And  I  said :  Sir,  I  doubt  not,  if  these  painters  that  ye  speak  of,  or  any  other
painters,  vnderstood  truely  the  text  of  Moyses,  of  Dauid,  of  the  wise  man,  of
Baruch,  and  of  other  saints  and  doctors,  these  painters  shoulde  bee  moued  to
shrine  them  to  God  with  full  inward  son'owe  of  heart,  taking  vpon  them  to  doe
right  sharpe  penance  for  the  sinnefull  and  vaine  craft  of  painting,  earning,  or
casting  they  had  vsed ;  promising  God  faithfullie,  neuer  to  doe  so  after  ;  know-
ledging  openlic,  before  all  men,  their  reproueable  learning.  And  also  Sir,  these
priests,  that  shriue  (as  you  doe  sale)  painters,  and  enioyne  them  to  doe  penance,
and  j)ray  for  their  sj)eed,  promising  to  them  lielpe  of  their  praiers  for  to  be
curious  in  their  sinnefull  craftes,  sin  herein  more  greeuouslie  then  y'  painters.
For  these  priests  do  comfort  and  giue  them  counsell  to  doe  that  thing,  which,

(1)  Though  man  accept  the  painting  or  carving  of  images,  yet  is  it  not  the  right  way  to  learn  to
serve  Ood.
(2)  A  similitude  of  the  king's  seal  or  letters,  to  prove  the  worship  of  images.
(3)  No  similitude  to  he  made  between  earthly  things  and  spiritual,  namely,  when  God's  word
doth  express  to  the  contrary.
(4)  So  you  say,  my  lord,  but  God  saith  contrary,  in  his  commandments,

(5)  Painters'  devotion  and  the  pope's  divinity  do  well  agree.
((i)  Preparation  of  the  painters  to  make  a  fair  and  a  devout  image.
2G6  THE    EXAMINATION    OF    WILLIAM    THORPE.
