ourselves the burden of enforcing the said
commission; and have determined that we will proceed by, and
according to, the full force, tenor, and effect of the same.

And it has come to our ears, being at once publicly notorious and
brought before us upon the testimony of many witnesses worthy of
credit, that you, the abbot afore-mentioned, have been of long time
noted and diffamed, and do yet continue so noted, of simony, of
usury, of dilapidation and waste of the goods, revenues, and
possessions of the said monastery, and of certain other enormous
crimes and excesses hereafter written. In the rule, custody, and
administration of the goods, spiritual and temporal, of the said
monastery, you are so remiss, so negligent, so prodigal, that
whereas the said monastery was of old times founded and endowed by
the pious devotion of illustrious princes, of famous memory,
heretofore kings of this land, the most noble progenitors of our
most serene Lord and King that now is, in order that true religion
might flourish there, that the name of the Most High, in whose
honour and glory it was instituted, might be duly celebrated there;

And whereas, in days heretofore, the regular observance of the said
rule was greatly regarded, and hospitality was diligently kept;

Nevertheless, for no little time, during which you have presided in
the same monastery, you and certain of your fellow-monks and
brethren (whose blood, it is feared, through your neglect, a severe
Judge will require at your hand) have relaxed the measure and form
of religious life; you have laid aside the pleasant yoke of
contemplation, and all regular observances--hospitality, alms, and
those other offices of piety which of old time were exercised and
ministered therein have decreased, and by your faults, your
carelessness, your neglect and deed, do daily decrease more and
more, and cease to be regarded--the pious vows of the founders are
defrauded of their just intent--the ancient rule of your order is
deserted; and not a few of your fellow-monks and brethren, as we
most deeply grieve to learn, giving themselves over to a reprobate
mind, laying aside the fear of God, do lead only a life of
lasciviousness--nay, as is horrible to relate, be not afraid to
defile the holy places, even the very churches of God, by infamous
intercour