THis sayng amonge lernyd men ys taken for a prouerbe / whiche maye conueniently be vsyd / eyther for a thynge whiche outwardly / and as they say at the fyrste flusshe semyth to be of no value & scornefull / yet yf a man loke nerer to it and beholde the inwarde parte hit apperith greate and wonderful / or for that man / whose behauoure & countenaunce shewyth far wyde from the inwarde entente of the harte & mynde / some say that Sileni were certayn Images karuen and grauen and made after suche a fasshion that they might be opened & closed agayne / which when they were close had a scorneful and monsterous shape / & when they were opened sodenly thei shewid as godes These facion of Images was taken of the scorned Scilenus scole maister to Baccus . Silenus was a foole of the Poetes goddes . Moreouer Alcibiades goynge aboute to prayse Scocrates when he dyned wyth plato did lyken hym to suche maner ymage bycause he fer otherwyse semed to them that inwardly behelde his fasshion then to them that no thynge regardid sawe his outwarde shape / whose skyne as they saye yf a man wolde haue set to sell semed not to be worthe one fardyng he was rude fauoured / sowre countenaūsed / crokenosed / & full of snyuell / a man wolde haue recounted hym a foole bothe by his spekynge and doynge / his apperell not worthe a groote / his speche very rusticall / as one that lately came frome the carte / sowter crafte / or sinythes forge / his substaunce very thynne he had suche a wyfe as scarfly a colyar wolde be content to lyue wyth At that tyme when the folysshe desyre to be named a wyse & connynge man wexed maruelous veruent amonge men that eueriche dysdayned or coulde not suffre an others prayses / when also there were many whyche not a lyttell bosted that they knewe all thynges .

This man then only sayde that he knewe well this one thyng or that he knew nothyng / he semed a foole and vnexperte in euery thyng conceruynge the commyn welthe / in so moche that on a tyme whan he be ganne to do a thynge he knew not what he did . In the comon howse his master was dasshed out of coum tenaunce / and he hym selfe lawghed to scorne of euery man there present . But yf a man had behylde the inwarde partye of thys Image so lawghen to scorne / he shulde haue founde as yt had byn rather a god then a man . A mynde of greate vaew and full of wysdom . A dispyser of all suche thynges / as other mortall men labour for , sweate for , stryue for / warre for , by see and lande , neuer vnpaciented with eny wronge , Nor ouer maysteryd wyth fortune or myschaunse . A man that fered nothyng / not deth / which is to euery man fereful , wherfor euen at that time when all the worlde was replenisshed with wyse men . This foole was onely auctorised a wyse man by the reuelacion of the goddes / and was estemed to know moche more / whiche said he knew nothynge / then they whiche said they knew all thynges / yea and for that one thing he was estemed to know more then the other / because that he only said that he knew nothyng Suche an Image was Antisthenes whose staffe / scripe / and cloke / excelled the riches of the best fortuned kynges . suche an Image was Diogenes counted amonge the comonaultye as a dogge / in whome yet Alexandre the grete / among all prynces as he thoughte of hymself the moste excellent parceyued and sawe some goodly thynge whiche also when he consyderyd the maruaylous wysdome of hys mynde / sayde yf I were not Alexandre I wold wysshe to be Diogenes . But after my mynde / seynge he was Alexandre he shulde not wysshe to chaunge his name with Diogenes . But rather to wisshe to haue suche mynde as Diogenes had . Suche an Image was Epichetus saruant and bondeman / a pore man and a lame man . As his Epitaphi shewith . But whiche is moste fortunate of al he is derely beloued of the godes / whiche thynges the profet Helyas of his lyfe ioyned with wysdome openly declaryth . Suche is vndoutdily the nature of the true ꝑsit thynges / that what so euer they haue of valew or worthy to be folowid / that is surely hid and kepte preuy in the iner parte . And that / that is vyle & of no valew / settyth yt selfe forthe before euery mannes syghte / for suche ys the fauoure of the frayle and comon semblance of goodnes / whiche at the fyrste chop peas they saye apperyth to euery man that yt metyth wythall . But yf a manne Inwardely frome the rote marke them / that ys for other wyse in doyng then yt apperyth in semeyng . was not crist a wonderfull Image / if a man may so boldely after suche maner speke of hym . and veryly / I see no cause why but euery man that ys a chrystyan may / myght / and shulde speake of hym and declare hym after what facion so euer he wyll / so that he hurte not the cristen fayth / If you beholde the outwarde face of this ymage what is ther / after the comen course estemyd more vyle or abiect his parentes were poure & of lowe byrth / his howse very symple / him selfe as bare as coulde be / had but few disciples and those very poure not callyd from kynges courtes / nor from the pharices chayres / nor from the phylosophers scoles / but euen from the toll howse and euen from the fysshers crafte then hys lyfe / how far was yt from all pleasures whiche through hungre / werynes bobynges / scornes / scourgeynges yea and at the laste / payned on the crosse and suffered dethe . This parte of them behylde the mystical prophet / when he disceyued his shape sayng he had no fairenes nor beautye / we sawe hym / and we behylde not / we desired to be with him that was moste dispecte / and menyst of all men / And many other thynges whyche folowe suche lyke purpose But now yf yt happen a man to be holde the inwarde parte of this Image / yf yt vouche safe to shew yt selfe to the pure and cleue lighte of oure mynde . O Immortall god / what an vnspecable tresure a man shall fynde there / what preciouse stone in suche vyle place / what hye and excedynge gretnes / in so lowe and lyttel thyng / what maruelous riches in so poure a thynge / what excellente strengthe in so weake a thynge / what honourable glory in so shamefull and abiecte a thynge what absolute rest in so paynful labours / and to be shorte / what euerlastynge fountayne or well of Immortallytye in so bytter and cruell deth / why now abhor they this Image / whyche yet boste them selfe in the tytle of hym / that is to say to be callyd christians / vndoutidly yt was but a smalle thynge for chryst to brynge about to make hymselfe chefe reuler of all the worlde / & to pocesse that / that in olde tyme / the reulers of Rome vaynely went about to win to passe christ in numbre of his garde that euer was / to excelle Cresus in riches / ye and stoppe the wysest philosophers mouth that euer was / yet thys kynde of shape and ymage pleasyd him best whome he wold that hys disciples and frendes / that is to saye christians / shuld alway haue before ther face / this phylosophy did he chufe chyefly / for that on euery syde varyeth from the phylosophers decrees and worldely wysdom / whyche alonly geuyth vs that thynge that they by sondry wayes goo aboute to get / that is felicite . Such Images were the prophetes whiche lyued as outelawes wanderynge in wyldernes , whose meate where vyle herbes and rootes / their drynke water / ther clothing shhepes felles and gotes skynnes / but he that loked in the inner partes of the Images sayde that the worlde was not worthy to haue them . Suche an ymage was Iohn the Baptyst whiche couerid with a Camels skynne and gyrde wyth and heryn gyrdell passed all the riche appereyl of kynges / and eatyng hony focles excelled all the deyntye fare of prynces for veryly he knew what treasure was hyd vnder that rude and vyle garment / whiche with his incomperable prayse , sayd amonge the chyldren of wome , there hathe not rysen one greter then Iohn the Baptyst / suche Images were the apostels / poure / yl shapen / vnlerned , of lowe byrthe , weake , nothyng set by To be shorte , scorned and hated , al most of al the worlde / but open these Images , beholde the iner parte and what kyng or tyrant maye in mighte or power be comparyd to them whiche with a worde ouer mayster dyuels , the cruell tempestes of the rageyng see , and call the dede to lyfe agayn / what Cresus semyth not poure in comparison of them , which euen with the shado brynge helthe to the sycke , whyche also wyth the only touche of theyre handes gyue the holy gooste , what Aristotle ys not counted a foole vnlerned and a tryfeler in respecte of them whiche haue drawen the heuenly wysdom gyuen from the very fountayne , to the regarde of whiche all mennes wysoom is more folysshenes , Suche an Image was the buss hoppe Marten countyd & scorned . Suche pmages were the olde bysshoppes hye in mekenes / ryche in pouertye and Gloriouse in disposyd glory . There are also now a dayes suche Images , but O Lorde god ouer few , for the most parte of men sheweth this Image out of hys nature If a man wolde throwly beholde the iner strength & nature of thinges , he shal fynde none farther from the very wysdom then those which with magnified tytles , furred hoddes , shynyng gyrdels and rynges set full of precious stones , processe absolute wysdom . In so moch that a man shall perceyue more very treu wysdom in one named of the comon people , A wretche an ydiot or halfe a foole , whose mynde hathe ben instructed not with the argumentes of the subtyll Doctor as thy calle hym Scotus , But with the heuenly spririt of christe then in many of our hye doctours of diuinite , and greate wyse masters , whose belyes swellyth with the Aristole , and are full of the rafle of the magistral definicions , conclusions , & preposicions . A man shal also fynde now here lesse true noblenes then in those Thrasoes , whiche far the olde Auncestres , for the golden chaines and for theyr glorious names boste not a lytel of theyr hye noblenes . And that none are farther frome trew strengthe then they for ther folyshe hardynes and prowde ferce lokes are estemed of the people most myghty & not vanquysshable , None more abiecte , nor bonde saruantes then they whiche reken them selfe goddes and lordes of al other men None so wrechedful then they that seme moste welthyest , None more beggarly begars / whome the com munaltye reuerence as ryche men None more vnlyke to bysshoppes then they whiche amonge bysshoppes couet to holde the chyefe rowme And that none ar more oftentimes farther from trew relygion , which thynge I wolde were vntrue , then they whiche in name apparral and ceremonyes professe absolute and parfyt relygion . So now what noblenes , excellentnes , goodnes so euer be in any thinge / that is alway leste in syghte and sylden myste apperyth outewardely , In trees the flowres and leuys shew fayre outwardly to the sighte . The stocke or stemme apperyth very greate and large / but the shade in whome ys the strengthe of all , how lyttel thing is yt / how preuely hyd / how lyttell confortyth se we , how lyttell bostyth yt or shewyth yt his bare Nature . handes hid , golde preciouse stones in depe vaynes of the erthe , Among es the elementes as they call them whiche so euer ys moste noble and of moste valew , that ys farthest set from our feleyng parceuerance / as the ayre / and the fyre amongest bestes / what so euer beaste and moste effectuell that ys hyd in the inner partes in a man what is most goodli and immortall / that onely can we not see In euery kynde of thynges the vylest parte moste apperith to the sentence / And that / that is moste chyefe is farthest from the sentence . Nowe may we also fynde many suche Images in the sacramentes of the churche . Thou seest the water / thow seest the oyle & salte / thou herest the wordes that ys but the outwarde partie of the Image / for yf thou nether here nor see the heuen ly strengthe and vertue sente from aboue in to the inner partes of these ymages all the resydue or no other thynges be but very tryfles and of no value The holy scripture hathe also suche ymages yf thou staye in in the vtter parte , the matter is often vyle and scorneful / but yf thou serche the inner parte thow shalte wonder and reuerence the goodly wysdom / For veryly to speake of the olde testament / yf thou marke nothynge but the hystory , And herist Adam formed of claye , Eue preuely taken oute of the sleapeynge manes syde , the serpent entysynge the woman to eate the apple god passyng by the ayre , The tow egyd swerde hangynge before the dore , leaste the banisshed shulde entre in agayne / woldest thow not thynke that yt were one of Homers fables If thou red the Incest of Loth , the adultry of Dauyd , The woman lyyng on the breste of the colde olde man . Osees mariage to an harlot , wolde not they that lytell force the hereynge of suche shamefull matters not retorne them awaye / dysdaynyng to here so bawdy a tale . But vnder this shamefull foly . O Immortall god how excellent and florysshed wysdom is hyd , If thou regarde but the vtter parte of the Euangelyke parables who wolde not reken them to be som foles sayynge . But yf thow breke the nutte vndoutydly thou shalte fynde the preuy and very wisdom . And to be shorte the more excellent any natural or mystical thyng is the farther hyd is sett in the inner parte & farther from the outwarde syghte , lykewise in knowlege of thinges the kyndely truthe alway lyeth preuy in depthe whiche nother lyghtely nor of many is founde out . The grose multytude bycause yt hathe a peruerse iugement estemyng al thyng by those thynges whiche chyefely ment wyth the sensys of the body slydeth and euery where fallyth in errour and is deluded with the false similytudes of good thynges & yl , turneyng the image as they say in and out as whiche then they wondre & maruelously beholde , I speke of suche as be yl , I wyll not hurte the good , no , nor the yll veryly . For as moche as a generall declaracion of vertue hurtyth no man , wolde to God there were fewer in whome these thynges myghte be layde , when thou seest the Septer the bages , the garde , when thou he rest the tythis , Moste noble , moste excellente , moste victorious , moste dredfull and suche lyke , Honourist thou not a prince and thynkest not that thou haste seen as yt were an erthly god , and a thyng more then a man , but open this ymage & marke the inner parte , Thou shalt fynde a Tyrant , an enmy of the Cytie an hater of the comon pease , a sower of discorde , an oppresser of good men , a myscheuer of the lawe , a distroter of Townes , a pyller of churches , a thefe Sacryleger , an adulterer , a dycer . To be shorte as the Grekes proucrbe is a hed of all my styef there or that in name and countenan e shew them selfe as hye rulers and maynteners of the comon welthe , when yet in dede they aren wolfes and robbers of the Cytye . There aren also whose shorne heddes yf a man only consyder he wolde reuerence them as prestes parauenture also yf you marke theyr inwarde fasshon , shal fynde them as yl or worse then the laye , peraduenture also a man may fynde som bysshoppes whose solemone consecracion yf thou marke , yf thou beholde the apparell , the myght wyth golde & preciouse stones / the staffe also set with Iouels , then woldest thou reken that thou hadest sene a man comen from heuen / or rather a thyng more then a man , but beholde the iner parte of this ymage , then shalte thou fynde a warrioure , a marchante , a Tirante . And then shalte thou saye that all this noble apparell is but as yt were dysguysynge Ther are besyde these I wolde there were not so many , that yf a man wolde Iuge them by theyre longe berdes , by theyr collours , by theyr hattes / by the facion of theyr gesture and countenaunce / he myghte well accompte them for aungels or pawles . But yf thou marke the inner parte thou shalt fynde them renagates , brawlers , sklanderers , flaterers , yea both theues and tyrantes but after an other fasshon . And for that so moche more pestilent as hit is hyd couered and cloked with hypocrysy . And to be short in stede of golde as the prouerbe is , thou shalte fynde coles . I now agayne desyre that no man take displesur with this my saynge / seynge I name no man , but touche the vices / who soeuer offendeth not / let hym not thynke any of thys to be spoken agayne hym , but yf he haue offendid / lette hym thynke hymfelfe rather warned to amende / then rebuked . The one may greatly reioyse / the other oughte to so saye me godamercy . There are in euery kynde of men in whome yf thou beholde the shape of the body / thou wylt calle them men / ye and veryly godly men but yf thou loke on the inwarde parte of them / paraduenture thou shalte fynde a Sowe / a Lyon / a Beare or an Asse / thow shalte fynde a thynge quite contrary to that , that the poetes fayne to be in them that are bewiched with Circes / for allthoughe they haue outwardly the shape of beastes , yet had they all waye inwardly the mynde of man but they haue outwardly a manes shape & inwardly more then a beastly sence . Of the other parte there are whome by theyr outwarde shape as afore is sayde / thou woldest reken scarsely for men , when yet in theyr iner parte restith an angelycal mynde . Hereof now spryngeth the diuersite betwene the worldli man and the treu christen man / for that that the one chefely wonderith and folowith the moste grosist thinges whiche happen to come in hys syghte . And all other thynges eyther he dispiseth or countyth them to be had in best regarde . The other only folowyth suche thynges whiche are farthyst from the corporall nature / whiche also in no wyse can be sene with oure outewarde yes / all other thynge other ouer passed / or lesse fauoured countynge the true iugement of euery thynge to be taken from the inwarde partye of all good thynges for so Aristotell callyth it , whiche properly partaineth not to man . Riches is the meanyst But amonge the comon sorte / yea almoste amonge al men he is most reuerensed and countyd moste happy whiche possedeth them , what so euer waye they were gotten . For them stryue , For them feyghte / for them kyll we . For them labour we as they saye throughe out fyre and water . The next place to ryches hathe the the noblenes of kynred , If for no other purpose / yet for the folysh & vayne glorious name . He ys counted for halfe a god / whiche can shew a lyneall discente / from Codrus of Athenis to hymselfe or from Brute of Troye . I knowe not wether euer eny suche was Borne or not / or frome Hercules that ys somoche spoken of and ys he worthy no name whiche only deseruyth yt by lerneynge and vertue . He is reconed for a noble man whose graunfathers graūfather plaied the manly murderer in warre . And ys he countyd among the vilest sorte who se good mynde and wysdom hathe proprieted the worlde . In the thyrde place are set the comodities and propertyes of the body . As hyghe growen / Stronge / myghty / fayre . welfauoured / and suche lyke / who soeuer hathe eny of these is not excluded from the nombre of the fortunat sorte / so now riches optayne the soueraynte . Next is the noblenes of blode / thirdly the bodely ꝑpretyes , & the regarde of that mynde leste of all . Now yf thou deuide thys man as Paule dothe in three partes . The flesshe / the soule , and the spyryt , thou shalte se how paruersely the comon sorte take them .

¶ To speake after Paules wordes , the worste parte whiche ys all waye in syghte , whome the Appostell disalowyth the multytude chefely enbrasyth . The myddell parte whome the Appostell alowyth soo that yt be referred to the spryt many prayse . The spryte which is our beste parte of whome as of the lyuely fountayne , all oure felycytye spryngeth fourthe / by whome also we are coupelyd to god / ys not so moche had in regarde of the multitude that they once inquire not / whether there be any suche or not / or what is the spririt of whome yet Paule so often speakith hereof puttyth out the paruers Iugement of the multytude whyche gyue moste honoure to suche thynges as ar leste to be reuerensed / moste hyely couetynge those thynges whiche are moste in contempte / hereof also comyth that money is more set by then lerneyng . The auncient of kynred then goodnes . The fayrenes of the body then the lowlynes of mynde . The ceremonies then the free loue towarde god / the humayne tradicions then christes preceptes . The dysguysynge thynges then the truthe The shadowes then the very thynges . The dysceptfull / then the true . The variable then the stedfast . The waueryng , then the eternal . More ouer of these frowarde Iugementes aryseth the paruerse nameyng of thynges / callynge that ys hye lowe / that is bytter , swete . That is preciouse , vyle . that ys lyfe dethe . To speake of suche thynges by name . They are called louers which eyther be ouer moche fauoure corrupte or laye in wayte to depreue the woman frome her chastyte & good fame / whan nothynge can be more lyke an enuy / they called yt Iustice / whan one yll is acquitted wyth another / when one offence is recompensed with an other / when one worde ys wyth double damage payed home agayne . This fasshon in matrymony is nowe alowed best that defoyleth consanguynite / & as nere to virgynite . They call hym a traytoure / and an enemy to the prynce whiche wolde that he shulde do no thynge aboue hys lawes or besydes ryghte / whyche wolde that he shulde vse hymselfe as a very prince . And as farre as myghte be to dyffer from a Tyrante . Than whiche ys / no booste is moste horrible or fearefull . Of the other parte he ys called a wyse counseloure . A frende and a faythfulle lege man whyche corruptith the princes maners wyth worse counsell whiche infeatyth the myndes wyth folysshe oppinions / whiche contynually flateryth & dalyeth with them whiche that yf counselours draweth them in to the hate of theyr comunaltye whyche entyce them to warre and other folysshe busynes . They saye that the kynges maiestye & hyenes is gretly incresyd when any thyng is won by tyrany / by greate porcion of excedyng mysthief / He is called a robber of the kynges money whiche spekyth one worde agayne any demandid tribute . But now seynge that a prynce hathe thre chefe thynges by whiche he representith god whiche is the only very kynge Goodnes wysdom and power / semeth he a frende to the kynge whiche wolde beryue hym of two the pryncipall thynges / goodnes and wysdom , and onely leue them pouer / which is not onely false but yet also not of hymselfe , for as moche as the onely power of a prynce lyttel auayleth withoute his comons ayde . For veryly power oneles yt be conioyned with wysdom & goodnes is Tirany , and no power whyche also the peoples consent maye euen as they gaue yt / so take yt awaye agayne , when yet goodnes & wysdom shal abyde with the kyng banysshed out of his realme / It is treason to vse the kinges badge otherwyse then besemeth . And are they rewarded that violat his minde causeynge hym to be for a good man / a cruel man . For a wyse man a subtyl / and for a man of power a Tyrant , One dethe is to lyttell for hym that enterpryseth to put poyson in the Kynges cuppe , And receiueth he a rewarde / that with moste pestylent oppinions corruptyth and poysonyth hys mynde and infectyth as yt were the welthe of the comon welthe / to the grete myschefe of all the realme , He is callyd a kyng which hath in his possessyon great dominions and ryches / whan vndoutely to playe the very kynge is ys none other thynge , but iustly to mynyster the common welthe . The affynites betwene prynces / & than the renoūsyd consyderacyons are called the ioynyng together of the thrysten pease / whan yet we se , whan these welles sprynge all ouer . All stryfe , all debate , yea and all myschefe of the common welthe they call it a iuste warre / whan the prynces for collusyon to polle and oppresse there commeth welthe / They call it pease whan that ended they conspyted togethers . They commyt the realme greatly increasyd whan any towne or citye which the prynce by what tyme soeuer it be , claymeth his wonne or rather bought with so great pyllage or accyons of the cytezens with so great inorther / by whiche are made ouer many wydowes & fatherles childerne . After lyke tacyon , they call the churche preestes , bysshopes , & popes / whan verely they are no other thyng but euen the mynysters of the churche . For the church is the chrysten people whome Christ hym selfe calleth greatter than the bysshoppes can mynyster vnder / beynge vnable in seruyce / but otherwayes greatter yf they as well by folowynge the maners and lyuynge , as by successyon of dygnyte representeth whiche yet whan he was in al thynges lorde and ruler of al men , vse them selfe as a seruaunte , and not as a lorde . The greattest excommunycatyon shall be publysshed agayne them , as enemyes to the churche / yea and are counted almoste heretykes that taketh any money out of a preestes purse . I speke not to bolde any man in suche doynge . I wolde no man shulde take my sayenge so . But yf a enemye of the churche ought to be hated , tell on / whether there can be any enemye more hurteful or more dedely , than an vngodly prelate . If any of the spirytuall landes or annuyties be dymynysshed , they crye with one voyce the churches ryghte is oppressed . But whan the worlde is styred to warre whan through the the opon yll lyfe of preestes many thousande sortes are broughte to dystruccyon . No man bewayleth the churches chaunce whan yet nowe is the churche verely a meruaylous fayre churche / not whan the people refuse charytie or loue towarde god / whan vyces decrese , whan goodnes increaseth / or whan the holy doctryne is in strengthe . But whan the alters shyne with golde & precyous stones / yea whan that not regarded . The preestes in landes , housholde , voluptuosytle , moyles , horses , in sumptuous buyldynge of houses or rather places & other such lyke thynges may teche or rather excell tyrantes . we dare not speke one worde of them whiche spende or rather bestowe , as they call it the churches rentes in yll & peruers vses , to the great hurte & occasyon of yll insamples gyuyng of the rude multytude . If any thyng be gyuen to them , we reioyse and gyue great thankes for it , sayenge that Chrystes church is inryched / whan vndoutly the trewe & hyghest gaynes of the churche is the profetynge of the chrysten lyfe , they call it blasphemye / if a man speke with lytell reuerence of Chrystofer or George / and wyll not take euery story of them or such other euen for the gospell . But Paule calleth that blasphemy as often as throughout the occasyon of the Chrystyans maners / it happeth that the name of god is blasphemed , for what shal the enemyes of the chrystyan relygyon say / whan they se in the Euangelike letters that Chryst holely exorteth to contempne ryches , to exyle voluptuosyte to dyspyse all honoure . And of the other parte whan they se the heades & chefe rulers of that chrysten professyon lyue after such a fassyon , that in laborynge to gather ryches in loue of voluptuosyte in gorgeous apparell & exquisyte deintye farre in cruell deuysyng & settyng forth of warre & almost in all other myschefes . Math. yea also excell the very hethens . The wyse reder perceyueth wel what I perceyue here on spoken / for honour of the christen name , & wherfore I serche to myschefe , howe seyth scornefully , howe mockyngly / Trowest thou to ieste on vs whan these in the gospell that Chrystes seruaunt commaunded vs to haue clothing with meate or other ceremonyes but onely by these . i. If they be ioyned together with inseparable charyte / than after perceyue that we in nothynge agre amonge our selfes / In so moche that the infydels neuer stryued nor warred for more fylthy or peruicyous cause . One prynce warreth with another . One citye fyghteth with another . One kynseman agreeth not with another / nor one relygyon as they nowe call it I. with another . All thynges amonge vs is full of debates , dyscencyons and stryues / Call they it not heresye yf a man speke or wryte any thyng that myght dysagre from the magystrall preposycyons of the deuyne doctours , & yet not that heresye whiche set that a lofte or take that thynge as the chefe parte of mans felycyte , whiche Chryste hym selfe euery where teacheth to be dyspysed and set at nought , whiche bryngeth in a maner a lyuynge man clene contrary to the euangelyke preceptes and oppostels instytucyons , whiche agayne the worde of Chryst armeth the apostels goynge forthe to preche the gospel , not with the sworde of the spyryte whiche all worldlye affeccyons set at nought , onely causeth that they shulde nede no swerde nor with an yron wepyn , whereby they may dyffende them selfe agayne theyr persecuters . i. And no doubt vnder the name of the sworde , he wolde gonnes , crosbowes & other wepyns mete for warre shulde be comprehended , than haue they a scryppe to bere money in , bycause they shulde lacke nothynge . And vnder the name of this scryppe , he wolde that euery thynge pertaynynge to the of this lyfe , shulde be vnderstande to thys purpose / the great noble wyse man Lire worthy to be alowed and preferred before many / Ieromes interpe the wordes of Luke . It is an vnexperyable sacrylege if a man take any thynge out of the halowed place , & it is counted a lyght offence to pylle to defraude , to oppresse wydowes and other poore folke , whiche are the lyuyng temples of god , whiche thynge is commenly vsed of P. and R. he is accompted profane , which by fyghtyng or otherwayes causeth the church to be suspended / & is he not a cursyd which violateth corrupteth , & polluteth by flaterig gyftes , vayne promyses & other such baudy thinges to pure & chast vyrgyns which is the temple of the holy goste / yet he which doth such thynges is counted & taken amonge the multytude for a mery & iely felowe I speke not to gyue occasion to yll doers as I haueher to sure protested but to shewe how that the multytude moch more regardeth these thyng / that are sene with the eye / than those thynges which are so moche more true as they , or lesse sene with the eye : thou seest the consecracyon of the stony temple , but the dedycacyons of the mynde bycause thou seest it not , thou settyst lytell by it , for defence of the temples ornamentes thou fyghtest with all thy power , but for the kepyng chast maners & perfyte lyuyng , no man ones taketh that Euangelike swerde , whom Chryste commaundeth to be bought euen with sellyng that cote from the backe / it is called moste hye loue towarde god , they be counted most swetest encreasyng of the spirytuall ryches or realme / fyght & be most cruell war myngle the holy & prophane togethers and yet for the loue of spirytuall ryches / vndoutely a thyng most vyle is reuenged / how great & excedyng flowt , or rather a se of myschefe is thereby commytted , namely whan a open warreis for that purpost admytted / for what myschefe can there be veuysed , which in war is not exercysed . But ꝑauenture the reder p̄uely to hymselfe thikyng for what purpose kepeth he so shamfully sayeng wold thou that a prynce shuld be such as plato wold that Gardeynes shuld be in his boke called de republica , the kepers the pale spiryte from rule auctoryte , dygnytie , honoure , and ryches / and reuokest theym to the apostels scryppe and staffe , Nat so good syr I spoyle them nat / but inryche them with farre better ryches , I put them not from theyr possessyons , but prouoke to better . I pray the which of vs gyueth hyer thanke or perceyueth more of the kynges magestye / thou which gyueth hym lybertie to do what he wyll , the whiche woldest haue hym rather a Tyrant than a prynce / whiche fyllest hym full with all voluptuosytie / whiche drownest hym in auoutry , fornycacyon incest and suche lyke / whiche makest hym bounde & subiecte to all couetysnes whiche woldest he shulde haue no more gouernaunce than one of his meane subiectes , which burdenest hym wyth suche thynges the whiche disdayneth the Hethens / alwaye dyspyse and counte theym worthy prayse & honour , that at no tyme regardeth hym , or els I which couet the prynce ymage he representeth in wysedom / which is the proper prayse of kynges to excell all other / to be farre from all fylthy affeccyons and diseases of the mynde which the rude multytude so moche meruayle at , to wonder at no vyle or lowe thing / to sette no great delyte in ryches / brefely to do that thynge in the commynalte in the realme that the mynde is in the body , and that god in the hole / whiche of vs bothe intrulyer Imagyneth on the Bysshoppes dygnytie , thou whiche burdenest them with erthely ryches , whiche wrappest theym in fylthye and vyle cares whyche tornest theynto peryllous stormes of cruel warre / or I which coueyte to be Chrystes vycare and the keper of Chrystes spouse / to be moost clene and quyete from the pestylente stalle of all yerthely desyres / and as nere as myghte to be lyke hym , whose place and auctoryte he occupyeth and whose persone also he here in erthe representeth . The Stoyktes saye , that no man canne be a good man , but he that lacketh the dysease of the mynde / the dysease of the mynde they call couetousnesse and affeccyons / so moche more nowe oughte the Chrysten men to be free from suche dyseases but namelest prynces / yet mooste of all the hedes and fathers of the churche Q. I. the B. I wyll that preestes shulde tule and raygne , but I counte this worldely dygnytie , whyche be profyte or honoure lesse worthye , thanne that of an heuenly man shulde be burdened with it . I wyll that the bysshoppe shulde haue moost excellent tryumphe , but not suche in blody tryumphes as that vngracyous Mareus , as the vngodly Iulius hadde so vayne that they are spoken agayne of in scornefull Satius / what yf the mouerytours had beholden them / he wolde haue kylled hym selfe with laughynge , in suche prayse worthye and apostolyke Tryumphes , as the appostell the warryout , and farre more polytyke Capytayne Alexaunder the great dyscrybeth as it were bostynge hys owne prayse sayd in many labours in prisons / more habundaunt in strypes aboue measure , in dethe often of the Iewes fyue tymes receyued ? yea euery tyme fortye strypes , one excepted / thryse was he beaten with roddes / ones was he stoned , thryse he suffered shyprake nyght & day / I haue ben in the depe of the see in iourney , often in parels of waters , in parels of robers , in parels of my owne nacyon in Empyres amonge the hethen / I haue ben i parels in cytyes in wyldernesse , in parels in the see , in parell amonge false bretherne , in labour & trauayle , in often watchynges , in hunger and thruste , in in fastynges , often in colde and in nakydnes besydes the thynges whiche outwardely happen to me . I am combred dayly and care for all congregacyons / who is sycke and I am nat sycke , who is hurte in the faythe , and my hert burneth nat agayne lytell therfore let vs sayeth he in all thinges behaue our selfes as the mynysters of god / in moche pacyence , in afflyccyons , in necessytyes , in anguysshe , in strypes , in prysonment , in stryfe , in laboure , in watche , in fastyng , in knowlege in longe sufferynge , in kyndnesse in the holy ghost , in loue vnfayned in the wordes of truthe , in the power of god , by the armoure of ryghtwysenes on the ryghte hande / and and at the lefte hande in honour & dyshonoure , in yll report and good report / as disceyuers & yet be true / and vnknowen , and yet knowen / as dyenge , & beholde me ye a lyue / as chastened , & not kylled / as sorowynge , and yet alwaye mery / as poore , and yet make many ryche / as hauynge nothyng , and yet poscessynge all thynges .

Se thou nowe what honouce , what tryumphe commeth of the apostelles warre / this is that glory which Paule as by an holy thyng often warred for / these are the noble actes for which he trusted that any mortal crowne was kept for hym / they wyll nat I thynke dysdayne to walke after the apostels steppes , which claymeth and take on them the apostelles rowme and auctoryte . I wolde that the bysshoppes shulde be ryche but with the Euangelyke matter / but with the heuenly ryches / whiche the larglyer they dystrybute abrode amonge all men / the more yet haue they in theyr owne kepynge . I wyll that they shulde haue defence but with the apostels weapyns , and with the buckeler of fayth / with the helmyt of Iustyce / with the sworde of helthe , whyche is the worde of god / I wyll that they shulde kepe contynuall warre . But agayne , the very enemyes of the church / Symony , pryde , & lechery / desyre of honoure , wrothe , enuy , and other lyke vngodlynesse . These are the veryest turkes that the chrysten men shuld alway take hede of / and alwaye fyght agayne : To suche warre the bysshoppes shulde be bothe exortours and chefe capytaynes . I wyll the preestes shuld be regarded amonge the chefe , nat for the tyranus romblynges , but for the excellency of holy doctryne . And for theyr prestable vertues , I that they shuld be receyued nat for theyr gloryous names or tragycal vesture , but for theyr holy lyuyng and sad demeanour . I wyll that they be fered nat as tyrantes , but as fathers . To be shorte I wyll that they shulde be ryche / but in suche thynge as the rude multytude nat knowen , nat regardeth / and for that the more sure swet & profytable / wylte thou here the true ryches of the hye bysshop . Here nowe what the chefest nexte to Chryst / sayd golde and syluer I haue none / that I haue that gyue I the in the name of Iesu / a ryse & walke wylte thou fere the beautefulnesse of the posterike name whyche passeth all worldlye gloryous names / which excelleth all yerthely shapes and ymages . Here what that noble Paule sayeth / we be the good odor of Chryst to god in euery place / wylt thou here more than a prynces power , I am able & can do all thynges sayeth he in hym whiche comforteth me / wylte thou here the glory ye or my ioye & my crowne in the lorde / wylte thou here the tytles worthy for a bysshoppe , and the true pontyfycall vesture . Paule dyscrybeth them to be sobre ornate , prudent , chast , kepyng hospytalyte , a techer , no fyghter / but soberly doyng no stryuer nat newe fangled which hathe good report , whiche also hathe a good iugement of suche thynge as are at the vtter syde / that he ronne nat opprobriously in to the snare of the deuyll . Marke well with what ornamentes Moyses adorned the bysshope Aron , with what ryches he inryched theym / with what colours he paynted them with how innumerable precyous stones , he innobyled them with howe great substaunce of splender golde he magnyfyed them all , which thinges what they sygnyfye / yf thou wylte knowe the interpretacyon of it , loke Orygynes and Ierome / & there vndoutly thou shalt perceyue what stuffe the veray true bysshoppes shulde prouyde & seke for / whome shulde the bysshops rather folowe in lyuyng than them whome they expresse in leade , whome they represent in name whose rowme & auctoryte they occupye / is it more conuenyent for chrystes vycare to folowe Iulius , Alexander , Cresia , and xerxes , whyche are no other but veray straunge and great theues . i. Than Chryste hym selfe whome shuld be the successours of the apostels , rather felowe than the chefe and the hede of th apostels . Chryst openly denyeth that his kyngdome is of this worlde , & countest thou it conuenpent that Chrystes successour shulde nat onely admytte , but also couete the worldly kyngdome / and for conqueryng therof shulde as they say moue euery stone and leaue none vnturned . In this world there are as it were two workes in al thyng betwene them selfe , dysagreyng by one grose and corporall / the other heuenly and as moche as it maye , thynkynge to be that thynge that here after it shall come to / in the one he is taken for the chefest that moost refusynge the veray good thinges and laden with false ryches as it were an hethen kynge , passeth all other in lechery , wanton pleasures , vyolence , pryde , presumpcyon , ryches , rapyn , and suche lyke . And so is he counted for the chefest that hath the most parte of these euyls & least parte of wysdome / temperaunce , sobernes , iustyce , and other which are the very good thynges . In the other walketh he that is chefest is lest vnquointed with these vyle & grose ryches and moost couete togethers the heuenly and veray perfyte ryches . More ouer why woldest thou that a prynce shulde be that thynge that the hethen Phylosophers alwaye dyspraysed & dyspysed / why settyst thou his maiestye in suche thynges whiche are condempned of the Infydels / why measurest thou hym , be those thynges by which theues are ryche and tyrantes great . A preest is a heuenly thynge and thanne a man / there is nothynge worthy for hys hyghnes but an heuenly thynge / why dyshonestes thou his dygnytie wyth so symple and vyle common thynges / why vntamynatest hys purenesse with worldly fylthynesse / why sufferest nat hym to be ryche in hys owne realme / why sufferest nat hym to be noble in his glory to be reuerensyd in hys maiestye / to be ryche in hys owne ryches / them hathe the heuenly spiryte chosen euen from the heuenly body / that is to saye , the churche to the moost hye perfyte rowme and dygnytie / why than drawest thou hym to the furyous and romblynge busynesse of Cyrannus warre . Paule reioysed that he was segrogated frome the common sorte , why than ploungest thou the heuenly bysshoppe in the fylthe of the rude multytude / why deiectyst hym to the vsurars / why leadest that deuyne man to suche busynes / as skars the vylest of the multytude wyl do , why mesuryst that the felicyte of chrysten preestes in suche ges whiche Democritus laughed at as most folysshe / whiche Heraclitus wayled at as most wretched which Diogenes dispysed as most frenelous / whiche Crates castyd from hym as a thynge troblous / whiche the holy sayntes alway refuse , alway as pestylent : why estemest thou Peters successour by these ryches , whiche Peter hym selfe reioysed that he had nat / why wylte thou that the apostels were alway redy and delygente to trede vnder fete / why callest that Peters patrymony whiche Peter hym selfe neuer had and greatly reioysed that euer possessyd it ? why entangelyst thou Chrystes vycars with ryches whyche Chryste hym selfe callyd thorons , why buthenyst hym whose chefe and appropryate offyce is to sewe seed of goddes worde with ryches , by whyche the good seed sewen is chauked / why wylte that the techer and iudge of rightwysenesse shulde be obedyent to the wycked Mamon / why makest the mynister of the heuenly sacramentes a perceyuer of moste vyle & abiecte thinges of hym / all the Chrysten worlde loketh for the foode of holy doctryne , loketh for holsome counsell / loketh for fatherly comfort / loketh to knowe howe it maye lyue perfytly : why than seynge that he is destynated & chosen to so noble dygnyte , setteth heuen in the myddes of the vyle worlde , with troubles , care , for worldly fylthe , bothe spoyleth the bisshoppe from his dignytie and the people from the bysshoppe . Chryste hathe his realme farre more exident , than that it shulde be poluted by any hethyn kyngedome , or to speke trulyer by tyranny , He hathe his noblenes , he hathe hys ryches and hys pleasures / why nowe myngle we together thynges that are alwayes so clene contrary and alway dysngreynge . why confounde we the erly thynge with the heuenly , the meanest with the hyest , the porest with the rychest / the hethen with the chrystyane / the profame with the sacred .