ie of all others, because
there is not almost any one particular erroneous and
schismaticall phantasie, whereof the _Familie of Loue_ hath not
borrowed one braunche or other thereof, to peece vnto themselves
this their Religion."

A passage is then added which may serve in some measure as a reply to
N.B. (Vol. ii., p. 89.) It seems to slow that, however vile might be the
theology of this sect, their morals were not at least publicly
offensive.

"The encrease of this _Familie_ is great, and that dayly,
because the withstanders are not many; the defenders are wily as
serpentes, and would fayne in lyfe seeme innocent and
vnblameable. In profession of the one they boast very much: of
the other they walkyng very closely do iustifie themselues,
because fewe haue to finde fault with them, yet haue they their
lothsome spottes and ougly deformities, as in this booke to the
diligent reader playnely may appeare."

The "lothsome spottes" here intended are the 13th and 14th articles of
Wilkinson's indictment. They run as follows;--

(1.) "H.N. (i.e. Henry Nicholas) saith, It is lawfull for one of
his Familie to dissemble," (i.e., to conceal his religion when
questioned by the magistrate); and (2.) "H.N. maketh God the
Author of sinne, and the sinner guiltless," (but no proof is
alleged that this speculative impiety was carried out into
actual life).

The title of the second treatise to which I alluded is--

"A Confutation of monstrous and horrible Heresies, taught by
H.N., and embraced of a number who call themselves the Familie
of Love, by I. Knewstub. Imprinted in London, at the Three
Cranes in the Vinctree, by Thomas Dawson, for Richard Sergies.
1579."

He characterises the doctrine of the "Familists" as--

"A masse or packe of Poperie, Arianisme, Anabaptisme, and
Libertinisme. Respecting their morals we are told, that although
for their loosenesse of life, they are from the toppe to the toe
nothing but blottes, yet bragge they of all perfection, euen
vnto a verie deifying of themselues."

Some further light is thrown upon this point by a letter sent to
Knewstub from a "godly learned man, W.C." He says,--

"Howsoeuer, they seduce some goodly and zealous men and women of
honest and godly conuersation, placing them at the porch of
their synagogue to make a shewe of holinesse, and to stand there