tions_, _etc._, 256, 336. Bradford contends that they
are hurtful to the Church, _Writings_, ii. 395; so does Jewel, ii. 984;
Whitgift defends them, i. 528, etc. See also Bullinger's _Decades_, iv.
144; Hutchinson's _Works_, 5; Latimer's _Works_, i. 122; Whitgift's
_Works_, i. 506, etc., Parker Society (Index).--F.

[121] See W. Stafford's argument against pluralities in his _Compendious
Examination_, 1581, fol. 53. "What reason is it that one man should haue
two mens liuinges and two me_n_s charge, when he is able to discharge but
one? The_n_, to haue more, and discharge the cure of neuer a one, is to
farre agaynst reaso_n_. But some percase will say, 'there be some of vs
worthy a greater preferme_n_t then others, and one benefice were to litle
for such a one.' Is there not as many degrees in the variety of benefices
as there is in mens qualities? Yes, forsooth, there is yet in this realme
(tha_n_ked be God) benefices from M. markes to XX. markes a yeare of
sundry value to endow euery man with, after his qualities and degree. And
if a meane benefice happen to fal, let euery man be co_n_tented therewith
til a better fal," etc., etc.--F.

[122] "It would pytye a mans heart to heare that that I heare of the state
of Cambridge: what it is in Oxforde I can not tell. Ther be few do study
diuinitie, but so many as of necessiti must furnish _the_ Colledges. For
their lyuynges be so small, and vytaylee so dere, that they tarry not
ther, but go other where to seke lyuynges, and so they go aboute. Nowe
there be a fewe gentylmen, and they studye a little diuinitie.... There be
none nowe but greate mens sonnes in Colledges, and theyr fathers loke not
to haue them preachers, so euerye waye thys offyce of preachynge is pyncht
at."--_Latimer's 5th Sermon before Edward IV._, A.D. 1549, p. 140, ed.
Arber. The scarcity of preachers in the time of Queen Elizabeth is
lamented by Jewel in his _Works_, ii. 999, 1000, and by Archbp. Sandys,
_Works_, p. 154 (Parker Soc.). He also complains of the ignorance of
ministers in Elizabeth's time, _Works_, ii. 1012 (Parker Soc).--F.

[123] Here follows a story about the bootless errand of a pope's legate in
1452.--W.

[124] "But what do you patrons? Sell your benefices, or give them to your
servants for their service, for keeping of hounds or hawks, for making of
your gardens. These patrons regard no souls, neither their own nor other
men's. What care they for souls, so they have money, though they