'La Coignee de Lutter'. English and French, sixteenth century

C. J. [John Crafford] (transl.): 'La Coignee De Lutter, ou Limaginaire escripture des eretiques Lesquels Reiettant Les Consilles et St Peres Prouvent Seulement Les Illusions De leur fantastiques Ceruelles' (fo. 1r). Dedicatory epistle (fo. 2r) in French to 'Marie Royne De la Grande Bretagne' [Mary Queen of Scots] maintains that the original was written in Latin by an unnamed Cardinal to Sigismund, King of Poland; that is, presumably, Sigismund II (1548-72). The valediction 'Celuy qui admire voz vertus C. J.' (fo. 4v) is pasted over a former version 'Jo: Crafford pouvre afflige? prisonnier dans la Prison de la Porte Neufve' [Newgate]. Could this be the Fransiscan friar John Crayford (d. 1562), canon of Durham and spiritual chancellor of Durham under Cuthbert Tunstall (see Venn)? If so we must date the present work, a translation into English, at c. 1560, which seems a trifle early for the hand. The translation, titled 'Luthers Hatchet, or the Heretiques imaginarie Scripture, who reiectinge the Interpretation of the Church, Councell, and Fathers, proveth only an illusion of theire owne braine', beg.: 'The unbridled boldnes in the Heretickes of our Tyme hath given mee iust cause (Great Kinge Sigismond) to write some thinges to you'; ends: 'or anie love or desire of the saving word; but have to theire uttermost power'. Incomplete.