OF SELBORNE. 
521 
litteris, interpositis jnramentis, factis renuntiationibus, et penis 
adjectis, in gravem ipsius monasterii lesionem nonnullis clericis 
et laicis, aliquibus eorum ad vitam, quibusdain vero ad non 
modicum tempus, & aliis perpetiio ad firmam, vel sub censu 
annuo concesserunt ; quorum aliqui dicunt super liiis a sede 
aplica in communi forma confirmationis 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, Eobert 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 
