A14136:403
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.
Read the chronicles of England (out of which yet they have put a great part of their wickedness) and thou shalt find them all ways both tebellious & disobedient to the kings & also churlish & unthankful / so that / when all the realm gave the king some what to maintain him in his right / they would not give a mite. Consider the story of ⟨image 158⟩king John / where I doubt not but they have put the best and fairest for them selves and the worst of king John / For I suppose they make the chronicles them selves. Compare the doings there of holy church (as they ever call it) unto the learning of Christ and of his Apostles. Did not the legate of Rome assoil all the lords of the realm of their due obedience which they ought to the king by the ordinance of God? would he not have cursed the king with his solemn pomp / because he would have done that office which God commandeth every king to do and wherefore God hath put the sword in every kings hand? that is to wit / because king John would have punished a wicked clerk that had coined false money The lay men that had not done half so great faults must dye / but the clerk must goo scot-free. Sent not the Pope also unto the king of France remission of his since to goo and conquer king Ihons realm. So now remission of since cometh not by faith in the testament that God hath made in Christs blood: but by fighting & murdering for the popes pleasure. Last of all was not king John fain to deliver his crown unto the legate & to yield up his realm unto the Pope / wherefore we pay Peter pence. They might be called the polling pence of false prophets well enough. They care not by what mischief ⟨p. clviij⟩the come by their purpose. War and conquering of lands is their harvest. The wickeder the people are the more they have the hypocrites in reverence / the more they fear them and the more they believe in them. And they that conquer other mens lands / when they dye / make them their heirs / to be prayed fore for ever. Let there come one conquest more in the realm / and thou shalt see them get yet as much more as they have (if they can keep down Gods word that their juggling come not to light) ye thou shalt see them take the realm hole in to their hands and crown one of them selves king thereof. And verily I see no other likelihood / but that the land shall be shortly conquered.
Reade the cronycles of Englōde (out of which yet they have put a greate parte of their wekednisse) and thou shalt fynde them all wayes both tebellious & disobediente to the kynges & also churlysh & vnthākefull / so that / whē all ye realme gave the kynge some what to mayntene hym in his ryghte / they wolde not geve a myte. Cōsidre the story of