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In England from Wicliffe to Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

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Thorpe: "Sir, if I should do as you require, full<br />

many men and women would (as they might full<br />

truly) say that I had falsely and cowardly forsaken<br />

the truth, and slandered shamefully the Word of<br />

God."<br />

The archbishop could only say that if he<br />

persisted in this obstinacy he must tread the same<br />

road that Sawtrey had gone. This pointed <strong>to</strong> a stake<br />

in Smithfield.<br />

Hereupon the confessor was again silent. "<strong>In</strong><br />

my heart," says he, "I prayed the Lord God <strong>to</strong><br />

comfort me and strengthen me; and <strong>to</strong> give me then<br />

and always grace <strong>to</strong> speak with a meek and quiet<br />

spirit; and whatever I should speak, that I might<br />

have authorities of the Scriptures or open reason<br />

for it."<br />

A clerk: "What thing musest thou? Do as my<br />

lord hath commanded thee." Still the confessor<br />

spoke not.<br />

Arundel: "Art thou not yet determined whether<br />

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