their stipendes or wages wythout. MarginaliaThe glose vpō the 12. q. 1. parag.
Si qui saith that thys now holdeth not, & allegeth the extran.
De cler. commyng ca Ioh. &c.
Wherby note how the Popes decrees be repugnant to themselues.
Luke. 11.For we reade it so written of the foresayd fathers, that they deuided to euerye person, according as their worke was. Therfore as concerning the stipend of such, it must be prouided and thought vpon. And they must also be holden vnder ecclesiastical discipline, to lyue a godly conuersation: to employe themselues in singing Psalmes, and to refrayne their toung, hart and body (by the grace of God) from al thinges vnsemely and vnlawful. As for the vulgare and common sorte, which liue after the common condicion of men: to describe what particions to make, what hospitalitie to keepe, or what workes of mercye to exhibite to such: I haue nothing to say, but to geue (as our mayster teacheth) in al our deedes of mercy, of that which aboundeth. Of that (saith he) which aboundeth or is ouerplus, geue almes, & behold al things be cleane vnto you.

Marginalia3. interrog.Seyng there is but one fayth, how happeneth thē, the ceremonies and customes of Churches to bee so diuers. As in the church of Rome there is one custome and maner of Masse: and the French church hath an other?The ansvver.MarginaliaThe aunswerThe custome of the church of Rome, what it is you know: wherin ye remember that you haue ben brought vp from your youth. But rather it pleaseth me better, that whether it be in the Churche of Rome, or in anye French church: where ye finde anye thing that seemeth better to the seruice and pleasyng of God, þ^t ye chuse the same: and so to inferre & bring into the Englishe church (which is yet new in the fayth) the best & pikedst thyngs chosen out of many churches. MarginaliaNote a worthy saying of Gregory.For thinges are not to be beloued for the place sake, but the place is to be beloued for the thinges that be good. Wherfore such thinges as be good, godly, and religious: those chuse out out of all churches, and induce to your people, that they may take roote in the mindes of Englishmen.Marginalia4. interrogation.I Pray you, what punishment iudge you for hym, that shal steale or pilfer any thing out of the church?The ansvver.MarginaliaThe aunswer.This your brotherhood maye soone discerne, by the person of a theefe, how it ought to be corrected. For som there be, which hauing sufficient to lyue vpon, yet doo steale. Other there bee which steale of mere necessitye: Wherfore considering the quality and difference of the crime, necessarie it is that some bee corrected by losse of goods: some by stripes: some other more sharplye, and some more easelye: yea and when sharper correction is to be executed, yet that must be done with charitie, and with no furye. For in punishing offenders, this is the cause and end wherfore they are punished: because they should be saued, and not perish in hel fire. And so ought discipline to procede in correcting the faithfull, as doo good fathers in punishing their children, whom both they chasten for their euil, and yet being chastened, they looke to haue them their heires, and thinke to leaue thē al they haue, notwithstanding they correct them sometymes in anger. Therfore this charitie must be kept in minde. And in the correctiō ther is a measure to be had, so that the minde neuer doo any thing without the rule of reason. Ye adde moreouer with what recompence or measure those thinges ought to be requyred agayne, which be stollen out of churches. But God forbyd that the church shoulde euer requyre agayne with increase, that which is lost in outwarde thinges, and so seeke her gayne by endamaging other.Marginalia5. interrog.Item, whether two brethren may marry two sisters, being far of from any part of kindred?The ansvver.MarginaliaThe aunswer.This in no part of scripture is forbidden, but it may well and lawfully be done.Marginalia6. interrogatiōItem, to what degree of kyndred may the matrimony of the faythful extend with their kindred, or whether is it lawful to marry with the stepmother, and wyth their kynsfolkes?The ansvver.MarginaliaThe answer.
In what degre of kyndred mā may marryA certaine terrene law amongest the olde Romanes doth permit, that either brother or sister, or the sonne & daughter of. ij. brethren maye marry together. But by experience wee learne, that the issue of suche mariage doth neuer thriue, nor come forward. Also the holy lawe of God forbiddeth to reueale the turpitude of thy blood or kyndred.

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Wherfore necessary it is, that in the third or fourth degree the faythfull may lawfully marry. For in the seconde as being vnlawfull, they must needes refrayne. To be coopled with the stepmother, is vtterly abhominable, for is it wrytten in the lawe: Thou shalt not reueale the turpitude of thy father. For so much then as it is so written in the lawe, and they shall be two in one flesh: the sonne then that presumeth to reueale the turpitude of his stepmother, which is one fleshe with hys father, what doth he then but reueale the turpitude of hys owne father. Likewise it was forbidden and vnlawful to marry with your kindswoman, which by by her first mariage was made one flesh with thy brother. MarginaliaBy this rule the mariage of K. Henry with Q. Katherine dowager, was vnlawful.For the which cause Iohn the Baptist also lost his head, & was crowned a martyr. Who though he died not for the confession of Christ: yet for somuch as Christ sayth: I am the truth, therfore in that Iohn Baptist was slayne for the truth, it may be sayd his bloud was shed for Christ.

Marginalia7. interrogatiōItem, whether such as be so coupled together in filthy and vnlawful matrimony, ought to be seperated and denied the partaking of holy Communion.The ansvver.MarginaliaThe aunswer.Because there be many of the nacion of English men which being yet in their infidelitie, were so ioyned and coopled in such execrable mariage: the same comming now to faith, are to be admonished hereafter to abstain from the like, and that they know the same to bee a greuous synne. That they dread the dreadful iudgement of God, leste for their carnall delectation, they incurre the tormentes of eternal punishment. And yet notwithstanding they are not to be secluded therfore, from the participation of Christes body and bloude, least we shoulde seeme to reuenge those thinges in them, which they before their baptisme, through ignoraūce did commit. MarginaliaA discrete saying of Gregory to be noted.For in this time the holye Church doth correct some faultes more feruently, some faults she suffreth againe through mansuetude and meekenes, some wittingly and willingly she doth doth winke at, and dissēble: that many times the euil which she doth detest, through hearing and dissembling she may stoppe and brydle. all they therefore which are come to the fayth, must be admonished that they commit no such offence. Which thing if they doo, they are to be depriued of the Communion of the Lords body and blood. For like as in them that fall through ignoraunce, their default in this case is to be tollerate: so in them againe it is strongly to be insued, which knowing they do nought, yet feare not to commit.Marginalia8. interrogatiō.Item, in this I desyre to be satisfied, after what manner I should deale or do wyth the Bishops of Fraunce, and of Britaynes.The ansvver.MarginaliaThe answer.As touching the bishops in Fraunce, I geue you no autority or power ouer them. For the bishop of Arolas, or Orliance hath by the old time of our predecessors receiued the Palle, whome now we ought not to depriue of his autoritie. Therfore when your brotherhood shall go vnto the prouince of Fraunce, what soeuer he shall haue there to do with the bishop of Orliance: so do, that he loose nothing of that which he hath found and obtai-

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