Part 30 (1/2)

[222] See instance's in HALE: p, 62, _Omnium Sanctorum in muro_.--M.

Gulielmus Edward curatus notatur officio quod recusat ministrare sacramenta ecelesiastica aegrotantibus nisi prius habitis pecuniis pro suo labore: p.

64, _St. Mary Magdalen_.--Curatus notatur officio prbpter quod recusavit solemnizare matrrimonium quousque habet pro hujusmodi solemnizatione, _3s.

8d._; and see pp. 52, 75.

[223] I give many instances of this practice in my sixth chapter. It was a direct breach of the statute of Henry IV., which insists on all examinations for heresy being conducted in open court. ”The diocesan and his commissaries,” says that act, ”shall openly and judicially proceed against persons arrested.”--2 Hen. IV. c. 15.

[224] Again breaking the statute of Hen. IV., which limited the period of imprisonment previous to public trial to three months.--2 Hen. IV. c. 15.

[225] To be disposed of at Smithfield. Abjuration was allowed once. For a second offence there was no forgiveness.

[226] Pet.i.tion of the Commons. _Rolls House MS._

[227] See STRYPE, _Eccles. Memorials_, vol. i. p. 191-2,--who is very eloquent in his outcries upon his subject.

[228] _Answer of the Bishops_, p. 204, etc.

[229] Explanations are not easy; but the following pa.s.sage may suggest the meaning of the House of Commons:--”The holy Father Prior of Maiden Bradley hath but six children, and but one daughter married yet of the goods of the monastery; trusting shortly to marry the rest.”--Dr. Leyton to Cromwell: _Suppression of the Monasteries_, p. 58.

[230] Reply of the Bishops, infra.

[231] CAVENDISH, _Life of Wolsey_, p. 390. MORE'S _Life of More_, p. 109.

[232] Populus diu oblatrans. Fox to Wolsey. STRYPE, _Eccl. Mem._ vol. i.

Appendix, p. 27.

[233] RYMER, vol. vi. part 2, p. 119.

[234] The answer of the Ordinaries to the supplication of the wors.h.i.+pful the Commons of the Lower House of Parliament offered to our Sovereign Lord the King's most n.o.ble Grace.--_Rolls House MS._

[235] The terms of the several articles of complaint are repeated verbally from the pet.i.tion. I condense them to spare recapitulation.

[236] 2 Hen. IV. cap. 15; 2 Hen. V. cap. 7.

[237] An Act that no person shall be cited out of the diocese in which he dwells, except in certain cases. It received the Royal a.s.sent two years later. See 23 Hen. VIII. cap. 9.

[238] 21 Hen. VIII. cap. 5. An Act concerning fines and sums of money to be taken by the ministers of bishops and other ordinaries of holy church for the probate of testaments.

[239] HALE, _Precedents_, p. 86.

[240] Ibid.

[241] 21 Hen. VIII. cap. 6. An Act concerning the taking of mortuaries, or demanding, receiving, or claiming the same.

In Scotland the usual mortuary was, a cow and the uppermost cloth or counterpane on the bed in which the death took place. A bishop reprimanding a suspected clergyman for his leaning toward the Reformation, said to him:--

”My joy, Dean Thomas, I am informed that ye preach the epistle and gospel every Sunday to your paris.h.i.+oners, and that ye take not the cow nor the upmost cloth from your paris.h.i.+oners; which thing is very prejudicial to the churchmen. And therefore, Dean Thomas, I would ye took your cow and upmost cloth, or else it is too much to preach every Sunday, for in so doing ye may make the people think we should preach likewise.”--CALDERWOOD, vol. i.

p. 126.

The bishop had to burn Dean Thomas at last, being unable to work conviction into him in these matters.