A potacio[n] or dry[n]king for this holy time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all…A potacio[n] or dri[n]kynge for this holi time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all…
A potacio[n] or dry[n]king for this holy time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all penitent sinners, newly prepared by Theodore Basil.A potacio[n] or dri[n]kynge for this holi time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all penitent synners, newly prepared by Theodore Basille.
Thomas Becon 1512–1567printed for Joha, 1542printed for Ioha, 1542
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.
PHILEMON. IT is not long ago sins I made a certain of my neighbours a Christmas Banquet, which so far as I can perceive, they have right well digested, whereof I am not a little glad. For since that time they have not ⟨image 7⟩only garnished their houses with the most sacred scriptures after that man ner of this my poor mansion, but they are also become new men in their conversation. They have utterly put of old Adam, & put on the new man Jesus Christ. They have cast away 1the works of the flesh, & put on the armours of light, yea they have joy fully amplexed the fruits of the impi rite. For they walk now no more in darkness, but as y• children of light in all goodness, justice & verity. To 2the poor people they are become very merciful & tender, to their neigh bours gentle & loving, to their enemies patient & long suffering, not 3rendering evil for evil but ready at all times not only to forgive them but also to do them good to the uttermost of their power. Moreover to our most sovereign Lord & excellent King they show them selves unfeignedly obedient both in word
and deed with all submission & humility. The other magistrates of the public weal they also have in great reverence. And also for the spiritual ministers of God's word they entirely love, reverently fear, & have them in no less honour, than true & faithful children have their natural parents. Yea they esteem them
as the servants of God, & dispensators of the divine mysteries, and therefore do they give them double honour, according to the admonition of the Apostle. To conclude, they so behave them selves, that they are it reprehensible & faultless in the sight of all men. They shine as great
garnish the doctrine of our Saviour Christ with all innocency & purity. So that by their means there are, I thank my LORD God, many of our neighbours which now begin to follow that trade and to
⟨image 8⟩
practise like godliness. And as they them selves are wholly bent to this true godliness, so likewise do they train & bring up their family & household after that trade, which is to me a singular great pleasure. If they go forth, as they begin, I do not doubt, but that within few years it will come to pass, that no Realm through Christendom shall be able to compare with England in sincere doctrine & godly living.
PHILEMON. IT is not long agō sins I made a certayne of my neygheboures a Christmasse Banckette, which so farre as I can perceyue, they haue ryght well digested, wherof I am not a lytle gladde. For syns that time they haue not on ⟨image 7⟩ly garnysshed theyr houses with the moost sacred scryptures after yt man ner of this my poore māsiō, but they are also become newe mēne in theyr conuersaciō. They haue vtterly put of olde Adam, & put on the newe mā Iesus Christ. They haue cast away 1the workes of the flessh, & put on the armours of lyght, yea they haue ioy fully amplexed the fruytes of the īpi rite. For they walke now no more in darkenes, but as y• chyldren of lyght in all goodnes, iustyce & verite. To 2the poore people they are become very mercyfull & tēder, to theyr neygh bours gentle & louynge, to theyr ene mies pacient & longe sufferynge, not 3renderynge euell for euell but redye at all tymes not only to forgyue thē but also to do thē good to the vttermoost of theyr power. Moreouer to oure moost soueraygne Lorde & excellent Kynge they shewe thē selues vnfaynedly obedient both in worde ⟨image 8⟩and dede with all submission & humi lyte. The other magistrates of ye publique weale they also haue in great reuerence. And also for the spiritual ministers of Goddes worde they en tierly loue, reuerently feare, & haue them in no lesse honour, than true & faythfull chyldren haue theyr naturall parentes. Yea they esteme them 4as the seruauntes of God, & dispensatours of the diuyne misteries, and therfore do they gyue thē double honoure, accordynge to the admoniciō of the Apostle. To conclude, they so behaue them selues, that they are it reprehensible & fautles in the syght of all men. They shyne as great ligh 5tes amōge theyr neyghbours. They 6garnysh the doctryne of our Sauyour Christ wyth all innocency & purite. So that by theyr meanes there are, I thancke my LORDE God, many of oure neighbours whiche nowe begyn to followe that trade and to ⟨image 8⟩practyse lyke godlynes. And as they them selues are wholly bente to this true godlynesse, so lykewyse do they trayne & brynge vp theyr familye & housholde after that trade, which is to me a syngulare great pleasure. If they go forth, as they begynne, I do not doubte, but that within few yeres it wyll come to passe, that no Re alme thorowe Christendome shall be able to compare withe Englonde in syncere doctryne & godlye lyuynge.
Seeing therefore that they received so great profit of my Christmas Banquet, I was the gladder to call them now again unto a Potation or drinking, trusting that they shall receive here of no less commodity than they did of the other. They ap pointed to come unto me about two of the clock this after noon. I mer veil therefore that they are so long absent. For the hour is paste. I will go forth out of my doors & see whither ⟨image 9⟩they come or not. But what need it? me think I hear one knock at the door. It are they I am sure. I will go and bring them in. Neigh bours, I have looked long for you, but ye are welcome to me at the last.
Seyng therfore that they receyued so great profytte of my Christmasse Bancket, I was the gladder to call them nowe agayne vnto a Potaciō or drynckynge, trustynge that they shal receyue here of no lesse commodi te thā they dyd of the other. They ap poynted to come vnto me about two of the clocke this after noone. I mer uayle therfore that they are so long absent. For the houre is paste. I wyl go forth oute of my doores & se whyther ⟨image 9⟩they come or not. But what nede it? me thike I heare one knocke at the dore. It are they I am sure. I wyll go and brynge them in. Neygh bours, I haue looked longe for you, but ye are welcome to me at the last.
THEO. I had rather, if it shall be your pleasure, tarry here a while in your haul to behold these most godly spectacles, and to see, whither my house be in all points garnished like unto this or not.
THEO. I hadde rather, yf it shall be your pleasure, tary here a whyle in your haull to behold these moost god ly spectacles, and to se, whyther my house be in all poyntes garnysshed lyke vnto this or not.
PHIL. To tarry ⟨image 9⟩here longer for that purpose, were nothing but a loss of time. For our houses in this behalf are so like one to ano there, that ye can less discern an egg from an egg, or a fig from a fig, as they say. They be in all points like, concerning the inward garnishing of them with the holy scriptures. Therefore I pray you all, come your way into my parlour.
PHIL. To tary ⟨image 9⟩here lēger for yt purpose, were nothig but a losse of tyme. For oure houses in this behalfe are so lyke one to ano ther, yt ye cāne lesse discerne an egge from an egge, or a fygge frō a fygge, as they saye. They be in all poyntes lyke, concernynge the inwarde garnysshynge of them wt the holy scryptures. Therfore I pray you al, come your waye into my parloure.
