Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

These cautions at this present offer them selves unto me,¹ whereby may be adorned this kind of proditiō, which may be allowed or defended, which otherwise is a thing to be cursed & detested, as it is manifest that the prodition of Judah was. Neither can the reasons which I have alleged in the beginning, any thing hinder but that some prodition may be approved. We declared first by the authority of Jerome, ²Antigonus, augustus, & Philip of Macedonia ye traitors have ben accustomed to be evil spoken of. I answer that therefore it happened, because proditions for the most part lack these cautions before declared. For they which are traitors have not for the most part a respect to that which is just & honest, neither are they sure of the will of god, neither have they any sure proof that the cause is right which they follow, but are only brought to betray for hatred, & for their own commodity, & for fear & wicked affects. And they might also oftentimes have defended justice by other ways & means. Besides this they are not afeard therein to make lies, & to commit manifest sins. Furthermore I repeat that again which I said before, that it was evil said of them in pronouncing that they loved yt treason, & hated the traitors: seeing either seemeth either equally to be allowed, or else equally to be condemned. And to be brief, the testimonies which were brought can only take place in naughty & damnable treasons. And to such as consider of them selves, that they would not them selves nor theirs to be betrayed, & therefore will not that any kind of prodition should be counted good, we must answer as S. Augustine saith. That the complaints of such as suffer are not to be heard, but we must seek out the mind of the doers.

These cautiōs at this presēt offer thē selues vnto me,¹ wherby may be adorned this kind of proditiō, which may be allowed or defended, whiche otherwise is a thing to be cursed & detested, as it is manifest yt the prodition of Iudah was. Neither cā the reasons which I haue alledged in ye begynning, any thing hinder but yt some prodition may be approued. We declared first by ye authoritie of Ierome, ²Antigonus, augustus, & Philip of Macedonia ye traitors haue ben accustomed to be euil spokē of. I answere yt therfore yt happened, bicause proditiōs for ye most part lacke these cautiōs before declared. For they which are traytors haue not for the most part a respect to yt whiche is iust & honest, neither are they sure of ye will of god, neither haue they any sure proofe yt the cause is right which they follow, but are only brought to betray for hatred, & for their own cōmodity, & for feare & wicked affectes. And they might also oftētimes haue defēded iustice by other wayes & meanes. Besides this they are not afeard therin to make lyes, & to cōmit manifest sinnes. Furthermore I repete yt agayn which I sayd before, yt it was euill said of thē in pronoūcing yt they loued yt treasō, & hated ye traitors: seing either semeth either equally to be allowed, or els equally to be cōdēned. And to be brief, ye testimonies which wer brought cā only take place in naughty & dānable treasōs. And to such as cōsider of thē selues, yt they would not thē selues nor theirs to be betrayed, & therfore wil not yt any kind of prodition should be coūted good, we must answere as S. Augustine sayth. That the complayntes of such as suffer are not to be heard, but we must seke out the mynd of the doers.