Perusing of late right honourable and my singular good Lord, a certain discourse of the right excellent Clerk Peter Martyr written in Latin concerning the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, which is of the Greeks called Eucha•istia, because it pertaineth to the remembrance of his most tender goodness in redeeming the world, and to rendering of perpetual thanks unto him therefore: I confess I was with the said treatise wonderfully ravished. For first and foremost whereas by reason of innumerable abuses, detestable errors and foul abominations through the crafty conveyance of the purpurate whore of Babylon by little & little conveyed into the Church, there is no point concerning our religion, so far entrieked or darkened as the mystery of this sacrament: this writer through his singular gift of grace, his right profound learning, and his high judgement aswell in the scriptures, as also in the doctors, and in the general council wadeth so deep searching and bolting out the trueth of this matter, that he maketh it so clear so plain and so evident to all mens y•es which either can or will ⟨image 3⟩see that neither there can now be any further doubting of the verity, and trueth of this sacrament. What it is nor any more be said for the right institution and order thereof how it should be used. Wherefore me thought I could not better employ or bestow my travail then in translating this treatise into the English tongue, to the intent that so profitable a thing might not be hidden from the people, which having both an earnest zeal to embrace the trueth: and a ready will to follow the kings majesty's most godly proceedings, are much hindered, and kept back from their desire, partly through ignorance because they are not duly instructed & taught th•rin, and partly through the malice of the most perverse Papistical leaveners of Christ's doctrine which to maintain their own luc•e and glory, cease not as Antichrists own trusty knights to work as much as in them lieth, that the simple people may still continue in blindness and error.
PErusyng of late righte honourable and my synguler good Lorde, a certayne discourse of the righte excellente Clerke Petur Martyr wryten in Latin concerning the Sacramente of the bodye and bloud of Christ, whiche is of the Gr•kes called Eucha•istia, because it pertayneth to the remembraunce of his moste tendre goodnesse in redemyng the worlde, and to rendreyng of perpetuall thankes vnto hym therfore: I confesse I was with the sayde treatise woondrefully rauished. For first and formost wheras by reason of innumerable abuses, detestable erroures and foule abominacions through the crafty conueighaūce of the purpurate whore of Babylon by litel & litell conueyghed into the Churche, there is no poynet concerninge oure religion, so ferre entrieked or darkned as the mist•rie of this •acrament: this wryter throughe his singuler gifte of grace, his right profounde learnynge, and his highe iudgemente aswell in the scriptures, as also in the doctours, and in the generall councell wadeth so depein searchyng and boultyng out the trueth of this mat•er, that he maketh it so clere so plaine and so eu•dent to all mennes y•es whiche either can or wyl ⟨image 3⟩see that neither there can now be any ferther doubtyng of the veritee, and trueth of thys sacramente. What it is nor any more bee saied for the right institucion and ordre therof how it should be vsed. Wherfore me thought I could not better employ or bestow my trauaill then in translatynge this tractise into the Englyshe tounge, to thentente that so profytable a thinge might not bee hiddden from the people, which hauynge bothe an earnest zele to enbrace the trueth: and a readye wille to folowe the kynges maiestees moste godly procedynges, are muche hindred, and kept backe from their desire, partelye through ignoraunce because thei are not duely enstructed & taught th•rin, and partely through the malice of the moste peruerse Papistycall leaueners of Chystes doctryne whiche to mainteyne theyr owne luc•e and glorye, ceasse not as Antechrystes owne trustie knyghtes to weorke as muche as in theym lyeth, that the symple people maye styll continue in blyndenesse and errour.
