The Jewel of Joy, Masque (1 of 3)

The Jewel of Joy · Masque (1 of 3)

The Iewel of Ioye.

❧ Philemon, Eusebius, Theophile, and Christofer, talke togither.

Philemon.

SO ofte as I call to remēbraūce (which for the most part I do eueri hour) this commaundemente of our Lord and maister. Occupy your selues til I come, wherbi we are admonished diligently Luke, xix.to emploie our talēt committed vntounto vsus eueryevery one accordyng to oure vocation in the auauncemente of Gods glory, and in the edification of oure christian brethren, whose health and saluation, not onelye wyth the losse of our temporal possessiōs, but euē of our life also, if nede so require we are bounde vnderunder payne of damnation to seeke, leynge that God as the wyse man testifieth, …. xvii.hath geuen to eueryevery man charg ouer hys neighboure, agayne seynge that accordyng to the doctrine of blessed Iohn, as Christe gaue hys lyfe for vsus, so lykewise i. Epistle. iii.are we bounde to bestowe oure lyfe to wynne oure Brethren to Christe, forasmuch as we all are membres of one bodye, & are cō maunded Romayn. …ii. i. Cor…in. …ii. i. Timoth. i, i. Iohn. iii. Leu…. …. Mathe. …ii. Romayn. …iii.1 Tim 11 John 3without dissimulation to louelove our neyghboure as oure selfe, and to seke his commoditie profit, & furderaunce in al Godlines, no lesse then oure owne, I can none otherwise then reproue and accuse myne own sluggishnes, whyche almooste these fyue yeres past hauehave omitted my butye towarde my neyghboures, not goynge forth as I began in my Christemas bankette, in my Potation, in my Nolegaye, and in my Neweyers gyfte to exhort thē to godlines, & to encourage thē valeauntly to go forth in the same, & to perseuer vntounto the end, but traneing my life in other exercises, I trust not altogither vngodlye, nor vnprofitable to the christen publique weale, I hauehave neglected the neighbourly office which I ought to hauehave practised toward thē. Yea I feare lest thorow the neglectyng of my dutye toward my neighbours, I hauehave not shewed my selfe an obedient seruaūt in al pointes cōcernyng the diligēte accōplishmēte of my Lord & maisters precept, whych straightly chargeth me not only to occupye my selfe priuately in vertuous studies & godli exercises, but also opēly, that his holy & glorious cōgregatiō mai be edified & brought to y^e true & perfect knowledge of his most godly wil. Certes the omissiō & leauing of this my duty toward my neyghbours doth not a little disquiet me, seing y^e so long tyme I hauehave had no familiar talke with thē of Godly matters, no nor yet once sene them sence I gaue thē a newe yeres gyfte, beynge vnwillynglye thorowe the furious and Nerolike cruelty of certaine persons (whose tyrāny sens that tyme God hath not left vnpunished) dreuē awaye from them to the greate and continual disturbaunce of my minde for lacking the company of so louing neighbours, and swete frendes.

But I hauehave sent my seruauntes for them, that I may talke wyth thē after myne olde sorte, renewe our acquayntaunce, and be merye togythere. For it is a swete thynge when fryndes mete, and mery when olde acquayntaunce flocke togitherward. I maruail that they tarye so longe. I feare leste my seruaunte doeth not his message expeditelye, or els that they hauehave some greate lettynge. For I am well assertayned, that if they once hauehave knoweledge of my returne into the contrye, no worldly affaires can withdrawe them longe from my companye.

But beholde, where they come flockyng togyther. Oh pleasaūt and confortable syghte. Teares distyll out of myne eyes for very ioye, yet can I not withhold my selfe from them, but must nedes wyth m…ting armes embrace thē louingly salute them, and swetely kisse thē. O most deare neighbours & christen brethrē, so hertelye welcome as herte can thinke. Blessed be God, which hath preserued vsus alyue vntounto thys daye, that we maye yet once agayne se one an othere, talke one wyth an other, & frely reioyce in the Lord our God. Come, come vntounto me. Let me embrace you, kisse you, & once againe did you hertely welcome.

Euse.

O moste true herted frende and vnfained brother, we praise God for your salfe return into the countrye.

Theo.

This day moste swete neighbour hath replenished vsus al w^t ioye vnspekeable, forasmuch as it hath offe red you againe to our syght.

Chri.

O deare brother Philemon your reparing into this coūtrie, your sight, your company, your ta…ke hath euē nowe sodainly so reuiued vsus, that we seme to hauehave put on a certain kind of immortalitie. And as for all other hys benifites, so likewyse for this 'do we render to the immortal God moste hertye thankes, and wyth o… voyce we all byd you moste hertely welcome home.

p…le.

I know dere neyghbours your vnfayned louelove and readye bent goodwyl towarde me. And you do not more reioice at mi returne, then I am entierly glade that I hauehave founde you all in good health.

Euse.

But I praye you tell vsus of good felowshippe brother Philemon in what parties of y^e world hauehave ye traueyled so long tyme? For neither by letters nor yet by reporte of anye credible persons sence your departure coulde we learne where you trayned youre lyfe.

Wee feared leaste in so perellouse tyme ye hadde bene swalowed vp of the greadye cormorantes, and insasiable Locustes, whyche are neuer satisfied nor fylled wyth the sheadynge of innocente bloude. Neyther was the libertye of your speache, nor the swyftenesse of youre penne vnknowē to vsus, which y^e swarme of Antechristes secte, sence you fyrste of all traueiled in the Lordes haruest, coulde neuer abyde, but extrēly persecute, blaspheme and cōdemne.

Philemon.

What gentilnes I found for my Godly trauailes at the hāds of some menne in these parties, ye know ryght well. Therfore when neyther by speaking, nor by writing I coulde do good, I thoughte it best not rashly to throwe my self into the raueneynge pawes of these greadye wolues, but for a certaine space to absent my selfe from theyr tyrannye accordynge Mathew, ….to the doctrine of the Gospell.

For as there is a time to speake, so is ther a time to kepe scilence Ecclesi. i…,When the poore are oppressed and troden vnderunder the fote, then shal the wyse man, sayth the prophete, …, ….holde hys peace, for the time is euyl. And we hauehave a manifeste commaundement of oure sauiour Christe, that we shoulde Mathew, vii.not geue that whych is holy vntounto dogs, nor caste pearles before swyne, leste they treade them vn der theyr feete, and they turne againe and al to rent vsus. For ther be some kynde of men so greatly infected w^t the nature of Suffenus, and accombred wyth the properties of Menius, two foleish & vayne gloriouse Poetes, that they thynke nothynge well spoken, nothynge truly wrytten, excepte they theym selues be the authours & doers thereof, they are those same very hypocrites, Mathew. vii.Matt 7whych find fault at a little mote in an other mannes eie, but they cā not perceiue a great …eame in theyr own eyes. They are those same Pharises, which sparre vp Mathe. xxiii.the kingedome of heauen before mē. They are those same sawiers Luke, xi.which take awai the key of know ledge, thet thē selues enter not in, nether suffer they other y^t wolde to enter in. They are those same Babilonical backslideds, & …yng childrē, which wyll not heare the lawe of the Lorde, but daily cry, Esai. xxx.Isa 30Loquimini nobis placentia Tel vsus pleasaunt things, prouide vsus of errours, care not for the ryghte way, but away w^t the holi one of Israell from oure face, they are those same faulse christians, of …. …. iii.whom sainte Paule prophecied, which shoulde be louers of them selues, couetuouse, hye minded, proude, euyll speakers, disobedient to their elders, vnthankeful vngodlye, vnkind, false of theyr promise, false accusers, riatours fearce, despisers of them that are good, traitours, heady, standing in their own conceite, louers rather of pleasures, then louers of God, hauynge an outwarde apperaunce of godlines, but deuyinge the power thereof. Lyke as Iannes & Iambres wythstode Moyses, euē so do they also resist the trueth. Men are they of corrupt mindes and leude as cō cerning the faieth, but they shall preuaile no lenger. For theyr foleishnes shall be manifeste vntounto all men, as theyrs was. Where thynges be so ordered, that the truth can beare no place, nor the professours therof be thākfully receyued, but rather blasphemed persecuted, enprysoned, and vngentillye handeled: what should men do, but shake of the dust of theyr fete, for a wytnes agaynst thé at y^e dai of iudgmēt & depart into some other place wher they may do good, as Christ & y^e Apostles Mathew. …. Mathew, …. Iohn. …iii. vii Act. xiii.John 3Acts 13did, & quietli to abide y^e pleasure of god, as the prophet saith.

It is good to loke for y^e sauing Chr…n. ….health of the Lorde with scilence After thys sorte dyd I appoynte my selfe, and leauyng mine own natyue contrye, I traueiled into suche straunge places, as were vnknowen to me, and I to them And yet I thanke the Lorde my God, whyche neuer leaueth hys seruauntes succourlesse, I although an vnprofitable seruaūt in that exile and banishmēt wā ted no good thynge. Let the voluptuouse worldelynges take though for the beal…, and be carefull for thys present lyfe. I hauehave learned in that my iorney to cast my care vponupon the Lord my God whyche aboundauntlye feadeth so many as trust in him, and depēd on his liberalitie and goodnes. For one house, I founde. xx. and for one frende, an hundrede. Psal. …xxiii. … x…. …. … Mathew. vi.Ps 23Matt 6I coulde wysh nothynge for the prouision of thys my lyfe, but I Luke. …. …. Peter. ….had it plentuously, God so afore seynge for me hys vnprofitable and wretched seruaunt.

Theo.

The promise of God is euen so. EueryEvery one, saieth he, that forsaketh house, or brethrene, or sisterne, or father, or mother, or Mathew. …. Luke. xviiiLuke 18wyfe or chyldren for my names sake, and for the kyngedome of God, that is to saye, for the louelove that he beareth toward the Gospell of Christe, he shall receyue an hūdred folde as much in this presente tyme, and in the worlde to come lyfe euerlastinge,

Chri.

Trueth it is, but you hauehave not yet declared to vsus, in what contryes ye hauehave beene here in Englande sence your departing from hence.

Philemon.

After I departed from you and had takē my leaue of my moste swete mother, & of m… other deare frendes, I traueyled into Darbyshere & D…bisherefrom thense into the Peke, whither I appointed my bokes and The ….my clothes to be brought.

Euse.

Into the Peke? Lord God what made you ther?

Phile.

Mine entent was by exercising the office of a schole maister to engrafte Christe and the knoweledge of hym, in the breastes of those scholers, whome God shoulde appointe vntounto me, for to be taught.

Theo.

I thinke you found there very peakeish people.

Phile.

Not so, I cōfesse to you, that I foūd ther very good wittes & apt vntounto learnyng.

Chri.

But how fauour they christen religiō in those parties?

Philemon.

I will tell you. Comming into a little village called Alsoppe in y^e dale, I chaūsed vponupon Maister A… soppe.a certaine gentilmanne called Alsoppe, Lord of that vilage a mā not onelyonly aunciēt in yeres, but also rype in the knoweledge of Christes doctrine.

Theo.

By what meanes had ye knowledg of hys Godly disposition?

Phile.

After we had saluted one an other and take a sufficient repast for that presente, he shewed me certayne bokes whiche he called hys Iewels and principall treasures.

Eusebius.

I praye you what bokes were they?

Phile.

To rehearse thē al by name, I am not able, but of this am I sure that amonge all other there was the newe Testamente after the translation of the Godly learned mā Myles couerdale, whyche seamed to be as well worne by the diligente readynge thereof, as euer was anye portas or masse boke amonge the papistes.

CHri.

A rare thynge and almoste a miracle to fynde an olde man namelye in those parties, where Christe I thynke as yet was neuer trulye preached, to be so well affected towarde the readyng of the sacred scriptures.

Euse.

Yea and a gentylman also, For gentylmen now adaies for the most Gentilmen.parte delite so much in readinge the worde of God, as a true christian doeth in readynge the Popes decretals, they are all togyther so addict to the vaine pleasurs of this world.

Theo.

Many thinke it to be an vnsemly thing for a man of nobilitie to be studiouse of holy letters, haukes, and dogs dise and cardes (as I may speake nothynge of theyr seruise to lady Uenus) is theyr pastime and delectation. If they reade any thynge, it is some vaine trifle of louelove, or when they be beste occupied an history or cronicle.

Phile.

I graunt many gētilmen litle answer their vocatiō, nether are they studious of gods word as they ought, notwythstādinge (praysed be God for it) I know many both mē & womē of nobilitie which greatli delite in readīg the holy scriptures, & do not onelyonly louelove, but also lyue the Gospel

Euse.

I praye God encrease the numbre dayly. For then shall it go well wyth christian religion, when noble men shalbe learned in those bokes, whiche are fountaynes and head sprynges of all true, perfecte, and christian religiō. Notable is y^e sētence of Plato which affirmeth that the publique weale is mooste fortunate & greatly auaūced, if such as be the gouernours therof be either wyse or studiouse of wysedome. Deuter. x vi Iosue. i.Deut 10Josh 1Therfore doeth the scripture in so many places exhort the ciuile Psal. ii …en. i. viPs 2magistrates to be learned in the lawe of god. But I pray you tel vsus, had the gētilman none other bokes but only y^e new testamēt?

Phi.

Yes verily. I remēbre ryght wel, y^t he had many other godlye bokes, as y^e obediēce of a christē mā, the parable of y^e wicked Mā mō, y^e reuelatiō of Antichrist, the sum of holiscripture, the boke of Iohn Frith against purgatory, al y^e boks published in the name of Theodore Basil, w^t diuers other learned mens worckes, In these godly treatises, this aūciēt gētilmā amōge the moūtains & rocks occupied him self both diligētly and vertuouslye.

Chri.

I would not lightly hauehave beleued that such a mā coulde hauehave bene foūde in so barbarouse and rude a coūtry, nor y^t so fruitful works had bene placed in so vnlearned a regiō.

Phile.

Neyther wold the prophete Helias hauehave beleued y^t ther had bene any godly mē left aliue besides him self, whē kyng Achab & his wicked wife Iesabel had cruelly murthered suche great numbre of y^e Lordes Prophets & seruaūtes, til god made him answer & said. I hauehave yet re serued to me. vii. M. mē, whiche hauehave not bowed their knees before iii. …g xix. Romayns. xiBa…l. Whē the Papistes & Antichristes thynke their kyngdome moste strongest and most Marke ye paistes.lyke to continue, then is it most nighe vntounto downe fall, so worcketh God for the auauncemente of hys glorye, and for the profite of hys poore afflicte congregati on. When the enemies of God burne good men, and consume theyr bokes vntounto ashes, then are these martyrs the better credited their doctrine y^e more regarded, & their bokes both y^e more warely kept & hold in y^e greater reuerēce.

Theo.

I beleue it right wel. For ther be certain bokes whose remēbraūce hath fallē away lōg before this tyme frō the mindes of the people, if they had not furiously, and without cōsideratiō bene condēpned for heresy. But whē the people saw them condē ned & no cause whye, but plaine tyrannye. Sic volo, sic iubeo, stat pro ratione voluntas: It caused thē to hauehave the more respect vntounto the bokes, and when they had read them, perused them & compared them wyth the scriptures of God, perceauynge that in all poyntes they did agre with thē, it caused the readers to hauehave an euil opinion of the aduersaries, and to embrace and safelye kepe the bokes as holy reliques, and precious treasures. So y^t where the Papistes soughte a final destructiō to the bokes bi burning thē, contrary to theyr expectatiō they hauehave made them as it were immortal, & won to the authors of them a noble fame, & glorious renowme. Uery truly, is it saied of Solomō, ther is no wisdome Prouer. xxiProv 21no forecast, no councell that can preuaile against the Lord. Euse. Truth it is, but to returne vntounto y^e Peke, of what sort I pray you are the people cōcerninge christē religiō.

Phile.

Whē I was ther, al theyr religion cōsisted in hearing mattens, & masses, in super Fayned religionsticious worshipping of Saynctes, in hyeringe soule caryars to syng trentals, in pattering vponupon beades, and in suche other popeishe pedlary.

Theo.

The history of the gentylman caused me not so muche to reioyce, as the hearynge of this maketh me sory. I wonder y^t the cōmune people be …o ignoraūte.

Christo.

Do ye wonder? What wonder is it? When suche as should lead them in the light of …noraunt priestes.Christes gospel, are the very self darcknes. The eye, y^t is to saye, y^e preacher of gods word is y^e light Mathew. vi Luke. ….Matt 6of the body, y^t is, of the whole cō gregation of Christe. If y^e eye be single, y^t is to say, if the curate or preacher be godly learned, then shal al the body be ful of lighte, y^t is the christē cōgregation shal hauehave the word of god dwel in thē plentuously, & trulye walke in y^t light of Gods most blessed wyll, w^tout haltinge on boeth partes. But if the eye be darkenes, y^t is to say, if the preacher be vnlearned, how great thē shal the dark nes be, y^t is, howe ignoraūte and blind shal the grosse & tude people be? Is not this the saying of Solomō. Whē the preaching of Gods worde faileth, the people Proue. xxi….perish and come to nought. The priestes are the salte of the earth in dede, but if the salt be vnsauery & hauehave loste his saltnes, what Mathew vMatt 5can be salted ther w^t? It is afterward good for nothing but to be cast out & to be trodē vnderunder fote of mē.

Phil.

I can not deny, but y^t the priests in y^t coūtrey are very baselylearned, & in a maner such as are pointed of y^e prophet saying. Esa…. ….The curats are blind eueryevery one of thē, thei are altogither w^t oute knowledge, they are dombe dogs not able to barke. &c.

Euse

The priests for the most part vniuersally thorowe y^e realme, are suche as Ezechiel crieth oute on saiyng. Wo be to y^e shepheards Ezechi. xxxiii.of Israel which fede thē selues. Should not the shepherds fede y^e floke? Ye hauehave eatē vp y^e milke Ye hauehave clothed you w^t y^e wolle, the best fedde hauehave ye slayne, but the stoke hauehave ye not nourished the weake hauehave ye not holdē vp, the sicke hauehave ye not healed, the brokè hauehave ye not bounde togyther, the outecastes hauehave ye not brought againe, the lost hauehave ye not sought vp, but churlishly, & cruelly hauehave ye ruled thē &c.

Chri.

Wher suche vnlearned pastours beare rule, no maruell though papistrie be not exiled.

If the blind lead the blind, both Mathew …fall into the dytche.

Phile.

The people wher I hauetraueiled for the most part are resonable and quiet inough, yea and veri cōfor mable to Gods truth. If any be stobournlye obstinate, it is for fault of knowledge, and bicause they hauehave bene seduced of blynd guids.

Theo.

It should help very much vntounto an vniformitie in religion, & vntounto the saluation of christen mennes soules, if there were learned curates appointed in eueryevery parish, if so many cā not be founde, thē to place in euerye coūtry certaine learned & godly preachers, which mai go frō parishe to parishe, preaching to the people the good wyll, & pleasure of god. And let the other priestes be ministers vnderunder the superattēdentes or ouersears, & in their absēce read to the people y^e saide scriptures, & the homiles, reuerētly minister the sacramētes, vi sit the sicke people, make colleccions for the poore, & vertuo uslye brynge vp the youthe of the towne. If this were broughte to passe, what a flowrishing realme should we hauehave? How shold lear nig & vertue prosper? How purely should we honour God? How faithfully should one of vsus louelove an other? What christiā workes should issue out of our dayly cō uersatiō & liuing.

Phile.

I doubt not but y^t the kinges maiestie w^t his most honourable coūcel will veri gratioussi cōsider these thin ges, yea & that w^t expedittō

Chri.

But sit once again to the Peke. I pray you continued you there stil to this returne into the coun trey.

Phile.

I wyl tel you. While I was in the Peke, I learned y^t R. Wysdome was in Stafforde Robert wisedome.shere, ye know the mā I am sure

Eus.

We know him to be a godli mā in his cōuersatiō, & a faithful preacher in his doctrine, and such one as hathe not bene altogither fre frō persecution for the maintenaūce of gods truth.

Phi.

He was y^e same to me, y^t Aristarchus Colossi. iiii.was to Paule. Desieringe greatly to se him, I bad mi frindes in y^e Peke fare well, & made hast towarde him. Whē I came to him, I did not onli reioice to se him in health, but also gaue god thākes y^t he was so wel placed & prouided for. For I foūd hym in the house of a certaine faythfull brother called Iohn Olde, a mā Iohn Olde.olde in name, notwithstandinge yonge in yeres, & yet …unciēte in true Godlines & christen life. He was to us as Iasō wasto Paul & Silas. He receyued vsus ioyfully …. …viiinto his house, & liberallye for the Lordes sake, ministered all good thinges to our necessities. And as he begāne, so did he cōtinue a right herty frend, & dearly louing brother so long as we remained in y^e coūtrie. Euē as blessed ii. Timo. i.Paule wished to Onesiphorus, so wish I to him, and w^t the same words pray for him, y^e lord graūt to hym that he may fynde mercy w^t the Lord in y^e day. After y^t we had passed ouer certain daies in the house of y^t moste louing brother, refreshing our selues w^t the cōforte of y^e holy scriptures, after so many greuous tē pests, troublous stormes, & pain ful labours I know not of what frend our deare brother Robert wisdome was called awai bi letters, which was to vsus boeth, no smal paine & griefe. Notwithstā ding we submitted our selues to the good plesure of God, w^t this hope & conforte, y^t his returne to his olde familiars should make greatly to y^e auaūcemēt of gods glory, and to the quietnes of his christen studies, whereof might spring hereafter no smal cōmodi tie to the christē publique weale And so we wishinge one to an other the assistēce of Gods spirite repentaunce of oure former life, strength of faith & perseueraūce in al godlines to our last end, de parted, yea & that not w^t out teares.

Chri.

Did he write nothing al y^e time y^t he was in those parties?

Phi.

He was euer vertuous occupied, & suffered no houre to pas awai w^t out good fruit. He is a mā in whō y^e feare of god reigneth vnfainedly. Besides his other workes, of this I am sure y^t The bokes of of Robert wis dome.he hath writtē veri godly & fruit ful expositiōs vpō certain Psal. of Dauid, of the whiche also he traūslated some into english meter very learnedly. He hath writtē also many godly & learned set mōs vpō the epistles & Gospels that are read in y^e tēples on sondaies, part wherof I hauehave both sene & read. Moreouer he hathe traūslated the postill of Antonius Coruinus and diuers other learned mēs works. And, which I had almost forgotten, he hath made a confutation of those errours which were imputed & lat ed to his charge veri vniustly of his aduersaries, a boke farsed w^t al kind of godli learning.

Theo.

These his works are not prīted nor comunely published abrode.

pHiIe.

Trueth it is, woulde God they were. They shoulde w^toute doubt bring greate profit to the readers, & highly auaūce y^e glory of god.

Euse.

But I pray you, what exercise did you practise in Stafford there after his departure,Stafford …er

Phi.

According to my talēte I brought vp youth in … knowledge of good litterature & instil led into their brestes the elemēts & principles of Christes doctrine teaching thē to know their Lord & god, to beleue in him, to fear & louelove him, & studiouslye to walke in his holy waies frō their very cradels euen to y^e yeldinge vp of their last breath. I dout not, but that Christ was so depeli grauē in their hertes at y^t tyme, y^t he is not yet worne oute, neither as I trust shal be so lōg as they lyue.

Euse.

Howe sauoured the people christ & his doctrine in those parties, whē you were ther?

phi.

Not altogither vnlike y^E people of the Peke, but y^t they were not in all points comunli so superstitious they sauoured somwhat more of pure religiō. This I thīke came to passe thorow certain englishe bokes y^t were amōg them, & thorowe traueilers to & fro Lōdon.Priestes.

CHri.

What of y^e priests?

The.

Ye shold axe, what of y^e mouinge of the moūtains.

Phi.

In dede whē I was ther, they were al massemōgers appliyng their portasse & masse boke very diligētly, but the holy Bible verie little.

Euse.

Were they not as he writteth of Titus.men of Crete, euyll beastes, and slowe bealies?

Phi.

It becometh me to dispraise no mā. For charitie couereth the multitude of sins. Notw^tstāding. I would wish more learned pastours to be appoīted for to fede the flocke of Christ. For they are Prouerb. x. 1. Peter iiii. Malach. ii. 1. Peter. iii.1 Pet 4Mal 21 Pet 3not suche priestes, as whose lips kepe knowledge, neither can̄ their mouth vtter y^e lawe of God, if any mā sholde require it of them.

Chri.

If I shold rehearse here to you, y^e childish ignoraūce y^t was foūd in priests at y^e kinges maiesties visitatiō, it wold make your hert to blede for to cōsider y^t such blind curates should hauehave the ouer sight & charg of Christes cō gregatiō.

phi.

Their blindenes is rather to be lamēted thē to be derided, notw^tstāding this must I nedes say by the way, I wysh w^t all my hert that the church of Christ mai be purged of such unprofitable cloddes of the earth, at the lest that they maye not occupye the tome and enteye the li uyng of a preacher, they them sel ues being altogether vnlearned and more mete to be taught then to teach. He that shoulde be a curate Tit. ….after S. Paules rule ought to be a mā able to teache the peo ple Gods word, yea & such a mā as should not onelyonly be able to ex hort, but also to conuince & ouercome al such as speake agaynste the trueth.

Theo.

A great faut in Byshoppes.thys behalfe is to be imputed vntounto the Byshoppes, which admitted such vnlearned asses vntounto y^e order of priesthod.

Euse.

The patrons of the benefites are not altogether blameles for geuing … of benefices.the lyuinges to suche ignoraunt men, wether it be for affection or for rewardes, neyther shal theyr punishment, I feare, be smal at y^e day of iudgmēt. For if whan the blind ledeth the blind, both faule into y^e ditch, what shal we thā say of thē, which are the occasiō that Math. xv.Matt 15the blind gide w^t hys blynd floke faule into y^e dich, y^t is to saye, into euerlasting dānacion? Shal not the bloude of them that perishe be required at the Patrons handes in the dredeful daye of iugemēt? If I put a swerde in a mad mans hand, which with the same Note.immeadiatli killeth a nother mā: am not I giltye of the bloude of hym that is slayne?

Phi.

Let these thynges passe, for doubte ye not the kyngs highes with his most honorable counsel wil most graciously prouide for the redresse of such abuses.

Theo.

Dyd you tary I praie you cotinually in Stafforde shere vntyl ye returned into youre countrey?

Phile.

Naye forsoeth. After that I had consumed a yeare in that countrye and some what more in the vertuouse educacion and Godlye bringyng vp of youthe, I departed into Warwyke shere, where in lyke maner as afore I frelye enioyed the liberallytie of my moste swete & deare frende Iohn Olde, whiche impelled by vorgent causes departed into that countrye for to inhabite. There likewyse taught I diuers gentil mens sonnes, whiche I truste, if they lyue, shal be a beutie to the publique weale of Egland both for the preferment of true religion and for the maintenaunce of Iustice.

Euse.

How fancied you that contrye?

Phile.

I trauailed boeth in Darbye shere, in the peke, in Stafford shere and in Lechester shere, yet Warwyke shere was to me moste dere and pleasaunt.

CHri.

How so?

phi.

In Lecester shere (as I maye passe ouer the other) I had familiarite only w^t one learned man a contriman of M. Iohn Ail ….oures called Iohn Aylmer, a maister of arte of the vniuersitie of cambrige, a yong man singularly well learned both in the latine & greke …onge, teacher to my Lord Marques Dorset his children, but Warwicke shere ministred vntounto me theacqueyntaunce and frenshyppe of many learned mē.

Chri.

What are their names I praye you? For nothynge deliteth me more than to heare of learned men.

Phile.

Friste commeth to my remenbraunce a man worthey to be loued and reuerenced of all true herted christen menne not only for the puernes Mayster Latimer.of his lyfe, whiche hath alwayes before the world ben innocēt and blameles, but also for the sinceritie and godlynes of his Euange lyke doctrine, whyche synce the beginyng of hys preaching hath in al poyntes ben so cōformable to the teachynge of Christe and of his Apostles that the veri aduersaryes of Gods trueth wyth all their manachynge wordes and cruell emprisonmētes could not wyth drawe hym from it, but that so euer he hadde once preached, he valeauntly defended the same before the worlde wythout feare of any mortall creature althoughe of neuer so great powre and highe authoritie, wishynge & minding rather to suffer not onli losse of worldely possessions, but also of lyfe, than the glorye of God and the trueth of Christes Gospel shoulde in any poynte be obscured or defaced thorow him. Hys lyfe was not dere vntounto hym Act. xx.Acts 20so that he might fulfil his course wyth ioye and the office that he receiued of the Lorde Iesu to testifie the Gospell of Goddes fauoure. He myghte wel saye wyth the holy Psalmographe, I spake O Lorde, of thy testimonies and Psal. C. xviii.Ps 100ordinauntes in the presence of Kynges, Princes and Rulars, and I was not abashed.

Euse.

I muche desyre to knowe hys name tell it vsus I pray you.

phile.

Ye hauehave hearde I am sure of Maister Latimer sometyme By shoppe of Worcester?

Chri.

Hys noble fame and vertuouse renoume is more knowen not only in thys Realme of England but also in foren countries a monge boeth learned and vnlearned, than it can be hid. I for my parte hauehave knowen hym before. xx. yeres in the vniuersite of Camb…ig to whom nexte vntounto God I am specially bounde to gyue moste hertye thankes for the knoweledge, if any I hauehave, of God and of hys moste blessed worde.

phile

How so?

Chri.

I was sōetyme a pore scholar of Cambrige verye desirous to hauehave the knoweledge of good letters, and in the tyme of my beynge their, thys godly man preached manye learned and christen sermons both in latyn & englishe tong, at the whiche al, I for most parte was present, and although at y^e tyme I was but a chylde of xvi. yeres yet I noted hys doctryne so well as I coulde, partly reposynge it in my memorye, par lye commendynge it to letters as moste faythfull treasurers vn to memory.

I was presente whan wyth manifeste authorities of Godes word and argumentes inuicible besides the allegations of doctoures he proued in hys Sermons, that the holye scriptures Byble in engl…she.ought to be read in the English tong of al christē people, whether they were priestes or laie men, as they be called, which thynge diuers drowesy dunsers wyth certayne fals fliynge flatering Friers coulde not abyde, but openly in their vnsauery sermons resisted hys godlye purpose, euen as Alexander the copersmyth and Elymas the sorcerer with manye other resisteth blissed Paule and ii. Timo. iiii.hys Godly doctryne, not wythstandynge Act. viii.Acts 8he (yea rather God in hym, whose cause he handeled) gate the victorye, and it came to passe accordyng to his teaching. Neyther was I absente whan he inueighed agaynste temptle workes, good ententes, blynde z…ale, supersticious deuocion. &c. Wyl workes.as the payntynge of tabernacles gylddynge of Images, settynge vp of candles, ronnynge on pilgrimage & such other idle inuencions of men, whereby the glory of God was obscured and the workes of mercy the les regarded. I remember also howe he was wonte to rebuke the beneficed Beneficed men.men wyth the authoritie of Gods worde for neglectyng and not teaching their flocke and for beinge absente from their cures, they them selues beynge idle and mastinge them selues lyke hoggs of Epicurus flocke, taking no thoughte thoughe theyr pore parishners miserably pine a waye, sterue, perishe and dye for hunger. Neither hauehave I forgotten howe he at that time condemned …owes.folyshe vngodly and impossible vows to be fulfilled as the vowe of chastitie, wyshinge rather y^t libertie of mariag might be graū ted to thē whiche hauehave so vowed by the highter powres, than so to continewe thorowe single lyfe in all kind of abhominable vncleanes. O howe vehemente was he in rebukynge all sinnes, namely Idolatrie, fals and idle swering couetousnes and whoredome? agayne howe swete and pleasaunt were hys wordes in exhortynge vntounto vertue? He spake nothynge but it leafte as it were certayne prickes or stinges in the hertes of the hertes, which moued them to consent to hys doctrine. None excepte they were stifnecked and vncircomcised in herte, wente a waye from hys sermons, whiche were not ledde wyth a fayethful repentaunce of their former lyfe affected wyth hight detestaciō of synne, and moued vntounto all Godlines and vertue. I dyd knowe certayn men, whych thorowe the persuasion of their frendes went vntounto hys Sermons swellynge, blowne full and puffed vp lyke vntounto Esoppes Frog, wyth enuye and malyce agaynste hym but whan thei returned, the Sermon beynge done, and demaunded howe they lyked hym and hys doctrine, they answered wyth the Byshoppes and Pharises seruauntes. Nun quam sic locutus Iohn. viii.John 8est homo, sicut hic homo.

Ther was neuer mā that spake lyke vntounto thys man, so sharppe He…rus. iiii.a two edged swerde is the worde of God (it entreth thorowe euen vntounto the deuydynge of the soule and the spirite, and of the ioynctes and the mary) so watchethe God vponupon hys worde, so causethe the father of heauen …. i.hys worde not to returne vntounto hym voyde, but to do what so euer hys good pleasure is, and to take roote and bringeforth Esai. iv. …t. xiiii.Isa 4fruite in them that are afore ordeined vntounto euerlastynge lyfe, in some an hondered fold, in some thre skore fold, in some thir t… folde. I leaue of to reporte his fre spech against biyng & selling Math. xiii.Matt 13of benefices, agaynste the promo tynge of them vntounto the lyuinges Benefices.of spirituall ministers which are Unlearned.vnlearned and ignoraunt in the lawe of God, agaynste popyshe Ministers.pardons, agaynste the reposinge oure hope in oure owne worckes Pardons.or in other mens merits, against faise religion &c. Neyther do I Maine hope.here reherse howe beneficiall he was accordynge to hys possibilitie Almes dedes.to pore scholars and other nedye people, so conformable was his lyfe to hys doctrine, so watered he wyth good dedes, what so euer tofore he planted with godly wordes, so laboured he with al maine boeth in word and dede to wyne and allure other vntounto the louelove of christes doctrine and hys holy religion ther is a comō sayinge, which remayneth vntounto this daye, When Maister Staforde read, and Mayster Latimer prea ched, than was Cambridge blessed.

Euse.

What was that Stafford?

Chri.

A man whom the vnthanful M. George Stafforde.world was vnworthy any lenger to hauehave. As I maye passe ouer the gyftes of nature and suche goodly qualities, as winne vntounto them that hauehave them the fauoure and commendacion of men, wherwith he was plentu ously endued, this I vnfaynedly saye vntounto you, he was a man of a verye perfecte lyfe, and if I maye so speake, of an Angellike conuersaciō, approuedly learned in the Hebrue, Greke and latine tonges, and suche one as hadde thorowe hys payneful laboures obtained singulare knoweledge in the misteries of gods most blessed worde.

I doubte whether he was more bownde to blissed Paule for leauinge those Godly Epistles behynde hym to cusituet and teach the congregation of God, wherof he was a dere member, or that Paulle, whyche before hadde so many yeres been foyled wyth the folyshe fantases and eluyshe exposicions of certayne dotynge doctours and as it were drowned in the dir…ye dregges of the drowsye dunsers, was rather bownde vntounto hym, seynge that by hys industrye laboure, payne and diligence he semed of a dead man to make hym a liue agayne and puttynge a waye all vnsemlines to set hym forth in hys natiue coloures, so that nowe he is boeth sene, reade and hearde not wythout greate and singular pleasures of them that trauayle in the studies of hys moste godlye Epystles. And as he beutified the letters of blessed Paul wyth hys godlye exposicions, so lyke wyse dyd he learnedlye setforth in hys lectures the natiue sense and true vnderstandynge of the fore Euaungelistes, viuely restoryng vntounto vsus the Apostls mynde & the mynd of those holye wryters, whyche so manye yeares before hadde lien vnknowen and obscured thorowe the dark Math xxiiii.Matt 24nes and mistes of the Pharises and Papistes.

He was a faythful and prudent seruaunte, geuinge meate to the Lordes howshoulde in due time He dyd caste awaye profane and olde wyues fables, and as the good seruaunte of Iesu Christe he exersised him self vntounto godlynes: ii Tmoth. iii,He was an ensample to the faythful in worde, in conuersacion, in louelove, in spirite, in fayth, in puritie. He gaue hys mynde to readinge to exhortynge, to doctryne. He studied to shewe hym ii. Tioth. ii.selfe vntounto god a laudable worke man y^t nedeth not to be ashāmed deuidyng, the word of truth iustly. He was gentle vntounto eueryevery mā and wyth mekenes enformed thē that resisted the trueth, if God at any tyme would gyue thē repentaunce for to knowe the trueth, & to turne agayne from the snare of the deuyll. He foughte a good fyght, he fulfylled the course, he kepte the fayeth, therfore is ther ii. Corin. iiii,2 Cor 4layed vp for him a croune of righ tuousnes, whyche the Lord that ryghtuous iudge shal geue hym in that daye, not to hym onelye, i. Peter. v.1 Pet 5but to al them that louelove hys com minge.

Phile.

I am glad brother Christofer that ye hauehave spokē no lesse truly then frendely of these two mē of God, of the which one reigneth w^t the hyghe bishoppe in christes glory (for the wise as the prophet Daniel saith, which hauehave taught other shall glister Daniel. xii.Dan 12as the shynynge of heauen, and those y^t hauehave instructed the multitude vntounto godlines, shal be as the starres world without ende) the other is yet alyue worthy, if Gods good pleasure so were, to lyue the yeres of Mathusalath, Genesis. v.Gen 5both for hys godly doctrine and christian conuersation.

With this true preacher of goddes word, I chaunced in Warwyke shere to be somewhat acquainted (whyche was to me no smal conforte) not with hym only but wyth diuers other, wherof some were men of worshyppe well bente toward the holy scrip tures, some were men very godlye learned in the lawes of the most higheste, & professours of y^e same. So oft as I was in theyr cōpany, me thought I was cleane deliuered frō Egipt & quietly placed in y^e new glorious Ierusalē whyche is described in y^e reuelatiō of blessed Iohn, so swete Ap…a. xxi.a thyng is it to be in the company of Godly learned men.

Euse.

Traueyled you into none other contrey afterwarde?

Phile.

Whyle I was traynynge vp of youthe, and fashyonynge theyr myndes vntounto true Godlynes in that contrey, beholde vnloked for, were letters sente vntounto me, frome my mooste deare mother, in the whyche she required me, to returne into my natiue contrey, and to be a staffe of hyr old Tobias. v.Tob 5age, for as muche as my father in lawe was departed from this vale of misery.

I considerynge my dutye and Exodi. xx. …tero. v.the honoure whyche I owe vntounto hyr by the manifest commaū dement of God, immediatly after, not without the frendly consent of my well willers departed from Warwyke shere, and with all haste repared home. And for as much as I hauehave nowe quietly reposed my self (thankes be to the hygh Lord) I remembrynge our old frendship thought i… my bounden dutye to sende for you & after myne accustomed maner to talke wyth you of some parte of the holye scripture.

Cristofer.

The rehearsall of thys youre trauaile by diuers contreis hath so delyghted vsus that wee seme nowe to hauehave bene wyth you in all your iourneys.

Theo.

We magnifye God moste hertely that he by hys holy Angell hath safe conduite you in al youre wayes, preserued you in health, gotten you deare frends and nowe at the laste, broughte you home agayne into your natyue countrie.

Euse.

But I pray you did you wright nothinge in thys your longe absence?

Phile.

I wrote diuers treatises, but as yet there are publishede onelye these thre, the gouernaūce of ver tue, an inuectiue against whordome, a dialoge of Christes natiuitie, betwene the Angell and the shepheardes. The other shal be set forth, if the Lord wil, hereafter at a cōueniēt tyme. I tran̄ slated out of latin into English… diuers little treatises, the shyl… of Saluation, the solace of the soule, the cōmendation of death &c. Thus hauehave I declared vntounto you, how I spēt my time, whilse I hauehave bene from you. It nowe remayneth that for as muche as hereafore I hauehave perceyued your gentilnes in accepting the pore and homelye gyftes that I hauehave geuen you, I go forthe to vse styll myne accustomed liberalitie toward you, & to enryche you wyth mo giftes, whych may no lesse garnish your soules, thē the other hauehave done in tymes past, howesoeuer the papistes & Antichristes Souldiours hauehave iudged of them. The gyft which I wyll nowe geue you, is called the Iewell of Ioye, & not wythout The Iewel of Ioyea cause. For in it you shall receyue muche true Ioye & perfecte solace, muche Godlye pleasure and spirituall conforte. In it ye shal se in what thyng alone ye oughte to reioyce, and howe vaine and transitory those thinges are, wherin the foleishe and phantasticall worldelynges repose their chiefe pleasure and de lectation. Thys Iewel hauehave I borowed of y^e blessed apostle. S. Paul, and it is among his treasures cowched in y^e fourth chap. of hys Epistle to the Philippiās

Chri.

I pray you what is it…let it be brought forth.

Phile.

Lo, here it is. Reioyce in y^e Phillip. iiii.Lorde alway, and agayne I say reioice. How like you this Iewell? Is it not boeth goodlye and preciouse? Is it not worthe y^e lokynge on as they saye? Is it not a Iewel worthye to be worne of euerie true herted christiā man?

Euse.

It is a Iewel in dede not onelyonly amiable and pleasaunt in aspecte, but also very confortable and holsome to a Christian mannes conscience.

Theo.

It is no apte Iewell for the wicked worldelinges & bellied hypocrites, which lyke to E soppes cocke set more by a barly corne, then by all the preciouse stones in the world, of thys sort chiefely.

Phile.

Truth it is. For if menne estraunged frome the publique weale of the true Israelites, car nallye mynded, vncircumsed in herte, disobedient to the yoke of Christ, not regenerate bi the spirite of God, nor renewed by the holy baptisme, but in all poynts led captyue at the deuilles pleasure w^t the affectes of the world, shoulde heare thys aforesayed sentence of the holy apostle recited to them, & chiefly of such one as is enprisoned, fettred, bound in chaynes (as blessed S Paul was, what tyme he wrote thys Philippi. i. …Epistle vntounto the Phillyppians) which are instrumētes to the vo luptuouse worldelynges of no gladenes but of sadenes, of no ioye and pastaunce, but of sorow and greuaunce, they woulde no lesse then maruaile at hys fondnes, yea it is to be thought, that they would laugh him to scorne as a person transposed and far set beyond the limites of wyttye reason, and reasonable wytte, seynge he exhorteth vntounto y^t whiche in so greate stormes and tempestes of troublous aduersitie no herte led w^t humaine wisedome can easily approue, so blinde, foleishe, ignoraunte, and of no capacitie, felynge or vnderstāding in spiritual thynges, is the wisedome of this world, as. S. Paul i. …orhin. ii.sayeth. A naturall man doth not perceyue those thinges that pertaine to y^e spirit of god. For they are foleishenes to hym, neyther can he come to the knowledge of them, bicause they are spirituallye iudged. The heade rulers amonge the Iewes, the byshops, the priests, the scribes, the Phariseis, y^e Saduces, the Lawiers wyth manye other, whyche were in christes time proue this thing euidently true inoughe, whyche Iohn ix.John 9although in theyr owne conceite puffed vp w^t the excellent know ledge of Gods misteries, perceyuynge nothynge at all of Christes blessed doctrine, so trulye is it saied of the holy Apostle, The wisdome of thys world is foleyshnes before God. Neyther wāt we exemples at thys present.

Euse.

To knowe Christe & Christes doctrine, aright is the singu ler gifte of God, wrought in our hertes by hys holye spirite, as Christe hym selfe testifieth, sayinge. No man cā come vntounto me, Iohn. vi.John 6except the father which sent me, draw hym, and I wyll rayse him Esai. i. iiii. I…mp. xxxi.Isa 1vp in the laste daye. It is written in the prophetes, all shall be taughte of God, therfore euerye one y^t hathe hearde of the father, and hathe learned, he cometh to me.

Theo.

In the Gospel of blessed Mathew our sauiour Christ Mathewe. xi.geueth thankes to his heauenly father, bycause he hathe hydden the knowledge of hys misteries frome the wyse and prudente of thys worlde, whyche gloried in theyr owne wysedome, and hath reueyled them to the lyttle ones that is to saye, to theym that be humble mynded, meke in spirite lowly in herte, and euen such as ascribe al glory and honoure to God and not to thēselues. Forsoth father, sayth he, euē so was it thy good pleasure. All thyngs are geuen ouer vntounto me of my father. And no mā knoweth the son but the father, nether knoweth any man the father saue the sonne, and he to whome so euer the sonne wyll open him.

phile.

But thys oure Apostle & Roma. … Galath. … i. …. ii.fayethfull Embassadoure sente from god the father to be a doctour to the gentyls in fayth and veritie, a true citizyn of the newe celestial Hierusalem, abundantlye replete wyth the fruites of y^e holye Goste, and plentuouselye endued wyth wysedome from aboue to vnderstand and declare the excellente misteries of Goddes moste hyghe prouidence hid in y^e bosome of his diuine secrets frō euerlastīg, & now in this last age reueiled published & sette abrod to y^e great cōfort of al faithful penitent sinners thorow hys son Iesu Christ our Lord. This our apostle I saye, euē in y^e mids of his chaynes & setters writeth to the Philippiās, and by theim to all other true christians, and exhorteth thē to be merye, and to reioyce in y^e Lord. He is nothing dismayed, nor yet abashede, of hys bōdes, chaines, and fetters, of his enprifonnyge, lockynge, & stockyng, but beyng of a franke courage and lusty stomake, not Actes. xxi.Acts 21onelyonly to suffer chaynes, but also death, if the good wil of God so be, he wyth a vehemencye of spirite, and stoutenes of herte commaūdeth vsus not to be discouraged wyth what so euer kynde of aduersitie we be assailed, but va leantly and vnfainedli to repose fyxe, & set the eies of oure mynd on y^e Lord, & in him, in him alone to reioyce at all tymes. Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye, sayth he, & once againe I say reioyce.

Euse.

EueryEvery man moueth other to delighte in that thynge speciallye, wherin he him self hath reposed his chefe delectation. The couetuouse man hath his greatyst de The couetuous man.lighte in temporall possessions, and as he is only bent to the accumulatynge and heapynge vp togyther of worldely goodes, so in like maner doth he exhorte so many as he tenderlye loueth to set theyr myndes on gatherynge togyther the Goodes of thys world, beynge not vnlike them, Prouer. xxx.Prov 30whiche are euer criynge, Adfer, adfer, Bringe hyther, bryng hyther, The papist hath hys mind The Papiste.altogither set on papistry, therefore, laboureth he to the vttermoste of hys power to allure other vntounto hys pernitiouse & dā nable sect.

Phil.

Truth it is that you say. Therfore the blessed Apostle haueynge hys principall ioye in the Lord our God, exhorteth, moueth, & flyrreth vsus earnestly to reioyce in the lord, that we may be partakers w^t hym of one, & the same glorye. He is not con…ente him selfe onelyonly to be in P…. i.the fauoure of God, excepte he hauehave other also to be in the bowels of Iesus Christe.

Chri.

In the Epistle vntounto the Romayns, Roma. ix.he wysheth him selfe to be cursed from Christ, so that his brethren the Israelites, whyche were his kynsmen as pertaynynge to the fleshe mighte be saued.

Theo.

He dissēted not much from the maners of Moyses that most excellent Prophet of God, which perceyuyng that God was minded to destroye the chyldren of Israell for theyr abhominable Idolatry …rodi. xxxii.in worshyppynge the golden calfe, desiered God very hertely y^t he woulde eyther forgeue them that fault, or els wype him oute of the boke of lyfe.

Euse.

O most faiethful heardman, which wished the saluatiō of his flocke no lesse then hys owne.

Phi.

But we shall note that saynct Paule pricketh not vsus forwarde vntounto the reioysyng in worldlye & carnal thynges but vntounto a perfecte ioy in y^e lord our God, which endureth for euer. For what thing is comprehended in the whole circle of the worlde, wherein we maye worthely reioyce?

Cōsider the ayre aboue, y^e earth vnderneth, with the depe waters in the secrete & inferiour partes of the world, & marke diligētlye if in thē any thynge be cōtayned y^t may bring to vsus true & perfect ioy. They may delite our fāseis, & moue our affects for a certain space to delectaciō, while we behold, hear, fele or taste them, but how sone doth this carnal delectatiō, & worldli ioy vanish awai? yea howe sone are we weary of thē, if measure be exceded? Musicall instrumentes fede the eare Musyke.with very swete and pleasaunte armony, and for a tyme greatly exhilarate, chere, and cōfort our weried spirites, but in how short space do we loth them, if they be continuallye played vponupon or exercised out of time? And though we delite neuer so greatly in thē, doeth not the sownde strayghte waye perysh, & we receyue none other commoditie then losse of tyme?

Theo.

The wise man saith Like as the Carbuccle stone shineth Ecclesi. xxxi….that is set in gold, so is the swetnes of musike by the mirthe of wyne. Agayne wine and minstrels Ecclesiasti. xi.reioyce the hert.

Phile.

Yea but what foloweth? The best is behynde as they saye. But the louelove of wysedome, is aboue thē boeth. This sētence of the wyseman doeth not condemne Musicke nor wyne, so that the vse of them be moderate and excedethe not measure, notwythstandynge it preferreth the louelove of wisdome that is to saye, a feruent desire to knowe the wyll of God, and aduaunceth that aboue both wyne and musyke.

Chri.

I wyshe that al men, but cheifely such as be of nobilitie, dyd knowe and woulde practise this afore saied sentence. For many delyghte in Musike, but fewe in the louelove of wysdome Many couet to excel in singyng playng and dauncing, but in the knowledge of Gods worde very fewe. Many can abide to spende whole dayes and whole nyghtes in musicall exercises, but in hearynge or readinge the holy scriptures, they thynke one holy day in aweke a great matter, whē the one moueth vntounto vertue, the other vntounto vyce, 'the one getteth the fauour of God, the other pro uoketh hys wrath, indignacion and vēgeaunce, the one lifteth vp vntounto heauen, the other detrudeth and thrusteth doūe into hell fire.

Phile.

To say the trueth, musicke is a more vayne and triefelinge science, than it becommeth a man borne & appoynted to mat ters of grauitie, to spende muche tyme aboute it. And al thoughe I hauehave learned of histories, y^e diuers hauehave exercised minstrelsye both kings & philosophers, which I thyncke vsed it as a remedy agaynste the tediousnes of there paynefull labours, and to make them the more apt to returne vn to matters of great importaūce: yet I remember well that it was counted a reproche in many.

Kynge Philipe whan he hearde hys sonne Alexander that trium Kinge Philipphante conqueroure synge and play very pleasauntly, checkingly rebuked him saiyng, arte thou not ashamed, that thou canste playe and synge so conningely? Meanynge that other artes and sciences are more worthi a king. An heathen Prince thought that a great faute in his sonne, which Christen rulears counte worthy of hyghe commendacion and singulare prayse. Sextus Nero Sextus Nerothe Emperoure, lieynge on hys death bedde greately lamented that he was so excellente in the science of musicke, wyshyng that he hadde spente that tyme in good letters and vertuous exercises, whereby he myghte hauehave bene made the more able iustelye and truli to gouerne hys realme.

Euse.

Woulde God that hys repentaunce myghte be a warnynge to all noble men.

Ther hauehave bene, would God ther were not nowe, which hauehave not spared to spende much ryches in norishynge many idle singynge men to bleate in their chappeles thinckinge so to do God an high sacrifice, and to pipe downe their meate and theire dryncke and to whystle them a sleape, but they hauehave not spente any part of their substaunce to fynd a learned mā in their houses to preach the word of God, to haste them to vertue and to dissuade them from vyce. Therfore swarmed their howses wyth pride, ambicion, vaine glorye, couetousnes, whoredome, swearinge, stealinge, polling, pic kinge, enuie, malice, fightinge, flattery, supersticion, Hypocrisie, papistrie, Idolatrie and al kinde of abhominacion, as it must nedes come to passe, wher the word of God is banished thoughe ther be neuer so muche massinge and maskynge accordynge to the say inge of Solomon, whan the Proue. xxix.preachynge of gods worde fayleth, the people perishe and come to naught.

Theo.

It becommeth kynges, princes and rulars rather Note.to here the preacher of gods worde and to gyue eare vntounto the lamentable voyces and humble …upplications of their pore aflict and oppressed subiectes, than to hearken to the sownde of vayne instrumentes, and to delighte in in hearynge the fylthy and trifelinge songes of droncken Musicions, which rather prouoke vntounto fleshelye fantascis than vntounto vertuous exercises. A Christen mans melodie after S. Paules mynde consisteth in herte, whyle we recite Psalmes, himnes and spirituall songes, and syng to the Lorde in oure hertes, geueynge Ephe. v.Eph 5thankes al wayes for al thynges vntounto God the father in the name of oure Lorde Iesus Christe, Al other outward melodye is vaine and transitory, and passeth away and commeth to naughte.

Phile.

Uayne and traunsitorye is it in dede, notwithstandyng Musicke maye be vsed, so it be not abused. If it be so berly exercised and reputed as an hande mayde vntounto vertue it is tollerable, otherwyse it is execrable and to be abhorred of all good men. So that ye perceyue, that Musicke is not so excellente a thyng, that a Christē mā ought ernestly to reioise in it.

Christo.

It is euident inough, seinge that it endureth not, but pa sseth awaye lyke other thynges subiecte to vanity.

Phile.

Ther are y^t greatly delight in buildinge gorgeous houses & sumptuous mansions, but howe vayne is their delectacion? Whā Gorgeous houses.they hauehave spente innumerable riches in erectinge their pleasaūt and fayre houses, what hauehave thei but a greate heape of stones cou ched one vponupon a nother, whiche for a litle season fedeth the eye well, but whan we be once goone what profyte carye we awaye wyth vsus? The holye Patriarkes of the olde tyme remembrynge howe vayne it is to delyghte in gorgeous houses buylte them tentes, and in those safely dwelte considerynge wyth them selues that they were but straungers and pilgrimes, and therfore prepared them houses not for thys world but for the worlde to come by couchynge there treasures in the bosomes of poore menne.

Euse.

To buylde necessarye and conueniente houses for oure vse is not vngodly, as I iudge, but to repose oure delyght in them, or so to spend oure goodes on buildynge that the poore people are y^e les regarded, socoured, releaued and holpen, thys is wicked, this is vngodly.

CHri.

Buildynge is the daughter of phansye and maye in a maner be compared to the webbe of Penelope. For that one setteth vp, ano ther after the disbursinge of many powndes, destroyeth, and buil deth it vp againe with double ex pences the thirde succedeth, and his phātasy not fully satisfied, he agayne altereth the buildynge and addeth threfolde charge, so that to build (I spake of to much gorgeous and not necessary houses) is nothyng else than to dalie wyth the worlde and to be led with fansy.

Theo.

What was in tyme paste more gorgeous than Rome, whan she was called the Ladye and heade of the worlde? What was more sumptuousiye buylt than the tēple of Solomō? yea and that at gods commaun demente, as I maye passe ouer many aunciente and famous cities? what is become of them? Howe are they decayde? Manye are come to suche and so greate downe faule and to so extreme tuine, so deformed, so destroyed, so cōsumed to death that ther remaineth not somuche as a steppe, neyther is there lefte of them any mencion at all. Well were it wythe Christen religion, if christen men woulde remember this sentēce of blessed Paul. We hauehave no dwellyng place in thys world, but we lobe for another to come Thā should the hea uenly mansion be more desired & soughte after. But nowe manye builde and they knowe not who shal enherite, & in y^e mios of these their gorgious buildinges y^e pore people are not cōsidered nor prouided for.

Euse.

Woulde God all such as so greatly delite in costu ous buildinges, would somtime set this sentēce of the wyseinā before theyr eyes If y^u kepeste not thy selfe, sayeth he, in the feare of Eccle. xxvii.Sir 27the Lord continually, thy housse shal sone be subuerted, topled ouer & brought to noughte.

Chri.

Me thinke y^t thys curious buyldyng, whych al moste vniuersalli is vsed now a daies among vsus is a great tokē of the daye of iud gemente beinge at hande. For Christe in the Gospel, amonge other tokens reciteth buildyng to Luke. xvii.Luke 17be one of y^e cheife wherbi we may learne y^t the commyng of the son of man vntounto the teribleiudgemēt is at hād as. s. Iames sayth. Behold y^e iudge standeth before the Iohn. v.John 5dore.

Phile.

I perceyue now right ryght wel ye are fully persuaded that no man ought to reioyce in gorgeous buildynges, wherein many delighte nowe a dayes.

Theo.

Yea verely. The history of Luke. xii.Luke 12the riche man in the Gospell maketh vsus afraid, which was a buil der also, and whē he had finished hys buildinge and couched hys goods in his faire & large houses thinking y^t he should hauehave lyued many yeres, sodenly it was sayed vntounto hym, y^u fole thys nyghte shal they take away y^e life frō the, and thā whose shal these thinges be that y^u hast gathered togither?

Phile.

To enioye greate possessions in thys worlde semeth not to a fewe a singulare commoditie & high profite, but with how many cares & troubles are they accōpa ned? With what great labour at thei gotē & scraped vp together? Of riches.With what carfulnes & disquiet of mynde are they kept, the hordets vp of them being at al houres in more feare left they should be taken awaie from them either by robbynge, pollynge, pillinge burning, or by some other chaūce Howe shortly are they consumed and broughte to naught, whiche were not gathered together with out long time and great sweate? So vaine and transitorye be the goodes of the world. Againe, are not the wordly possessions many tymes lefte to suche heytes, as spende them no lesse prodigally, than their auncitours got them hardely and kept them niggardly? What iuste cause also hath a ny man to reioyce in temporall riches, seing that at the dreadful day of iudgemēt they shal render a straight accōptes of eueryevery farthing to the high & euerlastinge. Iudge Christ, how they hauehave bestowed them? For God hath not endeued the rich men wyth their possessions that they should spēd thē at their pleasure and phansy, but accordinge to hys most godlye commaundemente, wyll and pleasure. Syluer is myne, and golde is myne, sayeth the Lorde of hostes. Hereto agreeth the say inge of the Psalmographe, the earth is the Lordes, and all that is contayned in it. The Lorde hath committed hys goodes to the ritche men, and he wyll cale them to accomptes a gaine to se how they hauehave bestowed thē, and what thei hauehave won and gottē by the exercise of thē for the Lordes auauntage, as we maye se in the Gospell. If ther be foūd vnprofitable seruauntes, and hauehave not bestowed them in settingeforth the glorye of God, and in the hel pynge of theyr christen brethren, but hauehave hid thē vp in the groūd that is to saye, kepte them nigardly to their owne vse, or spent them aboute vayne and wycked Mathew. …iiMatt 2thynges, they maye be sure to be bound, fete and handes to be cast Mar…e. ….into vtter darckenes, where shal be weping and gnashing of teth.

Chri.

O that th…se thynges were Luke. xxii.Luke 22wel cōsidered, pondered & weighed in the iuste balance of resonable discression, than shoulde the ryche men of thys worlde hauehave litle occasiō to glorie in their terrestrial and worldly possessions, Mathew. xxvMatt 25but rather recounte them moste happie, wealthie and fortunat, to whom least is committed. For eueryevery Luke. xix.Luke 19man shall rendre accountes of the talentes receiued, be they fewe or many.

Theo.

Blessed is the ryche, which is founde wyth out blemishe, say eth the wyse man, & hath not gon after golde, nor put hys truste in Esai. xxxi.Isa 31monye and treasures. Where is there such a one? and we shal cō mend hym, and call hym blessed. For greate thynges doeth he among Luke xvi.Luke 16hys people. Who so is tried and founde perfecte in suche thynges shal be commended and praysed. Yea hys good shall be stablished, and the whole congregacion shall declare hys almes Make you frendes, sayeth oure Sauiour Christ, of the vnryghtous Mammō, that whē ye shal hauehave nede, they maye receiue you into euerlastynge habitacions.

Euse.

To se the inordinate affecti on & insatiable desier, whych the more parte of men hauehave vntounto the goodes of y^e world, it is a world. Aunciente Authours complaine of the couetuousnes vsed in their tyme but if they were now a liue they woulde maruell, and wyth hyghe indignacion wete theyre penne, and wright Satyres and Inuectiues agaynste oure couetous worldlyngs. For theyr coue tous affectes knowe no ende, ney ther a…e thei at any tyme sa…ate, be their aboūdaūce temporal possessions Spiritual mē…er so muche ouerflowynge and passynge al measure. Oh good God, good God, howe do oure spiritual men tumble benefice vponupon benefice, and prebende vponupon prebende? And yet are they led wyth no care of fedynge Christes flocke neyther corporally nor spirituallye. Christes threfolde Pasce, is turned in to y^e Iewes double Tolle. They fede nothyng, except them selues they tol & catch whatsoeuer cach they may, would God they once woulde be obediente to thys cō maundemente of God gyuen by the wise man. Let not thyne hād be stretched oute to receyue, and Ecclesi. iiii.shut when thou shouldest geue, A byshoppe sayth. S. Paul (he i. Timo. iii.meaneth euerye spirituall ouersear) ought to maintaynehospitalitie. Agayne he sayeth, forget Hebrues. xiii.not hospitalitie & housholde kepyng. For therby hauehave diuers men receyued into theyr houses Hospitalitie.Angels vnwares. Hereto agreeth the sayinge of. S. Peter. Be i. Peter. iiii.1 Pet 4ye herbourours one to an other wythout grudgynge. As euerye manne hathe receyued the gifte euen minister the same one to an other, as good ministers of the manifolde grace of God. God in the olde lawe greatly tendering the mayntenaunce of hospitalitie, in hys ministers gaue thys commaundement to hys people for paying theyr tythes, saying. Malachi. iii.Mal 3Bringe ye in all tythes into my barne, that ther mai be meate in Why …theo were payedmy house. Here God commaunded tythes to be payed, but for what cause, that the ministe…s should spende them in the court or at the vniuersitie? or aboute whoreynge? or in kepeynge of haukes or dogs? or in maynteynyng a sorte of idle valeaūt lubbers, whych do nothing but consume the good fruites of y^e earth Nay verely, but that ther should be meat in his house (for the personage or viccarage is Goddes house) For whom? For the couetouse worldelynges and rich mē whyche hauehave no nede of it? Nay syr, not so, but for the pore christi ans, as Christe prescribeth saying, Luke. xiiii.Luke 14When thou makest a diner or supper, call not thy frendes, nor thy brethrene, neyther thy kynsemen, nor thy ryche neyghbours, leste they also byd the agayne, and a recōpence be made the. But when thou makeste a feaste, call the pore, the feble, the lame, and the blynde, and thou shalt be happye, for they can not recompence the. But thou shalt be recompēced at the resurrection of the ryghtuous men.

Chri.

I thinke the greatest cause why Whi priestes are despised.priests be contēned at thys tyme is, y^t they neyther regarde their office in preachynge Gods word nor yet theyr dutye in mayntaynyng hospitalitie.

Euse.

Trueth it is, For God saieth Malachi. ii.Mal 2by the prophet. I hauehave made you, O ye priestes, to be despised and to be of no reputatiō amōg all y^e people, bicause ye hauehave not kepte my wayes, but hauehave bene parciall in the lawe. The wayes and ordinaunces of God, whych he hath prescribed to priestes for to obserue, is truly to preach his holy doctrine reuerētly to minister hys blessed sacramētes, and bountuouslye to mayntayne hospitalitie. If they would do these thyngs, they shold recouer their honoure whych is due to faythfull ministers by the worde of God as, S. Paule sayeth. The priestes that rule well, are worthy double honour, specialli thei y^t labour in worde and doctrine.

Theo.

But couetuousnes reygneth not only in the spiritualtie?i. Timothe. v.

Euse.

In the spiritualtie onelye? Temporall men.No God knoweth. For the temporalltye is not behynd for their parte. If euer heretofore, in this oure tyme speciallie is thys sayinge of the Prophet found true, From the lest vntounto the most thei Ieremye. vi.hange vponupon couetuousnes, and from the prophet vntounto the priest they go al aboute with falshead and lyes. How ioyne they Lordshyp to Lordeshyppe, manner to manner, ferme to ferme, land to lande, pasture to pasture, house to house, and house for a vantag Howe do the ryche men, and spe Shepemongers.cially suche as be shepmongers oppresse the kinges liege people by deuourynge theyr commune pastures w^t theyr shepe, so that the poore people are not able to kepe a cow for the confort of thē and of their pore familie, but are like to starue & perish for hōger, if there be not prouision made shortly? What shepe groūd scapeth these caterpillers of the cō mune weale? How swarme they with aboundaunce of flockes of shepe? and yet when was wooll euer so dere, or muttō of so great pryce? If these shepemongers go forthe as they begin, the people shall both miserablye dye for colde, and wretchedly perysh for hōger. For these gredy woulues and comberous cormerauntes, wyll eyther sell theyr woll and theyr shepe at theyr owne price or els they wyll sell none. Oh what a diuersitie is thys in the sale of wolles, a stone of woll somtime to be sold at. viii. grots and now for. viii. s? And so likewise of the shepe. God hauehave mer cy on vsus. If the kynge hys maiestie, with hys most honourable councel do not prouide for the re dresse of these thinges, God him selfe wyll surely se a remedye, as he sayeth by the Psalmongraphe …for the wretchednes of the nedye and the bewaylynge of the pore. Euen nowe wyl I ryse sayth the Lorde.

Agayne he sayeth, Woe be to the that spoilles…e, shalte not Esai. xxxiii.Isa 33thou thy selfe be lykewyse spoyled? And thou that despiseste the pouertie, shalte not thou in lyke maner be despised? When thou haste made an ende of pollynge and pyllyng, then shalte thou be polled and pilled thy selfe.

And when thou ceaseste to despise other, then shalte thou be despised and nought set by.

O Lorde hauehave mercye vponupon vsus. For all oure whole truste is in the. Be thou oure defence, yea, and that shortelye, and be thou oure sauynge health in the time of our trouble.

Christo.

Ryche men were neuer so muche estraunged frome all pytye and compassion towarde the poore people, as they be at thys presente tyme, they deuour Psal. xiiii▪Ps 14the people as it were a morcell of breade.

If anye pece of grounde delite theyr eye, they must nedes hauehave it other by hoke or by croke.

If the pore man wyll not satisfy The vnmercifulnes of rych men.theyr couetouse desyre, he is sure to be molested, troubled, and disquieted on such sorte, that whether he wyll, or wyl not (though boeth he, hys carefull wyfe, and miserable chyldrene wyth hys whole familie should perysh for honger) he shal forgo it, or els it were as good for hym to lyue amonge the furies of Hell, as to dwell by those ryche carles & couetouse churles. Ther is no end of enlargynge theyr groundes, neyther are they ledde wyth any feare of Gods indignation, Esai. vIsa 5exprest by the Prophet sayinge. Wo and euerlastyng damnatiō be vntounto theym that ioyne house to house, and couple land to lād, so nyghe togither, that the pore can get no more grounde. Shal ye alone dwell in the myddest of the earth? These thynges are in myne eares, sayeth the Lorde of hostes. Surely sayeth he, many greate and fayre houses shall be made so desert and wast, that no man shall dwell in them. Hereto agreeth the sayinge of an other Prophet. Wo and euerlastynge …. ii.dānation be vntounto him, that heapeth vp other mennes goodes.

Howe longe wyll he lade hym selfe wyth thycke claye vntounto his owne damnation? O howe sodaynly wyll they stande vp that shall byte the, and awake, that shal teare the in peaces? Yea y^u shalt suerlie be theyr praye, Seynge thou haste spoyled manye people, therfore shal they that re mayne spoyle the, bicause of mē nes bloude and for the wronge done in the land, in the citie, and vntounto all them that dwell therein Wo and euerlastinge damnation be vntounto hym that couetously gathereth euil goten goodes into hys house, that he may set his neste on hie to escape y^e power of misfortune thou hast deuised the shame of thine own house, for y^u hast slaine to much people & hast wilfulli offended, so that the very stones of the wall shal cry out of it, and the tymbre that lyeth betwixte the ioyntes of the buildynge shall answere. & ce.

Theo.

These be greuouse threates of Gods vengeaunce againste the couetuouse worldelinges.

Phile.

They be no lesse true then greuouse, and shall vndoubtedlye chaunce as it is threatened, excepte the couetous worldlynges repent and amende. For God is Psal. … iv.Ps 4fayethfull in all hys sayinges & the worde of the Lorde abideth Esai. xi.Isa 11for euer. He is the selfe trueth, therfore can he not lye. What so Iohn. xiiii.John 14euer he threateneth, he wyl surelye brynge to passe except faythful repentaunce be a meane. Are not these hys wordes? Wo and euerlastyng damnation be vntounto iiii. Esor. xv.theym that synne, and kepe not my commaundementes, sayeth the Lord, I wyl not surely spare them.

And the wyse man sayeth. Wo be vntounto you, O ye wycked personnes, Ecclesi. xli.which hauehave forsaken the lawe of the Lorde, that mooste hyghe God. If ye be borne, ye shall be borne to curssynge, if ye dye, the cursse shal also be youre portion.

Dauid sayeth, vponupon the vngodlye, the Lorde shall rayne Psal. xi.Ps 11snares, fyre, and brymestone, storme, and tempeste: thys shall be theyr portion to drynke. How doeth our sauiour Iesus Christ thonder agaynste the vngodlye ryche in the holy Gospell.

Wo vntounto you that are riche saieth Luke. vi.Luke 6he, for ye hauehave your consolation. Wo vntounto you that are ful, for ye shall hōger, Wo vntounto you that nowe laughe, for ye shall wayle and wepe.

Chri.

These be greuouse wordes agaynste the couetouse wordelynges and voluptuous Epicures, but full little do suche thynges syncke into the breastes of menne nowe adayes, Note.the deuyl hath so blinded theyr eyes, that they thynke that God is a childish God, and will be pleased wyth thys apple at y^e laste ende. I am sory for my sinnes. Good Lorde forgeue me, I trust to be saued by Christes passion, and mani good morrowes So longe as they lyue they neuer repente theyr wicked lyuing they go forth dayly more & more to prouoke the wrath of God agaynste theim, they heape synne vponupon synne, they wallowe all in pleasures like fylthy swyne, they hauehave not thefeare of God before their eyes, they are wythoute all mercy towarde theyr christē brethrene, they greuouslye oppresse theyr neadye neyghbours, they make no ende of rakeynge togither the goodes of y^e world, they folowe the lustes of the fleshe as miserable and bonde captiues, to conclude, theyr whole lyfe is nothynge els but a seruynge of the deuyll, how can these menne at the laste ende truely repent & conuerte vntounto God, leadynge afore a lyfe abhominable, so wycked, so stynckynge, so hatefull both to God and to al good mē? I graunte, the mercy of God is great, & excelleth al hys workes, Psal cxlv.Ps 45but howe cā they which hauehave led theyr whole lyfe altogyther displeasaunte vntounto God, be bolde to craue mercye of God at the last ende, whom all the dayes of theyr lyfe they hauehave so despised by disobeyinge hys moste Godlye wyll and pleasure? Are not these his wordes spokē by kinge Solomon? I hauehave called, and Prouer. i.Prov 1ye refused it. I hauehave streatched out my hand, and no man regar ded it, but all my counsails hauehave ye despised, and set my correctiō at nought. Therfore shall I also laughe in youre destruction, and mocke you, whē that thyng that ye feare cometh vponupon you, euen when the thynge that ye be a frayed of, falleth in sodaynely lyke a storme, and youre miserye lyke a tempeste, yea, when trouble and heuynes commeth vponupon you.

Then shall they call vponupon me, but I wyll not heare, they shall seke me early, but they shal not fynde me, and that bycause they hated knowledge, and recei ued not the feare of the Lorde, but abhorred my councell, and despised all my creation.

If the tyghtuous shal scasly be saued, sayth blessed Peter where sha…l the vngodlye and the synner appeare?

Euse.

Satan thorowe couetuousnes Destroye… of townes.doeth so possesse the hertes of many menne in these oure dayes, that they do not onelye lincke house to house, but when they hauehave gotten manye houses and tenementes into theyr handes, yea, whole towneshyppes, they suffer the houses to fall into vtter ruyne, and decaye, so that by this meanes whole townes are become desolate, and lyke vntounto a wyldernes, no man dwelling there, excepte it be the shephearde and his dogge.

Phile.

Truth it is. For I my selfe knowe many townes and villages sore decayed, so that where as in tymes paste there were in some town an hūdred housholds there remaine not now thyrty, in some fifty, ther are not now ten, yea (whyche is more to be lamē ted) I knowe townes so wholly decayed, y^t ther is neyther sticke nor stone standynge, as they vse to saye. Wher many men hadde good liuynges, and maynteined hospitalitie, able at all tymes to helpe the kynge in his warres, & to susteyne other charges, able also to healpe their pore neyghbours, and vertuously to bringe vp theyr chyldren in Godly letters and good sciēces, now shepe & conies deuoure altogyther no man inhabitynge the aforesaied places. Those beastes whyche Psal. ixPs 9were created of god for the nourishmente of man, do nowe deuoure man. The scripture sayeth that God made both shepe & oxen with al the beastes of the field subiecte vntounto man, but nowe mā is subiecte vntounto them. Wher mā Beastes aboue menne.was wont to beare rule, ther thei now beare rule. Wher man was wōt to hauehave his liueing: ther thei nowe only liue. Where man was wonte to inhabite, ther they now raing and grease. And the cause of all thys wrechednes and beggary Gentle men shepmongers.in the commō weale are the gredy Gentilmē, which are shipmongars & grasiars. While thei studie for their owne priuat com moditie, the comon weale is lyke to decaye. Sins they beganne to be shepe Maisters and feders of cattel we neither had vitaile nor cloth of anye resonable price. No maruell, for these forstallars of the market, as they vse to saye hauehave gotten all thynges so into their handes, that the poore man must either bie it at their price, or els miserably starue for hongar, and wretchedly dye for colde. For they are touched w^t no pitie toward the pore. It is foūd true in thē y^t S. Paul wrighteth. Al seke ther own adauntage, & not those Phili. ii.thinges which belonge vntounto Iesu Christ. They whiche in times past were wonte to be fathers of the contrie, are now pollers and pillers of the cōtrie. They which in times paste were wōt to be the defēders of the pore, are now becom y^e destroiers of y^e same. Thei by whom the comon weale sometime was preserued: are now become the Caterpillers of y^e comō weale, & such as seme by their ma ners to hauehave made a solē vowe vt terli to subuert the comō weale, & to procure y^e final destructiō of y^e same. Thei a… …satiable woulues. Thei know no measure. So they maye reygne, they care not who rule. So they maye abound they care no whoe faulle to the grounde. So they maye be enriched thei care not who …e enpoue rished. They are right brothers of Caine, whiche had rather sl… Gen. iiii.Gen 4his brother Abell, thā he shoulde hauehave any part with him of world ly possessions. The wyse mā sayeth, Eccle. xxxiiii.Sir 34the breade of the nedye is the lyfe of y^e pore, he that defraudeth him of it, is a mansl ear…. Do not these riche worldlinges defraud the pore man of hys bread, wher by is vnderstande al thynges ne cessary for a mans life, which tho Breade wha… it signifieth.row their insatiable couetousnes sel all thynges at so highe pryce, & suffer townes so to decaye that the pore hath not what to eat nor yet wher to dwel? What other ar they than, but verye manslears? They abhore the names of Mō kes, Friers, Chanons. Nonnes Marke well.& c, but their goodes they gredely gripe. And yet where the cloysters kept hospitaliti, let out their fermes at a resonable price norished scholes, brought vp youth in good letters, they do none of all these thynges. They lightly esteme and in a maner contemne Priestes, parsons, vicares, Prebendaries. &c, yet their possessiōs thei gladlye enbrase & niggardly retayne. So' that nowe they are become in effecte althoughe not in name, very Monckes, Friers, Chanons, Priestes, Persons, Ui cares, Prebendaryes, and at the last what not? and yet how vainly those goodes be spente, whoe seeth not? The state of England was neuer so miserable, as it is at thys presente.

Good Lorde hauehave mercy vponupon vsus and put in the hertes of the kinge and of his coūsel to redres these intolerable pestilences of Rome. ii.the common wealth, or els make haste to dissolue thys wreched world by thy glorious commyng vntounto the iudgement, where thou Prouerb. xx….shalt render to eueryevery man accordinge to hys dedes, lest if we lōg remayne in thys to muche wretchednes, we be compelled thorowe pouertye to attempe vnrightuous thinges, and forswere the name of the our Lorde God. Wel, of these thynges afore sayed I trust ye perceiue that no mā oughte to reioyse in the rytches of this world, seing they are none of oures but Godes, and we as the treasures and stuardes, of God must at the dreadful day of iudgement render acomptes to the hyghe Iudge Christe of all that we hauehave receiued, be it much or litel, seinge also they are verye transitorye f…itting from one to a nother in so much that he whych is thys daye a Lorde highely in fauoure and a manne of greate Riches abu…d.possessions is to morowe a traytoure and not worthe a gallye halfe penye. A gayne if they be abused, they are verye entisementes vntounto all myschefe and naughti…es, they plucke our her tes from God to the deuyll, they make vsus Idolaters by seruinge that wycked Mammon they pro uoke the vengaunce of God agaynste vsus thei make is to be ab horred of God and of all good men, they plucke from oure bodyes reast from our mindes quietnes from our eyesslepe frō our face natural colour, and adde to al the partes of mā distēperaūce, makinge man a slaue vntounto that whiche oughte to be obedient vn to him.

Theo.

We perceyue these thynges ryghte well. For the wyse man sayeth, their is nothynge Eccle. xxSir 20worse than a couetous man, neyther is ther a more wicked thyng then to louelove money. For such one hath his soule to sel, and yet is he but filthye dunge while he liueth And the Preacher sayeth, he that Eccle. v.Eccl 5loueth money wyl neuer be satisfied wyth monye, and whoso delyghteth in ryches, shall hauehave no profite thereof.

Where as muche rychesse is, there are many also that spēd them awaye. And what pleasure more hath he that possesseth thē sauinge that he maye loke vponupon them with his eyes. A labouring man slepethe swetelye, whether it be litle or much that he eateth but thaboūdaūce of the rich wyl not suffer hym to slepe, yea many times riches are kept to the hurt of hym that hath them in possession. For ofte times they perishe wyth his great misery, and trouble, and if he hauehave a childe, it getteth nothynge. Lyke as he came naked out of hys mothers wōbe Iob. i.Job 1so goeth he thither agayne, and caryeth nothynge awaye wyth hym of all hys laboure. &c.

Euse.

It were wysdome for the ryche menne, if they tender their owne saluation and be ledde wyth any hope of the lyfe to come, to heare what blessed Paulle wryghtethe vntounto Byshoppe Timothe, and earnestlye to folowe that. …ys i. Timo. vi.wordes are these. Charge them whyche are ryche in thys worlde that they be not hye mynded nor truste in vncertayne ryches, but in the lyuynge God (whiche geueth vsus aboundantly al thinges to enioy them) that they do good workes, that they be redy to giuegive and glad to distribute, leying vp in …ore for thē selues a good foū dacion agaynst the time to come, that thei may obtaine eternal lif.

Phile.

O that they woulde be aduertised by thys Aopstle. Then shoulde God be their defender in al their affayres, & cause both thē & their posteritie longe to enioye then possessiōs w^t the fauoure & blessinge of al good men, But let vsus go forth, and search whither a ny thynge can be founde in thys transitorye worlde wherein we may worthyly reioyse. What say ye vntounto nobilitie?

Christo.

Not afewe do greately reioyse in that, Of nobilitie.magnifieynge them selues because they descende of noble parentage, and in comparison of them selues they greately dispise other.

Phile.

O folish & ignoraūte people. Why rather do they not consider y^t boeth riche & pore, noble & vnoble, hie or base do cōsiste & are made of the same elemētes, subiect vntounto like diseases & bond G…e. iii.to y^e same affectes? Earth we are al & dust, & vntounto earth & dust shal we returne. As we were made to liue so likewise are we al appointed to die. Bodies hauehave we al cor ruptible & bōd to mortaliti. Ther is no exception amonge vsus. Neither hath ani of vsus obtained such priuiledge of God, y^t we maye escape y^e bondage of fraile nature. Seing thā y^t as touching our cor poral creacion ther is no differēce no prerogatiue, what nobilitie or worthines of bloud, can there be more in the noble personage thā in the base slaue. Their beginnīg is like, ther ende is al one. Twise mad are thei therefore, y^t brag of their noble bloud & esteme thē selues y^e more worthy because they descēd of noble parentages, neither do such any other thing thā bost of y^t which is none of theirs. King Dauid sayth, what profite Psalm ….is ther in my bloude, seinge I go doūe vntounto corruptiō? And y^e wise mā sayth, why art y^u proude, O y^u earth & ashes? We are al earth & ashes boeth noble & vnoble, We Eccles. x.Eccl 10al shal returne vntounto corruption, & be so cōsumed as cōcerning our bodies, as though we had neuer bene. The Prophet also saieth, al flesh is gras, & al his glori is like Esai. xi.Isa 11a floure of the field, Wher is any mēciō made here of noble bloude I know, sayth. s. Paule, that ther Rom. viiRom 7dwelleth in me, y^t is to saye in my flesh, no goodnes, wher is carnal nobilitie thā become? Doth not y^e same lothsum vilenes come frō y^e noble, y^t isueth out of y^e vnnoble? Are not the carcasses of al personages meate for wormes a lyke? Pour the bloud of the vilaine in one basen and the bloude of the gentleman in an other, what differēce shal there be proued? Dig vp the bones out of the sepulchers both of y^e noble & vnnoble, and who can deserne of the sight of them, which was the seruaunt whych the Lord, who was rich & who was poore, who beautifull & who deformed, which were noble, and which vnnoble? Ther is no differēce, as S. Ambrose sayeth, betwene the carcasses of the deade, except paraduenture it be thys, that the deade corps of the rych stincke more greouslye than the pore because it was more den tely fed.

Euse.

So far as I perceiue, they Tituled gen…emen.erre greatly, that bost of the kind red, & esteme thē selues the more worthy because they come of wor they parentes, although they thē selues be neuer so greate dronckardes, glotones, diceplayers, Whoremongers, swerers, fightters, theues, ruffians, pickers of quarels, riotous persons. &c. For litle doeth it profite a man to des cend of a noble house, if he hym selfe be of base and vile maners and leade a life defiled with wyckednes, yea it rather bringeth vntounto hym ignobilitie than nobilitie. Well is it sayde of our golden mouthed doctor, the nobilite In Mathand goodnes of oure kinsefolke auaileth nothyng, except we our selues be good. For what doethe noble generacion profite hym, whom, hys maners do defile? Or what doeth vile generacion hurt hym, whome good maners dooe garnishe and adourne? Certes he sheweth hym selfe voyde of al goodnes, y^t glorieth in his parentes To glorie vponupon y^e nobilitie of other, sayth Petrarche, is a bostinge euen to be laughed at. And suche as hauehave nothynge but the badges, counisauces and armes of their Auncestours to set out their nobilitie with al, they differ not much frome Esopes crowe, which decked him selfe wyth other birdes fethers, he hym selfe being altogither blacke & vnami able.

Theo.

The true nobilitye consisteth neither in strength, beautie, Wherein tru… no…litie con sisteth.nor riches, no nor yet in any other exernall & bodely thyng but in the suppressing of vice and embraseinge of vertue. Uertue is the alone and onelyonly nobilitie, as Antisthenes was wonte to saye thei that are endued with vertue, they hauehave the true nobilitie, Notably is it sayd of the goldē mouthed In Mathew.doctor Iohn Chrisostom. He is a man of great renoume, he is a worthye personage, he is the true noble man, that disdayneth to serue vices, and by no meanes wyl be ouer come of them? And Cocceus Nerua the Emperour sayde that the vertue of a man and not hys kynnered nor hys contrye is to be considered.

Chri.

Woulde God all menne of nobilitye were perswaded that vertue and godlye conuersation were the alone and onelye true nobilitie. Than woulde they not repose their glorye in their auncestours, as many very folishely do at thys present, but rather endeuoure them selues so to traine their life in al godlines and vertue, that euen for their owne god ly and vertuous enterprises thei should be cōpted noble and worthy of prayse.

Euse

But what say you vntounto beautie?

Phile.

Euen as Solomon saieth, fauoure is deceitefull, and beautye Beautie Prouer. xxxi.Prov 31is a vayne thynge. They are muche … …ro the course of true reasonne, that reioyse in so fraile a thynge. For it is more britle thē glasse, more transitorye than the flowre, more inconstant than the wynde, more vaine than the smoke, and more f…ittynge away than the tyme. Beautye is a thousande maner of wayes corrupted and defaced. Howe doeth one lytle feauer make the fayrest woman in the worlde, the fowlest & the must vnpleasaūt in aspect? And to saye the trueth, is beauty anye other thynge, than a litell thine skyne wel coloured? If the inwarde partes myghte be sene, howe greate filthynes woulde there appeare euen in the moste beautifull personne? Neyther is the fayrest bodiein the world any other thing thē a dunghyl couered w^t a clothe as it wer of white and purple coloure. And what a madnes is thys for anye person to glorye in beautye, seynge that Beauty is an …ntisemente to vncleannes.the beholder of it hath more delectation and pleasure in it, as one that hath the vse and fruition thereof, then suche as are endued with the beautie. I leaue of to speake that beauty is a entisement vntounto vncleannes, and a very enemy to chaste and pure conuersation, as we reade in diuers histores.

Chri.

This semeth to be true by the sayinge of the wise man, Loke not to narrowly Ecclesi. xxv.sayeth he, vponupon the beautye of a womā, lest y^u be prouoked in desire toward hir. Againe he saith, Turne away thy face frō a beau tiful womā, & loke not vponupon the Ecclesiasti. ix.fayrenes of other. Many a man hath perished thorowe the beautye of women, for thorowe it the Prouer. vi.Prov 6desyre is kyndled as it were fyre

Hereto agreeth the sayinge of Solomō. Let not thine hert lust after the beauty of a womā, least thou be taken w^t hir faire lokes. What kindled Dauids hert w^t louelove toward Bethsabe, the wyfe of Urias, & caused him to cōmit adultry w^t hir, but only hir beau ii. Reg. xi.2 Kgs 11ti? Dauid, saith y^e scripture, arose out of his bed, & walked vpō the roufe of the kinges palaice, & frō y^e roufe he saw a womā washing hir selfe, & the womā was verye beutiful to loke on. Again how came it to passe y^t the. ii. Iudges burned so feruērly w^t the louelove of Daniel. xiii.Susanna Ioachims wife, and soughte all meanes possible to hauehave defiled hir, but y^t they were drowned w^t the sight of hir beau ty? The scripture saieth she was a very faire womā, but ther is a goodli additiō, she was also such one as feared god. Whē beuty & Note welly^e fear of god are licked togither beuty is not to be discōmēded, otherwise it is but a nette, wher w^t y^e deuil vseth to catch y^e folish peo ple. A faire womā w^tout discrete Prouer. xi.Prov 11mauers saith Solomō, is like a ring of gold in a swines snowte. And y^t we mai be wel ascertened y^t it was hir beauty y^t moued thē w^toute shame to prouoke hir to vnclēnes, these words of y^e history declare it manifestli: Susāna was a tēder persō & merueylous fair of face. Therfore the wicked mē cōmaūded to take y^e cloth frō hir face (y^t at y^e lest they might so be satisfied in hir beuty.

Phi

God sēd vsus mo Susās. Beauti reigneth F…low y… w…s.in mani, would god it were accōpaned w^t y^e fear of god, y^t the beutiful persōs might not abuse their beutye, but chuse rather to be stoned w^t Susā, then once to defile theyr h…sbandes bedde,

Euse.

God sende vsus the beautye of the minde, whyche consisteth in Godlye vertues and honeste qualites, for y^t is the true beauti, y^e other is but fraile, vayne; traū sitory, & doth not longe endure. But what sai you vntounto galaunt apparell, where of so many brag Of galaunt apparell.and boaste nowe adayes? Is it not a thynge, where in we maye worthely reioice?

Phile.

Nothing lesse, for the wyse manne sayeth, Glory not in thyne apparaile at Ecclesiasti. xi.any tyme. Uestures were geuen vsus of God to couer oure filthye nakednes, & not that we shoulde glorye in them, & make them instrumentes of pride. We ought rather when we put on our garments to lament our mischaūce our mortalitie and vncleannes, then to reioyce in theym. For so longe as our grādfather Adam continued in the state of innocē cy, he neded no kynde of apparel to couer his body (for he was altogither cleane, beautiful, good, holye, innocent and perfect) but after he had brokē the commaū dement of God by geuinge eare to Satans subtile, perswasions, perceyuynge his miserie & wretchednes, wherinto he was fallen thorow his disobedience, he was ashamed of hym selfe, and boeth he & his wyfe perceiuinge y^t they were naked sowed fig leaues togither, and made them selues apr…ns to couer their fylthye and shamfull nakednes wythall. Afterward Gene iii.Gen 3when God droue theim out of Paradise, bicause their feble and mortali bodies, whyche now were subiecte to all kind of diseases, tempestes, and blastes, shoulde not perishe for colde, agayne that they myghte hauehave, where with to couer theyr filthye nakednes, y^e they myghte walke the more honestly, he made them lethern garinentes, and clothed them therwyth. Here euen from the beginning do we learn both what garments were geuen vntounto manne of God, and for what purpose.