A14136:402
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.
In all their doings though they pretend outwardly the honour of God or a common wealth / their entente and secret counsel is only to bring all under their power and to take out of the way whosoever letteth them ⟨p. clvij⟩or is to mighty for them. As when they send the princes to Jerusalem to conquer the holy land and to fight against the Turks. What so ever they pretend outwardly their secret entente is / while the princes there conquer them more bishoprics / to conquer their lands in the mean season with their false hypocrisy and to bring all under them / which thou mayest easily perceive by that they will not let us know the saith of Christ. And when they are ones on high / then are they tyrants above all tyrants / whether they be turks or saracens. How minister they proving of testaments? How causes of wedlock? or if any man dye intestate? If a pore man dye and leave his wife and half a dozen young children and but one cow to find them / that will they have for a mortuary merciless: let come of wife and children what will. Ye let any thing be done against their pleasure and they w•ll interdict the whole Realm sparing no person.
In all their doinges though they pretēde outwardly ye honoure of God or a comē wealth / their entente and secret councell is only to brynge all vnder their power ād to take out of the waye whosoever letteth them ⟨p. clvij⟩or is to myghty for them. As when they sende the princes to Hierusalem to conquere the holy londe and to fyghte agenst the Turkes. What so ever they pretende outwardly their secret entēte is / while the princes there conquere them moare bysshoperikes / to conquere their landes in the meane season with their false ypocresy and to bringe all vnder them / which thou maist easely perceave by that they will not let vs know the sayth of Christe. And whē they are ones on hye / then are they tyrauntes a bove all tyrauntes / whether they be turkes or saracenes. How minister they provinge of testamētes? How causes of wedlocke? or yf any man dye intestate? Yf a pore mā dye and leave his wife and halfe a dosen younge childern and but one cow to fynde them / that will they have for a mortuary mercylesse: let come of wife and childern what will. Yee let any thinge be done agenst their pleasure and they w•ll interdite the whole Realme sparinge no person.