, were quite shut out from their company.
Neither can we yet forget, how Julius the Third, above ten years past,
provided warily by his writ that none of our sort should be suffered to
speak in the council, except that there were some, peradventure, that
would recant and change his opinion): for this cause chiefly we thought
it good to yield up an account of our faith in writing, and truly and
openly to make answer to those things wherewith we have been openly
charged; to the end the world may see the parts and foundations of that
doctrine, in the behalf whereof so many good men have little regarded
their own lives; and that all men may understand what manner of people
they be, and what opinion they have of God and of religion, whom the
Bishop of Rome, before they were called to tell their tale, hath
condemned for heretics, without any good consideration, without any
example, and utterly without law or right, only because he heard tell
that they did dissent from him and his in some point of religion.

And although St. Hierom would have nobody to be patient when he is
suspected of heresy, yet we will deal herein neither bitterly nor
brablingly; nor yet be carried away with anger and heat; though he ought
to be reckoned neither bitter nor brabler that speaketh the truth. We
willingly leave this kind of eloquence to our adversaries, who,
whatsoever they say against us, be it never so shrewdly or despitefully
said, yet think it is said modestly and comely enough, and care nothing
whether it be true or false. We need none of these shifts which do
maintain the truth.

Further, if we do show it plainly that God's holy Gospel, the ancient
bishops, and the primitive Church do make on our side, and that we have
not without just cause left these men, and rather have returned to the
Apostles and old Catholic fathers; and if we shall be found to do the
same not colourably or craftily, but in good faith before God, truly,
honestly, clearly, and plainly; and if they themselves which fly our
doctrine, and would be called Catholics, shall manifestly see how all
these titles of antiquity, whereof they boast so much, are quite shaken
out of their hands; and that there is more pith in this our cause than
they thought for; we then hope and trust that none of them will be so
negligent and careless of his own salvation, but he will at length study
and bethink himself to whether part he were best to join him.
Undoubtedly, except one will al