The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…

But now will it be inquired of me of this case: if it please y• kings grace to condemn the new testament in English, and to command that none of his subjects shall have it under displeasure, whether they be bound to obey this commandment or no? To this will I answer: That I do believe, that our most noble Prince hath not forbidden that Christen ¹men may have Christs Testament, whether it be in latin or English, French, Douche, Greek, or Hebrew, for Christs verity, is all one in all tongues. And as his grace knoweth, it were very unreasonable that any man should either counsel, or forbid his grace that he should know or read the Testament of the most noble Prince his father, in the which is alovely given and promised worldly goods, which as soon as they be given, be ready to decay and to perish: and if (I say) this be unreasonable and unright: how much more were it unreasonable to take away from us our father of heavens testament, whose legacy and promises do as far excel the legacies of the noble Prince his father, as God doth excel man. But what should I make many reasons, to prove unto his grace that thing to be lawful, that the father of heaven hath sent us, from whom cometh nothing but goodness. Yea, and it was not sent by man, by Angel, or by Saint, but by the only son of God both God and man, and diligently declared by him to all the world. Not unto the Pharisees alone, but unto all manner of people, and that to the hour of death, and also thereof took his death, and not yet so content, but sent his glorious Apostles to declare and to learn this godly word thorough all the world. And because the ministration of this word, required a greater strength then was in any natural man, therefore also gave he them his eternal sprite, to establish them, to confirm them, and to make them strong in all things, that there might be nothing desired, to the declaration and setting out of his word.

But now wil it bée inquired of mée of this case: if it please y• kinges grace to condemne the newe testament in Englishe, and to commaunde that none of his subiectes shall haue it vnder displeasure, whether they bée bounde to obey thys cōmaundement or no? To this will I aūswere: That I doe béeléeue, that our most noble Prince hath not forbidden that Christen ¹men may haue Christes Testamēt, whether it bée in latyne or Englishe, French, Douche, Gréeke, or Hebrue, for Christes veritie, is all one in all tonges. And as his grace knoweth, it were very vnreasonable that any man should eyther counsell, or forbid his grace that hée shoulde know or reade the Testament of the most noble Prince hys father, in the which is alouely géeuē and promised worldly goods, which as soone as they bée géeuen, bée ready to decay and to perishe: and if (I say) this bée vnreasonable and vnright: how much more were it vnreasonable to take awaye from vs our father of heauens testament, whose legacy and promises doe as farre excell the legacies of the noble Prince his father, as God doth excell man. But what shoulde I make many reasons, to prooue vnto hys grace that thyng to bée lawfull, that the father of heauen hath sent vs, frō whom cōmeth nothyng but goodnes. Yea, and it was not sent by man, by Angell, or by Saint, but by the onely sonne of God both God and mā, and diligently declared by hym to all the worlde. Not vnto the Pharesies alone, but vnto all maner of people, and that to the houre of death, and also thereof tooke his death, and not yet so content, but sent his glorious Apostles to declare and to learne thys godly worde thorough all the worlde. And béecause the ministration of thys worde, required a greater strength then was in any naturall man, therefore also gaue hée them his eternall sprite, to establishe them, to confirme them, and to make them strong in all thinges, that there might bée nothing desired, to the declaration and setting out of his worde.