lie, and to utter his wares with lying and forswearing. "In summâ," there is almost nothing amongst us but lies; and therefore parents and masters are in great danger of eternal damnation, for they care not how they bring up their youth, in godliness, or otherwise; they care not for it. Therefore I exhort you, in God's behalf, to consider the matter, ye parents: suffer not your children to lie, or tell false tales. When you hear one of your children to make a lie, take him up, and give him three or four good stripes, and tell him that it is naught and when he maketh another lie, give him six or eight stripes; and I am sure when you serve him so he will leave it, for it is a common saying, "Vexatio dat intellectum," Correction giveth understanding. But we see now-a-days, that parents rejoice when their children can make a pretty lie. They say, he will be a pretty witty fellow, he can make a pretty lie. So much is the word of God regarded amongst us !

So likewise, prentices can do nothing but lie; and the better he can lie the more is he regarded of his master, and the more acceptable; and therefore there was never such falsehood as there is now; for the youth is so brought up in lies and falsehood. For we see daily what

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falsehood is abroad, how every man deceiveth his neighbour. There will no writing serve now-a-days, every man worketh craftily with his neighbour.

FRIAR JOHN'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.

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I will tell you now a pretty story of a friar, to refresh you withal. A limitour of the gray-friars, in the time of his limitation, preached many times, and had but one sermon at all times: which sermon was of the Ten Commandments. And because the friar had preached this sermon so often, one that heard it before, told the friar's servant that his master was called, "Friar John Ten Commandments." Wherefore the servant shewed the friar his master thereof, and advised him to preach of some other matters; for it grieved the servant to hear his master derided. Now the friar made answer, saying, Belike then thou canst say the ten commandments well, seeing thou hast heard them so many a time. Yes, said the servant, I warrant you. Let me hear them, saith the master. Then he began, "Pride, covetousness, leche

ry," and so numbered the deadly sins for the ten commandments.

And so there be many at this time, which be weary of the old gospel. They would fain hear some new things, they think themselves so perfect in the old; when they be no more skilful than this servant was in his ten commandments.

AMBITION.

We should learn here to beware of that pestilent poison of ambition, which poison ambition, I say, hath been the cause of the perishing of many a man: for this ambition is the most perilous thing that can be in the world. For an ambitious man is able to subvert and disturb a whole commonwealth: as it most plainly appeared by the Rhodians; which Rhodians in ;, our time were very mighty, and of great estimation through all the world. Now what was their destruction? Marry, ambition. Through ambition this mighty island of the Rhodes was lost, and came into the hands of the Turks. For the Chronicle sheweth, that before their destruction, when all things were well yet, the grand-master of Rhodes died. Now there was

one called Andrew Admirall, a Portingale, he desired to be grand-master; he was an ambitious man, he went about to promote himself, before he was called of God. But for all that, he missed his purpose, so that he was not chosen; for there was one chosen whom they called Philippe de Villers. But what doth this Andrew? Because he could not bring his purpose to pass, he sendeth letters to the Great Turk, signifying that if he would come, he would help him to get the island; which afterwards he did. But yet it cost him his life, for his treason was espied, and so he received a reward according unto his doings.

So ye may perceive by this ensample, which was done in our time, how ungracious a thing this ambition is; for no doubt where there is ambition, there is division; where there is division, there followeth desolation, and so finally destruction, even according unto our Saviour's saying; "Every kingdom divided against itself, shall be brought to nought; and every city or house divided against itself, shall not stand."

FEAR.

No doubt there hath been here in England many, which have been so vexed and

turmoiled with fear. That same Master Bilney which was burnt here in England for God's word sake, was induced and persuaded by his friends to bear a fagot, at the time when the Cardinal* was aloft and bare the swing.

Now when that same Bilney came to Cambridge again, a whole year after, he was in such an anguish and agony, that nothing did him good, neither eating nor drinking, nor any other communication of God's word; for he thought that all the whole Scriptures were against him, and sounded to his condemnation. So that I many a time communed with him, for I was familiarly acquainted with him; but all things whatsoever any man could allege to his comfort, seemed unto him to make against him. Yet for all that, afterwards he came again, God indued him with such strength and perfectness of faith, that he not only confessed his faith, the gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ, but also suffered his body to be burnt, for that same gospel's sake, which we now preach in England.

Martin Luther, that wonderful instrument of God, through whom God hath opened the light of his holy word unto the world, which was a long time hid in corners, and neglected; he writeth of himself, that he hath been sometimes in such an agony of the spirit, that he * Wolsey.