berty to acquaint the World that Monsieur _de Cros had
been a Monk_, because, forsooth, his Master was Defender of the Faith:
Nor to take notice that _he had exchanged his Frock for a Petticoat_,
because he would not shake hands with the Pope's Nuncio at _Nimeguen_.
This is a strange sort of reasoning, but not very terrible. But
perhaps the Apology that follows may make some amends for the whipp'd
Cream above. _I don't know, my Lord, whether it is a scandalous thing
to be a Monk, this I am certain of, that it is infinitely less
scandalous to have been one._ Sir _W. T._ will never contradict
Monsieur _de Cros_ upon this Article, nor did he say in his Memoirs
that 'tis scandalous to be a Monk: But Monsieur _de Cros_, who values
himself much upon his Politics, seeing he was unable to carry on the
War much longer at his own Expence, was resolved to fight his Battles
with the whole Body of the Regular Ecclesiastics; and therefore making
it a Cloister Quarrel, indicts him upon a _Scandalum Monachorum_. But
to proceed, _I make no doubt_, continues he, _but that among the Monks
as well as among the rest of Mankind, one may find sad wretched
Fellows_, (Speak softly lest any of the Brothers of the Surcingle hear
thee) _of mean, base Parentage_, (Prethee for your old Acquaintance
sake, not so loud) _of infamous, irregular Lives_ (nay, now you have
undone yourself with them for ever) _Drones, good for nothing_, (I
find he'll never have done with this Chapter) _without Honour, Good
Manners, or Reputation_. And yet not a quarter of an hour agoe it was
no scandal to be in such blessed Company. _Sir_ W. T. _without
Question looked upon me to be one of this number._ This is more than
he knew; but however since he has positively asserted it, Sir _W. T._
will not contradict him. _But then_, says our _Furioso_, turning the
Tables, _p. 21. there are also to be found among them Persons
illustrious for the Sanctity of their Manners, Men of extraordinary
Merit, and of the highest Quality, Sons of Princes and of Crown'd
Heads, nay, Kings themselves, and Sovereign Pontiffs_. He is now
thinking to cajole the Monks after he had so plentifully bespatter'd
them before: And must fain let the World see how dexterously he can
blow Satyr and Panegyrick with the very same Breath. _But if this sort
of Life is not reckoned now a days, as it has been heretofore, so
certain a Character of an honest good Man does Sir_ W. T. _imagine he
dishonours me, when he s