A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

Amongst all ⟨p. 35⟩these the Body of the people, which are the Kings most special care, as they are his strength and wealth, were looked on as most to be regarded, as without whose concurrence their discontents of all others were like only to consume themselves. Now the people being in those days very ignorant and unacquainted with the Doctrines of the Scripture, were very little or not at all concerned what persuasion men were of in Religion, as to the Articles of pure belief, so as they might retain the Agenda in the Worship of God which they had been accustomed unto. Hence it was that those Prelates, who were the Instruments of the Papal Persecution in this Nation, wisely stated the whole cause of their cruelty to be the Mass, or the Worship of the Church, seldom unless compelled by Disputations once mentioning of the Articles of Faith, which yet they knew to be the main foundation of the difference between themselves and the Reformers; because in this particular they had the advantage of the popular favour; the people violently interposing themselves in the behalf of that part of the present Religion wherein their only share did lye. Had they laid the Reasons and Grounds of their Quarrel in the differences of Opinions about the Credenda of the Gospel, they would scarcely have prevailed with the common people to carry Faggot, for the burning of their Brethren, for things whereof they understood little or nothing at all.

Amongst all ⟨p. 35⟩these the Body of the people, which are the Kings most special care, as they are his strength and wealth, were looked on as most to be regarded, as without whose concurrence their discontents of all others were like onely to consume themselves. Now the people being in those dayes very ignorant and unacquainted with the Doctrines of the Scripture, were very little or not at all concerned what perswasion men were of in Religion, as to the Articles of pure belief, so as they might retain the Agenda in the VVorship of God which they had been accustomed unto. Hence it was that those Prelates, who were the Instruments of the Papal Persecution in this Nation, wisely stated the whole cause of their cruelty to be the Mass, or the Worship of the Church, seldome unless compelled by Disputations once mentioning of the Articles of Faith, which yet they knew to be the main foundation of the difference between themselves and the Reformers; because in this particular they had the advantage of the popular favour; the people violently interposing themselves in the behalf of that part of the present Religion wherein their onely share did lye. Had they laid the Reasons and Grounds of their Quarrel in the differences of Opinions about the Credenda of the Gospel, they would scarcely have prevailed with the common people to carry Faggot, for the burning of their Brethren, for things whereof they understood little or nothing at all.