The affliction you endure for my sake is a sharpe Arrow , shot euen to my hart , and is not thence to be remoued , vntill your griefe be remoued , by this my Letter , which I know , to you ( who are so zealous a louer of the Word , and hater of the Pope ) will giue aboundant satisfaction . As for the Church-going Papists therefore , and some other that are not of the purer sort of the reformed Church , who as you say , do dash you in the teeth with my lyes , 150. and odd , in my first Booke called Via tuta , and the Lord knowes how many in my second , called Via deuia ; so that when you would sound forth my euerlasting praises , they stop your pure Mouth , with my infinite numbers of corruptions , shiftes , Foxian , Iewellian , and Mortonian falsifications ; crying out , that I haue had too printed Bookes sent me , one called the Spectacles to see my way , the other the Whetstone , the iust reward of my desert , for lying so egregiously , with many other papers of like nature displaying my vntruthes : Know deare Lady , that a Brother , or Sister that spring , from the pure bowels of the reformed Church ( as your Honour and I doe ) must suffer much more then this , by that vile , deformed , and Antichristian Crew , the Wicked . But now to the matter .

This only I request at your Honours hands , that if you know any should be desirous ( before my printed Bookes come forth ) to receaue any further satisfaction then this my Letter to your Ladishippe will giue them , they may be sent on the Lords name either to my owne House , or to the Wine-Office , where I and many of our learned and zealous brethren meete often , about a further reformation of Religion : desiring , that not so much as a ragge of Popery , may remayne in the House of the Lord ; neither Bells nor Organs , Rochets or Myters , square Caps , or Surplisses , Crosse or Image : for I am assured , a true Brother , or Sister had rather see Antichrist himselfe then any of these ; nay we trust in the Lord to put the Word Catholicke , out of the Creed , as well as out of Tombe-stones , and in place therof , to say , I belieue in the Reformed Church .

And though our enemyes shew , that Lying is one of the Markes of our Church , and that I for the glory of it , haue told ouer againe all the lyes of M. Bell , Fox , Iewell , White , Morton , and others in a new fashion : yet , all this notwithstanding , I hope to giue any reasonable man full satisfaction .

For put case , there hath beene now and then a slip or two , and that out of the aboundance of my zeale I haue sometimes ouerlashed , or stretched a point for the loue of the Ghospell ; I hope this will be no such Capitall Crime , amongst the pure little Flocke , who know right well , what latitude may be vsed for the splendor of the Ghospell : & what our Elders and Fore-fathers in this kind haue done , no learned knight can be ignorant . What therfore I haue done , was not without authority : yea herein I haue tracked the very footsteps of the most famous D. Luther , and the pure preacher of the word D. Caluin . These were the lights sent from heauen it self to driue away the darke clouds of papistry . These were they who made their doctrine odious to the world . And wot you how ? why thus : Those reuerend Fathers of our Church affirmed , how Papists bragged of being able to keep Gods Commaundements without Gods grace ; how they put their trust in their owne Merits , and not in Christs ; how they adored Bread , Statues , Images , and Idols .

Now the Papists ashamed , denyed it stoutly ; Againe , those Reuerend Fathers affirmed it boldly , & so conuinced them . What , is not our affirmation a sufficient refutation of their deniall ? Sure I am this manner of arguinge hath beene allowed of , this fourescore yeares in our Churches , and pulpits . When D. Luther ( tom . de matrim . f. 119. ) began to teach ( from aboue no doubt ) that this in Genesis Multiply , and increase , was not a Precept only , but more then a Precept , and that it was not within the power of a man to be without a woman : And agayne , that if the wife would not yield she should be sent packing ; marry Hesther & put away Vasthi : & that if the husband were impotent the wife might marry another , or with his consent lye secretly with his brother , or some other man : What did the Papists ? Oh it vexed them to heare of reformation , they vrged Scripture too , Matt. 5. where it is said ; that Whosoeuer dismisseth his wife , vnles for fornication , and marieth another , committeth adultery .

But alas , they haue not the spirit of interpreting Scriptures , & their old Fathers , & Grandsires were blinded , and therfore according to his Tenet well sayth D. Luther : Be it that the Church , Augustine , & other Doctors , Peter , Apollo , yea an Angell from heauen teach otherwise , yet is my doctrine such as setteth forth Gods only glory . Nay he had authority from heauen to reprehend the Apostles themselues , and to put in and out what he pleased of the holy Word of the Lord : for so he himselfe affirmeth in his booke agaynst King Henry the 8. I am certayne ( sayth he ) I have my doctrine from heauen ; and yet marke the humility of the man ) it is not myne ( sayth he ) but Christes . And therefore you see , how afterwards King Henry obeyed him , and his doctrine , which he would neuer haue done , had it not beene from God , or had it not beene most pure and holy doctrine : and therfore you may read how zealous King Henry became , how purely and chastly he liued , being conuerted from Popery .

Agayne , D. Luther added to the Text , Rom. 3. this word alone : Man is iustifyed by fayth alone . And this not without both authority from God , ( as before you haue heard out of his owne mouth , and no doubt do firmly belieue ) but also with great reason , to wit , to vexe the old Papists . O this doth silence them , this makes them chafe and sweat . Let them cry , we falsify the Scripture : I will study no further answere for them , then this of D. Luthers which is neuer to be answered : A Papist , and an Asse , are all one thinge : So I will haue it , so I commaund it , my will must stand for a reason . And good reason , for thy Will was the Lords will , and the Lords will was thy Will . So in the 2. of Peter he hath thrust out good Workes , as not beseeming these holy times , when a liuely fayth excludeth all good Workes ; all counsels of Pouerty , Chastity , and Obedience . Giue me fayth , and let the Papists goe with their good Works , and Restitutions whither they will . I le none .

This doctrine we exactly follow , and protest neuer to do good worke so long as we breath . Heere you see my grounds for it out of this prophet , sent from heauen to reforme the world ; and you see also that we may iustly alter the text , and vse our wits in clearing of the Scripture , purifying our doctrine , and deluding the Papistes .

I cannot omit another Prophet D. Caluin , so named by himselfe : I am a Propheth ( sayth he ) I haue the spirit of God &c. thus , full of zeale in his 4. booke of Institutions cap. 12. and else where . Now marke the spirit & zeale of this man . In the preface of his Institutions , he tells vs that the Councell of Basill , was a lawfull Councell , and persisted in full authority and dignity to the end . Now then , he prooueth most learnedly , that the Papist Church hath fayled : for that Councell deposed Eugenius and chose Felix ; yet the Councell being ended , Eugenius stole againe into the chayre without any Canonicall election ; and so from him ( a false Pope ) all the succeeding Popes haue sprunge , making euer since a false Church .

Thus that rare & eminent starre Iohn Caluin , whose wisedom thought it not conuenient in those times to be so foolishly scrupulous , as to speake truth , and to lay open , that indeed it was first a true Councell , but after when it deposed Eugenius , and chose Felix , it was a diabolicall & seditious Councell , so called by the Lateran Councell , Sessione 11.

Now in verity tell me , what zealous man is there of ours that doth not follow this example of M. Caluin ? And who will not , to defend an article of our Fayth ( to wit , That the Church may erre ) dissemble , or equiuocate , I will not say lye ? though the Scripture say , Omnis homo mendax , Euery man is a lyar , which must be fulfilled somtimes especially in necessity : and when is there more necessity then for the Ghospell , to vexe the Papists that cry for truth and playne dealing forsooth ? Yes , with them , who hate vs , and would destroy the Ghospell .

Now for M. Caluin , who can once doubt but that he had a reuelation to deale thus with the Pope . In his third booke of Institutions cap. 20. he saith , The Papists in their hymnes and Letanies neuer make mention of Christ , but pray alwayes to dead men . This doctrine our men teach also in their Pulpits , taken , as you see , from M. Caluin . This mads the Papists , calling vs falsifiers , vntrue dealers &c. and that this is one of our ordinary lies , becaus they say in their Letanies , Lord haue mercy on vs : Christ haue mercy on vs : God the Father of heauen , haue mercy on vs &c. Alas this is only a poore shift , put only for a shew : but let them talke in the meane tyme what they will ; so long as the contrary is preached in our pulpits , this makes the papists odious amongst the people . Agayne in the same place he sayth : They inuocate Saints as Gods . They deny it . Caluin and all our Brethren affirme it . One Caluin , one Melancthon , one Minister of the Lord is to be belieued before a thousand Papists , though it be in a point of their owne Religion .

I must let passe for breuity sake infinite other of our Ancients , that haue giuen vs good example how to deale with the Pope ; and for my part I haue not beene backward like a towardly disciple to follow their example , neyther will as long as I liue .

But now let vs looke vpon our own learned Countrymen , in this busines of so great importance . God be praysed , there are so many I know not where to beginne : Pitty it is I must leaue most of them out , or else I should make a volume as big as Iohn Foxes Acts and Monuments , that graue , simple , and vpright man , who is so falsly accused by that crafty Iesuite Parsons , for telling in his Acts a thousand lyes , and in three leaues 120. Belieue him who please , for i le be hanged first , vnlesse some of our owne Congregation will take the paines to shew me them .

First therefore , I will beginne with Bishop Iewell , a man of famous memory for deluding the Papists arguments . In his booke called The defence pag. 7. he ioyneth the Manichees and Papistes togeather , both forbidding Marriage , and allowing of Fornication . The Papists are madd , deny it , and esteeme it blasphemy agaynst the Church , condemne his proofes as false , which he brings out of Panormitan , and others , who only affirme , that Fornication was not punished now so rigorously as in the primitiue times ; & from thence they infer , that the Bishop hath iniured , & belyed their doctrine , & falsified Panormitan : and this they say , in him is plaine . But what saith the Iewel ? Alas , he counts this answere as ridiculous .

Agayne D. Harding , a notable old Papist , affirmes , he hath conuinced him of hundreds of lyes : But were there tyme , I could shew you how brauely he comes off , of all . Tush let the Papistes say what they please , we will say with Paul . 2. Cor. 3. We are called deceauers , and yet we say truth . The Reuerend Doctour & Bishop aforsaid in another place obiects against them their priuate , or sole Communion . The Papists answere diuers wayes , out of the ancient Fathers , Basill , and the monkes of Aegypt , and I know not where . But after all their labour , marke , I beseech you , how wittily the Iewell answereth , and confuteth them , pittying their poore proofes : If saith he , M. Harding could find any thing in the Church , he would not thus hunt after the mountaynes , and flye for ayd into Egipt , if he could find it neerer home . Was not this a wise answere , for so farre fetch a proofe ?

Againe , the Papists , forsooth , will not haue their Church to erre , God must take heed of breaking his promise with them , and they hould him to it . Matth. 26. and Iohn 14. The gates of hell shall neuer preuayle against it . I will be with you , till the consummation of the world . The holy Ghost shall remayne with you for euer , with like authorities out of Scriptures , and multitudes of Fathers , and they thinke to kill it dead . But marke the Iewell in this point how he answereth Harding . You papists ( saith he ) say it standes not with Gods promise to forsake his Church a thousand yeares together ( now he plyes them ; ) It is not much for you openly the breake Gods commaundements , to defyle his holy sanctuary , to turne light into darkenes , and yet neuertheles you will not sticke to binde him to his promise . Here you see the Consciences of the Papists ; they may breake their promises , transgresse the Law , offende their God , but God must not breake with them . See how diuinely this learned Bishow quelleth the arguments of his importune aduersaries . An answere it is , certainly inspired by the Lord of truth , and that of our Truth , and not by the Deuill , as the Romanists say .

Well , I am sorry I must leaue out infinite places of this reuerend Bishop , by which he hath taught me , and many others , to deale with the papists as they deserue , but he is dead & gone , & no doubt rewarded for his labours : we wil no more of the dead , but of the liuing , & those no smal fooles I can tell you , both in their owne & our eyes . Appeare then in thy likenes graue D. White , as thy picture sheweth thee in thy last worke . But now that is changed together with thy titles , for thou art a Bishop , and that well deseruing it , & that not for thy Lying , as the Papists pretend , but for thy witty writings against those thy inueterate Enemies , as I shall make appeare most manifestly .

Obserue therfore , O honourable Lady , how wittily he brings their owne authors , their Cardinalls , and Fathers against themselues . And first Cardinall Hosius , in his expresso verbo Dei , Expresse word of God , who ( as the Bishop relateth in his reply to the Iesuite Fisher page 15. in the end , and page 152. in the beginning ) hath this doctrine : A man ought not to be learned in the Scriptures , but taught of God : it is labour lost to spend time in Scripture , for it is but a creature , yea an empty element : it becomes not a Christian to be conuersant in Scripture . Madame is not here Blasphemy ? doth not the Doctour iustly insult here ouer the Pope and the Iesuits his Bandoggs , that barke continually against the pure louers of the Word , who had rather see the diuell then a Iesuite or a Seminary Priest , which I thanke the Lord for , I euer thought to be monsters , I was so purely educated in the house of the Lord , euer harkening diligently how eloquently our Ministers continually reuiled them ; so that I haue beene bred vp with a holy hatred to them , and with pure eyes lifted vp to heauen , I prayse the Lord for it , I still hate them as zealously , as the good Recorder of Salisbury did the Image of God the Father , which he valiantly brake in pieces , although his legge , & almost his necke was broken for it , out of malice infallibly of the deuill for his doing so good a deed .

But now to the answere of the Papists against the Doctour . Forsooth they say , this doctrine is not theirs , and that Hosius hath not these wordes of his owne , but relates them as the blasphemous wordes of the Swinckfeldian Sect , called the Heauenly Prophets , Swinckfeldius a Hater of Fryars and Monkes being their captayne , and reprehends and censures them . Yea Hosius himselfe being taxed therwith by some learned men of ours in his life time , answers indeed the same , and sayth that if he for his owne part should haue taught any such doctrine , he had beene worthy to haue beene hanged vp in the market-place .

But alas , this will not help them , for what reason had our learned Doctour to take the paynes to search whether they were Hosius his wordes or no , it was sufficient I hope for him to find them there , and so finding them , to take them , and stop the Papists throtes with them in what sense soeuer Hosius spake them . I assure you this was done most eloquently , or rather spiritually , to make the Papists know , they deale with men of Authority , and such as know how to vexe a Papist , and delude their arguments , & bring their owne best Authours agaynst themselues . This I assure you , Madame , is now all in all amogst our learned Writers , & I hope I haue plaied my part herin ( as shal be seen anone ) as well as the best of them .

But this Bishop hath not left them so , I trow . No : he hath yet layd another of their Red caps doctrine open , & consequently of theirs , to wit Bellarmines . Although ( sayth Bellarmine ) the Bookes of the Apostles and Prophets be diuine , yet should I not certaynly belieue them , except I haue before hand belieued the Scripture : for also in sundry places of Mahomets Alcaron we read that the same was of God from Heauen , and yet we do not belieue it . Thus M. Bellarmine . But now behold M Doctour how wittily he catcheth this graue Cardinall in his owne trap . Orthodox . pag. 136. he makes the Cardinall say thus : A man is not bound to belieue the Scripture to be diuine , because the Scripture it selfe sayth so , more then one is bound to belieue the Alcaron to be of God , because in many places thereof , we read that it was sent from heauen of God . Behould the excellency of this Doctors wit , how cunningly he reprehends the Cardinall of blasphemy agaynst the Word of God .

O Madame , this is a thing that nips the Iesuits to the hart , & makes them scratch their heads to defend their Cardinall , & behold when all is done what a poore shift they are forced to fly vnto . They are fayne to say forsooth , that this Reuerend Doctour is a most egregious lyar , and falsifier of Bellarmine . Yes , forsooth , if we would follow their Counsell , D. White should be forced to do Pennance , and make restitution to Bellarmine , for his iniurious defamation , & leauing out those words , except I haue before hand belieued the Scripture .

But I warrant you , the Doctour is wise inough , and we too . Wee le haue nothing to do with their Pennances and Restitutions ; they are things as hatefull vnto vs , as the Masse it selfe . Let them count vs falsifiers , lyers , deceauers and the lyke , they shall find we are no such men , but true zealous professours of the Word , & such as know how to beat downe Popery , as well as the best . And as for the Bishop himselfe , howsoeuer they alleadge he had his Bishopricke for lying , let them know that had he not sold ( as they say he hath ) his library to rayse his family , and prouide for his children , neuer to be stayned with the least spot of Popery , he had answered the Nine-Reasons long before this .