Epa. I never forgot them, since the Lord my God, gave me any portion of worldly goods, I always considered to what use, they were given me: verily, that I should distribute part of them to the necessity of the pore saints. And I thank the Lord my God, so have I don: yea, and that with a good will and free hart.1 For God loveth a cheerful giver, I have not been of the mind ye some are, which, so long as they live, greedily gather together, and bestow nothing at all upon the poor. But when they see nothing but present death, then •ash they out, and liberally give •nto the pore scilicet, because they •an keep it no longer, I trust, I ⟨p. 146⟩have laid up for my self all ready treasures in heaven,2 where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through or steal. For I have ever thought it better to send my works before me, while I live in this world, than to have them sent after me I know not by whom, wham I am gone.3 These purgatory rakers shall nether rake nor scrape for me with their masses and Diriges, when I am departed.4 For I trust no such works. Neither do I any thing regard the prayers of such as have the belly for their God. But as touching the pore. I give unto them .iiii. C. pounds, which I will have bestowed, no• upon idle lubbers & sturdy queans, but upon the halt, the lame, the blind, the sick, and such other as be comfortless. And in this non •ber also of the pore, I comprehend ⟨p. 147⟩prisoners, pore maids, young men, which have not wherewith to set up their occupation, & my needy neighbours. These .iiii. C. pounds are in four several bags, lying in my counting house by them selves, with this writing upon every one of them. Money for the poor. This money I will have distributed with all haste, if it be possible, even before I depart. Have you written in this money for the pore?
Epa. I neuer forgot them, since the Lorde my God, gaue me any portion of worldly goodes, I always considred to what vse, thei were geuen me: verely, that I shuld distribute part of them to the necessitie of ye pore sainctes. And I thanke the Lord my God, so haue I don: yea, and that with a good wyll and free hart.1 For God loueth a chere•ull geuer, I haue not bene of the minde ye some are, whiche, so long as they liue, gredely gather together, and bestowe nothing at all vpon the poore. But when they se nothing but present death, then •ash they out, and liberally geue •nto the pore scilicet, because they •an kepe it no longer, I truste, I ⟨p. 146⟩haue laid vp for my selfe all ready treasures in heauen,2 where neyther rust nor moth doth corrupte, and where theues doe not breake through or steal. For I haue euer thought it better to send my workes before me, while I liue in this world, than to haue them sent after me I know not by whō, whā I am gone.3 These purgatori rakers shall nether rake nor scrape for me with their masses and Diriges, when I am departed.4 For I trust no suche workes. Neither do I any thyng regard ye prayers of suche as haue ye belly for theyr God. But as touching the pore. I geue vnto them .iiii. C. poundes, whiche I wil haue bestowed, no• vpon idle lubbers & sturdy quea•nes, but vpon the halt, the lame, the blind, the sick, and suche other as be comfortles. And in this nō •ber also of the pore, I comprehend ⟨p. 147⟩prisoners, pore maides, yong mē, which haue not wherewith to set vp their occupation, & my neadie neighbours. These .iiii. C. pounds are in four seuerall bagges, lying in my countyng house by them selues, with this wryghting vpon euery one of them. Mony for the poore. This mony I wil haue distributed with all haste, if it be possible, euen before I departe. Haue you wrytten in this monye for the pore?
- 1ii. Cor. •.
- 2Math. vi.
- 3Purgatory rakers.Purgatorie rakers.
- 4Phil. iii.
