BEfore I come to the maine matter , I thinke it not vnfit ( Courteous Reader ) to acquaint thee a little with the conditions of the man , against whome this is intended , for intending against one so much better than himselfe , to vse no more then Dauids 1. King . 2. phrase , about the murthering of Abner , by vnmanly violence , and butcherly force ; which base circumstances , no doubt , encreased the tragedie of that worthie Champion , in the opinion of Dauid . And surely so it is . A noble hand eases much a grieuous stroake , insomuch Hoc etiam turpiùs a●… ctatur Respub . quòd ne ab co quidè vexatur , vt tanquam fortis in pugna vir , acceptis à forti aduersario vulneribus , &c. Lament. 5. 〈◊〉 . as Tullie bemoanes the Common-wealth of Rome in one place , that shee was not so happie as to be borne downe by valiant aduersaries , but cowards gored her , and sotts insulted ouer her , and foxes , and recreants , ran vpon the battlements of her , as the Prophet complaines ; Serui dominati sunt nostri , saies Ieremie , Slaues haue ridden ouer our heads . Not that I would haue the glorious Faith of our LORD IESVS CHRIST to be held in the partiall respect of persons , which * * Iam. 2. 1. Baron . tom. 1. ad annum 34. num. 79. Et tamen alibi , multus est in co , vt aureas bracteas quasdam , siue bullas , & Iacobo ipsi , & Apostolis ommibus ; ad colla circundet . Ex Eu●●b . Clem Epiph. & alijs . Satin' vt sibi conste●● Eodem Tom num. : 93. S. Iames forbids , ( where Baronius saies Kings are secretly nipt at , and why forsooth ? but for the description of the man with the gold ring , whereas now we may find pearles vpon the Popes shooes : S. Iames beeing so farre from nipping Kings in that Epistle , that as if he had foreseene that one of his own name should lead the field in time to come , against the impugners of Soueraigntie , he giues the onset so well , as to call that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which he meanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the Kingly , or the royall Law , understanding vbi suprà . v. 8. the Diuine ; not so then . ) Nor that I would not haue all to open their mouthes , of what sort soeuer , in the cause of God , and his holy truth : it is not we that exclude Eldad from prophecie , or Medad from consultation , but Bellarmine that blesses them , with , Populus qui extra est . non De verb. Dei . l. 2. c. 15. nouit legem , and therefore maledictus ; The people which is without , they are accursed . But yet me thinks some decorum would be obserued in these conflicts , and though all cannot be coped with by their matches in worth , as Kings by Kings , as Alexander said , ( for the sword deuoures now one , now another ) and so Bishops by Bishops , which the auncient Canons haue a speciall care of , that euery rakeshame should not challenge a Bishop , no not a Priest , saies S. Paul , vnder 1. Tim. 5. 19. some store of witnesses : yet modestie might be kept , and faire dealing maintaind , and respectiue warre of both sides nourished , that which wants in other points , to make euen the encounters , beeing supplied by humility , and courtesie , and moderation ( as the Masters of the prizes are wont to equall the weapons of the combatants , afore they begin . ) From which this man is so farre , that like the Orators in Tullie , who the worse they spake , the lowder they cried , & whom therefore he compares to lame riders , that not able to goe on foote , would needes be prauncing on horsebacke ; so he mends his stature by a false shooe , as it were , and as another Publican after Matthaeus Tortus , climbes the sycomore of his owne wild fancies , to ouerlooke the croudes : or like the painters boy , that beeing to paint Helen , cùm pulchram pingere non posset , pinxit diuitem ; so what he lacks in learning , he laies on load in lies , in taunts , in tearmes , and in abominable raylings . Which for my part , I cannot see what effect it is like to haue , with the iudicious Readers , if at least any such cast their eyes vpon these pamphlets , ( for we are not ignorant to what kind of people they are consecrated ) then to strippe them quite of all credit , and euen pitch them ouer the barre , like forlorne lawyers , for not caring what they say , nor of whome they affirme : as the Scripture prophecies of such like fellowes in one place , that their owne tongue shall make them fall . So as henceforth it will be no shame for others , to be miscalled by them , and thundered vpon with all the vile tearmes that may be , after such a Reuerence could not escape their bad vsage , and a person besides exception , was depraued and disgraced by them beyond all reason , as Hamans gallowes was the last that euer he set vp , because erected for Mordecai , a vertuous man , and the waspe ( saies Athanasius ) Citatur à Dadraeo . shooting his sting but once against a rocke , looses his power of annoying for euer after .

But to doe as I promised , gentle Reader , to giue thee a tast of this fellowes conditions , not a a Etenim si vnum hominem deterrimum poeta praestanti aliquis ingenio fictis conquisitisque vicijs deformatum vellet inducere , &c. de Arusp . Resp. by feigning a man in the forge of Poetrie , compounded of all vices , ( as the Orator saies , ) which perhaps if I would doe , I could lacke no matter , nor yet following the sent of euery light report , though a b b Iohannes 21. apud Papyr . Masson . Pope of theirs was so addicted to newes , as he cared not what it were , so it tickled his eare , and digested false , as well as true , ( whome the Cardinall it seemes , imitates , for all the world , beleeuing whatsoeuer our runnagates bring him concerning English affaires , hauing quite lost his common sense , and not able to distinguish between seuerall obiects , if any whit semblable ; ) I say , to giue thee a tast of this mans spirit , wee will goe no further then his owne writings , and among them , then this booke , that we presently deale with , shall affoard instruction . Whereby his Vanitie , his Virulencie , his Ignorance , and his Circumstance , beeing sufficiently discouered , though we leaue no part of the whole vnexamined , ( euen contrarie to iniunction , as our Sauiours example was not to answer Pilate to euery Contra Celsum in initio . 2. King . 18. question , as Origen well notes , and so Ezechias to say nothing to Rabsace , but to let him goe as he came with a flea in his eare , for all his flaunting ) yet perhaps this Preface might either satisfie the cause without thy farther labour , or at least so settle thy iudgement in reading , as to conceiue hereby the better , of that which is answered in due place , to his barbarous imputations .

And first , for his Vanitie : it is worth the considering , how euery where he couples himselfe with the Cardinall , and sometimes iets before him , sometimes behind him , like the fantasticke wooer that Ouid describes , Et modò praecedit , sequitur modò — Places ( saies he ) alleadged by the Cardinall and my selfe . p. 68. The Law inter Claras alleadged both by the Cardinall and by me . p. 38. Twelue Fathers alleadged by the Cardinall and me . p. 356. The like you may see , p. 112. p. 245. and diuerse more , for I spare . Another time , as diuiding the praise betweene them two , partly by the Cardinall , and partly by me , saies he , p. 304. But most ridiculous , where he goes before him , nothing ashamed , yea and enters into comparison with him too , very deftly . First , for action . Obiected ( saies he ) as well by me , as by Pag. 1. And in the very front and title-page of his booke , Pl●… & authorities alledged as well by him , as by the Cardinall , &c. the Cardinall , as if he could follow an argument , as well as the Cardinall . Againe a passiue . * * Pag. 39. The Bishops answer to S. Cyprian ( saies he ) makes as much against me , as against the Cardinall . And many such like feathers of his frantique ambition , euery where scattered throughout the worke . Which had beene vncouth in any , to haue associated himselfe with another writer of fame , especially the Cardinall , where no neede was , and in a treatise no way depending on his , though happily falling The Cardinall himselfe , hath taken as much into his Controuersies , out of other mens writings , as any : and yet is wiser then to appeale them , or to make words of them . But no doubt the Adioynder would haue vs thinke that good wits iumpt , the Cardinall , and his , about the inuention of the same argument . into diuers the same points , which he had handled before , ( as what is there in Diuinitie , which some author or other hath not forestalled ? and yet wee doe not name them , nor ranke our selues with them , when we prosecute the same argument : ) but more strange in F. T. a man no way knowne , no way heard of , much lesse bearing any such reputation , patched vp ( as they say ) lately out of father Parsons his relliques , his leaden standish , and his wodden cansticke , ( another Pseud-Epictetus ) and perhaps some olde notes of his mustie paper-booke , otherwise among a thousand the vnlikeliest that could be guest at , to beare a head with the Cardinall , or to succeede him , as his Yet F. Parsons bought skarlet in hope to be a Cardinall , as the Seculars write of him . And this man would bee knowne to succeede F. Parsons . former flourishes import to be his owne conceit of himselfe . I might adde hereto his craking euery where of his Supplement , whereof this is but a ribbe , an Eue taken out of the others side , as our Prometheus intimates , As I haue noted in my Supplement , saies he , p. 15. and , As I haue shewed in my Supplement , p. 36. I haue produced in my Supplement , p. 39. Hauing occasion in my Supplement , p. 98. So 139. 415. 417. So in many other places we are told of the Supplement , that is , by himselfe of his owne worke , ( another qualitie somewhat vnusuall among writers , that are not starke madde , to beat vpon their own , especially so often ) which you may thinke how good a Supplement , or how answerable to the title , when wee should not haue knowne it to be at all , but for this frequent supplie of his owne mouth . And yet for my part I neuer saw it , I consesse , neither know I any that look after it . If it be like this , no force : here is enough to make Catullus sicke , or his horse either , and once againe to bethinke him , how he may recure his surfet with purgatiue herbes , ocymoque & vrticâ : in the meane time crying out , O librum horribilem , atque pestilentem . Et haec hactenus . I speake of his Vanitie , as you may remember , which appeares by these two points , his marching with the Cardinall in such 1 2 wanton equipage , as hath beene shewed , and his calling out vpon his Supplement , though this also be a fruit of his most hateful Tediousnes to come in it with so often ; of which anon .

The second is his Virulency , which you may take vp by handfulls . I will not draine the fenne , or stand casting the ponde , I meane ransacke his booke by quoting the pages ; but his Table of principall matters shall declare what I say , which himselfe hath adioyned to the end of his Adioynder ; the fourth principall in the table . I omit how he strippes the Bishop of his title ; And ( not to say how due in all other mens iudgements , the most iudicious themselues thinking that they honour their iudgments most , when they expresse the honour that they beare to him ) it was not denied to Dioscorus ( I forbeare the rest , how vnsutable a man ) yet drawing neere , ( as he best knowes that cites the Councell Adioynd . cap. 2. toto . Act 3. Concil. Calched . at large ) vpon the point of degradation , to be tearmed Reuerendissimus , & Deo charissimus , Episcopus , the most Reuerend Bishop , and most beloued of God , at euery word . But what style doth he giue him , in liew of the other , which he takes from him ? Let it be viewed , where I now quoted , ( like Tertullians Ononychites , that he tells vs of in his Apologeticus , set vp by the Heathen , in despight of the Christians , or if euer any imagination crost the originall more fowly . ) His vaine bragges , His cogging the dice , his inclining to Iudaisme , A man prodigall of his Rhetorique , &c. Yea , a wronger of his MAIESTIE , turnd plains Puritane , no friend to the Supremacie . And then ouer againe with the same notes , not onely in the booke , but in the Index twice , so well they please him . Fooles bolts , Shuttlecocks , dull head , &c. Finally , will you heare an heinous crime ? He tryes how neare he can corne to Popery , and yet misse it : that is , graunts to the Papists as much as may be graunted , though by no meanes betraying the Palladium of Gods cause , multiplyes not controuersies , where no need is , abstaines from brabbles , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as should the seruant of God ( if S. Paul 2. Tim. 2. 23. say true ) that is , the Minister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , keeps the depositum in precise tearmes , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , breakes not the rope with vnreasonable stretching , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as S. Basile forewarnes ; but ioyning Charity with Piety , discretion with resolution , imitates the driuers at the Olympian games , whose praise was to come neare , and yet not to touch .

Now truely hauing described to you , his description of the Bishop , wherein , besides his Virulency , ( of which I now entreat , ) both his Vanity and Tautology , and almost all appeares , that before I charged him with , euen Ignorance it selfe in the highest degree ( for what more grosse ignorance , then to be ignorant of the person ( not only of the generall , or of the cause ) whome the farthest parts know , farre other then so ? vnlesse purposely he would decypher him like Arbos inuersa , as the Philosophers say of man , or by negagations and abstractions , as we doe the Genij in Metaphysiques ) me thinks he hath giuen you a description of a Iesuite , such as a better could not be wished , that shewes you the world cleane turnd in a glasse , and presumes he can alter the very nature of things , with his poisonous breath , and partiall censure : not vnlike to their late scholler , the parricide of France , that conceited the king to be an Aethiop Peter Mathieu . in the life of Henrie 4. Reg. Gall. in a Triangle , whom all the water in the sea could not wash cleane , and so detesting him by degrees , at last intoxicated , slew him .

The third is his Ignorance , and I meane onely in the Latine tongue ; for I will not search now his more hidden schollership ; I am content to be iudged by his knowledge in the entry , in the verie portall ( for so is that to learning , prima de dòtibus , or , prima de cotibus . ) ( And as for the Greeke , we were not best say much of that , though his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a great argument of it , p. 234. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , accepit genua , ( for , he tooke her by the kneees , ) in the same place : Also , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for aequalis , p. 44. the verie same stone that his Reuerend Father Hudaem . Parall. p. 151. had tript at before : It will goe well with the Bishop , if he can scape his chasticements , for spending any part of his younger dayes , in the study of that , which helps him to discouer the Cardinals fallacies , or false quotations . ) First , pag. 40. id est , cap. 2. num. 3. because the Bishop had said , Legat canone inustum , ne maiora , sed aequalia , sint priuilegia , &c. he thus ; Whereas he saies , that the Councell of Calchedon , did by that Canon giue to the Bishop of Constantinople , ne maiora , sed aequalia priuilegia , &c. Which though it be the preseruing of the word ne in both places , yet euery meane Latinist easily sees , that ne should haue been turned into non in the latter place , if he meant any sense should be in his sentence , as he began it . And therefore , I can impure it to nothing , but his lacke of skill in the rudiments . But let this goe for nothing , if I make it not appeare yet plainer , that he is minus habens , and all too light , as he speakes of the Bishop in an other place , ( for such reuerence he beares him . ) Pag. 42. that is , cap. 2. num. 6. thus we haue . It is said expressely of the Church of Constantinople , that it should be magnified and extolled as olde Rome was , secundam post illam existentem . Which is the letter , I grant , in the Councell of Calchedon , but almost killing Priscian , as hee sets it downe , for secunda post illam existens ; the Church of Constantinople ( to which that referres ) being ecclesia , not ecclesiam , in his period , and so to be translated , if it were to be put into Latine , I say nothing of his construing S. Austens words , simply God knowes , p. 149. Componit salutem membrorum in capite , which he englishes by compounded ; compounding of healths , beeing a phrase scarse fit to be vsed by Apothecaries , or their boyes , much lesse by Physitians , but least of all by him , that would seeme to know the Latine , and to english S. Austen . Neither onely can he not skill of the language himselfe , but marres the Bishops Latine with his addle corruptions , Concludit testas suos cum Augustine , sayes he , p. 145. as quoting his words , which in the booke is some what otherwise , Concludit testes suos Augustino . And so againe , cap. 9. num. 53. Scrutabitur pag. 404. Adioynd . Hierusalem cum lucernis , &c. Zeph. 1. ( for , in lucernis ; ) either adding to the Scripture , or correcting his old Translators Latine , or both . Though the one be impious , the other very ridiculous , in him especially , to confront the Translator , whose Latine is not afraid of a farre nicer teste . Chap. 7. numb . 33. representare Th●●dosium in liberis , is to giue the children grace that they may be like their father . So as here Repraesentare stands for Likenesse onely , at another time for Gouernement , for Monarchy , and for Rule . But , repraesentare defunctum , is to supply the losse of the dead Theodosius , by yeilding another in his roome ; which S. Austen wishes may be of the posteritie . Does not this also argue him a solide Latinist ? S●●blable is that , cap. 1. num. 11. where thus he 〈◊〉 the Bishops words , 〈◊〉 id loquuntur Ambrosius & Augustinus quàm vt obstrepere possint nouitij nostri : They speak it louder , or clearer , then that our nouices can contradict it . Whereas it should be , then that our nouices can drowne it . For a man may contradict that which is neuer so cleerely spoken , drowne it or suppresse it he cannot . But because he knew not the other sense of the word obstrepo , ( as in Tully pro Marcello , obstrepi videntur militum clamore & tubarum sono ) therefore he commits this solaecisme in translating . And nouitij with him , be none but newly vpstart ; for which cause hee maruells that the Papists should be so called , though neither is their petegre● so very auncient ( Gibeonites rather ) and rawnes in ones facultie makes the oldest man to go for a nouice . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . But by this you see the cause why he answers the Latine booke with his English , because he thinkes the Bishop is not his crafts master in the Latine , and so he will take no aduantage against him , but deales with him in English , as one Englishman should with another , the vnknowne tongue beeing better for deuotion , not for disputation .

Lastly , whereas the Bishop speakes of Peters disease , which S. Austen had first toucht vpon , namely of confidence in himselfe , and too much ouerweening , so as he stucke not to say , Et si omnes non ego ; to which the Bishop addes for explication sake , id est , plus ego quàm omnes , ( which is the verie thing that they attribute to S. Peter at this day , to bee the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Apostles , and worth them all : as also it followes out of his owne words , for , if though all not he , then he is of more worth or force then they all ) this lither fellow , this exos asinus , not so good as Issachar , an asse without bones , without proofe , without mettall , construes it thus , out of the fulnesse of his Latine , That , though all other Diuines Vbi suprà . would giue ouer attempting the Popes cure , yet so would not the Bishop ; et si omnes non ego . A likely speech to be vttered by that graue Prelate , concerning himselfe , especially with the disparagement of the rest of our Diuines , for so is his disposition , as they knowe that know him . But how doe you thinke he falls vpon this sense ? what pucke lead him out of the way ? Because the Bishop had said a little before , Praesertim cùm eundem morbum in capite vestro notârint diu iam medicorum filij ; Medicorum filij ; saies he , are Beza , and Caluin ; for the olde heretiques were the medici , as the Donatists , &c. ( whom the Papists nothing resemble , neither restraining Kings from medling with Church-matters , nor shutting vp the Church within a corner of the world , &c. ) and these their sonnes . Then followeth , Etsi omnes , non ego , ●1. plus ego quàm omnes : which in the Bishops booke referres to the morbum before spoken of , S. Peters disease consisting in these words , a disease of pride . But what does our Gentleman ? He diuides etsi into two words , & and si , and then makes an interrogatiue at ego , construing it thus , Et si omnes , non ego ? And if all doe , shall not I ? if all physicke the Pope , shall not I ? To which you may thinke now how handsomly that suites which followes , id est , plus ego quàm omnes : as if the Bishop when he had asked that question by way of challenge , should expresse himselfe , for more perspicuitie sake , by an id est , that is to say , I am more worth then they all . These are the fopperies of this great gull . And you see howe profound an vnderstander of the Latine , that is faine to point the Bishops words anew , with his senselesse interrogatiues , before he can construe them , or misconstrue them rather ; as likewise to diuide them , and to clip them , by turning etsi into et si ; but lastly , to deuise a difference , between medici , and medicorum filij , a most palpable demonstration of his vnmatchable dunserie , and not vnlike the boyes in the Grammar schoole , that construed pullus equinus , a horsechicken . Now crie for Elleboron Sir , now prescribe Catholicon , The Adioynders prescript of Receipts to the Bishop . like a Doctor in your facultie ; which if it bee the name of a Dictionarie , or of a Grammar , or some such like , may stand you in good stead , for ought I know . As for the drug Catholicon , that intoxicates the braine , and prickes on to murther , and to combustion in States , it is a drug for your selfe , and for your fellowes , if they haue not too much already . For I passe by that , that he so construes the Bishops words ( referring to S. Peter ) plus ego quàm omnes , as if S. Peter had been more scandalized then they all , cap. 4. num. 33. Yet this is his Latine , plus scandalizatus , for more scandalized . Which though by the rules of his Caetholicon , may passe for currant , not so by the touchstone of the more accurate Grammarians , who happily would no more say plus scandalizatus , for more scandalized , then plus illiteratus , for more vnlearned .