with them. For as far as mine own poor wit can
perceive, the holy scripture of God is very plain against them,
and the whole corps of Christendom in every Christan region. And
the very places in which they dwell themselves have ever unto
their own days clearly believed against them and all the old holy
doctors have evermore taught against them, and all the old holy
interpreters have construed against them. And therefore if these
men have now perceived so late that the scripture hath been
misunderstood all this while, and that of all those old holy
doctors no man could understand it, then am I too old at this age
to begin to study it now! And I dare not in no wise trust these
men's learning, cousin, since I cannot see nor perceive any cause
wherefore I should think that these men might not now in the
understanding of scripture as well be deceived themselves as they
would have us believe all those others have been, all this while
before.

Howbeit, cousin, if it so be that their way be not wrong, but that
they have found out so easy a way to heaven as to take no thought,
but make merry, nor take no penance at all, but sit them down and
drink well for our Saviour's sake--set cockahoop and fill all the
cups at once, and then let Christ's passion pay for all the
scot--I am not he who will envy their good hap. But surely,
counsel dare I give no man to adventure that way with them. But
those who fear lest that way be not sure, and take upon themselves
willingly tribulation of penance--what comfort they do take, and
well may take therein, that have I somewhat told you already. And
since these other folk sit so merry with such tribulation, we need
talk to them, you know, of no such manner of comfort.

And therefore of this kind of tribulation will I make an end.

VIII

VINCENT: Verily, good uncle, so may you well do, for you have
brought it unto a very good pass.

And now, I pray you, come to the other kind, of which you purposed
always to treat last.

ANTHONY: That shall I, cousin, very gladly do. The other kind is
the one which I rehearsed second, and (sorting out the other two)
have kept for the last. This second kind of tribulation is, you
know, of those who willingly suffer tribulation, though of their
own choice they took it not at first.

This kind, cousin, we shall divide into twain; the first we might
call temptation, the second persecution. But here must you
consider that I mean not every kind of persecu