VNto how great and various iniuries the names of well-deseruing men are subiect after their death , I would it had been my hap to haue learned any other where , then to haue had such neere experience of it at home . I was in good hope my care had been at an end , in answering their sundrie calumnies , that being of a contrary part , set vpon my Fathers name like open enemies ; yet these , inasmuch as they professed themselues his aduersaries , and were cleane opposite against him in the case it selfe , seemed to bee the lesse dangerous , and not so much to be feared . But now I must haue to doe with other manner of men , that pretending nothing lesse then any malice or hatred against him , haue vnder faire shews of good-will , most grossely abused his estimation & credit . But the lessesuspicion there is of an iniury , the greater is the iniury done to a man , and the more hainously to be accounted of .

Not many weekes since there was a Booke published vnder the name of Isaac Casaubon : Which for the Argument was not altogether vnlike those workes of his , that he had partly published already , and partly vndertaken to write , as I shall shew hereafter . And for the place ; who would imagine that any thing should come foorth in Print at London to Casaubon's disgrace ; where , as long as he liued , hee was so much esteemed of by his Maiestie , and the chiefest of the land ; and now hee is dead , I hope I may say his memory is precious to all honest men ? And besides , for him that procured the booke to be set foorth , hee is so profuse in his praise , that a man would thinke hee meant him no small addition of glory by his large commendations . But if you once reade the booke it selfe , you shall soone see it is such kinde of stuffe , as cannot bee imagined to haue been my Fathers , without his great shame and infamie , being a Pamphlet full of such grosse ignorance , malignity , and most insolent desire of nouitie in Religion . Surely the Author of it deserues the name of a Schismatike , ( that I may say no worse ) and whosoeuer hee was , is worthy to bee punished for such a one , as being no lesser enemy to the Church of England , then hee is iniurious to my Fathers good name .

But that the Reader may wonder the lesse at it , it is no new thing for bookes of nouell and vnsound doctrine to bee fathered vpon such men that be free from error , and sound in their opinions . Euery one of the worst and vilest Heretikes were wont to vse this craft long agoe , to maske vnder other mens names of esteem and authority , that so they might the better insinuate their pernicious doctrines into them that little vnderstood what they were , and seduce the simpler sort of people from the right way . And thereupon it came , that so many bookes fraught with pestilent doctrine were a●tributed of old , to the holy and orthodox Fathers , and at this day goe a great number of them vnder their names ; many whereof at the first perhaps might be their owne , but afterwards came to bee so corrupted and adulterated by other mens impurities , that like bastards their owne reputed parents would not acknowledge them . Of which thing euen Origen alone may bee a sufficient example ; who was long since numbred among the Arch-heretikes themselues , and yet both by ancient and moderne writers is most strongly defended to haue been an Orthodoxe Father , many things being falsely imputed vnto him by Heretikes , and his Bookes otherwise pure and sound , by them corrupted and plaistered ouer with their owne dawbings ; as S. Ierome and Vincentius Lirinenfis with others haue written of his old Apologists . But , to be short , whether wee exemplifie this kinde of imposture by old or new times , I dare say , that there was neuer any bastard-booke fathered vpon a man with more notable impudence and fraud , then this was vpon Casaubon .

What purpose they had that were the contriuers of such cousenage , and what should chiefly mooue them to doe ●o vnworthy an act , many probable coniectures may be made . It is not vnlikely that some sculking crafty Puritan came stealing out with it , to trie if hee could doe the Church of England a mischiefe . Peraduenture one that bare some priuate grudge against my Father , thought this way to wound his reputation . Or rather it is most likely that some vnletter'd fellow , some sharking companion , lighting vpon an old moth-eaten Pamphlet , which hee thought to be some great treasure , and hard to be come by ; and agreeing with a Sordid Bookeseller to get it reprinted ; thought it best to put some mans name of note before it , that so their gaines , which they gaped for , might come in the faster by the sale . And this last ( howsoeuer the other two coniectures goe , for there may be more in it then this alone ) they that haue had to doe , and enquire into the matter , haue found to bee most certaine and true .

In the meane , who would not lament to see what a miserable case we are now adayes brought vnto , when such base fellowes as these , that neuer had any thing to doe with learning , nor honestie neither , shall take vpon them to iudge what Bookes may benefite the people , and deserue to bee published ? Vnhappy Theologie ! which must be made a refuge for Runagates ; and , whether shee will or no , be forced to patronize the base seruice of such dishonest Mountebankes , that doe so shamefully prostitute her to their gaine and filthie lucre . The fault whereof , it is a griefe to see , how in a maner it comes from the very people themselues , who hauing once got it by the end , that there is no smal religion in making long discourses , and in ostentation of much reading , gape after such nouell Pamphlets as fast as euer the Athenians did after newes . And so no maru●ile if wee haue euery day such dry kickses & abortiue broods sent vs into the world , when there are so many to buy them vp● as children doe babies and toyes . But to make it no wonder , that these Impostors were in such hope to cousen and deceiue the vnskilfull multitude at ease ; is it not beyond all the degrees of impudence , that they should goe about to make Them Patrons and witnesses of their fraud , whom they should much rather haue feared to be the Reuengers & inst Punishers of it ? Lord ! what a licentious age doe wee liue in ! that such a lurking obscure fellow ( for hee is famous and knowen for nothing but villany ) should dare to inscribe his Booke , which hee knew to be but forg'd and counterfeit , to our most Noble and Pious Prince , besides many other great Lords , and all in hope of reward and gaine ! But to let passe this iuggling knaue , that sets vs foorth his wares and toyes with such a vaunting kind of language , and to come vnto the Booke it selfe .

Certainly I suppose there is no learned man , specially to whom Casaubon or his Writings were not altogether vnknowen , that can bee so sencelesse or grosse , but vpon the first reading of this Booke , hee will presently both perceiue and detest the fraud of these cheating companions . And therefore had the Booke come into their hands onely that were able to iudge of such matters , and to discerne trueth from falshood , I might haue saued all this labour . But inasmuch as the Booke came forth in English , and was snatched vp so fast by the vnlearned multitude , and is now by their rash iudgement so much commended and approoued ; I haue heere briefly vndertaken the examination thereof , both to rectifie the ignorant , and to vindicate my Father from suspicion of impietie ; that so at last the vizard being pulled off the Pamphlet , it may appeare to all , as it is , in its owne naturall likenesse .

And first I must seriously confesse , that for the originall Author of the Booke , I neither know him , nor euer heard the least rumour of him , what hee was , ●t●r an albus , French or English , or whether he be yet aboue ground or no ; lest haply some might suspect , that I vented any priuate malice of mine owne , while in defending of my Father , I seeme to write something sharpely against one whom I know not .

For his Religion , I thinke it will satisfie a great many , and be enough for his commendation too , to say , hee was no Papist , but rather a fierce enemy to them all . Indeed this may be enough for them , that thinke a man presently right and orthodoxe enough , if hee doeth but once professe himselfe an Aduersarie to Poperie ; it being their custome to measure the integritie and soundnesse of a mans Religion by his hatred against Papists onely . And it is to bee feared , lest that the Booke , being written against the Sacrifice of the Masse , as the Title of it pretends , because I neither approoue the Booke , nor acknowledoe it to be my Fathers , both Father and Sonne , as men taken napping , be by some Pu●itans reputed for errant Papists . But howsoeuer it were a fault , to giue any occasion of scandall vnto the weakest members in the Church , yet the loue of trueth must more preuaile with me to vndertake her defence , then the prauitie of other mens iudgements to deterre me from it . In my opinion he defined vertue well , that said it was the meane betweene two extreme vices , which is not onely true in Morall and Practicall , but in some Intellectuall vertues also ; of which kinde the right apprehension of Trueth is . And therefore it is no marueile , if they , which take that way in matters of Religion , doe oppose themselues against two extremes , and haue two extremes opposed against them . Yet hee that keepes this middle course , howsoeuer he may perhaps differ in opinion from either side , yet in charitie he may be vnited vnto both . And for no other cause is hee more maligned by the hot-spurres on either part , then for seeking to procure peace and concord betwixt them , and for doing his best endeauour to make vp the great schisme and rent of the Church , that againe wee might come to be all one body . Which misery an olde Father was wont long agoe to lament in these words , that may be very well applied to our times . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( sayth Nazianz. Orat. 3. Nazianzen after hee had done speaking of mens maintaining their sides and factions ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is , Whosoeuer keepe a middle ●ourse , and follow after peace , are ill used on both sides , being either contemned , or fiercely opposed ; of which number we being , &c.

For the Papists , I haue nothing to say to them now . But I haue heere to doe with such kind of men , who striuing to runne as farre from Papists as they can , haue also vnaduisedly runne withall beyond the bounds of Truth . These are the Men , that with incredible pride and arrogancy despise all Antiquity ; that most superciliously contemne the ancient and holy Fathers , that studie all they can how to abrogate and abandon all the ancient Constitutions of the Church ; and in the meane while , that arrogate to themselues a power of making what Lawes they list , of appointing Ceremonies at their pleasure , and of bringing in such a discipline , which the Christians of olde neuer heard of , as if they had be●ne created the only perpetuall Dictators and Gouernours of the Church of Christ . And though they haue no regard at all of any publique tranquillitie , refusing to giue way but to the least thing that may make for the peace and vnitie of Christians , yet neuertheles they would faine beare vp their credit , and for a colour of their bad intents , make vs beleeue they are wondrous zealous men . Of which sort of men that he was one , whosoeuer was the Author of this Booke , which these Impostors haue published vnder Is . Casa●bons name , and that he was no meane one neither , but a chiefe champion among them , I thinke no body will make question , that will but runne ouer the booke , and of those infinite places which prooue the same most plainely , will but a little more narrowly marke a few . There being I suppose scarce any writing extant in this kind , which doeth more clearely and euidently argue , what an insolent , peruerse , and rash Author it had . A man would verely thinke that hee was one , who● had proclaimed open warre and defiance to all Antiquitie , or one that being starke-staring mad with noueltie and fury , would abandon all the ancient Customes and Constitutions of our Forefathers .

The Booke indeed by the Title is pretended to be written against Papists , but in effect it prooues as aduerse to the Primitiue , as to the Popish Church . And whereas the Church of England , cutting off such corruptions as crept in vpon her in declining ages , hath retained many of the Sacred Rites and Ceremonies which the ancient Church had , yet she is also cunningly stricken at through the Papists sides , with so much the more danger , by how much the more craft and close subtiltie it is done .

Therefore let this be the first Argument of all the rest , to prooue , that Casaubon neither was , nor could be the Author of this Booke . For who was it that euer reuerenced the gray haires of Antiquitie more then hee ? Who euer , without iniuring the holy Scriptures , ●steemed more highly of the ancient Fathers ? And for the Church of England , what should I neede to speake of i● ? whose Doctrine and Discipline , Rites and Ceremonies hee did so much approoue and embrace , that hee could neuer seeme to himselfe to haue commended and magnified it enough . Though there were none of his workes and writings left behind him , out of which it might be gathered and demonstrated what his mind was herein , yet there be many graue and religious men still liuing , whom I could call to witnesse , how often they haue heard him professe and declare at large , that he was thus affected . But there will be no neede of that , seeing his owne Bookes are euery where extant to confirme it . For howsoeuer hee had neuer any occasion offered him purposely and ex professo to handle this Argument , yet seeing all his Workes that belong to matters Ecclesiasticall and Diuine , haue nothing in them , not onely contrary , or auerse from the vse and customes of this Church , but what is altogether agreeable to the Canons and Constitutions of the sam● and which , as occasion is offered , doe euer and anon defend them ; the intelligent Reader will easily perceiue , how willingly hee submitted himselfe vnto the Forme thereof , & rested wholly content with it .

And for this purpose there are not wanting most certaine proofes and testimonies occurring in many places of his writings , which will be enough to stop vp the mouthes of the most impudent gain-sayers . As when in his Preface to his Ecclesiasticall Exercitations , written to his Sacred Maiestie , he saith , Qui Ecclesiam habeas in tuis Regnis , partim iam olim ità institutam , partim magnis tuis laboribus ità instauratam , vt ad florentis quondam Ecclesiae formam nulla hodiè propius accedat , quàm tua , inter uel excessu , vel defectu peccantes mediam uiam secuta . Quâ moderatione ●oc primum assecuta est Ecclesi● Anglicana , ut illi ipsi qui suam ei foelicitatem inuident , saepe tamen ex aliarum comparatione illam cogantur laudare : deinde &c. that is , Who haue in your Dominions a Church so established by former ages , and so setled by your Maiesties Royal paines and care , as no Church this day under heauen comes neerer to the flourishing estate and face of the Ancient then yours , which hath taken the middle way betweene them that went astray on both handes by excesse or defect . By which moderation the Church of ENGLAND hath got this speciall aduantage , that euen such as enuy her happinesse , are neuerthelesse oftentimes constrained to magnifie her in comparison of others . Besides &c. Whereunto these words agree in his Epistle to Cardinall Perron , written , though in his Maiesties name , yet according to his owne sence and meaning ; Certò , clarè ac liquidò sibi constare , si notae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quaerantur , & uerè necessaria ad salutem spectentur , aut etiam ad decorum Ecclesiae , nullam in orbe terrarum ( Deo vni sit laus & gloria ) inuentum iri quae propius ad fidem , aut speciem antiquae Catholicae accedat &c. That it was most plaine and manifest unto him , how for matters essentiall , and truly necessary to saluation , or belonging also to the beauty and decency of the Church , there was ( God be thanked ) none in all the world to be found , which came neerer to the faith and face of the ancient Catholike Church , &c.

It wil not be amisse here to set downe his iudgement about some certain Rites and Ceremonies , which as occasion serued , he wrote and inserted into his Ephemerides , from whence what hee thought of all others in that kinde , may be easily coniectured .

Octob. 31. An. 1610. Diem sacram non malè posui Dei beneficio : sum enim inuitatus bodiè , ut interessem sacris , quae factasunt ad consecrandos Episcopos duos Scotos , & Archiepiscopum Scotiae . Vidi illos Ritus , & Impositionem manuum , & Preces in eam rem . O Deus , quanta fuit mea uoluptas ! Tu Domine Iesu serua hanc Ecclesiam , & Catharis , qui ista rident , da bonam mentem . God be thanked , I haue spent this Holy day well . For I was this day inuited to be present at the sacred s●lemnities of the Consecration of the Arch●ishop , and two other Bishops of Scotland . I saw the Cerem●nies , the Imposition of hands , and the Prayers made for that purpose . O God , what apleasure it was to me , to behold it ! Preserue thou this Church , O Lord Iesu , and turne the hearts of the Puritans , that deride such things as these .

Ian. 4. An. 1611. Gratias tibi , Domine , quod hodi● ad sacram mensam sum admissus , & Corporis Christi , sanguinis● factus sum particeps in Ecclesiâ Anglicanâ , cuius Formulam heri diligenter meditatus admodum probaui , & ordinem agendi mir● laudaui prae receptâ apud alios consuetudine . Thankes bee to thee , O Lord , that I was this day admitted vnto thy Holy Table , and made partaker of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Church of England , the Forme of which Administration , hauing read it ouer yesterday , I did highly approoue and commend aboue that custome which others vse .

And not onely these things which concerne the Church of England , but those also wherein hee had to doe with our Aduersaries alone doe sufficiently argue for his defence . Euen by his whole manner and genius of writing euery body may knowe that the booke is none of his . For who cannot tell , with what great moderation and mildnesse Casaubon was euer wont to treat of Controuersies in Religion ? insomuch that many preposterous Puritanes , out of their ignorant and mad zeale , did blame him for it , and from thence tooke occasion to suspect him more then they had reaso● to doe . But this was the way that hee tooke ; and hee perswaded himselfe it was the best and safest way that could bee taken , both for the finding out of trueth , and the redresse of error ; to follow that path which meeknesse and moderation either led him , or went along with him in , without all affection or partiality either way ; supposing that such as tooke any other course , did put pace in a dangerous and slippery path , and put others further out of their way that were gone astray one from another . Now if a man should run through the whole rout of Nouellers , and diligently make inquiry into their writings , I think there could not one bee found for furie , and malice , and b●tternesse against his Aduersaries , to bee compared with this Counterfeit-Casaubon ; then whom neuer was any man more childishly and fondly in loue with his owne fancie , or more bent to his faction . It is but a small matter , that he hath rail'd a little more bitterly then became a modest man , against such things as were worthy of blame ; but so infinitely to bely his Aduersaries , and to put such forged crimes and calumnies vpon them , was vnsufferable , specially in such an vndertaker for the Trueth of Christ . Such manner of dealing with Aduersaries , though it may be pleasing to some hotte fiery Zelotes , whom learning neuer taught any modesty , yet wiser men cannot but condemne it , as being fitter to spoyle , then to helpe or defend a good cause . For if there be● strict Lawes prouided against such colluding pleaders , that pretending to helpe a man , do of purpose leaue out that which should most make for his cause , and bring nothing but false allegations for his defence , so to betray his right to his Aduersaries● what is to bee done with such vndertakers of Controuersi●s in Religion , that either of purpose , or through grosse ignorance let passe those Arguments that be solid , and of greatest moment , and come in with such idle poore reasons , as euery childe may answer and blow away ? Ought not the same Law ( when the case is the same ) to be made against these men , as betrayers of an honest and good cause ? What readier way then theirs can be imagined wholly to alienate our Aduersaries mindes from vs , that being ouercome with the truth on our parts , began somewhat to incline vnto vs ? Caius Fabritius is highly commended vnto vs by the writers of old times , for his vertue and magnanimity , in scorning to accept of that victory in a doubtfull battell , which was offered him by the perfidie of a trecherous fellow . And is it not a shame now adayes , that Christians contending with Christians about the Trueth of Faith , should vse lesse faith and conscience one towards another , then the Pagans themselues were wont to doe , who regarded nothing but their owne wordly praise and honour ?

Can there then be any body so iniurious to Casaubon , or so quite bereaued of his owne iudgement , as to thinke these things , that smell only of a furious Sycophant , and a most impudent Calumniator , could come from him ? From him , I say , Whose mildnesse and moderation in matters of Religion is so euident in all his writings , that to take any paines to prooue it , were but to waste time , and to light a candle in the Sunne .

And howsoeuer it befits not the modestie of a sonne to contend about the learning of his Father ; yet I hope I may haue leaue , without the breach of good manners , to say that hee was no meere Blocke , or such a one as had no good learning at all ●n him ; which , let but be once granted mee , and I doubt not of the good successe I shall haue , in vindicating his name and estimation from these Hucksters handes , that put this booke vpon him . A booke which is so full of excessiue ignorance and stupiditie , that whereas euery thing in it ( except a few scraps taken from others ) argue a most vnlearned writer ; there are many things besides , which I wonder how they could come from a man that was sound in his senses : if yet he is to be thought sound in his senses , whom this pestilent madde puritanisme hath once possessed .

But I suppose the Reader expects , that for the better confirmation of what we say , we should produce some Examples out of the Booke it s●lfe , concerning these things , wherewith we haue all this while charged the Author of it . It remaines therefore , that we briefly runne the Booke ouer , rather pointing at the places , then vndertaking any refutation of them .

IN the first part of his Booke hee reckons Pag. 2 , 3 , &c. 8 , 9 , 21. vp all such things , which either happened by occasion , or were directly ordained by God in the olde Law , hauing some mysticall or typicall signification in them ; as the Trees of Life and Death , of Knowledge of Good & Euill ; the Rainebow ; the Feast of vnleauened Bread ; the cloudie Pillar that went before the Israelites in the day ; the flame of Fire that guided them in the night ; the diuision of the Red Sea ; the heauenly Manna ; the water that gushed out of the Rocke ; Oblations and Sacrifices of diuers sorts ; the Temple of Ierusalem ; the Priests vestments ; the water of clensing , &c. And all these he will haue to been no lesse truely and properly called Sacraments of the olde Testament , then Circumcision and the Passeouer were ; in place whereof were instituted those two Sacraments of the new Testament , Baptisme , and the Supper of the Lord. I am not ignorant what a large signification the word Sacrament hath ; but neuer ( that I could learne ) were all these promiscuously accounted , and reckoned vp among the number of Sacraments by the Fathers ; and while I weigh this mans words a little better , I finde by most certaine confequence , that his meaning and purpose was , in making all Sacred Signes to be true Sacraments , withall to make vs beleeue , that the Sacraments of the New Testament are nothing else but meere naked Signes and Figures . Neither is there any other meaning to be collected from him in all his passages about the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist . For howsoeuer he would sometimes seeme to be farre of another minde , when hee vseth the words , really and truely ; yet he applies them no otherwise to the Sacred Symboles of the Supper , then hee doeth to any of those Shadowes and Figures of the olde Law ; acknowledging no power in them of really exhibiting , but of signifying onely , as pag. 36. or really signifying , at most , as pag. 81. vpon which ground , that is to say , that there is no more vertue in the Eucharist , then in those Signes , he thinkes hee hath most learnedly and strongly confuted the new opinion of Transubstantiation , ( a conceit otherwise most absurd and grosse , ) because forsooth there was no Transubstantiation in the Pag. 85 , 86. Tree of knowledge of Good and Euill , none in the Manna , or in the Rocke that flowed with water , or in the brazen Serpent , &c. As if it were not easie to answere our Aduersaries truely out of S. Augustines owne wordes . Prima Sacramenta S. Aug. contra Fa●st●● . l●b. 19● c. 13. cum suo aduentu Christus impleuisset , ablata sunt ; & alia sunt instituta , uirtute maiora , utilitate meliora , actu faciliora , numero pauciora . The Sacraments of the olde Law being accomplished by the comming of Christ , are taken away ; and others ordained in their place , which be greater in power and efficacie , better for our profit , easier for performance , and fewer in number .