hede to thēselues to all the flock in that which the holy Ghost hath appoynted them ouerseers to feede the holy congregation which thy dearely beloued sonne purchased with hys precious blood take the ouersyght of thē not as though they were compelled but willingly not for the desyre of fylthy lucre but of a good mynde not as Lords ouer their parishioners but that they be an ensample vnto the Flocke Graunt they may lay asyde all Tyranny and hautynesse of mynd and walke with all gentlenesse and tender compassyon towards the sheepe of Christ committed to their cure and charge let them be as most louing Fathers to Christes flock if any of the sheepe chaunce to runne astray and go out of the way let them not therefore be vngentlye intreated but as it is the offyce of a good Sheaphearde by fayre meanes call them home agayn vnto the shepefolde seeking rather their saluation then their destruction let them remember the Hystory of the loste Sheepe and consyder how tenderly the head Sheaphearde Christ thy sonne and our Lord fetch it home agayne euen vpon his shoulders for the seruant of the Lord may not fight but peaceably and gently towardes all men ready to teach suffering the euill with meekenesse informing men that resysteth If at any time thou O God mayst giue them repentaunce to know the truth let them caste away vngodlynesse and old wyues fables reaching them thy heauenly worde purely and truelye and be vnto them that beleeue an example in the word in conuersation in loue in spright in fayth in purenesse Let them giue attendaunce vnto reading to exhortacion to doctryne Let them studye to shewe themselues in thy sight lyke workemen worthy of prayse euen suche as neede not bee ashamed as in Preaching thy holye worde and so lykewyse in mayntayning distributing to the poore in feding the hungry with meate in cloathing the naked in lodging of the harborlesse in nourishing Godlye and learned men that they may be pastors and feeders both in word indeed grant againe that the Parishioners may reuerence the Bishoppe and other spiritual ministers giuing them no lesse honour then the chyld giueth to the Father remember that they be Aungels of God the Messengers of Christe the lighte of the world the salte of the earth the dispensers of the misteries of God the feders of their soules the comforters of the weake the Phisitions of the sicke the vpholders of the whole the exhorters vnto vertue the frayers away from vyce which watch contynuallye for the health of their soules worke in the harts of al them that be instructed with thy worde such a tender loue and good will towardes the Ministers that teach them that the may giue vnto them aboundauntly all good thinges whereby the Preachers may be the more able not onelye to nourrish their family but also maintayne Hospitality for the releefe and comfort of the pore For who goeth a warfare at any tyme at his owne coste who planteth a vineyarde and eateth not of the fruite who feedeth a flocke and eateth not of the mylke if the Preachers sow vnto their parishioners spirituall thinges it is a great thing if they repe their eternal things O Lord that they which preache thy Gospell should lyue of the Gospell moreouer graunt that the husbands loue their wyues as their owne bodyes and not to be bitter churlish or vnkynde vnto them but geue honoure to them as to the weaker vessell which are fellowe heyres vnto them of lyfe Lykewyse graunt that the wyues be in subiection to their owne husbandes as vnto the Lorde in all thinges and so behaue themselues as becommeth women of an honest lyfe and a godly conuersation Geue them grace to araye themselues in comely apparell with shamefastnesse and discreete behauyour not with brodered heare or golde or pearle or costly aray but such as it becommeth women that professe Godlynesse through good workes Let the inwarde man of the harte be vncorrupt with a meeke and a quyet sprighte before thee O God is much set by for after this manner in the olde tyme dyd the holy women that trusted in GOD tyre themselues and were obedient to their owne husbandes euen Sara obeyed Abraham and called hun Lord whose daughters ye are that be marryed women so long as you doe well Graunt that the Fathers and Mothers maye not rate their children least they bee of a desperate mynde but bring them vp in nurtour and information of our Lord GOD graunt also the children to obey their parents in al things and honour them Graunte that all maysters maye doe vnto their seruauntes that which is iust and equal putting away all threatnings and know that they haue also a maister in heauen with whome there is no respect of persons Graunt also that the seruauntes be obedient to their bodily Maysters in all thinges with feare trembling in singlenesse of harr as vnto Christ not with eye seruice onely in the eye sight as men pleasers but as the Seruauntes of Christ doing thy will O God euen from the harte with good will. Giue them grace also to consyder that they serue the Lord and not men and therefore they may bee sure that whatsoeuer a good man doth he shall receiue agayne of the Lorde whether they bee bonde or free Furthermore graunt O moste mercifull father that the Elder men maye bee sober honest discreete sounde in fayth in loue and pacience the elder women lyke wyse graunt that they be in such rayment as becommeth holynesse not false accusers not geuen to muche drinking but teachers of honest thinges to make the yong women sober mynded to loue their husbands to loue their Children to be discreete chaste huswyuely good and obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not euill spoken of Graunte also that the yong men be sober mynded and of an honeste conuersation To conclude graunte that euerye one that professe thy gloryous name they may so lyue and behaue themselues both in thought worde and deede that nothing may proceede come from them that should offend thy deuyne and most excellent Maiesty Graunt also O most gentle and tender Father that our light may so shyne before men that they seeing our good workes may gloryfye our Heauenly Father with thy well beloued sonne Iesu Christ our Sauyour and the holy Ghost that most sweete comforter to whome be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ A prayer to eschew the affections of worldly men O Good Lorde Father almightye we meekly beseech thee heare our prayers and where thou hast geuen expresse commaundementes to direct euerye mans lyfe to thy pleasure graunt vs grace we neuer looke at any wicked mans doing to followe them nor may consyder so much what the great number of men do as what we are bound by thy laws to do O Lord we see to our great griefe many great wise men in the worlde to mayntayne Idolatry Ipocrisye and
in his life and after her prayer made vnto God she tooke asworde that hanged by and tooke him by the heyry lockes and with two strokes vpon the neck smot of his hed Antonius a Ruler a vāquisher in many battails had so laden himselfe with wine that as he sate to giue iudgement in the Tribunall Seate in the morning was constrained to vomite Puer These mē did drinke wyne and were dronken with excesse and it made bitternesse and sorrow vnto their minds I confesse dronkenesse filleth the mind of the flesh with shame as it did vnto Noe Lot and Antonius and to the rest I haue hard say that Sisera was dronk was slain of Iahel although his drink was milk not wine Ciuis It was so as the story doth declare The Apostle sayth be not dronken with wyne wherein is excesse Wo be vnto them that rise vp earlye to vse themselues in dronkennesse and yet at night are more superfluous with wyne Wo be vnto them that are cunning men to suppe out wyne and expert to sette vp dronkennesse Be not thou a wyne biber for as I haue told you wyne hath destroyed many a man The fyre proueth the hard yron euen so doth wine proue the harts of the prowd when they be dronken A dronkarde sayth the Apostle or extorcyoner with such shall ye not eate but put away from you him that is euill The Elder men be sober not geuen to muche wyne Keepe no company with wyne bibbers and royotous eaters of flesh for such as bee Dronkards and roioters shal come to pouerty Wine inordinately taken doubleth mans reason maketh euill vnderstanding infeebleth remembraunce sendeth in forgetfulnesse poureth in errours and bringeth forth sluggishnesse Hee that is geuen to much sleepe shal go with a ragged coate Puer This saying is verifyed by our old priest in the Countrey for ragged and drowsye he is and lightly is neuer frō the Alehouse but when he goeth to the Mattens and Euensong if hee did perceyue and printe these sayinges in his mynde he would be ashamed thereof yet hee thinketh himselfe wyser then seuen men that sit and teach Ciuis They lack good gouernmente whereas it is and a good Pastour or a Sheapehearde whiche is carefull to suppresse all manner of vyce Salomon sayeth Giue Kinges no wyne giue Kinges and Princes no strong drinke lest they forget the Law and regarde not the cause of the pore and needy geue strong drinke and wyne vnto such as are condēned to death and wyne vnto those that mourne that they maye drinke it and forget their miserye and aduersitye Puer The Lord GOD be mercifull vnto vs and geue vs grace one to pray for another that the same vyce of dronkennesse might be rooted out whereby they may become new mēbers of our Sauiour Christ For he destroyeth both the righteous and vngodlye what a myserable estate are they in to vse their selues in such disorder Ciuis I pray God that thou doest remember this another day be bolde if you come where any such vyce is vsed to say speake euery man the truth vnto his neighboure execute Iudgement truely and peaceably within your portes none of you imagine euill in his harte agaynste his neighbour Puer I gather out of this saying that whych I would it were well noted and followed then they woulde neyther lye nor deale falsely one with another Ciuis Then all bitternesse and fearefulnesse and wrath and roaring and cursed speaking shold be farre from you with al maliciousnesse but be you wheresoeuer you shall dwell curteous one to another merciful and forgeue one another euen as GOD hath forgeuen you in Christ Come not in the path of the vngodlye and walk not in the way of the wicked eschew euill and goe not therein departe aside passe ouer Puer I thanke you for your counsel but I pray you now let vs passing along by the way haue some more of the communication howe the duety and vsage of the Maysters at London and howe their Apprentises are bounde Ciuis I will tell you how it is as breefely as I canne Fyrst of the duety of maysters and so consequently as tyme doth serue of the Seruauntes Puer You shall doe very well vnto me for you haue bene a good instructer to me I pray God that I may beare it wel in memorye Ciuis You say well I haue read in the first Epistle of S. Paule to Titus the second chapter That the elder men be sober honest discreete sounde in the faith in loue in pacience and the elder women like wise that they should shew themselues as it becommeth holynesse that they be no false Accusers not giuen to much wyne that they teach honest thinges that they informe yong womē to be sober minded to loue their husbands to loue their Children to be discrete chast huswiuely good obedient vnto their own husbands also he saieth in the same chapter exhorte the yong men likewyse that they be sober mynded Puer What doth S. Paule meane by the elders Ciuis That is a mayster a gouernour ouer his houshold Puer Is that his meaning well I vnderstand that but yet you come not to that I loked for Ciuis I will doe then as nigh as I can but I would be loth to do cōtrary to the saying of S. Paule to Timothy in the. v. Chapter Puer What saith he Ciuis He sayeth if any man teach otherwyse and agreeth not vnto the wholsome words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to the doctryne of Godlinesse he is pufte vp knoweth nothing but wasteth his brayne aboute questyons and striuinges of wordes whereof spring enuy strife railings euil surmising vain disputacions of such men as haue corrupte minds are robbed of the truth which thinke that lucer is Godlines Puer I do not so desyre you to teach or instruct me any thing contrary to the scripture for if I might perceue you did I would willingly eschew it Ciuis I am ioyfull thereof for S. Paule sayeth to the Colossians the third chapter Ye maisters do to your seruants that which is iust and equall know that ye also haue a mayster in heauen Also the duty of a mayster is that he must dilligētly prouyde that he gouern thē Godly iustly Godly shal he gouern thē if while they bee in his seruice he excercise thē not only in seruil manual works but also in deeds of godlynes vertue and to forsee that no kind of sin be vsed of his seruants in his house neither ydlenes suffred neither swering picking neyther stealing neyther whoring nor any fylthy cōmunication but that all Godlinesse honesty and vertue be practysed among them when they come from the Church vpon the Saboth day or holiday to examyne them what fruitefulnesse the haue learned there that by this meanes God maye the more aboundantly
maysters and seruauntes for to be so precyse as scripture teacheth vs we cannot yet we wish good will to follow the same Puer I praye you then recyte vnto me those Sentences which you thynke good for that purpose Ciuis Somewhat I tolde you before of ydlenesse yet Salomon sayeth A slouthful body wil not go to Plough for cold therefore shall he go a begging in wynter and haue nothing Slouthfulnesse bringeth sleepe and an ydle soule shall suffer hunger Puer That is most true for I remēber sometyme when I should keepe the Crowes out of the fieldes I was so slouthfull that although the wether was colde yet was I asleepe Ciuis Idlenesse weryeth strēgth as rust doth Iron the brōd vnstirred burneth slouly if he be moued he causeth the fire eftsones to kīdle Idlenes without lerning is deth the graue of a quick mā The wise māsayth I went by the field of the slothfull by the vyneyard of the folish mā and loe it was al couered with nettles stood ful of thistles and the stone wall was broken down He that spareth the rod hateth the chyld but whoso loueth him holdeth him euer in correctiō Puer That is a very streight saying how can a man loue his chyld when he chasteneth him and holdeth him euer in correction I pray you what is ment by the same word correctiō Ciuis Correctiō is an amēdment of our former euil life taming of our carnall wil mortifying of our flesh applying of our selues to the commaundement will example of Christ to take away and banish the euil to bring in and establish the good as Dauid sayth Eschew euil and do good for euil works always taketh away the credite of good wordes To take hede vnto the chastning of nurtoure is the waye of lyfe but he that refuseth to be reformed goeth wrong He that thinketh skorne to bee reformed commeth to pouertye and shame but who so receyueth correctyon shall come to honoure A scornefull bodye loueth not one that rebuketh him neyther will he come among the wyse withholde not correction from the chylde for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die The correction of the wise is an obediēt eare a golden chayne and a Iewell of golde Puer This is a good correcting euery mā to examin his owne conscience so to correct himself but this is not the correction that I meane Ciuis there is another kind of corectiō which is to be ioyned vnto the sayings of the wise mā the rod correction ministreth wysedome but if a chyld be not looked to hee bringeth his mother to shame therfore sayeth he Nurtour thy sonne with correction and he shall comforte thee yea he shall doe thee good at thy harte A seruaunt will not be the the better for words for though he vnderstand yet wil he not regard them He that delicately and familyerly bringeth vp his seruaunt shall make him his mayster at the length He must not make him fellow with his mayster neyther at his table nor yet in any other place these wordes signify as the old prouerb is of cōmon people vsed a yōg bough wil bend while it is greene but when it is old it wil not moue so is it to be accounted for youth they must be looked vnto whyle they are yong they must not be wantonly broughte vp but with feare they must be vsed at the fyrst as they shal continue and for their faultes be corrected Puer I gather much of your talk but though you speake of children is the meaning thereof by seruanntes lykewyse Ciuis Yea all is one for where there is a child or a sonne named or a seruaunt all is as one thing For where the wyse man sayeth Chasten thy sonne whyle there is hope but let not thy soule be moued to sley him is not ment but that hee shall geue him reasonable correction and not in anger for correction is as necessary for youth as meate drinke and apparrel Puer All this I doe not deny but yet I thinke it is very harde for these are sore threatnings Ciuis They are so yet He that byndeth a frantick man and waketh him that hath the letargye or sleeping sicknesse displeaseth both loueth both healeth both both whyles they be sick do disdain him and whē they be whole yet both doe thanke him In correction wrath is specially to be prohibited for he that will punish when he is angry shall neuer keepe well the meane which is betweene to much and to little It is better to be of a wyse man corrected then to bee with the flattery of fooles deceyued Be of thyne owne liuing a sharpe correctour and of other mens a gentle reformer Correcte thy friende secretlye and praise thy friende openly Puer I applye vnto your sayinges I remember a saying the Seruaunt that knoweth his Lordes will and prepared not himselfe neyther did according to his will shall be beaten with many strypes I confesse these wordes touch seruauntes Ciuis You haue sayde truth but if you will I will declare vnto you many Godlye examples out of the scriptures concerning the duety of seruauntes towarde their maysters and yet God forbid that the seruauntes should be so euill in their doinges that they should haue according to the threatnings commandements of scripture Puer Are the thratninges and preceptes in scripture so extreame had I knowne this by the instruction of our olde Prieste I woulde not haue gone all this way for to be an Apprentise in London rather had I tarryed with my mother at Plough and Carte or else to haue bene a Seruingman for your wordes pierce my harte Apprentises and children in London are not so vsed I pray you tell me Ciuis You neede not to be so fearefull for there commeth no harme in wel doing For rulers are not to be fered for good works but for euil Wilt thou be without feare of the power do wel then and so shalt thou bee praysed for the same for he is the Minister of God for thy welth but and if thou doe euil then feare The Apprentises are not so straightly vsed as some of them doe deserue for they are vsed in London as they be in other places are as the prouerb sayth some good some bad but be you not dismayd for there are worshipful men in London men of great wealth who haue gone to London to serue as an apprentise as simple as you go Puer Your friendlsnesse I pray God I might quite for where you haue giuē me a choking bone so you giue me drink to qualifye the force thereof for I am as one dismayde and al by your talke but I trust in God it is all for the best and for my commoditie Ciuis It is so be of good comforte and haue a mans harte with you you go to be a Souldyer you must not retyre
was a planter of Vyneyardes and canst thou not liue as thy father hath done before thee Puer No I cannot lyue in that order it is to paynefull for me although my Father did Hedge and diche digge and delue and did bring me vp in the same trade and you haue shewed me those examples I mynde not to doe so Ciuis No what wilte thou do then Puer What will I doe I will tell you I will be a Seruingman and wayghte on a Gentleman and then I shall goe a Hawking and Hunting and haue my delight as Gentlemen hath I shall haue two new coates a yeare I will haue my sutes of Hose my Hats with feathers and be all in the brauerye after the newe fashyon and sometyme I shall wayght vpon a Gentlewoman who woulde desyre to lyue a merryer lyfe or else I will to London to be a seruaunt Ciuis The old Prouerbe is true A yong Courtyer an old Begger for they say seruice is none heritage and if thou shouldest be vsed as Esop doth declare in a fable what wouldst thou then say to thy brauery Puer I pray you recyte the same to me Ciuis He was a man by whome there is a booke made that I haue read and is caled Esops fables wherin he likeneth a Seruingman to a Greyhound Puer He was a horeson in deede that would liken a man to a Dog. Why there is a great sort that be Seruingmen and doth liue well ynough and so I trowe I will. Ciuis Yea I wil not despyse seruingmen for they are men necessary But Esope sayeth as long as a Greyhound is youthfull and can follow his game he shall be much made of and as long as you are yong and lustye so maye you be but when age commeth on you as dyd on the Greyhound then you shall not bee steemed but ready to be set at liberty without comforte Puer Why then I praye you tell me your mynde what your aduyce is for me to doe Ciuis My counsell is to haue you go home agayne to your Mother consydering you say she is an old woman and your Father dead shee is without friendship or comforte and you shall be a good stay and a helper vnto her Puer I mynde not so to doe for I know a way better then to doe so she hath geuen me Gods blessing and hers and is well contented withall and hath geuen mee Money in my Purse I may be bolde to say vnto you besydes that I take you to be an honest man and a true man else I woulde not haue tolde you for there be so many men now a days of dyuers sortes I knowe not well whome to trust Ciuis Thou sayest truth in deede the more is the pittie for one man cannot trust another but yet Moises writeth as I remēber Let euery one reuerence his Father and mother Iesus the sonne of Syrach wryteth on this manner Heare me your Father O my deare Chyldren and doe thereafter that ye may be safe for the Lord will haue the father honoured of the children Honor thy father and Mother this is the fyrst commaundement that hath any promyse that thou mayest be in good state and lyue long on the earth And looke what a Mother commaundeth her children to doe he will haue it kepte Who so honoureth his Father his sinnes shall be forgeuen him and he that honoreth his mother is one that gathereth treasure togither who so honoureth his Father shall haue long life and he that is obedyent for the Lords sake his mother shall haue ioy of him Honour thy father from thy whole harte forget not the sorrowfull trauayle that thy mother had with thee The Apostle sayeth Chyldren obay your fathers and mothers in the Lorde for so it is right Tobias sayde to his sonne hold thy Mother in honour all the dayes of thy lyfe for thou oughtest to remember what and howe great perrill she suffred for thee in her wombe Puer You are verye scripulous with mee to honour my mother I doe not denye it but I confesse my duetye is vnto my mother yet may I doe that which I purpose to doe for I am sure you cannot tell me of any that doth practise such obedience to Father or mother Of my parte I promise you I knowe not what obedience is for it was neuer taught me Ciuis Then will I teach you especially concerning our communycation Fyrst I will shew you that obedience is a lowly and harty submissyon of our selues to God and afterwardes to our Parentes to the Maiestrates to our superyours and to al those to whome GOD hath committed the rule and gouernaunce of his Flocke and people in this worlde or in iust causes to all them to whome we be by any tytle inferyour Isaac shewed obedience to his father Abraham Yong Tobias at his fathers cōmandement went into a farre country about his fathers busines did not deny it Christ humbled himself became obediēt to the death so was he to his parents Ioseph and Mary More wil I call to remembraunce out of the scripture of the duty of Children hereafter Puer I am therewith content I perceyue you haue had some intelligence knowledge of Scriptures that can remember such thinges vpon a sodayne yet I may loue both father and mother and shew my duety and obedience vnto them although I doe not dwell with them For I must seeke how to behaue my self when God calleth thē away from me out of this vale of misery to get my liuing as they haue done for if I should do as the Prouerbe is loke after ded folks shoes I might thāce to go barefote Ciuis And can you not liue by taking paynes with Husbandrye as your father and others haue done Puer No forsooth Ciuis And why so I pray you tell me Puer Mary syr there is such moyling and toyling and taking of great paynes with harde fare that I must needes to London to be a Townseman thereto liue more at ease Ciuis If euery one were of thy mynde and so permitted to haue their owne wils we might chaunce to fast for lack of bread Corne and such other necessaryes for mans body But the truth is at London thou mightest learne some honest and profitable occupation wherewith thou mayest be able to get thy own liuing in tyme to come and to make prouision for such as shall belong vnto thee hereafter for if thou shouldst be brought vp ydely thou shouldest become an vnprofytable member in a common weale and for lack of liuing fal into many inconueniences for it is written Send him to labour that he goeth not ydle for ydlenesse bringeth much euill And agayne Let no laborious worke be tedious vnto thee neyther the Husbandrye which the almightye God hath created As the Byrds of the ayre are created to flie so man is borne to labour He that Tilleth his Land shall haue plentiousnesse of bread but
haue deuysed a plague whereout you shall not pluck your neckes Wo be vnto them that seeketh vyolently to heape vp other mens goods The Prophet Zachary saw a flying booke of twenty cubits long and ten cubits broade in the which was written the curse that shall fall vpon all theeues In the booke of Iosua we reade that Achan the sonne of Zereth stole and conuayed away a goodly Babilonish Garment and two hundred sickles of Siluer and a tongue of Gold of fyftye sickles weight and that therefore at the commaundemente of God he was stoned to death and his stollen good with all that euer he had besydes his sonnes and his daughters his Oxen and his Asses his sheepe his Tent were burnt with fyre King Antiochus which when he with hys Armye entred into the Temple purposing to haue spoyled it and to take out of it great soms of money was stayne both he and his company and hewne in peeces Now you vnderstande some sentences of scripture according to your desyre yet whatsoeuer is gotten wyth crafte and subteltye with vnrighteous bargening with false weights and vniust mesures is before God playne thefte and therefore it ought to be restored Puer Thē by your sayings there is as I conceaue two kynde of theftes the one is to steale from another man and the other is to deceaue his Neighboure by false weyghtes and vniust measures Ciuis It is so For a false Balaunce is an abhomynation vnto the Lord but a true weight pleaseth him A true measure and a true Ballaunce are the Lords he maketh all weyghts Treasures that are wickedlye gotten profyte nothing but righteousnesse deliuereth from death To vse two maner of weights or two maner of mesures both these are abhominable vnto the Lorde The Lorde abhorreth two manner of weightes and a false ballaunce is an euill thing ye shall do no vnrighteousnesse in iudgemēt in metyard in weight or in measure True balaunces true weights a true Epha a true Hin shall ye haue I am the Lord your god And agayne Thou shalte not haue in thy bagge two maner of weights a great a small neyther shalte thou haue in thy house dyuers measures a great and a small But thou shalt haue a right and iust weyghte and a perfect and iust measure shalt thou haue that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God geueth thee Puer These thinges I must needes looke vnto for loath I am that it should happen so to me I thanke God there was none of my kindred that euer I did know was found guylty concerning such cryme I haue heard people say with the same measure you mete withthe same shall others meate to you agayne And whatsoeuer you wil that mē should do to you euen so doe ye to them I will labour to get the truth and will not sell away wysdome nurtour and vnderstanding for Wisedome is better then strēgth But now let me heare further of obedience Ciuis I told you at your fyrst meeting of obedience and it is a thing very necessary to be remēbred you must please your mayster mistresse as S. Peter cōmandeth in the second chapter of his fyrst Epistle seruants obey your maysters with al fere not only if they be good curteous but also thogh they be froward for what prayse is it sayeth S. Peter if when ye be buffeted for your faults you take it paciently but if when ye suffer wrongfully ye take it paciētly then is there thank with God for hervnto were you caled For Christ also suffred for vs leuing vs an example that we should folow his steps which did no sin neyther was there deceit found in his mouth which whē he was reuyled reuyled not agayne when he suffered he threatued not but cōmitted the cause to him thatiudgeth righeously Puer If you treade a worme on the tayle she will tourne agayne much more should a man when he is buffeted to stryke agayne Ciuis Ioseph mooued to quarrell agaynst his Brethren and did not and you must remember what I sayde vnto you Christ did forgeue his death so must you forgiue your mayster and there is no man that would giue correction vnto his seruaunt vndeserued Puer Correction I can holde well withal but there may be correction deserued and correction vndeserued Ciuis Your duety is to be swifte to heare sloe to speake and slow to wrath For the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God therefore you must not geue worde for word or taunt for taunt nor to pleade with him as it were a counseler should pleade a case at the Barre before a Iudge For I tolde you before you must not be stowt and stubborn but lowly and obediente which thinges by your talke you haue already forgotten and yet you sayde Obliuyon should not enter so soone into you you haue two eares the one to heare the other to carrye away the sence and true meaning of such thinges as are taught you Saint Paule wryteth to Timothie in the fyft Chapter Rebuke not an Elder but exhorte him as a father Puer I graunt I sayde so and so I say still and your former wordes I haue printed in my mynde yet this worde to be buffeted greeueth me I am of some stature I thinke to serue my Prince wherefore I trust these wordes shall not displease you I can away with all things you haue sayde to me sauing that Ciuis Do you not beleeue me and can you not awaye with that I haue tolde you by scripture I coulde recyte more to you and one thing more I will shewe you It is written in the. xxi Chapter of Deutrinomium wherein is shewed and declared the greate daunger and perrill of those which are disobedient children which say as you say and will refuse correction and good gouernmente That is if any man hath a sonne or a seruaunt that is stubborne and disobedient and wil not hearken vnto the voyce of his father and mother and they haue taughte him nurtoure but he will not hearken vnto them this worde father and mother is taken here for Mayster and mistresse it followeth what shall be done vnto him Then let his father and mother take him and bring him out vnto the Elders of the Citty and saye This our sonne is stubbern and disobedient and will not hearken vnto our voyce he is a ryoter and a dronkarde then let all the men of that Cittie stone him with stones vnto death and thou shalte put euill from thee and all Israell shall heare and feare If suche correction should be vsed in these dayes what would seruauntes and children doe God forbid it should but yet it is not hurtfull for mee to exhorte and perswade you by scripture to bring you out of darkenesse into light which light shall be your comforte and I tolde you before of two corrections Puer You did
so and I remember your sayinges well if I should offend my mayster at any tyme should he not forgeue me Ciuis Vpon an amendment a man will do it for Mathew sayeth if thy Brother trespase agaynst thee rebuke him if he repente forgiue him Puer If you forgiue men their faults your heauenly father will also forgiue you Yet I confesse a seruaunt may offend if he do I pray you tell me whether it is lawfull for a mayster to geue his seruaunt vnlawfull correction Ciuis Due correctiō is alowable for seruants if a mayster shall take an vnreasonable thing to correct his seruaunt whereby he putteth out one of his eyes breake his arme or legge or his head it is not lawfull for he must consyder with himselfe that his seruaunt is of the same mould made that himselfe is and that God will requyte euill for euill an eye for an eye c. The Prophet sayth Learne to doe righte applye yourselues to equitie Puer You haue certifyed my desyre perswacions of one friende to another may doe muche good Lorde what happy fortune was it that wee two did meete togeather for your aduertisementes I trust shal doe me much good and I shall be bound to pray vnto God for you that it was my good fortune to haue your company being such a friendly mā as you are if I were learned I woulde make some remembraunce what you haue sayde to mee and I woulde send it downe into the countrey to our olde Duns shewing him what good exhortacions you haue shewed to me and what the duety of seruaunts is vnto their maysters It is a thing in my iudgemente requisyte and necessarye for Seruauntes and Maysters to print these wordes which you haue recited vnto me in their myndes I remember a saying Forgeue one another if thy Brother trespase agaynst thee goe and tel him his fault betweene him and thee alone if he heare thee thou haste wonne thy brother But if he he are thee not then take with thee one or two but I thanke God you haue so vsed me that it shall not be shewed to any Ciuis Remember what is written in the same place Better it is for thee to enter into life with one eye then to haue two eyes and be cast into hell fyre So likewise better it were for thee to suffer wrong and iuiury then to reuenge agayne Recompence to no man euill for euill Let euery soule be flowe vnto anger Loue your enemyes doe good vnto them that hate you blesse them that curse you pray for them that wrong and trouble you And who so smyteth thee on the one cheeke offer him the other And who taketh thy cloake forbid him not thy coat and whoso taketh that is thyne aske it not agayne and as yee woulde that men shoulde doe vnto you euen so doe ye vnto them Lykewyse and if you loue them that loue you what thanke haue you therefore But rather loue those whome you thinke to be your enemies iudge not and ye shal not be iudged Forgiue and ye shall be forgeuen Thus now you heare what benefyte and commoditie commeth and what a fountayne or Wellspring of lyfe is shewed vnto you concerning sufferaunce A good name is more worth then a precious oyntment and the day of death is better then the day of byrth Let him that hath an office wayghte on his office Let him that ruleth doe it with dilligence Let loue be without dissimulacion Be kynde one to another with brotherly loue In geuing honour goe one before another Loue brotherly fellowship Be not weary in well doing Let not the Sunne goe downe vpon your wrath The Vngodly shall be so plagued that they shall seeke death and shall not fynd it they shal desyre to dye and death shall flye from them A discreete Seruaunte shall haue more rule then the sonnes that haue no wysedome An vndiscreete sonne is a greefe vnto his father and heauinesse vnto his mother that bare him Euery tree is knowne by his fruite so is a faythfull and a true seruaunt knowen by hys good and honest behauyour He that is true and iust to his mayster is lyke vnto a precious Iewell Dauid sayeth Myne eyes looke vpon such as be faithful in the land that they may dwell with me Who so leadeth a godly lyfe he shall be my seruaunte There shall no deceitful seruaunt dwell in my house he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sighte A froward harte shal departe from me I will not know a wicked person Puer Truth it is I can it not denye for if I should I were to blame the thing it selfe lyeth so playne before me that I cannot vary I am vpholden so by your talke that I cannot fall Heare my crying O God geue heede vnto my prayer for I cleaue vnto the same staffe which you haue geuen me to leaue vpon euen Iesus Christ Notwithstanding these wordes are not consydered on nowe a dayes For whereas my mother doth dwell if a man may fynde any occasyon of extremitie of Lawe agaynst his brother or neighboure immediatly he will procure by himselfe or his Soliciter to haue a Writ to make him to appeare at the Tearme whereby they doe not followe those wordes you told me That is if my neighbour shoulde desyre my Cloake shall I giue my Coate to him also peraduenture I shall go naked my selfe the fraylty of the fleshe will not be so aunswered for sure I beleeue though it be so written in scripture there is another meaning therein which if it were declared especially vnto those that are the couetous persons of this worlde I thinke it woulde touch them somewhat for the moste parte of them are all gathering and seeking to inrich themselues and nothing will part from yet they haue a good example of the rich man Diues the pore begger Lazarus Ciuis That is wel remembred of you they haue the more to aunswere those which are in this world in substaunce lyuing haue a great accoumpt to make at the latter day and the pore man that hath his helth followeth his labour and getteth his liuing with the sweate of hys browes is better at his hartes case then they which hath golde and treasure mixed with sicknesse and diseases Albeit I pray God that thou when thou commest to be a man able to kepe a house of thine own that couetousnesse doth not enter into thy brest as it doth into many in these dayes Puer I thanke you for your good wishing towards me for the auoyding therof let me heare some of your mynd Ciuis God cōmandeth that thoushalt not couet thy neighbours goods For couetousnesse is the roote of al euil Dauid sayd Inclyne my hart O Lord to thy testimonies not to couetousnes He that hordeth vp his corn shal be cursed among the people but blessing shal light vpō his head that giueth
foode He that trusteth in his riches is lyke to a broken staffe for he shall haue a fall but the righteous shall flourishe as the greene leafe Better it is to haue a little with the feare of God then great and vnmeasurable-treasures otherwyse Better it is to haue a little thing with righteousnesse then great rentes wrongfully gotten He that hateth couetousnesse shal lyue long Nothing is more wicked and vngracious then a couetous man A couetous mans eye hath neuer ynough He that loueth riches shall not bee iustifyed Lette your conuersation be without couetousnesse be content with that you haue already The Apostle exhorteth vs that couetousnes shold not be once named among you for God verily hath sayd I will not fayle thee nor yet forsake thee Iudas for lucre of money solde betrayd his mayster Christ Ananyas and Saphyra were punished with soden death because of a couetous mynde Acham by the commandement of God was stoned to death because he toke of the excomunicate goods Couetousnesse caused Herod to seeke to persecute Christ in his swadling cloutes I haue harde say that Syr Thomas Moore which knewe the truth to forsake it agayne and to conspyre with a Cardinall in Englād to blynd and deceiue the King of England and to bring him out of the light into darkenesse Saule for the couetousnesse of praise lost his Kingdome The couetousnesse of Achab and Iesabel was the occasyon that Naboth was stoned vnto death Take heede sayeth the Euaungelist and beware of couetousnesse for no mans lyfe standeth in the aboundaunce of thinges which he possesseth The Prophet sayeth wo be vnto them that giue sentence with the vngodly for rewardes and condemne the iust cause of the righteous They haue excercysed their harts in couetousnesse Blessed is the rich which is found withoute blemish and hath not gone after Gold nor hoped in money and treasures where is there such a one and we will commende him and call him blessed for great thinges doth he among the people For riches is the guift of God geuen to man to mayntayne the degrees of this worlde and therefore not euill yea and some must be poore and some rich God our father hath deuided riches and pouertye among his children according to his Godly will pleasure and wisdome And as riches doth not exclude thee from the blessing so doth not pouertye certifye thee but to put thy trust in the liuing god For if thou trust in the liuing God then if thou be poore thou couetest not to be riche for thou arte certifyed with that which GOD hath prouyded for thee Puer I thanke you hartily I maye lyken you vnto a Mercers shop for I can no sooner aske you a question but you resolue it vnto mee immediately if men in these dayes would marke the true sayings of the scripture things might be amended it is pitty that a man will not examin his conscience considering that he is but a flower in this world but what remedy I doubt not if it be not amended God will seeke reuengement thereof when he seeth good Ciuis For of the aboundaunce of the hart the mouth speaketh so doth all men for what they say with their mouthes the hart thinketh the same yet the talke that I haue had with you moueth mee to say vnto you as Christ sayd to his Disciples Blessed are the eyes which see that you see for I say vnto you glad I am not only of your company but that I perceaue you reape and gather good seede at my handes and let Cocle alone Puer Duety byndeth me there vnto otherwyse although I am tender of yeares what mighte you thinke of me if you shoulde spend all this talke on me in vayne For I gather that it were better to haue friendly vsage of the scriptures then to excercyse that whiche shoulde neyther be profytable for vs ne yet to the hearers commendable For in the tenth of Luke and other places it is written Aske and it shal be geuen you seke you shal find knock it shall be opened vnto you for who so asketh receaueth he that seketh fyndeth and to him that knocketh shall it be opened by these comfortable words which I haue receiued of you I trust shall make me as fresh as the Olyue or Hauthorne for these your sweete flowers that you haue geuen vnto me grow in the Garden of lyfe and hath brought me out of the puddle which peraduenture I should haue lyne wallowing in Yet I am carefull to thinke how I should behaue my selfe at London Ciuis Thou arte much to blame Christ sayd vnto his Disciples Take ye no thought for your lyfe what ye shall eate neyther for your body what you shal put on the lyfe is more then meate and the body more then rayment consyder the Rauens and the little small Byrdes they neyther sowe nor reape they haue also neyther storehouse nor Barn and yet God feedeth them but how much better are ye then the fowles wherfore be of good comforte and ask not what you shal eate nor what you shall drinke and clyme not vp so hye as the Prouerbe is least a chip fall into your eye but seeke the Kingdome of God and all these shall be mynystred to you wee draw now a pace towards London Puer I pray ▪ you how far is it thyther me thinkes the iorney very long and yet comfortable bycause of your aduertisement Ciuis It is not aboue one Myle or thereaboutes Puer I am glad thereof for I promyse you Syr I am almoste weary I haue come a great waye yet GOD bee wyth my good olde Mother and all my Friendes I am sure they woulde be gladde to heare of my well doing Ciuis She may very well heare therof I doubte it not and shee shall haue great ioye of you Puer I trust so yet in al my troubles temptations whatsoeuer shal happen Lord graunt me that I may remember your saying that I may say as the wyddow sayd vnto the vnrightfull Iudge Deliuer me from myne Aduersarye for I knowe the Aduersarye the Deuill will seeke all the wayes he can to get mee into his Net. But still my fortitude and strength shall bee in God. My mouth shal speake the praise of the Lord and let al flesh giue thanks vnto his holy name for euer and euer For he sayeth and commandeth me to take heede that I be not deceiued and againe hee sayeth When I here of warres and insurrections he commaundeth me not to be afrayde for such thinges must come to passe whyche God of his infynite mercy graunte mee grace that hereafter I may remember say Delyuer me O Lord from myne enimies for I flye vnto thee to hyde me stretch forth my hands to thee And now Lord what is my hope truely my hope is euen in thee deliuer me from all myne offences and make me