3. But if matters of fact be witnessed and attested by many or divers persons that were ear and eye-witnesses, yet may their testimony bear no weight in the balance of Justice or right Reason, because they may be corrupt in point of interest, and so have their judgments mis-guided and biassed by the corruption of their desires and affections, or relate things out of spleen, envy, and malice; and so may not in these mysterious matters be fit authority to rely upon, nor competent evidence in these particulars, as Dr. _Casaubon_ is forced to confess in these words: “In the relation of strange things, whether natural or supernatural, to know the temper of the Relator, if it can be known: and what interest he had, or might probably be supposed to have had, in the relation, to have it believed. And again, whether he profess to have seen it himself, or taken it upon the credit of others. And whether a man by his profession in a capacity probable to judge of the truth of those things, to which he doth bear witness.” Every one of these particulars would require a particular consideration. For if there be interest in point of Religion, then all authorities, all colour of reason is drawn in to make good this interest, and verity is commonly stifled in this contest for selfness and interest, and the adverse parties stigmatized with all the filthy lyes and enormous crimes that can be invented, as is most manifest in these instances. The Popish party finding themselves hindred and opposed in point of the highest interest, have forged a thousand false stories and tales to make good the interest of their Party, and have left no dirt and dung unscraped up to throw in the faces of their Opponents; and so have each Party done against other, where religious interest was the quarrel, as Bishop _Hall_ hath truly observed in this passage, where he is shewing the abominable corruptions of the Church of _Rome_: “A Religion that cares not by what wilful falshoods it maintains a part; as _Wickliffs_ blasphemy, _Luthers_ advice from the Devil, _Tindals_ Community, _Calvins_ feigned Miracle, and blasphemous death, _Bucers_ neck broken, _Beza_’s Revolt, the blasting of Huguenots, _Englands_ want of Churches, and Christendom, Queen _Elizabeths_ unwomanliness, her Episcopal Jurisdiction, her secret fruitfulness, English Catholicks cast in Bears skins to Dogs, _Plesses_ shameful overthrow, _Garnats_ straw, the _Lutherans_ obscene Night-Revels, _Scories_ drunken Ordination in a Tavern, the Edict of our gracious King _James_ (_An._ 87.) for the establishment of Popery, our casting the crusts of our Sacrament to Dogs, and ten thousand of this nature, maliciously raised against knowledge and conscience, for the disgrace of those whom they would have hated, e’re known.”