A14151:20
The practise of prelates. CompiledThe practyse of prelates. Compyled
The practise of prelates. Compiled by the faithful and godly learned man, William TyndaleThe practyse of prelates. Compyled by the faythfull and godly learned man, Wyllyam Tyndale
London: printed by Anthony Scoloker and William Seres. Dwelling without Temple bar, 1548London: printed by Anthony Scoloker and Willyam Seres. Dwellynge wythout Temple barre, 1548
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.
¶ Peter was not greater then the other Apostles, by any authority given him of Christ.
¶ Peter was not greater then the other Apostles, by any aucthoritie geuen hym of Chryst.
They say that Peter was chief of the Apostles, verily as Apelles was called chief of painters for his excellent conning above other, even so Peter may be called these of the Apostles for his activity and boldness above the other: but that Peter had any authority or rule over his brethren & fellow apostles, is false & contrary to the scripture. Christ forbade it the last even before his passion, and in diverse times before, and taught always the contrary, as I have rehearsed.
THey saye that Peter was chefe of the Apostles, verely as Apelles was called chefe of painters for his excellent conning aboue other, euen so Peter may be called thefe of ye Apostles for his actiuitie ād boldnes aboue the other: but that Peter had any aucthoritie or rule ouer his bretheren & fellow apostles, is fals & cōtrary to the scriptur. Christ forbad it the last euen before his passion, ād in dyuerse times befor, and taught always the contrary, as I haue rehersed.
Thou wilt say: thou canst not see how there should be any good order in the kingdom, where none were Better then other, and where the superior had not a law and authority ⟨image 9⟩to compel the inferior with violence. The world truly can see none other way to rule, then with violence. For there no man abstaineth from evil / but for fear, because the love of righteousness is not written in their hearts. And therefore the Popes kingdom is of this world. For there one sort are your Grace, your Holiness, your fatherhood: An other, my lord bishop my Lord Abbot, my Lord Prior / An other / master doctor / father, bachelor / master parson / master vicar, and at the last cometh in simple sir Johan. And every man reigneth over other with might and have every ruler his prison his jailer / his chains / his torments / even so much as the fryers observants observe that rule, and compel every man either with violence above the cruelness of the heathen tyrants, so that what cometh ones in, may never out for fear of telling tales out of school. They rule over the body with violence and compel it whether the heart will or not, to observe things of their own making.