Rastell. Frith. Rastell. Rastell cavilleth. Frith. their own mother tongue, that they might have conferred these juggling mists with the light of God's word, as the process of my words can testify, which he hath wholly left out; but I beseech the Christian reader once to read the place for my discharge and his confusion ; ye shall find it in the second leaf of my book. And now he allegeth against me, that I should say this: Judge, Christian reader, what reasons Rastell hath brought, and how he hath solved them; for in my mind both his reasons and solutions are so childish and unsavory, so unlearned and barren, so full of faults and phantasies, that I rather pity the man's deep ignorance and blindness, which hath so deceived himself through philosophy and natural reason, than I fear that he, by his vain probations, should allure any man to consent unto him. I think Rastell layeth not this against me, because I boast myself in these words. And verily, as touching the truth of those words, I will add thus much more unto them that I never wist man that was counted wise which hath brought so slender reasons, except he intended to destroy a thing which ye seem to have built. And finally, whereas I exhort all men to judge and confer the Scriptures which Sir Thomas More and my Lord of Rochester allege for their opinions, and would have them to ponder their reasons and my solutions unto them, annexing these words, I am sure that my small learning hath condemned their high eloquence, that my folly hath brought to nought their wisdom, and that my youth hath disclosed their festered ig norance: There Rastell thinketh that I stand well in my own conceit, and boast myself above the moon, because I touch M. More his kinsman: But let Rastell take this for an answer: if M. More would keep him within his own bounds, that is, with meddling of worldly matters` would not be ignorant only, I would never compare with him; yet he must More in any thing, and understood nothing as he should therefore have unneither his duty to the derstood, prince, nor yet to God. Furthermore, I see no great praise that I here attribute unto myself; but confess my small learning, my folly, and my youth; nevertheless, if he recount it a praise, because I say it hath condemned their high eloquence and their wisdom, and disclosed their ignorance, then let him also annex the words that I wrote, saying: And it is even the old practice of God, to choose the A good foolish things of the world to confound the wise; to choose the weak, to confound the mighty; and to choose the vile things, which are of no reputation, to confound them of high degree, that no flesh might boast itself in his sight, to whom only be praise and thanks for ever. Amen. Where all men may see that I refer all praise to him which only is worthy; and so I may conclude, that you have not looked indifferently on my book. conclusion made by John Frith against Rastell's first chap ter. AN ANSWER UNTO RASTELL'S SECOND CHAPTER, WHICH IMPROVETH ME FOR RAILING AND DIS- IN the second chapter, he rangeth the field, and Rastell. searcheth out, with all diligence, what word I have spoken that might be taken in the worst sense, and calleth them railing, jesting, and scolding words; and because he would have me to be abhorred of the reader, he Rastell. Frith. Rastell. Frith. Rastell. Frith. Rastell. Frith. allegeth not only these words that are spoken against himself, but also that are spoken against my Lord of Rochester, and Sir Thomas More; not that he intendeth to answer for them, or to defend their parts, ye may be sure, but only to leave nothing behind which should seem to make for him; like a noble orator. The words that he reproveth are these: There Rastell taketh his foundation upon a stark lie; and there he maketh two lies; and there he maketh three lies. Here I would desire my brother Rastell to pardon me of a little ignorance, for surely I thought it had been no more offence to call a lie a lie, than to call a sheep a sheep; notwithstanding, since he recounteth it to be railing, jesting, and scolding, I will hereafter temper myself and change my words, and will say that when he lieth, that (by his leave) he maketh a fitten. It angereth him when I say, that Rastell hath lost his wit in purgatory; and therefore I will say so no more. But this I will affirm, (be Rastell ever so furious,) that whosoever maketh such reasons and solutions, and counteth them good in earnest, that he hath no wit in his head, wheresoever he lost it; but if you would read Rastell's first argument, which I have set in my book in the twelfth leaf, then you shall perceive whether I say the truth, or not. Also he allegeth that I should say, that saying of Rastell is against Scripture; but if ye count that railing, and would not have me say so much unto him, I will count the man somewhat stately; and this I insure him, that if God suffer me to live, I will say so again, take it as he will. Also he reciteth, as a great reproach, that I should say, I marvel how our schoolmen may abide this fellow. And surely, the same I say again; for he proveth both St. Thomas, and them also, fools and double fools, which, if I should so do, would be counted heinous heresy. Then he rehearseth what I say of M. More and my Rastell. Lord of Rochester, and all to help his matter, that when I say, the small probations and slender reasons that those two witted men, Sir Thomas More and my Lord of Rochester, had brought to confirm purgatory, made my heart to yearn. What railing or jesting this is, let other men judge; but Frith. this I dare avow, that I said the truth; for what should contrary to More, and More con a man do or say, to see them so contrary in their tales? M. More saith, that there is fire and no water in pur- Rochester gatory; and my Lord of Rochester saith, that there is both fire and water. M. More saith, that the ministers of punishment are devils; and my Lord of Rochester Rochester. saith, that. the ministers of punishment are angels. M. More saith, that both the grace and charity of them that lie in the pains of purgatory are increased; my Lord of Rochester saith, the souls of purgatory obtain there neither more faith, nor grace, nor charity, than they brought in with them. Now judge, good reader, whether I have railed or said the truth; but all this doth Rastell leave out full craftily: he reciteth full diligently both the head and tail, but the middle, which expoundeth the matter, will he not let you see. He allegeth also against me, that I say M. More is Rastell. sore deceived, and set on the sand even at the first brunt, and in the beginning of his voyage, and that I would wish M. More a little more wit. Even that I say again, and affirm it to be true, and Frith, is so evidently proved in the beginning of mine answer against M. More, that I need to say nothing, but only refer the reader unto the place. Also he improveth me for saying in another place, Rastell. that M. More showeth him in one text twice ignorant, and that he is too busy, for he understandeth not the phrase of Scripture. This, and such other sayings he allegeth (which I Frith. pass over); for I count it folly to spend paper and Rastell. bitter taunter. you read labour about the rehearsing of them; for if This he counteth jesting, slandering, and railing, saying that no reasonable man will think these points Rastell is a to be things belonging to virtue, but rather spices and branches of pride, and that I show not myself therein charitable, but rather malicious, nor no wisdom therein, but rather folly; adding, that if I had been half a year at two schools, that is to say, the school of discretion and the school of charity, I should more have prospered in virtuous learning than I have done in other schools this seven years; and saith that I have been at the schools of slandering, railing, and jesting. Frith. Matt. iii. The reproving of the Papistical hypo crites must not be called railing. Dear brother, if it had been so that I had spoken certain words indeed, which might have seemed in your eyes to be railing, detracting, and slandering, (as I have not, saving a little jesting) would you disprove my doctrine thereby? What will you then say to St. John Baptist, which calleth the pharisees (then heads of the church, as are now our doctors) generation of vipers? Would you therefore conclude that his doctrines were naught? I think you be not so childish. And it seemeth this one sentence to be more railing and slandering, than all that I have written. What will you say to Christ, which called the scribes and pharisees, hypocrites. (Matt. xv. xvi. xxii.) And in the xiiith he seemeth to rail above measure, where he calleth them hypocrites and blind guides, painted sepulchres, which outwardly appear righteous, but within are full of hypocrisy, serpents, and generation of vipers. Besides that he calleth Herod Fox, (Luke Luke xiii. xiii.) and the Jews he called a froward and advoutrous generation, (Matt. xii. xvi. ;) and in the xviith, he saith, O unfaithful and overthwart nation! Would you think it should excuse the Jews which refused his doc |