Moreover, as I may let pass divers other histories, which be left he•e among us as monuments of God's vengeance against the churlish •nd unthankful, and as they say come near home. Read we not that god stirred up Gildas to preach unto the old Britons a•d too exhort them unto repentance and amendment o• life,1 and afore wa•ne them of the plagues to come▪ if they repent not? Wha• […] it? Gildas was laughed to scorn and taken for a false Prophet, and a malicious Preacher. The Britons with lusty courages, whorish faces, and unrepentant hea•tes went forth to sin, and to offend the Lord their God. What followed? God sent in their enemies upon them on every side, and destroyed them and gave the land unto other nations. And sent that rime God hath •laged this real•e full oft for their sin and disobedience. Not many years past, God seeing Idolatry, superstition, Hypocrisy, and wicked l•uynge used in this realm, raised up that godly leavened man John Wycliffe to preach unto our fathers repentance, and too exhort ⟨image 12⟩them to amend their lives, to forsake their Papistry and Idolatry,2 their Hypocrisy superstition, and to walk in the fear of God. His exhortations were not regarded. He with his sermons was despised. His books and he him self al•o after his death were bre•te. What followed? They slew their right king, and set up .iii. wrong Kings arrow, under whom all the noble blood was slain up, and half the commons thereto, what in France and what with their own sword •n fighting among them selves for the crown, and the cities and tow•es decayed, and the Land• brought hal•e to a wilderness in respect o• that it was before. O extreme plagues of gods vengeance. Sense that time even of late years God once again having pity on this realm o• England, raised up his Prophets namely William Tyndale, Thomas Bilney, John Frith, Doctor Barnes Jerome, Garret, Anthony •arsone, with divers other, which both with their writings & sermons earnestly laboured to call us unto repentance that by this means the fears wrath of God might be turned away from us? But how were they entreated? Howe were their painful labours regarded? They them selves were condemned and burnt as heretics, and their books condemned and burnt •s heretical. O most unworthy act.
Moreouer, as I maye let passe dyuers other hystoryes, whyc•e be leafte he•e amonge vs as monumentes of Goddes vengaunce agaynste the churlish •nd vnthanckeful, and as they say come nere home. Rede we not that god stirred vp Gildas to prech vnto the olde Britannes a•d too exhorte theym vnto repentaunce and amendemente o• lyfe,1 and afore wa•ne theym of the plages to come▪ if they repente not? Wha• 〈…〉 it? Gildas was laughed to scorne and taken for a false Prophete, and a malycyous Preacher. The Bretannes wyth lustye courages, whorishe faces, and vnrepentaunte hea•tes wente forth to synne, and to offende the Lorde theyr God. What folowed? God sente in theyr ennemyes vpon them on euery syde, and dystroyed them and gaue the lande vnto other nacions. And sente that ryme God hathe •laged thys real•e full ofte for theyre synne and dys•bedyence. Not manye yeares past, God seinge Idolatry, supe•st•cion, Hipocrisye, and wycked l•uynge vsed in thys realme, raysed vp that godlye lea•ened manne Ihon Wyclyfe to preache vnto oure fathers rep•ntaunce, and too exh•rte ⟨image 12⟩them to amende theyr lyues, to forsake theyr Papistrye and Idolat•ye,2 theyr Hyprocrisye supersticion, and to walke in the feare of God. Hys e•hortacions were not regarded. He with his sermons was •espysed. Hys bookes and he him self al•o after hys deathe were brete. What folowed? They slewe theyr ryghte kynge, and sette vppe .iii. wrong Kynges arowe, vnder whome all the noble bloude was slayne vppe, and halfe the commones therto, what in Faunce and what with theyr owne werd n fyghtynge amonge them selues for the crowne, and the cytyes and towes decayed, and the Land broughte hale to a wildernes in respecte o that it was before. O extreame plages of gods vengaūce. Sence that time euen of late yeres God once again hauynge pytye on this realme o Englande, raysed vp his Prophets namelye Wyllyam Tindal, Thomas Bilney, Ihon Fryhe, Doctoure Barnes Ierome, Garret, Anthonye arsone, wyth dyuers other, whyche bothe wyth theyr wryghtynges & sermons earnestlye labored to cal vs vnto repenaūce that by this meanes the fears wrath of God might be tourned awaye from vs? But how were they entreated? Howe were theyr paineful labours regarded? They them selues were condempned and brēt as heretikes, and theyr bokes condemned and brēt s heretical. O moste vnworthy act.
- 1Britain.Bryttayne.
- 2Wycliffe with his books condemned & burnt for an heretic after his deathWicleffe with his bokes condempned & brent for an heretike af•er his deth
