ut this she
refused while the cause of religion could be served. She was too active
to be idle, and her conversation, simple as they affected to think her,
excited the attention of several catholic priests and friars. They
teazed her with questions, till she answered them angrily, and this
excited a laugh at her warmth.

Nay, said she, you have more need to weep than to laugh, and to be sorry
that ever you were born, to be the chaplains of that whore of Babylon. I
defy him and all his falsehood; and get you away from me, you do but
trouble my conscience. You would have me follow your doings; I will
first lose my life. I pray you depart.

Why, thou foolish woman, said they, we come to thee for thy profit and
soul's health. To which she replied, What profit ariseth by you, that
teach nothing but lies for truth? how save you souls, when you preach
nothing but lies, and destroy souls?

How provest thou that? said they.

Do you not destroy your souls, when you teach the people to worship
idols, stocks and stones, the works of men's hands? and to worship a
false God of your own making of a piece of bread, and teach that the
pope is God's vicar, and hath power to forgive sins? and that there is a
purgatory, when God's Son hath by his passion purged all? and say you
make God, and sacrifice him, when Christ's body was a sacrifice once for
all? Do you not teach the people to number their sins in your ears, and
say they will be damned if they confess not all; when God's word saith,
Who can number his sins? Do you not promise them trentals and dirges,
and masses for souls, and sell your prayers for money, and make them buy
pardons, and trust to such foolish inventions of your imaginations? Do
you not altogether act against God? Do you not teach us to pray upon
beads, and to pray unto saints, and say they can pray for us? Do you not
make holy water and holy bread to fray devils? Do you not do a thousand
more abominations? And yet you say, you come for my profit, and to save
my soul. No, no, one hath saved me. Farewell, you with your salvation.

During the liberty granted her by the bishop, before-mentioned, she went
into St. Peter's church, and there found a skilful Dutchman, who was
affixing new noses to certain fine images which had been disfigured in
king Edward's time; to whom she said, What a madman art thou, to make
them new noses, which within a few days shall all lose their heads? The
Dutchman accused her and laid it ha