FAITHFUL FEW

¶Alas I lament to hear the report, Which of us citizens in every place is spread: It is not long since I came from the court, Where I would have be glad to have hid my head. With the spoil of the simple, there they say were fed, So that for the covetous greediness, which some citizens use, A shameful ill report to the whole ensues. But I must needs confess some among us there be, For whose sakes the whole number bears great blame: They abuse themselves so, towards every degree, As man without reason, and passed wordly shame, Neither regard they their own, nor their ill name. So they may have the chassy treasure of the world, They pass not both with God and man to be abhorred. There is no time nor place, that they will forbear, When any of their help hath most need: Then shall he pay Triple for his money or beware, Or else of them he is not Like to speed. They nothing regard his poverty or need, But who is it which yonder does stand? he goes towards him Holding the Sword of Policy in his hand, Most certain I am, that face I should know, Sir is not your name Christianity? ¶By the power of God I will not delay, he turns the titles To turn this title most untrue and feigned, And I will endue Thee, and that straight way, With such weapons, as Saint Paul hath ordained. ¶A friend thou art in deed, though a friend but ill, Pithagoras thy friendship, hath plainly decreed, There be many say he, who no friends do lack, And yet of friendship they have but skant, So thou art a friend for their moneys sake, And yet thy friendship they always shall want. ¶See how the time takers their fact does repent, Who no time will spare in pleasing their will: And although the beginning have a pleasant sent, Yet of the ending, the taste is as ill. For who ever it be that without measure, Does consume his substance in prodigal sort: Although he had abundance of treasure, Yet will he be a beggar, and that in time short. I marvel where Authority is, Who should see a help for the simple oppressed: Many things there are greatly amiss, Which by his means must needs be redressed. His absence greatly disquieteth my mind, I will not cease seeking, until him I do find. Exiunt. ¶And shall the Sword of Policy, by Christianity be born, Truly that is contrary to your nature and kind: Now are you deformed Like a thing forlorn, Which makes me suspect, of me in my mind. ¶More shame for Thee, and such as thou art, That with life thou art permitted, it is great pity, Thou art a Christian with a cankered heart, And the cause of reproach to a whole city. Christianity by Thee is greatly abused, Of his righteous Armour, thou dost him bereave, And in stead thereof, by him to be used, The Armour of Satan, with him thou dost leave. ¶But not in such sort, to set thine intent, That all the world of Thee should complain. ¶Art thou not ashamed of thy Prince to speak ill? Thine own abused doing to excuse: No marvel though the city have all men's ill will, When both in word and deed, thy self thou dost misuse. Said Reginum est male, audire cum besecerint, Antisthenes does truly this saying resite, It is given to Princes (sayeth he) though they be benevole ̄ to, To be evil spoken of which is against all right. ¶We deny not, but in this world, riches bear the sway, Yet, it not riches to be called sure: For in Gods power it is to make riches decay, Whereas Gods word and faith shall ever endure. ¶Well since it will no better be, To God let us the cause betake: Whom I trust, when as time he does see, He will for us, a deliverance make. ¶Sorry I am, to see his estate, Now near he is, to the Fount of perdition: God grant him repentance, or it be to late, That of his sins he may have remission. ¶Doubt not thereof good Christianity, My endeavour herein shall not be delayde: Alas what is man not knowing the verity, No man, but a beast he may be said. Yet many there are, which in the world does live, Who for Christians will needs accounted be: Though to all abominations, their selves they do give, And from no kind of vice be clear or free Covetousness is accounted no sin, Usury is a science and art: All ways are good, whereby we may win, Although it be to our neighbours smart. Whereby it appears, from love we are free, The words of the wise, we nothing regard: For without love, no virtue can perfect been, As Plato the wise, hath plainly declared. No good thing without love, it is possible to do, Seneca of that opinion hath be: Then how many good things, do they now think you, In whom no love at all there is seen. They watch their times, the simple to snare, No time they forbear, their pleasures to work: God grant we therefore of them may beware, For privily to snare us, they daily do lurk. ¶Soft stay a while, and be not so rash, Thinkest thou God unmerciful to be: Wilt thou trust despair, even at the First dash, Hast thou no faith in Gods mercy so free, Call upon God with repentance and faith, By such ways and means as I will instruct Thee. ¶Well follow Me, and I will conduct Thee. O heavenly Father pardon my offence. ¶And grant that thy mercy may to me repair. ¶Also Oh Father banish thou hence. ¶That wicked Monster of Despair, ¶How feelest thou now, thy conscience and mind. Hoyest thou not, of gods mercy and grace? ¶Surely Authority the same is even he, I warrant you sir, you need not to doubt. ¶Si Deus nobiscum, quis contranos, If God be with us, who may us resist, Weigh not then the number, but weigh his purpose, Who ruleth all things, as himself does lift. I know how Greediness, with the great partly is used, Their pilling, pouling, pinching and spoiling: How both the simple and others, with them are abused, They live by the fruits of other men's toiling. But God is not dead, neither is he asleep, Although for a time his hand he does hold: Yet does he remember his little sheep, And will revenge the wrong done to his fold. ¶That is very well said, if so thou do think, And now frame thy self, thy life to amend, Let despair no more into thy mind sink: But to be a new man, do thou now pretend. And as heretofore thy mind for to please, Thou haste learned the Tide will tarry no man, So now it behooves for thy greater ease, That saying, after Gods will for to scan. Take time while time is, thus I do mean, Amend thy life while here thou haste space: To Gods merciful promises see that thou lean, So shalt thou enjoy the Tide of his grace. ¶Nay soft he is here, whom that we would have, Therefore you need not him for to fetch. ¶Sir see where comes Correction also. ¶When all malifactors are duly thus punished, According to the good and godly laws, Then shall Christianity duly be burnished, And to praise God, we shall have cause. ¶O noble Authority, by this your occasion, Great tranquillity to us shall befall: We shall be a joy to each godly nation, When Christianity is delivered from thrall. For better it were unchristened to be, Then our Christianity for to abuse: The Jewish Infidel to God does more agree, Then such as Christianity do so misuse. But see yonder where he does appear, Whom abused armour does greatly oppress. ¶God grant that so it may be kept, As all Christians it may become: And for my partly I shall not be slept, But my duty shall straight way be done. he turns the titles.