A most faithful sermo[n] preached before the Kings most excel[n]te Majesty, and his most…A moste faithfull sermo[n] preached before the Kynges most excelle[n]te Maiestye, and hys most…

For a certain great man that had purchased much lands a thousand marks by year or I wot not what, a great portion he had. And so on the way as he was in his journey towards London, or from Lon don, he fell sick by the way. A disease toke him, that he was constrained to lye upon it. And so being in his bed the disease grew more and more up on him, that he was by his friends, that were about him very godly ⟨image 52⟩advised to look to him self, & to make him ready to God, for there was none other likelihood but that he must die without remedy. He tried out, what? shall I dye (quod he) wounds, sides, hart, shall I dye, and thus go from my goods? go fetch me some Physician that may save my life, wounds and sides shall I thus dye? There lay he still in his bed like a block with nothing but wounds and sides shall I dye? Within a very little while he died in deed, and then lay he like a block in deed. That was black gowns, torches. Tapers and ringing of belles, but what is become of him, God knoweth, and not I. But here by this ye may perceive that it is not the haboū dance of riches that maketh a man to live quietly and blissfully. But the quiet life is in a mediocrity. Mediocres optime uivunt. (saith he) they that are in a mean do live best. And there is a pro verb which I red many years ago ⟨image 52⟩Dimidium plus to to. The half sometimes more than the hole. The mean life is the best life and the most quiet life of all. If a man should fill him self up to the throat he should not find ease in it, but displeasure, and with the one half he might satisfy his greedy appetite. So this great riches never maketh a mans life quiet, but rather troublous I remember here a saying of Solomon, and his example. Coacernavi mihi argentum et aurum. I gathered silver & gold together (saith he) I provided me singers, and women which could play on instruments to make men mirth and pastime. I gate me Psalte ryes & songs of music. &c. & thus my hart rejoiced in all that I did. But what was the end of al this? Cum conuer tissem me ad omnia, when I considered (saith Solomon) all the works that my hands had wrought. &c. lo, all was but vanity, and vexation of mind, & nothing of any value under the sun. ⟨image 53⟩Therefore leave covetousness, for believe me if I had an enemy.