Twenty-Seven Sermons, Sermon 3
¶ A Sermon of Master Latimer, preached at Stamforde the. ix. day of October. Anno. M. CCCCCL.
Reddite ergo quae sunt Caesaris Caesari, et quaesunt dei, deo.
Geue that that is Cesars to Cesar, and that that is Gods to God.
THys doctrine is greuous, heuy, and irkesom to couetous hartes, rebellious and seditious heartes. Geue, geue they cā not awaye with it, it cannot sticke in their mindes, nor settle in their stomakes: they would rather be taking, scraping, and catching, then geuing.
But godly persons will well accept and take it, for it is to them a greate pleasure, Joye and comforte. For the better vnderstanding of this place, ye shall vnderstande, ChristeChrist came not to deliuer from ciuil …. came to bring vsus out of bondage and to set vsus at libertye: not from ciuill burthen, as from obaying the magistrates, from payng taxe and tribute, but from a greater burthen, and a more greuouser burthen, the burthen of sin, the burthen not of the body but of the soule, to make vsus free from it, and to redeme vsus from the curse and malediction of the lawe, vntounto the honourable state of the children of God.
But as for the ciuill burthens, he delyuered vsus not from them, but rather commaunded vsus to pay them: geue, geue, sayth he to Cesar obedience, tribute, and all thinges dewe to Cesar. For the vnderstanding of this text, it shall bee nedefull to consider the circumstance going before: whiche thing dewly considered, geueth a great lighte to all places of the scripture: who spake these wordes, to whom they were spoken, vponupon what occasyon, and afore whom.
Therfore I will take the whole fragemente and shred, taken out of goddes … for the gospell of this day, wrytten in the gospell of Mathew the. xxii. …. Tunc abierunt Pharisoei. Then went the Pharisies and toke a counsel, Luke hath Obseruantes, marking, spying, looking, tooting, watching: like suttel, crafty & sleightie felowes they toke a councel & sent to him their disciples, which shoulde fain thē selues iust mē, godly men, glad to learne his doctrine. AndNone suche … as these with them Herodes seruaunts, to trap him in his words: & they sayd to him: M. we know that thou arte a true man, & teachest the way of god, in veritate, truly, & carest for no mā. For thou regardest not the personage of man. Tel vsus ther fore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawefull to geue Cesar tribute mony or no? This was their question that they wold hauehave … him with. In … to this they would hauehave caught him by the fote. But Iesus cognita malitia … knowing their malice, their wickednes, their … nes, he sayd to them: hipocrits why do ye tempt me? Shew me a piece of the tribute mony. And they brought him a peny. And he sayd to them: whose image is this, and the writing? They aunswered: Cesars, He sayd to …. Geue to … that that belongeth to Cesar, and to god that that is goddes.
Thus ye may perceiue, it was our sauioure Christe that spake these wordes, and they were spoken vntounto the Phari seis that tempted him. But they be a doctrine vntounto vsus that are … disciples. For whose wordes should we delite to heare and learne, but the wordes and doctrine of our sa uiour christ? And that I may at this time so declare them, as may be for gods glory, your edifying, and my discharge, I pray you all to helpe me with your prayers.
In the whiche prayer. &c. For the vniuersall churche of christ thorow the whole world. &c. For the preseruation of our Soueraigne Lord king Edward the. vi. sole supreame head vnderunder God and christ of the churches of England and of Ireland. &c. Secondly for the kings most honorable …? Thirdly I commend vntounto you the soules departed this lyfe in the … of Christ, that ye remember to geue …, prayse and thankes to almightye God for his greate goodnes and mercy shewed vntounto them in that great nede & conflict against the deuil and sinne. To geue them at the houre of death fayth in his sonnes death and …, … they might conquere and ouercome, and get the …. … thankes I saye for this, adding prayers and supplycations for your selues, that it may please God to geue you the like fayth and grace, to trust only vntounto the death of his deare sō, as he gaue vntounto them. For as they be gone, so must we: & the deuill wil be as ready … tempt vsus as he was then, and our sinnes wil light as heuy vpō vsus as theirs did vponupon thē: And we are as weake and vnable to resist as were they. Praye therfore that we may hauehave grace to die in the same sayth of Christe as they did, and at the latter daye be raysed with …, Isaac and Jacob, and be partakers with Christ in the kingdome of heauen: for this and grace, … vsus saye the Lords prayer. Tunc abeuntes. Tunc, It hangeth ou a text before. Christe told them a similitude that the kingdō of heauē is lyke to a king that made a bridale to his senne, he maryed his sonne, and sent his seruaunts out to bid hys gestes. Well they would not come although he had made great preparing and muche cost for them: ambicion, couetousnes, and crueltie woulde not let them come. Then he sent his warriours and destroyed them: and again sente other seruauntes to bidde gestes to his bridall, hande ouer head come who would. They did his bidding, & the … was full of gestes. The king now would vew his …: & fynding there one not cladde in mariyng garmentes, he asked him: frend howe camest thou here, not hauing a mariage garment? And commaunded to bind him hand & fote, & cast him into vtter darknes: there was wayling & grinding of teth. For many … called and few be chosen. Now Christ expoundeth this. The kingdome of heauen is preaching of the Gospell. This mariage is the ioyning of Christe & hys churche, which was begonne by Christ heare in earth, and shall continue to the ende of the world. The bidders of hys… to the …. gestes are preachers, but here are so many lettes and hinderances: couetis is a let, ambicion is a let, crueltie is the gretest let. For they bet his seruaunts, brake theyr heades, yea … them, which … them to this bridall. With this the king was angry, and sent his men of warre to destroy those vnthankefull people. Was he not angrye with couetousnes and with ambition? Yes he is angrye with couetous men, with ambitious men: But most of all with cruel tie. This is an angre aboue commune anger, when men be not only …, but also adde crueltie to persecute the preachers, that commeth to call vsus to this mariage.
This toucheth God so nigh, that he sayeth. Qui vos audit me audit. This crueltie the king would not leaue vnpunished, but sent forth his men of warre. They are called his mē of warre, his men, his men, for warres come at his commaun dement. Titus and … sent of God to punish those couetous Jewes, ambicious Jewes, cruell Jewes yt wolde not credit Christ, nor beleue the preaching of saluation.
Now in warre, what … so euer get the victorye, that isThe victory … Gods. Gods parte, that is Gods host. Nabuchodonosor was an euill man, a wicked man, yet was he sent of God to punish the stubburne and couetous Jewes for their ambicion, and crueltie, and forsaking gods most holy word: And he is called in scripture Gods seruaunt. It is no good argumente. He hath the victory, Ergo he is a good man. But this is a good argument. He hathe the victory, Ergo God was on his side, and by him punished the contrary parte. The preachers called good and bad. They can doo no more but call, God is he that must bringe in, God must open the hartes, as it is in the Actes of the Apostles. When Paule preached to the women, there was a silke woman Cuius cor deus aperu it, whose hart God opened. None could open it but God. Paule could but only preache, God must work, God must doo the thing in wardly. But good and bad came. Therfore the preaching is likned to a Fishers net, that taketh goodThe … of the net. fish and bad, and draweth all to the shoare. In the whole multitude that professe the Gospel, al be not good, all cannot away with the mortifying of theyr flesh, they wil with good will beare the name of Christians, of gospellers, but to do the dedes they grudge they repine, they cā not … with it. A monge the Apostles, all were not honest, naye, one was a deuil, So among so great number of gospellersDiuers … of Gospellers. some are carde gospellers, som are dise gospellers, som pot gospellers, all are not good, al seke not amendment of life. Then commeth the king to see his gestes. And findeth one not hauing the mariage garment, and sayth to him: Frēde how camest thou hither, and hast not the mariage garmēt? Fayth is the mariage garmente, not a fayned fayth withoutThe …. good liuing, but faythe that worketh by louelove. He was blamed because he professed one thing, and was in dede another. Why did he not blame the preachers? There was no faulte in them, they did theyr deuties, they had no further commaundemente but to call them to the mariage.
The garment he should hauehave prouided hym selfe. Therefore he quarrelleth not with the preachers: what both this felowe here? Why suffered ye him to enter? &c. for theyr commission extended no further but only to call him. Many are greued that there is so … fruite of theyr preaching. And when as they are …: why doo you not preache hauing so great giftes geuen you of God? I would preache say they, but I see so litle fruite, so litle amendmēt of lyfe, that it maketh me wery. I noughty aunswere, a very noughtye answere. Thou arte troubled with that GodA good lesson for preachers. gaue thee no charge of, and leauest vndone, that thou arte charged with. God commaundeth thee to preache, and Si non … fueris. If thou speke not, if thou warne not the wicked that they turn and amend, they shal perish in their iniquities. Sanguinem autem eius de manu tua requiram. Thys terte nippeth, this pincheth, this toucheth the quicke. He shall dye in his wickednes, but I will require his bloude at thy hand. Herkē wel to this, mark it wel ye curates, I will aske his bloud at thy hand. If you doo not your office, if ye teache not ye people, & warn thē not, You shal be damned for it. If you do your office, you ar discharged. Tuā anim tuā liberasti. Learne to discharge ….Warne thē therfore to leue their wickednes, their couetise, their ambiciō, their crueltye, vnmercifulnes. &c. and thou hast saued thine owne soule. For there was no quarrel with the preachers, but he was cast in prison, wher was weping and wailing, and grinding of teeth: these were his delicates. Multi sunt vocati, Many are called, but few ar chosen. To this parable now … this gospel. Tune Pharisei abeuntes. Pharisei was a sect of religion amonge the Jewes most exquisite, perfit, holye, and learned, and wer … most godly men, euen such as in holynes excelled all other, as oure Monkes were of late amonge vsus, and be yet in other places. They were in Goddes bosome, euen at heauen gates in the sight of yt world: But in wardly supersticious,… name chaunged. fained, holo wherted, dissimulers. Now at this time I know none more like them; thē the hipocriticall holow harted …. The name is changed, but the thing remayneth: Therfore they may well be called by the name, that keepe the thing. These were enemies to Christ and his doctrine. They woulde be ordred by olde wonte, customes, forfathers: and so mainteyne their tradicions set asyde the commaundementes of God, refused Christe, and his word. S. Luke hath obseruantes obseruauntes, that is watchers, toters, spies, muche like the obseruaunte fryers, the barefote fryers, that were here, whiche in dede were the Bishop ofThe pops … Romes spies, watching in eueryevery countrey, what was sayd or don against him. He had it by and by, by one or other of his spies, they … his men all together, his postes to work against the Regalitie. In the court, in the noble mens houses, at eueryevery marchauntes house, those obseruauntes were spying, toting, and loking watching & catching what they might heare or see against the sea of Rom̄e. Take hede of these obseruauntes. To vnderstande the worde obseruantes marke what the poet sayeth in his comedie. Obserua Dauum, … hede, be ware and marke Dauum, for they will be stirring in eueryevery towne, in euerygētelmans house, yea at their very tables: wel, be wise, beware of them. Inierunt ….
They toke a counsell, some goodly thing, some wayghty matter, I am sure, that these holy fathers consult vponupon. It must nedes be for the commune wealthe, and the profit of many, that these holy fathers come together for. It was to snarle or trap him in his words. This was their deuice, this was their counsell. To this ende they gather suche a compa ny of holy fathers. I councell, a councell. Bonum est concilium said one. … marye quod another: sed bonorum. A councell is good, yea sir if it be of good men. For els what is a councell, if it be wicked, of wicked men? If they say: This was done by a counsell, determined in a counsell, what is it the better, if the councell be wicked? Nicene councell was gathered of a great number of Bishops and learned men: yet had not one man ben, they had determined contrarye… prcuailed a lone. to gods word. They wer minded, & ernesilye bent to make a decree that no priess should mary: but one olde man, & vn maryed him self, … that acte, & turned the councels minde: so that they … not with that decree. And why? more credence is to be geuen to one man hauing the holye word of god for him, then to r. thousand without the word If it a gree with Goddes worde, it is to be receyued: if it agre not, it is not to be receiued, though a …, yea though an aungel from heauen had determined it. Truth it is that Christ graunteth to a congregation gathered in his name, to be amongs them, yea though it be but. ii. or iii. There is as muche graunted to. ii. or three, as to ten thousande, so they come in Christes name. Vbiduo vel tres congregati sunt in nomine meo, ibi sum in medio eorum. In nomine meo, muche wickednes is don. In nomine domini, when they come together, selling their own priuate lust, pleasures, and ambicyous desires, it is not in in nomine domini, But to seeke Gods glory, Christes glory, Christes true religion, that is in nomi ne Christi, and then they are to be hard. But what was these mennes counsell? Vt illaquearent eum in sermone.
To snarle or tangle him in his wordes, tooters and watchers to catche him in his worde, that they mighte enforce somwhat against him: Non est concilium aduersus dominum: These were wyly pyes, sleyghtye children, children of the worlde, and craftely they handled their matters.
Miserunt discipulos suos cum Herodianis. They would not go themselues, lest they might hauehave ben knowen, but he knew not their disciples as they thoughte. And they went not alone, but had with them Herodes Sowdiers, Herodes fauourers. This Herod was an …, and was appoynted by the Romaines to gouerne the Jewes, and to gather the tribute money. Therfore he was hated among yt Jewes & so wer those that fauoured the Romaynes part, and in dis dayne they were called Herodians. Nowe was the tyme come, that the holy Patriarke prophecied, that the Scepter and kingdome was remoued, and Christ was borne.Agremente against God. This they should hauehave marked, and receyued his doctrine. But they wente aboute to destroye him, and therfore they brought the Herodians with them, Here now is an agrement in wickednes betwene the Phariseis and the Herodians: agaynste the truthe, agaynste Chryste, against Goddes worde they agree together, where as in dede neyther loued other, but hated eche other as a toade. So, many now adayes of oure Phariseis Papistes, in destroying the truth they agree wonders well: where as in pryuate matters, they hate one another as a toade.
Here commes me now these holy fathers from their councell, and sende their Disciples with the Herodians: marke their behaniour, and marke Christes behauioure. They come lowtyng and with lowe curtesye, as thoughe they woulde creape into his bosome: as for Herods men, they meddle not, bud stande by to heare the tale as witnesses, and if he should speake any thinge amisse, be readye to lay handes vponupon him. They woulde fayne rid hym and destroyThus hauehave their successours done … sence. him, but they would turne the enuye of the deed vponupon Herode, so that they woulde be seene fauteles. It had been more meete for them to hauehave counceld how to amend their fautes and to hauehave come to Chryste, to learne his doctrine, then to studye malyciously to trappe hym, and to destroye hym. What sayde they? Magister scimus quod verax es. &c.
Master we know that thou arte a true manne, and teachest the waye of God trulye, master we knowe that thou art … truthe, & thou tellest the very truth, and sparest for no manne. Thou arte playne Tomme truth. Goodlye wordes, but out of a cancard stomacke and malicious hart. Smilyng speakers crepe into a mannes bosome, they louelove and all to louelove him, they fauoure his worde and call hymSubtile … pentes. Master, and yet woulde gladly see him hanged.
These are in deede Hipocrites, one in hart and another in mouth. We knowe that thou arte a trew manne.
Et viam dei in veritate doces. Yea thys is Goddes waye taughte trulye. There is Goddes waye and mannes way: Many teache mennes waye, but that shoulde not bee: we should learne viam dei, Goddes waye, and that truly, withoute mirture, temperature, blaunching, powderyng.
Many teache Gods way, and shal preache a very good and…, godly Sermon, but at the last they wil hauehave a blanched almonde, one litell peace of Poperye patched in, to pouder their matter with, for their owne lucre & glory. They make a mingling of the waie of God and mans way together, a mingle mangle as men serue pigs in my countrey. Christe did not so. He taught the way of god truly without mixture poudering, or blaūching. These be the properties of al true preachers, that these confes to be in Christe. It was true eueryevery word that they spake. … is our master appointed of god, he was true & taught Gods way, not mans waye: truly, not blaunching it with mannes doctrine. So should we preachers be true men. Preachers of Goddes waie, truly, truly, without regard of person: That is for no mannes pleasure corrupting the word, or mingle mangle the word with mannes inuentions and traditions.
Here may patrons of benefices learne vponupon what maner a man they should bestowe their benefice. Upon a true man, a teacher. He may not be to lerne, and a scholer when he should teache other, but one learned, hable to teache, hable and well willing to discharge his cure. But what doo you patrons? Sell your benefices, or geue them to your seruauntsPatrons of benefices. for their seruice, for keping of houndes, haukes, for making of your gardens. These patrons regard no soules, neither their owne, nor other mennes. what care they for soules, so they hauehave money, though they perish, though they go to the Deuill? Where as in dede the office of a patrone is to hauehave a care, a zeale, a vigilant eye for soule healthe, & to prouide for his churches, that he is patron of, that they might be taught in Goddes worde. Truly many nowe a dayes, striue to be patrones of benefices, and go to the law who should be patrone. And what striue they for think ye? Euen which of them shall goo to the Deuill fyrst. For they regard not soule health, nor the office of preaching, the office of saluatiō: where as in dede therfore are they patrons to loke to it & to se it be prouided for. God of his goodnes & almighty power, might ordeyn otherwayes & meanes ofWherfore … do striue. saluation: but this office of preaching is it that God hathe ordeyned, as Saint Paule sayeth. Cum non cognouerit mundus per sapientiam deum, placuit deo per stultitiam praedicationis saluos facere credentes. Where as the worlde by his wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by folish preaching to saue credentes, those that beleue, per stultitiam praedicationis, by foo lishues of preaching, or folish preaching, it maketh no matter. Not that it was folish in dede, but that the wisemen of the worlde did so esteme and take the preaching of the gospell, wheras in dede it is most godly wysdom: and the prea ching office, is the office of saluation, and the only meanes that God hathe appointed to saluation. Credentes. ThoseThe office of saluacion, that beleue be saued by this holy office of preachyng. I would wish it were better loked vntounto, and prouided for, and that patrons and bishops should see more … to it, then hathe ben done afore time: I would aske no more diligence to this office of saluation, then men are wont to bestowe vponupon these worldly pleasures and luker or commo dities. Nay woulde they bestow but the halfe labour and paynes, and some litell part of the expences, it were well.
To consider what hath ben pluckt from Abbaies, colledges, and chaāutries: it is meruell no more to be bestowed vp on this holy office of saluation. It may well be sayd by vsus that the Lorde complayneth by his Prophet. Domus mea deserta, vosfestinatis vnusquisque in domum suam.
What is Christes house but christen soules? but who maketh any prouision for them? eueryevery man scrapeth and gettethChristensoules are Christes house. together for this bodely house, but the soule health is neglected, scholes are not mainteined, scholers hauehave not ex hibition, the preaching office decayeth: men prouide lands and riches for their children, but this most necessary office, they for the most part, neglect. Uerye few there be that hel peth poore scolers, that setteth their children to scole to learne the worde of God, and to make a prouision for the age to come. This notwithstanding is the only waye to sal uation, God will not deuise any new way as farre as I per ceiue, but would hauehave vsus to vse this waye ordeyned al rea dy. This preaching way we oughte to vse, and not to loke for any new way; this office of saluation we ought to main teyne, & not loke for any other. My request is that ye would bestow as much to the maintenaunce of this necessarie officeGod wil … no new waye. of saluation, as ye were wont to bestowe in times past vppon Romish trifels and thinges of mannes tradicions. Nether doo I now speake for my selfe and my couente, as the … Friers were wonte to doo. I hauehave enough, I thanke God, and I neade not to begge. I woulde euerye preacher were as well prouided as my selfe thorow thys Realme, as in dede I thyncke them as well worthye as my self. I wish (I saye) ye would bestow as muche vppon thys necessary office of saluation, as in times paste ye bestowedFather … wishe. in Pilgrimage, in Images, in gildyng, painting, in …, Diriges, Trenfauls, Chauntryes and suche vayne thinges of the Romyshe Pharyseis and Papistes inuentyng.
Ye woulde doo that withoute callyng, and to thys wil you not be ready when ye be called. If it bee no better in time to come, then hitherto loked vntounto, then Englande will atWhat a charge hangeth vppon the … of pre ching. the laste bee wayle it, Christ knew what a charge hangeth vponupon this necessary office of preaching the office of saluation, and therfore moste earnestly applyed it hym selfe.
And when he chose his twelue Apostles to send them forth vntounto thys office, he fyrst prayed all the nighte. He beyng God almighty with the father, might hauehave geuen all gifts fitte for this office, but to teache vsus, he woulde fyrste praie all nighte. Here is good matter for Bisshops and patrons to looke vponupon, and not to regarde so lytell whome they geue their benefyce vntounto, or whom they admit to cure the foules they hauehave charge of. A notable example. ChrysteNote this ye patrons. prayed all nighte, or he woulde sende them forthe, or he woulde put them in this preachig office, this moste necessarye office of saluation. For he sawe that they had neade of greate zeale to God, and to soule healthe, that should take vppon them to keepe soules, and a boolde courage and spirite that should rebuke the worlde of theyr synne and …, Many will choose nowe suche a Curate for their soules as they may call foole, rather then one that shall rebuke their couetise ambition, vnmercifulnes, vncharitablenes, that shalbe sober, discrite, apte to reproue, and resist the agayne sayers, with the worde of God.
These bee the properties of euerye good preacher, to beThe properties of a good preacher. a true manne, to teache, not dreames, nor inuencions of of menne, but viam dei in veritate, the waye of God trulye. And not to regard the personage of manne. Not to creepe into his bosom, to clawe his backe, to saye to the wicked, he doothe well, for fylthye lukers sake. Ah these flatterers no greater myschyse in the commune wealthe then these flatterers. But who woulde hauehave discerned this but oure sauiour Iesus Christe? He spred them out and knew all their malitious hartes, theyr vncharitable hartes, theyr dissimulyng heartes and sayde;
Quid me tentatis hypocritae.
Hipocrites, Hipocrites, Hipocrites, one in harte, a nother in mouthe, fayre in pretence, but full of mischief, and … harted within. He saw what was within.Hipocrites.
Then hauehave at ye, ye Hipocrites, they put forth their question. Licet censum dare Coesarian non?
A perilous question to answer to. This was the fruite of their counsell, and thys was the snare layed for hym, what shoulde he doo nowe? holde hys peace? That had ben a slaunder to hys doctryne. They woulde hauehave sayde: loo, howe ignoraunt he is in the lawe that hathe no aunswere to thys symple & plain question. If he affirme & bid pay the tribute, he shall incurre the hatred of the people, & seeme toA daungerous question. to speake in the fauoure of the Romaynes. If he woulde hauehave denyed it. Then had they that they soughte.
The Herodians were readye to laye handes vponupon hym, to hauehave hym to Bocardo, to prison with him, a traytour that speaketh againste Ceaser, away with this sedicious felow.
O Lorde what perill is it to hauehave to doo with these Hipocrites? Who coulde hauehave scaped thys snare, but Chryste onelyonly whiche is the wisdome of the father, and knew all theyr malicyousnes and craftye sleyghtes? And as he then by his wysdome ouercame them, so now douties he geueth wisdome to all hys, to spye oute and beware of … sutleGod … wisdome. craftes. For suche traynes, trappes, snares and sutleties, as these Pharises layed for Chryste, suche hauehave oure Pharisaicall Papistes layed for Christes preachers. But he mer cyfully euer fulfylled hys promise, dabo os & sapientiam, cui non possunt resistere omnes aduersarii vestri.
I will (sayth Chryst) geue mouthe and wisdome, which all youre aduersaryes shall not be able to resiste. They shall not be tounge tyed, they hauehave theyr aunswere, yea so wyse that theyr aduersaries shall not be hable to resiste. They maye well oppresse it here in thys worlde with pow er, but they can not bee hable to ouercome it with argumentes of truthe, no, all the packe of aduersaryes with all their subteltyes, snares, and gynnes. They may rayle vponupon it, as in manye places leud felowes doo agaynste Priestes Maryages. That Dame hys wyfe, hys whore, &c.
But they can not denye it by any scripture, but that theMariage of …. mariage of Pryestes is as good and godly, as the mariage of any other manne. For wedlocke is honourable amonge all menne. And the wedded bedde vndetyled.
And to auoyde fornication, let … man hauehave his owne wyfe. Well, let them rayle, let them doo what they canne agaynste the truth, …: marke the ende. Loke vppon the ende. The ende is, all aduersaries of the truth must be confounded and come to naughte, neyther shall they be able to resist it. And thoughe the poore Disciples be troubled, vexed, and persecused, marke the ende.
The hiest promotion that God can bryng hys vntounto in this life is to suffer for his truth. And it is the greatest setting foorthe of hys worde, it is Goddes seede: And one suffering for the truthe, turneth more then a thousand Sermons. I will tell you an example of thys, how God geueth mouthe and wysdome.
I was once in examination before fiue or sixe …,Father Latimers …. where I had much turmoyling: eueryevery weeke thrise I came to examynations, and many snares and … were … to get some thyng. Now God knoweth I was ignoraunt of the lawe, but that God gaue me answer and wisdome what I shoulde speake. It was God in dede, for else I had neuer escaped them. At the last I was brought forthe to be examyned, into a chamber hanged with arras, wher I was before wonte to be examyned, but now at thys tyme the chamber was somewhat altered.
For where as before there was wonte euer to bee a fyre in the chymney, nowe the fyre was taken awaye, … an Arrace hangyng hanged ouer the chymney, and the table stode neare the chymneyes ende, so that I stode betwene the Table and the chymneyes ende. There was amonge these Bishops that examined me, one with whom I hauehave been very famyliar, and tooke him for my greate frende, an aged man, and he satte nexte the table ende.
Then amonge all other questyons, he put foorth one, a very subtyll and … one, and suche one in dede, as I coulde not thyncke so greate daunger in. And when I shoulde make annswer, I praye you mayster Latimer sayde he, speake oute, I am verye thicke of hearynge, and here be manye that sytte farre of. I maruayled at thys, that I was bidden speake oute, and began to …, and gaue an eare to the chimney. And syr there I hearde a … walkynge in the chimney behynde the cloth. They hadde appoynted one there to wryte al myne aunsweres, for they made sure woorke that I shoulde not starte from them: there was no startynge from them.
God was my good Lorde, and gaue me aunsweare, I coulde nauer … hauehave scayed it. The question was thys: Mayster Latimer, doo you not thincke on your conscience that you hauehave bene suspected of heresye? A subtile questyon,A subtil … a verye subtile question. There was no holdynge of peace woulde serue. To holde my peace hadde beene to graunte my selfe fautye. To aunswer, it was euerye way full of daunger. But God whiche alwaye hathe geuen me aunswer, healped me, or elsse I coulde neuer hauehave eskaped it, and delyuerd me from theyr handes. Manye one hauehave had the … gratious deliuerance, and beene endued wyth gods wisdom & gods spirit, which all their aduersaries can not be able to resiste. Ostendite mihi … census. Shewe me said he a peny of the tribute …. They layd snares to destroy them, but he ouerturneth the in theyr own traps. Qui comprehendit tastutos in fallacia eorum. He taketh the craf ty in their own subtile ginnes and snares, but not maliciously to destroy them, as they malitiosly wold hauehave sene him hanged, but mercifullye to tourne them from theyr wicked imaginations, that they mighte consider that no wisdome, no subtile craftes, nor Counsell is agaynste the Lord, and so repent and become new men. At …: illi denarium. And they brought him a denari, a pece of theyr currant coyne, that was worth x. of our vsual pence, suche another pece as our …. And he sayd. Cuius est imago … & super scriptio? dicunt …, whose Image is thys, and superscription: They saide Ceasers, for nowe was Iewerye broughte vnderunder the bondage of the Romains, and therfore vsed they the Romaine coyne, that had vppon it doth Ceasars image, and Ceasars superscription. Then aunsweared Iesus. … ergo quae … Caesaris Caesari, & quae sunt dei Deo. Paye to Ceasar that is due to Ceasar and to God that which is due to God.
Make not a mingle mangle of them, but geue to God hys owne, geue to Ceasar his owne. To GOD geue thy soule, thy faythe, thy hoope, thy obedient minde to keepe hys woorde and frame thy life there after. To Ceasar geue tribute, Taxe, Subsidie, and all other dueties … to him, as to hauehave hym in thy honoure and reuerence, to obey his iuste lawes and righte wise commaundementesGeue … own. &c.
But because the tyme is paste, I wyll heare make an ende for thys fore noone, desiringe you to pray to God for hys healpe, for at after noone I purpose to begin agayne at this texte, and to goo forthe as God shall geue me hys grace.
Nowe let vsus al say together the Lordes prayer. Oure … which art in heauen. &c.