Gens absque consilio & sine prudentia Thema . i. & . ii . membrum . vtinam saperent , & intelligerent , ac nouissima prouiderent . People voide of good counsell voide of wisedome , and of all foresight of thinges to come , vtinam saperent & intelligerent : Would god they wold be wise , and vnderstande , and prouide for the last thinges .

First the prophete Moyses Firste to knowe that this present lyfe is slydynge . Gods ambassadour , earnestly wisheth and desireth that we mortall creatures here liuinge in this worlde ; as it were in a slipper passage vnto deth , shold be of suche ripe wisedome and perfite vnderstandinge , as to knowe howe that this present life is but transitory , and ( as Iob saith ) ꝙ quasi flos egreditur that it passeth away as it were Iob. xiiij . a floure , fugit velut vmbra , flyeth as it were a shadowe . & repletur multis miseriis , and is albewrapped in wretchednes , subiecte to all maner of vanitie , defoiled with the filthinesse of sinne , and that it shall perishe within a shorte time . And therfore in the scriptures the life of man is compared and resembled vnto thinges of moste vanitie : As somtime to herbes or grasse growing in the feld , as the prophet Dauid saith . Homo sicut Psalm. cii . foenum dies eius , sicut flos agri sic efflorebit . The daies of man are but as grasse , he doeth florishe for a litle season euen as it were a flowre in the felde . Somtime to a shadow and vanitie . Homo vanitati similis factus Psal. cxliii . est , dies eius sicut vmbra praetereunt , saith the Psalmist . Man is made like vnto a vanitie , his daies passe awaye as it were a shadowe . Somtime to a wind . Ventus enim est vita mea , saieth Iob. My life is but a blaste of Iob. vij . winde : Somtime to a vapor , as Sainct Iames saieth . Quae est eni vita vestra ? vapor est ad modicum Iaco. iiii . parens , & deinceps exterminabitur . What thing is your life , saith sainte Iames ? It is , saieth he , euen a vapor appearing for a litle season , and then it vanisheth awaye : And sometime to nothing . Nihil enim sunt dies mei , saith Iob. For my daies Iob. vii . are nothing : God so disposinge cleane to withdraw the inordinate loue of this wretched lyfe out of the hartes of men . When there is no man of any wisedon or vnderstanding that shoulde much regard or set by that life whiche is so vncertaine as the floure of the felde , so inconstant as the winde , so vaine as a shadowe , so transitory as a vapor tossed and tombled in the aire , and finally so litle worth as nothing : But by this wise knowledge and vnderstandynge , the more vile that this present life is knowen to be , the more easelye it maye of all men be neglected , despised & set at nought for the loue of that life , which shal neuer vanish , but euer endure .

Besides this knowledge , how fikell , howe fraile , howe vayne ●● . To know ●he miseries ●herof . and howe transitory this present life is , the prophete Moyses wisheth vnto vs a further knowledge to be had of thys our mortall lyfe , and that we mortall creatures woulde be wise and vnderstande , how sorowfull is the first entringe of mans lyfe into this wretched The first entry of man into this world is ful of sorowe . worlde , maximo cum fletu , vagi tu , inertia & imbecillitate magna , with much wepynge & crying , with muche ignorance and feblenes : He is borne naked into the worlde and naked from hence he muste departe againe , made of the earth , and to the earth he must retourne agayn . How chaungeable his life is for his time here abydinge , and as The tyme of his abyding here is ful of mutabilitie . Iob. xiiij Iob saieth . Nunquam in eodem statu permanens . Neuer continuing in one state , now riche nowe poore nowe hoole nowe sicke , nowe merye nowe sorye , nowe counynge nowe ignoraunt , nowe seyng nowe blind , nowe free nowe bonde , nowe good nowe euyll , And finallye His ende departure full of fear howe terrible and fearfull shal be the passynge of the same at his departure againe .

Ouer and beside these knowledges , ● . To know the necessitie of death . the prophete Moyses earnestly wisheth that we miserable creatures here abiding in this worlde , woulde once be wise and vnderstande and knowe the great necessitie of death that raigneth ouer vs : An acte and decree beinge alreadie past against vs , that die we must . Statutum est ( saieth S. Hebre. ix . Paule ) omnibus hominibus femel mori . It is decreed & appointed for al men once to die . And this great straite & necessitie of death then fyrst beginneth to take place in man , when the soule is ioyned to the bodie , and continueth in man vntyll the separation of the soule from the bodie againe . For life is no soner comme into the bodie by the presence of the soule , but but death furthwithall issueth out of his graue and sepulchre to take away the same againe : and by the very same way that life goeth , death commeth . Do not we see the order of this present life to be suche , that after infancie commeth childhod , after childhod youth , after youth mans state , after mans state age , then olde age , and so at the last death ? The whiche order and naturall course can by no law , statute or meanes that man can inuent , be infringed or broken , neither yet once staied or pluckt backe . No not Minos Minos . Lycurgus . the lawe maker at Crete , nor Lycurgus at Lacedemony , nor yet the wife Solon in Solon . his lawes deuised at Athenes , could make any repeale of this decree and ordinaunce of God . When from the first man Adam , vnto this most noble and gracious queene of Spaine late departed , none hath escaped or can escape this sentence of death . No not Noe for all his righteousnes , Noe. Loth. nor Loth for al his hospitalitie , nor yet Toby for all his diligence in buriyng the dead Toby . could escape this rigorous sentence of death . When it was neither the strong & mightie faith of Abraham , nor the supplanting Abraham . of vices that was in Iacob , nor the great mekenes of the Iacob . prophete Moyses , nor the chastitie of Ioseph , nor yet the holines Moyses . Ioseph . of the prophet Samuel , that coulde persuade death to be the more fauourable to them . The great wisedome , riches , might & power , of kyng Salomon , Salomon . the great strength & force of Sampson agaynst his enemies , the puissaunce of the king and prophete Dauid , his feates of chiualtie & great mighte in armes coulde not auaile against the assaultes of deathe : death beynge fauourable to no man , but like cruell and tirannous to euery man . And therefore I do rede that death was portred & painted of the Paynims with the face and countenaunce of a tiraunt hauinge in his hande redie bente bow and arrowes to kill , slea , and shote at euerye man withoute all respecte or acception of persons . And in daily lousing of his dartes at vs , albeit that sometime he ouershoteth vs , and in faylinge of vs sleath kinges . Quenes , Dukes , Earles , Lordes : Sometime his darte lighteth to shorte of vs , and in the stead of vs , striketh our seruauntes , oure tenauntes and our poore innocent neighbours dwelling by vs , sontime his dart maketh a very narrow mysse of vs on the right hand , and killeth our wiues , our children , oure frendes & kynsfolkes so derely beloued . And albeit that his fierce dart glyde somtymes to wyde on the lefte hande , and in fayling of vs , kylleth oure aduersaries and enemies , and therby bryngeth vs oftymes into a vaine comforte , foolishe mirth and reioysinge , makinge vs beleue that he is our frende in the dispatche of those that loue vs not : Yet the tirannie of his hande is suche that he will not faile at the length to hitte vs . And wheras death at the beginning was so vnripe and vnperfite a boweman , that he firste shootinge and lousynge his dartes at oure first father Adam , it was nine hundred and thirtie yeres , Adam , 930. ( whose age was no fewer yeares in numbre ) before he coulde strik him . And wheras he bare his bow dailie bent against his sonne Seth , it was nine hundred Seth. 912. and twelue yeares , before he coulde hit him . And wheras he daylye laie in waite to ouerthrowe with his dart Mathusalem , Mathusalem . 969. Enoches sonne , it was nine hundred threscore and nine yeares before he coulde ouerthrow him . Yet within a certen space after , by daily custome and exercise of his hande , he began to waxe a more perfitte bowemanne , euerye daye shootynge more nere his marke than other , in so muche that by the time & dayes of kynge Dauid , he got him suche a redinesse and stedfastnesse of shotynge , that he would not haue failed ( for the more part ) to strike his marke within the space of . lxx . or . lxxx . yeres , like as the prophet Dauid witnesseth saying . Dies annorum Psal. 89. nostrorum in ipsis septuaginta annis . Si autem in potentatibus octoginta anni , & amplius eorum labor & dolor . The daies of our age ▪ saith he , are . lxx . yeres , and yf men be so stronge that they come to . lxxx . what so euer is more , is nothinge but labour and sorowe .

Thus you may perceiue not The tirannie of death only the necessitie of deth , that die we must : but also how cruell a tiraunte deathe is , whose tyrannye daylye increaseth againste vs more and more , euerye day shorteninge oure liues and shootynge more nere the marke then other . Whose assaultes and lieng in wayte for vs be wonderfull subtile and craftie . Sometime he maketh towarde vs as it were with open batayle , sendynge before hym vnto vs diuerse infirmities and sycknesses : and vnto , some hoare heares , blered eies , tremblinge and shakinge handes , stouping shulders and croked backes , as it were messengers or herauldes at armes sent before him . Somtime he commeth priuely creapinge as a thefe , and stealynge vpon vs like as he dyd vpon the richeman , of whome we rede in the twelfeth of saincte Lukes gospel , sending to'vs no warninges or messengers at all before him . Therfore almightie God , to cause vs to be in a redines againste his sodaine comminge , and oftentimes to haue the vncertaine houre of deathe in remembraunce ( whiche our fraile and deadlie sicknes maketh vs so ofte to forget ) hath sent vnto vs his Prophete Moyses : which prophete Mo●ses much lamentyng and sorowynge our great blindnes , saieth vnto vs these wordes of my Theme .

Gens absque consilio , & sine prudentia : Vtinam saperent et intelligerent , ac nouissima . &c.

But why doeth the Prophet Moyses so vehementlye wishe and desire vnto vs this cleare wisedome , and perfite vnderstandinge of the vanitie of this presente lyfe , of the myserye of the same , of the filthines of our owne corruption , and the necessitie of deathe ? Doubtlesse forbycause the perfite knowledge and throughe vnderstandinge of these thynges are in vs , the destruction of pride , the quenchinge of enuie , the verye medicine of malice , the driuing awaye of lecherye , and the extirpation of all worldly boast & vanitie , and finallye the recoueringe of euerlastynge lyfe . For what thinge ( I praye you ) lyeth in the compasse of mans wit , that sooner moueth a man to mekenes , & to the perfection of al holines , then doth the consideration of his own corruption : and the diligent vnderstandinge how that he liueth here in this wretched world as an outlaw a pilgrime , a geste full poore in all vertues , full vnstable in liuinge , peraduenture not abydinge here till to morowe ? For this maner of consideration & diligent understanding , doubtles shall cause a man to despise al the boaste of this life , the busines of worldly vanities , and all vncleane lustes and delectations of the fleshe . And in this maner of thinkinge , the soule receiueth knowledge of sinne , the knowledge of synne bryngeth repentaunce , repentaunce causeth amendemente and satisfaction makynge for synne , and all these together do engender in a man a verye hope , sure truste , and firme strength in our Lorde God . The which thinge the Prophete Moyses throughlye consideringe , wissheth by feruent desire , sayinge vnto you the wordes of my Theme . Vtinam saperent & intelligerent ac nouissima prouidesent . Would God men woulde be wise and vnderstande , and prouide for the last thinges .

But alas howe longe shall we be sicut gens absque consilio & sine prudentia , as it were people voide of good counsell and without foresight and wisedon ? All to fewe beynge amonge vs that haue the consideration , the wysedome and cleare vnderstandynge of these thynges in perfit remembraunce ▪ Ful few there be that sette before their eyes the knowledge of their own infirmitie , their bodely corruption , the minde of their sinnes , the day of their deth , or yet the paynes of hell : but muche like vnto brute beastes do prōcede liuinge here in this world , neither regardynge God , nor yet verye muche fearing the deuil . Woulde God therfore , in folowyngs thys exhortation of the prophet Moyses , we would once begin to waxe wise , to vnderstande , and to make prouision for the laste thinges : And The glasse of our own corruption . that by the contemplation and beholdinge of our selues in this so profytable a myrroure and glasse of our owne corruption , and frayle nature , and of the greate certitude of death that abydeth therin . At whose first entrye and breakynge into our houses , beholde howe the conscience begynneth to dreade , howe the hearte quaketh , the heade stoupeth , the witte wasteth , the strengthe faileth , the visage waxeth pale , the tonge fombleth , the breath goeth awaye , the speche very rare and thynne , all the beautie of the body cleane tourned into a griselye and fylthye corruption : and after that the bodye is buried , it falleth into a carionlyke stenche , the fleshe cleane tourned into grubbes meate . Be you wyse therefore , O ye mortall creatures , and vnderstand howe that thys is an horryble syghte , but it is full profitable .

O howe blessed and happye is he , that circumspectlye beholdeth hym selfe in this mirrour or glasse , when there is no crafte , no medicine , none instruction or teachynge that sooner destroyeth all vices , and planteth al vertues , then doeth the inwarde beholdinge of a mans owne corruption and laste ende .

To this glasse therefore repaire Yonge men ye first , O ye lustie yonge men , ( whiche by the deceitfull wantonnes of your youth do go so vpright , stretching out your selues , bearing vp your heades aloft with lustie courage ) and learne of stronge Sampson , of mightie Golias , and of the hardie captaine Holofernes , and other which perished in the boaste of their owne strength , what great folie it is to glorie in the strength of the bodye , whiche shall so sene decay and be ouerthrowen .

To this glasse come ye al , O Olde men . ye olde fathers , vnto whome deathe beyng very fauourable hath sent before him vnto you so many messengers , as youre hoare hears , bleared eies , droppinge noses , sagginge chekes , your lippes hanging , stowping neckes and shulders : come you hither and beholde your selues and learne at the least wayes nowe in youre olde age to be wise & vnderstande what vaine hope you be in , whiche do loke and make your most vayne accomptes , to liue one yeare longer : be ye neuer of so greate an age , euer crepynge awaie and fore fearinge to die . O ye olde fathers and hoare heares , why feare ye to die at . lxx . or lxxx . yeres of age , when all the tyme that ye shal liue after is in heuines , in greuous aches , in continual decaiyng , and neuer vpright , but rolinge , relinge and redye to fall in to the graue , whiche you do so lothe ? Why therfore feare ye so sore to dye , when by deathe God doethe chaunge vs from an olde filthy house into a newe ? For certainlie death is but a playe , wherin the player ( if he be wise ) aduentureth but a litle to winne muche . Whiche thynge is verye easlie perceyued of all those men which are of perfit knowledge , howe muche blessednes God is of , vnto whome we hope to go by death , and of how muche euyll these worldly men are , wyth whome we are conuersant here by life .

O ye gentlemen and men of Gentlemen nobilitie , come you hyther also to beholde your selues in thys glasse . And here you shal learne to be wise & vnderstande , whether the filthie grubbe worme or maggotte dare not aswell breede in youre , fleshe of your bloode whereof you bragge so muche , & wast & consume your carcasses , of your partes alwayes so deintely made of & so delicately nourished & fed , aswell as other inferior & porer mens .

O ye gentlewomen & faire Gentle women . ladies greatlie deliting in pure glasses , forgette not I praye you to beholde youre selues in this glasse of al other most profitable , which are so fondely geuen here in this worlde to set forth youre selues , wyth youre browdred heare ( whiche is a greate abuse ) youre fyngers be set with ringes , bearing purses full of swete sauoures & smelles , and bandes aboute youre neckes fynely wroughte wyth silke , and beset with pearles , with bracelets ful of gaudies , and suche other like maner of disguisinges . O ye folishe women whiche do bestowe and spende a greate parte of youre liues in the deuise of suche vanities . Vtinam saperetis & intelligeretis . Would God you would once lerne to be wise , perceiue & vnderstand with what goodlye trinkettes you shall be apparailled in the straitnes of your graues and sepulchers , where ye shall with Iob say . Putredini dixi , pater meus es tu mater mea Iob. xvij . & soror mea vermibus . I saide vnto corruption , thou arte my father : and vnto the wormes you are my mother and my sister . Why do ye therfore make so much of so filthie a carkas , and wast so much time in washinge , kemming and pranking of the same , vnto no smale prid and ostentation : when ye do but loose youre laboures , and in so doynge you do nothing els , but floure a fylthye donghyll , and garnish a smokie miskin , which you shall neuer make sauerie , washe him neuer so muche .

O ye great richmen , men of Riche and honourable men . authoritie , honour and estimation , whiche are as Gods here in this world , all thinges therin beinge at your commaundement by reason of your authoritie and riches , Come you also and repaire vnto this glasse , & tell me whether you can wyth all your authoritie , might and power , with all your golde syluer , and worldlie treasures , either feare or corrupte death , yea so much as to make him so partial and fauourable to you , that he will let you escape : like as in al other worldly thinges els , you can do , peruertinge all good lawes by the suppression of iustice . O ye worldlynges which liue here as goddes vpon the earth : Do not you here lyuinge perceiue , howe the time flieth without retorninge ? how the life traueileth on her iorney withoute ceassynge ? howe the fleshe consumeth withoute felynge ? and howe the glorye of this woride passeth as it neuer had bene ? ( The landes , possessions , riches , iewelles and treasures therof oftentimes falling into those mennes handes , who by oure willes shoulde haue the lest part therof . ) Why therfore be ye so forgetfull of youre selues , and so noselde in all worldlie vanityes , as thoughe they shoulde euer contynewe and neuer take ende .

O ye kynges and Princes ▪ ye Kinges Princes . magistrates and rulers of thys world . O ye prelates & byshoppes , hauynge charge of Christes Priestes , Byshippes & subiectes churche and familie . O all ye of hyghe and lowe degree , whether ye be gouernoures or subiectes , maisters or seruauntes , superiours or inferiours , come hither & beholde your selues in this cleare mirroure and glasse of your own corruption : & by a diligent examinacion and consideration wyth youre selues Consider what we were . what you haue bene , and of howe vyle a matter borne in to thys worlde ( nempe ex menstruo mulieris : ) What you are at thys presente touchynge the What we are . bodie , when as S. Bernard saith . Considera quid per oculos , quid per nares , per os , per aures , coeterosque corporis meatus emiserit , et nunquam vidi vilius sterquilinium . Consider wel , saith he , what a man sendeth furth and auoydeth by his eies , his nosetrilles , his mouth , his eares , and other the passages and pooers of the bodie , and thou maiest well say nunquam vidi vilius sterquilinium . I neuer saw a viler donghil : And what we shall be , nempe terra et What we shall be . ciuis . Euen verie earth and asshes . Quia pulnis es & in puluerem reuerteris . For duste thou arte , & Genes. iij. into dust thou shalt returne againe : and you shall beginne to waxe wise , perceaue and vnderstande , howe muche more matter we haue in our selues of humilitie then of pryde , of mekenes then of ostentation , of sorowe then of ioye , howe muche more matter also of abhorring oure selues , then of gloriynge in oure selues , of contemnynge & setting this world at nought then of reioyse in the worlde , & of followynge the moste godlie and holsome counsel of the prophete Moyses , then of neglectyng the same . Which prophete as an embassador sente of God to plucke vs into a more perfite remembraunce and knowledge of our selues with most earnest and heartie desire wisheth the same , saying vnto vs the wordes of my theme . vtinam saperent et intelligerent . &c.

And this wisedome and vnderstanding beyng first obteyned and got by the consideration and diligent beholdynge of our selues in this mirrour and glasse of our own corruption & mortal nature : let vs now procede to the last part of this theme , & expresse in a worde or . ij . what To prouide for the laste thynges . prouision muste be made of oure partes for the last thynges , & so I shall shortly commit you to go . And touchig a right order to be obserued in this prouision making for the last thinges : Firste I shall declare vnto you , what these last thinges are , & so after what prouision of oure partes oughte to be made for them . And these last thinges being many in numbre ( when al these thinges may iustly be called nouissima , the laste thinges which shall serue at the last , & be of confort to the soule of man , when al frendship , al helpe , confort & pleasure of this world shal faile . ) But here at this present , to vse breuitie , I shall entreate chefely of these foure last Foure las● thynges . thinges , that is to say , of death , of the iudgement of God , of the paynes of hell , and of the ioyes of heauen . For the which foure last thinges I would haue you in the short course of this present life to make prouision . First that First . we may here finish our life , and die wel . Seconde , that we ma receiue Seconde . at the handes of God a confortable & a merciful iudgement . Thirdly , we must here prouide Thyrde . to auoide the horrible paines of hel . Fourth & last we must proprouide Fourthe . so here to liue that we may be partakers of the life euerlasting & ioyes of heauen . And to auoide confusion herin , the maner of this our prouison making must be sundry & diuerse , like as the vocations degrees , and estates of men be sundry and diuerse . As the Bishoppes , Priestes & prelates of christes churche hauing the flocke of Christ commytted to their great cure and charge . They must make their prouision for these foure laste thinges by a circumspect fedinge of Christes flock with good and holsome doctrine , by a diligent serche of their partes to be made for the loste shepe whiche haue perished in the late plague of errours and Heresies : by a wise bringing of them backe againe into the folde and vnitie of Christes church , by a merciful binding and knitting of the woundes of the soore cut and mangled shepe : by a charitable nourishinge and confortinge of the weake , sicke & feble among them , hauynge in their brestes towarde their flockes the very zeale of a good pastour and sheperde : whose zeale is suche ( as Christ witnesseth ) ꝙ anima suādet pro ouibus suis , that he will Iohn . x. not sticke to giue his life for his shepe , like as our sauiour christ hath geuen vs example alreadie , and as Moyses desired deleri de libro vitae , to be blotted Exod. 32. out of the boke of life : and saint Paule Anathema esse a Christo Roma . ix . pro fratribus , to be accursed from Christe for his brethren . And their prouision for these foure last thinges being on this wise layd for , & circumspectly made , God shall graunt them all , and sende vnto them a quiet & blessed death , and a most confortable and mercyfull iudgement , deliuering them from the horrible paynes of hel , and restoring them to the eternall blisse and ioyes of heauen . All the rest of Shepe of the flocke of Christe . Christes familie or housholde , whiche are not shepardes but shepe of his folde and pasture : You must here begin and make your prouision for these iiij . last thynges . First by a diligent gyuing eare , and harkening to the voices of your sheperdes , & by a circumspecte and wyse refusall of all counterfeit and straunge voyces . When the true shepe of Christe non sequuntur alienum , Ioan. x. sed fugiunt ab illo , quia non noue runt voces alienorum , do not folow a straunge shepard , but flee from him , for they know not the voyces of straungers . Neither will they be deceyued by the straunge voyces of the Aryans Aryans . in deniyng the deitie of our Sauioure Christe : nor by the straunge voices of the Nestorians Nestorius Eutices . and Eutichianes in deneiynge of Christes humanitie : nor by the straunge voyces of the Manichees in their deniall of Manes . the fre choise of man : nor yet by the straunge voices of the Pelagianes Pelagius . attributing to muche to the free will of man . When the trewe shepe of Christe will not be deceyued by the barreyn voyce of Eunomius the Eunomius Solifidiane , nor by the monstruous voyce of Beringarius , Beringarius . in hys denyall of Christes verye Reall and bodelye presence in the mooste blessed Sacramente of the altare , nor yet by the euill skreakinge and moste straunge voyces of Martyn Luther . Bucer . Peter Martyr . Luther , Martyn Bucer , Peter Martyr , Corolastadius , Zwynglius , Oecolampadius & Zwinglius . Oecolampadius . other , the very palebreakers of the vnitie of christes church , the breders of al scismes & contentions in the same , the blasphemers of christes sacramentes , the subuerters of all good orders and constitutions , the reuiuers of olde cankered and rustie heresies , and now by them newe furbished and set forth to the shew and therfore their bokes iustly condemned here in this realme by a late proclamation set forth by the kinge and Quenes maiesties . Wherunto I do exhorte you to be obedient , & to bringe in your bokes of heresies , according to the purport therof : forasmuche as the trewe shepe of Christe will geue no eare vnto their mooste monstrous and straunge voyces : when these & al other like voices which do diswade from the antiquitie , vnitie and vniuersalitie of Christes church must nedes be most monstrous and straunge voyces . Therfore O ye Londoners and inhabitauntes of this cytie , Londoners Ceasse youre greate foly I besech you , & be you no longer sicut gens absque consilio & sine prudentia , as people withoute good counsell , and all foresight what wil ensue & folowe hereafter : Vtinam saperetis & intelligeretis , ac nouissima prouideretis Woulde God you woulde be wise , perceiue and vnderstande , & make prouision for these . iiij . laste thinges , by eschewyng of all straunge voices , and herkeninge vnto the voyces of your sheperdes , & by a dyligente callinge of youre selues into some better remembraunce , consideryng how longe time they haue spent in calling vpon you , with how much patience your slouthfull retourne from your wicked errours and herisies hathe bene borne withall at the handes of God , at the handes of our most noble king and oure moste mercifull lady and Quene , and also at the handes of your Bishoppes and preachers among you . Wheras you beynge persons seduced with many straunge voices of these deceitfull Mayremaides do dailie recompence this their most mercifull tolleration and gentilenes , with most cursed and wycked speakynges , blasphemyng God , and reysing vp false lyes and rumors agaynste oure mooste gratious kynge and Quene . In so much that I for my part at this time occupiynge this place ( of verye greate zeale and loue whyche I haue euer borne vnto you , ) am forsed thus muche to saye vnto you : that excepte you geue better eare to the voyces of youre shepardes : excepte ye shortlye retourne frome youre wycked heresyes into the vnitie of Christes churche agayne : and excepte you become wyse and vnderstande , and shortlye amende thys youre smale regarde and mooste euill prouision makynge for these foure last thinges : Doutles your euill beleuynge and corrupte lyuynge shall brynge you vnto a miserable and lamentable deathe and endynge : and to receaue therefore at the handes of God , a strayte and mooste vpryghte iudgement , to your great losse of eternall ioye and blisse euerlastynge : and to the wynninge of the perpetuall tormentes & paynes of hell .

Ye gentlemen and noble men whiche in lyuynge here in thys Gentlemen and noble men . worlde be very politike and ful of all maner of worldlie prouisions , Vtinam saperetis & intelligeretis ac nouissima prouideretis : Woulde God you woulde be wise , and vnderstande , & make prouision for these foure laste thynges , that you maye finishe the race & course of this shorte life with a quiet death , and fynallye to receaue at the handes of God a mercifull iudgement . into ioye and blysse , and not to susteyne the tormentes of hell . The maner of this your prouision makinge muste be , by the maintenaunce of Goddes glorie and honoure , by youre vprighte ministration of Iustice , & by the authoritie committed vnto you of God , to defende the catholike fayth and religion of God , hys churche and moste blessed sacramentes , and all the ministers of the same , seruinge God in theyr byshopriches , Cathedral churches , houses of religion , vniuersities , colleges or elles where . When otherwise doubtles your prouision made for these foure last thinges shall be all to shorte and after a wronge sorte . O ye therfore that are sicut gens absque consilio et fine prudentia , as people voide of counsell , wisedon and all forsight : vtinam saperetis Would God you would be wise and vnderstande whether this your prouision by you and your aduyse and counsell made here ( as for an example ) in this Cathedral church of Paules , where of the numbre of . lviij . or . lx. priestes , be nowe left by your prouision , but onely twelue priestes , called Peticanones , here daylie to serue God in the Queere : whether this your pretenced sekyng of Goddes glorie and honoure in all your doyng , may be called a prouysion , or rather a subtraction or plaine diminution of the same . O ye that are wandrynge here in thys worlde sicut gens absque consilio et siue prudentia , as people without counsell and voyde of wisedom and all forsyghte : Is this a prouision for the vpholding of Christes catholike faith and religion here in this reaulme by nighte and daye prayer , by readynge , preachinge and teachyng , by liberall almes geuinge and releiuynge of the poore membres of Christe , to ouerthrowe monasteries , colleges & hospitalles , to spoile bishopriches and their Cathedral churches , so craftely to crampe & fleese the vniuersities by a couetous exchaungynge of theyr landes ? Is this your prouision ? O gens absque consilio & sine prudentia . O ye people voyde of counsel , vnderstandyng & foresight : Vtinam saperetis . O woulde God you wold once become wise , to perceyue & vnderstande that excepte ye shortlie repent and do penaunce here in season for your greate wyckednes , here to confesse and acknowledge the same , here to make satisfaction & to restore againe , doubtles your prouision for these . iiij . last thinges will be verye slender and ryght noughte worthe . When otherwise you shall be sure here to finishe your liues with a lamentable and most miserable death , and finally receiue at the handes of God a fearfull and terrible iudgement : to the losse of perpetuall ioye and blysse : and to the winninge of the euerlasting paynes and tormentes of hell . And here a litle further , & somwhat more generally to speake touching the prouision making for these foure laste thinges after suche sorte , and as the Apostle Paule hath already prescribed vnto vs in his Epistle to the Ephesians the .v. and .vi. chaptres , as first : Suche among vs as be maryed and haue wiues , Maried men let them prouide by a godly loue vnto their wyues : like as Saint Paule teacheth , saying : Viri diligite Ephes. v . vxores vestras , sicut christus dilexit sponsam suam ecclesiam , et semetipsum tradidit pro ea . Ye husbandes , saieth sainct Paule loue your wyues like as Christe loued his spouse the church , and gaue him selfe for her . Ye married Maried women . women and wyues , you muste make youre prouision by your due obeysaunce vnto your husbandes . The Apostle Paule willing the same , saieth . Mulieres Ephes. v. viris suis subditae sint , sicut domino , quoniam vircaput est mulieris , sicut christus caput est ecclesiae Sicut igitur ecclesia subiecta est christo , ita & mulieres virissuis in omnibus . Ye women , fayeth he , be you subiecte vnto youre husbandes as vnto the Lorde . For the husbande is the head of the woman , as Christe is the head of the churche . Therfore like as the church is subiect vnto christ , so let women be to their husbandes in all thinges . Suche as be fathers and haue children , you Fathers . must prouide by a godlie & vertuous education of your children . Et vos patres , saith sainct Paule , Ephesi . vi . nolite ad iracundiam prouocare filios vestros : Sed educate illos in disciplina et correctione domini . And ye O fathers , saith he , prouoke not your children to anger , but bringe them vp in the discipline and correction of our lord . And ye children , ye must make Children . your prouision by rendryng your dewe obedience vnto youre parentes , and by honourynge and reuerencing of them . For so S. Paule teacheth you sayinge . Filij Ephes. vi . obedite parentibus vestris in domino : Hoc enim iustum est . Honora patrem tuum , et matrem tuam , vt bene sit tibi et sis longaeuus super terram . O ye children , saith the apostle , obey your parentes in our lord : for that is right . Honour thy father & thy mother , that thou maiest prosper , & lyue long vpon the earth . And al ye that be maisters & haue Maisters . seruauntes you must prouide by a dyscrete gouernaunce of youre seruauntes , remittentes minas , not by ouermuche threatenyng them : scientes ꝙ et illorum et vester dominus est in coelis , et ꝙ personarum acceptio non est apud deum . Knowing that both their maister & yours is in heuen , & that there is no respect of persons with god . And seruauntes Seruauntes must make their prouision by doyng their faithful seruice & obedience vnto their lordes & maisters . Serui obedite dominis vestris cum timore et tremore in simplicitate cordis vestri , sicut christo , non ad oculum seruientes quasi hominibus placentes , sed vt serui christi facientes voluntatem dei exanimo . O ye seruauntes , saieth Paule , obey your maisters with feare & trembling in the singlenes of your hart , as it were vnto Christ , not doyng seruice vnto the eye , as they do whiche go about to please men , but as the seruauntes of Christ , doyng the wyll of God , euen from the verye harte . So that all kynde of men for the time of their abode here in this worlde , muste here make their prouision for these foure last thinges , whether they be maried or vnmaried , wife or syngle woman , parentes or children , maisters or seruauntes , superiours or inferiours , magistrates bearing rule , or subiectes being ruled , whether they be of the clergy or of the laitie : Euery man must here prouide , by a circumspecte and diligent walke in their vocations for the loue , fauoure and frendship of God , by obseruation of his commaundementes , Christ himselfe witnessynge the same , and sayinge : Si praecepta mea seruauerits , manebitis Iohn . xv . in dilectione mea . If you wyll kepe my preceptes , you shall abide in my loue , and haue my fauoure and frendshippe . Whose loue and frendshippe at the last houre of deathe , shall stande vs in better stede then all the riches and lordshyppes of the worlde : When at that houre , thoughe all thy frendes , kinnesfolkes & acquaintaunce shoulde come with millions of golde , or yet by force of armes , they maye not at that dreadful grisely and last houre , do thee anye helpe or comforte : When other helpe , refuge or succoure at that tyme thou shalt haue none , but onely at the handes of God . Let vs therfore in all the meane space of this present life so dread and feare God , so imbrace and loue him , and so honoure and worshippe hym , that we at the laste houre maye haue his fauoure & frendship . Et si deus pro nobis quis Roma . viij . contra nos ? And yf god be on our side , who can be against vs ? And then we shall be sure to haue at the finishing and knitting vp of this life a verie quiet and a ioyful death : to receaue at the handes of God a very merciful and moste confortable iudgemente , therby to auoyde and escape the tormentes of Hell : and to inherite the ioyes of heauen . To the whiche he bring vs all that hath so derelie bought it for vs , by the effusion of hys most precious blood . To whom with God the father & the holy ghoste be al praise ▪ honor , & glory for now and euermore .