1Your excellent virtue (most honourable Bishop) hath so deserved, that albeit we be far distant, both by sea and land, without conjunction of familiarity, yet we desire with all our harts, to thank you for your worthy deed, by whose works, that true faith which not long ago, was tainted with heresy, not only remaineth unhurt, but also is more confirmed. For as our dear friend M. Alexander Galoway, Canon of Aberdon, hath showed us, the presumption of the wicked heretic Patrick Hamilton, which is expressed in this your example, in that you have cut him off, when there was no hope of amendment, &c.
The which thing, as it is thought commendable to us, so the manner of the proceeding was no less pleasant,2 that the matter was performed by so great consent of so many estates, as of the Clergy, nobility, and vulgar people, not rashly, but most prudently, the order of law being in all points observed. We have seen the sentence which ye pronounced, and alway do approve the same, not doubting but that the Articles which be inserted, are erroneous: so that whosoever will defend for a truth, any one of the same, with pertinacity, should be esteemed an enemy to the faith, and an adversary to the holy Scripture. And albeit one or two of them appear to be without error,3 to them that will consider only the bare words: as (for example) good works make not a good man, but a good man worketh good works, yet there is no doubt, but they contain a Lutheran sense, which in a manner, they signify: to wit, that works done after faith, and justification, make not a man the better, nor are worthy of any reward before God. Believe not, that this example shall have place only among you, for there shall be among extern nations, which shall imitate the same, &c.
Certainly, ye have given us great courage, so that now we acknowledge your University, which was founded according to the example of our University of Lovane, to be equal to ours, or else above: and would God occasion were offered of testifying our minds toward you. In the mean time, let us labour with one consent, that the ravening Wolves may be expelled from the sheepfold of Christ, while we have time.
1YOur excellent vertue (most honourable Bishop) hath so deserued, that albeit we be farre distant, both by sea and land, without coniunction of familiaritie, yet we desire with all oure harts, to thanke you for your woorthy deede, by whose workes, that true faith which not long ago, was taynted wyth heresie, not only remayneth vnhurt, but also is more confirmed. For as oure deare friend M. Alexander Galoway, Chanon of Aberdon, hath shewed vs, the presumption of the wicked hereticke Patrike Hamelton, which is expressed in this your example, in that you haue cut him off, when there was no hope of amendement, &c.
The which thing, as it is thought commendable to vs, so the maner of the proceeding was no lesse pleasaunt,2 that the matter was perfourmed by so great consent of so many estates, as of the Cleargy, nobilitie, and vulgare people, not rashly, but most prudently, the order of law being in all poyntes obserued. We haue seene the sentence which ye pronounced, and alway do approue the same, not doubting but that the Articles which be inserted, are erroneous: so that whosoeuer will defend for a truth, any one of the same, with pertinacitie, shoulde be esteemed an enemie to the fayth, and an aduersary to the holy Scripture. And albeit one or two of them appeare to be without errour,3 to them that wyll consider onely the bare words: as (for example) good woorkes make not a good man, but a good man worketh good workes, yet there is no doubt, but they conteyne a Lutherane sense, which in a maner, they signifie: to wit, that workes done after fayth, and iustification, make not a man the better, nor are worthy of any rewarde before God. Beleeue not, that this example shall haue place onely among you, for there shall be among externe nations, which shall imitate the same, &c.
Certaynly, ye haue geuen vs great courage, so that now we acknowledge your Vniuersitie, which was founded according to the example of our Vniuersitie of Louane, to be equall to ours, or else aboue: and would God occasion were offered of testifying our mindes towarde you. In the meane time, let vs labour wyth one consent, that the rauening Wolues may be expelled from the sheepefold of Christ, while we haue tyme.
- 1A letter of thanks, sent from Lovane, to them of Scotland for shedding the blood of Patrick Hamilton.A letter of thankes, sent frō Louane, to them of Scotland for shedding the bloud of Patricke Hamelton.
- 2What joy the Papists make in spilling the blood of Christians.What ioy the Papistes make in spilling the bloud of Christians.
- 3If ye could show to what place of the scripture, we would gladly bear you.If ye coulde shew to what place of the scripture, we would gladly beare you.
