The arraignment of slander periury blasphemy, and other malicious sinnes shewing sundry examples of Gods iudgements against the ofenders. As well by the testimony of the Scriptures, and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of Sir Edward Dier, Sir Edward Cooke, and other famous lawiers of this kingdome. Published by Sir William Vaughan knight.

LINEAMENT. VIII.

1 The Spirit of Detraction conuicted in Aduocates and Counsel∣lours at Law, for putting on a good face on bad causes.

2 The Authours resolution on the behalfe of honest Lawyers.

IT is no small slander in our Christian Cor∣poration, when our Aduocates and Coun∣sellours * 1.1 at Law, for the greedinesse of a little worldly mucke, doe put their tongues to sale, and polish their wits, purposely to co∣lour a foule cause with faire speaches, to make that seeme tolerable before the Tribunall seate of Iustice, which they in their Consciences know to be intolerable. This in very deed is a scandall to the Weale-publike, to the Spirit of God, which through the Prophets mouth thun∣dred out this terrible curse against such lewde practisers, Cursed be yee which speake good of euill, and euill of good. * 1.2 This kinde of dealing is likewise rebuked by the Wise∣man: Hee that iustifieth the wicked, and hee that condem∣neth * 1.3 the iust; they both are abhominable vnto God. For certainely, were it not, that these Instruments of Sathan did patronize our enuious aduersaries by backing them in their base proiects, they durst not beard the Sonnes of Iustice so long as they doe••nay, were it not that they so boldly bolster and beare out ill matters, the reuerend Iudges of this Land need not lose halfe so many nights of sleepe, turmoyling their braines in the search of truth, least they wrong the partie innocent. Whereto I might adde, how these wainescot Lawyers in concealing and couering the carriage of such lewde members, doe ag∣grauate and augment the nature of their sinnes, which otherwise through the prickles of flesh & bloud, through the smart of shame they would forgo, submitting them∣selues to the rod of correction. For there is no better

remedie to kill sinne and cure the soule, then to suffer the sinner to sustaine for his sinne some punishment by shame, griefe, or other meanes.

What auailes it me to gaine a world of wealth, and within a short while after to leaue behind mee both my * 1.4 wealth and this world? Better it is to sup a messe of pot∣tage with securitie, then to feede on the daintiest cates with hazard. Admit that Clients load me with golden fees for setting out a brazen face on damned causes: Admit that all my life time I haue glutted my gut vvith fruit of Paradise: yet if I dare not appeare in the pre∣sence of God, but am forced to hide my selfe (as, where can I hide my selfe from his All seeing Maiestie) and to howle for very feare and anguish yee mountaines fall vp∣on me, yee Rockes couer me, what shall my fees and fruit then profit me? what good shall I get by them, vvhen Death dogges me at the heeles? when my pulses shall faintly beat, my sences faile, and my eye-lids shut, neuer more to open, vntill they shall see the gates of new Ie∣rusalem shut fast against their wretched Maister? O re∣member this, all yee, that leane to Mamm••n, all yee, that loue shadowes better then substance, and falshood better then Truth. For mine owne part, though I am but young, yet I haue obserued somewhat; I know as many trickes and quillets to entangle men, as another doth; I know diuers meanes to circumuent them, that happily thinke themselues as wise as my selfe, like vnto that Italian, which boasted he knew so many deuises to get money, as there be dayes in the yeare; but I protest before him that made me, I would chuse to be murthe∣red, rather then to vse them in my greatest need. Such is the resolution of my soule, or as a friend of mine late∣ly termed it, the tendernesse of my Conscience, that I fouly scorne to play the part of a mercenarie Mechani••ke with my brother in Christ. I fouly scorne to nourish contentions for mine owne aduantage. For how dare

I claime my selfe to be of the same fraternitie, within the Circle of charitie, within the vnion of the Holy Ghost, if I deale not plainely with my neighbour, if I speake not the truth from my heart without equiuocation; nay, if I meane not plainely vnto him? Let this resolution of mine serue as an Apologie, to excuse my retirednesse for not exercising that profession, in whose titles I some∣times gloried, though most vnworthily.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1
• * 1.2

  Esay 5.
• * 1.3

  Prou. 17.
• * 1.4

  2