A06490:15
A book made by a certain great clerk, against the new idol, and old…A boke made by a certayne great clerke, agaynst the newe idole, and olde…
A book made by a certain great clerk, against the new idol, and old devil which of late time, in Misnia should have ben canonised for a saint.A boke made by a certayne great clerke, agaynst the newe idole, and olde deuyll whiche of late tyme, in Misnia shulde haue ben canonysed for a saynt.
London : Imprinted by me Robert Wyer dwelling in saint Martins parish, besides charring Cross, 1534London : Imprynted by me Robert Wyer dwellynge in saynt Martyns parysshe, besydes charynge Crosse, 1534
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But go to now, let us grant here again, that this gross and exceeding great lye was forged & imagined of good Benno, to the intent to bow and supple the mind of the Pope, & to tender his heart. For the holy see of Rome is more moved and stirred, and taketh more delectation & pleasure of princes be in any place evil entreated & sharply handled, when they have ben bold to lay hand upon spiritual goods: than of the hole world were made holy. And therefore they have also heaped together, and repeated in so many legends and examples and books those things, which did appertain unto this matter: to the intent ⟨image 14⟩doubtless, that they might purchase and get unto them self plenty of goods and pleasures in this world / & that they should not be constrained to observe & keep or fulfil the gospel. And if this thing be true: than (I say) this again that Benno is none other wise a saint, than are Annas & Caiaphas: 1oneles peradventure he toke repentance afore his death for his life afore led / And they do not a little dishonour and shame to Benno: which do boast and openly report such deeds of him. For if those things be true, which they do carry about and boast in the bull: than is Benno one of the devils saints. And if they be but feigned things: than are they with their consecration & canonisation all together moved ⟨image 14⟩and stirred and ruled by the devil. For where it may be proved, that any man hath not lived according to the rule and doctrine of the scripture: without doubt that man can not be holy, neither ought he of right to be consecrated and canonised for a saint / no though he did raise up all deed men, and did work all manner miracles. 2The gospel is more mighty & of more strength to condemn a man, than any manner signs and miracles are to make him a saint. For the gospel can neither err ne lye: but miracles do often times deceive, 3as Paul hath showed unto us, witnessing that Antichrist should work with false counterfeit miracles, that he might also beguile even the very elect persons / and as Moses also ⟨image 15⟩