Chri. I was sometime a pore scholar of Cambridge very desirous to have the knowledge of good letters, and in the time of my being their, this godly man preached many learned and christen sermons both in latin & english tong, at the which all, I for most part was present, and although at the time I was but a child of xvi. years yet I noted his doctrine so well as I could, partly reposing it in my memory, par lye commending it to letters as most faithful treasurers unto memory.
I was present when with manifest authorities of God's word and arguments invincible besides the allegations of doctors he proved in his Sermons, ⟨image 21⟩that the holy scriptures 1ought to be read in the English tong of all christen people, whether they were priests or lay men, as they be called, which thing divers drowsy dunces with certain false flying flattering Friars could not abide, but openly in their unsavoury sermons resisted his godly purpose, even as Alexander the coppersmith and Elymas the sorcerer with many other resisteth blessed Paul and 2his Godly doctrine, not withstanding 3he (yea rather God in him, whose cause he handled) gate the victory, and it came to pass according to his teaching. Neither was I absent when he inveighed against temple works, good ententes, blind zeal, superstitious devotion. &c. 4as the painting of tabernacles gilding of Images, setting ⟨image 21⟩up of candles, running on pilgrimage & such other idle inventions of men, whereby the glory of God was obscured and the works of mercy the less regarded. I remember also how he was wont to rebuke the beneficed 5men with the authority of Gods word for neglecting and not teaching their flock and for being absent from their cures, they them selves being idle and masting them selves like hogs of Epicurus flock, taking no thought though their pore parishioners miserably pine a way, starve, perish and dye for hunger. Neither have I forgotten how he at that time condemned 6foolish ungodly and impossible vows to be fulfilled as the vow of chastity, wishing rather that liberty of marriage might be gram ted to them which have so vowed ⟨image 22⟩by the higher powers, than so to continue through single life in all kind of abominable uncleanness. O how vehement was he in rebuking all sins, namely Idolatry, false and idle swearing covetousness and whoredom?
Chri. I was sōetyme a pore scholar of Cambrige verye desirous to haue the knoweledge of good letters, and in the tyme of my beynge their, thys godly man preached manye learned and christen sermons both in latyn & englishe tong, at the whiche al, I for most parte was present, and although at ye tyme I was but a chylde of xvi. yeres yet I noted hys doctryne so well as I coulde, partly reposynge it in my memorye, par lye commendynge it to letters as moste faythfull treasurers vn to memory.
I was presente whan wyth manifeste authorities of Godes word and argumentes inuicible besides the allegations of doctoures he proued in hys Sermons, ⟨image 21⟩that the holye scriptures 1ought to be read in the English tong of al christē people, whether they were priestes or laie men, as they be called, which thynge diuers drowesy dunsers wyth certayne fals fliynge flatering Friers coulde not abyde, but openly in their vnsauery sermons resisted hys godlye purpose, euen as Alexander the copersmyth and Elymas the sorcerer with manye other resisteth blissed Paule and 2hys Godly doctryne, not wythstandynge 3he (yea rather God in hym, whose cause he handeled) gate the victorye, and it came to passe accordyng to his teaching. Neyther was I absente whan he inueighed agaynste temptle workes, good ententes, blynde z•ale, supersticious deuocion. &c. 4as the payntynge of tabernacles gylddynge of Images, settynge ⟨image 21⟩vp of candles, ronnynge on pilgrimage & such other idle inuencions of men, whereby the glory of God was obscured and the workes of mercy the les regarded. I remember also howe he was wonte to rebuke the beneficed 5men wyth the authoritie of Gods worde for neglectyng and not teaching their flocke and for beinge absente from their cures, they them selues beynge idle and mastinge them selues lyke hoggs of Epicurus flocke, taking no thoughte thoughe theyr pore parishners miserably pine a waye, sterue, perishe and dye for hunger. Neither haue I forgotten howe he at that time condemned 6
- 1Bible in english.Byble in engl•she.
- 2ii. Timo. iiii.
- 3Act. viii.
- 4Will works.Wyl workes.
- 5Beneficed men.
- 6•owes.
