: whereupon, as often as he sent out any men to suppresse any monasterie, hee vsed commonly to send them with this charge, that they shuld throw downe those houses euen to the foundation.
[Back to Top]Which wordes although may seeme percase to some to be cruelly spoken of hym: yet contrariwise doe I suppose the doing thereof not to be without Gods speciall prouidence and secret guiding: Or els we might peraduenture haue had suche swarmes of fryers and monkes possessed in theyr nestes agayne, before this day in England, in so great a number, that tenne Cromwels afterward vnneth should haue suffered to haue vnhoused them.
[Back to Top]Wherfore, if the plantation which the Lord God neuer planted, be pluckt vp by the rootes
CloseMatt. 15:13.
MarginaliaMalleus Monachorum Cromwellus.Now that you haue seene, what this Malleus Monachorum
Literally, 'hammer of the monks'.
Close
After that the bishop of Romes power and authoritye was banished out of England, the bishops of his sect neuer ceased to seeke all occasion, how eyther to restore hys head agayne, being broken and wounded, or at the least to keepe vpright those thinges which yet remayned: wherein although theyr labours were not altogether frustrate, yet had they brought much more to passe, if CromwellMarginaliaCromwell the Forte & defence of the Church. (as a mighty wall and defence of the church) had not resisted continually theyr enterprises.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAn assembly of learned men appoynted by the king.It happened, that after the abolishing of the Pope,