The seconde baly , that muste answere for hym selfe and for other , is he that hathe the rule of any Realme , prouince , shyre or countreyes , as Kynges . Princes , Maires , Shireffes and Iustices , and these shall also aunswere to thre questions , the fyrste howe hast thou entred in thy offyce . w●●ther to profytte the people to destroye fa●shed , & further trueth , or for desyre to obtayne therby , worldlye worshyp and richesse , yf thou take suche an office more for thyne owne worldely profyt , then for to helye the commune welthe , thou arte none of the perfecte members of the churche , but arte a tiraunt . And it is to be feared lest there be manye that desyre suche estate . Some that they may be enhaficed with ryches , and some that they myghte the rather oppresse suche as they hate , and some be inhaunced in takinge gyftes , wherby they spare to punysshe , those that haue trespassed , and so make them perteyners of their synnes and for brib●s they worke all thinges . And many such , when they be so high in offyce , thynk not that they be poore mens sonnes bretherne and seruauntes to the defence of the comens but thynke them selfe to be of a hygher kynde of nature , as they be auaunced to worldlye , honoure , whiche is but wynde and vanitie , Ose. 8. Of whome saieth god by the prophet . They haue raigned , but not by me . They haue ben princes but I know them not . So was Roboam kynge Salomons sonne . 2. par. 10 when he was fyrst kynge , auaunced in his h●rte , when the people of Israell came to hym and sayde , Thy father in hy● last a dayes , putte vpon v● a greate charge . We desyre the that thou woldeste make it lyghter , and we wyll serue the. The kynge axed councell to the older wyse men , whiche aduysed hym to aunswere them fayre and that shulde be beste . But he forsoke these wyse mens councelles , and dydde after chyldren that were his playfelowes , and sayde to the people , when they came agayne . My least fynger is bygger than my fathers rygge bone . My father greued you somewhat but I wyll adde more .

The people herynge this , rebelled againste hym . And sythen● the tyme , came neuer the kyngdome hole togyther agayne .

Wherfore it is good for rulers to take sobre councell , and to eschewe eare crounders and alwayes to haue an eye of loue to the comens , that they rule .

For know they well , be they neuer so high , that they shal come before a higher iudge to gyue a rekening , The seconde question . Howe haste thou ruled , that is the people , & the office , that thou haddest to gouerne , thou that haste bene a iudge in causes of poore me . How hast thou kept this commaundement of god . that thou shalt not take hede , to the person of the pore man , to be the harder to him for his pouertye , nor thou shalt haue respecte to the ryche mans countenaunce to spare or fauour hym , in wrong for his richrs . Oh Lorde God , Deu. 9. what abusion is there amonge officers of both partes nowe a daies , yf a great man pleat with a pore man to haue ought , that he holdeth , euerye officer shal be ready , to further al that he may the rich man in his cause that he maye haue the ende that he desyreth . But yf a poore man pleat with a riche , then shal there be so many delayes , that thoughe the poore mans ryghte be open to all the countrey for pure defaute of spendyng , he shal be constrayned to let his cause falle .

Shiriffes & baylyffes wyll returne poore mens wryts with a tarde venit except they fele money in their handes , And yet I heare say , of men that haue proued both courtes , that the court that is called more spiritual or christen , is more cursed . ●ro . 19. Therfore it is truely sayd . Giftes they take out of mens bosomes , to subuert the waies of ryght iudgement . But in especial the wordes of christ be to be feared . In what iudgement ye iudge other , ●at. 7. your selfe shall receiue the same As ye measure to other . &c. when ye shal come to giue your accompt . The third question , how haste thou lyued thou that iudgeste & punysheste other for trespassyng . It behoueth the that punishest other men for their trespasses to eschewe and flee the wyckednes of them . For yf thy selfe do vnlawfully iudginge other thou condemnest thy selfe , sith thou doest● that thinge that thou damnest Paule saith , Roma . why teachest thou not thy selfe that teachest other why ●●ealest thou that teachest other men nor to steale . Howe shall that man take rule of other that can not go before them in good lyuynge . And when any man standeth before him in iudgement , he muste take hede before what iudge he shal stande hym selfe , to take his iudgement after his dedes . But it is to be fered that many , fare , as the two false preestes , that wolde haue damned to deth holy Susan , ●usāna . for that she wolde not consent vnto theyr lechery . Of the whiche it is written , they turned away their eyes for that they wolde not se heuen , nor haue mynd of right iudgement . And so it fortuneth of that they which are more worthy to be hanged , damn than that be lesse worthy . As Socrates the philosopher . Socrates● who on a tyme was demaunded why he dyd laugh . ●alerius ●aximus ibro . 7. For Ise , sayed he , great theues leade a lytle thefe to hangyng , I praye you whether is he a greater thefe , tha● taketh awaye a mans house , & hys lande from him & his heires for euermore , or he that for greeuede stealeth a shepe or a calfe . And suppose you that sometyme we haue not such Iudges , and men of law them selfe very excorcione●s & bribours . And they iudge other to death . But I aduise the , that iudgest other men to remember that thou shalte come into iudgement , & giue a rekenyng of thy baylywyck . The 38 bayly The thirde baylye , that shal be called to this dredful dome , shal be ●uery christen man , that shall re●ē to his lord god , for the goods that he hath had of his . And here I wyl speake but of this question that is , howe hast thou gouerned the & thy goodes , and how hast thou entred here to thy godes . Beware ye that haue gotten any goodes wrongfully , either taken by extorcion , by stelth vsury , or deceyte , Austen wo shall be to you at this dredful day . For as saint Austen saith , if he be cast into the fyer , that hath not gyuen of his owne goodes ryghteously gotten● where thinkest● thou , that he shal be cast , that hath stolen other mens goods● And yf he shal bren with the fende , that hath not clothed the naked , wher iudgest thou that he shal brenne , that hath made naked them that were clothed .

But two thinges , make men thus to lyue by rape of other mens goodes , Moralli . Grego . 8. that is desire of honour & dread of pouertie And what vengeaunce falleth on this sin of couetous , ye may se by a figure of scripture when the angel said to the prophet zachary , lift vp thin eyen & se what is that tha● goeth out . And the pphet asked what is that . Then the angel said this is the potte goynge out , ●chary 6 that is the eye of the erth . And there was a wayghte of leade . And there was a woman sitting in the myddest of the pot . And he toke the gobbet of lead & cast it into the pottes mouth . the womans name was vnpie●ie . And the prophete lyfte vp his eyen , and se two wemen lyke spirites in the ayer , wyth wynges lyke vnto kytes or putto●kes , and they caryed vp the potte betwene heauen and erth And the prophete asked the angell whither they wolde carye this potte . And he sayd into the lande of Samary . This potte is couetise . For as a pot hath a wyde open mouthe , Expos●tio so couetousnes gapeth euermore after worldlye good , ryches , and honour . And as the lycoure in the pot profiteth not to the potte selfe , but them that drawe and drinke therof , so worldly good oft profiteth not the keper but other that come after as it is written . He that hath moneye shall haue no frute of it . And this couetous is the eye of cauetous men , Eccl. 5. for they be blynde to se howe they shulde come to heuen . But to winne worldly thinges they can se manye wayes like to oules & night crewes the better ●e by nyght then by day . The payce of lead is the synne of obstination , the woman sitting in , the pot is vnpietie as the aungel sayth that foloweth , & is companion of auarice . A man thorowe auerice doth lose the pitie that he shulde haue of the myschefe of his soule , sithens often men lese the lyfe of their soule by deadly sinne , that they commit to get riches . And also thei lose the pitie , that they shulde haue to theyr bodies , puttynge them selfe so many great parels and leoperdies of their bodies both by se & by lande , and leseth compassion towardes other men , & all maketh couetise . The pot is stopped with this gobbet of led when vnpietie is closed thus by synne of obstination , by couetousnes that it may not go out of the kepers hart by repentaunce ● . 10. As Iob saieth when he is fulfylled he shall be stopped . The ii . women that bare vp the pot , were pryde & luste of fleshe that in the scripture be called the two doughters of the water leche , cryeng : Brynge , bryng , & they had wynges . The fyrste woman that is pryde , hath two wynges the fyrste wynge be graces or gyftes spiritual , as connyng wysdom , councell , and suche other , for which giftes oft men were proud . The seconde wing● is bodylye grace or giftes , as strength beautie , auncetry with suche other , of which often men waxe proude . The wynges of the seconde woman be fleshly desires , & they be glotony , & slouth Of glotony speaketh the holye doctour saint Gregory , Gregory sayeng when the bellye is fulfilled , the prickes of lechery be stirred . Of slouth saith the great doctoure saynt Austen , that Loth , whyle he was in busynes dwellynge amongest the shrowes in Sodome he was a good man . Augusti . de ōflictu virtutis et viciorum But when he was in the hyl ydle , in dronkennes , he laye by his owne doughters . And these wemen had winges lyke gleydes or puttockes , that with crieng voyce go sekynge their meat , as Bartholomeus sayth . Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum . Thus fareth the couetousnes and feruent desyre of fleshly men , as wytnesseth saint Austen . we se saythe he that rauenous fysshes haue some measure , for when they honger , they do rape and eate , Austen● but when they be full they spare .

Onely couetous men may not be fulfylled or satisfied , euer he taketh , & neuer hath he ynough neither dredeth he god or shame of men , neither spare he father neither knoweth mother . with hys brother accordethe he not , nor wyth hys frende kepeth he trouth , he oppresseth widowes and harmeth motherlesse chyldren , fre men he maketh bonde , and bringeth forth false wytnesse , He occupieth dead mens goodes , as thoughe he neuer shulde dye . Augustinus . what madnes is thys , sayeth this doctour thus to lese lyfe and grace , and procure the soules dampnation , to wynne golde , and lose heauen And therefore sayeth the prophete , vnhappines shall compasse them rounde aboute , Psal. 54 trauayle and vnrighteousnes in the myddes amonge them . Also Innocentius speakynge of the harme that commeth of couetousnes sayeth . Innocentius . Oh how manye men hath couetousnes deceiued and spylled . For couetousnes of rewarde of gyftes that the kyng Balac promysed Balaam he wolde haue cursed the people of god , N .22 . notwithstandynge his owne Asse reproued him in his own conscience , & al that was in him reproued & hurt his fo●e at a wall . And yet was he ouercome and led awaye with couetousenes , whiche enforsed him what he myghte . Iosu. 7. Ach an was stoned : for couetousenes made him stele gold & precious clothes against gods commaundement . ●ehesie was striken with misery , for that he solde a m●̄● health , 4. Reg. 5 that came by the grace of god . Iudas for couetousnes sold Christe , and afterwarde hanged him selfe : An any & Saphira his wyfe dyd dye sodenlye , Actu. 5. for because they denyed to Peter the price or summe of money that they receiued . Couetise is cause , that riche men eat poore men , euen as beastes eat grasse keping it vnder , thys is dayly sene . For yf a ryche man haue a feld , & in the myddest or on the outs syde a poore man haue but one acre , or yf a rych man haue a hole strete saue one house that same poore brother of his oweth he neuer ceasethe tyl that he haue gotten that on● of the poore mans hand , other by prayenge or entreatynge or pursuynge , Thus fareth it by kynge Achab that by the procurement of his false Quene I●sabel , slew the pore man naboth for that he wolde not sell hym his vyneyarde lyeng by his palayse , Ambro. de suo , libello de Naboth where vpon saith sainte Ambrose . Howe farre wyll ye ryche men stretche out your couetousnes , wyll ye dwel alone vpon the earth , & haue no pore man wyth you , why putte you out your felowe in kynde , and chalenge to youre selfe the possession , that kynde and nature hath made commen to al men both poore and rich . The earth was made commen , & wyll ye rych men chalenge proper sight therein Nature and kynd knoweth no ryches , for she bringeth forth al maner of men pore . we be not gotten with ryche clothes , nor borne with gold & syluer .

Naked bryngeth vs nature & kynde into this world both nedy of meat and drynke . Naked the earth taketh vs agayne , as naked euen as she bringeth vs hither . And the sepulchre can she nat close with vs our possessions and riches . Kynde maketh no dyfference betwene pore and riche , neither in commyng hither neither in goinge hence , al after one maner bringeth she forth , all after one maner closeth she the graue . Who so euer maketh difference betwene pore & ryche , abyde tyl they haue lyen a lytle space in the graue , & then open & loke amonge the deade bones , who was riche , & who was pore . Except it be as thus that mo clothes be rotten with the rich then with the poore . And that endamageth them that be alyue , Iob. 24 & profiteth not them that be deade . Thus saith the holy doctour of suche extorcioners it is written , other mens feldes they repe , & of the vine of him that hath bene oppressed , they plucke awaye the grapes . They leaue men naked , & plucke awaye their clothes , that they haue not wherewith to couer them from cold . And they lyfte vp this pot , yt I spake of before betwene heauen and earth , for couetousenes of men , nether hathe charitie in earth to theyr brethren , nor to god of heuen , and they bare this potte into the lande of Synear , that is to say into the lande of stenche ( that is ) hell . For there is stenche in stede of swete smellynge . Beware that thou go not with this pot nor with the woman therin in any case , take hede that thou not mary with her . For then ye must be both one . This is that lecherous woman & ful of fleshly delytes , with whom kinges & marchauntes haue committed lechery here in earth , & with her vertues they haue ben made ryche , whose damnation is written in the books of reuelations of saint Iohn by these wordes In one daye shall her plages come , Death sorowe , and hunger and fyer shall brenne her .

For stronge is God that wil auenge him on her . The kinges of the earth that haue done leche●y with her , & haue lyued in her delytes . when they shall se the smoke of her brenning , shal stande a farre of weping & waylynge , yea cryenge alas , alas , that greate citie that was clothed with pisse , purple & brasel & ouergilt with gold & precious stones & pearle , for in one hour all these greate richesse shall be destroied . Then shal thei say that shal be damned with her . we haue erred from the way of truth , & in the lyght of ryghtwysenes hath not shyned vpon vs , & the Sunne of vnderstanding hath not risen to vs , we haue bene made weary in the waye of wyckednes & of lustes & haue gone the harde wayes , but the waye of truthe we know not , what hath pride profited vs for the beste of our ryches , what hath it broughte vnto vs ? All is gone as a shadowe of deathe & we can now shewe no maner of holynes to our kynred . In our wyckednes we be wasted awaye . Thynke therfore I counsel the how thou shalte giue a rekenynge of th● bayly wyke when he shall say . Redderationem villicatiōis tue . ¶ The .ii. part of this sermon .

HEre shulde be asked how haste thou gouerned , thy wyfe , thy chyldren & seruauntes haste thou brought them vp aft●r the lawes of god & continued them there in asmoch as lyeth in thy powe● but yf thou hast brough them vp after an other waye , or suffred them to go at theyr own wyll . thinke not but thou muste gyue accomptes therfore , when shal be sayd , redderationem villicationis tue . But & if thou wilt auoyde all the straite & hard accomptes . I councell the what soeuer thou be , to fal & cleaue vnto the mercye and goodnes of god throughe Christes demerites , with a lyuely faith & repenting her●e of thyne iniquities . And nowe therefore beware of thy lyfe in tyme past . & amende , And yf thou do not , & that in tyme . who shall graunt the pardone & release of this thy accomptes .