THE THIRD BOOKE , DECLARING BY Examples out of Auncient Councels , Fathers , and Later writers , that it is time to BEWARE OF M. IEWEL .

By Iohn Rastel Master of Art and Student of Diuinitie .

ANTVERPIAE , Ex officina Ioannis Fouleri . M.D.LXVI .

I PERFOVRME now vnto thee ( Indifferent Reader ) that which I Promised in my last booke , which was , to geue thee other Argumentes , then presently at that time I did prosecute , for which thou shouldest BEWARE of M. Iewel : The Arguments constist in these pointes , that M. Iewel

1 Hath made an vnreasonable Accompt vpon the first six hundred yeares . Fol. 1.

2 That him selfe vseth the Testimonies of what so euer Age . Fol. 22.

3 That he wil not stand to the Testimonies of the first six hundred yeares . Fol. 40.

4 That he vseth the selfe same Testimonies of the first six hundred yeares , Fol. ●3 . against which he bringeth Exceptions .

5 That he alleageth such Authorities of Fathers , as do plainely confound the Procedinges . Fol. 9● .

6 That he alleageth for him selfe the Fol. 104. woordes and deedes of Old condemned Heretiques .

7 That he hath Abused Aunciente Councels . Fol. 123.

8 That he hath abused the Decrees of the Canon Law . Fol. 129.

9 That he hath abused the very Gloses of the Canon Law . Fol. 137.

10 That he hath abused the Constitutions of the Ciuile Lawe . Fol. 146.

11 That he hath abused the Auncient Fathers . Fol. 163.

12 That he hath abused Later Writers . Fol. ●08 .

13 That he hath ●alle● into many Contradictions to him selfe . Fol. 216.

14 That he hath a great accompt to be made for his Lies . Fol. 229.

15 And that ( if the foolish Obiection be allowed ●mong the Brethren ) he is a Borower . Fol. 233.

These be the Argumentes , made to perswade thee , to BEWARE of M. Iewel , And these I haue confirmed and declared , by their propre and peculiar Examples . What remaineth then ? Any other thing , thau that such a destroyer & spoiler of Soules , should be brought to his Answer ? This in deede should be done with the first , if there were that care in men , of their Soules , as should be in them , that acknowledge any Immortalitie of the Soule .

But I may wel compare , the seeing and suffering of false and blind Teachers that now take cure of Soules , to the permitting & honouring of Mountebanks , that goe abroad with diuerse thinges for mens Bodies .

These Mountebanks , Mountebanks ●or the Body . are a free kind of Wanderers , Pedlars , Surgeans , Physitians , Historiographers , Poetes , or what so euer name besides you wil geue vnto them , men altogeather for the penie , which is the cause that they professe so many thinges . They take vp their standing in Market places , or void roomes meere for the ●●course of people , there they set a stoole to stand vpon , or make a litle scaffold for the purpose , from which they play their part .

Their Greatest Grace is in the Countenance & Tongue , through which , they looke so Saddely , and speake so eloquently , that a man would sweare vpon a booke for them , that they thinke as they speake , & speak nomore , than they wil do .

What so euer thing they haue to sel , as Newes out of India , Or The Original of the Turkishe Empire , Or Mery Tales , Or Songes and Ballets . Or a Pouder to kil wormes , Or A Preseruatiue againste the Plague , Or A Water to make the skynne faire and white , Or Pinnes , Pointes , Laces , whistles , & other such ware , whatsoeuer it be , they commend it and praise it before . But they do● it with such a Grace , with such a Constancie , with such Copie of words , with such mouing of Affectio●s , that it is wonderful . As

If it be a Water , a Pouder , an Oyntmente , a Confection not worth twentie pence , he wil make such a doe about it , as though it could scarse be bought for halfe a Kinges raunsome . And standing first vp like a worshipful man , Arayed in his silkes and veluettes , And al to be rayed with braslettes & bowed peeces of golde , And chained about the neck with a great thing ( of copper and gylt , as many iudg● , but ) of pure and fine gold , as farre as the eye seeth , he wil tel his Audience : That he is come vnto them for good wils sake , moued in him by the Fame and Worthines of them and theyr Citie or Toune : He will tell them , that he can not tarie long , & that , before he depart , he would fai●e bestow vpon them some token of his good affection : Then wil he bring furth that water or pouder , or conceipt , which he would vtter , and say , That it was brought from beyonde Calecut , or the Red Sea : and then wil he point with his finger towardes Calecut , and make a like disgression , to declare how far that is of , from their Countrie , as M. Iewel doth to praise ( after his maner ) the Popes of Rome : after this , he wil shew the vertue and strength of his Pouder : And further declare , how much thereof hath been bought in greate Cities , and of noble Personages which he wil name : and further yet , he wil make them think , that it is al that he hath leaft , that which he offereth to be bought of them : He wil also disgrace other Mountebankes that goe abroad the Countrie , and say , That their wares are but counterfeit , but that his are fine , and pure , and fresh . For why he se●keth not after gaines ▪ as the couetous and beggarly knaues doe , but as it becommeth ● good Gentleman , he trauaileth farre and wide vpon his owne Charges to get such geare , as may bring Commodities to whole Countries . In Conclusion , when he hath spoken as much as he can , then he prouoketh the hearers againe and againe to bye . And if it be a water which he commended , he putteth in Glasses , made for the purpose , halfe a skore or a skore of droppes thereof : If it be a pouder , he putteth as much as he can hold betwen his Thombe and Fore-finger , in seueral papers , and beginneth to make merchandise . And that which as it should seeme by his tale , should be wel worth a Croune a droppe , he wil sel , with good gaines , for a myte or two , of which , twelue do make but a penie .

Such maner of Fellowes be the Mountebankes . But what say the Lordes and Signiours of the Townes vnto them ? They contein●e them vndoubtedly in their Iudgement ▪ & thinke it not al worth the taking vp , which they so highly commend . Yet they laugh at them , and say that so good and eloq●ent an Oration , as they make to the people , doth them a farthing worth of g●od , at the least , in relieuing their spirits , and mouing their Affections . So th●t there is no greate harme done , although it be nothing worth , that which they vtter .

Especially wheras some of the Mountebankes , do either by Singing , or plai●ng vpon Instrumentes , so hold the peo●le in the meane tyme , whiles th●y looke for their merchantes , that for theyr fitte of mirth onely , they are worthy of somewhat . And besides this , al is not counterfeit , that they put furth to sale , and though they make it more in words ▪ than it is worth , yet if they should hold their peace altogeather , it is not nothing that which they sel. And in Conclusion , whiles they hurt not the Sta●e and the Common welth , let the peo●le and them cope togeather , what is that to great affaires ?

A Montebank then , may crake , and lie , and outface his Aduersarie , and make somewhat of nothing , and mingle sport● with sadnesse , and play what part he wil in the sight of the people , and hundreds wil gase vpon him , but none wil reproue him .

Like vnto these , in an other kinde , there be other Mountebankes , Mountebankes for the Soule . men so fr●e , that they be lawlesse , So ful of faire promises , that they sel , for one comming vnto them , euerlasting life , So louing & kind harted , that they forsake their owne Countrie , and without asking of licence , or directly against commaundment , bye and sel within other mens Iurisdiction .

Yet , in Faith , they doe it somewhat manerly , they rush not into Cities and Townes at the first , but , without the Towne walles , they choose out a place in the open fielde , or in some wodde , and xx . or xxx . tur●es being cut & set one vpon the other , there straitewaies is a place for the Preacher , and there straitwaies doth the Mountebanke beginne to open .

But what stuffe it is ▪ that he there openeth , it can not be declared in a short time and Preface ▪ the So●me yet is this : That he commeth vnto them with comfortable wares : That he commeth from farre Countries : That except they wil be thankeful and receiue the Grace that he bringeth , he wil depart againe : That he wil aske nothing for his labor : That he deliuereth them quite , from feare of Purgatorie , and Hel also ( for Purgatotorie there is none at al , and to hel he wil warrant them neuer to come ) That thei shal haue no more bonde of fasting , watching , praying , performing of lawfull vowes , &c : That they shal haue no more Signe of Crosse , or Christ , or our Lady , or any Sainct in their eye , nor any memorie of them in their hart , & that they shal haue al peace & confort , if they wil bye but one dram of the doctrine that he bringeth .

And then he instructeth them in the Doctrine of Caluin , Or ( if the Mountebanke be a Lutheran ) in the Doctrine of Luther , Or ( if he be an Anabaptist ) in the Doctrine of Rotman . For the Mountebankes be of fundry sectes , and euery one praiseth his own wares most , and contemneth his felowes packe .

The people then , The effe●t of the Mount-bankes drugges . hearing of so great treasures to be sold so good cheape , And being wery of the discipline and grauitie of 〈◊〉 Religion , they qui●kly take that is taught them , and within very few daies after , they were ra●●shed with such a Contemplation of the worlde to come , that they vtterly ●orgotte , al honesty , and Iustice of this world . And whiles they were in that p●ng●e and extasis , like men cleane besides them selues , they runne a●out the Cities and Countries , And of al places desired to be in Churches & Religious houses . For the Mountebankes alwaies lightly , doe commend Ob●dience vnto the Superior powers , & ex●ort their Audien●e most earnestly , to keepe their handes from doing of wrong to the Cōmenaltie .

Therefore , whether it were for Deuotion to the Church and houses of Religion , or for re●erence of their Preacher which had counseiled them to be Iniurious to no man , they did not meddle with priuate mens houses , nor put them at al , directly , in any Fear● . But in the Churches , their Sprite worked , and in●●●med them , and ●●etted them , and rauished them .

In heate and force of which Sprite , they plucke downe Images , 〈…〉 breake Aulters , Spoile the vestrie of Copes , Chalices Ornamentes , Treas●●es , 〈…〉 very Seates and Seeling of the Churches away : Tread of the 〈…〉 their feete , and in their hartes , s●ng al that while , praises ( I ●row ) 〈◊〉 the Lord .

That done , to shew their Charitie towardes their neighbour also , as they had by these former 〈…〉 clearly before God , They brake open the poore Ce●les of Friers & 〈◊〉 , 〈…〉 . they take violently from them , their Books , their Clothing , their Bedding , & ( which was exceeding Charitie ) they did not kil them . But that in deede was 〈◊〉 Charitie , for 〈…〉 it , and they wil study to 〈…〉 into Order , and kil whom they take of the Cloister , the next time that the spri●e moueth them .

But to make an end , after the Church and Cloister spoiled , 〈…〉 thei go into the Libraries , and of one whole one , in y● 〈◊〉 Friers at Antwerpe ( which was f●l of many and goodly bookes ) they l●●t not one vnburned . In other places , they did cut onely the Bookes , Or sel them , or cary them away .

And by this time they were thirsty , Prouision of meat c●st away . I trow . For as for meat , many in these Countries care not much , as appeareth by the casting away of the barreled bief , & other prouision , as the Graie Friers had gathered of almes , for this whole yere remaining .

To the good Wine therefore and Beere , they make more hast , and when they had their heades ful thereof , for the nonce they pul out the spiket , Beastlinesse . and let the 〈◊〉 runne abroad in the Floore . And in the Abbey of S. Michels in Antwerp , they dranke so much , that they laie down in the c●ller not able to stand or go away , or lye waking . and they let out so much beere and wine , setting al tappes open , that they had ben drowned in it , if other more sober had not come thither , & pulled them out .

Uerely this is a sowsing Gospel , which so ●mbrueth the mindes of the folowers of it : And these are perfite and excellent Mountebanks , which can geue such preseruatiues , against al Godlines , and Obedience , and Honestie . If there had ben any Feare of God or Man , remaining in these mens hartes , woulde they haue spoiled Innocentes , Or without lawful Authoritie , haue enterprised feates so desperate ? Crake not of these Proceedinges , O ye feruent and hote sprited Merchantes of this worlde , and send no letters of praise to the Lorde for this victorie , which consisted in oppressing of Innocentes , and in plaine robbing of Churches . Came our Sauiour into the world with such terrour ? Did the Apostles conuert the worlde , by violent and felonious entring into any places ? Did they deny lawful Obedience vnto the Magistrates , and the Princes & Rulers of any Countrie ? The Procedings of these daies , are no more like the preachinges of the Apostles , or the Primitiue Church , than a Diuel is like an Angel . And yet the Mowntebankes continue stil , Lutherans against Caluinistes , Caluinistes against Lutherans , both they against Anabaptistes , and Anabaptistes against them both .

But what speake I of other ? Is M. Iewel him self any better than a Moūte●anke ? 〈…〉 . Consider by that only which I h●ue proued against him , how faire 〈◊〉 he is , how much corrupt stuffe he h●●h , how highly be setteth by it , how 〈◊〉 he ●r●keth of it , how singularly he 〈◊〉 him self by it . For when he 〈◊〉 al the learned men that be aliue , 〈◊〉 for no more than One sufficient sen●ence , And requireth to haue that b●oug●t o●t of any Olde Catholique Doctour or Father ▪ or any Olde General Councel , &c : What other thing is this , but a Mountebankes Preface , to commend his wares vnto the Audience ? As if he should say in plainer woordes 〈◊〉 to them :

〈◊〉 beloued in the Lorde , you m●y t●ke me perchaunce for a Benchwhist●er , or a man of litle knowledge and practise , and altogeather vnhable to reproue the General and Catholique Doctrine of the whole world , and to draw you from those Maisters and Teachers which alwaies hitherto , ye haue ben ruled ●y . But I shal tel you ( deere brethren ) I haue seene and readen as much as any man , yea as all the learned men aliue : I haue trauailed vnto the very Primitiue Church it selfe : I haue bene conuersant with Old Catholike Doctors , and Fathers , and old General Councels . As for these Priests , Cardinals and Popes , whom you folowe , they bring nothing , but Conclusions of Scholemen , and deuises of Later Doctours , and Ceremonies of their owne making , &c. But I will bring you no other thing , but that which is Auncient . I wil bring you back to the Institution of Christ himself . You shal haue al things ministred vnto you , as they were in the time of the Apostles . You shal heare God himself speake vnto you . The Priestes shall robbe you no more of halfe the Sacrament . You shall knowe , what you heare readden in the Church . Ye shal haue no Supremacie of Pope , no Real Presence of Christs body in the Sacrament . Ye shal be brought to Old Customes , which the Councel of Nice would haue to preuaile : And Tertullian shal teach you , how that is true , that was first ordeined . And , as I saied before , so say I now againe , If any man aliue be hable to reproue me , I will become his obedient Scholer . But I know , there is not one that is able to do● it , and because I know it , therefore I speake it . So beginneth , the Mountebanke .

But in further processe he is proued to be so vaine in Craking , So crafty in Shifting , So demure in Counterseiting , So false in Affirming , So desperate in Abusing of his Aduersarie , of old Councels , and Doctours , yea and of new also , that it is perceiued wel inough , euen of them that say , God saue you my Lorde , vnto him , that al is not so as he saith . Neuerthelesse they haue a good sporte , to see the prety Shiftes , and Defenses , and Scapes , that the Mountebanke canne make , And though it be euident that he li●●h , yet they thinke not , these maters to be so great or necessary , but men may suffer them wel inough to be mainteined how so euer it be , as long , as neyther Trade of Merchaundise , nor Study of Temporal Law , nor Pastime abrode , nor Pleasure at home , is hindered by it .

For , like as we may vnderstand by the ma●ket folkes , how the market goeth , So , when it is in sight , that in Countries and Cities of greatest policy , priuate mens goodes are not without punishment touched , but the Common Churches of the whole Countrie , are openly spoyled : And when Papistes are neither suffred to speak ▪ nor to go abrode , but Caluinistes , Lutherans , and Anabaptistes , are not only suffred to speake , but to speake one against the other , And in one Citie or Countrie , to set fur●h and maintaine contrary Doctrines : it is easy to perceiue , that , The wisedome of God , is but folly emong men . And that al is for Policie , and nothing for Religion , and that men haue so forsaken the old Faith , that they are not s●ttled in any new , And that Faith in deede is almost extinguished , by to much folowing of Carnal Reason , and that Reason in thousandes , is vtterly blinded , because thei haue put from them the Obedience vnto Faith .

Yet this Corruption notwith●tanding , I haue taken some paines in ●erswading with thee ( Indifferent reader ) to BEWARE of M. Iewel : Fearng in deede , least to many be so in Indifferent , that they passe not whether he say true or false : And praying to God that they may haue A desire to know the Trueth , which as yet , care not for it , and that other may haue a constancie to confesse the Truth when they know it , And that the rest , condemne not the the Truth , before they know it .