An ansvvere made by one of our brethren, a secular priest, now in prison, to a fraudulent letter of M. George Blackwels, written to Cardinall Caietane, 1596, in commendation of the Iesuits in England Philalethes, Andreas. 1602 Approx. 61 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 22 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A09551 STC 19830 ESTC S120908 99856101 99856101 21623 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A09551) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 21623) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1181:10) An ansvvere made by one of our brethren, a secular priest, now in prison, to a fraudulent letter of M. George Blackwels, written to Cardinall Caietane, 1596, in commendation of the Iesuits in England Philalethes, Andreas. Copley, Anthony, 1567-1607?, attributed name. Charnock, Robert, b. 1561, attributed name. Blackwell, George, 1546 or 7-1613. [48] p. Newly imprinted [by Adam Islip], [London] : 1602. Signed at end "Andreas Philalethes", a pseudonym. Sometimes attributed to Anthony Copley and to Robert Charnock. Includes text of Blackwell's letter. Printer's name from STC. Signatures: [par.]⁴ A-E⁴. The first leaf and the last leaf are blank. Outer forme of quire [par.] in two settings: [par.]4v line 21 has (1) "Arch" or (2) "Arche". Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. 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Jesuits -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2003-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-12 Ben Griffin Sampled and proofread 2004-12 Ben Griffin Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion AN ANSVVERE MADE BY ONE OF OVR BRETHREN , A SEcular Priest , now in prison , to a fraudulent Letter of M. George Blackwels , written to Cardinall Caietane , 1596 , in commendation of the Iesuits in England . Newly imprinted . 1602. The Preface . I Here commend vnto you , ( good Catholicke Reader ) this Treatise following , penned by a Catholick Priest , in answere of a letter written by M. Blackwell , about fiue years since , to Cardinall Caietane . In which treatise , the authour amidst many of his greefes , a little to sollace himselfe , doth play with the said M. Blackwel ; but vvith such modestie as well becommeth his calling , the vanitie and falshood of the partie he dealeth vvith , considered . Which two qualities , together vvith his rude presumptuous Epistolizing to Graces , doe so anatomize the man , as I could not let him passe vncoated vvith a Preface , agreeing to the treatise : as not knowing , neither hauing euer been taught , to call a tree by any other name than a tree ; a gull , a gull ; a Coridon , a Coridon , Et sic per omnies casus cum stultorum plena sunt omnia . I can say no more , but that of Iesuitisme there is too great plentie in England , the more is the pittie , and the greater is like to be our miserie . For as I hear say , Tom Long Carier is comming on his iorney ( in the vvide vvay to perdition ) vvith Antichrist : and it is further reported , That the Iesuits , Puritanes , Iews , Turks , Mahometans , & others of that rable , striue for the supremacie , vvhich of them should first own him , to make him the great Muster-maister vnder Damp-Sathanas , in his dismall march to make the conquest ouer the kingdom of Iesus : which is the mark al these do shoot at . Well , it is a strange case , that the Iesuits should bee such fellowes ; but much more strange , that good M. Blackwell is become so rude ruricall courtly , insalutatiue scribling to princes : or rather Caesar-like take vpon him vvith Vene , vide , vici , to send abrupt apostrophall congratulations to Cardinals : but most strange of all , is this , That a condensed multitude of populorums , vvil not or cannot see vvood for trees ; but vvill still call chalke , cheese ; beasts , men ; moldhils , mountaines : and so backward againe , and all by contraries . But seeing it is so , Pian piano , I haue here laid down before your eyes the Crow Black well suited in sables , set vpon a stake , in pale proper , pinyoned , as it vvere the vvhile , vntill you may blazon the Cras croaking foule in her owne pure naturals . And to complie a little more formally with the text , you shall ( gentle Reader ) vnderstand , that this Black-wel-mand-Statist in comporting of Cardinals vvith vncourtly complements , was ( as it seemeth ) in such a sweuen vpon the suddain , of an odde cōceited Monarchie , as he imagined himselfe to be Monos ; though in very deed hee is but a Iesuits Spanified Monopolos : that is in plain English ( abstract from all Hyperboles and Rhetoricall figures ) the extortionall tythes and imposts , or rather the very dregs , or a grosse Chaos , Rudis indigestaque moles , non bene iunctarum discordia semina rerum of all the Iesuits Machiauelian drifts , Prothenian plots , and Catelinian countermined conspiracies , for a conquest . Which vaine conceit of that matter in these men , is now made so apparent , as a very Ninnie cannot but perceiue it , and the blind tankerd-bearer , with helpe of his dogge and his bell , may smell it out at midnight . For otherwise why doe they of the Spanish faction gape so much after newes out of Ireland ? Why doe they linger and dally off the time in the Low countries , without comming to any serious parle , or consent to make satisfaction for their misdeeds , and restitution of Priests and Princes good names , and other wrongs done by them ? Why doe they band it out with Spanish souldiors at Kinsale and other places , new fleets stil flocking afresh thither ? yea , and giue it out in plaine tearmes both by vvord and vvriting , That they vvill neuer come to anie agreement , peace , and concord , vntill they heare an end of the Irish vvarres ? Why should they bend all their vvits to these desperate traiterous courses , vnlesse their stratagemicall instigators , vnderstanding that M. George Blackwell is of late summoned to appeare vvhere he vvould not ; they thereby saw their Arche readie to fall , and their Top-gallants in daunger to break their necks from off their loftie stand : the verie imaginarie opinion vvhereof , hath amated them with so desperat amazements ; on the one side , their guiltie conscience tormenting them , for banding a bad cause ; and on the other side an enuious feare of a happie successe to the secular cleargie , in their appeale to the supreme Patriote of the Apostolick See , and mother citie ; causing them in defence of the Catholick Roman church and Common-wealth of Christendome in generall , and of Englands little church Catholicke , and vveale publicke , in speciall : as that hereupon , and for and through their many other practises their heads are stuffed vvith so many quiddits , as they quarter and braue it out euery where ( but especially beyond the seas ) with the great hopes they haue of making England a Iaponian Island by conquest of Ireland , according to the old prophecie , He that England will win , through Ireland he must come in . What man , Ireland ? Yea , I say Ireland . What , Ireland woon from her Maiestie ? yea , and from Teron too ? Tush man , it is a ieast . Well , a ieast it may be tearmed , in respect of the Iesuits fantasticall assurance : but they goe about it in such sad earnest , as all the vvorld may now discerne them to bee ranke traitours : and they so persuade their fautors , as all the Iesuited faction stand so much vpon their puntoes , in hope of these Lucian towers , that they vvill neuer yeeld to the appellants ( as some of thē haue alreadie blabd it abroad ) vntill Ireland be vvholly theirs , or else all the poore Spaniards haue an Irish tricke plaied them in a triple turne betwixt their heads and their shoulders . But vvhat said I , will they be desperate ? Yes verily , for they haue no other meanes in the vvorld to feed their faction with , but the hope of Ireland onely , as their case now stands . O huge ! be these religious Iesuits ? Well , well , I see all is not gold that glisters , nor all pure Saints that haue Puritanes faces : but , &c. and there leauing these martiall Iesuits to their pikes , let me returne my pen vpon good Maister George his Epistle to Cardinall Caietane ; vpon which , according to the ensuing Commentarie , I haue made a Preface as you see , from point to point vnlacing it in forme following . I haue deducted , or rather reducted , all the lines of this spruze Black-well-beseene-Oratours Letter , gradatim ; not oblique , but direct , comformable to the Epistle it selfe ▪ euen from the circumference thereof , to the centre : that by the exenterating of it , you may peruse and see ( as it were in hearing the Anatomie lecture of this new Legifer , read vnto you , brought forth to be vncased and bowelled before your eyes , in open sight ) from vvhat manner of braine and vaine the stately stile of this vvorthie Vlisses dooth proceed ; as also the Longum , Latum , & Profundum of this tropicall Rhetoricians capacitie , and by consequent the Quantum of the whole Compositum , I meane good master Blackwel the protonotorious Arche of England . The Longum doth consist in this , viz. That he thinketh it long , long , long , & euery minute a summers day long , vntill he be such another State , as to whom he writeth : the Latum is limited to this , viz. That al must thinke him worthy of so princely a dignitie , far and neere ouer the whole latitude of Albion : the Profundum is the ditch that Thales slid into by gazing too much vpō the stars : Into this ditch his admirators are suncke downe dead like stones , by staring on Medusaes head too too profoundly : and by consequent ( as a man might say by meere chance ) they there haue foūd out the Quantum of the man , in , O quanta est inscitia viro. But will you know the Quantum of the man indeed : or rather , his Tantum by his Quantum : or his Tantillū by his Quantillum : at a word , he is a quilibet to a Iesuits quodlibet , vvherein he doth so quadrate with them , as Tantum deest quantum est : and so shall you see the Tantillum of his mind , in the Tantum of his fellow-like tearmes to so great a magnificall Mecaenas and princely Prelate in the church , as is a Cardinall . And by inference of corolaries , himselfe being no better than a Pewterers son , and but the Apostolick Notarie or Scriuener ( of matters from England to Rome ; or els , where the great Emperors , Parsons , Creswel , and other Presbiter-Iohns or great Chams or Mogors do soiourne & abide ) besides his Priesthood , you shall onely find the Iesuits sauors extended towards him , to consist in this , scil . in erecting to his function a goodly new glorious-seeming Arche ; vpon which they meane to set a stately Pyramis of Pan , with a dedication , not to that Paxium god ( as I imagine ) but to their owne popular societie with the Ariopagians inscription , Ignoto deo ; or vvith this Imprese , Sic pro Iesuitis . And last of all , you may hereby see , the Quantum of the Iesuits pride ; the Quantillum of the Archpriests vvit ; and the Quantunculum of both their drifts , practises , and deuises . Now read on , and Iesus blesse you from Iesuits and Arches . Amen . Reuerend Sir , A Letter of yours written 1596 , to Cardinall Caietane , came not long since to my hands . At the writing of it , you were not so great a person as now you account your selfe : a man might then haue ben acquainted with you vnder a couple of Capons : Fellow and fellow-like you were that yeare , with as meane a man as my selfe . And therefore hauing something to talke with you of , concerning the sayd Letter ; I will deale with you , as then you were , Maister George Blackwell , a good ordinarie plaine Priest , and an English man. As for that great Monsignor , Multarum literarum homo , Georgius Blackwellus Archipresbiter Angliae , & Protonotarius Apostolicus , borne in Latium , I will admire his shadow : It were sacriledge no doubt , to inter-meddle with him , except it were to fall down before his footstoole , and to worship his excellencie . Marry for you , my old acquaintance , and fellow Priest , gentle maister George Blackwell , if I may intreat you to forget your greatnes for a time , and to remember with me , what you writ to the sayd Cardinall ; I shall be much indebted vnto you . May it please you therefore now , to heare your selfe what you writ then . B. LEt your amplitude pardon our iust greefe ; we confesse surely , that it is a regall thing to heare euill , when thou doest well . We know notwithstanding ( which is to be lamented ) that verie great detriment may come to our progresse in the businesse of religion , by the fayned calumniations of euill willers towards vs. Let it be lawfull therefore vnto vs , to stirre the hornes of the false accusation made against vs. For if it be sufficient to accuse , who shal be innocent ? P. It seemed strange to me , when I saw so loftie a stile , to so great a Cardinall , subscribed with your name . You and I might haue written our hartie commendations to our friends in England , for some releefe , and neuer troubled our heads with the cogitation of so worthie prelates . But I see , that euery man falleth out according to his owne mould . It should seeme , that my father was of kinred to some Plummer , who dealt but with lead : that is a heauie mettall , and yeeldeth but little sound , which maketh me so heauie headed . But your father was indeed a Pewterer by Newgate in London , a man of an honest occupation , it is most true , but not the best neighbour to dwell by . Now ( as it is commonly said ) That he is a loud speaker , who is brought vp in a Mill ; so may it bee affirmed of you , that being nourished in such an vnpleasing dinne , no meruaile if remoter places ring of you . It may bee said , That this scornefull jeasting becommeth not a priest , and I would confesse it ( were it not for some circumstances ) to bee true . But wormes when they are troden on , will looke backe ; loosers ( we say ) may haue their words ; and it is not amisse to put sometimes a Peacocke in minde of his feet . Your Letter soundeth better in Latine , than as it is in English. I found it translated to my hands , and I ought you not so much seruice , as to amend it . I suppose the Translatour tyed himselfe to your words , least you shold haue charged him to haue peruerted your meaning : For a verie small occasion , ( as the world goeth with you ) will put you into a chafe . You begin your Letter with some maiestie : Iusto dolori nostro : Pardon our iust greefe . Whose greefe I pray you ? yours and the Iesuites ? or your owne alone ? or ours the secular Priests , and yours together ? If you meant the first , you were partiall ; if the second , you shewed your arrogancie ; if the third , you did vs great injurie . For the reports you dislike of , they were made by some of our selues , and will be justified against you , or any Iesuiticall Proctor whosoeuer . It was but a bad , and a sawcie part of you , to make your selfe our Proctor , before we entertained you : such dealing in Westminster hall , deserueth sometimes the casting ouer barre . Regium est : It is a Regall thing or accident ( you say ) to heare euill when thou doest well . A platter for a pewterers Son to talke of : Must you be medling with kingly prouerbs ? was it not conuenient to tell you of your parentage ? How like a Prince you proceede in your matters ? The saying we acknowledge to be true , and fit for Kings , when they see cause : but if the Iesuites may haue their willes , and shall be suffered to goe on forward as they haue begun , they will altogether turne it top-side-turuey . For the King that pleaseth them , and serueth their turnes , bee hee neuer so wicked , they will make him a Saint ; whereas another , if he crosse them , let him bee as religious and sincere as the Pope himselfe , they will make him a Lutheran . So as alreadie , by the rules of Iesuitisme ( which tend to blood , and confusion , wheresoeuer they come ) Kings that doe worst in following their designements , must bee most commended ; and the rest are to bee slaundred , murthered , and assayled with violent hands by their owne subiects , for neglecting , or discountenancing of their right worshipfull Maisterships . Novimus , We know , quod est dolendum , which is lamentable . If you had here broken off your sentence , you had done well . It is great folly to put a sworde in a mad mans hand . Better had it been , that you had neuer been borne , and so haue knowne nothing ; than to haue employed your wit , and pen , as you haue done . The Reports made in Rome against the Iesuites are true , and no calumniations . No man liuing ( to speak for my selfe ) was more greened ( as I thinke ) with their insolencies amongst vs : and where should we haue complayned with lesse offence , than in Rome ? If wee had been better regarded , when some of vs complayned there ; the great mischiefes which since haue ensued , had been preuented . The detriment therefore that you mention , is wholly to bee ascribed to you , and to such like Parasites ; who in hope of preferment haue sould your selues , as bond slaues to the Iesuites , and by fostering them in their follies , and applauding to their enterprizes ( be they neuer so vile , and vnpriest-like ) haue set them so agogge , as they are readie to burst with pride . It is true that you say : Si accusare : If it be sufficient to accuse , who shall be innocent ? But by your leaue it is as true , that if all lewd persons ( such as our English Iesuites are ) shall euer meet with such a consciencelesse Proctor , as you your selfe haue been to them , what wicked men should be punished ? B. There are ( as I heare ) little aequall , or altogether ignorant esteemers of our matters , who haue not gently whetted the edge of their wit , and stile , and the sharpnesse of their voice against vs. P. Sunt vt audio : There are ( as I heare . ) God blesse vs from all Bugs . What man , as you heare ? Why , durst any man report that , which might bee offensiue to your great eares ? Alacke , alacke , I per se I , doe heare . There are ( as I heare . ) Good Sir , things will be whispered of ( as you know ) in any family , sometimes amongst the seruants , before they can come to their masters eares . They were much too blame , that did not acquaint you at home with their complaints : but that you should bee driuen to write to a Cardinall vpon heare-say . And yet to see , how all things sort themselues for your reputation . For whence must this your intelligence come ? forsooth from Rome . Who doth not presently then admire the man , that is daily fed with occurrents from Rome ? But yet Master Blackwell , out of question your phrase of speech was much too blunt . The world now adayes aboundeth with more Italian , and courtly speeches than these are ( as I heare ) to so eminent a person in the Court of Rome . Indeed , I am sorie to heare your simplicitie , I had almost sayd your folly . It might haue become wel inough a man of your state , then , to haue written after this , or such like a manner : It may please your excellencie to giue mee leaue , a poore simple Priest to shew my smal discretion in presuming to signifie vnto one of your high place in the Church , that there are news in England , of a report made in Rome . Sunt vt audio : There are as I heare . A style for King Phillip ( while he liued ) to such a Cardinall . But what is it that you heard ? Forsooth : parum aequi , Men of little equitie , or at the least ignorant of our affaires . Name them Sir , if it may stand with your good discretion : or if you will not , yet this I can say for them , that if you know them , you are not ignorant , that they are men euerie way as learned , and honest , as your selfe ; and at the time , when you writ this Letter , by some degrees , in age , in paines , in sufferinges , and in many other respects , much your betters : and such as through their graue and great experience , both at home and abroad , did vnderstand the affaires amongest vs heere , much more throughly than you could possibly doe , liuing in such priuat sort , as then you did . You did them therefore great jniurie in writing so of them , as if they had been men void both of conscience and consideration . There is a certaine saying , auoyd it as you can : abominatio est Domino , labia mendacia . But what did these simple light fellowes ? Tell vs Master Blackwel , without any allusion to a whetstone , the fittest reward that I would afford you for this your Letter . Exacuerunt : They did throughly whet the edge of their wit , and style , and the sharpnesse of their voice against vs. Well , by the way whilest you played in this sort like a iolly Warriour , with your Martiall metaphores , you remembred the instrument that men sharpen their tooles with . You are much beholding vnto me , Master Blackwell , that I am disposed to be merrie with you , but in this sort . For I could trace you by the hot sent of your bitter gall , and malice , or rather indeed of your folly , through a certaine Psalme , where the spirit of God that cannot erre , ( speaking of the wicked , and of their hatred against the godly ) telleth vs , That they whet their tongues as if they were swords , and shoot bitter words for their arrowes . Such translations , and insinuations , from a man of your corruptions , thereby to guird at your brethren , ( who I dare sweare for them , neuer thought vpon you , when they complained in Rome of the Iesuites ) become you not assuredly , good Master Blackwell . But still it sticketh in my teeth , that you say against vs : did any of vs that were secular Priests write against our selues ? or will you seperat your selfe from vs , and become a Iesuit ? If I could haue conceiued by your Letter , that some heretiques had written to Rome of purpose to haue slaundered vs all , whether Priests , or Iesuites ; your wordes had been verie well mustered together , and might haue marched on for me , like verie tall Souldiers . But there being no such matter I would be right glad to vnderstand , how farre the word ( vs ) extendeth it selfe . B. They say ( but rashly ) that we Priests in England are tossed with diuers dissentions amongst our selues , and with the Fathers of the societie of Iesus : and that more freely in lying they might wander , they report the sayd Fathers to seeke no other thing almost amongest vs , than how by the contempt of the rest of the Priests , greater authoritie & dominion in the Cleargie might dayly grow vnto them . A heauie accusation , but most full of falshood , and therefore ( as I trust ) it will be silent , being ouercome with this my testimonie , although verie slender . I , hedged with the diuine mercie , haue now fulfilled more than 20 yeeres in the cure of soules amongst vs English men , and in preaching the Catholike Romane truth : and hetherto I remember not any dissention amongst vs , the breath wherof did at any time a little more grecuously mooue vs. Men surely we are , compassed with many infirmities : but ( praise be to God ) in so great a course of most wicked time , we haue been so couered with diuine grace , that nothing ( that I know ) hath hapned which at any time hath cast vs from the state of mutuall peace , and brotherly concord . P. Deinde expergiscebar . And then I awaked . A man might dreame as here you write Master Blackwell : because for the most part dreames goe ( as they say ) by contraries . But for a Catholike priest broad-waking to write in this sort to a Cardinal , & to Rome , the citie of God , it is most abhominable . Is all your whetting come to this ? If in so many materiall points as here you haue touched , any one had been true , I could haue borne with you more willingly : but all of them being so notoriously false , I blush on your behalfe to consider your impudencie . First therefore , whereas you say in such generall tearmes , That some of vs , that bee secular Priests ( for I cannot see how you can meane any other ) men ignorant of the state of things here , haue affirmed ; that wee ( the secular Priests in England ) are at warres amongst our selues : I dare be bold to say it , that you write therein vntruly . I am somewhat better acquainted with this matter , than many of my Brethren , being peraduenture my selfe then in Rome ; or knowing at the least , whom you did then ayme at . If any did so write or report , as here you affirme , hee was either a Iesuit , or such another hyreling as your selfe , suborned by the Iesuits to write in that maner , of purpose to work their designments , against our credits , vtterly to subuert vs. Of which kind of persons , we hold this opinion , That they haue separated themselues from vs , and continuing in their Iesuitisme , are no right secular Priests , but Mongrels betwixt both , and therefore to be no better esteemed , or beleeued in their speeches , than the veriest Iesuit amongst vs. Againe , if you meane by your words , Sed temerè aiunt , They speake rashly &c ▪ that there was then no contention at all amongst sundry of vs , that were Priests imprisoned then ; that is also most false . For you know the stirres that were then at Wisbich ( few men better ) amongst the secular Priests , for the setting vp of a certain Geneua platforme , tearmed an Agenage . So that , if any of vs about that time did write to Rome , how the Iesuits laboured to set some of vs together by the eares , amongest our selues for their aduantage ; hee writ therein most truly , and you haue not any sparke of grace left in you , if you denie it . Furthermore , in that you denie , that wee the secular Priests were then at a iarre with the Iesuits , you are therein so false , as I want a fit word to taxe you for it . Had not Master Garnet , and Master Weston attempted then to haue brought all our necks vnder their yoaks ? Did they not tell vs plainly , that they saw no reason , why the Iesuits in England , should not as well rule vs all here , as the Iesuits in Italy did rule the English Seminarie in Rome ? Were there not most vntrue reports made by them against vs , of purpose to withdraw all the Catholikes hearts from vs ? Was ther not in this our contention , great partaking , some holding with vs , and some with the Iesuits ? You know it full well , and thrust your selfe as a stickler amongest vs , with great hypocrisie God he knoweth . Whereas therefore you further say , that the Fathers sought not to bring vs seculer Priests into contempt , whereby they might beare all the sway ouer vs , and that for 20 yeeres , you knew of no such contention amongest vs , Priests with priests , or Priests with Iesuits , as tended to the breach either of peace , or concord : you are in danger to become one of his crue , who is tearmed by the Apostle , to be the father of all lyes . Homines sumus , We are men you say : but you might herein more truly say , Daemones sumus , we are Diuels ; vnderstanding your selfe and them that set you to this shamefull worke . I protest before God , that I was at the writing hereof , in a kind of agonie , to thinke that euer a Catholike Priest of my reputation , should dare to write in this impudent maner . Why Master Blackwell , how commeth this to passe ? If men saw you not , yet God you know is not ignorant of this Machiavelisme . Shake hands therefore with Iesuitisme , repent you of these courses , and returne againe vnto vs. You were not wont , ( when you and I were first acquainted ) to be so immodest . Let me obteine of you for our old acquaintance , Master Blackwell , to tell me here this one thing : With what face durst you write , that you hoped the sayd accusation of the Iesuits insolent pride , in seeking dominion ouer vs , would for euer be dashed hereafter , as conquered and suppressed , tuo valde exiguo testimonio , By your verie slender testimonie ? Or if your face was hard inough : what said your conscience ? Or if that were seared , where was your wit , learning , judgement & common sense , were they all gone a wooll gathering : you might haue remembred , that you your selfe did tax them , for seeking dominion ouer their brethren at Wisbich . But a man puft vp with pride , hath no vnderstanding : but is become like a beast of the field . Your testimony ? If the Cardinall had knowne you indeed , as we doe , hee would not haue esteemed your testimonie worth two chips . B. As touching the other part of the Accusation , which is built vp more iniuriously , against the reuerend Fathers of the societie of Iesus : that surely will most easily shrinke , being pressed with it own waight of falshood . nesse , & charitie than Master Parsons : and I warrant you , he will giue you a low beck , and with his eyes & hands lift vp to heauen , yeld by many degrees to that worthies perfection . And then remember I pray you , good Master Blackwell , the old saying ; Caelum non animum mutant , qui trans mare currunt . If Maister Parsons bee the best of that crue , then assuredly bad is the best . And howsoeuer now you flourish for a time , through his good fauour , yet when hee shall know , what once you thought , and spake of him , since hee was a Iesuit , downe you must as fast , if he himselfe can keepe his owne footing . Although indeed he neuer preferred you to your high estate for any other true cause , than that knowing your weaknes , hee was sure you would bee at his commaundement : so as the preferring of you to your Archpresbitership , was in effect , as if hee had preferred a Iesuit . But yet downe you must . If the waight of your owne folly break not your own neck , by the insolent abusing of your place , yet the blasphemie , which you haue vsed against him , will neuer be forgiuen . B. Surely we should bee verie vnthankfull , if wee should not prosecute them with honour , as our Fathers ; embrace them with loue , as our friends ; worship them with dutie , as beneficiall ; imitate them by studie , as Masters ; acknowledge them with affection of godlynesse , as the chiefe helpers , and most fierce defenders of the health of our Countrey , and of the Church tossed with vs by diuers tempests . P. Mentiuntur multa Cantores . If I had not knowne your parentage & bringing vp , I should haue gessed by this your Letter , that you had ben apprentise with some of our common fidlers , that haue certain old & long songs in commendation of Flodden field , and Cutty Musgraue ; what noble fellows were then in those dayes , and how they fought in blood vp to the knees . All shame to the Diuell , Maister Blackwell , of proud wretches , you will make them mad men , and prooue your selfe no better in the end , if you hold on this course . Our Fathers ; our Friends ; our Benefactors ; our Maisters ; louers of their Countrey , and cheefe Bulwarks of the Catholike faith ? Fathers of mischiefe , friends to themselues , benefactors to seditious persons , Masters of Machiauelisme , Traitors to England , and to their Prince : & the chiefe impediments , wherby I am persuaded , that both the common cause of Religion , and of all that truly seeke the promoting of it , are so hatefull and odious to the present State. Some of vs ( to say nothing of my selfe ) are all their ancients , and were spirituall Fathers of many ghostly children , before their name was knowne in England : they thrust their sickles into our haruest , & haue reaped where they neuer sowed . And the brood which since they haue hatched , I feare will proue too monstrouse , if it proceed to a head . And for their friendship towards vs : we may say with the Poet , That they loue vs so derely as they cannot endure vs. They haue sought to cast vs out of the dores , wheresoeuer they haue found vs placed : we haue nothing ( forsooth ) in vs , worthy to be accounted of ; the spirit of guiding of soules is gone from vs to them . They laugh vs to scorne , and doe set vp their puppets , to giue vs Three farewels . Call you this frendship , louing Maister Blackwell ? Assure your selfe , if wee bee driuen to bid England farewell ( as they by their farewels to vs would haue it ) you may shortly after bid your Country farewell , the Catholike saith , and all your comfort farewell , farewell . Of their bountie towards vs , you shall heare anone . But they are you saie , our Masters . Wherein Master Blackwell ? I praie you peruse Master Charles Pagets booke against Fa. Parsons , & there you shall find the rules of their schoole : such ( I am sure ) as neuer came out of Gods sanctuary . If dissimulation , lying , perjurie , disguised with equiuocations , deprauing of Princes , instigations to Rebellion , stirring vp of subiects against their Soueraigns , extolling of the people to lewd purposes , oppositions against lawfull authoritie , and many such prodigious monsters be good Diuinitie , and agreeable to the Catholike saith : ( as they are wicked wretches that affirme it ) then honour them , worship them , imitate them , let them be your Masters , & do what you will with them . But yet I tell you plainly Master Blackwell , if you bee one of their schollers , and seasoned with these documents ; I wish with all my heart , that you were honestly in your graue . And where you tell the Cardinall of their loue to our Country , except you meane such loue , as Puttocks haue to their prey , wee vnderstand you not . Haue those men loue to their Countrey , that for many yeeres haue sought the vtter subuersion of it ? What rebellions , inuasions , secret complots of murther , and most barbarous crueltie , haue ben executed or attempted since her Maiesties raign almost , whereof the Iesuits haue not been the chiefe instigators ? Their books and writings doe partly testifie it , the Kingdome knoweth it , & we poore Priests ( that doe most condemne all such Iesuiticall designments ) doe most feele the smart of it . It is true that some of our Iesuits are commendably learned , but name the man in England , and joine Master Parsons , and all the English Iesuits , either in Rome , or Europe with them , and yet I dare be bold to match them with some of our number , that be no Iesuits , nor any way Iesuited . I will not thinke or say , but that they haue a good intent , to aduance the Catholike sayth : but surely they take a wrong course ; nay a most prophane and heathenish course , or rather a more prophane and wicked course , than euer the heathen approoued or liked of . And therefore being persuaded that God will neuer blesse it , I wish they would leaue it ; & that you , Master Blackwel , should either professe yourselfe a Iesuit , that wee might account of you accordingly : or else renounce Iesuitisme ( as I sayd before ) and become in your doctrine , and practise , a right secular Priest , that we may conceiue some little better hope of you . But Perge mentiri , tell on your tale . B. They that discommend them , know neither themselues , nor them . For who are they amongst vs , which helpe priests comming from beyond the seas , but the Fathers of the societie of Iesus ? Being cast without the dores , by them they are receiued : being in ragged apparell , by them they are cloathed commodiously , and trickly : wanting both meat , and drinke , and money , by them they are vpheld : and not knowing where to remaine , ( because they are strangers ) they haue from them horses , and other things necessarie for their iourney , most readily prepared , and places also most prudently appointed , where , in recouering the lapsed , in confirming of Catholikes , and in spreading abroad the worship of God , they may labour laudably . P. As it is sayd in the Schooles , That one absurditie graunted a number will follow ; so it falleth out with you , M. Blackwell ; one vntruth begetteth another . That which is false , you affirme to be true : and that which is true , you say it is false . You might remember who pronounceth a Woe against euerie one , that shall call good , euill ; and euill , good ; light , darknesse ; or darknesse , light . It is a great offence to slaunder any man , be he neuer so euill : and you know the flatterer , is likewise verie detestable in Gods sight . Vir impius lactat amicum suum , & ducit eum per viam non bonam . A wicked man doth flatter his friend , & draweth him along in the way that is not good . Woe be to them ( sayth the Prophet ) that sow pillowes vnder mens elbowes : which place St. Gregorie applyeth vnto flatterers , and addeth this rule : Nihil est quod tam facile corrumpit mentem , quam adulatio . There is nothing that doth so easilie corrupt a mans mind , as flatterie . And it is tearmed by another , the Nurse of Sathans children . I know you can say these , and many other sentences by heart : but you should not wilfully oppose your practise against them . For therein you hurt the Iesuits , by increasing their pride . You abused the Cardinall ; and your end ( for ought wee coniecture ) was either malice , or gaine , or both . That which you write of their liberalitie , is little truer than the rest , concerning their former vertues . You are not ignorant , that by our meanes these fellowes had their first credit here : and that now they haue so supplanted vs , as all contributions and almes commeth into their hands , to be distributed amongst vs at their discretions . Now ( say you ) when any Priests come from beyond the seas , who doe receiue them , cloath them , hyre them horses , prouide them places to remaine in , but the Iesuits ? whereas indeed , they are but collectors ( as I may tearm them ) or deacons , that carie the purses of charitable Catholikes , to our vses : and if they should not so dispose of these goods , they were no better than theeues and robbers . Vnto the mercifull Catholikes therefore , of right this commendation is to be ascribed . Their almes maintaine vs : and we doubt not , but God will repay all into their bosomes againe , with a most joyfull increase , and blessed reward . You deale therefore with our true benefactors indeed , as if the bountie of a great house-keeper , should be attributed to his Steward , who dispenseth his Masters goods , but as he is directed . Nay wee wish with all our hearts , that the Iesuits dealt no worse with our sayd deere friends , or rather ( through their goodnes ) with vs. For besides that the bestowing of other mens almes , is made an argument of their singular liberality , & the contributors are neuer mentioned : the truth is , that they deceiue both them & vs. For notwithstanding all that here you say of them : that which they doe is performed verie beggerly , except it be to one of their owne societie , or vpon such a Parasite , as you are , that is made an instrument to set forward some of their deuices . The chiefe part of the liberalitie and bountie , that is bestowed for our vses , is either sent beyond the seas , to make friends for the better maintenance of their tyrannie , and ambition here amongst vs : or spent vpon themselues , some one of them bestowing more vpon himselfe , and his seruants in one yeere , than would serue twentie of vs poore men , either in prison , or at libertie . And touching the placing of such as come ouer , they do therin but their duties , part of the said contribution being committed vnto them for that purpose . Howbeit for ought I see , they rather trouble themselues with displacing of good men ( as it is before expressed ) than otherwise . For be he neuer so graue , honest , and religious a man ; placed alreadie with any Catholike , yet if he will not depend vpon the Iesuits , he must be gone , if they may haue their wils . Some false accusation or other must be deuised against him ; either he wanteth pollicie , or zeale , or learning , or certaine illuminations , or something is amisse , that another ( peraduenture a verie silly man God knoweth ) must haue his place , and all is well , if he haue a relation ( as they tearme it ) to the holy Fathers . You may knowe ( Master Blackwell ) by some circumstances , that I were able , if I were disposed , to giue you some examples hereof . And for your wise axiome following ( that justifieth Master Charles Pagets report of the Iesuits ) the Vicar of Saint Fooles ( as the merrie saying is ) be your ghostly Father . Must you at vnawares bewray their secrets ? Master Paget telleth vs , that they labour chiefely , to beat this ground into the heads of their disciples , and such as will beleeue them , That whosoeuer disliketh , & opposeth himselfe to Fa. Parsons , and his societie , is to bee eschewed , as a man inclining to Lutheranisme , and no sound Catholike . And now it pleaseth you to say in effect , as much your selfe . Qui illis detrahuut , nec seipsos , necillos norunt . Hee that discommendeth them , doth neither know them , nor himselfe . If your rule will hold backward , what a man are you , M. Blackwell ? we haue then the sage , and great wise person , that knoweth himselfe ; for you can well commend them . But in good sooth Sir , are you persuaded that none , which haue blamed and reprooued the Iesuits , did know them ? What say you by Card. Alane , and by the Bishop of Cassane ? Did neither of these two worthy persons , know either them , or themselues ? Surely the one was much grieued , that euer the Iesuits came into England ; and the other ( as some of you say ) that euer they obtained the Rectorship of the English Seminarie in Rome : & this was not for their vertues , as I suppose . To put you in mind of the Vniuersitie of Paris , will litle auaile , your own graue censure is able to ouer-weigh two or three such witnesses . Surely you blest your selfe well that morning , and rise vp vpon your right side , when first you knew the Iesuits : they haue made you now , so absolute a person . They know you , and you know them : you commend them , and they commend you : here is , Claw me , and I will claw thee : virum vir : men confederate together , by facing and falshood , to aduance themselues , and oppresse their brethren . B. Neither is their charitie concluded within these bounds : for we our selues ( who now for many yeeres , haue borne the waight of the day , and heat ) liberally professe , that wee haue had much ease and consolation out of their Fountaines , in our necessitie . If your amplitude knew , how much money these Fathers haue spent of their owne patrimonies ( for most little things those are , which come vnto them by almes ) in such and other offices of godlynesse ; and how promptly they alwaies run to refresh the Saints that are kept in prison , & others inwrapped and oppressed with diuers difficulties of thinges , and times : I doubt not but the same would presently restraine the vnbridled boldnes of these men , who being tossed with the pricks of enuie , haue diminished any thing from the estimation and charitie of the Fathers . P. Qui semel verecundiae sines . Hee that once exceedeth the limits of modestie , will easily grow to be impudent . I would I were in debt of a Crowne , as poore a man as I am , ( M. Blackwell ) that you would tell me truly , whether you shewed not this Letter to Fa. Garnet , before it was sent to Rome . I doe verily suppose , that he had first the perusing of it : & that thereupon the good Prouinciall did stroake your wise head for your paines , you haue set them out so gloriously . If the Iesuits had not this pollicie , to procure by their sleights , certain woodcocks from amongst our selues , that bee secular Priests , to extoll and magnifie them in this manner ; that so by our credits their most intollerable insolencies , & Machiauelian fetches , might bee the better cloaked ; it had not been possible in mine opinion , that their reputation should haue continued so long . But touching their charitie . To be liberall of another mans purse is no great matter , you know M. Blackwell : marrie to be so exceeding bountifull , as to sell their owne patrimonies for our releefe , that are captiues , & in bonds for the Catholike faith , I must needs admire it , and if there be any such , adore them with you . I know what Iesuits of any name haue been yet in England , and I am much deceiued , if you can tell me of any one that had any great patrimonie left him . Such a matter must needs haue been notorious . It was not your great Master Fa. M. Parsons , as I suppose ; how say you was it ? If not he , who then ? Let the man bee knowne , that Gods name may bee thereby glorified . Those great works would not bee concealed . I haue heard indeed of a certaine verie admirable excercise , which the Iusuits haue , to cousen young Gentlemen , and get from them that which their friends haue left them , & I could name the parties ; but you meane not them , M. Blackwell , doe you ? Surely except you haue the parties names on your fingers ends , you were much to blame to write thus to the Cardinall . Or otherwise M. Garnet of likelihood told you such a tale , & you verie wisely beleeued him . But that will not serue the turne ; for you pretend to write the matter vpon your owne knowledge , and professe , that you your selfe haue receiued much ease , & consolation out of their fountaines ; and that many other Saints in prison , haue been refreshed by them . It was surely well done of them . I , and some others , could say somewhat for the secular Priests that haue ben long in prison , now here , now there ; and yet I do here avow it vnto you , M. Blackwell , in the word of a priest , that I neuer heard of , or receiued any one penny , of any Iesuits patrimonie vnder that name , or as giuen out of a Iesuits owne purse , to me , or any other , for ought I know , or can remember : and ( I thank god ) I haue not hitherto forgotten in my praiers , my good benefactors . I , and others with me , haue oftentimes felt some want in prison , and were assuredly verie vnfortunate , Sitam adsanctos refocillandos in carcere detentos occurrerint , if they were euer so readie to helpe vs ( as these your words import ) that they neuer came by our dores . Out of question , if the Iesuits haue been so liberall , as you informed the Cardinall , you that were abroad still in the sunne-shine , deuoured it all ; we that were in the shadow of prisons receiued nothing . But in good sooth , M. Blackwel , to commune a word or two with you , as concerning the great burthen of the day , and heat you speak of ; What hath your burthen beene , that you should thus brag of it ? About 20 yeeres since , to my remembrance , you were imprisoned in London : but your brother , being the Bishop of Londons Register , by fauor procured your release verie shortly after . Since which time , the greatest heat that ( for ought I know ) you haue endured , hath ben by the Sunne in the heat of Summer , in troubling your walkings ; and by the fire in winter , when you sat too neer it ; or by your soft bed , when you had too many cloaths vpon you : For many Priests that way ( M. Blackwell ) haue not had your good fortune : such hath been the liberalitie of a right good Gentlewoman towards you . I write not this to diminish their merits , who haue had their measure of afflictions heaped vp vpon them , though they haue escaped imprisonment : but of all that number , none haue had lesse cause ( as I thinke ) to complaine , than your selfe . And therefore if you that had no greater need , did draw from the Iesuits Fountains such store of comfort : you did poorer men great injurie , and it was surely Beneficium male collocatum : Almes euill bestowed . But all you write hereof , are meet fictions , and shamelesse vntruths , such as few men but your selfe in England , would haue presumed to haue vttered , much lesse to haue written to Rome : where many wise men could easily discerne your folly , or rather dishonestie , or at the least could not bee long deceiued by you . Wee know you are a man , that if you bee clapped on the backe , and encouraged , you dare write anything ; but otherwise a checke doth daunt , and deject you . We doe therefore beshrew the Iesuits , that haue put this lying spirit and this audaciousnesse into you . Marrie , I doe much marvaile , that you should bee so grossely bewitched by them , as not to spare the Catholikes generally throughout England , and involue them also within the compasse of your childish calumniations . It might haue been sufficient for you ( M. Blackwell ) to haue defamed vs , and magnified the Iesuits at your pleasure , though you had not pinched at them . Alas , if they forsake vs , what shall we doe ? It seemeth , that the Iesuits with their owne patrimonies will be good vnto you , but what will become of vs ? Wee must sticke to the lay Catholikes , and relie vpon their pitifull compassion of our necessities , or else we must perish . After you haue amplified the Iesuits liberalitie in receiuing of Priests from beyond the seas ; in feeding , cloathing , horsing , and placing them ; and therevpon doe further adde , how they releeue all sorts of distressed poore Catholikes , both in prison , and out of prison : you doe by the way in a short parenthesis , preuent this obiection , which might haue been made to the no small blemishing of your ridiculous commendation of their said supposed liberalitie . For simple men might haue said , or thought , that by the exceeding bountie of the laie Catholikes , there were dailie supplies of money for such godlie vses , and that all the Iesuits commendation is , or can bee , that they deale faithfully in the distributing of it without anie partialitie , but as euerie mans necessitie doth require . All this you wisely foresaw , and therefore you prepared an answeare readie to meet with any such ignorant men of the affaires in England , and with their dull conceits , that should so much as dreame of anie such matter . Tush it is a toy . Nam minima sunt , quae ex eleemosynts illis obueniunt . for they are scarce mites , that by almes doth come to their hands : it is their owne patrimonies which they imploy to these good purposes . It is verie well saide of you ( good Master Blackwell ) and like a tall champion . And yet shall I be a little bold with you ? I knew one Catholike , that delivered to the Iesuits for such vses as is before expressed , 2200 pounds at the least , at one time ; set me such another Iesuit by him , gentle Master Blackwell . There bee of our companie ( as I heare ) that would proceed in this course with you , to the value of ten thousand pounds almost , within few yeeres , which the godlie Catholikes haue deliuered vnto them . And could you answere them , summe with summe , man with man , a Iesuit for a Catholike , to so great a rate ? It is wel known , that not long since , the Iesuits sent for Flanders 2200 pounds , which argueth , that if you say trulie , that they are but mites which they receiue of the laytie here ; & that besides all their said gifts in England , they are able to send so round a summe into Flanders ; their patrimonies thus imploied , were exceeding great . I praie you Sir , in what Countries lay they ? But you are so hard harted , as I maie aske you what I will , for you will be sure to answere me nothing . These grosse lies serued in Rome for the time , and that was all that your Abettors expected : leauing you in the briers ( poore fellow ) to scamble out as you can . B. Enuie is the companion of vertue : but as smoake , so shee preuaileth indeede in the beginning , and by and by vanisheth , the things being lightened , wherby she was enuied . Therefore I am led into great hope , that it will come to passe , that the beames of your amplitude , will most willingly dissipate ( by the truth of things now opened ) those clouds which malitious men haue cast vpon the shining brightnes of our Countrey . In explicating of these our iniuries , these my silly letters haue proceeded further thā I had determined , but not more sharply than I ought . I am made vnwise , but they that are accusers of their brethren haue compelled me , for we should rather haue been commended of them : but we goe not a birding for humane praise , he shall bee allowed whom God shall commend . That vvhich resteth , is , vve submit vvith the greatest humilitie of mind that vve can , the defence of our cause , against all assaults of men that thinke not vvell of vs , to your protection : hoping that your amplitude vvill 〈◊〉 , that the licence of slanderers , may not so freely run vp and dovvne vn punished , as hetherto it hath done , to our ignominie , the offence of good men , & the losse of the Catholike faith ; whose immouable strength ( that I may vse S. Cyprians words ) hath hether to rema●ned by Gods grace amongst vs , and her stable and vnshaken vertue against all the incursions of b●●king floods against it . God preserue your amplitude most long in safetie and health . At London the tenth of Ianuarie , 1596. The most humble seruant of your most illustrious Lordship , George Blackwell . P. Vanitas vanitatum , & omnia vanitas . You are in great hope ( you say ) that by this your relation , the Cardinall will rest satisfied , as well concerning the deserts of the Iesuits , as also the aforesaid injurious reports , made by some against them . Why ( Maister Blackwell ) who were you then , that you should once imagine , that your letter should bee of such credite with his excellencie ? If you had then been aduaunced to the Archpriestdome , such a conceit had beene more tollerable . Shall wee thinke so basely of the Cardinals in Rome , as that they will be led this way , and that way , vpon euerie simple priests letter ? It is certainely a verie shallow imagination , or rather ( if you were a man of any substance ) verie injurious and scandalous . Hope , you know ( Maister Blackwell ) is fed with promises : Either then you had no such hope , as you write of , or a vaine hope , or els you were told of some promise , that the Cardinals mind was so vnderstood alreadie , that whatsoeuer you should write vnto him in commendation of the Iesuits , hee would beleeue you . But that which followeth , passeth all the rest . Consider with me , I pray you , how discreetly you allude to the Apostles words . S. Paule 2. Cor. 12. after his painefull preaching amongst the Corinthians , was in his absence greatly depraued by certaine false Prophets , who blaming him and his doctrine in sundrie points , hee justifieth both , and thought it conuenient ( in respect principally of the weaker sort in that citie ) to enter into a discourse concerning some mercies of God , bestowed vpon him for their good . I know a man ( saith he ) that was taken vp into the third heauen , and into paradice , and heard secret words ; which are not lawfull to bee vttered : and thereupon , after some other speeches , hee commeth to these words , Factus sum insipiens , vos me coegistis , ego enim a vobis debui commendari . And now let vs see ( Maister Blackwell ) how substantially you knit your matters together , that so you might bee countenanced a little with the Apostles words . I am become vnwise , say you : and indeed ( to take away your allusion ) they are the truest words in all your letter . But you should rather haue said , I am become a mad man , or a dishonest man , or a man bewitched by the Iesuits : and not to excuse your bad dealing , so grossely , to haue abused the Apostles words . When Saint Paule vsed that speech , he did not taxe the spirit of God ( which was the authour of them ) but a little reproueth thereby the weakenesse of some , who by his former speeches hee foresaw might deeme amisse of him . Now it might be demaunded , whether you ( Maister Blackwell ) ascribed the like weakenesse to the Cardinall , as suspecting that hee might by your letter think you not the wisest man in the world , whereas all that you haue said , did proceed from the Holy ghost : which were a great imputation , and to the Cardinals discredite . And yet if you did not wilfully or foolishly abuse the Apostles words , you could haue no other apt meaning . Sed illi me coegerunt : But they compelled me . Who ( Maister Blackwell ) dealt so roughly with you ? Speake the truth man , Was it not Master Garnet that vrged you to write this letter ? or did some other Iesuit in his name , or by his procurement , so greatly misuse you ? If you mean that some of vs ( the secular Priests ) had so written of the Iesuits ; wee confesse it ( as I haue said before ) we did so , and that most truly . But then you doe vs great injurie to say , that we compelled you . For wee haue beene euer so farre from vrging you to commend the Iesuits , as in truth , now that you haue done it so eagerly , we condemne you for it , as hauing lent your penne all the while to Sathan , who is the authour of all those glauering vntruths , wherewith you meant to haue adorned them . But who they were that compelled you , it is a point wee care not for , and therefore wee will omit it . Onely giue vs leaue to conjecture how it came to passe , that you amongst all the secular Priests in England , should be compelled to take this office vpon you . There was nothing laid to your charge ( for ought wee know ) that might haue drawne you vnto it . You were not then ( in our opinions ) a man worth the whistling , and a little otherwise regarded of , than as of an ordinarie priest amongst vs. Besides , you write nothing in your owne defence , as of your beeing in any supercoelestiall places , or of any such your diuine illuminations , wherewith your wise friend hath told you ( in his Metaphisycall Treatise of his Three farewels ) that the Iesuits are so fully replenished . Againe , you were not then our Apostle , nor any mans else ; the paines you haue taken for twentie yeares , hath been cheefely with a Gentlewoman or two , which cannot demerit the name of an Apostle . But peraduenture we haue found you . In turning ouer a chapter or two of Saint Paule , to find some vaile to couer your folly with , you did out of doubt , light on that place where hee saith , That the care of the whole Church did lie vpon his shoulders : Instancia mea quotidiana , solicitudo omnium ecclesiarum : and so you tooke vpon you ( as a most principall person , that stood in the gap against our enemies ) to commend the Iesuits , euen for conscience sake . If still we misse your intent , then tell it vs plainly , to ease vs of further trouble , for we will haue it out before we leaue you . Why should you bee compelled to this lying course , more than any other ? Did either 〈◊〉 , or any for him , promise you for your paines the the place , that now you haue attained vnto ? Well , to trouble you ( good man ) with no more questions at this time . Out of doubt the Iesuits finding you a fit man for their purpose , did put courage and spirit into you , assuring you , that they would by their priuate Letters to the Cardinall , so magnifie and extoll you , as that you should be iudged in Rome , the onelie worthie Priest in England to be had in principall estimation . And it stood them vpon at that time so to doe , for their credits then were greatly cracked , except they had gotten some singuler person of name , to haue written in their behalfe : such a man as they made the Cardinall to beleeue that you were . Whervpon it pleased your Mastership to write to the Cardinall , in so stately a manner , and with so high a stile : There are as I heare : I hope by my relation : Factus sum insipiens sed illi me coegerunt : and most grauely : Nos debuimus ab illis commendari . We ought to haue been commended by them . Indeed Saint Paule deserued singular commendations ; therefore you M. Blackwell ? He was compelled to speake for himselfe ; therfore you for the Iesuits ? The Apostle excused by those words , Factus sum insipiens , the commending of himselfe , and the mercies of God towards him : but you by the same , the length of your lying and foolish Letter ? And yet you shall not loose all by your Apostolicall allusions : for I will giue you this commendation , and doe thinke indeed that you haue deserued it . If your wisedome and pollicie were answerable to your pride , boldnesse , and lying ; you were in mine opinion a verie fit man to be an ordinarie English Iesuit . For the rest of your Letter , when I find you harping still vpon one false string , Non bene de nobis sentientium : Not thinking well of vs : we submit our selues : the defence of our cause : Ad nostram ignonimiam : To our dishonour . Were I a man of a collericke or a queasie stomacke , had I not just cause to crie out , as it is in the proverbe , Date mihi peluim ? We haue a saying in England , that when men speak to no purpose , at Randon , and besids the matter , they talke ad Ephesios . But I cannot say so of your Letter , ( Master Blackwell ) you had counsell inough , ( I doubt not ) to prosecute your instructions , which were to abuse our names that were secular Priests , for the Iesuits aduantage , and our owne disgrace : as though we had spoken by your spirit , ( according to that which here you haue written ) these intollerable falshoods , which in our hearts wee abhorre . And therefore although I will not say , you write ad Ephesios , yet I may justly call your Letter , litteras Ephesias , Ephesian Letters ; that is , a scroll of jugling , and incantations , a packe or fardell of fictions and vntruths . I told you in the beginning ( Master Blackwell ) that I would not know you in the answering of your Letter , as now you are aduaunced , and frankely rewarded for your writing of it : but deale only , not with the Latinus Georgius , but with my old companion , plaine Master George ( according to the scottish phrase ) and with those bad humours that raigned then in you . Since that time it may be , that you are changed , and are become another man : Honores mutant mores , sed raro tamen in meliores . And so I commit you to God , desiring his divine Maiestie , from the bottome of my heart , that hee will pardon your course thus begun , and still continued by you , amongst vs poore Priests , and other Catholikes , our Consorts in England . Your ancient acquaintance and louing Friend , Andreas Philalethes . FINIS .