Answer to Campian the Jesuit, Preface
TO THE MOST LEARNED VNIVERSITIE MEN, FLORISHING BOTH AT OXFORD AND Cambridge, Edmond Campian ſendeth greeting.
WHen I returned (most worthy men) into this Iland, a yeere agoe, vponupon commandement of my ſuperiours, according to the order of that Religion, which I profeſſe; I found ſtormes farre more dangerous on the Engliſh coasts, than thoſe were which I had lately eſcaped on the Brittaine Ocean. But when I had gone further into England, I ſawe nothing more vſuall, then vnuſuall puniſhments, nothing more certaine than vncertaine daungers. Then I plucks vp my heart, as well as I could, calling to mind the goodnes of my cauſe, and not forgetting the troubles of theſe times. And least peraduenture I ſhould be caught before that any man heard what I had to ſay; forthwith I writ downe my determination, why I came, what I ſought for, what manner of warre, and against whom I purpoſed to proclaime it. The firſt draught of my writing, I kept ſtill about me, that if I were apprehended it might be found with me. A copie thereof I left in keeping with a friend of mine, which vnawares trulie to me, was ſhewed to many other men, and by them coppied out. The Aduerſaries tooke the ſchedule, being publiſhed, in ill part, most ſpitefully reprehending both all the rest, as alſo this, that I alone in this matter of Religion, had made the challenge to all. Although in very deed, I alone would not hauehave entred the list; if with licence of her Maiestie, and ſafe conduct theſe diſputations had been granted: Hanmer and Charke, hauehave made anſwere to my challenge: what I pray you? though it were long before? To no purpoſe at all, for they ſhall giuegive no anſwere honestly but one, which I feare they will neuer giuegive, to wit: We accept of your anſwere, The Queenes Maieſtie hath giuen her word, that you ſhall come and goe ſafe: make haſte hitherwarde. In the meane while they are full of their exclamations: Fie vponupon thy ſocietie, out vponupon thy ſeditions, art thou not aſhamed of thine arrogancie, thou art a Traitor, doubtles thou art a Traitor: fooliſhly ſaid of them: Why do thoſe men, not the vnaduiſedst of all the rest, ſo lauiſhlie looſe their labour and cost of pen inke and paper? But there is of late a little booke very plaine, ſet forth for theſe two men to peruſe (the former of which for his pleaſure and recreation took my ſaid paper in hand, to confute the ſame: the other more maliciouſly hudleth vp the whole matter) which ſo farre forth as was expedient, entreates both of our ſociety, and of theſe mens iniuries, and of the charge which I hauehave vndertaken. There remaineth only for me (for as I perceiue, our Biſhops prouide ſcourges, and not Schooles) that I might render an account of my ſaid fact, euidently to ſhew, and as it were with my finger to point out vntounto you the chiefe Chapters and fountaines of the things, that breed in me ſuch confidence. And withall to exhort you, who eſpecially aboue all others hauehave to do herein, that you will looke vntounto this charge, with ſuch carefull diligence, as Chriſt, the Church, the Common-wealth, and the ſaluation of your owne ſoules do require at your hands. If I vponupon the affiance of my wit, learning, art, reading, or memorie, hauehave thus challenged the best learned of the Aduerſaries, I was in ſo doing most vain-glorious, and proud aboue meaſure, for that I conſidered neither them, nor my ſelf more deeply. But if vponupon conſiderations of the cauſe, I thought my ſelfe able enough to proue that this ſunne ſhineth now at Midday, you must beare with this my feruent zeale, which the honor of Ieſus Christ my King, and inuincible truth, hauehave vrged me vntounto.
Yee know that Marcus Tullius in his oration for Quintius, when Roſcius warranted him that he ſhould get the better, if he could proue that it was not poſsible for a man to trauaile 700. miles within two daies ſpace, was not only nothing afraid of the force and ſtrength of that famous Orator Hortenſius, but alſo cared nothing for Philippus, Cotta, Antonius, or Craſſus, who were Orators farre more excellent then Hortenſius was. And were (as he iudged) the principall Orators of his time. There is vndoubtedly a truth in all matters, ſo apparent and euident, that neither any iugling trickes, or enchaunting words can darken the beames thereof. But that which I intend to proue is much more plaine, then was that ſuppoſition of Roſcius: for if I ſhall proue this, that there is a heauen, a God, a faith, a Christ, I hauehave gotten the victorie. Should I not in this cauſe then be couragious? Truly wel may I be killed, but ouercome I cannot be: for I depend vponupon thoſe Doctors, whom that holy ſpirit hath inſtructed, which can neither be deceiued nor ouercome. I beſeech you, hauehave a care of your ſoules health: of whom I ſhall obtaine this, I expect the reſt aſſuredly. Let this be your only care and cogitation: Firſt to giuegive your ſelues to earneſt prayer, then diligentlie to ſtudie alſo: and yee ſhall find out the very depth of the matter, and that the Aduerſaries are in deſpaire; and that we being ſo ſurely grounded, hauehave good cauſe, chearefully and couragiouſly, to looke and long after theſe diſputations. I am the ſhorter in this preface, becauſe that all the Treatiſe following appertaineth properly to you.
Fare you well.