A treatise vvriten by Iohan Valerian a greatte clerke of Italie, which is intitled in latin Pro sacerdotum barbis translated in to Englysshe

¶ Iohn Pierius Valerian to the most reuerende father , the Cardinall Medices .

FOr bycause moste reuerende father , there be dyuers , not of small auctoritie , goo aboute to tempt the pope ( hauyng no regard to his sycknes , wherewith he is nowe greuously vexed ) to bryng vp ageyne a lawe of a certayne counseyle concernyng beardes , strengthed and renewed ( as they say ) by Alexander the thyrd , whiche before our tyme a fewe yeres , hathe bene kepte , and by our dayes , I thynke worthyly lefte . Therfore ye haue warned vs all , that lyue vnder your dominion , to begynne to shaue our beardes , before this commaundement be put forthe : and so we shall bothe be exaumple to other , and also do that wyllyngely , that elles we shulde be compelled to doo by a lawe . The whiche thynge we are redye to obeye , onely moued by your auctoritie and iudgemente , without constraynynge of any lawe . Howe be it there be many wyse , counnynge , ye and also vertuous men , that allowe nat greatly this matter , and thynke by this meanes the shaue their beardes for humilitie in dispysing of apparell , that they myght be disfigured , and hadde in derision amonge the people , the whiche peraduenture we graunt in shearynge of the heare aboue the eares : but there is not one man , that dothe well consyder , woll iudge humilitie in takynge so moche care for smothenes of the mouthe . For truly shauyng of the chynne and all the face , beganne of a wycked and a delycate mynde : and they that often vse it , are iuged without doubte , to be of the feminine sorte , though they haue manye other good qualities and excellent vertues . I myght reherse here for my purpose exaumples innumerable of all the aunciente men , bothe of grekes and hebrewes : but bicause we be Romayns , and it is the Romaine churche , that we are nowe in hande withal , it shall nat varie farre from our matter , yf before we speake of thynges doone in oure tyme , we fyrst reherse the dedes of our forefathers . Wherfore nowe lette vs see , howe the Romayns in tyme past estemed beardes . They truely lyke manly menne , were longe ere they wold suffre any barbours amongest theym , and for that cause the auncientis of them amonge wryters were called for the moste parte , the vnshauen men .

☞ Of truthe the .544 . yere after the buyldynge of Rome , the vse of barbours was founde : & them P. Ticinius Mena brought out of Sicilia , if we mowe beleue Varro : And Plini also beareth wytnes , before that tyme they lyued vnshauen , and fyrste of all men , Aphricanus vsed to be shauen dayely : whom Augustus Octauianus folowed very diligently . And truely Scipio was euer called a softe and a feminate felow , so that his delycate facion and strange apparell , neyther after the maner of the Romaynes , nor yet ware lyke , and also his great slouthe , is spoken of to this daye : In so moch that in that same busynes , whiche was of greatte and as weighty as euer the Romaynes had any , I meane when they wente aboute to distroye Carthage , for the restorynge of the libertie of Italie , and safegarde of them selfe , and the honour of theyr name : he was compleined of euen in the towne of Rome , nat priuelye but openly in the Senate howse , bycause whyles he ruled , the exercysyng of the feates of warre were forslowed .

Therfore I say , go ye to , folow ye the examples of the Sicilians , folow ye asso the strange apparelle , the delicacie and prodigalytie of the Syracusans , dampned by the manyfolde prouerbes of auncient men , and admytte ye be not dastardes and cowardes , but stronge , excellent , and triumphant , yet by that meanes ye minysshe a great parte of your glory . But what shall I speke now of Augustus ? he without doubte was neuer so moche suspected to be of a femynate mynde , by the baudy versis that he wrote in the baynes , as by the often vse of shauyng .

But leest I shulde bryng in many examples in so euident a matter , in conclusion , all puttynge away of heare hath ben estemed , at al tymes , and by the consent of all people , to be as it were a certayne wo manny she thyng . By that it came vppe , that certayne nations wold shaue theyr beardes whan they mourned ( in the token of sorowe ) that they might bewayle theyr wretchednes with a womannyshe facion , bycause they thought , it agreed not to mourne with a manlye bearde .

And truly the Romains did esteme their berdis of so gret honor , that they wold neuer picture Iupiter , their god , without a bearde .

Of how moch auctoritie & grauitie berdes causid the ancientis of the toun of Rome to be it apperith plainly bi this that folowith : when Rome was taken of the Senons , & their enmies were entred , euery one of the faders sitting at his doore , with that beardly dignitie , brought their ennemies ( al though they were right cruell ) in suche admiration , that they thoughte euery citizen , that they sawe so syt , had bene a god . Tylle at the laste one , that was somewhat bolder than the other , began to stroke one of the senatours beardes : and he wolde nat suffre hym , but strake hym with a rodde . For the whiche dede theyr cruel ennemies being wroth , slewe al those ancient & honorable Romaynes , not leauynge one alyue . Thus ye maye see , that they that the Romaynes sworde coude nat tame , were appeased by the reuerence of their berdes : And ageyne those Romayns rather chose to lose theyr lyues with theyr berdes , than to haue the maiestie of theyr mouthe defiled . Yet I wol not deny , but certayn people , ye & also of the noble sort , commanded the berd to be shauen , & suffred the heer of the heed to grow long behind : the which thing they say , the Lacedemonians did . And Homer writeth , that the Abbātes first diuised it : & for the same cause ( Pollux saith ) they were callid Euboians with the long heer behind . Also when Timeus descriuid Hector , he preised his goodly longe heer , hangyng down at his back : But that thing made the Lacedemonians vnlike all other nations : And also manye other fonde thynges were brought vppe by the same , farre frome the custom of other kyndes of people . The cause why that they commanded beardes to be shauen , and to nourysshe the heer longe behynd , was to the intente that they myghte be the more safe in batayle , bycause theyr ennemies shulde haue none aduantage , in takyng holde by theyr chynnes . More ouer if they dydde purpose to fle , they shuld remembre a longe boundell of heare to hange downe behynde at theyr backes , wherby theyr enmies might take theyr handes ful , and draw them backe ageyne : and so for feare of that , they shuld not intende to flee , but lyke men without other hope of remedy , boldly resist and assayle their ennemies . But when this constitution , and those that ruled in that tyme , were ones worne out and forgotten , it was neuer more after vsed .

But nowe to procede to suche thynges , as apperteyne to oure matter , I wolde verye fayne , that those delycate felowes our accusers , whiche are so extreme ageynste vs , bycause they thynke it soo moche vnsemely , that a prieste shulde weare a bearde : shulde declare to me , what fylthynes is in a berde . For truely I can fynde in it nothynge filthy nor dishonest . But to the end it may the more playnly appere , lette vs fyrst declare what a beard is : and so parauenture if there be any thynge in it amys , we shal perceyue it . There be many thynges , whiche are hydden in the begynnynge , that by the definition shall be more openly knowen .

The bearde is a garment for manly chekes gyuen of nature for comlynes & for helthe : The de●●nition o● bearde . & therfore the latines named it a garment , and those that were shauen , they counted them as naked and vncladde . And also ye shal fynde wrytten in manye auctours these wordes : Theyr chekes were cladde with yonge wolly heare . That a bearde is a token of manly nature , the thynge selfe dothe shewe more playne , than any man can declare .

Diogines , whiche despised all shauen facis , dyd not without a cause make this aunswere to a barbour : that he ware his beard , to the intent he myghte euer haue in remembraunce , that he was a man . And yet to this daye , all the nations of the Easte parties , where so euer they se men with suche smothe faces , they calle them women in scorne .

Also it is had in remembrance , how Alexander of Macedone , a prince of great name , was scorned bothe of his subiectes and men of warre , ye and also of all nations , bycause he wolde be shauen , to shewe hym selfe feminine : And Atheneus dothe wytnesse in Chrisippus , that he was the auctour of shauynge .

It is openly knowen amongest all kyndes of men , that chyldren , women , gelded men , & those that are tender and delycat , are euer sene withoute beardis : and therby it may be easily vnderstande , to whome those that are shauen , may be lykened . But leste we shulde tarie to longe in so euident a matter , lette vs passe forth to other thynges , whiche we purpose to speake .

●hy na●●re gy●ethe a bearde . That the berde is gyuen of nature for comlynes , we may proue by this . Where as nature hath garnyshed trees with branches & leues : likeswise to men for the more incresing of their dignitie , she hath apparelled them with heer : in so moche that the poetis put no difference , but plainly affirme , that men ar as moch disfigured , whan theyr beardis be shauen , as trees be , whan their leues be fallen from them .

It was nat for naught , that Haliab●s , with many other excellent philosophers did write , that the berde of a man was giuen of nature for comelynes & dignitie . And for that cause thou shalt fynd , that euery one of them , if he were but lyttell bearded , eyther on the ouer lyp onely , or els vpon the verye toppe of his chynne , as often as he behelde hym selfe in a glasse , or put his hand to his mouth , he wold put great faute in nature , and bewayle hym selfe , for beinge so made . For like as peerles are estemed the more precious for their gretnes , euen so of the greatnes a bearde taketh his preyse .

Artemidorus saythe , that the fathers are worthy to be honored , whan their chyldren be sene with manly beardes .

Furthermore it is worthye oure labour , to here the opinion of Lucian , whiche thought it as moche vnnatural to shaue a mans beerd , as if thou shuldest go aboute to shere a lyons maane .

Theseus the disciple of Hercules , whiche atte that tyme was mooste excellente in strengthe , wolde neuer shaue his bearde , to the intent he myght professe his valyantnes by that same mannely state . And for that cause some men saye , he made a lawe , that yonge men shulde shaue theyr fyrst beardes , and offre theym to the goddes , as a deere and thankefulle gyfte , thynkynge that nothynge myghte be offerred more meeter for that age : and also he wolde dedicate that , as the fyrste fruites , to the flodes , & to the god Apollo , accordynge to the superstition of those dayes . But this is nothynge to our purpose . But Plinie the yonger , in his tyme dydde very moche preyse Euphrates , an excellente Philosopher , the whiche opteyned moche honour by his great and white beard . For beardes were so moch honoured in olde tyme , that a philosopher without a bearde , was very lytell estemed . More ouer he that had a bearde , excepte his lyuynge were approued in grauitie of maners , he was yuell reported amonge the people , bycause his honorable bearde and his habite was in syghte , and the philopher appered nat . In so moche that the moste aunciente and discrete men in those dayes wolde iudge bothe wysedome and good maners to be ioyned with a beard .

●●lth that ●earde ●●seth . Furthermore as concernyng the helth that cometh by a bearde , we may proue by this , that for nouryshynge of hym selfe , it sucketh out the abundant & grosse humours from the chekes , and by that meanes it preserueth the feethe longe frome peryshynge : whiche doth not lyghtely happen to those that are often shauen . For they ( for the mooste parte ) are other totheles longe before theyr tyme , or els they haue very moche peyne of the tothe ache . More ouer in the hotte sommer it defendeth the face from the burnynge and parchynge of the sonne beames : and in the winter it bereth of the colde stormes and sharpe blastis of the wynd : and it saueth a man from the quinsie , the gumme piles , & many other diseases . And to the intent we shulde gyue the more credence to these thynges , it is writen of the fablyng philosophers , that Asculapius did alway weare a berd , whan his father before hym , was euer shauen . Than it is to be thought , that he , the whiche was called the auctour of helth , wold folow such thingis as perteined to helth . Therfore seinge there be so many good qualities in a bearde , I see no suche fylthynes nor viciousnes in it , for whiche it shulde be lothed . Welle than , if suche thyngis , whiche are honourable , whiche are profytable and helthefull , and whiche are of any estimation at all , shall be iudged vnworthy for a priest , I thynke it wol be harde for vs to fynde what thyng shal be mete for the priestly state . But whether shall I call these despisers of beardes vnequall or malicious , whiche are so enuiously sette ageynst vs , that all our worshyppinges , all our prayers , all our offrynges , which we ministre to god immortall , in conclusion all that euer we do , be hit neuer so pure and chaste , is vnsauerye to them , onely by the meanes of our beardes . And they allowe no priestis , but those , whiche ageynste the sentences of most sobre and wyse men , cutte away the worshyp of manhoode . In so moche that if any man deny to shaue his bearde : by and by they woll suspende hym , and despyse hym lyke one that had forsaken his feyth . For truly they think where a bearde is , there can be no goodnes , no holynes , nor no perfecte religion . And fyrste of all they ley ageynste vs , the power of the lawes , cryenge oute that all thynge shall fall to mischefe , if we say , that the lawes are nat to be obeyed . But without doute they knowe full well , howe moch we esteme the lawes . Therfore they are so moche the bolder , bycause we haue euer gladly gyuen place to suche argumentes .

oure ma●er lawis Yet fyrst let them tel me , whether they wyl allege for them the lawes of nature , or the lawes written , or the lawes taken by the exaumples of holye menne , or elles the lawes ordeyned by the inspiration of the holy gost . I fynde that these foure haue bene kyndes of laudable lyuynge , euery one in his tyme : wherby that menne mighte haue ledde their lyues , in as moche as perteynethe to dyuyne thynges , frome the begynnynge of the worlde hytherto , bothe with laude and preyse to them selfe , and saluation of their soules . Then if they woll allege the lawes of nature , that men shall shaue theyr beardes , the thynge it selfe woll repugne ageinst them : ye and also both wyse men and foles , as many as are nowe , or as euer haue bene syns any man could remembre , can tel them , that Nature hath made women with smothe facis , and men rough and full of heere . And more ouer it hathe bene euer a monstruous thynge , to se a woman with a beard , though it were verye lyttell , as the Grekes storyes shewen of the woman bysshoppe , whiche amongest the Pedasenses was chiefe ruler in the sacrifice of Minerua . Therfore who so euer , by any crafte or busynes , gothe aboute to make a man beardles , it may be leyde to his charge , that he hath done ageynst the lawes of Nature .

¶ To this they wolle make aunswere , that Nature hathe made many thynges , whiche were but of smalle effecte , tylle after by mannes wytte they were broughte to a better pourpose , as the fruites of the erthe onely for meate , and water for drynke nature hath ordeyned : wherof mans wyt hath diuised to make both breadde and wyne , with many other delycates .

Also nature hath sette all placis as a wyldernes , full of sharpe thornes , busshes , and great trees , where soone after the inuentiue wyttes of men haue diuised to make gay gardens , goodly earable feldes , fayre medowes and orchardes . And lyke as many thynges haue ben brought to a better order by the inuentions , by the perswasyons , by the counnynge , and by the experience of wyse men : euen so it was ordeyned , that beardes shulde be shauen to putte awaye the discommoditie .

But me thynketh , that those delicate lawyers myght well be lykened to the Sybarytans , the whiche in lyke maner distroyed all the cockes in theyr countrey , lest with theyr importunate crowyng before day , they shuld be diseased in theyr swete mornynge slepes . But yet this gothe well , that the lawe of nature is on our syde , whiche they can nat denye : and yet theyr wyttes are so frowarde , that styll they brynge forth suche tryfils ageynst it . Therfore they lette passe the lawe of nature , and flee to a lawe wrytten for the commoditie of a fewe persones , in whose helpe they putte all theyr hope of victorye . But there be thre maner of lawes wrytten . The fyrste is the lawe of Moyses , Thre●●ner o●●●wes ●●ten . durynge vnto the comminge of Christe : The seconde is that , whiche we haue taken to folowe by the exaumple of Christe : or elles institute , by auctoritie of the appostels . The thyrde is the Decrees made by the power of the bishoppes and counsels .

But bycause we beganne with the lawe of Moyses , let vs fyrst se , whether shauynge be commanded there or not . Verily if ye lyst to marke the maners of the Hebrewes , ye shall rede in the history of kyngis , 2. Re. ● that certayne messangers were sente from Dauid to kynge Hannon to comforte hym for the deth of his father , the whiche messangers , this barbarous kynge suspectynge , sente theym ageyne with theyr faces halfe shauen , in dispyte and scorne of theyr prince . Wherfore Dauid commaunded them to remayne in Ierico , tyll their beardes were growen agein , lest that fylthy syght shulde be shewed to the people . The whiche thynge he wolde not haue done , if shauynge had ben vsed at that tyme : for then they might haue shauen the reste of theyr faces , and all had bene well . In lyke wise if we serche the lawes of them , we shall fynde shauynge forbydden in many places .

●ui . 19. Also it is forbydden in the Leuiticall bokes to all people in generalle , and speciallye to the priestis it is a commaundement withoute anye exception , that they shall not shaue theyr beardes .

●aie . 7. ● . 15 . Furthermore amonge other miseries , whiche god thretnethe to the Moabitis , by the wordes of the prophete Esaie , well nere in euery chapiter he saythe : Theyr beardes shall be cutte awey . Here ye maye see , howe moche this token of a womannyshe mynd● , was hated amonge them .

●sal. 132. It is not for nought , that the honourable memorie of Aarons bearde is songen dayly in our temples before the aulters of god and his sainctis : in so moche that the oyntment , wherwith his bearde was annoynted , is had in remembraunce .

More ouer the people of Nazareth , those mooste holy menne , whiche were dedicate to god , dydde lette growe theyr busshes and beardes , in token of holynes : And for that cause we rede , that sayncte Iohn Baptyste , the messanger of Christe , wolde neuer suffre the heare of his heed nor bearde to be cutte .

And by what argument more playne , maye we proue beardes to please God , than by this , that the fathers , when they could haue no chylderne , they made vowes to let theyr beardes growe ? The whiche thyng if those fathers had thoughte vnthankefull to god , doubteles they wolde not haue hoped to opteyne any grace of hym by suche vowes . They without doubte beinge warned of the offence , that perauenture certayne delycate felowes commytted by shauynge of theyr beardes , dydde intende bothe to mende the erroure , and also to gette ageyne the fauoure of God , by the meanes of that vowe .

Trewely ye shall fynde amonge the Hebrewes , dyuers tymes beardes shauen , where any vnsufferable peyne , or gret wretchednes dyd happen to them , to the intente they myght shewe them selfe as men spoyled of all theyr welthe . A hole daye , ye a hole yere wolde not serue me , yf I shuld continue after this maner , to remembre all the places and exaumples written in those dayes , where beardes are commended : the whiche thynge seinge it is so playne , I thynke it not mete to consume any longer tyme in a mattier soo openlye knowen . It apperethe in the olde lawe , that beardes were not forbydden , but ordeyned to be worne , and commaunded by God hym selfe , not to be putte awaye .

Nowe go to , let vs come to an other lawe , whiche oure christen religion hathe folowed . 1529. yere . This lawe is named by our diuines the lawe of grace , whiche we deuide into the lawe of examples , & the lawe writen by the inspiration of the holye ghooste . The lawe of examples is of so great auctoritie , that that alone suffiseth , as it apperith by the wordes of Christ , whan he hym selfe professed to gyue exaumple to vs . Therfore we are euer wonte to putte Christe afore vs for an example . And by that argument Ignatius , the disciple of sayncte Iohn the Euangeliste , was moued ageynst the supersticiousnes of certayne menne , whiche thought them selfe the holyer , bycause they absteyned euer from flesshe . Christe ( sayth he ) dydde eate flesshe , Peter dyd eate fleshe , and those that folowed after : wherfore shuld we than vnder the colour of holynes take awey the eatynge therof . Christ hath gyuen vs example , that what so euer he hath done , we shulde do the same , as farre as our power doth extend . And so we may playnly saye , that euery acte of Christe our auctour , is a lawe and forme of our lyuynge . And this beinge graunted , I wolde wytte of our accusers , whether they haue any commaundement , sayeng , or example of Christe , wherby he dothe eyther commaund , or shewe , or at the leest weye agree , that mens beardes shuld be shauen . Without doubte there is none founde of that maner . On the other parte the exaumple of Christe hym selfe , whiche is sayde euer to weare a bearde : and the maners of Peter & Paule , and all the appostels , may be iudged a sufficient defence for beardes . And there be certeyn men , which so descriue the face of Christ by knowlege of their fore fathers , that they affirme , he had a longe and a yelowe berde : neyther he is none otherwyse peynted nor caruen of the grekes , the latines , nor none other nations , as it is openly knowen . Peter to whom chiefely was gyuen by Christe the auctoritie of our christen feythe , we picture hym in our temples euer with a bearde , both in brasse , in marbull , and with colours . Nor we se no man pictured with a greater berde , than Paule , whiche was a maister of our liuynge : to whose moste wyse instructions we are euer obedient . Andrewe , Thomas , and all the felowshyppe of them , are gloriously sette forth with great beardes .

To this they woll make answere , that it is but a lyght argument , to diuine by pictures , what maner of face Christe and his apostils had , seinge it hath euer ben graunted to poetis and peynters to feyne what they lyste . Well lette vs graunte to that , yet neuer the lesse ye can not denye , but it is the generalle agreemente of all menne , that Christe hym selfe and his apostels , whiche are the chiefe auctours of our priestis , shal be peynted & caruen with beardes : by the whiche common consente it maye easily be perceyued , that a bearde hath some good propretie perteyning to holynes , and doth brynge preyse to euery holy man .

The gentyles vsed a custome , to shewe by the habyte of theyr goddis , what thynges they estemed moste precious amongest them . And for this cause the Lacedemonians dydde not onely picture Mars lyke a manne of armes , but also for the moste parte all other goddis and goddessis : for bycause they estemed nothynge more precious than armour , thei thought it behoued the goddis to be garnyshed with armour .

The Phenices , whiche were only gyuen to marchandise , dydde appareyle theyr goddis with pursis full of money : bycause they iudged him most blessed , that had most money . So in lyke maner bicause we thynk nothing more honorable than a berd , we iuge it best to picture our god , & his disciples with beardis .

Verily we can nat proue , that euer sayncte Iohn , the messanger of Christe , was shauen , nor yet sayncte Iames , who amongest other good gyftes of a vertuous mynd was greatly preysed for this , that he wolde neuer suffre hym selfe to be shauen . And shall we vnhappy people , blame in any man , or forbyd vnder peyne of cursynge , that thynge , whiche was by the allowance of all people suffred in those holy men , taught by Christ our sauiour , and very sonne of god , and rekened amonge the warkes of vertue , as an example of a perfecte and a moderate lyfe ? But nowe of late , we haue not onely lefte the name of good maners , but also the veri right patheway of the same .

Iamis , whiche opteyned his name by the continuall kepynge of Iustyce , was moche preysed , bycause he neuer vsed shauynge nor annoyntyng , nother yet washyng in baynes . &c. And shal we sclander them as yuel peple , which despise shauing , & suche other fond delites ? Thus if our lord god ware a beerd in token of manhod , if Peter , if Paule , & al the apostels dyd the same , & finally if there be no ther sayeng nor monition founde of the chiefe auctours of our feythe ageynste beardes : for what cause then shulde we regarde the condemnynge of beardes by any lawe , or feare the thretnynges of any man , seing god is on oure syde , whose sonne we folowe in that habyte ?

The fourthe parte of our matter is , that we shall serche , whether this disanullyng of beardis be commended or not in the thyrde kynde of written lawes , whiche were made by the inspiration of the holy goste .

Of truthe the gides of our vertuous lyuing , called holy men , haue ordeyned some constitutions , withoute any mencion made before of god or his disciples , or any example shewed , but onely styred vp ( as they saye ) by that same godly inspiration , the whiche thinges nede nat here to be rehersed . Of this sorte are the decrees of the counsels , I mene those , whiche we are bounde to beleue . For I beleue this , that a generall counsell truely gethered , determyneth nothynge concernyng our feyth , without the inspiration of the holy goste , and them we ought alway to allow and firmely beleue . But the lawe of maners and customes , varienge ofte tymes by the meanes of the place , tyme , or condicions of the persons , sauer more humayn than godly : yet our accusers prepared of these wepons , taken out of olde vulgar bokes , and putte ageynst our armie the counsell of Carthage , vnder whose helpe and defence , they make warre ageynste beardes , despisynge theym , and thretnynge theyr vtter distruction : like as though the distroyeng of that same beautyfull warke of nature , were done by the inspiration of the holy gooste : and as though he , whiche in tyme paste dydde not without a cause shewe hym selfe mercyfull to those , that made vowes to let their beardes grow , shulde nowe be ageynst hym selfe in the counselle of Carthage , and begynne to despyse beardes . The whiche thynges truely howe vnworthy they are to be counted the actis of god , the moste innocent chylde in the worlde may perceyue : yet those felowes are not ashamed to make god the auctour of suche abiecte and fylthye busynesses . But thoughe theyr feblenes of brayne ought to be forgyuen , bycause they can not frame theyr wyttes to conceyue hygher thynges : yet it is wysedom to take hede , lest vnder the colour of goodnes , they shulde deceyue other men . Therfore nowe lette vs here what law they allege for them , and that is this .

Clerici neque comam nutriant , neque barbam . Clerkes shall neyther lette grow theyr busshes nor beardes . They sey , this lawe was fyrste made by the counsell of Carthage , and renewed by Alexander the thyrde , & strengthed by many of later tyme : & that it ought not to be despised of vs . As though we were suche maner of people , that we wold inforce some thynge ageynste the lawes : or els that we dyd not vnderstande , if men shulde begyn to despyse the lawes , that soone after euery thynge wolde be brought out of frame : and than shulde we see holy and vnholy thynges mixt to gether , nothing holy , nothing honest , nor nothing laudably done . For when the lawes are ones broken , the recourse of marchandyse betwene citie & citie shal be lost , the leege of the people shall not be kepte , no good order shall be regarded , no reason , no Iustyce , nor no ryghte shall remayne . It shoulde be leful than for euery man to leade his life after his owne luste : than shulde we see suche trouble amonge all sortis of people , that we shuld be constreyned to hyde vs in the woddes , to crepe in to dennes and deserte places of the erthe , to be kepte safe from the inuasions of them that are of greatter power . Wherfore I thynk that a law made , allowed of the reulers , and strengthed by the vse of the people , ought to be kept of al men . What shall we do therfore in this case ? There is a lawe layde ageynst all our resons , our matter is at a poynte , we are ouercomen , we are shatered abrode , and put to flyght , the sectis of delycate persons beare all the rule , & they bynde vs to trifelynge maners . The sobre and ernest facion of the Romaynes is decaid , we must nowe waxe wanton by a newe law , we muste be shauen , there may no heer grow on our facis , and to speke one worde for all , ye and that a newe worde , we muste become womanlyke . This is euen the very thynge , that our accusers haue chosen onely for the defence of their delycatenes . With this they stryue ageynst vs , with this they wounde vs euerychone , with this thynge alone , they thynke to distroye vs : So that except men of holy orders haue smothe and shynyng facis , they shall be pulled away from the aulters , they shall be putte out of the churches , there shall be no place , where people resort , lefte free for them to abyde in . But we haue to longe kepte silence .

Therfore nowe go to , lette vs bryng forth oure armye agaynste theym , and fyrste of alle , lette vs wynde awaye frome theym that same ingyn that is the chiefe grounde of our warre , & therby we shal ouerthrowe all theyr holle power .

I denye it playnly , I say it is not made in the counsaile of Carthage . For we may lightly proue , that certayne yeres afore tyme , for lacke of a true copie , theyr bokes were falsly printed , and this worde radant , shauen awaye : whiche chaungeth the holle sentence , For the mooste ancient , moste holy , and most wysest men do agree , that it is redde in Gracian after this maner . Clerici neque comam nutriant , neque barbam radant , Clerkes shal nother lette growe their busshes , nor shaue theyr beardes . There is no man can denye , but these wordes are wrytten of the counsel of Carthage . It was happye , that this same storye of counsels was of late brought to lyght : wherin without doubt the counsell of Carthage dothe agree in this sentence , with the olde wrytten bokes , whiche are in the librarie of Palatine : and there of truthe we fynde it wrytten thus : Clericus nec comam nutriat , nec barbam radat , A clerke shall nother lette grow his busshe , nor shaue his beard .

At this our ennemyes waxe pale , therfore let vs stycke to it lyke men we shall set vpon them with an other wyng● , whiche shal constreyne them to gyue ouer incontinent .

They allege these wordes folowynge , to be redde in a pistil of Alexander the thyrde , written to the archbysshoppe of Canturburye . Clerici qui comam et barbam nutriunt , etiam inuiti a suis archidiaconis tondiantur , Clerkes that lette growe theyr busshes and beardes , shall be shorne of theyr archedeacons , whether they wyl or not . But lyke as in the sentence before , some vncleane shauer hath shauen away a worde , so by lyke , here in this pistyll of Alexander , some brayneles felowe hath added to a word . For by the agrement bothe of well lerned and approued auctours , it shulde be redde thus : Clerici qui comam nutriunt , ab archidiacono , etiam si noluerint tondiantur , Clerkes that let growe their busshes , shall be shorne of their archedecon , whether they wyll or not . And this appereth playnly to be the true redyng , bycause the interpreters saye , this sentence was taken out of a law , made in the counsell of Agathense . And therin without doubte it is so written : Clerici qui comam nutriunt , ab archidiacono , etiam si noluerint , tondiantur . without any mention makyng of barba the bearde .

Also in the fourth counsell of Toletan , it was commaunded , that the doctours and chiefe prelates shoulde shaue all the vpper partis of their heedes , and to leaue on the nether parte a garland of heare aboue their eares : but as for the bearde they neuer thought theron .

Also of the busshe onely , we fynde lyke commaundement in many placis , in the decrees of auncient bysshops , to gether with other thynges concernynge the lyfe of priestis : Finally Aniceius by the preceptes of the apostels , decreed , that the clergie shuld not nouryshe theyr busshes : and surely he wold not haue passed ouer , without spekyng of the bearde , if he had estemed it a thynge vnhonest . For of truth to nourishe the bushes is the facion of women , or els of suche men as lyue delicatly and vnchast . For the longe heared people were euer estemed both of the grekes and Latines for a token of foule lust and fylthye lyuynge . Wherfore the lawes wyllynge religious men not onely to be with oute vycis , but also to eschewe the occasyons of the same , doo not withoute a cause forbydde theym to nourysshe theyr busshes . But ageyne on the other syde , hit besemethe menne to haue longe beardes , for chiefely by that token ( as I haue often sayde ) the vigorous strengthe of manhode is decerned from the tendernes of women : so that women oughte to nourysshe theyr busshes , and men theyr beardes . And for this cause the priestis were commaunded by the determination of the solemne counsel of Carthage , not to shaue theyr beardes , to the intent that they myght seme ( lyke as they be ) men , and shewe as it were a certayne maiestie of their owne kynde , in theyr vtter apperaunce .

But ye folowe the Rodians , whiche had a lawe amonge theym ageynste shauynge : and yet commonly they were all shauen . Ye begynne also nowe to countrefeyte theym of Bysance , whose maners Chrysippus dydde mooste hate for that same cause . For they dydde not onely make lawes ageynste shauynge of berdes , but also ordeyned extreme punysshementes for the same , and yet the moste parte of them , lyke as ye doo , loued to be shauen .

Thus maye ye see , that in manye places , the frowardenes of yuelle people , distroye manye tymes the good maners . And lette no manne marueylle , thowghe false and corruptly wrytten bokes haue done moche harme by the space of so many yeres paste , soo that by the meanes of that erroure , many decrees , punyshmentis of the proude and stubborne , and cruell chastisinges haue bene brought vppe . O good lorde , how many thynges shall ye fynde in all olde bokes here and there moste fautily redde ? Howe many wordes chaunged ? howe many cleane lefte out ? howe many stryken oute ? And I wolde to god , that there were fewer at this daye , whiche of theyr iniquitie doo peruerte many thynges .

But beholde I beseche you , what harmes ryse by reason of depraued bokes . The sentence of Gelasius the pope , in the xv . distinction , in our spirituall lawe is thus : Venerabilis uiri Sedulij Pascale opus , quod heroicis descripsit uersibus , insigni laude proferendum , The pascall worke ( sayth he ) of that honourable man Sedulius , whiche he wrote in heroicall versis , is greattely to be preysed : And yet hytherto ye shall fynd writen in bokes , that go commonly abrode , in the place of Heroicis uersibus , hereticis uersibus , whiche turneth the sentence after this maner : The pascal worke of that honourable man Sedulins , whiche he wrote in erronious or hereticall versis , is greattely to be preysed . This one false worde brought suche a suspicion to certayne men , which were true professers of the lawes , that they thought all poetis versis were erronious : and that they were nat worthye to be accompted amonge good men , though they intreated of holy matters : whiche thynge we sawe was also after suche a maner perswaded to the pope Adrian the .vi. that he hated no kynde of peple worse then poetes , thynkyng that no thyng that they dyd , was wel done . And yet to this day there be some discrete prelates so disceyued with this false redynge , and with that other errour of shauing , that they thinke no man worthye to be a priest , that eyther maketh versis , or weareth a bearde : suche a thynge it is ones to taste an yuell opinion . But we shall lette passe to brynge in any mo exaumples , seinge we see dayly howe olde auctours haue ben corrupted by the meanes of false wryters . Nor I wolle not reherse howe vngentilly the olde lawyers were intreted , by our lawyers that cam after them . For after theyr warkes were ones cutte in pieces by Tribunianus , and such other bouchers , thei did not kepe these peces to gether , but suffred welnere euery vnlerned man to adde and minysshe at his pleasure : and yet the same scrappis euyll and falsely recited , be taken for lawes , and they lack not a gret sorte of defenders .

Thus many thynges are dayly brought to lyght , whiche gyue vs warnynge of the errours of our forefathers , wherin they haue bene ouersene this many yeres , or deceyued by the falsenes of bokes . Wherfore it is the lesse meruayle , if the decree of the counsell of Carthage , be founde nowe otherwyse wrytten , than it was put forth in tyme past .

Well go to , we haue sette here a sure fundation for oure defence : A lawe is recyted , whiche we haue playnely proued no lawe . Nother berdes ar not forbydden by the law of exaumples . It is also proued , that it besemeth euery good and honest man to weare a bearde . Neuerthelesse they brynge forthe one reason to make them seme Romaynes , and yet they intende to folowe the delycate maners of the Sicilians . Many of them suppose , that beardis were disanulled by the popes of Rome , bycause the Grekes vsed to weare them : For they sey it is not leful for a priest of the Romaynes to folowe theym in habyte & maners , that haue forsaken the churche of Rome . Therfore we muste shaue our berdes , except we wol be heretikes or rebelles . To this what other answere shall I make , but that our accusers be perauenture good men ( I wol not call them inuious , vplandyshe , nor vnlerned ) but may happe more simple than good men shuld be : which thinke that beardes shulde be despised of the Romaynes , and that the people be accurste that weareth them , and also they thynke , where so euer they be , they make the place vnholye and voyde of all good lucke , bycause the grekes wol not obey to theyr constitutions , I maruayle from whense they gatte these opinions , whiche howe foolysshe and howe chyldysshe they be , euery manne perceyueth . For if they wyl affirm it to be done bycause of the grekes : I beseche you lette them tell me to what Italian it hathe doone good , or what hathe the pope gotten by it , when the same discorde hath ben the cause of so many euyls , whiche yet abhorreth any man to remembre .

I wolde to God oure forefathers hadde not benne so wylfulle and fulle of stryfe , somme beynge to extreme in kepynge of certayne ceremonyes and lawes , whiche were but of smalle effecte , somme in makynge of newe , somme in breakynge and chaungynge of olde customes and maners , the whyche hadde benne kepte manye yeres .

( I speake onely of customes , bycause those thynges that perteyne to the feythe , are of an other kynde ) but yf such busynes had not bene , we hadde not loste so manye sortis of people , nor so many realmes . The greekes had not forsaken vs , we hadde kepte stylle the Ile of Aegei , we had not loste Thracia , we had nat loste the realme of Byzance , we had nat lost all Asia , nother Hierusalem had nat ben inhabyted with infidels , so greattely to oure dishonour , ye and to speake of later tyme , for such causes Boeme and Germanie shulde not haue sette so lyght by the pope . For in gouernynge many tymes some incidentis happen , whiche are of so smalle weyght , that they maye be easily eyther graunted or els suffered : the whiche thynges if they be stubbornely denied , they cause indignation amonge the vnlerned people : And soone after indignation cometh chauffynge and murmouryng , after chauffyng daily increasing of malice , & shortly after malice cruel enmities , and than mortall warre . Whan our forefathers commaunded the Romayne priestis , to shaue theyr beardes , in dispite of the grekes , to the intent there myght be a difference betwene the Romaynes and them : they caused the Grekes to be so vexed with that same dissention , that they bare euen as greate & lyke malice ageynste vs than , as they dydde atte the tyme , whan they hauyng warre amonge them selfe , were of so mischeuous a mynde , that they hadde leuer make a leage with the Turkes , and seke the felowshyppe of them , than to aske helpe of vs , or receyue our aide , whan it was wyllyngly offred . And so they were deceyued , and by the fals fayth of their ennemies betrayed , and vtterly distroyed .

They loste theyr kyngdome , theyr countrey was spoyled , theyr aulters were robbed , made vnholy , and lefte desolate : and by and by we were broughte in the same perylle by the meanes of theyr chaunce . To the which people if that thynge had bene granted , that was of none effect , the name of christendom had ben spredde abrode bothe far and wide : neyther that same coote of our lord , that had no seame , had bene rent in so many peces as we se it nowe adayes .

But what nede we to make mention of other mens damages and fautis , whanne we may se , as touchyng berdes , suche variances at home at our doores , that it hath broughte vp a perpetuall sclaunder to the hygh order of preesthode . In continuance of tyme the delites of our forefathers came so farre forth , that by the meanes of shauynge , the people was so disguised , that men and women were scant knowen a sonder : And by this it happened ( if the tale be trewe that is in enerye mans mouth ) that a woman was chosen pope of Rome , to the perpetuall rebuke of that same holy order . In remembraunce of whiche dede , the Romaynes to this daye shewe the place , poyntynge with a fynger , where that same high woman prieste , beinge in the popes stede , dyd trauayle of a chylde . And leeste suche an other chaunce myght happen , many men beleue , that euer after it was ordeyned by a lawe , that the same foly of oure forefathers shulde be openly declared at the stallyng of euery newe pope . For at the Pulpit of saynt Iohn , where is gethered to gether on that solemne feaste day , a great multitude of people , of all maner of nations : the newe Poope is there constreyned , in the syght of them all , to proue hym selfe a man by many sufficient wytnesses . And whan the thyng is ones pronounced by the voyce of the crier , by and by it is shewed aboute in euery place : and than we beleue surely , we haue a laufull man to our pope , when it myghte be euidently knowen , we had him that we ought to haue , without any such wonderment . These I say be the thynges , whiche haue comen vp in tyme past by the smothnes and delycatnes of shauynge , where on the other part it was neuer founde , that any suche inconuenience came by the meanes of beardes . If the maners of priestis are to be corrected or loked nere vpon , it is beste to take hede , that they , whiche are chosen to that honeste dignitie to be ministers to god almightye , shulde not be defyled with vile occupations or offices . Let them kepe no vittaylynge houses , let them be no maryners , lette them weare no longe daggers , or suche other weapons , let them weave none armour nor pied garmentis , let theym not falle to quaftynge or to dronkennes , finally let them forbeare al suche thinges , whiche do shewe lyghtnes , folyshenes , or vnclenlynes . Truely if our accusers had taken hede to these thynges , they hadde not ben so lyttell regarded of euery man as they be . But when they deuise with so great diligence to condemne their berdes whiche doth increce their dignite , they do not only deserue to be dispreised , but also they brynge them selfe in to sclaunder of waywardenesse and superstition . I speake this for no malyce , but hit greuethe me to see somme menne , verye excellente otherwayes bothe in lernynge and perfectnesse of lyuynge ( excepte I shulde belye them , whiche beinge deceyuid by some fooles , what so euer they be , vnder the colour of goodnes , fal into suche contention , and be so ernest for so lyght causes , ye ( yf I myght speake it ) very foolyshe trifles , and when there be many hygher matters to be loked vpon , to exercyse theyr studye , and to labour to put downe berdes , which hurte nother god nor manne : nor yet there is anye cause why they shulde go aboute to defende their oppinion by certayne newe prouinciall lawes , the whiche thoughe they were neuer so firmely strengthed by man , ye althoughe the pope agreed to them hym selfe , yet if there be founde a truer reason , they be bothe broken , corrected , and changed . For the lawes , the decrees , and institutions , for cause made , as the nede of matters requireth , and as the tyme asketh , the pope by the counsayle of his bretherne , and of his hyghe power , dothe daily correcte , for do , ordeyne , and stablyshe : and these thynges that they agree vpon , or he alone , be taken for lawes . And it is moste firmely prouided by precepte of the hygh ruler of the lawes , that euery laste lawe shall wype away the fyrste .

But what more euident or more holy lawe shall we seeke , for the wearynge of beardes , than that same , whiche the hyghe bysshoppe Iulius the seconde , and Clement the .vii. did shew in theyr tyme , by theyr owne examples gyuynge ? It pleased Iulius longe tyme to weare a bearde , It pleased Clement also to weare a bearde , It pleased the holy college of Cardinalles to doo the same , It pleased both the other prelates and poore priestis in lyke wyse : And shall we tarie to loke out an other counsayle , when in dede there is none suche at all ? Or shall we deuyse to renewe weake lawes , or those that be nowe worne out : when this same liuely lawe is to this daye euery where in strengthe , euery where obserued , louyngely receyued , and putte in vse in euerye place , for a lawe made and approued ?

Amonge the Venetians , the Pisans , the Brutians , the Calabers , the Sicilians , amonge them of Champayne , amonge the Romayne , the Etruscians , and many other people of Italie , where as eche citie is instituted with right laudable lawes and moste honest maners , it is estemed and taken for a verye greatte offence , to kysse an other mans wyfe or his doughter . And yet in the chiefe parte of the same region , and betwene the fountayne of Pady and Doria , and from thense by all the mountaynes of Allobroges , and in euery citie , that is moste populously inhabyted with frenche menne , and villages betwene Pyren and Reynes , from the easte partis to the greatte occean see , the same licence of kyssynge is so moche suffred , that whan so euer thou shalte come to the howse of thin ooste , or of thy frende , excepte thou fyrst of all kysse his wyfe , his daughters , and al other women in the howse , and beclyp theym in thyne armes , thou shalte be iudged churlysshe , or proude , or els to be theyr ennemie . And so that , that among vs here is thought to be a shamefulle thynge , is taken amonge them for a great gentylnes and a familiaritie . Of suche weight is the custome and maners of people of longe tyme vsed . Also in some cities and countreyes , some thynges not so honeste , are yet by reason of custome and vse , and longe and sure consente of the people , growen into a lawe . And thynke ye than to take away this same venerable maner , of grauitie and sadnes , that hath bene receyued and allowed both by the examples of the high byshoppes , and also by the imitation of al the people ? Neyther ye remembre not the sayenge of the most wise prince , beinge daylye proued afore your eyes : Eos qui aliter uiuere uolunt , quam se habeant mores eorum , inter quos uiuunt , suspiciosos , aut intemperantes haberi , They that lyue after an other sorte , then the custome is of the people and countreye , where they dwelle , are taken for suspicious and vnruly persones . And if ye thynke it best to stycke to one lawe , what so euer it be , whether it be weake , corrupte , or of small effecte : doo ye not see the mooste sadde sentences of men ageynste you , whiche haue the high auctoritie bothe to interprete and to make the lawes ? For they , whiche by their high power haue made lawes to all the worlde , what lawes they haue made of priestis beardes , it appereth more playnely by theym selfe , thanne thoughe they hadde grauen it in a table of brasse . But admytte it be an offence : graunt also ( though it appere not ) that Alexander the thyrde , was of the same mynde , as printed bokes do shewe . More ouer , graunte it to be estemed a lothly dede : and that a priest with a bearde ought nat to meddell with ministration of the holy sacramentis , nor be in company among men : but ( after your iugement ) to be exiled or kept in perpetuall prison . Wel go to , let your oratours begyn to accuse vs , let them do theyr vttermoste , lette them ley to our charges what so euer they can before the iudges , let them make vs to forfayt our goodes , and lyke as rebels & murderers ar wonte to be handled , let them mynde to intreate vs . But where ? Where shal the iudges be ? Before whom shal they plede their cause ? Who shall aknowledge this to be an offence ? Who shall condempne vs ? I wolle haue them go to those that be moste sadde & best aduised , and vnto them , to whose sentences and determinations not onely al the common people , but also men of gret reputation and might wyl stande . This is the iugement of the twelue men , whiche are ordeyned to sytte in the bishops palaice , to gyue sentence vpon matters in debate : Of the whiche maner there were some tyme certayne menne amonge the Grekes ( when they flourysshed ) called Amphictyones , whiche concerninge the lawes , did make answere to al maner of people . And these ( I seye ) be the iudges , whiche we had nede to haue to make an ende of our matter . Therfore beholde vs here redy at hande , we neither rebelle ageynst you , nor we are not about to flee , we be contente to abyde the iudgement , ye shall not nede to attache vs , and kepe vs in holde . Begyn ye nowe to call for iudgement . Beholde here afore your eies a holle college of chosen men , of good lyfe , and well skylled in the lawes . Whervppon do ye tarie ? For what cause are ye so abashed ? Me thynketh your answeres be very farre to seke . Where is nowe the begynnynge of your accusation ? that horrible wounder , that priestes shuld weare beardis , whiche ye saye is a newe crime , that was neuer harde of before this tyme ? Verily ye maye nowe perceyue youre owne folye , and what tryfils ye haue gethered to gether amonge the thornes . For ye can fynde no iuges , but they gyue sentence ageynst you before ye begynne to speake , excepte your selfes wolde be bothe iudges and accusers .

Do ye not see , if ye stryue ageynst beardes , there be so many good men that weare berdes , that your busynes shall be laughed to scorne with euery man ? Neither there is any cause why , that you being but thre in nombre or foure at the moste , shulde thynke to haue the true knowlege . This is your wyl , & not your iugement : & where as al men thoughte before , that it was but an errour in you for lacke of knowlege , nowe seinge ye stycke styl in your opinion , the truth apperyng so plein afore your face , euery man maye knowe , ye do it not of ignorance , but of a very proude and obstinate mynde , lest your euyl meninge shoulde be perceyued . Stynte ye therfore nowe to make any further busynesse , and those maners of men , whiche ye se are mete to be vsed , allowe ye them also , or els if you be so tender and delycate , that ye can not abyde to be sene lyke men , yet be contente at the leeste waye , that other men vse them selfe as they shulde do .

Thus yf ye intende to determyne youre matter , by the lawes , ye see to what passe it wyll comme . If ye grounde you vpon honestie , ye can fynde no suche honestie in smothynge of a mans face . If ye wolle speake of custome and maners : the same custome to weare a bearde is so vsed with princis and chiefe reulers , that nowe it maye be taken for a lawe .

Behold I beseche you the ancient doctours of our Senate howse , whiche are men so excellent in all mener sciences , whiche are not wonte to do any thynge out of good order : ye se them weare beardes , which thyng they wolde not do , excepte they thought it mete for a prieste , & for euer honest man . In conclusion amonge all these excellent men , thou shalte fynde very fewe without beardes . And those few , if thou woldest demaund for what cause they were no beardes , they woll make many other excuses , rather than sei , it is vnsemely for a man of holy orders , not doubtynge to preferre the truth before their own maners . What shuld I here reherce any mo examples of other holy men , as archbyshops and bysshoppes , that haue worne beardes , whiche wolde not haue worne them , excepte they had knowen very wel , it was not repugnant to the lawes of Christ ? & shal any man be so bolde to recite other lawes before their examples ? when it is openly knowen , that they wold not vse a thynge , which was not a patron of perfecte religion and honest maners . Me thynketh our accusers shuld nowe waxe wery , to iuge that thing yuel , which by the consent of al good men is allowed to be bothe semely and laudable . Furthermore where they recyte a lawe for theyr parte , it appereth there is no suche : but ( as I haue sayde ) by false wrytynge , that taken for a lawe , that neuer was so ordeyned : if it were let theym vnderstande , that by the examples of the two hygh byshops , Iulius & Clement , it is clene abrogate & a●nulled . If any man wol sey , that they myght not breke it , than let him deny al the lawes made by them . What shal I sey to these felowes , which wol beleue nothyng but theyr owne fantasies , to theym there is nothynge harde within an olyue , nor without a nutte . For yf there be any auctoritie gyuen to princis and to general counseiles , priestis ought to weare beardes .

More ouer if they had not iudged it semely for a religious man , they wold neuer haue commanded that priestes shuld be vnshauen , nor they wolde neuer haue suffered theyr owne facis to be pictured with beardes .

The picture of Iulius is made with a berde in the syght of all men , The face of Clement is dayly coyned with a bearde bothe in gold and syluer . But those men ( whiche so cruelly vexe vs ) whan they condempne beardes , they vnderstonde not , that they blame the hyghe bysshoppe , prelates , and other sadde men , and that they mocke the constitutions of holy men : they damne Peter and Paule , and all the appostels , ye and they ley immodestie to Christe hym selfe . There is no man more vniuste then he , whiche thynketh nothynge welle doone , but that that he dothe hym selfe .

But for what intent do they make all this busynes ? For what cause go they so busily about to moue and put away all berded men from ministrynge of the sacramentis , from the churche , & from all mens companyes ? I can not diuise what they shaulde meane , excepte they wolde haue seynt Iohn Baptyste , seynt Iamis , and seynt Ierom , with many other banyshed out of heuen . For it apperith by our aduersaries iudgemente , that those were frowarde persons , rebels , and corrupters of good maners . For what other thing by theyr interpretation , maketh they hym , that weareth a bearde , but a proude and an yuell man , that lyueth not after the lawes ? and he is wycked , that deserueth to be banysshed out of the churche of Christe . O than howe myserable and vnhappy were all these holye men before named , to chose a lyfe so peynfull and laborous , as to forsake al the pleasures of this worlde , and to liue in wildernesse , to make theyr bodyes leane with fastynge , watchynge , and prayenge : if they shoulde onely for theyr beardes be iudged before god for yuell lyuers . Who doubteth , if they , whiche nowe weare beardes , shall be iudged for yuell lyuers , but that those holy men before sayde , and other that haue ben auctours of that facion , shal be lyke wise accused of our aduersaries .

If we demaunde of our accusers , what affection they haue to be made so smoth : without doubte they wyll answere and seye , it is done bycause the heares shuld not be dypped in the mooste holye bloudde of Christe : And they sey , and it is very trouth , that al honor and reuerence ought to be done to this moste blessed sacrament . But I beseche you than , is there any thynge the lesse reuerence done to this moste hygh sacrament , if the minister shewe hym selfe ( as Alexis sayth ) more like a man than a woman ? For Alexis saythe , that God is not offended with heares , the whiche serue to expresse the perfecte state of man . I beseche you , be heares so fylthy , and so greatlye to be despised , that they are not worthy to come nere the blessed sacrament ? But foule nayles , scabby fyngers , a fylthy face , with all the reste of the bodye besyde may do it none vnreuerence : & thynke those men then , that a bearde is so fylthy a thinge , and so hateful to god , that it may in no maner wyse comme nere the blessed sacrament ? And yet for all this , the selfe same thynge , the whiche they commaunde so holily to be done , they doo hit not theym selfes . For whiche of all these holy menne ( I woll not calle them dissemblers ) shall you fynde , that is shauen euery day , as the priestes of Egipt be ? And excepte they do shaue their berdes euery day , or els ones for al , plucke out the heares by the rootes , they are not able to perfourme theyr sayenge . For within a daye after , or two at the moste , when they ministre ageyne , they contaminate the blessed sacrament with heares , and commytte the same offence , for whiche they accused them that weare berades . They woll sey , that the vnclennes of the heares , that haue growen but a day or a weke is not lyke to that that hath growen a moneth , a yere , or longer tyme : as who wolde saye , it were none offence for a man to breke the fastynge day with a calfe of a weke or a moneth olde , but he that shuld eate a great oxe dyd greuously offende . And so our moste discrete accusers woll seye , that the moste blessed sacramente is not offended with a heer of one day or a week is growing , but he that touchethe it with a longe heare , that hath growen a moneth , or a holle yere , doth vnreuerently vse it . Trewely this sentence is of so smalle effecte , and so vntrue , that it is not worthye to be taried any longer vppon .

Therfore lette vs passe ouer this , and we that be menne , lette vs kepe with al diligence , the same sobre and honeste custome of beardes , seing it can be proued by no reason , why a bearde shuld be dispised .

On the other parte smothynge and shauing ( as I haue sayde alwayes ) whether it happen to a man by nature , or by handy craft , it dothe shewe an outward apparence of synne , and wyckednes , or els of other thinges , whiche are not worthy to be preysed .

Yet bycause they wolde haue somewhat more to babble vppon , they sey , it besemeth not a prieste to professe by his habyte , a sorowfull , or a heuy mynde . Beholde these valyant defenders of our christen religion . Be holde the grauitie and wysedome of those , whiche wolde take vppon them to be other mennes gydes , they wolde haue priestis to shewe in their out warde semblance none other thynge but myrth and lyghtenes , as it were a scoffer ( ye if I mought sey the truth ) euen lyke a baudy iester . Well let vs graunt to that . Admytte that a berde is a token of sorow & heuynes : meane ye than , that pristis shoulde neyther mourne , nor be troubled in theyr myndes , nor yet lyue after their owne pleasure ? O stony hartis , O cruel myndes , of the whiche sorte there was neuer none harde of before . Oughte not priestes moste of all to mourne in this myserable worlde , when there is no man that hath any cause to laughe ? We are constreyned by Nature to mourne for the losse of euerye dere beloued thyng . There is no man except he be madde , that woll forbydde the mother to mourne at the buryenge of her chylde . And wold these delycate felowes of the court of Rome , lette and forbydde vs to wepe and wayle in oure owne funerals ? Woll they forbydde vs to mourne and make sorowe , to beholde howe all Italie is ouerronne and distroyed , to see the noble citie of Rome subdued , spoyled , and robbed , and the inhabitantis therof murdred and slayne , to see the great vexation of all christendome , and in the drede and feare of so many folde great peryls , and finally in beholdynge the confusion of the holle worlde , wol they warne vs to be heuy and sorowful ? And as moche of Italy as remayneth , lyeth reked vp in the asshes of her burnyng : and no parte therof is more consumed by fire , than that that longed to priestis . Vnder the ashes lyen the hotte glowyng cooles , whiche seme to kendell vp a farre greatter fyre ( ere it be ought longe ) than is passed . And is it not lefull for vs , at leest wyse to shew a mourning chiere , and with a heuy countenaunce to witnes our great drede , and myserable fortune ? And we beinge forsaken of so many christen princis , and mooste vnworthyly reputed , by whose counseyle and sufferaunce , we were caste out as a common praye , and all taken , as many as were at Rome , and spoyled of all our goodes that we hadde , and are beggarde with intollerable tributis , and we suffre and endure great crueltie , iniurie , and many folde miseries , and we be not yet lyke to see an ende of these great calamities : for not onely our foes , but also our frendes do dayly catche from vs what so euer they can , and they spare nat so moche as perteyne to the houses of religion . And yet our accusers in this vnlucky and moste myserable tyme , in so great darkenes of the common weale , in so great perturbation of all thynges , goo aboute to forbydde vs , with feare of coursynge , that we in no wyse shulde lament our vnluckynes of mooste wretched chaunce .

All the worlde gapethe to deuoure Italye : They haue sucked it as nere as they can , and those scrappes that remayne , they intende to swype cleane awaye .

And these , our ydell accusers take thought for nothynge , but gyue theym selfes onelye to slouthe , and they prepare to lyue in delyte and ease , in luste and in lykynge , and goo aboute to shaue and to make smothe theyr facis , lyke as thowghe thereby they shulde greattely helpe and succour the common welthe of christendome , whiche is now in greatte ieoperdye and ruyne . And they thynke they haue sufficientely prouyded for vs , if they can perswade vs to forsake oure mannely state , and to shewe our selfes lyke women . But I woll bydde them fare well , and as men vnworthy of honest companye , to be sent away somewhyther , where they may remayne vnknowen , and lye and inioye theyr fonde appetite . We wolle iudge theym worthy of none other punysshement , nor we woll neyther enuye theyr quietnes , nor yet hate theym , for that they be so delycate to them selfe , in case that they dare not , nor be not able , to hurte or hynder the maners of menne , that haue bene welle and discretely ordeyned .

But wherto shulde I stryue or reason any further with you ageynste the smothenes of shauynge , seinge it hathe ben proued to you bothe by the institutions and holy preceptis of oure forefathers in olde tyme , that we ought to let our beardes growe , to th intent we maye folowe the exaumple of Christe & his disciples , and of so many other fathers that ledde a perfecte good lyfe , and to the intente we moughte eschewe and aduoyde the occasions of reprofe and sclaunder , and to fle the suspicion and detraction of delycatnes , and laste of all to the intent we mought be iuged rather men than women ? For what cause shulde we be ashamed of our beardes , if it be well shewed , what a bearde is , and howe well it becometh a sadde and an honest man . If it be wel proued , how gretly a berd increseth the dignitie of a prist ? Why shuld we be asshamed of a bearde , if we fynde that by the lawe of nature , it is necessary , and by the lawe wrytten , acceptable to god , and by the lawe of grace it is no where discommended . If the errour of them be ouercome , that holde the contrary opinion : If also the opinion , that the blessed sacrament shuld be polluted with heres , be wyped awey , and that it is well proued , that a bearde doth none offence to the reuerence of that moste high diuine misterie : If the high princis of our christen religion haue made a lawe ageynste shauynge , whiche as appereth by their own examples they wolde we shuld folowe : If vpon the same lawe there hath folowed not a secrete , nor a darke , but an open and a common consente of the people , ye and welnere of all maner of nations , which euery where are sene to stande styffely in that oppinion : Wherfore then , I beseche you , shuld not we stycke and leane to reason rather then to abusion ? and rather folowe the examples of so many vertuous and noble men , than cleaue to the opinion of a few superstitious persons ? If the iudgement of this matter were commyttted to me , I wolde gyue a perpetualle sentence , that from heneforthe no man beynge professed into holy orders , shulde shaue his bearde , accordynge to the vse of those holy fathers : whiche knowynge it a thankfull thynge to god , made such vowes , when they intended moste to be reconciled ageyne to hym . Or elles I feare me , we shall ones ageyne prouoke the yre of god ageynste vs , who beinge displeased with suche feminine delycatenes ( as shauynge and smothynge of our skynnes , and makynge softe our lyppes , and perfumynge , and suche other ) we maye very well beleue , he dydde sende al kyndes of mischefe into the towne of Rome , whiche yet hytherto we fele : And therfore he commaunded our goodes to be taken frome vs , and our sumptuous houses to be eyther ouer throwen or els burned , and many other delytes of our wanton myndes to be plucked awey from vs .

But when he shall se vs retourne to a better mynde , and that we cal to remembrance , that we be men , and entred into holy orders , and that we wol chastise our lust & lyking , & set naught by delectations and pleasures of this worlde , and clene forsake our softe and feminate affections , & wytnes by our berdis , that we intende to leade a more constant and manly lyfe : without doute he wol metigate his displeasure , and begyn to turne these bitter and cruell chastisinges into a more easye and more gentyl punyshment , and at the last graunt vs an ende of our calamities and miseries , that haue so longe continued . But in case we wol begyn to vse ageyne our olde facion of delicate and synfull liuing , I am sore aferde , lest that he being more angry , & more displesed towarde vs , than euer he was before , woll sende so sharpe punysshement amonge vs , that it wyll lyttell auayle vs , to pray him of pitie : and that he wol withdraw aweye from vs his grace , and suffre vs to slyde into all calamities , and so , ( whiche almyghty god defende ) the vniuersall furye of al the world , beinge stered vp to crueltie , he shal turne into our mischefe , so that in conclution , what by the menes of our wicked liuing and the vngentyl dealyng of the people , we shal be vtterly distroyed .

FINIS .