▪ A goodly disputation between a Christian Shoemaker/ and a popish Parson with two other parsons more, done within the famous City of Norembourgh. Translated out of the Germayne tongue into english. By Anthony Scoloker. Imprinted at London by Anthony Scoloker. And Viyllyam Seres. Dwelling without Aldersgate. Anno. 1548. ¶ Come Gratia et Privilegio ad Imprimendum solum. ¶ The Shoemaker coming to the parsons house, speaketh to the parson's servant. Shoemaker. Good morrow good fellow Servant. ye are welcome master joan Shoemaker I thank you with all my heart, Where is your master? Servant. He is in the gallery, O tarry a little I will go and call him, master master your shoemaker is here. Parson. Bene veneritis magister Hans. Shoemaker. Deo gratias. Parson What bring you there/ do you bring my slippers? Shoemaker. Yea forsooth Sir, I thought you had been in the Church. Parson. No marry. I was yonder behind in the gallery and there have I mumbled. Shoemaker. What say you master Parson? have ye mumbled? Parson. Yea I have said my divine service ●● besides ●●at I have now and then fed my nightinggale. Shoemaker. Sir johan I pray you tell me what nightingale is it, singeth he yet? Parson. No forsooth, it draweth to nigh winter. Shoemaker I know a shoemaker who hath a nightingale that beginneth now first to sing. Parson. Yea, the devil of hell take that shoemaker with all his nightingalings, he hath so railed on our most holiest Father the pope the most highest Father and reverend lord. yea, he hath so cried and called him abroad, even as though he had been the most vilest and ungrationst wretch or knave of the whole world. Shoemaker. What soft and fair Sir I pray thee, he hath partly declared your manner of living, and your divine service to the common people, and now I perceive you do nothing but rail on him, but what shall I say? is your behaviour and living according to Christ's Gospel/ or is it apesplaye? Parson. What the devil of hell have these dull-headed shoemakers to do with our behaviour and living? Shoemaker. It is written. When thou seest thine Exod. 2●. enemies ass fallen under his Burden/ thou shalt not go by but help him up. How much more is a christian Man bound to help his neighbour/ who he seeth lying in an heavy conscience? Parson. That whoreson assched ought not to have meaned spiritual and religious men/ for they know well enough before hand what sin is. Shoemaker. But Ezechyell speaketh if thou seest Ezechi. ●● thy brother sin, reprehend him, or else I will require his blood, at thy hands Therefore a Christian man ought to reprehend his brother, be he anointed or no. Parson. Art thou a gospeler? Shoemaker. Yea forsooth Syr. Parson. Hast thou not red the gospel of S. Matthew in the seven. Chapter. Thou shalt not judge to chynte●te thou be not Math. 7. judged? But ye Luthery as pass● nothing at all upon such sayings/ neither do ye seek for them/ for they are plain against you. Shoemaker. To judge and reprehend, is to be understand two manner of ways, we take not upon us to judge that thing which only appertaineth to god. As Paul saith No man shall judge the servant of an other man, Roma. 14. but aught, to reprehend and exhort him. As the prophet Isaiah saith Call without Ceasing, and exalt your Esay. 58. voice like a trumpet to declare my people their offences. et cetera. Parson. There is also written. Thou shalt not make the chiefest of the people ashamed. Exod. 22. Shoemaker. Who is the chief, among the people/ is it not the Emperor, kings/ princes, Duke's/ Earles, with their knygtes esquires and worldly power? Parson. Nay, nay. The pope is Christ's vicar, and next under him, cardinal's, bishops with all the spiritualty/ as it is written. Solite de maioritate et obediencia. These spiritual men represent the sun and the worldly powers represent only the moon. whereout doth follow that the pope must needs be of greater power than the Emperor, who is feign to kiss his feet. Shoemaker. Is the pope such a puissant lord? truly johan. 18. then is he not Christ's vicar. For Christ saith, my kingdom is not of this world. And john. 6. Christ (when he saw johan. 6. that men would make him king) went Luke. 2●. his ways. Christ also said unto his disciples. worldly princes have dominion and bear Rule, and the Myghtyr of the earth are called Lords/ but let it not be so among you. For who of you will be the greatest shallbe the least, and the chiefest as a Servant, and therefore the pope and ye spiritual men are but ministers unto the Christians (in case ye be of God) and therefore men may● reprehend you well Enough. parson. The pope with his, is nor bound to obey the commandment of God. As it is written in the spiritual law. C. Solite de maioritate et obediencia out of the which we do conclude that the pope is no sins but the most holiest and in all thing inreprehensible. Shoemaker. It is written, who so ever saith that he is without sin, is a liar, out of the johan. 1. which followeth that the Pope must needs be a sinner or a liar (if he be not both) and not the most holiest/ but is greatly to be reprehended. Parson. What I say/ although the pope wer● so wicked, that he did bring a great multitude of people into hell, yet may no man reprehend him. For it is written in our laws dyst. xi. Sipapa. How doth that distinct. 40 please thee? Shoemaker. It is written in the gospel of Math. Math. 18. if thy brother do sin reprehend him between him and thee/ and if he hear thee▪ then hast thou won him. Doth the pope use such Godly acres? Parson. Dost thou call this to reprehend after a brotherly sort, to cry and call it out so openly? Shoemaker. It is further written in the same text, in case thy brother hear the not/ than take one or two with you/ and if he hear you not then, then tell it to the congregation, and let him go like a heathen and infidel, even as thou art sir domine▪ Parson. I pray the what prevaileth it that thou dost call us thus a broad like grasshoppers, considering we pass nothing for it. For we hold us by our decrees? Shoemaker. Therefore saith Chryst, in case men do not hear you, then shake the dust from your feet for a witness that the Kingdom of God hath been nigh unto them. For their judgement shall be greater at the day of doom, then to Sodoma and Gomorra. In what case shalt thou be then; seeing thou wilt not be reprehended? Parson. I would grant it to be so/ in case they were learned men, but it becometh not the lay people to reprehend the spiritualty Shoemaker. An ass reprehended Balaain the prophet. Wherefore then is it not lawful. For a lay man to reprehend a spiritual man? Parson. I shoemaker ought to meddle with greasing of his leather and clouting of his shows, and not with holy scripture. Shoemaker. How can ye prove that by scripture/ that a Christian man may not read, write and search in the scriptures? For christ saith, search the Scriptures for she beareth witness of me. And the psalmograph saith also. Blessed is the man that studieth night and day in the laws of the lord, And Peter saith also Prepare your 1. Petri. 3. selves to answer every man/ the ground requireth the hope which is in you, and in like manner Paul teacheth the Ephesians to fight against the assaults of the devil, with the sword of God's word. Ephesi. 6. Oh lord how were it possible for us to resist, if we knew nothing of the scripture? Parson. Even like a heap of gise in the water. Shoemaker. Mock at your pleasure. The jews know their law by root or without the book, shall not we that are Christians know the gospel of jesus Chryst? which is the power of God to as many as shallbe saved/ as Paul saith. 1. Corin. 1. Parson. Yea, thou shalt know it as Christ hath told. The scribes and pharizees have set them upon Moses seat. What so ever they Math. 22. teach you, ●oke you do the same which signifieth the daily preachings/ doth not this suffice the lay people? Shoemaker. There is also written in the same chap. They lay heavy and unbearable burdens upon men's necks, and such signify the traditions and commandments of men whereby ye drive and oppress us lay people, bringing us in heavy consciens/ wherefore should we then follow you? parson. How canst thou prove that by scripture? Shoemaker. Chryst saith in the be fore named chapter. Woe be unto you ye hypocrites and pharizees, that shut up the kingdom of heaven for the people/ thou wilt not enter into it thyself, nor yet suffer any other to enter. parson. Yea that was spoken to the priests of the jews, and not to our priests. Shoemaker. Mary. Sir ye have first taken the name of pharizees upon you Which sit upon moses seat etc. Although it be spoken of the Priests of the jews (as the ●●ueth is) even so it also spoken of you. For your works bear witness/ thou eatest the widows houses/ as the text further doth declare, in good faith six domine you have taken yourself by the nose. Parson. Fie on the. How do these whoreson lutherians rejoice and laugh in their fist, when they can find some sayings out of the scripture/ they trouble and vex one therewith, without ceasing. Shoemaker. Sir I pray the be not discontented fo● in good faith I speak of a good zeal. Parson. I am not angry, but I am bound to tell it thee, it becometh not the lay People to meddle with the scripture. Shoemaker. Chryst saith. Beware of false prophets Math. 7. and Paul to the Philippi. iij. take heed. Philipi. 3. If we might not be suffered to read the scriptures, how should we then know these things. Parson. The same appertaineth to the papistry as Paul saith to Timoth. 1. ye shall correct the seducers with all extremity. Shoemaker. Yea they do it not, but do manifestly against it as it daily doth apere. parson Let them care for that. Shoemaker. No sir not so/ we will not esteem it so light/ it they will not, then must we take heed that we follow not them/ for no man shall bear an others burden. parson. say what ye list, it appertaineth not to the lay people to meddle with the scripture as Paul saith. 1. Cor. 7. Let every 1. Cor. ●. man walk according to the lords calling. How sayest thou now? thou wouldest have scripture, and now I have scriptured the I trow. Shoemaker Yea paul speaketh that of the outward conversation and living, of boundemen and Fremen/ as in the same Chapter it is clearley specified. But here doth he forbidden no man to search the word of God. Parson. Dost thou not here? ye mi●ste first be called through the holy ointment/ and after that/ be chosen of the higher powers other wise is it not lawful for any man to meddle with the scripture. Shoemaker. Chryst saith. The harvest is great, but Luke. 10. there are very few labourers, pray to the lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest ●●erby the calling must needs be inwardly of God/ and not outwardly. For outwardly are all preachers called, as well the false as the true. Parson. ●ush. It is but foolishness to reason with such prattlers. Shoemaker It is even so with you, as it was with Luke. 9 the disciples/ which were offended that othermen castoute devils in Christ'S name, as well as they. But Christ said for bid them not. For who soever is not a against you is with you. And if ye were true christians/ ye should even rejoice that the lay people do understand & know the word of God. Parson. What grief is it to you? Sho. Because we have forsaken the devil in our baptism, therefore are we thus diligent to fight with God's word against him & his kingdom, yea and to adventure and jeopardy both body and goods. Parson. It were better for ye lay people to study how to get the living of your wives and children, Sho. Chryst forbiddeth and saith, take no thought what ye shall eat and drink or Math. ●. what clothes ye shall put on, for such things do the heathen seek, but seek first the kingdom of God. etc. And it shallbe given you abundantly. The man liveth not only by bread, but of every word with Math. 4. proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Parson. Satisfy and content yourself therewith/ and bake never a whit. Shoemaker. We must labour, as it was commanded Gene. 3. & job. 5. to Adam. The men are borne to labour like the birds to fly. Parson. Where should you and other lay people have learned it? some of them know neither A nor B. Shoemaker. Chryst saith. They shall all be taught of God. Parson. But there needeth also learning, wherefore are the universities else ordained? Shoemaker. In what university (I pray thee) did joan study? Who wrote so profoundly In the beginning was the word and the word was God. & ●ete. For he was bu● a fisher as it is written. Parson. What man/ he was illuminate with the holy ghost. Shoemaker. It is written. And it shall happen in the later days, saith God, I will power out my spirit upon all flesh. What mean ye? think ye that this is not spoken of us? Acts. 2. Parson. No, it is spoken of the Apostles, as peter witnesseth. Therefore hold thy peace and speak no more of the spirit. Shoemaker. christ saith who so believeth on me● out of his body shall flow streams of johan. 7. living water. Which is expounned by the Evangelist, that he speaketh the same of the holygost which all they should receive that believe in him. Parson. What I say my think that thou smellest after Mantuanus that heretic/ with thy holy ghost. Shoemaker. Paul speaketh. Do ye not know ●. Cor. 3. that ye are the temple of God; and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? And to the galath. 4. saying ye are now become children, God hath sent his spirit in to Gallat. ●. your hearts, who calleth. Abba, that is, be loved father. He maketh us righteous according to his mercy, through the bath of renovation/ and the renewing of the holy ghost/ which he hath powered haboundauntly Timo●. 4. in us. And to the Romans in the. 5. chapter. As the spirit now dwelleth Roman. ●. in you, who hath raised jesus Christ from death. parson. I find no holy spirit in me, you nor I are not noble enough thereto. Shoemaker. Wherefore are ye then called spiritual seeing you have not the spirit of God? ye aught with good right to be called spyry●elease. parson. They be other manner of people then either you or I am which have the spirit of God. Shoemaker. Ye ought not to have respect unto them. For God is no accepter of parsons. It is Acts. 10. also written. The spirit of God shall rest Esay. 66. ●pon a broken or weak heart. Parson. show me one, I pray th●. Shoemaker. Paul speaketh openly. Who soever y●. hath not the spirit of Chryst, pertaineth Rom. an 8. not to him. Parson. Oh/ truly it is a very poor and miserable spirit/ which ye Lutherians have, I think he is as black as a coal. I pray the tell me what make ye with your holy ghost? I believe verily that he sleepeth both night and day by you, for men can not so much as one's spy him. Shoemaker. Christ saith, give not that which is Math. 7. holy to dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, least they tread them under their feet. Parson. What, are ye not ashamed to speak such▪ Rude and Vncommelye words before me? Shoemaker. I pray the sir domine be not displeased for it is the saying of holy scripture. parson. yea, yea, yea, ye Lutherians speak much, of God's word, and it waxeth the ●enger the worse/ I can not spy any amendment in none of you all. Shoemaker. Christ say the Luk. 19 The kingdom of God cometh not outwardly▪ or with Luke. 19 looking up/ that men might point it with fingers, to sale here in this or in that place is it/ but it is inwardly in you. that is, it standeth not in outward works. Parson. Men may perceive that by your divine service. Ye pray not, neither go ye to the Church nor to the daily service, nor in a manner to nothing at all that good is Is then such kingdom God's kingdom, amongst you Lutherians? I believe it is the great devil of hells kingdom. Shoemaker. Christ speaketh, The time shall come/ Math. ●. and is even now, that men shall pray no more upon this mountain nor at Jerusalem, but shall pray only in spirit and verity This casteth down and condem●neth your daily service with also your numbered prayers. For christ wholly and all abhorreth your numbered prayers with your outward mumbling. Where as he saith Math. xv. This people worship Math. 1●. ●e with their lips, but their heart is ●a●re from me▪ parson. And Christ saith, ye shall pray without Luke. 18. ceasing. shoemaker. yea, he meaneth, to pray without ceasing in the spirit, but Chryst despiseth your prayer: saying, ye shall not make many words. parson. Gentle friend what is that for a prayer, Math. 6. to pray in spirit and verity? teach me that same I pray thee, then shall I need no more to say my matins nor mine other service. shoemaker. Read that little book of Marten Luther, entitled of the Christian liberty which he dedicated to Pope Leo, and there shall ye find it briefly declared. parson. I would rather that Luther with all his books were burnt, I never in all my life did read none of them, nor yet will as I am advised. shoemaker. What, why dost thou judge then? parson. Marry because he worshippeth not the saints. shoemaker. Chryst saith. Thou shalt only worship thy lord God, and serve him only. Math. 4. Parson. Yea, we must have intercessors to god Shoemaker. john saith, If any man have sinned we have a mediator by God/ which is 1. john. ● jesus Chryst, who is righteous, who is also the peacemaker for our sins. Parson. Yea thou speakest fair words good fellow, but need compelleth a man to beg if thy leg were broken/ wouldest thou not go to saint Wolfgange? or if thou hadst the toothache wouldest thou not pray to saint Aposonia? shoemaker. No truly. Chryst saith, come unto me all Math. 11. ye that labour and are laden, and I will ease you. Where then will we seek better help, ye have made Idols of the saints and so ye have seduced and brought us from Chryst. Parson. Yea, I have heard well Enough of you Lutherians that ye do never fast/ doth Luther's holy ghost teach you that? shoemaker. We are not commanded of God to fast, but God hath left it free. Chryst saith when thou wilt fast, anoint thy head Math. 6. and wash thy Face, he saith not, thou shalt or tho● must fast, like our Romish stepfather doth. Parson. Yea, but ye never do fast. Shoemaker I believe that he handicrafts men do fast better (yea although they eat. 4. times in a day) than all the pryestes and shavelings of the realm. It is manifest Enough. I need not to speak any more thereof. Parson. Hold thy peace then, and let me speak, as concerning fasting that is the least fault, but ye Lutherians eat fletshe on the friday, that the devil of hell mought bliss you. Shoemaker. It is not forbidden of God to eat flesh, and therefore is it not sin/ so far fourth as the weak people are not thereby offended. Math. 15. Chryst saith. That which goeth into the Mouth, defileth not the Man/ but that which cometh out of the mouth defileth the Man/ as whoredom, murder, advoutye, theft, false witness bearing, bacbyting. etc. And Paul: 1 Corinthi. What soever is sold in the market 1. Corinth. that eat. Parson. yea, say what ye list, but good old customs which have been kept and observed above four hundreth years/ are not to be despised. Shoemaker. Chryst saith john in. 14. I am the johan. 14. way, verity/ and the everlasting Life/ but he saith not I am the custom. Their fore must we stick and cleave to the verity which is God's word, and even god himself, which endureth for ever more/ But custom cometh of men, which are Math. 25. all liars/ as the. 115. psal. saith, which Psalm. 115 saying doth whole and all overthrow your customs. Parson. Sir I pray the tell me, the Lutherians do never shrive nor confess them, which is the greatest heresy of all. Shoemaker. Nether is that commanded of God, nor yet pronounced, neither in the old nor ●n the new Testament. Parson. Did not Chryst say Go and show thy Math, 22. self unto the priests. shoemaker. Dost thou call showing shryving, that is a wonders strange english, ye must declare it better unto me by scripture. If the same shryving in the ear were such a great bond and holy thing, it should truly be clearer declared in the scripture. Parson. What I say/ will ye do nothing else but that which is commanded you of GOD in the scripture? that is a piteous case. shoemaker. I can not fulfil the same, as it is declared Acts. 15. / what need I to lay any more burden upon me? parson. Such things have the holy fathers ordained in their counsels. shoemaker. Who gave them Authority? parson. Chryst saith I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not bear it away johan. 16. now: How sayest thou? Are not than the counsels instituted of God? parson. But Chryst speaketh before that, I shall send the comforter (which is the spirit of truth which proceedeth of the father) and johan. 15. he shall declare you all things which I have told you. Mark, he saith not, he shall teach you new things, which I have not told you, but the same things which I have told you, even the same shall he declare unto you: And saith further hereafter/ he shall lead you in all truth Parson. Thus holdest thou nothing of the counsels I perceive well Enough. shoemaker. yes verily of that counsel which the Apostles kept at jerusalem. Parson. Have the apostles also kept a counsel? shoemaker. yea if you have a bible. parson. yea I have one, O Katherine/ bring he there that same great old book Katherine the parson's handmaid Katherine. Sir is that same it? parson. What no/ that same is the decrees, look ye make it not soul. what elses. Katheryn. Sir is this it? Parson. Yea, make it clean, and sweep of the So much did he regard the bible. dust and cobwebs now master shoemaker where is it? shoemaker. Seek in the Acts of the Apostles in Acts. 13. the. 15. chapter. Parson. Seek yourself/ I am not much used Now he telleth truth. in the same book I know other things which are proffytabler unto me, than that. shoemaker. There it is/ behold Syr. Parson. Katherine, read Actum 15. nay let alone, I will read it myself, and I will know what the same old fellows have made. Shoemaker. Yea, Reed, and ye shall find that men may not say the burdens of the old Testament upon the Christians, therefore are we not bound to hear you in the old, much less in the new testament. Parson. But Christ saith. Whosoever heareth Luke. 10. you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth me, is that same not clear Enough? shoemaker. Yea, when you do syncerlye and purely teach God's word, them are men bound to hear you even as christ him self. But when ye preach your own Imaginations and inventions, them ought no man to give care unto you. For all that is not planted of God my heavenly father shallbe plucked up by the roots. Parson. Are the councils then also the learning of men? Shoemaker. If a man should say the truth, the councils have done great damage in Chryhendome by two manner of ways. Parson. What hurt or damage? declare them I pray the heartily. Syomaker. first the commandments which are innumerable and unmeasurable as you yourself know/ and that which is worst of all have been by excommunications confirmed, and above that most part are not grounded in the scripture, and such your commandments men have highly esteemed and therewith greatly charged men's consciences/ and have been reputed like the commandments of God/ yea, set before them whereby the commandments of God have been set back and made unknown to the people. Such people hath Paul declared with their commandments. That in the latter times should depart 1. Timo. 4 from the faith, and give heed unto spirits of error/ and devilish doctrine of them which speak false thorough hypocrisy & have their consciences marked with an hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanks giving of them which believe and know the truth. Parson. How is that come to pass, with what commandments I pray thee? Shoemaker. To eat flesh on the friday, hath been taken for a greater sin, then to keep a whore or two. parson. I understand you very well, what damages are there more? Shoemaker. secondarily they have brought forth many strange God's services/ and called them good works, which is nothing else (if a man should say so the) but very apesplay and outward foolishness/ Whereof God never spoke one word/ whereby both we and they/ have neglected, and not regarded the good works which God hath commanded us. parson. what are then the right true works of a christian man? shoemaker. Chryst saith. All what thou wouldest the Math. 7. men should do to thee, do even the same unto them/ and that is the fulfilling of the whole law and prophets. And he doth teach Math. 15. us to feed the hungry/ to give drink to the thirsty/ to harbarrowe the harbarroules to cloth the naked, to visit the sick, and to comfort the prisoner. parson. Are that only the works of a Christian man, and the whole some of a christian life? shoemaker. Yea/ a true and faithful christian man johan. 3. which is borne a new out of the water and the spirit (as it is written johan. iij. chapter) serveth God only in spirit and Verity, and serveth also his Neighbour, with the works of charity/ that is the whole sum of a Christian life/ but these papists mean that such a christian life is nothing at all, because the same works have not such an outward shine as their works do. Parson. Think ye then that our singing and Reading is of no worth? shoemaker. christ shall require nothing else of Math. 15. us at the day of judgement/ then the works Gene. 3. & of mercy/ then shall ye priests and monks job. 5. stand like fools which have left their ears at the pylory. Parson. Thou hast hy● it wonders well/ get you to the furnace and warm you a little, Luke. 10. doth Luther teach you such things? shoemaker. No. parson. What holdest thou of Luther? I pray the tell me. Shoemaker. I hold him for a christen Doctor and I think there hath not been a better sens the Apostles time. Parson. What profit hath he done in the christian faith? Shoemaker. Marry, first, he hath discovered and brought to light your false doctrine, commandments, traditions and imaginations, and admonysshed and warned us thereof. secondarily/ he hath declared us by scripture/ that we should confess that we are all the bondmen of sin. thirdly/ that Chryst alone is our saviour and redeemer, of which two points the Rom. 5. whole scripture is full, whereby we learn 1. Cor. 1. to put our trust/ hope and saith only in Christ, which is a true and godly work to salvation, as Christ saith joan. 6 And Christ saith. Mat. 5. Let your light johan. 11. burst out/ and so shine before the people/ Math. 5. that they (seeing your good works) may praise the father which is in heaven. Parson. Needeth no work thereto? Shoemaker. Paul saith▪ add Rom. 5. we hold it therefore, Roma. 5. that man is only made right was through faith, without the works, & to the Romans in the last chapter. The Rom. vlt. tyghtuous shall live by faith. Parson. james saith in his. 2. chap. Faith with out jacob. 2 ●ood works is dead. Shoemaker. A true Christian faith can never be Idle but bringeth always good works and fruits forth. For Chryst saith/ A good tree an bring forth no evil fruit, Math. 7. but such good works ought not to be done for to merit or deserve heaven thereby/ for Chryst hath merited and deserved it for us, neither for fear, and to a void the pains of hell, for Chryst hath delivered us thereof, neither for honour, for all honour sh●lbe given only unto God, as it is written. But ye shall do them for Math. 4. love, for a thanks giving to God, and to the help and profit of your neighbour. parson. If Luther be so righteous and so good a doctor as you name him to be, how chastity it then that so few great lords do cleave and stick unto his doctrine: Save only a heap of rude and unlearned people? Shoemaker. pilate, Herode, Cayphas nor Annas, ●leued not to Chryst nor yet the pharizees, but the common people. Therefore Christ rejoiced in spirit, and said. Father I thank you, that ye have hidden these Luke. 10. things from the wise of the world, & have opened it to the little flock. Parson. What I say the common people clean lest of all to Luther and his doctrine. Shoemaker. Your dull-headed and foolish preachers are cause of that/ which without any scripture, cry and call, he is an heretic/ he is an heretic. But christ hath declared Math. 4. to the little flock. Go thorough the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is broad which leadeth to damnation, and there are many which walk in it, And there are many called and few elect. Math. 22. Parson. Men do use to speak such words in taverns, upon the market, and else where like fools, which ought not to be spoken in such places. Shoemaker. Christ sayeth/ what I say to you in secret, that shall ye preach upon the house Math. 10: tops. parson. If I should say truth. I hold Luther for the greatest heretic, that ever was sense Arrius Time, and thou art his follower, and there is no good in you, neither cometh their any good from you/ understandeste thou that? The same title do I give both to Luther and to the● Shoemaker. verily you have hit the prick/ fo● their is no man good but God only. Fo● our nature is whole and all corrupt ●● Math. 14. us, as it is written. Genes. 8. The hart● of man is inclined to evil/ even from hy● Gene. 8. youth/ which daily must be mortified with the cross, least it might hinder th● spirit. For nature ceaseth not to seek that thing whereunto it is inclined, all though the spirit be made righteous through● faith. For it is written Prover. 24. The righteous falleth seven times ●● the day. Therefore do we daily pray. Forgive Prou. 24. us our trespasses Math. 6. and paul to the Rom. 7. The good which I would Math. 6. I do not/ and the evil which I hate, I Rom. 7. do, and after that speaketh he. O miserable man/ who shall deliver me from the body of death? Therewith declareth he that w● are sinners even unto death. But sir Do ruin/ if thou art with out Sin, cast the first stone upon us. Parson. Ye are all unprofitable people, ye can prate very well/ I trust ye shall shortly be johan. 8. knocked upon your bones, for I perceive there is none other remedy. shoemaker. What would you be in hand with the sword? that appertaineth not to the spyritual●●e. Parson Hath not Christ Luce. 22. ordained two swords, one spiritual and an other temporal. shoemaker. Chryst did forbid Peter. Math. 26 and said he that striketh with the sword Math. 26. shall perish with the sword. parson. It helpeth not by other means, therefore must it be helped/ with a quick punishment, for heresy hath in a manner taken the upperhand, therefore it is high time to strike in the flock. Shoemaker. Oh, do not so, but rather follow the counsel of Gamaliel/ Actum in the 5. chapter. If the ddctryne be of God, ye can not for Acts. 5. bid nor defend it, and if it be of men, then shall it fall without any sword/ to the intent ye he not taken as one that will fight against God. parson. There shall come nothing else thereof for this shallbe the end. Shoemaker. Now, O lord of heaven, thy will be fulfilled. Math 6. The disciple is not above his master. H●ve the●● persecuted johan. 15. me. they shall persecute you also/ a●d h●ppy Luke. 6. are is, when ye are hated/ disdained and despised for my name's sake. parson. Some shall then hold their peace, which now do call and roar a loud. Shoemaker. He that confesseth me before the world him will I knowledge and confess before my heavenly father. Parson. Ye shall be handled and served like as heretics ought to be served. shoemaker. Chryst saith fear not them which may Math. 10. destroy the body only, but fear him which may destroy both body and soul. O lord God, how good is it to die for thy name's sake? parson. It were even your just reward/ a heretic (after the third admonition and warning) ought to be put to death. shoemaker. But you ought first to prove or define us to be heretics, with the holy scripture. parson. That may we full easily ●o. Shoemaker. Then shall God require our blood at your hands/ because you have suffered us, and the poor sheep of Chryst to have been thus long seduced and led out-of the right way. And that you have not resisted and disputed with so many preachers of this learning. Parson. It shall shortly come to pass, we have taken our advise and counsel upon the matter. Shoemaker. Yea, is that true indeed? I perceive ye do fulfil the saying of Mat. And the Phariz●es went and held a council how Math. 22. they might trip him in his words, and did send officers unto him/ with the officers of Herode. parson. What else? Thus ought the heretics to be served. Shoemaker. Oh, lord. These true preachers would fain bring us all to christ, no man excepted▪ And thou woldeste bring both us and thyself to the devil. Thou wouldest fain that the Fire of Heaven should fall on us Luk. 9 Hear what Chryst faith. Luke. 9 Do ye not know what children of spirit ye are? The son of man is not come to destroy the souls of men, but to save them. 2. Cori. 13. He hath given me power (saith he) not to destroy, but to amend. 2. Cori. 13. Parson. What, I say, I will even the same also. shoemaker. Fire and sword serveth not thereto, but the word of God Hebr. 4. Which is Hebre. 4. sherper than a two edged sword. Therefore if thou art of God, defend thy doctrine and laws with God's word, which 1. Cor. 1. is the power of God. 1. Corinthi. 1. Parson. All this helpeth you never a whit. Shoemaker. Ye bring not God's word/ ye seek not the honour of God, but your own power honour, and riches, against which the word of God speaketh, and therefore do ye persecute it. Parson. Yea, thou pratest nothing else, but to here a man, when the heart is full, then ●●nneth the mouth over. Luke. ●. Shoemaker. I may well liken you/ like as Christ likeneth the children sitting in the market place/ crying one to an other and saying. We have pipes unto you and ye have Luk. 7. not danced. We have mourned to you & ye have not wept. Even so is it with you, If a man speak unto you confortablye of the word of God, then do ye deride it. If a man do tell it you earnestly/ then are ye angry. parson. Although thou didst sing like ● Lark/ though shalt not make me otherwise then I am. Shoemaker. Your heart is waxed hard and stony as king Pharaoh, Exodi. Reed from the .7. Chapter to the. 15. who n●ther regarded no wonder nor places. etc. Parson. Thou hadst almost it the prick. Shoemaker. Me thinketh that thou art like the false off year Luk. 6. What shall I do? the lord will take the office from me, I can not dig, and I am a shamed to beg. Even that same fear ye spiritual men also no exhortation nor admonishing can help. parson. No man cometh to me unless my father draw him, will you then convert a man? Shoemaker. Oh sir I love to hear the same words with all my heart. It is written job 15. without me canst thou do nothing/ and further thou haste not chosen me, but I have chose thee, therefore lieth it not in our power, but it is God which must convert us. Which I do wish you all from the bottom of my heart. Parson. When do they ring in the church Katherine give me my sirplies and tippet. Katherine. Well beloved master/ go in pease, I hope all things shallbe well. shoemaker. With the help of God, now peace be with you, beloved sir take no displeasure with me, but pardon me if I have offended you. Parson. God pardon and forgive us all our sins. shoemaker. Amen. Parson. Behold how quick these lay men are in telling of their tale to us which are anointed. I think that the devil of hell be patched and clouted in the sho. Skin, he hath so stricken me upon my breast pla●e/ that if. I had not been so deeply learned, he should have made me Turrian ass, therefore he shall make no more shoes for me/ but Hans zobell shall be my shoemaker, for he ●s a very simple man, and one that doth not much reason of the scripture/ nor of ●he Lutheryans' heresy, which appertaineth not to the lay people, neither becometh it them to dispute with their soulekepers, for Solomon saith who soever walketh simply, walketh well. Ah, the same saying ought I to have laid to that dull-headed shoemaker, peradventure, he should have had nothing to say thereupon/ ●ut have been stark doom. Katherine Ah master, I feared greatly (when I saw you could not overcome him with scripture) that you should have stricken him upon his pate with the slippers. Parson. If I had not feared that an oproare knight have risen among the comens/ I should verily have laid the slippers in his face, so that neither Paul no nor Christ himself should have swept it from him in three days, for all that he trusteth so much in them. Katheryn. I marvel greatly how it cometh that the say people are so learned. Parson. If thou wilt know it, I shall tell i● the. The cause is that the spiritualty is no more regarded. Here afore times did our holy father the pope of Rome with his by●shops forbid such heretics as Luther is, according to the spiritual law and compelled them to recant, like joan hus was served at constance. If men did now compel these preachers of the Gospel to hold their Peace, then should i● be as good as ever it was, and then should the spiritualty be honoured, but when we go about to cause them to hold their peace, then will they immediately dispute with the pope and bishops, which is a thing that never was heard in the world before, that such vile parsonnes should dispute with the most holiest father which are not worthy to speak to his holmes, but it shall shortly take an end. Although these preachers will not hold their peace, they shall be compelled to hold their peace, for all that they lay Saynes Paulles writing before them/ and though they had Paul's sword also, yet must they lie down and not so much as one's kick, when it pleaseth once the Holy Father of Rome, then must the lay people hold their peace also, and then shall we come to our former worthiness and pristine honour. Katheryn. Verily Sir It were very good, for every man despiseth and mocketh with you like the shoemaker did even now. parson. Heretofore should such one have been excommunicate, but now must we both hear and learn of the lay People▪ like the pharisees did of Chryst, good katherin I pray the call johan our coke, he useth much to read in the Bible, perchance he shall declare the scripture better than I● he must seek me some sentences out of the scripture. Katheryn. johan johan/ come to my master. johan. Honourable sir what is your pleasure? Parson. Our shoemaker hath vexed me very long and hath showed me much● out of the bible, like the manner of the Lutherians is/ ye must seek me out some Chapter that I may know if he have said right or no, that I might conui●●● him ●y scripture. The coke. Ye ought with right to know it yourself, for you have long helped to examine the anointed. To that we use but the doctrine of scoles/ and that which hath been written and made by men and very little the spiritual law, which the holy fathers have concluded in the councils. The coke. It maketh no matter of that which the ancient fathers have concluded in the con●ell and what men (which are come in afterward) have written, when the same law doctrine and writing is not out of the word and spirit of God. For the Prophets. Apostles and evangelists were men also. Parson. Ergo they might also err, but the Lutheryans will not believe it. The coke. No, for Peter saith. 2. Petri in the first 2. Petri. 1. Chapter. That to prophet in the scripture hath any ●●y●ate interpretation. For the scripture came never by will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by ●he holygost. The false prophets, which bring many evil sects in that signifies ●●en your spiritual estate, order, rule, and all the munitions of men (without any ●●●rde of God) where with you daily go about. Parson. That is not spoken of us, but of our ancient old predecessors ano sorego●rs. The coke. O ye fools and sloth in heart to believe Luke. 24. all that the prophets have spoken. Katheryn. Hark Master, doth the cock bid you Crow? ye would not suffer me to tell it you. Parson. O thou lousy vylayn, wilt thou now teach me? thou art also one of Luther's knaves, get the out of the doors, and come no more into my house, thou unshamefast beast I council it the for best. Shoemaker. Ha ha ha/ I perceive it grieveth yo● yet/ that the shoemaker hath stopped so well your mouth, left it not be so great wonder unto you, for God suffered (in the old Testament) sheapardes to declare his word, even so now must ye pharezees, and shavelings be taught of shoemakers and robblers/ yea the very stones ●hall call it in to your ears: fareye well sir domine. Katheryn. I marvel that you can take the pain to speak to such Rude beasts, they neither regard you nor yet your holy ointment. Parso●. I shall keep me from him well enough, thou wicked and excommunicate knave take heed of thy fire/ now I will go to the Church, and go you ●o the Market and buy us a dozen of good quails/ for the chaplain of my most reverend Lord the bishop shall dine here with more other gentlemen, we will keep a banquet, now Carry the bible out of the parlour, and look if the dice are in the tables▪ and provide us of a fair pair of cards or two. Katherine. It shallbe done, Sir, will ye come home anon after the procession be done▪ Parson. Yea, look the meat be ready. Katheryn. yea forsooth Sir Amen.