An invective against the most wicked [and] detestable vice of swearing, newly co[m]piledAn inuectyue agenst the moost wicked [and] detestable vyce of swearing, newly co[m]piled

Is it not to be thought, that they were hot in their matters, wham they could not keep their mischievous pretence secret,¹ but came unto the chief priests and elders, as covers worthy such cups, & ghostly fathers fit for such a confession, and told them that they had bound them selves with a vow, that they might eat nothing until the had slain Paul? Had it not ben great pity, think you, that these men should have dyed for •onger, seeing they fasted for so good a purpose? O holy votaries. I marvel how they could ever pacify their consciences afterward, seeing they made so solemn a vow, and yet brake it. For they never slue Paul, so mighty a ⟨image 58⟩Lord is God to defend his servants from the cruel hands of bloody tyrants. But the holy religious men are to be holden excused, for as much as their will was good, although they could not bring it to pas•e. Voluntas reputatur pro facto. There will was taken for the very act. So y• before the world they were counted godly parsons, because they had a mind to pay their vows, and did the best that in them was to perform their promise so solemnly made and taken, and before god were they recounted malicious and cruel bloody manslayers. Nam uoluntas reputatur pro facto.

Is it not to be thought, that they were whot in theyr matters, whā they coulde not kepe theyr mischeuous pretence secrette,¹ but came vnto the chefe prestes and elders, as couers worthy such cuppes, & gostly fathers fyt for suche a confession, and tolde them that they had boūde them selues wyth a vowe, that they myght eate nothyng vntyl the had slayne Paule? Had it not ben great pitie, thynke you, that these menne shulde haue dyed for •onger, seynge they fasted for so good a purpose? O holy votories. I maruell howe they could euer pacify theyr consciences afterwarde, seynge they made so solemne a vowe, and yet brake it. For they neuer slue Paule, so myghty a ⟨image 58⟩Lorde is God to defende his serualltes from the cruell handes of bloudy tyrauntes. But the holye religious men are to be holdē excused, for as much as theyr wyl was good, although they coulde not bryng it to pase. Voluntas reputatur pro facto. There wyll was taken for the very acte. So y before the worlde they were counted godly parsonnes, because they had a mynde to paye theyr vowes, and dyd the best that in them was to performe theyr promyse so solemnely made and takē, and before god were they recounted malicious and cruell bloudy manslears. Nam uoluntas reputatur pro facto.