I Wounder / syr noble knyghte / that in fewe dayes / tymes be changed / ryght is buryed / lawes be ouerturned , and statutes be trodde vnder foote .

Those wordes passe my capacite / I am a lewde man : and thoughe I wente to schoole in my chyldehode , yet gotte I not so profounde lernynge / that those youre wordes can of me be vnderstande . And therfore worshypfull clerke , if ye desyre to haue communication with me , ye must vse a more homely & playner fascion of spekyng .

I haue sene in my time / that kinges / princis / and all other nobles , haue had the churche in right great worshyp : and nowe I se the contrary / the churche is made a pray to you all / and many thynges are challenged of vs , and nothynge is gyuen vs : If we gyue not oure goodes / they be taken frome vs by stronge hande . Our good and catalle / is distroyde / our lawes and fredome be not holden , but dispysed and withsayde .

I can not lyghtly beleue , that the kynge ( of whose counsayle they of the clergic be ) wyl deale vniustly with you / nother distroye your lawe .

Yea trewely agaynst all lawe , we suffre innumerable wronges .

I wolde fayne knowe what ye calle lawe .

I calle lawe the statutes and ordinances of bysshops of Rome , & decrees of holy fathers .

What euer they ordeyn , or other haue ordeyned in tyme past of temporaltie / may well be lawe to you / but not to vs . For no man hath power to ordeyne statutes of thynges , ouer the whiche he hathe no lordeshyp . As the kyng of Fraunce may ordeyne no statutes vppon the empyre , nother the emperour vpon the kynge of Englande . And lykewyse as Pryncis of the worlde maye ordeyne no statutes of youre spiritualtie , ouer the whiche they haue no power : no more ye maye ordeyne no statutes of theyr temporalties / ouer the which ye haue nother power nor auctoritie . Wherfore it is a thynge in vayne / what euer ye ordeyn of temporal thynges , ouer whiche ye haue of god resceiued no power . And therfore but late I lough well faste , whan I harde that Poope Boniface the .viij. had made a newe statute , that he hym selfe shulde be aboue all seculer lordes / princis , kinges , and emperours , and aboue all kyngedomes , & make lawe vppon all thynges : and that hym nedeth nought but wryte / for all thynges shall be his , whan he hath wryten : and so all thyng shall be yours . For to make a statute , his statute is nought elles , but to wyll that the decree be holden and kepte , and ordeyne and whote that it be holden . If he woll haue my castell , my towne / my felde , my money , or any other suche thynges : hym nedeth nought , but wyll it , and write it , and make a decree / and whote that it be holden / and whan that is done , he hath ryght to al such thynges . Now good clerke / thou wottest well , howe worthy this iape is to be scorned .

Syr knight ye speke sharpely , slyly , and wysely ynough : all your talkyng and meanynge is ( as fer as I perceyue ) that the pope hath no power to ordeyne and make statutes of your temporalties : For ye knowe not , that he hath lordeshyp , power , and auctoritie vppon your temporalties . Though we wolde proue it by our lawe / and by decrees wryten , ye accompte them for nought . For ye wene that Peter had no lordeshyp ne power ouer temporalte / but by suche lawe wryten . But if thou wilt be a trewe christen man / and of ryght beleue , thou shalte not deny , but that Christ is lord of al thinges . To hym it was sayde in the sauter boke : Aske of me , Psal. 2. & I shall giue nations , to thyn heritage , and all the world about to thy possession . psal. 2. And also of hym it is wrytten , 1. Tim· 2. Apoc. 17. & . 19. the fyrst pistill to Timothe the .vi. chapiter / that he is kynge of kynges , and lorde of lordes . These be not ours , but goddes owne wordes : nor we wrote them not , but god sente them , and the holy gooste spake them . And who douteth / whether he may ordeyne and make statutes , whome he knoweth to be lorde of all thynges ?

I withsay not the maiestie / lordeshyp , and myght of our lorde god : for he maye not be withsayde on no maner wyse . But if it may be shewed by holy writte , that the pope is lorde of all temporalties : than kynges & prncis muste nedes be subiecte to the poope , as well in temporaltie as spiritualtie .

That may be shewed lyghtly / by the auctoritees that be a lytell rather rehersed . The fayth of holy churche holdeth , that Peter the apostell was ordeined Christis ful vicare for hym selfe and for his successours . And he that is fulle vicare , may do the same that his lord may , whan he is made vicar with ful power , withoute any withdrawynge of power . Than if ye can not deny , but that Christe , that is lorde of heuen and of erthe / may ordeyne and make statutes of your temporalties : how can ye / for shame deny Christis vicare to haue the same power ?

I haue hard of holy and deuout men , that we sh●ld distingue two dyuers tymes of Christe : one of his humilite / and an other of his power and maiestie . The tyme of his humilytie was from the tyme that he toke flesshe and blode , vnto his passion : the tyme of his power and maiestie , was and is after his Resurrection , whan he said : All power is yeue to me in heuen and in erthe / Mat. vlt. Mat. vlt. Peter was ordeyned Christis vicare for the state of his humilite / and not for the state of his blysse and maiestie : but to folowe hym in doynge those thynges , whiche Christe in humilite dydde here in erth : for those thynges are necessary for vs . Ergo Christ commytted thylke power to his vicare , whiche he as a man mortall exercysed / and not that power , whiche after his glorification he resceyued . And for to proue this by holy wrytte , I take wytnes of Christe and holy writte / as thou doste . Lo Christe sayde to Pilate : My kyngedome is nat of this worlde , / Io. 18. Also he saith / he came not to be serued , but to serue other men , Matt. 20. This wytnes is so manifeste , that it maye confounde a man , resiste he neuer so moche / and all to frusshe his necke / be it neuer so styffe . And it is wrytten Luc. 12. howe one said to Christ : Mayster say to my brother / that he departe herytage with me . To whom Christ answered and sayde : Manne / who hathe ordeyned me iudge or departer betwene you ? Lo thou hereste openly , that Christ was nat iudge nor dealer ouer temporaltees . Ergo in that state of dispensation taken on hym , he neyther had nor desyred temporalle kyngedome . But whan the people , that he hadde fedde / wolde haue made hym kynge / he fledde from them Ion. 6. Also in Peters commission he yafe hym not the keyes of the kyngdome of erth / but the keyes of the kyngedome of heuen . Also it is euydent and playne / that the bysshoppes of the Hebrewes were subiectes to kynges , and the kynges deposed the bysshoppes : but god forbydde , that they shulde so nowe . And for to knowe / that Peter was Christis vycar in godly kyngedome of soules / and not in temporalle lordeshyppe of castelles and of landes : take hede what Paule the appostelle saythe wrytynge to the Hebrewes . Heb. 5. Euerye bysshoppe ( saythe he ) is take of men / and ordeyned for men in thynges that belonge to god , not to gouerne erthely thynges , but to offre gyftes and sacrifices for synne . That the bysshoppe is made ruler in those thinges that long to god , thou maist perceyue by the wordes of saynte Paule writynge to Timothe / the .2 . pistel , & .2 . chap. where he saith : No man that trauayleth in knyghthode to godward , medleth him in secular busynesses . Than hit is sothe , that Christe neyther exercised worldely kyngedome / nor commytted hit to Peter . And in the actes of the apostels the .6 . chaptre , Peter saythe : It is not ryghtfull that we leue the worde of god , & serue meate bourdes , that is to saye / to dispose temporall thynges .

¶ And all though some temporall thinges may be disposed bi bishops : yet neuertheles it is playne and euident / that bysshoppes shulde not be occupied in gouernaunce of myghte and lordshyppes of this worlde . Therfore syr clerke , the auctorities that thou haste layde for thy partie , Aske of me / and I shall gyue to the , Psal. 2. nations to thyn heritage , and all the world about , to thy possession . And that he is kynge of kynges . 1. Tim· 2. &c. This is not vnderstond for the fyrst estate but for the seconde . Apoc. 17. & . 19 . In the whiche fyrste estate it is playne , that Christe exercised no temporall power / but put it clene away from him , & vsed only that / that longed to the gouernance of our saluation : And in that maner of doynge he made Peter his vicar / whom he nother made knyght nor crowned kynge : but ordeyned hym to be a preest and bysshoppe . And if ye woll yet stryue , that Christis vycare shulde haue that power in temporaltie , that Christe had after his resurrection in heuen , and vsed not here in erthe / your stryfe shall not turne you to worship at length . For it is euident to euery faythfull man , that if god shuld commande hym to gyue his money / his felde , or his vineyarde to any other man , without any prouision or reasonable request / and without any expresse studieng , he ought forth with to obey . Wherfore if ye wyll contende / that the pope hath the same power / than of necessite ye must graunt also / that the pope maye take from you / and from vs / all the goodes that ye and we haue / and gyue them all / to whiche of his neuewes or cousyns , that he wyll , and tell no cause why : and also he may take away from princis and kynges , principalitees and kyngedomes at his owne wylle / and gyue them there as hym lykethe . But take hede how wrongfully that were done , and demeth your owne selfe , howe that wolde myslike you / if he dydde so to you . If that very reason constrayne you to forsake your folysshe argumente , the poope also shall be constrayned to gyue backe . For it is sothe , that he , Christis vicare / resceyued not so great power in temporaltees / but he resceyued onely that power , that Christe in his humilite dayly vsed and taughte .

Wyll ye denye syre knyghte / that holy churche shall not knowe and correcte menne for synnes ?

Godde forbydde , For he that wolde denye that / shall denye penaunce and confession .

If ought be done vnryghtfully , it is synne : and he that hath to do in knowlege of synne , must knowe and also deeme of ryghtefulle and vnrightfull . Therfore syns there is ryghtfull and vnrightfull in businesses of temporall matters , of verye consequens the pope ought to rule and deme in temporall causes .

This is a forked argument , whose vanite and sklendernes must be by a like argument , ouerthrowen . In hangyng vp of theues and other misdoers / that be dampned to the dethe ▪ is ryghtfull and vnryghtfull , and also synne . Therfore bycause of synne , that suche menne doo , shall the Poope deme and be domes man in cause of felonye and of mans dethe ? This is a lyght argument / and therfore hit is blowen away with a lyght reason . Nowe syr clerke ye muste shewe , howe ye shulde knowe and deme ryghtfulle and vnryghtefulle . For there is no doubte , but that ryghtful & vnrightfull in temporaltie shal be demed by lawes , that men haue made of temporaltie . But ye mote take hede all aboute , what longeth to the cause , that shal be demed . Than it is soth , that he that maketh the lawe / hath power to knowe and to deme rightfull and vnrightful , and to expowne and declare , and to tell the meanyng of the lawe / and to kepe the lawe , and to gouerne reasonnably by the lawe . Nowe if ye wyll be as great ●●aysters as he , in knowlege and demynge of temporaltie / and stryue with hym in knowlege and demyng of rightfull and vnrightful / in what that longeth to temporaltie , thanne care ye with an oxe and asse agaynst your holy wrytte . And whan the prince saythe , this is ryghtfull / the bysshop sayth / this is vnryghtfull : than is fulfylled the prophecy of Abacuc : Abac. 1. Ryghtful dome is made / and withsayenge is stronger , throughe the whiche the lawe is torne and rent / & the rightful dome cometh not to ende . For truely that is not to do ryghtfull dome and iustyce in erthe . Nowe I shall shewe you , after the apostelle Paule where your knowlege and dome shall begynne . The prince by his lawes shal deme right and wronge / and euery man shall be redy at his commandement / as he is bounde : and shall be obediente to hym . Nowe if any man waxe stubborne , and wyll not be obedient to the pryncis hestes , nor the prynce ( whose office is to deme and iudge ) is not able to resyste and compell hym : than begynneth your knowelege and your dome . For youre monitions shal refraine and chastice hym / accordynge as saynte Paule saythe to Titus the .3 . chap. Admonyshe and warne them , Tit. 3. that they be subiectes to princis and high powers . And also wrytynge vnto the Romayns the thyrtene chapiter he sayth on this wyse : Ro. 13. Euerye soule shall be subiecte to the hyghe powers . Whan he sayth euery soule , it semeth than , none is excepted . Also where as misdoynges and synfull dedes are manifest and open / as robbery , thefte , and suche lyke , nor ther is none that can or wyl redresse these offences : I deny not , but that ye shall and may vse your power in suche cases , but not of ryghtfull or vnrightfull : for it falleth not for you to knowe and deme therof , , nor to entermeddle therwith . But whan it is openly knowen by sentence and dome of the lawe , or els by playne euidence and knowlege of the trespace ▪ that nedeth none other wytnesse nor proues : than may it longe to you in maner and forme , as hit is sayde before .

¶ And if ye woll nedes knowe and deme in suche causes , bycause that wronge and synne be lynked to gether : than there nedeth nought els , but shutte vp the gates of princis , and speke naughte of theyr lawes and statutes , but speke of the lawes of bysshops all onely . It dothe belonge to you to knowe and to deme in cause of matrimony and of wedlocke , I pray you / wyll ye therfore say , that it foloweth / that ye shall knowe and deme of al that longeth therto for the knyttyng of the dede ? Lo I go into your countreye for to aske heritage in my wyfes name : for she is heyre therof . Ye see , that by reason of matrimonye it longeth to me to requyre this heritage : shall I therfore plede before you for my wyfes heritage , and telle my tale in this maner : I Roberte at Stile aske for my wyfe a duchery / in the name of dowerye , and so forthe ? Whiche ought to be pleded before the kyng / and not before the bysshoppe . Yea I saye vnto you all clerkes forbyddynge you , that you entermeddell you not of dome and knowlege of dowere / agaynst god and ryghtousnes . For the beheste of dowery ▪ is very couenant of temporaltie , and shall be proued or disproued / by proues or disproues , of the kynges lawes . And for so moch as ye vsurp and take vpon you that , that belongeth vnto other , it is ryghte mete , that ye suffre as ye do .

¶ Now thus it appereth / that it is but a iape and a vanite / of suche maner of onynge of thynges to feyne a knyttynge to gethers in dome and in knowlege of causes . For to the confoundynge of all those reasons ( that ye make ) the only wordes are suffycient , that I afore recyted to you oute of the gospelle of Luke , Luc. 12. where our lorde Iesu sayth : O man who hath ordeyned me domesman or dealer betwene you ? Here Christ sheweth vs openly , that it longed not to hym to deme and deale herytage , by the power that he vsed in that that he was man shapen for to dye .

Can ye denay / but that the temporalties ought to obey and be seruiseable to the spiritualtie ? If ye can not , ye must nedes graunt / that the temporaltie must nedes be subiect to the spiritualtie : & that the spirituall power oughte to rule the temporall .

Sothely the temporaltie shall serue the spiritualtie in this case : they are bounde to fynde them , that worshyp and serue god , all that is necessary for them . For so do all nations ( as it were by way of kynde ) honour and ministre vnto them liuelod & other necessaries / that worshyp god / & ministre sacramentes , and such as longeth to god . For in the lawes that our lord gaue to Moyses , the phariseis and pristes were largely prouided fore : but yet that law did not ordein for them ani temporall kyngedome or lordeshyp . And the apostell to the Corinthees saythe : 1. Cor. 9. If we haue sowen thynges spirituall amonge you , it is no great thing if we repe carnall ? But if thou wylte witte / what maner lordshyp Christe ordeyned for his seruauntes / that sowe spiritualle sedes : take of the wordes of Christe and of the apostelle Paule / as they folowe in order . For Christe to his disciples / sente forthe to preache , sayde : The worke man is worthye his meate : Mat. 10. Luc. 10. 1. Tim. 5. and , The worke man is worthy his mede . And Paule of hym selfe and other apostels sayth . 1. Cor. 9. Who trauaylleth in knyghtehoode vpon his owne coste ? As who sayth : 1. Cor. 9. no man . And in Moyses lawe it is written . Deut. 25. Thou shalte not bynde the oxe mouthe that thressheth . Lo to whom doth Christe & his apostell Paule lyken you ? To workmen / to hyredmen & oxen / and not to kinges . I pray you , be worke men and hyred men , lordes of thynges ? Than it semeth / that temporaltyes are graunted you to helpe of your lyuynge / and for charge of spirituall administration / and not to lordeshyp . And of the spirituall it is wrytten in Moyses lawe , Deut. 15. there ye be lykened to an oxe , that thres / sheth / to the whiche it is ynough to take his meate , though he fyll al the berne with his trauayle . And for that ye saye / that spirituall power ruleth and gouerneth the temporaltie / that is aunswered you afore by the apostell Paule / where he sayth : Euery bysshop is taken of men , and ordeyned for men in that that longeth to god / Heb. 5. and in that the spirituall power shall rule and gouerne vs , and not in that that longeth to the worlde : for it longeth nat to holye churche to deeme in that that is outwarde .

¶ And if ye yet striue / that the pope is aboue all other also in temporaltie , ye falle into well great skornes . For if the poope ( whan he is made pope ) shuld be made lorde ouer all : than by the same skylle a bysshoppe ( whan he is made bysshop ) is made lorde of all the countrey of his bysshoprike / and my priest shall be lorde ouer my castelle , and be my lorde . For as the power of the pope is in all , so is the power of these in that party , where they rule . Wherfore leaue this folysshenes / the which is laughed and mocked atte of euerye man , and that is , with so many reasones and auctorityes of scripture confounded . Also we haue lerned in the olde testament , that kynges ordeyned who shulde be priestes : but priestes dyd not ordeyne / who shuld be kynges . And priestes were not worshypped of kynges : but kynges and pryncis were worshypped of priestes and prophetes , and myghte calle them and commaunde them to do what pleased the kynges . And in the same olde testamente the kynges dyd correcte the priestes , and vndertoke , and blamed them , whan they erred in gouernaunce of temporaltie .

I maruayle that ye say / that kynges vndertoke and blamed the byshop in gouernance of temporaltie .

Ye awake the slepynge dogge , and dryue me to speake otherwyse than I thoughte before to do .

Lette the hounde awake and barke .

For as moche as ye can not be contente , and pacyently ( to your profite ) suffre the princis , I fere me , that after due and iuste barkynge , ye shall fele bytynge .

What haue princis and kynges to do with gouernance of our temporaltie , lette them take theyrs / and suffre vs in peace with oures ?

Syr the princis muste in any wyse haue to do therwith . I praye you , oughte nat we aboue all thynges / to mynde the helthe of our soules ? oughte not we to see / that the wylles of our fore fathers be fulfylled ? Falleth it not to you to pray for our fore fathers / that be passed out of this lyfe ? And dydde not our forefathers gyue you oure temporalties ryghte plentyfullye / to the entente / that ye shulde praye for them , and spende it all to gether to the pleasure and honour of god ? and ye do nothyng lo: but ye spende away your temporaltie in synfullle dedes and vanite , the whiche temporaltie ye shulde dispende in warkes of charite , and in almes dedes to poore men and nedy . Were it not nedefulle , that they that be deed shulde be holpe / and they that be alyue saued by dedes of mercye ? For the whiche oure fore fathers haue gyuen you great and huge dominions . And whan ye apply them to your owne vse and superfluously consume them , and contrary to their intente / that were the gyuers / and also of the resceyuers / lasshe them out to an yll vse : do ye not damnably hurte and hynderaunce , bothe to them that be alyue / and also to them that be deed ? Ye recke not for honestye , no nor for your owne lawe , nor for dedes of mercye and charite , but in foly and bobance , and in lykynge of this worlde , ye dispende al that was gyuen you for an holy entent . Shal not his wages be stopped / that wyll not doo dedes of knyghthode . He that holdeth of an nother , and dothe not his due office and seruice , he shall lose and forgoo his fee . And for to make an ende of this question , and to put you to sylence , I shall shewe you that ▪ that shall make you sorye , and gladde to fynde the mene to set a remedy . Redeth in holy wrytte . 2. Parali . ca. 14. There it is wrytten of kynge Ioas , that he dydde that that good was and pleasynge to oure lorde alle the dayes of Ioidas the preeste . And of the same kynge we rede .iiij. Regum . 12. Kynge Ioas called Ioida the bysshoppe / and also the prestes , and to them he sayd : why repayre ye not the couerynge of the temple ? Loke therfore that ye take no more money of the people by your owne ordynaunce / but applye it to the instauration of the temple / and of goddes house . And thus the preestes were forbydden to take any more money of the people . Wherfore thou seest / that kynge Ioas was preysed of our lord , for that he toke hede / that the offrynges shulde be spended to goddes worshyppe / that is to saye , to the instauration of the temple / accordynge to the holye entente of them that gaue suche thynges . God preysethe this kynge Ioas / for to shewe and leaue vnto vs ensaumple , that the sayde kynge , in his soo doynge , dydde not offende / for so moche as he dydde hit not for any couetousnesse , but of goddelye zeale , not of ambition , but of deuoute relygyon . And the kynge / to the entente to eschewe yuelle suspeccion , he wolde haue the bysshoppe with hym to beare wytnesse / as foloweth . And whanne he sawe to moche moneye in the Treasaurye / the kynges wryter and the bysshoppe wente vppe in to the Treasaurye , and poured oute and tolde the money / that was founde in goddes house / and they gaue hit after the noumbre and weyghte in to theyr handes / that were sourueyours of the masonrye of goddes house . Lo the good intention of the kynge is preysed / that tooke hede / that the goodes of this olde churche shulde be besylye saued , and spente to a good and a holye vse . I knowe well it lyketh not you to here these wordes , and yet neuer the lesse I speke not but wordes of holy writte . It is sayde to you before / that ye haue resceyued all suche lordeshyppes and riches to the helpe of youre lyfe , and as the wages of holy chiualry / and to the intent to haue cloth and foode : with whiche two the apostell saythe , 1. Tim. 6. he helde hym payde : and all the ouer plus besyde clothe and foode , ye ought to spende in dedes of mercye & pitie , as on poore people that haue nede , and on suche as be sycke and diseased / and opressed with misery . And if ye do not so , than muste we haue to do therwith : for than it falleth to vs to take hede of your temporaltie / that ye begyle not and deceyue the quycke and the deed .

This kynge Ioas toke not the goodes and cattell to his owne vse / but he bestowed them on holye churches vse . But nowe a dayes ye take our goodes , whiche ye spende not to the vse of holy churche , but on your busy and vnruly souldiors , and on shippes and ingins of warre . And therfore the ensaumple that ye brynge forthe , is not agaynst vs / nor agaynst our warkes and dedes : but ye wold therby colour your violence and wronge .

Alway to your owne harme ye kycke agaynste the pricke of kynges . It is not greuous to you , that your cousins and kynsmen take to them of holy churches goodes and cattelles , and somtyme other persons , that be not honest , to the sklaunder of you , and of all the people that be vnder you : and ye be full venomous through your owne yuell ensample of lyuynge . This ye suffre / the whiche may be cause of goddes wrath vpon the kynge , and vpon all the realme / the whiche recklesly suffreth you so frowardly to worke agaynst almyghty god . But to you it semeth a greuous wronge , and in no wyse to be suffered , that the kyng asketh mekely of you , and thanketh you for it , as for a thynge graciously granted : and yet he doth not spende hit to his owne vse / but for your saufegarde , and in the defence of holy churche / and of your goodes and cattell .

I praye you lettethe be your noyse and your grutchynge / and harkeneth paciently . Consyder your neyghbours about you , that be many in londe , whiche wantyng , wherwith to lyue , gape stylle after your goodes . If the kynges power faylled , what reste shulde ye haue ? wolde not the gentyll men / suche as be nedy , and suche as prodigallye haue spende away theyr substance , whanne they haue consumed theyr owne , wol not they turne to yours , and waste and distroye all that ye haue ? Therfore the kynges strength is to you in stede of a stronge walle . And ye wotte very welle , that the kynges peace is youre peace : and the kynges saufegarde is your saufegarde . For if the kynges power wanted / or elles were withdrawen from you : than ( as your synnes asketh ) they that commune with you now , and they that wayte vpon you nowe , wold dystroy / waste , and consume your goodes , and compell you to be theyr thralles . And if ye wold not , all that ye haue were vtterlye loste . Howe moche than wolde ye paye for to haue the kynges succour his helpe and defence / as ye had before ? Than thus ye se and perceyue manyfestlye / that whan ye gyue a lyttell portion to the kynge , you bye therwith your owne safegarde / and therby ye saue to youre selfe / youre goodes and your cattals , that shuld be distroyde by your ennemies , and by men of straunge londes , ne were the kynges helpe and his succour . But as ye haue alway ben vnkynd , for the goodnes that he hathe done to you : euen so nowe ye playne and grutche , agaynste that that is youre owne profyte . If the kynge fayled you , wolde not youre ennemyes warre vppon you , and putte you oute of your place , and out of your lande , and take frome you all that ye haue , and leue you poore , naked , and bare ? and so stryken with terrible drede / wolde ye not put your selfe to flyghte / and wander ye forced not whyther ? But and kynges and princis , at theyr owne costes , and to theyr great peryll and daunger of theyr lyfes , be holden to defende you : and you to reste vnder theyr wynges , and to eate & drynke with great solace and myrthe , and to lye in softe and delicate beddes / and sikerly to slepe / than it semethe , that ye wolde meane , that onely ye be verye lordes , and kynges and princis be of bonde condicion , and vnto you seruantes and thralles . If reste be graunted to men of the churche / it is no great thynge / if the ryches be reserued for vs of the lay fee . This is an harde thynge / saye ye , but ye wyll not reste , tylle ye be ( as ye are wont ) conuicted and also cofounded by holy scripture : ageinst the whiche ye can not resiste . For of Ioas the kynge ( of whome we spake before ) hit is wrytten in the. 4. boke of kynges , the .12 . chaptre . and in the seconde booke of Parali . the .24 . chapyter thus : Wherfore Ioas the kynge of Iuda tooke all that was halowed / the which thinges Ioram & Ochozias his fathers / kynges of Iuda had halowed , and whiche thynges he hym selfe hadde offered vppe / and all the syluer that he coude fynde in the treasaurye of the lorde , and Palaice of the kynge / and sente it to Azael / the kynge of Syrie , and he departed from Ierusalem . Lo here thou mayst plainly see , that for to paye the peoples raunsomme , he toke those thynges oute of the temple / not withstandynge he spared not the kynges palayce / whan he toke those thynges out of the temple .

¶ Also in the .4 . boke of kynges , cap. 18. it is thus redde of the holy kynge Ezechias . The same season Ezechias braake the gates of the temple of the lorde / and toke the plates of golde / that he hym selfe had there stycked vppe , and gaue them to the kynge of Assiriens .

¶ And if thou woldest saye , that Ezechias dyd amysse , I aunswere as it is sayde secundo Paralipo . cap. 32. Ezechias is not blamed for any of all his workes , that he dyd , but onely for the message of the princis of Babylon . Thanne who shall dampne hym / the whiche holye wrytte preysethe in all his dedes ? If he erre , not vnderstandynge the sothenesse and the veritie of holye wrytte / wherfore than stryue you agaynste kynges and princis ? It is red secundo Machab. quinto . Godde chose not the people for the place / but the place for the people .

Therfore the churche of lyme and stone shuld not be spared / whan the chrysten people be in perylle . The which thynge the holy kynge Ezechiel and Ioseph vnderstode and truly dyd fulfyll . If your goodes be holy churches goodes / and the people is a great parte of holy church : shal not than holy churches goodes skylfully be spended for the succour and saufegarde of the people ? And so it foloweth / that it longethe to the ghostlyche of holy churche . And our lorde saythe , Matthei duodesimo . I tell you / this is more than the temple . For it is no doubt the ghostly temple , that is mankynde , is more worth than the temple that is made of lyme and stone .

Therfore a mylde and a prudente kynge mote by these wordes knowe the wylle of all myghty god : and hym nedeth not to seke auctorite of other . Nor the temple of lyme and stone / nor the thynges dedicated therin / shulde not be spared / to wyn peace and saufegarde to the people , that is in perill . Nor we shuld not smyle ( after a flaterynge facion ) at the superfluite of the churche / but se that the great multitude of christen people be holpe and succoured in theyr nede . And though the kynge dealeth gratiouslye with you / and goodly gouerneth you alway / yet ye be not ashamed to withsay hym in that that he may laufully do by the lawe of god almyghty , and wyll not with your good wyll therto assent . But take hede and beware by the wordes of Salomon : The kynges wrathe is the messanger of deathe .

If those thynges that are ones gyuen to god , may be withdrawen & taken away agayne : than all vowes may be made voyde & fordone .

That that I haue sayd is not to withdrawe and take away gyftes , that are gyuen to allmyghty god : but to tourne and apply those gyftes to suche vse , for the whiche they were fyrste gyuen . For those gyftes that are gyuen to god / the very same gyftes are dedicated to holy and charitable vses . And what thynge can be more holy thanne the sauation of christen people ? And what is more precious vnto oure lorde / thanne to defende and sauely kepe the christen people from the inuasion of theyr ennemies , theues & murtherers / & to bye peace to the true and faythfull subiectes ? Therfore whan the goodes of the churche be spent on this wyse / than are they bestowed to suche vse / for the whiche they were fyrst dedicate and gyuen .

If ye take you to holy wryt , why do ye withsaye and breake our priuileges and fredomes : whiche lybertyes we haue by holy wrytte ? For our lorde Matt. 17. sayde vnto Peter : Howe semeth hit vnto the Symon , The kynges of the erthe , of whome take they trybute / of theyr owne sonnes , or elles of other ? of other sayde Peter . Iesus sayde to hym : Than are the sonnes free . But leste we offende them , goo vnto the see / and caste in a fysshe hooke / and the fyrste fysshe that commeth vppe / open his mouthe / and thou shalte fynde a stater , take that , and gyue it for me and for the. Ye se sir knight that the clergie , bonde to the seruice of god , is free in all poyntes .

If ye well consider , and vnderstande the gospell aryght / ye may se / that the tribute or dragme was demaunded onely of Christe : And onelye for Christe this answere semeth to be gyuen : For he is the verye sonne of god , the sonne of the greatte myghty kynge . And as the kynges sonne is greatter than the bysshop : so is goddes sonne greatter than the emperour . And so that aunswere was gyuen for Christe , and not for you . Neuer the lesse bycause they , that chieffely serue the kynge in his presence , shulde not be put to common and greuous charges / so we grant , that clerkes in theyr owne persones be free / but not they , that leade theyr lyfes as lewde men , and not as clerkes to the worshyppe / but to the gyle and fraude of oure lorde / as hit is all day sene . But clerkes that folowe Christe , as pristes that serue at the aulter , and that are fully gyuen and occupied in the seruyce of god , we graunt , that those be free , I saye not clerely by the gospelle : but by cause in theyr soo doynge hit discordethe not from the gospelle / that fredome is gyuen them by priuileges of princis . For sith the begynnyng of the churche Paule ad Ro. 13. sayth : Euery soule be subiect to the higher powers / not onely ( sayth he after ) for wrathe / but also for conscience . And after folowynge he sayth , yelde and paye to all men that is due to them : to whome tribute is due / pay tribute : to whome custome is due , paye custome . Than ye se / that euery soule muste be subiecte , beare tribute , and pay custome . But as I haue sayd / ye be nowe free in your owne person , by priuileges of princis : but shal your feldes haue now the same freedome ? If holy churche bye a felde , that is able to be tylled : shall he that hath therof euery yere rent and tribute lose his rente and trybute ?

Our communication nowe is not of rent and tribute , but of exactions .

Like as I haue of some felde certayne rente : so the emperour of his empire / and the kynge of his kyngdome , may at his owne wyll reyse skylfull tribute for the defence of the common welthe . It is graunted by clere reason / that the common welthe shall be defended at the costes of the commontie : and what so euer parte therof enioyeth this defence / it is most agreenge with ryght / that he sette to his shulder , and helpe to beare the burthen . Than if possessions be as ryghtfully subiecte to the common charge / as to the yeres rent , he shall be vnder charge / who so euer oweth them , specially if it nedeth for the defence of the comon welthe : for they nede the comon defence , as al other nede . If ye say nay , bycause of prescription and custome , that ye haue of so longe tyme vsed that lybertie : We answere you / In as moche longer / and of olde continuaunce that your fredome and liberty is / by the goodnes and liberall benignite of kynges and princis , so moche the sooner ye shulde be prompte and redye with harte and mynde to pay your part , and helpe forwarde , where nede required . For holy wrytte fordoth this prescription / that ye alledge . For from Salomon to Ioas / and from Ioas to Ezechiell it is redde of no suche doynge , as Ezechiell dydde in tyme of nede . Also many cytyes , that were by priuileges and custome free from payenge of exactions : haue bothe paciently payde / and also do pay with good wyll at this day , at their princis pleasure / for the defence of the realme / of the commonaltie , or of persons . If god for vnkyndenes / calleth agayne forgyuenes of synne : beware lest for your rebellyon / that ye deserue no lesse , but also to be further charged , and at the laste to be strypped from al your goodes and power .

Shall the kynge beryue and take awaye from vs , the gracis granted vs by kynges , that were his predecessours and by other noble princis ? And may he fordo the priuileges of blessed fathers granted to holy church ?

I deny not it is trouthe / great and large priuileges be to you granted by kynges and princis . Therfore ye oughte to vnderstande and knowe , that what so euer the gouernours of the comon welth do / they intended it all to gether for the profite of the common weale / hauynge regarde speciallye thervnto accordynge to this rule : They dispose all thynges in suche wyse , that they preferre the common welthe before theyr owne : whiche in a prince is a thynge moste gloryous , wherof Dauid is example .ij. Regum . Therfore it is knowen by witnes clere & true , and eke by very reason , that they graunte nothyng by theyr writynge / that shulde afterwarde be harme and domage to the common weale . But if any priuilege / that is graunted , be founde and knowen hurtefull / and greuous to the common weale , it maye be repelled and fordone in tyme of nede . Therfore it is not to be doubted , but that the hygh princis for the necessary busynes of the realme , maye alter and chaunge ( as reason and tyme requireth ) the gracis and priuileges to you granted , and by the lawes establysshed . As we rede of the mooste wyse kynge Salomon , in the peyne of thefte , chaunged some what of goddes lawe .