For sooth I intend not to impair any mans estimation or honesty, and they that enforce it to that, enforce it not to my meaning, I said I heard, but of such a thing, and toke occasion by that, that I heard, to speak against the thing, that I knew to be nought, that no man should bear with ⟨image 147⟩any man to the maintenance of voluntary and prepensed murder. And I hear say since, the man was other wise an honest man, and they that spake for him, are honest men. I am inclinable enough to credit it. I spoke not because I would have any mans honesty impaired. Only I did as Saint Paul did,1 who hearing, of the Corinthians, that there should be contentions and misorder among them, did write unto them that he hard, and there upon by occasion of hearing he set forth very wholesome doctrine of the supper of the Lord. We might not have lacked that doctrine I tell you. Be it so the Corinthians had no such contentions ⟨image 148⟩among them, as Paul wrote of, Be it so, they had not misordered them selves, it was neither of, nor on, to that that Paul said. The matter lay in that, that upon hearing he would take occasion to set out the good & true doctrine. So, I did not affirm it to be true that I hard. I spake it to advertise you,2 to be ware of bearing, with wilful and prepensed murder. I would have nothing enforced against any man. This was mine intent and meaning. I do not know, what ye call chance medley in the law, it is not for my study.3 I am a scholar in scripture in gods book, I study that. I know what voluntary murder is before God. If I shall fall out with a man He is ⟨image 148⟩angry with me, and I with him, and lacking opportunity and place,4 we shall put it of for that time, in the mean season I prepare my weapon, & sharp it against another time, I swell and boil in this passion towards him. I seek him, we meddle together, it is my chance by reason my weapon is better then his, & so fourth, to kill him, I give him his deaths stroke, in my vengeance and anger. This call I voluntary murder in scripture, what it is in the law I can not tell. It is a great sin, and therefore I call it voluntary. I remember what a great Clarke writeth of this.
For soth I entend not to empayre anye mannes estimacion or honestye, and they that enforce it to that, enforce it not to my meanynge, I sayd I heard, but of suche a thynge, and toke occasion by that, that I heard, to speake agaynste the thynge, that I knewe to be noughte, that no man should beare wyth ⟨image 147⟩any mā to the mayntenaunce of voluntary and prepensed murder. And I heare saye syns, the man was other wyse an honeste man, and they that spake for hym, are honeste men. I am inclinable inoughe to credite it. I spoke not bycause I woulde haue anye mannes honestye impayred. Onelye I dyd as Saynct Paule dyd,1 who heerynge, of the Corinthyans, that there shoulde be contencyons and mysordre among them, dyd wryte vnto theym that he harde, and there vpon by occasion of heerynge he set furthe verye holsome doctryne of the supper of the Lord. We myght not haue lacked that doctryne I tel you. Be it so the Corinthians had no suche contencyons ⟨image 148⟩among thē, as Paule wrote of, Be it so, they had not misordred them selues, it was neyther of, nor on, to that that Paule sayed. The matter laye in that, that vpon hearynge he woulde take occasiō to set out the good & true doctryne. So, I dyd not affirm it to be true that I hard. I spake it to aduertis you,2 to be ware of bearinge, wyth wylful and prepensed murder. I wold haue nothyng enforsed against any man. Thys was myne entent and meanynge. I do not knowe, what ye call chaunche medly in the lawe, it is not for my studye.3 I am a scholer in scripture in gods boke, I study that. I knowe what voluntary murder is before God. If I shall fal out wyth a man He is ⟨image 148⟩angrye wyth me, and I wyth hym, and lackynge oportunitie and place,4 we shall put it of for that tyme, in the meane season I prepare my weapō, & sharpe it agaynste a nother tyme, I swell and boyle in thys passyon towardes hym. I seke hym, we medle together, it is my chaūce by reason my weapon is better then his, & so fourth, to kyl him, I geue him his deathes stroke, in my vengeaunce and anger. Thys call I voluntarye murder in scripture, what it is in the lawe I can not tell. It is agreate synne, and therefore I call it voluntarye. I remembre what a greate Clarke wryteth of thys.
- 1Theprachers are occasioned by hering to invehe against such vice as ye people are infected with as paul to the corinth. ye .i.x.xi. Cha.Theprachers are occasyoned by hering to invehe agaynst suche vyce as ye people are infected wt as paul to the corinth. ye .i.x.xi. Cha.
- 2Why M. L. used this example and to what end & purpose.Why M. L. vsed this example and to what ende & purpose.
- 3Chance med••.Chaunce med••.
- 4Voluntary murder mystermed chanche medley.Voluntary murder mystermed chanche medly.
