Paradoxes Problems Essays Characters, Part 8
An Apology for Iesuits.
NOw it is time to come to the Apologie for Iesuits: that is, it is time to leave speaking of them, for he favours them most, which says least of them; Nor can any man, though he had declaimed against them till all the sand of the sea were run through his hour-glass, lack matter to add of their practises. If any man have a minde to add any thing to this Apologie, he hath my leave; and I have therefore left room for three or four lines, which is enough for such a paradox; and more than Iungius, Scribanius, Gretzerus, Richeomus, Cydonius, and all the rest which are used to Apologies, and almost tired with a defensive war, are able to employ, if they will write only good things, and Bonar. in Ampbitb.true, of the Iesuits. Neither can they comfort themselves with this, That Cato was called to his answer four and forty times: for he was so many times acquitted, which both the Parliaments of England and France deny of the Iesuits. But if any man think this Apology too short, he may think the whole book an Apologie, by this rule of their own, That it is their greatest argument of innocency to be accused by us. At this time, whilst they are yet somewhat able to do some harm in some places, let them make much of this Apologie. It will come to pass shortly, when as they have bin dispoyled and expelled at Venice, and shaked and fanned in France, so they will be forsaken of other Princes, and then their own weakness will be their Apologie, and they will grow harmless out of necessity, and that which Vegetius said Lib. 1. c. 14.of Chariots armed with sithes ond hooks, will be applyed to the Jesuits, at first they were a terror, and after a scorn.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Donne, Paradoxes Problems Essays Characters (1652)