days, _John Trevisa_ translated them into _English_, and many _English_ Bibles in written hand are yet to be seen with divers; translated, as it is very probable, in that age. So the _Syrian_ translation of the New Testament is in most learned men’s libraries, of _Widminstadius’_ setting forth; and the Psalter in _Arabick_ is with many, of _Augustinus Nebiensis’_ setting forth. So _Postel_ affirmeth, that in his travel he saw the Gospels in the _Ethiopian_ tongue: And _Ambrose Thesius_ alledgeth the Psalter of the _Indians_, which he testifieth to have been set forth by _Potken_ in _Syrian_ characters. So that to have the Scriptures in the mother tongue is not a quaint conceit lately taken up, either by the Lord _Cromwell_ in _England_, or by the Lord _Radevile_ in _Polony_, or by the Lord _Ungnadius_ in the Emperor’s dominion, but hath been thought upon, and put in practice of old, even from the first times of the conversion of any nation; no doubt, because it was esteemed most profitable to cause faith to grow in men’s hearts the sooner, and to make them to be able to say with the words of the Psalm, [Sidenote: Psal. 48. 8.] _As we have heard, so we have seen_. [Sidenote: The unwillingness of our chief adversaries that the Scriptures should be divulged in the mother tongue, &c. Δῶρον ἄδωρον κουκ ὀνήσιμον _Sophocl._] Now the church of _Rome_ would seem at the length to bear a motherly affection toward her children, and to allow them the Scriptures in the mother tongue: but indeed it is a gift, not deserving to be called a gift, an unprofitable gift: they must first get a licence in writing before they may use them; and to get that, they must approve themselves to their Confessor, that is, to be such as are, if not frozen in the dregs, yet soured with the leaven of their superstition. Howbeit it seemed too much to _Clement_ the Eighth, that there should be any licence granted to have them in the vulgar tongue, and therefore he overruleth and frustrateth the grant of _Pius_ the Fourth. [Sidenote: See the observation (set forth by Clement’s authority) upon the 4th rule of _Pius_ the 4th’s making in the _Index lib. prohib. pag. 15. ver. 5. Tertull. de resur. carnis._] So much are they afraid of the light of the Scripture, (_Lucifugæ Scripturarum_, as _Tertullian_ speaketh,) that they will not trust the people with it, no not as it is set forth by their own sworn men, no not with the licence of their own Bishops and Inquisitors. Yea, so unwilling they are to communicate the Scriptures to the people’s understanding in any sort, that they are not ashamed to confess, that we forced them to translate it into _English_ against their wills. This seemeth to argue a bad cause, or a bad conscience, or both. Sure we are, that it is not he that hath good gold, that is afraid to bring it to the touch-stone, but he that hath the counterfeit; [Sidenote: John 3. 20.] neither is it the true man that shunneth the light, but the malefactor,