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diff --git a/32464.txt b/32464.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..208afbe --- /dev/null +++ b/32464.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1657 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Supplication for the Beggars, by Simon Fish + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Supplication for the Beggars + +Author: Simon Fish + +Editor: Edward Arber + +Release Date: May 21, 2010 [EBook #32464] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SUPPLICATION FOR THE BEGGARS *** + + + + +Produced by Meredith Bach and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + The English Scholar's Library + of Old and Modern Works. + + Edited by EDWARD ARBER, F.S.A., etc., + + _LECTURER IN ENGLISH LITERATURE ETC., + UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON._ + + + SIMON FISH, + _of Gray's Inn, Gentleman_. + + + A SUPPLICATION + FOR THE BEGGARS. + + [1529.] + + Only to be obtained by _postal_ application to + EDWARD ARBER, _at Southgate, London, N.; England_. + No. 4. 15 August 1878. + + + _UNWIN BROS., IMP._] Eighteen Pence. [_CHILWORTH & LONDON._ + + + + To + _my Godfathers in English Literature_, + + HENRY MORLEY, ESQ., + _PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE_, + UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON. + + AND + + HENRY PYNE, ESQ., + Late _ASSISTANT TITHE COMMISSIONER_, + ST. JAMES'S SQUARE, LONDON. + + _this_ + Old Series + _is, + with blended admiration and gratitude, + filially_ + Inscribed. + + + + +The English Scholar's Library etc. + +No. 4. + +_A Supplication for the Beggars._ + +[Spring of 1529.] + + + + + The English Scholar's Library of + Old and Modern Works. + + [SIMON FISH, + of Gray's Inn, Gentleman.] + + + _A Supplication for the Beggars._ + + [Spring of 1529.] + + + Edited by EDWARD ARBER, F.S.A., etc., + + _LECTURER IN ENGLISH LITERATURE ETC., + UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON._ + + + SOUTHGATE, LONDON, N. + 15 August 1878. + No. 4. + (_All rights reserved._) + + + + +_CONTENTS._ + + + PAGE + + Bibliography vi + + INTRODUCTION vii-xviii + + _A Supplicacyon for the Beggers_ 1 + + 1. _The yearly exactions from the people taken by this greedy + sort of sturdy idle holy thieves_ 3 + + They have a Tenth part of all produce, wages and profits 4 + + What money pull they in by probates of testaments, privy + tithes, men's offerings to their pilgrimages and at their + first masses; by masses and _diriges_, by mortuaries, hearing + of confessions (yet keeping thereof no secrecy), hallowing of + churches, by cursing of men and absolving them for money; by + extortion &c.; and by the quarterage from every household to + each of the Five Orders of begging Friars, which equals + L43,333 6s. 8d. [= _over L500,000 in present value_] a year 4 + + 400 years ago, of all this they had not a penny 4 + + These locusts own also one Third of the land 5 + + Or in all more than half of the substance of the realm 5 + + Yet they are not in number, one to every hundred men, or one + in every four hundred men women and children 5 + + Neither could the Danes or Saxons haue conquered this land, if + they had left such a sort [_company_] of idle gluttons behind + them; nor noble King ARTHUR have resisted the Emperor LUCIUS, + if such yearly exactions had been taken of his people; nor the + Greeks so long continued the siege of Troy, if they had had to + find for such an idle sort of cormorants at home; nor the + Romans conquered the world, if their people had been thus + yearly oppressed; nor the Turk haue now so gained on + Christendom, if he had in his empire such locusts to devour + his substance 5 + + 2. _What do they with these exactions?_ 6 + + Nothing but to translate all rule, power &c. from your Grace + to themselves, and to incite to disobedience and rebellion 6 + + 3. _Yea, and what do they more?_ 7 + + Truly nothing but to have to do with every man's wife, every + man's daughter &c. 7 + + 4. _Yea, who is able to number the great and broad bottomless + ocean sea full of evils, that this mischievous and sinful + generation is able to bring upon us? unpunished!_ 7 + + 5. _What remedy? Make laws against them?_ I am in doubt whether + ye are able. Are they not stronger in your own parliament + house than yourself 8 + + So captive are your laws unto them, that no man that they + list to excommunicate may be admitted to sue any action in + any of your Courts 9 + + Neither have they any coulour [_pretence_] to gather these + yearly exactions but they say they pray to GOD to deliver + our souls from purgatory. If that were true we should give + a hundred times as much. But many men of great literature + say there is no purgatory: and that if there were and that + the Pope may deliver one soul for money, he may deliver him + as well without money; if one, a thousand; if a thousand, + all; and so destroy purgatory. 10 + + 6. _But what remedy? To make many hospitals for the relief of + the poor people?_ Nay, truly! The more the worse. For ever + the fat of the whole foundation hangeth on the priests' + beards 12 + + 7. Set these sturdy loobies abroad in the world to get + themselves wives, to get their living with their labour + in the sweat of their faces, according to the commandment + of GOD 13 + + + + +_BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SIMON FISH'S WORKS._ + + +A Supplication for the Beggers. + +ISSUES IN HIS LIFETIME. + +A. _As a separate publication._ + +1. [1529. Printed abroad.] 8vo. See title at _p._ 1. Wholly printed in a +clear italic type. + +2. 1529. [Printed abroad.] 4to. Klagbrieff oder supplication der armen +duerfftigen in Engenlandt | an den Konig daselb gestellet | widder die +reychen geystlichen bettler. [A Letter of Complaint or Supplication of the +necessitous poor in England shewn to the King thereof against the rich +spiritual beggars] M.D.XXIX. [with a preface by SEBASTIAN FRANCK.] Black +letter. + +3. 1530. [Printed abroad.] 8vo. Supplicatorius Libellus pauperum, et +egentium nomine, Henricho VIII. Serenissimo Angliae regi etc. oblatus, +contra quotidianas religiosorum ibidem iniurias et impiam auariciam. Ex +Anglico in latinum versus. M.D.XXX. + +In the same type and style as No. 1. and with an engraved framework on the +title page that may eventually lead to a knowledge of the foreign printer +of both the editions. + +B. _With other Works._ + +None known. + + +ISSUES SINCE HIS DEATH. + +A. _As a separate publication._ + +4. 1546. [London] Fol. A supplication of the poore Commons. Prov. 21 Chap. +** Whereunto is added the Supplication of Beggers, [In the same style and +type as No. 3. below, and therefore printed by WILLIAM HYLL.] In the +heading the "Supplicacyon of Beggers" is assigned to 1524, which is wrong +by five years. + +5. 1845. London. 8vo. A Supplicacyon for the Beggers. [100 copies only +printed.] + +6. 1860. Fol. See Woods _Ath. Oxon._ i. 59. Ed. 1813. + +7. 15. Aug. 1878 Southgate, London, N. 8vo. The present impression. + +B. _With other Works._ + +8a 1563. London. Fol. This tract is reprinted, with notes by JOHN FOX in +his _Actes and Monumentes etc._ + +8b. 1570. London. Fol.} + +8c. 1576. London. Fol.} And so in all later editions of the _Book of + Martyrs._ + +8d. 1583. London. Fol.} + +9. 1871. London. 8vo. _Early English Text Society. Extra Series. No. 13_, +1871. "Four Supplications. 1529-1553 A.D." The first of these is "A +Supplicacyon for the Beggers written about the year 1529, by SIMON FISH. +Now re-edited by FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL." + + + + +The Summe of the Scripture. + +ISSUES IN HIS LIFETIME. + +A. _As a separate publication._ + +1. [Winter of 1529-1530. Printed abroad.] 8vo. The only copy at present +known is in the British Museum. C. 37. 2/2. The title page is torn off, +apparently for the safety of the first possessors. + +B. _With other Works._ + +None known. + + +ISSUES SINCE HIS DEATH. + +A. _As a separate publication._ + +2. 1547. London, W. HERBERT, _Typ. Amt._ i. 616, _Ed._ 1785, quotes an +edition by JOHN DAY. + +3. 11. Dec. 1548. [London.] 8vo. The summe of the holy Scripture, and +ordinarye of the Chrystian teachyng, the true christian fayth, by the +whiche we be all iustified. And of the vertu of Baptisme, after the +teachynge of the Gospell and of the Apostles, With an information howe all +estattes should lyue according to the Gospell very necessary for all +Christian people to knowe. ** Anno. M.d.xlviii. + +[COLOPHON]: Imprynted at London, at the signe of the Hyll, at the west +dore of Paules. By Wyllyam Hill. And there to be sold. Anno 1548. The 11 +of Decembre. _Cum Gratia et Privilegio ad Imprimendum solum._ The press +mark of the British Museum copy is 4401. b. 2. + +B. _With Other Works._ + +None known. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +SIR THOMAS MORE, who at that time was but Chancellor of the Duchy of +Lancaster, was made Lord Chancellor in the room of Cardinal WOLSEY on +Sunday, the 24th of October 1529. + +The following undated work--the second of his controversial ones--was +therefore written, printed and published prior to that day, and while as +yet he held the lower dignity of the ducal Chancellorship. + +** The supplycacyon of soulys Made by syr Thomas More knyght councellour to +our souerayn lorde the Kynge and chauncellour of hys Duchy of Lancaster. + +** Agaynst the supplycacyon of beggars. + +At fol. xx. of this work occurs the following important passage, which, +while crediting the Reformers with a greater science in attack, and a more +far-reaching design in their writings than they actually possessed: fixes +with precision the year of the first distribution in England of SIMON +FISH's _Supplicacyon for the Beggers_, and with that its sequence in our +early Protestant printed literature-- + +For the techyng and prechyng of all whych thyngys / thys beggers proctour +or rather the dyuels proctour with other beggers that la[c]k grace and +nether beg nor lo[o]ke for none: bere all thys theyr malyce and wrathe to +the churche of C[h]ryste. And seynge there ys no way for attaynyng theyr +entent but one of the twayn / yat ys to wyt eyther playnly to wryte +agaynst the fayth and the sacramentys (wheryn yf they gat them credence +and obtaynyd / they then se[e] well the church must nedys fall therwyth) +or els to labour agaynst the church alone / and get the clergye dystroyd / +whereuppon they parceyue well that the fayth and sacramentes wo[u]ld not +fayle to decay: they parceyuyng thys / haue therfore furste assayd the +furst way all redy / sendyng forth Tyndals translacyon of the _new +testament_ in such wyse handled as yt shuld haue bene the fountayn and +well spryng of all theyr hole heresyes. For he had corrupted and purposely +changed in many placys the text / wyth such wordys as he myght make yt +seme to the vnlerned people / that the scripture affirmed theyr heresyes +it selfe. Then cam sone after out in prynt _the dyaloge_ of freere Roy and +frere Hyerome / _betwene ye father and ye sonne_ [_Preface dated +Argentine_ (Strasburg), _31 August, 1527_] agaynst ye sacrament of ye +aulter: and the blasphemouse boke entytled _the beryeng of the masse_ +[i.e. _Rede me and be not wroth_ / printed at Strasburg early in 1528]. +Then cam forth after Tyndals wykkyd boke of _Mammona_ [_Dated Marburg, 8 +May 1528_] / and after that his more wykkyd boke of obydyence [_Dated +Marburg, 2 October 1528_]. In whych bokys afore specyfyed they go forth +playnly agaynst the fayth and holy sacramentis of Crystys church / and +most especyally agaynst the blyssed sacrament of ye aulter / wyth as +vylanous wordes as the wre[t]ches cou[l]d deuyse. But when they haue +perceuyd by experyence yat good people abhorred theyr abomynable bokes: +then they beyng therby lerned yat the furst way was not ye best for ye +furtherance of theyr purpose / haue now determined them selfe to assay the +secunde way / that ys to witte yat forberynge to wryte so openly and +dyrectly agaynste all the fayth and the sacramentys as good crysten men +coulde not abyde the redyng / they wolde / wyth lyttell towchyng of theyre +other heresyes / make one boke specially agaynst ye church and loke how +that wold proue. + +The previous controversial work produced by Sir THOMAS MORE had but +recently appeared under the title of + +** A dialoge of syr Thomas More knighte: one of the counsayll of oure +souerayne lorde the kyng and chauncellor of hys duchy of Lancaster. Wherin +be treatyd diuers matters / as of the veneration and worshyp of ymagys and +relyques / prayng to sayntys / and goyng on pylgrymage. Wyth many othere +thyngys touchyng the pestelent sect of Luther and Tyndale / by th[e] one +begone in Saxony / and by th[e] other laboryd to be brought in to Englond. + +[COLOPHON]. Emprynted at London at the sygne of the meremayd at Powlys +gate next to chepe syde in the moneth of June the yere of our lord. +M.C.C.XXIX. _Cum priuilegio Regali._ + +Of this extraordinarily scarce first edition, there is a copy in the +Corporation Library, London. + +As Sir THOMAS MORE felt it necessary to write this second work, of the +_Supplicacyon of Soulys, after_ he had composed his _Dialogue_ the +printing of which was finished in June 1529; and as his _Supplicacyon_ +certainly was written and published prior to his advancement on the 24th +October following: it is conclusive that S. Fish's tract had not appeared +_before_ he was writing the _Dialogue_, and therefore that the date of its +distribution must by this internal evidence, be fixed as in the spring or +summer of 1529; however that date may conflict with early testimony, such +as incorrect lists of prohibited books, assigning it to 1524, 1526, etc. + +Yet JOHN FOX in his _Actes and Monumentes_, [Third Edition] _fol._ 987, +_Ed._ 1576, states that was + + "Throwen and scattered at the procession in Westminster vpon + Candlemas day [? _2nd February 1529_] before kyng Henry the viij, for + him to read and peruse." + +We have been unable to verify this procession at Westminster on this +particular date, and think that if it had been so, Sir THOMAS MORE would +have surely noticed to the _Supplicacyon_ while writing the _Dialogue_, +the printing of which was in progress during the next four months. He may, +however, have thought it necessary to write a special book against S. +FISH's tract, with its distinct line of attack as he has accurately stated +it. + +It will be seen from the Bibliography that this date of the Spring of 1529 +quite harmonizes with those of the contemporary German and Latin +translations; which, naturally, would be prompt. It is also not +inconsistent with the following allusion at p. 30 to Cardinal WOLSEY's +still holding the Lord Chancellorship. + +** And this is by the reason that the chief instrument of youre lawe ye[a] +the chief of your counsell and he whiche hath your swerde in his hond to +whome also all the other instrumentes are obedient is alweys a spirituell +man. + +So much, then, as to the certain approximate date of the publication. FOX +is quite wrong in assuming as he does in the following paragraph that this +work was the occasion of Bishop TONSTAL's _Prohibition_ of the 24th +October 1526, _i.e._ more than two years previously. + +After that the Clergye of England, and especially the Cardinall, +vnderstoode these bookes of the _Beggars supplication_ aforesayd, to be +strawne abroade in the streetes of London, and also before the kyng. The +sayd Cardinall caused not onely his seruauntes diligently to attend to +gather them vp, that they should not come into the kynges handes, but also +when he vnderstode, that the king had receaued one or two of them, he came +vnto the kynges Maiesty saying: "If it shall please your grace, here are +diuers seditious persons which haue scattered abroad books conteyning +manifest errours and heresies" desiryng his grace to beware of them. +Whereupon the kyng putting his hand in his bosome, tooke out one of the +bookes and deliuered it vnto the Cardinall. Then the Cardinall, together +with the Byshops, consulted _&c._ + + _Eccles. Hist. &c., p. 900. Ed. 1576._ + + +II. + +We now come to the only authoritative account of our Author, as it is +recorded in the same Third Edition of the _Actes and Monumentes &c., p. +896. Ed. 1576_. + +** _The story of M_[_aster_]. _Simon Fishe._ + +Before the tyme of M[aster]. Bilney, and the fall of the Cardinall, I +should haue placed the story of Symon Fish with the booke called the +_Supplication of Beggars_, declaryng how and by what meanes it came to the +kynges hand, and what effect therof followed after, in the reformation of +many thynges, especially of the Clergy. But the missyng of a few yeares in +this matter, breaketh no great square in our story, though it be now +entred here which should haue come in sixe yeares before. + +FOX is writing of 1531, and therefore intends us to understand that the +present narrative begins in 1525. + +The maner and circumstaunce of the matter is this: + +After that the light of the Gospel workyng mightely in Germanie, began to +spread his beames here also in England, great styrre and alteration +followed in the harts of many: so that colored hypocrisie and false +doctrine, and painted holynes began to be espyed more and more by the +readyng of Gods word. The authoritie of the Bishop of Rome, and the glory +of his Cardinals was not so high, but such as had fresh wittes sparcled +with Gods grace, began to espy Christ from Antichrist, that is, true +sinceritie, from counterfait religion. In the number of whom, was the sayd +M[aster]. Symon Fish, a Gentleman of Grayes Inne. + +[Sidenote: _Ex certa relatione, vivoque testimonio propriae ipsius +coniugis._] + +It happened the first yeare that this Gentleman came to London to dwell, +which was about the yeare of our Lord 1525 [_i.e. between 25 Mar. 1525 and +24 Mar. 1526_] that there was a certaine play or interlude made by one +Master Roo of the same Inne Gentleman, in which play partly was matter +agaynst the Cardinal Wolsey. And where none durst take vpon them to play +that part, whiche touched the sayd Cardinall, this foresayd M. Fish tooke +upon him to do it, whereupon great displeasure ensued agaynst him, vpon +the Cardinals part: In so much as he beyng pursued by the sayd Cardinall, +the same night that this Tragedie was playd, was compelled of force to +voyde his owne house, and so fled ouer the Sea vnto Tyndall. + +We will here interrupt the Martyrologist's account, with EDWARD HALLE's +description of this "goodly disguisyng." It occurs at _fol._ 155 of the +history of the eighteenth year of the reign of Henry VIII. [22 April 1526 +to 21 April 1527] in his _Vnion of the two noble and illustrate families +of Lancastre and York &c._ 1548. + +This Christmas [1526] was a goodly disguisyng plaied at Greis inne, whiche +was compiled for the moste part, by Master Jhon Roo, seriant at the law. +[some] xx. yere past, and long before the Cardinall had any aucthoritie, +the effecte of the plaie was, that lord Gouernaunce was ruled by +Dissipacion and Negligence, by whose misgouernance and euil order, lady +Publike Wele was put from gouernance: which caused _Rumor Populi_, Inward +Grudge and Disdain of Wanton Souereignetie, to rise with a greate +multitude, to expell Negligence and Dissipacion, and to restore Publike +Welth again to her estate, which was so doen. + +This plaie was so set furth with riche and costly apparel, with straunge +diuises of Maskes and morrishes [_morris dancers_] that it was highly +praised of all menne, sauing of the Cardinall, whiche imagined that the +plaie had been diuised of hym, and in a great furie sent for the said +master Roo, and toke from hym his Coyfe, and sent hym to the Flete, and +after he sent for the yong gentlemen, that plaied in the plaie, and them +highley rebuked and thretened, and sent one of them called Thomas Moyle of +Kent to the Flete. But by the meanes of frendes Master Roo and he were +deliuered at last. + +This plaie sore displeased the Cardinall, and yet it was neuer meante to +hym, as you haue harde, wherfore many wisemen grudged to see hym take it +so hartely, and euer the Cardinall saied that the kyng was highly +displeased with it, and spake nothyng of hymself. + +There is no question as to the date of this "disguisyng." Archbishop +WARHAM on the 6th February 1527, wrote to his chaplain, HENRY GOLDE, from +Knolle that he "Has received his letters, dated London, 6 Feb., stating +that Mr. Roo is committed to the Tower for making a certain play. Is sorry +such a matter should be taken in earnest." _Letters &c. HENRY VIII._ Ed. +by J. S. BREWER, _p._ 1277. _Ed._ 1872. + +It would seem however that FISH either did not go or did not stay long +abroad at this time. STRYPE (_Eccles. Mem. I. Part II, pp. 63-5. Ed. +1822_) has printed, from the Registers of the Bishops of LONDON, the +Confession in 1528 of ROBERT NECTON (a person of position, whose brother +became Sheriff of Norwich in 1530), by which it appears that during the +previous eighteen months, that is from about the beginning of 1527, our +Author was "dwellyng by the Wight Friars in London;" and was actively +engaged in the importation and circulation of TYNDALE's _New Testaments_, +a perfectly hazardous work at that time. + +Possibly this Confession was the occasion of a first or a renewed flight +by FISH to the Continent, and therefore the ultimate cause of the present +little work in the following year. + +We now resume FOX's account, which was evidently derived from FISH's wife, +when she was in old age. + +Vpon occasion wherof the next yeare folowyng this booke was made (being +about the yeare 1527) and so not long after in the yeare (as I suppose) +1528 [_which by the old reckoning ended on the 24 Mar. 1529_]. was sent +ouer to the Lady Anne Bulleyne, who then lay at a place not farre from the +Court. Which booke her brother seyng in her hand, tooke it and read it, +and gaue it [to] her agayne, willyng her earnestly to giue it to the kyng, +which thyng she so dyd. + +This was (as I gather) about the yeare of our Lord 1528 [-1529]. + +The kyng after he had receaued the booke, demaunded of her "who made it." +Whereunto she aunswered and sayd, "a certaine subiect of his, one Fish, +who was fled out of the Realme for feare of the Cardinall." + +After the kyng had kept the booke in his bosome iij. or iiij. dayes, as is +credibly reported, such knowledge was giuen by the kynges seruauntes to +the wife of ye sayd Symon Fishe, yat she might boldly send for her +husband, without all perill or daunger. Whereupon she thereby beyng +incouraged, came first and made sute to the kyng for the safe returne of +her husband. Who vnderstandyng whose wife she was, shewed a maruelous +gentle and chearefull countenaunce towardes her, askyng "where her husband +was." She aunswered, "if it like your grace, not farre of[f]." Then sayth +he, "fetch him, and he shal come and go safe without perill, and no man +shal do him harme," saying moreouer, "that hee had [had] much wrong that +hee was from her so long:" who had bene absent now the space of two yeares +and a halfe, + + Which from Christmas 1526 would bring us to June 1529, which + corroborates the internal evidence above quoted. FOX evidently now + confuses together two different interviews with the King. The first + at the Court in June 1529; the other on horseback with the King, + followed afterwards by his Message to Sir T. MORE in the winter of + 1529-30, within six months after which S. FISH dies. His wife never + would have been admitted to the Court, if she had had a daughter ill + of the plague at home. + +In the whiche meane tyme, the Cardinall was deposed, as is aforeshewed, +and M[aster]. More set in his place of the Chauncellourshyp. + +Thus Fishes wife beyng emboldened by the kynges wordes, went immediatly to +her husband beyng lately come ouer, and lying priuely within a myle of the +Court, and brought him to the kyng: which appeareth to be about the yeare +of our Lord. 1530. + +When the kyng saw hym, and vnderstood he was the authour of the booke, he +came and embraced him with louing countenance: who after long talke: for +the space of iij. or iiij. houres, as they were ridyng together on +huntyng, at length dimitted him, and bad him "take home his wife, for she +had taken great paynes for him." Who answered the kyng agayne and sayd, he +"durst not so do, for fear of Syr Thomas More then Chauncellor, and +Stoksley then Bishop of London. This seemeth to be about the yeare of our +Lord. 1530. + +This bringing in of STOKESLEY as Bishop is only making confusion worse +confounded. STOKESLEY was consecrated to the see of London on the 27th +Nov. 1530. By that time, S. FISH had died of the plague which occurred in +London and its suburbs in the summer of 1530; and which was so severe, +that on 22nd June of that year, the King prorogued the Parliament to the +following 1st October. _Letters &c. HENRY VIII._ Ed. by J. S. BREWER, +M.A., IV, Part 3, No. 6469. _Ed._ 1876. + +The Martyrologist, throughout, seems to be right as to his facts, but +wrong as to his dates. + +The kyng takyng his signet of[f] his finger, willed hym to haue hym +reommended to the Lord Chauncellour, chargyng him not to bee so hardy to +worke him any harme. + +Master Fishe receiuyng the kynges signet, went and declared hys message to +the Lord Chauncellour, who tooke it as sufficient for his owne discharge, +but asked him "if he had any thynge for the discharge of his wife:" for +she a litle before had by chaunce displeased the Friers, for not sufferyng +them to say their Gospels in Latine in her house, as they did in others, +vnlesse they would say it in English. Whereupon the Lord Chauncellour, +though he had discharged the man, yet leauyng not his grudge towardes the +wife, the next morning sent his man for her to appeare before hym: who, +had it not bene for her young daughter, which then lay sicke of the +plague, had bene lyke to come to much trouble. + +Of the which plague her husband, the said Master Fish deceasing with in +half a yeare, she afterward maryed to one Master James Baynham, Syr +Alexander Baynhams sonne, a worshypful Knight of Glo[uce]stershyre. The +which foresayd Master James Baynham, not long after, [1 May 1532] was +burned, as incontinently after in the processe of this story, shall +appeare. + +And thus much concernyng Symon Fishe the author of the _booke of beggars_, +who also translated a booke called _the Summe of the Scripture_ out of the +Dutch [_i.e. German_]. + + * * * * * + +Now commeth an other note of one Edmund Moddys the kynges footeman, +touchyng the same matter. + +This M[aster]. Moddys beyng with the kyng in talke of religion, and of the +new bookes that were come from beyond the seas, sayde "if it might please +hys grace, he should see such a booke, as was maruell to heare of." The +kyng demaunded "what they were." He sayd, "two of your Merchauntes, George +Elyot, and George Robinson." The kyng [ap]poynted a tyme to speake with +them. When they came before his presence in a priuye [_private_] closet, +he demaunded "what they had to saye, or to shew him" One of them said "yat +there was a boke come to their hands, which they were there to shew his +grace." When he saw it, hee demaunded "if any of them could read it." +"Yea" sayd George Elyot, "if it please your grace to heare it," "I thought +so" sayd the kyng, "for if neede were thou canst say it without booke." + +The whole booke beyng read out, the kyng made a long pause, and then sayd, +"if a man should pull downe an old stone wall and begyn at the lower part, +the vpper part thereof might chaunce to fall vpon his head:" and then he +tooke the booke and put it into his deske, and commaunded them vpon their +allegiance, that they should not tell to any man, that he had sene the +booke. + + +III. + +To this account we may add two notices. Sir T. MORE replying in his +_Apology_ to the "Pacifier" [CHRISTOPHER SAINT GERMAIN] in the spring of +1533, gives at _fol._ 124, the following account of our Author's death-- + +And these men in the iudgement of thys pytuouse pacyfyer be not dyscrete / +but yet they haue he sayth a good zele though. And thys good zele hadde, +ye wote well, Simon Fysshe when he made the supplycacyon of beggers. But +god gaue hym such grace afterwarde, that he was sory for that good zele, +and repented hym selfe and came into the chyrche agayne, and forsoke and +forsware all the whole hyll of those heresyes, out of whiche the fountayne +of that same good zele sprange. [Also at _p._ 881, _Workes. Ed. 1557_.] + +This is contrary to the tenour of everything else that we know of the man: +but Sir T. MORE, possessing such excellent means of obtaining information, +may nevertheless be true. + +Lastly. ANTHONY A WOOD in his _Ath. Oxon._ i. 59, _Ed._ 1813, while giving +us the wrong year of his death, tells us of his place of burial. + +At length being overtaken by the pestilence, died of it in fifteen hundred +thirty and one, and was buried in the church of St. Dunstan (in the West). + +TYNDALE had often preached in this church. + + +IV. + +What a picture of the cruel, unclean and hypocritical monkery that was +eating at the heart's core of English society is given to us in this terse +and brave little book? Abate from its calculations whatever in fairness +Sir T. MORE would have wished us to deduct; we cannot but shudder as we +try to realize the then social condition of our country; and all the more, +when we remember that the fountain of all this unmercifulness, impurity +and ignorance was found in the very persons who professed to be, and who +should have been the Divine Teachers of our nation. It argues, too, much +for the virility of the English race, that it could have sustained, in +gradually increasing intensity, such a widespread mass of festering and +corroding blotches of vice, and could by and bye throw it off altogether; +so that in subsequent ages no other nation has surpassed us in manhood. + +It is marvellous to us how the ecclesiastical fungus could have ever so +blotted out of sight both the royal prerogative and the people's +liberties. Was not HENRY VIII the man for this hour? A bold lusty and +masterful one, imperious and impatient of check, full of the animal +enjoyment of life; yet a remarkable Theologian, a crafty Statesman, a true +Englishman. Often referred to in the literature of this time as "our Lord +and Master." Had England ever had such a Master! ever such a Lord of life +and limb since? A character to the personal humouring and gratification of +whom, such an one as WOLSEY devoted his whole soul and directed all the +powers of the State. + +How necessary was so strong a ruler for our national disruption with Rome! +It is not easy for us to realize what an amazingly difficult thing that +wrench was. MODDYS' story witnesses to us of the King's great perplexity. +By what difficult disillusions, what slow and painful thoughtfulness did +HENRY's mind travel from the _Assertio_ of 1522 and the consequent +_Defensor fidei_, to the destruction of the monasteries in 1536. Truly, if +in this "passion" he vacillated or made mistakes; we may consider the +inherent difficulty of disbelief in what--despite its increasing +corruptions--had been the unbroken faith of this country for a thousand +years. + +We call the disillusionists, the Reformers; but FISH describes them as + + men of greate litterature and iudgement that for the love they haue + vnto the trouth and vnto the comen welth haue not feared to put theim + silf ynto the greatest infamie that may be, in abiection of all the + world, ye[a] in perill of deth to declare theyre oppinion.... _p._ + 10. + +Undoubtedly HENRY personally was the secular Apostle of the first phase of +our Reformation. The section of doctrinal Protestants was politically +insignificant: and it may be fairly doubted whether the King could have +carried the nation with him, but that in the experience of every +intelligent Englishman, the cup of the iniquity of the priesthood was full +to overflowing. He was aided by the strong general reaction of our simple +humanity against the horrid sensuality, the scientific villany offered to +it by the supposed special agents of Almighty GOD in the name of, and +cloaked under the authority believed to have been given to them from the +ever blessed Trinity. + +Morality is the lowest expression of religion, the forerunner of faith. No +religion can be of GOD which does not instinctively preassume in its +votaries the constant striving after the highest and purest moral +excellence. It is an intolerable matter, beyond all possible sufferance, +when religion is made to pander to sensuality and extortion. How bitter a +thing this was to this barrister of Gray's Inn, may be seen in the strange +terms of terror and ravin with which he characterizes these "strong, +puissant, counterfeit holy, and idle beggars." To the untravelled +Englishman of Henry VIII's reign, "cormorants" must have meant some like +devouring griffins, and "locusts" as a ruthless irremediable and fearful +plague without end. By such mental conceptions of utter desolation, +impoverishment and misery does our Author express the bitterness of the +then proved experience by Englishmen, of the combined hierarchy and +monkery of Rome. + +All which is for our consideration in estimating the necessity and policy +of the subsequent suppression of the monasteries. + +These representations are also some mitigation of what is sometimes +thought to be the Protestant frenzy of our great Martyrologist, whose +words of burning reprobation of the Papal system of his time seem often to +us to be extravagant; because, by the good providence of GOD, we are +hardly capable of realizing the widespread and scientific villany of the +delusions and enormities against which he protested. + + + + +** A Supplicacyon for the Beggers. + + + + + TO THE KING OVRE + souereygne lorde. + + +Most lamentably compleyneth theyre wofull mysery vnto youre highnes youre +poore daily bedemen the wretched hidous monstres (on whome scarcely for +horror any yie dare loke) the foule vnhappy sorte of lepres, and other +sore people, nedy, impotent, blinde, lame, and sike, that live onely by +almesse, howe that theyre nombre is daily so sore encreased that all the +almesse of all the weldisposed people of this youre realme is not halfe +ynough for to susteine theim, but that for verey constreint they die for +hunger. And this most pestilent mischief is comen vppon youre saide poore +beedmen by the reason that there is yn the tymes of youre noble +predecessours passed craftily crept ynto this your realme an other sort +(not of impotent but) of strong puissaunt and counterfeit holy, and ydell +beggers and vacabundes whiche syns the tyme of theyre first entre by all +the craft and wilinesse of Satan are nowe encreased vnder your sight not +onely into a great nombre, but also ynto a kingdome. These are (not the +herdes, but the rauinous wolues going in herdes clothing deuouring the +flocke) the Bisshoppes, Abbottes, Priours, Deacons, Archedeacons, +Suffraganes, Prestes, Monkes Chanons, Freres, Pardoners and Somners. And +who is abill to nombre this idell rauinous sort whiche (setting all +laboure a side) haue begged so importunatly that they haue gotten ynto +theyre hondes more then the therd part of all youre Realme. The goodliest +lordshippes, maners, londes, and territories, are theyrs. Besides this +they haue the tenth part of all the corne, medowe, pasture, grasse, wolle, +coltes, calues, lambes, pigges, gese, and chikens. Ouer and bisides the +tenth part of euery seruauntes wages the tenth part of the wolle, milke, +hony, waxe, chese, and butter. Ye[a] and they loke so narowly vppon theyre +proufittes that the poore wyues must be countable to theym of euery tenth +eg or elles she gettith not her ryghtes at ester shalbe taken as an +heretike. hereto haue they theire foure offering daies. whate money pull +they yn by probates of testamentes, priuy tithes, and by mennes offeringes +to theyre pilgremages, and at theyre first masses? Euery man and childe +that is buried must pay sumwhat for masses and diriges to be song for him +or elles they will accuse the de[a]des frendes and executours of heresie. +whate money get they by mortuaries, by hearing of confessions (and yet +they wil kepe therof no counceyle) by halowing of churches altares +superaltares chapelles and belles, by cursing of men and absoluing theim +agein for money? what a multitude of money gather the pardoners in a yere? +Howe moche money get the Somners by extorcion yn a yere, by assityng the +people to the commissaries court and afterward releasing th[e] apparaunce +for money? Finally, the infinite nombre of begging freres whate get they +yn a yere? Here if it please your grace to marke ye shall se a thing farre +out of ioynt. There are withyn youre realme of Englond. lij. thousand +parisshe churches. And this stonding that there be but tenne houshouldes +yn euery parisshe yet are there fiue hundreth thousand and twenty thousand +houshouldes. And of euery of these houshouldes hath euery of the fiue +ordres of freres a peny a quarter for euery ordre, that is for all the +fiue ordres fiue pens a quarter for every house. That is for all the fiue +ordres. xx.d. a yere of euery house. Summa fiue hundreth thousand and +twenty thousand quarters of angels. + +That is. cclx. thousand half angels. Summa. cxxx. thousand angels. Summa +totalis. xliij. thousand poundes and. cccxxxiij. li. vi.s. viij.d. +sterling. wherof not foure hundreth yeres passed they had not one peny. Oh +greuous and peynfull exactions thus yerely to be paied. from the whiche +the people of your nobill predecessours the kinges of the auncient Britons +euer stode fre And this wil they haue or els they wil procure him that +will not giue it theim to be taken as an heretike. whate tiraunt euer +oppressed the people like this cruell and vengeable generacion? whate +subiectes shall be abill to helpe theire prince that be after this facion +yerely polled? whate good christen people can be abill to socoure vs pore +lepres blinde sore, and lame, that be thus yerely oppressed? Is it any +merueille that youre people so compleine of pouertie? Is it any merueile +that the taxes fiftenes and subsidies that your grace most tenderly of +great compassion hath taken emong your people to defend theim from the +thretened ruine of theire comon welth haue bin so sloughtfully, ye[a] +painfully leuied? Seing that almost the vtmost peny that mought haue bin +leuied hath ben gathered bifore yerely by this rauinous cruell and +insatiabill generacion The danes nether the saxons yn the time of the +auncient Britons shulde neuer haue ben abill to haue brought theire armies +from so farre hither ynto your lond to haue conquered it if they had had +at that time suche a sort of idell glotons to finde at home. The nobill +king Arthur had neuer ben abill to haue caried his armie to the fote of +the mountaines to resist the coming downe of lucius the Emperoure if suche +yerely exaction had ben taken of his people. The grekes had neuer ben +abill to haue so long continued at the siege of Troie if they had had at +home suche an idell sort of cormorauntes to finde. The auncient Romains +had neuer ben abil to haue put all the hole worlde vnder theyre obeisaunce +if theyre people had byn thus yerely oppressed. The Turke nowe yn youre +tyme shulde neuer be abill to get so moche grounde of cristendome if he +had yn his empire suche a sort of locustes to deuoure his substance. Ley +then these sommes to the forseid therd part of the possessions of the +realme that ye may se whether it drawe nighe vnto the half of the hole +substaunce of the realme or not, So shall ye finde that it draweth ferre +aboue. Nowe let vs then compare the nombre of this vnkind idell sort vnto +the nombre of the laye people and we shall se whether it be indifferently +shifted or not that they shuld haue half. + +Compare theim to the nombre of men, so are they not the. C. person. +Compare theim to men wimen and children, then are they not the. CCCC. +parson yn nombre. One part therfore yn foure hundreth partes deuided were +to moche for theim except they did laboure. whate an vnequal burthen is it +that they haue half with the multitude and are not the. CCCC. parson of +theire nombre? whate tongue is abill to tell that euer there was eny comon +welth so sore oppressed sins the worlde first began? + +** And whate do al these gredy sort of sturdy idell holy theues with these +yerely exactions that they take of the people? Truely nothing but exempt +theim silues from th[e] obedience of your grace. Nothing but translate all +rule power lordishippe auctorite obedience and dignite from your grace +vnto theim. Nothing but that all your subiectes shulde fall ynto +disobedience and rebellion ageinst your grace and be vnder theim. As they +did vnto your nobill predecessour king Iohn: whiche forbicause that he +wolde haue punisshed certeyn traytours that had conspired with the frenche +king to haue deposed him from his crowne and dignite (emong the whiche a +clerke called Stephen whome afterward ageinst the kinges will the Pope +made Bisshoppe of Caunterbury was one) enterdited his Lond. For the whiche +mater your most nobill realme wrongfully (alas for shame) hath stond +tributary (not vnto any kind temporall prince, but vnto a cruell +deuelisshe bloudsupper dronken in the bloude of the sayntes and marters of +christ) euersins. Here were an holy sort of prelates that thus cruelly +coude punisshe suche a rightuous kinge, all his realme, and succession for +doing right. + +** Here were a charitable sort of holy men that coude thus enterdite an +hole realme, and plucke awey th[e] obedience of the people from theyre +naturall liege lorde and kinge, for none other cause but for his +rightuousnesse. Here were a blissed sort not of meke herdes but of +bloudsuppers that coude set the frenche king vppon suche a rightuous +prince to cause hym to lose his crowne and dignite to make effusion of the +bloude of his people, oneles this good and blissed king of greate +compassion, more fearing and lamenting the sheding of the bloude of his +people then the losse of his crowne and dignite agaynst all right and +conscience had submitted him silf vnto theym. O case most horrible that +euer so nobill a king Realme, and succession shulde thus be made to stoupe +to suche a sort of bloodsuppers. where was his swerde, power, crowne, and +dignitie become wherby he mought haue done iustice yn this maner? where +was their obedience become that shuld haue byn subiect vnder his highe +power yn this mater? Ye[a] where was the obedience of all his subiectes +become that for mainteinaunce of the comon welth shulde haue holpen him +manfully to haue resisted these bloudsuppers to the shedinge of theyre +bloude? was not all to gither by theyre polycy translated from this good +king vnto theim. Ye[a] and what do they more? Truely nothing but applie +theym silues by all the sleyghtes they may haue to do with euery mannes +wife, euery mannes doughter and euery mannes mayde that cukkoldrie and +baudrie shulde reigne ouer all emong your subiectes, that no man shulde +knowe his owne childe that theyre bastardes might enherite the possessions +of euery man to put the right begotten children clere beside theire +inheritaunce yn subuersion of all estates and godly ordre. These be they +that by theire absteyning from mariage do let the generation of the people +wher by all the realme at length if it shulde be continued shall be made +desert and inhabitable. + +** These be they that haue made an hundreth thousand ydell hores yn your +realme whiche wolde haue gotten theyre lyuing honestly, yn the swete of +theyre faces had not theyre superfluous rychesse illected theym to vnclene +lust and ydelnesse. These be they that corrupt the hole generation of +mankind yn your realme, that catche the pokkes of one woman. and bere +theym to an other, that be brent wyth one woman, and bere it to an other, +that catche the lepry of one woman, and bere it to an other, ye[a] some +one of theym shall bo[a]st emong his felawes that he hath medled with an +hundreth wymen. These be they that when they haue ones drawen mennes wiues +to such incontinency spende awey theire husbondes goodes make the wimen to +runne awey from theire husbondes, ye[a], rynne awey them silues both with +wif and goods, bring both man wife and children to ydelnesse theft and +beggeri. + +** Ye[a] who is abill to nombre the greate and brode botomles occean see +full of euilles that this mischeuous and sinful generacion may laufully +bring vppon vs vnponisshed. where is youre swerde, power, crowne, and +dignitie, become that shuld punisshe (by punisshement of deth euen as +other men are punisshed) the felonies, rapes, murdres, and treasons +committed by this sinfull generacion? where is theire obedience become +that shulde be vnder your hyghe power yn this mater? ys not all to gither +translated and exempt from your grace vnto theim? yes truely. whate an +infinite nombre of people might haue ben encreased to haue peopled the +realme if these sort of folke had ben maried like other men. what breche +of matrimonie is there brought yn by theim? suche truely as was neuer sins +the worlde began emong the hole multitude of the hethen. + +** who is she that wil set her hondes to worke to get. iij.d. a day and may +haue at lest. xx.d. a day to slepe an houre with a frere, a monke, or a +prest? what is he that wolde laboure for a grote a day and may haue at +lest. xij.d. a day to be baude to a prest, a monke, or a frere? whate a +sort are there of theime that mari prestes souereigne ladies but to cloke +the prestes yncontinency and that they may haue a liuing of the prest +theime silues for theire laboure? Howe many thousandes doth suche +lubricite bring to beggery theft and idelnesse whiche shuld haue kept +theire good name and haue set theim silues to worke had not ben this +excesse treasure of the spiritualtie?? whate honest man dare take any man +or woman yn his seruice that hath ben at suche a scole with a spiritual +man? Oh the greuous shipwrak of the comon welth, whiche yn auncient time +bifore the coming yn of these rauinous wolues was so prosperous: that then +there were but fewe theues: ye[a] theft was at that tyme so rare that +Cesar was not compellid to make penalte of deth vppon felony as your grace +may well perceyue yn his institutes. There was also at that tyme but fewe +pore people and yet they did not begge but there was giuen theim ynough +vnaxed, for there was at that time none of these rauinous wolues to axe it +from theim as it apperith yn the actes of th[e] appostles. Is it any +merueill though there be nowe so many beggers, theues, and ydell people? +Nay truely. + +** whate remedy: make lawes ageynst theim. I am yn doubt whether ye be +able: Are they not stronger in your owne parliament house then your silfe? +whate a nombre of Bisshopes, abbotes, and priours are lordes of your +parliament? are not all the lerned men in your realme in fee with theim to +speake yn your parliament house for theim ageinst your crowne, dignitie, +and comon welth of your realme a fewe of youre owne lerned counsell onely +excepted? whate lawe can be made ageinst theim that may be aduaylable? who +is he (though he be greued never so sore) for the murdre of his auncestre +rauisshement of his wyfe, of his doughter, robbery, trespas, maiheme, +dette, or eny other offence dare ley it theyre charge by any wey of +accion, and if he do then is he by and by by theyre wilynesse accused of +heresie. ye[a] they will so handle him or he passe that except he will +bere a fagot for theyre pleasure he shal be excommunicate and then be all +his accions dasshed. So captyue are your lawes vnto theym that no man that +they lyst to excommunicat may be admitted to sue any accion in any of your +courtes. If eny man yn your sessions dare be so hardy to endyte a prest of +eny suche cryme he hath or the yere [_ere he_] go out suche a yoke of +heresye leyd in his necke that it maketh him wisshe that he had not done +it. Your grace may se whate a worke there is in London, howe the bisshoppe +rageth for endyting of certayn curates of extorcion and incontinency the +last yere in the warmoll quest. Had not Richard hunne commenced accyon of +premunire ageinst a prest he had bin yet a lyue and none heretik at all +but an honest man. + +** Dyd not dyuers of your noble progenitours seynge theyre crowne and +dignite runne ynto ruyne and to be thus craftely translated ynto the +hondes of this myscheuous generacyon make dyuers statutes for the +reformacyon therof, emong whiche the statute of mortmayne was one? to the +intent that after that tyme they shulde haue no more gyuen vnto theim. But +whate avayled it? haue they not gotten ynto theyre hondes more londes sins +then eny duke in ynglond hath, the statute notwithstonding? Ye[a] haue +they not for all that translated ynto theyre hondes from your grace half +your kyngdome thoroughly? The hole name as reason is for the auncientie of +your kingdome whiche was bifore theyrs and out of the whiche theyrs is +growen onely abiding with your grace? and of one kyngdome made tweyne: the +spirituall kyngdome (as they call it) for they wyll be named first, And +your temporall kingdome, And whiche of these, ij. kingdomes suppose ye is +like to ouergrowe the other, ye[a] to put the other clere out of memory? +Truely the kingdome of the bloudsuppers for to theym is giuen daily out of +your kingdome. And that that is ones gyuen theim comith neuer from theim +agein. Suche lawes haue they that none of theim may nether gyue nor sell +nothing. + +** whate lawe can be made so stronge ageinst theim that they other with +money or elles with other policy will not breake and set at nought? whate +kingdome can endure that euer gyuith thus from him and receyueth nothing +agein? O howe all the substaunce of your Realme forthwith your swerde, +power, crowne, dignite, and obedience of your people, rynneth hedlong ynto +the insaciabill whyrlepole of these gredi goulafres to be swalowed and +devoured. + +** Nether haue they eny other coloure to gather these yerely exaccions ynto +theyre hondes but that they sey they pray for vs to God to delyuer our +soules out of the paynes of purgatori without whose prayer they sey or at +lest without the popes pardon we coude neuer be deliuered thens whiche if +it be true then is it good reason that we gyue theim all these thinges all +were it C times as moche, But there be many men of greate litterature and +iudgement that for the love they haue vnto the trouth and vnto the comen +welth haue not feared to put theim silf ynto the greatest infamie that may +be, in abiection of all the world, ye[a] in perill of deth to declare +theyre oppinion in this mather whiche is that there is no purgatory but +that it is a thing inuented by the couitousnesse of the spiritualtie onely +to translate all kingdomes from other princes vnto theim and that there is +not one word spoken of hit is al holy scripture. They sey also that if +there were a purgatory And also if that the pope with his pardons for +money may deliuer one soule thens: he may deliuer him aswel without money, +if he may deliuer one, he may deliuer a thousand: yf he may deliuer a +thousand he may deliuer theim all, and so destroy purgatory. And then is +he a cruell tyraunt without all charite if he kepe theim there in pryson +and in paine till men will giue him money. + +** Lyke wyse saie they of all the hole sort of the spiritueltie that if +they will not pray for no man but for theim that gyue theim money they are +tyrauntes and lakke charite, and suffer those soules to be punisshed and +payned vncheritably for lacke of theyre prayers. These sort of folkes they +call heretikes, these they burne, these they rage ageinst, put to open +shame and make theim bere fagottes. But whether they be heretikes or no, +well I wote that this purgatory and the Popes pardons is all the cause of +translacion of your kingdome so fast into their hondes wherfore it is +manifest it can not be of christ, for he gaue more to the temporall +kingdome, he hym silfe paid tribute to Cesar he toke nothing from hym but +taught that the highe powers shulde be alweys obei[e]d ye[a] he him silf +(although he were most fre lorde of all and innocent) was obedient vnto +the highe powers vnto deth. This is the great scabbe why they will not let +the newe testament go a brode yn your moder tong lest men shulde espie +that they by theyre cloked ypochrisi do translate thus fast your kingdome +into theyre hondes, that they are not obedient vnto your highe power, that +they are cruell, vnclene, vnmerciful, and ypochrites, that thei seke not +the honour of Christ but their owne, that remission of sinnes are not +giuen by the popes pardon, but by Christ, for the sure feith and trust +that we haue in him. Here may your grace well perceyue that except ye +suffer theyre ypocrisie to be disclosed all is like to runne ynto theire +hondes and as long as it is couered so long shall it seme to euery man to +be a greate ympiete not to gyue theim. For this I am sure your grace +thinketh (as the truth is) I am as good as my father, whye may I not +aswell gyue theim as moche as my father did. And of this mynd I am sure +are all the loordes knightes squir[e]s gentilmen and ye[o]men in englond +ye[a] and vntill it be disclosed all your peoole [_people_] will thinke +that your statute of mortmayne was neuer made with no good conscience +seing that it taketh awey the liberte of your people in that they may not +as laufully b[u]y theire soules out of purgatory by gyuing to the +spiritualte as their predecessours did in tymes passed. + +** wherfore if ye will eschewe the ruyne of your crowne and dignitie let +their ypocrisye be vttered and that shalbe more spedfull in this mater +then all the lawes that may be made be they never so stronge. For to make +a lawe for to punisshe eny offender except it were more fit to giue other +men an ensample to beware to committe suche like offence, whate shuld yt +auayle. Did not doctour Alyn most presumptuously nowe yn your tyme ageynst +all this allegiaunce all that ever he coude to pull from you the knowledge +of suche plees as [be]long vnto your hyghe courtes vnto an other court in +derogacion of your crowne and dignite? Did not also doctor Horsey and his +complices most heynously as all the world knoweth murdre in pryson that +honest marchaunt Richard hunne? For that he sued your writ of premunire +against a prest that wrongfully held him in ple[a] in a spirituall court +for a mater wherof the knowlege belonged vnto your hyghe courtes. And +whate punisshement was there done that eny man may take example of to be +ware of lyke offence? truely none but that the one payd fiue hundreth +poundes (as it is said to the b[u]ildinge of your sterre chamber) and when +that payment was ones passed the capteyns of his kingdome (because he +faught so manfully ageynst your crowne and dignitie) haue heped to him +benefice vpon benefice so that he is rewarded tenne tymes as moche. The +other as it is seid payde sixe hundreth poundes for him and his complices +whiche forbicause that he had lyke wyse faught so manfully ageynst your +crowne and dignite was ymmediatly (as he had opteyned your most gracyous +pardon) promoted by the capiteynes of his kingdome with benefice vpon +benefice to the value of. iiij. tymes as moche. who can take example of +this punisshement to be ware of suche like offence? who is he of theyre +kingdome that will not rather take courage to committe lyke offence seying +the promocions that fill [_fell_] to this [_these_] men for theyre so +offending. So weke and blunt is your swerde to strike at one of the +offenders of this cro[o]ked and peruers generacyon. + +** And this is by the reason that the chief instrument of youre lawe ye[a] +the chief of your counsell and he whiche hath youre swerde in his hond to +whome also all the other instrumentes are obedient is alweys a spirituell +man whiche hath euer suche an inordinate loue vnto his owne kingdome that +he will mainteyn that, though all the temporall kingdoms and comonwelth[s] +of the worlde shulde therfore vtterly be vndone, Here leue we out the +gretest mater of all lest that we declaring suche an horrible carayn of +euyll ageinst the ministres of iniquite shulde seme to declare the one +onely faute or rather the ignoraunce of oure best beloued ministre of +rightousnesse whiche is to be hid till he may be lerned by these small +enormitees that we haue spoken of to knowe it pleynly him silf. But whate +remedy to releue vs your poore sike lame and sore bedemen? To make many +hospitals for the relief of the poore people? Nay truely. The moo the +worse, for euer the fatte of the hole foundacion hangeth on the prestes +berdes. Dyuers of your noble predecessours kinges of this realme haue +gyuen londes to monasteries to giue a certein somme of money yerely to the +poore people wherof for the aunciente of the tyme they giue neuer one +peny, They haue lyke wyse giuen to them to haue a certeyn masses said +daily for theim wherof they sey neuer one. If the Abbot of westminster +shulde sing euery day as many masses for his founders as he is bounde to +do by his foundacion. M, monkes were to[o] fewe. wherfore if your grace +will bilde a sure hospitall that neuer shall faile to releue vs all your +poore bedemen, so take from theim all these thynges. Set these sturdy +lobies a brode in the world to get theim wiues of theire owne, to get +theire liuing with their laboure in the swete of theire faces according to +the commaundement of god. Gene. iij. to gyue other idell people by theire +example occasion to go to laboure. Tye these holy idell theues to the +cartes to be whipped naked about euery market towne til they will fall to +laboure that they by theyre importunate begging take not awey the almesse +that the good christen people wolde giue vnto vs sore impotent miserable +people your bedemen. Then shall aswell the nombre of oure forsaid +monstruous sort as of the baudes, hores, theues, and idell people +decreace. Then shall these great yerely exaccions cease. Then shall not +youre swerde, power, crowne, dignite, and obedience of your people, be +translated from you. Then shall you haue full obedience of your people. +Then shall the idell people be set to worke. Then shall matrimony be moche +better kept. Then shal the generation of your people be encreased, Then +shall your comons encrease in richnesse. Then shall the gospell be +preached. Then shall none begge oure almesse from vs. Then shal we haue +ynough and more then shall suffice vs, whiche shall be the best hospitall +that euer was founded for vs, Then shall we daily pray to god for your +most noble estate long to endure. + + Domine saluum fac regem. + + +UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON. + + + + +_The OLD SERIES_ + +Will represent the following classes of books:-- + +a Early printed translations from the Classics, as those by J. HEYWOOD, T. +PHAER, R. STANYHURST, A. GOLDING, T. MAY, and others: or from the +Continental literatures of their times. + +b Romances, "histories," satires, epigrams, "love pamphlets," poems, and +other pieces by R. BRAITHWAITE; N. BRETON; T. CAMPION, M.D.; H. CHETTLE; T. +CHURCHYARD; S. DANIEL; F. DAVISON; M. DRAYTON; T. DECKER; G. GASCOIGNE; S. +HAWES; T. LODGE, M.D.; A. MUNDAY; W. PAINTER; G. PETTIE; B. RICH; S. +ROWLANDS; J. TAYLOR, the "Water Poet;" W. WARNER; and others. Some of +these productions are the ground works of SHAKESPEARE's plays. + +c Some quaint sermons or other characteristic books by Puritans: together +with some 20 or 25 tracts of the _Martin Marprelate Controversy_: +1588-1590 A.D. A complete set of the original editions of these "laughing +libels" now about to be reproduced would fetch from L200 to L250; as many +of them were secretly printed at JOHN PENRY's wandering press, and are now +of extraordinary scarcity. + +d A brief Selection from the earlier and later Drama down to the time of +DRYDEN: not forgetting the annual pageants of the Lord Mayor on the 29th +of October, the Court Revels, and the Masks at the Inns of Court. Also +some books attacking or defending the Stage. + +e Remarkable books like Sir T. ELYOT's _Governor_; Sir T. WILSON's +_Rhetoric and Logic: The Mirror for Magistrates_; J. HOWELL's _Epistolae Ho +ELIANAE_; Colonel S. ALLEN's _Killing no Murder_; W. BRADFORD's _Of New +Plimouth_; W. THOMAS' _Historie of Italie_; J. LAMBARD's _Perambulation of +Kent_; Bp. J. JEWELL's _Apologie_; Sir T. SMITH's _Commonwealth of +England_; and also books remarkable as being the first produced in any +country. + +f The Controversy with Rome in the first phase of the English Reformation; +as represented by the works of W. TYNDALE; Sir T. MORE; C. SAINT GERMAN; +R. BARNES; J. RASTELL; G. JOYE; and others. To be printed from the +_contemporary_ editions. + +g "Characters," "Essays," and other pieces photographing the "humours" of +their time. + +h The Quarrels of Authors; and notably that between Dr. GABRIEL HARVEY and +TOM NASH. + +i Strange travels; like LITHGOW's _Peregrination_ and CORYAT's +_Crudities_. + +j A few philosophical books: like Sir J. ELIOT's _Monarchie of Man_; J. +HALE's _Golden Remains_; T. HOBBE's _Leviathan_; and Bishop J. 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