A05143:669
Twenty-seven Sermons
27 sermons preached by the right Reverend father in God and constant martyr [sic] of Jesus Christ, Master Hugh Latimer, as well such as in times past have been printed, as certain other coming to our hands of late, which were yet never set forth in print. Faithfully perused [and] allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens Majesties injunctions. 1. Hys sermon Ad clerum. 2. Hys fourth sermon upon the plough. 3. His. 7. sermons before king Edward. 4 His sermon at Stamford. 5. His last sermon before king Edward. 6. His. 7. sermons upon the Lords prayer. 7. His other. 9. sermons upon certain Gospels and Epistles27 sermons preached by the ryght Reuerende father in God and constant matir [sic] of Iesus Christe, Maister Hugh Latimer, as well such as in tymes past haue bene printed, as certayne other commyng to our handes of late, whych were yet neuer set forth in print. Faithfully perused [and] allowed accordying to the order appoynted in the Quenes Maiesties iniunctions. 1. Hys sermon Ad clerum. 2. Hys fourth sermon vpon the plough. 3. Hys. 7. sermons before kyng Edward. 4 Hys sermon at Stamforde. 5. Hys last sermon before kyng Edward. 6. Hys. 7. sermons vpon the Lordes prayer. 7. Hys other. 9. sermons vpon certayne Gospels and Epistles
London: printed by John Day, 1562London: printed by Iohn Day, 1562
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But to return to my purpose, there were two pore women came before Solomon to complain. They were two harlots, and dwelled together in one house, and it chanced1 within two days they childed both. The one of these women by chance in the night, had killed her child, and2 rose privily and went to the other woman, and took her live child away, and left her dead child in his place. Upon that they came both before Solomon to have the matter judged, whose the child was. And the one said: it is my child. Nay sayeth the other, it is mine. So there was yea and nay between them, and they held up the matter with scolding after a womanlike fashion. At the length Solomon repeated their tale as a good judge ought to do, and said to the one woman. Thou sayest the child is thine, yea said she. And thou sayest, it is thine to the other. Well, fetch me a sword, said he. For there was no way now to try, which was the true mother, but by natural inclination. And so he said to one of his servants. Fetch me a sword and deuyde the child between ⟨p. 37⟩them. When the mother of the child that accused the other heard him say so. Nay for God's sake said she, let her have the whole child, and kill it not. Naye, quod the other, neither thine nor mine, bet let it be divided. Then said Solomon. Give this woman the child, this is the mother of the child. What come of this? Audivit omnes Israel. When all Israel heard of this judgement, they feared the king. It is wisdom and godly knowledge that 3causeth a king to be feared. One word note here for gods sake and I will trouble you no longer. Would Solomon being so noble a king hear two poor women? They were pore, for as the scripture saith. They were together alone in a house, they had not so much as one servant between them both. Would king Solomon, I say, hear them in his own person? Yea forsooth. And yet I hear of many matters before my Lord Protector, and my Lord Chancellor4 that can not be heard. I must desire my Lord protectors grace to hear me in this matter, that your grace would hear poor mens suits your self. Put them to none other to hear, let them not be delayed. The saying is now, that money is heard every where, if he be rich, he shall so one have an end of his matter.