A06509:52
The images of a very Christen bishop, and of a counterfeit bishopThe images of a verye Chrysten bysshop, and of a couterfayte bysshop
London : Imprinted by William Marshall i.e. Robert Wyer, 1536?London : Imprynted by Wyllyam Marshall i.e. Robert Wyer, 1536?
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
They are the children of malediction or cursing, which have forsaken the right way & gone a wrong way, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, which loved the reward of wickedness, but he was rebuked of his wickedness. The tame dumb beast speaking with mans voice did forbid & let the madness of the prophet. These are fountains lacking water, and clouds carried about of a tempest.
THey are the chyldren of maledyccyon or cursynge, whiche haue forsaken the right way & gone a wronge waye, folowynge the waye of Balaam the sone of Bosor, whiche loued ye rewarde of wyckednes, but he was rebuked of his wyckednes. The tame dumbe beaste speakyng with mans voyce dyd forbydde & lette the madnes of ye prophete. These are fountaynes lackynge water, and cloudes caryed aboute of a tempest.
For likewise, as Balaam was rebuked of the Ass, even so do we see covetousness to reign among them with so great madness and unshamefastnes, ⟨image 34⟩that even the unlearned common people do now begin to cry against it, and hereof hath taken up a common proverb, 1which is this. He is more covetous (say they of a covetous person) then other priest or monk. Briefly there is no man, which doth not for their covetousness most odiously speak against them, and give them evil words. But I pray you how fearful a thing is this, that Peter calleth them openly the sons of malediction Who else durst call the Pope of Rome, & the bishops with their under officers, a cursed people? Now peter that so excellent apostle, yea and the holy ghost by Peter doth call them, and doth curse them / Who now would not be sorry and tremble in his heart, that ever he hath given & bound ⟨image 35⟩him self to this cursed kind & manner of living? Oh I say, who soever may let him eschew let him eschew, now in these days, these manners of living of priests, & friars, and of such other. Afterwards he doth again gaily garnish the bishops with their mete titles. For what other thing is meant here by a fountain without water,