D. Heskins, D. Sanders, and M. Rastel, accounted (among their faction) three pillers and archpatriarches of the popish synagogue (vtter enemies to the truth of Christes Gospell, and all that syncerely professe the same) ouerthrowne, and detected of their seuerall blasphemous heresies. By D. Fulke, Maister of Pembrooke Hall in Cambridge. Done and directed to the Church of England, and all those which loue the trueth.

SECTIO. 11. From the second face of the 48. leafe, vnto the first face of the 58. leafe, Wherein he speaketh of seruice in the mother tongue.* 1.1

The Bishop reproueth the vse of the vnknowen tonge in the Masse, by the authoritie of S. Paule,* 1.2 that will haue all things in the Church done to edifying, and that pray∣ers and thankes giuen in the Church be such, as the peo∣ple to them may answere, Amen.

Maister Rastell quarreleth that this fault is common to the Masse, with Euensong, and Mattins, therefore it is no proper fault of the Masse. A proper reason: rayling and lying are no peculiar faultes to Maister Rastel, but common to him with Maister Harding, Maister Sanders, Maister Alen, and an hundreth more, therefore he doeth Maister Rastel wrong that reproueth him of rayling and lying. But before he answere the Bishops obiections, he wil make no lesse then fiue obiections him selfe against him, out of the same place of Saint Paule, wherein he tri∣umpheth.

1 Why all the Psalter of Dauid is read in the English Church, when all the Psalmes be not vnderstoode of all English men? Forsooth syr there is no Psalme, but some∣thing may be vnderstoode of euerie Englishe man that hath capacitie of vnderstanding, and the rest, that they may learne to vnderstand them.

2 How many people be there that vnderstand not the easiest Chapter of the Gospell, muche lesse the Pro∣phets

and Psalmes? But sir they are often read that they may the better be vnderstoode, or at least so much of them, as is necessarie for them to knowe for their sal∣uation.

3 Where singing is vsed, howe can they vnderstande any thing? Such singing as taketh away vnderstanding is forbidden in our Church, both by the booke and by in∣iunction.

4 How can a thousand people vnderstande him that hath a small voice, or Cornishe men, or Northerne men, a fine Londoners speech? &c. The Bishop should haue care to prouide a man, as well for voyce, as for other qualities, able to edifie the people, and suche nations of the Queens obedience as vnderstande not the English tongue, haue their prayers in their owne tongue, whiche he saith, he had forgotten, I thinke he saith as it is, for a lyer should haue a good remembraunce.

5 He saith we haue one Chapter for the better learned of the Parishe, another for the poorer, which is a flam fiue of his owne deuising. Yet he saith, there would be no end of confusion, if nothing should be read in the congregation, but that which should be vnderstoode of all that are present: as though he were wiser then the ho∣lie Ghoste, which in expresse wordes hath so commaun∣ded, that al may learne, that all may be comforted, mea∣ning all the congregation, not a man of a straunge language comming in chaunceably or curiously, beeing none of that flocke.

But what answere hath he to Saint Paule? euen a most shamefull shifte and impudent lie. Namely, that Saint Paule speaketh onely of preaching, which he graunteth must be in the vulgar tongue, and the Gospell and Pi∣stle he could be content should be also, if it pleased the Popes holinesse. But Saint Paule nameth expressely, not onely preaching, but also praying, giuing of thankes, and singing of Psalmes or Hymnes. But he obiecteth that Saint Paule saith, he that speaketh with tongues edifieth himselfe, and he that giueth thankes in

a strange tongue, doeth giue thankes well: It is true, if his prayer and speeche be godly and priuate, but in the congregation, the Apostle by no meanes alloweth any man to vse a strange tongue. Yes saith M. Rast. if there be an interpreter. In deede S. Paule speaketh of them which had a miraculous gifte of strange tongues, which might be vsed to set forth Gods glorie, so that there were an in∣terpreter, that the Churche might be profited, otherwise he would haue Gods gift to be silent in the Churche. To be short, M. Rast. affirmeth preaching it selfe to be so vn∣necessarie, that pictures may not onely supplye the wante thereof, but also are necessarie for the faithfull people, and more profitable then a most eloquent and learned sermon of M. Iewell himselfe. Who would rea∣son any longer with such an insensible Idoll? which by y^e iust iudgement of God, is made like vnto those Images whiche he worshippeth, and in whome hee putteth his trust.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rastel
• * 1.2

  Fulk