OF THE
BY
—
CAREFULLY EDITED BY EDWARD ARBER,
Affociate, Kings College, London, F.R.G.S., £~
THOMAS LEVER, M.A.
Fellow and Preacher of St. John's College, Cambridge.
SERMONS. iS5o.
\ AM WEBBE, GRADUATE, A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH POETRIE. ,586.
LONDON :
5 (^UKKN SQUARE, !!!.( JOMSUrRV. \V.C. (at. Hall} 1870. \.-ltf R, -£/:(.,
BX 5153
CON TEW TS.
NOTES of the Life and Writings of Thomas Lever, INTRODUCTION, .... .9
BIBLIOGRAPHY, ..... i?
I. THE SERMON IN THE SHROUDS OF ST.
PAULS CHURCH, . . . 19
Septiiagefuna Sunday, \
< [ 2 Feb. 1550. 4 Hys fourth Sunday after tw elf e tyde,' )
TEXT. From the Epistle of the day. Rom. iii. 1-3.
I 1 . THE SERMON BEFORE KING ED WARD VL, 53
Mid-Lent Sunday, 16 March 1550. TEXT. From the Gospell of the day. John vi.
III. THE SERMON AT PAULS CROSS, . 91 Second Sunday in Advent, 14 December 1550-
1. The Epistle [to the Counsell].
2. The Sermon.
No particular TEXT.
NOTES
of The LIFE and WRITINGS
of THOMAS LEVER, M.A.,
In succession, Fellow, Preacher and Master of St. John's College, Cam bridge ; Pa-tor in exile of the English Church at Aarau ; Prebend of Durham Cathedral, Master of Sherburn Hospital for the poor.
The earliest account of our Author is the following brief contemporary one by John Bale :—
"Thomas Leucrus, patria Lancastriensis, insignis collegij, diuo Euan- gelista? loanni apud Cantabrigiensis sacri, olim praeses : nunc autem An- glorum ecclcsia;, quae est in Arouia Heluetiorum urbe, primarius pastor: pius certe theologus, uitiorum osor, uirtutumque in omni mansuetudine seminator, in idiomate uulgari ad suos Anglos scripsit. Semitam rcctam ad Christum, Lib. i. Cum nidissem meant in Ang lia
moram ac.
In orationetn Dominicam, Lib. i. P ropier laborem inopuin et
Condones aliquot paitperum.
At</uc alia.
Viuit Arouiae, in uinea Domini fortiter laborans." Script. Illust. Cent. i-c. 96, /. 762. Ed. 1557-9-
1509. apr. 22. menrrj THE. begins to reign.
1542. Lever takes his B.A.
1543. Is admitted Fellow of his college.
1545. He takes his M.A. Cooper. Ath. Cantab, i. 366. Ed. 1858.
St. .Mary'., vicarage, Burwell, was given by the King to the University of
lidge, but only obtained by payment of ^600 [ = ,£9000 now] to Sir
Edward, afterwards Lord North. This was the first occasion of emptying
the University chest. It is denounced by Lever to King Edward \ 1.
at/. 80.
1547. 3an. 28. lEfcfoartj 1TE. ascentos the throne.
1548. Jri.v 3. Lever is admitted a senior Fellow of St. John's College.
SEIJT. 22. He is appointed a College preacher: from which it is sup posed that he was previously ordained. For public commotions in 1549 1550: see//. 15, 16. 1550. FEIS. 2. Septitagesiina Sunday. Lever preaches the first of the three sermons here printed, in the Shrouds of St. Paul's church, I. MI, don. MAR. 16. Mid-Lent Sunday. Lever preaches the second of these
sermons before the King at Court. AI-R. i. Bp. N. Ridley is translated from Rochester to London.
Lever refers to him at/. 78.
APR. "It was ordered that whosoever should have ecclesiastical benefices granted them by the King, should preach before him in or out of Lent, and that every Sunday there should be a sermon at Court." — jf. Strype, Eccles. Mem. ii. 334. Ed. 1822. APR. 9. Lever's two sermons of this year are printed or reprinted,
and finished on this day.
JUNE 24. Bp. Ridley ordains ^5 deacons before the high altar of St. Paul's, including Lever and John Fox the martyrologist.
Sfi-yp,-. idem, ii. 402.
AUG. io. Bp. Ridley ordains at Fulham several persons deacons: and his diapbin. John Bradford, with Thomas Lever, priests, '(, idem. ii. 403.
4 NOTES OF LEVER'S LIFE AND WRITINGS.
DEC. 12. Second Sunday in Advent. Lever preaches the Third of
these sermons at Paul's Cross.
DEC. . This sermon he immediately publishes with a preface. 1551. APRIL. Sedburgh (Yorkshire) Grammar School refounded by a grant of the King in part the result of Lever's previous exposure of its spoliation : see/. 81. 1551. Lovvndes quotes the following work by Lever—
"A Meditation vpon the Lordes Prayer, made at Sayncte Mary Wolchurche, London. Anno MDLi. Lond. by lohn Daye. 161110."
1551. DEC. 10—1553, SEPT. 28. THOMAS LEVER, SEVENTH MASTER OF
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
1552. He takes his B.D.
1552. JULY 7. Roger Ascham writing to Sir W. Cecil from Villacho in Cariuthia : thus refers to the then Master of John's.
Mr Leaver wrote vnto me a ioyfull lettre of Mr. Cheeks most happie recouery, praying to god in his lettre that Eng land may be thankful! to god, for restoring soch a man agein to the King, and well prayed trewlie ; but I am thus firmelie perswaded, that god wist and wold we wold be thankfull and therfore bestowed this benefit vpon vs. Gods wroth, T trust, is satisfied in punishing diuers orders of the realme for their misorder, with taking away singular men from them, as Learnyng by Mr. Bncer, Counsell by Mr. Denny, nobilitieby the two yong Dukes, Courting by ientle Blage, S. Johns by good Eland. But if Lerning, Counsell, Nobilitie, Courte, Cambridge shold haue bene all punisshed at ones, by taking away m*. Cheke, then I wold haue thought our mischeef had bene so mochs as did crye to god for a general! plage, in tak ing away soch a general and onely man as mr. Cheeke is. — Lansdoivne MSS. 3, fol. i.
[1553.— Notwithstanding the pressures this and other colleges were under in point of maintenance, which Mr. Leaver complains of in his sermons, oc casioned by the courtiers' invading church preferments (that were intended as rewards of learning) by racking their tenants, formerly accustomed to easy rents whilst a great part of the lands of the nation were in the hands of the church, by their neglect of hospitality which ought to have been kept up, and by their want of charity which had formerly been maintained, yet the college flourished in learning, and what usually attends it, in the true re ligion. The reformation nowhere gained more ground or was more zealously maintained, than it did here under this master's example and the influence of his government, as appeared best in the day of trial, when he with twenty- four of his fellows, quitted their preferments to preserve their innocence. — T. Baker, B.D., Hist, of St. John's Coll, i. 132. Ed. by J. E. Mayor, 1869.]
1553. 3ulj) 6. fElnrn sucKcDe to the croton.
Lever and twenty-four Fellows resign and leave the country. Roger Ascham thus refers to this exodus in \i\sScholemaster: —
"Yea S. lohnes did then so florish, as Trinitie college, that Princelie house now, at the first erection, was but Colonia deducta out of iS". lohnes, not onelie for their Master, feilowes, and scholers, but also, which is more,
for their whole, both order of learning, and discipline of maners
6". lohnes stoode in this state, vntill those heuie tymes, and that greuous change that chanced. An. 1553. whan mo pertite scholers were dispersed from thence in one moneth, than manyyeares can reare vp againe." p. 135. Ed, 1870.
1554. JULY. John Knox in a ' Comparison betwixte England and luda be fore their destruction ' in his Godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London / Newcastle j Barwyke / &*c., thus writes
' That godly and feruent man mayster Lever / playnlye spake the desolation off thys common wealthe.'
NOTES OF LEVER'S LIFE AND WRITINGS. 5
1554. Bp. Ridley in his Piteous Lamentation on the state of the
Church of England, writes :— " As for Latimer, Leuer, Brad ford, and Knox, their tongues were so sharp, they ripped in so deep in their galled backs, to haue purged them no doubt of that filthy matter that was festered in their hearts, of in satiable couetousness, of filthy carnality and voluptuousness, of intolerable ambition and pride, of ungodly loathsomeness to hear poor men's causes, and to hear God's word, that these men of all other these magistrates then could neuer abide."
1554. OCT. 25. Lever writes from Zurich to Bradford : — " I have seen the
places, noted the doctrine and discipline, and talked with the learned men of Argentine, Basil, Zurich, Bern, Lausan, and Geneva ; and I have had experience in all these places of sin cere doctrine, godly order and doctrine and great learning, and especially of such virtuous learning, diligence, and charity, in Hullmger at Zurich, and in Calvin at Geneva, as doth much advance God's glory, unto the edifying of Christ's church, with the same religion for the which you be now in prison."— Writings of Bradford, it. 137. Ed. 1853.
1555. FEB. n. Bradford in his Farewell to Cambridge, dated "Out of
prison, ready to the stake, the nth of February, anno 1555 ; " writes:—
" Call to mind the threatenings of God now something seen by thy children. Lever and others. Let the exile of Lever, Pilkington, Grindal. Haddon, Home, Scory, Ponet, &c., something awake thee. Let the imprisonment of thy dear sons, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, move thee. Consider the martyrdom of thy chickens, Rogers, Saunders, Taylor : and no\v cast not asvay the poor admonition of me going to be burned also, and to receive the like crown of glory of my fel- lo\vs. ' -— Writing •;, t. 445. '^Ed. 1848.
1556. Lever in a preface dated 'at Geneva, 1556,' prints many copies of a
treatise Of the right way from Danger of Sinne, &*c. See 1571.
1558 Nofa. IT- Elnnbctrj begins to rctgn.
1559. APR. Lever marries a widow, who has three children already.
1560. Jfi.v 10. He speaks of the birth of a dan
Lever returns to England, soon after the Queen's accession, with more Puritan views than ever.
Sherburn Hospital was founded by Hugh de Pudsey [who became Bp. of Durham on 20 Dec. 1153, acquired by purchase Earl of Northumberland in 1190: d. 3 Mar. 1195 : act. 70,] about 1181, in the time of the great plague of lepro -y in Kit-land in the reign of Henry II., for the reception <>f sixty-five poor lepers, with a master and other officers to superintend the same. Great :;iplained of, Thomas Langley, another Bp. of Durham [bet. 17 May 1406 — 28 Nov. 1437] issued fresh ordinances on 22 July 1434, which infer alia directed that the future master should be in clerical orders.
It appears that the leprosy for the relief of those under which affliction tills li'.'-pital was founded was at that time almost eradicated, for I'.p. I .ring- is, that in the remembrance of the original foundation, two lepers should be received into the hospital, if they could be found, but to be kept the people admitted to the house. To those, thirteen I'le were to be added, to be provided with meat and drink of ten- iu<- every week, or tenpence of ready money at their own option, and have yearly the sum of 6s. 8d. for fuel and cloaths, and to i:
•iie house, and daily to attend mass. I'pon the death of a
mother poor man to be chosen by the master within fifteen days,
under the p /nally of paying a mark to the fabric of the church at Durham.
An old w i ter was to be provided at the master's expense,
to attend the brethren, wash their linui, and do other offices. The master
6 NOTES OF LEVER'S LIFE AND WRITINGS.
to have the care of all the goods and buildings of the hospital, and to take an oath for the due performance of all things stipulated by those ordinances.-- J. Hutchison's Hist, of Durham, ii. p/>. 589, 607. Rd. 1780.
1562. JAN. 28. Thomas Lever was born in Lancashire, collated to Sher-
burn hospital. Idem. p. 594.
1563. FEB. 2. Lever is made a Prebend of Durham Cathedral.
1567. Lever supplies A preface, shewing the true icndcrstanding of
God's word, and the right use of God's works and benefits, evi dent and easy to be seen in the exercise of these Meditations : and also A meditation on the Tenth Commandment to the edi tion of this year, of Godly Meditations, &*c. &c., made by John Bradford. [Reprinted in Townsend's Writings of Brad ford. Ed. 1848.]
1567. He is deprived of his Prebendship.
1568. FEB. 24. There is a characteristic letter of Lever's showing that he
was the same zealous and disinterested Reformer and Pro testant to the latter end of his life, as when he preached these Sermons.
Grace and peace in Christ. For that god hath placed you in authoritie and fauer with the Queues Maiestie, so as heretofore I and mani others haue bi your meanes had quietnes, libertie and comfort to preach the gospel) of Christ : therefore of Christian charitie, and bonden dutie must we daili prai, and vse all godli indeuor for the continuance of the same.
And so now as more willing then able to render due thankfulnes vnto god, the Quenes Maiestie and vnto your honors, I haue here noted summe such things as make mich to the subuersion, or presentation of godlie honor. Gen. 34. The Sichemites recciuing circumcision partli for voluptuousnes, and partli for couiteousnes were all vtterli destroied, w[h]ich is a terrible threatning to Englande : where as mani euen so farre receiue and refuse re- li:-,i'in, as seineth to be for pleasure or gaine worldli. And losu. 7. The annie of the Israelites polluted with the couiteous spoile of Achan cold n-jither vse sufficient power, nor a good policie against their and gods enni- raies, vntill that offence was confessed, and such corruption vterli abolished from ainorgc gods people : and then did god giue vnto his people the vse of power and policie, to preuaile against their ennimies. So England being polluted with mich couiteous spoile espec^alli of impropriations, grammer scoles and other prouision for the pore, can not vse power and policie to pre uaile against the ennimies of god and godli religion, if it sinke still into such corruption, as causeth more sclander, and danger daili to incresse vnto the cheife professers, and promoters of good religion.
And certenli the neccssari reuenues of the prince, the bishops, other estates, and the vniuersities, do as yet rather sinke into the corruption then stand vpon the profets, of improperations.
Wherefore in the vniuersilies, and els where no standing but sinking doth appere ; when as the office and lining of a minister shalbe taken from him, that once lawfulli admitted hath euer since diligentli preached, because he now refuseth prescription of man in apparrell : and the name, lining and office of a minister of gods worde, allowed vnto him that neither can nor will preach, except it be pro forma tantnm, to kepe gods commandments summe times per al'nnn, euer obseruing the prescription of man in wairing apparell and reding per se.
Also Ezcch. 14. When as bi plaines of the prophets notable idolatrie was reproued in Israeli, and at the same time the Elders of Israeli keprng their idols in their hartes. and setting their stombling blockes afore their faces, wold yet bi hearing the prophet and worde of god, seme to be godli : then such Elders and prophettes hearing and answaring, according to the vncleines of their o\vne hartes, were both iustli deceiued and destroied of god. Like wise now is notable papistrie in England and Scotland proued and pro claimed bi preaching of the gospell, to be idolatrie and treason, and how such idolatrie and treason is yet norrished in the hartes of mani god knoweth, and
NOTES OF LEVER'S LIFE AND WRITINGS. 7
how the old stombling stockes be sett openli of mani things in mani places, and especialli of the crucifix in England, and of the masse in Scotland afore the faces of the hieghest, is daili to be seen of idolators and traitors with re- ioiccmg and hoping of a dai; and of Christian faithfull obedient subiects with sorrow of harte and feare of the state.
And if in the ministre and ministers of gods worde, the sharpnes of salt bi doctrine, to mortitie affections, be reiected, and ceremonial seruice with flateri, to fede affections, rctoincd ; then doth Christ threaten such treding ruder fote, as no power or policie can withstand or abide. Further more
vnder Aliasm-ms. the moost faithfull people of god and obedient subiectes were then falseli accused to be breakers of the kings lawes, and so brought iito extreme dimmer and destresse. Then Ester the quene aduertised bi Nardochee what occasion god had offered vnto her to help his people, did take and vse the same occasion, vnto the moost comfortable deliverance of them, and the greattest incresse and stai of her honor and state.
Contrariwise Kzech. 29. l^gipt as a staf of rede failing breaking and hurt- i»g gods people, in their destresse leaning and trusting vnto it, did bi the iust ludgment <>f god loose honor and power, man and beast, and so was with dishonor brought to desolation.
The most godli and faithfull subiects be maini times worst suspected and r:porti:d. a;>d so brought into greatest destres>e and danger, that bi gods P'ouidence wonderfulli to gpds glorie thei inai be presented and prosper, scing their cnnimies and conterfeited frendes tried, and destroied by gods iust lodgements.
Now therefore mi praier vnto god, and writing to your honors is, that utthoritte in /•'.n^/ttini, and e-pecialli you mai for sincere religion refuse pleasure and gaine worldli, and not for \vorldli praise, profet or pleasure re- ;eme, refuse cr abuse religion corruptli : not to allowe ani such corruption amonge protestants, being gods seruants, as shold make papistes to ioie and hope for a <l;ii, being gods eimimies : but rather cause such abolishing of in ward papistric, and outward 'Monuments of the same as shold cause idola trous traitors to gretie, and faithfull subiects to lie glad : such casting forth of the vnsaueri ministre and miui-ters of gods \vonle as might make onli such as hie the sauerines of doctrine and edification to be allowed in that office, itch ministre onli mai preserue princes, and prestes and people from g and treading vnder fote : and so not deceiuing and leaning the godli in dcstto ••, t > p-ri.-^he with the vngodli thn.ugh vngodlines, but euer traueling to deliuer, defend, and help the .g ds prouidence and
prom; 1 from all danger, into continuance and in-
ili honor: which god for his metcies in Christ grant, vnto the tic. vnto you, and all other of her honorable counsell. Amen. Scriblet at S her born hou.^e liy l^iitvsinc the 24 of februarij. Hi yours at comandment faithfull in Christ
TIKC-
Addressed on ) To the right honorable Lord Robert Erie of Leicestrc and Sr
the btick ) William Cicell Knight and to either of them, at the Court.
I'.nd<>;-s,-,{ 24 Febr. 1568 Mr. Levor t<> my I, of L'/ux-s. and myself.
Adviscth yat ye refusing or receiving of religion may not depend vpon
Worldly respects. Lnnds. MS, n. Art. s.
1569. Nov. 14—1570. JAN. The rebellion in the North. It began at I'm ham. It must have been a dangerous time for such an ultra protestant a- i
1571. Lever i-sues a second edition of A treatise <\f tJic right way
fro;: inne and rv;/.;,w>/<v /;/ (At ride,
vnt<> •'• and .valuation in Christe : in the Epistle,
• which, In: Bi
"Of this matter did I wryte a lit I i agin C.eneua
in the time of Oueene Maries raignr, wlu-ii 1 was there by
din men mooued uid requ ited too cause il ton
bee printed : and so then with a lyttle 1'reface 1 dyd send
8 NOTES OF LEVER'S LIFE AND WRITINGS.
many of those Bookes so printed, intoo this Realme of Eng- lande.
And nowe finding none of those Bookes too be solde in anie place, but being of some desired too peruse one of them (which was founde in a freendes hande) and putte it too print ing agayn, with some admonition meete for this tyme, I haue written this Epistle or Preface. . . . "
1572. The revised and corrected edition of these Sermons is pub
lished.
1572. T. Baker, B D., in a folio commonplace book, now Harl. MS.
7048, has copied ' a long scroll, on several sheets, pasted to gether* and printed by Henrie Bynneman, for Humfrey Toy, 1572, but apparently never published : of what is virtually the Cambridge Calendar for that year. The number oi Scholars of all the degrees in the Universitie was then 1684. From this we quote the Daily exercises for Schollers by way of comparison to Lever's account in 1550, at pp. 121, 122. Euery worke daye throughout the whole yeare, in euery Col- ledge are celebrated Morning Prayers from five of the Clock untill sixe / at what time also some Common Place is ex pounded by one of ye Fellows in order after that he hath bene Master of Arte. That done from seven of the Clocke untill eight in all Colledges are plainly and distinctly taught and reade Logicke and Philosophic Lectures. From eight of the Clock vntill Eleven, ordinarie Lectures and publicke Disputations are exercised / and reade in the Common Schooles. p. 541.
1575. A third edition of The right way, &c., was issued : printed
by H. Bynneman.
At the end of it is (apparently reprinted) A meditation 1'ppon the Lordes prayer. A copy is in the British Museum.
1577. JULY. On a journey home to the hospital of Sherburn, (which he was permitted to retain on account of the scarcity of preachers, though deprived of his prebend for non-conformity) falling sick by the way, died at Ware the beginning of July 1577, his body was brought to and interred adjoining the south wall within the altar rails of the chapel of Sherburn hospital, under a blue marble stone, whereon is cut a cross flory with a bible and chalice, . . . and on a brass plate
THOMAS LEAVER PREACHER TO KING EDWARD THE SIXTE.
HE DIED IN IVLY 1577.
His brother Ralph succeeded him as Master, being collated on 16 July 1577. — Hntchinson, Hist, of DurJiam, ii. 589. Thomas Baker calls Lever ' one of the best masters as well as one of the
best men the college [of St. John's, Cambridge] ever bred.'
INTRODUCTION.
Hwithftanding all that has been faid and written ; the Story of the Englifh Reformation has by no means been fully and exactly recovered. It was the ftrangeft and greateft Change that had occurred in England, fmce fhe had abandoned Pagan ifm. There happened alfo to come at the fame time, a mofl trying Social Progrefs ; which was quite diftincl: from it, which was greatly mifunderftood at the time, and which has fmce been fometimes confounded with it.
The Reformation was fome twenty-five years old, when thefe Sermons were uttered. Inftrumentally, it had been the work of many Scholars, of fome of the Town Clergy, Monks, &c., of Merchants and the like, and of the Lollards among the lower claffes. It began before Henry courted Anne Boleyn, and would have certainly come to pafs had he or fhe died in Wolfey's life time : but the Divorce Queftion became for ever mixed up with the change of Faith and \\orfhip among the people of England.
The Reformation — as in the cafe of the firfl foundation of Chrif- tianity, as indeed of neceffity mufl be the cafe of the eftablifh- ment of any religion upon earth— began with a few. Thefe fearchers after Truth and Holinefs went on leavening the people. The Reformers and the Reformed had been"and were even now far outnumbered by the Inland Catholic population : the country Clergy, Gentry, Farmers, and Labourers. It was a long con flict between the Government and the more active Intelligence of the Minority in the Nation, refiding in Univerfity and fouthern cities: and the Confervatifm of a Majority living in purely agri cultural diftri<5ts and in the remoter northern towns.
The procefs of the Reformation was moft difficult to the un lettered people. All that was concrete in a gorgeous ceremonial and worfliip was replaced by the fiinple enunciation of prin ciples of life and conduct, and their application to all conditions of fociety. The Mafs and the Proccffion were fucceeded by the long Sermon, which even now fends fome of its hearers into a quiet fleep, and which Lifted three or four hours, as Latimer intended his Sermon in this fame Lent to have done. \Yh:U had, for ages palt, been confidcred as unerring authority in all matters towards Cod, had now been indignantly abandoned as a prepoflerous fraud. Roods, fhrines, and other vehicles of adoring wurfhip alfo became a mock and bye-word. To crown all ; in place of the comfort and certainly of a pre- tentioully infallible fyftem could only be offered inducements to incel'lant llriving after that which is True, Right, and Pure. The Reloimaii.in in leading the people to a higher life, impofed upon them the- arduous toil of the afcent.
\Yhnt then was the tafk of the Reformers: firfl in unlearning and in learning themfelves ; then in teaching, under all conceiv-
i o Introduction.
able oppofition, the people. The firft Reformers engaged againft enormous odds. They faced a Hierarchy that could, by power of Law, finite down its antagonifls even unto death. So that rnoft of the Reformers came to be judicially murdered for their opinions : and then, by a ftrange change of fate, fome of their Judges followed them in differing like cruel injuftice.
Such furvivors of this firft Band, as efcaped the block and the (lake, re-appeared in public life, like Latimer and Coverdale, foon after the acceffion of Edward VI. : and then regained more than their prifline influence with the Reformed.
With tiiefe, joined a fecond race of Reformers, their fpiritual children, fuch as Lever, Bradford, Knox, and others. The Lent of 1550, witneffed Latimer preaching his laft Sermon at Court, his Ultimum Vale to Edward VI., and Lever's firft addrefs to the King and Nation. One generation was therein overlapping the fecoii'l.
II. The Reformation found England fettling down from the long anarchy of the Wars of the Rofes. From the beginning of the century there had been a general Rife in Prices: fometimes a factitious and paffing one, by Speculators (Foreflallers or Re- grators as they were then called) rigging the market ; but alfo through the increafing wealth of the country. This had nothing effentially to do with the Reformation. It was not the cafe in Germany and Switzerland at the time. It was the recovery of this country from the Civil Wars.
But this enrichment was not general. The rich became richer, and the poor more dcftitute. There were few to take the part of the poor, but the Preachers. As we liften to Lever we are often reminded of our prefent Newfpapers. The Pulpit then did the work of our Platform, and the Prefs as well. So thefe Sermons, dealing with troubles and abufes all round, are a per fect revelation to us of thofe times. The current events, and what is flill more valuable, the general talk and imprefhon of the Court and the City in 1550; photographed in them, conftitute them moil valuable records of the domeftic hiftory of England in that year : while the fuperlative moral bravery of the preacher that could fpeak fuch home truths fo plainly to the King, the Counfell, and that quick and high-fpirited People, cannot but win our admiration of the man.
It is impoffible here even to touch upon every fraud attacked by the Preacher: but two chief points may be confidered, byway of preparation to the Sermons themfelves.
INCLOSURES. — Wool was and had long been the staple pro duct of England. The rife in the Price of Wool was depopulat ing the country, defpite all ordinances and ftatutes whatfoever. Sir T. Moore, in his Latin Utopia, thus protefts, in the perfon
Introduflion. 1 1
of Raphael Hythlodaye, againfl the rapacity of landlords of all forts anterior to 1516.
But yet this is not only the necessary cause of stealing. There is an other, whych, as 1 suppose, is p[ro]per and peculiar hshmen alone.
What is that, quod the Cardinal ? forsoth my lorde (quod I) your shepe that were wont to be so meke and tame, and so smal eaters, now, as I he-are save, be become so .trrcat d^uowerers and so wy'de, that they eate vp, and swallow downe the very men them selfes. They consume, destroye, and deuoure whole fieldes, howses, and cities. For lookc in what partes of the realme
we the fynest, and therfore dearest woll, there noble i. gentlemen : yea and certeyn Abbottes, holy men no doubt, not contenting them selfes with the yearly reuenues and profytes, that were wont to grow to theyr forefathers and predecessonrs of their landes. nor beynge content that tliey Hue in rest and pleasure nothin^e pmi";. ,'-h noyinge the
weale publique : leaue no grounde for tillage, thei inclose al into ; thei throw doune houses: they plucke downe townes, and leant: nothing ; e, but only the churche to be made a shepehowse. And a .
iid small quantity of grounde by forestes, chases, lain
parkes, those <„• \\ turne all dwellinge places and all that glebe-
land into desolation and wildernes. Therfore that on couetous ai: able cormaraunte and very plage of his natyue contrey maye < aboute and inclose many thousand akers of grounde hin or.e
pale or hed^e, the husbandmen be thrust owte of their owne, or els either by coueyne and frande. or by violent oppression they be i it, or by
and ir.iuries thei be so weried, that they be compelled t" :eanes therfore or by other, either by hooke or crooke they muste needes departe awaye, poore, i.edsoules, men, w<
wines, fatlierlesse children, widowes, wofull mothers, with the and their whole houshold smal in substance, and muche in ninubi bandrye re(]uireth nianye handes. Awaye thei trudge, I say, out of their knowen and a< uses, fyndynge no place to reste in. All their
housholdestuffe, whiche is verye little woorthe, thoughe it n. the sale : yet beexn-e sodainely thruste oute, tlu-y be con>trayned to sell it for a thing of nought. And when they hatie wandered abrode tyll that be spent, what can they then els doo butsteale, and then Justly pardy DC 1 \\'f,. And yet then also they be caste in
- rke n«t : whom no man v.
workc, though thei neuer so willyn.L;ly j'.rofrr t For one
Shephearde or Heardman is ynoughe to eate vp thai grounde with cattel, to
: aboute hi. iiye handes were ;
And (hi i.-.e why victualles be now in many places dean r. Yea,
't " wnllc is so rysen. I ilces, which v.
: • cloth therof, be DOWC hal ie at all. And
by thys ; u.anye be forced to for ake \\orke, and to gene them
.
an iiifmite multitude of shepe dyed of the rotte, sin he \> toke of tip ir inordinate and vnsariable . a:;e the
shepe tl; i morrein, whiche much more iustely shoi:'
And though the number of shepe
•, yet the price f.dleth not one myte, because there be they be almooste all coinen into a fewe rich-
i\:th to sell before they h: ' iu>,te not
bjfore they maye sell as deare as they luste." />/>. 40-4-. I'.d. 1869.
Mvcr In ice Mn(.rc wrote, tlie (late of things of which he thus complains had eoiiiimu-il to incrcafc rather than diminifh.
The Rev. F. W. KuilVll in his Kelt's Rebellion in •Norfolk, I'M. 1^51), 4t«, tells u.s that "at this time, the arable land of any village or townihip, known as 'the field' — a name flill in common ufe— was fubdivided by ridges called ' bawlkes ' into
1 2 Introduction.
'lands' belonging to the different proprietors, who cultivated them and took the produce: but when ' the corne was inned and harueft don,' then all had right of common over the whole. Juft prior to Kelt's rebellion, the practice began to be generally adopted by thofe who had two or more lying together, to enclofe thefe ' lands' as well as others, viz., the wafte lands of the manor, that ought to be common, and it was againft fuch enclofures that the efforts of Kett and his affociates were efpecially directed."
A Commiffion to redrefs Enclofures was iffued by King Edward's Counfell on 2 June 1548. In a fpeech of one of the Commiffioners, Mr. John Hales, preferved by Strype, we have the following official definition : —
But first, to declare unto you what is meant by this word inclosures. It is not taken where a man doth enclose and hedge in his own proper ground, where no man hath commons. For such inclosure where no man hath com mons. For such inclosure is very beneficial to the commonwealth ; it is a cause of great increase of wood, but it is meant therby, when any man hath taken away and enclosed any other mens commons, or hath pulled down houses of husbandry, and converted the lands from tillage to pasture. This is the mean ing of the word, and we pray you to remember it.
To defeat these statuts, as we be informed, some have not pulled down their houses, but maintain them; howbeit no person dwelleth therin ; or if there be, it is but a shepheard or a milkmaid, and convert the lands from tillage to pasture : and some about one hundred acres of ground, or more or less, make a furrow, and sow that ; and the rest they till not, but pasture their sheep. And some take the lands from their houses, and occupy them in husbandry ; but let the houses out to beggars and old poor people. Some, to colour the multitude of their sheep, father them on their children, kinsfolks, and ser vants. A:l which be but only crafts and subtilties to defraud the laws, such as no good man will use, but rather abhor.— Eccles. Mem. n. //. 361. Ed. 1822.
Such was one form of the ftruggle for the poffeffion of the land of the country, on account of its increafing value. Another form of this covetoufnefs (and can we wonder at Latimer and Lever denouncing covetoufnefs fo much !) confided in
IMPROPRIATIONS OFECCLESIASTICALBENEFICES; which were the poffeffion of their revenues by corporations, non-refident clergy, or laymen ; and the delegation of the fpiritual duties of the benefice to a Curate : and of the temporal duties (collecting the tithes, keeping up hofpitality, and the like) unto a Farmer. This abufe alfo exifted long before the Reformation.
Sir Francis Bygod [? of Mogreve Caflle in Blakemore], who on a fudden joined, and by joining, ruined 77ie Pilgrimage of Grace, in January 1537 : f°r which he was hanged at Tyburn in the June following. Froude \_HiJl. of England, Hi. 193. Ed. 1858] wrote a ftrange tract entitled A Treatife concernynge im- propriations of benefices, printed j,by T. Godfrey, without date: but certainly after the birth of the Princefs Elizabeth (7 Sept. 1533) and before the fuppreffion of the leffer Monafteries (with lefs than £200 [ =£3000 now] a year) in March 1536; fay therefore about 1534.
In this farrago of creeds, Bygod calls Henry the 'fupreme
Introduction. 13
bed,' the Pope the 'gret draffacke of Rome,' approves 'of the preaching of the Gofpel,' and yet talks of the ' bleffed Mafs.' Notwithflanding all this, Bygod — apparently then a ' Six Articles' man— could write to good purpofe on his griev ance.
But me thynketh I here you whysper that ye be no mtirtherers / theues/ pykers / sacrylegans / nor yet none of all this geare / No ar nat ? Well / than I se well we must haue more to do with you. For as moche as ye denye the cryme layde vnto your charge. You shall vnderstande that good and vertuouse men before our dnyes / whiche loued the wyll of god / whiche loued his holy pleasure / whiche regarded his commaundement / whose medyta- tyons and studye both day and nighte was / to set forth his glorie / to auaunce his blessed worde / and to maynteine the ministers of the same / dyd (no dout of it) with the consent of higher powers of kynges and of princes / and of their most honourable counsels / folowynge (in this behalfe) the olde lawe / for the most easyest waye and spedyest prouisyon / appoynt / assygne and ordeyne (for the same ministers to be maynteyned) decymations or tythes / wyllynge and myndynge by this good prouisyon / that within euery congregation or parysshe / the minister of goddes worde there / shulde be sure at all tymes of a lyuynge raysed and gathered of these sayde decyma tions / and therein to haue added a certayne name / callynge it a benefyce / personage or vycarage / and lyke wyse turnynge the name of a minister or curate / to the name of a persone or vycare, Furthermore orderynge that one man shall haue authoritie / as patrone / to name this parsone / and so to giue this same benefyce : albe[i]t /peraduenture that other in the sameparyshe gyue as moche to the annuall lyuynge of the parsone as the patrone doth. Besydes this / they ordeyned him a mantion to dwel in among them / to th[e]entente that for his dilygente administration / he shulde haue euery thinge necessarye for him within his owne gouernance : yea / and haue it brought euen home vnto him / to dyspose at his pleasure / as it shall be most expedyent and necessary for him / that the more quyetly he mighte studye and apply him selfe to minister vnto them the pure worde of god / and to be euer redy at hande to en- slructe them of all thinges necessarye for ye helth of their smiles / and to be their trewe watchman and shepherde to take them from the rauysshynge wolfe / and lyke a good trew herdesman / a pastoure to go afore them in spirytuall and vertumise conuersation : and euer whan they be scabbed to anoynte them gentely with the softe and swete salue of goddes worde / all rancoure and stryfe layde a parte. Nowe my maisters impropriated or im proper maisters howe saye ye by youre fathers / haue nat you with your crafty collusyon / almooste throughe Englande / dystroyed these holy and godly prouysons / made for the mayntenance of goddes holy word / and for th[e]administratyon of this most blessed sacramentes / for the helth / welth / and saluatyon of mans soule / for the vpholdynge of the trewe and catholyque fayth / for the supportacyon of vertue / and dystruction of vyce. Have nat ymi (I saye) by the glykynge and gleynyng / snatchynge and scratchinge / tatchynge and patchynge / scrapinge and rakynge togyther of almost all the fatte benefyces within this lealineandimpropriatyn.ye them vnto youre seines / distroycd this most godlye and holy prouision / bereyued the peple of ye worde of god / of ye trew knowlege of ye blessed sacramentes / of their trew beleue and faith in god the father / and the blode of lesu Christ. For howe can the people haue any faith in god withoute preachiniire '! 11 owe shulde they haue any preachynge whan ye haue robbed them of their ministers '( How shulde the minister* seme them whan ye haue robbed them of theire lyuynge? If the peple haue no faith how can they haue charyte ? If they haue no charytie / what merueyle is it / if they ronne hedlonge and be caryed from one vyce to another / from one mischefe to another ? Be nat ye th[e] occasion of all this? Who is elles I praye you? Haue nat ye the impropriations ? Be the impropriacyonsi any thinge els sauynge benefyces as parsonages / and such lyke ? Do we not say such an abbot is parsone here / suche a priour is parsone here ? yea / suche a prioresse is parsone here ?
1 4 Introduction.
After dealing with the objection 'We haue teachingeinongh /and that there is neuer the lesse preachynge for yon; ' Bygod thus goes on.
But nowe ye wyll obiecte that no ordynaunce of god is broken / hindered / or
prohibytedonyour behalfein this mater. For thoughe thebenefyce be impropri-
ate to a monster / I wolde saye to a monasterye / yet th[e]abbot or prionre ap-
poynteth a monke or chanon to be the minister / and to preche the worde of
god to the parysshe / who shall tarye and abyde amonge his parysshoners /
and haue oute of the same benefyce a suftycyente lyuynge / and the reste
thereof to come home to th[e]abbot and his hretherne : and this is no break-
lyn.umce / but rather a turnynge of it to a better vse.
:vnto 1 aus\vere / that where any such vicare or minyster is instytiited
of his abbot or priour / and trewly laboureth in th[e]administration of goddes
worde / it is nat one'.y well done to gyue him a suffycyent lyuynge out of the
same benefyce / but also he were wel worthy to haue it euerywhitte / and as
for the rest that haboundeth / let him kepe hospytalyte / as Paule com-
ma-.indeth / or of necessytie wylleth him to do / and I saye/ there shall but
lytell remayne to sende home to th[e]abbot / and if he do nat kepe hospy-
t dyte of the rest / then is he a thefe and thfejabbot another / for the rest is
>re indygentes. But howe faythfull and dilygent suche men be so in-
stytuted by abbotes and priours to preache the worde of god / and howe sore
j thervvith charged by their heedes. I thynke though I wolde cloke
it / yet th[e]effecte wyl nat suffre it. Yet / 1 beleue rather that they ben the
;o persecutors of goddes worde / rather than the furtherers therof. . . .
r.ut n.>we these men beynge neuer without excuses / may peraduenture th'r.ike this to be a good answere f T me. We praye for tlie soules of them that haue improperated such benefyces vnto vs / and synge masse and diryge for them / and set vp tapers for them to burne both daye and night. Where- vnto fyrst I say / that ii" a man demaunded of you an accompte to be gyuen of youre so doynge / askynge you who taught you to apply ye blessed masse that wave / with the psalmes and lessons in the diryge conteyned / and de- syred you to shew scripture for it. I thynke peraduenture that ye might come short home of a wyse answere / which if ye can make / I thinke ther is no man but he wyl be wel content ther with. . . .
Some men that fauoure these newe founde sectes / wyll peraduenture say : Well / yet it is better these monkes / chanons / and suche lyke haue the im- propriatyons (whiche though they preche nat / yet they kepe some hospi- talyte) rather than the seculer priestes shulde haue them / as they haue had before / which kepe no hospitalytie nor preche nother. To this it is easy to answere : That it is not mete that any man what s.ieuer he be / shuld receyue the benefyte or frute of a precher / onles he do his duty therfore
Is it nat great pitye to se a man to hane thre or foure benefyces : yea per aduenture halfe a score or a dosyn / which he neuer c*ometh at / but setteth in euery one of them a syr' lohn lacke laten / that can scarce rede his por- teus / orels suche a rauenynge wolfe as canne do nothynge but deuoure the sely shepe with hi> false dootryne / and sucke their substannce from them. Lorde / if it be thy pleasure / ones haue mercye vpon vs / and gyue grace that we may haue some remedye founde for thys myschiefe / bothe of im- propriatyons / and also of them that minister not the worde of god faythfully v;> m their benefyces : as they ought to do : for I haue k o\ven suche / that whan thev hauen'rydden by a benefyce wherof they haue ben persone / they coulde natte tell that it was their benefyce. This is a wonderful! blyndnesse.
We have not fpace here to illuflrate the great fiafco of the Suppreflion of the Monafteries, the decay of the Univerfities, the upriung of the lower claffes again ft the Nobility and Gentry, the utter deflitution of the poor, the pluralities of benefices, the gen eral covetoufnefs, and the other crying abufes denounced in thefe Sermons. Mod of the complaints of that time have been ably collected by Mr. F. ]. Furnivall, in his Ballads from MSS. Vol. I. Ed. 1868, to which we must refer our readers.
1 The customary title of respect at this time for priests, as Esquire is now for the laity.
Introduction. 1 5
The beft fetting we can put to thefe difcourfes are the follow ing brief extracts from Stowe, of the commotions of the two years 1549 and 1550 —
1549. MAY. By meanes of a proclamation for inclosures, the commons of Somerset.-hire and Lincolnshire made a commotion, and brake vp certain parks of Sir IV. Herberts, and Lord Sturtons, but sir W. Herbert slewe and executed many of those rebels.
JULY. The commons of Kssex and Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk, rose against inclosures, and pulled down diners parks and houses.
Also the commons of Cornewall and Deuoushire rose against the nobles and gentlemen, and required not onely that the inclosures might bee dis- parked, but also to haue their old religion, and act of sixe articles restored : these besieged the citie of Excester, which was valiantlie defended. Against these rebels was sent John L[ordJ. Russell Lord priuy >cale, with a number of souldiers, who entered the city of Excester the 5 of AUGUST, where they slew and took prisoners of the rebels more than 4000. and after hanged diuers of them in the towne and country about. The L[ord]. Gray was also sent with a number of strangers, Almaine and Germaine horsemen, who in diuers con- fiicts slewe manie people, and spoiled the country.
31 JULY. William, L|ord]. marques of Northampton, entred the city of Norwich, and on the next morning, the rebels also entred the towne, burned parte thereof, put the L[ordJ marques to flight, and slew the L[ordJ Shef field.
22 JULY. In this meane time diuers persons were apprehended as aiders of of the foresaid rebels or reporters of their doinges, of the which one was the Bailife of Romford in Essex, hanged within Aldgate, and an other of Kent, at the bridge foot toward Southwark, both on Mary blagdaleus day by inarti ill law.
8 AUG. The French Ambassador did in name of his maister the Ffrench] King, made defiance vnto the King of England, and so the war began.
In the beginning of AUGUST the French [suddenly attempted Guernsey and Jersey, but were repulsed with the loss of a thousand men.]
The 16 of AUG., a man was hanged without Bishopsgate of London, and one other without Aldgate, the third at Totenham, the fourth at Waltham, and so forth in diuers other places, all by martial! law.
The rebels in Norfolke and Suffolke encamped themselues at mount Surrey, in a wood called S. Nicholas wood, neere vnto Norwich, against whom sir lolin Dudley carle of Warwike went with an army, where bothe he and a great number of gentlemen meeting with the rebels were in such daunger, as they had thought all to haue died in that place, but God that confoundcth the purpose of all rebels, brought it so to passe, that aswcl there as in all other places, they were partly by power constrained, partly by promise of their pardon, perswaded to submit themselues to their prince : the earle of Warwike entred the city of Norwich the 27 of AUGUST, when he had slaine jiboue 5000. of the rebels, and taken their chief captaine Robert Ket of Wiiidham [WymondbaiD] tanner, which might depend in lands fifty pound now] by yeere, and was worth MI moueables aboue a thousand
inarkes, [^666 — say ;£ 10,000 now]. When he had put to execution diuers of the rebells in diuers place-, about Norwich, he returned.
The 28 of AUG. tidings was brought to K[ing] Edward and the lord pro tector, that the French men had taken lilacknes, Hamiltew and Newhauen by I'.oleinc, and had slaine all the Englishmen, and taken the kings ordi nance and victuals.
About this time also, a commotion began at Semer in the north-riding of Yorke-shire, and continued in the east-riding, and there ended : the } nnapall raysers whereof were ll'illiain O»ii-l,-r of east He-tnion yeomen, li.omas I hi If parish clearke ol'l" Seiner, and A'AT'/V/.WW of Semer : bring preuented by the lord president from rising at Wintringham, they drew to a place at r by the sea coa^t, ami there by night rode to the beacon at Staxton, and set it on tire, and so gathered a rude route ; then they went to master
1 6 Introduction.
Whites house, and tooke him, and Clapton his \viues brother, Sauage a merchant of Yorke, and Bery seruant to sir Walter Mild may, which foure they murthered a mile from Seiner and there lefte them naked: their number increased to 3000.
On 21 AUG. the kings pardon was offered, which Ombler and other re fused, who were shortly after taken, and brought to York, where Thomas Dale and other were executed the 21 of SEPTEMBER.
[6-14 Oct. The coup d'etat of the Earl of Warwick aided by some of the counsel! and the Londoners ; ending in the deposition of the Duke of Somerset as Lord Protector.]
14 OCT. The Duke of Somerset brought from Windsor and put in the Tower.
29 Nov. Robert Ket was hanged in chaines on the top of Norwich castle, and William Ket likewise hanged on the top of Windham [Wymondham] steeple.
Nov.-DEC. The Scots tooke Burticrage in Scotland, and other holds then possessed by Englishmen, where the Scots slue man, woman, and childe, ex cept Sir lohn Lutterell the captaiae, whome they took prisoner.
,1550. 27 JAN. Humfrey Anmdell esquire, Thomas Holmes, Win slowe and Bery, captaines of the rebels in Deuonshire, were hanged and quartered at Tyborne.
2 FEB. Candlemas Day ; also Septuagesima Sunday.
(1) ICtiontas ILebcr's Sermon in tlje Shrautis of 5>t. Rani's.
(2) The Duke of Somerset makes his Submission in the Tower.
(3) The Lords of the Counsell are changed, Warwick's faction coming
into office 6 FEB. The Duke of Somerset delivered out of the Tower.
10 FEB. One Bel a Suffolke man, was hanged and quartered at Tyborne, for mouing a new rebellion in Suffolk and Essex.
16 MAR. Mid-Lent Sunday. ^Thomas ILefarr's Sermon before the Htng.
31 MAK. Peace proclaimed between England and France.
8 APR. The Duke of Somerset came to court at Grenewich and was sworn of the Privy Counsell.
2 MAY. Joan of Kent was brent in Smithfield for heresie.
14 MAY. Ric. Lion. Goddard Gorran, and Ric. Ireland were executed for attempting a newe rebellion in Kent.
Trinity Terme (n JUNE — 2 JULY) was adiorned till Michaelmas, for that the gentlemen should keepe the commons from commotion.
11 JUNE. At night the high Altar in Paules Church was pulled down, and a Table set where the altar stoode, with a Vayle drawne beneath the Steppes, and on the Sundaie next [15 June] a Communion was sung at the same Table, and shortly after all the altars in London were taken downe, and Tables placed in their room.
14 DEC. Second Sunday after Advent. ^Thomas letter's Sermon at ^aula dross.
All thefe evils were by many charged to the Change of Faith. Hence the energy of the Preachers to rebut the flander, by expof- ing their true and many caufes. The political economy of that time — faulty as we now fee it to be — was bafed upon the prin ciple of difinterefted fervice for the common good. Men were urged not by their felf-intereft, but by the dread and love of God, to do their duty to each other and the State. Among all thofe preachers none more bravely fought the battle of the loyal poor ; none more vigoroufly, even to perfonal hazard and danger, ex- pofed the cruelty, covetoufnefs, and craft of the rich and the clergy than Thomas Lever, the Cambridge Fellow, and the Boanerges of the Reformation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Lever's printed Sermons were very popular when first published. No less than five editions of the three discourses were published in 1550 : viz., two of the Sermon in the Shrouds, two of that before the King, and one of that at Paul's Cross.
Twenty-two years later, they were revised by Lever, and published to gether, under a fresh title. Since then, they have not been printed until the present edition.
One reason for this has been the excessive scarcity of copies of all these first Editions. They were soon thumbed out of existence, like the Author's Right ivay frotn the daungcr of sinne, &*c. printed at Geneva in 1556, which had all but perished by 1571 : and after his death they were virtually lost in oblivion.
It may be useful therefore to quote their titles and colophons : and to dis tinguish the present possessors of copies, so far as I know.
ISSUES IN THE AUTHOR'S LIFETIME.
I. — As separate publications.
Sermon tn tfye Sfjrouos of St. Caul's.
Septuagesima Sunday, 2 Feb. 1550. . '. A dated and an undated edition.
1. TITLE. A fruitfull Sermon made in Poules churche at London in the
Shroudes, the seconde daye of Febuari by Thomas Leuer. Anno M. D. and fiftie.
COL. C Imprinted at London by lohn Daie, dwelling ouer Aldersgate, and William Seres, dwelling in Peter Colledge (.'.) Cum priuilegio ad i»i/»'i»ii'iittn»i solutn. H. PYNE.
2. 1550. APR. 9. TITLE: as at/. 19.
COL.: as at/. 52. H. PyNE (wants title); BODLEIAN.
.Sermon before Etna; !5ofoarti F5.
Mid-Lent Sunday, 16 March 1550. . . '. A dated and an undated edition.
3. 1550. APR. 9. TITLE, as at/. 53.
COL. : as at /. 90. H. PYNE (T. Baker's copy) ; BOD LEIAN.
4. 1550. TITLE. A Sermon preached the thyrd Sondaye in Lente before
the Kynges^Maiestie, and his honorable Counsell, by Thomas Leauer. Anno Domini. M.ccccc.l. * .'. *
COL. C! Imprynted at London by Ihon Day dwcllinge ouer Aldersgate, beneth saint Marty us. And are to be sold at his shop by the litle conduit in Chepesyde at the sygne of the :i rection. Cum priuilegio ad iinprimcndiitn solunt. Per septcnnium. H. PYNE.
There is a misprint in most of the title-pages. These copies have ' the thyrd Sonday in Lent,' but the text is the same. Lever took his text from ' the gospell of this day, written in the. vi. of lohan," sec /. 58. This fixes
B
i8 BIBLIOGRAPHY.
the particular Sunday with absolute certainty, for in Edward VI. 's first Prayer-Book, which came into use on the Feast of Pentecost (9 June) 1549, as in our present version of it, the Miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand is the Gospell for the fourth Sunday in Lent, which fell in 1550, on i6th of March. Lever also puts the true date in the revised edition of 1572. See below.
.'. There is no authority for the above order, as regards the'undated im pressions. It will be seen that 1, 2 and 3 are printed by Day and Seres jointly : and 4 by Day alone.
Sermon at Caul's (Eross.
Second Sunday in Advent, 14 December 1550.
5. 1550. TITLE, as at/. 91.
COL., as at/. 144. BODLEIAN.
II.— Collected together.
6. 1572. FIRST TITLE. f[ Three fruitfull Sermons, made by Thomas Leuer.
Anno domini. 1550. 51 And now newlie perused by the aucthour. London. Imprinted by I. Kytigston, for Henry Kirckhan'.. 1572.
TITLE TO SECOND SERMON. A Sermon preached the iiii. Sondaie in Lente, before the kynges Maiestie and his honorable Counsaile, by Thomas Leuer. Anno Domini. 1550.
TITLE TO THIRD SERMON. A Sermon preached at Paules crosse the xiiii. daie of December, by Thomas Leuer. Anno Domini J55o.
COL., as at/. 144.
LAMBETH LIBRARY: ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, (See Rev. C. H. Hartshorne's Book Rarities of the Uni versity of Cambridge, p. 443. Ed. 1829.)
.'. The principal variations of this edition are shown within [ ], words omitted in it that are in the earlier impressions are asterisked *. One cha racteristic of the revision is the prefix of Saint to the Apostles' names.
ISSUES SINCE THE AUTHOR'S DEATH.
I.— Collected together. 1870. Nov. 15. 8vo. English Reprints: see title at/, i.
.'. Cordial thanks are due to Mr. Pyne, (who first pointed out to me the mportance of these Sermons,) for the loan, — out of his splendid collection of English Books, before 1600 A.D., -of his copies of them ; and to the Hon. Librarian of Lambeth Library, for permission to collate the 1572 edition.
fruit- fun Sermon
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Od be merciful unto vs.
Good Chriflen people Chrifle lefu the fonne of God, the wyfedome of the father, the fauiour of the worlde, whyche hath redemed vs with his precious bloud moft piti fully lamentyng our myferies, and earnefllye threateninge our wylfull blyndnes, cryeth oute by the voyce of the wyfe king Salomon, faying: Qida uocam, et remiiftis. et cete. Prone, i. 2 Becaufe I haue called (fayeth the wyfedome of God) and ye haue denyed, I haue ftretched forth my hand, and there was none that woulde beholde : yea ye haue difpifed all my conn eels, and [al] my rebukes haue ye not regarded, I therfore fhall laugh at your deilruccion, and I mal mocke, when it is come vpon you whiche ye haue feared. Affuredlye good people, God, Qui mortem non fecit, nee fatatur in perdicione iiiromm? God whiche (as the boke of wifedome fayth) made not death, ne dothe not delyghte in the perdicion of manne, cannot be of fuche affection, as to delyghte in laughynge or mockyng our miferies : but euen as that man whyche dothe delyghte to laughe at other mens griefes, is a man moil farre of from lament) nge and pytyinge them to do them good : fo is God fo fore offended and dyfpleafed wyth them that difpyfe hys counfclles, threatning or promifes, while they might haue mercy, that he wyll as it were rather of mockyng, laughe and fkorne, then of pitye lamente and help their miferable wretched griefes, when as they would haue conforte. Se therfore howe mercyfully God hath called by the fayinges and wrytinges of Moyfes, the Prophetes, and the Apoflles, and howe fewe haue
1 in the Shroudes in London. 1572. 2 Prov. :'. 24.
^ Wis. of Solomon, j. 13.
22 & Sermon matie
barkened to beleue. Se how wonderfully God hath ftretched forth hys hande, in creatynge heauen and earthe, and all thynges in them conteyned, to the vfe, commoditie, and conforte to man : and how fewe do dayly behold thefe creatures, to be thankefull vnto the creatoure. Se howe muche good counfell and earnefte threatenynge God hath geuen of late vnto Englande, by fettynge forth of his worde in the englylhe tonge, caufynge it to be read dayly in ye churches, to be preached purely in the pulpites, and to be rehearfcd euery where in communicacion, and how many con tinuing, yea increafynge their wycked lyues, regarde not gods worde, dyfpife his threateninges, defyre not his mercye, feare not his vengeance.
Wythoute doute good people verye manye haue de- ferued the vengeaunce of God, and yet by repentaunce founde plentye of mercye : but neuer none that euer refufed the mercye of God hath efcaped the venge aunce of God in the time of hys wrathe, and furye.
Yea but what mercyes of God haue we refufed, or what threatenynge of God haue we here in Eng land not regarded : whyche haue forfaken the Pope, abolyfhed idolatrye and fuperfticion, receyued goddes worde fo gladly, reformed all thynges accordinglye therto fo fpedily, and haue all thinges mofl nere the order of the primitiue churche vniuerfallye ? Alas good brethren, as trulye as al is notgolde that glyftereth, fo is it not vertue and honefly, but very vice and hipo- crifie, wherof England at this day dothe mofle glorye. Wherfore the worde is playne, and the fayinges be terryble, by the whyche at thys tyrce God threateneth to punyfhe, to plage, and to deftroy England. It is a wonderous playne worde to faye that Englande mail be deflroyed : and vpon thys worde enfuinge, it mould be a terrible fight to fe hundred thoufandes of Scottes, Frenche inenne, Papifls, and Turkes, entryng in on euery fyde, to murther, fpoyle, and to deflroye. Thys playne worde of a credyble perfon fpoken, wyth thys terrible feyng afore our eyes in fight [our iyes in pre-
in t&e Jb&routie* in ^onleg. 23
fence,] woldraake cure corage to fall, and oure hertes to ryue in peces, for wofull forowe, feare, and heauinefle.
Alas England, God, whom thou mayefl beleue for his truthe, hathe fayd playnly thou fhalt be deflroyed, and all thyne ennemyes, bothe Scots, Frenchmen, Papifles, and Turkes, I do not meane the men in whome is fome mercye, but the moil cruell vices of thefe thy enemyes beynge wythout all pitie, as the couetoufenes of Scotland, the pryde of Fraunce, the hipocryfy of Rome, and the Idolatrye of the Turkes. A hundred thoufande of thefe enemies are landed at thy h.iuens, haue entred thy fortes, and do precede to fpoyle, murther, and vtterly deflroy : and yet, for all this thou wretched Englande beleueft not gods worde, regarded not hys threatninge, calleft not for mercye, ne fearefle not gods vengeaunce. \Vherfore God beinge true of hys word, and righteous in hys dedes, thou Englande whyche wylt haue no mercye, fhalt haue vengeaunce, whyche wylte not be faued, fhalte be de flroyed. For God hath fpoken, and it is wrytten.
Omne regnuniin fediiiifiiui defolabiiur}- Euerye kyng- dome that is deuyded in it felfe, (hall be defolate, and deflroyed. And Salomon fayeth : Becaufe they haue hated learnyng and not receiued the feare of God, de- flruccion commeth fodaynlye : Yea trulye, and bryng- eth Idolaters vnto mifery, and proude men vnto fhame. Ye all here fele, fee, knowe, and haue experience, howe that this Realme is deuyded in it felfe by opynyons in relygyon, by rebellious fedicion, yea and by couetoufe ambicion, euerye manne pullynge and halynge towardes them felues, one from another.
It is not onelye diuyded, but alfo rente, torne, and plucked cleane in pieces. Yea and euerye couetoufe manne is an Idolater, fettynge that mynd and loue vpon ryches, whyche oughte to be geuen vnto God onely.
Euery couetoufe man hateth Icarnynge. and ivccyu- eth not the feare of God, for the gredv dclire that he hathe to the lucre of tliys worlde. Euerye couetoufe man is proude, thynkynge hymfelfe more worthy a
1 Matt. xii. 25.
24 & Sermon matre
pounde, then a nother man a penye, more fitte to haue chaunge of fylkes and veluettes, then other to haue bare frife cloth, and more conueniente for hym to haue aboundaunce of diuerfe dilicates for hys daintye toth, then for other to haue plenty of biefes and muttons for theyr hongry bellyes : and finnally that he is more worthye to haue gorgeoufe houfes to take his pleafure in, in bankettynge, then laborynge men to haue poore cotages to take reft in, in flepynge. Vndoubtedlye God wyll make all thofe to fall wyth fhame, which fet them felues vp in pryde fo hygh, that they can not fee other men to be chyldren of the fame heauenlye father, heires of the fame kingdome, and bought wyth the fame pryce of Chrifles blonde, that they take them felues to be. That realme, that realme that is full of couetoufnes, is full of diuifion, is full of contempt of goddes mercye, yea and fclaunder of hys worde, is full of Idolatry and is full of pryde. Diuifion is a figne of deftruccion, contemning of goddes mercye caufeth his vengeaunce to come fodeynly : Idolatrye euer endeth in mifery, and pryde neuer efcapeth fhame. Then if you fele, knowe, and haue experyence, that Englande by reafon of couetoufnes is full of diuifion, is full of contempte of goddes mercye, is full of Idolatrye, is full of pryde, Flatter not your felues in youre owne phan[ta]fies, but beleue the word of God, which e telleth you truelye that Englande mall be deflroyed fodainly, miferably, and fhamefullye. The fame deflruccion was tolde to the Sodomites, was tolde to the Nini- uites : was deferued of the Sodomites, and was de- ferued of the Niniuites : but came vpon the Sodomites, and was tourned from the Niniuytes. And why? For becaufe the Sodomytes regarded not goddes threaten- ynges and were plaged wyth gods vengeaunce, the Nim'uytes regarded goddes threatnynges, and efcaped gods vengeaunce.
Now all you Englyihe men at the reuerence of God, for the tender mercy es of lefu Chrift, for the reuerent loue to youre moil gentle and gracious kynge, for the
fn tf)e jcfcroufceg in Remits. 25
fauegarde of your cuntry, and for tender pyty of your owne wiues, your children, and your felues, caufe not Englande to bee deflroyed wyth gods vengeaunce, as was the Cytie of the Sodomites : but repent, lament and amend your Hues, as did the good Niniuites. For if ye fpedely repent, andmyferably [and pitifully] lamente, and be afhamed of your vainglory, couetoufnes, andambicion, ye fhal caufe couetous, fedicious, proude, and vicious England, fodenly, miferablye yea and fhamefully in the fyghte and Judgement of the world, to vanyfh away. And fo finne and abhominacion deflroyed by the re- pentaunce of man, this pleafaunte place of Englande, and good people mall be preferued and iaued by thy [the] mercy of God. For els if man wil not forfake his fynne, God wyll not fpape to deftroye both the man and hys place with his fynne.
Wherefore the Epyflle by the order nowe taken, ap-
poynted for thys fourth Sunday after twelfe tyde, is a
leffon mofl mete to teach e you to knowe and lamente
youre greuous fmnes of late committed, whyche as
yet be in fuche cafe, that man wyth out
greate repentaunce cannot fone amende
them, nor god of hys ryghteoufnes
much longer fuffer them. It is
written in the beginning
of the. [x]iii. Chap, of
Paul to the Rom.
on this wyfe.
jVerye foule be fubiecte vnto the hygher ] lowers, for there is no power but of God. Thofe powers whych be, are ordeyned of God. Wherefore he that refyfleth power, refyfleth the ordinaunce of God, but they whyche doo refifle, iliall receyue to themfelues iudgc- inent. For Rulers are not to be feared for good doinges, but for euil. Wouldeft thou not feare the power? do that which e is good, and thou malt haue
26 8l £ermon mate
praife of it. But if thou do euyll, feare : for he bear- eth not the fweard wythout a caufe, for he is the mini- fler of God to auenge in wrath, hym that doeth euyl.
Wherefore ye mud nedes be fubiecte, not only for wrathe, but alfo for confcience fake. For thys do ye paye tribute : For they are the minifters of God at- tendyng to thys fame thynge. Gene therefore vnto euery one dueties : tribute to whome trybute is due, cuflome to whome cuflum is due, feare to whom feare is due, honoure to whom honoure is due.
Thus haue ye heard howe that euery one oughte to be vnder obedience, and geue vnto other that whych is due. Howbeit experience declareth howe that here in Englande pore men haue been rebels, and ryche men haue not done their duetie. Bothe haue done euyll to prouoke goddes vengeance, neyther doth repente to procure gods mercye.
Nowe'for the better vnderflandyng of thys matter, here in thys texte, fyrft is to be noted, how that Anima, the foule, for as muche as it is the chiefe pane of man, is taken for the whole man : as we in cure englylhe tonge, take the bodye beynge the worfe part for the whole. As if I faye. euery bodye here, I meane euerye man or woman here. So in the fourthe of Leuiti. Anima qwzpeccauerit, ipja monctur. x The foule that fmneth, it mail dye : meanyng the man or woman that fynneth. And euen fo here Paule by the Ebrue phrafe and maner of fpeche, commaundeth euery foule, whych is by the englifhe phrafe euery bodye, that is to faye, euerye perfon, man, woman, and child to be fubiect. As thou art in dede, fo acknowledge thy felfe in thine own mynde Hypotafjeftho [iVorao-o-ecrtfcu], yat is to faye, fet or placed vnder the hygher powers, yea and that by God. For as there is no power of authorithy but of god, fo is there none put in fubieccion vnder theym but by God. Thofe powers whiche be are ordeyned of God. As is the power of the father euer hys chyldren of the hufband ouer hys wyfe, of the mailer ouer hys feruauntes, and of the kynge ouer hys
1 EzeL* xv Hi. 4.
tn tlje j&Jjroul)cs in ^ouleg. 27
lande and fubiectes : wyth all kynde of magiflrates in their offices oner their charge.
Nowe to proue that thefe bee the ordinaunces of God, we haue by goddes word bothe in the olde teflamente and in the newe, their names rehearfed, theyr offices dyf- cribed, and theyr duties [duetie] commaunded. Yet that""' notwythflandynge fome there be that labour by wreftynge of the fcripture to pulle them felues from vnder due obedience : faiynge that it appeareth in the actes of the Apoflles how that they hadde all thynges commen, and therfore none more goodes or ryches, power or aucthoritie, then other, but all alyke.
Truthe it is, that the Apoftles had all thynges comen, yea and that chriflen men, in that they are chriflen men rather then couetous men, haue all thynges comen, euen vnto thys day. How be it ther can be nothyng more contrarye or further difagreyng from that phantaftical commenneffe, or rather from that diuelyfhe difordcr, and vnrighteoufe robry [robberie], where as Idle lubbers myghte lyue of honefte mennes laboures, then to haue all thynges comen as the Apoflles hadde, as chriflen men haue, and as I do meane. And thys is theyr vfage, and my meanynge : that ryche menne fhoulde kepe to theym felues no more then they nede, and gene vnto the poore fo muche as they nede. For fo Paule wryteth to the Corinthes. I meane not (faythe Paull, fpeakynge to the ryche) to haue other fo eafed, that you therby fhoulde be brought in trouble of nede, but after an indii[fe]renc[i]e, that at this tyme your abtmdaunce, myght helpe their nede.
And fo dyd the Apoflles take order as appeareth in the fourth of the actes. Qiiottjuot Jiabcbant agros ct poffcjjloncs. etc.1 As many as hadde kindes and poffcf- fions dyd fell them, and broughte the prices vnto the feete of the Apoftles, and diuifion was made vnto euerye one accordinge vnto euerye maniu-s neede. So they whyche myght fparc dyddc frelye gene, and they whiche hadde nede dyd thankefully reccyue.
For fo is it [it is] mete, that chriden mens goodes fhuld
I Acts iv. 34.
28 & Sermon mate
be comen vnto euery mans nede, and priuate to no mans lufte. And thofe [thefe] comune goodes to bee difpofed by liberall geuers, and not fpoyled by gredy catchers. So that euery man may haue accordyng to hys nede fufficient, and not accordynge to hys fpoyle fo muche as he can catche, no nor accordyng to the value of the thyng, euerye man a penye, a grote, or a fhyllyng. For they that Imagyne, couet, or wyfhe to haue all thynges comune, in fuche forte that euerye man myght take what hym luile, wolde haue all thynges comen and open vnto euerye mans lufle, and nothynge re- ferued or kept for any mans nede. And they that wolde haue like quantitie of euery thyng to be geuen to euerye man, entendyng therby to make all alyke, do vtterly deftroy the congregacyon, the miflicall bodye of Chryfl, wheras there muftnedes bedyuers members in diuerfe places, hauynge diuerfe duetyes. For as [fainct] Paul fayth : yf all the bodye be an eye, where is then hearyng ? or yf all be an eare, where is then fmellyng ? meanyng therby, that yf all be of one forte, eftate, and roume in the comen wealth, how can then dyuerfe duetyes of diuerfe neceffarye offices be done ?
So that the fre herte, and liberall gyfte of the ryche, mufl make all that he may fpare, comen to releue the nede of the poore : yea yf there be great neceffitye, he mud fell both landes and goodes, to maynteynecharitie: And thus to haue all thinges comen, doth derogate or take away nothynge from the authoritye of rulers. But to wyll to haue all thynges comen, in fuche forte that idle lubbers (as I fayde) myghte take and wafte the geines of laborers wythout reflraint of authoritie, or to haue lyke quantitye of euerye thynge to be geuen to euery man, is vnder a pretence to mende al, pur- pofely to marre all. For thofe fame men pretendinge to hate [haue] couetoufnes, wold be as rych as the rychefl: and fayinge that they hate pryde, wold be as hyghly taken as the beft, and femynge to abhorre enuye, can not be contended] to fe any other rycher or better then they them felues be. Now I heare fome faye that
fit tbe j&Drou&eg fa i^ouleg. 29
thys errour is the fruyte of the fcripture in englyfhe. No, neyther thys, nor no other erroure commeth be- caufe the fcripture is fet forth in the englyfhe tonge, but becaufe the rude people lackynge the counfell of learned rnenn^ to teache theim the trewe meanynge when they reade it, or heare it, mufle nedes folowe theyr owne Imaginacion in takynge of it. And the chiefeft caufe that maketh them to imagine thys abhominable errour, that there fhuld be no ryche menne nor rulers, cum- meth becaufe fome ryche men and rulers (marke that I faye fome, for all bee not fuche) but I faye fome ryche men, and rulers by the abufe of their ryches and auc- thoritye, dothe more harme then good vnto the comen wealth, and more griefe then confort vnto the people. For nowe a dayes ryche menne and rulers do catche, purcheffe, and procure vnto them felues great com modities from many men, and do fewe and fmall plea- fures vnto any men.
As for example of lyche men, loke at the mer- chauntes of London, and ye mall fe, when as by their honefl vocacion, and trade of marchandife god hath endowed them with great abundaunce of ryches, then can they not be content with the profperous welth of that vocacion to fatiffye theym felues, and to helpe other, but their riches mufle abrode in the countrey to bie fermes out of the handes of worfhypfull gentle men, honefte yeomen, and pore laborynge hufbandes. Yea nowe alfo to bye perfonages, and benefices, where as they do not onelye bye landes and goodes, but alfo lyues and foules of men, from God and the comen wealth, vnto the deuyll and theim felues. A myf- cheuoufe marte of merchandrie is this, and yet nowe fo comenly vfed, that therby fhepeheardes be turned to theues, dogges into wolues, and the poore flocke of Chrifl, redemed wyth his precious bloud, mode mifer ablye pylled, and fpoyled, yea cruelly deuoured. Be thou marchaunt of the citye, or be thou gentleman in the contrey, be thou lawer, be you courtear, or what maner of man foeuer thou be, that can not, yea yf
30
thou be mafler doctor of diuinitie, that wyl not do thy duety, it is not lawfull for the to haue perfonage, benefice, or any fuche liuyng, excepte thou do fede the flocke fpiritually wyth goddes vvorde, and bodelye wyth honefle hofpitalitye. I wyll touch diuerfe kyndes of ryche men and rulers, that ye maye fe what harme fome of theim do wyth theyr ryches and authoritye. And efpeciallye I wyll begynne wyth theym that be befl learned, for they feme belyke to do mode good wyth ryches and authoritie vnto theim committed. If 1 therefore beynge a yonge fimple fcholer myghte be fo bolde, I wolde afke an auncient, wyfe, and well learned doctor of diuinitie, whych cometh not at hys benefice, whether he were bounde to fede hys flocke in teachynge of goddes worde, and kepyng hofpitalitie or no ? He wold anfwere and faye : fyr my curate fupplieth my roume in teachynge, and my farmer in kepynge of houfe. Yea but mailer doctor by your leaue, both thefe more for your vauntage then for the paryfhe conforte : and therfore the mo fuche feruauntes that ye kepe there, the more harme is it for your paryfhe, and the more fynne and fhame for you. Ye may thynke that I am fumwhat faucye to laye fynne and fhame to a doctor of diuinitie in thys folemne audience, for fome of theim vfe to excufe the matter, and faye: Thofe whych I leaue in myne abfence do farre better then I fhoulde do, yf I taryed there my felfe.
Nowe good mafler doctor ye faye the verye truthe, and therfore be they more worthye to haue the bene fice then you your felfe, and yet neythcr of you bothe fufficient mete, or able : they for lacke of habilitye, and you for lacke of good wyll. Good wyll quod he? Naye I wolde wyth all my harte, but I am called to ferue the kynge in other places, and to take other offices in the comen wealth e. Heare then what I mail aunfwere yet once agayne : There is lyuynges and revvardes due and belongyng to theim that labour in thofe ofiyces, arid fo oughte you to be contente
in i\)t jcljroutics in $3cule5. 31
vvyth the lyuyng and reward of that office onelye, and take no more, the duetye of the whyche office by your labour and diligence ye can difcharge onlye, and do no more. And fo Paule wryteth vnto the Corrinth. fayinge : The Lord hathe ordeyned that they whyche preache the Gofpell, fhulde lyue vpon the Gofpell.1 And vnto the T[h]effalonians. He that dothe not labour fhulde not eate.2
By thefe textes well fet together, you may conclude and learne, that there as you beftowe your labour, there maye ye take a lyuynge, and ther as ye beflowe no labour, there ought ye to take no liuyng. Well let vs precede further vnto other nowe, for I perceyue that all that which I haue fpoken againfl them that take greate geynes of theyr benefices, and do lytle good to theyr benefice, maye feme to be fpoken agaynfl the vniuerfityes, yea and againfl the kynges mayeflye : whyche now by reafon of improperacions haue no lytle geynes of benefices, and yet beflowe no great laboure nor almes vpon the paryfhioners of thofe benefices. Surely, for as muche as I feare the vengeaunce of God more yf I fhoulde not fpeake the truthe, then the dif- pleafure of man yf he be offended in hearynge of the truth, trulye I wyll tell you. Seyng that impropera cions beynge fo euyll that no man can alowe theym, be nowe fo employed vnto the vniuerfities, yea and vnto the yerelye reuenues of the kynges maieflye, that fewe dare fpeake agaynfl them, ye maye fe that fome men, not onelye by the abufe of ryches and authoritie, but alfo by the abufe of wyfedom and pollicie do much harme, and fperially thofe, by whofe meanes thys realme is nowe brought into fuch cafe that eyther learnyng in the vniuerfitie, and neceffarye reuenues belongynge to the mode hygh authoritye is lyke to decaye, or elies improperacions to be mavnteined, whyche bothe be fo deuyllyfheandabhominable that yf eyther of them come to effect e, it wyll caufe the vengeaunce of God vtterly to deilroy this realme. Do not thynke that 1 meane
1 i ^,ur. ix. 14. - - 1'lioss. iii. 10.
32 & Sermon mate
any thyng agaynfl that whyche the kynges mayeflye by acte of Parliament hathe done : no nor that I wyll couer in fcilence, or alowe by flatterie that whyche couetoufe officers (fome as I fuppofe nowe beyng pre- fente) contrary e to goddes lawes, the kynges honour, and the comen wealth vfe to do. For in fuppreffinge of Abbeyes, Cloyflers, Colleges, and Chauntries, the entente of the kynges maieflie that dead is, was, and of this our kynge now, is verye godlye, and the pur- pofe or els the pretence of other, wonderoufe goodlye : that therby fuche abundaunce of goodes as was fuper- fliciouily fpente vpon vayne ceremonies, or voluptu- oufly vpon idle bellies, myght come to the kynges handes to beare hys great charges, neceffarilie be llowed in the comen wealthe, or partly vnto other mennes handes, for the better releue of the pore, the mayntenaunce of learning, and the fettinge forth of goddes worde. Howe be it couetoufe officers haue fo vfed thys matter, that euen thofe goodes whyche dyd feme to the releue of the poore, the mayntenaunce of learnyng, and to confortable neceffary hofpitalitie in ye comen wealth, be now turned to maynteyne worldly, wycked couetoufe ambicion.
I tell you, at the fyrile the intente was verie godly, the pretence wonderoufe goodly, but nowe the vfe or rather the abufe and myforder of thefe thynges is worldlye, is wycked, is deuilylhe, is ab- hominable.
The kynge maye haue, and wolde to God he hadde in hys handes to beftowe better, all that was euell* mifpente vpon fuperfticious Ceremonies, and voluptu ous Idle bellyes.
But you whych haue gotten thefe goodes into your own* handes, to turne them from euyll to worfe, and other goodes mo frome good vnto euyll, be ye fure it is euen you that haue offended God, begyled the kynge, robbed the ryche, fpoyled the pore, and brought a comen wealth into a comen miferye. It is euen you, that mufl eyther be plaged with gods vengeaunce as
(n tlje js&nwte* in ^oule*. 33
wer the Sodomytes, or amende by repentaunce as did the Nineuites. Euen you it is that muil eyther make reflitucion and amendes fpedely, or elles fele the vengeaunce of God greuouily. Do not thynke that by reflitucion and amendes makyng I meane the buyldynge agayne of abbeyes or cloyfters, no I do not : For yf charitable almes, honefle hofpitalitie, and neceffary fcholes, for the bryngynge vp of yougth had ben indifferently maynteyned and not cleane taken away in fome places, I woulde not at this time haue fpoken of reflitucion. Howe be it fure I am, that if at* the orderinge of thefe thynges there had been in the officers as much godlines as there was couetoufnes, fuperflicious men had not bene put from their liuinges to their penfions out of thofe houfes, wher they myght haue had fchole mailers to haue taught them to be good, and for leffe wages : or for the referuacion of their penfions, receyued into cures, and perfonages, where as they can do no good, and wyll do muche harme. Here as concerninge thefe thinges I faye, if man do not make reflitucion, God wyll take venge aunce. For the people that by thys meanes contynue in deuelyfhe fuperflicion, and begyn vngracious re bellion, do dye, and are damned in their owne fynnes, but the bloud of their bodyes and foules fhall be re quired at youre handes. Yea and the abhominable errour of thofe that would haue no rulers in authentic, cometh partelye by your occafion, whyche vnto your owne vayne glorye, and pryuate commoditie [priuate authentic], do abufe the power and authoritie ordeyned of God to hys glorye, and to the commen wealthe. Thus ye perceyue ho\ve that fome ryche menne and rulers almlyn^c their ryches and authoritie, do make -fome eyther to iudge that it fhoulde be farre better then it is, if there were neyther riche men nor rulers : Howbeit thofe men are farre dea-yin-d. And Panic telleth the truth, fayinge that thofe which be, are or- lU-yiu-d of God.
Then fome wyll afke thys queflyon : Seynge there is c
34 & S^nnon matte
no euyll of God, howe can etiyll rulers or officers be of God ? You honefte men that be here, and dwell in the countrey, heare this leffon, and marke it, and take it home wyth you, for your felues, and your neygh- bour. It is God, Qui facit hypocrita regnare propter peccata populi. It is God, as the fcripture in the xxxiiii. of lob doth teflifye, whych maketh an hypocritie to be a ruler for the fynnes of the people. Nowe the people of the countrey vfe to faye, that their gentle men and officers were neuer fo full of fayre woordes and euyll dedes (whych is hypocrify) as they nowe be. For a gentleman wyl faye that he loueth his tenaunt as well as hys father dyd, but he kepeth not fo good a houfe to make them chere as hys father dyd, and yet he taketh mo fynes, and greater rentes to make them neadye, then hys father hadde.
Another wyll fay that he would bye a Lordlhyppe of the kyng, for the loue that he hath to the tenauntes thereof, but affone as he hathe boughte it, by takynge of fynes, heyghnyng of rentes, and fellyng away of com modities, he maketh thefametenantespayforit. Another fayth that he would haue an office to do good in hys contrey, but as fone as he hath authoritie to take the fee to hym felfe, he fetteth hys feruaunte to do hys duetye, and in ilede of wages he geueth them autho ritie to lyue of pyllage, brybry and extorcion in the countrey.
Now you of the countrey, marke your leffon I faye, and take it home wyth you. It is God that maketh thefe euyl men to be gentlemen rulers, and officers in the countrey: it is the finnes of the people that caufeth God to make thefe men youre rulers. The man is fome- tymes euyll, but the authoritie from God is alwayes good, and God geueth good authoritye vnto euyll men, to punyfhe the fynnes of the euyll people. It is not therefore repynyng, rebellyng, or refiftyng gods ordi nance, that wyll amende euyll rulers. For [fainct] Paule fayeth, that all powers be of goddes ordinaunce. And in lob it is playne, that euyll menne bee made rulers
in t|jc jtfrroufces m joules, 35
by God : So that who foeuer refyfteth the ofifycers, be the menne neuer fo euyll that be in office, he refifleth the ordinaunce of God, he can not preuayle againfle God, but furely he (hall be plaged of God. And as the people can haue no remedye againft euyll rulers by rebellyon, fo can the rulers haue no redreffe of re bellious people by oppreffyon. Example of bothe we haue in the thyrd booke of Kynges, where as it ap- peareth that Roboam leauyng good counfell to vfe the people wyth gentlenes and folowyng euyll counfell to kepe them vnder by extremytye, dyd fo exafperate and flyrre vp the hertes of the people again ft him beyng their kyng, that ten partes of them dyd by fedicious rebellion, burfte oute from hym, and were neuer after fubiecte vnto hym, nor to none of his pofteritie. And thofe rebellious people by leroboam whom they them felues chofe to be their kynge, or rather the captayne of theyr rebellyon, were brought into farre worfe cafe and more myferye then euer they were afore, com pelled to forfake God, and to vfe Idolatrye, and were euer after plaged wyth fodeyne deathe, honger, dearthe, warres, captyuytie, and all kynde of myferye.
Learne therefore ye people if ye inforce to eafe your felues, wheras ye imagine that ye be euyll entreated of men, be ye fure that ye mall fele in deede that ye mail be more greuouflye affiyctedby the ordynaunce of God. And learne ye rulers if ye intende by onely fuppref- fion to kepe vnder rebellion, be ye fure if ye thrulle it downe in one place it wyll brafte out wyth more vyolence and greater daunger in ten other places, to the further dyfquietynge of you beynge rulars, and to the vtter deftruccyon of all youre people beynge rebelles.
Heare ye people what God fayeth by thofe people that wyll not be in fubieccion, becaufe they thynke the men to be euyl whiche be in authoritye. Yea harke what the Lord fayeth as concern} n^c the proude, am- bycyoufe, and vncyrcumcyfed Kynge Nabugodonozer whyche was an euyll manne in dede, in the twentic
36 & Sermon matre
and feuen Chapter of Hieremye. Gens et regnum. et cetera.1
That people and realme that doth not feme Nabu- godonezer ye kinge of Babilon, and whofoeuer putteth not his necke vnder the yocke of Nabugodnozer the kynge of Babilon, I (fayeth the Lorde) wyl vifet vpon that people in fvveard, honger, and in peflylence. And inthexxvii. of the fame Prophete. Catenas ligneas contri- uifti, et fades pro eis \catenas\f err eas? Thou haft broken the fetters of wood, and fhalt make for them fetters of yron. By the whiche he declareth yat as a pryfoner in ye kepynge of a gayler, if he breake hys fetters of wood, mail not therefore by the gayler be fet at lybertye, but rather cheyned wyth more flronge fetters of yron : Euen fo, people beynge in the kepyng of God, if they by re- bellyon breake their yocke of fubieccion, whych they nowe haue, fhall not therfore by God be putte at libertie, but rather be thrufle into a more ftraite, greuous, and ftronger yocke, where they mall be fure neuer to haue libertie nor eafe.
Wherfore ye people, if ye fele your burden is heauye, and your yocke greuoufe, pacyently fuffer, and call vnto the Lorde: for then he wyll heare thee, and he wyl re- lieue thee, and he wyll delyuer thee.
And you rulers, becaufe ye knowe that the people oughte not to forfake or refufe what burden or yoke fo euer ye charge them wyth all, fee that ye charge them with no more then they maye beare and fuffer. For if they cry vnto you for reliefe and eafemente, and you wyll not regarde theyr forowes, but imagynynge that they be to wealthy, ye wyll encreafe their miferye, and decay their wealthe, as Pharao, and Roboam dyd : Well then, if the examples of Pharao and Roboam wyll not fuffyce you, marcke what God, by the prophet Ezechi. fayth (I pray you) in the. xxxiiii. of Ezechiel, Audite paftores. &c? Do not thynke that for becaufe pallors be named there, yat therfore it is al fpoken onely vnto the clargye, but for afmuche as all officers and rulers ought rather to be feders then fpoilers, it is
l Jer. xxvii. 8. 2 Jer. x&viii. 13. 3 Ezek. xxxiv. 8.
in tf)e jcftroutifg in joules. 37
fpoken vnto you officers, which do not enter in by ye dore of loue.asthefhephearde to feede, but clime ouer another awaye [an other waie] thorovve couetoufnes as a thiefe, to robbe and fpoyle the flocke of Chrift in your office. Here what the Lorde fayeth vnto you officers yat fede youre felues by feking of gaines, and not your flocke by doing your dutie. Thus fayth the Lord : I my felfe wyl vp on thefe patters, and I wil require my fhepe at their handes, and wyll make them to ceafe from fedyng of my flocke, yea the pattors fhal fede them felues no more, for I wyll delyuer my flocke out of their handes, and they fliall be no longer a praye for them to fede vpon. Vndoubtedly if ye fhuld entende by your autho rity rather your felues to line in riote, then to kepe ye people in quietnes, your rulynge fhulde not longe con tinue. Surely ther is none other remedy for ryche or poore, high or low, gentleman or yeoman, to helpe to amende the difquietnes in thys realme, but to pulle and rote that* out of youre hertes, which is roted in euery one of your hertes, the rote of all euyll, whyche is couetoufnes. For etien you hufbandmen whyche crye out vpon the couetoufnes of gentlemen and officers, it is euen couetoufnes in you, yat caufeth, and ingendreth couetoufnes in them. For, for to get your neyghbours ferme, ye wyll offer and difire them to take bribes, fynes, and rentes more then they loke for, or then you your felues be wel able to pay. It is a wonderous thing to fe gentlemen take ib great rentes, fynes, and ingreffaunce for couetoufnes to ad- uaunce theyr owne landes : Howebeit it is a farre more wonderfull thyng to fee hufbande men offer and gene fo greate fynes, rentes, incomes, yea and bribes for Couetoufnes to gette other mennes fermes. It femeth to come of great couetoufnes for riche men, to make ftrayte iawes to fane their owne goodes : Howebeit it is in (let-do a farre more couetoufnes for poore men by rebellion to robbe, and fpoile other mens goodes. And tliis dare 1 faye, takyng all you to beare rcrorde, that the ioreil Iawes that euer any tyraunt made in any
38 & Sermon matre
lande, if they fbuld continue many yeares coulde not caufe fuch and fo great murther, myfchiefe, and wretchednes as ye perceyue and know that thys re- bellyon in England contynuynge but a fewe monethes, hath caufed : by the which ye may learne that al- thoughe lawers be comenly called moft couetous, yet compare them with rebels, and as pickinge theft, is leffe then murtheryng robrye [robberie] : fo is the couet- oufnesof gredy lawers which begyle craftely, farleffe then the couetoufnes of rebelles, whych fpoyle cruelly. Lette vs therefore euerye one acknoweledgynge our owne fautes, where as moft euyll fpryngeth, there laboure fyrfte wyth mofte diligence to plucke vp the roote of that euil, whyche is couetoufnes : that God ingraftynge grace in vs, maye geue occafyon vnto cure Rulars rather to bee occupyed in rewardynge of vertue, then in punyfheyng of vyce : Yea that God be not pro- uoked by our finnes to fende euyll rulers to punyfhe euyll men, but rather moued by oure repentaunce, to preferue thefe good rulers whiche be fente already e to the greate comfort of all good men : efpecially the kinges maiefly, whofe godlynes, vertue, and grace, is lyke to make this realme to floryfhe, if oure fynnes do not caufe God to thinke our realme vn worthy to en- ioye the treafure of fo precyous a lewell. Manye other noble men therebe as I trufte, fome that I do certaynlye knowe, whofe tender heartes do muche lamente youre griefes, and whofe godlye prouifion wyll be muche vnto youre comforte, if your vnpaciente flubburnes do not difapoynte their good purpofe. If euer at any tyme God did fend vnto any afflycted people releyfe, comforte, and profperytye, it came alwayes by good rulers, at fuch tyme as the people beeynge in afflyccyon, dyd humble them felues in pacyence, and cryed vnto the Lorde wyth prayer, as is apparente in the houndreth and feuen Pfalme. Clamauerunt ad dominum cum trilmlarentur, et de ne- ceffitatibus eorum liber auit eos.1 When they were in trouble they called vnto thee [the] Lorde, and he de-
1 Ps. cvii. 13.
in t|)c £$rout)e$ in ^ouleg. 39
Huered them forth of their troubloufefome gryefes. And in the bookes of the iudges and of the kynges, ye maye reade how that God, to delyuer his people forth of miferye, and to profper them in wealth, dyd reyfe vp good rulers as Gedeon, Barac, lepthe, Sampfon, Dauid, Samuel, and fuche other. And wythoute doubte euen at this time here in England, God hathe rayfed vp a gracyous kynge, and fome fuche noble men as be neyther cruell nor couetous. If ther be therfore in vs pacience, humility, thankful- nes, and prayer, furelye we mail foone feele relyefe, conforte and profperitie.
Thei therfore yat as yet feele them felues greued, let them cal vnto ye lord, lokinge for his helpe in paciente fufTering, not prouoking his vengeaunce by vngracious rebellinge agaynfle hys officers, vnhappye refilling hys ordinaunce : vnhappy refiftyng may I well call it, for vnhappye are all they that vfe it, purchafing thereby to them felues iudgement, vengeaunce, and damnacyon. O howe vnhappye haue they been here in England, whiche haue not quietlye fuffered a con- fortable reformacion of their greateft griefes and harmes, to precede from god to them by his ordi naunce, but vnpacientlye grudginge haue offended god, difquieted this realm, and vndone them felues, by refyflynge goddes ordynaunce. For the greatefl griefe that hathe been vnto the people in thys realme, hath bene the inclofing of comens, as concernyng the whyche the powers ordeyned of GOD for that purpofe, made an acte of parlyamente, forbiddynge anye man to enclofe vnto hys pryuate vfe, that whyche of long tyme had bene taken, and vfed as common. And afterwardes, the fame powers dyd fende forthe proclamacions, warnynge theym whyche contrarye to thys acte of parliament had inclofed groundes, offend- ynge the people, that they accordynge to thefe Pro clamacions fhoulde laye the fame inclofed landes abroade a^ayne, to fatyffye the acte of parliamente, and to releue the people. And for becaufe neyther of
40 & jtwnon mate
thefe wayes toke effecte, there was immediatly further commiffions dyrected to put fuche men in authoryty, as could eafelye, and woulde gladly, and were pur- pofed fpedely to haue layed vnlawfull inclofed landes abrode agayne, in fuch quiet forte as fhoulde haue bene mod to the kynges honour, to ye wealth of thys realme, and to the greatefl comforte of thofe whyche were moll greued. Now howe the people dyd take or rather how they dyd refylle and wythlland thys, ye know.
And I mall rehearfe whan as I haue telled you of one other thyng whyche beynge of longer contynuance in Englande, hath done ferre more harme, and yet the gryef therof fer leffe, yea nothynge at all felt. For the deadely wound therof dyd brynge the people pafl all felynge of gryefe. And the venomous poyien broughte the people in fuche a Maze, that they dyd not fele and perceyue them felues to be in moll horryble myferable wretchednes, whan as the worde of GOD, the breade of lyfe, the fauyng health in Chrifl lefu, was taken a way, and in a llraunge language fhut, and clofed vp from theym, fo that they wythout felyng were led from God by mannes tradicions vnto vayne ceremonis, to be moll venemoufly poyfoned wyth dyuelifhe fuperfli- cion. Therefore whan as the mercyfull goodnes of God beholdyng the miferies of the people, by the prouydence of the kynges maiellye, and his counfell, purpofely ordeined of God to conforte, healpe, and amend the people of thys realme, by the relloryng of goddes worde, and fettynge it playnelye forthe in the Englyfh tong, with the ryght vfe and dew adminiflra- cion of hys facramentes to be imprynted, and con- fyrmed in our hartes : Whan as I faye, by thefe gracyous meanes, and godly e order, God hym felfe dyd offer vnto the people, relyefe, comforte, and prof- peritye : Then the vngodlye, vngracious and vnhappye people, beynge moofte vnkynde, where as they fhoulde haue bene moofle thankefull, dyllrufled GOD, dyfpifed hys ordinaunce, and prefumed of theyr owne wylfulnes
in tlje j£|jrout)c3 in joules. 41
fo farre as they coulde or myghte, to wythftand the or- dynaunce of God, refufed the grace of God, and pro cured to theym felues the vengeaunce of God. Wher- fore we hauynge thys terrible example in frefh memorye, and feynge a gracyous Kyng, and Godly rulars or- deyned of GOD, to amende oure gryefes, althoughe all that cannot be amended in one day, whyche hath bene appayryng manye yeres, yet let vs pacientlye fuffer for a tyme, not doubtynge but that that reliefe, comforte, and wealth, whyche God hathe promyfed vnto Englande by hys word, offered of hys goodnes, and begon by his ordinaunce, fhalbe brought vnto paffe, by hys wyfdome and myghte : in fuche wyfe as fhall be moile for hys glorye, the kynges honoure, the wealth of the real me, and moil to the conforte of theym that moofle pacyentlye in hope, trufle to [in] goddes goodnes. Thefe examples haue I rehearfed to teach you as it were by experience, howe true this faying of [faincte] Paul is: They whyche wythflande or refyile the powers ordeyned of God, receyue vnto them felues ludgemente : whyche is vengeaunce, and damnacion. Let vs therfore amend our lyues, and be good men, and we fhall not nede to hate and feare, but haue greate occafion to loue, and truft-e thofe whyche be nowe our chyefe rulars. For they be as [S.] Paule fayeth, made rulars, not to put theym in feare that do good, but theym whyche do euyll : fo that none nedeth to feare thefe rulers, but euell doers. Whyche in euyll doynge haue deferued of the rulers to be punylhed, and in refyflynge theyr power ordeyned of GOD, do haften, and aggrauate towardes theym felues, the fore vengeaunce of GOD. It foloweth : Wouldeil thou be wythout feare of power, do that whyche is good, and thou fhalte haue prayfe of it : for he is the mynyiler of God to do the[e] good, but yf thou do euyl, feare. For he beareth not the fwearde wythout a caufe, but is the mynifler of GOD to aduenge in wrath hym that doeth euyll.
All thefe wordes [faiiict] Peter concludethbryefelye in
42 & jtermon matie
thefecond of hys fyrfl Epiftle, faying that thofe that haue rule and authorytye, be fente ad vindictam malorum, laudcm vero bonorum^ That is to faye : to take ven- geaunce of euell doers, and to commende the good.
Whofoeuer thou arte therefore and of whatfoeuer degree or forte thou bee, yf thou bee a Subiecte thou mufte remember, and confyder howe that powers be ordayned of God for the, yf thou be euyll to make the good by dewe correccyon : yf thou be good to make the[e] better, by the encoragemente of commendacyon, prayfe, and mayntenaunce. Looke therefore all you that haue power, and authorytye of GOD, that ye vfe it, as ye are commaunded by God : to correcte and punyihe the euyll doer, and to encorage, rewarde, and mayntaine the good.
Se that for fo ferre as your power extendeth, there be no euyll vnpunyfhed, nor no good vnrewarded. Butharckea lytle, and I fhal tell you of an ab[h]omyn- able robbery done in the Citye, knowen to the officers of the city, and as yet not punylhed, but rather mayn- tayned in the city. There is a greate fumme of monye fente from an honorable Lord by hys feruaunte vnto thofe whome he is indetted vnto in the citye. The officers knowynge that they to whom thys monye is fente haue great nede of it, knowe alfo in what places, at what tymes thefe vnthryftye feruauntes by whorne it is fente, at gamnynge, banckettyng, and riot, do fpende it. If thys be an euell dede, why is it not punylhed ? Bycaufe it is not knowen fome faye. But whyther they meane that it is not knowen to be done, or not knowen to be euyll I doubte. And therefore here now wyll I make it openlye knowen boeth to be done, and alfo to be euell done, and worfe fuffered. But doeth not manye of you knowe ? fure I am that all you that be officers oughte to know that all that ryches and trea- fures whyche rych men, and rufflers, wafle at gredye gamning, glotonous bancketting, and fuche riote, is not theyr owne, but fente by theym from the honor able Lord of heauen, vnto other that be honeft, pore,
' i Peter it. 14.
in tije grouse* tn $oule$. 43
and nedye : vnto whome God by hys promyfe is in- detted. Ye knowe, that Domini eft terra et plenitudo eiits.1 The yearthe is the Lordes, and the plenty therof. So that no man hath any thyng of hys owne : But hath receyued all of the Lorde. For, Quid habes quod non accept/lit'2 What hafle thou that thou haft not receyued : Yea thou as a feruaunte hafle re ceyued of thy Lord, whych gyueth vnto hys fer- uauntes the Talentes of hys treafures. And to knowe for what purpofe he gyueth theym vnto you, reade Efaye, thexviii [.Iviij.]. Frangeefurientipanemtuum. etc? Breacke thy breade vnto the hungrye, and the nedye : and the wanderyng leade into thy houfe : whan thou feed one naked cloth hym, and do not dyfpyfe thyne owne fleflie. Heare you feruauntes of the Lorde, whyche haue receyued the treafures of the lord, vnto whom the lorde by you hath fente them : vnto the houngrye, the nedye, the naked, and thofe that be of the fame flefhe and bloude that you youre felues be. Nowe you offycers knowynge that greate ryches, and treafures fente from the honorable lord of heauen, vnto his welbeloued people, the nedy members of Chriftes bodye, by thefe vnthriftye feruauntes is fpente at gamnynge, and riote, within your offyces, ye mufte nedes knowe that an euyll dede is done. Let vs therfore I praye you, knowe howe it is punyfhed. Peraduenture ye wyll faye : ther is no lawe in Eng land that appoynteth any punyflimente for gamners. If therefore euyll dedes maye be done in Englande wythout feare, than is the fweard of authoritye borne in Englande, wythout a caufe. But I wyll tell the that art an offycer in England or in what Chryflen lande fo eucr it be: whereas there is no certayne punyfhment for any euyl dede by mans law, there the offycer may and ought to vfe any kind of punifhment to amende or reflreyne the euyll doer, by goddcs lawe. But without doubte yf thofe fame men mould fpende in the fame forte of ryot, fo great treafures fente from the Kyngcs Maieflye vnto the Aldermenne
1 Psa. xxiv. i. 2 j cor. jv. 7. 3 Isa. h'iii. 7.
44 & Sermon matre
of thys Cytye, there flioulde be punyfhmente, correc- cyon, and reamedye founde for theym quyckely.
And of very confcience is not god as much to be feared as the kynge, and the poore, and nedye as well to be pytied and prouyded for as the rych and wealthy ?
Well, gamners, ryotters, and all euell doers, yf they do not repente, fhalbe damned in theyr owne fynnes : but the bloude of theyr foules fhalbe requyred at the handes of the cflfycers, whyche by feare fhoulde haue caufed theim to le lue fynne. Yea but what mall me [we] than faye by vfurye, whyche is no we made fo lawefull that an offycer yf he would, can not punyfh, to make men to leaue it? As concernynge thys matter we haue playne commaundemente in the fiftene of Deutro [nomie]. And in the fyfteof Math. To lend tohym that nedeth, and wold borowe. And in the fyxte of Luke it is playne. Date mutuo, nihil inde fperantes^ Lende fayeth Chrifle, trufling to haue no gayn therby. Here we haue two commaundementes, the one is to lende, and the other not to lende for lukar [lucre] : nowe he thatbreaketh goddes commaundement rnufl nedes go to the deuyll. So that in breakynge thefe two commaunde mentes, here is two wayes for you ryche men to go to the dyuyll : Eyther in lendynge for luker [lucre], or els in not lendynge anye thynge at all. Manye of you there be, that whofoeuer fayeth nay, wyll nedes the one of thefe two wayes. For yf mans lawe do flop vp vfurye, fo yat by lendyng thou canfl haue no gaynes, than wylte thou the other waye apace, and lend nothyng at all. So flialte thou be fuer to come ther away to the deuyll. For than mail no man in no cafe haue anye vfe of thy goods. Therefore neyther the lawe, nor the officer in fufferynge a lytle vfurye, and commaundinge none, doth mayntayne or allow vfurye. But for becaufe you [thou] beynge an vfurer wylte nedes to the dyuell, they fuffer the to goo fuch awaye as fome commodytye myght come to other by fome vfe of thy goodes, rather than by ftoppynge vp that
1 Luke vi. 35.
in tlje jc^routies m joules. 45
•waye, to dryue the there awaye as no man coulde haue any vfe of anye of thy goorles. For where as God commaundeth, and thy nedy neyghbour defyreth the to lende, and thou neyther at the reuerence of God, nor for pitye of thy neyghboure wylte lende of loue frelye : but contrarye to goddes commaundemente wyth out pytye of the poore, thou wylte not flycke to lende for gredyneffe of Inker couetouflye : thy owne dedes declare the to be fo voyde of all godly charity, and fo ful of diuilyfh couetoufnes, that thou art fer pad all mans cure, and helpe, either by law or puniihmente. So wyl I leue the, and fpeake of thofe that myght, and oughte to be healed by men beynge in authorytye, and yet wyll not.
For ther be fum fuche ioyly felowes that they wylbe fubiect to no powers, which by fear myght caufe them to forbeare theyr vayne pleafures in euil : vnto thofe now confequentlye doth [faincte] Paule fpeake, fayinge : ye mufl nedes be fubiecte, not onely for wrathe, but alfo for confcience fake. If ye be fuche ioyly felowes that ye feare not the wrathe or dyfpleafure of officers, whan as ye do euyll, yet grope youre owne confcience, that ye may fele what a greuous fynne it is to wythflamle the powers ordayned of GOD to minifler dewe correc- cyon vnto euyll doers. For not onely thy confcyence, but alfo thyne owne deede in that thou doefle paye tribute for thys thynge, fhall teftifye agaynfl the : that thou knowefl theym to be the myniflers of GOD, at- tendynge to thys fame thynge, to thys bryngynge euell doers in feare. It is therefore a matter of confcience for the[e] fo to withftande the powers ordayned of God, that thei take no place in the, but that thou wylt do euell wythout feare, and maintaine that whych is euell done, by worfe prefumpcion. I do not lave that what- foeuer the magyflratcs commaunde is a matter of con fcience, but what foeuer is euell, is a matter of con fcyence. And to refyfle ryghte by myghte, fo that thou wylte not be fubiecte in huniylitye, vnto thofe powers whyche God by hys righte hath fet ouer the[e] in
46 & Sermon mate
authoritye is a greate euell, and therefore a greate matter of confcience. Manye examples we haue whyche doeth proue that euerye commaundement of magiftrates be not matters in confcience, and yet euery refifting or rebelling againfl their autority is a matter in confcience. The lewes had a cuflume confirmed by their elders whiche were magiflrates, that no man mould eate wyth vnwafhen handes : Chrifte lefu leafte thys cuflome, brake thys tradicion wythout any grudge of confcience.
Dauid knowynge Saule the kyng to be a wycked man and hys deadly enemy, and hauyng Saule in a denne, where as if he would, he myghte haue kylled hym : this Dauid hadde a good confcience not to touche the lordes anointed, to fuffer Saule to be kynge and to fubmitte hym felfe. Daniel was com- maunded not to praye to God : the Apoftles were commaunded not to preache gods worde. Thefe dyd not rebell againfl the higher powers, no nor yet for confcience obey men, but rather they obeyed God. For Daniell did praye, and the Apoflles dyd preache. So ryfe not, rebell not, refifte not, what foeuer the rulers them felues do : And be ye not fo fcrupulous as to thynke the bond in confcience vnto euerye thing that a man beyng a ruler commaundeth the to do it efpeciallye, if God commaund the contrary. Nowe it foloweth, geue vnto euerye one that which is due : Euery dutye belonging to euery body, can not here be declared, no nor at this tyme rehearfed, I wyll therefore fpeake briefely of one thynge whych fhall be a generall example for all duties. Pan. i. vnto the Cor. xi. Vnus panis vnum corpus multi fumus .a One bred fayeth he one body we are that be many : by the whiche he declareth that as of diuers cornes of wheate by the liquor of water knoden into dough is made one loafe of breade : fo we being diuerfe men, by loue and charitie, whyche is the liquor of lyfe, ioyned into one congregacion, be made as dyuers members of one mifticall body of Chrifte, where by I
1 i Cor. x. 17.
tn lj)c jc£rout)e$ in joules. 47
fay, as by one example in the ftede of many, learne that the more gorgeous you youre felues bee in filkesand veluettes, the more fhame is it for you to fee other poore and neady, beyng members of the fame bodye, in ragges and clothe, yea bare and naked.
Doefl thou not thynke them to be members of the fame bodye that thou arte ? Then arte not thou a member of Chrifte, then arte not thou a chylde of God, then art not thou a chriflen man. One member oughte as well to be prouided for, as a nother : I do not fay that one oughte to haue as coflely prouifion as a nother.
But as there be dyuers members in dyuers places, hauyng dyuers duties, fo to haue dyuers prouifion in feedyng and clothyng.
And as they be all in one body, fo none to be with out that feedynge and clothyng, whych for that part of the bodye is meete and neceffarye. Euen as ye do prouide indifferentlye for euery parte of youre naturall bodye, by reafon of the which, ye are bounde, and fubiecte to corruption : So let no parte or member of your Chriilen bodye be vnprouyded for : By reafon of the whyche bodye, ye be heyres of the heauenly kyng- dome. And this one example generally fhall teacheyou to gyue that whych is due vnto euery one feuerally. Nowe here folowetheuen. iiii. [fowerl word es: Tribute, cu flume, fere, honor. Of thefe. iiii. [fower] wordes wil I con clude almofl in iiii. [fower] wordes. Ye mud gyue trybute, to whome trybute is due : cuflome, to whome cuftome is due : feare, to whome feare is due : honour, to whome honoure is due. Vnder trybute be con- teined taxes, fiftenth, fubfides, and fuche as be payed at fometymes to the Rulers, and be not continuall. Cuftomes be tythes, tolles, rentes, and fuch as the people paye vnto the officers continually. For \>:\y- inge of trybute befydes thys comrnaundemente of Paule, we haue example of Chriiles mother, whyrh beyng at the houre of her trauell went out of Gal) k-
48 & Sermon
vnto Bethlem, a toune in lewry, there to be taxed, and pay trybute vnto Cefar.
As concernyng cuftome, Chrift hymfelfe com- maimded Peter to pay for them both, leil that they fhulde offend : that is, left that they, in not paying, fhuld geue euyll example vnto the people. So Chrif- ten men mud nedes paye both trybute and cuftome. What trybute and cuftome good men may take, it ap- pereth in that that goeth afore : furelye euen fo muche and no more as (hall fufficientlye difcharge their coftes, neceffaryly beftowed in correctynge of euyll, and re- wardyng good. Marke that I fay they may or oughte to take no more : for here I tell them their duty. For truly if they do requyre more of you that be their fub- iectes, then is it youre duty to pay that whiche they afke, and not to be curyous to know for what caufe it is afked, but this onlye to take hede that with due reuerence ye pay it, as Paule commaundeth, and as Chrifte and hys mother haue geuen you example. Feare and honoure belonge chieflye, yea in a manner onely vnto God. For God onely for hym felfe is to be feared and honoured.
All other for gods caufe, are fo to be feared and honoured : as that feare and honoure which is geuen vnto them, may procede and come finally vnto God. For, dominum dcnm tuum adorabis et ilium folum coles} Thou fhalte honoure the Lorde thy God, and hym only (halt thou reuerentlye ferue. As for the Deuyll, feare hym not, for he wyll doo no leffe harme vnto thee then he canne : he canne do no more then God wyll differ hym. Feare therfore lefte that thou of- fende God, and he fufferre the Deuyll to vtter hys malyce, and myfchyefe towardes thee.
That feare, honoure, or feruice whyche accordynge to godcles commaundemente is done vnto thofe per- fonnes whom God hath authoryfed to receyue it in hys name, is done vnto God.
As that money whych by thy commaundemente is payde to thy feruaunt in thy name, is paid vnto the[e].
1 Matt. iv. 10.
(n tlje j?I)rou&eg (n ^oule<}. 49
Therefore Chrifte rulynge in magiflrates by authcrytye, and beynge houngrye and coulde in the poore by pytye, doeth commaunde vs to geue, and promyfeth that he hym felfe wyll receyue and rewarde that honoure of reuerence, feruyce and obedyence doone to the hygher powers, as to hys ordinaunce in the common wealth : andalfothat honour of chari table almes [almose], relyefe, and conforte, whych is bellowed vpon the poore and neady, as vpon the lyuely members of his owne body. As for that whych wythout goddes commaundement, of mans phantafticall imaginacion is doone vnto Images, mufl nedes be hyghe dymonoure, and greuous difplea- fure vnto God, when as the lyuely ymage of God created wyth hys owne hande in flefhe and bloud, doth honor, reuerence, and homage vnto a dead pic ture of man, grauen in ftocke or ilone, wyth a worke- mans tooles.
God is alfo honoured in all hys creatures, when as they be taken wyth thankes, and vfed as he hath com- maunded: and therfore, when as they be vnthankfully taken, or wyckedly abufed, then is he difhonoured, and difpleafed.
Nowe, heare a fhort conclufion, Qid ex dco eft, uer- bum dci audit. He that is of God, heareth the worde of God. All you I faye that be Chriflen men, Gods chyldren, and indued wyth Goddes fpiryte, wyll heare the worde of Gods threatenyng, and fearyng his venge- aunce, repent, wyll heare the woorde of gods com maundement, and folowyng his counfels amende youre lyues, wyl heare the worde of Gods promyfe, and paciently furTerynge, trull to hys goodnes. As for you that wyll not heare and regarde goddes worde, ye declare your felues not to be of God. But for be- caufe ye haue the deuyl to your father, ye wyll fulfyll the luiles and defyres of the Deuyll, whyche is your father. And the lufle and defire of the Deuyll is, to hynder the worcke and pleafure of God : and thys is the worke and wyll of God, that we fhould repofe
50 & Sermon mat)*
cure faythe and trufle in Chrifle lefu, and beftowe cure laboure and diligence in our owne vocacyon.
'herefore the deuyll poyfonynge all hys wyth greadye couetoufenes, wyll cauie them euer to trufl to their owne prouifion, and neuer to be content wyth their owne vocacion, but beynge called of God to be marchaunt, gentleman, lawer, or courtear, yet to be readye at a becke of their father the deuyl, befydes this their godly vocacion, deuyllyfhelye to proule for, feke, and purchafe farmes, perfonages, and benefices, to difcourage houfbandemenne from tyllynge of the grounde, and minifters from preachynge of Goddes woorde : that therby maye come a greuoufe honger, dearth, and lacke both of naturall fubflaunce for the bodye, and alfo of heauenly foode for the foule And then thofe in the countrey that be not gods chyldren, but deuyllyfhe vipers, will hyffe, whifper, and fwell wyth venemous prefumpcion, and their fling of re bellion to deftroy both them felues, and al the cuntry. But they of ye cuntry or els wher, that be the chyldren of God in dede, knowynge couetous riche men and officers to be fparpled abrod in the cuntry as the fcourges of god, to beat them for their fynnes, lyke gentle chyldren, wyl acknowledge their owne fautes, and paciently fuffryng correccion, pitifullye crye vnto their heauenly father for mercy, forgeueneffe, and con- forte. So all you in England, that haue any godly knowledge, grace, and charitie, wyll fay with the pro phet Dauid : Virga tua, et bacillus tuns, ipfa me con- folata funl -^ Thy rod, O Lorde and thy ftaffe, they it be whyche haue conforted me. Thy rodde of correc cion, whych is thefe couetous ryche men, and officers, and thy flaffe of conforte, whyche is the kynges maiel- tie, whom thou hail endowed wyth a gracious gentle nature, godly educacion, wonderful wyt, and great learnyng : yea, and thofe noble men whom thou haft called from their vayne plcfures, to take great paynes, of a reuerent loue towardes the kyng, and of a chari-
1 Ps. xxiii. 4.
in tlje jefjroulifS in joules. 51
table pitie towardes vs, to beflowe their landes and goodes, tyme, and fludye, and all that euer they haue, to profper the Kynge, to prouide for hys realme, and to cherilh vs his people therof. Thus thy rodde of correccion, O Lorde, hath taught vs to be fubiecte in humilitie vnto all hygher powers, as to thy ordinaunce: and this thy ftaffe of conforte o Lorde, doth encorage vs to loue and trufl them, efpecially vnto whome thou hafl geuen hyefl power and authoritie. So that we can nowe wyllynglye geue vnto euerye one that whyche is due : vnto ye higher powers, reuerence, feruyce, and obedience, vnto all in general faythfull dealynge, and vnto the poore and needye, charitable almes [almose], releefe and conforte.
Giue therfore vnto vs, o Lord, mercye and grace, that we maye render vnto thee thankes and prayfe for euer. Amen.
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In nomine Ermt
[OD be mercifull vnto vs : For the tyme is euen nowe comynge, when as God mufte needes either of his mercye here in Englande, worke fuche a wonderfull miracle vnto our conforte, as farre paffeth mans expectacion : orels of his righteous- nes take fuch vengeance of this lande to th[e]example of all other landes, as fhall be to our vtter diflruccion.
Ye know, that immediatly after the preachynge of Noe, came the great floud that drouned ye world. After the warnyng of Loth, came fyre, brymflone vpon the Sodomites and Gomorrians. When Moifes had declared Gods thretnynges in Egipte, kyng Pharao and his people were plaged vpon the lande, and drouned in the red fea.
Suche plages came euer where Gods worde truly preached, is not beleued, receaued, and folowed. ]Jut at the preachyng of lonas, the Niniuites repented wonderfully. When the boke of the law was reade vnto lofias the kyng, he, with all his people fpedely repent- yng, found exrcadyng mercy, bleffyng, and grace : as lykewyfe all other fhalbe fure to find, which heare the worde of God and keepe it.
For when Chrifl and his Apoflles had preached the
Gofpel vnto the lewes, thofe that beleued were de-
•1 irome the curfo of the law, vnto the blefling
of grace, out of worldly mifcry, to be inheritcrs of the
heucnly kyngdome : and thofe that did not beleue,
were cn.fl from God, oppixffcd of men, ouercome,
fnovlrd, murilK'ivd, and dillroycd of llu-ir riu-myes.
\\ hcrfore Englande, whicho at this prclcnt tyme, by
56 & Sermon
reafon of the worde of God fetfurth, reade, preached, and comuned, dothe in euerye place heare the coun- fell of Noe, the warnynge of Loth, the law of Moyfes, the threatnynges of the Prophetes, and the grace of the Gofpell, as it was declared and taught by Chrili and his Apoflles : Thys Englande mulle nedes, either by beleuynge of thefe thynges, obteyne of God won- derfull grace of amendement, orels by neglecting them, prouoke the vengeance of God, as a dewe plage and punyfhment.
Take heede therfore England, for if thou by vnbe- lefe, let and flop God from workynge of miracles to thy confort, then furely dooefl thou prouoke God to powre doun vengeaunce vpon the, to thy vtter di- flruccion : But if thou doo regarde, receaue, and be- leue Gods worde, he wyll worke wonderfull miracles to thy conforte, wealth e, and profperitie. Yea, let euerye man, of what eftate or degree foeuer he be, grope his owne confcience : for if he dooe not there feele that the worde of God dothe take place to moue hym to repentaunce and amendment of lyfe, then mall he be fure fone to haue experience, that the vengeaunce of God, by a fhamefull fhorte eride of his wretched lyfe, wyll bryng him vnto an euerlaflynge dampnable deathe. For all thofe that wyll not creepe vnder the merciful wings of god, as the chikynnes of Chrift, fhalbe caught and deuoured of puttockes, haukes, and kytes, as a pray for the deuyll. The wynges of God be iiretched abrode here in Englande, by the kynges gracious maieflye and his honorable counfell, of mighty power, with ready wyll to fhadowe, defende, and faue all thofe that with reuerent loue, come Humbly creepyng vnder their ordinaunce, rule, and gouernaunce, whiche is the power, the wynges, and the honour [the order] of God.
The filthye gredye puttockes, wylde haukes, and rauenyng kytes be fuperflicious papifles, carnall gofpel- lers, and fedicious rebelles, which as ye haue feene, by late experience, haue moil cruelly caught, fpoyled, and
Before tf)e ^gng. 57
deuoured the lambes, the chekynnes, the chyldren of God, redemed and boughte with Chrifles blonde. Wherfore as Chrifl in his owne perfone dyd once lament and bewayle lerufalem, fo clothe he nowe many tymes in the perfons of his propheticall Preachers, lament and bewayl Englande, faying : O England, howe ofte wolde I haue gathered thy chyldren, as a hen gathereth her chikens vnder her wynges, and thou woldefl. not. Euen with the fame affeccion that the fhepherde cryeth,feeyng the wolfe le[e]ryng towardesthe fhepe, and with the fame affeccion that the hen clock- eth and calleth, fpyeng the kyte houeryng ouer her chekyns : with the fame affeccion it behoueth the minifter and preacher of God, feeyng vntollerable vengeaunce hangynge ouer Englande, to crye, to call, and to geue wnrnyng vnto the people, faying as [it] is written in the firfl of Efay : If ye willyngly wyl heare and obeye, ye (hall eate the good confortable frutes of the earthe : but if ye wyll not, and prouoke me vnto angre, the fwoorde (hall deuoure you : Quia os Domini locutum e/l.1 For it is the mouth of the lord that hath fpoken.
Now your reuerende maieflie, mod gracious kyng, and you honourable wyfe godly counfellers, you are the chiefe fhenherdes, you are the mod reuerende fathers in Chrille, hauynge the wynges of power and authentic, to fhadow, faue, and keepe thefe lambes of Ljod, thefe [the] chekens of Chrift, and thefe chyldren of the heauenly father, redemed with Chrifles blonde, and committed vnto your handes, to be faued, kepte, and prouyded for.
God be prayfed, with thankful obedience, and lou- 6 reuerence dewc to your gracious maieftye and honorable counfell, whiche haue furdy wyfely pro- uyded for, diligently kept, and charitablv faucd this realme, by driuyn^ away the wyldc [wilie] foxe of papiilirall fuperllic.ion, and by caflynge out the vn- cleane fpirit of ignorance, to gods glorye, your honour, and our con fort.
i K /. »rt.
58 & Swncm pvtacljct)
But alas mod gracious Kyng and godly gouernors, for the tender mercyes of God, in our Sauiour lefu Chrift, take good and diligent heede when ye be chafyng the wylde [wilie] fox of papifticall fuperflicion, that the greedye wolfe of couetous ambicion, do not ..creepe in at your backes : For furely he wyll doo more harme in a vveeke, then the foxe dyd in a yere.
Take heede, that the vncleane fpirite of ignor- aunce, returnynge with. vii. other worfe then himfelf, fynde no place vnwarded, where he may creepe in agayne. For if he returnyng with his felowes, enter in agayne, then wyll he make the ende of this genera- cion to bee worfe then the begynnyng.
Then mail you leefe the rewarde of your former diligence, and be dam[p]ned for your later negligence. Then mall the welfpryng of mercye, which of long tyme hath watered thys Realm e with the grace of God be clofed vp, and the blodye flouds of vengeance gufhing out from the wrath and indignacion of God, ouerflowe all togyther. Then wyll not God, by work- yng of miracles declare mercy, but by takynge of vengeaunce, execute right oufnes.
But God beyng as mercyfull yet, as euer he was, if you contynewe as faythfull, wyfe, and dilygent as ye haue ben, to handle the wolfe, as you haue doone the foxe, to keepe out the deuyll, as to call out the deuyll: then mail the people of this lande feede in quyetnes, without feare of euyl : then fhal you continuyng to the[e]nde, be fure of an hunderdfold reward in this lyfe, and afterwards, euerlafling lyfe, ioye and glorye. Then mall God doo wonderfull miracles in Eng- lande, to declare howe mercy fliall triumphe ouer rightoufnes.
And that wee maye all dyfpofe our felfes the more conuenientlye for God to worke fuche a miracle amonge vs, wee haue appoynted for the gofpell of this day, writen in the. vi. of lohan, a wonderfull miracle of. v. thoufande men, fed and fatisfyed with. v. loaues and ii. fyfhes, wheras euery man may and ought to learne
More tfcc l&gng. 59
his owne dutye, whiche (hall clearefly] appeare too a kyng in Chrifl, to head gouerners vnder the kynge, in the Apoflles, beyng moft neare about Chrifl, and to all other men, in that multitude of the people, whiche folowynge Chrifl, were obedient to fyt doune at the commaundment of his Difciples, not knowyng, nor enquiring why they were fo commaunded.
And as furely as this wonderfull miracle was done to the great confort of them in Chrifles tyme : fo truly is it left in writyng for to learne vs by pacience and confort of the Scriptures, to haue good hope at this tyme.
And as Ch rifle, hauynge alwayes fpeciall refpecte vnto hys audience, dyd teache the fyfhers by talkyng of nettes, preachynge vnto the lewes by dyuers parables, and called the Gentyles by the eloquence of Paule : fo I, in handlyng of this miracle, hauing refpect vnto thys audience, wyll applye the wonder- full great charitable prouifion of Chrifte, vnto the Kynges Maieflye : the faythfull diligence of the Apoflles, vnto the nobilitie : and the dewe obedi ence and hertye thankfulnes of the multitude, vnto all other of the communaltye. Not doubtyng but that charitable prouifion of liberall benefites, wyll be a thyng mofl plefaunt and honorable for the Kynges Gracious Maieflye, and faythfull diligence in difpof- yng great benefites mofl conuenient. and commend able for all that be in high authentic : and finally, humble obedience, and vnfayned thankfulnes to be mofl neceffary, requifite, and looked for at this tyme, in all inferiours and commune forte of people in Eng land e.
Marke a litle after the bcgynnyng of the fyxt Chap, of lohan, and ye (hall heare, when as much people [commyng vnto Ic-fus, hauyng nothyng to] eate, what K-fus dyd. I wyll pa fie the difcripcion of the wylder- iies. with the caufes and the maner of the peoples goyng to-ither, and be^ynne at that whiche Chritl dyd, when they were cunnnyng towardes hym.
6o 21 jecrmon
[Efus lifting vp his eyes, and feeynge muche people come vnto hym, fayde vnto Philip : Frome whence mall wee b[u]ye bread, that thefe may eate? This he fayd tempt- for he himfelf knew what he wolde Philippe anfvvered vnto hym : Two hundreth penye worth of breade wyll not be fufficient vnto thefe fo that euerye one myght take a lytell. One of hys difciples Andrew, Symon Peters brother, fayth vnto hym : There is one boye here, whych hath .v. barley loaues and .ii. fyfhes, but what ar thofe amongefl fo many? lefus faid : Make the men to fyt doun. There was muche graffe in the place. The men therefore fat doune, about the numbre of .v. thoufands. lefus tooke the breade, and after thankes geuynge, dyd diuide it vnto his difciples, and the difciples to them that were fette : And lyke- wyfe of the fyfhes, fo muche as they woulde. And when they were filled, he fayde vnto his difciples : Gather vp the broken meates remaynyng, that no- thynge bee loft. They gathered therfore, arid fylled .xii. bafkets full of thofe meats which remayned, after that thei hadde eaten. The men therfore feeynge what a fygne lefus hadde done, fayde that this is trulye the Prophet whiche cummeth vnto the worlde.
QMercifull Lorde, what a greef is it to fee thofe which a man loueth hertely, with fuche difeafes ;ed, that euery thing miniflred by the Phificion to doo them good, by their owne vnquietnes and mif- ufynge of the fame, doth encreafe their greuous daun- gerous fycknes. For thefe [people in the wilderneffe, deflitute of all prouifion, and in. great lacke and neede of bodily fuflenaunce, were then by a wonderfull
fafore t&e Itfing. 61
miracle, plentifully fedde of Chrifl, occafionyng then by the yearthly and bodily foode, to defire and feeke the bread of life, defcendyng from heauen : but then tooke, and turned that occafion cleane contrary, imaginyng to make Chrifle an yearthly Kyng, and were fo greedie to feede their bodies, that thei had no defire nor tail of the foode of the foule. And now England hauyng occafion, by the abolifhyng of Papif- trie, to embrace fmcere Chriftianitie, tourned that occafion, to take the fpoyle of Papiftrie, whiche is the caufe that many neglecte, and fclaunder fmcere Chrif tianitie. And fo haue, and doe tourne all occafions of godly charitable reformation, into worldly couetous corruption. And the] people [of this audience], hauyng great occafion of confort, bi reafon that in [t]his place, through the true preachyng of gods word, ail fynne is plainly and freely rebuked: and thofe fynnes efpeciallye which dooe appertayne vnto magillrates, wherby any man of indifferent iudgement, may thynke that thefe magiflrates beeyng prefent, and willingly hearynge, bee purpofed to amende : Thefe people I faye, that thus haue a great occafion of conforte offered vnto them, by their owne miflakyng of it, dooe tourne all to their further griefe and daunger. For they fpeake vnreue- rently, and vntruly flaunder the magiilrats, not only with the faultes that bee here named, but alfo with re- bukyng, imprifonyng, and forbiddyng of the Preachers. And when as by the fame mouth of the true preacher, their venemous tongues be rebuked, then thei fpare not to fay, that the Preacher hath learned his leffon in lacke an apes court : doyng as much as lieth in them, to make other men, neither to reuerence the magiflrates, nor beleue the Preacher. What thei them felfes mean therebye, peraduenture by reafon of blyndneffe, they wot not. But we knowyng the craft of the deuyl, as Paul writeth. ii. Cor. ii. perceiue yat he wold haue nothing in this place layde to the Rulers charge : Not fearyng how muche be fpoken to thofe of the people, which be pail any amendment by
62 & jsermon
wordes : But all that the deuyll feareth, is, left that the Rulers be put in remembraunce of the great daun- ger that they be in, for fufferynge fo great enormityes vnpunyfhed amongeft the people.
I therfore truftyng to do moft good in that whiche the deuyll laboureth the moft to hyndre, wyll laye great and many fautes vnto them that haue moft power and authoritie. For fure I am, that rulers ordeyned by God to fee the ignoraunt inftructed, and the euyll punyfhed, be in great daunger of Gods venge- aunce, for the great and manifolde enormities whiche do grow and fpring of ignoraunce, for lacke of know ledge, and of diffolutenes for lacke of due correc- cion.
And you people be ye fure that the more their daunger is, for lacke of prouifion and punymment for other mens faultes, the greater is the damnacion of them that commit and doo thefe fautes.
Nowe I truftyng to God, and not fearyng the deuyll, wyll proceede to declare and applye this parte of fcrip- ture vnto this Audience, fo that for no man I wyll cloke or flatter anye vyce.
lefits lyftyng vp his eyes, and feeynge muche people cummynge vnto hym, <&c.
Here note two thynges : in the people note coming vnto Chrift, and in Chrift, note charitable prouifion for the people. For in this people dothe Chrift de clare by example, and proue in experience his doc trine to be true, whiche he had afore taught, faying : Fyrft feeke for the kyngdome of God and the rightouf- nes, therof, and all thefe other, meanyng necei'faryes, mil bee miniftred vnto you. For here they folowyng Chrift, to feke the kyngdome of God, had not onlye this kingdome of God, this bread of lyfe, this woorde of faluacion preached vnto them, but alfo, all their difeafes healed, and their hungiye belyes withe good meates plentifully fylled.
Yea, the plentye of thefe people hauyng enough,
before t&e £\gng. 63
euen fo much as they woulde, was farre more then the plenty of crafty Lawers, difcdtful Merchauntes, couetous greedyguttes, and ambicious prollers, whiche canne neuer haue ynough : but alwayes contynew in vn- faciable hunger, and neede of couetoufnes. As [in] the. [xxjxiiii. Pfal. declareth : Diuitcs eguenint-}- The ryche haue felt neede and hunger : but they whiche feeke the Lorde, lacke no goodneffe [gooddes].
He that feeketh to be ryche, be he neuer fo poore a flaue, or fo mightye a Lorde, he falleth into dyuers temptacions and fnares of the deuyll : but they that feeke the Lorde, mall lacke no goodnes. Seke for to be ryche, and thou malt fynd forow, miferye, and mifcheif : Seeke for to be godly e, and thou (halt fynd confort, vvelth and profperitie, with al rnaner of felicitie. If thou wylt be godly, thou mufl folowe Chrifl : thou mud not folow the fleppes of his feete, which be taken vp into heauen oute of thy fyght, but thou oughteft 10 folowe the doctrine of his worde, which is lefte here [here left] vpon earth, to guyde the fleppes of thy lyfe, in the way of peace. And whyther wyll Gods worde guide the in the tyme of thy trouble and neceffitie ? Surely vnto the Lorde, whyche fayth: Propiermiftriaminopum^ &v.2 For the miferyes fakes of the confortleffe, and fyghynges of the poore, now wyll I ryfe, fayth the Lorde.
O Lorde, feeynge thou hade manye people in Eng- lande, that as yet be in miferies without confort, and in pouertie, and lacke helpe, how dooefl thou aryfe vnto them ? Vnto this the Lorde anfwereth, in the. xxxiiii. of Ezechiel : Sufdtabo fuper cos pajlorem vnum? &>c. I wyll fet vp ouer theim one pallor, euen my feruaunt Dauid, he mail feede theym, and he fhall be their pallor, and I the Lord, wyl be their God. This prophecye was written longe after Dauids tyme. Wher- fore by Dauid here named, is fignified and meante fuche a Kyng as fhalbe as faythfull and diligent to kccpe, fccde, and cheryfh his fubiectes within hys owne Realme, as was Dauid to his people within Ifraell [,that fame is Chrifl in his Kyngdome. in his aucthontie ?]
1 Psa. .r.rx/z/. 10 (Latin). 2 Psa. xa. 5. 3 Ezek. xxiv. 23.
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[And] We hope trufte and beleue, that cure gracious Kyng, indued with the faythfull diligence of Dauid, is ordeyned of God, to gouerne, cherifti and feede vs the people of this his Realme. Wherfore accordynge to the[e]xampleof Chrifte Iefu,moflChriftenand Gracious Kyng, for the reuerence of God, which hath fet you vpon the high hyll of honor and authoritie, lyft vp your gracious eyes of charitable pitie, and behold much people throughoute all Englande, comyng to feeke releefe, eafe, and conforte, fente from God vnto them, by your excellent Maieftye. For althoughe there hathe ben to much mercy (hewed vpon the generacion of vypers, the vngracious rebels : Yet is there manye poore people, whiche lyke fymple fheepe, fhorne to the bare fkynne, haue as yet little prouifion and great neede : euen as .v. thoufandes in wildernes folowed Chrifl and his Apoftles, fo many thoufandes in Englande, pafl all other hope and refuge, folow your gracious maieflye and honorable Counfell. For their perfons [parfones], which fhouldelykefhepheardesfeede them, doo lyke thieues robbe, murther and fpoile them. And their landlords, which fhuld defend them, be mofl heauye maiflers vnto them : Yea, all maner of officers doo not their duties to kepe the people in good ordre, but rather take fuch fees as maketh the people veraye poore. Who fo hathe eyes, and wyll fee, mai eafely perceiue that thofe perfonages, which be mofl in nombre, and greatefl, in value. Throughout all England be no fhepherds houfes to laye vp fodder to feede the poore fheepe of the parifh, but theeuyfh dennes, to conuey away great fpoyle from all the ryche men of the parifh. I fay ther is no perfon there to releeue the poore and nedy, with natural fuflinaunce in keepyng of houfe, and to feede all ingenerally with the heuenly foode of Gods woorde by preachynge : But there is a perfons deputie or fermer, which hauyng neither habilitie, power, nor aucthoritie to doo the perfons dutye in feedynge and teachyng the paryfh, is able, fufficient, and (lout
fcefore tfre l&flng. 65
ynough to chalenge and take for his mayflers dutie, the tenth parte of all the parifh. Likewife other offi cers take many fees, and do few dutyes : And efpeci- ally landlordes take exceedynge fynes and rentes of theire tenauntes, and doo no good vnto their ten- auntes.
Now my Lordes, bothe of the laitie and of the clergye, in the name of God, I aduertyfe you to take heede : for when the Lorde of all Lords fhal fee his flock fcatered, fpylte, and lofle, if he folowe the trace of the bloude, it wyll leade him euen ftreyght waye vnto this court, and vnto your houfes, where as thefe great theues which murther, fpoyle, and diftroye the flockes of Chrift, be receaued, kepte, and mainteyned.
For you mainteyne your chapleynes to take Plur alities, and your other feruauntes mo orTyces then they can or wyll difcharge.
Fye for fynne and fhame, eyther gyue your fer uauntes wages, or els let them go and ferue thofe which do gyue them wages. For nowe your chap leynes, your feruauntes, and you"' your ft- lues haue the perfons, the fhepherdes, and the offycers wages, and neither you nor they, nor no other dooeth the perfons, the fhepherdes or the offycers dutye, except peraduen- ture ye imagen that there is a paryflie priefle, curate, whiche dooeth the perfons duty. But although ye do fo ymagen, yet the people do feele and perceyue that he doetli meane no other thing but pai your duty, paye your dutye. Yes forfoth, he miniflreth Gods facramentes, he fayeth his feruyce, and he readeth the homilies, as you fyne llatring cowrtiers, which fpeake by imaginacion, teanne it : JUit the rude lobbcs of the countrey, whiche be to fymple to paynte a lye, fpeake foule and truly as they fymle it, and faye : He minifli- eth Gods (acraments, he llubbers vp his feruice, and he can not reade the humbles. Yet is there fomc that can readc \vry\vell: but how many of thofe be not either fuperfticious papylles, oivls carnall -ufpellers, whiche by their euyll example of lyuyng, and worfe
£
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doctrine, do farre more harme then they do good by their fayr reading and faiyng of feruyce. But put the cafe, as it maye be, that there bee at a benefyce in fome place at fomtime, fome good curate : all thofe fummes wyll make but a fewe in nombre, and yet ye fee many perfons in many places abfente from their benefices, whiche if they be feldome abfent, may be good, but if they be continually or for the moft part abfent, then can they be neither good, honefl nor godly. For if their duytie be vndone, then can no man excufe them : if it be doone, then is it by other, and not by them : and then why dooe they lyue of other mens labours ? He that preacheth the gofpell, fhulde lyue vpon the gofpell, as God hath ordeyned : As for thofe, Qui mollibus veftiuntur, indomibus Regum} whiche go gaye in Kynges houfes, and either mofell the labouring oxe, orels fpoyle the poore parifh in the countrey, be of the deuyls ordinaunce. As there is in all offyces, fome putte in by Chrift, fome by the deuyl : fo is there in perfonages [Parfonages], fome fente from Chrifl as fhepherds to fede, and fome from the deuyll, as theues to deuoure. Yea, amongeft all kyndes of offycers, fome bee true Prophettes and fhepheardes in dede, and fome haue fhepe fkyns, and be rauenyng wolfes in deede. The one taketh paynes in doyng of his dutye, and the other feketh gaynes in profeffyng of his duty. Take heede of thofe, for they are erraunt theeues.
Alas, if all thofe whiche take the names and profef- fyons of offycers, for defyre of luker and honor, and do not execute the duties belongynge to their offyces with paynful diligence, be errant theues, as they be in deede, then is there manye a flronge erraunt theefe amongefl them that be called honefl, worfhipfull, and honorable men.
For they haue the names, the authorities and vaun- tages of thofe offyces giuen and payed vnto them, the dutyes of the whiche be veray flenderly or nothynge at al executed amongefl the people.
1 Matt. xi. 8.
before tlje Ixgng. 67
If I were in anye other place in all Englande, I could and wolde vfe an other trade of preachynge afore an other audience : but beyng called of God by your appoyntement vnto this place at this tyme, my confcience doth compell me to vfe this trade and no other, afore this folemne audience. Wherfore with dreede and feare of God, with charitable pitie of the people, with mod reuerende loue and homage vnto your honors, I muft needes crye with the prophet Efaie: l^rincipcs Sodomce^populus Gomorroe^ Heare the vvoorde of the Lorde ye Princes of Sodome, ye people of Gomorra : Quo mihl mult Undo victimarum veftrarum : * What care I for the great nombre of your facrifyces, Dirit Donritius, fayth the lord : rebukynge all the facri- fices, ceremonies, and feaftes of the lewes, which he himfelfe had commaunded to be obferued and kepte : by the which thyng left in writynge, he doth teache and commaunde me howe to fpeake of your wel doyng here in England. Heare therfore ye Princes of So dome, and ye people of Gomor, thus fayth the Lord. What pleafure haue I, yea what care I for al your Englifhe Bibles, Homilies, and all youre other bookes: fet furthe no more godly feruyce to honor me with : I hate them all with my herte, they are greuous vnto me, I am wery of them : Yea, it is a great payne for me to fuffer them. Why, o lord, thefe be good, thefe be godly, and thefe be neceffary thynges.
Truth it is, the faulte is not in the thynges that be fet furthe, but in you that haue fet them furthe. Manus enim vc/lrcz plcnoe. funt f anguine : 2 For your handes are ful of blood.
Your handes, your feruyces [feruice] and your houfes be ful of perfons lyuynges, Preachers liuynges, and offy- cers liuynges. And by you, the perfone hath his difpen- facion, the preacher is put to fcilence, and the offycer vnpunyfhed, for neclectynge of his dutye. And fo through the negligence of the kepers, [(Jgood order, which is the pale of the parkc of this commune wdth clekayedQ], the dere therof, mod dearly bought with
' Isa. i. io. ii. 2 Isa. /. is.
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Chrifles blonde, haue flrayed oute of theire owne feed- ynge, to diftroy the corne of all mens liuynges : Where as very neceffytie hath compelled you with fuch force to driue them backe, as muft needes diflroye manye of thofe dere. Thofe people I mean, which you haue cherylhed and kept, and as yet doo loue and pitie aboue all other iewels, commodities and pleafures. Alas, thefe that take the liuynges, and doo not the dutyes of Perfons, Preachers, landlordes, Bailyes, and of other officers : Thefe flatterers, thefe wolfes in lambes fkyns, thefe deuyls in mens vyfers haue caufed you to be thought and taken as cruell oppreffers of thofe [thefe] people, whofe furious wylde rage ye dyd fup- preffe and keepe vnder, of veraye charitable pitie towardes them, and all other, whiche with that re bellious rage, fhulde haue be all togither diftroied, if the help of your power and aucthoritie had ben anye longer differed.
Surely, vntyll that thefe prollers for them felues, thefe children of the deuyll, thefe fowers of fedicion be taken out of the way, either by reformacion, or by diflruction, your charitable pitie and prouifion for the people, and -their reuerende loue and obedience to wardes you, mall neuer be feene, felt, and knowen. Nowe, as Helve was gilty of the whordome, extor- cion, and abhominacion of his fonnes, fo are your hertes full of crueltye, and your handes full of bloude, not fo muche by doyng, as by fufferyng all thefe euyls. Wherfore Lauamini, mundi eflotc :x Wafh, and make your felfes cleane, with the teares of repentaunce. Anferte malum cogitationum veftrarum ab oculis meis .-1 Avvai with the euil of your thoughtes from afore my eyes. Open your heartes, that the fworde of Gods word may come to wype awaye couitoufnes, whiche is the roote of all euyll, planted in your hertes. For if that roote continew there, than can no good fpring from you : but euen the moft pure and holfome woorde of God fette furth by you, continuyng in couitoufnes, wyll be abhominable in the fyght of God, offenfme vnto
' Isa. i. 16.
Wore tfrc ISgng. 69
the people, and damnable vnto your felues. Wher- fore, Quiefcite agere peruerfe :* Seace to peruerte, manye thynges from euyll vnto worfe. Difrite bcnefacere :* Learne to dowell,inconformyngal thyngsthat beamiffe, vnto a good ordre. Queer ite indicium:^ Seeke [Searche] for righteous iudgement, which is almofl banyfhed out of Englande. Alas what a iudgement is this, a fuper- flicious papifle, which e hathe made the faulte, mail haue a penfion out of a Chauntrie, fo longe as he lyueth, and a poore paiyfhe whiche hathe great neede and doone no faulte, mall lofe and forfayte many Chauntries vtterly for euer. Subuenite oppreffo? Helpe the oppreffed people that be loaden with heuye bur- deyns of paiynge wages to manye offyces, and faynte for lacke of releefe, and due feruyce of the offycer. Indicate pupillo:^ ludge fo to the fatherles chyldrens behofe, that wardfhip mai be a good prouifion for fatherles chyldren, and not an vncharitable fpoyle of yong mens landes. Defendite viduam : * Shielde the wydow from all mens iniuryes, and compell them not to marye your vnthrifty feruauntes.
Thus hath God by Efaye in his tyme, and by me at this tyme defcribed Rulers Faultes, with a waye how to amende them. Therfore, Principes Anglian1 Ye head rulers and gouernors of England, fyrfl fee, ac knowledge and* amende your owne fautes : And then, perufynge all vnder offycers, confyder, and note how few fheph cards and offycers doo feede and keepe, by doyng dutyes, and how many theeues, and wolfes do robbe and fpoyle the flockes, by takyng fees here in Englande : and then fhall ye perceaue that there mufl ncdes be manye fheepe, that with their hertes, myndcs, and expectacion, do folow the Kynges Maiellye, and you of his honorable counfell, fo farre pafte the hotifes and cyties of their owne prouifion, that yf thei haue not fpedy reliefe at your handes, many of them is lykc to feynte and decaye by the way.
Thcrfore this confydered and knowen, as Chrift lyftyng vp his eyes, dyd teache you to fee and con-
1 K:i. /'. 1 6, 17.
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fyder the people : fo learne by that which e foloweth in Chriftes dooyng, what fhalbe your dutye after that ye fee and knowe the multitude, the flate and condi- cion of the people.
And he fayd vnto Philip : From whence mall we bye bread e, that thefe maye eate ? But this he fayde to prouc him : for he him felfe knewe what he wolde doo.
Chrifl faid to Philip, as euery Chriften King ought to fay to his Counfell : From whence fhal we that be gouernors, kepers and feders, bye and prouide with our own coft.es, labor, and diligence, bread, foode and neceffaryes, that thefe may eate and be releued, which be our fubiectes, in obedience, brethern in Chrifl, and felow heyres of the heauenly kyngdome.
Pharao with his Counfell in Egipte, confulted howe to bryng the welthy people vnto miferye : fo that he is a very Pharonicall tyrant, which laboreth by op- preffion to thruft down the welthy people : And he is a faythful chriften kyng, that humbleth him felfe by diligence to releeue, conforte, and fet vp the afflycted people. For the one, by worldly policy, wolde haue much honor, and the other of godlye charitie wyll do much good. Chrifl alfo fayde this, to proue and trye Philip, knowyng him felfe what fhoulde be done. So that here, Kynges and great men may lerne to trye and proue the honeflye, wyt, and fidelitie of their Counfellers in fuch matters as they them felues be fo perfect that they can difcerne with what difcrecion and mynde the Counfeller doth anfwere.
[And in this we maie fe, that God doeth not lacke, or neede any counfaile, or helpe of any manne, to dooe any good thyng, but would haue men to vnder- flande how muche and wel that God, and how little or nothing menne can deuife, and dooe when as neede is. So therefore will God vfe, and exercifc men, as Chrifl here doeth vfe, and exercife Phillip, Andrewe, and the other Difciples, for their owne ne- ceffitie, comforte, and commoditie to receiue, and
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learne of hym, wherewith they maie dooe good vnto others. And this leffon had not Phillip yet learned.]
Philip aunfwered. that two hundreth peny worth of breade wyll not ferue vnto thefe, fo that euerye one myght take a lytell.
In the which anfwere, as concernyng his wytte, he declareth it to be to flender to prouyde for fo great a matter in fo fhort tyme. And his mynde feemed to be fuch, as wolde not haue Chriil to trouble him felfe with fo great cares, but rather as the other Euangeliftes do declare, to fende the people awai, and let them prouide for them felfes. The fame mynde and affection was in Peter, after that Chrift hadde tolde his Difciples howe that he mud go to lerufalem to fuffer fore paynes and miferable death. For then Peter tooke him a fyde and fayde : Maifter, fauour your felfe, doo not entre in to. fuche daunger and forowes.
And it is not vnlyke, but if your Mageftye, with your Counfell, fpeake vnto your nobles for prouifion now to be made for the people, ye mail fynde fome that bee Philippians and Peters, whiche by fettynge afore your eyes the hardnes of the matter, the tender- nes of your yeares, and the wonderful! charges that fhulde be requilite, wyll moue and counfell you to quiet youre felfe, to take your eafe, yea, to take your paflyme, in haukyng, huntyng or gamnyng. Vnto whom your Mageftie may anfwere, as Chrifte dyd vnto Peter : Auoide fro me Sathan, thou hyndrefl me by thy carnall temptacion, to doo that thynge whiche God hath moued me vnto by his gracious infpiracion. Thou haft, no tall nor fauour how delicious God is vnto a pure confcience, in godlye exerfyce of good workes. But all that thou regardell and fcleft, is voluptuous pK-afure in worldly vanities. And thcr- fore thou docft not perceaue, how that they, which be indued with a Iperiall grace of God, muye fynde more pleafure and paflyme in ^odly ^oucrnauncc, to kropc togyther, and fane fymple men, then in haukyng and
72 & pennon pread)ctr
huntynge, to chafe and kyll wylde beaftes. Yea, a godly kyng fhall fynde more pleafure in cifting lottes for lonas, to try out offenders, whiche trouble the fhip of this commune wealthe, then in caflyng dice at hafarde, to alow and maintayne by his example, fuch thynges as fhulde not be fuffered in a commune wealth. Yea furely, a good Kynge fhall take farre more delyte in edifiyng with conforte and deckyng with good order the Congregacion of his people, the Churche and Houfe of God, the heauenly Citie of lerufalem, then in buildyng fuche houfes as feeme gaye and gorgeous, and be in deede but vile earthe, ftones, tymber and claye. Suche lyke anfwere ought your Mageflye, and all noble men to make, if ye fynde anye of youre Counfellers more carnall than fpiritual, more worldlye then godly. Orels turne awai your eares from fuche Philippians, and heare other, as Chrifl dyd.
Then fayde vnto hym one of his Difciples, Andrew, Symon Peters brother, There is a boy here that hath fine barley loaues and two fyfhes, but what auayle thofe among fo manye?
Note here that this boye was the Apoflles page, and thefe loaues and fyfhes were their vittayles. For as appeareth in Marke, when he had made fearche how many loaues they them felues had, this anfwer was made, that thei had. v loues and. ii. fifties : but what be thei amongeft fo many? As who fhulde fay: al though thefe be al that euer we haue, and feeme more meete to be kepte amongeft a fewe, then to be gyuen vnto many : yet forbicaufe thei [that] be cum [come], [whiche beyng] many haue more nede then we : yet [therefore] ar we willyng to giue them to be difpofed, and wyffhe that they were of more value to dooe more good amongeft the people.
Thefe men cared more for the Commune people then they dyd for them felues, and therfore were very meete to be Counfellers, and neare about a great Kyng. [And furely none can continue neare, and dearevnto our
before fyc Hvjing. 73
kyng Chrifl but fuche, for others that euer prolle for pri- uateprofite, bee hypocrites and flatterers as was ludas. And] Here wee perceyue what fymple Philip, and good Andrewe thynke, but here is nothing declared of couet- ous ludas counfell. No, for Chrifl beyng fully purpofed to doo a good deede, dothe neither alke, nor heare any counfell of couetous ludas : teaching all them which intende any goodnes, neuer to afke nor admit anye counfell of thofe whom thei know to be couetous. For trulye the couetous mans counfell, although it feeme neuer fo good and honed, yet is it in deede nought and deuelifh. For what could feeme better counfell, then yat a litle ointment, the fwete fmell of the whiche continued but a whyle among a few, fhuld haue ben foulde for. iii. hundreth pence, the great price of the whiche, bellowed amonged manye poore, fhulde haue done them good for a great ceafon [feafon] ?
The Euangelid dothe fhewe howe that ludas dyd gyue thys counfell, not for that he had anye care of the poore, but becaufe he was a theefe, and baire the bagges.
ludas pretence was wonders goodly, to fell the oynt- ment for a great fumme of money, to relieue the poore with : but his purpofe was deuelym, to get the money in his bagges, and keepe it to him felfe. And thofe in En^Umde, which dyd pretende, that befydes the abolyfliynge of fuperdicion, with the landes of Abbeyes, Coliges [Colledges],and Chauntryes, the Kyngfhuld be enriched, learnyng mainteyned, pouertye relieued, and the commune wealth eafed, and by this pretence, pur- pofely haue enriched theim fellies, fettyng abrode in- cloydred papifi.es, to get their liuyngs by giuyng them penfions, yea, and thrullyn.u; them into benefices to poy- fon thewhole commune welth for the refignacion of thofe pencions, and fo craftly conueying much from the King, from lernyng, from pouertie, and from all the com mune welth, vnto their owne priuate vauntauc. Thefe mennes counfell femed better then hulas counfell was: and their couetoufnes, by their owne deedes appeareth
74 & Sermon preacfjctf
no leffe then ludas couetoufneffe dyd. Well, beware, for if ye play ludas part on flyll, and make no reftitu- cion, vntil ye go to hangyng, ye ar lyke to fynde defpe- racion at th[e]ende of your life, bicaufe ye wold not by reftitucion amende your life. Ye noble men, and efpecialli you of the kings counfel, for the reuerence of God, pitie of the commen wealth, and fafegarde of your felfes, awaye with thefe ludaffes, let them go hang them felfes : excepte peraduenture ye thynke yt fytte and neceffary, that you fyrfl hang them afore they be tray you. For vndoubtedly, he that hath the couetouf- nes of ludas in his hert, he wyll playe all the other partes of ludas, if he euer haue fuche oportunitie as ludas had.
Away with ludas, and learn e at Andrew, to faye vnto this kynge and his counfell intendyng to re- lieue the multitude of his people here in Englande, learne ye noble men to faye : Here is a boye : Here be feruauntes and retainers of ours, which haue fyue loaues and two fyfhes, many benefyces, fome pre- bendes, with dyuers orifices : yea, and fome of vs our felues haue mo offyces then we can difcharge. Pleaf- eth it your maieflie to take thefe into your handes, which haue ben kepte for vs, that they nowe in this greate nede, may be better difpofed amongeft your people. Quid hoc inter tantos ?l Thefe be verye fmall thynges towardes the amendment of fo many lackes, in fo great a multitude. How be it thefe wyll feme, fo that there may be mo good Perfons, good Preachers, and good officers placed abrode in euery countrey, whiche in doing their offices, keping of houfes, and preachyng of gods word, may teache the ignoraunt, relieue thepoore, punyfli the fau[l]tye, and cheryfh the honeft, and fo repayre the pale of good ordre about this commen welth. For the loue of god gyue your feruauntes wages, and caufe them to reflore thefe liu- ings, which comyng of the fweate of the labourer, be in dede the reliefe of the poore, ye maintenaunce of honefly, and the reward of vertue, yea, the very pale,
1 John vi. g.
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wall, and bulwarkes of the commen wealth. The Apoflles gaue al that thei had of their own, frely vnto other : flycke not you to reflore yat now which ye haue of long time vncharitably kept from other.
Heare what foloweth : whan thefe fifties and loaues were brought vnto lefus, make (fayth he) the people to fyt doune. God alwaies befloweth his benefites vpon them that fyt doune in quietnes, and powreth furth his vengeaunce vpon thofe that be vnpacient, vnquiet, and full of bufyneffe. For as appeareth in Genefis : The people gathered togither in the plain of Sannaer [Sanner], and made a great vprore, buyldyng a towre lyke rebels againft god, to get them a name. Howbeit god deflroyed their handy work, confounded their langage, and fcatred them abrode.
The Scribes and the Pharifeys came vnquietly, tempting Chrift, and requyred a fygne from heauen. Chrifl rebuked them fharply, and fhewed them no fygne, but called them a frowarde and aduoutrous generacion. So the people in Englande gathered togytber, thei woulde make maifleryes, and bee not able felowes, yea, the towre of their prefumpcion fhuld be buylt vp vnto heauen, in difpite of gentyl men and nobilitie : they haue partlye felte, and we haue ryghte pitifully feene how fore God was therwith offended. Now I heare faye there is as yet remainyng in Eng land fum flirTe necked lewes, which come prefumptu- oufly tem[p]tyng God, and fay : if thefe our rulers be fent of God to take better order then other haue done, well then let theym begynne betyme to gyue vs a notable fygne and token, for els we wyll not bileeue, trull, nor obey them.
Well, I wyl tell you that thus whyfpcr : Euen as Chrifle was l\\Jitus in refurrectioncm ct rninata mitl- tonini in ffracll? Set to reflore and dckay manye in llraell: So be Chriflen rulers in euerye commune wealth, fct and ordeyned of God, to beatc doune and kepe vnder thefe ilunlye rebels, whiche be fo euyll
1 Luke //. 34.
76 & jccrmon prcadjcti
themfelues, that thei can not thynke that any man doth intende to doo them good, and to reife vp, con- forte and cherifh the fimple pacient people, which be of a good trull towards their rulers, knowynge that they themfelfes haue deferued no euil: orels if they haue done euyll, yet by repentaunce and amendment, do not doute to obteyne mercye at their rulers handes. So God hath ordeyned rulers to cheryfhe the[e], if thou be made quiet and pacient, orels to punifti the if you [thou] be vnquiet, bufy, and floborne. Learne at [S.] Paul. Ro. xiii. If you do wel, to trufl wel of thy rulers, and if thou do euil, not to be without fere of their powers : for he beareth not ye fword without a caufe. Take hede therfore ye rulers, for gods fake, and pitie of the people, feyng yat god hath geuen you a fword, to cut of rotten cankred membres, for ye fafegard of ye hole body, knowing no canker to be fo dangerus as is rebellion in a comen welth : If ye finde one perfon in fected with that canker, away with him, for ye fafe gard of ye body of yat houfe. If one houfe be in fected, away with it, for the fafegard of yat toune. If ye toune be infected, awai with it, for ye fafegard of the contrey. Yea, if a Ihyre or contrey be al poyfoned, away with it, for the pitie and fafegarde of the hole body of the comen welth. So ye fe that the fharper yat your fword is, and ye foner that ye flrike rebellion, ye more pitie ye mew [me we ye] in cutting awai the leffe, and fauing ye more part and porcion of the people, being al of one body, of one realme and comen welth. Confider that Chrift went from lerufalem vnto wilder- nes, to draw ye gentle people from among ye floborn fcribes : and fo chriften rulers mufl now nedes defer ye time to draw ye people yat be good and trufl well, from among this froward generacion, which e of prefumcion loke to haue ordre taken as they require and appoint ye time, ye place, and ye thing. Wherfore ye yat be good quiet people beware of thefe bufi felowes, and as this multitude which ought to be your example, folowed chrift into wildernes, fo
before tfte ?$»ng. 77
folow you chriften rulers, gods officers, your chefe gouerners in england. And as thei dyd not mur- mour, faiing : why fhal we fyt doune here in wilder- nes, being an infinit number wher no meat is, feing that in the cities where was more meate, and leffe gatherynge of the people, we had neuer feafl gyuen ot hym by his Apoilles ?
So I fay, do not you grudge and faye : why mail we quiet our felues nowe, truflynge to releefe, where wee fee nothyng, and were nothyng at all releeued when there was great plentye of landes, and goodes of Abbeyes, Cole[d]gies, and Chauntries ? Do not mur- mour fo vngodly, but fee that there bee no faulte in you, and ye Ihal fynde no lacke in God. Surely, ex- cepte ye do fytte doune quietly, ye mall fooner pro- uoke Gods vengeaunce to your damnacion, then de- ferue any releefe of Gods offycers, to your confort. Syt doune and be quiet, for the fame rulers and mini- llers are ordeyned of God, to feede you with plentye : whiche be commaunded of God to make you fyrfl to fytte doune in ordre and quietnes. Yea, and herke all ye that be godlye Rulers: there was much graffe in the place. God had prouided much graffe for theym that loked for no carpets: geuing all godly gouernours example to prouyde thynges necelTurye for thofe people that loketh for no fuperfluities. But alas, here in Eng land, fuperfluous gorgeous building is fomuch prouided for ryche mens pleafures, that honefl houfes do de cay, where as labouryng men ought to haue necefTary lodgyng. It is a commen cuflome with couetous land- . to lette tlieir houfynge fo decaye, that the farmer llialhc tayne for a fmall rc\varde or none at all, to gyue vp his leaffe, that they takynge the groumles into their o\vne handcs, may turne all to pallurc : lo nowOld-j leathers, poore Wydowes, and yong Chyl- dren lye beg-yng in the myrie 11 r
O mercyfull Lorde, what a niunbre of Pooiv, I;eble, Haulte, Dlynde, L.nne, fycklye, yea, with idK boundes, and diffemblyng kaityffes mixt among them,
;8 & jecrmon
lye and creepe, beggyng in the myrie flreates of Lon don and Weftminfter?
Nowe fpeakyng in the behalfe of thefe vile beggers, forafmuche as I know that ye vilefl perfon vpon erth, is the liuely image of almightye God, I wyl tell thefe] that art a noble man, a worfhipml man, an honefl welthye man, efpecially if thou be Maire, Shirif, Alder man, baily, conflable or any fuch officer, it is to thy great fhame afore the worlde. and to thy vtter damna- cion afore god, to fe thefe begging as thei vfe to do in the flreates. For there is neuer a one of thefe, but he lacketh eyther thy charitable almes [almofe] to relieue his neede, orels thy due correction to punyfh his faute. A great fyn and no leffe ihame is it for him that faith he is a chriften man, to fee chrifl lacke things neceffary, and to beflow vpon the detiyl fuperfluofly. It is Chrifl lefufs] himfelf that in the nedi doth fuffer hunger, thrift and colde. It is the deuil him felfe, that in the wealthye fareth dientily, goeth gorgioufly, and vfeth fuperfluitye. Looke Matthewe the. xxv. and there mall ye fee playn- lye that it is Chrifl which lacketh fufficient in the neadye : and therfore the deuyll beyng contrary to Chrifl, contrariwife hath to much in the wealthye.
You alfo that do prouide that your cattell dooe not longe tarye pynned in a folde where there is no graffe, whye dooe you fuffer youre owne brethren in Chrifl, withoute prouifion to lye in the flreates, where is muche myer? Thefe fely fols [feelie foules] haue ben ne glected throghout al England and efpecially in London and Weflminfler : But now I trufl that a good ouer- feer, a godly Byfhop I meane, wyl fee that they in thefe two cyties, fhall haue their neede releeued, and their faultes corrected, to the good enfample of al other tounes and cities.
Take heede that there be much graffe to fytte vpon, there as ye commaund the people to fyt doune, that there be fufficient houfyng, and other prouifion for the people there as ye commaunde them to be quiet The men fatte doune about fyue thoufandes in number.
before tf)e Itjmg. 79
If they had not ben obedient to fyt doune, Chrifl wolde not haue ben liberal to haue gyuen theym meate.
Meate was prouided for the Commens of Englande, and ready to haue ben deliuered : But when they were bydden to fyt doune in quietnes, they rofe vp by re bellion, and haue loft all the chere of that feafl. Yet that notwithftandyng, I truil that thofe whiche fat quietly in dede, mall foone be fedde with plentye, if they fytte flyll, vntyll it may conueniently be difpofed. I pray God they may, I trufl thei fhall. The Euan- gelid fayth that the men fatte, namyng neither women nor chyldren : how be it there was bothe women and chyldren, as appeareth in the other Euangeliftes. And men be here named only, bicaufe all women and chyl dren dyd folowe the example, and obey the commaunde- ment of men, chyldren of their [the] fathers, and women of their hufbands.
Let not therfore your wyues and chyldren, when they come abrode, be fo bolde openly, as to fay or do any thynges of them felfes, but as they haue example and commaun dement of you. Nowe the multitude placed in quietnes :
lefus toke the loaues, and when he had gyuen thankes, he diuided them vnto his Difciples, and the Difciples vnto them that were fet doune : and likewyfe of the fyfhes, fo muche as they wolde.
Here learne fyrfl of Chrifl, to take nothyng, be it neuer fo lytell, but with thankes rendered therfore vnto God : For of God furely thou hafl receaued it, by what meffcnger or meane fo euer thou came vnto it. Then fecondarily, learne at the Apoflles to giue vnto other, that which the Lord hath gyuen vnto the, that thou mayfl truly fay with the Apoftle Paul : Quod ac cept a a ' oniiiio, hoc tradidi vobis -,1 That whiche I re ceaued of the Lorde, haue I geuen vnto you. Be ware that thou playe not the wycked feruaunt, which kepte his talent hyd, and not deliuered vnto any vfe,
' i Cor. xi. 23,
8o H Sermon
for then it fhall be taken from the, and thou fhalte be cafte into vtter derkeneffe.
Now, to applye this miracle vnto this prefent time, time, the Kyngs Mageflye may learne at Chrifle, to take of his feruantes, Prebendes, Benefices, Impro- peracions, and all maner of Offyces, that be not pre- fently occupyed and executed of a faythfull diligent offycer : and after thankes geuen vnto God therfore, to delyuer them vnto his Couniell and Nobilitie, to be difpofed amongeft the people of his Realme, which be in fuch hungre and lacke of faythfull offycers, and houfekepers, and godly preachers, that thei rnufl needes faint, excepte they be fone prouided for.
And in this diflribucion of offyces and benefyces, your Mageflye with your Counfell had nede to flande and beholde the dealyng of your nobles, as Chriil dyd of his Apoftles. For it is not vnlike but as there was amongeft Chrifles Apoftles, fo wyll there be amongeft euerye Chriften Kynges Councellers and Nobles, fome ludas, which e is to be trufted no further than he can be feene. For in fyght ludas dothe as other of his felowes do : but beyng out of fyght, he folde his Maifter. And fo the mode couetous of them all, wyll be a frayde to do any thyrige amyffe, if you loke vpon : but if your backes be turned, then wyll couetous ludas fell dearely that which his liberall maifter gyueth freely. As for example of late dayes, the Kynges Magefty that dead is, dyd gyue a Eenefyce to be appropriate vnto the Yniuerfitie of Cambridge, Inliberam et pur a in c/ie- mofynam : As free and pure almes. How be it, his handes were fo vnpure, which fhuld haue deliuered it, that he receaued. vi. hundred poundes of the Vniuer- fitye for it. Whether that this. vi.C. pounds were con- ueied to the kings behoofe priuely for that Almes, which by playne writyng was giuen freely, orels put into fome ludas pouch, I wold it wer knowen. For nowe, by fuche charitable Almes, the kyng is flaundered, the paryfh vndone, and the Vniuerfitye in worfe cafe then it was afore.
before t&e Bgng. 81
Pleafeth it your Mageftye, with your honorable Counfell, for the reuerence of God, the pitie of the poore, and the godlye zele that ye haue to good lern- yng, heare what hath ben done in your tyme.
Your Mageftie hath had gyuen, and receaued by Act of Parliament, Collegies, Chauntries, and guyldes for many good coniideracions, and efpecially as ap- peareth in ye fame Act, for erecting of Grammer fcoles, to the educacion of youthe in vertue and godly- nes, to the further augmentyng of the vniuerfyties, and better prouifion for the poore and needye. But nowe, many Grammer fcholes, and much charitable prouifion ior the poore, be taken, folde, and made awaye, to the great llaunder of you and your lawes, to the vtter dif- conforte of the poore, to the greuous offence of the people, to the moll miferable drounynge of youthe in ignoraunce, and fore decaye of the Vniuerfities.
There was in the North countrey, amongeft the rude people in knowledge (which be moil readye to fpende their lyues and goodes, in feruyng the Kyng at the burnyng of a Beacon) there was a Grammer fchole founded, hauyng in the Vniuerfitie of Cambridge, of the fame foundacion. viii. fcholerfhips, euer replenyfhed with the fcholers of that fchole, which fcole is now folde, decayed, and lofle. Mo there be of lyke forte handled: But I recyte thys only, bicaufe I knowe that the fale of it was once flayed of charitie, and yet afterwards broughte to paffe by bribrye, as I hearde fay, and be- leue it, bicaufe that it is only bribrye, that cuilomablye ouercometh charitie.
For Gods fake, you that be in aucthoritie,loke vpon it.
For if ye winke at fuche matters, God wyl fcoule [that is to faie, looke with anger vppon you] vpon you. Thinke not that I do burden you with more than that, which God by his ordynance, not with out your willes and confentes, hath charged you with all. For by whofe fau[l]t[e] or negligence fo euer it was, that things afore tyme haue ben vncharitablye abufed, furelye it is youre charge, whiche be now in
82 &
aucthoritie, to fe at this tyrne all fuche thynges as yet remain out of ordre, rightoufly, fpedely, and charitably redreffed. And as I do perceiue, that the abufe of thefe thynges afore tyme, hath offended God, troubled the com men weal the, and brought fome men towardes fhame and confulion : So do I wyfli, pray, and trufle, that now the redreffe of the fame, may be to Gods pleafure, the peoples confort, and to the honor and eftablyfhmentof theym that be in moll hygh aucthoritie.
Heare therfore, and I wyll tell you more : There were in fome townes. vi. fome. viii. and fome a dozen kyne, gyuen vnto a flocke, for the reliefe of the poore, and vfed in fuch wyfe, that the poore cotingers, which coulde make any prouifion for fodder, had ye mylke for a very fmall hyre : and then the number of the ftocke referued, all maner of vailes befydes, bothe the hyre of the mylke, and the pryces of the yonge veales, and olde fat wares, was difpofed to the reliefe of the poore, thefe be alfo folde, taken, and made away. The Kyng beareth the flaunder, the poore feeleth the lacke, but who hath the profit of fuche thynges, I can not tell: but well I wot, and all the worlde fayth, that the Act of Parliament made by the Kynges Mageilye, and his Lords and Commens of the Parliament, for the mayn- tenaunce of learnyng, and reliefe of the poore, hath ferued fome, as a moft fyt inftrument to robbe learn yng, and to fpoyle the poore. If you that be now in aucthoritie do not loke vpon fuch thynges to redreffe them, God wyl loke vpon you, to reuenge theim. Here haue I reherfed them, that the Kynges Mageilye, with you of his counfell maye learne, not onlye by the doc trine and examples of fcripture, but alfo by experience in his owne lande, to fee and confyder howe his bene- fytes, put into the handes of his nobles and officers, be difpofed and vfed amongell his inferioure people.
For if landed men and officers, by keping of houfes, and doing of their dutyes in their countryes, do be- ftowe amongell [emong] the people, all that they haue receaued of God, by the kynges gyft, their fathers in-
More i\)t l^sng. 83
heritaunce, or other wayes : then fhall God giue fuch increafe, that euery man fhall haue inough.
As Salomon, the. xi. of the Prouerbes teftifieth : . Alii dimdunt propria, et ditiorcs fiunt : alii rapiunt non fita, et Jenifer in egejlate funt :l Some difpofe and gyue their owne, and become rycher and rycher : fome doo raueyn and fpoyle that which is not their owne, and be euer in lacke and neede. As ye fee in dailye ex perience, thofe that do their owne dutyes in execut- ynge their offyces, and beflowe theire owne goodes in keepyng good houfes, haue euer fuche plentye, that all other men meruayle from whence God fendeth it. And thofe that dooe no duties, nor keepe no houfes, but brybe in their offyces, and polle their tenauntes, take fo much, and haue fo lytell, that all men wunder how the deuyl thei waft it.
Nothyng is more true than the gofpel : Date, et dabitiir vobis :2 Gyue and it fhall be gyuen vnto you. Giue plentifully vnto other, and God wyl gyue more plentye vnto you. For God wyll alwayes be afore hande, in giuynge good gyftes. For as appeareth in this gofpell, when the Apoftles had giuen vnto the people fo much good meate as they defyred, then fayeth the Euangelift :
When thei were filled, lefus fayeth to his difciples : Gather vp the broken meates that remayn, fo that nothynge be loft. They therfore gathered, and fylled .xii. bafkets ful with the broken meates remaining of that which they had eaten.
Here they gaue but. v. loaues and .ii. fyfhes, and there wns gyuen vnto them. xii. bafkets ful of meats.
The Wydowe of Sareptha, gaue but one handfull of flowre, and a lytle oyle vnto Elias, and had gyuen vnto her agayne fo muche as ferued her and her fonne, al the tyme of the greate droughte .iii. Re[gu]. xvii. Learne therfore that couetous bribry and extorcion hath neuer ynough : and charitable liberalise, euer hathe plentye. Here alfo maye ryche men learne, when and howe to
1 Prov. .vi. 24. " Luke vt. 38.
84 & jfcermott preacljeb
fyll their ftore houfes. Surely e, euenas the Apoftles dyd fyll their bafkettes, when the people haue [had] ynoughe, then by gatheryng vp that which els fhoulde be Toil. So dyd lofephe in Egipt, fuffre no corne to be loft in the yeares of plenty, but flored it vp in barnes, to re- lieue the people with, in ye tyme of darth : Not as couitous carles do here in Englande forflall the mar- kettes. and b[u]ye corne at all tymes, to begynne and encreafe a dearth. Bleffed be they that fell, to make good cheape, and curfed be they that b[u]ye, to make it deare. For Salomon fayeth, Prouerb. xi. Quiabfcondit frumenta, maledicetur in populis : benedictio autem fuper caput vendencium .-1 He that hydeth vp corne, mall be curfed amongeft the people: But bleffyng be vpon their heades, that fell.
Nowe, to teache Chriflen rulers their dutyes, in the example of Chrifles Apoflles : marke how the Apoftles dyd fyrft minifter vnto the people, and than gathered vp for them felfes : teachyng therby all Chriften minifters, landelordes, offycers, and rulers, fyrfte to minifter vnto the people, euery one the dutye of his owne vocacion, afore they gather of the people, rentes, tythes, or fees, by the name and aucthoritie of that vocacion. Qjninon laborat, fayth [S] Paul, non man- ducet ^ He that doth not labour, fhuld not eate. He that doth no worke, ihulde take no wages : he that dothe no dutyes, fhoulde take no fees. Alas, this is Gods woorde, written in his wylle and Teftament, fealed with Chriftes blonde, and yet the cuftomes and lawes of Englande be cleane contrarye. For it hath ben cuftomeably vfed, yea, and by lawes cornmaunded, to paye wages, tythes, and fees, although no labour, no ortyce, no dutye be done. Yea, although he be not a labourer, a paftor, or an offycer in dede, but only by a pretenfed name, vnto whom thefe for the moft parte be payed.
For he that hath the properties, and vfeth the trades of a falfe thefe, and a cruell murtherer, can neuer be a faythful offycer in dede, altho[u]gh he be fo named by
1 Prov. xi. 28. 2 2 Thess. in. TO
fcefore tfre Hgng. 85
his owne flatery, in the Patrons prefentacion, in the Byfhoppes induction, yea, and in the Kynges Patent, fealed with the brode Scale. I had nede to take heede howe that I fpeake openly agaynft any thyng in any mans Patent, fealed with the kings greate Scale : Muche more neede had you to take heede, how that ye do any thyng expreffedly agaynft Gods wyll and Teftament, fealed with Chriftes precious bloude. It is expreffedly agaynfle Gods Teflament, to clothe a Wolfe in a Lambes ikynne : to call a thefe, an officer : and a cruel murtherer, a charitable paflor : to call euyll, by the name of good : and good, by the name of euyll. Efaye. v. V<z qui dicitis malum bonum : l Wo be to you that cal euyl good. To you I fay, which not only by fayings, but alfo in writynges, do name and cal thieues, murtherers, and wolfes that be euyll, by the names of officers, pallors, and lambes, which be good. 1 dooe not only meane, Perfones, Prebendaries, and other benefifed men, but alfo all maner of* officers, which haue wages, fees, or lyuynges, bicaufe you gyue them fuche names, and not for that thei do fuche dutyes.
Thefe be al Wolfes, and the names and tytles that you gyue them, be nothyng els but flieepe fkynnes. Some faye, they wyll take better heede here after, but that which is now paft, can not nowe be called backe, and amended. Yea, and it were great pitie, feeyng that they haue payed the fyrft fruites vnto the Kynges Mageftie, and no fmall reward vnto other men, per- chaunce bought their offices dearely, now to put them out of thofe liuyngs, with the loffe of all thofe charges, whiche they haue bellowed in rewardes, as otherwayes, to gette fuche liuynges.
Wo, wo, wo vnto you hipocrites that flumble at a flrawe, and leape ouer a blocke, that flrayne out a j^nat, and fwalowe vp a camell, that pitye more the loffe of mens brihryc, which was geuen to corrupt fome men, than the treding viuler fote of Chrifles blood, which was mead, to fane all men, that dooe imagen it pitie to driue the theues, murtherers and
1 Isa. v. 20.
86 <& Sermon preacljet)
wolfes from amongefl the lambes of God, redemed with Ch rifles precious blood, and committed vnto your gouernaunce and kepynge.
As God fhal help me, I fpeake with feare, pitie, and reuerence : if you do not rather pulle the fhepes fkines ouer the wolfes eares, and hange their carkafes vpon the pales, than fuffer theim to contynewe ftyll, God wyll plucke you doune with fome fodeyn mif- chief, rather than mainteyn or fuffer you in fo hygh aucthoritie, to vfe fuch vncharitable, vngodly, and cruel pitie. You knowe that fome of them haue bought their benefices, haue bought theire offyces, than muft ye nedes knowe, that eyther Chrifl is a Iyer, orels that they be entered in as theeues, to fpoyle, murther, and to deftroye.
If you fuffre theeues, murtherers, and wolfes, to take their plefures amongefl Gods lambes, I tell you playn, God wyll not long fuffer you to be ye hed- fhepherds, and gouernors and feders of his lambes.
And take hede you people, that on the other fyde ye runne not into an vntollerable flobornes, deniing your rents, your tithes or other duties : for ye fcrip- tur forbiddeth you vtterly, to deny or withdraw any thing from them : thou art commaunded if he contend to take thi cloke, to giue him alfo thy cote. What fo euer is afked, rather gyue more, than by denying of that, not to fhewe thy felfe to be an innocent fheepe that gyueth his fleefe, but a noyfome Goat, that ftryketh with the home. You are alwayes bounden to gyue the fleefe. It is magiftrates dutyes, to confyder and note, whether they be theeues, or fhepheardes, dogges, or wolfes that taketh the fleefe. Medle not with other mens dutyes, for if ye do, furely ye fhalfynd no remedy, but prouoke vncolourable [vntollerable] vengeaunce.
Now to retourne [turne] to our particular purpofe, let all theym that do receaue offices, landes, power, or aucthoritie from God, by the kyngs gyfte, or by other meanes : Fyrfl beflow and difpofe the dutyes of thofe thyngs faythfully amongefl the people, afore they gather
fafore tyt ISjmg. 87
vp to them fellies the reuenues amd commodities of the fame from the people. And then, when as no man can come to meat, but by doing of labour, nor none to receauynge of fees, but by doing of duties, furely euery man fhal haue as much as he deferueth, and no man fliall lacke that which he needeth.
For he, that by doyng of great duties deferueth the mode, by atteinynge the fees and rewardes due for the fame dutyes, mail haue the beft. And he that is in nede, bailing no trud to get any thyng by idleneffe, craft, or flattery, fhalbe compelled to vfe that labour and honed exercife, whiche (hall relieue his nede dif fidently . Yea, by this mean no man mall fpende his tyme in idleneffe, nor vfe no [any] labour or diligence, without due recompence. For nede mail driue all men from iloulhfull idleneffe, vnto labour and diligence : and where as no labour nor diligence lacketh his iufl rewarde, there euery labouryng and diligent man, dial haue diffident plenty. So ye fee how this doth con- fequently enfue, that euery man fhall haue diffident inough and plentie, where as men do fird difpofe and minider, and giue according to their duties, and after wards receiue, kepe and faue that which God doth fende as a rewarde, encreafed and augmented, for doyng of their dutyes.
So dyd the Apodles, after the faythful diligent dif- pofyng of the. v. loaues and. ii. fyfhes, receyue and keepe their rewarde wonderfullye augmented, to re- plenifh and fyl. xii. bafkets. So God graunt, that all officers in F.nglande, may with fuch faithful diligence do their duties, vat it may pleafe God to giue to all the people fufiidcnt enough, and vnto euery minif- ter, the baiket of his honed defire, heped vp by ye bryra
The men therefore feyng what a fygne lefus had done, fayd that this is ye Prophet, whiche cometh vnto [into] the world. This is euen he whom Moifes, thy
88 & Sermon preacijcti
law, and the prophetes do teach e, to be the fullye and only fufficient fauiour of ye world. Moifes faiing, in ye. xviii. of Deut. A Prophet of thy nacion and of thy brethren, lyke vnto me, fhall the Lorde thy God rayfe vp vnto the, him malt thou heare. The lawe, as a tutour, leadeth and bryngeth al men to this fauyour, to receaue of him that perfection, which the law it felfe lacketh. The Prophetes dyd tel long afore of this fauiour, which is now comen in our tyme, after their dayes. This was the peoples confeffion of Chrift, after that they were by fo great a miracle, fo plentifully fed. ' Chrift, ofte afore had wrought won- derfull miracles, difputed learnedly, and preached plainly : but by all thofe meanes dyd he not fo muche perfwade the people, and wynne their heartes, as by this one miracle, in feedyng and cheriihing the people. Yea, and whofoeuer lifleth to mark thorow out all England, he fhall fee that a meane learned perfon, keping an houfe in his paryfh, and kepynge of godly conuerfacion, (hall perfwade and teach mo of his parifhioners with communicacion at one meale, than the beft lerned doctor of diuinitie kepyng no houfe, can perfwade or teache in his parifh by preaching a dofen folemne fermons.
Lykewyfe the gentle man that kepeth a good houfe in his countrey, (hall be in better credit with the people for his liberalitie, than the beft oratour or lawyer in England, for all his eloquence. I do not prayfe thofe men which brybe and polle all the yeare to kepe riot in their houfes for a fortnyght, a moneth, or a quarter of a yeare : But thofe I fe be loued, trufted, and obeyed, that accordynge to their habilitie, keepe good houfes continually. ,
And the chiefe caufe why the commens doo not loue, truft, nor obey the gentle men and officers, is, bicaufe the gentle men and officers buyld many fayre houfes, and kepe few good houfes, haue plentye of eloquence to tell fayre tales, but vfe lytell faythfull
before tlje Itgng. 89
diligence in doyng of their duties. Wherfore, fende forth, and place in euery countrey godly preachers, wel difpofed perfons [Parfones], and faithfull diligent officers, of all fortes. Yea, but where fhuld we now fynd liuyngs for al thofe.
For foth I do tell you : Out and away with the wily foxes, the falfe flatteryng theeues, and the rauening wolfes, and than fee how many loaues, how many offyces, prebends, and benefices ye finde voyde, how many you haue amongefl your felues that your boye caryeth, that your chapleyns, your feruauntes, and your houfeholde offycers haue, and let all thefe be brought forth : and althoughe at the fyrft fyght they (hall feeme to lytell, and few to feme fo great a Realme with fo manye fhyres, beyng all runne nowe out of ciuil ordre into rude wildernes. Yet, after equal diuidyng and faithfull diligent miniflrynge of thefe [thofe] loaues and fifhes, of thefe prebends, perfonages, and all kynde of offyce[r]s amongefl the people, God of his goodneffe mail giue fuch encreafe vnto the people, hauynge therby fufficient plenty of Chrifl.es holy word, of good ciuil ordre, and of charitable relief, than there fhalbe remainyng fo much tythes, offryng, rentes, fees, and rewards, as wyl fyl the xii. bafkets of the Apoflles, I meane the barnes, the houfes, and purfes of all fayth- full diligente miniflers and officers. Then fhal this one acte perfwade and allure the herts of all Englifh men more then all that euer was done afore : For when they fhall fee, that by this Kyng and this Coun- fell, the wilye foxe of fuperflicion is vtterly banyfhed, the falfe theefe of flattery apprehended and taken, and the cruell wolfe of couetoufneffe flayne, and hanged vp by the heeles, fo that the preachers, the perfons, the officers, and all maner of paftors reflored to their places, doo feede, cherifh, and kepe their flockes, which were afore pilled, fpoiled and deuoured : then mall they of herty courage, with one mynde, and one voyce confeffe and acknowledge, that there [this] is a
90 & Sermon pread&eti
King fent from God, indued with the wyfdome of Salo mon, and the faythfull diligent floutneffe of Dauid his father, now guyded by godly counfell, to bring out of miferye, and profper in welt-h vs the people of this his* Realme. Dixit Do in inns. The Lord hath
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, grace, and peace from God the father almyghty, vnto your hon ours, wyth my mofle humble and reuerente comendacions.
The enemye of God and man alwayes fekyng lyke a rorynge lion whome he may deuoure, is much at al tymes, but then efpecially to be taken hede vnto, when as he hym felf beyng tranf- ibrmed into the aungell of lyght, doth cloke the minif- ters of hys myfchiefe in a pretenfed fliew of godlines and vertue, fo that therby they be fuffered of al men, and maynteined of many men, to worcke and brynge vnto paffe a dcuilliflie dyforder, and fhamefull dyf- honeflye in a Chriften commen wealth.
\Vlierefore, feynge that in thys realme preachers, officers, marchauntes, crafts men, labourers, and fuch ivkc, be difplaced of their roumes, and dyfapoynted of theyr lyuinges by thofe whych through a pretenfed name, and outward apperancc, feme to be neceffary and j>rofytable miniflcrs in a common wealthe (howbeit in theyr owne doyngrs may be euidently tryed and knowen for to be fpoylers and diflurbers of any com mon welth) furedly you of the kynges mod honourable counfell, beyng the ( hefe maieilrats and rulers in this realme, had nede to be ware, circumrptrt and diligent, left that Sathan banyOiyng al faithful Chriftians. \\hych fliould and wold prouyde to helpe one an other, do fyl
94
this realme ful of crafty flatterers, whych can and wyll deceyue, begyle, and fpoyle one another.
Truly ther be no men more againil Chrift then thofe which by profeffion of Chriften relygyon, and bearyng of a Chriften name, doo rob Chryft of hys honor, and Chriftes minifters of theyr liuyngs: nor none more parilous ennemies vnto the kings maiefty, and vnto this realme, then thofe whyche haue the names of Englifh- men, and the kyngs fubiects with ye condicions and maners of enemies, and traitors.
Moil gracious good lordes and maifters, for your reuerent loue towardes God, and the kyng, for your charitable pytye of myferable fpoiled people, and for the neceffary regarde of your owne honours, and the ftate of thys realme, fe and confyder how that ambi- cious couetous men, do bye and fel, take and abufe perfonages, prebendes, offyces, fees, marchaundyfe, fermes, landes, and goodes, fo that prowlyng for them felues, they be neither afrayde, nor afhamed to fpoile thys realme of preachyng of Gods gofpel, of iuftyce and equitie, of cheape and plenty, and of euery thynge that fhould faue, kepe, or profytte a commune wealthe.
Wherfore moft gracious good lordes, and mayfters, for the tender mercies of God in our Sauiour lefus Chrift, take hede that neyther feruaunte, nor frende, re- teyner, nor youre felues do deceyue you wy th flatterye.
For feynge that ambicious couetous men do take, kepe, and enioye the roumes and lyuynges of euerye vmannes vocacion, bothe you and we be in farre more daunger, then yf blockehoufes and bulwarkes made and kepte of the kynges faythful fubiectes for the fauegarde of thys realme, were taken and abufed of fuche Scottes or Frenchemen, as makyng fpoyle for theyr owne pro fit, would not fpare to dyftroye thys realme.
There is very manye rowmes and lyuynges, belong- ynge both vnto the ecclefiaftical mynifterye, and alfo vnto cyuyll policye, in the whyche be no fayethful fub iectes, godlye diligente minifters and offycers, whiche by doynge of theyr duties, doo faue, kepe and comforte
95
the people : but couetous Idolatours, whych neglectyng theyr dutyes, and takynge commodities, doo dyforder, fpoyle and dyftroye the people.
Suerlye if there be any men that goo aboute to per- fwade the Kynges Mageftye, or you of hys honourable Councell, that thinges in thys realme for the mofl parte be honourablye, godly e, or chary tably reformed, they be but flaterers.
For papiftry is not banyfhed out of Englande by pure religion, but ouerrunne, fuppreffed and kepte vnder within thys realme by couetous ambicion. Pa- piftrye abufed many thyngs, couetoufnes hath diflroyed more : papiflry is fuperflicion, couetoufnes is Idolatry. Papiflrye afore tyme dyd obfcure the Kinges honour, and abufe the wealth of this realme, couetoufnes at thys tyme doth more abufe and decaye theym bothe, makynge the kynge bare, the people poore, and the realme miferable.
The Kynges procedynges to be red in his lawes, flatutes, and Iniunccions be good and godly: but to be fene and knowen in the dedes and practifes of his officers, feruauntes, and fubiectes, be vngodly, fhameful, wicked. For in theyr doynges appeareth no retourn- ynge from euil vnto good, by a godly reformacion: but a procedyng from euyl vnto worfe, by an vnchari- table fpoyle, and deuyllyme deflruccion.
Landes and goodes be fpoyled : prouyfyon made for learning and pouerty, is deftroied. Ye knowe in whofe handes thys ryche fpoyle remaineth, then can ye not be ignoraunt by whofe meanes the wealth of this realme is fpoyled and decayed.
If ye wyll haue a godlye reformacion effectuouflye to precede, trufle not the feruauntes of Mammon, enne- myes vnto God, and traitoures vnto the kynge, and fpoylersof the people, wyth thefettyng forthe of your god- lye lawes, flatutes and ordynaunces, which be mod con- trary vnto theyr couetous mymles. and wyrked dedes.
Theyr myndes are alwayes euyll, and theyr dedes be well knowen, when as you geue frelye, or fuller theym
96 £&e tfjpfetle.
by brybery to by vnto theim felues authorytye : for then, being trufted to make better prouifion for the pore, to erect mo Grammar fchooles, to encreafe and augment the vnyuerfities, and to fe the people taught louyngly, to reuerence, ferue, and obey God, the kyng, and you : they take prouifyon frome the poore, they fell awaye Grammer fcoles, they decai the vniuerfities, and they vfe fuche practifes, as maketh God to be vnknowen, the kynge dyfobeyed, and you fufpected, hated, and enuyed of the people.
Take thefe falfe flatterers whyche haue enryched them felues, makynge the kynge bare, and the people poore, reflore theyr landes and goodes vnto the kynge, theyr rowmes and offyces vnto faythfull and true offy- cers and minifters : and then fhal the kyng be enryched, the realme vnfpoyled, and the people delyuered from myferable captiuitie vnder cruel extorcioners, vnto an honeft lybertye vnder Godlye gouernoures, whyche fhall fo dyfpofe the hartes and myndes of all people, that they wyllynglye fhall be readye, not onlye to ferue the markettes wyth corne, but alfo to ferue God and the kynge with landes and gooddes, bodyes and lyues, when and where fo euer you fhal commaunde it.
Maruel not thoughe a faythful hearte, wyth humble obedyence and reuerente loue towardes the kynges Maieftye, and you of hys honourable Godly counfel, do barfl [burfle] and poure [put] foorthe a lamentable complaynte of greuous forrowe conceyued in feeynge the kyng fhamefully begyled, you fore difhonored, and the wealthe of thys realme vtterly fpoyled.
For menne dooe bye offyces vnto them felues, and landes from the kynge : and by the onlye fpoyle that is made in common offyces and vpon the kynges landes, bothe thefe bargens be payed for, and further more all fuch bargeyners wonderlullye enryched.
O mercyfull Lorde, what a griefe is it vnto a fayth full harte, hauinge iuil occafyon to fufpecte, that you lacke faythful counfell to aduertyfe you of the gracious workynge of the Lorde beynge God, and of the freyle
Cpfetle. 97
fautes of youre felues beynge menne, in all youre doynges: for Gods grace woorkynge in you, cauieth you to dooe honourable and Godlye feruyce to god, the kynge, and the common wealthe, when as ye caufe an vngodly byfhop to be depofed. And yet (hall God, the king, and the people be greuoufly offended, and your honors and fowles fo ar indaungered, yf a bifhops landes or goodes be deuyded amongft you that be godlye magyfetrates to . punyfh euyl doers, as Chriftes cote was deuyded amongefl wycked foldyers, which dyd cruelly torment a righteous perfon.
Alas mod gracious reuerente Lordes and mayfters, if ye vfe the feruyfe, or hear the aduyfe of falfe crafty flatterers, ye (hall therewyth be fo blynded that ye can neyther perceyue by your felues, nor beleue when as ye be play nely and fay thfully tolde, that many e of your owne doynges, commyng of mans freyltye,do tend muchevnto the difpleafure of God, dyfhonour of the kynge, and dyfcredyt of your felues, beyng mod contrarye to that reuerent zele and faythful loue towards God, the kyng, and the commen wealth, which zele and lone god of hys goodnes hath grafted in your hartes, and the deuyll by mannes freyl dedes couered in fylence or colored with prayfe of flatterers, laboreth to deface, peruert and deflroye.
As God whyche fearcheth the fecretes of mans hart, doth beare me recorde, I do fuppofe, and thynke that you dooe fo louynglye drede God, reuerence the kyng, and regarde this realme, and your owne honors, that beyng charged wyth the ouerfight and prouifion of caftels, holdes, and fortes, made and kept for the fafe- garde of thys realme, ye coulde not wyttyngly be hyred to fell one of them vnto the kynges ennemyes, for al the tre:ifi:res in the world. And yet beyng craftelye deceyued wyth flattery, ye vfe a daungerous practyfe in very many of them.
For ther be fome of them fclcnderly aflauted at ccrtayne tymes of feble enemyes: and other contin- uallye bciegcd cyther wyth open forfe or craftye con-
98 STJie
ueyaunce of fearce, cruel, and perylous eir,m{es> And now crafty flatterers whych haue once feruei for theyr wages in tyme and place of the fclender afldt.e, doo afterward es requyre and perfwade you for that I^riiyfe to geue them the fpoyle of other holdes remayi?ing continuallye in more daunger. Truly Frenchmen ai/i Scottes be but feble ennemyes, and [yet] at certayne tymes do fclenderly affalt caftels, towers, and fuch maner of holdes. The deuyl feking lyke a roryng Lyon, whom he may deuoure, nyghte and day, wynter and fommer, wyth a wonderful forfe of wycked fpirites, doth euer befyege byfhopryckes, fhyres, townes, and parifhes.
Yf thefe places be not wel furnifhed with flout and true foldiers of bothe the fortes (I meane both officers in ciuyle polycy, and alfo Prelates in Ecclefiaflicall minifiery) or if thofe fouldyers be vnprouided of necef- fary liuyngs and dewe wages, then mufl the people nedes peryfhe and be deflroyed for theyr owne fynnes, and the bloud of theyr bodyes and foules requyred at your handes, whyche be charged and trufted of both God, and the king to prouide fouldiers to thofe places, and alfo wages and liuinges to mayntayne thofe fold- yers continually.
How be it now* manye perfonages, benefyces, ofTyces, and fees be fold vnto couetous brybers for money, whych feke nothyng but the vantage of* extorcion, robbry and fpoyle, and fewe of them be freely giuen vnto faithful miniflers and officers for their woorthynes, which could and would by diligent doynge of their dutie, gouerne, inftruct and cheryfhe goddes people, the kynges fubiectes.
And therefore nowe the moft part of men lackyng teachers and rulers, do without griefe of confcience, or feare of punifhment, abufe euery thynge vnto the ruine and deflruccion, whyche God hath ordayned vnto the vpholdyng and increafe of a chriflian commune welth.
As for example, now bying and fellyng is not vfed as a prouifion for good cheape and great plenty, but made the mofl occafyon of dearth and fcarfitie.
99
Wealth and wyt be not ryghtly vfed vnto a common confortable profyt, but fhamefully abufed vnto a wycked priuate gayne. Many offyces with authoritie be not duely difpofed vnto faithful worthy men nor to dooe good vnto other, but vnlawfullye bought and folde amongefl couetous, ambicious men, to get gaynes vnto theim felues. So this realme is fpoyled, the kynge is made bare, and his faithful true fubiectes be many of them very poore: but crafti deceiuers, couetous Extorcioners, brybynge offycers, and fuche falfe flat terers be wonderous rich and welthy.
Thefe Flatterers be wonders perilous felowes, hauynge two faces vnder one hoode. For they beare a face and mew towardes the people, as though by Commyffion and commaundement from you, there mufl bee more required and taken of the people then euer you dyd meane or thynke: And towardes you thei fhewe an other face femyng that fo much cannot be founde in anye mennes handes as mufl needes bee procured : but that therefore the kynges landes mufl nedes be folde, whyche thei are redye to by for their owne auantage, wyth thofe goodes whyche they them felues haue in theyr owne handes, or rather wyth the fpoyle whych they intend to make vpon thofe landes. Thefe fub- iects that be not alhamed to procure vnto them felues fuch riches, that they maye be biers, and vnto their liege Lorde and kyng fuche nede, that he mufle be a feller of his landes. Thefe be in deede feruauntes vnto Mammon, enemies vnto god, traitores vnto the king, and diflurbers of a common welth turning all your godly, wife and charitable deuyces for necelfary prouyfyon, vnto deuylifh deceytes, for to caufe and maynteyne vncharitable fpoyles. And furedly when as occafions do ferue for any men to practife theyr pleafures, manye men of al fortes, and of the lowefl fort, the moil part do mew them felues the worft in fected wyth thys impyety, treafon, and rebellyon, the greuoufnes and daungcr of the whyche wyth occafyons and meanes how to auoyd the fame, I preaching at
ioo
Paules Crofle the. xiiii. [fowertene] day of December la ft pafl, dyd there openly declare vnto mine audience. And as I did then preach that Sermon as an exhorta- cion to moue the people, by the acknowledgyng, lament- yng and amendynge theyr owne fautes, to deferue and receyue the pardon of mercy offered vnto them of both god and the kyng, in thys longe pacient fufferaunce, fo do I nowe here offer vnto your honors, the fame Sermon as an earneft complaynte, to procure of you that be Gods offycers, fpedyly correccion for them that refufe to heare, regarde, and obey Gods word.
Be not dyfcouraged in thys matter, wyth your owne freylty beyng greate, or wyth the number of offenders, beyng manye. For it is not your worthynes, but Goddes grace, that hath placed you in hygh authority, and in the fame aucthoritye not your owne powers and polycy, but the myght and wifdome of god, fhal fo ftrengthen and confyrme you, that yf ye wyll be dyli- gent, ye mail be made able to delyuer Gods people, the kynges fubiectes, oute of the handes of fuche as be Gods and the kynges ennemyes.
I befeche the almyghtye God indue you wyth grace, that begynnyng wyth youre felues, ye may fpedely pro- cede vnto the neceffary and godly correccion of other mens fautes, fo that ye maye be eflablyflied in youre rowmes, and increafed in honor, to ferue god and the kynge, prouiding for hys realme in holines and right- eoufnes al ye daies of your lyues.
13 1> me ijumijli) sutncrt anfl fattljful o= Unto jjour ijonor.o, mas ilcucr.
lefus Chriftus.
C 2Tfte grace of ttye f)oh> gost, prorettmtg from <SoB tfje fatfjrr, bi> tfje intercession anti meanc of I-csu Cijrist, so prepare gour fjcrts, anti open mr> moutf), tfjat 5 mai?e Ucclare, anti sijrtoe, anD tijat pott mape ijearc, bnBrrstanB, rrmrmtjrr, anti prartuc in pour humtg, ijtG lutclij toortt as map lie most to ijt's ijonour anD glort to pour soules ijraltij ant) comfort
|Ou Citizins of London, and all other that be here prefent marke, note, and remember what ye heare of me this day : for yf I fhall fay or fpeake any thynge that is euyll, you mufle beare recorde againft me of that euyl. But if I do preache well and truelye, then you fhall vnderftande and knowe your felues to be in great daunger of haynous treafon towards god and the kinges maiefly of this realme, which be by you fpoyled, and robbed: god of his glory, the kyng of hys honoure, and the realme'of hys wealth. Howbeit the mercyfull goodnes of bothe god and the kyng hath fent me hyther thys daye, to proclame a generall pardon, intendynge thereby to try out and faue theim that haue offended by fimple ignoraunce, becaufe the force of theyr myghty power is nowe readye and commynge vtterly to deflroye all other that continue in wylfull ftobernes and rcbellyous treafon. Wherefore afore the readynge of my commyffion, I wyll declare that piece of fcriptur whyrhe appoynted to be red in the churche as thys \vyll certyfyc you that God by his fcriptures hath Ihewcd the k}'iige, who be hys fayethfull feruauntes, and who be hys ennemyes. Thys fcripture is wrytten
102 & ^ermon
in ye. iiii. Chapter of the firfte epiflle of. S. Paule vnto the Corinthians. Sic nos ajlwiet homo ut miniftros Chrijli, et difpenfatores minijlroruui \inyjler ioruni\ del. etc} Filioli mei quos iterum parturio? Albeit I vfe not fcrupulouflye the fame termes, yetconuenyentlyfolowyng the maner and phrafe of fcrypture, I fay vnto you as Paule wryteth vnto the Galathyans: My deare chyldren of whom I trauell in byrthe agayne vntyll Chrifte be facyoned in you, I would I now beyng wyth you myght chaunge my voyce, whyche heretofore I haue vfed : declarynge by the worde of God, that you here in England whych wyll receyue no mercye, mall feele fore vengeaunce, which wyll not be faued, fhalbe deftroyd. Thys voyce vfed here afore of me, nowe wold I fayne chaunge. For nowe a7ro/x>{yxcu kv vpiv I doute I am palie hope and allmooile in vtter dyfpayre of you. Tell me you that throughe couetoufnes defyre the ryches and wealthe of thys world. Haue ye not heard how that he whych wold be a frend vnto the world is made an enemy vnto God, doethe not Paule teache that couetoufnes is the roote of all euyl? Is it not wrytten that couetoufnes is Idolatry? Haue ye not red in the prophet Ezechiel howe that he whyche kepeth his Idolles, meanyng couetoufneffe in hys hert, and commeth to hear gods word, doth therby prouoke gods vengeaunce to hys vtter deftruccion. ' Paule fayth and teftifyeth that euery man whiche is circum- cyfed, hath not profyt by Chrifle, is gone quite from Chrifl, is fallen from grace. I faye and teliyfye vnto you in the word of the Lorde, yat fo many of you as be couetous, haue no profit by the preachyng of gods word, the myniftracion of hys facraments and the fettyng forth of pure religion wythin the realme: no ye be clene from God framyng your felues vnto the faffion of thys worlde, ye can brynge forth no good frutes of charitable workes nourimyng the rote of all euyll in youre hartes, ye mufl necles prouoke the wrath and indignacion of god to your vtter deflrucion, when as ye kepe the ydoll of couetoufnes flyll in youre myndes to
1 i Cor. iv- i. 2 Gal. iv. 19.
at $JauU$ t\'Q$*e. 103
be honoured and ferued in all your doinges, and yet pretend a zele and loue vnto the religion of Chryfl in your workes and fayinges. I woulde fayne haue had iufl occafion to haue fpoken at thys tyme fuche thynges as myght haue bene confortable and pleafaunt for you to heare.
But I mufle needes fhewe the caufes of gods wrath and indignacion kyndled agaynfte vs, lead that thofe plages fhould be afcribed vnto the word and religion of Chryfl fet foorthe amongefl vs, whyche be procured by the wickednes of theym that feruyng couetous Mammon, haue forfaken, offended, and flaundered both Chrift, and Chriftes word and religion. No man can feme two maflers, whye then dooe ye pretend that ye be the feruauntes of Chryfl, feynge that ye wyll not forfake the feruyce of wycked Mammon? Yf ye be afhamed to be named, and afrayd to continue the wycked feruauntes of wycked mammon, now fhew and proue by youre ordinarye callyng, faythfull dealyng, and godly iudgement accordyng to thys example of Paule playnly paynted and fet[teth] forthe in thys epiflle vnto the Corinthians, that ye be Chrifles mynyfters, the feruauntes and difpofers of gods myfleries and treafures: for Paule (hewing hym felfe as a good example of Chrifles feruants, fayth: Sic nos czjlimct homo, ul minijlros CJiriJli. etc} So let a man efleme vs, a<; the mynifters of Chryfl, and the dyfpofers of the lecretes of god. No man can come vnto Chrifle lefu to be hys mynifler, excepte he be dravven of the father. The father clraweth not by force violentlye them that be fluborne and frowarde, but by loue them that be gentyll, and come wyllyngly. For when the father fheweth in Cliryfle forgeuenes of fynnes, grace of anu mU'incnt, iuRificacion, and euerlaflyng lyfe, then thofe that make theim fafl thcim fellies wyth the bande of loue by defy re of the fame be drawen vnto Chryll.
As contrary wyfe when the deuyll fheweth in fiefhlyc lufl.es and worldly vanytyes, manye voluptuous pleaiures, then they that there wyth be entangled and
1 i Cor. iv. i.
preadietf
delyted be drawen of the temptour away from Chryft. Take hed(; therfore howe ye haue entred into religion, profeffed chryfte, and receyued the gofpell. For if ye be drawen by loue of mercy, grace and ryghteoufnes, ye come vnto Chryft: But by the defyre of ryches, welth, and voluptuoufnes, men be drawen and tyfed away from Chrifte.
He therfore that by the profeffion of Chrift, the zele of hys worde, the fauoure of the gofpell, feeketh couetous gayne, or a carnal liberty, furely he is a feruaunt of Mammon, ennemy vnto Chrifte, and a fclaunderer of the gofpel. For he that wyll be the feruaunt of Chryfte, muft folow the example of Chrift. He that wyll folowe Chrift in example of lyuyng, he mufte forfake hymfelfe, take hys croffe vpon hys backe dayly and folow Chrift. So Chriftes feruaunt fhalbe deliuered from the bondage of fynne, yat he may frely and wyllyngly contemnyng ye vanities of the world, and mortifying ye lufts of ye flefti, feme chryft in bearyng the croffe of paynful diligence, to do the duty of his vocacion.
But all thofe that delyte in a carnall libertye, or feeke vnlawfull geynes, althoughe they be named Chryftians and fauourers of the gofpell, yet be they in dede not mynifters of Chrift, but ennemyes vnto Chrifte: not louers of the Gofpell but fclaunderers of the Gofpell, not iuftyned by liuelye faythe to be of that ryghteoufe forte for whofe fakes GOD fpareth and fauoureth a common wealthe, but deceyued with a dead fayth to be of that vngodlye forte, for whofe caufe God plageth and deftroyeth many a common welth. And nowe vndoutedly be we in great miferies and daunger of deftruccion, for that we haue many that be hearers, readers, and talkers of Gods worde, and fewe or none that do wralke and lyue accordyng to gods worde: we ought truly to efteme and take theym onlye to be mynyfters of Chrifte whyche for the loue of mercy, grace, and ryghtuoufnes (hewed of the father vnto theim in Chrift do kyll the luftes of theyr
at Dairies rro^e. 105
owne flefhe, dyfpyfe the vanytyes of the whole worlde, and forfakyng theyr own pleafures and commodities do take the croffe of paynfull diligence and walke after Chrifl in doynge of theyr dutyes.
All other that haue the name and profeffion of Chryd without liuyng and conuerfacion accordynge therto, be fayned brethren, in feafles wyth Chriden men to take parte of theyr good chere, vnclene fpots amongefl honed company, feedyng theim felues without feare of god, clouds without any moidure of gods grace, toffed aboute wyth contrarye wyndes of (Iraunge doctryne, trees paffyng fommer tyme without any frutes of good workes, twyfe dead without felynge the corrupcion of fynne, or lokynge to be grafted in the flocke of grace, yea rooted vp from amongefl ye vynes of the Lord, wilde waues of the fea frothyng forth vnfhamefaft brags, and wandryng ilarres without conflancie in iudgement and opinion vnto whom the dungeon of darknes is ordeyned for euerladyng dampnacion.
What maruell is it then thoughe the vengeaunce of God be poured forth amongs them of fuch iniquitie, yea and mod abundantly when as hys word playnely preached, is of thcym mode wickedly abufed and fhame- fully flandered, whych fay: Lorde, Lorde, and do not as they be commaunded of the Lord. Wherfore let vs fay: Non nobis dominc, non nobis. Not vnto vs o Lord, not vnto vs, but vnto thy name geue glorye, not for that we by oure dedes haue deferued, but yat thy name O Chryde amongefl vs chriflians may be honored, j)ardon our fauts, amende our Hues, and indue vs with grace, that the lyghte of oure good workes afore men vpon the earthe, may caufe thee to be gloryfyed () Lonle in hcauen. I )earlye beloued in Chride for the tender mercyes of god, when as ye fe carnall gofpellers, couetous ydolaters,greuyngyoure confciences. llaunder '• 'hniles religion, and damnynge the\ r o\\ no foules, do not of malyce contempne'difdayne and reuyle them, but of charitable pitye, lament, ibrow, and pray for
theim, whyche blynded wyth ygnoraimce know not theim felues, deceyued wyth the deuyll, be drawen from Ch rifle, comforte and faluacion, vnto euerlaflynge deathe and damnacion. Say and pray for them : O lorde fuffer not the enemye thus to lede into capliuitye owre felowes thy feruauntes, cure brethren thy chyldren, O Chryfl reftore vnto lyberty them that you hail redemed wythe thy precious blud, fo yat we may altogether drawen of ye father, receyued of the fonne, and gided of the holy gofl, be miniflers of Chryft in libertye of the gofpell, delyuered from fynne frelye to delyte and take pleafure in a godly conuerfacion all the dayes of our lyfe. No we let vs after thys takynge of the mynif- terye of Chryfte, w[h]yich perteineth generally vnto all chriflians, fpeake of the dyfpofers of Gods myfleryes, wherein we maye confider feuerally euery mans vocacion.
Paule dyd dyfpofe the fecretes of God by the preach- ynge of the Gofpell, whych was euer fecretly hydde from the wyttye, wyfe, and learned in the worlde. Other men in other vocacions muft dyfpofe other treafures of God by other meanes. As the magiftrate by authorytye mufl dyfpofe the punylhmente of vyce, and the mayn- tenaunce of vertue.
The rych man by liberalytye, mull dyfpofe reliefe and comforte vnto the poore and nedye. The Mar- chaunt by byinge and fellynge, and the craftes man by his occupacion,mufle prouyde vnto the common wealthe of neceffarye wares, fuffyciente plentye. The landelorde bylettyng of fermes muil dyfpofe vnto the tenants necef- fary lands, and houfes of an indifferent rente. The houf- bandmen by tyllyng of the ground and kepyng of cattel, mufl dyfpofe vnto theyr landlorcles, dew rentes, and vnto them felues and other, both cOrne, and other vytals. So euerye man by doynge of hys dutye mufle dyf pofe vnto other that commodytye and benefyte, whiche is committed of god vnto theym to be clyfpofed vnto other, by the faythful and diligent doyng of theyr dutyes.
The treafures of the Lord be vnmeftrable, his hart is lyberall, ther can be therefore no lacke amonges hys
at failles rro^e. 107
people, yf hys flewardes vnto whom the dyfpofmg of hys gyftes be committed, be true and faythfull. Thys therfore faythe Paule, is requyred in a lleward, yat he be faythfull. Who thynke ye, fayth Chrift, is a faythe- full and a wyfe flewarde whom the Lorde fetteth ouer hys houfeholde to geue theim a due meafure of the wheate of neceffaryes in tyme conuenyente ? Blefled is that feruaunte whom the Lorde when he commeth, fliall fynde fo doyng : verelye I faye vnto you that he wyl make him lord of all that euer he hath. Beholde the faythfulnes of the Lordes fleward confyfleth in dylygente prouydynge and myniftrynge vnto the Lordes famylye anye fuche thynges as bee neceffary. The re ward of fuch faythfulnes is to be put in trufl wyth all that his Lord and matter hath. Then who can defyre a better matter then the Lorde God or a hygher roume then a ttewardfhyppe in the houfe of Chritt, or a greater reward then to haue all the treafures of God whych be an hundred folde paffynge any mans deferu- yng here, and furthermore euerlattyng lyfe. O that men wold confyder the goodnes of God, the worthines of their offices, the comfortable felowfhyp of the houf- hold of Chritt, and the ioyfull rewarde of the croune of glory, and fo be faythful ttewardes and dyfpofers of the manyfold gyftes of God : And not being bleared and blynded wyth couetoufneffe, deferue to be cut of from the company of chrittians, and to haue theyr porcion with hypocrits, wheras fhalbe waylyng and gnafhing of teeth. For that ye gredy worme gnawyng the conscience neuer dyeth, and the flamynge fyre of vntollerable vengeaunce fhulbe neuer quenched.
O brethren, God hath geuen great plentye, and we in KngUmde fynde greate lacke : therfore the (Inwards of God be vnfeythfull. Who be gods ttewardes ? They that haue gods gyftes. Suerly no man hath all the gyfts of God, and euery man hath fome gyfts of God. Then if all thynges be lackyng, yet can no one man deferue all the blame, but euery man (hull be found fauty for that which is amyffe, for lack of his duty.
io8 & J-rermon
Do ye perceyue that the laytie is eyther altogether ygnoraunte and blynd, or els hauyng knowledge to fpeake fayer, hath no learnynge to do well? Then fuerlye the cleargye hath not ben fay th full in preach- yng of gods word earneftly, in fefon and out of feafon to reproue, befech and blame, in all pacience and token, or dyfcyplyne. Do ye fee the cleargye hath not whenvithall to mayntayne learnyng, to relieue the pore, to kepe hofpytalytye, and too fynde theym felues ? Then trewly hath not the layitye fufficientlye prouyded that they whyche preache the Gofpell, mould lyue on the Gofpell, and that they whyche fowe fpirituall trealures, myght repe corporall neceffaryes.
Do ye fee yat they which be in authoritye haue not ben regarded and obedientli ferued ? Then ye com mon people haue not done theyr dutyes, dyfobeying any man placed in authoryty by gods ordynaunce. Do ye fe the people haue hadde iniuries and yet theyr complaintes neglygentlye heard and long delayed ? then haue the higher powers omytted ryghteoufnes and Judgement, whiche wyl be required at theyr handes of the Lord.
Do ye fe that in all maner of thinges ther* is fome lack of that whyche is very neceffarye ? Then be ye fure that all maner of men do leaue or myfufe fome parte of theyr dutye. Quis potcft dicere : mundum eft cor meum, purus fum a peccato*
No manne canne fay : my hert is cleane, I am pure wythout fautes. Therefore feynge that we be all gyltye, Lette vs not enuye, grudge, or dyfdayne one an others faultes, but euery one acknowledge, lament, and mende hys owne fautes.
Do not triumphe and be glad when ye perceyue that other mens fautes be noted or rebuked, but be moofle certayne and fuer, that excepte ye fpedelye repente and amende, ye mall euerye one be lykewyfe ferued. If ye haue not thofe fame faultes whyche ye heare by the preacher noted and rebuked, yet yf you take plea- fure and be glad to heare other mens euyls, be fure
1 Prov. xx. 9.
at $3aule5 cro^e. 109
that euen that pleafure takyng is a faute, whyche God hateth and wyll punylh.
Therefore when ye heare anye mannes fautes fpoken of, be forye for theim, and take hede to your felues : fo fhall you thereby gette good and they haue no harme. If ye fo do at thys tyme, I may the more boldely ex- amyne and trye the faythfulnes of fome flewardes and difpofers of Gods gyftes.
And for the better tryall and affurance[s] of theyr fy- delytie I note two thynges to be requyred : fyrfte that a ftewarde or difpofer be, Quern conjlituit dominus, whom the Lord affigneth and maketh: and fecondarily, Vt det cibum i)i tempore? that he vfe to fede and cheryche, and not to deuoure and hurte theim of the lordes fa- milye. For the fyrfle parte, it is to be noted, that euery man in the tyme of hys admyffion, when he fhall be put into hys offyce, is fet on the hyll of confydera- cion and aduyfement: where as the Lorde Chrifl to thofe whyche he admitteth, fheweth that the harueil is greate, the laborers be fewe, greate paynes mufle be taken that muche good may be done: vyle rebukes and greuous afiliccions here to be fuffered, be the fygnes and tokens of great rewardes in heauen for theym pre pared. The ennemy of Chrifl Satan vnto thofe whych he would deceyue fheweth all the glory of the worlde, promyfyng to geue it a rewarde prefently vnto all them that wyl worfhyp hym fallyng downe at hys feete, in flattery, crafte, and iniquitye.
Chrifle the Lorde indueth wyth wyll and habilytye to take paynes to do good, thofe whych he bryngeth in at the doretobe fhepherdes of the folde and flewardes of the houfe : the deuyll the ennemy of Chryfl cloketh [clothed] in flicpe fkynnes of folemne titles to gette gaynes, thofe whyche he conueyeth not in at the dore, but ouer an other wave to dyflroye the flocke, and robbe the houfe.
Therfore yf thyroume be benefyce,prcbcnde,oftyceor author) tic in a chriflen comminaltye wythinGods houfe, and yf ihou U- brought in at the doore of ordynarye and lawefull callynge, by payndull dyli;;ence to do good, thou uiayefl be a faythfull ftewarde in that place:
1 Luke xii. 42.
110 & gwnon
but yf thou be broughte in ouer and befydes all ordi- narye and lawfull callynge, by couetous ambycyon to get gaynes, then muft thou nedes be a thefe and a robber: for Chryfle whyche fo fayth can be no Iyer. I meane yf thou by money or fryndfhyp haue boughte eyther benefyce or offyce, thou canft not be of Chrifles inflitucion, but of the Dyuylles intrufion, not a fayeth- ful dyfpofer, but a theuyfh extorcioner of Gods gyfts. For Chrift fayth playnely that he whyche entereth not in at the doore, but clymeth ouer an other way, is a thefe and a robber, and the thefe commeth not but to fleale, murther, and to deflroy.
The doore whyche is Chrifte hym felfe, can neuer be entred in at by eyther frendfhyp or money.
Sum perauenture wyl be offended not becaufe I fpeake againfl the biinge of benefices, whyche be fpiri- tuall charges, but for that I alfo include the bying and fel- lynge of offyces, whych as they faye, be temporall promo- cions. As for benefyces ye knowe fo well, that I neede net to (land about the declaracion or profe in theym.
No, I am fure that ye perceyue howe that through the abufe of one benefyce, the Deuyll ofte tymes is fure to haue many foules.
Fyrfte the patron for hys prefentacion, then the Byfhoppe for admiffion, the perfon for hys vnworthy- neffe, and a greate manye of the paryfhe that be loft for lacke of a good Perfons dutye.
But now as concernyng the biynge of offyces, to come thereby vnto the roume of an auditour, Surueiour, Chauncelloure, or anye fuche lyke, furelye no man wyll attempt it, but he whyche is fo couetoufe and amby- cioufie that he dooeth neyther dread God nor loue man. Whereof commeth the byinge of offyces but of couetouf- nes ? howe then canne that be a good fruyte whyche fpryngeth oute of the roote of all euyll ? Is not euerye Chryflen common wealthe the folde of Chrifles fhepe, the houfe of hys famylye ? be not then all offycers in a Chryflen common wealthe named by Goddes woorde fheppeherdes of the fold, and ftewardes of the famylye
at $Jaute$ cro^e. m
of Chryfle ? O Lorde what fhall wee then faye to ex- cufe theim that by and fel offyces wythyn England ? Shall we fay thofe offyces be no roumes and places ordeyned of god for hys faythefull ftewardes, therein to dyfpofe hys treafures and benefytes ? or that the vile flaues of wycked Mammon for their brybery may law fully be promoted vnto thofe roumes whyche be or deyned of God to hys holy feruauntes for theyr fydely- tye ? If we faye that the offyces be not meete for Gods feruauntes, then we confes that the offycers whyche be in theim be gods ennemyes. If we faye that they be ordeyned for the fayethfull feruauntes of god, how can we thynkethat they maye be brought [bought] vnto the bryb- ynge feruauntes of wycked mammon ? Lette vs not feeke excufes to cloke fynne, no let euerye manne be knowen to be a Iyer and fpecyallye, they that fay : One manne can ferue twoo mayflers, Mammon in geuynge or takynge of brybes, and G O D in faythfull dooynge of duty. Let god be iuftifyed when ye fynde hys worde true, whyche plainly affyrmeth that they whyche clyme into a common offyce of Chryftes fold by the help of Mammon in at the wyndowe of bryberye be theues and robbers, commyng to fteal, murder and deftroye.
O that no man in thys faute wer gilty, then myght I be fure yat no man wold be offended. But and yf any man be greued becaufe hys fore is touched, let hym remember the fayinge of the wyfe man: Mdiora funt uulncra diligent is, quam fraudulenta ofcula odicntis* the woundes of the louer be better then the deceyte- full kyffes of the hater. For the woundes whyche the frinde openeth, be to hele olde fores; and the dyfceyt- full kyffes of the ennemyes be to make newe woundes. I fpeake playnelye to open the wounde, to roote oute and heale the dyfeafe of couetoulhes, whyche wold be to the wounded and to euery man, comfort. They that by flattery do couer, kyffe, and playfler this deepe wounde, do feeke their owne gayne to the vtter damp- nacyon of the wounded, and to good mennes greate griefe, yea and to the greate dyfquyetinge of a com-
1 Prov. xxvii. 6.
mune welth : makynge no dyfference betwixt the Lordes feruauntes, and the Lords enemyes. For wythout dout, Non eft quern conftituit do minus.
He is none of the Lordes appoyntmente or admyf- fion, whyche entereth in to an offyce by brybyng, Monye, or flatterynge frendefhyp. Byinge of an offyce is an euydente token of vnfayethfulnes. He that is once knowen by that token and marke, fhoulde be thrufl out of the Lordes foulde, Ncfuretur, mactet, etpcrdat? leafle that he robbe, kyll, and deflroye. But novve by the feconde note to try whether that the Reward and dyf- pofer of goddes treafures be faythfull or not, fe whether that he be a feder or deuourer. He that fedeth, is fayethfull: he that deuoureth, is vnfaythefull. What doeth he whyche is vnfaythefull ? deuoure goddes fhepe, Chriften people, the kynges fubiectes; A daun- gerous matter, whiche if it be fpoken of, wyl procure dyfpleafure: and yf it be not remedyed, wyll procure Goddes vengeaunce. Surelye brethren, I thyncke God would neuer haue caufed me to haue meddeled wyth thys daungerous matter, but that he wyll geue me grace more pacyentlye to fufier the loffe of myne owne lyfe, then the damnacyon of your foules.
For yf I lofe my lyfe here, I (hall fynde it in heauen. But yf you be dampned, and I beynge a watcheman, and feinge your dampnacyon comming, do not geue warning, you (hal be taken in youre owne fynnes, and your blonde requyred at my hands. If I geue warnyng, and you take hede, gods indignacion fhalbe appeafed, and bothe we faued. Therefore I beynge a watcheman and by the lyghte of goddes worde fpying that the abominacion of yclolatrous couetoufnes hathe kyndled the indygnacyon of God to confume and deflroye the people of thys realme, doo crye out agaynfl Englande by the voyce of the Prophete : Abiecerunt legem domini* they haue cafl awaye the lawe of the lorde, euery one framyng hym felfe vnto the fafhyon of thys world- eloquium fancti If retell blafphemaiierunt* They haue blafphemed the word of the holy one of Ifraell, by
1 i John x. ID. 2 Isa. v. 24.
at J3au!e$ cross r. 113
theyr abominable lyuyng. Ideo incenfus eft furor domini in popuhim fmim .-1 therefore is the indigna- cion of God kindled againfl his people. Therefore doth all runne at fyxe and feuen, from euell vnto worfe : therefore doeth goddes worde take no place to do good, but is vnthankefully refufed, whyche caufeth more harm. Is gods word receyued in Englande be- caufe it is playnlye preache and taughte, or refufed and forfaken becaufe it is not obeyed and folowed? Be we in better cafe then we haue ben afore tyme becaufe papiftry amongefl vs is kept vnder, or els worfe then euer we were becaufe couetoumes raygneth at lybertye? That whych papyftry abufed, hath not couetoufnes deftroy[e]d? is not papiilry fuperfticion, and couetoufnes ydolatrye ? Then I befech you be not we well amended yat be come from abufyng to deftroying, from fuper- llicion to idolatry? And hath not God geuen vnto vs at the banyfhyng of fuperflicion, comfortable plenty of his holy worde, and by the fuppreffyng of abbeyes e\< -edynge aboundaimce of all maner of landes, ryches, and trealures? And nowe where is it all become? Surelye it is muche fpent, wailed and loft by euyl officers, vnfaithtul difpofcrs, whiche be in dede de- uourcrs. Se therefore howe ye haue offended god, be^yled the kyng, fpoyled the realme, and indaungered your felues to be accufed, condemned, and fuffer as moft vyle hay nous traytours to God, the kyng, and to ye common welth. Wherfore whyles ye haue tyme, before ye be CQnfartmQ^Sacrificatefai'riJiciinn injll/ue^ff fpcrate in domino." Offer a facrifyce of ryghteoufoes, making reilitucion of yat whych ye haue wrongfullye gotten: then trufle in the Lord, and he wyll fhew mercy, prouydyn^e you pardon and laiegarde, vnto euerye inannes comforte. Here 1 namynge no man, do meane alinoil euer}- man: for euery man hath fome treafures of the lords to dyfpofe, and none is fo fayth- full that he inaye l»e a'hle to llaiule vnto the tryall,
entryngwyth the Lorde into iu^gemente. Thereiore I aduertiie both mynifters of the clergye, offycers in
J i>.i. v. 25. a Ps. i'v. 5.
H
ii4
authoritye, and other people of euerye degre, to ac knowledge theyr faultes, and make reflitucion to ye vttermoft of theyr power. Firft vnto the clergy, I fay : there is none of you al hairing fo much learninge, wytt, and dylygence, as is poffyble to be in one man, that can do more then one mans duty: why then do ye take and keepe, fome foure or fyue mens lyuynges? I do not thyncke that euery man is worthy blame that hath a great lyuynge; nor to be prayfed that hath a litle lyuyng. For as God hath geuen fome more excel lent gyftes of learnynge, wytte and polycy, fo hathe he prouyded for the fame better lyuynge with hygher authority : howbeit no man may promote hym felfe to precede from a meane lyuyng vnto a better, quia nemo fibifuimet honorem, for no man may preferre hym felfe vnto honoure, nifi qui a deo vocatus eft? but he whyche for hys fydelytie in a lytle, is called of God to be trufled wyth more. But it is not a good refon to fay that becaufe an honeft man for hys fydelyty is called of God from the leffe vnto the more, therefore a coue- tous manne throughe gredynes, maye kepe leffe and take more, and fo ioyne thre or foure of theim together to make dyuers paryfhes in dyuers fhyres. all one mans lyuynge. The Prophete cryeth : ucz uobis qui coniun- gitis domum ad domum, et agrum agro copulatis. 2 Wo be vnto you that yoine [ioyne] houfe to houfeand knytfyeld vnto fylde. What reherfeth he no more but houfes and fyeldes? No, for ther was neuer fuch abomina- cion in the prophetes times as to ioyne paryfhe to paryfh, prebend to benefyces, and Deanryes vnto knyghtes landes. I pray God that fome of theim yf they be worthy men in wyfdome, learnynge and iudge- mente, may be promoted vnto worthy roumes, and that thofe meaner lyuynges whiche they haue heaped together to fyll one purfe, beynge fo far dyftante in place and condicions that they can neuer bee well ferued of one mannes dutye, may be deuyded and dyfpofed vnto meaner men: whych beyng more fitte for thefe lyuynges, maye do more good wyth theym.
1 Heb. v. 4, 2 Isa. v. 8.
at $autes tw<&t. 115
I heare fome complayne and faye that all thynges bee nowe fo chargeable that one benefyce is not able to fynd one [an] honefl man. And yf ye enquyre of the fame man whome they kepe and fynd in theyr bene fyce they theim felues beyng abfent, they wyll fay a learned curate, and a dyligent farmer both honefl menne. O wycked worldlings condemned by your owne words. The whole benefice yf you fhuld ther- wyth be content ly[u]ing vpon it, and loke for no more, wolde not fynde one man.
But when ye haue gotten other promotions befydes that, to lye in another place from it, then a fmall por- cyon of it doth ferue two honefl menne whyche ye leaue in youre abfence. Herke you that haue three or foure benefyces. I wyll fay the beli for you that can be fpoken : Thou lyefl al wayes at one of thy bene fyces, thou arte abfente alwayes from three of thy benefyces: thou kepefl a good houfe at one of thy benefyces, thou kepefl no houfe at three of thy bene fyces, thou doeft thy deutye at one of thy benefyces, thou doeft no dutye at thre of thy benefices. Thou femefi. to be a good manne in one place, and in dede thou arte founde noughte in thre places. Wo be vntoo you worfe then Scrybes and Pharifeis Hypocrytes, whyche (hut vp the kyngedome of heauen afore menne, kepynge the paryfhe fo that neyther you enter in your felfe, neyther ftifTer them that would enter in and do theyr dewtye, to haue your roumes and commodities. Woo be vnto you dumme Dogges, choked wyth bene fyces, fo that ye be not able to open your mouthes to barcke agaynfle pluralytyes, improperacions, bying of voufons, nor againfl anye euyll abufe of the cleargies lyuynges. No, for you* yowre felues myghte go a beggynge yf liuynges that be ordeyned for the cleargy wer not abufed, but reilored and bellowed vpon theym onelyc that doeth the dcargyes dewtye. Therefore you be the inuenters and procurers of vngodlyc- Ibt- utes, and deuelyfhe deuyfes, to gyue Lordes chapkunes whyche oughte to lyue vpon theyr mailers wages,
n6
authorytye to lyue vpon the fpoyle of dyuers paryfhes. Ad erubefcentiam ueftram dico} I fpeake to make you afhamed of youre felues. If gentylmenne that be lordes feruauntes myghte obtayne of the kynge and hys counfel placardes or warrantes to kepe a ftandyng vpon fhoters hyll, Salesbury playne, or in any theuyfhe place, to take mens purfes by the way, fhould not thys be robbery and lhamfull abhomination to be mayntayned by lawes, flatutes and authority? What mold a yonge gentleman be afhamed to robbe one rych mans purfe of forty fhyllinges once in hys lyfe? and an auncient prelate not once blufhe whyche robbeth diuers pore paryfhes of forty pounds yerely al the dayes of hys lyfe. You peililent prelates whyche by flattery poyfon the hygh powers of authorytye, be ye neyther afrayed nor afhamed to make the Kynges maieftye, his lawes and your lordes and maflers whych fhuld be the minifters of iuftice and equrtye, to bee the defenders and mayneteyners of your vngodly robbery. Your example and flattery hath caufed the great men and ryche men to take to theim felues the vauntage and profytes, and gene vnto their chyldren being ignor- aunte babes, the names and tytles of Perfonnages, Prebendes, Archedeaconryes, and of all manner of offyces. For euen afwell may the Lorde that cannot, as the Doctoure that wyll not do his dutye, take the profites to hymfelf, and leaue a hyrelyng vnto the paryfh : and yet both be noughte. O that it woulde pleafe God to open the eyes of the hygher powers too perceyue what good doctryne, nay what deuylyfhe dyforder is taught by theim that be double and tryple benefyced. For theyr example teacheth, and theyre preachyng can neuer difwade, to fet and ordeyne ryche robbers and ignoraunt teachers ouer the Chryften congregacion, goddes people, the kynges fubiectes: yea and as for cyuyll order in all offyces, ambicious couetous men learnyng at theim, take the folempne tytles and good fees vnto them felues, and leaue their dutyes vnto other, fo to be neglected and abufed, as
i i Cor. vi. 5.
at panics rro&e. 117
caufeth al difcord and difobedyence. For whoe but offycers fhuld fet good order, and make quietnes? And how can he fet [fee] any good order, whyche placeth hym felfe in ten mens roumes? or make other to be quyet wyth nothynge, that wyll neuer quyet hym felfe wyth any one liuynge? Yea how canne he be but a maker of bufynes yat thrufteth many menne oute of theyr lyuynges? But for all thys the flatterer wyl fay that there is a great number of them that hath many mens lyuynges in theyr handes, whych do much good wyth them, yea and be liberall gentlemen, very good officers and godly preachers. But wotte ye what the 'fcripture fayth : they be Canes impudent iffimi, nefcicntes faturi- tatem.1 Vnfhamefafle dogges, knowynge no meafure of gredye gettynge.
Derelinqnentes rectam uiam errauerunt fccuti iiiam Baalamfilii Bofor* Leauyng the ryghte way of proced- ynge vnto greate fees by faythfull diligence in doynge worthye dutyes, do ftraye in couetoufnes, folowyng Balaam the fon of Bofor. Leauynge [Louyng] the rewarde of curfed in [and] \vycked crafte, O take heede of Baalam you that loue the rewarde of iniquitye, a reward for curfyng the people, whome god would haue bleffed. A fee for kepyng thofe offyces vnto your felues whych god amongfl ye people wold haue executed. Can ye fay any more for your felues then Balam dyd? Si dcderat mihi Balaac domnni fnam, plcna;n argent i d aiiri? If Balaac wold geue vnto me hys houfe full of fyluer and gold, I cannot change the word of the lorde my God, to fpeake more or les. Can ye do any better in the fight of the world then Balaam did vpon the hylles, euen as the lord dyd commaunde hym and none otherwyfe? and yet louynge the reward of iniquitye beyng a Prophet, was rebuked of a bruyt bead : as you beyng wyfe men ought to learnc at a folyfli Affe not to ouerbunlen and lode your felues with far more then ye ar able to beare. Suerlye it is an vngodly and \vy< kcd defyre of you, to loke for a rewarde both of god tordoyng*of*your*duty and alfo of Mammon for takyn^c vpon you farre more
.',•7. ii. a 2 Peter it. 15 • a. .vxii. 18.
n8 &
then euer ye be able for to dyfcharge. Balaam fought hovve too get thanckes of God and a rewarde of Balaac, and in fo doyng he loft the fauoure of God, the rewarde of Balaac, and caufed the people too fynne, fo that the vengeaunce of God dydde fore plague the Ifraelites, and vtterly defiroyed Baalam and Balaac, and al theyr fort. And when as you by heapynge of lyuynges together, do feke to gette the welthe of the world, and alfo the fauour of god by pretendynge to do fo manye dutyes as no man is able to performe, ye lofe the fauor of god, and ye fhal be deceyued of the worlde, and bryng fuch iniquity amongeft ye people as mall prouoke ye indignacion of god to plage theym, and to diftroy you. O for the tender mercies of god in oure fauioure lefu Chrifte, although I rufhe and fret your legges vpon the hedge and pales of gods veneyarde, and fpeake playnely beinge but a very affe in com- paryfon of your wyfdome, connynge, and experience, yet I befech you dere brethren be affured yat I fpeake not of malyce Lat of pyty, not of enuy, but of feare: for I fe euydently the aungell of the Lorde with a fworde of vengeaunce redye to deftroye you yf ye doo not flaye, but procede in thys vngodlye way : Se and behold, Nifi Conner ft fueritis, gladhimfuum acuit, arcumfuum tdendit etparauit ilium, ^xcepte ye turne, he the Lorde hath whet his fword, he hath bente his bowe, and made it readye wyth deadlye dartes. Suerlye brethren this heapynge together of lyuynges maketh you to haue fo many thynges to do, that ye can do nothyng well : it is the readye waye not to edify but to deftroye. Wherefore yf ye cannot efpye your owne fautes in your felues, yet loke one at another': loke you of the layty at them of the cleargye, that feyng the motes in their eyes, ye may learne to pull the beames out of your owne eyes. Do ye not fe how that they of the cleargy by heapyng together manye lyuynges, haue caufed manye poore parifhes to pay their tithes yat lacke their perfons [Parfones]? Do ye not fe how that prebendes whiche were godly founded as mofte conuenient and neceffarye lyuyngs for
1 Ps. iiii. 12.
at ftauleg rros&e. 119
preachers to healp the byfhoppes and the perfons too enftructe the people, be now vngodly abufed to corrupte the byfhoppes and the perfonnes that rather feke the vauntage of good prebends to enryche them felues, then the healp of godly preache[r]s to enflruct Gods people ? Do ye not fe howe thefe prouiders of pluralities hauynge the cure of Chriflen foules in the paryfhe, and fhepefolde of Chryfl, do leaue the flocke and take the fpoyle to fpende in Noble mennes houfes, where as they doo fe that the keper of horfes in the liable, of cattell in the fyelde, and of dogges in the kenell, doeth lyue on hys matters wages, and not on the Pyllage of his cure. O ye noble menne do ye geue vnto the kepers of your horfes, cattell, and dogges, wages, leafle that they fhoulde fell youre horfes, kyll youre cattell, or fleye youre dogges to lyue vpon the fkynnes : and wyl ye allowe your Chapleynes no wages, but caufe theym to lyue vpon the murder and fpoyle of the innocente Lambs of God, redemed and boughte wyth Chriftes precious blode ? Do ye fe howe by thefe feruauntes of Mammon, enemyes of Chryile, gredy wolues in Lamb fkynnes, the paryfhes be fpoyled, the people vntaughte, God vnknowen, hys lyuelye woorde fette gracyouflye forthe by the kynges procedynges, is vngracyoufly fufpected, hated, and abhorred of the ignorant people ?
You of the laytye, when ye fee thefe fmall motes in the eyes of the clargye, take heede too the greate beames that be in your owne eyes. But alas I feare lead yat ye haue no eyes at all. For as hypocrify and fuperftiticion dooeth bleure the eyes: So couetoufnefie and ambyryon doeth puttc the eyes clcanc out. F«>r yf ye were not flarke blynd ye would fe and be afliamed that where as fyfty tunne bi-lyed Monrkes geiien to glotony fylled theyr pawnchcs, kept vp theyr houfe and relyued the whol country round about them, ther one of your ^redye guttes deuowrynge the whole houfe and makyn^ great pyllagc thlOUghoute the countrye, cannot be fatilVyed.
120 & Jpermon
If ye had any eies, ye fhould fe and be afhamed to confeffe that yf fome of you fhoulde not haue manye offyces, there woulde not be menne ynoughe founde, to put in.euerye offyce one manne, mete and able by doynge of theyr dewtyes to ferue the kynge, and take good order amongefl the people, where as there is a greate number too manye of your forte whyche thyncke your felues mete and worthy e by takynge many Offyces in hande, to burden the kynge and the people wyth all fees and charges belongyng vnto euery offyce : yea and furdermore to requyre perfonages, prebendes, Deanryes and anye manner of lyuynge due vnto the Ecclefiaflycall miniftery, to be geuen vnto you for feruynge the Kynge in takynge the vauntage of many, and doyng the dutyes of fewe offyces belongyng vnto ciuyll pollycye.
If ye hadde anye eyes ye fhoulde fe and be afhamed that in the great aboundaunce of landes and goods taken from Abbeis, Colleges and Chauntryes for to ferue the kyng in all neceffaryes, and charges, efpecially in prouifion of relyefe for the pore, and for mayntenaunce of learnynge the kynge is fo dyfapoynted that bothe the pore be fpoyled, all mayntenance of learnyng decayed, and you only enryched. But for becaufe ye haue no eyes to fe wyth, I wyll declare that you may heare wyth youre eares, and fo perceyue and knowe, that were as God and the kynge hathe bene mofte liberall to gyue and beftowe, there you haue bene mofle vnfayethfull to dyfpofe and delyuer. For ac- cordyng vnto gods word and the k[y]nges pleafure, the vniuerfities which be the fcholes of all godlynes and vertue, fhould haue bene nothyng decayed, but much increfed and amended by thys [the] reformacion of religion.
As concernynge goddes worde for the vpholdyng and increafe of ye vniuerfities, I am fure that no man knowyng learnyng and vertue doth doute. And as for the kynges pleafure it dyd well appeare in that he eflably med vnto the vnyuerfityes all Priuileges
at aulc$ crc*$e. 121
graunted afore hys tyme, and alfo in all manner of paymentes requyred of the cleargye, as tythes, and fyrft fruytes, the vnyuerfities be exemted. Yea and the kynges mayeftye that dead is, dyd geue vnto the vniuerfities of Cambryge at one tyme, two hundred poundes yerely to the exibition and fyndynge of fine learned menne, to reade and teache dyuynitye, lawe, Phyfycke, Greke and Ebrue.
At an other tyme. xxx. pounde yerely In libcram d puram eliemofinam. In fre and pure almes. And fynally for the fuft dacion [foundation] of a newe Colledge fo rnuche as fhoulde ferue to buylde it, and replenyfhe it wyth mo Scholers and better lyuynges then any other Colledge in the vniuerfitye afore that tyme had.
By the whyche euerye man maye perceyue that the kynge geuyng manye thynges and takynge nothinge from the vniuerfityes was very defirous to haue them increafed and amended. Howbeit all they that haue knowen the vnyuerfitye of Cambryge fence that tyme that it dyd fyrfl begynne to receyue thefe greate and manyefolde benefytes from the kynges maieflye, at youre handes, haue iufte occafion to fufpecte that you haue deceyued boeth the kynge and vniuerfitie, to en- ryche youre felues. For before that you did beginne to be the difpofers of the kinges liberalitye towardes learnyng and pouerfy, there was in houses belongynge vnto the vnyuerfytye of Cambryge, two hundrul fludentes of dyuynytye, manye verye well learned : whyche bee nowe all clene gone, houfe and marine, young to ward e fcholers, and old fatherlye Doctors, not one of them lefte : one hundred alfo of an other forte that hauyng rych frendes or beyng beiH-fyccd men dyd lyue of theym fellies in Oftles [Oflries] and Iniu-s be eyther gon awaye, or elles fayne to crepe into ColU-ges, and put poore men from bare lyuynges. Thofe bothe be all gone, and a fmull number of poore godly dvly- gent fludenu-s nowe remaynynge only in Colleges be not able to tary and contynue tlu-yr lludye in ye vniuerfitye for lacke of exibicion and healpe. There
122 & Jrmnon grearfjetf
be dyuers ther whych ryfe dayly betwixte foure and fyue of the clocke in the mornynge, and from fyue vntyll fyxe of the clocke, vfe common prayer wyth an exhortacion of gods vvorde in a commune chappell, and from fixe vnto ten of the clocke vfe euer eyther pryuate fludy or commune lectures. At ten of the clocke they go to dynner, whereas they be contente wyth a penye pyece of byefe amongeft. iiii. hauyng a fewe porage made of the brothe of the fame byefe, wyth lalte and otemell, and nothynge els.
After thys flender dinner they be either teachynge or learnynge vntyll v. of the clocke in the euenyng, v, hen as they haue a fupper not much better then theyr dyner. Immedyatelye after the whyche, they go eyther to reafonyng in problemes or vnto fome other fludye, vntyll it be nyne or tenne of the clocke, and there beyng wythout fyre are fayne to walk or runne vp and downe halfe an houre, to gette a heate on their feete whan they go to bed.
Thefe be menne not werye of theyr paynes, but very forye to leue theyr ftudye : and fure they be not able fome of theym to contynue for lacke of neceffarye exibicion and relefe. Thefe be the lyuyng fayntes whyche ferue god takyng greate paynes in abftinence, fludye, laboure and dylygence, wyth watching and prayer. Wherfore as Paule, for the Sayntes and brethren at Hierufalem, fo I for your brethren and Saynctes at Cambrydge moofte humblye befeche you make youre colleccions amongeft you rych Marchauntes of this citye, and fend them your oblacions vnto the vnyiier- fytye, fo fhall ye be fure to pleafe God, to comfort theim, and prouyde learned men to do muche good throughout all thys realme. Yea and truly ye be detters vnto theim : For they haue fowen amongefle you the fpirituall treafures of goddes worde, for the whyche they oughte to repe of you agayne corporall neceffaries. But to returne vnto them that fhoulde better haue prouyded for learnynge and pouertye in all places, but efpecyally in the vniuerfities.
at $aule$ rro$$e. 123
Loke whether that there was not a greate number of both lerned and pore that myght haue ben kepte, mayntayned, and relyeued in the vniuerfities : whych lackyng all healpe or comforte, were compelled to for- fake the vniuerfitye, leue their bokes, and feke theyr lyuynge abrode in the country? Yea and in the cuntrey manye Grammer Scholes founded of a godly intent to brynge vp poore mennes fonnes in learnynge and vertue, nowe be taken aw[a]ye by reafon of the gredye couetoufnes of you that were put in truil by God, and the kynge to erecte and make grammer fcholes in manye places : And had neyther commaundement nor penniffion to take away the fcholmafters lyuyng in anye place, moreouer muche charitable almes was there in manye places yerely to be bellowed in pore townes and parifhes vpon goddes people, the kynges fubiectes : whiche almes to ye great dyfpleafure of god and dys- honoure of the kynge, yea and contrarye to goddes worde and the kynges lawes, ye haue taken away. I knovve what ye do faye and bragge in fome places : that ye haue doen as ye were commaunded wyth as muche charytye and lyberalitye towardes both pouertye and learnynge, as your commiffion woulde beare and fuffer.
Take heede whome ye (launder, for Goddes worde, and the kynges lawes and ftatutes be open vnto euery mannes eyes, and be [by ?] euery commiffion directed accordynge vnto them, ye both myght and fhould haue geuen much wher as ye haue taken much away.
Take hede vnto the kynges ftatutes, the actes of parliament, there ye (hall fynde that the Nobles and commons do geue, and the Kvn-e doth take into hys handesAbbeyes, Colleges andChauntryes for erect \n;;r of ( iramcr fcholes, the godly brynging vp of youthe, the farther aui;mentyn;;e of the vnyuerf} tves, iind better prouifyon for the poore. Thys (hall ye fyncl in the Actes of parliament, in the Kynges ftatutes: but what fhalbe found in your practyfe and in your dedes? Surely the pullyivj; downe of Drainer Icholes, the deuyl- iihe drownynge of youthe in i^noraunce, the vtter
124 & ^trmon
decaye of the vniuerfities, and moofle vncharitable fpoyle of prouyfion, that was made for the pore.
Was it not a godly and charitable prouyfion of the Kynge to geue vnto the vniuerfity two hundred poundes yerelye for excellente Readers ? three hundred [Thirtie] poundes yerelye in pure almes, and manye hundred pounds alfo to the foundacyon and ereccion of a newe Colledge ? And was it not a deuilifhe deuyfe of you to tourne all thys the kinges bountuoufe liberalitye into improperacions of benefices, whyche be papyfticall and vncharytable fpoyles of mod neceffarye prouyfion for pore paryfhes ? Intelligite infipientes in populo, et ftulti aliquando fapite. *
Learne vnderftandyng you that playe vnwyfe partes amongefte the people, and you fooles once waxe wyfe. Qui plantauil aurem not audiet^
He that fette the eares, fhall he not heare the forow- full complaynte of pore pary flies, agaynfle you that haue by improperacions clene taken awaye hofpitalitye, and muche impared the due liuynges of gods myny- fters, the peoples inflructoures and teachers. Qui figuratoculum non confederate he that fafhioned the eie, doth he not beholde howe that the befle landes of abbeyes, colleges and chaunteries be in youre handes, and euyll improperacions conueyd to the kyng and to the vniuerfities and Byfhopes landes ? Qui corripit gentes non arguet?1
He that corrected and punyfheth the heathen lack- yng the lyght of gods word for the only abufe of natu- rall reafon, wyll he not reproue and condemne you whyche haue good reafonable wyts, gods onely word, the kynges laws, and ftatut[e]s : and much power and authority geuen vnto you to edifye and do good, feinge it is abufed of you to deflroy and do hurt ? Shulde not you haue amended the prouifion for the pore, the educacyon of youthe, and the condicion of the vniuer fities ? And be they not by you fore hurte and de- kayed? The kyngc (hold and wold haue reformed religion. The fyrfl parte of reformacion is to reflore
1 Ps. xciv. 9, 10.
at panics rrog$e. 125
and geue agayne all fuche thynges as haue bene wrong- fullye taken and abufed. Surelye the Abbeyes dyd wrongfullye take and abufe nothynge fo much as the improperacions of benefices. Nothynge is fo papyfty- call as improperacions of benefices be: they be the Popes darlynges and paramors, whiche by the dyuel- yflie deuyce of wicked Balaamytes, be fet a brode in this realme to caufe the lerned men of the vnyuerfities and all bifhoppes that be godly menne, the Popes enemyes, to commyt fpirituall fornicacion wyth them. Whye dyd God deflroye the Madianytes but for their fynne ? Why dyd he plage the Ifraelytes but for ye fame fynne ? Why dyd God caufe the Abeyes to be deftroyed, but for papyflycall abufes? And why fhoulde not god plage the vnyuerfityes and Byfhops kepynge and med- delynge wyth improperacions, that bee the fame papyfti- call and deuelyih abufes ?
O what a bloudye daye mall it be : when as for thys abhomynacion, thys fi)irituall fornicacion, God Ihali commaunde hys faythfull feruaunte Moyfes the kynges mayefly to take and hange all the rulers of the people that haue wittynglye fuffred thefe whoryfhe Madyanytes, th'efe Popyfh abufes ? And caufe a zelous Phinees to fliedde the harte bloude of hym that before Moyfes and many Ifraelites, before a hygh iuflice and manye people, taketh a Madianite into hys tent, an improp-jr- acion into his enheritance. But nowe brethren as Peter preached vnto the I ewes: Nunc fratres frio quod \orantiamfefiftis* Now brethren I knowe tl at you haue done thys through tgnoraunce: for the I,onle whych forf.vth all thynges, knoweth that yf you hadde not bene blynded wyth ignoraunce, ye couldc neuer for pitye haue executed hys imlignaryon and wrathe in makynge fuche deflruccyon. Seynge therefore that it was (ioddes plcafurc thus by one euyll to punyfhe an other, nowe rep-nt, and amende, that youre iatites inaye. b«- pardoned. It pleafed (lod by the blyncle mal\ -re of tin- lewes, to nayle Chryfle lefu vpon the croffe: and yet as many of theini as hearyng that matter opened
1 Acts Hi. 1 7.
by Peter, were greued and pricted in confcience, fo many fayde vnto Peter, and to the other Apoflles what mall we do ? The Apoflolical counfel was: Agite peni- tenriam, recipifcite) Repent and amend. So dere breth ren hearynge and knowyng that God hath vfed your gredy couetoufnes to deftr[o]ye Abbeyes, Colleges, and chauntryes, and to plage all thys realme, be greued and fory in your hertes, feynge that ye haue bene Vafa tree* inftrumentes of wrath to execute vengeance : and purge your felues of thys vyle couetoufneffe, then mall ye from henceforth be Vafa honoris? veffels of honoure, to ferue God, in fanctitate ct iujlicia* in holynes and ryghteoufnes all the dayes of your lyfe.
And nowe on the other parte, you that be of the comynaltye, when ye feele that anye plague or pun- yfhement commeth by thiem that be fette ouer you in offyce, and aucthorytye, knowe that they do it not of theym felues, but be moued and flyred of God, to worke hys wrath vpon you. For when as God was dyfpleafed wyth the Ifraelytes, then hys dyfplefure caufed Dauyd theyr kynge to take that way that brought a peftilence amongeft the people, whereon dyed. Ixx. thoufande: Addidit furor domini irafci contra Ifrael, commouitque dauid.5 The indignacion of the Lorde waxed whot agaynil Ifrael, and he Hired vp Dauyd. What kyndled the indignacion of God, but the fynnes of the people? The fynnes of the people dyd kyndle the indignacyon of the Lorde : the Lordes indignacyon liired vp Dauyd in prefumpcyon. Dauids prefumptuoufnes caufed the people to dye on the peflylence. And euen as then God ordeyned yat chrifl lliuld be crucifyed be ye malicious blyndnes of the leweSjthelfraelitesplagedbytheprefumptionofDauyd:
So hath he ordeyned that Englande Ihoulde be fpoyled wyth gredy couetoufe officers, Looke then, what hath made thys greate fpoyle in England? gredye couetoufnes of officers. What dyd make in theym fuche gredy couetoufnes? the indignacion of God. What kyndled goddes indignacion? the fynnes of the
1 Acts ii. 38; Mark i. 15. 2 Rom. ix. 22. 3 2 Tim. ii. 21.
4 Luke i. 75. 5 2 Sam. xxiv. i.
at JJauIes croSSe. 127
people. What was the fynne of the people? Eloqui- um fanfli Jfradl, blafphemcnierunt) They haue blaf- phemed the holye woorde of G O D, callynge it ne\ve learnynge and h ere ty call doctryne : Ideo iratus eft furor doming And therefore is the wrath of the Lorde kyndled. Now you people which cry and fay that you are robbed and fpoyled of all that ye haue : Woulde ye haue thys whyche ye call robbyng and fpoyling to be ceaffed ? Then quench the indignacion of god whych doth caufe and make it. If ye wyl quench the indignacion of God, Hodicfi uoccm cms audicritis. 2 To daye, euen nowe yf ye fhal heare hys voyce, harden not your hartes, as in the prouocacion in the daye of temptacyon. Harde heartes, flyffe neckes, dyfobe- diente myndes, prouoke, tempte, and (lyre vp the indignacion of God.
Truelye the indignacion of God flial neuer be quenched, vntyll that you wyth tender hartes, humble, obedyente, and thankefull myndes, receyue, embrace, and conforme your felues vnto the holy worde of God fet forth by the Kynges Mageftye his gracious pro- cedynges.
There is as yet more flyffe necked flubburnes, dieuellyfh difobedience, and gredye couetoufnes in one of you of the commune forte that kepeth thys greate fwellynge in the hearte, hauyng no occafion to fette it furth in exercife, then is in ten of the word of theim that beynge in office and aucthoritye, haue manye occafions to open and fhewe them felues what they be.
When dyd euer anye offycers in authorytye fhewe fuche rebellyous proud myndes, as was of late playnlye perceyucd in very manye of the communaltye? I put the cafe that they be fo couetoufe, that one of their grecli guts had fwalowed vp a whole Abbey, houfe, landes and goodes, And yf you had had powers vnto your wylles, ye had deuoured whole countryes, houfes and goodes, men and beafles, corne and cattell, as ye dyd be^ynne.
Some of theim kepeth their fermes in theyr owne
I I s;i. 7'. 24, 25. > Ps. XCV. ^.
128 <& J^ermcm
handes, and manye of you kepe youre owne Corne in youre owne barnes. Yea marrye, why fliould we not kepe oure corne in oure owne barnes ? Forfooth ye nowe maye not keepe it for dreade of God, obedience to the Kynges maieflie, and pitie of your poore neighbours : For God fayeth : Qui abfcondit frumenta, maledicdur in populis: benediftio autem fuper caput uendenciitni -} He that hydeth vp corne, fhall be accurfed amongeft [amonges] the people : but bleffynge fhal be vpon theyrheades that bryngeth it furth to the Markettes to fell. Here ye heare the bleffynge and curfe of God.
Ye knowe the kynges gracious Proclamacyon, ye maye perceyue youre neyghbours neede, by theyr myferable complaynt. And yet neyther God by blef- fyng and curfynge, neither the kyng by proclamacion and commiffion, nether the pore by praiyng and paying can caufe you to ferue ye Markets wyth corne. But let goddes woorde, the Kynges lawes, honefl order, and chary table prouyfyon be put foorth of all markette townes by wycked Mammon, and let hym onely kepe the Markets and fet pryfes for youre purpofes, and wythoute doubte euerye market fhalbe ful of all manner of Corne and vytayles commyng in on al fydes.
O wycked feruauntes of Mammon, alwayes bothe ennemyes and traytoures to G O D and the kyng and the common wealthe. Is it God or Mammon that hath made the Corne to fprynge, and geuen you plentye ? Yf ye fay Mammon, then ye confeffe playnely whofe feruauntes ye be, what Idolatrye ye vfe. If ye fay God, How dare ye confeffe him in youre woordes and denye hym in youre deedes ? Whye do ye not brynge foorth goddes corne vnto goddes people, at goddes commaundement ? Why be ye not faythfull difpofers of Goddes treafures? Well, he yat hath no corn thmketh he hath no parte, nor is not gyltye in this matter: but I can tel that ther is many of theim, that neither hath nor wyll haue corne, whyche make corne moil dere. I haue heard howe that euen this laft yere, ther was certayn Acres of corne growyng on the ground
l Prov. xi. 26.
at $aule$ mtfSe. 129
bought for. viii. poundes: he that bought it for. viii. fold it for. x. He that gaue. x. pounds, fold it to an other aboue. xii. poundes : and at lad, he that caryed it of the ground, payde. xiiii. poundes. Lykewyfe I hearde, that certayne quarters of make were boughte after the pryce of. iii. fhyllynges. iiii. pence a quarter to be delyuered in a certayn markette towne vpon a certayne daye. Thys bargayne was fo oft bought and folde before the daye of deiyueraunce came, that the fame Malte was folde to hym that fhoulde receyue it there and carrye it awaye, after, vi. s. a quarter. Looke and fe howe muche a craftes man or anye other honefle man that muile fpend corne in his houfe, by this maner of bargaynynge, payeth, and howe littel the houfbande manne that tylleth the ground, and paieth the rent, receyueth : Then ye may fe and perceyue it mufl needes be harde for eyther of theim to kepe a houfe, the cra[f]tes man payinge fo muche, and the hufbandman takynge fo lytle.
There is a lyke maner of barganyng of them that be leafemongers, for leafemongers make the tenaunts to pay fo muche, and the landlord to take fo little, that neither of them is wel able to kepe houfe. I heare fay that within a few miles of London an honefl gentle man did let his ground by leafe vnto pore honefl men after, ii. s. iiii. d. an acar: then commeth a lefemounger, a thefe, an extorcioner, deceiuyng ye tenaunts, bieth theyr leafes, put theim from the groundes, and caufeth them yat haue it at hym nowe, to paye after, ix. s. or as I harde faye. xix. s. but I am afhamed to name fo muche. How be it, couetous extorcioners be afhamed of no dede be it neuer fo euyll. And as I hear fay, ther be many lefcmongers in London, that heyghthen the rent of bare houfes: and as corne, landes, tene- mentes and houfes, fo in al maner of wares, ther be fuch biers and fellers as caufe ye prouyders and makers of ye wares to take fo litle, and the occupiers of the wares too paye fo muche, that neyther of theim both is able too lyue. All the Marchauntes of mylchyeft I
130 & ^etmon
that go betwixt the barke and the tree. Betwixte the houfband man that getteth the corne, and houfholder that occupyeth Corne, betwix the Landlorde, that letteth fermes, and the tennauntes that dwell in the fermes. And betwixt the craftes man that maketh, or the marchaunte that prouydeth wares, and other men that occupieth wares. I faye thefe marchauntes of mifchiefe commynge betwixte the barke and the tree, do make all thinges dere to the byers : and yet won- derfull vyle and of fmall pryce to many, that mufl nedes fett or fell that whyche is their owne honeftlye come bye. Thefe be far worfe than anye other that hath bene mencyoned heretofore: for although benefyced men and offycers haue manye mennes liuynges, yet they do fome mennes dutyes. But thefe haue euerye mannes lyuyng, and doo no mans duytye. For they haue that whyche is in dede the lyuynge of craftes men, Marchauntmenne, hulbandmen, landelordes and ten nauntes, and do neuer a one of thefe mens dutyes. Thefe be ydle vacaboundes, lyuyng vpon other mens labours : thefe be named honefl barginers, and be in dede craftye couetoufe extorcioners. For they that be true marchauntemen to by and fell in dede, fhoulde and doo prouyde great plentye and good chepe by honefl byenge and fellynge of theyr wares. But thefe hauynge the names of true marchauntes, and beyng in dede crafty theues. do make a fcarfitye and dearth of all thynges that commeth through theyr handes.
Take awaye all marchauntmen from anye towne or cytye, and ye mail leaue almoft no prouyfyon of thinges that be neceffarye. Take awaye leafmongers, regrators and all fuche as by byinge and fellynge make thyngs more dere, and when they be gone, all thyngs wylbe more plentye and better chepe. Now maye ye fe who they be that make a greate dearth in a great plentye. For who is it, that heygtheneth the pryce of Corne, the houfbandman that getteth plentye of corne by tyllynge of the grounde ? No : the regrator that byeth corne to make it dere, growynge vpon the grownde. Who
at -patilfj* rro^e. 131
reyfeth the rentes, ioyneth houfe to houfe, and heapeth fermes together ? The Gentyll manne, that by geuynge of leafes, letteth forth hys own landes into other mennes handes ? No, the leafemongers, that by felling leafes, byeth and bryngeth other mennes Landes into their own hands. Who maketh all manner of wares and marchandyfes to be very dere? the marchaunt ven- terer, which with fayethfull dylygence to prouyde for the commune wealth, caryeth furth fuche thynges as maye well be fpared, and bryngeth home fuche wares as mufte needes be occupyed in thys realme ? No, the Marchant of myfchyefe that by craftye conuey- aunce for his owne gayne, caryeth awaye fuch thinges as maye not be fpared, and bryngeth agayne fuche wares as are not nedemll. Take hede you Mar- chauntes of London that ye be not Marchauntes of myfchyefe, conueying away to much old lead, wol, lether and fuch fubftanciall wares as wold fet many Englyfhmen to work, and do euery manne good feruyce, and bryngynge home fylkes and fables, cat- tayls, and folyfhe fethers to fil the realm full of fuch baggage as wyll neuer do ryche or poore good, and neceffary feruyce. Be ye fure, if thys realme be rych, ye fhall not nede to be poore, yf thys realme be poore, you fhall not be able to kepe and enioy your ryches. Take hede than that your marchaundife be not a feruynge of folyfh mens fanfies, whyche wyll deflroye the realme: but lette it be a prouydyng for honeft difcrete mens commodities, whych wyll be the vpholdyng and enrychyng of you and the whole realme. Take hede vnto your vocacions prelates and preachers Magyflrats and offycers, landlordes and tenaunts, craftes men and marchauntes, all maner of men take hede vnto youre felues and to your conuerfacion and lyuyng : yea dere brethren at the reuerence of god, for a generall comfort to al partes with out gredye couetouf- neffe towards oure felues, or malicious enuye towardcs other, wyth a fyngle eye, of a pure herte, let vs confyder and acknowledge how that the bountifull liberalitye of
132 fl J?ermon
almyghtye God hath geuen vnto thys realme wonderfull plenty of perfonnages, prebends, benefyces, offyces, and all maner of lyuynges : wyth great abotmdance of come, cattell, landes, goodes, and all wares that be good and profitable : and howe that it is certeynly the vnfaithfull difpofers whyche caufe a great fcarfyty, dearth and lacke of all thefe giftes and treafures of God, therfore dominus de calo profpexit, ut uideat ft eft intelligent aut requirens dcum*
The Lord loked doim from heauen to fe yf there were any that had vnderftandyng and fought to pleafe God in faythfull dyfpofynge of Goddes treafures: but feinge that Oinnes ftudent auariticz, a maiore vfque ad minorcm.* All be geuen vnto coueteoufnes from the hyefle vnto the lowefle, fo that pore people can haue no houfes to dwell in, ground to occupye, no nor corne for their moneye. The L^rde hym felfe fpeakyng vnto the earthe, fheweth wher is the faute: principes tui infideles? Thy head rulers and offycers be vnfaythfull difpofers. Sociifurum? theuifhe fellowes.
Omnes diligunt munera? they all loue brybes, et fcquuntur retributiones? and hunte for promocyons. What then O Lorde mail be the ende of all thys? Viuo ego ditit dominus* As trulye as I lyue fayeth the Lord propterea quod facti funt greges mei in rap- mam* Becaufe that my flock haue ben fpoyled, et ones meet in deuorationem omnium beftiarum agri* and my fhepe deuoured of all wyld beaftes of the fyelde, quia non effet pa/tor, Becaufe there was no keper, Neque enim qucejiueriint paftores mei gregem mcum, For thofe [thefe] which were named my paftours, dyd take no heede vnto my flocke, Sed paftores pafcebant femetipfos, But thofe paflours dyd feede theyrn felues prowlyng for profyte, et greges meos non pafcebant, and my flocke th[e]y dyd not feede by dooyng of their dutyes. Propterea paftores audite uerbum dominL
Therfore ye keepers heare the word of the Lorde. What worde? that the flocke fhalbe delyuered, and you fhalbe deflroyed : That is a true word : for qua menfura
1 P& liii. 2. 2 Jer. vt. 13. 3 Isa. i. 23. 4 Ezek. xxxiv. 8, 9.
at JJauIeS cro^e. 133
mcnfi fueritis, remecidnr uobis? By [bicaufe] the fame meafure that you haue ferried other, ye youre lelues lhall alfo be ferued: for as ye haue ferued fuperftycious papiftes, fo lhall you your felues be ferued, beynge coue- tous Idolaters : yea and haue as muche vauntage at the metynge, as is betwixte fuperflicion and Idolatrye. Howe be it, God geuynge you refpite to loke for amend- mente : offers more gentelnes, yf ye wyl take it. For in the. xx. of leremy he fayth : Ecce ego do coram uobis itiam uittz et uiam mortis :2 Behold I fet before you the way of lyfe and the way of death : yf ye repent and amend, lyfe: If ye be flyll ilimecked, death: for the Lorde by Efaye. i. fayeth: Si uolueritis et audieritis? Yfye wyll heare to repent and amend, Bona terra comcdetis? ye lhall eat the good fruits yat the earth lhall brynge forth, to your comfort. Si nolueritis, et me ad ira- cundiam prouocaueritis? yf ye wyl not, but prouoke me to anger, gladius dcuorabit uos? The fworde lhall eate you vp. Quia os doinini locution eft? For it is Gods owne mouthe that hathe fpoken it. For Gods fake beleue it : And do not by an harde hearte voyde of repentance heape vnto your felues the wrathe of god agaynfl ye day of vengeance.
But thankfullye enbrafynge the ryches of goddes goodnes, pacience and long fufferyng, acknowlegyng that goddes kyndnes draweth you vnto repentance, yf ye haue fo lytlc fpyrituall felyng and gholllye vnder- llandynge that ye can nothyng be perfwaded or moued by the comfortable promyfes, and terrible threten- ynges of the inuifible God : yet hauynge corporal 1 eyes and naturall reafon, confyder the decaye of thys Realme, and the towardnes of the kynges mageflye. Note the decaye of thys realme, and thereby ye lhall learnc to knowe that nothynge can make a realm e wealthye, yf the inhabitauntes therof be couetoufe: for yf [all] landes and goodes coulde haue made ;i rcalnic happy notwythflandynge mcnnes com-toulhes, then Ihoulde not thys realme foo vnliap])yly«.' haue decayed, when asby the iii] )pR'l lion of AMteis.C 'oik -cs jmlCliaun- terk-s, innumerable lauds and goodes wefegottea
1 Matt. r. a Jcr. au-/. 8. 3 Iba /. 19, 20.
134 & Sermon
If goddes worde were ordeyned by anye other meane then by the conuertynge of couetous men, to make that realme happy where couetous men be, then fuerlye fhoulde England now be mofl happy, wher gods word is frely fet forth in the mother toung, playnly preached in folempne congregacions, and commonly vfed in daily communicacion. But vndoubtedlye whereas couetoufe men be, there neyther landes or goodes, no not goddes holye Gofpell canne doo fo muche good as couetoufnes doeth harme. Wherefore feyng thys realm by couetoufneffe is foore decayed, leail it moulde alfo by the fame be deflroyed, awaye wyth youre couetoufnes, all you yat loue thys realme. Or yf ye wyll not do it for loue of the realme, yet for the reuerente obedience whyche ye owe vnto God and the kynges maieftie, away wyth couetoufnes whyche maketh men feruauntes of Mammon, and enemy es vnto god and the kynge. Be ye well affured that the kynges Maieftye whyche nowe is, God faue his noble grace, dreadeth god, loueth his people, and abhorreth couetoufnes, whiche in this realme offendeth God, difhonoureth ye kyng, anoyeth the people.
Therefore he doeth partly nowe perceyue and con- fider, and wyll do better hereafter, that prelates wyth pluralities, and magyflrates wyth manie offices, do burden him and his people wyth paying tithes, fees, and manye greate charges, and yet kepe fo many roumes vacant of prechers and officers, that his ma- gefly cannot be duly ferued, nor his people well inftructed by the preachyng of gods word, nor yet well ordred by the myniftracion of iuftice and equitye.
He knoweth that regratours of corne vyttals and of all maner of wares, make fuche dearthe and fcarcitie, that no diligence of good marchauntes by honefl byinge and fellynge canne prouyde anye thynges to be eyther good cheap or plentiful. It is well knowen to his gracious maiefly, or at the leafl vnto hys honourable councell that leafemungers takynge muche of tenauntes and paying lyttell vnto the landlordes, haue both theyr
at $aulc$ fro$$e. 135
lyuynges, and doth the dutyes 01 neyther. For to theyr owne pryuate luker they take rentes of tenauntes, and fermes of landlordes : but when by occafyon they mall be requyred to ferue the Kynge for a common wealth, then they wyll haue neyther landes nor ferme to do the kyng feruyce. Do not therfore imagyn you that be eyther of the clergye or of the laytye in hyghe or lowe degree, that the Kynges Gracious Mageflie and his honourable councell be fo negligent that they do not efpye, or fo parcyall that they wyll not punyihe thofe whyche in thys realme hynder the prechyng of gods word, ftoppe the adminyftracion of iuftice and equitye, caufe of all thynges a dearthe and fcar- fytye, and brynge Gentlemenne to poouertye, and huf- bandmen vnto beggerye. It is fpyed and mufte be punyfhed, although it be delayed for a tyme, to fe yf you of your felues wyllynglye wyll amende it.
Beware therefore that ye flaye not your felfe vnto a bryttell flaffe, for it wyll brafl in fpylles and perce thorowe your handes. Do not flay your felfe vpon thys ymaginacion to thynke that althoughe craftelye contrary to lawe and confcience ye do inuade other mennes roumes, liuynges and goodes, yet for becaufe ye be fo many in number that do it, therefore the kynge and hys councell eyther cannot or wyll not bee agaynile you in it: For trulye euen therefore mufle they nowe neades wythout delaye reforme and amend it. For as fedicious rebellion, fo couetoufe treafon beynge in a fewe may be fuffered at the fyrfle in hope of amendment, fo long as they few by clokyn-v it fecretelye, feme to be afhamed of their owne euyll doynges, or afrayed of the rulers power and authorytye: but l>eyn-e fo many that they all together wythoute ihame and feare, falle to open fpoylyiu;e of the realme, then wythoute delaye mufle they needes be repreffed, nlthoughe they both fay and fweare, that they be the kyngs fubiects, and hreake no laws. If ye fpoyle be found in theyr hands, it is neyther fayinge norlwear- yn-e that can exeule them. Open fpoile hath bene
136 & ^ermcn
made of perfonages, prebendes, offices, fermes, wares, vyctuals, and of all manner of mens liuinges. There fore there is no long delay to be taken in hope of amendemente, but fpedye prouifion for redres mull be made for feare of a generall deftruccion. You then that for waflynge and abufynge of the Lordes goodes be worthye and lykely fone to be difplaced, yet in ye mean tyme whyles ye haue refpyte, playe the parte of a wyfe fteward. Reflore vnto preachers and offycers, benefyces and offyces : lette landelordes haue their rentes, and fermoures theyr leafes : caufe byinge and fellyng to be a prouyfyon of good chepe and plentye, and not an occafyon of dearthe and fcarfytye. Soo mail both God and the kyng perceyuyng your wyfe prouyfion, allow your wel doyng, pardon your fautes, and confirme you in your offyces.
O refufe the feruyce, reftore the iniuryes of wycked Mammon, that ye maye from hencefoorthe ferue God and the kynge, prouydyng for- the people in holynes and ryghtoufnes all the dayes of youre lyfe : take hede when ye go from a meaner lyuynge vnto a better, frome a lower offyce vnto a hygher, that ye goo as menne called of Chrifte, not as bewitched and allured by Mammon, fe that God by hygher authoritye perceyu- ynge your faythfulnes in a lyttell, doo in at the doore of worthynes and honeflye, admytte and receyue you to be trufted wyth more : beware leafte that the deuyll by flatteryng frendlhyppe and couetous ambycion, per- ceyuynge your worldlynes in a lytle, do in at the wyn- dow of wycked bryberye conuey and receyue you, to abufe and be abufed wyth more. Se that ye obey the commaundement of God, takynge paynes in youre dutye to feede and doo good. Do not confent vnto the temptacion of the Deuell, worfhyppynge hym in worldlynes, for to gette gaynes. Thefe thynges ob- ferued, ye flial be eflemed and taken as worthye miny- flers of Chryft, and feruaunts of God, for fo much as appertayneth vnto the lawfull callyng and admiflion of you into youre rowmes, and alfo the fayethfull dyly-
at Dairies tro^c. 137
gence in vfyng of your felues in your roumes. Further more Paule geueth example of a lowly mynde whyche doeth not iuftifye a mans felfe, and iudge euyll of other. For fo it becommeth the feruauntes of God, and the mynyfters of Chryfle, euen when they haue done as they be commaunded, to acknowledge them felues vnprofytable feruaunts. And not as proud Pharifeis, prayinge in the prefence of the Lorde, to make boaft of theim felues, and fynde fautes wyth other men. No, for yf other menne prayfe them, they muft not regarde it, no nor yf theyr owne confcience commende them, excepte God alfo allow it. Therfore Paule fayeth. Mihi pro minima eft ut a nobis iitdicer. It is one of the leafl thinges wyth me too be iudged of you that be wyth me, eyther in tyme or place. Velab hurnano die, eyther of mannes daye, by the experience of theim that mall haue further tryall in contynuance of tyme. Sed neque me ipfum iudico. No nor I doo not iudge my felfe. Mihi cnim nihil confdus fum, fed non idea iuftificatus fum. For there is nothyng that I knowe my felfe gylty of, yet through that am I not iuftifyed, no not thorow the iudgement of you or of other, or of myne owne confcience. Qui uero iudicat me dominus e/l.1 He truly yat iudgeth me, is ye lord iudge of all men. Qttare, nihil ante tcrnpus indicate^ wherefore iudge ye nothyng afore the tyme of iudgemente. Qiiando dominus uenerit} when the Lorde mall come to iudge. Qui et illuftrabit occulta tenebrarvmj whyche alfo fhall make bryghte the couertes of darkeneffe and craftye clokynge of fautes. Et manifcjlabit concilia con/is,1 and mall open the thoughtes of the heartes, whiche he only fearcheth. J']t tune laus crit uniciii(]uc a dto) And then prayfe fhall be vnto euery one of God, that geueth prayfe to the prayfe worthy. If Paule, beynge a mynyfter of Chryfle, and a difpofcr of Goddes myfteryes, was fo fuythefull in hys doynge that neyther all the worlde nor hys owne confcience coulde in any thyng reproue hym, and yet to contynue hys carefull dylygence had cucnnore a greatc rcfpecte vnto the commyng and
1 i Cor. iv. 3, 41 5-
138 & Sermon preac^etr
iudgement of the Lorde : Howe fhall we thynke that they rede and take thys place, whiche beyng knowen both to theym felues and vnto the whole worlde to do very euyl in many thyngs, yet wythout care of amende- ment, do forget theym felues, the Lord, and his iudge- mente ? Surely they vnderftand it as Peter fayth : that many places of Paul be vnderftand of them whych beyng indocti Kal a^cn^rot vnlearned and vnfetled in iudgement, aoyH/^Aovcret wrafl or wryng vntyll a wrong pin in fuam ipforium pernidon? vnto theyr owne de- ftruccyon, manye places of Paule, et reliquas fcripturas? and the other fcriptures. For whereas thys place of Paul mould be applyed to make men carefull and diligent, they wraft and wryng it to make for them that be careles and negligent. For Paul fayth that he doth very lytle regarde what any man doth iudge of hym, menyng therby that though all the world wolde com- mende hym, yet wold he not be vayne glorious, of hys well doynge. They faye, they paffe lytle what any man faythe by them, meanyng therby that though all men fynde fautes wyth theim, yet wyll they neuer be afhamed of theyr euyll doynge. Paule fayeth that no man fhoulde iudge, meanynge that no man as concern- ynge fecretes of the mynde, mould iudge other to be yuell, and theim felfes to be iufl : and fo take occafion to fpeake fhamefully of other, and to glory in theim felues : they faye that no man fhoulde iudge, meanynge that neyther preacher nor friende fhoulde fo rebuke theyr manifefl euyll dedes, as myght gene theym occa- lion to be afhamed of theym felues, and leue iudgynge of other. Lette vs not wrefl the places of Paule and of other fcripturs vnto a wrong purpofe. They wreft the faying of Paule vnto a wrong meanynge, when as the mercye of God, whyche paffeth all hys works is denyed of theym vnto anye penytente fynner, by theyr allegynge of the tenth of Paul vnto the Ebrues. Then is that place not well applied but wrong wrefted. For when it is fayde that yf we fynne wylfullye after that we haue receiued the knoweledge of the trueth, there
1 ii. Peter Hi. 16.
at paulcs tro^e. 139
remayneth no more facrifice for fynne, but a fearefull lookynge for iudgemente and violente fyer, it is a meante that there is remaynynge and leafte in the fcriptures no mencyon of facrifyce for the forgeueneffe of fynnes, but terrible threatnynges of vengeaunce to punyfhe fynners, too bee preached vnto wylfull fynners.
Howbeit there is no condemnacionbutalwayes mercye to be preached vnto theym that grafted in Chrifl lefu, be penitent fynners, how fore and ofte foeuer they fall. For his mercy is aboue all hys workes. Therefore when- foeuer he fuffereth the Deuyll to tempte menne to do fynne, or too plage them for fynne, or whenfoeuer by his worde wrytten or preached he doth aggrauate fynne, all is done to dryue menne vnto mercye. The deuyll hathe caufed here in Englande muche fynne and abhominacion, greuous plages, and fore miferies, God hath fent wonderous plenty of hys con- fortable word. And nowe brethren all this is euen the worke of god : for it is God that worketh al thynges in all men. Deus eft qui opera fur omnia in omnibus}- And yet take good hede to the true interpretacion of thys place lead that ye make God to be the author of fyn, Qui not i jwuii pcccatuni, nee eft inucntus do/us in ore cius? whyche knoweth no fynne by experience of doyiig it, nor hathe no gyle founde in hys mouthe. But euen as it was God that dyd both geue and take awaye lobs goodes : So is it God that doth al thyngs, both good and euyll. And as he dyd make lob ryche, by geuinge him goodes, and poore bi fuffering [and vfyng] the deuill to deflroy thofe goodes : fo doethe he good deedes of hys owne goodnes, and euyll dedes in fufferynge the deuyll to do theym. Yea it is euen God that hathe concluded al men under fynne, that hath fuffered the deuyl to tempt al men* to do fynne, yea and fcrip- tura condufit omnia j'nb pcccato? ye frriptur of God hath concluded al men vnder fyn, or as Paulc fpeaketh in an other place more pla[i]nli aiToapcOa. We haue concluded or proued, allegynge good rcafon, that both the grekes and the Jewes be vnder fynne. So nowe
1 I Cor. jfii. 6 1 \ Peter ii. 22. a Gal. //'/. ax
140
all ye by G O D be concluded vnderneth fmne, that is by goddes fuffraunce the deuil hath caufed you to com mit fmne. By Gods ordinaunce the fcriptures and the preachers of God, do open and declare that ye be all fynners. And this is all done, ut omnium miferearetur} that he myght haue mercye vpon all, that all mighte receyue the pardon of his mercye without ye which none can be failed, none can efcape vengeaunce. For non eft in aliquo alto falus, there is no health in anye other, nee aliud nomen datum fub C&lo, in quo oporteat nos faluos fieri? nor none other name geuen vnder heauen, in the which we fhuld be faued. So yat he whyche wyl haue anye healthe mufte come vnto Chrifl, fhewyng him felfe wounded with fin, to (land in nede of Philicion. He yat wil be faued muft fhew him felfe a penytente fynner vnto Chrifle which came not to cal the righteous but fynners to amendments But he yat regardeth the flattery of the worlde or the parci- alitie of his owne confcience, and therby taketh occafion to glory in his own doynges, he fhal finde no mercy, he can receiue no pardon or forgeuenes fent from god to be deliuered only vnto thofe yat fele and acknowlege them felues to be fickely and vnrighteous fmners. Thei therfore that fele and acknowledge ye greatefl fins wickednes* and abhominacions in theim felues being fory therfore, and entend amendment, be moil worthi and fure to receiue ye great pardon of gods mercy, whyche certenly wil deliuer them out of all daunger, kepe them in fafti and bryng them to profperity. Heare therfore and I wil now read my commiffion by ye whiche ye mail wel perceyue yat I fpeake nothyng vpon my own head, but euery thyng according to the commaundement of the Lorde your god, whyche hath fent me vnto you hys people. The example of this proclamacion. Ef. Iviii. Clama? Make proclamation openly, yat al men maye heare: ne ceffes? Ceas not for feare of them that may kyll the body, and can not hurt the foule, quafi tuba exalta iiocem tuam? Lifte vp thy voyce as a trumpet, geuinge men knowledge of the
1 Rom. xi. 32. 2 Act" iv 3 Isa. Iviii. i.
at paule* cro^e. 141
commyng of the ennemyes in the tyme of war. So geue them knowlege of the fwerd of vengeance, which fhal folow immediatli after this warning Et annunda populo meo fcdcra eorum^ And fhew them their fau[l]tes yat in bering of my name, and pro- feffinge my religion wil be my people. Et domui lacob peccata fua} and vnto the houfe of lacob their own fins: vnto all fortes of men euen thofe fyns which they them felues do vfe. Vnto the clergy, the finnes of ye clergy, vnto the laitye, the fynnes of the layte : and vnto euery degre, ye finnes yat be of that degre vfed. Shew ye clergi that thei fede them felues fat with many liuings, and let my flocke be fcatered and vnfed, becaufe ther is few preching paftors yat can and wil fede them.
Shew the clergy that they can neyther teach, nor requyre the king and laitye to prouide new liuings for prechers, vntill they do reftore forth of their own hands thofe which be prouided alredy: fhew fuch of the cleargy as be fatlings puft vp with pluralities, that they neyther haue fed, do fede, or can fede my flocke, yet haue fpoyled, do fpoyle and wyl fpoyle my lambes, ye kynges fubiectes, and theyr own brethren, fo long as thei vfe their pluralities. Shew the laity yat thei haue robbed me theyr lord and god of double honour due vnto my myniflers: for they haue taken awaye the fodder that was prepared for the laborynge oxe, and bene difobedyent vnto my law, pronounced by theim that fate in Moyfes cheire.
Shewe the nobilitie that they haue opprefled the comminaltye, Kepyng theim vnder in feare and ignor ance, by power and aucthorityc, which myght and fhould haue bene louyngly learned their obedience and duty to both God and the kyng by preachyng of the gofpel. Shew the nobility yat they haue extorted and famifhed the commynalty by the hcigthcning of fynes and rentes of fcrmes, and decaying of hofpitality and good houfe kepyng. Shew the comminaltye yat they be both traytoures and rcbclles, murmuryng and
I Isa. Iviii. i.
grudgyng agaynft myne ordinaunces: tel the commin- alty yat the oxe draweth, the horfe beareth, ye tre bryngeth forth frutes and the earthe corne and graffe to the profyte and comforte of man, as I haue or dained them : but they of the comminaltye in England bye and fel, make bargaynes, and do al thynges to the grefe and hynderaunce of manne, contrary to my com- maundemente. Tell the commynaltye that they take one anothers ferme ouer their heades, they thrufte one an other oute of their houfes, they take leafes vnto theim felues, and lette theym dearer vnto other: they bye cornes and wares to make other paye more dere for it: they hurte and trouble, eate vp and deuoure one another. Tell all Englande hye and low, riche and poore that they euerye one prowlynge for them felues, be feruaunts vnto Mammon, ennemies vnto god, difturbers of common wealth, and deflroyers of them felues. And for all this lette theim knowe that I haue no pleafure in ye death of a finner. Sed magis vt con- uertatur et uiuat? but rather I geue him refpit and fend him warning yat he may turne and Hue, com fortably here vpon earth, and ioifully in heauen for euer. Therefore if any in Englande do tourne and amende, he mail faue hym felfe. But they which wyll not repent and amend fhal not be faued by theyr fathers or frendes, which by repentaunce be as fure them felues to be accepted vnto me as was Noe Danyel and lob : but and if all or the mooil parte of them in England, turne and amend them, fay vnto England : delectaber is fuper domino. 2 From henceforth you malt haue delite and plefure in ye lord, etfuftollam te fuper altitudines terra? and I wil lift the higher in honour welth and power, then any other realme in or vpon the earth, et cibabo te hereditate lacobi patris tui* and fo wyll I fede the with the inheritaunce of lacob thy father. I will reflore vnto ye whatfoeuer land or holds in Scotland or in Fraunce dyd at any tyme belonge vnto Jacob thy father, vnto the kings of this realme, os enim domini locutum eft? for the Lordes owne mouth
1 Ezek xxxiii. \i. 2 Isa. hriii. 14.
at Paulo* rro£5e. 143
hath fpoken it, which is a better aflurance vnto this commiffion, then though it were figned and feled wyth ten thoufande mens handes.
Now al you yat entend to be faued by the mercies of god in our fauioure lefu Chrift, come when ye be called from gredy couetoufnes wherwyth ye haue bene blinded to wreake Gods wrath: receyue mercy and grace which be now frely offred to make you from henceforth holy miniflers of Chrift, and faithfull dif- pofers of ye manifolde gyftes of Gods grace and good- nes: and now for fere of forgetfull negligence, when ye depart hence, replenifh your minds with ye comfort able remembrance of your own greuous myferies, and of gods great mercies, in fecrete meditation of the lords praier, here tarying together in quyetnes a littell for to receyue the Lordes bleffyng.
The god of peace that brought againe from death
our Lord lefus the greate fhepeheard of the fhepe,
thorow the bloud of the euerlaftyng teflament, make
you perfit in all good workes, to do hys wyll, workyng
in you that which is plefant in his
fyght, through lefus Chrift.
Amen.
faw tfje
1 In second edition, 1573. God saue the Quceoo.
at
cmer
priuilegio ad imprimendum folum Per feptennium.
In the reprint of 1572, the colophon is—
These bookes are to be solde at the litle
North doore ot Paules, at the
signe of the blacke Boye.
Muir &* Paterson, Printers, Edinburgh.
WILLIAM WEBBE, GRADUATL.
A DISCOURSE
O F
ENGLISH POETRIE.
1586.
CAREFULLY EDITED BY
)WARL) \ i' !'. '
AJfociate, Kings College, London, F.R.G.S.,&c.
LONDON : Ent.Stat.Hall.} i December, 1870. [All Rights r
CONTENTS.
NOTES of William Webbe, .... 3
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH AUTHORS referred to, . 5
INTRODUCTION, . . . . . . • 7
BIBLIOGRAPHY, ...... 10
A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH POETRIE, II
1. The Epiftle to Edward Sulyard, Efquire, . . 13
2. A Preface to the noble Poets of England, . . 17
3. A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH POETRIE, . 21
(a) What Poetry is ? . . . .21
(i)) The beginning of Poetry, and of what eftimation
it hath always been, . ... 21
(c) The ufe of Poetry, and wherein it rightly con-
fifted, ...... 25
(o) The Author's judgment of Englifh Poets, . 30
(e) Stye fHattcr of fEnglt'srj ^octrie, . . 38-56
Ex. Comparifon of Thomas Phaer's tranfiation of the j&neid with the original text of Virgil.
( f ) £fje fHanncr or jForm of Engltsfj ^octrfc, . 56-84
A. RHYMED VERSE.
There be three fpecial notes neceffaiy to be obferved in the framing of our accuftomed Englifh Rhyme : —
(1) The metre or verfe mnft be proportionate . 57 Ex. Criticifm of the different forts of Verfe in
Spencer's Shepherds Calender.
(2) 7%e natural Accent of the words mnjl not
be ivrejled ... 62
(3) The Rhyme or like ending of verfes . . 63
B. The Reformed kind of ENGLISH VERSE [i.e.,
in CLASSICAL FEET], . . . 67-84
Ex. The Author's tranfiation of the firft two
Eglogues of Virgil into Englifh Hexameters, 73-79 Ex. His tranfiation of Hobbinoll's Song in
the Shepherds Calender into Englim Sapphics, 81-84
(g) The Canons or general Cautions of Poetry, pre-
fcribed by Horace : collected by George Fabricius \b. 23 April 1516 at Chemnitz, — d. 13 July 1571] 85-95
4. EPILOGUE, ...... 96
NOTES
of WILLIAM W E B B E.
* Probable or approximate dates.
Very little is known of the Author of this work. The suggestion that he was the William Webbe, M.A., one of the joint Authors of a topographical book The Vale Royal, 1648, foL, is quite anachronistic.
Messrs. Cooper, in Athentz Cantabrigiensis, it. 12. Rd. 1861, state that our Author "was a graduate of this University, but we have no means of determining his college. One of this name, who was of St. John's College, was B.A. 1572-3 [the same year as Spenser], as was another who was of Catharine Hall in 1581-2. His place of residence is unknown, although it may perhaps be inferred that it was in or near the county of Suffolk. We have no information as to his position in life, or the time or place of his death. He was evidently a man of superior intellect and no mean attain-, inents." [Our Author apparently witnessed Tancred and Gis»utnd'm 1568, and being evidently acquainted with Gabriel Harvey and Spenser (who left Cambridge in 1578^, must be the earlier graduate of the above two Webbes.]
1568. Tattered and Gisnmnd, written by five members of the Inner
Temple, the first letters of whose names are attached to the several acts, viz., Rod. Staff; Hen. Nol'well?]; (i. All; Ch. Hat[ton?]; and R. W[ilmot] : is 'curiously acted in view of her Maiesty, by whom it was then princely accepted.1
Webbe appears to have been present at the representation : see 1591. Mr. J. P. Collier in his edition of ' Dodsley's Old /'lays,' i. 153, prints from a MS. what is apparently a por tion of this Tragedy as it was then acted, written in alternate rhymes. He also states in his Hist, of Dram. Poet, that it ' is the earliest English play extant, the plot of which is known to be derived from an Italian novel." ///. 13. Ed. 1831. * 1572-3. Our Author takes his KA. at Cambridge.
1582. Nov. 28. Gabriel Poyntz presented Robert Wilmott, clerk to the Rectory of North Okendon, Essex: 18 miles from London. Neiucoitrt Kcpertoriuui, ii. 447. Ed. 1710.
Flemyngs is a large manor house in Essex in the parish of Runwell, in the hundred of Chelmsford ; from which town it is ten miles distant, and about twenty-nine miles from London. ' This house commands extensive views of some parts of the county and of Kent, including more than thirty parish churches.'
Edward Sulyard succeeded, on the death of his father Eustace in 1546, to Flemyngs and other possessions. He had two sons, Edward and Thomas, nnd a daughter named Eli/aheth. He was knighted on 23 July i( Whitehall by James I, before his coronation: and died in June 1610. Of his two sons, Edward died without issue; Thomas,/'. 1573, was knighted, and d. March 1634; leaving a son Edward, who d. 7 Nov. 1692 without issue, 'the last of the Inm^e and family.' See \\' , Berry, County C,cn. J:ssfX, 64. T. Wright, Hist, of Essex, i. 142, 143. Ed. 1831. J. P[hilipot] Kuts. Batch. ttiadt' l<y James I. 1660.
'1583 or 4. Webbe appears to have been at this time private tutor to Mr. Sulyard's twoM)tis, for he presented his MS. translation (now lost) of the t;,;ir£ics to Mr. Sulyard : see//. 55 and 16.
1585. DEC. 2. The Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's appoint Robert Wilmott, M.A., to the Yi< ar.ti^r of llorndon on the Hill, twenty-four miles from London, and a few miles from Elemyngs, where his friend Webbe was a private tutor. Newcourtt idem. ii. 343.
4 NOTES OF WILLIAM WEBBE.
1586. Of ' the pregnant ympes of right excellent hope,' Thomas Sulyard was about thirteen years old, and his brother Edward was older than him.
W. Webbe writes the present work in the summer evenings. SEPT. 4. It is thus registered for publication. " Robt. Walley John Charlewood, Rd. of them, for printinge A. Discourse of
englishe poetrye vjd."
J'.~P. Collier, Extr. ofStat. Co.'s Regrs. ii., 215. Ed 1849.
1587. FEB. 5. Margaret, the mother of Mr. Sulyard died. She is buried at
Ron well.
1588. Warton quotes "a small black-lettered tract entitled The Touch-stone of Wittes, chiefly compiled, with some slender additions, from William Wehbe's Discourse of English Poetrie, written by Edward Hake, and printed at London by Edmund Bollifant." p. 804. Ed. 1870.
Our Author — his pupils growing to manhood — then appears to have gone, possibly also in the same capacity of private tutor into the family of Henry Grey, Esquire [created Baron Grey of Groby, 21 July 1603 : d. 1614] at Pirgo, in the parish of Havering atte Bower, Essex ; fifteen miles from Lon don. Dugdale states that the first husband of one of the daughters of this Henry Grey, Esquire, was a lVillia»i Siilyard, Esquire. Baron, i. 722. Ed. 1675. From this old Palace of the Queens of England Webbe wrote the fol lowing letter to Wilmott, which is reprinted in the revised edition of Tan- cred and Gisimind published in 1592: of which there are copies in the Bodleian, and at Bridgewater House, and an imperfect one in the British Museum (C. 34, e. 44).
1591. AUG. 8. To his frend R. W. Master R. W. looke not now for the tearmes of an intreator, I wil beg no longer, and for your promises, I wil refuse them as bad paiment : neither can I be satisfied with any thing, but a peremptorie performance of an old intention of yours, the publishing I meane of those wast papers (as it pleaseth you to cal them, but as I esteem them, a most exquisite inuention) of Gisinunds Tragedie. Thinke not to shift me off with longer delayes, nor alledge more ex cuses to get further respite, least I arrest you with my Action est, and commence such a Sute of ynkindenesse against you, as when the case shall be scand before the Judges of courtesie, the court will crie out of your immoderat modestie. And thus much I tel you before, you shal not be able to wage against me in the charges growing vpon this action, especially, if the worshipful company of the Inner temple gentlemen patronize my cause, as vndoubtedly they wil, yea, and rather plead partially for me then let my cause miscary, because them- selues are parties. The tragedie was by them most pithely framed, and no lesse curiously acted in view of her Maiesty, by whom it was then as princely accepted, as of the whole honorable audience notably applauded : yea, and of al men generally desired, as a work, either in statelines of shew, depth of conceit, or true ornaments of poeticall artej inferior to none of the best in that kinde : no, were the Roman Seneca the censurer. The braue youths that then (to their high praises) so feelingly performed the same in action, did shortly after lay vp the booke vnregarded, or perhaps let it run abroade (as many parentes doe their children once past dandling) not respecting so much what hard fortune might befall it being out of their fingers, as how their heroical wits might againe be quickly conceiued with new inuentions of like worthines, wherof they haue been euer since wonderfull fertill. But this orphan of theirs (for he wandreth as it were fatherlesse,) hath notwithstanding, by the rare and bewtiful perfections appearing in him, hetherto neucr wanted great
NOTES OF WILLIAM WEBBE. 5
fauonrers, and louing preseruers. Among whom I cannot sufficiently commend your more then charitable zeale, and scholerly compassion towards him, that haue not only rescued and defended him from the deuouring iawes of obliuion, but vouchsafed also to apparrel him in a new sute at your own charges, wherein he may again more boldly come abroad, and by your permission retume to his olde parents, clothed perhaps not in richer or more costly furniture than it went from them, but in handsomnes and fashion more answerable to these times, wherein fashions are so often altered. Let one word suffice for your encouragement herein : namely, your commendable pains in disrobing him of his antike curiositie, and adorning him with the approoued guise of our stateliest Kti^Iishe termes (not diminishing, but augmenting his arti- ficiall colours of absolute poesie, deriuedfrom his first parents] cannot but bee grateful to most mens appetites, who vpon our experience we know highly to esteem such lofty measures of sententiously composed Tragedies.
How much you shal make me, and the rest of your priuate Trends beholding vnto you, 1 list not to discourse : and there fore grounding vpon these alledged reasons, that the suppress ing of this Tragedie, so worthy for ye presse, were no other thing then wilfully to defraud your selfe of an vniuersall thank, your frends of their expectations, and sweete G. of a famous eternitie. I will cease to doubt of any other pretence to cloake your bnshfulnesse, hoping to read it in print (which lately lay neglected amongst your papers) at our next ap pointed meeting.
I bid you heartely farewell. From Pyrgo in Essex, August the eight, 1591. Tuns fide et facilitate. GUIL. WEBBE. It may also be noted that VVilmott dedicated this revised tragedy to two Kvsex ladies : one of whom was Lady Anne Grey, the daughter of Lord \Vind>or, and the wife of the above-mentioned Henry Grey, Enquire of Pirgo. That tlie al ove R. Wilmott, Clergyman, is the same as the Reviser of the play appears from the following passage in his Preface.
" Hereupon I have indured some conflicts between reason and judgement, whether it were convenient for the commonwealth, and the indecorum of my calling >s some think it that the memory of Ttuicreifs Tragedy should be ai;ain by my means revised, which the oftner I read over, and the more I considered thereon, the sooner I was won to consent thereunto : calling to mind that neither the thrice reverend and learned father, M. Beza, was ashamed in his younger years to send abroad, in his own name, his Tragedy of Abraham, nor that rare Scut the scholar of our age) />uc/ut>ia>i. his most pat helical Icptka." ' Dods ley's Old Plays' ii. 165. Ed. by J. P. Collier, 1825.
If the identity may be considered as established, Wilmott the Poet lived on tilli6nj : when he was succeeded on his death by W. Jackson, in the Rectory of North Okendon. Nfn'cnnrt, iiicin. ii. 447.
No later information concerning W. Webbe than the above letter, has yet been recovered.
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH AUTHORS Ki:i'Ki;i:i.i> TO IN nir. FOLLOWING Difcourfe.
G.R ? The Sfnppe of Safeguard^ 1569 . . 35
? . . . . -35
T. CHURCHYARD. ChuKhyvrcCs'Chippesl 1575; Church-
rant's ' Chance,' 1580 ; Churchyards ' Charts,' 1580 33 M. I"). |? Mailer Dyer, i.e., Sir Edward Dyer] . . 33
? DARKLI i. ? . . . -35
6 CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH AUTHORS.
R. EDWARDES. Par. of Dainty Deznfes, 1576; Comedies 33 Sir T. ELYOT. The Governor, 1538 . . 42, 43
G. GASCOIGNE. Poftes, 1572; The Sleele Glas, &c., 1576. 33
B. GoOGE. Eglogs, Epytaphes, and Sonettes, 1563 ; tranf-
lation of Palingenins . . . . -34
Sir J. GRANGE. The Golden Aphroditis, 1577 . . 35
G. HARVEY. ... . 35
HEIWOOD [either JOHN HEYWOOD or JASPER HEYWOOD] 33 W. HUNNIS. Paradife of Dainty Devifes, 1576, 1578 . 33 ? HYLL ? . -33
E. K. [i.e. EDWARD KIRKE] ... 33, 53
F. K. [? Fr. Kindlemarfh] Par. of Dainty Devifes, 1576, 1578 35 J. LYLY. Enphues, 1579-80 ; Plays . . .46 A. MUNDAY. The Mirronr of Mutabilitie, 1579 ; The
Paine of Plcafure, 1580 . . -35
T. NORTON. Joint Author of Ferrex and Porrex, 1561 . 33
C. OCKLANDE. Anglorum Pralia, 1580, 1582 . . 30 [? DR. E.] SANDJYS]. Par. of Dainty Devifes, 1576, &c. . 33 E. SPENSER. Shepheards Calender, 1579, 1581, 1586 35, 52, 81 HENRY, Earl of SURREY. Sonnets, «Srv. , in TotteVs Miff. 1557 33 T. TUSSER. Five hundred points of Good Hnfbandrie,
1557-80 . . -33
THOMAS, Lord VAUX. Sonnetes, <Srv., in Tottel's Miff.
1557 ; and Par. of Dainty Devifes, 1576 . -33
E. VERE, Earl of OXFORD. Unpublifhed Sonnets . 33
G. WHETSTONE. The Roc ke of Regard, 1576 . . 35 R. WILMOTT. Tancrcd and Gifnnmd, 1568 . . 35 S. Y. [? M. YLOOP, i.e. M. POOLY in Par. of Dainty Devifes} 33
THE TRANSLATORS. SENECA.
J. HEYWOOD. Troas, 1559; Thyejlcs, 1560; Hercules
Furens, 1561 . 34
A. NEVILL. (Edipus, 1563 . 34
J. STUDLEY. Medea, 1566; Agamemnon, 1566 . . 34
OVID.
G. TURBERVILLE. Heroical Epijlles, 1567 . . 34
A. GOLDING. Metamorphofes, 1565 . 345 5l
T. CHURCHYARD. Trijtia, 1578 . . -34
T. DRANT. Satires, 1566 ; Art of Poetrie, 1567 . . 34
VIRGIL.
HENRY, Earl of SURREY. Two Books of the ' ^neid,' 1557 33 T. PHAER, M.D. <^\rd Books of the^^Eneid,' 1558-1562 33, 46-51 T. TWYNE. The remaining ?.\rd Books, 1573 . . 34
A.FLEMING. Bucolicks, 1575, in rhyme. His Gcorgicstt-
ferred to at/. 55 appeared in 1589 . . 34, 55
A Difcoitrfe of Engli/h Poetrie
INTRODUCTION.
Part from the exceffive rarity of this work, two copies of it only being known ; it deferves permanent republication as a good example of the bed form of Effay Writing of its time ; and as one of the feries of Poetical Criticifms before the ad vent of Shakefpeare as a writer, the fludy of which is fo effential to a right underflanding of our befl Verfe. Although Poetry is the mofl ethereal part of Thought and Expreffion ; though Poets mud be born and cannot be made : yet is there an art of Poefy ; fet forth long ago by Horace but varying with differ ing languages and countries, and even with different ages in the life of the fame country. In our tongue — Milton only excepted — there is nothing approaching, either in the average merit of the Journeymen or the fuperlative excellence of the few Mafler-Craftfinen, the Poefy of the Elizabethan age. Hence the value of thefe early Poetical Criticifms. Their difcuffion of principles is mod helpful to all readers in the difcern- ment of the fubtle beauties of the numberlefs poems of that era : while for thofe who can, and who will ; they will be found fingularly fuggedive in the training of their own Tower of Song, for the indruclion and delight of this and future generations.
A Cambridge graduate; the private tutor, for lonie two or three years pad, to Edward and Thomas Sul-
8 Introduction.
yard, the fons of Edward Sulyard Efquire, of Flem- yngs, fituated in Effex, fome thirty miles diftant from London : our Author gave his leifure hours to the ftudy of Latin and Engliih poetry.
He had acquainted himfelf with our older Poets, and with the contemporary verfe: and, thinking for himfelf, he endeavoured to fee exaclly what Englifh poetry actually was, and what it might and mould be come. Doubtlefs in his walks in the large park fur- rounding the Old Manor Houfe this fubjecl often oc cupied his thoughts, and he fat down to commit his opinions to the prefs, in the prefence and quietude of a large and fair landfcape ilretching far away fouth- ward beyond the Thames into Kent, diverfined with the fpires of many churches and the mafls of many paffing fliips : and all illuminated with the glow and glory of the fummer evenings of 1586.
Webbe was as much affedled with the ' immoderate modefly' with which, five years later, he charged Wil- mot, as any of the writers of that age. He dreads, at /. 55, the unauthorized publication of his verfion of the Georgics, and he muil have been moved deeply by * the rude multitude of rufticall Rymers, who will be called Poets' before he ventured to advocate in print 'the reformation of our Englifh Verfe,' i.e., the abandonment of Rhyme for Metre.
He calls his work ' a Height fomewhat compiled for recreation in the intermyffions of my daylie bufmeffe,' yet it is the mofl extenfive piece of Poetical Criticifm that had hitherto appeared. He had read, for he quotes at /. 64, G. Gafcoigne's Certayne Notes, 6°<r., 1575: alfo Three proper and wittie, familiar Letters, by Immerito [Edmund Spenfer] and G[abriel H[arvey] 1580, to which he alludes at/. 36. He may have heard of Sir P. Sidney's Apologie for Poetrie [1582], then circulating in manufcript, or of the young Scotch King's Reulis and Cautelis of Scotti/h Poejie, then being
Introduction. 9
publifhed at Edinburgh. Yet none of thefe is fo lengthy, nor deals with the fame extent of fubject, nor is illuftrated by original examples, as is this Difcourfe.
Though the book is an honeft one, faithfully repre- fenting the author's robuil mind ; it was written under the ilrong influence of three works : Afcham's Schole- mafter, 1570; Edwardes' Paradife of Dainty Dances, 1576; and Spenfer's Shepherdes Calender, anonymouily publifhed, without the author's confent, by E. K. [i.e., Edward Kirke, as is generally believed] in 1579. He follows Afcham as to the origin of Rhyme; and alfo in his error as to SimmiasRhodiasat/. 57,£c. He quotes W. Hunnis' poem at /. 66, from the collection of Edwardes. It is alfo Webbe's great merit as a lover and judge of poetry, that he inflinc~lively fixes upon the Shepherdes Calender (never openly acknowledged by Spenfer in his lifetime) as the revelation of a great poet, as great an Englifh Poet indeed, as had yet ap peared. That Paftoral Poem gave Webbe a higher reverence for Spenfer than his great Allegory breeds refpecl for him in many, now-a-days.
The facility of Rhyme, at a time when there were many wonderfully facile Rhymers, induced Afcham, AVebbe, and many others to feek after a more difficult form of Knglifh verfe. Claflical feet Webbe himfelf experi enced to be a 'troublefome and unpleafant peece of labour,' fo he fought after fomething more adapted to the nature of the language, 'fome perfect platforme or Profodia of verfifying.' Blank verfe would have fatif- fied him, but he did not recognife its merits in Surrey's tranflation of the JEneid. He is, however, warm in his praife of Phaer's verfion of that work in hexame ters : and gives us three pieces of reformed verfe of his own coinage ; two in hexameters, and one in fapphics.
Finally, AVebbe wrote 'thefe fewe leaues' 'to fliire
i o Introduction.
vppe fome other of meete abilitie, to beftowe trauell in this matter.' His wifh had been anticipated. Al ready a Matter Critic was at work — we know not for certainty whether it was George Puttenham, or who elfe — who, beginning to write in 1585, publifhed in 1589 The Arte of Englifh Poefie : which is the largeil and ableft criticifm of Englifh Poefy that appeared in print, during the reign of Elizabeth.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. in tl)e JVutljor's lifetime.
I. — As a feparate publication.
1. 1586. London. I vol. 4to. See title on oppofite page.
Of the two copies known, the one here re printed is among the Mai one books in the Bodleian. The other paffed from hand to hand at the following fales : always increafmg in price. 1773. APR. 8. Mr. West's sale, No. 1856, IDS. 6d.,
to Mr. Pearson. 1778. APR. 22. Mr. Pearson's sale, No. 1888, ,£3, 55.,
to Mr. Stevens. 1800. MAY 19. Mr Stevens' sale, No. 1128, £8, 8s.,
to the Duke of Roxburghe. 1812. JUNE 2. The Roxburghe sale, No. 3168, ^64,
to the Marquis of Blandford.
H&me* ginee tlje Jlixtljor'* fceatlj.
I. — As a feparate publication.
3. 1870. DEC. i. London. Engli/h Reprints: fee title at
1 vol. 8vo. /. i.
II. _ With other works.
2. 1815. London. Ancient Critical EJjTays. Ed. by J. Hafle-
2 vols. 4to. wood. A Difcourfe of Englijh Poetrie oc
cupies Vol. ii., //. 13-95-
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Together, with the Authors iudgment, touching the re formation of our Eng- lilh Verfe.
William Webbe Graduate.
£Y!^ \ Jmprinted at London, \ ^f by lohn Charlewood for Robert VValley 1586.
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To the right vvorfhip-
full, learned, and moft gentle Gentle-
man, my verie good Master, Ma.
Edward Suliard, Efquire. W. W.
wylheth his harts defire.
|Ay it pleafe you Syr, thys once more to beare with my rudenes, in prefenting vnto your viewe, an other /lender conceits, of my fimple capa city: wherin although lam notable to bring you ante thing, which is mccte to delaine you from your more ferious matters: yet Tpp.ui my knowledge of your former court cfy and your faiiouniblc countcnaunce toivardes all entcrprifes of Learning, I dare make bold to craue your accustomed- patience, in turning oner fome of thcfe fewe leaucs, which I Jliall account a greater recompence, then the wry ting thereof may defer uc.
i4 The Epiftle.
The fir me hope of your wonted gentlenes, not any good lyking of myne owne labour, made me thus prefumptu- oufly to craue your worships patronage for my poore booke. A pretty aunfwere is reported by fome to be made by Appelles to King Alexander, who (in difport) taking vp one of his penftlles to drawe a line, and asking the Paynters iudgment of his draught, It is doone (quoth Apelles) like a King.- meaning indeede it was draw en as hepleafed, but was nothing lejfe then good workmanshippe. Myfelfe in like fort, taking vppon me, to make a draught of Englifh Poetry, and requefti?ig your worJJiyps cenfure of the fame, you wyll perhaps gyue me thys verdict, It was doone like a Scholler, meaning, as I could, but indeede more like to a learner, then one through grounded in Poeticall workmanship.
Alexander in drawing his lyne, leaned fometime too hard, otherwhyle too foft, as neuer hailing beene appren tice to the Arte: I in drawing this Poeticall difcourfe, make it fome where toflraight (leaning out the cheefe col- lour es and ornaments of Poetry) in an other place to wyde (fluffing in peeces little pertinent to true Poetry) as one neuer acquainted wyth the learned Mufes. What then ? as he being a king, myght meddle in what Scyence him lifted, though therein hee had no sky II: fo I beeing a learner, wyll try e my cunning iti fome parts of Learning, though neuer fofimple.
Noive, as for my faucie prejfingvppon your expefted fauor in crauing your iudgment, I befeech you let me
The Epiftle. 15
make thys excufe: that whereas true Gentilitie did neuer withdrawe her louing affection from Lady Learn ing^ so I am perfwaded, that your worshyppe cannot chufe, but continue your wonted fauourable benignitie towardes all the indetiourers to learning, of which corporation / doo indeede profeffe my felfe one ftllie member.
Forfith the wryters of all ages, haue fought as an vn- doubted Bulwarks and stedfajl faucgarde the patronage of Nobilitye, (a JJiielde as fure as can be to learning) wherin tofJirowde andfafelye place their fcuerall inuen- tions: why should not Ifeekefome harbour for my poore trauell to reste and flaye vppon, beeing of it felfe vnable to JJiyft the carping cauillcs and byting fcornes of lewde controllers ?
And in tructh, where myght I rather choofe a fure defence and ready e refuge for the fame, then where I fee perfecte Gentility e, and noblenejfe of minde, to be fafle lynckcd with exccllencie of learning and affable courtefye ? Moreouer, adde thys to the ende of myne excufe: that I fende it into your fight, not as anie wyttiepeece of worke that may delight you: but being a flcight fomewhat com- pylcd for recreation, in the intermyjjfions of my day lie bufinefle, (euen thys Summer Eucninges) as a token of that earnest and unquenchable defy re I haue to shewe my felfe duct If ull and welwylling towardes you. W hereunto I am continually enflamed more and more, when I con- fidereyther your fauourable freendshyppe. vfed towardes
16 The Epiftle.
or your gentle countenaunce JJiewed to my fimple tranelles. TJie one I haue tryed in that homely tranfla. tion I prefentcd vnto you: the other Ifinde true in your curteous putting to my truft, and dooing me fo great honejly and credite, with the charge of thefe toward young Gentlemen your fonnes.
To which pregnant ympes of right excellent hope, I would I were able, or you myght haue occafion to make triall of my lotting minde: who shoulde well perceyue my felfe to remayne vnto them a faythfull and tnifty Achates, euenfofarre as my wealth my woe, my power or per rill, my penne or witte, my health or lyfe may feme to ferche myne ability.
Huge heapes of wordes I myght pyle together to trouble you withall: eyther of my felfe or of my dooinges, (as fome doo) or of your worJJiyppes commendable vertues (as the mojle doo) But I purpofely chuft rather to let paffe thefpreading of that worthy fame which you haue euer deferued, then to runne in fufpicion of fawning flattery which I euer abhorred.
Therefore once againe craning your gentle pardon,
and patience in your ouerlooking thys rude
Epiftle: and wyshing more happinejfe then
my penne can exprejfeto you and your
whole retinewe, I rest.
(•••)
Your worJJiippes faithfiill
Seruant. VV. W.
A Preface to the noble Poets of Englande.
|Mong the innumerable fortes of Eng- lyfhe Bookes, and infinite fardles of printed pamphlets, wherewith thys Countrey is peftered, all fhoppes {luffed, and euery fludy furniflied: the greateft part I thinke in any one kinde, are fuch as are either meere Poeticall, or which tende in fome refpecle (as either in matter or forme) to Poetry. Of fuch Bookes therfore, fith I haue beene one, that haue had a defire to reade not the feweft, and becaufe it is an argument, which men of great learning haue no ley- fure to handle, or at leail hauing to doo with more ferious matters doo leaft regarde : If I write fomething, concerning what I thinke of our Englifh Poets, or ad- uenture to fette downe my fimple iudgement of Englifh Poetrie, I truft the learned Poets will giue me leaue, and vouchfafe my Booke paffage, as beeing for the rudeneffe thereof no preiudice to their noble fludies, but euen (as my intent is) an injlar cotis to ftirre vppe fome other of meete abilitie, to beftowe trauell in this matter: whereby I thinke wee may not onelie get the meanes which wee yet want, to difcerne betweene good writers and badde, but perhappes alfo challenge from the rude multitude of mflicall Rymcrs, who will be called Poets, the right practife and orderly courfe of true Poetry.
It is to be wondred at of all, and is lamented of B
i g The Preface.
manie, that where as all kinde of good learning, haue afpyred to royall dignitie and flatelie grace in our Englifti tongue, being not onelie founded, defended, maintained, and enlarged, but alfo purged from faultes, weeded of errours, and pollilhed from barbaroufnes, by men of great authoritie and iudgement : onelie Poetrie hath founde feweft frends to amende it, thofe that can, referuing theyr fkyll to themfelues, thofe that cannot, running headlong vppon it, thinking to garnilh it with their deuifes, but more corrupting it with fantailicall errours. What fhoulde be the caufe, that our Englifh fpeeche in fome of the wyfeft mens iudgements, hath neuer attained to anie fufficient ripenes, nay not ful auoided the reproch of barbaroufnes in Poetry ? the rudenes of the Countrey, or bafeneffe of wytts/ or the courfe DialcR of the fpeeche ? experience vtterlie dif- proueth it to be anie of thefe.- what then? furelie the canckred enmitie of curious cuflome.- which as it neuer was great freend to any good learning, fo in this hath it grounded in the moft, fuch a negligent perfwafion of an impoffibilitie in matching the bell, that the finefl witts and moft diuine heades, haue contented them felues with a bafe kinde of fingering/ rather debafing theyr faculties, in fetting forth theyr fkyll in the cour- feft manner, then for breaking cuftome, they would labour to adorne their Countrey and aduaunce their ftyle with the highefl and moft learnedft toppe of true Poetry. The rudenes or vnaptneffe of our Countrey to be either none or no hinderaunce, if reformation were made accordinglie, the exquifite ex cellency in all kindes of good learning nowe flourim- ing among vs, inferiour to none other nation, may fufficiently declare.
The Preface. i9
That there be as fharpe and quicke wittes in Eng land as euer were among the peereleffe Grecians, or renowmed Romaines, it were a note of no witte at all in me to deny. And is our fpeeche fo courfe, or our phrafe fo harflie, that Poetry cannot therein finde a vayne whereby it may appeare like it felfe ? why mould we think fo bafely of this ? rather then of her filler, I meane Rhetoricall Eloqwttion, which as they were by byrth Twyns, by kinde the fame, by originall of one defcent: fo no doubt, as Eloquence hath founde fuch fauoures, in the Englifli tongue, as me frequenteth not any more gladly: fo would Poetry e if there were the like welcome and entertainment gyuen her by our Englifh Poets, without queflion afpyre to wonderfull perfection, and appeare farre more gorgeous and delect able among vs. Thus much I am bolde to fay in behalfe of Poetrie, not that I meane to call in queflion the reuerend and learned workes of Poetrie, written in our tongue by men of rare iudgement, and moil excel lent Poets: but euen as it were by way of fupplication to the famous and learned Lawreat Maflers of Eng- lande, that they would but confult one halie howre with their heaucnly Mufe, what credite they might winne to theyr natiue fpeeche, what enormities they might wipe out of Englifli Poetry, what a fitte vaine they might frequent, wherein to fhewe forth their worthie faculties: if Englifli Poetrie were truely reformed, and fome perfect, platforme or Profodia of verfifying were by them ratifyed and fette downe : eyther in immitation of Greekes and Latines, or where it would fkant abyde the touch of theyr Rules, the like obferuations felccUd and eflablifhed by the naturall affectation of the fpeeche. Thus much I fay, not to pcrfwadc you that
20 The Preface.
are the fauourers of Englifhe Poetry but to mooue it to you : beeing not the firfle that haue thought vpon this matter, but one that by confent of others, haue taken vppon me to lay it once again in your wayes, if perhaps you may flumble vppon it, and chance to looke fo lowe from your diuine cogitations, when your Mufe mounteth to the flarres, and ranfacketh the Spheres of heauen/ whereby perhaps you may take compaffion of noble Poetry, pittifullie mangled and defaced, by rude finatterers and barbarous immitatours of your worthy ftudies. If the motion bee worthy your regard it is enough to mooue it, if not, my wordes woulde fimply preuaile in perfwading you, and therefore I reft vppon thys onely requeft, that of your courtefies, you wyll graunt paffage, vnder your fauourable corrections, for this my fimple cenfure of Englifti Poetry, wherein if you pleafe to runne it oner, you (hall knowe breefely myne opinion of the moil part of your accuftomed Poets and particularly, in his place, the lyttle fomewhat which I haue fifted out of my weake brayne concerning thys reformed verfifying.
VV: VV:
A Difcourfe of Eng-
lifhe Poetrie.
Xtending to write fome difcourfe of Englifh Poetrie, I thinke it not amyfie if I fpeake fomething gene rally of Poetrie, as, what it is, whence it had the beginning, and of what eilimation it hath ahvayes beene and ought to be among al forts of people. Poetrie called in Greeke 7ro€Tpia, bccing deriued from the Verbe TTOICW, which fignifieth in Latine faccre, in Englifh, to make, may properly be defined, the arte of making : which word as it hath alwaies becne efpecially vfed of the bed of our Knglifh Poets, to expreffe ye very faculty of fpcaking or wryting Poetically, fo doth it in dccdc containc mod fitly the whole grace and property of the fame, ye more fullye and effectually then any other Englifh Verbe. That Poetry is an Arte, (or rather a more excellent thing then can be contayned wytliin the compaffe of Arte) though 1 neede not ftancle long to prootie, both the witnes of Horace* who wrote tic arte J \h1ica, and of Terence, who calleth it Artem JMuficam, and the very naturall property thereof may fufficiently declare: The beginning of it as appeareth by Plato, was of a vertuoiis and moil deuout purpofe,
22
A Difcourfe of
who witnefleth, that by occafion of meeting of a great company of young men, to folemnize ye feafts which were called Panegeryca, and were wont to be cele brated euery fift yeere, there, they that were moft preg nant in wytt, and indued with great gyfts of wyfedome and knowledge in Muficke aboue the reft did vfe commonly to make goodly verfes, meafured according to the fweeteft notes of Muficke, containing the prayfe of fome noble vertue, or of immortalitie, or of fome fuch thing of greateft eftimation: which vnto them feemed, fo heauenly and ioyous a thing, that, think ing fuch men to be infpyrde with fome diuine inftinct from heauen, they called them Vates. So when other among them of the finefl wits and apteft capacities beganne in imitation of thefe to frame ditties of lighter matters, and tuning them to the ftroake of fome of the pleafanteft kind of Muficke, then began there to grow a diflinction and great diuerfity betweene makers and makers. Whereby (I take it) beganne thys difference : that they which handled in the audience of the people, graue and neceffary matters, were called wife men or eloquent men, which they meant by Dates', and the reft which fange of loue matters, or other lighter deuifes alluring vnto pleafure and delight, were called Poetcz or makers. Thus it appeareth, both Eloquence and Poetrie to haue had their beginning and originall from thefe exercifes, beeing framed in fuch fweete rneafure of fentences and pleafant harmonic called Pi0/z,os, which is an apt compofition of wordes or claufes, drawing as it were by force ye hearers eares euen whether foeuer it lyfteth: that Plato affirmeth therein to be contained Ao^reta an inchauntment, as it were to perfwade them anie thing whether they would or no. And heerehence is fayde, that men were firft withdrawne from a wylde and fauadge kinde of life, to ciuillity and gentlenes, and ye right knowledge of humanity by the force of this meafurable or tunable fpeaking.
This opinion fhall you finde confirmed throughout
Englifh Poetrie. 23
the whole workes of Plato and Arijlotle. And that fuch was the eftimation of this Poetry at thofe times, that they fuppofed all wifedome and knowledge to be included myftically in that diuine inftinction, wherewith they thought their Vates to bee infpyred. Wherevpon, throughout the noble workes of thofe mod excellent Philofophers before named, are the authorities of Poets very often alledged. And Cicero in his Tiifculane quef- tions is of that minde, that a Poet cannot expreffe verfes aboundantly, fufficiently, and fully, neither his eloquence can flowe pleafauntly, or his wordes founde well and plenteoufly, without celefliall inftinction: which Poets themfelues doo very often and gladlie witnes of themfelues, as namely Quid in. 6. Eafto: Est dcus in nobis Agiiante call cf dm us illo. etc. Where- vnto I doubt not equally to adioyne the authoritye of our late famous Englifh Poet, who wrote the Shcep- hcanis Calender, where lamenting the decay of Poetry, at thefe dayes, faith moft fweetely to the fame.
Then make thee winges of thine afpyring wytt,
And whence thou cameft flye back to heauen apace, etc.
Whofe fine poeticall witt, and moft exquifite learning, as he (hewed aboundantly in that peece of worke, in my judgment inferiour to the workes neither of Theocritus in llrecke, nor Virgill in Latine, whom hee narrowly immitateth: fo I nothing doubt, but if his other workes were common abroade, which are as I thinke in ye clofe cuftodie of certaine his freends, we fhould haue of our owne Poets, whom wee might matche in all refpects with the beft. And among all other his workes what- foeuer, I would wyfh to haue the fight of hys EugUJJi J\><-/, which his freend E. K. did once promife to publillie, which whether he performed or not, I kmnve not, if he did, my happe hath not beene fo good as yet to fee it.
But to returne to the eftimation of Poetry. Befides ye great and profitable fruites contained in Poetry, for
24 A Difcourfe of
the inftructioR of manners and precepts of good life (for that was cheefly refpected in the firil age of Poetry) this is alfo added to the eternall commendations of that noble faculty : that Kinges and Princes, great and famous men, did euer encourage, mayntaine, and reward Poets in al ages : becaufe they were thought onely to haue the whole power in their handes, of making men either immortally famous for their valiaunt exploytes and vertuous exercifes, or perpetually infamous for their vicious Hues. Wherevppon it is faid of Achilles, that this onely vantage he had of Heflor, that it was his fortune to be extolled and renowned by the hea- uenly verfe of Homer. And as Tully recordeth to be written of Alexander, that with natural teares he wept ouer Achilles Tombe, in ioy that he concerned at the confideration, howe it was his happe to be honoured wyth fo diuine a worke, as Homers was. Arijlotle, a mod prudent and learned Philofopher,beeing appointed Schoolemafler to the young Prince Alexander, thought no worke fo meete to be reade vnto a King, as the worke of Homer: wherein the young Prince being by him inftructed throughly, found fuch wonderfull delight in the fame when hee came to maturity, that hee would not onely haue it with him in all his iourneyes, but in his bedde alfo vnder his pyllowe, to delight him and teache him both nights and dayes. The fame is reported of noble Scipio, who finding the two Bookes of Homer in the fpoyle of Kyng Darius, efteemed them as wonderfull precious lewelles, making one of them his companion for the night, the other for the day. And not onely was he thus affected to yat one peece or parte of Poetry, but fo generally he loued the profef- fors thereof, that in his mod ferious affayres, and hot ted warres againd Numantia and Carthage he could no whitte be without that olde Poet Ennius in his company. But to fpeake of all thofe noble and wyfe Princes, who bare fpeciall fauour and countenaunce to Poets, were tedious, and would require a rehearfall of all fuch, in whofe time there grewe any to credite and
Englifh Poetrie. 25
edimation in that faculty. Thus farre therefore may fuffice for the eflimation of Poets. Nowe I thinke mod meete, to fpeake fomewhat, concerning what hath beene the vfe of Poetry, and wherin it rightly confided, and whereof confequently it obteyned fuch eflimation.
To begin therefore with the fird that was fird worthe- lye memorable in the excellent gyft of Poetrye, the bed wryters agree that it was Orpheus, who by the fweete gyft of his heauenly Poetry, withdrew men from raungyng vncertainly, and wandring brutifhly about, and made them gather together, and keepe company, made houfes, and kept fellowfhippe together, who therefore is reported (as Horace fayth) to affwage the fierceneffe of Tygers, and mooue the harde Flynts. After him was Amphion, who was the firfl that caufed Citties to bee builded, and men therein to hue decently and orderly according to lawe and right. Next, was Tyrtceits, who began to practife warlike defences, to keepe back enemies, and faue themfelues from inuafion of foes. In thys place I thinke were moll conuenient to rehearfe that auncient Poet Pyndants: but of the certainc time wherein he flourifhed, I am not very certaine : but of the place where he continued mode, it fhoulde feeme to be the Citty of Thebes, by Plinie who reporteth, that Alexander in facking the fame Cittie, woulde not fuller the houfe wherein lie dwelt to be fpoyled as all the red \vcre. After thefe was Homer, who as it were in one fumme comprehended all know ledge, wifedome, learning, and pollicie, that was inci dent to the capacity of man. And who fo liile to take vicwe of hys two Hookes, one of his Iliadcs, the other his ujijsi'ii, (hall throughly perceiue what the right vfe of Poetry is: which indeede is to mingle profite with pleafure, and fo to delight the Reader with pleafantnes of hys Arte, as in ye mcane time, his mind may be well indructed with knowledge and wifedome. For fo did that worthy Poet frame thofe his two workes, that in reading the fir ft, that is his Iliads, by declaring and fetting forth fo liuely the Grecians affemUy againd
26 A Difcourfe of
Troy, together with their proweffe and fortitude againft their foes, a Prince fhall learne not onely courage, and valiantneffe, but difcretion alfo and pollicie to encounter with his enemies, yea a perfect forme of wyfe confulta- tions, with hisCaptaines, and exhortations to the people, with other infinite commodities.
Agayne, in the other part, wherein are defcribed the manifold and daungerous aduentures of Viiffes, may a man learne many noble vertues: and alfo learne to efcape and auoyde the fubtyll practifes, and perrilous entrappinges of naughty perfons : and not onely this, but in what fort alfo he may deale to knowe and per- ceiue the affections of thofe which be neere vnto him, and mofl familiar with him, the better to put them in truft with his matters of waight and importaunce. Therefore I may boldly fette downe thys to be the trueft, auncientefl and befl kinde of Poetry, to direct ones endeuour alwayes to that marke, that with delight they may euermore adioyne commoditie to theyr Readers: which becaufe I grounde vpon Homer the Prince of all Poets, therefore haue I alledged the order of his worke, as an authority fufficiently proouing this affertion.
Nowe what other Poets which followed him, and beene of greatefl fame, haue doone for the mofle parte in their feuerall workes I wyll briefely, and as my (lender ability wyll feme me declare. But by my leaue, I mufl content my felfe to fpeake not of all, but of fuch as my felfe haue feene, and beene bed acquainted withall, and thofe not all nor the moile part of the auncient Grecians, of whom I know not how many there were, but thefe of the Latinifts, which are of greatefl fame and moft obuious among vs.
Thus much I can fay, that Ariftotle reporteth none to haue greatly flourifhed in Greece, at leafl wyfe not left behynd them any notable memoriall, before the time of Homer. And Tully fayth as much, that there were none wrytt woorth the reading twyce in the Romaine tongue, before ye Poet Ennius. And furely
Englifh Poetrie. 2y
as the very fumme or cheefefl eflence of Poetry, dyd ahviiyes for the moft part confifl in delighting the readers or hearers wyth pleafure, fo as the number of Poets increafed, they ftyll inclyned thys way rather then the other, fo that moil of them had fpeciall regarde, to the pleafantneffe of theyr fine conceytes, whereby they might drawe mens mindes into admira tion of theyr inuentions, more then they had to the profitte or commodity e that the Readers fhoulde reape by their works. And thus as I fuppofe came it to paffe among them, that for the moll part of them, they would not write one worke contayning fome ferious matter : but for the fame they wold likewife powre foorth as much of fome wanton or laciuious inuention. Yet fome of the auncienteft fort of Grecians, as it feemeth were not fo much difpofed to vayne delectation: as Arijbtle fayth of Empcdodes, that in hys iudgment he was onely a naturall Philofopher, no Poet at all, nor that he was like vnto Homer in any thing but hys meeter, or number of feete, that is, that hee wrote in verfe. After the time of Homer, there began the firfle Comedy wryters, who compyled theyr workes in a better flile which continued not long, before it was expelled by penalty, for fcofting too broade at mens manners, and the prime reuengements which the Poets vfed againfl their ill wyllers. Among thefe was Eupolis, Cratinus, and Ariftophenes^ but afterward the order of thys wryting Comedies was reformed and made more plaufible: then wrytte Plato, Comicits, Mcnandcr, and I knowe not who more.
There be many moft profitable workes, of like anti quity, or rather before them, of the Tragedy writers: as of Euripides, and Sophocles, then was there J^hoci- //</<•.»• and 'J'hcagincs, with many other : which Tragedies had their inuention by one Thefpis, and were pollilhed and amended by sEfchilns. The profitte or difcom- inoditie which aryfeth by the vfe of thefe Comedies and Tragedies, which is moll, hath beene long in contro- uerfie, and is fore vrged among vs at thefe dayes : what
28 A Difcourfe of
I thinke of the fame, perhaps I mall breefely declare anon.
Nowe concerning the Poets which wrote in homely manner, as they pretended, but indeede, with great pythe and learned iudgment, fuch as were the wryters of Sheepeheards talke and of hufbandly precepts, who were among the Grecians that excelled, befides Theo critus and Hefiodus I know not, of whom the firft, what profitable workes he left to pofterity, befides hys LIUlia or contentions of Goteheards, tending mofl to delight, and pretty inuentions, I can not tell. The other, no doubt for his Argument he tooke in hande, dealt very learnedly and profitably, that is, in precepts of Hufbandry, but yet fo as he myxed much wanton iluffe among the reft.
The firft wryters of Poetry among the Latines, fhoulde feeme to be thofe, which excelled in the fram ing of Commedies, and that they continued a long time without any notable memory of other Poets. Among whom, the cheefeft that we may fee or heare tell of, were thefe. Ennius, Cceci/iits, Nccuius, Licinius, Atti- lius, Turpitius, Trabea, Lufcius, Plautus, and Terms. Of whom thefe two laft named, haue beene euer fince theyr time moft famous, and to thefe dayes are efteemed, as greate helpes and furtheraunces to the obtayning of good Letters. But heere cannot I ftaye to fpeake of the moft famous, renowned and excellent, that euer writte among the Latine Poets, P. Virgill, who per formed the very fame in that tongue, which Homer had doone in Greeke : or rather better if better might as Sex. Propert. in his Elegies gallantly recordeth in his praife, Nefcio quid magis nafdtur Iliade. Vnder the perfon of ^Eneas he expreffeth the valoure of a worthy Captaine and valiaunt Gouernour, together with the perrilous aduentures of warre, and polliticke deuifes at all affayes. And as he immitateth Homer in that worke, fo dooth he likewyfe followe the very fteps of Theo critus, in his moft pythy inuentions of his sEglogues-. and likewyfe Hefiodus in his Georgicks or bookes of
Englifh Poetrie. 29
Hufbandry, but yet more grauely, and in a more decent ilyle. But notwithftanding hys fage grauity and won- derfull wifedome, dyd he not altogether reflrayne his vayne, but that he would haue a cad at fome wanton and fkant comely an Argument, if indeede fuch trilles as be fathered vppon him were his owne. There fol lowed after him, very many rare and excellent Poets, whereof the mofl part writt light matters, as Epigram- mes and Elegies, with much pleafant dalliance, among whom may be accounted Propertius, Tibullits, Catullus, with diuers whom Quid fpeaketh of in diners places of his workes. Then are there two Hyfloricall Poets, no leffe profitable then delightfome to bee read : Siliits and Lucamis: the one declaring the valiant proweffe of two noble Captaines, one enemie to the other, that is, Scipio and Hanibt'll: the other likewife, the fortitude of two expert warriours (yet more lamentably then the other becaufe thefe warres were ciuill) Pompcy and Cu'fiir. The next in lyme (but as mod men doo account, and fo did he himfelfe) the fecond in dignity, we will ad ioyne 0///V/, a moil learned, and exquifite Poet. The worke of greateil profitte which he wrote, was his Booke of Metamorphofts, which though it confided ot fayned Fables for the mod part, and poeticall inuentions, yet beeing moralized according to his meaning, and the trueth of euery tale beeing dilcouered, it is a worke of exceeding wyfedome and founde iudgnicnt. If one lyd in like manner, to haue knowledge and perfect intelligence of thole rytes and ceremonies which were obferued after the Religion of the Heathen, no more profitable worke for that purpofe, then his bookes /)<• ftis/is. The red of his dooinges, though they teiule to the vayne delights of lone and dalliaunce (except his THsttbus wherein hebewayleth hys exile) yet furely are mixed with much good counfayle and profitable leflbns if they be wifely and narrowly read. After his time I know no worke of any great fame, till the time of 7/,'niiY, a Poet not of the fmoothed dyle, but in iharpneffe of wytt inieriour to none, and one to whom
3o A Difcourfe of
all the reft both before his time and fince, are very much beholding. About the fame time luuenall and Perfius, then Martial, Seneca a moll excellent wryter of Trage dies, Boetius, Lucretius •, Statins, Val\ Flaccus, Manilius, Aufonius, Claudian, and many other, whofe iufl times and feuerall woorkes to fpeake of in this place, were neither much needefull, nor altogeather tollerable, becaufe I purpofed an other argument. Onely I will adde two of later times, yet not farre inferiour to the moft of them aforefayde, Pallengenius, and Bap. Man- tuanus, and for a fmguler gyft in a fweete Heroicall verfe, match with them Chr. Odan. the Authour of our Anglorum Prcelia. But nowe leaft I flray too farre from my purpofe, I wyl come to our Englifh Poets, to whom I would I were able to yeelde theyr deferued commendations : and affoorde them that cenfure, which I know many woulde, which can better, if they were nowe to write in my fleede.
I know no memorable worke written by any Poet in our Englifh fpeeche, vntill twenty yeeres pafl: where although Learning was notgenerally decayde at anytime, efpecially fince the Conqueft of King William Duke of Normandy, as it may appeare by many famous works and learned bookes (though not of this kinde) wrytten by Byfhoppes and others : yet furelye that Poetry was in fmall price among them, it is very manifeft, and no great maruayle, for euen that light of Greeke and Latine Poets which they had, they much contemned, as ap- peareth by theyr rude verfifying, which of long time was vfed (a barbarous vfe it was) wherin they conuerted the naturall property of the fweete Latine verfe, to be a balde kinde of ryming, thinking nothing to be lear nedly written in verfe, which fell not out in ryme, that is, in wordes whereof the middle worde of eche verfe mould found a like with the lall, or of two verfes, the ende of both mould fall in the like letters as thus.
O male vinentes, verfus audite fequentes.
Englifh Poetrie. 3I
And thus likewyfe.
Propter hcec et alia dogmata doclorum Rcor effe melius et magis decor urn: Quifquefuam habeat, et non proximonun.
This brutifh Poetrie, though it had not the beginning in this Countrey, yet fo hath it beene affected heere, that the infection thereof would neuer (nor I thinke euer will) be rooted vppe againe: I meane this tynkerly verfe which we call ryme : Matter Afcham fayth, that it firft began to be followed and maintained among the Hunnes and Gothians, and other barbarous Nations, who with the decay of all good learning, brought it into Italy, from thence it came into Frauncc, and fo to Germany, atlaftconueyed into England, by men indeede of great wifedome and learning, but not confiderate nor circumfpect in that behalfe. But of this I muft intreate more heereafter.
Hairy the firft. King of that name in England, is wonderfully extolled, in all auncient Recordes of me mory, for hys finguler good learning, in all kinde of noble (Indies, in fo much as he was named by his fur- name Beauclcark, as much to fay, as Fayrcclcrkc (whereof perhappes came ye name of Fayrcdtwe) what knowledge hee attained in the fkyll of Poetry, I am not able to fay, I report his name for proofe, that learning in this Country was not little efleemed of at that rude time, and that like it is, among other (Indies, a King would not neglect the faculty of Poetry. The firft. of our Kn^lifh Poets that I haue heard of, was John 6V/VW-, about the time of king Rychard the fcromle, as it ftiould kvme by certayne conjectures bothe a Knight, and queftionlcffe a finguler well learned man: whofe workes I could wyfh they were all whole and jKTkrt among vs, for no doubt they contained very much deepe knowledge and delight: which maybe gathered by his freend Chaucer, who fpeaketh of him oftentimes, in
32 A Difcourfe of
diuer[s] places of hys workes. Chawcer, who for that excellent fame which hee obtayned in his Poetry, was alwayes accounted the God of Englifh Poets (fuch a tytle for honours fake hath beene giuen him) was next after, if not equall in time to Gower, and hath left many workes, both for delight and profitable knowledge, farre exceeding any other that as yet euer fince hys time directed theyr ftudies that way. Though the manner of hys ilile may feeme blunte and courfe to many fine Englifh eares at thefe dayes, yet in trueth, if it be equally pondered, and with good iudgmeiit aduifed, and con firmed with the time wherein he wrote, a man mail perceiue thereby euen a true picture or perfect fhape of a right Poet. He by his delightfome vayne, fo gulled the eares of men with his deuifes, that, although corruption bare fuch fway in mod matters, that learning and truth might fkant bee admitted to fhewe it felfe, yet without controllment, myght hee gyrde at the vices and abufes of all flates, and gawle with very fharpe and eger inuentions, which he did fo learnedly and plea- fantly, that none therefore would call him into queftion. For fuch was his bolde fpyrit, that what enormities he faw in any, he would not fpare to pay them home, eyther in playne words, or els in fome prety and pleafant couert, that the fimplefl might efpy him.
Neere in time vnto him was Lydgate a Poet, furely for good proportion of his verfe, and meetely currant flyle, as the time affoorded comparable with Chawcer, yet more occupyed in fuperfticious and odde matters, then was requefite in fo good a wytte : which, though he handled them commendably, yet the matters them- felues beeing not fo commendable, hys eftimation hath beene the "leffe. The next of our auncient Poets, that I can tell of, I fuppcfe to be Pierce Ploughman, who in hys dooinges is fome what harftie and obfcure, but indeede a very pithy wryter, and (to hys commendation I fpeake it) was the firft that I haue feene, that obferued ye quantity of our verfe without the curiofity of Ryme.
Since thefe I knowe none other tyll the time of
Englifh Poetrie. 33
Skdton, who writ in the time of Kyng Henry the eyght, who as indeede he obtayned the Lawrell Garland, fo may I wy th good ryght yeelde him the title of a Poet : hee was doubtles a pleafant conceyted fellowe, and of a very fharpe wytte, exceeding bolde, and would nyppe to the very quicke where he once lette holde. Next hym I thynke I may place mafter George Gajkoyne, as painefull a Souldier in the affayres of hys Prince and Country, as he was a wytty Poet in his wryting : whofe commendations, becaufe I found in one of better v.'iit then my felfe, I wyl fette downe hys wordes, and fuppreffe myne owne, of hym thus wryteth E. K. vppon the ninth sEglogue of the new Poet.
Matter George Gajkoyne a wytty Gentleman and the very cheefe of our late rymers, who and if fome partes of learning wanted not (albeit is well knowne he altoge ther wanted not learning) no doubt would haue attayned to the excellencye of thofe famous Poets. For gyfts of wytt, and naturall promptnes appeare in him aboun- dantly. I might next fpeake of the dyuers workes of the olde Earle of Surrey : of the L. Vaus, of Norton, of Brijlow, Ediwdes, Tuffcr, Churchyard. Wyl\ Jfitnnis'. JIaiu'ood: Sand\ Jfyll: S. Y. M. D. and many others, but to fpeake of their feuerall gyfts, and aboundant fkyll mewed forth by them in many pretty and learned workes, would make my difcourfe much more tedious.
I may not omitte the deferued commendations of many honourable and noble Lordes, and Gentlemen, in !. r Maieilies Courte, which in the rare deuifes of Poetry, haue beenc and yet are mod excellent fkyl- full, among whom, the right honourable Karle of ' I may challenge to him felfe the tytle of ye mod excellent among the refl. I can no longer forget thofe learned ( ientlemen which tooke fuch profitable paynes in trans lating the Latine Poets into our Knglilh tongue, whole deiertes in that behalfe are more then I can vtter. Among tliefe, I euer efteemed, and while I lyue, in my conceyt I fluill account Mailer/). PIuw\ without doubt c
34 A Difcourfe of
the beft: who as indeede hee had the bell peece of Poetry whereon to fette a mod gallant verfe, fo per formed he it accordingly, and in fuch fort, as in my confcience I thinke would fcarcely be doone againe, if it were to doo again. Notwithstanding, I fpeak it but as myne own fancy, not preiudiciall to thofe that lift to thinke otherwyfe. Hys worke whereof I fpeake, is the englifhing of jEneidos of Virgill, fo farre foorth as it pleafed God to fpare him life, which was to the halfe parte of the tenth Booke, the reft beeing fince wyth no leffe commendations finifhed, by that worthy fcholler and famous Phifition Mailer Thomas Twyne.
Equally with him may I well adioyne Mailer Arthur Golding, for hys labour in englifhing Quids Metamor- phofis, for which Gentleman, furely our Country hath for many refpects greatly to gyue God thankes: as for him which hath taken infinite paynes without ceafmg, trauelleth as yet indefatigably, and is addicted without fociety, by his continuall laboure, to profit this nation and fpeeche in all kind of good learning. The next, very well deferueth Mailer Barnabe Googe to be placed, as a painefull furtherer of learning : hys helpe to Poetry befides hys owne deuifes, as the tranflating of Pallen- genius. Lodiac. Abraham Flemming as in many prety Poefis of hys owne, fo in tranflating hath doone to hys commendations. To whom I would heere adioyne one of hys name, whom I know to haue excelled, as well in all kinde of learning as in Poetry moft efpecially, and would appeare fo, if the dainty morfelles, and fine poeticall inuentions of hys, were as common abroade as I knowe they be among fonie of hys freendes. I wyl craue leaue of the laudable Authors of Seneca in Eng- lifh, of the other partes of Quid, of Horace, of Mantuan, and diners other, becaufe I would haften to ende thys rehearfall, perhappes offenfyue to fome, whom eyther by forgetfulnes, or want of knowledge, I mufL needes ouer paffe.
And once againe, I am humbly to defire pardon of the learned company of Gentlemen Schollers, and
Englifh Poetrie. 35
(ludents of the Vniuerfities, and Innes of Courte, yf I omitte thcyr feuerall commendations in this place, which I knowe a great number of them haue worthely deferued, in many rare deuifes, and finguler inuentions of Poetrie : for neither hath it beene my good happe, to haue feene all which I haue hearde of, neyther is my abyding in fuch place, where I can with facility get knowledge of their workes.
One Gentleman notwithftanding among them may I not ouerflyppe, fo farre reacheth his fame, and fo worthy is he, if hee haue not already, to weare the Lawrell wreathe, Mafter George Whet/lone, a man fmgularly well fkyld in this faculty of Poetrie: To him I wyl ioyne Anthony Munday, an earned traueller in this arte, and in whofe name I haue feene very excellent workes, among which furely, the moil exquifite vaine of a witty poeticall heade is mewed in the fweete fobs of Sheepheardes and Nymphes : a worke well worthy to be viewed, and to bee efteemed as very rare Poetrie. With thefe I may place John Graiuige, Knyght, VVyl- mott, Darrcll, F. C. F. K. G. B. and many other, whofe names come not nowe to my remembraunce.
This place haue I purpofely referued for one, who if not only, yet in my iudgement principally deferueth the tytle of the righted Englifh Poet, that euer I read : that is, the Author of the Sheepeheardes Kalender, intituled to the woorthy Gentleman Mafter J* hi Hip Sydney, whether it was Mafter Sp. or what rare Schol- ler in Pembrooke Hall foeuer, becaufe himfelf and his freendes, for what refpect I knowe not, would not reueale it, I force not greatly to fette downe : forry I am that I can not find none other with whom I might couple him in this Catalogue, in his rare gyft of Poetry: although one there is, though nowe long fmcc, ferioully occupied in grauer iludies, (Mafter Gabridl Haruey) yet, as he was once his moft fpecial freende and fellow Poet, fo becaufe he hath taken fuch paynes, not onely in his Latin Poetry (for which he enioyed great com mendations of the beft both in Judgment and dignity in
36 A Difcourfe of
thys Realme) but alfo to reforme our Englifh verfe, and to beautify the fame with braue deuifes, of which I thinke the cheef e lye hidde in hatefull obfcurity : there fore wyll I aduenture to fette them together, as two of the rarefl witts, and learnedfl matters of Poetrie in England. Whofe worthy and notable fkyl in this faculty, I would wyfh if their high dignities and ferious bufmeffes would permit, they would ftyll graunt to bee a furtheraunce to that reformed kinde of Poetry, which Mailer Haruey did once beginne to ratify : and furely in mine opinion, if hee had chofen fome grauer matter, and handled but with halfe that ikyll, which I knowe he could haue doone, and not powred it foorth at a venture, as a thinge betweene iett and earned, it had taken greater effect then it did.
As for the other Gentleman, if it would pleafe him or hys freendes to let thofe excellent Poemes, whereof I know he hath plenty, come abroad, as his Dreames, his Legends, his Court of Cupid, his English Poet with other: he fhoulde not. onely flay the rude pens of my felfe and others, but alfo fatiffye . the thirtty defires of many which defire nothing more, then to fee more of hys rare inuentions. If I ioyne to Matter Haruey hys two Brethren, I am affured, though they be both bufied with great and waighty callinges (the one a godly and learned Diuine, the other a famous and fkylfull Phifition) yet if they lytted to fette to their helping handes to Poetry, they would as much beautify and adorne it as any others.
If I let paffe the vncountable rabble of ryming Ballet makers and compylers of fenceleffe fonets, who be mott bufy, to ttuffe euery flail full of groffe deuifes and vn- learned Pamphlets : I trutt I mall with the bett fort be held excufecL Nor though many fuch can frame an Alehoufe fong of nue of fixe fcore verfes, hobbling vppon fome tune of a Northen lygge, or Robyn hoode, or La lubber etc. And perhappes obferue iuft number of fillables, eyght in one line, fixe in an other, and there withall an A to make a iercke in the ende : yet if thefe
Englifh Poetrie. 37
might be accounted Poets (as it is fayde fome of them make meanes to be promoted to ye Lawrell) furely we mall fhortly haue whole fwarmes of Poets: and euery one that can frame a Booke in Ryme, though for want of matter, it be but in commendations of Copper nofes or Bottle Ale, wyll catch at the Garlande due to Poets : whofe potticall poeticall (I fhould fay) heades, I would wyfhe, at their wormipfull comencements might in fleede of Lawrell, be gorgioufly gamimed with fayre greene Barley, in token of their good affection to our Englifhe Malt. One fpeaketh thus homely of them, with whofe words I wyll content my felfe for thys time, be- caufe I woulde not bee too broade wyth them in myne o\vne fpeeche.
In regarde (he meaneth of the learned framing the newe Poets workes which writt the Sheepheardes Calen der.) I fcorne and fpue out the rakehelly rout of our ragged Rymers, (for fo themfelues vfe to hunt the Let ter) which without learning boafle, without iudgment iangle, without reafon rage and fume, as if fome inftinct of poeticall fpyrite had newlie rauifhed them, aboue the meaneffe of common capacity. And beeing in the midfl of all their brauery, fuddainly for want ot matter or of Ryme, or hauing forgotten their former conceyt, they leeme to be fo payned and trauelled in theyr remembraunce, as it were a woman in Chyldbyrth, or as that fome Pythia when the traunce came vpon her. Os raludum fcra cor da Jo mans etc.
Hus farre foorth haue I aduentuivd to fetie <lo\vne parte of my fimple Judgement con cerning thofe Poets, with whom for the moll part I haue beene acquainted through myne owne reading: whicl} though it may
3s A Difcourfe of
feeme fomething impertinent to the tytle of my Booke, yet I truft the courteous Readers wyll pardon me, con- fidering that poetry is not of that grounde and antiquity in our Englim tongue, but that fpeaking thereof only as it is Englim, would feeme like vnto the drawing of ones pycture without a heade.
Nowe therefore by your gentle patience, wyll I wyth like breuity make tryall, what I can fay concerning our Englifhe Poetry, firft in the matter thereof, then in the forme, that is, the manner of our verfe : yet fo as I muft euermore haue recourfe to thofe times and wryters, whereon the Englim poetry taketh as it were the difcent and proprietye.
Englim Poetry therefore beeing coniidered accord ing to common cuftome and auncient vfe, is, where any worke is learnedly compiled in meafurable fpeeche, and framed in wordes contayning number or propor tion of iufl fyllables, delighting the readers or hearers as well by the apt and decent framing of wordes in equall refemblance of quantity, commonly called verfe, as by the fkyllfull handling of the matter whereof it is intreated. I fpake fomewhat of the beginning of thys meafuring of wordes in iufl number, taken out of Plato: and indeede the regarde of true quantity in Letters and fyllables, feemeth not to haue been much vrged before the time of Homer in Greece, as Ariftotle witneffeth.
The matters whereof verfes were firft made, were eyther exhortations to vertue, dehortations from vice, or the prayfes of fome laudable thing. From thence they beganne to vfe them in exercifes of immitating fome vertuous and wife man at their feafles : where as fome one fhoulde be appointed to reprefent an other mans perfon of high eflimation, and he fang fine ditties and wittie fentences, tunably to their Mufick notes. Of thys fprang the firfl kinde of Comedyes, when they beganne to bring into thefe exercifes, more perfons then one, whofe fpeeches were deuifed Dyalogue wife, in aunfwering one another. And of fuch like exer-
Englifh Poetrie. 39
cifes, or as fome wyll needes haue it, long before the other, began the firft Tragedies, and were fo called of r/oayos, becaufe the Actor when he began to play his part, flewe and offered a Goate to their Goddeffe : but Commedies tooke their name of Ko/zafeiv KCU aSctv comefsatum ire, to goe a feafting, becaufe they vfed to goe in proceffion with thek fport about the Citties and Villages, mingling much pleafaunt myrth vvyth theyr graue Religion, and feafling cheerefully together wyth as great ioy as might be deuifed. But not long after (as one delight draweth another) they began to inuent new perfons and newe matters for their Comedies, fuch as the deuifers thought meetefl to pleafe the peoples vaine: And from thefe, they beganne to pre- fent in fhapes of men, the natures of vertues and vices, and affections and quallities incident to men, as luflice, Temperance, Pouerty, Wrathe, Vengeaunce, Sloth, Valiantnes, and fuch like, as may appeare by the auncient workes of Ariftophanes. There grewe at laft to be a greater diuerfitye betweene Tragedy wryters and Comedy wryters, the one expreffing onely forrow- full and lamentable Hyftories, bringing in the perfons of Gods and Goddeffes, Kynges and Queenes, and great Rates, whofe parts were cheefely to expreffe mod miferable calamities and dreadfull chaunces, which innvafed worfe and worfe, tyll they came to the mofl wofull plight that might be deuifed.
The Comedies on the other fide, were directed to a contrary cndc, which beginning doubtfully, drewe to fome trouble or turmoyle, and by fome lucky chaunce alwayes ended to the ioy and appeafement of all parties. Thys diftinction grewe as fome holde opinion, by immitation of the workes of Homer : for out of his Iliads, the Tragedy wryters founde dreadfull clients, whereon to frame their matters, and the other out of hys Odyffea tooke arguments of delight, and pleafant ending after dangerous and trouble fome doubles. So that, though there be many fortes ofpoeticall wrytings, and Poetry is not debarred from any matter, which
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may be expreffed by penne or fpeeche, yet for the better vnderflanding, and breefer method of thys difcourfe, I may comprehende the fame in three fortes, which are Comicall, Tragicall, Hiftori[c]all. Vnder the firfl, may be contained all fuch Epigrammcs, Elegies and delectable ditties, which Poets haue deuifed re- fpecting onely the delight thereof: in the feconde, all dolefull complaynts, lamentable chaunces, and what foeuer is poetically expreffed in forrow and heauines. In the third, we may comprife, the refte of all fuch matters, which is indifferent betweene the other two, doo commonly occupy the pennes of Poets : fuch, are the poeticall compyling of Chronicles, the freendly greetings betweene freendes, and .very many fortes befides, which for the better diftinction may be refer red to one of thefe three kindes of Poetry. But once againe, leafl my difcourfe runne too farre awry, wyll I buckle my felfe more neerer to Englifh Poetry: the vfe wherof, becaufe it is nothing different from any other, I thinke beft to confirme by the teflimony of Horace, a man worthy to beare authority in this matter: whofe very opinion is this, that the perfect perfection of poetrie is this, to mingle delight with profitt in fuch wyfe, that a Reader might by his read ing be pertaker of bothe, which though I touched in the beginning, yet 'I thought good to alledge in this place for more confirmation thereof fome of hys owne wordes. In his treatife de arte Poetica, thus hee fayth.
Ant prodeffe volunt ant ddeftare pocttz, Aut Jim ul et iucunda et idonea dicer e vitce.
As much to faie: All Poets defire either by their works to profitt or delight men, or els to ioyne both profitable and pleafant leffons together for the inftruc- tion of life.
And again
Englifh Poetrie. 4i
Oinne tulit punElum qiii mifcuit vtile dulri, Lcclonun deleclando paritcrque moucndo.
That is, He miffeth nothing of his marke which ioyncth profitt with delight, as well delighting his Readers, as profiting them with counfell. And that whole Epiflle which hee wryt of his Arte of Poetrie, among all the parts thereof, runneth cheefelie vppon this, that whether the argument which the Poet hancl- leth, be of thinges doone, or fained inuentions, yet that they fhould beare fuch an Image of trueth, that as they delight they may likewife profitt. For thefe are his wordes. Ficla voluptatis caufa fint proximo, vcris. Let thinges that are faigned for pleafures fake, haue a neere refemblance of ye truth. This precept may you perceiue to bee mod duelie obferued of C/uiwcer: for who could with more delight, prefcribe fuch wholfome counfaile and fage aduife, where he feemeth onelie to refpect the profitte of his leffons and inllructions? or who coulde with greater wifedome, or more pithie (kill, vnfold fuch pleafant and delightfome matters of mirth, as though they refpected nothing, but the telling of a merry tale? fo that this is the very grounde of right poetrie, to giue profitable coun faile, yet fo as it mull be mingled with delight. For among all the auncient works of poetrie, though the mod of them incline much to that part of delighting men with pleafant matters of fmall importauncc, yd euen in the vainefl trifles among them, there is not forgotten fume profitable counfaile, which a man may learne, cither by llatte precepts which therein arc j>re- fcribed, or by loathing Inch vile vices, the enormities whereof they largelic (lifcoucr. For furclie, I am of this opinion, that the wantoncll Poets of all, in their mod laciuious workes wherein they bulled themfelues, fought rather by that meanes to withdraw incns mimics (efpcciallie the bcfl natures) from fuch foule vices, then to allure them to imbiace fuch bcailly follies as they detc<
42 A Difcourfe of
Horace fpeaking of the generall dueties of Poets, fayth, Os tenerum pueri balbumque poeta fugitat, and manie more wordes concerning the profitte to be hadde out of Poets, which becaufe I haue fome of them com- prifed into an Englifh tranflation of that learned and famous knight, Sir Thomas Elyot, I wyll fet downe his wordes.
The Poet fafhioneth by fome pleafant meane, The fpeeche of children ftable and vnfure : Gulling their eares from wordes and thinges vncleane, Giuing to them precepts that are pure : Rebuking enuy and wrath if it dure : Thinges well donne he can by example commend, To needy and ficke he doth alfo his cure To recomfort if ought he can amende.
And manie other like wordes are in that place of Ho race to like effect. Therefore poetrie, as it is of it felfe, without abufe is not onely not vnprofitable to the Hues and (Indies of menne, but wonderfull commendable and of great excellencie. For nothing can be more accept able to men, or rather to be wilhed, then fweete allure ments to vertues, and commodious caueates from vices? of which Poetrie is exceeding plentifull, powring into gentle witts, not roughly and tirannicallie, but it is were with a louing authoritie. Nowe if the ill and vndecent prouocations, whereof fome vnbridled witts take occafion by the reading of laciuious Poemes, bee obiected : fuch as are Quids loue Bookes, and Elegies, Tibullus, Catul lus, and Martials workes, with the Comedies for the mofl part of Plautus and Terence: I thinke it eafily aunfwered. For though it may not iufllie be denied, that thefe workes are indeede very Poetrie, yet that Poetrie in them is not the effentiall or formall matter or caufe of the hurt therein might be affirmed, and although that reafon fhould come fhort, yet this might be fufficient, that the workes themfelues doo not cor rupt, but the abufe of the vfers, who vndamaging their
Englifh Poetrie. 43
o\vne difpofitions, by reading the difcotieries of vices, referable foolifh folke, who comming into a Garden without anie choife or circumfpection tread downe the faired flowers, and wilfullie thruft their fingers among the nettles.
And furelie to fpeake what I verelie thinke, this is mine opinion : that one hauing fufficient fkyll, to reade and vnderdand thofe workes, and yet no daie of him felfe to auoydeinconueniences, which the remembraunce of vnlawfull things may dirre vppe in his minde, he, in my iudgement, is wholy to bee reputed a laciuious dif- pofed perfonne, whom the recitall of fins whether it be in a good worke or a badde, or vppon what occafion foeuer, wyll not daie him but prouoke him further vnto them. Contrariwife, what good leffons the warie and fkylful Readers mail picke out of the very word of them, if they lid to take anie heede, and reade them not of an intent to bee made the worfe by them, you may fee by thefe fewe fentences, which the forefayd Sir Thomas Elyott gathered as he fayth at all aduentures, intreat- ing of the like argument. Fird Plant us in commenda tions of vertue, hath fuch like wordes.
Verely vertue doth all thinges excell, For if liberty, health lining or fubftaunce, Our Country our parents, and children doo well, It hapneth by vertue : me doth all aduaunce, Vertue hath all thinges vnder gouernaunce : And in whom of vertue is founde great plenty, Any thing that is good may neuer be dainty.
Terence, in Kunncho hath a profitable fpeeche, in blafing foorth the falhions of harlots, before the eyes of young men. Thus fayth Parmcno.
In thys thing I tryumphe in myne owne conceite, That I hauc found for all young men the way, Howe they of Harlots fliall know the deceite, Their witts and manners: that thereby they may Them perpetual lie hate, for fo much as they
44 A Difcourfe of
Out of their owne houfes be frefh and delicate. Feeding curioufly: at home all day Lyuing beggerlie in moil wretched eflate.
And many more wordes of the fame matter, but which may be gathered by thefe fewe.
Quid, in his mofl wanton Bookes of loue, and the remedies thereof, hath very many pithie and wife fen tences, which a heedefull Reader may marke, and chofe out from ye other ftuffe. This is one.
Tyme is a medicine of it mail profitt, Wine gyuen out of tyme may be annoyaunce. And man mail irritat vice if he prohibitt, When time is not meete vnto his vtteraunce. Therfore if thou yet by counfayle art recuperable, Fly thou from idlenes and euer be liable.
Martiall^ a mofl diffolute wryter among all other, yet not without many graue and prudent fpeeches, as this is one worthy to be marked of thefe fond youthes which intangle theyr wytts in raging loue, who flepping once ouer fhoes in theyr fancyes, neuer reft plunging till they be ouer head and eares in their follie.
If thou wylt efchewe bitter aduenture,
And auoyde the annoyance of a penfifull hart,
Set in no one perfon all wholly thy pleafure,
The leffe rnaifl thou ioy, but the leffe malt thou fmart
Thefe are but fewe gathered out by happe, yet fuffi- cient to fhewe that the wife and circumfpect Readers may finde very many profitable leffons, difperfed in thefe workes, neither take any harme by reading fuch Poemes, but good, if they wil themfelues. Neuerthe- les, I would not be thought to hold opinion, that the reading of them is fo tollerable, as that there neede no refpect to be had in making choyfe of readers or hearers : for if they be prohibited from the tender and vnconflant wits of children and young mindes, I thinke
Englifh Poetrie. 45
it not without great reafon : neyther am I of that deuiliifh opinion, of which fome there are, and haue beene in England, who hailing charge of youth to in- flruct them in learning, haue efpecially made choyfe of fuch vnchildifh fluffe, to reade vnto young Schollers, as it fhoulde feeme of fome filthy purpofe, wylfully to corrupt theyr tender mindes, and prepare them the more ready for theyr loathfome dyetts.
For as it is fayd of that impudent worke of Lucia;::. a man were better to reade none of it then all of it, ib thinke I that thefe workes are rather to be kept alto gether from children, then they fhould haue free liberty to reade them, before they be meete either of their owne difcretion or by heedefull inflruction, to make choyfe of the good from the badde. As for our Englifhe Poetrie, I know no fuch perilous peeces (except a fewe balde ditties made ouer the Beere potts, which are nothing leffe then Poetry) which anie man may vfe and reade without damage or daunger : which indeede is leffe to be meruailed at among vs, then among the olde Latines and Greekes, confidering that Chriftianity may be a flaie to fuch illecibrous workes and inuentions, as among them (for their Arte fake) myght obtaine paffage.
Nowe will I fpeake fomewhat, of that princelie part of Poetrie, wherein are difplaied the noble actcs and valiant exploits of puiffaunt Captaines, expert fouldiers. wife men, with the famous rcportes of auncicnt times. fuch as are the Heroycall workes of Homer in Clrecke, and the heauenly verfe of Virgins sEncidos in Latine : which workes. comprehending as it were the fiimme and ground of all Poetrie, are verelie and incompar ably the bed of all other. To thefe, though wee haue no Knglilh workc aunfweral)le, in refpect of the glorious icnts of gallant handling: yet our auncient C'lironi- an<l reporters of our Countrey come
moll neere them: and no doubt, if fuch rcuanle ut our Kn-li'h fpeeche, and curious handling of our verfe/ had IK Tmce thought vppon,and from time to
46 A Difcourfe of
time been pollifhed and bettered by men of learning, iudgement, and authority, it would ere this, haue matched them in all refpects. A manifeft example thereof, may bee the great good grace and fweete vayne, which Eloquence hath attained in our fpeeche, be- caufe it hath had the helpe of fuch rare and finguler wits, as from time to time myght flill adde fome amendment to the fame. Among whom I thinke there is none that will gainfay, but Mailer John Lilly hath deferued mode high commendations, as he which hath ftept one fleppe further therein then any either before or fmce he fiift began the wyttie difcourfe of his Euphues. Whofe workes, furely in refpecte of his finguler eloquence and braue compofition of apt words and fentences, let the learned examine and make tryall thereof thorough all the partes of Rethoricke, in fitte phrafes, in pithy fentences, in gallant tropes, in flowing fpeeche, in plaine fence, and furely in my iudgment, I thinke he wyll yeelde him that verdict, which Quintilian giueth of bothe the bed Orators Demofthenes and Tully, that from the one, nothing may be taken away, to the other, nothing may be added. But a more neerer example to prooue my former affertion true (I meane ye meetneffe of our fpeeche to receiue the bell forme of Poetry) may bee taken by conference of that famous tranflation of Mailer D. Phaer with the coppie it felfe, who foeuer pleafe with courteous iudgement but a little to compare and marke them both together : and weigh with himfelfe, whether the Englilh tongue might by little and little be brought to the verye maiefty of a ryght Heroicall verfe. Firfl you may marke, how Virgill alwayes fitteth his matter in hande with wordes agree able vnto the fame affection, which he expreffeth, as in hys Tragicall exclamations, what pathe[ti]call fpeeches he frameth? in his comfortable confolations, howe fmoothely hys verfe runnes ? in his dreadfull battayles, and dreery byckerments of warres, howe bygge and boyftrous his wordes found ? and the like notes in all partes of his worke may be obferued. Which excellent
Englifh Poetrie. 47
grace and comely kind of choyfe, if the tranflatour hath not hitte very neere in our courfe Englifh phrafe iudge vprighdy: wee wyll conferre fome of the places, not picked out for the purpofe, but fuch as I tooke turning ouer the Booke at randon. When the Troyans were fo toft about in tempeftious wether, caufed by ALolus at lunocs requeft, and driuen vpon the coafte viAffrick with a very neere fcape of their Hues : sEncas after hee had gone a land and kylled plenty of victuals for his company of Souldiours, hee deuided the fame among them, and thus louinglie and fweetely he comforted them. s£n. Lib. i.
et diet is mcerentia pcdora miilcct Oforii (ncque ignar if limits ante malorum) O pafsi grauiora: dabit deiis his quoquefinLin Vos etfcyllceam rabiem, penitufque fonantes, Accestis fcopulos : vos et cydopeafaxa Experti, reuocate animos, ma'flumquc timorem Mittite, forfan ct h<zc olim mcminijfe iuuabit. Per varies cafus, per tot difcrimina rcnnn Tendijnus in I.atium: fedes vbi fata quictas Ostendunt, ill ic fas rcgna refurgere troioe. Durate, et v of met rebus feruate feciindis. Talia voce rtfert, curifquc ingcntibus cegtr Spent vulta fimulat, premit altum cordc dolor 011.
Tranllated thus.
And then to cheere their heauy harts with thefe words he
him bent. O Mates (quoth he) that many a woe haue bidden and
borne ere thys, Worle haue we feene, and this alfo fhall end when Gods
wyll is. Through Sylla rage (ye wott) and through the roaring
rocks we pull, Though Cyclops fhore was full of feare, yet came we
through at laft.
48 A Difcourfe of
Plucke vppe your harts, and driue from thence both
feare and care away.
To thinke on this may pleafure be perhapps another day. By paynes and many a daunger fore, by fundry chaunce
we wend,
To come to Italy, where we truft to find our retting ende : And where the deftnyes haue decreed Troyes Kingdome
eft to ryfe Be bold and harden now your harts, take eafe while eafe
applies Thus fpake he tho, but in his hart huge cares had him
oppreil, Diffembling hope with outward eyes full heauy was his
breft.
Againe, marke the wounding of Dido in loue with s-Eiieas, with ho we choyfe wordes it is pithily defcribed, both by the Poet and the tranflator in the beginning of the fourth booke.
At Rcgina graui iam diidum faucia air a 'Volnus alii venls, et azco carpitur igni, etc.
By this time perced fatte the Queene fo fore with loues
defire, I ler wound in euery vayne fhe feedes, me fryes in
fecrete fire.
The manhood of the man full oft, full oft his famous lyne She doth reuolue, and from her thought his face cannot
vntwyne. His countnaunce deepe fhe drawes and fixed faft fhe
beares in breft, His words alfo, nor to her carefuil hart can come no reft.
And in many places of the fourth booke is the fame mat ter fo gallantly profecuted in fweete wordes, as in mine opinion the coppy it felfe goeth no whit beyond it. Compare them likewife in the woefull and lamentable
Englifh Poetrie. 49
cryes of the Queene for the departure of^/ieas, towards the ende of that Booke.
Terque quatcrque man u peftus percuffa decorum Flauentifqut abfciffa comas, proh Inpiter, ibit ? Hie ait, et nostris inluferit aditcna Rcgnis ? etc.
Three times her hands fhe bet, and three times ftrake her
comely brefl, Her golden hayre (he tare and frantiklike with moode
oppreft,
She cryde, O Jupiter, O God, quoth fhe, and (hall a goe? Indeede ? and lhall a flowte me thus within my king- dome fo ?
Shall notmineAnniesout,andallmypeoplethempurfue? Shall they not fpoyle their fhyps and burne them vp with
vengance due ? Out people, out vppon them, follow fail with fires and
flames, Set fayles aloft, make out with oares, in fliips, in boatcs,
in frames. What fpeake I ? or where am I ? what furies me doo
thus inchaunt ? O Dydo, wofull wretch, now deflnyes fell thy head
dooth haunt.
And a little after preparing to kyll her owne felfe.
But Dydo quaking fierce with frantike moode and
griefly he we. With trembling fpotted chcckes, her huge attempting
to perfue. Befides her felfe for rage, and towards death with
vifage wanne, Her eyes about fhe rolde, as redde as blood they
looked than.
5o A Difcourfe of
At lafl ready to fall vppon JEneas fworde.
O happy (welaway) and ouer happy had I beene,
If neuerTroian fhyps (ahlas) my Country Ihore had feene.
Thus fayd Ihe wryde her head, and vnreuenged muil
we die ? But let vs boldly die (quoth fliee) thus, thus to death
I ply.
Nowe likewife for the braue warlike phrafe and bygge founding kynd of thundring fpeeche, in the hotte fkyr- myfhes of battels, you may confer them in any of the lafl fiue Bookes : for examples fake, thys is one about the ninth Booke.
Et clamor totis per propugnacula muris, Iiitendunt aeries arcus, amcntaqne torquent. Sternitur omnefolum telis, tum fcutcz cauceque Dantfonitumflictugalecz: pugna asper furgit 1 etc.
A clamarous noyfe vpmounts on fortreffe tops and
bulwarks towres, They flrike, they bend their bowes, they whirle from
firings fharp moting fhowres. All ftreetes with tooles are flrowed, than helmets,
fkulles, with battrings marrd. And filicides difhyuering cracke, vprifeth roughneffe
byckring hard Looke how the tempefl florme when wind out wraft-
ling blowes at fouth, Raine ratling beates the grownde, or clowdes of haile
from Winters mouth, Downe dafhyng headlong driues, when God from fkyes
with griefly fteuen, His watry fhowres outwrings, and whirlwind clowdes
downe breakes from heauen.
And fo foorth much more of the like effect.
Englifh Poetrie. 5i
Onely one comparifon more will I clefire you to marke at your leyfures, which may ferue for all the reft, that is, the defcription of Fame, as it is in the 4. booke, towardes the end, of which it followeth thus.
Monstrum horrcndum ingcns cui quot funt corporcplitma Tot vi^ilos oculi etc.
Monfter gaftly great, for euery plume her carkafle.beares, Like number learing eyes me hath, like number
harkning eares, Like number tongues, and mouthes me wagges, a
wondrous thing to fpeake, At midnight foorth fhee flyes, and vnder made her
found dooth fqueake. All night fhe wakes, nor ilumber fweete doth take nor
neuer ileepes. By dayes on houfes tops fhee fits or gates of Townes
me keepes. On watching Towres me clymbes, and Citties great
me makes agaft, Both trueth and falfhood forth fhe telles, and lyes
abroade doth cad.
But what neede I to repeate any more places? there is not one Booke among the twelue, which wyll not yeelde you mod excellent pleafure in conferring the tranflation with the Coppie, and marking the gallant grace which our Engliflie fpeeche affoordeth. And in trueth the like comparifons, may you choofe out through the whole tranllations of the Mdamorphofis by Mailer Gti/t/ing who (confulering both tlieir Coppyes) hath equally deferued commendations for the beauti fying of the Knglilh fpeeche. It would be tedious to (lay to rehearfe any places out of him nowe: let the other fuliice to proouc, that the I-'.n-lilh ton-ue larketh neyther variety nor cuiTantneffe of phrafe for any matter.
A Difcourfe of
Wyll nowe fpeake a little of an other kinde of poetical writing, which might notwith- ftanding for the variableneffe of the argu ment therein vfually handled, bee com prehended in thofekindes before declared : that is, the compyling Eglogues, as much to fay as Goteheardes tales, becaufe they bee commonly Dia logues or fpeeches framed or fuppofed betweene Sheepeheardes, Neteheardes, Goteheardes, or fuch like fimple men: in which kind of writing, many haue obtained as immortall prayfe and commendation, as in any other.
The cheefeft of thefe is Theocritus in Greeke, next him, and almoft the very fame, is Virgin in Latin. After Virgyl in like fort writ Titus Calphurnius and Baptifta Mantuan, wyth many other both in Latine and other languages very learnedlye. Although the matter they take in hand feemeth commonlie in ap- pearaunce rude and homely, as the vfuall talke of fimple clownes: yet doo they indeede vtter in the fame much pleafaunt and profitable delight. For vnder thefe perfonnes, as it were in a cloake of fimpli- citie, they would eyther fette foorth the prayfes of theyr freendes, without the note of flattery, or enueigh grieuoufly againil abufes, without any token of byt- terneffe.
Somwhat like vnto thefe works, are many peeces of Chawcer, but yet not altogether fo poeticall. But nowe yet at ye laft hath England hatched vppe one Poet of this forte, in my confcience comparable with the befl in any refpect : euen Mailer Sp : Author of the Sheepeheardes Calender, whofe trauell in that peece of Englifh Poetrie, I thinke verely is fo commendable, as none of equall iudgment can yeelde him leffe prayfe
Englifh Poetrie. 53
for hys excellent fkyll, and fkylfull excellency fhewed foorth in the fame, then they would to eyther Theo critus or Virgill, whom in mine opinion, if the courfe- nes of our fpeeche (I meane the courfe of cuflome which he woulde not infringe) had beene no more let vnto him, then theyr pure natiue tongues were vnto them, he would haue (if it might be) furpaffed them. What one thing is there in them fo worthy admiration, whereunto we may not adioyne fome thing of his, of equall defert? Take Virgil and make fome little companion betweene them, and iudge as ye (hall fee caufe.
Virgill hath a gallant report of Augiijlits couertly compryfed in the firft <d£glogue\ the like is in him, of 1 K- r M aieflie, vnder the name of Eliza. Virgill maketh a braue coloured complaint of vnftedfaft freendfhyppe in the perfon of Corydon\ the lyke is him in his 5 j£glogue. Agayne behold the pretty Paftorall con tentions of Virgill in the third sEglogue\ of him in ye eight Eglogite. Finally, either in companion with them, or refpect of hys owne great learning, he may well were the Garlande, and fteppe before ye befl of all Englifh Poets that I haue feene or hearde: for I thinke no leffe deferueth (thus fayth E, K in hys commendations) hys wittineffe in deuifmg, his pithi nefle in vttering, his complaintes of lone fo louely, his difcourfes of pleafure fo plcalantly, his P.a(lrall rude nes, his Morrall wyfeneffe, his due obferuing of decorum euery where, in perfonages, in feafon, in matter, in fpeeche, and generally in all feemely fimplicity, of handling hys matter and framing hys wordes. The occafion of his worke is a warning to other young men, who being intangled in lone and youthful vanities, may learne to looke to themfelues in time, and to uuoyde inconueniences which may breede if they l>r not in time prcuentcd. Many good Morrall ktloiis arc therein contained, as the reuerence which young men owe to the ai;ed in the fecond J\.g!oguc\ the caueate or warning to beware a fubtill prufelTor of
54 A Difcourfe of
freendfhippe in the fift Eglogue: the commendation of good Paftors, and fhame and difprayfe of idle and ambitious Goteheardes in the feauenth, the loofe and retchleffe lyuing of Popifh Prelates in the ninth. The learned and fweete complaynt of the contempt of learning vnder the name of Poetry in the tenth. There is alfo much matter vttered fomewhat couertly, efpecially ye abufes of fome whom he would not be too playne withall : in which, though it be not appar- ant to euery one, what hys fpeciall meaning was, yet fo fkilfully is it handled, as any man may take much delight at hys learned conueyance, and picke out much good fence in the moil obfcurefl of it. Hys notable prayfe deferued in euery parcell of that worke, becaufe I cannot expreffe as I woulde and as it mould : I wyll ceafe to fpeake any more of, the rather becaufe I neuer hearde as yet any that hath reade it, which hath not with much admiration commended it. One only thing therein haue I hearde fome curious heades call in queflion: viz: the motion of fome vnfauery loue, fuch as in the fixt Eglogue he feemeth to deale withall (which fay they) is fkant allowable to Englifh eares, and might well haue beene left for the Italian defenders of loathfome beafllines, of whom perhappes he learned it : to thys obiection I haue often aunfwered and (I thinke truely) that theyr nyce opinion ouer fhooteth the Poets meaning, who though hee in that as in other thinges, immitateth the auncient Poets, yet doth not meane, no more did they before hym, any difordered loue, or the filthy lull of the deuillim Pederaftice taken in the worfe fence, but rather to fhewe howe the diffolute life of young men in tangled in loue of women, doo neglect the freendfhyp and league with their olde freendes and familiers. Why (fay they) yet he mold gyue no occafion of fufpition, nor offer to the viewe of Chriflians, any token of fuch filthineffe, howe good foeuerhys meaning were: where- vnto I oppofe the fimple conceyte they haue of matters which concerne learning or wytt, wylling them to gyue
Englifh Poetrie. 55
Poets leaue to vfe theyr vayne as they fee good : it is their foolyfh conftruction, not hys wryting that is blameable. Wee mufl prefcrybe to no wryters, (much leffe to Poets) in what forte they fhould vtter theyr conceyts. But thys wyll be better difcuffed by fome I hope of better abillity.
One other forte of Poeticall wryters remayneth yet to bee remembred, that is, The precepts of Hufbandry, learnedly compiled in Heroycall verfe. Such were the workes of Hefiodus in Greece, and Virgils Georgickcs in Latine. What memorable worke hath beene hand led in immitation of thefe by any Englifh Poet, I know not, (fane onely one worke of M. Tnffer, a peece furely of great wytt and experience, and wythal very prettilye handled) And I thinke the caufe why our Poets haue not trauayled in that behalfe, is efpecially, for that there haue beene alwayes plenty of other wryters that haue handled the fame argument very largely. Among whom Matter Barnabe Googc, in Iran Hating and enlarging the mofl profitable worke of Hcrcsbathius, hath deferued much commendation, as well for hys faythfull compyling and learned increafing the noble worke, as for hys wytty tranflation of a good part of the Gcorgickcs of Virgill into Englifh verfe.
Among all the tranflations, which hath beene my fortune to fee, I could neuer yet finde that worke of the Georgicks wholly performed. I remember once Abraham Flemming in his conuerfion of the Eg!t>£ncs, promifed to tranllate and publifhe it : whether he dyd or not I knowe not, but as yet I heard not of it. I my felfe wott well I bellowed fome time in it two or three ycercs fince, turning it to that fame Knglifh verfe, which other fuch workes were in, though it were rudely: ho\vc belt, I did it onely for mine owne vfe, and vppon ccrtayne refpectes towardes a (ier.tleman mine efpcciall five-rule, to whom I was defirous to fhewe fome token of duetifull good wyll, and not minding it fhould goe farre abroade, considering howe llcnderly I ranne it
56 A Difcourfe of
oner, yet fmce then, hath one gott it in keeping, who as it is told me, eyther hath or wyll vnaduifedly pub- lime it : which iniury though he meanes to doo me in rayrth, yet I hope he wyll make me fome fuffycient recompence, or els I mail goe neere to watch hym the like or a worfe turne.
But concerning the matter of our Englyfh wryters, lett thys fuftice : nowe mall ye heare my limple fkyl in what I am able to fay concerning the forme and manner of our Englylhe verfe.
The mofl vfuall and frequented kind of our Englifh Poetry hath alwayes runne vpon, and to this day is obferiied in fuch equall number of fyllables, and like- nes of wordes, that in all places one verfe either im- mediatly, or by mutuall interpofition, may be aunfwer- able to an other both in proportion of length, and ending of lynes in the fame Letters. Which rude kinde of verfe, though (as I touched before) it rather difcrediteth our fpeeche, as borrowed from the Bar- I barians, then furnilheth the fame with any comely ornament : yet beeing fo ingraffed by cuftome, and fre quented by the moft parte, I may not vtterly diffalowe it, lead I mould feeme to call in queftion the iudge- ment of all our famous wryters, which haue wonne eternall prayfe by theyr memorable workes compyled in that verfe.
For my part therefore, I can be content to efleeme it as a thing, the perfection whereof is very commend able, yet fo as wyth others I could wyfh it were by men of learning and ability bettered, and made more artificiall, according to the woorthines of our fpeeche.
The falling out of verfes together in one like founde, is commonly called in Englifh, Ryme, taken from the Greeke worde Pu#p>s, which furely in my iudgment is verye abufmelye applyed to fuch a fence : and by thys, the vnworthineffe of the thing may well appeare, in that wanting a proper name, wherby to be called, it borroweth a word farre exceeding the dignitye of it,
Englifh Poetrie. 57
and not appropriate to fo rude or bafe a thing. For Ryme is properly, the iufl proportion of a claufe or fdntence, whether it be in profe or meeter, aptly com- prifed together : wherof there is both an naturall and an artificiall compofition, in any manner or kynde of fpeeche, eyther French, Italian, Spanifh or Englifh : and is propper not onely to Poets, but alfo to Readers, Oratours, Pleaders, or any which are to pronounce or fpeake any thing in publike audience.
The firfl begynning of Ryme (as we nowe terme it) though it be fomewhat auncient, yet nothing famous. In Greece (they fay) one Sy/nias Rhodias^ becaufe he would be fmguler in fomthing, wryt poetically of the Fable, contayning howe lupiter beeing in fhape of a Swanne, begatte the Egge on Leda, wherof came Caflor, Pollux, and Helena, whereof euery verfe ended in thys Ryme, and was called therefore oW but thys foolyfhe attempt was fo contemned and difpyfed, that the people would neither admitte the Author nor Booke any place in memory of learning. Since that it was not hearde of, till ye time ye Hunnes and Gothians renued it agayne, and brought it into Italic. But howfoeuer or wherefoeuer it beganne, certayne it is, that in our Englifh tongue it beareth as good grace, or rather better, then in any other : and is a faculty whereby many may and doo deferue great prayfe and commendation, though our fpeeche be capable of a farre more learned manner of verfifying, as 1 wyl partly declare heereafter.
There be three fpeciall notes necefiary to be obferued in the framing of our accuflomed Englifh Ryme : the firfl is, that one meeter or verfe be aunfwerablc to an other, in eqiuill number of feete or fyllables, or pro portionable to the tune whereby it is to be reade or meafured. The feconde, to place the words in fuch forte, as none of them be wrciU-d contrary to the naturall inclination or affectation of the fame, or more truely ye true quantity thereof. The thyrd, to make them fall together mutually in Ryme, that is, in wordcs
58 A Difcourfe of
of like founde, but fo as the wordes be not difordered for the Rymes fake, nor the fence hindered. Thefe be the moft pryncipall obferuations, which I thinfte requifite in an Englifti verfe : for as for the other ornaments which belong thereto, they be more properly belonging to the feuerall gyfts of fkylfull Poets, then common notes to be prefcribed by me : but fomewhat perhaps I mail haue occafion to fpeake heereafter.
Of the kyndes of Englifh verfes which differ in number of fyllables, there are almofl infinite : which euery way alter according to hys fancy, or to the meafure of that meeter, wherein it pleafeth hym to frame hys ditty. Of the beft and moft frequented I wyll rehearfe fome. The longefl verfe in length, which I haue feene vfed in Englifh confifleth of fix- teene fyllables, cache two verfes ryming together, thus.
Wher vertue wants and vice abounds, there wealth is but a bay ted hooke, To make men swallow down their bane, before on danger deepe they looke.
Thys kynde is not very much vfed at length thus, but is commonly deuided, eche verfe into two, whereof eche fhal containe eyght fyllables, and ryme croffe wyfe, the firft to the thyrd, and the fecond to the fourth, in this manner.
Great wealth is but a bayted hooke. Where vertue wants, and vice aboundes : Which men deuoure before they looke, So them in daungers deepe it drownes.
An other kynd next in length to thys, is, where eche verfe hath fourteene fyllables, which is the moft ac- cuflomed of all other, and efpecially vfed of all the tranflatours of the Latine Poets for the moft part thus. My mind with furye fierce inflamde of late I know not howe, Doth burne Parnaffus hyll to fee, adornd wyth Lawrell bowe.
Which may likewyfe and fo it often is deuyded, eche
Englifh Poetrie. 59
verfe into two, to [the?] firft hauing eyght fillables, the fecond fixe, wherof the two fixes fhall ahvayes ryme, and fometimes the eyghtes, fometimes not, according to the wyll of the maker.
My minde with furye fierce inflamde,
Of late I knowe not howe : Doth burne Pernaffus hyll to fee,
Adornd wyth Lawrell bowe.
There are nowe wythin this compaffe, as many fortes of verfes as may be deuifed differences of numbers: wherof fome confifl of equall proportions, fome of long and fliort together, fome of many rymes in one flaffe (as they call it) fome of croffe ryme, fome of counter ryme, fome ryming wyth one worde farre diflant from another, fome ryming euery thyrd or fourth word, and fo likewyfe all manner of dytties applyable to euery tune that may be fung or fayd, diftinct from profe or continued fpeeche. To auoyde therefore tedioufneffe and confufion, I wyll repeate onely the different fortes of verfes out of the Shcepchcardes Calender, which may well ferue to beare authoritie in thys matter.
There are in that worke twelue or thirteene fundry forts of verfes, which differ eyther in length, or ryme, of deflinction of the flaues: but of them which differ in length or number of fillables not pafl fixe or feauen. The firfl of them is of tenne fillables. or rather fiue feete in one verfe, thus,
A Sheepheards boy no better doo him call, When Winters waflfull fpight was almoft fpent.
This verfe he vfeth commonly in hys fweete corn- play ntes, and morncfull ditties, as very agreeable to fiu h affections.
The fecond fort hath naturally but nyne fyllables, and is a more rough or clownilh manner of verfe, vfed mod commonly of him if you mark him in hys
60 A Difcourfe of
fatyricall reprehenfions, and his Sheepeheardes home- lyeil talke, fuch as the fecond sEglogue is.
Ah for pitty wyll ran eke Winters rage, Thefe bytter blafts neuer gynne to affwage.
The number of nine fillables in thys verfe is very often altered, and fo it may without any difgrace to the fame, efpecially where the fpeeche fhould be mod clowniih and fimple, which is much obferued of hym.
The third kynd is a pretty rounde verfe, running currantly together, commonly feauen fillables or feme- time eyght in one verfe, as many in the next, both ryming together : euery two hauing one the like verfe after them, but of rounder wordes, and two of them likewyfe ryming mutually. That verfe expreffeth notably, light and youthfull talke, fuch as is the thyrde j£glogue betweene two Sheepheardes boys concerning loue.
Thomalin why fitten we fo As weren ouerwent with woe Vpon fo fayre a morrowe? The ioyous time now nigheth fafl That wyll allay this bitter blail And flake the Winter forrovv.
The fourth fort containeth in eche ftaffe manie vnequall verfes, but mofl fweetelie falling together: which the Poet calleth the tune of the waters fall. Therein is his fong In prayfe of Eliza.
Ye daintie Nymphes which in this bleffed brooke
doo bathe your brefl, Forfake your watrie bowres and hether looke,
at my requeft.
And eke yee Virgins that on Parnafs dwell, Whence floweth Helicon the learned Well,
helpe me to blaze
her woorthy praife That in her fex doth all excell. etc.
Englifh Poetrie. 61
The fift, is a deuided verfe of twelue fillables into two verfes, whereof I fpake before, and feemeth mod meete for ye handling of a Morrall matter, fuch as is the praife of good Patters, and the difpraife of ill in the feauenth sEglogue.
The fixt kinde, is called a round, beeing mutuallie fung betweene two : one fingeth one verfe, the other the next, eche rymeth with himfelfe.
;j3er. It fell vppon a holie eue (LfiliU. Hey ho holliday J3cr. When holie fathers wont to fhrieue, Thus ginneth our Rondelay. etc.
The feauenth forte is a verie tragicall mournefull meafure, wherein he bewayleth the death of fome fix-end vnder the perfon of Dydo.
Vp then Melpomene the mournfuld Mufe of nyne,
fuch caufe of mourning neuer hadfl afore : Vp griefly ghodes, and vp my mournfull ryme : matter of myrth now malt thou haue no more. Dydo my deere alas is dead, Dead and lyeth wrapt in leade :
O heauie hearfe
Let dreaming teares be powred out in (lore O carefull vearfe.
Thefe fortes of verfes for breuities fake haue I chofen foorth of him, whereby I fhall auoide the tedious re- heariall of all the kindes which are vfed: which I thinkc would haue beene vnpoffible, feeing they may be altered to as manie formes as the Poets pleafe: neither is there anie tune or droke which may be fung or phiide on indruments, which hath not fome poetical ditties framed according to the numbers thereof: fome to RoL-vro, fome to Trenchmore, to downe right Squire, to Galliardes, to Pauines, to lygges, to Brawles, to all manner of tunes which euerie Fidler knowcs better ;hen my felfe, and therefore I will let them pafle.
62 A Difcourfe of
Againe, the diuerfities of the flaues (which are the number of verfes contained with the diuifions or partitions of a ditty) doo often times make great differences in thefe verfes. As when one ftaffe con- taineth but two verfes, or (if they bee deuided) foure: the firfl or the firft couple hauing twelue fillables, the other fourteene, which verfifyers call Powlters mea- fure, becaufe fo they tall[i]e their wares by dozens. Alfo, when one ftaffe hath manie verfes, whereof eche one rimeth to the next, or mutuallie croffe, or diftant by three, or by foure, or ended contrarye to the begin ning, and a hundred fortes, whereof to fhewe feuerall examples, would bee too troublefome: nowe for the fecond point.
The naturall courfe of moft Englifh verfes feemeth to run vppon the olde lambicke ftroake, and I may well thinke by all likelihoode, it had the beginning thereof. For if you marke the right quantitie of our vfuall verfes, ye fhall perceiue them to containe in found ye very propertie of lambick feete, as thus.
U U \J O 0 O U
I that my ilender oaten pipe in verfe was wont to founde:
For tranfpofe anie of thofe feete in pronouncing, and make fhort either the two, foure, fixe, eight, tenne, twelue tillable, and it will (doo what you can) fall out very abfurdly.
Againe, though our wordes can not well bee forced to abyde the touch of Pofition and other rules of Pro- fodia, yet is there fuch a naturall force or quantity in eche worde, that it will not abide anie place but one, without fome foule difgrace : as for example try anie verfe, as thys,
u — u — u — u — <j — o — u —
Ofmapestranfformdetobodiesftrangelpurpofetointreate.
Make the firft fillable long, or the third, or the fif t and
fo foorth : or contrariwife make the other fillables to
admitte the fhortneffe of one of them places, and fee
Englifh Poetrie. 63
what a wonderfull defacing it wil be to the wordes, as thus.
— o — u — o — u — u — u — u
Of drange bodies tranfformd to fhapes purpofe I to intreat
So that this is one efpeciall thing to be taken heede of in making a good Englifh verfe, that by difplacing no worde bee wrefted againfl his naturall propriety, where- vnto you fhal perceyue eche worde to be affected, and may eafilie difcerne it in wordes of two fillables or aboue, though fome there be of indifferencie, that wyll fland in any place. Againe, in chouching the whole fentence, the like regarde is to be had, that wee exceede not too boldly in placing the verbe out of his order, and too farre behinde the nowne : which the neceffitie of Ryme may oftentimes vrge. For though it be tollerable in a verfe to fette wordes fo extraordinarily as other fpeeche will not admitt, yet heede is to be taken, lead by too much affecting that manner, we make both the verfe vnpleafant and the fence obfcure. And fure it is a wonder to fee the folly of manie in this refpect, that vfe not onely too much of thys ouerthwart placing, or rather difplacing of wordes, in theyr Poemes and verfes, but alfo in theyr profe or continued writings : where they thinke to rolle mod fmoothlie, and flow moft eloquently, there by this means, come foorth theyr fentences dragging at one Authors tayle as they were tyde together with poynts, where often you (hall tarrie (fcratching your heade) a good fpace before you (hall heare hys principal! verbe or fpeciall word, leafle hys finging grace, which in his fentence is contained mould be lefle. and his fpeeche feeme nothing poeticall.
The thyrd obferuation is, the Ryme or like ending of verfes: which though it is of lead importance, yet hath won fuch credite among vs, that of all other it is mod regarded of the greated part of Readers. And furely as 1 am perf\vaded, the regarde of wryters to this, hath beene the Created decay of that good order of verli Tying, which might ere this haue beene edablilhed
64 A Difcourfe of
in our fpeeche. In my iudgment, if there be any orna ment in the fame, it is rather to be attributed to the plentifull fulneffe of our fpeeche, which can affoorde ryming words fufficient for the handling of any matter, then to the thing it felfe for any beautifying it bringeth to a worke : which might bee adorned with farre more excellent collours then ryming is. Notwithstanding I cannot but yeelde vnto it (as cuftome requireth) the deferued prayfes, efpecially where it is with good iudge- ment ordered. And I thinke them right worthy oi admiration, for their readines and plenty of wytt and capacity, who can with facility intreate at large, and as we call it extempore, in good and fencible ryme, vppon fome vnacquainted matter.
The ready fkyll of framing anie thing in verfe, befides the natural] promptneffe which many haue therevnto, is much helped by Arte, and exercife of the memory: for as I remember, I reade once among Gaskoynes workes, a little inflruction to verifying, where is pre- fcribed as I thinke thys courfe of learning to verfifye in Ryme.
When ye haue one verfe well fetled, and decently ordered which you may difpofe at your pleafure, to ende it with what word you wyll : then what foeuer the word is, you may fpeedilie runne ouer the other wordes which are aimfwerable therevnto, (for more readines through all the letters Alphabetically) whereof you may choofe that which wyll bell fitte the fence of your matter in that place: as for example: if your laft worde ende in Booke, you may flraightwayes in your minde runne them ouer thus. Brooke, Cooke, crooke, hooke, looke, nooke, pooke, rooke, forfooke, tooke, awooke etc. Nowe it is twenty to one, but alwayes one of thefe mail iumpe with your former worde and matter in good fence. If not, then alter the firfl.
And indeede I thinke, that next to the Arte of memory, thys is the readyefl way to attaine to the faculty of ryming well Extempore, efpecially if it be helped with thus much paynes. Gather together all
Englifh Poetrie. 65
manner of wordes efpecially Monafillables, and place them Alphabetically in fome note, and either haue them meetely perfectly by hart (which is no verye labourfome matter) or but looke them dilligently ouer at fome time, practifmg to ryme indifferent often, whereby I am perfwaded it wil foone be learned, fo as the party haue withall any reafonable gyft of knowledge and learning, whereby hee want not bothe matter and wordes altogether.
What the other circumftaunces of Ryming are, as what wordes may tollerably be placed in Ryme, and what not: what words doo beft become a Ryme, and what not, how many fortes of Ryme there is: and fuch like I wyll not flay nowe to intreate. There be many more obferuations and notes to be prefcribed, to the exacte knowledge of verifying, which I trufl wilbe better and larger laide forth by others, to whom I de- ferre manie confiderations in this treatife : hoping that fome of greater (kill will fhortlie handle this matter in better forte.
Nowe the fundry kindes of rare deuifes, and pretty inuentions which come from ye fine poeticall vaine of manie in flrange and vnacuflomed manner, if I could report them, it were worthie my trauell: fuch are the turning of verfes: the infolding of wordes: the fine repititions : the clarklie conu eying of contraries, and manie fuch like. Whereof though I coulde fette downe manie: yet becaufe I want bothe manie and the befl kindes of them, I will ouerpaffe : onelie pointing you to one or two which may fuffice for example.
Looke vppon the rufull fong of Colin fung by Cuddle in the Shcepiteardcs Calender, where you fhall fee a finguler rare deuife of a dittie framed vpon thefe fixe wordes Woe, founde, cryes, paft, flcep, augment , which are mofl prettilie turned and wounde vppe mutually together, exprcfling wonderfully the doleful - neffe of the fong. A deuife not much vnlike vnto the fame, is vfed by fome, who taking the lafl wordes of a certaine number of verfes, as it were by the rebound E
66 A Difcourfe of
of an Echo, (hall make them fall out in fome prettie fence.
Of this forte there are fome deuifed by lohn Graunge, which becaufe they be not long I wyll rehearfe one.
If feare oppreffe howe then may hope me fhielde? Denyall fayes, vayne hope hath pleafed well, But as fuch hope thou wouldeft not be thine, So would I not the like to rule my hart. For if thou louefl it bidds thee graunt forthwith Which is the ioy whereof I Hue in hope.
Here if you take the lafl worde of euerie verfe, and place them orderlie together, you mail haue this fen- ten ce : Shielde well thyne hart with hope. But of thefe Echoes I knowe indeede verie daintie peeces of worke, among fome of the fin eft Poets this day in Lon don : who for the rareneffe of them keepe them priuelie to themfelues, and wil not let them come abroad.
A like inuention to the lail rehearfed, or rather a better, haue I feene often practifed in framing a whole dittie to the Letters of ones name, or to the wordes of fome two or three verfes which is very witty, as for example this is one of W. Hunnis, which for the fhortnes I rather chufde then fome yat are better.
If thou defire to Hue in quiet reft, Gyue eare and fee, but fay the beft.
Thefe two verfes are nowe as it were refolued into dyuers other, euery two wordes or fillables being the beginning of an other like verfe, in this fort.
If thou (delight in quietnes of life,
Defire ) to fhunne from brawles, debate and ftrife :
To Hue j in lone with GOD, with freend and foe,
In rest Ifhalt fleepe when other cannot fo.
Gyue care /'to all, yet doo not all beleeue, And fee I the end and then thy fentence gyue : But fay I For trueth of happy Hues affignde The lest vhath he that quiet is in minde.
Englifli Poetrie. 67
Thus are there infinite fortes of fine conueiances (as they may be termed) to be vfed, and are much fre quented by verfifyers, as well in compofition of their verfe, as the wittines of their matter : which all I will referre to the confideration of euerie pleafant headded Poet in their proper gifts : onelie I fett downe thefe fewe fortes of their formes of verfifying, which may fland in fleede to declare what manie others may be deuifed in like forte.
But nowe to proceede to the reformed kind of Eng- lifh verfe which manie haue before this, attempted to put in practife, and to eftablifh for an accuftomed right among Englifh Poets, you mail heare in like manner my fimple iudgment concerning the fame.
I am fully and certainiie perfwaded, that if the true kind of verfifying in immitation of Greekes and Latines, had beene practifed in the Englifh tongue, and put in vre from time to tyme by our Poets, who might haue continually beene mending and pollyming the fame, euery one according to their feuerall giftes : it would long ere this haue afpyred to as full perfection, as in anie other tongue whatfoeuer. For why may I not thinke fo of our Englifh, feeing that among the Romaines a long time, yea euen till the dayes of Tully, they efleemed not the Latine Poetrie almofl worth any thing, in refpecte of the Greeke, as appear- eth in the Oration pro Archia Poeta : yet afterwardes it increafed in credite more and more, and that in fhort fpace : fo that in Virgillcs time, wherein were they not comparable with the Greekes ? So likewife, now it feemeth not currant for an Englifli verfe to runne vpon true quantity, and thofe feete which the Latines vie, becaufe it is ftraunge, and the other barbarous c uflome, beeing within compaffe of euery bafe witt, hath worne it out of credite or eilimation. But if our wryters, beeing of learning and iudgment, would rather infringe thys curious cuflome, then omitte the occafion of inlarging the credite of their natiue fpeeche, and theyr owne prayfes, by practifing that commendable
68 A Difcourfe of
kind of wry ting in true verfe : then no doubt, as in other partes of learning, fo in Poetry, fhoulde not (loupe to the bell of them all in all maner of orna ment and comlineffe. But fome obiect that our wordes are nothing refemblaunt in nature to theirs, and therefore not poffible to bee framed with any good grace after their vfe : but cannot we then as well as the Latines did, alter the cannon of the rule according to the quality of our worde, and where our wordes and theyrs wyll agree, there to iumpe with them, where they will not agree, there to eflabliih a rule of our owne to be directed by? Likewife, for ye tenor of the verfe might we not (as Horace dyd in the Latine) alter their proportions to what fortes we lifted, and to what we fawe wold beft become the nature of the thing handled, or the quallity of the words ? Surely it is to be thought that if any one, of found iudgment and learning, fhoulde putt foorth fome famous worke, contayning dyuers formes of true verfes, fitting the meafures, according to the matter : it would of it felfe be a fufricient authority without any prefcription of rules, to the moft part of Poets, for them to follow and by cuftome to ratify. For fure it is, that the rules and principles of Poetry, were not precifely followed and obferued of the firft beginners and wryters of Poetry, but were felected and gathered feuerally out of theyr workes, for the direction and behoofe of their followers. And indeede, he that fhall with heedefull iudgment make tryall of the Englifh wordes, fhall not finde them fo groffe or vnapt, but that they wyll become any one of ye moft accuftomed fortes of Latine or Greeke verfes meetely, and run thereon fomewhat currantly.
I my felfe, with fimple fkyll I confeffe, and farre vnable iudgment, haue ventured on a fewe, which not- withftanding the rudenes of them may ferue to fhewe what better might bee brought into. our fpeeche, if thofe which are of meete abilitye woulde beftowe fome traueli and endeuour thereuppon. But before I fette them downe, I wyll fpeake fomewhat of fuch obferuations as
Englifh Poetrie. 69
I could gather neceffary to the knowledge of thefe kinde of verfes, lead I fhould feeme to runne vpon them rafhly, without regarde either of example or authority.
The fpeciall poyntes of a true verfe, are the due obferuations of the feete, and place of the feete.
The foote of a verfe. is a meafure of two fillables, or of three, diflinguifhed by time which is eyther long or fhort. A foote of two fillables, is eyther fimple or mixt, that is, of like time or of diuers. A fimple foote of two fillables is likewife twofolde, eyther of two long fillables called Spondaus, as — goodneffe, or of two fhort called Pyrrichius as o u hyther. A myxt foote of 2. fillables, is eyther of one fhort and one long called Iambus as u - dying: or of one long and one fhort, called Choreus as - u gladly. A foote of 3. fillables in like forte is either fimple or myxt. The fimple is
eyther Molojfus, that is of three long, as forgiue-
nes\ or Troch&us, that is oi" 3. fhort, as u u u incrylie. The mixt is of 6. diuers fortes, i. Dactylus^ of one long, and two fhort, as - u u happily. 2. Anaptztus, of two fhorte, and one long, as o o - t\i-\audcrs. 3. Bacckius,
of one fhort, and two long, as u remembrers.
4. Palimbacliius, of two long and one fliort, as — u accorded. 5. Crcticus of a long, a fhort, and a long, - u - daungerous. 6. AmpJdbrachus, of a fliort, a long, and a fhort, as u - o reioyccd.
Many more deuifions of feete are vfed by fome, but thefe doo more artificially comprehende all quantities neceffary to the fkanning of any verfe, according to Tallceus in hys Rethorique. The place of the \\ the difpofmg of them in theyr propper roomes, whereby may be difcerned the difference of eche verfe which is the right numbring of the fame. Now as for the quan tity of our wordes, therein lyeth great dirhcnltye, and the cheefefl matter in this faculty. For in truth there being fuch diuerfity betwixt our words and the Latiiu-, it cannot flande indeede with great reafon that they fhoulde frame, wee beeing onelie directed by fuch rules
>r0 A Difcourfe of
as feme for onely Latine words, yet notwithftanding one may well perceiue by thefe fewe, that thefe kinde of verfes would well become the fpeeche, if fo bee there were fuch Rules prefcribed, as woulde admitt the plac ing of your apted and fulled wordes together. For indeede excepting a fewe, of our Monafyllables, which naturally fhoulde moft of them be long, we haue almofl none, that wyll ftande fitlie in a fhort ibote : and ther- fore if fome exception were made againil the precife obferuation of Pofition, and certaine other of the rules, then might we haue as great plenty and choyfe of good woordes to furnifh and fette foorth a verfe, as in any other tongue.
Likewife if there were fome derection in fuch wordes, as fall not within the compaffe of Greeke or Latine rules, it were a great helpe, and therefore I had great miffe in thefe few which I made. Such as is the lad tillable in thefe wordes, able, noble, or pqffible and fuch like : againe for the nature and force of our W. of our th, of our oo, and ee, of our wordes which admytte an e in the ende after one or two Confonantes, and many other. I for my part, though (I mufl needes confeffe) many faultes efcaped me in thefe fewe, yet tooke I as good heede as I coulde, and in trueth did rather alwaies omitt the bell wordes and fuch as would naturally become the fpeech bed, then I wolde com- mitte any thing, which fhoulde notoriouily impugne the Latine rules, which herein I had onely for my direction. Indeede mod of our Monafyllables I am forced to make fhort, to fupply the want of many fhort wordes requifite in thefe verfes. The Participle A, being but the Eng- lifti article adioyned to Nownes, I alwayes make fhort, both alone and in compofition, and like wife the wordes of one fillable ending in E, as the, when it is, an article, he, Jhe, ye, etc. we I thinke mould needes be alwayes long becaufe we pronounce continually We. /, beeing ,alone danding for the Pronowne Ego, in my iudgment might well be vfed common : but becaufe I neuer fawe it vfed but fhort I fo obferued it. Words ending in y
Englifh Poetrie. 71
I make fhort without doubt, fauing that I haue marked in others one difference which they vfe in the fame, that is to make it fhort in the ende u of an Aduerb, as gladly, and long in the ende - of an Adiectiue as goodly : but the reafon is as I take it, becaufe the Adiectiue is or mould be mofl commonly written thus goodlie. 0, beeing an Aduerbe is naturally long : in the ende of wordes both Monafyllables and other I thinke it may be vfed common. The firfl of Pollifyllables I directed according to the nature of the worde, as I thought moil aunfwerable to Latine examples, fauing that fomewhere I am conflrayned to flraine curtefy with the prepofition of a worde compounded or fuch like, which breaketh no great fquare: as in defence or depart, etc. The myddle fillables which are not very many, come for the mofl part vnder the precinct of Pofition, whereof fome of them will not poffibly abide the touch, and therfore mull needes be a little wrefted : fuch are commonly ye Aduerbs of three fillables, as mournfully, fpyghtfully and fuch like words, deriued of this Adiectiue, full: and therfore if there be great occafion to vfe them, they muft be reformed by detracting onely (/) and then they Hand meetely currant, as mournfuly. The lafl fillables I wholly directed fo neere as I could to the touch of common rules.
The mofl famous verfe of all the reft, is called Hexa- metrum Epicum, which confifteth of fixe feete, wherof the firfl foure are indifferently either Spondcei or Daftyli, the fift is euermore a dactyl, aud the fixt a Spondee, as thus.
Tyterus happily thou liest tumbling vnder a bettchtrce.
Thys kinde of verfe I haue onely feene to be practifed in our Englifh fpeeche: and indeede wyll fland fome- what more orderlye therein then any of the other kindes, vntill we haue fome tolleration of wordes mat hi by fpeciall rule. The firfl that attempted to practife thys verfe in Englifh, mould feeme to be the Earle of Surry, who translated fome part of Virgill into verfe
72 A Difcourfe of
indeede, but without regard of true quantity of fillables. There is one famous Diftichon, which is common in the mouthes of all men, that was made by one Matter VVat- fon, fellowe of S. Johns Colledge in Cambrydge about 40. yeeres patt, which for the fweetnes and gallantnes therof in all refpects doth mat[c]h and furpaffe the Latine coppy of Horace, which he made out of Homers wordes, qui mores hominum etc.
— u o — — — O «-» — — — u «_>
All trauellcrs doo glad lie report great praife to IJliffes
\J U U \J \J O
For that heknewemaniemensmaners, and f aw many citties.
Which two verfes if they be examined throughout all the rules and obferuations of the bett verfifying, mail bee founde to attaine the very perfection of them all. There be two other not much inferiour to thefe, which I found in ye Gloffe of E. K. vppon the fift ^Eglogue of the newe Poet : which Tully tranilated out of Greeke into Latine, Hcec habui qua. edi etc.
All that I eate did I toy and all that I greedilie gorged.
— — — 0 w — — — — — w ,_,
As for thofe manie goodlie matters left J for others.
Which though they wyll not abide the touch of Synalcepha in one or two places, yet perhappes fome Englifh rule which might wyth good reafon be ettab- lifhed, would make them currant enough, and auoyde that inconuenience which is very obuious in our wordes. The great company of famous verfes of thys fort, which Matter Haruey made, is not vnknowne to any and are to be viewed at all times. I for my part, fo farre as thofe examples would leade me, and mine owne fmall fkyll affoorde me, haue blundered vppon thefe fewe, whereinto I haue tranflated the two firtt yEglogues of Virgill : becaufe I thought no matter of mine owne inuention, nor any other of antiquitye more fitte for tryal of thys thyng, before there were fome more fpeciall direction, which might leade to a .leffe troublefome manner of wiyting.
Englifh Poetrie. 73
The Argument of the firft
Vnclcr the pcrfonne of Tityrus Vyrgill beeing figured him- felfe, declareth to Melibeus an nother Neateheard, the great benefittes he receyued at Augujlus hand, who in the fpoyle of Mantua gaue him hys goods and fubllaunce againe.
|Qclibacu#. STitiirusf.
TItynts, happilie thou lystc tumbling vnder a beech tree, All in a fine oate pipe thefefwettefongs lustiiie. chaunting: V Ve, poorefoules goe to wracke, and from thefe coast es bercmooucd, And fro our pastures frnr/e: thou Tiiyr, at cafe in a shade plolt Makst thickc groucs to rcfoundvvithfongcs of brauc Amarillis.
O Melibaeus, he rras no man but a Cod who rclceudc me: J'Mi'r lie shaft* my God : from this fame Sheepcot his alters .\<n<r, a tciidt-r l.ambe JJiall vrati/, with blood to bed err them. This good gift did he ght<\ to »n> si ceres tints free! ie to grander, And to my felfc (thou feest) on pipe to refound what J lijlcd.
74 A Difcourfe of
JEelibaettg.
Grutch thee f ure I doo not, but this thing makes me to wonder, Whence comes all this adoo: with grieeuous paine not a little Can I remooue my Goates: here, Tityre skant get I forward Poore olde crone, two twyns at a clappe ith boyfterous hafdlcs LeftJJie behind, best hope ? my flock laid hard on a bare stone. If ad not a lucklejjfe lotte poffest our mindes, I remember Warnings oft fro the blajl burnt oake wefaw to befent vs. Oft did a left hand crow foretell thefe thinges in her hull tree, But this God let vs heat e what he was, good Tityre tell me.
That fame Cittiefo braue which Rome was wont to be called, Foole did Tthinke, to be like this of ours, where we to the pastures Wonted were to remooue from dammes our young prettie Cattell. Thus did J thinke young whelp es, and Kids to be like to the
mothers,
Thus did I wont compare manie great thinges with many little. But this aboue all townes as loftily mounteth her high head, As by the lowe bafe shrubbes tall Cypreffe shooteth aboue them.
And what did thee mooue thatneedes thou must goe to fee Rome?
Freedome: which though late, yet once lookt backe to my pore
flate,
After time when haires from my beard did ginne to be whit is Ji: Yet lookt back at laft and found me out after a long time. Whett Amarill was once obtainde, Galatea departed: For (for I will confejfe) whilst as Galatea did hold mee, Hope did I not for freedome, and care had I none to my cattcll. Though manie f air eyoungbeastes ourfoldefortheaultersaforded
Englifh Poetrie. 75
And manie checfcs good fro my preffe were fent to the Cittic: Seldome times did I bring anie store of pence fro the markett.
O Amarill, wherefore, to thy Gods (very much did I meruaile) Hcauilie thou didft praie: ripefruites vngathered all still: Tityrus is not at home: tliefe Pyne trees Tityre mift thce. Fountaines longd for thee : thefc hedgrovves wisht thy return home
}*Vhat was then to bedoonelfrom bondage could not J wind out: Neither I could haue found fuch gentle Gods any where els. There did I fee (Meliboee) that youth whofe hestes I by courfe
still.
Fortnights whole to obferue on the Alters fure will I not faile. Thus did he gentlie graunt to my fute when first I demau tided. Kcfpc vour heardes poore Jlaues as erst, let bulks to the makes
still.
Happy olde man, then thoufJialt haue thy far me to remaine still, Large and large to thy f elf e, others nougJit but stonie grauell : And foule Jlymie rush wherewith their lees be befprmUed. Here no vnwoonted foodc JJiall gricue young thcaucs who be
laded,
Nor the infections foule of neighbours JlocheJJia 11 annoie them. 1 lap^ic olde man. Injhaddowy bankes and cook prcttie places, Jl«re by the quaintedfloodes and fp rings most holie remaining. //rvr, thefc quickfcts frcjh w/iuh lands fcucr out fro thy
neighbors
And gru'iic willow rowcs which Ilibhr bees doo rcioice in, Oft fine whist ring noife, /hall bring fwedc flecpe to th\ fences. I'nder a Rock fide here will proyncr cluiunt nisrrie Jittics. Neither on high* Elme trees, thy bcloude J)oucs loftilie fitting, Nor prcttic Turtles trim, rri/l ccafe to crookewith a good chccrc.
76 A Difcourfe of
First, therefore fivift buckes shall flic for foode to the skies ward, And from fish with drawn broade fcas themfelues shal auoid
hence:
First, (both borders broke) Araris JJial run to the Parthanes, And likewife Tygris shall againe runne backe to the Germanes: Ere his countnaunce fweete shall flippe once out from my hartroote.
poor e foules, mujl fome to the land cald Africa packc hence. Some to the far re Scythia, and fome must to the fwift flood Oaxis. Some to Britannia coaftes quite parted farre fro the whole world. Oh thefe paflures pure shall I ncre more chance to beliold yeel And our cottage poore with warme turues couerd about trim. Oh thefe trim tilde landes,fJiall a rechlejfe fouldier haue them? AndfJiall a Barbarian haue this cropped fee what a mif chief e D if cord vile hath araifde? for whom was our labour alltooke ? Now Meliboze ingraft pear ie stocks, fette vines in an order. Now goe (my braue flocke once that were) O now goe my
kidlings.
Neuer againefJiall I now in a greene bowre fwcetelie repofed See ye in queachie briers farre a loofe dambring on a high hill. Now fJiall Ifing no lygges, nor whilst I do o fall to my iunkets. Shall ye my Goates, cropping fweete flowres and leaues fit
about me.
Yet tJiOii maist tarrie heere, and keepe me companie this night, All on a Icauie couch : good Aples ripe I doo not lacke, Chestnutts fweete good store, andplentie of curddes will Ifet thee. Marke t the Towne how cJdmnie tops doo beginne to befmoaking, And fro the Mountaims high how J}iaddowes grow to be larger.
Englifli Poetrie. 77
-
The feconde ^Eglogue called Alexis.
The Argument.
Vir^ill in the perfonne of Corydon as fome thinke, com- playncth that he is not fo gratious with Auguftus as he would bee : or els it is to be referred to a youth Alexander, which was giuen him of Afinius Pollio, whom he blameth for the vnfi.edfafl.nes of his witt and wandering appetite, in refilling the freendly counfayle which he vfed to giue him.
THat Sheepheard Corydon did burne in loue with Alexis, All his matters deare : and nought had he whereby to hope ( )nely in beechen groues, and dolefome fhaddowy places, [for. 1 )ailie reforted he : there thefe rude difordered outcryes, I Ivllcs and defert woodes throughout thus mournfully tuned. ( ) hard harted Alex, hatt thou no regard to my fweete fong? Pyttiett me not a whitt : yea makft me now that I ihall dye. Yet doo the beattes find out fine Ihades and trim pretty
coole plottes,
And fro the fun beames fafe lie lyzardes vnder a bufhtufte : And for workmen toughe with boyling heate fo beparched, (larlick fauery fweete and coole henrbrs plenty be d re fled. IJui, by the fcorchtbanke fydes i' thy foote iU-ppcs ilil I goe
plodding.
7s A Difcourfe of
Hedgerowes hott doo refound with Grafliops mournfully fqueak- O had I not ben better abyd Amarillis her anger ? [ing, And her proude difdaine ? yea better abyde my Menalcas ? What though brown did he feeme ? yea what though thou be
fo gallant
O thou fine chery cheekt child trufl not t' much to thy beauty. Black violetts are tooke when dayfes white be refufed. Me thou dofl defpife vnknowne to thy felfe yet Alexis : What be my riches greate in neate, in milke what aboundance. In Sicill hylles be my Lambes of which there wander a thoufand. All times, colde and hote yet frelh milke neuer I wanted. Such be my Muficke notes, as (when his flockes he recalling) Amphion of Dirce did vfe on more Aracynthus. Much mifhapt I am not, for late in a ban eke I behelde me, When flill feas were calme, to thy Daphnis neede not I giue
place
No, though thou be the iudge, if pictures haue any credite. O were thou content to remaine with me by the downes heere, In thefe lodgings fmall, and helpe me proppes to put vnder. And trym kydling flocke with me to driue to the greene fieldes: Pan in finging fweete with me fhouldfl brauely refemble : Pan, was firil the inuenter, pypes to adioyne in an order: Pan, poore flockes and Sheepheardes to moll duly regardeth. Thofefine lips thou needft not feare to brufewith a fweete pype : What dyd Amynt forfake i'this excercife to be cunning? One pype with feauene fundry (lops matcht fweetly together. Haue I my felfe, Damaetas which ats death he bequeathd me, And fayd, heere, thou art now thefecond which euer hath ought So fayd Damaetas: but Amyntas fpightfully fcornde it. [it. Alfo, two pretty fmall wyld kyddes, mofl goodlie befpotted Haue I, that heere i' the dales doo runne skant fafe I doo
feare me.
Twyce in a day two teates they fuck: for thee will I keepe them : Wondrous faine to haue had them both was Theflylis of late. And fo me mall : for I fee thou fcornil whatfo-euer I giue thee. Come hyther O thou fweete face boy : fee fee, to thy felfe heere How fayre Nymphes in baskets full doo bring manie Lillies : White violets fweete Nais plucks and bloomes fro the Poppies, Narcyfs, and dyll flowres moil fweete that fauoureth alfo.
Englifh Poetrie. 79
Cafia, broade mary Goldes, with pancyes, and Hyacinthus. And I my felfe rype peaches foft as filke will I gather. And fuch Chefnutts as Amarill was wont to reioyce at. Ploms wyll I bring likewife : that fruite lhall be honored alfo. And ye O Lawrell twygges that I croppe, and myrte thy
felfe next. For ye be wont, (bound both in a bunch) moil fweetely to
fauour.
Thou art but aClowneCorydon: thefe gifts efteemes not Alexis: Nor by thy gifts to obtaine art meete to incounter lolas. Wretch (ahlas) whats this that I wiih? fouth blafls to the
yong flowers
Or cleere cry flail flreames with loathfome fwyne to be troubled? Ah mad boy from whom dooft runne? why Gods ithe woods
dwelt :
And Paris erfl of Troy : Pallas moil gladly reioyfeth, In thefe bowres : and in trym groues we all chiefely delight
vs. Grym Lyoneffe doth courfe curfl woolues, fo wolues doo
the kydlinges. And thefe wanton Kyddes likewife thefe faire Cytifus
flowers.
Thee Corydon (O Alex) fome pleafure euery wight pulles. See thefe yoked fleeres fro the plough nowe feeme to be
Ictt loofe. And thefe fhadowes large doo declare thys fun to depart
hence Styll I doo burne in loue. What meane in lone to be lookt
for?
Ah Corydon Corydon, what raging fury dooth haunt thee, Halfe cropt downe be thy vynes and broade brauncht elmes
ouerhang them.
Rather about fome needefull worke now bufy thy fdfe well, Kither on Ofyers tuffe or bulrulh weuue pretty basketts. And if Alexis fcornc thee Hill, mayil hope for another.
FINIS.
8o A Difcourfe of
I durfl not enterpryfe to goe any further with this rude tranflation : beeing for the refpects aforefayd a troublefome and vnpleafant peece of labour: And therefore thefe mall fuffice till further occafion fhall feme to imploy fome profitable paynes in this behalfe.
The next verfe in dignity to the Hexameters, is ye Carmen Elegiaciun which confifleth of foure feete and two od fillables : viz : the two firft feete, eyther Daftyli or Spondczi indifferent, the one long fillable : next two
Daftyli and an other long fillable oo — u u -
u u - fome doo meafure it in this forte (and more truely yet not fo readily to all) accounting firft two indiffer ently either Dactyli or Spond&i, then one Spondczi, and two AnapczftL But it commeth all to one reckon ing. Thys verfe is alwayes vnfeperably adioyned vnto the Hexameter, and ferueth efpecially to the handling of loue and dalliances, whereof it taketh the name. It will not frame altogether fo currantlye in our Englifh as the other, becaufe the fhortneffe of the feconde Penthimimer will hardly be framed to fall together in good fence, after the Latine rules. I haue not feene very many of them made by any, and therefore one or two for example fake mall be fufficient.
This Diflichon out of Quid.
Ingenium quondam fuerat pretiofius auro. At nunc barbaries grandis habere nihil.
May thus be tranflated.
Learning once was thought to be better then any gold was, Now he that hath not wealth is but a barbarian.
And thys
Omniafunt hominum tenui pendentiafilo:
Etfubito cafu qiuz valuere ruunt. Tis but a flender thread, which all mens flates do de pend on : And mod goodly thinges quickly doo fall to decay.
Englifh Poetrie. 81
As for the verfes Phalocium and lambicum, I haue not as yet made any tryall in them : but the Sapphic I affure you, in my iudgment wyl doo very pretty, if ye wants which I fpeake were once fupplied. For tryall of which I haue turned the new Poets fweete fong of Eliza into fuch homely Sapphick as I coulde.
Thys verfe confifteth of thefe fiue feete, one Chore, one fpondcz, one daftyl, and two Choreis, with this addition, that after euery third verfe be fette one Adonium verfe, which confifteth of a daclyl and a fponda. It is more troublefome and tedious to frame in our fpeeche by reafon they runne without difference, euery verfe being a like in quantity throughout, yet in my iudgement ftandeth meetely well in the fame. I pray looke the Coppy which I haue tranflated in the fourth ALglo^ue of the Shuphcardes Calender : ye fong of Colins making which Hobbinoll fmgeth in prayfe of the Queenes maiefly, vnder the name of Eliza.
YE dainty Nymphes that in this bleffed brooke, doo bathe your brefl : Forfake your watry bowres and hether looke,
at my requeft :
And onely you Virgins that on Parnafs dwell. VMK-MCC floweth Helicon the learned well, helpe me to blafe her worthy praife That in her fex doth all excell.
Of fayre Eliza be your filuer fong
that bleffed wight : The flowre of Virgins, may me fiourifh long,
in princely plight.
For flie is Syrinx daughter without fpott, Whi( h J\in the Shccphcanls Clod on her begot :
fo fprnng her grace,
of heauenly race, No mortall blemilh may her blott.
See where flie fittes, etc.
r
82 A Difcourfe of
The Saphick verfe.
u u u u
Oye Nymphes moft fine who refort to this brooke, For to bathe there your pretty breafts at all times : Leaue the watrifh bowres, hyther and to me come
at my requeft nowe.
And ye Virgins trymme who refort to Parnafs, Whence the learned well Helicon beginneth : Helpe to blafe her worthy deferts, that all els
mounteth aboue farre. Nowe the filuer fonges of Eliza fing yee, Princely wight whofe peere not among the virgins Can be found : that long (he may remaine among vs.
now let vs all pray.
For Syrinx daughter fhe is, of her begotten Of the great God Pan, thus of heauen aryfeth, All her exlent race : any mortall harde happe
cannot aproche her.
See, fhe fittes moft feemely in a graffy greene plott, Clothed in weedes meete for a princely mayden, .Bofte with Ermines white, in a goodly fcarlett
brauely befeeming.
Decked is that crowne that vpon her head ftandes With the red Rofe and many Daffadillies, Bayes, the Primrofe and violetts, be fette by : how
ioyfull a fight ift.
Say, behold did ye euer her Angelike face, Like to P/icebe fayre ? or her heauenly hauour And the princelike grace that in her remaineth ?
haue yee the like feenc ? M edled ift red rofe with a white together Which in either cheeke do depeinct a trymme cheere, Her maieftie and eye to behold fo comely, her
like who remembreth ?
Englifh Poetrie. 83
Phoebus once peept foorth with a goodly guilt hewe, For to gaze : but when he fa\ve the bright beames Spread abroade fro' her face with a glorious grace,
it did amaze him.
When another funne he behelde belowe heere, Blufht he red for mame, nor againe he durft looke : Would he durfl bright beames of his owne with hers match,
for to be vanquifht.
Shew thy felfe now Cynthia with thy cleere rayes, And behold her: neuer abafht be thou fo : [beauty, how When me fpreades thofe beames of her heauenly
thou art in a dump dafht ?
But I will take heede that I match not her grace, With the Laton feede, Niobe that once did, Nowe me doth therefore in a ftone repent : to all
other a warning.
Pan he may well boafte that he did begit her
Such a noble wight, to Syrinx is it ioy,
That (he found fuch lott with a bellibone trym
for to be loaden.
When my younglinges firft to the dammes doo bleat out,
Shall a milke white Lambeto my Lady beoffred : [grome.
For my Goddeffe fliee is yea I my felfe her Heard-
though but a rude Clowne.
Vnto that place Caliope dooth high her,
Where my Goddeffe mines: to the fame the Mufer
After her with fweete Violines about them
cheerefully tracing
Is not it Bay braunche that aloft in handes they haue, Eune to giue them fure to my Lady Eliza : O fo fweete they play — and to the fame doo fing too
heaunly to hearc ifl.
See, the Graces trym to the flroake doo foote it, Deftly dauncing, and meriment doo make them, Sing to the inllrumcnts to rcioyce the more, but
wants not a fourth grace ?
84 A Difcourfe of
Then the daunce wyll be eune, to my Lady therefore Shalbe geune that place, for a grace fhe fliall be For to fill that place that among them in heaune, fhe
may be receiued.
Thys beuy of bright Nymphes, whether ift goe they now ? Raunged all thus fine in a rowe together? They be Ladies all i' the Lake behight foe?
they thether all goe.
One that is there chiefe that among the reft goes,
Called is Chores of Olyues fhe beares a
Goodly Crownett, meete for a Prince that in peace
euer abideth.
All ye Sheepheardes maides that about the greene dwell, Speede ye there to her grace, but among ye take heede All be Virgins pure that aproche to deck her,
duetie requireth.
When ye fliall prefent ye before her in place, See ye not your felues doo demeane too rudely: Bynd the fillets: and to be fine the wafle gyrt
fail with a tawdryne
Bring the Pinckes therewith many Gelliflowres fweete, And the Cullambynes : let vs haue the Wynefops, With the Cornation that among the loue laddes
wontes to be worne much.
Daffadowndillies all a long the ground ftrowe,
And the Cowflyppe with a prety paunce let heere lye.
Kyngcuppe and Lillies fo beloude of all men
And the deluce flowre.
One verfe there remaineth vntranflated as yet, with fome other of this forte, which I meant to haue finifhed, but by reafon of fome let which I had, I am con- ftrained to defer to fome other time, when I hope to gratify the Readers with more and better verfes of this fort : for in trueth I am perfwaded a little paine taking might furnifh our fpeeche with as much pleafaunt delight in this kinde of verfe, as any other whatfoeuer.
Englifh Poetrie.
Heere followe the Cannons or gene-
rall cautions of Poetry, prefcribed by Horace, nrft' gathered by Georgius Fabritius Cremni- cenfis: which I thought good to annex to thys Treatife, as very neceffary obferuations to be marked of all Poets.
In his Rpijlle ad Pifones
de arte Poctica.
llrft let the inuention be meete for the matter, not differing, or flraunge, or monflrous. For a womans head, a horfe necke, the bodie of a dyuers coloured Byrd, and many members of fundry creatures com pact together, whofe legges ending like a Fy flies tayle : this in a picture is a wonderful dcformitie : but if there be fuch diuerfitye in the frame of a fpeeche, what can be more vncomely or ilfauoured?
2. The ornaments or colours mufl not bee too many, nor rafhly aduentured on, neither mull they be vfed euery where and thrufl into euery place.
3. The proprietie of fpeeche mud bee duelyobferucd that way^lUy and great matters be not fpokeii flenderly, or matters of length too briefly: for it belongeth much both to the comlincffe and nature of a matter : that
86 A Difcourfe of
in big matters there be lykewife vfed boyflerous wordes.
4. In Poeticall defcriptions, the fpeeche muft not exceede all credite, nor any thing fainedlie brought in, againfl all courfe of nature.
5. The difpofmg of the worke muft be fuch, that there be no offence committed, as it were by too ex- quifite dilligence : for many thinges may be oft com mitted, and fome thing by too curious handling be made offenciue. Neyther is it in one part to be well furnifhed, and in another to be neglected. Which is prooued by example of a Caruer, who expreffed very artificially the heade and vpper part of a body, but the reft hee could not make an ende of. Againe, it is prooued thus, that a body mould not be in other partes beautifull, and yet bee deformed in the crooked nofe : for all the members in a well fhapen bodie muft be aunfwerable, found, and well proportioned.
6. He that taketh in hande to write any thing muft firft take heede that he be fufficient for the fame: for often vnwary fooles through their rafhnes are ouertooke with great want of ability
7. The ornament of a worke confifteth in wordes, and in the manner of the wordes, are either fimple or mixt, newe or olde, propper or tranilated. In them all good iudgment muft be vfed and ready wytt. The chiefeft grace is in the moft frequented wordes, for the fame reafon holdeth in wordes, as doth in coynes, that the moft vfed and tried are beft efleemed.
8. The kinde of verfe is to be confidered and aptly applied to the argument, in what meafure is moft meete for euery fort. The moft vfuall kindes are foure, the Heroic, Elegiac, lamlrick, and Lyric.
9. One muft vfe one kynde of fpeeche alike in all wrytings. Sometime the Lyric ryfeth aloft, fometime the comicall. To the Tragicall wryters belong properly the bygge and boyfterous wordes. Examples muft be interplaced according fitly to the time and place.
10. Regarde is to be had of affections : one thing
Englifh Poetrie. 87
becommeth pleafant perfons, an other fadde, an other wrathfull, an other gentle, which mufl all be heedefully refpected, Three thinges therefore are requifite in verfes, beauty, fweetnes, and the affection. T/ieo- phraftus fayth that this beauty or delectableneffe is a deceyt, and Ariflotle calleth it rvpawia oAiyoKpoviov, a momentany tyrany. Sweetneffe retayneth a Reader, affection moueth him.
11. Euery perfon mufl be fitted accordingly, and the fpeeche well ordered : wherein are to be confidered the dignity, age, fex, fortune, condition, place, Country, etc. of eche perfon.
12. The perfonnes are eyther to be fayned by the Poets them felues, or borrowed of others, if he borrow them, then mufl hee obferue TO o/zotov, that is, that he folow that Author exactly whom he purpofeth to immitate, and whereout he bringeth his examples. But if he fayne newe perfonnes, then mufl he keepe his TO 6/mAoV, that is equallie : fo bringing them in eche place, that it be ahvayes agreeable, and the laft like vnto the firfl, and not make one perfon nowe a bolde boafter, and the fame flraightwaies a wife warie man, for that is paffmg abfurd. Againe, euery one mufl obferue TO ap/xoo-Tov, which is interpreted conucnicntiani, fitneffe: as it is meete and agreeable euery where, a man to be floute, a woman fearefull, a feruant crafty, a young man gentle.
13. Matters which are common may be handled by a Poet as they may be thought propper to himfelfe alone. All matters of themfelues are open to be intreated of by any man : but if a thing be handled of fome one in fuch fort, as he thereby obtaine great prayfe, he maki-th it his owne or propper to himfelfe, as many did write of the Troiane war, but yet Jlomrr made matter which was common to all, propper to himfelfe.
14. Where many thinges are to be taken out of auncienter tongues, as the Latines tooke much out of the Greekes, the wordcs are not fo prccifclie to be fol lowed, but that they bee altered according to the iudg-
88 A Difcourfe of
ment and will of the Immitator, which precept is bor rowed of Tully, Non verbum vcrbo necefse est reddere.
15. The beginning mufl not be foolifhly handled, that is, flraungly or too long.
1 6. The propofition or narration let it not be far fetched or vnlikely, and in the fame forget not the dif ferences of ages and perfons.
17. In a Comedie it is needfull to exhibite all the actions openlie, as fuch as are cruell, vnhonefl, or ougly, but fuch thinges may better bee declared by fome meete and handfome wordes, after what forte they are fup- pofed to bee doone.
18. If a Commedye haue more Actes then flue, it is tedious, if fewer, it is not fufficient.
It fytteth not to bring in the perfonnes of Gods, but in verie great matters. Cicero fayth, when the Tra gedy wryters cannot bring theyr matters to good paffe, they runne to God. Let not more perfonnes fpeake together then foure for auoyding confufion.
The Chori mufl be well garnifhed and fette foorth : wherein eyther menne are admonifhed, or reprehended, or counfayled vnto vertue. Such matter mufl bee chofen for the Chorus, as may bee meete and agreeable to that which is in hand. As for inflruments and fing- ing, they are Reliques of olde fimplicitye. For the Muficke commonlye vfed at Theaters and the licen- cioufneffe of theyr fonges, which together wyth theyr wealth increafed among the Romaines, is hurtfull to difcipline and good manners.
19. In a Satyr the clownifh company and rurall Gods, are brought in to temperate the Heauineffe of Trage dies, wyth fome myrth and paflyme. In iefling it mufl be obferued that it bee not lacyuious or Rybaldlike, or flaunderous, which precept holdeth generallie in all fortes of wrytynges.
In a Satyr greate heede is to be taken, of the place, of the day, and of the perfonnes : as of Bacchus, Silenus, or the Satyr es. Again e of the vnmeetneffe or incon- uenience of the matter, and of the wordes that they be
Englifh Poetrie. 89
fitted according to the perfons : of Decorum, that he which reprefented fome noble perfonage in the Trage- die, bee not fome bufy foole in the Satyr-, finallie of the hearers, lead they bee offended by myxing filthy matters with iefles, wanton toyes wyth vnhoneft, or noyfome with merry thinges.
20. The feete are to be applied propper to euery kinde of verfe, and therm a Poet muft not vfe too much licence or boldnes. The auncient writers in lambick verfes vfed at firfl pure lambicks : Afterwards Spondaus was admitted into Locos impares, but at lafl fuch was the licentious cuflome, that they woulde both Spondaus where they lifted, and other feete without regarde.
21. In compyling of verfes great care and circum- fpection muft be vfed.
Thofe verfes which be made Extempore, are of no great eftimation: thofe which are vnartificiall, are vtterly repelled as too fooliih. Though many doo lightlie regard our verfes, yet ought the Carelefneffe of the hearers to bee no caufe in vs of errour and negli gence. Who defireth to make any thing worthy to be heard of learned eares, let hym reade Greeke Authors heedefullie and continually.
22. Artes haue their increafinges euen as other things, beeing natural!, fo haue Tragedies which were firfl rudely inuented by Thefpis, at lafl were much adorned by JEfchyhis : at the firfl they were practifcd in Villages of the Countrey, afterwardes brought to ftages in great Citties.
23. Some Artes doo increafe, fome doo decay by a certayne naturall courfe. The olde manner of Com- medies decayde, by reafon of (laundering which therein they vfed againft many, for which there was a penaltie appointed, leaft their bitternes fhould proceede too farre: In place of which among the Latines came the Satyr es.
The auncient Authors of Comedies, were Eupolis^ Cratinus, and Arijlophanes, of the middle forte Plato
9o A Difcourfe of
Comicus, of the laft kinde Menander, which continued and was accounted the moft famous.
24. A Poet fh ould not content himfelfe onely with others inuentionsi but himfelfe alfo by ye example of old wryters fholde bring fomething of his owne in- duflry, which may bee laudable. So did they which writ te among the Latines the Comedies called Togat<z, whofe arguments were taken from ye Greekes, and the other which wrytt the Pretextata, whereof the argu ments were Latine.
25. Heedefulneffe and good compofition maketh a perfecte verfe, and that which is not fo may be reprehended. The faculty of a goode witte exceedeth Arte.
26. A Poet that he may be perfect, hath neede to haile knowledge of that part of Philofophy which informeth ye life to good manners. The other which pertaineth to naturall thinges, is leffe plaufible, hath fewer ornaments, and is not fo profitable.
27. A Poet to the knowledge of Philofophie fhoulde alfo adde greater experience, that he may know the fafhions of men and difpofitions of people. Thys profit is gott by trauelling, that whatfoeuer he wryteth he may fo expreffe and order it, that hys narration may be formable.
28. The ende of Poetry is to wryte pleafant thinges, and profitable. Pleafant it is which delighteth by beeing not too long, or vneafy to be kept in memory, and which is fomewhat likelie, and not altogether forged. Profitable it is, which flyrreth vppe the mindes to learning and wifedome.
29. Certaine efcapes are to be pardoned in fome Poets, fpecially in great workes. A faulte may bee committed either in refpect of hys propper Arte, or in fome other Arte : that a Poet fhoulde erre in pre cepts of hys owne arte, is a mamefull thing, to com- mitte a faulte in another Arte is to be borne withal : as in Virgil, who fayneth that SEncas comming into Affrica flew with hys darte certaine Stagges, whereas
Englifh Poetrie. gi
indeede Africa hath in it none of thofe beafles. Such errours doo happen eyther by vnheedefulnes, when one efcapeth them by negligence: or by the common fragility of man, becaufe none there is which can know all thinges. Therefore this laft kinde of errour is not to be flucke vppon.
30. A good Poet mould haue refpect to thys, how to retaine hys Reader or hearer. In a picture fome thing delighteth beeing fette farre of, fomething nearer, but a Poet mould delight in all places as well in funne as fhaddowe.
31. In a Poet is no meane to be admitted, which if hee bee not he of all is the word of all.
32. A Poeme if it runne not fweetely and fmoothly is odious : which is proued by a fimile of the two fenfes, hearing and tailing, as in fweete and pleafaunt meates. And the Poem mufl bee of that forte, that for the fweeteneffe of it may bee acceptable and con tinue like it felfe vnto the ende, leaft it wearye or driue away a Reader.
33. He that would wryte any thing worthy the pof- teritye, let him not enterprife any thing wherevnto his nature is not agreeable. Mercury \s not made of wood (as they fay) neyther doth Minerua fauour all iludies in euery one. In all Artes nature is the beil helpe, and learned men vfe commonly to fay that A Pod is as well borne as made a Poet.
34. Let no man efteeme himfelfe fo learned, but that he may fubmytte hys wrytinges to the iudgments of others, and correct and throughly amend the fame himfelfe.
35. The profitte of Poetry fprang thus, for that the auncient wyfe men fet downe the bed things that per tained to mans life, manners, or felicity, and examining and proouing the fame by long experience of time, when they are aged they publifhed them in wry tinges. The vfe of Poetry what it was at the fird, is manifeft by the examples of the mode learned men: as of Orpheus who fird builded houfes: of Amphion who
92 A Difcourfe of
made Citties, of Tyrttzus who firft made warre: of Homer, who wryt mofl wyfely.
36. In an artificiall Poet three thinges are requifite, nature, Arte, and dilligence.
37. A wryter muft learne of the learned, and he mufl not ilicke to confeffe when he erreth : that the worfe he may learne to auoyde, and knowe howe to follow the better.
The confeffion of an errour betoken a noble and a gentle minde. Celfus and Quintillian doo report of Hippocrates, that leaft he mould deceiue his poilerity, lie confeffed certayne errours, as it well became an excellent minded man, and one of great credite. For (as fayth Celfus} light witts becaufe they haue nothing, wyll haue nothing taken from them.
38. In making choife of fuch freendes as mould tell vs the trueth, and correct our wrytinges, heedefull iudgment mufl bee vfed: leafl eyther we choofe vn- fkylfull folke, or flatterers, or diffemblers. The vnfkil- full know not how to iudge, flatterers feare to offende, diffemblers in not prayfing doo feeme to commende.
39. Let no man deceiue himfelfe, or fuffer himfelfe to be deceiued, but take fome graue learned man to be iudge of his dooing, and let him according to hys counfayle change and put out what hee thinketh good.
40. He which will not flatter and is of ability to iudge, let him endeuour to nothing fo much, as to the correction of that which is wrytten, and that let be doone with earned and exquifite iudgment. He which dooth not thus, but offendeth wilfully in breaking his credite too rafhly, may be counted for a madde, furious, and franticke foole.
41. The faultes commonly in verfes are feauen, as either they be deftitute of Arte, of facility, or ornament: or els, they be fuperfluous, obfcure, ambicious, or needeleffe.
Englifh Poetrie. 93
Out of the Epiftles ad Meccenatcm, Augnjlum, et Florum.
42. An immitation fhould not be too feruile or fuper- flitious, as though one durfl not varry one iotte from the example : neyther mould it be fo fenceleffe or vn- (kilfull, as to immitate thinges which are abiurde, and not to be followed.
43. One mould not altogether treade in the fteppes of others, but fometime he may enter into fuch wayes as haue not beene haunted or vfed of others. Horace borrowed ye lambick verfe of Archilocus, expreffmg fully his numbers and elegant[l]y, but his vnfeemely wordes and pratling tauntes hee moflewyfhlye fhunned.
44. In our verfes we mould not gape after the phrafes of the fimpler forte, but ftriue to haue our writings allowable in the iudgments of learned menne.
45. The common peoples iudgments of Poets is feldome true, and therefore not to be fought after. The vulgar fort in Rome iudged Pacuuious to be very learned, Accius to bee a graue wryter, that Affranius followed Mcna udcr, Plant us, Epichannus: that Tcrtncc excelled in Arte Cccrilius in grauity: but the learned forte were not of this opinion. There is extant in Macnwlus (I knowe not whether Angcllius) the like \ en lite concerning them which wryt Epigrammcs. That Catullus and Caluus wrytt fewe thinges that were good, Nccuiiis obfcure, llortcnfius vncomely, Cyima vnpleafant, and Mcmmins rough.
46. The olde wryters are fo farre to be commended, as nothing betaken from the newe: neyther may we thinke but that the way lyeth open ftyll to others to
94 A Difcourfe of
attaine to as great matters. Full well fayd Sidonius to EucheriiiS) I reuerence the olde wryters, yet not fo as though I leffe efteemed the vertues and defertes of the wryters in this age.
47. Newnes is gratefull if it be learned : for certaine it is, Artes are not bothe begunne and perfected at once, but are increafed by time and ftudie. which notwithflanding when they are at the full perfection, doo debate and decreafe againe.
Cic. de orat. There is nothing in the world which burfleth out all at once, and commeth to light all wholly together.
48. No man mould dare to practife an Arte that is daungerous, efpecially before he haue learned the fame perfectly: fo doo guyders of Shyppes: fo doo Phifitions : but fo did not manie Romaine Poets (yea fo doo not too many Englifh wryters) who in a certaine corragious heate gaped after glory by wryting verfes, but fewe of them obtayned it.
49. A Poet mould be no leffe fkylfull in dealing with the affectes of the mynde, then a tumbler or a luggler fhoulde bee ready in his Arte. And with fuch pyth fhoulde he fette foorth hys matters, that a Reader fhoulde feeme not onely to heare the thing, but to fee and be prefent at the dooing thereof. Which faculty Fabius calleth vTroraa-Lv and Ariftotle irpo o/z,/xarov
50. Poets are either fuch as defire to be liked of on flages, as Commedie and Tragedie wryters : or fuch as woulde bee regeflred in Libraries. Thofe on flages haue fpeciall refpect to the motions of the minde, that they may ftirre bothe the eyes and eares of their beholders. But the other which feeke to pleafe priuately with [in] the walles, take good aduifement in their workes, that they may fatiffy the exact iudgments of learned men in their ftudies.
51. A Poet fhoulde not bee too importunate, as to offende in vnfeafonable fpeeches: or vngentle, as to contemne the admonitions of others : or ambicious, as
Englifh Poetrie. 95
to thinke too well of his owne dooinges : or too way ward, as to thinke, reward enough cannot be gyuen him for his deferte, or finally too proude, as to defyre to be honoured aboue meafure.
52. The emendations of Poemes be very neceflary, that in the obfcure poyntes many thinges may be enlightned, in the bafer partes many thinges may be throughly garnifhed. Hee may take away and put out all vnpropper and vnfeemely words, he may with difcretion immitate the auncient wryters, he may abridge thinges that are too lofty, mittigate thynges that are too rough, and may vfe all remedies of fpeeche throughout the whole worke. The thinges which are fcarce feemely, he may amende by Arte and methode.
53. Let a Poet firft take vppon him, as though he were to play but an Actors part, as he may bee efteemed like one which wryteth without regarde, neyther let him fo pollifh his works, but that euery one for the bafeneffe thereof, may think to make as good. Hee may likewyfe exercife the part of gefturer, as though he feemed to meddle in rude and common matters, and yet not fo deale in them, as it were for variety fake, nor as though he had laboured them thoroughly but tryfled with them, nor as though he had fweat for them, but practifed a little. For fo to hyde ones cunning, that nothing mould feeme to bee laborfome or exquifite, when notwith (landing, euery part is pollifhed with care and ftudie, is a fpeciall gytt which Arijlotle calleth Kp^v.
54. It is onely a poynt of wyfedome, to vfe many and choyfe elegant words, but to vndcrfland alfo and to fet foorth thinges which pertaine to the happy cnde of mans life. Wherevppon the Poet Horace, calleth the Arte poeticall, without the knowledge of learning and philofophy, a prating ranity. Therfore a good and allowable Poet, mufl be adorned with wordes, plentious in fentences, and if not equall to an Orator, yet very neere him, and a fpecial loucr of learned men.
F I N I S.
96 A Difcourfe of Englijh Poetrie.
Epilogus.
[His fmall trauell (courteous Reader) I defire thee take in good worth : which I haue compyled, not as an exquifite cenfure concerning this matter, but (as thou mayfl well per- ceiue, and) in trueth to that onely ende that it might be an occafion, to haue the fame throughly and with greater difcretion, taken in hande and laboured by fome other of greater abilitie : of whom I knowe tliere be manie among the famous Poets in Lon don, who bothe for learning and leyfure, may handle this Argument far more pythilie then my felfe. Which if any of them wyll vouchfafe to doo, I trull wee fhall haue Englifhe Poetry at a higher price in fliort fpace : and the rabble of balde Rymes fhall be turned to famous workes, comparable (I fuppofe) with the bed workes of Poetry in other tongues. In the meane time, if my poore fkill, can fette the fame any thing forwarde, I wyll not ceafe to prac~tife the fame towardes the framing of fome apt Englifli Profodia: ftyll hoping, and hartelie wifhing to enioy firft the benefitte of fome others Judgment, whofe authority may beare greater credite, and whofe learn ing can better per- forme it.
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URELY to us, after the Sacred Scriptures, works of devotion and of religious instruction ; the Literature of England comes next. However exquisite and subtle the charms of Greek and Grecian literature; however necessary and worthy of study the language and literature of Rome; the writings of our Fore fathers come home to- every Englishman. What a mighty Literature have we inherited ! How little is it known, save to a few, who have de voted all their leisure to its exploration ! Authors mighty in Prose and Verse ! Writers full of aery fancies and graceful similitudes ! Men whose Prose marches with the tramp and strength of a Roman legion : men whose Song is sung by a Puck or an Ariel ; or who sing in it of Patient Grissell, of Fair Geraldine, or of Una and her Red Cross Knight. Above all the English Bible, so clung unto by our ancestors — with its infinite early editions and their most heroic story.
What present nation has so ancient, so vast, so varied a body of writings as England? In which are contained not only the productions of our Arch-Poets, Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden ; but those of an almost uncountable number of authors, inferior indeed to these, but of high rank among ordinary minds.
Good books, besides affording enjoyment, provoke to like excellence. No man writeth unto himself. Each worthy writer is trained, assimi lated, and influenced by those who have gone before : each returning a like benefit to posterity. To trace the continuous chain of influence, of cause and effect, link by link, forms a part of the History of English Literature. That History that we may soon hope to possess, for the first time adequately in our language, in Professor HENRY MORLEY'S work J-'.n^lish ll'riters; of which we have already received the earlier in stalment, down to Dunbar. What is designed in the Facsimile Texts, the English Reprints, and the Annotated Reprints is to represent the later literature by giving, at as cheap a price as can be, Exact Texts sometimes of books already famous, sometimes of those quite forgotten : in some cases, of works that illustrate the Literary History ; in other in stances, of those that in a sense, constitute it.
The result is already, that these Reproductions are unique in English Bibliography for their accuracy and cheapness, as well as for the un limited numbers offered constantly for sale : and so far as tJuy are yet publisJicd, they constitute the best of all introductions to our old Authors, from the time of Caxton to that of Addison. \.. A.
P.S. — A word in furtherance of the Karly 7:'/v^//V/} Text, the Chaucer, and the Ballad Societies. No one knows the extent of the imprinted Literature of England. These Societies are recovering for us book after book ; and laying us all under great obligation to their able Editors, who labour gratuitously. For further information, apply to F. J. Furnivall, M.A., 3 St. George's Square, London, N.W.
FACSIMILE TEXTS.
IN VARYING SIZES, FOLLOWING THE ORIGINALS.
F European publications there are not a few which the mere outward appearance, their countenance so to speak, possess an extreme interest. Either from the excessive rarity of the book itself, or the drollery or quaintmess of its illustrations; either from the literary importance of the work or its significance in the history of our Country or in the progress of the World : there arises at the sight of it the keenest attention, one might almost say an inexpress ible sympathy with the book itself. In all such cases : Sun-Portraits confer exquisite and perpetual enjoyment.
Hitherto Cost has debarred photolithographed books from general use : but I trust to offer from time to time, at ordinary book-prices^ works of this supreme interest, though necessarily of an infinitely diverse character. In which effort, I trust to receive a thorough support from the large number of readers who have sustained the English Re prints. Both being like attempts to make forgotten books known ; and known books, more perfectly and perpetually obtainable.
Early in November, will be published in Fcp. 4to., Half Calf, Illuminated sides, pp. xxxii. -64.
[WILLIAM TYNDALE, assisted by WILLIAM ROY.
The First printed English New Testament. Cologne — Worms. 1525. 4to.]
Photo-lithographed, by the permission of the Trustees of the British Museum, from the unique fragment in the Grenville Collection.
Briefly told, the story of this profoundly interesting work is as follows : — In 1524 TYNDALE went from London to Hamburg; where remaining for about a year, he journ eyed on to Cologne; and there assisted by WILLIAM ROY, subsequently the author of the Satire onWolsey, Redcine andbenott ivrotlie^seep. n], he began this first edition in 410; with glosses of the English New Testament. A virulent enemy of the Reformation, COCHL^US, at that time an exile in Cologne, learnt, through giving wine to the printer's men, that P. Quentel the printer had in hand a secret edition of three thousand copies of the English New Testament. In great alarm, he informed Herman Rinck, Senator of the city, who moved the Senate to stop the printing; but Cochlseus could neither obtain a sight of the Translators, nor a sheet of the impression.
Tyndale and Roy, fled with the printed sheets, up the Rhine to Worms ; and there completing this edition, produced also another in Octavo, 'without glosses. Both editions were in England in Jan. -March, 1526 : and of the six thousand copies of which they together were composed, there remnin but this fragment of the First commenced edition ; and of the Second edition, one complete copy in the Library of the Baptist College at Bristol, and an imperfect one in that of St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
The price of this Facsimile Tt'xt, will be only Six SHILLINGS.
jl IE great importance to the increasing study of English Literature, of constantly adding to, and constantly keeping on sale (a more difficult task than at first would appear) at the lowest practi cable prices, these Exact Texts ; has led to a full consideration of the past three years' progress, in an experiment which has been success ful beyond anticipation. The following alterations have been found advisable, in order to place this designedly very cheap Series upon a permanent basis.
The changes to take effect from 1st October 1870.
Small ^Japcr, in .foolscap ©ctafao.
1. The public choice has passed so generally from Cut to Uncut edges: that future issues will be in Uncut edges only. This will also apply to all reimpressions, as soon as the existing Cut-edged copies have been sold.
2. No Sixpenny Reprints will be issued in future. The trouble is out of all proportion to the price.
3. The maximum number of pages for Shilling works will be about One hundred and twenty-eight. Experience has proved that number to be the very utmost limit practicable for such closely packed works in the costly old spelling, &c.
. '. The result of these changes to the public will be simply, that some future Reprints will be increased in price, by an extra Sixpence. A trifling contribution to enable me to go on for years. Yet I very reluctantly decide on this augmentation : this series being my personal free offering to a more perfect knowledge of English Literature.
All existing issues will be maintained at the present prices.
SLargc IJaprr, in .foolscap Quarto.
Nos. 19 to 24 in Large Paper are now ready. A single Large Paper copy can be obtained.
DrmiT Quarto.
Works in this size will be issued bound in Cloth. When published, copies will however be obtainable in Sheets, for binding, by remitting the price direct to me.
There is a great cause for thankfulness in the progress already made. Works which some of our most experienced English scholars never hoped to see reprinted ; have been put into general circulation. Much more may be accomplished, by a personal advocacy of this Series by each Purchaser ; with a generous permission to print, from possessors ol rare or unique English books ; and with unwearying effort on my own part. Maintaining herein the ancient and worthy fame of England ; may we lead very many to understand how much pure and unadulter ated Delight is to be found in our Old English Authors.
35ncjltjs!)
ORDINARY ISSUE IN OCTAVO. Durable Cases, in RoxburgJic style, to holdfour or five Reprints. OllS Shilling each.
BOUND VOLUMES IN OCTAVO. Two or three of suck works, collected into occasional Volumes.
LARGE PAPER EDITION IN QUARTO.
The same texts, beautifully printed on thick toned paper, luith ample margins suit able, for purposes of study. Issued in S tiff covers , uncut edges. IV ken bound 10 the purchaser s o'wn taste ; these Large Paper Copies form most handsome books.
ANY SINGLE WORK OR VOLUME MAY BE HAD SEPARATELY.
J^aper Edit.
1/6
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FOOLSCAP. ©ctaba.
1. JOHN MILTON. SSSfSlR
(1) A decree of the Starre- Chamber, concerning Print ing, made the eleuenth day of July last past. London,
'637-
(2) An Order of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the regulating of Printing, &c. London, 14 June, 1643.
(3) AREOPAGITICA : A speech of Mr. John Milton for the liberty of Vnlicenc'd Printing, to the Parliament of England. London. [24 November]. 1644. Sixpence.
2. HUGH LATIMER, Ex- Bishop of Worcester.
SERMON ON THE PLOUGHERS. A notable Sermon of ye reuerende father Master Hughe Latimer, \vhiche he preached in ye Shrouds at paules churche in London, on the xviii daye of Januarye. C The yere of 'our Loorde MDXLviii. Sixpence.
3. STEPHEN GOSSON, Stud. Oxon.
(1) THE SCHOOLE OF ABUSE. Containing a pleasaunt invective against Poets, Pipers, Plaiers, Jesters, and such like Caterpillers of a Commonwealth ; Setting up the Flagge of Defiance to their mischievous exercise, and ouerthrowing their Buhvarkes, by Prophane Writers, Naturall reason, and common experience. A discourse as pleasaunt for gentlemen that fauour learning, as profitable for all that wyll follow vertue. London. [August?] 1579.
(2) AN APOLOGIE OF THE SCHOOLE OF ABUSE, against Poets, Pipers, and their Excusers. London. [December?] 1579. Sixpence.
4. SIR PHILIP SYDNEY.
AN A POL O GIE FOR POE TRIE. Written by the
right noble, vertuous and learned Sir Philip Sidney,
Knight. London. 1595. Sixpence.
Green Cloth, Re*i Edges.
Vol. I.
Milton, Latimer, Gosson.
21
ENGLISH REPRINTS— FOOLSCAP.
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TITLES, PR ICES, etc., etc. Stiff Coders.
Uncut Kiigcs. 5. EDWARD WEBBE, Chief Master Gunner.
The rare and most wonderful thinges which Edward Webbe an Englishman borne, hath seene and passed in his troublesome trauailes, in the Citties of Jerusalem, Damasko, Bethelem, andGalely: and in the Land es of lewrie, Egipt, Gtecia, Russia, and in the land of Prester lohn. Wherein is set foorth his extreame slauerie sus tained many yeres togither, in the Gallies and wars of the great Turk against the Landes of Persia, Tartaria, Spaine, and PortUgall, with the manner of his releasement, and comming into London in May last. London. 1590.
Sixpence.
6. JOHN SELDEN.
TABLE TALK: being the Discourses of John Seldon Esq. ; or his Sence of various Matters of "Weight and High Consequence relating especially to Religion and State. London. 1689. One Shilling.
7. ROGER ASCHAM.
TOXOPHILUS. The schole of shooting conteyned in two bookes. To all Gentlemen and yomen of Kng- undc, pleasaunte for theyr pastime to rede, and profitable for theyr use to folow, both in warre and peace. London. 1545. One Shilling.
8. JOSEPH ADDISON.
CRITICISMS OF MIL TON'S PARADISE LOST. From The Spectator: being its Saturday issues between 31 December, 1711, and 3 May, 1712. One Shilling.
9. JOHN LYLY, M.A.
(1) Q.EUPI1UES. THE ANATOMY OF Verie pleasaunt for all Gentlemen to read, and most necessarie to remember. Wherein are contained the de- delightes that Wit followeth in his youth by the pleasant- nesse of loue, and the happinesse he reapeth in age, by the perfectnesse of \\'isedome. London. 1579.
(2) <r EurnuES AND ins ENGLAND. Con taining his voyage and aduentures, myxed with sundrie pretie di^cnur-e.^ of honest Loue, the Description of the Countrey, the Court, and the manners of that Isle. De lightful to be read, and nothing hurtful to be regarded : wher-in there is small offence- by lightnesse giiu-n to the wise, and lesse occasion of loosenes proferred to the wan ton. London, 1580. Collated with early subsequent editions. Four Shillings.
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1O. GEORGE VTLIiL&TX&iDHkevf Buckingham.
THE REHEARSAL. As it was acted at the Theatre Royal London, 1672. With Illustrations from previous plays, &c. One Shilling.
11. GEORGE GASCOIGNE, Esquire.
(1) A remembravnce of the wel imployed life, and ijodly end of George Gaskoigne, Esquire, who deceassed at Stalmford in Lincoln shire, the 7 of October 1577. The reporte of GKOR WHETSTONS, Gent an eye witness of his Godly and Charitable End in this world. Lond. 1577.
(2) Certayne notes of Instruction concerning the making of verse or rime in English, written at the request of Master Edouardi Donati. 1575.
(3) THE STEELE GLAS. A Satyre compiled by George Gasscoigne Esquire [Written between Apr. 1575 & Apr. 1576]. Together with
(4) THE COMPLA YNT OF PHYLOMENE. An Elegie compyled by George Gasscoigne Esquire [between April 1562 and 3rd April 1575.] London. 1576.
One Shilling.
12. JOHN EARLE, M.A. : aftenvan/s in suc
cession Biskop of Worcester, and of Salisbury.
MICRO-COSMOGRAPHIE, or a Peeceof the World
discovered, in Essays and Characters. London. 1628.
With the additions in subsequent editions during the
Author's life time. One Shilling.
13. HUGH LATIMER, Ex-Bishop of Worcester. SEVEN SERMONS BEFORE EDWARD VI.
(l) £ The fyrste sermon of Mayster Hugh Latimer, whiche he preached before the Kynges Maiest. wythin his graces palayce at Westmynster. M.D.XLIX. the viii of Marche. (, ',)
(2) The seconde [to seventh] Sermon of Master Hughe Latimer, whych he preached before the Kynges maiestie, withynhys graces Palayce at Westminster ye. xv. day of March. M.cccc.xlix. Eighteen Pence.
14. SIR THOMAS MORE. "
UTOPIA. A frutefull pleasaunt, and wittie worke, of the best state of a publique weale, and of the new yle, called Utopia : written in Latine, by the right worthie and famous Sir Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englishe by RAPHE ROBYNSON, sometime fellowe of Corpus Christi College in Oyford, and noweby him at this seconde edition newlie perused and corrected, and also with diuers notes in the margent augmented. London. [1556]. One Shilling.
ENGLISH REPRINTS— FOOLSCAP.
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15. GEORGE PUTTENHAM.
* Eii Re.
THE ARTE OF 'ENGLISH POESIE. Contriued into three Bookes : The first of Poets and Poesie, the second of Proportion, the third of Ornament. London. 1589- Two Shillings.
©ctabo.
Stiff Carers. ' Green Cloth, Uncut Edges. K*<* '
16 JAMES HO WELL, Historiographer Royal to
Charles II.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORREINE TRAVELL. Shewing by what cours, and in what cotnpasse oj time, one may take an exact Survey of the Kingdomes and States of Christendome, and arriue to the practicall knowledge of the Languages, to good purpose. London. 1642. Col lated with the edition of 1656 ; and in its 'new Appendix fur Travelling into Turkey and the Levant parts' added.
17. The earliest known English comedy. NICHOLAS UDALL, Master of Eton.
ROISTER DOISTER, [from the unique copy at Eton 1/6 '.College]. 1566. Sixpence.
2/6
2/6
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18. THE REVELATION TO THE MONK Ol EVESHAM. Here begynnyth a marvelous revelacion that was schewyd of almighty god by sent Nycholas to monke of Euyshamme yn the days of Kynge Richard the fyrst. And the yere of our lord. M.C.Lxxxxvi. [From the unique copy, printed abont 1482, in the British Museum]. One Shilling:.
19. JAMES VI. of Scotland, I. of England.
(1) THE ESS A YES OF A PRENTISE, IN THE DIVINE ART OF POESIE. Edinburgh 1585.
(2) A COUNTER BLASTE TO TOBACCO. Lon don. 1604. One Shilling
20. SIR ROBERT NAUNTON, Master of tiu
Court of Wards.
FRAGMENTA REGALIA: or, Observations on the
late Queen Elixabcth, her Times, and Favourites. [Third
Edition. London] 1653. Sixpence.
21. THOMAS WATSON, Student at /,/;,•.
(l) THE E/caro/iTraf/a or Passionate Centime of Lour. Hirided into /rro parts : -thereof, the first r'.r/vvor/// ///< Authors sufferance in Lone: the latter, kit long fvrtwell /< I .one and all his tyrannic. Composed by Thomas ll'atson ( u-ntleman ; and published at the iv«[iu-st of certuiue Gentlemen his very frcndes. London [1582.]
Vol. VII.
Puttenham.
2/6
Vol. VIII.
Howell, Udall,
Monk of Evesham
JamesVI.
3/6
Vol. IX.
Naunton, Watson.
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(2) MELIBCEUS T. Watsoni, Ecloga in obitum F. Walsinghami, &c. Londini, 159°-
(3) AN ECLOGUE, &c., Written first in latine [the above MELIBCEUS] by Thomas Watson Gentleman and now by himselfe translated into English. London 1590.
(4) THE TEARS OF FANCY, or Loue disdained. [From the unique copy, wanting Sonnets ix.-xvi., in the possession of S. Christie-Miller, Esq.] London, 1593.
Eighteen Pence.
22. WILLIAM HABINGTON.
CASTARA. The third Edition. Corrected and aug mented. London. 1640. With the variations of the two
previous editions. One Shilling.
23. ROGER ASCHAM.
THE SCHOLEMASTER, Or plaine and perfite way of teachyng children, to vnderstand, write, and speake, the Latin tong, but specially purposed for the priuate brynging vp of youth in lentlemen and Noble mens houses, commodious also for all such, as haue forgot the Latin tongue, and would, by themselues, without a Scholemaster, in short tyme, and with small paines, re- couer a sufficient habilitie, to vnderstand, write, and speake Latin. London. 1570. One Shilling.
24. Tottel's Miscellany.
SONGES AND SONE TTES, written by the ryght honorable Lorcle HENRY HAWARD, late Erie of Surrey, and other. [London, 5 June] 1557. Half-a-crpwn.
2/6 i
25. REV. THOMAS LEVER, M.A. : after-
wards blaster of St John's College, Cambridge. SERMONS, (i) A fruitfull Sermon made in Paules churche at London in the Shroudes, the second of Februari. 1550.
(2) A Sermon preached the thyrd [or fourth] Sunday in Lent before the Kynges Maiestie, and his honourable counsell. 1550.
(3) A Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, the xiiii. day of December 1550. Eighteen Pence.
26. "WILLIAM WEBBE, Graduate.
A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH POETRIE. To gether, with the Anthois iudgment, touching the reforma- jtion of our English Verse. London. 1586.
One Shilling.
Green Cloth, Red Edges.
. • . The following works are designed for publication in time to come. Their prices cannot be fixed with precision, bnt are ap proximately given. Ferrex and Porrex has been postponed; and
ENGLISH REPRINTS— FOOLSCAP.
I T
Newes from the North by F. T. [FRANCIS THYNNE], with RICHARD BARNFIELD'S Poems have not been inserted; some of the Texts not being accessible, at the present time. J. HOWELL'S Epistolae Ho- Elianas will be put to press as soon as No. 27 BACON'S Essayes, &c., is finis] ltd. £"2*127- FRANCIS BACON. stiff Cm^rs.
A harmony of the ESSA YES, &c. Uncut £<***
The four principle texts appearing in parallel columns. ; (i) Essayes. Religious Meditations. Places of per- swasion and disswasion. London 1597. (10 Essays.)
Of the Coulers of good and euill a fragment. 1597-
(2) The writings of Sir Francis Bacon Knt : the Kinges Sollicitor Generall : in Moralitie, Policie, and Historic. Harleian MS. 5106. Transcribed bet. 1607-12. (34 Essays. )
(3) THE ESSATES of Sir FRANCIS BACON Knight, the Kings Sollicker Generall. London 1612. (38 Essays.)
(4) The Essayes or Counsels, Ciuill and Morall, of FRANCIS Lo. VERULAM Viscount ST. AI.BANS. .AVr.Vj' Written. 1626. (58 Essays.) Three Shillings.
Green Cloth, Red i.
Vol. XIII.
Bacon.
28. "WILLIAM ROY, Franciscan Friar.
(i) REDE ME AND BE NOTT WROTHE. [Stras- burg. 1527. This is his famous Satire on Wolsey. j
(2) A PROPER DYALOGE BETWEEN A GENTLEMAN AND A HUSBANDMAN, 6v.| [Attributed to Roy] Marburg. 1 530. Eighteen Pence. \
29. SIR W. RALEIGH-G. MARKHAM.| THE LAST FIG PIT OF THE REVENGE AT\
SEA. (i) A report of the Truth of the fight about the Isles of Acores, this last Sommer. Betwixt the Reuenge, one of her Mali-sties Shippcs, and an Armada of the King <>f Spaim-. By Sir Walter Raleigh. London. 1591.
(2) The most Honorable Trngedie of Sir Richarde Grinuille, Kniglit (. '.) Bramo assai, poco spero, nulla [By GKRVASK MAUKIIA.M] London. 1595. [Two copies only are known, Mr. Grcuville's cost^4O.]
One Shilling.
30. BARNABE GOOGE.
KGLOGS, KPYTAniES AND written by Banutbe (iooge. London 15^3- r5 March.
One Shilling.
31. REV. PHILLIP STUBBES.
(i\ TIH-: ANATOMIE OF ABUSES: cv^ntcyning
a discoverie or briefc Suinmarie of Such Notable Vices and Imperfections, as HOW raijjnc iu many Christian
3,6
XIV.
Roy,
Fight in the Re venge.
Googe.
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Countreyes of the World : but especialie in a very famous ILANDE called AILGNA {i.e. Anglia] : Together with most fearefull Examples of Gods ludgementes, executed vpon the wicked for the same, aswell in AILGNA of late, as in other places, elsewhere. . . London, i Maij. 1583. (2) The Second part of THE ANATOM1E Of
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ABUSES.
London. 1583. -Half- a -crown
32. THOMAS TUSSBR.
FIVE HUNDRED POINTES OF GOOD HUS- BANDRIE, aswell for the Champion, or open Countrie, as also for the woodland, or Seuerall, mixed in euery Month with HUSWIFERIE, .... with diners other lessons, as a diet for the former, of the properties of windes, plantes, hops, herbes, bees and approued re medies for sheepe and cattle, with many other matters both profitable and not vnpleasant for the Reader
. London. 1580. Eighteen Pence.
33. JOHN MILTON.
(1) The Life of Mr John Milton [by his nephew EDWARD PHILLIPS]. From ' Letters of State written by Mr. John Milton, bet. 1649-59.' London. 1694.
( 2) THE REASON OF CHURCH GOVERNE- I\1EN7^ urg'd against Prelacy. By Mr. John Milton. In two Books. [London] 1641.
(3) Milton's Letter OF EDUCATION. To Master Samuel Hartlib. [London. 5 June 1644.]
One Shilling.
34. FRANCIS QUARLES.
ENCH\ 'RIDION, containing /-P.. . ( Contemplative. Divine j practicalL
tuti- / I Ethycall. London. 1640-1.
ons j Morall \ Oecono?nicall.
( PoliticalL One Shilling.
35, The Sixth English Poetical Miscellany.
THE PHOENIX NEST. Built vp with the most rare and refined workes of Noble men, woorthy Knights, gallant Gentlemen, Masters of Arts, and braue Schoolers. Full of varietie, excellent inuention, and singular delight. Nwer before this time published. Set forth by R. S. of the Inner Temple Gentleman. London 1593. One Shilling.
36. SIR THOMAS ELYOT.
THE GO VERNOR. The boke named the Gouernor, deuised by ye Thomas Elyot Knight. Londini M. D. xxxi. Collated with subsequent editions. Half-a-crown.
Vol. Quarles
The Phc
nix Nes1
ENGLISH REPRINTS. 13
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Will be ready, about March 1871, in one Volume, \2S. 6d.
801. RICHARD EDEN.
I. A treatyse OF THE NEWE INDIA, WITH OTHER NEW FOUND E L ANDES AND IS LANDS, AS WELL EASTWARDE AS WEST-
WARDE, as they are kno\ven and found in these cure dayes, after the descripcion of SEBASTIAN MUNSTER, in his boke of vniuersall Cosmographie, &c. [London, 1553.]
II. The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, and Discoveries.— THE DECADES OF THE NEW WORLD OR WEST INDIA, &c. &>c. [by Peter Martyr of Angleria.] [Translated, compiled, &c. by Richard Eden.] Londini, Anno 1555.
1. The [Dedicatory] Epistle [to King Philip and Queen Mary.]
2. Richard Eden to the Reader.
3. The [ist, 2nd, and 3d only of the 8] Decades of the newe world e or west India, Conteynyngthenauigations andconquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large lands and Ilandes lately founde in the west Ocean perteynyng to the inheritance of the kinges of Spayne. In the which the diligent reader may not only consyder what commoditie may hereby chaunce to the hole Christian world in tyme to come, but also learne many secreates touchynge the lande, the sea, and the starres, very necessarie to be knowen to al such as shal attempte any navigations, or otherwise haue delite to beholde the strange and woonderful woorkes of god and nature. Wrytten in the L aline tounge by PETER MARTYR of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by RYCHAUDK Em-:\.
4. The Bull of Pope Alexander VI. in 1493, granting to the Spaniards ' the Regions and Ilandes founde in the \Vcste Ocean' by them.
5. The Historic of t/ie \Vcst J>iiliis\>y GONO.U.O EMKNANDKZ OVIKIM Y VALDES,
6. Of other notable things gathered out of dyuers autors.
7. Of Moscouie and Cathay.
8. Other potable thyngt.-s as touchynge the Indies [chiefly out of the Looks ol FKAN<-IM;<> LOPXZ DE GOMAKA, ' and partly also out of the caade made by SMHASTIAN CABOT.']
9. The Booke of Metals.
10. The description of the two viages made owt of England into Guinea in Affricke [1553, 1554].
n. The maner of fyndynge the Longitude of regions.
INDEX.
.*. An abridged analysis of this voluminous work was issued in the previous catalogue (i Dec. 1869); which will be found bound up with ' English Reprints' issued during this year, 1870.
i4 ENGLISH REPRINTS.
Imperial jToiio,
1001. PETBUCOIO UBALDINI— AUGUSTINE RYTHER
A Discourse concerning the Spanishe fleete inuadinge Englande in the yeare 1588 and ouerthrowne by her Maies- ties Nauie vnder the conduction of the Right-honorable the Lorde Charles Howarde highe Admirall of Englande : written in Italian by PETRUCCIO VBALDINI citizen of Flor ence, and translated for A. RYTHER : vnto the which discourse are annexed certain tables expressinge the generall exploites, and conflictes had with the said fleete.
These bookes with the tables belonginge to them are to be solde at the shoppe of A. RYTHER, being a little from Leaden hall next to the Signe of the Tower. [1590.]
The twelve Tables express the following subjects : —
FRONTISPIECE.
I. THE SPANISH ARMADA COMING INTO THE CHANNEL, OPPOSITE THE LIZARD; AS IT WAS FIRST DISCOVERED.
II. THE SPANISH ARMADA AGAINST FOWEY, DRAWN UP IN TH FORM OF A HALF MOON ; THE ENGLISH FLEET PURSUING.
III. THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO FLEETS AFTER WHICH THE ENGLISH GIVE CHASE TO THE SPANIARDS, WH DRAW THEIR SHIPS INTO A BALL.
IV. DE VALDEZ'S GALLEON SPRINGS HER FOREMAST, AND is TAKE BY SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. THE LORD ADMIRAL WITH THE 'BEAR AND THE « MARY ROSE,' PURSUE THE ENEMY, WHO SAIL IN TH FORM OF A HALF MOON.
V. THE ADMIRAL'S SHIP OF THE GUIPUSCOAN SQUADRON HAVIN CAUGHT FlRE, IS TAKEN BY THE ENGLISH. THE ARMADA CON TINUES ITS COURSE, IN A HALF MOON ; UNTIL OFF THE ISLE O PORTLAND, WHERE ENSUES THE SECOND ENGAGEMENT.
VI. SOME ENGLISH SHIPS ATTACK THE SPANIARDS TO THE WEST WARD. THE ARMADA AGAIN DRAWING INTO A BALL, KEEPS ON ri
COURSE FOLLOWED BY THE ENGLISH.
VII. THE THIRD AND THE SHARPEST FIGHT BETWEEN THE TW FLEETS : OFF THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
VIII. THE ARMADA SAILING UP CHANNEL TOWARDS CALAIS ; TH ENGLISH I^LEET FOLLOWING CLOSE.
IX. THE SPANIARDS AT ANCHOR OFF CALAIS. THE FIRESHIP
APPROACHING. TlIE ENGLISH PREPARING TO PURSUE.
X. THE FINAL BATTLE. THE ARMADA FLYING TO THE NORTH WARD. THE CHIEF GALLEASS STRANDED NEAR CALAIS.
LARGE MAP SHOWING THE TRACK OF THE ARMADA ROUND THE BRITISH ISLES.
These plates, which are a most valuable and early representation of the Spanis Invasion, are being re-engraved in facsimile, and will be issued in the Spring of 187 at the lowest feasible price : probably HALF-A-GUINEA.
.*. OtJier works may follow.
Annotated Reprints. 15
BY VARIOUS EDITORS : UNDER MR. ARBER'S GENERAL SUPERVISION.
Some Texts require the amplest elucidation aiid illustration by Masters in special departments of knowledge. To recover and perpetuate suck Works is to render tke greatest service to Learning. With the aid of Scholars in special sub jects, I hope to endow our readers with some knowledge of the Past, that is now quite out of their reach. While the Editors will be responsible both for Text and 1 llus- trations ; the works will be produced under my general oversight : so that the Anno tated Reprints, though of much slower growth, will more than equal in value the English Reprints. E- A.
In the Spring of 1871 : in Fcp. 8vo the First Volume (to be completed in Four] of
CD* ^aSton Setters. 1422-1509.
Edited by JAMES GAIRDNER, Esq., of the Public Record Office.
EVERY one knows what a blank is the history of England during the Wars of of the two Roses. Amid the civil commotions, literature almost died out. The principal poetry of the period is that of Lydgate, the Monk of Bury. The prose is still more scanty. The monastic Chronicles are far less numerous than at earlier periods : and by the end of the Fifteenth Century they seem to have entirely ceased.
history. In this general dearth of information recent historians like Lingard, Turner, Pauli, and Knight, who have treated of the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., &c., have found in The Paston Letters not only unrivalled illustration of the Social Lite of England, but also most important information, at first hand, as to the Political Events of that time. So that the printed Correspondence is cited page after page in their several histories of this period.
The Paston Letters have not however been half published. No literary use was made of them while accumulating in the family muniment room. William, 2nd Earl of Yar mouth, the last member of the family, having encumbered his inheritance, parted with all his property. The family letters came about 1728 into the hands of the dis tinguished antiquary, Peter le Neve ; afterwards, by his marriage to Le Neve's widow, to his brother antiquary Martin of Palgrave; on his death again, to a Mr. Worth, from whom they were acquired by Mr. afterwards Sir John Fenn.
In 1787, Fenn published a small selection of the Letters in two volumes 4to ; of whu.h the lir>t edition having been sold off in a week, a second appeared in the course of the year. He then prepared a further selection, of which two volumes appeared in 1789 ; the fifth volume being published after his death, in 1823.
Strangely enough, the Original Letters disappeared soon after their publication : and only those of the Fifth volume have, as yet, been recovered. There is no reason able doubt tl.at they still exist and will some day be found. There is no nee h iwver, to po-.tpone a new edition indefinitely, until they are again brought to luht: for a comparison of the Fifth volume with its originals establishes Sir John !•'. MIII'S general faithfulness as to the Text ; and therefore our present possession, in his Edition, of the contents of the missing Manuscripts.
Three hundred and eighty-seven letters in all were published by Fenn : about I i. ur imndn-d additional letters or documents, belonging to the same collection and whi h have i.evcr been published at all, will be included in the present edition.
Not only will the Text be doubled in quantity; but in its elucidation, it will have the beii'-lit of Mr. (J.iinlner's concentrated study of this Correspondence for years II ill la-, ditliculty will be in the unravelling of the chronology of the Letters, partly from internal evidence, pnrtly from the Public Records, and other sources. Fenn'l chronology for no fault of his— is excessively misleading. This was inevita ble, from the difficulties of a first attempt, the state of historic criticism in his day. and the limited means then available for consulting the public Iti^
. however, by restoring each Letter to its certain or approximate date, vastlv to increase the interest of this Correspondence. In addition textual difficulties will be removed, and valuable biographical information afforded.
Letters of the reign of Henry VI. will form Vol. i. (estimated at about 600
//. : those of Kdw.ml IV'., Vols. n. and in. (together about 8oo//.): and those of
Richard III. and Henry VII., Vol. IV. (about 300 //A The price will be al-stit
:lling for every ioo//. ; and the work, it is expected, will be completed in Two
years.
FOR GENERAL READERS.
THE undermentioned modernized texts are in preparation. Great care will be bestowed in their transformation into the spelling and punctuation of the present day : but the Originals will be adhered to as closely as possible.
Leisiire Readings in English Literature.
The object of the volumes that will appear under this general title, will be to afford Restful Reading ; and, at the same time, by exhibiting the wealth of thought and the wit in expression of our Old Authors ; to predispose to a further study of our Literature : in which study these Readings will serve as First Books.
They will contain many excellent Poems and Passages that are generally but very little known.
Choice Books.
THE DISASTROUS ENGLISH VOYAGE TO THE WEST INDIES IN 1568.
Recounted in the Narratives of Sir JOHN HAW KINS : and of DAVID INGRAM, MILES PHILLIPS, and JOB HORTOP, survivors, who escaped through the American Indian tribes; or out of the clutches of the Inquisition ; or from the galleys of the King of Spain: and so at length came home to England. .-. Other works to follow.
These works will be issued, beautifully printed and elegantly bound,
in Crown Svo. The above is a specimen of the type, but not of the size of page.
5 QUEEN SQUAEE, BLOOMSBURY, L01H)ON, W.O.
BX 5133
Lever, Thomas Sermons
1870 cop. 2
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET
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DATE.
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