MAny great men and potentates of the worlde , when thei haue by their vnlauful and vnrighteous attemtes , brought themselues into extreme miseries , haue at laste much blamed their vnfortunable estate , for that they in due time lacked coun●el to haue withdrawen them from such enterprises . So it is saide in the common Prouerbe . That the riche and mightye haue seldome good councell , excepte they get it of themselues . For riches and hye dignitie causeth them to be more insolent , so that they can abide any thing better , then to be tolde of theyr faultes , and the rewarde of hym that shoulde franckely tell them the truth : may soner be a brokehead then otherwyse . Thys prudent men perceyuing , rather wythdrawe them selues from them , than with wearying them selues in vayne ▪ procure to them selues displeasure . And flatterers seyng a redy pray at theyr handes , dayly folowe vpon them , wyth vpholdyng theyr dedes and woordes good or bad Al is excellently deuised , prudentlye spoken , done lyke a good man . &c. Thus wyth their owne pride climbyng ▪ and with flattery pricked forward , thei runne headlong in their imaginations , til they tomble downe into the pyt of destruction . And then thei lay the blame from them selues to other . wher indede they wold neuer heare other , but snch as serued , yea rather deceyued theyr affections wyth flatteries . But agaynst sutche headstrong hastynes we are admonished by the holy Gost saying : Be not wise in thine owne conceit . Fear God , & depart from euil . Thys we wysh that al menne wold well consider in their enterprises . First that ther is a God , not a blynd and deafe god , as the godles Heithen painted Iupiter at Create , but an euerliuyng God that seeth all the wayes of Adams children , that knoweth the oppress our and him that is oppressed , that wyl call all thynges into iudgement and to accompt and wyl render to euerye one his iust recompence vpon hys head . Hym oughte men to fear . For whatsoeuer thei attempt yet at last , that he determineth must come to passe , and his wyl in all thynges shall be accomplished . This I pray you to consider now in dew time , least if you now forget it , it may hereafter chaunce to you as it hathe done to other ▪ that in theyr wealth lyttle studyed on these matters . God hath maruelously saued you from the handes of sutche as hated you , and set you in hye dignitie , more then euer you had in your lyfe . And doutles it is to do good ▪ and not euill , to correct and amend thinges amisse , not to destroy and breake downe thynges that are in good case and order . Your procedinges begin strangelye , in that you at the fyrst go about to deface the holy woord of God , to set asyde Christes institution , and to cal al this realme to blindenesse and errour . For if you take away the lyghte of Gods woord from the worlde : what can men loke for at your handes , but destruction and errour ? Dauid saith : thy worde ( O Lord ) is a candel for my feete ▪ Psalm cxviii . Iohn . viii . and a light for my steppes . And Christ sayeth : he that foloweth me , walketh not in darknes , but shal haue the lyght of life . we knowe that you haue in tymes past nothing fauored the Scriptures to be in English , but haue euer winsed and kycked against them , but our hope was that once you wold amend , considering how Gods goodnes called you to repentance . You were wont to alledge you dyd nothyng but as a common Counselour , yea you obtested by God , that when menne were burned for the truthes sake , you nothyng procured to it , but dyd all that you might to the contrari . we wer glad to read this in your writings , but we besech you let the same nowe appeare in your dedes , so shal we the better beleue your writinges . But if now you rayse a newe persecution for the wordes sake , truely it shal be manifest to al men , that ye were gilty of al the blod that hath bene shed before time for the word of god . which blod ( though it be yet vnadueuged ) yet it remaineth fresh and new in the syght of God , wyth Abels bloode crying vnto God , ge. iii Ap. vi and with the bloode of the holye Martirs saying : How longe tariest thou Lorde holy and true , to iudge and to auenge our blode on them that dwell on the earth ? Doute ye not but their crye is heard and not forgotten afore God . For he maketh inquisition for their bloode , Ps. ix . and remembreth them , and forgetteth not the complaint of the poore . i. Tim iii. Ezech xx xiii The office of a Byshop is not to be a Butcher , it is to preache Gods word , not to put it downe , to help such as be captiues , not to cast into pryson the ryghteouse that are at liberty , to carry the poore lambes vpon their shoulders , not to seke al meanes possible to consume them with fyre or halter . O miserable lambes that shall haue sutch Shepherdes , whose study is not to feede them , but to kepe them from the pasture of Gods word , and to poyson them with dreames of mens imaginations . O horrible iudgement of God , that Christ and his Gospell shal be called new learning and heresye . what can the Turcke do more then rayle agaynste Christ and blaspheme his holye Testament ? Yet must Christen men be compelled to hear Antichrist , and to hold their peace , when the blood of the new Testament is blasphemed . what is in your lattin Masse , to edify with the churche of England ? i. Co. xiiii S. Paule saith : that al thinges read or doone in the common congregation , should be done in that tonge that the congregation vnderstandeth , that the vnlearned may say Amen . And Boner hath set vp agayne in Paules Salesburi latin portace , wherof the lai men vnderstandeth no word , and God knoeth no more do the greater parte of the portas patterers . we know that S , Paul had the spirite of Christe , and what can we iudge of Boner doing contrary to Saynt Paules doctrine ? Yf the most godly and perfecte booke of seruice ( whiche euen you your selfe haue both in preachynge and writing commended ) please not him , why doth he not set out his church seruice in English ? But he knoweth wel inough that there is sutche monstruouse thinges in it , that if it were in Englishe , English boies woulde laughe it scorne . Sutch lyes ar in the saintes legendes , such manifest errours , that no coullour can defend them Yet muste these occupye the place , and that in lattin to make symple and plaine people beleue , that ther is in the lattin tong ▪ some priuy holy mistery Truthe needeth no corners or clokes to hide it selfe , nor to be in a straunge hid tong , as errours euer seke the ●●●tes of darknes to be their shield and defense Euery one that doth euil ( as Christ saieth ) hateth the lighte , Iho iii and commeth not to the light , that his dedes should not be reproued , but he that doth the truth commeth to the light , that hys deedes maye be knowen , for they are done in god ▪ Christ ordeined the holy communion that christen men shoulde together eate the holy bread , and drinke the holy cuppe in the remembraunce of his body broken , and his blood shed . And S. Paule deliuered to vs the same that he receiued of the Lord , commaundynge vs saying : as oft as ye shal eate of thys bread , and drincke of this cup , ye shall shew the Lordes death vntil he come . I prai you , how is this obserued in your priuate masses , wher your shauen prestes ( for the more parte ) can as well buylde Poules steple , as fulfil Poules commaundement . you haue not one word of scripture to maintaine this prophanation of christes institution . And it is an horrible and fearful thing that euer man mortall should presume sutch great impietie against the immortal and euerliuing god . you rage sore agaynst maried priestes which haue for them gods woorde . i. cori . vii . but you forget the vnchaste and detestable Sodomies , incestes , aduoutries , fornications , murdring of infants , that hath bene found in the vnmaried sort of shaue linges , which haue no word of god but this : for sutche thinges sake , commeth the wrath of god vpon the children of vnbeliefe , Ephes. v. i. cori . vi . and. vii and whore mongers and aduouterers shal not inherite the kingdome of Christ . You bishops shoulde laye no snares to dampne mens soules , but rather helpe them oute that be in sutche dampnable estate , and that which gods word leaueth at libertie , you ought not to bring into bondage . That you depriue the maried prestes of their offices & liuinges , it is very straunge , and no word of god haue ye so to dooe . And we nothing doubt it , but thoughe god at this present exercises the patience of his seruantes , yet he wil at last remember hys promise . For the rroubles sake of the oppressed , and because of the complaint of the poore , I wil vp ( saith the Lorde ) I wyll helpe them , Psal. xi . and set them at rest . And in Esai the lord saith : wo be to the thou robber , shalte not thou be robbed also ? es . xxxiii . & thou that despisest other , shalt not thou also be despised ? The lord wil doutles heare the sorowful wepings of the poore widdowes and fatherles children which by this robbery are dryuen to beggerie . The lord heareth the praier of the oppressed ( saieth Sirach , eccl. xxxv ) He wil not despise the praier of the fatherles , nor the widdowe lamentably complainyng to hym . Doth not god see the teares of the widdow , and hear her exclamation against sutch as cause her to wepe ? from her cheke they ascend into heauen , and the lorde that fauourablye heareth her , wyll haue no pleasure in them . For gods honor therfore , and for feare of his iudgement , cal these things to your minde , and somewhat mitigate these hasty and rashe doinges , whiche are against god & his word . Eccl. xv . psalm . v. For though the lord hath called you to be a scourge to other , yet remember he commanudeth you to do nothing vnrighteouselye , for he is a god that willeth none vnrighteousenes : their may no vngodly persone dwell with him , sutch as be cruell , may not stand in his sight . He is enemy vnto al wicked doers . he destroieth the lyars and abhorieth the bloode thirstye and deceiteful . And as you now are reysed to scourge others : so if you vexe the innocent , doutles the lord will throw you downe , and rayse vppe them that shall scourge you againe , and fulfill Christes worde : Mat. vii . Luk. vi . with what measure ye meate to other , the same shal be measured to you againe . Remember we besech you , that as glory groweth , so enuie against you groweth , not of good , but of euell men , who thoughe they nowe lyke Echo rebound euer with pleasaunt sound of your owne voice , yet wil they ( if god a little withdrawe his hande from you ) be the first that shal reioyse at your fall . God wil withdraw his hand from you , if you repugne against his word , if you seeke to deface his truth , to cast aside Christes supper , to condempne mariage , to set vp againe idolatrie , superstition and errour , to bring in againe that sodomitical fained chastetie , that drew infinite vnto eternal dampnation . we neede not recite vnto you examples what god hath done with princes and potentates , that haue enterprised to resist his truthe , or els to abuse it to their owne priuate lustes , seing you haue not onely read , but sene before your eyes . Onelye we praye god you may remember what was said to S. Paule . Saule Saule why persecutest thou me ? He saide : Lorde who art thou ? The lord saide : I am Iesus whom thou persecutest , Act. ix . it shal be hard for the to kicke against the pricke . It is the lord Iesus that in his members suffereth , it is his worde that is hated and persecuted , it is he that mercifullye calleth you to repentaunce , and he is able inoughe to represse all violence done agaynste him , but as he came from heauen to saue sinners , so wolde he rather call Saule to repentance , then cast Nero into destruction . But when al thinges shal declar you impenitent , & manifest rebellour against godes worde , then without doubte the lord wil no more spare you , than he hath before time spared other . For goddes sake therfore beware in dew time and take example at others , least other here after take example at you . actes . i. Iudas betraying the truth , purchased the blody feld , for he hong himselfe , and all his guttes burst forth . Pharao persecuting the people of god , exo. xiiii . ii . Tim. iii got gods vengeaunce & manifolde plages vpon Egipt , and he that thirsted blood , was drowned in the red sea . Iamnes and Iambres his prophetes were at last compelled magre their hertes to acknowledge the finger of god . How wel sped Hieroboam for erecting his golden calues at Bethell and berseba ? iii. re. xiiii Looke for no better rewarde for erectiug your satisfactory sacrifice . But how craftely do you cloine in this . you wil commaunde no man , but they shall say you , gratifie the quene . God graunt the quenes grace plainly to se your falshoode , we are afraid you wil bring the wrath of god vpon her & al this realm of England , as the p̄stes & ꝓphetes of Dan & bethel brought it vpon the kings of Israel and Iuda . you tel the quene the people is desirous of Masses , and that they neuer fauoured the scriptures , and you tell the people , the quencs pleasure is that they receiue againe the masse and poperie . Thus you cause no small number of harts to be withdrawen from that harty loue and affection that thei ought to beare to the quenes highnes , and as mutch as in you is sowe the sede of discention , which the lord of heauen keepe from amonge vs , and graunt you to take wiser wares . The people doubtles was fully staied in conscience , and quieted in the right way of gods word , and wolde haue continued in the same , if you and others had not wyth your dampnable perswasions , craftie surrelties , cruell handlings . &c. gone about to peruert them . And euerye man maye se , that some for hope of lucre and promotion , some for feare of punishment and losse , are redy to retourne as dogs to their vomit , and swyne to their former puddell . As for sutch as al this time haue dissembled , & now openly declare their cankred stomackes , as redye to tourne with euerye winde : as any weathercock . No marueil of their inconstantie in religion , for their ground is not the sure foundation of gods word , but the slipperie sand of pleasing men . Ye shal do doutles a goodlie act to serue sutche mens affections , and to rebell against gods truth . Dout not but at last ye shal haue some cardinals hat for your laboure . iii. Regu . xvi . xvii . xviii . xxi . iiii . Re. ix and. x. Achab with his baall and ●emurius , gotte to himselfe thre yeares without taine , and wher the dogs licked Nabothes blood , ther was Achabs blod licked of dogs also . And he that spoiled the poore of his vineyarde , by gods iust iudgement loste his kingdome with the destruction of all his children . iiii . Regu xxi . Thincke not but god can raise a Hiehue when his pleasure is , and will doo it when Achab least loketh for it . Though poore Esaias must be counted an heriticke , yet god wil auenge his blod , and the blood of al his seruants the prophetes that Manasses hath shedde .

We wolde ye wolde rede Helias letter sent to Ioram , ii . Pa. xxi and consider that ye walking in Iorams wayes , may ( except ye repent ) haue Iorams reward . ii . Para. xxiii . Mathan the high bishop of Baall for his greate paines taken in Baals seruyce , was at last offred vpon Baals alter . But per chaunce ye wil righte swetely deride this letter , ii . pa. xxv and say as Amasias said to the Prophet rebuking him for his Idolatry , and saying : whi worshippest thou the Goddes that deliuered not their people oute of thy hande ? he answered : Arte thou one of the kynges councel ? Holde thi peace that Isse the not . So you wil say : Hold thi peace thou heretike , or come fourth to dispute thi matters . If ye wil dispute by the holy Scriptures , by the Doctors of the primatiue church , it is alredi profred vnto you , but ye know ye can haue none aduantage that wai , for your owne consience accuseth you . that ye are not able to stande , either with Scriptures or auncient Doctours to preuaile againste the truthe . As litle honoure will come therof to you in disputyng : as is alredy wonne in writynge , therefore your olde argumentes ( which your preachers now at Poules crosse , most earnestly beat into the peoples heades ) are suresby . fyre & faggot dispatcheth at once , but happie were ye , that such argumentes were not made againste you , well then , marke what the Prophet answerd Amasias at his departing , and know certainly it wil come to passe . The hande of the Lorde is not shortned . Thongh our iniquities at this present haue iustly prouoked his anger ouer vs , he will at laste pitie vs for his sonne Christe our lordes sake . And we nothing doubt , but as he his al mightie & can deliuer : so he his al ful of goodnes and wil saue all that trust in his mercie and call vpon him day and night . Luk. xviii And thankes to God the people hathe other eyes , then they haue had in times past . The holy woord of god hathe not been all so baren , as you woulde it had been . Men haue some knowledge beetwene a latine satisfactori popishmasse and Christes Communion truly ministred according to the ghospel . Though you bost chastitie of pristes , men know a difference betwene a single lyfe , & a chast life . It is not . Vii . yeares since some of your vnmaried pristes , yea as it said one of your great doctors , wer complained on for their hote chastitie that bournt a woman . Men remember yet since some pristes were indicted for getting wemen with childe , and murdering the children when thei were borne . Oh horrible chastitie to be suffered amonge Christians ▪ God doubtles will viset these thinges in due time , as he visited the sinnes of the wicked before time . actes . xii . ●i . Mac. ix Marke how He rod was eaten with wormes Nero slew himselfe . Iulianus confessed Christ in death against his wyl . Antiochus stanke aboue the earth . But to come nerer our daies . More and Fisher with frier Forest & other , desperatly died in the contempt of the gospel . Dudleia disceitful tirant deceiued with hope of pardon , blasphemed the gospel at the hour of death , of whom ye make a piller to staie vp youre Church . Mar. iii. Beware of the sinne against the holy gost , which shal not be forgeuen in this worlde , not in the worlde to come . Those that dispise Moses , die without redemption , vnder two or .iii. witnesses : but howe sorer punnishment remaineth Hebr c. x. for them , that tread vnder fote the bloud of the newe testament , and rayle vppon the spirit of grace . Once again we beseche you , for Iesus Christes sake , and for the hope of the life to come , and for the iudgement that we all must come afore : remember these thinges , and think that he that wrote this for your admonishion loketh for no preferment at your hand but writeth it , if perchaunce ye be not altogether a damnable desperate , ye may conuert to God , reuerence his holi word geue place to his truthe , & be saued from the wrath of god that is to come . God graunt vs al mercie and grace to turne to him , that we may be able to stand before the lord at his comming , when he shall arise to iudge the earth . Reade the second Psalme , and se what shall happen to the rebels against the Lorde and Christe his sonne . Therfore feare the lorde , do homage vnto his son , serue him with trembling & feat , receiu his doctrine , least he be angry with you , & so you perishe from the right wai , for when his wrath shall be kindled like fire ( which shal be shortelie ) blessed shal al those be that trust in him .