About this time did Iohn Wicliffe chieflie set foorth his opinion
touching the sacrament of the altar, denieng the doctrine of
transubstantiation, and that it ought not in any wise to be worshipped
in such sort as the church of Rome then did teach. ¶ There were
ambassadors sent into Germanie, to treat with the emperour for a
marriage to be had, betwixt the king of England, and the emperours
sister. About the beginning of March they returned, bringing with them
the cardinall, intituled of saint Praxed, and the duke of Tarsilia, and
other nobles that came from the emperor, to treat with the king & his
councell about the same marriage. This cardinall, whether he passed the
bounds of his commission and authoritie to him granted by the pope (as
some write) or whether he was furnished with such faculties, he was
very liberall in bestowing of them abrode on all such as would come
with monie. Indulgences, which the pope had vsed onelie to reserue for
himselfe to bestow, this man granted the same liberallie, both biennals
and triennals. He gaue also letters confessionall, to all those that
would paie for them, admitting aswell beneficed men as other, to be
the popes chapleins. He made notaries for monie, and denied not altars
portatiue to anie that would pay for them.
He receiued fortie pounds, besides other gifts, of the moonks of the
Cisteaux order, to grant to them a generall licence to eat flesh
indifferentlie, as well abroad, as they had béene accustomed to doo
at home within their monasteries. To those that were excommunicate he
gaue absolution: those that had vowed to go in pilgrimage to Rome, to
the holie land, or to saint Iames, he would not first release them,
till he had receiued so much monie, according to the true valuation,
as they should haue spent in their iornies: and to be bréefe, nothing
could be asked, but for monie he was readie to grant it. And when he
was requested to shew by what power he did all these things, with great
indignation he answered, that he would let them vnderstand at Rome,
if they would needs know the authoritie which he had. At length his
males were so filled with siluer, that his seruants disdained to make
them anie answer, except they brought gold, saieng; “Bring vs gold,
|735| for we are full of your siluer.” But at his departure he tooke
all awaie with him, both gold and siluer in such abundance as was
maruellous. This hath beene the practise of the Romanists from time to
time, wherevpon grew this common byword (taxing the polling and shauing
shifts of that execrable see, gaping gulfe, and insatiable sea)
Curia Romana non quærit ouem sine lana.
[Sidenote: An armie sent into Portingale to aid the king there against
the K. of Castile.]
But now to returne to other matters concerning the state of the realme.
After the returne of the earle of Buckingham, it was ordeined by
aduise of the councell, that the duke of Lancaster should eftsoones
go as ambassador from king Richard into Scotland, to see if he might
renew the truce (which shortlie would haue beene expired) for three
yéeres longer. Also whereas there was variance and open war mainteined,
betwixt Iohn king of Castile, and king Iohn of Portingale, the earle
of Cambridge, the lord William de Beauchampe, the lord Botreux, and
sir Matthew Gournie, were sent into Portingale with fiue hundred armed
men, and fiue hundred archers to aid the king of Portingale against
the king of Castile, who was sonne to the bastard Henrie: for the duke
of Lancaster reioised greatlie, that he might haue such a fréend as
the king of Portingale, to ioine with him in aid against the king of
Castile; meaning (as soone as opportunity would serue) to go ouer with
an armie to chalenge his right, and pursue his claime to the crowne
of Castile and Leon, against the vsurper, in right of his wife quéene
Constance, eldest daughter to the late lawfull king Peter, whom Henrie
the bastard as before (yée haue heard) did still persecute, till he had
bereft from him both his life and kingdome.
[Sidenote: The cōmons by reason of the great subsidie and other
oppressions rise in diuerse parts of the realme.