The Apologie, Cap. 22. Diuision. 2.
For of very truthe, we haue departed from him, whom we sawe, had blinded the whole worlde this many a hundred yeere: From him, who too farre presumpteously was woonte to saie, he could not erre, and, what so euer he did, no mortal man had power to condemne him, neither Kinges, nor Emperoures, nor the whole Clergie, nor yet al the people in the worlde togeather, no, thoughe he shoulde carrie away with him a thousande Soules into Hel: From him, who tooke vpon him power to commaunde, not onely menne, but euen the An∣gelles of God, to goe, to returne, to leade Soules into Purgatorie, & to bringe them backe againe, when he liste him selfe: who, Gregorie saithe, without al doubte, is the very forerenner, and standerd bea∣rer of Antichriste, and hath vtterly forsaken the Catholique Faith: From whom also these ringleaders of ours, who now with might, and maine resiste the Gospel, and the truthe, whiche thei knowe to be the truthe, haue ere this departed euery one of their owne accorde, & good wil: and would euen now also gladly departe from him againe, if the note of inconstancie, and shame, & their owne estimation among the people, were not a let vnto them. In conclusion, wee haue depar∣ted from him, to whom we were not bounde, and who had nothinge to laie for him selfe, but onely, I knowe not what, vertue, or power of the place, where he dwelleth, and a continuance of Succession.
M. Hardinge.
As yee confesse youre departinge, so woulde God yee vnderstoode youre gylte.
Those reuerent Fathers, and Godly learned menne, whose romes ye holde wrongfully, whom it li∣ked your interpreter to cal Ringleaders, resiste not the Gospel, but suffer persecution for the Gospel. Your Gospel, that is to saie, your vile heresies and blaspemies, worthely thei detes••e. Your newe trouth, that is to saie, your false and wicked lies, thei abhorre. Neither euer departed they from any parte of the dutie of Catholique menne,* 1.1 by their owne accorde and good wil, as ye saie.* 1.2 But wherein they slepte aside, they were compelled by sutche feare, as might happen to a right constant man, I meane the terrour of death, whiche, as Aristotle saithe, of al terrible thinges is most terrible. Nowe bicause yet they finde the terroure of a gilty conscience, more terrible then death of their persons, thei entende by Gods grace assisting them, neuer so to steppe aside againe, but rather to suffer what so euer extremities. VVhose bloude, or the bloude of any of them, if God to his honour shal at any time per∣mitt