Pope's worthiness, this maketh not why our matter ought to seem the
worse. Or if they perchance will not see that which they see indeed, but
rather will withstand the known truth, ought we therefore by-and-by to be
accounted heretics because we obey not their will and pleasure? If so
be, that Pope Pius were the man (we say not, which he would so gladly be
called), but if he were indeed a man that either would account us for his
brethren, or at least would take us to be men, he would first diligently
have examined our reasons, and would have seen what might be said with
us, what against us; and would not in his bull, whereby he lately
pretended a council, so rashly have condemned so great a part of the
world, so many learned and godly men, so many commonwealths, so many
kings, and so many princes, only upon his own blind prejudices and fore-
determinations--and that without hearing of them speak or without showing
cause why.

But because he hath already so noted us openly, lest by holding our peace
we should seem to grant a fault, and specially because we can by no means
have audience in the public assembly of the general council, wherein he
would no creature should have power to give his voice or to declare his
opinion, except he be sworn, and straitly bound to maintain his authority
(for we have had good experience hereof in the last conference at the
council at Trident; where the ambassadors and divines of the princes of
Germany, and of the free cities, were quite shut out from their company.
Neither can we yet forget, how Julius the Third, above ten years past,
provided warily by his writ that none of our sort should be suffered to
speak in the council, except that there were some, peradventure, that
would recant and change his opinion): for this cause chiefly we thought
it good to yield up an account of our faith in writing, and truly and
openly to make answer to those things wherewith we have been openly
charged; to the end the world may see the parts and foundations of that