And I answered him, that I would be ruled by Gods book, and rather then I would dissent one jot from it, I would be torn with wild horses. And I chanced in our communication, to name the Lords supper. Tush sayeth the Bishop. What do ye call the Lords supper? What new term is that? There stood by him a dubber, one Doctor Dubber he dubbed him by and by, and said that this term was seldom red in the doctors. And I made answer, that I would rather follow Paul in using his terms, then them, though, ⟨image 24⟩they had all the doctors on their side. Why said the bishop,1 can not we without scriptures order the people? how did they before the scripture was first written and copied out? But God knoweth, full ill yet would they have ordered them. For seeing that having it, they have deceived us. in what case should we have been now without it? But thanks be to God, that by so wonderful a miracle hath preserved the book still. It followeth in the text. Habebit secum &c. 2He shall have it with him in his progress, he must have a man to carry it, that when he is hawking and hunting or in any pastime, he may always commune with them of it. He shall read in it ⟨image 25⟩not once a year, for a time, or for his recreation when he is weary of hawking or hunting but Cunctis diebus vite sue. All the days of his life. Where are those worldlings now? These bladder puffed up wily men? Woe worth them that ever they were about any King. But how shall he read this book? as the Homilies are read.3 Some call them homilies, and in deed so they may be well called, for they are homely handled. For though the Priests read them never so well, yet if the Parish like them not, there is such talking and babbling in the Church, that nothing can be heard, and if the parish be good, and the priest naught he will so hack it, & chop it, ⟨image 25⟩that it were as good for them to be without it, for any word that shall be understand. And yet (the more pity) this is suffered of your graces bishops in their dioceses unpunished. But I will be a suitor to your grace,4 that ye will give your bishops charge year they go home, upon their allegiance to look better to their flock, & to see your majesties injunctions better kept, and send your visitors in their tails.
And I answered hym, that I woulde be ruled by Gods boke, and rather then I wolde dissent one iote frō it, I woulde be torne wyth wylde horsses. And I chaunced in our cōmunication, to name the Lordes supper. Tushe sayeth the Byshop. What do ye call the Lordes supper? What newe terme is that? There stode by hym a dubber, one Doctour Dubber he dubbed hym by and by, and sayde that thys terme was seldome red in the doctours. And I made answer, yt I would rather folowe Paule in vsyng hys termes, then them, though, ⟨image 24⟩they hadde all the doctours on theyr syde. Whye sayed the byshoppe,1 can not we wythoute scriptures order ye people? how dyd they before the scripture was fyrste wrytten and copied out? But God knoweth, ful yl yet woulde they haue ordered theim. For seyng that hauyng it, they haue deceyued vs. in what case shold we haue bene nowe wythout it? But thankes be to God, yt by so wōderful a myracle hathe preserued ye boke styll. It foloweth in the text. Habebit secum &c. 2He shal haue it wt hym in hys progresse, he muste haue a man to carrye it, that when he is haukynge and huntynge or in any pastyme, he maye alwayes comune with them of it. He shall reade in it ⟨image 25⟩not once a yeare, for a tyme, or for hys recreation when he is weary of haukyng or huntyng but Cunctis diebus vite sue. All the dayes of hys lyfe. Where are those worldlynges now? These bledder puffed vp wylye men? Wo worth them that euer they were about any King. But how shall he read thys boke? as the Homilies are read.3 Some call theym homlyes, and in dede so they maye be well called, for they are homely handeled. For though the Priestes reade theym neuer so well, yet yf the Paryshe lyke them not, ther is suche talkynge and bablynge in the Churche, that nothynge can be heard, and yf the paryshe be good, and the pryest naught he wyll so hacke it, & choppe it, ⟨image 25⟩that it were as good for theym to be wythout it, for any worde that shal be vnderstande. And yet (the more pytye) thys is suffred of your graces byshoppes in theyr diocesses vnpunished. But I wyll be a suter to youre grace,4 that ye wyll geue youre byshoppes charge year they go home, vpon theyr allegiaunce to loke better to theyr flocke, & to se your maiesties iniunctiōs better kepte, and sende youre visitours in theyr tayles.
- 1A Bishop yt asked whether ye people might not be ordered with outscripturesA Byshop yt asked wheather ye people myght not be ordred with outscriptures
- 2The Bible must not be forgotten in time of progress and pastime.The Byble must not be forgotten in tyme of progresse and pastyme.
- 3How homely they handle the godly homilies.How homely they handle the godlye homylies.
- 4M. L. request to the kings grace.M. L. request to the kynges grace.
