A17084:78
The gratulation of the most famous clerk M. Martin Bucer a man of no…The gratulation of the mooste famous clerke M. Martin Bucer a man of no…
The gratulation of the most famous clerk M. Martin Bucer a man of no less learning and literature, then godly study and example of living, unto the church of England for the restitution of Christs religion. And his answer unto the two railing epistles of Steve[n], Bishop of Winchester, concerning the unmarried state of priests and cloisterers, wherein is evidently declared, that it is against the laws of God, and of his church to require of all such as be and must be admitted to priesthood, to refrain from holy matrimony. Translated out of Latin in to English.The gratulation of the mooste famous clerke M. Martin Bucer a man of no lesse learninge and lyterature, then godlye studie and example of lyuing, vnto the churche of Englande for the restitucion of Christes religion. And hys answere vnto the two raylinge epistles of Steue[n], Bisshoppe of Winchester, concerninge the vnmaried state of preestes and cloysterars, wherein is euidently declared, that it is against the lawes of God, and of his churche to require of all suche as be and must be admitted to preesthood, to refrain from holye matrimonie. Translated out of Latin in to Englishe.
printed by Richard Jugge, 1549printed by Richard Iugge, 1549
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.
Here let Winchester make answer by what face or audacity,1 the Romish seat and such as make with it, may in this cause bring forth against us the authority of holy fathers, which require not of their priests so much as the chastity of the body, and much less such a chastity, which (all worldly cares set a part) should be only given to Heavenly things, by such severity and such cruelness, ⟨image 40⟩as they make diligent search that no man have a lawful wife? And here let Uvynchester also examine his life, his deeds, and his Episcopal governance, and acknowledge him self, how far wide he had declared him, to be from such an one as the holy fathers confess to be only a Christian, much wider from the chastity that ought to be in a priest. And that first of all perform in him self: then require and put it from other, whether they be of the Clergy or of the Laity, which at some time were fruitful unto him.2 I call not here to remembrance how he refused or took upon him worldly busyness, and functions which pertained not to a Bishop: how he diminished or increased the pompous court in his family. Let him be his own accuser and judge: but according to the laws of God and the church. In very deed I chatter not forth as he reproved me in his last epistle (if he have done his prince any service to the weal public, and edifying of the church: For I know what ⟨image 40⟩embassages S: Ambrose hath gone for his rulers: and business S: Gregory hath done for the Romans. And what other most holy fathers took upon them at the present necessities of their princes, and of Christs people, & for the commune weal and tranquility? But for all that what a cross it was to them to be absent the space of one hour from their proper ministries, they have witnessed in very deed: and not in words only.
Here let Wynchester make answer by what face or audacitie,1 the Romysh seat and suche as make with it, may in thys cause brynge forthe agaynste vs the authoritie of holy fathers, whiche requyre not of theyr preestes so moch as the chastitie of the bodye, and moch lesse suche a chastitie, whiche (al worldly cares set a parte) shoulde be onelye geuen to Heauenlye thynges, by suche seueritie and such cruelnes,