Certain letters, translated into English, being first written in Latin. Two, by the reverend…Certayne letters, translated into English, being first written in Latine. Two, by the reverend…

And to what end I pray you is it? To the end that you might purge your selves? But here is no man that doth repeat anew, or lay these accusations against you. Wherefore serveth this purgation? that ye may be even with them against whom ye complain? But this is not the part of a Christian. I do not think that this is your meaning. Is it to reform them? This indeed is an holy endeavour. But if ye could not do this when ye were present, consider what ye can do when ye are absent. But first of all consider with your selves, by what means ye take this way, namely to accuse to me, to others, to the public, in the theatre of the Church, in the circle of the world▪ Ah beloved brethren, was it ever heard of, that any private man (to say nothing of a great community) was ever amended by this course Further consider I pray you before whom ye bring these things. I will speak of my self, to whom alone ye would commit this your little book; I know not whether in this your little book ye call upon me, as an intercessor, or examiner, or a Judge. For if as an intercessor, were it not better that your complain•s were kept secret, then laid open (which tendeth to reproach) and the Church of Christ, innumerable souls, weak, strangers, to be beaten with the types of your impression. It is most manifest, that they against whom ye deal, will be more provoked ^“by this grievous sting If as an examiner, by what right can I do it? who have no lawful authority from God, from the Church, from the Magistrate, or from both the parties: neither if it should be committed, would I easily accept it; I am so privy to my self, of my own insufficiency; for who am I? or what am I? that I should be able, throughly to see every particular thing, concerning you, and them, which are required to a just examination. And this the right course of examination doth require, otherwise (as Seneca wisely saith) he that judgeth one party being not heard, albeit he judgeth that which is right, yet he is unjust. Ye are not a little deceived in this your judgement beloved brethren: Ye almost do me an injury, when ye call me to be a busy body, or think that I will take upon me the part of an examiner, or (that which is more subject to envy and far from duty) of a Judge.

And to what end I pray you is it? To the end that you might purge your selues? But here is no man that doth repeate anew, or lay these accusations against you. Wherefore serueth this purgatiō? that yee may be euen with them against whom yee cōplaine? But this is not the part of a Christian. I doe not thinke that this is your meaning. Is it to reforme them? This indeed is an holy endeuour. But if yee could not doe this when yee were present, cōsider what yee can doe when yee are absent. But first of all consider with your selues, by what meanes yee take this way, namely to accuse to me, to others, to the publike, in the theatre of the Church, in the circle of the world Ah beloued brethren, was it euer heard of, that any priuate man (to say nothing of a great communitie) was euer amended by this course Further consider I pray you before whom yee bring these things. I will speak of my selfe, to whom alone yee would commit this your little booke; I know not whether in this your little booke yee call upon me, as an intercessor, or examiner, or a Iudge. For if as an intercessor, were it not better that your cōplains were kept secret, then layed open (which tendeth to reproch) and the Church of Christ, innumerable soules, weake, strangers, to be beaten with the types of your impression. It is most manifest, that they against whom yee deale, wil be more prouoked