nothing but blottes, yet bragge they of all perfection, euen
vnto a verie deifying of themselues."

Some further light is thrown upon this point by a letter sent to
Knewstub from a "godly learned man, W.C." He says,--

"Howsoeuer, they seduce some goodly and zealous men and women of
honest and godly conuersation, placing them at the porch of
their synagogue to make a shewe of holinesse, and to stand there
as baites and stalles to deceiue others; yet, alas! who can
without blushing vtter the shame that is committed in the
inwarde roomes, and as it were in the heart of that synagogue of
Satan."

Appended to Knewstub's book is a further--

"Confutation of the doctrine of Dauid George, and H.N., the
father of the Familie of Loue, by M. Martyn Micronius, minister
of the woorde in the Dutche Churche, at London."

It was originally written in Latin during the reign of Edward VI. The
author charges the "Familists" with maintaining that--

"Idolatry, superstition, and outwarde vices are free and pure
vnto them, which, vnder the pretence of a certaine fayth and
inwarde puritie, boast that they knowe no sinne in the heart."
(Fo. 87 b.)

Two features particularly distinguish them from other sectaries of the
age: they professed obedience to the civil magistrate, whatever might be