The Fall and Evil Success of Rebellion

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¶THE fall and euill successe of Rebellion from time to time

Wherein is contained matter, moste meete for all estates to vewe.

Written in old Englishe verse, by Wilfride_Holme.

Imprinted at London, by Henry_Binne man dwelling in Knightriders _streate , at the signe of the Mermaide.

And are to be sold at his shop at the Northwest doore of Paules Church. Anno. 1572 Februarie 9.

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To the Reader.

WHat lookst thou for in this discourse,

(Good Reader) let me know:

Of loyall Subiectes that doe liue?

No, of Rebels ouerthrow.

From time to time since Moyses was,

The rage of Rebels ire

Hath hit still iust on their desertes,

And gained them their hire.

As haultie Holme in loftie stile

Hath paint their doings trim:

Oh rebels rue your wretched case,

And warning take by him,

Who telles full plaine, your faithlesse force

Had alwayes ouerthrowe,

And shall doe still, till loyally

You Prince and duetie knowe.

Farewell good Reader for this time,

Let Holme the sequele show,

Who lets the faithfull subiect see

The Traytors follie and woe.

R._S.

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¶The fall of Rebellion.

WHen Phoebus abated from the abundant fr[i]giditie, frigiditie] fragiditie 1572

And Ianus_Bifrons past his situation,

When Vere nigh entred to his humiditie,

Soon after Februa the Goddesse dedication,

When Sol in Pisces tooke his habitation:

Then mused I the Zodiak instabilitie,

And howe that nature is naught but variation,

Reserued the Astripotent of his benignitie.

Thus compassing my senses, soone after Aurora,

When Lucifer the watch-Star was past his illucident,

In the surrection of Titan then tooke I my iorney,

To a Riuer in a Mountaine towarde the Occident,

Where beames of Ipergeus come from the Orient,

Glystring in resplendishor right goodly to beholde, resplendishor: see OED resplendishure

Where Nayades the Nymph had doone her denorment,

And scummed the water more cleare than any golde.

For the bemes with the glemes were faire and refulgent,

More clearer than Carbuncle, Electrum or Christall,

With rasis and trasis, al siluer and orient,

Whose pulchritude to beholde it seemed supernaturall:

Thus gasping and gasing, I heard a voyce vocall

Languishing in dolour, lament and complaine,

Am I a Queene (quod she,) or Empresse imperiall?

Nay Apostata, like Dalida, a Meretrix certaine.

At the clamor all obstupefact, I started in that steede,

And fatally I sawe a Lady mysticall,

With a Crowne of golde, and a Diademe on hir heade,

Dight all with Diamonds and Rubies so royall,

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With Emeraudes and Iacincts, and many Gemmes generall,

As Turkas, and Topasion, with Saphirs blewe and bise,

That Plinius in his practise coulde not discribe them al,

Nor yet Pithagoras was able to summe the prise.

But Pigmalion , the Mason in crafte artificiall,

Could not transforme so wofull a Creature,

Nor yet Appelles the Pictor principall,

So macerate and leane a doleful portraiture,

In a Frock black as Sables, dark citrine and obscure,

With a Kyrtle bloudy of colour bombesine,

And a Rayle all to_ryuen more blonkysh than azure,

With an antick deaurate with letters argentine.

She sobbed and sighed with ample teares lacrimable,

But with asper voice and clamor vehement

In a furie (quod she with wordes intollerable,)

Holme , I am Anglia the Princesse excellent,

Whose renoumed benignitie through causes negligent

Is like to be extirped, expulsed, and expelled

Through insurrection and copious detriment,

Of people peruerse amongst themselues rebelled.

Immediatly to mee hir Seruaunt obedient,

She commaunded to pronounce some stories of sedition,

I replyed vnto hir grace, she being not discontent,

Me for to pardon and therefore haue remyssion,

For I was timorous and afraide of punition,

And as a Gemme without glosse vnpullished to shyne,

With senses obtused, and brayne in oppression,

For default of Literature, and lack of discipline.

But so importunate forsooth was hir request,

That ignorance notwithstanding I began to descriue,

How that in the Historiographie it is playne expressed,

That Graccus by suggestion falsly did contriue

The Romains to rebel with the Senatours to striue,

Chalenging equipolent all things to be deuided,

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Through whose discention as Oroke doth discriue,

Much ruine there befell, and many men occided.

Also the triumphant Troyans victorious,

By Anthenor and Aeneas false confederacie,

Sending Polidamus to Neoptholemus ,

Was vanquished, and subdued by their conspiracie.

O dolorous fortune and fatall miserie,

For multitude of people was there mortificate,

With condigne Priamus and all his progenie,

And flagrant Polixene that Lady delicate.

The iugling of Iugurth with strife and dissention,

Destroyed all Numidie , (as Salust doth declare)

And Percius of Macedone with craftie inuention

Rebelled (saith Eutropius ) with the Romains to compare,

His host was destroyed, and who will contemplare,

Trogus declareth that in prolixitie,

Where-as before, but contributers they were,

They were after subdued to their great miserie.

Titus_Liuius, ( de gestis Romanorum )

Describeth when the Combres and Numides were destroyed,

Ex Maurio condigno flore Senatorum,

Then Maurius woulde haue had his office fayne renued,

To the seuenth time Consull, but Silla that eschued,

Through which sedition and high ingratitude,

I say more mischeefe to the Romaines ensued,

Than did by Haniball for all his fortitude.

The dissention of two brethren the sonnes of Oedippus ,

Which resolued the probleme of the S[ph]inx in the valie Sphinx] Shpinx 1572

Was the principall cause of destruction of Thebes,

Which Amphion builded with the Harpe of Mercurie,

The stones lept vp with the harmonious melodie,

Which fiction Poetique is nothing to be tried,

But by prolixing and pronouncing in facunde Retorie,

The Commons them-selues the Citie edified.

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Petrus_Comestor in his storye Scolasticall,

Publisheth and declareth, howe Aristobilus

Discorded with Hircanus his brother naturall,

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Through whose occasion the noble Pompeius ,

With power potentiall and actes victorious,

Wanne all Hierusalem, with the place dedicate,

With great occision to them calumnious,

Difringing the Walles with wayes most toxicate.

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The Romaine Topographie declareth how Marcellus ,

With the excellent Pompeius , by their biplicitie

The Lauriat triumphe denied vnto Iulius ,

Whose noblenesse surmounted with great famositie,

Which was the occasion of great mortalitie:

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For Pompeius was slaine by this altercation,

With mortall battailes and great calamitie,

To the Romains domage and great desolation.

Diuers cruell battailes amongst the Romains hath ben,

One was Lepidus fought against Catullus ,

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In an-other the Commontie fought with Cateline ,

And Antonius with Octauianus ,

Another, Sertorius was against Pompeius ,

Wherein was slaine by this last detraction,

Twelue hundred Kings, and that right cheualrous,

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Of worthy parentage and valiant extraction.

Was not Iulius CÆsar the victor bellipotent,

Occided and slayne by people maleuolent?

But Octauian his Nephew the Emperour excellent,

Repugned with those Rascals and Traitours fradulent:

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For Marcus_Anthonius and he, by consent,

Destroyed those choorles and rebels furibund,

Both Brutus and Crassus the harlottes rabient,

With diuers Senatours, and many a Vacabund.

Such murder, such treason, and such disobedience

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As the Romains haue had, was neuer specified,

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For Decius slewe Phillip , to haue the preheminence,

And Emilaine , Gallus , and Luciane mortified,

And Probus , and Gordaine , as plaine is notified,

Were slayne by villaines to Romes great perdition,

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And foure ciuil battels by Otho was magnified,

But pouertie at the length was the diffinition.

Rose not Maxencius , with Knights of the Pretorie,

Against Seuerus and Galerius_Augustus ?

And Seuerus Knightes betrayed him by Trecherie,

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And then came assistaunce of noble Herculius ,

Which was onely father to the saide Maxentius ,

Prouoking Dioclesian , for to take the dignitie,

But in my coniecture this was to them dolorous,

Pondring this mutable and sodeine diuersitie.

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There Marcus the Consull, in Italie confounded

Three score thousand Riotors of that domination,

And also Metredas , in force which abounded,

Contrarie to alegiance, made great litigation

Aboue twentie yeares, with great confutation,

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But in the sequele, as Fortune did execute,

Destroyed was he and his procreation,

His posteritie slaine, his Regions destitute.

The Bible is euident, how Sichem congregation,

By slaying of Abimeleck them-selues made fatigate,

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And the storye Iudicum maketh cleare declaration,

How a Concubine was wrapped with lecherie insatiate,

Whose husband in twelue her members mutilate,

Sending to the Tribes with great lamentation:

Wherefore Israell had almost abrogate

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The whole tribe of Beniamin for their abomination.

In the seconde booke of Samuell it is playne expressed,

How Absolons disobedience and false peruersitie,

Made himselfe to be slayne and Israell oppressed,

With great effusion of bloude by his dualitie,

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By the doughtinesse of Dauid, and his nobilitie,

And eke Achitophell the counseller sapient,

Was so dispaired and in perplexitie,

That he hanged himselfe the traitor negligent.

Fiue hundred thousand of Israell were slaine and necated

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Of the house of Ieroboam, their king and principal,

In Paralipomenon it is cleare dilated,

How Abia of Iuda destroyed them for beliall,

And Iehu slew Achab, and his sonnes collaterall

Vanquished his bloud, his stocke and Genealogie,

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And also Ochosias of Iuda most royall,

Was slaine and his bretherne by Iehues conspiracie.

Sundry ingratitudes amongs the Iewes haue bene,

As Saul against Dauid,and Ioab with Abnere,

And the seede of Ochozias, with Alathia the Queene,

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With deuiding of Kingdomes as plainly doth appeere,

Of Iuda and Israell which was the cause cleere

Of their captiuitie, and the transmigration,

For diuers heades made diuers Gods seyre, seyre: see OED sere, adv. and a.2

Wherefore God gaue them vp to their great damnation.

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The bookes of Machabes discribeth the perturbance,

Of the male Caliditie that came by Alcinous ,

To them pestiferous, and to their great doliance,

Besides the destruction of noble Machabeus ,

And eke the discorde of yong Antiochus ,

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Against Phillip the Traytor disloyal,

With the treason of Triphon against King Demetrius ,

With the vniustnesse of Iason the theefe most vnnaturall.

In Iosephus we may see, that the Iewes for Rebellion

Were conquered of Titus the sonne of Vaspasian ,

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And other stories say ther was slayne a Mylion,

With a hundreth M. moe and C. thousand tane,

And afterward, contempt oppressed them by Adrian ,

And cleane deiect them from their habitation,

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Making in Ierusalem Foreners remayne,

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And now pay they tribute in euery other Nation.

What should I recounte the Rebellion of Cresius ,

With a thousand such moe, to make macrologie,

My matter to prolong? it were but superfluous.

But yet I will rehearse to touch somewhat briefly,

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As concerning England, our owne natiue Countrey,

For-why, the Auctors do wonderously dissent,

Therefore I will rehearse to this antilloquie,

But only the cognisaunce which appeereth verament.

This Region was maculate, and put to rapacitie

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With the force of the Danes, by Buerne contention,

And slaine was King Edmund, King Osbridge, and Ellee,

And ouer this, one Mordred, he made false preuention

With Arthur his Soueraigne, with such great dissention,

That only it caused not greate desolation,

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But also perturbed the Royall intention,

From the Romaine Diademe, with the Coronation.

Iulius CÆsar , for all his audacitie,

Was twice expulsed of Cassibolanus ,

And made to recuile for all his Artillerie,

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To the maledict conflict of one Andragius

The Earle of London, a Traitour contagious,

Whose ayde, procurement and false introduction,

Foundred al Britaine from the estate prosperous,

And made vs be subiect, to our great destruction.

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Sithens the Conquest hath ben mischiefe inestimable,

As against king Stephen, Maude the Empresse excitation.

But Henry the yonger, an acte more myrable,

Contended with his Father, with strife and mination:

What sapience was heere in this procuration,

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To subdue his Father by his conuexitie,

Was not the Deuill in this inclination,

To make such discorde amongst the commontie?

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The well-redoubted king, in actes most martiall,

Richard_Curedelion , from his Conquest ineffable

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Was made to recule by his brother naturall.

Pretending the Crowne with wayes inexecrable.

But alas for sorowe, this Prince inexpugnable

Was taken by the way, but yet diffibulate

At the last was he, with Raunsom innumerable,

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And his enimies were taken and cleane exuperate.

I am ashamed to pronounce, to publish and declare

The Baronage commotion, against Iohn their King,

And how to extringe his Sonne they did compare,

It museth my mynde suche naughty demeaning,

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But what was the finall that came by transgressing?

Murder and death to the Realme right exial,

Destroying of Fortresses, which yet is remayning,

Subduing of Townes, to vs all preiudiciall.

Thomas Earle of Lancaster, was hanged and decollate,

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With sixtene Barrons moe in Edward the seconds days,

The filthy demeanor that then was approbate,

I abhor to recite, they tooke such naughtie wayes.

For Tullius were not able, at the full to disprayse

The naughtinesse of the Queene, with her malignitie,

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But GOD doth requite with a corrosie alwayes:

For Mortimer was slaine, for all his pompositie.

Iacke_Straw, Wat_Tiler, the Chieftains of Essex and Kent,

Against Richard the seconde began to make pretence,

But after a little rumour on Gallous were they hente,

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By fortie, by fyftie, this was their best defence,

And the Earls of Ratcot_bridge, which had the preheminence,

By processe were slaine and with deth enterlarded,

For iniquitie by Iustice of very congruence,

Against true alegiance is oft thus rewarded.

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The Dukes of Surrey and Exeter with treason infect,

With the Earle of Glocester and the Earle of Salisburie,

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Pretended in a mumming, like traitours detect,

To slea their liege-Lorde the noble fourthe Henry:

But headed were they with all their affinitie,

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By the Commons purveyance and the diuine regiment.

In likewise with battell was slayne the yong Percie,

His Uncle hanged and drawen, of Gallous first pendent.

The Archbishop of Yorke with the Earle-Marshall of England,

For their insult was hanged and their inquietude,

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And the Lord Bardolfe, with the Earle of Northumberland,

Was instigate to insurge their Prince to illude,

To their intermission the veritie to conclude,

For by the Commons they were hanged and inquinate.

Here may be perceyued how that a small valitude,

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Wyll reskue a Prince from subiects insaciate.

In the dayes of the sixth Henrie, Iacke_Cade made a brag

With a multitude of people, but in the consequence,

After a little insanie they fled tag and rag:

For Alexander_Iden he did his diligence,

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So interuention was Iacke_Cades recompence,

And the commons were hanged in diuers partes seere,

By the kings iustices and his magnificence,

By due execution by Oyere-Determinere.

The fielde of Saint_Albons was a battell violent,

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Another the Lord Audley with the Earle of Salisburie,

The field of Northampton was a cruell cruciament,

Againe at Saint_Albons was great immiserie.

And at Mortimer_Crosse was much languitude.

But at Pamleson_field was moste lamentation,

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The deitie gaue the battailes of his true equitie,

Considering the title and true generation.

In Henries dayes the seuenth of famous memorie,

The Blackheath_fielde to the commons was pernicious,

Martin_Swarth and his adherents for all their pollicie,

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Was slaine and percuted with clamor languishous.

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And Bladis that burned Yorke, was too impetuous,

But the iudgement of a traytor to him was adiect.

Thus was he rewarded for his acte iniurious,

With diuers other principals the which were suspect.

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But for conclusion to ende and define,

Contributers and homagers, the which hath rebelled,

Almost all storyes saithe, the truthe to combine,

They were slain and subdued, or from their realmes expelled

As Ireland, Scotland or Fraunce when they medled

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Within this our region: and as for sedition

Within realmes politike, it hath cleane compelled

The inuasion of aliants to their great submission.

When I had thus finished, I had thought to haue named

The blandishing Scorpions with discord most violate,

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The Bishops of Rome for my espirites confremed,

But yet I refrained the stories most maculate,

Supplying to Anglia the Princesse prenominate,

Beseeching hir honor, by the way of protestation,

What ample thing more thee would haue determinate,

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And why thee commaunded me this declaration.

Hir bounteous beneuolence made me thus replie,

A Holme , Holme , my seruaunt inseparable,

This same late commotion that was the cause why,

Wherfore I beseeche thee, their rising so variable

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To me to declare, with their causes detestable.

I reconed to hir grace I durst not bring it to passe:

God will defend thee quod shee, for he is not variable,

For inuincible is veritie, so sayth Esdras .

The Insurrection.

Then briefly I declared how the olde Leuiathan

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Whispered with the Papistes, this region to deuide,

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And they like true aduocates declared to euery man,

How Antechriste was borne, this rumor went ful wide,

For of Abbeys they said there might not one abide,

And churches and chappels they shall be oppressed,

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Fasting and prayer, and good workes are set a_side,

And the sacraments shalbe naught, these words they expressed.

When this could not auaile, then properly they inuented

Friers, Pardoners to the people for to prate,

How burials and mariages they should be presented,

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With churchings and christenings to pay a noble rate.

Plough nobles yeerely, they were clere determinate,

And Hen, Chicken, Goose, Capon, Pig and Cony,

They should not be eaten but with men of estate,

Nor yet no white bread without a summe of money.

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Also a perpetuitie of horsse and beast a grote,

With a penie a sheepe: now these words fascinorous,

They moued the ignorant and debill wits God wote,

Thus persuaded by intisement and priests auaritious,

A Cobler pretended a title ambitious,

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In Lowth in Lincolnshire, and made insurrection,

Some of worship was of counsel, but mo was contrarious

But as for the commons to arise had affection.

This noise and rumor redounded in Yorkeshire,

Then by appointment one Robert_Aske gentleman,

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Toke in hand for captaine to accomplishe their desire,

Then Houldeine and Beuerlay to insurge they began,

They would with Holdernesse collected to them than,

Thus of a smal vnion was aggregate a more,

Many men of woorship to fortresses they ran,

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Some had their cattel taken, and their goods spoiled therfore.

Then Hul made a brag, but anone it was yeelded,

Then Yorkshire in general, it was nigh collected,

Yorke receiued them for there they abode, and builded

Til the Countreis adiacent with the rumor wer infected,

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And as I suppose they had letters directed,

Wherby was raised all Richmondshire and Tindale,

The borders of Lancashire began to be suspected,

Bishoprike rose cleare, with Sedbare, Dent, and Kendale.

They spoiled and robbed those which were fugitiue,

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To the Abbeys suppressed the people they restaurate,

Rudent incessantly with clamor excessiue,

Faith and common-weale, and in the way obuiate

They were with procession and ringing insaciate,

And the Sacrament Christes body called Eucharistia,

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Was borne by Prelates with the crucifixe associate,

With pipes, Drums, Tabrets, and Fidlers alway.

A little beside Doncaster they came to Scanceby_leyes,

And furnished their battell, and set forth their vaward,

They were .xxv.M. of able mennes bodies,

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Well horssed and harnessed right puissant to regarde,

The noble-men were surrepted, the truthe to awarde,

Of these Countreys predict from their purpose indeuided,

But toke vpon hand, and was not retrograde,

This handfull folowing excepted and forprised,

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The Earle of Northumberland, for he was diseased,

The Earle of Westmerland, for he had the Podagree,

The Earle of Comberland the commons displeased,

Lying in Shipton castell with all their artillerie,

Like to his auncestors, his allegeance to fortefie,

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And the Lord Dacres at the rising so variable,

Like an honorable man, his truthe to magnifie,

Went straite to the South, and there abode perdurable.

Sir Henrie_Sauil, sir Marmaduke_Constable,

Sir Brian_Hastings, sir John_Neuil, the king they assisted,

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Master Euers at Scarburgh to them was agreeable,

With all his companions, and would faine haue resisted.

The Maire of Yorke wold, but the commons he mistrusted,

William_Maunsel also, and Knolles of Hull cleere,

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With the Archdecon of Duresme of the same part consisted,

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And flee from the Riotors did Leonard_Bequet Esquire.

Doctor Stephens, phisitian to Th'erle of Northumberland,

And Ratclif had done wel, if Yorke had bene contented,

The Parson of Castlegate was of the same comnant,

And the Bishop of Duresme of the same parte consented:

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I know but another which ought to be presented,

But which after spoyler to the commons did resorte:

Yet sir Thomas_Curwen earnestly inuented

With sir Thomas_Wharton to stay their counterporte.

Then with an ardent fury quod Anglia and frouned,

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Holme it is but fiction I say thou doste deuise,

Shewedst thou not me that gentlemen and men that wer renoumed

Fled to Castles and fortresses, what made them then to rise?

And it like your grace quod I, bicause they wer not wise,

Yet diuers were compelde, for the Commons did them take,

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But mo were seduced with the Papistes deuise,

Drinking the venome of Aspes which neuer can awake.

They noysed the Emperour with them was participate,

And the Bishop of Rome with the Scotish king commixed,

With them to commilitare they were clerely fundate,

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And Ireland and Wales of their parte was fixed,

The Earle of Darby outlawed, and of their part mixed,

And the Duke of Norfolke euery cause accounted,

Al commoners commoned with the Earle Staffort enixed,

And as for they of Lincolnshire a great sum surmounted.

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But the duke of Suffolke with such a power inuaded

Lincolnshire predict, that they had small esperaunce,

The lord Admiral and sir Anthony_Brown them persuaded

With Richard_Cromwell esquire there master of th'ordinance,

Their wepons and armor was lost by gods purueiance,

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They did I assure you behaue them-selues nobly,

To requite the kings grace they had good perseuerance,

Pondering the preferment by his magnanimitie.

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This notwithstanding the commons besides Doncaster,

Ascribed a Carter to a King coequall in degree,

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With coshe Crommoke coshe, I would we had thee here,

Like sauage beastes loosed and put to their libertie,

Enioying in the splendent after obscuritie,

Deuising and inuenting Articles presumptuous,

Euery-one discording from other verily,

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Two Gentlemen did open their quarel contentious.

But one lanterne of Englande and patrone of defence,

A shield for vs Borials, and floure of audacitie,

The Duke of Norfolke with all his violence,

To the kings armie Royall to Doncaster came he,

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With the noble prince Pere of the kings consanguinitie,

The Marques of Exeter nigh to the bloud Royall,

With the auncient Lord th'erle of Shrewesbury,

Whose truthe in decrepitie approueth the tryall.

Their veritie to their Prince my hart hath enrached, enrached] enrachened 1572

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Like a woman rauished with the rase of loue esprised,

And many nobles mo them-selues so well demeaned,

That of me their worthynesse it can not be deuised,

As Th'erle of Surrey with these Earles comprised,

That is to say, of Huntington and Rutlande also,

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With many other nobles which was there surmised,

And as for Lords honorable there was many mo.

Thus lay they in Doncaster with Curtall and Serpentine,

With Bombard and Basilisk, with men prone and vigorous,

The Commons knew it not, to them it was cla[n]destine,

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That made them more malapart, and also more rigorous,

For they sent home for money their harts was so furious,

Purposing openly at London to holde a Parliament,

But the king[s] herauld came to know their minds furious, kings] king 1572

Viewing them twise or thrise with faire words and diligent.

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But ere the Battell was ready procincte and proponed,

Sir Arthure_Darcy knight with the commons was segregate,

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And fled to the kings grace, and by the way commoned

With the duke of Norff. where promtly he promulgate

All the Commons priuitie, and I suppose effugate

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He was by the consent of his brother confiducion,

For at the first rising sir George with letters ornate,

Aduertised all gentlemen to leaue that ill conclusion.

But when the duke of Norf. of the Barons had intelligence,

And so many knights and squires with the commons in defence

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It incrampished his hart that they should make pretence,

Weying his fathers honor by their magnificence,

Their antique zeale and amitie he thought to recompence,

Bringing both the parts to a communication:

So diuers of the principals met with diligence,

480

Concluding a purpose with good deliberation.

So sir Rafe_Ellerker, and Robert_Bowes Esquire,

With the articles intitled went to the kings maiestie,

The battels both prorumped and went euery-where,

For the duke behight to interceede in their sedulitie

485

In causes reasonable, but not in their cecitie,

And so within a moneth according to promission,

An answere correspondent to their secularitie,

Was made by the kings grace to their whole petition.

The firste Article.

To the first article, Fayth, the kings grace replied,

490

It was a terme to general that which they did present,

But if they meaned christes faith, he was the prince that certified,

That the sincere puritie therof was his intent,

And like a valiaunt prince he spake these words vrgent:

Who dare set his foote to ours the contrary to proue,

495

And said he reckned learned he was what the faith ment,

Marueling that the ignorant in this thing shold him moue.

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To the Article.

To know which fayth was prudence, perceiuing we Christians

He hath herd of such heresies, as of the Seleucians

Of Sabelline and Neotus with the Patrispassians,

500

The Origenistes, the Ebionites and the Donacianes,

The Epicures, the Iacobites, with the Nestoriens,

Of Seuerus , of Menander , and eke of Valentine ,

The Antropomorphites, and also the Spalmeniens,

The Ariens and Manacheis of Pallas and Scotine .

505

Also of Marcio , Basillides , and Saturnius ,

Of Carpocrates , of Photyne , and of Macedonius ,

Of Chiliastes , of Corinthius , and of Heluidius ,

Of Eutiches , Galanus , and also Seleucius ,

Of Eunonius , Elsesates , with many a secte mo,

510

Of Montanus , of Apelles , and also Nouatus ,

And Samosatenses , and Appolinarius also,

With Antichrist the Romane the Idoll monstruous.

This is the groue image which the sinful world Manasses

Put in the congregation the house perpetuall, 4, Reg 22

515

This is the Idoll shepheard which Zachary doth expresse, Zacha. 10.

And also the deuourer the false God Baall. Dan. 14.

An vnshamefull King with faces Daniell doth him call. Dan. 8.

This is the Iudge in earth in the xviij. of Luke expressed, Luc. 18.

For wee haue lost our Husband Chryst with his bloud royal

520

And Sathan our enimie he is not yet oppressed.

This is the childe of perdition prophesied of by Paule,

In our conscience sitting, Gods Temple verament, 2 Thes. 2.

The Apocalips fysgyg the whoore Babilonicall, Apoca. 18.

Of whom Prophets, and Apostles rehearseth words turgent Psal. 72.

525

Nowe to this particle fayth, was it not expedient,

They to haue recognised what fayth was their intention,

For besides Christs faith there reigneth faithes negligent,

As Turke, Iew, Pagane, with Mahomites inuention.

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As touching Christes faith sithence Christes incarnation,

530

Neither Emperour nor king, nor prince of nobilitie,

Was like to the kings grace, for in his conuocation

The Anabaptists and Pelagians confuted hath he,

And permitted shadowes positiue of olde antiquitie

For error of the people by a new altercation,

535

And also shewed like Gods knight elect in fidelitie,

Chrystes bloud and his death with the true iustification.

Of Fayth.

But to the misbeleeuers I put this proposition,

By way of interrogatorie, if one of them should dye,

And know no refuge nor no propiciation,

540

But in Mormet in fistill they should euer lye,

And the prince they offended should fortune come them by,

And say, loue my friends, and forgiue as I will thee,

And when thou can not repent my sonne shal for thee die,

And doo but this to_day, and rewarded shalt thou bee,

545

For to_morrow thy riches shal abounde like to Croesus ,

Thy force like Hercules, thy sapience like Salomon,

Thou shalt haue meates delicate far aboue Vitellus ,

In fame like Alexander, thy fortune like Gedeon,

The luste of Augustus, the pulchritude of Absolon,

550

The science of Aristotle and his Philosophie,

As facunde in Rethorike as was king Amphion ,

With the health of Galen , and age of Methusalie .

What man liuing considering this gratitude,

But for loue of this Prince, and feare of this miserie,

555

And for hope of this ioy, but with his fortitude

He would one day labour and suffer aduersitie,

And passe for no riches, nor yet of iocunditie,

Nor of no fortune dolorous, nor yet of no payne,

Nor of meate, drinke, ne cloth, ne no felicitie,

560

But would fayne haue to_morrow this glory to obtayne.

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Then may we consider Adams disobedience,

By whose transgression equitie hath giuen death eternal: Gene. 3.

And as for Moyses law it gathered more offence Rom. 5.

To the highe deitie and Plasmator potentiall,

565

Tooke pitie and mercy to make his sonne carnall, Math. 1. Iohn . 1.

And Sathanas hath loste him for all his temptation, Math. 4.

He hath pleased his father, and giuen life perpetuall Mark . 1. Math. 3.

By his true obedience, and made iustification.

He hath ouercome death and sin by his painful affliction, Rom. 5.

570

And borne our iniquities vpon the crosse crucified, Esai. 53.

And made vs reuiue by his resurrection: Math. 8.

And by him and by Baptime from sin we are mortified, Peter . 2. Iohn . 3.

And as he is, shall we in ioy bee glorified: Rom. 6.

So that we beleeue it without mutabilitie,

575

For he is our Sauiour by all Prophets prophecied, Rom. 8.

Therfore let vs trust him with hope and fidelitie.

For his payne and death he asketh our amitie,

To obserue his precepts his kindnesse to reuiue,

But for this life diurnall, which in equalitie

580

To any parte sempiternall no man can contriue

As a day of Methusalie or any life aliue,

And the furies infernall, and the ioyes celestiall,

Exceedeth mans brayne and nature to describe,

As things incomprehensible aboue things naturall.

585

Now hauing this affirmitie of gladnesse and dolor,

A man would worke for the glory or for the paine repent,

But to him that thinketh iustified he is by our Sauiour,

Baptised is he with the espirite omnipotent: Math 3. Mark . 1. Luke . 3. Iohn . 14. Actes. 1.

Which comforter by instinction deliuereth the talent,

590

To some lesse or more with charitie inflated,

To loue God and his neighbor in spite of the Serpent,

From the ground of his hert, and his sinnes shall be abated.

And if the flesh rebell seuen times on a day,

Yet by fayth and hope he shall be tutelate

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595

Agayne to reuiue and his sinne done away,

With perfect charitie in his harte condurate:

This confessed maketh the law and him coadunate,

With grounded repentaunce to walke of a_new,

And when he doth not, Chrystes fayth is vacillate,

600

And he must turne agayne to make his charter new.

But this fayth hath no man but by inspiration,

Though they can speake Ebrue, Greke, Latin or Caldie,

For they are borne of God, and elect in creation, Iohn . 1.

And trust not to their works like to a Pharisie,

605

But inward from their hearts they worke them of dutie, Timoth. 2.

So that Scripture command them by gods diuine testament:

For by christ commeth their fauor, their truth and their verity, Iohn . 1.

And the house is built in vayne without God consent. Psal. 126.

And Chryst for his brethren in baptisme regenerate,

610

Gods sonnes by adoption doth euer make attonement,

As though they be damned by their ill works operate,

As well as for Adam, as ofte as they repente,

And one may get heauen to fulfil euery commandement: Rom. 2.

But nature can not that without Gods coaction:

615

For Adam for an apple was damned by the Serpent, Gen. 3.

And neuer was able to make satisfaction.

For the man Microcosinus the which was wounded sore

With the theeues disobedience and incredulitie, Luke . 10.

The Priest nor the Leuite would not him restore,

620

But Gods sonne the Samaritane Chryst full of pitie,

With wine and oyle annoynted his maladie,

And caste him on his horse, and had him to his stable,

And gaue two pence to the keeper to see his enormitie,

And payed the sum total to heale his wounds miserable.

625

But our Prelates beleeueth that vice naturally,

Destroyed the body by Aristotles lore,

And that vertue by Zeno and mo in Philosophie,

Giueth quietnesse of minde, and the body doth restore,

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But for life euerlasting they doo not looke therfore,

630

And though they ascribe the soule intellectiue

Or immortall, yet they thinke it flyeth euermore,

But mo thinke like beasts our soules be but sensatiue.

But thinke yee that Plato or the Philosophers olde,

Would haue iudged Adam and his posteritie

635

To be damned by an element either hote or colde,

Or by nature working by moysture or deciccitie:

Or the sacrifice of a beast should giue fertilitie,

And make attonement where there was offence?

Oh here the blinde Balaams may euidently see,

640

Howe loue asketh loue with perfecte obedience.

Now he that worketh good works shall be saued,

And he that trusteth in his works shall be damned,

And that worketh not good works shall be damned,

And he that dyeth in ill works shall be damned,

645

He that dispaireth for his works shall be damned,

And that thinketh he sinneth not shall be damned:

For Chryst came not for the righteous deliuerance,

But for to call sinners to perfecte repentance. Luke 5. Mark . 9.

The seconde Article.

Now to the seconde article, to their proposition

650

To answere sayd the king, it needeth a distinction,

But if we knew (quod his grace) of what Church ye ment

We doubt not a response to your incitament:

But meane what Church ye will by your improbitie,

And we wil proue therein we haue nought institute,

655

But Gods law and mans for all your procacitie,

With more ground than our auncesters before haue execute.

He shewed them Edward the first, with the .v. and .vj. Henry,

His noble auncesters of famous memorie,

To their owne vse subuerted of Abbeys a multitude,

660

Some a hundred some mo, then accounted no turpitude,

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In like wise his grandmother, ten bishops with the Cardinal,

Then maruelled he that rather they had a knaue or twain,

To lead a prophane life, than be their Prince naturall,

To enioy them from forenners, his charges to sustaine.

To the Article Churche.

665

It was reason to know their purpose effrenate,

Whether they meaned Christes churche the christen congregation

Or the Lapidous sinagoge procript and relegate,

The great citie I suppose of the whore of Babilon: Apoc. 18.

For Christ of the true Church he is the corner-stone,

670

The which the edifiers and builders refused, Rom. 9 1.Peter . 2. Esay. 28

But alasse for pitie, his church is almost gone,

These Antechristes with faces them-selfe haue so abused. Dan. 8.

For Paule saithe that we are the temple sanctificate, 1. Corin. 6

and Cephas, Iohn, and Iames, seemed pillers for to be, Galath. 2

675

Peter and Paule, tabernacles them-selfe do nominate, 2. Peter . 1 2. Corin. 5

And Christ to the Samaritane saide, woman trust me,

The time is and shall, that in espirite and veritie

The true honorers shal honor, but not in the mountaine, Iohn . 4.

Nor yet in Ierusalem, for my father verily

680

Is a spirite, and requireth suche honor for certaine.

They confesse and denie not that the christen congregation

Is a Church espiritual, but they Iacob signified, Gene. 28 Exod. 25

The other Church moral, pouring out of the stone, 3. Reg. 6.

And after the Tabernacle the temple was edified,

685

And Christ saide, the temple, the golde sanctified, Math. 23

And my house shal be called the house of oration, Hiere. 7 Esay. 55

Where he whipped them in the temple, these wordes he specified Iohn 2 Math. 21

And a place for to worke in it needeth to saluation.

But I say the stone, tabernacle and temple that stoode,

690

Was figures of Christe, for by disobedience

Of Adam, the earth was maledict of God.

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Wherfore God and his word, with mans true diligence,

Sanctified those things to giue God reuerence Psalm. 32

But now all creatures are blessed and dedicate,

695

By Gods word and his prayer by Christes due obedience, 1. Timo. 4

And worthely restored to their first estate.

Nowe where Christe saide the temple the golde sanctified,

And that my house shall be called the house of oration, Iohn 2 Hiere. 7

At that time these shadowes might wel be specified,

700

For they were not ful defined to his mortification.

But where he whipt the sellers for their il ornation, Iohn . 2

It was not only for their indecent actes onerous,

But signified our prelates with the whips of damnation,

For selling Christes sheepe, and his doues most amorous.

705

And least the elect shuld haue iudged the thing permanent,

Marke the prompt purueiance of the diuine deitie:

For the Iewes asked a signe for to proue him negligent. Iohn . 2

Destroy this temple quod he, and within dayes three

I shal build it againe, and Iohn saith verely,

710

He meaned of his body the temple omnipotent,

Thus to the Iewes parables he spake in obscuritie,

But to his disciples he shewed the truth indigent. Math. 13

The Apostles remembred after the resurrection,

What Iesus_Christe saide, and vnderstoode the scripture, Iohn . 2

715

And the temple vaile roue at his death and passion: Mark . 15

Which signified by similitude, the temple lost his cure.

Saint Steuen, and S. Paule this thing doe discure, Act. 7 Act. 17

Saying of a suretie, who wil vnderstand,

That the highest of all dwelleth not, I make you sure,

720

In no temple nor mansion made with mans hand.

Moreouer Saint Steuen toke scripture to recorde,

The Prophet saith heauen is my seat, and earth is my fote-stole Esay. 66

Then what house wil ye build for me saith the lord,

Or what place shal I rest in, to make my propre soile?

725

Hath not my hands made all this by my ministration?

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Meaning who can edifie a better thing than I,

And all things I sanctified in the inchoation,

And the earth curssed for Adam, for Christ do I sanctifie.

To these woordes predict Esay the Prophet, Esay. 66

730

He saith to what thing should I regard too than,

But only to the pure, simple, contrite espirite,

And the fearer of my woords, meaning by a man,

And sacrifice he dispraiseth, in as odious wayes as he can, Esay. 1

So doth Dauid also with the outward operation,

735

Accepting a faithful, humble, contrite man,

And nother stone ne place, ne foren demonstration.

Iesus commaunded to make our supplication,

In our conclaue priuely, and to shut fast the doore, Math. 6

And Paule int[i]mate his messe and his iteracion, intimate] intmate 1572

740

In a chamber where the yong man fel in the flore.

Whome to life he reuiued after his fal and pressure, Act. 20

And two yeares in his lodging he made his predication,

Without superaltare I dare make you sure, Act. 28

Thus saide he his messe with a heauenly incantation.

745

To the Hebrues we may see the things ceremonial,

Are extinct and expired, and cleerely abrogate Heb. 9 Heb. 10

By Christ our sauioure, and if they were moral,

Fructuous abundance commeth by their workes operate, Deut. 5 Exod. 20

But life euerlasting that is by Christe preparate,

750

And we are sonnes to Abraham, and his heirs naturall, Galath. 3

By faith and fidelitie, but not of fleshe carnate,

And in likewise Gods temple, and one body mistical. 1. Corin. 12

Yet this notwithstanding it is conuenient,

To haue places appointed by lawes positiue,

755

Where the congregation may meete indifferent,

To receiue Christes sacraments, their faith to reuiue,

And to pray in Communion with harts intentiue,

And to heare Christes woords and true Euangelion.

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So men in their hearts could faithfully discriue

760

Euery place, as necessary as it for saluation.

Of Religion.

Now touching the Abbots to liue with paine solitarie.

It is a morall vertue, for so did Elizeus,

Elias and Iohn, and sithens Christes mortalitie,

Diuers Monks and women haue led a life vertuous,

765

Bothe togither confecte, so sayth Eusebius ,

In likewise did Ephraim , Macarie , and Martine ,

And also Sainte Ierome and Hellodorus ,

Liuing in pouertie like to Christes discipline.

These with perfite loue and with a pure deuotion,

770

Knowing that by Christ they were iustified and redeemed,

They kept them-selfe solitarie vpon their owne meere motion

By no mannes coaction, but freely vnconstrained.

They passed of no liuing, nor yet the world esteemed,

But solde that they had, and tooke wilful pouertie,

775

Thus liuing sole alone, therby they rather deemed

To followe Christes crosse with all their simplicitie.

They watched and abstained when that the flesh rebelled,

To mortifie themselues to keepe perfect chastitie,

Many vertues voluntarie they wrought vncompelled,

780

As prayer with the minde, but not with lippes only. Math. 15 Esay. 29

Louing one God in their communion busily,

The profession of baptisme, was their whole intention,

They passed of no belles, no senser nor ceremonie, Galath. 4

But to kepe gods commaundements, that was their inuention. E[x]od. Exod] Ezod 1572 20 Exod] Ezod 1572

785

They liued by works industrious as did the Apostle Paul

And I suppose sectante to his fibralitie,

Was better than theirs and more beneficiall,

For many were conuerted by suche publike libertie.

For to be made a gasing-stocke, he thought no inanitie,

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790

Yet the lawes of God in him was irrefragable,

He liued chaste and sobre alwayes in mendacitie,

For where God inspireth, man is not culpable.

There followed after Palla and Marcill ,

Eustochin and other with contemplation,

795

Then Gregorie , and Montane began an-other spell,

So did Benet make Religion after an-other fashion,

Putting in olde Vessels new wine of delectation,

And patched a newe clout to a broken garment olde, Math. 9. Luc. 5.

Professing this and that, by a newe altercation,

800

Thus mark with a hote yron their conscience needs they wold. 1. Timo 4.

But Sainct Bernard reformed those little abusions,

After that Frauncis Norberius and Dominick come to,

And of them is come Sectes with diuers yll conclusions,

As Collectes and Mynors, and Obseruaunts also,

805

With a monstrous multitude of Frier beggers moe,

Professing Coule and Cap, with things of ociositie,

Not trusting Christ, a meane sufficient in woe,

But mixeth him with others for their opportunitie.

But nowe Religion is a vile abomination,

810

For Peters name was Cephas which is a very stone,

And we are liuing stones, by Peters declaration,

And Christ is the head Capitall, and other head is none,

But they haue this reuersed and lefte this Church alone,

And haue gotten a newe God, euen Daniels desolation, Dani. 9. Dani. 12.

815

And haue set vp Cragges coopert with houses many one,

To cloke their deedes libidinous and incest fornication.

They incline with their heades to figure humilitie,

With garments dysguised as the Pharisies dyd before, Nume 15.

But alasse, they lack their pricks to put them in memorie,

820

And the precepts described in their garments euermore, Nume. 15.

But Tunica inconsutilis , that is not in their lore,

Thereat muse I much in their actes scrupulous,

But tushe it were to colde, it is abiect therfore,

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And they neede mediatours moe than Christ_Iesus.

825

They mumble with their lippes, with rich Copes and kels,

And chaunting with their chastes lyke Owles in a frost,

They duck and they sence, and they trumpe vp their Bels

And sprynkle water fast, but the red Cowe is lost, Nume. 18.

Candles are illuminate and set on euery post,

830

Before a gorgious Idol freshe figured and gylt,

And though it maye be suffered, yet thereby hath ben lost

Many a Christian man, and many a soule spylt.

Of Images and Religion.

But let vs leaue things leeful, and keepe things expediente, 1. Cor. 6.

For I may eat, drynk, and sleep, but it profiteth not my soule,

835

But in my coniecture that is not expediente,

The which may prouoke to a thing preiudiciall,

And questionlesse the first commaundement is morall,

Although there were Cherubyns in the temple edified, 3. Reg. 6.

It was but a shadow, and these things ceremoniall,

840

By Chryst were replete before he was gloryfied.

And in case one commaunded their Pastors to refrayne

From putting in of Catell in his great close seuerall,

And afterward commaunded they shoulde put in twayne,

Which after he repelled, then by their myndes actuall,

845

They should eate vp the close against their accomptall,

But might he say then he being discontent,

Bycause he put in twain, they thought it iudicial?

To this resembleth the aforesayd argument.

Yet Images no doubt they might be permanent,

850

If they were vsed according to the kings conuocation,

But that will not be, men are so negligent,

For one shewed me of two Roods besides the Friers habitation

In Greenwitch, which wold sweat for equal ministration,

S. William of york (quod an-other) wil sweat with abundance

855

To keepe House_bridge from flouds, now this abomination

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Our Prelates say, is scripture and Gods diuine purueyance.

So the Iewes when they honored Astroloch and Baall,

With the groue Images and Gods of gentilitie,

I thinke they beleeue they had a God Iudaicall,

860

But yet they suffered other to get more fertilitie,

Then may it be sayde, sure they forsooke him truely,

To myx him with the Starres in the skye stelliferall,

And other Gods being bound to serue him only,

Nowe as they dyd do we, with our sence allegoricall. Esay. Math. 7.

865

The ceremonies of Religion are a hundred and moe,

As breade, and ashes, and Organs verily,

With Te Deum laudamus Simbalis et organo,

But Dauid meaned to loue God in euery iocunditie,

I maruell they daunce not as he did properly,

870

For the dumb dogs haue lost Gods Organs most diligent,

Suffring Wolues to deuoure his Sheep with rapacitie,

For defaulte of declaring the truthe of his Testament.

For dame Nice and dame Wanton, they set in the quire,

Cheeping lyke a Gosling, and loking one Sir Iohn,

875

They had rather than fiue-pence to haue him elsewhere,

If one aske how I knowe it, I will ground on this stone,

They are fat, and fayre of flesh bloud and bone,

And haue not receyued the spirit of veritie,

And seing they be carnall, I maye iudge them euery one,

880

To be fraile and incontinent with fleshly lubricitie,

None entreth to religion with any true deuotion,

For the most part be infantes, and put in by coaction,

And none of freewill, except for promotion,

Or else for dispaire to do satisfaction,

885

And some for very slouth to do no worldly action,

Professing obedience, pouertie and chastitie,

To which three assentialls they make their contraction,

And to many trifles moe the which is but vanitie.

And as for their pouertie, ther is neither Knight nor Lord,

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890

Earle, Marques, nor Duke like them in abundaunce:

And as for their obedience, al men can recorde,

They are high Rebellions against true allegiance,

Hauing both their King and their God at defiance:

And as for their chastitie the visitours knoweth wel,

895

For Sodome and Gomor had neuer such ordinance, Gene. 18.

Their polution and wayes, I ashame for to tell.

Nowe beleeuing in workes is dispaire and carnalitie,

Their vowes are like Iewes vowes, therefore they be vacuate:

For here is Christ, or ther is Christ, and hope not in him only

900

Is lyke to the deuils faith from hope cleerely seperate:

Therefore they may marrie and leaue their fond estate,

Bicause they were ignorant and make reuocation,

For smal auaileth baptym though they be regenerate,

Where-after they dispaire in Christes iustification.

The iij. and iiij. Article.

905

Nowe to the iij. and iiij. Articles, Laws and common-weale,

Was replyed this xxviij. yeare, we being a King,

We thinke in those things our wit should more excell,

Than in our adolescence, or yet our beginning:

And he reckned his constant subiects for al their contriuing

910

Would account and repute and describe none other wayes,

And what should they redargue, nought but commons being,

Which knewe not the vsage concerning friendly affaires.

To this and of the iij. Estates of the Church.

Nowe to the ryght of this request contumelious,

And hath not the King condemned mortuaries,

915

And prouing of Testaments which was ryght tortuous,

With the abusion of tot_quots and pluralities,

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And the fermholdes of Prelates and their yll qualities,

With Hariots and much to vs right odible:

As the warwolfe of Rome deuouring thesaurizes

920

Of region and soule to vs ryght odible?

For I would it were noted, that euery other sect

Not being vnder grace, comprehendeth one estate,

And we that are Christned Gods children elect,

Comprehend an holy Priesthoode and a Church dedicate, 1. Peter . 2

925

Which in three estates hath long time been nominate,

First the spiritualtie, and then the temporaltie,

The third the Commons, which in my consent,

The vsing thereof hath caused much heresie.

For all are spirituall in baptim regenerate,

930

And Gods sonnes by adoption to a newe reuocation,

Beleeuing in Christ, and repenting their estate,

They be brethren coequall of one generation,

Though there be diuersitie in the mynistration:

And I suppose verely this Church called mylitant,

935

May be signified lyke the heauenly habitation,

With orders nyne a very Church triumphant.

These orders notwithstanding may well proceede of three

Euen as it doth of Hierarchies celestiall,

And in lykewyse we maye resemble the Trinitie,

940

Three estates vndeuided and one deitie at all:

For we are one body and Chryst the head capitall, Rom. 12. Ephe. 4.

Therefore I think in myne imagination,

It were well doone we all were called spirituall,

By names thus folowing by this protestation,

945

The spiritualtie of the eternall ministration,

The spiritualtie of the temporal Iustification,

The spiritualtie of the mundane occupation,

Nowe these men are one, but not their operation:

For thinke yee that Moses was not as good as Aaron,

950

And was not Dauid, and Iob and Iudith ryght vertuous? Reg. Iob. Iud.

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And Nadab and Abihu of yll conuersation, Leuit. 10.

And many moe than they with deedes supersticious.

It is not Frauncis gyrdle nor Aarons myter hye,

Nor yet sir Iohns crowne, nor gentle sir Thomas typpet,

955

That maketh a more vertue, nor yet a greater degree,

But blessed are the hearers of Gods word which is kepte,

Yet if an yl man may minister heauenly ministration,

The influence should be good, it appeereth very well,

Though an yl tree beare no good fruite of his own operation

960

Yet of the tree it is grafted, me-think this fruite shuld smell.

These should followe Chryst with al their simplicitie,

To mortifie themselues as nyghe as nature can,

With pouertie, with payne, and in humilitie,

Without ypocrysie to giue lyght to euery man,

965

Their vertues should resplendysh, as doth the bright Titan

To gloryfie their father which is celestiall, Math. 5.

They should be salt to season, to subdue Leuiathan,

And abstaine from sinnes, and passe of nothing carnall.

They be free to wed or not, it is at their libertie, 1. Cor. 9

970

If eyther were commaunded, the other were inhibite,

Howbeit, it were well to followe Christ in chastitie, 1. Cor. 7.

For Iesus sayth himselfe, who as may let him take it, Math 14.

But it is better wed than burne, so saith the apostle Paule,

It is leefull he sayth both to Titus and Timothie, 1. T[i]mo Timo] Tmo 1572 3. Titus 1 Timo] Tmo 1572

975

And he sayth that Peter and the Lordes brethern all,

Led Sisters to wiues without ambiguitie. [1] Cor. 1] 1572 omits 9. 1] 1572 omits

In this chapter Paul sheweth great libertie,

They that sowe things spiritual, should reape things carnall, 1. Cor. 9.

And that as mynisters vsed of olde antiquitie,

980

So should they haue for preaching the truth Euangelical,

But yet in his Epistles this is the summe totall,

The workeman his meate and reward should be deuised, [1] Cor. 1] 1572 omits 7. 1] 1572 omits

And so sayth Chryst him-selfe, wherein concludeth Paule, Math. 10.

That they ought with meate and clothes to be suffised.

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985

These should preach with true predication,

How that disobedience hath giuen death and damnation, Gen. 3. Rom. 5.

And how the law was giuen to know to reconcile agayn,

Whose works wrought outward is litle more than vain Gala. 3. Rom. 10.

For therby commeth abundance and copious fertilitie,

990

But inward from the hart that giueth life eternall, E[x]o Exo] Ezo 1572 20. Luc. 16. Exo] Ezo 1572

But if one once thinke agaynst it by Gods true equitie,

There is death and condemnation vnto the paines infernal. Rom. 7. Gala. 3. Deu. 27. Math. 5. Luc. 20.

And after these things timorous they shuld preach repentance

And remission of sins by our sauiour christs diligence

995

As a lambe vndefiled he hath made deliueraunce,

And made our attonement by his true obedience,

His death hath slayne death and al the Diuels pretence:

To them that beleeueth it and made iustification,

After they be baptised they haue for their defence

1000

The gift of the holy-ghost to keepe them to saluation.

Now who beleeueth not this with this key is bound,

That it can not be dissolued with the Roman Acheron ,

Nor with all his children liuing on the grounde,

As Aletho , Megera , nor yet Tesiphone ,

1005

Nor by his owne works, nor no mans optation,

But beleeuing this truth the other key dissolueth,

For on this stone is builded the Christen congregation,

Which the edifiers must build on, or els it nought profiteth. 1. Cor. 3.

Thou art Chryst quod Peter, the son of the liuing God,

1010

Here Peter confesseth al, not knowing it no fayle Math. 16.

Of him-selfe, for he spake it not of fleshe and bloud,

And agaynst this Rocke hell-gates nor sin can preuayle,

Christ promised the keys of knowledge bicause the wits are frail:

In the same chapter to declare it Christ began, Math. 16

1015

I must dye and ryse (quod he) to Peter let his tale,

Spare thy-self master he said, thou offendest me quod christ sathan ,

Thou smellest worldly things (quod he) but not things celestial. Math. 16.

Here is to be noted that Peter reckned playne,

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That he was Messias or a Sauiour temporall,

1020

Therefore Chryst behight the Keyes the truth to certaine.

In the eyghteene of Mathewe he sheweth more agayne, Math. 18

For bynding of Heresies vnto the apostles al,

In Iohn we may see the Keyes they did obtayne, Ioh. 20.

To lose and bynde sinnes and that with power coequall.

1025

Chryst commaunded saith Luke before his ascention, Luc. 16.

The apostles to go to the world vniuersall,

To preach his tydings glad and true Euangelion,

And who is baptised and beleeueth it, they shalbe saued all.

Nowe this key loseth from all sinnes in generall:

1030

And who beleeueth it not, damned shall he bee,

Now this key bindeth, and Chryst in especiall,

Of fayth wrought the miracles in his humanitie.

In Hierusalem the Apostles by inspyration,

Were inflamed by instinction of the holy-ghost, Act. 2.

1035

And receyued newe tongs, with the declaration

Equally deuided as wel to least as most,

In the xv. of the Actes , there Iames he ruled the rost, Act 15.

And Paule checked Peter this appeereth verament: Gala. 2.

I marueile why then of Peter that they bost,

1040

For their power and their deedes were all equipolent,

Euery Apostle, Priest, Deacon, and Senior,

In his See or personage or his habitation,

Should after twice monishing call euery Lepor,

Denying Gods lawes before the congregation,

1045

And if he repent not then is their ministration,

To expulse him as an erronious Publican,

And giue him to the Deuill by excommunication, 1. Cor. 5.

As was Himeneus and Alexander and the Corinthian. 1. Timo. 1.

But when he beleeueth with perfect repentance,

1050

They must edifie and not destroye, and absolue him againe, 2. Cor. 13.

And it be seuenti times vij. times thei must make deliuerance Math. 18.

But for close sinnes confession it sinketh not in my brayne

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In the eare so particuler for to be had so playne,

As to shew quo, vbi, quomodo, quando, 2. Reg. 12.

1055

For Dauid sayde to God peccaui for certayne

And confitebor tibi in toto corde meo.

As concerning confession particuler,

There is no priuate Scripture, nor yet auriculer,

Except the veterous antique shadowe olde,

1060

Of the scape-Gote with the sinnes vpon hir horne inrold: Leuit. 16.

But by sainct Iohn_Baptist, and Scripture much more,

Generall confession that is euident, Math. 3.

So should our Prelates by their office euermore

Giue absolution vnto the men penitent,

1065

And minister the Sacraments with good reformation,

To eschue from sinnes, and to liue in amitie,

To loue God and their neighbors, and in their predication

Declare how the lawe is grounded on charitie, Gala. 5. 1. Iohn . 3.

And as they remit others, forgiuen shall they bee, Iacob . 2. Math. 6.

1070

Instructing from debate, rancor and detraction,

And if this auayle not, then belongeth it properly

To the power of iustice to correct by coaction.

Here may wee fetche the temporall iustification,

By the father commaunded to Noe to do equitie, Gene. 9.

1075

As death to haue death, and for reformation

Iuda would haue brent Thamar for incontinence, Gene. 28.

And Moyses had lawes for debts and for felonie,

For lecherie and murther, and things mo a multitude, Exod 21. Exod 22.

And after Iudges kings had the same authoritie,

1080

For punishment of sinnes with the outwarde turpitude. 1. Reg 10.

Some happily wil say this power was abrogate,

I confesse it and deny not, vnto a man righteous

There is no lawe giuen, but for sinners intoxicate:

But inasmuch as the tares wold destroy the corne fructuous

1085

And many be called and few chosen, this power must be prosperous,

To correct al tyrannie by a brotherly zeale,

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And there is no man liuing so perfect and vertuous,

But the olde Adam in his flesh sometime he will feele.

Though the gospel know no lawes, but groundeth on charitie,

1090

Yet we may take in hande for the disobediente,

Which wil not reconcile them by humilitie,

To complayne to the iudge to make them to be shente,

And he to the Minister to giue the prefermente,

To put them irremediable into captiuitie

1095

Till they haue payed the last farthing, this i[s] not tegent, is] in 1572

But permitted by Chryst in Mathew we may see. Math. 6.

Who layeth hand on the sword (quod Christ vnto Peter)

Shall perish with the same, and for the theeues crucified

He gaue no rebuke, and he sayd to the Minister, Math. 26.

1100

If I haue saide ill, recorde ill, these words he specified, Iohn . 18.

To the Centurion souldiors was nothing notified,

Yet Chryst praysed his fayth and humble submission. Math. 8.

Saint [Luke] to the souldiers these words modefied, Luke] Iohn 1572

Be content with your wages, and worke no oppression. Luk. 3

1105

Thus it foloweth these men should be as vertuous,

As the other power should but for ministration,

By a brotherly zeale to correcte things tedious,

As murther, rape, theft, felonie or treason,

Sin, incest, adulterie, stuprum, and fornication,

1110

Extortion, oppression, simony, and vsury,

And euery detestable outwarde abhomination,

As disceite, periurie, buggerie and Sodomie.

The third office, the mundayne occupation,

Was commaunded to Adam in Genesis we may see, Gene. 3.

1115

And by the holy-ghost and his inspiration

The influence thereof hath muche diuersitie

For the profite of man and his vtilitie,

And in Moyses law commaunded was the same,

And Chryst of his goodnesse and benignitie,

1120

This office and power did not correct ne blame.

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He commaunded not to care for meate drinke and cloth, Math 6. Luk 12. Psal. 4. 1. Pet. 3.

As who say, our minds on such things should not be,

But to prouide it and haue it he hath confirmed both,

For he vsed it him-selfe in his cathedralitie.

1125

Paule sayth, worse than an Infidell in cenositie

Is he which will not for his housholde prouide, 1. Timo. 5.

Peter and Paule to seruaunts for industrie,

Commaunded to obey their maisters for their guide. 1 Pet. 2. Ephe 6. Col. 3. Titu 2.

Muche Scripture recordeth this office not prophane,

1130

If they be wrought in fayth they be good works no doubt,

These shuld be always operous mens nedes to sustaine,

And not imprompt, but assiduous their works to bring about

As to delue, to dike, to spin, to grinde or boulte,

For their housholde charges and their reparation,

1135

Be it Tinker or Cobler which setteth but on a clout,

They may worke when they nede, and hinder no saluation.

For necessitie Paule wrought and made diuers tentes, Acts. 18.

And for error of the weake as I suppose and gesse.

But our Prelates should not so, hauing leefull stipends,

1140

For feare of filthy lucre, and hindring their office,

Artificers and laborers should worke this businesse,

And Iusticiers do iustice with all their might and puissance.

Here the hande and the foote can not well expresse,

Nor the foote to the loynes, I neede not thy assistance.

1145

This churche or body muste haue a head generall,

Which is Chryst God and man, our Lorde essentiall,

And his generall minister for gracious influence

Is the holy-ghost promised by his magnificence,

And I am with you sayd he vnto the worlds ende, Math. 28.

1150

That is, with vs say the prelates, for his churche can not erre:

That is not so say I, marry God defende,

For of all creatures there is no men werre.

Was the holy-Ghost in him that deceiued Celestinus ,

With a trumpe in his eare, and so got the Papasie?

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1155

Or with him that tooke out of his graue Formosus ,

And dight him in a chayre in his pontificalitie,

And stroke of his head to reuenge his olde iniurie,

And one depriued another without any fayle,

And made him ride to Rome to his incommoditie,

1160

With his face reuersed spectant to the tayle.

One bequest him-selfe long life by the spirit of prophesie,

And soone after brake his necke without incolumitie,

And through discorde in seuen yeres there were puppets nyne

And one through strife put out anothers eyne:

1165

And Semachus, and Laurence, and many mo did come

To the Romane See with great abhomination,

And fortie mo then these in Catholico pontificum ,

Their deedes are not described for their great detestation.

Three at once was a trifle for the roume to compare,

1170

Or with the Arians opinion Liberius infecte,

Their vice in ten volumes one can not well declare,

As Ioane_English, a woman their puppet elect,

Which trauelled in procession, which is an ill respecte,

That the holy-Ghost with them shuld gouerne and domine,

1175

For let their deedes be wayed vnto a true effecte,

And by al gracious vertue their works hath lost the signe.

I maruell by what signes they do thus inherite,

By three crownes, or by crosses, or pillers principall,

Or orders deuised should thus haue the espirite,

1180

Or Myters, Crochet or Crownes, or hattes Cardinall,

With tippets or rochets, or garments Pharisaicall:

Chryst vsed not this, nor his Apostles deare,

But were prudent as Serpents, and simple as doues all,

With pouertie and payne to make their fayth appeare.

1185

They spake with new tongs without humane instruction, Actes. 2.

Some reuiued the dead and maladies mortiferous, Actes. 24.

To palpe Serpents ne venime to them was destruction:

Some Disciples prophesied with many signes vertuous,

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And said not master, master, and vsed things sumptuous,

1190

For when Christ said, I am with you vnto the worlds end

That was with you, and with such elect to faith prosperous,

My grace by instinction wil I euer send.

Of the supreme head of the Church in earth.

Now to punishe, not proceeding vpon the holy-Ghost,

Within realmes politike there must be heads capital,

1195

And to commaund those things to be done to the vttermost,

With all humane businesse and iustice terrestial.

Our prelates shuld not their works shuld seeme temporal

Christes kingdom was not heere, then who shuld haue the power

But the owners of the soiles to keepe truth legal

1200

Be he Marques or Duke, Prince, king, or Emperor?

All power in heauen and earth quod Christ is giuen to me, Math. 18

Our prelates can chalenge by this no domination,

For they must follow Chryst in his humilitie,

And not in the power of his glorification,

1205

Who would be maister, must serue to do ministration, Math. 10

And the disciple aboue his master should not bee,

It is inough to be equall by Chrystes declaration,

Now our Prelats by this shuld haue no gret souerainty,

When Chryst sayd all power, that is to vnderstande, Math. 28.

1210

Both kings power, and euery power by my father constitute

As now corroborate and put into my hande,

Their offices vnder me to do and execute:

For he came to lose no lawes by his father institute,

But to make that perfect which should giue life perpetual,

1215

And that should those ministers alway execute,

And preache to all creatures the truthe euangelicall.

In the same Chapter it foloweth apparant,

His precepts should be obserued before which he had said,

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And which is Gods giue it God, these words are illustrant, Math. 28.

1220

And which is Cesars giue Cesar, no man can this persuade,

And Peter for Christ and him tribute to Cesar paide,

Some wil say like gentils, they shuld haue no king ne lord, Luke. 22 Math. 20 Marke . 10

This maketh not for their purpose by no reason made,

But against their Romaine Viper al scripture to record.

1225

When Christe said there shalbe no king ouer you,

That was, your rightuousnesse all other shuld transcend,

Yee shuld neede no law, for vice yee shuld eschue,

For Christe came to minister all vertue to amend,

And not to haue a minister for that he would offend,

1230

But for obedience and vnder gouernance,

When he payed the tribute that doth the truth pretend,

And Peter proueth it plaine Gods diuine purueyance.

Some wil say in the Actes, and by Paule we may see

That the Apostles to Princes were not obedient,

1235

In election ne vsage, but among them-selues free

To them I put the case by way of argument.

If the kings grace shuld send by his minde beneuolent,

Twelue discrete persons to the regions of Asia ,

To the Turks lands or Sophies to preach Christ omnipotent

1240

And to Prester_Iohns, and the great Canis of Catha ,

These wold elect those which in faith were constant,

To minister and preach and make predication,

And cleane abiecte those in faith which were variant,

And of the Turke and the Sophie make no reputation,

1245

Of Prester_Iohn nor the Cane, nor their lawes of damnation,

Yet peraduenture they would consult in one,

To perscrute for their lawes and make indagacion,

To mixt them with Christes to make their faith more prone

But if they had once their purpose obteined,

1250

As to conuert the great Turke or any such potestate,

Were it reason that then the Prince shuld be constrained

To relinque and forsake the power of his principate?

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No, for reason would this, he should be onustate,

To commaund and see Christes lawes in execution,

1255

And to keepe temporal iustice by his lawes inueterate,

So they repugne not from Gods constitution.

To this may resemble the Apostles vsage,

As to electe Mathias and other for certaine, Act. 1

And to mixe with Moises lawe the people to encorage,

1260

Commaunding from strangled and bloud to abstaine. Act. 15

And Timothe was circumcised, this doth apeare plaine, Act. 16

And Paule made a Iewish vowe at Iames request. Act. 21

Thus diuersly they wrought their purpose to obtaine,

Sometime depriuing lawes to bring all to the best.

1265

Paule saith, among Iewes he became as a Iewe,

And a Gentile with Gentiles, thus was his direction,

But when he perceiued the men firme and true

Conuerted to Christ with faith and perfection,

He vsed no cautel nor no suche suggestion.

1270

This is euident where to his freend Timothee,

He commaunded for kings to make intercession, 1. Tim. 2

And to Titus to obey to power and aucthoritie. Tit. 3

To the Romaines he saith, let euery soule submit Rom. 13

Him-selfe to the aucthoritie of the higher powers,

1275

Concluding of God constitute is it,

And who as it resisteth Gods ordinance deuoures

To his owne damnation, and he saith, gouernors

Beare not a sweard for naught, nor onely to take vengeance

Of the iricund and ill which be malefactors,

1280

But also must be feared as touching vnto conscience.

For this cause pay yee tribute further there saith he,

For they are Gods ministers for the same seruing,

And Peter all this with woordes of facunditie

In his Epistle doth expresse without a word swaruing,

1285

Further commaunding by a Paraphrase speaking,

To honor their king: now these things iterate,

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Do proue all powers of God from beginning,

Without any question or any-thing excusable.

Now all powers beeing by the Apostles approbate,

1290

These indoct dulbarts with senses obtusate, Gene. 17. Gene. 34.

In the Bible may see how fathers alway,

As Abraham, Isaac, Iacob and Iuda,

In the lawe of nature ruled ouer circumcision,

And in the lawe written Iudges of habitacle,

1295

As Moyses, Iosue, Samson and Gedeon, Iudic. 6 Iudic. 7.

Commaunded priest and Leuite to rule in the tabernacle. Nume. 15. 16.

And in tabernacle and temple kings had the duction

Of Prophet Priest and Leuite, euery-thing sacrate, Reg. 10.

Saule had not onely this, but by Gods instruction

1300

The vertuous had the same, as Dauid veterate,

Ezechie, Iosias, and Iosaphat sanctificate,

Salomon and all after the captiuitie,

The imperiall gentiles ruled the Church dedicate,

And ofte by the prophets confuted much heresie.

1305

Nabuchodonosor was one, and Darius also,

At Daniels intercession destroying false Baall, Dan 14.

Searche the Bible through and ye shall finde mo

Authorities than these by a thousande cleere seuerall,

Yet if the greedy Griffons and vile todes terrestiall,

1310

Which feareth the world by their auiditie,

Beleeue expositers more than truthe canonicall,

Then let them looke [to] Hamo for their securitie. to] 1572 omits

Et Epistola Gregorij ad Mauricium,

Et Epistola Gregorij ad Theodorum,

1315

Et descriptio Augustini contra Cresconium,

Et Epistola Augustini ad Bonifacium,

Et diuus Thomas de regimine principum,

And the writing of Isidore with Origens declaration,

And many mo than these too long to shew or summe,

1320

Unseemefull and scurrill to length such protestation.

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What can they saye now, but by a Counsell generall

Contrary was determined with great sagacitie,

The which cannot erre, and there was all scrutal,

To them I respond and their naughtie semitie,

1325

That Counsell had not the spirite of veritie,

For then they beleeued not Chrystes iustification,

But mixed it with workes, the which made properly

Their Counsell to be naught to Christes derogation.

For that not in scripture it is naught but sinne,

1330

Ergo, it is naught their Counsell is vacuate, Rom. 14.

From the left nor the ryght hand they maye not beginne, Ios. 1 Deute. 5 Deute. 17

Nor ad nor detray from Gods lawe most dedicate, Deute. 4 Deute. 13

All plants that he planteth not they must be eradicate, Iohn 15. Math. 25.

And thirdly Princes thinking it was good deuotion,

1335

To haue Gods lawes from worldly things sequestrate,

They consented to a Gouernour vppon a small motion.

This was done conditionally the fayth to refirme,

And not for traditio[n]s and false Ipocrisye,

And if there were no more for the whole aphorisme,

1340

This was sufficient to defeate the false papacie,

And Iames of Hierusalem was the first Byshop verily,

And who-so lyst to search in the Counsels of Neceyne ,

Among foure Patriarkes Rome had the lest Auncientie,

As of Antiochia and of Alexandrine .

1345

Constantinople sayde they were superiour,

When Focas the Emperour elect the fourth Boneface,

Questionlesse Rome was rather inferioure

To this, vsurped power al ryght dyd deface,

Who lyst to knowe the truth, reade the storie of Focas ,

1350

And we haue no authors but by Apocripha,

That do testifie that euer Peter was,

At Rome in his life, but at Antiochia ,

And Paul recordeth to the Gentiles he preached, Gala. 2.

And also Ananias in the actes doth declare, Rom. 11.

1355

How the kings of the gentiles by Paul should be teached: Actes. 9. Ephe. 3 Rom. 15

Now what can the Locustes aleage or yet pare,

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Except a wrong custome who wil contemplare,

For after Christes dayes this is plaine manifest,

Sixe hundred yeere the custome was contrary,

1360

Therfore haue they plaine confirmed their Antichrist.

Of Holidayes.

In an-other thing than this, our Prelates haue deuotion,

That is, to haue dayes for Halowes sabbatizate:

Who wold think such acts nebulous, to be of gods motion,

When the Saboth day, for god which was only preparate,

1365

Seemeth by Paule to be more than semilacerate? Gala. 4. Collos. 2

For he saith, it is a shadow of certain things future,

And Christ said he was Lord ouer the Saboth figurate,

And affirmeth it made for man, and man not for it sure. Math. 12. Luke. 6

And this is plaine, who giueth honor spiritual

1370

To any creature, but vnto God alone,

He breaketh the commaundement, the which is most principal: Exod. 20 Deute. 5

And to fast and keepe Saboth but vnto him in throne,

From the Metaphore of Christ themselues they do sepone.

For to the yong man which said to Christ, good maister

1375

What shall I doe to get heauen? Christ answered,

There is no man good, but in heauen my only father. Math. 19 Mark . 10 Luke . 18

And if men wil aleage with reasons rubiginous,

As to honor God in Saintes with such turpiloque,

Their reasons are nought but diuelish words rixous,

1380

The Apocalips is plaine against their aucthoritie,

For the Angel said to Iohn, kneeling in humilitie,

Take heede thou do it not: but honor God he saide. Apoc. 19 Apoc. 22

Now this is sufficient, at a breefe micrologie,

All Sillogismes and reasons shortly to persuade.

Of Purgatorie.

1385

Also for polling they haue picked vp a Purgatorie,

Spoiling Christes bloud and his misericorde,

And by Machabeus they make such aucthoritie,

That precation for the dead it neede to our Lord, 2. Macha. 12

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Yet in the Olde testament of a better recorde,

1390

Dauid for his sonne which he had by Barsabee, 2. Reg. 12

After he was dead, would neuer concorde

To pray any whit for his soules salubritie.

And in the ninthe chapter of Ecclesiastes, Eccle. 9

These words are contrary to the booke of Machabees,

1395

Which saith, that dead men the truthe to discusse,

Haue no part of the worke that is done vnder Phebus.

And in case this were not any-thing dissonant

To the prayer and oblation done to Machabeus,

Yet to vs now it is cleane discordant,

1400

For we haue attonement in light, and not vmbrous.

For our heauenly father these words did expresse,

That he would be to vs a father of all mercy, Gene 23

And he hath giuen vs Christ to fulfil his promisse, Math. 1

Which hath purged vs with his bloud without rusticitie, 1. Iohn . 1

1405

And hath satisfied for our sinnes to our taciturnitie,

And by him we are righteous, perfectly iustified, Heb 10 Gala. 3. 1. Iohn . 3

And to make right no right, it is no veritie.

Thus nought is their purgatori which they haue specified.

And if one would aleage to the Corinthians, where is said

1410

How our-selues shall be saued, yet as it were by fire, 1. Cor. 3.

That is, by Christ the foundation which is laide,

By whose deseruing the spirite doth inspire

With the burning zeale of charitie only at his desire,

To loue God and our neighbors, causing repentance, 1. Iohn . 2 Math. 6.

1415

Making vs to remit all trespasses and ire,

Wherby we obtaine of our sinnes deliuerance.

For God him-selfe is charitie, and who abideth in it

God remaineth in him, and he in God againe, 1. Iohn . 4

In the forsaid Chapter it is shewed euery whit

1420

By Paules exposition, though it be not so plaine,

For folowing immediate, he saith these words againe:

Are yee not ware that the temple of God are yee? 1. Cor 3.

And Peter in his Epistle he doth concord againe

To much of this purpose without nebulositie. 1. Peter . 4

sig: [G2v]

1425

For Peter saith that God wold haue al men to repentance,

Certifying that the elements shal waste with caliditie,

The heauens and the earth with euery work and distance. 1. Peter . 4

As who say, who repenteth shal passe that minacitie,

And repentance proceedeth vpon grounded charitie.

1430

Now, what can our prelates allege for their excuse,

Except by a vsage of a false sequacitie,

This woord poenitentia the which they do abuse?

Diuers haue pronounced the truth of this worde,

As Erasmus and other, right rutil of recorde.

1435

How-be-it, I would that infants both great and small,

Knew how it commeth of penitet the verbe impersonall,

Which is to forthinke, and that with heart contrite,

And not to do penance our-selues to iustifie

But to walke of a_new and therin to delite,

1440

Which is great penance our vsage to pacifie.

It is plaine how Christe to the woman of Cananie,

Commaunded to sin no more, other penance gaue he none, Iohn . 8

Nor yet to no other, nor to the theefe verily,

But said in Paradise thou shalt be with me soone, L[uke] Luke] Leuit. 1572 23. Luke] Leuit. 1572

1445

And if we knowledge our sinnes, he is faithfull saith saint Iohn.

And iust to forgiue vs our sinnes intoxicate

And to clense vs from all vnrighteousnesse in one, 1. Iohn . 1.

Now this maketh purgatorie to be cleerely frustrate.

The fifth Article.

To the fifthe Article where-as was required,

1450

Seuen Bishops with others which they called heretical,

That proued (said the king) they shalbe surely punished.

Howbeit we esteeme them true teachers substancial,

And this not proued, then is it iudiciall,

They to haue like punishment, which do this thing impute,

1455

And being so far distant, he thought their words prodigal,

Neuer hearing ne seeing them preach ne execute.

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To this Article.

This request doth resemble a story in Isidore ,

Which recounteth how king Philip besieged Athenes,

And but onely ten wise men, he asked no more

1460

To be deliuered to put them to distresse:

But then the Philosopher called Demostenes

He gaue counsell nay to that worke ruinous,

And for to eschue that formidolous busines,

He put foorth this fable to them commodious.

1465

Wolues somtime (quod he) frendship to shepherds profred,

On condition that they would deliuer their hounds to them,

For your dogs are those said they, which hath our frendship barred:

Whervpon the shepherds deliuered the same,

Then afterwards the wolues deuoured them to their shame.

1470

And in likewise (quod he) would they to our grauitude

With great ferositie confounde vs to our blame,

For default of men sapient our Citie to delude.

Thus our wolues irat these Duns-doctors rixant,

If they had obtayned, would haue followed this fable,

1475

Deuouring the elect all Chrystes lawes mitigant,

Depriuing the truth, to rumpe euery sillable

By craftie Silogysmes and reasons variable,

With counterfet gloses, and sense tropologicall,

Craftily sophisticate with reasons appliable,

1480

Making them to appeare to seeme anagogicall.

Thus would they haue ruffled and rashed in their relatiues,

Searching night and day man[i]pulus curatorum , manipulus] manupulus 1572

With the exornatory of Curates and many inuentiues,

As Dorme secure, and Gesta Romanorum,

1485

With the annall vsage of Ceremones parati,

And the negotious search of Sermones discipuli,

And many mo than these besides their decrees,

With constitutions and decretals, with suche suttle lyes.

Albertus de Secretis with Phisionoma Scoti ,

1490

With much Arte Magike, as Negromancie,

sig: [G3v]

Some would studie Orminancie, and some Piromancie,

Some Idromancie, some Geomancie,

Some Pedomancie, and some Ciromancie,

Some Palmistrie, with the science Mathematice,

1495

Lacking Christes musike and his geometrie,

With all his astrologie, and all his arsmetice.

And also with their Metaphisiks, and arts supersticious

Ouer_many to rehearse, with their Philosophie,

Would haue hindred Gods word to good men meticulous,

1500

But thanks be to Chryst, and the high deitie,

Their purpose is defeted with all their vapiditie,

To the honor of god and our most christened Monarchie,

Our prince imperiall and flowre of Nobilitie,

Which the Prelates named an vniust Heresiarchie.

1505

Now therfore let all men which haue inspiration

Looke for a sickle, for the haruest dothe approche, Apoc. 14.

Let them sing alleluia, and make iubilation, Apo. 19.

For the winter is past, and the sommer doth incroche, Mark . 1[3].13] 14 1572 Luk. 21. 13] 14 1572

To the Romane Antichrist and all his friends reproche: Dan. 8.

1510

Yea the Figtree is greene both faire and pulchritude, Math. 24 Luke . 21.

My-selfe of the small buddes a Sallet did incroche,

And me-thought it was pleasant, right sweete and dulcitude.

For (thanked be God) sainct Frauncis cowle is spied,

And sainct Brides bead, with sainct Hellyns quickingtree,

1515

Their girdles inuented, and their faire hayres died,

With their chaulke oled for the milke of our Lady.

Sainct Sithe and Trenians fast, with works of idolatrie,

As sainct Nicholas chaire and sainct Anthonies bell,

With Turpine stone and Moyses yarde so thee,

1520

With S. Katherins knots, and S. Anne of Buckstones wel

And S. Wilfred Boorne of Ripon to kepe cattel from pain,

And his needle which sinners can not passe the eye,

With S. Iohn and S. Peters grease for to conserue the braine,

And S. Thomas hoode of Pomfret for migreme and the rie,

1525

And S. Cuthberts standerd of Duresme to make their foes to flye,

And S. Benets bolte, and S. Swithens bell.

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And sainct Patrikes staffe and sainct Williams head pardy,

And sainct Cornelis horne, with a thousand mo to tell.

The sixth Article.

To the sixt article, where the Commons swarued,

1530

Finding fault that the Counsel shuld be of smal progenie,

At this sayd the king, we are greatly marueled,

For we are not obliuious of what habilitie

This our Counsell was at our incepte entrie,

For we had not very noble, but onely Earles twayne,

1535

And the lord Merney and Darcy of a meane generositie,

To they were preferred by our father and vs playne,

Lawyers and Priestes (quod he) were all mo than these,

Therfore he maruelled they were so obstinate,

Considering his counsell now so noble in degrees,

1540

As two dukes, one Marques, with three Earles associate,

Two lords, two knights, with foure bishops congregate,

And bicause they thoght it more than somwhat necessarie

To haue men learned, to haue their mindes approbate,

The lord Cromwel and lord Audley they put in authoritie.

1545

And I perceue (quod the king) that some of you do enterprise

As counsaylers to vs, which we neuer did admit,

But we well aduise you to leaue such preiudice,

And to meddle not of vs and our counsayle any a whit,

For certainely for our part we will not take it,

1550

Therfore eftsones eschue such things exprobate,

For we haue wit sufficient our counsayle to admitte,

And neede for that matter no counsayle interrogate.

To the Article.

Now doubtlesse the diuell poured out his venome here,

To prouoke them to demaund so naughtie a request,

1555

For of the seauen bishops, there was but one clere

Of the kings counsayle, as playnly was exprest,

And how transuerse was it reason to complaine of the rest,

And to rayle and to riot with great words tumultuous,

sig: [G4v]

And by a cloked colour to say they were opprest,

1560

And all to obteine their heresie voluptuous.

To finde fault with their bloud, that was a great vanitie,

For true noblenesse proceedeth vpon mans condition,

And not by inheritaunce vpon olde antiquitie,

For then were vertue to riches in subiection:

1565

Of Gaius_Flaminius who liste to haue inspection,

Agaynst Publius_Cornelius did alleage the same,

And let them see how gentlenesse came at the first inception

And they shall be abashed vnto their owne shame.

And further let them looke vpon their owne gentlenesse,

1570

Their estates, their bloud, and their long annositie,

And few of them shal find their own worldly noblenesse

Fiue degrees constant without mutabilitie,

For fortune turneth hir wheele somtime to gret furnitie,

And sometime to illumine to a great donation,

1575

As from an Earle to a gentleman of small habilitie,

And a squire to a duke, thus is hir mutation.

And among experience it may well be noted,

Of the lord Audley and the lord Cromwel , the which they do diffame,

Whose Auncetors ere this were Barons wel promoted,

1580

Til their fortune was transact, the which subdued their name

And by credible information discended are these same,

Of these two Barons of a worthy parentage:

Therfore I maruell these people did not shame,

To make suche petition in suche a furious rage.

1585

To speake of very noble, where may one compare,

The kings grace reserued, whose high progenitors

Haue reigned kings in Britaine aboue a thousand yere

Before Christes natiuitie, as the first inheritors

To Cadwallader surseased, and his mother predecessors,

1590

Haue reigned sithence the conquest, and of king Priamus ,

Before the reigne of England his bloud haue ben gouernors

Sithence the condigne reigne of the ancient prince Dardanus .

Therfore why the diuel did the slowormes finde such fault,

As to raile of so noble a prudent prince purueyaunce,

sig: H1

1595

When Michael the Archangell durst not be so hault,

As to the fetous Deuill to giue rayling sentence, Zaca. 3.

Striuing for Moses, and for his deliueraunce?

Peraduenture to this text some wil replye,

Why raylest thou then thy-selfe with suche trenous distance,

1600

To whom I do answere, this is the reason why.

For myne owne cause I do it not, but only for displeasure

Doone to my God and Prince, against diuine ordinance,

And Christ rebuked the Pharesies, and whipt by incussion

Diuerse which were naught for his fathers constitution, Math. 23 Iohn . 2

1605

And the Galathians were rebuked very sore by Paule, Gala. 3.

And diuers more than they ouer_long for rehearsall.

Now here is to be noted how Michaell the Archangel,

For the words sayd to him with the Deuil wold not rebel,

Thus of the Articles to make a shorte conclusion,

1610

If they saye they do it for the faythes reformation,

The scripture is against their false cloked collusion,

Ouer that it is well knowen their false imagination

For auarice was the cause to their owne preseruation,

Inuenting such a tale by a false vnanimitie,

1615

To prouoke all other to haue mitigation

In their myndes, for defence against their obscenitie,

The ende of the Insurrection.

Then Anglia the Empresse inclusiue

Sayde, Holme thy long processe and thy prolixitie,

Hath last so long from our matter fugitiue,

1620

That almost I am cast into a liturgie,

And drowned in a dumpe with a tremous extasie,

Therefore I beseech thee in this thing contentious,

To shewe what the commons dyd after this replye,

For the truth greatly to knowe I am desirous.

1625

And it like your grace (quod I) to reason of this responsion,

The Commons met at Yorke to Counsell in this thing,

And there being permanent about the same conclusion,

They had to them deliuered a letter from the King,

sig: [H1v]

His graces pleasure to them there pronouncing,

1630

That the Duke of Norfolk with other moe of grauitude,

Should meete them at Doncaster there to haue commoning.

This matter to exsolue or else not to conclude.

To this the commons agreed vniuersall,

And so the daye was set at Doncaster to meete,

1635

Wherevnto the commons apointed men seuerall,

By the Baronage aduise whome they thought discreete,

Thus they appointed their numbre whole complete,

Of euery wapintage whome they thought florulent,

And prouided seuen thousand to be phalarate at Pomfret,

1640

Conduct together as a stale for entisement.

So at the daye appoynted bothe the partes met,

At Doncaster predict to make their placitation,

But as soone as they had their matter trounsed and bet,

The commons part abashed of their shameful obiurgation,

1645

Howbeit the kings counsell to make a good pausation,

Promised if faultes were they should be amended,

So it could be proued by any true probation,

Those articles or things the which they had pretended.

And so by the Duke of Norfolkes intercession,

1650

There was graunted a pardon and that in generall,

From Done to Twede for their whole transgression,

Of all contemptes and trespasses as well as things vitall,

Nyne only reserued for whome with promise cordiall,

The Dukes grace behight for them to make prouidence,

1655

And so was al acquite for these causes actuall,

And mercifully pardoned for all their yl offence.

Yet this ought to be marked in time of vacation,

Or the pardon was giuen by the Kings magnificence,

V. thousand Cotes of fence by the countryes preparation,

1660

Was wrought and made for their corporall defence,

And Boyes went a procession as they wold make pretence,

And Mynstrels soong songs with many moe abusions,

More lyke beastes than men to make so great offence,

To vilipend their Prince with such naughtie illusion.

sig: H2

The later Insurrection.

1665

Thus of the first rysing I made a definition,

But yet the Lady Anglia toke me by the sleeue,

And sayde ( Holme ) I haue more inquisition,

Of a latter commotion which greatly doth me greeue,

Doone by sir Frauncis_Bigot which maketh my heart fremeske,

1670

For he was reconed one of the veritie perculent,

And what a shame was it contrarie to flameske,

And to forsake the truth such wrongfull things petent?

According to the prouerb and it please your grace quod I,

The Dog is reuersed vnto his vomit againe, Pro. 21. 1. Peter . 3.

1675

And the Sowe cleane washed in hir puddle wil she lye:

What nowe (quod Anglia ) I see thou dost but fayne,

For shewedst thou not me, who as beleeue plaine,

Had the holy-Ghostes gyft to keepe them to saluation,

That saying (quod I) I will not once refrayne,

1680

If it please your grace to heare with good deliberation.

It followeth not the gyft should keepe alway from sinne,

For the olde Adam wil rebel and the Deuil is inuidious,

The flesh with the spirite to repugne he will begin, Rom. 7. G[a]la. Gala] Gela 1572 5. Gala] Gela 1572

That is, the il spirit with the good is euermore contrarious,

1685

To make thornes to growe to let the corne fructious,

Howbeit the holy-Ghost to them which be elect,

At the last will subdue the olde Sathan viscous, Esay. 43. Act. 1.

And kepe to saluation this is the true effect,

And I doubt not his repentance who knoweth it inwardly,

1690

Though the Deuill for to syft him his heart did resarcyne,

By pouertie and vaine-glorye to haue frugalitie,

To make him proue to intend for to facyne,

Well quod Anglia , no more, but now of this defyne,

And shewe me how he rose and the insurrection,

1695

Forsooth Madame quod I, I will the same combine,

And it please you giue audience vnto his yl suggestion.

Truth it is after the commons had their pardon,

The king sent Aske and diuers moe than he,

sig: [H2v]

And lyke a condigne Prince to their costage and guerdon,

1700

Some had twentie pound, some fortie and some more verily,

But Bigot this perceyued with all his affinitie,

And thought the king wold stay the mater by his prudence,

And or euer they came home by their peruicacie,

They purposed by craft to take Hull for defence.

1705

So Monkes, Friers and Chanons, and Bigot altogether,

With many moe of counsell, they sent for to espye Hull,

One Halame a yeoman, but when he came thether,

Knowles had an inkling of his comming at the full,

Which manfully tooke him and there brake his skull,

1710

And rypping him found letters of a great pauitude,

Which purposed playne clearly to disanull

The Kings purpose before by their high gratitude.

But when Bigot heard that Halame was in captiuitie,

He burned vp a Bekyn and raysed nygh twentie score,

1715

And sente fourth diuers letters to collect more companie,

Himselfe toward Hull drawing euer more and more,

And sent to them thither, Halame to restore,

Craftely colouring that was his whole pretence,

But by that Aske came home, the Captaine before,

1720

Which wrote him a letter to leaue his frowardnesse.

When Bigot perceyued this letter described,

Not only by Aske, but by moe of habilitie,

Of his counsell before, then shortly he contriued,

To deuise in his heart this craftie subtiltie,

1725

To call the Burgeses of Beuerley to him openly,

Beseeching them record, he did not pretend

The kings grace ne his counsell any ignobilitie,

But Halame to obtaine an yl deed to amend.

And of this stale away sodenly from his host,

1730

With a knauish Fryer or a Paliard or twaine,

After that diuers Gentlemen being of the coaste,

Toke of them whom they thought most busiest for certaine,

By deede obligatorie bynding eche for other playne,

To appeare at Yorke at the consequent repaire

sig: H3

1735

Of the kings counsel, thither to aunswere againe,

Such faultes and iniuries as should be shewed then there.

All other hearing this beginning for to ryse,

Casting in coniecture another tyme was better,

Surseased of their purpose and naughtie enterprise,

1740

For openly they knewe by many sundry letter,

The Duke of Norfolk would come, this nugous thing they herd

And thought them more ample their purpose to obtain,

For they perceyued he would amongst them long retard,

Therefore they regarded not their fact for to refrayne.

1745

But marke the prouision which God dyd prouide,

For the king commaunded Iustices at Hull for to sitte,

To inquire and to see what fault might be espide,

And there-by the countrey was determined euery whit,

Among them-selues they could it not remyt,

1750

But condemned Halame with other two so thee,

Thus hanged were they three for the fault they dyd commit,

As Haman in the steede of Mardocheus verily. Hester .

Soone afterward the Duke to their newes according,

Came downe by commaundement Iustice to redresse,

1755

By the waye diuers of Bigots counsell meeting,

Commaunded by the king to apeare for their businesse,

But proceede dyd the Duke more wrongs to oppresse,

And keept at Yorke a Oyer-Determiner,

Where by due execution were hanged for their frowardnes

1760

Ten of pertinacitie of Bigots partie cleare.

At that tyme present in a chappell in Cumberland,

Bigot was taken and had to Carlyle Castle,

Then by Priestes inticements rose the commons of Westmerland

With Cumberland associate, purposing to expel

1765

Bigot from the Castle, but then the citie Carlyle

According to aligiaunce, their malice did floxipend,

Esteeming them as traitours so falsly to rebell,

And them perturbed manfully their citie to defend.

The Duke then intending more iustice to execute,

1770

In diuers other places this Insurrection hering,

sig: [H3v]

Gathered a great number these traitours to confute,

For Rychmondshire and Kendal came at a short monishing,

And there was of Yorkeshire in his trayne following,

Diuers gentlemen furnished to this battaile vigorous,

1775

But at Barney Castle when they were there gathering,

The Commons had a brawle to them ignominious,

For at Carlile they lost with shooting at the Citie,

Al their arrowes their artillerie most principall,

And then fled away from their villanous enormytie,

1780

This perceyued by the citie and gentlemen patrimoniall,

They came forth with Speares v.C. substantiall,

Well-horsed in aray following in a chace,

By whome they lost their Crosse their standard principal,

And had three hundreth taken within a little space.

1785

The other fled awaye as Sheepe with Wolues chased,

Some oppressed, some spoyled, some with lamentation,

Thus sixe thousand, by fiue hundred were vtterly defaced

Latrant like Dogs for their abomination,

But after these newes and this expiation,

1790

The Duke of Norfolk as a Prince not in hebitude,

Came swiftly to Carlyle to do ministration

Of Iustice for their faultes to their great penitude.

For there was hanged vppon their heades capitall,

Three score and sixteene vnto their friendes puderous,

1795

On trees in their Gardens to record for memoriall,

Thus heere was the end of this acte periculous,

But then began Tyndale like traitours contencious,

To ryot vp with Kydsedal as they would make a brawle,

The Duke heering this as a raged Lyon furious,

1800

Resorted to those countreys to proue their actes meutall.

Those countreys seing this, with al the Dukes parature,

By a small entisement dyd humbly them submit,

As a Hawke from his praye entised to the lure,

Whereby by fauour their trespasse was remyt,

1805

Reserued pledges taken bycause they should not flyt,

And so the Duke departed resorting againe,

sig: [H4]

To Yorke to doo iustice on Traytours to sit,

Where ther were four hanged approued traytours plain,

After that to Duresme the Duke dyd repare,

1810

And there by execution fourteene dyd apprehend,

And thus in all partes they were taught to compare,

Hanging in the places where they dyd offende,

Some on trees some on gallows, to learne them to pretend

With diuers Priors and Chanons as traitours wauing hye,

1815

To teach them eftsones their Prince to paruipend,

As Babes to be busie with such petulancie.

Then sir Frauncis_Bigot was had vp to London,

Intreated as a traitoure with handes and feete bounden,

And Aske the first Captaine and diuers moe than he,

1820

Was sent for to London and put in captiuitie,

Bycause they were paranymphes to Bygots insurrection,

And for that they were traitours of a later consent:

Thus being in prison, Gentlemen of discretion

Indited them in Yorkeshire, as traytors euident.

1825

Now after that the Duke had sitten on this Commission,

They were arained at London before the Kings Counsel.

And by open proofe attainted of Treason,

And condemned by true Iustice, for that they did rebel:

Yet some there were fortunate, the which escaped wel.

1830

But what will yee more? their Isagog so naughtie

Hath brought all the other to durous death fell,

Disheriting their children by his false operacitie.

There was of this number Aske and Bigot Captaines,

A Baron, a Barons sonne, foure Knights and a Squire,

1835

Two Priors, three Quondams, and two false Chaplains,

Which Prelates haue caused to be confuted cleere

Foure principall Abbayes as playne doth appeere,

And diuers hang on Gallowes in irons well parate,

And many of their adherentes in sundrie countreyes seere,

1840

As fugitiues and vagabonds they are cleerely fugate.

Ah ah (quod Anglia ) thou makest me to smile,

But I pray thee why shewest thou not Lincolnshire rebellion?

sig: [H4v]

Nor yet of Norfolke why doest thou not compile?

And it pleased you (quod I) for this consideration,

1845

The shires are very far distant from my habitacion,

Therefore it is more meete for other to discriue,

Howbeit the finall of their abomination,

As the other saide before, was complete finitiue.

For the Duke of Suffolk hath caused in Lincoln_shyre,

1850

As great execution to the countrey lamentuous,

Beside in yrons hanging which began to conspire,

And some was headed at London for their acte iniurious,

And as for in Norfolk the gentlemen salubrious,

Toke their Captaines at the first ere they could fully ryse,

1855

And after they were hanged for their facte scelerous,

With sore execution to teache them to be wise.

But and it please you (quod I) this rysing to pernote,

It is like as Iosua when he reached out his speare, Ios. 8

And as God with three hundred Gedion did promote,

1860

The Medianites to confound by their own brawlege cleer. Iud. 7

So these men with deedes more bitter than Ipaxere,

Must needes fortune like, considering that the King

Setteth forth Gods worde lyke as a true Elixere,

Turning brasse into golde by his mynerall working,

Of the Mouldwarp.

1865

But ther is one thing (quod I) which I dare scantly moue,

What is that quod Anglia ? forsooth Madame quod I,

Al the time of this bloonder to their own reproufe,

Lyke furious Bulls baited they spake of a prophesie,

Ascribing the king lyke traitours in trecherie,

1870

To the Mouldwarp which Marline doth account,

And I can proue playne their false fayned fantasie,

Is not against his grace for ought they can account.

It is thy dutie quod Anglia herein to descriue

To the publique cognisaunce of euery creature,

1875

Whereby true men their spirits may reuiue,

And to make the king ioyous thou ought to do thy cure,

sig: I1

That his grace may perceiue their fantasie so obscure,

Therfore do it (quod she) and be not desidecious,

For herein to labour thou may be firme and sure,

1880

The Papistes to perturbe, though they be prodigious,

Then cryed I to the altitude to the Iupiter superne,

In the autentique mount of Hellicon so hye,

Surmounting Pernassus Alpha and [omega]Greek letter eterne,

To inspire me with his grace in-steede of Terpsicorie,

1885

Herein to pronounce the perfite veritie

To the laude of my king and my prince naturall,

For I lacked Calliope and the Muse Melponione ,

With all the sciences which are sermocinall.

Yet I tooke vpon hande, and these words I sayde,

1890

Ye Palyardes imprudent so prompt and prone to prate,

To search well the Chronicles your-self it shall vpbraide,

For of the sixe kings by Marlin nominate,

The third Henry was the first of that number preparate,

And his sonne Edwarde, and Edwarde that made three,

1895

And of very consequence the number of that date

By royall succession that was the fourth Henry.

And as for the kings grace he is the twelfth king,

Therfore that way your reasons be vacuate,

And if by Edmonde_Crochbacke ye would make your reckening,

1900

Your number is not right nor yet wel perambulate,

And further than that yee should cleane perfigurate

The prophesie of nought and of no reputation,

For Edwarde and Edwarde they are twayne declarate,

Which descended not of him, as by true probation.

1905

What can ye say now, except ye skippe at pleasure,

To take heere one and there one your purpose to defende?

Then what deede ignoble were it aboue measure,

To so prudent a prince as the king for to condiscende,

To ascribe it to him his grace to naucipende?

1910

Oh people lusolitous, way me the prophesie,

And there may yee proue how greatly yee offende,

For no worde is like vnto the kings maiestie,

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The prophesie of the Mouldwarpe, declareth he shal be

A Caitife, a Cowarde, with a helderly skin:

1915

But is he a Caitife, when playnely we may see

His portrature and vigor a very Herculine?

And is he a cowarde the truthe to define,

When in Fraunce and in Scotlande his noble chiualrie,

And in many places mo so gloriously doth shine,

1920

That he is accounted a Gemme in actiuitie?

And hath his grace a henderly skin like a Gote,

When his pingued of nature will cause his pubertie

Long time to appeare: Oh Dawcockes ye dote,

To nihilipende your prince with such perputilitie,

1925

But ye passe not of Antichryst for all his ill prauitie,

For him ye would inhaunce with all ye could indite,

To skip, to transalpine, ouer mountaynes for to flie,

And to stumble at a straw not so muche as a myte.

Peraduenture yee will say the words of the prophesie

1930

Dothe nothing resemble to the outwarde intente:

Then with a cheere risible to that mitalogie,

I will playnly concorde, agree and consente,

And to all other particles in that prophesie ment,

For prophesie locute by prophane men alway,

1935

And responsions by diuels they be things stultent,

Perfructe by the figure called Amphibologia .

As by Nigromancie Gerebert had answere

To sing at Ierusalem a Masse or euer he dyed,

And the Puppet sang at Rome in a Church or a Quere,

1940

Called by that name or euer the spirite he espied.

And one Stephin of Angeo , by a spirite had specified

That he should dye in Pluma , by which words ociabund

He was resident from fethers, and might them not abide,

And in a Castle so named he died like a vacabund.

1945

One Alberice also Earle of Northumberlande

Had answere by a diuell Grecia to obtayne,

Which made him resulte and ioyous to take in hande

To conquere all Grece to his ligitious payne,

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And made him to pampereske and to returne agayne

1950

To the countrey of Normandie, where he had pollicite

By king Henry of Englande a widowe for certayne

A wife called Grecia , thus was his chaunce finite.

Pirrhus of Appolline had suche a like responcion,

With diuers mo than these ouer-long determinable,

1955

But other wayes than this there is muche preuention

By the figure sayd before, as a spirite ineffable

Might say to a maried man these words comfortable,

Thou shalt haue to thy wife lady Rosa or thou dye.

Here were a doubt whether he should wed the flore venerable,

1960

Or to haue hir to his associate wife company.

Also one might say, thou shalt haue viuacitie

As many yeres as this yard wand is inches of length,

Now some would mete the inches and think no duplicitie,

Yet one might sure pernoske another way such strength,

1965

As to rumpe or burne the yarde, or to burne it to dust,

For then were the yarde not an inche of length at all,

And it not inches long, then might a man proue iuste,

The destenie may be done by this color duall.

Also if a woman solde geese in the faire

1970

To one called Pecock, and another swan nominate,

I had Geese, Swans and Pecocks she might well declare.

Also one might by this color figurate,

Of a man called Foxe buy Turues parate,

And say, I bought Turues which I thought to leide,

1975

The which was Foxes: thus double words ornate

Wil make a false sense true, and a true a lye in-deede,

Ouer this, prophesies by true declaration

Doth more resemble to nature, than to words of vanitie,

As Daniell figured regions to beasts and variation,

1980

So may we thinke for rapine the Cleargie,

And for true noblenesse a Lion to the Laitie,

May not Marlin meane thus by his words miraculous?

And a Dragon for his venime to compare to the commontie,

This doth appeare better than playne reasons linguous.

sig: [I2v]

1985

A thousand suche wayes in prophesies are contriued,

And Peter sayth the good hath no priuate exposition,

Then must the ill with subtiltie and ill be deuised,

As plaine it doth appeare by many an ill peruersion,

And specially in Yorkshire at this last commotion.

1990

For amongst diuers people there was one right profound,

Whose ende to perceiue there can be no direction,

Howbeit the beginning made diuerse not fremebounde.

Now this was their prophesie and their nugacitie,

Without a word added, or a worde of minoritie:

1995

Foorth shall come a worme, an Aske with one eye,

He shall be the chiefe of that meinye,

He shall gather of chiualrie a full faire flocke,

Halfe Capon and halfe Cocke,

The Chicken shall the Capon slay,

2000

And after that shall be no May.

Of the first part of this we may haue some inspiration,

But the last parte is colored too far from mans minde:

Thus are diuelish prophesies made by such obiection,

That falshod in the ende, that is their proper kinde.

2005

Of the Mouldwarpe who wil scrute he shal the same find,

For three of the laste prophesies by Marline pagynate,

No man can finde true, but abscondent and blinde,

And I can proue them playne bothe past and depopulate.

For in the English Chronicles who liste to aspicer,

2010

In the last chapter of king Cadwalader ,

They may perceiue an angel said the wil of god was plaine

How the Britons shuld neuer-more in Britaine raigne,

Till the prophesies sayd before by Marlin be fulfilled,

And that time should neuer be vnto the time future

2015

That the reliques of his body into Britaine wer translated

From Rome, with the reliques of other saincts sure

That hath ben hyd for the Paynim folkes persecution,

Which shall be published, and found, and openly shewed,

Then should they of that lande haue perfite restitution.

2020

Here may be noted Marlins prophesies subdued,

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For Henrie the seuenth Cadwalladers bloud renued,

And the kings grace maketh Britons by the number plural,

Which is very relikes it cannot be eschued,

Of flesh, bloud and bone, of the same stocke paternal.

2025

Which is from Rome translated, and that false obedience,

As supreme head in earth vnder Christ to sustentande,

And Gods word the reliques of other sainctes pretence,

Which for persecution of their sore fire-brand,

Is now openly shewed all heretikes to grauand.

2030

Now thanks be to God for his great largition,

Now before the seuenth Henrie, this doth promulgand

The prophesies of Marlin haue ended their condition.

And this is the meaning of Marlins prophesie,

Where he saith that the right heirs of England shall end,

2035

That is, to continue shal that genealogie,

For euermore as the angel did pretend

To Cadwalader, when he promised his blud again to send

And where Marlin saith sixe of the last kings,

In that of the last halfe he did comprehend

2040

To take where he list, these were his meanings.

And by the seuenth Henry it is plaine manifest,

As for calling the same to be the land of conquest,

And it seemeth the fourth Edward the Mouldwarp for to be

For diuers causes, but for one most specially,

2045

Which soweth his seede fatherlesse in a strange land,

That is by the king of his owne procreation,

Which hath lost his Romain father the truth to vnderstand,

Of whom therfore good men haue made declaration.

This the Britishe Lion by Sibilla prophesied,

2050

This is the Egle surmounting, which Festome hathe notified,

This is the king anoynted, which S. Thomas specified,

This is the three-folde Bul which Siluester magnified,

This is the king which S Edward in words glorified,

Which shuld win Ierusalem with all the holy land,

2055

And many realmes mo with the crosse that Christ crucified,

By his abundant fortitude without dint of hand.

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Is not his grace a Lion and accompt his audacitie,

And a prodigious Egle high volant in things diuine,

And anointed with faith by the spirite of veritie,

2060

And of faith, hope and charitie, a fierce Bul in trine:

He hath obtained Christes crosse as they did vaticine,

With the heauenly Ierusalem aboue Ezechias,

Repairing the true temple in vbertuous wayes to shine,

Maumetrie destroying as the vertuous Iosias.

2065

Ye this is he which hath made al the Romain bels to ring

Without pul of hand, their false tongs papistical,

Hauing oile in his lampe he is a maiden king,

Though they take it otherwise by their senses carnal,

And in the true vale_of_Iosaphat the scripture canonical,

2070

There no doubt but his grace is sepelite.

for doubtlesse all the English prophesies autentical,

Concerning these matters by the king is whole condite.

Loe leprous lurdeins lubrike in loquacitie,

Vah vaporous villeins, with venim vulnerate,

2075

Proh prating parentecides plexious to pinnositie,

Fie frantike fabulators furibund and fatuate,

Out oblatrant oblict obstacle and obcecate

A addict algoes in acerbitie acclamant,

Magnall in mischeefe malicious to mugilate,

2080

Repriuing your Roy so renoumed and radiant.

Thus ending the pretending of their naughtie abusion,

I mused how they perused them-selfe as a feticine,

To perturbe and disturbe through such naughtie illusion.

Then Anglia like Flora more fragrant than Columbine,

2085

All gorgeous and daungerous, shee looked like Eglantine

Tripping and skipping, anormed most shine.

With purles and cuts, and broderie right fine,

Of stone, gold and pearle aboue Gwaner the Queene.

Shee was as tricke as Tamer , and like bony Barsabee ,

2090

More dapper than Dido , more ruddie than Rosamund ,

Shee florished like Florence , as pretie as Penelope ,

As lowly as Lucrece lasciuious and ludibund.

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Plasmate like Polixene , both ioyous and iocund,

More mystical than Melusin , or any nimph aliue,

2095

For the muse Erato could not make such redound,

With melodie armonious, so dulcet to deriue.

Adew Holme quod shee, and with that a cloud descended

More oderous than Balsamie or Pomander imperiall,

Like Mirrhe in suauitie or Gummes of Saba blended,

2100

With perfume so Aromatike it passed sense natural.

With that shee ascended vnto the skie stelliferall,

Included with the cloud, most glorious to deuise,

By power of the Lord eterne and potenciall,

Gaudent and plaudent among the three Hierarchies.

2105

On a white horse there was a king in armes martiall,

With a Lambe vndefiled more ruddy than a Rose,

Which the strumpet vulnerate the whore Babilonicall,

Then Cherubin did clarion,and sing athanatos,

And Seraphin did Symphane kyrie eskyros ,

2110

The thrones to their trompes, they sang Osanna ,

The dominations droned vp this word Agios ,

And the Virtutes with virginals they sang Alleluya .

The potestates and principates, they piped Eleyson ,

The Angels they sang Sabaoth Sother vnigenitus ,

2115

And the Archangels Rabi Messias Tetragramaton,

Emanuel adonai in excelsis sanctus,

Iehouah et abba primus et nouissimus,

O saluator mundi with that they gaue a shout

All with one concorde, and sang Iesus_Christus ,

2120

The Lambe vndefiled doth iustifie no doubt.

Deo gratias quod I, Et te Deum laudamus ,

God the Father, God the Sonne, God the Spirit vital,

One in three, three in one te glorificamus ,

Not three Gods but persons, and one God essentiall,

2125

To whose potenciall iustice, be louing eternall,

And to the sapience of the sonne of his misericord,

And to the gracious espirit in vnitie all coequall,

Equipolent and vniate, one God and one Lord.

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The deitie of him-selfe eterne not proceeding,

2130

And Christ lesse than the father being but a man,

And the word of the father essent euer being,

Not made ne creat, but got, or euer the world began,

And the euerlasting spirite he proceedeth than

Of the father and the sonne equal God associate,

2135

Whose power, deedes and wil concordeth against sathan,

To whome giue we honor with our Christ incarnate.

Beseeching his prohennitie for the kings magnificence,

That he may haue long life, Gods word to fortifie,

And to send vs of his body heire male for our defence,

2140

All true espirites Anglice for to reioyce and magnifie.

Thus concluding by correction of the kings maiestie,

And his counsel honorable, with all those perfidious,

That with firme trust and hope beleueth Christ to iustifie

By his deede and his promisse to make vs all righteous,

2145

The .xiiij. day of July componed and compiled,

In the .xxix. yeare of the raigne of the .viij. Henry royall,

By Wilfride_Holme vnlearned, simply combined,

As a Pigme to writing with Hercules for triall,

In Huntington in Yorkshire commorant patrimonial,

2150

Pretending and intending with Gods grace, to endeuer

My-selfe to worship the Lord sempiternal,

Wherby I may be iust to my God and Prince for euer.

FINIS. per Wilfridum_Holme.