A preamble vnto an incounter with P.R. the author of the deceitfull treatise of mitigation concerning the Romish doctrine both in question of rebellion and aequiuocation: by Thomas Morton. Published by authoritie.

An Argument of P. R. his kinde of Charitie, attended with a triumphant falshood.

§ 6.

17. I Doe not meane to bring in, as tokens heereof, his dis∣gracefull and reuiling termes, calling mee Asse, Silly grashopper, Lewd lad: which kinde of Rhetorike the learned call Caninam eloquentiam, that is, Doggish eloquence, wherein this fellow hath (I must confesse) a singular gift, which I shall rather pitie than enuie, till I see it better imployed. In the in∣terim it can not offend mee to be called Asse in that cause, wherein I carrie my Sauiour in his Hozanna; nor to be termed Grashopper in that cause, wherein I may be a plague vnto Ae∣gypt, I pray God rather for conuersion than destruction: nor to be named Lad, whilest I carrie a stone in a sling, In nomine Domini, wherewith a noble and gracious Lad did hit an ene∣mie of the true worship of God, a vaunting Goliah, in the fore∣head. But I haue a better argument of his charitable deuotion towards me than this. For thus P. R.o 1.1

I let passe as trifles in this very place (but yet such as shew a guilty minde and meaning) that he citing the booke of Alexander Carerius, a Doctor of the Canon law in Padua, which he wrote of late De potestate Romani Pon∣tificis, putteth in of his owne, contra huius temporis haereticos, against the heretikes of this time, which are not in the title of that booke. And then whereas the sayd Author, naming or citing ma∣ny other Writers to be of his opinion, doth say, Nuperrime verò Celsus Mancinus in tract. de Iurib. Princip. &c. and last of all Celsus Mancinus doth holde the same in a certaine Treatise of the rights and principalities: this man to frame vnto himselfe some matter of insultation, turneth verò into verè, and then playeth ri∣diculously vpon his owne fiction in these words: Carerius citeth an∣other called Celsus, by interpretation high or lofty, and there∣fore instiles him with Verè Celsus, as truly so named, and so truly he may be, if we iudge him by the loftinesse of his stile and Conclusion. So he. And doe you see this follie? Or will you

thinke it rather follie than falshood, that could not discerne be∣tweene verò and verè? Or not be able to iudge by the contex∣ture of Carerius his speech it selfe, that it could not be apt con∣struction be verè if he had lighted vpon a corrupt copie, as he could not; for that there is but one, and that hath very plainly verò, and consequently all this Commentarie of Tho. Morton is out of his owne inuention. And where now is the assurance of his vpright conscience protested to his Maiestie in his Epistle Dedicatorie? Where is his simplicitie in Christ Iesus? Where is his naked in∣nocencie? Can this be ignorance? Can this be done but of pur∣pose, and consequently by a guiltie conscience? What may the Hea∣rer beleeue of all he sayth, when euery where he is found intangled with such foolish treachery? But let vs proceed.

Thus farre P. R. 18. It is but a point of Oratory in this man to say he letteth passe, which notwithstanding he insisteth and dwelleth vpon as violently and virulently as vpon any one taxation in the whole booke, and yet the matter, we see, is but only about trifles, as himselfe sayth, and therefore such, as not only Chri∣stian equitie, but euen common humanitie might haue either spared: or if I deserued correction, yet with moderate School∣masters to know when to vse a ferula, and when a rod. The fault obiected is a wrong intituling of a booke, which not∣withstanding the title which P. R. allegeth (being De Ponti∣fice Romano) might haue born out, because it is the very scope of that booke: so that my errour therein could haue beene no more than if in signes which hang in the street, I had taken an Iuie bush for an Hollie, both which doe equally betoken a Tauerne. The next excuse might haue beene from a possible weaknesse of sight in taking verè for verò.* 1.2 But this mans cha∣ritie is so hote, that whatsoeuer slip his Aduersarie maketh, it must rather be falshood than follie. Must it be euen so then P. R? And shall the Minister finde no more fauourable con∣struction at the hands of a Priest, than to be pronounced guil∣tie of forgerie for such an easie escape, not of a sentence, or word, or syllable, but for this little element ò? ôthen giue me leaue to plead for my selfe, and know P. R. that the Booke it selfe will witnesse against you, which many haue seene in my

hands, and any may see that will. Carerius, then in the Boke aboue mentioned, printed at Colen, Anno Domini 1601. in 8^o. (and ioyned with another booke of Zecchius De Indulgentijs & Iubilaeo, which hath the first place in the volume) hath in the front and beginning of the whole Booke this title follow∣ieg: viz.

De potestate Romani Pontificis, aduersus impios Politicos, & nostri temporis haereticos, Authore Alexandro Carerio Pa∣tauino. That is:

A Treatise concerning the authoritie of the Pope of Rome, against the wicked Politicians and Heretikes of our times, by Alexander Carerius, &c. Which title is againe repea∣ted alone in the beginning of Carerius his Tract, after F. 4. De potestate Romani Pontificis aduersus Politicos & huius temporis haereticos, &c. A Treatise concerning the authoritie of the Pope against the politicians and here∣tikes of these times. I haue therefore committed no fraud in the title.

19 The second is of the particle Verè, which is also as plaine in the place by me alleged out of Carerius lib. 2. cap. 9. pag. 133. about the middest of the page, before the end of that Chapter, Nuperrimè verè Celsus Mancinus in Tractat. de iu∣ribus principatuum, &c. Of late truly Celsus Mancinus, &c. Which the contexture may seeme also to import, because af∣ter that he had recounted sixteene Authours for maintenance of his Conclusion,* 1.3 and comming last vnto Celsus Mancinus, may well be thought by that particle verè, to haue honoured Celsus with the note of Truly loftie, that by the excellencie of the Authour he might haue gained grace and dignitie to his cause. Where then is the sinceritie of this mans conscience? Shall excuse him by diuersitie of Editions? Hee will not be thus excused: For (sayth he) there is but one Edition. What Me∣nippus (whom the Poets fain to be the man in the moon, behol∣ding all the infinite corners of the world) could haue made so peremptorie a negatiue as this? There is but one, that is, there is no other Edition in the world? seeing that it is free for all Vni∣uersities in France, Spaine, Germanie, Italie to print and re∣print

all such priuileged books, and yet P. R. dare auouch that there is but one. Take heed P. R. nay it is past take heed, for you are alreadie fallen into a whirlpoole: because if there be but one, then hath P. R. wickedly falsified the Author, by turning verè into verò (which all men may finde in the Colen Edition, anno 1601. where it is verè) if there may be another, then hath he wilfully bolted out this exception, saying, that there is but one Edition. The guilt of the first must bee needs malice; of the other, madnesse: wherby (I hope) my Reader may iudge, that the sinceritie of my conscience heerein hath beene where it ought, euen in the heart of a Minister of Truth: and that it is no maruell, if the conscience of my Aduersarie hath beene (according to his profession) in the heart of an Aequiuocator, who sayth furthermore, I let that passe, which notwithstand∣ing euen vpon a wrong sense he prosecuteth in titles and tri∣flels so curiously, or rather (if desert may speake) so currishly, and with such spightfull insultations, viz. Where is his naked innocencie? Where is his vpright conscience? Where is his simpli∣citie in Christ Iesus? And is not this a passing treacherie, trow wee? Yet this also is excusable in respect of many others, whereof (so much as the nature of a preamble may require) I shall giue my Reader that taste, which may prepare him for a sufficient presumption of the rest. But some will say, in so manifestly impudence how can any argument of modestie appeare? Beholde

Notes

• o 1.1

  Treatis. of Mitigat. cha. 6. num. 60. pag. 234.
• * 1.2

  A forced and strained ca∣lumniation.
• * 1.3

  A perempto∣rie falshood of P. R.