Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles

5 But above all, is not this a more then vile shame (although we see not these things in such excess as to see upon the head these golden cauls & such other superfluities, which our poverty rather keepeth us from, then any fear of God) that a man must notwithstanding in this place not only necessarily make such warnings, but which is worse, make them & make them again, and all in vain. For what are we, I pray you, whether we respect them of this place, or whether we consider of them who are come from other places and countries? It is true the Lord hath honoured this estate & common-weal with a sovereign liberty of jurisdiction. But are we therefore a kingdom, or a duchy, or a county, or any great thing above others? Nay on the contrary side, is not that verified of us which Saint Paul said of those boasters of Corinth, 1. Cor. 1.26. My brethren ye set your vocation, ye are not many wise according unto the flesh, nor many mighty, nor many noble. And as for us that have been received into this city, and who in steed of saying that we are come hither to make a pure profession of the Gospel, bring hither the filthy fashions and manners of the places whence we came, what are we according unto the world? Poor banished men, or at the least fugitives, and when all is said, a small handful of ⟨p. 173⟩poor people. And yet we cannot hold our selves in our own skins; our admonitions prevail nothing; the laws are openly violated & broken, as every one seeth save they who ought to be the first that should see & foresee it to remedy it. Dearth and famine, plague and pestilence, which are at our gates, war with his sword unsheathed, the misery and extremity whereunto so many Churches are brought, all these things which should cause us to mourn in sackcloth and ashes, seem to whet and sharpen our appetites and lusts to do much the worse. If there be any villainous and outrageous fashion in all France, this filth must be brought hither by and by to poison and infect this place, as these monstrous ruffs, these great villainous long bellies, these more then villainous fashions of women's gowns, the only name whereof showeth in what detestation they ought to be had of all honest women. And what shall I say of these vile and stinking Androgynes, that is to say, these men-women with their curled locks, their crisped and frizzled hair?

5 But aboue al, is not this a more then vile shame (although we see not these things in such excesse as to see vpon the head these goldē cauls & such other superfluities, which our pouerty rather keepeth vs frō, then any fear of God) that a man must notwithstanding in this place not onely necessarily make such warnings, but which is worse, make them & make thē againe, and all in vaine. For what are wee, I praie you, whether we respect them of this place, or whether we consider of them who are come from other places and countries? It is true the Lorde hath honored this estate & common-weale with a soueraigne liberty of iurisdiction. But are wee therefore a kingdome, or a duchie, or a county, or any great thing aboue others? Naie on the contrarie side, is not that verified of vs which Saint Paul said of those boasters of Corinth,