Certain sermons preached before the Queens Majesty, and at Pauls crossCertaine sermons preached before the Queenes Maiestie, and at Paules crosse

But this is our comfort, that nothing can be devised to be spoken against us, but y• same aforetime hath been devised & spoken against Christ himself. For he himself was called a Samaritan, a companion of publicans & harlots, a glutton, a liar, a blasphemer, a subverter, of y• whole nation, a seducer of the people, a rebel against Caesar, a sorcerer, a worker by the devil, and a breaker of the Sabbath day,

But this is our comfort, that nothing can be deuised to be spokē against vs, but y• same aforetime hath bene deuised & spoken against Christ hymselfe. For he himself was called a Samaritan, a cōpanion of publicans & harlotes, a glucton, a lyar, a blasphemer, a subuerter, of y• whole nation, a seducer of the people, a rebell against Caesar, a sorcerer, a worker by the deuill, and a breaker of the Sabboth day,

We are set up, saith Paul, as a mark for men to speak against, & whatsoever be spoken of us, be it never so untrue or unlikely, yet are there some that will believe it. Yea such things as would not be believed spoken of a thief, or a murderer, will soon be believed of him that professeth the name and Gospel of Jesus ¹Christ. Woe is me, my mother (saith Jeremy) ⟨image 101⟩that thou hast borne me a contentious man, & a man that striveth with the whole earth: I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent unto me on usury: yet every one doth curse me. The untrue report of these things caused such extremity as this day you may hear of in other countries, and some times have seen presently before your eyes.

We are set vp, saith Paul, as a marke for mē to speake against, & whatsoeuer be spoken of vs, be it neuer so vntrue or vnlikely, yet are there some that wyll beleeue it. Yea such thinges as woulde not bee beleeued spoken of a theefe, or a murtherer, wyl soone be beleeued of hym that professeth the name and Gospell of Jesus