[ ^3 ] 



holfome feafon of true religion is come. But howfoever and 

 wherefoever god go forward, it is mooft fit for yow novi, to lie, 

 to diflemble, to make a good face if ye had it of all thinges, 

 and Ihew yo' felf to be a man and no angel, and a ferver of tornes 

 and no trueth. Wei this for yow, ye require now how we doo, 

 verie wel we thanke yow, and thanke ye for yo"' lettres, being 

 forie for yo' interim (c), and defiring a femper, for y"^ word of 

 godde remaineth for ever, and fuer there was never fo good an 

 interim, for it is an interim in dede, and nothing but an interim, 

 for while the grafse groweth y' hors ftarveth, ye afk how, even 

 with y' famin of the worde y' y' prophete Jeremie fpeketh (d). 

 but y"" lord is pacient and abideth y' uttermoft plunge, and y=" 

 wil fodainlie arife, and ether overthrow his adverfaries to his glorie, 

 or punifhe his chirche and chofen for theer finne. Whiche whi- 

 ther he do, he is glorified every waie, and dothe what he liketli 

 beft, bicaufe he knoweth what is beft not onelie generallie for 

 all, but efpeciallie for everic one. Here is no news, but yo'^ old 

 frende (e) and mine is ftubburn, he will not fpeke of thoos pointes 

 he is comanded, and of thoos he is charged to hold his' peace of, 

 he can not chufe but fpeke, beinge obedient to himfelf as a mule 

 y' carieth y° bit in her teth, and fo lerned in his fermone, y' his 

 frendes be afhamed of him. A notable differens betwene autho- 



ritee 



(c) The allufions to the interim in thefe letters are very numerous. 



(d) The paflage of Scripture which Sir John here alludes to, is, I believe, Amos 

 vili. II. — quoting from memory he might eafily make fuch a miftalce. 



(e) The old frende here fpoken of muft have been Gardiner, Bifliop of Winchefter, 

 who was imprifoned about this time. 



