Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

Stubbs, Philip, active 1581-1593.

Date:: 1877-1882

Credit: Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$Amphil. No truly. For if the other preaching minifters be not well prouided for (as in truth they be not) then how can the other be well maintained ? And therfore they haue, fom of tliem ten pound a yeere (which is the moft), fome eight pounds fome fixe pound, fome fine pound, fome foure pound, fome fortie fliillingsj yea, and table themfelues alfo of the fame. And fometimes failing of this too, they runne roging like vagarents vp & downe the countries like maifterlelTe men, to feeke their maintenance. Whereby fome fall to one mifchiefe, fome to another, to the great flaiider of the Gofpell of lefus Chrift, and fcandall of the godlie. And yet part of thefe read- ing millers be too well prouided for, for fome of them haue two or three, yea foure or fiue benefices apeece, being refident but at one of them at once, and peraduenture at neuer a one, but roift it out elfe- where, purchafing a difpenfation for their difcontinuance, and then may no man fay : Domine, cur ita fads ? Sir, why doe you fo ? For hee hath ^plenarie power and authorise granted him fo to doe. Theod. That is an horrible abufe, that one man Ihould haue two or three, or halfe a dozen benefices apeece as fome haue: may anie man haue fo manie liuings at one time, by the lawe of God, and good confcience ? Amphil. As it is not lawfull for anie man to haue or enioie t\vo wiues at once, fo is it not lawfull for any man, how excellent foeuer, to haue mo benefices, mo flockes, cures or charges in his handes, than one at once. Nay, I am fullie perfuaded that it is more tollerable (and yet it is a damnable thing) for a man to haue two wiues or mo, than for a man to have two benefices at once, or mo. For by pofli- bilitie a man might difcharge the dutie of a good hulband to two or three wiues (yet to haue mo than one is the breach of Gods com- mandements), but no man, though he were as learned as Saint Paule, or the apollles themfelues to whome were given fupernaturall and extraordinarie giftes and graces, is able fufficientlie to difcharge his dutie in the inflrudlion of one church, or congregation, much lelfe of three or foure, or halfe a dozen, as fome haue. And as one father cannot bee manie fathers, one pallor ^ manie pallours, nor one man diuerfe men, fo one llieepeheard or pallour cannot, nor ought not, to haue diuers charges, and flocks at once. Is it poflible for any Ihep- heard though he were neuer fo cunning a man, to keepe two or Reading Ministers’ pay runs from ;^io to £1 a year, And keep themselves. Some have 3 or 4 benefices apiece, Sig. K 8] which is worse than having 2 or 3 wives. Sig. K 8, back] One Pastor cannot take charge of$