MarginaliaAn. 1550. MarginaliaImages plucked downe at Portesmouth. of late within these two dayes I haue heard of a great and detestable (if it be true that is tolde me) innouation in the towne of Portesmouth , where the images of Christ and his saintes haue bene most contemptuously pulled downe, and spitefully handled. Herein I thought good both to write to you and the Mayor, the kinges maiesties chiefe ministers, as well to know the truth, as to consult with you for the reformation of it, to the intent I may be sene to discharge my duty, and discharge it in dede both to God and the kinges maiesty, vnder whom I am here appoynted to haue cure and care, to relieue such as be by any wayes fallen, and preserue the rest that stand, from like daunger.

Ye are a Gentleman with whom I haue had acquayntaunce and whom I know to be wyse, and esteeme to haue more knowledge, wisdome, and discretion, then to allow any such enormities, and therfore do the more willingly cōsult with you herein, with request friendly to knowe of you the very truth in the matter, who be the doers, and the circumstaunce of it, and whether ye thinke the matter so farre gone with the multitude, and whether the reproofe and disprouing of the deede, might without a further daunger bee enterprised in the Pulpit or not, mynding if it may so be, to send one thether for that purpose vpon Sonday next commyng. I would vse preaching as it should not be occasion of any further folly, where a folly is begon,and to a multitude perswaded in that opinion of destruction of Images, I would neuer preach. For (as scripture willeth vs) we should cast no precious stones before Hogs. Such as be infected with that opinion, they be Hogs and MarginaliaThen were the old fathers and byshops in the primitiue church with Epiphanus and Carolus Magnus and all the Councell of Franckford, hogs and dogs. worse the Hogs, if there be any grosser beastes then hogs be, and haue bene euer so taken, and in England they are called Lollardes, who denying images, thought therwithall the craftes of paynting & grauyng to be generally superfluous and nought, and agaynst Gods lawes.

In Germany such as mayntained that opinion of destroying of images, were accompted the dregs cast out by Luther after he had tunned all hys brewyngs in Christes religion, and so taken as Hogges meate. For the reprofe of whom, Luther wrote a booke specially: and I haue with myne eyes seene the Images standynge in all Churches where Luther was had in estimation. For the destruction of Images contayneth an enterprise to subuert Religion and the state of the worlde with it, and especially the nobilitie, who by images set forth and spred abrode to be red of all people, their linage, parentage, with remembrance of their state and actes: and the Pursiuant carieth not on hys brest the kinges names written in such letters as a few can spel, but such as all can read, be they neuer so rude beyng great knowen letters in Images of three Lions, and three floures deluce, and other beastes holdyng those armes. And he that cannot read the Scripture written about the kinges great Seale, yet he MarginaliaWinchesters reason: the Pursiuant caryeth about Saynt George on horsebacke and the kinges picture: Ergo Images must stand in Churches. can reade Saint George on horsbacke on the one side, and the kyng sittyng in his maiesty on the other side, and readeth so much written in those images as if he be an honest man, he will put of hys cap, & although if the Seale were broken by chaunce he would and myght make a candell of it, yet he would not be noted to haue broken the Seale for that purpose, or to call it a piece of waxe onely, whilest it continueth whole. And if by reuilyng of stockes and stones, in which matter Images be grauen, the settyng of the truth to be read in them of all men, shall be contemned: how shall such writyng continue in honor, as is cōprised in cloutes & pitch, wherof & wherupon our books be made, such as few can skil of, & not the hundreth part of the realme?MarginaliaBookes serue onely to be read and not to be kneeled vnto & worshipped: for so are they no bookes but are made Idols, and are to be broken. And if we a few that can read, because we can read in one sort of letters, so priuileged as they haue many reliefes, shall pull away the bookes of the rest, and would haue our letters only in estimation, and blynd all them, shall not they haue iust cause to mistrust what is ment? And if the crosse be a truth, and it be true that Christ suffred, why may we not haue a writyng therof, such as all can read, that is to say an Image? If this opinion should procede, when the kings maiesty hereafter should shew hys person, his lyuely image, the honor due by Gods law among such might continue, but as for the kings Standardes, his banners, his armes, should hardly continue in their due reuerence for feare of Lollards idolatrye, whiche they gather vpon scripture beastly, not only vntruly. The scripture reprooueth false images made of stockes and stones, and so it doth false men made of fleshe and bones.

When the Emperors mony was shewed to Christ, wherin was the Image of the Emperour, Christ contemned not that image callyng it an Idoll, nor noted not that money to be agaynst gods law, because it had an image in it,MarginaliaThe Emperours Image Christ saw in the coyne, but not in the temple: for so no doubte he woulde haue cast it out. as though it were agaynst the precept of God: Thou shalt haue no grauen Image, but taught them good ciuilitie in callyng it the Emperors image: and bad them vse the money as it was ordered to be vsed in his right vse.

There is no scripture that reproueth truth, & all scripture reproueth falsehood. False writynges, false bokes, false Images and false men, all be nought, to bee contemned and despised: as for paper, inke, parchment, stones, wood, bones, A. B. of the Chauncery hand, and a. b. of the Secretarye hand, a letter of Germany fashion, or of any other forme, be all of one estimation, and may be of man enclyning to the Deuill, vsed for falsehode, or applying to Gods gratious callyng, vsed to set forth truth.MarginaliaIf euery Image representing a thing of truth may stand in place of worship, then let Winchesters face stand in the Church also. It is a terrible matter to thinke, that this false opinion conceaued agaynst Images shoulde trouble any mans heade: and such as I haue knowē vexed with that deuil (as I haue knowen some) be neuerthelesse wondrously obstinate in it: and if they can fynde one that can spell Latin to helpe forth their madnes, they be more obdurat thē euer were the Iewes, & slaunder whatsoeuer is said to thē for their reliefe. Of this sorte I knowe thē to be, & therefore if I wist there were many of that sorte with you, I would not irritate them by preaching wythout fruite, but labour for reformation to my Lorde Protectour. But if you thought there might be other wayes vsed first to a good effect, I would follow your aduise and proceedyng with you and the Mayor, with both your helpes to do that may lye in me, to the redresse of the matter: which I take to be such an enterprise against Christes religion, as there can not be a greater by man excogitate with the deuils instigation, and at this tyme much hurtfull to the common estate, as ye can of your wisdome consider. Whom I hartily desire and pray, to send me aunswer by this bearer to these my letters, to the intent I may vse my selfe in sendyng of a preacher thither, or writyng to my Lord Protectour as the case shall require accordingly. And thus fare you hartely well, from my house at Woluesay, the third of May. 1547.

Steph. Wint.

AFter harty commendations, receauyng of late two letters from your lordship, the one inclosed in a letter of master Vaughans to vs and directed to him, the other directed straight vnto vs, very wittely and learnedly written, wherby we do perceaue how earnest you are that no innouations should be had. The which minde of yours as we do highly esteeme and allow, procedyng from one that woulde quietnes, so we woulde likewise wysh, that you should take good hede, that to much feare of innouation or disturbance, do not cause both to be. Many times in an host, he that cryeth enemies when ther be none, causeth not onely disturbance, but sometimes a mutinie or rebillion to be made and he that for feare of sicknes to come taketh vnaduisedly a purgation, sometyme maketh himselfe sicke in deede. We perceaue by the sayd your letters, that haynouser factes & wordes haue bene brought to your eares, then there was cause why: and those factes which were punishable, bee already by him redrest.

MarginaliaFor Images. For the matter of Images an order was taken in the late king of famous memory our soueraigne Lords dayes. Whē the abused Images (yet lurking in some places by neglygence of them who should ere this time haue looked vnto þ^e same) be now abolished, let not that be made a matter of the abolishing of all Images. Though fellons and adulterers be punished, all men be not slayne. MarginaliaDistinction of Images. Though the Images which did adulterate gods glory be taken away, we may not think by & by all maner of Images to be destroyed. Yet after our aduise, better it were for a time to abolish them all, then for the dead Images, the kinges louing subiectes being faythfull and true to the kinges maiesty, should be put to variaūce and disturbance. With quyetnes the Magistrates and Rulers shall keep them wel in order, whom contentious Preachers might iritate and prouoke to disorder and strife. So it must be prouyded that the kings Maiest. Images, Armes, and Ensignes, should be honoured and worshiped after the decent order and inuention of humayne lawes and ceremonies, and neuertheles that other Images contrary to gods ordinaunce and lawes, should not be made pertakers of that reuerence, adoration and inuocation: which (forbidden by God) should derogate his honor, and be occasion to accumulate Gods wrath vpon vs. Where they be taken for a remēbraunce, it maketh no great matter though they stand stil in the Church of Marketsted: MarginaliaMore gētlenes shewed to the books of Images, then to the bookes of Gods worde in K. Hēries tyme. and folowing the late kinge of famous memory his counsell and order, yet more gentlenesse was shewed to those bookes of Images, then to the true and vnfayned bookes of Gods word, both being abused, the one with Idolatry, the other with contentiō. The scripture was remoued for a time from certayn persons, and almoste from all: the Images were left still to them, who moste dyd abuse them, þ^t thing yet being closed from thē which should teach the vse. Wherfore it may appeare vnto vs meete, more diligenter heede to be taken that the abused before, be not a-