felt nothing but trembling and fearfulness. And I myself know two or three at this present hour which be in this case.

FINE GEAR.

"Or what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment, are in kings' houses." Here in these words, our Saviour condemned not fine gear, as silk, satin, or velvet; for there is nothing so costly but it may be worn, but not of every body. Kings and great men are allowed to wear such fine gear: but John, he was a clergyman, it behoved not him to wear such gear. Peradventure if he had been a flatterer, as some be now-a-days, then he might have gotten such gear; but John, knowing his office, knew well enough that it behoved not him to wear such fine gear. But how our clergymen wear them, and with what conscience, I cannot tell; but I can tell it behoveth not unto them to wear such delicate things. St. Peter doth disallow gorgeousness in women: how much more then in men! For a man would think that women should have more liberties in such

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trifles; but holy Scripture disalloweth it, and not only in women, but also in men. he nameth women, because they are more given to that vanity than men be. For Scripture useth sometimes by this word women, to understand men too. And again, by the word men it understandeth women too: for else we should not find in all Scripture that women should be baptized.

Here were a good place to speak against our clergymen which go so gallantly now-a-days. I hear say that some of them wear velvet shoes and velvet slippers. Such fellows are more meet to dance the morrice-dance than to be admitted to preach. I pray God amend such worldly fellows, for else they be not meet to be preachers.

ST. ANTHONY.

We read a pretty story of St. Anthony, which being in the wilderness, led there a very hard and strait life, insomuch that none at that time did the like; to whom came a voice from heaven, saying, Anthony, thou art not so perfect as is a cobbler that dwelleth at Alexandria. Anthony hearing this, rose up forthwith, and

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took his staff; and went till he came to Alexandria, where he found the cobbler. The cobbler was astonished to see so reverend a father come to his house. Then Anthony said unto him, Come and tell me thy whole conversation, and how thou spendest thy time. Sir, said the cobbler, as for me, good works have I none, for my life is but simple and slender. I am but a poor cobbler. In the morning when I rise, I pray for the whole city wherein I dwell, specially for all such neighbours and poor friends as I have. After, I set me at my labor, where I spend the whole day in getting my living, and I keep me from all falsehood, for I hate nothing so much as I do deceitfulness: wherefore, when I make to any man a promise, I keep it and perform it truly. And thus I spend my time poorly, with my wife and children, whom I teach and instruct, as far as my wit will serve me, to fear and dread God. And this is the sum of my simple life.

In this story, you see how God loveth those that follow their vocation and live uprightly, without any falsehood in their dealing. This Anthony was a great holy man, yet this cobbler was as much esteemed before God as he.

THE NATIVITY.

Now by this occasion, as I told you, namely, to shew themselves obedient, came Joseph and Mary unto Bethlehem, a long journey, and poor folks, and peradventure on foot for we read of no great horses that she had, as our great ladies have now-a-days. Now he that would shew the good behaviour that was between them two, he must surely have much time. We read of no falling out between them, or any ill behaviour on either side. Wherefore all husbands may learn by Joseph, to do their duties toward their wives, and again all wives may learn by her.

And as touching his nativity, the gospel tells us how he was born in a stable among beasts, lacking all manner of necessary things which appertained to young children; insomuch that he had never a cradle. Wherefore Mary his mother wrapped him, as it is most like, in her own apparel, and laid him in a manger, where he was shewed, not to the rulers of this world, neither to kings, potentates or bishops; but rather to simple shepherds and poor servants, keeping their sheep in the field. To these poor wretches the angel of God was sent which proclaimed these great things unto them; say

ing, "Be not afraid, for behold I bring you tidings of great gladness that shall come to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

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And thus his first coming is but very poorly, without any jollity or pomp; but his second coming (as I have told you many a time before) shall be a glorious coming, a beautiful coming. For he shall come accompanied with all his angels; he shall come with such clearness, that the sun and the moon shall be darkened at his coming. Not that the sun itself of his substance shall be darkened. No, not so; for it shall give his light; but it shall not be seen for this great light and clearness, wherein our Saviour shall appear. Now at the first he is come, not with glory or majesty, but with great poverty and misery, which he hath sustained for our sakes.

Now some will say, when they hear what poverty our Saviour suffered, and how Mary his mother was compelled to take a stable for lack of a better lodging, O what a wicked city was this! What a company of cruel people were these! But when we consider all things well, we shall find that we be even as wicked as they were. For are not we given now-a-days to covetousness, so that we regard not the poor,