A14136:193
The Obedience of a Christian Man
The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christ[n] rulers ought to govern, where in also (if thou mark diligently) thou shalt find eyes to perceive the crafty conveyance of all jugglers.The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christe[n] rulers ought to governe, where in also (if thou marke diligently) thou shalt fynde eyes to perceave the crafty conveyance of all iugglers.
At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the second day of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the seconde daye of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
If any of the nobles of the realm be true to the king and so bold that he dare counsel him that which should be to his honour and for the wealth of the realm. They will wait a season for him (as men say) They will provide a ghostly father for him. God bring their wickedness to light There is no mischief where of they are not the rote / nor blood shed / but through their cause other by there counsel or in that they preach not true obedience and teach not the people to fear God. If any faithful servant be in all the court / he shall have twenty spies waiting upon him / he shall be cast out of the court / or (as the saying is) conveyed to Calais / and made a captain / or an ambassador / he shall be kept far enough from the kings presence.1
Yf any of the nobles of the realme be true to the kynge ād so bolde that he dare councell him that which shulde be to his honoure and for the wealth of the realme. They will wayte a season for him (as men saye) They will provide a goostly father for him. God bringe their wekednes to lighte There is no mischeve where of they are not the rote / ner bloud shedde / but thorow their cause other by there counsell or in that they preach not true obedience and teach not the people to feare God. Yf any faythfull servaunte be in all the courte / he shall have twē ty spies waytinge vpon him / he shalbe cast oute of the courte / or (as the sayenge is) cō veyed to Callyce / and made a captayne / or an ambassadoure / he shalbe kepte farre ynough from the kynges presens.1
- 1The duty of kings.The dutie of kynges.
The kings ought Isaiah to remember that they ⟨image 79⟩are in Gods stead and ordained of God not for them selves / but for the wealth of their subjects. Let them remember that their subjects are their brethren / their flesh and blood / members of their own body and even their own selves in Christ. Therefore ought they to pity them and to rid them from such wily tyranny which increaseth more & more daily. And though that the kings by the falsehood of the Bishops and Abbots be sworn to defend such liberties: yet ought they not to keep their