THe people of Germany ( as Illyricus writeth of them ) aboue an hundred yeeres agoe , complained , that a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Catal. Test. ver. lib. 19. pag. 1912. olim fuerunt lignei calices , & aurei sacerdotes , nunc contra sunt aurei calices , & lignei sacerdotes . in old time there were in the Church woodden Chalices , but golden Priests , but now , say they , we haue golden Chalices , but woodden Priests . A iust complaint against the ignorant Cleargie of Rome , in the latter Ages , especially before the happie Reformacion of late in our time . Yet the ignorance of Priests was not so blameable , as their sacrilege was damnable . For these wooden Priests tooke away from the peoples vse those golden Chalices , and robbed them of that , which is farre more precious , the heauenly liquor contained in them , which is sacramentally ( as wee say , but as they beleeue substantially ) the blood of our Sauiour , the inualuable price of mans Redemption . The Heathen Strobilus in the Poet vsed not his Goddesse , Fides , worse , then they doe the deuout Laietie . b b Plaut. in Au●…i Sireperco , Fides , mulsi congial●…m ple●…am tibi faciam fideliam : id adeo tibi faciam , sed ego mihi bibam vid. Eras A●…g . Delphis sacrisicans ipse comedit carnes . If I finde my treasure , saith hee , I will offer vnto thee a gallon of sweet wine . Trust me , Faith , I will offer it to thee , but I will drinke it euery drop my self . In like sort the Romish Masse-Priests vpon a thousand Altars offer many flagons of wine , as they pretend , for the people , as well as themselues : but they drinke it all themselues . And yet I know not whether more impiously , or ridiculously in their priuate Masses , and publike Communions they rehearse the words , Bibite Missale Rom. in Can. Miss. ex hoc omnes , Drinke yee all of this , that is , in their sence and practise , Drinke yee none of this , but we onely , that are Priests . Verily of all the abuses in the Masse , which is nothing else but a huge heape , and masse of idolatrous , and superstitious rites , there is none more grosse in the doctrine , or impious in the practise , or absurde in the defence , then this of halfing the Communion , by with-holding the Cup from the people . For it is an open violence offered to our Lords last Will and Testament , a violation of the words of the Institution , a mutilation of the blessed Sacrament , a sacrilegious detention of an holy Legacie from the Sonnes of God . In other points of difference , our aduersaries lay Concil. Constan. s●…ss 13. Tho●…gh Christ did in s●…tute in both ●…ds , and the 〈◊〉 ●…ch did so ●…minister , &c. claime to the Primitiue Church : but in this they yeeld it vs . Against other of their errors wee haue frequent testimonies in the former and purer Ages , for fiue , or sixe hundred yeeres after Christ : but few in the later . Against this vnsufferable enormity wee abound in passages of good Writers in all Ages . In other controuersies , the Romanists , like Sampsons Foxes , are tyed fast by the tailes : in this they are loose , and parted asunder , and they take direct contrary courses . They disproue their own proofes and approoue our disproofes of them . Penelopes telam texunt , & retexunt , they doe and vndoe . There is no argument of ours against them , which is not confirmed by some of them , no obiection of theirs against vs , which is not solued by some of their owne side ; as thou mayst see through the whole , but especially in the last Chapter of this Discourse . Into which I Imbarked my studies the rather vpon this occasion .

About two yeeres since I was desired by a person of qualitie , to conferre with a L. a little before that time seduced by deceitfull guides , who first lead the party out of the right way into the Arminian tract , and afterward into the high rode of Popery lying not farre off . Vpon the first motion , I made some difficultie of giuing the party a meeting : because I suspected there might be shifted into the company , after their manner , some disguized Priest lying in subsidijs , or in Ambush as it were , that he might suddenly rush in vpon the least shew of aduantage . Yet after the messenger had assured mee , that there were none in the Ls companie , but such as sincerely affected the truth of the Gospell , I made then no scruple , but presently accompanied him to the Honorable personages house . Where I found , notwithstanding that the L. was prouided of a second , and that the L. mouth was vsed onely as a trunke to shoote out those poysoned bullets , which M. Euerard the Priest , and Confessor to this person , had chammed before with his teeth . Aspis à vipera sumit venenum : the Aspe , according to the Prouerb , borrowed poyson of the Viper . The Priest , in a few passages of speech vnawares discouered himselfe , tanquam sorex suo iudicio ; whereupon I drew backe , and was very desirous to breake of further conference , because I expected nothing lesse , then sincere dealing in a meeting , that was contriued by fraud , and began to be acted in a masking manner . Yet when I obserued , that M. Euerard grew very insolent , and audacious vpon my withdrawing my selfe , and diuerse Knights and Gentlemen there present , religiously deuoted to the Truth , both aduised , and intreated me not to bee wanting to the necessarie defence thereof : ( Cassium enim hunc sufflaminandum esse ) at their instance , I vndertooke Master Euerard , and for many houres sometimes opposed , and sometimes answered in diuers points , but especially in the question most desired by both parties to bee particularly debated , touching the necessity of Communicating in both kinds . The conference ended , I thought to haue heard no more of it , because it being on my part casuall , and extemporall ; I conceiued it of little importance either way . But being since informed by an ho nourable Lord , that M. Euerard after that encounter had not only with his tongue licked all his wounds whole , but also with a venemous tooth fastned many slanders vpon me , I thought fit to send him the ensewing relation of the Conference , requiring him to adde , or alter , what he thought conuenient in his owne arguments , and answers , and then to consigne it with his subscription , as I meant to doe the rest with mine also . Vpon the receit hereof , he promised to returne me an answer with speed : but after many moneths failing thereof , being vrged againe and again , and vpbrayded with his tergiuersations , in the end he sent me a flat denial by S. P. L. and therein shewed himselfe to be of the nature of the Crocodile , or of those barbarous souldiers , of whom Muretus obserued , that they Plin. nat. hist. l. 8. c. 25. Terribilis haec contra fugaces bellua , fugax contra insequentes . Muret . Orat. Barbari cedentibus instant , instantibus cedeunt . furiously charge them that yeeld , but presently yeeld vnto them that charge them : pursuing hard vpon a retiring enemie , but flying with all speed from a pursuing . Now , lest that this my Antagonist should take D. Weston , and M. Fisher , for two Enfant perdues , or forelorne hopes , for his presidents ; who , when they ought mederi capiti , and answer to the maine , touching the visibilitie of a Church , professing the Trent Faith 500. yeeres after Christ , reduuiam curarunt , and leauing quit the matter of Faith , shaped some colourable answer to impertinent circumstances of fact , and that of no great consequence either way : I haue therefore premised a Challenge to M. Euerard , as also to M. Fisher , to deale with me in this principall Controuersie ; and I haue set downe the state thereof , and added thereunto such proofes for the truth , as the holy Scriptures , and the prime Authors in all ages haue offered vnto me . All which I submit to thy diligent examination , and iudicious censure .

SIr , I doubt not , but that you haue heard , or read of the famous Leaper of Rhodes ; who hauing bragged in the hearing of many , what an incredible leape he had leapt at Rhodes , was by some there present taken tardie in his tale , and short in his leape ; they bidding him forthwith to leape that great leape againe ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Hîc Rhodus , hîc saltus : See , her 's Rhodes , let vs , say they , see the leape . This plat of ground for leaping is all one with Rhodes . In the Schedule which I sent you two yeeres since by S. P. L. I discribed as it were our stande at Rhodes , where we tooke our rise . The question in hand , and the large scope wee had to take our feeze in , the whole Scripture , and the perpetuall practise of the Church . Now if you , ( as either your selfe , or your Proselytes haue reported ) at our encounter in Noble-street , so farre out-leapt , not me onely , but all the Romish Priests , and Iesuites , that haue met with me vpon the like tearmes : let me intreat you to leape that your great leape againe ; That the print of your feet may remaine to be viewed of all men by the Characters of the Presse . Had you learned from the holy Apostle , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and ballast Rom. 12. 13. Not to thinke of your selfe more highly , then you ought to think , but to be wise . vnto sobriety . your vessell with modest ingenuitie , you could not so lightly with a puffe of vaine glory bin driuen on those Rocks , at which now you must needs make shipwrack of your Faith , or of your fame ; of your Creede , or of your Credit ; of your Creede , if you stand to the defence of your assertions in the Conference ; of your Credit , if you flinch from them . For mine owne part , I professe sincerely , I would haue let your manifold escapes and slips in that extemporarie dispute slip out of memorie ; your Solecismes in Logick , as well as Diuinitie ; your ignorance of your owne Romish tenets ; your contradicting your selfe ; your lame distinctions , and crude expressions , which cannot indure the light , should neuer haue been brought by me to it , had you not beene your selfe , in the audience of some persons of qualitie , your owne Herald , and Trumpeter . Had you not like one of those Captaines of Alexander , mentioned in the first book of Maccabees , put a Crowne vpon your own head , Macc. l. 1. c. 1. v. 9. After his death , they all put Crownes vpon themselues , and so did their sonnes after them . for your noble exploytes that day . Nay , had not you , or some of your disciples , voiced a miracle vpon it , that the places which you alleaged against mee out of the Councell of Trent , and Cardinall Bellarmine , turned to of themselues ; no sooner had you taken the booke in your hands , but presently they fell open at the chapter and pages , which you w●…re to make vse of against me . Iust like as the flattering Senators at Tiberius his table , Asud . I●…u . Saty. 4. Ipse capi voluit , quid apertius ▪ et tamen illi Surgebant cristae . spake of the great Turbet ferued in ; That the Fish in honour to the Emperour , offered himself to be taken , as being for many ages preserued for him . If you had then , M. E. so glorious a day , why doe you now make a night of it , by shaddowing , and vail●…ng it in obscuritie and silence ? why doe you not put forth that Conference your selfe , or put your hand to the true Relation thereof long agoe sent you . Nihil veritas erubescit , nisi solumodo abscondi ; Truth neuer blusheth , but when she is hid . She feareth nothing , but not to bee brought to her tryall . Hee who knoweth his coyne is pure gold , will neuer refuse to offer it to the Goldsmiths Test : because he can loose nothing by it , but shal haue allowance for it . Besides your friends boasting at the Conference , your owne promise in the Conference deepely ingageth you to assoyle the arguments then vrged against your halfe Communion ; whereunto at the present you returned not so much as half an answer ; pleading for your selfe the short scantling of time , which gaue you not space to wield yonr Catholike buckler . Scitum est enim , culpam conijcere intempus , cum vltra addere , si maximèvelis , non possis . The Romane Oratour told you , it is a handsome put-off , to lay the blame vpon the time , when an aduocate hath neuer a word more to say for his Clyent . But veritas temporis filia , Truth is Times Daughter , & she will iustifie her Mother . If in so long a tract of time , as hath run since our meeting in Noble-street , you had fully and punctually satisfied those arguments then left vntouched , you had salued your cause and credit , and made it appeare , you were not wanting to time , but time then to you . But now , sith you haue broken so often day after day , and moneth after moneth , and by this time yeere after yeere , being so oft challenged of your promise , yea & vpbraided also by S. P. L. and the Lord T. and others , and in fine , your resolution is , to giue no resolution of those doubts : I will be bold to tell you , that time will now no more beare your blame , but you and your cause must beare it off with head and shoulders . You cannot now goe backe : Lis contestata est , praelium condictum ; The field is pitched , the weapons are chosen : The question agreed vpon , is the Communion in one kind : the proofes must bee Scripture , and the perpetuall custome of the Church . If by both your Romish practise be conuinced to be sacrilege in the highest degree , then write hereafter your braggs In su●…reption of the Cup from the Laiety . in redinke , and let your lines blush for shame , and do you your selfe ingeniously confesse concerning sacrilege , as Papinian did concerning fatricide : that it is as difficult and dangerous a matter to defend the murder of a brother , as to commit it . But on the contrarie , if by the euidence of Scripture , and coustant practise of the Catholike Christian Church , you can iustifie your Romish dry communions , you shal not only gaine your pretended Catholicke cause , but me also your Proselyte .

Pag. 21. lin. 22. adde , his body . 24. l. 23. for they , reade , l. 36. l. 15. adde , to be spurious , and therefore ought , 44. l. 7. and therefore they cannot be se●…ed from the Communion . 67. l. 15 r. infundatur . 107. l. penult. r. for it is that , which w●… . 121. l. penult. r. now , for , na●… . 128. l. 7 r. both , for one , 146. l. 28. r. and , for or . 147. l. 15. r. 190. for 90. 176. l. 13. r. repealed . 2●…0 . l. 17. r. no error . 226. l. 6. r. to me , for some . 230. l. 25. dele , Etym. fil . dextr. 271. l. 9. r. Bishops at Carthage . 278. l. 〈◊〉 r. she for he , 298. l 11. adde quoth M. Featly . l. 23. r. then for this . 302. l. 19. r. Testament of blood , or blood a Testament .