* 1.1THe next day came thither an old Byshoppe, who had a pearl in his eye, and he brought with him to my Lord a dish of apples, & a bottle of wine. For he had lost his ly∣uing, because hee had a wife. Then the Bishop called me agayne into the Orchard, and sayd to the old Bishop: this young man hath a childe, and will not haue it christened.
I deny not Baptisme.
Thou art a foole, thou canst not tell what yu woul∣dest haue, and that he spake with much anger.
A bishop must be blamelesse or faultles, sober, dis∣creete, no chider, not geuen to anger.
Thou iudgest me to be angry: no by my fayth am I not, and stroke himselfe vpon the brest.
Then sayd the old Bishop: Alas good yoūg man, you must be taught by ye church, and by your auncients, and do as your forefathers haue done before you.
No, no, he will haue nothing but the Scriptures, and God wot he doth not vnderstād them. He will haue no ceremonies in the Church, no not one. What say you to holy water?
I say to it, as to the rest, and to all that be of hys making that made them.
Why, the scriptures doth allow it.
Where proue you that?
In the booke of kinges, where Eliseus threw salt into the water.* 1.2
Ye say truth, it is so written in the fourth booke of Kinges, the second chapter: the children of the Prophetes came to Elizeus, saying: The dwelling of the city is pleasant, but the waters be corrupted. This was the cause that Elize∣us threw salt into the water, and it became sweete & good and so when our waters be corrupted, if ye can by putting in of salte make them sweete, cleare, and wholesome, wee will the better beleue your ceremonies.
How say ye to holy bread?
Euen as I sayde to the others. What Scripture haue you to defend it?
Haue ye not read where Christ fedde fiue thousand men with fiue loaues, and three fishes?
Will ye make that holy bread? There Christ dealt fish with his holy bread.
Looke I pray you, how captious this man is.
Christ did not this miracle, or other, because wee should doe the like miracle, but because we should beleeue and credite his doctrine thereby.
Ye beleue no doctrine, but that whiche is wrought by miracles.
No forsooth, for Christ sayth: These tokens shall fol∣low them that beleue in me: they shall speake with new tongues they shall cast out Deuils,* 1.3 and if they drinke any deadly poyson, it shall not hurt them.
With what newe tongues doe ye speake?
Forsooth, where before that I came to the know∣ledge of Gods word. I was a soule blasphemer and filthy talker, since I came to the knowledge thereof, I haue lau∣ded God, praysed God, and geuen thankes vnto God euē with the same tongue: and is not this a new tongue?
* 1.4How do ye cast out Deuils?
Christ did cast them out by hys word, and he hath left the same word, that whosoeuer doth credite and beleue it, shall cast out deuils.
Did you euer drinke any deadly poyson?
Ye forsooth that I haue: for I haue dronken of ye pestilent traditions and ceremonies of the Byshoppe of Rome.
Now you shew your selfe to be a right hereticke.
I pray you what is heresie?
* 1.5All thinges that are contrary to Gods word.
If I stand in any thing contrary thereto, then am I worthy so to be called.
Thou art one, and thou shalt be burned, if yu stand and continue in this opinion. Ye thinke we are afrayd to put one of you to death: yes, yes there is a brotherhead of you, but I will breake it, I warrant you.
Where proue you that Christ or his Apostles dyd kill any man for his fayth?
Did not Paule excommunicate?* 1.6
Yes my Lorde, but there is a great difference be∣tweene excommunicating and burning.
Haue ye not read of the man and the woman in the Actes of the Apostles, whome Peter destroyed?
Yes forsooth, I haue read of one Ananias, & Sa∣phira his wife, which were destroied for lying agaynst the holy Ghost, which serueth nothing your purpose.
Well you will graunt one yet.* 1.7
Well if you will haue vs to graunt you be of god, then shew mercy for that God requireth.
We will shew such mercy vnto you, as ye shewed vnto vs: for my benefice or bishopricke was taken awaye from me, so that I had not one penny to liue vpon.
I pray you my Lord, what do ye geue him nowe that was in the bishopricke or benefice before that ye came agayne to it? whereunto he aunswered me neuer a word: for he turned his backe vnto me, & talked with other men, saying that he was very sory for me, but he trusted that I would turne with S. Paul, because I was so earnest: and so he departed and went to dinner,* 1.8 and I to the Porters lodge agayne.
After dinner I was called into the Hall agayne, and the Bishop desired the old bishop to take me into his chamber for I would be glad (sayd he) if ye tould conuert him. So he took me into his chamber, & sate him down in a chayre, and sayde to me: I woulde to God I coulde doe you some good. Ye are a young man, and I woulde not wishe you to go to farre, but learn of your elders to beare somewhat.
I will beare with nothing that is contrary to the word of God. And I looked that the olde Bishop shoulde haue made me an aunswere, and he was fast a sleepe.
Then I departed out of ye chamber alone and went to the Porters lodge againe, and there saw I the old Bishop last: I suppose he is not yet awake.