Search York

of his word and sacraments, and to have granted to the 130

churches the ordinance of al other things, which belong to

the comely and profitable administration of the sacraments :

wherupon we neither celebrate the holy supper at evening,

neither in a private house, neither sitting, nor with men

only. Some reckon among these things, which freely are

left to the ordinance of the churches, to minister the com-

munion once a year only, thrice or four times, or oftener,

and to stand at it, neither to be partaker of the sacraments.

But sure it is, that both of them are plaine papistical. It is

certain that the Apostles, and the congregations of the Apo-

stles, ministred the Lords supper after the institution of

Christ, every sabbath day, and as often as the brethren as-

sembled in greater mesures together, and al that were pre-

sent were partakers, according to the word of the Lord,

Drink ye al of this : wherby it is plain enough, that he

would have al eat of the offered bread. Now in every holy

assembly of brethren, we ought to celebrate the memory of

the Lord ; for which the Lord also ordained his supper, and

so was continued by the Apostles, we are sufficiently taught.

Acts iv. and 1 Cor. xi. Then these two things, to celebrate

the Lords supper so seldom, and so few to receive it, I

judge to be simply papistical : for they disagree with the

word of God.

As for these things, touching the place, the time, the ap-

parel, to minister or receive the holy communion, of admit-

ting women to the Lords table, of the maner of prayers and

hymnes unto God ; so also of apparel, and other things per-

taining to outward comelines, 1 doubt not but the Lord gave

free liberty to his churches to appoint and ordain in these

things that which every church shal judge most available

for the people, to maintain and encrease the reverence to-

wards al the divine service of God. If then any churches.

462 A REPOSITORY

by this liberty of Christ, would have their ministers wear

some special apparel in their holy ministry to this end of

edifying the flock of Christ ; setting apart al superstition, al

lightnes, and al dissension among brethren, that is, al abuse ;

I se not who can condemn such churches, for this matter, of

any sin, no, nor of any fellowship with Antichrist. What if

some church, by the pure and holy consent of themselves,

should have that custome, that every one should wear a

white garment at the holy communion, as they sometimes

did which newly were baptized ? For if any Avil strive that

this liberty is to be granted to no church of Christ, he must

needs confes one of these ; either that nothing is to be per-

mitted to the churches, to be ordained about the Lords sup-

per, wherof I have no expres commandment of Christ ;

(wherby al churches shal be condemned of ungodly boldnes :

for al do observe both time and place, and gesture of body,

in the ministration of the holy supper, and they admit

women to the communion : of al which things they not only

have no commandment of the Lord, but also a contrary ex-

ample ; for the Lord held his supper in the evening, not in

the morning ; in a private house, not in a public ; sitting-

down with his disciples, and receiving the pascal lamb, not

standing, and shewing this only communion of himself:

moreover the women were excluded, which yet were ac-

counted most devout and holy among his disciples ;) or els

it cannot be, that there should be churches, which the Lord

so far forth delivereth from al superstition and abuse of his

131 good creatures, that to the clean al the creatures of God are

good, and in use of signification clean by true faith in his

name ; (which whoso saith, he truly therby shal deny Christ

our Lord to be the same unto al men, which he promised to

become, namely, a deliverer from al sin, and a purger from

al unclcannes ;) or that the wicked by their abuse may so

pollute the creatures of God, which of themselves are good,

that they can serve no godly man to a godly use : which is

plainly contrary to the testimonies of the Holy Ghost, Rom.

xiv, 1 Cor. viii. and ix. 1 Tim. iv. or else truly it is not law-

ful for Christians to entreat of every thing, both to warn

OF ORIGINALS. 463

them of their Creator, and knowledg of themselves, and of

his benefits towards us, and our duties towards him : which

is contrary to that the Holy Ghost in al places teacheth, of

the acknowledging and worshipping of God in al his works,

and doing al thinos in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to

the glory of the Father.

Al these absurdities must godly minds eschew. Neither is

that evil to be feared, which was wont to be objected : If so

great a liberty be granted to the Church, that they may put

every thing to godly significations and admonitions, there

are which wil bring into our service al the ceremonies, either

of Aaron, or of the Antichrist of Rome, or of the Gentils.

For the churches which I have described, and to whom I

think cannot that liberty be denyed wherof I speak, what-

soever ceremonies or apparel they take to their use, they wil

order to serve the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ, by setting it forth, not by darkning it. Even as

among true Christians the next end of al the outward cere-

monies, and expresly commanded by the Lord, is the com-

mendation and decking of the ministry of the gospel, by

which al superstition and abuse of al things is put to flight :

so that will we, nil we, we must needs confes the differences

of apparel in them that bear civil office, to give cause unto

men wel affected of singular I'everence towards the magis-

trates, what should let, why the same should not be in the

ministry of religion ? Every godly motion of the mind pro-

cedeth necessarily from the Holy Ghost ; and it must needs

be maintained by the word of God. Notwithstanding to this

Spirit, and to the word of God, al creatures with the godly

do serve : and so much the more, if the things by pubhc

ordinance be appointed to any godly signification and admo-

nition. For unto the good, God hath created al his works

for good and sundry use. He preserveth them, and if they

use them in him, he delivereth them unto him. Let us con-

sider what the Holy Ghost teacheth touching the significa-

tion of the vail of a woman, of the covering of a mans head,

1 Cor. xi. Also, why he made mention by name of the

464 A REPOSITORY

shining garments of Aaron. He doth nothing rashly, but in

al things he procureth the salvation of his, which consisteth

by faith of the gospel. But herof I have written more at

large to master A Lasco.

The Lord knoweth how I desire to further your study,

but for the restoring of the whole kingdom of Christ: and

as I se the abuse of that apparel as yet to remain, I would

buy it dearly, that they were clean taken away. But to

make it wicked of it self to use them any ways, I se no

cause. Grant it to me. Whatsoever scriptures you alledg

against the traditions of men, you know, that al that is to be

132 understood of these things wherwith men wil worship God

by themselves, and overpassing the commandments of God,

eat meat rather with washed hands than unwashed. What-

soever you speak oi beggarly and weak elements, you know

it pertaineth to superstition ; wherby these things were re-

quisite, as necessary or profitable of themselves to salvation,

now that Christ is reveled. Whatsoever you se of the abuse

of these garments, that is not in the garments, but sticketh

in unclean minds. But can these things be so repugnant to

the word and Spirit of God, seing that al things are clean

to them, even those which Antichrists most filthily have

polluted ?
If these things shal satisfy you, reverend Sir, I wil rejoice

in the Lord. Otherwise I pray you, shew me those scrip-

tures in few words, wherby I may se, that this my opinion

touching the liberty of these things standeth not with the

word of God. And I pray God, that he so moderate, or

else remove this controversy, lest any way it hinder the ne-

cessary clensing of the Church ; and lest they be divided

either in opinion or in ministration, whom God in such sort

hath coupled and joyncd to set forward the salvation of

the people.

I wish you and your wife, and al the company of brethren

there with you, to live happily in al things, and I commend

my ministry unto your prayers. In that I send back so late,

and do send you your writings again, I pray you bear with

OF ORIGINALS. 465

my earnest busines, which these days have let mo for the

kingdom of Christs sake ; and also because I lack trusty

messengers, to whom I might commit these to be brought

unto you. The grace of the Lord encrease always in you

and us al. Amen.
Your most bounden in the Lord,
Martin Bucer.

oo.
Croivley's epigrams concerning abuses.

I. Abbays.

AS I walked alone, and mused on thyngs E Bibiioth.

That have in my time bene done by great kings, jj^" £p ^'
I bethought me of abbays, that sometyme I saw, Eiien.
Which are now suppressed al by a law.

O Lord, thought I then, what occasion was here,

To provide for learning, and make poverty chere ?

The lands and the jewels that hereby were hadd,

Would have found godly prechers, which might wel have
ladd

The people aright, that now go astray.

And have fed the poor, that famish every day.

But as I thus thought, it came to my mynde, 133

That the people wil not se, but delyghte to be blynde.

Wherefore they are not w^orthy good preachers to have.

Nor yet be provyded for, but in vayn stil to crave.

Than sayd I, O Lord God, make this tyme short.

For theyr only sake, that be thy chosen sort.
II. Alehouses.

Nedes must we have places for vitayls to be sold,

For such as be syck, pore, feble, and old.

But, Lord, to how great abuse they be grown.

In eche little hamlet, vyllage and towne ?

They are become places of wast and excess.

An herbour for such men, as lyve in idleness.
VOL. IT. PART II. H h

466 A REPOSITORY

And lyghtly in the contry they be placed so,
That they stand in mens way, when they should to church
go.

And then such as love not to hear theyr faults told

By the minister that readeth the N. Testament and Old,

Do turn into the alehouse, and let the church go :

And men accompted wise and honest do so.

But London, God be praised, al men may commend.

Which doth now this great enormity emende.

For in servyce tyme no dore standeth upp,

Where such men are apt to fyl can and cupp,

AVold God in the country they would do the same,

Either for Gods fear, or for worldly shame.
III. Almes-liouses.

A merchant that long time had bene in straunge landes,

Returned to his contry which in Europe stands.

And in his return his way laye to pass

By a spittle house not far from wher his dwelling was.

He loked for this hospital, but none could he se.

For a lordly house was built, where the hospitall should
be.

Good Lord, (sayd this merchant,) is my country so wealthy,

That the very beggars houses be built so gorgeously.-*

Than by the way syde hym chaunced to se

A pore man that craved of hym for charitie.

Why, (quoth this merchaunt,) what meaneth this thing ?

Do ye bcgg by the way, and have a house for a king ?

Alas ! Sir, (quod the pore man,) we are al turned out,

And ly and dy in corners here and thereabout.

Men of great riches have bought our dwelhng place.

And whan we crave of them, they turn away their face.

Lord God, (quod this merchaunt,) in Turkey have I bene,

Yet emong these heathen none such cruelty have I sene.
134 IV. Bail'rf' arrants.
A bailif there was in the west contrey.

That (lid as they do in al cjuartcrs, men "Seyc.

OF ORIGINALS. 467

He served with one wryt an whole score or tweyne,
And toke in hand to excuse them, having pence for hys payne.
And when he should warn a quest in sessions to appear,
He would surely warn them that would make hym no chere.
And than take a bribe to make answer for them ;
But when he met his friends, than would he say, Hem.
But such as had no chere, nor mony to pay,
Were sure to trudg to the session alway.
Ye must give hym some thynge to sow his hadland.
Or els ye can have no fauour at his hand.
Some puddings or baken, or chese for to eat,
A bushel of barly, some malt or some wheat.
His hadland is good ground, and beareth al thynge,
Be it baken or beffe, stockfysh or lynge.
Thus pore men are pold and pild to the bare.
By such as should serve them to kepe them from care.
V. Bawds.

The bawds of the stews be turned al out :

But some think they inhabit al England throughout ;

In taverns and typling houses many might be found,

If officers would make serch, but as they are bound.

Well, let them take heed, I wyl say no more ;

But when God revengeth, he punisheth sore.
VI. Beggars.

I heard of two beggars that under an hedg sate,

Who did with long talk their matters debate.

They had both sore leggs most lothsome to se,

Al raw from the fote welmost to the knee.

My legg, quod the one, I thank God, is fayre,

So is myne, quod the other, in a cold ayre.

For then it loketh raw, and as red as any bloud,

I would not have it healed for any worlds good.

For were it once whole, my lyving were gone.

And for a sturdy beggar, I should be take anone.

No manne would pity me but for my sore legg,

Wherfore if it were whole, in vain I might begg.
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468 A REPOSITORY

I should be constrained to labour and sweat,

And perhaps sometime with scourges be beat.

Wei, sayd the tother, let us take hede therfore,

That we let them not heal, but kepe them styl sore.

Another thyng I hear of a beggar that was lame,

Much lyke one of these, if it were not the same :

135 Who sytting by the fyre with the cupp in hys hand.

Began to wonder whan he should turn good husband.

I shal never thryve, quod this beggar, I wene,

For I gate but xvi pence to day, and I have spent eyghtenc.

Wei, let the world wagg, we must needs have drink ;

Go, fyl me this quart pot ful to the brink.

The tongue must have bastyng, it wil the better wagg

To pul a Goddes peny out of a churles bagg.

VII. Brawlers.

A brawler that loveth to break the Kings peace.

And seke his own sorowe his fancy to please,

Is like a burr dogg that setteth upon

Eche mastife and hound that he may light on :

He getteth hym hatred of every manne,

And meteth with his master ever now and than.

To hurt other menn he taketh great payne,

He turneth no mann to profit or gayne ;

Except it be the surgeon or the armorer.

The baylife, the constable, or the jayler.
VIII. The collier of Croyden.

It is said that in Croyden there did sometyme dwell,

A collyer that did al other coUyers excel.

For his riches thys collyer might have bene a knight.

But in the order of knighthood he had no delight.

Would God al our knights did mind coling no more.

Than thys collyer did knighting, as is sayd before.

For when none but pore collyers did with coles mell.

At a reasonable price they did their coles sell.

But synce our knight collyers have had the first sale.

We have payd much money, and had few sacks to tale.

OF ORIGINALS. 469

A lode that late yeres for a royal was sold,
Wyl cost now xvi shillings of sylver or gold.
God graunt these men grace their polling to refrayne,
Or els bryng them back to theyr old state agayne ;
And especially the colliar that at Croyden doth sell;
For men thynk he is cosin to the collyar of hell.
IX. Double beneficed men.

The Kyng of that realme Avhere justice doth reign,

Perused old statutes that in bokes remayne,

And as he turned the boke, hym chaunced to se.

That such as have benefices should resident be ;

And have their abyding, whyles theyr lyfe should endure,

Among them over whom God hath geven them cure.

Then sayd he to himself, I thynk wel there is

No law in this realm worse observed than this.

Yet can there nothing my flock more decay, 13o

Then when hyrelings suffer my shepe go astray.

Then called he his council, and told them his mind.

And wylled that they should some remedy find.

Who with good advyce agreed on thys thyng.

That visitours should be sent with the power of the King,

To punish al such as herein dyd offend,

Unles they were found thorow willing to amend.

These visitours found many stout priests, but chiefly one

Who had sundry benefices, but would surrender none.

Then was this stout fellow brought to the Kyng,

Who sayd unto hym. How chaunceth this thyng ?

Wyl ye transgress my laws, and than disobey

Menne havyng my power ? Sir, what can you say .''

If it mai like your Grace (quod he) lo ! here is to see

Your seal at a graunt of a pluralitie.

Wel, sayd the Kyng than, I repent me of al yll ;

But tel me, MaisterDoctour, wil you have your benefices stil.''

If your Grace do me ryght, (quod he,) I must have them

my life time.

So shalt thou, sayd the Kyng, for to morrow by prime,

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470 A REPOSITORY

God wylling, thy body shal be divided and sent,
To ech benefice a piece, to make thee resident.
Away with hym, (quod the Kyng,) and let al thyngs be done
As I have geven sentence by to morrow ere none,
For syth thou art a stout priest, an example thou shalt be,
That al stouburn priests may take warnyng by thee.
X. Forestallers.

The fryses of Walys to Bristow are brought,

But before they were woven, in Walys they are bought.

So that now we do pay four groats or els more.

For the fryse we have bought for eight pence heretofore.

And some say, the wool is bought ere it do grow.

And the corn long before it come in the mowe.

And one thyng there is that hurteth most of al,

Reversions of farmes are bought long ere they fal.

And ryght so are benefices in every coast :

So that persons and vicars kepe neither sodd nor rost.

The pore of the parish, whom the person should fede,

Can have nought of our tythis to succour theyr nede.

Reversions of fermes are bought on ech syde.

And the old tenant must pay wel, if he wyl abyde :

And whei'e the father payd a peny and a capon or twayn,

The son must pay ten pounds ; which passeth my brayn.

Wel, let these forestallers repent them by tyme.

Lest the dark of the market be with them ere prime.

For he when he cometh wyl punysh them all.

That do any nedeful thyng ingrose or forestal.
23^ XI. Nice wives.
I think the abominable whores of the stews

Did never more whorelike attyrements use.

The capp on hyr head is lyke a sowes maw,

Such another fashion, I thynk never Jew saw.

Then fine geare on the forehead set after the new tryck,

Tho' it cost a crown or two, what then ? they may not

styck.

OF ORIGINALS. 471

If theyr heyr wyl not take colour, then must they buy new,
And lay it out in tussocks ; this thyng is too true.
At ech syde a tussock as bygg as a ball,
A very fayr syght for a fornicator bestiall.
Hyr face fayr paynted, to make it shyne bryght,
And hyr bosome al bare in most whorelyke dight.
Hyr myddle braced in as smal as a wand,
And some buy wasts of wyre at the pastwyfes hand.
A bumbe lyke a barrel, with whoops at the skyrte ;
Hyr shoes of such stuff that may touch no dyrte.
Upon hyr whyte fyngers many ryngs of gold.
With such maner stones, as are most dearly sold.
Of al theyr other trifles I wyl say nothyng.
Least I have but smal thanks for thys my wryting.
Al modest matrons, I trust, wil take my part ;
As for nice whippets words, shal not com ny my hert.
XII. Obstinate Papists.

An obstinate Papist that was sometime a frier.

Had of hys friers cote so great a desire.

That he stale out of England, and went to Lovayne,

And gat hys friers cote on hys foles back agayne.

A wilful beggar this Papist wyl be,

A fole and a fryer ; and thus is one man three.

Would God al the Papists that be left behynd,

Were with hym in fryers cotys according to theyr kynd.
XIII. Vayn wryters^ vayn talkers, vayn hearers.

Of late as I lay, and lacked my rest,

At such tyme as Titan drew fast to the east,

Thys saying of Christ came into my mynde,

Which certayn and true al maner men shal fynde ;

Of every idle word ye shal geve a reckonyng,

Be it spoken by mouth, or put in wrytinge.

O Lord, thought I then, what case be they in.

That talk and write vaynly, and think it no syn .?

Then slombred I a little, and thought that I saw

Three sorts of vayn menne condempned by Gods law.
H h 4

472 A REPOSITORY

138 The one was a wryter of thyngs nought and vayn,

And another a talker, and this was theyr payn :

The wryter had tlie crowne of liys head opened ;

Whose brayns with a styck the talker styrred.

And he with both hands drew the talkers tongue,

So that withowt hys mouth it was an handful long.

The third was an herkener of fables and lyes,

Whose ears were almost drawn up to hys eyes.

XIV. Unsatiable purchasers.

An unreasonable rych man dyd ryde by the way,

Who for lack of men hadd with hym a boy.

And as he past by a pasture most pleasant to se,

Of late I have purchased thys grovmd, Jack, quod he.

Mary, maister, quod the boy, men say over al,

That your purchase is great, but your household is smal.

Why, Jack, quod thys riche man, what have they to do ?

Would they have me to purchase, and kepe great house too?

I cannot tel, quod the boy, what maketh them to brawle,