A97377:23
A most necessary & fruitful dialogue, between [the] seditious libertine or rebel Anabaptist, &…A most necessary & frutefull dialogue, betwene [the] seditious libertin or rebel Anabaptist, &…
A most necessary & fruitful dialogue, between [the] seditious libertine or rebel Anabaptist, & the true obedient christia[n] wherein, as in a mirror or glass ye shall see [the] excellence and worthiness of a christia[n] magistrate: & again what obedience is due unto public rulers of all th[os]e [that] profess Christ yea, though [the] rulers, in extern & outward things, to their utter damnation, do otherwise then well: translated out of Latin into English, by Iho[n] Veron Senonoys.A most necessary & frutefull dialogue, betwene [the] seditious libertin or rebel Anabaptist, & the true obedient christia[n] wherin, as in a mirrour or glasse ye shal se [the] excellencte and worthynesse of a christia[n] magistrate: & again what obedience is due vnto publique rulers of all th[os]e [that] professe Christ yea, though [the] rulers, in externe & outward thinges, to their vtter dampnatyon, do otherwyse then well: translated out of Latyn into Englishe, by Iho[n] Veron Senonoys.
Worcester : Imprinted the third day of April. Anno. Do. 1551. At Worcester in the high street, by John Oswen. They be also to sell at Shrewesbury. Cum priuligio ad imprimendum solum, 1551Worcester : Imprynted the third daye of Aprill. Anno. Do. 1551. At Worceter in ye hygh strete, by Ihon Oswen. They be also to sell at Shrewesbury. Cum priuligio ad imprimendum solum, 1551
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.
Therefore,1 O ye magistrates and rulers whom god hath appointed over his chosen and elected people, with the sword of equity, to defend the widows and fatherless, to maintain the good and righteous, and to punish the evil and wicked doers: it is your part and duty to seek out such run agates, and without any favour or mercy, to punish them that all other may take example by them Put away in this case all foolish pity: for as the common proverb is, foolish pity leseth the country, & besides that, better it is ye ii. or .iii. be thus extremely punished, than thousands,2 should through their wicked counsels & enticements, most miserably and to the great loss of the country, perish. Pick out these ravening wolves, and for God's sake, favour the people as much as may be, have that noble ⟨image 27⟩captain Joab always before your eyen which as soon as that traitorous rebel Absalom, was by the righteous judgment of god,3 most shamefully slain, did by & by blow to the retreat, and commanded to spare the people. Do the same and ye shall highly please god. Call ye the pore unto you, and hear their complaints patiently, o ye gods (for, so the scripture doth call you, because that ye are in the stead and room of god) here ye the complaint of the poor (I say) and redress those things that are amiss. Know of them the causes, why they are now contrary to their old wont and custom, 4so bent to insurrection and tumult. If a physician would go about to heal any disease or sickness, and not search out the causes thereof, would not all men, and ye by good right, call him an unkunning physician. The whole body of the common weal is sore sick, it can in no wise be healed except the cause of this disease and sickness, be both searched out diligently, and taken away.
Therfore,1 O ye magistrates and rulers whom god hath appointed ouer his chosen and elected people, with the swearde of equitie, to defende the widdowes and fatherles, to maintain ye good and righteous, and to punisshe the euil and wicked doers: it is your parte and duetye to seke oute suche runne agates, and withoute any fauoure or mercye, to punysshe them that all other may take example by them Put away in this case all folish pitie: for as the cōmen prouerbe is, folish pytye leseth ye countrey, & besides yt, better it is ye ii. or .iii. be thus extremely punished, thē thousands,