The B. of Sarisburie.
S. Paule saithe,* 1.1 Luke the Physician, and not, Luke the Painter. He painted the Blessed Uirgin with the colours of his speache, wherein he was counted more elo∣quent, then any of the rest: but otherwise to painte her, he had no leasure. How be it, Theodorus Anagnostes saithe,* 1.2 Eudoxia sent the same Image from Hierusalem to the Empresse Pulcheria: vpon what credite, it is not knowen. But this Simeon Me∣taphrastes, whome M. Hardinge here painteth out in his colours, and calleth him a Gréeke Writer,* 1.3 was a poore Scholemaister in Constantinople, and wrote Sainctes liues, which may wel be called, the Legends of Lies, and liued two hun∣dred yéeres agoe, and not aboue. Of so righte good ancient authoritie be M. Har∣dinges witnesses.
Touchinge that is here alleged of S. Ambrose, of Gregorius Nyssenus, and of Paulinus I graunte, as there were Painters, and Grauers at that time, so were there also Pictures, & Images at the same time, & that not onely in Priuate houses, and market places, but also in the Congregations, and open Churches. Eusebius saithe,* 1.4 that the vse thereof was brought firste into the Churche by the Heathens: And S. Hierome saith, speakinge of the Curiositie of the Heathens in this behalfe, Argento,* 1.5 & auro decorauit illud: vt fulgore vtrius{que} materiae decipiat simplices. Qui qui∣dem error ad nos vs{que} transiuit, vt Religionem in diuitijs arbitremur: He adourneth his I∣mage with Siluer, and Golde, that by the shine, and glitteringe of bothe these Metalles he maye deceiue the simple. Which errour doubtles is now cropen in emongst vs, (that be Christians) so that now we thinke, our Religion stādeth in ritches. S. Hierome would not haue com∣plained hereof, if it had not béene vsed in some places in his time. Neither could E∣piphanius ye Godly Bishop of Cyprus haue rente in sunder the Picture of Christe painted in a cloth,* 1.6 or cal it a Superstition vnfitte for the Church of God: Nor could Serenus ye woorthy Bishop of Massilia, haue broken in péeces Images wrought in timber, & Stoane, onles suche Pictures, and Images had then béene vsed. Wée de∣nie not,* 1.7 but Images were then in vse: but we denie, they were then woorshipped of the people, or set vp to the intent they shoulde be woorshipped.