n
that hath a wife.

The ancient emperor Justinian commanded that, in the holy administration,
all things should be pronounced with a clear, loud, and treatable voice,
that the people might receive some fruit thereby. These men, lest the
people should understand them, mumble up all their service, not only with
a drowned and hollow voice, but also in a strange and barbarous tongue.

The old council at Carthage commanded that nothing should be read in
Christ's congregation but the canonical Scriptures. These men read such
things in their churches as themselves know of a truth to be stark lies
and fond fables.

But if there be any that think these above-rehearsed authorities be but
weak and slender, because they were decreed by emperors and certain petit
bishops, and not by so full and perfect councils, taking pleasure rather
in the authority and name of the Pope, let such a one know that Pope
Julius doth evidently forbid that the priest, in ministering the
Communion, should dip the bread in the cup. These men, contrary to Pope
Julius' decree, divide the bread, and dip it in the wine.

Pope Clement saith it is not lawful for a bishop to deal with both
swords: "For if thou wilt have both," said he, "thou shalt deceive both
thyself and those that obey thee." Nowadays, the Pope challengeth to
himself both swords, and useth both. Wherefore, it ought to seem less
marvel if that have followed which Clement saith, that is, "that he hath
deceived both his own self and those which have given ear unto him."

Pope Leo saith, "Upon one day it is lawful to say but one mass in one
church." These men say daily in one church commonly ten masses, twenty,
thirty, yea, oftentimes more. So that the poor gazer on can scant tell
which way he were best to turn him.

Pope Gelasius saith, "It is a wicked deed and sibb to sacrilege in any
man to divide the Communion, and when he hath received one kind to
abstain from the other." These men, contrary to God's Word, and contrary
to Pope Gelasius, command that one kind only of the Holy Communion be
given to the people, and by so doing they make their priests guilty of
sacrilege.

But if they will say that all these things are worn out of ure and nigh
dead, and pertain nothing to these present times, yet to the end all folk
may understand what faith is to be given to these men, and upon what hope
they call together their general councils, let us see in few words what
good heed they take