Page:An Index of Prohibited Books (1840).djvu/177

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openly and honestly appear in countries, which, having neither Protestant opposition, nor Protestant scrutiny, to encounter, would want temptation to hypocrisy. And therefore the first instance to be produced is the less extraordinary.

I. It is that of the most respectable convert, Andrew Sall, with whom the public, for its benefit, is likely to become better acquainted.[1] In the Preface to his True Catholic and Apostolic Faith maintained in the Church of England, he produces a License of the Bishop of Palencia, for three successive years, to keep and read prohibited books. The date is, Madrid, June 15, 1652. At page 128 he refers to it, with some of its untoward effects.[2]

  1. His principal work, with copious illustrative notes, has just appeared.
  2. The reader will find a good deal that is interesting respecting Dr. Sall, in the Preface of Peter Walsh, Franciscan, to his Four Letters, 1686. He honourably vindicated the seceder from the Roman Church, against the rhodomontade attack of that episcopal weathercock, Nicholas French, of Ferns, in a piece, of rather rare occurrence, the Doleful Fall of Andrew Sull. It goes over all the trite topics of the argument for itself and against Christianity which Popery can muster: with a competent quantity of punning abuse. Walsh, in the view of this particular case, in his second Letter, which is to the odd, clever pseudo-bishop just mentioned, after claiming in favour of Sall's conduct the sovereignty of conscience, adds — "All which being true, it were worth the while to consider, what is it hurries on our Catholic writers generally to such exorbitant passions and barbarous language (besides many downright lies, and mere calumnies often) against all those that leave our Church." This sentence will sufficiently explain the similar style in which it has of late been common to assail the reputation of Walsh by individuals, laic, priestly, or noble, who, in no respect, would bear comparison with the calumniated Franciscan. Walsh has frequently referred to a prior piece of French, not very obvious, I believe, though something was promised of a reprint, some years ago, The Bleeding Iphigenia. This performance originated in the news of Sall's abjuration; and it is worth while to see, how the author speaks of his former friend, and with what infatuated simplicity be draws the teeth with which he would bite. The paper containing the news, he writes, "gave me a great heaviness of hart; for I loved the man dearly for his amiable nature and excellent parts, and esteemed him both a picas person and Learned, and soe did all that knew him; but I see we were all deceiv'd in him." Then, after making him cast by the infernal beast "out of a little heaven: (The State of Religion) wherin," he adds, "for a tyme hee shined like a small starr in vertue and learning," be proceeds thus — "After desalting the Society of Jesus, and naming away with infamy and shame, oat of the whole [holy?] House of Cod, I could not endure him, and therfore resolved to give him a sharp reprehension: at which, if hee shall repine, and fall into choller for my endeavouring to doe him good, I shall houlde that for an ill Symptome," &c.