[Godly and most necessary annotations in the .xiij. chapter too the Romans][Godly and most necessary annotations in ye .xiij. chapyter too the Romaynes]

It is very devilishness to accuse the magistrates of evil doings, when they punish or put ⟨image 21⟩too death evil doers, seeing in their this doing, they be none other, but gods Ministers. And where as the scripture forbiddeth punishment & revenging, it meaneth that no private man should revenge his own cause, nor fight at his pleasure, but rather suffer wrongs, if the law will not redress it. And if y• judge and magistrate in a cause of the law, for lucre, fear, love, friendship, or any other respect, kill any man that is not worthy by the law to die, the judge and Magistrate is a very murderer. And so he is, if he save any man that the law condemneth. For he is as S. Paul saith, a minister of God, who never saveth one, & condemneth y• other in like causes. S. Paul when he hath sufficiently declared y• dignity & ⟨image 22⟩of the higher power, gathereth by two necessary causes more, y• the Magistrate is to be obeyed with these words.

It is very diuillishnes to accuse the magistrates of yuel doinges, when they punysh or put ⟨image 21⟩too death yuell doers, seyng in their this doing, thei be none other, but gods Ministers. And where as the scrypture forbyddeth punishment & reuengyng, it meaneth that no priuate man should reuenge his owne cause, nor fight at his pleasure, but rather suffer wronges, if the lawe wil not redres it. And if y• iudge and magistrate in a cause of the lawe, for lucre, feare, loue, frendship, or ony other respect, kil ani man that is not worthye by the lawe to die, the iudge and Magystrate is a verye murtherer. And so he is, yf he saue ony man that the lawe condemnyth. For he is as S. Paul saith, a mynyster of God, whoo neuer saueth one, & condēnith y• other in lyke causes. S. Paule when he hath sufficiently declared y• dignity & ⟨image 22⟩