Father in God, Walter, Lord Bishop of Merchester.
"My Lord,--We the undersigned, being Brethren on the Blanchminster and Beauchamp foundations of St.Hospital's College of Noble Poverty by Merton, respectfully desire your lordship's attention to certain abuses which of late have crept into this Society; and particularly in the observances of religion.
"We contend (1) that, whereas our Reformed and Protestant Church, in Number XXII of her Articles of Religion declares the Romish doctrine of purgatory inter alia to be a fond thing vainly invented, etc., and repugnant to the Word of God, yet prayers for the dead have twice been publicly offered in our Chapel and the practice defended, nay recommended, from its pulpit.
"(2) That, whereas in Number XXVIII of the same Articles the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is defined in intention, and the definition expressly cleared to repudiate several practices not consonant with it, certain of these have been observed of late in our Chapel, to the scandal of the Church, and to the pain and uneasiness of souls that were used to draw pure refreshment from these Sacraments--" The Bishop paused.
"I say, Master, this Brother Warboise of yours can write passable English." "Warboise?
Warboise never wrote that--never in his life." Master Blanchminster passed a hand over his forehead.
"It's Copas's handwriting!" announced Mr.Colt, who had drawn close and, unpermitted, was staring over the Bishop's shoulder at the manuscript.
The Bishop turned half about in his chair, slightly affronted by this offence against good manners; but Mr.Colt was too far excited to guess the rebuke.
"Turn over the page, my lord." As the Bishop turned it, on the impulse of surprise, Mr.Colt pointed a forefinger.
"There it is--half-way down the signatures! 'J.

Copas,' written in the same hand!".