[1] [2] [3] ¶ This yeare also, there came foorth a decrée from the archbishop of Canturburie, and his suffragans,Préests con|cubines for|bidden chri|stian buriall. that the concubines of préests and clearkes within orders (for so were their wiues then called in con|tempt of their wedlocke) should be denied of christi|an buriall, except they repented whilest they were a|liue in perfect health, or else shewed manifest tokens of repentance at the time of their deaths. The same decree also prohibited them from the receiuing of the pax at masse time, & also of holie bread after masse, so long as the preests kept them in their houses, or vsed their companie publikelie out of their houses. Moreouer, that they should not be purified when they should be deliuered of child, as other good women were, vnlesse they found sufficient suertie to the arch|deacon, or his officiall, to make satisfaction at the next chapter or court to be holden, after they should be purified. And the préests should be suspended, which did not present all such their concubines as were re|siant within their parishes. Also, all such women as were conuict to haue dealt carnallie with a preest, were appointed by the same decree to doo open pen|ance. Where the question may be asked, whether this decree was extended to preests wiues or no? Where|vnto answer may be made, that as a quadrangle in geometrie compriseth in it a triangle, and a quater|nion in arithmetike conteineth a ternion; so in lo|gike a vniuersall proposition comprehendeth a parti|cular. But it is said here, that all such women as had carnall knowledge with a préest, were to be pu|nished, therefore some, and consequentlie all préests wiues. But yet this seemeth not to be the meaning of that decrée, for préests were allowed no wiues, naie Sericius the pope iudged that all such of the cleargie as had wiues could not please God, bicause they were In carne, which words he and the residue of that litter restreined to marriage, admitting in no case that churchmen should inioy the rights of matrimo|nie. Wherin they offer God great iniurie, in séeking to limit that large institution of wedlocke, wherein all estates are interressed; and they seeme likewise to bridle nature, and to compell hir within certeine pre|cincts, wherein they offer intollerable iniurie to all mankind, considering that

—ad venerem compellimur exercendum

Non modò nos, verùm omne animal, terrae marís,

[page 208] Natur [...] imperio: facias peiora necesse est,

Si non foeminei sorberis abore barathri.