Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

It was an ingenuous answer of a Spanish Nobleman, commanded by Charles the 5. to lodge the Duke of Bourbon at his house in Madrid: ¹I will obey thee, but set my house on fire, so soon as the Duke is out of it. My Predecessors never built it to harbour Traitors. Did he think that a conspirator would poison his house; and shall we think that such are no infection to our land? David did counterfeit himself mad, when he was not, for his own security: these are mad, and dissemble it; till by one frantic act, they can bring us all to ruin. If they were foreign, public and profest enemies, we would not blame, not fear them. While Kingdoms stand in hostility, hostile actions are just. But these are domesticall, intestine, secret adversaries, bred and fed in the same Country; therefore the more intolerable, as the more pernicious.

It was an ingenuous answere of a Spanish Nobleman, commanded by Charles the 5. to lodge the Duke of Bourbon at his house in Madrid: ¹I will obey thee, but set my house on fire, so soone as the Duke is out of it. My Predecessors neuer built it to harbor Traytors. Did hee thinke that a conspirator would poyson his house; and shall we thinke that such are no infection to our land? Dauid did counterfeyt himselfe madde, when he was not, for his owne security: these are mad, and dissemble it; till by one franticke act, they can bring vs all to ruine. If they were forraine, publike and profest enemies, wee would not blame, not feare them. While Kingdoms stand in hostility, hostile actions are iust. But these are domesticall, intestine, secret aduersaries, bred and fed in the same Country; therefore the more intolerable, as the more pernicious.

1. 1The state of the English fugitives.The state of the English fugitiues.

Tut, they can satisfy their consciences by distinguishing of Treasons. Indeed, all their Religion is a religion of distinctions: such as that is, that an excommunicate Prince may be dethroned; and being once uncrowned, may on his penitent submission be restored to the Church: Quoad animam, non quoad regnum. Thus they leave positive, textual, school-divinity, and fall to Crown-divinity. Antichrist pleads, their Religion is maintained by the Fathers. Did ever any Father allow of Treason? Shame they not to aver it? If any abused, wrested, falsified writing of the Fathers did seem to consent to their errors: yet we know, that Audiendi Patres, non ut Indices, sed ut testes: The Fathers are to