The second [seventh] sermon of Master Hugh Latimer which he preached before the Kings…The seconde [seventh] sermon of Maister Hughe Latimer which he preached before the Kynges…

It was done under a colour and a pretence of justice, hidlye & ⟨image 137⟩covertly done. Therefore because it stood in bribes it was not like in Samuel as in Ely. It is a dangerous thing to be in office for qui attingit picē coinquinabitur ad ea He that meddleth with pitch is like to be spotted with it.¹ Bribes may be assembled to pitch, for even as pitch doth pollute their hands ye meddle with it: so bribes will bring you to perverting of justice. Beware of pitch, you judges of the world, bribes will make you pervert justice. Why you will say. We touch none.² No marry. But my Mistress your wife hath a fine finger, she toucheth it for you or else you have a servant a •••eribus, he will say if you will come to my master & offer him a yoke of oxen, you shall speed never the ⟨image 137⟩worse, but I think my Master will take none, when he hath offered them to the master, then con mes another servant and says. If you will bring them to the clerk of the kitchen, you shall be remembered the better. This is a friarly fashion that will receive no money in their hands,³ but will have it put upon their sleeves. A goodly rage of popish religion. They be like grey fryers, they will not be seen to receive no bribes them selves but have other to receive for them. Though Samuel sons were privy bribers and kept the thing very close, yet the cry of the people brought it to Samuel, It was a hid kind of sin. For men in this point, would face it and ⟨image 138⟩brace it and make a show of upright dealing, when they be most guilty.⁴ Nevertheless this gear came out. Oh wicked sons, that brought both their father to deposition and them selves, to shame. When Samuel herd of their fault, he went not about to excuse their faults. He would not bear with his sons. He would not. Communicari peccates alienis.