A13862:52
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.
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.
Frith.
Why look you so sourly good brotherne• why do you not rather give him great thanks? sith he hath opened unto you such a proper distinction by the which you may escape the scholastical shares and mazes / he only deserveth the name of a middler / which being God became man to make men gods / And who can by right be called a middler between God and man but he that is both god & man / therefore sith we have such a middler / which in all points hath proved our infirmity (saving only in sin) which is exalted above the heavens / and sitteth on the right hand of God / and hath in all things obtained the next pour unto him / of whose empery all things depend / let us come with sure confidence unto the throne of grace. Hebr. iiij. All other he calleth petitioners which receive grace / but are not able to empress and power thereof into any other man / for that doth only God distribute with his finger (that is to say / the spirit of god) through christ / I marvel that you are angry with him that hath done you such a great pleasure / how be it I do Ascribe this condemnation rather unto the canonists then unto divines / For the godly divines would never dote so fare as to condemn so proper sayings / but peradventure this might move their patience / that he will distribute no portion of his goods / for that intent that any man should say or do for the weal of his soul / are you so sore afraid of your market? Be not afraid / ye have salves enough to supple that sore / ye know that he is not bound under pain of damnation to distribute his goods on that fashion / for them ⟨image 16⟩those holy fathers were in shrewd case which continuing in long penury / scant left at their departing a half penny. Thou wilt peradventure say / that they shall suffer the grievous pains off purgatory / be it so / yet may they be quenched both with less cost and labour / the popes pardon is ready at hand / where both the crime and the pain are remitted at once / and verily there is such plenty of them in all places / that I can scantly believe that there liveth any man that is worth an half penny but that he is sure of some pardons in store / And as for this man he had innumerable.