[148] B. reads _vnsanable_, or _vnsauable_.
[153] The arrangement in Bodley ed. is not alphabetical.
[156] Last three words omitted in 1573 ed.
[157] The 1573 ed. arranges these names in the following order:--
[161] B. reads _yarum_. The 1573 ed. reads _Param_.
[163] For these two lines printed in small type, the 1573 edition reads,
[171] This leaf is supplied in MS. in Mr Huth's edition.
[174] Instead of "the same," the 1573 ed. reads _that_.
[176] This paragraph is omitted in the ed. of 1573; but see note, _ante_, p. 56.
[177] B. omits this stanza and has inserted the following lines under the cut.
THIS is the fygure of the counterfet Cranke, that is spoken of in this boke of Roges, called Nycholas Blunt other wyse Nycholas Gennyngs. His tale is in the xvii. lefe [pp. 55-6] of this booke, which doth showe vnto all that reades it, woundrous suttell and crafty deseit donne of _and_ by him.
[178] This verse is omitted in the edition of 1573; also the wood-cut preceding it.
[179] B. adds 'the eight of January'. (This would make the year 1568 according to the modern reckoning. Harman's 'New Yeares day last past, Anno domini 1567', p. 86, must also be 1567/8.)
=A Sermon in Praise of Thieves and Thievery.=
A sermon made by P_ar_son Haben vppon a mold hill at Hartely Row,[180] at the Comaundment of vij. theves, whoe, after they had robbed him, Comaunded him to Preache before them.
I Marvell that eu_er_ye man will seme to dispraise theverye, and thinke the doers thereof worthye of Death, when it is a thinge that Cometh nere vnto vertve, and is vsed of all men, of all sort_es_ and in all countryes, and soe comaunded and allowed of god himselfe which thinge, because I cannot soe sapiently shewe vnto you a[181] soe shorte a tyme and in soe shorte a place, I shall desire you, gentle theves, to take in good p_ar_te this thinge that at this tyme Cometh to minde, not misdoubtinge but you of yo_ur_ good knowledge are able to ad more vnto the same then this which I at this tyme shall shewe vnto you. ffirst, fortitude and stoutnes, Courage, and boldnes of stomacke, is Compted of some a vertue; which beinge graunted, Whoe is he then that will not Iudge theves vertuous, most stoute, most hardye? I most, without_e_ feare. As for stealinge, that is a thinge vsuall:--who_e_ stealeth not? ffor not only you that haue besett me, but many other in many places. Men, Woemen, _and_ Children, Riche and poore, are dailye of that facultye, As the hange man of Tiborne can testifye. [Header: PARSON HABEN'S SERMON. LANDS. MS. 98.] That it is allowed of god himselfe, it is euident in many storyes of the Scriptures. And if you liste to looke in the whole Course of the bible, you shall finde that theves haue bin belovid of god. ffor Iacobe, when he Came oute of Mesopotomia, did steale his vncles lambes; the same Iacobe stale his brother Esawes blessinge; and that god saide, "I haue chosen Iacob and refused Esawe." The Children of Isarell, when they came oute of Egippe, didd steale the Egippsians Iewells and ring_es_, and god comaunded the[m] soe to doe. David, in the dayes of Ahemel[e]ch the preiste, came into the temple and stole awaye the shewe bread; And yet god saide, "this is a man accordinge to myne owne harte." Alsoe Christe himsellfe, when he was here vppon earth, did take an asse, a Colte, which was none of his owne. And you knowe that god saide, "this is my now_n_e sone, in whome I delighte."