The practise of prelates. CompiledThe practyse of prelates. Compyled

¶A proper similitude to describe our holy father.

¶A propre similytude to describe our holy father.

And to see how our holy father can up mark the ensample of an ivy tree: first it springeth out of the earth & then a while crepeth a long by the groū de tyll it find a great tree: then it joineth it self beneath a low unto the body of the tree, & crepeth up a little and a little fair and softly. And at the beginning while it is yet thin and small that the burden is not perceived, it seemeth glorious to garnish the tree in the winter and to bear of the tempests of the weather. But in the mean season it thrusteth his roots into the bark of the tree to hold fast withal / and ceaseth not to ••ym up till it be at the top / and above ⟨image 27⟩all. And then it sendeth his branches along by th• branches of the tree, and ove• groweth all and waxeth great, heavy and thick and sucketh the moisture so sore out of the tree and his branches, that it choketh and stifleth them. And then the foul stinking ivy waxeth mighty in the scope of the tree and becometh a seat and a nest for all unclean, birds and for b•inde owls which hawk in the dark and dare not come at the light.

And to see how oure holy father cā vp marke the ensample of an yuirtre: first it springeth out of ye earth & then a whyle crepeth a longe by the groū de tyll it fynde a great tree: then it ioyneth it selfe byneath a lowe vnto the body of ye tre, & crepeth vp a lytle and a lytle fayre ād softely. And at the begīning whyle it is yet thyn and small that the burthē is not perceaued, it semeth glorious to garnysh the tre in the winter and to beare of the tēpestes of the wether. But in the meane ceasō it thrusteth his rootes into the barke of ye tree to hold fast withall / and ceasseth not to ••ym vppe tyll it be at the toppe / and aboue