jects, upon the only will
of the ordinaries or their substitutes, without any accuser, proved fame,
or presentment, is or may be infamed, vexed, and troubled, to the peril of
their lives, their shames, costs, and expenses:

"To this we reply, _the Gospel of Christ teacheth us to believe two
witnesses; and as the cause is, so the judge must esteem the quality of the
witness; and in heresy no exception is necessary to be considered if their
tale be likely; which hath been highly provided lest heretics without
jeopardy might else plant their_ _heresies in lewd and light persons, and
taking exception to the witnesses, take boldness to continue their folly.
This is the universal law of Christendom, and hath universally done good.
Of any injury done to any man thereby we know not_.

"Item where they say it is not intended by them to take away from us our
authority to correct and punish sins, and especially the detestable crime
of heresy:

"To this we answer, in the prosecuting heretics we regard our duty and
office whereunto we be called, and if God will discharge us thereof, or
cease that plague universal, as, by directing the hearts of princes, and
specially the heart of your Highness (laud and thanks be unto Him), His
goodness doth commence and begin to do, we should and shall have great
cause to rejoice; as being our authority therein costly, dangerous, full of
trouble and business, without any fruit, pleasure, or commodity worldly,
but a continued conflict and vexation with pertinacity, wilfulness, folly,
and ignorance, whereupon followeth their bodily and ghostly destruction, to
our great sorrow.

"Item where they desire that by assent of your Highness (if the laws
heretofore made be not sufficient for the repression of heresy) more
dreadful and terrible laws may be made; this We think is undoubtedly a more
charitable request than as we trust necessary, considering that by the aid
of your Highness, and the pains of your Grace's statutes freely executed,
your realm may be in short time clean purged from the few small dregs that
do remain, if any do remain.

"Item where they desire some reasonable declaration may be made to your
people, how they may, if they will, avoid the peril of heresy. No better
declaration, we say, can be made than is already by our Saviour Christ, the
Apostles, and the determination of the church, which if they keep, they
shall not fail to eschew heresy.

"Item where they desire that some cha