A full satisfaction concerning a double Romish iniquitie; hainous rebellion, and more then heathenish æquiuocation Containing three parts: the two former belong to the reply vpon the Moderate Answerer; the first for confirmation of the discouerie in these two points, treason and æquiuocation: the second is a iustification of Protestants, touching the same points. The third part is a large discourse confuting the reasons and grounds of other priests, both in the case of rebellion, and æquiuocation. Published by authoritie.

An Example of the Pagans fidelity out of Tullie.

b 1.1 There was a man, who together with nine other prisoners be∣ing dismissed out of the prison of Carthage, vpon his oath, that he within a prefixed time should returne againe: assoone as he was out of prison, he returned as though he had forgot some thing, by and by departeth home to Rome, where he stayed beyond the time appointed, answering that he was freed from his oath. See now the opinion of his owne countreyman concerning this aequiuocation of Returne; c 1.2 Non rectè (sayth Tully) this was not well done: for craft in an oath doth not lessen but make the periury more heinous: wherfore the graue Senators of Rome sent this cousening mate bound, with cords, againe to the prison of Annibal their enemie, from whom he had escaped. d 1.3 But some obiect, That we are not bound to keepe faith with them that are * 1.4 faithlesse: ô let them take heed, this (such is our Aequiuoca∣tors obiection of a Iudge incompetent) is but to seeke a lurking hole for periurie: whereas we may excuse subtletie in any thing

rather than in an oath, wherein euen the least deceit is a great mischiefe. This was the honestie of the ancient Heathenish Rome, which must rise vp in iudgement against this pre∣sent Rome to condemne it, which hath changed that faith∣full Romanam in Punicam fidem.

Notes

• b 1.1

  Vnus ex de∣cem illis cap∣tiuis, &c. Ci∣cero Offic. lib. 3. §. Regulus.
• c 1.2

  Non re & è, fraus enim distringit, nō dissoluit per∣iurium: Ita{que} decreuit Se∣natus vt ille veteranus & callidus vin∣ctus ad Anni balem duce∣retur. Cicero quo supra.
• d 1.3

  Qui verò d∣cunt nullam esse sidem, quae Infideli data sit, videant ne quaeratur latebra periurio; quiduis enim potiùs argutè excusari possit quam iusiurandu: quantum enim mali ex∣cidit ex ipsa fraude? Cic. ibid.
• * 1.4

  These Poeni, or Carthaginians, whom Tully calleth Infidels, were of all men in the world most perfidious, so that they came into a prouerbe, [Punica fides] The Carthaginians faith, which was as if one should haue said Falshood: and if any, then this people was incompetent to challenge trueth in an oath.