The Anatomy of Abuses, Title page – Dedication
The Anatomie of Abuses: Contayning A DISCOVERIE, OR BRIEFE Summarie of such Notable Vices and Imperfections, as now raigne in many Christian Countreyes of the Worlde: but (especiallie) in a verie famous ILANDE called AILGNA: Together, with most fearefull Examples of Gods Iudgementes, executed vponupon the wicked for the same, aswell in AILGNA of late, as in other places, elsewhere.
Uerie Godly, to be read of all true Christians, euerie where: but most needefull, to be regarded in ENGLANDE.
Made dialogue-wise, by Phillip Stubbes.
Seene and allowed, according to order.
MATH. 3. ver. 2. Repent, for the kingdome of God is at hande.
Lvc. 13. ver. 5. I say vntounto you (saith Christ) except you repent, you shall all perish.
¶Printed at London, by Richard Iones. …aij. 1583.
To the Right Honorable, Phillip Earle of Arundell: Phillip Stubbes wisheth helth of body & soule, fauour of God, increase of Godly honour, reward of laudable vertue, and eternall felicitie, in the Heauens, by IESVS Christ.
NOBILITAS Patriae DECVS
THE Lord our God (right honorable) hauing by the power of his word, created Heauen and Earth, with all thinges what soeuer, for the comfort and vse of Man: the last of all other (euen the sixt daye) made Man after his owne similitude and likenesse, that in him he might be glorified aboue all other Creatures. And therfore, wheras in making of other thinges, he vsed onelyonly this Woord, FIANT, be they made, or let them be made: when he came to make Man, as it weare aduysing himselfe, and asking councell at his wisdome, he said, FACIAMVS HOMINEM, let vsus make▪ Man, that is a wōderful Creature: and therfore is called in greek MICROCOSMOS, a litle world in himself. And truely he is no lesse, whether we consider his spirituall soule, or his humaine body. For what Creature is theare vppon the face of the Earth comparable to man, either in body or in mind? what creature hath a soule immortall inherent in his body, but onelyonly Man? what Creature can forsee things to come, remember things past, or iudg of things present, but onelyonly man? what Creature beareth the ymage of God about with him, but Man? what Creature is made so erect to behould the Heauens, as man? What Creature may be likened to man, either in proportiō of body, or gifts of the soule? And (finally) what Creature hath the promise of the resurrectiō & glorificatiō of their bodies, & of eternall life but onelyonly Man? Than seeing the Lorde hath made Man thus glorious, and preferred him in eueryevery degree, before al other Creatures (the Angelicall Creatures set a part) it is manifest, he hath done it to some end & purpose, namely, that he might be glorified in him, and by him aboue all other his works, according to the measure of his integritie excellency and perfection. And hereby we may learn that it is the will of GOD, that we bend all our force to the aduauncing of his glorious Name, the edification of his People, and the building vp of his Church, which he hath redemed with the bloud of his deare Sonne.
Which thing (mee think) is notably figured foorth vntounto vsus in the .25. of EXODVS wher the Lord commaunded Moyses to build him a Tabernacle, or howse of prayer, to this end and purpose (doubtles) that therin his lawe might be read, his Ceremonies practised, Sacrifices, Victimates & Holocaustes offred, and his glorious Name called vppon and obeyed. To the erection wherof, eueryevery one conferred some what, some brought gold, some siluer, & some brasse, lead & tinne, other brought silk, purple, skarlet, and other ornaments, and the meanest brought some what, namely, skins heare, sand, lyme, morter, wood, stone, and such like. Euen so (right honorable) would the Lord hauehave eueryevery one to conferre some what, euen such as he hath, to the building of his spirituall howse, the Church purchased with the bloud of Christ. Wherfore seeing it is so, that eueryevery one is to further this spirituall building to his possible power, I hauehave rather chosen with the simplest, and meanest sort to bring, though but heyre, sand, skins, lyme, morter, wood or stones, than altogether to contribute nothing.
Not doubting, but that the chief Maister and Builder of this howse, Christ Iesus, will not dislike, but accept of my poore contribution, no lesse than he did of the poore wydowes Mite, to whom was imputed that she had cast more, in Gazophilatium Templi, into the treasury of the Temple, than all the rest: for what she wanted in effect, that she supplyed in affect, And for that also the Lord our GOD committing his talēts to eueryevery one, whether more or lesse, not onelyonly requireth of vsus the same againe simply, but also, as a straight computist, demaundeth interest and gaine of eueryevery one of vsus: & for that not only, he is a murtherer & a Homicide before God, who slayeth or killeth, a Man with materiall sword▪ but he also, vho may preuent the same, and will not. And not onelyonly, he is guiltie of haynous transgression that committeth any euill really, but also he who consenteth to it as he doth, who holdeth his peace, or he who by any means might auoid it, and either for negligence wil not, or for feare of the world dare not. Therfore, albe it, that I hauehave receiued, but one poore talēt, or rather the shadow of one, yet least I might be reproued (with that vnprofitable Seruaunt) for hyding my small talent in the Earth▪ not profiting therwith at all, either my self, or others, I hauehave aduētured the making of this litle treatise, intituled, (The Anatomy of Abuses,) hoping that the same (by diuyne assistance) shall somewhat conduce to the building of this spirituall howse of the Lord.
And although I be one (most honorable Lord) that can do least in this Godly course of life (palpable barbarisme forbidding mee so much as once to enter into Wysdomes school) yet for that somewil not, for feare of losing worldly promotion (though in the meane tyme they lose the Kingdome of Heauen,) Other some dare not for displeasing the world: I say, for these, & semblable causes together, with the zeale and goodwill I beare vntounto my Countrey, and feruent desire of their conuersion and amendement, I hauehave taken vponupon me the contryuing of this book: Which GOD, graunt may be with like plausible alacritie receiued, as with paines and good will, I hauehave published it, for the benefit of my Cuntrey, the pleasure of the Godly, and amendement of the wicked. And I doubt not, that as none, but the wicked, and peruerse whose gawld backes are tutched, will repyne against mee, so the Godly and vertuous, will accept of this my labour, and trauaile herein, whose gentle fauour and goodwill, shall counterpoyse, (and farre surmount with mee) the maligne stomacks, and stearn countenances of the other. After that I had (right honorable) fully perfected this booke, I was minded, notwithstanding, both in regard of the straungenes of the matter it intreateth of, and also in respect of the rudenesse of my penne, to hauehave suppressed it for euer, for diuerse and sundrie causes, and neuer to hauehave offred it to the viewe of the world. But, notwithstanding, being ouercome by the importunat request, and infagitable desire of my freinds, I graūted to publish the same, as now you see, is extant.
But, when I had once graunted to imprinte the same, I was in greatter doubt than before, fearinge, to whome I might dedicate the same so rude and impolished a worke. And withall I was not ignorant, how hard a thing it is in these daies to finde a Patrone of such books as this, which sheweth to eueryevery one his sin, and discouereth eueryevery Mans wicked waies, which indeed, the vngodly cā not at any hād abyde, but as it were mad-mē disgorging their stomacks (Cum in Authorē tum in codicem plenis buccis, & dentibus plusquàm caninis rabidè feruntur:) they rage, they fume and rayle both against the AVTHOR and his booke. Thus (vacillante animo) my minde wandring too and fro, and resting, as it weare in extasie of despaire, at last I called to mind your honorable Lordship, whose praises hauehave pearced the Skyes, and whose laudable vertues are blowen, not ouer the realme of England onelyonly, but euen to the furthest costs and parts of the world.
All whose vertues, and condigne prayses, if I should take vppon mee to recounte, I might as well number the starres in the Sky, or grasse of the Earth.
For, for Godly Wysdome, and zeale to the truth, is not your good Lordship (without offence be it spoken) comparable with the best? For sobrietie, affabilite, and gentle curtesie to euerie one, farre excelling many.
For your great de…otion and compassion to the poore oppressed, in all places famous: For Godly fidelitie, to your Soueraigne, louelove to the CVNTREY, and vertues in generall, euerie where most renowmed.
But least I might obscure, your Worthie commendations with my vnlearned penne, (lytle, or no thing at all emphaticall) I will rather surcease, than further to proceed, contenting my selfe rather to hauehave giuen a shadowe of them, than to hauehave ciphered them foorth, which indeed are both infinit, and inexplicable.
In consideration (whereof) not withstanding that my Booke be simpler, baser, and meaner, than that it may (without blushing) present it self to your good Lordship (being farre vnworthie of such an honorable Personage) yet accordinge to your accustomed clemency I most humbly beseache your good Lordship to receiue the same into your honors Patrociny and protection, accepting it as an infallible token of my faithfull heart, seruice, and good will towardes your honorable Lordship: For proofe whereof, would GOD it might once come to passe, that if not otherwyse, yet with my humble seruice, I might shewe foorth the faithfull and euer willing heart I beare in brest to your good Lordeship, protesting before Heauen and Earth, that though power want yet shall fidelitie, and faithfulnes faile neuer.
And because, this my Booke is subiect (my verie good Lord (to as many reproches, tauntes and reproofes, as euer was any litle book (for that few cā abyde to hauehave their sin… detected) therfore I hauehave had the greatter care to commit the same to the guardance and defence of your honour, rather than to manie others, not onelyonly for that GOD hath made your honour a Lamp of light vntounto the world, of true nobilitie and of al integritie and perfection, but also hath made you his substitute, or vicegerent, to reforme vices, punish abuses, and correcte sinne.
And as in merciemercy he hath giuen you this power and autoritie, so hath he giuen you a hungrie desire to accomplish the same according to his will: Which zeal in your sacred brest, the LORD increase for euer.
And as your Lordship knoweth, reformation of maners and amendement of lyfe, was neuer more needfull, for, was pride (the chiefest argument of this Booke) euer so rype? Do not, both Men and Women (for the most part) eueryevery one in generall go attyred in silks, veluets, damasks, satans, and what not? which are attyre onelyonly for the nobilitie and gentrie, and not for the other at anie hand? Are not vnlawfull games, Playes and Enterluds, and the like eueryevery where vsed? Is not whordome, couetousnes, vsurie & the like daylie practised without all punishment or lawe?
But hereof I say no more, referring the consideration, both of these and the rest, to your Godly wysdome. Beseaseaching your good Lordship, to perdon my presumption in speaking thus much, for (Zelus domini huc adegit me:) the zeal of my God hath dryuen me heather.
Knowinge, that the LORD hath ordeined you, to himselfe a chosen vessell of honour, to purge his Church of these Abuses, and corruptions, which as in a table are depainted and set foorth in this litle booke.
Thus I cease to molest your sacred eare…s any further with my rude speaches, most hūbly beseaching your good Lord ship not onelyonly to admit this my Book into your honours patronage and defence, but also to persist the iust Defender therof, against the swynish crew of rayling ZOILVS and flowting MOMVS, with their complices, to whome it is easier to depraue all things, than to amend any thing them selues. Which, if I shall perceiue to be accepted of your honour, besides that I shal not care for a thousand others, disliking the same, I shall not only think my self to hauehave receiued a sufficiēt guerdon for my p…es, & shalbe therby greatly incoraged (if GOD permit) hereafter, to take in hand some memorable thing to your immortall prayse, honour and renowne, but also shall daylie pray to GOD, for your good Lordship long to continue, to his good pleasure and your harts desire, with increase of Godly honour, reward of laudable vertue, and eternall felicitie in the HEAVENS, by Iesus Christ.
Columna gloriae virtus. Your Honors to commaund, PHILLIP Stubbes.