A confession of the most ancient and true christian catholic old belief, according to the order of the xii. articles of our common Crede, set forth in English to the glory of almighty God, and to the confirmation of Christ's people in Christ's catholic old faith. By I. D.  Psal. 116. 
I believe and therefore have I spoken.  Roma. 10. 
The belief of the heart justifieth, and the mouth confesseth to salvation.  
☞ Imprinted in Sothewarke by Christophor Truthal.  
Cum privilegio Regalj.  
In April. 1556.   

To the unfeigned favourers & lovers of the pure word and Gospel of jesus Christ, inhabiting within the cities and diocese of Coventrie and Lichfelde, and in all other places, where it hath chanced me to have occupied the room of a Preacher: Grace, mercy, and peace (joined with earnest repentance, and constant faith, in the doctrine of the Gospel) from God the father, and his son jesus Christ, the common & only savour of the world.  
MY most sounng friends and brethren (concerning our common faith in Christ our Lord) where of late days I am contemptuously and slanderously reported, and named among some, to be an erroneous fellow, one of the new learning, an heretic, one of Latimers' sect, & I wot not what: Be it known to the world, that I am none other, than a true christian man, regenerate & instructed (now in my middle age) in the blessed school of Gods most holy Bible and Testament (thanks be to his fatherly bounteous mercy therefore) & sithence I have not followed the sect of any earthy man, neither grounded mine opinion, faith, or doctrine, upon any new learning or heresy, but upon the most certain pure unfailing true word, and learning of almighty God, sent down, revealed, & taught from the seat of his Majesty, & preached at his commandment by the fathers and prophets, by Christ his son, and his holy Apostles: and also registered and specified in the rolls & evidences of the holy sacred scriptures, to be the foundation, rule, and law, for the true catholic church of God to be builded upon, and ruled by, from the beginning of the world, unto the last day of judgement.  
And here upon only have I set the building of my faith (jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone) 
Ephe. 2.  and according thereunto I have diligently and faithfully taught and instructed my parishioners and neighbours, as unto my vocation I considered it justly to appertain.  
notwithstanding, like as S. paul reporteth, that Apollo & he were ministers, 
1. Cor. 3.  by whom the Corinthians believed, as God distributed unto every one: even so do I acknowledge, & (from the bottom of my heart) unfeignedly confess, that the reverend father of blessed memory Hugh Latimer was to the 
Hugh Latymer.  very death a right worthy instrument & minister of God, by whose most wholesome doctrine, sincere example of godly life, and constant friendship towards me, it hath pleased th'almighty Lord, to open unto me (among many other the most unworthy) the true christian faith, & to call me out of the damnable darkness of Antichristes' inquiry, in to the true light of Christ's gospels verity.  
And like as the people of Berrhoe (by diligent reading and examining 
Act. 17.  of the scriptures) found that Paul's doctrine was both right, true, and certainly good: even so do I undoubtedly credit, & plainly testify, the doctrine aswell of the glorious martyr of jesus Christ, Hugh Latimer (concerning justification, & other articles of the christian faith) as also of the most reverend father in God and right constant confessor of Christ jesus, Thomas Cranmere archbishop of Cantorbury (concerning the blessed sacrament 
Thomas Cranmer.  of Christ's precious body & blood, most catholicly and sincerely set forth in print) not being said by any carnal affection towards their persons, neither for worldly promotion, but because I have perfectly proved their doctrine, to be contained in the holy sacred scriptures: by testimony and warrant whereof, they and other ministers of Christ's gospel, have taught, and set forth the true catholic doctrine & word of man's salvation accordingly.  
And forasmuch as I esteem them men, which (without sure hold of the scriptures) might both have deceived and been deceived, therefore I and all other (that be knit together in one true unto, and knot of Christ's spirit) lay our foundation & ground work, not upon flesh & blood, that is to say, upon no man's word (of what power, virtue, wisdom, learning, authority, estate or condition so ever he be) but upon the unfailing true word of the almighty everliving Lord God.  
In the mean while, if any man can teach me better, & more truly, by the holy canonical scripture, I am content (as reason is) gladly & heartily to follow him, & willingly give him place, with condign praise, & great gramercies. But as for any other doctrine of faith, besides the scriptures, or contraryr to the authority of the scriptures, either else by violent wrasting and writhing of the scriptures out of of their own sense, or right meaning, I shall (by the assistance of gods merciful help) never suffer myself to be plucked away from the simple, plain apostolic true faith: because man is freely justified by this saith, and every faith contrary to this, is a dead fruitless faith: & every doctrine not founded upon, or contrary to God's holy book 
Ro. 3. 4. jac. 2. Gal. 1.  the Bible, is to be hold accursed: yea although it were preached, set forth or commanded by an Angel of heaven, much more by any mortal creature, though it be never so great a King, Queen, governor, or potentate.  
And concerning the holy canonical 
The holy canonical Scriptures  scripture, I (among other poor ministers of the Gospel) having charge of soul, & following the examples of other christian churches & teachers, have believed, & taught my parishioners and neighbours, & so still believe and testify, on this manner of way following. The canonical scripture (I mean the holy Bible) which is the true unfailing declaration of the eternal will of God, delivered by the holy ghost, & preached & diligently declared unto the world (unto mankind, I mean) by the holy prophets & chosen apostles, is of all other the most ancient, most perfit, & most excellent doctrine, comprehending & teaching absolutely & fully, all that is necessarily required to the wholesome know lage of God, to true faith & the true worship of God, to true christian righteousness, and to the framing & ordering of honest, blessed, & holy life.  
And forasmuch as the Canonical scripture (the Bible I say) is the self same word, that the eternal God himself hath spoken and taught, and therefore endureth permanent, to be a lantern unto the feet, & a light unto men's footsteps & proceedings for evermore: it hath fidelity, authority, certaitie, truth, estimation & perfection pleinteously enough in itself: so as it ought not to be made authentic again by the church, or by authority of the witness of men, either yet to be pice●●…, and patched it with the traditions of men. And albeit men's spirits are not able to accord with some books & texts of the scriptures: the matter is not much to be passed upon. For we know, that men's judgements ought to be applied and obey unto the scriptures, and not the scriptures unto men's judgements.  
And touching the interpretation of the holy canonical scripture, this have I thought, and (after the examples of other christian ministers) I have taught, and yet still I think, and confess unto the world, that it ought 
1. Pe. 1.  not, nor must be interpreted or expounded after any man's opinion or thought (much less after every man's pleasure and fantasy) but by itself, and of itself, aswell according to the properties of the tongues wherein it was furst written, and by diligent weighing and consideration of the sayings that go before, and those that be joined together and follow, with all the circumstances: as also according to the meaning of other places, that seem either more plain, or like there unto, or else contrary: by the line and rule of faith and charity.  
And where the fathers, the doctors of the holy church have interpreted 
Doctors.  and expounded the scriptures after this manner, and have in no wise blenched nor swerved from this law and rule now before mentioned: them we do with heart and good will acknowledge, and take for faithful and diligent interpreters of the scripture, and honourable instruments of the holy ghost, whose painful labours and industries our Lord God hath used in the church, to the glory of his own name, and to the profit of his faithful flock. And therefore we not only reverence them, but also think not well of such men, as have them in contempt.  
But as for all other doctrines and traditions of men (how glorious, how gay, how high authority, title, or ancienty so ever they be commended or bragged to be of) if they be not founded & grounded upon some testimonies of the scriptutes, and also if they pull us from God, from the scripture, and from the true faith, or be hinderous unto us in the same, I think them altogether vain, unprofitable, and of non effect, yea rather pernicious and noisome: as Christ himself openly reporteth of them, Matth. 15.  
Moreover the only intent, scope & end of the canonical scripture is this: that all men of all naciones, countries and places might be by it instructed & taught, concerning the grace of God, concerning the redemption, bounteous liberality and salvation, that is pleyntifully bestowed & given in jesus Christ, unto this most wretched & most corrupt sinful world: & also concerning charity and faith, namely that the people being now regenerate, might be partakers of this salvation by true faith, the holy children of God the father, and heirs of all his heavenvly substance.  
And touching the faith of Christ. I and such other poor slandered Ministers have neither taught, nor do believe any other thing, than that is delivered unto be from the holy apostles, and that we have received of our christian elders and faithful forefathers. And that same I for my part (sithence it pleased God to translate me from the Antichristian darkness of popery in to the kingdom of his son) have constantly and faith fully kept hitherto pure in every condition. And the same I purpose (by the help of Christ's gracious favour) to keep still and confess, with the true catholic church of Christ, while the breath is in my body: & that is even thus.  
I Believe in God the father almighty maker of heaven and earth.  
And in jesus Christ his only son our Lord.  
Which was conceived by the holy ghost, borne of the virgin Mary.  
Suffered under Ponce Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. Be descended in to hell.  
The third day he rose again from the dead.  
Be ascended in to heaven, & sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty.  
From thence he shall come, to judge the quick and the dead.  
I believe in the holy ghost.  
The holy catholic church, the communion of Saints.  
The forgiveness of sins.  
The resurrection of the body.  
And the life everlasting Amen.  
Now forasmuch as God hath given me grace (thanks be to his merciful goodness therefore) to pitch my staff, in the foundation of this most holy, most asicient, & true catholic faith: And to thinkent you shall plainly know, how I understand the said articles of my Crede: I do truly say, & plainly confess, touching the furst article: that there 
The furst Article.  is but one only, blessed, eternal and almighty Lord and God, in the holy sacr●o, inseparable, and unconfused Trinity. God the Father, the Son, and the holy ghost. And what so ever is in the nature of things aswell visible as invisible, it is well and rightly created and made of God, to the be hoot and profit of man, and by him it is also preserved, bestowed, and administered.  
And therefore God is the father of mankind, not for his creating of mankind only, but also for his daily conservation, eternal goodness, mercy, providence, comforting and helping of mankind.  
Concerning the second Article, I believe & confess, that God the father, 
The. 2. Article.  became a father, not only after he had made mankind, but that the same God was also a very father from everlasting, so that he hath also one only eternal sone, eternally begotten of God the father, after a divine & unspeakable manner. This son of God (I believe and confess) is of the fathers own substance, and of all one being, of like equality, and consubstaunciall with the father: of all one substance (I say) nature, power, and virtue, and very natural Lord and God, above all, in all, and through all things.  
Notwithstanding we confess the son to be our Lord, most chief, for that he hath delivered, and made us free, from the lordship, power, and tyranny of the devil: and having paid our ransom with his own precious blood, which he shed for us, he hath made us his own peculiar people: whereof I shall speak afterward at more large.  
Touching the third Article, I believe and confess, that the same son 
The. 3. Article.  of God, which eternally hath been and is with the father, hath also in this world, taken upon him the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the blessed virgin Mary, which was Abraham's daughter, and borne of the stock of David, according to the promise of God, declared by his ministers and servants, the patriarchs, and prophets: and being borne of her (she remaining and continuing still a chaste and a pure maid) very God and very man, in one inseparable person, without confusion of the natures of his godhead and manhood together, he became like unto men his brethren, touching his reasonable and immortal soul, and his mortal body, in all things, sin only except.  
And after this manner I confess, that he was conceived very natural man, in the womb of that chaste and most pure virgin, and of her blessed blood, not by the carnal company of man, but by the holy ghost: And that he was borne of the same virgin, very man, howbeit holy and pure without sin. For all men else, are (according to their own nature) both conceived in sins, and borne the children of wrath unto death.  
And in this behalf I do plainly 
Original ●●nne.  confess original sin. For inasmuch as all mankind (aswell the infants, which have not yet committed actual faults, as others of further age) are originally poisoned 
Psal. 51.  with sin, and therefore subject unto death, as the wages of sin: from 
Ro. 6.  the which sin and death, mankind could not be in any wise delivered and redeemed, but by Christ alone: for that cause it was requisite, that Christ, which should put away the same poison, should he conceived and borne holily and purely without all spot of sin, to th'intent he might 
1. P●. 1. Ephe. 5. Ro. 3. 5.  offer a pure and a clean sacrifice for all, both old and young, to make us pure, and free.  
Concerning the fourth Article. I believe and confess, that the same son 
The 4. Article.  of God and of Mary, our Lord jesus Christ, in going about the business and affairs of our salvation, did perfectly and fully declare the way of salvation here upon earth: And that he (to show us more certainly, that he is the only Lord of life and death, which is only able to help, and at whose hands all help must be sought) cured all manner of diseases, ceased the raging storms of the winds and of the sea, suppressed the power of satan, trod down all power of adversaries, forgave sins, and raised up the dead unto life.  
And after all this, he gave himself willingly (and of his own accord) unto death. And was shamefully and spitefully brought forth and delivered by the jews, cruelly tormented of the gentiles, and last of all giltlesly nailed upon the cross.  
And here I confess that this same our Lord jesus Christ, very God & very man, suffered (not for himself, but for us, and for our sins sake) most grievous pains, undeserved stripes, and bitter sorrows: & in his human nature (which could die) he was undoubtedly dead and buried: & in his soul he suffered most extremely the bitter sharpness of God's judgement, and the very pains of hell, that he might deliver us there from.  
And I most faithfully and certainly believe, that this blessed passion and death of the innocent son of God, 
justification.  is the only, perfit and eternal righteousness, and justification of man before God, and the true satisfaction, ransom and payment for the sins of all the hole world.  
And therefore forasmuch as I am thoroughly instructed in this most certain and sure strong argument of this our true, and undoubted christian catholic faith, I plainly confess, that man can in no wise be justified, purged of his sins, or find any shift to satisfy or to be cleansed of them, either by any works or merits of man, but only by the free grace of God: that that is to say, by the most blessed passion and guiltless death of the crucified son of God. And that we are made partakers of the innocency and merit of the death & bloodshead of Christ, at such time, as we do constantly and faithfully believe, that the son of God is our own: and that he suffered that bitter death for our sins, to make us righteous and blessed.  
For I will in no wise contemn (or reckon as of non effect) the most favourable free grace of God, which opened itself most expressly & plainly, in the passion & death of jesus Christ.  
But I think rather verily, and surely believe and confess, that we should openly cast away, and count the death of Christ to be of non effect, in case we should seek or think to be cleansed, saved, & justified from our sins, by any other means, than through faith, by that only bloodshead, death, & ransom of jesus Christ: in asmuch as we hear the holy Apostle S. Paul say. I despise not the grace of God: for if righteousness 
Gala, 2. 3.  come by the law, than Christ died in vain. And also: If the inheritance come of the law, than it is not of promise. But God gave unto Abraham by promise: so that they which have faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham.  
As many therefore as in the old law, from our furst father Adames time, unto the coming of Christ, were blessed and justified, I believe verily & say, that they were made blessed, holy and justified through faith, of free pardon and grace, by none other, but by jesus Christ, the blessed sede alone.  
Touching the fifth article I believe and confess, that jesus Christ 
The. 5. article.  very God and very man, in the self same body, that was hanged on the cross, and from thence taken down and buried, rose again from the dead. For although our sins be perfectly purged by the lords death, and a most full satisfaction made thereby for the same: yet hope of life is restored unto us, and faith in him is engendered in us, by his resurrection. For if he had not risen again, we could not have thought, that death had been overcome. And so we could not have believed, that he had satisfied for our sins. For death is the hire of sin. And death remaining in his force, sin must also be thought to remain. Moreover God's spirit and faith (whereby Christ's death and merits are applied unto us) be the gifts of Christ raised from the dead. Of Christ (I say) which hath washed us clean from our sins in his own blood, and so is become the propitiation or mercy seat for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for the sins of all the hole world: and now having died for our sins, and being risen again for our justification, he reigneth and trihumpheth over death. Notwithstanding his very flesh & bones, that is to say, his very human body with his reasonable and humane soul, was not deified, that is to say, not changed & turned in to his Godhead, but only clarified.  
And the clarification doth not consume, waste, nor take away the properties of a very humane body, either the substance or fashion thereof: but only despecheth & delivereth the body and the state of the body from all diseases, whether they be corruptions or infirmities: that is to say, from fear, dread, sorrow, heaviness, from all cark and care, from hate, from carnal love & covetous desires: from false joys and griefs, from affections, troubles, hungers, cold, heat, weariness, and from all manner of infirmities, saintnes & smart, and specially from mortality and corruption: And on the other part, it maketh the body and the fashion of the body glorious, clear, immortal and uncorruptible.  
Such a manner of body S. Paul's wont phrase is to call a glorious & a spiritual body: not that it is afterward no more flesh, nor that it is changed and turned in to the spirit, 
1. Cor. 15.  but because it is no more subject to any cares or griefs, or to corruptions, uncleanness, or infirmities of the flesh: and because it is garnished and beautified with uncorruption, immortality, and many other spiritual gifts besides, out of number.  
And like as the body of Christ, after it was risen up from death, remained still a very body, notwithstanding it was become after the resurrection immortal and glorious: even so shall the bodies of all faithful folk (at the general resurrection) be made like unto the body of jesus Christ, whereof I shall speak more largely, in the eleventh article of our faith. For Christ our Lord (by his glorious resurrection from the dead) doth most evidently prove and declare, that he hath despeched sin quite out of the way, that he hath overcome death, which cometh by the occasion of sin: that he hath restored life, that he hath conquered hell, for all them that are true faithful believers, and that he hath mightily put sathan to flight.  
Concerning the sixth Article, I believe and confess, that our Lord jesus 
The. 6. article.  Christ ascended in to heaven, with the very self same his humane body, that rose again from the dead, and since exerciceth not his dominion and government here upon earth, corporally. For according to the nature & property of his very human body, he is in no more places but in only one, in one self same moment.  
And forasmuch as he hath carried our flesh in to heaven, & hath placed it at the father's right hand, that is to say, in everlasting joy & felicity, all faithful believers know now for a certainty, that the way to heaven is unshutte, & set wide open, & that they also shall (through Christ, in whom they believe) be carried both body and soul in to everlasting life.  
For the Lord himself (with manifest 
joh. 17.  and plain words) hath said: I will father, that where I am, there shall my servant be also.  
Seeing than that the body and flesh of our Lord and brother Christ, is abiding and resteth now in heaven, our flesh hath this certain & assured hope, that it shall be carried thither also, & there (according to Christ's promise) 
joh. 14.  shall have a perpetual dwelling place.  
Further more Christ our Lord sitteth on the heavenvly father's right hand, that is to say, even he that is both very God & very man, reigneth & hath dominion, in like power, & like glory, with God the father: so as all things are in subjection under his power: & he with the father & the holy ghost, upholdeth & ꝑserueth all things, & is also wourshipped & served, the undoubted true & eternal almighty God. The chief bishop & most high king of all faithful people sitteth on the right hand of God. Christ jesus is the only, eternal & faithful true bishop & priest of all true believers.  
It is he, that doth most trustily plead all that matters & causes of his faithful people, before God his heavenvly father  
It is he, the offereth up all our good wishes and faithful folks prayers to God the father.  
It is he, that appeareth continually in the sight of God, praying and making intercession for them, & giveth them his blessing. And so those that be of the true faithful belief in deed, will neither seek, allow, nor receive any other mediator, intercessor, spokesman, attournaye, or entreatour, but Christ alone.  
He is that only and eternal sacrifice and oblation, which being once offered for all, endureth for ever, cleanseth, and sanctifieth all them, that are true believers.  
And even he, this self same high Bishop and priest of ours, doth daily (with his spirit & word) instruct & teach his church and congregation, & giveth them trusty and sincere upright men, to be their teachers and ministers, whom he also garnisheth and decketh with his grace, and most excellent gifts, and defendeth from all evil.  
Upon God's right hand sitteth Christ our most royal king, the king of kings, the judge & mighty Lord of heaven & earth. He it is, that informeth and ordereth his church and people, with wholesome and good laws, according whereunto they frame and address all their matters, to the love of God, and of their neighbour.  
This king of ours beholdeth us faithfully, and layeth up all our griefs and sorrows trustily in his heart. He is content with good will to hear the complaints, suits and desires of all his faithful flock, and is never wearied nor grieved with the tediousness of them.  
He also is that most pleynteous fountain, which always giveth liberally and yet never wanteth, which only filleth, and yet is never the less, nor any whit decreaceth. From him there can nothing at all (no not so much as men's inward thoughts) be hidden or kept secret. He is the righteous true judge, judging after th'intent and purpose of the heart, and rendereth aswell to the good as to the bad, all that they do, without all respect of persons.  
Those that be oppressed he relieveth, with his joyful and comfortable succour: But as for them that are stout, arrogaunt & proud bragger's of their own powers, when he seeth his just time, he is on the bones of them straight ways, and hurleth them down and the neck before. There is no manner of thing, but he hath a respect and a consideration unto it. His infinite wisdom in every thing and every where useth just and right deserved means.  
He (by his exceeding great grace) sendeth faithful, trusty and good men to be governors and rulers. And then he directeth and maintaineth in his church. And contrary wise, he doth sometimes take away good governors (as he did lately our most christian king Edward the sixth) and setteth up naughty and wicked persons in authority now and than (as bloody bishops, proud popish pestilent priests, & unnatural merciless foreigners) to reign, & rule the roast, to punish hypocrites countrefaicte gospelers, and worldlings withal.  
To be short, Christ doth at all times defend and keep those that his be, from their enemies and foes, both visible and invisible. After this sort Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and thus is he the only head of his faithful believing people, the only & most high bishop, the most royal & everlasting king and prince of them that be his. He is never out of their congregation and company, he is always occupied in the mids of them, so that he needeth neither the service, aid, nor assistance of any vicegerent or help fellow. For he is the only and everlasting sun of righteousness, which altough (as concerning his human corporal presence) he be in one only place in heaven, yet he doth work sensibly & fruitfully, with his virtue, light, glory, nourishment and power, in all them that be faithful.  
In consideration hereof, I admonish, & in God's behalf require you (as I have, according to mi little talon always taught my parishioners, and in other places, where I have occupied the room of a preacher) aswell to pray, and without ceasing to call upon God, through jesus Christ, and always faithfully to set forth his praise according to the doctrine of the holy scriptures, as also to beware and take heed, that ye make no invocation nor prayer to the saints departed, for help or secure: forasmuch as to make any more or any other mediators, intercessors, spokesmen, sutours or attournayes to the throne of God's mercy, for any necessary thing either bodily or goostli, but only jesus Christ our alone everlasting sacrificer and advocate, is the horrible transgression of the furst commandement, dishonour to the high majesty of God the father, prejudice to the honour & dignity of Christ's everlasting priesthood, blasphemous against the school learning of the holy ghost, utterly against our common catholic Crede, and contrary to the doctrine and example of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, evangelists martyrs, confessors, and virgins, that have any name or commendation either in the old testament or new, & a plain denial and falsifying of the hole body of the blessed Bible, the most undoubted true holy word of almighty God.  
Concerning the seventh Article, I believe and confess, that the state 
The. 7. Article.  of this season, and this corruptible world, which hath his beginning and was created of God, shall have also his ending, and be utterly despeched: and that at the final despeche of the world, Christ our Lord shall in the same body that was wounded & nailed on the cross, come unfailingly in the clouds of heaven, to judge both the quick and the dead.  
For at such time as the most part of this world shall lain and hold with the power of Antichrist, flirting of the time, in most horrible contempt of both God and his word, and wallowing themselves in all kind of sin, abomination and lust, and shall devise and set their minds upon mocking and persecuting of them that be true faithful christian believers: than shall Christ at a sudden cheoppe (as it were lightening from heaven) come in the clouds with his holy angels unto judgement.  
And the same hour, as many as have died from the beginning of the world unto the last end of the world, shall by the might & power of Christ, rise straightway again unto life: & the other that are not than departed this life, but have lived still unto the last day, shall in the space of a moment, or the twincling of an eye, be changed from mortality and corruption, in to immortality and uncorruption.  
And after that, all men of all parts of the world shall be restored & gathered together, and be presented & stand before the judgement seat of jesus Christ, & shall see the judge over their heads corporally, in the self same body that he suffered in. And than the righteous judge our Lord jesus Christ, shall pronounce and give his last and most just judgement upon all flesh, in the same manner & form, that he long ago told before hand, Matth. 25.  
Than shall every one receive according to their works. Than as Christ's body was at his ascension taken up from the mount Oliuete, so shall they that be faithful, by the might and power of God, be taken from this earth, both body and soul, and carried up in to the clouds unto Christ our Lord. Him they shall follow, and with him shall they dwell in everlasting joy, for evermore continually to abide. And those that be unfaithful & wicked shall be delivered to the devil (whose championes and household servants they were) to feel and abide (both body & soul) such pains, sorrows and torments, as no tongue can express, for ever to endure world without end.  
In this behalf I have always besought my parishioners & hearers (& so now I require them eftsoons to the same) to set ever before their eyes, & diligently to print in their minds, that last judgement of God: and with earnest repentance of their former filthy life, to give themselves unto christian charity & good works. For like as the holy scripture doth clearly and evidently show, that we are not made righteous, blessed and holy, by our own merits and good works, but by the only grace of Christ through faith, so that all glory and honour must be manifestly and plainly ascribed and given to the only free grace and pardon of God, and to the redemption of jesus Christ his son: even so have I ever taught, and now (by the warrant of Gods most holy word) confess and constantly affirm, that this doctrine of faith is unavailable and of non effect to impenitent whoremongers, bawds, gluttones, drunkards, oppressors, brivers, Idolaters, men pleasers, epicures, and other wicked unfaithful persons. And that this lively justifying faith is the worker of all manner of good works (what so ever they be) according to the word of God.  
For he that is justified and made righteous (as faith only justifieth and maketh righteous) doth live also justly and righteously: and justly and righteously doth all things. And he that doth faithfully believe the word of God, doth without all doubt perceive and know, that to be good which God commandeth, and that to be evil, what so ever he forbiddeth. Yea it is the very wont manner of faith itself, to move and enforce the justified man to eschew that is evil, & follow that is good and right.  
Moreover he that perfectly & thoroughly by faith understandeth the matter of man's salvation and redemption, both doubtless love both God. & his neighbour. And love is the perfit fulfilling of the law: yea in the love of God and a man's neighbour hengeth all the hole law & the prophets.  
These manner of works which be the fruits of the spirit, faith and charity, and that we should fall to amendment of our life, and what so ever the word of God doth furthermore commend unto us, like as all faithful preachers and Ministers do diligently teach and set forth unto the people: even so they abhor & reject all such works, as folks are used to fantasy and devise of their own brains, devotion, or good intentes, contrary or without the sure warrant of God's word, how virtuous or how holy so ever they be esteemed, or how long so ever they have been accustomed and used. For as saint Augustin saith, When the truth is manifestly 
De unico Baptis. Li. 2.  showed, custom ought to give place unto the truth. And moreover he allegeth: Let no man prefer custom before reason & truth, for reason & truth do always shut custom out of the doors.  
And the holy martyr S. Cyprian saith also: we ought not to pass what our elders and fathers that were before us did, but much rather what Christ (which was before all men) commandeth us to do.  
This also do all godly preachers & ministers warn the people of: that no man that walketh in the commandments of God, and is rich in good works in deed, set his works in Christ's place, nor put any as●●aunce, confidence, or trust in them, as though he were made righteous, holy and acceptable unto God for his works sake. For it is the only death of Christ, and free grace and pardon of God, that maketh a man acceptable unto God, and fit unto all good works: yea to speak truly and plainly, All the good works that true faithful people do, are nothing else, but a certain free working, that the grace of God enforceth & procureth. Wherefore all that is spoken in the scriptures concerning the merit and reward that the faithful shall have, ought rightly to be judged and taken for the grace and free gift of God. By reason whereof S Austi also taught, that all the good works that the faithful do, are the grace of God, & the God doth crown & reward his own merits in the faithful, which he of his bounteous liberality reputeth, as though they were our merits, or as though we of ourselves deserved them.  
Touching th'eight Article, I believe & confess, that the holy ghost, the third 
The. 8 Article,  person in Trinity, is the very true & eternal God, with the father & the son: & that our Lord jesus now reigneth & administereth all things in his church by the holy ghost, as he himself said: I will pray the father, & he shall give you an other comforter to abide with you for ever, even the spirit of truth, which the world can not receive, because he seeth him not, nor knoweth him. But you know him, for he abideth with you, & shall be in you. Be shall teach you all things, & put you in remembrance of all things, what so ever I have spoken unto you. And again he saith: I tell you truth, it is expedient for you, that I go away. For if I go not away, that comforter shall not come unto you. But if I go away, I shall send him unto you. And when he cometh, he shall reprove that world of sin, of righteousness & of judgement. Therefore all those that be true preachers & ministers have plainly instructed & taught their parishioners & people (as I according to my poor talon have done) the our Lord jesus Christ is not now corporally with his church here upon earth, but that he worketh & reigneth in his faithful flock, by the holy ghost proceeding from the father and him, and by the same spirit doth comfort and sanctify the faithful. All the joy, all the virtue, & all the sanctification that is in the faithful, is of the spirit of God. And without this spirit of God, there is nothing either holy or perfit. There is no man in all the wide world, that hath faith of himself, but aswell faith as all other good gifts are of the spirit of God: as the holy apostle S. Paul doth manyfoldly, and in many places of his epistles teach and make mention, but specially, Ephe. 4. and. 1. Cor. 12. 
The. 9 Article.   
Concerning the ninth Article, I believe & confess, that all they, which truly believe in Christ throughout all the hole 
what the true catholic church of Christis.  universal world, are one body & one church of Christ, whom he sanctifieth by his holy spirit in his own blood. And all they are with one only bond & knot of faith, & through love united & knit to Christ, & one to another among themselves, like membres all of one body: and principally they are made partakers of the free grace & gifts of their head and savour jesus Christ.  
This church is holy, this church is begotten and borne of the word of God recorded in the holy scriptures: this church doth frame and order all things according to the word of God: this church liveth in christian soberness and honest discipline: this church (always when it may, and having no necessary let) is partaker of Christ's most holy sacraments, which be two in number, Baptism & the lords Supper.  
From this church, the holy scriptures and sincere teachers thereof do exclude and bar out, neither the use of marriage from any state or profession of men or women, nor the possession and property of worldly substance, neither honest occupations or worldly travails, ne yet the orders & degrees of rulers and magistrates, neither higher powers, nor nobility, ne yomanrie, neither bond nor free, master nor servant, nor any such estates of men. This church, albeit not many wise after that flesh, not many great estates, nor many noble are chosen membres of the same, yet for asmuch as every long and nation under heaven, both 
Psal. 113.  of the jews and of the gentiles, and some of every state, praise the name of the Lord, from the rising of the Sun, to the Sun setting: and seeing the voice of this church is heard throughout all the coasts of the hole world, and (as the prophet sayeth) hath spread her branches unto the 
Psal. 80.  sea, and her boughs unto the rivers: therefore according to this article, it is rightly called the catholic or universal church.  
And because it is begotten & borne 
1. Pe. 1.  of the immortal seed the word of God, mentioned in the scriptures, heareth the voice of her head and shepherd jesus Christ, sleeth from the voice of 
joh. 10.  all strange doctrines and spirits, that be without or contrary to that word, and doth all things (like an obedient wife) as her husband Christ biddeth 
Ephe. 5.  her in his written word: therefore is it also justly called the holy church.  
But forasmuch as the supremacy, jurisdiction, power, antoritie, laws & 
The popish church.  doctrine of the bishop and church of Rome, be not grounded upon God's word, which the lords sheep, that is to say, his church and flock heareth, nor hath been, neither ever shall be heard received & obeyed in all tongues & nations of true christian people, but of a certain folks in a few realms, dominions, & people, whose eyes sathan the God of this world hath blinded, and bewitched their minds (among whom Christ nevertheless scattereth his silly sheep, and defendeth them under the shadow of his gracious wings, even as the hen doth her young chickens) therefore it followeth manifestly, that the bishop and church of Rome with all his sacrificeing chaplains & other members & complices whosoever, depending upon or cleaning to the supremacy, new & strange laws, constitutions, decrees, traditions, & customs of the bishop & church of Ro. may not be justly called the catholic or universal church of Christ. And forasmuch also as the supremacy, laws, customs, canon's, decrees, & doctrines of the bishop & church of Rome (for the most part) with their members are not borne nor truly grounded upon the foundation & immortal seed of the word of God, neither do the papists frame & administre their traditions, doctrine, religion, sacraments, & ceremonies, according to the testament and gospel of God, but upon the devices, and power of men: The teachers & maintainers of that romish power, supremacy & religion with their membres & complices are falsely called the holy church: Because that church or flock of christian sheep, whereof Christ is the shepherd and head, hearkeneth to his voice and teaching alone, and followeth not the voice or commandment of strange traditions, but doth (concerning the worship and true service of God, & touching the necessary health of soul) only that which the Lord God commandeth, neither blenching on the right hand nor on the left.  
But contrary wise, like as the particular churches of Arrians, Donatists, Pelagians, Marcionistes, Eutichianes, Mahometistes, Idolaters, libertines, anabaptists, and other sectaries, & fantastical spirits of error, be the variable malignant church, whereof the prince of this world the devil, is the undoubted head. And the teachers & defenders of errors are by the apostle S. johan called Antichristes': But so forasmuch as the romish church of the ruffling rabines & popish tippet men with their complices the papists, do not only not found nor ground their authority, decrees, tradiciones, & doctrines (for the most part) upon the sure rock, the word and gospel of Christ (which, as Chrisostome saith, is the only mark to know the true church 
In Math. ca 24. Ho. 49. in opere impersecto  of God by) but also in some points they wrest and writhe, and falsely allege texts of the scriptures for their carnal pleasure and profit, and in the chiefest articles of the catholic christian faith (like most fantastical spirits of error, & sowers of most wicked sects) they repugn and teach contrary to the gospel & scriptures of God, altering the immutable ordinance of Christ, and setting up strange sacrifices and godservice, propounding other articles of faith, and means of salvation besides jesus Christ, making the commandment of God of non effect, for the advancement & maintenance of their own traitorous tradiciones, & teaching doctrines of devils, 
1. Timo. 4  as forbidding of meats & marriage: And forasmuch also as the church of the papists can not abide the pure word of God, nor to have it publicly in the vulgar tongue for Christ's flock to be fed withal, but with banishing and slandering the everlasting testament and blessed Bible of jesus Christ, & with ꝑsecuting, emprisoning, & murdering of the preachers & witnesses of the same, set up their own gloss, constituciones, customs, devices, dreams, tradiciones & procedings of men, contrary to the written word and gospel of God, contrary to the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, & his apostles, and contrary to the proceeding & example of the fathers of the primative church: And seeing moreover, that the church of the papists had her beginning, proceeding, continuance, power, advancement & success only by force of wicked Emperors & other naughty princes & traitors, under false pntenses garnished & decked with the usurped name of catholic church, & other countrefaicte titles, & hypocritical colours: & is also maintened & upholden by treason, murder, sacrilege, fraud, ravin, craft, sorcery, conjuring, flattery, lying & merchandise of men's souls, to uphold their idleness, pride, cruelty & wifeless hooremonging withal: I confess & plainly affirm, that the same swarm and congregation of papists, I mean as many as teach, willingly maintain, & obstinately defend the supremacy, tradiciones, & doctrines of the Romish religion, setting aside the Bible of God, are Antichristes': And (among other erroneous churches of heretics) the chief particular malignant church of the devil & of all errors: And that the church & sea of Rome (according to the 
Dan. 7. & 11. Apo. 13. &. 17.  descriptions of Daniel & john th'apostle) is the very hoore of Babylon (where with the kings & potentates of the earth have committed spiritual fornication, & are drunken with the cup of her obominaciones) the sinful synagogue of sathan, the most cursed kennel & cathedral church of Antichrist: And also that the bishop of Rome (that head of the same church) is the undoubted singular great Antichrist, the man 
2. Thes. 2.  of sin the child of perdition, and the principal adversary, that maketh battle with the lamb, & exalteth himself above all that is called God, sitting in the temple of God, & vaunting himself to be God, whom the holy apostle S. Paul speaketh of, 2. Thessa, 2. & is now (by Gods most merciful benefit) revealed in our days, & hereafter, the Lord with the blast of his mouth shall destroy him & all his litter, & finally command them to be cast in to utter darkness, to 
Matth. 21. 24.  have their meed & portion among hypocrites, where shall be weeping & gnashing of tethe, for ever & ever world without end.  
This matter shall appear more plain in certain Homilies (entitled Antichrist) which I have translated in to english, and now by the goodness of God, they are put in print accordingly. For I promise in the sight of God (he assisting me with the power of his holy spirit) that I shall be an enemy, to the uttermost of my poor possible power, unto the errors of that popish malignant church and satanical romish religion, while I live, and after my death no less than an enemy.  
Notwithstanding like as I never ●ought the hurt of any of them, either in their bodies or their goods, but by charity & all gentleness to win them unto the truth, if it might be, even so I beseech almighty god, from the bottom of my heart, if it be his godly will, to grant unto the that be wrapped (through infirmity and ignorance) in the darkness of popish errors, the light of his pure gospel, with hearty repentance and amendment of their judgements, to be new creatures in jesus Christ, walking in the true fruits of Christ's faith & love: and as well to do, as I would do myself. Amen.  
Touching the tenth Article, I believe and confess, that almighty God 
The. 10. Article.  by his grace and mercy in jesus Christ, giveth unto all true faithful believers free pardon and forgiveness of all their sins (if they will acknowledge and confess them unto their only and true ghostly father God) at what time so ever they shall repent. And this I take to be the true preaching of the Gospel.  
But as for the unbelievers, and such as persist still in their unbelief and impenitent wickedness, it is not possible for them, ever to have true perfaicte forgiveness of their sins.  
And I do confess, that all sins are not alike, nor after all one condition, but that some sins are greater than some, & some sins more grievous than some: as their manner is to tend against the glory and love of God, against faith, and the love of a man's neighbour, some more than some, some less than some.  
I say moreover, that what so ever is committed against the law of God, that is to say, contrary to the will and word of God, that same is sin.  
Wherefore no faithful preacher or ministre doth make God the author of sin, but we declare, that the original poison of sin began in the apostata of God, and the common adversary of mankind, and in man's own corrupt will. Howbeit we dame not, but that god through his infinite wisdom, ordereth and disposeth men's sins to his glory & wealth of his chosen.  
And where I have learned in the holy scriptures, that the remission and forgiveness of sins is neither borrowed nor bought for any money, or for any other ware or corruptible thing: And seeing S. Petre did (in Simon Magus) bitterly curse and cry out upon all them (and their money both) which think, that the gifts of God may be bought out for money: Albeit I saw no great occasion (during all the time of my ministery) to speak much against pelting romish pardons and pilgrimage gates, for the people did abhor them almost of their own accord: yet because the horrible superstition of the pope's apothecary ware (which the idolatreus priests used afore time, and now set freshly a sale again, in stead of wholesome medicine to the soul, and all for money) is through false persuasions of covetous lying hypocrite priests, through goodly gay shows & long continuance, cankered deep into many people's consciences, especially of old folks & supsticious wilful women: I declared unto my parishioners and neighbours (as place & occasion of matter served) that the conjured water, salt, palms, ashes, images, candles, masses, diriges, and such other like, being raised and set up without & contrary to the word of god, only of covetousness, & for filthy lucre's sake, to occupy the room, & to claim the merit, honour, & virtue of Christ's death & bloodshead, were not only vain & unprofitable dumb ceremonies, but also most heinous and damnable superstition. And in consideration thereof I besought them (& so I do still) in the bowels of jesus Christ, & as they will avoid the peril of their own damnation, not only to put no confidence, trust, nor affiance in any of them, but also to flee from them, & abhor them as the most present pikepurce & pestilent poison of the soul: And namely that private popish mass, wherein forasmuch as the creature is worshipped in the stead of the creator, the idol of bread is carried about, reserved & hanged up to be gazed at & worshipped in the stead of Christ: the priest eateth & drinketh alone: the one half of the sacrament is nipped away front the lay people: their is no public thanks given of the priest & the people for Christ's passion. Finally Christ's most sacred institution is altered, defiled, & quite turned upside down: And seeing furthermore, that the Mass is deemed and used as a sacrifice propitiatory: that is to weet, to purchase and give remission of sins both to the quick and dead, which is the only office, work, and merit of the one only sacrifice once offered for all, when the body of Christ was broken, and his precious blood shed upon the aultare of the cross, for the forgiveness of the sins of all mankind: Therefore I affirm and constantly confess, that the same apish painted Mass is not only unprofitable and uneffectual to purchase or give remission of sins either for the quick or for the dead, but that it is also the damnablest idolatry, and superstition (as ye may see by the causes rehearsed) the most detestable defiling of the Lords most sacred supper, the most cursed doctrine: the most horrible heresy, & the bawdiest spiritual whoredom that ever sathan invented to break faith, love, & knot of marriage between Christ the husband, and his spouse the christian flock: the greatest prejudice to the honour and dignity of Christ's cross & passion, the maintenance and chief key of Antichristes' cursed kingdom, the priests chief merchandise and money mart: & finally, the devils own you'll game or entrelude. For as Bede in rehearsing S. Augustin upon 1. Cor. 10. sayeth: Quid lusui puerili magis Simile est, quam idola colere? what is more like a boy's game, than the worshipping of idols? What cuckoldrye that cursed Mass causeth, what fornication it enticeth, what careless life it occasioneth, what idleness and mischief it mainteneth, what ungeaunce of God it provoketh, it were to long to make rehearsal at this present, yea it cannot possibly be expressed with tongue or pen.  
Therefore assure yourself, that like as if a man thrust his body and his clothes in to a furnace of hot scalding pitch, he shall mar his clothes, and put his body in peril of destruction: even so he that thrusteth himself in to the presence, worshipping or hearing of the mass, and other popish supersticiones, marreth his new garment jesus Christ, as much as in him lieth, and putteth himself both body and soul in peril of perpetual damnation.  
And as every honest hearted husband would not only be ashamed of his wife, but also (unless she repented) put her out of his company for ever, if she were both an harlot of her living, and a common bawd, to stand by when her neighbour's wives were defiled also: even so our savour Christ being the head and the husband of all the hole christian congregation, is ashamed, offended, dishonoured and angered, when any man or woman keepeth company with that hooremonging mass, or standeth by, 〈◊〉 in presence when other christian people are defiled with it.  
If a jealous husband can not abide to have his wife to be kissing & familiar with other men: Remember that the almighty strong jealous Lord God can not abide to see his wife the christian flock, to commit hooredom before his face with Antichrist in the mischievous mass. Away, away (sayeth the prophet) get 
Esa. 52.  out from thence, you that bear the vessels of the Lord. The vessels signify not only your souls, but also your bodies, which ye ought to possess and keep in holiness & honour: 
1. Thes. 4. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 3.  because they are the members of Christ, and the temple of God. Who so ever defileth the temple of God, the Lord shall destroy him. For the temple of the Lord is holy, which ye are. Seeing than you belong holly unto Christ (aswell body as soul) and that you have no power of yourselves, being the spause of Christ, and the very temple of God, wherein the holy ghost maketh his dwelling: what a do hath the temple of God with Idols?  
Take heed therefore in time. For though God of his merciful benignity did bear with us in the time of ignorance, yet we may not look, that he will do so now in the time of stubborn wilfulness, seeing the light of his glorious gospel is spread openly before all our eyes, so that no pretence nor excuse in that behalf will be pleadable at the bar, before our most just judge and jealous husband jesus Christ.  
I know well enough, it is as hard a case as Susannes' case was. But forasmuch as it is a matter (in mine opinion) both undisputable and undispensable, our best safeguard is to resign our own carnal reasons, & commit all to the providence of God, saying with Susanna: It is better for me to fall into the hands of men without the deed doing, than to transgress the law of the Lord my God.  
In she (will some say) God is merciful. It is true. His mercy is on them that fear him, throughout all generations. But wittingly and willingly to heap sin upon sin, in hope of god's mercy, is most shamelessly to abuse the goodness of God, and stamp under foot the graces of his spirit, & according to the hardness of the heart that can not repent, to lay wrath together in store against the day of wrath, at the open declaration of the just judgement of God, which shall render to every one, according to this deeds.  
Nevertheless I say not this, to drive mine old neighbours and country men in to desperation, for setting up or hearing of that wicked Mass, but to move them unto earnest repentance, & to power out their continual humble hearty prayers & grievous groanings before the throne of God's grace, aswell for pardon of their deserved evil, as for the repulse of this massing mischief out of the realm: & to th'intent they may also have a good hope of god des mercy, that he for his son Christ's sake, will defend and deliver his persecuted flock, by some doughty Daniel, as he did Susanna, according to his promise by the prophet David: Now for the comfortless troubles safe of the 
Psal, 12.  needy, and because of the deep sighing of the poor, I will up, saith the Lord.  
Alas when was there more comfortless trouble? When was there more need? When was there more cause of deep sighing, than now? Repent therefore for God's sake, repent and pray.  
And forasmuch as we neither know nor acknowledge any other 
Purgatory  purgation or purgatory cleansing away of sins, but only the blood of jesus Christ, I have ever taught, and still do affirm, that the souls of them which be departed this life, are purged or scoured no where else, neither in any purgatory fire nor pope's scalding house: but I say, that the pouches of them that be alive are rather emptied and scoured by purgatory purgation, through these false lying lickepeny dreams. A faithful man's soul, as soon as it departeth from the body, go the strait to heaven, and the unfaithful man's soul strait to hell: as it shall anon be declared more plainly.  
In like manner the religious life of cloister men and women is not to be counted meritorious for the remission 
Cloistre religion.  of sin, nor among the states of an holy life (as it is used under the papacy) but rather an idle superstitious, and an Antichristian life, a very enemy to the religion and doctrine of Christ and his apostles, and good for no honest use in the common weal, as their filthy deeds found in the kings visitation are not yet out of remembrance.  
Concerning the eleventh Ariticle, 
Th●. 11. Article.  I believe and confess, that these our bodies, wherein we do work in this world, either good or evil, shall rise again from the dead, and non other for them, nor in their stead, that is to say, that this same flesh of ours being raised up at the later day, shall by the power of God, risepfitly in deed: and that dead folks souls being returned than to their raised bodies, shallbe joined and coupled to them again: & that all manner of folks (be the good and bad) shall rise and appear according to S. Paul's saying: We must 
2. Cor. 5.  needs be all presented before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the works of his body, according to that he hath done in the body, whether it be good or bad. Nevertheless the righteous shall after th'example of their head Christ, be gloriously clarified in their bodies unto uncorruption, eternal life, and everlasting joy, that no tongue can express.  
Than shall the righteous shine like the sun in the kingdom of the father: where contrary wise the unfaithful folks shall not be clarified, but shall be made immortal & uncorruptible, that they may endure eternal sorrows, pains, heaviness, & torments, world without end. But this resurrection of the dead shall be in the last day, when our Lord shall come (as we said before) to judge both the quick & the dead.  
Finally as to the xii Article, I believe & confess, that after this our transitory 
The. 12. Article.  life, there shall an eternal & everlasting life follow, which God of his own mere grace & favour prepared for mankind before the beginning of the world, & hath promised it in Christ to all them that be faithful, and will both truly & faithfully perform & bestow it upon them. So that when a faithful person departeth, his soul goeth neither into any judgement, nor into any fire, ne into the slaughter-house of any manner of pain, neither doth it fall on siepe (for it can not sleep) nor dieth t the body (for it can not die) but only it departeth from the body, & is by the power of Christ taken up & received into everlasting joy & bliss. And contrariwise, almighty god of his justice hath prepared & ordained after this life eternal death also, that is to say, eternal & everlasting pain, eternal torments & sorrows, & everlasting damnation for all them, that are unfaithful and can not repent: so that when an unfaithful person dieth out of the favour of Christ, and perisheth in his sins: his soul also (as soon as it is out of the body) is strait carried to hell, and put in to everlasting sorrows and torments.  
And albeit the unfaithful man's soul shall at the resurrection of the dead return to his body, and be joined again unto it, yet it shall be driven away with the body and with the devil himself, from the sight and presence of God, in to everlasting pains, even as the faithful people shall at the last day be received both body & soul, in to everlasting joy. Amen.  
Lo, my good brethren and loving friends, This is my belief, this is my faith, this is the pith and sum of the chief & most matters that I ever taught among my parishioners and neighbours, during the time of my ministery.  
And I am sure that this is no new-fangled nor erroneous doctrine, neither any kind of heresy, but the most undoubted true, & the very catholic christian faith, and the most ancient and substantial learning and doctrine, believed and preached by the prophets and apostles, as they received & learned it, of the Lord God himself.  
And although tyrants and papists with other fantastical spirits of error, do conspire, convent, murder, imprison, rack, & rage never so craftily, never so maliciously, never so slanderously, and never so furiously against the preachers and ministers of this faith, yet the devil himself and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it.  
Therefore seeing it hath pleased our most merciful God to give unto me (most unworthy wretch) his gracious light of this faith, and particular charge in this ministery: Considering also, that jesus Christ would not, that the candles appointed to serve his household with their light, should be showed under a bushel, but be set openly upon a candlestick, to give light to all them, that be in the house: I thought it my duty in conscience, to put you in remembrance of the true christian catholic faith, now in these dangerous days of persecution by writing, which I ministered unto you in open doctrine, to the comfort and salvation of so many as continue steadfast believers and obedient followers of the same.  
At that time the hooded chaplains of Antichrist, not only would not speak once against my doctrine, either in Lichefelde, Coventrie or else where, but also allowed it, commended it, thanked god (in words at least) for it. And some offered me for my pains money and large rewards, which I thank God, I have kept my hands clean from, yet hitherto, as I report me to their own consciences.  
At that time they confessed themselves thoroughly persuaded & manifestly convict by the only strength & power of God's open word, without further constraint. And so were they cherished, and lovingly used, & entreated with all lenity and gentleness, not sustaining the loss of one halfpenny of their livings, nor trouble of their bodies, for any point of religion. But what charity & gentleness is showed now a days unto such poor ministers as be in my case, & with what face & strength of shameless lies & merciless tyranny they defend their popish pedlary & drowsy dregs of Antichristes' alelomes, God knoweth, unto whom I commit both myself & the truth of my doctrine: which nevertheless is not mi doctrine, but the doctrine of all the true catholic christian church, which I have (by gods pleynteous mercy) sucked out of her spiritual paps by faith, whereby God hath made me able now, thus to utter and speak.  
To be short at a word, I protest & constantly affirm in the sight of almighty God, the knoweth that thoughts of all 
Psal. 8. Act. 10.  men, & of his son jesus Christ, which is ordained to be the judge both of the quick & of the dead, that I never taught nor preached any thing unto my parishioners or else where, touching any of these Articles aforesaid (during the time of my ministery by the kings licence) but that aswell I was bound (by force of my ministery) to preach and teach in pain of my damnation, as also my parishioners & hearers to believe & do after, in pain of their damnation▪ Wherefore I pronounce with the 
Gal. 1.  holy apostle: If any man preach any other gospel, than that we have preached and taught, cursed be he. Seeing than, that Christ taught and spoke among them by me, let them not esteem that manner of speaking & teaching (though it were homely and plainly) as the word or speech of man but (as it was in deed) the very word gospel, & voice of jesus Christ, which is not only the power of God to save 
Ro. 1.  all that believe, but also the thing whereby every one of us shall be judged, at the great day of reckoning.  
Seeing also that the true preachers of Christ's gospel (among whom God of his mercy appointed me to be one) are a good savour unto God, both in them that are saved and in them that perish: in them that perish, the savour 
1. Cor. 2.  of death unto death, and in them that are saved, the savour of life unto life: I beseech you for the unspeak able mercies of God, & as you tender the salvation of your own souls, cast not away that most pleasant heavenly poysye of the sweet smelling gospel of God, but hold it hard to the nose & senses of your souls, that the stinking carrion of Masses & other filthy foil of blasphemous popish idolatry and wicked life poison you not unto everlasting death.  
give no credence to those idle belied buzzard bishops and priests, 
wether cock bishops & priests.  which in blessed king Edward's days, seemed to be favourers of the gospel, & furtherours of the kings proceedings (as they termed it) and now for their own filthy gains sake & pleasing of men, they shut up the kingdom of heaven (the glorious gospel of Christ) before men, neither entering in themselves, 
Maith. 23.  nor suffering them that would, but some of them (contrary to their own conscience) persecute it: and yet for cake & pudding would turn again (like wethercockes) which way so ever the wind bloweth, as a man will have them: and being blind guides, take upon them to lead the blind, until both fall in to the dike of ppetual damnation.  
Deceive not yourselves with the example of your forefathers & elders, 
Elders.  which were conceived and borne in sin, & brought up in ignorance, as well as you: but rather do after the commandment of the pure spotless lamb of God, jesus Christ, which was before your fathers, and is the very eternal truth itself, as ye heard before, by S. Augustin, and Saint transverse.  
Follow not the fashion of this frantic world, nor the rash opinion and 
The multitude. Ephe. 4.  trade of the mad multitude, which walk in the vanity of their own mind and not after Christ, nor in the consideration of any judgement to come: but rather be you renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, that after God is made through righteousness and true holiness: considering that all our troubles and verations are the rod & correction of our most loving heavenly 
Hebr. 13.  
1. Cor. 11.  father God, that we should not be damned with the wicked world.  
Be not careful for meat, cloth and wealth of the world, either for 
Care of worldly living.  yourselves or for your wives, children or family: but seeing the almighty eternal God himself is the father of the fatherless, and the provider and defender of the widow: and seeing also he forsaketh not the godly, nor suffereth the righteous man's seed to beg their bread, but openeth his hand, and filleth every living creature with the largesse and pleyntie of his blessing: cast all your care upon Christ's back, which shall feed your seed and households, and shall never see the righteous left destitute.  
dread not the dangerous tyranny 
tyrants  of Antichristes' soldiers, nor the bragging oaths or chittre chattre power of the prating pie, or any such other, seeing the nature of that kind of birds haunteth not hens nests for love of the hen, but to fill their bellies with the yolk of her eggs: and seeing that all the hears of our head are numbered, ye may be assured that they shall do no more against us, than th'eternal purpose and hand of God hath determined. For God is faithful which will not suffer us to be tempted above our ability, but shall give us a way out with the temptation, that we may be able to abide it.  
Be not afraid brethren, God's iron rod is as strong to beat them back, as ever it was. He that dwelleth in heaven, laugheth them to scorn, and will cumber their stomachs one day, so sore, that they shall not know which way to turn them. Let them run on (their raging race) until they bring themselves out of breath.  
And on the other part, Fire, faggots, hemp, gallows, stocks, fetters, & prison make us like to the image of the son of God, and the suffering of death for the gospels sake, is the fulfilling 
Col. 1.  of that is behind of the passiones of Christ in our bodies, to bear witness against tyrants and wicked papists, and to be an example and encouraging of the hole congregation.  
The death of such as suffer for the gospel, is so precious in the sight of God, that it is the end of all troubles and sorrows, and the beginning and entrance of such joy and treasures, as no eye hath seen, no ear hath 
●o. 5. 1. Cor. 2.  heard, nor any heart is able to perceive. This is most certainly true, which as it is easily spoken or written, but very hard for the cowardly flesh to believe it, or to think on it, when the very pynce of trouble and persecution cometh (as I know by mine own fearful experience enough and to much) even so I beseech God to lighten our hearts and remembrances with his holy spirit, that when the hour and fit of sorrow and veration cometh, we may constantly, willingly, & joyously lay the cross on our shoulders, & march forward lustily to the battle, that is pitched against us, following the same trace, that our captain and savour jesus Christ hath led us the way, so as by many tribulations, and the strait 
Math. 7.  way, which few find, we may enter in to the kingdom of heaven, and receive the crown of eternal glory that never shall fade away.  
And be not deceived (my brethren) with the doublefaced doings, and toying trades of those politic, subtle, sleightye wise men and nyggardly nip crusts, which like as they favour and have set up the Mass, with all diligence: some not only for ancient custom and opinatyve devotions sake (as draff is good enough for swine) but also for pretenced obedience and nien pleasing, regarden the mass (which is the devils invention, and the workmanship of Antichrist) more than they do the sincere word and sacraments of God, ministered according to Christ's own institution: so do they love and care more for their fair Abbeys, & rich wealth of ecclesiastical possessiones, than they do either for the mass or for any other religion, as by their fine fruits (if they were forced to make restritution) it would most evidently appear, for all their devout mass hearing.  
But above all other, abhor & bliss you from the participation & company of the 
Divorced priests.  kind of damnable dryvelles the priests, which (in king Edward's time) coupled themselves in marriage, some to avoid suspicion of popery, some to hide the shame of their filthy doings, some for men pleasing, some to do as other did, some for one respect, some for an other: And now (when the doctrine of devils is set up again, & the popish powers of the world favour not that chaste condition of life) these dryvelles not only ex●sse their faithless hearts in breaking the inseparable knot & bond of lawful marriage, forsaking & casting of their wives: whereby it is evident, that their intent was only to cover their fleshly hoorishe lusts with the clock of marriage, without any inward conscience to live in a chaste married life, but also (to show themselves the right 
Nu. 21. 2. Pe. 2.  successors of Balaam the son of Bosor, and to make their blasphemy and damnation more notorious) they renounce, recant, and abjure their marriage, at Antichristes' commandment: and like damned dogs (whom the eternal burning gallows of hell groan for) they are returned to their vomit of massing and other romish religion, crucifying afresh and making 
Hebre. 6. Matth. 12  a mock of the son of God, & most shamelessly blaspheme the holy ghost, whereof they shall be forgiven neither in this world nor in the world to come.  
Let them take their time while it lasteth, for seeing they have forsaken to be the membres of Christ, and seeing they are made the membres of the harlot of Rome, and become the temples of sathan, to bear hell about with them, and to glorify the devil in their bodies and in their bodily doings. Their final damnation is surely at hand. At that time they shall know, that it had been better for than, to have been made like unto the image of Christ, in suffering the losses and reproaches of the world for a little while, and shortly after to be made partakers of his glorious resurrection & eternal bliss, than for a little beastly belly cheer (that shall soon have an end) to suffer afterward perpetual pains and torments with their predecessor judas Iscarioth world without end.  
Nevertheless I wish them repentance even from the very bottom of my heart. Nether do I speak this upon any displeature or uncharitable affection conceived against any man's person or worldly quietness, but only that it grieveth the very heart root of me, to see the institution of God so horribly dishonoured, the honourable state of marriage so shamefully slandered, the congregation of Christ so grievously offended, the abomination of Antichrist so beastly obeyed, and the holy ghost so desperately blasphemed.  
Alas, why do they not consider, how heinous a sin it is, to give such an occasion of slander & ruin to the church of God, & how small a gain it is to win a small pelting promotion of worldy living for a short space, & to cast away the price of Christ's precious blood, in utterly damning their own souls, & bequeathing themselves to the devil for ever more. For if Baalams' mortal blind ass rebuked that blind prophets folly, much more shall the immortal worm of these Asses (nay Judases) consciences rebuke & accuse them of their blasphemy & shameful slydig from the truth, at such time as being past repentance, they shall curse the day, that they were borne in, & the very hour wherein they were begotten. These men be of that company, unto whom the holy ghost biddeth us not to say so much, as God speed: neither to eat nor drink with them.  
Finally good brethren, be not partakers 
Mass hearing goss pellers.  of the example and faint carnal excuse of those that say, although they go to the church and be present at the Mass, yet they worship none but the living God in their hearts, & hate the Mass as much as we do. Which saying is much unlike to be true, but seemeth rather a vain pretenced fantasy, and preposterous wrasting of some texts of scripture, wherewith the Devil deludeth the senses & souls of many tender carpet gospelers, at this present time of trial, to bring them past repentance. For Christ our savour saith: No man can serve two masters. So it followeth, that forasmuch as the body (which is the one part of a man) serveth the devil: the soul (which is the other part, and joined with the body) cannot possibly serve God. For God requireth the hole man, to serve him, with all the soul and powers of man, or else he reckoneth it not only for no service at all, but also taketh it for very enmity. And therefore he saith: He that is not with me, is against me.  
The body go the not to Mass with out the company and consent of the soul. And therefore it must needs be granted, that the soul is carried with the body to serve the devil at Mass, & not the body carried away by the soul from that most stinking idolatry and superstition, to the pure service of God.  
Because Christ died for th'eternal salvation aswell of the body as of the soul, the holy ghost commandeth us also, to bear and glorify God in our bodies, and that every one should possess 
The gains of going to Mass.  and use the vessel of his body, in holiness and in honour. And to bestow our bodies upon the service or presence of the sinful filthy Mass, is not to possess the vessel of the body in holiness and honour, but to defile the hole man with filthiness and dishonesty, to break wedlock with Christ our husband, to offend the weak for whom Christ died, to comfirme the wicked in their popery, and so to provoke the vengeance of God, upon both the body and the soul.  
Saint james saith, that a double minded man is inconstaunt in all his ways, and may not look to obtain any thing of the Lord, where so ever he prayeth: much less will God grant his peticiones, which he makteh in that temple, where God by the same petition maker's presence is dishonoured, and the congregation (which is the right temple of Christ in deed) is defiled.  
The scriptures teach us, that at the great judgement, every one shall receive according to the deeds that are done by the body. And at the general resurrection, the body and the soul shall be joined together, perpetually to abide either joy or sorrow: so that the body must needs go to hell for defiling itself with the abominable Mass and other popery: And the soul can not chose, but go with the body, and take such part as the body doth. For God will not part stakes with the devil. Therefore it is but a vain pretence and a very mocking of God, to say, that the heart and soul serveth God, seeing the body joined with the soul serveth the devil in the sight of God and men. So it seemeth manifest, that such gospelers, as be mass hearers, are not spiritual gospel followers, but carnal gospel slaunderours, and walk after the flesh: upon whom the holy ghost giveth sharp sentence, saying: If ye live after the flesh, you shall die.  
consider brethren, that we are now after our sincere gospelling, led of the holy ghost in to wilderness (as Christ was after his baptism) to be tempted of the devil. Therefore we must either take the devils counsel, and so distrusting the might & merciful providence of God, make stones, stocks, and idolatrous popish Masses, bread to poison ourselves withal: or throw ourselves down headlong from the high pinnacle of God's temple the celestial jerusalem in to the bottomless pit of all errors, infidelity and hell: or fall to the devils feet, and take him for our good Lord. Or else contrary wise sticking fast to the scriptures and gospel of jesus Christ, bid the devil, avaunt Satan, with all his mumming. Masses and styncking superstition. We will none of them, though we never have bread, & though we be torn in pieces for it.  
Every cowherde will (for covetousness of wages and fee) be glad to be retained in garrison, and set the better leg before (as though he would be a good soldier) while no danger of battle is at hand, and while there is peace, & take all one part. And so in blessed king Edward's days, every wan (almost) pretended friendship & forewardenesse to the doctrine of the gospel, and english church service, seeing the Magistrates & multitude lain to that side: some of conscience, some of flattery, but the most men for the commodious gain that they found by church lands & goods, not minding to amend their lives towards God by the gospel, but under colour thereof to augment their livings and pelf in this world.  
But like as if a soldier run from the army of his sovereign liege Lord to the enemy's side (although he say, his heart was with his sovereign still, and that he ran away only for fear) must needs be deemed a traitor, a cowhearde, and runagate: even so shall every one that professeth the name and religion of Christ, to be one of his soldiers (for our life is a very warfare upon earth) be deemed and convict of high treason against his most natural sovereign liege Lord jesus Christ, king of all kings, which in time of his spiritual wars for the gospels sake, runneth away from his standard and garrison in to the devils camp, to take part with popish massmongers, the most deadly foes of Christ's gospel and bloodshead.  
Now is the field pitched, now our enemies bend their ordinance against us face to face, now they see the camp of gospelers weakened and lie open unto their municiones. They see some fall to their side, some speak fair, some dissemble, and few are glad to abide the bickering, & that maketh the cruel papists to make so thick Larummes, and to come on so lustily with their hot skirmishes on every side against Christ our captain & all his army royal Howbeit seeing Christ hath the victory, and shall make all his enemies his foot stole: and seeing also he promiseth patents of so large honourable fee & wages to such his soldiers, as by patient suffering of persecutions stand manfully to his standard, and abide the end of the fray: as he by his herald of arms, th'apostle Paul maketh open proclamation in his coat armour, saying: If we die with Christ here, we shall live with him 
2. Tim. 2.  everlastingly: If we suffer with him here, we shall reign with him in his eternal glorious heavenly kingdom.  
And on the contrary part, forasmuch as the same proclamation declareth the pain of such of us, as run away from Christ's ensign or standard, saying: If we deny or forsake him, he will also deny & forsake us. And when the general muster and pay day cometh (where the constant soldiers shall be crowned with glory and honour in the eternal heavenly kingdom) Christ the captain and judge shall say unto such shrinking traitors and cowheardly runagates:  
Avaunt you workers of wickedness I know you not. Get you hence you cursed in to everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. I think therefore it is necessary good and very high time for us, to arm ourselves cap a pee (as the same Herald of arms Paul commandeth us in king jesus name, Ephe. 6.) and for our own safeguard & vantage to keep battle ray through persecutions, troubles, rebukes and slanders of the world, and follow the standard of Christ's bloody cross lustily, and to bestere us like tall fellows, in mortifying our own flesh, especially having before our eyes the fore running example and view, not only of all the martyrs and confessors that have been soldiers of the same band, and skirmished in their own blood from the days of Abel unto these days: but also the present constant courage of the most faithful soldiers of Christ, Thomas Cranmere Arrchbishop of Cantorbury. Hugh Latimer, Micholas Riddley, john Hooper, Robert ferrar, Rolande Tailor, Iohn Rogers, Laurence Gaunders, Iohn Bradforde, Iohn Filpotte, Robert Glover, and Iohn Cardemaker with many other both men and women, which did boldly in bands spleaye Christ's banner in the mids of his enemies, and willingly have shed their blood for the salekeping of their fort, I mean for the defence of Christ's invincible gospel: as well to the great comfort and encorageing of the rest of Christ's army, as to the confusion and vaynquishing of Antichrist with all his blood thirsty shavelings and massemonging kingdom, for all their proud brags and impudent rusting.  
Nevertheless how faint and how weak a soldier I myself have been in this behalf, mine own experience (at my furst entry in to the gospel) taught me ten or xi years ago. By reason whereof being afraid of mine own weakness, & partly being enforced from my vicarage by malicious force & rage of some unthankful people, ꝑtly because I was laid wait for by writs, processes, and cruel threatenings of D. Ermestede & certain other traitorous hearted papists (which recanted their errors & popery in the kings visitation) but chief being loath to fall in to mine enemy's hands, for fear of blaspheming the truth, by reason of mine own sinful weakness, or rigorous imprisonment , I departed from my vicarage somewhat before extreme trouble came. And albeit I did confirm this doctrine of faith in sundry sermons within my parish, in that rude raging tempest, & offered to have done the like in other great parishes there about, where they durst not receive me: yet mine own conscience accuseth me, for that I tarried not there still to the uttermost. And therefore if that have been any occasion of offence or stumbling block to any of Christ's congregation (as I trust it hath not) I most heartily heseche them to forgive me that weak wickedness and wicked weakness.  
And like as it hath pleased God of his merciful goodness to hold me still in the confession of the same unfailing truth, that I taught privately & openly in those parties, during the time of my ministery: even so I trust he will grant me the continuance of this faith unto the end (the rather at the contemplation of your good hearty prayers) & grace to seek only his glory to the comfort of his poor afflicted flock, with that little talon that he hath lent me.  
And if it be his godly pleasure to cast me in to his enemy's hands, I trust he will also give me will and strength manfully and joyfully to give my life for the confirmation of this my faith.  
Now for a farewell, I beseech you also good brethren, pray (after your wont manner) continually to the mercy seat of God, that it would please him, to defend and increase his church: to grant his gospel a joyful free passage and prosperous success through out the hole world: to hold his merciful hand of protection over the realm of England: to give us true repentance, and to forgive us all our sins: to secure, help & comfort all that be in danger, necessity, trouble, erile or in bands for his glorious gospel and words sake: to bring in to the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived: to forgive our enemies, persecutors & slaunderours, & to turn their hearts: to streynghten such as do stand, to comfort & help the weak hearted, to raise up them that fall, and shortly to tread down the devil under our feet: and with his almighty power, to destroy Antichrist with all his swarm of shavelings & cursed kingdom: And finally to have mercy upon all men: Amen.  
Good brethren, I beseech you by the mercifulness of God, forgive one an other, love one an other, bear one with an other, cherish one an other, exhort one an other, consort one an other, & (to your power) help one an other, so as we may in the mids of this raging tempest & skirmish of persecution, be constant in faith by the holy ghost, joyfully looking for the coming of the great God, & our savour jesus Christ, & finally to be found to the laud & glory of his grace among the righteous, which shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of our heavenvly father, by the merits of his only dear son jesus Christ our Lord, brother, & everlasting savour. To whom with the father & the holy ghost, be all glory, power & praise, now and for evermore world without end. Amen. And in the same one immortal, almighty God, I bid you all most heartily well to far.  
Your poor servant in the Lord. Io. Old.