_But yet some mad fools say, for to eschew slander they will be shriven once a year and comuned_ [receive the Sacrament] _of their proper priests; though they know them defouled with slanderous vices. No doubt, but all they that thus do or consent, privily or apertly, to such doing, are culpable of great sin; since St. PAUL witnesseth that not only they that do evil are worthy of death and damnation, but also they that consent to evil doers. Also, as their slanderous works witness, these foresaid vicious priests despise and cast from them heavenly cunning that is given of the HOLY GHOST. Wherefore the LORD throweth all such despisers from Him, that they use nor do any priesthood to Him. No doubt then, all they that wittingly or wilfully take, or consent that any other body should take any Sacrament of any such named priest, sinneth openly and damnably against all the Trinity, and are unable to any Sacrament of health._ _And that this foresaid sentence_ [opinion] _is altogether true unto remission of all my sinful living, trusting steadfastly in the mercy of GOD, I offer to Him my soul!_ _And to prove also this foresaid sentence true, with the help of GOD, I purpose fully to suffer meekly and gladly my most wretched body to be tormented, where GOD will! and of whom He will! how He will and when He will! and as long as He will! and what temporal pain He will! and death! to the praising of His name, and to the edification of His Church. And I, that am most unworthy and wretched caitiff, shall now, through the special grace of GOD, make to Him pleasant sacrifice of my most sinful and unworthy body._ * * * * * _I beseech heartily all folk that read or hear this end of my purposed_ Testament, _that, through the grace of GOD, they dispose verily and virtuously all their wits, and able, in like manner, all their members for to understand truly and to keep faithfully, charitably, and continually all the commandments of GOD, and so then to pray devoutly to all the blessed Trinity, that I may have grace with wisdom and prudence from above, to end my life here, in this foresaid Truth and for this_ _Cause in true faith_ _and steadfast hope_ _and in perfect_ _charity,_ _AMEN._ * * * * * Here endeth, sir [_the Reverend_] WILLIAM THORPE's _Testament_ on the Friday after the Rood Day [_Holy Rood-day, or Exaltation of the Holy Cross_, falls on Sept. 14th], and the twenty [? _nineteenth_] day of September, in the year of our Lord a thousand four hundred and sixty. And on the Sunday [_August 7th_] next after the feast of Saint PETER that we called Lammas Day [_August 1st_] in the year of our Lord a thousand four hundred and seven, the said sir WILLIAM THORPE was accused of these points, before written in this book, before THOMAS ARUNDELL, Archbishop of CANTERBURY, as it is said before.