An ansvver to the calumnious letter and erroneous propositions of an apostat named M. Io. Hammiltoun. Composed by M. VVilliam Fouler

¶THE PREFACE TO THE READER

Being compelled to leaue france, be y^e cruel persuit of papists after my arryuing to this Countrey, thair did cum into my hāds an letter derected to our Ministers, replenished w^t calūnies quhilk quhan thay had perused, thay thocht it expedient that I suld answer thairto, for that the argument of that letter did concerne my selfe. I not willing to deny thair requeist, quhom in euerie way I suld reuerence: and being mair cairfull to satis¦fie thair desire, then affrayit of vther menis reports, haue vnder takin that quhilk I haue done.

Bot that ʒow may vnderstand with quhat ordour we haue procedit in this apologie. Ʒe sall knaw that we haue in his ca∣lumnious letter sum things as being maist false, suppressit with silēce: vther things as hauing sum probabilitie, bot ʒit na treuth we haue so confuted y^t nothing remanis quhairin this Godles Apostat may iustifie him selfe against me, or falslie alledge for farder defence. And seing that with his calumnious letter thair ar certen erroneous propositions conioynit. I haue refellit thē be this method. In placing first his propositioun, to the quhilk derectly I oppone a contrair plat, thairefter I do come to the probations of his propositions, quhilks are ather for the maist pairt impertinently brocht furth of the scripteurs, or falsly wra¦stit out of the docteurs Lykewayis I haue adducit the citation of the autorities as he hes placit them, that his errour & igno∣rance may the mair appeir. In end I conclude confirming my awin plat.

Now thairfor freindly Reader I beseik ʒow effecteously that ʒe wald not miscontrew my guid mening nor mislyke my labours heirin, bot to accept them in guid pairt. I craue for my dily∣gence bot a freindlie acceptance of ʒour courtesy ʒe can geue me na lesse.

I confes in deid y^t an Scoller of tender ʒeirs, of waik discretiō of raw iudgemnt, of small countenance, and litil vnderstanding can not pyke mekill praise for his trauel.

Bot gud mettels ar not to be misly kit, thocht they be takin out

from the dustie earth. The things quhilks I haue weill spokkin ar not to be reiectit althocht I want an exteriour grauite. If any for my newnes thinks worser of me thē I was willīg to deserue & if yair be sum y^t for my youth wil contem me, & ʒit thay not being ignorant that nemo repente summus extitit. I am content (thay being abusit ather by malice in detracting, or by lake of discretioun in discerning) to abyde thair censeur. Bot as manye things cums to passe contrair the houp and beyond the expect¦atioun of man, so it may happin heirin against my feare. My aduersar steared vp with enragit affectioun, & be the malicious mynds of vthers, thocht to bereaue me of my lyf, bot prased be God the successe was better. Through his calumnious & maist sclanderous wryting, he purposed to haue drownit me in per∣petual ignominie: Bot it hes fallin out vther ways. The mair yat his malice appeareth: my honour farder (Louit be the Lord) is aduancit. For as he that straik IASON on the stomak thin king to slay him, brak his impostume with the straik, quhairby he recouered his helth: euin sa it hes hapnit with my aduersare▪ His horrible cruelty & detestabil wickednes hes purchest me no small commt••datioun. ANTISTHENES sentence cums weil into mynd, for he said that al persons had ather great ne∣cessitie of good freinds or enuyous enemies: for freindis in ad∣monishing, and enemies in blaming, ar the cause that men with¦drawe them from vice. And suirlye in my awin persoun I haue found this prouerb trew, Virescit vulnere virtus. For had not the occasion bene offred be this apostat peraduenteur I had not profited sa veil in this studie, nor bene sa weill occupyit in this subiect, nather had I procurit sa grit praise of sum, as he is dishonorit of all. Bot I knawe y^t he was desyrous that his fame micht be spred, and name knawin in doing euil. as HEROSTRATVS in burning the Tem∣ple of DIANA. And ʒit it may fair with him, as with TR••SIMA••HVS, baith to be put to shame & silence.

❧ Faultis in the answer to his Epistle, escaped in Prenting to be correctit efter this sort.

• PAge 1. lyne 22. grit grit greif, reid grit greif. ly. 29, is reid hes.
• Pa. 1. ly. 5. their. R ather page 2. lyne. 26. rote. reid Roote.
• Page. 6, ly. 3. in quhatsumeuer. reid in quhatsumeuer companie, Lyne 32. accomplices, reid complices.
• Pag. 8. ly. 35. amends, reid amends be word.
• Page, 10. ly. 16. preguant, reid pregnāt. ly. 17. thogh. R. through
• Pag. 13, ly. 35, assofiat, reid associat.
• Pag. 16, ly, 2. ignonie, reid ignominie.

Faults in the propositions.

• Page 1. lyn••. 9. fermo••s. reid sermons.
• Page 3. anticedent. reid antecedent.
• Page 7. ly. 23. benefeits, reid benefeit,
• Page 8. lyne 22. thir, reid this.
• Page 12. lyne 22. prositioun, reid propositioun.
• Page 14. lyne 7. proposion. reid propositionn.
• Page 18. lyne 9. secta. reid stella.
• Page 19. lyne 15. t••uds. reid tends. deuoaioun reid deuotioun.
• page 22. ly. 17. follouit, reid flouit. ly. 22 increditeurs, reid incre¦dulus.
• Page 23. ly. 30. also laitly. reid absolutelie.
• Page 24. in the margen in his 13. quest, & 2. chap. ly. 32. we can¦not be helpit. reid we may be helpit.
• Page 25. ly. 16 this, reid thir.
• Page 28. ly. 5. veritie now, reid veritie.
• Pay. 29. ly. 7. apProbre, reid. opprobr•• ¶ iiii,