238 ANTIQUITIES 



" factis renuntiationibus, et penis adjectis, in gravem ipsius 

 ce monasterii lesionem, nonnullis clericis et laicis, aliquibus 

 " eorum ad vitam, quibusdam vero ad non modicum tempus, 

 " & aliis perpetuo ad firman,, vel sub censu annuo concesserunt; 

 " quarum aliqui dicunt super hiis a sede aplica in communi 

 " forma confirmationis litteras impetrasse. Quia vero nostra 

 " interest lesis monasteriis sub venire [He the Pope here 

 " commands] ea ad jus et proprietatem monasterii studeas 

 " legitime revocare," &c. 



The conduct of the religious had now for some time been 

 generally bad. Many of the monastic societies, being very 

 opulent, were become voluptuous and licentious, and had de- 

 viated entirely from their original institutions. The laity 

 saw with indignation the wealth and possessions of their pious 

 ancestors perverted to the service of sensuality and indul- 

 gence; and spent in gratifications highly unbecoming the 

 purposes for which they were given. A total disregard to 

 their respective rules and discipline drew on the monks and 

 canons a heavy load of popular odium. Some good men there 

 were who endeavoured to oppose the general delinquency ; 

 but their efforts were too feeble to stem the torrent of monastic 

 luxury. As far back as the year 1381 Wickliffe's principles 

 and doctrines had made some progress, were well received by 

 men who wished for a reformation, and were defended and 

 maintained by them as long as they dared ; till the bishops 

 and clergy began to be so greatly alarmed, that they pro- 

 cured an act to be passed by which the secular arm was em- 

 powered to support the corrupt doctrines of the church ; but 

 the first lollard was not burnt till the year 1401. 



The wits also of those times did not spare the gross morals 

 of the clergy, but boldly ridiculed their ignorance and pro- 

 fligacy. The most remarkable of these were Chaucer, and 

 his contemporary, Robert Langelande, better known by the 

 name of Piers Plowman. The laughable tales of the former 

 are familiar to every reader ; while the visions of the latter are 

 but in few hands. With a quotation from the Passm Deci- 

 mus of this writer I shall conclude my letter ; not only on 

 account of the remarkable prediction therein contained, which 



