O mercifull God what haue I herde and sene this day so christian a house so godlye an order neuer sawe I in my lyfe All householders may take an example of you Would God y t many seynge this youre acte would in lyke maner folow it in euery condicion garnyshyng theyr houses with holy scriptures trayning theyr lyâ—es accordyng to the same Oh what a floryshynge realme than shoulde we haue Wyth howe syncer fayth shoulde we serue God Wyth howe feruent charite should we procure y e coÌ„modite of our neyghboure With howe redy myndes endued w t al huÌ„bly submissioÌ„ shoulde we faythe fully obey our moost christen Emperoure moost redoubted Kynge and moost excellent ruler With how feruent herte should we profligate and chase awaye synne With howe vale aunte courage shoulde we amplecte inhaunce vertue It can not be expressed with howe many great coÌ„modities this moost prosperous realme shoulde florysshe to the glory of God the aâ—auncement of y â— kynges moost excelleÌ„t maiestie to the great pleasure contentacion of all youre mindes yf this thing were brought to passe â–ª PHIL. I am here vnder God and my Prince a ruler ouer this my lytle housholde I thynke my selfe to be so muche bounde in conscience to bryng theÌ„ vp vertuously that yf ony of them shoulde perysshe theyr bloud should be required of my haÌ„d at the dreadfull daye of iudgement CHRI Woulde God that all housholders yea all Bysshoppes Curates would waite attent vpoÌ„ theyr parysshes wyth no lesse dilygence than you do on your flock EVSE The very â—ame woulde I wysshe THEO Than should christeÌ„ meÌ„ knowe Christ his lawes better theÌ„ they do nowe a dayes and serue theyr Prince w t a more faythfull and obedient herte PHIL. Well thus haue ye sene my symple wytte in diuisynge these aforesayde thynges for the ryght institucion of my selfe family And it pleseth me wel seyng that it doth not displease you EVSE The lyght hereof hath so delyghted vs that nothyng heretofore hath fed our eyes with so great delectacioÌ„ pleasure Neyther haue we beÌ„ here vaine ydle spectatours but haue reposed all theise thynges in oure brestes that euery one of vs intende to gyrnysshe his house and order his familye in lyke maner gyuynge you ryght herty thankes for the callynge of vs hyther this daye â—HIL Seyng y t ye haue now sene the moost priÌ„cipal plesures of my haull I praye you vouchesafe to take the payne for to come into my parlouâ— THEO We followe you gladly PHIL. Nowe are ye welcome hyther CHRI I praye you neyghbour Philemon what haue we here to do I am now more rauysshed then I was before Here is euery thynge so godly pleasaunt that it semethe vnto me to be a figure of the newe celeâ—tial Ierusalem which is so gorgiouâ—ly decked garnysshed wyth all kynde oâ— heauenly treasures But I praye you what do ye mene bi your table spred w t a fayre white fyne cloth Again what four bokes haue you layd vpon the table cladde couered moost preciously with cloth of gold PHIL. It is not vnknowen to you neyghbours that I dyd bydde you vnto a Christmasse Bancket very frendely ye are come to me Nowe that it myght be a Christmasse Bancket indede I was mynded not only to prouyde meate for youre bodies as the common fasshyon of the worlde is but also for your soules or els howe coulde it be a Christmasse Bancket These â—oure bokes that lye here are thus named The fyrst is the fiue bokes of Moses w t certayne other volumes of the olde TestameÌ„t The seconde is the Prophetes The thyrd the new TestameÌ„t The fourth the Doctours of the chyrche For euery one of vs here is a boke of lyke nomber for euery one of vs all Theise are the maysters of the Christmasse Bancket These are they which shal feaste you Theyse are they that haue in store so many godly goodli dysshes mooste confortable for oure soules healthe Whan we haue once taken our repast of these moost delycious disshes than by Gods fauoure wyll we repare to the feast of thâ— body which the coÌ„mon forte only celebrate neglectyng y t which is pryncipall moost precious CHRI We desyre very much to taste of these pleasauÌ„t and deynty dysâ—hes THEO My herte reioyseth to heare these thynges EVSE Me thynke it a hundred yeare tyll we begynne our bancket PHIL. Seynge y t yeare so desyrous to tast of this moost godly bancket come of that it may be done amoÌ„g vs with the more fruyte let vs al w t one consente knele downe praye to God for the assistance of his spiryte EVSE Agreed PHIL. If it wyll please you to gyue audience quietelye to heare I wyll praye in the name of you all THEO Let it be so EVSE Yea I praye you CHRI That is best PHIL. Heare nowe ¶ The prayer O Good God mercyefull father the â—uthor gyuer of all wisdome whych at the intercession of thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christe our LORDE and sauioure dyddest sende downe accordynge to thy promyse thy holye spyryte to lyghten the hertes senses of the apostles before they could syncerly vnderstand the hygh misteries of thy deuyne wyll We moost humbly besech the that all cloudes of ignorancy darkenes dispelled put awaye we beyng here gathered togither in thy name may thorowe that same thy spyrite enioye the lyght of thy eternal verite so reuerentlye read talke of thy most blessed word at this preseÌ„t y t we vnderstandyng y â— same beiÌ„g enflamed w t y e loue rediÌ„g therof maye in all poyntes fasshyon oure lyfe accordinge vnto thy holye worde seriously prouyde that the lyght of all our actes maners may so shyne before meÌ„ y t they seyng our good workes maye gloryfy the oure father which arte in heaueÌ„ to whom wyth thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ the holy ghost thre distincte persones in deite and yet one verye true perfecte God in essence be all honour prayse glory for euermore THEO Amen EVSE So be it CHRI LORDE let it so come to passe PHIL. Nowe let vs fall in hande with our Christmasse bancket I beseche God so to temper our tonge thorowe the influence of the holye Ghoste that we speake here this daye nothynge dissonante from the veâ—itie of Gods worde but altogyther to the glorye of his moost blessed name and the coÌ„forte of al our soules THEO The very same thynge we also wysshe PHIL. Nowe wyll I bringe forth vnto you the bancket bycause I wyl not onerate ouercharge your stomackes with to much meat at ones although thâ—r ought not to be ony sufficieÌ„cy much lesse any nimiete in spiritual thinges so desyrous of theÌ„ should we be I haue at this presâ—nt only prepared accordyng to the nuÌ„ber of vs foure dysshes that we tastynge of theÌ„ yea rather eatynge deuouryng digesting
theyr Gospell For they wyl not fast nor praye nor gyue almes nor vse any kynde of vertue Theyse whome they cal Pharises do much excel theÌ„ in euery degree of godly lyuynge They wyll shewe themselues conformable to no poletyke ordinaunce They hunte carnall libertie They seke to synne freely and without punysshemente Theyr whole religion consisteth in breakynge mens lawes and auncient customes Farewell they therfore with theyr gospel We wyll followe our forefathers This and such lyke talke is hearde dayely amonge the enemies of Gods word Therfore oughte they y t loue Gods trueth to walke circuÌ„spectly seyng the dayes are euell as S. Paule saieth to haue an honest conuersacioÌ„ amonge Goddess enemies that they which backbyte them as euell doers maye se theyr good workes prayse God in the day of visitacion For so is the wyll of God sayeth S. Peter that with wel doynge ye should stop the mouthes of ygnoraunt men as free not as though ye toke lyberty for a cloke of maliciousnes but euen as the seruauÌ„tes of God Which thyng moost dere brothers woulde God ye would do that by your vertuous conuersacion ye myghte not plucke men from but vnto the Gospell not dishonour but honour god not hynder but prouoke the Euangelical trueth that with one mynd herte wyl tonge dede we al might togyther professe one God and one trueth Than should God be glorified among vs. ThaÌ„ should his moost blessed worde be enhalsed of all men Than shoulde we vnder one kynge liue iÌ„ an vnite peace coÌ„cord of christen religion without ony scisme he resy or dissencion Than myghte we well saye that the true repentauÌ„ce and syncer fayth wherby a christen man is iustified in the syght of God were in vs. For so longe as we continue iÌ„ our old wickednes ameÌ„d not our maners certes neyther true repentaunce nor christen faythe is in vs and to saye the trueth neyther haue we ony parte of Christ or Christes merytes but pertayne styll to Satan his synfull synagoge For as S. Iohn sayeth If we saye that we haue fellowshyp with God yet walke in darknes we lye performe not the trueth But if we walke in lyghte euen as he is in lyghte than haue we fellowship w t him y e bloud of Iesus Christ his soÌ„ne maketh vs cleane froÌ„ all synne Therfore dearely beloued let vs cast away the workes of darkenes walke in the lyghte of Gods trueth lyue accordynge to our vocacion garnysh the doctryne of christ our sauiour with godly maners so in al pointes institute and order our lyfe accordyng to Goddes wyll that we maye be that same in lyfe dede that we desyre to be reported that is to say perfecte true christen men both in herte worde dede So maye we be certayne in this lyfe to haue God a mercyfull father vnto vs thorowe Iesus Christ his sonne after the departing out of this world to enioye the glorious syght of the moost blessed Godhead there to remayne in ioye glorye worldes without ende AmeÌ„ Thus endeth your bancket EVSE Praysed be the LORDE for it THEO Both now euermore CHRI For he alone is worthy all honoure glory PHIL. If it shall please you I wyll nowe gather togither in few wordes that which hytherto I haue dispersed in many that they may the more easly remaine in your brest THEO I pray you let it be so PHIL. In youre fyrste disshe I ministred vnto you y â— knowledge of your selues declared what ye are by AdaÌ„ that is to say chyldreÌ„ of wrath all carnall w tout the spirite of God as S. Austen sayeth let no man stond in his owne conceyte For of his owne he is very Satan but of Gods he is blessed What is this to saye of his owne but of hys synne Take away the synne which is thyne the righteouses sayethe god is of myne Fore what hast thou that thou hast not taken In youre seconde dysshe ye receyued the knowlege of Goddes fauour toward you frely thorow Iesus Christ. In your thyrde dysshe ye perceyued by what meanes ye may obtayn this fauour of God verely by true repentaunce syncer fayth In your fourth dish I proued vnto you that of this your repentaunce fayth workes muste nedes followe yea that those workes whiche God hath prepared that we should walke in them Here is in few wordes concluded y â— whole suÌ„me of your banckette I praye you loke that ye both remeÌ„ber these thynges well also exercyse them in your lyuynge EVSE We wyll labour to the vttermooste of oure power And because we can do nothyng withoute the helpe of God we shall at all houres with fyrme and sure faith moost instantly desyre God to worke that thynges in vs his holye spirite y t he commanndethe vs to do that we maye neyther thyncke breath speke or do ony thing but that may turne to his glorye PHIL. It is godly spoken This one thynge than remayneth that we gyue God thankes for this our bancket CHRI I pray you let it be so ¶ The thankes gyuynge PHILEMON PRayse honour and glory be vnto the O heueÌ„ly father which at this tyme hast fed vs w t meate not y e perisheth but y t abydeth into euerlastying lyfe Graunte O good God that we hauynge the knowledge of thy worde maye also practyse the same in oure conuersacion that we both intierly louyng and vnfaynedly lyuyng thy holy word maye after this lyfe lyue w t the in that lyfe whiche is immortall THEO Amen EVSE So be it CHRI LORD let it so come to passe PHIL. Seynge that accordynge to the commaundemeÌ„te of Christe we haue nowe fyrste soughte the kyngedom of god the righteousnes therof haue fedde our soules with this celestiall bancket of Gods worde I praye you nowe vouchesafe to come with me and take such poore repast for the sustenaunce of your body as it hathe pleased God to prepare for vs. THEO We gyue you right herty thaÌ„kes EVSE I pray God y t we may once recoÌ„pense your kyndnes PHIL. My power is smale but my wyll is muche folowe me I besech you CHRI Praysed be the LORD for this our most coÌ„fortable bancket THEO PHIL. AMEN ¶ Gyue the glory to God alone ¶ Imprynted at London in Botulphe lane at the sygne of the whyte Beare by me IohnÌ„ Mayler for IohnÌ„ Gough Anno DnÌ„i 1542. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Ioan. vi 〈…〉 Deâ—t viii Math. iiii Ioan. xâ— Ioan xiiii 〈◊〉 ixvi Psal. câ— Pro. â—â—x 〈◊〉 Psa. â—â—â— Ioan. vâ—â—◠〈…〉 Ioan. i. Luke xiiii â—sal â—viii Luke xiâ—â— Mark 〈…〉 well Luke xvi 〈◊〉 xxxiiii â–ª 〈…〉 â—om lâ—xiâ— D◠〈…〉 Ioan. vii Esa. lv Ipo xxii Ioan. iiii Ioan. vâ— â–ª Beholde what â—he remâ—braÌ„ce of christes deth doâ—h â—poâ— iâ—â— â— Pet. â— Ephe. vâ— Esai â— â—â—he iiii Math. v. Psa. xxxiii i. Pet.
A Christmas bankette garnyshed with many pleasaunt and deynty disshes newely prepared by Theodore Basille Luce. 14. ¶ Blessed is he that eatethe breade in the kyngdome of God ¶ To the ryghte honorable Syr Thomas Neuelle Knyghte Theodore Basille wyssheth long lyfe coÌ„tinual helth and prosperous felicite ✚ I feare vnlesse some men wyll accuse me of temerite rasshnes seynge y e so boldly I dare offer to youre ryghte honorable maystershyp thys lytle lucubracion worke which I made now of late entitled a Christmasse bancket in asmuche as I haue ben so seldoâ—e in your coÌ„pany haue not attempted nor proued at any tyme perfectly by mutuall confabulacion howe youre mynde is affected towarde me To thys I answere that I syttynge at your table before syx monethes past where it pleased you very benignely to talke with me perceyued in youre maystershyp at that tyme as at all other so great humanite comite geÌ„tlenes affabilite towarde al men y t it hath syns that tyme greatly animated and encouraged me to excogitate inuent somewhat y t I myght dedicate to your name trustyng by this meanes that your beneuolence toward me should not only be encresed but also made consumate perfecte Whyle I sought diligently an argumeÌ„nt fytte worthy youre benignite among all other it came to my remeÌ„brauÌ„ce that this tyme of y e yeare men vse customabâ—ye to make feastes banckettes and there vnto for to cal theyr freÌ„des louers neighbours Whan I considered this maner custome it dyd so much please me seyng that mutual loue is mayntained therby that hereof I toke an occasion also to make a Christmasse bancket For I thought although I were poore not of habilite to make such a feast or baÌ„cket as the custome requireth yet I woulde accordyng to that kynde of rytches which God hath indued me prepare some bancket call vnto it not twenty or forty but euen so many as wyll come y e all men myght coÌ„mende Baâ—ille hauynge no house of his owne for hys housholde kepynge large mayntenaÌ„ce of hospitalite And for asmuch as ther shall not want vniuersalâ—y which shal make feastes for the body at this tyme I thoughte it beste to make my bancket a bancket for the soule y t men hauynge theyr bodyes fedde of other might also haue theyr soules fed at my hande I haue therfore prepared a Bancket not such a bancket as the meate wherof perissheth corruptethe and commethe to nought but that abideth into euerlastyng lyfe And because it maye be a Christmasse bancket in dede worthy wherat Christ should be present I haue garnysshed it with many delicious pleasaunt deynte yea heauenly dysshes of the moost holy scriptures So that whosoeuer eateth of this bancket shall fynde in it muche confortable noryshmeÌ„t for his soule be occasioned therby I doubt not to geue God hertye thankes whiche hath vouchedsafe of his deuyne clemency vnmesurable goodnes frely to call him to his celestiall baÌ„cket Woulde God that by this my baÌ„cket makynge I might excyte moue other to vse like coÌ„municacioÌ„ at their table as they shall fynd here or at y e leesâ—e that they woulde enterlase in some parte of theyr repast theyr talke with suche honest godly wordes as they shall here read vtterlye reiecte cast awaye all fylthy and vncleane coÌ„municacion all iestynge raylyng all blaspheming cursing So shoulde they haue Christe more present wyth them at theyr feastes than many haue nowe a dayes at whose table such kynde of talke is vsed as may iustly seme not to be worthy of God his soÌ„ne Iesus but of Bacchus and Uenus These be no Christmasse banckettes but Christlesse dyuellysh bankettes They be no feastes fytte for christen men but for Gentiles Ethuyckes God banysshe once this great absurdite froÌ„ y e tables of theÌ„ that professe Christe Nowe in as muche as at the begynnyng of a newe yeare the vniuersaâ—â— custome is to gyue giâ—tes one to another wherby the proteste theyr mutuall good wyll loue fauour I because I wyll not seme to be estraunged from this poynte of humanitie do here hubly offer to your right honorable maystershyp this my Christmasse baÌ„cket for a new yeares gyft most iÌ„staÌ„tly desyriÌ„g you fauourably to accept it as y e gyfte of him which wyssheth to you from God y e father longe lyfe continuall â—elth prosperous felicite Hereafter God prosperyng me in my studies directyng my pen in the trauaile of his word I truste to coÌ„pyle vnto the glory of God the iÌ„mortalite of your name other workes no lesse godly profitable to the reders In y e meane season that god whose blessed word you must intiâ—rly fauoure and followe mought preserue in safe estate your good maistershyp to the anauÌ„cemeÌ„t of his glory the great quietnes of vs all in this countre by executyng on your behalfe accordyng to your ofâ—yce coÌ„mitted worthelye vnto you by thâ— kynges moost gracious hyghnes suche iustyce equitie in youre iudgementes as shal maye turne to the vtter expulsion of all vyce the hygh promocion furtherauÌ„ce of al vertu In the trauayle wherof that LORDE mought assist you by whom kyng sraygne y â— makers of lawes â—â—scerne righteous thiÌ„ges by whom also as Salomon sayeth Prynces beare rule the heade officers gyue iudgement accordynge to iustyce AMEN The Christmasse Banckette ¶ Philemon the maker of the BaÌ„ckette Theophyle Eusebius and Christopher the gestes PHILEMON I Thinke it very lâ—ng vntyl my nâ—ighbours whoÌ„ I haue biddeÌ„ to this my Christmasse BaÌ„cket do come For I woulde be gladde that before we fede our hungrye bodies we should sustayne and fede also our hungry soules whâ—che do no lesse hunger for y â— word of God beyng the only norysshemeÌ„t therof â–ª than y â— bodies do for corporal meate as Christ wytnesseth I man sayeth he shall not lyue wyth bread alone but w t euery worde y t procedeth oute of the mouth of God Therfore that it myght be a Christmasse Bancket in dede that is to saye suche a feast as wherby Christ maye be glorified our soules no lesse refresshed thaÌ„ y â— bodies I desyre very much to se my neyghbours here shortely that fyrâ—t we maye taste as it is coueniente ryght of the celestiall table â—f Gods worde of the coÌ„solacion of oure soules helth and afterward refresh our mortal bodies with such alementes and noryshynges as we haue receyued this daye of Gods great liberalite And beholde I praye you where they come Brothers neyghbours welcome vnto me THEO Brother Philemon we thanke you hertelye EVSE We are come hyther this daye to put you both to payne and cofte PHIL. I pray you thynke not so it is to me neyther payne nor cost but rather conforte and pleasure to se you thus freÌ„dly coÌ„e visite your neighbour And I thanke you righte hertely that ye haue not disdayened to come