Law This is their fauorit-studie this they presse in this they make their Station this mount to ouertopp their Aduersaries they daily raise higher through a continuall coaceruation heaping togeather of sacred Texts To this armaturae fortium these most valiant and spirituall Commaunders fortifying the well-repayred edifice of the Cittie of God against all wicked assaults doe yeald by all-right the first place and precedencie And here now I haue the more reason to rest astonished at that proude foolish Exception of the Aduersarie who as one still seeking for water in a flowing streame neuer ceaseth to charge the Father's writings being euen loaded with infinite passages of Scripture with want penurie of Scripture So long saith he he will giue assent to the Fathers as long as they inseparably adhere to the diuine Scriptures Stand his words thinke you in coniunction with â—is thoughts Well then goe to Let the most remarkable Authours most ancient Fathers most holie and reuerend Men Dionysius Cyprian Athanasius Basil Nazianzene Ambrose Hierome Chrysostome Austin and the Latin Gregorie marshall forth togeather being armed and garded on each side with CHRIST with the Prophets with the Apostles and with all Biblicall furniture and preparation O that that Fayth might at this present raigne in England the which these Fathers being wholy deuoted to the Scriptures did build vpon the Scriptures What scriptures they do produce the same we will produce what passagâ—s thereof togeather they do conferre the same we will conferre what they do from thence inferre the same we will inferre Will this satisfye thee thou Bible-pretender Spitt out man deliuer thy minde freely Nâ— thou replyest except the Fathers not diuorcing the letter frâ—m the intended meaning of the Holie Ghost do expound the Scripture in a tâ—ue â—ense What is the sense of these thy words in a true sense forsooth according to thy owne sillie weening This is the circle within which thy disputes are encompassed Blushest thou not at this thy maze and Labyrinth Therefore as being in good hope that I shall finde assembled in your most flourishing Vniuersities manâ—e who will looke into these Controuersies of Fayth not with a flegmatick and dull eye but with an impartiall sharpe dispassionate iudgement fully ballancing the trifeling euasions of these men by which euasions their Cause is wholy dismantelled and layed naked to the view of all I will with all chearefull readines expect this hower of fight at what time I shal be prepared to draw forth into the field the vnvanquishable troupes and forces of the Church of CHRIST against the small wilde companies of certaine poore and vnarmed fresh-water-souldiers The seauenth Râ—ason HISTORIE THe ancient Histories do vnveyle and display the true eye and face of the ancient Church Hither I prouoke the Enemy Doubtlesly the Historiographers of greatest Antiquitie and those which our Aduersaries vsurpe are these Eusebius Damasus Hierome Ruffinus Orosius Socrates Zozomene Theodoret Cassiodorus Gregorius Turonensis Vsuardus Rhegius Marianus Sigebertus Zonaras Cedrenus Nicephorus What do these men recorde whose peculiar labour was to saue and redeeme the memory of the Churche's Actions from the deluge of Time They relate our prayers our progresses in disseminating the Fayth our vicissituds and Râ—turnes of seasons our enemies Yea which ought to draw an indifferent eye more obseruantly vpon this poynt euen those Historiographers who professe implacable hatâ—ed to vs as Philipp Melancthon Pantaleon Punctius the Magdeburgians when they do busie themselues in writing the Chronologie or Historie of the Church except they gather togeather the honourable Actions of our men by descâ—ibing the palmie and victorious state of our Church and do amasse with their pennes the treacherie and facinorous câ—imes of our Enemies they should as being depriued of any Subiect or Argument haue passed ouer in an eternal silence fifteene hundred yeares To these we may adioynâ— the particular Historians of certain Countryes who through a most laboursome curiositie haue registred the Acts of each such People These men as if they had gotten a Spartae the which they coueted by all meanes possible to cultiuate and beautifye and who concealed not in their Chronicles so preâ—ise they were to holde intelligence with all times by meanes of History to relate any extraordinarie and chargeable feastings or long-sleâ—ued gownes or new-fashioned hilts of daggers or guilt spurres or any other such trifles if they but taisted of noueltie Yf they had heard that Religion had suffered any digression from its first Being or had degenerated from the Primitiue ages would certainly most of them haue made speciall and punctuall mention thereof yf not most yet at least some few if not some few yet some one or other without all doubt There is not one Historiographer either fauourable or maleuolent towards vs who euer recorded any such alteration or but once intimated in his writings so much For Example Our Aduersaries do freely acknowledge a truth so euident that it lyeth out of the way of contradiction that the Church of Rome was once Holie Catholike and Apostolicall When Then when it deseruedly had obtayned those high prayses of Saint Paul Your fayth speaking to the Romans is renowned in the whole world Without intermission I make memorie of you I know that coming to you ô Romans I shall come in the abundance of the blessing of Christ All the Churches of Christ salute you Your obedience is published in euery place Then when Paul being at Rome in libertie dilated the Gospell to all Then when Peter gouerned the Church gathered togeather in that place then being Babilon Then when Clemens himself greatly commended by the Apostle swaighed that Sea Then when the prophane Emperours as Nero Domitian Traian Antoninus did inhumanely butcher the Roman Bishops Yea then when euen by the confession of Caluin Damasus Siricius Anastasius and Innocentius did holde the Apostolicall sterne For during this Age especially at Rome Caluin out of his bountie granteth that the foresaid Bishops did departe in nothing from the Euangelicall doctrine Heare now I demaund When did Rome loose this Faâ—th so much aboue celebrated When did she cease to be that which afore she was At what time in what Pope's dayes by what meanes by what force or stratagems with what encreases and degrees did a strange Religion inuade Vâ—bem Orbem not only the Mother-Cittie but the wholâ— world What teares what oppositions what disconsolate sighes groanes did this change begett Were â—ll men vpon the face of the earth drowned in a dead sleepe or at least setled in the leese of an incurious negligence stupour and dulnesse when Rome Rome I say did stampe and dogmatize new Sacraments a new Sacrifice new Articles of Religion Was there not one Historian then to be found neither of the Greeke nor of the Latin Church neither of any remote or neare Nation who would but casually fall vpon the least touch
what other Dynastaes and Toparchaes I meane Gouernours of Empires and particular places throughout the whole world may I appeale vnto All which being organized with secular power by example by Armes by Lawes by solicitous industrie by magnificent charges haue maintained supported our Church For so Esay long-since foretolde Erunt Reges nutricij tui Reginae nutrices tuae Kings shal be thy foster-fathers queenes thy nurces Giue eare ô Eâ—izabeth most potent Queene To thee so great a Prophet preacheth thee he instructeth in thy dutie I doe confidently auerre that one Heauen in not wide enough to contayne Caluin and these Princes With these Monarcks then range thyself runne with them one and the same line of Action To thee I speake who art worthie thy Progenitours worthie the transcendencie of thy witt worthie the rarenes of thy learning worthie the high prayses and Elogies passed vpon thee finally worthie thy present dignitie Regall Soueraignetie Only this thing I plott towards thee and this I will plott whatsoeuer be the euent This is my dangerous machination this is my trayterous attempt against whome as against the designed enemie of thy life the Aduersaries so often do threaten the gibbet All hayle ô holie Crosse The day will come ô Queene Elizabeth that verie day I meane when the veyle of each man's actions shal be drawne aside when it will euidently appeare whether the Societie of IESVS or the broode of Luther did affect thee with Christian Loue and Charitie I hasten forward Witnesses furthermore of the certaintie of our Religion are all the Quarters of the World to the which after the Incarnation and Birth of Christ the trumpet of the Gospel hath sounded Was it a worke of small labour thinke you to seale vp for euer the mouthes of the Idolls and to import and bring the Kingdome of God vnto the Gentils Luther preachet Christ We Catholiks preach Christ But is Christ diuided No. Either we or he doe preach a false CHRIST How then standeth the matter I will shew Let him be the true CHRIST and let him be on their partie by whose forces Dagon's necke was shiuered in peeces Our CHRIST vouchsafed to vse our paines when he dis-enthralled freed so manie Soules from longer worshipping of those Iupiters Mercuries Dianaes Phaehades and dissipated from their harts that horrible Nâ—ght of Hellish darknes The time will not suffer me to insist in forraine presidents examples The disclosure as I may say and opening of suâ—h Countries in respect of Christiâ—n Religion as are neare at hand domesticall we will contemplate The Irish Nation then first sucked either no Religion or ours that is the Catholike Religion from Patritiuâ— the Scottish from Palladius the English from Austin All these three men being consecrated Bishops at Rome sent from Rome and euer with a dutifull Obseruancie reuerencing Rome The matter is most euident I poaste Witnesses in this last place of the irrefragable truth of our Fayth are the Vniuersities witnesses are all written Lawes witnesses the common manners and customes of People witnesses the Election and Inauguration of Emperours witnesses are the Ceremonies Anoylings of Kings Witnesses the Orders of Knights and the verie fashion of their Militarie Robes Witnesses are the Churches-windowes witnesses the Stamps and Coynes of Siluer witnesses the Gates of Citties and their publike Towne-howses witnesses the pious works vertuous liues of our Ancestours To conclude Witnesses are all things whatsoeuer Great or Small contayned within the Circumference of this vast Vniuers that no other Religion then ours did euer take anie deepe roote and plantation All which former Reasons and Considerations as so manie sealing Arguments and euen cloying my Iudgement with satiety of Proofes being fully deliberatly weighed I did hould it no litle insolencie and madnes for me to breake with all Christians of precedent Times giuing them my last Adieu and to comparte consociate myself with the verie froath of men certaine out-casts or lost Companions Wherefore I freely confesse I am much encouraged and animated to this Conflict in which except the Saints of God be detruded driuen out of Heauen and proud Lucifer recouer Heauen I cannot fall In regarde whereof I doe presume that Charke who so inhumanely doth conuitiate me tearing asunder my good name and reputation should in all equitie be of a more gentil flexure and more supple-minded towards me if I be resolued to impathe my sinfull and poore soule the which CHRIST hath bought at so high a rate rather in a safe way in a certaine way in the King's high-way then to hang it vpon the rockes and bryas of Caluin's pestiferous doctrine and Innouations The Conclusion Here now most celebâ—ious Academians you haue this small guift an earnest of my much expected Congresse composed at seuerall stolen howers in time of my daily iourneying My proiect was to absterge and wipe away with you my supposed spott of arrogancie to giue some Reasons for the iustifying of my confidencie withall whylest you are inuited to the Schooles with me to sett before your iudgements some considerable poynts by way of taste delibation Yf you hould it equall if secure if reasonable to erect Luther or Caluin as the Square of the Scripture the Oracle of the Holie-Ghost the rule of the Church the Schoole-maister of all Councells and Fathers to be short a God assuming a supreme soueraignetie ouer all Witnesses and Ages I am in despayre of bettering your mindes by my endeauours whether you Reade or Heare But if you be such as I haue Ideated and figured out to myself Philosophers eagle-eyed louers of Truth integritie modestie enemies to headlong rashnes illaqueations and Sophismes you then will easily see the full day at Noone-tyde who can espie the first appearance or breake of day through a small creuis or slifter I will euen power myself out vnto you will freely speake what the immensenes of my Loue towards you your owne danger and the greatnes of the busines may iustly seeme to require The Deuill is not ignorant but that you will most clearely discouer this light if once you beginne but to lift vp your eyes For what stupour and insensibilitie is it to aduance aboue all Christian antiquitie some obscure and vnlearned Hanmers and Charks But there are certaine pleasing Allectiues by which the deuil much enlargeth his kingdome and by which as by his netts he hath already ensnared many of your qualitie What be they Gold Glorie delicacie of sare Venerie Spurne at them O buyld your mindes of such an height as that the assaults of these low and fading delights may not reach thereto What other thing are thâ—se then the entralls of the Earth shrill and stridulous Ayâ—e a Kitâ—hin of wormes dunghill pleasures Spitt at them CHRIST is rich who will maintayne you He is a King who will honour you Lauteous who will satiate you Specious and beautifull who will
Societie of IESVS Who after much spirituall good by him donne suffered death in Queene Elizabeth's dayes he so purchasing life by loosing of life Who might then well expostulate with his Enemies in the words not comparatiuely for that were blasphemie but allusiuely which our Sauiour did with the Iewes propter quod opus bonum me lapidatis Now touching the Booke here translated it is in the Latin Originall most exquisit both for the Arâ— therein and for the Matter veyled vnder the Art And for the first Whereas Rhetorike chiefly consisteth in applying Reason to the Imagination for the more easie inuading and mouing the will that it may giue an assent to the Vnderstanding this poynt is so fully performed by the Authour as that I thinke euen therein it may ouermatch any so small a part of Tullie's Works For to insist a litle in the stile or Dialect of writing We finde therein such proprieties of most significant words where he vndertaketh to deliuer a thing in proper tearmes such swelling Metaphors yet not forced here and there dispersed for the encreasing of the sense such choyce vse of Fâ—equentatiues and Diminutiues when either the poynt expressed is often iterated or through an Extenuation is to appeare litle in the Reader 's eye such vehement and ingeminated Interrogations for the greater asseueration of the matter discussed such short Transitions deliueries of himself in few words when either the subiect expressed was donne in haste or when but incidently it is spoken of such precise Climaxes or Gradations of words especially of Epithets placed in order that thereby the sense may by degrees tise and become more full briefly to omit manie other ornaments of Speach such elegant Apostrophies to the Vniuersities and other closing Epiphonemaâ—s and Acclamations when the poynt hath beene largely amplifyed or fully treated of And all this is performed with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and perfection of Aâ—t as that if we do take away anie one word and insert in its place any other Synonymous word the sense partly quayleth We may adde hereto the compendious shortnes of his stile and the lofâ—ines of it The shortnes it being voyde of all spinositie obscuritie exacts more cunning and the rather in respect of the plentie of the Matter which those few Leaues doe inuolue For we see more skill is required to draw a curious picture in a litle Table then in a large Now the sublimitie of the stile is such as that through manie Schemes and Figures of Oratorie it may be well called Câ—thurnall and statelie his pen indeede flying therein a higher pitch then euer Phaëton who accorâ—ing to the Poets was carryed in his Father's chariot Which Circumstance of writing implyeâ—h a farre greater difficultie by reason of the peculiar subiect it being matter of Diuinitie and Controuersies in Fayth And yet â—uen in this poynt he obserueth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Decerum so much exacted in true Rhetorike for where the subiect to be expressed is not of anie sublime but of a meane and low Nature there his words runne low and he in such places purposly vseth certaine Flats and Playnes in his stile which resemble humble and pleasant vales seated among loftie hills Besides all this artificiall furniture of Speach there is found a wonderfull Christian feruour in his words well discouering his vndauted spirit and firie desire to suffer for the Catholike Religion which fire nothing but his owne Bloud could after extinguish And accordingly he had that felicitie granted him as to wash his robes in the bloud of the Lamb Happie man who by once loosing his Breath performed a double death by the one he satisfying the due of Originall sinne by the other his particular sinnes Whose death was so working and mouing with Dâ—ctour Case of Oxford the greatest Philosopher that our English Vniuersities haue brought forth in this time that diuers moneths after the execution of Father â—ampian and M r. Sherwiâ— that most holie Man thâ— Dâ—ctouâ— being in London and behoulâ—ing their heads quarters vpon long poles ouer one of the Cittie-gateâ— saide in great vehemencie to one in his coâ—paniâ— Concionaâ—tur adhuc adhuâ— â—heir dead â—odies prâ—aâ—h to this day euen to this instant And to proâ—eede furthâ—r this Apostoliâ—all man I meane Father Campian being vpon the ladder and readie to be cast of tooke these words of the Apostle for his Text to discourse of to the people Spectaculum facti sumus mundo Angâ—lis hominibus a sâ—ntence the most apposite and choisest in respect of all circumstances that the New Testament could affoâ—de But the Officers would not suffer him to proceâ—de forward In like sorte he at that time looking vp towards the sunne sayd to his fellow-prisonner Mâ— Sherwin Be of couraâ—e Man within this hower both of vs â—hrough Christ his mâ—rcie shall be farâ—e higher aboue the sunne then now we are vnder the sunne By which passages we may easily see how farre he was from all consternation dismaydnes being indeede most present to himself as one replenished with heauenlie comfort and resolution and iustifying in himself those words of holie Writt Anima mea in manibus mâ—is semper But to returne to the Booke All this curious structure of words serues but as the mother-of-pearle to enclose within it the pearle itself which is the Matter and Subiect there handled For vnder his lines are briefly contayned most choaking and vnanswerable Arguments in defence of our Catholike Religion since the materialls of this Treatise are indeede an abbreuiated draught of all chiefe Articles of Fayth controuerted betweene the Protestants and vs branching itself forth into all those principall heads of proofes which other more copious bookes doe at large vnfoulde So as the huge and learned Volumes euen of Cardinal Bellarmâ—n's Controuersies may not vnaptly be called a Scholia seruing to paraphraze and commeÌ„t this litle-greate worke Which Diamond-worke for being small in quantitie it is most preciable hath gayned through its owne worth such a hand of estimation in the Church of God as that in most Catholike Countryes it hath enioyed the Honour a priuiledge not granted to anie man's writings in this Age to haue beene commonly printed and bound-vp togeather in one Volume with the small workes of seuerall most ancient and learned Fathers treating of the like Subiect in generall Controuersies in Fayth as with Tertullian de Praescriptionibus Vincentius Lyrinensis contra Haereses Cyprian de Vnitate Ecclesiae and Austin de vtilitate credeÌ„di Fathers of which the yongest liued within foure hundred yeares after Christ his Ascension Neither is the coniunction of this Treatise with the ancieÌ„t Father's Works donne without iust cause since I dare pronounce it not as an amplification but as a measured Tâ—uth that not speaking of holie Scripture so much doctrinal matter of Fayth and so much Oratorie deliuered in so high a key weâ—e neuer sinâ—e Christ's timâ— comâ—reâ—ended in Latin within so
few leaues And thus much touching the Booke in its Original Now concerning the Translation It is donne faythfully wholy agreable to the sense of the Authour and is as litterall as the Engliâ—h with anie elegancie according to my shill will well beare with the Latin The same frame and forme of speach I meane the same Figureâ— Caesurâ—s and Cadenceâ— of the Latin is precisely as much as possibly may be kept in the English And though in the censure of manie it hath beene imagined that the English tongue would not well suite with so high a stile and that perhaps euen for this particular reason this Worke hath beene forborne to be translated by anie English Catholike yet in my iudgement the English after tryall once made and good stoare of words at hand doth euen in this poynt well comport with the Latin and is thereby rather much aduantaged graced then preiudiced And the Translatour is much eased herein as hauing in a readines such curious moulds or frames of Elocution to cast his matter in This libertie I haue taken to my self that now then where an English word of a more full signification by way of a Metaphor or otherwise doth occurre then the Latin affordeth this some times falleth out not by reason of any defect of the Authour but through the fullnes of the English I make choyce of the said English word for the greater redundancie of the sense In like sort here and there though rarely I haue inserted a word or two to make the drift of the Authour to appeare more turgent and forcing in the English and thereby to begett a Pathos to moue the Reader more fully then the compendious shortnes of the Latin being translated without anie addition would carrye But now will anie illiterate Literalist who dwelleth only in the bare letter of the Latin finde fault herewith Yf any of that ranke doe carpe thereat let that man know I hould him to be ouer seruilly Grammaticall and to taste strongly of Pedanticall Scholarisme My proceeding here is most warrantable For since Words are the images of the Notions of the Minde why should we noâ— lay on the fayrest coulours of speach that our skill can afford it being directed only to make the picture to appeare more liuelie and that the Words may stâ—ike the Imagination and consequently the Will more intensely I euer here except where the Subiect of the Translation is the sacred Writt of God in the translating whereof a literal playnesse is the best Eloquence and want of Art the chiefest Art since this Subiect cannot brooke either adding to or taking from I doe not here intimate the least touch as if anie blemish were in the Autographon or that it were possible for any Translation to equall it No silkes dyed we euer see do loose the glasse beautie of their primitiue coulours And Campian translated much diminisheth the luster and grace of Campian in the Original But howsoeuer this my Translation will be entertayned it is vndertaken fiâ—st and principally for the good of those that vnderstand not the Latin since pittie it is that such a Maistre-peece as this wrought by an English Man should be concealed from Men for their being meare English Secondarily to vindicate and redeeme this Worke so farre as in me lyeth from the indignitie and wrong it suffered from the penne of one Stock a Minister in London who being aâ— blockish as a stock some twentie yeares since translated this Treatise with the shuffling sillie and weake Answer thereto of D. Whitaker's Father Campian's Aduersarye But that Stock did so adulterate and depraue this Worke as that I grant it much grieued me to see it passe vnder so rude and grosse a fyle his labour tending only to contaminate and soyle the beautie thereof with his durtie quill But to leaue this poynt and to turne myself to thee good Reader if thou â—e Catholike I could wish thee to peruse this Tâ—eatise for thy greater corroboration and strengthning if a Protestant as ô too manie thousands in our poore Country are then for thy instruction and Conuersion And if thou remayne in this latter state implore God to giue thee his Grace to embrace his Truth on what side thou shalt finde it to be But these thy prayers are not to be made with a tepiditie and could indifferencie but they are to be powred out incessantly vehemently and strongly that so thou maist say with the Prophet Prostraui ego preces meas seing Prayers in zeale and feruour of hart are a pleasing and gratefull Sacrifice to God if not so performed then no sacrifice at all since here the Altar is without fire But I will not enlarge myself anie further for feare my Porche be ouer great for the House and therefore with this I leaue thee and rest Thine in our Sauiour IESVS-CHRIST To the most Learned and Celebrious ACADEMIANS of Oxford and Cambridge EDMVND CAMPIAN wisheth Health WHEN this yeare past by my chosen institution of life and commaund of my Superiours Most excellent Men I returned into this Iland I did finde stormes much more boysterous and rugged vpon the coasts of England then those which I had lately escaped in the Brittan Ocean After I had entered into the hart of the Realme I saw nothing more vsuall then vnusuall punishments nothing more certaine then vncertaintie of danger I closed myself togeather as well as the present state of things would permit being mindefull of the Cause mindefull of the Times And for feare that perhaps I should be apprehended before my entrance-in was rumoured I presently did set downe in wryting Who I was that was come What I sought after What manner of warre and against whome I did proclaime The first draught of it I eueâ— kept about me that if so I were taken it also with me might be taken A Copie thereof I deliuered to a friend the which truly without my intention and priuitie was made knowne to manie The Aduersaryes doe with great indignitie and atrocitie entertayne this Wryting being divulged And among other things they most maliciously insist vpon that I being but One dare in matter of Religion send this Challenge to them All Although it is certaine that I should not be alone in this Combat if the disputation might procede by publike Warrant Hanmer and Chark haue shaped an Answer to my Demaunds What was it at the length Most idle and friuolous For not anie answer sorting with their honours but one they giue which one they shall neuer giue We embrace your challenge the Queene promiseth open securitie make haste and fly ouer to vs. In lieu hereof these two blotters of paper crye out with a multitude of obstreperous words Fye of thy Sodalitie thy seditious molitions thy arrogancie thou art a Traytour doubtlesly a Traytour Ridiculously Why do Men as if scarse they enioyed but their fiue senses make such profusion and waste of labour charges and their owne reputation But as
and vnder this title the verie sound of his Name iarres in the eares of our Aduersaries This man I say the furie of Caluin denyes to haue beene instructed in the Schoole of the Holie Ghost because he called sacred Images by which the Saints are to vs absently present the Bookes of the illiterate and vnlearned The day is too short and indeede the Sunne must runne a greater circle of his course to serue my turne before I can number the Epistles Sermons Homilyes smaller Volumes Disputations of the Fathers all being filled and stored with vnanswerable proofes in defence of the Sentences and Articles of our Catholike Religion As long as these their Monuments of Learning are to be soulde in the Stationer's shopps in which the Enemie most vnworthily pretends as you haue seene so many chaynes of Errour and Superstition to haue beene wouen so long in vaine are our Bookes forbidden to be read in vaine are the Sea-ports so narrowly kept for the preuenting of their entrance in in vaine are the houses of Catholiks their tâ—unks boxes and other priuate receptacles violently broken open in vaine are so manie minacious threatening Proclamations sett vpon the publike Gates and other chiefe places in Cittyes since neither Harding nor Sanders nor Allan nor Stapleton nor Bristoll doe affect these supposed new dreames more zealously or with greater feruour and sedulitie then these Fathers aboue by me mentioned haue donne When I â—eflected vpon this poynt with a serious introuersion of minde I grant it gaue an edge to my desire and my greedines of Combat was encreased in the which what way soeuer the Aduersary shall take except he will yeeld to God's honour he runneth himself vpon the sands Yf he allowe of the Fathers he then looseth the field Yf he exclude them he thus escapeth but by flight It so chanced myself then being yong that Iohn Iewell the Antesignanus fore-man of the Caluinists in England who euer buylded his state in the ruines of men's Soules did in his Sermon at Paul's Crosse prouoke the Catholiks with incredible boasting he through Hypocrisie appealing to and calling vpon those Fathers who flourished within the first six hundred yeares of our Redemption Those worthie men who then suffered exile at Louayne in all haste arrested his challenge with their penns though they stoode obnoxious to diuers difficulties in regard of the iniquitie of the times I dare be bolde to pronounce that the calumnie ignorance improbitie and supercilious impudencie of this Iewell who indeede wanted a foyle to make his luster good then happely layed open by these Men's wrytings did so much benefitt to our generall Cause at that I can hardly remember any one thing more aduantageous to the Catholike Church of England then groaning vnder the Burden Menacing Edicts and scrowles were in all haste affixed vpon the common Posts that no such bookes should be redd or kept by any though Iewell 's vaunting exclamation might iustly seeme to extort the writing of them All Persons at that time which obserued this passage did by this meanes learne that the ancient Fathers were wholy Catholike that is wholy Ours Neither did D. Humfrey conceale this wound giuen to himself and his Brethren who though he daigned to become Iewell 's Encomiast in immoderatly extolling him and by seeking to embalme his Memorie by writing his life yet did cast this one aspersion of incoÌ„sideration and inaduertencie vpon him to witt that Iewell proffered to stand inalterably to the iudgements of the Fathers with which men this Doctour in peremptorie expresse words disclaymeth from hauing the least entercours commerce or association so loath is the Enemie to keepe anie quarter with the Primitiue Writers and Fathers One time in familiar discours we throughly sownded Tobie Mathew who now domineres in the Pulpit enchanting much aboue others by his often Sermoning the eare of Credulity and whome for his good literature and sparks of Moralitie we greatly affected entreating him to answer ingenuously and plainely Whether that man who spent himself in diligent reading the Fathers could possibly fluctuate touching the truth of the Roman Religion or could vnfeignedly embrace that Fayth to the which himself so earnestly exhorteth He freely vnbreasted himself and thus replyed it was impossible if so with the reading â—f them he would giue an indubious assâ—nt and crediâ—t vnto them Which Sentence is most true and I am fully perswaded that neither himself at this present nor Matthew Hutton who is reputed by some to be much trauelled in the Fathers nor the rest of our Aduersaryes who performe the like labour can be of any other iudgement Hitherto therefore I may securely descend into these Lists as prepared to battaile with those who as men houlding the wolfe by the eares are forced to leaue vpon their Cause a perpetuall and indelible scarre or blemish wâ—ether they reiect or admitt the Fathers Since in the One they but prouide for their running away in the Other they are suffocated and strangled The sixt Reason THE GROVND of the Fathers IT is cleare that if euer that precept and command Scrutamini Scripturas Search the Scriptures was as in reason it hath and ought to be to vs peculiarly incumbent vpon anie sorte of Christians that the most holie Fathers did with the greatest prayse and in the highest degree accomplish the same since by these Men's diligence and charges the Bibles haue beene translated and transcribed into so manie tongues and transported into so manie discoasted Nations By these Men's dangerous yet successiue attempts they were snatched out of the flames of the Enemy and of all vtter deuastation and extinguishment By these Men's indefatigable paynes each part and passage of them was most painfully cutt vp and as it were anatomized For both day and night those Fathers did euen drinke vp the Holie Scriptures they were euer most readie from out their Chayres and Pulpitts to discourse of the Holie Scriptures they alwayes enriched their voluminous writings with testimonies borrowed from the Holie Scriptures they haue disclosed and vnfoulded with their faythfull Scholiaes and Commentaries the most knottie passages of the Holie Scripture they haue seasoned their Feasts Fasts with studying the Holie Sâ—riptures To conclude they haue spent all their dayes with a Sabaoth lâ—sse incessant labour â—euen to the end of their feeble old age in meditating vpon the Hâ—lie Scriptures And although the said Doctours were frequently accustomed to draw their arguments in patronage of their Fayth from the authoritie of their fore-fathers from the practise of the Church from the Succession of Popes from Generall Councells from Apostolicall Traditions from the vnâ—aunted constancie of Martyrs from the Sentences Decrees of the Pastours of the Church and from stupendious and astonishing Miracles whereby the setled Course of Naâ—ure was as I mâ—y say vnnatured and dissolued Yet all these different sorts of proofes they euer most willingly enleuened with stored testimonies of the written