The Voice of the Last Trumpet

Crowley, Robert

TextBaseEarlyTudorEnglish
RCVLT6094
2008
STC 6094
Ringler 6094 and TP 2269 ('Who so would that all thinges were well'), also TP 976 ('It please mine Autor...' [envoy]). Ed. J.M. Cowper, EETS es 15 (1872), 53-104 [STC 6095]. UMI microfilm reel 133

The voyce of the laste trumpet blowen bi the seuenth angel wherin are contayned xii. lessons to twelue seueral estates of menne
London: [Richard Grafton for] Robert Crowley,1549.



Composition Date: 1549? [STC].

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Nee: =Nehemiahbleare: see OED s.v. blear v1, 3 Ephe .v. Luke .xix.

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	¶The voyce of the laste trumpet blowen bi the seuenth Angel as is mentioned in the eleuenth of the Apocalips, callynge al the estates of menne to the right path of their vocation, wherin are contayned .xii. lessons to twelue seueral estates of menne, whych if they learne and folowe, al shal be well and nothynge amise.
	¶The voyce of one criyng in the deserte. Luke .iii.
	¶Make ready the Lordes way. Make hys pathes strayte. Euery valey shal be fylled, and euerye mountayne and little hyll made lowe. And thyngs that be croked shal be made straight and harde passages shal be turned into playne wayes, and al fleshe shal se the health of God.
	Esai .xl
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	The contentes of thys boke.
	i.The Beggers lessone.
	ii.The Seruau[n]tes lesson.
	iii.The Yeomans lesson.
	iiii.The Lewde priestes lesson.
	v.The Scholers lesson.
	vi.The Learned mans lesson.
	vii.The Phisicians lesson
	viii.The Lawiers lesson.
	ix.The marchauntes lesson.
	xThe Gentilmans lesson.
	xi.The Maiestrates lesson.
	xii.The Womans lesson.
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	WHo-so would that all thinges were well,
	And would him-selfe be wythout blame:
	Let him giue eare, for I will tell,
	The way how to performe the same.
5	Fyrste walke in thy vocation,
	And do not seke thy lotte to chaunge:
	For through wicked ambition,
	Mani mens fortune hath bene straunge
	¶The Beggers lesson.
	IF God haue laied his hande on the,
	And made the low in al mens sighte:
	Content thy-selfe with that degre,
	And se thou walke therin vpright.
5	If thou I saye, be very poore,
	And lacke thine health, or any limme:
	No doubte God hath inough in store
	For the if thou wylt truste in him.
	If thou wilt trust in him I say,
10	And continue in patience:
	No doubte he wyll fede the alwaye,
	By hys mercifull prouidence. Esai .xl.
	Call thou on hym, and he wyll moue,
	The hertes of them that dwell the bye:
15	To giue the such thynges for hys loue
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	As serue for thy necessitie.
	When Daniel was in the denne
	Of Lions, hauing nought to eate:
	Abacucke was sent to him then,
20	With a pot of potage and meate. Dani .xiiii.
	And when Elias fled awaye,
	From Ahab and quene Iesabell:
	The Rauens fedde him by the way,
	As the story of kynges doeth tel. iii Reg .xvii.
25	And as kinge Dauid doeth recorde,
	The Rauens birdes lefte in the nest:
	Are when they crye fedde of the Lord
	Though they know not to make request Psal .cxlvii.
	Trust thou therfore in God aboue,
30	And cal on him with confidence:
	And doubtles he wil mens hertes moue
	To fede the of beneuolence. Psa xxxii.
	But if at any time thou lacke,
	Thinges nedeful, yet do not despayre:
35	As though the Lord did the forsake,
	Or did to the displeasure beare. Hebru xii. Apoca .iii.
	But in such case call to thy mind
	What plenty God hath to the sent
	And thou shalt wel perceiue and find
40	That thou hast many thinges mispent. Iob .xiii.
	Then thinke Gods iustice could not leaue
	The vnplaged for that thou hast:
	Mispente the gyftes thou didst receiue,
	To liue vpon and not to waste. Sapi .x.
45	Then must thou nedes giue god glory,
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	For his vpright and iust iudgement:
	And be moste earnestly sory,
	For that thou hast his giftes mispent. Luke .xv.
	But if thou find thy conscience cleare
50	As fewe men can I am right sure:
	Then let Iobs trouble be thi chere,
	That thou maist paitently endure,
	Yea though thou shouldest perishe for fode
	Yet beare thy crosse patientely:
55	For the ende shall turne to thy good,
	Though thou lye in the streates and dye. Luke .xiiii. Math .v. Psa ix.
	Pore Lazarus died at the gate,
	Of the riche man (as Luke doth tel)
	But afterwarde in rest he sate
60	When the riche glutton was in hel. Luke .xvi.
	S[t]ay thou thy-selfe therfore vpon letter defective
	These examples confortable:
	And doubtles thy vocation
	Thou shalt not thinke miserable Mat .xi.
65	Neither shalt thou grudge or repyne,
	That thy pouertie is so greate:
	But shalt thy-selfe euer encline,
	To Goddes wyll who doeth the viset.
	Thou shalt not grudge, when thou doeste craue
70	Of any man his charitie:
	Though at his hand thou canst nought haue
	But shalt praye for him hertely.
	That if he haue this worldely riches, worldely] worldes 1550
	And yet hath not Godly pitye. i Iho .v.
75	The spirite of God will him possesse:
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	And teach hym to knowe hys duty. Math .xxii
	Thus doing thou dost walke vpryght
	In thy callynge thou maist be sure:
	And arte more preciouse in Gods sight,
80	Then men that be ryche paste measure. Luke .xx. Act x. Rom ii.
	Thus leaue I the in thy callinge,
	Exhortynge the therin to stande:
	And doubtles at thy laste endynge,
	Thou shalt be crowned at Gods hand. ii. Timo .ii. Iob .iii.
	¶The Seruauntes lesson.
85	BRother come hither vnto me,
	And learne some parte of discipline:
	For I am sent to enstruct the,
	And teach the some Godly doctrine.
	I am sente to call the I saye,
90	Backe from thy stoute and stubburne mind:
	Take hede therefore, and beare away
	Such lessons as thou shalt here finde.
	Fyrste considre that thy callynge,
	Is to do seruice and obey:
95	All thy maisters lawfull biddynge,
	Bearinge that he shall on the laye. Luke .xvii.
	If he be cruel vnto the,
	And ouer_charge the with laboure:
	Call to the Lorde, and thou shalte be,
100	Shortely out of his cruell power.
	Remembre thou Iacobs kynred,
	That in Egypt were sore opprest:
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	But when they were moste hard bested,
	The Lord brought them to quiet rest. Exod .i.
105	They coulde not crye so sone but he,
	Had heard and graunted their requeste: Exodi .iii.
	And ryght so will he do by the,
	And se all thy great wronges redrest.
	He will I saye deliuer the,
110	Out of bondage and seruitude.
	And brynge to passe that thou shalt be,
	Maister of a greate multitude. Math .xxv.
	And bicause thou didst walke vpright
	Shewynge thy-selfe obedient:
115	Thy seruauntes shal haue still in sight,
	The feare of God omnipotent. Math .vii. and .xiiii.
	And like seruice as thou hast done,
	Thou shalt haue done to the agayne:
	For sence the worlde was firste begone
120	Neuer true seruaunt lost his payne.
	Iacob serued full fourtene yere,
	And dealt truly with his maister:
	As in the Bible doth appeare,
	And was exceadinge riche after. Gene .xxix.
125	Fourtene yere he serued Laban,
	Who was made riche by his labour:
	But afterwarde Iacob began,
	To groue to muche greater honour, groue: =grow
	Laban was neuer of such might
130	As Iacob was wythin shorte space:
	For his true seruice in Gods sight,
	Had purchast hym fauour and grace.
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	Thus seest thou how god doth regard
	The good seruice of seruauntes true
135	And howe he doth in them reward
	The seruice that is but their due
	It forceth not what maner man
	Thy maister is, so that thou be:
	In thy seruice a christian,
140	Doynge as Christ commaundeth the i. Peter .ii.
	But if thy maister be wicked,
	And woulde haue the do wyckedly:
	Then se that thy fayth be pitched
	On thy Lord God most constauntly
145	Call to thy minde good Daniel,
	Who serued his prince fayethfully
	Notwithstandynge he was cruel
	And eke his Lorde Gods enemy.
	Serue him truly I say, for-why,
150	God hath bade that thou sholdest do so:
	But do thou nothinge wickedly,
	Neither for well nor yet for wo.
	Se thou serue him as faythfully,
	As he were thy Lord, and thy God:
155	Not with eye-seruice faynedly,
	Neither for the feare of the rodde. Colo .iii. Ephe .vi.
	But for the conscience thou dost bear,
	To thy Lorde Gods commaundement.
	That is for loue and not for feare,
160	Of any worldely punishmente.
	Do thus and then thou shalt be sure.
	Thy Lord wil euer prospere the:
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	And at his good will and pleas[u]re,
	Thou shalt not misse to be made fre.
165	But if thou wilt be still sturdy,
	And do thy seruice wyth grudging:
	The Lord shal plage the worthely,
	With manifolde kindes of scourginge.
	Thou shalt be put to drudgery,
170	Many a daye, ma_grea thine head:
	And be kepte still in slauery,
	Al thy life-dayes till thou be dead.
	And if thou chaunce to renne awaye,
	Either thou shalt be brought agayne:
175	Or else when thou doest chaunce to stay,
	A worse maister shall the retayne.
	Once thou shalt be certayne of this,
	That if thou refuse thy callinge:
	Of miserie thou shalte not misse,
180	Though thou escape sodayne fallinge.
	Yea though thou do prospere a while
	And seme to haue fortune thy frende:
	Yet thou doest but thy-selfe begile,
	For misery shall be thyne ende.
185	For as thou didest thy master serue,
	So shall al thy seruauntes serue the:
	And as thou didst hys goodes preserue
	So shall thy goodes preserued be.
	And beside this Gods wrath is bent,
190	Towarde the for disobedience:
	Wherefore vnles thou do repent
	He wyl adde therto vehemence.
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	He wyl plage the here wonderously,
	And at the ende cast the in payne:
195	Where thou shalt lye eternally,
	And wysshe to be a slaue agayne.
	Repent therfore, I the aduise,
	And seke thine owne saluation:
	And then thou muste in any wise
200	Walke still in thy vocation.
	Do thy seruice diligently,
	And shewe no disobedience:
	Be thou not stoute, but stil apply,
	And do all thynges with reuerence.
205	Refuse nothing that must be done,
	But do it with all redines:
	And when thou hast it once begone.
	Then set a_syde all slouthfulnes.
	Be true, trustye, and triste not,
210	Be gentle and obediente:
	And blessyng shall lyght on thy lot,
	For doynge Gods commaundement.
	To make an ende haue still in minde,
	Thine estate and condition:
215	And let thine herte be still enclinde,
	To walke in thy vocation.
	¶The Yeomans lesson.
	THou that art borne the ground to till,
	Or for to laboure wyth thyne hande:
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	If thou wylt do nought that is yl,
220	Desire not idle for to stande.
	But se thou do plowe, plante, and sowe,
	And do thy nedeful busines:
	As one that doeth his duty knowe
	And wyl not the Lords wil traunsgres.
225	For what doest thou if thou desire,
	To be a lorde or gentilman:
	Other then heape on the Gods yre,
	And shewe thy-selfe no christian?
	For Christes shepe do heare his voyce
230	Whyche biddeth the worke busily: Iohn .x.
	Sixe dayes, and in the seauenth reioyce
	And giue somewhat to the neady. Exod .xx.
	It doeth also bid the beware,
	Of the desire to be alofte:
235	For he that doeth for honour care,
	Falleth in Sathans snares full ofte.
	Haue minde therfore thy-selfe to hold
	With[in] the boundes of thy degre: letters broken
	And then thou maist euer be bold
240	That God thy lord wil prosper the.
	And though the Lord giue the plenty
	Of corne, cattel, and other thinge: Prou .xxiii.
	Be thou neuer the more gredy
	Nor set thy minde on gatheringe. Psal .lxii.
245	But thinke the Lord doth these thinges send
	To the as to his stuard true:
	That wilt not his goodes wast and spend,
	But bestowe them where they be due.
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	And if with thy labour thou get
250	Money much more then thou dost nede:
	Do not thy minde on rayment set
	Neither on deinty fode to fede.
	Set not (I say) thy minde on pride,
	Neither vpon deliciouse fare:
255	Neither forget at any tide,
	To giue the pore that thou maist spare.
	But when thou hast sufficient,
	Of fode and honest apparaile:
	Then holde thy-selfe therewith content
260	As with the wage of thy trauaile. i. Timo .vi.
	The rest if ought remaine vnspent,
	Vpon thine owne necessitie)
	Bestowe as he that hath it sent,
	Hath in his worde commaunded the.
265	And if thou finde not written there,
	That thou maist heape thy chest with gold
	To bye greate liuelode for thine heyre.
	Howe darest thou then be so bold?
	Howe darest thou be bolde I say,
270	To heape vp so muche goulde in store:
	Out of the due that thou shouldest paye,
	To them that be pore, sycke and sore?
	Wo be to them sayeth Esai,
	That heape togither house and Land:
275	As men that woulde neuer finde staye,
	Til al the earth were in their hand. Esai .v.
	What wil ye dwel alone sayeth he)
	Vpon the earth that is so wyde?
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	Wyll you leaue no parte thereof fre
280	From your vnsaciable pride?
	Ye nede not to be so gready,
	For the Lord doeth you plainely tell:
	That greate houses shall stande empty,
	And no man left therin to dwell.
285	And Moses saith that thou shalt build
	Houses and neuer dwell therin:
	Thy-selfe nor leaue them to thy chylde.
	Nor any other of thy kynne. Deu .xxviii.
	And why? because thou hast no mynd
290	To kepe the lordes commaundement.
	But sekest euer for to fynde.
	Wayes to encrease thyne yerely rent.
	No maner threatnynge can the let.
	From purchasinge the deuel and all
295	It is all fyshe that cometh to net.
	To mayntayne thy great pryde with-al
	Well turne agayne I the aduise.
	And l[e]arne to walke in thine estate: letter broken
	And set goddes feare before thyne eyes.
300	Leste when thou woldest it be to late.
	And haue in thy mynde euermore,
	This rule of thy profession:
	Whyche is in-dede gods holy lore.
	To walke in thy vocation. i. Cor .vii
305	But if the Lord do the not blesse,
	In thy labours wyth greate plenty
	Yet thanke thou him neuer-the-lesse
	Thou hast more then thou art worthy.
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	If thy Landlorde do rayse thy rent
310	Se thou pay it wyth quietnes:
	And pray to God omnipotent,
	To take from hym his cruelnes.
	So shalt thou heap coles on his head
	And purchase to thy-selfe great rest.
315	By the same man thou shalt be fedde,
	By whom thou wast before opprest
	For God who ruleth ech mans herte,
	Shal turne thy Landlordes hert I say:
	And shall al his whole life conuert
320	So that he shall be thy greate stay.
	Or els if he be not worthy,
	To be called to repentaunce:
	No doubte thy Lorde wyll him destroy,
	Or take from him hys heritaunce.
325	Sure thou shalt be he wyll the set
	Fre from thy Landlordes tyranny:
	For he did neuer yet forget
	Any that walked orderly.
	But if thou wilt nedes take in hande
330	Thyne owne wronge for to remedy:
	The Lorde him-selfe wyll the withstande,
	And make thy Landlord more gredye
	.
	And where before thou paiedst greate rent
335	Thou shalt now lose thy house and al:
	Bicause thou couldst not be content
	Wyth patience on him to call.
	In like sort if thy prince wyl take,
	More tribute then thou canst well spare:
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340	Se thou pay it him, for Gods sake,
	Whose officers all princes are. Math .xii.
	For in his nede boeth thou and thine,
	Are his to maintaine his estate:
	It is not for the to define,
345	What great charges thy kinge is at.
	Yea though thou se euidently,
	That he wasteth much more then nede:
	Yey pay thy dutye willyngely,
	And doubtles God shall be thy mede.
350	Nowe touchynge thy religion,
	If thy prince do commaunde the ought:
	Agaynst Gods Euangelion,
	Then pray for hym still in thy thought.
	Praye for him still, I say that he
355	May haue Godly vnderstandinge:
	To teach Gods word to such as be,
	Committed to his gouerninge.
	And se thou do not him despise,
	But answere him wyth reuerence:
360	And thoughe thou mightest, yet in no wise,
	Do thou forget obedience.
	Take not his swerd out of hys hand,
	But lay thy necke downe vnder it:
	(Yea though thou mightest his force withstande)
365	For so to do for the is fit. Rom .xiii.
	Thy master Christ hath taught the wel
	When he woulde no resistence make:
	Neither against the powers rebell
	When men were sent him for to take. Math .xxvi.
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370	Yet if the Lord haue geuen to the
	Such knowledge that thou art certaine
	Of thy fayeth knowynge it to be
	Of the trueth do therin remaine.
	For thoughe man may thy bodye kyll
375	Yet oughtest thou not him to feare:
	For he can do thy soule none yll.
	Wherfore be bold do not dispaire. Mat x.
	Be bolde I say Christ to confesse
	Without feare of this worldly paine.
380	For when thou shalt be in distresse
	Christ shall acknowledge the againe. Mat .x.
	Christe shall acknowledge the I say
	If thou conquere by sufferyng: Luke .xxi.
	And do thy-selfe hereupon staye,
385	That thou must walke in thy callyng
	But if thou do lyfte vp thy sworde
	Agaynst thy kynge and Souerayne:
	Then art thou iudged by Gods word,
	As worthy therwith to be slayne. Math xxvi
390	Yea, thou maist not grudge or repine
	Agaynst thy kynge in any wyse
	Though thou shouldst se plaine with thyne eyen
	That he were wicked past al sise
	For it is God that appoynteth,
395	Kinges and rulers ouer the route:
	And with his power he anoynteth
	Them for to be obeyed no doubte Proue .viii.
	If they be euel, then thinke thy sinne,
	Deserueth that plage at Gods hande: Nee .ix. Nee: =Nehemiah
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400	And se thou do forth-wyth begynne
	Thine owne wyckednes to withstande.
	Corah and dathan did Rebell,
	And thought that thei them-selues coulde point
	A better priest in Israell,
405	Then Aaron whom god did annoynte Nom .xvi.
	But what came of their fantasie?
	Was not destruction their ende?
	God dyd destroye them sodenly
	Because they would his workes emende.
410	Let thys example suffice the.
	To kepe the in obedience
	To suche as god shall set to be
	Ouer the in preeminence.
	If thou do thus, thou shalt be sure
415	That god thy lorde wyl euer se
	That though thy rulars be not pure
	Yet they shal euer defend the.
	Contrary-wyse, if thou Rebel.
	Be sure the lorde wyll the destroye
420	Which thing hath bene declared well.
	Within thys realme verye lately.
	For notwithstandinge that our kyng
	And eke our rulars euerychone
	Be merciful in their doynge
425	Yet haue the Rebelles cause to mo[n]e.
	And why? because no rebelles shall
	Escape goddes hand vnpunished
	For god him-selfe doeth princes cal
	Hys Christes and his annoynted.
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430	Who-so therfore doth them resist
	The same resisteth God certaine
	For god him-selfe doeth them assist
	Agaynste them ouer whom they raigne. Roma .xiii.
	If thou therfore fynd the greued
435	Wyth men set in authoritye.
	Seke not thou to be auenged
	But let God take vengeaunce for the. Eccle .xxviii.
	Let me take vengaunce sayth the lord
	And I wil paye them al their hyre Rom iii.
440	Do thus and scripture doeth recorde
	That thou shalt haue all thy desyre.
	Thou shalt haue thy desire, I say
	Vpon the wycked maiestrate
	If thou wylt kepe thy-selfe alway
445	Within the boundes of thyne estate,
	Thus leaue I the, wyth threatenyng
	To the thy soules damnacion
	If thou mislikynge thy callynge
	Wylt nedes chayng thy vocation. chayng: =change
	The lewde or vnlearnned priestes lesson.
450	THou that arte lewde wythout learnyng
	Whom communly men cal syr Iohn,
	Geue care for I wyl say somethynge
	Concerning thy vocation.
	Thou art a man voyde of knowledge
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455	And eke of all good qualities
	Only mete for to diche and hedge
	Or else to plant and graffe mens tres.
	Thou art not as thou wouldest be calde
	An offerar of sacrifice
460	For though thy crowne were .iiii. times balde
	Yet canst thou not so b[l]eare our eies. bleare] beare 1549, bler 1550bleare: see OED s.v. blear v1, 3
	For it is playne in holy write
	That none can offer sacrifice
	For synne, either in flesh or spirite
465	Though he be both learned and wyse. Hebru ix
	For Christ was once offered for al
	To satisfie for all our synne
	And hath made fre that erst were thrall
	The faythful floke of Iacobes kinne.
470	To offer sacrifice therfore
	Thou arte not cald I tell the playne
	For Christe lyueth for euer-more
	And can no more for vs be slayne. Rom .vi.
	Thy state therfore and thy callinge
475	Is none other but for to wyrcke Gene .iii. Iob .v.
	And not to lyue by forstalling
	And name thy-selfe one of the kyrcke
	If thou therfore wylt liue for aye
	And reigne wyth Christ for euer-more
480	Desyre no moe masses to say
	But get thy fode with laboure sore.
	Geue ouer all thy typpillinge Ephe .iiii.
	Thy tauerne gates, and table-playe
	Thy cardes, thy dice and wine-bibbling bibbling] bibyng 1550 Ephe .v.
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485	And learne to walke a sober waye
	And if thou haue any liueing
	So that thou nedest not to laboure
	Se thou apply the to learninge
	Wyth al diligent endeuour. i Timo iiii.
490	But to this ende se thou studie
	That when thou hast the trueth learned
	Thou maiste profit other therby
	Whom in time past thou hast harmed.
	And se thou go not Idlely
495	From house to house to seke a place
	To say men a Masse secretly
	Their fauour therby to purchase.
	Put not the ignorant in hope
	That they shall se al vp againe
500	That hath bene brought in by the Pope
	And al the preachars put to payne.
	But if thou canst do any good
	In teaching of an A.B.C.
	A primer or else Robinhede
505	Let that be good pastime for the
	Be euer doyng what thou can
	Teaching or learnyng some good thing
	And then lyke a good Christian.
	Thou doest walke forth in thy callinge.
510	But if thou wylt knoweledge reiecte
	And al honest labours refuse
	Then arte thou none of goddes elect
	But art worsse then the cursed Iewes. Roma vi.
	Repent therfore I the aduise
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515	And take wholesome counsel by_tyme
	And take good hede in any wyse
	That knowledge double not thy crime.
	Thus leaue I the, makyng promise
	To make for the peticion
520	That thou mayst leaue th[y] popishnes thy] the 1549, thy 1550
	And walke in thy vocation.
	The Scholars lesson.
	COme hither yonge man vnto me
	Thou that arte broughte vp in learnyng.
	Geue eare a whyle, I wyll teache the.
525	How thou shalt walke in thy callyng.
	First marke wherfore scholes were erect
	And what the foundars dyd intend
	And then do thy studie directe
	For to attayne vnto that ende.
530	Doubtlesse this was al their meaning
	To haue their contrie furnished.
	Wyth all kindes of honest learninge
	Whereof the publike wealth had nede.
	Call thou therefore to memory,
535	What knowledge thy contrey doeth: lacke
	And apply the same earnestly,
	By al the meanes that thou canst make
	And when thou arte determined
	What knowledge thou wilt most apply
540	Then let it not be loytered.
sig: [B3v]
	But seke to get it spedily.
	Spend not thy tyme in Idlenes.
	Nor in vayne occupacyon
	But do thy-selfe wholely addresse
545	To walke in thy vocation.
	Se thou do not thy mynde so set
	On any kynde of exercise:
	That it be either stay or let
	To thy studie in an[y] wise. any] an 1549, ani 1550
550	To fyshe, to foule, to hunt or halke
	Or on an instrument to playe
	And some-whyles to comune and talke
	No man is able to gayne_saye.
	To shote, to bawle, or caste the barre
555	To playe tenise or tosse the ball
	Or [t]o renne base lyke men of war letter broken
	Shall hurte thy study nought at al.
	For all those thynges do recreate
	The mynd if thou canste hold the meane
560	But if thou be affectionate
	Then doste thou lose thy study [cl]eane. letters broken
	And at the last thou shalt be founde
	To occupye a place only
	As do in Agtime ziphras rounde. Agtime ziphras?: Agime ziphres 1550
565	And to hinder learnyng greatly
	For if thou hadst not the lyueyng
	An-other should that wold apply
	Him-selfe to some kynde of learnynge
	To profite his contrey therby.
570	If thou therfore wylle not be founde
	Worthy goddes indignation
sig: B4
	Make thy studie perfect and sounde
	And walke in thy vocation.
	Let not tyme passe idelly
575	Lose not the fruite of any houre
	Or else suffer him to supply
	Thy place that wyll hym endeuoure
	Thou doest but rob the commone-wealth
	Of one that would be a treasure
580	Better thou were to lyue by stelth
	Then for to worcke suche displeasure.
	But haply thou wilt say agayne
	Shall I surrender my lyuynge?
	Shall I not thervpo[n] remayne
585	After I haue gotten learnynge?
	Yesse thou maist kepe thy liueyng styl
	Tyll thou be called otherwise
	But if thou wylt regard goddes wyll
	Thou must thy-selfe styll exercise. Luke .xix.
590	When thou arte thorowly learned
	Then se thou teache other thy skyll
	If thou wylt not be reconed
	For a seruaunt wycked and Ill seruaunt] seruaunat 1549 Luke .xix.
	Teach them, I say, that thou doest se
595	Wyllinge to learne thy discipline
	And vnto them se thy lyfe be
	A boke to laye before theyr eine.
	Let them neuer se the Idle
	Nor heare the talke vndiscretly
600	And by all the meanes possible
sig: [B4v]
	Let all thy doinges edifye. Roma iiii.
	Th[u]s leaue I the, wyshinge that thou letter broken
	Maist by this admonition
	Hensfarth desier (as I do nowe)
605	To walke in thy vocacion.
	The learned mans lesson.
	THou learned man, do not disdayne,
	To learne at me a symple wight
	Thy greate abuses to restraine
	And in thy callyng to walke right.
610	Thou arte a man that sittest hie
	In the simple mens conscience
	To lyue therefore dissolutely
	Thou shouldest be vnto them offence.
	Offence, I saye, for they should thinke
615	All that thou doest to be godly
	Wherfore do not at this thyng wyncke
	But do emend it spedely
	Emend thy wicked lyfe I saye
	And be (in dede) a perfect light
620	As Christe our sauiour doeth say
	And let thy workes shyne in mens sight Math .v.
	For it is thy vocation
	To leade other the ready way
	How great abominacion
625	Arte thou then if thou go astraye? .i. Corh ix.
	But therin lieth the whole matter
sig: [B5]
	To knowe which waye thou shouldest them leade
	Wherfore I wil the not flatter
	But tel the trueth wythouten dreade.
630	Thou must thy-selfe humiliate,
	And acknowledge thy wicked synne
	And striue to enter the straite gate
	Where fewe men do fynde a waie in Math .vii.
	Thys way thou canst not walke so long
635	As thou wylt trauayle sea and land
	And frame al the wordes of thy tonge
	To get promocion at mans hand.
	Thou must humble thy-selfe I say
	And not aye seke to be alo[f]t, aloft] alost 1549, alofte 1550
640	For he that walketh in rough way
	And loketh hie, stumbleth ful ofte.
	Thou muste acknowledge that thou arte
	Through synne vnworthy thine estate
	And that thy discipline and arte
645	Can not bringe the in at that gate.
	Thou must, I saye, striue to enter
	And not to get promotion
	Thy life thou must put in venter venter: =venture
	For Christes congregation. Ihon .x.
650	How dost thou walke in thys calling
	When thy mind is earnestly bent:
	To gather vp eche mans fallynge,
	By all the waies thou canste inuent?
	Geue eare I say, therfore thou fole,
655	And learne thy first lesson againe: Math vii
	Enter into Gods holi schole.
sig: [B5v]
	And do not hys doctryne disdayne.
	He wylleth the fyrst to apply
	Thy mynde to knoweledge and to take
660	The greate beame out of thyne own eye
	And thyne abuses to forsake. Luke .vi.
	And then he woulde that in no wyse
	Thou shouldest be slacke or negligent
	To pycke the motes out of mens eyes
665	Teachyng them how they should repent
	If thou wylt that they do repent
	Repent thou fyrst, that they may see
	That the whole some of thyne intente
	Is to make them like vnto the. Tite .ii.
670	For if thou wylt them to refraine
	Murther, thefte, whoredome and Incest
	If they se these thynges in the raygne
	They wyll all thy doctryne deteste.
	If thou forbyd them gluttony
675	And wyll them the flesh for to tame
	They wyll defie the vtterly
	If they se the not do the same.
	If thou tell them of apparayle
	Or of ought wherin is excesse.
680	Then wil they saye, thou doest but raile
	Vnlesse thou be therin falt[l]esse. faltlesse] faltnesse 1549
	What shouldest thou speake of vsurie,
	When thou doest take vnlawful gaine?
	Or rebuke men for Simonie.
685	When nothyng else doeth in the raygne
	Maye not the lay-man falsly saye,
sig: [B6]
	I learned of the to by and sel,
	Benefices, which to this day
	Thou canst put in practise ful wel?
690	Whye should not I, as wel as thou
	Haue benifices two or thre?
	Sence thou hast taught me the way how
	I may kepe them and blamlesse be?
	I can set one to serue the cure
695	That shall excel the in learninge
	More then thou dost me I am sure
	And also in godly lyueynge:
	I can kepe hospitalitye
	And geue as much vnto the pore
700	In one yere as thou doest in thre
	And wyl performe it wyth the more
	A_las that euer we shoulde se
	The flocke of Christ thus bought and solde
	Of them that should the shepperdes be
705	To leade them salfly to the fold. salfly: =safely
	Repent this thinge I the aduise
	And take the to one cure alone
	And se that in most faythfull wyse
	Thou walke in thy vocation.
710	Then shal no laye-man say by ryghte
	That he learneth hys mysse of the
	For it is playne in ech mans syght
	That thou doest walke in thy degre.
	More-ouer, if thou chaunce to be
715	Made a prelate of highe estate
	To thine office loke that thou se
sig: [B6v]
	And leaue not thy flock desolate.
	And fyrst before all other thynges
	Seke thou to fynde good ministers
720	And appoynt them honest lyueynges
	To be the peoples enstructers. [i] Timo .v. i] 1549 omits i] 1549 omits
	Let none haue care wythin thy See
	In whom any great vyce doth raygne
	For wher mysslyueyng curates be
725	The people are not good certayne. [i] Timo .v. i] 1549 omits i] 1549 omits
	And for them al that do perish
	Through thy defalte, thou shalt answer zech .xxxiii.
	Wherfore I do the admonish
	To loke ernestly to thys geare.
730	Loke vnto it thy-selfe I saye
	And trust not to a trifellar
	That wyl allowe al that wyl paye
	So[me]what vnto the regester. Somewhat] Sonne what 1549, Somewhat 1550
	So that they do enstructe the youth
735	Of ech parrishe diligently
	And trayne them vp in the lordes truth
	So much as in theyr powre shal lye.
	Nowe if so be thou be called
	To be thy princes councellour
740	Be ware thou be not corrupted
	By the vayne desyre of honour.
	Be not carefull howe for to holde
	Thy-selfe styl in authoritie
	But to speake truth be euer bolde
745	Accordyng to goddes veritie
	Wyncke not at faltes that thou shalt se
sig: [B7]
	Though it be in thy Souerayne
	But do as it becometh the
	Exhorte him al vice to refraine.
750	If thou perceiue him ignorant
	In any poynte of his dutye
	Se thou do him not checke or taunt
	But tel him wyth sobrietie.
	Tel hym his falt, I say, playnly.
755	And yet wyth al submission,
	Lest thou do seme to speake vainly.
	For_gettynge thy vocation.
	Thus haue I told the as I would
	Be told if I were in thy place.
760	To the intent that no man should
	Haue cause to tell the to thy face.
	Thus do I leaue the wyth wyshynge
	To the a wyl for to aduaunce
	Goddes glorye by godly learnynge
765	And not thy lyueyng to enhaunce.
	¶The Phisitians lesson.
	GEue care maister Phisition,
	And set a_side thyne vrinal:
	And that with expedition
	For I the last trumpet do cal
770	Geue care I say, and marke me well.
	And printe al my wordes in thy minde:
	For eche thynge that I shall the tell
	Thou shalt both true and certaine fynd.
	God made the to succour mans nede.
sig: [B7v]
775	As Iesus_Sirach wrytteth playne Eccle .xxxviii.
	But by due pro[u]fe we know in-ded letter broken
	That many thousandes thou hast slaine.
	But nowe am I sent from the kyng
	Of powre and domination
780	To call the from thy murtherynge
	To walke in thy vocation.
	Fyrst where thou dydest hertofore vse
	To haue respect to the ryche man
	I would not nowe thou shouldest refuse
785	To helpe the pore man if thou can.
	Helpe him I saye thoughe [he] be poore he] it 1549, he 1550
	And hath nothynge wherewyth to paye
	For his maister hath yet in store
	A crowne for him at the last day. Iacob .ii.
790	And if thou do on him thy cure
	For his sake that gaue herbes their strength
	Thou shalt vndoubtedly be sure
	He wyl rewarde the at the length
	This maister of his doth regard
795	Mercye so much that he hath told
	Al his that thei shal haue reward
	For geueynge water thin and coulde. Matt .ix.
	And thynkest thou that he wyl not
	Reward them that geue medicine?
800	Thou hast no suche mistrust I wot
	In his promi[se] that is diuyne. promise] promies 1549, promise 1550
	I say therefore if thou canst cure
	The pore mans sore or maladie
	Of thy reward thou shalt be sure
sig: [B8]
805	If thou wylt shew on hym mercye,
	But if thou suffer him to lacke
	Thine healpe because he lacketh goulde
	No doubt when thou shalt a_compt make
	Thy confidence shalbe ful colde.
810	Then shewe thy writting if thou can
	Wheron thou bearest the so bolde.
	That thou wylt viset no sicke man
	That cannot ly[n]e thy pursse with gould
	Bringe forth thy writting then, I say
815	If thou haue any such in store
	Whereby thou mayst require ech daye
	A noble of goulde, or else more.
	And shew by what ryght thou maist take
	Two pense for the syght of water
820	When thou knowest not therby to make
	The sycke man one farthyng better.
	Yea if a man should try the wel
	To proue what thy countyng can do
	He should fynde that thou canst not tell
825	Whether the man be sycke or no.
	I graunt the water sheweth something
	But not so much as thou dost crake
	Neyther is thy labour condyg[n]e
	That thou shouldest money for it take.
830	But if so be thou canst espye.
	By the water what is a_mysse
	Teache hym how to seke remedie
	And worthy some reward that is.
	But if thou do but gesse, as doth
sig: [B8v]
835	The blynd man that doth cast hys staffe
	Though thou by chaunce hit one the soth one: =on
	Thy labour is sc[ar]se worthy c[h]af[f]e. scarse] scrase 1549, scase 1550; chaffe] crafe 1549, chaffe 1550
	Thou doest but gesse money to wyne
	And with straunge wordes make men agast
840	And yet thou thynckest it no synne
	To cause pore men theyr goodes to wast.
	But nowe I saye to the, repent
	And do thy-selfe hensforth employe
	To vse the gyft God hath the sente
845	To the profyt of thy contreye.
	Let not lucre make the professe
	Before thy knowledge be perfect
	For he that ministreth by gesse
	Shal not so sone heale as infect.
850	Apply the earnestly therfore
	To get phisickes perfection,
	That thou maiest ease the sicke and sore
	And remedy infection.
	And shut not vp thine helpe from such
855	As stand in most nede of the same:
	And certes thou shalte gayne as muche
	By them as by men of greate fame,
	For God hym-selfe hath promised
	To make for them a recompence:
860	Wherefore doubte not to be paied,
	Both for thy labour and expence. Math .xxvi. Luke .x.
	But if thou wilt not take my read, read: =rede
	But folowe after lucre styll:
	I wyll put the out of all dreade,
sig: C1
865	Thy last rewarde shalbe full yll.
	For when cruel death shal the stynge,
	And thy lyfe from the seperate:
	Then shalt thou se thou hast nothing,
	Thy silly soule to recreate.
870	Wherfore I must nedes greatly fear
	That in that extreme Agony:
	Thou wilt of Gods mercy dispayre
	And so perishe eternally.
	Take hede therfore, take hede bi_time
875	Let not slyppe thys occasion:
	But spedely repent thy crime,
	And walke in thy vocation.
	¶The Lawyers lesson.
	NOw come hither thou manne of lawe,
	And marcke what I shall to the saye:
880	For I entende the for to drawe,
	Out of thy most vngodly waye.
	Thy callyng is good and Godly,
	If thou wouldest walke therin arighte.
	But thou art so passynge gready,
885	That Gods feare is out of thy sight.
	Thou climest so to be alofte,
	That thy desire can haue no stay:
	Thou hast forgotten to go softe
	Thou art so hasty on thy way.
890	But nowe I call the to repent,
sig: [C1v]
	And thy gredines to forsake
	For Gods wrath is agaynst the bent
	If thou wylt not my warnynge take.
	Fyrste call vnto thy memory
895	For what cause the lawes were fyrste made
	And then apply the busily,
	To the same ende to vse thy trade.
	The lawes were made vndoubtedlye
	That all such men as are opprest:
900	Might in the same fynde remedy
	And leade their lyues in quiet rest.
	Doest thou then walke in thy callyng
	When for to vexe the innocent:
	Thou wylt stande at a barre ballyng
905	With al the craft thou canst inuent?
	I say ballynge, for better name,
	To haue it can not be worthy:
	When lyke a beast wythout all shame
	Thou wilt do wronge to get money
910	Thyne excuses are knowen to wel
	Thou saist thou knowest not the matter
	Wherfore thou sayest thou canst not tel.
	At the fyrst whose cause is better.
	Thou knowest not at the fyrst I graunt,
915	But why wylte thou be retained
	Of plaintife or of defendaunt
	Before thou hast their cause learned?
	For such a plea I blame the not,
	When neither parties right is knowen
920	But when thou thy-selfe dost wel wot
sig: C2
	Thy client seaketh not hir owne hir] his 1550
	It were a Godly way for the,
	To know the ende ere thou began
	But if that can by no meanes be
925	To make short suite do what thou can
	If thou be a mans atturney
	In any court where-so it be:
	Let him not wayte and spend money
	If hys dispatch do lye in the,
930	Apply his matter earnestly
	And set him goynge home agayne,
	And take no more then thy duty
	For God shal recompence thy paine. Luke .iii.
	If thou be calde a counsellar.
935	And many men do seke thy read:
	Se thou be founde no triffellar
	Either for money or for dread
	But waigh mens matters thorowly,
	And se what may be done by ryght
940	And further as wel the neady
	As thou wouldest do the man of might
	Se thou haue no respect at all
	To the person but to the cause
	And suffer not such trueth to fall,
945	As thou findst grounded on good lawes Leuit .xxx
	If any man do the desire
	Him to defende in doynge wronge
	Though he would giue the triple hire
	Yet geue none eare vnto his song.
950	Fere not his power though he be king
	A duke, an earle, a Lorde, or knight:
sig: [C2v]
	But euermore in thy doynge
	Haue the Lordes feare present in sight. ii. Par .xxii.
	If thou be iudge in commune place, commune place: =Common Pleas
955	In the kynges bench, or Eschequier
	Or other court, let not thy face
	Be once turned to the bryber.
	Beware that bribes blinde not thy sight
	And make the that thou canst not se:
960	To iudge the pore mans cause aryght,
	When it is made open to the. Deu .xvi. Eccle .xx.
	Why sholdest thou stil admit delaies,
	In matters that be manifest,
	Why doest thou not seke all the wayes.
965	That may be, to rid the oppreste
	To thine office it doeth belonge,
	To iudge as iustice doth require:
	Though the party that is to stronge
	Would giue the house and land to hire. Leuiti .xix.
970	I haue no more to say to the,
	But warne the that thou be contente
	To lyue onely vpon thy fee
	Fearynge the Lorde omnipotent.
	And for to se that no man wreste,
975	The lawes to do any man wronge:
	And that no pore man be oppreste,
	Nor haue hys suite deferred longe.
	Now if thou be Lorde Chauncelour,
	As Censor ouer all the reste:
980	Se thou do thy beste endeuour,
	To se all open wronges redrest.
sig: C3
	And of this one thyng take good hede
	That among them that do appeale:
	Thou do not for fauour or mede
985	Suffer any falselye to deale.
	Beware of them I saye that vse,
	Firste for to tempt the commune lawes
	And yet the iudgement to refuse
	When they be like to losse their cause, losse: =lose
990	Beware of them, and let them not
	Abuse the courte in any wise:
	To wery suche as by iuste lot
	To clayme theyr ryght do enterprise.
	When they shall make peticion,
995	Examine them diligently:
	And graunt not an Iniunction
	To eche false harlot by and by.
	Graunt thou not an Iniunction
	To hym that doth nought else entende:
1000	But by subtyle inuention
	His owne falsehode for to defend.
	I nede not to tell any more,
	Of thy duty thou maiste it se:
	In Gods sacre[d] and holy lore sacred] sacret 1549, sacred 1550
1005	If thou wylt thereto apply the.
	Thus leaue I the thou man of lawe.
	Wyshynge the to be as willynge:
	To folowe as I am to drawe
	The backe againe to thy callynge.
	¶The Marchauntes lesson.
sig: [C3v]
1010	NOwe marcke my wordes thou Marchau[n]te-man,
	Thou thou dost vse to bye and sel,
	I wyl enstruct the if I can,
	How thou maiest vse thy callynge wel.
	Fyrst se thou cal to memory
1015	The ende wherfore al men are made
	And then endeuour busily
	To the same ende to vse thy trade.
	The ende why all men be create
	As men of wisdome do agre
1020	Is to maintayne the publike state
	In the contrey where they shal be.
	Apply thy trade therfore I say
	To profit thy contrey wythal:
	And let conscience be thy staye
1025	That to pollynge thou do not fal.
	If thou venter into straunge landes,
	And brynge home thinges profitable:
	Let pore men haue them at thine handes.
	Vpon a price reasonable.
1030	Though thou maist thy money forbeare
	Til other mens store be quite spente
	Yet if thou do so that thy ware
	May beare high price, thou shalt be shente
	Thou shalt be shent of him I say
1035	That on the seas did prospere the
	And was thy guide in al the way
	That thou wentest in great ieopardye.
	For he gaue the not thy richesse,
sig: C4
	To hurt thy contrey with-all,
1040	Neither gaue he the good successe
	That thou sholdst therbi make men thral
	But thy richesse was geuen to the
	That thou mightest make prouision:
	In farre contreys for thinges that be
1045	Nedefull for thine owne nation.
	And when by Gods helpe thou hast brought
	Home to thy contry ani good thing
	Then shouldst thou thanke him that al wrought
	For thy prosperouse returnyng.
1050	Which thing thou canst not do in-dede,
	Vnles thou walke in thy callyng
	And for his sake that was thy spede
	Content thy-selfe with a liuynge
	But oh me-thinke I write in vayne,
1055	To marchaunte-men of this our time
	For they wil take no maner paine.
	But onely vpon hope to clime.
	So sone as they haue ought to spare,
	Beside their stocke that must remaine:
1060	To purchase landes is all theyr care
	And all the studye of their braine.
	Ther can be none vnthrifty heyre
	Whom they wil not smel out anon
	And handle him with wordes ful faire
1065	Til al his landes is from him gone
	The fermes, the woddes, and pasture-grounds
	That do lye round about London
	Are hedged in within their mowndes.
sig: [C4v]
	Or else shall be ere they haue done
1070	They haue their spyes vpon eche side
	To se when ought is lyke to fall:
	And as sone as ought can be spied,
	They are ready at the fyrst call.
	I can not tell what it doeth meane
1075	But white-mea[t]e beareth a greate price broken letter
	Which some men thinke is by the meane
	That fermes be found such marchandice
	For what is it when the pore man
	That erste was wont to pay but lite
1080	Must now nedes learne (do what he can)
	To playe eyther double or quite?
	If ye aske of the coliar
	Why he selleth hys coles so dere:
	And ryght so of the wodmongar
1085	They say marchauntes haue all in fere.
	The wod (say thei) that we haue bought
	In tymes past for a crowne of golde
	We can not haue if it be ought:
	Vnder ten shyllynges ready told
1090	I am ashamed for to tell,
	Halfe the abuse that all men see:
	In such men as do by and sell,
	They be so bad in eche degre.
	I wyll therfore do what I can
1095	To make plaine declaration
	How thou that arte a marchaunt-man,
	Maist walke in thy vocation,
	Apply thy trade as I haue tolde,
sig: [C5]
	To the profit of thy contrey
1100	And then thou maist euer be bolde,
	That thy Lord God wil guide thy way
	Thou shalt not nede to purchase lands
	Neither to take leases in groundes
	That when thou hast them in thine handes
1105	Thou maist for shyllinges gather poundes
	Thou shalt not nede to bye or sel
	Benefices which should be fre:
	To true preachers of Gods gospel
	To helpe them wyth that helples be.
1110	No more shalt thou nede for to lende,
	Thy goodes out for vnlawfull gayne
	In suche sorte that by the yeres ende,
	Thou maist of one shilling make twain Luke .vi
	Thou shalt aye haue inough in store
1115	For the and thine in thy degree:
	And what shouldest thou desire more,
	Or of hygher estate to be?
	Let it suffice the to marye
	Thy daughter to one of thy trade:
1120	Why shouldst thou make hir a Lady
	Or bye for hyr a noble warde?
	And let thy sonnes euerychone
	Be bounde prentise yeres nine or ten
	To learne some art to liue vpon
1125	For why sholde they be gentilmen?
	There be already men inowe
	That beare the name of gentil bloude
	Tel thou me then, what nede hast thou,
sig: [C5v]
	So vainely to bestowe thy good?
1130	For thou canst not promote thy sonne
	But thou must bye him lande and rent
	Wherby some muste neades be vndone
	To bring to passe thy fonde entent.
	Some man perchaunce nede doth compell
1135	To morgage hys land for money
	And wilt thou cause him for to sell,
	The liuelode of his progenie?
	Tel me if thou wouldst haue thy sonne,
	(If haply he should stande in nede)
1140	To be so serued when thou art gone
	Of marchauntes that shal the succed?
	Do thou as thou wouldst be done by
	As very nature doeth the teach Math .vii.
	And let thy loue and charitye
1145	Vnto all the Lordes creatures reache.
	And if any man stande in nede
	Lende him frely that thou maiste spare Luke .vi.
	And doubtles god wil be thy mede
	And recompence the in thy ware
1150	Be iust, plaine, and not deceitfull,
	And shew mercy vnto the pore: Math .v.
	And God that is most merciful
	Shal euermore encrease thy store.
	And in the ende when nature shall,
1155	Ende thy peregrination:
	Thou shalt haue Ioye emong them all,
	That walke in their vocation.
	But if thou do refuse to walke,
sig: [C6]
	In thy callynge as I haue tolde
1160	Thy wysdome shalbe but vayne talke,
	Though thou be boeth auncient and olde
	Say what thou wylt for to defende
	Thy walkynge inordinately:
	Thou shalt be certayne in the end
1165	To be damned eternally. Mat .vii.
	For in the worlde there can not be
	More greate abhomination
	To thy Lord God, then is in the
	Forsakynge thy vocation.
	¶The Gentilmans lesson
1170	THou that arte borne to lande and rente,
	And art clipped a gentilman:
	Geue eare to me, for mine entent
	Is to do the good if I can.
	Thou art a man that God hath sette
1175	To rule the route in thy contrey,
	Wherfore thou hadst nede for to get
	Good knowledge rather then money. Eccle .xii.
	For ignoraunce shal not excuse
	When all men shall geue a rekeninge.
1180	And the iudge will money refuse
	And iudge after ech mans doynge. Math .xvi. Rom .ii.
	Fyrst I aduertise the therfore,
	And require the in Christes name:
	That of knowledge thou get the store,
1185	And frame thy liuynge to the same
sig: [C6v]
	Get the knowledge I say and then
	Thou shalt perceyue thyne owne degre:
	To be suche that amonge all men,
	Thou hast most nede learned to be.
1190	Thou shalt perceyue thou hast no time
	To spare and spende in banketyng
	For though thou watche til it be prime,
	Thou shalt haue inough to doynge.
	Thou shalt not finde any leasure
1195	To dice, to carde, or to reuell: Math .xii
	If thou do once take a pleasure
	In vsynge thyne owne callyng wel.
	For parckes of Deere thou shalte not care
	Neither for costuous buildyng:
1200	For apparel, or for fyne fare
	Or any other worldly thynge.
	Thy mynde shall be styll rauished
	With the desyre to walke vpright.
	And to se all vyce punished,
1205	So muche as shall lye in thy myght.
	Thou shalt delite for to defende
	The pore man that is innocent:
	And cause the wicked to emende,
	And the oppressour to repent.
1210	Thou shalt haue delite in nothyng
	Sauynge in doynge thy duty:
	Whych is vnder God and thy kyng
	To rule them that thou doest dwel by.
	Thou shalte not thinke that thou mayste take
1215	Thy rent to spend it at thy wyl
sig: [C7]
	As one that shoulde no reckny[n]g make,
	For ought that he doth well or yll. Rom .xiiii
	But thou shalt fynde that thou art bound
	And shalt answer much more straightly Luke .xii.
1220	Then the pore men that tyll the ground
	If thou regard not thy duty.
	¶Thou shalt not fynde that thou maist reise
	Thy rent or leauy a great fyne
	More then hath bene vsed alwayes
1225	For that only is called thyne.
	For as thou doest hold of thy kynge
	So doeth thy tenaunt holde of the
	And is allowed a lyueynge
	As wel as thou in his degre.
1230	If thou therfore wouldst not thy king
	Should take of the more then hys due
	Whye wylt thou debate the lyuyng
	Of thy tenaunt and cause him rue.
	For knoweledge wil tel the that thou
1235	Muste do as thou wouldest be done by Math .vii.
	And ryght so wyll she tell the howe
	Thou maiste discharge all thy dutie
	She wyl teach the to be content
	Wyth that thou haste by heritage
1240	And eke to lyue after thy rente
	And not to falle into outrage.
	If thou maye dispende .xl li,
	Thou maieste not lyue after .lx.
	Neyther maist thou enclose thy ground
1245	That thou maist make it yerly more.
sig: [C7v]
	For knowledge will teach the to seke
	Other mens health more then thine own
	And rather to fede on a leke
	Then one house should be ouerthrowen.
1250	Thou shalte by hir learne that thou arte
	A father ouer thy contrey
	And that thou oughtest to play the part
	Of a father both nyght and day.
	Thou shalt by knoweledge vnderstand
1255	That thou must succour the neady,
	And in their cause such men withstand,
	As showe them-selues ouer_gready. Psal .lxxxii.
	In fine knowlege that is Godly
	Wil teach the all that thou shalt do
1260	Belongynge to thyne owne duty
	And other mens duty also.
	Get the knowledge I say therfore
	That thou maist be worthy thy name:
	For without hir thou maist no more
1265	Be calde a Gentilman for shame.
	For without knowledge thou shalt be
	Of all other most out of frame:
	Bicause there is nothinge in the
	That may thy luste chastice or tame.
1270	Without knowledge, thou wylt folowe
	Thy fleshe and fleshly appetite:
	And in the lustes therof wallowe
	Setting therin thyne whole delite
	Without knowledge thou wylt oppresse
1275	Al men that shalbe in thy power.
sig: [C8]
	And when they shall be in distresse
	Thou wylt them cruelly deuoure
	Without knowledge thou wilt araie
	Both the and thine past thy degre
1280	And eke maintaine outragiouse play
	Til thou haue spent both land and fee.
	To make an end, vnlesse thou haue
	Knowledge remayninge in thy breste
	Thou shalt be worsse then a vile slaue
1285	That doth al honesty detest.
	Get the knowledge therfore I say,
	And eke the feare of God aboue:
	And let thy study be alwaye
	To knowe what thing doth the behoue.
1290	But fyrst before all other thynges
	Sette the Lordes feare before thy face: Psa .xxxiii.
	To guide the in all thy doynges
	That thou delite not in trespace.
	For he that doth delite in synne,
1295	Shal neuer gouerne his life wel:
	Nor any Godly knoweledge wyn,
	For wisedome wil not with hym dwell. Sapie .i.
	Then seke for knowledge busily
	And leaue not of tyl she be found
1300	And when thou hast hir perfectly
	To the Lordes feare let hir be bound
	And let theim two beare al the swea, swea: =sway
	Til thy doynges early and late:
	Let them agre and ende their plea
1305	Before thou do appoint the state.
sig: [C8v]
	By their aduise suruey thy Lande
	And kepe thy courtes boeth farre and nere
	And se they do faste by the stande,
	In thyne housekepynge and thy chere
1310	Haue them present before thine eyes,
	In all thy dedes what-so they be:
	In cessions and eke in assise,
	Let them not be absent from the.
	Let them rule al thy familye
1315	And eke enstructe thy children yonge:
	That they may thyne office supply
	When with his dart death hath the stonge
	And last of al, leaue them to guide
	Thy chyldren and theyr families:
1320	That thine house and stocke may abide,
	And rule the route in godly wyse.
	No more to the haue I to say,
	But that thou kepe Gods feare in sight
	And make it the guyde of thy way
1325	As wel by bright day as by nyght.
	So doynge I dare the assure
	That in the ende thou shalt obtayne:
	The blysse that shal euer endure
	Wyth Christe our maister for to raigne.
	¶The Maiestrates lesson
1330	WHo-so thou be that God doth call
	To beare the swerde of punishemente.
sig: D1
	Marke well my woordes, and take them all
	Accordyngly as they be ment.
	When thou art in Authoritie
1335	And hast the bridle-raine in hand
	Then be well ware that Tyranny
	Do not get the within hir band.
	Loke not vpon thy sword alwaye
	But loke some-tyme on thy balaunce
1340	And se that neither do decaye
	In the tyme of thy gouernaunce.
	For to punishe wyth equitie
	Is and aye shall be bysemynge
	Where-as to [sh]ewe extremitie broken letters
1345	Is founde rather a bloud-suckeynge
	If any man be accused
	Se thou heare him indifferently
	And let him not be punished
	Tyl thou know his cause thorowli
1350	If he haue wrought againste the lawes
	So that iustice wolde haue him dye
	Then in thy balaunce laye his cause
	And iudge him after equitie
	If he did it of ignoraunce,
1355	Of nede or by compulsion
	Or else by fortune and by chaunce
	Then muste thou vse discretion
	Consyder what extreme nede is
	And howe force may the weake compell
1360	And howe fortune doeth hyt and mysse
	When the intent was to do well
sig: [D1v]
	And though the euidence be playne
	And the accusares credible
	Yet calle to mynde the elders twayne
1365	That Daniell founde reproueable Dani .xiii.
	And if thou fynde them false or vayne
	Forged to worcke theyr brother yll
	Then let them suffer the same paine
	That he shoulde haue had by their wil
1370	Much myght be sayd in this matter
	Out of the workes of writers olde
	And for to proue it the better
	Many late stories myght be tolde
	But I leaue this to the studie
1375	Of them that haue had exercise
	In iudgment, in whose memorie
	It is as styll before their eies.
	I thought mete to touch it only
	That thou mightest haue occasion
1380	To call to mynde the chiefe duite duite: =duty
	Of thy state and vocation.
	Which is to scanne the euidence
	And eke to trye the accusars all
	Though thei be men of good credence
1385	Leste haply the iuste be made thral.
	Moreouer, it behoueth the
	If thou wylt walke in thy callynge
	To se that all good statutes be
	Executed before all-thynge
1390	For to what ende do statutes serue
	Or whye should we holde parliamente
sig: D2
	If men shall not such lawes obserue
	As in that courte we shall inuent?
	And what thynge shal a realme decay
1395	So sone as when men do neglecte
	The wholsome lawes, as who should say
	They were in-dede to none efect?
	For in that realme the myghtie shal
	Worcke after theyr fancie and wyll
1400	For there the pore may crye and call
	For helpe and be oppressed styll.
	Se thou therfore to thy duitie
	In this behalfe boeth daye and nyght
	And let none breake such lawes frely
1405	But let them knowe the lawes haue myght
	Let them all knowe I saye that thou
	Art set to minister iustyce
	And that thou madest therto a vowe
	At the takeynge of thyne offyce.
1410	Wincke not at thinges that be to plaine
	Leste godli knowledge fle the fro
	And thou flyt into endlesse payne
	At such tyme as thou must hense go.
	For if thou wylt not minister
1415	Iustice to them that do oppresse
	What are the people the better
	For the, when they be in distresse?
	The heauenli housband-man therfore
	Who planted the vice to suppresse
1420	Shall drye thy rote for euer-more
	And geue the vp to wyckednes. Ihon .xv
sig: [D2v]
	Be ware of this vengeaunce betyme
	Leste it come on the sodainly
	When thou wouldest faine repent thy crime
1425	But shalt dispere of goddes mercie.
	For what thing causeth men dispeire
	Of gods mercie at their last ende
	But their conscience that sayth thei were
	Tolde of their fault and would not mende.
1430	If thou therfore doest se this thinge
	And wilt wincke at it willingly
	I saye that when death shal the stinge
	Thou shalt dispeyre of gods mercy.
	Yet haue I more to saye to the
1435	Concerning thy vocacion
	Which if it growe styl must nedes be
	Double abhominacion.
	For he that byeth, must nedes sell
	Thou knowest alreadie what I meane
1440	I nede not with plaine wordes to tell
	If sinne haue not blynded the cleane.
	Se vnto it I the aduise
	And let not offices be solde
	For god wyl punishe in straite wyse
1445	Suche as with him wyl be so bolde.
	He wyl not aye suffer his flocke
	Of wolfes to be so deuoured
	Neither shall they that would him mocke
	Escape his handes vnpunished.
1450	His arme is as stronge [as] it was as] 1549 omits, as 1550
	When he plaged Kynge Pharao Exo .xiiii.
sig: D3
	In Egipt, and can bringe to passe
	All that he listeth now also.
	He spent not all his power vpon
1455	The Kynge Nabuchodonozer
	He shall neuer be founde suche one
	That he should not haue might in store. Dani .iiii.
	Take hede, take hede, I saye therfore
	That thou fall not into his hande
1460	For if thou do thou art forlore
	Thou canst not be able to stande. Hebru .x.
	Yet one thing more I must the tell
	Which in no wise thou maist forget
	If thou wylt professe gods Gospel
1465	And thine affiaunce therin set.
	Thou must not couet imperie
	Nor seke to rule straunge nacions
	For it is charge inoughe perdie
	To aunswere for thine owne commons.
1470	Let thy studie therfore I saye
	Be to rule thine owne subiectes well
	And not to maintaine warres alwaye
	And make thy contrei lyke an hell.
	Let it suffise the to defende
1475	Thy limites from inuasion
	And therin se thou do entende
	Thine owne peoples saluation.
	For, marke this. If thou doe inuade
	And get by force commoditie
1480	The same shall certeinly be made
	A scorge to thy posteritie.
sig: [D3v]
	This haue I sayde, to call the backe
	From the Philistines station i. Reg .xiii.
	Trustynge thou wylte my counsell take
1485	And walke in thy vocacion.
	The womans lesson.
	Who-so thou be of woman-kinde Who] WWho 1549
	That lokest for saluation.
	Se thou haue euer in thy mynde.
	To walke in thy vocacion
1490	If thy state be virginitie
	And hast none housband for to please
	Then se thou do thy-selfe applie
	In christen maners to encrease i. Cor .vii.
	If thou be vnder a mestres
1495	Se thou learne hir good qualities
	And serue hir wyth all redines
	Haueyng goddes feare before thine eies
	If thou se hire wanton and wylde
	Then se thou call vpon god styll
1500	That he wyll kepe the vndefylde
	And kepe from the all maners yll
	Auoyde idle and wanton talke
	Auoyde nyce lokes and daliaunce
	And when thou doest in the stretes walk
1505	Se thou shewe no light contena[u]nce.
	Let thyne apparayle be honeste
	Be not decked paste thy degre
sig: D4
	Neither let thou thyne hede be dreste
	Otherwise then besemeth the i. Timo .ii
1510	Let thine heare beare the same colour
	That nature gaue it to endure
	Laye it not out as doeth an whore
	That would mens fantacies allure
	Paynt not thy face in any wise
1515	But make thy maners for to shyne
	And thou shalt please all such mens eies
	As do to godlines enclyne.
	Be thou modeste, sober and wise
	And learne the poyntes of houswyfry
1520	And men shal haue the in suche price
	That thou shalt not nede a dowry
	Studye to please the lorde aboue
	Walkynge in thy callyng vpright
	And god wil some good mans hert moue
1525	To set on the his whole delyte.
	Now when thou arte become a wife
	And hast an housbande to thy minde
	Se thou prouoke him not to stryfe
	Lest haply he do proue vnkynde
1530	Acknowledge that he is thyne heade
	And hath of the, the gouernaunce
	And that thou must of him be led
	Accordyng to goddes ordinaunce i. Co .xi.
	Do all thy busynes quietly
1535	And delyte not Idle to stand
	But do thy-selfe euer apply
	To haue some honest worcke in hand
sig: [D4v]
	And in no case thou maiste suffer
	Thy seruauntes or children to playe
1540	For ther is nought that may soner
	Make them desyre to renne awaye
	Se thou kepe them styll occupyed
	From morne tyll it be nyght agayne
	And if thou se they growe in pryde
1545	Then laye hand on the brydle-rayne
	But be thou not to them bytter
	Wyth wordes lacking discretion
	For thyne housband it is fytter
	To geue them due correction
1550	But if thou be of such degre
	That it is not for the semely
	Emonge thy maydens for to be
	Yet do thy-selfe styll occupye
	Do thy-selfe occupy I saye
1555	In readynge or hearyng some-thynge
	Or talkynge of the godly waye
	Wherin is great edifiynge
	Se thy children wel nurtered
	Se them broughte vp in the lordes feare
1560	And if theyr maners be wycked
	In no case do thou wyth them beare.
	And if thyne housbande do outrage
	In any thinge what-so it be
	Admonish him of his laste age
1565	Wyth wordes mylde as becometh the.
	And if he do refuse to heare
	Thy gentle admonition
sig: [D5]
	Yet se if thou can cause him feare
	Goddes terr[i]ble punission terrible] terreble 1550
1570	Do what thou canste him to allure
	To seke god by godly lyueynge
	And certenly thou shalt be sure
	Of lyfe that is euerlastynge
	For though the fyrste woman did fall
1575	And was the chiefe occasion
	That synne hath pearsed through vs all
	Yet shalt thou haue salluation i Timo .ii.
	Thou shalt be salfe I say, if thou
	Kepe thy-selfe in obedience
1580	To thyne housba[n]d, as thou dydste vow
	And shewe to hym due reuerence
	But in fayth must all this be done
	Or else it doeth nothynge auayle
	For wythout fayth nought can be wone
1585	Take thou neuer so greate trauayle. Hebr .xi.
	Thou must beleue and hope that he
	That bade the be obedient
	Wyll be ryghte well pleased wyth the
	Because thou holdest the content
1590	Nowe, if thyne housband be godly
	And haue knowledge better then thou
	Then learne of him all thy dutie
	And to his doctryne se thou bowe
	Se thou talke with him secretly
1595	Of such thynges as do the behoue
	And se thou obserue thorowlye
	All such thynges as he shall aproue
sig: [D5v]
	Seke to please hym in thyne araye
	And let not newe tryckes delyte the
1600	For that becometh the alwaye
	That wyth hys mynde doth beste agre
	Delyte not in vayne tatyllars
	That do vse false rumours to sowe
	For such as be greate babbelars
1605	Wyll in no case theyr duetie knowe
	Theyr commynge is alwaye to tell
	Some false lye by some honest man
	They are w[or]sse then the deuell of hell worsse] wrosse 1549
	If a ma[n] would them throughly scanne
1610	They wyl fynde faute at thyne araye
	And saye it is for the to base
	And haply ere they go awaye
	They wyll teach the to paynt thy face
	Yea if all other talke do fayle
1615	Before the idle tyme be spent
	They wyll teach the howe to assayle
	Thyne housbande with wordes vehement
	Thou muste swere by goddes passion
	That longe before thou sawest his heade
1620	Thou hadest ech gallant fassion
	And wylt agayne when he is deade
	Thou must tell him that he may heare
	Wyth a lowd voyce and eke words plaine
	That thou wilt some-time make good chere
1625	With ryght good felows one or twaine.
	I am ashamed for to wryte
	The talke that these gossepes do vse
sig: [D6]
	Wherfore, if thou wylt walke vpright
	Do theyr companie quyte refuse
1630	For they are the deuelles ministres
	Sent to destroye all honestie
	In such as wyl be theyr hearars
	And to theyr wycked reade applye i. Pet .iii.
	But thou that arte Sarais daughter
1635	And lokeste for saluation
	Se thou learne thy doctrine at hir.
	And walke in thy vocacion.
	She was alwaye obedient
	To hir housband, and calde hym lorde
1640	As the boke of goddes testament
	Doeth in most open wyse recorde. Gene .xviii.
	Folow hir, and thou shalt be sure
	To haue as she had in the ende
	The lyfe that shal euer endure
1645	Vnto the whych, the lorde the sende
	Amen.
	The Boke to the Reader,
	It pleased mine Autor to geue me to name
	The voice of the laste trumpe (as Sainct Ihon doth write)
	Thinking therby to auoide al the blame
	That communely chaunseth to suche men [as] write as] 1549 omits, as 1550
5	Plainly to such men as walk not vpright
	For truth getteth hatered of such as be il
	And wyl suffer nothing that bridleth theyr wyll
sig: [D6v]
	If ought do displease you, let me beare the wyte
	For I am the doer of that which is done
10	I barcke at your faultes, but loth I am to byte
	If by this barking ought might be won
	And for this entent I was firste begon
	That hearing your faultes ye might them emende
	And reigne with your maister Christe at the ende.
	Imprinted at London by Robert_Crowley dwelling in Elie_rentes in Holburne. The yere of oure Lorde God .M.D.xL_iX. the .xxix. daie of Nouembre.
	Autore eodem Roberto_Croleo
	¶ Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.