CHAP. VI. A taste of Bellarmines vnsauoury falsifications.
I Would be loth to wrong any, especi∣ally in writing, where all that reade may be witnesses of the wrong, if a∣ny be offered. Wherfore to answere my aduersaries accusatiō, that saith, I haue slandered and infamed the wor∣thy prelate Cardinal Bellarmine, * 1.1 where I charged him, with falsifications and lies; I will nowe, godwilling, iusti∣fie my saying, and shewe, that his workes are not, as Ow∣lyglasse saith, the sworde of Gedeon; but rather the sworde of Goliath, whereby a man with labour and diligence may cut off both his owne head, and the head of antichrist. The same is also like a leaden sworde guilted ouer, and fayre in shew, but nothing trenchant in proofe. Hee might more fit∣ly haue compared them to Augias stable, that cōtained an in∣finit heape of dung, but to be purged, if learned men would take the paines to examine them. For my part, I doe testi∣fie before God, that they haue much confirmed mee in the truth, and truly affirme, that they are more tedious to read, then hard to refute, in matters especially that concerne vs. But now to come to the matter, I will offer to the reader a taste of his falsifications and lowde leasings, purposing to