dogges while after such maner they banqueted together God righte worthily might say Et dispersae sūt oues meae eo quòd nō esset pastor My shepe are scattered abrod because they had no shephard Because they preached not because they lyued thus lewdelye therefore Gregorie vseth towardes them these woordes What do we o shepeherdes when wee receaue the hyre and yet be no labourers for we receaue the proffit of the Churche in a daylye stipende but yet we labour not for the aeternall Church in preachinge Let vs cōsider what damnacion it is withoute labouringe to receaue the hyre of labour Lo we liue of the oblacion of faythefull folkes but what doe wee laboure for the soules of the faythefull These were they who throughe couetousnes gotte riches and throughe negligence corrupted not onelye them selues but also others and yet being suche they thought nonne wyse nonne learned nonne hollye but they certenlye it is in suche men a thinge most shamelesse to come by theyr wealthe so vnlaufully to kepe it vn orderlye and to spende it vngodlye A las what hope might our forefathers conceaue of pure religion or of true Christianitie if vnto suche euerye thinge beinge lusted for was lawefull and beinge lawefull if they coulde doe it and being able to doe it if they durste do it and darieng to do it if they dyd it and doynge it if euerye one allowed it but o will some saye they buylded fayre houses passinge pallaces greate halles excellent parlours fyne chambres and suche like and therefore no remedie we must praise and commende them well of all suche buyldinges of theyr like braweries not to rehearsse agayne what saincte Hierome in that behalfe hath sayd let vs here what the sayde Hugo Victorinus saythe The Busshops doe buylde them howses for greatnesse nothinge inferiour vnto Churches they will haue paynted chambres there they haue images decked with sundry collours and preciouse ornaments But the poore dooe walke withoute cloathes and they crye withe an emptie beallye at theyr doores Yea and that I maye confesse the truethe the pore are oftentymes spoyled to the intent that stoans wood maye bee cloathed And is this then prayse worthie because of buyldinge to leaue of preachinge shall we cōmende the cloathing of woode and stoanes and leauinge of the poore destitute of reliefe pinched with hungre and oppressed with nakednesse what is the duetie of a Busshop to preache Goddes woorde vnto his people But this they dyd not and what shold he doe more he ought to feede the hungrye and to cloathe the naked But it canne not be sayd that they dyd it For the poore were spoyled and in theyr stede woode and stones were cloathed this we must confesse for this sayth their owne wryter was true but let theyr owne Doctors goe further of whom one saythe thus Thyrdlie the religious men and cloisterers are hypocrites who by manie and sundry meanes doe counterfaicte the myeldenes of a shepe but they carie within the fiercenes of a woolfe some of them fayning the mourninge noise of a dooue haue the verye minde of a doagge I aske therefore of these religious men whether such dealynge be good religion I craue to knowe at the handes of theyr Cloysterers whether thys oughte to bee the parte of Christians is it Christianitie to counterfaicte myldenes and to haue inwardly pryde crueltie and fiercenes is it the custome of Cloysterers to faine the mourning noyse of a dooue and to haue the verye mynde of a doagge heare that vnto Viualdus we maie adde another witnesse and so that by the mouthe of twoo or three theyr hipocrisie may appeare Saint Hierome findynge great faulte with them saithe thus Beware of fained humilitye follow that which is true that which christ taught wherin no pride is shut for many there be that go after the shadow of ver tue but fewe do follow the truth therof it is an easy thing to haue in contempt some attyre to salute humblie to kisse the handes and knees and with the heade beinge bowed vnto the grounde and withe the eyes loking downeward to promise humilitie mekenes it is easie with a gentle smoth voice to frame your speche to sighe often at euerye worde to saie that thou art a sinner a wretche but if you be offended neuer so litle then to lyfte vp your browes to set vp a stiffe necke to chaūge your fotmer milde speche into an outcrie rage it is an other humilitie that christe taughte who exhorteth vs after his example saying learne of me for I am meke and humble of harte And shall wee maruaile at the hypocrisye of suche Cloisterers not at all For Sathan him selfe is chaunged in to the fashion of an Angell of light therefore it is no great thinge thoughe his seruauntes fashion themselues as thoughe they were the seruauntes of righteousnes whose ende shal be accordinge vnto theyr dedes For if they deceaued the worlde with Hipocrisye shall they not susteine shame if they seduced the people of GOD shall they not suffer payne yf vnder theyr counterfaycte attyre there was no trouth if in theyr dyssembled Humylytye there was nothinge els but pryde if in theyr fayned fasting there was but surfetting if they abused the Gospell of oure sauiour Christe shall they not comme to extreme tormentes to hell fyre to a fowle ende and that accordinge vnto theyr dedes the leadinge of a wicked lyfe is yuell but the cloaking therof is woorsse the pryde of suche Cloysterers is to be comptrolled but theyr dissimulacion is to be detested And shall wee yet agayne heare in what wise Viualdus proceadethe his woordes are these Fourthelye those religious men are Hypocrites who vnder the pretence of pouertie nede doe seke after gayne and rapine Therefore if trueth maye preuayle if reason maye take place if autorities may serue in any steade then haue Fryars good cause to acknowledge theyr owne factes Moonkes haue juste occasion to consider theyr lewde disceaptfulnes all those counterfaicte religions haue right matter to bewaile their Hypocrisie and we vnto whome God hathe disclosed the dissimulaciō of our aduersarie wee I saye on whom the Gospell shyneth and amongest whome the truethe it selfe speaketh haue greate cause to thanke our heauenly Father and in signe of due thankefullnes to bee obediente vnto his will. And to make it more apparante of whom it is that Viualdus writeth to cyte the woords of Saincte Augustine I know it shall not be a misse What a numbre of Hypocrites saythe he vnder the habite of Moonkes hathe the wielie enemie scattered abrode euery where they roague about euery prouince they aske of all men and they gette eyther the expence of their gaynfull necessitie or els the price of their dissembled sanctitie what sholde I speake of their pedlerie of their choppinge changinge and of their chapmanship in the tyme of saincte Hierome the priestes suche religious
of the greate troubles and persecution whiche the people of Christe shall suffer declarethe the end and the estate wherin they shall be His woordes be these Ecclesia post eosdem dies quibus de primitur tameÌ„ circa finem mundi grandi praedicationis virtute roborabitur The church after those dayes wherin she is persecuted shall yet at length aboute the end of the worlde bee strengthened with the greate power of preching what playner words can be then these to touche this oure tyme let papists nodde let enemies deuise let men practise let the people muse and yet maugre all the malice of Satan The trueth is greate and preuayleth As for the note of heresye wherewith the aduersaries daylye accuse vs for myne own parte with s. Paule I say This I confesse vnto the that after that waye whiche they call heresye so worship I the God of my fathers beleuing all thinges which are writen in the lawe the prophetes and haue hoape towardes God that the same resurrectioÌ„ of the dead whiche they them selues looke for also shal be both of juste vniust therfore stu die I to haue alway a cleere coÌ„science towarde God and towarde man also From this beliefe let vs praye that wee maye neuer starte and let vs put awaye all worldly respectes for if we be banished Domini est terra the earthe is the Lordes if we bee sawen a sunder we haue Esaye to our guyde if wee be throwen into the seas let Jonas be our example yf we be cast into the Lyons denne then let Daniel comme to our remeÌ„brance if wee be stoaned to death let SteueÌ„ be thought vpon if we loase all our Goods let vs then call this to our minde naked we camme into this worlde and naked we shall goe hence to bee briefe if wee bee spytted at buffeted mocked scourged wounded reuyled put to deth then let Christ be our Captayne he went before let vs take his crosse and followe him whiche thinge if wee doe vnfaynedly then in this world we shall haue quiete consciences in the world to coÌ„me wee shall lyue withe Christe vnto whom with the father and the holye Ghost be all honour glorye prayse and dominion now and euerlastinglye Amen ¶ A vewe of certaine rebellions and of their endes IN the yeare of our lorde god 1088. one Odo bushop of Bayon the Earle of Northhumberlande and others rebelled againste w. Rufus Kinge of Englande but they were discomfited In the yeare 1380. one John wall a priest was the auctor of a rebellion this spreade very farre so that the Kinge Richarde the seconde was in greate daunger but the rebelles came to confusion In the yere 1466. a rebellion began wher in the king Edward the fourth was banisshed that by his own subiectes but in the ende God restored him vnto his kingdome and all hisenemies were discomfited In the yeare of our lord 1486. a rebellion was begonne wherin King Henrie the seauenth stoode in great distresse but at length the rebelles were executed In this time also one sir Simond a wielie prieste was the authour of a â—ommocion but in th ende he was taken and hys enterprise came to naught In the yeare 1496 a rebellion beganne in Cornewall and they rebelles did so preuaile that they came to blacke heathe and there â—aue a fielde but God ouerthrew them anâ— gaue vnto the king the victorie In the yeare 1535. an insurrexion began at Lynconshice by the meanes of Abbattes and priestes but they prospered not In the yeare 1540. a new rebellion began in yorkeshire sturred vp by certaine priestes and gentlemen but theyr ende was according vnto their treason As for the time of late memorie howe rebelles haue spedde therein wee can well ynoughe remember therefore for feare of the lyke ende and to auoyde the plague of God Submitte your selues vnto all ordinaunce of manne for the Lordes sake Whether it bee vnto the Kynge as vnto the chiefe heade or elles vnto rulers as vnto them that are sent of hym And when the chiefe shepeharde shall appeare you shall receaue an incorruptible crowne of glory Otherwyse in this world a myserable death remayneth for you and in the worlde to come deathe euerlasting In praef In orat De obe sermo de Trin. â—eda â—x brâ—u 〈◊〉 CaÌ„turburye Shulbrede â—ermouÌ„ desaye Cichester Gal. 3. LactaÌ„ lib. 2. de orig err pupillaoculi quiut par cap. 18. Wil. suê‘ Ray. hâ—s Ibidem secunduÌ„ Wil. De vâ— â–ª lup lib. 〈◊〉 Mat 7. Rom. 1. Psal 81. Rom. 1. 〈◊〉 â—eg 18 Eccl. 3. Gâ—â— 1. 2. Cor. 6 Offic. 1. In exeÌ„p ad Rust. monachuÌ„ Eccl 19. Bernard sup mat ad Eus. Ierem 5. Lib. 6. Cap. 24. Greg. lib 8. moral mat 23. Esay 9. viualdus in oê‘e regali ad pauli Ad gaudentium Ad NepotianuÌ„ De prae â–ª dem li. 4 Ludoui viualdus Esay 5â— Ad mercellam Idem Gregr. Maur. Hier 50. Idem 2. De claus animam Lib. 2. Ibidem Gal. 5. ezec. 34. Hom. suê‘ dignus operari us An obiectio An aun swere De cla animae lib. 1. â—…aldus 〈◊〉 â—eme mat 11. 2 cor 11. viualdus lib. de opere monachoruÌ„ Hierom. Of ped lers thei be came priests ad rust monachuÌ„ Barnard In chronica ad Heli. Monac Lib. 2. mandeu lib. ca. 7. Platina Obenh Hieron Mari. In mora Hom. 4. sup missus est Ibidem ad pauli Serm Domi. Anto. part 2. ad â—ure in exaÌ„p in polâ— Ibidem IbideÌ„ in epistola de clau â–ª anima Lib. 1. De an lib. 1. opus regal Ibidem 〈◊〉 nepo Ibidem viualdus id eustoâ—ium Ad Oceâ—… Lud Viualduus Ad damasum 〈◊〉 7. 2. tiâ—… 〈◊〉 Alfouâ— dé castrâ— coÌ„tra hâ—res lib. 〈◊〉 concil Wâ—… â—aucler coÌ„s basil Fol. 3. Fol. 4. Fol. â—odeÌ„ Fol. codeÌ„ Fol. 12. Ibidem Fol. 39. Fol. 51. Fol. 53. Fol. 75. lib 1. aduers haeres val Fol. 83. Fol. 101. Fol. 103. Serm. 7. de adueÌ„ Domi. Suê‘ psa coÌ„tr aurentiuÌ„ FraÌ„cisc petrach August Joach Abbaâ— Hieron ad allga 9. 11. S Albert. â—nagnus L Cornel. bitonti Antoni Nich. Lyra. Alexan. de Hales augu in Joan. Hier. 23 2. the. 2. In gloss coÌ„cil latronum hostiens panormi Cornel. Biton Zarabel Cardin. Lib 5. Bern. epist. 12â— Prima 2. the. 2. Chris in Matth hom 34. Aug de ciuit dei cap 18. in praef 3. the. 2. Idem In malach cap 2. ezchil cap. 44. in Mat Greg In Job 3. esd. 4. acte 24. 2. peit 〈◊〉 Idem 5. ¶ IGNATIVS IN epistola ad Heronem Euerye one that sayeth otherwyse then is set furth althoughe he seme to bee worthye of credite althoughe he fast althoughe he kepe his virginitie althoughe he worke wonders althoughe he Prophesie yet take him to bee a Wolfe amonge the floacke of shiepe sekinge to destroye them If there be anye faulte in the Printing the gentle Reader will beare with mee for mine absence at the correcttinge of somme leafes may excuse it LVCRECIA-ROMANA ¶ Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde at the signe of the Lucrece by Thomas Purfoote
thine owne soule yea if thou wilt prosper in this worlde feare God embrace the Gospell obeye the Quenes Maiestie be not a foe but as thou art most bouÌ„den a frende vnto this Realme not forgettinge that maugre all the malice of rebelles not onlye the trueth is greate and preuayle but also as God hath donne so will he euer defende thy soueraigne his annoynted And that he so do as I with an vnfayned hart so you with all fayithe fullnes saye Amen ¶ OF HIPOCRITES and the Hypocrisie of the Romayne Prelacie CAP. I. WEyghing with indifferencie the whole estate of this oure time and consideringe without partiallitie the disposition of such as nowe do lyue we shall finde a thinge to be lamented the verye face of Christendome to bee spreadde ouer wyth â—â—yfe the Gospell of oure Sauiour Christe to be in contempte and hatred and the professours of the same almoste euerie where to bee persecuted and that with intollerable sclaunders with extreame disdayne with passinge tyrannye the cause whereof is the blynde supersticion of certen whereof some are Hypocrites and some are bewitched trees they are not only vnproffitable but also most hurtfull whose roote is crueltye but cloathed ouer with a counterfaicte face of charitie whose braunches are infidelitie heathines ydolatrie thoughe couered with the name of Faythe religioÌ„ and pietie whose fruite is fornication yet fenced with the tytle of Chastitie whose end withoute repentance is daÌ„nacioÌ„ onely outwardly decked wyth a disseÌ„bled hewe of saluacioÌ„ What shall we then say to omitte all circuÌ„stances let vs wish that S. Paule were now lyuing or elles that hys wordes wolde pearce into the hartes of suche as bee thus hardened What and wrote hee onelye vnto the Galathians or wrote hee not by theyr names vnto vs all that are Christians and what saythe hee O ye senseles Galathians sayth hee Who hathe so bewitched you that you will not obey the truethe Lo his zeale and beholde the blindnes that they were in but howe shall wee knowe that these who nowe lyue are bewitched Cum non videant ea quae sunt videre se arbitrantur eâ— quae non sunt VVhen they can not se the thinges that in dede are and when they seme to se the things which are not When they can not se that the scriptures being the word of God ought to be had reade embrased and when it semethe vnto them that follishe legendes that faigned miracles and that passinge fond opinions ought rather to be regarded professed beleued ah las for of such I speake what is papacie a meere lumpe of pryde a denne of hipocrisie a caue of vncleanesse a very fence for fornicatioÌ„ for exaÌ„ple behold out of theyr â—oke the lothesomenesse of theyr lawe the lawlesse peruerse demeanour of their priestes Qui inuenerit clericuÌ„ cuÌ„ vxore matre sorore vel filia turpiter agenteÌ„ vel paranteÌ„ se ad opus carnale in loco priuato suspecto per oscula amplexus vel si per alia signa aperta opus turpitudinis constat esse expletuÌ„ Dicit quod non licet talem percutere In english it is thus He that findeth a Prieste with his wife mother syster or doughter behauiÌ„g him self vnhonestli or preparing him self vnto carnall worke in a place priuate suspected by kyssing embracing or els if it shall appeare by manifest signes that the filthie acte hath ben coÌ„mitted yet he saith that it is not lawfull to stryke such a one And further Si ipsa percutiat eum incidit in CanoneÌ„ That is Yf the womaÌ„ shold strike him she is to be punished by the Canon law Who now except he be more then betwitched can excuse these men who maye coÌ„mende theyr lawes who can like theyr liues what shall we say of Laurentius Valla a LanoÌ„ not long a gon of Rome writeth he not in this wise Omnino nihil interest vtrum cum marito coâ—at mulier an cum amatore There is no matter at all saythe hee VVhether a wooman keepe companye with her husband or whith her louer Here we haue to consider that if he wrote this in â—est yet it becamme not a Chanon to vse suche jestinge to wryte it and to putte yt furthe to Printinge but if he wrote it in ernest then it was to yrkesome it was vngodlye it was noysome these these certenlye are they of whom Christe longe sythence hathe sayde Beware ye of false Prophetes whiche come vnto you in shiepes cloathinge but inwardelye they be raueninge wolfes That they came in shepes cloathing howe may it appeare how by their sundrie false and faygned professions by their inwarde syghinge by their vaine blessings by theyr childishe ceremonies by their dreaminge desceaptefull miracles by their hewe of hollinesse and to be briefe by the beguylinge and seducinge of so manye and of so longe a time But that they bee in wardelye raueninge wolfes it is euydente by their curssinge by theyr hate by their fagottes by their fyre by theyr tormentinge of true Christians and by their tyrannie it is euidente by theyr false teachinge by theyr errours by theyr heresye it is euidente by their fornicatioÌ„ it is euideÌ„t by their Sodomiticall life adulterie it is euideÌ„t by their fruites by theyr factes by their Hypocrisie and superstition and this shall be nowe euidente by aunciente Autors by theyr owne wryters by holye Scriptures and by reason wherefore I craue or rather the trouth it selfe craueth at thy handes gentle reader three thinges Firste that to further thyne owne euerlastinge joye thou wilte in readinge laye a syde all partiallitie Secondly that thou wilte then judge and that withe indifferencie Thirdelye that in the ende settinge apart worldlye frendeshipe and all vayne respectes thou wilt be an earnest defendour of Christe his faythe and that thou wilt embrace his Gospell with constanncie Knowing that vnto all such as beleue it is the power of God vnto saluacioÌ„ For thus doynge His faithfullnes trueth shall bee thy shelde buckler neyther shall anye yuell happen vnto thee But if God offer thee knoweledge if he proffer thee syghte by what meanes soeuer and thou refuse it beware then leste thou be in the number of those of whome Sainte Paule thus saythe They are withoute excuse by cause that when they knowe God they glorified him not as God neither were they thankefull but waxed all together vain in their owne imaginations and their foolishe harte was blinded Consyderinge this then if thou se the truth take hede I say agayne take hede that thou disseÌ„ble not take hede of hypocrisye If God be God folow him but if Baal be he go after him And to this ende remeÌ„bre well alwayes and carye in minde what Jesus the sonne of Syrach doethe saye A harte sayth he That goeth two wayes shal not prosper Meaninge therfore to speke of Hypocrites before we so do let vs learne by the