dyd tell before hande Iosephus that there sholde be sygnes in the sonne and the mone in the starres But Iosephus a writer of storyes / reherseth not a fewe of those wonders whiche the Iudgement of God had prophesyed before Abowte the descendynge of Iacob in to Egypt wheÌ„ the afflictioÌ„ of the Israelytes was now at hande of the whiche god had Gene. xv warned AbrahaÌ„ ij hoÌ„dereth yere before One man that is to â—â—ye Ioseph the sonne of Iacob Redâ— the storyâ— Genesis xxxvii aÌ„d xxxix The Lorde dyd ouerthrowe one man of moste excellent vertu wyth wonderfull mysery and calamytyes / that by the example of his pacience the people of god sholde be encouraged for to perseuer in afflictions whiche the Lorde had prohecyed to come And he also promised that ther sholde be an ende of all those trobles and that they sholde be delyuered with glory and greate riches from that nation / whiche with cruell tyrannye had oppressed them Also the children of Iob beynge destroyed with the fall of an house / his ryches taken Iob .i. ii from hym by the Sabees Chaldees Theues and Robbers / hys body tourmented with botches from the sole of his fote to the toppe of his heade / an vnkynde people contemnynge hym whome he had rewarded with infinyte benifytes / his freÌ„des accusynge him as a wycked creature / and his wiffe prouokynge hym for to curse god â–ª Iob had none other hope of healthe lefte him / then that he knewe his soule sholde be conserued in the hande of almyghty God / and hys bodye to be restored vnto glorye in the resurrection of the deade / and to optayne euerlastynge beatitude Wyth the whyche hope he stode inuyncible and full of corrage agaynste all the assautes of hys enemye the dyuylle / And that the Israelytes commynge afterwarde into the lande of Egypte for a lytle whyle to be straytely corrected and all other the true worshippers of god sholde beholde more clerer then the light that the hope of them is not vayne whyche permytt and gyue ouer theÌ„ selues all to gether to the goodnes of god Iob was not onely delyuered from all hys plages / but also he dyd optayne here in the erth greater felicite by doble so moche more then he dyd possesse Iob. xlij before And wheÌ„ the sayde Israelytes dyd eueÌ„ now grone vnder the yoke of Pharo or ells rather were baked in the ouen of Exo. ij ilj afflictions / whyles Moses a man sted awaye for the death of the Egyptian / dyd fede the cattel of Ietro the preiste of the Madianytes he dyd se a busshe burnyng which not wythstandynge was not with the fyer burnte or consumed And approchynge What the burnyng busshâ—â—yd portendâ— and signifie nere vnto it / he herde an angell / speakynge in the busshe with the wordes of God / that he dyd beholde the affliction of his people and had herde theyr crye / that he wolde lose or set them at libertye Which thinge being sene / the Lord showed to Moses the people of Israel / whych being vnto the Egyptians very odyous and as it were full of pryckes / and also rough with the thornes of vyces were therfore exercysed in greate calamytyes Neuerthelesse they were not yet all to gether destroyde / no nor sholde not be of the tyrannye of Pharao / God beinge present in the myddeste of them / whose prouydeÌ„ce dyd not fayle them / how soeuer they were troden vnder the fete / nether wolde he suffer any thynge to happen vnto theÌ„ that dyd not brynge moste greate proffyt But lest my oration sholde wander to farre of in the explication of wonders / I wyl be coÌ„teÌ„ted wyth these fewe before expressed / seinge that they proue sufficieÌ„tly monsters and wonders / and prodygyous signes and tokens and these stranÌ„ge warkes in the world not to be vayne / nether yet with conteÌ„pt for to be demitted For why they be as the tokens of God / which brefely and as it were with a short quicke senteÌ„ce do put before owre eyes the celestiall Iudgement of mennes affayres / and they coÌ„maunde vs to compare owre maners and this present lyffe with the disposicion and wyse sayynge of diuine scriptures and with the warkes of the lorde done before tyme. And so to pyke owte a sure senteÌ„ce what is to be looked for god or euyll For as godly and obedyent childerne when they se theyr father / to houlde vp his fynger / to becken with his heade / to wynke vpon them / or when they here him whistle are moued in their mynde to coÌ„sider diligeÌ„tly by the disposicioÌ„ maners of their pareÌ„t by soche thiÌ„ges as he hath done spoken before tyme what he wolde in that present for to be ameÌ„ded takeÌ„ hede of / so that they waÌ„der very seldom or ells truly not far of from the marke / all whiche thinges truly moueth not a frowarde and a stubberne childe any thiÌ„ge at all no not thus moch eueÌ„ so god striketh stirreth vp the myndes The miracles of nature are signes gyueÌ„ of God to make â—s citcâ—m â—pecte in the conspâ—eratioÌ„ of his diuine pleasure of good meÌ„ with the miracles of nature that firste they maye serche examine them self fe theÌ„ afterwarde the state of the publike weale so farforth as it may be manifeste or knowne and that they may compare it with the nature and worde dedes of god rehersed in the table of the holy scriptures other faythful histories By the which respect of the lyffe of men of gods will aÌ„d pleasure a more sure senteÌ„ce iudgemeÌ„t is gathered far awaye / theÌ„ Astronomers do pronosticate by the aspectes of the Planetes Where of studie spryngeth or rather is increased / of pleasynge god with vertu / with innoceÌ„cie of maners / with almous dedes / with prayers and other holy officis What may we therfor suppose the firie doue in the ayer for to haue signified / that I may passe ouer the defectioÌ„ of the sonne / the quakynge of the erth / the burninge of the elemeÌ„te and other thinges / wheÌ„ as Maximus Arbogastes / Eugenius / and certen other false desirers of tyraÌ„nie were the firste players of that fatall tragedie / which Ruffinus the caller forth of the Turkes Gildo and Stilico had moued Before the face of all the worlde there appereth a firie doue that euery maÌ„ myght â—e / whiche some time bereth the figure of the holy goste the gyftes of his grace / wherfore A declaratioÌ„ of the fyrye done what she myght portenoâ— and lignyâ—â—e it is wrytteÌ„ that the sayde holy spirite dyd reste vpoÌ„ owre Lorde beyng baptized of Ihon in the lykenes of a doue Also a doue sent owte of the Arke of â—oe brought gladde tydinges / the waters of the floodes fallynge awaye and the wrath of god remitting it self fe Sometyme a doue figureth
/ and prescribe contrary doctryâ—es vnâ—o Christ / defende and thruste theÌ„â—â— by â—â—â—leÌ„ce Let certen decrees of the bysshops of Rome be looked vpon let the blodye statutes of those princes be knowen and consydered that are obedynt to the pope and wyll folowe his lustes in all thinges as thowghe they were his bondmen Howe many innocent creatureâ— hathe bene spoyled of all theyer goods for the profession of the Christen verite with in these xxty yeres in the whiche the goodnes of god hathe gyuen a more syncere and brighter knowlege of Christe How many haue bene marked with the whotâ— yron of moste extreme infamye and put to open shame and pennaunce as they call it How many hathe bene bannyssheâ— and dryuen owte of theyr contryes with their yong tendre babes wyues How many wepyng eyes heauy hertes hath bene sene as in the dayes of Herode to be Mat. iâ— howlde the pareÌ„tes spoyled of their deare and beste beloued chyldren drawne to their slaughter with greate cruelnes as a shepe to the bochers stall or an oxe to the shambles How many wydowes and orphanes haue bene made for the professyon of the gospell Verely they can not be noumbred the whyche beinge tormented and cruelly dysmembred / some in prysons and bongeous / some headâ—â— wyth swordes / some strangled wyth halterâ—â— some put in sackes and drowned with waters / some buryed quycke / some breÌ„t with fyre Yea and yf the truthe may be tolde / coÌ„denmed of Christianes / hath loste their lyues / for the name of Christ ah lasse for sorowe amonge theÌ„ that are called Christen men by name so that soche as be innocentes / that fauor the lawe of Christe from their very hartes might lyue far awaye in moch better saffegarde amoÌ„ge the Turkes the professed enemyes of Christes name then amonge the moost blessed / and most reuerend / and most holy prelates of churches / and the sworne and obedyent chyldren of those named spirituall but carnall lyuynge fathers May the Turkes be iudged worthye of reprehensyoÌ„ for that they wyll not suffer their lawes and doctrynes to be examyned by the rules of holye scripture / and so to be proued as it were gold by the touche stone true or false And that they crye oute and holde it for a very wycked thynge to call back agayne into the controuersye of dysputatyon statutes enacted well and wyselye and receyuyd with the consent of a greate nombre of people and confyrmed with the space and tyme of so many worldes Shall it displease vs that men be put to deathe and theyr heades wyth the sworde stricken from theyer sholders whiche dispute but one worde ageÌ„ste Mahumets opinions And that they be not rather denyed improued or resisted by the waye of argument and disputatioÌ„ What man hauynge knowlege of the Christen lawes custome can alowe the same Or at the leste way beynge not destitute of his right witt who will not rebuke it / speake agenst it The Prophetes dyd not All godly men were euerâ—ore pleased to haue their doctryne examined aâ—d tryed so / nether yet the Apostels nor any godly men in vertu and lyuyuge lyke vnto the Apostels / no not the phylosophers of the beste forte nor any other wyse and discrete men whiche dyd not abhore to haue those sentences to be disputed and examyned whiche they dyd beleue to be moste trwe For why the truthe wolde be knowen / the truthe wolde be boulted owte / and the truthe desyrethe vtterly for to be sene It hatethe darkenes and aboue all thinges it loueth lyght which waxyth bryght also by dysputatyon and beynge knowen it turnethe the hartes of men vnto it in whome is anye desyer of the truthe and veryte But those men whyche wyll not suffer theyr â–ª doctryne / and theyr ordinauncys and dedes to be Iudged and determyned / and by conuenyent disputation holden with reason to be examined Truly they make them self fe to be worthelye suspected / that ether they know them self fes to be blynded wyth greate ignorancye or elles that they loue darkenes rather then light / because theyr Iohn .iii. dedes are euille I pray yowe what is done of the moste parte of Christianes and specially of the graunde captaynes and defenders of ower religyon / and that reioyse Mat. xxiij so greately to be saluted and called masters / lyghtes of the churche / pyllars of the howse of god / the confutars of heretikes / and the hammers and betles to strike owte theyr braynes â–ª How stampe they How stare they / as hastye as Aiax and as ferre as euer was furious Orestes / when a moderate and relygious explication of Christes doctryne is requyred of them / when false perswasions be reprehendyd the whiche are made ether thorow folysnes or ells for the euyll and couetuous desyer of priuate proffyt / and are thruste in to the congregations / partely by violence / and partely by crafte and dysceyte â–ª I wyll towche a fewe thinges whyche in thys owre tyme are more then knowen vnto Christen people / and yet be they done of many as it can not be denyed There be certen heauy burdens laylâ— in the neckes of Christen meÌ„nes conscyeÌ„tys as the vowes of the cloysterers the syngle lyffe of preistes / whych God doth not requyer / nether do they illustrate his holy name that is blyssed for euer / nor yet brynge any maner of frute or proffit vnto men / but greate losse damnable danÌ„ger bothe of bodyes and sowles Agayne there be some thinges verye well sene to haue bene browght in by violence in to the maners of the churche whiche differ so moche from the lordes diuine pleasures that one egge is not more lyke an other then the selfe same thynges are coÌ„sonaÌ„t and agreable / ether vnto Iewysshe dotinge fables / as the choyse and differeÌ„ce of meates and soche whother tradytyoÌ„s of mannes wyll and pleasure wythowte the preceptes of Godes worde or elles vnto the madnes of the heathen / as the worshyppynge of ymages or to the superstytyons of the Mahumetanes / as the inuocatyon of sayntes / pylgrymages vnto holy places / Romyshe pardons / iuglynges of myracles / whyche false and detestable charmes turne awaye mennes hartes from the lyuynge God Let a man experte in diuyne scryptures notablye studyous bothe of the lordes glorye and â—f the churches helthe and saffegarge applye his wytt and lernyng to helpe these thynges / and let hym do it with the beste order and reason that maye be / And how shall it be taken Wyll not owre greate The maâ—trâ— â—oÌ„dytyâ—s of ourâ— masters and doctors of the popes churche masters and doctores cloked with the tytle of holynes and lernynge / as though they ware styrred vp wyth some angrye spryte and infernall furye be turned by and by vnto truel checkes and crafty gyles / bytter rebukes and violent oppressioÌ„ Wyll they not make an
great mouÌ„tayne or rocke Taurus / in the which the olde antiquitye dyd proprely fyers a ferce nation / for to be shytte vp wyth in yron gates / with owt dowte signifyinge therby that the Barbarous conditions the fiers and cruell maners of those turkyshe Scythyans sholde be remoued from the costes of christendome by the brasen decreys of godes defence / whiche can none otherwyse be takeÌ„ awaye / but by the hande of God the reuenger The Lorde also threteueth the people of Idumea / whiche had theyer truste in greate rockes not easye to come to that he wolde caste them downe / yea though they buylded theyer Iere. xlix nestes amongste the clowdes The see called Euxinus / Hellespontus / Aegeus / the ouermoste the nethermoste see from Syria vnto Gades Are they not all knowen for to be occupyed with the turkyshe Nauyes / and do they not sayle in theÌ„ at theyer wyll and pleasure How often was Hierusalem the moste valiante cyttye of al the este parte of the worlde / how often was it taken Caste yower eyes rownde abowte the worlde and behoulde what goodly cyttyes lyeth clene extyncte so that there appereth not any sygnes or tokens of the owlde foundations whiche semed some to haue bene inexpugnable Where is Amon / Troye / Tyre / Ninine / Babylon / Cartage Lye they not all flat with the grounde Was not Constantinople beynge fettered wyth the gyues of synne / taken of Mabumet soner then herbes wylbe sodeÌ„ in a potte / whiche sustayned the violent assautes of Constantinople beseiged of the Paiazites the Paiazites eyght yeres / and was not able to be ouercomne of the Saracenes in the moste greuous seyge of thre yeres whyles a cruell pestilence dyd fyght also with in the walles god defendynge it Shall we stryue with the nation of the Turkes in goodes and ryches But there are fownde priuate meÌ„ amongste this people which haue greater riches / iuelles and treasure far awaye then ower kynges Fourthermore what dyd greate tresures proffit Persepolis / Susa / what dyd they proffyt Babylon / Cresus / Darius / and diuerse other Are the leages or couenauntes of peace more sure at this daye amongst christianes then in tymes paste Leages of peace are not to trusted vnto in the whiche we haue bene a pray to ower couetous and ambitious enemye But all the partes of christendome was neuer torne in peces with greater hatredes and more diuisions / namely thorow theyer faute which coueteth nothinge so moche as to blott owte the doctryne of criste the kinge / diuers people kinges not of the meaneste sorte of the chrysten name are confederate with ower enemyes Maye we compare wyth the Turkes in the weapons of warre the multitude The Turkes be equal with vs in streÌ„gth and feates of warre of men Do we excell them in the streÌ„gth of ower bodyes / in the science of warre fare / in the obseruation of the disciplyne aÌ„d gouernaunce excercysed in tentes pauilions / in pacience / in vigilancie / in studious diligeÌ„ce / in al the â—eates of batayle Or elles what dyd those thynges proffit ower elders that they myght haue bene preserued from the subiection of the Turkyshe dominion when bothe ower enemies were lesse instruct in all these thinges ower forefathers dyd far awaye excell There is no thinge that can helpe / but the breakers of Gods lawes must needes be â—laged theÌ„ How often haue we proued by playne experience that the lawe of the lorde doth threteÌ„ the breakers therof / that the lorde settynge his face agaynste vs / we sholde fall downe before ower enemyes / and be subiecte to them that hate vs How often haue we lerned the same thynge to be true whiche the moste excellent warryoure Dauid wryteth in the Psalme The lorde hathe no delyte in the strength Psalme .cxlvij. of horses nether is he well pleased in the armours of men but the lorde is well coÌ„tented with them that feare hym aÌ„d with all them that truste vpon his mercy But we do not truste vnto fleshe nather yet to â— Pet. i. Esaâ— xli mannes helpe presydye / knowynge very well that all fleshe ys lyke vnto haye and all the glory therof as the flower of the felde / and that he is cursed of the lorde and infortunate which putteth fleshe for to be hys arme We truly set the hope of ower help in the lord We leans to the helpe of the christen religion We looke for celestyall aydes and succoures I am pyttyfullye affrayed leste that many do bragge whith theyer mowthe that they put the truste of theyer healthe in the name of God whiche is the stronge tower Proueth .xviii. of defence from the face of ower enemye But theyer mynde beynge dryuen with the wyndes of affections to be caryed awaye with a carnall securite or saffegarde into an vncerten hauen Of the whyche sorte of men Micheas speaketh / theyer Mich. iii. pryncys dyd gyue sentence for gyftes and theyer preistes dyd teache for lucre / and theyer prophetes dyd prophecye for money / and yet they wylled them self fe to be taken as men that holde vpon God sayinge Is not the lorde amonge vs Tushe there can no mysfortune happen vnto vs. Therfore shall Syon for yower sakes be plowed lyke a felde / and Ierusalem shall become as an heape of stones and the hyll of the temple shall be turned into an hyghe woode Esaye also in the .xxviii. Chapter reproueth the vayne confidence of the people with 〈◊〉 xxxiii a moste weyghtye sentence sayinge heare the worde of the lorde o ye mockers which beare rule ouer the people that is in Ierusalem / because ye haue sayde / we haue made a couenaunt with death / and with hell are we at agremeÌ„t / aÌ„d though there go forth a sore plage it shall not come vnto vs. For we haue made falsehode oure refuge and vnder vanite are we hyd Therfor thus sayth the Lorde God Beholde I laye in Syon for a foundation a stone / euen a tryed stone / a precious corner stone / asure fouÌ„dation Who so beleueth let hym not be to hastie IugemeÌ„t also will I laye to the rule â–ª and righteonsnes to the balance so that the hayle shall take awaye yower lyinge hope / and the pryuye place of yower refuge shall the waters renne ouer / and thus the couenauÌ„te that yow made with death shall be disanulled / and yower agrement that yow made with hell shall not stonde yea All ower â—euâ—â—rs â— couenauntes be frustrate whiche be deuised ageÌ„ste the lorde whan the sore plage goeth forth ye shall be troden downe vnder it From that tyme that it goeth forth it shall take yow awaye For early in the mornyng euery daye / yea bothe daye and nyght shall it go thorowe and whan the noyse therof is perceaued it shall geÌ„dre vexatiooÌ„ Whiche therfor be the sure fouÌ„datioÌ„s
people in to the same / and the wonderfull successe of The dyuersyte betwene the Christen churche aÌ„d the Turkes church at this present tyme Cantic i. fortune in victoryes / in riches / in other temporall thinges doth vpholde and commeÌ„de the religioÌ„ of Mahumet where as the Christen church lieth in the duste appereth owtewardely very euyll fauored / sluttysshe / nedie oppressed and filled with diuerse and moche people weake feble faynt in the fayth / with many vngratious men / with many traytours And all hir beutye lyeth hyd inwardely / that is to saye fayth / the knowlege of god / holynes and righteousnes by Christe / euen as the spouse of god speaketh in the balletts of SalomoÌ„ I am blacke / but yet am I well fauored / eueÌ„ as the bagynges of SalomoÌ„ the pauilioÌ„s of Cedar And it is songe in the Psalmes that all the beutye and apparell Ps xliiij of the kinges doughter was set inwardely wrowght aboute with gowlde and curious nedle worke of diuerse coloures And ther for vnto spirituall batayle the Turkes brynge sharpe and obstinate myndes / so that a Turke beyng a proselyte is very seldome sene in the Christen churche / were as many of vs lyke false apostatataes which is a shamefull thinge greately to be lamented do forsake owre religion and fall a waye vnto them Now partely thorowe the prescription of theyr lawe whiche commaundeth theÌ„ with warres to sprede abrode theyr relygion or ells at the leste waye to make men of a contrarye religion trybutaries vnto them / and partly thorow ambition whiche is a kyns woman to slesshely dispositions / and can kepe no measure wheÌ„ the mater cometh to passe after hir owne mynde and supposerh the wynnynge or To holde the woluâ— by the cares / is tâ— be in doble aÌ„d douteful dauÌ„ger / lyke as is that man why che holdeâ—â— a wolâ—e by thâ—eares / for yf he shot de lethim go / it is daÌ„gerous â— to holdâ— hym stylâ— it is dangerous also takinge awaye of one newe kingedome / onely to be a steppe or a Grece to inuade other the Turkes also do stryue with vs for dominion / and they gape after ower temporall goodes / so that we playnely after the prouerbe may holde as it were the wolue by the eares For a substancyall sure peace can not be betwene the ChristiaÌ„s the Turkes so longe as they do obserue the law of Mahumet Wher for to abstayne from warres owght not so moch to be called a peace as a breathinge / a sekyng of some better aduantage And therfore we must praye vehemently to the Lorde owre God that he wyll wit saffe to open the eyes of the Turkes vnderstondiÌ„ge that they maye beholde the vanyte of theyr superstition and the sure and eternall truthe of the Christen relygion For why by that meanes in conclusion an holy / a good / a saffe / an honeste and houlsome coÌ„corde bothe to them and vs might be optayned Agayne to kepe batayle with the Turkes is a thinge full of greate perrell and of moche difficultie whiche way so euer we turne vs in the worlde / For why that dominioÌ„ of theirs is opened very wyde by Asia / Affrica / Europa / and it is abundaÌ„t with the multitude of meÌ„ and of all other thinges that warre hath nede of And there be leages or bondes of peace made betwene Solymanne and the moste mighty polytyke rulers of the ChristeÌ„ name as men saye Whiche thinges how moche they helpe ower enemie how greate oportunities they do brynge vnto hym / or how moch they do hurte ower affayers I holdynge my peace all meÌ„ do vnderstoÌ„de What sholde I speake of the conscripte and ordinarie multitudes of horse men and fote men and of men pertaining to theyr shippes and galyes What of they supplementes or store of artilerye as of bowes / gunnes / harnesse and of other soche lyke thinges in a maner beynge infinite What of theyer arays / vittle / lernynge / experience / prouidence / and concorde What of theyer perseuerance / theyer sufferaunce / and obseruation of dominion All whiche thinges are better knowen vnto those meÌ„ to whome the knowlege of soche thinges belongeth / then to me Nether can they be comprehended at one tyme in any consultation / seynge that many times in the former parte of the hoste / in the batayle and euen sodenly a good captayne muste take newe couÌ„cell But this thinge owght not to be dissembled that the Turkes are ower moste cruell enemyes and are beste instructe and prepared in all thinges And that ower power agaynste them is very lyttle / weake / feble and in a maner worthye to be despysed except ower healpe be looked for in the name of the lorde whyche made heauen and erthe / greate / incomparale / inuincyble / and at all tymes ready for them that feare the same lorde / and hope for healthe in his mercye Chapt. xvij NOw trulye by what meanes we maye get and optayne the same thinge and vse it euermore I wyll from henseforth tell and delcare / trustynge no thinge at all vnto myne owne witt whiche is very smale nether yet vpon anye syngulare wisdome But I wyll folowe the steppes of gods worde and the demonstration of those storyes whyche vnto soche as make dilygent inquisitioÌ„ do many festly expresse accordinge to the course of all worldes / what hath at any tyme ether proffited or hurte the churche / what god hathe done and wrowght / and with what instrumentes / or ells by what meanes / in the churche / ether before the word of god was incarnate or afterwarde And yf I do coniecture truly the lorde hath warned vs wyth a wondefull token that a sorowfull and bytter destenye hangeth ouer the churche and for what causes / and howe and by what meanes she may escape it / the fyfte yere before the Turkes dyd fyrste muade Asia Rufinus the traytour callynge theÌ„ forthe when by the space of .xxx. dayes to gether a fyerie doue dyd apere in the element / and was sene of all men Truly Prodygyous signes and woÌ„ders ought nether with conrempte to be neglected nor yet superâ—tytyouâ—ly to be obserued as wonderfull signes and straunge syghtes fasshions of thinges not acustomed to be sene owght not to be obserued superstitiously no more then dreames and other soche lyke thinges euen so lykewyse those thinges owght not to be despised whiche the maker and gouuernoure of nature hath obiected or caste in betwene the heathen and the companions of trwe relygion / as often as he wolde brynge forth any noble warke and prouoked men more inwardely to consider theyer lyuinge and also to pondre the Iudgementes of god / so that in tyme they myght flye from the euylles hangynge ouer theyr heades Wherfore the Lorde in the gospel Maâ— xxiiij of S. Luke speakynge of the destruction of the Iuysshe nation /
⧠A Godly consultation vnto the brethren and companyons of the Christen religyon By what meanes the cruell power of the Turkes / bothe may / and ought for to be repelled of the Christen people / Theodore Bibliander beinge the Author ⧠Thow shalt also fynde here most gentle Reader of the reasons wher wyth a firme and sure concorde and peace in the Churche / and the Christen publyke weale may be constytuted / and of the fyrst begynnynge and increacementes of the Turkes domynyon / and also of the superstytyous and damnable lawe of the Mahumetanes / and of other certen thynges moste worthy truly to be red and consydered The horse is prepared agaynste the days of batayle / but the Lorde alone gyueth the victorye Prouerb xxi To hys moste deretly beloued bretherne the faythull worshyppers of oure Lorde Iesus Christe / Theodore Bibliander wyssheth grace and peace from God the father WHen of late dayes the sadde tydynges of the destruccyoÌ„ of huÌ„garye had brought greate sorowe vnto all good men that thinge which ChristeÌ„ godlynes dyd requier / and that I coulde onely do in suche greate calamytyes I dyd it / that is to weit I was very sory for the mysfortune of oure men And I besought the Lord he wolde spare his people / whiche he had redemed with te bloud of his onely begot teÌ„ sonne / that he wolde not procede on styl to be reuenged vpon vs / accordinge to oure deseruinges Afterwarde I dyd begynne to consider in my mynde one thinge of an other / by what meanes we might resyste these euylles waxynge feruent so to heale the wouÌ„de receyued / that here after more deadely woundes be not gynen vnto vs Wherfore when all the speche of te vulgare people was coÌ„sumed in these vrgeÌ„t euylles And the cheiffe men rulars of cytyes dyd holde manye councells to conserue the publycke weale / I dyd suppose it not to be a thinge alienate agenâ—â—e the â—â—yce of those men that do applye â—eriâ—nâ—e and namely the holy scripture yf they dyd descrybe some firme sure reasons of holdynge warre agaynst the Turkes lying so greuously ouer Germany / that is to saye the towre of ChristeÌ„ Mathematicall masters are whych be cunnyng in Aulgry me / Musyke / Geometry aÌ„d Astronomye dome Although the Mathematycall clerkes and masters of Astronomye do take vpon them the fore knowlege of warres thorow the trientall Quincuncial aspectes of Iupiter / Saturne / and Mars / of other Planetes / and expresse the causes chaunces of them / and accomplisshe the same wyth a natural sharpenes of wytte / as men experte in some certeÌ„ vse of thinges yet wold AlexaÌ„der dyscrete sharpe AlexaÌ„der in correction the moste noble Prynce in the feates of warre / cheifely vse the councell of the olde excercysed souldioures Neuer the lesse I do iudge moche better councels to be requyred by ryght of those men that be studyous of deuyne scriptures For the deuyne lawes befuge forth the Leuyte euen the mynyster of relygyoÌ„ in to the former parte of the hoste / they Nume i. Deute xx Nume x. do sett hym betwene the multytudes now standynge rownde aboute in theyr araye / and wyth the hoorse sounde of the trumpettes they do mynister a 〈…〉 â—â—â—ce to the warres waxyng whote / that it may be prynted in the hartes of all good men / not to be chaunce and blynd fortune / not to be inconstant or slypper Mars whych Mars is fayned of poetes to be the god of battell and it is also one of the planetes rasshely myxeth togyther the troubles of warre / but that it is God the gouernoure of heaueÌ„ and erth / which by iudgement sure reason gyueth vnto some meÌ„ merye victorye / turneth an other sorte vnto flyght And that religioÌ„ wyth oute the whiche no thynge can be goueÌ„rned well and happely hathe in batell the chefeste vse / as in the moste daunger of the publyk weale Also many sermones of the Prophetes dispute of the causes chauÌ„ce of warres and eueÌ„ thys matter as a thing propre or specyally pertaynyng vnto diuynyte doth Hieremye knowlege vnto Hananiah the sonne of Azur / saying / the prophetes which were before me and the / Hiere xxviij from the begynnynge / dyd prophecye vpon landes and greate kingedomes / of warre and troble and honger / or ells of peace / were proued by thys / yf God had sent them in very dede wheÌ„ the thynge came so to passe whiche the Prophet tolde before More ouer many mynysters of Constantine holy doctryne / after the comynge of oure lorde dyd not abhorre from the pollytyck rules of kepynge warre for that I may passe by How that in the teÌ„tes of ConstaÌ„tyne Constantyne the greate / euerye pauylyon of the souldyers had lerned meÌ„ in holy thinges how â–ª Bernharde the abbot was the author Bernard of bearynge harnes agaynste the Saracecens That I may holde my peace of the Innocencianes / and the Eugenianes and soche other troÌ„pet blouwers of oute laÌ„dysh warres Saynte Augustyne the greateste Augustyne master of diuinite in his questions to the booke of Iosue doth allmoste explicate the whole reason to kepe battell godly saynt Hierome also writynge in Bethlem the Hierome same tyme wherein the Turkes dyd waste moste cruelly the lesser Asia / a parte of Syria / and at the laste had kylled all Syria / Arabye and Egypte with feare / dyd showe that the synnes of the Christen people were the cause of that plage / and that there was no sure victorye aÌ„d health to be looked for / before there were a returne vnto vertu and righteousnes The councel of the whche moste wyse and also moste holy man if oure fore fathers wolde haue vsed a great whyle ago We sholde haue had all Germanye fre at thys daye from all the feare and weapons of the Turkes and also all Europe Neyther sholde the secte of Mahumet haue obtayned the greateste parte of the worlde inhabyted And Christe the wisdome / righteousnes power of God / sholde haue bene preached in those places / where as now lyinge falshed and madde superstition doth excedingly reioyse and triuÌ„phe Therfore I folowyng the exaÌ„ple of soche men all though wyth a loÌ„ge space betwene / haue iudged it a proffitable thinge / if I sholde bringe vnto my bretherne not so moche a new couÌ„cell as to renue an olde Whiche thynge shall worthely haue now the more weyght or be the better pondered after that it is knowne by a proffe so manye euylles beynge ouercomme what skill it is to obey hym that gyueth good warnynge But my oration was to be aplyed some thinge more nerer vnto ower tymes / and the descriptioÌ„ was to be made of those reasons / with the whyche a sure and contynu all concorde myght be constituted in the Christen congregation Of the firste begynnynge and increasynges of the
and vyces of owre men / takynge an example at the Apostles and Prophetes / whyche many tymes by such a compeÌ„dyous waye dyd brynge the folowers of godlynes into a more inwarde knowledge of theÌ„selfe / so that they might make theÌ„ to beholde in the lyfe of other strauÌ„ge nacyons / as it hath bene in a glasse what is foule or honeste / what is good or euell in men clokyd / cowled / and hoodyd wyth tytles of names of holynes / and how moche euery thynge consysteth in hys awne kynde / for by the demonstratyon of comparyson it is more euidently sene what so euer they wolde knowe or not knowe eyther by ignorauÌ„ce or dissimulatyon / lokynge vpon the preceptes and iudgynge them selues to fauorablely Therfore yf it shal be knowne the same vngracyous dedes whyche we abhorre in the Turkes / or ells suche lyke / ye or greater myscheffes to be done amongste Christianes / that frely or wythoute any punyshment Agayne those vertues whych are prescrybed of oure master great Emperour Iesus Christ to be more gentlely nourished excercysed amoÌ„gste the parte takers of Mahumets superstytion enemyes of Chrystes crosse then amoÌ„gste fayned false Chrystianes it muste nedes be graunted as I suppose this ferce and cruell nation by the ryghteous iudgemente Marke this well for it toucheth the quyck of God to be styred vp and brought vpon vs / whiche myght reproue oure peruersite and take iuste vengeaÌ„ce vpon vs / because we haue contemned and troden vnderfote The pouer aÌ„d vertu of the ChristeÌ„ relygyon the lawe of oure god and Christen relygion And therfore at the same relygion must I begynne to declare my mynde whose power is knowne to be very great in all degrees bothe in magistrates and The poetes do say â—e that because Or oâ—notheâ—s has made a man of claye and 〈◊〉 â—â—er 〈◊〉 froÌ„ heaueÌ„â—â—â— lyfe into hym Iupiter sent Pandora a woman with a boxe full of alkyndes of dyseases vnto hym / but he refused it / whose brother Epsmetheus opened it / aâ— then all maner of syknesses flewe abrode pryuate persons / in warre and peace and in euery age and condycion of men The whyche also whyles it is kepte whole inuyolate deliuereth kyngdomes / natioÌ„s and cyryes and all men from euyll But beyng corrupte / it openeth as it were the boxe of Pandora and powreth abrode all maner of myscheffein to the world More ouer as we knowe that there is but one onely holy and true euerlastynge and lyuynge God / so do we confesse that there is but one onely holy and true relygion / whyche of Christe the sonne of God of the virgyn Marye the onely medyatour betwene God and man is called Christiane And it contayneth an euerlastyng couenaunte that the Lorde is oure God and we agayne hys people holy and consecrated / wyth oute the whych felouship or cummunion of sayntes with Christe beste and greateste / there is not graunted of God vnto men any felycyte or promisse of blysed lyffe But the wrathe of God The diffinycyon of â— relygion and all maner of calamityes with deathe at the laste and extreme miserye Nether can I for the medyocrite or lytle quantite of my vnderstondynge in fewe wordes better defyne relygion then to be as I myght call it a lyffe or a lyuynge nature and a vertuous dysposicioÌ„ put in to men by the worde of God / whiche maketh meÌ„ to be truly myse good / blyssed / for why it bryngeth moste true and sure knowlege of the greateste goodnes and also of the onely good God and his true worship and maketh vs pleasant and acceptable vnto hym / and styrrethe vp the mynde wyth holy affectyons towardes God and men and also calleth vake oure myndes from those thinges whyche be contrarye to godes diuine plesure therfore ought they to be taken as fylthye and vnhoneste Furthrmore it maketh constancye to gro we in oure brestes / lest we taken with the loue of the vayne flatterynge kynde or shadowe of good thinges or elles with the feare of any mysfortune haÌ„ging ouer oure heades / myghte be caryed awaye / The pray se and coÌ„mendacioÌ„ of religioÌ„ with euerye wynde from those thinges that be very vertuous and good in dede / oute of the whiche fountayne of religion floweth and cometh all offices and noble actes / and all that integryte or innoceÌ„cye of lyuyng / vertu and conuenieÌ„cye which is called holynes Thys gyueth power and goodnes to the lawes This gyueth Authoryte vnto the magistrates and maketh the people to be iustely obedieÌ„t / wheÌ„ at the commaundement of theyer celestiall father and lorde of heauen and erthe / they gyue vnto euerye man what so euer is dew / whether it be honoure or tribute custome or rent or any other thinge Religion alone makethe a good Kinge / a good consull / a good alderman and counceller / a good minister and doctor of religion / a good cittizynne / a good souldier a good marchant / a good husbandman / and a good workeman Relygion coupleth men to gether with moste holy bondes / bothe the magistrates and the people committed vnto them / the parentes and the children / the husband and the wyffe / the cyttizynne with the cyttizynne to be freÌ„des and felowes / and bindeth the souldiours to theyr captaynes the people in whose name the batayle is holden with moste holyeste leages and othes to suffre to gether strongely and lyke men what so euer fortune chaunceth vnto them And that I may ons in few wordes vtter my hole mynde Religion is an infinyte treasure Religion brefely diâ— fined of all good thinges whyche no portion of mannes lyffe may wante no more theÌ„ the bodye may be with oute the soule whiche is the onely cause wherby it moueth / or the worlde may lacke the light of the sonne Therfor howe many so euer haue All godly men of all worldes were chrianes benein any worlde or in any nation / good and wyse men and the frendes of the immortal god / in conclusioÌ„ adscribed and noumbred to dwell amongst sayntes They were euer Christianes whyche truly by the worde and sonne of god / by the wisdome and truthe and goodnes of the celestiall father haue by eleccion and fre gyfte obtayned bothe wisdome and goodnes and that same thinge wiche is called blyssed euerlastynge lyffe Nether are those men forbydden or prohibyted from the felouship of Christianes whiche were not marked with the outward badge that is to saye were not baptysed in the name of Christe or Messias / seynge that Adam and after hym the wother Patriarkes eueÌ„ the moste holy men truly were called in the holy scriptures the true worshippers of the lorde and the seruaÌ„tes of god / but yet not Christianes Nether maketh it any matter by what way or by what meanes the sonne of god was declared knowne vnto the heitheÌ„ / whether it were by
and Prynce of all prynces whiche by the holy spryte of hym and his father / by his worde and the ministers of religion / by the rulars of the polityke ordre and lawes of the publyke weale / also by the administration and diligent seruise of Angells and of euery creature conserueth and defendeth his people on euery syde And as god hathe euer syns the creation of the worlde excellently declared his moste present godhed / wisdome and goodnes righteousnes and power in his outwarde churche / as in a peculiare people and cittye yea as it were in hys owne house euen so was it done / Christe gouerninge all thinges very god and maÌ„ in the vnite of person / so we looke that it shhal be styl vnto the ende of the worlde when all his enemyes beynge ouercome Psalm â—x made his fote stole / he shall delyuer his Kyngdome is here taken for his electe people 1. Cor. xij Kingedome vp to his father that god maye be all in all For when any people breaketh his preceptes falleth aways from his holy lawes / by and by he threieneth And if that be contemned and will not serue / he prepareth roddes to beate punyshe them Agayne when men wyll know theyer fautes and aske forgiuenes makynge promysse to amende theyer wicked and moste synfull lyuing / god is euer more wonte to be easely reconcyled that is to saye he will sone forget his angre Eze. xviij and take them to his mercye Truly the gyftes are infinite whiche Christe owre Kynge of his celestiall liberalyte doth dystrybute to hys true worshippers Nether will he suffer any thinge to chaunce whiche shall not brynge some passynge Iere. xlvi greate profitt to his true louers But the enemyes of his churche he dothe destroye Nether will he suffer them to escape vnpunisshed whyche do hys people iniuryes and despite / commaundynge his electe in the meane season to be of good comforte and to attribute the vengeaunce to hym whiche bothe can and will requite the tyrannye done vnto them with indifferent Luc. xviij iustice when he shall see the tyme to be moste for the proffit of the godly and beste to illustrate his owne glorye But lesse I shoulde make to longe a rehersall of those men whiche haue bene plaged for theyer vnrighteousnes done agaynste the Hieromâ— churche / for as moche as saynte Hierome sayeth / all the persequtors of the lordes Persequtors of the churche neuer scape vnpunyshed true faythfull congregation that euer were from the begynnynge of the worlde vnto his tyme that I maye holde my peace and speake no thinge of the tormeÌ„tes to come in the fyer of hell to haue receyued also in this present worlde the scourge of vengeaunce accordynge to the dedes of theyr tyrannye commytted / we shall here be contented with .ij. examples breffely touched and compendionsly expressed Pharao the kynge of Egypt had Pharao the kynge of Egypte neuer oppressed the people of Israel with soche moste cruell and open tyrannye yf they had not made god angrye and displeased with theyer synnes / for why they were not ther for so euyll entreated of the Egyptians because that god had Gen. xvi tolde Abraham before hande that his sede whiche is to saye the posterite of his generation sholde be afflycted or plaged by the space of fowre hondrethe yeres But for because that god dyd knowe froÌ„ the begynnynge the synnes of the Israelytes for their offences dyd therfore prophecye that they sholde so be punysshed / neuerthelesse so sone as they cryed vnto the Lorde / all thoughe they were not yet thorouly amended / god dyd not despyse their prayers / but gyuing vnto them the beste captaynes Aaron Moses Marie / dyd brynge his people froÌ„ intolerable boÌ„dage Exo. xiiij in to libertie / plaged the tyraÌ„te of Egypte and all hys kyngedome wyth Iulianus Apostate moste greuous punysshement Iulianus the Emperoure and neuye of Constantyne the greate was not admytted eyther by the negligeÌ„ce of Christ the prince / nor yet by any crueltye of God vnto the persecutioÌ„ of the church But for because that many men dyd abuse the peace which the Lorde had restored vnto the church by the beste Prynce Constantyne / as it is easye to perceyue beholde in the scouldynge altercatioÌ„ more then of harlottes / betwene the heades and Captaynes of relygyoÌ„ whyche were gathered to gether at Nice by Gods diuine sufferans The chyldren of â—rrius dyd succede their moste godly father ConstaÌ„tyne And sone after the apostata Iulianus / which rather by crafte pollyce of wytt dyd hurt the church then with cruelnes and greuous tormeÌ„tes / as it was done of other tyraÌ„tes But going forth to batayle agaynste the Persians he thretened moste cruell thynges vnto the Christen people when he sholde with victorye returne home agayne and he vowed the Christen bloode vnto false gods / agaynst whoÌ„ the church dyd fight wyth wordes / and confessyng hyr synnes desyrynge forgeuenes of hyr offences / obtayned hyr healthe at the Lordes haÌ„de whych doth iudgement and iustice in the erth Nether dyd god despyse the prayers of the church for Iulianus being brought thorow the disceyte of a certen Persiane to gether with his hoste into a solytarye place / a wood or a wyldernes / receyued a deadly wounde / not well knowne whether of a man or of an angell neuerthelesse when he sawe none other remedye but that he must neades dye / that out of hande / the wycked tyrante was constrayned to knowlege that Christ had gotten the victory / yea and that with his awne blasphemous mouth / in so moche that the very bloude spynnynge or runninge out of hys body wyth ferce violence into the element dyd proclayme / and crye oute O thow Iesus of Galyle thou haste ouercome me / thou haste ouercome me Which destynye certen godly men had prophecyed before that it sholde happen vnto hym coÌ„syderinge with them self fe what fortune euer more is wonte for to folowe the persecutors of the church Which seldome or neuer with oute blood or murder / descende vnto pluto the greate dyuyll of hell where all they be gathered to gether that haue fylled the erthe with the feare of theyer tyrannye Furthermore it is red that when the sophister Libanius after Libanius the sophister that Iulianus was gone for the agaynste the persians did inquire and aske of a certen scole master of Antioche what doth the carpenters sonne notynge verely therby meanynge Christe whiche was brought vp and norysshed vnder the gouernaunce of Ioseph whiche did exercyse carpenters crafte he made answer with out any fere sayde He buyldeth and maketh for Iulianus a chiste or a costyn for to Athanasius be buryd in / Athanasius also was wonte to call Iulianus a lyttle thynne cloude whiche shold moste swiftly passe away be blowne ouer But after
owte crye O vnworthy dede and most vngracyous worlde the decrees of holy fathers of councelles / of so many lerned men / obserued and kepte so many worldes muste now be called backe agayne to scoles and altercatioÌ„ Owte vpon heauen and erthe / what a wycked a cursed thynge is thys Owre moste holy father of Rome Goddes awne â—icare in erth / and hys blessed college of Cardynales are vtterly contemned by a sorte of bag aboundes and brayneles gallowclappers Theyr holy lawes and ordinaunces made wyth good iudgemet / and receyued by the consent of the churche a great whyle a go shall they now be retracted We wyll not suffer it to be rent in peces with wylde horses we wyll rather fight as obedyeÌ„t childreÌ„ ought to do / not with argumentes and dysputatioâ—â— But wyth sworde and with all maner of boucherly instrumentes for the statutes / Actes / libertye / dignite and amplytude of ower moste holy mother and Apostolyâ—â— church of Rome agaynste the runagateâ—â— agaynste the reperypes / agaynst the herâ—tykes / and agaynste the seditious / busye and manifeste enemyes of peace and relyâ—gion both of god and all good men So 〈◊〉 I pray yow / what will yow do Remembre youre selfe well / and be not so hastyâ— for it is sayde that soche men want no woo where are yow become whyther are you gone what iustyce do yow vse wher is the lawe of owre Lorde and Sauyoure Christ / whyche Petre doth expresse the Prynce of the Apostles and the buylder as it is sayde of the church of Rome some fyme the flower of syncere fayth / and yet as I truste hathe now in store some relyques of the same / though many do counte it to be but a cage of vnclene byrdes â–ª Apo. xviii what doth the Apostle saynt Peter commaunde I praye you in hys fyrste epistle vnto the Christianes Sanctyfye sayeth â— Petr. iij he the Lorde Iesus in yowre hartes beinge readye all wayes to gyus aâ— answere to euery man that asketh a 〈…〉 son of the hope that is in yow / and that wyth mekenes and feare hauyng a good conscyence That lawe beinge gyuene by the holye goste as it owght not to be corrupted with any cursed and craftye interpretation euen so is it confirmed by the examples of moste godlye men and of the sonne of god for whye Christe by the authorite of the holy scryptures / of Moses and of the wother prophetes and with the dedes of moste holye men agreable to the scrypture dyd proue and confirme his doctryne whiche he had browght owte of heauen froÌ„ the father / and dyd declare it by myracles not onely to hys dyscyples / but also to the enemyes of the truthe the Scrybes and Pharyses How dylygeÌ„tly / how holylye / and wyth what moderatioÌ„ doth Origene dyspute agaynst Celâ—us one of the sophysters of the secte of the Epycures Tertulliane agaynste the Iewes / the gentyles and the heretykes / Augustyne agaynst Pelagius / Donatus Manicheus and whother Those olde hys-shopes of Christes churche whych ioyned to gyther the greateste lernynge wyth The mâ—â—uer conâ—dâ—tyon of the olde bysshops of Chrisâ—tes church moste holy lyuyng / men neuer suffyciently praysed / callynge a congregation for newe heresies ether waxing rype or elles spryngynge vp as of Arrius / Macedonius / Donatus / Pelagius / Nestorius and soch other were accustomed euermore syâ—fie to behowlde soche peruerse doctrynes very inwardely and to trye them by the rule of diuine scripture and then afterward with good aduisement they dyd denye them wyth sufficient testymonyes and euident demonstration and dyd cut theyr throtes in sondre wyth most weyghtye senteÌ„ces by the sworde of the spryte / whiche is the worde of god But the Authors and folowers of those euyll opinyons 〈◊〉 vi they dyd sludye to reduce bryng agayne to the knowledge of the truthe and felowshyppe of the churche Laste of all they dyd orden punysshementes by the lawes / concluded those venymous dyseases to be cut of thorowe the prouydence of the polytyke and cyuyle magistrates / leste they shholde crepe any farther vnto the destructyon of the people of God How lyke are yower maners and yower dedes agaynst the reueÌ„gerâ— proctours and attourneyes of the catholyke fayth / which make promyse that they wil To depraue is wheÌ„ a senteÌ„ce â—ell spoken is otherwyse alterâ—â— aÌ„d â—ade 〈◊〉 playnely proue the doctryne of Christ tâ— be depraued in many partes / the maners of the churche to be degenerate and fallen owt of kynde / superstityoÌ„s to be brought in wyth intollerable bourdens not to be borne / and those men to be oppressâ—â— whom Christ made fre / so that a place â—ayâ— be assygned / Audience maye be gyuen / and a tyme prescrybed fyt and conuenient / and that shortelye Truly â— yow Christen men I am greatly moued and I shake euery ioynte of me as often as I do behoulde the state and condytyon of thys tyme / into the whyche yet neuerthelesse the holy good prouydence of God hath preserued and kepte vs moste myserable wretches They knowlege their awne selffe / whych are no frendes but fenâ—es / not the pastors / but the wasters of the holy church / that there be many thinges in the rytes / the Sacramentes / the ceremonyes and maners as well of the common The 〈…〉 of the truths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 of ordrâ— people as of their heades clene out of frame and wrasted far awaye from theyr first institution / and their conscience heareth them recorde that there be diuerse abuses aboute soche thynges / whiche alsâ— many tymes doth bewraye them self in the face of all the worlde / and yet for all that a conuenient place and a mete tyme can not be appoyntyd that they myght â—nâ—â—ake councell / and caste theyr heades togyther / whych waye at the last the churche myght be refourmed How longe hath the churche now beinge afflycted owre gentle and louyng mother worthy to be honoured of all good men ten 〈…〉 requyred and made supplication in moste lamentable wyse by Maximiliane the emperowre of most noble memorye and other prynces before hym and after / that she might be delyuered from the greuous The godly petytion of oure mother the church vnnto hyr chyldren and importable burthen of to moche oppressed and sore trobled consciencys / that she myght be losed from the bandes of symonye / that she myght put awaye those fowle pockes and scoâ—â—es where wyth they haue defyled hir and made hir euyll fauored warse then with a leprosye / that she myght receyue agayne hyr former bewâ—ye hir oulde simplycite / integrite dygnyte / that she myght be gouuerned withe the lawes of Christe hir sauioure lorde and husbande But what dyd ower mother bosted and crackte of some men with greate and goodly wordes / whych how moche they regarde hir / they declare by theyr dedes many maner of wayes What dyd
take awaye the causes of all ower euilles there can no thinge be browght better more sure then that whiche is the moste sincere and brefeste concell Truly that ower vngratious dedes beynge amended and ower contumacye and disobedience seta syde / by the whiche we haue despised hyther to the preceptes of the lorde ower god and father we may come agayne in to fauor with the gouernoure of all thinges The same thinge how moche it is honeste and fayer / and how it owght to be done with greateste studye / all thowgh none other proffit therof sholde be set forthe it hath no nede of probatioÌ„ For why seyng it is a fowle thinge to offende ower parentes / or ower kinsefolke / or ower frendes and companions / or any other deseruinge well of vs / and by ower offence to breake frdeship / a fowler thiÌ„ge to beare hatred still / a moste fowle thinge not to wyll to do ower diligence that the offences might be taken awaye / and frendeship renewed What a more vnworthye thinge is it and ioyned to gether with greater fylthines / to haue offendid ower celestiall father / whiche hathe garnished vs with infinite benefites / and to proroge enmitye not to wyll to be browght agayne in to fauor with hym that was hurte / and may by good right vtterly destroye vs / and yet he rather requyreth vs to eschue the paynes to posses with pleasure his goodnes neuer spente That repentaunce and amendement of lyuinge is truly proffittable vnto all men / cyttyes / people / and kyngedomes The storyes of the bible do teache euery where and it is recorded in very many places of the holy scripture planely pronounced Owte of the which onely / we wyll towche a fewe thinges For Hieremye the .xviij. Chap. declarynge the parable of the pottare / in whose iudgemeÌ„t it is set / to breke the vessell quickely now beyng made or beynge brokeÌ„ to make it agayne Towcheth very plesantly the power strength of repentauÌ„ce or of the new ameÌ„demeÌ„t of the formore lyfe that he might dryue awaye the euyls haÌ„ging ouer ower heades so greatly eueÌ„ now suppressinge or thrustynge vs downe on euery syde For euen thus he sayth May not I do with yow as the pottar doth o yow howse of Israell sayth the lorde / behowlde ye house of Iere. xviii Israell ye are in my hande euen as the claye in the pottars hande I wyll speake sodeÌ„ly agaynst a peple agaynst a kingedome that I may roote it owt / destroye waste it / but if that pepole agaynste who me I haue so deuised coÌ„uerte from theyr wickednes I wyll repeÌ„t also of the plage that I had deuysed to bringe vpon them What caÌ„ be spokeÌ„ more clerely The oratour of beste approued faithe moste worthy to be beleued maketh promyse wyth the wordes of god that he wyll call backe his punysshement / yf men wyll amend theyer synnes for the whiche he had determyned to plage and correct them For god dothe not kepe warre wyth man kynde But he perscuteth ower offences and desyreth to saue the people the very worke of his fingers Nether owght the twysted and dysagreable interpretations of sophisters to be herde of thretenynge of diffinytion and predestinatyon But the promyse of god is to be embraced and houlden sure wyth all ower harte / euen as it were wyth an holy Anchore whiche doth promyse remissyoÌ„ of synnes and forgyuenes of payne vnto all men how many so euer wyll by his helpe ameÌ„de theyr disposityon / and maners and dedes In the whyche thinge god is not chaunged nether is there wyth hym any inconstancye The nature â–ª aÌ„d mercyfull inclinatyon of God to warde vs moste myserable sinners of whose nature this is the propretye to wyll well vnto all men / to helpe them / to exhorte theÌ„ to indeuour theÌ„ selffe for to take healthe To call them backe from perissheynge To chasten them wyth whyppes / to spare them beynge ameÌ„dyd and to enryche them with good thynges O the ineffable clemencye of god whyche stryueth to make his enemyes traytours / his frendes wyth louynge kyndenes O the moste mercyfull swete and confortable voyce a faythefull witnes of greateste goodnes and declaringe to carefull synneâ—s the moste sure hope of helthe What speaketh Ezechiel vnto the Israelytes of hys tyme / when the lorde had thretened a greate while by his seruantes the Prophetes that Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon sholde destroye the natioÌ„ of the Iwes oneles they wolde amende If I saye vnto the wicked thow shalt suerly dye / and so he turneth from his sinnes doth the thinge that is laufull and right in so moche that he gyueth Eze. xviii the pledge agayne / restoreth that he had takeÌ„ away by robbery / walketh in the commaundementes of lyffe and doth no wronge then shall he surely lyue and not dye And a little aboue iÌ„ the same chapter it is furthermore added / as truly as I lyue sayth the lorde god I haue no pleasure in the deathe of the wycked But moche rather that he wolde turne from his synne and lyue Turne yow Turne yow O ye of the house of Israhel Oh wherfor wyll yow dye These and many suche wother thinges doth god speake by his Prophet Ezechiel the .xxxij. the .xviij. Chapters / whiche do well expresse the power of repentaunce and of turnynge agayne to the mercye of the lorde aÌ„d the studie of godlynes But what thinge sholde we God hath sworne to be mercyfull to vs yf we wyl repent seke to be more sure then the promisse of the supreme verite and that with an othe added therunto Iohn the baptisie threteneth vnto synners the wrath of god whiche shall destroye them and the whyche Iohn the Baptyste Mat. iii. shall cutte downe the vnfrutefull tree as it were with an axe set vnto the roote / but the same Iohn doth also declare that the waye to auoyde all maner of euylle is by the amendement of the former lyffe / and he sayth to the Phariseys and to those that came to the baptisme of repentaunce O ye generatioÌ„ of dipers who hathe put yow in minde to flye froÌ„ the veÌ„geanÌ„ce of god hangynge ouer yower heades Peter also promiseth vnto the Iewys Peter Actes .ii. knowlegynge the cruell haynouse offence of crucifyinge the sonne of god moste sure healthe if they wolde repent and be baptised in the name of Christe the sauioure And that we maye taste also of Moses the fountayne or springe of all diuynyte whiche when he semeth to be the moste cheyfe styffe demaunder of diuine iustice Moses Deutero xxviii aÌ„d Leuâ— xxvi neuerthelesse in the enumeration or nombrynge of rewardes and paynes Leuitici the .xxvi. Chapter and Deuteronomium the .xxviij. he showith greateste hope of health vnto synners not obstinate / but to soche as be peniteÌ„t and wyll forsake their euyll offences / in so moche that he promyseth the
haue sinned whiche alone by hym self fe may forgyue synnes let it not greue meÌ„ onely that they haue leapte ouer the diuine lawes / but let them houlde also a sure purpose aÌ„d studie froÌ„ henseforth to liue after the prescrybed couÌ„cells of godes worde Soche repeÌ„tauÌ„ce the true worshippers of god owght euermore deuoutely to remeÌ„bre / the whiche is allwaye bothe effectuall and houlesome / purifyinge the hartes with fayth and the whiche doth lose the knotte of all ower synnes / so that god doth not remembre them any more / as the Prophetes Eze. xviij are wonte to speake / That is to saye / he doth not impute that they shole be tormented with payne appoynted / for whye that were to requyer and persequte synnes and not to forgyue them Nether doth god receyue any other satsfaction then the bloode add death of his onely begotten sonne whiche the true fayth doth knowlege leuynge to the remission of sinnes / and not to beynge aÌ„d sellynge lyke hucksters that the fyne may begyueÌ„ to the preistes whiche they haue ordined / that parte of ower synnes might be redemed of pardoners and parte scowerde awaye in the fyers of purgatorie Truly the church is satisfied wheÌ„ she seyth a maÌ„ chaunged and conuertyd vnto vertu and godlines / that he whiche dyd lately offende wiht wickednes and fylthye lyuinge vnworthy of the compayne of holy men now beynge traÌ„sfourmed by the grace of god bryngeth Ioye is houlden worthy of the folowship of the churche Truly we do not disalowe that he whose mynde is trobled with any dauÌ„gerous dowte caste in to his conscience sholde aske councell of meÌ„ that are experte in diuine matters namely of his owne curate / whiche maye lyfte vp his afflicte coÌ„science with the coÌ„forte of diuine promises also showe hym the meanes the reason by the whiche in tyme to come he may be ware to offende god But to ruÌ„ne froÌ„ corner to corner froÌ„ ryfte to ryfte lyke as swyne do wheÌ„ they seke after acornes to serche owte the secretes of meÌ„nes myndes with auriculare coÌ„fessions It rather coÌ„firmeth the tyrannie Prestes â—wght not to be so curious in the serchige owt of other meÌ„nes synnes as to gyue theÌ„ good couÌ„cell of a fewe theÌ„ it doth fourther ChristeÌ„ godlynes How doth it chauÌ„ce theÌ„ that to alter ower maners disposytyon and actes when they be euyll and nawght / and to directe the course of ower lyuynge vnto the marke of godes wyll pleasure and coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t semeth vnto many meÌ„ of ower tyme a verye harde thinge also wyll TheÌ„ afterward let hym coÌ„sider that euery warke semeth to be very difficulte Degetius before a maÌ„ proue it as Degetius sayth / that many thinges of insuperable diffycultie in the opinioÌ„ of meÌ„ to be browght to passe with little busines wheÌ„ a proffe of theÌ„ is made WheÌ„ ElephaÌ„tes were firste browght forth agaynste the multitudes of the Romanes the greatenes of the beastes made the greately afrayde draue the meÌ„ of warre owte theyr place / whiche had neuer before fowght with Elephantes But wheÌ„ they dyd assaye to set fote by fote by theÌ„ / to stryke theyer hoked noses with theyr swordes to thrust theyr speares in to theyr bellies that thinge was turned in to a game The lorde pronownceth that it is not onely an harde thiÌ„ge but also Mat. xix 〈◊〉 Luk. xviâ—j a thiÌ„ge vnpossible that ryche meÌ„ sholde entre in to the kingedome of heaueÌ„ But the same lorde teacheth also that no thinge is vnpossible with god / that those meÌ„ caÌ„ not entre in to the kingedome of heaueÌ„ that put theyr trâ—â—â— in theyr riches Furthermore it is to be thowght that it is far away a more Esaye thinge to caste awaye the yoke of hellisshe Pharao theÌ„ to Hollyshe Pharao sygnyfyeth the â—yâ—yll beare it Set before yower eyes a maÌ„ very desirous of honoure and dominioÌ„ / and what doth he suffer Yea what greuous cares is there whiche he doth not deuoure / that the may excell othermeÌ„ Set before yower eyes the lyffe of a tyrant whych with thretenynges and violence had rather haue enemyes then by iuste gouerninge to retayne faythfully freÌ„des ready to styke by hym ageynst all fortune Behoulde Dionisius the sworde whiche Dionisius dyd hange vp that it myght lye ouer and aboue the heade of a certen Philosopher meruelynge at the wreched condition of tyrantes Sett before yower eyes the hellyshe spryte of an eniuous man Sett before yowr eyes the lyffe of a couetous niggarde / of a mecher / of a Glutton and yow shall perceyue those men to beare a moste greuous burthen that lede a lyffe repugnynge to the lawes of god And to traÌ„sfygure the same in to a better state is to caste a waye a greate fardell And on the contrarye syde yow shall se the lordes yoke Mat. xi to be verye lyght / as he saythe in the gospel a swete burthen yf yow loke narowly vpon the lyffe of a moderate man / whiche beynge a rulare in the publike weale dothe bere hym selfe in his office iustly and truly / whiche beynge a priuate person is obedient to the lawes / gentle / fayer and symple / chaste / sobre / and profitable I wolde haue it also to be consydered how many tymes those men whiche are a lyue to the worlde do begyle theÌ„ selffe of that pleasure and felycite that The louers of the worlde gape many tymes after those thinges that they can not optayne they couet moste / and how they alter daylye / and somtyme euery houre the trade of theyer lyuynge in to contrarie thinges / and often tymes they haue hope set before them of very lytle proffyt As those men whiche be conuersant in greate meÌ„nes houses / whiche go a warfare / whiche playe the marchaÌ„t meÌ„ But yow will saye the mighty meÌ„ of power doth let that the synceryte oft the christeÌ„ doctrine the rites of the churche and honestye of maners Myghtye men of power may gnashe theyr tethe agenst the lorde his Christ / that is to saye his verite but they can not ouercome it whiche in tymes paste was in the people of god and owght allwaye to be present can not be called backe agayne for why the iÌ„feriour magistrates do ouer moche behoulde theyer superiours / euery man or the fewer in nombre hath a respect to te greater multitude Nether do the townes and lordes whiche peraduenture houlde but the iurisdictioÌ„ of one parisshe / suppose that any thynge owght to be atteÌ„ptyd oneles the lorde of the hole countrey called an Erle go before theÌ„ And vnder a lyke maner the Erle loketh vpoÌ„ the Duke The Duke vpon the Kynge The Kinge vpon hym that is greater then he / or vpon mo Kinges And the same folyshe obseruation whiche is a more vnworthie thinge is sene in the ecclesiasticall officys
/ that the parson taketh hede of Whyle euery man gaseth one vpoÌ„ another religion lyeth in the duste no man recheth owre his hande for to helpe hyr vp the Metropolitane The Metropolitane behouldeth the Archebyshop The Archebishop the patriarch or vniuersal Puppet when neuer the lesse there is equall power gyuen vnto them all to edyfye and not to destroye / that after the rule of godes worde / and not mannes pleasure / a spirituall buyldinge might be made And many do suppose that with owte the Authorite of a generall councell no thinge can be brought to passe But there be many reasons at hande where with all this opinion sholde be proued false yf I weare dysposed to applye my mynde Neuerthelesse by the moste euident examples of ower tyme / faythe can not be taken awaye at no hande For why how many thinges within these fewe yeres be there correctid both in many places / and not in one tyme nether by any couenauÌ„te or promyse made before but onely by the prescription of the holy scriptures / whiche the superior magistrates wente abowte to kepe backe very obstinately And can not all other matteres that are behynde be redressed vnder a like maner May not other cyttyes beynge also wrapped in papisticall trifles do the same thinge whyche we se to be done of theÌ„ all redy / which beynge inferiour in riches and lenynge to the helpe of god hathe proued to set vpon a thinge very excellent and holye necessarye Dothe not the Romishe puppet lye wounded slayne in the conscience of men / so that nether his wares can fynde marchaÌ„tes to bye them / nor yet his thonderclappes feared and his blyssinges his cursynges are taken bothe a lyke / which vnto all men but a lytle a whyle ago was a very fearefull beaste The Israelytes in the boke of the Iudges are Iudges ij sayde that they cowlde not put awaye the resydue of the ChanaÌ„ites But why so verely because they wolde not But they myght haue abolyshed with very lytle busynes all the Chananites / yf they despysynge the commaundement of god had not preferred cowardely idlenes before the moste holy busynes / that with the greateste losse of theyer owne goodes as they dyd shortely after proue it in dede And leste that ether euerye man or elles euerye cyttye sholde couer the difficultye of theyr cowardenes in renewinge of religioÌ„ and righteousnes the lorde hath set forthe Niniue the cheyffe cyttye Niniue of the AssyriaÌ„s kingedome / where vnto there was no thinge waÌ„tynge at all / that myght make repentaunce I say not very hard â–ª but playnly iÌ„possible For why first of all this very greate moste riche cyttye dyd flowe swyme whith many and greate abhominations / with ydolatrye / vnfaythfulnes / vnrightousnes / crueltye murders / ambition / excesse / that I mayons tell alltogyther in fewe wordes it was a worlde with all hyr malice brought with in the precincte or bridgemeÌ„t of one wall And those mycheffes had continued by the space of a thowsande and .ij. hondereth yeres more / and they were turned by moste longe custome into nature Also The Ninâ—uites waÌ„ted no thâ—ge which might withdrawe them froÌ„ repentauÌ„ce and kepe and retayne thâ— in vycyous liuinâ— theyer victoryes and successe of fortune and the inerpugnable defence of the place and theryches of the cyttye and the greate plentye of men mete to gouuerne all maner of matters / whither strenghte or pollicye were to be vsed / dyd commaunde them to be in saffegarde and to go on forwarde as they had begonne wyth theyer formar mischeffe Or elles yf the Niniuites dyd thynke to turne awaye from the wrathe of the godhed by the amendment of theyr maners / the longe continuans of theyer moste vngratious dedes dyd caste agaynste theyer shynnes the desperation of health For who may suppose that the dyuyll dyd not moue his instrumentes / that he myght posses for euer the cheiffe heade of his kyngedom Or who can denye that god was not angrie and displeased with the Niniuites for soche greate abhominations / namely seynge he thretened vtter destruction vnto them with in fourtye dayes Neuer thelesse the Niniuites â–ª at the onely prechinge of Ionas the prophet a strauÌ„ge an vnknowne man / and the whiche had lyttle preuayled in longe prechinge amongste his contrey meÌ„ the Iewes / as a runagate was lately brought in to the office of a prophet dyd sodenly turne vnto the onely true God / so that euery maÌ„ departynge from his iniquite dyd call for Ionas iii the mercye of the Lorde Nether dyd the people tarye for the decreis of theyr most mightye kynge that they myght referre so greate a busynes vnto the kynges councell and then in conclusion to set vpon the renewynge of a better lyffe yf yt sholde be his pleasure The kynge also beynge The king of Niniuâ— had not the people nor the people the kynge to be the author of thir repentauÌ„ce but both the people aÌ„d the kyng had God for theyr Author ignorant of the will of his people / decreyd with him selfe to amende his lyuinge / he perfourmed it with dedes / so that nether the kynge had the people to be the Author of his dede nor the people the kinge to be the Author of theyer dede But both the kynge and the people had god for theyer author / whome they beleued beynge warned by his prophet / whiche dyd reproue theyer wycked abhominations and did denounce the payne therof bi the righteous iudgemeÌ„t of god Wherfore ower cowardenes aÌ„d luskyshenes doth make at this daye that to renewe diuine honoures / the syncere doctrine of fayth / the ceremonyes deliuered of Christe aÌ„d truly obserued of the holy fathers / the syncere healthe or honestye of mynde / the innocentye of lyuynge / the estimation or the honouryng of iustyce / and of all vertues / semethe to be a warke very harde difficulte full of parell But this moste heauie slepe with owt wakynge which owr firste parent Adam hathe sente vnto vs / a thinge pertaynynge after the fleshe to ower inheritaunce dothe caste soche a myste before ower eyes and iudgement / that we desyer righteous thinges and we desyer them not we are vexed with the false fantastical images of greatest difficultyes lyke as it where the slouthful maÌ„ / which in the prouerbes of Salomon sayeth There is a lyoÌ„ Prouer. xxvi without / I shall be slayne in the mydest of the stretes And a lyones is in the waye Lyke as adore turneth abowte vpon the poste where vpon yt hangeth / euen so dothe a sluggarde welter hym selfe in his bedde The slowthfull luske putteth his handes vnder his harmeholes and it greueth hiÌ„ to put them agayne vnto his mowth Therfore that euyll vice of sluggysshenes is to be throwen of with vertue / and religion is to be styrred vp with godly zele / that ower
/ as PoÌ„ponius who sayeth that Pomponius they do inhabyte greate wyldernes sharpe with contynuall rockes also the same Pliniuâ— sayeth Plinie And I am easaly perswaded to beleue the Thuscanes to be named in Ptolomye for the Turkes / the letter â—â—beinge chaunged that S. myght be written in the stede therof And the moste experte men in the Hebrew tonge do iudge the Turkes to be named of Thogorma / Gene. x â— Chron. 1 the sonne of Gomer / Neuye to Iapheth The whiche kynred wyth Gog Magog folowynge Antiochus that moste cruell tyrante called Epiphanes / that is to saye illustryous dyd scourge the Iewes accordinge to the prophecie of Ezechiel wrytten in the .xxxviij. and .xxxix. Chapters / aboute the houndreth and fourtye yeres before the byrth of owre Lorde At whych tyme the warre of Antichrist was greatly fygured by the stryuynges of Antiochus Kynge of Syria and of the Machabees Where vpoÌ„ iÌ„ the .xx. Chapter of the Reuelation / Gog and Magog be put as Gog and Magog for the aydes of Antichriste / whom the Iewes by vayne expectation do looke for to come in the ende of the Romane Empyre to kyl Messias the sonne of Ioseph And that incontyneÌ„tly they sholde be oppressed and ouercoÌ„ne by Messias the sonne of Dauid before the walles of Ierusalem And the same opinion of the Iewes sprongne owte of the holye scriptures sayinges of the oulde fathers / but not wellvnderstaÌ„ded / hath not a lytle busied the myndes euen of the Christen men And saynte Augustyne wryteth agaynst it in the .xx. boke intiteled and named De ciuitate Dei / that is to saye / of the cyttye Methodius of God Methodius Bysshop martyr who florysshed aboute the thre hondreth yere of the Lordes byrth dyd iudge more truly of Gog and Magog of the other people of Scythia He prophecyed that these borderers of the mouÌ„taynes of Caucasus sholde inuade the Christen domynyons not as wholy Antichriste / but as parte of hym / A foxe openynge to theÌ„ the gates and stronge inclosed howldes / the whiche hitherto did kepe them backe from anoyance of the ChristeÌ„ people And there be whiche interprete Mahumet to be the same foxe / and Gog and Magog to be the Turkes But hereafter I wyll showe yow that a longe tyme before Mahumet was borne the ChristeÌ„ men were greatly plaged by the Turkes / and that for sinne / yf that firste I shall haue fownde owte the significatioÌ„ of the foxe / the whiche Methodius not with owte the prophecye of the spyrite dyd make to be captayne to the Caucasiane armye For it is well knowne that the witte of a foxe is craftye and moche spoken of in the prouerbes of the common people for preparynge of his dennes and lyuinge / for disceyuinge the howndes / for eschuynge of snares soche other thinges Where vpon for the declaration of a suttle disceyuinge or false maÌ„ a foxe is mencioned both in holy scripture aÌ„d also amoÌ„gest prophane wryters And therfore the lorde casteth of the disguysed or counterfet dyscyple the whyche for the loue of the present commodite Mat. viii had purposed to folow hym sayinge The foxes haue dennes and the byrdes of heauen nestes / but the sonne of man hath not where he may laye his heade Also he Luke xiii calleth Herod the tyraÌ„te instructed with manye disceytes a foxe And Ezethiel Ezee. xiii doth compare the false Prophetes of the Israelytes the whiche regarded not the glorie of god nor the helth of the people but theyr owne priuate welth vnto foxes The spowse also requyreth the foxes â—ant ij to gether with theyr welpes for to be taken whiche deuower the byne of the lorde hir husband / that is to saye those whyche be false towardes god and man / as bene heretykes and they whiche exercyse the administration of hygh offices / not for any common wealthe / but referre all thinges vnto pryuate proffyt / that they maye gather to gether / Ryches / ExcelleÌ„cie / voluptuous pleasuers / not regardynge the losse of other men / nether yet the hynderance rf the glorie of god Therfor the Turkes beynge prouoked or called owte of the rockes of Caucasus as by a token gyuen them by the rulars of the ChristaÌ„ people whiche had a foxisshe witt craftes / falsehed / and maners compounded for to deceuye And beynge led forthe as it were by certen grees / steppes and pases they haue clymmed vp to a moste greate dominion / and now they drawe nere vnto vs / by the sufferance of god whiche suffereth Hypocrytes to reygne Iob. 34 for the synnes of the people as we rede written in the boke of Iob. The worlde dryuynge forth thre hondereth fowre score the nynetenth yeare Theod oâ—â— us tathes to Arcadâ— us and â—â—â—ortus froÌ„ the lordes byrth Arcadius Honorius dyd receyue theyr fathers dominioÌ„ / Theodosius beynge deade then whom amonge Christen prynces there was neuer none more godly And the same man for his wysedome / strength and all kynde of vertues is worthy to be conferred or compared vnto beste princes For he considerynge that he sholde leaue his kinged ome beynge very greate vnto so yonge meÌ„ / of so careles vntowarde dispositioÌ„ dyd thincke that it sholde be beste for the coÌ„mon wealthe to appoynte men whom he had enryched with many benyfytes annourned with greate honoures / beynge mete also for those thynges both for councell and streÌ„gthe / to be moste faythfull tutors vnto his sonnes and iuste administers of the empyre But the benignitye of the ryght liberall prynce coulde not correcte theyer euyll dispositioÌ„s Nether coulde his wytty forecaste / beholde the blynde corners of theyer vnfaythfull myndes Nor his godly prouidence dryue awaye the plage cominge to the Christen dominions for contempt of the worde of god and all maner theyr mischeues For anon as Theodosius the valyante mayne taynour of religion and iustitie was traÌ„slated to immortalytye and heauenly glorie the thre men to whome the right holy prynce had deliuered his children and comon wealth both to be f 〈…〉 fully vsed and defended greatly deceyued by the dissimulation of the foxes / they beynge kyndeled with the fyerbrandes of ambytyon and couetousnes / by theyr false councells fraude / deceytes / and manifeste violence did enflame the easte partye / Tracye Grece / Italye / Germanye / Fraunce and Affryk with deadely warres / and as in tymes passed the foxes hauynge the fyer brondes tayed vnto them the whiche SaÌ„son dyd put into the feldes or landes of Iud. v. the Palestines did burne vp the corne bothe far and brode eueÌ„ so these traiterous rulars not so moche sent forthe by Theodosius as by the wrath of God / whyles they go abowte to vsurpe the kyngedome vnto them selues / by the space of fyftene yeares / do destroye pyllethe Christen dominions bothe with inwarde and owtewarde warres / eueÌ„ vntyll
and haue stretched owte my hande and no man regarded it / but hath despised all my councells and set my correctyon at naught therfor shall I also laughe in yower destructyon / and mocke yow wheÌ„ that thinge that yow feare shall Prouer. j. chaunce vnto yow / euen when the calamities falleth in sondenly lyke a storme and yower destruction lyke a tempest / yea when trouble and heuines cometh vpon yow Then shall they call vpon me but I wyll not heare them They shall seke me early but they shall not fynde me / and that be cause they hated knowlege and receyued not the feare of the lorde but abhorred my councell and despysed all my correction Therfor shall they eate the frutes of theyer owne waye and be filled with theyer owne inuentioÌ„s And in the .xxviij. Chapter He that turneth awaye his eare from hearynge the lawe Prouerbâ— xxxviij his prayer shall be abhominable Agayne in the .xxi. Who so stopeth his eares at the cryynge of the poore he shall crye Pro. xxi hym self fe and not be herde Mycheas also saythe / O heare thys ye prynces of the house of Iacob and ye Iudges of the howse of Israell Sholde ye not know what ware laufull and right But ye hate the Mithi iiâ—â— good and ye loue the euyll / ye plucke of mennes skinnes and theflesshe from they â—r â–ª bones / ye choppe theÌ„ in peaces as it were in to a cauldroÌ„ and as flesshe in to a pot Now the tyme shall come that wheÌ„ they call vnto the lorde he shall not heare theÌ„ / because that thorow theyr owne Imagynations they haue dealte so wyckedly The lorde also speakth in his Prophet Esaye the firste Chapter sayynge when yow houlde owte yower handes / I wyll turne myne eyes from yow and thowgh ye make many prayers I wyll heare no thinge at all â–ª for yower handes are full of blowde Wasshe yow therfor and make yow cleane / put awaye yower euyll thowghtes owt of my syght / cease from Esay â— doyinge of euyll / lerne to do right and apply yower selffes to equyte ce And in the .lviij. of Esay God professeth him self fe to be very harde and playnely inexorable vnto the wycked as it is euident by Iuexorable / that caÌ„ not be wâ—ue and obtayned by prayer these wordes Beholde the Lordes hande is not shortened that it can not helpe / nether is his eare so stopped that it may not heare / but yowre greate offences hath separated yow from yower God and yowre synnes hydeth hys face from yow that he heareth yow not / for yowre haÌ„des are polluted wyth bloude / and yowre fyngers embrued with vnryghteousnes c. Now Sayntes whyther they be deade or â—â—yne can not preuayle by prayer to helpe the wylful resysters of gods spryte and truth that the prayers of sayntes whyther they be departyd from the dutyes of this lyffe / or whether they be yet styl lyuyng in the erthe can not put away those calamytyes which God the ryghteous Iudge bryngeth vpoÌ„ the obstynate offenders and the wylfull synners agaynst the holy goste the onelye testimonye of Iohn the Euangelyste in his fyrste epistle doth sufficiently declare / where as he sayeth there is a synne vnto death / for the whyche saye I not that a maÌ„ sholde pray The Lorde also sayeth in the gospel that synne agenst the â— Ioan. v. Mat. xij holy goste shal nather be forgyueÌ„ in thys worlde nor in the world to come But Ieremy declareth it more euideÌ„tly / speaâ—inge of the sayntes / which whyles they were alyue obtayned very moch by their feruent Ierâ—m xv prayers Though Moyses and Samuel stode before me yet haue I no herte to this people dryue them awaye owt of my syght that they maye go some vnto death / some to the sworde / some to huÌ„ger / some into captyuyte And of the lyuynge sayntes there is a famylyar example Ieremye the .vij. Praye not thow for thys people / nether gyue thow thankes nor make intercession for them for in no wyse I wyll heare them Why seist thou not what they do in the cyttyes of Iuda and in the stretes of Ierusalem And the same thinge is also repeted Ieremye the .xi. Iere. xâ— chapter after thys maner It is fownde owte that whole Israel and all the cyttyzyns of Ierusalem are gone backe They haue turned them selues to the blasphemyes of theyer fore fathers whyche had no lust to heare my wordes And a lyttle after it followeth therfor praye not thow for thys people / byd nather prayse nor prayer for them for thowgh they crye vnto me in theyer trouble yet I wyll not heare them ce It is a place well set forth and moste worthy for to be looked vpoÌ„ very inwardly / for as moche as saynt Hierome that notable doctor of most famous memory interpreting the same not onely clerkely but also playnely sayeth Of these wordes we lerne that he wasteth his labor in vayne which prayeth for an other man wheÌ„ he is not worthy to receyue of god the thynge that is prayed for And that an other mannes righteousnes Ierome al though it be neuer so excellent may not defende the iniquite of other men it is moste playnely expressed the xiiij of Ezechiel That laÌ„de whych sinneth Ezâ—c xiiij agaynste me and goeth forth in wickednes I wyll stretche owte mine hande vpon it and destroye all the prouisioÌ„ of theyr breade / and sende derth vpon them to destroy man and beaste in the lande And though these thre men Noe / Daniel / and Iob were amonge them yet shall they in theyer righteousnes deliuer but theyer owne sowles / sayeth the lorde of hostes And a lyttle beneth it is sayde yf these thre men were in the lande as truly as I lyue sayeth the lorde god they shall delyuer nether sonnes nor daughters but onely be saued theÌ„ selues Wherfore it is wrytten Esay the thirde byd the righteous Esay iii. do well for they shall enioye the frutes of theyer studyes / but wo be to the vngodly in theyer wickednes for they shall be rewarded after theyer workes And in Habacuc the seconde chapter an excellent diuyne sentence is proponed / and set forthe with the whiche ower mynde may be fortifyed and kept suer euen as it were wyth an holy anchore in all parells and temptations He that is vnfaythfull his lyffe is not in safegarde within hym self fe 〈…〉 cuc â—â— but the ryghteous shall lyue by his fayth The Apostles also gyueth often warnynge that euery man sholde be honeste in all poyntes and kepe a good conscyence hauinge with in them self fe an holy reioy synge / for as moche as euerye man shall Balat vi beare his owne burthen in the day of the lorde and reape that he hath sowed For the promyse of god made vnto Abraham Be. xviij that the Sodomytes sholde
are newlye commytted euery daye / with monsterous lustes of the flesshe / intollerable dysceytes / inuasyons of theues and spoylers of contreyes / robberyes / burnynges / sacrilege And the Authors of soche euylls be not sowght forth wyth iuste dylygence And when they be discouered / manyfested and knowen They be not punysshed wyth dewe correction / yea they be garnysshed wyth moste noble names / honours / and rewardes They occupye the holy seate of iudgement / they be partetakers of the commmon councell / when any thinge is sayde / done / or treated of the publyke weale / of religyon / of ryghteousnes / and of the glorye of Christ the sauyoure But those men whych studye to lyue in Christ and to be farre awaye from the disceytes of Antichrist are holden and proscrybed A thing◠to be lamented of all mē that haue one dropp◠of Christ◠bloode in their bodyes for enemyes of the churche and of the publycke weale They are appoynted to be destroyed wyth blooddy decrees and the slaunder of those men whyche to accuse them falsely receyue for theyr labour the fourte parte of their goodes so that they haue nothynge any where in saffe garde / nothynge wythowte greate perrell / in so moche that they be constrayned to defende theyr lyues / theyr fame / and their goodes in pryuye corners / and they maye lyue more saffely in the dennes of wylde beastes then in the temples of Christianes / and they suppose verely and not withoute a cause that it standeth them in hande to be more myserably afrayed of the Preistes and pastours of the churche then of the Turkes and Tartarians The contynuall cryinge one with an other of them that be oppressed / banyshed / driuē owte of theyr contreys / spoyled / noted wyth markes of infamye wyth owte deseruynge / tormented wyth the boocherly exeqution of the hangemen in prysons and dongeons is euen now gone vp in to the eares of the lorde of Sabaoth Yea euen now theyr lamentable gronynges and moste greuous syghes do occupye the eares of the lorde whyche alone by hym self fe considereth Psal ix theyer paynes and sorrowes so that the prayers of Hypocrytes cryynge vnto hym can not be herde There standeth in the syght of the lorde a watterpot fylled with the teares of wydowes / of fatherles childerne of them that be naked / of oulde men that haue loste theyer childeren / of them whiche are put from theyer heritage / and are vtterly forlorne / of those congregations whiche beynge destitute of faythfull flockefeders are destroyde by the bypathes of deathe And it maketh that the moste mercifull eyes of god ower father doth not beholde ower miseryes Many and often tymes yea euen daylye do men headed wyth swordes / strangeled with halters / drowned wyth waters / tayed or cheyned to postes / burnte with fyer / buryed quycke ascēde vp to the celestial felowship aboue which maketh god sore displeased angrye with vs / and all his angelles and other sayntes / and also they styrre vp agaynste vs heuen / erthe / fyers / sees / floodes / wyndes stormes / tēpestes / and in conclusion all the worlde For whye It is not the crueltye and tyrānye of the Turkes that fyghteth agaynste vs but the wrath of god from aboue is sore kyndeled and waxeth cruell vpon vs by a cruell people The Turkes brynge not in warres vpon vs so that ower garisons of men and con̄cell may not turne them awaye but god the Lorde of powers and the maker and gowernoure of heauen and erth fyghteth agaynste vs. The hande of god / the plages of god are strycken into vs. Solimanne is onely the whyppe with the whych the holy and Solymāne now Emperoure of the Turkes is a scourge sent of God for owre trāsgression ryghteous Lorde dothe beate and scourge vs for owre vicious lyuynge He is the rasoure wyth the whych he hath determyned to pare vs to the quycke He is the sworde wherewith all the transgressors of Gods lawes be slayne He is the fell and vengeable instrument wherwith we muste ether be amended / or els be vtterly destroyed And to hope for an ende of those plages beinge indued with soche euyll maners / soche peruersyte / and soche hardenes of mynde as can not repent the nature or disposition of god / the thretenynges of god the warkes of god / and the examples of all tymes doth so greately forbyd it that it can not also be right to desyer it For truly it wolde growe vnto a sure and moste greuous destructiō / because that in processe of tyme we sholde be confirmed in ower mischeuous dedes and wicked auncient customes and ordinaunces and in a lyffe fyghtynge clene contrarye with gods preceptes And we sholde be perswaded that god were the alower of ower moste vngratious actes Nather sholde any thowght or consideration / no not the lest that might be / come in to owre mynde of chaungynge the wayes of ower moste corrupte lyuynge What proffyt therfor sholde the captyued Christianes take of ower victories whiche by owre example wolde turne the fredome of theyr bodyes delyuered from bondage in to the licence and facultye of carnall luste / pleasure and concupiscence What proffyt sholde the Mahumetanes take being ouercomne or losinge the victorye whiche beyng wrapped in no lesse tyrannye and more profounde superstitions sholde be made the chyldrē of helfyer more by doble then they were before What Mat. xvi sholde it proffit vs to wynne all the hole worlde and to loose ower soules ▪ How moche sholde the knowlege and glorye of Christe the kynge be promoted by owre vyctories and prosperous fortune whyche also maketh werye and ouercometh the hartes of wyse men seynge that vnder the hande and rodde of the lorde / and the wonders of nature also makinge vs a ferde / and that with manifeste significations of greuous calamytyes hangynge ouer owre heades / that I may in the meane tyme kepe sylēce of the lordes most louyng requestes / wyllyng vs to the contrary we lede ower lyues in soche saffegarde and intemperancye that we declare not ower selffe any thinge at all for to regarde the studye or exercyse of the Christen doctryne of syncere godlynes / and the deuoute exercysing of vertues and innocencye But yfit were owre mynde to be turned to the lorde correctynge vs and to come agayne in to the kynges hye waye whiche ledeth vnto felycyte / from the whiche we haue strayed Mat. vij very far of vpon the right hande and Deut. ◠the lefte hande / and that we were pleased to haue the doctrine of Christe the Lorde and of all his Apostles and moste holye Prophetes the onely rule bothe of true vnderstandynge and also of lyuynge well and vertuously / whych thinge as it is necessary / so is it also easye / moste sure and worthy for the Christen professiō we sholde sone haue experience what greate dyuersite there is
the churche / as when in the ballettes of SalomoÌ„ which do celebrate the couenaunt of god and man coplling to gether in Christ it is sayde to the spouse Cant. j. vâ— thow hast doues eyes And agayne in an other place / one is my doue / one is my derliÌ„g / she is the onely beloued of hir mother dere vnto hir that bare hir c. The Philosophers also called naturall / or the curious serchers owt of the secretes of nature do teache / that of all mortall creatures there is none that kepeth the fayth of wedlocke so truly as a doue and yet in The nature and propertye of a doue after the iudgement of the Philosophes the meane tyme to be moste frutefull in procreation Moreouer they affirme that syttynge by the ryuer syde to drynke or to bathe hyr she obserueth or marketh very well the shadowes of haukes and of soche other lyke rauenyng fowles / and getteth hir self fe in to some pryuye denue or hole as it were in to a sanctuarye lest she myght be the praye of soch tyraÌ„nous byrdes flying aboue and ouer hir heade All whiche thynges do meruelously agre with the catholyke churche and euery parte therof Now fyer for the manifolde power of gyuynge lyghte or bryghtnes / and of makynge whote / and of pourgynge / dothe resemble many tymes in the fygures of diuinite the afflyctions of the faythfull / as in the psalme-lxv we wente thorow fyer and water and thow The significatioÌ„ of the fyer wherwyth the doue was toÌ„ passed aboute broughtest vs owte in to a place full of comforte and refresshinge And the. xliij Chapter of Esaye in the comfortable speche which as a sure thinge payed before hande / was destinate to the captiued prysoners in Babilon it is written after this maner When thow shalte walke thorow the fyre it shall not burne the / and the flame shall not kyndle vpon the for I am the Lorde thy god the holye one of Israel thy sauioure What therfor dyd the fyer prophecye What dyd the doue sygnyfye A greate fyer / that is to saye a greate troble â—â— affliction in the space of thyrtye dayes not burnte vp or consumed in the fyer Truly a greate fyer to be prepared and by the sufferaunce af god shortly to be throwne vpon the churche But vpon what churche verely the Christen churche which had moste brodely enlarged the coostes of theyer donnimon and had the fruition of greateste felicite vnder the beste prince Theodosius / and was taught lykewise of the moste holy and beste lerned masters / of Augustine in Affrike / of Hierome in Syria / of Ambrose in Italie / and other innumerable by Greke lande / by Italy / Fraunce and Germany / vnto whome the celestiall clemencie of god had gyuen meÌ„ also that were contynuall in the redynge of holy scriptures / as Suuia and Fretela and Suniâ—â— Fretelâ— â–ª other But she slepeth and snorteth lyke an Idle houswyffe / nether dyd she regarde for to make answere with prayse and thankesgyuynge and wyth other lyke dutyes and offices of vertu vnto the celestyall husbandman for soche his greate costes labour and diligeÌ„ce speÌ„t vp on hir And therfor dyd he prepare fyer strycken owte of the caucasean rockes to come forth in to the este parte of the worlde whych by lytle and lytle myght reproue or take awaye all thynges partaynynge bothe to the body and also to the soule / and the whyche a longe tyme myght burne the whole doue rounde aboute within and withoute that the moste electe seruaÌ„tes of god also myght be vexed or prouoked vnto a wycked defection But why Burnyng in greateste opero / that is to say dereâ— in greatest afflictianâ— so May we Iudge it to be done for that intente / that the churche burnynge in greateste fyers myght be brought in to coles and asshes No verely / but that she not regardynge the benefytes of god and despysinge lyghter corrections and thretenynges / beyng chastened by an harder vexation myght receyue the clere lyght of the truthe / that holy loues towarde god and owre bretherne which euen then were very cowlde myght newly be warmed and styrred vp agayne / that the spottes / the wrynkeles / the rusty vyces / and all can herd deformyte / the despysynge of hyr husband Christe / the truste in creatures and forged loues and worshipynges / the contempte of Gods worde / the perseqution of good men / the houckster lyke sellynge of doues / that is to saye of the celestyall gyftes of Gods grace and the remyssyon of synnes / the symonyacke byinge of the Lordes passion and of all other holy thynges / the perseueratyon in hardnes of harte wyth owte repentaunce and other synnes agaynste the holye goste-myght be baked / rosted or scoured away with fyre / so that then afterwarde bothe the bellowes and the blower beynge destroyed the doue shall come owte of that meltinge fornace as it were all newe and couered ouer with siluer / whyche then all to gether beynge fayer and well fauored may please Christe hir spouse / whiche onely may looke vpon god / all hir other aduouterus louers with the whyche she had playde the harlote before beynge excluded far awaye oute of hir harte / whiche sittinge by the fresshe riinynge streames of the mellifluus wordes flowynge owte of the lordes mouthe the onely fiumtayne of euerlastinge lyffe / maye behoulde diligently the cruell dysceytes of hir enemyes and flye awaye from theyer vyolence in to the holes of that rocke / whose syde was opened vpon the crosse giuinge lyffe / his fete and handes bores thorow with wouÌ„des gyuing health / wherin conclusion / the doue beiÌ„g in safegarde / wheÌ„ she hath hid hir self fe in the merit of the passioÌ„ of the sonne of god a lyue of the sone of Marie of the house of Dauid she may bringe forth swete and moste pleasant songes to the lorde hir husband / that is to saye The confession of hir sinne / the imploration of gods helpe / prayses and thankesgyuynge in the name of Christ the onely sauioure / whyche with the father and the holy goste reygneth one god worlde wyth owte ende Amen Moreouer the coniecturatyon of this wonder whyche was obiecte and sene aboute the begynninge of the Turkes persequtioÌ„ that the churche beynge warned before hande myght beware and take hede / or ells beyng wrapped in afflictions / she myght constantly wayte for the helpe of god / doynge diligently in the meane season euerye thinge that hathe any moment or helpe of healthe be it neuer so lyttle I put it all to gether vnto the Iudgementes of good and godly men beynge myndefull of the sayynge of Ieremie the xxiii Chapter The Prophet that hath a dreame let hym tell it And he that vnder staÌ„deth my worde let hym showe it truly / so that this my interpretatioÌ„ may haue no more faythe or farther credit gyuen vnto it
repentaunce and remission of synnes and distrybute the Sacramentes / delyuerynge none other Ephe. iiij Mar. xvi relygion then the very same which Christe dyd teache with worde and fulfylled with his dede goynge before in the good example of lyuynge And he wylled greatest authorite to be vnto that office and ministration well and truly gouerned sayinge He that heareth yow heareth me / and he that contemneth yow contemneth Luke x. me â–ª and my father that sent me But agenste the stubborne and disobedient / as agenste them that be seditious / a payne is decreed / so that they which resist the ordinauÌ„ce of god are iudged to resist the Lorde / they that resyst hym shall of a truthe be destroyed of hym / as the exaÌ„ples Num. xvi expressed in Chore / Dathan Abiron do manifestly declare Nether hath the Romyshe Prelate receyued greater power of Christ the supreme and onely vniuersall Bisshope all thowgh he were eueÌ„ the best moste vertuous maÌ„ lyuyng The Romysh bysshop hath no more power gyuen hym of God / then the bysshop of Eugudye in the earth then the Bisshop of Eugubye or of any wother village in the mostâ— extreme corner of Germany Vnto whome if a message sholde haue bene sent in olde tyme as some people dyd then was this comonly the tenoure therof We seâ— thy power / thy pompe and pryde / thy superfluite and greate excesse with all thy other truÌ„prye / dedes / and affayers to be contrarye to Chryste Wewyll not fyll / thy botomles sacke and insatiable couetousnes We wyll not suffer thy cruell tyrannye / therfor will we tarrye with owte thy synagoge in the churche of ower Bysshope Chryste If Germanye had done the same thinge and vsed a lyke answer / gretynge / or salutation to hym but a fewe yeres paste â–ª we sholde haue had or this day a far better fourme and state / bothe of the churche and the publycke weale Moreouer the people of the churche are assured of thys one thyng whych a sure / a trustye / and a contynuall concorde doth euermore requier they haue Luke 1 â–ª one lawe the same also being righteous and beste They haue one kynge and Monarche Christe vnto whome the celestiall father hathe gyuen the seate of hys father Dauid that he maye rule and haue dominioÌ„ froÌ„ see to see / that he maye exequte IudgemeÌ„t iustyce in all the earth And he ordineth mynysters of Iustyce vnder hym in euery place which may Rom. xiij defende goodnes and good men / drawe oute the sworde agenst theÌ„ that be euyll when as ofteÌ„ as nede shall requyre it Owte of whose lawes all other lawes be lawfully deducted Therfor the Empyre of Germany optayneth all hyr power and Iurisdiction Not of Carolus the greate Not of the Bysshop of Rome Not of Caius Cesar Not of Romulus But of The Empyre of Germany hath all hyâ— power of God onely Christe the kynge of kynges and the Lorde of lordes as I will at some tyme here after manifestly declare if the Lorde gyue me lyffe Wherfore let the ChristeÌ„ prynces and people do the same thinge yea let them do it in dede from their very harte that Agelaus Naupactius dyd councell perswade vnto the Grekes / exhortynge Philippe aÌ„d Acheus vnto peace that they Agâ—laus Naupactius â— wolde speake and agre bothe in one thinge / and one helpe an other whereby they myght conserue them self fe and theyr cyttyes from the enmious nations of barbarous people / none other wyse then meÌ„ do take handes to gether whiche are constrayned to wade thorowe ryuers wyth owte shippes or botes For the worde of Christe ower Lorde God and sauioure eueÌ„ the byshope of ower sowles and beste 1. Pet. ij kynge owght for to stande sure and faste in ower brestes which sayeth by this thinge men shall knowe that yow be my disciples â–ª Iohn xiii yf yow shall loue one an other And this sayinge of the Apostle Beare yow one an others burthen and so shall Galat. vi yow fulfyll the lawe of Christ The most holy bande of brotherly concorde muste be euermore occupied before ower eyes vnto the whiche thinge to be retayned as often as the name glorie of Chrisie and the necessite of ower brethren doth requyer it a stronge valiant man will be readye and prepared agenst all fortune what so euer it be Chapt. xviij FVrthermore because batayle and As meÌ„ hâ—ue their names oâ— maÌ„lynes / so owghâ— they in their actes to be very manly iâ— godly vertu Dir enâ— a virtutâ— dicitur warre is holden and perfourmed moste cheifely by men / whiche as they agree in name euen so in very dede owght they to haue felowshyp and acquayntanÌ„ce with vertu And seinge that no thinge whether it be lylle or great / maye wythowte vertu be spedely done therfor is vertu to be requyred as a thinge moste necessary / namely when Christen warfare is taken in hand and openly proclaymed whiche craftely is not conceyued In tyme of warre / yf men â—â—uer studyed for god lynes and vertu / thâ— behowueth it them most ernsâ—ly to pracâ—yse them and bent to inuade the dominions of other men but Iustely to defende ower owne agenste the violence and tyranny of the Turkes which enemyes as they ar the moste sharpest olde soldyers / excercysed in fresshe and newe victories and the fyercer for that they remembre theyer olde victories eueÌ„ so they beying now any mated with one and whother shew and glitering pretence of some fayned coÌ„ceyued verten / come vnto batayl Nether be houeth it them onely to be garnesshed with vertu whiche go forth armed agenst the enemyes of them that ar called Christians but also all those whiche are lefte at home For as Marcus Cicero very Marcus Cicero clerely sayth Small and weake ar the armours without in the felde / excepte there be good consell at home Yea and so is that also of no lesse truthe / which is comonly sayde Feble / and weake / impotent / and faynte is the helpe and streÌ„gth of weapens / one lesse bothe at home and abrode men do ernestly striue who may be most godly and vertuouse to obtayne their comon helth and saluation For the prayse and flower of vertewe / and honest dealinge after the comonaltye be set at peace quietnes bringeth forth infinite proffit / conserueth and encreaseth the priuate and comon felicite of all men nether is there any other thinge that so presently puttethe from vs the tempestuouse stormes of batail And when batayl be giuneth to chaunce theÌ„ vertew endeuoureth and dilygently laboureth most that it might be put of / and auoyded with the leste losse of men and goods Nether was there at any tyme Prince or peple that dyd get them greate glory by batayl whiche did not set before their eyes the great study bothe of religioÌ„ and vertewe
Which thingethe lawes and the discipline of the Romans coÌ„tinuinge in their teÌ„tes do testifie whiles they so well prospered in all plentuousnes Also theyr howses and familie dyd neuer so lukely prosper as wheÌ„ the holy cytie was ernestly geueÌ„ to prayer and thankes gyuyng vnto god and to pacyfie his wrathe / whyles yet the harde soldyers laye watchiÌ„g vnder theyr teÌ„tes for the helthe and sauegarde of the comoÌ„weal Wherofit cometh that in the dreame The dreâ—me of Nobuchodonosor wâ—at it signifieth Daâ—â— â—â— of Nabuchodonosor Daui ij cha the RomaÌ„s are signified by the yron / whyche tameth and maketh soft all thinges But in theyr feet wheÌ„ it was come to extremite / aÌ„d as ye wolde saye in coÌ„clusioÌ„ the visioÌ„ showed them to be myxte with dirt and yron / that is to weyt / that they sholde partely be myxed with the olde auÌ„cieÌ„t vertues streÌ„gth of mynde boldnes of nature / actuitie and honest maners of theyr fore fathers where with they shold for a tyme sustayne theÌ„ selues and partely with the slymye claye of myrye vyces all dirtye abhominatioÌ„s / Idolatrye murder / sacrilege / aduoutry / inceste / periury / treason / infidelyte / vnnaturall concupiscence / and insatiable Sodomiticall mysthese and soche other lyke / where with at lenght they sholde take a fall and be thorwne downe from all theyr glory Christ was borne the sonne of god and of Dauyd takingâ— vp to hym the impery and gouernaunce of all the hole worlde whose kyngedome shall neuer haue ende But this owre anoynted Messias shall raygne the Lorde and kynge euen in the myddes of his enemyes / and shal defend his awne people And he being caryed as it were vpoÌ„ ientle horses / in his faythfull worshyppers brestes bent and geuen all vnto vertu shall forthwyth obtayne the moste fayer and goodly victoryes euen vnto the worldes ende / when Antichrist shal be all to gether hole destroyed And they that haue foughten lawfully vnder the baner of their Emperour Christ shall receyue the euerlastynge crowne of glorie / raygninge for euer wyth the Lorde of glorye / hauynge the full fruition of the dyuyne beatitude But as for them whyche by name onely are men / and not by vertuous actes / and the which lyuing heredyd smyte feare into all men / and after their death left behinde them a fowle stynkyng fame and name for the destruction of so many landes and slaughter of men dyd not waÌ„te the affectatioÌ„ of vertu no more then did Thearcon the Ethiop / Phul Assar Senacherib AssyriaÌ„s / Benhadad and Hazael SyriaÌ„s / HaÌ„niball / Herode / Silla / C. Cesar / Attila / Totila / Damerling Sytha and infinit wother But and yf at any tyme the peple of god ought to excercyse godlines and practise vertues as it is at all tymes conuenient for them so to do in the perellis of batayl it behoueth them most cheyfely to vse them as I shall shewe it playnly by two testimonies of the scryptures For Ioel telling before the vengaunce of god whiche Sennacherib King of the Assyrians shuld bring in / teacheth all the states aÌ„d degrees of the peple how that by the ameÌ„dement of their lyuyng / by ernestly bendinge them selues vnto vertewe / and by the exercysinge of godlynes they might auoyde the paynes and plages now haÌ„gynge ouer their heades Which sermon all beit it was specially applyed vnto the tyme of Kynge Ezechias yet is the mention of the commynge of Christ wouen therin / that hys hole churche shulde not doute / but that the same doctryne is pertayning vnto hyr also Furthermore by two ceremonyes Deu. xxiij it is taught In theiâ— teÌ„tes ought soldâ—ours to â—â— pure and holy vs what exquysyte holynes is requyred in the tentes of soldyers And vnto the teremonyes whych of the people of the Iewes were to be obserued vntyl the tyme of correction and beterynge in the coÌ„myng of Christ / there is added an interpretacyon / whych clerely techeth the same thynge that must be obserued in euery age and all tymes of the faythful people / for thus he sayth wheÌ„ thow shalt go forth agenst thine enemyes in to batayl / thow shalt kepe the from euery euyl thinge / and a none afther it is wrytten For thy lorde god walketh in the middest of the tentes to delyuer the / and to delyuer thy enemies in to thy haÌ„des / and see that thy tentes be kept holy that no filthines be sene in them / lest the lorde forsake the. What may playnlier what more expressly caÌ„ve prescribed to any maÌ„ that dayly is coÌ„uersant amoÌ„ge in the coÌ„pany of the right holy meÌ„ / in the teÌ„ple ministratioÌ„ of holy thinges Which thinge BalaÌ„the Num. xxv and .xxxi. enchauÌ„ter or sorcerer consydering / gaue councell vnto Balac kinge of the Moabytes which coueted to destroye the Israelytes / that the wemen which were Madyanytes shold be set before them to entyse and prouoke the Israelites to synne For there is no dowte / but that they sholde be punyshed with some notable heuy plage yf thy dyd offende the lorde theyr god as they were in dede / for anon after because of theyr fornicatioÌ„ strange false worshippinge of Beelphegor in one daye there were smyteÌ„ downe and plaged .xxiij. thousand meÌ„ The same conÌ„cel dyd Achior The Christians arâ— not ouercoÌ„me / buâ— by and for theyr owne sinfull lyuinge Prince of the Amonytes geue vnto Holofernes / when he was studying how the Israelytes myght be ouercomen For he callyng to mynde all their state aÌ„d course of lyfe froÌ„ theyr beginnynge sayde Ther was neuer hoste that coulde ouercoÌ„me or runne vpoÌ„ and ouer this people / but wheÌ„ they had gone bake from the worshyp of their Lorde God for as often as besydes their awne God they worshypped any whother / they were geuen into a praye / Iudith â— â–ª caste agaynst the sworde / and had in greate opprobrye And as ofteÌ„ as it repented theÌ„ to haue gone bake froÌ„ the worshyp of their Lorde God / the God of heaueÌ„ gaue them power to resyste And a lytle after Now then / my lord / serche yf ther be any wyckednes of theÌ„ in the sight of their god we shall ouercome them yf not we can SultanÌ„s Memphyticus not preuayle agaynst theÌ„ for their God wyll defende theÌ„ Lykewyse also Sultanus Memphiticus / which abowte the tyme of OthomaÌ„ the Turk ruled Egypt vpbroyded the ChristiaÌ„s / sayiÌ„g he wold not attrybute the victoryes of the Saracenes aÌ„d the wynnynge of Siria other Prouinces vnto their awne strength / for he knew it right well / no thinge myght hurte the Christians / yf they vsed vertuous liuing But because that by furfittiÌ„g excesse and dronkenes / they differed not from brute bestes / beynge geuen all to gether to superfluite / lechery / aduoutry / deceauynge one another / fraude / lyinge / forsweringe / betrayinge / stelynge and with
rekened before with good consideration / batayl is to be taken in hande euen so must it be also faughten constantly Nether shall it be good or proffitable for men once broken with labours and contrary chaunces as full diuerse and many ar the fortunes of batayl / the lorde in the mene ceason teinting the confidence and fayth of his childreÌ„ by slaughter and soche blody plages to preferre any peace be fore armour aÌ„d batyle which thinge hath brought the greateste contempt and infinite miserys in to diuerse landes cyttyes and kyngdoms What suffered yea what dyd not the RomaÌ„s suffer by xxiiij yeres / whiles the first batayl was faughten wyth the Phenisions otherwise named the CartagineÌ„ses What and how greate daÌ„mage and losse of men and goods sustayned the Romans But yet at leÌ„gth perseueraÌ„ce had the victorie Who may tell the difficultes distresses which the same Romans sustayned in the xvii yeres of the .ij. batayl with the same PhenisiaÌ„s for throwing downe of one of theyr coÌ„federated cyttes And as MaÌ„lius 〈…〉 lius sayth in the storye of Liuius / euer did the Romans fyght more strongely then luckely A certen cyttye in Phrygya of the ChristeÌ„ name dyd chuse rather to be throne downe to the grownde standinge constantly and honestly in the confession of Christe / theÌ„ by any fowle theuisshe couenant of peace and truce to come in to the handes of the tyraÌ„te of Parthia The .xi. trybes of Israel / to auenge / the iniurie of one womaÌ„ which tribes were twyse and Iud â— â— yet agayne the thirde tyme scatered and put to flyght / with the losse of .xl. thowsande men did not yet shrynk from theyr batayl vntyl they had destroyed the Authours aÌ„d defenders of that mischeuouse abhominable cryme It were to longe to tell the longe aÌ„d moste harde beseyges of Hierusalem / Tyre / Gaze / Troie / ConstaÌ„tinople and diuerse other but onely let vs set before ower eyes the Machabeys men moste stronge valeaÌ„t aad holy why che fightinge agenste kinge Antiochus by diuerse and many chaunces do geue vs example what is conuenient for men to do whiche muste fyght a genste the AntichristiaÌ„s Therfor vnto this warfare it is necessary to seke owte the beste tried chosen captaines For whye as the moste comoÌ„ verse giueth waringe the strength of the souldioures consisteth in the pollicye and councell of the captayne Also Leonidas was wonte for to saye The herde oâ— Leonidas Hartes is more to be feared hauynge alâ— on vnto theyer captayne then an hoste oâ— Lyons hauyng an harte vnto theyer captaine And how moche it lyeth in the Emperoure ather to wynne or to lose the viâ—torye whome the vulgare people call thâ— supreme or general captaine / whether hâ— be a kynge or any other constytute in thâ— name of a prynce very many historyes do sufficiently teache and declare For wherâ— â— Re. xliâ— Saul was reiected and forsaken of Goâ— fyghtynge vnhappelye agenste the palestines he browght the people of god intâ— extreme miseryes Whome Dauid succâ—dinge a man after gods awne minde / diâ— ii Re. xi all hys feates of warre so prudently and happely that he encreased the domion oâ— Israell by subduwynge and bryngyngâ— theruÌ„to many other nacyoÌ„s of the gentyles But for hys aduoutry and slaughteâ— Intestyne battayl is when a kyngdome is deuyded with in it selfe of that ryght good man â—rias / he wrapped the kingdome with intestyne battay 〈…〉 and warre Beccause that Naaman haâ— the relygyon and feare of God before hiâ— eyes God thorow him dyd geue health â— salfegarde to Syria Achab Kynge of Israel / when he had taken Benhadad kyngâ— iiij Re. v. of Syria / and had not slayne hym / he herde thys heuy threatenyng Because thou hast let go owt of thy handes this man â—â— Re. â—â— worthy death thy lyfe shal be takeÌ„ awaye for his lyfe / and thy peple shal dye for his And after the third yere / he inuadinge the Syrians agayne / both Achab his self was slaine a greate parte of hys peple Iosaphat also kyng of Iuda a godly priÌ„ce / because he coÌ„trary to the aÌ„swere of god giueÌ„ vnto hym was confederated with the â—j Parâ—â— xviij vngodly kinge Achab a tyrant condemned of god dyd with greate dificulty escape the parell and daunger of his lyfe Iulianus the apostata / whiles he persewed Iulianus Apostata the PerthiaÌ„s rasshely and folisshely with owte any polycye destroyed in a maner all his wholl hoste at Ctesiphont after whose deatth Iouinianus the noble warrioure and confessor of Christe takinge Iouinianus the Empyre / eueÌ„ in a lytle space dyd both bringe the soldiers vnto Christes religion and delyuered the hoste froÌ„ deathes mowthe But wise men described perfitly a right god Emperowre or captayne to be A good capitayne must be endued with iiij thynges â–ª endewed with .iiij. thinges / that is to meit with CoÌ„ninge and knowledge of the feates of warre / with strenght vertewe / with Authorite and power / with felicite and good fortune For seynge that in the inferior captaynes called Centuryons / and in the homely or rude soldyers / Centurious becalled captaines ouer honderds wysdom / experience vertewe and strength ought for to be of greateste power it is conuenient that in the same thinges that man far excede and excell other / vpon whose shulders the comonaltye hath layd the cheife wayght and all the charge of the batayland warrfare Furthermore excepte the soldiers haue a cleare good opinion of the witte / wisdome / experience / vertewe and faythe of the Emperoure and cheyf ruler ouer them â–ª howe can he with his reasons / exhortacions and persuasions inflame them to fyght / staye them and refrayne them whaÌ„ he list And to be shorte / howe maye he haue them preste and redye vnto all chaunces But yet here wyl â— not omitte the fame and name of a good Emperowre to be of moche effecte AlexaÌ„der as of Alexander the greate whose fame feared and ouercame many natioÌ„s before thei had sene his baÌ„nere aÌ„d armours The felycite and good luke in puttinge by the hurtes and damages from the hoste and comoÌ„ weale / and by batayll to procure glad victory with whother commodites / cometh of no thynge ells then of the fauour of god almightye / whiche doutlesse fauoreth the godly and the louers of right dealiÌ„ge / but the vniuste wyked he turneth away and thrusteth them from hym For euen the holy scriptues threateÌ„ to thes wyked men greuouse and sharpe calamites / but to the good they promyse all that is fortunate prosperouse Wherefore Claudianus writtinge of the moste lukkye warre wherbye Theodosius ouer came Arbogastes and Eugenius in the mountans called the Alpes singeth this songe Claudianus O nimium dilecte deo tibi militat aether Et coniurati veniunt ad classica venti That is to saye Oh derely
iudge and suppose the lytle nombre or the smalenes of the armye greately to haue hurte â—ewes and hyndered that batayle wherein â—ewes the late kynge of Hungarye was loste and stayne Werfore nether smale multitudes are to be contemned nor yet greate hostes to be trusted vnto as the endeâ— of dyuerse warres and battayles haâ—â— tawght vs. Furthermore of how greate wayght power the disciplyne of warre is it lyketh me to declare and show it owte of Valerius Maximus The disciplyne of warre sayeth he beynge sharpely kepte and retayned dyd brynge forth and procure vnto the Romanes empyre the dominion of Valerius Maxim Italye It made them lordes aÌ„d gaue theÌ„ the gouernaunce of many cyttyes / of greate kynges and of moste stronge and valiante nations It opened the Iawes or the mowthe of the croked sea banke of the I le of Pontus It delyuered vnto them the myghtye stronge howldes of the Alpes and of the montayne Taurus beynge rent vp and ouerthrowne And it made the sayde Empyre of Rome sprongne owte of the pore cotage of Romulus / the cheife heade and rular of all the hole worlde owt of whose bosome dyd flowe and runne as owte of a sprynge all noble chiualrye and victorious triuÌ„phes Truly exaÌ„ples are fownde euery where what good the disciplyne of warre bryngeth when it is obserued and what hurte when it is neglected Nether do I dowt but that aÌ„d if the abhominable blasphemyes of soldiers vnworthye to be spoken / were repressed and refrayned / and their beastely surfettyng and dronkenes / and their most illiberall gamening / dysing / and carding which with lifle busines and sone might be brought to passe if the cheif rulers wolde put it in vse and excercyse we shulde shortly fele the excellent beneuolence of god What great mater wer if / yf these blasphemyes were punished with a soÌ„me of money / agreuouser threateniÌ„g beinge addedther vnto / wich money might be put How the magistrates ought for to punishe the vyce of the Could â–ª ours into the comoÌ„ purse Or ells If any be vncurable to banishe hiÌ„ owte of the hoste as a pesteleÌ„t wondring stoke InteÌ„perancye in eating and dronkenes shuld the magistrats punishe by takynge awaye their meat and drinke for a daye or two Illiberall games the springe of many euylles shuld be changed into liberall fre honest excercyses of the bodye / as into running leaping / or castinge the stony or the leadeÌ„ bowle / or into wrastling / runninge with spears or copinge with swerdes and into soche lyke excercitations whiche the olde waryers vsed as very honest profitable games to gether with greate pleasure Of the sowldiours wages eueÌ„ Paul was mynde full when that he sayde who goeth Of the Cowdâ—oures Wages a warfare at his owne coste / and therfor is it conuenient that theyr stypende be nather vyle and vniustly paied them nether yet to greate or immoderate But indifferently honeste and laudable euen as in tymes paste a golde Eilderne a weake was taken and estemed for reasonable wages from whense the vocable or the name of Germanie was deriued Whiche stipend not with stondynge maye some tyme be encreased bothe to euery one of the sould iours for theyr excellent vertu and also to the hole Armie / as of owlde tyme they were wonte to be rewarded sometyme with Armours and weapons / sometyme with vitteles and yerely rentes and fees and other giftes But a boue all thinges vertu requireth laude and prayse for vertu Vertu encreaceth when she is prayses encreaseth wheÌ„ she is coÌ„meÌ„ded prayse hath a greate spure to prike meÌ„ forward Wherefore amoÌ„ge the Grekes also those meÌ„ were lauded for the whettiÌ„ge or sharpnynge of vertu whiche ether had suffered death for the publyke weale or ells fyghtynge valiantly dyd bringe home the victorie Iudieâ—â— â— ij Ro. xxij Also the holy songes of Debora and Dauyd showe that with honoure prayse and commendation vertu moste be sharpened as it were with a whetstone Oforders and arayes to be kepte in the felde / of banners badges of the instructynge or orderinge of the fore frontes / of weapons / engynnes / Trenchers and Myners / of the custodie and kepinge of theyr watche and warde / of the auoydinge of sedicions and treasoue / of the prouâ—sion of the vittle / of the bultynge oute of theyr enemyes councells by pollyce anâ— spyes priuely sent abrode / aÌ„d of theyr viâ—tele to be spared or refrayned and soche other thinges it is the part aÌ„d dutye of the captaynes for to be circuÌ„specte which beiÌ„ge men wyse and prudent wyll constitute ordre them very well Chapt. xx NOwe there remayneth behinde to speake of prayers and that moste breyfely whiche holde the fyrste / the midest / and the laste plase / as the noble Gratour in his facultye well to speake Of holy prayers â— oâ— theyer vertu and strength inâ—ataylâ— his oration geueth the firste / seconde / and thyrde partes to the accion / dede or cause For it be houeth as wel al other thiÌ„ges as the laborouse busines in batail moste full of parells and dificultes to be takeÌ„ inhaÌ„de / enterprised / and happely to be begunne in the name of the god almighty in the name of god to be faughteÌ„ and done / aÌ„d for the good successe of thinges to geue god thankes the Authour of the wholl good luk aÌ„d felycite / nether to murmure ageuste hym if any thinge happen contraye to ower mynde For god of hys beneuolent and most wyse councell sendeth vnto vs thys same euil luk to monyshe / warne / aÌ„d to correct vs / and to make vs more ernest to seke and praye for hys helpe The godly worshippers of the one onely true and lyuinge god had euer this continuall custome / in sharpe and perrellous thinges to fly to the name of god / to praye for heuenly helpe with oute the whiche all the strengthe and powre of of men mortall is no thinge worthe But god beinge owre sworne brother in batail and helper / the moste weakeste persones do ouercome the mightiest powers of the worlde Holy prayers / the name of the lorde which vnto faithfull mens prayers ar affistent / and as Dauyd sayth the lorde is euer present wyth them that call vpon him in trwe fayth do obtayne the vyctorye lyke a tower inexpugnable For the Ineâ—pugnable that caÌ„ not be woÌ„ne by any assaute name of the lorde is the castell of streÌ„ght to defende vs from the face of ower enimyes And he who so dwelleth in the helpe of the moste hyghest shall abyde in the Psal â—xi proteccion of the god of heuen Holy prayers ar the helmet / shylde / and the wholl armour of the faythfull bodies Holy prayers presse downe the enemies more greuously / they smyte thorow and throwe them downe more presently aÌ„d sharplyer then swerde / spere / dartes or gunnes Holy prayers obtayne helpe of the lorde
were nowe compelled to leaue vnto them moste goodly triumphe of victorye Constantine newly conuerted vnto the Christen faith although not yet baptised goeth Constantyne constaÌ„tly vnto the cyte of Rome occupyed and holden of the tyraunt Maxencius / for the with turning his face vp into heuen and from thence asking helpe vnto whom from the east / the signe of the crosse was shewed / and this voice out of heueÌ„ was brought vnto him saing â—h Constantyne in this take thou the victorye Not that the signe of the crosse shuld haue that strength aÌ„d vertewe / but to certifye him / that he being sustayned with the helpe of chrâ—st / shuld haue the victorye Which thing afterward he confessed by his owne opon proclamacion / euen that the god of the chrystyans owght onely to be honoured and worshypped which is the authour of all victory and felycite Mestezel at the commandement Mestezel of Honorius the emperour / with .v. hundereth armed men goyng forth agenste Gildo the tyrant / toke vnto him out of the Iland of Capreis godly men / which shuld praye and animat the people vnto the christen faith / religion / and bertewe Which Mestezel with .lxxv. thousande meÌ„ did most happely ouercome the tyrant Clodanus / the first kinge of Clodans France that euer receyued the name of christ / being afraid at the great and cruell Hilderich hoste of Hilderich kyng of the AllmaÌ„s / became a christen maÌ„ / promising himself to enbrace Christes religioÌ„ aÌ„d to defeÌ„de hiâ— chirche / which when he had called vpon Christ nowe at his prayer being preste aÌ„d preseÌ„t to helpe him at one tyme he ouercame the sayd myghty hoste of Hilderich / aÌ„d made him to be the faithfull worshipper of the moste high kinge Iuliauus the persecutour / by the prayers of the christeÌ„ Iulianus chirch was extinct slaine Roab kinge of the Scythians was slayne with terrible Roab thunder and lyghtenings after he was ouercomen by the prayers of the christen coÌ„gregacion When the Saracens hauynge one Zulimus vnto theyer captayne Sulimus did inuade or beseyge Constantinopole with a passynge greate nauye Leo Isaurus Leo Isaurus then beynge emperoure ouer the samefor the space of .iij. yeares / the cyttye also beynge infected with a noysome pestilence and all mans helpe in a maner paste and vttely desperate they turned theÌ„ selues full and whole vnto the helpe of god / and theier superstitious worshippynges clene forsaken and cast awaie / and all theyer ymages brent vp in one fyer witâ— a solemne vowe made vnto god that all the reste sholde be serued lykewyse throwgh all the Empyre they felte the helpe of god more frely gyuen them then euer they durste desyer it For the hoste of the Saracens had these plages caste dâ—â—â—e vpon them eueÌ„ as it had bene shaarpe dartes fallynge downe from heauen / that is to weit / colde / hunger / pestelence / and sedicions among themselues / in so miche that Zulimus their capitayne was nowe deade Also in Bulgarye parte of the hoste was slayne / aÌ„d lyghtenings lycked vp and consumed their shippes / some by stormes brokeÌ„ and drowned / so that very fewe of so infinite a multitude came home agayn Oh prayers moste effectuouse Oh voices so terrible to our enemies / which strike more vehemeÌ„tly theÌ„ thoÌ„dre boltes and gunstones Oh the helthfull swete sinoke of Images set on fier / which shuld in this tyme more effectuously chase awaye owr enemies / and euen the very Turks / then the lowde blowinge vp of hornes chaseth awaye serpeÌ„ts When Ezechias and Esaye with wother godly men dyd put their cheife yea all their hole hope in the helpe of the lorde / callinge there Esay 37 vpon incessantly An aungell of the lorde in one night .clxxxv. of the Assyrians soldyours beynge slayne delyuered the cyte of Hierusalem / and then that vngodly tyraunt theyer capitayne returned homâ— telling what a fowle slaughter there waâ— in th 〈…〉 tentes that night / and was moâ— mi 〈…〉 bly and fowly slayne of his owâ— so 〈…〉 s in the presence of his Idole Ne◠〈…〉 ch It shuld be an infinite worke to briÌ„â— together in to remeÌ„braÌ„ce / what and hoâ— great victories godly praiers haue obtaâ—ned Wherfor oh ye christeÌ„ meÌ„ yf the people this daye wolde be conuerted aÌ„d turne them selues vnto these wayes which By what mâ—anes caÌ„corde and victorye maye â—aâ—aly be obtayned euer haue bene knowne to be effectuous both a christen concorde were some made and the studye of vertue sholde easaly beâ—oyned to the true religion Batayle and warâ—are sholde iustly be ceassed brought to an ende Also prayers sholde then holde the fyrste / the middest and the laste place in all ower affayres so that all felicitie and good lucke sholde iustly and duly be asked of god onely Yea and the same felicitye graunted vnto vs sholde be ascrybed I say not to George to Barbara or Christofer but vnto ower celestiall father the onely gyuer of all good gyftes with large and moste ample gyuynge of thankes Beleue me if this were done we haue the victorye oh ye christen meÌ„ we haue the victorye of these horrible fowle aÌ„d cruell Turkes / whiche thorow owr synnes and cowardely slowghtfulnes are hiâ—her to encreaced / yea and that by the iuâ—te iugement at the lorde Neuer 〈…〉 lesse â—hat this my concell or consultation whiâ—he peraduenture is set for the with to maâ—ye worden to longe a processe myght â—pere to ve no newe but an oulde thiÌ„ge / â—â—t so moche to be my concell but also the mynde of the moste holy men I wyll adâ—e and brynge in the wordes of S. Hieroâ—e in the whiche at the begynnynge of Hierome â—he Turkes incursion he tawght that the â—aine ower aduersaryes were styrred vp â—horowe ower vnfaythfulnes / but yet by the wrathe of god for owersynnes to haue bene sent of hym to plage the worlde that is to saye the vice and mischeffe of the christen people / and that these ower â—alamityes can not be put awaye norsure and perfecte helthe be optayned / oneles we beynge humbled vnder the myghtye â—hande of god do correcte aÌ„d amend ower â—vicious lyuiÌ„ge / embrace vertue / aÌ„d with ower prayer call downe from heauen inuincible power to ayde and assiste vs. The Epitaphpe is the superseriptioÌ„ that is wrytteÌ„ vpoÌ„ a grâ—ue or tuâ—e se be Hieroms wordes in the epitaphye of Nepotianus / and he swageth the heauines of Heliodorus taken for the losse of his Neeuye a ryght good man both with diuerse other reasons and with this also that he owght to reioyse aÌ„d be gladde for soche good men / for that they now slepynge in the lorde haue escaped the stormye calamityes aÌ„d so manye myseries of this present worlde Now will I come vnto priuate dignities and yet shall I not speake but of those thinges whiche haue bene done within these .ij. yeares