when he ended his Sermone, incontinent thei caused Maister George to
ascend into the pulpet, there to heir his Accusatioun and Articles; for
rycht against him stood up one of the fedd flok, a monstere,[397] Johnne
Lawder, ladin full of cursingis, writtin in paper, of the which he took
out a roll boyth long and also full of cursingis,[398] threatnynges,
maledictionis, and wordis of devillesh spyte and malice, saying to the
innocent Maister George so many cruell and abhominable wordis, and hit
him so spytfullie with the Popis thunder, that the ignorant people
dreded least the earth then wold have swallowed him up qwick.
Nochtwythstanding, he stood still with great patience hearing thare
sayingis, not ones moving or changeing his countenance. When that this
fedd sow had red throwghout all his lying minasingis, his face runnyng
doune with sweat, and frothing at the mouth lyik ane bayre, he[399]
spate at Maister George his face, saying, "What ansuerist thow to these
sayingis, thow runnigat, tratour, theef, which we have dewlye proved by
sufficient witnes against thee." Maister George hearing this, satt doune
upoun his kneis in the pulpete, making his prayer to God. When he had
ended his prayer, sweitlye and Christianelie he answered to thame all in
this maner.

MAISTER GEORGE HIS ORATIOUN.

"Many and horrible sayingis unto me, a Christiane man, many wordis
abhominable for to hear, ye haif spokin heir this day, which not
only to teach, but also to think, I thowght it ever great
abhominatioun. Wharefore, I pray your discretionis quietlie to hear
me, that ye may know what war my sayingis, and the maner of my
doctrin. This my petitioun, my Lordis, I desyre to be heard for
three causes: The First is, Becaus throw preaching of the word of
God, his glorie is maid manifest: it is ressonabill tharefoir, for
the avanceing of the glorie of God, that ye heare me teaching
treulye the pure and syncere worde of God, without any
dissimulatioun. The Second reassone is, Becaus that your helth
springeth of the worde of God, for he workith all thing by his
word: it war tharefoir ane unrychteous thing, yf ye should stope
your earis from me teiching trewlye the word of God. The Thrid
reason is, Becaus your doctrine speaketh furth many
pestilentious,[400] blasphemous, and abhominable wordis, not cuming
by the inspiratioun of God, bot of the devill, on[401] no les