No More Learning

_Me. _ Dyd you other
come or goo by Sante Thomas of Cantorbury that good
archebishope. _Ogy. _ What els/there ys no pylgremage
more holy. _Me. _ I wold fayne here of yt, and I shold
nat trouble you. _Ogy. _ I pray you here, & take good
hedd. Kente ys callyd that parte of England, that
buttythe apon Fraûce and Flanders, the cheffe cytye
there of ys Cantorburye, in yt there be ij. || D iij. ||
Abbayes, bothe of thaym be of Saynte Benedycts ordre,
but that which ys callyd Saynte Augustyns dothe apere
to be the oldre, that whiche ys callyd now Saynte
Thomas dothe apere to haue be the Archebyshope of
Cantorburys see, where as he was wontyd to lyue with a
sorte of monkes electe for hymselffe, as Byshopes now
adayes be wontyd to haue thayr howses nye vnto the
churche, but aparte frome other canons howses. In tymes
paste bothe Byshopes & Chanones were wontyde to be
monkes, as may be playnly prouyd by many argumentes.
The churche which ys dedycate to Saynte Thomas, dothe
streche vpe apon heght so gorgeously, that it wyll moue
pylgrymes to deuocion a ferre of, and also withe hys
bryghtnes and shynynge he dothe lyght hys neybures,
& the old place whiche was wontyd to be most holy, ||
now in respecte of it, is but a darke hole and a lytle
cotage. There be a couple of great hye toures, which
doo seme to salute strangeres aferre of, and thay dow
fyll all the contray abowt bothe farre and nere, with
the sownde of great belles, in the fronte of the
temple, whiche is apõ the southe syde, there stand
grauen in a stone thre armyd men, whiche with thayr
cruell handes dyd sleye the most holy saynte Thomas,
and there is wryten thayr surnames Tracy, Breton, and
Beryston. _Me. _ I pray you wharfore doo thay suffer
thos wykyd knyghtes be so had in honoure. _Ogy. _ Euyn
suche honor is gyuen to thaym as was gyuê to Iudas,
Pylate, and Caiphas, & to the compauy of the wykyd
sowdyeres, as you may se payntyd in the tables that be
sett before aultres. Thayr surnames be putto lest any
man hereafter shuld vsurpe any || D iiij. || cause of
thayr prayse. Thay be payntyd byfore mennes eyes,
bycause that no cowrtyer after thys shuld laye violêt
handes other apõ Byshopes, or the churche goodes. For
thes thre of this garde strayght apon that wykyd acte,
wente starke madde, nor thay had neuer had thayr mynde
ayen, but that thay prayd to blessyd saynt Thomas.
_Me. _ O blessyd pacyence of suche martyres. _Ogy. _ At
our entre in, lord what a pryncely place dyd apere vnto
vs, where as euery mã that wyll may goo in. _Me. _ Is
there no maruayle to be sene. _Ogy. _ Nothynge but the
greate wydnes of the place, and a sorte of bokes,
that be bownde to pyleres wherein is the gospell of
Nicodemus, and I cannat tell whos sepulkre. _Me. _ What
than? _Ogy. _ Thay do so dylygêtle watche lest any mã
shulde entre in to the quere of yron, that thay wyll
skarsly suffre a man || to loke apon it, whiche is
betwyxte the greate churche & the hye quere (as thay
calle it) a man that wyll go thyther must clyme vp many
stayres byfore, vndre the whiche there is a certayne
wykyt with a barre that openythe the dore apon the
northe syde. There standythe forthe a certayne aultre
whiche is dedycate to our lady, it is but a lytle one,
and I suppose set there for no other purpose, but to be
a olde monumêt or sygne, that in thos dayes there was
no greate superfluyte. There thay saye that thys
blessyd martyr sayd his last good nyght to our lady,
whã he shuld departe hensse. In ye aultre is the poynte
of the sword that styryd abowt the braynes of thys
blessyd martyr. And there lye his braynes shed apon the
yerthe, whereby you may well knowe yt he was nere
deade. But the holly ruste of thys grat I deuoutly
kyssed for loue of ye || D v. || blessyd martyr. From
thens we wêt vndre the crowdes, whiche is nat withowt
hys chaplaynes, & there we sawe the brayne panne of
that holy martyr whiche was thraste quyte thorow, all
the other was coueryd with syluer, the ouerparte of the
brayne panne was bare to be kyssyd, and there with all
is seth forthe a certayn leden table hauynge grauyd in
hym a tytle of saynte Thomas of Acrese. There hange
also the sherte of heyre, & hys gyrdle with hys heren
breches where with that noble champyõ chastnyd hys
body, thay be horryble to loke apon, and greatly
reproue oure delycate gorgeousnes. _Me. _ Ye perauêture
so thay do the mõkes slotefulnes. _Ogy. _ As for that
mater I cãnat affyrme nor yet denye, nor yet it is no
poynte of my charge. _Me. _ Ye saye truthe. _Ogy. _ Frome
thens we returnyd in to the quere, & apon || ye northe
syde be ye relyques shewyd, a wonderouse thynge to se,
what a sort of bones be broght forthe, skulles, iawes,
thethe, handes, fyngres, hole armes, whã we had
worshipyd thaym all, we kyssyd thaym, that I thoght we
shuld neuer haue mayd an ende, but that my pylgremage
felow whiche was an vnmete companyon for suche a
busynes, prayd thaym to make an end of sethynge forthe
thayre relyques. _Me. _ What felowe was that? _Ogy. _
He was an Englyshma callyd Gratiane colte a man bothe
vertuouse and well learnyd, but he had lesse affectyon
toward pylgremages than I wold that he shuld haue.
_Me. _ One of Wyclyffes scoleres I warrante you? _Ogy. _
I thynke nat, althoghe he had redde hys bokes, how he
came by thaym I cannat tell. _Me. _ He dysplesyd mayster
Sextê greuosly. _Ogy. _ Thã was there broght forthe ||
an arme whiche had yet the redde fleshe apon it, he
abhorryd to kysse it, a man myght se by hys countenance
that he was nothynge well pleasyd, & than by and by
mayster Sexten put vp hys relyques. But than we lokyd
apõ the table whiche was apõ the aultre, and all hys
gorgeousnes, aftrewarde thos thyngs that were hydde
vnder the aultre. ther was nothynge but riches
excedynge, a man wold accompte both Midas and Cresus
beggers in respecte of thos riches that ther was sett
abrode. _Me. _ Was ther no more kyssynge thê? _Ogy. _ No,
but an other affection and desyre came apõ me. _Me. _
What was that? _Ogy. _ I syghed that I had no suche
relyques at home. _Me. _ Oh a wycked desyre & an euyl
thought _Ogy. _ I graunt, and therefore I axyd,
forgyfnes of saynt Thomas before I remouyd one fote, to
departe out of the church. After || thes thus we were
brought in to ye reuestry, o good lorde what a goodly
syght was ther of vestmêtes of veluet & clothe of
golde, what a some of candlestykes of gold? We sawe
ther saynt Thomas crosse staffe, ther was seê also a
rede ouerlayed with syluer, it was but of a smalle
wyght, vnwrought, nor no longer then wold retch vnto a
mans mydgle. _Me. _ Was ther no crosse? _Ogy. _ I sawe
none at all, ther was shewed vs a robe of sylke treuly,
but sowed with cowrse threde, garnysshyd with nother
gold nor stone. Ther was also a napkyn full of swette
blody, wher with saynt Thomas wypyd bothe hys nose and
hys face, these thynges as monumêtes of auncyent
sobernes we kyssed gladely. _Me. _ Be not these thynges
showed to euery body? _Ogy. _ No for sothe good syr.
_Me. _ How happened it that you were in so good
credens, that no || secret thynges were hyd frome you?
_Ogy. _ I was well acquyntede with the reuerende father
Gwylyame warham the archbyshope. He wrote . ij. or . iij.
wordes in my fauour. _Me. _ I here of many that he is a
mã of syngler humanite. _Ogy. _ But rather thou woldest
call hym humanite it selfe if thou dydest well know
hym. For ther is in hym soche lernynge, so vertuouse
lyffe, soche purenes of maneres, that a mã cowld wyshe
no gyfte of a parfayte Byshope in him, that he hathe
nat. Frome thens afterward we were ladde to greater
thynges. For behynde the hyghe aultre, we ascêdyd as it
were in to a nother new churche, ther was shewed vs in
a chapell the face of the blessed man ouergylted and
with many precyous stones goodly garnysshed. A soden
chaunse here had almost marred the matter and put vs
out of conceyte. _Me. _ I tary || to knowe what euyl
chaunse yow wyll speke of. _Ogy. _ Here my companyõ
Gratiã gote hym lytle fauoure, for he, after we had mad
an ende of praynge, inquyred of hym that sate by the
hede, herke, he seyd, good father, is it true that I
here, that saynt Thomas whyl he it lyued was mercyfull
toward ye poer people? That is very true saythe he, and
he begã to tell greatly of his liberalyte and
compassyon that he shewede to the poer and nedy. Then
sayd Gratiã: I thynke that affection and good mynd in
him not to be chaungyde, but that it is now moche
better. Unto this graunted ye keper of the hede, agayn
sayd he, then in as moche as thys holy man was so
gratyouse vnto ye poer, whan he was yet poer, & he hym
selfe had nede of monay for ye necessarys of hys body,
thynke ye nat that he wold be contêt, now that he is so
ryche, and also nedethe || nothynge, that if a poer
womã hauynge at home chylderne lakynge mete and drynke,
or els doughters beynge in danger to lose ther
virginite, for defaute of ther substaunce to mary them
with, or hauynge her husbande sore syke, and destitute
of all helpe, in case she askyd lycens, & pryuyly stole
away a small porcyon of so greate riches, to sukkre her
howshold, as and if the shold haue it of one that wold
other leane, or gyue it to herre? And whan he wold nat
answere that kepyd the golden hedde, Gracyane, as he is
som what hasty, I, saythe he, doo suppose playnly, that
this holy man wold be gladde, yf that she, now beynge
deade, myght sustayne the necestiye of pore people. But
there mayster parson begone to frowne, & byte hys
lyppe, with hys holowe eyes lyke to *Gorgone [*A mõster
that hathe snakes for heares apon her hedde. ] ye
monstre to luke apõ vs. I doo not dowbte he wold haue
|| cast vs out of the temple, and spytte apõ vs,
but that he dyd knowe that we were comendyd of the
archebsyhope. But I dyd somwhat myttygate the manes
ire, with my fayre wordes, saynge that Gratiane dyd nat
speake as he thoghte, but that he gestyd as he was
wontyd to doo, and stoppyd hys mouthe with a fewe pens.
_Mene. _ Treuly I do greatly alow your goodly fashion,
but oftentymes ernestly I cõsyder, by what meaynes they
may be acõpted without faute & blame, that bestow so
moche substance in buyldyng churchys, in garnysshynge,
and enrychynge them without all mesure. I thynke as
touchyng the holy vestmentes, & the syluer plate of the
temple ther ought to be gyuyn, to the solempne seruys,
hys dygnyte and comlynes, I wyll also that the buyldyng
of the churche shall haue hys maiesty decent and
|| E. || conuenyent. But to what purpose seruyth so many
holy water pottes, so many cãdlestyckes, so many ymages
of gold. What nede there so many payre of organes (as
thay call them) so costely & chargeable? For one payre
can not serue vs: what profyteth ye musicall criynge
out in the temples that is so derely bought and payed
for, whan in the meaneseson our brothers and systers
the lyuely temples of Christe liynge by the walles/dye
for hungre & colde. _Ogy. _ Ther is no vertuouse or wyse
man, that wold nat desyre a meane to be hadde in thes
thynges. But in as moche as thys euyl is growen and
spronge vp of superstityon beyond mesure, yet may it
better be sufferde, specially when we consyder on the
other syde the euyll conscience and behauyor of them
that robb the churches of what so euer iuellys ther may
be so founde, thes || ryches were gyuen in a maner
great men, & of pryncys, the whiche they wold haue
bestowede vpon a worse vse, that is to say other at the
dyce or in the warres. And if a man take any thynge
from thense. Fyrst of all it is taken sacrylege, then
they hold ther handes that were accustomed to gyfe,
besyde that morouer they be allured & mouyde to
robbynge & vaynynge. Therfore thes mene be rather the
kepers of thys treasures thê lordes. And to speake a
worde for all, me thynket it is a better syght to
beholde a temple rychely adourned, as ther be some with
bare wolles, fylthy and euyl fauorde, more mete for
stables to put horses then churches for Chrysten
people. _Me. _ Yet we rede that Byshopes in tymes paste
were praysede and cõmended bycause they solde the holy
vesseles of theyr churches, and with that money helped
and releued the || E ij. || nedy and poure people.
_Ogy. _ Thay be praysede also now in our tyme, but thay
be praysed onely, to folow ther doynge (I suppose) thay
may not, nor be any thynge dysposede. _Me. _ I
interrupte and lett yowr cõmunycatyon. I loke now for
the cõclusyon of ye tale. _Ogy. _ Gyffe audyence, I wyll
make an ende shortly. In the meane seson comyth forthe
he that is the cheffe of them all. _Me. _ Who is he? the
abbot of the place? _Ogy. _ He werythe a mytre, he may
spend so moche as an abbot, he wãted nothynge but ye
name, and he is called prior for this cause
tharchebyshope is takê in the abbotes sted. For in old
tyme who so euer was archbyshope of ye dyocese, the
same was also a monke. _Me. _ In good faythe I wold be
content to be namyde a Camelle, if I myght spende
yerely the rentes and reuennes of an abbot. _Ogy. _ Me
semede he was a || man bothe vertuous and wyse, and not
vnlearnede Duns diuinite. He opened the shryne to vs in
whiche ye holle body of the holy mã, thay say, dothe
rest and remayne. _Me. _ Dydste thou see hys bones.
_Ogy. _ That is not conuenient, nor we cowld not come to
it, except we sett vp laders, but a shryne of wod
couerede a shryne of gold, when that is drawne vp with
cordes, thã apperith treasure and riches inestimable.
_Me. _ What do I here? the vilest part and worst was
golde, all thynges dyd shyne, florishe, and as it were
with lyghtnynge appered with precyouse stones and those
many and of great multitude: some were greater than a
gowse egge. Dyuerse of ye monks stode ther aboute with
greate reuerence, the couer takyn a way, all we kneled
downe and worshyped. The pryor with a whyte rodde
showed vs euery stone, addynge therto the || E iij. ||
frenche name, the value, & the autor of the gyfte, for
the cheffe stonys were sent thyther by great prynces.
_Me. _ He ought to be a man of an excedyng witt &
memory. _Ogy. _ You gesse well, how beit exercyse & vse
helpeth moche, for euyn the same he dothe oftentymes.
He brought vs agayne in to the crowdes. Our lady hathe
ther an habitacyon, but somwhat darke, closed rownde
aboute with double yren grats. _Me. _ What feared she?
_Ogy. _ Nothinge I trow, except theues. For I saw neuer
any thing more laden with riches synse I was borne of
my mother. _Me. _ You show vnto me blinde ryches.
_Ogy. _ Whê they brought vs candells we saw a sight
passynge ye ryches of any kynge. _Me. _ Dothe it excede
our lady of walsyngã? _Ogy. _ To loke vpõ this, is
richer, the secret tresure she knoweth her selfe, but
this is not shewede, but to great || men, or to
specyall frendes. At the last we were brought agayne in
to the reuettry, there was taken out a cofer couered
with blacke lether, it was sett downe apon the table,
it was sett open, by and by euery body kneled downe and
worshipyd. _Me. _ What was in it? _Ogy. _ Certayne torne
ragges of lynnen clothe, many hauynge yet remaynynge in
them the token of the fylthe of the holy mannes nose.
With these (as they say) saynt Thomas dyd wype a way
the swett of hys face or hys neke, ye fylthe of hys
nose, or other lyke fylthynes with whiche mannes body
dothe abownde. Then my companyon Gratian, yet ones
agayn, got hym but smalle fauour. Unto hym an Englyshe
man and of famylyare acquayntenance and besyde that,
a man of no smalle authorite, the Prior gaff gentylly
one of the lynnê ragges, thynkynge to haue gyuen
|| E iiij. || a gyfte very acceptable & pleasaunt, But
Gratian there with lyttle plea sede and content, not
with out an euydent synge of dyspleasure, toke one of
them betwene hys fyngers, and dysdaynyngly layd it down
agayne, made a mocke and a mow at it, after
the maner of puppettes, for thys was hys maner, if any
thing lykede hym not, that he thought worthy to be
despysede. Wher at I was bothe ashamed and wonderously
afrayed. Not withstondynge the Prior as he is a man not
at all dull wytted, dyd dyssemble the matter, & after
he had caused vs drinke a cuppe of wyne, gentylly he
let vs departe. When we came agayne to London. _Me. _
What shuld ye do at Londo: seynge ye were not farre
from the see cost, to seale in to yowr cuntre? _Ogy. _
It is true. But that see cost I refused and gladely dyd
fle from it, as from a place that is || noted and more
euyl spoken of it, for robbyng, stelynge, and vntrue
dealynge, then is of dangerouse ioperdy in the see, be
that hyll Malea wher many shyppes be drowned & vtterly
destroyed for euer. I wyll tell the what I dyd se the
last passage, at my commynge ouer. We were many caryed
in a bote frome Calys shore to go to the shyppe.
Amongest vs all was a pour yõge mã of Fraûce, and
barely appayrelled.
Of hym he demauuded halfe a grote.
For so moche thay dow take and exacte of euery one for
so smalle a way rowynge. He allegede pouerty, then for
ther pastyme thay searched hym, plucked of his shoes,
and betwene the shoo and the soule, thay fownde . x. or
. xij. grotes, thay toke thê from hym laughyng at the
mater: mockinge and scornyng the poer & myserable
Frenchman. _Me. _ What dyd ye fellow than? _Ogy. _ What
thyng dyd || E v. || he? He wept. _Me. _ Whether dyd they
thys by any authoryte? _Ogy. _ Suerly by the same
authoryte that thay steyle and pycke straungers males
and bowgettes, by the whiche they take a way mennes
pursys, if they se tyme and place conuenyent. _Me. _
I meruayll that they dare be so bold to doo soch a
dede, so many lokynge vpon them. _Ogy. _ They be so
accustomed, that they thynk it well done. Many that
were in the shyp lokede owt and sawe it also, in the
bote were dyuerse Englyshe marchauntes, whiche grudged
agaynst it, but all in vayne. The botemê as it had ben
a tryflyng mater reiosed and were glade that they had
so taken and handelyd the myserable Frenchman. _Me. _
I wold play and sporte with these see theues, & hange
them vpon the gallowes. _Ogy. _ Yet of such both the
shores swarme full. Here tell me, I pray the. What ||
wyll great mê do, whê theues take vpõ them to
enterpryse soch masterys. Therfore, herafter I had
leuer go fourty myllys aboute, thê to go that way,
thoffe it be moche shorter. Morouer euyn as ye goynge
downe to hell, is easy and leyght, but ye cõmynge frome
thens of greate dyffyculty, so to take shyppynge of
this syde the see, is not very easy, and the landynge
very hard & dangeroufe. Ther was at London dyuerse
maryners of Antwerpe, with them I purposed to take the
see. _Me. _ Hathe that cûtre so holy maryners? _Ogy. _
As an ape is euer an ape, I graûte, so is a maryner
euer a maryner: yet if thou compare them vnto these,
ye lyfe by robbynge, and pyllynge and pollynge, they
be angelles. _Me. _ I will remembre thy saynge, if at
any tyme I be dysposed to go and se Englãde. But come
agayne in to ye waye, frome whens I broght the
|| E vi. || owt. _Ogy. _ Then as we whent toward London not
farre from Canterbury, we came in to a great hollow and
strayt way, morouer bowyng so downe, with hyllys of
eyther syde, that a man can not escape, nor it cannot
be auoyed, but he must nedes ryde that way. Upõ the
lefte hand of the way, ther is an almes howse for olde
people, frome them runnyth on owt, as sone as they here
a horseman commynge, he casteth holy water vpon hym,
and anone he offereth hym the ouerlether of a shoo
bownde abowte with an yerne whope, wherin is a glasse
lyke a precyouse stone, they that kysse it gyf a pece
of monay. _Me. _ In soche a way I had leuer haue an almes
howse of olde folkes, then a company of stronge theues.
_Ogy. _ Gratian rode vpon my lefte hande nerer the almes
howse, he caste holy water vpon hym, he toke it in
worthe so so, || when the shoo was proferred hym, he
asked what he ment by it, saythe he, it is saynt Thomas
shoo. There at he turned and was very angry, & turned
toward me: what (saythe he) meane these bestes, that
wold haue vs kysse ye shoes of euery good man? Why doo
they not lyke wyse gyue vs to kysse the spottel, &
other fylthe & dyrt of the body? I was sory for the old
mã, & gaue hym a pece of money to cõforthe hym with
all. _Me. _ In myn opynyõ Gratian was not all together
angry with owt a good cause. If shoes and slyppers were
kept for a tokê of sobre lyuynge, I wold not be moch
dyscontent ther with, but me thynks it is a shame full
fashyon for shoes, slyppers, and breches to be offered
to kysse to any man. If some wold do it by there owne
fre wyll, of a certene affectyõ of holynes, I thynke
they were whorthy of pardon. _Ogy. _ It were || better
not to thes thynges, if I may say as I thynke, yet owt
of thes thynges that cannat forthwith be amended, it is
my maner if ther be any goodnes thereyn, to take it
out, and apply it to the best. In ye meanseson that
contemplacyõ and light delited my mynde, that a good mã
is lykened to a shepe, an euyll man to a benemouse
best. The serpent after she is dede, cã stynge no more,
not withstondyng with her euyll sauour and poyson she
infecteth and corruptyth other. The shepe as lõge as
she is a lyue norryseth with her mylke, clothet with
her wolle, makyth riche with her lambes, when she is
deade she gyueth vs good and profytable lether, and all
her body is good meat. Euen so, cruell men, gyuen all
to the world, so longe as they lyue be vnprofitable to
all mê, when they be deade, what with ryngyng of
bellys, and pompyouse || funeralles they greue them
that be on lyue, and often tymes vexe ther successours
with new exactyones. Good men of the other syde at all
assais be profytable to all men, and hurtfull to noo
man. As thys holy man, whyle he was yet alyue, by hys
good example, hys doctryne, his goodly exhortatyons
prouokyd vs to vertuouse lyuynge, he dyd cõfort the
cõforthlesse, he helped ye poure, ye and now that he is
deade, he is in a maner more profytable. He hathe
buylded thys costly & gorgeouse churche, he hath caused
greate authoryte thorough out all Englande vnto the
ordre and presthode. At ye last, thys pece of the show
dothe susteyne a company of poure people. _Me. _ Thys is
of my faythe a godely cõtemplacyõ, but I maruayll
greatly, seyng you ar thus mynded, that ye neuer dyd
vysyte saynt Patryckes purgatory in Yerlande, of the ||
whiche the comyn people boost many wonderouse thynges,
whiche seme to me not lyke to be true. _Ogy. _ Of a
suerty ther is not so meruelouse talkynge of it here,
but the thynge it selffe doth fare excede. _Me. _ Hast
thou bene ther than, & gonne thorow saynt Patryckes
purgatory? _Ogy. _ I haue saylede ouer a ryuer ot hell,
I went downe vnto the gates of hell, I saw what was dõe
ther. _Me. _ Thou dost me a greate pleasure, if thou
wyll wotsaue to tell me. _Ogy. _ Lett this be the
prohemy or begynnynge of owr communycatyon, longe
enough as I suppose. I wyll gett me home, & cause my
souper to be made redy, for I am yet vndynede. _Me. _
Why haue you not yet dyned? is it bycause of holynes?
_Ogy. _ Noo of a truthe, but it is bycause of enuy and
euyll will. _Me. _ Owe ye euyll wyll to yowr bely? _Ogy. _
No, but to the couetyse || tauerners euer catchynge and
snatchynge the whiche when they wyll not sett afore a
man that is mete & conuenyent, yet they are not afearde
to take of straûgers that, whiche is bothe vnright and
agaynst good consciens. Of thys fashyõ I am acustomed
to be auengede vpon thê. If I thynke to fare well at
souper other with myne acquayntauns, or with some host
som what an honest man, at dyner tyme I am sycke in my
stomacke, but if I chaunce to fare after myne appetyte
at dyner, before souper also I begynne to be well at
ease in my stomacke. _Me. _ Wre ye not ashamede to be
taken for a couetouse fellow & a nygerde? _Ogy. _
Menedeme they that make cost of shame in soche thynges,
beleue me, bestow theyr money euyll. I haue lerned to
kepe my shame for other purposys. _Me. _ Now I longe for
the rest of yowr comunycacyon, || wherfore loke to haue
me yowr geste at souper, where ye shall tell it more
conuenyently. _Ogy. _ For sothe I thanke you, that ye
offere yowr selfe to be my gest vndesyred, when many
hertely prayed refuse it, but I wyll gyue yow double
thankes, if ye wyll soupe to day at home. For I must
passe that tyme in doynge my dewty to my howsehold. But
I haue counsell to eyther of vs moche more profytable.
To morrow vnto me and my wyfe, prepare our dyner at
yowr howse, then and if it be to souper tyme, we will
not leyue of talkynge, vntyll you say that ye are wery,
and if ye wyll at souper also we wyll not forsake you.
Why, claw you your hede? prepare for vs in good fayth
we wyll come. _Me. _ I had leuer haue no tales at all.
Well go to, you shall haue a dyner, but vnsauery,
except you spyce it with good & mery tales. _Ogy. _ But
here || you, are ye not mouyd and styrrede in your
mynde, to take vpon yow these pylgremages? _Me. _
Perauenture it wyll sett me a fyre, after ye haue told
me the resydew, as I am now mynded, I haue enough to do
with my statyons of Rome. _Ogy. _ Of Rome, that dyd
neuer see Rome? . _Me. _ I wyll tell you, thus I go my
statyons at home, I go in to the parler, and I se vnto
the chast lyuynge of my doughters, agayne frome thense
I go in to my shope, I beholde what my seruauntes,
bothe men and women be doynge. Frome thense into
the kytchyn, lokynge abowt, if ther nede any
of my cownsell, frome thense hyther and thyther
obseruynge howe my chylderne be occupyed, what
my wyffe dothe, beynge carefull that euery
thynge be in ordre, these be statyons of Rome.
_Ogy. _ But these thynges saynt Iames wold dow
|| for yow. _Mene. _ That I shuld se vn-
to these thynges holy scriptu-
re commaundethe, that
I shuld commyt the
charge to sayntes
I dyd rede yt
neuer com-
maun-
ded.

God saue the kynge

FINIS.

A VE-
ry pleasaunt &
fruitful Dio-
loge called the
*Epicure*,
made by that fa-
mous clerke Eras
mus of Rotero-
dame, newly
translated.
1545.


* * * * *

_S. Paule to the Ephesians_

You that haue professed Christ,
suffre not your selues to be deceyued
vvith false doctrine, nor vaine
and noughtie talkyng, but herken
vnto all Godly thynges, and
especially too the doctryne
of the Gospell.


||A. ii. ||

THE HABOVN-
daunt mercie and grace of our
heauenly father Iesu Christ,
maye alwaies strengthen
and defende oure noble
& vertuous Prynce Ed-
ward too the mainte-
naunce of the liue-
ly woord of
God.


Whereas manye histories of olde & auncient antiquitie,
and also al godly & Christiã writers most playnely consêt
together, and agree in this, that dignitie, riches, kinred,
worldly pompe, and renoume, doo neither make men better, ne
yet happiar, contrarie too the blynde & fonde iudgement of
the most part of menne: but by the power and strength of the
mynde, that is, learnyng, wysedome, || and vertue, all menne
are hyghly enriched, ornated, & most purely beutified, for
these bee thinges bothe notable, eternall, and verye
familiar betwene the heauenly father & vs. It is therefore
euidente (most excellent Prince) that the fittest ornamêtes
for your graces tender age, bee, eruditiõ and vertue.
Wherunto you are bothe so ernestly addicte and therin so
wõderfully doo preuaile, that I nede not too exhorte &
exstimulate your grace vnto the study thereof. For that God
him self hath wrought, and fourmed your mynde so apt and
desirous too attayne and diligêtly too seeke for al godly
doctrine, that euê now you doo shewe in all youre saiynges
and dooinges suche a wonderfull pleasaûtes much lyke vnto
a certayne swete musike or harmonie, that any honest hart
exceadinglye woulde reioyce in the sight therof. Verely,
your grace thinketh plainly all time lost, that is not
bestowed vpon learnyng, which is a verie rare thyng in anye
childe, and rarest of all in a Prince. Thus youre noblenes,
rather desireth vertue and ||A. iii. || learning the most
surest and excellent treasures, which farre surmounte all
worldly ryches, then anye vanities or trifles. Nowe youre
grace prepareth for the holsome and pleasaunt foode of
the mynde. Now you seke for that whiche you shal fynd
most surest helper and faythfulst councellour in all your
affaires. Now your magnificêt mynde studieth that, whiche
all Englyshe menne with meke and humile heartes shuld desire
GOD to endue your grace with all. Now with diligent labour
you searche for a thyng, as one most myndeful of this
saiyng: Happy is that realme that hath a lerned Prince. Nowe
you trauaile for that, whiche conquereth, and kepeth doune
all greuous tourmentes & outragious affections of the mynde,
too the furderaunce of good liuyng, and maintenaûce of
vertue, I meane holsome erudition and learnyng. Many
Heathen Princes forsoth, are highly magnified with most
ample prayses, which gaue them selues too the study of
Philosophie, or knowledge of tongues, for their owne
commoditie, and || especially for the weale of their
subiectes. Who is nowe more celebrated and worthelier
extolled then Mithridates? that noble kyng of Pont and
Bithinia, which, (as Aulus Gellius writeth) vnderstoode so
perfitly the languages of . xxii. sondrye countries that were
vnder his dominiõ, that he neuer vsed any interpretour too
answer his subiectes, but spake their lãguages so finelye,
as thoughe he had been of the same coûtrie. Ageyn, that
honorable manne Quintus Ennius saied: that he had . iii.
heartes, because he coulde speake Greke, Italian, and Latin.
Yea, and breuely, the most famaus writers, as well the
Heathen, as the Christien, with an vniuersall consent,
playnly affirme: Whan thei had weied the nature and condiciõ
of the purest thinges vnder heauen, thei sawe nothyng faire,
or of any pryce, or that ought too be accõpted ours, but
onely vertue and learning. Euen now too acknowledge that
same, it is yeouê you from aboue, for your grace delecteth
in nothyng more then too bee occupied in the holye Byble:
wherin, ||A. iiii. || you beginne too sauer & smelle furth
the treasure of wisedome, knowledge and fulnes of the deuyne
power, that is a studie most conuenient for euery Christien
Prince, that kynd of studye cannot haue sufficient laude
and commendation. Whose Princely heart forsoth, is raueshed
on suche a godlie and vertuous studie, it can neuer haue
condigne and worthie praises, but deserueth alwaies too bee
had in great price, estimation, and honour. Who dooeth not
know? that Prince which is yeouen vnto the scriptures of God
and with a stoute stomake and valiãt heart, both searcheth
furth and also defendeth ye true doctrine of the Gospell,
too bee inrolled in the assemble of Christ. Who dooeth not
see? that Prince too bee moost surelye armed, which carieth
in his heart the swerd of ye spirit, which is the blessed
woord of God. Who is ignoraunt? that euer lastyng lyfe
consisteth in the knoweledge of God. What Prince woulde not
studie to maintaine that, which is written for the health,
and saluation of all menne weiyuge with himselfe || that a
Prince can not deserue, neither by conquest, ciuel policie,
nor yet by anye other meane vnder heauen, thys name high or
honorable, so wourthely as by the setting forward of Goddes
woorde. What young Prince humily defendyng doune intoo him
selfe and callyng to memory his bounden dutie woulde not
with a glad hearte and a chearfull mynde, gredelye desyre
too knowe, enlarge, and amplifie the glory and maiestie
of hys derely beloued father? Your grace (forsoth) hath
professed God too bee your father: Blessed are you then if
you obey vnto hys word, and walke in his waies. Blessed are
you, yf you supporte suche as preache the Gospell. Blessed
are you, yf your mind bee full furnished with the testament
of Christ, and shew your selfe too bee the most cruel
too and enemy agaynst ypocrisie, supersticion, and all
papistical phantasies, wherwith the true religion of God
hathe been dusked and defaced these many yeres Blessed are
you, if you reade it daye & nighte, that your grace maye
knowe what GOD dooeth forbyd you, and ||A. v. || euer submit
your selfe therunto with seruiceable lowlines chiefly
desiring to florysh and decke your mynd with godly
knowledge. And most blessed are you, if you apply your
self vnto al good workes, & plant surely in your heart the
scriptures of Christ, If you thus doo, nether the power of
any papistical realme, nor yet of hel can preuaile at any
time against your grace. Nowe therfore, with humile hearte,
faithfully receiue the swete promises of the Gospel. If
you kepe the woordes of the Lorde and cleaue fast vnto
them: there is promised you the kingdome of heauen: You
are promised a weale publick most riche and welthy You are
promised too bee deliuered from the deceiptes of all youre
priuie enemyes. You are promised also, too conquere great
and mightie nations. Agayne, let your grace bee most fully
perswaded in this, that ther was neuer Kyng nor Prince, that
prospered whiche tooke parte against Goddes woord, and that
the greatest abhomination that can bee, either for Kyng,
Prince, or any other manne, is too || forsake the true woord
of God. O with howe rebukefull woordes & greuous iudgement
thei be condemned, which dispice & set lytle by the holy
Byble & most blessed Testamêt of God, wherin there is
contained all the wil & pleasure of our heauêly father
toward vs most miserable & ignoraunt wretches Who would not
quake, too beholde the terrible feares & threatenynges of
God ageinst al suche? Who would not lament & gladly helppe
their obstinate blyndenes? Who woulde not weepe? to heare
and reade in how many places, they be openly accursed by the
scriptures of Christ. God him self playnely affirmeth, that
he wyll sodênly consume them with the breath of his anger.
Yea, besides that whoso euer declyneth from the word of
God is accursed in all his doynges, whether he be Kyng, or
Prynce, riche, or poore, or of what estate soeuer he bee.
This fearfull saiyng (most excellent Prynce) shulde moue all
men to take hede vnto their duties and to praie that gods
word maie take place emõgist vs. O that al men would
||fantasie the scriptures of God, and saye with the vertuous
man Iob. Wee will not bee ageynst the woordes of the holy
one. Truth it is, God taketh diligent care too haue vs al
know his woord. Woulde God therfore, that all wee were now
willing to haue the syncere woorde of God & all holsom
doctrine too go forward. O that all we would consent
togither in the Gospell, brotherly admonishyng, and
secretelye prouokyng one an other too true religion
& vertue. O that no man would sow emongist the people
pernitious doctryne, but with all lowly diligêce and Godlye
monition euer prouoke, tempt, and stere them, tyll their
heartes were remoued frõ their olde dautyng dreames and
supersticiõ, which haue been long grafted in them thorow
popyshe doctrine. By this meane wee shuld euer haue concorde
emongist vs, whiche in all thynges is necessary, but most
nedefull and expedient in Gods holi woord. Now truely the
godlyest thynge that can bee deuysed, for any christian
realme, is to haue emongist them one maner and || fourme
of doctryne, & too trace trueli the steppes of God and
neuer to seeke any other bywayes. Who hath not redde in ye
scriptures? but that realme is endued with godly ornamentes
& riches, where all men prospere, go for ward and florishe
in gods woord, delectyng day and night in the swete
cõsolations of the holy testament. By this way we shuld
especially set forth the glory of God, and of our sauiour
Iesu Christ, if we would reuerently shew one an other that
whiche God hath taught vs. Yea & in this doyng all men
shulde well perceaue that we were the true disciples of
Christ, being knitte and coupled fast together in mynde
and iudgement, preachyng God with one mouth and also with
one assent euer promotyng his gloryous testament. O the
good happe and grace of that king or prynce emongist whose
subiectes there is such an hole consent and iudgement in the
woord of God, for that most assuredly byndeth & adiuigneth
ye hartes of al subiectes too their kyng. The strength of
the Gospell is euen suche in this puincte, || that there was
neuer man, which did humily receaue it, that would murmour
ageynst his Prince. It teacheth how wyllyngly all men shulde
obey their kyng. It sheweth verye lyuely and most apertly
vnto euery man his ful dutie. It euer prouoketh vs from all
wicked, cursed, and most obstinate disobedience. It euer
instructeth men too shewe them selues most lowly, humile,
and obesaunt toward their Prynce. Whosoeuer hath tasted
fully therof, will declare hym selfe in al thynges, too
bee a faithful subiect. Furthermore, it is clearer then the
light (most vertuous prince) that it woulde make muche for
the weale of this noble realme, yf all mê with heart and
mynde, would nowe as well expulse the pernitious and
deuelyshe doctryne af that Romishe bishop, as his name is
blotted î bookes. There is none so ignoraunt, but he knoweth
that, thorough hym we were brought into a wõderful blindnes,
thorough hym we did sauer of nothyng, but of stynkyng
Ydolatry, through hym we were deceiued with || false
Ypocrisie. Now let euery blind stiffe hearted, and obstinate
creature compare his abhomination with the gospell, and
if he be not shameles, he will abashe to smell of his
papistrie, and to walow still in ignoraunce, vn lest he bee
priuely confederate and in heart consent with the detestable
felowship of al wicked papistes. Now would God all suche men
would reduce ageyn their heartes vnto ye gospell of Christ,
would god they would bee prouoked by some meane to desire
knowledge.