the iudgemeÌ„te of those whose doctrine hath euer from time to tyme bene by the whole churche of God well lyked alowed And besyde to trye y e spirite wherewith he is moued whether it be of God or otherwise Whyche maye in dede be very easely tried For yf it be of God it will not resist the authoritie of the churche nor laboure to disanull the same but will alwayes submytte it selfe thervnto as to the true spouse of Chryste and gladly embrace the doctrine therof as the doctrine of helth and saluation But if it be the deuilles spirite it wil then contemne the authoritie of the Churche and wil trauayle to treade that vnder foote and lewdly oftentimes belye it to and rage and rayle agyanst the godly ordre therof and blaspheme the blessed mysteryes and sacramentes therin and call fastinge and praying superstition and call all them worke wongers that medle wyth any such matters And presumptuously wil take vpon it to iudge of the depe secretes of the scripture and despise the doctrine of the old holy fathers doctors of the churche wil say y t they were men both might did erre and that men must beleue and read nothing but scripture allowe none interpretation thereof but suche as they gather theÌ„ selfes by conferringe place with place that euery manne oughte to be his owne iudge in y t behalfe Such a spirite of al those y t be meÌ„bres of Christes catholike churche purpose so to continue be saued at length is to be vtterly auoyded lest lyke a snake when it hath ones gotten in the heade it drawe the whole bodye after it and so be the destruction of all them that receaue it For suche a spirite will at lengthe moue men to disobeye theyr prince yf he be a godly catholike man yea and openly to rebell agaynst him And hereby it may easelye be perceaued y t it is not the spirite of God because it stirreth men to fyghte agaynst God For whosoeuer maketh warre agaynste hys prince he maketh warre agaynst God forasmuch as the prince is as I sayd before appoynted by God And lyke as yf a worldly prince shulde ordeyn an officer and giue him full aucthoritye to examyne causes and to execute suffice vnder hym whosoeuer shuld withstande this officer go about to fight with him shuld be worthely taken for a traytour and shoulde haue as he had deserued So truelye seynge that God hath appoynted the prince to be his officer and minister of iustice here in earth what man soeuer rebelleth agaynste him is a false traytour to God and excepte he repente betime he shaâ—â— receaue the rewarde of a traytour in hell Besydes this the foresayde spirite maye be well knowen by the doctrine that cometh from it For the doctrine there of is full of pryde and presumption full of hypocrisie full of blasphemie It is also contentiouse stubborne and vnpatient it is licentiouse and carnall it is for the moste parte grounded vpon lyes blind ignorance But the doctrine and wisdome that cometh from heauen as saynt Iames sayeth firste it is pure secondarelye it is peaceable beside it is gentle and obedient it is also full of mercye and good workes it will not iudge other finallye it is simple and vnfayned Therfore wheÌ„soeuer we be tempted to receaue any newe doctrine lette vs weye wel not only who are the teachers thereof and whether it selfe haue the qualities of the wisedome and doctrine that the holye Apostle sayeth commeth from heauen aboue but also what fruites springe out of it For if we perceaue both y e ministers therof to be good godly men and fauourers of Christes catholike churche also â–ª the doctrine it selfe to be peaceable gentle obediente and mercyful and finally that it bringe for the suche fruytes as saint Paul calleth the fruites of the spirite that is to saye Charitie ioye peace longe suffrynge gentlenes goodnes fayth mekenes and temperaunce then maye we be bolde to embrace it as the doctrine of GOD commynge from aboue and to frame oure fayth and beleue according to it But contrarye yf not onelye the doctrine that is taughte vs to be busye vnquiete headye dysobediente and cruell but also the ministers thereof be hyghe mynded presumptuouse enemies to the churche of Christ raylers and gesters lewde in their preaching morelewd in their behauiour authors of carnal liberties and maynteyners of the same yea and beside this if the fruites of their preaching be such as the blessed Apostle Paule calleth the workes of the fleshe that is to weâ—e aduâ—utrye horedoâ—e filthines wantonnesse worshpppynge of Idols witchecraffe hatred stryfe emulation anger â–ª debate dissention sectes enuye murder dronkennes riotous baâ—kettyng such â—ike then must we thinke â–ª that such doctrine is soweÌ„ abroad by our deadly enemye the deuyll to poyson oure soules withall And we must be well ware that we taste not thereof leste it seminge to vs pleasaunte and swete at the fyrste worke in vs at the lengthe a sowre and sorowfull effecte For yf we be ones infected with it hardly shall we be deliuered of it For it is a commoÌ„ saying in England that frenesie heresie yelousie are hard to be cured And yf it remayn styll within vs it will in conclusion so corrupte oure selye souses that they shalbe in dauÌ„ger of death euerlastinge Therfore let euery man that loueth his soule and is desyrous to saue it take hede of peruerse doctrine neyther leane to muche to hys owne will and iudgement lest therby he be foule deceaued nor aduenture to sticke fast in the defence of a false fayth and to ieoparde both body and soule therfore For yf he stande in it to the shedding of his bloude althoughe he please him selfe neuer so muche therewith in this life yet shall he not fayl to receaue the reward y t is prepared for obstinate blindnesse in another life Of suche folke there be two sortes one that hath spiced coÌ„sciences of a folishe feruent zeale y t they haue to their fonde opinion beinge persuaded y t thei be in a truth wil rather loose al y t they haue their liues to theÌ„ any thing relent in their preteÌ„sed truth And no merueyle it is forasmuch as both they be so with presuÌ„ption blinded y t they wil folow no mans iudgemeÌ„t but their owne also so wedded to their will y t they counte all other mens counseyle vayne madnes folye By meanes where of they iudge lyes to be trueth darkenes to be lighte lewdenes to be learning fantasticall folye to be perfite wisdome blasphemous bablynge to be pure preachinge vayne wordes to be wise reasons pestilent heresie to be holesome doctrine iust punishmente for the same to be persecution obstinate stubbornesse to be patiente constancie and death for false fayth to be martyrdome So y t they may wel say by reason of their vncurable blindenes these
wepe wyth deuotion wepe not wiâ—h grudge nor wepe not wyth any token of stubborne prâ—de why wepest thou I praye thâ—e because thou suffrest paynfull misery That is a medicine for thee and no punyshmente It is to correcte thee and not to damâ—e thee Go not aboute to putte the scourge from thee yf thou wilt not be put from the heritage of heauen whych is prepared for thee And agayne he sayth in another place thus Lette not thy pouertye agreue thee because thou can fynde nothynge that is so riche as it â—or what treasure can be compared with heauen whyche is the rewarde of pouertie And S. Chrysostome sayeth None is richer then he that wyllyngly loueth pouertie and embraceth the same wyth a gladde and ioyfull heart Therefore let suche as be in pouertye learne to suffre it patiently and quietlye beare suche temporal punishment y t they maye be rewarded therfore eternally And whensoeuer their deadly enemy the deuil dothe make theÌ„ grudge at their pouertie moueth them eyther by robbynge or by rebellion to seke for ryches let them remembre that yf they eyther robbe their neyghbor or rebel agaynst their Prince firste their bodies by the lawe shall iustly be put to most vyle and shamefull death and after their cursed soules that haue wroughte suche wyckednesse agaynst the expresse commauÌ„dement of God shalbe by most horrible feendes perpetually pyned in hell But some synful wretches will not let to saye that for an howre hangynge they wyll not lyue in care all their whole life Such miserable folkes I feare me I praye God they do not thynke that their bodyes and soules dye both together and that there is no other lyfe but thys But alas they shall fynd after their departyng hence suche a lyfe or rather suche a myserable death wherin they shall continually dye and neuer be dead insomuche that they shal most wofullye crye wo be vnto vs that when we liued in y e world passed we wold neuer thynke vpon this worlde that was then to come Wherfore lette menne that eyther be borne in pouertie so coÌ„tinue or haue bene riche and by their misdemenour are fallen into pouertie remembre these lessons so shal they wel perceaue that neyther ought thei to grudge at their pouertie whyche is sent theÌ„ for their soules helth nor go about to spoile or make rebellion â–ª which be playnly agaynst the coÌ„maundemente of God for he sayth Thou shalt not steale or robbe And saynt Paule sayth That euery man ought to obey y t higher powers because they be ordeyned of God and whosoeuer withstandeth the power withstandeth the ordinaunce of God If they then wyl wythstande Gods ordinauÌ„ce they wrastell with their better and shalbe shortlye ouerthrowen to their great confusion For what became of the beggerye armye of Viriatus a thefe a robber Albeit that they because they were poore and loked to get goodes by rebellion wroughte muche wo to the Romaynes agaynste whome they rebelled and sore spoyled the noble countrye of Spayne yet at lengthe were they by Fabius ouercome and their captayne by the traynes of his owne men was murdered We reade also of a greate nombre of slaues that rose in Sicilia who beinge persuaded y t by rebellion they shulde bothe wynne their libertie also be come riche men made a sore commotion and sore troubled the countrye of Sicilye and some partes of Italy to wher they hadde a great nombre to ioyne with them But in conclusion they were rewarded accordyngly for at a towne in Italye called Sinuessa iiij thousand of them were killed and at Minturne an other towne in Italye foure hundreth were hanged Such lyke lucke had the poore slaues that rose in Sicilie when Rutilius was Consul for when Rutilius had taken Taurominium and Aetna two of the strongest holdes that the rebelles had to succoure them there were slayne aboue .xx. thousande of these slaues and rebelles The cause of whych warre as Orosius writeth was miserable and wretched for yf as he sayeth these slaues had not bene resisted theyr maysters and rulers had bene vtterlye vndone and destroyed And yet neyther part had any cause to triumphe for both in the greate and heauye miseries that this warre brought with it and also in the vnluckye gayne that was gotten in the victorye euen those that wanne the victory hadde as greate a losse as those that lost the fielde Wherefore no cause hath anye man to rebell for pouertie sake and thereby to make him selfe riche seinge that pouertie is the waye to perfection as I sayd before and rebellion leadeth a man to destruction of both body soule who then is so madde or hath so lytle regard of hys owne helth that wyll forsake that state whyche God hathe sent him for a remedy wherewyth to saue hys soule and by vnlawfull meanes seke for y t state that the deuyll dryueth hym to therby to damne hys soule As for riche men yf they rebell to encrease their ryches their cause surelye is muche worse then y â— cause of y e poore â–ª whych is as you haue heard very nought to for suche haue no neade at all as the poore haue except we cal those neadie that are neuer contented and so all couetouse wretches may be wel called neady But these folkes haue no neade to seke for liuynge because they haue ynough or elles a great deale to muche And yf they hadde neade yet neade is no cause as we proued before to moue a man to fall to rebellion For albeit that gready gaping for godes is dauÌ„gerous And all they that desire to be riche as wytnesseth Saynte Paule fall into temptation and into the deuils sâ—are and into many vayne noysome despres whych dryue men downe to vtter ruine and destruction yet those that by violence trauayle to be riche shall at lengthe loose their riches and become pore or they beware For the holy Prophete sayeth wo be to thee y â— spoyleth men by force for thou shalbe spoyled And Abacuc the Prophete sayth lykewyse That because thou haste robbed muche people they that shal remayne shal robbe thee And besyde this al riche folke that by reason of their greadye desire are moued to make commotion shoulde consider with them selfes that the gouernement of a Prince is the sauegarde of all their riches for when gouernement is taken awaye the lawes are troden vnder mens fete and euery seditiouse personne will do what hym lyketh because he feareth no punyshmente So y â— robbery then shalbe thought wel gotten good and he that hath mooste yf he be feble and faynte harted shall shortlye haue leest and he that hath no thyng yf he be stronge couragiouse shall sone become a ryche man Then is it not better for riche men euermore to beware of rebellion and so quietlye to enioye that that they haue then for greadynes of gettynge more by some mischeuouse enterprice to loose all y t
by the shadowe of holines deceaue the simple hearers â–ª But he y t is geuen to peruerse doctrine is an enemye to the doctrine of helth and saluation and yet for all that is of an honest and sobre behauioure intendeth nothyng elles but to apparell hym selfe with the cloke of an honeste pretense a sobre lyfe and to couer hys craftye diuises with it to thintente he maye the more deceaue hys hearers Therfore let vs most diligently beware of heretikes that be of honest and verâ—uous behauiour whose lyfe percase y â— deuyll rather then God hath so formed and framed For as fowlers laye bates to allure byrdes wythall to thintente they may more easelye catche them so the deuyll hath a certeyne pretensed honestie that is to saye a snare to deceaue mens soules withall â–ª to thintente that by suche honestye such meke behauiour suche righteousnesse he maye more easelye catche mens soules by false preaching bring them into the snare For the deuyill fyghteth by dyuerse subtyll traynes â–ª to thende that he may destroye mankynde Thus wryteth Origene of the preteÌ„sed vertue of heretikes Which as he aduiseth vs it is necessary for vs to eschewe leste it at the length deceaue vs. Now as for their earnest sticking in their lewde opinions is no â—ause why any man shulde the â–ª more credite them For we read of diuerse anabaptistes which is a secâ—e of heretykes as 〈◊〉 as the 〈◊〉 whyche haue suffred sondâ—y kyndes of sore tormentes yea and death to rather thâ—n they woulde refuse their adhominable heresie For in a citie of Germany called Passakia eyght of this seeâ— were burned vpon one day and abode the â—â—hole flames of fyre with suche patience as they made all men â–ª that were present to wonder at theÌ„ Amonges whom was one man that had two sonnes burned with hym whome he most earnestli exhorted y â— thei shulde neuer for feare of the fyre nor for the vntolerable paynes y t they suffered therin forsake their opinioÌ„ And ofte recited vnto them the martirdome of y e blessed Machabees Agayne at a certayne place beside the ryuer of Rheue â—iue Anabaptistes in their floryshinge age for their heresie were cast into the sayd ryuer and drowned Whyche when they were led to their death not ones shranke at y e matter At Basile lykewyse two chiefe ringleaders of this sect when they were ledde throughe the citie beateÌ„ with roddes cast their eyes vpon hym that bette them with a mery countenaunce and exhorted hym stoutly to do his office in that behalfe For we sayde they most gladly do suffre for christ and the true vnderstanding of his worde in baptisme Now then wheÌ„as we see folkes suffer greate punyshement with suche wonderfull patience pretende that they suffer for goddes word shall we saye by and by that suche be martyrs and take example of them to stycke to heresye and so caste awaye both oure bodyes and soules No no god forbyd y â— any christen man shuld do so through the noughtye exaÌ„ple of the deuyls false martyrs become as mad as they For yf constante and patiente sufâ—â—yng were â—noughe to make martyrs then shulde Turkes be martyrs For we read of certayne Turkes that had burned a good parte of Transiluâ—nâ—â— and VVulachiâ— whyche were taken prysoners by Chrystenmen Who when as they shuld be put to execution and be beheaded at 〈◊〉 they were offred their pardon â–ª if so be they woulde forsake Mahometes law and become christen But neuer one of them woulde take y â— offer but most stifly standing 〈◊〉 their wicked profession willingly went to their death Wherfore let no man eyther when he feeth an heretike flie out of his countrye because he wyll contynewe in heresye or is banished for thesame saye y t he is a confessoure and suffreth persecution for y â— truth or when he seeth hym gladlye go to the fyre patiently suffer it saye y t he dyeth a martyr and that twentye thowsande wil rise of his asshes but let hym be ryght sorye in his harte and lamente that the deuyll was so great wyth him that he coulde make hym suffer the hoaâ—e flames of fire for his wicked opinion and so led hym streighte to the â—eruente flames of euerlastynge fyre And let him exhorte al men to take hede betyme howe they enter into heresy leste their goostlye enemy leade them so farre forth in it that they shal neuer turne backe agayne froÌ„ it And let neyther such sufferynge of heretikes nor their pretensed holines by any meanes deceaue vs. Nor lette vs not thinke that any such thinges howe gaye soeuer they seme in the sight of some men can in any wise auayle the doers of them because they be done not onelye agaynste the churche of God but also without the circuiâ—ie vnitie of y e same and be contrarye to the catholike fayth thereof For if suche folkes woulde bestowe all that they haue in helpinge the poore or if they woulde tame their bodyes w t fastynge and abstinence or if they so loued their neighbors that they would be content to suffre death for theyr sakes or if they were so earnestly bente to prayer that they wold not cease to praye continually or if they hadde suche a zeale to preache that they wold most diligently occupie them selfes in that behalfe yet shuld they bestowe all their trauayle in vayne if so be they haue forsaken the catholike churche and the true faith therof For. S. Augustyn sayth that neyther baptisme nor any workes of mercy can profyte a man with out the felowshyppe of the catholike Churche And in an other place he sayeth that those workes that appertayne to the Churche if they be done without the churche they auaile nothinge to oure saluation because that with out the vnitye of the churche of god there is no saluation at all The blessed martyr saynt Cyprian wryteth likewise as touching y e same poynte thus Such as are gathered together withoute Christes churche thinke they that when they be so gathered together that they haue Christe with them All suche yf so be they be slayne for confessing Christes name the blottes y t they be defiled with all are not washed away with the effusion of their bloud For the heynous and sore sinne of discord is not purged from them by suffringe a paynfull passion And a martyr can no man be y t is not in the churche Nor no man can come to the kingdome of Christ whiche hathe forsaken the churche that shal reygne with Christe Then best it is for euery man that mynded to be saued yf he fall in trouble for his fayth sake first to consider depelye whether he be a member of Christes churche and then to weye well whether his fayth agreeth with the catholike fayth or no. And in weying thereof let him not sticke onlye to hys owne iudgement which may sone deceaue him but folowe
An exhortation to all menne to take hede and beware of rebellion wherein are set forth the causes that commonlye moue men to rebellion and that no cause is there that ought to moue any man therevnto with a discourse of the miserable effectes that ensue thereof and of the wretched ende that all rebelles comme to moste necessary to be redde in this seditiouse troublesome tyme made by Iohn Christoferson ¶ At the ende whereof are ioyned two godlye Prayers one for the Quenes highnes verye conuenient to be sayd dayly of all her louing and faythfull Subiectes and an other for the good quiete estate of the whole realme ¶ Reade the whole and then Iudge ¶ To the mooste excellent and vertuouse Queene Marye by the grace of GOD Quene of England Fraunce and Irelande and defendour of the fayth Iohn Christoferson her graces Chapleyne dayly oratour wisheth a long a quiete and a prosperous reygne with the daylye encrease of al godly vertue LYke as there be manye and sondrye diseases most gratious Soueraigne which chaunsing to a mans body so sore manye times trouble and vexe the same that they not onlye put it in great perill and daunger of death but also at lengthe kill and destroye it altogether So in a realme or common welth whiche maye well be compared to a mans bodye there are manye sore sicknesses that oftentimes so greuously noye the same that yf remedye be not founde out betime they not only put it in great daunger of perishynge but also in conclusion worke the vtter ruine and destruction thereof And as when the bodye is sicke Phisitions by frendes are diligently sought for and medicines to cure the sicknes be with all spede prepared So in a realme or common welth that is with anye sore sicknes infected euerye one that fauoureth the same is bounden to seke remedye therfore For yf frendes for a priuate mans sake wil when his bodye is diseased gladlye take paynes bothe to learne what disease he is troubled with and also to gette â—ome good Physycke for him to thintent he may be deliuered from his disease and restored to his helth agayne muche more all those that loue their countrye the coÌ„mon welthe thereof whensoeuer it is with anye troublesome sicknesse anoyed ought earnestly to trauayle first to know what the sicknes is and then to prouide some holsome medicines to put it away yea and to seke al meanes possible clearely to delâ—uer their countrye from all perill daunger thereof We reade in the excellent Historiographer Herodotus howe that the Babilonians made a lawe that whensoeuer anye man fell sicke amonges them he shuld be caried into y e market place and there lye to thintent that he might demaunde of euerye one that repayred thither whether they hadde bene troubled with the like disease how they were cured made hole so that the sicke man lying there might by the same meanes that they had vsed be deliuered froÌ„ his sicknesse and recouer his helth agayne And by that lawe also euery man that came thither was bounde bothe to aske the man what sicknes he had and also to shewe him yf he knewe any remedye that were good for it By the example whereof euery one that hartelye loueth his countrie earnestly tendereth the helth welthe of the same whensoeuer he seeth the body thereof which lieth open before al mens eyes with any kind of disease infected â–ª hathe learned what the sicknesse is and eyther by experience or otherwise can tel what is good for it is bound in conscience to declare it to thende that his couÌ„try which is so vexed may find some reliefe and fare the better by it For he muste consider that in relieuing the whole bodye he relieueth him selfe to beyng a membre thereof For lyke as when the body is sicke all the members be partakers of the griefe and payne that it suffreth So agayne when the body findeth any ease the meÌ„bres to find great reliefe therin Wherfore I for my parte because I playnlye se that the bodye of my countrye which I do greatlye lamente hathe bene lately sore troubled with y e greuâ—us sicknes of rebellioÌ„ and as yet perhappes hathe some seditiouse folkes in it thought it my moste bounden duetie to set forth in writynge suche a poore medicine for the relieuing of the same disease as I iudged mete coÌ„uenient therefore And albeit there be many remedies â–ª which be noted of learned men good writers whereby this grieuouse disease is wont to be cured as diligent inquisition that no vnlawful assembles be gathered as graue and wise counseile that when such are made they may be shortly by policie dissolued as reasonable coÌ„ditions for the dissoluing therof to be offred as force of armes when as no other meanes wil serue as due execution of iustice vpon all such as be offenders therin as taking awaye of the causes whereof rebellion commonlye groweth and as that al suche as haue rebelled be spoyled of theyr harnesse wherewith they defended themselfes in the time of rebellion with diuerse other suche lyke remedies yet in mine opinion no more fitter remedye can there be founde then that seditiouse mens hartes by gentle exhortatioÌ„ maye be throughly persuaded firste that in rebellyng they mooste grieuously offende their lord God so putte their soules in ieopardie secondarely y t they go aboute thereby to destroye theyr bodies which shal therfore be put to a moste vyle and shamefull death thirdly that they shall loose al y t they haue by meanes therof vndo theyr wiues and children disfame all their posteritie laste of all that they shal be occasion that their countrie shalbe most miserablye spoyled and come to vtter ruine For no man is so farre from al reason I truste or so blinded with malice that will not eyther with the feare of Gods plages or with the daunger of his soule or wyth the death of his body or wyth the care that he taketh for his wyfe and children or with the losse of his goodes his good name to or with the destruction of his countrie be moued to take hede alwaye and be well ware that he neuer auenture for any cause at all to rebell agaynste his prince whome he is by God coÌ„maunded mooste huÌ„bly to obeye And we reade in good writers that many rebellioÌ„s haue bene appeased by the good discrete exhortations of wise and learned men For the people of Rome wheÌ„ they were gathered together in a hyll called the holye hyll neare vnto y e riuer of Aniene thre myle froÌ„ the citie were fully minded to make rebellion agaynst their rulers Marcus Valerius by a wise an eloquent oration that he made brought so to passe that theyr heartes were by by so well pacified that they quietly departed euerye one home to theyr houses The lyke dyd Lucius Valerius Potitus at such tyme as the people of Rome had coÌ„spired
wordes of the holye Prophete Esaye We haue loked for the lyghte and â—o here is darkenesse we haue soughte for cleare brightnes haue walked in cloudie mistes we haue groped for the wall like blindemen and lyke folkes that haue lost their light we haue touched the same We haue stumbled At nooâ—â— daye as though we hadde â—â—â—ked light and haue bene besette with darkenes as though we had bene dead For who I praye you seketh more for the lyghte of trueth in apparence then these men do â–ª Yet when they haue long loked for it they fynde it not â—ecause that where it is that is to saye in the Churche of God they seke it not Therefore after their longe sekyng â–ª they may well saye lo here is darkenes They seke also the cleare brightnes of the Gospell but by reason they take a wronge waye to come to it they neuer come neare it For all such folke leauing the high way of the catholike fayth do take the pathe of pestilent heresie And wheÌ„ they are ones wel entred into their iorneye â–ª they fynde many bywayes one sayeth this is the waye and another sayth that is the waye and the thirde fyndeth the thirde waye and euerye one taketh his owne waye in so muche y t after they be gone out of the hyghe waye they neuer mete together agayne nor neuer one of them findeth the 〈◊〉 trueth of the Gospell that he seketh for except God sende hym grace to returne backe to the highe waye agayne For they that intende to come to the cleare lighte of the trueth must folowe thexample of the children of Israand saye as they sayde to the king of Edom we will go the common hyghe waye and turne neyâ—her on the ryght hande nor on the left hande â–ª By which coÌ„mon hyghe waye is vnderstanded the waye y t leadeth a man to trueth life And yf a man knowe not this waye that one tell him this is it and another tell him that is it howe shall he then do â—o learne it Sure guyde hathe he none but only the holye catholike churche y e true spouse of Christ. Therfore lette hym learne the waye of her then shall he not fayle to go righte in his iourneye Agayne that sorte of men that I a litle before tolde you of like blindemen they grope for the wall wherof Christ is the corner stone but they neuer find it And somtyme they stumble vpon some peece of it but they neuer come within in it by reason that they will not ones open their eyes to find out the dore that leadeth a man into it Yea and if there come anye good manne to the doore and spye them thus sometyme gropynge and sometyme stumblynge and bydde them open theyr eyes and come to the dore they go forth gropinge still and tell hym that they see verye well and that he is blind hymâ—elfe and moue hym to come to them â–ª and grope as they do For they feare nothinge but that at length they shall finde oute the true dore Thus for oughte that anye good charitable man can do they wil not leaue their groping till in conclusion they percase stumble vpon some peuish wicket such one as Wicliffe made for hys churche when he had forsakeÌ„ the churche of Christe And then thinke they them selfes well spedde and beleue that that is the true dore where in dede it is but a very wicket made only to wynde men into the mayse of heresye in whiche they shalbe alwaye seking and neuer finde ende sauing the wofull ende that the wicked fende leadeth al them to that haue forsaken the common waye of the Catholike churche and walke styll forth in the perillous pathes of pestilent heresye Another sort is there that because they haue eyther by preaching or elles by writing setforth and maynteyned heresye before they will sticke fast to it lest yf they should recant and returne home to the catholike churche they shulde be taken for light and vnconstant men and so loose their estimation Be not these very wise men trowe you that albeit they knowe y t the trueth is agaynst them and that thei haue labored by all meanes to subdue the same yet neuerthelesse forasmuche as they wyll seme constant they will not receaue the trueth but stande stiflye in their opinion â–ª and rather suffre death bothe of bodye and soule then they will acknowledge their error and blindnes Might not the Prophete Hiere my speake vnto them as he did in olde time to the Iewes after this â—orte Heare you folyshe people which be hartlesse and haue eyes and see not eares heare not For these folke both see and heare the trueth and yet for wilfull pryde will they neyther see it nor heare it They be very lyke to a folishe man that goeth a iourneye when he hath taken y e wronge waye him selfe and caused other to folowe hym to at length albeit he perceaueth â–ª y t he hath gone amisse yet neuerthelesse will he holde on styll rather theÌ„ turne to the right waye agayne because he wyl not â—eme to his coÌ„panye to be deceaued But such folke forgette I thinke that for the sauyng of their worldlye estimation they shall loose their estimation with God and so fall in daunger to be damned for euer But yf so be they shuld repent their folye returne to the catholike fayth of whome I praye you shuld they loose estimation â–ª whiche they studye so muche to saue Of none in dede saue onely of those that be blynded as they be What greate losse then shall they haue yf they loose the estimation of suche as be noughte Me thynke rather that they should muche gayne by it For lyke as a marchaunt that getteth a greate deale of golde for a litle leade winneth muche and waxeth verye riche thereby â–ª so those that for loosing the commendation of euill men winne theÌ„ selfes the prayse of good men hathe vndoubtedlye a greate auâ—untage Why do they not folowe the example of Hector which sayd that he was glad to be praysed of him that was a man worthye of prayse hym selfe If they wold so do what a great comfort then shoulde they conceaue in their hartes seing that they might be well assured that bothe all good godlye menne woulde muche commende them if they mekelye acknowledginge their erroure woulde be sorye for it and God hymselfe to would be gratious and mercifull to them By meanes whereof they shuld not onlye encrease their estimation in the world â–ª but also saue their soules which shulde otherwise haue perished Therfore for such a fayth as they hold let neyther theÌ„ nor no man elles that eyther feareth GOD or loueth hys owne soule aduenture to suffre death And yf they be troubled for it and peraduenture shutte vp in prison lette them not then glorye in their fetters as though they were Apostles and write letters of comforte one to
may euidently perceaue that suche as haue made rebellion for this noughty doctrine haue euer bene miserably plaged at the ende But to let passe thexamples of foreyne realmes and to come home to our owne as sone as the fauorers of Wicliffes wicked heresye heard that Hus and Hierome of Prage two of Wiclifs chief scholers were condemned at Constance and there burned for their heresie they fell therfore into a â—uryouse rage And first conspired agaynste the byshoppes and priestes then like vile traytours agaynst their liege lord and soueraygne kyng Henry the .v. because he was a catholike Prince and a vertuouse And streyght way made they open assembles and determined to maynteine their cursed doctrine by force of armes Then gotte they them two mete Capitaynes for suche a purpose Iohn Oldcastell and Roger Acton and wyth a desperate company which were assembled wyth them made they hast to London to thintent they myghte take the citie and so there encrease their army with men much like theÌ„selfes and in coÌ„clusion by that meanes put downe the kyng But the kyng being certified of the matter thoughte it necessary to preuente them and to be readye to set vpon them before they shoulde enter into the citie Who when he was well prepared for them pytched hys teÌ„tes in a place mete for the purpose and taried for their comming But the wretches assone as they hearde of the kynges coÌ„myng streyght waye as thoughe they hadde lost the fielde ronne away as fast â–ª as their fete wolde beare them Of whome some were taken in the flight and by and by committed to the fyre and burned Anone after their two captaynes were taken cast in prison Beside this the tragicall ende of our last rebellion made by captayne Wiat hys complices for the same religion may be a sufficient warnyng for all men as longe as the worlde continueth to beware both of such a detestable and deuelishe enterprise and also of the peruerse doctrine that droue them vnto it And let euerye man that is infected wyth the same doctrine loketh for a daye as a great meanye do be well assured that whensoeuer he aduentureth the like acte he shal haue a lyke daye that is to saye a daye of his vtter confusion For God is al one and fayleth not to defende all those that put their sure trust in him as our most gratious soueraigne Ladye the Queene doth and punisheth all such as fighteth agaynste his churche and agaynst princes whiche be hys ministers And whatsoeuer the matter be that moueth hym to rebellioÌ„ let him thinke surely that the deuyll that seketh to destroye him both bodye and soule hath putte it in his mynde And let him waxe wise betime thoroughe other mens harmes And yf he wyl call to memorye the wordes that certayne of our rebelles sayde at their death he shall haue good cause to beware by theyr example For diuerse of them as it is reported said to the people that were presente when they were putte to execution after this sort Good people seyng that god for my most greuouse offence commytted agaynst the Quenes highnes hath thus worthely plaged me and punished me with this vile and shamefull death I beseche you al for your owne sauegarde learne by myne example euermore to beware of rebellion And specially agaynste your moste vertuouse most gratiouse soueraygne Lady y t now reygneth ouer you whom god as it wel appeareth hath elected and chosen to gouerne you whom he ceaseth not dayly w t his myghty hand to defend agaynst al her enemyes Wherfore all they that goeth about to resiste her or to worke any treason agaynst her noble person wittingly worketh their owne destructioÌ„ For there is no deceyptful driftes or force of armes that can preuayle agaynst the faythful seruauÌ„tes of god Therfore may I most miserably bewayle my misfortune that it was my chaunce to be one of that number that contrary to Goddes wyll and pleasure dyd rebell agaynste suche a gracious prince And well maye I saye wyth a sighinge hearte alas that euer I was so madde as to folow the pestilent persuasion of such as moued me thereto But nowe the acte is paste and it is not possible to call agayne yesterdaye But notwythstandyng that to late it is to amend the matter yet it is not to late to repent And remedy fynde I none but only to be sory for it and hartely to beseche both almyghtye God to be mercifull vnto me and the Queenes hyghnes of her goodnesse to pardon me And I exhorte all you that be present to beware by me and that my plage may be a plaster for all them whose heartes be wounded wyth wycked rebellion And I praye God that all Englyshe menne maye take hede by me â–ª and learne to obeye theyr Prince by mine example and waxe wise throughe my folie Suche like wordes sayde diuerse of the late rebelles at theyr death But to be shorte there was neuer rebellion yet for what cause soeuer it was made that euer hadde prosperouse ende And yf a manne woulde recite foreyne rebellions that haue bene done in other realmes he shoulde be very longe in the matter But lette vs at thys presente go no further but to oure owne countrye and we shall fynde thys that I haue sayde to be vndoubtedlye true For Iacke Strawe Watt Tyler Captaines of the commotion that was in Kente in kynge Richarde the secondes dayes when they had taken South warke spoyled it broken vp the prysons lette out the prisoners and after robbed the whole citye of London and kylled meanye both straungers and citezins and ioyned to them all ruffians theues slaues and vile velaynes that were within the citie at laste the Lord Maior whose name was William Walworth and all the Aldermen of the citye sore moued wyth the matter gathered a coÌ„panye together well armed and the sayd lord Maior whyle all men prepared them selfes to go agaynst these rebelles hauyng a companye wyth hym at the kynges commaundement wente into Smithfielde where the rebelles were At whose comming the rebelles being some what abashed â—uffred hym to entre in amonges theÌ„ wythout any harme Then the lord Maior toke aparte Iacke Strawe pretendyng that he woulde be glad to make peace wyth hym But assone as he had gotte him aside in a great rage drewe he hys dagger kylled hym out of hande Whych when the rebels ones perceaued they fledde awaye apace and in the flight many were taken and manye were slayne and so for their outragious acte receaued they worthy punishment The lyke ende had the great captayne of the Kentyshe rebelles called Iacke Cade Whyche Iacke in the reygne of kynge Henrye the .vj. toke Southwarke and when he was assaulted of one Mathew Goth at mydnyght stoutly resisted him and droue him back to the bridge and so hard pursued hym that he fledde into the citie agayne Then Iacke wyth hys men sette fire vpon the houses
another as she loueth vs all care one for another as she careth for vs all loue al godly vertue as she loueth it flye from all vice as she doth to be short fashyon our lyfe to her lyfe in all poyntes that the sayinge of Plato may be verified in vs that such as the prince is such are the people and so vndoubtedlye shall we please our lord GOD and seme to be thankefull to hym for hys benefytes bestowed vpon vs of late please our gratiouse Queene that is delyted wyth al goodnesse please all good Christen folkes that longe to heare of our vertuouse behauiour reconcile oure selfes wholye to Christes Catholike churche from whyche we haue so long bene diuided saue oure selye soules which otherwise were like to haue perished saue our bodies which shuld haue bene oppressed with miserable seruitude saue oure goodes whereof we should haue bene vtterlye spoyled saue oure countrye whyche was likelye to haue bene brought into perpetual thraldome recouer the honour thereof whyche was altogether defaced and both in this life lyue well welthelye and after oure death receaue at Goddes hande the crowne of glorye that neuer shall decaye in his celestial and euerlasting tabernacle FINIS A prayer for the Queenes highnes very conueniente to be sayde daylye of all her faythful and louyng subiectes O Moste gratious most merciful lord whose power is almyghtye whose workes are merueylous and whose goodnes is infinite graunt I beseche the to thy most humble hande mayde Quene Marye our most gratiouse soueraigne ladye maystresse suche perfite and excellent wisedome as thou vouchesafed to giue vnto Salomon to the intent she may so gouerne this noble realme that bothe thy glorye may be auaunced therby and all the people thereof maye learne to feare and loue the to obey her grace to study for peace to loue one another and to delite in vertue and godly conuersation Graunte her also I beseche the suche strength as thou dyd to Iosue who through thyne ayde and helpe ouercame all his enemyes and safely conducted the children of Israell into the lande of Beheste and say vnto her as thou saydest to him Take a good harte and be strong feare not I say feare not because that I which am thy lorde and god wil be with the in al thine affayres to thend she maye as Iosue did vanquishe all her enemyes and say with Dauid They haue euen from my tender age oftentymes assaulted me but yet could they neuer preuaile agaynst me Gyue her besyde Good Lorde such trust and confidence in the that she may truly rehearse these verses of the prophete God is the defender of my lyfe therfore whom shall I feare GOD is my helper and in hym wyll I putte my truste And sende her more ouer such graue and faythful counseylours as wyl bothe without flatterye tell her the truth and also gyue her such wise counseyl as shal be most expedient not onlye for her graces safegard whiche they are bound speciallye to care for but also for the safegarde of al her louing subiectes whose welthe they oughte also to consider yea and for the good gouernemēt of the whole realme beside for which purpose they are called to that dignitie And withall send her highnes such a good will to heare thē that as they be readye to gyue her good counseyle so she may be ready alway to folowe it Saue her most gratious lorde from al pryuye conspiracies and send her the grace before any peril fall to spye out all treason and trayterous diuises contrined agaynst her that both the authours therof may be duely punyshed therfore and her graces person preserued alwaye from daunger Good lorde gyue her grace to beware of all flatterers and dissemblers whose tounges vttereth pleasaunte wordes when theyr hartes are full of greuouse grudge and malice and by thy goodnes so bringe to passe as eyther her hyghnes at lest maye gyue no credite to thē or els they may vtterly forsake their dissembling and flatterye and place truth in stede therof Most merciful lorde who sent Sara a sonne when she was very olde who caused Anna y e wife of Eleana by meanes of her earneste prayer to bringe forth a child who gaue vnto bareyne Elisabeth well growen in yeares fruite of her wōbe vouchesafe of thy bountefull goodnesse to sende oure gratious Queene fruite of her body to thintent y ◠thy holy name may be glorified thereby her grace take comforte therin and all our countrye by meanes thereof longe contynewe in peace and quietnes O lord vouchesafe beside so to adorne her family and houshold with all godlye vertue that all those that be placed therin may for theyr true fayth and feruent deuotion to God warde for theyr faythfull hartes and due obedience to her grace and for their earnest loue and hartye affection one to another be an example for all the whole realme to folowe Ouer thys graunt I moste hartelye beseche the that al her subiectes maye remember the wonderfull myracles that thou haste nowe of late wrought for her and the great benefites that they haue receaued by her to thintent that they may not only glorifye thy name and dayly gyue the moste hartye thankes for thy goodnes but also al murmuryng grudge layd aparte humbly obey her grace louingly embrace her godly lawes and thinke verely that thou haste sente her to delyuer thys realme bothe from heresye and blyndnesse and also from most miserable thraldome and tyranny and perswade them selfes that whatsoeuer she goeth aboute the same shalbe to their welth and commoditie because thou lorde is alway presente with her Uouchesafe also good lord for thy tēder mercy sake that as thou hast begon with her and preserued her hetherto from the handes of the cruell enemyes so thou wil continue thy great goodnesse towarde her and sende her suche grace that she may not onlye contynewe in the vertuouse trade of lyuynge which she hath euen from her childhode most diligently obserued but also dayly more and more encrease in al godly vertue both for her owne soules helthe and for our example besyde And graunte her most mercyfull father a longe raygne for the welth and commoditie of our contrye a prosperouse raygne for her owne hartes ease and comforte and a quiete raygne for to auoyde al murder and bloudshed that both thy glorye and true relireligion may be therby auaunced and her grace also and al we her louyng subiectes may lyue together in peace and vnitie and wyth one voyce prayse and magnifie thy most blessed gloriouse name thorough our lord Iesus Christ to whom with the father and the holye ghooste be all honoure and glory worlde withoute ende Amen A Prayer both for to giue God thankes for hys benefites bestowed of late vpon this realme and also to desire hym to preserue the same in a quiete and prosperouse estate ALmyghtye and euerlastynge God the maker of heauen and earth