WE haue with our gret harmes longe tried , nothing to be more perilous than wicked follye armed with princely authoritee , Blessed be the heauenly God , moost gracious Mary , we nowe sauour what inestimable good thinge is godly wisedome , coupled with power imperiall . The first nedeth not proffe , for all haue felt , and none can denay : I hother is nowe in vre , that wordes were vaine to declare , where deedes are present plentuouslye to shewe . What glorie hereof riseth vnto youre maiestie , I neither can expresse as I would , nor yet wil as I may , hauing experience of your graces nature , delighted to do the beest in all , and least of al to heare of it againe . Sparing therfore to praise , whom none but the wicked can dispraise , I yet with other can not but reioyce , that so high wisedome , so heauenlye inclination is nowe ( by Gods prouidence ) matched with semblable authoritie of highe gouernaunce : that what Godlye wayes for the maintenaunce of Gods honour , and the wealth of this realme , youre grace of heauenlie inclination hath tofore wished , when ye could not require , of high wisdome hath thought right to be done , when ye lacked might to doo : the same hensfurthe your maiestie ( of right ) may will , and of authoritie commaunde : that where as heretofore vnder men of courage more stoute to doo their wyll , then godlye deuoute to doo thinges wel , the trueth of Gods word , and the zeale of good workes haue detaied : so hereafter , vnder Mary a lady of he auenly simplicitie , the liuely sparke of godly loue may eftsones kindle that was extinct : the bright sterre of Euangelike lighte maye shine , that was obscured : the righte vaine of heauenlye doctrine maye appere , that was stopped vp . If all could that woulde , your highnes shoulde lacke no helping handes to further youre maiesties godlye purposes . Amongest them that haue muche good wyll , and litle power , I haue alwayes claimed to be one , and nowe for maintenaunce of that claime , I do moost humbly beseche your highnes to accepte this litle worke , whiche presently I present vnto your grace , that beinge accepted and authorised by your highnes , it mighte finde fauoure with other , that can not but like what your wisedome hath not mislyked .

IN this newe and miraculous raign of mercifull Mary our newe and mooste lawefull Quene & gouernesse , wherin we see so many good olde orders newely restored , and so many new erronious nouelties antiquated and made olde , I haue had a vehement desire ( dere brethren ) to exhibite vnto you some newe gifte and token , therby to witnesse the great gladnes newly engendred in my harte of so many newe occasions . And emongest all other giftes that myght commende the gyuer , and aduauntage the receyuer , I finde none either fitter for me to geue , or better for you to receiue , or more agreable for thys presente tyme , then if I should renewe some old treasure , and present you with some auncient Iewel , the vse wherof might bothe increase knowledge in you to discerne the worthye value of olde and auncient Iewelles of late daies not regarded , and expell also from you blind & grosse ignoraunce , to the vtter defacinge of suche newe fantasticall pelfrie & counterfaite trashe , as latelye haue been estemed . I am muche deceiued , but I haue founde suche a Iewell for you , as for the findinge I myght haue prayse , and you pleasure in hauinge : for the gyuinge I might deserue commendation , & you receaue consolation in the vsinge of it . For what pleasure without Christ , what consolation canne be had without the trueth of his heauenlye worde ? There is one onely waye to Thriste , one onely meane to the trueth of his word . This way who euer hath trased , neuer missed Christe . Thys meane who euer hathe obserued was neuer seduced by falshode . This waie to Christ , this meane to trueth , is the gifte , whiche I purpose in this newe face of so newe and happye worlde to gyue you . It is a Iewell soo muche worth , as your soules health is worth . It is a treasure of so muche value and efficacie , as wherwith God is pleased , and heauen wonne . It is a talet of such speciall propertie , as neither time can diminishe , nor violence deface , nor vse weare it . Thys waye to Christe , this meane to trueth , is by a generall name called , Ecclesia catholica , the catholyke Churche : whiche is our mother , & we her children . Without this mother , as there is no waye to heauen where Christ is ( Porta emm coeli est , Gene xxviii . for she is the gate of heauen , wherby we must entre to Christe ) so is there no trueth , i. Cimo .iii. but what she alloweth . Columna enim & firmamentu veritatis est . For she is the piller and foundation of trueth . None canne sucke the sweete mylke of Christe his comfortable word , but from her pappes . August . in erpositione epistole Ioannis apostoli . q̄ ca●atu .iii. Mater enim est , cuius vbera sunt duo testamenta . For she is our mother , whose twoo brestes are the .ii. testamentes of God . Wherfore to knowe her , is to knowe Christe and trueth . Betwene whiche there is no more difference , then is betwixte the head and the bodye , the spouse and the spousesse : which as they are by a necessarie band of vnitie knitte together , so Christ , trueth , & the church are inseparatly conioyned . For neither canne Christe be without trueth , nor trueth without the churche , with whom God the holy ghost doeth communicate al truth . Wherfore to th end you shal not hensforth misse of Christ , ●e mistake his trueth , I haue geuen you a worthy worke in your naturall language of famous Vincent , priect somtime of Lyryn , which he penned aboue a .xi. T. yeres agone in the Latin tonge : wherein you shall finde the true and liuely image of this churche , and also most certayne & vnfallible rules , wherby to discerne all cloked falshode from the simple trueth : diabolike sophistrie from Euangelike doctrine . I haue geuen you this Iewell of a great zeale and affection : doe not you receaue it vnthankefully . How be it I grate not thankes for the geuinge , but onely acceptation of the gifte . And howe worthye it is to be accepted , howe necessarie to be had , you shall soner vnderstande by the vse therof , than I by words can expresse . Accept it therfore , for it is worthy , and follow the counsell thereof , for it is necessarye . What more necessary can be geuen the siche , then soueraigne medicine , whereby he maye be recouered ? What more necessary can be geuen the worldling , being in daunger to perishe , then to directe him in the wat to heauen , wher he may be saued ? What more necessarye for the drowned in sinne , whiche bringeth bondage , then to trace him to grace , that might sette him free ? What more necessary can be geuen him , whom the fleshe ruleth , the cause of corruption , then to acquaint him with the heauenly spirite , the cause of sanctification ? What more necessary canne be geuen him that is nouseled in ignoraunce , whiche made him blinde , then to instructe him with knowledge , whereby he may see ? What more necessarye to be geuen him that is smolthered in heresye , which hilleth , then to shew him the true religion , wherby he may reuiue ? Al these malavies , grieffes , soores , and diseases in you , Vincent , yea rather God that heauenlye Phisition by the ministerie of this holy Vincent shal remedie and cure , whilesthe shal eftsones settle you in the sure lappe of our mother the catholike churche , the comfortable leche of all infirmities , the necessary nourse of al weakelynges , the most surest hauen for all stormebeaten to ariue vnto . O dere brethren & frendes it muche pitieth me , and I trust it nowe repeuteth you also , to consider how euyl you haue ben of late taught , howe vnnaturally you have been intreated , synce ye lefte this good and louing mother : howe manye diseases and infirmities haue growen vpon you synce your departing from this comfortable leche : howe owgle & carren leaue ye are to see , synce you chaunged this necessary nourse : with how great tempestuous stormes you haue ben beaten , synce you first did loose from this faithfull hauen . Wo worth that false harlet that hathe deceaued you , I meane that malignaunt and cursed church . It is she , that by her flatteringe meanes and deceatefull allurementes hath intised you to come from so swete & amiable mothers lappe , into her whorishe armes : from church to church , I graunt , but not from like to like . From an heauenly church , to a malignaunt church , from a louinge mother to a flatteryng harlote . From the condition of grace , to the state of perdition . From the vnitie of christians , to diuision of Nerelikes . From the light of pure knowledge , to the darkenes of foule ignoraunce .

From the trueth of antiquitie , to the falshode of nouelties . From faythfull beleuyng , to carnall reasonyng . From sauing Christ , to deceyuing Antichrist . Thus they agree together , that in all thinges they be vtterlye vulike . The one is of God , and ledeth to Christ and trueth . Thother is of the deuyll , and leadeth to Antichrist and heresie . The one grounded in fay the subdueth reason , thother ledde by reason confoundeth faith . The one beleueth reuerentlye what reason can not comprehende , thother impudently alledgeth reason faith to reprehende . Betwene them ther is no amitie , no semblaunce , no agrement , no felow ship : but continual war one against another . Nowbeit for asmuch as no vntrueth can deceaue , but by colour of trueth : no hereticall poison can beguyle , but when it is geuen in fourme of medicine , therefore thys whorish churche laboureth by al meanes to resemble in vtter shewe and countenaunce thother good churche : the rather to seduce the improuident , when her falshode is cloked : the soner to catche the simple , when her hooke is couered . And this is the matter , why diuers haue been so greatlye deceaued of late , and diuers againe wil be hereafter , if vpon this warning thei watch not , and by other menues harmes they beware not . For although this harlot , this deuillishe Syuagege , purposeth nothinge els , but to incororate you to the deuyll Antichrist , yet hath she euer more in her mouthe Christe , Christe . Though she only laboreth to tumble you headlong into hell both body and soule , yet doth the continually babble of heauen : though she teacheth nothing but heresy to ouerthrow the ghospel , yet her tongue runneth stil of the ghospell , as thoughe shee hated heresye . Thoughe she be whollye of the deuyll and nothing of Christ , yet she pretendeth great familiaritie to Christ oulie , as thoughe she knewe not the deuyll . Thoughe shee lacke no crafte to subuert trueth , yet trueth , trueth , is euer her word , as though she lacked crafte . O malicious harlot . O deceauable feinde . O cruel stepdame . Come home come home , gentle brethren , to youre louing and tender mothers lay , whiche hath fostered you from your youthe , and leaue the armes of that cruelstepmother , whiche will not leaue , if you leaue not , till she hath strangled you . Come home to this leache , that shee maye heale you of your foule leprie , wherwith this feinde hath ifected you . Come home to this swete nourse , that you maye sucke from her brestes the holsome foode of your soules healthe , and comforte : and leaue the stinkinge carren wherewith this whore feedeth you . Come home , I say , to thys calme and quiet port , where you shall finde reste and tranquillitie of conscience , whiche the deuyll coutinually tosseth and tumbleth in restles paynes with the tempestuous stormes of hereticall nouelties . Who is our mother ? Wher is our home ? No doubt the vniuersall church is our mother , her lappe is our home . If you be not ther at home , you can not be at home with God . If you acknowledge not her to be your mother , you may not acknowledge God to be your father . To this mother , Mary the mother of her countrye calleth you . To thys home Vincent wyll leade you euen by the hande as it were . If you be not at home with this mother , there can be no health in you , but all diseases : there can bee no knowledge in you , but al ignoraunce : there can be no hoope of lyfe lefte in you , but assurednes of deathe . Yea , ye can not be of God , but of the deuyl . Qui matrem ecclesiam relinquit , August . in sym bolo ad Catechumenod . Libro . mi. cap. r. quomodo est in Christo , qui in membris eius non est ? Quomode est in Christo , qni in corpore Christi non est ?

Ne that leaueth his mother the church ( sayeth S. Austen ) howe may he be of Christ , whiche is not of his membres ? Nowe maye he be in Christ , whiche is not in the bodie of Christ ? The bodie of Christ is the churche . If you wil be healthfull , come home and haue it : If you couet knowledge , come home and sucke it at your mothers brestes , in forme and maner , as it shall please her and not you . If you wil haue life , come home & bide at home with our louinge mother , where deathe ne hell can preuail against you . If you wil be of god , come home and be incorporate into the bodie of God and man Iesus Christe : and then the deuil shall haue no power ouer you . Do thus and you shall be assured to inherite heauen , where that wicked harlot and her hareheades shal neuer come . you shal doubtlesse possesse the celestiall Paradise , which that wicked maistres and her minstrelles can neuer entre . You shall receiue eternite , which that hereticall churche and her chyckines shall neuer haue . Their disobedience and false beleife shal tomble them together into hel : your true obedience and faieth shall mounte you to heauen . They as vnfaithfull rebelles shal be destitute of all heauenlie grace , you as obedient and faithfull children shal be supported with the maiestie of Angels . For them euerlasting tormentes are appointed , for you heauenlye ioyes preparedeuer to endure . Thei shal perishe wicked with the wicked , you shall raigne sanctified with saintes . I feare not but you that are at home wiltarie at home , for feare of so many daungers : and I mistrust not but you that are from home wyll make hast homeward , allured with so many benefites : There is no doubte , if cloked crafte begile you not , if flattering fawninge of that deceiteful auoutresse hold you not , but that you wyll make spede ( as I said ) to come home againe that haue straied from home so longe . But as at home with our mother there is no lacke of trueth , so that harlot our cruell stepmother lacketh no crafte to entrap and entangle you , no falshood , no flatteringe to allure and intice you . Come vnto me ( saith she ) for here is Christ , here is health , here is saluacion . Thus the Ape can ruffle in purple : thus the Asse can strowt in the Lyons skynne , thus the iarringe Iaye canne counterfeicte the pleasaunt note of the nightingale . But beware brethren , be not deceaued . It is and euer hath been the practise of the deuill and his ministers by coulor of trueth to perswade falshood , vnder the cloke of good to bringe in al euil . Our true mother the true church is but one , & in all respectes but one only : one in one vniforme vse of one Baptisme & sacramentes , one faith , one spirite . This mother , is not a mother of a fewe , but of many : her power is not particular , but vniuersall : as she is extended through all the foure partes of the earth , & her glorie diffused in the whole world . For of her it is saied : Dabo tibi gentes haereditatem tuam , & possessionem tuam terminos terrae . I wyll giue the nations thine inheritaunce and the extremities of the earthe shal be thy possession . This our mother the true churche hateth not light , loueth not to lurke in corners , where she maye not be seene : but as her power hath euer more been vniuersall , so vniuersally she hath been at all tymes aperte , plaine , and manifest . For how can she be obscure and hidden ( saith fainte Austen ) Quae obtinuit omnes gentes , & is that citie of whiche it is spoken : Non potest abscondi ciuitas super montem constituta . The citie cannot be hid which is set vppon a mountaine . Our lorde hath set hys tabernacle in the sonne , saith the propher : his tabernacle is our mother , the catholike church saith S. Austen , which is set in the bright sonne & not in the darke shade : whiche walketh openly by daye , and not preuilye by night . Whose aduersarie the hereticall churche , is of a contrary nature . For she neither is vniuersall , nor at all tymes , but at some certaine time , and in some one certaine place . And againe she goeth and commeth preuilie , and in her doinges there is no vnitie , no certeintie at all . Her ministers are diuided , now they dreme one thinge , & nowe an other : this daye they like , to morowe they mislike : one is against an other of them , euen in the highest mysteries of Christ his religion , Who list to considre their writinges shall proue true that I saie . Howe be it experience of their doinges , without readinge of their bookes , mighte perswade vs of Englande what thei were , and wherehence they be , that yeres past haue been preachers and teachers here amongest vs : that haue persecuted our true mother the vniuersall churche of Christ : and haue set vp their lorde Antichriste , and his hereticall churche . What orders , what forme of religion haue they set furth sins their firste raigne , that shortly after they altered not ? Whiche three of them amougest them all , that agreed together in their matters ? No marueill , for the deuill is their chiefe head , whom they serue : and he is full of lyes , variaunce , diuision , and discorde . And vnder him their scholemaisters were , Hus , Luther , Zuinglius , Decolampadius , Bucer , Melanethon , Tindall , Frythe , whiche in their doctrine agree not one with an other . Such maisters , suche scholers come of them . And this diuision , this vnconstancie of doctrine , was a manifest token that they were not the children of oure true mother the catholike churche , nor ministers of Christ , but the children of the deuill and ministers of Antichrist : yea very Autichristes . For who soeuer saith S. Austen is gone from the vnitie of the catholike churche , he is become Antichrist . Those Antichristes haue borne a great stroke here nowe to longe time in Englande , in whom was no constancie , no staye , no stedfastues of religion and doctrine . Howebeit thei al agreed wel in some thinges . They all woulde be as proude , as headdy , as false and suttle , as the deuill their father , wherhence they came . They al would haue wyues , longe berdes , and finally no olde trueth , or fashions : but all newe knackes and fansies , as their scholemaisters lyked , Bucer . &c. of whom they were taught . Yet woulde they bere vs in haud the they wer catholike christians . But howe can ye be catholike christiaus ( saith sainte Austen in his treatise vpon sainte Iohn his Epistle ) that do not communicate and agre to the vnitie of doctrine and faith , whiche is receiued and vsed through all christianitie ? They woulde be counted true preachers of the Gospell , Prophetes , and Apostles : yet none of them can saye as Paule the Apostle saied . Our exhortacion was not to bringe you to error , nor to vncieanes , neither was it with gyle : our conuersation was not at any time with flatteringe wordes , neither in cloked couetousnes , neither sought we praise of men . Ye are witnes and so is God , howe holy and iustly and vnblameable we haue behaued our selues emouge you . This said S. Paule . What can our new Apostles say ? Out of all doubte the verie contrarie , as truly as euer S. Paule said the other . But for feare of Hypocrisie they dyd all their good workes in corners , that men might not se them . Yet Christ said : Let your lyght shine before men , that they may se your good workes . But thoughe they were not men of manye good workes , yet had they many pretie Aualities , though I saie it . For I may lyken them well to the beast called Camelopacdus : chiche being but one , resembleth yet many beastes , as by hys necke , the horse : by his feete , the oxe : by his head , the Camell : by his spottes in his skinne , the Tygre . So these late preachers in their stoute countenaunce , they seemed warriers : in their lighte apparell , courtiers : in their familiar talke , rybawdes : in their gesture , wantons : in their liuinge , ryotous : in the pulpyt , lying preachers : in their bokes , spiteful railers . If they haue not been suche as I report them , then showe me what they were , and howe muche ye that haue been their disciples and schoters haue profited vnder them , and by their example in godlynes of lyfe , in honestie of behauiour , in charitie towardes your neighbours , sins ye first went from your mother the church , & left the auncient orders and customes of religion , and became gaye Gospellers after the gyse of your newe teachers ? Beholde your selues in the glasse of your owne consciences , & tel me trueth . Ye say , that they were godly teachers , and that through them ye haue attayned to a great knowledge of Goddes word . The more knowledge ye haue the more godly ye ware of lyfe . For wher the true knowledge of Gods worde is , ther is the true spirite of God , which euermore sterreth & moueth man to liue wel , according to his knowledge , & the pleasure of God , whose knowledge he doth professe . But in Englande I am perfecte & none of you can sai nay , & saie truth : but that ye haue growen in al wickednes , as ye haue growen in this newe religion , in somuche that there was neuer suche vnthriftines in seruauntes , suche vnnaturalnes in children , suche vnrulines in subiectes , suche feircenes in enemies , suche vnfaithfulnes in frendes , againe suche beastlynes of myndes , such disdainfulnes in hartes , finally such falshood in promises , such deceitfulnes in bargaines , suche gredy extortion , such insatiable couetousnes , such itollerable pride , as therfore ye are become a fable amongest al nations . How saye ye , is not this true ? whiche of you can denaie it ? And be these the fruites of true knowledge ? yea , do not these behauiours and vngodlye maners of you , declare manifestlie that ye haue of late yeres geuen your selues rather to errors , then to trueth : rather to haue forsaken the catholike and pure faieth of our mother the true churche , and folowed the fonde fansies of a fewe vngodly and false teachers , to the highe displeasure of God ? Will God thinke ye reforme his churche if they were in error , or call his people to knowledge if they had been in ignoraunce , by the ministers of the deuil , by the preachers of Antichrist ? Or can ye sai that thei be the ministers of God , that liue so vngodlye : that they be the preachers of righteousnes , whose dedes are so full of vnrighteousnes : that in comparison of them , other whom ye called papistes might be saintes for the honestie of their liuinge , and sobre behauiours , as ye your selues haue saied many times euen in my hearing ? Be not these worthie Prelates , to be folowed ? haue ye done a noble fete trowe ye , to forsake the vniuersall vnitie of all christianitie , to be at defiaunce with your louing mother the catholike churche , whiche hath fostred you from your infancie , and without whose help , furtheraunce , and succour , ye cannot be saued : for to folow suche blinde guides , suche grosse maisters , as whose doctrine hathe brought you in errors , to the high displeasure of God : whose example of vnclene lyuinge hathe ledde you into all wickednes , to your great ignominie , shame and rebuke with all godly people ? what good haue they done in this realme , either by their preachinge in wordes : or with their teaching by example ? Haue thei not broken many good and godlye ordinaunces , and set vppe none ? Haue they not caused for greate concorde and vnitie , great tumult and rebellious sedition ? for godly fastinge , ryotous feasting ? for deuout praiyng , peuishe prating ? for due obedience , vnlawfull libertie ? for peace , Gods plentie , and inough : warre , dearth & famine more then inough ? I write and wepe in my harte to considre , what maye be writen of the wretched condition and state that our countrie hath been in of late yeres . Which of you al , yea which of your preachers , ( whose light should shine that the worlde shoulde see it ) which of them I saie , hath not been as redye as the worst disposed of you all , to eate vpon good friday or any other vigill daye , as soone the Pigge as the Pikerel , the Capon , as the Carpe : the Chykin as the Cheuen ? Notwithstanding the Magistrates of this realme commaunded , the wisedome of the whole worlde thought necessarie , the vniuersall consent of Christ his churche prescribed the contrary . What seruaunt for the most parte hath any of you all , that loketh not to haue his brekefast , his dyner , and his supper , as well vpon Christmas eue , as any other daye , or els ye must prouide a newe seruaunt ? Who can blame them ? Are thei not as they haue been vsed ? Rather then ye would obserue the ordre of fasting prescribed by the churche , ye woulde not stick at the beginning to giue your seruauntes one meale more on the fasting daye , then ye woulde on any other day . And where ye would other dayes feede them with milke , butter & cheese only , on the fasting daie , they should be sure to haue fleshe . Yea and thought it a glorie when ye had so done , that ye had so well reformed your householde , from that popishe fast : calling all thinges popishe that was godly . But what haue ye gotten hereby ? Surely ye had neuer so lytle good seruice , and yet ye neuer paide more for it then nowe . Ye had neuer such disobedient seruantes , and yet ye neuer cherished them better then nowe . Why so ? Before they were better taught then fedde , and of late they haue been full fed and ill taught : Then were they obedient , trustie and diligent , as thei were taught : and now be they disobedient , slouthful , and vntrustie , as thei be fedde : then were thei well taught workers , and nowe ill fed porkers : then had ye diligent laborers , and now ye haue negligent loyterers . I speake as I heare your selues saye that haue them . Well , will ye haue a remedy ? Then begin where ye left : teach them better and feede them lesse . And for praying , how it hath decaied , which of you cannot beare witnesse ? Finallye what kinde of wickednes is there that ye haue not aboue other , and what one vertue is there , that ye haue not lesse then other , that professe the contrarie religion to you ? One demaunded of kinge Agesilans what fruit and benefite the lawes that Lycurgus made had brought vnto the Citie of Spart : marie quod he , Contemptum vitiorum , that is , the contempte of vices . But whoo shoulde require of me what fruit the innouation of religion hath brought into this realme of Englande , I muste nedes saye as I knowe , Contemptum virtutum , the contempte of vertues and al godly liuing . If it be true knowledge , that ye bragge your selues to haue of Gods worde : came ye not to it by the spirite of God ? And doth the spirite of God increase knowledge in you , and decrease godlines that shoulde be in you according to your knowledge ? Is godlie zeale , is the feare of God , is holynes of life , is charitee towardes your neighbours wrought in your hartes without the knowledge of Christe his true religion , or els with the knowledge therof ? If it be in the right knowledge of worshippinge God , then of necessitie must ye confesse that before this innouation you were in better state of knowledge , because your liues were then more agreable to knowledge : and that sins , ye haue been erroniouslye taught and deuillishelye seduced , because your dedes & doinges haue euer sins been more and more vngodly and deuillishe . For God did neuer begin to plante a doctrine vnknowen tofore , or renewe a doctrine afore neglected , and forgotten : but by suche as were godly and vnspotted , as in dede expressed the strength and vertue of their doctrine , in their life and behauiours . For as S. Ambrose saith , the wordes of teaching do vehementlie moue the hartes of the hearers , when the life of the teacher is not dissonant . Then is the authoritie of the preacher firme , sure , & alewable , when he clencheth his sayinges in the mindes of the hearers with the efficatie of godly workes . For the iuste man in his worde and dede is alowed in his sayinges , this is required in all preachers and teachers commonlie , howe much more is it requisite in them that will preache and teache a newe vnknowen doctrine ? and woulde repell and olde knowen and well grounded religion , to plant some newe fangled inuention ? If thei were moued by God , then no doubte God woulde also inspire them to doo it orderlie , that is , accordinge as him selfe did , and required other to doe . He him selfe ( as is reported of him ) Caepit faeere & docere . Began first to doe , and then to teach . And he instructing his preachers : said who soeuer breaketh one of these least commaundementes , and so teacheth other , he shal be called the least in the kingdome of heauen : but whosoeuer obserueth & teacheth the same shal be called great in the kingdome of God . And S. Paule the worthie preacher of Christe his trueth , dothe testifie of him selfe . I doe chasten my bodie ( saith he ) and bringe it into subiection , least peraduenture while I preache to other , I my selfe be made a reprobate . Surely if God woulde innouate or alter the religion so longe receiued , by reprobate men : then is he not the same that he was , nor one with his promise . For when he first began to plant the doctrine of his sonne Christ , he chose such ministers and preachers therof , as for integritie of life , and also for diuers miracles ( effectuall persuasions of anye thinge that they shoulde teache ) were notable through all the worlde . But our holy preachers beginning to plant a newe religion , or ( as they saye ) renewe an olde doctrine this .xv. C. yeres neglected , lacke both . Thei haue neither good conditions to authorise , ne miracles to confirme their sayinges . O , you will say vnto me , though they liued not accordinglye , yet was their teachinge good . I saie they taughte naughtie & false doctrine . How proue I that ? because it is contrarie to the faith receiued and taught by our mother the vniuersall churche . But they brought the scriptures for them ye wil fai. Yea so did the deuil , so did Arreus , Donate , Sabellius , and as many heretikes as euer were , to maintaine their doctrine , yet was their doctrine hereticall , and blasphemous : and the scripture true and moost true . But thei alleged the Doctours , and Fathers vppon the scriptures . They did in dede , but in like sort and maner as diuers were noted to allege Homers verses . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hedles , & endles , for whatsoeuer they founde in any of the fathers workes , that mighte in any respecte seeme in apparaunce to mainteine their errors : the same wolde thei continuallie chat and charme on , allthoughe in dede it made either against them and their errouious doctrine : or at least , nothinge with them , if they had well waied their workes throughlye as they did not . But they were snatchers and patchers only , and only snatched here and there a piece to patche vp a botching mater . I mighte well liken them to Apes for diuers qualities that were in them , for as the Ape being neither apt to kepe that house , as doth the mastie cur , nor fitte to bere burthen , as can the hors : nor meete to turne and till the grounde , as can the Oxe : she only flattereth , she only moueth vs to laughter and pleasure , and with her folishe mockes and mowes maketh vs pleasaunt and merie . So these newe fangled preachers , for as much as thei had not the grace neither to kepe home with their mother , the vniuersall churche : and with her to watch and kepe the wardes that her enemies assaulte her not , neither to turne & till the grounde of mans soule , that it might be apt to receiue that good feéde of whete , whiche their mother woulde haue sowen : neither yet paciontlie to bere the burthen and loode of her motherlie correction , by fastinge and praiyng , and to suffre the crosse of her spouse Christe , which she would haue leide vpon their showlders : being vnfitte ( I saye ) and vnprofitable membres to these good purposes and vses . they became ministers of pleasure , libertie , lyeence and ease , and they themselues knowrle dope in them all . Whose onlie purpose was as Trasmus well noteth in his epistle to Bylibaldus , Census , & vxor , thryuing and wyuing . ergo in this point they be apishe . Againe when so euer they toke vpon them the handlinge of any good and weightie matter , their handling of it was apishelie : for either thei woulde rent and teare it into peices , and make it nought worth , orels by wrasting and wrething of it , they woulde force the same to mainteine their principall intente ( wyuinge and thriuynge ) and this is apishe . Further as of euill commeth good many times , so of them came some good also . For we reade that the wantonnes , plaie , and pastime that the Ape maketh , driueth away the Agew from the Lyon . In like sort the foly , the lyceutious libertie of these new fangled preachers haue driuen awaie the carelesse securitie from the catholike sort , and haue been occasion that they haue giuen them selues more earnestlie to watche and warde for their mothers right , whiche tofore liued as careles without feare of enemies : and here in thei were as profitable to the catholike , as Apes to the Lyon . Thus thoughe they woulde not abide to be papishe , yet were thei stil apishe . Thei haue lost but one letter of the name , but they lacke an hundreth good conditions of them , that be so named . They will say here vnto me , now ye talke at pleasure of vs : but all this while why haue not you amongest you confuted by argument and learning our doctrine , if it were so euill ? I saie vnto them , what nede any of vs to confute your doctrine by argument , whiche the vniuersall church of Christ by consent , hath long ago condempued for heresie ? Tushe they will say againe , you could say nothing against it . How know ye that , that when we speake you will not vnderstand vs , or els your selues haue so many wordes , that ye will neither vouchesafe vs time to speake , nor your selues leisure to here . Ye are so ful of wordes that ye cannot abide vs to speake , and soo full of malice , that ye will not sauer of it , if it sounde contrarie to your opinion . Ye are made like Porticus in Olympia , which was called Septiuoca , hauing seuen voyces or seuen soundes , because for one voice it woulde giue many . Soo , you were made Septiuoci for one worde you will haue the tellinge of seuen score or els the sprite woulde fume and be in a greate heate : howe be it , manye times and often we haue confuted your doctrine , although you hetherto were not coufuted , which coulde not be , for two causes : the one was because you were become heretikes , which will neuer be perswaded against their conceiued opinion , as Lucifer the heretike confessed of his disciples to S. Hierom. Vnum ribi confiteor quia mores meorum apprime nom , facilius cos vinci posso quàm persuaderi . I confesse this one thing to the , for asmuche as I do so well knowe the nature of my disciples , that to dye for , they will not be perswaded , rather will they by violent compulsion be vanquished . Next because ye are apishe as I say . For as the Ape whippeth here and there , and neuer staiethe in one place , lykewise pour custome and maner is , so to sterte and whippe from place to place , from matter to matter , from texte to texte , that it is not possible to preuaile against you in resoninge . It is an olde saying & some what to true , Frensie , Heresie & Gelosie after that they haue ones crepte into man , they will neuer lightlie out of him againe . Blame me not if I be some what quicke . Youre quicke spede heretofore requireth no lesse hast , Yet am I not so quicke to touch you for your euil doinges , which deserue no fauor , as ye haue been ouer hastie here afore to depraue vs for such matters as were worthye praise and commendation . If ye haue taken pleasure in deprauing vs , that offended not take not nowe displeasure , to be reproued , for that ye haue offended : ye haue many times spoke what ye ought not , and nowe nomaruell , if ye heare what ye woulde not . Who hath not bothe sene and hard in booke , balet and plaie your spurning and kycking , your croing and cryinge , your barkinge and bitinge against the faiethfull beliuers and catholike preachers ? and why ? forsothe for two causes . Let Diogenes tell the first and I will not sticke to tel the nexte , One asked Diogenes what was the cause , that some men woulde rather giue their almes to the creplte and lazar then to a Philosopher , marye quod he , because they hope soner to be a creple or lazar then to be a Philosopher , that is , a louer of wisedome & truethe . Nowe why haue ye so vehemently inueighed against the true preachers of Christ , and the trueth of hys spousesse our mother the churche , and haue extolled the false ministers of Antichrist and the ministrie of his harlot the malignant churche ? Speake Diogenes , speake . It is , because they soner hoope to be still the false ministers of Antichriste , then at any time the faithfull preachers of Christ : soner to go to dwell in hell with the deuill for heresye : then to raigne in heauen with god , for true religion . Wel saide Diogenes , and by promise I must tell the nexte cause . I haue readde of an vnskilfull Painter , who hauinge painted on a time in a table home lie and verie euill fauoredly , a companie of croinge cockes , and beinge preuie of his owne ignoraunce , he commaunded his hoye to driue out al the pultry out of the house and that in no wise any liuelye Cocke shoulde come night the place , where the table with his painted cockes stode , least the beholder or byer by comparison and collation of them together , might esely deprehende the grosse and rude ignoraunce of the Painter , and so hinder the vttraunce of his ware . So , beware saide our preachers beware of these papistes , beware of their Sophistrie , harken not to them . Kepe not companie with them . Trie , fye on them and let them go . Wherfore ? The painter hath told the cause . They were priuie of their owne wicked ignoraunce . For they feared , & I am out of doubte , that if ye had truely conferred their doctrine and liues with the doctrine and liues of the other good and godlye teachers , whiche they called papistes : if ye had quietly and diligently with indifferencie of minde wayed well what they haue either saied in pulpit or writen in bookes : ye had longe agone perceiued the blinde and grosse ignorance of your guydes , Ye had eslie found out their treacherie , crafte and falshood : ye had soone tried that al their gaie painted wart , was but bumling and fumbling peltrie , and not ( as they made you beleue ) faithfull religion , but deceitful delusion , not wittie writing , but wyly wresting of well written trueth , not truethfull preching , but rutheful brekinge of all christian ordres , not right reformacion of thinges amisse , but denellishe deformation of thinges that were well , & to be short not repairing , but impairing of the catholike fayth . Alas most deere countremen that euer ye should be somuch bewitched by that deuelishe harlot that for her whigge & whay ye should thus leaue the nourishinge milke of your louinge mothers brestes , for the durtie poudle of her vncleane pittes whiche bringeth death , ye shoulde forsake the cleane fountaine and well of your mother , where he●s springeth the water of lyfe . O alas dere frendes ye haue greatly hasarded the wealth of your soules , ye haue heaped the burninge coles of vengeaunce vpon your owne headdes : ye haue vtterly cast your selues awaye for euer , to be tormented body & soule amongest the foule deuelles of hell in fire euerlasting , if vpon this callinge ye repent not , and make hast homewarde into the bosome of your louinge mother . Ye haue ben often called , and fewe of you haue regarded . What pituous plages , what meruelous miseries , haue not you sene and moost of you felt , sins ye left the vnitie of the vniuersal church ? And were they not all as Prophetes sent amongest you to put you in remembraunce that ye were from home , that ye were out of the fauor of god ? What desperation hathe there been amonge you ? howe manye of you nowe of late yeres , haue died desperate of Goddes mercie ? howe many haue caste awaye themselues with their owne violente handes ? And was not all this suffered to let you vnderstand , that ye were become disobedient children to your good mother ? that ye were no longer membres of that liuely bodie ? can the childe despaire of the fathers mercie , as longe as he is obedient to the mother ? Can he despaire to be saued by Christ , that is a membre of his bodie ? no , no. Thus mercifullye by diuers meanes GOD bouchesafed to call you home againe into his dere spousesse lappe , into your tender mothers armes . But it hath not moued your stonie and stouborne hartes . Nowe againe of his mesureles mercy he calleth you . And out of doubt this is the laste call , this is the laste sounde of the trumpet . If ye come not nowe home at this call , it is to be feared , least he will exclude you out for euer , and you that would not come vpon so many callinges , shal be bidden goe at one commaundement Maledicti in ignem aternum , accursed into fire euerlasting . Ye haue been called diuersly by diuers and maruelous plages , and yet ye come not . Nowe last of all he calleth you by a more gentle meane , by his true elect Marye our most noble and godly Quene . Whom his inscrutable prouidence hathe preserued of a speciall purpose no doubte , that by her he might restore his true churche , of late yeres miserably vexed . And by her last of all , call you home into the folde , that haue longe straied as loost sheepe . She remembringe therfore whose ministresse she is , doeth not slacke to execute her office . Clamat virgo , Angli , surgite , sponsus adest . The faithful and heauenlie virgin crieth earnestlye vnto you , O my louinge subictes of Englande , O dere beloued people , arise arise , come & accompany the spousesse of Christ our louing mother , for the spouse commeth . If ye be not of her traine , if ye be not of her familie , the Spouse will not knowe you : the Spouse Christe will not admit you where he hath to doe . If ye be not one with the spousesse , the spouse & you must nedes be two . The spouse and the spousesse shal be one in heauen , you and the deuil shalde one in hell . Wherfore arise , arise I sai . Come home come home . ytare so louingly called . Who calleth you ? god calleth you . Whose vengeaunce you cannot escape , if you come not , if this last call bringe you not home . Your creatour calleth you , whose wilis to saue what he hath made . The lord of mercie calleth you , who by so many waies letteth not to seeke the lost shepe , in whose recouerie he more reioyseth , then in the hauitige of ninetie and nyne .