One and Thyrtye Epigrammes wherein are briefly touched so many Abuses, that maye and ought to be put away. Compiled and Imprinted by Robert Crowley |
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Of double benificed men. |
 | One and Thyrtye Epigrammes |  |
Of double benificed men.
The kynge of that realme,where iustice doeth reygne
Perused olde statutis
that in bokis remayne.
And as he turned the boke
him chaunced to se
shoulde resident be.
And haue theyr abydyng
whyles theyr lyfe shoulde endure
Emong them ouer whome
God hath geuen them cure.
Then sayed he to him selfe,
A thyncke well there is:
No Lawe in thys realme
worse obserued then this.
Yet can there nothynge,
my stocke more decaye,
Then when hyrelynges suffer
my shepe go astraye.
Then called he his councell
and tolde them his mynde,
And wylled that they shoulde
some remedy fynde.
Whoe wyth good aduice
agreed on this thyng,
That Uisitours should be sent
wyth the powre of the Kyng,
To punyshe all such
as herein dyd offende,
thorowe wyllynge to amende
These visitours found many stout
priestes but chieflye one,
That hadde sondrye benifices
but woulde surrender none
Than was this stoute felowe
brought to the kynge
Who sayde vnto hym
syr howe chaunceth this thing?
Wyl ye transegresse my lawes
and than disobeye?
Menne hauing my power?
syr what can you saye?
If it mai like your grace (quod he)
loe heare is to se
Your seale at a graunte
of a pluralitie
Well saide the kinge than
I repente me of all yll:
But tell me maister doctoure
wil you haue your benifices styll?
If your grace do me ryghte (quoth he)
I must haue them my life tyme
for to morow by pryme
God wyllynge, thy body,
shalbe diuided and sent
To ech benifice a piece
to make the resident.
Away wyth hym (quod the kyng)
and let al thyngis be done
As I haue geuen sentence
to morow ere none
For syth thou arte a stout priest
an example thou shalt be
That all stouburne priestes
may take warnyng by the.
| One and Thyrtye Epigrammes | |