1. WHETHER THE BROTHERS OF THE R.C. EXIST.

The skeptical view. original: Negans opinio; literally "the denying opinion."

It might seem as if such men are
not to be found in the real world,
based on the following
foundations.

1. Because, even if some rumor of
them has been spread about, they are
nevertheless found to be hidden—not
only because trustworthy persons
cannot be brought forward as
witnesses, but also because that rumor
was born from an unknown author.
Now, however, it is established that
trust should be placed not so much in
rumor as in the sources original: authoribus; the originators or authors of a report., or rather,
that a rumor should be examined
according to its source. This is well
known to those who preside as judges
and legal assessors original: assessores; legal experts who sat with a judge to provide advice on the law. in criminal
cases—provided they remember how
often they are deceived by rumor.
Nor can trustworthy witnesses be
brought forward, because an objection
could be raised against them that
they are hearsay witnesses original: testes de auditu; a legal term for witnesses who only report what they have heard from others rather than what they have seen themselves..
For let them see whether this logical
deduction holds: "I have heard it;
therefore, it is true." And even if
there were a thousand who said that
they had heard of such persons, or [read]
letters—