They said, “Ay, heretofore; but not now.”
“Do ye believe that the Spirit of Christ has been, is, and will be, with the Church, not suffering her to be deceived?”
“We do so believe,” replied the prisoners.
“Have you,” pursued Bonner, “being infamed to me as heretics, not been a good space in my house, and been there fed, and instructed by those desirous of your soul’s welfare—and yet you refuse this belief?”
The accused admitted all this.
“Will ye now conform?”
“In no whit, until it be proved by Holy Scripture,” came the decisive answer.
“If not,” demanded the Bishop, “what grounds have you to maintain your opinion? Who is of the same opinion? What conference have ye had therein with any? What comfort and relief had you from any, and their names and dwelling-places?” (Note 1.)
This was a deliberate request that they would accuse their friends and teachers. But the prisoners did not respond.
“We have no ground but the truth,” they said, “which we were taught by Doctor Taylor, of Hadleigh, and such other.”