" How have we been so long a-cold, so long slack in
setting forth so wholesome a precept of the church of England, where we
be so hot in all things that have any gains in them, albeit they be
neither commanded us, nor yet given us by counsel; as though we had lever
the abuse of things should tarry still than, it taken away, lose our
profit? To let pass the solemn and nocturnal bacchanals, the prescript
miracles, that are done upon certain days in the west part of England,
who hath not heard? I think ye have heard of St. Blesis's heart which is
at Malverne, and of St. Algar's bones, how long they deluded the people:
I am afraid, to the loss of many souls. Whereby men may well conjecture,
that all about in this realm there is plenty of such juggling deceits.
And yet hitherto ye have sought no remedy. But even still the miserable
people are suffered to take the false miracles for the true, and to lie
still asleep in all kind of superstition. God have mercy upon us!
Last of all, how think you of matrimony? Is all well here? What of
baptism? Shall we evermore in ministering of it speak Latin, and not in
English rather, that the people may know what is said and done?
What think ye of these mass-priests, and of the masses themselves? What
say ye? Be all things here so without abuses, that nothing ought to be
amended? Your forefathers saw somewhat, which made this constitution
against the venality and sale of masses, that, under pain of suspending,
no priest should sell his saying of tricennals or annals.
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