It is not against God’s law, but contrary, they ought indeed so to do; and there be histories that witnesseth, that some christian princes, and other laymen unconsecrate, lave done the same.
14. Whether it be forfended by God’s law, that (if it so fortuned that all the bishops and priests of a region were dead, and that the word of God should remain there unpreached, the sacrament of baptism and others unministered,) that the king of that region should make bishops and priests to supply the same, or no?
It is not forbidden by God’s law.
15. Whether a man be bound by authority of this scripture, “Quorum remiseritis,” and such like, to confess his secret deadly sins to a priest if he may have him, or no?
A man is not bound by the authority of this scripture, “Quorum remiseritis,” and such like, to confess his secret deadly sins to a priest, although he may have him.
16. Whether a bishop or a pries& may excommunicate, and for what crimes? and whether they only may excommunicate by God’s law?
A bishop or a priest by the scripture is neither commanded nor forbidden to excommunicate, but where the laws of any region giveth him authority to excommunicate, there they ought to use the same in such crimes as the laws have such authority in; and where the laws of the region forbiddeth them, there they have none authority at all: and they that be no priests may also excommunicate, if the law allow them thereunto.
17. Whether unction of the sick with oil to remit venial sins, as it is now used, be spoken of in the scripture, or in any ancient author?
Unction of the sick with oil to remit venial sins, as it is now used, is not spoken of in the scripture, nor in any ancient author.
This is mine opinion and sentence at present, which nevertheless I do not temerariously define, but refer the judgment thereof wholly unto your majesty.
T. Cantuarien. This is mine opinion and sentence at this present, which I do not temerariously define, and do remit the judgment
thereof wholly unto your majesty
[[’ This passage, with the signature of the archbishop, is in his own hand-writing, both in the]
[Cotton and Stillingfleet MSS.)]
Prologue or Preface Made by the Most Reverend Father in God, Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan and Primate of England
For two sundry sorts of people, it seemeth much necessary that something be said in:: the entry of this book, by the way of a preface or prologue; whereby hereafter it may be both the better accepted of them which hitherto could not well bear it, and also the better used of them which heretofore have misused it. For truly some there are that be too slow, and need the spur: some other seem too quick, and need more of the bridle: some lose their game by short shooting, some by overshooting: some walk too much on the left hand, some too much on the right. In the former sort be all they that refuse to read, or to hear read the scripture in the vulgar tongues; much worse they that also let or discourage the other from the reading or hearing thereof. In the latter sort be they, which by their inordinate reading, undiscreet speaking, contentious disputing, or otherwise, by their licentious living, slander and hinder the word of God most of all other, whereof they would seem to be greatest furtherers. “These two sorts, albeit they be most far unlike the one to the other, yet they both deserve in effect like reproach. Neither can I well tell whether of them I may judge the more offender, him that doth obstinately refuse so godly and goodly knowledge, or him that so ungodly and so ungoodly doth abuse the same.
And as touching the former, I would marvel much that any man should be so mad as to refuse in darkness light; in hunger, food; in cold, fire: for the word of God is light; lucerna, pedibus meis verbum, tuum: food; non in solo pane vivit homo, sed in omni
verbo Dei: fire; ignem. veni mittere in terram, et quid volo, nisi ut ardeat? Y would marvel (I say) at this, save that I consider how much custom and usage may do. So that if there were a people, as some write, De Cimmeriis, which never saw the sun by reason that they be situated far toward the north pole, and be inclosed and overshadowed with high mountains; it is credible and like enough that if, by the power and will of God, the mountains should sink down and give place, that the light of the sun might have entrance to them, at the first some of them would be offended therewith. And the old proverb affirmeth, that after tillage of corn was first found, many delighted more to feed of mast and acorns, wherewith they had been accustomed, than to eat bread made of good corn. Such is the nature of custom? that it causeth us to bear all things well and easily, wherewith we have been accustomed, and to be offended with all things thereunto