his _Apologie_ will teach you, of the Raging slaunder of the Malicious Ignorant against him. _Ioannes Trithemius_, his _Apologie_ will specifie, how he had occasion to make publike Protestation: as well by reason of the Rude Simple: as also, in respect of such, as were counted to be of the wisest sort of men. “Many could I recite: But I deferre the precise and determined handling of this matter: being loth to detect the Folly & Mallice of my Natiue Countrey men. * [* ☞] Who, so hardly, can disgest or like any extraordinary course of Philosophicall Studies: not falling within the Cumpasse of their Capacitie: or where they are not made priuie of the true and secrete cause, of such wonderfull Philosophicall Feates.” These men, are of fower sortes, chiefly. The first, I may name, _Vaine pratling busie bodies_: The second, _Fond Frendes_: The third, _Imperfectly zelous_: and the fourth, _Malicious Ignorant_. To eche of these (briefly, and in charitie) I will say a word or two, and so returne to my Præface. [1.] _Vaine pratling busie bodies_, vse your idle assemblies, and conferences, otherwise, then in talke of matter, either aboue your Capacities, for hardnesse: or contrary to your Consciences, in Veritie. [2.] _Fonde Frendes_, leaue of, so to commend your vnacquainted frend, vpon blinde affection: As, because he knoweth more, then the common Student: that, therfore, he must needes be skilfull, and a doer, in such matter and maner, as you terme _Coniuring_. Weening, thereby, you aduaunce his fame: and that you make other men, great marueilers of your hap, to haue such a learned frend. Cease to ascribe Impietie, where you pretend Amitie. For, if your tounges were true, then were that your frend, _Vntrue_, both to God, and his Soueraigne. Such _Frendes_ and _Fondlinges_, I shake of, and renounce you: Shake you of, your Folly. [3.] _Imperfectly zelous_, to you, do I say: that (perhaps) well, do you Meane: But farre you misse the Marke: If a Lambe you will kill, to feede the flocke with his bloud. Sheepe, with Lambes bloud, haue no naturall sustenaunce: No more, is Christes flocke, with horrible slaunders, duely ædified. Nor your faire pretense, by such rashe ragged Rhetorike, any whit, well graced. But such, as so vse me, will finde a fowle Cracke in their Credite. Speake that you know: And know, as you ought: Know not, by Heare say, when life lieth in daunger. Search to the quicke, & let Charitie be your guide. [4.] _Malicious Ignorant_, what shall I say to thee? _Prohibe linguam tuam a malo. A detractione parcite linguæ. +Cause thy toung to refraine frõ euill. Refraine your toung from slaunder.+_ Though your tounges be sharpned, Serpent like, & Adders poyson lye in your lippes: [Psal. 140.] yet take heede, and thinke, betimes, with your selfe, _Vir linguosus non stabilietur in terra. Virum violentum venabitur malum, donec præcipitetur._ For, sure I am, _Quia faciet Dominus Iudicium afflicti: & vindictam pauperum._