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TO THE ENGLISH READER. it, to maintaine their errors. VVe had some partes in English

translated by Venerable Bede: as Malmesburie witnesseth.

And Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canturburie in a

Councel holden at Oxford, straictly ordayned, that no heretical

translation set forth by wicliffe, and his complices,

nor anie other vulgar Edition should be suffered, til it were

approued by the Ordinarie of the Diocese: alleaging S. leroms

iudgement of the difficultie & danger in translating

holie Scriptures out of one tongue into an other. And

therfore it must nedes be much more dangerous, when ignorant

people read also corrupted translations. Now since

Luther, and his folowers haue pretended, that the Catholique

Romane faith and doctrine, should be contrarie

to Gods written word, & that the Scriptures were not suffered

in vulgar languages, lest the people should see the truth,

& vvithal these new maisters corruptly turning the Scriptures

into diuers tongues, as might best serue their owne opinions:

against this false suggestion, and practise, Catholique

Pastores haue, for one especial remedie, set forth true

and sincere Translations in most languages of the Latin

Church. But so, that people must read them with licence

of their spiritual superior, as in former times they were in

like sort limited. Such also of the Laitie, yea & of the meaner

lerned Clergie, as were permitted to read holie Scriptures,

did not presume to interprete hard places, nor high

Mysteries, much lesse to dispute and contend, but leauing

the discussion therof to the more lerned, searched rather,

and noted the godlie and imitable examples of good life,

and so lerned more humilitie, obedience, hatred of sinne,

feare of God, zele of Religion, and other vertues. And

thus holie Scriptures may be rightly vsed in anie tongue, to

teach, to argue, to correct, to instruct in iustice, that the man of

God may be perfect, and (as S. Paul addeth) instructed to euerie

good vvorke, when men laboure rather to be doers of Gods

wil & vvord, then readers or hearers only, deceiuing themselues.