Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

XVII. (a) a dialogue concerning heresies. i8i[A'(A) jFrom Dialogue concernynge Heresyes ;'Book III. ch. 14; 'Workes/ p. 233.]For ye shal vnderstande that the great arche-heretike wick-Hffe, whereas th^ hole byble was lo«g before his dayes byvertuous & wel lerned men tra^zslated into th^ en^-Wickliffeshsh tong, & by good & godly people wzt/^ deuo- transiacion ofthe byble.5 cion & sobrenes wel and reuerently red, toke vponhym of a malicious purpose to translate it of new. In whichtra^slacio;/, he purposely corrupted //^e holye text, maliciouslyplanting therein suche wordes, as might in tho, rederseres serue to th^ profe of such heresies as he went about to10 sow, which he not only set furth with his own tra^zslacio;? ofthe byble, but also wzt/^ certain prologes & glosis whiche hemade thereupon. And these thinges he so handled (whichwas no great maistry) wzt/^ reasons probable & likely to leypeple & vnlerned, thai he corrupted in his time many folke15 in this realme.[(B) From the same; Book III. ch. 15 ; p. 234.Jbut my-self haue seen and can shew youbybles fayre and old writen in englishe, whiche haue beenknowen & seen by the byshop of the dyoces, & left inleye mens handes & womens, to suche as he knewe forgood and catholike folke, that vsed itj;with deuocion &sobrenes. But of truth al such as are founder in ththandes of heretikes, they vse to take away. But theydoe cause none to be burned as farre as euer I coulde