HOw now lusty Fishmonger? haue you yet bought you a rope?

A rope Butcher, what to doe?

What to do? to go hang thy selfe.

Why man, I am not yet weary of my life.

But you will be ere it be long.

Why Butcher, what is the matter?

If you knowe not, I wil tell you. There is comming towards you, a very Saguntine famine (as they cal it) that will make you euen goe hang your selues.

Good wordes Butcher, let this come to our ennemies: how commeth it about, that of a Butcher you are so sodainely become a diuiner of such great calamitie?

It is no diuination, doe not flatter your selfe, the matter is euident, and the thing it selfe is already in the open market place.

You trouble my minde much, fhew it mée if you haue any thing.

I will shew it you to your great griefe: There is of late come forth an edict from Rome, that from henceforth it shal be lawful for euery man to eate what he list. And wat then remayneth to you and your order, but an insatiable hunger with your rotten salt fish?

For my part, I care not if any man do list to eate snailes or netles, let him: but is any man forbidden to eate fish?

No, but there is libertie graunted to all men, to eate flesh that will.

If this be all, then goe thou and hang thy selfe: for I hope to gayne more héereafter than euer I haue done.

Yea, great comming in, but hunger to the full: or if you had rather heare more merry newes, henceforth you shall liue more cleanely, neither shall you vse to wipe your snotty nose, which is euer itching with scabbes vpon your arme, as you were wont to doe.

Ha, ha: now we be come to the toppe: the blinde reproacheth the one-eyed, I would it were true that you tell me, but I am afraide you doe but féede me with a false ioy.

That which I tel you is too true, but whereupon do you promise to your selfe greater gaine?

Because that the world is come to that passe, that looke what is most forbidden, that men do most of all desire.

And what of that?

Because more will abstaine from eating of flesh, when there is libertie giu •… n to eate it, neither will it be counted a daintie banquet indeede, where there is no fish, as the manner hath béene amongst our forefathers: therefore I am glad that the eating of flesh is permitted, and I would also that the eating of fish were forbidden, for then •… ould men more gladly buy it then now they do.

Surely a goodly wi •… .

This I could wish, if I respected nothing but the gaine of money, as you do, for the loue whereof you haue deuoted your grosse flesh deuouring bodie to the infernall spirites.

You should séeme to be all salt, by your vnsauorie spéech.

What hath mooued the Romaines to release men from that lawe which res •… rained flesh eating, and hath bin obserued so many ages?

They thinke (as the truth is indéede) that by Fishmongers the cittie is polluted, the earth, the ayre, the waters, and the fire are infected, and the bodies of men areDiscommodities of fisheati •… g. corrupted, for by eating of fish the body is filled with rotten humors, and from hence procéede feuers, consumptions, gowtes, the falling sickenesse, leaprousies, and what not?

Tell me then (maister Hippocrates) why in good gouerned Citties it is forbidden to kill bulles and swine within the walles? And it were more for the health of the Cittizens, if there might be no cattell killed within the walles. Why haue Butchers a certayne place allotted them to dwell in, for feare that if they should dwell euery where, they would soone infect the whole Citty with the plague? Is there any kinde of stinch more pestilent than the corrupted blood and dregges of beasts and other liuing things?

These things be very swéete spices, if they be compared with the rotten sauor of fish.

To you I thinke they be méere spices, but not to the Magistrates which haue remooued you from the Cittie. And howe swéetely your slaughter houses doe smell, let them declare that passe by them, holding their noses: yea aske the common people, who had rather haue tenne bawdes dwell by them then one Butcher.

But neither pondes nor whole riuers will suffice to wash your rotten salt fish: and it is truely said, that you spend water in vaine, for a fish alwayes smelleth like fish, though you should besméere it with swéet oyntments. And no maruel though they smel so when they are dead, for the most of them do smel so soone as they are taken. Flesh béeing powdred in brine may be kept very swéet many yéeres together, and common salt wil preserue it from smelling: being dried in the smoake and the wind, it gathereth no ill sauour. If you should do al this vnto fish, yet it would sauour stil like fish. By this alone you may coniecture, that there is no rotten sauor to be compared vnto that fish maketh. And fish corrupteth and putrifieth the very salt it selfe, whose nature is to preserue things from putrefaction, whilest by his natural force it both shutteth and bindeth, and also excludeth and kéepeth out whatsoeuer might hurt outwardly, and drieth vp inwardly whatsoeuer might putrify the humors. In fishes onely salt is not salt. Some dainty or delicate person perhaps doth hold their nose when they goe by our sla •… ghter houses, but no man can abide in the boate where your salt fish lieth. If vpon the way any trauelers chaunce to méete your cartes loaden with your salt fish, what running is there til they be past it? What holding of noses, spitting, and coughing? And, if it were possible, that pure salt fish could be brought into the citie, as we doe the flesh of beasts that we kil, yet the Lawe would not sléepe: but no •… what shal be done to those that ore rotten before they be sp •… nt? And yet how often doe wée sée your damned marchandise taken by the Clarke of the Market, and cast into the riuer, and your 〈◊〉 fined for bringing such stuffe to the Market? And this should be done oftner than it is, but that they (being corrupted by your bribes) doe more respect their owne priuate gaine, than the good of the common •… wealth.

Although no man did euer knowe of any Butcher fined for selling of meazled porke, or r •… tten shéep that haue died in a ditch, & shoulders of mutton eaten with worms, yet by washing of them, and be •… mearing them ouer with fresh blood, the matter hath béene couered.

You cannot •… hew such a president amongest all of vs, as we can shew amongst you, as of an éele sodden with a cru •… of bread, there died nine citizens, a horrible thing: with such dainties doe you furnish mens tables.

You tell of a case that nò man could auoyd, if God would haue it so: but with you it is an ordinary thing, to sel cattes for conies, and dogges for hares. I say nothing of pasties made of mans flesh.

What doe you know by me? you vpbraide mée by mens abuses, let them answer these matters that commit them, I do but compare trade with trade, and gaine with gaine: so you may also condemne Gardiners, for that against their willes they may sometimes sell hemlockes or woolfes bane for colewortes: so may you also condempne Apothecaries, for that sometime vnawares they giue poisons insteade of medicines. There is no trade •… o frée from offence, but such mischances may now and then happen: but you Fishmongers, when yée haue done what you can, yet is it poyson that you sell, if you should sel a crampefish, or a water snake, or a hare of the sea, caught and mingled together with other fish in your nettes, it were a chaunce, and no crime, neither were you any more to be blamed for it than a Physition, who oftentimes killeth that sicke body which he intendeth to cure. This might be borne withall, if only in winter time you did thrust out your filthiness •… s, the rigor of the season might mitigate the plague: but now in the heate of summer you cast out your rotten garbage, and the Autumne, which is daungerous of it selfe, is by your meanes made more dangerous. And when the yéere doth renew it selfe▪ and hidden humours doe againe shew themselues, not without great danger to the bodie▪ then do you for two whole moneths together play the tyrants, corrupting the infancie of the spring with vntimely age. And when this should be holpen by nature, that bodies, •… éeing purged from bad humors, might be renewed with new moisture, you fill them with méere rottennesse, and stincking corruption: and if there be any corruption in the body, by your meanes it is increased: and if there be any good humors, they are also corrupted. And this also might bée •… orne withall, if you did corrupt mens bodies onely: but now, because by the difference of meates, the organical instruments of the minde be corrupted, it commeth to passe, that the mindes of men are also infected: for the most part, you shal sée these same great fish eaters, such as the fishes themselues are, that is, they looke pale, they smell, they are blockish and mute.

Oh sir, you are another Thales, one of the seauen wise men of Greece. How then I pray you doe they looke and smel which liue vpon béetes? doe they looke like béets? do they sauor of them? how do they look and sauor that eate of oxen, shéep, & goats? For sooth like oxen, shéep and goats, do they not? you Butchers sel kids flesh for daintie meate, and yet as it is subiect to the •… alling sickenesse it selfe, so it bréedeth the same disease in those that loue flesh, were it not better to please the hungry stomacke with salt fish?

As though this were the onely lie, that the naturall Philosophers haue written, but admit that they be all true which they write, yet to bodies that are subiect to diseases, oftentimes those things that be of themselues exceeding good, prooue very bad: We sell kiddes flesh vnto those that are troubled with feuers, & consumption of the lungs, but not to giddy braines.

If fish-eating be so hurtful as you would make it, why doe the magistrates allow vs to sell our wares all the yéere, and restraine you from selling of your commodities a good parte of the yéere.

Whats that to me? peraduenture that is procuredNote that of the Phisitian. by bad Physitians, to the end their gaines might be the more.

What doe you tell me of bad physitians? why man, none are more enemies to fish than they be.

O deceiue not your selfe, they doe not that for any loue that they beare you, or to the fishes, when they can abstaine from them, none more religiously, they know what they doe well euough: they doe therein prouide for themselues, and their owne health. That which makes many to cough, to languish, to be sicke, is good prouision for them, and they like it well.

I wil not speake for Phisitions, let them reu •… nge themselues vpon thée, (as I doubt not but they will) if euer thou fallest into their nets. It sufficeth me that I haue to defend my cause, the good life of our forefa •… hers, the authoritie of the most approoued Writers, the approbation of the reuerend Bishops, and the generall custome of christian countries, whome if you will condemne all of madnes, you may: but I had rather be madde with them, than so •… er with Butchers.

You wil not patronize the Physitian, neyther will I be a censurer of ou •… forefathers, or the common custome, I was alwayes woont to reuerence them, but not to inueigh against them.

In this respect you are more wary than godlie, vnlesse I be deceiued in you.

In my opinion, it is good for men to beware howThe Butcher discourseth out of the Bible. they haue to do wi •… h such as haue auctority in their hands: but I will tell you what I thinke, according to that which I read in my Bible, that is, of the vulgar translation.

That so of a Butcher you may become a Diuine.

I thinke that the first men, so soone as they were created of the moist clay, had very healthful bodies, which appéereth by their long liuing. And further, that paradise stoode in a most commodious and healthful ayre. And I do thinke that such bodies in such places, yéelding on euery side a sweete ayre, by reason of the swéete hearbs, trées and flowers that there did growe, might liue long without any meate, and the rather, I thinke so, because the earth abundātly powred forth euery thing of it own accord, without the labor of man: for the dressing of such a garden was rather to be counted a pleasure than a labour.

As yet that which you say is likely, but go on.

Of that great variety of things which came of s •… •… ertile a ground, there was nothing forbidden, but onely one trée.

Most true.

And that for no other cause, but that by their obedione •… they might acknowledge their Lord and Maker. And this I thinke, that the earth when it was young, did bring forth all things more happily, and of better iuyce, then if doth now, being old and almost barren, but especially in Paradise.

Not vnlike: what then?

Therefore to eate there was of pleasure, not of necessity.

I haue heard so.

And to abstaine from tearing, or butchering, liuing creatures, was then a point of humanitie, not o •… sanctitie.

I know not that. I reade, that after the floud, to •… éede vpon liuing creatures, was permitted: I do not reade that it was forbidden before. But why should there bee now a permission granted to eate of them, if it were permitted before?

Why doe we not féede vpon frogges, as well as vpon other liuing creatures? Not because they are forbidden, but because we abhorre them. And it may be, that God in that place, doth but adm •… nish men what meates are fittest for humane •… rugality, and not what he would permit to be eaten.

I am no Sooth •… sayer.

But we reade, that so soone as man was created, it was said vnto them; beare rule ouer the fishes of the sea, and the fowles of the aire, and all liuing things that moue vpon the earth. What vse is there of this dominion, if it be net lawfull to eate of them?

O cruell Maister, do •… st thou so debarre thy men and thy maides, thy wife and thy children? but by the same reason thou maiest goe eate thy chamber pot too, for thou bearest rule ouer it.

But heare againe you prowd Fish monger, of other things there is an vse, and the name of rule is not in vaine: The horse doth beare me on his backe, the cammell carrieth packes, but of fishes what other vse can there be, but to féede vpon them?

As if forsooth, there were not a number of medicines made of fishes. Againe, there be many things that be made onely for the delight of man, who also in the beholding of them, may be drawne thereby to an admiration of the Creator. Peraduenture you will not beléeue that Dolphines doe carry men vpon their backes. But to conclude, there be fishes which doe fore-shew a tempe •… t to be at hand, as the Hedge. hog of the sea: doe you not want such a seruant at home sometime?

Well, grant that before the floud, it was not permitted to eate of any thing but of the fruites of the earth, yet it was no great matter to abstaine from those things which bodily necessity required not, and in killing whereof, was a shew of cruelty. This you will grant me, that the féeding vpon lining creatures, was permitted from the beginning, for the imbecility of mans nature. The fl •… ud brought cold with it: and we sée at this day, that in colde Countries men are more ginen to eate then in hote: and the ouer-flowing of waters, did either extinguish, or much corrupt the fruite of the earth.

Be it so: What then?

And yet aft •… r the floud men liued aboue two hundred yeares.

So I beléeue.

Why then did almighty God permit those that were so strong without comparison to eate of all things, and afterward re •… rained those that were of a farre weaker constitution and shorter time, to certaine kinds of meates,Of the re •… traint of meates vnder the Lawe. as he gaue in charge by Moses.

As if it were for me to gi •… e a reason of Gods doings. But I thinke the Lord did then as Maisters vse to doe, who abridge their seruants of their libertie, which before they allowed them, when they sée that they abuse their Maisters lenity and kindenesse. So we take from a horse that is too lusty and vnruly, his beanes and •… ates, and giue him but a little hay, and then ride him with a sharper bit and sharper spurres. Mankinde had shaken off all feare and reu •… rence of God, and was growne into such a kinde of licentiousnesse, as if there had béen no God at all. Héereupon were ordained lawes, as barres and ceremonies, as railes, precepts, and threatnings, as bridles, that so men might repent.

Why then doe not those barres and bridles remaine vnto this day?

Because the rigor of that carnall seruitude was taken away, after that by the Gospel we were adopted toOf our libert •… vnder the Gospel. be the sonnes of God, when the grace of God did more abound, those preceps were abrogated.

Gods law is perpetuall. And Christ saith; he cameObiect. not to breake the Law, but to fulfill the Law. How then durst they that came after, to abrogate a good part of the Law?

That Law was not giuen to the Gentiles: andAnswer. therefore it séemed good vnto the Apostles, not to burthen them with circumcision, (which theIewes obserue vnto this day) lest they should (as the Iewes also doe) place the hope of saluation in bodily obseruations, rather then in faith and loue towards God.

I omit the Gentiles. By what scripture prooue you that the Iewes (if they would imbrace the profession of the Gospel) should bee frée from the bondage of Moses Law?

Because the Prophets did fore-tell, that God would make a new couenant with them, and giue them a new heart, and they bring in the Lord, abhorring the festiuall daies of the Iewes, refusing their sacrifices, detesting their fasts, reiecting their offerings, and desiring a people of a circumcised heart. The Lord himselfe confirmed their prophecies, who giuing his body and his blood vnto hisThe choyce of meates abrogated. Disciples, calleth it a new Testament. Now if nothing were abolished of the old, why is this called a new▪ The choice of meates is abrogated, both by Christs example, as also by his word, who saith; That man is not defiled with that which goeth into the belly, & is cast out in the draught. The same was shewed to Peter in a vision; yea, and Peter himselfe with Paul and the rest, eateth common meates forbidden by the Law. This matter is handled by Paul in all his Epistles, and without doubt, the Christian people to this day doe follow the same rule, as deliuered them from the hands of the Apostles. Therefore the Iewes are not onely fréed from the superstitious obseruation of the Law, as it were from milke, or food that they were familiarly vsed vnto, but now they are driuen from it as a thing out of season. Neither is the Law abrogated, but onely some part of it is commanded to cease, which now would be idle, or in vaine, which may be illustrated by some familiarSimilies. similitudes in the course of Nature.

Gréene leaues and blossomes doe promise fruit to spring1 after them. Now when the trée is loaden with fruit, no man desires the blossomes: neither is any man gréeued2 for the losse of his sonnes childhoode, when his sonne is growne to mans estate. No man careth for candles and3 torches when the Sunne is risen. The tutor hath no cause4 to complaine, if his scholler (being of a ripe age) doth challe •… ge his liberty, and hath his tutor vnder his owne power5 or command. A pledge is no longer a pledge, when the things promised are exhibited. The Bride, before she be6 brought to the Bride-groome, doth comfort herselfe with letters, which he sent vnto her, she kisseth the gifts that come from him, and imbraceth his picture; but when shée inioyeth the Bride-groome himselfe, then she neglecteth those things which shee loued before. But the Iewes at the first, are hardly drawne from their old customes; as a childe is hardly weaned from the breast. Therefore they are almost by force driuen from those figures, or shadowes, or temporary comforts, that they might wholly i •… brace him whome that ceremoniall lawe did promise and shadow.

Who would euer haue expected so much diuinity to come from a Fish monger? Truely you are worthy to sell salt-fish no longer, but fresh fish. But tell me one thing, if you were a Iew, as I am not sure whether you be or no, and were in danger of death, by reason of extreame famine, woulde you die rather then you would eate any swines flesh?

What I would do, I know: but what I should doOfeating swines flesh. I know not.

God hath forbidden both, he hath said, Thou shalte doe no murther, and he hath saide, Eate no swine flesh. In such a case, which commandement should giue place to other?

First, it is not e •… ident, whether God forbade the eating of swines flesh with this mind, that men should rather die than preserue life by eating of it. For the Lord h •… mselfe excuseth Dauid, that contrary to the lawe did eate the shew bread: and when the Iewes were exiles in Babylon, they omi •… ted many things which the law prescribed. Therefore I should iudge the law of nature, which is perpetuall and inuiolable, to be preferred be •… ore that which neither was euer, and was af er to be abrogated.

Why then are the brethren of the Macha •… ees commended,Why the Macabees refusd to eate swines flesh. for choosing to die, rather a most cruell death, than once to taste of Swines flesh?

I thinke it was, because that eating so commannded by that heathen king, did comprehend vnder it a renouncing of the whole law of thei •… country, euen as circū cision, which the Iewes would enforce vpon the Gentiles, contained the profession of their whole religion, no otherwise then an ear •… est which serueth to bind men to the performance of the whole bargaine.

I •… then the grosser part of the law were rightly taken away, when the light of the Gospel arose, what is •… he reason that the same, or more grieuous then they, are now commaunded againe; and especially •… eing as the Lord doth call his yoke an easie yoke. And Peter in the Acts of the Apostles doth call the lawe of the Iewes a hard law, which neither they nor their fathers were able for to beare? Circumcision is taken away, but baptisme is com in steade thereof, I had almost saide, of a harder condition. Then the Infants were deferred vnto the eight day, and if the childe chaunced to die in the meane time, the parents desire of circumcision was imputed vnto them for circumcision. We bring little children immediately from the mothers wombe, and dippe them ouer head and eares in cold water, which hath stoode perhappes long a putrifying in a stone font. An •… if it chaunce to die the first day, or to miscarry euen in th •… •… irth, through no default of the friendes, or parents, they say in Popery that the poore miserable infant is damned in hell for euer.

So they say indéede, but I sée no reason for it, forOf children dying without baptizing. not the want of the sacrament, but the contempt and neglect of the sacrament is dangerous, but especially to the parents: but other wise, if children die before they can be lawfully baptized, we must beléeue that they are saued by gods election, and by vertue of the couenaunt which God hath made to the faithfull, and to their séede, of which couenant baptisme is but a seale and a pledge, to confirme our faith that doe beléeue, and the childes faith when it commeth to yéeres of discretion: but Gods grace is not tied to his seales or pledges. We are pestered with moe fasting dayes, and festiuall dayes than the Iewes were. They were more free from their meates than we be, for they might all the yéere long eate muttons, capons, partridges, kiddes, &c. so may not we. There was no kinde of garment forbidden them •… ut linsey woolsey: but nowe we must be prescribed what appa •… rell to weare, of what fashion, and colour, and 〈◊〉 must weare •… ilke, and who not: and many things moe I could 〈◊〉 , which makes me thinke that the state of the Iewe •… 〈◊〉 sa •… re better than ours.

You erre all the way Butcher, you erre: Christs yoke is not such a thing as you imagine it to be. A christian is tiedMath •… 29. & hebr 2. 3. & hebr. 10. 28 to more things for quantitie, and more hard for quality than the Iewes: yea and to a sorer punish ment, if hée neglect them or contem •… e them, but a greater force of faith and loue being ioyned vnto them, dooth make those things swéete and easie, which are by nature most hard and gréeu •… us.

But when the Spirite was giuen in the likenesse of sierie tongues, it replenished the heartes of the faithfull with a most plentifull gift of •… aith and loue: why was the burden of the Law then withdrawn as it were from weak ones, that were ready to sincke as it were vnder a most cruell burden? Why dooth Peter (being now indued with the holy Ghost) call it an intolerable burthen?

It was abrogated in parte, and that for two causes.

First, lest Iudaisme shoulde (as it did beginne) ouerwhelme the glory of the Gospel.

Secondly, lest through the rigour of the ceremoniall Lawe, the Gentiles should be kept backe from Christ, among whom were many weake ones, who were in daunger of a double inconuenience, if some part of the Law had not béene taken away.

First, they might else haue beléeued that no man could be saued without the obseruation of the lawe.

Secondly, they might otherwise perhappes choose rather to remayne still in their Paganisme, than to vndergo the yoke of Moses lawe.

Therefore it was méete to allure and catch those weake ones, with a certaine baite of libertie.

Againe, part of the ceremoniall law was then abrog •… ted, or changed to some other thing, in regard of th •… who slatly denyed all, or any hope of saluation to be in the profession of the Gospel, without the obseruation of the 〈◊〉 , circumcision, sabba •… ths, choice of meates, and many such things. And further, that spéech of the holy Apostle saint Peter, where he saith, the Lawe is an intollerable burden, is not to be referred vnto that person which hée then sustayned (for to him nothing was intollerable) but to those grosse and weake Iewes, which not without great yrkesomenesse did bite vpon the shell, hauing not as yet tasted the swéete ker •… ell of the spirite.

Your reasoning is grosse enough, or (if you will)Humane obseruations to be arbitrary, and why. substantiall enough: but mée thinkes there are causes enow why their carnall obseruations should be now taken away, or at leastwise be left arbitrary to euery mans conscience and discretion.

Why so?

Oflate I sawe the whole worlde pictured vpon a linnen cloth, but very large, there I sawe how small that part is which doth purely and sincerely professe Christian religion, namely one corner of Europe reaching westward, and parte of it towardes the north, and a third parte tending (but afarre off) toward the south, and the fourth reaching to the eastward séemed to be Polonia. All the worlde besides containeth either Barbarians, not much differing from bruite beasts, or Schismatiques, or Heretiques, or all.

But you sawe not all that part which lieth southward, and the dispersed Ilands, noted for woorthy christains.

I saw them: and I learned, that from thence many preys haue bin taken: but that christianitie was planted there, I heard not. Sith therefore the haruest is so great, I woulde thinke that this were the best way of all for to plant religion there, that as the Apostles tooke away the burthen of Moses Law, lest the Gentiles should goe backe againe; so now also to alure the weake ones, it were fit to remoue the bondage of certaine things, without which the world stood well enough at the first, and now might continue as wel, if there were that faith and charity which the Gospel requireth. Againe, I sée that there bee many which doe place the chéefest part of piety in the obseruation of places, garments, meates, fasts, gestures, and singing, and by these things do iudge their neighbour, against the rule of the Gospel, from whence it commeth, that when all things should be referred to faith and charity, by the superstition of these things, both are extinguished. And farre is he from the faith of the Gospel, that trusteth to such things: And farre is hee from Christian charity, that for meate and drinkes sake, will gréeue his Christian brother, whose liberty Christ hath purchased with his blood. What bitter contentions doe we sée amongst Christians? What deadly reproaches about garments of this fashion, or that fashion, and about the colour of garments, and about meates which the waters yéelde, and which the fieldes yéelde? If this mischéefe had infected but a few, it might be contemned: but now the whole world we sée is at deadly centention about them and the like. If these things wer •… taken away, or le •… t to euery mans discretion, wee should liue in greater concord, and ceremonies neglected, wé •… should striue onely to such things as Christ hath commanded, and other Nations would the sooner receiue the Christian religion, when they should sée it accompanied with such Christian liberty. And I hope, that he which is now chéefe Bishop, Clemens by name, (which signifieth Mildenesse, who is, animo, pietate que clementissimus, both for his nature and godlinesse most milde) to that end he may draw al men to the fellowship of the Church, will mittigate all those matters, which haue hitherto kept backe from imbracing the same. And I hope that he will more respect the gaine of the Gospel, then the persecuting of his owne right in all points. I heare daily complaints of diuers actions and Churches that be gréeued, but I hope he will so moderate all matters, that héereafter he shall be very impudent that shall complaine.

And I would to God that all Princes in Christendome would do the like, and then I •… oubt not but that Christian religion, which is now driuen into a strait, 〈◊〉 florish and spread most happily, if the 〈◊〉 nations might perceiue that they were called to the liberty of the Gospel, and not to humane bondage: and that they should not be exposed to repine and spoile, but admitted to be pertakers with vs of happinesse and holinesse, when they shall come amongst vs, and finde in vs true Christianity, & christian dealing indéede they wil of themselues •… ffer, more then any loue can inforce or draw from them.

I hope that would be effected in short space, if that pestilent goddesse, of reuenge (which hath committed two most mighty Monarches of the world, vnto most deadly warre) were gone to the diuell, from whence she sprang.

And I much maruell that this is not already effected, séeing as King Francis is so full of humanity, as no man more: and Emperour Charles, I suppose is sufficiently instructed by his tutors, that by how much the Lord hath inlarged his Dominions, by so much the more should hée adde daily vnto his owne clemency and goodnesse.

Surely there is nothing wanting in either of them.

Why then hath not the whole world, that which they so much desire?

As yet the Lawyers and Counsellers cannot agrée about the limites of their dominions. And you know, that the tumults that are in Comedies, are all waies shut vp and ended wi •… h marriages: and in like manner are the tragedi •… s of Princes. But in Comedies marriages are suddainely accomplished: but amongst great Personages the matter is with grea •… •… ficulties brought to passe: And better it is to haue the wound by leasure brought to head, then presen •… ly to haue the soare breake out againe.

And do you thinke that these marriages are firme bonds of concord?

Truely I could wish it were so: but euen from hence I sée often times, the greatest part of warres to arise: and if any warre be begunne, while one kinsman bordereth vpon another, the fire doth flame out further, and is more hardly quenched.

I confesse it, and doe acknowledge it to bee most true that you say.

But is it méete thinke you, that for the brables of Lawyers, and the delaies of marriages, the whole world should suffer so much euill? For now there is nothing safe, and bad men may doe what they list, while it is neither peace nor warre.

It is not for me to talke of Princes counsells, but if any would make me an Emperour, I know then what I would doe.

Well, goe to, imagine that you are an Emperour, and Bishoppe of Rome too if you will, what would you doe?

Nay, rather make mee Emperour and French King.

Goe to then, suppose you are both.

So soone as I had gotten peace in my land, I will send out Proclamation throughout my Kingdome, thatThe Fishm. playeth the Emperour. no man, vpon paine of death, should touch so much as his neighbours henne. And hauing by that means pacified all matters with my owne good, or rather (I may say) with the common good of my people; I would then come to a point about the borders or bounds of my dominions, or about some conditions of marriage.

Haue you no surer bond of peace then marriage?

Yes▪ I thinke I haue.

I pray you shew it.

If I were Emperour, •… s would I (without delay) deale with the French King. Brother, some euill spirite hath stirred vp this warre betwéene vs, and yet the contention that hath béene betwéene vs, hath not beene to death, but for rule onely: you for your part haue shewed your selfe a most couragious and valiant warriour; Fortune hath fauoured me, and hath made you, of a King, a Captaine; that which happened to you, might haue fallen vnto me, and▪ your calamity doth admonish vs all of humane condition: we haue both of vs found by experience, that this kinde of contending is discommodious on either side. Goe to, let vs héereafter contend the contrary way: I giue you your selfe, and I giue you your liberty; I accept of you, not as an enemy, but as a friend, let al former quarrells be buried in obliuion, returne vnto your own subiects a frée man, and that gratis, without any ransome, take your goods with you, be a good neighbour, and hence-forward let vs striue onely about this; which of vs shall ouer •… ome other in faithfulnesse, in good will, and in kinde offices, let vs not striue which of vs shal most inlarge our possessions, but who shall administer and gouerne that which he hath most holy and vprightly. In the former conflict I gat the praise of a fortunate man, but in this, he that ouercommeth shal winne farre greater glory. And truely, to me this fame of Clemency shal purchase more true commendation, then if I had conquered all France, and the fame of your gratitude, shall winne you more hono •… r, then if you had driuen me out of all Italy. Do not you enuy me that honour which I affect, and I againe shall so fauour your desire, that you shall willingly be a debtor to such a friend? Oh what magnificent and plausible renowne would this curtesie winne vnto Charles through the world? What Nation would not willingly submitte themselues to a Prince so milde and curteous?

You haue played Caesars part very finely. Now let me heare what you would doe if you were chéefe Bishoppe?The Fishm. heere playeth the Bis •… op.

It were a long whiles worke to prosecute euery point. I will tel you briefly, I would deale, that all the world should sée that he is the chéefest bishop in the church, that thirsteth after nothing, but the glory of Christ, and the saluation of mens soules. And such a course would frée the name of chéefe Bishop from all enuy, and would also purchase sound and perpetuall honours.

But to returne to our former matter againe. Doe the bishops lawes and const •… tutions bind all that are in the Church to obserue them?

They do, if they be good, and confirmed by the autho •… itie of the Prince.

If the constitutions of the Church be of such force, why doth God in Deut. so straightly charge, that no manObiect. shall adde any thing to his lawes, or take any thing from the same?Answer.

He doth not adde vnto the law of God, which more plainly vnfoldeth that which lay wrapped vp before, or which doth suggest that which may make for the obseruation of the law: neither doth he detract from the worde of God, who according to the ab •… itie of the hearers, doth despence the word and law of God, reuealing some things, and concealing other some, as the necessitie of the time shal require.

Suppose that the bishops, with the rest of the Church, should make a constitution, that no man (returning from Market,) should eate meate with vnwashen hands; he that should breake this constitution, should be in daunger of hell fire?

I thinke not so, vnlesse the fault be aggrauated with contempt of publike authoritie.

•… ath a maister of a familie the like authoritie in hisOf the master of a familie, his authority. house, that a bishop hath in his Diocesse?

I thinke he hath, according to his proporiion.

And do his commandements bind in like maner?

Why not.

I commaund that none of my houshold shall eate no Onions, or the like, what daunger is he in before God that shall breake my commaundement?

Let him looke to that; for it is a breach of the first commaundement.

But I see my next neighbour to be in daunger, and when I méete with him, I doe secretly admonish him, to withdraw himselfe from the companie of drunkards, and gamesters he settes my admonition at nought, and liueth afterward more riotously then he did before. Doth my adm •… nition bind him?

I thinke so. For if we be bound by the Scripture to exhort one another while we haue time, then those which are exhorted are bound to hearken vnto, and obey the exhortations of their brethren.

Then whether we counsaile, or exhort, the partie counsailed, &c. is snared.

Not so, for it is not an admonition, but the matter of an admonition, that doth snare the conscience. For although I be admonished to weare Pantofles, yet am I not guilty of any crime, though I neglect this admonition.

From whence haue humane lawes their force of binding?

From the wordes of Saint Paul, Obay those that haue the ouer-sight of you.

Haue euerie constitution and ordinance of Magistrates, ciuill and ecclesiasticall, his power of binding the conscience?

Yea, so it be equall, 〈◊〉 , and lawfully ordained.

But who shall iudge of this matter?

They that made the law, must also interpret the law.

He that relieueth his parents, being therunto compelledOf constrained obedience. by law, whether doth he fulfill the law or no?

I think not. For first, he doth not satisfie the mind of the Law-giuer: secondly, there is added hypocrisie vnto an vnwilling mind.

A man fastes, that would not fast, except the church did commaund him to fast: doth he satisfie the law?

Now you chaunge both the Authour and letter of the law.

Compare then a Iew obseruing his prescribed fasting dayes, (which he would not obserue vnlesse the law did driue him thereunto) with a christian obseruing his fasting daies, which he would not obserue vnlesse the church did compell him thereunto.

I thinke he may be pardoned, which for infirmitie 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 sake borroweth a poynt of the law: but not he that ofsette purpose (and when he needeth not) shall obstinately crosse the law.

If Gods laws and mens lawes do alike bind the conscience, what difference then is there betwéene them?The 〈◊〉 betweene Gods lawes and mens lawes.

He that 〈◊〉 the lawes of men, doth sinne immediately against man, and mediately against God, (as the Schoolemen say:) but he that breaketh the lawes of God, sinneth immediately against God, and mediately against men.

What skils it whether the Uinegar, or the Wormwood be put in first, séeing I must drinke vp both? But what difference is there betwéene the authoritie of God, and the authoritie of man?

A wicked question.

But many do beleeue that there is great difference, God gaue a law by Moses, which may not be broken. The same God giueth lawes by Magistrates, and Sy •… ods of Bishops, and other Ministers, what difference is there betwéene them and these? Moses lawes was giuen by a man, and our lawes are giuen by men?

Of the spirit of Moses it is not lawfull to make anie doubt.

What difference betwéene the prec •… pts of Paul, and the ordinances of bishops?

Great difference, because that without controuersie Paul wrote by the inspiration of the holy Ghost.

Why is not Pauls spirit to b •… called in question?

Because the consent of the whole Church is against it.

Of the spirit of Bishops a man may make some question.

Not rashly, vnlesse the matter doth manifestly sa •… our of impietie, or filthie lucre.

What say you of Councels?Of Councels and their authoritie.

Men must beware how they call their Decrées into question, if they bee lawfully as •… embled and guided by the holy Ghost.

Then there may be some Councell held, so whom these things agrée not.

There is no doubt of that, for there haue béene many wicked Councels: and if that were not so, Diuines would not haue added that distinction.

It seemeth then that a man may doubt of Conucels.

Not after they be receiued, and approued by the iudgement and consent of Christian Nations.

What other difference can you shew me betwéene the lawes of God, and the lawes of man?

I desire to heare that from you.

The lawes of God be vnchangeable, vnlesse theyOther defferences betweene the lawes of God and the lawes of men. be such as were made to signifie or foreshew some other thing, or to hold the people in subiection for a time, which also the Prophets foretold should end, as touching their carnall sense, and which the Apostles also taught should be omitted.

2 Againe, amongst the lawes of men, there are found oftentimes wicked, foolish, and pestilent lawes, where •… pon they are abrogated, either by the authoritie of the higher power, or by an vniuersall neglect of the people. In the lawes of God there is no such matter.

3 Againe, mans law doth cease of his own accord, when the cause is ceased for which they were made.

4 Againe, mans law is no law, vnlesse it be approued by the consent of the people. The law of God ought neither to be examined, neither can it be abrogated. And albeit Moses in giuing the law gathered the voices, and required the consent of the people, yet this was not of necessitie, but to make them the more guiltie, and to leaue them without excuse if they did breake them. For it is an impudent part to contemne that law which thou hast approued, by giuing thy voyce and consent.

5 Lastly, forsomuch as the lawes of men, (which for the most part prescribe bodily things) are inducements to godlinesse, they séeme then of right to cease when any man is growne to the strength of a spirituall man, that nowe hée néede not any longer to be bounded in with such railes or bounds, so that to the vttermost of his power he be carefull, not wittingly to offend the weake ones, nor malitiously to offend those that are superstitious. As if a father, for the better preseruing of his daughters virginity vntil she be married, doth charge hir, while she is a virgin, that she drinke no wine: but when she is growne to be of yéeres, and married to a husband, she is no longer tied to her fathers commaundement. Many lawes are like vnto medicines, or potions, which are oftentimes •… ltered and changed, or taken quite away, according to the na •… ure of their obi •… cts about which they are employed, the Physitions themselues also allowing the same, who if they shouldA s •… t similitude. alwayes vse the same remedies which haue béene prescribed by antient writers, they shoulde kill more then they should heale.

You heap vp a number of things together, wherof some I like, and som I mislike, and som I vnderstand not.

What if a bishops lawe shall euidently sauour of cou •… tousues, as for example, if he should ordaine that eu •… ry parishioner thr •… ghout his Diocesse shall twice cuery yéere giue a ducket of golde to be absolued from such cases as they call episcopall cases, whereby hée may extort the more of those that are vnder his iurisdiction, do you thinke he is to be obeyed?

I thinke he is, but in the meane time his wicked lawe is to be cried out against, but alwayes without sedition: but whence is it that the Butcher is such a Questionist and sifter of matters? let Carpenters 〈◊〉 of their building, and Eutchers of Butchers matters.

We are oftentimes troubled with such questions at feasts, and s •… metimes the heate is so great, that it groweth to fighting.Howe wee should carrie our 〈◊〉 towardes the lawes established by pu •… like authoritie

Let them fight that list, I thinke that the lawes of our Emperours ought to be reuerently embraced, and religiously obserued, euen as procéeding from God, neither d •… e I holde it safe, or sauouring of godlinesse, 〈◊〉 •… o conceiue, or suspitiously to speake of publique authoritie. And if there •… e any thing that may séeme to sauour of tyranny, which yet dooth not compell men to impietie, I do holde it better to suffer it patiently, than to resist it seditiously.

By this meanes I confesse you prouide well for them that excell in dignitie, and I am of your minde, neyther do I enuie them, but I would willingly heare what course might be taken for the liberty and good of the people.

God will not leaue his people destitute.

But in the meane time, where is that libertie of the spirite which the Apostles promise out of the Gospel, and which Paul so often beateth vpon, crying out, that the kingdome of God is not meat and drinke, and that we that are the children of God, are not vnder a Schoolemaister, and that we shoulde be no longer in bondage to the rudiments of this world, and a number of things moe: if Christians be burdened with so many constitutions more than the Iewes were.

I wil tell you Butcher, christian libertie doth notWherin christian liberty consisteth. consist in this, that it may be lawful for men to doe what they list, being set frée from humane constitutions, but that from the aboun •… ance and feruencie of the spirite, they being prepared for all weathers, (as they vse to speake) doe those things willingly and chéerefully which are prescribed them, that is to say, like sonnes, and not like vnto seruants.

Uery wel, but vnder Moses law there were sons, and vnder the Gospell there be seruants. And more than that, I feare lest the greatest parte o •… men are of the nature of seruants, which are compelled by lawe to doe their duetie: what difference is there then betweene the old Testament and the new?

In my opinion, great di •… ference. That which the olde Testament taught vnder vailes, the new TestamentThe diff •… ence betweene the olde and new Test •… ment. layeth before our eies. That which the olde foretolde by figures, and shadowes, the new sheweth more cleerely. What that promised very obscurely, and afarre off, this hath exhibited for a great part thereof. That was offered to one nation onely, this dooth exhibite saluation indifferently to all. That made a few Prophets and woorthie men partakers of that excellent and spirituall grace, this hath plentifully powred out all maner of gifts, as namely of tongues, of healing diseases, of working myracles, of prophecyings, &c. and that vpon men of all ages, sexes, and nations.

What is then become of all these things now?

They are not dead, but asléepe: not perished, but ceased, either because there is no need of them, the doctrine of the Gospèl being now published ouer the worlde, or because many being but christians onely in name, want that faith whereby myracles were wrought.

If myracles be néedefull for those that be vnbeléeuers,Of Miracles. and distrustfull, then now are they néedefull, for now the world swarmeth with such.

There are vnbeléeuers that erre of simplicitie, such were the Jewes which mu •… mured against Peter for receiuing Cornelius and his housholde vnto the grace of the Gospel. And such were the Gentiles, who supposed that the religion of their forefathers would saue them, and as for the doctrine of the Apostles, they accounted it strange superstition. These, at the sight of myracles were conuerted. They which now distrust the Gospel, a •… ter so great light of knowledge, so long shining in all partes of the worlde, doe not erre of simpli •… itie, but being blind •… d with euill affections, they li •… t not to vnderstand. No myracles would euer reclaime such persons to a better minde. And now is the time of healing, hereafter wil be a time of vengeance, vpon all such as will not be healed of their errour. But to let these things passe, tell mee in good earnest, is it true that you saide, that there is libertie giuen for eating of flesh, who list, and when they will?

I did but ieast, to stirre you a little. And if such an Edict were made, the Company of the Fishmonger •… would be seditious. Againe, the worlde is full of Pharisaicall persons, who can no way else get themselues an opinion of holinesse, but by such obseruations. And they would neyther loose one iote of that glorie which they had gotten, nor endure that their inferiours should haue more libertie than themselues. Neither woulde this be for our commodities that are Butchers, to haue a frée vse of all things graunted, for then our gaines would be very vncertaine, whereas now our gaine is more certaine, and lesse subiect to chaunce and labour.

You saide most truely, and the same discommoditie would redownd vnto vs.

I am glad yet, that at the last there is somewhat found, wherein the Fishmongers and the Butchers do agrée. Now that I may beginne to speake in good earnest, it were better (as I take it) for the christian people to bée lesse clogged with constitutions and humane ordinances, especially such as doe not tend much to godlinesse, but rather doe hurt, yet on the other side, I wil not defend them which reiect all, and care not a strawe for any constit •… tions of any man. Yea so péeuish are they some of them, that therefore they wil doe such and such things, onely because they are forbidden. But yet I cannot maruaile enough at the preposterous iudgement of mortall men.

No more can I.

If we suspect any daunger of loosing any ioate ofMan must be so honoured as God be not defrauded of his honour. weight from the constitutions and authoritie of the Clergie, we kéepe a stirre, as if heauen and earth should goe togither: but although there be so much giuen to humane authoritie, that Gods authoritie is not so much regarded as it ought to be, yet we sléepe soundly, and thinke there is no daunger at hand. And thus while we labour to shunne one rocke, wée runne vpon another more deadly, and that without any feare at all. The •… ishops and cleargy are to haue that honor which is due vnto them? who denyeth it? especially if they doe according to their names: but it is a wicked thing to transferre that honour vnto men, which is due and proper vnto God, and while we are precise in reuerencing of men, to do little or none at all vnto God. The Lorde is to be honoured and reuerenced in our neighbour, but in the meane time we must beware, that God by this meanes be not defrauded of his honour.

In like manner wée sée many •… o put so much confidence in outward ceremonies, that they altogether neglect those things which pertaine to true pietie, arrogantly ascribing that to their owne merites, which is due onelie to Gods mercie and goodnesse, setting downe their rest there, from whence they should procéede to greater perfection, and withall, reproaching and iudging their neighbors by those things which in themselues are neither good nor bad.

Yea, and one and in the same action, if there béeCases of prepost •… rous iudgement. two things whereof the one is better than the other, we do euer make most reckoning of the worst parte. The bodie and bodily things are euery where more estéemed than the soule, and the things that belong to the soule. To kill a man is counted a hainous crime, and so it is, but to corrupt the soule of man with pestilent doctrine, and viperous suggestions, is a sporte. If a Minister weare a Lay mans garment, he is cast into prison, and seuerely punished: but if he be found drincking and bowsing in ale-houses, and whore houses, if he be a whoremaister, if he be a gamster, if he defile other mens wiues, if hee neuer study the Scriptures, yet (if he be formall) hée is for all that a pillar of the Church, and nothing is sayde vnto him. I excuse not his disorderly going in apparell forbidden: but I blame this preposterous iudgement.

Yea, if hee say not his stint of prayers at his set houres, he is an Anathema, accursed: but if he be an vsurer, or symonist, he goeth scot frée.

If one should sée a Carthusian Friar otherwise clad, then according to this order, or féeding vpon flesh in Lent, or vpon Fridaies, &c. how is he accursed, abhorred, detested, yea, men feare that the earth will open and swallow vp both the beholder and him that is beheld: but if the same man sée him lie drunken in the steéetes, or with lies and standers, raging against the good name of other men, and laying snares through crafty and subtile meanes, to intrap his poore neighbour, no man doth therefore abhorre him.

It is as if one should sée a Franciscan Friar weare a girdle without knots, or an Augustine Friar to weare a linnen girdle in stéed of leather, or a Carmelite to go without a girdle. Againe, to sée a Franciscane weare shooes, or a Crosse-bearer halfe shood, were a horrible fact, and they worthy for the same to be drowned in the bottome of the sea.

Yea, of late there were with vs twoo women, counted both wise women: one of them went home and trauelled before her time, and the other fell into a sweund, because they sawe a certaine canon goe before the holy Nunnes, or Uirgines (as they will be called) in the next Uillage, & walking openly without a white garment, and his black cloke vpon it: but the same woman had often seen such birdes banquetting, and reuelling, singing, and daunsing, kissing and ambling, the rest I will conceale, and yet they thought they neuer saw enough.

Peraduenture that sexe is lawlesse: but you know Polithescus, doe you not? hee was very dangerously sicke; the Phisitians had often perswaded him to eate egges and white meates, but all in vaine. To the same effect did the Bishop exhort him, but he (though he were learned, and a Batcheller of Diuinity) did choose rather to die then to follow, the counsells either of the B •… shop or of the Phisitians. Then it séemed good to the Phisitians and the rest of his friends, to deceiue him by a wiie: there was a supping made for him of egges and goates milke, which they called Almond milke, he did eate it very willingly, and so continuing some daies together, at last he beganne to amend, vntil a certaine damsel tolde him what it was, then he began to cast vp that which he had eaten. But the same man that was so superstitious in egges and milke, made no conscience of forswearing a debt that he owed me: for when I in simplicity sent him his bill, he secretly with his naile cut it and rent it, and sware it was cancelled. What more peruerse then this iudgement? he sinned against the minde of the Church, in not obeying either the Bishop or the Phisitians, and in manifest periury he had a firme conscience, that was so weake in a messe of milke.

Now you make me remember a tale that I heard of late a Dominican Friar tell in his sermon, of a holy Uirgine that was oppressed by a young man; the swelling of her belly did plainely argue the fact: she was called before the Abbasse, and the rest of the Nunnery, the pleadeth that she was ouermatched: but you should haue cried out (saith the Abbasse) I should haue done so indéede, but it is a great offence to breake silence in the sléeping chamber.

Now to requite your tale with the like. I wasHoly virgins. of late in a place where a couple of Nunnes came to visite their acquaintance; their man through forgetfulnesse had lest their portuse behinde. Good God what a stirre was there, to supper they wold not go before they had said their euensong, neither would they reade on any other booke but their owne: In the meane time, all the house tarried for their supper. To be short, their man was faine to run backe againe to their Cloister, la •… e in the euening hee brings their owne prayer booke: well, prayers are said, and scarsely had we supped before ten of the clocke.

All this while I heare nothing worthy to be much blamed.

Because you haue but halfe the storie. While they were at supper, those Uirgines beganne to be merry with wine: at length, hauing finished their laughter, the whole company abounded with ieasts and scoffes, not very plea •… to chaste yeares, but no man was more lasciuious then those holy Uirgines, which would not goe to supper before they had said prayers vpon their owne booke, and after the maner of their Cloister or Couent: from •… ing they procéeded to play, to dansing, to sing bawdy songs, the rest I dare not tel: but I am afraid there was that night somewhat committed that did scantly become Uirgines, vnlesse these fore warnings, their lasciuious •… yorts, noddings, and kissings, did much deceiue me.

This impiety is not so much to be imputed to the Uirgines, as to those Priests which had charge ouer them: but goe to, I wil also requite your story with such another, and such a one as I was an eye-witnesse vnto my sel •… e. Within these few daies there were a company clapt in prison for baking of bread vpon the Lords day, which they said méere necessity droue them vnto. I condemne not this censure, but I like not the preposterous partiality of mens iudgements. A little while after vpon a Sunday, called Palmes sunday, by chance I was to goe to the next Uillage: there, about foure of the clocke after dinner, it was my hap to méete with I know not whether I may call it, a ridiculous, or a miserable spectacle: I suppose that no drunken feasts had euer more filthinesse: some réelde this way and that way with wine, euen as a ship left at sea withoutMost beastly drunk •… nnes. a guide, is tossed of the windes and the waues. There were some that went arme in arme to hold by one another, and yet so weake they were, that they were stil downe, and could hardly rise againe. Many of them were crowned with oaken leaues. A certaine Seignior amongst them, playing the foster-father of Bacchus, was carried like a packe vpon mens shoulders, in that manner as men vse to carry a dead corps, his féet vpward, and his head downward, with his face towards this porters legges, lest hée should choke himselfe with vomiting, if he had béene vpward, he did pitteously bewray the hose and shooes of those porters that came behinde: neither was any of the porters sober: for the most part they did nothing but laugh, but in such sort, as any man might easily perceiue them to be besides their wits. The fury of Bacchus had so possessed them all, and with this shew they went through the City euen in the open day light. If these men had but tasted an egge, they should haue béene haled to prison, as if they had killed their father, whereas for loosing the sacred sermon, for neglecting the publike worship of God, & for cōmitting so horrible intemperancy, & that vpon so holy a day, & in so publike a manner; to the great offence of God, and griefe of the godly, no man punished thē, no man was angry with them.

Neuer maruaile much at that: for in the middest of the City, in Ale-houses that be next vnto the Church, vpon Sabaoth daies and other holy daies, you shall haue them tipling, singing bawdy songs, dancing, quarrelling, and fighting, with so great noise and tumult, that neither the sermon can be heard, nor any holy businesse be performed without disturbance. If the same persons should at the same time but mend a shooe, or eate a pigge vpon a Friday, they should bee seuerely punished for a most deadly sinne. And yet the Lords day was chéefely ordained to this end; that men might be at leasure to heare the doctrine of the Gospel, and therefore are men then forbidden to worke bodily worke, that they might be at leasure to informe their mindes with the wil of God. Is not this strange peruersenesse of mens iudgements?Of fasting.

Uery strange. Now in the fast it selfe, which is prescribed in Poperie, there be two things, one is the abstaining from meate; the other is the choise of meates. Euery one knoweth the first to be according to Gods commaundement: but the other is, not onely humane, but also contrary to the doctrine of the Apostle, howsoeuer we would excuse the matter, yet here also by a pr •… posterous iudgement it is lawfull for the people to suppe, and it is no fault in them; but to taste of meate forbidden by man, andOf receiuing the Sacramēt. permitted by God, & his seruants the Apostles, is a deadly sin counted. What a heinous offence would men account it, to receiue the holy sacrament of Christs bodie and blood with vnwashen hands▪ and indeed it is a •… ault, but h •… 〈◊〉 little do they feare to receiue the same with anwashen hart, and a minde defiled with peruerse and wicked lusts?

Yea, how many Priests are there, which woulde rather die then minister the Sacrament in a Cuppe, not yet consecrated by the Bishop, or in such garments as they vsually weare euery day: but amongst these that are so affected, how many do we sée, which are no whit afraide to come to the holy Table, béeing as yet full and foule with the former nights surfetting, gurmandizing and drunkennesse? It is forbidden by humane constitution, that no person that is base borne, lame, or poreblind shal be admitted to the holy Ministrie: and here how strict are w •… ? And yet in the meane time we admit euerie where, such as bée vnlearned, gamsters, drunkards, souldiers, cutters, and ruffians. They will say perhaps, they know not the diseases of the minde: but I speake not of secret defects, I speake of such as are more open in the view of al men, then the defects of the bodie be.

Againe, there be great ones that make no bones (as the saying is) of oppressing the liberties, and priuiledges of ecclesiasticallDeuourers of Church lands which were first giuen to the vse of the poore. persons, neither yet of ioyning vnto their own houses, such houses as are part of the Churches inheritance, and were giuen by the deuotion and liberalitie of godly and well disposed persons, for the relieuing of such as are aged, and sicke, and poore & néedy in the Parish. And yet they séeme vnto themselues very great Christians, if they can rage, and play the mad men against such as omit a ceremonie, leaue out a Collect, or obserue not euerie holy day, or holy day euen, and the like.

Well, let them go, and leaue them to the Lord, who will méete with such hypocrites well inough. Let vs now talke of fish and flesh another while.

With a good will. Let vs returne then to our formerOf fasting & fish-eating. speach of fasting, and fish-eating. I haue heard that the lawes of the church do expressely except children, old folks, sicke persons and weake, great labourers, women with child, giuing sucke, and very féeble.

And the same haue I also often heard.

I haue also heard of an excellent Diuine, Gerson I thinke his name is, that hath added this, that if there bée any cause of the like moment, with those which the canons of the Church do except by name, that then also the force of the law doth cease. For there be peculiar habites of states of mens bodies, which do make the restraint of meat more daungerous than an euident disease. And there be secret diseases which yet do not appeare, which in truth may bée so much the more dangerous. And they which compel children, or very old folkes, or sicke and féeble persons, either to taste, or to eate fish, doe commit a double sinne, first against brotherly charitie: Secondly, against the mind and meaning of the Church, which would not haue them wrapped in a law, which cannot keepe it without their owne destruction, or danger.

Whatsoeuer Christ did institute, he instituted it to the health both of soule and bodie, neither can any potentate chalenge vnto himselfe so great power, as that by his constitutions he may driue any persons to endaunger their liues. As if one by fasting one night, should not be able to sleepe, and for want of sleepe, should be in danger of a frenzie: he that shal driue a man to this inconuenience, is (both against the minde of the Church, and against the will of God) a murtherer of his neighbor. Princes so often as they sée cause, do make lawes to punish men by death: whatPrinces may punish by death. they may do I do not define; this I thinke I may say, that they should deale more safely, if they did not punish any by death, but for such causes as are expressed in the holy scriptures. In heynous crimes, the Lord doth call men away from the vttermost bond of circumstance that may leade thereunto, as in the case of periurie, he forbiddeth to swear at all; to kéepe men from murther, he forbids men to be angrie. We for a humane constitution doe driue men to the vttermost bound or verie point of manflaughter. But so often as there appeareth any probable cause, it is the part of charitie to exhort our neighbours, vnto those things which the weakenesse of his bodie doth require. And if there appeare n •… cause, yet it is the dutie of christian charitie, fauourably to interpret the matter, that it might be done with a good minde, vnlesse he that wil eate, shall shew therin a manifest contempt of the lawes. And such as shall contemptuously, and seditiously, eate any thing that is forbidden by law, the ciuill Magistrate doth iustly punish. But what euery man may eate in his own house, for the health of his bodie, it is for Physitians, and not for Magistrates to determine.

But if hereupon also any shall be so wicked as to raise any tumult, let him be guiltie of sedition, and not he that prouideth for his bodily health, not breaking either Gods law or mans law. And such is the lenitie and moderation of the Church of Christ, that vpon good cause, they will of their owne accord stirre vp men to vse such things as the health of their bodie shall require, and which their licences or charters wil also arme men against the accusations and backbitings of ill disposed persons.

It may be called zeale, if any man shall deale seuerely with his owne body, for euerie man is best knowne vnto himselfe; but where is the pietie, or where is the charitie of these men, who contrarie to the law of nature, contrarie to the law of God, and contrarie to the meaning of the Church, would enforce their weak brother vnto death, or to some kinde of disease more cruell than death it selfe?

Your speach makes me to remember a storie of •… neM •… unsier Eros. Mounsier Eros, a learned man, and now verie old, he would neuer eate any flesh vpon Fridayes, nor in Lent, and yet by reason of diuerse infirmities that vexed him, he had a licence or dispensation from the Bishoppe to eate what hée would. This Mounsier Eros for his health •… ake, went on a time to Feruentia, and I in kindnesse bare him companie. Being come to Feruentia, he turned into the house of an old friend of his, who had often by letters inuited him thither. This friend of his was a man of great wealth, and authoritie. He came to a fish dinner, but Eros began to be verie daungerously •… icke, there was an armie of diseases vppon him, the ague, the headach, vomiting, the stone, &c. This host, although he saw his friend in great daunger, yet durst not giue him one bit of flesh. And why thinke you? he saw causes inough why he might lawfully doe it, and he had séene the Bishops dispensation, but he feared the tongues of men. And now the disease was growne so farre vppon him, that it was in vaine to giue him any.

What did Mounsier Eros? I know the nature of the man, he had rather die, then to doe any thing that might procure his friend any enuie.

He shut himselfe into his Chamber, and for three dayes togither he liued after his olde maner: his dinner was an Egge onely; his drinke was water boyled with Sugar. So soone as the Ague had left him, he took his horse, and carried his diet with him.

What was that?

Almond milke in a Flagon Bottle, and Raisins in the Sunne in a Bagge. When he came at home, he had a •… itte of the stone, and hee kept his bedde for it a whole moneth togither. Now because he did eate euery day an Egge at his friends house, there followed a horrible rumour after his departure of eating of flesh, and in that furious manner it was aggrauated, as if he had poysoned te •… ne men, and this rumor was spread as farre as Paris: What doe you thinke to be the fittest remedy against such offences?

The best remedie that I know, is this, let them powre all their chamber pots vpon their heads, and if they chaunce to méete you, stoppe your nose vntill you are past them, it may be that so they may be ashamed of their follie.

Certainely Preachers shal doe wel, sharpely to reprooue this Pharisaicall impietie. But what thinke you of that hoste?

He séemed to be a wise man, who knew full well what Tragedies vpon friuolous occasions would be 〈◊〉 by the foolish people. But it is now time to returne from this long digression, to our former purpose.

There is no losse of time in this digression, it is to the purpose, vnlesse perhappes you haue any thing else to adde to that which hath béene sayd already concerning humane constitutions.

Truly, to mée it séemeth that hée is not a right obseruerThe end why mens lawes are made must be considered. of mens lawes, which doth negl •… ct the meaning & drift of the lawe-makers: for hée that vpon holy dayes abstaineth from handy labour, and yet in the meane time is not at leisure to heare Sermons, and to ioyne with the congregation in the exerc •… es of Gods worshipp •… , •… oth neglect the chiefest thing for which the festiuall day was instituted: for therefore is one good worke then forbidden, that a better might be doone in his stéede: but they which leaue their ordinary businesse, onely to haunt tauerns, and harlots houses, to fight and brawle, to be great drinkers, and riotous, &c. they are double violaters of the holy festiuall day.

And I knowe diuers which woulde choose, rather to die, than to minister the Sacrament, if by chaunce they had tasted any mea •… e that morning, or if but one droppe of water (while they wash their mouth) should chaunce to slippe downe their throate. And yet the same persons haue confessed, that at the same instant they haue carried some priuy grudge against certaine persons, whom they would haue killed, if fit oportunitie would haue serued, neyther did they make any scruple or doubt to come to the holy table of the Lord with this bloody minde.

And as prepostereus are men in their iudgementsVowes. concerning vowes. There is no vowe more religious than that of baptisme. Now he that hath vowed a monasticall life &c. and afterward vpon iust cau •… e changeth his garment, or his place, is sought for as if hée had poysoned his father, he is apprehended; haled, and pulled, imprisond, and bound, & many times put to death for the honour of his order. But they whose life is directly contrary vnto the vowe which they made in baptisme, while they giu •… Vow of Baptisme. themselues wholy to serue mammon, their belly, and the pompe of this worlde, they are had in great accompt, neyther are these men charged with the crime of violating their vow, neither are they accompted apostataes, or back sliders, but good christians.

He is punished, that (being mooued by some vrgentFalse oathes. cause) dooth sweare a false oath, but they that mingle euery third word with a false oath, are not punished.

These doe not sweare of set purpose, or in good earnest.

By the like reason you may excuse him that killes a man, so hee did it not in earnest, or of sette purpose. To sweare a false oath is not lawfull, either in ieast or earnest. And it is a more hainous crime to kill a man in ieast, than in anger. What infamy dooth pursue a maide that hath slipt aside, but a slaunderous and backbiting tongue, with a heart fraught with hatred and malice or a greater euill, and yet no body woondreth at them: there is no lawe foradulterie and The •… t. them. Where is not the lightest theft punished more seu •… rely than adultery? No man will willingly conuerse with one that is stained with the infamie of theft: but to be familiar with one that is loa •… en and couered ouer with adulteries is a great credite, and a point of good neighbourhoode accompted. No man will bestowe his daughter vponA 〈◊〉 , a common sold •… r. a common hangman, which for his stipend dooth execute the lawes, but we do like well to haue affinitie with a common souldier, which hath often against the will both of the parents and magistrates serued in a mercenarie warre, which hath bin defiled with so many whoredoms, rapes, sacrileges, murthers, & other most hainous crimes, which either in the wars themselues, or in going to them, or returning from them, are wont to be committed, such a one doe we make choise of to be our sonne in lawe: such a one that is worse than any hangman doth a virgine doate vpon, and that we accompt great nobilitie that i •… g •… ten by mischiefe and villanie. Hée that taketh away a mans mony, is hanged, but that they by purloyning the commonThieues. stocke of Churches and towneships, by monopolies, by vsuries▪ yea by a thousand wiles, and deceitfull trickes d •… e spoyle many, are reckoned amongst the chiefe men of the parish.

So, they that giue poison to some one person, arePoyso •… ers. punished by the lawes as a poysoner, but they that infect and kil the people with infected wines and corrupted oiles, are lawlesse.

I haue knowne some Monkes so superstitio •… s,Superstitious Monk •… s. that they would thinke themselues in the handes of the 〈◊〉 , if by chaunce their holy vesture were left off, but although they giue themselues to lying, and slaundering, to drunkennesse and enuie, they feare no such matter.

And such ideotes a man may finde amongest vsFo •… lish armor agenst the diuell. many, who do not thincke their house safe from the power of the diuell, and malice of witches, and wicked spirites, vnlesse they haue consecrated holy water, or a holy candle, or a horse shooe nailed vpon their thresholde, but they feare not their houses wherein daily God is prouoked by so many meanes, and the diu •… ll is daily worshipped.

And howe many are there that trust more to the helpe of the virgine Marie, or of Saint Christopher, than of Christ himselfe. The m •… ther of Christ they worship with candles, images, and songs, but Christ himselfe they doe most obstinately and stowtly offend with their wicked liues. And for such trifles as these and others that we haue spoken of, how great breach is there of brotherly charitie? how bitter hatred and hart-burning? what virulent backbiting and traducing of mens names? Against which, both Christ in the Gospel, and Paul in his Epistles doe vehemently inueigh: And which all Diuines and Preachers should strongly beate downe.

Indéede it 〈◊〉 •… so: but there be ma •… y amongest them, who h •… •… ather haue the people, and princes, and bishops at that passe, than otherwise. And againe, ther be which do no more sauor or vnderstand these things than the common people doeth, or if they doe vnderstand them, they dissemble their knowledge, taking more care for the belly than for the Lorde Iesus. Héereupon it commeth to passe that the people being on euery side corrupted with preposterous iudgements, are confident where there is cause to feare, and afraide where there is no daunger. There they stand at a stay, where they ought to goe forward, and there they march forward, from whence they ought to retire. And from these so ill taught, if a manne shoulde attem •… t to plucke any thing away of their olde customes, they would crie out that hee is a raiser of se •… ition: as if it were sedition for a man, by good medicines, to reclaime or purge a bodie corrupted, which vnskilfull Physitians haue had long in handling, and brought to a naturall habite of corruption. But it is time to breake •… ff this complaint which hath no end.

As I was lately reasoning of these matters at suppe •… , by ill hap there was a certaine fellow in presence that was lowsie, ragged, pale, lanke, drie, and with a withered erabtree face very ghastly, he had scarce thrée haires vpon his scull, so often as hée spake he shut his •… ies, they said hée was a diuine: he called mée a disciple of Autichrist, and many other things he babbled out.

What saide you? were you mute?

I wished h •… e might haue one mite of a sober mind in so filthy a braine, i •… he had any braine at all.

YOu tell me horrible things Adolphus, of your sea voyage, is this to be a Mariner? God kéep •… me from going to sea.

Yea, that I haue told you bitherto, is 〈◊〉 sport to these things you shal now heare.

I haue h •… ard of euills more then enow, I trembled al •… the ti •… e you were reciting them, as if my selfe had béene in danger with you.

But to me my labours past were ple •… sing enough. But that night there happened a certaine thing, which for •… great part of the night, tooke away all hope of life from the Maister of the ship.

What I pray you?

The night was somewhat light, and in the top of the maste stoode one of the ma •… iners in the basket (for so I thinke they cal it) looking about to see if he could spie any land: fast by this man beganne to stand a certaine round thing like a bal of fire, which (when it appeareth alone) is to the shipme •… a most feareful signe of hard successe, but when two of them doe appeare together, that is a signe of a prosperous voyage. These apparitions were called in old time Castor and Pollux.

What had they to doe with sea-men, being one of them a Horse-man, the other a Champion, or stowt warrior?

So the P •… ets did feigne. The Pilot of the ship sitting at the sterne, said to him that was aloft; fellow (for so doe the ship-men call one another) doost thou not sée what a companion stands by thy side? I sée it (said the other) and I pray God it •… e for good: By and by the f •… ery globe sliding downe by the ropes, tumbled it selfe •… ntil it came to the Maister of the ship.

Did he not die with feare?

No, Mariners are accustomed to monsters. It hauing •… ayed th •… re a while, it roled it selfe along the brimmes of the ship, and 〈◊〉 from thence downe into the middle roomes, it vanished away. About mid-night the tempest beganne to increase more and mor •… : did you euer sée the Alpes?

Yes, •… haue séene them.

Those mountaines are but hillockes in comparison of the waues of the sea: so often as we were heaued vp with them, we might haue touched the Moone with our fingers; so often as wee went downe againe, it s •… emed vnto vs as though the earth had opened, and we had béene going directly to hell.

O madm •… n that commit themselues to the sea!

The mariners striuing with the tempest, but all in vaine, at length the Maister of the ship came vnto vs very pale.

That palenesse doth presage some great euil.

My friends (quoth he) I can be no longer Maister of my ship, the windes haue gotten the vpper hand, it remaineth now, that we commit our selues vnto God, and euery man to prepare himselfe for extreamity.

O right Scy •… hian sermon!

But first (quoth hee) the ship must be disburdened, necessity hath no law, a sore weapon it is, there is no remeady, better it is to saue our liues, with the losse of our goods, than to lose both goods and life together. The truth pr •… uailed, many vessels were throwne ouer into the sea, ful of rich marchandise.

This was indéede to suffer wracke.

There was a certaine Italian in the ship, who hadOf an Italian. gone Ambassador to the King of Scots, hee had a chest ful of plate, gold rings, cloth, and silke apparel.

He would not bestow them vpon the sea.

No, but desired either to perish with his beloued riches, or to be saued with them. Therefore he was somewhat wilful, and stoode against the rest.

What said the ship-maister?

We could be wel content (quoth hee) that thou, and that thou hast, should perish together: but it is not fit that all we should be in danger for the sauing of thy chest: if you wil not be ruled, we wil throw both you and your chest hed-long together into the sea.

A right mariners oration.

So the Italian lost his goods, wishing all euil bothA sorry reuenge. to the heauens and the hells, for that hee had committed his life to so barbarous an element.

I know that is the manner of Italians.

A little while after, when we saw that the windes rage •… more and more, and we had done what we could, they cut the ropes, and cast the sailes ouer-boord.

O miserable calamity!

Then the Maister came to vs againe, friends (quoth he) the time doth exhorte euery man to commend himselfe to God, and to prepare himselfe for to die. He was asked of certaine, who were not altogether ignorant of seafaring, for how many houres he thought the ship might defend it selfe, he said that he could promise nothing, but aboue thrée houres hée said it was not possible.

This spéech was yet harder then the rest.

When he had so said, he commanded al the ropes to be cut, and the maine-maste to be sawen downe close by the boxe wherein it stood, and together with the saile-yardes to be cast ouer boord into the sea.

Why did he so?

B •… cause (the saile being gone or torne) it serued to no vs •… , but to burthen the ship: all their hope was in the st •… rne or rudd •… r.

What did the passengers & shipmen in the mean time?

•… here you should haue seene a miserable face of things, the mariners singing Salue regina, they cried to theSa •… ue regina. Uirgine Mary for help, they called her, the star of the Sea, the Quéen of Heauen, the Lady of the world, the hauen of Helth,Poore shifts. fl •… ttering her with many other titles which the holy Scriptures neuer gaue her.

What had she to doe with the sea, that I thinke neuer went to sea in all her life?

Venus had sometimes the charge of mariners, because she was thought to be borne of the sea: and because she g •… ue ouer her cure, the Uirgin mother was substituted in her stéed, which was a mother, but no virgine.

Now you iest.Ridiculous superstition.

Many falling flat vpon the b •… ordes, did worship the sea, crying; O most gentle Sea, O most noble Sea, O most rich Sea, O most faire S •… a, be qui •… t, saue vs: and thus they cried to the deaf •… s •… a.

O ridiculous superstition! what did others?

Some did not •… ing but vomite, and some made vowes. There was a certaine Englishman, who promised golden mountaines to his Lady of Wa •… singham, if euer he came safe to land. Others promised many things to a woodden crosse that stood at such a place: and others to another that stoode in anoplace. The like vowes were made to the Uirgin Mary, which raigneth in many places, and they thinke th •… ir vow of no effect, except they name the place.

A iest, as though the Saints did not dwel in heauen.

There were that vowed to become Carthus •… ans. Ther •… was one who vowed to go to St. Iames of Compostella, barefooted, and bare headed, with nothing vpon his bodie but a •… hirt of male, and begge for vittailes.

Did none remember S. Christopher?

Yes, I heard one (but I could not forbeare laughing) promise Saint Christopher, which standes in the great Church at Paris, a waxe Candle as bigge as himselfe. Now this Christopher is rather a mountaine than an Image, and this he cried out as loude as euer he could, for feare he should not be heard, and this he often repeated. One of his acquaintance that by chaunce stoode next vnto him, pulled him by the s •… éeue, and warned him to take héede what he said: for (said he) if you should make sale of all that you haue, you are not able to pay your vow. Then the other with a lowde voyce (lest Christopher should heare him) said, hold thy peace fool, dost thou thinkSaint Christopher like to be cousened of a 〈◊〉 . that I speake as I meane, or meane as I say? If once I get to land I will not giue him a tallow Candle.

O grosse wit, I thinke he was a Hollander.

No, but he was a Zeland •… r.

I maruaile that none remembred Paul the Apostle, who himselfe was sometime at sea, and suffered shipwracke, and out 〈◊〉 a broken ship swanune to land he hauing béene in daunger himsel •… e, would perhappes haue pittied others that were in daunger.

There was no me •… tion of Paul.

But they prayed in the meane time, did they not?

Yes, that they did, striuing who should do best. One sung, Salue Regina; another sung, Credo in Deum; There were some that had certaine speciall short prayers, like charmes against daungers.

How religious men are in affliction: in time of prosperitie, m •… n thinke neither vpon God, nor any godly man, what did you all this while? Did y •… u vow to no Saint?

No surely, because I make no couenaunt with Saints, •… or what is it else but a formall contract, or bargain? I will giue you this, if you will doe that for me: I will giue you a Candle, if I may swimme to land.

But you craued the aide of some Saint: Did you not?

Not I, for heauen is large. And if I should commend •… 〈◊〉 next he doore. my safetie to any of the Saints, suppose it were to saint Peter, who peraduenture would be the first that should heare, because he standeth at the doore, before he could come to God, yea before he could declare my cause, I should be drowned.

What did you then?

I went directly to God himselfe, and said, Our father which art in heauen, &c. None of the Saints doe heare sooner than he, nor more willingly giue vs that which we aske.

But did not your conscience fight against you? were you not afraide to call him Father, whom you had so manie wayes offended?

Truly to deale plainly, my conscience did somwhat terrifie me, but presently I gathered courage vnto me, thinking thus with my selfe, there is no father so angry with his so •… ne, but (if he sée him in the riuer and in daunger of drowning) will take him by the haire of the head, or else where, as he may, and pull him to land. Amongst all the rest, there wasOf a woman with hir child none more quiet, and frée from feare, then a certaine woman, who had an Infant sucking vpon her breast: she neit •… er cried out, nor wept, nor made any vow, shée onely embracing her tender Infant, prayed softly to her selfe. In the meane time, the ship rushed vpon a shallow, and the Maister fearing lest it would be split all in péeces, he bound it together with Cables, from the foredocke to the sterne.

O miserable shifts.

In the meane time there stands vp a certaine MasseOf an old▪ Pr •… est. Priest, an old man, about thrée score, he casting off all his cloathes to his verie shirt, togither with his bootes and shooes, wished all the rest in like mann •… r to prepare themselues to swimme. And so standing in the middest of the ship, he preached vnto vs out of Gerson▪ of the vtilitie of auricular Confession, exhorting vs, that euerie one of vs should prepare himselfe both to liue and die. And there was a certaine Dominican Frier: to these two they didde confesse themselues •… hat •… isted.

What did you?

I, (séeing all so full of tumult) secretly confessed my selfe vnto God, condemning before him my vnrighteousnesse, and crauing his mercie in Christ.

Whither should you haue gone, if you had so died?

That I committed vnto God my iudge, for I would not be my owne iudge: yet in the meane wh •… le I was of good comfort. While these things were thus in doing, the Master of the ship came againe vnto vs wéeping, and said, let euerie man shift now for him selfe, for we are not like to haue anie vse of the ship a quarter o •… an houre, for it being torne in certaine places, the water came in apace. Within a little while after, the Master tolde vs that he had spied a holy Tower, or a Church, wishing vs to call for helpe vnto that Saint that was patrone of that Church. All fell downe and prayed vnto an vnknowne Saint.

If you had called him by his name, he would ha •… e heard you.

No man knew his name. In the meane time the Pilot as much as lay in him, did guide the ship that way, which was now torne and rent, and leaking on euery side, and had fallen all to péeces, if it had not beene bound togither with Cables.

Things were now at a hard passe.

We were driuen so neare, that the inhabitants o •… that place might sée vs, and in what daunger we were. They came running out by heapes vnto the shoare, and holding vp their cloakes, and their hats vpon poles did inuite vs to come vnto them. And casting vp their armes towards heauen, did thereby signifie how much they did bewaile our hard fortune.

I listen for an end, to heare what successe you had.

By this time the ship was full of water, and we were no safer in the ship then in the sea. The Mariners emptied the ship boate of water, and put it out to the sea: into that boate all endeuoured to goe, all the Marriners crying out with great tumulte, that the boate was not able to holde such a multitude: let euery man (said they) get what hée can and swimme out. There was no time t •… •… ske long counsell, one •… ooke an oare, another a qu •… nt, ano •… her the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 , one gat a b •… ket, another a table, and euery man with such as hée could g •… t, committed themselues to the waues.

〈◊〉 became in the meane time of that same woman that was so quiet?

She was the first that came to the sheare: •… or we had put her vpon a broade table, and had made her so •… ast vnto it, that shée could not easily fall off, and we put alittle boord into her hand, which •… he might vse in steade of an oare, and so b •… dding her farewell, wée thrust her off with a quant, that shée might be frée from the shippe, where was all the daunger.

O couragious woman▪

When nothing was now left, one plucked downe a woodden image that was there of the virgine Marie, that was rotten, and eaten hollow with rattes, and hauing gotten that i •… his armes, he began to swimme.

The boate came safe to shoare, did it not?

That was the first that was drowned, with thirtie p •… rsons in it: for before it could get frée from the great ship, with the wauing and wallowing of the shippe, it was ouerthrowne.

O hard hap, what then?

While I gaue counsell to others, I had like to haue perished my s •… lfe, for there was nothing left that was good for swimming.

•… here corke would haue done good seruice, if one had had it.

In such a straite. I had rather haue a péece of vile corke, than a golden candlesticke: while I was looking about for a thing to swimme vpon, at the last I remembred the lower end of the maste. And because I could not p •… ll it vp alone,One more than was looked for. I tooke another vnto me, we▪lying both vpon that, committe •… our selues to the sea, so as I held by the right horne, and he by the left. While wée were thus tossed, and putting off from •… he shippe, that same masse Prie •… t that preached to •… he Mariners threw himselfe in the middest vpon our shoulders. And hée was not very light, for hée had a bigge body. We cryed out, who is that third? he will cast vs all away: but he aunswered vs somewhat •… héerefully, Be of good chéere, héere i •… rowme inough for vs, God will be with vs.

What became of the Dominican Friar?

He hauing called vpon the Saints, cast away all his •… pparrell, and betooke himselfe naked to swimming.

What Saints did hée pray vnto?

Saint Dominicke, saint Thomas, saint Vincent, and S. Peter, but his chiefest trust was in saint Katharine of Sene.

Did hée not call vpon Christ?

Not that I could learne.

He might haue swomme out the better, if hée had not cast away his holy koole: but when that was gone, how could saint Katharine know him? but go forward to tell of your self.

While wée were tossed and tumbled hither and thither by the shippe side, the Rudder of the ship chaunced to hit him that held by the left corner of the Maste, and brake his thigh, so hée let goe his holde and fell off. The priest praying God to send him eternall rest, tooke his place, exhorting mée with great courage to hold fast my corner & to stirre my féete lustily. In the meane time wee drunke in a great deale of salt water: but the priest taught mée a remedie against it.

What was that I pray you?

So often as any waue came toward vs, hée woulde turne his noddle against it with his mouth close.

A strong olde man.

When wée had by swimming in this manner gone some way, the Priest being a wonderfull tall man, saide vnto me, Be of a good chéere man, I féele the botome. But I durst not hope for so great happinesse, we are further (quoth I) from the land than to hope for any bottome. Nay (quoth he) I féele the ground with my féete. P •… raduenture it is (said I) some chest that the sea hath rolled hi •… her. Nay (saide he) I doe plainely féele the ground with my fingers. When we had swumme alittle longer, and hée againe had felt the bottome. Doe you (quoth hée) what you thinke best to be done, I giu •… you all the maste, and I will betake my selfe wholy to the ground: and withall, when he sawe the billow go from him, he ran after it as fast as euer he could. And when the billowe came againe, he clasping both his hands together about both his knées, he stroue with all his might against the waues, hiding himselfe vnder them as Cormorants and Duckes vse to doe when they diue vnder the water. And when the billowe was past him againe, he set forward and ranne. I (séeing him to spéede so well) followed him. There stoode on the shoare some strong men, and vsed to the sea, which with long poales did strengthen themselues against the waues, so as the hindermost of them could reach his pole vnto him that coulde swimme, and so by that means diuers were drawen to shore, and saued.

How many?

Seauen, but of them twoo died so soone as they came to the fire: there were in the shippe 58. but when wée came to land there, we had experience of the countrey mens kindenesse, which indéede was incredible, who with wonderfull spéede and chéerefuluesse, prouided for vs lodging, fire, meate, apparrell, and all necessaries for our iourney.

What countrey was that?

It was Holland.

There is no nation in the world more kinde and full of humanitie then they be, and yet they are compassed about with cruell and barbarous nations. But I beléeue you will not go to sea againe in haste.

I doe not meane it, vnlesse God shall depriue me of my wittes.

And I had rather heare such tales, than make triall of them: but thankes be to God that hath preserued you, and I hope you will be the better for this to him-ward while you liue.

God graunt I may.

GOd saue you, my most desired Xantippe.

And you also, my most deare Eulalia, we thinke you look fairer than you were wont to do.

What, doe you receiue me with a scoffe at the first dash?

No truely, but so you séeme indéede to me.

It may be that my new apparell doth make me looke better than I was wont.

You coniecture very right, for I sawe none more fine a great while, I thinke your gowne be of English cloth, is it not?

It is English wooll, but of Venice die.

It is softer than silke, but how pleasant a colour is this purple? who I pray bestowed such an excellent gift vpon you?

Where should honest women haue such things but of their husbands?

O you are happy that haue mette with such a husband, I would I had béene married to a mushrome when I was married to my Nicholas.

Why so I pray you? are you so soone fallen out?

I shall neuer agrée with such a one as he is: you sée how ragged I am, so doth he suffer his wife to goe. Let mée die if I be not ashamed to goe abroad when I sée how well other women be clad, whose husbandes are farre y •… rer tha •… mine.

The grace and decking of matrons is not in apparell▪ or in other kinde of trimming vp of the body, (as Saint Peter the Apostle dooth teach vs,) but in chaste and modest behauiour, and in the ornaments of the minde: harlots are set foorth to please many mens eyes, we be fine enough, if wée may please our husbands onely.

But in the meane time, my good man that is so sparing toward his wife, doth spend lustily of that portion which he had with me when I was maried, and that was no mea •… e portion.

Wherein?

In what he thinketh good, in wine, in harlots, an •… in play.

Good wordes Xantippe.

But so it is, and more than that, when he commeth home drunke at midnight, he lieth snorting all night, and many times he berayeth his bed with vomiting, Ile kéep the rest.

Fie, fie, you discredite your selfe when you discredite your husband.

I would I were hanged if I had not rather lie with a •… ow that hath pigges, than with such a husband.

Doe not you chide at him when hée comes home?

Euen as he is worthy, he finds that I am not dumb.

And what doth he then?

At the first he tooke on gréeuously, thinking to shift me off with hote wordes.

Did he neuer grow from words to blowes?

Ouely at one time, the contention was so hotte betwéene vs, that it was not farre from blowes: he shaked his •… udgel at me, thundring at me with cruel clamors, and thretning spéeches.

And were not you afraide of him?

Afraid, faith fir no: but whatsoere I was, I set a good face on the matter, I got a thrée footed stoole into my hands: if he had but touched me with his finger, he should well hau •… knowne that I had not bin lame in my hands.

A new kinde of buckler indéede, you wanted a buckled girdle for a launce.

He should haue found a virago of me, I warrant him.

Ah my Xantippe, this doth not becom •… you.

What becomes me not? if he doe not count of me as his wife, neither wil I account of him as my husband.

But saint Paul doth teach, that wiues ought to submit themselues to their husbands with all reuerence. And sai •… t Peter doth propound vnto vs the example of Sarah, who called her husband Abraham, her lord.

I know that wel enough: but the same Paul doth teach also, that men ought to loue their wiues, as Christ loued the Church his Spouse: let him do his duety, and Ile doe mine.

But for all that, when the matter is growne to that passe, that one must yéeld, it is fittest that the wife should yéeld vnto her husband.

Shall I call him husband that taketh me for his seruant? *]All that follow •… th after this marke * til you come vnto the like marke againe is not in Erasmus.

Ah my good Xantippe, though you be his wife, yet you must not thinke scorne to serue him, for you gaue him your promise before God and his church, that you would obey him, and thereunto pledged your troth.

What, must he haue me at commandement? his ser •… ant can be no more.

Surely wée must be at our husband •… s commaundements, if we be, we must obey our husbands, for euen our band of obedience doth argue a certaine soueraignetie and power in them ouer vs, whereby they may commaund vs anie honest and lawfull thing. And 〈◊〉 that, Almightie God himselfe hath set it downe for a lawe, that our desires shall bée subiect to the desires of our hus •… ds.

Whats that? I know not •… he ma •… ning of these words.

Yes Xantippe, you know it well enough, but perhaps you list not know it, because you like it not, the meaning is plaine, that we must not desire any thing that standes not with our husbands liking: and whatsoeuer they affect & like, that must we like and obey.

I promise you I d •… not like, that there should bée no difference betweene me and my seruaunt with my husband, by that reckoning you would haue my husband to be my maister, as he is ouer his seruant, I like not that.

No, I knew that well enough: for by nature wé •… cannot abide subiection of all things, we desire to bear •… rule, vntill God shall (by his grace) regenerate our hearts, and giue vs humble spirits.

I hope I am regenerate, and haue the grace of God, though I suffer not my husband to be my maister.

Therein you deceiue your selfe: for if we be truly regenerate, and borne anew by the spirit of grace, we will neuer think much to submit our selues to the ordinance of God, who hath set it downe, that we must be in subiection to our husbands.

That is true indéed: but by Gods ordinance I am his wife, and not his seruant.

Yes Xantippe, therefore you ought to serue him, because you are his wise, or else, when you were married vnto him, why did you make him such a solemne promise of obedience: and for the performaunce thereof, pawne your troth? Now if we make no conscience of such a solemne promise, whereunto God, and Gods Angels, and Gods Church, are witnesses; then is our tr •… th forfeyted, and we are to be helde for false creatures, neither is any word that euer we speake to be held of any credite.

Well, yet for all that, he should vse me as his wife, and not as his seruant.

Oh that word seruant sticketh sore in your stomack, but marke, my good Xantippe, of seruants there be two sorts, bond seruants, and frée seruants: now though you are to serue and obey your husband, yet it is not the nature of a bond or hired seruant that serueth onely for wages, but as a frée seruant, and his fellow, and so long as we willingly submit ourWhat mane •… of seruants vviues are to their husbāds. selues vnto this ordinance of God, our seruice is no bondage, but a fréedome, for we are frée of our husbands, & all that they haue, and are to receiuè from them againe all maintenance, and protection, familiaritie, and comfort, which fréedome and priuiledge no hired or bond seruant can looke for at his maisters hands.

If we be frée, then are they not to command vs.

Not so, good friend, now you mis-take: for though we be frée of our husbands, & all that they haue, that is, of bed, and boord, and familiarity, and maintenance from them, yet it doth not follow, that therefore we must not obey them, or that we may be our owne caruers of that which they haue at our plesure, and whether they will or no.

If we be frée (as you say we are) why may we not be our own caruers? or why should we be cōmanded as seruāts?

Because we are vnder a law, which hath made vs subiect to their power and authoritie. For though a man bée a noble man, and a Lord, and hath tenants vnder him, yet is he also a subiect, and must obey his Prince, as one that liueth vnder a law: and yet though a Lord, or a fréeholder are to obey the law, and to doe seruice for their Prince, yet are they not in the nature of the Princes hired seruants, or bond seruants, which are daily about him, and take wages, but are as frée subiects, and do enioy their goods and lands, &c. vnder the Princes protection, and liue in great liberty, and are called by their Prince with swéet words of great loue, & princely kindnesse; as, our louing subiects, and sometimes, our trustie & welbeloued, if they be of their Councell, but not, our louing seruants: so they write to those that are of their houshold and serue for wages. And so a wife, though she is •… o serue her husband, as his subiect, yet he doth not therefore call her his seruant, but both in writing and speaking, calleth her his beloued wife, or his trustie, and deare beloued spouse, &c. And to me this is a cleare case.

This is more (I confesse) than euer I heard, or cōsidered of in all my life, & I will find a time to consider better of it.

In so doing, you shall do well. *] But tell me, my Xantippe, afterward your husband left threatning to beat you, did he not?

Yes that he did, and was the wiser man for that, or else he would haue beene beaten himselfe.

But you did not giue ouer brawling with him.

No, nor neuer will, if he giue me cause.

That is not well spoken, for we must beare: but what doth he in the meane time while you chide and brawle?

What? sometimes he sléepeth, sometimes he doth nothing but laugh, & somtimes he taketh his Lute, & sits thrumming on that as loud as he can, when it hath scarce 3. strings vpon it, and al to interrupt my speaches, or drowne my voice.

And doth not that anger you?

Anger me (quoth you?) I cannot expresse how much he vexeth me, I am so chafed with it, that it goeth euen to the heart of me, sometime I haue much ado to hold my hands.

My good Xantippe, will you giue me leaue to speake fréely vnto you?

I do giue you leaue, say on.

What maner of mā soeuer your husband be, yet think this with your selfe, there is no changing for another. Sometimes were cō tentiōs where vnappeasable, diuorce is vsed as the last remedie: now that in such cases is quite taken away, euen vnto the houre of death he must be your husband, and you must be his wife. Now there is nothing remaining, but that each of you, by applying your selues to each others conditions, do studie to liue in concord.

Can I make him a new man?

It is not of little force, that wiues may do to make their husbands such as they should be.

You then agree well with your husband belike.

Now all is well betwéene vs.

Then belike ye had somewhat to do at the beginning.

Neuer any tēpest (I thank God) but yet (as it is often amongst men) some clouds did now & then arise, which might haue bred a storme, if we had not by bearing one with another, preuented the same. Euery one hath his fashio •… s, and euery one hath his minde or opinion by himselfe: and if we wil confesse the truth, euery one hath his faults; which if it bee lawful at any time to take notice of without any hatred of them, or to sée and not sée, then surely in marriage it is lawfull.

Your spéech is good.

And it often times commeth to passe, that mutual good wil betwéene man and wife, may be broken off, besore one doe wel know anothers conditions, that must be wel looked vnto at the first: for when contention and hart burning is once sprung vp, harty reconciliation is hardly wrought, especially if the matter be growne to bitter reproaches, as things that are glewed together, if they be presently shaken, they doe easily fal asunder: but when the glew is through dry, then nothing is surer. Therefore at the beginning all meanes must bee vsed whereby goodwil betwéene the husband and the wife may grow, and be strongly confirmed: and that is done chéefely, by obseruing each others conditions, and fitting of manners accordingly. As for that loue that is grounded onely vpon beauty and riches, &c. it is méere temporary, and wil faile when beauty or riches doe faile, or when it seeth anotherA similitude. fairer or richer, and is like a fire that is kindled of straw, which wil make a blaze for a time, but is soone out.

But I pray you tel vs by what meanes you drew your husband to your fashions?

I wil tel you, to that end you may imitate me.

I wil if I can.

It is a most easie thing to doe, if you list, and it is not yet too late: for he is a young man, and you are a young woman. My cheefest care was stil to be pleasant and merry with my h •… sband, and to sée that there were nathing that might offend his minde, I obserued his affection and meaning in euery thing, and I obserued my times, as Abigail did, when he was merry, and when he was angry, as they are wont to doe that would tame Elephants, or Lions, or the like beasts, which cannot be wonne by force.

Such a one I haue at home.

They that goe to Elephants, weare no white raiment, nor they red which goe to bulls, because it is found bySimilitudes. experience, that such creatures by such colours are made more wilde, euen as Tigres also at the sound of bells, are so inraged, that they are ready to teare their owne flesh. And they that goe about horses, haue wordes of purpose, smacking with their lippes, and handling of them gently, and all to mittigate their furie, when they are in a chase. How much more doth it become vs to vse such Artes and deuises towards our husbands, with whome we must liue, wil we, nill we, in one house and bed together, so long as wée liue.

Wel, go on with that you beganne.

Hauing wel obserued these things, I framed my selfe to his humour, taking great héede, that no offence did grow.

How could you doe that?

First, in my care of domestical affaires, which is the peculiar prouince of Matrons, I was very vigilant and careful, not onely that nothing was pretermitted, but also, that euery thing was a gréeable to his liking, euen in the smalest things: as for example; If my husband loued this or that meate better then another, or i •… he had rather haue it dressed this way, than that, or if he would haue his bed made thus, or thus, I would be sure to fit him.

But how could you frame your selfe to please him that is seldome at home, and commeth drunken home?

Nay, stay a while, I went thus farre. If at any time I saw my husband sadde, or very heauy, and that there was no •… t time to talke with them: I did not then laugh and toy with him, as the manner of many women is to doe; but then did I looke as heauily as he: For as a looking-glasse if it be true, doth alwaies shew a perfect image of him that looketh in it, so it becommeth a good wife to frame her selfe to the affection of her husband, that she be not merry, when he is mourning, nor sad when he is merry. But if at any time I saw him much mooued, and very angry indéede, either by some flattering, or intreatin •… speeches, I would alay his anger, or by silence I would giue place vnto it, vntil fit time was offered, (when his heate was past) either to cleare my selfe, or to admonish him. The same course I tooke, if at any time I saw him come home more in drinke then ordinary. And for that time I would speake of nothing but pleasant matters, and onely by flattering and faire spéeches, I would draw him to bed.

But vnhappy is the state of wines, if they must be obedient and diligent to please their husbands, that are angry, drunke, and giuen to all naughtinesse.

As though this care were not mutuall. For they also are compelled to beare with many things in our behauiour: but there is a time when a woman may in good earnest admonish her husband, if it bée in a weightie matter: for at light matters it is better to winke than to sée.

When is that?

When his minde is frée from study, from anger, from care, and drinke, then alone when there is no bodie by,How wiues must admonish their husbands. hée is swéetely to be admonished, or intreated rath •… r, that in this, or that, hee would take a better course for his wealth, or his health, or his credite and good fame. And this same admonition also ought to be powdered with pleasant ieasts, and delightfull spéeches. O •… tentimes I would vse some preface vnto my matter, and obtaine of him, that hee would not be angry with mee, if a foolish woman did admonish him, or putte him in minde, of that which might séeme to make for his credite, for his health, or for his saluation. And when I had saide what I would, I would cutte off my spéech, and would set my selfe to speake of more pleasant matters. For this is commonly our fault my Xantipp •… , that when we once beginne a matter, we cannot tel when to make an end.

So they say indéede.

But this one thing amongst all the rest, I did most precisely take heede of; that I would neuer chide with my husband before company, nor carry any complaints against him out of my house. But if there be any thing that cannot be indured, nor yet by the wiues admonition amended, it is mor •… ciuil for the wife to goe and complaine to her husbands parents, or kindred, then to his acquaintance and friends, that resort to his house, or before any of his familie, and so to temper her complaint, that shee may not séeme to hate her husbands person, but his sinne: neither let her powre out all, that so he in silence may acknowledge and loue his wiues ciuility and modesty.

She must be a very wise woman that shal performe all this.

Yea, and by such déedes we shal draw our husbands to the like ciuility.

There bee some that cannot bée amended by any ciuilitie.

Truely I do not thinke so. But grant there be such: First let vs thinke this, that our husband is to be borne withall whatsoeuer he be. It is therefore better to beare him, being like himselfe, or made better by our curteous behauiour, then by our furious and extreame dealing, to make him daily worse and worse? What if I can bring forth such husbands, as by the like ciuility haue amended their wiues? How much more doth it become vs to performe the like towards our husbands?

Then you wil shew an example of one that is nothing like my husband.

Now, if I might not be too troublesome, I would tell you of a certaine thing that happened of late in this Citie.

It shal be no trouble to me, but I shal heare it with a good will.

There is a certaine man, none of the meaner sort, who vsed to goe much a hunting. In the Country he met with a certaine damsel, the daughter of a very poore man: he beganne to be excéedingly in loue with her, and he a man of good yeares: and for her sake he did very often lie abroad all night, his pretence was still hunting. His wife, being a singular good woman, and suspecting I wot not what, shee made a search for her husbands game, and stil was at him for that he had gotten with hunting, and went so farre, that at last shée came to that rustical cosage or cabine of turfes, where he vsed to lie, and fished out all his businesse, the place where he slept, what he drunke, what prouision there was made for him: there was no houshold stuffe but méeee pouerty. This matron went home, and by and by came againe thither, and brought with her a good bed, and all furniture belonging to it, and plate to drinke out of, and mony to buy things withall, praying them that if he came th •… ther any more, they s •… ould vse him more ciuilly then they had done, dissembling all this while that she was his wife, and feig •… ed her selfe to be his sister. After a few daies, her husband came thither againe by stealth, and saw euery thing more plentiful, and hansomer than it was wont to be, he asked how all that came about: they said, there was a certaine honest matron of kindred to him, that had brought those things thither, and charged them to entertaine him in the best manner that they could. By and by his conscience was touched, and he beganne to suspect that this was his wiues doing. Being returned home, he asked her if she had not béene there, she did not deny it: then he demanded of her to what end she sent that stuffe thither? husband (quoth she) you are vsed to lie and fare better at home, I saw that you were but homely vsed there, and I thought it my dutie, (when your pleasure was to lie there) to see you haue better entertainement.

O matron, too good for such a hunter! If it had béene my case, I should haue sooner haue layd him a bundle of nettles or bushes, than a bed to lie vpon.

But heare the end. The man perceiuing his wiues honesty and kindnesse to be so great, wo •… ld neuer after goe steale a lodging abroad any more, but contented him selfe at home with his owne wife, and loued her most dearely to his dying day. You knew Gilbert Batauus, did you not?

Yes, I knew him wel.

He (as you know) in his flourishing age, married one of good yeares.

It may be he married her portion, not her person.

Wel, so it is, hée being weary of his wife, loued another woman, with whom he did often solace himselfe abroad: seldome did he dine or •… up at home: What would you haue done in this case?

What? If I had béen his wife, I would haue flowne in his beloueds face, and torne her haire off her head, and when he had gone out to dinner or supper with her, I would haue crowned him with a pis-pot, that so he might haue gone anointed to his banquet.

But his wife tooke a wiser cour •… e then so. She inuited that woman (which her husband loued) home to her house, and vsed her in all kindenesse, and so without any sorceries drew her husband home also: and if at any time he supped abroad with her, she sent thither s •… me one messe or other of some good thing, willing them to be merry witha •… l.

I should rather die, than be a bawde to my husband.

But in the meane time consider the matter it selfe wel: Was not this farre better, than i •… by her furious rigour she had wholly •… straunged her hus •… ands minde from her, and so should haue led her whole life after in brawles and contentions? She knew that some kinde of inconuentence was to be pr •… ferred before a mischiefe. And so long as she saw nor kn •… w no •… uil by them, she in her wisedome did charitably consier all things to the best.

I know she chose the lesse euil of the two: but I could not doe so.

I will adde onely one more, and then I haue done with examples. Our next neighbour, a very honest kinde man, but somewhat hastie and impatient when he was moued, on a certaine time beate his wife, who was also a very good woman. She presently got her selfe into the inwardest cham •… er in all the house, and there wéeping and sobbing, shée digested the gréefe of her minde. A little while after, vpp •… n some occasion her husband went into the same roome, he finds his wi •… e wéeping: Why doe you sit héere (quoth he) wéeping and sobbing like a childe? Then she wisely answered him: what, (said she) is it not better for me to deplore an •… bewaile my hard estate héere in secret, than to runne forth and cry out in the open stréetes, as some women vse to doe? With this spéech (so well beséeming a wife) the mans heart was broken and ouercome, and giuing her his right hand, hee promised her, that he would neuer strike her more: and he was as good as his word.

But I haue gotten that of my husband by a cleane contrary way.

It may bee so: but in the meane time, there is a perpetual warre betweene you, and it is a hundred to one that he wil neuer loue you for it.

What then would you haue me to doe?

First, you must swallow vp all iniuries that your husband offer you, and his affection must be by little and little wonne, by duties, and kindenesse, and méekenesse, and mildenesse, and so you shal at last, either ouercome him, or vse him more commodiously than now you can.

Hée is too stowt and hard-harted, to be wonne by any dutie or kindenesse.

Oh say not so. There is no wilde beast so fierce, but may bee •… amed by gentle handling, doe not dispaire of the man, make triall some moneths, blame mée if you finde not this course good for you. There bée many faults also that you must winke at; and aboue all, beware that you mooue no brawles in chamber or in bedde: but bee carefull that there all things bee pleasaunt and merrie. For if that place which is consecrated to the putting away of all offences, and to the restoring of loue, be profaned with strife and gréefe, then all remedies of reconciliation are gone.

And there be some women so froward, that euen in the very act of generation, they wil be brawling, or sullen, and malcontented, and by their tedious and irke some conditions, doe make that pleasure vnpleasant, which should purge mens mindes from all grée •… e and dislike, corrupting and spoiling the phisicke whereby offences might haue béene healed.

Truely this hath béene my case.

No maruaile then though your husband cannot loue you. At no time a woman should be loath some or gréeu •… us to her husband: but at such a méeting, especially shee should doe all her endeuour to be amiable and pleasing to her good man.

I haue to doe with a beast, and not a man.

Oh leaue these railing and vnciuil spéeches: for the most part it is through our own default, that men be no better than they are.

I would I could make him better, but it passeth my skill.

If you wil bee as good as your skil, you can doe it: hée must be yours, and you must be his, doe what you can; and the better you make him, the better it will bée for your selfe. But you alwaies looke vpon his faults, and those you aggrauate, and they increase your hatr •… d, and then you take the pot by that eare that wil not hold: rather fa •… en your eyes vpon those things that are good in him, and that is a handle by which he may be held and vsed. Before you did marry him, you had time to consider what faults he had: now is the time of healing, and not of wounding, of cléering, and not of accusing: and you ought to haue chosen your husband as wel by your eares, as by your eyes.

What woman did euer choose a husband by her •… ares?

Shee chooseth onely by the eye, who respecteth nothing but the beauty, and making of the body; but she chooseth by the care, that doth diligently obse •… ue what report and •… ame goeth of him.

Your warning is good, but i •… commeth too late.

But it is not too late to study how to amend your husband, and that you may doe yet, if you wil but temper your selfe accordingly. What doe others reporte of your husband, his friends and acquaintance with whome he doth daily conuerse?

They say he is of maruellous good behauiour, courteous, liberall, kind-hearted, and friendly to his friend.

And that makes me of good hope, that he will prooue such a one as we desire.

But to me onely he is not so.

Do you but shew your selfe to him in such manner as I haue shewed you, and neuer trust me more, if he pr •… oue notOf Diuorce. such to you also. And there is no talking of being diuorced from him now.

But that hath béene often in my minde.

When that cogitation comes into your minde, thinke first with your selfe, of how small reckoning a woman is that is diuorced from her husband. The chiefest ornament of a wife, is to be duetifull to her husband, and studious to please him: so hath Nature prouided, and so God will haue it, that we depend wholy vpon our husbands. Againe, thin •… e of your children which are common to you both, what do you meane to doe with them? If you take them with you, y •… u de •… raude your husband of his possession. If you leaue th •… m behinde you, then you bereaue your selfe of that which is most 〈◊〉 vnto you. Last of all, tell me, haue you any that beare you euill wil?

I haue a mother in lawe, and my owne mother, both which doe wish me dead.

And what can be more acceptable vnto them than to sée you diuorced from your husband, to liue a widowe, nay, worse then a widow, for widowes may marry againe.

Truely I like your counsell well, but I shall be wearie of such a daily labour.

But thinke with your selfe what a deale of labour you must take before you can teach this Parrot to speake like a man. And shall it grieue you to take paines in reforming of your husband, with whom you may liue swéetely all the daies of your life?

What shall I doe?

I haue already told you: first vse daily & earnest praier to God, then be carefull that all things be cleane, and swéet, and decent at home, that there be no loathsomnesse or sluttishnesse to make him wearie of his house, shew your selfe gentle and louing vnto him, and alwayes remember a certaine reuerence that a wife oweth to her husband: put away sadnesse and malecontentednesse, and put away all sawcines and impudent repr •… chfulnes, be not sluttish, nor toyish, and lasciu •… ous, let all your prouision at home be neate and trimme. You know your husbands diet, that that he liketh best, prouide for him, and let it be after his owne minde. And moreouer, shew your selfe friendly and affable to those he loueth. At the table let there be no complaining, nor finding of fault, but let all be full of mirth and ioy, so shall you inure your husband to tarry at home, and saue charges. Then shal he begin to thinke with himselfe thus: Truly I am a very foole to liue abroad with the great expense of my wealth and credit, hauing at home so plesant and louing a wife, with whome I may enioy all thinges in honest, decent, and good sort.

Do you think I should haue good successe if I tried?

I make no doubt of it: in the meane time I wil go to your husband, and will admonish him of his duetie.

I like your counsell, but take héede that none of our talke come to his eare, for if you doe, he will take on as if heauen and earth should goe together.

Feare not, I will so winde within him by circumstances, that he shal tell me all the stirre that is betwéene you himselfe. After that, I shall handle him after my maner most finely. And I hope you shall finde him more to your liking than euer be •… ore. And as occasiou shall serue, I will belie you, and tell him how well and kindely you spake of him.

I pray God prosper that we go about.

No doubt but he will, if you be not wanting to your selfe.

WEll done, my most pleasant friend Sophronius, that you are come vnto vs at the last, for me thinke it is a long time since I sawe you: at the first sight I did scarce knowe you.

Why so, my Lucretia?

Because the last time I sawe you, you had no beard, and now you haue a little one. What is the matter, my swéet heart? me think you looke more sowrely than you were wont.

I desire to talke more •… amiliarly with you alon •… .

What, are we not alone, my déere heart?

Let vs goe into a more secret place.

Goe to then, let vs goe into the inner chamber, if you list to do any thing.

This place (as I take it) is not secret enough.

From whence commeth this new bashfulnes? héere is a closet where I lay all my apparrell, so darke a place, that I can scarse sée thee, or thou mée.

Look round about that there be no chinks in the wall.

There is not one.

Is there no body in the next roome that can heare vs?

Not a flie truely, my swéete heart: what doost doubt? why doost thou make such delayes?

Can wée héere escape the eies of God?

No, he séeth all things.

Nor his Angells?

We cannot auoyde their presence.

And what is the reason that men are not ashamed to doe those things before the eies of God, and his holy Angells, which they are ashamed to doe in the sight of men?

What new matter is this? what, art thou come hither to preach? put on a hoode, and get thée into the Pulpit, and there we will heare you, with your little beard.

Surely, I would not sticke to doe that, if I thought I might reclaime you from this kinde of life you leade, not onely the most filthy, but also the most miserable.

And why so, goodman? we must liue by one meanes or another. Euery man liueth by his trade, this is our trade, and this is our lands.

I could wish (my Lucretia) that this lightnes of mind being shaken off, you woulde with me consider better of the matter.

I pr •… y thée kéepe thy Sermon till another time, let vs now liue and be merry, my Sophronius.

You do all that you do for lucre, do you not?

You haue hit the naile on the head.

You shall loose no penny of that you looke for, I wil giue you foure times so much, if you will but onely hearken vnto me.

Say what you will.

First then answer me to this question, Haue you any that wish you euill?

Not one.

Is there none that you do hate?

No otherwise than they deserue.

If you could do them a good turne, would you do it?

I would first temper them a cup of poison.

But now consider with your selfe, whether you can doe any thing that can be more acceptable vnto them, than to let them sée you liue this shamefull and miserable life. And what could you doe that coulde more grieue them that wi •… h you well?

This was my lot.

Now that which was wont to be the hardest thing of all other to banished persons, or to those that are carried ouer into the Ilands, or cast out into the furthest partes of the worlde amongst the barbarous people, that haue you chosen to your selfe of your owne accord.

What is that?

Haue not yo •… voluntarily renounced all naturall affection, yea your father and mother, your brethren and sisters, and all others, whome by nature you are bound vnto? for they are all ashamed of thée, and thou darest not come in their sight.

Yea, I haue most happily chaunged my affection, for in stead of a few friends, I now haue many, of whom I alwaies reckon thee for one, that is to me in steade of a brother.

Leaue these iestings, and consider the matter in good earnest as it is. She that hath so many friends, hath neuer a friend, beléeue me, (my Lucretia.) For they that resorte vnto thée, doe not account of thée as their friend, but rather as a chamber-pot. Behold how farre thou hast reiected thy selfe, thou miserable creature. Christ did so déerely loue thée, that hée redéemed thée with his bloud, to make thée a fellow-heire with him of the inheritance of heauen, and doest thou make thy selfe a common sincke, or iakes, for euery base, filthy, and scabby companion to resorte vnto, and to emptie his filthinesse in thée? And if you be yet frée from the contagion of that leprousie which they call the Spani •… h Scab, or French poxe, you cannot long be without it: which if it should happen vnto thée, what more vnhappie or miserable than thou, although the rest were safe, I doe meane thy goodes, and good name? What else canst thou be but a liuing carkasse, or a carrion? You were loath to obey your mother, nowe doe you serue a most filthie bawde. You scorned to heare the admonition •… of your parents: here you must be continually beaten of drunken and mad who r •… maisters. It grieued you to do any worke at home, wher •… by you might get your liuing, and here, what tumult? what sturres? what hurly-burlies? what brawli •… gs and quarellings, what night watchings, must you endure? Besides that, continually afraide of the Constable, and suspecting euery one that knocketh to be an Officer sent to apprehend you.

From whence commeth this new preacher to vs?

Now consider of another thing with me, and leaue thy scoffing. The flower of thy beautie which getteth thée so many louers, shall fade in a verie short time, what wilt thou do then, thou miserable creature? what dunghill will be more vile, what Toad more loathsome then thou? Peraduenture of a Strumpet you will becom a Bawde, yet euery one commeth not to that dignitie: but say that you doe, what thing more wicked, or that can come more neare vnto the malice, and nature of the Diuell him selfe?

They are true indéed, my Sophronius, almost all that thou sayest. But where gatest thou this sanctimonie, which wert woont to be the wantonnest of all wantons? No man did euer more often resort hither, or at more vnseasonable houres than thou hast done. I heare say you haue beene at Rome.

I haue so indéede.

But from thence men were woont to returne woorse than they went, how cōmeth the contrarie to passe with you?

I will tell you: because I went not thither in that maner, nor to that end that others do. Others for the most part go thither, that they may returne woorse then they went, aud there they shall want no occasions, nor prouocations. I went with an honest man, by whose perswasion I solde my Flaggon Bottle, and bought me a little Booke, the new Testament of Erasmus translation.

Erasmu •… ? they lay he is halfe an heretike.

Haue you seene the man?

Neuer: but I wish I might see him of whom I hau •… heard so much euill.

It may be of euill person •… .

Nay of reuerent men.

Who, I pray you?

Nay, I may not tell.

Why so?

Because if you should blabbe, and it should come to their eares, I should loose no small portion of my gaine.

I thought what reuerend ones they were. But feare not, you shall tell it to a stone.

Hearken then in your eare.

O foolish woman, what néed I lay my eare to whisper in, when we are alone? Can God heare vs? But now I sée that you are a godly whore, that can helpe beggers with your almes.

But by such beggers I gaine more, then by you rich folke.

I know that well enough, for they spoile honest matrones to bestow it vpon wicked harlots.

But go on with your booke.

So I will, and it is best of all. There Saint Paul (who cannot lie) taught me, that neither whoremongers, nor fornicatours shall inherite the kingdome of heauen. When I had read that, I began thus to thinke with my selfe: It is but a small thing that I looke to get by my fathers inheritance, and yet I had rather renounce all whoredomes, and harlots, then to be dis-inherited of my father. How much more should I take héede that I be not dis-inherited of my heauenly father? And yet against my father (if he shold dis▪ inherit me) I might be relieued by the laws of men; but if God should dis-inherite me, I haue no refuge to flie vnto. Therefore I did fully resolue with my selfe wholy to renounce all harlots.

If you can containe your selfe, it is well.

It is a good part of continencie, to be willing from the heart to be continent. Last of all, there remaineth another remedie against this mischiefe, an •… that is marriage: There was a good man at Rome, who with many good wordes exhorted me to puritie of mind and bodie, to holy readings, to often prayers, and sobrietie o •… life: for my penance he inioyned me nothing but to aske God forgiuene •… se vpon my knées, if I had any store of money, to giue to some poore bodie one Caroline. I maruailed that for so manie faults that I had committed with harlots, he would enioyne me no harder penance: he answered me pleasantly and said; My sonne, if thou doest truly r •… pent, and chaunge thy life, I stand not vpon penance: but if thou continuest in thy sinne, euen thy filthie lust it selfe will put thée to penance, and paine more then enough, yea though the priest enioyne thée none. For Salomon sayth, That the wicked man shall be taken with his owne iniquitie, and shall beProu 5. bound with the cords of his owne sinne: so that he shall néede none else to pursue him, or to apprehend him, or to bind him, his owne sinne shall doe all. And againe in the same Chapter, he sayth: That though the lippes of a harlot drop as the honie combe, and her words be softer than Oyle, yet her féete go downe to death, and her steps take hold of hell, and her end will be more bitter than wormewood, and sharper than a two edged sword, and he that is deceiued by her shal mourne in the end, and say, I haue giuen mine honour to the straung •… r, and my strength to the cruell, and wasted my substaunce, and my goods are found in the house of the straunger. How haue I hated instruction, and my soule despised correction? I am brought vnto all euill, in the midst of the Congregation. And looke vpon me (quoth that father) you sée me, how blind I am, my eies continually running with water, I shake and am crooked, and sometime I was such a one as you say your selfe hauebéene hitherto. So I repented, and haue ta ken a n •… w course.

Then I perceiue I haue lost my Sophronius.

Nay, you haue gained him rather. For before, he was lost, and was neither his owne friend, nor thine, but now hée doth truly loue thée, and thirsteth after thy saluation.

What then, doe you perswade me vnto my good, Sophroni •… s?

That with all spéede you giue ouer this kinde of life. Yet you be yong, the staines that hitherto you haue gotten, may, by heartie repentance, and faith in Christ, be wiped away: or marry some honest man, and we wil help you to some thing towards your dowrie: or else leaue this place, and get into the seruice of some honest matrone. To which of these you haue most minde, you shall haue my be •… t furtherance.

In good earnest, my Sophronius, looke me out a seruice, and I will follow your counsell.

But in the meane time remooue your selse from hence.

What, so soone?

Why not to day aswel as to morrow? delay is dangerous.

Whither shall I goe?

Gather vp all your apparell, and I will kéep it for this night, my seruant shall bring you to an honest ma •… rone, where you shall be a while at my charge, vntill I shall oth •… rwise prouide for you, which shall not be long.

Goe to then, my good Sophronius, I doe wholly commit my selfe vnto thy fidelitie.

Thereof you shall neuer repent your selfe by the grace of God.