BOOK II. to improve in every part of society, when the critical eye had begun to discriminate and to look for its defects, that even preaching was discountenanced by many, as a dangerous promoter of popular discontent.90 There is nothing which our venerable reformer more lamented than the disuse of the practice of the military bow. He describes himself as having thoroly learnt the art, with all its superior English excellence, from his father; " and he loudly blames the abandonment of his favorite exercise for more domestic and sedentary amusements." He did not see that 91 was so earnest for this duty, as to say, that if a pulpit could not be obtained, a good preacher may declare the word of God sitting on a horse, or preaching in a tree:' tho he acknowleges that other prelates, "if this should be done, would laugh it to scorn.' Serm. p. 74. 90 Latimer confesses that this imputation was made on himself: Some say preaching now-a-days is the cause of all sedition and rebellion; for since this new preaching hath come in, there hath been much sedition; and therefore it must needs be, that the preaching is the cause of the rebellion here in England. We preachers have come and spoken to you. We have drawn our swords of God's word, and stricken at the roots of all evil, to have them cut down; and if ye will not amend, what can we do more?' 114. Here was preaching against covetousness all the last year in Lent, and the next summer followed rebellion. Ergo, preaching against covetousness was the cause of rebellion.' 115. With all my unfeigned respect for this worthy old gentleman, I cannot but admit that he did occasionally step a little beyond the religious duty and fair license of the pulpit. The 'citra and the ultra fines' are applicable at all times to every moral obligation. The just modus in rebus' is always the true virtue. 6 91 My poor father was as diligent in teaching me to shoot, as to learn me any other thing. He taught me how to draw; how to lay my body in my bow, and not to draw with strength of arms, as other nations do, but with strength of the body. I had my bows bought me according to my age and strength; as I increased in these, so my bows were made bigger and bigger; for men shall never shoot well, except they be brought up in it.' Serm. 70. 92 He says, 'The men of England in times past, when they would exercise themselves, were wont to go abroad in the fields a shooting. This art hath been much esteemed in this realm. It is a gift of God, that he hath given to us to excel all other nations withal. Now it is turned to glossing, grilling, and luxury within the house.' He urges the king, before VIII. the increasing use of artillery and musquetry made CHAP. this weapon less useful in war, and that the abolition of its practice was quietly producing a more peaceful population. Nothing tempts so much to the immoral employment of weapons of violence, or to the engendering of the spirit which delights in it, as the habit of practising their use. The ability acquired creates a desire and a delight for its exhibition, and an arrogance of temper and bearing, from the belief of possessing a power to support it. All disuse of arms was therefore a good to the public at large, and favored the operation of the other civilizing causes that were in action. It was a great advancement that the gentry began to send their sons to college for education; tho when Latimer observed that it was for their general improvement, and not to prepare them for the church, he misjudged it to be a mischief,93 and ascribed the suggestion to that personage who, having real sins enough to answer for, ought not to be loaded with the unjust imputation of imaginary ones. It was also an inconsistency in his judgment, not to perceive that an university education was above all things well adapted to remove that incompetency of the noble laymen for civil employments, which had occasioned so many to be given to the clergy." But the value 94 whom he was preaching, Charge justices, upon their allegiance, that this singular gift be practised, and not be turned into bolling, glossing, and vice within the towns.' Serm. 70. 93 There be none now but great men's sons in colleges, and not to be preachers.' ib. 62, 94The DEVIL causeth great men and esquires to send their sons to the universities; and put out poor scholars that should be divines, for their parents intend not that they shall be preachers, but that they may have a shew of learning.' Serm. 73. 25 Thus he truly preached, that if educated, they would not, when BOOK II. of education was strongly felt; and yet college students appear to have diminished, most probably from the increasing desire for home education." That taste for handsome architecture, which had been enriching Italy with edifices that still excite the traveller's admiration, was now beginning to animate the English mind; 98 but the love of self-indulging enjoyment was also spreading, and altering both the temper and habits, and diminishing the influence, of the great and rich." There was, however, a creditthey came of age, give themselves to other vanities. • If the nobility be well trained in godly learning, the people will follow the same train; for truly, such as the noblemen be, such will the people be. The only cause why noblemen be not made lord presidents is, because they have not been brought up in learning. Therefore, appoint teachers and schoolmasters.' Serm. 17. He forgot that he had justly asked, 'Why are not the noblemen and young gentlemen of England so brought up in knowlege of God and learning, that they may be able to execute offices in the commonweal?' p. 17. 96 Hence Latimer exclaimed, Thus much I say unto you, magistrates, If ye will not maintain schools and universities, ye shall have a brutality.' Serm. 125. 97 I think there be at this day 10,000 students less than were within these 20 years, and fewer preachers; and that is the cause of rebellion. If there were good bishops, there should be no rebellion.' Lat. Serm. 124. Latimer ascribed it to the yeomanry not being able to put their sons to school. Hence he says, 'Universities do wonderfully decay already.' p. 36. and 98 All the affection of men now-a-days is in building gay sumptuous houses. It is in setting up and pulling down; and never have they done building.' Lat. p. 130. But in remarking this, he pleads the cause of those who were employed, without being promptly remunerated. I pray you, so build, as that the king's workmen may be paid. They make their moan that they cannot get no money. The poor laborers, gun-makers, powdermen, bow-makers, arrow-makers, smiths, carpenters, soldiers, and other crafts, cry out for their duties. They be unpaid some of them three or four months; yea, some of them half a year; and some put up their bills this time twelvemonth for their money, and cannot be paid yet.' p. 120. 99Now they banquet all night, and lie a bed in the day time till noon. Ye lie a bed till eight or nine or ten of the clock. I cannot tell what revel ye have over night, whether in banqueting or dicing, or carding, or how it is; but in the morning, when poor suitors come to your houses, ye cannot be spoken with. They are driven off from day to day that they cannot speak with you in three or four days; yea, a whole month, sometimes a whole year, ere they can come to your speech.' Lat. p. 117. able series of personal accomplishments for every respectable person to attain, without which he was inferior to those who were considered to be the ornaments of polite society. 100 Among the topics of Latimer's well-meant philippics, one that often roused his indignant eloquence was that on which, with all our present querulousness on the legal profession, we must feel that we have long attained the most honorable and satisfactory improvement. This was the impossibility of getting justice done in the legal tribunals of the country against the great and rich. The judges were either too cowardly to do their duty,101 or were corrupted to violate it.102 100 Ascham thus enumerates their desired qualifications: Therefore, to ride comely; to run fair at the tilt or ring; to play at all weapons; to shoot fair in bow, or surely in gun; to vault lustily; to run, to leap, to wrestle, and to swim; to dance comely; to sing and play on instruments cunningly; to hawk, to hunt, to play at tennis, and at all pastimes generally, which are joined with labor and are used in open place, and in the day-light, and which contain some fit exercise for war, or some pleasant pastime for peace. These be not only comely and decent, but also very necessary for a courtly gentleman to use.' Asch. Schoolmaster, p. 63. 101 6 Now-a-days the JUDGES be afraid to hear a poor man against the rich; insomuch, that they will either pronounce against him, or so drive off the poor man's suit, that he shall not be able to go thro with it.' Lat. p. 47. Belike good judges were rare at that time. And trowe ye, that the devil hath been asleep ever since? No, no: he is as busy as ever he was. The common manner of a judge is, he looketh high over the poor. He will be had in admiration; in adoration. Well! shall he escape? Ho, ho! Est Deus in cœlo. I will tell you, my lord judges! ye should be more afraid of the poor widow, than of a nobleman, with all the friends and power that he can make. The tears of the poor fall down upon their cheeks; but then go up to heaven and cry for vengeance before the Judge of widows, the father of orphans. p. 47. The term poor, as thus used at this time, often included what we now call our middling classes. 102 The king had heard what made him note down The lawyers and judges have much offended in corruption and bribery.' Edw. Remains, p. 102. Latimer exclaimed, with his usual freedom, I must desire lord protector's my to hear me in this matter; that your grace would hear poor men's suits yourself. Let them not be delayed. grace CHAP. VIII. BOOK We have taken this short review of some of the prominent feelings and habits of this period, that as we proceed in our history of its transactions, we may carry in our minds a more correct notion of the state of English society at this period. We will close the picture by adding in the note Latimer's sketch of the London citizens, because in their present mind, actions and sensibilities, we all have the gratification of observing a most remarkable and elevating contrast, 103 The saying now is, that money is heard every where. If he be rich, he shall soon have an end of his matter. Others are fain to go home with weeping tears, for any help they can obtain at any judge's hand. Hear men's suits yourself: put it not to the hearing of these velvet coats; these up-skips.' p. 40. He mentions a woman as then lying in the Fleet, and would fain be bailed, offering to put in sureties worth a thousand pound; and yet she cannot be heard.' p. 41. And another gentlewoman, who complained to him of a great man keeping her lands from her. On the day of hearing, the great man brought on his side a great sight of lawyers for his counsel. She had but one man of law; and the great man shakes him so, that he cannot tell what to do. So that when the matter came to the point, the judge desired her to let the great man keep the land. I beseech your grace look to these matters; hear them yourself.' p. 40. 6 He details an incident in Denmark, which shews the use and importance of our antient kings sitting as judges in our law courts. The common judges could not alone venture or be trusted to do their duty against the great. In this case a lord had seized the lands of a priest, and came triumphantly to the legal court; sure that the judge dared not decide against him. But it happened that the king sat that day, called him in, heard the case, and awarded immediate restitution.' p. 136. 103 In 1548 he stated, London was never so ill as it is now. In times past men were full of pity and compassion: now there is no pity. For in London their brother shall die in the streets for cold; he shall lie sick at their door, between stock and stock, and perish there for hunger. In times past, when any rich man died in London, they were wont to help the poor scholars of the Universities with exhibitions; they would bequeath great sums of money toward the relief of the poor. When I was a scholar in Cambridge myself, I knew many that had reliefs of the rich men in London. But now, I can hear no such good report; and yet I inquire for it, and hearken for it. But now charity is waxen cold; none helpeth the scholar, nor yet the poor.' Serm. p. 15. |