But as for us, in as much as it is not lawful for any of our sort once to sit, or so much as to be seen in the assembly of these men, much less to be heard freely to speak: and on the other side, for as much as the Popes Legates, the Patriarchs, the Archbishops, the Bishops, the Abbots all conjured together, all fettered ⟨p. 56⟩in one fault, all bound with one oath, & only have place to sit, only have authority to give their voice, and in conclusion, as though they had done nothing, to submit all their judgements to the Popes will and pleasure alone: even to the intent that he who ought rather to have pleaded his own cause at the bar, should give sentence of himself: in as much, I say, as that old and Christian liberty, which in all Christian Councils ought chiefly to be maintained, is now in council utterly taken away, no good and godly man ought to marvel, if we do now at this time, that thing, which they see the fathers and Catholic Bishops did afore time, when like cause was offered: so that because in the council we can not be heard, & Princes Ambassadors are laughed to scorn, and we all, as though the matter were already dispatched and concluded, are before judgement condemned, if I say, we had rather tarry at home & commit the whole matter unto God, then to go to the place, where we shall neither have any place, nor yet any thing prevail at all. But as touching our own injuries, we can bear them patiently & quietly enough. But wherefore I pray you do they exclude Christian Kings and godly Princes from their councils? Why do they either so uncurtesly dispatch them out of their company, or reject them with such reproach: when that as though they were no Christian men, or were not able to judge, they will not suffer them to sit in council in causes of Religion, nor to know the state of their own Churches. Or in case they do intermeddle at any time by their authority, & do the thing which they may do, which they are commanded to do, which they are bound to do, and which we know David, Solomon, & other good princes have done: ⟨image 57⟩and take upon them, other whiles the Bishops be a sleep, or whiles they do rebelliously resist, to bridle the raging lusts of priests, and both drive them to the doing of their duty, and keep them from disorder: & moreover if they pluck down Idols, withdraw superstition, set up the true worship of God:
But as for vs, in as much as it is not lawful for ani of our sort once to sitte, or so much as to be seene in the assemblie of these men, much lesse to be hearde freely to speake: and on the other side, for as much as the Popes Legates, the Patriarches, the Archbyshops, the Bysshoppes, the Abbots all coniured together, al fettered ⟨p. 56⟩in one faute, al bound with one othe, & only haue place to sit, only haue aucthoritie to giue their voice, and in cōclusiō, as though thei had done nothing, to submit al their iudgements to the Popes wil and pleasure alone: euen to the intent that he who ought rather to haue pleaded his own cause at the barre, should giue sentēce of himself: in as much, I say, as that olde and Christiā liberty, which in all Christian Councels ought chiefly to be maintained, is now in coūcel vtterly takē away, no good and godly man ought to maruaile, if wee doe now at this time, that thing, which thei see the fathers and Catholike Bysshops did afore time, whē like cause was offered: so that bycause in the councell we cā not be heard, & Princes Embassadors ar laughed to scorne, and we all, as though the matter were already dispatched and concluded, ar before iudgement condempned, if I say, we had rather tary at home & cōmit the whole matter vnto God, then to go to ye place, where we shall neither haue any place, nor yet any thing preuaile at al. But as touching our own iniuries, we can beare them paciently & quietly ynough. But wherfore I pray you doe they exclude Christian Kinges and godly Princes from their councels? Why doe they either so vncurtesly dispatche them out of their company, or reiect them wt such reproche: when that as though they were no Christian men, or were not able to iudge, they will not suffer them to sit in counsell in causes of Religion, nor to knowe the state of their owne Churches. Or in case they doe entermedle at any time by their aucthoritie, & doe ye thing which thei may do, which thei are cōmanded to doe, which they are bounde to do, and which we know Dauid, Salomō, & other good prīces haue done: ⟨image 57⟩and take vpon them, other whiles the Byshops be a sleepe, or whiles they doe rebellyously resist, to bridle ye raging lustes of priestes, and both driue them to the doing of their duty, and kepe them from disorder: & moreouer if they plucke downe Idolls, withdraw superstition, set vp the true worship of God:
