VOLUME 3

AN ANSWERE VNTO SIR THOMAS MORES DIALOGE

LOCATION
KEY Commentary Side Textual Bibliographic Scriptural

But aftir that the deuell was broken lowse and the bisshopes beganne to purchace / and the deacons to scratch all to them / and the spiritualtie to clime an hye: then because the laboure semed to tediouse and paynfull / to appose the childern one by one / they axed the prestes that presented them only / whether the childern were taught the profession of their baptim. And they answered ye. And so vppon their wordes they confirmed them with out apposinge. When they no lenger apposed them / the prestes no lenger taught them / but committed the charge to their godfather and godmothers / and they to the father and mother / dischargynge them selues by theyr awne auctorite with in halfe an houre.

And the father and mother taught them a monstrous laten pater noster and an Aue and a crede. Which gibbresh euery popiniaye speaketh with a sundrye pronunciacion and facion / so that one pater noster semeth as many languages all most as there be tonges that speake it. How be it / it is all one / as longe as they vnderstonde it not. And in processe as the ignoraunce grewe / they brought them to confirmacion streight from baptim: so that now oftimes they be volowed and bysshoped both in one daye / that is / we be confirmed in blindenesse to be kept from knowlege for euer. And thus are we come in to this damnable ignoraunce and ferce wrathe of god thorow oure awne deseruinge / because when the trueth was told vs we had no loue therto. And to declare the full & sett wrath of god vppon vs / our prelates whom we haue exalted ouer vs to whom we haue geuen al most al we had / haue perswaded the wordly princes (to whom we haue