Moreover / seeing there are many men / which do not yet perceive nor know / how much these things do hinder faith & true godly living: we do easily conjecture / that there are not a few / which shall account this deed of our commune weal / to be a foolish and a wicked presumption. And therefore / for as much as it is the duty of all christen men / as much as in them lieth to give diligence & to provide / that the thing which they have godly done & wrought / may be accounted & known of other men / to be none other wise than godly done. And also to take good heed / that no man may have occasion worthily to speak evil of their goodness (as Paul saith) Herefore we have judged it to be ⟨image 3⟩our part and duty which taught that the thing ought to be done / which now our senate hath done in very deed / & brought to pass very diligently to show the cause of all this whole deed: but with as much briefness as may be / that if it would be / we might haply pacify & appease the minds / at the lest wise of some persons / whom this business hath troubled & greatly discontented / & doubtless if we may obtain this one thing (which is denied to no man / be he never so great a malefactor) that we may have the one ear open to here what we shall say: We fear not / but that whosoever can find in their hearts / and abide to know these few things / which we shall allege first out of holy scriptures. Secondarily of the writings of the fathers. And thirdly of the decrees ⟨image 3⟩of emperors against pictures and images. If it be showed also of whom / & for what cause & consideration both they were first brought up in the churches of christen men / and also being defended have continued in the same. We doubt not (I say) but that all such persons: if it be so / that it be granted unto them to know the truth / will also desire with us / that this thing which is done here with us / all other churches of christen men / did follow & execute in like manner.
Moreouer / seyng there ar many men / whiche do nat yet perceyue nor knowe / how moche these thinges do hyndre fayth & trew godly lyuynge: we do easely coniecture / that there are nat a fewe / whiche shall accompte this dede of oure cōmune wele / to be a folysshe and a wycked presumption. And therfore / for as moch as it is the dutye of all christen men / as moch as in them lyeth to gyue dilygence & to prouyde / that the thynge whiche they haue godly done & wrought / maye be accompted & knowen of other men / to be none other wyse than godly done. And also to take good hede / that no man may haue occasyon worthely to speke euyl of their goodnesse (as Paule sayth) Herefore we haue iudged it to be ⟨image 3⟩our parte and dutye which taught that the thynge ought to be done / which nowe our senate hath done in very dede / & brought to passe very dilygently to shewe the cause of all this whole dede: but with as moche brefenesse as maye be / that if it wolde be / we might happely pacify & apease the myndes / at the lest wyse of some persones / whom this busines hath troubled & gretly discontēted / & doubtelesse if we may optayn this one thyng (whiche is denyed to no man / be he neuer so gret a malefactour) that we maye haue the one eare open to here what we shall saye: We feare nat / but that whosoeuer can fynde in their hertes / and abyde to know these fewe thinges / which we shall allege fyrst out of holy scriptures. Secondarily of the writynges of the fathers. And thyrdly of the decrees ⟨image 3⟩of emperours agaynst pyctures and ymages. If it be shewed also of whom / & for what cause & consyderation both they were first brought vp in the churches of christen men / and also beynge defēded haue contynued in the same. We doute nat (I saye) but that all suche persones: if it be so / that it be graunted vnto them to knowe the truthe / wyll also desyre with vs / that this thynge whiche is done here with vs / all other churches of christen men / dyd folowe & execute in lyke maner.
