Note 513 — BOOK II.
Reading edition
Take a specimen from his high encomiums on the priesthood.
"There is no emperour, kyng, duke, ne baron That of God hath commissyon, As hath the leest preest in the world beynge. * * * * * God hath to them more power gyven, Than to any aungell, that is in heven; With v. words he may consecrate Goddes body in fleshe and blode to take, And handeleth his maker bytwene his handes. The preest byndeth and unbindeth all bandes, Bothe in erthe and in heven.— Thou ministers all the sacramentes seven. Though we kyst thy fete thou were worthy; Thou art the surgyan that cureth synne dedly; No remedy may we fynde under God, But alone on preesthode. ----God gave preest that dignitè, And letteth them in his stede amonge us be, Thus be they above aungels in degre."
See Hawkins's Orig. of Eng. Drama, vol. i. p. 61.