¶ The opening of the words of the Prophet joel, in his second and third Chapters, rehearsed by Christ in matthew xxiiij Mark xiij Luke xxj and by Peter Acts two concerning the Signs of the last day. Compiled by Robert Crowley in the year of our Lord. M.D.XLVI. And perused again by the same. ANNO 1566.   printer's device of John Charlewood, featuring the blazon or coat of arms of the City of Geneva, a half eagle and a key (McKerrow 136) 
POST TENEBRAS lux  
¶ IMPRINTED AT LONDON by Henry Bynneman, for john Charlewood, dwelling in Barbican, at the sign of the half Eagle & the Key. ANNO. 1567.   

Signs and Tokens of the last day.  


REpent, repent,  
I say repent  
Your miss, & it amend:  
Christ's prophecy,  
Doth show plainly,  
This world shall shortly end.   

Dark is the sun,  
Blood is the moon,  
From heaven are fallen the stars:  
Earthquakes are seen,  
Pestilence, famine,  
Rumours tell nought but wars.   

I do intend  
Small time to spend,  
To prove these rumours true:  
For at each port,  
Where is resort,  
We hear them daily new.   

But I know well,  
That the Gospel,  
Meaneth some other thing,  
By this war then,  
That mortal men,  
Should be given to fight.   

For since men were,  
Of such number,  
That wars might be maintained:  
Each Empery,  
Hath sought glory,  
And hath the rest disdained.   

But the wars that,  
Christ saith shall at,  
The last day be so great:  
Are not the same,  
Whereof the fame,  
Of histories doth treat.   

I dare be bold,  
This war is hold,  
With that sword that Christ sent  
Among us, when  
He said all men,  
From other should dissent.   

I came saith he,  
Not to give ye  
Peace, but to send a sword,  
Among you all,  
Wherewith you shall,  
Fall at utter discord.   

The parents shall,  
Make the child thrall,  
And the child them again:  
To them shall be,  
Great joy to see,  
Each other of them slain.   

No manner kin,  
Shall avail in  
That case, no man shall miss:  
To have them that,  
He keepeth at,  
His charge his enemies.   

Thus doth he say,  
That men shall slay,  
Each other cruelly:  
For this great fight,  
Passeth the might,  
Of our great chivalry.   

Our men of might,  
When they do fight,  
Can never hurt the soul:  
But these men quell,  
Them into hell,  
That Satan may them cowl.   

These men are they,  
That use always,  
To judge such men holiest:  
As they do see,  
On the earth to be,  
Counted as the highest.   

Yea they do think,  
That the poor stink,  
Before the face of God:  
Because they see,  
That poverty,  
Is counted the Lords rod.   

They do pretend,  
For to dèfende,  
The faith with might & main:  
Wherefore all they,  
That will say nay,  
With the sword must be slain.   

This is their trade,  
They will persuade  
Men that worldly wealthiss,  
The reward, that  
Christ faileth not,  
To give them that are his.   

They say further,  
Will Christ suffer,  
His church to be trod down?  
No no, they shall,  
Reign over all,  
Both in city and town.   

The wicked be  
feign for to flee,  
From place to place each day:  
For fear of his,  
Righteous justice,  
To this who dare say nay?   

But thus say they,  
We flee away,  
From persecution:  
And yet all we,  
Know it to be,  
Just execution.   

For they profess,  
Christ's faith no less,  
That execute the thing:  
Than those men did,  
That first preached,  
The christian living.   

How can they then,  
Persecute men,  
That profess Christ also:  
Unless they should,  
Be found so bold,  
To say both yea and no.   

But there be some,  
In christendom,  
That are malefactors:  
And these will say,  
We run away,  
From the persecutors.   

When they half wood,  
Flee from the good  
shepherds, that will not see,  
The tender lambs,  
Killed, and their dams,  
That Christ bought on the tree.   

All this they teach,  
And to us preach,  
These things men must believe:  
Yea this may not,  
Be sticked at,  
To these things men must cleave.   

Alas the while,  
How they beguile,  
The silly souls that can:  
By this means know,  
Little I trow,  
Of the faith christian.   

For Christ saith that,  
His sect shall not,  
Shed blood but shall suffer:  
All tyranny,  
And villainy,  
And be no revenger.   

Wherefore I dare,  
Say that the war,  
Whereof Christ prophesied:  
When each brother,  
Should slay other,  
Is even now fulfilled.   

For we may see,  
That now there be,  
divers opinions:  
divers believes,  
Whereto men cleaves,  
In divers regions.   

And each man will,  
His brother kill,  
Ghostly and then be glad:  
As though he were,  
Worthy to hear,  
Great praise for works so bad.   

One sort doth teach,  
And to us preach,  
That works must make us free,  
From mortal sin,  
That we are in,  
If we will saved be.   

For thus they say,  
Michael shall way,  
Us in his balance two:  
Where shall be had,  
Both good and bad,  
Works that we have ydone.   

If the better,  
Be heavier,  
Then shall we live for aye:  
But if our sin,  
The better win,  
Then are we like to pay.   

They have no eyes,  
On gods mercies,  
But on the equal weight:  
For they say plain,  
They are certain,  
God's judgement shall be strait   

For Christ hath said,  
We will be paid,  
According to our works:  
Wherefore each slave,  
Shall buffets have,  
That in his service lurks.   

And when they find,  
One to their mind,  
That will to them apply:  
Then they rejoice,  
With heart and voice,  
And show him courtesy.   

The other side,  
Can not abide,  
To hear of works at all:  
For God's mercy,  
Say they shall buy,  
All them free that are thrall.   

Christ shed his blood,  
Upon the Rood,  
For that intent only:  
We must grant then,  
All kinds of men,  
Must needs be saved thereby.   

All murderers,  
adulterers,  
thieves, robbers, and ill men:  
Shall by his blood,  
Shed on the Rood  
Of heaven be right certain.   

Thus they say all,  
And him they call,  
A perfect christian:  
That will apply  
To their folly,  
And a right honest man.   

Thus on each side,  
Both shoot to wide,  
Of the prick, for the one  
Saith, works is all,  
That save the thrall,  
The other will have none.   

Of these each man,  
Doth what he can,  
To kill his brother's soul:  
Each giveth his mind,  
Such for to find,  
As will not him control.   

The middle sort,  
That doth exhort,  
All men to live godly:  
And to think that,  
Their work shall not,  
Save them but God's mercy,   

Are they that bear,  
The burden here,  
For both hate them to death:  
Their whole intent,  
Is to invent,  
Some way to stop their breath.   

Thus each brother,  
Killeth other,  
Some the flesh, some the spirit  
So that I dare,  
Call this the war,  
Whereof the Prophets write.   

For since kings could,  
As I have told,  
Have men of war to fight:  
With wicked will,  
They have sought still,  
To win much ground by might.    

ij.  

AS for famine,  
Such now is seen,  
As erst hath not been known:  
Both poor and rich,  
Perish aliche,  
No seed grows that is sown   

By this I mean,  
Ghostly famine,  
For lack of ghostly food:  
The heavenly field,  
Lie doth untilled,  
And brings forth nothing good.   

If any sow,  
They will not bow,  
But stiffly scatter seeds:  
Setting no hand,  
To till the land,  
So nought growth up but weeds.   

Yet in churches,  
God's word lurches,  
In chains or in a cage:  
But no man may,  
thereon hand lay,  
That hath none heritage.   

james writeth this,  
With God there is,  
To riches no respect:  
His word would he,  
Known for to be,  
To all his true elect.   

Further he saith,  
Most rich in faith,  
Are some of the base sort:  
Whom to repel,  
From the Gospel,  
God's word will not support.   

Know we may soon,  
Who hath this done,  
Satan no doubt it is:  
That by this way,  
He might decay,  
Christ's faith and establish his.   

For he knoweth well,  
If the Gospel,  
Might reign among the poor:  
They would soon know,  
Them to follow,  
That enter by the door.   

He knoweth rich men,  
Read now and then,  
For pleasure and repast:  
But to redress,  
Their wickedness,  
Few of them do make haste.   

For if they would,  
No poor men should,  
Among them starve for food:  
Into prison,  
None should be done,  
For det or worldly good.   

But their riches,  
Doth them possess,  
And hath them in a band:  
Witness I can,  
That rich young man,  
Whom Christ bade sell his land,   

With heavy heart,  
Away he start,  
As one that thought it dear,  
Heaven to possess,  
For his richesses,  
And live a beggar here.   

How many now,  
Would disallow,  
This young man's sapience:  
Ask them that be,  
Of high degree,  
And have great store of pence   

Some will you tell,  
That the Gospel,  
Commandeth no such thing,  
That they should feed,  
Such as have need,  
And then go on begging.   

Full true it is,  
Christ saith not this,  
Give all and beg thyself:  
But thou therefore,  
Mayst not make store,  
And whored this worldly pelf.   

But thou must spend,  
As God doth send,  
To feed thy family:  
In thine array,  
Go not too gay,  
But after thy degree.   

Look what is more,  
Left in thy store,  
Than will suffice to this:  
He that hath none,  
Must live thereon,  
It is not thine but his.   

This to withhold,  
If thou be bold,  
Or to spend it in waste:  
Think not but he,  
That lent it thee,  
Will call for it in haste.   

For if that thou,  
Have scarce enough,  
To maintain thine estate:  
Yet if thou see,  
The poor needy,  
Of that thou must abate.   

If that the price,  
Of victuals rise,  
So that they must be scant:  
The stewards dish,  
Must diminish,  
Before the household want.   

This world call I,  
God's family,  
Wherein the rich men be:  
As stewards stout,  
To rule the rout,  
And secure poverty.   

Whom they do aid,  
That is decayed,  
I think no man can tell:  
But if ye guess,  
Whom they oppress,  
The poor know that full well.   

The cause of this,  
Is Avarice,  
That reigneth in the clergy:  
Whose life should shine,  
Before men's eyen,  
As Phoebus in the sky.   

But devilish pride,  
Hath been their guide,  
And brought them up so high,  
That they know not,  
Their own estate,  
But seek this worlds glory.   

tenths of increase,  
By right success,  
They claim & call them theirs:  
But Peter knew,  
No such thing dew,  
To him nor to his heirs.   

But if we might,  
See that their light,  
Did shine like Peter & Paul,  
Then would we not,  
Debar them that,  
But rather give them all.   

Them to defame,  
I were to blame,  
And call them Phariseis:  
Unless I knew,  
It to be true,  
By their own witnesses.   

When they do preach,  
And God's word teach,  
Use they not to say so?  
Do as we say,  
But turn away,  
From that ye see us do.   

The same counsel,  
You know full well,  
Christ gave to his elect:  
Willing that they,  
Should turn away,  
From the Phariseis sect.   

judge who that will,  
If I do ill,  
To call them Phariseis:  
That use to preach,  
And God's word teach,  
Walking in fleshly ways.   

By them Paul saith,  
That preach the faith,  
And live fleshly themselves,  
God's word is blamed,  
And much defamed,  
Among the infidels.   

All preachers would,  
Ever be bold,  
To say come after us:  
Even as ye see,  
Us for to be,  
Servants of Christ jesus.   

For if they say,  
This is the way,  
Wherein Christ's flock must walk:  
Unless they go,  
Themselves also,  
Few will believe their talk.   

This pondered,  
Holy David  
Saith, sinners may not mell:  
For such as be,  
Of infamy,  
Dishonest God's Gospel.   

This seemeth plain,  
Men to restrain,  
That none should enterprise:  
In hand to hent,  
God's Testament,  
To preach in any wise.   

For on the ground,  
None can be found,  
Whom sin hath not defiled:  
You may me trust,  
All are unjust,  
Both man woman and child.   

Yet some there be,  
In whom we see,  
No manner wickedness:  
But to our sight,  
Both day and night,  
Their virtues do increase,   

Of these we see,  
No great plenty,  
The pity is the more:  
But when we will,  
God's word fulfil,  
We shall have better store.   

But whiles we are,  
So full of care,  
For worldly vanities:  
God will us send,  
Few to amend,  
Our great enormities.   

Yea unless,  
Our vice do cease,  
And we for mercy call:  
Shortly to preach,  
And God's word teach,  
We shall have none at all.   

For such men as,  
Do little pass,  
To pacify God's ire:  
God will forsake,  
And them betake,  
To their own hearts desire.   

They shall promote,  
Each lewd harlot,  
And give to him credence:  
But all that come,  
To preach wisdom,  
Shall be put to silence.   

Follie it were,  
For them that fear,  
Of Prelates to be shent:  
For to apply,  
This prophecy,  
Unto this time present.   

But in such case,  
No man may pass,  
Favour to lose or win:  
Without respect,  
Of any sect,  
God's word rebuketh sin.   

Cease not to cry,  
Saith Esay,  
Tell my people their own:  
Extol thy voice,  
With as much noise,  
As if trumpets were blown.   

Here speaketh he,  
Of no degree,  
Of lay men nor of clerks:  
But of them all,  
In general,  
That do work wicked warks.   

Wherefore all ye,  
That faithful be,  
And bear of Christ the name:  
Do not disdain,  
Though I speak plain,  
Since sin is worthy blame.   

All such as be,  
Of the clergy,  
And live as Christ hath taught:  
My pen shall praise,  
And them displease,  
That willingly do nought.   

Of whom no doubt,  
A full great rout,  
Within this realm do dwell:  
But them to know,  
My pen I trow,  
Shall teach you all full well.   

First mark all such,  
As with one church,  
Hold not themselves content:  
They are the chief,  
Of missebeliefe  
From Satan to us sent.   

An union,  
Of two makes one,  
But a plurality:  
With a tot quot,  
Full well ye wots,  
Bringeth them to high degree.   

If a rich cobbe,  
Beget a lob,  
The wisest of a thrave:  
For him with gold,  
He will be bold,  
A fat parsuage to have.   

Then this cobbe will,  
That parish pill,  
Of corn cattle and straw:  
Whiles the young fool,  
Is at the school,  
To learn a point of the law.   

When men held sheep,  
That could not creep,  
He will have the tenth fell:  
As due increase,  
Of their riches,  
Because they do them sell.   

Also at Lent,  
When wives repent,  
One penny must they pay:  
For herbs ye wots,  
That thicks their pot,  
And make their houses gay.   

But when this Ass,  
Hath sung a mass,  
Of God in Trinity:  
For to increase,  
Worldly riches,  
Shall be all his study.   

Four times a year,  
You shall him hear,  
Full clerkly teach his flock:  
What sin it is,  
To tithe amiss,  
And with God's part to mock.   

At Easter when,  
Each christian,  
To God's supper shall come:  
No sin shall let,  
Him for to eat,  
So that he pay the sum.   

But all that be,  
In poverty,  
And have nothing to pay:  
He will refuse,  
As cursed jews,  
That neglect Easter day.   

Thus taketh he,  
As ye may see,  
God's part of all degrees:  
To scour his throat,  
And fur his cote,  
But God for cold shall freeze.   

Perchance his kin,  
Shall somewhat win,  
If that they please him well:  
But for most part,  
Their tender heart,  
Pitieth some fair damosel.   

Few men have seen,  
Grace to them given,  
Their tithes well to bestow:  
That have been bold,  
Into the fold,  
To climb by the window.   

For their pretence.  
Is to get pence,  
To spend at their own will:  
They take no heed,  
The flock to feed,  
But let them famish still.   

Wherefore all ye,  
That fathers be,  
Instruct your babes in youth:  
That they may fly,  
All Simony,  
And follow the lords truth.   

Although children,  
Do God's law learn,  
Even from their mother's laps:  
Let none be stalled,  
Till they be called,  
For fear of afterclaps.   

For if the child,  
Wanton and wild,  
Pass not upon his sheep:  
For them that stray,  
He must needs pay,  
That gave them him to keep.   

But tell me than,  
Thou foolish man,  
Who shall thy cause defend:  
When thou shalt stand,  
At the left hand,  
With Satan for to wend.   

Thy men of law,  
Thou foolish daw,  
Whom thou hast in a fee:  
Dare show no face,  
Within that place,  
To speak one word for thee.   

For they have more,  
To answer for,  
Than they can well aweld:  
Their conscience shall,  
Accuse them all,  
For that they have miss meld.   

They that for gold,  
To thee have sold,  
Writings of presentation:  
May look to dwell,  
With thee in hell,  
Among the wicked nation.   

Bishop's also,  
That bade thee go,  
The rope in hand to take:  
Are like to fall,  
Deepest of all,  
Into the fiery lake.   

For they are set,  
Treason to let,  
As watchmen on the wall:  
Which when they spy,  
The enemy,  
Should on their fellows call.   

But if the watch,  
Of treason smatch,  
And help the wall to scale:  
Into prison,  
They must be done,  
No man may be their bale.   

No tyranny,  
Can make them lie,  
In pains worthy their fault:  
That from the town,  
Set ladders down,  
To them that give the saute.   

Then may we guess,  
In what distress:  
Such lewd bishops shall stand:  
When Christ shall come,  
At the last doom,  
By fire to judge the land,   

For such as would,  
Into the fold,  
To fill their greedy maws:  
Bishops have stalled,  
And made them called,  
True preachers of gods laws.   

But now they use,  
Them to excuse,  
As they were young pilate's:  
Saying that they,  
Must needs obey,  
The temporal magistrates.   

Wherefore if they,  
Present a boy,  
A varlet or a lout:  
Them to admit,  
What needeth it,  
Bishops to stand in doubt.   

The patron shall  
Answer for all,  
Bishops shall bear no blame:  
So they fulfil,  
The patrons will  
And subscribe to the same.   

They must therefore,  
Look for no more,  
Then the patrons own seal,  
Which from all charge,  
Setteth then at large,  
Patrons with God must deal.   

So that they may,  
Avoid always,  
The danger of the law:  
What forceth it,  
Though they admit,  
Such as they never saw.   

A young princocks,  
Sir john smelsmockes,  
A piece of flesh alone:  
To sing and dance,  
And make pastance,  
With Tib, Cicely, and jone.   

A gamester wise,  
In cards and dice,  
And all games of the same:  
A cockrel rank,  
Fit for the bank,  
A ruffian past all shame.   

A swearer good,  
By bones and blood,  
And many oaths more,  
Ready to fight  
Both day and night,  
Where he shall ride or go.   

One that is wont,  
To hawk and hunt,  
And keep a brace of hounds:  
A steward stout,  
To ride about,  
To see his masters grounds.   

An hurly-burly,  
A farting churl,  
An whorder up of groats,  
A cruel wretch,  
That doth not reach,  
To hang men by the throats.   

A lob a lout,  
A malmsey snout,  
A drowsy drunken face:  
A belly swain,  
A feeble brain,  
One void of all God's grace.   

The bishop must,  
The patron trust,  
That gave the presentation:  
Although he see,  
The suitor be,  
Of devilish conversation.   

For if they should,  
Be found so bold,  
To check my lords chaplain:  
Think you they might,  
find it so light,  
To promote their kinsmen.   

No no my friend,  
Lords will not bend,  
And priests will not displease:  
They think it best,  
To live in rest,  
That riches may increase,   

So Lords may have,  
All that they crave,  
For priests that do them serve:  
Tithe lamb and wool,  
Great houses full,  
But poverty shall starve.   

To feed the sheep,  
Or house to keep,  
Such priests do not intend,  
But when they look,  
Their counting book,  
Then for their rents they send.   

The patron will,  
Be Farmer still,  
If that he may aught win:  
Or else some knave  
Shall the gains have,  
That is of the priests kin.   

Some priest hath two,  
Some three some more,  
Some six or seven I trow:  
Beside odd ends,  
Called Prebends,  
With Canonries ye know.   

Five hundred pound,  
And Curates found,  
Some one receiveth clear:  
That in household,  
I dare be bold,  
Spendeth not ten pound a year   

Some other spend,  
By the years end,  
A thousand pound and more:  
But such I trow,  
Will not bestow,  
Ten pound upon the poor.   

They bid to feasts,  
Such manner gests,  
As will bid them again:  
They think great shame,  
That blind and lame,  
Should to their court retain.   

Yet with their scraps,  
Sometime perhaps,  
They stuff a beggars bag:  
Their dog shall eat,  
Much better meat,  
Whiles the his tail will wag.   

In garments gay,  
They must array,  
Their servants rufflingly:  
And they themself,  
May wear no pelf,  
To make them unpriestly.   

Their horses shall,  
Be good and tall,  
To rid the way at need:  
For when things fall,  
He must have all,  
That can make the best speed.   

To their estate,  
Cupbordes of plate,  
You know are necessary:  
For noble men,  
Use now and then,  
With such prelate's to tarry.   

They must have wine,  
And that full fine,  
They must spare for no cost.  
If they lack aught,  
That may be bought,  
Their worship is near lost.   

Short tale to make,  
They must nought lack,  
Fit for a noble man:  
Rather they will,  
Both poll and pill  
And take all that they can.   

But that they might,  
Do this by right:  
A law they have procured:  
That such may have,  
Whiles they do crave,  
That are to Lords assured.   

Chaplains I mean,  
To King and Queen,  
And other Lords great:  
For a small sum,  
Doth not become,  
One of so high estate.   

This law hath made,  
Some priests glad,  
To cap and knee full low:  
And to promise,  
Faithful service,  
To them they do not know.   

Some past all shame,  
Obtain the name,  
By their importune suit:  
Of kings chaplains,  
And other men's,  
Whose power is absolute.   

These will all take,  
And nought forsake,  
With more bags to the mill:  
Lay on their back,  
Till it do crack,  
And yet they will beg still.   

These tongueless dogs,  
With heavy clogs,  
Can neither bite nor bark:  
Neither espy,  
The enemy,  
Their kennels are so dark.   

When they lack pence,  
None residence,  
Must help or all is lost:  
For one half year,  
They make no cheer,  
Neither with sod nor roast.   

There be also,  
Some other more,  
Whom we call serving priests:  
These must needs lurk,  
And do no work,  
For filling of their fists.   

These for six pound,  
You shall have bound,  
To take the charge of cure,  
The person may,  
Him sport and play,  
And live all at pleasure.   

But this stipend,  
Will not extend,  
To spend all at their will:  
Both to go gay,  
In their array,  
And fresh cups for to fill.   

Some Merchandise,  
They must devise,  
To mend their living with:  
So that they may,  
Their hosts pay,  
For all that she filleth.   

Hence came trentals,  
And long beadrols,  
With mass pennies & dirge groats  
For if they pray,  
They must always,  
Have pence to scour their throats.   

I will not tell,  
How they do sell,  
Christ's blood to buy them drink  
For if I should,  
Some if they could,  
Would sell mine to I think.   

But if they did,  
All things counted,  
Their gains would be but small:  
For they shall pay,  
At the last day,  
Even for the dregs and all.   

But let this pass,  
My purpose was,  
With words plain to express:  
That the clergy,  
liveth fleshly,  
And mindeth no godliness.   

God may them send,  
Grace to amend,  
And to seek his glory:  
Setting aside,  
All worldly pride,  
As vain and transitory.   

Then shall their light,  
Show forth so bright,  
That all men shall be glad:  
Them to follow,  
As men that know,  
The good way from the bad.   

But whiles we see,  
Their ways to be,  
So full of stumbling stocks:  
We think the daws,  
Stumble at straws,  
And leap over great blocks.   

Whereby no seed,  
That is sowed.  
In man's heart taketh root:  
For where Phoebus,  
Hath no clear course,  
To till it is no boot.   

Wherefore all ye,  
That faithful be,  
Pray that preachers may live:  
As Christ doth teach,  
Else when they preach,  
No man will them believe.   

But if their life,  
Were without strife,  
Though they preached but seld:  
I know right well,  
They should compel,  
The enemies to yield.   

Then should famine,  
No more be seen,  
That now reigneth over all:  
God's word should feed,  
All that stand in need,  
And lust for food to call.    

3  

PEstilence also,  
From us should go,  
We should be safe & sound:  
There should no rot,  
Light of our lot,  
If such shepherds were found.   

But since that we,  
Were found to be,  
So worthy the lords ire:  
We have had few,  
Whose works do show,  
Them worthy the lords hire.   

For we were led,  
For to be fed,  
In moorish marish ground:  
Thinking there was,  
Such manner grass,  
As would have fed us found.   

But now we see,  
How far we be,  
Diseased in this case:  
By them that die,  
Most wretchedly,  
Of all kinds of disease.   

Three kinds of rot,  
Full well I wot,  
As shepherds have me told:  
Lighteth among,  
The lusty young  
Sheep, as soon as the old.   

Fell rot is one,  
Whereof die none,  
But such as lack drying:  
After they be,  
Washed as we see,  
Before time of shearing.   

But here I would,  
That all men should,  
Perceive what washing is:  
And what drying,  
Is my meaning,  
Whereof men have such mis.   

It is baptism,  
That washeth them,  
That in Christ put their trust:  
And their drying,  
Is up bringing,  
After the ghostly lust.   

None can deny,  
But faithfully,  
Their babes to wash men use,  
But to dry them,  
As doth beseem,  
Most part of men refuse.   

They go about,  
To make them stout,  
To get their fleshly food:  
Thinking no need,  
That they should feed,  
The soul with doctrine good.   

To fear and love,  
The Lord above,  
Their children are not taught:  
Neither to pray,  
But sing and say,  
All rhymes filthy and nought.   

At three years old,  
They shall be bold,  
To name their mother's shap:  
Their father will,  
Maintain them still,  
And set them on his lap.   

They shall not fear,  
All oaths to swear,  
By they have lived seven years:  
The parents shall,  
Them princocks call,  
And say they have no pears.   

O bribers wood,  
Think ye it good,  
To laugh & make great game,  
When you shall see,  
Your babes to be,  
So wanton past all shame?   

No whelp so wild,  
Is, as some child,  
No young kitling so nice:  
No swine so rude,  
And to conclude,  
No stews so full of vice.   

Thou foolish man,  
Say if thou can,  
What reward thou shalt have.  
That dost employ,  
Thee to destroy,  
The seed that God thee gave.   

Eternal fire,  
Shall be thine hire:  
Unless thou do repent:  
And call for grace,  
Whiles thou hast space,  
Before thy days be spent.   

Christ saith alas,  
In full hard case,  
Art thou whose example,  
Causeth babes young,  
For to go wrong,  
In ways abominable.   

For thee it were,  
Saith he, better  
To be drowned in the sea,  
Than that the least,  
Child of behest,  
Should learn to sin at thee.   

Wherefore all ye,  
That faithful be,  
Let not your vice infect:  
The tender young,  
That are among,  
You as the Lords elect.   

But do employ,  
You busily,  
To teach them the Lords will:  
That in their age,  
They do not rage,  
But live thereafter still.   

Then the reward,  
That is prepared,  
For them that Christ hath bought  
Shall be to you,  
As wages due,  
Because you have it sought,   

Now of the first,  
Rot as I trust,  
You have intelligence:  
Whereby you may,  
drive it away,  
Through godly diligence.   

The other twain,  
That do remain,  
If God will be my guide:  
I will descry,  
So plenteously,  
That no man shall it hide.   

The hunger bane,  
Is always ta'en,  
As shepherds have told me,  
By to much wet,  
After great heat,  
Which maketh grass plenty.   

Whereof the sheep,  
That could scase creep,  
Before for lack of food:  
Finding sweet meat,  
Do often eat,  
Much more than doth them good.   

By this excess,  
There doth increase,  
In them abundantly:  
Blood corrupted,  
Undigested,  
Which causeth them to die.   

In like manner,  
It doth appear,  
Amongst them that profess,  
The Christian faith,  
As good Paul saith,  
And yet work wickedness.   

For though that they,  
Desire always,  
To know God's verity:  
Yet when they have,  
All that they crave,  
They use it carnally.   

By Christ we be,  
At liberty,  
Say they (and that is true)  
For on the Rood,  
He shed his blood,  
Our freedom to renew.   

From death and sin,  
Which we were in,  
This blood hath made us free:  
And from the yoke,  
Which Moses flock,  
Took for their liberty.   

Yet are we not,  
So free by that,  
From sin that we may take:  
Our fleshly lust,  
And remain just,  
Even for Christ jesus sake.   

But look what day,  
We do obey,  
The flesh in deed or thought,  
Our fleshly will,  
For to fulfil,  
Christ's blood availeth nought.   

Christ shed his blood,  
To do them good,  
That forsake their own will:  
And not for those,  
That will suppose,  
They may live fleshly still.   

For Christ did die,  
To mortify,  
The flesh, death, hell and sin:  
In those that he,  
Did know to be,  
Free men of Isaac's kin.   

For these he hath,  
Ordained a path,  
Wherein needs walk they must  
If they by faith,  
As Scripture saith,  
Will be tried to be just.   

For without miss,  
No faith there is,  
Where works do not ensue:  
Which may declare,  
Whose trees we are,  
When judgement shall be due.   

Good works therefore,  
Will evermore,  
Appear in Gods elect  
For by that sign,  
Such as are mine  
(Saith Christ) shall be detect.   

But such as lurk,  
And will not work,  
Ought else but wickedness,  
Christ will forsake,  
And them betake.  
To the pit bottomless.   

There they shall lie,  
And wish to die,  
But death shall flee them fro:  
They shall sustain,  
Eternal pain,  
Because they lived so.   

All ye therefore,  
That heretofore,  
Have been led in darkness:  
Do not abuse,  
These godly news,  
Through your carnal excess.   

Carnal excess,  
Is as I guess,  
To think Christ made us free:  
For that we should,  
Through him be bold,  
To work iniquity.   

But Christ our price,  
The sacrifice,  
For sin, having no stain:  
Must needs forsake,  
All them that make,  
Themselves captive again.   

And those be they,  
That to us say,  
Christ hath paid the ransom,  
And worthy price,  
For all our vice,  
To purchase us freedom.   

His precious blood,  
Shed on the Rood,  
Hath set us all at large:  
No manner wight,  
Hath any might,  
To lay aught to our charge.   

By him we trust,  
To be found just,  
When he shall judge us all:  
Notwithstanding,  
That our living,  
Be not like Peter and Paul.   

We do not doubt,  
His blood without,  
Our works, to be able,  
Us to restore,  
Our works therefore,  
Are found unprofitable.   

All this is true,  
Yet are works due,  
And all that do neglect,  
To do gods will,  
Are bond men still,  
As none of Gods elect.   

For none can be,  
At liberty,  
Through Christ that do not still  
Themselves employ,  
To mortify  
The flesh, to do Gods wil   

The fruit and tree,  
Shall ever be,  
All one, this is no nay,  
The root and spring,  
Is all one thing,  
One good, both good always,   

The branch also,  
That cleaveth to  
The vine, shall be fruitful:  
It cannot be,  
That a good tree,  
Should be unprofitable.   

Even so brothers,  
All Christ's members,  
Bring forth works plenteously:  
The godly sect,  
Of Gods elect,  
Can not live idly.   

The holy ghost,  
Is not at host,  
With them that live fleshly:  
They must fulfil,  
The father's will,  
That will have him tarry.   

Therefore if we,  
Intend to be,  
Temples of the lords spirit:  
Our life must not,  
Dissent from that,  
Which holy Paul doth write.   

Make your bodies,  
A sacrifice  
Saith he, sincere and pure:  
Keeping therein,  
No manner sin,  
But seek the lords pleasure.   

When we do this,  
We shall not miss,  
To have God's spirit in us:  
Whose presence shall,  
Help us in all  
Things, that are dangerous.   

But if we will,  
Be fleshly still,  
Working our beastly lust:  
Undoubted than,  
In him we can,  
By no means put our trust.   

For he will be,  
An enemy,  
To all that will work vice:  
And to them that,  
Endeavour not,  
From their old sin to rise.   

Repent therefore,  
And sin no more,  
But seek God and his will:  
That ye may be,  
At liberty,  
From death, sin, & the devil.   

Walk not in sin,  
Now you be in,  
The light of God's doctrine,  
For if ye do,  
Ye are like to  
The most uncleanly swine.   

Which use to lie,  
Most filthily,  
In mire up to the head:  
Even at high noon,  
When that the sun,  
Most glorious beams doth spread.   

But we risen,  
From death and sin,  
By Christ our advocate:  
Must in living,  
Seek for the thing,  
That will keep our estate.   

That is God's grace,  
For to embrace,  
His word and work his will:  
With all our might,  
Both day and night,  
To live thereafter still.   

We have been led,  
blindly and fed,  
Scarcely long time, what than?  
Should we therefore,  
Live evermore,  
After the outward man?   

No God forbidden,  
That Abraham's seed,  
Should so degenerate:  
That it should smell,  
Of Ishmael,  
Whose stock was reprobate.   

Plenty of meat,  
Now for to eat,  
The good shepherd hath sent:  
His sheep to feed,  
Which stood in need,  
No doubt was his intent.   

And not to stroy,  
Their health thereby,  
Which thing it doth in deed:  
When they half wood,  
Abuse that food,  
The flesh therewith to feed.   

Feed we therefore,  
The flesh no more,  
With the food of the soul:  
For if it catch,  
A further smatch,  
At length it will control:   

Then may we say,  
Woe worth the day,  
And hour of our first birth:  
For death shall bring,  
Extreme mourning,  
And take away our mirth.   

O cruel lot,  
O pestilent rot,  
What plague can be like this?  
Which taketh away,  
Immortal joy,  
Banishing us all bliss?   

No remedy  
For this find I  
But only earnest prayer:  
Which as I find,  
Hath oft inclined  
God to remit his ire.   

Wherefore let us,  
Be studious,  
In prayer, that it may please  
The heavenly king,  
Which knoweth all thing,  
To cure this sore disease.   

And then no doubt,  
We shall without,  
Delay come to the bliss:  
That is prepared,  
As a reward,  
For them that seek justice.   

The third kind as  
My promise was,  
I must needs now declare:  
That is murrain,  
As shepherds feign,  
That worketh them much care.   

But good herdsmen,  
Tell me that when,  
Sheep take the murrain rote:  
Then the shepherd,  
For his reward,  
Should be hanged by the throat.   

For no sheep will,  
Rot on the hill,  
So long as he is led,  
Directly forth,  
As the time doth,  
Require for to be fed.   

But such as do,  
Lead sheep into,  
The valley to make them fat:  
Intent to sell,  
The carcase well,  
And gain something by that.   

But he that will,  
Not his sheep kill,  
But have them to endure:  
To feed them sound,  
In wholesome ground,  
He must ever be sure.   

And such one will,  
Up to the hill,  
To feed his flock each day,  
And killeth not,  
Such as are fat,  
Lest his flock should decay.   

Wherefore we may,  
This safely say,  
They are butchers each one,  
That feed their sheep,  
In bottoms deep,  
And let the hill alone.   

They tend them not,  
But for the fat,  
They send at slaughter day:  
They take no care,  
For slender ware,  
Though wolves fetch them away.   

Such can be bold,  
For ready gold,  
To buy a flock of sheep:  
And for to have,  
A slothful knave,  
That will take them to keep.   

They do not pass,  
What manner grass,  
He hath to feed them on,  
So that the sum,  
Do yearly come,  
That they do point upon.   

Mark now brothers,  
If no butchers,  
May be found in this land:  
Which busily,  
Do Christ's flock buy,  
Out of the shepherds hand.   

What are they that,  
Use to lie at  
The court, or some lords place:  
Where they sustain,  
Importune pain,  
Dancing on Gnatos trace?   

These will espy,  
Where great flocks lie,  
Where they set one to spy,  
To bring tidings,  
Before all things,  
When the shepherd doth die.   

Then they apply,  
Their flattery,  
By friendship bought with gold:  
That for their pain,  
They may obtain,  
To enter to the fold.   

Yea long before,  
Some get them store,  
Of Vowsens to be sure:  
That none shall let,  
Them for to get,  
In at their own pleasure.   

Then do they set,  
Some lewd varlet,  
To try what may be made:  
Yearly of that  
Ware that is fat,  
And all due charges paid.   

The chief thing is,  
The priests wages,  
And tenths due to the king:  
But such as be,  
In poverty,  
May be allowed nothing.   

For if they should,  
These butchers could  
Not thrive upon their craft:  
For poor men will  
Be begging still,  
So long as aught is left.   

But they will spy  
A remedy,  
For that you may be sure:  
Saying they ought  
To give them nought,  
That do them no pleasure.   

Thus yearly they  
Do fetch away  
The gains that doth arise:  
By tenth increase  
Of men's riches,  
After the largest size.   

But for to feed,  
Such as have need,  
These fellows take no thought  
But let them pike,  
In every dike  
All weeds filthy and nought.   

Thus they wander,  
As sheep that were  
Forsaken of their guide:  
feeding themself,  
With all such pelf,  
As grows in the field wide.   

But out alas,  
In how hard case  
Are they whose shepherds are:  
Of God's preachers,  
Become butchers,  
Prouder than Lucifer.   

The murrain rot  
Is on their lot,  
Their health is sore decayed:  
No remedy,  
They must needs die,  
Unless God be their aid.   

shepherds are dead,  
And we are led,  
Be them that flee us fro:  
When as they should,  
Do what they could,  
To save us from our foe.   

Yea rather they,  
Make us obey,  
Our adversaries mind,  
Bidding us trust,  
To be found just,  
By means that they do find.   

Thus they lapped in,  
A shepherds skin,  
Do say they will us feed:  
With ghostly food,  
Wholesome and good,  
At all times when we need.   

But when these do,  
Minister to  
Us, as they do but seld:  
Their medicines are,  
Such mixed ware,  
As few sick men have field.   

There are also,  
Some other more,  
Whose names I dare not tell:  
Which bear them bold,  
For ready gold,  
The flock of Christ to sell.   

These with judas  
Which damned was,  
For selling Christ our head:  
Are like certain  
In extreme pain  
To make their endless bed.   

Unless by grace,  
They do embrace  
God's word and ask mercy:  
For their sin is  
No less than his  
Since they sell Christ's body.   

In like danger  
Is the bier  
And all that condescend:  
But chief they  
That should always  
Such great abuse amend.   

All kings therefore,  
Ought much the more  
To look upon their charge:  
For all the land  
Lieth on their hand  
Be it never so large.   

Let us therefore  
Pray evermore  
That good K. Henry's thought:  
May be inclined  
Such means to find  
That Christ's flock be not bought.   

But that we may  
Have them always  
To lead us in and out:  
That for our health  
To lose the wealth,  
Of this world will not doubt.   

Such doubtless will,  
Walk to the hill,  
Of god's word with their flock:  
Going before,  
Them evermore,  
Like men of David's stock.   

Then shall their sheep  
After them skip  
In life worthy their name:  
So that there shall,  
Be nought at all,  
In them worthy of blame.   

For they shall hear,  
His voice so clear,  
And see him go so bright:  
Before their face,  
That they may trace,  
His foot both day and night.   

No darkness can,  
Trouble them than,  
No cloud shall dusk their sight:  
They shall not stray,  
Out of the way,  
Because their guide is bright.   

O joyful thing,  
God grant our king,  
Grace to see us his flock,  
Led on this sort,  
For our comfort,  
By guides of David's stock.   

Then shall we sing,  
Praise to our king,  
And glory to the Lord:  
Of Israel,  
With whose Gospel,  
Our life should then accord.    

4  

IT followeth next,  
Now in the Text,  
Great earthquakes shallbe seen:  
Which shall cast down,  
Both tower and town,  
And great castles I ween.   

Now let us see,  
Whether there be,  
In our days any town:  
Castle or tower,  
That through the power,  
Of the earthquake is down.   

But that we might.  
Therein judge right,  
The causes must be known:  
That do so make,  
The earth to quake,  
That towns are overthrown.   

In this we must,  
Their judgement trust,  
That have writ of the same:  
Sith their writing,  
Teacheth nothing,  
That is worthy of blame.   

All such men do,  
Consent unto,  
This thing putting no doubt:  
But vapours make,  
The earth to shake,  
When they seek a way out.   

In caves hollow,  
These vapours grow,  
To such a multitude,  
That at the last,  
They will out braced,  
No strength can them include.   

Then cast they down,  
Both tower and town,  
That is nigh to the place:  
No manner wight,  
May weld their might,  
Nor look for any grace.   

What say we than,  
If that in man,  
These vapours may be found:  
Should we look for,  
Then any more,  
The shaking of the ground?   

No that were vain,  
For then certain,  
We might look for a beast:  
Like to a Bear,  
Which should appear,  
After saint john's behest.   

Nor drink the pleasant drink:  
How should Vintners,  
And Victulers  
Live then, as you do think?   

God hath all scent,  
For to be spent,  
And not to whored in store:  
Why should not than,  
A Gentleman,  
Eat it paying therefore?   

Should a vile slave,  
So fine food have,  
As one of noble blood:  
Or should a king,  
Lack any thing,  
That is dainty and good?   

But let a king,  
Mark well this thing,  
And teach his nobles all:  
That fine feeding,  
Helpeth nothing,  
To life celestial.   

And they that think,  
Their meat and drink,  
Should pass others so far:  
Ought well to know,  
That high and low,  
Are made of one matter.   

King Solomon,  
Saith all is one,  
A poor man and a king:  
Are first gotten, And then borne,  
And differ yet nothing.   

Then are they fed,  
With milk and bread,  
Both like, both wail and weep,  
A like both cry, A like both lie,  
A like both wake and sleep.   

The mighty King,  
Is found nothing,  
Better than the beggar:  
For by his birth, He is but earth,  
The best is no better.   

All lose their strength,  
By age at the length,  
All die and fall to dust,  
This thing to be, True ye may see,  
In their graves if you lust.   

The noble blood,  
Doth them no good,  
When they rot in the ground:  
Nor when they come,  
To the last doom,  
Where beggars shallbe crowned.   

Some king shall stand,  
At the left hand,  
And say, when did we see:  
The Lord lack aught,  
And we have nought  
Holp thy necessity?   

But once for all,  
To them Christ shall  
Say, get you hence from me,  
Down into hell,  
Where you must dwell,  
For your iniquity.   

When ye denied,  
To them that cried,  
Ask help in my name:  
Even than was I, In misery,  
The scripture saith the same.   

So hard judgement,  
Toward them is bend,  
That have all thing plenty:  
How hard they far, Taking no care  
That are in poveriie.   

For rich men are,  
They that should care,  
For the poor impotent:  
Both goods and lands,  
Are in their hands,  
Which serve for that intent.   

God gave great power,  
And like honour,  
To some because they should:  
Defend the rest,  
Which are oppressed,  
With thirst, hunger, and cold.   

Should they then make,  
Revel and take,  
Their pleasure day and night:  
Letting the poor,  
Man lack succour,  
Whom they should aid by right.   

No they shall pay,  
At the last day,  
All that they have misspent:  
At cards and dice,  
And other vice,  
And excess of raiment.   

broochs and rings,  
With other things,  
Which are had in great price:  
Helpeth nothing,  
To good living,  
But rather unto vice.   

For honesty,  
Will always be,  
Content with necessaries:  
Then must excess,  
Be wickedness,  
For they are contraries.   

Do you rich men,  
I must say then,  
Set foolish toys aside:  
In all your ways,  
During your days,  
Let conscience be your guide.   

Let not the poor,  
Stand at your door,  
And starve for lack of food:  
Whiles that ye eat,  
All manner meat,  
Much more than doth you good.   

Keep not in store,  
Much clothing more,  
Than that you must needs aware:  
Bestow your gold,  
In time of cold,  
Upon such as be bare,   

Let your works show,  
That you do know  
God's word, set fantasy  
Apart, thinking  
Yourselves nothing,  
Without the lords mercy.   

Persuade yourself,  
This worldly pelf,  
To be but vanity:  
And that ye ought,  
To withhold nought,  
From needful poverty.   

You are not set,  
Riches to get,  
But to order the same:  
Ministering,  
Each needful thing,  
To halt, blind, and to lame.   

And for to see,  
That such men be,  
Punished that have their health:  
And will not work,  
But lie and lurk,  
Hurting the common wealth.   

Do not retain,  
Such as disdain,  
To work having no lands:  
Nor qualities,  
Worthy of fees,  
Let such work which their hands.   

By idleness,  
Vice doth increase,  
And virtues are oppressed:  
Wherefore if ye,  
Love honesty,  
Let these things be redressed.   

Delight not in,  
Other men's sin,  
Nor your own wickedness:  
But fast and pray,  
Striving always,  
To follow righteousness.   

Then the earthquake,  
Of vice shall take,  
No root within your breast:  
You shall be stalled,  
As ye are called,  
The children of behest.   

And you that be,  
Of low degree,  
Submit you to the powers:  
Do you all thing,  
By Christ's teaching,  
And his kingdom is yours.   

If you rebel,  
You do not well,  
But yet you may boldly,  
Profess God's word,  
Fearing no sword,  
But suffer manfully.   

Repine not at,  
Your base estate,  
But rather give glory:  
To God which hath,  
Made you a path  
Way, unto victory.   

The rich men are,  
With worldly care,  
Oppressed that scarcely they:  
Can at the last,  
Their load down cast,  
And enter to your way.   

You have therefore,  
Much cause the more,  
To render thanks to God:  
For that you may,  
Pass the strait way,  
Easily with your light load.   

Grudge not at such,  
As have so much,  
Treasure as they call it:  
But rather pray,  
To God that they,  
May have grace to use it.   

And then shall ye,  
Through charity,  
Upon Christ build so sure:  
That no earthquake,  
May your life shake,  
Nor work you displeasure.    

5.  

NOw let us see,  
If the stars be,  
Fallen as Christ prophesied:  
Whose wondrous fall,  
The Divines all,  
Have thus interpreted.   

They say that by  
Astronomy,  
Men may well understand:  
That the least star,  
That doth appear,  
Is more than all the land.   

Then they say that,  
If these so great,  
And so many should fall:  
Before domes day,  
There were no way,  
We should be quelled all.   

But Christ's Gospel,  
Doth plainly tell,  
That even at his coming,  
Men shall apply,  
Them busily,  
To provide for living.   

Some shall plant vines,  
And some press wines,  
And some shall marry wives:  
And some shall buy,  
To gain thereby,  
But few shall mend their lives.   

The son of man,  
Shall appear than,  
And take them suddenly:  
When they think lest,  
To be oppressed,  
And live most jocundly.   

Here we are taught,  
That they do nought,  
And take the prophecy:  
Of Christ amiss,  
That say there is,  
In it no mystery.   

For if it were,  
So taken there,  
As the letter doth sound:  
Two things plainly,  
Clean contrary,  
In God's word should be found   

Which cannot be,  
And therefore we,  
Must needs grant that there lieth:  
More mystery,  
In prophecy,  
Than the word signifieth.   

Let us therefore,  
Tarry no more,  
Upon the words only:  
But let our mind,  
Be given to find,  
What thing is meant thereby.   

The stars are bright,  
Both day and night,  
But when the Sun is clear,  
He doth so shine,  
Before our eyen,  
That no star can appear.   

But so soon as,  
The Sun doth pass,  
The circle of our sight:  
We may espy,  
Them easily,  
Through darkness of the night.   

Yet are they not,  
Themselves of that,  
Nature to appear bright,  
Unless Phoebus,  
Splendiferous  
Do endue them with light.   

Natural light,  
Of day and night,  
Since the world was begun:  
Is proved by  
Astronomy,  
To proceed of the Sun.   

The stars therefore,  
Have evermore,  
Their light from Phoebus' face:  
Although they be,  
As we do see,  
Of a far distant place.   

So the clearness,  
Of godliness,  
By God's word is given:  
In like manner,  
To them that are,  
Of Christ called christian.   

Christ by the sters,  
Meant good livers,  
whose works show very bright:  
But their brightness,  
Is but darkness,  
When God's word is in sight.   

For God's mercy,  
showeth so clearly,  
And man's unworthiness:  
Is found so dark,  
That no good work,  
May show any brightness.   

But the poor man,  
That never can,  
By day walk in the light:  
Of God's word must,  
Fellow the just,  
whose works shine in the night.   

The night I call,  
This world through all,  
Wherein the christian sect:  
Are as stars bright,  
To give them light,  
Whom darkness doth infect.   

The stars should move,  
In heaven above,  
The shadow of the ground:  
That Phoebus' bright,  
Might give them light,  
To shine in the world round.   

But now they be,  
The more pity,  
Each one fallen fro thence:  
None do intend,  
For to ascend  
Again, and leave their pence.   

But much rather,  
They go lower,  
To get gold and treasure,  
Their only mind,  
Is for to find,  
Means to live at pleasure.   

And they that would,  
That other should,  
Take them for true leaders:  
Began to fall,  
Down first of all,  
And are now deceivers.   

I mean prelate's,  
And magistrates,  
Which say we must incline:  
Us to agree,  
With such as be,  
Men of great discipline.   

They say we must,  
Their judgement trust,  
And obey their decrees,  
Although we see,  
Them for to be,  
Against God's verities.   

They say how can,  
The private man,  
Discern God's verity,  
If great prelate's,  
And magistrates,  
Should teach the falsity?   

For God they say,  
giveth always,  
The truth to the rulers:  
They cannot err,  
In peace nor war,  
That are Gods partakers.   

Would God they were,  
But many fear,  
These will be tried at the last:  
To be nothing,  
But ravening  
Wolves seeking for repast.   

Such proud Prelates,  
And magistrates,  
I mean to seek glory:  
To them and theirs,  
As though their heirs,  
Should have the earth only.   

Bishop Cayphas,  
Pilate Annas,  
Herode with many more:  
Were magistrates,  
And great Prelates,  
And yet wrought Christ much wo.   

Their fear to lose,  
Their dignities,  
Was cause that they did this,  
And that they slew,  
All preachers true,  
That were Christ's witnesses.   

For they thought that,  
Their power could not,  
Be able to resist:  
And keep under,  
The great number,  
That would have followed Christ.   

For they knew well,  
That his Gospel,  
Agreed not with their pride:  
And thought if that,  
They slew him not,  
Their sect would be destroyed.   

These were they that,  
Did stumble at,  
The stone in Israel,  
Even their leaders,  
And chief rulers,  
As Scripture doth us tell.   

Masters of schools,  
Were proved fools,  
And wise men lacked wit:  
But simple souls,  
That gathered tolls,  
And caught fishes had it.   

Even so this day,  
Full well ye may,  
Affirm that Christ hideth:  
His mysteries,  
From proud men's eyes,  
Which to babes he showeth.   

Prince's Prelates,  
All magistrates,  
Can not destroy the pride:  
Of Rome till that,  
Poor men spared not,  
To speak till some were fried.   

But at the last,  
It was down cast,  
Within this realm ye know:  
Both far and near,  
And abbeys were,  
Suppressed and brought full low.   

Because therein,  
Was such foul sin  
Used, and such popery:  
That some men thought,  
The ground could not,  
Sustain their buggery.   

Well when this was,  
Thus come to pass,  
Men praised God in our king:  
Which by prudence,  
And diligence,  
Had brought to pass this thing.   

They looked for,  
To have no more,  
Popery maintained here:  
Because within,  
This realm was seen,  
No Monk, canon, nor Friar.   

But apes will be,  
You may trust me,  
Apes still though their clothing:  
Were purple fine,  
Nought can incline  
Them to leave their mowing.   

These pied goats,  
Changed their coats,  
Yet are their minds the same:  
That they were once,  
Though for the nonce,  
They do such popery blame.   

Some wear mitres,  
And some grey furs,  
And some have cure of souls,  
But their living,  
Differeth nothing,  
From them that drank in bowls.   

In Colleges,  
You cannot miss,  
To see of them great store:  
Where they apply,  
Their buggery,  
Even as they did before.   

Wherefore all ye,  
That learned be,  
And may do aught therein:  
Do what ye may,  
Both night and day,  
To pluck up this fowl sin.   

Else doubt ye not,  
But the Lord that  
Burned the five cities:  
And hath cast down,  
In field and town,  
The great and huge abbeys:   

For that foul sin,  
Will soon begin,  
To make your place defart:  
No fresh singing,  
Nor gay piping,  
Shall make aught for your part.   

Such as cannot,  
Refrain from that,  
Ought for to marry wives:  
No vow can bind,  
Such as can find,  
No mean to mend their lives.   

In each degree,  
Matrimony,  
And the bed undefiled:  
Are holy things,  
Though the shavelings,  
Count married men defiled.   

God grant we may,  
Once see the day,  
Wherein we may be free:  
To lead our lives,  
With honest wives,  
And preach God's verity.   

For now he that,  
Containeth not,  
And hath the gift to preach:  
Must either hide,  
That gift or bide,  
Still burning like a wretch.   

So that no man,  
Unless he can,  
Obtain of God the gift  
Of chastity,  
May look to be,  
A preacher by this drift.   

And doubtless this,  
Were not amiss,  
If God would not require:  
Increase of that,  
Which man hath at,  
His hand received here.   

But sith God will,  
Punish them still,  
That doth not occupy:  
Their talents then,  
No justice can,  
Deny them liberty.   

Let no popery,  
Therefore deny,  
Christ's members to profit:  
Each other still,  
After Gods will,  
With such gifts as they get.   

Let all men be,  
At liberty,  
To preach if that they can,  
An honest wife,  
Hurteth not the life,  
Of any godly man.   

Most noble king,  
Help in this thing,  
And give them liberty:  
To preach that can,  
Though a woman,  
Do help their chastity.   

Then shall you see,  
The verity,  
Of god's word taught full plainly  
By them that will,  
Defend no ill,  
To have living thereby.   

But some will say,  
That by this way,  
Great schism shall arise:  
For the clergy  
And the laity,  
Will preach two contraries.   

Grant that they do,  
Yet of them two,  
One shall not miss to speak:  
The truth always,  
Where now men say,  
To lie priests do not reek.   

Then should we be,  
In worse degree  
Say they, than we be now:  
For no man could,  
Tell which he should,  
Of these two sorts follow.   

Yes yes be bold,  
It were soon told,  
Which of them preacheth true:  
For true preachers,  
Are observers,  
Of God's commandment new.   

A new precept,  
For to be kept,  
Saith Christ I give you now:  
That each brother,  
Love an other,  
Even as I have loved you.   

For by that sign,  
Such as are mine,  
Shall be known to all men:  
Faith cannot be,  
Where charity,  
Is not the grand captain.   

That sort that love,  
As is above,  
Each other faithfully:  
And will betake,  
Them to the stake,  
Ere they will aught deny,   

Of that they preach,  
That sort doth teach,  
The truth you may be sure:  
These will not say,  
Both yea and nay,  
For any man's pleasure.   

Yet once again,  
Such as disdain,  
That married men should preach:  
Will say that then,  
All married men,  
Will count each priest a wretch.   

What forceth that,  
If priests be not  
Of Christ, but of Satan:  
We may ordain,  
more priests again,  
After the inward man.   

None should regard,  
Such as outward,  
Signs do make priests only:  
But them whose life,  
Is without strife,  
And their doctrine godly.   

Unfeignedly,  
Such are worthy,  
To have double honour,  
For that they are,  
So full of care,  
To help their christian brother.   

Such men look not,  
For the crown that,  
Shall be taken them fro,  
But to increase,  
Godly riches,  
Is all thing that they do.   

But now alas,  
In how hard case,  
Standeth this world this day:  
When all Rulers,  
And all Preachers,  
Forsake this godly way.   

Who would not be,  
Of high degree  
This day, what Prince or King:  
Desireth not,  
More rule than that,  
Was his father's leaving.   

Their only care,  
Is for to far,  
Delicately each day:  
And to maintain,  
This they are feign,  
To get all that they may.   

Might is their law,  
Whereby they draw,  
All goods into their hands:  
And he that will,  
Say they do ill,  
Shall lose both goods & lands.   

They think not, that  
They were made at  
The first, them to defend,  
That have no might,  
To keep their right,  
Nor their wrongs to amend.   

For that intent,  
Sufficient  
Lands, was given to each one:  
Because he should,  
Do what he could,  
To save the weal common.   

But now they be,  
The more pity,  
So fond of vain honour:  
That on the ground,  
Scarce can be found,  
Enough for their own store.   

Both more and less,  
Study to pass,  
Their forefather's degree:  
Thinking it shame,  
To bear the name,  
Of fruitful poverty.   

lords must enclose,  
Pastures, meadows,  
To hold in their own hands:  
And that the rent,  
May keep his stint,  
They must improve their lands.   

The merchant man,  
Doth what he can,  
To be Lord over towns:  
Each king is bend,  
With full intent,  
To subdue many crowns.   

Alas the while,  
They do beguile,  
Themselves now every one:  
Thinking that they,  
Shall reign always,  
Upon the ground alone.   

The day shall come,  
When their kingdom,  
Shall not be worth a straw:  
Nor they themself,  
With all their pelf,  
The value of an haw.   

Their gold and all,  
To dust will fall,  
This is to manifest,  
And they also,  
Must after go,  
Perchance when they think lest   

What folly then,  
Is in these men,  
To leave God's verity,  
And to apply,  
So busily,  
This worldly vanity?   

But I you pray,  
Hark what I say,  
And give me ear a while:  
I shall you show,  
At words few,  
What doth these men beguile.   

They think God will,  
count nothing ill,  
That man's law justifieth:  
And that by might,  
To claim their right,  
With God's word agreeth.   

To make the best,  
Of most and ,  
Is lawful for each man,  
They say, and to  
Be bound to do,  
For no man though they can.   

To gather pelf,  
Each for himself,  
So they do no man wrong:  
Is not they say,  
Out of the way,  
Such errors are up sprung.   

Fear to displease,  
Desire of ease,  
And cloaked flattery:  
As I suppose,  
Hath made men gloze,  
God's word so subtly.   

But if the kings,  
With their lordings,  
Would lead the dance aright:  
We may be bold,  
The poor men would,  
Fellow with all their might.   

You kings therefore,  
Covet no more,  
One to subdue the rest:  
But let your strife,  
Be in good life,  
Which of you can rule best.   

Desire not,  
To rule them that,  
Refuse your empery  
But do intend,  
Them to defend,  
That serve you willingly.   

And you lordings,  
Leave your diggings,  
And your raising of rents,  
Take not such fines,  
To by you wines,  
For God knoweth your intents   

And you merchants,  
Be not servants,  
To covetous desire:  
But sell and buy,  
All things truly  
And God shall give you hire.   

Briefly all ye,  
That of Christ be,  
Cognomed Christians,  
Study to move,  
In heaven above,  
This earthly inhabitant,   

Let men know that,  
You regard not,  
This worldly vanity:  
But let them see,  
That your works be,  
Fruits of God's verity.   

Then shall your meed,  
As far exceed,  
When Christ shall judge us all:  
Theirs that by sin,  
Would heaven win,  
As the free doth the thrall.    

6  

NOw let us see,  
If the Moon be  
Blood as christ prophesied  
That we may try,  
What mystery,  
Under the words lieth.   

I did you tell,  
As I think well,  
That since the world begun:  
Both day and night,  
Have all their light,  
At the beams of the sun.   

This if you list,  
Is tried soonest,  
By marking the moons light,  
Which doth always,  
Grow and decay,  
As we may judge by sight.   

The cause of this,  
Undoubted is,  
The unequal distance:  
Of the Moon from,  
The Sun by whom,  
She doth her light advance.   

Mark if ye list,  
That side soonest,  
receiveth light always:  
That is next to  
The Sun and so,  
The other doth decay.   

Yea if you mark,  
That side is dark,  
That is fromwarde the sun:  
When that is bright,  
Both day and night,  
That Phoebus shineth on.   

Ask if ye will,  
Them that can skill,  
And they will not make strange:  
That Phoebus' bright,  
Should have full light,  
Both at full and at change.   

For they have found,  
That she is round,  
And that half is aye bright:  
Which is not strange,  
Though at the change,  
It be out of our sight.   

For at that tide,  
The further side,  
From us is toward the Sun:  
So that no light,  
showeth to our sight,  
To be upon the Moon.   

If this Moon should  
Be blood, none could  
Make the scriptures agree:  
For the great doom  
Saith Paul, shall come  
Upon men suddenly.   

Even when men say,  
All care away,  
All things are in good plight:  
This sudden day,  
Shall men affray,  
As a thief in the night.   

If a thief do,  
Give warning to  
Him whose house he will break  
Then may we say,  
This sudden day,  
Shall not lie in our neck.   

But I say if,  
The subtle thief,  
Give no warning before:  
Then to think the  
Moon blood to be,  
We were deceived sore.   

Then let us see,  
What it may be,  
That Christ meaneth in this place:  
Endeavouring  
Above all thing,  
To apply to his grace.   

The Moon I call,  
That sort through all,  
To whom God giveth not grace.  
To attain to  
Such things as do  
Godly knowledge increase.   

For all the light,  
That shineth bright,  
On them is from the sun:  
Which is no doubt,  
The very root,  
That God's grace lighteth on.   

Of these Christ saith,  
Your fruitful faith,  
showeth you to be the light:  
Of this world round,  
And of the ground,  
The salt your surname hight.   

This Moon no nay,  
Is blood this day,  
For all their desire is:  
To see men fry,  
And then they cry,  
O godly sacrifice.   

These men can sing,  
None other thing,  
But burn, burn, hang & draw:  
Let no man scape,  
Out of our shrape.  
Be he wise man or daw.   

Try we our might  
(Say they) in fight,  
Against our enemies:  
It shall be good,  
To see their blood,  
Run out before our eyes.   

Let us possess,  
All their richesses,  
Let the knaves live no more:  
Shall we suffer,  
Them to prosper,  
That set by us no store?   

It is noble,  
To be manful,  
Fie on all wretched knaves:  
That to us preach,  
And would us teach,  
To live like wretched slaves.   

Let each man try  
It manfully,  
what should we pass for laws?  
They were not made,  
For to be had,  
Amongst other than daws.   

Who would regard,  
A knave coward,  
That dare not strike a stroke?  
Say what you can,  
He is no man,  
But rather a dead stock.   

It is manhood,  
To shed your blood,  
For each good fellows sake:  
He is a mome,  
john dwell at home,  
That feareth a fray to make.   

Alas this song,  
Hath last so long,  
That the Moon is all blood:  
They think nothing,  
But bloodshedding,  
To be manly and good.   

They take no shame,  
To bear the name  
Of Christ, whose doctrine is  
Full of meekness,  
And forgiveness,  
Each one of others mis.   

And yet they will,  
Shed man's blood still:  
As it were none offence:  
But Christ shall quell,  
Such into hell,  
To make them recompense.   

Thus he shall say,  
At the last day,  
To this noble manhood,  
Avoid from me,  
All you that be,  
The sheaders of man's blood.   

Then shall meekness,  
Come and possess,  
Everlasting glory,  
And sufferance,  
Inheritance,  
That is not transitory.   

To the jews stern,  
Christ saith, go learn  
What this may signify:  
I have in price,  
No sacrifice,  
I delight in mercy.   

Leave tyranny,  
And show mercy,  
Therefore ye men of power:  
For he that is  
Cruel, shall miss,  
Of mercy in that hour.   

Mark this thing well,  
That the Gospel  
Teacheth, to them shall be  
judgement, without  
Mercy no doubt,  
That show extremity.    

7  

THe Sun is bright,  
And giveth light,  
As he hath done always:  
And shall do still,  
Even until,  
The very judgement day.   

For as it did,  
Till Noah entered,  
Into the ark shine bright:  
So shall it do,  
Till Christ come to  
judge all the world aright.   

Some other thing,  
Is the meaning,  
Therefore of Christ, where he  
Saith, Phoebus' bright  
Shall lose his light,  
Before this day shall be.   

We do know all,  
The natural,  
Light of this world to be:  
The sun, and so  
Alluding to,  
The spirit thus say may we.   

Like as the Sun,  
Since he begun  
His course, hath given us light:  
So hath the sect,  
Of Christ's elect,  
Been glorious in our sight.   

Wherefore he might,  
Say thus of right,  
The Sun shall be darkened:  
When he meaneth,  
Their light faileth,  
That have to me hearkened.   

Such as profess,  
All holiness,  
And would be called the light:  
Of this world wide,  
Shall ere that tide,  
Be as dark as midnight.   

Their life shall be,  
All vanity,  
They shall say and not do:  
They shall offend,  
And not amend,  
Nor for their miss be wo.   

This great darkness,  
Shall them oppress,  
Saith Christ, let us therefore  
Mark this time well,  
For the Gospel,  
May be fulfilled this hour.   

Do not men boast,  
In every coast,  
That their trust is only:  
In jesus Christ,  
Son of the highest,  
And yet live ungodly?   

They that profess,  
This perfectness,  
Are of Christ called the light  
Of this world wide,  
Which at this tide,  
Do shine nothing so bright.   

As they did once,  
When they did renounce,  
All worldly vanity:  
Having no mind,  
Treasures to find,  
That are but transitory.   

For Epicure,  
Sought not pleasure,  
So much as these men do:  
That do use most,  
To make such boast,  
Of Christ whom they clean to.   

Soft feather beds,  
And for their heads,  
Pillows well stuffed with down:  
No kind of ease,  
Can them well please,  
Either in field or town.   

They may not eat,  
Such kind of meat,  
As God giveth plenty:  
They will not dine,  
Without some fine  
Dishes that be dainty.   

They will not spare,  
For them that are,  
Oppressed with poverty  
They take no keep,  
Though other weep,  
So they be not hungry.   

I can not tell,  
Whether in hell,  
May be less charity:  
Than is this day,  
In most that say,  
We know God's verity.   

None take such care,  
For dainty fare,  
As they, none pass less how  
They get richesses,  
So they possess,  
Thereof plenty enough.   

Their Simony,  
And usury,  
I think is right well known:  
For all that may,  
Be won that way,  
Is counted for their own.   

Thus they are dark,  
For their good work,  
Doth not shine in men's sight:  
Though they profess,  
Such perfectness,  
As aught to shine full bright.   

We may apply,  
This prophecy,  
To God's word, affirming  
It to be dark,  
Through the lewd work,  
Of duncical learning.   

The Moon also,  
May be like to  
Man's vain inventions:  
Which are this day,  
I dare well say,  
Bloody intentions.   

But I seeing,  
The miss living,  
Of all degrees this day:  
Have chose rather,  
And think better,  
To take the other way   

This have I told,  
Even as I could,  
The signs of the last day:  
To be all past,  
And that in haste,  
The trumpeter shall say:   

Fall in array,  
Fall in array.  
All ye of Adam's stock:  
The shepherd will,  
Come from the hill,  
To dissever his flock.   

Then without let,  
The sheep shall get  
Them unto his right side:  
The goats shall stand  
At the left hand,  
judgement for to abide.   

God grant that we,  
May faithful be,  
And then we shall not miss:  
At the last day,  
To take the way  
Into eternal bliss.    
FINIS.   

IMPRINTED AT LONdon by Henry Bynneman for john Charlewood, dwelling in Barbican, at the sign of the half Eagle and the Key.