562 THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE from the Latin into both French and Italian. The idea in the title is that the exorbitant power claimed by the pope has disturbed the peace of the world, to recover which it is essential to restore the State to its proper place of superi- ority in all worldly concerns, to reduce the pope to his and the clergy to their proper places in the Church itself as well as in society, and to recognize the fundamental sovereignty of the entire community of believers in the Church and that of the people in the State. The clergy should not judge or govern the people, but merely preach and administer the sacraments to them. The Church itself is made up of lay- men as well as of the clergy. Such a power as that of ex- communication should be exercised only by the entire Church. Marsiglio also asserts that the theory of papal primacy is not supported by the Bible. Of the feeling against the Papacy in England in the four- teenth century we have already noted signs in the Statutes English °^ P rov i sors an d Praemunire, the repudiation of criticism of John's tribute, and the hostility toward the clergy manifested in connection with the Peas- ants' Revolt. And it had even been proposed in Parliament to confiscate the property of the clergy for political needs. The author of The Vision of Piers the Ploughman, although he is careful to protest his orthodoxy and is evidently deeply devout and devotes the greater part of his poem to religion, nevertheless finds, like Dante and Chaucer, much to criti- cize in the Church of his time. The friars are " preaching to the people for profit of their paunch." Papal legates keep fools and jesters and encourage flatterers and liars. Parsons and parish priests, archdeacons and deacons "Are loping to London by leave of their bishop To sing there for simony, for silver is sweet." The pardoners who blind the people's eyes with their bulls and briefs are really "gluttons" and "profligates who prac- tice vice" and who spend "what otherwise the poor of the parish would have." At the Day of Judgment, the poet opines, indulgences and pardons and "a pocketful of pro- vincial's letters" won't be worth "one pie crust." He com-
