John Trapp on 1 Peter 3:16

Verſe 16. Having a good conſcience] Which you cannot have, if you deny or but diſſemble the truth. George Marſh the Martyr being examined before the Earl of Darby, kept himſelf cloſe in the point of the Sacrament. But after his departure, thus he writes. I departed much more troubled in my ſpirit then before, becauſe I had not with more boldneſſe confeſſed Chriſt;Act. and Mon fol. 1419. but in ſuch ſort as mine adverſaries thereby thought they ſhould prevail againſt me; whereat I was much grieved: for hitherto I went [illegible: 1 word], as much as in me lay, to rid my ſelf out of their hands, if by [illegible: 1 span] without open denying of Chriſt and his Word, that co[illegible: 4 letters]ed [illegible: 1 letter]e, &c.

[illegible: 1 word]-doers] Malefactours not Martyrs.

[illegible: 1 letter]he[illegible: 1 letter] may be aſhamed that falſly accuſe] This is an excellent [illegible: 1 word] ſtopping an open mouth. Oh theſe reall apologies are very [illegible: 1 letter]owerfull. Thus did the Primitive Chriſtians plead for themſelves, Non aliundè noſcibiles quam de emendation[illegible: 1 letter] vitiorum pristinorum, ſaith Tertullian, known from all others by their reformed lives. Thus did thoſe old Proteſtants the Waldenſes, In moribi[illegible: 1 letter] ſunt compoſiti & modesti, &c. ſaid that Popiſh Inquiſitour their profeſſed adverſary. Their doctrine, ſaid he, is naught, but their lives are unblameable. The mans life (ſaith Eraſmus concerning Luther) is approved of all men: his verieſt adverſaries cannot accuſe him for any thing in point of practice. Lewis King of France, Necho[illegible: 1 letter]es reperia[illegible: 2 letters] quod calumnien[illegible: 1 letter]u[illegible: 1 letter]. having received certain complaints againſt the Proteſtants of Merindoll and Chabriers, ſent certain to enquire into the buſineſſe,Anno Dom. 1513. and hearing what they related to him, he ſwore a great oath that they were better men then either himſelf was, or any other of his ſubjects.