A Proper Dialogue Between a Gentleman and a Husbandman

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A proper dyaloge / betwene a Gentillman and an Husbandman eche complaynenge to other theyr myserable calamyte / through the ambicion of the clergye.

¶An A.B.C. to the spiritualte.

¶A_wake ye gostely persones / a_wake / a_wake /

Bothe preste / pope / byshoppe and Cardynall.

Considre wysely / what wayes that ye take /

Daungerously beynge lyke to have a fall.

Every-where / the myschefe of you all.

Ferre and nere / breakyth once very fast /

Godde wyll nedes be revengyd at the last.

¶Howe longe haue ye the worlde captiued /

In sore bondage / of mennes tradyciones:

Kynges and emperoures / ye haue depryued /

Lewedly vsurpynge / theyr chefe possessiones.

Muche mysery ye make / in all regyones.

Nowe youre fraudes / allmoste at the latter cast /

Of godde fore to be revengyd at the last.

¶Poore people to oppresse / ye haue no shame /

Qwakinge for feare / of your double tyranny.

Ryghtful iustyce ye haue put oute of frame /

Sekynge the lust / of youre godde / the belly.

Therfore I dare you boldely certefye.

Very lytle though ye be therof a_gast

Yet god wyll be revengyd at the last /

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O Christen reder / from rashnes refrayne

Of hastye iugement / and lyght sentence

Though sum recke it frowardnes of brayne

Thus to detecte / the clergyes inconuenyence.

Vnto chrystes wordes / geue thou aduertence

Who sayeth / nothynge is done so secretly

But it shall be knowen manifestly.

Where-as men discerne no grefe of darcknes

Full little is desyred / the comfortable lyght

The daye is restrayned to shew hys clerenes

Tyll the clowdes / be expellyd of the nyght

As long as we perceiue not wronge from ryght.

Neyther holynes from fals hypocrisye

The truthe can not be knowen manyfestly.

¶Curssed are they / as Esaye dothe expresse

Whych presume / the euyll for good to commende

Sayenge that swete is soure / and lyght darcknes

As nowe in the clergye / we may perpende.

Whos disguysed madnes / in the latter ende

As saynt poule to Timothe dyd prophesye

Shall be knowen to all men manifestly.

¶Example of twayne / he dothe there recyte

Whos names / were called Iannes and Iambres.

Which by enchauntment / through deuylls might

Strongely resisted / the prophete Moyses.

Doynge lyke merueyles / and wonderfulnes

So that none could the very trothe a_spye

Tyll theyr Iugglynge was knowen manifestly.

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Christe / lykewyse / with his predicacion

The phariseyes shewynge outwarde holynes.

Was / acounted of small reputacion /

Vyce cloked vnder shyne / of vertuousnes.

Vntyll at the last theyr furiousnes

Accusynge the woman taken in aduoutrye

They sawe theyr fautes / detecte manifestly.

Theyr vyces openyd / they could not abyde

Shame drevynge theym to confusyon

Which a_fore-season / through pope-holy pryde

They bolstred oute / vnder abusyon

It is the practyse / of theyr collusyon.

Zele of ryghtwysnes to fayne outwardly

Tyll theyr fautes be detecte manyfestly.

Which in oure clergye / is evydently sene

Fayned godlynes falsly pretendynge

Wherby moste parte of peple do wene

That they seke goddes honour in all-thynge

Howbeyt men shuld se that theyr sekynge.

Is to confounde christes gospell vtterly

Were theyr fautes detecte manyfestly.

What greater despyte / can they Imagyne

Agaynst god / hys hye honour to deface?

Than to vsurpe on theym hys power divyne

Abhomynably syttynge in holy place.

Which hath contynued longe tyme and space

And shall with outragious blasphemy

Tyll theyr fautes be detecte manyfestly.

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Scripture vnto theym was fyrst profferyd /

Mekely withoute any prouocacyon.

Which to resceive when it was offeryd /

They refused / with indignacyon.

Wherfore towchynge theyr reformacyon.

Lytle trust is to be had certaynly /

Tyll theyr fautes be detecte manyfestly.

Thus to conclude / o chisten reder

Vnto pacyence / I the exhorte.

Aduertesynge / howe and in what maner /

Christe rebuked thys pharisaycall sorte.

Whom as Mathew in the .xxiij. doth reporte.

With fearefull sentence he curssed ernestly /

Theyr wicked fautes detectynge manyfestly.

¶Nihil est opertum quod non reueletur. Math .x.

¶Here foloweth the dyaloge / the Gentyll-man begynynge first hys complaynte.

¶Gentyll-man.

WIth soroufull harte / maye I complayne

Concernynge the chaunce / of my mysery

Allthough parauenture it is but vayne

Trueth oppressyd / with open tyranny.

My enheritaunce and patrimony.

Agaynst ryght / from me they kepe a_waye

Which saye / for my frendes soules they praye.

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Myne aunceteres / of worthy progeny /

With rentes and lyuelood largely endued

Maynteyned theyr estates honorably /

Aydynge the poore / indigence to exclude.

Tyll at the last / the clergy to theym sued.

Pretendynge godlynes / vnder a fals waye /

Sayenge they wold for theyr soules praye.

Stoutely they allegyd before theyr syght /

Howe after thys lyfe / is a purgatory.

Wherin theyr soules / both daye and nyght /

Shuld be tourmentyd with-oute memory

Excepte of theyr substaunce transitory.

Vnto theyr seactes / they wold somewhat paye /

Sayenge that they wold for theyr soules praye

They bare theym in hande / that they had myght /

Synneres to bynde and loose / at theyr oune plesure.

Takynge vpon theym / to leade theym a_ryght /

Vnto Ioye / that euer shuld endure.

Of popes pardones / they boosted the treasure.

Chalengynge of heuyne and hell the kaye /

Sayenge / that they wold for theyr soules praye.

To trust wyfe o[r] children / they dyd diswade / or] o 1529

Eyther any frendes / or persones temporall.

Affermynge / that oure love shuld a_way fade /

Withoute any memory of theym at all

Onely to hope in theyr seactes spirituall.

They entyced / with perswasiones gaye /

Sayenge that they wold for theyr soules praye.

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Thus with wylines and argumentes vayne

Myne aunceters brought in-to perplexite

Partely thourough feare of eternall payne

And partely for desyre of felycite.

They consentyd / makynge no difficulte

To graunt theyr reqwestes / withoute delaye

Sayenge / that they wold for theyr soules praye.

Theyr chefe lordshyppes and londes princypall

With comodytees of theyr possessyon

Vnto the clergye / they gaue forthe with-all

Dyshearetynge theyr ryght successyon.

Which to resceyue / with-oute excepcyon

The couetous clergy made no denaye

Sayenge that they wold for theyr soules praye

By the meanes wherof / I and suche other

Suffrynge the extremyte of indygence

Are occasyoned to theft or mourder

Fallynge in-to moche inconuenyence.

Because the clergye a_gaynst conseyence

Devoureth oure possessyones nyght and daye

Sayenge that for oure frendys soules they praye.

I haue wyfe and chyldren vpon my hande

Wantynge substaunce / theyr lyfes to sustayne

Wherfore to the clergye that haue my lande

Sume-tyme I come / and pitously complayne.

Whos statelynes / to helpe me hauynge disdayne

With-oute any comforte / to me they saye

That for my frendes soules they duely praye

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Shuld I and my houshold for hounger dye

They wold not an halfe-peny with vs parte

So that they lyue in welthe haboundantly

Full lytle they regarde oure woofull smerte.

To waste oure goodes / they nothynge aduerte

In vicious lustes / and pompous araye

Sayenge that for oure frendes soules they praye.

They take vpon theym apostles auctoryte

But they folowe nothynge their profession But] Buth 1529

Often-tymes they preache of christes pouerte

Howe-beyt towarde it they haue no affeccyon.

Yf so be they pleate ones in possession pleate=plead, see OED

Harde it is to gett aught fro them a_waye

Sayenge that for oure frendes soules they praye.

Thus must we bare theyr oppressyon

Whyles to complayne / there is no remedye

The worlde they haue brought in subiection

Vnder theyr ambicyous tyranny.

No respecte they haue to the mysery

Of vs poore gentyllmen that belaye

Sayenge that for oure frendes soules they praye.

Alas / is it not a myserable cace

To se ydle persones voyde of pyte

Occupyenge the landes before oure face

Which shuld pertayne vnto vs of duete.

They haue rychesse / and we calamyte

Theyr honour encreacyd / oure must dekaye

Sayenge that for oure frendes soules they praye.

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¶The husbande-man

Syr / god geue you good morowe /

I perceyue the cause of youre sorowe /

And moost lamentable calamyte.

Is for the oppressyon intollerable /

Of thes monstres so vncharytable /

Whom men call the spirytualte.

Trouthe it is / ye poore gentyll-men are /

By theyr craftynes / made nedy and bare /

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Your landes with_holdynge by vyolence

Howbeyt we husbandmen euery-where /

Are nowe in worsse condycyon ferre /

As it may be markyd by experyence.

¶Gentill-man

In worse caas? nay / that can not be so /

105

For loke over the whole worlde to and fro /

Namely here in oure oune region.

And thou shalt fynde that in theyr handes /

Remayneth the chefe lordshyppes and landes /

Of poore gentyll-menes possession.

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They haue oure aunceters lyuelood and rentes /

Theyr pryncipall fearmes and teneamentes /

With temperall fredomes and lybertees.

They haue gotten vn-to theyr kyngdomes /

Many noble baronries and erldomes /

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With esqwyres landes and knyghtes fees.

¶Husbandeman.

Natwithstandynge yet they saye precysely /

That your Aunceteres gaue to theym freely /

Soche worldly domynyon and lyuelood.

¶Gentil-man.

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Freely quod a? nay / that is but fayned /

120

For they ware certeynly therto constrayned /

By theyr couetous disceite and falshod.

¶Husbandman.

Howe dyd they youre aunceteres compell?

¶Gentillman

Mary / in threatnynge the paynes of hell /

And sharppe punysshment of purgatorye.

125

Wher to brenne / they made theym beleue /

Excepte they wolde vnto theym geue /

Parte of theyr substaunce and patrimony.

¶Husbondman

But howe wold they delyuer theym fro thence?

¶Gentillman.

As they sayde / by theyr prayoures assistence /

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Which with boostynge wordes they dyd alowe.

¶Husbandman.

Prayour? god geue her a shamefull reprefe /

For it is the moost bryberynge thefe /

That euer was / I make god a_vowe.

For by her the clergy withoute doute /

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Robbeth the hole countre rounde a_bowte /

Bothe comones and estates none excepte.

I wote they haue prayed so longe all-redy

That they haue brought the lande to beggery /

And all thryftynes clene a_waye swepte.

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What-so-euer we gett with sweate and labour /

That prolle they a_waye with theyr prayour /

Sayenge they praye for oure soules all-waye

But is theyr prayour not more avaylynge /

To the deade soules / than to the lyuynge.

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145

So is it not worthe a rotten aye.

¶Gentillman.

To the deade soules it is not profitable

For-whye / thos that are in cace dampnable

No assistence of prayour can attayne.

And as for purgatory ther is none

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All-though there be clerckes many one

Which to seke it take moche payne.

¶Husbondman.

Than I wold their prayenge were at an ende

For yf they pray longe thus so god me mende

They shall make the lande worsse than nought.

155

But nowe I will rehearce seriously

Howe we husbande-m[e]n full pitously men] man 1529

Vnto miserable wrechednes are brought.

Fyrst whan englonde was in his floures

Ordred by the temporall gouernoures

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Knowenge no spirituall iurisdiccion.

Than was ther in eche state and degre

Haboundunce and plentuous prosperite

Pessable welthe without afliccion.

Noblenes of blood / was had in price

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Vertuousnes auaunced / hated was vyce

Princes obeyd / with due reuerence.

Artificeres and men of occupacion

Quietly wanne their sustentacion

Without any grefe of nedy indigence

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We husband-men lyke-wise prosperously

Occupyenge the feates of husbandry

Hyred fearmes of pryce competent.

Wherby oure lyuinge honestly we wanne

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And had ynough to paye every manne

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Helpinge other that were indigent.

Tyll at the last the rauenous clergye

Through their craftynes and hypocrisye

Gatt to theym worldly dominacion.

Than were we overcharged very sore

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Oure fearmes sett vpp dayly more and more

With shamefull pryce in soche a fasshyon.

That we paye more nowe by halfe the sume

Than a_foretymes we dyd a_custome

Holdinge aught of their possession.

185

Besyde this / other contentes of brybery

As payenge of tythes / open and preuy

And for herynge of confession.

Also prestes dueties and clerckes wages

Byenge of perdones and freres quarterages

190

With chirches and aultares reparacion.

All oure charges can not be nombred

Wherwith we are greatly acombred

Overwhelmyd with desolacion.

We tourmeyle oure-selfes nyght and daye tourmeyle: see OED turmoil, v. 1c

195

And are fayne to dryncke whygge and whaye

For to maynteine the clargyes facciones.

¶Gentyllman.

This were a great shame to be knowen

Seynge halfe the reame is their owne

That they charge you with soche exaccions.

200

Methyncketh so to do is no small cryme

For they kepte as good houses a_fore-tyme

Whiles theyr fearme-hyres was ferre lesse.

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¶Husbandman.

Ye / more plentuous houses a great deale

How-beyt in hyndrynge the comone-weale

205

Thei vse also this practyse doutles.

Where-as poore husband-men a_fore-season

Accordinge vnto equite and reason

House or lande to fearme dyd desyre.

Without any difficulte they myght it gett

210

And yet no hygher price was ther vp sett

Than good conscyence dyd require.

But nowe their ambicious suttlete

Makyth one fearme of two or thre

Ye some-tyme they bringe .vi. to one.

215

Which to gentyll-men they lett in fermage

Or elles to ryche marchauntes for avauntage

To the vndoynge of husbandemen echone.

Wherby / the comones sufferynge damage

The hole lande is brought in-to rerage

220

As by experience ye may well se.

Thus is the wealth of village and towne

With the fame of honorable re[n]owne

Fallen in-to myserable pouerte.

Plentuous housholdes hereby ar dekayde

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Relefe of poore people is awaye strayde

Allmes exyled with hospitalyte.

By seche meanes / all-thinge waxyth dere

Complaynte of subiectes cryenge ferre and nere

Oppressed with greuous calamyte.

¶Gentillman.

230

Truely thou shewest the very abuse

Neuerthelesse concernynge oure excuse

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Why we gentyll-men fearmes occupye.

The principall occasyon is onely this

That oure patrimony geuen a_waye is

235

Vnto thes wolffes of the clargye.

By whos oppression / we are so beggeryd

That necessite hath vs compellyd

With fearmes soche shyft to make.

For as ye husbande-men can well vnderstande

240

Towchynge expences and charges of the lande /

They dysdayne any parte with vs to take.

¶Husbandman.

Ye by saynte Marye / I you warrante

In soche caces / their ayde is very scant

Makynge curtesye to do any goode.

245

Let the reame goo what waye it wull

They hauynge ease / and their belyes full

Regarde lytle the comone-weale by th'roode.

Yf princes demaunde their soucour or ayde

This answere of theym is comonely sayde

250

We are poore bedemen of youre grace.

We praye for your disceaced auncetryes

For whom we synge massys and dyrigees

To socour their soules in nedefull eace.

¶Gentyll-man.

Oh they afoorde prayoures good cheape

255

Sayenge rather many massys by heape

Than to geue a poore man his dyner

Wherfore as thou saydest / so god helpe me

I se of their prayenge no comodyte

Neyther avauntage in any maner.

260

For-whye with-in this .iiij. hundred yere

sig: [A7v]

Thourough-oute christendome was not a freer

Of thes / whom we mendicantes call.

And syth that tyme / dyuers facciones

Of collegianes / monkes and chanones

265

Haue spred thys regyon ouer-all.

Also of prestes / were not the tenthe parte

Which as they saye / haue none other arte

But for vs worldly people to praye.

And yet the worlde is nowe farre worsse

270

As euery man felyth in his poorsse

Than it was at that tyme I dare saye.

Wherfore the trueth openly to be tryde

I wolde they shuld laye theyr prayenge a_syde

And geue theym-selfes to labour bodely.

¶Husbandman.

275

It were harde to bringe theym therto

Vtterly refusynge any labour to do

Because they are people gostely.

¶Gentyllman.

Were not the apostles gostely also?

¶Husbandman.

Yes syr / but it is so longe ago

280

That their lyuynge is oute of memorye.

¶Gentyll-man.

We fynde it well in the newe testament.

¶Husbondman.

The clargye saye / it is not conuenyent

For layemen / therwith to be busye.

¶Gentyll-man.

Wotest thou wherfore they do that?

¶Husbondman.

sig: [A8]

285

In fayth syr I coniecture some-what

And I suppose I do not moche erre.

Might men the scripture in Englishe rede

We secular people shuld than se in-dede

What Christ and the apostles lyves were.

290

Which I dout nothinge are contrarye

Vnto the lyuynge of oure clargye

Geuyn to pompous ydlenes euery-where.

Whos abhominacion ones knowen

Their pryde shuld be sone ouerthrowen

295

And fewe wold their statelynes forbeare.

¶Gentyll-man.

Thou hyttest the nayle vpon the heed

For that is the thinge that they dreed

Least scripture shuld come vnto light.

God commaundyd man in the begynnynge

300

With sweat of vysage to wynne his lyuynge

As Moses in his fyrst boke dothe wryte.

And as Marcke sayeth in the .vi. chapter

Christe here vpon erthe was a carpenter

Not dysdayninge an occupacion.

305

Also the disciples vniuersally

With their handes laboured busyly

Exchewynge ydle co[n]uersacion.

¶Husbondman.

Oure clargye lyue nothynge after their rate

¶Gentillman.

No / they seke ydelly to auaunce their estate

310

And to be had in reputacyon.

¶Husbondman.

Are they worldly or gostely to saye the trothe?

sig: [A8v]

¶Gentyllman.

So god helpe me I trowe none of bothe

As it apperyth by their fasshion.

For in matters of worldly busynes

315

The clergye haue moche more entresse

Than temporall men I ensure the.

The rhyme-scheme suggests that 3 lines have dropped out here

The landes of lordes and dukes to possesse

Thei abasshe not a whitt the seculernes

Chalengynge tytles of worldly honour

320

But is the reame in any necessyte

Where-as they shuld condescend of duete

To stande by their prince with socour

Than to be of the world they renye

Sayenge that their helpe is spiritually

325

From the worlde makinge a separacion.

¶Husbandman.

Whiles they vse soche craftynes to contryue

The temporalte ought theym to depryue

Of their worldly dominacyon.

And euen as they saye that they are gostely

330

So without any assistence wordly wordly:=worldly, OED

To lyue gostely they shuld haue no lett

¶Gentyllman

That were an expedyent medicyne

Accordinge vnto saynt Paules doctryne

Qui non laborat / non manducet.

335

Notwithstonding their power is so stronge

That whether they do ryght or wronge

They haue their awne will without fayle.

Their enormytees so ferre out_breaketh

That all the worlde agaynst theym speaketh

sig: B[1]

340

But alas man what dothe it avayle?

¶Husbondman

The remedy that I can ymagyne

Were best that we together determyne

To gett vs to londone incontynent.

Where-as it is here for a surete tolde

345

The kinge with his nobles dothe holde

A generall counsell or parlament

¶Gentill-man.

What woldest thou that we shuld do there?

¶Husbond-m[a]n.

man] men 1529

The constraynte of oure myserye to declare

Vnder a meke forme of lamentacyon.

¶Gentyll-man.

350

So shuld we be sure of soche answeres

As were made vnto the poore beggers

For their piteous supplicacyon.

Against whom the clergyes resons nought worthe

The soules of purgatory they brought forthe

355

The beggers complaynte to discomfyte.

Wherfore against oure peticion I the tell

They wold bringe out all the deuylls in hell

For to do vs some shamefull despyte.

¶Husbond-man.

And was ther none other waye at all

360

But the soules of purgatory to call

In ayde and assistence of the clargye?

¶Gentill-man.

It was the suerest waye by saynt Ihone

For had they to playne scripture gone

Iwousse they hadde be taken tardye. Iwousse: =Iwys

sig: [B1v]

365

The beggers complaynte was so groundyd

That the clargye hadde be confoundyd

Had they not to purgatory hasted.

¶Husbondman.

Where sayde they purgatorye shuld be?

¶Gentillman.

By scripture they shewyd no certente

370

Albeit with stowte wordes they it faced.

Even like vnto the man / which went

A certayne straunge ylonde to inuent

But whan he sawe / he could it not fynde.

Least his witt and trauayle shuld seme in vayne

375

Reporte of other men / he beganne to fayne

The simplicite of rude people to blynde.

But touchinge oure communicacion

Ther is a nother consideracion

Which somewhat more troubleth my mynde.

This stanza is three lines short: confusion with rhyme-scheme in previous stanza?

380

Thou knowest that in the parlament

The chefe of the clargye are resydent

In a meruelous great multitude.

Whos fearce displeasure is so terryble

That I iudge it were not possyble

385

Any cause agaynst theym to conclude.

As for this ones / we shall not be herd

And great men I tell the are a_ferd

With theym to haue any doynge.

Who-so-euer will agaynst theym contende

390

Shall be sure of a myschefe in the ende

Is he gentill-man / lorde or kynge.

And that vnto kynge Ihonne I me reporte

With other princes and lordes a great sorte

sig: B2

Whom the cronycles expresse by name.

395

Whiles they were a_lyue they did them trouble

And after their deathe with cruelnes double

They ceascyd not their honour to dyffame.

Dyd not they so longe striue and wrastle

Against the good knyght syr Ihon_oldecastle

400

Other-wise called lorde of Cobbam.

That from hygh heresye vnto treasone

They brought him to fynall destruction

With other many a nobleman.

Moreouer at saynt_Edmundes_bury some saye

405

That the famous prince duke Humfray

By them of his lyfe was abrevyate.

Sythe that tyme I coude recken mo

Whom they caused to be dispached so

Parauenture some of no lowe estate.

¶Husbond-man.

410

Their tyranny is great without fayle

Neuerthelesse yf we would theym assayle

With argumentes of the holy gospell.

They shuld not be ones able to resiste

For the wordes of oure saueour christe

415

Shuld stoppe theym were they neuer so fell.

Who in the .xxiij. chapter of saynt Luke

To their great confusyon and rebuke

For_bedyth secular ambicyon.

Wherin he hym-selfe example gaue

420

Contempnynge worldly honour to haue

Of this world claymynge no kyngdom.

Also when his disciples forthe he sent

He commaundyd theym to be content

sig: [B2v]

With foode and apparayle necessary.

425

Wherto saint Paules doctrine acordinge

Saieth: hauynge meate / drincke and clothinge

We shuld not couett superfluously

¶Gentill-man.

Yf the holy gospell allege we shuld

As stronge heretikes take vs they would

430

Vnto their churche disobedient.

For-why they haue commaunded straytely

That none vnder great payne be so hardye

To haue in englishe the testament.

Which as thou knowest at London

435

The bisshoppe makinge ther a sermon

With shamefull blasphemy was brent.

¶Husbondman.

Alas that cruelte goeth to my hert

Wherfor I feare me we shall all smert

At lengthe with bitter punishment.

¶Gentill-m[a]n.

man] men 1529

440

Vndouted it is greatly to be fearyd

Least the hole region shall be plagyd

For their outragious blasphemy.

In kinge Henryes dayes of that name the fyft

The clargye their pride aboue to lyft

445

Persecutyd christen brotheres haynously

The gospell of Christ a_syde to cast

Which at that tyme prospered fast.

With all their pusaunce they dyd conspyre

Euery-where / they threwe theym in presones

450

In sharppe gayles / and horrible doungeones /

Causynge many to be brent in fyre.

sig: [B3]

Theyr furyous malyce neuer stentyd

Tyll they had the lyght oute_quenchyd oute_quenchyd: see OED out-quench v.

Of the gospell and holy scrypture.

455

Wher-of / all bokes that they could gett

They causyd on a fayre fyre to be sett

To expell goddes worde doynge theyr cure

But consyder what ther-of dyd chaunce

Moste terryble plages of fearfull vengeaunce.

460

And endles sorowe to oure nacion.

For within shorte season after they lost

Wich many a manes lyfe dyd cost

I[n] fraunce theyr domynacyon

Amonge theym-selfes moste hatefull mourdre

465

Many stronge batayles / one after a nother

With great effusyon of englysshe bloode

Frende agaynst frende / brother agaynst brother.

Euery man at varyaunce with other

The reame longe season in myschefe stoode

¶Husbandeman.

470

Thys is nowe-a_dayes clene oute of mynde

¶Gentyll-man.

I praye god / here-after we do not fynde

The same vengeaunce for lyke offence

For as it is in the byble playnely red

God left neuer lande yet vnpunyshed

475

Which agaynst hys worde made resystence.

¶Husbandeman

Well syr / yf scrypture ye forthe brynge

I beseche you / what is theyr answerynge

Are they so bolde goddes worde to denye?

¶Gentill-man.

sig: [B3v]

Naye but after theyr Imagynacyon

480

They make there-of an interpretacyon

Vnto the texte clene contrary

They allege the popes hygh auctoryte

Customes of auncyent antyqwite

With dyuers counseiles approbacyon

485

Also the holynes of religious fathers

With the bloode-sheadynge of marters

For theyr chirches preseruacyon

Besyde that / contynuaunce of yeres

Myracles of bysshoppes / monckes and freers

490

Whom for specyall patrones they holde

And fynally to make a conclusyon

In fortefyenge theyr abusyon

Other practyses they vse many-folde

They resorte to lordes and great estates

495

With whom they are daily checke-mates

Ye to saye the trouthe their soueraynes

Where amonge other comunycacyo[n]

They admonysshe theym with protestacyon

To beware of thes heretyke lutheranes

500

Whom they saye is a secte newe-fanggled

With execrable heresyes entanggled

Sekynge the chyrches perdycyon.

Which oure fore-fathers as wyse as we

Were contente with humble symplycyte

505

To honour / obeynge theyr tuycyon

Also none presumyd tyll nowe a_late

Agaynst the clergye to bare any hate

Or grudged at theyr possessyon

¶Husbande-man.

sig: [B4]

By saynt mary syr / that is a starcke lye

510

I can shewe you a worke by and by

Agaynst that poynte makynge obieccyon

Which of warantyse I dare be bolde

That is a_boue an houndred yere olde

As the englysshe selfe dothe testefye

515

Wherin the auctour with argumentes

Speakyth agaynst the lordsshyppes and rentes

Of the clergye / possessyd wrongfully

¶Gentyll-man

Is it so olde as thou doste here expresse

Reprouynge theyr pompous lordlynes

520

So is it than no newe-found heresy.

¶Husbandman.

No but alas / halfe the boke we want

Hauynge no more left than a remenant

From the begynnynge of the .vi. chapter verely

¶Gentyllman.

As for that / it maketh no matter

525

Begynne hardely at the syxte chapter

Redynge forthe to the ende seryously

For though old wrytynges apere to be rude

Yet notwithstandynge they do include

The pythe of a matter most fructuously

¶Husbandman

530

To rede it I shall be dylygent

Though the style be nothynge eloquent

With ornate speache sett oute curyously

This stanza is three lines short: confusion with rhyme-scheme in the previous stanza? Or a special nine-line stanza to conclude this section?

¶Here foloweth an olde treatyse made aboute the tyme of kinge Rycharde the secounde.

sig: [B4v]

prose section follows, Sigs. B4v-C7v

sig: [C7v]

¶Husband-man.

Syr howe lyke ye nowe thys olde treatyse

Yf so be noble-men wold it aduertyse

535

Puttynge a_parte pryuate affeccyon.

Shuld they not perceyue here euydently

That the clergye dothe theym great iniury

Retaynynge thus temperall possessyon?

¶Gentyllman.

Nowe I premyse the after my iugement

540

I haue not hard of soche an olde fragment

Better groundyd on reason with scrypture.

Yf soche auncyent thynges myght come to lyght

That noble-men hadde ones of theym a syght

The world yet wolde chaunge perauenture.

545

For here-agaynst the clergye can not bercke

Sayenge as they do / thys is a newe wercke

Of heretykes contryued lately.

And by thys treatyse it apperyth playne

That before oure dayes men dyd compleyne

550

Agaynst clerckes ambycyon so stately.

¶Husbandman.

Concernynge thys treatyse and lyke matters

I haue hard saye of my forefathers

Howe in kynge henry the .v. raygne.

What tyme as ye dyd specyfye

sig: [C8]

555

The clergye persecutyd the gospell fercely

Causynge moche chrysten people to be slayne.

The kynge at the last hauynge informacyon

Thourough seryous consyderacyon

Of soche proper matters as thys is.

560

Beganne to note the clergyes tyranny

And what temporaltees / they dyd occupye

Theyr spyrytuall state ferre a_mysse.

Wherfore he determyned certeynly

To depryue theym temporally

565

Of all theyr worldly gouernaunce. gouernaunce] gouuernaunce 1529

Whos pretence / as sone as they perceyued

Amonge theym-selfes they Imagyned

To gett the kynge ouer in-to fraunce.

That whyles he conqweryd ther is ryght

570

In england do what they lyst they myght

Theyr froward tyranny to fulfyll.

Which counseil / thus brought to passe

The kynge euer after so busyed wasse

That he could not performe hys sayde wyll.

¶Gentyll-man

575

So moote I the / it was happye for the kynge

That by soche a colour they could hym brynge

From medlynge with that cace any more.

For hadde he it ones ernestly begonne

They had put hym to a confusyon

580

Euene as they dyd other kynges before.

¶Husbandman.

What suppose ye they wold haue done?

¶Gentyll-ma[n].

Mary / fyrst with a fayre interdyccion

sig: [C8v]

To coursse the lande as blacke as pytche.

Than to inhybyt sayenge and syngynge

585

Of mattyns and masse / and belles-ryngynge

With chrysten buryall of poore and ryche

Besyde that precheres euery-where

Shuld haue brought men in soche fere

By theyr threatnynge exclamacyon.

590

That theyr malycyous partye to take

Subgettes shuld theyr prynce forsake

Contrary to goddes ordynacyon.

Euene as they dyd in hygh Germany

To the Emperour lewes of Bauerye

595

Whom Pope Ihone sought to confounde

And so dyd the clergy as I vnderstande

Vnto kynge Ihon here in Englande

To kynge Steuen / and henry the secounde.

¶Husbandman.

They saye kynge Ihone was poysoned

600

Because an halfe-peny lofe of breed

He sayde / he wold make worthe .xij. pence.

¶Gentyll-man.

Tushe that is a cast of theyr comon gyse

Soche infamy of prynces to deuyse

To cloke theyr oune tyrannous vyolence

605

For hadde not kynge Ihone gone aboute

From theyr temporaltees to put theym owt

He hadde bene longe after a lyues-man. lyues-man: see OED life, n. 15b.

But murder they neuer so shamefully

They can geue it a cloke full craftely

610

Sayenge / nobis non licet occidere quenquem

Whan they brennyd the newe testament

sig: [D1]

[Th]ey pretendyd a zele very feruent Leaf badly stained here and below

To maynteyne onely goddes honour.

Which they sayde with protestacyon

615

[W]as obscured by translacyon

In englysshe / causynge moche errour.

[Bu]t the trueth playnly to be sayde

[Th]ys was the cause why they were a_frayde

[L]east laye-men shuld knowe theyr iniquite.

620

[Whi]ch through goddes worde is so vttred

That it were not possyble to be suffred

Yf to rede scripture men had lyberte.

Also after the same maner and fasshyon

Subtelly to colour theyr abhomynacyon

625

They destroyed cronicles not longe a_gone.

Which for certeyne poyntes vnreuerently

Soundynge agaynst the kynges auncetrye

As they saye / were brent euerychone

But for all that / they shulde haue been spared

630

From burnynge: had they not so declared

The clergyes abhomynable excesse.

¶Husbandman.

I suppose then / that they vse the same wayes

In burnynge of heretykes nowe-a_dayes

Whom they pursue with great furyousnes

¶Gentyll-man.

635

No fayle / they perswade temporall menne

Thes heretykes as they saye to brenne

Least other good christians they shuld infecte

But the cause why they wolde haue theim rydde

Is onely that theyr vnhappynes nowe hydde

640

They dreede least they shuld openly detecte

¶Husbandman.

sig: [D1v]

By my trouth it is nothinge vnlickly.

For lett one lyue neuer so wyckedly

In abhominable scandalisacion.

As longe as he will their church obaye

645

Not refusynge his tithes duely to paye

They shall make of him no accusacion.

Howbeyt lett him ones begynne to pynche.

Or to withdrawe their tithinge an ynche

For an heretike they will him ascite.ascite: see OED accite v.

650

Wherfore I wonder moche of the tempor[alte]Leaf damaged

That in performynge the clargyes cruelte

To burne soche parso[n]es they haue delyte.

¶Gentyllman.

It is no merueil yf thou marcke well

The clargye sayenge that it is goddes quarrell

655

Their mischeuous murdre to execute.

¶Husbondman.

So they are not a_knowen by their wyll a_knowen: see OED acknow v.

That it is their cause christen men to kyll

But the faute vnto other they impute.

¶Gentyllman.

Touchinge that / another tyme at leyser

660

I shall shew the more of their maner

But nowe I can not tary verely.

¶Husbondman.

Well syr / yf ye may no longer abyde

Oure lord be your continuall gyde

Grauntinge the trouth to be knowen openly.

665

¶AMEN.