The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…

And the matter in the mean time is turmoiled and tossed among themselves: and persuasions and subtle reasons are forged to blind the right way and to beguile mens wits. And whom they fear to have adversaries able to resist them, for such, means are sought to bring them in unto their party or to convey them out of the way. And when opportunity is come, they call a counsel or Parliament under a contrary pretence. And a Mass of the holy ghost, whom they desire as far away as were possible, ⟨p. 315⟩is song and a goodly Sermon is made, to blear mens eyes with all. And then suddenly other men unprovided, the matter is opened, after the most subtle manner. And many are beguiled with subtle arguments and crafty persuasions. And they that hold hard against ¹them are called aside and reasoned with a part and handled after a fashion, and partly enticed with fair promises and partly feared with cruel threatenings, and so some are overcome with silver syllogisms & other for fear of threatening are driven unto silence, And if any be found at the last, that will not obey their falsehood and tyranny, they rail on him and jest him out of countenance & call him opinative, self minded and obstinate, & bear him in hand that the devil is in him that he so cleaveth unto his own wit, though he speak no syllable but Gods word, & is asked whether he will be wiser then other men. And in the spirituality, they excommunicate him and make an heretic ²of him. And this to be true in the Clergies chastity is as clear as the day by manifest chronicles, in so much that the Prelates of Rome, were a brewing it above an hundred years and I wot not how long longer, ere they could bring it to pass, and yet in vain till they had got the Emperors sword to prove that it was most expedient so to be. And for what intent? to ³bring all under the Pope, and that the Prelates of all lands might as the old manner was, come and wait on the Pope at Rome, where he prepared them whores enough.

And the matter in the meane tyme is turmoyled and tossed among themselues: and persuasions and sutle reasons are forged to blind the right way and to beguile mens wittes. And whō they feare to haue aduersaries able to resist them, for such, meanes are sought to bring them in vnto their partie or to conuey them out of the way. And whē oportunitie is come, they call a counsel or Parlamēt vnder a contrary pretēce. And a Masse of the holy ghost, whom they desire as farre away as were possible,