[1] [2] A decrée made by the pope.There was an ordinance made at Rome by the pope and his cardinals (which verie diligentlie fore|saw to aduance their temporall commodities, not much passing for other mens aduantages) that eue|rie one which should be chosen an exempt abbat, should come to the court of Rome to be there confir|med, and receiue the popes blessing, by which heinous ordinance, religion was laid open to great danger, and the church depriued of temporall prosperitie (as saith Matthew Paris) for by this means (saith he) it was needfull for religious men, to choose to their gouernour a man not religious, but rather halfe temporall, Matth. Paris The moonks of Durham that were ex|cõmunicated are now ab|solued. and such a one as to whome rather Iusti|nians lawes than Christes which conuerteth soules should be familiar. The moonks of Durham, who on|lie with the canons of Gisborne resisted the wicked procéedings of the popes exactors, and stood therefore interdicted a long time, at length, after manie alter|cations, were absolued. Oh (saith Matth. Paris) if in that their tribulation they might haue had fellows, and in their constant doings aidors, how happilie had the church of England triumphed ouer hir tormen|tors and oppressors!