¶ A supplication of the poor Commons.  ¶ proverbs. xxi. Chapter. u.13 ¶ Who so stoppeth his ear at the crying of the poor, he shall cry himself, and shall not be heard. 
¶ Whereunto is added the Supplication of Beggars.   

¶ To the most victorious print Henry the. viii. by the grace of God ●…yng of England, France, & Ireland, defender of the Faith, and supreme head of the Church of England, and Ireland, immediately next unto God: his humble and most faithful subjects of the realm of England wish life everlasting.  
piteously complaineth the poor commons of this your majesties realm greatly lamenting their own mice rabble poverty, and yet much more the most lamentable and more than wretched estate of their children and posteri●…e. Whose misery foreseen and thoroughly consideredis and aught of very nature, to be more do: lorous and sorrowful unto cuerye natural heart them that which we ourselves feal and sustain. Not many years ●…fore, your highness poor subjects the lame, and impotent creatures of this realm, presented your highness with a pitiful and lamentable complaint imputing the head and chief cause of their penury and lack of relief, unto the great & infinite number of valiant and sturdy beggars, which had by their subtle and crafty demaner in begging, gotten into their hands more than the third part of the yearly reutnewse and possessions of this your highness realm. Where upon (as it seemed) your highness (seeking a redress and reformation of this great and intolerable enormity: as a merciful father over this your natural country, moved with pity towards the miserable and pitiful number of blind, lame, lazar & other the impotent creatures of this your realm) hath with most earnest diligence, sup planted, and as it were weeded out a great numbered of valiant and sturdy monks. Friars, Canons, hermits, and Nuns Which disguised hypocrites, under the name of the contempt of this world, wallowed in the sea in the worlds wealth. And to the intent your loving & obedient subjects might the better be able to relieve the needy & impo tent creatures, you took from them the great numbered of gilted beggars, whose holiness was so fast rooted in the hearts of us your poor con mons: through the false dilusions of the foresaid sturdy & valiant beggars, that we would not stick to go an. C. miles on our bare feet to seek one of them that we might not only bestow our alms upon them, but also do them reverence and honour none other wise then if they had been very Gods. Yea, when your highness had ordained that all these foresaid beggars should be utterly abolished, never to deceive us of our alms any more, we like men always brought up in foolish superstition of these false Phariseis & flattering Hypocrites: knew not the obedience that we own to you our natural and most rightful prince but in continent fell in an uproar crying. Our holy days, abbeys, & pilgrimages. None oher wise, than the Ephesians did against the elect vessel of God sancte Paul, when 
Act. 17. 24. ●…sa. 66. 1.  he said, they are not Gods, which be made with hands, and as the Jews did against holy Steven when he said that God dwelleth not in an house made with man's hand. 
A●…t. 7. 48.  Yea, had not God wrought on your part, in apeasing that sturdy throng: this realms had even then, been like to have been utterly decayed. For even those whom your highness had called together to assist you in that dangerous time, were (for the most part) so bent to the opinion of the other, that many of them would not stick to say. When we shall come to the battle: we know what we have to do. But now (the lord be thanked therefore) that your highness hath finished that your godly purpose, without bloudshede of your poor commons, and that the word of god hath been so set forth & taught by your commandment, that every man that lusteth may therein learn his duty and office: we are fully persuaded, that all such as resist the pours, whom God hath ordained and appointed to rule & govern the multitude of this world, do not resist man, but 
Rom. 13. 2.  God. Be you certain therefore (most gracious prince) that we (your most obedient subjects, walking in the fear of the Lord, will not from hence forth (so long as the knowledge of gods word shall reign amongst us) attempt any such so devilish enterprise, as to rebel against your highness our most natural sovereign and league lord, either for our forefathers popish traditions, or other our own fantastical dreams, not withstanding that the remnant of the sturdy beggars (not yet weaded out) do daily in their writings, counsels and preachings: steer us thereunto. For what mean they in their Sermons when they lament the great discord and miserable estate of this our time, wishing that all thing were now as it was. xx. years since: but that they would have a Pope, pardons, lighting of candles to Images, knocking and kneeling to them with running hither and thither on pilgrimage? Besides the infinite number of purgatory horseleeches, on whom the vengeance of God is so manifestly declared for their beastly buggery: that the very places where they dwelled, are not thought worthy to be the dwellings of men, but the ca●…es of bruit beasts and vevemous worms. They tell us what vice, uncharitableness, lack of mercy divercitie of opinions and other like enormites', have reigned ever sense men had the Scripture in english. And what is this other, then to cause mens consciens to abhor the same, as the only cause and original of all this? They say that it sufficeth 〈◊〉 lay man, to believe as they teach, and not to meddle with the enterpretation of the Scriptures. And what meaneth that, but that they would have us so blind again as we were when we would have fought against our●… natural Prince, for the maintenance of their popish traditions and purgatory patrimony? They cannot abide this name, the word of God: but they would have the scripture called the commandment of God, and what meaneth this, but that they are the same enemies of God, whom that two edged sword shall destroy? Finally, they have procured a law, that none shall so hardy have the Scripture in his house, unless he may spend. x. pound by year. And what meaneth this, but that they would famish the souls of the residue, withholding their food from them. We appeal to your highness judgement in this behalf, whither this law be indifferent or not. If none should be allowed me●…t in your highness house, but such as were clothed in velvet with chains of gold about their necks, what servants would your majesty have shortly? what steruelynges would your seru●…untes be above all other? For no man within your realm may refuse to do your grace service. Hath God put immortal souls in none other but in such as be possessioners of this world? Did ●…t C●…yst send word to John the Baptist that the poor received the Gospel? And the 
Mat. 11. 5.  Gospel that they shut up from us, was i●… not the writings of poor fisher men and 
Mat. 4. 18-22  simple creatures, even taken for the dregs of the world? Were not the setters forth of it and the Prophets also persecuted, tor 
Heb: 11. 35-37  mented and slain? And why do these men disable them for readers of the Scriptures, that are not endued with the possessions of this world? undoubtedly (most gracious sovereign) because they are the very same that shut up the kingdom of God before men, they enter not themselves neither suffer they them to enter that would. They are like to 
Mat. 23. ●…3. Luk 11. 52.  〈◊〉 cur Dog lying in a cock of hay. For he will eat none of the hay himself, neither suffer any other beast that cometh to eat thereof. But some will peradventure say they were not all sturdy beggars that were in the Parliament when this law was established. For many of them, and the most part were secular men. And not of such ability that this law would permit them to have the Scripture in their houses: Wherefore, this law is in different, and taketh not the word of God from us, but we with our full consent have committed it to them in the said law limited. Where unto we answer, that if we have given it over from us to the possessioners of this world, we may well be likened to the Gedarites Mark. v. 
Ma●…. 5. 14-17. Ma●… 〈◊〉. 34.  which desired Christ to depart from they●… country. And the lurking night birds which cannot abide the bright beams of the Son. We may boldly affirm that what man soever doth wittingly and willingly forsake the knowledge of the lively word of God (the food of our souls, and light of our footsteps,) is none of the flock of Christ Forasmuch as his sheep hear his voice, & 
〈◊〉. 10. 27.  rejoice in the same. Did they that took their names of any Philosopher, shut up they; masters doctrine from themself? Did they not think themselves unworthy to be named after their masters, unless they knew their precepts and rules? Did not the monks, Friars, and other the superstitious religious: employ all they▪ study to know their rules and statutes? Do not the Coelginers at this day set the book of their statutes at liberty, straightly commanding each fellow under pain of punishment to employ them, to have the through knowledge of the same? And should we glory to be the flock of Chryst, and to be called of him Christians, when we do willingly and wit tyngly exclude ourself from the knowledge of the rule which he hath commanded us to follow on pain of damnation of our souls? Would your highness think that man were willing to do your commandment, that would not diligently read over your highness letters sentfrom you to certify him of your will and pleasure in his office? And what other thing is the whole Scripture than the declarion of the will o●… God? Were it likely therefore, that we exclu ding ourselves from the knowledge thereof should be willing to do his will? If we have therefore rejected this merciful proffer of our most merciful father when he used your highness, as his instrument, to publish and set forth his most lyvelycke word, wherein is declared the inestimable love that ●…e bear towards us, in that he gave his 
●…oh. 3. 16:  only son to be an acceptable sacrifice for our sins: and the unspeakable mercy which caused him to accept us as just even for his sons sake without our works or deservings: let us now humbly fall down prostrate before his majesty, with perfect repentance of this the contempt of his merciful gyf●…e. most humbly besekinge him of his infinite goodness, tenderly to behold the dolors of our hearts, for that we neg lected so merciful a profere. And to forget our obstinacy there in, giving your highness such desire of our salvation, that you will as favourably ●…ore unto us the scripture in our english tongue as you did at the first translation thereof set it abroad. Let not the adversaries take occasion to say the Bible was of a traitors setting forth and not of your highness own doing. For so they report, that Thomas Cromwell late 
Thomas Cromwell.  earl of Esse●… was the ●…hyfe doer, and not ●…oure highness, but as led by him. All this they do to withdraw the minds of us (your hyghnesses' subjects) from the reading and study thereof. Which thing doth easily appear by the diligence they show in setting forth and execution of your highness proclamations and injunctions concerning the same. For when your highness gave commandment that they should see that there were in every parish Church within this your highness realm, one Bible at the least set at liberty, so that every man might freely come to it, and read therein▪ such things as should be for his consolation: many of this wicked generation, as well priests as other their faithful adherentes, would pluch it other into the Quyre, ●…ther else into some Pew where poor men durst not presume to come. Yea, there is no small numbered of churches that hath no Bible at all. And yet not sufficed with the withholding of it from the poor of their own parishes, they never ●…ested till they had a commandment from your highness, that no man, of what degree so ever he were, should read the Bible in the time of God's service (as they call it) a●… though the hearing of their Latin lies and ●…oniuryng of water and salt were rather the service of God, than the study of his most holy word, the only food of our souls, and light of our foot steps: without which no man can walk uprightly in perfect life worthy our name and profession. This was their diligence insetting forth the Bible at your highness commandment But when your highness had devised a pro clamation for the burning of certain translations of the new testament, they were so bold to burn the whole Bibles, because they were of those men's translations. And if your highness would inquire of them who took the pains in translating the great bible that your highness hath authori sed we think they could not for very shame deny but even against their wills grant, that those poor men, whose pains & great travail they have rewarded with fire and banishment, were the doers there of. See, gracious prince, how they play bopipe with your highness commandments sup pressing in all that they dare the thing that your highness hath authorized, even as it were men that looked for a fair day, which we trust in the Lord jesus, they shall never see. As we herd say they proffered your highness, that if it would please you to call in the bible again (for as much as it was not faithfully translated in all parts) they would over see it and with in. seven. years set it forth again. A wiles: we think they have read the story of a certain man who being condemned to die proffered that if he might have his life he would do his prince such a pleasure as never man did, for he would within the space of. xiiii. years, teach him an ace to dance, where upon he had his life 〈◊〉 him upon condition that if he did not per: form his promessed enterprise that then he should never the less suffer death. Thy●… done he was demanded of one of his familiars, why he was so mad to take upon him such an enterprise so far beyond all reason and possibilytie. He answered, my friend, hold the content, I have wrought wisely, for with in these. xiiii. years other the king, I, or the ass, shallbe dead, so that by this means I shall escape this reproachful and shameful death: So your bishops (most victorious prince) if they might have gotten in the bible for. seven. years they would have trusted that by that time, either, your highness should have been dead, or the bible forgotten, or else they themselves out of your highness reach so that you should not have had like power over them as you have now. Well go to we trust ere the. seven. years be past God shall reua●…e unto your highness much more of their subtle imaginations than we are worthy to know of Moreover, will your highness see how faithfully they did your commandment, when you appointed two of them to over look the translation of the bible. They said they had done your highness commandment therein, yea they set their names there unto, but when they saw the world some what like to wring on the other side they denied it, and said they never medeled therewith, causing the printer t●… take out their names which were erst set be fore the Bible to certify all men that th●…i had diligently perused it according as your highness had commanded. One other point of their diligence your highness may note in the setting forth and using of your highness Primer both in English and Latin. And in the diligent reading unto the people, the exhortation to prayer, which you ordained and commanded to be red always before the Prossession in English. We think no man can blameless say, that ever he heard one of them read it twice over. Yea, when your highness was returned from your victory done at Bullyn: they did what they could to have called it in again. In so much that they caused all such parishes as they might command: to use their old Kyre eleyson again. And yet to this day, they use on solemn feasts to follow their old ordinary not withstanding your highness commandment. But when they catch any thing that soundeth to the contrary, it shall not escape so we warrant you. It shallbe swynged in every pulpit, with this is the kings gracious will, and yet these heretics willbe still doing in the Scriptures. A shoemaker, a cobbler, a tailor, a boy not yet. xx. years of age: shall not stick to reprove that a learned man of. xl. years study shall affirm in the declaration of God's word. O how god lie were the people disposed, when they knew nothing of the Scripture but as they were taught by profound clerks and well learned men? Then were there hospitals builded for the poor. Then were there colleges builded for the maintenance of learning. Yea, if they durst they would say, then were abbeys & chantries founded for the realyfe of the poor souls in the bitter pains of Purgatory. Then were our purses filled with the of ferynges of the devout people that used to seek the blessed Images, and relics of our saviour Christ, & of his blessed mother Mary with the residue of his saints. If your highness would raise up but one Abbe, Chantry, or pilgrimage, you should easily perceive which way they are bend. We doubt not but for these. seven. years following Mason's occupation with other belonging to building would be the best handy crafts within this your royalme. We pray God their subtle imaginations may always come to light before they preua●…, to the hindrance of God's verity. And that it may please him always to assist your highness in the defending and setting forth of the same, ●…o his glory, and the soul health of us your highness most faith full & obedient subjects. And that you leave not of, till you have rooted out all these sturdy beggars, that the poor members of Christ may have that porsion to live upon, which was from the beginning appointed for them. We mean the. x. part of every man's yearly in ●…ease. For though, at the coming of Christ and long before these tenths were given t●… the priests of the law: yet was it not so from the beginning, for at the first, be cause the world was not so replenished with people but that every man was a great pos sessioner: it was thought good to take of the best of their increase and to offer it to the living God in sacrifice, as it appeareth by the story of Abel and ●…ain. But when the people grew to so great a numbered that every man could not have a sufficient porsion to live upon unless he were able to labour and till the ground: Then was it provided that every possessioner should set the tenth of his yearly increase, in the porch of his house, that the lame, blind, sick, and dise●… said, might be there relieved. This order continued till the time that Moses by the come mandment of God gave a law to the Is raelites, and appointed that a certain kin ●…ed amongst them, that is: the Levites should be always their priests, and ministers of the Tabernacle, unto whom he appointed certain parts of every sacrifice, that they might live thereby. For as yet there was no tenths to be paid, for them they were in their journey from Egypt, which journey continued full xl. years, but after that they were once settled in the land of promise, and gathered the fruits of the ground, they thought good to give the tenths of their increase to the priests that ministered in the tabernacle that they might live there upon according to the words of the prophet mal. ii●…. Bring in every tenth 
〈◊〉. 3. 8. 10. 11.  into my barn that there may be meat in my house But then there was an other pro vysion for the poor Levi. xxiii. For no man 
leu. 23. 22.  might lease, rake, or glean his ground after he had gathered of his crop. No, they might not gather their grapes nor fruits twice, but must leave the latward fruit with the scattering of their corn for the poor to gather that they inyghte have some relief thereby, this order continued to the coming of Chryst. After whose coming, the christian sort had all things commune so that no man knew of any increase, for as much as no man took any thing for his own, Acts. iiii. But when the numbered of christians 
A●…: 2. 44. 45. & 4: 32.  increased so much that they possessed hole cities, countries, & kingdoms: it was thought good that every man should know his own to the intent that such as other wise would have lived idly should there by be provoked to labour, as appeareth by the rule that saint Paul gave to the Cessa 
2. Th●…: 3. 10. 〈◊〉.  lonians. two. Cessaloni●…. which was this: who so laboureth not let him not eat: yet was there no tenths paid to the ministers, for Paul writing to the Lorinthians. i. Lorin. ix. desireth them to be good to such as labour in the ministration of the Gospel, affirming that it is but meet that such as serve the altar should have a living the●… 
〈◊〉. 9 13.  by, and that it were far undesent to m●…sell the ox that travaileth all the day in 
1. c●…r 9 9  treading the corn out of the straw. Deutro. xxv. which thing he needed not to have done, if the tenths of each man's increase had as than been given to them, for that might have sufficed them well enough (unless they had been as greedy as our ministers be, which be never satisfieth) yet after this when the christian religion was thoroughly stablished in many congregations, & many men had laboured over the scriptures, they thought good to provide for the poor impotent creatures accordigne to the example of the ancient fathers of the old law. And because they were persuaded that Christ offering up himself upon the cross had ended all sacrifice. Hebre. x. so that the 
Heb: 〈◊〉 10.  ministers among them needed not to be pestered with any other thing than preaching, they agreed to add unto the preachers an other sort of ministers, which might supply the office of holy Steven and the other which in the primative church were appointed to distribute the goods of the congregation, according as every man should stand in need. Actu: vi. To these men they 
Act▪ 6. 1. 2.  gave the tenth of their yerlye increase, to the intent that they should there upon minister all necessaries, as well to the preachers, as to the poor impotent membres of the church.  
But after that persecution began to seize & the preachers of the word of God lived in peace, and that the people were fully bent to learn & follow the doctrine of Christ: they did by the preachers: as the I sraelites would have done by Christ, when he had feed so many of them with so little bread. john. vi. They made them their ruler's thinking 
joh. 6. 5-10-14:  that those men which had brought●… them out of the darkness of error, and instructed them in the true knowledge of God could best govern the pub●…ke weal. And would walk most uprightly in example of life, compelling the people there by, to embrace all godly & honest living, and to detest and abhor the contrary. This was their intent (most gracious prince) when they gave rule to the preachers of God's truth and verity. And in very deed the thing proved according to their expectation, for a season.  
But alas, after the true shepherds were departed out of this life: there entered into the fold most ravening wolves, of whom saint Paul gave us warning when he said I know for a certainty, that immediately after my departing from you: there shall enter in among you certain in sheppes clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Act. xx. 
29.   
The like thing did saint Peter foresee when he premonished the elders, that they should not behave themselves toward the people, as men having dominion over them. 1 Pet●… 
●…3.  These hirelings intended not to mainta●… 〈◊〉 increase the spiritual treasure of the congregation, but to fill their own coffers with gold and vain treasure, to bring them selves above Kings and Emperors, yea to be taken for God's vicar's upon earth. And that they might the sooner bring this their purpose to pass, they persuaded the people that it should be much more convenient that they had the tenths & patrimony of the church (as they call it) them the deacons, whom the people had elected there unto. And that it should be more beseaming that the deacones were at their finding, then that they should be at the deacons finding for they would keep hospitality for the poor according as the institution of the Apostles was that they should, which thing they could not do unless they had where withal to maintain it. By these means were the people soon persuaded to give unto them not only the tenth but certain possessions also to th'intent they might maintain the more liberal hospitality for the relieve of the poor This done all their study was to set themselves so high in the conscience of the people that they should take all their traditions to be of no less authority than the commandment of God, to do this they could find none so ready a way as to name their traditions the laws of the church. For if we believe that Christ is the head of the church, and that he is God: then must we needs grant that the laws of the church be god's laws. O devilish subtlety, more than serpentical? what subtle fouler could have devised a more subtle train to bring the poor simple birds into his net? Le●… tes if all the devils in hell had been of their counsel (as we think they were) they could not have concluded upon a more subtle imagination. Now have they enough, what ne●… death them to seek any further: now may they command us to build them goodly churches with high steaples, & great bells to ting our pence into their purses when our friends be dead. Now may they make us believe that their masses be helpful sacrifices both for the quick and the dead. Now must we believe that the pope's pardons do release us both from pain and fault, but Christ releaseth the fault only. Now must we believe they can make of two creatures one, that is to say conjure water and ●…alte that it be made a medicine both for body & soul, and of such force that it may be able to root out the devil himself with all his angels and ministers. Now must we believe that repentance auayl●…th us not unless we declare all our sins with the circumstance thereof to one of them, and do such satisfaction as they shall appoint us to do. Now can we not deny but that the outra ●…iouse bellowing of a sort as sodomitical bulls, mingled with the proud piping of organs: is the service of God, and worthy to be preferred before the reading and preaching of God's word. Now must we believe that God will not hear our prayer unless we be in favour with some of the dead saints which will be our advocate. Now must we believe that the making and giiting of images, building of abayse, churches, chaūtri●…s gyldes, hermitages, and giving of book, bell, candlestick, basin, your, crwetes, pax, chalyse, corporate, vestiments, altar clothes curtains, hangings, towels, torches, tapurs, sheep, sensoures, pixeses, coops, cannebes, & running on pilgrimage: is more acceptable to God than the. seven. works of mercy. Now must we believe that they can not err, though they set up the blood of a duck to be hono red for the very blood of Christ, though they made the rood of kente to wag his yies, though they were bawds & fornicators with the holy whore of kent. We may not think they ought to mary wives though we take them daily abusing other men's wives. We must not say that they are ravening 
Act. 20. 29  wolves, but the true shepherds of Christ, although we see them both buy & sell the congregations of Christ, & when they have them lo●…e for nought else but what yearly rents may be clearly r●…ased thereof. Your highness knoweth right well what desire they have to feed the flock, for it is not yet many years sense your highness in your high court and parliament, was by their negligence constrained, to establish a law, that under pain of a forfeit they should preach in every of their parishes four times in a year at the lest, and that none should have more benefices than one, whereupon he should be reasident. But here they put your highness in mind of all such chapelyns as do service to your highness, and to other your nobles of this your realm, be sides other, certain graduates of the universities. Whereupon it was provided, by the authority of the said parliament, that every such chaplain might have many benefices and be non residence to lie at the university or else where at his pleasure so he were in any of your nobles se●…uice. Oh gracious prince, here are we your natural, and most obeisant league people, constrained to forget (with all humble subiec●…ion we speak it) that we are of nature & by the ordinance. of God your most bounden subjects, and to call to remembrance that by our second birth we are your brothers and fellow servants (although in a much inferior ministry) in the household of the lord our God. Most humble beseking your highness to forget also in this point that you are our league lord and sovereign, taking our words as a token of the fervent desire that we (your most faithful subjects) have of yo●… soils salvation. A●…habe king of Israel, when he intended to make a voyage and to take by force the country and 〈◊〉 tantes of Ramo●…h Giliade, he caused hy●… prophets to the number of. LLLL. fals●… prophets, to be brought before him that he might know by them whether the lord wo●… prosper his journey or not. These false prophets standing in the sight of the king, & being dmaunded of him whether he sh●…lde make expedition against Ramoth or not: an sweared with one voice, make expedition, the lord shall give it into the hands of the king iii. Reg. xxi●…. In like manner (most dread sovereign) your highness & your most noble prodicessours have always consulted a great number of false prophets, which as Achabes prophets did: prophesied unto you lies, wring & wresting the scriptures to sta blishe your highness in all such things as they perceived you bend unto. And if at any time any true Micheas have prophesied unto you the truth of God's word, one Sedechias or other boreth him on the che●… 
v. 24.  ke that he runneth straight into the fire. So that hitherto they have led your highness in this detestable error that you think it lawful for you and your nobles to reward those false flattering Babiloncall prophethes with tha●… portion which by the ordinance of God is dwe to the poor impotent creatures the lame, blind, lazar, & sore members of Christ, we beseek you (most dear sovereign) even for the hope you have in the redemption by Christ: that you call to rem●…braunce that dreadful day when your highness shall stand before the judgement ●…eat of God in no more reputation than one of those miserable creatures which do now daily die in the streets for lack of their dwe porsi on wherewith you & your nobles do reward those gnathonical elbow whangers your chap laines. If their ministry be so necessary to your highness that you can not lack them: yet let not the unsasiable dogs devour, the bread that was prepared for the children 
Mat. 15. 26.  let them be appointed livings worthy th●… ministration. What reason is it that a surveyor of bildinges or lands, an alckmist, or a goldsmith, should be rewarded with be nefice upon benefice, which of very reason ought to be committed to none other but such as through godly learning and cover sation were able and would apply them selves to walk amydes their flock in all god lie example and purity of life, how great a numbered is there, of them that under the name of your chaplynes may dispend yearly by benefices, some one. L. some. LL. some l. some. LLLL. some. LLLLL. yea, some. M. marks and more. It is a comone saying among us your highness poor commons: that one of your highness chapplene, not many years since, used when he lusted to ride a broad for his repast, to carry with him a scroll, wherein were written the names of the parishes whereof he was parson. ●…s it fortuned, in his journey he espied 〈◊〉 Church standing upon a fair hill, pleasantly beset with groves and plain fields the goodly green meadows lying beneath by the banks of a Crystalline river garnished with wyllice, poplers, palm trees, and alders, most beautiful to behold. This vigilant pastor, taken with the sight of this terestial paradise, said unto a servant of his (the clerk of his signet no doubt it was, for he used to carry his ma●…ters ring in his mouth) Robin said he, yonder benefice standeth very pleasantly. I would it were mine. The servant answered. Why sir quoth he, it is your own benefice, and named the Parish. Is it so? quoth your chaplain. And with that he pulled out his scroll to see for certainty whether i●… were so or not See (most dread sovereign) what care they take for the flock. When they see their parish churches they know them not by the sittuation. If your highness had so many swine in your royalme as you have men: would ye commit them to the keeping & feeding of such swynherdes as did not know their swynsecotes when they saw them? Oh merciful God how far wide is this our time from the primative church. Defer not (most dear sovereign) the reformation of this miss: for the day of the Lord is at hand and shall come upon us as a the●…e in the 
1. Thes. 5. 3.  night. two. Peter. iii. deceive not your sel●… through the false gloss of these flattering 
2. Pet. 3. 10  hypocrites. Turn them out after their brethren the pied purgatory patriarchs: and restore to the poor members of Christ, they●… due portion, which they trusted to have received when they saw your highness turn out the other sturdy beggars. But alas the●… failed of their expectation and are now in more penury than ever they were. For, although th●… sturdy beggars got all the devotion of the good charitable people from them yet had the poor impotent creatures somer●… lief of their scraps, where as now thy●… have nothing. Then had they hospitals, and almshouses to be lodged in, but now they lie and storue in the streets Then was their number great, but now much greater. And no marvel for theridamas is in stead of these sturdy beggars, crept in a sturdy sort of e●…torsioners These men cease not to oppress us your highness poor commons in such sort that many thousands of us, which here befo●…e lived honestly upon our so●…e labour and travail, bringing up our children in the exercise of honest labour are now constrained some to beg, some to borrow and some to rob & steal, to get food for us and our poor wives & children. And that which is most like to grow to inconvenience, we are constrained to suffer our children to spend the flower of their youth in ●…es, bringing them up other to bear wallettes, other eyes if they be ●…urdy to stuff prisons, and garnish galow trees. For such of us as have no possessions left to us by our predecessors and elders departed this life, can now get no Farm, tennement or cottage at these men's hands without we pay unto them more than we are able to make: yea, this was tolerable so long as after this extreme exaction, we were not for the residue of our years oppressed with much greater rents than hath of ancient time been paid for the same grounds, for than a man might within few years be able to recover his fine and afterward live honestly by his travel. But now these extorsioners have so improved their lands that they make of. xl. s. fine. xl. pound, and of. v. nobles rent. v pound. yea, not sufficed with this oppression within their own inheritance: they buy at your highness hand such abbey lands as you appoint to be sold And when they stand once full seized therein they make us your poor commons so in doubt of their threatynges that we dare do none other but bring into their courts: our copies taken of the covents of the late dissolved Monasteries, and confirmed by your high court of Parliament, they make us believe that by the virtue of your highness sale all our former writings are void and of none effect And that if we will not take new leases of them, we must then forthwith avoid the grounds as having therein none entre●…. Moreover, when they can espy no commodious thing to be bought at your highness hand: they labour for, and obtain certain leases for. xxi. years, in and upon such abbey lands as lie commodiously for them. Then do they dash us out of countenance with your highness authority, making us believe that by the virtue of your highness leas, our copies are void. So that they compel us to surrender all our former writings where by we ought to hold some for. two. and some for. three lives, & to take by indenture for. xxi. years, overing both fines & rents beyond all reason and conscience. This thing causeth that such possessioners as here to fore were able and used to maintain their own children, and some of ours, to learning and such other qualities as are necessary to be had in this your highness royalme, are now of necessity compelled to set their own children to labour, and all is little enough to pay the lords rent, & to take the house anew at the end of the years, so that we your poor commons, which have no grounds, nor a●… able to take any at these ertorsioners hands can find no way to set our children on work no though we proffer them for meat & drink & poor clothes to cover their bodies. Help merciful prince in this extremity, suffer not the hope of so noble a realm utterly to perish through the unsatiable desire of the possessioners. Remember that you shall not leave this kingdom to a stranger, but to that child of great towardness our ●…host natural prince Edward, employ your study to leave him a common weal to govern, and not an Island of brute beasts amongst whom the strongest devour the weaker, remember that your office is to defend the innocent & to punish the oppressar God hath not suffered all your nobles to distain their consciences with this most ungodly oppression. If your highness would take in hand the repress of these great oppressions, d●… ye not you could lack no aid, for he is faithful that hath promised to prosper all them that seek his glory and the wealth of his poor members in this church mylitant. contrariwise if you suffer his poor members to be thus oppressed look for none other than the rightful judgement of God, for your negligence in your office and ministry. For the blood of all them that through your negligence shall perish, shallbe required at your hand. Be merciful therefore to yourself, & us your most obeisant subjects. Endanger not your soul by the suffering of us your poor commons to be brought all to the names of beggars & most miserable wretches Let us be unto your highness, as the inferior membres of the body to their head. Remember that your door hears are a token that nature maketh haste to absolve the course of your life, prevent the subtle imaginations of them that galpe and look after the crown of this realm after your days. For what greater hope can they have as concerning than detestable and devilish imagination: then that they might win the hearts of us your highness commons, by the delivering us from the captivity and misery that we are in? We beseek God your highness may live to put away all such occasions, and to see the confusion of all such traitorous hearts, and that your grace may see that worthy Prince Edward able to govern and defend this your realm vanquishing all his enemyse both far and near, as your highness by the aid of almighty God, hath done hitherto. Defer not, most dread sovereign Lord, the reformation of these so great enormities, for the wound is even unto death, if it continue any while longer. A prince well-beloved of his people is much more rich than he that hath houses full of gold. And yet is he much more rich that is beloved of God. For if God be on your part: who can prevail against your 
Rom. 8. 31.  highness? By this we mean the great and mighty abomination of vice that now raineth within this your highness realm this day. For hordome is more esteemed than wedlock, although not universally, yet amongst a great numbered of lycensious persons. Simoni hath lost his name, and usury is lawful gains. These things unless they be redressed, will bring the ire of God upon the realm. For what doth it less than declare us to be clean fallen from the doctrine of Christ who taught us to lend looking to have no gain thereby? 
Luk. 6. 34.  what example of life is in us this day to declare that we rather, be the people of god than the jews or maometanse? Certes (most ●…enomed prince) none but that we confess him to be God. And that were sufficient if our deeds did not deny him, if the rulers have given the occasion of these things, alas for them, they had been better to have had millstones hanged about their necks, 
●…ar. 9 42. ●…at. 18. 6. 7. Luk. 17. 1. 2.  and have been cast into the sea, but if the people have taken it of themselves: and be not punished of the rulers, but be permitted fire lie to use it: the blood of them that perish shallbe requered at the watchman's hand. Ezechi. 
Eze. 33. 8. 9 & 3. 18. 21.  xxxiii. Thus princes are punished when the people offend. But now (most dear sovereign) your highness may in this matter try your prelate's whether they be of god or not, for if they were of God they would, accor dinge to the words of the prophet, never seize, but openly and with a criing voice, declare unto the people their faults. Esai. lviii. and not be hus●…ed with an act in par 
Isa. 58. 1.  liament, for that declareth them to be the setters for the of man's traditions and not of Gods laws, so that this saying of our sauiour Christ is verified in them, this people honoureth me with their lips but their heart is fare from me they teach the doctrines and commandments of men. Math. 
Mar. 7. 7. 8. Ma●…. ●…5. 〈◊〉 Isa. 29 13.  xv. But here they think to stop our mouths with the fear of your highness displeasure, they say your highness laws are gods laws, & that we are as much bound to observe them as the law of God given by Moses. Truth it is (most dear lord) that we are bound by the commandment of God, to obey your highness & all your laws set forth, by your high court of parliament, but if they descent from or be contrary to any one jot of the scripture, we must with John & Peter say. Actu. iiii judge you 
Act. 4. 19 & 5. 29  whether it be better for us to obey God or man. We speak not this because we think by this, that we may rebel against you, our natural prince. But that if your highness would enforce us by a law to do any thing contrary to that god hath commanded us that then we ought manfully to cleave to the truth of Gods word, boldly confessing the truth thereof, fearing nothing the death of this body, and yet most humble submitting ourselves unto you, ready to abide and patient lie to suffer what kind of torment so ever should be laid upon us knowing for certainty that we are happy when we suffer persecution 
Mat. 5. 10.  for the truths sake, and that he is faithful that hath promessed to be revenged of our injuries. But these dumb dogs 
Isa. 56. 10. 11.  have learned to feign upon them that use to bring them bread, and to be wonderful ha sty when they be maintained and cherished, but if they be but once bide couch they know their li●…ipope so well that they draw the tail between the legs and get themselves straight to the kennel. And then come who so will, and do what they will, these dogs will steer no more till they hear their master say high cut and long tail. So frayed they are of stripes and lest they should be tied up so short that they might not range a broad and wory now and than a simple lamb or two. Before it was passed by act of parliament that men might take. x. li. by year for an hundreth pound lone: how vehement were they in the matter? All their sermons were little other than invectives against usury, Then they could allenge both Christ and the Psalmist to prove that Christian men ought to lend what they may 
Luk. 6. 34. 35  spare, & to look for no gains thereof. But now they do not only hold themselves still as concerning this matter: but also they endeavour to imitat yea and to pass the example of the extorsyoners, and usurers. For even the last year they obtained by their importune suit: a grant which if it be not revoked, will in continuance of time be the greatest impovirishment of us your poor commons (and chyfly in the ●…itie of London) that ever chanced sense the first beginning thereof, they have obtayn●… and it is enacted, that every man within the said city, shall yearly pay unto them accor ding to the rents they are charged with. xvi. d ob. of every. x. s. so that if the lords of the grounds do double & triple the rents (as they do in deed) then most the poor tenants pay also double & triple tenths as dwe increase of their riches, this is not unlike unto that which is practised in the country amongst us your highness poor commons For when it hath pleased God to punish us with the ro●… of our sheep, so that perhaps pes some one of us hath ●…ylded. C. sheper than have some of the persons constrained us to give 〈◊〉. of the 〈◊〉, for they call it increase so long as we sell them. And therefore must they (as Gods debities) take the tenth thereof. Have compession upon us (most gracius sovereign) ●…uffer not these unsatiable dogs thus to eat us out of all that we have con 
Isa. 50. 11.  sidre that it is against all reason & conscience, that we your poor commons should be thus oppressed, that where the landlord taketh of us double & triple rent: that then we shall pay also to the person double or triple tenths. But see (most dear sovereign) how craftily they have wrought this feat, they require not the tenths of the land lords that have the increase, but of the tenants which of necessity are constrained to pay to the lords their as king at●… else to ●…e without dwelling places, they know right well that is they should have matched themselves with the landlords, they happily should have been to weak for them at the length. But they were in good hope that we (your poor commons) should never be able to stand in their hands, as in very deed we shall not unless your highness will voultsafe to take our cause in hand, for is we have not wherewith to pay them, they may by the virtue of the act distress such implements as they shall find in our houses They know our conditions of old sense they took their mortuaries. We had rather in manner famish ourselves for lack of food, and to make right hard shift, besides them that we would be troubled for any such thing. And doubtless (most renowned prince) if the oppression were not to much beyond all reason and conscience we would never have troubled your highness with all. Yea if there were any hope that they would be satisfied by this: we would rather fast. three days every weak, than we would scame to be slack in doing all such things as the law bindeth us to. But we see daily so great increase of their unsatiable desire: that we fear lest in process of time they will make us all beg an bring to them all that we can get. It is no rare thing to see the poor impotent creatures beg at Easter to pay for the sacrament when they receive it. And it is no less common to see men beg for such dead corpses as have nothing to pay the pristes divitie. Yea it is not long sense there was in your highness city of London a dead corpse brought to the church to be buried, being so poor that it was naked without any cloth to cover it. But these charitable men which teach us that is one of the works of mercy to bury the dead, would not take the pains to bury the dead corpse, unless they had their duty, as they call it. In fine, they caused the dead corpse to be carried into the street again, and there to remain till the poor people, which dwelled in the place where the poor creature died, had begged so much as the priests call their dwe. O merciful lord, who can be able worthily to lament the miserable estate of this time? when those men which in all thing profess to be the light of the world, the ten teachers of the ignorant, & the leaders of the blind, are so far without mercy (which Christ preferred before sacrifice) that they 
mat. 9 13. & 12. 7. Hos. 6. 6.  will not do so much as waste a little of their breath in reading over a few psalms at the burial of one of the poor membres of Christ: unless they have money for their labour? and when those persons whom the other, called spiritual, do count but as brute beasts, calling them temporal: shall show more mercy, the badge of the christian soldiers, towards the poor members of christ: then they which glory to be the true prophets of Christ, and successors of the Apostles. Yea when those painted sepuleres be 
mat. 23. 27.  so merciless that they pity not them, whom the very infidels would pity. Where is their so little mercy showed as amongst thē●… in so much that their covetous is grown into this proverb? no penny, no pater noster For they will not do that thing which every christian is bounds to do for other: unless they may be waged for money, they wed and bury, and sing full merry but all for money. If your highness would call a count of them, and cause them to show the books of the names of them that have been buried, & married with in this year conferring that numbered with the sum of money they take for every such burial & marriage: you should easily perceive how little need they have to oppress us with double & triple tenths, judge them (most victoryouse prince) what an unreasonable sum the whole & gross sum of these enhanced tenths with other their petryt b●…y burrye draweth to. They receive of every hundreth li. xiii. li. xv. s. & of the thou sand one hundredth, and. xxxvii. li. x. s. then may your highn●…s soon be certified what they receive of the whole rents of the city, no doubt (gracious prince) they receive of us yearly moor than your highness did at any time when you were beset on every side with mortal enemies. And yet their conscience would serve them well enough to take three times as much as they do if your highness would suffer them. For they use to say that for as much as it is established by a law they may with good conscience take it if it were more. Yea if your highness would suffer them, their conscience would serve them to lie with our every tenth night, other else to have every tenth wife in the parish at their pleasure. But our trust is that your highness will tie them shorter, and to say the truth it is time: for if you suffer them a while they will attempt to make your highness pay the tenths unto them as long as they have paid them to you. For they have already sought out our aware houses, store houses, stables, wharffes, and barns, causing us to pay, not only the tenth, for that we never paid before: but also the. seven. penny of the whole rents, raised throughout the whole city. Who can judge either therefore (most dread sovereign) but that they would, if they witted how, cause your highness to pay unto them not only the tenth of your ye ●…ely revenues, but also the tenth penny of all such spoils as your highness shall take in wars: for they carp much upon Abraham's giving of the tenth of his spoil to Melchisedech. 
Gen. 14. 20. Heb. 7. 4.  wherefore most merciful prince, consider with mercy this pitiful complaint of us your most faithful subjects, delivering us from the mouths of these unsatiable beasts which do daily employ themselves to devour us, our wives and children, even as we were food prepared for the to devonre. Let the order that Paul took with the faithful of the primative church: take effect in these our days, the last days of this miserable world. Let none eat that laboureth not. two. Thessa. 
2 The. 3. 10. 11. 12.  iiii. Let them also that be called to be preachers, have the reward of preachers, overload them not with the possessions & riches of this world, for the cares thereof do choke the word. Let not each ravening wolf 
Mat. 13. 7. 22  that cometh with a sheephook in his hand be received as a shepherd. Let not the simple lambs of Christ be committed to the tuition of these so ravening wolves. Let not the portion of the poor be committed to them that distribute not but rather gather and heap up coumpting all fish that cometh to the vet. Let the worthy prophets that walk di ligently in their vocation, be called to the governance of the spiritual flock of Christ and let them be repelled that come uncalled, we mean such as sue to bear the name of your highness chaplains only because they trust to obtain thereby lordlyck livings out of the porsion of the poor. Take pity (most merciful prince) upon us your poor, and faithful league people, take pity upon your own soul which shall at the last day be charged with all abuses that your highness suffereth freely to reign. Be leave not those gnatonical adherentes that will not sticked to affirm and deny so that they may trust to please you thereby. Let them not persuade your highness that all is good that is concluded in your high court of parliament, remember O how they led your highness when you sent forth your letters under your brood seize straightly commanding every and singular your highness sub iectes: under pain of your highness displeasure, to aid, support, and further all and singular prockters & pardoners. Remember in what case they had brought iour highness when you thought it godliness to viset in your own parson the graves, images & relics of dead saints, doing to the divine honour & reverence. Let them not persuade you that God is or can be better served in the latin tongue then in the english, consider what great folly saint Paul counteth it for men to pray, which is to talk with almighty God, in a tongue they understand not 
1 Cor. 14: 9-16-19.  i Lorin. xiiii. yea and how much greater folly it is to think holiness in hearing a tale told in a strange tongue. Your highness come maunded that none should receive the sacrament at Erster, but such as ●…oulde and did use the lords prayer with the articles of the faith in the english tongue. But they bid us use that which is most ready to us.  
They baptize our children in the latin tongue beding us say, Uolo, and, Credo, when we know not what it is that they demand of us. By this mean is it brought to pass that we know not what we profess in our baptism, but superstitiously we think that the holiness of the words which sound so strangely in our cares, & of the water that is so oft crossed is the doing of all the matter. Yea we think that if our children be well plunged in the fount they shallbe health full in all their limbs ever after, but if they by any misadventure, receive any hurt in any of their members, incontinent we ley the fault in the priest, saying: that member was not well christened. Oh merciful God what heart can be able worthily to lament this more than jewdaical superstition? the thing that ●…s mere spiritual, we apply wholly to the flesh, was there ever any vain idolaters that would honour their gods in a language they understood not? were the monks, friars and canons with other superstitious religions, professed in a strange tongue? is not the oath of obeisance that we your league people take unto you, ministered in the English tongue? And for what other purpose but that we may thereby know our most bounden devirie toward you our natural prince and league lord? is it then bescaming that we taking an oath of obeisance to the king of all kings, the God of all the ●…id, and maker thereof? should not know what is demanded of us nor what we answer again? If we hold us still as concer ning this more than hell darkness: the very stones of your palace would make ere 
mat. 3. 9 L●…. 19 40  rlamation. Prevent therefore, most gracious prince, the ire of God which hangeth over this your royalme. Remember that his lō●… sufferance shallbe recompensed with the ●…r 
Rom. 2. 3. 4: 5. 6  tremitie of the punishment. Wherefore, most worthy prince, we humbly beseek our heavenly father the gevear of all goodness, even for the Lord jesus Christ's sake our saviour and redeemer that he preserve you always gruinge you grace to walk circumspectly in your vocation and ministry that at the last day you may r●…eaue the incorruptible 
2. Tim. 4: 8. 1. pet. 5. 4.  crown of glory and reign with our elder brother the first begotten son of God the father almighty, to whom with the h●…ly ghost be all honore and glory for ever and ever All true English hearts say Amen.  Psalm. xli. 1. ¶ Happy is the man that pitieth the poore●… for in time of trouble the Lord shall deliver him. 
THus have we (your most obeisant subjects) declared the fervent desire we have not only of your prospe●…ous success in the affairs of this life, but also of your eternal reign with the lord ●…esu in the telestial kingdom, of whose faith ye are in earth, defender. And of the faithful congregation, in this little angle of the earth congregate, the supreme head immediately next unto him, by whose mighty hand you have hitherto vanquished, not only the ex turn enemies of this most noble realm: but all such as have most dyvilyshly imagined, conspired & at tempted treason against your highness, their most natural ●…age lord and governor. What histories should we read to know of so many and so dangerous conspirations, so wonderfully detect & avoided? Who might so soon have wrought the most detestable purpose of tree ason: as she that slept in your bosom. What mighty princes have been betrayed by them that they have loved above all creatures? And how wonderfully, even at the very yoynt, and in the time of most danger: hath the mighty hand of the Lord delivered you? Besides this, that most abominable idol of Rome which sat so high not only in the consciences of us your most bound subjects & poor commons but also your nobles (even from the highest to the lowest) were all his faithful adherentes, in so much that some of them would not stick to shed▪ the best blood of their bodies in his quarrel. And yet how wonderfully hath the lord our God, made himyour foot stole? Rejoice (dear sovereign) rejoice. The lord is your right hand, he hath found you faithful in 
Mat. 25. 21. 23.  a little, & shall ordain you over much more. Only beware that you pu●…yng your hand to the plough do not look backward. Go 
Luk. 9 62.  forth manfully to conquete, and turn not again till you have purged this vineyard of the Lord: so that there remain not one little imp besides those that our heavenly 
Mat. 15. 13. joh. 15. 2.  father hath planted ●…et not that noble prince Edward be oppressed in the days of his youth, with the cumbrous weading out of such ●…otton and sruyteles trees, lest perchance they take deaper root them that his tender youth may be able to mou●…. Forget not your own youth, when these at ulterine trees were to strong for you. Think not but that you shall leave behind you a great number that would be glad to see the old stom pes of these fruitless trees spring again. The Lord bring them all to confusion, giving your highness long life with assistance of his grace to perform that which you have begun. The wisdom of the Lord eure God lead you into all truth. Amen.  
¶ Your most faithful and obeissant subjects: the poor commons of the royalme of England. Anno. M. ccccc. 〈◊〉.   

¶ The supplication of Beggars, compiled by Simon Fish.  
Anno. M. ccccc. xxiiii.  Psalmus. xciiii. v. 12. 13. Blessed is the man, whom thou learnest (O Lord) and teach him in thy law. That thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity, until the pit be digged up for the ungodly.  

¶ TO THE 〈◊〉 our sovereign Lord.  
most lamentably compleyneth their woeful misery unto your highness your poor daily bedemen the wretched hydyous monsters (on whom scarcely for ho●… any e●…e dare look) the foul unhappy sort of lepers, and other sore people, ●…dy, impotent, blind, lame, and sick, that live only by alms, how that their number is daily so sore increased, that all the alms of all the well disposed people of this your realm is not half enough for to sustain them, but that for very constraint they die for hunger. And this most pesty●… lent mischief is comen upon your said poor bedemen, by the reason that there is (in the time of your noble predecessors passed) craftily crept into this your realm an other sort not of impotent, but of st●…ge puissant and conterfeyt holy, and y●… beggars and vaga●…ondes which sins the time of their first entre by all the craft and wiliness of Satan are now increased under your sight not only into a great number, but also into a kingdom. These are not the herds, but the ravenous wolves going in herds clothing deuow●… ring the flock, the bishops, Abbates, priors, Deacons, archdeacon's, Su●… g●…nes, priests, Monks, Canons, Friars. Pardonners, and Summoner's. And who is able to number this idle ravenous sort which (setting all labour aside) have begged so importunately that they have gotten into their hands more than the third part of all your realm. The goodliest lordships, manners, lands, & territories are theirs Beside this they have the tenth part of all the corn, meadow, pastut, grass, will, colts, calves, lambs, pigs, geese, and chickens. Over and besides the tenth part of every servants wages, the tenth part of the wool, milk, honey, ware, cheese, and butter. Yea, and they look so narrowly upon their profits that the poor wives must be contable to them of every tenth egg, or else she getteth not her rites at Easter, but shallbe taken as an heretic, here to have they their four offering days. What money pull they in by proba●…es of testaments, privy tithes, and by men's offerings to their pilgrimages, and at their first masses Every man and child that is buried must pay somewhat for masses and diryges to be song for him, or else they will accuse the deeds friends and executors of heresy. What money get they by mortuaries, by hearing of confessions (and yet they will keep there of no council) by hallowing of churches, altars, super altars chapels, and bells, by cursing of men and absoluinge them again for money? What heaps of money gather the perdonners in a year? How much money get the sumners by extortion in a year? by assiting the people to the commissaries court, and afterward releasing the appearance for money? Finally the infinite number of beggars friets, what get they in a year? Here if it please your grace to mark ye shall see a thing far out of joint. There are within your realm of England. lii. thousand parish churches. And this standing that there be but ten households in every paris●…, yet are there five hundreth thou sand, and twenty thousand households. And of every of these households hath euer●… of the five orders of friars a penny a quater for every order, that is for all the five orders five pens a quarter for every house That is for all the five orders twenty pens a year of every house. Summa five hundredth thousand and twenty thousand quarters of angels. That is. cclx. thousand half angels. Summa. cxxx. thousand angels Summa, totalis. xliiii. thousand pounds & cccxxxiii. li. vi. s. and eight pens sterling. Whereof not four hundredth years passed they had not one penny. Oh grievous & pain full exactions thus yearly to be paid, from the which the people of your noble prodecessours the kings of the ancient Brytō●… ever stood free. And this will they have, o●… else they will procure him that will not give it them to be taken as an heretic. What tyrant ever oppressed the people like this cruel & vengeable geveration? What subjects shallbe abel to help their Prince that be after this fashion yearly polled? What good christian people can be able to succour us poor lepers, blind, sore & lame, that be thus year lie oppressed? Is it any marvel that your people so complain of poverty? Is it any marvel that the taxes, fifteens, and subsidies that your grace most tenderly of great compassion hath taken among your people to defend them from the threatened ruin of their common wealth have been so slothfully, yea painfully levied? saying that all most the uttermost penny that might have been levied hath been gathered before yearly by this ravynouse cruel and unsatiable generation. The Danes neither the Sarons in the time of the ancient Brytons should never have been able to have brought their armies from so far hither unto your land to have conquered it, if they had had at that time such a sort of idle glot●…ns to find at home. The noble king Arthure had never been able to have carried his army to the fore of the mountains to resist the coming down of Lucius the Emperor if such ye arely exactions had been taken of his people. The Greeks had never been able to have solonge continued at the siege of Troy, if they had had at home such an idle sort of cormorauntes to find. The ancient romans had never been able to have put all the whole world under their obeisance, if there people had been thus oppressed. The Turk now in your time should never be able to get so much ground of christendom, if he had in his empire such a sort of locusts 
R●…. 9 2. 3  to devour his substance. Lay them these sums to the foresaid third part of the possessions of the realm, that ye may see when there it draw nigh unto the half of the hole substance of the realm or not. So shall ye find that it draweth far above. Now let us then compare the number of this unkind idle sort unto the number of the lay people, and we shall see whether it be indifferently shifted or not that they should have half, Compare them to the number of men, so are they not the. C. person. Compare them to men, women & children, them are they not the. cccc. person in number One part therefore in cccc. parts divided were to m●…ch for them except there did labour. What an unequal burden is it that they have half with the multitude & at not the. cccc. parson of their number? what tongue is able to tell that ever there was any common wealth so sore oppressed sins the world begun. ¶ And what do all these greedy sort of sturdy idle holy thieves with these yearly exactions that they take of the people? Truly nothing but exempt themselves from the obedience, & dignity from your grace unto them. Nothing but that your subjects should fall into disobedience and rebellion against your grace and be under them. As they did unto the noble prodecessoure King John, which for because that he would have punished certain traitors that had conspired with the French king to have deposed him from his crown and dignity (among the which a clerk called Stephen whom afterward against the kings will the pope made Byssope of Lantorbury was one) interdicted his Land. For the which matter your most noble realm wrongfully (alas for shame) hath stand tributary (not to any kind of temporal prince, but unto a cruel devilish blood supper drunken in the blood of the saints and martyrs of Christ) eversyns. Here were an holy sort of prelate's that thus cruelly could punish such a righteous King, all his realm, and succession for doing right.  
¶ Here were a charitable sort of holy men that could thus interdict an hole realm▪ and pluck away the obedience of the people from their natural lyege Lord & King, for his righteousness. Here were a blessed sort not of meek herds, but of blood suppers that could set the french king upon such a righteous Prince to cause him to lose his crown and dignity to make effusi on of the blood of his people. Unless this good & blessed king of great compassion, more fearing and lamenting the shedding of the blood of his people then the loss of his crown & dignity against all right and conscience had submitted himself unto them. O case most horrible that ever so noble a king Realm and succession should thus be made to stoop to such a sort of bludsuppers. Where was his sword, power crown & dignity, become, where by he might have done justice in this matter? Where was their obedience become that should have been subject under his high power in this matter? Ye where was the obedience of all his subjects become that for maintenance of the common wealthshould have helped him manfully to have resisted these bloudsuppers to the shedding of their blood? Was not all together by their policy translated from this good king unto them. ●…e & what do they more? cruelly nothing but apply themselves by all the sleights they may to have to do with every man's wife, every man's daughter, & every man's maid that cuckoldryi & husbandry should reign over all among your subjects, that noman should know his own child that their bastards might inherit the possessions of every man to put the right begotten children clear beside their inheritance in sub version of all estates & godly order. These be they that by their absteyninge from marriage do let the generation of the people whereby all the realm at length (if it should be continued) shallbe made desert, & inhabitable.  
¶ These be they that have made an hundredth thousand idle hores in your realm which would have gotten their living honestly in the sweet of their faces had not their superfluous riches illected them to unclean lust & idleness. These be they that corrupt the hole generation of mankind in your real me, that catch the pocks of one woman, and bear it to an other, ye some one of them will boast among his fellows that he hath meddled with an hundredth women. These be they that when they have once drawn men's wives to such incontinency spend away their husbands goods, make the women to run away from their husbands, ye run away themselves both with wife & goods, bring both man wife & children to idleness, theft, and beggary. Ye who is able to number the great & broad bottomless ocean see full of evils that this mischievous & sinful generation may lawfully bring upon us unpunished. Where is your sword, power, crown, & dignity, become that should punish (by punishment of death even as other men be punished) the felonies, rapes, murders, and treasons committed by this sinful generation? Where is their obedience become that should be under your high power in this matter? Is not altogether translated and exempt from your grace unto them? Yes tru●…lye. What an infinite number of people might have been increased to have peopled the realm, if these sort of folk had been married like other men? What breach of matrimony is their brought in by them? Such truly as was never sins the world began among the whole multitude of the Heathen.  
¶ Who is she that will set her hands to work to get three pens a day, and may have at lest twenty pens a day to sleep an hour with a friar, a monk, or a priest? What is he that would labour for a groat a day, and may have at the least twelve pens a day to be bawd to a priest, a monk, or a friar? What a sort are there of them that marry priests sovereign ladies but to cloak the priests incontinency, and that they may have a living of the priest themselves for their labour? How many thousands doth such lubrycyte bring to beggary, theft, & idleness, which should have kept their good name, and have set themselves to work had not been this excess treasure of the spirytualtye? What honest man date take any man or woman in his service that hath been at such a school with a spiritual man? Oh the grievous shipwreck of the common wealth, 
〈◊〉. Tom. 1. 19  which in ancient time before the coming in of these rayenouse wolves was so prosperous, 
Act. 20. 29.  that then there were but few thieves ●…e theft was at that time so rare that 〈◊〉 a●… 
Caesar.  was not compelled to make penalty of deark upon felony as your grace may well perceive in his institutes There were also at that time but few poor people, & yet they did not beg but there was given them enough unared, for there was at that time none of these ravenous wolves to are it from them as it appeareth in the acts of the Apostles. Is it any marvel though there be now so many beggars, thieves & idle people? Nay truly. ¶ What remedy? Make laws against them? I am in doubt whether ye be able. Are they not stronger in your own parli ament house then yourself? What a number of Bysshoys, Abbotres, & priors are lords of your parliament? Are not all the learned men in your realm in fee with them to speak in your parliament house against your crown, dignity, & common wealth of your realm a few of your own learned counsel only excepted? what law can be made against them that may be anaylable? Who is he (though he be grieved never so sore) for the murder of his ancestor, ravyshment of his wife, of his daughter, robbery, trespass made, debt or any other offence dare lay it to their charge by any way of action, & if he do then is he ●…y & ●…y, by their wylines accused of heresy. Ye they will so handle him or he pass that except he will bear a faggot for their pleasure he shall be e●…comunicate, & then be all his actions das●…hed So captive are your laws unto them that no man that they list to excommunicate, may be admitted to sue any action in any of your courts. If any man in our sessions dare be so hardy to indite a pressed of any such crime he hath or the year goeth out such a yoke of henresy laid in his neck that it make him wish that he had not done it. Your grace may see what a work there is in London, how the Bishop cageth for enditinge of certain curates of extortion & incontinency the last year in the warmol quest. Had not Richard hun commenced action of praemunire against a priest he had been yet alive and none heretic at all, but an honest man. ¶ Did not divers of your noble progenitors saying their croune●… dignity run into ruin and to be thus craftily translated into the hands of this mischievous generation make diverse statutes for the reformation there of, among which the statute of mortmayne was one? to the intent that after that time they should have no more given unto them. But what aavaled it? have they not gotten into their h●… des more lands sins then any duke in England hath, the statute notwithstanding? Yea have they not for all that translated into their hands from your grace hal●…e your kingdom thoroughly. The hole name (as reason is) for the auncity of your kingdom which was before theirs and out of the which theirs is grown only abiding with your grace? and of one kingdom made twain, the spiritual hyngdom (as they call it) for they will be named fyrst●…. And your temporal kingdom. And which of these two kingdoms suppose is is like to overgrow the other, re to put the other clear out of memory? Truly the kingdom of the bloudsuppers, for to them is given daily out of your king doom. And that that is ones given them cometh never from them again. Such laws have they that none of them may neither give nor sell any thing. What law can be made so strong against them that they either with money, or else with other policy ●…yll not break and set at daughte? What kingdom can endure that ever giveth thus from him, and receiveth nothing again? kingdom how all the substance of your Realm forthwith your sword, power, crown, dig nitie, & obedience of your people, rinneth head long into the unsatiable whirl pole of these ●…edy goulafres to be swallowed & devoured. ¶ Ne●…her have they any other colour to go there these yearly exactions into their hands but that they say they pray for us to God to deliver our souls out of the pains of put gatory without whose prayer (they say) or at lesee without the pope's pardon we could never be delivered thence which if it be true then is it good reason that we give them all these things all were●…. l. times as much. But these be many men of great literature and judgement for the love they have unto the truth and unto the comen wealth have not feared to put themselves into the greatest infamy that may be, in abjection of all the world, ye in peril of death to declare their opinion in this matter which is that there is no purgatory but that it is a things invented by the covetousness of the spiritualty only to translate all kyngedomes from all other princes unto than, and there is not one word spoken of it in all holy scripture. They say also that if there were a purgatory: and also if that the pope with his pardons for money may deiyver one soul thus, he may deliver him as well without money. if he may deliver one, he may deliver a thousand if he may deliver a thousand he may desiuer them all, and also destroy purgatory. And then is he a cruel tyrant without all charity if he keep them there in prison and in pain till men will give him money.  
¶ Likewise say they of all the hole sort of the spiritualty that if they will not pray for any man but for them that give them money? they are tyrants and lack charity and suffer those souls to be punished & pained uncharitably for lack of their prayers. These sort of folks they call heretics, these they burn, these they rage against, put to open shame and make them bare lagottes. But whether they be heretics or no, well I wot that this purgatory, and the pope's pardons is all the cause of translation of your kingdom so fast into their hands. Wherefore it is manifest it can not be of Christ, for he gave more to the temporal kingdom, he himself p●…de tribute to Cesar he took nothing 
Mat. 17. 27. Rom. 13. 1. 2-7.  from him but taught that the high powers should be always obeyed, yea himself (although he were most free lord of all and innocent) was obedient unto the high powers unto death. This is the great seabbe why they will not let the new Testament go abroad in your mother tongue lest men should espy that they by their cloaked ypochrisy do translate thus fast your kingdom into their hands. That they are not obedient unto your high power. That they are cruel, unclean, unmerciful, & hypocrites. That they seek not the honour of Christ? but their own. That remission of sins are not given by the pope's pardon, but by Christ, for the sure faith & trust we have in him. Here may your grace well perceive that except 〈◊〉 suffer their ypochrisye to be disclosed all is like to run into their hands, & as long as it is covered, so long shall it seem to every man to be a great impiety not to give them For this I am sure your grace thinketh (as the truth is) I am as good a man as my father, why may I not as well give them as much as my father did. And of this mind (I am sure) a●… all the Lords, Knights, squires, gentlemen, & yeomen in England Yea, and until it be disclosed all p●…ple will think that your statute of mortmayne was never made with any good co●… conscience saying that it taketh away the liberty of your people in that they may not as lawfully buy their souls out of purgatory by g●…uinge to the spirtualtye as they●… predecessors did in times passed.  
¶ Wherefore if ye will e●…chue the ruin of your crown, & dignity let their hypocrisy be uttered and that shallbe more speedful in this matter than all the laws that may be made be they never so strong. For to make a law for to punish any osfendoute except it were more for to give other men an ensample to beware to commit such like offence, what should it avail? Did not doctor ●…lyn most presumptuously now in your time against all his allegiance all that ever he could to pull from you the knowledge of such pleas as long unto your high courts unto an other court in derogation of your crown & dignity? Did not also doctor 〈◊〉 say & his complices most heynousely as all the world knoweth murdre in prison that honest merchant Richard Hun? For that he sued your write of praemunire against a priest that wrongfully held him in plea in a spiritual court for a matter where of the knowledge belonged unto your high courts. And what punishment was there done that any man might take example of to beware of like offen●…? Truly none but that the one paid five hundredth pounds (as it is said to the building of your star chamber) and when that payment was once passed the capitains of his kingdom (because he fought so manfully against your crown and dignity) have heaped to him benefice upon benefice so that he he is rewarded ten times as much. The other (as it is) said paid six hundredth poundees for him and his complices which for because that he had likewise fought so manfully against your crown and dignity was immediately (as he had obtained your most gracious pardon) promoted by the captains of his kingdom with benefyc●… upon benefice to the value of four times as much. Who can take example of this punishment to be ware of such like offence: Who is he of their kingdom that will not rather take courage to commit like offence seeing the promotions that fill to these men for their so offending? So weak & blunt is your sword to strike at one of the offenders of this crooked and per●…rs generation. ¶ And this is by the reason that the chief instrument of your law yea the chief of your counsel & he which hath your sword in his hand to whom also all the other instruments are obedient, is always a spiritual 〈◊〉 which hath ever such an inordinate love unto his own kingdom that he will maintain that, though all the temporal kyngedommes and common wealth of the world should utterly therefore be undone.  
Here leave we out the greatest matter of all lest we declaring such an horrible cara●…ne of evil against the ministers of iniquity should seem to declare the one only fa●…e or rather the ignorance of our best beloved mi nister of ryghtnousnes which is to be hy●… ryll he may be learned by these small enormitees that we have spoken of to know it plainly himself. But what remedy to relieve us your poor, sick, lame and sore bed demen? To make many hospitales for the relief of the poor people? Nay truly. The more the worse, for ever the fa●…te of the hole foundation hange●… on the priests be●… des. divers of your noble prodecessours kings of this realm have given lands to to monasteries to give a certain sum of money yearly to the poor people where of for the ancienty of time they give never one penny. They have likewise given to them to have certain masses said daily for them whereof they say never one. If the Abbot of westminster w●…ld sing every day as many masses for his founders as he is bound to do by his foundation. M. monks were to few. Wherefore if your grace will build a sure hospital that never shall fail to relieve us all your poor bedmen, take from them all those thin 〈◊〉. Set these sturdy lobbies a broad in the