GOD giue you good morrow good maister Vicar .

And you the like good Iuuenis : and as I doe desire him to giue you a good morrowe , so I beseeche him to graunt that you may bestowe this whole day in such exercise , as may tende to the setting foorth of his glorie , the profit of this common wealth , and the health of your owne soule .

They enioy the health of the bodie , and I coulde wishe , they were aswell endewed , with the health of the soule .

I am glad to heare , that they be in bodily health , for truely I stoōde somwhat in dout least all thinges had not gone well amongst you , because I see you walke so soberly in these goodly greene fieldes , which are not only pleasant to the eye , but do also send out such a fragrant smell from those sweet flowres wherewith they are adorned , that mee thinke they should cause you rather to laugh then weepe , & make you rather sing then procure your sorrowe .

It is so in deede , yet the pleasure whiche I doe bere take doeth not so much augment my solace as other things do encrease my sorrow , neither can chose sightes whiche I nowe see with the eyes of my body , so much make memerrie , as those things which I nowe beholde with the eyes of my minde doe cause me to mourne .

I pray you sir ( if I may bee so bould as to aske you ) what thinges bee these which do so turne your solace into sorrowe ?

Upon condition you wil resolue me the like question I do grant to tel you .

I will , if your question shal seeme resonable .

The first then of all these is this . When as I doe consider with my selfe , with what great good giftes the Lorde God almightie , hath endued man , and especially , howe he hath giuen vnto him a Pilote most prudent , to gouerne him vppon the surging seas of this mortall life , which is euen reason , howe hee hath giuen vnto him all thinges whiche are necessarie for this present life , how he hath made him lower then the Angels to crown him with maiestie and honour , how he hath giuen his only sonne Christ Iesus to die for man , that man might bee deliuered from eternal death & destruction ; howe he hath suffered him to be set at naught , to the ende man myght bee bought , howe hee hath suffered him to be payned that man might bee gayned , how he hath suffered him to be scourged , that by his stripes man might bee healed , howe he hath suffered him to be accursed , that man might bee deliuered from the curse : so often doeth it make mee sobbe and sigh , to see howe vngratefully man doeth behaue him selfe towardes so kinde a father . Agayne , when as I come nigher home , and looke rounde about me in this our Countrey of Ailgna , and doe well waigh with my selfe with what blessings the Lorde hath endewed vs aboue all other nations , and howe wee by our lewde and wicked liues doe more dishonor him , almost , than any nation vnder the sunne :

It maketh me to burst out into bitter teares , and to bewayle our great vnthankfulnesse . What nation vnder the heauens hath tasted of those blessinges whereof wee haue had great abundance , or vnto what countrey in all the world hath the Lorde been so fauourable , as vnto this of ours :

The heauens are not made vnto vs as brasse , nor the earth is not vnto vs as Iron : but the cloudes droppe fatnesse and the earth yeeldeth her encrease , and yet beholde more blessings then these .

Our oxen are strong to labour , and our sheepe bring foorth thousandes , and tenne thousandes , and yet beholde more blessings then these . There is no leading into captiuitie , neyther any complayning in our streetes , and yet beholde more blessings then these . Wee haue a prudent Princes , a gracious Queene , a godly Iudith , a chast Susanna , a vertuous Hester , a discreete Debora , which these foure and twentie yeeres hath iudged Israel with equitie and right , and yet beholde more blessings then these . We haue sage Senatours which take counsell at the worde of the Lorde in all their interprises , and do nothing without the warrantize thereof , and yet beholde more blessings then these . The Lorde himselfe is our defence , and the God of Iacob is our protectour , and yet beholde more blessings then these . We are but an handefull in respecte of all other nations , and yet all other nations stande in awe of vs , because we are in safety vnder the shadowe of the winges of the Lorde , and in the mercy of the most highest we shal not miscarrie , and y●● beholde more blessings thenith ese : Wee neede not to go t●●● ierusalem with Sa●a the queene of the South to heare the wisedome of Salomon fo● we ha●e at home with vs great st●re of sage Salomons , prudent Prop●●●tes , preaching Prelates , literace Leg●●●s , and yet ●sholde more blessinges then these . Wee can goe to no Market in this part of Ailgna , but we shall haue gre●●●t or● of ●●●de , both for our soules , and bodies , so plentifullie is the woorde preached am●ngst vs and yet Ailgna how 〈…〉 thou for all these benefits : Nay so great is thine vnthankfulnes , that it causeth those which are affraide least the day of thy visitation bee at hand to shed great abundaunce of teares . And this is the firste thing O Iuuenis which causeth mee to be sorie now , when thou sayest other men would sing .

The second thing which turneth my melodie into mourning is this : because I see such negligence in a great many of Magistrates ( I had almost sayde in all Magistrates ) that sinne is left vnpunished , and offences are almost neuer called in question .

Money which is gotten by vsury is counted lawfull gaynes , and men doe almost make an occupation thereof , so that I ●●●nke it will come to passe ( if there be no● speedye reformation wrought ) that the Scriuiners shall spende one peny , nay , one pounde more by yeere , for making indencures for those which shall be bound prentices to the vsurers . The adulterer braggeth amongst his companyons , that although he haue watched all night , yet in the morning came he to his purpose : and so maketh hee no conscience of sinne , but is rockt on sleep in the cradle of securitie . The Papistes lie hissing like a snake vnder the greene herbes of curteous countenaunces , and there is no man to put them to flight , so that the godly may styll looke when they shall bee stunge . The extorcioner wresteth and wringeth , to the ende he may augment his gaines . The rich man stretcheth himself vpon his bed of euorie , hee eateth the fattest of the flocke , and the calfe out of the stall , hee drynketh wyne in bowles , and singeth to the sounde of the instrument , and regardeth not the afflictions of Iacob , nor careth not for the calamities of Israel . The poore cryeth , but hee heareth them not , the fatherlesse complayneth , but he stoppeth his eares , and the wofull wayling of the widowe doeth not once make him wagge . Hee ioyneth house to house , and lande to lande , so that the poore hath not an hoale wherein to hyde his head . And are these all the abhominations whiche are to bee founde in Ailgna ▪ no , no : there bee thousandes more then these . Our Sabbothes are prophaned , the worde of God is obstinately refused , the preachers thereof are shamefully abused , and yet beholde more abhominations then these . The name of God is blasphemed , Maiestrates are disobeyed , good lawes are violated , and yet beholde more abhominations then these . Ahab will haue Naboths vineyard , because it is good to make a Garden of herbes thereof . The rich man will haue the poore mans possession , because it lieth in his way , and the couetous man will not suffer the needie to dwell nigh him , because he can not abide the smell of his smoke , and yet behold more abhominations then these . Our fasting is tourned into feasting , our mourning into mumming , our praying into playing , our almes deedes into all misdeedes . High and lowe , rich and poore , one with another are lulled on sleepe in the bedde of securitie , and no man thinketh on the day to come . But it fareth with vs as it did with the men of Hierusalem , for as they did not thinke vppon the time of their visitation , vntill they were swallowed vp of their enemies : no more do we thinke vpon the iudgementes of God pronounced against impenitent sinners , god grant we may not taste thereof as they sometime did . Nay furthermore , as they did interprete euery signe and token whiche God did sende amongst them to call them home , for the best , euen so doe wee . When they sawe blasing Starres and other ●●erie impressions in the ayre , they did ascribe it vnto nature . When Ananias went vp and downe in Hierusalem , crying continually vae Hierusalem , vae Hierusalem : Wo be to Hierusalem , wo bee to Hierusalem , they did at tribute it vnto madnis . When as the brasen gate of the temple which twenty men were not able to open , did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 open of it owne accord , they say de : it was a ●●ken of good lucke .

But yet at length their enemies came and did cast a ba●●cke about them ; and besieged them in on euery side , they bent their force against them , and erecred engynes at euery coruer : so that at length they rased their walles , they sacked their citie , they turned their towers topsie ●●ruye , and made Hierusalem an heape of stones . Whereby it came to passe that the inhabit a● is thereof had in stead of welth , want and woe : in steade of plentie , payne and ponertie ▪ in steade of store , starke nothing : and they whiche bought Christe for thirtie penee , were themselues solde thirtie for a pennie .

A ruine most ruthful , a case most carefull , an happe most harde , a subuersion most suddaine , a desolation deserued , a destruction most due , & example most excellent for all men to be ware by , that they do not commit the like sinnes , least they tast of the same sowre sauce . I maruel we can so often heare with our eares what destruction fel vpon Sodome and Gomorra for their sinnes , and that we wil neuer be warned by them to forsake sinne . The earth vnder our feete hath shaken , because the Lorde was wroth with vs , & the he auens from aboue haue foretolde our destruction , vnlesse we repent . Our sinnes are many in number ; & great are our iniquities , & our offences are gone ouer our heads , and are become a burthen to . heauy for vs to beare . I am no Prophet , nor the sonne of a prophete , I am no dreamer of dreames , neither yet an interpreter of the same , I was not nourished vp in Nayoth , nor yet did I eate bread in mount Ephraim amongst the chrildren of the prophets : & yet when the figtree & all other trees do shoote out their buds , it is a token that sommer is nere , and when the fieldes are white , it is a signe that haruest is at hand : so when sinne is rype , a man may easely iudge that it shal be cut downe . Wherefore I say once againe O Ailgna repent . These , these are the thinges O Iunenis , which do procure my meditation , whereat thou doest so much maruell .

Soft sir I pray you , for soft ●ire maketh sweetemalt .

And let mee be gone sir , I desire you , for delay breedeth daunger .

The hastie man neuer wanceth woe .

And yet it is good striking while the iron is whote .

But haste maketh waste .

And yet the tide ta●rieth for no man .

Yet is it better to lose your tide , then to put both body and soule in daunger : But nowe to my question . I pray you sir , what busines haue you at vbique .

Dauncing , dicing , drunkennes , footeball play , marie sir , heere wil be a Sabboath day spente with a witnesse . Here will bee worke for the Diuell , his damme , his eldest sonne , and one of his houshold seruants .

Why so I pray you sir ? not one whitte the more for this , for these bee good exercises , and the Diuel is seldom wont to set men on worke in that which is good .

Not so sir , for that doeth not follow : but because you seem to be one of these busibodies which cannot abide dauncing , I will see what you can say against it , for my busines doeth not sus●er mee to stande to defende the other .

I am verye desireus to enter that cumbate , but. I pray you first set downe some groundes for the same , and I will trie what I can doe at the ouerthrowing thereof .

I am content , in defence therefore of danncing I say , that it is a good recreation , and I doe thinke that this were sufficient for the defence of it , if I shoulde say nothing els .

When as the Spider ( hauing taken a sore displasure at the swallowe , because shee did eate the sli●s whiche are her meate ) had hung vp her thinne coppewebbe in the doores through whiche the swallowe was wont to flye , shee thought shee had made her worke inough for one while : yet the swallowe comming after her accustomed manner , did flye quite thorow , which thing did not a litle anger the poore spider , because shee was not as well able ●● catche her as euery little flye . So fareth it with you , you thinke you haue se●●ee woorke ynough to doe , when as you haue hunge vp this slender coppewebbe in my way , whiche is your strong reason , whiche you bringe to defende dauncing withall , yet perhappes you shall speede as well as did the Spider . I pray you therefore aunswere mee to this question . You say that dauncing is a recreation , whether therefore doeth it recreate the bodie or the minde ?

It doeth recreate both , and for that cause mens seruants hauing laboured harde all the weeke , doe vse to daunce vpon the Sundayes .

You say that dauncing doth recreate both body and minde , if therefore I shall prooue that it doeth recreate neyther of both , you will thinke your self to be in the backhouse ditch .

Not very well , I pray you therefore tell me what it is ?

In this you bewraye your grosenesse and ignorance , that you will say you cannot tell what : You will saye that dauncing is a good recreation when as you knowe not what recreation meaneth . But it appeareth that this bolt whiche you haue already shotte , came neuer out of your owne quiuer , Recreation is a seconde making , or a making agayne of that thing which was once made , and by a metaphore we call it a refreshing of that thing which is wearied with muche labour , ( if it be applyed vnto the body ) : but if it be applied vnto the mynde , wee say it is a renewing of the minde beeyng worne with much labour & studie , greate cares , and vnmeasurable sorrowe . This definition being thus set downe , I come to that which you haue saide before , and I will first proue ( if God shall assist mee ) that dauncing is no recreation of the bodie , secondely that it is no recreation of the minde . If dauncing were a recreation for the bodie , then shoulde it refreshe the same beeing wearie , it shoulde make nimble the ioyntes , strengthen the legs , make soft the feete , and finally , it shoulde bring the bodie beeing out of temper , into good temperature : but it doth none of all these things , therefore dauncing is no recreation for the bodie . My maior proposition is certayne and sure , for it is grounded vpon the definition of recreation , as for the minor it is no harde matter for mee to proue it , sithence common experience doeth tell vs that it is true .

For dauncing is so farre from refreshing the body being weary , that it maketh the same more wearie . For I haue hearde tell of those whiche haue daunced one halfe day for pleasure , and haue laide in bedde two whole dayes for payne . Cal you this a recreation ? if this be your recreation much good eate you with it , I will none . I doe omitte to speake howe many haue beene lamed with dauncing , which in their youth haue bin such dauncers that they were able to leape ouer logges , but in their age haue scante been able to steppe ouer strawes . I will not say what incurable diseases haue risen in many mens bodies , through the extreame heat wherinto they haue cast themselues in time of dauncing . I neede not to tell what agues & shakings men haue caught by dauncing , so that they haue almost him vndone by it : and yet for sooth dauncing is a good recreation for the bodie . What leauines , sleepines , and siuggishnes doth dauncing procure : Howe many mens seruauntes being set to woorke , do after their dauncinge dayes lie snorting in hedges , because they are so weary that they cannot worke : Whereby their maisters doe reape but small gaynes . If maisters ( especially those which haue dauncers to their seruauntes ) did well consider with them selues what great discommodities doe arise vnto them by their seruauntes dauncing , they woulde giue the ministrels money to hold their peace faster , then the dauncers woulde giue them money to pipe , and yet they shoulde be no leesers by it at the yeeres ende .

But nowe will I prooue in a woorde or two that dauncing is no recreation for the mynde . All Philosophers do graunt this in generall , that temperatura animise , quitur temperaturam corporis : that the temperature of the minde , doeth folow the temperature of the body . Whiche wordes doe serue very much to the ouerthrowing of your position . For if so bee it the bodie be made sluggish , and sleepie with dauncing , and altogether vnapt to doe any thing , ( as I haue before sufficiently proued ) then must the minde needes bee brought into like case . So that you see , that whereas you saide that dauncing was a recreation both for body & minde , I haue proued it to be neyther a recreation for the bodie , nor yet for the minde .

You haue made a fayre speake of it , it were great pitie but you were shut vp in a Cloyster amongst Monkes , you can leade such a sober life .

If I coulde not leade a more sober life then they . I might well inough daunce , for truely the sins which amongst them are committed , doe farre passe your dauncing , and yet is it badde ynough .

They are not sober and holy , because they seeme so to bee . They doe washe the outside of the cuppe and platter , but within they are full of deadly poyson .

They are like paynted sepulchres , which on the outside doe seeme fayre and beautifull : but inwardly they are full of dead mens bones , and all filthines .

You are out of your text sir , I pray you returne to it againe . Will you then admitte no recreation at all for those which are labourors , & take great paynes all the whole weeke in their vocation :

Yes that I will , and that such a recreation as shall be acceptable in the sight of God , and laudable in the sight of the godly .

And I pray you sir what is that ?

When a man hath kept the first part of the fourth commaundement , which is this , that hee must labour all the whole sixe dayes , and doe all that he hath to doe , let him keepe the seuenth day whiche is the Sabboath day holy , vnto the Lorde . That is , `let him rest from bodily labour , and let him attende vnto Gods hestes , let him behaue him selfe as a true Christian ought , and as it becommeth him whiche will bee a good keeper and sanctifier of the Sabboth day : so shall he finde recreation both for his body and also for his minde .

Nay not so , me thinke ye cannot proue , that by this eyther the bodye or minde is recreated .

Yes truely both of them , for first and foremost it is a great recreation to a wearie bodie to haue rest , for as the olde prouerbe goeth : Fessum quies plurimum inuat , rest is no small helpe to a wearie man . And truely this rest he shall haue , if hee keepe the Sabboath according to gods holy will and pleasure .

Againe ( if you doe well remember ) I sayde euen nowe , that that doeth recreate the body , which maketh it more apt and able to do that which it ought : And truely rest doeth this . For as we do vnbende our bowes when as they haue bin long bent , to the ende they may shoote more strongly when as wee doe bende them againe : so laboring men do grant some rest to their bodies , that when men go to worke againe , they may both bee stonger to labour , and also endure longer . As for the mind , who seeth not that it taketh great recreation by keeping the Sabboth day aright .

And to the ende I may better proue this to bee true : let vs briefly consider what ought to bee the exercise of a Christian vpon that day , wherein hee resteth from bodily labour . He must repayre vnto the Church , where all the faithfull are gathered together , to offer vp their sacrifice , euen that spirituall sacrifice which is spoken of by the prophete Dauid in the 50. Psalme : Which is prayse , prayer , and thankesgiuing . This done , he must ioyne with them in prayer vnto the Lorde , lifting vp cleane handes towardes the holy heauens , where dwelleth God , euen the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ . Then must he giue eare vnto that whiche is red and taught by the minister , he must heare , marke , and learne , so much as he possiblie can . If opportunitie shall serue , he must receiue the Sacramentes of the bodye and blood of our Sauiour Christ , and that woorthilye , and thankefully .

Hee muste meditate vppon that which hee hath hearde , when hee returneth home againe . Hee must visite the sicke , he must clothe the naked , hee must helpe those whiche are in neede and necessitie , ( if hee bee able , ) he must procure concorde where discorde hath beene : finally ●ee must bewayle his sinnes , and be heartily sorye for that whiche is past , and hee must determine with him selfe that hee will neuer commit the same againe .

Who so doeth these thinges , shall no doubt haue his minde wel recreated . For when a man is wearied with sinne , when hee seeth death & destruction before his face , due vnto him for his sins , ( whereby it commeth to passe that he is euen swalowed vp of sorrowe , ) what greater ioy can chaunce vnto him then to heare out of the woorde of God , ( whiche is redde euerye : Sabboath ) these sweete comfortes ,

Come vnto me all yee that traueile and be heauie laden , and I will refreshe you .

Whosoeuer shall beleue he shal be saued .

Will you then permitte those men whiche haue laboured sore all the whole weeke , to haue no pastime vpon the sunday ?

Better pastime then that whiche I haue spoken of can they not vse , neyther can they possiblie passe the time after a better sort , for by such pastime shal they redeeme the time , whiche they haue lewdly let passe .

Yea but wil you not permit them to vse some sport or play vpon sundayes , as dauncing bowling and such like ?

You harpe still vpon that one string , which methinkes maketh no good harmonie . I can in no case permit that which god hath not permitted in his law , for if I should adde any therto , great plagues should be added vnto me . I am no pope , I cannot grant men licences to sin .

But howe doe you proue out of the commaundements , that we may not daunce vpon the sundayes .

Wee must keepe holy the Sabboath day , therefore wee muste not daunce vpon the Sabboath day .

This agreeth as well as if I shoulde saye , there is a bridge at Rochester , therfore there is a barge at Billingsgate .

Not so neyther , for mine argument hangeth better together then so .

Howe doe you proue it then ?

Marie sir thus , Dauncing doth dishallowe the Sabboath day , therefore if we must keepe holy the Sobboath day ▪ w●e must not daunce vpon the Sabboath .

Howe proue you that dauncing doeth dishallowe the Sabboath day ?

It is easie to prooue . All vanitie ●●th dishallow the Sabboath day , but dauncing is vanitie , therefore dauncing doth dishallowe the Sabboath day .

You are still rapping me vpon the lippes with your logicke , reason me coldly after the custome of the countrey .

In deede meethinke I do soe , for my reasons ●e so colde that they haue almost made you ●rease , for all that heate which ye were in euen now , when you begunne to defende dauncing , ●o that you doe nowe gadde from your text .

Good God , I doe much meruell why you doe speake so muche agaynst daunching : dauncing hath been vsed in your fathers time , and in your fathers fathers time , and will bee vsed when you are both dead and rotten .

Yea marie sir , there you hi●te the nayle vpon the heade , there g●eth the hare away . This is euen like the reason which you did of late reci●e . As if all thinges were good which were committed in the time of our forefathers . Adam our first father disobeyed God , is therefore disobedience good ▪ Dauid ( who liued many hundred yeeres agoe ) did ●●e with Bersabee , and caused Urias to be slayne , are therefore adulterie and murder good ▪ Iudas be●rayed his maister one thousand fyue hundred and odde yeeres a goe , is therefore treason tollerable ▪ Absolon rebelled against his father long agoe , is therefore rebellion commendable ▪ You spoke euen nowe of colde reasoning , but me thinkes this reason is so colde that it hath at all no force . But in this point you doe not degenerate from the Papistes , who as they did suffer men to vse all kind of sensuality , so did they neuer finde fault with this same vanitie , I meane dauncing . As they reasoned from customes and antiquitie , euen so do you . But wee must not rēgarde what hath been done in times past , wee muste marke diligently what God hath commaunded vs to doe , who was before all times . If the Magistrate should gouerne as his fathers haue done before him , hee shoulde oftentimes doe iniurie to the fatherlesse , and oppresse the poore widowe . If the preacher should alwayes preach as his auncest ours haue done , hee shoulde sometime deliuer false doctrine . If wee shoulde lyue as our forefathers did , wee shoulde most times wander out of the way of vertue . Which thing Chremes in Terence ▪ well considering , hee burst out into these woordes : Quam m●lta iniusta ac praua moribus fiunt , many vniust and wicked things do come to passe through custome .

I pray you sir , are you wiser then your forefathers , do you loth that which they did like ▪

If wisedome did come vnto men by nature , or if knowledge were an inheritaunce like vnto landes , which did discende vnto the sonne in like quantitie as his father had the same : then coulde not wee say that we are wiser then our fathers : but for as much as wisedom , discretion , & knowlege are gifts that come from aboue , euen from the father of lights , with whom there is no chaunge nor shadowe of chaunge ( as Saint Iames doeth testifie ) : we may boldely say wee are wiser then our fathers , if it haue pleased God to bestow vpon vs greater store of knowledge and wisedome then hee gaue vnto them . For wisedome is not proper vnto gray haires , so that all those which haue gray hayres must of necessitie bee wise , and they onely can be wise , and that they can alwayes bee wise : neither is knowledge knit vp in white lockes .