what Theophilus God saue you , howe is your there ?

Euen better then I am worthy brother Eusebius . I thanke you for that you would inquier .

What man why saye you so ?

Because I am euill of my selfe and yet my Lord rewardeth me with good thynges .

Lo nowe commeth to my remembraunce thynges that I haue been oftentymes desirous to talke with you therein . But be ye nowe at leasure , or whether bee ye going ?

Surely into the feldes for to take the ayer .

Neuer in better season , I wyll goe wyth you euery fote : peraduenture ye maye put me from doutes , wherein my head hath ben often troubled , and of a long tyme I haue determyned to talke with you therein .

What thynges are they ye meane ?

I wil tell you . Ye knowe well there hath been great dyssension as wel among the learned , as other , about Religion a greate whyle . The one Is called the olde mumsimus , the other the newe sumpsimus the one a Catholike , the other a protestaunt , and the one a papist , the other an heretike , and such lyke , which ought not to be me thynketh among Christians specially beyng of one nacyon and contree , who should loue together as brethren , now for that our frendshyp hath been of longe continuaunce and youre honestye to me so well knowen , doutles brother Theo. I am sorye that you shoulde be noted to be of any euil opinion , and not suche as I mought without daunger frequent and vse your company for assuredly there is no man otherwise that I desyer more to be conuersaunt withal then with you . And now the daunger is suche , not onely towardes God , but also to the superiours , Ring , Quene and maiestrates that of force I am constrayned more oftener to leue youre company , then gladly I woulde , If I mought safly vse the same . And thys is my grefe the which If I could I woulde surely remoue . And If I were able , I would perswade you to conformyte wyth vs in religion In such wyse as we mought during our liues continew together our frendshyp vnuiolated .

Your louing kindnes and frendship towardes me ( brother Eusebius ) I thankefullye embrace . And your approued honesty moueth me to seake all meanes with you lykewyse to continewe thys oure wonted frendshippe and familiaritie . But there is a God hath created vs , vnto whom we owe a deuty , which must be done , notwithstandyng all frendshippe or obedience vnto man , and whereas you feare the daunger towardes God , for myne opinion . If it pleased God I would there were no more daunger otherwise , and then would not I dout the continuaunce of our frendship . For as touchyng myne opinion in religion , I am righte well assured that it is grounded vpon the infallible verite of goddes most sacred worde or holy scriptures . From the which If I should start backe for the loue of frendship or for feare of men it were as much as to deny the lord my god , which ye know no good man wil doe .

Yet but heare me Theophi . We doe not disalow holy scriptures neyther doe we deney the lorde but confesse both . But we doe sift out errours , which light persons haue brought in by misvnderstanding the holy Scriptures , and so bryng in againe the true light of the same .

In dede so you say but how doe you proue it I would fayne here ?

Nay alas brother Theophilus ye knowe I am not so farre learned as to dispute the matter .

surely you are as wel able to make an argument as I am able to answere to the same . For I am no schole man , but for the satisfying of euery mans conscyence and for discharge of myne owne , I alwayes seake vnderstanding , least by my to much symplenes or rather neglygence , I moughte be deceaued , when I thinke my selfe most sure .

In that I cannot discommend you , but then ye know they haue been disputed withall at ful , so largely as they coulde wishe or desier , but nothynge can preuayle .

I praye you where was that disputations ye speake of ?

Forsoth they were had in the conuocation house , howbeit for that they made their boast that those men were but of the youngest sorte , and yet they did so well there , how much better was it supposed the auncyent learned should doe ? Vpon thys report I suppose they prouided the disputacions in oxforde where the beast learned of your side were appoynted and disputed : and yet god knoweth they were conuicted and ouer come : for they wer able In maner to make no repugnaunce .

But I pray you brother Euse . were you there at the hearing of thys disputacions In Oxforde ?

No verely that I was not .

but haue you sene the copye of the same that was drawen out by theyr notaryes and geuen to the sensours for witnessyng of the trouth herein ?

Neyther that haue I sene In dede , but beeyng at supper among my frendes on a tyme I heard them talke of it In suche wyse as I tolde you beefore .

But I praye you tell me one thyng , was not the relacion made by a prest ?

Yes doutles that it was , and it was in a priestes house , I maye say to you , a canon , one that may dispend foure hundreth marke by the yere but what then ? they sayd it was trewe .

in dede if they sayd so , yt must nedes be true , for they cannot lye , but yet this much I wil say vnto you brother Euse . I was there presente at the doing of thys geare , and heard al for the most part with mine eares : the which thing would god you and all honest men had heard and I dare say you would haue lamented the state of those .iii. men whych wer appointed to answere for theyr lyues , although otherwyse ye mislyke theyr Iudgemente in religion . And yet I cannot tell what God shoulde haue wrought In you neyther by hearyng therof : for like as I did knowe dyuers more confyrmed in the fayth they had before receaued , so heard I of none that by the dysputacion were with drawen from the same : alas good menne they coulde bee suffered to dooe no otherwyse , but as the master wyll suffer hys seruaunt or scholar to speake what he list to heare , & while he wyll heare hym and no more .

What saye you man ? It was a free disputacion , and they spake and did what they would , as touchynge the order of disputacion : this went the reporte .

Wel what soeuer the reporte was I wyll tell you some parte of the order therof , wherein I wil not lie vnto you one word : These doctours that came from london & Cambrige , of whiche doctor Weston was cheffe , for that he was proloquutor of the conuocacion house , these men I say came to oxforde thys the frydaye , and the saterdaye folowyng were the .iii. prysoners called forth before them and appointed to dispute the monday , tuesdaye , and weddensdaye folowyng , and beefore that I dare saye they knewe of no disputacion , and assone as the disputacion was appointed , Immediatly were they separated and coulde not conferre nor talke together : theyr owne bokes that they had laboured , and there commun places that they had gathered , was all taken from them when they came firste to pryson , and when they shoulde come foorthe to dispute they were brought wyth bylles and glayues , as if they should haue gone to hanging : and there must one of them alone aunswere some tymes .vi. speaking to hym at one time , and euer would they crye vpon him to cutte short , for the tyme was spent . And when as it came to master Rydleys torne , he had prouided hys supposition , thinkynge to haue reade it , but they woulde not suffer hym . And yet he alledged for himself the order of the scoles , and that al that litel time he had bestowed in deuising the same , wherein he mynded to haue declared the substaunce of his assercion of hys fayth and beleue touching that matter then in question , but he coulde not be suffred in any wise , and sondry tymes in hys talke they woulde take hym at aduauntage , and when he woulde open hys meaninge hys tale could not be heard of the audience , but yet there were that noted hys woordes . Nowe I praye you what indifferency is thys ? a man wythout study , wythout bokes , without conference with other , and almost without hearing shal dispute for hys lyfe ? And they so many clappyng , at one tyme agaynst one poore man , alas it was a grefe . And yet for all thys I warrant you they be not hasty in puttyng forth the disputations in print , as much as they bragge I dare say they wyl neuer put them forth .

But is thys true that ye haue now sayd in thys matter ?

Yea as trewe as god lyueth . And I dare saye If ye talke with the doctours themselues that disputed agaynst them they can deny none of al thys that I haue said : wel they may couler it with some other thyng , but assuredly they cannot alter it , it is so openly knowen .

Well brother Theophilus consider that when men be in authorite , and haue the gouernaunce In theyr hand , some what they will doe . And consider also that in kynge Edwardes tyme your doctours dealte in lyke case with our learned men , And therfore blame them not though they now show a litell of the same curtesy againe .

Nay then marke what I wil saye vnto you brother Eusebius . And tell me whether the case bee lyke . In king Edwardes tyme there was appoynted a disputacion wherin were .iii. of your learned against one of ours they had leysure as muche as they woulde axe , they were not taken from theyr bokes , neither put in pryson , they mought conferre wyth whom they would , and go whether they would , they were not so much as checkte for defendyng their opinion . Another tyme also I doe remember wel , that before Kyng Edward died , I was present at the disputacion In oxford , where one Grene waye ( a bacheler of diuinitie and the vice presydent of Corporis Christi Colledge ) aunswered and hys question was , whether Christes natural body mought be in more places then one .

there was one of the opponentes that openlye professed hymselfe to bee of a contrarie mynd , and so disputed , and yet I neuer knewe so much as one euil woorde spoken to hym . Note nowe the tiranny that is vsed of the one syde whyche Chryst neuer taught . And marke there great gentlenes agayne of the other syde . And this were inough almost to perswade an honest heart .

Surely brother . Theophi . I woulde Charitie mought rule thys matter , for I doe verely beeleue that if wyth loue and frendeshyp they dyd gentely commen together of these matters they should much rather agree then by suche proude disputations or rather scoldyng and brawling one with another . For to what purpose serueth thys cankored malice but the one to seke the others destruction . And while we goe about mischeffe to eche other , there be that wyl destroye vs both : and then we haue spun a fayer threde .

In dede your gathering standeth with good reason , and not without good authoryte of the holy Scriptures . For thys sayeth the Lord Iesus : Euery kyngdome within it selfe deuydede shal be destroied , Math. 12 Luke . 11. Gala. 5. and euery house deuided with in it selfe , shall not stande . And Saincte Paule sayeth also if ye bite one another , take hede lest ye be consumed one of an other .

I praye you brother The. In what place is it the Christ saith Euery kyngdome deuided wythin it selfe shall be destroyed .

In the .12 . Chapter of Mathes gospel and in the .11 . of Luke likewise .

Now surely I am affrayed lest those wordes are to trewe , and lest we shal haue to much experience of the same .

Wel brother Euse . You nede not care , for you are a good Catholyke man , and therefore no harme can happen to you , for the game goeth on your syde . As for me ye know I am halfe suspected and more . And therefore I loke when I shal be called forth corānobis and so to the fyer , a cruell death I tell you .

Wil ye beleue me brother Theophi . As god helpe me I am none of those that desireth the hurt of my neybour , and I tel you truth , I lyke thys religion the worsse for there crueltie . For vndoutedly If the matter were in my hande there shoulde none be put to death except he would obstinatly rebell by commocions , or otherwyse moleste a whole commen wealth , as for hys conscyence let hym discharge that betwene God and hym selfe , he should chose for me , for any trouble I would worke him , for me thinkes it standes not with Charitie . 1. Cor. 1● .

I mistrust you not brother Euse . I know you to wel and like you the better . And in dede sainct Paul sayth : If I had fayth that , I could moue mountaynes out of there places , If I had not loue , I am nothyng . And Chryste hym selfe saieth also : Iohn . 14 by thys shal al men knowe that ye are my disciples , yf ye loue one another , the which loue springeth from a faith vnfained in the promise of god , and causeth good workes to procede , as the frutes come of the buddinges of the tree .

What bee those good workes ye meane ?

Mary callyng vpon the name of the lyuing god , by diligent , feruent , and continual prayer , in watchyng the deuill , that neyther by the lust of thys fleshe neyther yet by ambicion , and coueteousnes , of thys wycked world , or by any other meanes , he should ouercome vs , and subdue vs vnto synne . And therfore as we feel our selues prone , and apte to euil , so stil to mortifie these members of ours , by fastynge , and prayer with such like Godly exercises , to visete and comforte our nedy neybours and so forth .

But I pray you now , doe you speake as you thinke , or els Iest ye with me to see what I wil say ?

Nay , I speake it with my heart , as truly as God lyueth .

Then haue I heard fouell lyes among them that would be accounted honest and wel learned . But seing we haue entred so farre in the matter I praye you certyfye me of the truth in this point , whether it be so or no : that I be not deceaued therin , for the satisfying of my conscyence and for quieting the same , for as for me although I be not of the new learning , yet am I not so addicted to the olde , but that I would be glad to here and reason the matter , to th ende I promyse you I mought helpe to bring loue amonges our selues .

A godly purpose I assure you , but what are those lyes then ye heard of late , I praye you let vs heare them .

Nay soft I sayd not precysely they were lyes , but if that be trew , which you say , then are they lies in dede , but say on I pray you , what was that true tale then :

Syr thys it was tolde me , that you of this new learnyng , dyd boast your selues much of fayth and that onely fayth dyd iustifie : but good workes ye cared not for , neyther regarded at all , neyther prayer nor fastyng nor almes dede wil ye allow , goddes seruice ye despyse and the ministers therof with a thousande lyke , I cannot wel remember all nowe .

I durst lay a wager before hande that thys also was a Priestes tale .

Now surelye it was so in dede , what a Goddes name howe are you so wel acquaynted with Priestes tales ?

Yes I know them wel and theyr master also but brother Eusebius thys is no straunge thynge , for there is no sermon almost in these daies but these tales bee in the pulpet as thicke as hoppes and many lies more to : the which when I heare it maketh my hearte mourne to see their spyte , that they haue no other way to worke their anger vpon vs but with open lies in an open audience and yet the shame would redounde to themselues , if there were any shame in them . For the moste parte of men doe knowe most certenly that they doe lye . If they were of god as they pretende , or if they meant the preseruacion of a common wealth and safegarde of their countrye , they woulde vse another waye of perswasion , they woulde haue charitie before theyr eyes , they would consider the nature of euery man by themselues and doe as they woulde bee done vnto : and I praye you who can suffer hymselfe to be complained of to a whole countrye and to heare false wytnesse broughte agaynste hym , and by thys meanes broughte to loue : no no , this is not to wynne theyr brethren , but euer to prouoke myscheffe , and to set men by the eares . God be merciful vnto vs the pulpet was ordained to speake trueth , to preache peace , and to bryng vnitie among the brethren . And nowe they haue made it a place to sprede lyes , to sowe discorde , and to sette mens hartes on fyer with enuy and malice . I am righte wel assured that if men would deny it , that the stones of the strete would witnes that the preachers in Kyng Edwardes tyme cried out vpon the sinnes of men , and thretned the most extreme damnation , if they repented not and turned not to the Lord in amendement of lyffe , and shewed them also a forehand what would come of oure wicked liuing , which thinges are come to passe , and therfore dyd continually exhort them to repentaunce with the niniuites , and to call vpon the name of the lyuing god in fastyng and sackecloth mourning and weping for the day of gods wrath was at hand , as we haue right wel felte and are like to feale more yet . This was not one mans preaching alone , but al for the most part , and thys ( I say ) If men wil deny the stones of the strete wil witnes the same . And yet al thys not wythstandyng come they into the pulpets and saye : these newe felowes woulde haue no good workes , neyther fastyng , nor prayer , but al libertie , libertie , faith , fayth , and nothing els Oh God what Christen hearte dooeth not euen breake with sorow , to se such slaunderers maintained in a pulpet : But god is a righteous lord and for that we would not be warned in tyme , being so much called vpon , he hath iustly placed vs , with pacience therfore we must beare the crosse til it please him to take it of agayne , there is no remedy , for if we once open our mouthes to reason the matter with them in this case , we must say the crow is whyte or els we goe to the fyer without redempcion , thys is a miserable case .

Ye make me astonyed Theophilus . For howe may it be that they should vse the matter so cruellye , if there were not some great cause ?

I wil tell you Eusebius , I haue heard the preachers in Kyng Edwardes time a mumber of them . And haue red their workes , and if euer I found one sentence that I can remember , that did discourage ani man , & not rather spurre forth euery man to the doing of those good workes aboue rehersed , let god forsake me , & show me no more his fauour & grace . For although we do attrybute our iustificacion to onely fayth , and that by faith only we be iustified , we meane not a dead faith , withoute workes , but a liuing fayth , euen the same fayth sainct Paul speaketh of to the Galathians , Gala. 5. which by loue is mightie in operacyon as the tree therefore is knowen to be liuing by hys budding & bearing of frute : so is the iustifiyng fayth knowen by charitie , out of which charitie , springeth these good workes aboue said which are the very frutes therof . But your Catholyke fathers showe but litell or no charitye , and therfore it should seme they haue but lytell or no fayth . Eusebius your reason is somewhat pithye , but yet I suppose there is somewhat els that moueth thys great contrauersy .

In dede it is trewe , there is another thyng that moueth the matter , and that is the deuil the authour & maintayner of contencion and mischefe , in submittyng our selues where vnto we lose innocency , loue , mekenes , & al other vertues , and in stede therof we fynd pryde , stoutenes , hatred and such like , as for coueteousnes it ouer floweth the whole world .

But wil ye geue me leue ( brother Theophilus ) to say one thyng vnto you , although I know you to be such a man , for youre honesty , as I would desier to leade my life withal for your faithful & trew heart is knowen to them wyth whom you haue to doe , that which thing chefely I haue respect vnto , and I doe beleue that god hath engrafted his grace in the mans hart , which dealeth iustly with men , & liueth quietly among his familiars , specially when it is wel knowen that he wisheth al thinges to be wel . But yet ( ye shal not be offended with me for that I wil say ) there were of your sort , which are called the newe learnynge , many euil men .

It was most trew brother Eusebius and can not be denyed . For there were in hel no veryer deuils than many of them were that professed the gospel , for otherwyse there could haue ben no couler of these lyes , and slaunders that are now spred , as is said before . For it was Iudas that bare the pouche , & it was Iudas that betraied hys master : and many Iudasses in England vnder the pretence of religion robbed both Kynge and realme these iudasses filled their own pouches , & made themselues riche & noble , & they care not who rule so long as they may geat & enioye their possessions .

Well brother Theophilus here are no more but you & I , & I dare be bolde herein to tel you my mind . For I know you vnderstand in it as muche as I , & more to , & I dare say you do with as great a gref behold it & sorow it as any English heart wil doe . I heare say the king of Spayne shal at last be crouned kyng of England , what say you to that :

Alas brother Eusebius what should I say to it : If god haue determyned , who maye wythstande : we muste commyt it to his good pleasure and wyll .

But do you not thynke it a plage ?

Yes verely and an vtter desolacion of Englishe bloud .

Oh lord what meaneth thys ?

I wyll tell you brother Euse . The almightie god hath from the beginning wrytten his wil and law , not in tables of stone onely , neyther in bokes of paper and ynke , but also in the heartes of men , as it is wrytten : I wryte my lawes in theyr heartes , and I wyl be theyr god and they shal be my people . But leste any man should dreame of these lawes and faine other in theyr stede they were written in tabels of stone , and after in bokes of paper and inke , so that to this day they are deuided and knowen from mens lawes . And for our better instruccion herein the onely begotten sonne of God oure Lord Iesus Chryst hath accordyng to the fathers promyse stablyshed and confyrmed a new testament , wherin he hath opened playnely the mysteries of Moyses law and the Prophetes , not to breake them , as the false Phariseis falsly reported of hym , but to fulfyl them in executing thys hys new testament . The which sound doctryne of health , the world alwayes spurned at , as they doe yet to thys daye . And althoughe it were for a tyme suffered here in Englande by the prouidence of god , and most earnestly preached and published , yet was there that spurned at it , and many abused it for there libertie for couetous lucre and such lyke , many warninges we had for both partyes to amende , but it woulde not be , wherfore seeing we woulde not receaue hym but despise hym stil as the Iewes dyd , we shal likewyse be destroyed as they were I se no other remedy .

God be merciful vnto vs , but yet I meruayle that our nobilitie suffereth it .

Why man ye must vnderstande that your catholykes nowe beare the rule , youre prelates of the Churche haue al the doynges of these matters , and ye knowe they hauinge none inheritaunce but for their liues , beyng without wife and children , rather then they would be brought down agayne , as they were in king Edwardes dayes they had rather the Turke had the rule and gouernement therof .

I maye saye to you Theophilus they are shroudly suspected in this matter and I feare me not without good cause . But yet I meruayle of the councellours , who being put in trust with the gouernment and maye let the proceding hereof , what shoulde moue them to consente thereunto :

As I may thynke my selfe assured of you as you of me , and maye as boldely speake also my mynde to you , as you to me , and although faythful frendeship be vtterly banished thys Realme , so that one brother al most cannot trust another , yet frendship lurketh in corners secretely . And I thynke my selfe safe with you brother Eusebius . Your faythfulnes is to me so wel knowe . I wil therfore show you what I coniecture to be the cause of their agrement , a lamentable case it is , and wyth great so row and grefe , must I tel you herein my mind . They be men that be louers of themselues , yet they are so blinded with this self loue , that they neither can foresee the miserable state of theyr country , neither yet their owne destruccion , they dreame as Pope Iulius dyd , who ( as the fabel telleth ) commaunded Sainct Peter to open heauen gates , dreamyng himselfe to be Pope styll . These men dreame that the King of Spaine wil make them alwaye of hys chefe counsel but. &c. They haue been of King Harry the eightes councel , broughte vp of meane men the moste parte . Wherby they should be accompted noble , I know not . For they excell not in learning and knoweledge , they haue showed no greate proues of armes , theyr loue to a common wealth is nowe declared . But they be so infected with ambicion , that loke what pleaseth the affeccion of the Prince pleaseth also them . For in King Henryes daies they were sworne to abolishe the popes supremacy with his vsurped power , yea and they prosecuted the matter earnestly as it appered right wel , for many lost theyr liues for the same . When Kyng Henry was deade , Kyng Edwarde hys sonne by the meanes of hys vncle then Lorde protectour subuerted al the Popes religion , put down masse and altogether , wherewithall they were well contented , and set forewarde the matter withoute any scruple of conscyence , I warrante you . And many goodly lawes they lette make , as wel for the mayntenaunce of that religion , as also for the preseruacion of a commen wealth , and before Kyng Edwarde was fullye dead , they had concluded also with the Duke of Northumberlande , vnder pretence of the stablishing of that religion , and other goodly consideracions as it were to make hym Kyng , contrary to al right , and contrary to all the statutes of parlemente and so woulde haue disheryted the Quene that nowe is , agaynste her fathers wil , agaynst theyr own lawes , agaynst all their othes and promise , and without any iust cause , at that time . And al this notwithstanding , when they sawe how the game would goe : they were contented to serue the Quenes wyll , and nowe haue they sworne backe agayne to the holy father I heare say : now agayne wheras the Quene goeth about not onely to breake her fathers wil and al such lawes & statutes as were made for the preseruacion and safegarde of thys realme , but is also determined of a selfe wyll to brynge England into the subieccion of a foren Prynce , they haue not onely consented and agreed , but are also chefe doers and procurers thereof , for god hath blynded theyr eyes , and theyr vnderstanding , so that they cannot see nor perceaue , their own destruccion , and yet euery child seeth and euery good heart mourneth at it ful heuely .

Now surely Theophilus you haue spoken as trewe as the gospell , for if he be once stablished King , he may without contradiccion furnishe al the fortes in Englande with his owne men , for I would not thinke him wise to trust straungers so muche as his own countre men : when he hath therefore brought the to passe he may at all times bring an army either out of flaunders or spain , the shyppes being also at hys commaundement , and thorow Englande may he goe at hys wyll and pleasure , who wil say hym naye : Alas miserable case .

Nay nay Eusebius he shal nede none army to bryng this matter to passe , for if the Quene liue seuen yeres to an ende , he wyll so vse the matter that Englande shal be easy inough to rule , for marke ye now how fast the gentle men go to the tower , yea and some to hanging also . And ye see the gentlemen for the most part be of this newe learnyng , and therfore ye know vnder pretence of religion there wil be matters Inough to ridde the most part of the nobilite of Englande , and all thys shal we be made to doe within our selues , we shal be inueigled thus to doe one agaynst another by traynes and baites to seake one anothers destruccion , wherunto many are very prest , and al to do the Quene a pleasure . Marke how thys geare commeth to passe , for the Spaniard hath nothing to doe in al this ( as we suppose ) but rather getteth pardons , and showeth great fauour to Englyshe men , but ye may be sure they haue debated thys matter in theyr heades , & in all this they make the Quene serue their turne , and her own fancy also . Now when al these heretike gentlemen be dispatched ( which wyl be the greatest part of the nobilitie of Englande ) then shal there be other inuencyons had for the rest , which shal be easy inough , for they shal be fewe . And thynke you he wil then trust Englishe men for the gouernment of hys kyngedome when he hath so weakened it , and may take the matter in hande ? No for then peraduenture the poore Englishe men maye take a ioye in their heades when they once begyn to feale the smarte , and an Englyshe Lorde wil be deinte at that tyme , and they wyll begynne to loue eche other , when they see howe the game wil goe , and so shewe themselues in their olde lykenes , and so make a foule worke . But I warrant you these men whiche can so compasse the matter to bryng it so farre forth , wil not be ouer sene in thys , of that ye may be sure . And therefore of goe their heades also , let them poynt vpon it , and thus farewel the glory of Englande for euer and a day .

O Lord whether there be no remedy for Englande that it mought be preserued from thys miserye ?

Surelye there is but one and that is a generall repentaunce with the Niniuites fastyng and praying , moste earenestly calling vpon the trew liuing god to haue mercy vpon vs , for his sonne Christes sake , and so leaue enuieng and hating ech other , and seake loue together as it becommeth brethren : this way and none other can I see to escape .

Well god be mercifull vnto vs what shoulde I say , I can not tell ?

Your holy Prelates Eusebius haue preached a great whyle agaynste our pore ministers , and haue layde to their charge that they haue ben great hinderers of a common wealth , and haue marred altogether by there doctrine , in pullyng down Abbeys and Colledges , wyth such like , wherin although they spake agaynste their supersticion , and idle lyfe yet was it not redressed by their aduise , & therefore dyd they continually preache agaynste the coueteous handeling therof , and the euil bestowyng of such treasure , ye they feared not to tell them to their faces of there faultes , so openly and playnelye , as all Englande can ryghte well witnes the same . And yet for all that doe not your Prelates cease to cast them in the teth , as though they mought haue ruled the rost , beholde the fruites of their doctryne say they , for al was coueteousnes , & I can not tel what , but if ye note well the fruite of their doctrine , ye shal perceaue that they haue brought another maner of thyng to passe , the is the destruccion of vs al , the whych thing vndoutedly must nedes come to passe , if god doe not wonderfully worke for our preseruacion , contrary to al mens expectacion , & contrary also to our deseruing , & that shortly , for it is at hand .

Welcome by the grace of god . For euery kingdome deuided within it selfe shal be destroyed I haue learned that lesson , and I shall not forget it as longe as I lyue : but yet I am not fully satisfied of that matter wherof I entended most to reason with you , but now the euening draweth on , & peraduenture I let you from your busines .

In dede myne houre is almost come wherein I promysed to mete a frende of myne . But if it please you to pointe any time to morowe I wil mete you here by Goddes grace . And we wyl haue the matter debated at full .

Syr I praye you hartely let it be to morow after dyner .

Wyth a good wil , fare ye wel

and I pray god geue you his holy spirite to order & rule your goinges , that whatsoeuer ye go about , it maye be to the honour & glory of his name , & to the profit of this commen wealth

I thanke you

with all my hearte , & I pray god it may so come to passe . Amen .