THE DEVIL A DILIGENT PREACHER.
By Hugh Latimer
And now I would aske 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 he is; I know him well. But now methinks I see you listening and harkning 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 you know who it is? I will tell you: it is the devill. Hee is the most diligent preacher of all other; hee is never out of his dioces; hee is never from his cure; ye shall never find him unoccupied; hee is ever in his parish; hee keepeth residence at all times; ye shall never find him out of the way; call for him when you wil, he is ever at home; the diligentest preacher in all the realme.—Latimer’s Sermons, 1548.