Now if the men, which are by nature so desirous of glory, and which are wont to flatterings, do complain that they be not handled of me like bishops according to their dignity: no man shall greatly blame me therefore, for as much as they do not behave them selves, as it becometh bishops to ⟨image 62⟩do. For I do forbear them and give them more honour, then they be worthy to have in that I do vouchsafe to call them by so holy and so old a word, 1I mean the name of bishop, for they ought to be called by very odious titles, if I should call them as doth saint Paul the Apostle, and as Steven the first martyr doth call them. 2For a bishop ought to be very conning in the Bible, and day and night to labour and study in the holy scripture, and to be such one, which should in his own person teach his people, both privately and openly, 3& instruct them to know Christ (as saint Paul doth rehearse) & which also in his own proper person should visit sick men, & succour & relieve pore, and needy men. Now they are noting ⟨image 63⟩else (I mean the papists) but blind guides, which defending the traditions of men and the papistical merchandise, by frauds and guiles do pluck away, and by infinite crafts do extort the goods of other men. Therefore likewise as shepherds when it fortuneth them to see the wolf, do make a great outcry upon him, saying the wolf, the wolf, the wolf, even so also will I cry out here even until I be horse with crying to such time as they amend their manners. I will describe some of their virtues, to the intent that all christen men both now living & hereafter to come may have knowledge thereof, howbeit yet I will forbear from showing their names and persons, neither will I rebuke and inveigh ⟨image 63⟩against that worldly administration & dignity which they bear, but I shall principally touch that thing, which concerneth the captivity of consciences, that they may ones see & perceive, that there is by the gift of god some sheep of so great a flock sprung up which all other hitherto being afraid dare be bold to say. Lo under these goodly disguisings, under this fair name, and under this apparel of bishops are hid ravenous wolves. And of this my liberty and bold plainness, I have an excellent example the Apostle Paul, 4which did in open audience very sharply and sore rebuke the high priest Ananias, 5and said.
Nowe yf the men, whiche are by nature so desyrous of glorie, and which ar wont to flaterynges, do cōplayn that they be not handled of me lyke bysshops according to theyr dignytie: no man shall greatly blame me therfore, for asmoche as they do not behaue them selues, as it becometh bysshops to ⟨image 62⟩do. For I do forbeare them and gyue thē more honour, then they be worthye to haue in that I do vouchesafe to call them by so holy and so olde a worde, 1I meane the name of bysshop, for they ought to be called by very odyous tytles, yf I shulde call them as dothe saynt Paule the Apostle, and as Steuen the fyrst marter doth call them. 2For a bysshop ought to be very cōnynge in the Byble, and day and nyght to labour and studye in the holy scripture, and to be suche one, whiche shulde in his owne ꝑsone teache his people, bothe pryuately and openly, 3& instructe them to know Chryste (as saynt Paule doth reherse) & whiche also in his owne propre persone shulde vysyte sykmē, & succoure & releue pore, and nedye men. Nowe they are notynge ⟨image 63⟩elles (I meane the papystes) but blynde guydes, whiche defendyng ye tradycyons of men and the papystycall marchaundyse, by fraudes and guyles doo plucke awaye, and by infynyte craftes do extorte the goodes of other men. Therfore lykewyse as shepeherdes whē it fortuneth them to se the wolfe, doo make a great outcrye vpon hym, sayeng the wolfe, the wolfe, the wolfe, euen so also wyll I crye out here euen vntyl I be hoorse with cryenge to such tyme as they amēde theyr maners. I wyll descrybe some of theyr vertues, to thentēt that all chrysten men both nowe lyuyng & hereafter to come may haue knowledge therof, howbeit yet I wyll forbeare frō shewyng theyr names and persones, neyther wyll I rebuke and inuaye ⟨image 63⟩agaynst that worldly admynystracyon & dignytie whiche they beare, but I shall pryncypally touche that thynge, whiche concerneth ye captyuyte of conscyences, that they may ones se & perceyue, that there is by the gyfte of god some shepe of so great a flocke sprongē vp which al other hytherto beyng affrayde dare be bolde to saye. Lo vnder these goodly dysguysyngꝭ, vnder this fayre name, and vnder this appareyll of bysshops are hydde rauynous wolues. And of this my lybertie and bolde playnesse, I haue an excellent example the Apostle Paule,
- 1The name of a hysshop.
- 2Acts. xiiActes. xii
- 3Acts. viiActes. vii
- 4Pause. Ac. xxiii.
- 5Ananias
