It is trewe I was so determined when I went hence , but you must remember that in such viages many thynges do chaunce wherof it is lawefull to say I wyst not .

Then bring you no dingnite vpon your shulders from Italie the fautour of lernynge .

Yes a wonderfull dignite , as bare as may be , neuer a penye in my purse , and concernynge learnynge I brynge not one whit more than I caried forth with me .

Molde God that you came not hoome without all godlynes alsō as they do for the most part which come from thence hyther .

I myght haue done so , if I wold haue lefte the godlines that I learned in Germanie and played the Romane but if you knowe not , the belly goddes deuyllyshnes caused me to tarye no longer for although the Italians be wel learned in humanitie , yet they so abhorte true religion that amonge them there is nothing more despised .

You remember then what I sayd vnto you a litle before you went , the Italians be learned , but not godly .

When I chaunced to talke somwhat of godlines sometymes amonge them , it came to passe that they then confirmed that name which you gaue me in tymes past cauling me a great talker , wher as by myne owne iudgement I am scarse worthie to be rekened amonge them which speake least .

Amonge them that speake least whom I knowe if nede require is fuller of tonge then any in all the hole worlde .

You flater me now as you were wonte to do , but I neuertheles spoke frely against the Italians when nede required not caring thus moch whether they were offeded or no , so that I spoke the trueth .

but as it is not safest to speake the truthe alwayes amonge the Italians , so it is not best . But what yf you had bene rewarded of the same forte for your talkynge as Theocritus Chius was of Antigamus . , Calisthenes of Alexandre , and Antipho of Dionisius . I meruell greatly that your fre talking proued so well .

all thynges proued very well ,

Whome thanke you for good fortune ? your owne folishnes , or as the Germanes vse to saye , god of fooles ,

Forsoth god , for he fauored me so moch ether laboring by the waye , or tarienge for some space in the cities that I in dede plainely percepued that he pruided for me . Howbeit leest you shoulde be ignorant in al places , and amonge all men I pleyed not Polilogus .

I wold haue beleued that although you neuer had sworn , for I know howe necessarie such wisedome is in Italy .

I marked the time , I marked the place , I marked such as were present .

Uery well .

yf I met with good men and such as fauored the trueth me thought it a greate fault to leaue the truth , howbeit I brideled my tonge so , that I touched not them which are euell spoken of in Germanie for theyr hipocrise , and when I came in companie withe obstinate euel men , there I spake nothynge or very lytle .

Brake you neuer these bondes , as long as you were abrode ?

I broke them twyse except my remembraunce fayle me , as we were typplyng by ouersyght , and that at Rome . The fyrste for asmoche as it was tollerable and made not greatly agaynst the estimacion of sacrificers , was ascribed to dronkenes . The other because it semed to turne to the slaunder and reproche of the most holy , and of them which worshyppe this theyr beast for an ydoll , deserued pardon after that sort , that if certayne of my frindes had not conueyed me awaye I had fedde fisshes in Tiber.

What had you done I praye you ? .

I wil tel you . Upon a certayne daye that same highest byshoppe which fearith all heauen with his lokes dyd sacrifice , but with such pompe , such pride , such gorgeousnes , that nothyng passed , nowe I thynkyng wyth my selfe that excepte I sawe wyth my eyes the religion vsed in the cytie , al my labour was loste I gote me in to the church and marked all thynges very curiously .

It is meruel if al thynges were not ful of hipocrisie .

I praye god I dye Mithobius yf euer I sawe any thynge more folysh or superstitious , for sauyng the proud vestimentes asses brayenges , the noyse of musicians , a fewe childishe ceremonies , nothyng apeared in all that sacrifice worthie to be loked vpon the wich be no parte of religion .

Luther then and other good men note them not with out a cause as the destroyers of true godlines .

I graunte that Luter is free in notyng them of hipocrisie and knauery , but my iudgement is that they are worthie for theyr deuyllyshnes to be described of some behementer man , euen by some such as were in olde tyme , as Eupolis , or Cratinus , or Aristophanes , for as Horacesaith .

I truste there wyll be euer more whiche wyll paynte theyr knauery acordynglye , for asmoch as it is knowen by the gospell . I am nowe very desirous to knowe howe you behaued youre selfe , when you saw the sacrifice , held you your tounge , or declared you your selfe to be angrie ?

I wente out of the church , and had muche ado to holde my tounge , but afterwardes I wente to diner in myne Inne with a sorte of sacrificers which wonderfully praysed this pompeus seruice as that daye in the church , whereby it came to passe that Luther was noted as one that vnworthilie reprouith the solemnitie of the Masse , and other godly honours . Many of them cursed the good man . Many of them sayde his heresie wold not contine we longe . Many of them sayede he was more deuylish and hurteful then any heretike which vexed the church in the fathets tyme , wherfore Germanie is worthie seing it kepith thys monster , to be compelled by sworde and fier to obaye agayne , the Apostles seat .

But threates wyll not ouercome the Germanes , for as much as they haue cast of the seruile yocke , and haue recouered ther former libertie , but made not thes folyssh wordes you to be angrie ? or mocked you those knaues by holding your peace ? I although I be no scolder must nedes haue Turrian swered them as bitterly .

I was somewhat heated with wyne the which also made me to be bolde , for when they wold not ceace from reprouyng , and had hurt my charitie , at the length I set vpon them with wordes in lyke maner , but with such , that I made euery man , to loke vpon me and to harken to me , very anger lead me so farre , that I sayde not only the Pope dissentith not from Antichriste both in tyrannie and in knauerie but also that al the table , of sacrificers and monkes whiche cleaue to him are vnworthie whom the earth shuld carie , to a certaine man asking whye so ? sayde I , because they crucifie Christ euery daye , whom the Iewes were contente once only for to crucifie , with this euery one was madde , and to be shorte made suche a tumulte , beynge ready out of hande to complayne of me vnto the officers , that except certayne of my frendes had conueyghed me preuely vnto Tiber , and there had taken shyppe whiche as chaunce was , had her sayles spred redy to go , I had ben trymmed .

yf you had spoken this in this place it had ben well , but to saye so at Rome can not be suffered of these chyldren of darkenes .

And yet it can not be denyed but that to sacrifice as the papistes do , is to crucifie Christe a newe / and haue you no busines but that we may talke of this mater a fewe wordes ? for I knowe that you be asmoche geuen to the scriptures as to phisike .

The cure of the body , Eccle. 38. and confyrmacion of healthe be no thynges to be despysed , namely seynge the holy scrypture commaundeth men to worship the phisitian , but the cure of the soule passith thys farre as Christ teacheth in the gospel , who will then denye that a christiane ought especially to knowe the medicines for the soules .

Then I praye you tel me , howe the Masse ought to be cauled a sacrifice ?

They be greatly deceyued in my iudgement , which toke the sacrifice of the Masse , for I wyl vse the comin worde , for a satisfieng worke , which both satisfieth for other mens sinnes , and pacifieth goddes wrath , that ys when the sacrificer , saieth that he offreth vp to god the father . Christis body and Christis bloode , for the sinnes of the quicke and deade , for who wyl ve so madde to beleue that a sacrificer , can a newe offce vp , Christe contrarye to the scriptures which once was offred Hebre. 9. vpon the crosse for our sinnes , he once died , he once was offred . Then as Paule sayth death hath no more power ouer hym , so he beyng once offred colde be offred no more .

I am of the same , mynde , for I see yt confirmed euery where in the holy scripture , but cheifly in the epistle to the Hebrues , Hebre. 10. for on thys manet it is there , with one offring hath he made parfeit for euer them that be sanctified . Also in an other place , Hebre. 9. Christ was once offred to take awaye the sinnes of many .

And yet liturgia maye by a certayne maner be cauled a sacrifice , yf we wyll vse to speake , of thys thynge as the olde men vsed .

I am ready to heare howe certayne of the old men vsed to speake .

Although Augustine foloing other mens maners caulieth the Masse a sacrifice , yet we maye gather of the wordes whiche he wrote concernyng fayth to Peter the deacon , howe thys maner of speakyng ought to be vnderstode and taken , for thus he sayeth . In those carnall sacrifices was a fygure of Christes flesshe whyche euen he that was without synne , was determined to offre for oure synnes , and of his blood , the which he was determined to shede for the forgyuenes of our sinnes , but in thys sacrifice is a thankys gyuynge , and the remenbraunce of Chrstes flesshe the whiche he offred for vs , and of hys bloode the whiche the same god shed for vs . Cauleth he not here the sacrifice of the supper a thankes gyuynge and remenbraunce of Christes flessh ?

As farre as I can gather of Augustines wordes , yf a man take thys worde sacrifice for the remenbrauns of the sacryfice done ones vpon the crosse , he shal not be much deceyued .

It is true , for after the same sorte Chrisostome sayth plannely vpon the epistle to the Hebrues that this sacrifice is the remēbraūs of the sacrifice once done . And if the offering of Christ done once vpon the crosse myght be done agayne by the sacrificer , without doubt he wolde not haue sayd there , yf therfore he hath forgyuen our synnes by one sacrifice we nowe as yet haue no nede of the second .

I wyll remember this place of Chrisostome well and truely , that I maye haue somewhat , to laye agaynste them whiche in euery place bragge of the doctours auctoritie .

Bet narde , althoughe he was a monke and somewhat supersticious affirmeth the same with Chrisostome in these wordes . Christe was ones made a healthfull sacrifice for the health of the worlde , whiche is a generall reconciliacion of the gyltie . Christes deth is a worke without example , humilitie without measure , a gyfte without pryce , fauoure without deseruynge , and Christe wolde that that alwayes shulde be cauled to remembraunce by a mysterie whiche ones was offered by for a ransom , and that that euerlastynge sacrifice shulde be in mynde , and alwayes be present with vs in grace . What can be more hardly spoken agaynste our sacrificers ? he sayth that Christe became a healthfull sacrifice for the health of the world but ones , and that this sacrifice is an euerlastynge sacrifice , and ought alwaye to be in oure myndes . But yf this sacrifice be ones offred for our synnes , why is the same sacrifice done-agayne contrarie to Christes commaundement by the sacrificers

Paraduenture this shall be more playne yf you declare somwhat at large this worde sacrifice . Wherwith you shall do me both a pleasure and a profite , yf you wyll execute the office of a faythful scolemayster seynge you shall haue me an attent hearer .

To speake ingenerally of this worde sacrifice the tyme suffiseth not , and it is not worth the labour I wyll speake therfore of the cleansinge sacrifice and the sacrifice of thankes giuyng for thes chiefly pertene to the newe testament seyng the old ys abrogated ,

Verywell .

It ys manifest that ther ys one kinde of sacrifice which purgith our sinnes , reconcyleth vs with god , and pacifieth hys wrath . They caule yt propiciatorie , for wyth out thys sacrifice we shuld neuer haue the father which is in heuen merciful to vswarde .

Me thinkyth I perceiue ryght well what sacrifice you meane , euen that which was ones offred to god the father by the hie preist Christ vpon the crosse for our sinnes , as we sayed before .

you saye trewe . There was certaine offeringes and sacrifices of whom as god was the author , so was moyses the setterfurth as types , and fygures of thys sacrifice , for that which the hie preest was amonge the Iewes , for whom only to entre in to the holy place , yt was licenced but a certain tyme , Christ nowe wyth vs ys the selfe same for as much as the lawe ys abrogated , as the whiche alone & that ones , hath done sacrifice for our sines not by the blood of goates , or calues , but by the offringe of hys owne bodie ,

Thes be most true and in my iugement they be more blinder than moules which make an other purging than Christ hym selfe , not without the mooste haynous reproche of Christes merites , but whie waye they not rather here what ys in the Epistle to the Hebrues concernynge that mater ? Hebre. 9. Christ sayth he beynge an hie preest of good thinges to come entred in ones for all in to the holy place , not by the blod of goates and caulues , and founde eternall redemption .

The place which you haue syted a greith well to thys mater , but marke whether thes also ve not manifeste , Hebre. 9. but nowe a lytle before the ende of the worlde hath he apeared ones to put sinne to flight , by the offering vp of hym selfe . Hebre. 10. Also euery preest that ys of the old lawe , standieth daily doyng sacrifice , and for the moost parte offerith one maner of offering which can neuer take away synnes , but thys man after that he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes , sate hym downe for euer on the rigth hande of god , and so furth . Thes places diligently marked , and wel pondered take forgiuenes of sinnes , euen from those sacrifices whych were commanded the Iewes by god , as in whom was only the rightuousnes of the law , and outward iustice in Moses comon wealth , now yf that in the old lawe sacrifices commanded by god obteined not the forgyuenes of sinnes , who dare beleue that our sacrificers shal obteine the same both for them selues and for other by a rite to sacrifice inuented by man

I wyll neuer thynke that they be able , what ? mary as the sacrifices amonge the gentyles were of no valewe as when they offered a goate and an Asse to bacchus , to Ceres a sowe , to Diana a harte , to Neptune a bulle , to the night a cockrel , to Maia a sow with pigges , euen so I thinke that the sacrifices of oure sacrificers be with out strength , seing thei nether haue the commandment nor word of god , but hange all togither vpon mans traditions .

I alowe your stedfastnes for truly thes Massemongers can offre no suche sacrefice nether for them selues nor other . Thys honour most be gyuen to the one , and onely Christ , for asmoch as he hathe gyuen his soule a sacrefice for oure synnes , Esa. 3. as Esaye wytnesseth in the liii . chapter . Who wyll not beleue with all his harte that this sentence must be alwayes stedfast in the christianite ? Take out of the world the saccifice of this hyghe preest and all thynges shal be ful of vnfaythfulnes and incredulitie , on the contrarie , let this same be establesshed , and all thynges shall be full of spirituall goodnes .

I moost constantlie beleue ( thankes be to God ) that mennes synnes are forgeuen and blotted out by this onely sacrifice , that mennes consciences which byleue are purged from the workes of death , that they are sanctified in dede which doubt not concernynge that mater , brefely that the gate of the kyngdome of heauen is opened for suche as hange of the merites and worthynes of this sacrifice .

To byleue on that maner is to be iustified , as all the scrypture witnesseth . Christe dyed ( sayth Paule to the Romanes ) for our synnes and rose againe to iustifie vs . Rom. 4. Yf faith laye handes on these thinges and determine with her selfe that they be certayne , as they be mooste certayne , without doute , she shall obtayne forgyuenes of synnes , ryghtuousnes , and lyfe euerlastyuge , althoughe she neuer be at no papisticall Masse . We haue heare the word , and ceremonie of the supper , wherby suche treasure is accustomed to be gyuen . And therfore we haue no nede of this maskynge sacrifice of the Masse .

yet I thynke the sacrifice of thankes geuynge maye be admytted in to the administracion of the supper .

Whye not ? but if the papistes when they speake of the sacrifice of the Masse , meaned the sacrifice of thankes giuinge there wolde be lesse contencion . But be cause they prate most folyshly defynynge the Masse to be a purgynge sacrifice , which beyng dayly offred for the quicke and the deed , taketh and putteth awaye not onely all veniall but also mortall synnes and so forthe . Luther not without a cause defendeth the dignitie of the mercifull sacrifice agaynst these asses , and the sacrifice of thankes gyuynge is admitted onely in to the supper of the lorde , the whiche by vs maye be offred vp to God .

This treasure whiche is gyuen in the supper to them that beleue , is suche & so great that there is nothynge in the worlde so precious , whiche maye in any wyse be conferred with it , for it is no small thynge to be delyuered from synne , to be accompted iust before God , yea and to be rewarded with eternall lyfe , and that frely for Christes sake . Then seynge it is so , in my iudgement it is naughtely done yf we lykewyse do declare no kyndnes towardes so merciful a God in praysynge , honorynge , and gyuynge hym thankes continually for so great benefites , for this the sacrifice of thankes gyuynge ( as I thynke ) meaneth .

Who wyll denye that , seinge we haue in that thynge the manyfest commaunde mente of God . And euen the holy goost also vseth to moue suche as beleue to the same . Psal. 49. Offre vp to God ( sayth the psalme ) a sacrifice of prayce , & perfourme thy vowes to the hyghest . And in the thyrde chapter of Malachie it is sayd , he wyll purge the sonnes of Leui , & wyll purifie them as golde or syluer , and they shall offre vnto the lorde sacrifices in tyghtuousnes , and the sacrifice of Iuda shall please the lorde , & so forth . There is no doubte but that these must be vnderstode of Messias tyme , wherfore this place contayneth bothe the sacrifices of the newe testamente . It must be taken of the purgynge sacrifice wherin he geueth him selfe to vs , whiche sayth he shall purge the chyldren of Leui , and so forth . For as we can not be purged from oure synnes but by Christe , lykewyse by the same man we are become the sonnes of Leut , that is preestes , whome he wyll trye as golde or syluer . But that must be taken of the sacrifice of thankes gyuynge , which sayth they shall offre vnto the lorde in ryghtuousnes , for seynge we that beleue are become nowe a kyngly preesthod , it is mete that we offre incessauntly vnto the same the sacrifice of thankfulnes , for suche a benefite ,

you playe the phisician nowe in dede , not for the body but for the woundes of the soule for who wold euer haue loked for such exactues in diuinitie of a phisitiane I heare verely and beleue the same that thes sacrefices of thankes geuynge perteyne equally to all Christians , and for all this I thynke they be not all of one sort .

They that professe diuinitie no we adayes make two kyndes of workes of suche as byleue , whiche maye be taken out of the two tables of the .x. commaundementes . Then what letteth that in thankes gyuynge we maye not make two kindes of sacrifices .

No thynge at all .

Then let the sacrifices of the fyrst sorte be wher in we declare the kyndnes of our mynde towardes God , as truste of mercye , feare of God , mortyfyenge of the fleshe , caulynge vpon God , confessynge of the truthe , prayse of God , and contynuall thankes gyuynge for all our benefites eyther spirituall or corporal . For this kynde of sacrifices must nedes be a moste pleasaunt sauour to God , seynge it pertayneth to the trewe worshyp of God aswell inwardly as outwardly .

It is meruayle yf that continuall sacrifice whiche the prophetes prophecied shulde be in the churche conteyne not all these .

It is so , you muste remembre also that the workes of the second table be as certayne sacrifices whiche partayne to the other parte of the sacrifice of thankes gyuynge . Is it not a moost sure token of a thanckeful mynde to obey thy parentes , & magistrates for his cause which commaunded the same ? to abstayne from adultrie , from thefte , from robberie , from all sortes of false swearyng , from false witnessyng , and brefely from all suche wherby our neighbour may be hurt .

They that be thus mynded towardes theyr neyghbour by the sterynge vp of the holy goost , me thynketh do a thynge most acceptable vnto God , so moche lacketh it that I accompte not suche workes for sygnes of a thanckefull mynde .

And vnfaythfull me can speake very well outwardlye of suche thynges , the which thing euen Tullie alone approueth sufficiently , and do some thynge in dede , as beyng taught by the law of nature that we muste hurte no man , but because what soeuer they do , they do it with out fayth , they can by this kynde of sacrifice please God no more than they which in tymes past inuented Hecatom be , Lupcalia , Meditrinalia , Nouendialia , Fontanalia , Penetralia , Consualia , and a thousande suche other .

Hyther I thynke perteyneth that by fayth Abell offred vnto God a more plentuous sacrifice then Cyin , Hebre. 11. by which he obtayned wytnes that he was ryghtuous , God testifienge of his gyftes , by whiche also he beynge deed , yet speaketh .

After the same sorte our sacrifices shall not please God onles they be seasoned with faythe , but whye do I lette you with many wordes ? These thynges be taught euery daye in the pulpet , & you by youre selues maye reade inoughe concernyng this mater in bokes whiche be abrode , that I nede not to teache you ,

Then this is the summe of those thynges that you haue spoken of hytherto . This worde sacrifice agreeth not to the supper of the iorde , onles it be taken for the remembraunce of the sacrifice ones done , or for a thankes gyuynge .

The sacrifice whiche purgeth vs was ones fynysshed by Christes death vpon the crosse , in so moch that as many as cleaue to hym by faythe shall certaynely obtayne forgyuenes of synnes and euerlastynge lyfe . Therfore it can not be done agayne by a sacrificer , but the sacrifice of thankes gyuynge pertayneth as well vnto all Christians as that we knowe that God hath gyuen vs innumerable benefites for whome we must thancke hym . Therfore we must nedes continually vse this sacrifice .

I perceyue you , entendynge not from hence forthe to folowe lyghtly a contrarie iudgement ,

Then farewell and after suche tyme as you applye your mynde to diuinitie , se that of a greate talker you become a great praecher .

It shal be done .

Out of S. Blases church .

What made you there ?

As thoughe you knowe not what men do there .

I aske not that with out a cause , for I meruayle howe it chaunceth that you had rather be in the churche whiche you haue hated alwayes as poysone , than in the tauerne .

Wel what soeuer I haue done is myn owne harme and not yours . No the Lutherians haue bene onely the cause , that I haue gone so seldome to the church .

What Lutherians ? howe so ?

I neuer come in to any churche where as they be gouernours , but that I fynde some man preachynge , or the people syngynge psalmes in the mother tonge , which thinges I can not abyde , and I thynke they be not well done , for who can abyde hym that in his sermon alwayes runneth aboute one stringe , and the people synging one song , but chefely the preachers here be so hote , that they alwayes inueygh agaynst synne , they alwayes bete in to mennes heades repentaunce , they alwayes preache Christ , they alwayes moue men to fayth , they haue charyte alwayes in theyr mouthes , and I can not tell what crosse . Howe moche better were it for them to please the people , and caule them to the feare of God by chaunge of ceremonies , as our fathers dyd .

I can not se howe that sermones of repentaunce , of Christe , of fayth , and of the crosse , can be odious to any man seynge in them is the foundacion of christen religion . And verely whome sermons of the gospell moue not I can not tell what ceremonie wil moue them . What is the chiefest cause why the people be called together ? that the word may be preached and harde , and that then we maye cause to God to gyue the encrease , for I perceyue not howe he can be called a christen man which desyreth not moost feruently the truthe and the worde , as Christe sayth , Ioh. 8. he that is of God heareth the wordes of God , ye therfore heare not the wordes of God because ye are not of God , verely I graunte that it semeth vayne lyp labour , to the and suche as thou arte , yf Christ be ofte spoken of , yf suche thynges be earnestly preached as perteyne to the christians , But we knowe with the apostle whiche reioyseth that he had preached nothynge to the Corinthians but Christe , 1. Cor. 1. that these preachynges of the gospell are the vertue and powre of God , Rom. 1. and that to saluacion to all that byleue . Then seynge that holy preachynge be thynges so necessarie to saluacion , me thynke they do well and semely the whiche preferre no ceremonies althoughe it be neuer so comendable , before the preachynge of the worde , not that I condempne all ceremonies in lyke , but that I thynke Goddes worde muste not be robbed of his due honour .

here the comon prouerbe pleaseth me well . Nothing to moch . for in this thynge there must be a measure .

There is no thyng in the hole world but causeth lothsomnes , oneles there be measure . Onely desyre to heare the worde of God except , neyther knoweth fulnes , or feeleth lothsomnes , as it apeareth in Magdalene which Luc. 10. wolde not leue Christe as he was teachynge , no not by the complayntes of Martha .

I can be wel contented you thynke so , so that I maye also haue myne owne mynde . But nowe syr what euell spirite brought fyrst these songes in the mother tong , in to the churche ? had not the fathers brought in ynoughe afore tyme ?

No what wytche hath bewytched thy head that thou darest reproue a thyng which is good of his owne nature , and take it for a naughty thynge . Arte not thou content to speake scornefully of the worde , whose authorite ought to be most holy amouge all men , except thou also imprudently despyse Dauids psalmes and other spirituall songes . But why ponder you not diligently whom you dispise , for the lutheranes diuysed not fyrste to synge psalmes , and spirituall son songes on this maner in the congregation , Eph. 5 : it was taught the churche by S. Paule , as profitable and necessary for a semely ordre , whome seynge you dispyse , beware that you dispyse not Christe hymselfe , to youre great daunger . Excepte paraduenture you thynke it was spoken in sport , and as they were in quassynge . Luc. 10. Mat 25. He that dispiseth you dispiseth me . And what soeuer you haue done to one of the least of myne , you haue done it to me . But nowe what is in the hole stewes , church I wold haue said , that can delyte moch a good mynd , & that loueth Christe ?