[ 1171] Papists and Sectaries, seducing their followers.
PLutarch,* 1.1 in the life of Agesilaus King of Lacedemonia, maketh mention, how that being to draw his Army into the field, and the better to embolden them to fight, with a certain juice wrote this word Victoria, in the palm of his hand; and afterward, being at his devotions, as the manner of the Heathens then was, he laid his hand so written, closely and secretly upon the heart of the sacrifice, and printed on it the said word Victoria, and immediately shewed the same to his Captains and Souldiers, as if it had been written by the gods: The simple souldiers not understanding the policy, and thinking the whole matter had been wrought by minacle, grew full of courage, not doubting, but that their gods,* 1.2 that had written victory, would also give them victory. By the like policy, and to the like purpose, do the Papists and Sectaries deal with their miserably seduced followers: what they cannot do by strength, they make out in craft; and what they want in reason, they make up in words: Let Scripture be never so clear, Arguments never so full, and Authorities of Fathers, Councills, and Learned men, never so pat against them, they cry Victoria, all's on their side, it must be as they say; so that there is no truth like their glosse, and no presumption like their invention, whereby their followers are fouly abused, whilst victory, not truth, is the thing that they contend 〈◊〉〈◊〉.