A proper dyaloge, betwene a gentillman and a husbandma[n] eche complaynynge to other their miserable calamite, through the ambicion of the clergye. An A.B.C. to the spiritualte.

A proper dyalo∣ge / betwene a Gentillman and a husbandmā / eche complaynynge to other their mise∣rable calamite / through the am∣bicion of the clergye.

¶ An A. B. C. to the spiritualte.

¶ Awake ye gostely persones / awake / awake Bothe preste / pope / bisshoppe & Cardinall. Considre wisely / what wayes that ye take Daungerously beyngelyke to haue a fall. Every where / the mischefe of you all. Ferre and nere / breaketh oute very fast Godde will nedes be revenged at the last.

¶ Howe longe haue ye the worlde captyued In sore bondage / of mennes tradiciones? Kynges and Emperoures / ye haue depryned Lewedly vsurpynge / their chefe possessiones. Muche misery ye make / in all regiones. Nowe youre fraudes / almoste at the latter cast Of godde sore to be revenged at the last.

¶ Poore people to oppresse / ye haue no shame Qwakynge for feare / of your donbble tyranny. Rightfull iustice ye haue put out of frame Sekynge the lust of youre godde / the b•…•…y. Therfore I dare you boldely certifye. Very litle though ye be therof a gast Yet god will be revenged •…•…r the last.

O Christen reder / from rashnes refrain•…•… Of hastye iudgemēt / & lyght sentence. though sū reckē it frowardnes of bra•…•… Thus to detecte y^e clergyes incōueniēce. (ne Vnto christes wordes geue / thou aduertence Which saieth nothinge to be done so secretly But it shall'be knowen manifestly.

Where as men discerne no grefe of darcknes F•…•…ll litle is desyred the confortable lyght The daye is restrayned to sheme his clerenes Tyll the clowdes be expelled of the night As longe as we perceyue not wronge frō righ•…•… Nether holynes from false hypocrisye The truthe can not be knowen manifestly.

¶ Cursed they are / as Esaye dothe expresse Which presume the euyll for good to commēde Sayenge that swete is soure / & light darcknes As nowe in the clergye / we may perpende. Whos disguysed madnes in the later ende As seynt Paule to Timothe did prophesye Shall be knowen to all men manifestly.

¶ Example of twayne he doth•…•… th•…•…e recyte Whos names were called I•…•…nes & Iambres Which by enchauntmēt / through deuels might Strongely resisted the prophete Moyses. Doynge lyke merueyles and wonderfulnes So that none could the very trouth espye Tyll their Iugglynge was knowen manifestly

Christe / likewise / with his predicacion The phariseyes shewynge outwarde holynes Was a counted of sma•…•… reputacion Vyce cloked vnder shyne of vertuousnes. Vntill at the last their furiousnes Accusyng the woman taken in aduo•…•…ery They sawe their fautes detecte manifestly.

Their vyces opened / they could not abyde Shame drevynge them to confusyon Which afore season through pope holy pryde They bolstred out vnder abusyon It is the practyse of their collusyon. Zele of rightuousnes to fayne outwardly Tyll their fautes be detecte manifestly /

Which in oure clergye is evidently sene Fayned godlynes falsly pretendynge Wherby moste parte of people do wene That they seke goddes honour in all thing•…•… How be it / men shuld se that their sekynge Is to confounde christes gospell vtterly Were their fautes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 manifestly.

What greater despyte can they ymagine / Agaynst god his hye honour to deface Than to vsurpe on them his power diuine Abhominably sittinge in holy place▪ Which hath continued longe tyme & space And shall with outragious blasphe•…•… Till their fautes be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 manifestly.

Scripture vnto them was first proferyd Mekely without any prouocacion. Which to receyne when it was offeryd They refused with indignacion. Wherfore touchinge their reformacion. Litle trust is to be had certaynly Ty•…•… their fautes be detecte manifestly.

¶ Thus to conclude / 〈◊〉〈◊〉 christen reder Vnto pacience / I the exhorte. Aduertesynge / howe & in what maner Christe rebuked this pharisaycall sorte. Whom as Mathew in the. xxiij. doth reporte. With fearefull sentence he cursed ernestly Their wicked fautes detectynge manifestly.

¶ Nihil est opertum q•…•… nō reueletur. Mtah. x.

¶ Here foloweth the Dialoge / the Gen tillmā beginige first his cōplaynte.

¶ Gentillman.

WIth soronfull harte / maye I cōplayne Cōcerninge the chaunce / of my misery Although parauēture it is but vayne Trueth oporessyd / with open tyranny. My enheritaunce and patrimony. Agaynst right / from me they kepe awaye. Which saye / for my frendes soules they praye.

¶ Myne aunceteres of worthy progeny With rentes and lyuelood largely endued Mayntayned their estates honorably Aydynge the poore / indigence to exclude. Tyll at the last / the clergy to them sued. Pretendinge godlynes / vnder a fals waye Sayenge they wold for their soules praye. ¶ Stoutely they alleged before their syght Howe after this lyfe is a purgatory. Wherin their soules both daye & night Shuld be tormented with out memory Excepte of their substaunce transitory. Vnto their seactes / they wold some what paye Sayenge that they wold for their soules praye. They bare them in hande that they had myght Synners to bynde & loose at their owne plesure Takynge vpon them to leade thyem a right Vnto ioye / that euer shuld endure. Of popes pardones they boosted the treasure. Chalengynge of heuene & hell the faye Sayenge / that they wold for their soules praye. To trust wife or childern / they did disswade Eyther any frendes or persones temporall. Affermynge / that oure loue shuld a way vade Without any memory of them at all Onely to hope in their seactes spirituall. They entyced / with persuasiones gaye Sayenge that they wold for their soules praye.

Thus with wylines and argumentes vayne Myne aunceters brought in to perplexite Partely thorough feare of eternall payne And partely for desyre of felicite. They consented makynge no difficulte To graunte their requestes without delaye Sayenge that they wold for their soules praye Their chefe lordshippes and londes principall With cōmodytes of their possessyon Vnto the clergye they gaue forthe with all D•…•…sheretinge their right successyon. Which to receiue without excepcion The couetous clergy made no denay Sayenge that they wold for their soules pray By the meanes wherof / I and suche other Suffrynge the extremyte of indigence Are occasioned to theft or mourder Fallynge in to moche inconuenience. Because the clergye agaynst conscience Deuoureth oure possessiones nighte and daye Sayeng y^• for oure frendes soules they praye. I haue wife and childern vpon my hande Wantinge substaunce / their lifes to sustayne Wherfore to the clergy that haue my lande Sometyme I come and pituously complayne Whos statelines / to helpe me hauyng disdayne With oure any comforte to me they saye That for my frendes soules they dayly praye.

Shuld I and my houshold for houngre dy•…•… They wold not an halfe peny with vs parte So that they lyue in welthe aboundantly Full litle they regarde oure woofull smerte. To waste oure goodes they nothinge aduert•…•… In vicious lustes and pompous araye Sayenge y^t for our frendes soules they praye. They take vpon them apostles auctorite But they folowe nothinge their profession Often tymes they preache of christes pouerte Howe be it towarde it they haue no affeccion. Yf so be they pleate ones in possession Harde it is to get ought fro them awaye Sayenge / that for our frēdes soules they praye. Thus must we beare their oppression Whiles to complayne there is no remedye The worlde they haue brought in subiection Vnder their ambicious tyranny. No respecte they haue to the mysery Of vs poore gentillmen that be laye Sayenge that for our frēdes soules they praye. Alas / is it not a myserable case? To se ydle persones voyde of py•…•… Occupyenge the landes before oure face Which shuld pertayne vnto vs of ducte. They haue richesse / and we calamyte Their honour encreaced / oures must de•…•… Sayenge that for our frēdes soules they pray•…•…

¶ The husbandman.

Syr / god geue you good morowe I perceiue the cause of youre sorowe And most lamentable calamyte. Is for the oppression intollerable Of thes monstres so vncharitable Whom men cast the spiritualte. Trouthe it is / ye poore gentillmen are By their craftynes made nedy and bare Your landes with holdinge by violence How be it we husbandmen euery where Are nowe in worsse condicion ferre As it may be marked by experience.

¶ Gentillman.

In worse caas? nay / that can not be so For loke ouer the hoole worlde to and fro Namely here in oure owne region. And thou shalt fynde that in their handes Remayneth the chefe lordeshippes and landes Of poore gentillmens possession. They haue oure aunceters lyuelood and rentes Their principall fearmes and tencamentes With temporall fredomes and libertees. They haue gotten vnto their kingdomes Many noble baronries and •…•…rldemes With esquyres landes and knightes fees.

¶ Husbondeman.

Notwithstandinge yet they saye prceysely That your Auncerers gaue to theym freely Soche worldly dominion and lyulood.

¶ Gentillman.

Freely quod a•…•…nay / that is but fayned

For they ware certeynly therto constreyned By their couetous disceite and falshod

¶ Husbondman.

Howe dyd they youre annceteres compell:

¶ Gentillman.

Mary in threatnynge the paynes of hell And sharpe punishment of purgatorye. Wher to brenne / they made them beleue Excepte they wolde vnto them geue Parte of their substaunce & patrimony.

¶ Husbondeman.

But howe wold they delyuer them frothence:

¶ Gentillman.

As they saide by their prayers assistence Which with boostynge wordes they dyd alowe

¶ Husbondman.

Prayer? god geue her a shamefull represe For it is the mdost briberynge these. That euer was / I make god a vowe. For by her the clergy without dowte Robbeth the hole countre rounde aboute Bothe comones and estates none excepte. I wote they haue prayed so longe allredy That they haue brought the lande to begg•…•… And all th•…•…nes clene awaye 〈◊〉〈◊〉 epte. What soeuer we get with sweate and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. That prolle they awaye with their prayour Sayenge they praye for oure soules 〈◊〉〈◊〉 But is their prayer nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 avaylynge To the deade soules / than to the lynynge So is it not worthe a ro•…•…en aye.

¶ Gentillman.

To the soules departed it is not profitable For whye / thos that are in case dampnable No assistence of prayour can attayne. And as for purgatory ther is none Allthough there be clerkes many one Which to seke it take moche payne.

¶ Husbondman.

Than I wold their prayenge were at an ende For yf they pray longe thus so god me mende They shall make y^• lande worsse than nought. But nowe I will rehearce seriously Howe we husbandemen full pituously Vnto miserable wrechednes are brought. Fyrst whan englonde was in his floures Ordred by the temporall gouernoures Knowenge no spirituall iurisdiccion. Than was ther in eche state and degre Haboundance and plentuous prosperite Peaceable welthe without affliccion. Noblenes of blood / was had in price Vertuousnes avaunced / hated was vyce Princes obeyd / with due reuerence. Artificers and men of occupacion Quietly wanne their sustentacion Without any grefe of nedy indigence. We husband men lyke wise prosperously Occupyenge the feates of husbandry Hyerd fearmes of pryce competent. Wherby oure lyninge honestly we wanne And had ynough to paye euery manne Helpinge other that were indigent. Tyll at the last the rauenous clergye

Through their craftynes and hypocrisye Gate to theym worldly dominacion. Than were we ouercharged very sore Oure fearmes set vp dayly more and more With shamefull pryce in soche a fasshyon. That we paye more nowe by halfe the sume Than a fore tymes we dyd of custome Holdinge ought of their possession. Besyde this / other contentes of brybery As payenge of tythes / open and preuy And for herynge of confession. Also presies dueties and clerkes wages Byenge of perdones and freres quarterages With chirches and aultares reparacion. All oure charges can not be nombred Wherwith we are greatly acombred Ouer whelmyd with desolacion. We tourmoyle oure selfes nyght and daye And are fayne to dryncke whygge and whaye For to maynteyne the clargyes facciones

¶ Gentillman.

This were a great shame to be knowen Seynge halfe the realme is their owne That they charge you with soche exaccions. Me thyncketh so to do is no small cryme For they kepte as good houses a fore tyme Whiles theyr feanne hyers was ferrelesse.

¶ Husbandman.

Ye / more plentuous houses a great deale How be yt in hyndrynge the comone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eale They vse also this practyse doutles. Where as poore husband men afore season

Accordinge vnto equite and reason House or lande to fearme dyd desyre. Without any difficulte they might it get And yet no hygher price was ther vp set Than good conscience did require. But nowe their ambicious suttlete Maketh one fearme of two or thre Ye some tyme they bringe. vi. to one. Which to gentillmen they let in farmage Or elles to ryche marchauntes for avauntage To the vndoynge of husbandeman •…•…ch one. Wherby the comones sufferinge damage The holelande is brought into rerage As by experience ye may well see. Thus is the wealth of village and towne With the fame of honorable renowne Fallen into my scrable pouerte. Plentnous housholdes hereby ar dekayde Relefe of poore people is awaye strayde Allmes exyled with hospitalyte. By soche meanes / all thinge waxeth dere Complaynte of subiecres cryenge ferre and ne•…•… Oppressed with grenous calamyte.

¶ Gentillman.

Truely thou shewest the very abuse Neuerthelesse concernynge oure excuse Why we gentillmen fearmes occupye. The principall occasion is onely this That oure patrimony geuen awaye is Vnto thes wolffes of the clergye. By whos oppression we are so beggeryd That necessite hath vs compellyd

With fearmes soche shyft to make. For asye husbandmen can well vnderstande Touchinge expences and charges of the lande They disdayne any parte with vs to take.

¶ Husbandman.

Ye by seynte Marye / I you warrante In soche cases / their ayde is very scant Makinge curtesye to do any goode. Let the realme go what way it wull They hauynge ease / and their belyes full Regardelitle the comone weale by the rode Yf princes demaunde their succour or ayde This answere of them is comonely saide We are pore bedemen of youre grace. We praye for your disceaced auncetryes For whom we synge masses and dirigees To succour their soules in nedefull case.

¶ Gentillman.

Oh / they afoorde prayers good cheape Sayenge rather many masses by heape Than to geue a poore man his dyner. Wherfore as thou saydest / so god helpe me I se of their prayenge no comodyte Nether a•…•…untage in any maner. For whye with in thes. iiij. hundred yere Thorough oute christendome was not a free•…•… Of thes / whom we mendicantes call. And syth that tyme dyuers facciones Of collegianes / monkes and chanones Haue spred this region ouer all. Also of prestes / were not the tenthe parte Which as they saye / haue none other ar•…•…

But for vs worldly people to praye. And yet the worlde is nowe farre worsse As euery man felyth in his poorsse Than it was at that tyme I dare saye. Wherfore the trueth openly to betryde I wolde they shuld laye their prayenge a syde And geue theym selfes to labour bodely.

¶ H•…•…sbandman.

It were harde to bringe theym therto Vtterly refusynge any labour to do Because they are people gostely.

¶ Gentillman.

Were not the apostles gostely also?

¶ Husbandman.

Yes syr / but it is solonge ago That their lyuynge is oute of memorye.

¶ Gentillman.

We fynde it well in the newe testament.

¶ Husbandman.

The clargye saye / it is not conuenyent For layemen therwith to be busye.

¶ Gentillman.

Wotest thou wherfore they do that?

¶ Husbondman.

In fayth syr I coniecture somewhat And I suppose I do not m•…•…che erre. Might men the scripture in Englishe rede We secular people shuld than se in dede What Christ and the apostles lyues were. Which I dout nothinge are contrarye Vnto the lyuynge of oure clargye S•…•…uyn to pomp•…•…us ydlenes euery where.

Whos abhominacion ones knowen Their pryde shuld besone ouer throwen And fewe wold their statelynes for beare.

¶ Gentyllman.

Thou hyttest the nayle vpon the heed For that is the thinge that they dreed Least scripture shuld come vnto light. God commaundyd man in the begynnynge With sweat of vysage to wynne his lyuynge As Moses in his fyrst boke dothe wryte. And as Marcke sayeth in the. vi. chapter Christe here vpon erthe was a carpenter Not dysdayninge an occupacion. Also the disciples vniuersally With their handes laboured busyly Exchewynge ydle conuersacion.

¶ Husbandman.

Oure clargye lyue nothynge after their rate

¶ Gentillman.

No / they seke ydelly to anaunce their estate And to be had in reputacyon.

¶ Husb•…•…ndman.

Are they worldly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ely to saye the tr•…•…the?

¶ Gentyllman.

So god helpe me I•…•…e we none of bothe As it apperyth by their fasshion. For in matters of worldly busynes The clergye haue moche more •…•…tresse Than temporall men I ensure the. The landes of lordes and dukes to possesse Thei abasshe not a whit the seculernes Chalengynge tytles of worldly honour

But is the realme in any necessyte Where as they shuld condescend of ducte To stande by their prince with succour Than to be of the world they denye Sayenge that their helpe is spiritually From the worlde makinge a separacion.

¶ Husbandman.

Whiles they vse soche craftynes to contryue The temporalte ought theym to depryue Of their worldly dominacyon. And euen as they saye that they are gostely So without any assistence worldly To lyue gostely they shuld haue no let.

¶ Gentillman.

That were an expedyent medicyne Accordinge vnto saynt Paules doctryne Qui non laborat / non manducet. Nowithstanding their power is so stronge That whether they do ryght or wronge They haue their owne will without fayle. Their enormytees so ferre out breaketh That all the worlde agaynst theym speaketh But alas man what dothe it avayle:

¶ Husbondman.

The remedy that I can ymagyne Were best that we together determyne To get vs to london incontynent. Where as it is here for a suretetolde The kinge with his nobles dothe holde A generall counsell or parlament

¶ Gentillman.

What woldest thou that we shuld do there?

¶ Husbondman.

The constraynte of oure myserye to declare Under a meke forme of lamentacion.

¶ Gentillman.

So shuld we be sure of soche answeres As were made vnto the poore beggers For their pituous supplicacyon. Against whō y^e clergyes resons nought worthe The soules of purgatory they brought forthe The beggers complaynte to discomfyte. Wherfore against oure peticion I the tell They wold bringe out all the deuells in hell For to do vs some shamefull despyte.

¶ Husbondman.

And was ther none other waye at all But the sonles of purgatory to call In ayde and assistence of the clergye.

¶ Gentillman.

It was the suerest waye by seynt Ihone For had they to playne scripture gone I wousse they hadde be taken tardye. The beggers complaynte was so grounded That the clargye hadde be confounded Had they not to purgatory hasted.

¶ Husbondman.

Where sayd they purgatorye shuld be?

¶ Gentillman.

By scripture they shewed no certente Albeit with stowte wordes they it faced. Euen like vnto the man / which ment A certeyne straunge ylonde to inuent But whan he sawe•…•… could it not fynd•…•….

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Least his wit & travaile shuld seme in vayne Reporte of other men he beganne to fayne The symplicite of rude people to blynde. But touchinge oure communicacion Ther is another consideracion Which somewhat more troubleth my mynde. Thou knowest that in the parlament The chefe of y^e clergye are resident In a maruelous great multitude. Whos fearce displeasure is so terrible That I iudge it were not possible Any cause against them to conclude. As for this ones we shall not be herde And great men I tell the are a ferde With them to haue any doynge. Whosoeuer will agaynst them contende Shall be sure of a mischefe in the ende Is he genttllman lorde or kynge. And that vnto kynge Ihon I me reporte With other princes & lordes a great sorte Whom the cronycles expresse by name. Whiles they were a lyue they did them trouble And after their deathe with cruelnes double They ceased not their honour to diffame. Dyd not they so longe striue a wrastle Against the good knight syr Ihon oldecastle Other wise called lorde of •…•…obham. That from hyghe heresye vnto treasone They brought him to fynall destruction With other many a noble man. Moreouer at seynt Edmūdes bury some saye That the famous prince duke Humfray

By them of his lyfe was abreuiate. Sythe that tyme I coulde reckenmo Whom they caused to be dispatched so Parauenture some of no lowe estate.

¶ The husbandman.

Their tyranny is great without fayle Neuerthelesse yf we wold them assayle With argumentes of the holy gospell. They shuld n•…•… be ones able to resiste For the wordes of oure sauiour christe Shuld stoppe them were they neuer so fell. Who in the. xxiij. chapter of seynt Luke To their great confusyon and rebuke Forbydeth secular ambicion. Wherin he himselfe example gaue Contempnynge worldly honour to haue Of this world claymynge no kingdome. Also when his disciples forthe he sent He commaunded them to be content With foode and apparayle necessary. Wherto saint Paules doctrine accordinge Saieth: hauynge mea•…•… d•…•…inke and clothinge We shuld no thinge couer super•…•…uosly.

¶ Gentillman.

Yf the holy gospell allege we shuld As stronge heretike sta•…•…e vs they would Vnto their churche disobedient. For why they haue commaunded straytely That none vnder great payne be so hardye To haue in englishe the testament. Which as thou knowest at London The bisshop makinge ther•…•… sermon

With shamefull blasphemy was bre•…•….

¶ Husbondeman.

Alas that cruelte goeth to my hert Wherfor I feare me we shall all sm•…•…rt At lengthe with bitter punisshment.

¶ Gentillman.

Undouted it is greatly to be fearyd Least the hole region shalbe plagyd For their outragious blasphemy. In kynge Henryes dayes of that name y^e fyft The clergye their pride aboue to lyft Persecured christen brothers haynously. The gospell of Christ a syde to cast Which at that tyme prospered fast. With all their puysaūce they dyd conspyre. Euery where they threwe theym in presones In sharpe gayles / and horrible doungeones Causynge many to be brent in fyre. Their furious malice neuer stentyd Tyll they had the light oute quenchyd Of the gospell and holy scripture. Wherof all bokes that they could get They caused on a fayre fyre to be set To expell goddes worde doynge their cure. But consyder what ther of did chaunce Moste terrible plages of fearfull vengeaunce And endles sorowe to oure nacion. For within shorte season after they lost Which many a mans lyfe dyd cost In fraunce their dominacion. Amonge them selfes moste hatefull mourdre Many stronge batayles / one after another

With great effusyon of englisshe bloode. Frende against frede / brother against brother. Euery man at variaunce with other The realme longe season in myschefe stood•…•…

¶ Husbondman.

This is nowe a dayes clene oute of mynde

¶ Gentillman.

I praye god / hereafter we do not fynde The same vengeaunce for like offence For as it is in the byble playnely red God left neuer lande yet vnpunished Which agaynst his worde made resistence.

¶ Husbondman.

Well syr / yf scripture ye forthe bringe I beseche you / what is their answeringe Are they so bolde goddes worde to denye:

¶ Gentillman.

•…•…aye but after their ymaginacion They make there of an interpretacion Vnto the texte clene contrary They allege the popes auctorite Customes of auncyent antiquite With diuers counseiles approbacion. Also the holynes of religious fathers With the bloode sheadinge of marters For their chirches preservacion. Besyde that contynuaunce of yeres Myracles of bishoppes / monkes and freres Whom for speciall patrones they holde. And fynally to make a conclusion In fortefyenge their abusion Other practyses they vse many folde.

They resorte to lordes and great estates With whom they are dayly checke mates Ye to saye therrouthe their soucraynes. Where amonge other communicacion They admonishe them with protestacion To beware of thes heretikes Lutheranes. Whom they saye is a secte newe fangled With execrable heresyes entangled •…•…inge the chirches perdicion. Which oure fore fathers as wise as we Were contente with humble simplicite To honour / obeynge their tuycion. Also none presumed till nowe a late Against the clergye to beare any hate Or grudged at their possession.

¶ Husbondman.

By seynt mary syr / that is a starcke lye I can shewe you a worcke by and by Against that poynte makinge obiection. Which of warantyse I dare be bolde That it is aboue an hundred yere olde As the englishe selfe dothe testifye. Whe•…•… the auctour with argumentes S•…•…th against the lordshippes & rentes Of the clergye possessed wrongfully.

¶ Gentillman.

Is itso olde as thou doest here expresse Reprouynge their pompous lordlynes So is it than no newe found heresy.

¶ Husbondman.

No! but alas / halfe the boke we want Hauynge no more left than a remenant

From the begynnynge of the. vi. chapter verely.

¶ Gentillman.

As for that it maketh no matter Begynne hardely at the sixte chapter Redynge for the to the ende seriously. For though old writinges apere to be rude Yet notwithstandinge they do include The pithe of a matter most fructuously.

¶ Husbondman.

To rede it I shall be diligent Though the style be nothinge eloquent With ornate speache set out curiously.

¶ Here foloweth an olde trearyse ma∣de aboute the tyme of kynge Ry∣charde the seconde.

WHere as the clergy perceyueth that lordlynes & worldly dominiō can not be borne out biscripture / thē flie they to argumentes of mēnes per∣suasyon sayenge after thys maner Seynt Huge & seynt Swithune were thus lor des / & in this they ensued Christes lyuyng & his doctrine / therfore we may be laufully thus lor∣des. But I wote well that Gabriel shall blowe his horne or they haue proued the minor. That is / that thes sayntes or patrones in this sued the doctrine or the lyfe of Iesu Christe. And of this thou mayst se that soch argumentes that ar not clothed with Christes lynynge or his teachin∣ge / beright nought worthe all though the cler∣kes blynde with thē moch folke in y^t world. But here haue Inoleyser to tell though I coulde /

what chefesaunce and costes the churche ma∣keth and what werres they hold to cōtynue this fymony and heresy so vnavisely brought in to y^e chirche. And yet they seke all the wayes therto that they can. Ye in so moch that they go opēly armyd in to the felde to kyll christen men / for to get and holde soche lordshippe. And notwith∣stondynge seynt Peter was so pore that he had nether golde nor syluer as he saieth in the Ac∣tes of the apostles. And his other worldly good * 2.1 he left / whan he beganne to sue Christe. And as tow chynge the tytle of worldly lawe that he had to soch worldly goodes / he made neuer cley me ne neuer resceyued after any worldly lord∣shippe. And yet they call all their hole kingdom seynt Peters grounde or lordshippe. And ther∣for seynt Bernarde writeth to Engenie y^e pope sayenge. Yf thou wilt be a lorde / seke by a no∣ther * 2.2 waye to attayne it / but not by thys apostles ryght For he may not geue the that he had not / that he had he gaue / the whiche was busynes vpon chirches. Whether he gaue lordshippe or no / here what he saieth. Be ye not lordes in the clergy / but be ye made forme and example off * 2.3 Christes flocke. And least ye trowe thys be not sayde of trothe take kepe what Christe saieth in y^e gospell. The kinges of hethen haue lordshippe vpon theym / forsot he ye not so. Se howe playn ly lordshippe is forboden to all apostles / for yf thou be a lorde howe darest thou take vpon the apostleshyp / or yf thou be a bysshoppe / howe da rest thou take vpon the lordship? Pleynly thou

art forboden bothe. And yf thou wylt haue bo∣the to get her thou shalt lese bothe / and be of the n•…•…mber / of whych god ple•…•…h by the prophe∣te 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sayenge. They reygnyd but not by me sayeth god. And yf we holde that / that is forbo den / here we that is boden of Chryste. He that is greatest of you se y^t he be made as younger in symplenes / and he that is a fore goere loke he be as a seruaunt. Thys is y^e forme of apostles lyfe / lordshyppes forboden ād seruys is boden thys sayeth saynt Bernerdethere. And therfor no man may put a nother grounde besydes y^t that is put whych is Christe Iesu.

But yet I wote well that clarkes and rely∣gyous fol•…•…ke that loue •…•…nkyndly these lordlynes wyll glose here & saye / y^t they occupre not soche lordshyppes in proper as secular lordes doo / but in comone / lyke as the apostles & perfyte pe∣ople dyde in the beginnynge of Christes chirche as w•…•…yteth Saynot Luke in the fourthe chaptre of the Actes of the apostles / the whyche had all thynges in comone / lyke as soche clarkes and re ligyous saye they haue nowe. In tokeninge wherof no mā sayde of any thinge at that tyme / thys ys myne / so oure clarkes and namely rely gyous people whon they wyll speake in termes of their religyō. A pryuate person wyll not saye this or thys is myne / but in parsone of all his bretheren he wyll saye / this is oures. And ouer thys they saye more s•…•…elly that they occupye not this by tytle of secular lordshyppe / but by ty∣tle of perpetuall allmes. But what euer thy

people saye here / we mo•…•…e take hede to the rule of prefe that fayleth not. The whiche rule Chri∣ste teacheth vs in the gospell in dyuers places / where he sayeth / beleue ye the workes. For why by their workes ye shall knowe thei. And thys rule is wonder nedefull to a mā that hath a do with any man of the Pharyseys condycyones. For as Christe sayeth Math. xxiij. They saye but they do not. And so as Christes workes be re witnesse of hym as he hym selfe sayeth / and sheweth what he was and howe he lyued / so the dedes and maner of lyuinge / or the thynge in it selfe bearyth wytnesse wyth out fayle howe it stondyth amonge theym in thys poynte. And yf we take hede thus by thys rule we shall se at oure eye howe the clargye sayeth other wyse than it is in dede. For in some place in pryuate parsone / ād in some place in comone or parsone aggregate / whiche is all one as saynct Austyne sayeth vppon the psalter / y^• clar∣gy occupyeth the secular lord shyppe secularly / & so in propere. For in the same maner wyse as y^t Barone / or the knyghte occupyeth and gouuer nyth hys baronrye or hys knyghtes fe / so after the amortesyenge occupyeth y^• clarcke / y^e Mon ke / or Chanon / the College or Conuente / the sa me lordshippe & gouerneth it by y^e same lawes in iudgement & punishinge as presonnynge ād hangynge with soche other worldly turmētyng the which some tyme belongyd to the secular arme of the chirche. Ye oft tymes we may se ho we they busye theym selfes to be kinges in their

owne / and reioyce them full moche in that ciui∣lyte or secularite yf they may get it. And this is an euidence that they wold gladly be kynges of all the realme or the world. For where their londes & secular mēnes fraunchyse ar to gether they striue who shall haue the galowes / or other maner tourmētes for fela•…•…nes. They kepe also vnder bondage their tenauntes and their yssue with their londes. And this is the moste ciuilite or secular lordshyppinge that any kynge or lor∣de hath on his renaūtes And therfore we maye se howe they cleyme in their goodes a maner of proper possessyon cōtrarye to the c•…•…monnynge of the comone goodes in tyme of the perfyte mē in the begynnynge of Christes chirche. And so what so euer the clergy sayeth the dede sheweth well that they haue not their goodes in como∣ne lyke as Christe with his apostles and perfyte men had in the begynnynge of christes chirche. For in holdynge or hauynge of their goodes / is properte of possessyon and secular lordshippin ge. The which stondith not with y^e plente of chri stes perfeccyon in prestes as it sueth of this pro cesse and of that / that is declared before. And as for that o•…•…her glose that clerkes haue here / where they saye that they holde thes lordshyp∣pes by tytle of perpetuall almes. But here ye shall vnderstandeth at mercy or almes is a will * 2.4 of releuinge of some wretche oute of his my sese as Lyncolniensis sayeth in the begynnynge of his dicris. So that yf a man shuld effectual∣ly * 2.5 do almesse he must loke to whom he shulde do

almesse to / were in my sease and had nede to be releuyd. In tokeninge wherof / christ onely assi∣gneth almesse to thos / in whom he marketh my sease. And so here of this it will sue / that yf a man will releue one wretche and make a nother or •…•…o / he dothe none almesse / but rather ma∣keth mysease. And moche more he dothe none al messe yf he make riche thos persones that haue no nede. For as moche as they be sufficient to theym selfes / this hath no coloure of almesse. For this may be better called a woodnes or a wastynge of goddes goodes. And ouer this yf a man take thos goodes / the which god in the best wyse euen and with oute erroures hath as∣sygned to the state of secular lordes / and geue thos goodes to another people that hath no ne∣de of theym / ye to y^e which people soche goodes are forfendid. This shuld be called no almesse / but peruertinge of goddes ordinaunce / and the destruction of the state of secular lordes y^e which god hath approued in his chirche. For as saynt Paule sayeth. Almesse dede shuld be ruled so y^e * 2.6 it were releuīge to thos y^e receiue it. And moch rather it shuld not be vndoynge of thos that do it. And therfore Christ teachith in the gospell to do almes of the thinges that be nedeles or super fluite. And in this dede a man shuld haue re∣garde * 2.7 to the nede of him that he dothe almes to and to the charge of his owne house. What al∣mes was it then I praye you / to vndo the state of the Emperoure / ād to make the clarkes riche with his lordshippes / namely syth Christ con∣firmyd

to y^e Emperour his state / with tho thin∣ges that longe therto / notwithstonding at that tyme the emperoure was hethen. And he hath forfendyd expresly hys clergy in worde & in exā ple soche lordshyppe. And as thys was no all∣mes / so we mote saye of other kynges / dukes ād erles / barones and knyghtes that are vndone hereby / & the clerkes made ryche and worldly lor des with theyr goodes. And though it had be so y^t the clergy myght haue occupyed thus wor ldly lordshyppe / & also though it hadde be no de struccion nor appeyrynge of any other state / yet it hadde be no allmes for to geue to theym so∣che goodes / wherfor it may be ryghtfully say∣de. No man may put a nother grounde besydes that is put / which is Christe Iesu.

Here we may se by the grounde of y^• gospel and by the ordynaunce of christe / that the cler∣gye was sufficiently purueyd for lyuelood. For god is so perfyte in all his werckynge / y^t he may ordeyne no state in hys chirche but yf he ordey∣ne sufficient lyuelood to the same state. And this is opē in goddes lawe who so takyth hede / and that vnder euery lawe of god / as vnder y^e lawe of innocencye and of kynde / vnder y^e lawe geuē by Moyses and also vnder y^e lawe geuē by chri ste. In y^e tyme of the state of innocencye we kno∣we well by beleue y^e god hadde so ordeyned for man kynde that it shuld haue hadde lyuelood ynough withoute any tedious laboure And of y^e lawe of kynde / christ speakyth in y^e gospell sayen * 2.8 ge thus All thynges y^e ye wyll y^• other men do

to you / do ye to theym. And yf thys lawe hadde be kepte ther shuld no man haue bene mysche∣uously nedy. And in the tyme of y^e lawe geuē by Moyses / god made a full ād a sufficient ordy∣naunce for all hys people howe & wher by they shuld lyue. For he dealyd y^e londe amonge the laye people and he assygned y^• fyrst frutes & ty∣thes to y^e prestes & deakenes. And all though y^t he wold y^t ther shuld be all waye pooremen in y^e lande of ysraell / yet he made an ordinaunce * 2.9 agaynst myscheuous nede. And comandyd all the people that ther shuld be in no wyse a nedye man and a begger amonge them as it is wryt∣ten. And so in thys lawe he ordeyned sufficiēt∣ly ynough for hys people. And in y^e tyme of the newe lawe christe assigned y^e seculer lordshyp∣pes to temporall lordes as it is taught before / And alowed y^e comonte her lyuelood gotten by true marchaundyse & husboundrye & other craf tys. And in worde & ensaumple he taught hys prestes to be proctoures for nedye people & poo∣re at y^• ryche men / & specifyed thes poore / & tau∣ght howe they that were myghty / shuld make a purueaūce for soche poore folke y^t they were not cōstrayned by nede for to begge / as great cler∣kes marcke vpon thes wordes of y^e gospell whe re chryste sayeth thus. Whan thou makest thy feast / y^t is of allmes / call poore people / feble / la∣me & blynde▪ He sayeth not lett soche pooremen * 2.10 call vpon y^e / but call thou vpon theym meanyn ge in y^t / that thou shuldest make a purueaunce for soche people / y^t they be not myscheuously fa•…•…

tye. And for y^e clergy he ordeined sufficiētly / re∣ching theym in worde and ensample howe they shuld holde theym appayde with lyuelood and hylynge mynistred to theym / for theyr true la∣boure in the gospell as it is written before. Of thys than thou mayst se howe god in all hys la wes hath sufficiently ordeyned for all y^• stares that be founded and approuyd And howe it is agaynst y^e goodnes and wysdom of god / to or∣deyne any state / but yf he ordeyned sufficient ly∣uelood therto. Syth than thys ordenaunce of god was sufficient as well for the clergye as for other men it semeth a foule presumpcion to brynge in a newe & a contrarye ordinaūce of ly∣uelood for clerckes vpon the ordinaūce y^t Criste hath made for theym before. Of y^e whiche ordy∣naunce / the clergye full many yeres after the begynnynge of Chrystes chyrche / whan it was best gouuernyd / held theym well a payde. For thys meaneth that Christes ordynaūce was in∣sufficient / and worthy to be vndone And yf we take good hede / they hadde no more nede to pl•…•…y ne theym of thys ordynaunce / than hadde the other two states of hys chyrche / which vnto this daye holde theym a payde with thys ordynaū∣ce of chryst / were it fully kepte. And more sekir∣nes & ensuraūce maye no man make of any thin ge than chryst hath of hys lyuelood to the cler∣gye For chryst not onely affermyth to y^e people y^t he wyll not fayle theym in lyuelood ād hylin∣ge / but also prouyth thys by argumētes y^t may not be assoyled / So y^t they be true seruauntes

to him. For Chryste meanyth thus in his argu ynge there. Syth god fayleth nor bryddes and lyles and grasse that groweth in y^e felde / nether herhen men. Howe moche rather shall he not fayle his true seruauntes? And so this purne∣aunce of perpetuall almes y^t oure clerkes spea ke of / meanyth faute of beleue & despeyre of the gracious gouernaūce of god. Syth than as it is sayde before / it is no allmes to releue one wretche & to make another or moo / & to make thei ryche wyth temporall lordshippe / the whiche be ne forfendyd to soche people & namely yf soche al mes geuynge be destroyenge or appeyringe of any state approuyd by God in his chirche / it willsue that the endowynge of y^e clargye with worldly lordshippe / ought not to be called all∣messe / but rather all a mysse / or wastynge of goddes goodes or destroyenge of his ordinaū∣ce / for as moche as the clergye was sufficiently ordeyned be Christe. For why / this almes that clerckes speake of here / made many wretches & it was geuen to theym that had no nede. And •…•…s it is em•…•…y 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not only of one estate of y^e chyrche / but of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the which I spake in y^e begynynge. And so this almes geuynge hath made all oure realme nedy / ye ād as I suppose fullnygh all christendom full poore & nedy and mischeuous ouer that it shulde haue bene yf the clargye had held theym a payde with christes ordinaūce. But nowe thou rough this perpetu∣all all a mysse / that the clarkes call almes / chri∣stes ordinaūce ys vndō in some landes holly ād

in Englonde for y^t more party & it is lykely to be all vndone in processe of tyme. For by a mortesy enge of lordshippes / y^e lordes be yndone in gre∣at party. And many noble mē because they lac∣ke their owne parte through folishe gifte of the∣ir aunceters be full nedy. Forthermore it may be vnderstōde of this processe / y^t withdrawyng of this lordshippes frō y^e clergy & restoringe agai¦ne of thē to the states y^t god hathe assigned thē to / shuld not be called robbery of holy chirche as oure clerkes faye / but rather rightwise restituciō of good wrongfully & theefly with old. And ther¦fore ther maye none othe or vowe binde any mā to maytayne this theft & destrucciō of goddes or¦dinaunce / & this great harmynge of Christes chirche. As y^• vowe of Iepte shuld not haue bo∣unde him to kill & sacrifice his owne doughter. Ne the othe of herode shuld not haue bounde him to kill innocent Ihon. But as Iepte shuld a broken his othe or vowe & haue offered a no∣ther thinge that had bene pleasynge to god & ac¦cordinge with his lawe: As saynt Austyne sa∣yeth vpō the same storye. So Herode shuld ha∣ue broken his othe & a saued innocēt blood & so∣re a repented him for his vnavysed swerynge. And so shuld lordes nowe a dayes breake they: othes that they haue vnavysely & without coun∣seyle of holy scripture sworne to maynteine this theefte / ye heresy & symony as it is proued befo∣re / the which oure clerkes call perpetuall almes And not sue theire folishe dedes & othes y^t they haue made to maynteyne this mischeuous per∣uertinge

of chhristes ordinaunce. For as the sta te of the clergye hath no power or leaue / to ma∣ke the people or lordes to synne deadly or to de∣stroye gods ordinaunce in his chirche. So they haue no leaue or power of god to counceile or to * 2.11 constrayne in any case the lordes or y^• people to swere for to maynteyne this endowēge of y^e cler kes & religious folke / which is full great thefte heresy & symony / & wounder harmefull to chri stes chirche as it is shewed in this processe & in other writen before. But the lordes specially shuld se here / what were pleasynge not to these clerkes / but to god / & that shuld they do. For her to they be bounde by vertue of their office vppe peyne of dampnaciō. And there may no no mā dispence with thē of y^t bound stondinge her sta te. For no mā shuld put another grounde besy∣des that / y^t is put which is christ Iesu.

And therfore mē deme it a great synne to ge ue londe entayled by mennes lawe from y^e par sone or kynred that it is entayled to / ye although it be so that the parsone or kynred that soche lan de is geuen to be nedye & haue leaue by goddes lawe to occupye soche maner londe or lordship∣pe. And this is demyd full great synne among the people not onely to the geuer but also to the taker. For both they do dampnable wronge to him that it is entayled to / as the people demyth ye although it be geuen for good and true ser∣uyce that the receyuer hath done to the geuer before / or elles by waye of almes of releuynge of the perone or kinred that it is geuen to. How

moche rather than I praye you without compa rison is it a greater synne / as well to the reacey ners as to the geuers / to take the lordeshippes / the whiche god that hath full lordshippe vpon all the world hathe geuen by perpetuall lawe or right to the state of secular lordes / and geue this from the state to the whiche god entayled this lordshippe to another straunge people off another lyne / the which hadde neuer neade / ne leaue of god to occupye it. And yf priestes cley∣metythes because god graunted them to y^• kyn∣red of leuy / yet ther argument is voide. For chri ste came of the lynage of Iuda / to whiche lyne was no tythes graunted and so as men suppo se this entayle was not confermyd by christe & his apostles to the priestes in the newe lawe. * 2.12

For Gregory the tenthe ordeyned first tythes to be payed to curates only. And yet they clcyme so forforthe tythes that no man maye lawefully with holde theym or ministre than saue they. Ne they maye be turned or geuen to any other state or kynred saue onely to theym. All though men wolde do that vnder coloure or by tytle off perpetuall allmes. For this shulde be demyd of the clergye a dampnable synne and destroy∣enge of holy chirche and sacrilege. How moche rather is it then an hydeous & dampnable syn∣ne / to geue or to take awaye the secular lordship pes from the state of secular lordes / the whiche god had geuen and entayled to them by the sa∣me lawe and right / by the whiche he hadde ge∣uen the tithes to the priestes in the olde lawe.

And this entayle was neuer interrupt nor bro∣ken vnto christes tyme & his holy apostles. And than they cōfermed this entayle by lawe so strō∣ge to the seculer parte y^t no mā (saue Antichriste & his disciples) may opēly impūgne this entay∣le as it is shewed before. And so as no mā shul∣de presume to withdrawe with holde or turne the tithes from the state of presthod / as they saye / so moche rather shuld no mā presume by genynge or takinge to aliene y^e temperall lordshippes frō the state of seculer lordes. And thus clerkes ha ue nor so moche coloure to saye y^t the lordes and the laye people robbe thē for as moch as they ta ke their temperalties in to y^• handes of y^e clergy hath neuer the lesse malice in it selfe. For as mo che as it is done by simulaciō of holynes / y^e whi che is double wickednes. For thus Lucifer rob∣bed Adā both of goodes of fortune / of kinde ād * 2.13 yet dothe the chirche of thes thre maner goodes. For right as lucifer dyd this harme to Adam & Eue vnder coloure of loue & frendshippe & hel∣pinge of thē: so do nowe his angell's / those ypo∣crites that tranfigure thē selfes into angells of light / & deceyue y^e people by false beheste of he∣uēly helpe y^t they will procure to theym for their goodes as they saye / & yf a bishope & his colle∣ge oe an abbate & his conuent maye not aliene fro thē any of y^e temporalties y^t thei haue / nor ge ue to their founder any of thos possessiōs that he hath geuē thē / what nede that euer he haue / bo unde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by a posityfe lawe or a tradiciō that they thē selfe saue made. And yf any foche lord

shippes be withdrawen / aliened / or taken fro th•…•… by rechelesnes of their predecessoures / they ou∣ght on all wise / ye to the deathe laboure to get y^e possessiones in to their hondes agayne as they saye: Howe muche more than shuld not a secu∣lar lorde or a laye al•…•…ne fro him ād his yssue or fro the state of secular lordes / y^e secular lordship pes the whiche god hath lymyted to that state / syth he is bounde by the lawe of kynde to ordey∣ne for his childern. And ou•…•… this he is bounde by godes lawe to susteyne the state of secular lor des / the whiche is auctory sed in the chirche and his aposiles. Of this processe than yf a man ta∣ke hede he shall perceyue the fals•…•…s of this glo se / whan oure clerckes and religions folke saye that they hold these lordshippes onely by title of perpetuall allmes. For certis syth these tythes and offerynges the which as I suppose coun∣teruayle the secular lordes re•…•…s of the real∣me or elles passe as it is full lyely / for though they belesse in one chirde they passe in a nother and be sufficient for all the poi•…•… in •…•…isten∣dome yf they were 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Than it were no nede to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 se secular lordshippes to the sta te of the clergye. The which amortesyenge is vndoynge of lordes / apost•…•… of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And yf this amor•…•…enge were not nedefull / then were it no allmes as it is declared. And o∣uer the tythes and offerynges that be nowe off certeyn•…•…e / the clerckee haue many great & small perquysytis / the whiche sma•…•… of symonye and •…•…cion. As the fyrst frutes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bene∣fyces /

prouynge of testamentes and money for halowenge of chapelles / chirches / chauncelles / and other ornamentes of the chirche / and for sa cryng of ordres / ād full many mo that for mul titude may not well be numbred. For wellnigh all theire blessynges be set to sale and to prijs / in to chrystenynge and confumacion. Wherfo∣re I may nowe saye as I sayde at the begynni∣ge. No man may put a nother grounde besy∣des that / that is put / the whiche is Christe Iesu The which grounde of lyuynge christe graun∣te vs to kepe that we maye escape the euerlastin ge peynes of hell. AMEN.

¶ The husbandman.

Loo / nowe by this treatyse may ye well se That af•…•…etymes against the spiritualte Men dyd invey / shewinge their vyces. Also here after this auctour dorhe test. What great Ieoparde it is and perell For priestes to be in secular offices. Ye / and rolordes which against right Suffre them therein or therto excyte Prouynge it by their owne doctours & lawes

¶ Gentillman.

I besechethe rede forthe the processe That the people may se their unhappenesse Which make all the world foles & dawes.

¶ Seynt Eipriane sayeth y^t by the counceile of bisshops ther is made a statute / that all y^• bene * 2.14 charged with priesihede & ordeyned in y^e seruys of clerfes / shuld not serue but to the aulter and to ministre y^• sacramentes / to prcache gods wor

de / & to tale hede to prayers and orysones. It is for sorhe writen. No man bering his knighthos∣de to god: entryketh him with secular nedes. The which oure bisshops & oure predecessours beholdinge religiously & purueynge holsomly / deme that whosoeuer taketh ministres of y^e chir∣che / from spirituall office to secular / that ther be none offrynge done for him / ne any sacrifice ho lowed for his sepulture. For they deserue not to be named before y^e aulter of god in y^e prayer off priestes / the whiche will clep•…•… awaye priestes & ministres of y^• chirche frō y^e aulter. Thus sayeth seynt Cipaiane. Here mē maye se how perelous it is to y^e kyng & secular lordes to with holde any prieste of christ in secular busynes. This is pro ued thus. For euery secular lorde by the lawe of the gospell is gods bayly. But yf any bayly hy red a worclman with his lordes good and put him to his owne seruys / he must be vntrewe to his owne lorde. Right so is any secular lorde to oure lorde Christ Iesu / but yf he amende hym / that taketh a prieste and putteth him in his se∣cular office breafinge the heest of his lorde god that cōmaundeth / thou shalr coueyet none other mannes servaunte. And he with draweth hym fro the seruys of god and fro the kepinge of chri sten mennes soules / y^t which he hath taken char ge of / for which soules oure lorde Iesu Christe toke flesche and bloude & suffered harde dethe / & shedde his owne harte bloode. This pardous deynge of secular lordes is bothe against god∣des lawe and mannes. It is ageinst gods lawe

for as seynt Paule saieth. No mā y^t is a perfyte * 2.15 knight of god / as euery priest shuld be by his or dre / ētromedleth him with worldly deades & bu∣synes. And for this ende that he may so please y^e lorde to whose seruyce he hathe put him selfe / & that is good. For soche worldly busynes in cler∣kes is against their ordre. And therfore y^• apost les said as it is writē in y^e dedes of y^• apostles / it * 2.16 is nor euē / vs to leue y^e worde of god & ministre to boordes of poore folke. And yf it was vnequi te as the apostles saide in their comone decree / them for to leaue y^e preachinge of goddes wor∣de / and ministre to the boordes of poore folke: Howe moche more vnequite ād wronge to god and man is it / preastes to leaue contemplacion / studye / prayer and preachinge of goddes wor∣and ministrynge to poore folke for the servyce of a secular lorde? It is also agaynst the Popes lawe / for he speaketh to a bisshoppe and byd∣deth hym that he warne preastes and clerckes / * 2.17 that they be not occupyed in secular offices ne procurators of secular lordes deades & her goo des. And yf presies and clerckes be so bolde to occupye theym in soche busynes and if they fall after by losse of lordes goodes / then sayeth the lawe it is not worthy y^t they be holpē & socou∣red of holy chirche / sythe through ther holy chir∣che is sclaundred. And saynte Gregorye wrote to the defensoure of Rome in this maner. It is tolde to vs that oure moste reuerēte brother Sa∣syle y^e bysshoppe is occupyed in secular causes and kepith vnproffitable moote halles. Which

thinge makyth him foule & destroyeth y^• reuerē∣ce of presthood / therfore anone as thou hast rea ceiued this mādemēt / cōpell him with sharppe execucion to turne a gayne. So y^t it be not lefull to y^• by no excusacion totarye fyue dayes / lest in any maner thou suffre hym any lōger to tarye there in / thou be culpable with hym agaynst vs And so bysshoppes & other prestes be bounde to teache & ēforme lordes / to withdrawe theym fro this synne & sharpely to reproue prestes & cura tes vnder thē y^t they occupye no secular office. This is proued thus by y^e holy prophet Ezechi∣ell sayēge. Yf y^e wayte or y^• watchemā se enemi∣es * 2.18 come / & yf y^e people be not warned & kepe not thē selues but enemies come & •…•…sle y^e people / thē sayeth god that y^e people is take in their wicked nes. And of y^e wayte y^t shulde haue blowen his horne god will are acountes & rekeninge of the bloode & of the deathe of y^t people. But nowe to gostely vnderstandinge / euery bisshoppe shuld be a wayte or a warche mā / totell & warne befo∣re to all y^e people by his good lyuinge & reachin ge y^e perell of synne / & this is y^e reason why bis∣shopes & other prelates ād presies shuld not be occupyed with worldly deades & causes. For so che occupaciōs & charges make prestes slepin∣ge ād slomobringe in synne. And therfore it is great perell to make ouer thē gostly waytes and watchemē / as bisshopes / parsones / vicarres / y^• bē slepers in lustes of y^e flesshe & in slomebernes ād blinded with pouder of couctyse of worldly deades y^t they nether cā ne maye kepe thē selfes

ne no nother man. For of this perell and soche other / a prelate that hath witte and cunninge shuld sharpely reproue and warne all maner men to the shedinge of his oune bloode as christ did And yf he so leaue & blame not thē he assen tyth to their trespases and synneth deadly. For as sayeth Malach. Prestes lippes kepe cunnin ge & the people shall aske the lawe of god of his * 2.19 mouth / for he is the Angell of god / yf he kepe well the ordre & degre of presthood. And ther∣for it is not lefull to any mā to drawe to seculer offices & busynes y^e messangeres of christe / that hath so vtterly for fendyd theym bothe in wor∣de & deade secular offices in presthood. &c.

¶ Husbandman.

Syr howe lyke ye nowe this oldetreatyse Yf so be noble men wold it aduertyse Puttynge a parte pryuate affeccion. Shuld they not perceyue here euydently That the clergye dothe theym great iniury Retaynynge thus temporall possessyon?

¶ Gentyllman.

Nowe I promyse the after my iudgement I haue not hard of soche an olde fragment Better groundyd on reason with scripture. Yf soche 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thynges myght come to ly ght That noble men hadde ones of theym a s•…•…ght The world yet wolde chaunge perauenture For here agaynst the clergye can not bercke Sayenge as they do / thys is a newe wercke Of heretykes contryued lately. And by thys treatyse it apperyth playne

That before oure dayes men dyd compleyn•…•… Agaynst clerkes ambycyon so stately

¶ Husbandman.

Concernynge thys treatyse and lyke matters I haue hard saye of my fore fathers Bowe in kynge henry the. v. raygne. What tyme as ye dyd specyfye The clergye persecutyd the gospell fercely Causynge moche chrystē people to be slayne The kynge at the last hauynge informacyon Thourough seryous consyderacyon Of soche proper matters as thys is. Beganne to note the clergyes tyranny And what temporaltees / they dyd occupye Their spirituall state ferre a mysse. Wherfore he determyned certeynly To depryue theym temporally Of all theyr worldly gouuernaunce. Whos pretence / as sone as they perceyued Amonge theym selfes they Imagyned To get the kynge ouer in to fraunce. That whyles he conqueryd ther his ryght In england do what they lyst they myght Theyr froward •…•…yranny to fulfyll. Which counseil / thus brought to passe The kynge euer after so busyed wasse That he could not performe hys sayde wyll.

¶ Gentyllman.

So moore I the / it was happye for the kynge That by soche a colour they could hym brynge From medlynge with that case any more. For hadde he it ones ernestly begonne

They had put hym to a confusyon Euene as they dyd other kynges before.

¶ Husbandman.

What suppose ye they wold haue done?

¶ Gentyllman.

Mary / fyrst with a fayre interdyccion To coursse the lande as blacke as pytche. Than to inhybyt sayenge and syngynge Of mattyns / masse / and belles ryngynge With christen bury all of poore and ryche. Besyde that precheres euery where Shuld haue brought men in soche fere By theyr threatnynge exclamacyon. That their malycyous partye to take Subgettes shuld theyr prynce for sake Contrary to goddes ordynacyon. Euene as they dyd in hygh Germany To the Emperour lewes of Bauerye Whom Pope Ihone sought to confounde And so dyd the clergy as Ivnderstande Unto kynge Ihon here in Englande To kynge Sreuen / & henry the secounde.

¶ Husbandman.

They saye kynge Ihone was poysoned Because an halfe peny lofe of brced Besayde / he wold make worthe. xij. pence.

¶ Gentillman.

Tushe that is a cast of theyr comon gyse Soche infamy of prynces to deuy•…•…e To cloke theyr oune tyrannous vyolence. For hadde not kynge Ihon gene aboute From their temporaltees to put theym ow•…•…

Be hadde bene longe after a lyues man. But murder they neuer so shamefully They can geue it a cloke full craftely Sayenge / nobis non licer occidere quenq•…•…▪ Whan they brennyd the newe testament They pretendyd a zele very feruent To maynteyne onely goddes honour. Which they sayde with protestacyon Was obscured by translacyon In englysshe / causynge moche errour. But the trueth playnly to be sayde Thys was the cause why they were a frayde Least laye men shuld knowe theyr iniquite. Which through goddes worde is so vttred That it were not possyble to be suffred Yf to rede scripture men had lyberte. Also after the same maner a fasshyon Subtelly to colour theyr abhomynacyon They destroyed cronicles not longe a gone. Which for certeyne poyntes vnreuerently Soundynge agaynst the kynges aunce•…•…rye As they saye / were brent euery chone. But for all that / they shulde haue been spared From burnynge: had they not so declared The clergyes abhomynable excesse.

¶ Husbandman.

I suppose then / that they vse the same wayes In burnynge of heretykes nowe a dayes Whom they pursue with great furyousne•…•….

¶ Gentillman.

No fayle / they perswade temporall menne Thes heretykes (as they saye) to brenne

Least other good christians they shuld ifecte But y^e cause why they wolde haue theim rydde Is onely that theyr vnhappynes nowe hydde They dreede least they shuld openly detecte

¶ Husbandman.

By my trouth it is nothinge vnlickly. For let one lyue neuer so wyckedly In abhominable scandalisacion. As longe as he will their church obaye Not refusynge his tithes duely to paye They shall make of him no accusacion. Howbeyt let him ones begynne to pynche Or withdrawe their tithinge anynche For an heretike they will him ascite. Wherfore I wonder moche of the temporalte That in performyngethe clargyes cruelte To burne soche parsones they haue delyte.

¶ Gen∣tillman

It is no merueil yf th•…•…n marcke well The clargye sayenge y^t it is goddes quarrell Their mischeuous murdre to execute.

¶ Husbandman.

So they are not a knowen by their wyll That it is their cause christen men to kyll But the faute vnto other they impute.

¶ Gentyllman.

Touchinge that / another tyme atleyser I shall shewe the more of their maner But nowe I can not •…•…ary verely.

¶ H•…•…sbandman.

Well syr / yf ye may no longer abyde Oure lorde be your continnall gyde Grauntiuge y^• trouth to be knowen openly.

Notes

• * 2.1

  Act. iij.
• * 2.2

  Lib•…•…. ij
• * 2.3

  i. Petri.
• * 2.4

  Almes.
• * 2.5

  Dicto. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 2.6

  ij. Cori. viij.
• * 2.7

  Qd su∣perest da te •…•…lemo sinā. Lu ce. xiiij.
• * 2.8

  Mat. v•…•…
• * 2.9

  Seu•…•…e. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 2.10

  Luc•…•…. xiiij.
• * 2.11

  •…•…oke well •…•…ponthis •…•…ason
• * 2.12

  Polic•…•… Lib. vii.
• * 2.13

  Gene. iij
• * 2.14

  •…•…ist. xxi. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. iij. ca. •…•…ipriane
• * 2.15

  ij. Chi. ij
• * 2.16

  Acto. vi
• * 2.17

  Lin̄. iij. de •…•…e. in fine
• * 2.18

  Ezechie. xxxiij.
• * 2.19

  Mala. ij