Further Explanation Touching Said J. Scotus

"But let us add," he says, "the opinion of Baronius touching this Scotsman: As regards Johannes Scotus, we have said above, in the proper place, that he was in bad repute with Pope Nicholas the First. Although he wrote so violently against the Catholic faith, yet, since he did not spread it among the people so that his views became known to all, many had a good opinion of him, so much so that they, though most inconsiderately (this is how he speaks, from a papistic standpoint), gave him the title of martyr." Compare A. Mell., 2nd book, folio 393, columns 1 and 2, with Caesar Baronius' account touching J. Scotus, Annal., volume 11, in the year 1059. [n354-1]

From this account it appears that the papist Baronius, who was a cardinal of the Roman see, was not pleased that many had a good opinion of Johannes Scotus, and, what is still more, gave him the title of martyr; but this is no wonder, since the true papists have a good opinion of none but those who adhere to the Roman superstitions, and never dare to utter a word of censure against them; and they would confer the title of martyr on none but those who have suffered for the Roman see and its traditions (which are a collection of human inventions). However, we will let them answer for this, and leave it.

We return to Johannes Scotus and say that, as regards his boldness, he showed himself as a true martyr should, since, to clear his conscience and defend the oppressed truth, he did not hesitate to incur the hatred of the pope and the papists, indeed, the prospect of being anathematized, excommunicated, and, finally, miserably tortured and put to death for it. He died for the confession of the Christian and evangelical truth, particularly for the article by which we commemorate the Lord's death, and in which lies the consolation of the soul, with regard to our blessed redemption.