A10777:93
Certe[n] godly, learned, and comfortable conferences, between the two reverend fathers, and holy martyrs…Certe[n] godly, learned, and comfortable conferences, betwene the two reuerende fathers, and holye martyrs…
Certe[n] godly, learned, and comfortable conferences, between the two reverend fathers, and holy martyrs of Christ, D. Nicolas Ridley late Bishop of London, and M. Hugh Latimer sometime Bishop of Worcester, during the time of their imprisonments. Whereunto is added. A treatise against the error of transubstantiation, made by the said reverend father D. Nicolas Ridley. M.D.LVI.Certe[n] godly, learned, and comfortable conferences, betwene the two reuerende fathers, and holye martyrs of Christe, D. Nicolas Rydley late Bysshoppe of London, and M. Hughe Latymer sometyme Bysshoppe of Worcester, during the tyme of their emprysonmentes. Whereunto is added. A treatise agaynst the errour of transubstantiation, made by the sayd reuerende father D. Nicolas Rydley. M.D.LVI.
Strasbourg: printed by the heirs of W. Rihel, 1556
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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 if any man will stiffly affirm that universality doth so pertain unto the church / that whatsoever Christ hath promised to the church / it must needs be understanded of that / I would gladly know of the same man / where that universal church was in the times of the patriarchs / and prophets / 1of Noah / Abraham / and Moses (at such time as the people would have stoned him) of Elijah / of Jeremiah: in the times of Christ / and the dispersion of the Apostles / in the time of Arius when Constantius was Emperor / 2and Felix bishop of Rome / succeeded Liberius. It is worthy ⟨p. 22⟩to be noted / that Lira writeth upon Matthew.3 The church (sayeth he) doth not stand in men by reason off their power / or dignity / whether it be Ecclesiastical / or secular / for many princes and popes / and other inferiors have ben found to have fallen away from god. Therefore the church consisteth in those persons / in whom is true knowledge / and confession of the faith / and off the Truth. Evil men (as it is in a gloss of the Decrees) are in the church in name / and not in deed.4 And S. Augustine / contra Crescomū gram̄aticū sayeth / Who so ever is afraid to be deceived by the darkness off this question / let him ask counsel at the same church of it: which church / the scripture doth point out without any doubtfulness. All my notes which I have written and gathered out of such authors as I have read in this matter / and such like are come into the hands of such / as will not let me have the least of all my written books: wherein I am enforced to complain of them unto god / for they spoil me of all my labours / which I have taken in my study these many years. My memory was never good / for help whereof I have used for the most part / to gather out notes of my reading and so to place them / that thereby I might have had the use of them / when the time required. But who knoweth whether this be God's will / that I should be thus ordered / and spoiled of the poor learning I had (as me thought) in store / to the intent that I now destitute of that / should from henceforth learn only to know with Paul /