Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

  • Stubbs, Philip, active 1581-1593.
Date:
1877-1882
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fome of them, are they ^ not fuch as can fcarcely read true englifli ? And for their zeale to Gods worde and true religion, are they not luch as can fcarce tell what it meaneth ? The truth of Gods word they cannot eafily preach nor expound. The aduerfarie they cannot refell: barke againft finne they dare not, bicaufe their lines are licentious. They will read you their feruice faire and cleanly (as the doting papifts did their blafphemous mafles out of their porteffes), and when they haue done, they will to all kiiide of wanton paftimes and delights, with come that come will, and that vpon fabboth day, feftiuall day, or other j no day is amifle to them. And all the weeke after, yea all the yeere (if I faid all the yeeres of their life, I lied not) they will not fticke to keepe companie at the alehoufe from morning till night, tipling and fwilling till the figne be in Capricornus. Info- much as if you would know where the beft cup of drinke is, go to thefe malt woormes, and I warrant you you fliall not milTe of your purpofe. By thefe mercenaries their deputies, and the like, I grant they are prefent in all their flocks, but fo as it were better or as good they were abfent, for any good they doe, but rather hurt by their euill example of life. The refidence of thefe their deputies is no dif- charge for them ^ before the tribunall feate of God ; for notwithftand- ino the fame, let them be fure to anfwere for the bloud of euerie one of their flieepe, that mifcarrieth through their default, or their deputies. Their deputies fliall not excufe them at the day of iudge- ment, I dare be their warrant. Therefore I wilh them to take heed to it betime, leaft afterward it be too late. Theod. But I heare fay, that what is wanting either in their depu- ties, or in themfelues for not being daily refident, they fupply either by preacliing their quarter fermons the;«felues, or elfe (if they be not able) by procuring of others to do it for them. Is not that well ? Amphil. It is as though a man euery quarter of a yeere once, llmld take his plow, &c go draw a flirrow in a field, & yet notwith- ftanding fhould looke for increafe of the fame; were not he a foolifli hulbandman that wold do thus ? And euen fo he is no lefle vnwife, that plowing but one furow, that is, preaching but one poore fermon in a quarter of a yeere (& perchance but one in a whole yeere, nay in 7. yeeres) will notwithftanding loke for gret increfe of the fame. Now the caufe why this ground bringeth not forth fruit is, for that it [* Sig. L. 1. back] Tho they can read the Service, yet after it, and on week- days, they’ll swill all day at the Alehouse. P Sig. L. 2.] Pluralists may preach once a quarter, but that’s no more good than if a man plowd one furrow every quarter.