OF SELBORNE 287 



"alia bona ad monasterium ipsum spectantia, datis super hoc 

 " litteris, interpositis juramentis, factis renuntiationibus, et penis 

 "adjectis, in gravem ipsius monasterii lesionem, nonnullis clerieis 

 "et laicis^ aliquibus eorum ad vitam, quibusdam vero ad non 

 "modicum tempus, & aliis perpetuo ad firmam, vel sub censu 

 " annuo concesserunt ; quorum aliqui dicunt super hiis a sede 

 " Eplica in communi forma confirmationis litteras 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 

 opulent, were become voluptuous and licentious, and had deviated 

 entirely from their original institutions. The laity saw with in- 

 dignation the wealth and possessions of their pious ancestors 

 perverted to the service of sensuality and indulgence ; and spent 

 in gratifications highly unbecoming the purposes for which they 

 were given. A total disregard to their respective rules and dis- 

 cipline 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 W^icHj^e'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 doctrines 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 pre- 

 diction therein contained, which carries with it somewhat of the 



fruits ; as cherries, plums, and currants. We still say a plum or cherry-orchard. 

 See vol. III. oi Archcsologia. 



In the instance above the pope's secretary might insert vineas merely because 

 they were a species of cultivation familiar to him in Italy. 



