XVII.] OF SELBORNE. 213 



litteris, interpositis juramentis, factis renuntiatioriibtis, et penis 

 acijectis, in gravem ipsius monasterii lesionein noiiuullis clericis 

 et laicis, aliquibus eoruin ad vitam, quibusdam vero ad nou 

 niodicuni tempus, & aliis perpetuo ad finuain, vel sub censu 

 annuo concesserunt ; quorum aliqui dicunt super hiis a sede 

 aplica in communi forma coiiHrmationis litteris impetrasse. 

 Quia vero nostra interest lesis monasteriis subvenire [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 opu- 

 lent, were become very voluptuous and licentious, and had 

 deviated entirely from their original institutions. The laity saw 

 with indignation the wealth and possessions of their pious an- 

 cestors perverted to the service of sensuality and indulgence ; 

 and spent in gratifications highly unbecoming the purposes for 

 which they were given. A total disregard of 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 procured an act to be passed by which 

 the secular arm was empowered to support the corrupt doc- 

 trines of the Church ; but the first Lollard was not burnt until 

 the year 1401. 



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

 of the clergy, but boldly ridiculed their ignorance and profligacy. 

 The most remarkable of these were Chaucer, and his contem- 

 porary, Robert Langelande, better known by the name of Piers 

 Plowman. The laughable tales of the former are familiar to 

 almost every reader ; while the visions of the latter are but in 

 few hands. With a quotation from the "Passus Decimus" of this 

 writer I shall conclude my letter ; not only on account of the 

 remarkable prediction therein contained, which carries with it 



