THe tyme shall come the who soeuer dothe kyll you , shall wene that he dothe honoure and seruyce vnto god . Forsothe this theyr noyse shuld haue more worthy of sylence / and pope Adryan with those whiche do so buselye promote and set forward the canonysacyon of Benno , Pope Adryan . ought , ( & not without great cause ) to be hartely asshamed , yf there were but euen one lytle sparke of wysdome lefte in them , for that they haue not ben affrayed to put in wrytynge all those holy maners and examples of Benno , and to reherse them in the bulle , & openlye to publysshe them vnto the hole worlde , the is to wytte , howe he dyd ioyne hym self to Gregory the. Gregory the .vii. Henry the vii . Emperour . vii . and toke parte with hym agaynst Henry the .vii. Emperour / and dyd excommunicate the Marchion of Misnia and the Emperour also with hym / and than afterwardis dyd ronne lyke a false traytour vnto the Pope / I wolde haue sayd went in pylgrymage to fulfyll his vowe . O howe worthy and semely a dede was this for a knyghte ? For he ought of ryght to be called not onely by the name of an holy bysshop : but also of an holy knight , & he were worthye to be dygged vp with golden mattockes and spades , that he myght be all togyther of redde gold . I wyll not here reherse nor brynge forth the hystoryes , whiche do effectually shewe or declare , howe holelye the Gregorye the .vii. dyd demeane hym selfe towardis Henry the .viii. Henry the viii . doutles full lyke a traytour and a false disceyuoure , yf a man do marke well the fasshyon of hym . For he dothe prouoke the sone agaynst the father , & deposeth hym from the Emperpall dignyte , and suffered hym at the last to dye excommunicate : and all onely for cause of worldly ryches , honour and tyranny / vnto suche maner Pope dyd Benno conuey hym selfe ( as the bulle doth reporte & make bost of hym ) & such a pope as this , he confyrmed and mayntayned in his peruersytie & wyckednesse . Neyther was there so moch wytte in that holy man as to perceyue the the pope dyd wyekedlye and wrongfully , whiche dyd styrre vp the sonne agaynst the father , to whome god had commaunded obedyence and honoure to be gyuen . But he is so desperatly blynde , that he dothe ioyne hym selfe vnto the pope , & dothe mayntayne & defende his parte , and togyther with hym doth excommunicate the Emperoure and the Marchion : where as he ought euen with the ieopardye of his owne lyfe to haue cryed agaynst the pope , and to resyste and with stande hym / I wyll not ( I saye ) make rehersal of those thynges . th emperour Henry . And let vs graunte , that Henry had an vniust cause , & the Pope a rightuous cause , ( which thing for all that the hystoryes do denye : ) yet doubtles this thynge can not be denyed , the Ceasar embrasyd the faythe , whiche is accordynge to the worde of god . But ( as I haue sayd ) al this busynesse was onely for cause of money and ryches besydes this for honour and tyrannyes sake / for whiche thynges hethen men are wonte to stryue among them selfes / here in this thyng ( I say ) the pope dyd not Euangelycally . For els he ought not to haue resysted that euyll , but to haue let that thynge go which wolde not contynewe as Christ doth openly teache in the .v. chapitre of Mathewe . yea more ouer all though th emperour had done any thing also agaynst the worde of god / yet for all that the Pope oughte to haue suffered / and as beynge the faythfull vycare of Chryste his lord , he ought rather to haue suffered dethe in the cause . But here the Pope not onely dyd resyst euyll , and dyd reuenge hym selfe : but also he dyd moch euyll and moche iniurye and vexacyons to his aduersary . For he dyd shede so moche blode , & he broughte in so moche discorde and debate : that a man wolde euen abhorre to rede of it . And yet dyd he not cease nor take vp so , The Popesdede . vntyll he dyd spoyle the Emperour of his auctoryte / dyd spoyle hym and depryue hym of his Empyre , and of all his frendes , & also of all his honour / fynally of his body and lyfe , yea and ( asmoche as in hym was to do ) also of his soule . And with suche a Pope doth that holy man Benno conspire , whiche god wotte hath declared the gospell euen with doynge of miracles also . These are those excellent & noble vertues , for whiche he was iudged worthy to be dygged vp out of the grounde with golden spades , peraduenture to th entent that we also shulde lerne by his examples to kepe the gospell after the same fasshyon . And veryly I do suppose that this was the myracle & vertue of Benno , which dyd most moue and styrre the see of Rome , and whiche was princypally accepted of it . For had not this ben aduenture he shuld haue lyen yet styll a great whyle in the grounde . For who soeuer can worke suche a myracle that he can proue , and promote or sette forwarde the ryches , the pompe , the auctorytie , & the honours of the see of Rome , that man alone dothe more than yf he dyd rayse vp .x. deade men , yea & that though all the worlde in the meane season shulde perrysshe togyther with body , and soule , substaunce and honoure . But thou Benno a pleasaunt hypocryte vnto the Pope , howe gayly well hast thou deserued to be canonysed : which couldest fynde in thyne hert to be partener with the Pope of so many horryble & abhomynable synnes agaynst the gospell / and all common reason : and to charge & burthayne thy selfe with them . But verely ( as I do suppose ) these vertues of Benno are but fayned & forged of the Misnianes to flatter the Pope with all , and to moue and styrre hym to consecrate and canonyse hym a saynte : because they knowe well , that the Pope hathe not a lytle delectacion and pleasure in suche maner tyckelynge / and is not a lytle gladde , The amhicyon and vayne gforyousnesse of the pope . whan he hereth suche maner songes to be songen vnto hym . And for this cause therfore they dyd forthwith euen at the begynnynge laye these vertues forthe before , all myracles : that by that meanes the Pope myght be taken & made fonde / and that all those other vertues & myracles beynge els vnparfyte , feble and of none efficacite or strength in compary son of those myracles of the Misnians ( alas for very shame ) shuld be the more acceptable vnto hym . Nowe yf it be so that they do worke with lyes & false disceytes : who can from hensforth doubte , that the canonisacyon of this Benno is a mere disceyte of the deuyll ? so that nowe not Benno , but the deuyll hym selfe vnder the name of Benno dothe suffre hym selfe to be extolled and magnifyed as a saynt . And yf these thynges be true & vnfayned : this one thyng I may boldly saye and affyrme , that Benno , yf he dyed hauynge knowlege hereof , and dyd not repente hym and be sorye for this synfull dede , was vndoubtedlye cast downe hedlonge into helle . For the gospell muste nedes be truely , exactly , & perfectly , kepte and fulfylled . The gospel is to be obserued & kepte . For Chryst sayth , who soeuer shall breake one of these leaste commaundementes : he shal be called leaste in the kyngdome of heuyns . Math. v.

WHat maner thyng than do those Misnianes consecrate to vs for a saynt ? doubtles a stronge and an erraunte thefe , & a bloode sheder / the cause of all the calamyties and myseryes of all Germanie / the enemye of the gospel , the felowe of Antichryst / to whome he dyd conueye hym selfe , and was made parte taker of his impietie and wyckednes . And this thynge may euydently be gathered of the hyghe and excedynge great boste , whiche is made in the bulle of our mayster Adryan , of that excellent vertue , The bull of master Adryan . and holynesse , whiche dyd shyne in Benno / what other thynge I beseche you is meaned by these wordes / we do consecrate hym for a saynt , which lyued contrary to the rule of that gospell , what other thynge ( I saye ) is this , than to saye : We Misuianes are peuisshe , and vtterlye madde , whiche beynge distracte and besyde our selfes do not considre nor marke what is the very gospell selfe , or what is repugnaunt to the gospell / and whiche do make that thyng holy which we do prayse / and which do boste hym for this cause , that he dyd lyue & demeane hym selfe contrary to the gospell ? But thus shall our woode prelates stumble and fall : which do persecute the worde of god . A lyke thyng and of the same forte is that noble and delycate myracle , whiche also is bosted in that excellent and goodly bulle , not without the great wyckednesse & shame of Benno / & not of Benno alone , but also of all them , which do make hym a saynt . For the bulle dothe boste , howe boldly & manfully Benno , for worldly ryches sake , The Marchion of Misnia . dyd rydde the Marchion of Misnia out of the world , whiche had gyuen hym a buffet / and that same day tweluemonth after that he was slayne , lykewyse as he had also before manased & thretened hym , that he wolde do . Here ( god wotte ) Benno dyd well interprete that place of the gospell , and also expresse it in his lyuynge , where Chryst dothe saye : Mathe. v. do good vnto them that are noyous vnto you , and pray for them whiche do defame & pursue you .

BUt contrarywyse in this bulle thou seest , that Chryst dothe with myracles confyrme and fortifye cleane contrary thynges to this doctryne , and with wordes dothe teache to suffre , and afterwarde with myracles doth compell the contrary , to be done . O worshypfull bulle , O goodly canonysers / whan wyll you ones be asshamed ? but the bulle not contented so , The impietie & Bsasphemye of the Busse . nor thynkynge it ynough that it doth extolle such a blasphemye for a myracle , procedeth further forthe also / & maketh of Benno a god , whan it sayth : hereof it may easely be perceyued , that diuyne power was communycated to that godlye man . Almyghtye god ponysshe you , & forfende this , you most vngracyous & wretched blasphemours / For here by these wordes they wyll that the sayntes do worke myracles for them selfꝭ , and not Chryst alone , so as it is redde in the .lxxi. psalme , where it is sayd , whiche onely dothe worke great wonders .

BUt go to nowe , let vs graunt here agayne , that this grose and excedyng great lye was forged & ymagyned of good Benno , to th entent to bowe and supple the mynde of the Pope , & to tendre his herte . For the holy see of Rome is more moued and styrred , and taketh more delectacyon & pleasure of prynces be in any place euyll entreated & sharpely handeled , whan they haue ben bolde to laye hande vpon spirptuall goodes : than of the hole worlde were made holye . And therfore they haue also heaped togyther , and repeted in so many legendes and examples and bokes those thinges , whiche dyd appertayne vnto this matter : to th entente doubtles , that they myghte purchase and gette vnto them selfe plenty of goodes and pleasures in this worlde / & that they shuld not be constrayned to obserue & kepe or fulfyll the gospell . And yf this thynge be true : than ( I saye ) this agayne that Benno is none other wyse a saint , than are Annas & Cayphas : Annas . Cayphas . oneles peraduenture he toke repentaunce afore his dethe for his lyfe afore ledde / And they do not a lytle dishonoure and shame to Benno : whiche do boste and openly reaporte suche dedes of hym . For yf those thyngs be true , which they do carye about and boste in the bulle : than is Benno one of the deuylles sayntes . And yf they be but fayned thinges : than are they with theyr consecracyon & canonisacyon all togyther moued and styrred and ruled by the deuyll . For where it may be proued , that any man hath not lyued accordynge to the rule and doctryne of the scrypture : without doubt that man can not be holy , neyther oughte he of ryght to be consecrated and canonysed for a saynt / no thoughe he dyd rayse vp all deed men , and dyd worke all maner myracles . The gospell . The gospel is more mighty & of more strength to condempne a man , than any maner sygnes and myracles are to make hym a saynt . For the gospell can neyther erre ne lye : but myracles do often tymes deceyue , Suspecte myracles . as Paule hathe shewed vnto vs , wytnessynge that Antichryst shulde worke with false countrefayte myracles , that he myghte also begyle euen the verye electe persones / and as Moyses also doth wryte in the .xiii. chapitre of Deuteronomium , that no credence shuld be gyuen to miracles , whan the thynge semeth to be agaynst the worde of god . For myracles ought to serue the worde , and to folowe it : & not to go before it , & to do preiudyce vnto it / wherfore it is necessary and must nedes be that eyther the doctrine of Benno be approued , or els that his myracles , be of no wayght nor value , Myracles to be proued . as it is wrytten in the laste chapytre of Mathewe . Confyrmyng the worde the they preached with sygnes & myracles folowynge / he saythe not with myracles goynge before , or els myracles apperyng without any worde . And moche lyke vnto these thinges , is that also , where it is said , that Benno many yeres ago euen after his dethe , dyd for temporall goodes sake ponisshe Wyllyam Marchion / that is to wytte beynge moued at the peticyon and prayer of a certayne mayster or prouost , Wyllyam the Marchion of Misnia . dyd stryke out the Marchions iye ( as for the most parte holye are wonte to be gouernours of churches collegyate ) . For these noble prelates do all that euer maye be done for moneys sake , and for cause of ambicyon . This theyr ambicyon they wyll to be confyrmed & establysshed euen of the sayntes , that be departed out of this worlde . But this example came from the deuyll , as sure as god lyueth in heuen . For so that vncleane spirite is wonte to worke , and to do his busynesse by vysyons of deed folke , Wysyons of deade men . that he myghte make men madde , and to make them affrayed . This is vndoubted , & of a very suretye , that patryarches and kynges in the olde testament dyd somtyme fyght and handle weapons : but that was onely for the worde of god , & for his peoples cause , by the testymony of scrypture . But it pleaseth our lordes of Misnia & the blynde see of Rome , to call all that myracles , what soeuer doth fortifye & mayntayne temporall honoures and ryches / yea moreouer I do thinke this thyng also in a maner to be but a forged & fayned thynge , ( lykewyse as al the myracles are well nere , which are rehersed in all that bulle ) that the Pope with the Misnianes by suche maner leasynges & erroure wolde put good Benno to martyrdome , that not onelye they myght haue a confessour of Benno , Benno a martyr . but also a martyr . For yf he was a good & vertuous man , it is vndoubted that they do put hym vnto greatter punisshement , than euer was any martyr put vnto . For with what contumely & rebuke coulde he be more foule blotted & stayned , than this that he is sayde to haue lyued otherwyse than the gospell dothe teache / and that those vysyons are ascrybed vnto hym , whiche euen the deuyll hym selfe is wonte to handle ? Howe moche more wysdome than shuld it haue ben for you , O you worshypfull Misnianes , to haue kepte you styll at home with your Benno & suche maner myracles ? And I wolde counsayle you , and aduertyse you to be more ware and more wyse hereafter , and not to contynewe & holde on with ouer many suche folysshe and peuysshe thynges to dyshonoure & blaspheme god . For here you do se , that youre bostynge , eyther is but forged and vntrue : or els doubtles that Benno is dampned . And yf it be so , that you do holde on with obstynate myndes to ronne hedlonge , and to mayntayne and defende your lyes , or so open & many feste vyces of Benno : than am I innocent from your bloode , and from the bloode of all those , which do take parte with you . It myghte seme that you haue hytherto mocked ynough & more than ynough / and that it is tyme ones to take vp with suche thynges . And the other miracles are so vayne , and so nothing worthe and very tryfles : that the thynge is worthye to be petyed because I wyll not speake here , that blynde men are soone and easely begyled , & they whiche are redy to tell and here lyes . For who I pray you wolde not laugh at this , that the belles which were halowed of Benno , do dryue away tempestes of wether ? as who shulde saye that other belles coulde not do the same , or as thoughe the deuyll , whiche coniured into a glasse doth suffre hym selfe to be sent awaye agayne , coulde not brynge in , & chase awaye a tempest , that so by the permissyon & sufferaunce of god he may deceyue wretched men . For yf euery thynge that is rare , ought the same forthwith to be a myracle comen from heuen : than shulde there neuer any false myracle be done any where . Of whiche sorte is this also , that Benno went beyonde Albi , & was sene in this place & that place , bothe at one tyme . Who knoweth , I pray you whether this were Benno , or els some deuyll ? For howe many tymes hathe the deuyll played suche prankes ? For howe harde a thynge , or howe great a maystrye shall it be , thynke you , to the deuyll , The prynce of this worlde . whiche is prynce of this worlde , to make feble , or to bewytch any man that is his owne all redye throughe vnbelefe in Chryst , and afterwarde to bydde and commaunde hym to be ledde vnto some saynte , where he may be delyuered and rydde from his dysease or euyll ? And than this thynge streyght wayes shall be ascrybed god wotte , vnto that saint . But O good lorde , howe vncircumspectelye & vnwysely do we al thinges ? Howe rasshely & vnaduysedly do we ronne on forthe as it were certayne blynde men ? Howe pyteouslye dyd the deuyll deceyue saynte Gregorye in his dyaloges ? Saynte Gregory . For there is in euery place so moche plentye of suche maner iuggelyng castes and deceytes , whiche he hath exercysed , & yet doth exercyse , that I coulde of them make tenne other suche sayntes , as Benno is / who agayne can sufficyently proue , that the holye fountayne was broughte forthe by Benno : sauyng onely that the comon opynyon goeth so aboute of it ? For a man may fynde many lyke thyngꝭ / the nature and origynall cause wherof is straunge and vnknowen / of which sorte there are many thinges at Rome . Brieffely , who soeuer wyll descrybe and ymagine that good lyfe of an holy bysshop : He ought of necessyte to brynge forthe the wordes and doctryne , Sygnes of true holynesse . wherin he was excellent . And also faythe , charyte and the crosse of persecucyon whiche was layde vpon his backe for his doctrynes sake . These thynges onely are the true tokens of an holy man / But nowe this bulle saythe in dede , that Benno dyd preache : but what he dyd preache , or what he dyd vtterly beleue , it maketh no mencyon at all / neyther is there so moche as any mencyon at al made of charyte , and of the crosse / onely it speketh of his ceremonyes , & howe that in great angre he ranne away & afflycted and vexed certayne men for the goodes of the churche . Besydes this there is caryed aboute tales of certayne spirites and phantasyes or ymagynacions of vncertayne and fayned myracles , whiche shulde nede moche more probacion , whether they dyd chaunce accordynglye and verely or not , than this , whether Benno be a saynte or not . But this thynge myght easely be perswaded vnto me , that Benno in dede was a good man , but yet was in many thyngꝭ seduced and deceyued of the Pope : Benno sedused and begyled . and yet neuerthelesse at the laste throughe the vnmesurable mercy of god was saued in lyke maner as it hathe chaunsed to Bernarde , & to very many other electe & chosen persones . But that he dyd suche myracles , or wrought suche folysshe wonders as the bulle doth assygne & ascrybe vnto hym : I suppose no man shall proue / or at the leaste wyse yf he can proue it : than they do make Benno the chylde of dampnacyon , and heyre of helle / for asmoche as his lyfe is cleane repugnaunt and contrary to the gospell . Wherfore , as for my parte , I wolde gyue counsayle , that no man shulde be any whytte moued or styrred with this consecracyon or canonysacyon : but rather that good Benno shulde be lefte quyete and in rest to the iudgement of god , which aboue dothe knowe what is done with Benno , and what condycyon & state he is in / For these myracles do proue nothynge at all . More ouer euen his very doctryne also semeth to haue ben cleane repugnaunt & contrary to faythe , charytie , and the crosse / what neded than this so great canonisacyon of hym : syth it forceth lytle , whether he be made a saynte or not . For euery man may be a chrysten man , & saued , all thoughe neyther Benno , neyther yet any other man were made a saynt : ( to passe ouer and speake no worde here that it can not be , but that lucre is soughte here in this thynge . laste of all , yf it be so , that for all these thynges whiche we haue hytherto recyted , yet thou arte not perswaded good louynge reader : at the least wyse the very bulle it selfe , ( yf I be not begyled ) wyll perswade the , in whiche the Pope hym selfe doth confesse & graunte , that he hym selfe with his adherentes dyd make theyr prayers vnto god , that he wolde not suffre them to erre in this busynesse . Here I beseche , se and consydre thyne owne selfe , howe the pope dothe lye vnto vs : The false lye of the Pope . and howe throughe ouermoche desyre and study to begyle other men he doth begyle his owne selfe . For yf he do pray , that god wyll not suffre hym to erre in declarynge & publysshing of Benno to be a saynt : Howe can he , I beseche you , be assured and out of doubt ? Howe can he proue , that his prayer was herde , and his peticyon graunted ? What aungell dyd appere to hym , & shewe hym this thyng , that he myghte be assured of it ? But some suche thynge it muste nedes haue ben , seynge that he dothe here prescrybe a newe artycle of the fayth : which thynge to do , is as laufull to hym , & as moche auctoryte he hathe to do it , as I haue to commaunde heuen and the sonne . On the other syde agayne , whan he reporteth and recyteth so ofte , that by the myracles he was certyfyed and assured of his holynes : wherfore I praye you dothe he aske counsayle of god , concernynge that thynge , whereof he was all redye assured ? doste thou not thynke , that this is to tempte god , and to scorne hym : whan thou doste aske & desyre to knowe a thynge , which thou haste perfyte knowlege of all redy ? But after this fasshyon and maner the deuyll is wonte to shame hym selfe / for lyes can not agre nor stande togyther , but they muste nedes alwayes impugne theym selfes . Lykewyse as this our pope , The inconstancye of the Pope . whiche whan he goeth about to worke most holylye and wyttely , calleth vpon god , and desyreth to be certifyed : and in so doynge sheweth hym selfe to be in doubt and vnassured , where as yet before he hath concluded it to be certayne and vndoubted , & also wylleth it to be taken for vndoubted / nothynge pceyuyng nor markyng , that whyles he prayeth & desyreth to be certyfyed , he dothe acknowlege and confesse hym selfe to be vnassured and in doubt . It is therfore certayne & vndoubted that he dothe lye , eyther whan he doth praye , or els at the leaste whan he dothe make his saynt . And he lyeth loude and with full mouthe , as the comen sayeng is / For he dothe but onelye make a countenaunce and semblaunce of prayer : and in verye dede dothe mocke and scorne god . Howe be it in that he doth praye as vncertayne , he prayeth truthe . But agayne on the other syde he lyeth whan he saythe that he is certyfyed & assured by myracles . For asmoche than as this matter is handeled and done by mere deceytes and lyes / by blyndyng of mennes iyes , and subtylte : it remayneth , that thou , who soeuer thou art , do beware of this newe Idole , whiche vsurpeth & taketh vpon hym the name of Benno / whome yf thou wylte not confesse and acknowlege for a saynte , at the leaste wyse let it greue the , that we do comenlye so folysshe and so chyldysshely abuse deed men , We abuse deed men . that by them we do caste downe hedlonge the wretched kynde of men into myschiefe / what shall Benno do , yf we do vse his bones and his relyques to Idolatrye , for cause to wrast out money from men , to the destruccyon of so many soules ? wherfore as concernyng these thyngꝭ , let this suffyce that hathe ben spoken hereto of vs .

Nowe let vs speke of the verye ryght and true canonysacyon , & whiche is the sure , vndoubted , & holsome consecracyon and makynge of a saynte . Fyrst of all it is to be consydered and marked , that the scripture doth make but small mencyon , or els none at all any where of sayntes that are in heuen : Sayntes in the scrypture . but onely of those sayntes & holy men that are conuersaunt & abydynge here in erthe , as saynt Paule doth wryte to the Romanes in the .xii. chapytre . Gyue pte of your goodes to releue the necessytie & nede of sayntes . And in the .v. chapytre . of the fyrst epystle to Timothe . yf she shall haue wasshed the fete of sayntes .

ANd to make an ende in fewe wordes , Paule in all his epystles calleth them sayntes , vnto whome he wryteth / shewynge that euery chrysten man in his lyfe is a saynt . But the Papistes do knowe no saynte sauynge onely those whiche are in heuen : and whome they do dayly sette in heuen : and for this cause doubtles they do not vnderstande the scryptures , and do depyse and haue in contempte all the verye sayntes of god . yf than we wyll make our lyfe to agree with the rule of the scrypture : we ought to bryng awaye our selfes from the sayntes whiche are in heuen , & to tourne our selfes vnto them that are in erthe / we oughte to extolle these sayntes , and these we oughte to honoure . This thynge , no doubt of it , is pleasaunte and acceptable vnto god , whiche hathe also commaunded the same . For as concernynge them that are departed out of this worlde , he hathe gyuen vs no commaundement at all : wherfore it is not acceptable nor pleasaunte vnto hym , what soeuer it be , Idolatry that we do bestowe vpon them / For this maner Idolatrye hathe ben inuented of men , because this thynge dothe brynge in some lucre / as other men before me haue sufficyently declared , and haue largely treated of all this matter . For hytherto I haue wrytten no specyall thynge as yet of the veneracyon of sayntes , ( which thyng also certayne of my bokis do wytnesse ) all thoughe it be imputed to me , and layed to my charge , as though I had ben the authour and fyrst begynner . And who soeuer hath ben the authour by the pleasure & wyll of god , of a suretye he dothe not mystyke nor displease me , neyther dothe it greue me to beare parte of another mans dishonoure and rebuke / to passe ouer in the meane season , that I do not coueyte to chalenge another mans wrytynges for myne , but I do acknowledge ( as ryghte is ) that god dothe also worke some thynge by other men , because I wyll not seme to do the busynes of the gospel , all my selfe alone . It is euydente therfore , howe many thynges , and howe great coste & labour is necessarely required to the makynge of sayntes as touchynge theyr bodyes : The honour and worshyppynge of sayntes , mencyoned in the scripture . & agayne on the other syde howe easye and howe redy a thyng that true worshippyng of sayntes is / which is spirytuall , that is to wytte suche as Paule doth wryte to the Romanes in the .xv. Chapytre . whan he saythe .

Gyue parte of your goodes to the necessyte of sayntes / & agayne preuente eche one of you another with honoure / agayne lette euery man esteme another man at more than he dothe esteme his owne selfe .

THis onely is to worshyppe sayntes duely to the glorye & honoure of god . For in asmoche as we are the temples of god , euery man ought to submytte hym selfe to his neyghboure , and to worshyppe god in that temple / to gyue place vnto hym / to loue hym / to deale kyndly and louyngly with hym / and yf he may at any tyme , to prouoke hym vnto better thinges . Nowe these thyngꝭ are not done ( I suppose ) with shouelles or spades couered with syluer , nor yet with gylte rakes . And wold god those men whiche do consecrate and canonyse Benno with the other sayntis , wold here gyue eare vnto me , & wold suffre them selfes to be monisshed with these wordes : Tell me who knoweth , whether these thynges be true or not ? Doubtles this thynge can not be denyed , that al that costly ordenaunce , and all that expence , and all that labour with the honoure and veneracyon , & brefely what soeuer such maner thynge shall be bestowed in Misnia , is neyther so wel bestowed nor is so acceptable vnto god : as it shuld be yf any man dyd gyue vnto a poore chrysten man a dyner or a garment . Ye that thynge is rather vnpleasaunte vnto almyghty god & is honourynge of the deuyll : and this thynge is spirytuallye acceptable to god , and hatefull to the deuyll . For god hath commaunded this thinge , and the other thynge he dothe not knowe at all . Howe many thousandes of ducates , dost thou suppose or thynke , that Benno hathe cosre , besydes that he shal cost in tyme to come : with whiche ( beynge cast awaye euery one of them before god , not without his great & angre ) so many very sayntes myghte haue ben holpen and fedde / doste thou not suppose , that god with his aungels wyll tourne them selfes vnto that place , where some good man the same day had pytie and compassyon of some chrysten man beynge in necessytie or afflyccyon : and wyll leaue Misnia behynde theyr backe , where Benno is tourmented and afflycted : I wolde haue sayd is made a saynt ? whan shall we ones begyn to be wyse ? Howe often tymes shall we nede to repete one thynge ? why doste thou not euen by comen reason lerne , whether it is better to do almes vpon poore sayntes that are a lyue : or els vpon this , that some man that deed is myght be made a saynte , whiche hathe no nede at all of suche humanytie & kyndnes ? And yf it be better and more profytable : to bestowe it vpon poore lyuynge creatures : why are we suche nygardes & so scase in layeng forth of our money here in this thynge : A folysshe and dysordred liberalytie . and so prodygal & lauysshe in the other thynge ? But certaynely the iudgementes of god are vpryght & ryghtuous / that is to wytte , that where it dothe greue vs to bestowe tenne florence frelye & for nought vpon the very sayntes , which thynge shulde be most acceptable and pleasaunte to god : that there the deuyll shuld make vs so madde with the spiryte of Gedynes , and shulde so handell vs that we do not doubte wastefullye to bestowe golden spades and rakes , yea and otherwhyles a thousande florēnes vpon deed mennes bones , and besydes this to seche and purchase vnto our selfes al kynde and maner of calamytie and indygnacyon . But wretches haue neyther delyte to here these thynges , neyther to be leue them . But be it so / yet doubtles it can not be auoyded , but the we must nedes ones here & haue experyence of it : thoughe we do neuer so moche put of from morowe to morowe / We do seche shame , and therfore we shal also fynde shame and rebuke , whiche verylye is euen nowe at hande . Besydes this ( to adde this also ) though those thynges also were true , whiche are reported of the sygnes and myracles of Benno , and that the sayd myracles were of effecte & wrought of god hym selfe by Benno , though these myracles ( I saye ) were wroughte euen for the gospell sake , so as Chryst dothe promyse in the last chapitre of Marke : ( which thing in very dede can neuer be proued ) yet for all that , we oughte not so folysshely , so rasshely , nor with so madde a begynnyng to leape forthe so hastelye to consecrate & canonyse sayntes . For such maner sygnes & myracles thoughe they do neuer so moche declare the holynesse of a mannes lyfe / before the workynge of them : yet can they not assure vs & put vs out of doubt , whether the same man dyd contynewe stedfast and holye also in his deth or els not . The iudgementes of god . For asmoche as the iudgementes of god are hydde & vtterlye meruaylous and dredefull / For he hym selfe sayth in the .vii. chapytre of Mathewe .

Many men shall saye to me , lorde haue we not in thy name caste forthe deuylles & wrought many myraclas ? And than I shall answere vnto theym . Go from me you workers of iniquitie .