The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Now shortly after these days, the Goths, Vandals, Huns, and other barbarous and wicked nations, burst into Italy, and all parts of the west countries of Europe, with huge and mighty armies, spoiled all places, destroyed Cities, and burned Libraries, so that learning and true religion went to wrack, and decayed incredibly. And so the Bishops of those latter days, being of less learning, and in the middest of wars, taking less heed also then did the Bishops afore, by ignorance of Gods word, and negligence of Bishops, and specially barbarous princes, not rightly instructed in true religion, bearing the rule, images came into the Church ⟨p. 62⟩of Christ in the said west parts, where these barbarous people ruled, not now in painted clothes only, but embossed in stone, timber, metal, and other like matter, and were not only set up, but began to be worshipped also. And therefore Serenus Bishop of Massile the head town of Gallia Narbonensis (now called the Province) a godly and learned man, who was about six hundred years after our saviour Christ, seeing the people by occasion of images fall to most abominable idolatry, brake to pieces all the images of Christ and saints which were in that city, and was therefore complained upon to Gregory, the first of that name Bishop of Rome, who was the first learned Bishop that did allow the open having of images in Churches, that can be known by any writing or history of antiquity. And upon this Gregory do all image worshippers at this day ground their defence. But as all things that be amiss, have from a tolerable beginning grown worse and worse, till they at the last became untollerable: So did this matter of images. First, men used privately stories painted in tables, clothes, and walls. Afterwards, gross and embossed images privately in their own houses. Then afterwards, pictures first, and after them embossed images began to creep into Churches: learned and godly men ever speaking against them. Then by use it was openly maintained that they might be in Churches: but yet forbidden that they should be worshipped. Of which opinion was Gregory, as by the said Gregory's ⟨p. 63⟩Epistle to the forenamed Serenus Bishop of Massile, plainly appeareth.

Nowe shortlye after these dayes, the Gothes, Uandales, Hunnes, and other barberous and wicked nations, burst into Italie, and all partes of the westcountreyes of Europe, with huge and mightie armies, spoyled all places, destroyed Cities, and burned Libraries, so that learning and true religion went to wracke, and decayed incrediblye. And so the Byshops of those latter dayes, beyng of lesse learnyng, and in the myddest of warres, takyng lesse heede also then did the Byshops afore, by ignoraunce of Gods worde, and negligence of Byshops, and specially barbarous princes, not ryghtly instructed in true religion, bearyng the rule, images came into the Church