Pag 24. lin. 17. Shill , reade , skill . 30 6. fo , reade , so. 37.10 . ob , read● , of . 16 payers , reade , prayers . 42.5 . Tohy , reade , Tobie . 49.16 . achowledgeth , reade , acknowledgeth 71.11 . suth , reade , such 91.6 . vnworthiby , reade , vnworthily . 98. penult. exhihited , reade , exhibited 97.19 . moning , reade , mouing 20. fast , reade , fasts . 1●9 . 2 . vohappie , reade , vnhappie .

20. manntrs , reade , manners . 147.18 . it , reade , in . 178.15 . testore , reade , restore . 183.12 in , reade , is . 189.1 . bryas , reade , bryars .

MOST Vertuous , Reuerend , & Learned MEN ; To whome should I rather addresse this my small labour , then to yourselues , who are partly interessed in the Person , whose Worke is here translated , since you are all members of that Societie , in which he dyed : partly , in the Cause with him , since you haue deuoted yourselues to the propagation of that Religion , for which he dyed ? In which Combat no doubt he well remembred ( though in a different sense ) those words of a holy Father : (a) (a) August . l. 1. Confess . c. 5. Moriar , ne moriar .

The Worke , which at this present receaues from me , an English tincture and dye , is in its Originall of such worth , that I neede not to marchandize and stall forth the valew of it , seing your owne Iudgements can best censure thereof . For I presume , that diuers of you haue ( I will not say , read , but ) euen studyed the Booke it self . Only this I will maintayne , that the Authour hath here in discoursing of the supreme Mysteries of the Catholike Fayth , inuested ( as it were ) and cloathed them in such roabes of speach , as best sorte to their Reuerence & Maiesty ; since a Man is able to glasse in this small Treatise , the full perfection of Elocution and Oratorie .

His Vertues , Learning , Christian feruour , and Resolution , I will not here endeauour to display ; for I grant , I am not able to pensill them forth ; Who was in his owne time reputed ( by his enemies ) euill , because he was remarkably good ; And whose Centrall cogitations were euer fixed vpon the gayning of Soules , for which ( as aboue I intimated ) he dyed the death of Saints : Who now ioyeth , in that he then lamented ; and laugheth , in that he wept : (b) (b) Ps. 125. Qui seminant in lachrimis , in exultatione metent .

Now for my more peculiar dedication of this my Translation ( besides the reasons aboue sett-downe ) my owne respectfull affection towards your Order inuiteth me thereto : Which affection is not grounded without iust cause . For you are the Men ( I meane your Order ) designed to repayre & re-edifye the decayed Walls of the Cittie of God : you are the Men , whose prouince and charge is not only to re-estate the Catholike Church in such Countries , out of which she in former times hath beene vnworthily exiled ; but withall ( to speake in the Idiome of the Prophet ) to (c) (c) Esay . c. 54. enlarge the place of her Tents , and spreade out the curtayns of her habitation , euen among the Gentils : you are the Men , whose function in Catholike Countryes is so to organize ( as I may say ) the Soule of youth , as that it may receaue the Information of Learning and Pietie : you are the Men , who doe indoctrinate your Penitents and followers ( howsoeuer H●resie and her Attendants barke to the contrary ) in true Allegiance to their Temporall Soueraignes ; And therefore not vndeseruedly was that worthie Souldier , the old Prince of Parma ( once Gouernour of the Low-Countryes ) accustomed to say , That for keeping of a Towne in dutie and Loyaltie to the Ciuil Magistrate , he had rather haue it fortifyed with a Colledge of Iesuits , then with a Garrison of Souldiers ; since by the one ( sayd he ) Obedience is procured chiefly through seruile feare of man , by the other through feare of God , and of their Soule 's perdition : To conclude , you are the Men , who not only by Inherencie , but euen by Production , may be iustly stiled Literate and Vertuous ; since you no lesse plant these Qualities in others , then you enioy them in yourselues . So desirous you are to spreade and fructifie in all worthie and charitable Actions . But what is here your remuneration and Reward ? Giue eare vnto the Prophet , & exult : [d) [d) Daniel c. 12. Qui docti fuerint , fulgebunt quasi splendor firmamenti ; Et qui ad iustitiam erudiunt multos , quasi stellae in perpetuas aeternitates .

I would not be thought by anie , as if I were perswaded , that besides yourselues , the Church of God were not furnished with manie others , who most painefully labour in the Vineyard of our Lord , much enriching and cultiuating it , by their pious endeauours . No. God forbid , my Affection should so farre transport my Iudgement . For I ( euen with ioy ) acknowledge , that there are throughout all countryes of Christendome , ( and euen among my owne Ranke of Priests in England ) manie others , most learned , most zealous , most religious , most laborious in the spirituall good of their Christian Bretheren ; & who would be readie to engage their bloud for the Saluation of Soules . For here we must rest assured , that as in the Celestial , so in our terrestrial Ierusalem , (c) (c) Ioan 14. Multae mansiones sunt , there are manie different states and Professions of men ; yet all ( though by seuerall wayes and courses ) leaueling at one and the same Marke .

COurteous Reader ; Hauing euer allotted ( for my priuate studyes ) certaine howers from the dailie exercising of my function of Priesthood ; and lately vnbethinking me , what profitable labour I might vndertake , whereby others might be bettered ( for I willingly acknowledge that Principle : bonum est sui diffusiuum ) my imagination could not fixe itself more firmely on anie other Subiect , then in translating the Ten Reasons , which contayned a Challenge made to both the Vniuersities by that Blessed Saint , Fathe● Campia● of the Societie of IESVS ; Who after much spirituall good by him donne , suffered death in Queene Elizabeth's dayes ; he so purchasing life , by loosing of life : Who might then well expostulate with his Enemies in the words ( not comparatiuely , for that were blasphemie , but allusiuely ) which our Sauiour did with the Iewes : (a) (a) Ioan c. 10. propter quod opus ( bonum ) me lapidatis ?

Now touching the Booke here translated ; it is in the Latin Originall most exquisit , both for the Ar● therein , and for the Matter veyled vnder the Art . And for the first ; Whereas Rhetorike chiefly consisteth in applying Reason to the Imagination , for the more easie inuading and mouing the will , that it may giue an assent to the Vnderstanding , this poynt is so fully performed by the Authour , as that I thinke , euen therein , it may ouermatch any so small a part of Tullie's Works . For to insist a litle in the stile or Dialect of writing : We finde therein such proprieties of most significant words , where he vndertaketh to deliuer a thing in proper tearmes : such swelling Metaphors ( yet not forced ) here and there dispersed , for the encreasing of the sense : such choyce vse of F●equentatiues , and Diminutiues , when either the poynt expressed is often iterated , or through an Extenuation is to appeare litle in the Reader 's eye : such vehement and ingeminated Interrogations , for the greater asseueration of the matter discussed : such short Transitions & deliueries of himself in few words , when either the subiect expressed was donne in haste , or when but incidently it is spoken of ; such precise Climaxes or Gradations of words ( especially of Epithets ) placed in order , that thereby the sense may by degrees tise , and become more full : briefly ( to omit manie other ornaments of Speach ) such elegant Apostrophies to the Vniuersities , and other closing Epiphonema●s and Acclamations , when the poynt hath beene largely amplifyed , or fully treated of : And all this is performed with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and perfection of A●t , as that if we do take away anie one word , and insert in its place any other Synonymous word , the sense partly quayleth . We may adde hereto the compendious shortnes of his stile , and the lof●ines of it . The shortnes ( it being voyde of all spinositie & obscuritie ) exacts more cunning , and the rather in respect of the plentie of the Matter , which those few Leaues doe inuolue . For we see , more skill is required to draw a curious picture , in a litle Table , then in a large . Now the sublimitie of the stile is such , as that through manie Schemes and Figures of Oratorie , it may be well called C●thurnall and statelie ; his pen indeede flying therein a higher pitch , then euer Phaëton , who ( accor●ing to the Poets ) was carryed in his Father's chariot . Which Circumstance of writing implye●h a farre greater difficultie , by reason of the peculiar subiect it being matter of Diuinitie and Controuersies in Fayth . And yet ●uen in this poynt he obserueth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Decerum , so much exacted in true Rhetorike : for where the subiect to be expressed , is not of anie sublime , but of a meane and low Nature , there his words runne low , and he in such places purposly vseth certaine Flats and Playnes in his stile ; which resemble humble and pleasant vales , seated among loftie hills .

Besides all this artificiall furniture of Speach , there is found a wonderfull Christian feruour in his words , well discouering his vndauted spirit , and firie desire to suffer for the Catholike Religion , which fire nothing but his owne Bloud could after extinguish ; And accordingly he had that felicitie granted him , as to (b) (b) Apoc. 7. wash his robes in the bloud of the Lamb : Happie man ! who by once loosing his Breath , performed a double death ; by the one he satisfying the due of Originall sinne ; by the other , his particular sinnes : Whose death was so working and mouing with D●ctour Case of Oxford ( the greatest Philosopher , that our English Vniuersities haue brought forth in this time ) that diuers moneths after the execution of Father ●ampian , and Mr. Sherwi● ( that most holie Man ) th● D●ctou● being in London , and behoul●ing their heads & quarters vpon long poles ouer one of the Cittie-gate● , saide in great vehemencie to one in his co●pani● : Conciona●tur & adhuc , & adhu● ; ●heir dead ●odies pr●a●h to this day , euen to this instant . And to pro●eede furth●r ; this Apostoli●all man ( I meane Father Campian ) being vpon the ladder , and readie to be cast of , tooke these words of the Apostle for his Text , to discourse of to the people : (i) (i) 1. Co● . 4. Spectaculum facti sumus mundo , & Ang●lis , & hominibus ; a s●ntence the most apposite and choisest ( in respect of all circumstances ) that the New Testament could affo●de . But the Officers would not suffer him to proce●de forward . In like sorte , he at that time looking vp towards the sunne , sayd to his fellow-prisonner M● . Sherwin : Be of coura●e , Man ; within this hower both of vs ( ●hrough Christ his m●rcie ) shall be far●e higher aboue the sunne , then now we are vnder the sunne . By which passages we may easily see , how farre he was from all consternation & dismaydnes , being indeede most present to himself , as one replenished with heauenlie comfort and resolution , and iustifying in himself those words of holie Writt : Anima mea in manibus m●is semper .

But to returne to the Booke : All this curious structure of words , serues but as the mother-of-pearle to enclose within it the pearle itself , which is the Matter and Subiect there handled : For vnder his lines are briefly contayned most choaking and vnanswerable Arguments in defence of our Catholike Religion ; since the materialls of this Treatise are indeede an abbreuiated draught of all chiefe Articles of Fayth , controuerted betweene the Protestants and vs ; branching itself forth into all those principall heads of proofes , which other more copious bookes doe at large vnfoulde : So as the huge and learned Volumes euen of Cardinal Bellarm●n's Controuersies may not vnaptly be called a Scholia , seruing to paraphraze and comment this litle-greate worke . Which Diamond-worke ( for being small in quantitie , it is most preciable ) hath gayned ( through its owne worth ) such a hand of estimation in the Church of God , as that in most Catholike Countryes , it hath enioyed the Honour ( a priuiledge not granted to anie man's writings in this Age ) to haue beene commonly printed and bound-vp togeather in one Volume , with the small workes of seuerall most ancient and learned Fathers , treating of the like Subiect in generall Controuersies in Fayth ; as with Tertullian de Praescriptionibus , Vincentius Lyrinensis contra Haereses , Cyprian de Vnitate Ecclesiae , and Austin de vtilitate credendi : Fathers , of which the yongest liued within foure hundred yeares after Christ his Ascension . Neither is the coniunction of this Treatise with the ancient Father's Works donne without iust cause ; since I dare pronounce it ( not as an amplification , but ) as a measured T●uth , that ( not speaking of holie Scripture ) so much doctrinal matter of Fayth , and so much Oratorie , deliuered in so high a key , we●e neuer sin●e Christ's tim● , com●re●ended in Latin within so few leaues . And thus much touching the Booke in its Original .

Now concerning the Translation : It is donne faythfully , & wholy agreable to the sense of the Authour , and is as litterall , as the Engli●h with anie elegancie ( according to my shill ) will well beare with the Latin : The same frame and forme of speach ( I meane the same Figure● , Caesur●s , and Cadence● , of the Latin ) is precisely ( as much as possibly may be ) kept in the English . And though in the censure of manie it hath beene imagined , that the English tongue would not well suite with so high a stile , and that ( perhaps euen for this particular reason ) this Worke hath beene forborne to be translated by anie English Catholike ; yet in my iudgement the English ( after tryall once made , and good stoare of words at hand ) doth euen in this poynt well comport with the Latin , and is thereby rather much aduantaged & graced , then preiudiced ; And the Translatour is much eased herein , as hauing in a readines such curious moulds or frames of Elocution , to cast his matter in . This libertie I haue taken to my self , that ( now & then ) where an English word of a more full signification , by way of a Metaphor or otherwise , doth occurre , then the Latin affordeth ( & this some times falleth out not by reason of any defect of the Authour , but through the fullnes of the English ) I make choyce of the said English word for the greater redundancie of the sense . In like sort ( here and there , though rarely ) I haue inserted a word or two , to make the drift of the Authour to appeare more turgent and forcing in the English ( and , thereby to begett a Pathos & to moue the Reader , more fully ) then the compendious shortnes of the Latin ( being translated without anie addition ) would carrye . But now will anie illiterate Literalist ( who dwelleth only in the bare letter of the Latin ) finde fault herewith ? Yf any of that ranke doe carpe thereat , let that man know , I hould him to be ouer seruilly Grammaticall , and to taste strongly of Pedanticall Scholarisme . My proceeding here , is most warrantable : For since Words are the images of the Notions of the Minde , why should we no● lay on the fayrest coulours of speach , that our skill can afford , it being directed only to make the picture to appeare more liuelie ? and that the Words may st●ike the Imagination ( and consequently the Will ) more intensely ? I euer here except , where the Subiect of the Translation is the sacred Writt of God , in the translating whereof a literal playnesse is the best Eloquence ; and want of Art , the chiefest Art ; since this Subiect cannot brooke , either adding to , or taking from .

I doe not here intimate the least touch , as if anie blemish were in the Autographon , or that it were possible for any Translation to equall it . No ; silkes dyed ( we euer see ) do loose the glasse & beautie of their primitiue coulours ; And Campian translated , much diminisheth the luster and grace of Campian in the Original . But howsoeuer this my Translation will be entertayned , it is vndertaken ; fi●st and principally , for the good of those , that vnderstand not the Latin ; since pittie it is , that such a Maistre-peece , as this , wrought by an English Man , should be concealed from Men , for their being meare English : Secondarily , to vindicate and redeeme this Worke ( so farre as in me lyeth ) from the indignitie and wrong it suffered from the penne of one Stock , a Minister in London ; who ( being , a● blockish , as a stock ) some twentie yeares since , translated this Treatise with the shuffling , sillie , and weake Answer thereto of D. Whitaker's , Father Campian's Aduersarye . But that Stock did so adulterate and depraue this Worke , as that I grant , it much grieued me to see it passe vnder so rude and grosse a fyle ; his labour tending only to contaminate and soyle the beautie thereof with his durtie quill .

But to leaue this poynt , and to turne myself to thee ( good Reader ) if thou ●e Catholike , I could wish thee to peruse this T●eatise for thy greater corroboration and strengthning ; if a Protestant ( as , ô , too manie thousands in our poore Country are ) then for thy instruction and Conuersion . And if thou remayne in this latter state , implore God to giue thee his Grace to embrace his Truth , on what side thou shalt finde it to be . But these thy prayers are not to be made with a tepiditie and could indifferencie , but they are to be powred out incessantly , vehemently , and strongly ; that so thou maist say with the Prophet , (c) (c) Ier. 38. Prostraui ego preces meas ; seing Prayers in zeale and feruour of hart are a pleasing and gratefull Sacrifice to God ; if not so performed , then no sacrifice at all , since here the Altar is without fire . But I will not enlarge myself anie further , for feare my Porche be ouer great for the House , and therefore with this I leaue thee , and rest

WHEN this yeare past , by my chosen institution of life , and commaund of my Superiours ( Most excellent Men ) I returned into this Iland , I did finde stormes much more boysterous and rugged vpon the coasts of England , then those , which I had lately escaped in the Brittan Ocean . After I had entered into the hart of the Realme , I saw nothing more vsuall then vnusuall punishments ; nothing more certaine , then vncertaintie of danger . I closed myself togeather , as well as the present state of things would permit , being mindefull of the Cause , mindefull of the Times . And for feare , that perhaps I should be apprehended , before my entrance-in was rumoured , I presently did set downe in wryting , Who I was , that was come ; What I sought after ; What manner of warre , and against whome , I did proclaime . The first draught of it , I eue● kept about me , that , if so I were taken , it also with me might be taken : A Copie thereof I deliuered to a friend , the which ( truly without my intention and priuitie ) was made knowne to manie . The Aduersaryes doe with great indignitie and atrocitie entertayne this Wryting being divulged ; And among other things , they most maliciously insist vpon , that I being but One , dare in matter of Religion send this Challenge to them All ; Although it is certaine , that I should not be alone in this Combat , if the disputation might procede by publike Warrant . Hanmer and Chark haue shaped an Answer to my Demaunds . What was it at the length ? Most idle and friuolous . For not anie answer sorting with their honours , but one they giue , which one they shall neuer giue : We embrace your challenge , the Queene promiseth open securitie , make haste , and fly ouer to vs . In lieu hereof , these two blotters of paper crye out , with a multitude of obstreperous words : Fye of thy Sodalitie , thy seditious molitions , thy arrogancie , thou art a Traytour , doubtlesly a Traytour . Ridiculously ! Why do Men , as if scarse they enioyed but their fiue senses , make such profusion and waste of labour , charges , and their owne reputation ? But as concerning these two ( of which the fi●st out of Religion vastly runneth vpon my said Wryting ; the other euen brea●hing malice , rudely tumbles & tosses it vp and downe ) there is late●y published a small Treatise for them to pe●vse , which discourseth ( so farr forth , as is th●ught conuenient ) of our Societie , of the iniuryes offe●ed vs by these kinde of men , and of the function , which we vndergoe . Now to me it remayned ; ( because I see , the chiefe Protestant Doctours prepare for me the rack and gallowes , not the Schooles ) to war●ant with you the cause of this my proceeding ; and to poynt out those branches and heads of Matter ( harbingers of my desired future D●sputation ) which haue distilled into me so great confidence and securitie : And further I would hereby wish you , who are more peculiarly ●bliged thereto then others to espouse you● seruiceable dayes chiefly to t●is incumbencie and lab●ur ; since CHRIST , the Church , the Common-wealth , and your owne Sou●e's wellfare exact thus much from you . If I , as enioying pregnancie , learning , art , reading , memorie , should prouoke anie one skilfull and experienced Aduersarie , I might iustly haue thereby bewrayed in me a swelling vent●sitie and pride , as neither rightly balancing myself , nor them : But if I looking vpon the Cause of Religion with a dispassionate , vnpreiudging , and single eye haue thought myself able enough , to demonstrate this Sunne to shine in its Meridian , your Ingenuities ought not to rest disedifyed thereby ; but freely to grant to me ( being imbarked in so great an Action ) this seruour , which the Honour of IESVS CHRIST my King , and the impugnable Truth haue produced . You well know , that Marcus Tullius in his Oration for Quintius , when Roscius did 〈…〉 to obta●ne the Cause then controuersed , if he could but euict , that seauen hundred miles could not be runne in the space of two dayes , did not only litle rega●de the elocution of Hortensius , but neither of those , whe excelled Hortensius in his Art , as the Philippies , the Cottae , the Antonies , t●e Crassi , who●e re●●e countenances were full of R●etorike , & to wh●ch men himself ascribed all perfection in Oratorie , and stoare of fyled w●rds ; For there is as c●●taine Truth of that radiancie and splendour , that no impostures either in gallantrie of speach , or in the matter itself can ouerclowde it . Now this , which we here vnde●take , is more cleare and illustrious , then was the Thesis or Subiect of Roscius . For if I can but make good , that there is a Heauen , that there is a God , that there is a Fayth , that there is a CHRIST , I do come of victorius . May I not then be he●e courageous ? may I not here shew an inexpugnable confidence● Certainly , hangd , drawne , & quartered I well may be , ouercome I cannot be ; Since I ancker myself on those Doctours , whome that Spirit did i●struct , which is neither vanquished , nor deceaued ; How then can I here loose the honour of the day ? I humbly beseech you , that you would be but content to be saued ; this is the Butt ob my desires ; which one request if I may obtayne , I shall be farre more hopefull in all the rest In the meane-time render yourselues wholy vp to this solicitude and Warrfare , batter at the eares of CHRIST with your incessant payers , become breathlesse in your diligence and labour herein ; And then doubtlesly you shall finde the matter to stand , as ( abstracting from all Circumstances ) it is in itself ; that is you shall finde our Aduersari●s ●o vse strange tergiue●sations of distrust and despayre ; and vs ( as being securely grounded ) readie to expect and wayte for this field of Combat , with all composed se●enitie of minde , and spirituall resolution . I here forbeare to spreade myself in more words , since in the rest following I direct further speaches to you .