A proper dialogue/ between a gentleman and a husbandman/ each complaining to other their miserable calamity/ through the ambition of the clergy. ¶ An A. B. C. to the spiritualty. ¶ Awake ye ghostly persons/ awake/ awake Both pressed/ pope/ bishop & Cardinal. Considre wisely/ what ways that ye take Dangerously beyngelyke to have a fall. Every where/ the mischief of you all. Far and near/ breaketh out very fast god will needs be revenged at the last. ¶ How long have ye the world captived In sore bondage/ of men's tradiciones? Kings and Emperors/ ye have depryned Lewedly usurping/ their chief possessiones. Much misery ye make/ in all regiones. Now your frauds/ almost at the latter cast Of god sore to be revenged at the last. ¶ Poor people to oppress/ ye have no shame Qwaking for fear/ of your donbble tyranny. Rightful justice ye have put out of frame Seeking the lust of your god/ the b●…y. Therefore I dare you boldly certify. Very little though ye be thereof aghast Yet god will be revenged ●…r the last. O christian reader/ from rashness refrain●… Of hasty judgement/ & light sentence. though sum reckon it frowardness of bra●… Thus to detect the clergyes inconvenience. (ne Unto Christ's words give/ thou advertence Which saith nothing to be done so secretly But it shall'be known manifestly. Where as men discern no grief of darkness F●…ll little is desired the comfortable light The day is restrained to sheme his clearness Till the clouds be expelled of the night As long as we perceive not wrong from righ●… Nether holiness from false hypocrisy The truth can not be known manifestly. ¶ Cursed they are/ as Isaiah doth express Which presume the evil for good to commend saying that sweet is sour/ & light darkness As now in the clergy/ we may perpend. whose disguised madness in the later end As saint Paul to Timothe did prophesy Shall be known to all men manifestly. ¶ Example of twain he doth●… th●…e recite whose names were called I●…nes & Jambres Which by enchantment/ through devils might Strongly resisted the prophet Moses. Doing like marvels and wonderfulness So that none could the very troth espy Till their juggling was known manifestly christ/ likewise/ with his predication The pharisees showing outward holiness Was a counted of sma●… reputation Vice cloaked under shine of virtuousness. Until at the last their furiousness Accusing the woman taken in aduo●…ery They saw their faults detect manifestly. Their vices opened/ they could not abide Shame dreving them to confusion Which afore season through pope holy pride They bolstered out under abusion It is the practise of their collusion. Zele of righteousness to fain outwardly Till their faults be detect manifestly/ Which in our clergy is evidently seen Feigned godliness falsely pretending Whereby most part of people do ween That they seek god's honour in all thing●… How be it/ men should see that their seeking Is to confound Christ's gospel utterly Were their faults 〈◊〉 manifestly. What greater despite can they imagine/ Against god his high honour to deface Than to usurp on them his power divine Abominably sitting in holy place▪ Which hath continued long time & space And shall with outrageous blasphe●… Till their faults be 〈◊〉 manifestly. Scripture unto them was first proffered meekly without any provocation. Which to receive when it was offered They refused with indignation. Wherefore touching their reformation. Little trust is to be had certainly Ty●… their faults be detect manifestly. ¶ Thus to conclude/ 〈◊〉 christian reder Unto patience/ I the exhort. Aduertesing/ how & in what manner Christ rebuked this pharisaical sort. Whom as Matthew in the. twenty-three. doth report. With fearful sentence he cursed earnestly Their wicked faults detecting manifestly. ¶ Nihil est opertum q●… non reveletur. Mtah. x. ¶ Here followeth the Dialogue/ the Gen tillman beginige first his complaint. ¶ gentleman. WIth soronfull heart/ may I complain Concerning the chance/ of my misery Although peraventure it is but vain Truth oppressed/ with open tyranny. My inheritance and patrimony. Against right/ from me they keep away. Which say/ for my friends souls they pray. ¶ Mine aunceteres of worthy progeny With rents and livelihood largely endued Maintained their estates honourably Aiding the poor/ indigence to exclude. Till at the last/ the clergy to them sued. pretending godliness/ under a false way saying they would for their souls pray. ¶ Stoutly they alleged before their sight How after this life is a purgatory. Wherein their souls both day & night Should be tormented with out memory Except of their substance transitory. Unto their seactes/ they would some what pay saying that they would for their souls pray. They bore them in hand that they had might Sinners to bind & lose at their own pleasure Taking upon them to lead thyem a right Unto joy/ that ever should endure. Of pope's pardons they boosted the treasure. challenging of heaven & hell the faith saying/ that they would for their souls pray. To trust wife or children/ they did dissuade Either any friends or persons temporal. Afferming/ that our love should a way vade Without any memory of them at all Only to hope in their seactes spiritual. They enticed/ with persuasiones gay saying that they would for their souls pray. Thus with wiliness and arguments vain Mine ancestors brought in to perplexite Partly through fear of eternal pain And partly for desire of felicity. They consented making no difficult To grant their requests without delay saying that they would for their souls pray Their chief lordships and lands principal With commodities of their possession Unto the clergy they gave forth with all D●…sheretinge their right succession. Which to receive without exception The covetous clergy made no denay saying that they would for their souls pray By the means whereof/ I and such other Suffering the extremity of indigence Are occasioned to theft or mourder falling in to much inconvenience. Because the clergy against conscience Devoureth our possessiones night and day Saying that for our friends souls they pray. I have wife and children upon my hand wanting substance/ their lives to sustain Wherefore to the clergy that have my land Sometime I come and piteously complain whose stateliness/ to help me having disdain With our any comfort to me they say That for my friends souls they daily pray. Should I and my household for hunger dy●… They would not an half penny with us part So that they live in wealth abundantly Full little they regard our woeful smart. To waste our goods they nothing aduert●… In vicious lusts and pompous array saying that for our friends souls they pray. They take upon them apostles authority But they follow nothing their profession Often times they preach of Christ's poverty how be it toward it they have no affection. If so be they pleat once in possession Hard it is to get aught fro them away saying/ that for our friends souls they pray. Thus must we bear their oppression Whiles to complain there is no remedy The world they have brought in subjection Under their ambitious tyranny. No respect they have to the misery Of us poor gentlemen that be lay saying that for our friends souls they pray. Alas/ is it not a miserable case? To see idle persons void of py●… occupying the lands before our face Which should pertain unto us of ducte. They have richesses/ and we calamity Their honour increased/ ours must de●… saying that for our friends souls they pray●… ¶ The husbandman. Sir/ god give you good morrow I perceive the cause of your sorrow And most lamentable calamity. Is for the oppression intolerable Of thes monsters so uncharitable Whom men cast the spiritualty. Truth it is/ ye poor gentlemen are By their craftiness made needy and bare Your lands with holding by violence How be it we husbandmen every where Are now in worse condition far As it may be marked by experience. ¶ gentleman. In worse case? nay/ that can not be so For look over the hole world to and fro Namely here in our own region. And thou shalt find that in their hands Remaineth the chief lordships and lands Of poor gentillmens' possession. They have our ancestors livelihood and rents Their principal fearmes and tencamentes With temporal freedoms and liberties. They have gotten unto their kingdoms Many noble baronries and ●…rldemes With esquyres lands and knights fees. ¶ Husbondeman. notwithstanding yet they say prceysely That your Auncerers gave to them freely such worldly dominion and lyulood. ¶ gentleman. Freely quoth a●…nay/ that is but feigned For they were certainly thereto constrained By their covetous deceit and falsehood ¶ husbandman. How did they your annceteres compel: ¶ gentleman. Marry in threatening the pains of hell And sharp punishment of purgatory. Where to burn/ they made them believe Except they would unto them give part of their substance & patrimony. ¶ Husbondeman. But how would they deliver them frothence: ¶ gentleman. As they said by their prayers assistance Which with boosting words they did allow ¶ husbandman. Prayer? god give her a shameful represe For it is the mdost bribering these. That ever was/ I make god a vow. For by her the clergy without doubt Robbeth the hole country round about Both comones and estates none except. I wot they have prayed so long already That they have brought the land to begg●… And all th●…nes clean away 〈◊〉 epte. What soever we get with sweat and 〈◊〉. That prolle they away with their prayer saying they pray for our soul's 〈◊〉 But is their prayer nor 〈◊〉 avayling To the dead souls/ than to the lining So is it not worth a ro●…en aye. ¶ gentleman. To the souls departed it is not profitable For why/ those that are in case damnable No assistance of prayer can attain. And as for purgatory there is none Although there be clerks many one Which to seek it take moche pain. ¶ husbandman. Than I would their praying were at an end For if they pray long thus so god me mend They shall make the land worse than nought. But now I will rehearse seriously How we husbandmen full piteously Unto miserable wretchedness are brought. first when england was in his flowers Ordered by the temporal governors knowing no spiritual jurisdiction. Than was there in each state and degree abundance and plenteous prosperity Peaceable wealth without affliction. Nobleness of blood/ was had in price Virtuousness avaunced/ hated was vice Princes obeyed/ with due reverence. Artificers and men of occupation Quietly wan their sustentation Without any grief of needy indigence. We husband men like wise prosperously occupying the feats of husbandry Hyerd fearmes of price competent. Whereby our lyninge honestly we wan And had enough to pay every man Helping other that were indigent. Till at the last the ravenous clergy Through their craftiness and hypocrisy Gate to them worldly domination. Than were we overcharged very sore Our fearmes set up daily more and more With shameful price in such a fashion. That we pay more now by half the sum Than a fore times we did of custom holding aught of their possession. Beside this/ other contents of bribery As paying of tithes/ open and privy And for hearing of confession. Also presies duties and clerks wages buying of pardons and freres quarterages With churches and altars reparation. All our charges can not be numbered Wherewith we are greatly accumbered Over whelmyd with desolation. We tourmoyle ourselves night and day And are fain to drink whygge and whey For to maintain the clargyes facciones ¶ gentleman. This were a great shame to be known saying half the realm is their own That they charge you with such exactions. Me thinketh so to do is no small crime For they kept as good houses a fore time Whiles their feanne hyers' was ferrelesse. ¶ Husbandman. Ye/ more plenteous houses a great deal How be it in hindering the comone 〈◊〉 eale They use also this practise doubtless. Where as poor husband men afore season according unto equity and reason House or land to fearme did desire. Without any difficult they might it get And yet no higher price was there up set Than good conscience did require. But now their ambitious suttlete Maketh one fearme of two or three Ye some time they bring. vi. to one. Which to gentlemen they let in farmage Or else to rich merchants for advantage To the undoing of husbandman ●…ch one. Whereby the comones suffering damage The holelande is brought into rerage As by experience ye may well see. Thus is the wealth of village and town With the fame of honourable renown Fallen into my scrable poverty. Plentnous households hereby are dekayde relief of poor people is away strayed Allmes exiled with hospitality. By such means/ all thing waxeth dear complaint of subiecres crying far and ne●… Oppressed with grenous calamity. ¶ gentleman. Truly thou showest the very abuse Nevertheless concerning our excuse Why we gentlemen fearmes occupy. The principal occasion is only this That our patrimony given away is Unto thes wolves of the clergy. By whose oppression we are so beggared That necessity hath us compelled With fearmes such shift to make. For asye husbandmen can well understand touching expenses and charges of the land They disdain any part with us to take. ¶ Husbandman. Ye by saint mary/ I you warrant In such cases/ their aid is very scant Making courtesy to do any good. Let the realm go what way it will They having ease/ and their belies full Regardelitle the comone weal by the road If princes demand their succour or aid This answer of them is comonely said We are poor bedemen of your grace. We pray for your disceaced auncetryes For whom we sing masses and dirigees To secure their souls in needful case. ¶ gentleman. Oh/ they afford prayers good cheap saying rather many masses by heap Than to give a poor man his dinner. Wherefore as thou saidest/ so god help me I see of their praying no commodity Nether a●…untage in any manner. For why with in thes. iiij. hundred year Through out christendom was not a free●… Of thes/ whom we mendicantes call. And sith that time divers facciones Of collegianes/ monks and chanones Have spread this region over all. Also of priests/ were not the tenth part Which as they say/ have none other ar●… But for us worldly people to pray. And yet the world is now far worse As every man feeleth in his poorsse Than it was at that time I dare say. Wherefore the truth openly to betryde I would they should lay their praying a side And give themselves to labour bodily. ¶ H●…sbandman. It were hard to bring them thereto Utterly refusing any labour to do Because they are people ghostly. ¶ gentleman. Were not the apostles ghostly also? ¶ Husbandman. Yes sir/ but it is solonge ago That their living is out of memory. ¶ gentleman. We find it well in the new testament. ¶ Husbandman. The clergy say/ it is not convenient For lay-men therewith to be busy. ¶ gentleman. Wottest thou wherefore they do that? ¶ husbandman. In faith sir I conjecture somewhat And I suppose I do not m●…che err. Might men the scripture in English read We secular people should than see in deed What Christ and the apostles lives were. Which I doubt nothing are contrary Unto the living of our clergy S●…uyn to pomp●…us idleness every where. whose abomination ones known Their pride should besone over thrown And few would their statelynes for bear. ¶ Gentyllman. Thou hyttest the nail upon the heed For that is the thing that they dread Lest scripture should come unto light. God commanded man in the beginning With sweat of visage to win his living As Moses in his first book doth write. And as Mark sayeth in the. vi. chapter Christ here upon earth was a carpenter Not dysdayninge an occupation. Also the disciples universally With their hands laboured busyly Exchewing idle conversation. ¶ Husbandman. Our clergy live nothing after their rate ¶ gentleman. No/ they seek idly to anaunce their estate And to be had in reputation. ¶ Husb●…ndman. Are they worldly 〈◊〉 ●…ely to say the tr●…the? ¶ Gentyllman. So god help me I●…e we none of both As it appeareth by their fashion. For in matters of worldly business The clergy have much more ●…tresse Than temporal men I ensure the. The lands of lords and dukes to possess They abash not a whit the seculernes challenging titles of worldly honour But is the realm in any necessity Where as they should condescend of ducte To stand by their prince with succour Than to be of the world they deny saying that their help is spiritually From the world making a separation. ¶ Husbandman. Whiles they use such craftiness to contrive The temporalty ought them to deprive Of their worldly domination. And even as they say that they are ghostly So without any assistance worldly To live ghostly they should have no let. ¶ gentleman. That were an expedient medicine according unto saint Paul's doctrine Qui non laborat/ non manducet. notwithstanding their power is so strong That whether they do right or wrong They have their own will without fail. Their enormities so far out breaketh That all the world against them speaketh But alas man what doth it avail: ¶ husbandman. The remedy that I can imagine Were best that we together determine To get us to london incontinent. Where as it is here for a suretetolde The king with his nobles doth hold A general counsel or parliament ¶ gentleman. What wouldest thou that we should do there? ¶ husbandman. The constraint of our misery to declare Under a meek form of lamentation. ¶ gentleman. So should we be sure of such answers As were made unto the poor beggars For their piteous supplication. Against whom the clergyes reasons nought worth The souls of purgatory they brought forth The beggars complaint to discomfit. Wherefore against our petition I the tell They would bring out all the devels in hell For to do us some shameful despite. ¶ husbandman. And was there none other way at all But the sonles of purgatory to call In aid and assistance of the clergy. ¶ gentleman. It was the surest way by saint Ihone For had they to plain scripture gone I wousse they had be taken tardy. The beggars complaint was so grounded That the clergy had be confounded Had they not to purgatory hasted. ¶ husbandman. Where said they purgatory should be? ¶ gentleman. By scripture they showed no certente Albeit with stout words they it faced. Even like unto the man/ which meant A certain strange island to invent But when he sawe●… could it not fynd●…. Lest his wit & travail should seem in vain Report of other men he began to fain The simplicity of rude people to blind. But touching our communication There is another consideration Which somewhat more troubleth my mind. Thou knowest that in the parliament The chief of the clergy are resident In a marvelous great multitude. whose fierce displeasure is so terrible That I judge it were not possible Any cause against them to conclude. As for this ones we shall not be herd And great men I tell the are a feared With them to have any doing. Whosoever will against them contend Shall be sure of a mischief in the end Is he genttllman lord or king. And that unto king John I me report With other princes & lords a great sort Whom the chronicles express by name. Whiles they were a live they did them trouble And after their death with cruelness double They ceased not their honour to diffame. Did not they so long strive a wrestle Against the good knight sir John oldecastle Other wise called lord of ●…obham. That from high heresy unto treason They brought him to final destruction With other many a noble man. Moreover at saint Edmundes bury some say That the famous prince duke Humfray By them of his life was abbreviate. sith that time I could reckenmo Whom they caused to be dispatched so peraventure some of no low estate. ¶ The husbandman. Their tyranny is great without fail Nevertheless if we would them assail With arguments of the holy gospel. They should n●… be ones able to resist For the words of our saviour christ Should stop them were they never so fell. Who in the. twenty-three. chapter of saint Luke To their great confusion and rebuke forbiddeth secular ambition. Wherein he himself example gave contemning worldly honour to have Of this world claiming no kingdom. Also when his disciples forth he sent He commanded them to be content With food and apparel necessary. Whereto saint Paul's doctrine according saith: having mea●… d●…inke and clothing We should no thing cover super●…uosly. ¶ gentleman. If the holy gospel allege we should As strong heretic sta●…e us they would Unto their church disobedient. For why they have commanded straightly That none under great pain be so hardy To have in english the testament. Which as thou knowest at London The bishop making ther●… sermon With shameful blasphemy was bre●…. ¶ Husbondeman. Alas that cruelty goeth to my heart Wherefore I fear me we shall all sm●…rt At length with bitter punishment. ¶ gentleman. Undouted it is greatly to be feared Lest the hole region shallbe plagued For their outrageous blasphemy. In king Henry's days of that name the fift The clergy their pride above to life Persecured christian brothers heinously. The gospel of Christ a side to cast Which at that time prospered fast. With all their puissance they did conspire. Every where they threw them in presones In sharp gales/ and horrible doungeones Causing many to be brent in fire. Their furious malice never stinted Till they had the light out quenched Of the gospel and holy scripture. Whereof all books that they could get They caused on a fair fire to be set To expel god's word doing their cure. But consider what there of did chance Most terrible plagues of fearful vengeance And endless sorrow to our nation. For within short season after they lost Which many a man's life did cost In france their domination. Among themselves most hateful mourdre Many strong battles/ one after another With great effusion of english blood. Friend against frede/ brother against brother. Every man at variance with other The realm long season in mischief stood●… ¶ husbandman. This is now a days clean out of mind ¶ gentleman. I pray god/ hereafter we do not find The same vengeance for like offence For as it is in the bible plainly red God left never land yet unpunished Which against his word made resistance. ¶ husbandman. Well sir/ if scripture ye forth bring I beseech you/ what is their answering Are they so bold god's word to deny: ¶ gentleman. ●…aye but after their imagination They make there of an interpretation Unto the text clean contrary They allege the pope's authority Customs of ancient antiquity With divers counseiles approbation. Also the holiness of religious fathers With the blood shedding of martyrs For their churches preservation. Beside that continuance of years Miracles of bishops/ monks and freres Whom for special patrons they hold. And finally to make a conclusion In fortefyenge their abusion Other practises they use many fold. They resort to lords and great estates With whom they are daily check mates Ye to say therrouthe their soucraynes. Where among other communication They admonish them with protestation To beware of thes heretics Lutherans. Whom they say is a sect new fangled With execrable heresies entangled ●…inge the churches perdition. Which our fore fathers as wise as we Were content with humble simplicity To honour/ obeying their tuytion. Also none presumed till now a late Against the clergy to bear any hate Or grudged at their possession. ¶ husbandman. By saint marry sir/ that is a stark lie I can show you a work by and by Against that point making objection. Which of warantyse I dare be bold That it is above an hundred year old As the english self doth testify. Whe●… the author with arguments S●…th against the lordships & rents Of the clergy possessed wrongfully. ¶ gentleman. Is itso old as thou dost here express Reproving their pompous lordliness So is it than no new found heresy. ¶ husbandman. No! but alas/ half the book we want Having no more left than a remanant From the beginning of the. vi. chapter verily. ¶ gentleman. As for that it maketh no matter Begin hardly at the sixth chapter reading for the to the end seriously. For though old writings apere to be rude Yet notwithstanding they do include The pith of a matter most fructuously. ¶ husbandman. To read it I shall be diligent Though the style be nothing eloquent With ornate speech set out curiously. ¶ Here followeth an old trearyse made about the time of king richard the second. WHere as the clergy perceiveth that lordliness & worldly dominion can not be borne out biscripture/ them fly they to arguments of men's persuasion saying after this manner saint Huge & saint Swithune were thus lords/ & in this they ensued Christ's living & his doctrine/ therefore we may be lawfully thus lords. But I wot well that Gabriel shall blow his horn or they have proved the minor. That is/ that thes saints or patrons in this sued the doctrine or the life of jesus Christ. And of this thou mayst see that such arguments that are not clothed with Christ's lining or his teaching/ beright nought worth all though the clerks blind with them much folk in that world. But here have Inoleyser to tell though I could/ what chefesaunce and costs the church maketh and what wars they hold to continue this fymony and heresy so unavisely brought in to the church. And yet they seek all the ways thereto that they can. Ye in so much that they go openly armed in to the field to kill christian men/ for to get and hold such lordship. And notwithstanding saint Peter was so poor that he had nether gold nor silver as he saith in the Acts of the apostles. And his other worldly good Act. iij. he left/ when he began to sue Christ. And as tow ching the title of worldly law that he had to such worldly goods/ he made never cley me ne never received after any worldly lordship. And yet they call all their hole kingdom saint Peter's ground or lordship. And therefore saint bernard writeth to Engenie the pope saying. If thou wilt be a lord/ seek by another Lib●…. ij way to attain it/ but not by this apostles right For he may not give the that he had not/ that he had he gave/ the which was business upon churches. Whether he gave lordship or no/ here what he saith. Be ye not lords in the clergy/ but be ye made form and example off i Petri. Christ's flock. And lest ye trow this be not said of troth take keep what Christ saith in the gospel. The kings of heathen have lordship upon them/ forsot he ye not so. See how plain lie lordship is foreboden to all apostles/ for if thou be a lord how darest thou take upon the apostleship/ or if thou be a bishop/ how darest thou take upon the lordship? plainly thou art forbode both. And if thou wilt have both to get her thou shalt lose both/ and be of the n●…mber/ of which god ple●…h by the prophet 〈◊〉 saying. They reigned but not by me sayeth god. And if we hold that/ that is forboden/ here we that is boden of christ. He that is greatest of you see that he be made as younger in simpleness/ and he that is afore goere look he be as a servant. This is the form of apostles life/ lordships forbode and service is boden this sayeth saint Bernerdethere. And therefore no man may put another ground besides that that is put which is Christ Iesu. But yet I wot well that clerks and religious fol●…ke that love ●…nkyndly these lordliness will gloze here & say/ that they occupre not such lordships in proper as secular lords do/ but in comone/ like as the apostles & perfit people died in the beginning of Christ's church as w●…yteth Saynot Luke in the fourth chapter of the Acts of the apostles/ the which had all things in comone/ like as such clerks and religious say they have now. In tokeninge whereof no man said of any thing at that time/ this is mine/ so our clerks and namely rely gyous people whon they will speak in terms of their religion. A private person will not say this or this is mine/ but in parson of all his brethren he will say/ this is ours. And over this they say more s●…elly that they occupy not this by title of secular lordship/ but by title of perpetual allmes. But what ever thy people say here/ we mo●…e take heed to the rule of proof that faileth not. The which rule Christ teacheth us in the gospel in divers places/ where he sayeth/ believe ye the works. For why by their works ye shall know they. And this rule is wonder needful to a man that hath a do with any man of the pharisees conditions. For as Christ sayeth Math. twenty-three. They say but they do not. And so as Christ's works bear witness of him as he himself sayeth/ and showeth what he was and how he lived/ so the deeds and manner of living/ or the thing in itself bearyth witness with out fail how it standeth among them in this point. And if we take heed thus by this rule we shall see at our eye how the clergy sayeth other wise than it is in deed. For in some place in private parson/ and in some place in comone or parson aggregate/ which is all one as saint Austyne sayeth upon the psalter/ the clergy occupieth the secular lord ship secularly/ & so in propere. For in the same manner wise as that baron/ or the knight occupieth and gower nyth his baronrye or his knights fe/ so after the amortesyenge occupieth the clarcke/ the monk/ or Cannon/ the College or Conuente/ the sa me lordship & governeth it by the same laws in judgement & punishing as presonning and hanging with such other worldly turmenting the which some time belonged to the secular arm of the church. Ye oft times we may see ho we they busy themselves to be kings in their own/ and rejoice them full moche in that civilyte or secularite if they may get it. And this is an evidence that they would gladly be kings of all the realm or the world. For where their lands & secular men's franchise are together they strive who shall have the gallows/ or other manner torments for fela●…nes. They keep also under bondage their tenants and their issue with their lands. And this is the most civility or secular lordshyppinge that any king or lord hath on his renauntes And therefore we may see how they cleyme in their goods a manner of proper possession contrary to the c●…monnynge of the comone goods in time of the perfit men in the beginning of Christ's church. And so what so ever the clergy sayeth the deed showeth well that they have not their goods in comone like as Christ with his apostles and perfit men had in the beginning of Christ's church. For in holding or having of their goods/ is property of possession and secular lordshippinge. The which standeth not with the plenty of chri stes perfection in priests as it sueth of this pro cease and of that/ that is declared before. And as for that o●…her gloze that clerks have here/ where they say that they hold thes lordships by title of perpetual alms. But here ye shall understandeth at mercy or alms is a will Alms. of relieving of some wretch out of his mies seize as Lyncolniensis sayeth in the beginning of his dicris. So that if a man should effectually Dicto. 〈◊〉 do alms he must look to whom he should do alms to/ were in my seize and had need to be relieved. In tokeninge whereof/ christ only assigneth alms to those/ in whom he marketh my seize. And so here of this it will sue/ that if a man will relieve one wretch and make another or ●…o/ he doth none alms/ but rather maketh misease. And much more he doth none all mess if he make rich those persons that have no need. For as much as they be sufficient to themselves/ this hath no colour of alms. For this may be better called a woodness or a wasting of gods goods. And over this if a man take those goods/ the which god in the best wise even and with out errors hath assigned to the state of secular lords/ and give those goods to another people that hath no need of them/ ye to the which people such goods are forfendid. This should be called no alms/ but perverting of god's ordinance/ and the destruction of the state of secular lords the which god hath approved in his church. For as saint Paul sayeth. Alms deed should be ruled so the ij. Cori. viij. it were relieving to those the receive it. And much rather it should not be undoing of those that do it. And therefore Christ teacheth in the gospel to do alms of the things that be needles or super fluite. And in this deed a man should have regard Qd superest da te ●…lemo sinan. Luce. xiv. to the need of him that he doth alms to and to the charge of his own house. What alms was it then I pray you/ to undo the state of the Emperor/ and to make the clerks rich with his lordships/ namely sith Christ confirmed to the Emperor his state/ with though things that long thereto/ notwithstanding at that time the emperor was heathen. And he hath forfended expressly his clergy in word & in example such lordship. And as this was no allmes/ so we moat say of other kings/ duke's and earls/ barons and knights that are undone hereby/ & the clerks made rich and worldly lords with their goods. And though it had be so that the clergy might have occupied thus worldly lordship/ & also though it had be no destruction nor appeyring of any other state/ yet it had be no allmes for to give to them such goods/ wherefore it may be rightfully said. No man may put another ground besides that is put/ which is Christ Iesu. Here we may see by the ground of the gospel and by the ordinance of christ/ that the clergy was sufficiently purveyed for livelihood. For god is so perfit in all his wercking/ that he may ordain no state in his church but if he ordain sufficient livelihood to the same state. And this is open in god's law who so taketh heed/ and that under every law of god/ as under the law of innocency and of kind/ under the law given by Moses and also under the law given by chri ste. In the time of the state of innocency we know well by believe the god had so ordained for man kind that it should have had livelihood enough without any tedious labour And of the law of kind/ christ speakyth in the gospel say Mat. u●… saying thus All things the ye will that other men do to you/ do ye to them. And if this law had be kept there should no man have been mischievously needy. And in the time of the law given by Moses'/ god made a full and a sufficient ordinance for all his people how & where by they should live. For he dealed the land among the lay people and he assigned the first fruits & tithes to the priests & deakenes. And all though that he would that theridamas should be all way poor-men in the land of ysraell/ yet he made an ordinance Seu●…e. 〈◊〉. against mischievous need. And commanded all the people that there should be in no wise a needy man and a beggar among them as it is written. And so in this law he ordained sufficiently enough for his people. And in the time of the new law christ assigned the secular lordships to temporal lords as it is taught before/ And allowed the commonty her livelihood gotten by true merchandise & husboundrye & other crafts. And in word & ensample he taught his priests to be proctors for needy people & poor at the rich men/ & specified thes poor/ & taught how they that were mighty/ should make a purveyance for such poor folk that they were not constrained by need for to beg/ as great clerks mark upon thes words of the gospel where christ sayeth thus. When thou makest thy feast/ that is of allmes/ call poor people/ feeble/ lame & blind▪ He sayeth not let such poor-men Luc●…. xiv. call upon thee/ but call thou upon them meaning in that/ that thou shouldest make a purveyance for such people/ that they be not mischievously fa●… tie. And for the clergy he ordained sufficiently/ reching them in word and ensample how they should hold them appaid with livelihood and hyling ministered to them/ for their true labour in the gospel as it is written before. Of this than thou mayst see how god in all his laws hath sufficiently ordained for all the stars that be founded and approved And how it is against the goodness and wisdom of god/ to ordain any state/ but if he ordained sufficient livelihood thereto. sith than this ordinance of god was sufficient as well for the clergy as for other men it seemeth a foul presumption to bring in a new & a contrary ordinance of livelihood for clerks upon the ordinance that Criste hath made for them before. Of the which ordinance/ the clergy full many years after the beginning of Christ's church/ when it was best governed/ held them well a paid. For this meaneth that Christ's ordinance was insufficient/ and worthy to be undone And if we take good heed/ they had no more need to pl●…y ne them of this ordinance/ than had the other two states of his church/ which unto this day hold them a paid with this ordinance of christ/ were it fully kept. And more sekirnes & ensuraunce may no man make of any thing than christ hath of his livelihood to the clergy For christ not only affirm to the people that he will not fail them in livelihood and hylinge/ but also proveth this by arguments that may not be assoiled/ So that they be true servants to him. For christ meaneth thus in his arguing there. sith god faileth nor birds and lyles and grass that groweth in the field/ neither herhen men. How moche rather shall he not fail his true servants? And so this purneaunce of perpetual alms that our clerks speak of/ meanyth fault of believe & despair of the gracious governance of god. sith than as it is said before/ it is no allmes to relieve one wretch & to make another or moo/ & to make they rich with temporal lordship/ the which be ne forfended to such people & namely if such alms giving be destroying or appeyringe of any state approved by God in his church/ it willsue that the endowing of the clergy with worldly lordship/ aught not to be called allmesse/ but rather all a miss/ or wasting of gods goods or destroying of his ordinance/ for as much as the clergy was sufficiently ordained be Christ. For why/ this alms that clerckes speak of here/ made many wretches & it was given to them that had no need. And ●…s it is em●…y 〈◊〉 not only of one estate of the church/ but of all 〈◊〉 of the which I spoke in the begining. And so this alms giving hath made all our realm needy/ ye and as I suppose fullnygh all christendom full poor & needy and mischievous over that it should have been if the clergy had held them a paid with Christ's ordinance. But now thou rough this perpetual all a miss/ that the clerks call alms/ Christ's ordinance is undone in some lands holly and in England for that more party & it is likely to be all undone in process of tyme. For by a mortesy enge of lordships/ the lords be yndone in great party. And many noble men because they lack their own part through foolish gift of their ancestors be full needy. furthermore it may be understand of this process/ that withdrawing of this lordships from the clergy & restoring again of them to the states that god hath assigned them to/ should not be called robbery of holy church as our clerks say/ but rather rightwise restitution of good wrongfully & theefly with old. And therefore there may none oath or vow bind any man to maytayne this theft & destruction of god's ordinance/ & this great harming of Christ's church. As the vow of jepte should not have bound him to kill & sacrifice his own daughter. Ne the oath of Herod should not have bound him to kill innocent Ihon. But as jepte should a broken his oath or vow & have offered another thing that had been pleasing to god & according with his law: As saint Austyne sayeth upon the same story. So Herode should have broken his oath & a saved innocent blood & sore a repented him for his unavysed swearing. And so should lords now a days break they: oaths that they have unavysely & without counsel of holy scripture sworn to maintain this theefte/ ye heresy & simony as it is proved before/ the which our clerks call perpetual alms And not sue their foolish deeds & oaths that they have made to maintain this mischievous perverting of chhristes ordinance. For as the sta te of the clergy hath no power or leave/ to make the people or lords to sin deadly or to destroy gods ordinance in his church. So they have no leave or power of god to counceile or to ●…oke well ●…ponthis ●…ason constrain in any case the lords or the people to swear for to maintain this endowenge of the clerks & religious folk/ which is full great theft heresy & simony/ & wonder harmful to chri stes church as it is showed in this process & in other written before. But the lords specially should see here/ what were pleasing not to these clerks/ but to god/ & that should they do. For her to they be bound by virtue of their office up pain of damnation. And there may no no man dispense with them of that bound standing her sta te. For no man should put another ground besides that/ that is put which is christ Iesu. And therefore men dame it a great sin to give land entailed by men's law from the parson or kindred that it is entailed to/ ye although it be so that the parson or kindred that such land is given to be needy & have leave by god's law to occupy such manner land or lordship. And this is deemed full great sin among the people not only to the giver but also to the taker. For both they do damnable wrong to him that it is entailed to/ as the people deem ye although it be given for good and true service that the receiver hath done to the giver before/ or else by way of alms of relieving of the perone or kindred that it is given to. How moche rather than I pray you without compa rison is it a greater sin/ as well to the reacey ners as to the givers/ to take the lordships/ the which god that hath full lordship upon all the world hath given by perpetual law or right to the state of secular lords/ and give this from the state to the which god entailed this lordship to another strange people off another line/ the which had never need/ ne leave of god to occupy it. And if priests cleymetythes because god granted them to the kindred of levy/ yet their argument is void. For Christ came of the lineage of juda/ to which line was no tithes granted and so as men suppo se this entail was not confirmed by christ & his apostles to the priests in the new law. Polic●… Lib. seven. For Gregory the tenth ordained first tithes to be paid to curates only. And yet they clcyme so forforthe tithes that no man may lawfully with hold them or minister than save they. Ne they may be turned or given to any other state or kindred save only to them. All though men would do that under colour or by title off perpetual allmes. For this should be deemed of the clergy a damnable sin and destroying of holy church and sacrilege. How moche rather is it then an hideous & damnable sin/ to give or to take away the secular lordship pes from the state of secular lords/ the which god had given and entailed to them by the same law and right/ by the which he had given the tithes to the priests in the old law. And this entail was never interrupt nor broken unto Christ's time & his holy apostles. And than they confirmed this entail by law so strong to the secular part that no man (save Antichrist & his disciples) may openly impungne this entail as it is showed before. And so as no man should presume to withdraw with hold or turn the tithes from the state of priesthood/ as they say/ so moche rather should no man presume by giving or taking to alien the temporal lordships from the state of secular lords. And thus clerks have nor so much colour to say that the lords and the lay people rob them for as much as they take their temperalties in to the hands of the clergy hath never the less malice in itself. For as more che as it is done by simulation of holiness/ the which is double wickedness. For thus Lucifer rob Adam both of goods of fortune/ of kind and Gene. iij yet doth the church of thes three manner goods. For right as lucifer did this harm to Adam & Eve under colour of love & friendship & helping of them: so do now his angel's/ those hypocrites that tranfigure themselves into angels of light/ & deceive the people by false behest of heavenly help that they will procure to them for their goods as they say/ & if a bishop & his college oe an abbate & his convent may not alien fro them any of the temporalties that they have/ nor give to their founder any of those possessions that he hath given them/ what need that ever he have/ bound 〈◊〉 by a posityfe law or a tradition that they themself save made. And if any foche lord ships be withdrawn/ aliened/ or taken fro th●… by retchlessness of their predecessoures'/ they aught on all wise/ ye to the death labour to get the possessiones in to their hands again as they say: How much more than should not a secular lord or a lay al●…ne fro him and his issue or fro the state of secular lords/ the secular lordship pes the which god hath limited to that state/ sith he is bound by the law of kind to ordain for his children. And ou●… this he is bound by gods law to sustain the state of secular lords/ the which is auctory said in the church and his aposiles. Of this process than if a man take heed he shall perceive the fals●…s of this glose/ when our clerks and religions folk say that they hold these lordships only by title of perpetual allmes. For certis sith these tithes and offerings the which as I suppose countervail the secular lords re●…s of the realm or else pass as it is full lyely/ for though they belesse in one chirde they pass in another and be sufficient for all the poi●… in ●…istendome if they were 〈◊〉. Than it were no need to 〈◊〉 see secular lordships to the sta te of the clergy. The which amortesyenge is undoing of lords/ apost●… of the 〈◊〉. And if this amor●…enge were not needful/ then were it no allmes as it is declared. And over the tithes and offerings that be now off certeyn●…e/ the clerckee have many great & small perquysytis/ the which sma●… of simony and ●…cion. As the first fruits of 〈◊〉 benefices/ proving of testaments and money for halowenge of chapels/ churches/ chancels/ and other ornaments of the church/ and for sa cringe of orders/ and full many more that for multitude may not well be numbered. For wellnigh all their blessings be set to sale and to prijs/ in to chrystening and confumation. Wherefore I may now say as I said at the begynnige. No man may put another ground besides that/ that is put/ the which is Christ jesus The which ground of living christ grant us to keep that we may escape the everlasting pains of hell. AMEN. ¶ The husbandman. Loo/ now by this treatise may ye well see That af●…etymes against the spiritualty Men did inveigh/ shewing their vices. Also here after this author dorhe test. What great jeopardy it is and peril For priests to be in secular offices. Ye/ and rolordes which against right Suffer them therein or thereto excyte Proving it by their own doctors & laws ¶ gentleman. I besechethe read forth the process That the people may see their unhappenesse Which make all the world fools & daws. ¶ saint Eipriane sayeth that by the counceile of bishops there is made a statute/ that all that been ●…ist. xxi. 〈◊〉. iij. ca ●…ipriane charged with priesihede & ordained in the service of clerfes/ should not serve but to the altar and to minister the sacraments/ to prcache gods word / & to tale heed to prayers and orysones. It is for sorhe written. No man bearing his knighthosde to god: entryketh him with secular needs. The which our bishops & our predecessors beholding religiously & purueing handsomely/ dame that whosoever taketh ministers of the church/ from spiritual office to secular/ that there be none offering done for him/ ne any sacrifice ho lowed for his sepulture. For they deserve not to be named before the altar of god in the prayer off priests/ the which will clep●… away priests & ministers of the church from the altar. Thus sayeth saint Cipaiane. Here men may see how perilous it is to the king & secular lords to with hold any priest of christ in secular business. This is proved thus. For every secular lord by the law of the gospel is god's bailie. But if any bailie hired a worclman with his lords good and put him to his own service/ he must be untrue to his own lord. Right so is any secular lord to our lord Christ jesus/ but if he amend him/ that taketh a priest and putteth him in his secular office breafinge the heest of his lord god that commandeth/ thou shalr coveyet none other man's servant. And he with draweth him fro the service of god and fro the keeping of chri sten men's souls/ that which he hath taken charge of/ for which souls our lord jesus Christ took flesh and blood & suffered hard death/ & shed his own heart blood. This pardous dying of secular lords is both against god's law and man's. It is against gods law for as saint Paul saith. No man that is a perfit ij. Chi. ij knight of god/ as every priest should be by his order/ entromedleth him with worldly deades & business. And for this end that he may so please the lord to whose service he hath put himself/ & that is good. For such worldly business in clerks is against their order. And therefore the apostles said as it is written in the deeds of the apostles/ it Acto. vi is nor even/ us to leave the word of god & minister to boards of poor folk. And if it was unequi te as the apostles said in their comone decree/ them for to leave the preaching of god's word/ and minister to the boards of poor folk: How moche more unequite and wrong to god and man is it/ preastes to leave contemplation/ study/ prayer and preaching of gods worand ministering to poor folk for the servyce of a secular lord? It is also against the Pope's law/ for he speaketh to a bishop and biddeth him that he warn preastes and clerks/ Lin. iij. de ●…e. in fine that they be not occupied in secular offices ne procurators of secular lords deeds & her goods. And if presies and clerks be so bold to occupy them in such business and if they fall after by loss of lords goods/ then sayeth the law it is not worthy that they be holpen & succoured of holy church/ sith through their holy church is slandered. And saint Gregory wrote to the defensoure of Rome in this manner. It is told to us that our most reverent brother Sasyle the bishop is occupied in secular causes and keepeth unprofitable moot halls. Which thing maketh him foul & destroyeth the reverence of presthood/ therefore anon as thou hast rea ceived this mandment/ compel him with sharp execution to turn a gain. So that it be not leeful to that by no excusation totarye five days/ jest in any manner thou suffer him any longer to tarry there in/ thou be culpable with him against us And so bishops & other priests be bound to teach & inform lords/ to withdraw them fro this sin & sharply to reprove priests & curates under them that they occupy no secular office. This is proved thus by the holy prophet ezechiel saying. If the wait or the watcheman see enemies Ezechie. xxxiij. come/ & if the people be not warned & keep not themselves but enemies come & ●…sle the people/ then sayeth god that the people is take in their wickedness. And of the wait that should have blown his horn god will are accounts & reckoning of the blood & of the death of that people. But now to ghostly understanding/ every bishop should be a wait or a warche man/ totell & warn before to all the people by his good living & reaching the peril of sin/ & this is the reason why bishops & other prelate's and presies should not be occupied with worldly deades & causes. For such occupations & charges make priests sleeping and slomobringe in sin. And therefore it is great peril to make over them ghostly waits and watchmen/ as bishops/ parsons/ vicarres/ that been slepers in lusts of the flesh & in slomebernes and blinded with powder of couctyse of worldly deades that they neither can ne may keep themselves ne no nother man. For of this peril and such other/ a prelate that hath wit and cunning should sharply reprove and warn all manner men to the shedding of his own blood as christ did And if he so leave & blame not then he assen tithe to their trespasses and sinneth deadly. For as sayeth Malach. priests lips keep cunning & the people shall ask the law of god of his Mala. ij mouth/ for he is the Angel of god/ if he keep well the order & degree of presthood. And therefore it is not leeful to any man to draw to secular offices & business the messangeres of christ/ that hath so utterly for fendyd them both in word & dead secular offices in presthood. etc. ¶ Husbandman. Sir how like ye now this oldetreatyse If so be noble men would it advertise putting a part private affection. Should they not perceive here evidently That the clergy doth them great injury Retaining thus temporal possession? ¶ Gentyllman. Now I promise the after my judgement I have not hard of such an old fragment Better grounded on reason with scripture. If such 〈◊〉 things might come to light That noble men had once of them a s●…ght The world yet would change peradventure For here against the clergy can not bercke saying as they do/ this is a new work Of heretics contrived lately. And by this treatise it appeareth plain That before our days men did compleyn●… Against clerks ambition so stately ¶ Husbandman. Concerning this treatise and like matters I have hard say of my fore father's Bow in king henry the. v. reign. What time as ye did specify The clergy persecuted the gospel fiercely Causing moche christen people to be slain The king at the last having information Thourough serious consideration Of such proper matters as this is. Began to note the clergyes tyranny And what temporalties/ they did occupy Their spiritual state far a miss. Wherefore he determined certainly To deprive them temporally Of all their worldly governance. whose pretence/ as soon as they perceived Among themselves they Imagined To get the king over in to france. That whiles he conquered there his right In england do what they list they might Their froward ●…yranny to fulfil. Which counsel/ thus brought to pass The king ever after so busied was That he could not perform his said will. ¶ Gentyllman. So moor I thee/ it was happy for the king That by such a colour they could him bring From meddling with that case any more. For had he it once earnestly begun They had put him to a confusion Euene as they did other kings before. ¶ Husbandman. What suppose ye they would have done? ¶ Gentyllman. Marry/ first with a fair interdyction To course the land as black as pitch. Than to inhybyt saying and singing Of mattyns/ mass/ and bells ringing With christian bury all of poor and rich. Beside that precheres every where Should have brought men in such fere By their threatening exclamation. That their malicious party to take Subgettes should their prince for sake Contrary to god's ordination. Euene as they did in high Germany To the Emperor jews of Baverye Whom Pope john sought to confound And so did the clergy as junderstande Unto king John here in England To king Sreven/ & henry the second. ¶ Husbandman. They say king Ihone was poisoned Because an half penny loaf of brced Besayde/ he would make worth. xij. pence. ¶ gentleman. Tush that is a cast of their common guise Soche infamy of princes to deuy●…e To cloak their own tyrannous violence. For had not king John gene about From their temporalties to put them ow●… Be had been long after a lives man. But murder they never so shamefully They can give it a cloak full craftily saying/ nobis non licer occidere quenq●…▪ When they burned the new testament They pretended a zeal very fervent To maintain only god's honour. Which they said with protestation Was obscured by translation In english/ causing moche error. But the truth plainly to be said This was the cause why they were afraid Lest lay men should know their iniquity. Which through god's word is so uttered That it were not possible to be suffered If to read scripture men had liberty. Also after the same manner a fashion subtly to colour their abomination They destroyed chronicles not long a gone. Which for certain points unreverently Sounding against the kings aunce●…rye As they say/ were brent every eachone. But for all that/ they should have been spared From burning: had they not so declared The clergyes abominable excess. ¶ Husbandman. I suppose then/ that they use the same ways In burning of heretics now a days Whom they pursue with great furyousne●…. ¶ gentleman. No fail/ they persuade temporal men Thes heretics (as they say) to burn Lest other good christians they should ifecte But the cause why they would have them rid Is only that their unhappiness now hid They dread lest they should openly detect ¶ Husbandman. By my troth it is nothing unlickly. For let one live never so wickedly In abominable scandalisation. As long as he will their church obey Not refusing his tithes duly to pay They shall make of him no accusation. howbeit let him once begin to pinch Or withdraw their tithing anynche For an heretic they will him ascite. Wherefore I wonder moche of the temporalty That in performyngethe clargyes cruelty To burn such parsons they have delight. ¶ gentleman It is no marvel if th●…n mark well The clergy saying that it is god's quarrel Their mischievous murder to execute. ¶ Husbandman. So they are not a known by their will That it is their cause christian men to kill But the fault unto other they impute. ¶ Gentyllman. touching that/ another time atleyser I shall show the more of their manner But now I can not ●…ary verily. ¶ H●…sbandman. Well sir/ if ye may no longer abide Our lord be your continual guide Grauntiuge the troth to be known openly. A compendious oldetreatyse/ showing/ how that we ought to have the scripture in english. ¶ Thexcusacyon of the treatise Though I am old/ clothed i barbarous weed Nothing garnished with gay eloquency Yet I tell the troth/ if ye list to take heed Against their froward/ furious frenzy Which reckon it for a great heresy And unto lay people grievous outrage To have god's word in their native language Enemies I shall have/ many a shorn crown With forked caps and gay croosies of gold Which to maynteynether ambitious renown Are glad lay people in ignorance to hold Yet to show the verity/ one may be bold All though it be a proverb daily spoken Who that telleth troth/ his head shallbe brok●…. ¶ Unto the Reader. GRace and peace: not that the world giveth/ but from god the father & our saviour jesus Christ with increase of the holy sprit be with the and all that thirst the truth. Amen. ¶ considering the mal●…ciousnes of our prelatzes & their adherentes which so furiously bark against the word of God/ and specially the new testament translated & set forth by Master William Tyndale/ which they falsely pray tend to be sore corrupt. That ye may know that it is only the inward malice which they have ever had against the word of God. I have here put in print a treatise written about the year of our lord a thousand four hundred. By which thou shalt plainly perceive/ that they would yet never from the beginning admit any translation to the lay people/ so that it is not the corrupt translation that they withstand. For if that were true the idle bellies would have had leisure Enough to put forth another well translated. But it is their own mischievous lynyn ge y● monith them according as Christ said john. iij. Every man that worketh evil hateth the light/ ner cometh to the light lest his works should be reproved. etc. Thus mayst thou see that because their works are nought and not because it is evil translated/ they so furiously resist the word of god which is the true light. For yet was there never none translated but other with falsehood or tyranny they put it down. Wherefore I exhort the reder not to consider & note the words but the matter. And pray to god to send the ruler's hearts to understand the truth & further the same and the god of all comfort be with the AMEN ¶ This treatise more than an. C. year old Declareth how hour prelatis do far a miss Which of froward presumption are so bold To forbid the word of god in english For as the prophet saith blessed he is That exerciseth himself diligently Psal. 1. In scripture night and day continually. FOr to make upon antichrist I take figure of king Antioch of who in●… gods law speaketh in the bo●… of Machabeijs/ for right as ●…ge Antioch came in the end wellnygh of the old law/ & brent the books of gods law/ & compelled the people to do maumentry. So now Antichrist the king off clergy that lyven worse than heathen presies/ brēneth now nigh th'end of the new law thenangely of Christ that is nygh●… the end of the world/ to deceive well high all the world/ and to prove the servants of god. For now god shall know who will stand by his law/ for Sathanas as prophets say is now unbound & hath been. CCCC. years and more for to inhabit our clergy/ as he did the clergy of the old law/ but now with moche more malice. For as they d●… Ye may see it is no no uelte●…s that the bishop pes burn the gospel. ned Christ so now our bishops damn and burn god's law/ for because it is drawn into our mother tongue. But it ought to 〈◊〉 (and we saved should be) as we shall prove by open evidence thorough gods help. First we take witness of Bo●…tius de disciplina scolari●…n/ that say the that children should be taught in the books off Seneke. And Bede expoundeth this sayen●… and saith that children in virtues should be taught. For the books of Seneke been morals and for they be not taught thus in there youth they continue still evil mannered & be unable to conceive the subtile science of truth saying/ the wise man is as a clean mirror new polished Wisdom shall not enter into a wicked soul. read robyn hood/ say our masters. And moche is hereof the sentence of Bede. And Algasell in his logic saith/ the soul of man is a clean mirror new pulished in which is sayne lightly the image of virtue. And for the people have not cunning in youth they have dark souls and blind with ignorance/ so that they profit not in virtue but in falseness & malice and other vices/ & moche is thereof the matter. sithen heathen philosophers wolden the people to profit in natural science/ how moche more should christian clerks will the people to profit in science of virtues/ for so would god. For when the law was genen to Moses in the mount of Sinai/ god gave it to his people in their mother tongue of Ebrue/ that all the people should understand it/ & commanded Moses to read it to them until they understood it/ and so he did/ as it is plain Dente. xxxi. And E●…dras also red it in their●… mother tongue/ fro morrow until none as it is plain in the first book of E●…dras Ca viij. And he red it apertly in the street & the ears of the people were intently given thereto/ in so much that the people fell into great weeping for the mis●…es ping of the law. Also gods law saith Deutero. xxij. that fathers should make the law known to their sons/ & the sons that should be borne of them should rise & teach these things to their sons. And that holy apostle saint Peter in the fourth chapter of his first book speaketh after this manner/ saying. Whosoever speak/ speak he as the word of god: & every man as he hath taken grace of knowing/ so minister he forth to other m●… It is written plainly in the book of noumbres Chapter. xi. When the prophet Moses had chosen seventy eldermen/ and the spirit of god rested on them and they prophesied. Two men besides them/ Eldad and Medad/ prophesied in the tents/ & joshua the minister of Moses said to Mos●…s/ forbid thou them. And Moses moses letted no man to prophesy. said/ what enviest thou for me? Who shall let that all the people prophesy/ if god give them his spirit? Also it is red in the gospel that saint John ●…uāgelist said unto Christ/ lord we shall forbid one that casteth out spirits in thy name/ which Luce. ix. followeth not us. And Christ said do not forbid for who so is not against us is with us. And unto the same agreeth well the prophesy of johel which seynct Petre preaching to the jews strongly alleged as Luke reciteth in the second chapter of the acres of the apostles saying after this manner. That god now in the last days shall shed out his spirit vp●… every flesh. But they say only master do ctor can understand the scripture. For god sayeth your sons & daughters should prophesy/ and your young men shall see visions. And upon whit sond●…y god gave knowledge of his law to diverse nations without any exceptions in their mother tongue/ by the understanding of one tongue. And of this it is notabyll sithen the lay people in the old law had their law in their mother tongue/ that the lay english people in the new law have it as all other nations have/ sins Christ bought us as he did other & hath given to us the same grace as to other. For saint Peter. Actu. xi. was reproved for he had baptized Cornelij and his fellows that were heathen men. And Peter answered and said If god have gevyn the same grace to them that he hath to us/ who am Ithat may forbid god? As who saith it lieth not in the power of men. Than who art thou that forbiddest the people to have gods law in their mother tongue? we say that thou art Antichrist himself. For Paul saith. i Corin. x. I will every man to speak with tongues/ more forsooth to prophesy/ also he saith how shall he say Amen upon thy blessing that woteth not what thou sayest. Upon this saith doctor Lyre. If the people understand the prayer of the Here your own master Li ●…e if ye will not here Paul. priest it shall the better be led unto god/ & the more devoutly answer Am●…. Al●…o▪ Paul saith in the same chapter. I will rather five words to be spoken to the understanding of m●…/ then ten thousand that they understand not. And. lxx. doctors with other m●… before the incarnation of christ translated the bible out of Ebrue into Greek. And after the ascension many translated all the bible in diverselangages/ as into spanish tongue/ frenshetunge/ almany/ & italy/ and by many years have had it. It was hard of a worthy man of Almaynye that the same time was a fleming wh●…se name was james Merland which tra●…flated all the bible into flemysh. For which deed he was semonned before the Pope of great malice. And the book was taken to examination. And truly he approved it. And then it was delivered to him again unto confusion of all his enemies. Worshupfull Bede in his first boofe called de ges●…s Anglo●…m. chapter. iij. telleth that saint Oswolde the King of Northumber land asked of the skottes an holy bishop Aidan to preach to his people/ and the king himself interpreted it in english to the people. sithen this blessed dead of this King is allowed of all holy church/ why not now ought it as well to be allowed/ a man to read the gospel in English to the people/ sithen that saint Paul saith if our gospel be hid/ it is hid A fearful saying. in them that shall be dampened. And he saith also he that knoweth not shall not be known of god And therefore venerabilis Bede led by the spirite of god translated a great part of the bible into English/ whose originals been in many Abbeys in England. And Cisterciensis. libro v. chapter. xxiv. saith that the evangely off John was drawn into English by the foresaid Bede which evangely off John and other Gospels been yet in many places of so old english that scant can any english man read them. For this Bede reigned in the year off our lord god. seven. hundred and. xxxij. Also Cistercien. libro. vi. chapter. i. saith that king All red ordyned open scoles of diverse arts in Orforde and he turned the bestlawes into high me their tongue and the Psalter also/ he reigned in the year of our lord god. viij. hundred. lxxi●…. And saint thomas sayth super librum politic●… expounding this word/ barbarus/ that barba rus is he that understondyth not that he readeth in his mother tongue. Wherforethe apostle saith If I know not the virtue of the voice to whom I speak I shallbe to him barbarus/ that is to say/ he understandeth not what I say/ nor I what he saith. And so all though priests that understand not what they readyn by their mother tongue be called barbarus/ and therefore Bede did draw into english liberal arts lest english men should be come barbarus/ he Thomas. Also Lincoln sayeth in a sermon that begynnith/ Scriptum est de levitis. If any priest say he can not preach/ one remedy is/ resign he up his benefice. Another remedy if resign in no wise but upon a good pen zion. he will not thus/ record he in the meek the naked text of the sunday gospel that he have the gross story and tell it to the people/ that is if he understand latin/ and do he this every week in the year he shall profit much. For thus pray ch our lord saying. Ihon. vi. The words that I speak to you be spirit and life. If he do not understand latin go he to one of his neigh bowers that understandeth/ which will charitably expone it to him/ & thus ●…difye he his flock. Upon this argueth a great clerk & faith/ if it be lawful to preach the naked text to the people/ it is also leeful to write & read it to them. Also sir William Thoris by archbishop of York did do draw The same treatise is in the church over against London stone at th●… is hour. a treatise in english by a worshipful clerk/ whose name was Gatryke/ in the which were contained the articles of belene/ the seven deadly sins/ the seven works of mercy/ the. x. commandments. And sent them in small pagines to the common people to learn it and to know it/ of which yet many a copy be in england. Also Richard the hermit of Hampole drew into english the Psalter with a gloze and the lessons of dirige and many other treatices/ by the which many engleshemen have been greatly edified. And they been cursed of god that woldenlet the people to be lewder than they by'r. But many men now be like unto the friends of Hiob/ that whiles they enforced to defend god they offended in him grievously. And though such as be slain do miracles/ nevertheless they been stinking martyrs. This saith Richerd the heremyt expouning this verse/ Ne auferas de ore meo verbum veritatis usquequaque. This prophesy of christ must be fulfilled take heed And Christ saith the men should deem themself to do great pleasant service to god in killing of his people. Arbitretur se obsequium pres●…a redeo. etc. Also a man of london whose name was Wyring had a bible in english of northern speech which was say of many men & it ●…yd to be. CC. years old. Also it is known to many men in the time of king Richerd the .ij. that into a parliament was put a bible by th'assent of. two. archbishops and of the clergy to adnusse the bible that time translated into English with other English books of thexposition of the gospels which when it was hard and sayne of lords and of the comones. The duke of Lancaster Thou answered thereto right sharply saying this sentence/ we will not be refuse of all other nations. For sithen they have god's law which is the law of our belief in there own language/ we will have ours in English whosoever say nay. And this he affirmed with a great oath Also Thomas Arundel archbishop off Canterbury said in a sermon at wes●…mester/ hypocrisy is the nature of all by shops. at the burying of Quiene Anne/ that it was more joy of here than of any woman that ever he knew. For she an alien borne had in enhlishe all the. iiij. gospels with the doctors upon them And he said that she had sent them to him to examen/ and he said that they were good & true. And he blamed in that sermon sharply the negligence of the prelate's and other men. In so much that he said that he would leave up the office of Chancellor and forsake worldly business/ and give him to fulfil his pastoral of fyce/ for that he had seen/ and red in though books. And after this promise he became the most cruel enemy that might be against english Never trust bishop as long as he ke●…eth his possessions books. And therefore as many men say God smo●…e him with a cruel death as he did also Richard fleming bishop of Lincoln. And yet our bishops been so indurate & so far strayed from god that they have no grace one to beware of another/ but proudly against all reasons & evidence of gods laws/ & doctors sentences/ they bren gods word the which hath brought thy 〈◊〉 realm to undoing for ever Where is the ancient blood that was in england in these days. but if gods grace be the more/ for this cruel dead is cause of pestilence/ hunger's/ wars/ and that also this realm shallbe conquered in short time/ as saint Edward the king & confessor prophesyethe in his book that beginneth thus/ Sanctus Edwardus rex vidit spiritualibus oculis. And therefore it were good to the King and to other lords to make some remedy against this constitution of Antichrist that saith it is unlawful to us englishmen to have in english god Et nunc reges intelligite erudimini qui iudicatis terram. des law/ & therefore he brennythe & sleythe them that maintain this good dead/ & that is for default that the king & lords known not ne will not know either own office in maitenance of god and his law. For as saint Austen saith the Ring with his knights representyn the godhead of Christ/ & priests the manhood of Christ/ Rex est vicarius divinitatis/ et sacerdos est vicarius Christi humanitatis/ hec Augustinus in de questionibus veteris et noue legis. ca xci. And if the king desire to know perfitly his of fyce/ he may find men to show to him books that truly & perfitly shall inform him to do his office to the pleasance of god. But this can not he learn of bishops for they inform him after Antichrist's law and ordinance for his laws now reignen. Yet against them bishops will not teach against their god their belly. that say the gospel in english would make men to err/ wot they well that we find in latin language more heretics then of all other languages for the decree. saith. xxiv. xciij. Quidam autem heretici/ that there be founden sixty latin heretics. And if men should hate any language for here sy them must they hate latin. But god forbid that any language should be hated for heresy sithen many heretics were of the disciples of the apos●…les. For saint john saith they have gone out of us but they were not of us. And Paul saith it behooveth heresies to be/ & antichrist maky the ma How Antich●… is can see of all heresies. ny more herctykes than there should be for he stoppythe so the knowing of god's law/ & punisheth so them that he knoweth y● have it/ that they dare not comen thereof openly to have true information/ & this maketh lay men that desiren & lou●… to know gods law to go together in pry●… 〈◊〉 conceiven by their own wits many times heresys the which heresies in shorttyme should be destroyed/ if men might have free comening openly/ & but if this may be had moche of the people shall die in heresy/ for it lieth never in An tichristes power to destroy all english books for as fast as he brennethe/ other men shalt draw/ & thus the cause of heresy and of the people that dieth in heresy is the frowardness of bishops that will not suffer men to have opyn comoning and free in the law of god and therefore they be cowntable of as many souls as dyen in this default/ and are traitors to god in stopping of Is r●… this tur nin●… the roots of the tres vpw●…d his law the which was made in salvation of the people. And now they turn his law by their cruel constitutions into damnation of the people as it shallbe proved upon them at the dayte of doom for gods law saith/ Stabunt justi in magna const●… tia adversus eos qui se angustiaverunt, & qui abstulerunt labores eorum. etc. For that the other Read Sapi●…n vi. &. seven. men laborem they brennen/ & if hour clergy would ●…dy well this lessen of sapi●…ce to the end/ they should mow read therein their own damnation/ bu●… if they amend this default with other defaults. saith not the holy man Ardemakan in the book of questions that the wurshupfull sacrament of the alter may be made in each comen language. For he saith so diden the apostles. But we cover not this/ but the Antichrist give us leave to have the law of ower believe in english. Also they that have commoned moche with the Jews/ say that they have in every land that they be borne in/ the byblein there mothertounge/ that is Hebrew And they be more practysetherin than any men/ ye aswell the lewd m●… as the priests. But it is red in her synagogues amongst the people ofther priests to fulfil their priests office & to the edification of the p●…raile/ that for worldly business & slewthe may not study it. Also the. iiij. enangelistes wrote the gospel in diverse languages/ as Mathewe in jury/ Mark in Italy/ Luke in Achaie/ and john in Asie. And all these wrote in the languages of the same countries/ also T●… buy saith Chap. xiij. that god disperged/ spread/ or scaterid that Jews abroad among the heathen people that they telling unto them the marvels of god: they should know that there were none other god/ but god of Israel. And god or dined his people to believe his law written among them in their mother tongue/ ut patet Goe x. seven. and Exo. xiij. In so much the ●…e of judithe is written in Called speech/ ut patet per Hieronimum in prologo eiusdem. Also the books of Daniel/ and of Esdre been written in Called/ ut patet per Hierom. in prologis eorundem/ all so the book of johel is in Arabyke and Sire speech/ ut patet per Hieroni. in prologo ciusdem. Also ezechiel the prophet prophesied in Babylon/ and left his prophesy under the mother tongue of Babylon/ ut patet per Hieronimum in prologo ciusdem Also the prophesy of isaiah is translated in to the tongue of Ethiope/ as Hie. concludyth in primo prologo Gene. Then sithen the dark prophesies were translated the heathen people that they might have know league of god and of the incarnation of Christ/ much more it ought to be translated to english people that have received the faith and bounden themself to keep it upon pain of damnation/ sithen Christ commanded his apostles Mathei. xxviij. to preach his gospel unto all the world and excepted no people nor language. Also Origen translated the bible out of Hebrew into Greek with help of other in the year of ow●… lord god CCxxxiiij. Also Aquila translated it in thery me of Adrian the emperor in the year of our lord. C. xxiv. also Theodosion translaid it in the time of them perowre Comede. luij. year after Aquila/ also Simacus translated it in the time of them perowre Serene. thirty. year after Theodosion. viij year after Simacus it was translated the auctor unknown yn the time of Alexander the emperor/ And Jerome translated it into latin/ ut in cronicis Cistercien. li. ij. ca xxxij. And after that jerom had translated it into latin/ he translated to women much of the bible. And to the maidens Eustochia and Paula/ hetranslated the books of joshua of judicum and Ruth and Hester/ and Ecclesiastes/ jeremy/ Isai●… and Daniel/ and the. xij. prophets/ and the. seven. canonyke epystylles/ ut patet in prologo eorundem. And so all men may see here by jerom/ that it was never his intent to bind the law of god under his translation of latin but by his own deed gevythe leave to translate it into every spe che/ for jerom wrytythe in his. lxxviij. epistle to this man A●…leta/ that he should inform his daughter in the books of the old law and the new/ Also in his. lxxv. epistle he wrytythe to the virgin D●…metriadis/ that she should for to increase herself in virtue read now upon one book/ and now upon another. And he specifiethe unto her that she also read the gospel/ and the epistylles of the apostles And thus Thenglyshemen But my lords say that it maketh men heretics and perverteth souls. desire to have the law of god in english/ sithen it is called the law undefiled converting souls into cleanness/ lex dni immacula ta convertens animas/ but Antichrist saith that it is corrupt with the literal letter that sleyth Souls taking his authority of Paul/ that saith/ litera occidit spiritus autem vivificat. That is the le●…tre of the ceremonies of the old lawesleyth the jews/ and them that nowe●…sen them/ but the spirit of the new law quykenethe true Christian men/ sithen Christ saith my words been spri●…te and life. Also we take ensample of holy virgins to love to read the gospel as they d●…den/ as ●…atheryn/ Cecyle/ Luc●…/ Agnes/ Margaret/ which alleged the holy gospel to the infidels/ that slew them for the keeping thereof. Of these foresaid aucto rites it is proved laufu●…l/ that both men and women lawfully may read and write gods law in their mother tongue/ and they that forfenden this they show themselves heyers and sons of the first tormentors/ and worse/ for they shown themselves the very dis●…les of Antichrist/ which hath and shall pass all the malice of tyrants that have been before in stopping and perverting of god's law which dead engendrythe great vengeance to fall in this realm/ but if it be amended For Paul saith Roma. i. The wrath of god is showed from heaven upon cruelness & unright fullness of these men that with holden the truth of god in unright wysnes/ Revelatur enim ira dei super omnem impie●… et iniusticiam hominum eorum qui veritatem dei in iniustitia detinent. Now god of his mercy give unto ower king/ and to ower lords grace of true understanding to amend this default principally and all other/ than shall we mow easily to be amended. For until it be amended there shall never be rest and peace in this realm. Who that fyndythe or redythe this. letter put it forth in examination and suffer it not to be hid or destroyed/ but multiplied for no man knoweth what profit may come thereof. For hethat compiled it/ purposyth with gods help to maintain it unto the death/ if need be. And therefore all christian men and women/ pray that the word of god may be unbound/ and delivered from the power of An tichrist/ and run among his people. Amen. ¶ Emprented at Marborow in the land of Hessen/ by me●… Hans Luft/ in the year of hour lord. M. CCCCC. and. XXX.