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.

VI.

THus much out of the Downe fall: now for a packinge blowe one bout more and so an end. In this booke of his which he published the last yeare 1603 (and coupled it together with his Goulden ballance) the good man seemeth to be much netled, and the waters of his patience so troubled, and shaken, that they be not yet queit and cleere: for a certaine Catholike author (in a booke intituled A Detection &c. written against Master Sutcliff, and Master

taught the flat doctrine of the diuel: These are the expresse wordes of E. O. whom (as it seemeth) the diuel did euen then posesse when he vitered them. For not one of these wordes (TAVGT THE FLAT DOCTRINE OF THE * 1.1 DIVEL) can be found in my Suruey, in the place which E. O. hath quoted, but these wordes which of purpose he did omitt (prohibited ma∣riage as an vnlawful thinge) This therefor is a notorius, and a most malicious lie, It is a lye in grame, and that a knocker (to vse his owne wordes else where) adorned with the name of the diuell, to giue the more grace vnto it; And that worthelie, because the diuel is the Architect and thiefe worckman in that art and occu∣pation. Here is a greueous complaint put vp against E. O. for that he hath slaundred the minister, and vttered a notorious and moste malicious lie, a lie in graine and a knocker, adorned with the name of the diuell, &c. and the lye consisteth in this point, because E. O. chardgeth Bell as though he should say that Siricius taught the flatt doctrine of the diuele, none of which wordes as he affirmeth can be found in his Surueye in the place which E. O. hath quoted: and this inturie he reputeth for a fault of no smale qualitie when he writeth that the

deuile as it seemeth did euen then posesse him when he vttered them. A greuous crime doutles, that in his seeminge opinion deserued so suddaine and seuere a pu∣nishment, or els he presumeth much vpon the diueles friendship, when he is readie to conceiue that for a trifelinge iniurie offered to his ministership he tooke the matter so hotely, as to pro∣secute it in such terrible reuenging maner. But now nothwithstandinge all this bitter and fearfull exclamation, what if these wordes be found in his Surueye and in that verie place which E. O. hath noted vpon whom them doth the notorious and malicious lye fall, whose coate is died and marked with the lye in graine, whose credit doth the knockinge lye batter and beate, and whose tenement moste like to giue the diuele intertainment? That the said Siricius was seduced by Sathan, and published wicked doctrine he denieth not: why I beseech him is there any such great dif∣ference betwixt these wordes which he graunteth and those other which he doth not graunt, that he should mount vp into such extrauagant tearmes, let them be indifferently pondered, and

they expresse the verie same meaninge•• for is it not trulie verified of him that he doth teach the flatt doctrine of the diuele, of whom it is confessed that, he was seduced by Sathan and published wicked do∣ctrine. Put them into an equall ballance, and a dram of difference in sence and true construction, wil not be found, for Bell is no nere allied to the rineged minister of Baschall then Sathan is to the diuile. These are vaine shiftes, idle vagaries, & a cuninge wheelinge from the matter, cries out Sir Thomas: To the point, shew the foresaid wordes, or els E. O. remaineth cōuicted of notorious lyinge, and I in the back house ditch for takinge his parte: seeing he is so short and so cutted, to take away all cauilles, and to chamber the clapper of his runinge red rag. I tell him that for the wordes wherewith Bell is chardged, two places of his Surueye are quoted: to witt pag. 228. and 230. and in the first quo∣tation of 228. be those wordes found which he admitteth, and in the next of 230. is that sentence registred which he denieth vtterlie euer to haue spoken. for reuellinge at Siricius for callinge, not holie wedlocke as he saith (he must

take an heare from his beard which had he done so often as he hath ouerreached, he had bin a balde minister longe since) but the filthie yoakinge and pre∣tensed mariage of Preistes the pollution of carnall concupiscence: he exclameth against him in this manner. I add hereunto that this is the flatt doctrine of the diuele, and S. Paul is my verie witnes herein. I report me now to his deuoted dependants whether his witts were at home, when he medled, with such hot and dangerous edge tooles, as haue pitifully hurt and scaled his owne fingers, or what discretion, shame, or modestie he had, to pursue his aduersarie with so full mouth and strong a crie of wordes in vvhich the diuele also had his part: so vainlie to vaunt of his sincere pro∣ceedinge, so desperatly to deny any of these vvordes taught the flatt doctrine of the diuele, to be in the place quoted: and confidently to chardge his aduerfarie vvith a notorious lye: vvhen he had more reason to haue commanded his tounge silence seeing it hath found out his ovvne confusion, neuer to haue preached of sinceritie, vvhen he plaide the cunny catchinge companion: nor

euer to haue called an other in question for lyinge, him selfe in that very place not only venturinge vpon an vntruth, but also in that verie same thinge, which as a notorious lye he obiecteth to an other. As for S. Paul where he vvould haue his vvitnes, he may talke is pleasure and say vvhat he list, but he may sooner spend all his pensions in Sub-penas, then euer bringe that blessed Apostle to de∣pose in his side for the lawfull mariage of vowed Preistes and religious persons. The testimonie of their owne corrupt conscience yea and of their cōcupiscence they may haue: the authoritie of any Apostle, or authenticall auncient writer, they are neuer able to produce.

And thus much breiflie for a sample cutt of as it were from the mayne webbe intended. No difficultie had it beene to haue ranged more plentifully, after the same maner both in these and other his bookes. But my purpose was only at this time to giue a tast not to furnishe a formall bankett: these few passages, shall I hope for this present giue the gentle reader desierous of truth, sufficient content: being as it were the two messengers Chusy and Achimaas to bring * 1.2

newes of the ouerthrowe of this glorious Absalon, who hath as shamefully apostared from his vocation, and waged war against his mother the church, as euer did that graceles impe reuolte from his naturall alleigaunce, and tooke armes against his father the kinge: the mayne battayle heauenlie grace asistinge me shall with conuenient speede followe after. God that willeth not the death of a sinner, put into the hartes of all such Protestaunts as loue truth and detest falshoode: desier saluation with Christ and his Sanites, and tremble at eternall damnation with. the diuele and his angelles, carefully to seeke for the knowledg of the pure, auncient, and Aposto like faith, Zealously when it is found to keepe and imbrace it, and constantly to liue and dye in the profession of the same. B. C.

Notes

• * 1.1

  But they are found.
• * 1.2

  1. Reg. ••8.