hesays，"havingbeencommunicatedbyaGermancountesstothedaughtersoftheEmpress，thebeliefthusimpressedontheirmindsthatcalumnywasonlyavenialsin，gaveriseinthecourseofafewdaystosuchanimmensenumberoffalseandscandaloustalesthatthewholecourtwasthrownintoaflameandfilledwithalarm。Itiseasy，indeed，toconceivewhatafineusetheseladieswouldmakeofthenewlighttheyhadacquired。Mattersproceededtosuchalength，thatitwasfoundnecessarytocallintheassistanceofaworthyCapuchinfriar，amanofexemplarylife，calledFatherQuiroga"（theverymanwhomDicastillerailsatsobitterly），"whoassuredthemthatthemaximwasmostpernicious，especiallyamongwomen，andwasatthegreatestpainstoprevailupontheEmpresstoabolishthepracticeofitentirely。"Wehavenoreason，therefore，tobesurprisedatthebadeffectsofthisdoctrine；onthecontrary，thewonderwouldbeifithadfailedtoproducethem。Self—loveisalwaysreadyenoughtowhisperinourear，whenweareattacked，thatwesufferwrongfully；andmoreparticularlyinyourcase，fathers，whomvanityhasblindedsoegregiouslyastomakeyoubelievethattowoundthehonourofyourSocietyistowoundthatoftheChurch。Therewouldhavebeengoodgroundtolookonitassomethingmiraculous，ifyouhadnotreducedthismaximtopractice。Thosewhodonotknowyouarereadytosay：Howcouldthesegoodfathersslandertheirenemies，whentheycannotdosobutattheexpenseoftheirownsalvation？
　　But，iftheyknewyoubetter，thequestionwouldbe：Howcouldthesegoodfathersforegotheadvantageofdecryingtheirenemies，whentheyhaveitintheirpowertodosowithouthazardingtheirsalvation？Letnone，therefore，henceforthbesurprisedtofindtheJesuitscalumniators；theycanexercisethisvocationwithasafeconscience；thereisnoobstacleinheavenoronearthtopreventthem。Invirtueofthecredittheyhaveacquiredintheworld，theycanpractisedefamationwithoutdreadingthejusticeofmortals；and，onthestrengthoftheirself—assumedauthorityinmattersofconscience，theyhaveinventedmaximsforenablingthemtodoitwithoutanyfearofthejusticeofGod。This，fathers，isthefertilesourceofyourbaseslanders。OnthisprinciplewasFatherBrisacierledtoscatterhiscalumniesabouthim，withsuchzealastodrawdownonhisheadthecensureofthelateArchbishopofParis。Actuatedbythesamemotives，FatherD’AnjoulaunchedhisinvectivesfromthepulpitoftheChurchofSt。BenedictinParisonthe8thofMarch，1655，againstthosehonourablegentlemenwhowereintrustedwiththecharitablefundsraisedforthepoorofPicardyandChampagne，towhichtheythemselveshadlargelycontributed；and，utteringabasefalsehood，calculated（ifyourslandershadbeenconsideredworthyofanycredit）todryupthestreamofthatcharity，hehadtheassurancetosay，"thatheknew，fromgoodauthority，thatcertainpersonshaddivertedthatmoneyfromitsproperuse，toemployitagainsttheChurchandtheState"；acalumnywhichobligedthecurateoftheparish，whoisadoctoroftheSorbonne，tomountthepulpittheverynextday，inordertogiveittheliedirect。TothesamesourcemustbetracedtheconductofyourFatherCrasset，whopreachedcalumnyatsuchafuriousrateinOrleansthattheArchbishopofthatplacewasunderthenecessityofinterdictinghimasapublicslanderer。Inthismandate，datedthe9thofSeptemberlast，hislordshipdeclares："ThatwhereashehadbeeninformedthatBrotherJeanCrasset，priestoftheSocietyofJesus，haddeliveredfromthepulpitadiscoursefilledwithfalsehoodsandcalumniesagainsttheecclesiasticsofthiscity，falselyandmaliciouslychargingthemwithmaintainingimpiousandhereticalpropositions，suchas：ThatthecommandmentsofGodareimpracticable；thatinternalgraceisirresistible；
　　thatJesusChristdidnotdieforallmen；andothersofasimilarkind，condemnedbyInnocentX：hethereforeherebyinterdictstheaforesaidCrassetfrompreachinginhisdiocese，andforbidsallhispeopletohearhim，onpainofmortaldisobedience。"Theabove，fathers，isyourordinaryaccusation，andgenerallyamongthefirstthatyoubringagainstallwhomitisyourinteresttodenounce。And，althoughyoushouldfinditasimpossibletosubstantiatethechargeagainstanyofthem，asFatherCrassetdidinthecaseoftheclergyofOrleans，yourpeaceofconsciencewillnotbeintheleastdisturbedonthataccount；foryoubelievethatthismodeofcalumniatingyouradversariesispermittedyouwithsuchcertaintythatyouhavenoscrupletoavowitinthemostpublicmanner，andinthefaceofawholecity。AremarkableproofofthismaybeseeninthedisputeyouhadwithM。Puys，curateofSt。NisieratLyons；andthestoryexhibitssocompleteanillustrationofyourspiritthatIshalltakethelibertyofrelatingsomeofitsleadingcircumstances。Youknow，fathers，that，intheyear1649，M。PuystranslatedintoFrenchanexcellentbook，writtenbyanotherCapuchinfriar，OnthedutywhichChristiansowetotheirownparishes，againstthosethatwouldleadthemawayfromthem，withoutusingasingleinvective，orpointingtoanymonkoranyorderofmonksinparticular。
　　Yourfathers，however，werepleasedtoputthecapontheirownheads；
　　andwithoutanyrespecttoanagedpastor，ajudgeinthePrimacyofFrance，andamanwhowasheldinthehighestesteembythewholecity，FatherAlbywroteafurioustractagainsthim，whichyousoldinyourownchurchuponAssumptionDay；inwhichbook，amongothervariouscharges，heaccusedhimofhavingmadehimselfscandalousbyhisgallantries，"describedhimassuspectedofhavingnoreligion，asaheretic，excommunicated，and，inshort，worthyofthestake。TothisM。Puysmadeareply；andFatherAlby，inasecondpublication，supportedhisformerallegations。Now，fathers，isitnotaclearpointeitherthatyouwerecalumniators，orthatyoubelievedallthatyouallegedagainstthatworthypriesttobetrue；andthat，onthislatterassumption，itbecameyoutoseehimpurifiedfromalltheseabominationsbeforejudginghimworthyofyourfriendship？Letussee，then，whathappenedattheaccommodationofthedispute，whichtookplaceinthepresenceofagreatnumberoftheprincipalinhabitantsofthetownonthe25thofSeptember，1650。BeforeallthesewitnessesM。Puysmadeadeclaration，whichwasneithermorenorlessthanthis：
　　"ThatwhathehadwrittenwasnotdirectedagainstthefathersoftheSocietyofJesus；thathehadspokeningeneralofthosewhoalienatedthefaithfulfromtheirparishes，withoutmeaningbythattoattacktheSociety；andthat，sofarfromhavingsuchanintention，theSocietywastheobjectofhisesteemandaffection。"Byvirtueofthesewordsalone，withouteitherretractionorabsolution，M。Puysrecovered，allatonce，fromhisapostasy，hisscandals，andhisexcommunication；andFatherAlbyimmediatelythereafteraddressedhiminthefollowingexpressterms："Sir，itwasinconsequenceofmybelievingthatyoumeanttoattacktheSocietytowhichIhavethehonourtobelongthatIwasinducedtotakeupthepeninitsdefence；
　　andIconsideredthatthemodeofreplywhichIadoptedwassuchasIwaspermittedtoemploy。But，onabetterunderstandingofyourintention，Iamnowfreetodeclarethatthereisnothinginyourworktopreventmefromregardingyouasamanofgenius，enlightenedinjudgement，profoundandorthodoxindoctrine，andirreproachableinmanners；inoneword，asapastorworthyofyourChurch。ItiswithmuchpleasurethatImakethisdeclaration，andIbegthesegentlementorememberwhatIhavenowsaid。"
　　Theydorememberit，fathers；and，allowmetoadd，theyweremorescandalizedbythereconciliationthanbythequarrel。ForwhocanfailtoadmirethisspeechofFatherAlby？Hedoesnotsaythatheretracts，inconsequenceofhavinglearntthatachangehadtakenplaceinthefaithandmannersofM。Puys，butsolelybecause，havingunderstoodthathehadnointentionofattackingyourSociety，therewasnothingfurthertopreventhimfromregardingtheauthorasagoodCatholic。Hedidnotthenbelievehimtobeactuallyaheretic！Andyet，afterhaving，contrarytohisconviction，accusedhimofthiscrime，hewillnotacknowledgehewasinthewrong，buthasthehardihoodtosaythatheconsideredthemethodheadoptedtobe"suchashewaspermittedtoemploy！"Whatcanyoupossiblymean，fathers，bysopubliclyavowingthefactthatyoumeasurethefaithandthevirtueofmenonlybythesentimentstheyentertaintowardsyourSociety？Hadyounoapprehensionofmakingyourselvespass，byyourownacknowledgement，asabandofswindlersandslanderers？What，fathers！mustthesameindividualwithoutundergoinganypersonaltransformation，butsimplyaccordingasyoujudgehimtohavehonouredorassailedyourcommunity，be"pious"or"impious，""irreproachable"or"excommunicated，""apastorworthyoftheChurch，"or"worthyofthestake"；inshort，"aCatholic"or"aheretic"？
　　ToattackyourSocietyandtobeahereticare，therefore，inyourlanguage，convertibleterms！Anoddsortofheresythis，fathers！Andsoitwouldappearthat，whenweseemanygoodCatholicsbranded，inyourwritings，bythenameofheretia，itmeansnothingmorethanthatyouthinktheyattackyou！Itiswell，fathers，thatweunderstandthisstrangedialect，accordingtowhichtherecanbenodoubtthatImustbeagreatheretic。
　　Itisinthissense，then，thatyousooftenfavourmewiththisappellation！
　　YoursolereasonforcuttingmeofffromtheChurchisbecauseyouconceivethatmylettershavedoneyouharm；and，accordingly，allthatIhavetodo，inordertobecomeagoodCatholic，iseithertoapproveofyourextravagantmorality，ortoconvinceyouthatmysoleaiminexposingithasbeenyouradvantage。TheformerIcouldnotdowithoutrenouncingeverysentimentofpietythatIeverpossessed；andthelatteryouwillbeslowtoacknowledgetillyouarewellcuredofyourerrors。ThusamIinvolvedinheresy，afteraverysingularfashion；for，thepurityofmyfaithbeingofnoavailformyexculpation，Ihavenomeansofescapingfromthecharge，excepteitherbyturningtraitortomyownconscience，orbyreformingyours。
　　Tilloneorotheroftheseeventshappen，Imustremainareprobateandaslanderer；and，letmebeeversofaithfulinmycitationsfromyourwritings，youwillgoaboutcryingeverywhere："Whataninstrumentofthedevilmustthatmanbe，toimputetousthingsofwhichthereisnottheleastmarkorvestigetobefoundinourbooks！"And，bydoingso，youwillonlybeactinginconformitywithyourfixedmaximandyourordinarypractice：tosuchlatitudedoesyourprivilegeoftellingliesextend！
　　Allowmetogiveyouanexampleofthis，whichIselectonpurpose；itwillgivemeanopportunityofreplying，atthesametime，toyourninthImposture：for，intruth，theyonlydeservetoberefutedinpassing。Abouttenortwelveyearsago，youwereaccusedofholdingthatmaximofFatherBauny，"thatitispermissibletoseekdirectly（primoetperse）aproximateoccasionofsin，forthespiritualortemporalgoodofourselvesorourneighbour"（tr。4，q。14）；asanexampleofwhich，heobserves："Itisallowabletovisitinfamousplaces，forthepurposeofconvertingabandonedfemales，evenalthoughthepracticeshouldbeverylikelytoleadintosin，asinthecaseofonewhohasfoundfromexperiencethathehasfrequentlyyieldedtotheirtemptations。"WhatanswerdidyourFatherCaussingivetothischargeintheyear1644？"JustletanyonelookatthepassageinFatherBauny，"saidhe，"lethimperusethepage，themargins，thepreface，theappendix，inshort，thewholebookfrombeginningtoend，andhewillnotdiscovertheslightestvestigeofsuchasentence，whichcouldonlyenterintothemindofamantotallydevoidofconscience，andcouldhardlyhavebeenforgedbyanyotherbutaninstrumentofSatan。"FatherPintereautalksinthesamestyle："Thatmanmustbelosttoallconsciencewhowouldteachsodetestableadoctrine；buthemustbeworsethanadevilwhoattributesittoFatherBauny。Reader，thereisnotasingletraceorvestigeofitinthewholeofhisbook。"Whowouldnotbelievethatpersonstalkinginthistonehavegoodreasontocomplain，andthatFatherBaunyhas，inverydeed，beenmisrepresented？Haveyoueverassertedanythingagainstmeinstrongerterms？And，aftersuchasolemnasseveration，that"therewasnotasingletraceorvestigeofitinthewholebook，"whowouldimaginethatthepassageistobefound，wordforword，intheplacereferredto？
　　Truly，fathers，ifthisbethemeansofsecuringyourreputation，solongasyouremainunanswered，itisalso，unfortunately，themeansofdestroyingitforever，sosoonasananswermakesitsappearance。Forsocertainisitthatyoutoldalieattheperiodbeforementioned，thatyoumakenoscrupleofacknowledging，inyourapologiesofthepresentday，thatthemaximinquestionistobefoundintheveryplacewhichhadbeenquoted；
　　and，whatismostextraordinary，thesamemaximwhich，twelveyearsago，was"detestable，"hasnowbecomesoinnocentthatinyourninthImposture（p。10）youaccusemeof"ignoranceandmalice，inquarrellingwithFatherBaunyforanopinionwhichhasnotbeenrejectedintheSchool。"Whatanadvantageitis，fathers，tohavetodowithpeoplethatdealincontradictions！
　　Ineednottheaidofanybutyourselvestoconfuteyou；forIhaveonlytwothingstoshow：first，Thatthemaximindisputeisaworthlessone；
　　and，secondly，ThatitbelongstoFatherBauny；andIcanprovebothbyyourownconfession。In1644，youconfessedthatitwas"detestable"；and，in1656，youavowthatitisFatherBauny’s。Thisdoubleacknowledgementcompletelyjustifiesme，fathers；butitdoesmore，itdiscoversthespiritofyourpolicy。For，tellme，pray，whatistheendyouproposetoyourselvesinyourwritings？Isittospeakwithhonesty？No，fathers；thatcannotbe，sinceyourdefencesdestroyeachother。Isittofollowthetruthofthefaith？Aslittlecanthisbeyourend；since，accordingtoyourownshowing，youauthorizea"detestable"maxim。But，beitobservedthatwhileyousaidthemaximwas"detestable，"youdenied，atthesametime，thatitwasthepropertyofFatherBauny，andsohewasinnocent；andwhenyounowacknowledgeittobehis，youmaintain，atthesametime，thatitisagoodmaxim，andsoheisinnocentstill。Theinnocenceofthismonk，therefore，beingtheonlythingcommontoyourtwoanswers，itisobviousthatthiswasthesoleendwhichyouaimedatinputtingthemforth；andthat，whenyousayofoneandthesamemaxim，thatitisinacertainbook，andthatitisnot；thatitisagoodmaxim，andthatitisabadone；
　　yoursoleobjectistowhitewashsomeoneorotherofyourfraternity；
　　judginginthematter，notaccordingtothetruth，whichneverchanges，butaccordingtoyourowninterest，whichisvaryingeveryhour。CanI
　　saymorethanthis？Youperceivethatitamountstoademonstration；butitisfarfrombeingasingularinstance，and，toomitamultitudeofexamplesofthesamething，Ibelieveyouwillbecontentedwithmyquotingonlyonemore。Youhavebeencharged，atdifferenttimes，withanotherpropositionofthesameFatherBauny，namely：。"ThatabsolutionoughttobeneitherdeniednordeferredinthecaseofthosewholiveinthehabitsofsinagainstthelawofGod，ofnature，andoftheChurch，althoughthereshouldbenoapparentprospectoffutureamendment—etsiemendationisfuturaespesnullaappareat。"Now，withregardtothismaxim，Ibegyoutotellme，fathers，whichoftheapologiesthathavebeenmadeforitismosttoyourliking；whetherthatofFatherPintereau，orthatofFatherBrisacier，bothofyourSociety，whohavedefendedFatherBauny，inyourtwodifferentmodes—theonebycondemningtheproposition，butdisavowingittobeFatherBauny’s；theotherbyallowingittobeFatherBauny’s，butvindicatingtheproposition？Listen，then，totheirrespectivedeliverances。HerecomesthatofFatherPintereau（p。8）："Iknownotwhatcanbecalledatransgressionofalltheboundsofmodesty，astepbeyondallordinaryimpudence，iftheimputationtoFatherBaunyofsodamnableadoctrineisnotworthyofthatdesignation。Judge，reader，ofthebasenessofthatcalumny；seewhatsortofcreaturestheJesuitshavetodealwith；andsayiftheauthorofsofoulaslanderdoesnotdeservetoberegardedfromhenceforthastheinterpreterofthefatheroflies。"NowforFatherBrisacier："Itistrue，FatherBaunysayswhatyouallege。"（ThatgivestheliedirecttoFatherPintereau，plainenough。）"But，"addshe，indefenceofFatherBauny，"ifyouwhofindsomuchfaultwiththissentimentwait，whenapenitentliesatyourfeet，tillhisguardianangelfindsecurityforhisrightsintheinheritanceofheaven；ifyouwaittillGodtheFatherswearbyhimselfthatDavidtoldalie，whenhesaidbytheHolyGhostthat’allmenareliars，’fallibleandperfidious；ifyouwaittillthepenitentbenolongeraliar，nolongerfrailandchangeable，nolongerasinner，likeothermen；ifyouwait，Isay，tillthen，youwillneverapplythebloodofJesusChristtoasinglesoul。"Whatdoyoureallythinknow，fathers，oftheseimpiousandextravagantexpressions？Accordingtothem，ifwewouldwait"tilltherebesomehopeofamendment"insinnersbeforegrantingtheirabsolution，wemustwait"tillGodtheFatherswearbyhimself，"
　　thattheywillneverfallintosinanymore！What，fathers！isnodistinctiontobemadebetweenhopeandcertainty？HowinjuriousisittothegraceofJesusChristtomaintainthatitissoimpossibleforChristiansevertoescapefromcrimesagainstthelawsofGod，nature，andtheChurch，thatsuchathingcannotbelookedfor，withoutsupposing"thattheHolyGhosthastoldalie"；and，ifabsolutionisnotgrantedtothosewhogivenohopeofamendment，thebloodofJesusChristwillbeuseless，forsooth，andwouldneverbeappliedtoasinglesoul！"Towhatasadpasshaveyoucome，fathersbythisextravagantdesireofupholdingthegloryofyourauthors，whenyoucanfindonlytwowaysofjustifyingthem—byimpostureorbyimpiety；andwhenthemostinnocentmodebywhichyoucanextricateyourselvesisbythebarefaceddenialoffactsaspatentasthelightofday！Thismayperhapsaccountforyourhavingrecoursesofrequentlytothatveryconvenientpractice。Butthisdoesnotcompletethesumofyouraccomplishmentsintheartofself—defence。Torenderyouropponentsodious，youhavehadrecoursetotheforgingofdocuments，suchasthatLetterofaMinistertoM。Arnauld，whichyoucirculatedthroughallParis，toinducethebeliefthattheworkonFrequentCommunion，whichhadbeenapprovedbysomanybishopsanddoctors，butwhich，tosaythetruth，wasratheragainstyou，hadbeenconcoctedthroughsecretintelligencewiththeministersofCharenton。Atothertimes，youattributetoyouradversarieswritingsfullofimpiety，suchastheCircularLetteroftheJansenists，theabsurdstyleofwhichrendersthefraudtoogrosstobeswallowed，andpalpablybetraysthemaliceofyourFatherMeynier，whohastheimpudencetomakeuseofitforsupportinghisfoulestslanders。Sometimes，again，youwillquotebookswhichwereneverinexistence，suchasTheConstitutionoftheHolySacrament，fromwhichyouextractpassages，fabricatedatpleasureandcalculatedtomakethehairontheheadsofcertaingoodsimplepeople，whohavenoideaoftheeffronterywithwhichyoucaninventandpropagatefalsehoods，actuallytobristlewithhorror。Thereisnot，indeed，asinglespeciesofcalumnywhichyouhavenotputintorequisition；norisitpossiblethatthemaximwhichexcusesthevicecouldhavebeenlodgedinbetterhands。Butthosesortsofslandertowhichwehaveadvertedarerathertooeasilydiscredited；and，accordingly，youhaveothersofamoresubtlecharacter，inwhichyouabstainfromspecifyingparticulars，inordertoprecludeyouropponentsfromgettinganyhold，orfindinganymeansofreply；as，forexample，whenFatherBrisaciersaysthat"hisenemiesareguiltyofabominablecrimes，whichhedoesnotchoosetomention。"Wouldyounotthinkitwereimpossibletoproveachargesovagueasthistobeacalumny？Anableman，however，hasfoundoutthesecretofit；anditisaCapuchinagain，fathers。YouareunluckyinCapuchins，astimesnowgo；andIforeseethatyoumaybeequallysosomeothertimeinBenedictines。
　　ThenameofthisCapuchinisFatherValerien，ofthehouseoftheCountsofMagnis。Youshallhear，bythisbriefnarrative，howheansweredyourcalumnies。HehadhappilysucceededinconvertingPrinceErnest，theLandgraveofHesse—Rheinsfelt。Yourfathers，however，seized，asitwouldappear，withsomechagrinatseeingasovereignprinceconvertedwithouttheirhavinghadanyhandinit，immediatelywroteabookagainstthefriar（forgoodmenareeverywheretheobjectsofyourpersecution），inwhich，byfalsifyingoneofhispassages，theyascribedtohimanhereticaldoctrine。
　　Theyalsocirculatedaletteragainsthim，inwhichtheysaid："Ah，wehavesuchthingstodisclose"（withoutmentioningwhat）"aswillgallyoutothequick！Ifyoudon’ttakecare，weshallbeforcedtoinformthepopeandthecardinalsaboutit。"Thismanoeuvrewasprettywellexecuted；
　　andIdoubtnot，fathers，butyoumayspeakinthesamestyleofme；buttakewarningfromthemannerinwhichthefriaransweredinhisbook，whichwasprintedlastyearatPrague（p。112，&；c。）："WhatshallIdo，"hesays，"tocounteractthesevagueandindefiniteinsinuations？HowshallIrefutechargeswhichhaveneverbeenspecified？Here，however，ismyplan。Ideclare，loudlyandpublicly，tothosewhohavethreatenedme，thattheyarenotoriousslanderersandmostimpudentliars，iftheydonotdiscoverthesecrimesbeforethewholeworld。Comeforth，then，mineaccusers！andpublishyourliesuponthehouse—tops，inplaceoftellingthemintheear，andkeepingyourselvesoutofharm’swaybytellingthemintheear。Somemaythinkthisascandalouswayofmanagingthedispute。
　　Itwasscandalous，Igrant，toimputetomesuchacrimeasheresy，andtofixuponmethesuspicionofmanyothersbesides；but，byassertingmyinnocence，Iammerelyapplyingtheproperremedytothescandalalreadyinexistence。"Truly，fathers，neverwereyourreverencesmoreroughlyhandled，andneverwasapoormanmorecompletelyvindicated。Sinceyouhavemadenoreplytosuchaperemptorychallenge，itmustbeconcludedthatyouareunabletodiscovertheslightestshadowofcriminalityagainsthim。Youhavehadveryawkwardscrapestogetthroughoccasionally；butexperiencehasmadeyounothingthewiser。For，sometimeafterthishappened，youattackedthesameindividualinasimilarstrain，uponanothersubject；
　　andhedefendedhimselfafterthesamespiritedmanner，asfollows："Thisclassofmen，whohavebecomeanintolerablenuisancetothewholeofChristendom，aspire，underthepretextofgoodworks，todignitiesanddomination，bypervertingtotheirownendsalmostalllaws，humananddivine，naturalandrevealed。Theygainovertotheirside，bytheirdoctrine，bytheforceoffear，orofpersuasion，thegreatonesoftheearth，whoseauthoritytheyabuseforthepurposeofaccomplishingtheirdetestableintrigues。
　　Meanwhiletheirenterprises，criminalastheyare，areneitherpunishednorsuppressed；onthecontrary，theyarerewarded；andthevillainsgoaboutthemwithaslittlefearorremorseasiftheyweredoingGodservice。
　　EverybodyisawareofthefactIhavenowstated；everybodyspeaksofitwithexecration；butfewarefoundcapableofopposingadespotismsopowerful。
　　This，however，iswhatIhavedone。Ihavealreadycurbedtheirinsolence；
　　and，bythesamemeans，Ishallcurbitagain。Ideclare，then，thattheyaremostimpudentliars—mentirisimpudentissime。Ifthechargestheyhavebroughtagainstmebetrue，letthemproveit；otherwisetheystandconvictedoffalsehood，aggravatedbythegrossesteffrontery。Theirprocedureinthiscasewillshowwhohastherightuponhisside。Idesireallmentotakeaparticularobservationofit；andbegtoremark，inthemeantime，thatthispreciouscabal，whowillnotsufferthemosttriflingchargewhichtheycanpossiblyrepeltolieuponthem，madeashowofenduring，withgreatpatience，thosefromwhichtheycannotvindicatethemselves，andconceal，underacounterfeitvirtue，theirrealimpotency。Myobject，therefore，inprovokingtheirmodestybythissharpretort，istolettheplainestpeopleunderstandthat，ifmyenemiesholdtheirpeace，theirforbearancemustbeascribed，nottothemeeknessoftheirnatures，buttothepowerofaguiltyconscience。"Heconcludeswiththefollowingsentence：
　　"Thesegentry，whosehistoryiswellknownthroughoutthewholeworld，aresoglaringlyiniquitousintheirmeasures，andhavebecomesoinsolentintheirimpunity，thatifIdidnotdetesttheirconduct，andpubliclyexpressmydetestationtoo，notmerelyformyownvindication，buttoguardthesimpleagainstitsseducinginfluence，ImusthaverenouncedmyallegiancetoJesusChristandhisChurch。"Reverendfathers，thereisnoroomfortergiversation。Youmustpassforconvictedslanderers，andtakecomfortinyouroldmaximthatcalumnyisnocrime。Thishonestfriarhasdiscoveredthesecretofshuttingyourmouths；anditmustbeemployedonalloccasionswhenyouaccusepeoplewithoutproof。Wehaveonlytoreplytoeachslanderasitappears，inthewordsoftheCapuchin："Mentirisimpudentissime—
　　Youaremostimpudentliars。"Forinstance，whatbetteranswerdoesFatherBrisacierdeservewhenhesaysofhisopponentsthattheyare"thegatesofhell；thedevil’sbishops；personsdevoidoffaith，hope，andcharity；
　　thebuildersofAntichrist’sexchequer"；adding，"Isaythisofhim，notbywayofinsult，butfromdeepconvictionofitstruth"？Whowouldbeatthepainstodemonstratethatheisnot"agateofhell，"andthathehasnoconcernwith"thebuildingupofAntichrist’sexchequer"？Inlikemanner，whatreplyisduetoallthevaguespeechesofthissortwhicharetobefoundinyourbooksandadvertisementsonmyletters；suchasthefollowing，forexample："Thatrestitutionshavebeenconvertedtoprivateuses，andtherebycreditorshavebeenreducedtobeggary；thatbagsofmoneyhavebeenofferedtolearnedmonks，whodeclinedthebribe；thatbeneficesareconferredforthepurposeofdisseminatingheresiesagainstthefaith；thatpensionersarekeptinthehousesofthemosteminentchurchmen，andinthecourtsofsovereigns；thatIalsoamapensionerofPort—Royal；