If Spiridion iustlye reprehended Triphillius but onelye for chaunginge of one worde in scripture cubile for lectuÌ„ what reprofe are our men worthye Lib. i. Tripere capit x. whiche chaunge many hundred wordes yea sentences and all If holy Basilius wold not suffer one syllable of scripture to be corrupted or altered lib. vii tripert cap. xxxvi but rather would haue suffered many deathes what shall we then say to the great and damnable corruption and alteration that hath been among our men If holy Basilius bad the Emperors coke medle with his cokerye let scripture alone tuuÌ„ est inquit de pulmeÌ„tarijs cogitare noÌ„ dog mata diuina de coquere lib. vij â—rip ca. xxxvi what woulde he haue sayde to oure men these yeres past The .l. probation Hauinge the scripture in Englishe causeth manye braynles bodies to dispute and reason they know not whervpon and euer to lay scripture for the wickedlye as al heretikes euer did where as in dede in reasoninge with suche scripture wyll not serue Tertull. de praescrip haerettcoruÌ„ et lib. iiij coÌ„tra Mâ—rtionem For as Tertullian saieth in disputing with an heretike we muste not flee to scriptures nor pitche our battel there for ther eyther neuer or els very hardly the victory shal be gotten Heretikes wylbe ouercome sayeth Sisinius vnto Nectarius in the storie of Socrates li. 9. trip ca. 19 neither with scriptures nor with disputations †Approbata ab â—cclesia noÌ„ oportet rursus rationibus fulcire etc. Nam queÌ„admoduÌ„ par est spiritui faÌ„cto et Cbristo diuinitas ita in suis institutis est aequa authoritas potestas Nec minus ratuÌ„ est quod eeclesia dictaÌ„te spiritu sancto tradidit quaÌ„ quod ipse tradidit Haec Cypri de Lot ped but only by the authoritie of the churche and by the traditions of the fathers elders So that beside the scripture written we muste receyue manye traditions not written many generall councels in whoÌ„ the holye ghost did speake and sundrie interpretations vpon scriptures made by the holy fathers beinge replenished wyth Gods spirite ¶ The conclusion of this simple discourse SEing now these probations which be euident against the scripture in Englishe seing also the great hardnes that is in scripture with the causes therof and how many waies the letter doth kyl And seing againe that the vniuersall churche of Christ hath vtterly forbid the scripture to be in the vulgare tongue consideryng the manyfolde inconueniences that ryse therof as great numbres of heresies disobedience and contempt of powers with fleshely libertie c. And finally seing that by no meanes so soone as by the scripture in english heresies do both spryng daily and be also mainteined wherin should good men be more diligent than in thexter patioÌ„ hereof wherfore it shal be euery faithful christians duetie being in authoritie to lay to his healping hande to the taking away quite that with al spede the Englishe translations with all hereticall Englishe bookes whiche no doubt haue been the greatest occasion of all the mischeifes we haue hadde in this realme of late dayes Through these our newe founde religion hath euer strongly been mainteined and vpholden Our new found religion I say which ye must nedes confesse to haue ben starke nought and damnable because the beginnyng was aduoutry the continuaunce extortion the ende plaine treason Yea euen from the beginning their procedinges for so they termed them beyng rather worthy the name of retrocedinges were styll from synne to synne Fyrst PeccatuÌ„ quod per paeniteÌ„tiaÌ„ noÌ„ deletur suo pondere ad aliud peccatuÌ„ grauius trabit Et hoc suppliciuÌ„ domini longe omniuÌ„ est grauissimuÌ„ quaÌ„dâ— vnuÌ„ peccatuÌ„ per aliud pâ—nitur quod peccatur quum in profundu â—enerit conteÌ„nit forsaking the head of the churche falling from the vnitie therof then despising all generall counselles all ordinaunces froÌ„ the beginning kept through out christendome After this spoyling pollyng pylling robbing and stealing all landes ornamentes goodes of the churche being more fearse then euer was Iulian thappostata without mercy or pitie And finally spytefully contemninge all the holy sacramentes with all censures and iudgementes of the churche and fathers vpon scripture only sticking to their own what pleased them to phansie O lorde was not this a tyme most miserable Iesu be mercyfull vnto vs and graunt vs neuer to fall againe into the lyke palpable darkenes ¶ Of Masse all other diuine seruice in the churche to be in Latine and not in the vulgare tongue ANd here note further I beseche you that like as it is nowe spoken of scripture not to be in English euen so is it ment that as vnlawful it is yea and more too if more may be that the high mysteries in the sacrifice of Masse or other diuine seruice should be in English where as the preist is a comon person and offereth vp for al the people beyng the meane betwene God and them so that his communication is to God and not to the people What cause is there then why diuine seruice should be in Englishe except ye thynke that God vnderstandeth no Latine Neither the Italians nor GreciaÌ„s haue diuine seruice in their vulgare tongue Moreouer at that tyme of diuine seruice all the comen people then present shuld onely put their whole affiauÌ„ce in fide maâ—ris ecclesiae in the fayth of oure mother the catholyke churche like as our beleif is in the baptisme of infantes Yea note further that it was not without great mystery the writyng of Christes tytle at his passion in Hebrewe Greke and Latine Also it was not without great mysterye that many wordes were neuer translated as Alleluya Osanna Amen Sabaoth Kirieleison c. And that Christ praied in secret silence alone the head for the whole bodie to signifie vnto vs thereby that the priestes office is likewise to doe the same the coÌ„mon minister for al the people being meane betwene God them As for that of Paule to the Corinthians i. Cor. xiiii which might appeare to the simple to make for theyr purpose to haue all in the vulgar tonge yf ye marke it well it is onely spoken for them whiche doe preache expounde or interprete scriptures in the church that is to saye that their sermons their expouÌ„dinges or interpretatioÌ„s of scriptures they beinge authorised therevnto must euer be made in that toÌ„ge whiche the hearers doe vnderstande and perceyue And this ye know well bothe is and euer hath ben vsed And therfore here now further A man might demaunde a questioÌ„ wherfore ye com to the Churche I suppose ye wyll saye as ye muste no doubte yf ye tell the treuthe that the chiefe intente of your comming is or ought to be to pray though sermoÌ„s and diuine seruice and the ministration of the holy sacramentes be causes also seing that Christe called the Church the house of prayer
techers and some learners But these quite turne vp side doune the right ordre of Christes churche the one part medling with the others office the more blinde the more bolde the more ignoraunte the more busie the lesse witte the more inquisitiue the more leude the more bablynge of great doubtes and high questions of Christes Sacramentes and of his priuye and vnsearcheable mysteries and that oft most presumptuously with out al reuerence or godly feare bothe at drinkinge and eating as though it were but a Canterburye tale and that when the ale is in the witte is oute Then flowe furthe manye errours and heresies Then are the simple catched in the snare of the Deuyll without hope of recouerie And all this alas and woe is me haue we ful experince of in these yeares paste But nowe thankes bee to Iesus Christe that by his onelye might and power when it was paste all mans helpe hath deliuered vs from the Deuill and the bondage of Pharao and brought vs furthe of darknes of scismes and heresies into the cleare light of the trueth againe by sendynge vs oure blessed queene Mary euen another Helena to bringe againe the holye crosse whiche euen from her infancie hath sticked faste and cleued surelye vnto the sounde piller of trueth the catholyke churche whiche wyll neuer faile she hathe euer defended it to the vttermost of her power Lorde graunt her longe life to continue the same and graunte her ioyfull deliueraunce of her moste comfortable burden When God of his great mercye sente her to be our liege ladye our quene and gouernesse then we receyued of him as great a benefit as euer did the Israelites of Hester or Iudith O lord before her comminge the churche was troden downe and pitifully spitfully I might saye spoyled by might by tiranny heresy the great Deuyl was let lose al was quite plucked vp by the rotes vnder the colour and false name of vice superstition and ydolatrie they vtterlye destroyed all deuotion all vertue and godlye religion The feareful Serpent Python that greuous dragon with manye heades mencioned of in the Apocalips did still persecute the woman in the sun That is to say our mother the church deuourynge her children here in this realme incessauntly tyll Gods merciful pitie gods pitiful mercy did electe send this blessed woman Mary our Queene in stede of Michael tharchāgel to ouerthrow him to restore his temple and furnishe agayne his house which now of late within these .xxii. yeares was here in Englande worse spoiled and defaced then euer was his temple at Hierusalem eyther by the Chaldies or by Antiochus Marye therefore oure noble queene God him selfe dyd appointe euen as he did Iosue Esdras or Iudas Machabeus to bringe vs into the ryghte waye agayne towarde the land of promise for we were farre strayed amisse throughe synne auarice ▪ and lecherye and to reedifie his temple through her wisedome she beynge the perfit mirrour and pearle of all christian queenes and princes Yea and if the olde prouerbe be true as it is most true in dede whiche sayeth euery prince is to his realme subiectes ether a very precious Iuell or els a deadlye poyson because suche as the prince is suche will the people laboure to be whether it be in vertue or vice What a precious Iewell then haue we receyued of God in receyuynge her noble estate to be our ladye queene an example of all vertue deuotion and prayer a spectacle to al realmes And suerly the common voice is that her grace is not onelye moste noble moste vertuous moste wittie and moste studious but also moste excellent in learning farre passinge eyther the noble Romaines Cornelia Hortensia or the godly learned womē of whom S. Hierome writeth Eustochium Paula and Blesilla Therefore if queene Saba iustlye sayde it was a signe that God loued his people ◠Barall 9. for sendynge them Salomon to raygne ouer thē maye not we as iustly now say the same to Englande And yf the wisdome pietie and vertue of Onias was sayde to be the cause of the prosperous estate of their citie 2. Mach. 2. shall not we likewise saye to this our realme Besides this Roma 12. if gouernours be highlye praysed in scripture whiche rule with great solicitude and carefulnesse what shal we then saye to her whiche for all our wealthes bothe bodilye and ghostly is styll moste vigilant and carefull And finallye nowe to conclude if amonge the heathen the noble Princes haue euer highlye been extolled for sundrie vertues howe highly is she worthie thē to be extolled for so plentifull and so manifolde kindes of vertue Whiche doeth not onely excell in godlynesse in deuotion in prayer in fastyng in abstinence in humilitie in charitie in mercie pitie and compassion in discretion in knowledge in wisedom in excellencie of witte beinge of no small studie in godly literature but beinge of exquisite learnynge of profounde knowledge of exacte iudgement beside notable diligence and great painfulnesse euen frō her childhode as for her pollicie and affayres of the realme in settinge furthe the wealthe and commoditie thereof and in defendinge vs from outwarde and inwarde enemies I speake not of but also whiche doeth farre passe all other as it is euidently seen in her most godly innated zeale that she beareth styll moste earnest towarde the vnitie and faythe of Christes trew religion and towarde the cheife head therof vnder Christ whiche by the space of these xx yeres euen tyll she came was banished this realme throughe scisme and heresie through couetousnes and letcherye Lorde be mercifull vnto vs. Wherfore if in the Gospel of S Luke many holy womē for godlines deuotiō and zeale toward Christes church be highly praysed by name likewise in thactes of the Apostles and in the laste Chapter to the Romans yea and if S. Hierom wrote a whole booke of suche holye and vertuous women what lesse prayse is her highnes worthye now to haue being inferiour to none of the all being euin now amonge al princeli womē in the worlde a verye Phenix But I wyll let this passe I wyl say no more but only this that the doughter maye welbe knowen by the Mother and that as we fell from all goodnes at the moste vniust fall of her Mother that most noble Lady Queene Catheryn So doe we nowe rise agayne at the moste iuste risinge agayne of her noble estate to the Crowne of Englande So that in her moste godlye person is shut vp all our worldly ioye comfort and hope whom with her most noble vertuous husbande Philip our Lord King not much inferiour to her highnes in grace vertue and godlynes as credible menne reporte Iesu longe prosper in honoure grace and vertue daylye increasinge But nowe to the processe intendid The fyrst Chaptre Scripture is very harde to be vnderstande IF nothing els shuld moue the Scripture to be takē furthe of the irreuerente and lewde handling of the multitude
Luc. xix bringyng for him the testimony of Esaie and seing also we haue in scripture so manye notable examples concernynge the same purpose Luc. ii Anna the prophetisse coÌ„tinued day and night in the temple in fastynge and prayer Luc. xxiiii the Apostles after Christes ascension remayned styll in the temple in laudyng and blessyng God Peter and Iohn went vp in to the temple at the ninth houre of prayer Actes iii. Salomon besought GOD to graunt the petition of all that prayed in the temple iii. Re. viii and Daniel beinge a prisoner in Babilon Dan. vi euer loked toward the temple when he prayed vppon his knees thryse in the daye This suerly doth proue that the chief intent of coÌ„ming to the churche ought to be to praye But all this tyme which now thankes be to God is past hauynge the diuine seruice in Englishe was an extreme enemie to all godly prayer and deuotion For then men phansied so to heare what was redde striuing ofte thervppon in simple iudgemente that feruente prayer whiche ought to be was smally regarded And here now for this time I make an end besechig al godlye people as for Momus his iudgement I passe not of well to accepte this my labour seing that herein is nothinge spoken but that whiche hath bene taught for treuthe and beleued of al men in all places and at al times since the primatiue church seing also that herein we leane onely to the generalytie of all christendome to the antiquitie of the elders whiche haue receiued it as it were by hande euyn tyll this day and to the consent and agrement of all the holy fathers Whose wittes were as muche as our new mens theyr diligeÌ„ce as great theyr lerning greater theyr studye more feruent they re deuotion hotter theyr nombre more theyr continuaunce longer they alway taken for catholikes but thother euer for heretikes alwaye laboring and studiyng that might be whollye to the profyt of the churche of Iesus Christe To whome with the father and the holye ghost be all honoure and glorye for euer and euer AMEN Memorâ—â—e nouissima Eccl. vii in aeternum non peccabis I. S. A PRAYER IESV God and man we beseche thy Maiestie Of mesureles mercie tender our miserie Hast to helpe that helpe hast in thy hande Ne cesse with thy 〈…〉 repaire this Ilande Suffer not Satan and his cursed progenie To bewitche thy people with scisme and heresie And strengtheÌ„ vs O God of power puisaunce Neuer to quaile throughe thy gracious gouernauÌ„ce Dede and worde in vs so proportion Infinitly that we acknowledge thy heaueÌ„ly wisdoÌ„ Snared we were and nigh snatched to confusion Scisme and heresie preuailing in this region Haue thankes and praise for our restitution As we may and can we must and wyll willingly Vvaking and sleping exalte thy Maiestie Thy mercie for our selues as we aske and haue Haue like mercie we humblie crie and craue On Philip and Mary graunt theÌ„ of thy mercie Reigne peace and power in longe life felicitie Autoris nomen libri noÌ„ scribitur huius Vt placido vultu quisque probaret opus Plus circa nomeÌ„quam veruÌ„ plebs stomochatur I is adhibens solum qui placuere fidem ¶ Fautes escaped the printer in many of the bokes Leafe Syde Lyne A.v. ij .iiii. reade ofte hurteth C.viii. i. in the margeÌ„t math .ix D.v. i. xvii rede Actes E. iii i. xv put oute E. iiii ii in the margeÌ„t Iac. iiii H. vii i. in the margent writte Iren. lib. tertio capit iiii I.i. i. i. rede and it is I.i. ii v. rede that which hath I. ii ii xviii reade doe apereth I. vi i. xx rede Altercations I. vi ii xxii rede sending Howe I. vii ii xxii rede none now