Sermons on the Card | Page 5

be of themselves, on this fashion: "What art thou of thy only
and natural generation between father and mother, when thou camest
into this world? What substance, what virtue, what goodness art thou of,
by thyself?" Which question if thou rehearse oftentimes unto thyself,
thou shalt well perceive and understand how thou shalt make answer
unto it; which must be made on this wise: I am of myself, and by
myself, coming from my natural father and mother, the child of the ire
and indignation of God, the true inheritor of hell, a lump of sin, and
working nothing of myself but all towards hell, except I have better

help of another than I have of myself. Now we may see in what state
we enter into this world, that we be of ourselves the true and just
inheritors of hell, the children of the ire and indignation of Christ,
working all towards hell, whereby we deserve of ourselves perpetual
damnation, by the right judgment of God, and the true claim of
ourselves; which unthrifty state that we be born unto is come unto us
for our own deserts, as proveth well this example following:
Let it be admitted for the probation of this, that it might please the
king's grace now being to accept into his favour a mean man, of a
simple degree and birth, not born to any possession; whom the king's
grace favoureth, not because this person hath of himself deserved any
such favour, but that the king casteth this favour unto him of his own
mere motion and fantasy: and for because the king's grace will more
declare his favour unto him, he giveth unto this said man a thousand
pounds in lands, to him and his heirs, on this condition, that he shall
take upon him to be the chief captain and defender of his town of
Calais, and to be true and faithful to him in the custody of the same,
against the Frenchmen especially, above all other enemies.
This man taketh on him this charge, promising his fidelity thereunto. It
chanceth in process of time, that by the singular acquaintance and
frequent familiarity of this captain with the Frenchmen, these
Frenchmen give unto the said captain of Calais a great sum of money,
so that he will but be content and agreeable that they may enter into the
said town of Calais by force of arms; and so thereby possess the same
unto the crown of France. Upon this agreement the Frenchmen do
invade the said town of Calais, alonely by the negligence of this
captain.
Now the king's grace, hearing of this invasion, cometh with a great
puissance to defend this his said town, and so by good policy of war
overcometh the said Frenchmen, and entereth again into his said town
of Calais. Then he, being desirous to know how these enemies of his
came thither, maketh profound search and inquiry by whom this
treason was conspired. By this search it was known and found his own
captain to be the very author and the beginner of the betraying of it.

The king, seeing the great infidelity of this person, dischargeth this man
of his office, and taketh from him and from his heirs this thousand
pounds of possessions. Think you not that the king doth use justice
unto him, and all his posterity and heirs? Yes, truly: the said captain
cannot deny himself but that he had true justice, considering how
unfaithfully he behaved him to his prince, contrary to his own fidelity
and promise. So likewise it was of our first father Adam. He had given
unto him the spirit of science and knowledge, to work all goodness
therewith: this said spirit was not given alonely unto him, but unto all
his heirs and posterity. He had also delivered him the town of Calais;
that is to say, paradise in earth, the most strong and fairest town in the
world, to be in his custody. He nevertheless, by the instigation of these
Frenchmen, that is to say, the temptation of the fiend, did obey unto
their desire; and so he brake his promise and fidelity, the
commandment of the everlasting King his master, in eating of the apple
by him inhibited.
Now then the King, seeing this great treason in his captain, deposed
him of the thousand pounds of possessions, that is to say, from
everlasting life in glory, and all his heirs and posterity: for likewise as
he had the spirit of science and knowledge, for him and his heirs; so in
like manner, when he lost the same, his heirs also lost it by him and in
him. So now this example proveth, that by our father Adam we had
once in him the very inheritance of everlasting