A New Comedy Concerning the Laws of Nature Moses and Christ Corrupted by the Sodomites Pharisees and Papists
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A02749.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Actus Primus.
Our heavenly blessing, be with you euerychone
Omnes simul.
All praise and glory, to your majesty alone.
Christi lex.
Here still to tarry, I think it be your mind.
Nature Lex.
My office ye know, is to instruct Mankynde.
Moseh lex.
Than God be with you, we leave you here behind.
Finit Actus Primus.
Incipit Actus secundus.
Exeunt.
Nature lex.
THe law in effect
•
, is a teacher general
What is to be done, and what to be laid aside
But as touching me▪ the first law natural
A knowledge I am, whom God in Man doth hyde
In his whole working, to be to him a gyde
To honor his God, and seek his neighbors health
A great occasion, of peace, and publyque wealth.
A sore charge I have, Mankynde to ouerse
And to instruct him, his lord God to obaye
That lord of heaven grant, I may so do my duty
That he be pleased and Man brought to a stay
His bry
•
tle nature, his slyppernes to way
Moche doth provoke me, but if God set to his hand
He shall do full well, for none may him withstand.
Infidelitas.
He cometh in singing.
〈♫〉 Brom, brom, brom, brom, brom. Bye brom bye 〈♫〉 Bye. bromes for shoes and powchrynges, botes and 〈♫〉 busayus for new bromes. Brom, brom, brom.
Mary God give ye good even
And the holy man saint Stephen
Sende ye a good new year
I would have brought ye the paxe
Or else an image of wax
If I had known ye here.
I will myself so handle
That ye shall have a candle
Whan I come hither again
At this your sudden mooyon
I was i
•
such deuocyon
I had nere broke a vain.
Nature lex.
That might have done ye smart • .
Infidelitas.
No, no it was but a fart
For pastyme of my heart
I would ye had it forsooth
In syroppe or in sowse
But for noyaunce of the house
For easement of your toth,
Now have I my dream in deed
God send me well to speed,
And sweet saint Antony
I thought I should mete a knave
And now that fortune I have
Amonge this company.
Nature lex
Why dost thou call me knave?
Infidelitas.
I said I would be your slave
If your grace would me have
And do your work anon.
I would so rub your botes
The rofe should from the rotes
Whan ye should do them on.
Nature lex.
Thou art dysposed to mock
Sone mayst thou have a knock
If thou with me so game.
Infidelitas.
Your mouth shall kiss my dock
Your tongue shall it unlock,
But I say what is your name?
Nature lex.
I am the law of Nature
Infidelitas.
I thought so by your stature
And by your auncyent gature
Ye were of such a
•
ature
Whan I first heard ye speak.
Ye commoned with God lately
And now ye are his bayly
Mankynde to rule dyscretly
Welcome sy
•
huddyp
•
ke.
Nature lex.
If thou use such vyllanye.
I shall dysplease the truly.
Infidelitas.
By the mass, I the defye
With thy whole Cukoldrye
And all that with the hold.
Nature lex.
Why doest thou me blaspheme
And so ungodly deme?
Infidelitas.
For by this blessed boke
I wende ye had ben a Cook
And that made me so bold,
For a Cook ones, having age
With a face demure and sage
And auncyent to behold.
As you have here in place
With a bearde upon your face
What is he but a Cook old?
Nature lex.
Ye are dysposed to dallye.
To leap and ouersallye
The compass of your wit
I counsel ye yet in season
Somwhat to follow reason
And gnawe upon the bytte.
Infidelitas.
Then after our great madness
Let us fall to some sadness
And tell me what ye entende.
Nature lex.
God sent me unto Man
To do the best I can
To cause him to amende.
Suche creatures as want reason
My rules obey eche season
And that in eueryborder
The son and mone doth move
With the other bodies above
And never breke their order.
The trees and herbs doth grow
The sea doth ebb and flowe
And varyeth not a nail
The floodes and wholesome sprynges
With other natural things
Theyr course do never fail.
The beasts and birds engender
So do the fys
•
hes tender
Accordynge to their kind
Alonely man doth fall
From good laws natural
By a froward wicked mind.
Infidelitas.
Now will I prove ye a liar
Next cosynto a fryar
And on the gall ye rub
Ye say they follow your law
And varye not a straw,
Which is a tale of a tub.
The sun ones in the clyppes
Awaye the clearenes slyppes
And darkened is the day
Of the planettes influence
Aryseth the pestylence.
To many ones decay.
Doth not the sea sorage
That none can it aswage,
And swallow in town and streate
The air which giveth breath
Someyme infecteth to death
By his most pestylent heat.
The beasts of vndemure
Which were left to man's cure
Wyll him sometime devour
Thus are you rulers forgote
As things of slendre note
In Creatures day and hour.
Nature lex.
It is the will of God
To use them as a rod
Of his just punysshment
Whan Man doth not regard
The lord nor his reward
Nor to his laws consent.
They never are so ronnysh
But whan God doth Man ponnysh
For his vnhappynesse
From God they never fall.
Nor from laws natural
Doynge his business.
Infidelitas.
And you are the same law
That kept them under awe
By your most polytyke wit?
Nature lex.
God hath appointed me
Mankynde to ouerse
And in his heart to sit
To teache him for to know
In the Creatures high and low
His glorious majesty
And on his name to call,
Or power celestial,
In his necessytie.
To think him euerlas
•
ynge
And wonderful in working
And that he createth all
Both govern and conserve
From them he never swerve
That to such faith will fall.
Infidelitas
In deed here is good sport.
But why do you resort
Unto this present place?
Nature lex.
Man always to exhort
To seek all health and confort,
Of the only God of grace.
First in the hearts rejoice
And than with open voice
To worship him alone
Knowledgynge his deytie
His power and eternytie
Whan he shall make his mone.
Infidelitas.
I shall keep ye as well from that
As my grandame kept her cat
From lyckynge of her cream.
Nature lex.
What wilt thou keep me fro?
Tell me ere thou farther go
Me think thou art in a dream.
Infidelitas.
From causynge of Mankynde
To give to God his mind
Or his obedience.
Nature lex.
What is thy name? tell me.
Infidelitas.
Mary Infydelyte
Which never will agree
To your benyuolence.
Nature lex.
Thou canst not keep me from man.
Infidelitas.
Yet I will do the best I can
To trouble ye now and than
That ye shall not prevail
I will cause ydolatrye
And moste vile Sodomye
To work so vngracyouslye
Ye shall of your purpose fail.
Nature lex.
I defye the wicked find
With thy whole vene mouse kind
God putteth now in my mind
To flee thy company.
Infidelitas.
Ye are so blessed a Saint
And yourself so well can paint
That I must me aquaynt
With you no remedy.
Nature lex.
Auoyde thou cruel enemy
I will none of the truly
But shurne thy company
As I would the devil of hell.
Exit.
Infidelitas.
And are ye gone indeed?
Small wyttam be your speed.
Except ye take good hede
I will be next of your counsel.
Now will I work such masterye
By crafts and su
•
yle polycye
The law of nature to poison
With pestylent ydolatrye
And with most stinking sodomye
That he shall have no foyson
Where are these vyllen knaves?
The devils own kytchyu slaves
That them I cannot se
I conjure you both here
And charge ye to appere
Lyke two knaves as yebe.
Monachu
•
Sodomismus.
Ambo is a name full clean
Knowe ye not what I mean?
And are so good a clarke.
Infidelitas.
By Terragramaton
I charge ye appere anon
And come out of the dark
Intrantsu
••
t.
Sodomismus
Have in than at a dasshe
With swasshe merry annetswasshe
Yet may I not be to rasshe
For my holy orders sake.
Necromantia.
Idololatria.
Nor I son by my truth
Tha cau
••
a
•
orage of sloth
And such a comberouse cought.
Yeh wote not what to do.
Infidelitas.
At Christmas and at Paske
Ye may dance the devil a mask
Whyles his great cawdron pla
•
e
you such a pretye mynyon
And you now in religion
Suche two I never saw
Is not thy name Idolatry▪
Sodomismus.
Yes, an wholesome woman verily,
And w
•
lls
•
n
•
in phylosophye
Mennes fortunes she can tell
She can by saying her Ave marry
And by other charms of sorcerye
Ease men of the loath ache by and bye
Yea, and farche the devil from hell
She an c
•
nyike the Cow and hunt the fox
And help men of the ague and poxe
So they bring money to the box
Whan they to her make mdne.
She can fatche again all that is lost
And draw drink out of a rotten post
Without the help of the holy Ghost
In working she is alone.
Infidelitas.
What sometime thou wert an he.
Idololatria.
Yea, but now yeh am a she
And a good mydwyf
•
perde
Yonge children can Icharme▪
With whysperynges and whysshynges
With crossynges and with kyssynges
With blasynges and with blessings
That sprytes do them no harm.
Infidelitas.
Then art thou like to Clysthenes.
To Clodius and Euclides,
Sardinapalus and Hercules
Which them selves often transfourmed
Into a woman's lykenes
With agylyte and quyckenes
But they had venus syckenes
As writers have declared.
Sodomismus.
Let her tell forth her matter.
Idololatria.
With holy oil and water
I can so cloyne and clatter
That I can at the latter
Many sutelties contryue
I can work wyles in battle
If I do ones but spattle
I can make corn and cattle
That they shall never thryue.
Whan ale is in the fat
If the Oruar please me nat
The cast shall fall down flat
And never have any strength
No man shall tonne nor bake
Nor meat in inseason make
If I against him take
But lose his labor at length.
Theyr welles I can up dry
Ca
•
se trees and herbs to die.
And slee all pullerye
Whereas men doth me move
I can make stoles to dance,
And earthen pots to praunce
That none shall them enhaunce
And do but cast my gloue.
I have charms for the plowghe
And also for the cowghe
She shall give milk
•
nowghe
So longe as I am pleased
Apace the myl
•
shall go.
So shall the credle do
And the musterde querne also
No man therewith dyseased.
Infidelitas.
Than art thou for me fytte.
Sodomismus.
The woman hath a wit
And by her gere can sytte.
Thoughe she be somewhat old?
It is mine own sweet bullye
My muskyne and my mullye,
My gelouer and my cullye
Yea mine own sweet heart of Golde.
Infidelitas.
I say yet not to bold.
Idololatria.
Peace fondelinge, tusshe a button
Infidelitas.
What wilt thou fall to mutton?
And play the hungrye glutton
Afore this company?
Ranke love is full of heat
Where hungrye dogs lack meat
They will dirty pu
•
dynges eat
For want of befe and conye.
Heyghe mynyon for money
As good is draff as honye.
Whan the day is hot and sonnye,
By the blessed rode of kent.
Sodomismus.
Saye forth your mind good mother
For this man is none other
But our own loving brother
And is very well content.
Idololatria.
I never mysse but paulter
Our blessed ladyes psaulter
Before saint Sauers altar
With my bedes ones a day
And this is my comoncast
To here Mass first or last
And the holy frydaye fast
In good time mought I it faye.
With blessings of Saint Germyne
I will me so determine
That neither for nor vermyne
Shall do my chyckens harm
For your gese seek saint Legearde
And for your duckes saint Leonarde
For horse take Moses yearde
There is no better charm.
Take me a napkyn folte
With the bias of a bolte
For the healynge of a
•
olte
No better thing can be
For lamps and for bottes
Take me saint Wylfrides knottes
And holy saint Thomas lots
On my life I warrande ye.
For the cought take Judas
•
are
With the parynge of a peare
And drink them without fear
If ye will have remedy
Thre syppes are for the hyckocke
And. vi. more for the chyckocke
Thus my pretty pyckocke
Recouer by and by.
If ye cannot sleep but slumber
Geue Otes unto saint Un
•
umber
And beans in a certain number
Unto saint Blase and saint Blythe
Gyue onions to saint Cutlake
And garlycke to saint Cyryake
If ye will shurne the head ache.
Ye shall have them at queen hythe.
A dram of a shepes tyrdle
And good saint trances gyrdle
With the hamlet of an her
•
le
Are wholesome for the pyppe
Besydes these charms afore
I have feats many more
That I keep still in store
Whom now I over hyppe.
Infidelitas.
It is a sport I trow
To heat howe she out blow
Her witchecraftes on a row
By the Mass I must needs smyle.
Now I pray the let me know
What sedes that thou canst sow
Mankynde to overthrow
And the law of nature begyle.
Sodomismus.
My self I so behave
And am so vile a knave
As nature doth deprave
And utterly abhor
I am such a vice truly
As God in his great
•••
rye
Dyd punysshe most t
••
ryblye
In Sodom and in Gomorr▪
In the flesh I am a fire
And such a vile desire
As bring men to the mire
Of fowl concupyscence.
We two together began
To spring and to grow in man,
As Thomas of Aquyne scan
In the fourth boke of his sentence.
I dwelt among the Sodomytes
The Beniamytes, and Madyanytes
And now the popysshe hypocrites
Embrace me everywhere
I am now become all spyrytuall
For the clergy at Rome and over all
For want of wives to me doth fall
To God they have no fear.
The children of God I did so move
That they the daughters of men did love
Workyng such ways as did not behoove
Tyll the flood them over went.
With Noes son Cham I was half joined
Whan he is drunken father scorned
In the Sodomytes I also reygned.
Tyll the hand of God them brent.
I was with Man not vnacquaynted
Whan he on the ground his increase shed
For me his bretheren Joseph accused
As Genesis doth tell
David ones warned all men of us two.
Do not as mules and horses will do.
Confounded be they, that to images go
Those are the ways to hell.
Both Isaiah and Ezekiel
Both H
•
etemy and Daniel
Of us the abominations tell
With the prophets euerychou
For us two God strake with fire and water
With battle, w
t
plages, & fereful matter
With painful er
•
l
•
, than at the latter
Into Egypt and Babylon.
As Paul to the Romans testyfye
The gentyles after Idolatry
Fell to such be stiall Sodomye
That God did them forsake
Who followeth us as he confess
The kingdom of God shall never possess
And as the Aparalyps express
Shall synke to the burning lake.
We made Thalon and Sophocles
Thamiras, Nero, Agathocles
Tiberius and Iristoteles
Themselves to use vnnaturallye
I taught Aristo and Fuluius
Semiramis and Hortensius
Crathes Hyliscus, and Pontius
Beasts to abuse most monstrouslye.
Infidelitas.
Marrye thou art the devil him self
Idololatria.
If ye knew howe he could pelf
Ye would say he were such an else
As none under heaven were else.
Infidelitas.
The fellawe is well decked
Dysgysed and well necked
Both knave balde and pypecked
He lacketh nothing but help.
Sodomismus.
In the first age I began
And so perseuerde with man
And still will if I can
So longe as he endure
If monkysshe sects renew
And popysshe pre estes continue
Which are of my retynue
To live I shall be sure.
Cleane Marryage they forbid,
Yet cannot their ways be hyd,
Men know what hath betyd
Whan they have ben in parell
Oft have they buried quycke
Suche as were never sick
Full many a proper trycke
They have to help their quarrel.
In Rome to me they fall
Both Bysshope and Cardynall
Monk, fryer, pryest, and all
More rank they are then antes
Example in hope Iulye
Which sought in his fury
Two laddes, and to use them beastly.
From the Cardynall of Nautes.
Infidelitas.
Well, you two are for my mind
Steppe forth and do your kind
Leave never a point behind
That may corrupt in man
The law wrytte in his heart
Do thou the best thou can.
Here have I pretye gynnes
Both brouches beads and pynnes
With such as the people wynnes
Unto Idolatry
Beads, rings, and other gere
And shortly the be
•
ete
To deceive Man properly
Take this same staff and scryppe
With a God here of a chyppe
And good beldame forewarde hyppe
Set thou forth Sacramentalles
Saye dyrge, and sing tree
••
alles
Studye the popes Decretals
And myxt them with buggerage
Sodomismus.
I will corrupt God's Image
With mos
•
e unlawful usage
And bring him into dottage
Of all concupyscence.
Idololatria,
Within the flesh thou art
But I dwell in the heart.
And will the soul peruart
From God's obedience.
Infidelitas.
Spare none abhomynacion
Nor detestable fasshyon
That man's ymagynacion
By wit may comprehend
To quycken our sprytes among
Synge now some metysonge
But let it not be longe
Leaste we to moche offend.
Post cantion
•
m, Infidelitas alta voice dicet. Oremus.
O Mnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram formasti laicos, da quesumus, vt sicut corum sudoribus diuimus, ita corū vxoribus filiabus et domicellis perpetuo frui mereamur. Per domin • nostrum Papam,
Infidelitas.
Now are these horesons forth
It will be somewhat worth
To se howe they will work
The one to poison the heart
The other the outward parte
Ingeniously will luck.
The law of Nature they will
Infect, corrupt and spyll
With their abhomynacion
Idolatry with wickedness
And Sodomye with filthiness
To his most utter damnation.
These two will him so use
Eche one in their abuse
And wrap it in such evil
That by their wicked cast
He shall be at the last
A morsel for the devil.
Now vnderneth her wings
Idolatry hath kings
With their No
•
ylytie
Both dukes, lords, knyghtes and
•
arles
Fayre ladyes with their pearies
And the whole comynaltie.
Within the bownes of Sodomye
Doth dwell the spyrytuall clergy
Pope, Cardynall and pryest
Nonne, Chanon, Monk and fryer
With so many else as do desire
To reign under Antichrist.
Detestynge Matrymonye
They live abhomynablye,
And burn in carnal lust.
Shall I tell ye farther news?
It Rome for Prelates are stews
Of doth kinds. This is just.
The law of nature I think
Wyll not be able to wy
•
ke
Agaynst the assaults of them
They having so high prelates,
And so many gteat es
•
ates
From hens to Jerusalem.
Pause now a little while
Myne ears doth me begyle
If There not a sound
Y
•
n folk hath sped I guess
It is to by the Messe
Awaye now will I round
•
.
Exit
Nature lex.
I think ye marvel, to se such altera
•
ion
At this time in me, whom God left here so pure
O
•
me it cometh not, but of man's operacion
Whom daily the devil, to great sin doth allure
And his nature is full bryttle and unsure
By him have I gote this fowl dysease of body
And as ye se here, am now thrown in a leprye.
I wrought in his heart, as God bad tr
•
estlye.
Hym oft prouokynge, to love God over all
With the inner powers, but that false Idolatry
Hath him perverted, by slayghtes dyabolycall
And so hath Sodomye, through his abuses carnal
That he is now lost, offendynge without measure
And I corrupted to my most high dyspleasure.
I abhor to tell, the abusyous bestyall
That they daily use, which boast their chastytie
Some at the altar, to incontyuencye fall
In confession some, full beastly occupied be
Amonge the close Nuns, reigneth this enormytie
Suche children s
•
eythey, as they chance for to have
And in their preuyes, provide them of their grave.
Ye Christian rulers, se ye for this a way
Be not illuded, by false hypocrysye
By the stroke of God, the world will else decay
Permyt priests rather, God's lawful remedy
Than they should i
•
c
•
r
••
, most bestyall Sodomye
Regarde not the pope, nor yet his whorysshe kingdom
For he is the master, of Gomor and of Sodom
With Man have I ben, which hath me thus defiled
With Idolatry, and unclean Sodomye
And worthy I am, from God to be exyled
Pytie me yet lord of thy moste bounteous mercy
I will forth and mourn, till thousende remedy
Promyse haste thou made, to a glorious lybercie
To bring heuē & erth, thē wilt thou (I trust) restore me.
Incipit Actus tertius.
Moseh lex.
THe lord perceiving, his first law thus corrupted
With unclean vices, sent me his law of Moses
To se him for sin, substancyallye corrected
And brought in again, to a trade of godliness
For I am a law of rygout and of hardenes
I strayghtly command, and if it be not done
I threti
•
, I curej, and sle in my anger sone.
To God I require a perfect obedience
Con
•
empnynge all sache, as do it not in effect
I show what sin is, I but dē sore mannes conscience
To him am I death, whan his life is infect
Yet if he take hede, to Christ I him dyrect
Forgyuenes to have, with like health and saluatyon.
Leaste he shuloe dyspayre, and fall into damnation.
Infidelitas.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
A pastyme quoth a, I know not the time nor whan
I did laghe so moche, sense I was an honest man
Beleue me and ye will, I never saw such a sport
I would ye had ben there, lie might have made the fort.
Moseh lex.
Where wouldest thou have had me, tell me good brother mine.
Infidelitas.
At the Mynorasse syr, late yester night at complyne.
Moseh lex.
At the Mynorasse? why what was there a do?
Infidelitas.
For such another, would I to South ampton go
In deed yesterdaye was their dedycacion
And thythe
•
in God's name, came I to se the fasshion
An old fryer stood forth, with spectacles on his nose
Begy
•
nynge this Anteme, a my faith, I do not gloss.
〈♫〉
•• pides pr • ciosi.
Moseh lex.
And what did follow of this?
Infidelitas.
I shall tell ye by God's blysse
Then came Dame Isbell an
•
lde Noun and a cal
•
e
Crowynge like acapon, and thus began the Psalm.
〈♫〉
Sepe expugnauetun • me a i • uent • te 〈…〉
Moseh lex.
And what includeth this mystery?
Infidelitas.
A simple problem of bytcherye
Whan the fryer begun, afore the Nonne
to sing of precyous stones
From my youth saith she / they have comfort me
As it had ben for the nones
Moseh lex.
I assure the plain, I set not by such gaudes
Thy usage show the, to be brought up among baude
•
Infidelitas.
It was a good world, whā we had such holsom story
•
s
Preached in out church, on sondayes and other feryes
With us was it in
•
rye
Whan we went to Berye
And to our lady of grace
To the blou
•
e of hayles
Where no good chere fayles
And other holy place.
Whan the pryestes might walk
And with young wives talk
Than had we children plenty
Then Cuckoldes might leap
A score on a heap
Now is there not one to twenty.
When the Monks were fat
And rank as a ratte
With bellies like a Bore.
Then all things were dere
Both beafe, bread and bere
Now grudge the iourers sore.
Whan Bishops might burn
And from the truth turn
The syllye simple sowle.
Than dut
•••
no man creake
Open mouth nor speak
Of Christ nor yet of Powle.
No we are the knaves bold
With Scriptures to bold
And teache them everywhere
The carter, the sowter
The bodger, the clowter
That all will away I fere.
At us so they pulle
Our livings are dulle
We are now like to fall
If we do not fight
For the churches right
By the Messe we lose all.
But I pray ye syr, tell me what is your name▪
Moseh lex.
The law of Moses, to lie were I to blame
Infidelitas.
In the same parties, what do you intend?
Moseh lex.
Mankynde to refourme, that he his life amende
I show what sin is, & what thing pleseth God
I comfort the just, and the ill, I ponysshe with rod
The common people, have thought it commodyous
Dyuers God's to have, with rites superstitious.
My commandment is, to seek one God alone
And in all their needs, to him to make their mone
Amonge the Gentyles, was it thought none injury
If a man were hurt, to slee his adversary
This thing I forbid, and say, thou shalt not kill
Law is the revenger, the man may do no ill.
Some persons there are, that inordynatlye love
Those are persuaded, all things them to behoove
Which I inhybyte, saying contynuallye
No rape shalt thou do, nor yet cōmyt aduouteye
Thou shalt do no theft, nor coueyte that is not thine
Agaynste thy neighbor, shalt thou not falsely dyffyne.
Infidelitas.
We may do nothing, if we be pynned in thus
Neither you nor God, to that hard trade shall bring us
We must have one God, and worship him alone
Matye that in deed, would make a Turk to g
••
ne
If we be stryken, we may not stryke again?
Aprope
••
•
gyne▪ and dyscretlye v
•
t
•
r
•
d
•
la
•
ne
For companyes sake, ye say we may not love
I defye your worst, and to you there is my gloue.
Moseh lex.
What? thou wilt not fight thy wits are better than so.
Infidelitas.
In the quarrel of love, I shall prove ye ere I go
By the Messe I think, to put ye to your f
•
ure.
Moseh lex.
Thou were moche better, to keep thy pacyence.
Infidelitas.
Nay by Cockes sowle frynd, I must lay ye on y
•
coat
In loves cause to fight, ye may soon have m
•
a f
••
ar
•
Nay but have at your py
•
ch
•
, defend ye if ye may.
Moseh lex.
Suche a fool art thou, as sekes thine own decay
If I ones medle, t
•
the, it will be death
Dyddest thou never here, that law sleeth in his wrath.
Infidelitas.
By the blessed lord, than will I play Robsons parte.
Moseh lex.
Whye what part wilt thou play?
Infidelitas.
By cockes sou • e give over, so soon as I fele smarte
Moseh lex.
It will be to late, it I one scupple with the
Infidelitas.
Then let me a
•
on
•
, and we shall soon agre
And I shall be glad to be acquainted with ye.
Moseh lex.
Acquainta • ce good felaw, thou mayst soon have of me
Infidelitas.
The worst fault I have, I am hast
•
e now & than
But it is sone gone, I toke it of a woman
But what mean those tables, y
•
ye have in your hand.
Moseh lex.
Kepe scylence a while, and thou shalt understand
Thre things I declare, the first are y
•
precepts moral
Next, the laws iudicial, and last the rites ceremonial
The moral precepts, are God's commandments ten
Which ought evermore to be observed of all men
The laws of Nature, the moral precepts declare
And y
•
pleasant works, to God they teache & prepare
They stir man to faith & provoke him also to love
To obey, to serve, and to worship God above
Into s
•
ony tables, God wrote them first of all
That they should remain, as things continual▪
The first hath but three, which tend to God's high honor,
Seven hath the seconde, & they concern our neybour.
The first doth expound, the first law natural
The
•
ext the other, making them very formal
Inspryt
•
i
•
the first, y
•
we should God honor and love
To outward working the seconde doth us move
For
•
ydoynge all wrongs preseruynge just marriage
Norysshynge true peace, and other godly usage.
Infidelitae.
What is the effect, of your laws Iudyciall?
Moseh lex.
Suche things to command, as are cyuyle or temporal
From vice to refrain, and outward injury
Quyet to conserve, and publyque honesty
These are to supporte, the laws of the seconde table
Ceremonyall rites are also commendable
In holy days, garments, temples & consecta
•
ions
Sacryfices & vows, with offerings and expi
•
acions
Which are unto Christ, as fygures, types, & shadows
As Paul doth declare, in his Epistle to the Hebrews
These are only fygures, and outward testymonies
No man is perfect, by such dark ceremonies
Only pertain they, unto the third commandment
Of the Sabbath day, till Christ the lord be present.
In his death endynge, the whole Judicial priesthood.
Infidelitas.
Good days might ye have, ye speak full well by the rood.
I am a poor lad, and by my truth bent earues
•
lie▪
To wait upon ye, and to be your very lackye.
Moseh lex.
What art thou called, I pray the hartelye.
Infidelitas.
Graye fryer am I none, by the Messe I cannot flatter.
I am Infydelytie, to tell the truth of the matter.
Moseh lex.
And hast thou so longe dyssembled thus with me?
Infidelitas.
Yea, for advantage to smellout your subtyltie.
Moseh lex.
Auoyde hens I say, thou false Infydelyte.
Infidelitas.
Nay that I will not, by yngham Trynytie.
Moseh lex.
Wylt thou not in deed, thā will I fet hither the pour
Of Judges & kings, to subdue the within this hour.
Exit.
Infidelitas.
Suche knyghtes will I have, as shall cōfound thē all▪
Is S
•
dduces & scrybes, with the sec
•
pharysaycal
•
By help of my children Idolatry and Sodomye
The law of Nature, I cast ones in a leprye
I have yet two more, Ambycion & Coneytousnes
Which will do as moche to the law of Moses
Where are my whorsons, that they come not away.
Iutisconsu
•
tus.
Auaritia.
Yea, whorson on thy face, even in thy best array
I will thou know it, I am a worshipful Doctor
A Scrybe in the law, and a profitable proctor.
Infidelitas.
Guppe with a vengeance, howe comest thou so alofte.
Auaritia.
I shall tell the man, if thou wilt come more solte
By feigned flattery
•
, and by coloured adulation
Ambycion here also,
•
ose of a like foundation.
Infidelitas.
Come, are me blessing, pretye boys apace
Ambitio.
I will not bow sure▪ to such a folys • he face.
Infidelitas.
Axe blessing I say, and make me no more ado.
Ambitio.
Unsemely were it, we Prelates should do so.
Auaritia.
For no compu • syon will I do it by sweet Mary.
Infidelitas.
I must fatche ye in, there is no remedy
A noughty horsons, have I brought ye up hitherto?
And know not your father, ye shall drink both ere I go
Ambosimul.
No more at this time, forsooth we cry amercye.
Infidelitas.
Down on your knees than, & axe me blessing shortly.
Ambosimul.
Bless me gentell father, for sweet saint charytie.
Infidelitas.
Aryse noughtyknaues, God let ye never to the
Though among our selves, we mu
•
mur
•
, brag, & face
Somtyme for lucre, sometime for the higher place
Yet for advantage, in this we all agree
To blind the rulers, and deceive the come
•
ynaltie.
Auaritia.
Art aduysed of that, by the Messe we are in deed
Yet of our knaueryes, the fo
•
le & will neuertake hede.
To labor with a spade
Our color would it fade
We may not with that trade
We love so moche our ease
We must live by their sweat,
And have good drink and meat
Whan they have not to eat
The substance of a pease.
We lead them in the dark
And so their conseyence mark
That stutdye they are and stark,
In every wicked evil
We teache Idolatry
And laughed full merelye
To se eche company
Ronne headlonges to the devil.
Ifwe may have the tythynges
And profitable offeryages
We ca
•
e not to what doings
They customablye fall
We are such mercenaryes
And subtle propryetaryes
As from the flock all carries
The w
•
lle, skynne, flesh and all.
In our perambulacyons
We look for commendacions
And lowly salutacions
In temple, house and strete.
Our lowsye Latin hours
In borrows and in bowres
The poor people devours
And tread them under fete.
Ambitio.
I am Ambycion, whose bysposycyan
Is honor to appete
I gape for empyre, and worship desire
As Mynos did in Crete
I loke up Aloft, and love to lie soft
Not carynge for my flock
Have Jones the flese, with pygges, lambes, and gese
They may go turn a Socke.
Lucifer I made, so highly to wade,
To God he would be equal
Of Adam and Eve, I slew the believe
And caused them to fall
What need I rehearce, the gyauntes most fierce
With the buylders of Babel
Nemrod the tyrraunt, with them there applyaunt,
Agreed to my counsel.
From me would not go, cruel Pharaoh
No more would Amalech
Saul, Ahithophel, Absolo
•
, Jezebel
Nor Adonisedech.
I made Roboam, and Hierobeam
With Nabuchodouosor
Triphon, Alchmius, and Simon magus
To abuse them evermore.
Inpryde I exceed, and no people feed
But with lies for advantage
As Mantuane tell, to lead men to hell
Is my most common usage.
Hyghe things I attempt, and will in exempt
From princes iurisdition
A am such an enyll, as bring men to the devil
Without any contradiction.
Infidelitas.
Here is a prelate even for mine own toth
Suche another is, not in the whole South
Clappe thou somewhat more, as thou hast begun
I like well your ta
•
king, by the holy Nun.
Auaritia.
I Coutyse am, the beuyll or his dam
For I am insacyate
I rauysshe and pluck, I draw and I suck
After, a woluys she ra
•
e.
Father nor mother, Syster nor brother
I spare not in my mood.
I fear neither God, nor his ryghtfull rod
In gatherynge of good.
But house and medowe, from the poor widow
I spare not forto take
Ryght heirs I rob, and as bare as Job
The fatherless I make.
With me toke Nadab, Nabal and Ahab
With all the clergy of Bell
Judas and Giezi, with the sonnes of Hel
•
And the sons of Samuel.
Jannes and Jambres, also Diotrephes
Wrought willful wickedness
So did Menelaus, with false Andronicus
And all for Coueytousnesse.
Ambicio.
With vices seven, I close up heaven
And spear up paradyce
I oppen hell, by my counsel
Mayntaynynge every vice.
Auarititia.
For Syluer and gold, with falsehed I hold
Supportynge every evil
I have it in awe, for to thoke the law
And bring all to the devil.
Infidelitas.
By the blessed Trynytie, no men more fit for me
To do my business.
Ambycion to begyle, and Auaryce to defile
The law of Moses.
Tell me first of all, what wilt thou do Ambycyon.
Ambitio.
I am thine own child, thou knowest my dysposycion
I will sure do, as did the Phylystynes.
Infidelitas.
Why what did those knaves?
Ambitio.
They stopped up Abrahams pyttes, as Genesis diffynes
With mud and with mire, & l
•
f
••
them full unclean
Infidelitas.
By the same practice, tell me what thou dost mean.
Ambitio.
With filthy glosses, and dirty exposytion,
Of God's law will I hyde, the pure dysposycions
The key of knowledge, I will also take away
By wrastynge the text, to the scriptures sore decay.
Infidelitas.
And what wy • te thou, my fellow Coueytousnes?
Auaritia.
A veil will I sprede, upon the face of Moses
That none shall perceive, the clerenes of his coūtenaūce
Which is the law, the meaning & true ordinance.
Infidelitas.
Wy what will ye say, unto the ten commandments
Ambitio.
We must poison them, with wylworkes, & good intētes
Whereas God doth say, No strange gods thou shalt have
With Saints worshipping, that clause we will deprave.
And though he cōm
•
unde, to make no graued image
For a good intent, yet will we have pylgremage
Thoughe he will us not, to take his name in vain
With tradycions yet, thereunto will we constrayne.
No Sabbath will we, with God's word sanctify
But with lyppe labor, and yd
•
e ceremonye.
To father and mother, we may owe none obedience
Our religion is, of so so great excellence.
Thoughe we do not slee, yet may we hertyckes burn
If they will not soon from holy Scripture turn
What though it be said, thou shalt do no fornycacion
Yet will we maintain, moche greater abhomynacion
Though theft be forbid yet will we contynuallye
Rob the poor people, through prayer & purgatory
God hath inhy
•
yted▪ to give false testimony
Yet we will condemn the Gospel for Heresye.
We should not coueyte our neybours house nor wife
His servant nor b
•
ast, yet are we therein most ryfe
Of men make we swine, by the draff of our tradycions
And cause them nothing to regard but superstitions
As Dogs unreasonable, on mos
•
vile carren feed
So will we cause them, seek ydolles in their need.
And always their ground, shall be for a goodintent
Infidelitas.
More myscheuous I trow, the devil could not inuēt
Than you two can do, by the Messe ye are alone
Lytle could I do, were ye ones from m
•
gone
To the corruptynge, of the law of Morses
Go forward therefore, in your deceytful
•
es
Auaritia.
With superstitions, the Jews ceremonial laws
I will so handle, they shall not be worth▪ ii. staws
The laws Judicial throug
•
e cawtels and d
•
lays
I will also drown, to all righteous mennes decay
To set this forward, we must have sophystrye
Phylosophye and Logycke, as scyence necessary
The Bishops must hold their priests in ygnoraūee
With long laten hours, lest knowledge to them chance
Let them have long matins, longe even songs & long Masses
And that will make them as dull as ever were asses
That they shall never be able to prophecy
Or yet preach the truth, to our great injury.
Let the Cloister
•
rs be brought up euerin scylence
Without the Scriptures, in pain of dysobedyence
Se the lay people, pray never but in Latin
Let them have their Crede, and service all in Latin
That a Latin believe, may make a Latin sowle
Let them nothing know, of Christ, nor yet of powle
If they have Englysshe▪ let it be for advantage
For pardons, for Dyrges, for offerings & pylgremage
I teken to make them, a new Crede in a while
And all in Englysshe, their Conscyence to begyle.
Infidelitas.
Reherse unto me, the Artycles of that Crede.
Auaritia.
The Artycles are these, give ear and take good hede
First they shall believe, in our holy father Pope
Nexte in his decrees, and holy decretals.
Then holy church, with sencer, cross and cope
In the Ceremonyes, and blessed Sacramentals
In purgatory then, in pardons and intrentals
In prayenge to saints, and in saint Frances whoode
In our lady of Grace, and in the blessed rood
They shall believe also, in relyckes and religion
In our ladyes psalter, in frewyll and good works
In the ember days, and in the popes remyssyon
In b
•
des and in belles, not used of the Turks
In the golden Masses, against such sprites as lurks
With charms and blessings. This creed will bring in money
In Englysshe therefore, we will it clarkely conueye.
Infidelitas.
Yea, and burn the knaves, that will not believe y
e
creed
That into the dytche, the blind the blind may lede.
Ambitio.
Then I hold it best, that we always condemn
The Bible readers, least they your acts contempue.
Infidelitas.
Yea, never spare them, but evermore play the bytar
Expressyng always, the tropes and types of thy mytar
Ambitio.
Why, what doest thou think, my mytar to sygnyfye.
Infidelitas.
The mouth of a wolf, and that shall I prove by & by
If thou s
•
oupe downward, lo, se how y
•
wolf doth ga
•
e
Redye to devour the lambes, lease any escape
But thy woluyshnes, by three crowns will I hyde
Makynge the apope & a captain of all
•
ride
That whan thou dost slee, such as thy laws cōtempne
Thou mayest say, not I, but the powers did thē condēpne
The Cabels betoken, the laws of se non & cannon
Ambicio.
I trow thou w • ldest say, the. ii. laws Cyuyle & Canon
Infidelitas.
As I spake I thought, & still think by saint Johan
Yea, persecute still the instructors of the people
And thou Coueytous
•
es, let no bell rynge in Steple
Without a profyght. T
•
sshe, take money everywhere
So nygh
•
lyppe and shave, that thou leave never a here
Aua
•
itia.
I caused the Pope, to take but now of late
Of the graye fryers, to have a canonyzate
Franciscus de pola, three thousand duckattes and more
And as moche besides / he had not longe afore
For a Cardynall hatte, of the same holy order
Thus draw we to us, great goods from every border
Pope Clement the seventh paid ones for his papacye
Thre hundred thousand, good duckates of lawful money
Infidelitas.
I marvel howe he could come to so moche good.
Auaritia.
Yes, yes, by pollage, and by shedynge Christian blode.
Crosers and Mytars, in Rome are good merchandyce
And allto little, to maintain their pomp and vice
Ambitio.
The pope for whoredom, hath in Rome and Uiterbye
Of gold and silver, a wonderful substance yearly
Tush they be in England y
t
much rather would to dwell
Whores in their dyoceses, than the readers of Christ's Gospel.
Infidelitas.
They do the better, for by thē they may have profyght
As for the other, do trouble them day and night
Well, now step forewarde, and go do your business
To the corruptynge, of the law of Moses.
Auaritia.
Doubt not but we shall, make him a crepple blind.
Infidelitas.
Synge then at our farewell, to recreate our mind.
Finita catiuncula exeunt ambo.
Infidelitas.
Now am I left alone, And these. ii. marchaūtes gone
Theyr myschyefe to seclude
I think within a while, they will trap and begyle
The worthy law of Jude.
Ambycion first of all, with his rites bestial
Wyll make the people swine
In draff will he them lede, and with tradycions feed
Where they shall sup or dyne
Coueytousnes will warke, that many one shall bark
Lyke dogs against the truth
Some shall gods word defile, and some will it reuyle
Suche beastlynes ensu
•
th.
Ambicion hath this hour, all the whole spyritual pour
And may do what him lust
Now coueytousnes doth rule, & hath both horse & mule
All matters by him dyseust
Now bysshopryt
•
es are
•
ol
•
e, & the holy ghost for gold
The pope doth bye and sell
The truth may not be told, under pains manifold
With sendynges down to hell
The people preestes do famysshe, and their gooddes frō them rauysshe
Yea and all the world they blind
All princes do they mock, and rob the sellye flock
Nothynge they leave behind
On the face of Moses, a veil they have cast doubtless
The light of the law to hyde
Least mē to christ should come, frō ceremonies dōme
As to their heavenly gyde
The law can never be, at any lybertie
Where such two enemies rain
Now is it time to walk, of this more will I talk
Whan I come hither again.
Exi
•
▪
Moseh lex.
If pytie may mou
•
, your gentle christen hearts
Let it now stir ye, to mourn this heuye chance
Two enemies with me, have played most wicked partes
And left me stark blind, God knoweth to my sore greuaunce.
And I think also to your mothe hynderaunce
To lead you to Christ, sometime a gyde I was
Now am I so blind, I cannot do it, alas.
Most rygorously those enemies now of late
Dyd fall upon me, and spoil me of my sight
One was Ambycion, which ever ought me hate
And Coueyeousnesse, the other enemy hyght
Now forsooth and God, iutheyr most cruel spyght
The one made me blind, the other made me lame
And whā they had done, thereat they had great game.
Thus a blind cryple, I wander here alone
Abydynge the time and grace, of restauracion
By the son of God, to whom I make my mone
My cause to pytie, and grant me supportacion
Least I be left here, to utter desolacion
And extreme decay without any remedy,
If he did not help of goodness and of mercy.
Ye christen princes, God hath given you the pour
With scepture and sword, allvyces to correct
Let not Ambycion, nor Coueytousnesse devour
Your faithful subjects, nor your officers infect
Have to your Clergye, a dylygent respect
And se they do not corrupt the laws of God
For that doth require, a terrible heuy
•
rod.
God gave me to man, and left me intables of stone
That I of hardenes, a law should specyfye
But the Pharysies, corrupted me anon
And toke from me clean, the quyueru
•
s of body
With cler
•
uesse of sight, and other pleasures many
Now will I to Christ, that he may me restore
To more perfection, than ever I had afore.
Finis Actus tertius.
Incipit Actus quartus.
Euangilium.
V
N faythfulnes hath, corrupted every law.
To the great decay, of Adams posterytie
were it not for me, which now do hither draw
Al flesh would perish, no man should saved be
I am Christ's Gospel, and infallyble verytie
Suche a power of God, as saveth all such as believe
No burden nor yoke, that any man will gr
•
ue.
In the blood of Christ, I am a full forgyuenes
Where faith is grounded, with a sure confydence
I am such a grace, and so high tiding of, gladness
As raise the sinner, and pacyfye his conscience.
I am spirit and life, I am necessary scyence
I require but love, for man's iustyfication
With a faith in Christ, for his health and salvation.
Infidelitas.
God's beneson have ye, it is joy of your life
I have heard of ye, and of my maystresse your wife.
Euangilium.
If thou hardest of me, it was by the boy • e of God.
Infidelitas.
Nay, he that spake of ye, was
•
ellynge of a God
In an Oystre bote, a little beyond queen hythe
A Northen man was he, & he besought ye to be blythe
Euangilium.
If he spake of me, he was some godly preacher.
Infidelitas.
Nay syr by the roo • e, nor yet a wholesome teacher.
Euangilium.
After what manner dydhe speak of me? tell.
Infidelitas.
He swore like a man, by all contents of the Gospel
He swore and better swore, yea, he did swear & swear again.
Euangilium.
That speaking is such, as procureth eternal pain
Wyll not the people, leave that most wicked folye?
And it so damnable, to hear it I am sorry
But what dyddest thou mean, whau thouspakest of my wife?
Infidelitas.
Nothynge, but I thought it was joy of your life
That ye were so good to your neyghboures as ye are
Euangilium.
Why, howe good am I? thy fantasye declare.
Infidelitas.
Ye ease them among, if it be as I hear
Whan ye are abroad, there is fine merycheare.
Euangilium.
As thou art, thou speakest after thy hearts abundaun
•
e
For as the man is, such is his utterance.
My wife is the church, or christen congregation
Regenerate inspyryte, doing no vile operacion
Both clean and holy, without either spot or wryncle
The lamb with his blood, did her wash & bespryncle.
This is not the church, of dysguysed hypocrites
Of apysh shauelyng
•
s, or papistical Sodomytes
Nor yet as they call it, a temple of lyme and stone
But a lyuysh building, grounded in faith alone
On the hard rock Christ, which is the sure fosidacion
And of this church, some do reign in every nation
And in all coūtreyes, though their number be but small
Infidelitas.
Theyr number is such, as hath run over all
The same Danes are they, men prophecy of plain
Which should over run this realm yet ones again.
Euangilium.
What Danes speakest thou of? thy meaning show more clearly.
Infidelitas.
Da
•
e Johan, Dane Robert, Dane Thomas, and Dane Harrye.
The same are those Danes, that lay with other men's wives.
And occupied their lands, to the detryment of their lives.
These are acccounted, a great part of the church
For in God's service, they honourably wurche
Yellynge and cryenge, till their throats are full sore.
Euangilium.
That Church was described, of Isaiah longe afore
This people (saith God) with their lips honor me
In vain worship, they teaching mennes fatuyte
Apparaunt is that church, and open to the eyes
Theyr worshippings are, in outward ceremonies
That coūterfetchurch standeth all by mennes tradycions
Without the scriptures, & without y
•
hearts affections
My church is secrete, and evermore will be
Adorynge the father, in spirit and in verytie
By the word of God, this church is ruled only
And doth not consyst, in outward ceremonye
This congregation, is the true Church mylytaunt
Those Counterfayte Desardes, are the very Church malygnaunt.
To whom Christ will say, I know none of your sor
•
Infidelitas.
Moche are they to blame, that brethren so report
Euangilium.
Suche are no brethren, but enemies to Christ's blode
As put salvation, in shaven crown mytar, or whoode.
Infidelitas.
I pray ye how long, have your sweet spouse cōtynued
Euangilium.
Sens the beginnynge, and now is in Christ re
•
ued.
Adam did promise, of Christ's incarnacion
So had Abraham, with his whole generation
Which was unto them, a preaching of the Gospel
Into salvation, and deliverance from hell.
Infidelitas.
By this time I hope, ye have a fair increase?
Euangilium.
She is not ba
••
en, but beareth and never cease
The Corinthes first epistle, hath this clear testymonye
In Christo Jesus, per Euangilium vos genui
I have begot you, in Jesus Christ saith Powle
By the Gospel preaching, to the comfort of your sowle.
Infidelitas.
Than are ye a ouckolde, by the blessed holy mass
As I said afore, so cometh it now to pass
For I am a prophet, by high inspyration led
Now like I myself, moche better than I did
Ye say y
•
saint Paul, begat your wife with child.
Euangilium.
By mysunderstandyng, thou art vngracyously begylde
An only mynyster, was paule in that same doing
That he therein did, was by the Gospel preaching
His mind is the Gospel, to have done that operation
And this must thou hold, for no carnal generation.
Infidelitas.
Mary so they say, ye fellows of the new learning
Forsake holy church, and now fall fast to wyuynge.
Euangilium.
Nay they forsake whoredom, with other dāpnablevsage
And live with their wives, in lawful marriage
Whyles the popes oiled swarm,
•
aygne still in their old buggerage
Infidelitas.
Yeà, poor married men, have very moche a do
I count him wisest, that can take a snatch and to go?
Euangilium.
Thou semest one of them, that detesteth matrymonye▪
Which is afore God, a slate both just and holy.
Of such as thou art, saint Paul did prophecy
By the holy Ghost, that a certain company
In the latter days from the truth of God should fall
Attendynge to spyrytes, of error dyabolycall
Which in hypocrysye, will teache lies for aduaūtage
With marked conseyences, inhabytynge maryages
Thou apperest by thy fruits, to be Infydelyti
•
Infidelitas.
I am none other, but even the very he
And hither now come I, to cōmenthe matter with ye
Euangilium.
Auoyde cursed fende, and get the out at the gates.
Infidelitae.
Nay first will I serve ye, as I lately served your mates
And hence will I not, for this place is for me
Who should here remain, but I Infydelyte?
Euangilium.
Well, than for a time, I must depart from hens
But this first will I say, before this andyens
Easyer will it be, concerning punysshment
To Sodom and Gomor, in the day of judgment,
Than to those Cyties, that resyste the verytie
At the suggestions of Infydelytie.
That people will be forever and ever lost
For it is the great sin, against the holy Ghost
In the old law first, the father his mind expressed
Then came his son Christ, & made it more manifest
And now the holy Ghost, is come to close up all,
If he be not heard, extreme damnation will fall
No prayer remaineth, nor expyracion for sin
To them that no profyght, of the word of God will wynne.
Take good hede therefore, & say that ye have warning
Exit.
Infidelitas.
God send your mother, of you to have a fondelynge.
By the mass I think, he is well
•
out of the way
Now will I contryue the dryfte of another play
I must work such ways, Christ's law may not cōtynue,
In a while am I like, to have none else of my retynue
Com
•
anyons I have, to begin this tragedy,
Namely false Doctryne, and his brother Hypocrysye
They will not belong, I suppose now verily
By cockes soul me think, I se such a company
Hem, I say children, will not my voice be heard
As good is a beck, as is adewe vow garde.
By my honesty welcome, mine own companyons both
Intran
•
Pseudodoctrina.
Thou shalt have a livery of the same cloth,
Gramatcyes by God, my old friend Infydelyte.
Hypocrisy.
What brother su • psuap, how go the world with the▪
Infidelitae,
What, friar •• ypflap, how say ye to, Bendicite?
Hypocrises.
Marry nothing but well, I cry now aduaūtage
Infidelitae.
At her purse or arse, tell me good friar fuccage?
Hypocrisy.
By the Messe at both for I am a great penytensar
And sit at the pardon, tush I am the popes own vycar
If thou lackest a piece, I know where thou mayst be sped
With choice of a score, and brought even to thy be
•
▪
Pseudodoctrina.
Art thou not ashamed, to talk so like a knave?
Hypocrisy.
No, for it is such gere, as the holiest of us will have
Pope, cardynall, bishop, monk, chanon prist & friar,
Not one of ye all, but a woman will desire.
Pseudodoctrina.
Our ordres permyt us not, to have them in maryag •
Hypocrisy.
No, but ye fatche them in, by another carryage.
Ye do even as we do, we both are of one rate.
Infidelitae.
By the Messe I laugh, to here this whoreson prate▪
Pseudodoctrina.
What fasshion use ye, to us here intymate.
Hypocrysie.
Ego distingu • , whither ye will have Lions or Parys.
Pseudodoctrina.
Of them both to show, it will not be far amys▪
Hypocrisy.
In Parys we have, the mantell of saint Louis
Which women seek moche, for help of their barēnes.
For be it ones laid, upon a woman's belly
She go thens with child, the miracles are seen there daily
And besides all this, ye would marueyle in confession
What our fathers do, to assoil them of transgressyon
Johan Thessecelius, assoiled a young woman ones
Behynde the high altar, till she cried out of her bones
And as for lions, there is the length of our lord
In a great pyller, she that will with acorde
Be fast bound to it, and take such chance as fall
Shall sure have child, for within it is hollowe all
Tush, I could tell ye, of moche more wonder thā this
In course to here them, I think ye would ye blys.
Pseudodoctrina.
As thou hast begun, go forward in it and te •• .
Infidelitae.
Suche a knave I suppose, is not from hens to hell.
Hypocrisy.
In our religion, was an holy popish patryarke
Which of all bawdrye, might be the great monarke.
The Nuns to confess, he went from place to place
And two hundred of them, he broached in that space
Many spyces he eat, his courage to provoke
Suche a fellow was he, as of that gere had the stroke
Pseudodoctrina.
Now somewhat will I tell, to confyrme thy tale withal
In king f
••
dināds time, in Spain was a Cardynall
Petrus mendoza, was the very man that I mean
Of lemmans he had, great number besides the queen
One of his bastards, was an earle, another was duke
Whom also he abused, and thought it no rebuke.
Johannes Cr
•
mona another good Cardynall
For reformation, of the clergy spyrituall
Came ones into England, to dāpne preestes matrymony
And the next night after, was taken, doing bytcherye
Doctor Eckius also, which fearcely came to dyspute
In
•
psia with luther, myndyng there him to con
•
ute.
For marriage of pryestes, three children
•
ad that year
By this may ye se, that sometime we make merry cheare
Euangelium.
Mary that do ye, I shall bear ye record now
But howe will ye answer, for breaking of your vow.
Pseudodoctrina.
We never break vow, so longe as we do not marry
Thoughe we in whoredom, be never so bold and busy.
Infidelitas,
By your order than, ye may walk moche at large
What hast thou hypocresy, to lay for thy dyscharge
Hypocrisy.
Saint Frances habyte, with the holy gyrdle & whoode
Noue can go to hell, that therein die by the rood
In case saint Frances, be sure upon their side
Els may they fortune, to be of their purpose wyde
For I teade of one that should have gone to the devil
But the spyrytes of hell, could do no him no evil.
Tyll saint Frauces came, & loke from him this cowle
Then went he to hell, the fryers did here him howl.
I will therefore serve S Frances, with hert and mind
With daily memoryes, that he may be my frynde
And than I care not for all the deuylles in hell
That I have told you, is more true then the Gospel.
Infidesitas.
Then are ye more sure, than monks for your herytage
For their lands are here, but ye claim heaven for advantage.
Pseudodoctrina.
Yet is it to them, a very pleasant thing
Theyr Abbot at home, tobe called lord and king.
Infidesitas.
Nay monk and churl, for here
•
s no king but one,
If he be a king, his mace is a mary bone
And his crown a cowtorde, such knaves as come frō the carte
Must be called kings, for playenge a popish par
••
.
Pseudodoctrina.
It becometh not the, the Romish pope, so to lurche
Consyderynge he is the highest of the church.
Infidesitas.
If he be the highest, than is he the •• thercocke
Pseudodoctrina.
Ah, now I per
•
eyne, thou art dysposed to mock
Of all holy Church, he is the pry
•
eypall head.
Infidesitas.
Mary that is true, he sendeth out bulls under lead
And he hath two
••
yes, the one to open hell
The other spea
•
eth heaven, thus do new here tyekes tell
They report also that Dogs have no deuocion
To his holy laws, nor his old instruction.
Pseudodoctrina.
Why should dogs hate him? make that more evident
Infidesitas.
They love no p
•
se portege, nor yet red herynges in lent
Steckfysshe nor oysters, but curse him body and bone
And would his red sprottes, & rotten fysshe were gone
Tush, I hear them I, and that maketh me full sad.
Hypocrisis.
Either thou doest mock, or else thou art sure mad.
Infidelitas.
Theare the people complayue very moche of the.
Pseudodoctrina.
What is their pratlinge, I pray the heartily tell me.
Infidelitas.
They say thou teachest, nothing but lowsy tradictōs.
And lies for lu
••
e, with damnable superstitions
And thus they conclude, that the draff of popish prysies
Is good enough for Swyne, by whom they do mean the Papystes.
Yea, and they say also, the diet of men is all
To most byle carryen, the dogs will soonest fall
Pseudodoctrina.
Than do they compare, the papists unto dogs.
Infidelitas.
Mary that do they, and to such swynys she hogs
As in swyllandsosse, are brought up all their life
Suche are the Papists, they say both man and wife
They say also, that thou art a noughty knave
By prowlynge and lie
••
ge, ye fryers would all have
Thyne order they say, is spronge even out of hell
And all this knowledge, they have now of the Gospel.
Hypocrisis,
Why, where is he now, I beseech the heartily tell.
Infidelitas.
By the mess abroad, & I warrande ye maketh revel.
I comoned with him, and he did us despise
Agaynst him therefore, somewhat we must de uyse.
Pseudodoctrina.
Mary that must we, or else it will be wrong
He will sure dystroye us▪ if we do suffer him longe
Nedes must we serve him, as we ones served Christ.
Infidelitas.
Why mad bray • ed whorsons, how did ye handle Christ
Pseudodoctrina.
As he preached here, we followed frō place to place
To trap him in snare, and his doctrine to deface
Than found we the means, to put him so to death
Leaste he against us, should open anymore breath
And we set four knyghtes, to kept him down in his grave
That he never more, our living should deprave.
And thus must we serve the Gospel, no remedy
Els will he destroy our livings perpetuallye.
B
•
tt
•
r one were lost, than we should perysshe all
As Caiaphas ones said, in Counsel pharisa
•
call.
Infidelitas.
By god well said, whan ye have him in his grave
Stāpe him down, till he shyte, & serve him like & knau
•
Hypocrisis.
We must so order him, that he go no more at large.
Pseudodoctrina.
Four knyghtes wyllwe hire, whom we shall streyghtlye charge.
To keep him down hard, the first are ambycyous Prelates.
Then Coueytous lawyers, that God's word spyght fuliye hates.
Lord's without learning, and iustyces vnryghtfull
These will keep him down, & rappe him on the sc
•
ll.
Theyr Somners and their Scrybes, I warrande ye shall stere
With baylyurs and catchp
•
lles, to hold him down everywhere
I trow Rug & Corbet, at Norwit
•
h will do their part
With wharton of
•
ongaye, and for my sake put him to smart.
Hypocrisis.
And I will raise up in the vnyuersyties
The seven slepers there, to advance the popes decrees
As Dorbell and Duns, Durand & Thomas of Aquyne
The master of sentens, with Bachon the great deuyue
Hēricus de Gandauo, and these shall read ad cletū.
Aristotle and Albert, de secretis mulierum
With the Cōmentaryes, of Aui
•
en and Aueroyes
And a Phebo Phebe, which is very good for boys
Infidelitas.
Yea and let the pope, as God's own Uicat here
In his hand▪ iii. cro
•
ses, &. iii. crowns on his head
•
ere
His power betokenynge in heaven, in earth, & in hell
That he may comaūde all kings, & subdue the gospel
Pseudodoctrina.
His self may do that he need comaunde none other
Is not he the head of the holy church out mother
May not be make sayuts & devils at his own pleasure
Which hath in his hands, the
•
eyes & churches treasure
So well as he made saint Herman first a saint
And twentye years after, of Heresye him attaynte.
Fyrste he sent him to heaven, by his canonyzacion
And from thence to bell, by auexcommunycation
We read of formosus, that after he was dead
One pope his fyngars, another cut of his head
And threw his Carkasse, into the flood of Tiber
With the head and fingers, as Platina doth remember
In token that he, is judge over quycke and dead
And may dampne and save, by his pardons under lead
Sylvester the seconde, to the devil himself ones gave
For that high office, that he might dampne and save
He offered also his stones to Satan, they say
For priests chastytie, and so went their marriage away
Hypocrisis.
Here is one coming, enquyre what he entende.
Infidesitas.
Ha? it is the Gospel, from him God us defend.
Exit secreto,
Pseudodoctrina.
Show me brother mine, who did the hither send.
Euangelium.
The father of heaven, of his mere beuyu
•
lence
I desire therefore, of free audyence.
Pseudodoctrina,
Ye mind than to preach afore this company?
Euangelium.
In the laws of God, would I instruct them gladly
For none other way, there is unto salvation
But the word of God, in every generation
That qayckeueth, that saveth, y
t
bringeth unto heaven.
As before his death, Christ taught the Apostle aleuen.
Pseudodoctrina.
Preache here thou shalt not, without the Aucthorytie
Of pope or bys
•
hop, or some of their affynytie.
Euangelium.
God's word, never taketh his auctorytie of man.
Pseudodoctrina,
Thou shalt not here preach, do thou the best thou can.
Hypocrisis.
God's blessing on your heart, it is spoken even like a man.
Ye knowethis day syr, we have a full holy feast
And must go processyon, with the blessed rood of reast
We have longe matins, longe laudes, longe hours, longe pryme.
Mass, euensong, complyne, & all must be done in time
Sensynge of the Aulters, and castynge of holywater
Holy bread making, with other necessary matter.
Euangelium.
Have God commanded any such things to be done
Pseudodoctrina.
What is that to the? go medle with old shone
Canst thou say, but they are good sygnyfications?
Euangelium.
I say they are fruits of your ymagynacions.
To bring in luere, and darken God's high glory.
Of you God doth axe, no such vain beggary
Christ never sent his, to she we sygnyfications
But his living word, to all the Christian nations
Ye forsake the Lord, as Isaiah doth tell
And highly blaspheme, the holy of Israel.
In his first chapter, this horrible sentence is
Quis hec frusteanea quesiuit, be manibus Bestris,
Who hath required, of yousuche sacrifice
In vain offer you, that untō maunded service
Your incense to me, is great Abhomyuation
I sore abhorte it, and moche detest your fasshyon
Whan ye pray to me, I give ye none attendaunce
But avert my face (saith God) & my countenance
By this ye may se, that the lord doth not regard
your mangre mutteryng, neither grant it any reward
No man willeth Paul, to speak in the congregation
In a strange language, without interpretation.
In your latyn hours, the flock do ye not consider
But declare yourselves, to be Romys she all together
Be not led about (saith Paul, by any strange letuyng
What else is your doctrine, but a blind popish thing?
He testifieth also, Non enim vt baptizatem
Dis
•
t tu
•
Christue, sed vt Euangeliz
•
rem.
Christ hath not me sent, that I should baptyse, saith Paul
But to preach his word, to the comfort of man's soul
Loo, though baptyme be a thing very necessity
yet must it give place, to God's word, no remidye
Why than preferreye, your draffys she ceremonies
To the Gospel preachyuge, O dampuable iniuryes.
Hypocrysis.
Why suffer ye him, to pratle here so longe?
Pseudodoctrina.
Get the hence shortly, or with the, it will be wrong.
Intran
•
.
Infidelitas.
Peace be here and God, master Doctor by your leave
That I may declare, a pardon here in my slene
Of our Lady of Boston, Ingham, and saint Johannes Frarye
With the indulgence, of blessed saint Antonye
Pseudodoctrinai
Well, take thy pleasure, and do it hardelye.
Hypocrisy.
Syr he doth me wrong, for this day it is my stacion
To preach my brotherhed, and gather my lymytacion
Pseudodoctrina.
Who first spake, first speed, step forth and rede thy pardon
And whan he hath done, your course is, father warden.
Euangelium.
What course appoint ye, for preaching of the Gospel
Pseudodoctrina.
I would thy Gospel, and thou, were both now in hell
Euangelium.
Why and shall this baggage, put by the word of God
Pseudodoctrina.
Thou wilt not be answered, till thou fele a sharper rod
Infide
•
ita
•
,
Good Christian people, I am come hither berelye
As a true poctour, of the house of saint An
•
onye
Of clean remyssyon, I have brought ye indulgence
A pena et culpa, for all your sin and
•
ff
•
ure
By the Auctorytie of pope Leo and pope Clement
Pope Bonyface, pope Pius, pope Johan, and pope Innocent.
And here I bless ye, with the wynge of the holy ghost
From thundre to save ye, and frō spyrytes in every coo
••
Lo, here is a bell, to hange upon your hog
And save your Cattle, from the bytynge of a dog
So many as wyllcome, to this holy frater
•
ytie
Come pay your money, and ye shall have letters of me
Pseudodoctrina.
Let me have a letter, for I will be a brother
Hypocrisy.
Then give me a bell, for I will be another.
Euangelium,
O damnble leadyuge, of Babylonicall sodomytes
Your selves ye declare, to be shameful hypocrites
Lord pytie thy people, and take away these gydes
These scorners, these robbers, these cruel homycydes
Suche prophets are they, as God did ueuer send
As Hiere mye saith, they damnable ways pretend.
Woe Hypocrytes woe, for here ye tryfie and mock
With christen people, & the kyngdō of heaven up lock
Ye count it a game, to lose that Christ hath bought
With his precyous blode, & here most dearly sought
O ye are wretches, and pestylent Antichrists
Mynysters of Dagon, and most deceitful papists.
Lyke tauenouse Wolves, poor Wydowes ye devour
By title of prayer▪ eternal damnation is youre
Your own dreams ye follow, but matter moche more wayghtye
Ye do not esteem, as judgment, faith, and mercy
Woe Pharyses woe, ye make clean outwardelye
But inwardes ye are full, of coueytousues & bawdrye.
Paynted tumbes are ye, apryenge tyght beautiful
But within ye stynke, & have thoughts very shameful
Ye slew the prophets, your doing yet bear witness.
How think ye to avoid, that point of unrighteousness
Oh raging serpentes, and vyperouse generation
Howe can ye escape, the danger of damnation
Pseudodoctrina.
Who made the so bold, to medle within my cure?
And teache new learning? an heretic art thou sure
If due search were made, we should find the (I think) no pryest
Euangelium,
Yes, anointed of God, but no popysshe Antichrist.
Pseudodoctrina.
Let me se, where are the letters of thy ordres?
Euangelium,
Where Christ his self is, & not in the same borders
No such pryest am I, as is anointed with oil
But the holy Ghost, for I am none of this soil.
Pseudodoctrina.
Here I attache the, for a buysye scismatyke
And will the accuse, for an haynouse heretic
Laye hands upon him, & depryue him of this apparel
H • c Beste spotiatum sordidiori • us induunt.
Loo, thus will I handle all thē, that shall take thy quarrel
Hold away with this gere, and lay it forth aside.
Hypoc
•
isis.
Nay, tarry brother mine, for away shalt thou not slyde
Euangelium.
I am not going, why doest thou slander me?
Infidelitas.
But ne him to ashes and show to him no pytie.
Pseudodoctrina.
Brent shall he not be, if he will no more do so.
Felowe howe sayst thou? wilt th
•
u here abiute or no?
Euangelium,
I will neither abjure, nor yet recant God's glory.
Pseudodoctrina.
I offered the reason, and thereto thou wilt not applyd,
Well get the forewarde for thou shalt sure die
The temporal power, shall judge the to the fire
At our Accusement, and holy relygyous desire.
Euangelium.
Thought you for my sake impryson men cruelly
Famysshe them, stock them, and them with fagots frye
Hurte me ye shall not, for I can never die
And they for my sake, shall live perpetually
•
.
Pseudodoctrina.
Here is a pratynge, with a very vengeance hēnce.
Ex
•
unt cum
•
ol
Hypoc
•
isis,
This horrible hetetycke, now shall we well recompense
Infidelitas.
Yea, hurne him well friar, and let him no longer reign
Laye on grieve faggottes, to put him to more pain
By the mess I laugh, to se howe this ge
•
e doth wurke
He is like of thē, to have no more gra
•
r than a turke
For such knaves they are, as a man shall not lyghtly find.
And take over hell, companyons they are to my mind
My business all, is now at good conclusion
That I have brought these. iii. laws to confusion
Now shall I be able, to live here peaceablye
And make frowly
•
e chere, with hey how frysfa Iolye
The law of Nature, I caste first in a leprye
By the secrete help, of ydolatrye and sodomye.
The law of Moses, I made a crypple blind
Auaryce and Ambycion, to help me were not behind
And now Christ's law, I have br
•
ut for heresy
•
By help of false doctrine, and my cosyn hypocrysye
On these same three laws, all other laws depend
And cannot prenayle, now these are at an ende.
If Christian governors, do not these laws uphold
Theyr Cyuple ordynaunces, will soon be very cold
Well, this valeaunte George, hath made them all to stoop.
Cheare now may I make, and set cock on the houpe
Fyll in all the pots, and bid me welcome hostesse
And go cal me hither, mine own sweet mynyon Besse▪
Finit Actus quartus.
Incipit Actus quintus.
Uindicta Dei.
Q
Uid gloriaris in malicia? qui potens es in iniquitate.
Thou vengeable wretch, replete with poison and vice
Why doest thou thus, rejoice in cruelty and maiyte?
Thynkest thou that God sleepeth, & will not his defend
And that thy myschyefe, shall never have an ende
The blode of Innocentes, to him for vengeance call
And therefore this hour, must I fearcely upon the fall
Infidelitas.
Thou spirit of the air, I straygtly conjure the here
By Panton & Craton, and charge the to come no nere.
Uindicta Dei.
Thynkest thou to stop me, with thy foolysshe cōsuracion
Whom God sendeth hither, for thy abhomynacion.
Infidelitas.
What art thou called? thy name to me rehearse.
Uindicta dei.
I am Uindicta Dei, in punysshement most fierce,
With water, with sooerde, and with fire I must thee pierce
Infidelitas.
Be good in thy office, & thou shalt have money & meat
Uindicta Dei.
By filthy rewards, thou canst not me entreat
But that I will do, as God hath me commanded
For if wordly gifts, my fury might have changed
The buyuetfall world, had ben drownde with water
Nor Sodom & Gomor, with so fiery fearful matter
Nor yet the Israelyties, with terror of the sword
With hungre & pestylence, in the angre of God's word
Pharaoh in Egypt, the plagues had never felt
Myght I have been stopped, for silver or for g
•
l
•
e
Into Egypt I brought, ten terrible punysshementes
Upon the people, for breaking his commandments
Theyr wholesome waters, I turned into blood
I multyplyed frogs, to poison therewith their food.
I made wasps and Dranes, them grievously to sting
And all kinds of flies, soon after did I in bring
Upon their cattle, I threw the fowl pestylence
Both botche, byle, and blayne, they had for their offense
Lyghtenynges and haylynges, destroyed their Corn and fruit.
A swarm of hungry locusts, their pastors destytute
The space of three days, I gave thē palpable darkness
I slew the first goten, of mā and beast, for thy rudeness
For I never stryke, but for the Infydelytie.
Infidelitas.
Stryke for me quoth • ? By y • mary Mass I defye thē
Uindicta Dei.
What thou wilt not so, thy brains are not so light
Infidelitas.
Angre me not to moche, for if thou do, I fight
Uindicta dei.
All that will not help, thy wicked workynges now
Whan the stronger come, the weaker must needs bow
The law of Nature, infected thou hast, with a leprye.
Infidelitas.
Nay, it was not I, but that wytche Idolatry
And that polde shorn knave, that men cal Sodomye
Uindicta Dei.
Of whom syronge they first? but of Infydelytie?
Therefore thou shalt have, that plage of penalty
Which they first tasted, for their Iniquity
For those two vices, I drowned the world with water
In token whereof, I plage the, with the same matter.
Hic Infidelitatem • ••• pha perc • tit,
Infidelitas.
Tusshe, I defye thy worst, this shall not drive me hē
••
For after the flood, with Cham had I resydence
And so contynued, till Moses law came in
With his iolye tryckes, a new rule to begin
Uindicta Dei.
And him thou cortuptest, with Auaryce and Ambicion
And so dydst leave him in miserable condycion
Thou shalt have therefore, that than to them was due
Most terrible battle, the Israelties untrue
That time did suffer, for their Infydelytie
Wherefore with this sword, I justly banysshe the.
Bycause thou shalt here, give place to Christ's gospel
Gladio Infidelitatem denuo cedit.
Infidelitas.
Yet will I not hence, but again ones rebel.
Dyd not I remain, with Judas, and other more?
Whan Christ prea
•
hed here, and taught them to ve
••
him sore.
Yes, and after that, was I with Simon Magus
With Saunder Coppersmyth, with Elimas and Demetrius.
And now I persevere, among the rank rabble of Papists
Teachynge their sho
•
lynges, to play the Antichrist
••
Uindicta Dei.
The Innocent blood, of saints continually
Dothe all unto God to revenge their injury▪
Agaynst false doctrine and cursed hypocrisy
Whom thou hast raised the glory of the Gospel
To darken, and his friends most myserably to quell.
Wherefore thou shalt have like as thou hast deserved
For thy wicked doings, thy punysshmēt now doubled.
Ignis ipsum precedet. The Prophet David saith thus.
At{que} inflammabit in citcuitu inimicos eiue.
A consumynge fire, shall run before the judge
His enemies consumynge, they shall find no refuge.
Ob scesera et culpas hominum, titus{que} nephandes
In cineres ibit tissus, tenuim{que} fauillam
As Mantuan writeth, for the wickedness of the
The earth to asshes, by fire, shall turned be.
Ignis flamnia Infidelitatem
〈◊◊〉
coget.
Infidelitas,
Credo, credo, credo. I say, credo, credo, credo,
To the Denyll of hell, by the Messe I wene I go.
Exit.
Deus Pater.
As
•
e have seen here▪ howe I have stryken with fire
The pestylent vice of Infydelytie
Sowyll I destroy, in the fearcenes of my
•
tire▪
All sects of error, with their enormytie
Which hath risen out of that iniquytie
For as it is said, that my hand hath no set
Shall up by the root, no power may it let.
The Apostle Johan, in the Apo
•
alyps doth say
He saw
•
new he even, and a new earth appearynge
The old earth and se, were taken clean away
That heaven is man's faith, that earth his understanding.
Whom we have renewed, by our most sexxet work ynge
The old cauered earth, exylynge with the see
Which is superstition, and Infydelytie.
A new Jerusalem, the said John also se
As a beautiful
〈…〉
to her husband
Our
••
ue faithful church is that same fair Cytie
Whō we
〈…〉
, by the power of our right hand
As a s
•
ouse to Christ, in every Christian lande
〈…〉
the
•
ecres, of Babylonicall poperye
That
•••
in
••
y
•
yte, may walk to our glory.
〈…〉
three l
•
wes, for you will I
•
lere also
Of such infections, as by Infydelytie
Ye have reciyued, that ye with he
•
may go
Declarynge the ways, of Christian lybertie
〈…〉
, she may take,
〈…〉
For her only God, and be our people still
In our laws walking, according to our will.
Omnes simue.
At your commandment, we are most blessed lord,
Deus pater.
Approche nyghar than, and ye shall be restorde.
Thou law of Naturewe first begin with the
Restorynge the again, to thy first purytie
Auoyde Idolatry, Auoyde vile Sodomye.
We charge ye no more, this law to putryfye
Kepe still that same heart for a sign perpetual
That thou wert written, in man's heart first of all.
Thou law of Moses▪ give me that veil from the
No longer shalt thou, neither blind nor crooked be
Hence thou Ambycion, and cut sed Coueytousn
•
s
I here banysche you, from this law ever doubtless
Lose not those tables, which are a token ture
That thou in the flesche, shalt ever more continue.
Thou law of the Gospel, though thou be last of all
In operation yet, thou art the pryacypall
From the I exyle, hypoetysye and false doctrine
With all that depend, upon the papistical
•
yne
Reserue the came boke, for a sign of heavenly pour
For y
e
boke thou art, that John frō headuē did devour.
Nature lex.
Euerlastyng praise, to thy glorious majesty.
Moseh lex,
Our heavenly governor, great is thy gracious pytie,
Christi lex.
Of mankind thou art, the eternal felycitie.
Nature lex.
Now leavest thy servants, in thy perpetual peace
To do the service, from hence, will we notcease.
Moseh lex.
For your eyes have se
•
e, what thou hast now prepared
For thy people's health, which hath benhere declared.
Christi lex.
A light thou hast sent, which is thy joyous Gospel
To the consolacion of the house of Israel.
Nature lex.
In rejoice of this, make we some melodye.
Moseh lex.
The name of our God, to praise and magnyfye.
Christi lex.
I assent thereto, and will sing very gladly.
Hic ad Dei gloria • canta • unt. In exitu Israel de Aegipto, •• l aliud simile.
Deus Pater,
Now have we destroyed, the kingdom of Babylon
And thrown the great whore, into the bottomless pyt
Restorynge agayae, the true faith and religion
In the Christian church, as we have thought it fit
Depurynge these laws, so to continue it
Man is our creature, and hath grace in our sight
To dwell with him now, is our whole hearts delight.
Man is our people, his God we are again
With him will we have, continual resydence
A way will we wype, from all sorrow and pain
He shall no longer dyspayre, for his offense
Nor have in his soul, any carefuldoubte of conscience
The old popyshnes is past, which was dampuacion
We have now re
•
ued, our Christian congregation.
Stande forth Christian faith, and take our aduertismēt
We here appoint the, to govern our congregation
Se thou do nothing, without the admonysshement
Of these three laws here, Imprynt their declaration
Of my sweet promises, and than make thou relation
To my folk again, that they may walk to me
Without popysshe dreams, in a perfect lybertie.
Fid
••
Christiana.
Most heavenly maker, in it thoudoest command me
Euermore will I, full prompt and dylygent be.
Deus Pater.
Thou law of Nature, shalt
••
ache man God to know
And thatto refuse, whereby any ill may grow.
Nature lex.
From this your precept, shall I not varye I crowe▪
Deus Pater.
Teache thou him also, to worship one God about
And his proper neyber, to persecute with love.
Moseh lex.
I hope blessed lord, to do as me shall behoove.
Deus Pater.
And thou shalt teache him, to love God in his heart.
And those to forgive, by whom he sufferethsmarte.
Christi lex.
In your appoyntmentes, will I do also my part.
Deus Pater.
Work thou in the heart, a knowledge necessary
In the flesh, work thou, by outward Ceremonye.
Change thou notto the sp
•
et▪
•
workyn
•
s of these
•
woe
And cause our people, in a perfect way to go
Take hede christē faith, to the techynges of these three
And move our people, to walk in the verytie.
The promises we made, in all these three are Gospel
We would thou shouldest so, to our Congregation tell
Our eu
•
rlastynge b
•
estynge, be with you ever more.
Omnes simul.
To thy sweet name lord, be praise & perpetual honor▪
Fides Christiana.
It hath pleased God, to put me in this office
To govern his church, and christen Congregation
And theri
•
do, as ye shall me entyce
Gyue me I pray you, such wholesome exhortation
As may be to Man, aclere edyfication
And I will be glad, to take your adurttyshment
As it shall become, any child obedyent.
Christi lex.
Ye speak it full well, than mark what shall be said
And dylygently, look that it be obeyed.
Nature lex.
The effect of me, is for to know the lord
Euerlastynge, strong, most gracyous and godly
And as touching Man, to have fraternal concord
F
〈…〉
r to norysshe, and to do non injury
To
〈…〉
••
uenasites made, and love true matrymonye
T
•
ese noble effects, so temper you in Man.
That them to fulfill, he do the best he can.
Moseh lex.
The effect of me, is for to worship the lord
As one God alone, and to fly from Idolat
•
ye
Not to flee nor stele, nor yet to bear false record
To show what is sin, and to seek the remedy
Publyque peace to hold▪ and sore to punysshe the gyltie
From these good effects, se that man never so
•
rue
Thau shall he be sure, that God will him preserve.
Christi lex.
The effect of me, is for to worship the lord
In the inward spirit, and to favor friend & eumye
And in all points else, with God's will to accord
To preach remyssyon, to save and to iustyfye
In Christ all to se
•
elyfe, justice, peace and mer
•
y
•
These heavenly effects, in man so incorporate
That he may in spirit, be newly regenerate.
Fides Christiana.
More sweet than honye, are your three exhortacions
And regestred they be, in my memoryall
Now will I forward, to all the Christian nations
And se in effect, these laws observed all
To the abolyshment, of the dreams papistical
Now the light is come, the darkness dieth away
I trust in the lord, men will walk in the day.
Good Christian people, to these three laws apply
First know that ye have, a living God above
Than do him honor, and his name magnyfye
Worshyp him in spryte, as the Gospel you doth move
Than obey your quen
•
, like as shall you behoove
For she in her life, that lord doth represent
To sauegard
•
of the just, and fynners punysshement.
Se that ye regard, such laws as she doth make
For they are of God, as Solomon doth report
Of these laws doubteles, those laws their groundynges take
To the publyque wealth, to give aid, strength, and comfort
For preservation, of all the christen sort
In no case follow, the ways of
•
eygnolde Pole
To his damnation, he doubtless playeth the fool.
Have
•
due respect, unto your country natyue
Which hath brought ye up, and given ye noryshment
Even from your cradelles, to these days nutrytyue
Do that ye may do, to her wealth and preferment
Mynyster to bet, no hateful detryment
A dog to his friend, will never be vnlouynge
Let reason in ye, not lose his natural working.
Nature lex.
Who liveth without law, shall perysshe without law
And therefore we have, three laws to you described
That after their lives, ye should in your living draw
We have also shown, howe they have ben corrupted
By fowl Idolaters, and Sodomytes polluted.
By coueytous preestes, and by ambytyous prelates
Hypocrytall fryers, false Doetours and false Cutates
Mose
•
lex,
Who hath restored, these same thyr laws again
But your late Josiah, and valeaunt king Henry
No prince afore him, toke ever yet such pain
Frō England to banysshe, Idolatry & fowl Sodomye
Coueytousnes, Ambycion, false Doctryne & hypocrisy
It was he that brought, Christ's verytie to light
Whan he put the pope, with his fylthynes to flyght.
Christi lex.
Frō dāpnable darkness, as my brother here doth say
He hath delivered, this realm of England godly
Bryngynge his Subiectes, into the true path way
Of their souls safeguard▪ if they now follow it wysely
And left them he hath, the same way still to fortyfye
His noble son Edward, such a king of God elect
As questionless, while helyued, did perform it in effect
Fides christiana.
Praye we to the lord, for the longe contynuaunce
Of Queen Elizabeth, in this worlds habytacion
And that of her Noblesse, she have true maintenance
In the pryncyples of this most worthy foundation
•
hat she may to Christ, bring us from desolation
And for her noble Counselors, to god let us all pray
That in the true faith, their hearts direct he may.
Amen.
The ten comaundementes bryefelye.
Love thy Lord God. Swear thou no oath
Thy sobbeth keep. Please thy friends both.
Wytnes none ill. Hold no man's wife.
Brybe man's good. Slee not with knyfe
Wysshe no man's house. Nor Ox nor Ass
As thou wilt have. Do thou like case.
These Cōmaundementes need not be rehearsed in the Enterlude.
A song upon Benedictus: Compyled by John Bale.
B
Enedictus dominus, Deus Israel Which hath over thrown, the migh tie Idol Bell
The false God of Rome, by power of the Gospel
And hath prepared from the depe lake of hell.
Redēptionem ple
•
i
•
su
•
.
•
t
•
rexit cornu, of mercy, health and grace
That cruel Tyraunt, now clearly to de face
Whose blodye kingdom, dymynyssheth apace
By the word of God, which lately hath take place.
In
•
omo David, pueti sui▪
Sicut Iocutus est, the Lord celestial
That Romys she Antichrist, is like to have a fall
With his whole rabble, of sects dyabolycall
And now the number, will florysshe over all
Prop
•
etatum eiu
•
.
Salutem ex inimicis, now we may daily hear
The enemies of Christ, with him doth witness bear
Saul is become a Paul, and preaching every wheare
Now may we receive, most heavenly wholesome gear
De manu corum qui
•
d
••••
t nos.
Ad faciendam misericodiam
The son of our God, from his high gloryecam
To redeem the sin, of the children of Adam
And to remember, to faithful Abraham
Testamentisui sancti.
Ad iusiurandum, which God hath made afore
Unto our fathers he will keep evermore
Promysed he hath if we regard his lore
For sakynge the Pope, with his damnable store
Daturum se nobis.
Ut sine timore, from Romish tyrants free
The lord grant us grace, that we may speakers b
•
Of his holy word, and therein to agree
That in the Gospel and Christian lybertie
Seruiam
••
i
••
i.
In sanctitate, and pureness of life
Let us now travail, both maiden man and wife
All tyghtrous doings, in us be ever ryfe
That we perseuet, without debate orstryfe
Omnibu
•
dicbus nostri
•
.
Tupuer Propheta, elected of the lord
Our Queen Elizabeth, to have God's law restorde
Folowest Josiah, therofto take record
In all thy doings, and in God's holy word
Patate via
••
iu
•
.
Ad dandam scicentiam, for men's health and save garde
Christ's holy Gospel, by the is freely heard
Wherein doth cousyst, their life and full reward
With preservation, from dangerous i
•
oba
•
die.
Peccatorum corum.
P
•
t viscera misericordie
Christ our dere master, us daily over
••
Least we here perysshe, in our iniquytie
Our mediator, continually is he.
Ori
•
ns ex afto.
Illuminare, sweet lord we the desire
To menin darkness, and in the popysshe mire
Let not his baggage, thy faithful servants tire
But us deliver, from them and from hell fire.
In viam pacis.
Amen.
THUS ENDETH
this Cōmedye, concerning three Laws, of Nature, Moses, and Christ, corrupted by the Sodomytes, Pharysies, and Papists most wicked. Compyled by John Bale.
IMPRYNTED AT London / in S. brydes Churchyarde, over against the North Door of the Church, by Thomas Colwell.
Anno Domini. M. D. LXII. vi. Die Nouembris.