De Auctorum Enumeratione (Epigr. XXXIII)
The Cloud of Witnesses
The author contrasts the opponent's appeal to modern reformers with his own reliance on Christ, the Apostles, and the ancient Church Fathers.
The more you stir up resentment and accusations against us, the more you drag great names into your camp—Martyr, Calvin, Beza, and the learned Bucer—who, for all that, refuse to attack our side with any real force. Whitaker, whom you praise in your wandering verse, was a tireless soldier of our tent. We, too, could draft long ranks of soldiers, if battles were won by numbers rather than by spirit. First among us, an enemy to all Pharisees, stands Christ, girded by the love of His apostolic flock. You, Peter, throw open the twin gates of war, while Paul, drawing his sword, calls us to arms. From there, the solid Fathers march forward, and all of Antiquity with them. After all, what veteran has any love for innovators? Now Constantine joins in with a vast army, and his spear raises the Cross, which your people despise.
The Order of Battle
The author marshals the wisdom of the saints, the discipline of the Church, and the inevitability of divine judgment to rebuke the opponent's weakness.
The man from Hippo arrives in haste, brandishing the torch he uses to guard his studies against his enemies. And Ambrose, singing of you and God in alternating verses, forgets his old sweetness and burns with anger as he goes. The age we live in now also adds countless resources to our side for the fight. Among them is James, full of God and spirit, who defends the true faith with both mind and hand. Meanwhile, sacred music stirs you to a holy war; without it, you wretches move much more slowly in your efforts. The order you despise also fights for us, for it is by order that the greatest battles are usually decided. Oh, you weaklings! Listen to the outcome that Naso saw with such weapons and warned about: a single day had sent all the Cathars to war, and a single day destroyed those sent to war.
Read the original Latin
Quo magis invidiam nobis, et crimina confles, Pertrahis in partes nomina magna tuas; Martyra, Calvinum, Bezam, doctumque Bucerum, Qui tamen in nostros fortiter ire negant. Whitaker, erranti quem praefers carmine, miles Assiduus nostrae papilionis erat. Nos quoque possemus longas conscribere turmas, Si numero starent praelia, non animis. Primus adest nobis, Pharisaeis omnibus hostis, Christus Apostolici cinctus amore gregis. Tu geminas belli portas, o Petre, repandis, Dum gladium stringens Paulus ad arma vocat. Inde Patres pergunt quadrati, et tota Vetustas. Nempe novatores quis veteranus amat? Jam Constantinus multo se milite miscet; Invisamque tuis erigit hasta Crucem.
Hipponensis adest properans, et torquet in hostes Lampada, qua studiis invigilare solet. Teque Deum alternis cantans Ambrosius iram, Immemor antiqui mellis, eundo coquit. Haec etiam ad pugnam praesens, qua vivimus, aetas Innumeram nostris partibus addit opem. Quos inter plenusque Deo genioque Jacobus Defendit veram mente manuque fidem. Interea ad sacrum stimulat sacra Musica bellum, Qua sine vos miseri lentius itis ope. Militat et nobis, quem vos contemnitis, Ordo, Ordine discerni maxima bella solent. O vos invalidos! audi quem talibus armis Eventum Naso vidit et admonuit; Una dies Catharos ad bellum miserat omnes: Ad bellum missos perdidit una dies.
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