A Gratulation to the Church of England

The Gratulation of the most famous Clerk M. Martin Bucer, a man of no less learning and lyterature, then Godly study and example of living, unto the church of England for the restitucion of Christ's religion. And His answer unto the two raylinge epistles of Steue^, Bisshoppe of Winchester, concerning the unmarried state of priests and cloysterars, wherein is evidently declared, that it is against the laws of God, and of his church to require of all such as be and must be admitted to preesthood, to refrain from holy matrimony. Translated out of Latin in to English. Hebru. xiij. Wedlock is to be had in price among al men, and is a chamber undefiled. As for hoore keapers, and adulterers, God will judge them. To his right worshypfull Brother Sir Philyppe Hobye knight, M. of ye Kings majesty's ordinance, Thomas Hobye wishethe grace and peace throught our lord Jesus Christ. EMonge the sundry and manifold benifittes, which from my tender childhod I have found in you, and received at your hands (most especial good brother) this is not the least: that ye have now af late days, of the good zeal ye bear to Gods word (which at all times has been most fervent in you) caused me to be sent not only in to such a regio^ where as florissheth Gods word, all good letters both holy and profane, all honesty, and purity of life, and men in all arts and sciences most cunning and expert: But also to such a man who is of no less wisdom, knouledge, and godliness, then of fame, report and renoune, and by all godly men's judgments, one of the perfectest, and greatest Clerks now lyuinge namelye M. Martyne Bu^^^, in whose daily conversation and company, and by whose wisdom learning, and docume^tes, I should receive and learn, that should belong not only to mine own fu^^herance and profyt, but also to the consolation and comfort of you, and all my friends, who^ hitherto I have found most beneficyall toward me. Sithe therefore it has thus chanced by your most godly procurement and provision, that I should for a season here remain with this profounde and famous Clerk, ye might not unworthily and in deed, with just cause, impute unto me, either the vice of igname, or else oblivion and forgetfulness of your most large and ample benefittes, if I should let slip such a mete, apt, and necessary epistle of his, and especially being written and indicted to the whole church, or congregation of England, both learned and unlearned, and in the which he expresses not only the assured and unfeigned love that he bears, and at all times has borne toward this realm, and rulars and ministers of the same, but also very euidentlye declares, and with most manifest testimonies of scripture, sets furthe at large such things as may be to the profitt and furtherance of many, and wherein he has confuted (not al, for it were in manner an infinite work to stand about all, but) as many sophistical and wranglinge schoolishe reasons, as are of any probability or likehoode, which my lord of Uvynchester (far unseemly for a sober Bisshoppe) has expressed and set forth in his two most co^tumelious and railing epistles against him, winki^g at, and ouerhippi^g his well most innumerable opprobrious words, checkes, tauntes, rebukes, quarellinges scoffinges, reuili^ges and scoldinges railinges, wherewith they are filled as full, as they may be heaped to gether. In the which are so few arguments or reasons of any probability: that had not the vrge^t and instant request of his friends, certain of our cou^tray men bien, he would never once have put penn to the paper, nor yet have made any a do about them, but would have left them to the judgment and arbitrime^t of the reader, notwithstanding now of late days it chanced that he gate a little vacant time to do the same (seeing he promised it to certain) from his manifold impedimentes, and necessary ecclesiastical business (where with we know such men are no small dele let) and to reconcile him self (which the Bisshoppe scornfullye, after his old wo^te, casts in his tethe) to his brother, before he ^^ay his offringe upon the altar. The which though it be brefe, and co^pencious and not set forth to the largeste, yet is it very dilucidious, pithie, and full of arguments concluded not only upon ye holy gostes unfeigned decrees, apoi^tmentes and ordinances, but also the old and holy doctores of the church, and for the brefnes of time sufficient enough. The which when he had finisshed, I furthe with took in hand acording to my childishe talent, to translate into our vulgar and common speech, and have sent it unto you to then^ent some well disposed and better learned which purchaunce will not bestow so much tym as the translation thereof requires, may yet at the least wise peruse it acording as he thinks best, so that at length it may be worthy to come abroad for the profit and instruction of the ignorant, which have not received the knowledge of the Latin tongue, because it is written to them, as well as to the other. Wherein I will desire you to accept my good will, as thought it cold extend farther and do much better, which if ye do, it shall be a great encourage and urgent cause unto me to employ and bestow the rest of my study, dilygence and labor herafter in other affairs, which I trust shall be no less acceptable unto you, then great furtherance to mine onne profyt and utility. The spirit of treuthe be with you, who guide you in all your paths, acording to his will, and lead you into all go^tlye knowledge. Amen. At Argentyne, Kalendis Februarij.

To the holy church of God, the church of England, and ministers of the same our lord Jesus Christ give increace of this grace and spirit. …