¶ A declaration of thee power of Gods worde concerning the holy supper of the Lord confutynge all lyers and fals teachers whych mayntayne theyr maskynge masse inuented agaynst the woorde of God and the Kynges Maiesties most godly proceadynge compyled Anno dnÌ„i M. D. XLVIII Ezechi ii ¶ Theyr fathers haue broken my couenaunte euen to thys day and they to whom I send they ar chyldren wythout all shame of such an hart as cannot be reclamed SAinct ThoÌ„ saith y â— worlâ— malignaune Is sore infected in great â—eoperdyt through vaynglory which is repungnauÌ„t To gods preceptes hys lawe and veritie For people they be of soch malignitie and corrupt mindes seducig what theâ— may Al godly proceadinges vtterly to delay Maruel not you bishops prelates of dig nitie Though in y e zeel of Phynes also Helias I stomock your sturdines so ful of impietie thus stubburnly to staÌ„d against our Iosias which to reforme hys church brig it as it was To her primer state yet seduce ye what ye maye Hys godly reformacion vtterly to delaye This practyse you that sâ—â—tful generacioÌ„ Under cloked ypocrisy your grauÌ„tshire to mayntayne much after your brother Iudas is yourâ— coÌ„ uersacion w t your lowsy â—urkig to play legerdemayn your craft is ê‘ceiued because ye coÌ„uay not cleane Yet are ye not ashamed seducing what ye maye His godly reformacioÌ„ vtterly to delay What câ—science had your forefathers to put in theyr treasurye the. xxx siluer plates which was for blood the pryce But no coÌ„science at al had those beastes so bloody To murther the son of god accordiÌ„g theyr practyse such lyke ar our spiritual leaders â— their de uyse Whych be not ashamed seduce what they may his godli reformacioÌ„ â—â—terli to delay Sought they not by al meanes vtterly to quenche The fayth of christes moost glorious resurrectioÌ„ and as y â— damosel y â— inquisitiue weÌ„che to haue trapped peter she asked him a questioÌ„ do not these biting beares so ful of coÌ„â—eÌ„â—ioÌ„ wythout al shame inuent what they maye His godly reformacioÌ„ vtterly to delay These waged souldiours they shuld surmyse a lye That christ was stolne they being a slepe this exercise our ministers doth vse ocâ—pâ— by their hyrede sophisters to blemish kepe this heaueÌ„lâ— veritie froÌ„ vs hongrie shepe And as shameles lyers seduce what they may His godly ê“cediÌ„ges vtterly to deley Great is y â— diligeÌ„â—e labour study of these whorish apostals apostels I shuld say which vnder y â— similitude of vertue â—o holi lyke popish ypocrites craftely do thei play yet of their duble deliÌ„g ashamed are not thei by al subtil meaÌ„es to seduce what thei may His godly procedinges vtterly to deley But truly they labour trauel in vayn Lyke besheles of gods wrath to kyck spew and spurne yet shal the truth haue his passourth playn though they wold kyl head hange burne for the word of god shal not in vayn turne but shal worke gods wil seducet what they maye â–ª His godly precedinges vtterly to deley Christ sayth the tree is knoweÌ„ by y e fruyte TheÌ„ must ye be iudged at the eye ymyneÌ„te By youre subtyll sleyghtes though ye seame mute Yet worke ye heythny she lawes and rytes pestelente mayntayniÌ„g mysteris of madnes bitormeÌ„t And tyrable terrours seduciÌ„g what ye may His godly reformacion vtterly to delay A plant set was in the corrupte councell Of your alicâ—eÌ„t grauÌ„t syre of soch laudatioÌ„ That yf al your â—ugling shuld you yet fayl That shuld bring you to your estemacion this captyue you meÌ„s coÌ„scieÌ„ces by collusioÌ„ Wyth your venemous vanities seducyng what ye maye Thys most godly reformacioÌ„ vtterly to de laye Go lytle boke god send the good successe In their harres mindes which wil y â— puse and not to be blamed bicause y u doest expres theypocrisi of soch as gods word doth abu se Thy name manifest here y u doest refuse Yet in this myter who that applyeth hys mynde Thy holy name wrytteÌ„ therin shal he fynd To the hyghe excellent and most gracious Prynce Edward Duke of Somerset Erle of Hertforthe viscounte Beane Campe. Lorde Semer Gouerner of the Kynges Maiesteis person and Protector of al hys realmes hys leauetenauÌ„ te general of al hys armyes boht by lande by sea treasoroure and Erle marshall of England Gouernour of the Ylles of Gernsey Iersey and knight of the most noble order of y â— garter ¶ Ihon Mardeley wysheth grace peace abundaunce of knowledge in gods truthe securitie of body wyth long lyfe in the lyuinge God Thorowe Christe Iesus oure onely sauioure COnsyderynge redupted and moost noble prynce howe prone and ready the malig ners of gods veritie â—e w t all theyr exacte diligence to depraue and say yll aswel of the true doctrine of that infallable and syncier truth as al so of thee teachers preachers of the same it hath in manner coÌ„pelled me â—oundering the great dysceatfulnesse and sturdynesse of the se wycked wordlinges whych bee so pernyscyously bent to blynde y e people of god wyth lyes old wy fe â—â—ables to depresse holde dow ne the gospel of christe and styl to vpholde and mayntayne mannes inuencyons dreames tradicioÌ„s Thus moste gracious lord hath in maner coharted me to set fourthe thâ—s symple worke touchyng the most holy body and bloud of christ whyche is the food of oure soules and confortable pledge of our saluacion sertyfyenge the true beleuers to be made heyres of eternal lyfe and the partakers of all christes merytes Death and resurrection the whych moste sacred mysterie hathe bene bothe learnedly and pythely by soundrye notable clerckes and learned menne devulgated vnto the congregacyon as well in theyr Sermoones as in wrytynges therein confutyng all errours and false opynyons whyche the vngodlye malygners haue seduced thee people in and yet doo bothe by wrytâ—nge and preachynge contrarye vnto the instytution of Christe the symple meanynges of the Scriptures and the Kynges Maiesties mooste godlye proceadynges where of youre gra ce is a fortherer of the same I haue most redoupted lord as one moste vnworthy and indynge wythout profound knowledge of learning confes me far vnhable to enter in the discussing of so hygh a matter yet albeyt I haue according vnto the talente whych I haue receaued not hydyng it in the grounde as dyd that euel seruaunte but to y â— measure and vnderstaÌ„ding which I haue receaued of god by y e gyfte of hys spyryte I wyll lyke vnto ruthe the mohabite grayne some parte aswell vpoÌ„ the land of scrip ture as vpon auncient Doctours approued and theÌ„ so gathered as it were in a bundell together the true vnderstanding of this mystical meate of christes body bloud Declaring the right vse therof as by the worde of God shalbe playn lye approue and for bycause as yet this holy misterie hangeth as it were in a ballaunce and not the true weyghe therof as yet
scripture onely so that playnly they whi che ymagyne y t ther shuld be any other vnwrytteÌ„ veritie be clerly agaynst Boddes truth for in the sixt of the same beke is wrytten What I chmaund you that shalt thou do only vnto the Lord thou shalt neyther adde nor mynyshe any thyng And in the laste chap. of the Apocalips who so euer addeth any thynge vnto thys The Lorde shall sende hym the plages whyche be wrytten in thys boke Which place the Duns men euen Duns hymselfe grauntethe that thys sayenge oughte to be vnderstand of the whole scripture TheÌ„ doo not these false teachers synne manyfestly agaynst the commaun dementes of god which doth affyr me that theyr is any other worde of god vnwrytten as they do why â—he expounde the scriptures after theyr owne fantasses geuing iudgement of the wyll of god wythoute the worde of God wrytten and is it not a deueliysshe lye to say the scripture cannot be vnder stande wythout mens comentaries or gloses because the scripture is so obscure darke and doubtful that it maye be els applyed to con fyrme heresyes what benedictyoÌ„s bee appoynted of sundrye kyndes vnto them that kepeth those thyn ges which be wrytten in the boke of the lawe And in the. xxii of the same boke doth not Moyses saye manifestly thus Set and fix your hartes vpon al the wordes whych I testyfye vnto you thys day that ye maye commaunde your chyldreÌ„ to kepe obscure al thynges why che are wrytten in the boke of the lawe for they bee not geuen and coÌ„manÌ„ded vnto you in vayn But that euery one of you shulde lyue after them Oh marke what these wordes importeth that here is euerlastring lyfe promysed vnto all them whyâ—h kepe these thynges whych at wryeteÌ„ in the scripture So that by these wordes ye maye clearly vnderstand that Moyses he aâ—opnteth this to be the fynall eâ—â—â— onely cause why That god wolde haue hys worde to be wryt teÌ„ y â— al men of what degre so euer they bee myghte be saued by the worde of god and then the sequel muste folow to be a playn blasphe my to affyrme and saye that wee maye be saued or dampned by any tradicions of mans inuentyons beyng not expressed in goddes bo ke are not all those very ydiotes and fantastycal whych doth ascry be thys ignoraunce and negligeÌ„ce vnto god as thouâ—he he eyther â—â—lâ—t not or els wolde not Deter myne all artycles necessary vnto oâ—â—e saluacion to be oppressed by wrytynâ—e wythin the holy Scrip ture or els they declare theÌ„ selues to be ignoraunte of the fynal cause why the Scripture was â—e uen vnto vs he hathe not geuen vnto vs a patched or a worke vn parfect but a ful and a whole glas se wherin the parâ—â—ght ymagyne of hys dâ—itie whych Saince Paul calleth the prynte of hys substaun â—e shulde aâ—â—eâ—â— fully therin Also S. Ihon sayâ—â—e that thys woorde doth shyne in darkenesse and that is the lyght which shyneth in meÌ„s hartes blynded of the deuel thorowe synne and that Christe doth open vnto vs the wyll of GOD thorowe hys gospell Therfore it is not onelye thee ignoraunce of manne that the worde of God is thus blasphemed But thorowe thee malyce of thee deuyll for the deuell neuer ceaseth to dysfygure thys woorde whyche is the testy monye of thee Sonne of god whâ— he dyspysed before thee worlde was made and shall fyghte wythe fyght with hym euen wyth al hys power vntyl the day of iudgemeÌ„t Thys boke the King is commaun ded to haue alwayes in hys haÌ„des and in hys syghte y â— boke of y â— law and to reade out of it al the dayes of hys lyfe for thys purpose that he shuld learne to feare hâ—s Lorde god and he delygentlye to applye hys studye therin And then thys promyse is made hym that he shal lyue longe and many of his proge uy lynage shal enioye his kyng dom after hym wolde â—nto God all Christen kynges and prynces wolde regarde the reading of this boke and thynke it to be one part of theyr offycie to be sometymes occupyed in the readynge therof that they maye learne the wyll of God how he wyl be feared by his woorde onely and not by any popy she lawes and mannes tradycions for it is wryttâ— in the. xxx of Deuteronomium The commaun dement whych I geue vnto the is not aboue thy power neyther far re from the it is not set in heauen neyther it is beyonde the sea but the worde is nyght vnto the euen in thy mouthe and in thy harte Marke what Moyses sayth here Remember saythe he I haue â—et it before thy eyes that thou mayesâ—e reade in that boke and vnderstand it also For in thys boke he forbid deth al maner of honour and condempneth all maner of worshyppe and seruyce to bee inuented other done vnto god after the wyl com maundementes tradyâ—yons and doctrynes of men contrary to his worde or otherwyse then his wor de appoynteth or that whyche is not ordayned by the same or commaunded for these seruices muste be learned out of the worde of god both what wyl please him what pleaseth hym not These thynges be knowâ— onely by the holy wryt ten scripture and yf ye beleue not thys be sure heauen and earthe at the latter daye shall wytnesse agaynst vs yf we folowe these false lyenge Prophetes of the false chri stes whych ymagyne a new word and a new christ as to be bounde to certayn appoynted places day â—s meates vowes to abstayne froÌ„ the lawefull creatures ordayned of god for S. peter putteth a diffe rence betwene thee Propheticâ—ll scripture and an interpretacyon whyche is made and inuenced of mans owne brayne and sâ—ch tradycyons whych are made and enâ—oyned at mans commaundement callynge all maner of doctrynes which be not coÌ„teyned in the scrip ture of the holye ghoost Caâ—cyos and disceytfull fables exhortyng all men diligently to trye by thys candell of propheticall scripture the doctryne of the false lying pro pheteâ— whyche ymagyne a newe prophecyâ— or scripture and a new worde for by that meanes saythe hâ— â–ª â—hall be â—â—â—â—ed oute the deuyls subtyâ—â—ie and â—â—lâ—â—oâ—e Callyng al mâ—â—â— doctrynes not conteyned in the scripture very darkenesse and the scripture onâ—ly to be thee true lyght and lâ—nteâ—ne as Dauid called it sayinge thy worde is a lanteâ—â—e vnto my fete and the lyghte vnto my path waâ—es Paul in both hys Epystle to Tymothy and in hys Epystle to Tyte also doth ear nestly warne vs to be ware of the blasphemyes whyche shulde be in thys laste tyme oâ— these lyeng teachers whych shuld laye vpon our neckes newe and wycked opynyons and buld and confyr me with theyr doctrine and lawes not con fyrmed by the worde of God and the prophetes but by false sygnes and lyinge myracles to blynd and disceaue the vnfaythful and soche as haue not receaued the truth of gods worde and he monysheth vs
wyth hys owne marke I cannot terme them as they oughte to be do you consyded that yeâ— notwith standing the word of god is now so pâ—â—â—y â—enâ—yrly symply caught as thaÌ„kes be vnto the lyuyng god and our yong Dauid your grace it now is And that it hath pleased the Kynges Maiestye and his ho norable councel to set it fourth ac cordynglye and specially in thys hyghe mystery of the supper of the Lorde wherof we symple soules haue longe bene robbed of thâ—ne part of that holy sacramente that nowe it shulde be restored vnto vs hole and not thee priestes to eate by the hole theÌ„ selues as they yet dayly do contrary vnto the word of god and the Kynges godly pro ceadinges in as moche as in theÌ„ lyeth dothe not onelye seduce the people styll to folow ther maskiÌ„g masse whych was not knowen in the church of the faythfull as Be da sayth whych was four scoore x. yeares after y e death of Gregory theÌ„ such masking was not knoweÌ„ tyll monckerye of benedictes rule came in and than began pryuate masses a scripture of the popes in uentyon an vnwrytten veryâ—ye whych they wold make vs to bele ue as an article of our fayth But heare what christ sayth Serche y e scriptures for they beare wytnes of me and S. Peter saythe also al the Prophetes do wytnesse wythe hym that God forgeueth all thee synnes of them which beleue and put theyr confydeÌ„ce in christ And now to make an ende I wyll resy te two faythful witnesses against thys deuelysshe cauillatyon that these fals prophetes teache y â— people concerninge thys mystery afo re spoken of as vpoÌ„ all other ther dampnable doctryne whych they grounde vpon mane tradycions whych S. Peter and S. Paule coÌ„ futeth Peter in hys fyrste Epystle â—aileth soche blasphemers as do ymagyne a newe worde of god besydes that whyche is wrytten and he calleth them lying prophetes whych teache any thyng contrarye to thys propheticall and Apostolicall prophecy and a rule wherby we shuld auoyd all maner of lyes and to haue a special eye vnto the candel whych is y e word of the propheticall scripture whiche dryueth oute and banesheth awaye al darkenes and lyes of the deuell and hys Doctours these be hys woordes I wryte vnto you thys secoÌ„d pystle to pryck you vp to quyckene youre hartes that ye myght remember the woordes whych haue bene tolde you before by the holy prophetes and also y â— wordes of our message and commaundemente whyche be the apostles of the lorde our sauyour for ye muste knowe that in the latter dayes ther shal com mockers thei shal bryng in sayth he perniciouse and dampnable sectes And now S. paul saith they shal speake lyes in hypocrysy vnder the colloure and pretence of holynes forbyddyng to mary to absteyne from meates whych god hathe created to be receyued of the faithful with thankes geuing and they shal deny the lorde sayth he whych hath bought and redemed theÌ„ and thee way of the truth shal they sclaunder reuyle do not oure papistes euen so now a dayes Let all men that knowe God iudge and they shall fynde both theyr doctryne lyuing lyke as these two holy Apostles hath paynted theÌ„ vnto the worlde I could haue declared ma ny thynges more of the sayeng of these Apostles to haue bene more circumspecte of these dampnable bypers whych were superfluus but the whole world hathe thanked be God receaued knowledge by the word of God to know theÌ„ and to beware of theyr leuen and here wyth S. Paule I commytte you vnto the word of grace whych is able to edyfye you to geue you an inheritauÌ„ce wyth all theÌ„ that be sanctyfyed SO BE IT Ioel. it ¶ Turne to the Lorde your God for he is gentyl and mercyful pacient and of moche kyndnesse and readye at all tymes to forge ue wyckednesse Math. xx ¶ The labourers in the Lordes vyneyar de that came last of all receaued theyr peny so well as they that came in the mornynge Nether had one more then another A complaynt agaynst the styffenecked made by the aucthour of thys boke ALas I lament the dull abused brayne the insatrike faÌ„tasses witles wilful nes of one other y t at truth haue disdayn They say soch parables they caÌ„not expres some saith thei be realers at riâ—te recheles and som say but litle thiÌ„ke moch in thought wel this ê“cesse I speake of is not for nought Oh wooful chaunce moste infortunate So sodeÌ„ly makyng thys great alteracion For sythe the world was fyrst create Was neuer sene any soch deuysyon How moch is truthe hadde in dirision For falshode faineth fables ful maliciously The truth to drowne alas so pytiously Moch malice is ministred vnder holy precence Most meÌ„ be moued lying signes to vphold False Iammes Iambres be placed iÌ„ pÌ„sence To wouÌ„d Mycheas as in reguÌ„ is told pashur ponisheth hieremy demetriê° is bold Baal Belles ministers rage furiously To drowne the truth alas ful pytiously Helyas Daniel be in woofull case By false Alchimus that wycked counseleâ— Christ cruelly crucified by Pilat cayphas Paul enuyed by hermogenes doth appere Peter by symond Magus Menaunder The apostles proued w t payues spytefully To drowne the truth alas ful pytiously Custome craftely cloked truth beareth no feale Doyng is doubtful dare not for feare Pluck bake pÌ„suÌ„ptioÌ„ which proudly pÌ„uayle poore keketh syleÌ„ce seeth not soch geare Blindnes is braging â—eking here there To spew spytful poysone blasphemously To drown the truth alas ful pytiously The rude rudely learned blind as an asse Dotyng in dreames dispysyng obedience wylful w tout wysdoÌ„ of nothing doth passe As rebel rybauldes w tout intelligence defending theyr god mazyne w t moch violeÌ„ce Agaynst the prycke to spurne vnseamely To drowne the truth alas full pytiously Hatered hateth honesty a whoringe to go Mâ—â—yce maketh men masyng in madnes Penurye pincheth pryueâ—y w t payn woo Prelletes praâ—e papisticallye w t boldnes Lewde lowsy lyeng luâ—keth in darknes false fayniÌ„g flatery freÌ„dship doth ampliffy To drowne the truth alas full pytiously Who blameth blasâ—hemeâ—s boldly to brag Of theyr dotyng doctrine drowned in lies Tearig truth a souÌ„der lyke a torne â—agge Blinding meÌ„s hartes blering their eyes Lyke lurking lowtes lecherouse spyes As subtyl â—erpentes working peâ—niciously To drowne the truth alas full pytiously The witles wllfully walke their ownway not folowing salomoÌ„s sapieÌ„ce but Baales posterite In faÌ„tastical phaÌ„tasses let truth say what he may yet slouthfully wil they slepe infecte wyth inpuritie SupposiÌ„g theÌ„ selues sure to sâ—aÌ„d iÌ„ securitie Stablyshed in sâ—yffenes puâ—t vp arogantly To drowne the truth alas ful pytiously These stoule sturdy stomackes staÌ„d styffely As bytyng wolues craftely closteryng Lyke meÌ„bres malâ—gnaunt styck stubburnly to vphold proud hamone y â— shaueliÌ„g yet powre pincheth not for al theyr â—uâ—muâ—ing And gredy gasping by sleyght pÌ„suÌ„ptuously To drowne