The encounter against M. Parsons, by a revievv of his last sober reckoning, and his exceptions vrged in the treatise of his mitigation. Wherein moreouer is inserted: 1. A confession of some Romanists, both concerning the particular falsifications of principall Romanists, as namely, Bellarmine, Suarez, and others: as also concerning the generall fraude of that curch, in corrupting of authors. 2. A confutation of slaunders, which Bellarmine vrged against Protestants. 3. A performance of the challenge, which Mr. Parsons made, for the examining of sixtie Fathers, cited by Coccius for proofe of Purgatorie ... 4. A censure of a late pamphlet, intituled, The patterne of a Protestant, by one once termed the moderate answerer. 5. An handling of his question of mentall equiuocation (after his boldnesse with the L. Cooke) vpon occasion of the most memorable, and feyned Yorkeshire case of equiuocating; and of his raging against D. Kings sermon. Published by authoritie

SECT. VII.

Mr. PARSONS his protestation of his own Integritie.

Master PARSONS Reckoning.

As for falsities, they may proceede of diuers causes, and in diuers * 1.1 degrees, and with sundry circumstances of more or lesse fault, so that there may be a falsitie without a falshood, where of my mea∣ning is not in this place: but whosoeuer shall be found in a wilfull and witting falsitie, or rather falshood, that is knowen to be such by the vt∣terer, I doe thinke it to abhorre so much from the nature it selfe of an

honest and ciuill man, as of what Religion so euer he be, he will not commit it once, much lesse thrice. As for my selfe, I stand confident, * 1.2 that he will neuer be able to bring any such fraud against me, much lesse thrice three.

The Reueiwe.

28. Mr. Parsons hath truely expressed the Character of an honest man, to wit, that he doth alwayes abhorre all wilfull fals∣hood, and he will needs Canonize himselfe, and be registred in the Calender of honest men. But words are but as letters, and deedes as seales: so that if Mr. Parsons protestation bee contradicted by his conuersation, then his writings (where∣of we are to speake in the Chapters following) may be presu∣med to bee no truer then his other actions. And if in his morall behauiour he be a true man, then their twentie and eight Seminarie Priests were blacke Saints, who in their a 1.3 Appeale made vnto Pope Clement the eight, against the fa∣ctions of the Iesuits, speaking of Master Parsons, note, b 1.4 Patrem Robertum praecipuum, &c. that is, Father Robert Parsons the chiefe Author of these factions: And for a man, c 1.5 Dissembling to forewarne our Messengers (say they) whom we sent vnto your Holinesse, that they might escape the hands of them that layde watch to catch them, when notwithstanding he was the princi∣pall plotter to haue them intrapped; and who, in taking their Ex∣amination, appointed a Iesuite to write downe their Aunsweres, but so, as altering their words at his pleasure.

29. This, and much more to this effect, was deliuered to the Pope against Mr. Parsons, by a grand Inquest of their owne Priests, in their ioynt Appeale vnto him, with whom they account it a damnable sinne to lie or equiuocate. The summe wherof one of their Priests in his Quodlibets hath ex∣pressed, saying of Mr. Parsons, that d 1.6 He is the abstract and quintessence of all coggeries, and forgeries, &c. e 1.7 This is that worthy excellent, that lies, dissembles, and equiuocates at euery word. Notwithstanding I desire the good, Reader, that these imputations which are cast vpon him by his owne brother∣hood, may not any whit preiudice his integritie, but rather to

suspect them to be lies, except that they may bee reasonably verified by the Reueiw of his Reckoning.

30. Hitherto wec haue heard the censure of their owne Doctors, branding Authors of their owne order with the blacke marke of often falsifying; and also displaying the ge∣nerall practise of their Church, in corrupting of Authors sen∣tences, contrary to their meaning. So that this Introduction may serue for a reduction of Mr. Parsons into a more Sober Reckoning, who doth pronounce his brethren to be free from that Maladie of falsifying; not so much in confidence (as it may seeme) of their fidelitie, as for the better palliating of his owne guilt, whilest he would be thought religiously, and honestly to detest that vice, which throughout the Reueiw of this Reckoning I shall orderly detect.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Reckon. pag. 215.
• * 1.2

  Idem pag. 214.
• a 1.3

  Declaratio 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & turba∣tionum, quae inter Iesuitas & Sa∣cerdotes in An∣glia ortae sunt. Ad Clemen∣tem. 8, Pontifi∣cem exhibita à Sacerdotib{us}.
• b 1.4

  Pag. 23.
• c 1.5

  Pag. 40.
• d 1.6

  Quodlib p. 236
• e 1.7

  Quodlib. ibid.