highest way (that is, in judicial proceedings) is more rare; and of
all men, they who are detected to practise it, are held most vile
and infamous; as being plainly the most pernicious and perilous
instruments of injustice, the most desperate enemies of all men's
right and safety that can be. But also out of the court there are
many knights-errant of the post, whose business it is to run about
scattering false reports; sometimes loudly proclaiming them in open
companies, sometimes closely whispering them in dark corners; thus
infecting conversation with their poisonous breath: these no less
notoriously are guilty of this kind, as bearing always the same
malice, and sometimes breeding as ill effects.

2. Another kind is, affixing scandalous names, injurious epithets,
and odious characters upon persons, which they deserve not. As when
Corah and his accomplices did accuse Moses of being ambitious,
unjust, and tyrannical: when the Pharisees called our Lord an
impostor, a blasphemer, a sorcerer, a glutton and wine-bibber, an
incendiary and perverter of the people, one that spake against
Caesar, and forbade to give tribute: when the apostles were charged
with being pestilent, turbulent, factious and seditious fellows.
This sort being very common, and thence in ordinary repute not so
bad, yet in just estimation may be judged, even worse than the
former; as doing to our neighbour more heavy and more irreparable
wrong. For it imposeth on him really more blame, and that such
which he can hardly shake off: because the charge signifieth habit
of evil, and includeth many acts; then, being general and
indefinite, can scarce be disproved. He, for instance, that calleth
a sober man drunkard, doth impute to him many acts of such
intemperance (some really past, others probably future), and no
particular time or place being specified, how can a man clear