Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

raiseth uppe the poore abjecte manie times out of the dunghill, and matcheth him in throne with Peeres and Princes. (Psal. 113.)

As touching the order and manner of his comming up, it would be superfluous to discourse what may bee said at large: only by way of storie it may suffice to give a touch of certaine particulars, and so to proceede.

Although the humble condition and povertie of this man was at the beginning (as it is to many other) a great let and hinderaunce for vertue to shewe her selfe, yet such was the activitie and forwarde ripenes of nature in him, so pregnant in wit and so readie he was, in judgement discreet, in tongue eloquent, in service faithfull, in stomacke couragious, in his penne active, that being conversant in the sight of men, he could not long be unespied, nor yet unprovided of favour and helpe of friends to set him forward in place and office. Neither was any place or office put unto him, whereunto hee was not apt and fit. Nothing was so harde which with witte and industry hee could not compasse. Neither was his capacitie so good, but his memorie was as great in retaining whatsoever he had attained. Which well appeareth in canning the text of the whole new testament of Erasmus translation without book, in his journey going and comming from Rome: whereof ye shall

heare anone.

Thus in his growing yeares, as hee shot up in age, and ripenes, a great delight came in his minde to stray into forraine countries, to see the world abroad, and to learne experience, whereby hee learned such tongues and languages, as might better serve for his use hereafter.

And thus passing over his youth, being at Antwerpe, he was there retained of the English Mar

chants to be their Clarke or Secretarie, or in some such like condition placed pertaining to their af

faires.

It happened the same time, that the Towne of Boston thought good to send up to Rome, for renuing of their two pardons, one called the great pardon, the other the lesser pardon. Which thing although it should stand them in great expenses of mony (for the popes Marchandise is alwaies deare ware) yet notwithstanding such sweetnes they had felt thereof, and such gaine to come to their Towne by that Romish Marchandise (as all superstition is commonly gainefull) that they like good Catholicke Marchants, and the popes good cus-. tomers, thought to spare for no coste, to have their leases again of their pardons renewed, whatsoever they paide for the fine. And yet was al this good Religion then such was the lamentable blindnes of that time.

This then beeing so determined and decreede amongst my countrimen of Boston, to have their pardons needs repaired and renued from Rome, one Geffrey Chambers with another companion was sent, for the messengers, with writings and mony, no small quantitie, well furnished, and with all other things appointed necessarie for so chargeable and costly exploit; who comming in his journey to Antwerpe, and misdoubting himselfe to be too weake for the compassing of such a waightie piece of worke, conferred and perswaded with Thomas Cromwel to associate him in that legacie, and to assist him in the contriving thereof. Cromwell although perceiving the enterprise to be of no small difficultie, to traverse the popes court, for the unreasonable expences amongst those greedy corinorants, yet having some skill of the Italian tongue, and as yet not grounded in the judgement of reli

gion in those his youthfull daies, was at length obtained and content to give the adventure, and so tooke his journey towards Rome. Cromwell loth to spend much time, and more loth to spend his mony; and againe perceiving that the popes greedy humor must needs be served with some present or other (for without rewards there is no doing at Rome) began to cast with himselfe, what thing best to devise, wherein he might best serve the popes devotion.

At length, having knowledge how that the popes holy tooth greatly delighted in new fangled strange delicates, and daintie dishes, it came in his minde to prepare certaine fine dishes of jellie, after the best fashion, made after our country maner heere in England, which to them of Rome was not known nor seene before.

This done, Cromwell observing his time accordingly, as the pope was newly come from hunting into his pavillion, hee with his companions approached with his English presentes brought in with a three mans song (as we call it) in the English. tongue, and all after the English fashion. The pope sodainely marvailing at the strangenes of the song, and understanding that they were English men, and that they came not emptie handed, willed them to be called in. Cromwell there shewing his obedience, and offering his jolly junkets, such as Kings and Princes onely (said he) in the Realine of England use to feede upon, desired the same to be accepted in benevolent part, which he and his companions as poore sutors unto his holinesse, had there brought and presented, as novelties meețe for his recreation.

Pope Julius seeing the strangenesse of the dishes,. commanded by and by his Cardinall to take the assay. Who in tasting thereof, liked it so well, and

so likewise the pope after him, that knowing of them what their suites were, and requiring them to make knowne the making of that meate, hee incontinent without any more adoe, stamped both their pardons, as well the greater as the lesser.

And thus were the jolly pardons of the towne of Boston obtained as you have heard, for the maintenance of their decaied port. The copie of which pardons (which I have in my hands) brieflie comprehended, commeth to this effect. "That all the

To this effect.] In Becon's Reliques of Rome, Works, Vol. III. fol. 358 &c. may be found a collection of several other par dons, similar to these granted to the Town of Boston. But omitting them, I shall only produce, because it is not long, the account given by Strype, in his Life of Sir Thomas Smith, p. 60, of one granted, so late as the year 1555, to William Smythick, Esq.; the privileges of which, being imparted by him to Sir Thomas, were, as Strype conjectures, his security in those days of peril, and bitter persecution.

"It was, that he and any five of his friends, whom he should nominate, with their children of both sexes, should be exempted, from all sentences of excommunication, suspension, and interdict, and other censures ecclesiastical, upon whatever occasion or cause inflicted; transgressions of any vows, or commands of the Church; guilt of perjuries, and homicide, whether casual or mental; laying violent hands upon any ecclesiastical persons, excepting Prelates; omissions in whole or in part of Fasts, Canonical Hours, Divine Offices, and Penances injoined also from all and singular their sins whereof they are contrite and confessed, although they were such as for which the Apostolick See were to be consulted. Likewise many other indulgences were by virtue hereof granted; as, to have a portatile Altar, to receive the Sacrament privately; that in Lent, and other fasting times of the year, they might eat Eggs, Butter, Cheese, and other Milk-meats, and Flesh, without scruple of conscience.-Smythick chose Sir Thomas Smith for one of his five Friends, specified in the Bull, to be partaker of these Catholick privileges.-This, no question, was a good skreen for Sir Thomas in these evil days." In Ames's Typographical Antiquities, under the name William Facques (p. 134.),

brethren and sisters of the gylde of our Lady in Saint Botulphes church at Boston, should have free licence to chuse for their confessor or ghostly father, whom they would, either secular priest, or reli

may be found, at full length, the patent of admission of one Richard Woolman into all the benefits of these Boston pardons. The writing bears date, Boston, 10. Decemb. A. D. 1508.

3 Whom they would.] This privilege, though it was productive of very great spiritual, as well as temporal, abuses, was one that was very frequently granted by the See of Rome. It was the main source from which the Friers derived their influence, amassed their wealth, and loosened the bonds of union between the secular Clergy and their Parishioners. Among them a man would seldom fail to finde such a Confessor as is described by Chaucer.

-He had power of confessyoun

As he said himself, more than a Curate,
For of his order he was licentiate.

Full swetely herde he confession,

And pleasant was his absolucion.

He was an easie man to give penaunce,
There as he wist to have a good pitaunce.
Prologue to Canterbury Tales.

The nature of those corruptions which this privilege introduced, may be further estimated from the extracts which follow. They are taken from the Quatuor Sermones, added to the Festival in the later Editions, and in parts of them shew some tendencies towards reformation.

Confession "must also be hole; not some to one, and some to another. This is a grete spece" (species)" of hypocrysye; and this useth moche people; and all for they wolde be holde holy, and better then they ben." fol. 185. b. "The thyrde sacramente is shryfte of penaunce, to the which every man and woman is bounde anon as they can" (know) "reasonable wytte, atte twelve yere, every yere clene to be shryven, once atte the least, atte theyr own Curate... Yet notwithstondyng that ye ben bounde every yere to shew youre shryft to your owne Curate, and yf there ben ony of you that have more affeccyon to another than to me, let me wete" (know)" to whome and where, and he shal have ryghte good leave, and Crystes blessyng and

« ForrigeFortsæt »