ficed and did now depart. Which wer only faultie (I praye
you marcke theise wordes) in this / that they did with silence
beare the fault which was obiected against them. Sum being taken
vpp half alyue were thrown awaye as thoughe they hadd beene
deade. Sum beinge drawn out by the feate / were accompted amonge
them which hadd sacrificed. Other cryed out that they were
Christians / and dyd glorie in the confessinge of that
healthfull name. Many also with a greater confidence did
testifie that they neither hadd / neither wold sacrifice euer.
Whos mouthes and eyes the tormentours did forthewith beate / to
cause them to holde ther peace / and they wer with violence
thrust forthe as though they hadd done the thinge. For so the
enemies of godlynes did mutch esteame it / if at least wise they
did but seeme to bring to pas that which they wolde. Many other
thinges like vnto this / might I add / partly out of the
Tripartita historia / partly out of Eutropius. But theis are
sufficient: And theis do plainly and euidently inough proue /
that the lord doth require of true Christians / a true and playne
confession of the mouthe / yea euen in the gretest daungers and
furies of the persequutors and therfor that theise tenderlinges
do most manifestly err / which do thincke otherwise / only to
saue their filthie paunche.

[[Of ceremonies.]]

It remaynith now right Reuerend fathers / and most deare
brethern in Christe that I shuld breifly touche also theis mens
reasoninges of popishe Ceremonies / which I said at the
begynning they do wittyly handle to persuade themselues / and
others / that no man by the partakinge of them doth either
defile himself / or by it denie the religion of the gospell. And
surly it is well known that the name of Ceremonies not being
narowly weyed / hath bewitched the eyes of many / not only in
this but in other controuersies of religion. It is therfor to be
known that Ceremonies are nothinge els but holy rites. And of
Ceremonies sum are called diuine which are instituted (I saye)
of Godd himself / sum other are called humayne / such as are
inuented by mans will.

[[Diuine ceremonies.]]

But of the dyuine or ceremonies of God / sum belonged to the
olde poeple / of which the writinges of the prophetes and
apostles do beare witnes that they wer abrogate in Christe. Sum
do belonge to the new poeple that is to Christians / which were
delyuered vnto them of Christe by the Apostles / and thos truly
very fe