A lytle treatise of the maner and forme of confession, made by the most excellent and famous clerke, M. Eras. of Roterdame

* 1.1BUt thou {per}auenture, good reder, dost loke, that I shulde teache the some forme or ma¦ner of makyng cōfes∣sion / whiche y^u myghtest folowe / to reherse all thy synnes, so as y^u oughtest to do, vnto the preeste. For this vse very many mē haue made lytle bookes / and certeyne haue also put forthe bokes in the vulgare & cōmen langage / reke∣nynge vp what soeuer syn either is cōmitted / or may possibly be cōmitted amonge men. As I do not denye it to be well done, that suche bokes be redde of men that are stronge, by reason of age / & experience of the worlde: so in my iudgement it is ieopardously done, y^t they are sparpled abrode amonge the cōmune people. And moche lyke defaulte do the

preestes cōmitte / whiche do of al maner men demaūde questions, concernyng all maner vices: ha∣uynge no regarde or respecte vn∣to the sexe / vnto the age / or vnto the disposition of the persone / whom they haue in handlynge. And saynt Thomas hath wry∣ten moste copiously and largely of the genealogies of vertues, & of vices. But we do now wryte these thynges principally & most specially for lay men. And ther∣fore a more symple, and a more playne waye and maner is to be soughte. The knowlege of the crede or belefe, and of the cōmaū¦dementes of god, is necessary to lyuynge well: althoughe there were no necessite at all of makȳg confession to any man. These thynges the {per}sones and curates oughte ons a yere, breuely and

plainly do teache vnto y^• people: and also by lytle bokes made out in to the vulgare tonge, to prynt them fast in the myndes of them. Howe be it often tymes to here sermones & preachynges,* 1.2 dothe greatly prepare a man to make a good cōfession / eyther to god / or to man. To the same also doth helpe greatly the redyng of holy bookes.* 1.3 Nowe the heed of all the cōmaundementes is faythe / which worketh by loue. Of loue there is two sortes: the loue of god / and the loue of thy neygh∣bour. Th••se thynges knowen / euery man shall easely and sone perceyue / where he hath declined and swarued from those thīges / whiche belonge vnto fayth, and charite. And faythe oughte not to be lyghte,* 1.4 or fletynge onely in the lyppes: but inwardly & depe¦ly

rooted faste in the herte / that there may with the mouthe con∣fession & knowlegynge be made,* 1.5 to helth & saluation. This fayth consisteth & standeth principally in this / that we do beleue, what so euer thyng the diuine scriptu∣res / receyued by the consent o•• al christē people / do eyther tell and reherse to haue ben done in times passed / or elles do promyse for to be done in tyme herafter to come / or elles do cōmaunde to be done: and that all the whole hope and truste of this present lyfe / and of the lyfe to come / be set in god. But how many thousandes are there of them / that haue profes∣sed the name of Christe / whiche do eyther mystrust / or els doubt of the rysyng agayne of the bo∣dies: and some a••so of the im∣mortalite of soules?

And we do se the moste parte of men / namely of those y^t are pree∣minent and excellent in honours and dignities / to lyue after suche maner & facyon / that either they do seme not to beleue y^e holy scrip¦ture / or elles not to thynke of it. whiche persones, yf they dyd of∣ten tymes amonge ernestly exa∣myne them selues: they shulde fynde & {per}ceyue them selues to be far away from the office & duetie of a christen made. But this is the foūtayne of all synnes. And to haue ben negligent & recheles in this behalfe: is euyn it selfe a great & weyghty offēce or crime. Of whiche thynge, the cōmen sorte of christen men toutchethe nothynge at all / supposyng it to be sufficiēt, yf they do reherse and reken vp theyr dronkēnes / theyr adulteries / theyr theftes / or rob∣beries.

we oughte to pray mo∣che more busily and continually,* 1.6 that god wyll encrease faythe in vs: than that he wyll gyue vs helthe of bodye / or that he wyll graunte vs plentie of corne and vitayles. And y^• sparke of fayth is oftē tymes amōge to be quike∣ned with other exercises & passe∣tymes / as with the study of holy scripture / with y^e cōmunication of good & vertuous men / with holy & deuoute meditations and thoughtes. Certeyne men do confesse, that they do not beleue the crede & symbole of the fayth. Suche cōfession is no sacramen∣tall confession / onles it be made for this purpose, that either they may be taught of the preest, and be conuerted to the fayth: or els that they maye by some maner meanes make satisfaction to the

churche. To haue doubted of y^e faythe / or to beleue but coldely and fayntly / is a matter of con∣fession: not to be without beleue. These two therfore are the two principall squiers or rules / by whiche we muste trie & examyne all the maner and facyon of our lyuynge:* 1.7 I meane, faythe / and charite. And the same two are al¦so the fountaynes / out of which issueth or sprīgeth euery worke, that is pleasaunt and acceptable to god: whiche two foūtaynes / yf either they be corrupted / or els be vtterly wantyng: euyn those thynges / whiche seme to be ver∣tuous, ar vices:* 1.8 neither can that thyng be syn / what so euer spryn¦geth and cōmeth forthe of pure faythe, & true charite: although it haue the semblaunce and appa¦raūce of synne. Contrary wyse,

these persones, are vtterly voyde of faythe, and charite: all theyr lyfe is none other thynge / than one continuall synne (yf I maye so say.) But the cōmen sorte, and moste parte of men, beinge occu∣pied & busyed aboute y^e bowes, and the leues / taketh no hede of the rootes: where as bothe the fyrste / and also the most diligent searche and examination, ought to be made aboute the rootes. There are some mē / which haue set vp a marke vnto them selues, eyther ryches / or worldly glory / or dignite amonge men: & euery man for thētent to hyt his owne marke / do many thynges in ap∣paraunce vertuous and godly: they do gyue ames: they buylde monasteries: they do fyghte for theyr countrey. But whether w^t suche maner good dedes, they do

displease god, let other men l••ke: without doubte, they wynne no fauour or thanke of god.

* 1.9Contrary wyse, those persones, whiche beinge illuminated and lyghtned by faythe / & brennyng in charite / do directe all the ope∣ratiōs & workes of theyr lyfe to these markes / I meane, faythe / and charite: euyn also, whā they do refreshe and conforte theyr bo¦dies with meate & drynke / whan they do refreshe theyr myndes w^t sporte and playe / finally, whan they do slepe: they do wynne or get the fauour of Christe vnto them selues. And there be also founde certeine men / whiche are naturally of suche disposition / that they do helpe no man herte∣ly / but they do measure all thyn∣ges by theyr owne profites and aduauntages: and yet they do

seme free and voyde from great and haynous offences / that is to say / they are no dronkardes / nor whoremongers. They do pray, and are very diligente & deuoute in gods seruice. what nede ma∣ny wordes? bothe they thynke them selues holy / & so also they are reputed of other men.

There is none other disease of y^e mynde more incurable, than is this: and therfore by so moche the more a wyse & discrete gostly father oughte to gyue a diligent mynde to the healynge of suche maner persones: and they do all in vayne flatter them selues / and stande in theyr owne conceypte / as thoughe they loued god for hym selfe / whan eyther they do not loue theyr neyghbour at all / or yf they do loue hym / they do not loue hym for gods sake / but

for theyr owne profites sake. Of these two fountaynes,* 1.10 specially princes and prelates are to be en∣fourmed and taught / whiche do nothīg well, onles they do beare theyr office, and vse theyr aucto∣rite to y^e honour of god, and the profyte of the cōmen weale.

Faythe therfore driueth awaye, and putteth by all those lewde ex¦cusations, whiche the malicious crafte & subtilte of men is wonte to inuente and deuyse. Yf I do gyue any thyng to poore folkes / I shall wante and lacke my selfe. Yf I shall exercise and vse byeng and sellyng, and myne occupatiō or craft, without fraude or gyle / in the stede of gaynes / I shal su∣steyne and beare damage & losse. Suche maner men do playnely mystruste these promyses of al∣myghty god.* 1.11 Caste thy care and

thought vpon the lorde / and he shall nouryshe the.* 1.12 I haue not sene a ryght wyse man forsaken.* 1.13 And fyrst of all seche you y^e kyng¦dome of god:* 1.14 & all these thinges shall be added & gyuen vnto you. Do they suppose y^t god is a lyar / that he wyll not performe those thynges / whiche he hath promy∣sed? Or elles do they wene, that he is impotent, and vnable / that he may not performe his, pmyse? Or els do they trowe / that he is recheles / that he doth not mynde the care of his seruauntes?

This same faythe shall conforte vertuous men / yf the kyndnes of men do not recompence theyr benefites / nor shewe kyndenes agayne / accordyng to theyr de∣seruynges. God is faythfull / & true of his promesse: to whom they haue lente theyr benefites /

he shall rendre and restore them theyr owne stocke, whiche they haue layde forthe, with inestima¦ble encreace and aduātage. But it is cōmenly sene / that those per¦sones / whiche allege suche excu∣ses / do lese and caste away very many thīges, in reuell and ryot / in fleshely luste / and in dysynge & cardynge: to whom euyn that lucre & gaynes also is loste, whi∣che they myghte haue gotten / yf they dyd not loue ydlenes / better than they do lucre & aduantage. Suche maner of men doubtles are shameles: yf they do say, on∣les I dyd vse fraude and guyle / I coulde not lyue.* 1.15 Nowe cha∣rite or loue stretcheth it selfe (as it was sayde before) vnto two thynges / that is to wit / to god / & to thy neyghbour. Here offre them selues vnto vs, thre {per}sons /

the father / the sonne / and y^e holy ghoste / beinge all thre one god / whiche is to be loued aboue all thynges / bothe visible and inui∣sible. But he loueth not god / who soeuer mystrusteth his pro∣myses / who soeuer setteth nou∣ghte by his cōmaundementes / who soeuer maketh any thynge egall vnto hym / or pferreth any thing before hym / that is to say / who soeuer loueth his life better than hym / and who soeuer doth feare lesse to offende & displease hym / than he dothe to dye euyn a thousande tymes. The {per}sone of oure neyghboure stretchethe farre and broode. Here it is to be consydered / whether we haue done our duetie, y^t we are boūde to do / to our wyues / to our pa∣rentes / to our chyldren / to our teachers / to our scholemaisters /

to our pastors or curates / to the prince / to y^e heede officers / to our kynsfolkes / to our frendes / and to those that haue done vs good / breuely, to all christen men. Moreouer / eche man is neygh∣boure to his owne selfe / and no man is more greuously, & more sore hurted / than of hym selfe. Thou haste hurte and appayred thy neyghbours good name: Confesse y^• of it. But thou haste blabbed out thyne owne rebuke and shame / eyther thrugh dron∣kennes / or els thrughe lyghtnes of tonge: wepe, & be sory for it. Thou haste two maner wayes hurte thy neyghbour / that is to wit / thou haste hurte thy selfe / and thou hast also hurte hym / to whom y^u haste blabbed it forthe. He that wyll diligently bethinke hym selfe of all these thynges:

he shall soone call it to remem∣braunce / yf he haue doone any thynge worthy repentaunce. And this thynge shall helpe his remembraunce well / yf he reken with hym selfe,* 1.16 in what places he hath ben conuersaunte & aby∣dyng in y^e meane season / in what businesses or maters he hath ben occupied / and amonge whom he hath lyued and companed. For so by that meane, one thing shall euer brynge another to mynde. There are some men / whiche e∣uyn of theyr owne selues do fet∣che places (as they call them) of makynge confession. For euery synne, either it is cōmitted by the mynde / or elles by some of the fyue senses, or wittes. Unto the mynd do ap{per}tein / fayth / & loue / toward god, & our neyghbour: and the vices contrarye to these /

namely those spiritual vices / en∣uie hatered / wrathe / and desyre of vengeaunce / pryde / hypocry∣sye / yuel wyll / and malyce. And albeit y^t euery synne yssueth and cōmeth forthe from the foūteyne and spring of the herte: yet that notwithstandyng those synnes / whiche apperteyne to glotenye / and riotousnes / to lechery / to vi∣olence / and to doinge iniury, are referred to the senses, and to the membres of the body. The iyes do cōmitte many offences & syn∣nes / and many also do the eares cōmit / many the bellye / and the throte / many the handes / but of all other mēbres / the tonge doth cōmitte moste. For what soeuer synnes are done of all the mem∣bres, in diuers & sundry maners and facyons / and all those offen∣ces dothe the tonge alone cōmit.

The tonge casteth forth blasphe¦mies* 1.17 against god / y^e tonge backe byteth and speaketh yuell of the neyghbour / the tonge departeth and breaketh in sundre amiable peace, and cōcorde / and styrreth vp cruell and deadely bataylles or warres. The tonge ioyneth and bryngeth together foule and synfull louers / and plucketh in sundre holy and vertuous loues and frendeshyppes. The tonge with flaterynge / with backeby∣tynge / and sclaunderynge / with fylthy and rybauldous cōmuni∣cation / dothe infecte and poyson pure & clene myndes. The tonge without eyther swerde, or poy∣son / kylleth and sleeth bothe bro∣ther and frēde. what nedeth me to make many wordes? This tonge teacheth heresies / and of of christen men maketh antichri∣stes

and aduersaries to Christe. These thȳges I suppose are suf¦ficient for lay men to thexamina¦tion of theyr consciēce: so y^t they do knowe the cōmen crede / & the sūme or effecte of the doctrine of the gospel. Now, y^t I may adde somwhat (rather for cause to put men in remēbraūce, thā to teache them) vnto those thynges / whi∣haue ben very copiously & large∣ly taughte of diuines / cōcerning the circūstaunces of synnes / con¦cernynge omission, & restitution. They do syn, who soeuer, to thē∣tent y^t they wolde knowe the {per}re∣ners & felowes of him y^t maketh his cōfessiō / do enq̄re & demaūde of those circūstaūces,* 1.18 wherby the {per}sons also may be knowē. And no man ought to vtter & disclose the synnes of other men to the preest: yf it may by any meanes

be eschewed & auoided. For other whiles it can not be auoided / but thou must nedes vtter & bewray the {per}sone / as for exāple: Yf any woman haue lyen with her own father: Or yf any man haue pro¦uoked his prince to vniuste and wrongfull batayle. Here in this case, they do coūsell to seke suche a preest / whiche doth knowe ney¦ther of both {per}sones / or at y^• least wyse, not the {per}tie / whiche thou woldest not to be discouered. Agayne, in those synnes / whiche are cōmitted thrugh fleshely lust, & lechery / certeyn men of a leche∣rous curiosite & desyre of know∣lege / do enquere, & demaūde such thīges, as ar not mete, nor ought to be demaūded. For likewise as he, which hath had carnalli to do w^t a woman / doth very well and ryghte / to adde & shewe further /

whether he hath cōmitted adul∣tery with another mānes wyfe / or els incest w^t a nunne / or whor¦dome with a cōmon harlotte / or fornication w^t a syngle woman / or elles rape with a virgin: euyn so it is nothynge nedefull to re∣herce and shewe al the formes or maners and facyons of doinge the fleshely acte / whiche doth not chaunge the kynde of the synne. But here oftētymes they do leue out the circunstaunces / whiche are more apperteinyng to y^e pur∣pose / than are these cōmen circū∣staūces. They make a distinctiō and se{per}ation betwene adultery, and sengle fornicatiō:* 1.19 but often¦tymes by reasō of their circūstaū¦ces / fornicatiō is moch more dea¦dely offence / than adultery. For that man dothe lyghter offence / whiche by chaunce, thrugh occa∣sion

falleth in adultery / thā doth he, whiche lyinge a longe season aboute an honeste and a symple virgin, comen of honest parētes / and purposed and appoynted to an honest mariage / and by longe cōtinuaūce w^t malicious craftes and meanes / prouokyng & temp¦tyng her to folye / at the last doth defile her: & whan he hath done, afterward makyng his vaunte & boste of his synfull dede / bryn∣geth her in infamy, and an yuell name / and also maketh her com∣mon to other men. whiche thȳg to certeyne courtiers, semeth also a propre and a mery passetyme. Also that man doth lesse offence / whiche fyndynge a thynge by chaunce in a halowed place / ta∣keth it awaye secretely, whan he is in nede & necessite: than dothe he / whiche without any necessite

or pouerte cōstraynyng hym / en∣treth in, in the nyghte tyme with weapon in to another mannes house / and robbeth the coffers of a lay man: or elles, whiche doth robbe a poore man / whiche had moche a do w^t his bodely labour, to fynde his wyfe, and a greatte many children. Neyther is only consideration and respecte to be had of the tyme / of the persone / & of the place: but also a regard is to be had vnto y^e malyce of the mynde / vnto the greatnes of the temptation. Furthermore, vnto howe many the hurte of one syn doth come / & how many do take harme therby / as for example. Yf one doth kyll a man / of whose coūsayles y^e whole cōmon weale dyd hange: he dothe with this one synne hurte many men. Or yf one doth counsell and moue a

prince vnto tyranny and cruelte.

NOwe as touchynge y^e syn of omission / and also trās∣gression / a greatte parte of men dothe esteme and iudge them by the constitutions of men / as for example.* 1.20 Yf a man dyd not here masse on the sonday: or els dyd eate fleshe on the frydaye. But those omissiōs are more greuous and weyghtie / whiche are con∣trary to the cōmaundementes of god: as yf a man, whan he hath gotten and founde occasion to helpe, & succurre his neyghbour / haue nothynge regarded it / but lefte it vndone. Also he dothe more greuously offende & synne / whiche enuieth his neyghbour: than dothe he / whiche dothe not refrayne from eatynge of fleshe on the frydaye. And the omission is the more greuous /

yf it be so, that the leanynge of the good dede vndone, be ioyned with y^e great hurte of his neigh∣bour. For that man kylleth his neighbour / who soeuer seeth him in ieo{per}die of his lyfe: & whan he myght saue his lyfe, wyll not do it. Agayn, the omissiō is y^e more greuous offence / whan malyce or wyckednes succedeth in to the place of the good worke / whiche he ought of duetie to haue done. As for an example.* 1.21 The sonday was īstituted & ordened for this entent / that a man shulde by lay∣sure, hauīg rest from other bode¦ly occupations / examine & serche his owne conscience / & reconsile hym selfe to god: and that by de∣uoute contēplatiōs / by prayers / by heryng sermons / by holy and godly cōmunicatiōs / or by holy redīges / he shulde styrre vp cha∣rite

and loue towardes god, and towardes his neyghbour. Here they do twyes offende / and do cōmitte double synne / whiche do spende and passe forthe y^e whole daye / with folyshe playes / with whordome / with dronkennes / with rybauldous cōmunication, and fylthye tales / or els w^t bral∣lynge also and fyghtynge. And with this synne do they specially and principally offende / whiche are highe aboue in auctorite or dignite / as princes / byshops / {per}∣sons / curates / abbottes / cōmen officers / and householders. For these persones rehersed / as they do not synne / but to the hurte of many men: euyn so they can not ceasse, & be slacke in doinge theyr office / but to the hurte of many men. For it is not sufficient and ynoughe for the Pope / * 1.22 yf he do

not hym selfe styrre and rayse vp warres and bataylles betwene prynces: but also it shall be re∣kened in steade of a great synne to hym / excepte he haue studied and laboured to the vttermoste of his power, to allaye & ceasse the warres alredy rysen vp or be¦gonne.* 1.23 So lykewyse it shall be layde to a princes charge / not on¦ly yf he do spoyle or oppresse the cōmon welthe: but also, yf he do not exclude vniuste officers, that ministre not iustice egally and in differētly / or suche as otherwyse are oppressours of the cōmen li∣bertie / whā it lyeth in his power to do it. But than it shall be dou∣ble synne: yf beinge corrupted either w^t money / or w^t some other affection / he shall bothe wittyng and ware therof / cōmit an heed office to a leude & a noughty per∣sone.

So lykewyse the byshop doth double offence & syn / * 1.24yf not onely hym selfe be not diligent & busye to make his flocke better / but also by his yuell doctrine / or els by his leude and noughty ly∣uyng, doth make his flocke more corrupte: or els being corrupted with some croked affection / he doth wittingly cōmit the charge and ouersyghte of his flocke to an vnable and vnworthy {per}sone. In asmoche as these thȳges are thus / he that is a prince, or a bys∣shop, ought not to be ydle or ne∣gligent & recheles: but at euerye occasion to be diligent and busy to profite & do good. Howe be it euery man also, priuately and se∣uerally, oughte to do theyr ende∣uoire to the same / that yf they be able / they maye, whan occasion is offered / do good to their neigh¦bour /

the riche man w^t his good / the lerned lerned man with his auctorite / the eloquēt man with his eloquence, & good & goodly vtteraunce / the olde man with his reuerence / the gracious and welbeloued man w^t his fauour / the yonge mā with his industrie and witty diligēce. Yonge men do shryue them of the frayes and braule / or of the whordome that they haue cōmitted: but they do speake neuer a worde, how that they haue suffered so moche of theyr youthe to passe awaye vn∣profitablye, and without frute / whan they had occasion to lerne those thynges / whiche myghte stāde them in steade all their lyfe tyme. In these thynges therfore a man may fynde often tymes fo¦lyshe iudgementes, and quite out of ordre / bothe of theyr {per}te that

maketh confession / and also of theyrs, whiche do here cōfession. Yf a prince do confesse, y^t he hath kylled a man w^t his owne hāde: in dede he doth cōfesse a greuous cryme. For it becōmeth the lyfe of a prince to be in euery poynte inculpable, & blameles. But the same paraduenture doth not cō∣fesse and shryue him selfe / that by the reason of the bataylle / which he hath begon thrugh ambitious¦nes, or wrathe / so many innocen¦tes are slayne / so many men vn∣deseruynge it, were spoyled of theyr good. Finally, y^t so many abhominable synnes, not to be named, are cōmitted and done. He cōfesseth it, yf haply he haue, contrary to ryghte, vsurped any mānes goodes: but he doth not confesse, that wittyngly he doth selle the office of Escheter / to a

man, openly knowen for a raue••nour, & extorsioner / and vnright wyse / by whom he knowethe well, y^t innumerable people shall be spoyled, & robbed. Here it is to be considered / what is euery mānes propre office and duetie: and therof is y^e synne of omission to be estemed. The peculier and propre office be••ongynge to a byshoppe is,* 1.25 to feede his flocke with holy doctrine. But parad∣uenture he dothe neyther feede them hym selfe / neyther dothe gyue diligence to prouide y^t they may haue able & mete pastours: but eyther for lucre, or els for fa∣uour / cōmitteth y^e cure & charge of the soules, to vnworthy per∣sones. He passeth not vpon it to make confession herof: but cōfes∣seth hym selfe parauēture of his harlot / or of leauynge his euen∣songe

vnsayde. Lykewyse the propre office & duetie of a prince is,* 1.26 to prouide that no wronge be done to any man / to maynteyne and vpholde the cōmen libertie and trāquilite. But here he, spea¦kynge no worde of so many and so haynous iniuries & wrōges / whiche are done by his cōmaun∣dement / or at y^e least wyse by his negligence and ouersyghte / con∣fesseth, that he hath some day not herde masse / or els, that he hath lefte his matens / or euensonge / or some of the houres vnsayde. But these were not the peculier and propre defaltes and synnes of princes. For this maner is cropen in nowe a dayes in to the courtes of certeyne princes / that they do euery daye saye ouer the whole seruice of the day / as the preestes do: & in the meane tyme

are sure, y^t no man shall trouble them, nor breake them of theyr prayers. For who dare be so bold to trouble a prince / or speke to hym / whan he is occupied in his prayers? I do not discōmēd nor disalowe deuotion and holy¦nes in a prince (yf it be so, that de¦uotion and holynes doth stande in these thynges:) but I do dis∣prayse it / yf they trustȳg to these thynges / do neglecte and leaue vndone those thynges / whiche specially & proprely were apper∣teynynge to theyr office. There are so many wydowes / and so many fatherles children / whiche are oppressed wrongefully / and agaynst all lawe & ryghte: there are so many poore men / whiche do suffre many piteous and cruel wrōges. God is not angry nor myscontented with a prince / yf

for suche causes he shal suffre his prayers to be troubled & broken of / yea euyn the hearynge of his masses also: For always, and in all thynges, mānes constitution oughte to gyue place to a more perfecte worke or dede of charite.* 1.27 Therfore the principall & chefest studie & care of the preest oughte to be / y^t he may knowe in what state of lyfe he is, that makethe the confession. And for asmoche as he that is cōfessed, doth speake to god by the preest (as certeyne men haue sayde, and not amysse) there oughte to be ryghte iudge∣mentes, as beinge before god / whiche iudgeth all thinges after the affections of the myndes. But nowe the most parte of men do greatly esteme & make moche of these thynges / whiche are be∣longynge to the fleshe, and to the

ceremonies: and very lytle or no thynge do regarde these thīges / whiche are belongynge to y^• spi∣rite. Agayne, those thīges whi∣che are instituted and ordeyned by men / they do greately set by: but those thynges / whiche are cōmaūded of god / they neglecte, and make lyghte of them. For who dothe not execrate and ab∣horre it / yf a preeste go with his crowne vnshauen? But no man abhorreth it / yf he do fynde a preeste dronken, and fyghtynge in the stewes•• who dothe not haue a monke or fryer in abhomi¦natiō / yf he do weare a lay man∣nes garmente? But howe it is accompted and taken but for a play and passetyme / yf a monke / or a fryer / abyding in his habite / be a whoremayster / be dronken / doth subuerte other mēnes hou∣ses /

doth exercise and occupy neo¦cromancy / and suche other artes magycke. It is taken and ac∣compted for an horrible o••fence and synne / yf a preeste shul••e go to masse / or saye his matens / be∣inge not fastynge: But it is ac∣compted for a sleyghte mat••er, and for a very tryfle / yf a preeste do go to the aulter to do masse / his brother not beinge reconsi∣led / whom he hath offended and hurte. Though a cause coulde be shewed, whye and wherfore men do punyshe more greuously those thynges / whiche are more sleyghte, and of lesse weyghte: yet doubtles in confession there ought to be strayghte and ryght iudgementes.

* 1.28NOwe y^e very course of our speche hath brought vs to the mention of restitution / con∣cernyng whiche, I do not {pro}fesse or promyse / that I wyll teache any newe thynge: for asmoche as this matier hath ben treated and tossed of diuines in many & huge volumes. Only I wyll ad¦monyshe and gyue warnyng / in what point very many vnlerned men do amysse / & are ouerseen. Concernyng making restitution of money, or of a garment / they are wondersly carefull and trou∣bled in theyr conscience. But he, whiche with pestilent and poy∣soned communication hath cor∣rupted and venomed y^e myndes of symple persones / he whiche with his venomous tonge hath takē away from his neighbour, quietnes and reste of mynde / he

whiche with backebytynge and sclaunderous wordes, hath ap∣payred & hurte his neyghbours fame & good name. They whi∣che with leude and vngratious counsayles / haue prouoked and styrred vp princes / or the people vnto warres: these persones (I say) do thynke but lyghtely and sleyghtly of makyng restitution and satisfaction for y^e hurte and damage, that they haue done: & yet for all that, many men do set more by theyr good name, than by theyr lyfe: neyther is there a∣ny thȳg, wherin restitution hath more conuenient place, & ought more to be made than here. But in these thynges (they saye) it is scarcelye possible at any tyme to make restitution. Uery trouthe it is / & therfore by so moche the more they oughte to labour and

••o aboute to make restitutiō as farre forthe as they may: & they ought alwayes to be sorye, that they can not make restitutiō per∣fectly, and to y^e full. Nowe there are certeyne vnthrifty and leude courtiers,* 1.29 whiche thynke, y^t they haue made a fayre and a goodly amendes to the mayden whom they haue defyled, yea and often tymes also after that they haue defyled her thē selues, haue made her cōmen to other: they thynke (I say) that they haue gayly re∣compensed the losse of her virgi∣nite, and honesty / if they do at the last bestow her vpon some felow in maryage, and gyue some lytle somme of money w^t her: yea and in a maner they do thynke, that them selues ar worthy rewarde, for that the yonge damosell hath goten an husbande, what maner

one soeuer he be. In dede she is maryed / but to a simple, and god wote what maner a {per}sone: whi∣che beinge a clene mayde / and of good name / shulde haue ben ma∣ryed to an honest & a worshypful {per}sone. Neyther dothe maryage wipe away the blotte of her yuel name. O goodly & propre satis∣faction & amendes: and yet some men trusting & being bolde here∣vpō, do cōtinue & holde on to cor∣rupte & defyle mo, one after ano∣ther. Howe be it euyn in those thīges also / which do only make vs poorer. Certeyn thynges are done so cōmenly, & euerywhere / y^t by y^e reasō of custome / they do not seme to be any thefte at all. And of this defaute cōmēly ar dispray¦sed al artificers and craftes men welnere / which haue y^e hādeling and ordrīg of other mens stuffe:

but specially and chiefly myllers,* 1.30 and tayllers:* 1.31 in so moche that it is a prouerbe also cōmenly sayd / that euery man is a thefe in his owne occupation and crafte. But amonge those y^t are of this sorte, they do mooste greuouslye syn / whiche do corrupte meates and drynkes / and the vitaylles ordeyned for the sustētation and nouryshement of mannes body / as for example.* 1.32 They whiche do corrupte and marre wyne / either by powryng water in to it / or els by puttȳg in alume / lyme / brym∣stone / salte / and suche other vn∣holsome thynges: for these per∣sones do not only steale a mānes goodes / but also they do myny∣she and hurte the helth of the bo∣dy / and they are not farre away from poysonynge of men. For how many sicknesses & diseases /

howe many dethes do we se by experience to ryse and sprynge a∣mōge men of wynes corrupted? And yet for all that, this is ac∣compted but a playe and a iape. Neither do they begyle any man more gladly / than suche as were in no wyse to haue ben disceyued. For brotherly charite dothe re∣quire this / that y^e equite & good conscience of the seller shulde suc¦cour & helpe suche byers / whiche for lacke of skyl & knowlege, can not certeynly iudge of the ware. But nowe a dayes, howe many shall a man fynde / whiche dothe not at euery occasion go aboute to get lucre, with fraude & gyle? And so though we do all lyue w^t tearinge eche other in peces: yet do we for all y^t thynke our selues christen men. And these thȳges, bicause they be tourned in to a

cōmen custome, we do not so mo∣che as ones confesse at all: or yf we do confesse them, we reken it su••ficient and ynoughe, to haue tolde to the preeste what we do. Besyd this, who are more boūde to restitutions / than great ryche men, and mē of power? And yet to those men restitutiō semeth to apperteyne nothynge at all.

They ronne to compositions.* 1.33 I do not condēpne nor disalowe what soeuer maner of remedye: But I feare me lest god wyl not ratifie and allowe many of the compositions, that are made a∣mōge men. They say, that they shulde not haue wherof to fynde theyr wyues and theyr children / yf they dyd restore all suche thin∣ges, as they haue wrōgfully ta∣ken away from other men. But by rauynes and extorsions, they

were made great estates / & haue aduaunced and promoted theyr kynnesfolkes and frendes / they lyue gorgiously in pompe and su¦perfluite. If they be in very dede repentaunte and sorye for theyr offences and mysdedes: let them forsake and gyue ouer harmefull and damagefull dysynge and car¦dynge / and suche other ryotous gamynge: and in steade of ryot / excesse / and waste / let them exer∣cise frugalite, and temperaunce / let them exercise husbandrye / or some other honeste worke. By this meane it shall be brought to passe / that they shall haue, wher∣of they may make restitution. Let them teache and brynge vp theyr chyldren to the same thyn∣ges. whan they haue done all these thynges diligently, to the very vttermoste of theyr power:

than that that shalbe wantynge vnto theyr goodes / the composi∣tion {per}aduēture shall supply and make vp. Certeyn men do thus excuse them selues / sayinge, that the parties are deed, whom they haue deceyued and beguyled of theyr goodes: yea but yet y^e hey∣res of them are lyuynge. Other some agayne do say, that they do not knowe the {per}ties whom they haue robbed / but in y^e meane sea∣son they do labour and go about to know them / and they suppose and beleue them selues to be safe and quite out of ieopardie / yf w^t a lytle money they do purchace and bye iustifieng of their good.* 1.34 Those persones that do iustifie yuel goten goodes / why do they not by the same reason aswell iu∣stify adultery and māslaughter? For a lytle money euyn those per¦sones

also do compoūde & make theyr ende / whiche haue robbed churches or monasteries.

Can than these persones also be ignoraunt / to whom they shuld make restitution? But they are affrayde to brynge them selues in to an yuell name. They ought than to haue feared this thyng / whan they wente aboute to do that myscheuous dede. Howe be it euyn here in this thyng also is some remedy: Let them make restitution by some suborned per¦sone / whom they knowe ryghte well to be faythfull and trustie. To conclude, yf we do receyue and allowe suche maner excusa∣tions: I do thynke and iudge it to be y^e surer way / y^t suche money be gyuen to poore folkes / rather than to cōmissaries. Moreouer, there are certeyne kyndes of ra∣uynes

and theftes / whiche fewe men do confesse / so farre of is it,* 1.35 that they do not thynke of ma∣kynge restitution. Suche thyn∣ges as I do meane / are specially and chiefely cōmitted in pactes / couenauntes / and bargaynes. I was presente at dyner / where a certeyne persone, one of y^e com∣pany, dyd bost & make his vaūte, that he had solde an horse for .vj. aungell nobles / whiche he con∣fessed not to be worthe .vj. pence. Do not vinteners & tauerners euery where,* 1.36 nowe a dayes / to those y^t can not skylle of wynes / selle one wyne for another: as wyne of altissiodore, or spanyshe wyne / for gascoigne wyne / or wyne of Louaine, in steade of Renyshe wyne / and small wyne vnmeasurably allayed with wa∣ter / for a full and pure wyne of it

selfe? who amōge all these that thus done / hath any purpose or mynde of makynge restitution: albeit that it is very rauyne, and robbery that they do? Is it not accompted & taken now a days, for a play & a good sporte / to sell a dogges skynne,* 1.37 for a skyn of some fyne and costly furre: or to sell clothe dyed w^tout purple and vngrayned, for scarlet in grayn? who is he, y^t of an vnskylled byer or chapman / wyll not get foure tymes y^e price & value of y^e thyng that he selleth, yf he can? I know what men of lawe do say / y^t the seller is not bounde alwayes to make warrātyse, & to make good the defaulte of the thyng / which he hath solde? But yet suche {per}∣sons are not assoiled & quite by y^e lawe of y^e gospell / whiche sayth:* 1.38 do not y^• thyng to another man /

whiche thou woldeste not to be done to thy selfe.* 1.39 what aduocate or man of lawe dyd euer cōfesse / that thrugh his either negligēce, or els crafte / the sueter hath loste his possession?* 1.40 what shall I say nowe of souldiours / whiche do excuse all maner of synne & mys∣chiefe, by the lawe of batayle or armes? But it is the lawe of the deuyll / and not of bataylle.* 1.41

Lykewise carters and shypmen / whiche haue taken vpō them the cariage of wynes from one place to another / * 1.42 do as it were by a certeyn libertie and lawe of their owne / drawe out and drynke as moche as they lyste / and that of the best: and in steade of excellēt good wyne, do poure in noughty water: whā otherwhyles that / whiche is delyuered them, is ca∣ryed to a sicke & diseased persone.

whiche of them doth cōfesse this as thefte? whiche of them thyn∣keth of makynge restitution? Bycause this sorte of men are harde necked / stubburne / & stur∣die / y^e preest ought in confession, not only to admonyshe and gyue them counsell: but also sharpe∣ly to rebuke them / and vtterly to plucke out of theyr herte / which they are wont to allege for them selues. They saye, that it is the lawe or libertie of carters, & ma∣ryners, in vitaylles / and y^t they do so all. But this lawe is wry∣ten in the tables of y^e deuyll / and not amonge the lawes of Christ. And taylours haue also foūde a colour,* 1.43 to excuse them selues. The stuffe (say they) is put forth to vs, that we shuld therof make an honest garment. Nowe, that wyll a good workeman, better

make of foure yardes: than an vnconnynger workeman of mo yardes. The ouerplus therfore, that is spared and lefte, is the re∣warde of his connyng & crafte: and y^e owner, y^t putteth forth the garment to the makyng, is satis∣fied / contented / & pleased. After this facyon, no man shal hange a thefe / neither, if he, y^t is pe••hed & ēdited, myght be his own iudge / & gyue y^e sentence his owne se••fe. Let hym y^t put forthe y^e stuffe, be asked the questiō / whether he do thīke & iudge him selfe satisfied? I passe ouer goldesmythes / and certeyne sellers of precious sto∣nes / whiche do corrupte y^e stuffe that is betake them / w^t mengling of other worse stuffe / & whiche dymynyshe of that, whiche they haue receyued / & whiche do selle coūterfait stones / in steade of ve¦ry natural pretious stones. And

it is maruaile, y^t here in this thīg euyn y^e ciuile also do slepe: which do cōdēpne a poore thefe to y^e ga∣lowes / which hath pyked out .v. grotes of a mās purse, retchelesly kept, & lyinge at large. In these thȳges, wherof more hurte & da∣mage cōmeth to y^e cōmen welth: it were conuenient otherwhyles, to gyue some exāple, by the soore punyshement of one / wherby o∣ther may be feared awaye from doinge of the lyke. As for suche thinges as do happen in the cor∣rupting & the valuing of coines / bicause they do ap{per}teyne to prin¦ces and rulers, I wyll saye no∣thing at this tyme. In our boke of a christen prince, we haue tou∣ched somwhat concernynge this matter. I come nowe to them / whiche do let forth theyr worke or labour,* 1.44 according to the quan¦tite and measure of the tyme.

These persones do not thynke, that they do cōmit thefte / yf they do fynyshe the worke that they haue taken in hande foure dayes space / whiche they myghte haue made an ende of in one day: and in the meane while, they be fedde with another mānes meate / and take theyr whole wages for eue∣ry daye / accordynge to promyse and couenaūt. Neyther do they thynke that they make any lye / whan they do promyse that they wyll do that thyng / whiche they do not perfourme. And how do they (trowe you) excuse their lea∣syng? This is a poynt (say they) of our occupatiō & crafte. Naye, it belōgeth to theyr occupation, truely and faythfully to do that thynge / whiche theyr crafte pro∣myseth to be done / and not to lye or steale. But yet poticaries and

phisions do more greuously of∣fende / than* 1.45 do these {per}sones now rehersed / which haue a prouerbe amonge them, quid pro quo, one thynge for another. They do o∣therwhyles sell this thynge, for that thȳg / they do minister stuffe that is rotten, and without any vertue or strengthe / yea & nowe hurtfull / in steade of remedy and helpefull medecine. The byer asketh for rebarbarum / and they do gyue hym rebarbarum aboue fortye yeres olde. There is no spice / no gumme / not onely there is no roote / none herbe / of so du∣rable and vertue and strengthe / but in longe processe of tyme, the vertue of it wyll be quite gone & lost. But they do say / yf we dyd not mengle olde stuffe and newe together / & so vtter the one with the other / we shulde els be starke

beggers / & myghte famyshe, for all our occupatiō. I say, it were euyn better also to die / than vnto thy sicke brother (whom y^u ough¦test euyn freely without money to succour) for to ministre that thyng, whiche shall augmēt and encrease his disease / yea or para∣uēture also be cause of his dethe. The defaulte & offence of the po∣ticaries, redoūdeth also to y^e phi∣sicions. And here in this thynge it were ryghte & accordyng, that the cōmen officers & gouernours of y^e cities, or cōmen weales, dyd theyr diligent cure and busynes. Charite byddeth, y^t in the tyme of necessite & nede, we shulde suc∣cour & releue our poore and nedy brother. And yet certeyn men do thynke them selues to be good christians: whiche do enhaūce & augment y^e price of theyr wares /

accordyng to y^e greatnes of their brothers necessite. Some man hath a pome granate / whiche {per}∣auēture stode not him in an halfe peny / his neyghbour lieth sycke, and is in ieo{per}die of his lyfe / and there wyll none be gotten any where els: here y^t pome granate is holden at .xl.d. & for lesse it shal not be solde. So likewise certeyn men do lay vp corne / to thentēt, y^t if ther fortune a penury & scar∣cite of corne to come / they maye sell for foure tymes or ten tymes the value: and they do not per∣ceyue, that this is very rauyne. I haue set forth these fewe thyn∣ges for cause of example: other thȳges the wyse reder shall gesse and gather of hym selfe.

I wyl make an ende, had I fyrst spoken two or thre wordes con∣cernynge satisfaction.* 1.46

There be two maners of satis∣faction / that is to witte, open sa∣tisfaction / and priuate or secrete satisfaction. In open satisfac∣tion, I wold that this auctorite shulde be cōmitted vnto the pree∣stes / to whom soeuer auctorite is cōmitted to here mens confes∣sions / that they myghte accor∣dynge to the circumstaūces mo∣derate and measure the sayde sa∣tisfaction or penaunce / or also yf nede so require / euyn to turne it in to priuate & secrete satisfactiō. For yf the fathers / whiche dyd institute and ordeyne open satis∣factions / do graunte this aucto∣rite to y^e ordinarye byshops / that they may accordynge to the qua∣lite of the {per}sone / either augment or diminishe y^e payne enioyned: why shulde not the same power & auctorite be cōmitted to them /

whiche in the thyng farre moste paynfull of all other / do beare & fulfyll y^e byshops rownes? And yf they be not able nor mete for the office & charge cōmitted vnto them / than the defaulte & blame therof redoundeth to y^e byshops. And in y^e satisfactiōs or paynes,* 1.47 which are secretely enioyned / the preeste ought to coūtrefayte and folowe connyng phisicions, whi¦che do not prescribe and appoynt euery maner medecine to euery maner man / but y^t onely, whiche they do knowe to be most profi∣table & helpful / accordyng to the nature of the disease / & accordȳg to the qualite of the {per}sone: in so moche y^t euen in one & y^e same dis∣ease / they do prescribe one mede∣cine to hym y^t is strōge / and ano∣ther medecine to hym y^t is weyke & feble / another maner medecine

to hym that is broughte vp after this facion / than to hym that is brought vppe other wyse. Yea moreouer, somtyme euyn in the same kynde of sickenes and dis∣ease / and to the same persone / they do minister one medecine in his youthe / & another sondry me¦decine in his age. But nowe a dayes a great {per}te of preestes do prescribe & enioyne nothyng els / but certeyne prayers & orisons. Rede (say they) the psalme, Mise¦rere mei deus / with the collecte, Deus cui {pro}priū est misereri. &c. Besydes y^t, the Antheme, Salue regina / with the collecte, Cōcede nos famulos tuos. &c. Also the psalme, De {pro}fundis, for al chri∣sten soules / w^t the collecte, Fideli¦um deus omnium cōditor. And I do not yet disprayse & disalow these thinges, I do knowe that

the merite of obedience is great: but yet they do moche / which do prescribe, & enioyn suche prayers as haue speciall remedye & helpe agaynst that vice & yuel / thrugh whiche they perceyue the maker of the confession to stande moste in ieo{per}die. Of whiche kynde & sorte, there haue ben certeyn psal¦mes shewed of our forefathers: as specially mete to obteyne this thyng, or y^t thynge. And it shall not be vnprofitable, in the steade of prayers, to prescribe & appoint vnto some persones, the redyng of suche a worke / whiche may en¦gendre hatred of the syn / wher∣with he y^t maketh cōfession is en∣cōbred & enfected: as for exāple. Yf any man be enfected with the ••u{per}stition of y^e hethen paynyms / or els be leanynge & affectionate towarde the ceremonies of the

Iewes / and hath no good opi∣nion of y^e christen faythe / eyther for lacke of knowlege / or els be∣inge corrupted with the redynge of poetes, or philosophers: let hym be bydden to bestowe euery day one houre or two in redynge of Lactance / and in redynge of those bookes / whiche Origene / Tertullian / Cipriane / Chriso∣stome / or suche other, haue lefte writen agaīst hethen paynyms / agaynst y^e iewes / or agaȳst here∣tikes. For it is vnneth possible / but that he, whiche hath ons at∣tētly redde y^e bokes of Origene / writen agaȳst Celsus / shall haue better opinion of Christes most holy doctrine. There are diuerse bokes of holy fathers / writen of the prayse of chastite / of the dis∣prayse of backebytyng & sclaun∣dre / of the information & instru∣••tion

of religious men, & clerkes / of kepyng of wydowhed / of the office & duetie of byshops / of the office & duetie of a prince & gouer¦nour / of y^e holynes of matrimo∣nie / of vnite and concorde / and of other inumerable / either vertues or vices: of whiche workes, y^t re∣dyng is to be ēioyned vnto euery man / whiche may moste remedy & heale the vice, wherw^t he that is cōfessed, is encombred & holden. But he is in the meane season to be admonyshed & coūsailed / that he do rede it attētly / with a pure and perfecte purpose & desyre to amende his lyfe. But generally to yonge men / whiche for y^e most parte, are in ieopardie to be loste thrugh ydlenes: it shall be expe∣dient to enioyne certeyn labours of study. And I do not greatly cōmende those ghostly fathers /

whiche vnto {per}sones, being yet of tender age / which hath a certeyn wantōnes belonging vnto it, do {per}scribe fastȳges, or watchinges,* 1.48 or other labours / whiche do be∣take and deliuer a weyke & sykly body vnto greater age. Youthe or the fyrst age, is moche better a¦mended by reuerence of theyr el∣ders, and by honest occupacions. To those that are ryche, it is wel done to cōmannde & enioyne libe¦ralite toward poore folkes: but I thȳke y^t they ought to be admo¦nyshed & coūsailed, y^t they do not bestowe liberalite amysse. It is not to be discōmēded, if any man do bielde or founde a chapell / an altare / a monasterye / a schole / a college / or any other suche lyke thing: but yet y^e most holy dedes of almesse of all,* 1.49 are these / which do succurre & releue y^e {per}sent nede

of the neighbours: & whiche do as it were vanyshe out of syght betwene the fyngers of y^e gyuer, and of the receyuer / & the glorie and prayse wherof is lost amōge mē: but is so moche y^e more sa••••e before god. And they, whose age and the qualite and state of their body shall seme to require this, that fastīges shulde be enioyned vnto thē: are to be warned here∣of also / that (yf they be of habi∣lite) that thynge, whiche they do spare & saue by absteynyng from meate / they do gyue it forthe to those, that are poore and nedye. There are some, whiche do en∣ioyn pilgrimages in to coūtres / as for exāple: that some man ha¦uīg on his body a cote of maylle, and beggyng his lyuyng all the way, shall go to Rome / or visite saynt Peters churche / or go to

Hierusalē / or to saynt Iames in Compostella. whiche kynde of penaunce, I wyll not verely disa¦lowe. But it is not well done, to enioyne suche thynges as these,* 1.50 vnto them, whiche haue at home wyfe & chyldren / to whom y^e ab∣sence of them shuld be either pain¦full, or ponderous & daūgerfull. And ther is daunger & ieopardie also, in cōmaūdyng suche thīges to yōge men / or to women being of y^t age / that for the kepynge of their chastite & honestie / it shulde be more expedient for them to a∣byde & tary styl at home. Suche maner pains or penaūce as this, is more cōuenient & settyng to be enioyned of the temporall & laye officers. For it is very lyke vnto those punyshemētes / whan they do beate a man w^t roddes / whan they cut of a mans hande / or els

do cut of a pece of his eare / or do put out his yies / or do bore a hole thrugh his tōge / or marke hym in y^e forhed, or in y^e hāde / w^t a brē∣nīg whote iyerne. Neither were those solēpne paynes moche vn∣lyke to these / whiche the churche was wonte in y^e olde tyme opēly to enioyn & cōmaūde: wherwith they dyd not so moche make satis∣factiō to god, as they dyd to mē: Albeit y^t they made satisfaction euyn to god also. Howe be it yet euyn y^e tēporall officer also in my iudgemēt, shuld do moche better and wisely / if he dyd chastice and punyshe certeyn kyndes of theft,* 1.51 w^t the iniunction & cōmaundyng of worke & labours, to y^e behofe and profite of the cōmen weale: and so lykewyse of other offēces, beinge in dede greuous & weygh¦tie: but yet not so weyghty, that

they ought to be punyshed with dethe / namely amonge christen men. Me thīke (I say) this were a moche better way / thā to bren them with an whote iyern / or els to mayheme thē. As we do rede, that in y^e old tyme,* 1.52 the dettours / whiche were not able to pay / be∣ing in bondes / dyd labour to the vse & behofe of theyr creditours: and other agayn beinge boūden, dyd dygge & delue in the feldes / or dyd hewe tymbre. And there be some also of them / which can some syttyng occupation: suche it were mete to kepe at worke in prisone. This maner & kynde of punyshement, is profitable two maner of ways. For both it doth amēde, but not destroy the male∣factours: and also it is {pro}fitable and aduaūtagefull to the cōmen weale / or els to hym, which was

hurte & damaged by theyr offēce and trespas. To certeyn {per}sones the preest shal cōmaunde and en∣ioyn, y^t they shall hertely forgyue hym / of whō they haue ben hurt or offended / and y^t they shall go about to ouercome yuelnes with goodnes / {pro}uokyng hym to loue and frendshyp, w^t curtesy & gētle word / & w^t benefites & kyndnes. If the preest can not obteyn this thyng of them, at the least wyse let them graūt to cast out of their brest all desyre & lust to be reuen∣ged / and that they wyll no more remēbre the iniurie & displeasure done to them. This maner and kynde of satisfaction, hath our lorde Iesus hym selfe shewed vn¦to vs: Likewise as y^e holy scrip∣ture of god hath cōmaunded vn∣to vs almes dedes. The preeste therfor shal haue always respect

herunto / y^t yf he do enioyne an•• payn or labour: that the labour or trauaile be ioyned w^t a worke or dede of charite: and that it be suche maner of labour / whiche shall not excedyngly hurte & hyn¦dre the helth of the body: so that by reason of it, the body myghte be the lesse able & apte to execute and do the misteries & seruices of the mynde / but only whiche may kepe vnder & subdue y^e wanton∣nes of the fleshe. Here I lyst no•• to stryue w^t them / whiche do say•• that satisfaction doth not apper∣teyne or belonge to penaūce or re¦pentaunce. Only god (say they) doth forgyue sȳnes / & to whom soeuer he hath forgyuen y^e gylte or offence / to y^e same he hath for∣gyuen also the payne or punyshe¦ment. For by charite & by y^e holy ghost, is losed y^t gylte or bond of

synne: whiche ons losed, there resteth no more behynde / but on∣ly y^t he go forward, and encreace more & more in charite. For this (say they) is the only satisfaction afore god. And of these thinges they do gather & conclude / y^t not the popes {per}dons can release any paynes / but onely those, whiche man hath enioyned / or whiche man myght enioyn: & yet not so moche as those neyther / onles it be for great & weyghtie causes. I, as I wyl not vtterly cōdēpne the popes dispensations or relax¦ations:* 1.53 so I do thynke it y^e more surer way, to hope full remission & forgyuenes of synnes / of cha∣rite, & of y^e mercy of Christ / than of any bulles, or wrytīges made by any mā. Yf charite be away, what doth the bulle profite or a∣uayle? Yf a mā haue charite suf∣ficiēt /

than is y^e bulle su{per}fluous / & more than nedeth. Yf charite be diminute & vn{per}fect in any {per}te (they say) that it can not be {per}do∣ned of the pope / which belōgeth only to god.* 1.54 As cōcernyng par∣dons, holy scripture doth teache nothyng at all / no nor yet in the old aunciēt doctors of y^e churche. The diuines of later tyme, haue always cōcernyng this matier / bothe varied in their opinions & sentences: & also haue spoken ve¦ry doubtfully. But what these mē do affirme auise them selues: but this is vndoubted / that we haue the bulle of gospell,* 1.55 Many synnes are forgyuen her / bicause she hath loued moche. Nowe yf any man do thynke, y^t these thyn∣ges also are not to be neglected and despised: I wyll not stryue with hym / so that he do not vpō

boldnes & trust in them, neglecte and lytle regarde those thynges, whiche vndoubtedly are chiefe & principall. Of these thynges, which we haue disputed & sayd / I thynke it is euident and open ynough / by what meanes suche yuels or harmes may be auoided and eschewed / whiche by the oc∣casion of confession are wont to happen / partely thrughe the de∣fault of them that here cōfession / and partly of them that do make theyr cōfession: howe be it yet for theyr cause / which are more sym¦ple / I shall not stycke nor be gre∣ued, after a more playne and fa∣miliar maner, to applie vnto eue¦ry one of the sayde yuelles theyr owne {pro}pre remedies. Suche is the worlde, that there is nothīg, whiche is not some maner waye viciated and corrupted.

* 1.56The fyrst yuel therfor or harme that cōmeth of confession, shall lesse hurte / yf the diligent solici∣tude and care of y^e byshops / and of other / to whom that charge belongeth / dyd prouide & se here in this thyng / that y^e power and auctorite to here cōfessiōs, shulde not rashely, and vndiscretely be cōmitted to euery maner preest:* 1.57 but onely to men well stryken in age / and whose vertue & good lyuyng is well knowen: besides this, beinge sobre / well aduised / and close of tōge. And those pree¦stes are to be rebuked / whiche on theyr ale bēche do clatter & bable for theyr pleasure / what soeuer thynge they haue herde in secrete confessions. Yf any thynge shall require counsell / there ought cō∣munication to be made secretely / with wyse / sad / and well lerned

men. In lyke maner those also are to be reproued / whiche in o∣pen sermones do bable forthe of the misteries and priuities of cō∣fessions / suche thynges as were better to be kepte in, & not to be spoken at al. And the preest y^t he∣reth cōfessions / shall be more safe from ieo{per}die of takyng harme: yf he do come to his office & busy¦nes•• beinge sobre & well aduised, and armed before w^t prayer / and also with feare and drede. Also yf he do demaūde and aske que∣stions no further, thā is nedefull to y^e knowelege of the cryme and offence. Nowe as touchyng to hym that maketh confession / al be it that there is peryll and ieo∣pardie otherwhyles to hym, by reason of the rehersal & vtteryng of his offēce: yet doubtles there is more greatte and more often

ieo{per}die to hym, of the ignorance and lacke of knowelege of his synnes. And therfore a wise and faythefull minister and seruaunt of god, shall so ordre and tempre all thynges: that neyther he shal enfecte y^e myndes of symple and weyke persones / neyther suffre any thyng to be vnknowē / whi∣che beinge not knowen, coulde not be eschewed, or healed.

And in shewynge the remedye a∣gaynst the fyrste yuell / we haue also shewed the remedye agaynst the seconde yuell / that is to wit / the silēce and vertuousnes of the preeste.* 1.58 For a godly and a very pastor, is not by the reason herof prouoked to flatter his owne vi∣ces: but rather to the drede and loue of god / and to praye more feruently, & to watche diligently for the flocke of y^e lorde: whyles

he doth se & perceyue in to what mōstruous vices & synnes those men do fall / that eyther thrughe ignoraūce / or els thrugh malice / haue ons shaken of the yocke of the lorde: whiche thynge they shuld not haue done / yf y^e pastor, hauyng cure and charge of theyr soules / had done his diligence / by teachynge / counsaylynge / re∣bukyng / and besechyng of them. For els neyther ought y^e crymes & offēces of them to be bublished and openly pronounsed and de∣clared: whiche for vnlauful mix¦tures, or curyous artes / or for o∣ther abhominable offences / are punyshed accordyng to y^e lawes.

The thyrde yuell or harme,* 1.59 for asmoche as it dothe chaunce or come but thrugh y^e defalte of the preestes: it is to be remedyed by settyng suche preestes to here cō∣fessions /

which wyl rather wepe and sorowe at the yuels or vices of men / than take any pryde or hyghe mynde by reason therof: Lykewyse as blessed Paule doth wytnes and recorde,* 1.60 that hym selfe was {pro}uoked to mourninge and sorowe / for that there were certeyne {per}sons amonge the Co∣rinthians, whiche dyd deserue sharpe and sore correction and re¦bukynge. And otherwhyles the sinnes and vngratiousnes of the people do reboūde backe vnto the prestes heedes: bicause they dyd not w^t suche diligence as became them, teache and shewe vnto the people y^e ryght & straight wayes and pathes of the lorde. Suche maner pastours, whan they do remembre in theyr myndes, that the lorde shall requyre his sheepe of the sheperdes hāde: it is more

conuenient and accordynge, that they be styrred and prouoked to repentaūce, than to pryde. what soeuer offence and sinne hath any tyme ben cōmitted amōge all the hole multitude of men / the same may be cōmitted & done of euery one of vs, who soeuer he be: and yf we haue any of vs not cōmit∣ted this synne, or that synne / we haue cause to thāke the goodnes of god therfore, & not to ascribe it to our owne strēgth and power. Therfore the cōmen nature and condition of man ought to bowe them downewardes vnto com∣passion or pyte: and not to lyfte them vp to pryde & high mynde. He is no mete preest,* 1.61 which doth not beare fatherly affection to∣wardes his flocke. Now what father is there, which is made by so moche the prowder towardes

his sonne / bicause his sonne is taken and holden with some gre∣uous and sore disease: and dothe not rather, beinge very sad and sorowful in his herte / make hast to get hym remedy? And yf men haue so greatte desyre and delyte towardes libertie: let them also haue lyke desyre & delite toward innocencye. That man, whiche kepeth & mainteineth his heith: vpon hym the phisicion or leche hath no power and auctoritie at all. And yf thrughe thyne owne defaulte thou arte fallen in to spi¦rituall syckenes & disease: thou muste fyrste of all labour & gyue diligēce / that thou mayst be free afore god. Finally, lykewyse as in the disease and syckenes of the body, thou doiste chose the phisi∣cion or surgeon / whiche shall not vpbrayde the with thy disease /

but whiche shall remedye & heale it: do euyn the same lykewy••e in chosynge of the preeste / whiche shall be thy ghostly leache.

The whiche do alledge the .iiij. discōmodie or yuell / what thyng do they elles / but onely shewe,* 1.62 that there are certeyne yuell and noughtye preestes? wolde god we myghte denie that to be true. But phisicke or leache crafte is not therfore taken away / bicause there are foūde certeyn yuel and noughtye phisiciōs & surgeons: But so moche the more diligēt {pro}∣uision is to be made, y^t there may be good phisicions & surgeons. So moche y^e more circunspecte y^u oughtest to be in chosyng hym, to whom y^u wylte betake thy sele for ••o be cured & holpen. Finally, it is the office and duetie of the bys∣shops, so to hādle suche preestes /

whiche do abuse the sacramētes vnto fylthynes and synne: that all other shulde take example to beware by them.

* 1.63As touchyng the fyfthe discom¦moditie / what other thynge shal I say: than that seldome chaun∣ces are nowe to be taken in to an example / wherupon to gyue ge∣neral sentence? For howe many men haue we knowen / whiche by the reason of a feuer, or of a franesy, hath vttered and disclo∣sed secrete priuities? And who a¦gayne is so madde / as to gyue credence to a frantyke persone? Besydes that, euyn here also, it shal be a good helpe and remedy, the chosynge out of an able and mete ghostely father / wherof I haue so often tymes spoken here¦tofore. Last of all, yf the cryme be suche / that the discoueryng of

it myghte put the in ieopardie of thy ••yte / and yf thou doste also mystrust thyn owne curate, and the pestes nere home: thou mayst go somwhere from home / wher thou mayste make thy confession to hym that knoweth the not / nor thou hym / eyther chaūgyng thy clothes / or elles in the darke•• Finally, thou oughtest more to loue and set by the helth and saue garde of thy soule / than of thy body. To haue thy body cured and made whole / thou dost other whyles shewe vnto the bodelye leache thy disease / whiche came of some haynous offence, & mys∣cheuous dede, worthye deathe: and art thou affrayd here, where thy soule is to be cured? Let this be an answere to hym that ma∣keth confession. Nowe as con∣cernyng the preestes that do here

confession / I do graunt and con¦fesse it to be a greatte and a ••oore thynge / with euident ieopardie of their lyues, to visite them that are sycke of the pestilence / or of suche like disease: but y^u oughtest to remēbre, that they haue taken an hygh office / and a sore charge vpon them selues. And yf they wyll be good pastours or herdes∣men:* 1.64 they oughte for the hel••he and saluation of theyr flocke / to put euyn theyr lyues also in ieo∣pardie / namely, whan the soules of theyr flocke are in peryll and ieopardie. It is a very excellent & great worke that they do: but they do it for an excellent & high rewarde. And they maye also in the meane season, arme and fence them selues before with remedi∣es, agaynst the contagiousnes or infection. For they are not con∣strayned

and compelled to tempt god.* 1.65 And yf it be so, y^t the preest is necessarye and nedefull to the people / and dothe cōmitte or be∣take hym selfe with full truste to god: he shall not dye before his day / but god shal fulfyll this his owne {pro}myse.* 1.66 And yf they shall haue dronke any deadely thyng, it shall not hurte them.

Uery many of them dare go vn∣to hym that lyeth sycke of the pe∣stilence / for a thyng y^t is bequest to them: and be they affrayde to come nere hym / whan his soule is in ieopardie and peryll? And this thynge shall be a poynte of ciuilite and good maner also in the people / to make the place, in to whiche the preest shalbe recey∣ued, very cleane / and with fyre and fumigations, to make it as lytle ieopardous & contagious,

as may be.* 1.67 There is also ano∣ther kynde of remedye / yf at all suche tymes as the pestilēce doth reigne soore / euery man whyles he is in helthe / do ones in a weke confesse hym selfe, & be houseled:* 1.68 (whiche thyng in the olde tyme, the moste parte of men dyd euyn in holsome tyme / whan no cōta∣gious sickenes dyd reigne at all) and after cōfession made, do with greatte study and diligence take hede and beware, that they do not fall agayne in to deadly syn∣nes: whiche is no verye harde thing to do, with the helpe of the grace of Christ. By this mea∣nes shal it come to passe, that nei∣ther the preeste shalbe put in ieo∣pardye of his lyfe: and yet the o∣ther partie shall be safe, and out of daūger / yf eyther sodeyn dea∣the / or elles any suche dissease /

whiche for the contagiousnes of it, is to be auoyded and shonned, shall fortune to take hym.

Agayne, euyn this thynge also shall be very profitable herunto:* 1.69 yf we do put the chiefe and prin∣cipall truste of helthe and salua∣tion / in charite, and in the mercy of god / rather than in the reher∣synge or reckenynge vppe of our synnes / namely, whan deathe is nere at hande.

Nowe to say somwhat concer∣nyng the syxte yuell / who soeuer by the rehersyng of their synnes,* 1.70 do lerne to be bolde, and to forget shamefastnes: those persons are not yet verely & truely penitente and sorye for theyr offences and synnes. To suche the preeste oughte to declare and lay before them / what he is, whome they haue offended / and how great is

the filthynes & ouglynes of syn: that y^e oftener they do fall again in to syn / so moche more & more they maye be ashamed of them selues. And they ar also to be ad∣monished and tolde / that confes∣sion without contrition of herte auayleth nothyng: whiche con∣trition, yf it haue ones possessed the mynde, it shall bothe brynge shamfastnes, and also put away shamfastnes: it shal bryng sham¦fastnes / causyng hym to be asha∣med of y^e filthynes of his synnes in the syght of God: & it shal put away shamfastnes, y^t he shal not through shamefastnes hyde and kepe in y^t thing, which is cured & healed by openyng & disclosyng.

* 1.71Unto the seuenth, thus it is to be answered, y^t many moo are in ieopardy of confidence and ouer moche trust / by reason of negle∣ctyng

and not regardynge theyr synnes: than are in ieopardie of desperation, by the reason of exa¦mination and serchyng of theyr sinnes: and the preest hath more busynes & labour to brynge men away from confidence and pre∣sumption, vnto the feare & drede of god / than he hath to call them backe from desperation. There is a meane therfore betwene bo∣the / that there be due & sufficient examination of the synnes and offēces / but not ouermoche care∣full & scrupulous: And yf there be any anxietie and scrupulosite / there foloweth after it / that doth also recompence it: high and per¦fecte trāquilitie & quietnes of cō∣sciēce / after y^e charite & loue haue begonne to dryue out feare. For feare without charite & hope, en∣gendre and cause desperation.

* 1.72The remedye of the eyghte dis∣cōmodite, I haue all redy suffici∣ently shewed.

* 1.73Nowe as touchyng the nynthe discommoditie and harme, I do graunt, that of the two yuelles / the lesse & lyghter is, to absteyne from receyuynge the sacrament of the altare. Yf the mynde be in certeyn and stedfaste desyre and purpose to synne deadely / so that a man do wrestle and stryue to the vttermoste of his power / a∣gaynste suche affection and de∣syre or purpose / and can not yet caste it forthe of his mynde. For elles vtterly and all together to absteyne and forbeare from the sacramentes and misteries: is a degree and steppe toward pay∣nymry, and y^e maner of lyuynge of hethen people. As touchynge confession / there is not the same

reason & skylle: that is, as tou∣chyng to the sacrament of the al∣tare. Neyther dothe that man seme vtterly vnpenitent / whiche gothe vnto the preeste with this mynde & purpose / not to deceyue or mocke: but partely to obeye the churche / and partely to then∣tent that he may by this way cō∣ceiue and gather more {per}fecte ha∣tred of his synnes / which he can not yet of him selfe so hate, as he ought to do. For euyn this also is a certeyne spice and kynde of repentaūce: a man to be displea∣sed and myscontente with hym selfe therfore / bicause he is not re¦pentaunt and sorowfull for his synnes. And it happeneth often tymes / that he, which cōmeth to the preest / beinge but coldly and sclenderly repentaunt and sory: yet whiles he maketh his confes∣sion /

doth conceyue iust and lau∣full hatered of his offences and synnes. This cōmemoration therfore and rehersall of the dis∣cōmodities and harmes, y^t come by the occasion of confession / is not made of vs, to thentent that we shulde abhorre & withdrawe our mynde from makyng confes∣sion: but to thende that we may make confess••on with more frute and profyte commynge therof vnto vs.

THese are the thȳges, most good and honourable fa∣ther / whiche me thought beste to be admonished and taughte con∣cernynge confession / besydes the traditiōs of olde diuines / to then¦tent that cōfession might be very frutefull and profitable: whiche cōfession shal seme vnto any man to be ioyned with peryll and ieo∣pardie:

Let hym cōsider and be••thȳke hym wel, how moche more ieopardous thynge it is to beare aboute an vnclene conscience. Yf it shall seme paynefull and gre∣uous: let hym remembre and cō∣sidre howe great tranquilite and quietnes of mynde dothe ensue and folowe of this bitter medi∣cine. And let hym so moche the more diligently take hede and be∣ware, that he do not agayne so ordre hym felfe, that he shall nede to receyue and deuoure suche a bytter pylle very ofte. But let hym so make his confession ons, that he nede neuer after to make confession agayne / & that it may be sufficient to be ashamed ones for euer, afore man. That man shall not lyghtly fall agayn in to deedly synne / whiche shall haue ones inwardly and hertely con∣ceyued

in his mynde, hatered of all his synnes. This holy and godly purpose, god shall helpe and brynge forwarde / yf so be, that we wyll knowlege it to be his benefite, what soeuer hath al¦redy chaunsed to vs: and yf tru∣stynge to his ayde, rather than to our owne myghte & strength / we do enforce our selues, and en∣deuer dayly more and more to amende our lyuyng / and to waxe better and better / vntyll that we may growe vp in to a {per}fecte mā / in to the measure of the fulnes of Iesu Christe.* 1.74

Finis.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The forme and maner of cōfession.
• * 1.2

  Hearynge of sermons.
• * 1.3

  Redyng of holy bokes
• * 1.4

  Faythe.
• * 1.5

  Roma .10.
• * 1.6

  we oughte moch more effectually to desire the encrease of our faythe / than any temporall cōmodities
• * 1.7

  Faythe and charite are the two ru∣les / by whi∣che all our actes are to be tried and examined.
• * 1.8

  what soe∣uer spryn∣geth of pure faythe and true charite can be no synne
• * 1.9

  Nota.
• * 1.10

  Princes & prelates.
• * 1.11

  Couetous mē mistrust gods pro∣myses.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 54.
• * 1.13

  Psal. 36.
• * 1.14

  Math. 6.
• * 1.15

  Charite.
• * 1.16

  A maner & way to hel∣pe remem∣braunce.
• * 1.17

  The offen∣ces cōmit∣ted with the tonge.
• * 1.18

  No man ought to dis¦crie another mannes of∣fences in cō¦fession, if he may other¦wyse do.
• * 1.19

  Single for∣nication in some cases / by reason of the circū¦staunces, is more gre∣uous offēce than adul∣tery.
• * 1.20

  Omission & trāsgression
• * 1.21

  why y^e son∣day was in¦stituted.
• * 1.22

  Pope.
• * 1.23

  Prynces.
• * 1.24

  Byshop.
• * 1.25

  The offyce & duetie pro¦perly belon¦gynge to a byshop.
• * 1.26

  The propr•• offyce of a prynce.
• * 1.27

  Mānes cō∣stitution oughte to gyue place to a more perfecte worke of charite.
• * 1.28

  Restitution
• * 1.29

  Courtiers.
• * 1.30

  Myllers.
• * 1.31

  Tayllers.
• * 1.32

  Uinteners.
• * 1.33

  Cōpositiōs
• * 1.34

  Iustifienge of yuel•• go∣ten goodes.
• * 1.35

  Certeyne kynd{is} of ra∣uynes and thef••es whi¦che are no∣thynge re∣garded.
• * 1.36

  Uynteners & tauerners
• * 1.37

  Skynners or furriers.
• * 1.38

  Thob. 4. Math. 7.
• * 1.39

  Men of lawe.
• * 1.40

  Souldiers and men of warre.
• * 1.41

  The law of warre is y^e lawe of the deuyll.
• * 1.42

  Carters & Maryners.
• * 1.43

  Taylours.
• * 1.44

  Laborers y^• worke by y^• daye, or by the weke.
• * 1.45

  Poticaries & phisiciōs.
• * 1.46

  Satisfactiō cōmenly cal¦led penaūce
• * 1.47

  The preeste enioynyng secrete pe∣naunce ou∣ght to haue the propre∣tie of a con∣nyng phisi∣tion.
• * 1.48

  It is not very com∣mendable to enioyne moche fa∣stynge or suche lyke paynes to very yonge folkes.
• * 1.49

  The beste and moste holy kynd of almes.
• * 1.50

  It is not wel done to enioyne far pilgrimag{is} to them, which may yuell be for∣borne at home.
• * 1.51

  A polytyke way to pu∣nishe certen malefac∣tours / by temporall punishemēt
• * 1.52

  The maner vsed in olde tyme.
• * 1.53

  It is a su∣rer way to hope full ••e¦mission of synnes, of charite and the mercye of god: thā of any par¦dons gyuen by man.
• * 1.54

  Thee is no¦thyng foūde in the holy scriptures concernyng pardones / nor yet in the olde doctours••
• * 1.55

  Luc. 7.
• * 1.56

  Remedy a∣gaynste the fyrste yuell.
• * 1.57

  what ma∣ner {per}sones they ought to be, whi∣che shulde here confes∣sions.
• * 1.58

  Remedy a∣gaynst the secōde yuell.
• * 1.59

  Remedy a∣gaynst the thyrde yuel.
• * 1.60

  2. Corin. 12.
• * 1.61

  A preeste shulde haue fatherly af∣fection tow¦ardes his•• flocke.
• * 1.62

  Remedye agaynst the fourthe di••∣cōmodite.
• * 1.63

  Remedye for the .v. dis¦cōmoditie.
• * 1.64

  Iohn̄ .10.
• * 1.65

  Deutero. 6.
• * 1.66

  Marc. 16.
• * 1.67

  ••yse coun∣••ayle.
• * 1.68

  In the olde tyme, they were house led wekely.
• * 1.69

  Chefe hope of saluatiō, is to be put in charite, & in the mer∣cy of god.
• * 1.70

  Remedy a∣gaynste the syxte yuell.
• * 1.71

  Remedy a∣gaynst the seuēth yuel.
• * 1.72

  Against the viij. yuell.
• * 1.73

  Remedy a∣gaynste the ix. yuell.
• * 1.74

  Ephe. 4.