This alway hath been my custom in such controversies that (so much as I might lawfully do) I would retain the form of the used and accustomed doctrine, to the intent that we might the sooner agree together. Nor I do not much unlike at this time, all be it I might justly wade further in dissuading the people from the opinions of our adversaries. But our adversaries do so handle their matter that they show them selves neither to seek truth nor concord, but to sup up our blood. Doubtless I have now also written as soberly and moderately as I can, but yet if any thing shall seem to be spoken over sharply. I here protest that I contend with the divines & friars and not with Cesar or the princes whom (as my duty is) I have in high estimation and regard. But I saw lately their confutation which I have marked to be written so captiously and slanderously that in certain places they may deceive yea the ware and circumspect readers. Notwithstanding I have not meddled with all their cavillations (for that were an infinite work) but I have comprised the chief matters, to the intent that among all nations a testimony of us may appear, that our judgement is right & godly of the Evangel of Christ. Discord pleaseth not us. Nor our own private peril doth nothing move us which how great it is by reason of the vehement hatreds of our adversaries kindled against us, we easily perceive. But we may not renounce the manifest verity and necessary to the edification of the church. wherefore we think that all incommodities and perils ⟨image 41⟩are to be sustained and suffered for the glory of Christ and profit of his church, trusting that God will allow and accept this our office & endeavour, and moreover we hope that our posterity and successors shall have of us here after a better opinion and a more indifferent judgement. For it can not be denied but that many places of Christs doctrine, which are most necessary to be notified and known in the church, be of us and ours opened and clearly set forth, which here to fore with how great and perilous opinions they were suppressed and hid through deceitful friars, lawyers, and sophistical divines, it lusteth me not here to recite.
This alway hathe bene my custome in suche controuersies that (so muche as I myght lawfully do) I wolde retayne the fourme of the vsed and accustomed doctryne, to the entent that we myght the soner agre together. Nor I do nat muche vnlyke at thys tyme, all be it I myght iustly wade further in dissuadynge the people from the opinions of our aduersaries. But our aduersaries do so hādle theyr matter that they shewe them selues neyther to seke trouthe nor concorde, but to sup vp our blode. Doubtles I haue nowe also wryttē as soberly and moderately as I can, but yet if any thyng shal seme to be spokē ouer sharply. I here protest that I contende with the diuines & frears and nat with Cesar or the prynces whome (as my dutie is) I haue in hyghe estimacyon and regarde. But I sawe lately theyr confutacion whiche I haue marked to be wrytten so capciously and slaunderously that in certaine places they may dysceyue yea the ware and cyrcumspecte readers. Natwithstandyng I haue nat medlyd with all theyr cauilacyōs (for that were an infinite worke) but I haue comprised the chefe maters, to the entēt that amonge all nacyons a testimonie of vs maye appere, that our iudgement is ryght & godly of the Euangel of Christe. Discorde pleaseth nat vs. Nor our owne priuate peryll dothe nothinge moue vs whiche howe greate it is by reason of the vehemēt hatredes of our aduersaries kyndled agaynste vs, we easely perceyue. But we may nat renounce the manifest veritie and necessarie to the edificacion of the churche. wherfore we thynke that all incommodities and peryls ⟨image 41⟩are to be susteyned and suffered for the glorye of Christe and profite of his churche, trusting that God wyll allowe and accepte thys our office & endeuour, and moreouer we hope that our posteritie and successours shal haue of vs here after a better opinion and a more indifferent iudgement. For it can nat be denyed but that many places of Christes doctryne, which are moste necessarie to be notified and knowen in the churche, be of vs and ours opened and clerely set forthe, which here to fore with howe greate and perelouse opinions they were suppressed and hydde through deceitful friars, lawyers, and sophisticall diuines, it lusteth me nat here to recite.
