To the most victorious prynce Henry the. viii. by the grace of God kyng of Englande, Fraunce, & Ireland, defender of the Fayth, and supreme head of the Churche of England, and Ireland, immediatly next vnto God: hys humble and most faythfull subiectes of the realme of England wysh lyfe euerlastyng.

PItuously complaineth the pore co~mons
of this your maiesties realme
greatly lamentyng their owne miserable
pouertie, and yet muche more
the most lamentable and more the~ wretched
estate of their chyldre~ and posterite. Whose
myserie forsene and throughly considered -
is and ought of very nature, to be more dolorous
and sorowful vnto euerye naturall
hert the~ that which we our selues feale and
sustayne. Not many yeres before, your highnes
poore subiectes the lame, and impotente
creatures of this realme, prese~ted your highnes
with a piteful and lame~table complaint
imputyng the head and chiefe cause of their
penury and lacke of reliefe, vnto the great &
infinite nombre of valiant and sturdy beggers,
which had by their subtyll and crafty
demaner in begging, gotten into their ha~des
more then the third part of the yearely reuenewse

a.ii.

and possessions of this your highnes
realme. Wher vpon as it semed your hyghnes
sekynge a redresse and reformation of
thys greate and intollerable enormitie: as a
merciful father ouer this your natural country,
moued wyth pitie towardes the miserable
and pittiful nombre of blind, lame, lazar
& other the impotent creatures of this your
realme hath wyth most ernest diligence, supplanted,
and as it were weeded out a greate
numbre of valiaunt and sturdye Monckes,
Fryers, Chanons, Heremites, and Nunnes
Which disguised ypocrites, vnder the name
of the contempt of this world, wallowed in
the sea in the worldes wealth. And to the entent
your louing & obedient subiectes might
the better be able to releue the neadie & impotent
creatures, you toke fro~ them the greate
nu~bre of gilted beggers, whose holines was
so fast roted in the hertes of vs your pore co~mons:
through the false dilusio~s of the forsayd
sturdy & valiant beggers, that we wold
not stick to go an. C. myles on our bare fete
to seke one of them that we might not only
bestow our almes vpo~ them, but also do the~
reuerence and honour none other wise then
if they had bene very Gods. Yea, whe~ your
hyghnes had ordeyned that al these forsayd
beggers shulde be vtterly abolished, neuer to
deceyue vs of our almes anye more, we like
me~ alwaies brought vp in folish supersticio~
of these false Phariseis & flateryng Hypocrites:

268

knewe not the obedience that we owe
to you our natural and most rightful prince
but in contine~t fel in an vprore criyng. Out
holi dayes, Abbayes, & Pylgrimages. None
other wise, than the Ephesians dyd agaynst
the elect vessell of God sancte Paule, whan
he sayd, they are not Godes, which be made
with handes, and as the Iewse did against
holy Steuen whan he sayd that God dwelleth
not in an house made with mans hand.
Yea, had not God wrought on your parte,
in apeasing that sturdy thronge: this realme
had euen then, ben like to haue bene vtterly
decayed. For euen those whome your highnes
had called to gither to assiste you in that
daungerous tyme, were for the moste parte
so bente to the opinion of the other, that many
of them woulde not stike to say. When
we shal come to the battaile: we know what
we haue to do. But nowe the lorde be thanked
therefore that your highnes hath finished
that your godly purpose, without bloudshede
of your poore commones, and that the
worde of god hath ben so set furth & taught
by your co~mandent, that euery man that lusteth
may therin learne his duitie and office:
we are fully perswaded, that all such as resiste
the pours, whome God hathe ordeyned
and appoynted to rule & gouerne the multitude
of thys worlde, do not resyste man, but
God. Be you certayne therfore most graciouse
prince that we your most obedie~t subiectes
walkyng in the fear of the Lord, wyl
not from hence forth so long as the knowledge
of godes worde shall reigne amongeste
vs attempt any such so diuilishe enterprise,
as to rebel agaynst your highnesse our most
natural souerayne and leage lorde, either for
our forfathers popyshe tradicions, or other
oure owne fantastical dreams, not withsta~dynge
that the remenaunt of the sturdy beggers
not yet weaded out do daylye in theyr
writynges, counsels and preachynges: stere
vs thereunto. For what meane they in their
Sermons when they lament the greate discord
and myserable estate of this our tyme,
wishynge that all thynge were nowe as it
was. xx. yeares since: but that they woulde
haue a Pope, pardons, lightyng of candels
to Images, knockyng and knelyng to them
with runnyng hither and thither on pilgremage?
Besides the infinit number of purgatory
horseleches, on who~ the vengeaunce
of God is so manifestly declared for their
beastly buggery: that the very places where
thei dwelt, ar not thought worthy to be the
dwellinges of me~, but the caues of bruit bestes
and venemous wormes. Thei tell vs
what vice, vncharitablenes, lacke of mercy
diuercitie of opinions and other lyke enormites,
haue raigned euer sence men had the
Scripture in Englyshe. And what is thys
other, then to cause mens consciens to abhorre
the same, as the onely cause and originall
of all thys? Thei say that it sufficeth a
laye man, to beleue as thei teach, and not to
meddle with the enterpretatio~ of the Scriptures.
And what meaneth that, but that thei
would haue vs so blynd agayn as we were
when we would haue fought agaynst oure
naturall Prynce, for the mayntenaunce of
their popyshe traditions and purgatory patrimony?
Thei cannot abyde this name, the
word of God: but thei wold haue the scripture
called the commau~dement of God, and
what meaneth this, but that thei are the same
enemyes of God, whom that two edged
sword shall destroy? Finally, thei haue procured
a lawe, that none shal so hardy haue
the Scripture in his house, onlesse he maye
spend. x. pound by yere. And what meaneth
this, but that they would famysh the soules
of the residue, witholdyng theyr food from
them. We appeale to your highnes iudgement
in this behalfe, whither this lawe be
indifferent or not. If none should be alowed
meat in your highnes house, but suche as
were clothed in veluet with chaines of gold
about theyr neckes, what seruauntes wold
your maiestie haue shortly? what steruelynges
would your seruauntes be aboue all other?
For no man within your realme may
refuse to do your grace seruyce. Hath God
put immortall soules in none other but in
such as be possessioners of this world? Did
not Chryst send word to Ihon the Baptist

a.iiii.

that the pore receyued the Gospell? And the
Gospel that thei shutte vp from vs, was it
not the writynges of poore fysher men and
symple creatures, euen take~ for the dregges
of the worlde? Were not the setters furthe
of it and the Prophetes also persecuted, tormented
and slayne? And why do these men
disable them for readers of the Scriptures,
that are not indued with the possessions of
this worlde? vndoutely most gratious souerayn
because they are the very same that
shut vp the kyngdome of God before men,
thei enter not them selues nother suffre thei
them to entre that wolde. They are lyke to
a curre Dogge liyng in a cocke of haye. For
he wyll eate none of the heye hym selfe, neither
suffer any other beast that commeth to
eate therof. But some wyl peradue~ture say
they were not all sturdy beggers that were
in the Parlament when this lawe was stablished.
For many of the~, and the most parte
were seculer men. And not of suche habilite
that this lawe would permyt them to haue
the Scripture in their houses: Wherfore,
this lawe is indifferent, and taketh not the
worde of God from vs, but we wyth oure
ful consent haue committed it to them in the
sayde lawe limytted. Where vnto we aunswer,
that if we haue geuen it ouer from vs
to the possessioners of this worlde, we may
well be lykened to the Gedarites Marke. v.
which desired Christ to departe from theyr
cou~try. And the lurking night birdes which
ca~not abyde the bryghte beames of the So~.
We may boldly affirme that what man soeuer
doth wyttyngly and willingly forsake
the knowledge of the lyuely worde of God
the foode of our solles, and lyghte of oure
footesteppes, is none of the flock of Christ
Forasmuch as his shepe heare his voyce, &
reioyce in the same. Did thei that toke their
names of anye Philosopher, shut vp theyr
masters doctrine from them selfe? Did thei
not thynke them selues vnworthy to be named
after their masters, vnlesse thei knewe
their preceptes and rules? Did not the Mo~kes,
Friers, and other the supersticious religious:
employe all theyr studye to knowe
their rules and statutes? Do not the Coelginers
at this daye set the boke of theyr statutes
at libertie, streightlye commaundyng
eche felowe vnder payne of punishemente
to employ them, to haue the through knowledge
of the same? And shold we glory to be
the flocke of Chryst, and to be called of him
Christians, when we do willyngly and wittyngly
exclude our selfe from the knowlege
of the rule which he hathe commaunded vs
to folowe on payne of dampnation of oure
soules? Would your hyghnes thynke that
man were willyng to do your commaundement,
that would not diligently reade ouer
your highnes letters sent from you to certifie
hym of youre wyll and pleasure in hys
office? And what other thynge is the whole

a.v.

Scripture then the declarion of the wyl of
God? Wer it lykely therfore, that we excludyng
our selues from the knowledge therof
shold be willyng to do his wyl? If we haue
therfore reiected this merciful profer of our
moost mercifull father when he vsed youre
hyghnes, as hys instrumente, to publyshe
and set forthe hys moost lyuelycke worde,
wherin is declared the inestimable loue that
he beare towardes vs, in that he gaue hys
onelye sonne to be an acceptable sacrifice
for oure synnes: and the vnspekable mercy
which caused him to accept vs as iust euen
for his sonnes sake without our workes or
deseruinges: let vs now humbly fal downe
prostrate before his maiestye, wyth perfecte
repentance of this the contempte of his mercifull
gyfte. Moost humbly besekinge hym
of his infinyte goodnes, tenderly to beholde
the doloures of our hertes, for that we neglected
so mercifull a profete. And to forget
oure obstinacie ther in geuynge your hyghnes
suche desire of oure saluation, that you
wyll as fauorably restore vnto vs the scripture
in oure english tonge as you dyd at the
fyrst tra~slation therof set it abrode. Let not
the aduersaries take occasion to say the Bible
was of a traytours settinge forthe and
not of your hyghnes owne doynge. For so
they reporte, that Thomas Cromwell late
earle of Essex was the chyfe doer, and not
youre hyghnes, but as led by him. All thys
they do to withdraw the mindes of vs youre
hyghnesses subiectes from the readyng and
study therof. Which thyng doth easely appere
by the diligence they shewe in settyng
forth and execution of your hyghnes proclamatio~s
and iniunctions consernyng the
same. For when youre highnes gaue commaundement
that thei shoulde se that there
were in euery parysh Churche within thys
your highnes realme, one Byble at the least
set at libertie, so that euery man myght frely
come to it, and read therin. suche thynges
as should be for his consolation: manye of
this wicked generation, as well preystes as
other their faythful adherentes, wuld pluck
it other into the Quyre, other elles into som
Pue where pore men durst not presume to
come. Yea, ther is no smale numbre of churches
that hath no Byble at all. And yet not
suffised with the withholdyng of it from
the pore of their owne parishes, they neuer
tested tyl they had a commaundement from
your highnes, that no man, of what degree
so euer he wer, should read the Bible in the
tyme of Goddes seruice as they call it as
though the hearyng of theyr Latin lyes and
coniuryng of water and salte were rather
the seruice of God, the~ the study of his most
holy worde, the onelye foode of our soules,
and lyght of our fote steppes: wythout whiche
no man can walke vpryghtly in perfect
lyfe worthy our name and profession.
This was theyr diligence in settynge forthe
the Byble at your hyghnesse co~maundeme~t
But when your highnesse had diuised a proclamation
for the burnynge of certen translations
of the newe testament, they were
so bold to burne the whole Bibles, because
they were of those mens translations. And
yf your hyghnesse woulde enquire of them
whoe toke the paynes in translatinge the
great byble that your highnes hath authorised
we thynke they coulde not for verye
shame denie but euen agaynste theyr wylles
graunt, that those poore men, whose paines
& great trauayle they haue rewarded with
fire and banishment, were the doers ther of.
See, gratiouse prince, how they play bopipe
with your highnes commaundementes suppressinge
in al that they dare the thyng that
youre highnesse hath authorised, euen as it
were men that loked for a faire daye, which
we trust in the Lorde Iesu, they shall neuer
see. As we herd say, they profered your highnesse,
that if it wolde please you to call in
the bible agayne for as much as it was not
faithfully tra~slated in al partes they wold
ouer see it and with in. vii. yeres set it forth
agayne. A wiles: we think they haue red the
story of a certen man who beynge condemned
to die profered that if he might haue his
life he would doo his prince such a pleasure
as neuer man dyd, for hee woulde wythin
the space of. xiiii. yeres, teach him an ase to
daunce, where vpon he had his lyfe grau~ted
him vpon condition that yf he dyd not performe
his promessed enterprise that then he
shoulde neuer the lesse suffer deathe. Thys
done he was demau~ded of one of his familiers,
why he was so madde to take vppon
him such an enterprise so farre beyonde all
reason and possibilytie. He answered, my
frend, hold the co~tent, I haue wrought wysly,
for wyth in these. xiiii. yeares other the
kynge, I, or the asse, shalbe dead, so that by
thys meanes I shall escape thys reprochfull
and shamfull death: So your byshopes
most victoriouse prince if they might haue
gotten in the bible for. vii. yeres they wolde
haue trusted that by that tyme, ether, youre
highnes shoulde haue ben dead, or the bible
forgotten, or els they the~ selues out of your
highnes reache so that you should not haue
had like power ouer the~ as you haue nowe.
Wel go to we trust ere the. vii. yeres be past
God shall reuaile vnto your highnes much
more of theyr subtyll imaginations then we
are worthy to know of Moreouer, wil your
highnes se howe faythfully they dyd youre
commaundeme~t, when you appoynted two
of them to ouer loke the translation of the
bible. They sayd they had done youre highnes
co~maundement therin, yea they set their
names there vnto, but when they sawe the
worlde som what lyke to wrynge on the other
syde they denyed it, and said they neuer
medeled therewith, causyng the Prynter to
take out theyr names which were erst set before
the Bible to certifie all me~ that thei had
diligently perused it according as your highnes
had commaunded. One other poynt of
theyr dilige~ce your highnes may note in the
settyng forth and vsyng of youre hyghnes
Primer both in Englysh and Latin. And in
the diligent readyng vnto the people, the exhortatio~
to prayer, which you ordeyned and
commaunded to be redde alwaies before the
Proffession in Englysh. We thynk no man
can blameles say, that euer he heard one of
them reade it twyse ouer. Yea, when your
highnes was returned from youre victory
done at Bullyn: they dyd what they coulde
to haue called it in agayne. In so much that
they caused all such parishes as they myght
commaunde: to vse theyr olde Kyre eleyson
agayne. And yet to this daye, thei vse on solempne
feastes to folow theyr olde ordinary
not withstandyng your highnes commaundement.
But whe~ thei katch any thyng that
soundeth to the contrary, it shall not escape
so we warrant you. It shalbe swynged in
euery pulpyt, wyth this is the kynges gratious
wyll, and yet these heretickes wylbe
styll doyng in the Scriptures. A shomaker,
a cobbler, a tayler, a boy not yet. xx. yeres of
age: shal not stycke to reproue that a lerned
manne of. xl. yeares studye shall affyrme in
the declaration of Gods word. O how godly
wer the people disposed, when thei knew
nothyng of the Scripture but as thei were
taught by profound clerkes and well lerned
men? The~ were there hospitals buylded for
the poore. Then wer there Coleges buylded
for the maintenau~ce of lernyng. Yea, if they
durst they would say, then were Abbayes &
Chauntries founded for the realyse of the
pore soules in the bitter payns of Purgatory.
Then were our purses filled with the offerynges
of the deuout people that vsed to
seke the blessed Images, and relickes of our
sauior Christ & of his blessed mother Mary
with the residue of his saints. If your highnes
would rayse vp but one Abbie, Chauntry,
or pilgremage, you shuld easely perceiue
which way thei are bent. We dout not but
for these. vii. yeres folowyng Maso~s occupation
with other belongyng to buyldyng
would be the best handy craftes within this
your royalme. We praye God their subtill
imaginations maye alwaies come to lyghte
before thei preuail, to the hindera~ce of Gods
veritie. And that it may please hym alwaies
to assist your highnes in the defendyng and
settyng furth of the same, to hys glory, and
the soul helth of vs your highnes most faithful
& obedient subiectes. And that you leaue
not of, tyll you haue roted out al these sturdy
beggers, that the pore members of Christ
may haue that porsion to lyue vpon, which
was fro~ the beginnynge apointed for them.
We meane the. x. part of euery ma~s yerly increase.
For though, at the co~myng of Christ
and long before these tenthes were geuen to
the Pristes of the lawe: yet was it not so
from the beginnynge, for at the fyrste, because
the world was not soreplenished with
people but that euery man was a great possessioner:
it was thought good to take of the
best of their increase and to offer it to the liuyng
God in sacrifice, as it appereth by the
storie of Abel and Cain. But whan the people
grewe to so greate a numbre that euerye
man coulde not haue a sufficient porsion to
lyue vpon vnlesse he were able to laboure
and tyll the grounde: Then was it prouided
that euery possessioner shoulde set the tenth
of his yearely increase, in the porche of hys
house, that the lame, blinde, sycke, and diseased,
myght be there releued. This order continued
tyl the time that Moyses by the commaundement
of God gaue a lawe to the Israelites,
and appoynted that a certayne kynred
amongest the~, that is: the Leuites shuld
be alwayes theyr priestes, and mynisters of
the Tabernacle, vnto whom he appoynted
certayne partes of euery sacrifice, that they
myght lyue therby. For as yet there was no
te~thes to be paied, for the~ they were in their
iorney fro~ Egypt, which iorny co~tinued ful
xl. yeres, but after that they wer once settled
in the lande of promesse, and gathered the
fruytes of the grounde, they thought good
to geue the tenthes of theyr increase to the
priestes that ministred in the tabernacle that
they myght lyue ther vpon accordyng to the
wordes of the prophet mal. iii. Bring in eueri
tenth into my barn that ther may be meat
in my house But the~ ther was an other prouysion
for the poore Leui. xxiii. For no man
myght lease, rake, or gleane his grounde after
he had gathered of his croppe. Noo, they
mighte not gather their grapes nor frutes
twyse, but must leue the latward fruit with
the scateryng of theyr corne for the poore to
gather that they myghte haue some relyefe
therby, this order co~tinued to the commyng
of Chryst. After whose commyng, the christian
sort had all thynges commune so that
no man knewe of any increase, for as much
as no man toke anye thynge for hys owne,
Actes. iiii. But when the numbre of christians
encreased so muche that they possessed
hole cyties, cou~treys, & kyngdomes: it was
thought good that euery ma~ should knowe
hys owne to the intent that such as other
wyse woulde haue lyued ydly shoulde therby
be prouoked to laboure, as apeareth by
the rule that saint Paul gaue to the Tessalonians.
ii. Thessaloni iiii. which was thys:
who so laboureth not let hym not eat: yet
was ther no tenthes payd to the ministers,
for Paull wrytinge to the Corinthians. i.
Corin. ix. desireth the~ to be good to such as
laboure in the ministration of the Gospell,
affirminge that it is but mete that suche as
serue the aulter should haue a liuynge therby,

b.i.

and that it were farre vndesent to musell
the oxe that trauaylleth all the daye in
treadyng the corne out of the strawe. Deutro.
xxv. which thinge he neded not to haue
done, yf the tenthes of ech mans encrease
had as tha~ ben geue~ to the~, for that myght
haue sufficed the~ well ynough onlesse they
had ben as gredye as oure ministres bee,
whiche be neuer satisfieth yet after thys
whan the christian religion was thorowly
stablyshed in many congregations, & many
men had laboured ouer the scriptures, they
thoughte good to prouide for the poore impotent
creatures accordigne to the example
of the auncient fathers of the olde lawe.
And bycause they were perswaded that
Christ offering vp him selfe vpo~ the crosse
had ended all sacrifice. Hebre. x. so that the
ministers amonge the~ neded not to bee pestered
with any other thing the~ preaching,
they agreed to adde vnto the preachers another
sort of ministers, which myght supplie
the office of holy Steue~ and the other
which in the primatiue church were appointed
to distribute the goodes of the congregation,
accordinge as euerye man shoulde
stand in neade. Actu. vi. To these men they
gaue the tenthe of theyr yerlye encrease, to
the intent that they shoulde there vpo~ minister
all necessaries, as well to the preachers,
as to the poore impote~t membres of
the churche.
But after that persequutio~ began to sease
& the prechers of the worde of God liued in
peace, and that the people were fully bente
to learne & followe the doctrine of Christe:
they dyd by the preachers: as the Israelites
wolde haue doone by Christe, when he had
fede so many of them wyth so lytle bread.
Jnohn. vi. They made the~ theyr rulers thinkynge
that those men which had broughte
the~ out of the darkenes of erroure, and instructed
the~ in the true knowledge of God
coulde best gouerne the publike weale. And
woulde walke most vpryghtly in example
of lyfe, co~pellinge the people ther by, to embrace
all godlye & honest lyuinge, and to detest
and abhore the co~trari. This was their
inte~t most gracious prince wha~ they gaue
rule to the preachers of Goddes truth and
verite. And in very dede the thinge proued
according to their expectatio~, for a season.
But alasse, after the true shepherdes were
departed out of thys lyfe: there entred into
the foulde most rauening woulfes, of who~
saint Paule gaue vs warnyng wha~ he said
I know for a certenty, that immediatly after
my departinge fro~ you: there shall enter
in amo~ge you certe~ in sheppes clothing, but
inwardly they are rauening wolfes.. Act. xx
The lyke thynge dyd sainte Peter forsee
when he premonished the elders, that they
shold not behaue the~selues toward the people,
as me~ hauing dominio~ ouer the~. i Pet v.

b.ii.

These hierlinges intended not to maintain
& increase the spiritual treasure of the congregatio~,
but to fyl their owne coffers with
golde and vayne treasure, to bringe the~ selues
aboue Kinges and Emperours, yea to
be taken for Goddes vicars vpon earthe.
And that they myght the soner bringe this
their purpose to passe, they persuaded the
people that it should be much more co~uenient
that they had the tenthes & patrimony
of the church as they cal it the~ the deaco~s,
who~ the people had elected there vnto. And
that it shoulde be more beseaming that the
deacones were at theyr fyndinge, then that
they shoulde be at the deacons findinge for
they woulde kepe hospitality for the poore
accordinge as the institutio~ of the Apostles
was that they should, whiche thynge they
could not do onles they had wher withal to
maintain it. By these meanes were the people
sone persuaded to geue vnto the~ not onely
the tenth but certein possessio~s also to
thentent thei might maintayne the more liberal
hospitality for the relieue of the pore
This done all theyr study was to set them
selues so hyghe in the conscience of the people
that they shoulde take all theyr traditions
to be of no lesse authoritie then the co~maundement
of God, to do this they could
find none so ready a way as to name theyr
traditions the lawes of the church. For yf
we beleue that Christe is the heade of the
churche, and that he is God: then muste we
neades graunt that the lawes of the church
be goddes lawes. O diuelish subtiltie, more
then serpentical? what subtyl fouler coulde
haue diuised a more subtyl trayne to bring
the poore simple byrdes into his nette? Certes
yf al the deuels in hell had ben of theyr
cou~sel as we thinke they were they could
not haue co~cluded vpon a more subtil imaginatio~.
Nowe haue they ynough, what neadeth
the~ to seke any further: now may they
co~maunde vs to buylde them goodly churches
with hyghe steaples, & greate belles to
ryng oure pence into theyr purses whe~ our
frendes be dead. Nowe may they make vs
beleue that theyr masses be helpful sacrifices
both for the quick and the dead. Nowe
must we beleue that the popes pardons do
release vs both from payne and faute, but
Christ releaseth the faute only. Now must
we beleue they can make of two creatures
one, that is to say coniure water and salte
that it be made a medicine both for bodye &
soule, and of such force that it may be able
to roote out the deuell him self with all hys
aungels and ministers. Nowe must we beleue
that repe~taunce auayleth vs not onles
we declare all our synnes with the circumstaunce
therof to one of them, and do such
satisfaction as they shal appoint vs to do.
Now can we not denye but that the outragiouse
belowing of a sorte as sodomiticall

b.iii.

buls, myngled with the proud pipyng of organs:
is the seruice of God, and worthy to
be preferred before the redyng and preching
of Gods worde. Now must we beleue that
God wyl not heare our praier onles we be
in fauoure with some of the deade saintes
which wyl be our aduocate. Now must we
beleue that the making and gilting of ymages,
building of abayse, churches, chau~tries
gyldes, hermitages, and gyuinge of boke,
bell, ca~delsticke, basen, yower, crwetes, pax,
chalyse, corporace, vestime~tes, aulter clothes
curtens, hanginges, towels, torches, tapurs,
shepe, sensoures, pixese, coopes, cannebes &
runnyng on pilgrimage: is more acceptable
to God the~ the. vii. workes of mercy. Now
must we beleue that they ca~ not erre, though
they set vp the bloude of a ducke to be honored
for the verye bloude of Christe, thoughe
they made the roode of kente to wagge hys
yies, though they were baudes & fornicators
with the holy whore of kent. We maye not
thinke they ought to marye wyues though
we take the~ dayly abusinge other mens wyues.
We muste not saye that they are rauenynge
woulfes, but the true shepherdes of
Christ, although we see the~ bothe bye & sell
the co~gregacions of Christ, & whe~ they haue
them loke for nought els but what yearelye
rentes may be clearly reased therof. Youre
hyghnes knoweth ryghte well what desyre
they haue to fead the flocke, for it is not yet

286

many yeares sense youre hyghnesse in your
hygh courte and parliament, was by theyre
negligence constrayned, to establishe a lawe,
that vnder payne of a forsayte they shoulde
preache in euery of theyr paryshes foure tymes
in a yeare at the leste, and that none
shoulde haue moe benefices then one, whervpon
he shoulde be reasident. But here they
put your highnes in mynde of all such chapelyns
as do seruice to youre hyghnes, and
to other your nobles of this your realme, besides
other, certein graduates of the vniuersities.
Wherevpon it was prouided, by the
authorite of the sayd parliament, that euery
such chaplayn myght haue many benifices
and be non reside~ce to lye at the vniuersitie
or els where at his pleasure so he wer in any
of your nobles seruice. Oh gratious prince,
here are we your natural, and most obeisa~t
leage people, constrayned to forget with all
humble subiection we speke it that we are
of nature & by the ordinaunce of God your
most bounden subiectes, and to cal to reme~brau~ce
that by our second byrth we ar your
brothers and felowe seruauntes althoughe
in a much inferior ministery in the houshold
of the lorde our God. Most hu~ble beseking
your highnes to forget also in thys poynte
that you are our leage lorde and souerayne,
taking our wordes as a toke~ of the seruent
desire that we your most faithful subiects
haue of your solles saluation. Achabe kyng
of Israel, wha~ he intended to make a viage

b.iiii.

and to take by force the countrey and inhabitantes
of Ramoth Giliade, he caused hys
prophetes to the nombre of. CCCC. false
prophetes, to be brought before him that he
might know by the~ whether the lord wolde
prosper his iorney or not. These false prophetes
standing in the syght of the kynge, &
beinge demau~ded of him whether he sholde
make expeditio~ against Ramoth or not: answered
with one voice, make expeditio~, the
lord shal geue it into the ha~des of the king
iii. Reg. xxii. In lyke maner most dread souerayne
your hyghnes & youre most noble
prodicessours haue alwais co~sulted a great
no~bre of false prophetes, which as Achabes
prophetes dyd: prophesied vnto you lies,
wringyng & wrestynge the scriptures to stablishe
your hyghnes in all such thynges as
they perseyued you be~t vnto. And if at any
tyme anye true Micheas haue prophesied
vnto you the trueth of Gods worde, one
Sedechias or other boxeth him on the cheke
that he re~neth streight into the fyre. So
that hitherto they haue led your highnes in
this detestable erroure that you thyncke it
lawfull for you and your nobles to reward
those false flattering Babiloncall prophethes
wyth that porcion which by the ordinau~ce
of God is dwe to the poore impote~t
creatures the lame, blynde, lazer, & sore me~bres
of Christe, we beseke you most deare
soueraine eue~ for the hope you haue in the
redemptio~ by Christ: that you call to reme~brau~ce
that dreadfull daye wha~ your highnesse
shall sta~de before the iudgeme~t seat of
God in no more reputatio~ the~ one of those
miserable creatures which do nowe daylye
dy in the stretes for lack of theyr dwe porsion
wherwith you & your nobles do reward
those gnatonical elbo whangers your chaplaines.
Yf theyr ministrie be so necessary to
your highnes that you can not lacke them:
yet let not the vnsasiable dogges deuour,
the bread that was prepared for the childre~
let the~ be appoynted lyuinges worthy their
ministration. What reason is it that a surueyer
of bildinges or landes, an alckmist, or
a goldsmith, shoulde be rewarded with benefice
vpo~ benefice, which of very reason
oughte to be committed to none other but
such as through godly lerninge and co~uersation
wer able and would apply them selues
to walke amydes theyr flocke in al godly
example and puritie of lyfe, howe greate
a numbre is there, of theym that vnder the
name of your chaplynes may dispend yerly
by benefices, some one. C. some. CC. some
CCC. some. CCCC. some. CCCCC. yea,
some. M. markes and more. It is a comone
saiyng among vs your hyghnes pore commons:
that one of your highnes chapplene,
not many yeres synce, vsed when he lusted
to ride a brode for hys repast, to cary wyth
hym a scrowle, wherin wer written the names
of the parishes wherof he was parson.
As it fortuned, in hys iourney he aspied a
Churche standynge vpon a fayre hyll, pleasauntly
beset with groues and playn feldes
the goodly grene medowes liyng beneth by
the banckes of a Christalline ryuer garnished
with wyllouse, poplers, palme trees,
and alders, most beautiful to behold. This
vigilant pastoure, taken with the syghte of
this terestial paradise, sayd vnto a seruau~t
of his the clerke of his signet no doubte it
was, for he vsed to cary his masters ryng in
his mouth Robin sayd he, yonder benefice
standeth very pleasantly. I would it were
myne. The seruaunt aunswered. Why syr
quoth he, it is your owne benefice, and named
the Parish. Is it so? quoth your chaplen.
And with that he pulled out his scroule
to se for certentie whether it were so or not
Se most dread souerayn what care they
take for the flocke. When they se theyr parysh
churches they knowe theim not by the
sittuation. If youre highnes had so manye
swyne in youre royalme as you haue men:
would ye commyt them to the kepyng & fedyng
of such swynherdes as did not know
theyr swynsecotes when thei sawe theym?
Oh merciful God how far wide is this our
tyme from the primitiue church. Defer not
moost deare soueraine the reformation of
this mysse: for the day of the Lord is at ha~d
and shall come vppon vs as a thefe in the
nyght. ii. Peter. iii. Disceiue not your selfe
through the false gloses of these flatteryng
Ipocrytes. Turne them out after theyr brethren
the pyed purgatory patriarkes: and restore
to the poore members of Christ, theyr
due portion, which they trusted to haue receiued
when they sawe your highnes turne
out the other sturdy beggers. But alas thei
failed of theyr expectation and are now in
more penurye then euer they were. For, although
the sturdy beggers gat all the deuotio~
of the good charitable people from them
yet had the pore impotent creatures some relefe
of theyr scrappes, where as nowe they
haue nothyng. The~ had they hospitals, and
almeshouses to be lodged in, but nowe they
lye and storue in the stretes. Then was their
number great, but nowe much greater. And
no merueil for ther is in sted of these sturdy
beggers, crept in a sturdy sorte of extorsioners.
These me~ cesse not to oppresse vs your
highnes pore co~mo~s in such sort that many
thousandes of vs, which here before lyued
honestly vpon our sore labour and trauayl,
bryngyng vp our chyldren in the exercise of
honest labore are now constrayned some to
begge, some to borowe and some to robbe &
steale, to get food for vs and our poore wiues &
chyldren. And that whych is most lyke
to growe to inconuenience, we are constrained
to suffer our chyldren to spe~d the flour
of theyr youth in idlenes, bringyng them vp
other to bear wallettes, other eles if thei be
sturdy to stuffe prisons, and garnysh galow
trees. For such of vs as haue no possessio~s
lefte to vs by oure predicessours and elders
departed this lyfe, can nowe get no Ferme,
tennement or cottage at these mens handes
without we paye vnto theim more then we
are able to make: yea, this was tollerable so
long as after this extreme exaction, we wer
not for the residue of our yeares oppressed
with much greater rentes then hath of ancient
tyme bene paied for the same groundes,
for tha~ a man myght within few yeres
be able to recouer his fyne and afterwarde
lyue honestly by hys trauel. But now these
extorsioners haue so improued theyr landes
that they make of. xl. s. fyne. xl. pounde, and
of. v. nobles rent. v pound. yea, not suffised
with this oppression within theyr owne inheritaunce:
they buy at your highnes hand
such abbay la~des as you appoint to be sold
And when they stand ones ful seased therin
they make vs your pore co~mons so in dout
of their threatynges that we dare do none
other but bring into their courtes: our copies
taken of the couentes of the late dissolued
Monastaries, and confirmed by youre
hygh court of Parliament, thei make vs beleue
that by the vertue of your highnes sale
all our former writynges are voyde and of
none effect And that if we wil not take new
leases of the~, we must the~ furthwith avoid
the grou~des as hauyng therin none entred.
Moreouer, when they can espy no commodious
thyng to be boughte at your highnes
hand: thei labour for, and optayne certayne
leafes for. xxi. yeres, in and vpo~ such abbay
landes as lie commodiously for them. Then
do they dashe vs out of countenaunce with
your highnes authorite, makyng vs beleue
that by the vertue of your highnes leas, our
copies are voyde. So that they compell vs
to surrender al our former writinges wherby
we ought to holde some for. ii. and some
for. iii. lyues, & to take by indenture for. xxi.
yeres, oueryng both fynes & rentes beyonde
all reason and conscience. This thinge causeth
that suche possessioners as here tofore
were able and vsed to maintain their owne
chyldren, and some of ours, to lernyng and
suche other qualites as are necessarye to be
had in this your highnes royalme, are now
of necessite compelled to set theyr owne children
to labour, and al is lytle inough to pay
the lordes rent, & to take the house anew at
the ende of the yeres, so that we your poore
commons, which haue no groundes, nor are
able to take any at these extorsioners ha~des
ca~ fynd no way to set our chyldre~ on worke
no though we profer them for meat & drynk
& poore clothes to couer their bodies. Helpe
merciful prynce in this extremite, suffer not
the hope of so noble a realme vtterly to perysh
through the vnsatiable desyre of the possessioners.
Reme~ber that you shal not leaue
this kyngedome to a straunger, but to that
child of great towardnes our most natural
prince Edward, employ your study to leaue
hym a commune weale to gouerne, and not
an Island of brute beastes amongest whom
the strongest deuour the weaker, remembre
that your office is to defende the innocent &
to punysh the oppressar God hath not suffered
al your nobles to distayne their consciences
with this most vngodly oppression.
If your highnes would take in hand the redresse
of these great oppressions, dout ye not
you could lacke no ayde, for he is faythfull
that hath promysed to prosper al them that
seke his glory and the welth of his pore me~bres
in this church mylitant. Contrariwyse
if you suffre his pore me~bres to be thus oppressed
loke for none other then the ryghtefull
iudgement of God, for your negligence
in your offyce and mynistery. For the bloud
of all them that through your neglige~ce shal
perysh, shalbe required at your ha~d. Be merciful
therfore to your selfe, & vs your most
obeisant subiectes. Indanger not your solle
by the sufferyng of vs your poore commo~s
to be brought all to the names of beggers &
most miserable wreches Let vs be vnto your
highnes, as the inferiour membres of the bodye
to their head. Remembre that your hore
heares are a token that nature maketh hast
to absolue the course of your lyfe, preuente
the subtile imaginations of them that galpe
and loke after the crowne of this realme after
your daies. For what greater hope can
thei haue as concerning than detestable and
deuylysh imagination: then that they might
wynne the hertes of vs your hyghnes commons,
by the deliueryng vs from the captiuite
and mysery that we are in? We beseke
God your highnes maye lyue to put awaye
al such occasions, and to se the confusio~ of
all suche trayterous hertes, and that youre
grace my se that worthy Prynce Edward
able to gouerne and defe~d this your realme
vanquishyng all his enemyse bothe far and
nere, as your highnes by the ayde of almightie
God, hath done hitherto. Defer not, most
dread souerayne Lorde, the reformation of
these so great enormities, for the wound is
euen vnto death, if it continue anye whyle
lenger. A prynce welbeloued of his people is
muche more ryche then he that hath houses
full of gold. And yet is he much more ryche
that is beloued of God. For if God bee on
your part: who can preuayle agaynst your
hyghnes? By thys we meane the great and
myghtie abhomination of vyce that nowe
rayneth within this your highnesse realme
this day. For hordome is more estemed then
wedlocke, although not vniuersally, yet amongest
a great numbre of lycensious persons.
Simoni hath lost hys name, and vsery
is lawfull gaynes.
These thinges onlesse they be redressed, wyl
bringe the ire of God vpon the realme. For
what doth it lesse the~ declare vs to be cleane
falle~ fro~ the doctrine of Christ who taught
vs to le~de lokinge to haue no gayne therby?
what example of lyfe is in vs this daye to
declare that we rather, bee the people of god
the~ the iewes or maometanse? Certes most
renomed prince none but that we confesse
hym to be God. And that were sufficient yf
our deedes dyd not denye him, yf the rulers
haue geuen the occasion of these thynges,
alas for them, they had ben better to haue
had mylstones hanged about theyr neckes,
and haue ben cast into the sea, but if the people
haue taken it of them selues: and be not
punished of the rulers, but be permitted frelye
to vse it: the blud of the~ that perish shalbe
requered at the watchma~s hand. Ezechi.
xxxiii. Thus princes are punished when the
people offende. But now most deare souerayne
your highnes may in this matter try
your prelates whether they be of god or not,
for yf they were of God they woulde, accordinge
to the wordes of the prophet, neuer
sease, but openly and with a criynge voyce,
declare vnto the people theyr faultes. Esai.
iviii. and not be hushed wyth an acte in parliament,
for that declareth them to be the setters
forthe of mans tradicyons and not of
Godes lawes, so that this saying of our sauiour
Christ is verifyed in them, this people
honoreth me with theyr lyppes but their
herte is fare from me they teache the doctrines
and commaundementes of men. Math.
xv. But here they thynke to stop oure mouthes
wyth the feare of youre highnesse displeasure,
they say youre highnes lawes are
godes lawes, & that we are as much bounde
to obserue them as the lawe of God geuen
by Moyses. Trueth it is most deare lorde
that we are bounde by the commaundeme~t
of God, to obey your hyghnesse & all youre
lawes set forth, by your hygh court of parliament,
but yf they dissent fro~ or be co~trary
to anye one iote of the scripture, we muste
with Iohn & Peter say. Actu. iiii Iudge you
whether it be better for vs to obeye God or
man. We speake not this because we think
by this, that we may rebel agaynst you, our
naturall prince. But that yf youre hyghnes
would enforce vs by a law to do any thing
co~trary to that god hath co~mau~ded vs that
the~ we ought ma~fully to cleaue to the truth
of Godes word, boldly confessing the truth
therof, fearing nothing the death of this body,
and yet moost humble submittinge oure
selues vnto you, redy to abyde and pacientlye
to suffer what kynde of torment so euer
should be leyd vpon vs knowing for certe~ty
that we are happy when we suffer persecution
for the truthes sake, and that he is
faythfull that hath promessed to be reue~ged
of oure iniuries. But these dombe dogges

c.i.

haue lerned to faine vpon them that vse to
bringe them bread, and to bee wonderful hasty
when they be mantayned and cherished,
but yf they be but ones byde cowche they
know their liripope so well that they draw
the tayle betwine the legges and gette them
selues streyght to the kennell. And the~ come
who so wyll, and do what they wyll, these
dogges wyll stere no more tyll they heare
theyr maister saye hye cut and longe tayle.
So frayd they are of stripes and leste they
shoulde by tyde vp so short that they myght
not raynge a brode and wory now and than
a simple lambe or two. Before it was passed
by acte of parliament that men myghte
take. x. li. by yeare for an ho~dreth pou~d lone:
how vehement were they in the matter? All
theyr sermons were lytle other then inuectiues
agaynst vsery. The~ they could alleage
both Christ and the Psalmist to proue that
Christe~ men ought to lende what they may
spare, & to loke for no gaynes therof. But
nowe they do not onlye holde them selues
styll as concernynge thys matter: but also
they endeuoure to imitat yea and to passe
the example of the extorsyoners, and vserers.
For euen the laste yeare they obteyned
by theyr importune sute: a graunte whych
yf it be not reuoked, wyll in continuaunce
of tyme be the greateste impouirishme~t of
vs your poore commons and chyfly in the
citie of London that euer chanced sence the
fyrst beginnyng therof, they haue obtayned
and it is enacted, that euery ma~ wythin the
sayd cytie, shall yearly pay vnto them accordynge
to the rentes they are charged wyth.
xvi. d. ob. of euery. x. s. so that yf the lordes
of the groundes do double & triple the rentes
as they do in deed the~ most the pore tena~tes
paye also double & triple tenthes as
dwe encrease of their riches, this is not vnlyke
vnto that which is practised in the co~try
amongest vs your highnes poore co~mones.
For whe~ it hath pleased God to punish
vs with the rot of our shepe, so that perhappes
some one of vs hathe hylded. C. shepes
then haue some of the persons constrayned
vs to geue the~. x. of the felles, for they cal it
increase so lo~ge as we sell the~. And therfore
must they as Godes debities take the te~th
therof. Haue co~pessio~ vpo~ vs most gracius
soueraine suffer not these vnsatiable dogges
thus to eat vs out of al that we haue co~sidre
that it is against al reaso~ & conscience,
that we your pore co~mones should be thus
oppressed, that where the la~dlorde taketh of
vs duble & triple rent: that the~ we shall pay
also to the person duble or triple tenthes.
But see moost dere souerayne howe craftely
they haue wroughte thys feate, they requyre
not the tenthes of the lande lordes
that haue the increase, but of the tenauntes
whych of necessity are constrayned to pay
to the lordes theyr askynge other elles to be

c.ii.

without dwellinge places, they know right
well that yf they shoulde haue matched the~
selues with the landelordes, they happelye
shoulde haue bene to weake for them at the
lengthe. But they were in good hope that
we your poore commons shoulde neuer be
able to stande in theyre handes, as in verye
deed we shall not onles your hyghnes wyll
voultsafe to take our cause in hand, for yf
we haue not wherwith to pay the~, they mai
by the vertue of the acte distresse suche implementes
as they shal fynde in our houses
They know our co~ditio~s of olde sence they
toke theyre mortuaries. We had rather in
maner famysh oure selues for lack of fode,
and to make right harde shyft, besydes the~
that we woulde be troubled for anye suche
thyng. And doutlesse most renomed prince
yf the oppression were not to much beyond
all reason and conscience we woulde neuer
haue troubled youre highnes with all. Yea
yf there were any hope that they would be
satisfied by this: we woulde rather fast. iii.
dayes euery weake, then we woulde seame
to be slack in doyng all such thynges as the
lawe byndethe vs to. But we se daylye so
great increase of theyre vnsatiable desire:
that we fear lest in processe of time they wil
make vs all begge an brynge to the~ all that
we can gette. It is no rare thinge to se the
poore impote~t creatures begge at Easter to
pay for the sacrame~t when they receaue it.
And it is no lesse co~mune to se me~ begge for
such dead corpses as haue nothinge to paye
the pristes diuitie. Yea it is not longe sence
there was in your highnes cytie of Londo~ a
dead corps brought to the church to be buryed,
beyng so poore that it was naked wythout
any cloth to couer it. But these charitable
men whiche teache vs that is one of the
workes of mercy to bury the dead, woulde
not take the paynes to bury the dead corps,
onlesse they had theyr dutye, as they call it.
In fyne, they caused the dead corps to be caryed
into the strete agayne, and there to remayne
tyll the poore people, whych dwelled
in the place where the poore creature dyed,
had begged so much as the pristes call theyr
dwe. O mercifull lord, who can be able worthily
to lament the miserable estate of thys
tyme? when those men whiche in all thynge
professe to be the light of the worlde, the teachers
of the ignoraunte, & the leaders of the
blynd, are so fare withoute mercy whyche
Christe preferred before sacrifice that they
wyl not do so much as wast a lytle of theyr
breathe in readinge ouer a fewe psalmes at
the buryall of one of the poore membres of
Christ: onlesse they haue money for theyr laboure?
and whan those persons whom the
other, called spiritual, do compt but as brute
beastes, callynge the~ temporall: shall showe
more mercy, the badge of the christian souldiers,
towardes the poore me~mbres of christ:

c.iii.

then they which glory to be the true prophetes
of Christ, and successoures of the Apostles.
Yea when those paynted sepulcres be
so merciles that they pitie not them, whom
the verye infidelles woulde pitie. Wher is
theyr so litle mercy showed as amo~gest the~?
in so much that theyr couetouse is growne
into this prouerbe? no peny, no pater noster:
For they wyl not do that thyng whych euery
christian is bounde to do for other: onles
they may be waged for money, they wedde
and bury, and synge ful mery but all for money.
If your highnes would call a compt of
them, and cause them to showe the bokes of
the names of them that haue ben buryed, &
maried with in thys yeare conferringe that
nu~bre wyth the summe of money they take
for euery such burial & mariage: you should
easily perseaue howe lytle neade they haue
to oppresse vs with double & triple tenthes,
iudge the~ most victoryouse prince what an
vnresonable su~me the whole & grosse su~me
of these enhanced tenthes wyth other theyr
petty bryburrye draweth to. They receaue
of euery ho~dreth li. xiii. li. xv. s. & of the thousande
one ho~dreth, and xxxvii. li. x. s. then
may youre highnes soone be certifyed what
they receyue of the whole rentes of the citie,
no doute gracyouse prynce they receyue of
vs yearely moore then your hyghnes dyd at
anye tyme whan you were besette on euery
syde wyth mortall enemyes. And yet theyr
conscience woulde serue them wel ynowgh
to take three tymes as muche as they do yf
your hyghnes woulde suffer them. For they
vse to saye that for as muche as it is establyshed
by a lawe they may wyth good conscience
take it yf it were more. Yea yf your
hyghnes woulde suffer them, theyr conscience
woulde serue them to lye wyth our wiues
euery tenthe nyghte, other els to haue
euerye tenthe wyfe in the paryshe at theyre
pleasure. But oure trust is that your hyghnesse
wyll tye them shorter, and to saye the
truethe it is tyme: for yf you suffer them a
whyle they wyll attempt to make your highnes
pay the te~thes vnto the~ as lo~ge as they
haue payed them to you. For they haue already
soughte oute our ware houses, store
houses, stables, wharffes, and barnes, causynge
vs to paye, not onely the tenthe, for
that we neuer payd before: but also the. vii.
peny of the whole re~tes, raised throughout
the whole cytie. Who can iudge other therfore
moost dreade souerayne but that they
wold, yf thei wist how, cause your highnes
to pay vnto the~ not only the te~th of your yerely
reuenues, but also the te~the peny of all
such spoiles as youre highnes shall take in
warres: for they carp much vpo~ Abraha~s geuinge
of the te~th of his spoile to Melchisedech.
wherfor most merciful prince, co~sider
with mercy this pitiful co~plaint of vs your
most faithful subiects, deliuering vs fro~ the

c.iiii.

mouthes of these vnsaciable beastes which
do daylye employ the~ selues to deuoure vs,
our wyues and childerne, euen as we were
fode prepared for the~ to deuoure. Let the order
that Paule toke withe the faythfull of
the primatiue church: take effect in these our
days, the last days of this miserable world.
Let none eat that laboureth not. ii. Thessa.
iiii. Let them also that be called to be preachers,
haue the rewarde of preachers, ouerlode
them not with the possessions & ryches
of this world, for the cares therof do choke
the worde. Let not eche rauenynge woulfe
that co~meth wyth a shepehoke in hys hande
be receued as a shepherde. Let not the simple
lambes of Christ be committed to the tuitio~
of these so raueninge woulfes. Let not the
porcion of the poore be co~mitted of the~ that
distribute not but rather gather and heape
vp coumptynge all fyshe that cometh to the
net. Let the worthy prophetes that walke diligently
in theyr vocacion, be called to the
gouernance of the spiritual flocke of Christ
and let them be repelled that come vncalled,
we meane suche as sue to beare the name of
youre hyghnesse chaplaynes onelye because
they trust to obtayne therby lordlyck liuinges
out of the porsio~ of the poore. Take pity
mooste mercifull prince vpon vs youre
poore, and faythful leage people, take pitty
vppon youre owne soule which shall at the
laste daye be charged wyth all abuses that
your hyghnes suffereth frely to raygne. Beleue
not those gnatonicall adherentes that
wyll not stickt to affirme and denye so that
they may trust to please you therby. Let the~
not perswade your highnes that al is good
that is concluded in your hygh court of parliament,
remembre O howe they ledde your
hyghnes whan you sent forthe your letters
vnder your broode seale streyghtly co~mau~dinge
euery and singuler your highnes subiectes:
vnder payne of youre highnes displeasure,
to ayde, supporte, and forther all
and singular prockters & pardoners. Reme~bre
in what case they had brought iour highnes
whan you thought it godlynes to viset
in your owne parson the graues, images &
relickes of dead saintes, doing to the~ diuine
honour & reuerence. Let them not perswade
you that God is or can be better serued in
the latine tong then in the englysh, consider
what great folly saynte Paull counteth it
for men to pray, which is to talke wyth almighty
God, in a tong they vnderstand not
i. Corin. xiiii. yea and how much greater folly
it is to thyncke holynes in hearynge a tale
told in a straunge tong. Your hyghnes commau~ded
that none should receaue the sacrament
at Easter, but such as coulde and dyd
vse the Lordes prayer wyth the articles of
the fayth in the englysh tong. But they byd
vs vse that which is most ready to vs.
They baptyse oure chylderne in the latyne

c.v.

tong beding vs say, Volo, and, Credo, wha~
we know not what it is that they demande
of vs. By this meane it is broughte to passe
that we know not what we professe in our
baptisme, but superstitiously we think that
the holynes of the wordes whych sound so
straungly in oure eares, & of the water that
is so oft crossed is the doyng of all the matter.
Yea we thyncke that yf our chyldren be
well plunged in the fou~te they shalbe healthfull
in all thery lims euer after, but yf they
by any misaduenture, receyue any hurte in
any of theyr me~bres, incontinent we ley the
faute in the prist, sayinge: that member was
not wel christened. Oh mercifull God what
hert can be able worthely to lame~t this more
then Iewdaical superstition? the thing that
is mere spirituall, we applye whollye to the
flesh, was there euer any vayne ydolatours
that would honour theyr goddes in a language
they vnderstode not? were the monckes,
friers and chanons wyth other superstitious
religio~s, professed in a strau~ge to~g?
is not the othe of obeysaunce that we your
leage people take vnto you, ministred in the
English to~g? And for what other purpose
but that we may therby knowe our mooste
bounden deuitie toward you oure naturall
prince and leage lorde? is it then beseamyng
that we takynge on other of obeysaunce to
the kynge of all kynges, the God of all the
world, and maker therof? shulde not know
what is demaunded of vs nor what we answere
agayne? Yf we hold vs styll as co~cerning
thys more then hell darkenesse: the very
stones of your pallayce woulde make exclamation.
Preuent therfore, most gracious
prince, the yre of God whiche hangeth ouer
thys your royalme. Remember that his lo~g
sufferance shal be recompensed wyth the extremitie
of the punyshme~t. Wherfore, most
worthy prince, we humbly beseke oure heauenly
father the geuear of al goodnes, euen
for the Lord Iesu Christes sake oure sauyoure
and redeamer that he preserue you alwayes
geuinge you grace to walke circumspectly
in your vocation and ministery that
at the last day you may receaue the incorruptible
crowne of glory and reigne with our
elder brother the fyrst begotte~ so~ne of God
the father almighty, to whom wyth the holy
goost be all honore and glory
for euer and euer All true
Englysh hertes saye
Amen.
Psalme. xli.i.
Happy is the man that pitieth the poore
for in tyme of trouble the Lord shal deliuer
hym.