andsuchotheropinionsofyourmostgraveandreverenddoctors？Isthereanythingmorenecessary，fathers，formyvindication？And，asTertulliansays，\"cananythingbemorejustlyduetothevanityandweaknessoftheseopinionsthanlaughter？\"But，fathers，thecorruptionofmanners，towhichyourmaximslead，deservesanothersortofconsideration；anditbecomesustoask，withthesameancientwriter：\"Whetheroughtwetolaughattheirfolly，ordeploretheirblindness？—Rideamvanitatem，anexprobremcaecitatem？\"Myhumbleopinionisthatonemayeitherlaughatthemorweepoverthem，asoneisinthehumour。\"Haectolerabiliusvelridentur，velflentur，\"asSt。Augustinesays。TheScripturetellsusthat\"thereisatimetolaugh，andatimetoweep\"；andmyhopeis，fathers，thatImaynotfindverified，inyourcase，thesewordsintheProverbs：\"Ifawisemancontendethwithafoolishman，whetherherageorlaugh，thereisnorest。\"P。S。—Onfinishingthisletter，therewasputinmyhandsoneofyourpublications，inwhichyouaccusemeoffalsification，inthecaseofsixofyourmaximsquotedbyme，andalsowithbeingincorrespondencewithheretics。Youwillshortlyreceive，Itrust，asuitablereply；afterwhich，fathers，Iratherthinkyouwillnotfeelveryanxioustocontinuethisspeciesofwarfare。LETTERXII
TOTHEREVERENDFATHERS，THEJESUITSSeptember9，1656REVERENDFATHERS，Iwaspreparedtowriteyouonthesubjectoftheabusewithwhichyouhaveforsometimepastbeenassailingmeinyourpublications，inwhichyousalutemewithsuchepithetsas\"reprobate，\"\"buffoon，\"\"blockhead，\"\"merry—Andrew，\"\"impostor，\"
\"slanderer，\"\"cheat，\"\"heretic，\"\"Calvinistindisguise，\"\"discipleofDuMoulin，\"\"possessedwithalegionofdevils，\"andeverythingelseyoucanthinkof。AsIshouldbesorrytohaveallthisbelievedofme，Iwasanxioustoshowthepublicwhyyoutreatedmeinthismanner；andIhadresolvedtocomplainofyourcalumniesandfalsifications，whenImetwithyourAnswers，inwhichyoubringthesesamechargesagainstmyself。Thiswillcompelmetoaltermyplan；thoughitwillnotpreventmefromprosecutingitinsomesort，forIhope，whiledefendingmyself，toconvictyouofimposturesmoregenuinethantheimaginaryoneswhichyouhaveascribedtome。Indeed，fathers，thesuspicionoffoulplayismuchmoresuretorestonyouthanonme。Itisnotverylikely，standingasIdo，alone，withoutpoweroranyhumandefenceagainstsuchalargebody，andhavingnosupportbuttruthandintegrity，thatIwouldexposemyselftoloseeverythingbylayingmyselfopentobeconvictedofimposture。Itistooeasytodiscoverfalsificationsinmattersoffactsuchasthepresent。
Insuchacasetherewouldhavebeennowantofpersonstoaccuseme，norwouldjusticehavebeendeniedthem。Withyou，fathers，thecaseisverydifferent；youmaysayasmuchasyoupleaseagainstme，whileImaylookinvainforanytocomplainto。Withsuchawidedifferencebetweenourpositions，thoughtherehadbeennootherconsiderationtorestrainme，itbecamemetostudynolittlecaution。Bytreatingme，however，asacommonslanderer，youcompelmetoassumethedefensive，andyoumustbeawarethatthiscannotbedonewithoutenteringintoafreshexpositionandevenintoafullerdisclosureofthepointsofyourmorality。Inprovokingthisdiscussion，Ifearyouarenotactingasgoodpoliticians。Thewarmustbewagedwithinyourowncampandatyourownexpense；and，althoughyouimaginethat，byembroilingthequestionswithscholasticterms，theanswerswillbesotedious，thorny，andobscure，thatpeoplewillloseallrelishforthecontroversy，thismaynot，perhaps，turnouttobeexactlythecase；Ishallusemybestendeavourstotaxyourpatienceaslittleaspossiblewiththatsortofwriting。Yourmaximshavesomethingdivertingaboutthem，whichkeepsupthegoodhumourofpeopletothelast。Atallevents，rememberthatitisyouthatobligemetoenteruponthiseclaircissement，andletusseewhichofuscomesoffbestinself—defence。ThefirstofyourImpostures，asyoucallthem，isontheopinionofVasquezuponalms—giving。
Toavoidallambiguity，then，allowmetogiveasimpleexplanationofthematterindispute。Itiswellknown，fathers，that，accordingtothemindoftheChurch，therearetwopreceptstouchingalms：1st，\"Togiveoutofoursuperfluityinthecaseoftheordinarynecessitiesofthepoor\"；