MALICIOUS JUDGMENT

The last week he was at the City of Naim, And from them I wot not whither he did proceed. The reverend father Simon the Pharisee, To have spoken with him, even now was here: Under the pretence of friendship and amity, He would bid him to dinner, and make him good cheer, Not for any goodwill that to him he does owe, But to prove his fashion, learning, and power. Good will quod he No, no that I do know. The same Christ dineth with Simon to day, Who commanded to prepare the table in all hast, Help to make all ready, and the cloth to lay, For surely here he purposes to take his repast. This is the truth of our talk yea I will not flatter, Your gest said a word whereof I would have I ̄ tellige ̄ ce He thanked God at this time now appointed, That on men's sins he had pity and compassion, And hath sent his son with his spirit anointed, Which for his sin should make satisfaction. Hath God into this world sent his own son? Or who is the son of God I would be glad to know Like as now he speaks, so oft times he hath done, The time and place I am able to show. Lo sir, what a fellow this is, it does appear, If he were such a prophet, as of him self he does say, He would know what manner of woman this same is here. A sinner she is, he can not say nay. Lo sir now that God he hath blasphemed, Now his law he does contemn and despise, The Justice thereof of him is nothing esteemed, To destroy the same utterly he does devise. For my partly I will watch him so narrowly, That a word shall not escape me that does sound Against you the father's, that live so holily, But to accuse him for it a way shall be found. All things he does by the power of the great devil, And that you may see by his conversation, He keepeth company with such as be evil, And with them he hath his habitation: A friend of sinners, and a drynker of wine, Never conversant with such as be honest, Against the law he teaches a doctrine, All holy Religion he does detest, The reverend bishops and you the pharisees, He calls hypocrites, and does you revile, So he does the doctors and scribes of all degrees Beside that, the Saboth also he does defile. He uses as great blasphemy as ever was, The son of the living God he does himself call, He says that he is the very same Messias, Prophesied before of the Prophets all. I promise you right worshipful Simon, Your temple, law, and people shall be made captive, If in this sort he be suffered alone, And you shall loose all your prerogative. Me think verily, that it does you behoove, Which are men of learning and intelligence, His doctrine and miracles wisely to prove, And whence he had them to have experience. Ne credas tempori, trust not the time he does say, I fear that you will permit him to long: There is ever peril in much delay, Never suffer you to reign ought that is wrong. As concerning your request I will be diligent, To do you pleasure evermore I am your man. It shall cost me a fallen I promise him truly, Except I bring him shortly to and end. Watch for him will I, in all places duly, I will know what the merchant does intend. A beggarly wretch, that hath not of his own, One house or cabyn wherein he may rest his head: His parents for poor labouring folks ar well known, And have not y e things which should stand the ̄ in stead No man knoweth where he learned & went to school And yet he takes upon him to teach men doctrine. But within a while he will prove him self a fool, And come to utter destruction and ruin. Is he able, think you, to withstand, So many bishops, priests, and pharisees, Great learned men, and seniors of the land, With other people that be of their affinites? His folly by his presumption he does declare, A while we are content that he does reign. But I trust to make him weary of his welfare, If I may see him in this country again. What a devil meanest thou by this gear? This garment is not of the wonted fashion. Yes marry, I did see her yesterday at noon. A pretty wench she is in deed and a clean. If she have tasted of thy erudition, I doubt not but she knoweth all wicked ways, To see her fashion I would bestow my forty pence, But at this time I can no longer tarry here, About my business I must depart hence, Seeking for the same Christ both far and never. Lo sir, what need you have more testimony You hear that he does him self the son of God call, Does not the law condemn that blasphemy: Commanding such to be slain great and small? Sir I will go about as fast as I may, In good faith I would that I might have my will: I would prepare for him a gallows this day, Upon the which I desire his blood to spill. Nay, we are so surely fixed in the Pharisees mind, That his blasphemous words can not driven us the ̄ ce Women's hearts turn oft as does the wind, And again of the law they know not the sense, In malice I have made them all so blind, That they judge nothing in Christ aright: To the letter of the law so fast I do them bind, That of the spirit they have no manner of light. Tush hide thy self in a Pharisees gown, Such a one as is bordered with the continued ̄ maundeme ̄ ts And then thou mayest dwell both in city and in town. Being well accepted in all men's judgements. As thou sayest, that gear is very ancient, I warrant thee now to escape all blame, Marry of one thing thou must take good heed, As never as thou canst let him not behold thy face, Doubt thou not, but he shall have his mede, If I remain with the Jews any space. Go and fetch trenchers, spoons, salt and bred, See whither the cooks be ready also I pray thee. They will come to dinner I dare lay my head, Before that all things prepared well shall be. Yonder they come, turn thy face out of sighed, Thou must make courtesy down to the ground. Mark you not what in his grace he did say? Thou hast see ̄ to thy son anointed with the holy ghost By these words evidently understand we may, That to be the son of God of him self he does boast. Though master Simon does but few words say Yet I warrant you he bears this gear in mind, Doubt thou not but he will find such way, That he shall be rid and as many as be of his kind. Yea and yet to touch him he does her permit, Which is against the law for persons defiled, Ought not among the joust to intromit, But from their company should be exiled. I pray you see, how busy about him she is, She washes his feet with tears of his eyes, Heigh, marry yonder is Like to be nothing amiss. Behold, she anointeth him to driven away flies. Trow you y e master Simon thinketh not somewhat? Yes I hold you a groat, though he say nothing. He is not content I warrant you that, Which thing you may see by his looking. I ever said that he was worse than nought, But among us purvey for him we shall. Now say you by this, here is a greater matter yet, He forgives sins, as one with God equal. I can no longer contain, but must say my mind, In deed it is so, for by his devilish erudition, Which he soweth among the people of our kind, At length they will make a tumult and sedition. Such blasphemy since the beginning was not herd, That, a man shall call him self Gods natural son, To condemn the law of God he is not afeard, Despising all things that our father's have done. For Gods sake sir, you and such as you be, Look upon this fellow by mine advise: For what he goes about all you may see, Yea you have had warning of him twice or thrice. Infidelity? what a devil dost thou here? I had not known thee but by thy voice. Among them Malicious iudgeme ̄ to is not my name The true intellection of the law they do me call, Carnally I cause them to understand the same, And according to their own malice to judge all.