A13203:0
[The Pentateuch]
printed by Hans Luft i.e. Johan Hoochstraten, 1530
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.
The first book of Moses called Genesis.
The fyrst boke of Moses called Genesis.
W. T. To the Reader.
When I had translated the new testament / I added a pistle unto the latter end / In which I desired them that were learned to amend if ought were found amiss. But our malicious and wily hypocrites which are so stubborn and hard hearted in their wicked abominations that it is not possible for them to amend any thing at all (as we see by daily experience when their both livings and doings are rebuffed with the truth) say / some of them that it is unpossible to translate the scripture in to English / some that it is not lawful for the lay people to have it in their mother tongue / some that it would make them all heretics / as it would no doubt from many things which they of long time have falsely taught / and that is the whole cause wherefore they forbid it / though they other cloaks pretend. And some or rather every one / say that it would make them rise against the king / whom they them selves (unto their damnation) never yet obeyed. And left the temporal rulers should see their falsehood / if the scripture cam to light / causeth them so to lye.
WHen I had translated the newe testament / I added a pistle vnto the latter ende / In which I desyred them yt were learned to amend if ought were founde amysse. But oure malicious and wylye hypocrytes which are so stubburne and hard herted in their weked abhominaciōs that it is not possible for them to amend any thinge atall (as we see by dayly experience when their both lyvinges and doinges are rebufed with the trouth) saye / some of them that it is unpossible to translate the scripture in to English / some that it is not lawfull for the laye people to have it in their mother tonge / some that it wold make them all heretyfes / as it wold no doute from many thinges which they of longe tyme haue falsly taught / ād that is the whole cause wherfore they forbyd it / though they other clokes pretende. And some or rather every one / saye that it wold make them ryse ageynst the kinge / whom they them selves (vnto their damnatyō) never yet obeyed. And lefte the temporall rulars shuld see their falsehod / if the scripture cam to light / causeth them so to lye.