An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written

That Calvin affirmeth the Roman Church to have been more constant,¹ and less given to novelties then the East Churches, whereby she obtained greater fame and credit, then the rest, nothing concerneth this matter. For though it be granted the Grecians were more factious for the most part and wavering, then the Romans, yet might they retain the original text of scripture, as faithfully as they. No people so froward, so malicious, so presumptuous, so contentious, so hard to be brought under the obedience of gods ⟨p. 253⟩laws, as the Jews, and yet for all this perverse disposition in them, it is most certain, that they had evermore, and have still the books of scripture in highest reverence,² and keep them with greatest diligence, so as they would not alter one letter in them for all the world. And notwithstanding the Romans greater constancy and staidness then the Grecians, yet were the latin Bibles in S. Hieromes time, more corrupt for the new testament, then the Greek fountains were. Which may be understood undoubtedly thereof, for that in any controversy about the latin translation, they always had recourse to the Greek copies, and have prescribed the same rule to be followed continually: and Saint Hierome himself reformed the latin translations according to the Greek then extant, & read in the Greek Churches. Thus then you may perceive, that to be constant in the profession of Gods trueth, and to be careful to keep the text of scripture from corruption, are two diverse things: which you might have soon considered, if you had but looked back to that your self have written before. For these are even the same Grecians, whose ⟨p. 254⟩exemplars Saint Jerome followed in correcting the Evangelists, and which he calleth waters of the most pure fountain, and sundry wise commendeth.³

That Caluine affirmeth the Romane Church to haue bene more constant,¹ and lesse giuen to nouelties then the East Churches, whereby she obtained greater fame and credit, then the rest, nothing concerneth this matter. For though it be graunted the Grecians were more factious for the most part and wauering, then the Romanes, yet might they retaine the original text of scripture, as faithfullie as they. No people so froward, so malitious, so presumptuous, so contentious, so hard to be brought vnder the obedience of gods