Series 5 > Religious Controversy in Scotland 1625-1639

RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY IN SCOTLAND
ous crimes. I ask this out of a regard both for our own consciences and for the testimony
thereby given to Catholic clemency.... If, however, notwithstanding these letters from me,
he [the proconsul] refuse to grant this request, let him at least allow that the men be
remanded for a time; and we will endeavour to obtain this concession from the clemency
of the emperors, so that the sufferings of the martyrs, which ought to shed bright glory on
the church, may not be tarnished by the blood of their enemies....
Epistle 133,To Marcellinus:134 ...
He [Augustine] and other bishops of old were most earnest intercessors for
the Donatists that they might not be putt to death, and even for the most furious
of them, the Circumcelliones,who had committed the strangest outrages against
the Catholiques that ever were heard or read of; whereas the Roman zelotes
persecute all sorts of men unto death if they but deny some of their tenets: wherein
they resemble the Donatists rather then the ancient Catholiques. But in one
thing they surpasse, and dare doe that which they never durst, in seeking the
lives not only of private men dissenting from them, but of some of the greatest
princes in Christendome. And I dare say, that in regard of some of their cruelties,
it may be as truly said to them as St Augustine saide it to the Donatists, ylnsu'er to
the Letters of Petilian:'35 ‘The more accursed share of persecution was reserved for
you when the persecution of the heathen was exhausted.Those who persecuted
the name of Christ beheved in Christ; now those who are honoured for the
name of Christ are found to speak against his truth.’
As for their rebellious and treacherous martyrs, to them no lesse may be said
then by the same Father it was said to such of the Donatists as affected to be held
for martyrs. Ibid., ch. 83:136 ‘and while you live as robbers, you boast that you die
as martyrs.’ Of all such, whether of old among the Donatists or of any other age
of the church or society of Christians, it is most true which he hath left written,
On the Trinity:137 ‘Whereas he, on the other hand, who is tormented without any
such hope, without any such reward, let him use as much endurance as he pleases,
is not truly blessed, but bravely miserable.’
Notwithstanding of all this, it had been better (in my poore opinion, salvo
meliore iudiciom), if our Reformers had not so left the Church of Rome, and
their obedience to the pope, as they did, but had still communicated with that
church in all things, except those which in their conscience they held to be
altogether unlawfull, and still yeelded canonicall obedience to the pope, salvo
134 Epistle 159 [ii, 245]; Works, xiii, 168-9.This passage repeats the same sentiments as in the
preceding.
135 bk.2,ch.87 [vii,105]; »6ffa,iii,359.
136 [vii, 103]; Works,iu,2>52.
137 bk. 13,ch.7 [iii, 140];Wedderburnhasbk.3,ch. 17; Works, vii, 320.
138 ‘save a better judgment’.