¶The Oration of D. Scot B. of Chester, before the condemnation of Bucer and Phagius.
* 1.1YE see ({quod} he) how sore the Vniuersitie presseth vpon vs, how earnest intercession it maketh vnto vs, not only to denounce Bucer and Phagius, which these certayne yeares past haue spred most pernicious doctrine among you, to be heretickes (as they be in deede) but also that we will commaund their dead carcas∣ses, which vnto this day haue obtayned honourable buriall a∣mong you, to be digged vp, and as it is excellently ordained by the Canon law to be cast into fire, or whatsoeuer is more grie∣uous then fire,* 1.2 if any can bee. For the degrees of the Vniuersitie deale not slightly nor slackly with vs in this case, but do so presse vpon vs, and follow the sute so earnestly, that they scarse geue vs any respite of delay. And I assure you, albeit this case of it selfe be such, as that euen the vnworthinesse of those persons, though there were no further cause,* 1.3 ought to induce vs to the doyng thereof, much the rather mooued with these so wholesome peti∣tions, it is meete and conuenient we should graunt it. For howe soeuer we of our selues are enclined to mercye in our heartes, (then the which wee protest there is nothyng vnder the Sunne to vs more deare and acceptable) yet notwithstandyng, the very law riseth vp to reuengement,* 1.4 so that the common saluation of you all, which the law prouideth for, must bee preferred before the priuate charitie of our mynds. Neither ought any such negli∣gence to ouertake vs for our partes, that we beyng scarce yet e∣scaped out of the shipwracke of our former calamitie, shoulde now suffer this vnexpiable mischiefe, to disquiet any longer the consciences of the weake.
* 1.5Moreouer, it is but reason that we should doe somewhat at so earnest intreatance and sute of the Vniuersitie. It needeth not me to speake much of our selues. For if we had bene desirous to enterprise this matter, it had bene lawfull after the first Citation, to haue proceeded to iudgement: but for because we were wil∣lyng that their defendours should be heard, and that the matter should be denounced and tried by law, we sent out the seconde processe.
If we had desired reuengement, we myght haue shewed cru∣eltye vpon them that are alyue:* 1.6 of the which (alas the more pi∣tie) there are too many that embrace this doctrine. If we thirsted for bloud, it was not to be sought in withered carcasses and drie bones. Therefore ye may well perceiue, it was no part of our wils that we now came hether,* 1.7 but partly induced at the intrea∣tie of the Vniuersitie, partly mooued with the vnworthinesse of the case it selfe, but especially for the care and regard we haue of your health and saluation, which we couet by all means to pre∣serue.
For you your selues are the cause of this busines: you gaue occasion of this confession, among whom this day ought to be a notable example, to remayne as a memoriall to them that shall come after, as in that which ye may learne not onely to shake of the filth which ye haue taken of these persons, but also to beware hereafter that ye fall no more so shamefully as ye haue done. But I trust God will defend you, and geue you myndes to kepe your selues from it.
As concernyng the parties themselues,* 1.8 whose case now hā∣geth in lawe, they bare about the name of the Gospell, where as in deede they wrought nothyng els than the euery and deceite. And so much the wickeder were they, in that they sought to co∣uer so shameful actes, with the cloke of so faire and holy a name. Wherefore it is not to be doubted, but that God will punish this despite of it selfe wicked, to you pernicious, by the authors ther∣of shamefull and abhominable.
But if God, as he is slow to wrath and vengeance, wil winke at it for a tyme, yet notwithstandyng, if we vppon whome the charge of the Lordes flocke leaneth, should permit so execrable crimes to escape vnpunished, we should not lyue in quiete one hower.
When he had thus spoken, hee recited the sentence out of a scroll, and condemned Bucer and Phagius of heresie: the form and tenour of which sentence, framed after ye bar∣barous rude stile of that church, thus followeth.