" Let the priest
preach, and the noblemen handle the temporal matters. Moses was a
marvellous man, a good man: Moses was a wonderful fellow, and did his
duty, being a married man: we lack such as Moses was. Well, I would all
men would look to their duty, as God hath called them, and then we should
have a flourishing christian commonweal.
And now I would ask a strange question: who is the most diligentest
bishop and prelate in all England, that passeth all the rest in doing his
office? I can tell, for I know him who it is; I know him well. But now
I think I see you listening and hearkening that I should name him. There
is one that passeth all the other, and is the most diligent prelate and
preacher in all England. And will ye know who it is? I will tell you:
it is the devil. He is the most diligent preacher of all other; he is
never out of his diocess; he is never from his cure; ye shall never find
him unoccupied; he is ever in his parish; he keepeth residence at all
times; ye shall never find him out of the way, call for him when you will
he is ever at home; the diligentest preacher in all the realm; he is ever
at his plough: no lording nor loitering can hinder him; he is ever
applying his business, ye shall never find him idle, I warrant you.
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