Therefore doo they put downe , 〈◊〉 the cours● of kinde

Which would doo them good , with 〈◊〉 〈…〉 , if they could take it so ,

To tell them ●●t off that 〈…〉 , that h●●● sinfull nation

To bring them to light that shineth bright , which the Scripture leadeth to .

I heard a tale of late , how a Captaine 〈◊〉 to ma●e , & set a 〈…〉 ,

With many 〈…〉 him about , who his consent should ●tter out , an 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 pride ,

His vncleane cage began to speake , ●●● … deth open his beake 〈◊〉 I am that . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knaues standing ●y , so and I , so am I , euerichone they crye .

T … play the priests withouten doubt al that would throughout the Pope to counterfaite ,

Marke their life , m●●ke these learning , marke their order and euery thing ,

And yonge , yonge Popes they ben liche , they lose , they binde ,

They haue both sword and keyes , after the sa●e kinde that olde ●afe had of late .

I thanke my Lord God the liuing Lord for euer , that he hath giuen me grace to slea the Sodomi●e , I was long in her lo●e , but I thanke my God the giuer , I haue escaped Sodome , and in God is my delight , I speake it of no rage , but as I will answere make , so their owne selues bee not Iudges , in their owne cause and matter , for then against the dreadfull day , with cleare heart I will it vndertake .

All this while mee thought I slept , but the boye can pricke his beest .

Againe I take the plough in hande following mine honest labour ,

Till night commeth on , and sunne goi●g downe causeth me to cease .

In meane season , I tosse many thinges , as I were of porte and hauour ,

When I came home , all that night long , I could not sleepe a winke ,

A booke therefore I tooke in hande , my selfe something to ease .

Wherein I wrote of sundry ryte , as my heart dooth iudge and thinke .

Aboute three yeares past when I Piers scripture might reade ,

And render and r●porte to my wyfe and to my barnes ,

It seemed then a goodly life , a houshold then to keepe and feede ,

Both with broth and bacon , and breade of the Byble ,

To tell forth Christes trade , and trade of our christening ,

Before we were called christen , & knew of Christe nothing

Then was I sir , then was I father , then was I shepheard and all ,

Then nothing fayled vnto my bidding , neither in boure nor hall ,

My wyfe for my wisdome did counte me hee head , my childer their father ,

My seruaunts their sire , then all did obay me in the feare of the Lord ,

More then for meade or hier , this pleased the Lord .

I dare recorde against the popish pries , which clatter in the Kirke ,

And cannot worke nothing that good is , which had despight in heart ,

That wee to Christe did start , leauing their cumbred riddles ,

And cried as their Fathers did before , out , out alas ,

Therefore all the world followeth him , and his ,

Seeing vs of the lewde fee , breake into heauen so violently ,

Which they were sory for , but of the herds they recked nothing ,

Being occupied with other thinge , as gentlemen and other ,

For the fleshly fathers coulde boast that none of the promises ,

Nor the Pharisies were founde faulty herein , but onely the rascall sort ,

That knew not the lawe , lined sinfull and cursed therefore sayd they plaine ,

Wee will haue it in againe , from these poore knaues ,

That are so wood , trowe these harlots pardy , that Christe wold with saue to die ,

For such a prophane beggerly blood .

But comfort yee yee plough man , Fisshers , Tylers , and cobblers .

Christe our king was a poore man , as Zacharie before prophesied , and hee him selfe saith , that Foxes haue dennes , & birds of heauen neasts , and mans sonne hath not , where to lodge his head . And hee blessed the poore men , so they bee poore in spirite , saieng that theirs is all readie the Kingdome of high Heauen , and wo be vnto the riche , for they haue their comforte in this world . Christe saith againe in Marke , his words sowen in rich mens hearts bringeth forth no fruite , for the deceiptfulnes of riches , and the businesse of this worlde cloggeth it and marketh it fruitelesse , this knewe our Popish prellates full well , when they finde that gentleman , and busie occupied marchauntes are sober , discreete , and wise , they will not rayle , they will doo no skathe .

But I will tell you a newe tale , goe to all yee riche of heapes ,

With all your horned prellates ,

Weepe and howie for the misteries that shall come vpon you ,

If there be no other thing to lay in your way ,

This I am suer yee cannot denay ,

That yee haue lyued in delight & pleasure , you haue fed at your hearts liking ,

As against the day of slaughter ,

Yee haue condempned & slaine the Iust , and hee hath not resisted you .

Remember that terrible example of the riche man , and poore Lazarus . And I say againe to you poore caitiffes , there is an other world beside this , and we can patiently abide the Lords woorking , there is no seede can bring great gaine but he be deed , this wee see playne in our yearely sowing , beside this we patiently abide vii . monethes long , tho wee suffer at home much hunger and wrong , our whete or wee can gather why should we not than , Gods woorking ken in sauing vs with them : yea heare me deere brethren hogge-herds , sheepeheads , and all your sorte despised , hath not God chosen the poore of this world , to be riche in faith , and heires of the kingdome , which he promised to all them of whom he was loued , that how can your byshops hate then thus poore , and be the Apostles successors , for they did comfort the poore all with these & like words , as they can fall against the riche in towers , are they not the riche that exerciseth their tiranny vpon you , and they haile you to their iudgment seates , & the same are they that speake euill of that good name which is named vpon you . Paule calleth them Idolators only bicause they gape so much vpon goods . And Christ him selfe saith , no man can serue two maisters , both God & riches . And againe , it is hard for a riche man to enter into heauen , as a Camill to goe through a needells eye , yet dooth the priestes flatter them , & say that they onely may haue Gods word , which is called his kingdome , that they altogether may play the part of cut my curre , that keepeth my Fother safe , which neither will eate any Haie himselfe , nor suffer any cattell that breaketh loose , to eate any thing thereat : thus doo they all conspire against the Lord , and his Christe .

The bishoppes giueth bribes , to holde Christe downe .

And vp start the knights of the sepulcar .

This sheweth that they haue the faith of Christe in vaine opinion ,

Or els would they iudge Christes flocke a right , without regarde of person .

Alas , doo yee not see that Christe will not be kept in graue ,

How longe doo you striue against the streame and spurne against the pricke ,

What haue you woon this xxx . yeeres , by putting to silence

The word of God , and the maintayners thereof .

It springeth and spreadeth by persecution , like the Palme tree , that cannot bee ouercomne with burden , all though you treade it vnder your feete , and iudge it vnworthely , at length it shall beate downe you and condempne you , both great and small to endles dampnation , & lay vpon your necke al the innocent blood , that hath ben spilt since Stephen the first Martyr , to this day , through your default , & all other that shall follow after to the worlds end . Moyses , by the mouth of God commaunded thus , that we take heede least that we loose our soule , forgetting the woonderous works that he hath wrought in the daies heretofore , but that we shall publish them forth still , to our children & posteritie for euer . Againe he saith , Note Deutro. Chapt. the wordes that I doo commaunde this day , shal be vpon thy heart , thou shalt reherse them vnto thy children , and speake of them when thou sittest in thy house , when thou walkest by the way , when thou goest to sleepe , when thou risest again then shalt thou binde them as a signe about thy hand , and they shal be a remembrance betwixt thine eies , thou shalt write them vpon the poastes of thy house , and in thy gates , that thy GOD bee at no time forgotten , for all they which counteth it not good to knowe God , be they priests , be they princes , God giueth them vp into a reprobate minde , to doo the things that are not comly , filled with all vnrightiousnes , fornication , craft , couetousnes , &c. But our priests are wiser than Moyses , then Christe , Note Phillip Chapt. or his Apostles , for they were glad when by any maner of meanes , the gospell was published , were it by contention or other waies : saith Paule , Philip. and where as Iohn was carnall , Note marke , and saith , we haue found a man casting out diuells in thy name , but wee haue forbidden him bicause he followeth not vs , and of that ground perchance forbid vs to name Christ in his worde , Christe him selfe answereth plaine : forbid him not , for no man that worketh any thing in my name , can straight speake euill of me : but our prelats cleane contrarie , to hinder Gods woord will not sticke to die , bicause it vttereth their hypocrisie , and destroyeth their papistrie , & the Antichristian Idolatry : Heare yee therefore , O yee Princes , and vnderstand yee that iudge the earth , heare I saie & feare , for you being officers of his kingdome , haue not executed true iudgement now of late , you haue not kept the law of rightiousnes , nor called after the will of God : horrible , & that right soone therefore , shall he appeere vnto you , for an hard iudgement shall they haue that beare rule . Mercie is graunted vnto the poore , but they that be in auctoritie , shal be sore punished , wherefore set your