But now, least they should seem only to pick quarrels, and to speak evil of us in corners, only to the intent to bring us into hatred, the Romish Bishops have provided themselves of certain men, eloquent enough and not unlearned, for to undertake this desperate cause, and to set it forth with books and long orations, to the intent that the matter being cunningly handled after the best fashion, the simple and ignorant man might suppose there were somewhat in it: for truly they saw how their cause began to decline in all places, how their sleights were now espied, and therefore less set by, and that their Garrisons decayed every day: and therefore their cause to be such, that it had great need of help. Now as touching those things which they do object against us, part of them are manifestly false, and even by the judgment of the self same persons that do object them,1 condemned for lies: part of them, although they be as false as the other, yet inasmuch as they carry a show and a counterfeit of truth, in such the simple reader if he take not heed, specially, if unto the probability of the matter, the painted & delicate speech of these fellows be cunningly applied, may easily be entrapped and carried out of the way: part of them again are such as we ought not to decline from them as crimes, but as ⟨p. 9⟩things right well and advisedly done, to acknowledge & to profess them: and even to tell you at a word how the matter goeth, these men do slander all our doings, even those things which them selves can not deny to be well and orderly done, and as though it were not possible that any thing should be other done or spoken well of us, so all our sayings and doings they most maliciously deprave. No doubt, it had been their part to have gone more simply and more plainly to work, if they had meant to deal truly, whereas now neither truly nor courteously nor Christianly, but covertly & craftily they assault us with lies: abusing the blindness of the people and the ignorance of Princes, to bring us into hatred and to oppress the truth: this is the power of darkness & property of men, that for the furtherance of their cause, have more confidence in the blockishness of the unskilful multitude, & in darkness then in truth and light, & as S. Jerome saith, of such as with closed eyes do bark against the manifest truth.
But now, least thei shoulde seme onely to picke quarels, and to speake euell of vs in corners, onely to the intent to brynge vs into hatred, the Romyshe Byshops haue prouided themselues of certaine men, eloquente ynoughe and not vnlearned, for to vndertake this desperate cause, and to set it forth with bokes and long orations, to the intent that the matter being cōningly handled after the best fasshion, the simple and ignorant man might suppose there were somwhat in it: for truely thei sawe how their cause began to decline in al places, how their sleights wer now espied, and therefore lesse set by, and that their Garrysons decaied euery daie: and therfore their cause to be such, that it had great nede of helpe. Now as touching those thinges whiche thei do obiecte against vs, parte of them are manifestly false, and euen by the iudgment of the selfe same persons that do obiect them,1 condemned for lies: parte of them, although they bee as false as the other, yet in asmuche as thei carrye a shewe and a counterfeat of truth, in suche the symple reader if he take not hede, specially, if vnto the probabylitie of the matter, the painted & delicate speache of these fellowes be cunningly applied, may easilie be entrapped and caried out of the waie: part of thē againe ar such as we oughte not to decline from them as crimes, but as ⟨p. 9⟩thinges right well and aduisedly done, to acknowledge & to professe them: and euen to tell you at a word how the matter goeth, these men do slaunder all our doings, euen those thinges whiche them selues can not deny to be wel and ordrely done, and as thoe it were not possyble that any thinge should be other done or spoken wel of vs, so all oure sayinges and doinges thei moste malitiously depraue. No doubt, it hadde been their part to haue gone more simply and more playnely to worke, yf thei had ment to deale truly, whereas now nother truly nor courteouslie nor Christianly, but couertly & craftily thei assault vs with lyes: abusinge the blindnes of the people and the ignoraunce of Princes, to bringe vs into hatred and to oppresse the truth: this is the power of darkenes & proprety of men, that for the furtherance of their cause, haue more confydence in the blockishnesse of the vnskilfull multitude, & in darkenes then in truth and light, & as S. Ierome saith, of such as with closed eyes do barke against the manifest truth.
- 1A general answer.A generall aunswere.
