470 OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 



lainously gloss, that it was the intention of the 

 parliament, in a cloud to convey the crown to any 

 issue of her majesty s that were illegitimate ; whereas 

 the word heir doth with us so necessarily and 

 pregnantly import lawfulness, as it had been in 

 decorum, and uncivil speaking of the issues of a 

 prince, to have expressed it. 



They set forth in the year a book with 



tables and pictures of the persecutions against catho 

 lics, wherein they have not only stories of fifty years 

 old to supply their pages, but also taken all the per 

 secutions of the primitive Church, under the heathen 

 and translated them to the practice of England ; as 

 that of worrying priests under the skins of bears, by 

 dogs, and the like. 



I conclude then, that I know not what to make 

 of this excess in avouching untruths, save this, that 

 they may truly chaunt in their quires ; &quot; Linguam 

 &quot; nostram magnificabimus, labia nostra nobis sunt :&quot; 

 and that they who have long ago forsaken the truth 

 of God, which is the touchstone, must now hold by 

 the whetstone ; and that their ancient pillar of lying 

 wonders being decayed, they must now hold by 

 lying slanders, and make their libels successors to 

 their legend. 



