The seconde parte of reformation.

BVt be you reformed in the1
newnes of your vnderstandyng.2
The seconde thyng3
that saynt Paule commaundeth / is4
that we be refourmed in to a newe vnderstandynge /5
that we smelle those6
thynges that be of god. Be we reformed7

B.iij.

vnto those thynges / that are co~trary8
to those I spake of euen nowe9
that is to saye / to mekenes / to sobernes /10
to charitie / to spirituall occupation:11
That as the sayde Paule writeth12
vnto Titus / Renienge al wickednes13
and worldlye desyres / we lyue in14
this worlde soberlye / truelye / and15
vertuously.16
This reformation and restorynge of17
the churches estate muste nedes begynne18
of you our fathers / and so folowe19
in vs your pristis / and in all the20
clergie: you are our heedes: you are21
an example of lyuyng vnto vs. Vnto22
you we loke as vnto markes of our23
direction. In you and in your lyfe we24
desire to rede as in lyuely bokes / how25
and after what facion we may lyue.26
wherefore if you wyll ponder & loke27
vpon our mottis / firke take away the28
blockes out of your eies. It is an olde29
prouerbe: Phisition hele thy selfe.30
you spirituall phisitions / firste taste31
you this medicine of purgation of32
maners: and than after offre vs the33
same to taste.34
The way / wherby the churche may35
be reformed in to better facion / is nat36
for to make new lawes. For ther be37
lawes many / inowe / and out of no~bre /38
as Solomon saith: Nothi~g is newe39
vnder the sonne. For the euyls that40
are nowe in the churche / were before41
in tyme paste / and there is no faute /42
but that fathers haue prouyded verye43
good remedyes for it. There are44
no trespaces / but that there be lawes45
agaynst them in the body of the Canon46
lawe. Therfore it is no nede / that47
newe lawes and co~stitutio~s be made:48
But that those that are made all redye /49
be kepte / wherfore in this your50
assemble / let those lawes / that are51
made / be called before you & rehersed.52
Those lawes I saye that restrayne53

B.iiij.

vice / and those that furder vertue.54
Fyrste let those lawes be rehersed /55
that do warne you fathers / that ye56
put nat ouer soone your handes on57
euery man / or admitte vnto holy orders.58
For there is the well of euyls /59
that the brode gate of holy orders60
opened / euery man that offereth him61
selfe / is all where admytted / without62
pullynge backe. Therof spryngethe63
and cometh out the people / that are64
in the churche bothe of vnlerned and65
euyll pristis. It is nat inoughe for a66
priste after my iugement to construe67
a collette / to put forthe a question / or68
to answere to a sopheme / but moche69
more a good / a pure / and a holy life /70
approued maners / metely lernynge of71
holy scripture / some knowlege of the72
sacramentes. Chiefely and aboue all73
thynge the feare of god / and loue of74
the heuenly lyfe.75
Let the lawes be rehersed / that co~maunde76
that benefices of the church77
be gyuen to those that are worthye:78
And that promotions be made in the79
churche by the ryght balance of vertue /80
nat by carnall affection: nat by81
the acception of persones: wherby it82
happeneth nowe a dayes that boyes83
for olde men / fooles for wyse men / euyll84
for good do reigne and rule.85
Let the lawes be rehersed / that warreth86
agaynst the spotte of Symonie.87
The whiche corruption / the whiche88
infection / the which cruell and odible89
pestilence so crepeth nowe abrode / as90
the canker euyll / in the myndes of91
pristis / that many of them are nat aferde92
nowe a dayes / bothe by prayer93
and seruice / rewardes and promesses /94
to gette them great dignities.95
Let the lawes be rehersed / that commaunde96
personal residence of curates97
in theyr churches. For of this many98
euylles growe: by cause all thynges99

B.v.

nowe a dayes are done by vicaries100
and parysshe pristis: ye and those folisshe101
also / and vnmete: and often tymes102
wycked: that seeke none other103
thinge in the people than foule lucre /104
wherof cometh occasion of euyll heresies /105
and yll christendome in the106
people.107
Let be rehersed the lawes and holy108
rules gyuen of fathers / of the lyfe109
and honestie of clerkes: that forbyd110
that a clerke be no marchant / that he111
be no vserer / that he be no hunter /112
that he be no co~mon player / that he113
bere no weapon.114
The lawes that forbydde clerkes to115
hau~te tauernes: that forbydde them116
to haue suspecte familiaritie with women.117
The lawes that commaunde118
sobernes / and a mesurablenes in apparayle /119
and temperaunce / in adournynge120
of the body.121
Let be rehersed also to my lordes122
these monkes / chanons / and religious123
men / the lawes that co~maunde them124
to go the strayte waye / that leadethe125
vnto heuen: leauynge the brode way126
of the worlde: that co~maunde them127
nat to tourmoyle them selfe in busynes /128
nother secular nor other: That129
commaunde / that they sewe nat in130
princis courtes for erthlye thynges:131
For it is in the cou~cell of Calcidine~s /132
that monkes oughte onely to gyue133
them selfe to prayer and fastyng / and134
to the chastysing of theyr flesshe / and135
obseruynge of theyr rules.136
Aboue all thynges let the lawes be137
rehersed / that perteyne and concerne138
you my reuerent fathers and lordes /139
bysshops / lawes of your iuste and canonicall140
election: in the chaptres of141
your churches / with the callynge of142
the holy goste. For by cause that is143
nat done nowe a dayes / And by cause144
prelates are chosen often tymes more145
be fauour of men than by the grace146
of god: Therfore truely haue we nat147
a fewe tymes byshops full littell spirituall /148
men rather worldly than heuenly /149
fauorynge more the spirite of150
this worlde tha~ the spirite of Christ.151
Let the lawes be rehersed of the residence152
of byshops in theyr diocesis:153
that commaunde / that they loke diligently /154
& take hede to the helthe of155
soules: That they sowe the worde of156
god: That they shewe them selfe in157
theyr churches / at the leaste on great158
holye dayes. That they do sacrifice159
for theyr people: That they here the160
causes and matters of poure menne /161
That they susteine fatherles children162
and wydowes: That they exercise163
them selfe in workes of vertue.164
Lette the lawes be rehersed of the165
good bestowynge of the patrimonye166
of Christe. The lawes that commau~de167
that the goodes of the churche168
be spente / nat in costly byldynge /169
nat in sumptuous apparell / & po~pis:170
nat in feastynge and bankettyng: nat171
in excesse and wantonnes: nat in enrichynge172
of kynsfolke: nat in kepynge173
of dogges / but in thynges profitable174
and necessarye to the churche.175
For whan saynt Augustyne / some176
tyme bysshoppe of Englande / dyd177
aske the pope Gregorie / howe that178
the bysshops & prelates of Englande179
shulde spe~de their goodes / that were180
the offrynges of faythfull people.181
The sayde pope answered and his182
answere is put in the decrees / in the183
xij. chap. and seconde question that184
the goodes of byshops oughte to be185
deuided in to. iiij. partes: wherof one186
parte oughte to be to the byshoppe187
and his householde: An other to his188
clerkes: The thyrde to repayre and189
vpholde his teneme~tes: The fourth190
to the poure people.191
Let the lawes be rehersed / ye and192
that often tymes / that take away the193
filthes and vnclenlynes of courtes:194
that take awaye those daylye newe195
founde craftes for lucre: that besye196
them to pulle awaye this foule couetousnes /197
the whiche is the sprynge &198
cause of all euylles: The whiche is199
the well of all iniquitie.200
At the laste let be renewed those lawes201
and constitutions of fathers of202
the celebration of cou~cels / that commaunde203
prouinciall councelles to be204
oftner vsed for the reformation of the205
churche. For there neuer hapnethe206
nothi~g more hurtefull to the churche207
of Christe / than the lacke bothe of208
councell generall and prouinciall.209
whan these lawes / and suche other210
are rehersed that be for vs / and that211
concerne the correction of maners /212
there lacketh nothynge / but that the213
same be put in execution / with all auctoritie214
and power.215
That ones seinge we haue a lawe216
we lyue after the lawe. For the whiche217
thynges / with al dewe reuerence /218
I call chiefly vpon you fathers. For219
this execution of the lawes / and obseruyng220
of the constitutions / must nedes221
begyn of you / that ye may teache222
vs pristis to folowe you by lyuely examples:223
or els truelye it wyll be sayd224
of you: They laye greuous burdens225
vpon other mens backes / and they226
them selfe wyll nat as moche as touche227
it with theyr lyttell fynger.228
Forsothe if you kepe the lawes: and229
if you refourme fyrst your lyfe to the230
rules of the Canon lawes / than shall231
ye gyue vs lyghte in the whiche we232
maye se what is to be done of our233
part that is to say / the lyght of your234
good example: And we seinge our fathers235
so kepi~g the lawes / wyll gladly236
folowe the steppes of our fathers.237
The clergies and spirituals parte238
ones refourmed in the churche / than239
maye we with a iuste order procede240
to the reformation of the lays parte:241
The whiche truely wyll be very easy242
to do: if we fyrste be reformed. For243
the bodye folowethe the soule. And244
suche rulers as are in the citie / lyke245
dwellers be in it. wherfore if pristes246
that haue the charge of soules be247
good / streyghte the people wyll be248
good. Our goodnes shall teache249
them more clerelye to be good than250
all other teachinges and preachi~ges.251
Our goodnes shall compelle them252
in to the ryghte way / truelye more effectuously /253
than all your suspendi~ges254
and cursynges.255
wherfore if ye wyll haue the laye256
people to lyue after your wysshe and257
wyll: fyrste lyue you your selfe after258
the wyll of god. And so trust me ye259
shall get in the~ what so euer ye wyll.260
ye wyll be obeyed of them / & righte261
hit is. For in the epistell to the Hebrewes /262
these are the wordes of saynt263
Paule to the laye people.264
Obey sayth he to your rulers / and265
be you vnder them. But if ye wyll266
haue this obedience: fyrste performe267
in you the reason and cause of obedience:268
the whiche the sayde Paule269
dothe teache: and it foloweth in the270
texte: that is: Take you hede also271
dilige~tly / as thoughe ye shulde gyue272
a reckenynge for theyr soules: and273
they wyll obey you.274
you wyll be honored of the people:275
it is reason. For saynt Paule writeth276
vnto Timothe: Pristis that rule wel /277
are worthye double honours / chiefly278
those that labour in worde and teachynge.279
Therfore if ye desire to be280
honoured: fyrste loke that ye rule281
well / and that ye labour in worde and282
teachyng: and than shall the people283

C

haue you in all honour.284
you wyll repe their carnall thinges /285
and gether tithes & offrynges without286
any stryuynge: ryghte it is.287
For saynt Paule writynge vnto the288
Romanes / saith: They are dettours /289
and oughte to mynystre vnto you in290
carnall thynges. Fyrste sowe you291
your spirituall thynges: and than ye292
shall repe plentifullye theyr carnall293
thynges. For truely that man is very294
harde and vniuste / that wyll repe295
where he neuer dyd sowe: and that296
will gether where he neuer skatered.297
ye wyll haue the churches libertie /298
and nat to be drawen afore seculare299
iuges / and that also is ryghte. For it300
is in the psalmis. Touche ye nat myn301
annoynted. But if ye desire this libertie:302
firste vnlouse your selfe from303
the worldly bondage / and from the304
seruices of men: and lyfte vp your305
selfe in to the true libertie / the spirituall306
libertie of Christe / in to grace307
from synnes / and serue you god / and308
raigne in hym. And than beleue me309
the people wyll nat touche the anoynted310
of theyr lorde god.311
ye wolde be out of busines in reste312
and peace: and that is conuenient.313
But if ye wyll haue peace / come agayne314
to the god of peace and loue.315
Come agayne to Christe / in whom is316
the very true peace of the gooste / the317
whiche passethe all wytte. Come318
agayne to youre selfe / and to youre319
pristlye lyuynge. And to make an320
ende / as saynt Paule saythe: Be you321
refourmed in the newnes of your vnderstandynge /322
that you fauour those323
thynges that are of god: and the324
peace of god shall be with you.325
These are they reuerent fathers and326
ryghte famous men / that I thought327
to be sayde for the reformation of the328
churches estate: I truste ye wyll take329

C.ij.

them of your gentylnes to the beste.330
And if parauenture it be thoughte /331
that I haue paste my bou~des in this332
sermon / or haue saide any thynge out333
of tempre / forgyue it me: and ye shal334
forgyue a man speaking of very zele /335
to a man sorowyng the decaye of the336
churche: and consyder the thynge it337
selfe / nat regardynge any folisshenes.338
Consider the miserable fourme and339
state of the churche: and endeuour340
your selfes with all your myndes to341
refourme it.342
Suffre nat fathers / this your so343
greatte a getherynge to departe in344
vayne. Suffre nat this your congretion345
to slyppe for naughte.346
Truely ye are gethered often tymes347
to gether but by your fauoure to348
speake the trouthe yet I se nat what349
frute comethe of your assemblynge /350
namely to the churche.351
Go ye nowe in the spirite that ye352
haue called on / that by the helpe of353
it / ye may in this your councell fynde354
out /decerne / and ordeyne those thynges355
that maye be profitable to the356
churche / prayse vnto you / & honour357
vnto god. Vnto whom be all honour358
& glorie / for euer more. Amen.359
360
Thomas Berthelet regius impressor361
excudebat. Cum priuilegio.362