The anatomie of abuses contayning a discouerie, or briefe summarie of such notable vices and imperfections, as now raigne in many Christian countreyes of the worlde: but (especiallie) in a verie famous ilande called Ailgna: together, with most fearefull examples of Gods iudgementes, executed vpon the wicked for the same, aswell in Ailgna of late, as in other places, elsewhere. Verie godly, to be read of all true Christians, euerie where: but most needefull, to be regarded in Englande. Made dialogue-wise, by Phillip Stubbes. Seene and allowed, according to order.

The Manner of Church-ales in Ailgna.

Philoponus.

THE manner of them is thus,* 1.1 In cer∣taine Townes where drunken Bachus beares all the sway, against a Christ∣mas, an Easter, Whitsonday, or some other time, the Church-wardens (for so they call them) of euery parish, with the consent of the whole Parish, prouide half a score or twenty quarters of mault, wherof some they buy of the Church-stock, and some is giuen them of the Parishioners them selues, euery one con∣ferring somewhat, according to his abilitie, which mault béeing made into very strongale or béere, it is set to sale, either in the Church or some other place assigned to that purpose.

Then when the Nippitatum, this Huf-cap (as they call it) and this Nectar of lyfe, is set abroche, wel is he that can get the soonest to it, and spend the most at it, for he that sitteth the closest to it, and spends the moste at it, he is coun••ed the godliest man of all the rest,* 1.2 but who, either cannot for pinching pouertie, or otherwise wil not stick to it, he is coūted one destitute bothe of vertue and godlynes. In so much, as you shall haue many poormen make hard shift for money to spend therat, for it, bée¦ing put into this Corban, they are perswaded it is meritorious & a good seruice to God. In this kinde of practise, they cōtinue six wéeks, a quarter of a yéer, yea half a yéer togither, swil∣ling

and gulling, night and day, till they be as drunke as Apes, and as blockish as beasts.

Spud.

Séeing they haue so good vtterance, it should seeme they haue good gaines. But I pray you how doe they bestowe that money, which is got therby?

Philo.

Oh, well I warent you, if all be true which they say: For they repaire their Chur∣ches and Chappels with it,* 1.3 they buy bookes for seruice, cuppes for the celebration of the Sacrament, surplesses for Sir Ihon, and such other necessaries: And they maintaine other extraordinarie charges in the parishes besy∣des. These be their exceptions, these be their excuses, and these be their pretensed allega∣tions, wherby they blind the world, and con∣ueigh themselues away inuisibly in a clowd. But if they daunce thus in a net, no doubt they will be espied.

For if it wer so, y^• they bestowed it as they say,* 1.4 do they think that the Lord will haue his howse build with drunkennesse, gluttony and such like abhominatiō? Must we do euill, that good may come of it? must we build this house of lyme and stone, with the desolation, and vt∣ter ouerthrow of his spirituall howse, clensed and washed in the preciouse blood of our Sa∣uiour Iesus Christ? But, who séeth not that they bestow this money vpon nothing lesse, than▪ in building and repayring of Churches

and Oratories? For, in most places, lye they not like swyn coates? their windowes rent, their dores broken,* 1.5 their walles fall downe, the roofe all bare, and what not, out of order? Who séeth not the booke of GOD, rent rag∣ged and all betorn, couered in dust, so as this Epitaphe may be writ with ones finger vp∣pon it, ecce nunc in puluere dormio: (Alas) behold I sleep in dust, and oblyuion, not once scarse looked vppon, which lesse red vpon, and the least of all preached vppon. And on the o∣ther side, who séeth not, (for this I speak but in way of parenthesis) in y^e meane tyme, their owne howses and mansion places,* 1.6 are curi∣ously build, and sumpteously adorned: which plainly argueth, that they rather bestow this drunken got-money, vppon prophane vses and their own priuat affaires, than vpon the howse of prayer, or the temple of God: And yet this their doing is wel liked of, and no mā may say, black is their eye. For why? Thei do all things well, and according to good order, as the say. And when time commeth, like good accoumptantes they make ther accoumptes, as please themselues.

Sp.

Were it not better, & more consonant to y^• truth, that euery one contributed somewhat according to his abilitie to y^• maintenance of templaries & oratories, thā thus to maintaine thē, by drunkē churchales? as you say, thei do?

Philo.

It weare muche better: And so we read, the Fathers of the old Testament,* 1.7 euery one after his abilitie did impart some what, to the building and restauration of the Ta∣bernacle, which Moyses erected to the Lord. So, as in the end, there was such aboundance of all things, as y^• Artificers, consulting with Moyses were glad to request the People, to stay their liberalitie, for they had more, than they knew what to do withall. These People made no drunken Church-ales to build their edefice withal: notwithstanding, their impor∣table charges and intollerable costes. But as their zeel was feruēt, and very commendable in bringing to the Church, so our zeal is more than frosen & blame worthie in detracting frō the Church: and bestowing it vpon whordom drunkennesse,* 1.8 gluttony, pride, and such like abhominations: God amend it▪

Spud.

How do they solemnise their feastes and wakesses there, and what order do they obserue in them?

Notes

• * 1.1

  The manner of Church-••les in Ailg.
• * 1.2

  The filthiest beast, the god¦lyest man.
• * 1.3

  How the mony is spent which is got by Churcha∣les.
• * 1.4

  Wil the Lord haue his hou∣se build with maintenance of euill.
• * 1.5

  The decay of Churches, which are la∣cerat, rent and torn.
• * 1.6

  Sūpteousnes of their owne mansions.
• * 1.7

  Churges are to be main∣tained by mutuall con∣tribution of euery one after his power.
• * 1.8

  Our zeal wa∣xen cold and frosen, in re∣spect of the zeal of the former world