A sermon of Master Latimer, preached at Stamford the. ix. day of October. Anno.…

Hypocrites, hypocrites, hypocrites, one in heart, another in mouth, far in pretence, but full of mischief, and malicious hearted within. He saw what was within. Then have at the, ye hypocrites, they put forth their question.

Hipocrites, hipocrites, hipocrites, one in hearte, a nother in mouthe, farre in pretence, but full of mischeife, and malycious harted wythin. Hee saw what was within. Then haue at ye, ye hipocrites, they put forthe theyr question.

Licet censum dare Cesari an non?

A perilous question to answer to▪ This was the fruit of their counsel, and this was the snare laid for him, what should he do now? hold his ⟨image 20⟩peace? That had been a slam der too his doctrine. They would have said: lo, how ignorant he is in the law that hath no answer to this simple and plain question. If he affirm and did pay the tribute, he shall incur the hatred of the people, and seem to speak in the favour of the Romans. If he would have a denied it. Then had they that they sought, The Herodians were ready too lay hands upon him, to have him to Bourdo, to prison with him, a traitor that speaketh against Caesar, away with this seditious fellow. O Lord what peril is it to have to do with these Hypocrites? Who could have scaped this snare ⟨image 21⟩but Christ only which is the wisdom of the father, and knew all their maliciousness and crafty sleights? And as he then by his wisdom overcame them, so now doubtless he giveth wisdom to all his, to spy out and beware of their subtle crafts. For such trains, traps, snares and subtleties, as these pharisees laid for Christ, such have our Pharisaical papists laid for Christs preachers. But he mercifully ever fulfilled his promise, dabo os & sapientiam, cui non possunt pesistere omnes aduersarii uestri.