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.

A Seuenth falsitie.

86 In the Full Satisfact. part. 2. chap. 5. the Moderate An∣swerer did obiect thus;p 1.1

Caluine and Beza and the rest of that

holy Synod say, that the Kings and Queenes, their children, poste∣rity, and all Magistrates must be put to death. And so euery Pro∣testant must be more than a Pope. This hee deliuered without iust witnesse, and this I confuted from the direct and expresse doctrines of Caluine and Beza. And after a long iustification of them concerning their doctrine, at the length in the chap. 7. pag. 119. I concluded thus; Wee haue heard of their opinions, haue you any thing to except against their practise? Which que∣stion was not made in way of deniall, as though my Aduersa∣ry would not charge Caluine and Beza with any practise of re∣bellion; but after the maner of art and common speech, by way of Transition, to shew more orderly and emphatically what was by the Moderate Answerer obiected against their practise, which is set downe immediately after. And yet P. R. maketh this one of his instances, and proofes of my fraudulent dealings. Heere I would charge my Christian Reader in the obligation of truth it selfe to giue him audience, for his clamor is vehement, and his accusation may seeme to bee important.

Thus then P. R.q 1.2 And hauing said thus, hee (Tho. Morton) passeth yet further, adding a second prouocation about practise, in these words:

We haue heard of their opinion (to wit, of Caluine and Beza) haue you any thing to except against their pra∣ctise? And this demand he made, when he knew and had seene his Aduersaries many and most grieuous accusations against them in that kind,* 1.3 not only for mouing that people of Geneua to open rebel∣lion against their Lord and Prince the Bishop, but also the people of France, against their King and Soueraigne, citing good authori∣ties for the same, saying: Caluine and Beza armed the Subiects against their Prince of Geneua, and (as Caluiue himselfe, Doctor Suttcliffe, and the Bishop of Canterbury be witnesses) deposed their Soueraigne from his Temporall right, and euer after con∣tinued in that state of rebellion. They celebrated also a Coun∣cell, wherein was concluded that K. Francis the Second, then king of France, his wife the Queene, his children, Queene mo∣ther, &c. should be destroied. And his quotations for these things are: Beza lib. de iure Migistrat. Suttcliff. answ. to Suppl. and Suruey. Caluin in Epist. Pet. Far. orat. cont. Sect. defens. reg.

& relig. &c. All which being seene by our Minister, he deman∣deth notwithstanding, as you haue heard, with this hypocrisie, Haue you any thing to except against their practise? as though there were nothing at all not only not to be accused or reprehended in them, but not so much as to be excepted against. And is not this notable dissimulation in a matter so cleere and euident? Who can beleeue this Minister heereafter?

87 Nay is there any but will rather beleeue mee heereafter when he shall see me abused by so intolerable impudency as I am perswaded he neuer heard of heeretofore? For I am accu∣sed to haue vsed that interrogation [Haue you any thing to say vnto their practise?] in dissimulation, as though I would haue concealed my Aduersaries obiection against Caluin and Beza, in pretence that nothing at all were not onely not to bee accused or reprehended, but not so much as to be excepted against. Wherun∣to I haue only this to answer, that there is nothing in all this obiection which hath not beene both literally expressed by me, and also particularly confuted. Let vs compare the obie∣ction as it is repeated by P. R. and see if there bee any thing which I haue pretermitted. First these words, Caluin and Be∣za armed Subiects against their Prince of Geneua: theser 1.4 I haue verbatim expressed, except only that for At Geneua, I haue Of Geneua. Can there be any falshood in the particle Of? In the next words, And as Caluin himselfe, Doctor Suttcliffe and the Bishop of Canterbury bee witnesses, deposed their Soueraigne from his temporall right, and euer after continued in that state of rebel∣lion. And thiss 1.5 hath beene by me repeated also verbatim, ex∣cepting that for continued, I said continue. And can P. R. su∣spect any hypocrisie in the letter d? The next, They celebra∣ted a Councell, wherein was concluded that K. Francis the Second, the king of France, his wife the Queene, his children, Queene-Mother should be destroied. This obiection also hath beene set downe in these words:t 1.6 Caluin and Beza and the rest of the holy Synod say that the Kings and Queenes of France, their chil∣dren, posterity and all Magistrates must be put to death, and so e∣uery Protestant must be more than a Pope. Heere is more pro∣pounded than this my rigid Aduersary hath noted, namely,

Euery Protestant shall so be a Pope. Shall hee feare any ambush in this clause? Lastly the testimonies which are heere repea∣ted, u 1.7 were by me particularly both noted, and answered: and most of these P. R. himselfe (that wee may know he was not ignorant heereof) hath particularly discussed. Vnder what visard then could he call a perfect manifestation of this obie∣ction a dissimulation? or a full answer vnto euery obiected ex∣ception a concealement, as though nothing had beene reprehen∣ded? or a particular repetition and satisfaction to all, an hypo∣criticall dealing, as though there had beene nothing obiected at all? Sure I am, it had beene more for the credit of P. R. if hee had plaid the hypocrite in this taxation, to vse some coloura∣ble slander, and not to haue laid himselfe so nakedly shamefull in this kind, that very boyes, by comparing these places, may see his deformitie. But O the impotency of malice! it is not vnlike vnto the blindnesse of the Sodomites, who after that they had seen Lots house, yet groped for the doore. So P. R. a li∣tle afterx 1.8 discusseth some of my Answers, to this obiection of Practise, and yet now will not acknowledge the beginning.

Notes

• p 1.1

  Full Satisf. part. 2. cap. 5. pag. 107.
• q 1.2

  Treatis. Mitig. c. 4. num. 42. pag. 131.
• * 1.3

  Mod. Answ. c. 9.
• r 1.4

  The Full Sa∣tisfaction part. 2. cap. 7. pag. 119
• s 1.5

  Satisf. part. 2. cap. 7. pag. 119.
• t 1.6

  Satisf. part. 2. cap. 4. pag. 107
• u 1.7

  Satisf. pag. 119. Beza de iu∣re magist. Sutt∣cliff. Arch. Can. Caluin, And pag. 111. P. Frarer.
• x 1.8

  Tract. Miti∣gat. c. 4. n. 42. pag. 132.