in this tyme of my trouble with this holie consolacion in Christe in whom I dooe beleue renounsing the worlde the fleshe and the deuill beleuing all the articles of my Christen faithe acknowleging the blessed Sacramentes to bée the instrumeÌ„tes to euerlasting life and saluacion in Christ by the whiche God doeth worke in his Churche to the worldes ende to theim that shalbe saued one Trinitee and three distinct persones coequall in vnitee in one essence being is my God the father created ne the sonne redemed me and the holy ghost sanctified me and inspired me wher by I knowe that I am his elected and one vndefiled mother the Churche hath thus taught me in that blessed booke of Patriarkes Prophetes Martyres and Iesus with his Apostles whiche is Gods worke now master Theologus my time is at haÌ„d I praie you saie some thing of the resurreccion and then lette vs praie in the name of God together that it maie please hym to forgeue me my sinnes whiche I haue coÌ„mitted againste heauen and yearth and to receiue my soule into his blessed handes Theologus Good brother not onely the doctrine of Prophetes and the Euangelistes doe promise the Resurreccion to come of some to saluacion and some to damnacion but the same resurreccion is moste manifeste As for example Christ himself and other did rise and wer seen to many in Hierusalem and by the space of .xl. daies he taught the Apostles and was conuersaunt with theÌ„ and then asceÌ„ded into glory vntill the time appoincted to iudge the quicke and the ded when he shall sende his angelles to gather all fleshe vnder heauen from the .iiij. windes and sitte doune in iudgement saiyng come to me you blessed of the father and receiue the kingdome prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning Furder he saith this is the will of my father which hath sent me that all that doe see the soonne and beleueth in him shall haue euerlasting life and I will raise him in the laste daie and the holy Apostle saincte Paule moste heauenly doeth preache the resuraeccion to the CorinthiaÌ„s Thy dedde shall liue saieth Esaie and thy slain shall rise again and those which slepe in the duste shall rise the yearth shall caste forthe their dedde bodies I will creat both heauen and yearth newe saieth the Lorde and put the old out of my remembraunce many saieth Daniel that lie a sléepe in the dust shalbe wakened again some to life euerlasting and other to reprobacion God saieth I will open their tombes and bring them forthe and the holy man Iob saith I knowe that my redeamer liueth and that in the laste daie he shall raise me againe out of the yearth and shalbe clothed again with my Skin and in my fleshe I shall see God whoÌ„ I shall see with these same iyes and with none other These are comfortable and moste true places of holy scripture for the resurreccion of the dead you are assured in coÌ„scieÌ„ce of this blessed resurreccioÌ„ life euerlasting in Christ Iesus our lord Ciuis Yea forsothe deare Theologus but my speache is almoste paste yet I thanke God I knowe you all and I beseche hym to blesse you and when my spirite is gone I praie you burie my bodie with comelines not with pompe and vse it as an instrument wherin the soule hath dwelled and whiche the soule shall posses againe in honour in that blessed resurreccion Theologus Lette vs moste humblie here vpon our knees with our haÌ„des lifted vp towardes the heauen desire God the father for Christes sake to receiue your soule into his glorious kyngdome O dere citezen reioyce and be glad that thy labour is almoste past rest is at hande feare not the paine of death For it is impossible to escape that whiche can not bee fledde or auoided For it is written who is that man that liueth and shall not see death none no not one therefore suffer it my sweete harte pacientlie and that is an argumeÌ„t of good ronscience and of an heauenlie mynde Your wife mourneth immoderatly oh God all fleshe was borne to die This happened to our pareÌ„tes as father mother c. And shall not faile to all that shall folowe vnto thende of the world or comming of Christ. For surelie sweete life was neuer without the excepcion of bitter death it is no noueltie therfore wheÌ„ we doe heare tel of the departure of any of our frendes let vs not fall into a sodaine passion as onely the high priest did which hearyng of the death of his children felle doune and brake his necke But rather coÌ„stauntlie with wise Anaxagoras whiche hearing of the death of his beloued sonne saied to the messenger this is no newe tidynges nor straunge to me as sone as he was borne I knewe that he should die for of natures lawe is learned life to be taken and resigned no man dye but he whiche haue liued Oh leaue your lamenting good maistres why rage you like one whiche haue no hope Be absent or vse moderacioÌ„ remember holie Iob thesame daies when the Lorde permitted Sathan not onelie to destroie his seruauntes and cattell but also before age in the lustie tyme of youthe in the feast daie at one table his dere children of his bodie were all broken in peces and slain with the violent fal of the hous What did he rende his heere or fleshe no no he considered who sent them and who did take theim euen the Lorde whom he moste obedientlie suffred and reuerentlie thanked Furder good sister remember S Hieromie taking GOD to witnesse of an holie woman whose housebande was ded â–ª whom he moste tenderlie loued by whom she had but twoo sonnes of singuler beautee wanting no gift of grace or of nature whiche bothe died the same daie wherein their father departed When this Crosse was saith s. Hierom who would not haue thought that she would haue fallen madd in rending her heere breastes clothes and skin running vp and doune wailing and criyng with pitefull wringing of handes What did she Firste she weeped not one teare but moste soberly with a womanlie countenaunce she humblie kneeled vpon her knees holdyng vp her handes renderyng thankes and makyng praiers to almightie GOD saiyng moste humblie I thanke thee good lord for that that it haue pleased thee to take me into thy seruice I am sped oh lorde for thou haste discharged me c. Take also for an example the most worthie constauncie of that paciente woman whiche without moche lamentacioÌ„ did with her own iyen behold her dere children slain their members cut in peces and boiled in caldrens Marke how constantlie of late yeres childreÌ„ did se the flesh of their fathers mothers c. burn in the fire moste pacientlie sufferyng And againe fathers beholding their childreÌ„ doe the like What did thei râ—re like Lions c. No no but reioysed that God had of their blood stocke
A DIALOGVE bothe pleasaunte and pietifull wherein is a goodly regimente against the feuer Pestilence with a consolacion and comfort against death Newly corrected by Willyam Bulleyn the autour thereof ¶ Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston Marcii Anno salutis M.D.LXIIII ¶ TO THE RIGHT VVOâ—shipfull and his singulare gooâ— frende maister Edward Barret of Belhous of Essex Esquier Willyam Bulleyn sendeth salutacions RIght worshipfull sir if any chamber haule galerie or any newe decked house were apparelled or hanged all in one mourning dark colour it would rather moue sorowe then gladnesse but no pleasure to the beholders of thesame Therefore the diuersitee or varietée of pleasaunt colours doe grace and beautifie thesame through the settyng foorthe of sondrie shapes and as it were to compell the comers in to beholde the whole worke Euen so I dooe commende vnto you this little booke wherein I write parte thereof in youre owne house whiche doe intreate of sondry thynges to you I doe hope not vnprofitable wherein I haue shortly described our poore nedie brother his pouerteâ— Callyng vpoÌ„ the mercilesse riche whose whole trust is in the vain riches of this worlde intangled as it were emong Briers So that in the hower of death God is fardest from his mynde and the gooddes euill gotten are worse spent and come to nothyng at what tyme no Phisike can preuaile I haue also not forgotten the shamefull synne whiche raigneth in this worlde called ingratitude whiche linially came froÌ„ the loines of that false vilain Iudas neither the Sicophantes Gâ—atos Liars and Flatterers of this worlde the verie poison of the soule Oh better saieth Salomon is the woundes of the frende then the kisses of the flatterer Furder how many meanes maie bee vsed against the Pestilence as good aire diete medicenes accordingly the whiche if it do not preuaile then commeth on the mercilesse power of death ouer al fleshe fearing no Kyng Quene Lorde Ladie bonde or slaue but rather maketh all creatures a like to hym Then dooe I conclude with the deuine Gods chief and moste beste instrument in the churche c. And as I dooe well consider a gentilmanne of your good nature can but take your freindes simple token in good parte Euen so I am sorie that it is no better to pleasure you yet geuyng GOD moste humble thankes for thesame who kepe you in good health worship This .xij. of Marche 1564. Yours euer William Bulleyn Nullus vnquam hominem mortalem beatumindicet antequam bene defunctum viderit ¶ TO THE Reader GOod reader when aduersitie drawethnere to any citee or toune and the vengeaunce of GOD appereth either by huÌ„ger sickenes or the sworde then maâ—nes nature is moste fearfull but yet worldly prouidence to helpe theÌ„ selues whiche in the tyme of prosperitee or quietnesse is careles and forgetfull neither mindefull to fear God nor pitifull to helpe their neighbour in aduersitee And wheÌ„ thei are touched by the fearfull stroke of the Pestilence of their nexte neighboure or els in their owne familie then thei vse medicines flie the aire c. VVhiche in deede are verie good meanes and not againste Gods worde so to doe then other some falleth into sodain deuocion in geuyng almose to the poore and neadie which before haue dooen nothyng els but oppressed theÌ„ and haue doen theÌ„ wrong Other doe looke froÌ„ their hartes Gods liuelie woorde and refuse grace offered by Christes spirite thinkyng there is no GOD. Some other are preuented by death in their flourishyng yeares whiche in the Crosse of death haue their onely consolacion in Iesus Christ. All this is discribed here in this plain Dialogue praiyng you pacientlie to take it in good parte From him that is yours to commaunde W. Bulleyn gloriosior est quam mala vita A DIALOGVE ¶ The interlocutours are twelue persones Mendicus Ciuis Vxor. Medicus Antonius Roger. Chrispinus Auarus Ambo dexter Mendax Mors. Theologus Mendicus GOd saue my gud Maister and Maistres the barnes and all this haly houshade and shilde you from all doolle and shem and sende you comforte of all thynges that you waud haue good of and God and our dere leddie shilde and defend you from this Peste Our father whiche art in heauen hallowed bee your name your kyngdome come your will bee doen in yearth as it is in heauen c. Ciuis Me thinke I doe heare a good manerlie begger at the doore and well brought vp how reuerently he saieth his Pater noster he thoues not GOD but you hynt Gods blessing on his hart I praie you wife giue the poore man some thing to his diner Vxor. Sir I will heare hym saie the Lordes praier better before I giue him any thing Ciuis What a reconyng is this Dame doe as I commaunde you he is poore wee haue plentie he is very poore and hongrie therefore dispatche him a Gods name Vxor. Soft fire maketh sweete Malte he shall tary my leasure Mendicus Maistres if you Ie angrie with the saiyng of my Pater noster in Englishe I wil saie it in Latin and also my Deprofundis But so God helpe me I doe not ken nene of theim beth Vxor. I thinke thesame soche Carpenter soche thippes your curate is some honest man I warraunt you and taketh moche paine in feding his flocke as seemeth by your learning I praie you what couÌ„trie maÌ„ be you Mendicus Sauyng youre honour gud Maistres I was borne in Redesdale in Northumberlande and came of a wight riding sirname called the Robsons gud honeste men and true sauyng a little shiftyng for their liuyng God helpe them sillie pure men Vxor. What doest thou here in this countree me thinke thou art a Scot by thy tongue Mendicus Trowe me neuer mare then gud deam I had better bee hanged in a Withie of a Cowtaile then be a rowfooted Scotte for thei are euer fare and fase I haue been a fellon sharpe manne on my handes in my yoÌ„g daies and brought many of the Scottes to grounde in the North Marches and gaue them many greislie woundes ne maÌ„ for man durst abide me luke I was so fell Then the limer Scottes hared me burnte my gudes and made dedly feede with me and my barnes that now I haue nethyng but this sary bagge and this staffe and the charitie of sike gud people as you are gud maistres â–ª ause I haue many of my sirname here in the citee that wade thinke no shem on me yea honeste handcraftie men Ciuis How gote you in at the gates my good frende Mendicus Deare sir I haue many cuntrith men in this faire citee that came of honeste stocke in our lande and some a little beyonde vs twentie or threttie miles that can make pure shifte in the citee and in the countres ause I came in ne place but either the persone Bailie Conestable or chief of the parishe is of our countrith borne and some pure men as myne awne self God ken Emong whem the Bedle of
I will not contrarie you My chief desire is to helpe you without the respecte of money or golde or other of youre commoditée Crispine sette the boxes in the window and you Surgean prepare your lace staffe and launce with your vnce vesselles that I maie consider his blood in order and due quantitée for hether vnto he is but in the augmentyng of his feuer Further he had no fitte this ten houres let him bloode by little and little and although he doe fall into Lipothimion it is no matter let hym blood vntill it partly doe chaunge into a good colour Oh Lorde how might you liue if this bloode should haue remained any longer did you euer see the like what a good hart he hath the worst is past this would haue been a greate sore or apoâ—â—umacion stop vp the vein a Gods name Crispine I did neuer see the like but ones where as your Maistership did a greate cure vppon a noble man Medicus Oh are you aduised of that Crispine he is a good friende of myne I haue twentie pounde yerelie of him He sente me a fatte Bucke vpon Mondaie laste and gaue me my Mule also with a Ueluet foote clothe Crispine Sir wheÌ„ you seÌ„t me home I left your mule standing at the doore but as I returned I met a lackei clothed in Orenge taunie and white with a paire of bare taÌ„ned legges a blewe night cap with a plume of fethers riding on him as fast as he might gallop Medicus Oh the passion of Christ my mule is stolen I will hence I had rather lose xx.li I will tarie no leÌ„ger my Mule I will teche him to ride on my Mule I warrante him Crispine Sir he nedeth no teachyng he can ride well I warrant you I heard him saie to a yong manne with a long cloke lined with yellowe that his maister sent him to carie a letter to a marchaunt venterer that was crossailed into Terra Florida Medicus Geue me my goune fare ye well Maister Antonius as euill lucke as euer I had in all my life Antonius I had thought the losse of your friende and of your Mule had not been both a like to you What for .xx. pound I will paie it double the knaue shall not escape Crispine hath taken good markes vpon him I will sende to euery Warde blinde lane Innes Woodes and fieldes after the villaine I will take the matter on me because you come to me so gently quiete your self sitte doune again in the chaire I were caste awaie if you wer gone good maister doctor Medicus I care not so moche for the mule but that my lorde will take moche vnkindnes and think I should set light by his gift and the Ruffians will laugh me to skorne when thei knowe how I am haÌ„dled of the knaue boie Well I am coÌ„tented with your offer I praie you beware you slepe not you shal suppe the thinne broth of a chicken by and by made with the .iiij. greate colde seedes and cordiall Herbes Crispine I praie you make the broth in some stone or siluer vessell Copper or Brasse is not good for Maister Antonius soche vessels are Leprous Antonius If you will haue it made of gold you shal Medicus We shall make shifte with other thinges gold shal serue to deaurat or gilde your losinges electuaries manus christi withal Antonius Contented so that it maketh on my side whatsoeuer it bee But me thinke I feele slepe approching what shall I doe Medicus Drawe the Curtaines open the lukette of the Windowe set Sallowes about the bedde besprinkled with vineger and rose water Take of that hotte mantell let his hedde and shoulders be bolstred vp lye not on your backe leane towardes this side let vs talke together like friendes why are you so heauie and yearthlike Antonius I must nedes I was made of yearth but where is the yearth placed of which I was made and of what fassion is it althoughe I walke vpon thesame yet doe I stande in doubt of the matter Medicus The yearth is moste heauie and can bée in no place but in the middest of heauen not moueable but round hangeth continually aboute the whiche are the landes and couÌ„tries of the world fixed which Aristotle doeth call Medium terrae medium mundi Antonius Ar ther not bodies which ar called simple Medicus Yes forsoth those are the iiij the fire hot and drie the aire hote and moiste the water colde and moiste the yearth colde and drie and these are called the Elementes Antonius Are there not bodies called mixed what are thei Medicus Animalia as man beast fishe foule and Wormes Vegetabilia as Herbe Grasse and Trees and mineralia thinges vnder the yearth as metalles Antonius Lorde how is this worlde staied Medicus The twoo Pooles Articus and Artartiâ—â—â— South and North are the extreme limites aboute whom the whole frame of heauen is wrapped and is called Axie coeliâ— Antonius Men saieth that certaine starres doe gouerne the thinges beneth here in yearth Medicus Thei doe so in déede as it is well proued when as the Sunne and Moone doe enter into any of their circles in those great bodies then our little bodies in yearth dooe feele the goodnes or euilnes of them as Aries Leo and Sagittarius are hote drie and bitter cholorike and are gouernyng hotte and drie thinges and this is called the firy triplicitee The second triplicitee is of aire hotte and moiste sanguine swete and doe gouerne Sanguine people And other tirplicitee is of water colde moiste flegmatike hauing the gouernment of cold rawe bodies The laste is the yearth the mother of all thinges cold and drie melancholie Antonius What doe the knowlege of these thynges profite to Phisicke I praie you tel me Medicus Moste chiefly for where as the Philosopher dooe leaue there the Phisicion dooe begin That is he must be first a good natural Philosophier he must haue y e knowlege oâ— times and seasons and be acquainted with complexioÌ„s of men obseruing the nature of thinges and the climates vnder heaueÌ„ with the course of the Sonne Moon and Starres Aire and diet c. Antonius I praie you is there a soule in manne Medicus Yes forsothe Antonius Why then there must nedes be a greater thing as the cause of euery liuing soule whiche I take to bee GOD whiche hath made all thinges and when you and I talked together you semed that NoÌ„ est deus Medicus I professed to followe Aristotle but my meaning was that I credite not the Bible matters I am no Diuine I finde no reasons there for my tourne thei are to harde thinges for me I commend them to Darbell and Duns c. Antonius Why doeth Aristotle shewe any better reasons then is in the Bible Then I pray you what is the power of the soule Medicus In the soule saieth Aristotle in his boke of Ethiques it hath .iij. sondrie powers The one is named vegitable in whiche
Susan what is the matter woman Vxor. Sir this is a blinde iyed shameles ruffeÌ„ a roge I warrante hym and a thefe This knaue is hable to make children run from their parentes seruauÌ„tes robbe their maisters yong heires to sell their landes men to run from their wiues and women also You maie knowe by his Armes of what stocke he cometh I warrant him froÌ„ drouning and diyng of the Pestilence Oh villaine he wilbe hanged I dare saie he knoweth al kindes of theues vagabondes rouers hasarders I like not his words nor his braggyng countenaunce let vs hence Ciuis Well moche good doe you you haue taken moche paine but smalle profite you haue trauailed farre and maie speake by aucthoritee Come take awaie paie the reconyng Roger horse horse and awaie Roger. All thynges are readie sir. Ciuis Fare ye well gentle frende Mendax I thanke you of your gentle companie good gentleman Vxor. Whose faire field is yoÌ„der I would fain knowe it and lette trifles passe I will not beleue them let foolishe thynges goe and talke of matters profitable Roger. Maistres doe you not knowe it it is my maisters I am his baily ther he had a good bargaine I assure you it was in morgage to him this ij yeres I would he might find the like purches al yonder toune is his he hath raised the rent one C. markes a yere more then it was There were good liyng in the plague tyme for there are large pastures and the houses are doune sauyng the maner place for the carles haue forfeited their leses and are gon a begging like villaines many of theÌ„ ar ded for honger Vxor. Whose Oxen are these Roger. Roger. My maisters also for he y t hath mony shall haue lande worship my maister is a close wiseman and lieth in the winde of theÌ„ that will buie money for lande he can handle a yong geÌ„tleman trimly and ride hym with a golden snaffle he knoweth vpon whiche side his breade is buttered well enough I warraunt you my maister rised so earelie this morning that he noddeth as he rideth Vxor. Sir me thinkes you totter as you ride what are you a slepe Dooe you not heare your mannes praiyng He is pleasauntlie disposed he would make me beleue that you were a greate landed manne and had moche cattell in store why sir how do you that you speake not to me Ciuis Wife wife God sende vs good lucke doe you not see yonder cloude in the West towardes the North commyng hether Vxor. Moste fearfull God sende vs good lucke sir it is a sodaine chaunge I will hide my face it feareth me so moche Roger. I am fourtie yeres olde but I did neuer se the like but ones and that was betwen Godmichester and Gogmanshill a little from Cambrige as I traueiled to Wolpit faâ—re to buye Coltes and there appered a straunge forme as me thought a greate nomber of steples were broken and many naked Friers Bishops and the Pope him self did wryng their handes in ragged clothes thei looked all very leane and then it thundred and lightened in whiche storme many Geese wer killed and also shepe and Lambes The yere after was the tumbleyng doune of Abbaies and the reformacioÌ„ for the Churche matters but this passeth for the precious passion of Christ let vs ruÌ„ awaie with spede I doe se a fearfull thyng in y e cloudes appering a blacke lene naked body very long ridyng vpoÌ„ a pale miserable foule iade he hath also .iij. dartes in his lefte hande the one is cole blacke the other blood red and the third is a darke pale he hath no fleshe vpoÌ„ him me thinketh that I doe se a great fire and many fearfull monsters in thesame folow him with a fearfull voice saiyng all the wicked shall come to vs. We ar swallowed in the second death Ciuis Let vs take this house ride apace the storme doeth begin most fearful God help vs what shall we doe or whether shall we flie Iesus Iesus what a thuÌ„der is this as heauen yearth should go together Lorde how the lightnyng falleth froÌ„ heauen all this regioÌ„ is vpoÌ„ a flaming fire the birdes fall from the trées loke how the cattel treÌ„ble and trées are pulled vp by the rootes the houses are burnt with celestiall fire Vxor. Let vs depart from these trees for I haue heard saie to sitte vnder a white thorne is moste safe and surest in a tempeste I haue many goodly iuels againste lightnyng as the Carbuncle Hemoralde Hiasinthus with Amber and golde God and S. Barbara defende vs I haue a S. IhoÌ„s Gospel about my necke and a paire of braselettes of Corall about myne armes Oh God defende vs I am sorie that we came foorthe Roger. Maister and Maistres come into this vallie and lette vs sitte in that same deepe close pitte vnder the hill side vntill this storme be past saincte George to borrowe mercifull God who did euer se the like Ciuis I thinke it be the daie of iudgement the yearth doeth quake the heaueÌ„ doeth burn and me thinke I doe see the fearfull horseman lighted in the valey with a meruaillous fearful saiyng En 〈◊〉 vobis mors vltima linia rearum c. Oh wher shal we hide vs from hym He casteth forth his .iij. dartes and taketh theÌ„ vp again He is in a great rage behold how he destroieth man and beaste in this valey This is come in a momente who would haue thought it in the morning none of vs he draweth nere I knowe him well it is mercilesse Death most fearfull I am afraied of his presence he bendeth his blacke darte against me I haue no target to beare it of Vxor. Good housebande remember that I am yong and with child also you are wel striken in yeres therefore plaie the man and take Roger with you and intreate hym if he will needes haue you yet for Gods sake bee not acknowen that I am here for feare that he kill me and your childe also Ciuis Keepe you close vnder that Cloke and stirre not I praie you Roger. I can not abide hym I will run awaie for pouertie and death will part good fellowship Sir shift for your self and drawe your sworde against hym Ciuis Alas my wife in my trouble is to faint harted and wil not kepe me companie my seruaunt is run awaie from me whether maie I slie from death If I doe run he is to swift for me if I turne my backe he wil cowardly kille me if I doe submit my self to hym he is mercilesse I perhaps shall perswade hym with my golde I haue an hundred poundes in Angels I will geue it hym to saue my life Oh he is here Sir moste humbly here vpoÌ„ my knées I desire your lordship to pardon me and suffre me to liue still in this worlde and here I offer vnto you this purse of gold I
vs into temptacion for which cause we desire him not to lede vs into teÌ„ptacion c. Theologus You haue mistaken those places for God is not the aucthour or cause of sinne for he did so moch abhorre thesame that nothing could pacifie his wrathe vnder heauen no merite or woorke but onelie the blood of Iesus Christ his sonne And for this word I will indurate the verie worde in Ebrue is I will suffer Pharaos harte to bee hardened And so it was in the Lordes praier it is Ne sinas nos induci neither suffer vs to be led or fall into temptacion c. Therfore my brother it was the will of Sathan and man that caused sinne Ciuis Why hath not manne will to doe good again if he luste Theologus No if he had the eleccion to will as first he had he would doe the like therfore it is in a sure hande euen in Gods and not in ours As when men doe speake the truthe it is not of their owne will or power but the heauenlie spirite in them by almightie God are al the steppes of men directed though man fall into sondrie temptacions he shall not be cast of for the lorde putteth vnder his hande whiche is a greate comfort to vs in trouble when we are vnderneth the crosse Without him we can dooe nothing that is good No man can take any good thing vpon him except it bee geueÌ„ to him from heauen and no man dere brother can come to the sonne of God vnlesse the father hath drawen him not his wil whiche is moste wicked froÌ„ his youth vpwarde as appereth in our vile nature thought woorde deede And who so euer hath not the spirit of Christ is not of Christ but those which are led of the spirit of god are the soonnes of God and this commeth not by mannes will and power For the worldlie minded man dooeth not vnderstande or perceiue those thinges that are of Gods spirit without whiche he can not be saued bee he neuer so learned and can dispute of the soule makyng distinctions of knowlege and iudgemente callyng it the minde or intelleccion or reason or desire whiche is the will vnder whom the affeccion is gouerned whose spring is the hart All these make not to the heaueÌ„ly purpose but rather staÌ„ding vpon soche trifâ—es doth hinder the waie to saluacion in Christ and robbe him of his passion when we doe attribute fredome or frewille to come of our selues but that we are in Gods handes as his instrumentes through him to woorke soche thinges as best maie please him and he withdrawe his holie handes we can do no good therfore submit your self to Christ and his wille for oure willes are malignaunt and dampnable in his iyes Forsake your praue will and humbly submit your self to Iesus Christ saiyng now before our death Our Father whiche art in heauen hallowed 〈◊〉 name thy kyngdome come Thy will bee dooen in yearth as it is in heauen c. And thus I doe conclude of free will in vs and faithfully looke for the reward not of workes but of mercie onelie onelie purchaced by the Sacrifice of Christe thankyng hym that he hath made you mercifulle to youre brethren in this worlde whiche was the fruictes of faithe by whiche faith in his blood we are saued and shall receiue our almose or rewarde and not our duetie for wee are vnprofitable when we haue doen our beste Ciuis What rewarde is that I praie you Or what promises are graunted by Christ Theologus The reward is the remission of sinnes and life euerlastyng grauÌ„ted by the father for Iesus Christes sake frelie without our woorkes for there is none other saluacion vnder heauen geuen to menne but onelie Christ. In him we doe merite as wheÌ„ wee are mercifull wee haue a promise of this preseÌ„t life and the life to come And in this worlde also an .c. fold and in the worlde to come euerlastyng life And who that geueth one of these little ones a cup of water for my names sake shall not lose his rewarde And he commaunded to geue promising it shalbe geueÌ„ to them again And further he saieth breake the breade to the poore and it shalbe to thee like a gardein He saith not let thin executors or assignes geue the poore when thou arte dedde but thou muste dooe it thy self in this worlde Now while it is lighte for the night is at hand I meane death when thou canst not worke Remember Diues lost the tyme could not call it backe again whiche waileth in hell hath no reward for he trusted not God nor rewarded any man Furder recoÌ„cile thy self to thy brother for els thou canst not please God though thou wrough test all good woorkes and gaue thy bodie to bée burned for charitee is so precious in Gods iyen that who so wante it can not reigne with Christ. Therefore forgeue froÌ„ thy hart and thou shalbe forgeuen Make not thy will vpon goodes gotten by vsury nor by any thing that falsly in bargening thou hast taken from thy brother for then thou shalte not dwell in Gods tabernacle Neither shal thy children prospere vpoÌ„ the yearth but God will hate them to the .iij. iiij generacion for thy sinne examen well thy conscience death hath wounded thee whiche is common to al fleshe in thus doyng thou shalt passe from death to euerlastyng life by Christe and neuer taste vpon the seconde death emong the impious or castawaies Contesse thy sinnes from thy harte aske mercie be thei neuer so red and many in nomber Iesus hath washed theÌ„ in his blood and sprinkled them with Hysop and made theÌ„ as white as snowe now plaie the man in Christ feare not to depart this world Christ is gone before with his holie Apostles Prophetes Martyres CoÌ„fessours and Uirgines penitente thieues and harlottes also there is the armie of angels before his throne with ioye incessantlie honouryng hym Hell gates are sparred sathan beaten doune thy â—innes rased the good Angell at hande to conducte thee to that blessed lande of rest here is nothing but labour daies of care sinne wretchednesse a thousande crosses the snares of the deuill and many vanitees the fleshe moste inconstaunte the worlde a place of miserie and sinne bid it farewell taking thy leaue with the badge of a christen man of Christ crucified remember that promise made in thy Baptisme arme thy self with the brest plate of faithe continewe to the ende and thou shalt receiue a croun of life thy crosse taken awaie cast thy hole care vpoÌ„ Christ and he shall deliuer thee at hand and geue thee the holie resurreccion of bodie soule to dwell in one for euer with hym Ciuis Oh what comforte in conscience I haue receiued first I render thankes to God the father the sonne and the holie ghost secoÌ„dly blessed be the hower of your commyng hether
aungell commaunde Sathan to departe make cleane his conscience with a gladde mynde to reioyce onelie in thy mercie for vaine is the helpe of man but thy mercie doeth endure for euer wee are thy people and the Shepe of thy pasture to thee wee shall geue praise for euer and euer Amen Ciuis Amen Amen Lorde receiue my soule into thy handes thou God of truthe Theologus THe mightie God of Angels and the former of al thinges visible and inuisible in whose haÌ„des is onely life and death light and darkenes and all the mocioÌ„s of the soule and bodie without the moste mightie God all thynges had been nothyng and of nothyng all thynges are made by thee without thy Christ and thy blessed spirit whiche is one coeternall trinitée all fleshe were accursed all consciences molested and all soules vtterlie dampned From light into darkenesse from fredome into euerlasting reprobacion but by Iesus Christ thine onely sonne we thank thee dere father of all mercie that now it hath pleased thee to take to thy mercie at this present time our brother whom thou haste elected consecrated and now he shall by thy mercie and pitee bee sanctified vnto thee to be a citezen of eternall glorie now dode fleshe and bloode forsake him and all his worldlie strength faileth hym Now is the Orgaines yeldyng vp the heauenlie sounde his soule cometh now vnto thee good Lorde receiue it to thy mercie into thine euerlastyng glorie where as Abraham Isaac and Iacob are continuallie to thee oh heauenlie father be incessaunt honour and glorie AMEN ¶ The ende of the Dialogue A Copie of a letter to Frances Barlowe by W. B. WHeÌ„ the time of trouble draweth nere good Frances Barlowe as death whiche shall separate the soule from the body if we be not ware and wisely prouident we shal stand in great dauÌ„ger of losses first we shall lose our health strength and beautie wherein we haue delighted and all our censes as pleasure of spâ—che ioye of harte and the coÌ„fortable sight of the eies wherwith we do daily behold all the pleasures of this world c. we shall lose all our furder treasures laudes and substaunce and also our liues and as dung be cast into the earth and finally our soules banished from Gods blessed presence or resting place Therefore let vs call my Fraunces to our remembraÌ„ce the fearfull curses of almighty God agaiÌ„st our sinnes and the cause of our plagues whiche is our abominable liuing in sinning against God in thought worde and dede against heauen and earthe in pride wrath idolatrie fornicatioÌ„ swearing lust gluttonie stopping of our eares against grace and the woorde of truthe let vs call to remembraunce how that we haue doen wrong to eche other in woorde deede in flauÌ„dring or in hindring by bargainiÌ„g c. Our brethren for whom Christ hath died whom we haue hated not pitied in their extreme sorowes and aduersities haue not paied their labours and trauels let vs repent and call for grace and restore now while we are in the waie of grace in that that we can not make satisfaction for oure sinnes by no merites of almes praiers oblations c. whiche are vncleane in Gods eine as coÌ„cerning the remission of our sinnes as Iob saieth how can he be clene that is borne of a woman beholde he wil giue no light vnto the Moone and the starres ar vnclene in his sight how muche more maÌ„ a worme euen the sonne of a man whiche is but a worme which in beholding of his sinne hath no cause but to dispaire and to be daÌ„pned what remedy in this case none but with al spede by faith lift vp your hed and beholde euen Iesus Christe on Gods right hande pleading our case excusing vs to his father whiche praieth to him for vs and is heard and SathaÌ„ beten doune and Gods Aungels set at our bedside with spirituall armour for vs in this battell of death against Sathan to conducte vs to that happie landerlet vs knele doune and firste saie whatsoeuer God doth sende to vs life or death his name be praysed his will bee done in earth as it is with his Aungels in heauen desiring him to be fed with his liuely worde and blessed sacrament the immortal fode for the soule passing al worldly treasures or phisick for the body that it would please him to pardon our trespasses and offences in thought worde and dede against his diuine maiestie euen as we doe forgeue our enemies soche faultes as they do here in earth against vs and that in the time of agonie or paines of death he suffer vs not to fall into temptation or bee ouerladen vnder our crosse but that his hande may helpe vs and deliuer vs froÌ„ this vile life full of miseries and bring vs into the lande of the liuing in doing this you shall be moste happie and blessed let vs submitt our selues to him that hath made vs we haue not made our selues we are his vessels and are in his sight can nat flée from his presence nor runne beyonde that rase whiche he hath appointed vs he bringeth death and restoreth again to life in the resurrection Oh be coÌ„tent to render thesame talent which was but lent vnto you euen your body the giftes of nature and grace commit wife children and all to him He doeth no wrong he taketh but his owne RemeÌ„ber he brought you in hether naked and how you doe liue but a smal time and ar ful of misery Like a flower for the time and shall passe away like a shadowe Alas we doe deserue great punishement but he plageth vs not according to the grauitée of our sinnes for then were we dampned or like vnto Sodome that perished without handes in the daye of Gods wrath and veÌ„geaunce Consider Fraunces that this is no newes or maruelous chaunce that you should change your life well it happened to al your forefathers from AdaÌ„ to kinges and all the nobles of the yearth and to the poore also Al fleshe is grasse and wormes are the companions to the corse in darke graue or house of claye Yet there is a daie whiche God hath appointed whiche none can tel but himself in whiche he wil iudge both the quick and dead and call all fleshe before him both his very elect and the merriles reprobates and then body and soule shall remayne immortall together haue life euerlasting This hold fast dere FrauÌ„ces as an anker in this storme from death to life euerlasting Holde fast the .xij. articles of the Christian faith praie to the end onely to God the father by Christ remember his promises that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent he will forgeue Cal he will aunswere vnto thy soule knocke and he wil open This time of your aduersitee and plague of the pestileÌ„ce doth make you forget all pleasures and delites paste