A13862:37
The testament of master William Tracie esquire, expounded bothThe testament of master Wylliam Tracie esquier, expounded both
The testament of master William Tracie esquire, expounded both by William Tyndale and Iho[n] Frith. Wherein thou shalt perceive with what charity y[e] chancellor of Worcester burned when he toke up the deek carcass and made ashes of hit after hit was buriedThe testament of master Wylliam Tracie esquier, expounded both by Willism Tindall and Iho[n] Frith. Wherin thou shalt perceyue with what charitie y[e] chaunceler of Worcester burned whan he toke vp the deek carkas and made asshes of hit after hit was buried
Antwerp : H. Peetersen van Middelburch?, M.D.xxxv. 1535
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Commentary Frith: ✚ John FrithCommentary Frith: ✚ Ihon Frith
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.
✚ John Frith
✚ Ihon Frith
There is nothing in this world tha• is so firm / stable or Godly / but •hat it may be undermined / and frowardly wrested of men / & specially if they be void of charity As it is evident by William Tracy's Testament and last will that he left / against the which many men / and that of long Continuance have blasphemously barked. whether of a godly zeal / or of a dazing brain / let other men judge. But this I dare boldly profess / that his godly sayings are ungodly handled / which thing I cannot so justly ascribe unto ignorance / as unto rancour / unto y• furies I had amost• said / for if they had conferred all things unto the ru•e of charity / which envieth not / which is not puffed up / which is not stirred to vengeance / which thinketh none evil: but suffereth all things / believeth all things / trusteth all things / and beareth all things / they would not so hedelye have condemned those things / which might have been full devoutly expounded / how be it they have not only attempted that thing / but have proceeded unto such madness / that they have taken upon the to strive with dead folks / for it is a most common jest in every mans mouth that after the maker of this Testament was departed / and buried / they toke up his body & burnt ⟨image 12⟩it which thing declared their fury although he felt no fire / Therefore we humbly require owe most redoubted prince / with all his noble / and present assembly / that even as all other things do of right depend of their judgement / that even so they would by their discrete advise / cure this disease / p deringe all things with a more equal balance / So shall this enormous fact be looked upon with worthy correction / and the condition of the common wealth shall be more yet / mark you therefore what things they are / which they so cruelly condemn.