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.

§ 9.

32 THis P. R. hath bestowed six or seuen sections in censu∣ring me and my Aduersary the Moderate Answerer, concerning whom he writeth thus:c 1.1

I must needs say that the Answerer hath endeuoured to effectuate so much as he promised in the title of his book, which was, of A iust and moderat Answer, & in performance thereof hath not only borne on matters temperatly, as before hath beene shewed, but spared also his Aduersary in ma∣ny points, and namely in passing ouer his allegations without note, or checke.—In the rest the Answerer quitteth himselfe lear∣nedly, and sheweth much reading in particular, as by the multipli∣city of Authors by him alleged doth well appeare.

33 Say you so P. R.? Did your fellow answer Learnedly? Why who are you, and where is your abode, tell me?d 1.2 The Booke of Tho. Morton was sent me out of England. Then belike this Mitigator is out of England, who, by the constant and generall voice, hath his residence at Rome. May it now please him to heare what this Moderate Answerer (whom he so greatly com∣mended) hath iudged of such extrauagant persons as hee is, if peraduenture any such write bookes concerning our En∣glish State? That answerer being pressed with the testimonies of many forren Iesuites and others, who defended the first ground of all rebellious positions and practises, was driuen for a Moderation, to vse this euasion;e 1.3 I suppose, (saith he) that

no learned Catholike within this kingdome (yet such can best iudge of this country cause) doth defend this opinion. Heereby censu∣ring all Priests without the kingdome lesse fit or sufficient to meddle in this cause. We see that this Mitigator hath com∣mended the Moderator for a learned Answerer, and that Mo∣derator by this his generall censure, hath taken exception vn∣to this Mitigator, concluding him to be an Answerer (in his o∣pinion) insufficient.

34 If both these should meet vpon one stage to act their dis∣positions, they could not but make good sport for the behol∣ders. As for example (for I will faine nothing in their names, which shal not be consonant & agreeable to their conditions.) First then the Moderate Answerer might haue said, P. R. you haue beene altogether presumptuous to take vpon you this Answer called the Mitigation, knowing that you shall but bewray your ignorance, because residing out of England, you cannot be rightly experienced In this our Countrey cause. To whom the Mitigator might reioine, saying; Nay I haue not beene arrogant, but thou hast beene rash and precipitant, for if thou by thy former answer mightest haue been thought suf∣ficient for a Replie, what needed such posting to mee beyond the seas for a supplie of a more exact and learned Reioinder? Then the Mod. Answerer; Haue patience, I pray you, For when I perceiued so many of our Authors obiected, al of them by due consequent giuing Protestants cause of hatred against vs, as against those that had by our doctrine decreed a depri∣uing them of their debts, goods, crownes and liues, whensoe∣uer opportunity might serue, I was enforced to vse this an∣swer for a refuge, taking exceptions to all Authors out of Eng∣land, who writ of this English case: and to appeale rather to other Catholikes,* 1.4 who being in this kingdome, haue written nothing heereof. This is the ground of my Moderation, which not the truth of our cause, but the necessity of the time did ex∣act at my hands. Whereunto the Mitigator thus: Thou hast done well, and such hath beene the cause of my commendati∣on of thy Answer, as thou maist perceiue, for I haue said that f 1.5 I must need•• say that the Answerer hath acquitted himself lear∣nedly.

Not that I could thinke so, but because (thou knowest) we must commend and iustifie one another, especially in these times, wherein our malice and madnesse both in doctrine and practise hath been so fully discouered. And therfore I thought it necessary also to intitle my Booke a Mitigation, concealing in my mind this reseruation [To delude my Reader.] Thus it must be, when we raise a flame of rebellion, which shall not succeed, then it is policy to cast about vs some holy-water sprinkle of plausible termes Moderation and Mitigation, as though we intended to quench that with our water, which we had rather do with oile. The Moder. I perceiue you are sub∣tile and therfore willingly yeeld you place to answer my Ad∣uersary, the rather because I thinke you are troubled with the disease of some of our Catholike Lawyers, of whom you haue sayd,g 1.6 They itch to be doing, and answering M. Atturney. This was also my disease, but I after found a scratch, and so may you. Then Mitig. Tush, wee need not care, namelesse are blamelesse, for thou settest no name vnto thy Moderation, and I only set downe mute and dumbe characters, which are as good as nothing, to my Mitigation. Againe, we haue many great and principall oddes of Protestants, besides railing, viz. When our Aduersary prooueth any thing by many testimo∣nies out of our owne Authours, and we are not able to satisfie the common opinion obiected against vs, then to single out a∣ny allegation of any one of his witnesses, which hee hath pro∣duced, and if thou perceiue him to faile in the manner of alle∣ging, squeeze euery such answer to make him, at the least, seeme to be fraudulent: And if thou canst finde him faulty in one, it is no matter though all the rest of our Authors cited a∣gainst vs be neuer so true, we shall wound the cause in his per∣son, as he doth our persons in the cause. Furthermore bee al∣waies echoing out against him some opprobrious termes, as Mountbanck,* 1.7 Grashopper, Malitious, shamelesse, false, and what not? The Moderat. I remember I haue often charged him with slanders when as not hee but my selfe did falsifie; which he hath discouered, and in a manner silenced me. The Mitig. We need not feare any such euent, because of our ma∣nifold

aduantages:* 1.8 For Protestants are licenced to reade any bookes, and some in curiositie, as Eue, some in doubtfulnesse, as the Capernaitans; many in presumption, as Balaam, most for the delight which they finde in an eloquent and inuecto∣ry style of writing (ô mine is excellent!) as Athenians; So that it cannot be but where so many mice be still nibbling at the baite, some will daily be catched. But our Professors be kept secure vnder the locke and key of the vowe of obedience, or els haue their hearts so stupified with that Opium of impli∣cit faith and blinde deuotion: that though my aduersarie in his Answer shall prooue me neuer so monstrously calumnious and slanderous, yet of our Catholikes few can, and none dare examine or beleeue any thing against a Priest: this is our suffi∣ciency. The Moder. You haue forgot an other policy we vse, which is, though our Aduersary write neuer so methodically and orderly, yet not to follow him exactly in his course, and commonly to pretermit those authorities which he bringeth, and wherein is the chiefe strength of his cause. Mitigat. And is not this good policie? he that will cunningly put away a counterfeit piece of coine in stead of currant, must do it apart from the other money, for if true and counterfeit be compared together, the good will discouer the bad, and his booke thou knowest is A Discouerie. Againe, thou maiest perceaue that when I vse no method my selfe, I challenge him forh 1.9 want of method. But why doe we spend time in talke, let vs about our businesse. I will be writing a Mitigation for securitie of our Catholikes in England, whilest our fellowes are practi∣zing rebellion ini 1.10 Ireland for the subuersion of Protestants. Thus, thus it must be. Farewell. In all this there is no more represented then is too certainly acted by the Ro∣manists, as in our Incounter vnto P. R. will more plentifully appeare. It is time we come vnto

Notes

• c 1.1

  Treatise of Mitig. chap. 3. pag. 101.
• d 1.2

  Treatise of Mitig. chap. 3. pag. 92. num. 3.
• e 1.3

  The Moder. Ans. chap. 2. §. wherefore to purge, &c.
• * 1.4

  Craft in Ti∣tles of books.
• f 1.5

  Mitig. supra.
• g 1.6

  Treatis. Mitig. preface to the Reader num. 10. P. R. his dis∣ease in so oft writing.
• * 1.7

  Railing.
• * 1.8

  The aduan∣tages the Ro∣mish faction hath.
• h 1.9

  Mitig. pag. 113. cap. 4. §. 2. num. 15.
• i 1.10

  See the late Proclamati¦on.