& not to go before it, & to do prejudice unto it / wherefore it is necessary and must needs be that either the doctrine of Benno be approved, or else that his miracles, be of no weight nor value, 1as it is written in the last chapter of Matthew. Confirming the word ye they preached with signs & miracles following / he saith not with miracles going before, or else miracles appearing without any word. And much like unto these things, is that also, where it is said, that Benno many years ago even after his death, did for temporal ⟨image 15⟩goods sake punish William Marchion / that is to wit being moved at the petition and prayer of a certain master or provost, 2did strike out the Marchion's eye (as for the most part holy are wont to be governors of churches collegiate). For these noble prelates do all that ever may be done for moneys sake, and for cause of ambition. This their ambition they will to be confirmed & established even of the saints, that be departed out of this world. But this example came from the devil, as sure as god liveth in heaven. For so that unclean spirit is wont to work, and to do his busyness by visions of deed folk, 3that he might make men mad, and to make them affrayed. This is ⟨image 16⟩undoubted, & of a very surety, that patriarchs and kings in the old testament did sometime fight and handle weapons: but that was only for the word of god, & for his peoples cause, by the testimony of scripture. But it pleaseth our lords of Misnia & the blind see of Rome, to call all that miracles, what soever doth fortify & maintain temporal honours and riches / yea moreover I do think this thing also in a manner to be but a forged & feigned thing, (likewise as all the miracles are well near, which are rehearsed in all yt bull) that the Pope with the Misnianes by such manner leasings & error would put good Benno to martyrdom, that not only they might have a confessor of Benno, 4but also a martyr. For if ⟨image 16⟩he was a good & virtuous man, it is undoubted that they do put him unto greater punishment, than ever was any martyr put unto. For with what contumely & rebuke could he be more foul blotted & stained, than this that he is said to have lived otherwise than the gospel doth teach / and that those visions are ascribed unto him, which even the devil him self is wont to handle?
& not to go before it, & to do preiudyce vnto it / wherfore it is necessary and must nedes be that eyther the doctrine of Bēno be approued, or els that his myracles, be of no wayght nor value, 1as it is wrytten in the laste chapytre of Mathewe. Confyrmyng the worde ye they preached with sygnes & myracles folowynge / he saythe not with myracles goynge before, or els myracles apperyng weout any worde. And moche lyke vnto these thinges, is that also, where it is said, that Bēno many yeres ago euen after his dethe, dyd for temporall ⟨image 15⟩goodes sake ponisshe Wyllyam Marchion / yt is to wytte beynge moued at the peticyon and prayer of a certayne mayster or prouost, 2dyd stryke out the Marchions iye (as for the most parte holye are wonte to be gouernours of churches collegyate). For these noble prelates do all that euer maye be done for moneys sake, and for cause of ambicyon. This theyr ambicyon they wyll to be confyrmed & establysshed euen of the sayntes, that be departed out of this worlde. But this example came from the deuyll, as sure as god lyueth in heuen. For so that vncleane spirite is wonte to worke, and to do his busynesse by vysyons of deed folke, 3that he myghte make men madde, and to make them affrayed. This is ⟨image 16⟩vndoubted, & of a very suretye, that patryarches and kynges in the olde testament dyd somtyme fyght and handle weapons: but that was onely for the worde of god, & for his peoples cause, by the testymony of scrypture. But it pleaseth our lordes of Misnia & the blynde see of Rome, to call all that myracles, what soeuer doth fortifye & mayntayne temporall honoures and ryches / yea moreouer I do thīke this thyng also in a maner to be but a forged & fayned thynge, (lykewyse as al the myracles are well nere, which are rehersed in all yt bulle) that the Pope with the Misnianes by suche maner leasynges & erroure wolde put good Benno to martyrdome, that not onelye they myght haue a confessour of Benno, 4but also a martyr. For yf ⟨image 16⟩he was a good & vertuous man, it is vndoubted that they do put hym vnto greatter punisshemēt, than euer was any martyr put vnto. For with what contumely & rebuke coulde he be more foule blotted & stayned, than this that he is sayde to haue lyued otherwyse than the gospell dothe teache / and that those vysyons are ascrybed vnto hym, whiche euen the deuyll hym selfe is wonte to handle?
- 1Miracles to be proved.Myracles to be proued.
- 2William the Marchion of Misnia.Wyllyam the Marchion of Misnia.
- 3Wysyons of dead men.Wysyons of deade men.
- 4Benno a martyr.
