V. The fifth opinion was, that albeit the friars might at all times, and at Easter The fifth

also, hear confessions as the curates did ; yet it was better and more safe, at "P'"'""* the time of Easter, to confess to the curates, than to the friars.
And of this opinion was this our Armachanus, of whom we presently now treat. And thus have ye, as in a brief sum, opened unto you, what was the matter of contention between the friars and the church- men ; what popes made for the friars, and what popes made against them; moreover, what learned men disputed against them in Paris, and other places ; and what were their opinions.
The matter of contention about the friars stood in four points : first, preaching without license of curates; secondly, in hearing confes- sion ; thirdly, in burying; fourthly, in begging and taking of the people. The popes who maintained the friars were, Honorius III., Grego- rius IX., Alexander IV., Clement IV., Boniface VIII., Clement V. The popes who maintained curates, were Innocentius III., Inno- centius IV., Martinus IV., Benedictus XL
The learned men who disputed against the friars were, Gulielmus do S. Amore; Bernardus super capitulum, "Omnis utriusque sexus;" Godfridus de Fontibus ; Henricus de Gandavo ; Gulielmus de Lau- duno ; Johannes INIonachus Cardinalis ; .Johannes de Poliaco and Armachanus. All these Avere condemned by the popes, or else caused to recant.
These considerations and circumstances hitherto premised, for the
[\l " ause a hiijus quidem sedis potest autorit;is." [Oeereti pars ii. Causa xxv. Uua'st. i. capp. 3, T.— V.d]
3 c 2
756 ARMACHANUs's NIXE COKCLUSIOXS AGAINST IHE FKlARS.
Edtrard morc opcniiig of tliis present cause of Armaclianus sustained against the ' iille hetririrlv sects of friars, in wliom the reader niay veil perceive Anti- A. D. christ plainly rcii,ming and fighting against the cljureh : it nowremaineth, ^'^^^- that as I have belore declared the travails and troubles of divers godly learned men in the church striving against the said friars, continually, from the time of Gulielmus dc Amore, hitherto ; so now it reniaineth, that forasmuch as this our Armachanus laboured, and in the same cause sustained the like conflict, with the same Antichrist, we likewise collect and open his reasons and arguments uttered in the consistory,' and in the audience of the pope himself, wherewith he mointaineth the true doctrine and cause of the church against the pestiferous canker creeping in by these friars after subtle ways of hypocrisy to corrupt the sincere simplicity of Christ's holy faith and perfect testa- ment ; which reasons and arguments, with the whole process of his doings, I thought good and expedient, for the utility of the church, more amply and largely to discourse and prosecute, for that I note in the sects, institutions, and doctrine of these friars, such subtle poison to lurk, more pernicious and hurtful to the religion of Christ and souls of Christians, than all men peradventure do consider.
Thus Armachanus, joining with the clergy of England, disputed and contended with the friars here of England (a.d. 1357) about a double matter ; whereof the one was conceniing confession and other excheats which the friars encroached in parish churches, against the curates and public pastors of churches. The other was concerning wilful beggary and poverty, which the friars then took upon them, not upon any necessity, being otherwise strong enough to work for their living, but only upon a wilful and affected profession, for which cause the friars appealed him up to the court of Rome. The occasion thereof did thus arise.
It befel that Armachanus, upon certain business coming up to London, found there certain doctors disputing and contending about the begging of Christ our Saviour. A\'hcreupon he, being "greatly urged and requested ofttimcs thereunto, at request, made seven or eight sennons imto the people at London, wherein he uttered nine conclusions ; whereof the first and principal conclusion was, touching the matter of the friars'' privileges in hearing confessions. His con- clusions were these :
Nine Conclusions of Armachanus against the Friars.
First, that if a doubt or question be moved for bearing confessions, wbicb of two places is ratber to be chosen ; tlie parish churcli is to be preferred before the cliurcli of the friars.
Secondly, it being demanded, wliicb is to be preferred to hear the con- fession of the parishioners, tiie ordinary or the friar; it is to be said, rather the ordinary.
Thirdly, Tiiat our Lord Jesus Christ in bis human conversation was always poor, not for that he loved poverty, or did covet to be poor.
Fourthly, Tliat our Lord Jesus Christ did never beg wilfully, professing to be poor.
Fifilily, That our Lord Jesus Christ did never teach others wilfidly to beg, or to profess wilful beggary.
Sixthly, That Christ our Lord held the contrary, that men ought not wilfully or purposely, without mere necessity, to b?g.
(I) Kx lilirn cui litulus, " Defensorium curatorum." [Printed in Goldasli " de MonAichia," torn. ii. p. 131*1 ; and liniwnt'a " Fasciculus," p. 460; whence a few correction! are made in the ensuing translation.— Kn.]
ORATION OF AUMACHAXUS AGAINST BKGGIXG FRIAUS. 757
Seventhly, That it is U'.'ithcr wisdom nor holiness, for an}' man to take upon Edward
him wilful beggary, perpetually to be observed. ■^^■'^•
Eighthly, That it is not agreeing to the rule of the Observants, or Friars . pv
Minorite, to observe wilful poverty. 1360*
The last conclusion was touching the bull of pope Alexander IV., which con- L~
demneth the book of the masters of Paris : that the said bull touched none of these six last conclusions.
Upon these nine conclusions premised Armaclianus being appealed, cited, and brought up to the presence of the pope, began to prove the same his aforesaid conclusions or assertions under protestation made
That his intention was not to affirm any thing contrary to the christian faith The pro- or to the catholic doctrine, or that should be prejudicial or destructive to the 1,^'*^^^',',°" orders of the begging friars, such as were approved by holy church, or confirmed chanus. by the high bishops ; but only his intention was, to have the said orders reduced to the purity of their first institution. Concerning which matter, he desired his reasons to be heard ; which, if they should be found weaker than the reasons of the friars, the punishment should be his. If otherwise, that then the fi-iars mightjustly be rewarded for their slanderous obtrectation, and public contume- lies, and injurious dealings, both privately and publicly, wrought and sought against him : and so taking for his theme, " Nolite judicare secundum faciem. His sed justum judicium judicate," &c. ; that is, "Judge not after the outward face, t'lema. but judge true judgment," &c. (John vii.) ; he entereth on the probation of his conclusions.