And wheras in the former treatise of the name of the Archbyshop, he blew the trumpet before the victorie: heere in this of the office he bloweth it before he commeth into the fielde, or striketh one stroke, saying that they little consider what they write, that they are contemners of auncient writers and that they neuer read them, and that they are vnlearned which denie these things which he affir∣meth. Well what we reade & howe vnlearned we are, is not the matter whiche we striue for, the iudgemente thereof is first with God▪ then with the Churches, and in their iudgementes we are content to reste. But if you be so greatly learned, and we so vnlearned and smally read, then the truth of oure cause shall more appeare that is maynteined with so small learnyng and reading, a∣gaynst men of such profound knowledge & great reading. And yet I knowe not why if we be not tooidle, we should not be hable to reade as much as you, which may haue leysure to reade a good long writer, or euer you can ryde onely to see and salute your houses and liuings, being so many and so farre distant one from an other. And if we be so vnlearned and holde suche daungerous opinions of Papistrie and anabaptisme, as you beare men in hand we doe, why do you not by the example of the Ministers in Germanie, procure a publike disputation, where you may both winne your spurres and suche detestable opinions with the ignoraunce of the authors, may be displayed vnto the whole world? But let vs heare what is sayde.
I haue sayd nothing of the authors of the Admonition, which their owne doings proueth not to be true, and if you will also take it vnto your selfe, who can let you. If notwithstanding al my iourneys to see and salute my houses and lyuings, I be founde to discharge my duetie there, and also to haue read as much as you, that haue suche leysure, it is at the least an argument that I am not idle. I loue not to boast of my self. Your too too arrogante and contemptuous speaches prouoke me further than mode∣stie requireth. I am not ashamed of my readyng, and yet I will make no compari∣sons.
I haue sundrie times both priuately and publikely, as I am able to proue by suffi∣cient* 1.1 testimonies, and you cannot denie, offered you conference by writing of these matters, I haue earnestly moued you vnto it, and you haue alwayes refused it. This had bene a quiet and the best and most assured way: for litera scripta manet, That whiche is set downe in writing remaineth. Howbeit I refuse no way that shall be thought con∣uenient to the Magistate, neyther am I afrayde of your stoute bragges, for I knowe what substance is in you: but yet by the way this may be noted, what you bunt after and séeke for, when you refuse priuate conference by writing offered vnto you, and cry out for publike disputation: scilicet popularem laudem, popular praise: But therein do you follow the vaine bragges of other sectaries. &c.