blessed mot he be Oliu. Nicholas ye blesse Christ but you cal his word new learning herisie and babling Nich. Naye that I do not Oliuer Did not you cal the holy readyng of the Byble so euen now Nich. why our sir Iohn telleth vs it was made by king Harry theight Oli. No good Nicholas no. That gratious king set it out and commaūded that the people should reade it without ani letting But the Bible is gods boke and al that is in it is gods truth Therfore the old fathers that we should folow ar Christes prophetes and Apostles and Christ him selfe and not our old grandsires grandames For God geueth an expresse cōmaundement zacha i. saying Be not lyke your forefathers vnto whom the prophets cryed before tyme saying Thus saith the lord god of hostes Turne from your euell waies and from your wicked imaginations they heared not nor toke heede vnto me saieth the Lorde Nich. Our forefathers were good men Olyuer But yet Christ was better Nich. They were wise men Oliu. Yea but yet Christe was wyser Nich. They were holy men Oliue But Christ is holier And what soeuer you can recken of them goodnes i. corin i. wisedome holynes c. Christ excelleth them in al things For he is made of god vnto vs our wisdō rightuousnes holines sanctification Iho. xiiii and redemption Christ is the way the truth and the life and no man can come to the father but by him He that heareth Christes wordes hath life euerlasting But Nicholas tell me cā sir Iohn make an oxe or an horse Nicho. Nay by mi truth I trow not Oli. How can he thē make gods body Nich. It is no matter how we must beleue so for he saith so Olyu Nay Nicholas we must not beleue al that sir Iohn saith but we must beleue all that he saith and hath gods word to confirme his saying And this is an intollerable pride of the papistes to teach the people that thei make gods body Truth it is Eph. iiii that Christ ascending into heauē gaue gyftes vnto men and appoynted church ministers but far other thē greased shauelinges for he apointed Apostles prophetes Euangelistes Shepheardes and teachers Phili. i. And saint Paule calleth the ministers of the church by the names of Bishops and Deacons i. Tim. iii. The office of these ministers appointed by Christ and S. Paul Luk. xiiii is to preach gods word to cal al men to repentaunce and amendement of life Iohn xxi i. Tim. iiii to declare to them that repent the good newes of the gospel Nich. Yea the prests wer wōt to come to our houses to say vs gospels make vs holi water holy bread and so I trust they wil again now Oliue I pray the heare me a litle The gospel is a glad tidings that god the father Luke ii for his sonne Iesus Christes sake ii cori v. is contented and reconciled and receiueth mā againe to his fauour and grace Gala. iiii and wyll for his sonne Iesus Christes loue take vs by adoptiō to be his children Ephesi i. giue vs his holy gost make vs enheritours of eternal life Ioh. xvii And to confirme this promise our Sauiour Iesus Christ hath ordained .ii. holy sacraments Titus iii. Baptisme wherin we are certified that al our sins are washed away in the death of Christ i. corin xi And the holi supper of the lord that when we come together we should take the bread Mat xxvi breake it Mar. xiiii eate it in remembraunce that Christes bodi was vpon the good Fridai offered vp vpō the crosse for our sinnes Luk. xxii and we shoulde al drinke of the cup in rēmembraūce that Christes bloud was shed for our sins Therfore this is the priestes office to preach the death of Iesus Christ and to teach the people to know that none other thing could deliuer them frō their sins and therfore they ought both to consyder the haynous vglines of sin and the great wrath of god ouer it which otherwise wold not be reconciled nor atone with mā Rom. viii Then on the other parte to declare the great mercy loue charitie of god towards vs that spared not his own beloued sōne but gaue him to the death of the cros for vs. Thus shoulde they be moued to repent the euel done to beleue and loue the charitie of God to walke in loue good frendship one to an other euer studying to liue an obedient life after the heauenly fathers wil and commaundementes Nich. Dothe not the priest make Gods bodye Do we not eate gods body Oliu. First answer me if thou can to a question or two Nicho. I wil if I can Oliue Canst thou say thy Creede in Englishe Nicho. Meanest thou the new Creede or the old Crede Oliuer There is but one Creede Nicho. I can saye that my mother taught me Credum deum I was harping at the new a good while but nowe I care not for it Oliue I se it was not for nought that christ said to his Apostles blessed ar the eyes that se that you se Luke x. For euen as then mani were blind and wold not se the light of his worde Iohn ix euen so is it now wel I wil help you out with your question Do you not beleue that the sonne of God came downe from heauen was borne for vs of the virgine Mary takyng our mans nature of her substaūce Nicho. Yes that I do Oliuer And that he was crucified for our sins dead and buried and rose agayne vpon Esterday Nicho. Yes verely Oliu. And that he ascended into heauen ▪ and sitteth on the righte hand of God the father almighti Nicho. Ye mary ye Olyu And frō thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Nich. Ye mary Olyu Do you beleue this in very dede Nicho. Ye by my trothe Oliuer Then Christes bodye was made in the wombe of the virgin not by sir Iohn but as our Creede saith he was conceaued of the holy gost Luke i. borne of the virgin mari Other making of Christes body ther is none nor neuer was nor neuer shal be Thus our lord sauiour liued in this world August in Ioa. tract Item in pref pī xcviii taught vs the wai of gods truth euē the doctrine that is set out in the holy Byble wherof the chief and principal article is how we are redemed frō our sinnes and receaued into the fauour and grace of God by that holy raunsome of Christes bodye broken vpon the crosse his precious blud that was on the crosse shed for vs. The holy bread geuē at the lordes supper is the sacrament of Christes bodye that was broken on the crosse and the blessed cup that we drincke is the sacrament of that blessed blud shed for our synnes And when we receiue them as our body fedeth vp
on the outwarde thinges we se so our soules are fed with the inward thinges we see not For the verye flesh of Christ is not eaten wyth our bodilye tethe nor his bloude dronke with our bodily mouthes or throtes but it is a sacramental eating done bi the soule minde not by the bodye or carnal instruments of the body Nicho. Howe can we eate but with our tethe or how can we drincke but wyth our throtes Oliu. You shal the better vnderstande thys misterye if you marke Christes dede when his holye sacrament was first instituted Christ him selfe satte at the table with his .xii. Apostles and taking the bread that stode before them euen such bread as they then vsuallye had to eate with the pascall lambe and gaue thanckes to hys heauenlye father and brake that bread and gaue it to them saying Take eate ye this is mi bodi whiche is broken for you They dyd take the bread and did eate as he commaunded them and they dyd drincke the cup that he delyuered them saying this is my bloude of the new testament which is shed for you Yet it was the next daye ere his bodye was broken and hys bloud shed vpon the crosse for vs and he sat whole amongst them at supper and him selfe did eate of that same bread which he called his body and dyd him selfe drink of that cuppe which he called his bloud therfore by faith they dyd receyue and eate his body drink his bloud They beleued that hys death and passion shoulde be for them and into remission for theyr sinnes as we now that Christ is ascended into heauen by faith doo eate his body broken and drincke his bloud shed although that he liueth sitteth on the right hand of his father But Christes veri naturall bodye is not toren with our teethe as the Capernites erroure thincketh nor yet his bloud dornk with our throtes mouthes But Nicholas haue you not a soule as wel as a bodye Nicho. Yes that I haue Oliue what maner of thing is your soule Nicho. By mi troth I can not tel Olyu I thinke Nicholas no more cā the greatest doctor of them al. And therfore because the soule is vnknowen vnto vs the scripture speaking of the soule those thinges that appertain vnto it vseth such wordes as we are aquainted with ascribeth those things vnto the soule that ar proper vnto the body So Dauid said My soule O Lorde thirsteth vnto the. And Christ saith Blessed are those that hunger and thurste for rightuousnes The harty desire of the soule is the hunger and thurst of the soule as the herty desire of meate and drincke is the hunger thurst of the bodi Therfore when a sinner feleth the burden of sinne vpon his conscience and the lacke of strength and power to do the wyl of God and is touched wyth gods spirit to be sory for this vnperfectnes and longeth fain to be deliuered this is the hunger of the soule This hunger is not satisfied tyl he heare the preaching of christes bodie broken for our sinnes that by his bloudshed our synnes ar forgiuen vs our infirmities healed we receiued into the grace and fauour of God But when we beleue this then is our hunger slaked and our thurst put away that is we feare no more dampnation but knowe that in Christ we haue our pardon Thus we eate Christ beleuing that his body was brokē for vs and that his blud was shed for our sinnes Nich. wherfore eat we the Sacrament than we maye do this by hearing the preaching Oliu. I am glad that thou askest me this question for it seemeth thou wouldest faine vnderstand something of this matter As to writinges men set to seales for a confyrmation of the same writinges so Christ set to his worde his Sacramentes for a confirmation of our faith in his worde And to put vs the better in memory of the gifte geuen vnto vs by his word he called the same Sacramentes by the name of the gift geuen vnto vs in them So circumcisiō is called the Lordes league the pascal lambe is called the Lordes passing thorow Egipt Babtisme is called the new birth and the breade and wine is called the bodie and bloud of the Lord. Therefore Nicholas marke wel this In the Lords Sacraments ther ar .ii. things an earthli thing and an heauenli In Baptisme the earthli thing is water that washeth the bodie the heauenlie thing is the blod of Christ that washeth the soule and the holie gost renuing the hole man and sanctifying him in Iesu Christ In the holi supper of the Lord the earthli thing is bread and wine that we receiue at our mouthes into our bodyes which are digested in our stomaks and bi the natural powers conuerted chaūged into our substaūce and the excrementes of thē naturalli cast forth frō vs as other meates be but the heauenlie things at the blessed bodi of our lord sauiour Iesus Christ broken for vs his bloud shedde for vs vpon the crosse which we receiue bi faith with al the blessed frutes and profites that Christ bi his deathe resurrection ascencion intercession and priesthoode hathe obtained for vs. This swetelie and comfortablie we meditate in our mindes bi the working of the holy ghost it is distribute into al our actions dedes and we are wholi receiued into Christ to be one bodie wyth him as S. Paule saieth Heb. ii He that sanctifieth and thei whiche are sanctified are al of one And againe S. Paule saith The cuppe of thankesgeuing which we blisse is partaking of the bloud of Christ and the bread whiche we brake is partaking of the body of Christ For we though we be mani yet ar one bread one bodie in asmuch as we al ar partakers of one bread Nicho. These ar good words but our sir Iohn wil denie all this and we must do as our curate teacheth vs. Oliu. what teacheth he you Nic. That he offereth vp Christ in his Masse for our frendes soules Oliu. Yea but take awai moni that ye like fooles giue him and he wil sing another song In verye dede Christ was offered for our sinnes Heb. ix x but that was once for al and then he offered him self vpō the crosse as our Crede saith after he had so by that offering satisfied vnto God neither neded he anye more to sacrifice nor we ani more sacrifices for vs. For by one oblation once offered he hath made perfect vnto God al that are sanctified Sir Iohn therefore is a false Antichrist and a disceiteful iugler in this point teacheth his owne dreame and not gods worde And I pray you what woorde of God hath sir Iohn to hang vp the Sacrament in the pixe Nicho. Mary sir it is a goodly sight in the churche Oliuer But Nicholas oure crede saith Mat. xvi Lu. xxiiii Actes i. that Christ ascēded in to heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the
ghostlye father he shoulde haue enioyned thee Math. v. Luk. xvii to aske thy neyghbour forgiuenes and gyue him as much monie as he hadde losse by thy cruell and naughtye dede Nich. Aske him forgyuenes quoth a I had rather his eien had bene out Oliu. I beleue the God will not forgiue thee tyll thys be done if thou mai by any reasonable meanes come to hym But I pray thee tell me when wast thou shriuen last Nich. In Lent when wast thou shryuen Oliuer I am shriuen euerye day Nicho. Thou shryuen euery day to what prest Oliuer To the highe priest God himselfe Psa xxxi Nicho. How canst thou come to god to be shriuē to him Thou toldest me that I cannot se him Oliuer I doo not see him by bodilye eyes but beleuyng hym to be euerye where present I bow mi hart kne to him knowledging the great sinne and miserie that is in me and beseching his merci forgiuenes of that which is past his holy defence against sinne in time to come And if many thing I perceiue my neighbour to be offended with me if I be in the faulte I seeke attonement make amēdes but if he be in faut I am content to forgiue pardon him Nich. But thou doest no pennaunce Olyu Yes my hole lyfe is a penaunce namely to mortifi the flesh and to striue against sin and to forsake mine owne wil obedyentlye to labour to do the wyll of God But what was thy penaunce Nicholas when thou wast last shriuen Nicho. By god sore penaūce Oli. what a good felowship Nic. I may not bewrai confessiō Oliu. Tel me I warant the it shal neuer come out for me Nich. Mai I trust the. Oliu. On my honesty Nicho. Sir Iohn ēioyned me to fast al the fridaies in Lent and the .v. Ladie eyens bread and water Oli. That was sore penaunce for thee that louest good ale so wel Nich. Furder that I should seke barefete wolward our Ladye of walsingham and our Ladi of Pitie of Dākaster Oliu. How canst thou seke them they were destroied by king Henry the eight a kinge of most godlie memorye and destroier of suche manifest idolatries Nicho. That is truth but sir Iohn would haue me to be a beginne agayne of those holy pilgrimages For he douteth not but within a whyle we shall haue them againe or els other as holye as euer they were Oliu. what had dost thou don that he gaue thee so sore penaunce Nicho. Horrible sinnes I cry God mercye Olyuer what Nichol. It chaunced to be holye day vpon a Thursday and vpon Friday morning or I went to the plow I was very hungry and forgetting what day it was I thought it had bene Munday and so I eate a pece of a shoulder of mutten vnwares But god knoweth I was ful sory for it Oliue O greuous synne Nich. Another time it chaunced the chalice to be left at mi house and one of the fete of it hang out at a litle hole and so I chaunced to touche it with my bare hands Oliu. That was not so great offence Nicho. No was Out sir Iohn would sing no more with it til it was new halowed And he scraped mi fingers till the bloud folowed Oliuer Is not a mā better then a shepe Nic. Yes that he is Oliue Then whether is holier thy skin on thy handes that God created or the gloues that the Glouer hath tanned and made of a shepes skin Nich. I trow the skinne of my handes is holier Oly. why maiest thou then touch the chalice and the cloute that couereth it with thy gloues on but not bare handed Nicho. I thinke it is because I handle with my bare handes many foule thinges as my fraile my dongfork mi spade so euery man the instrumentes of his occupacion Oliue Oh I crye ye mercie ye are none of the cleane fingred gentlemen But Nicholas beleue me all men know not what they haue handled many times the night before they masse But how sai you to S. Paul Act. xviii xx that got his liuing with the labour of hys owne handes and wrought with Priscilla Aquila sowing tentes and leather couerings for thē Might not he trow ye touche the chalice because he had handled suche poore instrumentes as belonged to that occupation Nich. Sir Iohn is none Apostle Oliu. I beleue that nor yet Apostolike priest For if he were he wold neuer make men to shote at a wrōg marke with such blinde superstitiouse doctrynes touche not tast not handle not Collo ii whych al perish with the vsing of thē are after the doctrines cōmaūdemētes of men Didst thou promyse to do thy penāce Nic. Nay I bought it out partely Oliuer Then I see wel sir Iohn is a Marchaūt what gauest thou for it Nichol. Tenne grotes and so he changed my pilgremage into .x. Masses v. of the v. woundes of our Lord .iii. of the purification of our Lady one of the holy gost one of Requiem for al Christen soules Oli. A marchaunt in deede that selleth fyne flower Apo. xviii and bodies and soules of men But who song these Masses Nicho. Sir Iohn promised me to sing them him selfe Oli. wel that was inough for x. grotes but how dyddest thou wyth thy fastynge woulde he not fast for thee also Nich. No he might not he saied for singing of Masse For he must put wine in his Chalice Oliu. The hipocrites binde heauy burthens Mat. xxiii and lay them on mens shoulders but they wil not once moue them with their fingers VVoulde he in no case release the Nicho. Yes at the last he changed my fasting to other good workes Olyuer what good workes Nicho. Gilding of an image of S. Fraūces another of S. Leonard bying of an holy water far of brasse with a brasen censer Oliu. This cost the a good deale of siluer Nich. I had rather haue spent al the siluer that I earned this month then haue fasted Oliu. That knewe sir Iohn well inough And tel me one thīg I pray the. what gauest thou weekely to the collectiō for the pore when it was vsed Nic. I gaue as neibours gaue thei mai haue a messe of potage at my dore such other but siluer hath ben very skāt Oli. It is very skāt when we shuld do gods commaundementes but we haue inough to do our owne imaginations And se the iust iudgementes of God you that hinched pinched to geue .ii. pence or a penye a weeke to the poore of your parish which in dede are the very images of God and Christe nowe shal ye be plaged with gilding painting of images of tre stone and with a great deale of like trūperie which are expressedly forbidden in the second commaūdement of god And wher as for reliuing the pore nedy you shuld haue had gods blessing nowe for painting and gilding ye shal haue gods curse Nich. But our sir Iohn
saith images are leud mēs bokes Oliu. Had he said leud bookes he had said truly I prai ye what had men learned of images a sore the of the scripture came amongst vs Learned we any other thing then that the prophet Hieremye complaineth vpon to lye to forget God and to runne after ydols as the old idolaters did Hereof cam our famous idols at Ipswiche at VValsingham at Canturburye at Hayles at Dunstable and euerye where For the Iewes had neuer mo idols mo blinde superstitions mo detestable whoore huntinges then we had And al this may we thanck our holi ipocrites bishops and shoren greased priestes that set vs to schoole vpon such blind bookes VVho coulde .xx. yeares agone ▪ saye the Lordes prayer in English who could tell anye one article of his faith who had once heard of any of the .x. commaundements who wist what Cathechisme ment who vnderstoode any point of the holye baptisme As for the Lordes supper no man euer knew whither ther were ani suche thynges or no. Yf we were sycke of the pestylence we ran to Sainte Rooke if of the Ague to Saint Pernel or master Iohn Shome if men were in prisō thei praied to saint Leonarde if the welch man wold haue a pursse he praied to Daruel Gatherne if a wife wer weary of her husband she of fred otes at Poules at Londō to s Vncumber Thus haue we bene deluded with their images thus we will be deluded still And our solempne doctours preach as sauerly in the maintenaunce of these idolatries as thoughe there neuer had bene ani such things But Nicholas beware of such bookes such leude sir Iohns that set thee to schoole vpon them And harkē to gods cōmaundementes which saith Exod. xx Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor ani similitude of anye thing that is in heauen aboue or in earth beneth or in waters vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe thy selfe to them nor worship them I a sure the Nicholas the image made by mans hand set furth to be kneled knocked vnto to be sēced licked and kissed or any otherwise worshipped is a cursed of god euē it he that made it And as the holi psalme saith Psa cxiii Thei haue eies se not eares heare not noses with out breath or smelling hāds with out feling feete go not like thē mot thei be that made them al that put their cōfidence trust in them Nich. Our forefathers had them in great worship Oliu. It is full true that is bred in the bone wil not out of the flesh Our forefathers grandfathers wer deluded with hipocrites shal we be so to I told thee before that our forefathers that we shuld folow ar Christ his prophets apostles not our grandsires great grandsires And sure I am they worshipped none nor gaue ani commaundement that we should worshyp them Nic. They are goodly thinges become the church wel Afore the churches loked more like old barnes Oli. Nicholas ye speake like your self I am sori for your old blindnes that think al things goodly that shineth gay in your eyes ye nothing regard what is accepted in the sight of god wold it please ye wel if one shuld come into your house paint the wals with cow dōg or with maser scourings Nic. I shuld paint him with a cracked crown if I could cōe by him Oli. Then as he shuld please you nothing but rather cast you in to a futi no more do these image-makers please god but prouoketh his anger For god in the writings of the prophetes calleth images dong filthe abhomination the worshyppers of them he calleth whooremongers backeslyders rūagates breakers of his league couenant Nich. we do not worship the thing we see but god and his saintes that ar represented bi the images Ol. No image cā represēt god as the scriptur saith plainli And I thinke the apostles prophets martirs virgīs neuer knew ani such pōpe or vaniti as the puppets in churches seteth forthwith vain gilding painting nether require thei such honors but wolde we should honour the Lorde our god of whose goodnes they receiued such mercie to be made saintes And to honour them is to folowe their faith in beleuīg gods word and their vertuouse life in keping gods commaundementes and not so vainely without gods word to paint and gild their images to cādel them and sence them and so commit idolatrie VVhat and thy seruaunt should serue thee as he list not as thou apointedst him Nicho. Then woulde I giue hym wages as I thought he had deserued and not as he looked for Oli. How shal thy seruāt know what thy minde is for him to do Nich. He must aske me and I wyll tell him Oliue So then we must aske at gods word and learne there to know his pleasure and according to the same we must doo But in this gods cōmaundement is thou shalt make none thou shalt worship none Now were he a good seruaunt that wold worshyp the wyth breakyng thy commaundementes Nich. Nay by my trothe Oliu. No more worshippest thou god or his saintes but committest grosse idolatrie God is a spirit those that wil worship him must worship him in spirit and truthe That is we worship not god tyll we doo from the botome of the hart acknowledge his almightye power and goodnes truly fear him and truely loue him and studiously serue him with the faithful obseruation of his commaundementes So shal we nede no visible image to expresse vnto vs the inuisible God And as cōserning worshipping of the saintes it is far other then painting or gilding of images or finding of lightes before them as I haue before told the. Nicho. And me thinck it becommeth the churche wel and is a goodly sight to se the sweete images well paynted wyth fayre lightes afore them a very good smel to feele the perfumes and odours whē sir Iohn senceth Oli. This is thy thincking but S. Paule asked the Corinthians how agreeth the temple of god and idols And as for candels they dyd well in churches when the people met in the night as the old Christians were wont to do for feare of persecution and we do yet on Christmas daye Easter day mornyng But in faire day light men neede them not and the images can not se them And yf perfumes were burnt to purifi the aire in the churche it is tollerable but to do it to the saintes which are in heauen it is nedeles and to do it to the ymages of tīber or stone it is starke foolishe fransie In very deede in the olde Testament Ex. xxxvii God made a golden candelsticke with lampes burning vpon it in the temple and he ordained perfumes and odours to be brent vpon his aultar but at the cōmyng of Christ Heb. ix those Iewish ceremonies ceassed For when Christ the true lighte was come and had shedde
furth the bryght beames of hys Gospell then the light of faith nourished wyth the oyle of good workes Mat. xxv so shone in the church that is in the faithful congregatiō of Christes disciples that al the world might see theyr faith mekenes pacience goodnes temperantie sobernes constaunt confessiō of Christ charitable behauoure to all men with all other their good workes ▪ glorifi their father whiche is in heauen Thus the swete perfume odour of the knowledge of Christe fylled the hole world in eueri place drew the people to run vnto him that is their most true louer euen our lord Iesus Christ Nich. wel say what ye list it is good to haue such thinges in the church Ol what callest thou the church Nic. The church mā wher we hear our deuine seruice Masse Matins Euensong Oli. The church is the cōgregatiō that beleueth professeth the name doctrine of Iesus Christ rightly deuli administeth vseth the sacraments as Christ ordained cōmaūded And so we ar the churche temple of god ▪ euery one of vs is a temple Nich. Are we the temple of god Oliuer Saint Paul saieth so ii Cor. vi ye are the temple of the lyuyng God as saith God I will dwell amongst them and walke amongst them and wyll be their God and they shal be my people Nic. And is not our parish church an holy place and the temple of god Oliu. Yes if it be holily vsed Nicho. what callest thou holily vsed Oliu. when gods woorde is preached and the people taught to know one euer liuing god Hier. vii Math. xx and his sonne Iesus Christ whom he hath sent But if gods woorde be blasphemed and railed vpon errours superstitions and idolatries maintained then will God refuse our churches chappels and al our assembles and tell vs as he tolde them at Hierusalem that we haue made his house a den of theeues And in the reuelation of S. Iohn those places that refuse Christes word and gospel Ap. xviii and maintayne false doctrine and idolatryes are called Sodome and Egipt Babilon mother of whoredomes abhominations the dwellyng of deuels and habitation of al foule spirites and a cage of al vncleane and hatefull birdes Nicho. well Oliuer wel I feare me ye wil one day smoke for this geare Oliuer whi Nicholas what should I dissēble with the that art my neighbour but plainly to tell thee the truth what are our parysh churches now Gods word is taken awai cast a side as a thing of nought and our blinde guides mumble vp their latin Matins Masse Euensong cūiuring their holi water and salt and geuing their holi bread but no word of god is read in the mother tong to the people no calling men to repentaūce and amendement of lyfe no menciō is made of Christes death nor passion but all these thinges that our most godly kinges with great labour cost and trauaile and wyth the paineful studi of the Clergie reformed in many yeres all this I say haue the popish bishops and priestes cast downe in one houre Nicho. Yea that am I glad of For now I may haue leisure to praye afore we could not pray for harkning to the priest Oliu. And didst thou herken to the priest in dede Nich. Yea that I did Oliu. Howe began he Matins Nic. what wot I now Oliu. A goodly herkener that toke hede to no worde that he spake For haddest thou taken hede thou moughtest haue learned many goodly praies For whē he began Matins saying O Lord open thou my lips Psalm l. and my mouth shal shewe foorthe thy praise Yf thou haddest learned this well hartely praied it euerye morning then should not thy mouth haue bene thus ready to railing ribawdrie talke and swearīg as it is For doubtles God openeth not suche lips but the diuell openeth them Neither is such talke gods praise but his most hiest dispraise Again what praier can be more godlye thē the verse folowing to be said at the beginning of al thi labours O Lord make spede to saue me O Lord make hast to helpe me Psa lxix And in the ende of thy day worcke to saye praysing God Glorye be to the father and to the sonne and to the holye Ghoste As it was in the beginnynge is nowe and euer shall be worlde wythout ende Amen Sure I am Nicholas ye can haue no suche learning nowe to pray I pray the what saiest thou in the Matins time Nich. Mi beades Oliue Cannest thou saye the Lordes praier Nich. Nay nor our Ladies neither I can say mi pater noster Oliu. what is pater noster Nich. Mary Pater noster what cā ye make of it Oliuer A good Nicholas Esa xxix Math. xv you honor god with your lips but your hart is far from him Nich. By God sit and we thincke on god our Ladi when we say our Pater noster pray for al our good frendes soules as wel as ye Oli. I thinke ye do But what aske ye of god when ye saye Dimitte nobis debita nostra c Nic. Maty I pray to God to haue merci vp on al Christen soules and to saue their lyues that I sare better for Oliu. That is wel done But why haue you not learned the Lordes praier in english al this while Nic. Sir Ihō had me kepe me to mi old Pater noster for he said the newe wold not abide alway And nowe I see he is a true man Oliuer And art thou glad that the Scripture is taken awai out of the churches Nicho. Yea by my trothe am I for we had neuer mery worlde synce this geare begā but hūger derth lacke of monie and much trouble eueri where Oliu. O blessed god heare the blasphemies of the wicked world Thei refused thi word O Lorde and liued a detestable life and when thou plagest them to cal them to repentaunce and amendment they receiued not thy correction but ascribed all those euils to thy woord But Nicholas Nicholas trowest thou that God wil not now viset al your sinnes and punish them with sword pestilence wilde beasts and famine Yes trulie wil he that the more sharpely because that to all your old abhominations ye adde thys blasphemie and are lyke the wemen of the Iewes in the tyme of Hieremie the prophet whō when the holye Prophet rebuked for their worshippīg of Diana an he then idole Hie. xliiii which idol thei called the quene of heauen They wyth many stubburne wordes layed al the blame of their miserable captiuitie vpon the prophet of God and vpon his preaching and said as ye say nowe They had neuer mery world since Hieremie preached but thei were punished and euen so shal ye be iii. Regū xviii The lyke dyd wycked Achab he layed all the blame of the plages that god had sent vpon Helyas the Prophet But Helyas aunswered hym It is not I that trouble
This was not spoken of goyng aboute the churche yarde wyth a crosse borne vpon a staffe with a goodly banner cloth but to folow him in our vocation leading a godlye life and as I said patiently suffering the tribulation of this world for his woorde and truthes sake Nicho. Yet it is a good sight to se sir Iohn how he becommeth our best Cope and vpon an hie daye to se al our Copes worne in procession Oliu. why haue ye Copes yet Nich. Yea as saite as euer we had Oliu. were not ye sworen to bring in al such thyngs before the kings cōmissioners Nich. Yea but we brought in two or thre of the worst kept the best behinde stil Oliu. Howe will you excuse your selues of periury Nich. we ar sori that we brought in any at all and as for periurie let god vs deale it Oliu. I am afraid it wil be a miserable dealing when god will arise to iudge the wickednes of so vnfaithful people that nether feareth God nor regarded the othe made by his name nor yet the cōmaundement of their king It wer a much more better sight to se sir Iohn become wel the pulpit and declaring to the people howe to folow Christ in godlines of liuing Nich. what say ye to processiō in gang daies when sir Iohn saith a gospel to our corne feldes Oliu. I say nothing but this ye that haue forsaken to folow god as he commaūdeth shal be left to your self to folow your own inuenciōs And as for your latine gospels tead to the corne I am sure the corne vnderstādeth as much as you therfore hath as much profit bi them as ye haue that is to sai none at al And manye times thys hath bene sene that the Clerke hath left the crosse behinde him and the priest his gospel booke and scant found the righte waye home they haue bene so combred with malt wormes miseled with the spirite of the butterie Trow you that god was not wel pleased wyth thys good Nicholas Nic. I trow so But fare wel Masse wil be don or I come Oliu. It makes no matter for one day I wil read the a peece of the scripture in steede of thy Masse Nich. I care not for the scripture and sir Iohn bad me beware of it for it wold make me an heritique Oliuer Sir Iohn then readeth not the Scripture Ncho No he saith he wil meddle no further then his portas Oli. The Scripture is gods word ii Pete i. opened to vs from heauen by the holy prophetes Apostles and Christ him selfe Psal cxix it is the light to our feete candel to our foote steppes Psal xix it is the law of life vndefiled and holy conuerting soules it teacheth al things ii Tim. iii that is good perfect rightwise holy to make the man of God perfect vnto all good woorkes Psalm i. He is blessed that studieth in it day and night but sir Iohns owlish eies can not abide it And as for his portas ther is in it a meany of lies craftili cloined to deceiue such vnstable soules as delight in blindnes deceiued thē selues and deceiuing other Nich. By our Ladye sir Iohn is a good priest say what ye list Oliu. Is sir Iohn maried Nich. Nay Mariage he crieth phie on that Oliu. what was the mater that sir Iohn was afore the Shriefe of the shire a while a go Nich. A naughty queane slandred him Oliu. wherwith Nicho. She had a childe in an old baren laied it to the priests charge that he begot it Oliuer Thinckest thou it was not a slaunder of truth Nich. Tushe if it were hys it was but a course of kinde Oliu. Had it not ben better sir Iohn had dad a wife of his owne as S. Paule saieth to auoide fornication let euery man haue a wife of his own ii cor vii and euery woman her owne husband Nich. what should priestes do with wiues Let thē fast and pray as theirfore fathers did liue chast Oli. Chast as sir Iohn doth Nic. Tush he was shriuen or he went to mas it was wel inough Ol. Nicholas I could sai somwhat of the vnwedded priests chastiti tel the many preti histories how holili the foxes abstaine frō snatching of goseflesh as oft as thei mai come to it But as S. Paule saith Ephesi v. it is shame to speake those thinges that thei do for such thīgs sake cōmeth the wrath of god vpō the childrē of vnbelefe althoughe ye make a tushing at it i. Cor. vii despice the holye state of wedlocke in those priests that be maried Yet do their folow the cōmaundement of God who cōmaundeth that euery man haue his own wife euery woman her own husband to the auoiding of whooredome And agayne Gods worde sayeth If they can not abstayne let them marrye for it is better to marrye then to bourne And againe Saint Paule saith as concerning virgins i. Tes iiii I haue no cōmaundement of the Lord. And againe This is the wil of god euen that you shuld be holy that ye should abstaine frō fornication Heb. xiii that euery one of you shuld know how to kepe his vessel in holines honor not in the lust of cōcupiscence as do the Hethen which know not god And again he saith wedlocke is to be had in honor among al mē the bed vndefiled for whoore kepers aduouterers god wil iudge Nic. This was spoken of men but sir Iohn is a priest Oliu. He is no angel nor yet stock not stone as apeareth by the preti babe But Nicholas is not mariage an holi thing Nic. Yes that is it prests tel vs it is one of the .vii. sacramentes Oliu. And is not priesthode holi also Nich. God forbid els Oliu. How chaūceth that holi priesthode holy mariage cā not agre together no better Nich. By mi truth mā I cannot tel Oli. I wil tel the. S. Paul saith the sprit speketh euidentlye i. Tim. iiii that in the latter daies some shal depart from the faithe and shall geue heede vnto spirites of errour dyuelish doctryne of thē whych speake false thorow hipocrisie and haue their consciences marcked with an hot yron forbidding to mary and cōmaunding to abstain from meates which god hath created to be receiued with geuing thanks of thē which beleue know the truth Here may al men that wilfulli are not blynde perceiue and see from whēce our prests wiueles life that condempne Matrimonie maintaine so hily their single life falsly named chastitie commeth euen from spirites of erroure from the deuil him self who with that holy snare hath drawē mani a thousand of soules into most beastlye and filthie liuing And this the hipocrites know well inoughe For their owne conscience is a witnes againste them that they liue not al chast but yet though thei know the truth of a set malise and
obstinatie and for filthie lucres sake they teach and maintaine such a detestable estate ▪ so as theues are brent in the hand with an hot irō vnto their ppetual shame so these men are dailie burnt in their conscience witnessing againste them that their doctryne and vnchaste liuing pleaseth not God Therefore Nicholas take hede of them remember the old saying priestes doues makes foule houses Nich. I warrant you for sir Iohn he is as honest a mā for an vnmaried priest and is vengeaunce holy as any is with in this .xx. myle and as good a companion Oliue what call ye an honest man and a good companion A good cōpaniō Nicho. A good fellow that wil kepe company all day at the good ale anst playe his xl pence at dise with anye good felow that commeth Yea I haue knowen him kepe companye two daies two nightes with good felowes ere this Bi god I dare say this for sir Iohn if he wer as wel sene in the chapters of the Bible as he is in the tables dise and cardes by God Oliuer he might reason with the best of them and yet I speake not this because I wold praise him Yea yea I tel ye as litle learning as he hath he is a morren felowe Oliu. Happye are the shepe that haue such a shepherd and the soules that sir Iohn syngeth for Your Alewiues loue him wel I dare say and make much of him Nicho. By Saint Iulian elles wer thei to blame for he is a good customer of theirs and spendeth more siluer among them then ani sixe in our parish I dare wel say The bel toleth I haue lost sacrtng a vengeaunce on it with babling with the. But yet I trust to see my maker daunce about the cuppe I wil runne a pace Oliu. I haue lost al my labour with talkyng wyth him Alas it is pitie to se the plain and simple people thus deluded and brought to suche a miserable case that they embrace lyes in stede of truth and errour and superstition in place of true godlynes and Christian religion But euen this was before prophecyed that Antichrist ii Tes v. the son of perdicion should come by the woorking of Sathan with al lying powers signes and wonders ▪ in al disceiueablenes of vnryghtuousnes among them that perishe because they receiued not the loue of the truthe that they might be saued And therfore god shal send them strong illusion ▪ that thei shuld beleue lies that al they might be dāned which beleue not the truth but had pleasure in vnryghteousnes But our Lorde Iesus Christe will come shortely and with the breath of his mouth destroye that aduersary He shal not be destroied bi swerd zach iiii Apo. xix nor strength of mans power but by the power of god bi the swerd of his word Come Lord Iesus lighten the eies of the blinde conuert the hartes of thy people heale our backeslidinges and treade downe Satan and Antichrist his chaplaines And let thi holye name and woorde euer more and more be magnified among vs Let al true Christen hartes say Amen Amen Finis A DIALOGVE OR COMMVnication for two children or vnlettred folkes profitable and easye to be learned WHo made you God almightie wherof made he you Of the mould of the erth VVhat hathe he done more for you Geuen his sonne for me VVhat is his sonnes name Iesus Christ VVhat is Iesus A Sauiour How hath he saued thee He hath redemed me wherfrō hath he redemed the From sinne death dampnatiō VVherewith redemed he thee VVith his precious bloud VVhat is Christ to say An anoynted VVho anoynted him God the Father VVherwith anoynted he hym VVith the holy ghost why is he called Christ or anointed For he is king hishop prophet Of whom is he Kyng Of al Gods elect VVhat doth he for them Gouerne and defend them VVhat is Christ more Our highe priest and Byshoppe Howe is he priest and Byshop Ordained of God After what order After the order of Melchizedech VVhat sacrifice offred he His own body vpon the crosse what doth he sāctifi bi the offrīg Our consciences frō dead workes VVhat are dead workes Synne and wickednes VVhat is Christ els The great prophet promysed VVhat is a Prophetes offyce To declare the councell of God what coūcel hath Christ declared The gospel of Peace what is the Gospell A preaching of glad tydynges what glad tidynges Forgyuenes of synnes freelye what callest thou freelye It cost them nothing whom cost it then Our Lord Christ what cost it him His blessed hart bloud To whō is forgiuenes preached To al that repent and beleue what must they repent Theyr former euyl lyuyng How must they repent From the botom of their heartes Must we not confesse our syns Yes verely To whom must we confesse thē To God whom we haue offēded Must we not confesse to a priest Yes when nede is when is it neede when we can not otherwyse quiet our consciences wherfore should we go to the priest That he may do his office what is his office To preach the law and the gospel and to absolue vs. why must he preache the lawe To broose oure heartes vnto true repentaunce whi must he preach the gospel To teache vs to flye to Christe to rayse vs. How doth the lawe broose our harts It sheweth vs gods wrath dānation for our sinnes How doth the gospell rayse vs It sheweth our sacrifice and atonement maker Who is that The lābe of god offred for our sins who is that lambe offred Iesus Crist crucified How often was he offred Once for al vpon the crosse who offred hym Himselfe and none other Doth not the prist daili offer him No he dieth no more nor is no more offred Is not the ministratiō of the lords supper a sacrifice It is a memory of Christes sacrifice done on the crosse for vs Can we make no sacrifices to god Yes iii. maner of sacrifices what is the first Praise and thankesgeuing prayer to god How is that called in scripture The fruit of their lips that confesse the Lordes name what is the second sacrifice Almes dede mercy to our neyghbours How is that called A swete smel accepted and pleasing to god what is the third sacrifice Mortifiyng of our carnal lustes and desires what is that named in gods word A liuely acceptable offring to god Can the preist absolue vs from our sinnes Ye if he repent beleue the gospel what if a mā repēt not nor beleue Then the prist cannot absolue him what if he repent and beleue Then the prist cannot bynd him Howe doth the preist bynde and absolue By the preaching of Gods worde what if the prist be ignoraunt of gods word Then is he a blind guide Cannot an ignoraunt prist lead vs Yes into the pitte of hell what must he do that is forgeuen his sinne Bringe fourth worthi fruites of repentaunce what ar worthy fruits of repētāce A godly lyfe amending that he before offended in Geue an example The dronkarde must leaue his dronkennes Another The lechourer must forsake hordō A thirde example The swearer must leaue swearing and honour the holy name of god where learnest thou this In S. Peters epistle the .iii. chapter what saith he Turne from euyll and do good what reward shal thei haue that do so The grace and fauour of God and life euerlasting God graunt vs all to doe so and euer to walke in his truth Amen and thankes to God forthe light of his holy word and gospel Amen