The fore-runner of Bels dovvnefall wherin, is breifely answered his braggnig [sic] offer of disputation, and insolent late challenge: the particularties [sic] of the confutation of his bookes, shortly by goddes grace to be published, are mentioned: with à breife answere, to his crakinge and calumnious confutinge of papistes by papistes them selues: and lastly à taste. Giuen of his rare pretended sinceritye, with som few examples.

That Bels bookes haue longe since receiued their answere, with the particuler contents of the same, and though vpon iust occasion it hath hitherto bin suppressed, yet shortly by gods grace to be set forth.

CHAP. III.

VVHeras Bel hath passed hitherto vncontrolled, and vvithout ansvvere, partly for that by some of iudgmēt not any vvas thought necessary (of such course stuffe be they made) partly for other iuste reasons, hereafter more at lardge to be handled; the mini∣ster maketh his comoditie thereof, and vvould haue the vvorlde to thinke, that not lack of good vvil, but vvant of skill, hath made Catholikes so longe silent: and all this to alienate mens mindes from the faith of their forefathers, as a religion that cannot stande in feilde againste him, and for that cause hath bin vtterly left destitue of all defence. And albeit he had intelligence by a Catholike booke (as him self confesseth) sett out in then'de of the yeare 1602, that the con∣futation of his vvorkes vvas vndertaken, and to be published if it should be

thought conuenient (and one parricular point in the same touched, vvhich did not alitle vvringe his mastership on the vvalles, though he set agood face on the matter, and for the ease of his stomake, entertained the said booke vvith the eloquent flovvers of Shameles pamphlet, * 1.1 Sourrilous libel, and a rude lyinge hotch-pot of omnigitherum: reuelleth also at the author, him self, tearminge him in the lenity of his spiritt, Swaggeringe diuine, Shameles ca∣lumniator, sowle-mouthed swaggeringe diuine, impudent lyer, and brasen face) yet by no * 1.2 meanes vvill he beleeue, that there vvas euer any such thinge intended indeede: Iust as the false Prophetts persvvaded * 1.3 the Ievvs, that the kinge of Babilon vvould not come vpon them, nor their countrye: and therfor to haue it giuen out that there is any such confutation, he reputeth it but for adeuise, to dazell (as he saieth) the eies of the simple readers, * 1.4 and of others, that shal heare thereof, that they may stil be scduced with popish legierdemaine, from time to time, and not behould the sun shininge at noonetide, who all in the end must receiue the iust rewarde of their follie, euen the slapp of a fox tayle.

Thus the minister is pleasant,

recreateth him self and his readers with his merry conceites, but if in conclusion the confutation doe come forth, as by gods grace it shall, with that conuenient speed, which the time, and other occur∣rents will permitt, is he not then like those that leremie speaketh of, proued a false Prophett, and doe not they that beleeue him (as I thinke there be very few, let him prattle what he liste) shew them selues very sillie sheepe, to follow such a bel-weather; and that they must in the end receiue the iust rewarde of their folly, euen the blessinge of an Asse tayle. Agayne in the very same place, * 1.5 dispairinge euer to see the effect of any such attempt, he lamenteth, his distressed case, in this dolefll manner. No no my dearest they meane nothinge lesse. They wil neuer while I liue, publish any such confutation: their owne consciences condemne them, they knowe they are not able to performe it, I would most gladly (I protest before god and the worlde) once see any such confutation duringe my life. Surelie he is much to blame to discom∣fort him self without all cause. He may very wel liue to see it, and yet die sooner much then he would. Let him not be dismayed, for I can assure him

of myne owne knowledge that our consciences doe not condemne vs, nei∣ther doe wee knowe that we are not able to performe as great a matter as that. To giue the more creditt to my wordes, and somwhat to reuiue his dead spiritts, I will here giue him a note of the nomber of the bookes, and their particular contents. They be in all Fiue, written againste his motiues, and Sur∣ueye fiue yeares agoe. The first booke contayneth many of his notable vntru∣thes, corruptions, and falsifications. The second presenteth a gallant and desperate fraye, betwixt the reformed minister of Bascall, and Thomas Bel preacher of the worde: all the clubbes in London being not able to part them. For such a grace he hath in writinge, that he falleth into grosse contradictions, and what he saieth in one place, not feldome he vnsaieth in another. The third handleth a couple more of extra. ordinary, and choice contradictions, worthie for their dignitie, to haue a speciall place by them selues. In the first (which hath diuers proofes) he con∣demneth him self, and his owne congre∣gation (the defence whereof he hath

vndertaken) for the maintayners of false, hereticall, and blasphemous doctrine. A pointe worthie to be considered of by his bretheren, for he giueth them moste iuste cause, to suspect him of playinge bootye, and that his hart is still an harbourer of Poperie, or at leaste not replenished with the liuely liquour of the new gospell: And though he labou∣reth to purge him self of that suspition, * 1.6 and sweareth deuoutly, yet may they come vpon him as those caterpillers did vpon S. Peter vvith a loquela tua te ma∣nifestum facit, thy speech doth bewraye thee. In the second (fortified also with diuers reasons) he acknowledgeth our faith (which with might and maine he would seeme to oppugne) to be the truth, and that very religion which Iesus Christ god & man, brought from the bosome of his father, and planted in the worlde: so that the Protestants haue againe iuste cause to complaine of him (as Balec did * 1.7 of Balaam) for blessinge those whom they expected he should haue cursed: and worthelie to haue him in iealousie as being fled to them with the same * 1.8 minde, that Chusai Arachites did from Dauid, to the campe & seruice of Absalō.

The fourth entreateth of the weake groundes of his vvorkes, to vvitt, vvhat deceites he vseth in reasoninge, with exsamples, for more perspicuitie and light: what treacherous trickes also he practiseth, concerninge Doctors and Fathers, Councells and Scripture: so that the reader shal haue a perfect Ana∣tomy of the corrupt body of his bookes, with their manifolde maladies and diseases: and with all behould all his foundations and ground workes vnder∣mined, and his fortifications blowen vp.

The fifth and last, shall answere the recapitulation of his Suruey or as he partlie speaketh, the Perioch: in which he would shew at what time, diuers points of our religion came in. And although what hitherto hath bin written, concerneth only his first two bookes, yet will I now take the paynes, to veiw ouer those also, which came out after: as that terrible tooth-lesse bitinge beagell, called the huntinge of the Romishe Fox: the naturall ympe of his motiues and Suruey, begotten by them in sinne and iniquitie: it resem∣bleth the parentes so liuelie, as though it had crept out of their mouthes: his

Goulden Ballance also, with the yoake∣fellowe. The Counterblast: and lastely his late Downefal, and what in them I shall thinke meete accordinge to the order propounded, by rancke in his due place. Yf ought els be added, for exsample a more particular reply to the challenge of his Downfall, that must be counted for a worke of superarogation: what reason hath he now to feare that he shall die before he see his confusion. Tender boughes and younge leaues as scripture saith, and experience teach, * 1.9 are a token that sommer is at hand, the particularities likewise before mētioned, as buddes shootinge forth, are a signe of more plentifull blosomes shortlie to followe, if the colde easterne winde of pouertie, doth not hinder the growinge, and keepe back the springe. My principall hope is in our good Lord, that as he hath giuen me a minde to write, polishe, and set forth the worke, so he wil asiste me, not only with health and libertie, but also furnishe me with all those thinges, which for such an exploit be necessarie. Yf his diuine wisedome, which reacheth from end * 1.10 euen to end mightely, and disposeth all thinges

sweetlie shal othervvise ordanie, his name be blessed: humaine councels, must with al obedience yeald to heauenly prouidēce: only I would haue the curteous reader to vnderstande, and Bell to knowe, that there shall be no fault in me, for performinge of what soeuer is promised, more then which, neither can I in reason assure, nor any with equitie euer expect.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In his Coun∣terblast pag. 45.
• * 1.2

  pag 44. pag. 49.
• * 1.3

  Ierem. 37. v. 18.
• * 1.4

  pag. 45.
• * 1.5

  Pag. 45.
• * 1.6

  In his suruey to the christiā reader. Mat. 26 v. 73.
• * 1.7

  Num. 25.
• * 1.8

  2. Reg. 15. v. 34. e•• cap 17. v. 15.
• * 1.9

  Mat. 24 v. 32.
• * 1.10

  Sap. 8. v. 1.