must not bowe our knees nor vncouer our
heades before Idolls / we must not kisse thos thinges / which
are contrarie to the gospell.

[[Dan. 3.]]

Yf ony other in the whole world / thos the princes (of whom
mencion is made in Daniell) might haue coloured ther Idolatrie /
but they chose rather to submitt themselues to cruel
punishment / then to bowe their knee before that Image which the
kinge did sett vpp to be worshipped. Their men of ours wold haue
sayed. It shalbe better to kepe faithe in the harte for the
profitinge of many / then rashly to poore it furthe to the hurte
of an infinite number. For so longe as we are safe / the
miserable captiues shall receyue gret and many benefites: Yea
and also we priuely may promote the truithe in the princes
courte. But by this same vnceasonable confession / confusion of
all thinges shall euen at ons ouerwhelme all theise thinges. And
with out doubt they wold haue added that the Image which the
kyng hadd sett vp was not altogether to be deputed among prophane
thinges / forbicause that the true God had shewed the kinge a
vision or an Image / which did conteyn great misteries of the
kingdome of Godd / after the forme of which Image /
Nabugodonozor hadd caused this Image to be made and graued /
which Image the faithfull for the cause might beholde and
reuerence as the worke of Godd. But thos valieant / and glorious
Martirs do make mention of no suche thinge /

[[Dan. 3.]]

and though they did knowe the kinges mynd well inough in this
matier / yet they do playnly saye to the kinge. Be this known
vnto the (o kynge) that we wil not serue they goddes / nor do
reuerence vnto that Image which thow hast sett vpp. Neither did
they only vse this libertie of speache before the kyng / but
willingly they offered ther bodies to all daungers / yea euen to
most fearfull fires.

[[Dan. 6.]]

Daniel also did not thincke that Godd was religiusly inough
worshipped and serued with the inwarde faithe of the harte /
except he had added the outward confession also. For when thos
hethen princes did laye snares for hym / of which he was not
ignorant / and therfor might peaceably haue prayed to the lorde
within his walles at home / yet wold he not dissemble in this
matier. For what doth the scripture saye? This / that when
Daniel perceyued what the kinge hadd commaunded / he wente into
his howse / and the windows of his wall towardes Hierusalen stode
open. There kneled he down vpon his knee