of books of a feigned library sets down this title of a book, The morris-dance of Heretics.[1] For indeed every sect of them hath a diverse[2] posture or cringe[3] by themselves, which cannot but move derision in worldlings and depraved politics,[4] who are apt to contemn holy things.
As for the fruit towards those that are within; it is peace; which containeth infinite blessings. It establisheth faith. It kindleth charity. The outward peace of the church distilleth into peace of conscience. And it turneth the labours of writing and reading of controversies into treatises of mortification and devotion.
Concerning the Bounds of Unity; the true placing of them importeth exceedingly.[5] There appear to be two extremes. For to certain zelants[6] all speech of pacification is odious. Is it peace, Jehu? What hast
- ↑ Bacon alludes to François Rabelais, born about 1483, died April 9, 1553. Among the books which Pantagruel, son of Gargantua, found in the Library of St. Victor in Paris was, La Morisque des hérétiques. (Les Cinq Livres de F. Rabelais. Tome I. p. 255. Édition Jouaust. Paris. 1885.) The morris, or morris-dance, is a dance performed with bells, castanets, or tambours. It comes from the Spanish morisco, a Moorish dance; from moro, a Moor.
- ↑ Diverse. Different. "And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." Daniel vii. 3.
- ↑ Cringe. A deferential, servile, or fawning obeisance; derisively, a bow. "Why should history go on kneeling to the end of time? I am for having her rise off her knees, and take a natural posture: not to be forever performing cringes and congees like a court-chamberlain, and shuffling backwards out of doors in the presence of the sovereign. In a word, I would have history familiar rather than heroic: and think that Mr. Hogarth and Mr. Fielding will give our children a much better idea of the manners of the present age in England, than the Court Gazette and the newspapers which we get thence." Thackeray. Henry Esmond. I. 1.
- ↑ Politics. Politicians.
- ↑ Importeth exceedingly. That is, in modern phrase, is exceedingly important.
- ↑ Zelants. Zealots.
