couÌ„tries especially to vs who haue no accesse to pleade for â—ur selues nor course of iustice to examin our cause yet by such meanes as in this case aâ— possible I wil proue this report false malicious First for that Iohn Nicols being noe scholler nor hearer of Fa. Pais but alwaies present at an other lecture of Petrus GaÌ„bacurta reader in cases of conscieÌ„ce the same hower wherin Pais did read could not heare Pais to vtter these words which he faineth him to haue spoken in his lecture to the schollers nether is it probable that he hard theÌ„ by reporte of other for then would he haue named both the man and the circumstances which he nether doth nor can doe Secondly F. Pais being a priuate religious man attending only his lecture dealing nether with Court nor courtiers Euident conâ—iectures could hardly come to vnderstaÌ„d so secret meaninges of great Princes if he had knoweÌ„ any such thing it is not likely that he would haue proclaimed it in a publicke schole where no occasion could be geuen of such matters especially in particuler princes And if his owne wisdome could not haue direcâ—ed him in this yet the respecte of his superiours in the Societie would haue restrained him whoe seuerelye interdicteth to their readers and preachers all mention or glauncing at matters of particuler Princes â—siats But what doe I stand to confute by circumstances soe manifest an vntruth the matter is easie to be tryed There are 3. or 4. priests in prison lately come from Rome who for dyuers yéeres haue bene hearers and haue missed no one lecture which Pais redde but haue receaued all in wrytinge let their dictates be séene and if that be not sufficient let them be demaunded vpon their othes whether euer they hard Pais saye any such thinge Let Nicolls come before them and laye downe the particulers and by all those wayes he shal be proued a slaunderer After this Iohn Nicols as now contemning al Prouer. 18. Psal. 56. Psal. 13. being entered as it séemeth to the depth of iniquitie and making his tongue a sharpe swoorde and his throtte an open sepulchre to woonde and burie whom soeuer he pleaseth passeth on to fowler reproch which is That a Reader in positiue diuinitie in Rome should say in the hearing of 200. scollers that any man of worship in England might geue authoritie to the vilest wretch that is to seeke the death of our Soueraine Quene But this venemous darte I wil repell as the other before by the vnlykelyhods of time place matter and persons and by the testimonies of those priestes now prisoners in England whoe must needs haue bene presente at the wordes if any such had bene vttered by their reader Which preistes being many and superiours to Nicols in all respectes both of age descretion honestie and learninge ought to counteruaile his onely assertion Besids this if Nicols wil put downe the time and occasion of his spéeche and also name the reader for there are but two in positiue diuinitie that is Robertus Bellarminius in controuersies Bellarminiuâ—â— and Benedictus Pererius in scriptures I wil procure the reders owne Apologie Pererius with the subscription of all his schollers in defence of him selfe from this vniust slâ—under for these learned and sober men are so farre of from such desperate points of doctrine as the plaine contrarie hath often times bene harde from them and may also be gathered out of their seuerall dictates now extant in Englande especially out of the dictats of ther fellow readers in scolastical diuinitie I meane Achilles Galiardus Galiardus and Stephanus Tuccius Tuccius in their late Lectures de legibus All which being so it appeareth that Nicols reports haue no truth or grouÌ„d but were onely deuised by him selfe The dryfte of Nicols â—laundering the Iesuite readers and others to serue that present oportunitie of time wherein it was sayed that certayne Iesuites amonge other priestes were come into Englande and dayly expected to fal into the magistrates hands whose rigour was the more to be procured against them and the people more to be incensed by these odious reportes of Iesuite readers in Rome But let Caine take héede Ge. 4. v. 10. for Abells bloude will crye vengeance from the earth And albeit Caine doe get a bodely protection for a time Ge. 4. v. 15. and a reprobates marke that noe man may hurte him yet is he not frée Psal. 2. there will come a reconing day and a iudge to strike with an yron rodd Psal. 9. And if besides there be any such whereof the Prophet complayneth who lye in wayte for innocente bloude and haue not the iudgementes of God before their eyes let them be assured that he séeeth them who protecteth the afflicted and whose handes they shall not escape all be it they receaue prayses and blessinges nowe for their iniquities And for Nicolls I can geue him noe better counsayle then to meditate at his leasure these two verses vttered by the holy Ghost Quid detur tibi aut quid apponatur tibi ad linguam dolosam Psal. 110. Sagittae potentis accutae cum carbonibus desolatorijs Of Rome Nowe come I to the greatest eye sore of our aduersaries which is Rome a Citie that yéeldeth greate matter of talke and furnisheth not onelye our bookes to the printe but also our pulpittes and tables in Englande Whatsoeuer is amisse in Rome ouerthroweth our Catholique and Romane religion As though our faith depended of those crased walles so often beateÌ„ downe possessed by the enimie If Rome were moste wicked yet were it no preâ—udice to Romane religion without hurt or blow to the religioÌ„ of Rome or as though if that citie were destroied or soonk the Bishoprick of Rome might not remaine the Bishop stil head of Christs Church albeit he were in India dwelt in a barne or to come néere to our purpose as though 1. Pet. 5. Apoc. 18. if Rome were the wickedst citie vnder heaueÌ„ as it was wheÌ„ S. Peter S. Iohn called it BabiloÌ„ yet Christian religion might not be good in it as it was at that time wheÌ„ it was BabiloÌ„ Rom. 1. For euen at that time S. Paul commended the true and holye faith of a wicked Rome Au. li. 2 coÌ„t lit Petil. ca. 51. IteÌ„ ep 16 5. ad Gene. Wherefore this is but a point of a wrangling hereticke as hath bene noted many hundred yeares agoe to condemne the fayth because of the place the Sée Apostolicke for the vices of the citie the substitute of God for the frailtie of a man and Moyses chayre for the lyfe of a Pharasée But yet in truth let vs sée what they bring against the Citie of Rome for I deny not but as in a great and populous citie their must néedes many sinnes and faultes be coÌ„mitted and that I thinke our aduersaries will not deny also in their
lacke of successioÌ„ for they might wel haue denied his ordinarie vocation for yâ— want séeinge they had an expresse lawe from God Nu. 1.4.8 that none should be préest but of the Tribe of Leuie wherof Christ was not but of Iuda But the Iews sinn was in reiecting Christs extraordinary vocatioÌ„ which was prophecied to theÌ„ by Moises before that it should be as his was Deut. 18. and which Christ did now proue by many euident supernatural miracles and yet they would not receue him This Christ him selfe testifieth sayinge Ioh. 15. If I had not done the works among them which noe other man hath done they had no sinne And againe Ioh. 14. Beleeue me for my workes sake And againe If I doe not the works of my father that is supernatural works beleeue me not but if I doe them then if you wil not beleue me beleue my works Ioh. 10. Againe Luc. 7. when Iohn Baptist did send to Christ to know whether he was the true Messias or noe he wrought miracles only in their sight and bidd them tell Iohn Baptist what they had séene and harde signifying that that was a sufficient testimonye Extraordinari vocation not to be admitted without miracles and without that he were not to be beléeued The like he hathe shewed in all those that euer he sente besides him selfe to reforme or instructe the people by extraordinarie vocation without succession as in Moyses Aron and all the Prophetes the Apostels also and diuers other after them as Anthonie Hillarion Benedict Dominicke Francis and others which being noe pastors by successioÌ„ wer sent extraordinarily for the help of the Church but their vocatioÌ„ was declared by euident miracles And soe also must â—ur new pastors and prelates shew their extraordinarie vocation by euident miracles séeing they can not plead ordinare succession or Canonical ordination excepte they will challenge more vnto them selues then the very sonne of God whoe required not to be admitted as I haue shewed but only vppon that testimonye concurringe together with the Scriptures which spake of him Nether is that drye shifte of Philipe of Mornay or rather childishe euasion to be admitted where he saythe that it is a sufficient miracle for the protestantes that one poore friar Luther hath made so great an alteration in the world A straung miracle whereby the protestaÌ„ts proue their vocation in soe few yeares and so many thowsand men haue forsakeÌ„ their old religion vpon the onely blaste of his mouth This I say is very ridiculous and worthy of such a deuine as he was For by this argument Arrius Donatus Manicheus Pelagius aboue al other Mahomet wrought verye greate miracles and proued their vocations substantiallye because they drew from the trueth so many thowsand men to followe their errours Nay rather it is an euident argument that Luther was a wicked deceauer preaching plausible doctrine to itching eares 2. Tim. 4. For you shall neuer finde since their was any orderly forme of a Church and ecclâ—siasticall gouernement in the same that ether such as were sent extraordinarily to reforme it had soe greate rushinge of people vnto them for that their doctrine was vnpleasant in reprehendinge mens vices or that they withdrew those few which folowed them from the obedience of their former pastours Note this oâ—seruation ruling them by right of succession as Luther did though those former pastours wer neuer so wicked in life Nay more Christ himselfe which came to plant a new law and new pastours also and to remoue from there places the scribes and pharises yet for the litle time they had to endure which was vntil after the new testament was sealed with his bloode Math. 8. Marc. 1. Luc. 5. he taught obedience to the saide Pharasies as maye appeare by sending the leapers vnto them and by charginge all men to doe as they commaunded Math. 23. And this is greatly to be noted as a very plaine detection of our aduersaries Fifthely Nicols obiectethe that the Iewes bragged of succession from their father Abraham and yet Christ saith they were of the deuill soe diuers that came to their bishoprickes by succession Ihon. 8. were herâ—tiques after as Nestorius and Samosateâ—us But all this as the other is quite from the matter For we graunte as I saide before that those which succéede in good mens places may alter and become wicked and playe also the heretiques or apostatas But that religion which hath come downe by succession from the beginning as ours hath done can not be false nor that religion which raiseth it selfe against the same without succession and the other markes before recited as al heresies haue done cannot be true Lastly he obiecteth that we by this succession of the sea of Rome doe tye our religion to one place and prouince Which is not so but it is his his felowes gross error in mistakinge vs. For albeit we hould the Bishop of Rome as successor of S. Péeter to be the only supreme pastor of al christianitie yet is it not necessarie that he shoulde be in Rome or any way tyed vnto that citie but iâ— that whol citie were distroyed desolate and waste and all Europe besides in the possession of our enemies as it was in ould times of persecuting Emperors yet mighte ther a man be chosen to that dignitie and bishopricke in Aegipte Asia or India and should be asmuch Bishop of Rome and haue as great authoritie as hee that sittethe there nowe and hys faythe be called the Romane faith were hâ—e neuer soe poore or meane a prieste of anye other countrye In his bad aunswere tâ— Howlet Wherfore we doe not make oure Catholique religion locall or of one prouince as besides Ihon Nicols the peart master of penbrooke Haull very vndocterly affirmeth I might heere add a pleasant obiection of Ihon Nicols which he vrgeth in great earnest against succession that is that the Turke at this daye possesseth fower Patriarkcal sées by succession and that Antichrist in the ende of the world shal coÌ„â— to his tirannicall authoritie by succession cet Which is as true as that his religion commeth from Christ and his Apostles by succession What righte the Turke hathe to the fower Patriarchall sées Antechrist to the rule of the world by succession the same hath his religion and her prelates to the gouernmente of Christian people And thus I haue aunswered all that they obiect against the first thrée markes of the true church For against that fowerth which is vnitie they say nothing nor can they bring any excuse of their owne discord but only that we haue sectes among vs also as Benedictins Varietie of religious orders noe sectes in the Cotholique Church Dominicans Franciscans other orders of religion Which is as absurd an illation as you haue in your bodye fingers toes eares like partes therfore you haue distincte bodyes and are a monster For as
of his lacke of modestie wherof I shall be forced to coÌ„plaine often in the sequel of min answer First therfore to begin with the principal matter which he reporteth for his credit to wit his oration and sermon befor the Pope let vs heare what he saythe Iohn Nicols vaunt of preaching bâ—â—ore the Pope I had before that time saythe he made an oration and a sermon in the latyne tongue presented before the Pope and fower Cardinales and before all them that were with the Pope in the consistory If you my bretheren yet prisoners within the tower denye the assertion therof yet to your shame and my credit they that goe to Roome for pleasures sake maye safely goe to the Popes Protonotoriâ— dwelling fast by S. Peters Churche in the inquisitorye Pallace or to anye of his claâ—kes and there make inquisition of my name which is registred in three great paper volumes of such as are alwayes present writing in chambers to whome all men without daunger maye resorte where turning to my name they shal finde the sermon and oration contayning tenne sheetes of paper for the which the Pope gaue me great thankes and soe did the Cardinalls with all the reste Héere you sée a longe childishe recitall with manye particulers much vanitie little witt and lesse trueth He woulde make you beléeue that he had bene bothe oratour and preacher to the Pope which if you saw but onelye his visage you would hardlye geue any credite vnto I could improue him also by the testimonies of almoste an hundreth Englishe men that tyme presente in Rome but his owne particulers shall sufficiently confute him Firste he putteth not downe whether his oration and sermon were one or two thinges but if they were twoe then it is to be vnderstoode that sermons are not made before the Pope in the CoÌ„sistorie but in ConstaÌ„tines hawle within the Popes palace by Toletus onelye Toletus The Popâ— preacher a famous learned man of the Societie of Iesus or in his absence by some other equall to him selfe in learninge and appoynted by lyke authoritye Orations are made sometimes in the Consistorie but onelye vppon the comminge of ambassators and for matters of estate excepte the frydayes in lente when chosen men of eche order of religion haue placâ— to preache in the latyne tongue Soe that hitherto I sée not how Iohn Nicols could come to preache before the Pope and fower Cardinals in the Consistorie both in respecte of the causes alleaged and also for that I could neuer yet finde soe few Cardinals in the consistory with the Pope as fower twise or thrée times tould The rest which he addeth implieth manifest coÌ„tradictions impossibilities For the Popes Protonotorie dwelleth not in the Inquisitorie Palace by S. Peters Churche nor hath he any thinge to doe with that Palace and much lesse dothe he kéepe clarckes wrytinge there in chambers for onelye the Inquisition hath to doe there If Sermons and Orations made to the Pope were to be regestred in paper volumnes as they are not and muche lesse in thrée at once as Nicols sayeth his was yet this nothing appartayneth to the Popes Protonotorie or to his clarckes How the Pope also should geue Iohn Nicols such thanks for his stuffe Improbabilities of Nicolâ—â—aunâ—e as he sayeth he did I can not conceaue For in the Concestorie the Popes place is so farre distant from them which come thither to make orations as he can not speake vnto him nor doth he vse to thanke any man that speakethe before him what soe euer he be much more impossible is it that the Cardinalls and the rest in the Consistorie should geue him thankes for it as al they wil beare me witnesse which know the place and presence of the same Greate learned men and famous Oratours haue departed thence without particuler thankes albeit they did their matters with greate commendation suche is the grauitye and state of that place Soe that all this longe tale of Iohn Nicolls hath not onelye noe probabilitie but in déede noe possibilitye of truth Heere some perhapps wil aske howe then hath this tale noe ground or colour at all whereuppon it was founded to which I answere yes but such a ground as his best frendes are least beholding to him for it and such as greatlie discouereth his shamelesse disposition Marke the Stratageme You haue harde sometimes of scholmasters which make theiâ— boyeâ— kisse the rodde wherewith they were beaten euen soe dothe Iohn Nicols with the protestantes Iohn Nicolls abusinge his new frendes For hauing made voluntarilie and malitiouslie an abiuration of their religion in the Inquisitorie palace of Rome containinge ten whole shâ—etes of reproche and slaunder would now make them yeld thanks for the same by callinge it a sermon before the Pope in the Consistorie If he gett credite by this dealing as he pretendeth to doe his hap is good to deale with men so fauourable to his order For suerlye if he should haue dealt soe in some other countries where ministerie is not sufficient to excuse dishonestie it would rather haue fallen out to his coste then his credite and the deludinge of suche men would haue bene thought worthier of pillorie then printe After this he maketh a second vaunt of an other sermon which he made in the latine tonge Iohn Nicols seâ—mon at dinner time requested as he sayeth by the Prefect of studies vpon the festiuall daye of Peeter ad vincula certaynâ— Englishe doctors of the Cittye and some of the Popes chappell with other straungers being present at dinner He telleth not in what place he made this sermon You maye parhaps imagine it to hauâ— bene in sum great auditorie for that hâ— mencioneth Festiuall daye Doctors Popes chappel and strangers But I wil open the misterie that you maye iudge of his vanitie whoe trobleth you with suche toyes The Prefect of studies in the Englishe romane colledge is wonte to commande and not to request the studentes committed to his charge to write some thing for the excercise of the latine tongue to recite it in the halle at the time of dinner and this excercisâ— the vnlearnedst of all the Colledge audideth not Amongest whom Ihon Nicols vppon S. Péeters daye ad uincula was commaunded to doe the same and behould he hathe published it in print with manie falshodes and vanities annexed For that he preached it is false for it was only an excecise of learning That he was requested is false for he was commaunded That it was festyuall daye in Rome is false for they kepe it not holye daye there That he preached there against faithe and the newe testament as he aftarward affirmethe is most false as they which were present canne and doe testifie Nowe that this sermon was before Englishe docters of the cittye is vanitie for there could not be aboue some one for the rest were departed the cittie and for Englishmen to dyne there was an ordinarie matter that some of the
â—nowledge The thyrde is Seminarium Grecum Grecum wherein the children of the Gréekes are brought vppe gathered from dyuers partes of the worlde and are instructed by learned men of their owne language together with the latine tongue for the confutinge of their countries errours and for the conuertinge of such iufidells as liue there amongest them The fourthe is Seminarium Anglicanum AnglicanuÌ„ for Englishe men onelye The fifte is Seminarium Hungaricum HungaricuÌ„ for Hungarians and Slauons The sixte is Seminarium Belgicum Belgicum newlye begoone for Fleminges The last is Seminarium Romanum RomanuÌ„ for the Italians wherein their is greate stoare of most goodlye youth albeit the most parte of this Seminarye liue not of the Popes charges and this is all with in Rome it selfe But nowe if we looke into other countryes this Pope hath manye more monumentes of his munificence Seminarieâ— out of Româ—â— especiallye Seminaries mayntayned at his charges as the Englishe men in Rhemes Rhemes the Scottishe men in Paris Paris the Frenche men in Auinion Auinion the Zuisars in Lucerna Lucerna the Bohemians in Prage Prage the Duche men and Polonians in Uienna Vienna and in dyuers other places hath he the lyke espesially in Germanie which nowe I doe not remember But it shal be sufficient to haue named these for here hence we may gather a coniecture of the reste Now then this being soe let the vnpartial Reader iudge how likely a matter it is that this Pope disboursing his owne so abundantly abrode will pelfe vniustly from other men at home as his scoller Iohn Nicolls for good will accuseth him Noe noe this slaunder hath no iote of lykelihood as I noted before but was vttered for customes sake for pleasing of their humours whoe féede of reproch against the sea of Rome and against the man sitting there whatsoeuer God geue them his grace for the â—uringe of their Phrensie I woulde here ende to speake of the Pope but that I am enforced to adde a worde or two towching an impertinent quarrell which Iohn Nicols picketh to him for his Pontificalitie that is for the reuerence which Christians in respect of his rowme and dignitie exhibite vnto him which beinge in deade a very reasonable thing and such as may be geuen without flattery and receaued with out pride yet the malice and enuie of heretiques can not beare it but in greate â—eate of speach they inueigh agynst it Iohn Nicols here towcheth two pointes the one that men knéele downeâ— as he passeth by the other that he is borne vpon mens shoulders of both which I will speake And for the first I answere Kneling douÌ„â— for the Popes blessinge that séeinge we knéele downe to temporal princes and gouernours in respecte onely of the high gouernour whom they represent not expecting any thing from them excepte temporall commodities much more of righte may we knéele downe to a spiritual magistrate whoe gouerneth by a higher title theÌ„ the temporal doeth for that he is the instrument and angâ—ll of God by whom al heauenly giftes and benedictioÌ„s are deriued vnto vs. He succéedeth in the place of Adam Enoch Noe AbrahaÌ„ Melchisedech Isaac Iacob of moyses and Aaron of all the holy Prophetes of Christ and his Apostles to delyuer Gods blessings vnto vs if we humbly séeke the same For which cause it hath alwaies bene the fashion of Christians to aske with humilitie the benediction of priestes and if of all priestes then much more of the highest Priest of all And this is the cause whye men doe knéele downe vnto the Pope not to addore him as malice slaundereth but to reuereÌ„ce him in honour of Christ whose person he beareth and to receaue by him Christ his benediction whose rowme he possesseth This I saye is the cause whye men knéele downe vnto him which thinge whosoeuer reprehendeth must néeds doe it more of enuie then of reason séeing he cannot but graunte that some honour is to be geueÌ„ vnto him which blesseth another for that S. Paul sayeth Heb. 7. That the better alwaies blesseth the lesser And of reason we must néedes thinke that the blessinges mentioned in the scripture as receaued at mens handes for example of Melchisedech by Abraham Gen. 14. of Isaac by Iacob Gen. 32. of Israell by the â—wo sonnes of Iosephe Gen. 32. of Iosue by the two tribes and a halfe Gen. 49. and of Salomon by the whole congregation of Israell 3. Reg. 8. were receaued with some externall reuerence 2. Paral. 6. especiallye that of Aaron which is more lyke vnto ours for that he was hygh Priest and also for that he is reported in scripture to haue Blessed the people afteâ— sacrifice Leuit. 9. by extending out his hand wâ—ich ceremonie whiles he did and being high Priest it is like the people shewed some externall reuerence by bowinge them selues or the lyke séeing good men were wonte in that time to cast them selues vpon the grounde to honour other vpon lesse occasions As Iacob to Esau Iosue 7. 1. Reg. 20. 25. Iosue before the Arcke Dauid to Ionathas Abigail to Dauid and the lyke Now towching the second which is that at certaine high festiuall dayes Bearing of the Pope on menâ— shouldersâ— he is borne from his palace into S. Peters Church for at no other time or place is that thing vsed it is a matter so reasonable the circumstances considered as can be offensiue to noe indifferente wise man and much lesse geue occasioÌ„ of such inuectiues and eâ—clamations as are vsed against it or rather agaynst all religion for this one thing The matter standeth thus At certaine principall feastes of the Church the Pope vsethe to leaue his priuate chappell and to come dâ—wne to seruice in Saint Peters Churchâ— At which time such greate multitudes of people expecte him théere to receaue his benediction and verye manye also to sée him whiche neuer sawe him before beinge strangers come from farr countries to visite thos holy places as it is impossible for him to passe in and out thoroughe the preasse and to be seene to geue his benadiction to all excepte he should ether ride or be borne in his chayre And to ride it were very vnséemly and inconuenient hauing to passe thorough all S. Peters great church where the moste preasse is and also for the passages of stones and steres Wherfore they haue vsed alwayes to lyfte him vpp in his chayre and soe to conuaye him thorough the multitude and this is all the matter which is soe much exclaymed at Which notwithstanding being done vppon such considerations and necessities as I haue saide for at all other times he goeth on foote or rideth it rather noteth malice in them that maligne it then conuincethe pride in him that admitteth it or anye faulte at all in the wel meaning Christians who vppon soe iust causes doe bothâ— desire and
in preaching to their flockes or expounding the Cathechisme euery sonnday and holy daye according to the councel of Trent Ses. 24. ca. we shal finde it very vnlikely that Italian priestes could not aunswer Iohn Nicols whether God the father the holye Ghost haue bodies or noe If there were any such matter talked of as I dout very much yet the error might easâ—ly be coÌ„mitted A probable gesâ—e of Nicols false reporte ether by them in not vnderstanding Ihon Nicols Italian or by him in not perceauing their answer For they mistaking his eydle demande which no man but his like wold haue made might answere him to a nother question of some discretion saying that God the father and the holy Ghost beinge without bodies might nothwithstanding be represeÌ„ted vnto vs in bodies as God the father was represeÌ„ted to Daniel Dan. 7. Math. 3. in the shape of an ould man and the holy Ghost to Ihon Baptist in forme of a doue that the Church lawfully vseth the same now This I saye they might perhaps answer But for the other question wherof no childe in Italie is ignorante it was as impossible for Italian priestes to answer soe grosly as it was easie for Iohn Nicols simplicitie to aske it and for his malice to reporte it nowe in printe The second thing which Nicols obiecteth against Italian priestes and especially them of Rome is dishonestie in life which he proueth not but only by his accustomed waye of interrogation And first of Monkes Ihon Nicols â—launder of monkes aunswered Was there not saith he at Rome a whole monasterie of suche as beare a siluer crosse in their handes and are appareled in blew full of women that went in habit of thes monkes and were they not espyed at the last and escaped vnpunished To which I aunswer there was noe suche thing and all Rome will beare me witnes of the same as also manye English men which all Nicols time were there and neuer heard mention of anie such enormitie And it appeareth by that which he addeth Of their vnpunishment after they were knowen That all is his owne inuention for filling vp his booke and flattering his exhibitors For that such matters once knowen escape not vnpunished in Rome Seuere iustice vppon a fryar apeareth well by the iustice done vppon a Spanish fryer in his time for a lesse matter then he reporteth albeit in the same kinde that is he was publiquely hanged at the bridge of S. Angelo for running out of Spaine with an other mans wise which facte of his was the onlye great offence heard of in Rome by any of his profession these manie yeres Noe lesse impious is Nicols seconde slaunder againste all priestes of Rome where he saythe Nicols slaunder of Priesteâ— refuted That they goe without punishment openlye to the stewes and that he hath seene them with his eyes embracing the queanes Which is soe false a slaunder as hath greatly to feare the saying of Scripture which is Pro. 21. That a lying witnes shall haue an euell ende For it is soe salse that suche thinges are practized or permitted publiquely in Rome as the halfe of that whiche he reporteth is sufficiente to depose any priest from his liuing in that place and to suspende him from his function and besides to procure him selfe halfe a dosen stretches of the Strappado The strppadoâ— which is greater punishment then al cleargie men in England would willinglye admitt for suche offences Wherfore his exclamation is ridiculus where he saythe Oh if a minister heerin England should commit suche abhoemination and scape vnpunished howe would you crye out cet This I saye is ridiculus For what their ministers doe commit in this kinde of sinne notwithstandinge their owne wiues wée heare and other men sée and the worlde abroade can witnes and howe seuerlye they are punished some late exampels haue declared And yet we crye not out excepte to God alone nor endeuour we to proclaime al in printe if we would as perhappes we maye héerafter beinge thus prouoked yet haue we truthe sufficient to put downe néede not damne our selues by lyeing as Nicols séemeth resolued to doe I doe not defend all priestes in Rome for Saintes as you will not I think al your ministers our reformers But this I saye to the confuâ—ion of your malice which al indifferent men that know the place wil testifie with me that as lytle outward scandal is geuen in Rome as in any one place of the worlde besides To which I will add without detraction froÌ„ anye place that I haue founde more inwarde honestie learning zeale religion deuotion in seculer priestes of Rome then in any place else of Christendome He that will make profe of this lett him frequent the florentine congregatioÌ„ of seculer priestes The excercises of Seculer Priestes in Rome at S. Ieroms church by the English Colledge or at their new churche named Puzzo Bianco Also lett him repaire to the Rosarie CongregatioÌ„ at our Ladyes church Supra Mineruam and he shall heare euery festiual day such spiritual excercises in those places that is such lerned discorses on spiritual maters suche exhortations to vertue such detestations of vice such déepe considerations of our ende and thinges belonging to our ende of our accounte after death of casualties in this life and of our dewties in euery mans present estate as is able to moue anye hard or stonnye hart And all these excercises are done by the seculer priestes of Rome with greate payne much studdye and no small charges and yet all this is voluntarie and not by anye compulsion The effects of spirituall congregations in Rome By meanes of these learned and zelous excercises much good is done in Rome vpon diuers persons which come to heare them being of all sortes many both temporal and spiritual and amoÌ„gst other dyuers wilde yong gentlemen resorting thither of curiositie to heare are often times so pearsed by speaches vttered in those exercises as they presently chaunge the order of their lyfe become most vertuous and sober the rest of their dayes Soundrie great mutations of life are wrought also in greater personages by helpe of the sayed exercises which would neuer be if the Romane priestes whoe are doers in the same were such wicked lyuers as Iohn Nicolls affirmeth Of the English students in Rome Iohn Nicolls slaunder of the students refuted Iohn Nicols to omit no part of a perfect Sicophant picketh occasion of quarrels and detraction to his owne felow-students of the Romane Colledge whoe neuer offeÌ„ded him but rather from whoÌ„ he hath receaued great loue and curtesie And because he had no fact to charg them withal he inuented a very odious matter which was malitious words against her Maiestie and diuers of her honorable counsayle also against some other chéefe men in ecclesiasticall causes The effecte of which wordes were that they threatned forsoothe the forsaide great parsonages if
euer ther came a contrarietime to requite with rigor the rigor nowe receaued And pretending that he woulde not name the parsons soe threatened yet childeshly he putteth downe the first letters of their names and that with suche arte and secresie as eche man may read it and vnderstand it Wherin he foloweth soe apparently his owne inuention or his enditers direction as he nameth diuers men whom I dare auouche noe student in that Colledge knoweth and much lesse threateneth But it séemethe that Iohn Nicols hath made a leag with hell Esa. 28. Psal. 138. and therfore careth not how farre he wadeth in this waye of wickednes If he had put downe anye particuler circumstances Ihon Nicols slaunder of the studentes refuted as proofes of his accusation it had bene easier to haue improued his falshold But bringing nothing but a bare assertion I must refute him with a méere denial vntill he bringeth furder proofes only adding certaine likelyhods which indifferetly considered may leade the reader to the discouery of his malice Wherof the first is as I noted before the naming of such men héere as are not knowen to any of the seminarie The second is the naming of soe many as hardly could be talked of by them or remembred by him The third is for that the times of méeting and talking together in the seminarie are both rare and shorte and commonly in the companie of some straungers whoe vnderstanding not our matters or particuler men geue occasion of other talke To this now if we add the malice of the reporter and how manie other apparent vntruthes he hath vttered and how many absurde contradictions hath and shal be gathered out of his owne wordes and howe easie plausible a matter it was to deuise this thing at that time without controulmente I dâ—ut not but the wiser sorte will quickly discrye the whole But I cannot lett passe without adding somwhat to that which toucheth her Maiestie in particuler To whome I know thes vertuous studentes notwithstanding this slanderous acusatioÌ„ beare all dutiful good will and affection The studentes dutifull meaning towards her Maiestie excepting only their consciences in religion whose conformitie they cannot frame to her Maiesties procéedinges This they haue shewed in reuereÌ„t spéeche to diuers of the contrarie religion who hath bene with them in Rome are now England And in shew of this imediatly vppon the erection of their Colledge they caused her Maiesties armes to be draweÌ„ verye fayre in gould and with conuenient ornamentes erected them in the haul of the Colledg In token of this also they appoint certaine euery moneth to praye for her maiestie and her counsaile in perticuler The maner of which is this In the begining of euery moneth they come all together in their haul and there after some prayer made ech man taketh by lot a litle scrol of paper wherin thrée thinges are written The Queenes Maiestie prayed for by the studentes in Rome First the name festiual day of soÌ„e saint of that moneth â—o come Secondly some rare sentence of scripture Thirdly some speciall thinge which the whole Colledg much tendreth The first is writen for that ech man shal take that sainte which falleth to his lot for his peculier protectour vnder God that moneth to pray for him For which cause eche man readeth the lyfe of his saynte and noteth some vertewe out of the same for his owne imitation The The second is written as a posie for ech man to meditate and put in practyse that moneth The third is written to be praied for by him to whome the paper happeneth Now amongest other things which they pray for ther is nothing more common then pro Regina Angliae So they vse to pray pro summo Pontisice pro Imperato reâ— pro Rege Catholico pro Rege Christianissimo pro Regina Scotiae cet for soe they vse to write and to reade it alowde in the hearing of all men and this Iohn Nicols cannot denye which thing the studentes would neuer vse to doe if they were so malitiously minded towardes her Maiestie as he falsly reporteth Now touching the excomunication of her Maiestie by Pius Quintus which Nicols malitiously accuseth the studentes The studentes cleered about the excomunication To haue renued againe at midsomer last was twelue moneth to haue published at Rome Rhemes by fixing them vpon pillers by sending them thorough out Italie Spaine and a parte of Germanie There is no one parte true but al is mistaken spitfully peruerted for the matter was only thus In Christmas wéeke was tweluemoneth Anno 1580. there were founde in Rome certaine coppies of the sayd excomunication and sente to the Bishop of S. Assaphe by Car. Allexandrino which coppies the sayd Bishope suppressed for any thing that we know nether was it knowen whether the sayd coppies were of the oulde printe of Pius Quintus his time or printed since Now the studentes of the Seminarie are wrongfully charged by Ihon Nicols in all these pointes Nicols greate malice in matter of death against his felowes First for renewing the same for they renewed them not nor can any man affirme whether they were newe printed or no. Secondly that they published them on pillers at Rome and Rhemes for there was noe such publication made at all and the studentes neuer sawe within the Seminarie any such coppies for the matter was secretly suppressed as I haue hard said and scarse anye man knew of it in Rome it selfe by whiche also appéerethe howe vniustlye they are accused to haue dispersed them thoroughout Italie and Spaine c séeing no such copyes euer came to their hands Of perticuler parsons The particuler parsons wronged by Ihon Nicols are diuers but I wil touch only the principal First Nicols slaunder of two lerned men he reprocheth two excellent learned men th one M. D. Allen the other Iacobus Pais reader of diuinitie in Rome saying that D. Allen demaunded whether we mighte not worship the timber whereof the image is made as wel as the thing represeÌ„ted And that the other answered yes which slauÌ„der is so grosse as it néedeth no further coÌ„futatioÌ„ but onely to name the men of whoÌ„ it is made for their opinioÌ„s are extaÌ„t to the contrarie as shall more appeare in handling the thyrd part of this answere Not beinge conteÌ„ted to haue iniured Father Pais with this absurd report he procéedeth to charg him his fellow readers with much more odious matter For of Pais he saieth that he vttered these words in latine in presence of 300 schollers Nicolls slaunder of Faâ— Pais refuted The Popes good wil is tried knowen and his purse is redie but ether feare withdraweth King Philip or power forbiddeth him so that he dareth not to coÌ„uay his armie into Englande For answere wherof I say that albeit it be not easie to coÌ„uince apparantlye a shamelesse liar talking of matters past in farre
most reformed cities of Englande But the question is of the publique face and gouerment of Rome which our aduersaries for the slaunder of our religion declare to be permitted in all kinde of vice and licencious liuing which is not soe Rome lesse reproueable theÌ„ other Cities for as ther be some euil there so are there many good and more examples of vertue in that Citie then in any place els of the worlde whatsoeuer as by that which I will saye more cléerely shal appeare And first as I did before aboute the Cardinals and priestes I wil refute Iohn Nicolls particuler slaunders and afterwarde shew the contrarie vertues Nicolls therefore Nicolles firste slaunder of Romanes answered beginneth by demaunding as before he vsed to doe for other proofe he hath none How doe the Citizens of Rome lyue sayeth he was there not lately a great riche citizen that had a place to the which resorted manye yong Romane gentlemen who committed the sinne of Sodome one with an other and were they not spied out at the last did not they al scape punishmeÌ„t except one pore man which died for al did not the Romanes saye that he died wrongfully for that the sinne of Sodome was but a tricke of youth For answering this I wil beginne with that which is last what soeuer some poore abiect in Rome might tel Iohn Nicols in familiaritie of the lightnes of this detestable sinne for no man of witt would ether say so or confer with Nicols about such matters yet it appeareth by him selfe that it is not so tawght ther nor so takeÌ„ by the magistrate which inflicted death vpoÌ„ one for the same The which thing albeit he confesseth yet as his fashion is he ether grosely mistakethe or peruerteh impudently a matter done and knowen in the sighte of the worlde and reproueable by as many as weare then in Rome For the thing touched not any Citizen or Romane young gentleman as he forgethe but thus Ther were seuen lewd roges some spaniardes some frenche men and some Italians that méeting some times in grottes or caues without the wales oâ— Rome were suspected to committ this horrible abhomination Wheruppon the Sbirri were sente out Sbirri are catchepoles to watche and apprâ—hend them wherof the other hauinge distrust two of them ran away and fiue were taken all which fiue were hanged at the bridge of S. Angelo by Tibers side How Sodomi is punished in Rome and afterwarde burned to ashes at the place where the facte was espied in the sight of more I thinke then twentie thowsand people by which maye be conceaued Nicols honestie in the rest Nicols 2. slaunder of Rome â—unswered But he goeth on against Rome sayinge What murder is there insomuche that noe man can sitt in his wagon without daunger of life It may be that sitting in wagons is dangerous in Rome for I neuer sawe any man ride in them there except it were comming out of the countrie but in Coches you may sée fiue hundred euery day riding vp and down with out danger of life or any other hurt And I neuer heard of any in our dayes which were assalted in their Coches but onlye aboute twelue monethe agoe or more there was agoodlye frenche gentleman sonne and heyre to the Countie De la Ponte The deathe of younge County de la Pontâ— whoe hauinge enemitie with a certayne Italian rider belonging to the Cardinal Altems was chalenged by the sayd Cauallarizzo or rider and his companions as he passed the stréetes in his coche wheruppon the sayde frenche man and his seruantes and compagnions isshewinge forth to figthe was soone after slayne to the greate discumforte of the Cittie and gréefe of the Pope as appeared by the dilligence vsed in apprehending the malefactour For albeit certaine Romaine gentlemen had conueied him out of the cittie yet was he gotten againe and after diuers tormentes excecuted Soe that I sée not what this acte can make against Rome Nicols thirde accusation of Rome And yet Nicols procéedeth further aâ—gainst Rome for he sayth Haue not the Romans six streetes ful of Curtezans and harlots whoe paye a yearly tribute to the Pope And be ther not thorough out all Rome Queanes whoe laye out of their windows carpets their gowens which is a signe to them that passe by that there they maye haue a woman for monye At shrouetid what horrible abuses are there practised at Rome without punishment doe not men goe in womens apparell the gentle women out of their windowes throw rose water which is a token to theÌ„ that passe by thâ—t there they maye defile their bodies one with an other Héere Nicols hudleth a gret dele of malice against Rome and proueth it only by his accustomed bare interrogation To which I shall make sufficient aunswer by gathering out only the seueral lyes vttered in these fewe lynes whiche are in number no fewer then eyght Eighte vntruthes in one reporte For first it is false that Rome hathe six stréetes of Curtezans for it hath but one wherof I will speake more at large presently Secondly it is false that these Curtezans pay tribute to the Pope and if they did as they doe not yet were it a punishment and not an allowance of their life as when you make a Catholique paye monie for his not cominge to churche you doe not alowe therby of his absence but you punish him for it Thirdly it is false that there are queanes thorough out all Rome for if any bée taken out of that one stréete named Burdello she is preseÌ„tly whipped about the town Fowerthly it is false that they are dishonest women whoe hang out their Carpets and gowens at their windowes for hauing noe gardens to ayer their clothes in they vse to hang out the same at their garret windowes as also in London they are accustomed to doe Fiftly it is false that horrible abuses are practized in Rome at shrouetide for in this Popes time ther are permitted no other pastimes to be spoken of at shrouetide but only running with horse an olde excersise of the getlemen Romans At wich acte notwithstanding there wante not some religious men euery yeare to be present and by occation of that greate assembly to speake some thing of edification to them And as for maskes or other dishonest sportes they haue not at al permitted Sirthly it is a shamles lye that mâ—Ì„ goe in womens apparel women in mens at that time Seuenthly it is false that al gentlewomen doe vse to cast out rosewater vpon goers by at yâ— time for they are only certaine that dwel néere to the course of the horses where great repaire is Lastly it is a malitious slaunder that such water is cast out in token of dishonestie For the best noblest personages vse to doe it vpon their frendes as they come to sée the course of the horsmen not for dishonest meaning as IhoÌ„ Nicols interpreteth So that
be the things neuer so honest or lawful of them selues this man draweth all to a corrupt meaning as you see Of the permision oâ— the stewes But héere before I passe any furder I must say a word or two touching the stewes in Rome the permission wherof by the Pope by other Catholike Princes in their couÌ„tries is accounted so heinous a matter by our aduersaries as it may not be answered but that we therby alow of vnchast life Which is a most false wrongfull charge as may apéere by that which foloweth First the Pope with al Catholiques that euer wrot condemneth detesteth the acte of simple fornication as a deadly sine daÌ„nable to the doers without repeÌ„tance And our aduersaries shall neuer be able to charge truly our Catholique doctrine wth the coÌ„trarie Secondly notwithstaÌ„ding this detestation the ciuil magistrat may for the auoiding of a worse incoÌ„ueniâ—nce tollerat or permit this sinn in some degrée without fault Tolleratinge of stewes noe alowinge of them without any alowing of the sinne it selfe As God doth tollerat with wicked men and with many wicked actes in the world which he detesteth might notwithstaÌ„ding let theÌ„ if he would yet he dothe not alowe of theÌ„ for that he permitteth them Thirdly that a naughty wicked thing may somtimes be necessary consequently tollerated without fault the corruption and lewd inclinatioÌ„ of men supposed It apereth plainly by S. Paul who saith 1. Cor. 11. Math. 18. that heresies of necessitie must be by Christ who affirmeth that scandals must néedes come yet nether Christ alowed of scandals nor S. Paul of heresies Fowerthly I might aske why the protestants in England doe permit vsery by their lawes that is doth not punish men for taking vnder ten of the hundreth They must néedes aunswere that they allowe not of the sinne but that they doe it for the auoiding of a greater inconuenience which is leste by punishing all vsurie as the Catholique Church dothe no man would lende any monye at all The causes why the stewes is permitted Soe then the Pope and other Christian Princes for the auoidinge of a greater inconuenience séeing the corruption of some men wil alwayes be such as beinge restrained of this would breake to worse matters and hauing learned by longe experience as S. Austen affirmed also of his time that if this publique sink should be taken away the infection wold rushe into priuate howses as in parte I thinke may be noted in our own couÌ„trie if we compare the chastitie of our fathers dayes when such a place was permitted with the times which haue followed since the taking away therof considering also that the tolleratinge with this publique sinke is no wayes any allowance of the sinne for these causes I say Christian Maiestrates haue alwaies permitted this publique scandal protesting to their subiectes by the words of S. Ierome which he vseth in a like matter vppon Christes wordes Li. 3. comment in math 18. It is of necessitie that scandals should come but yet woe to that man which by his faulte maketh that to be which otherwise in the world must needes be That is to say of necessitie there must for causes a stewes be permited but yet woe vnto him whiche haunteh the stewes or vseth this permission Soe that the thing is permitted of necessitie in general but no mans going thither alowed in particuler Wherof it commeth that there is no prince in the world which doth or can vse more meanes then the Pope dothe Meanes vsed by the Pope for withdrawing lewde women from their naughty lyfe to draw al men from that vice to reforme thos miserable women theÌ„selues which liue in that kind of life in his dominions For first they are shut vp in one stréete with a note of infamie not only to them selues but to all those who repaire vnto them Secâ—ndly they are debarred of all spiritual coÌ„solation for they remaine vnable to receaue any sacrameÌ„t as long as they abide in that trade of life Thirdly they are depriued of al credit or countenaÌ„ce in the world abrode so that if any of theÌ„ shold be found in a Coche both horses Coche are ipso facto forfeited Fowerthly they make no testameÌ„t except they haue lawful childreÌ„ but al their goodes must goe to the conuertites Conuertites that is to thos which are conuerted from that kinde of abhominable life Fiftly the Pope causeth euery wéeke some religious men to repaire to that place ther in the middest of the stréete to prech hell daÌ„nation vnto them for their wickednes And lastly he hath prouided a goodly monastery for all theÌ„ which wil leaue that state to enter into ther to be maintained whiles they liue with a very competent sufficient prouision of an honest vertuous life By which meanes diuers are recalled daily from their wickednes Which thinges being so let the indiffereÌ„t reader iudge how vniustly the Pope is charged with alowing of ther lewd behauiour as God whoe is not partial will one daye declare Thus hauing answerd IhoÌ„ Nicols vntrue slanderous reportes of the citie of Rome it shal not be amisse according to my promise to bestow soÌ„e few words in declaring the pietie of this cittie which euery man that hath séene it is not blinded with partialitie wil easily confesse to be greater then in any place of the world besides And first in talking of the chéefe head head the Pope himselfe of the Cardnals I haue shewed how for matters of learning it doth excel hauing in it The multitud of studentes Seminaries colledges of al nations tongues also two distinct Uniuersities as I may terme theÌ„ for besides the scholes of Sapientia wher 30. sundery learned men doe reade the Iesuites schooles haue aboue 1200. shollers which frequent theÌ„ besides the studentes of lawe in the colledge of Capronica Capronica besids the great howses of religion wher also are learned readers haue often publike excercises of disputation one with another to the great commoditye of all studentes in that place After this in my spéech of the priestes clergie of Rome Congregations in Rome I shewed what coÌ„gregatioÌ„s confereÌ„ces they haue in spiritual matters to the great instruction edification of all strauÌ„gers that repaire thither In which kinde of pietie I touched but the leste part for besides thos congregations that I named ther ar diuers others wher as the nuÌ„ber of Societies or CoÌ„pagnies of seculer men in Rome 80. Societies in Rome amouÌ„t to aboue 80. theris neuer â— CoÌ„pagnie which maintaineth not a church or a chappel with some nomber of priestes with whom sundery times of the wekâ— they haue coÌ„ference in spirituall matters Now then to passe ouer to the déedes of pietie which are corporal and which appertaine more in particuler to the Citizens them selues I must say generally that
fingers toes and eares are not bodies or deuisions of one bodye but partes and ornamentes of the same because they receaue all life norishment spirite from one soule soe diuers orders of religious men and women not differing in faithe but in manner of life in the Catholique Church are partes and ornameÌ„tes of the same church according to the propheci of her before made The Queen stood at thy right hand in golden apparel Psal. 45. enuironed with varieties These varieties are the varieties of states degrées professions orders in the Catholique Church which al agréeing in one fountaine of faith and taking norishment life and spirite from that vnitie of faithe as diuers members from one soule do not impaire but bewtifie the vnitie of that body which is the Catholique church and therfore are not to be called sectes as the Lutherans Caluinistes and Puritanes are which differ in matter of beléefe and doctrine For all that hath béene saide therfore or euer can be heerafter I doe not sée why our â—aith and Church is not proued true and â—ur aduersaries false by thes fower markes of Catholicke antiquitie succession and vnitie And if we once gaine this we néede noe longer to dispute of contrâ—uersies Hauinge ended this firste and chéefest matter of the true and false Church I must confesse vnto the reader that I am vnwyllinge to wade anye further with Iohn Nicolls in contention about particuler controuersies Cauâ—es whyeâ— Nicolls is noe further answered in particuler controuersies Frste for that all the reste which he hath is oulde broken ware patchte vppe with péeces of soondrye bookes ether aunswered or reiected longe agoe which notwithstandinge is made woorse by his vnorderlye insertinge of it héere without iuste occation and especiallye by his adioynders vnto it of vnséemelye raylinge As after he hath vttered the obiections before mentioned agaynst the true marks of the Church he followethe with full mouth for dyuers leaues togeather agaynst Rome alleaginge Mantuan the Poâ—t and Budeus with Barnarde of Cluniâ—â— without citinge anye place to proue that Rome had vices in it wherefore he conâ—â—udethe and exhorteâ—he his breâ—hren the preistes and other prisoners in the tower to leaue Rome and cleaue to Englande séeinge the Church of England had not soe many hereticks and churchrobbers in it as the Romane Church hath Secondly he rouethe soe wyde from the point of ech matter that he handleth as he séemeth to be ignorante both what we and his owne fellowes holde For aboute miracles and reuelations he laboureth much to proue that false miracles and reuelations are not to be credited which we graunt vnto him without proofe And touchinge Purgatorie and prayer for the dead and inuocation of Saintes he affirmeth them to be late inuentions of Popes and papists wheras his owne companions In his booke against Pâ—rgatorie Pag. 306. 115.316.320 and against articles pag. 39. namly Fulke in his late answers to Doctor Allen and Doctor Bristoe confesseth that all those thrée erroures weare receaued iâ— the Church aboue 1200. yeares paste that is in the times of Augustine Ierome Ambrose and vppwarde and that those Fathers with other beléeued them also In oppugninge Images he bringeth a great heape of quotatioÌ„s against idols thinketh that sufficieÌ„t Against the Pope he disputeth not but raileth coÌ„ncludeth in the end with an impudent lye out of Phillip of Mornay saying That the Pope hath caused men to dispute that he is not simply a man but a partaker of the diuine nature with Christ. A malitious lye againste the Pope Sée the shamelesse foreheade I praye you of men blinded with malice The very wordes of the decretall alleaged are these talking of seperating of a Bishoppe from a certaine Bishoppricke which he held vnlawfully Not man but God doth seperate whom the Bishop of Rome vicegerent in earth Prope InnoceÌ„tius de transl cap. quanto not simply of a maÌ„ but of him which is also true God doth seperate rather by Godes authoritie then mans vppon consideration ether of the necessitie or vtilitie of Churches Thyrdly he hath a propertie ether of ignorance or malice to tyre his answerer by cyting of things which are not to be found albeit they be such for the most parte as we would graunt without citing As for example he alleageth S. Austen li. 2. ca. 20. de consens euang against séeking of Christ in paynted walles but noe such thinge is founde there nor yet occasion of anye lyke matter He alleageth S. Chrisostome hom 30. in Math. repeting the Pharisées words to Christ which albeit it toucheth not the matter yet noe such thinge is to be séene there He citeth William Nubridge li. 2. ca. 15. 25. for S. Thomas of Canterburie his wordes to the Bishoppe of Menze against Rome A newe kindâ— of alleagingâ— doctouâ—s but noe such matter appeareth in that place nor any mention of the Bishop of menze He citeth Allen Cope dial 1. pag. 18. for false miracles before Images in our Churches but read the place and you shal sée there noe lyke argument handled He alleageth S. Basil mistrusting his owne workes in psa 32. which although it be not against vs yet must I note that noe such thinge is there to be séene I could geue dyuers other examples but this is sufficient to which do you add that he nameth almost twentie authores without citinge any place and many things without naming any author As for example where he vrgeth his fellow prisoners the priestes that came from Rome with this greate authoritie in latine and after englished One sayethe that whiles the Romishe preistes endeuour as much as they can to preach thinges in shewe agreeable to health of soules then teach they noe few things tending to perpetuall distruction of soules This one that sayeth this is ether Iohn Nicols onely or els some other of lesse credite then himselfe if it be possible to finde a creature of lesse credite And was not this a forcible texte trow you to be recited in latine out of the pulpet and to be translated in english and to be vrged in that audieÌ„ce for the stirring of hatred againste those learned and vertuous priestes Fowrthly it is a world to sée what his demeanour is in the places rightlye alleaged Nicols conclusioâ—s for first of nothing he wil inferr any thing and commonly his consequeÌ„t hath noe coherence or affinitie with his antecedeÌ„t I haue geuen some examples before as because Iobe sayeth that olde men vnderstand not alwayes iudgemeÌ„t therefore antiquitie is no good marke of the true Church Because Christ sayed to his desciples little flocke therefore the lesser congregations amongeste Christians haue alwaies the better fayth in religion I coulde shew you hundredes of these illations through out his booke Secondly if his wit serue him not to draw some false consequente from the place then audacitie supplieth to corrupt it by translation whereof besides that which hath bene