ABSTRACT
Having read in the University of Guatemala for three years’ space a whole course of arts, and having begun to read part of divinity, the more I studied and grew in knowledge, and the more I controverted by way of arguments some truths and points of religion, the more I found the spirit of truth enlightening me, and discovering unto me the lies, errors, falsities, and superstitions of the Church of Rome. My conscience was much perplexed, and wavering, and I desirous of some good and full satisfaction, which I knew might not be had there, and that to profess and continue in any opinion contrary to the doctrine of Rome would bring me to the Inquisition, that rack of tender consciences, and from thence to no less than burning alive, in case I would not recant of what the true spirit had inspired into me. The point of transubstantiation, of Purgatory, of the Pope’s power and authority, of the merit of man’s works, of his free will to choose all soul-saving ways, the sacrifice of the Mass, the hallowing the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper unto the lay people, the priest’s power to absolve from sin, the worshipping of saints though with δουλϵία, as they call it, and not with λατρϵία, and the Virgin Mary with a higher degree of worship than that of the Saints, which they call ὑπϵρδουλϵία, the strange lies and blasphemies which they call miracles recorded in the legend and lives of their saints, the infallibility of the Pope, and council in defining for truth and point of faith what in itself is false and erroneous; these points especially, with many more of Rome’s policies, and the lewd lives of the priests, friars, nuns, and those in authority, did much trouble and perplex my conscience, which I knew would be better satisfied if I could return again to my own country of England, where I knew many things were held contrary to the Church of Rome, but what particulars they were I could not tell, not having been brought up in the Protestant Church, and having been sent young over to St Omer’s.
