A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.

The Apologie, Cap. 3. Diuision. 2.

Nowe as for those thinges whiche by them haue benne laide againste vs, in parte they be manifestly false & condemned so by theire owne iudgementes, which spake them: partly againe, though they be as false too in deede, yet beare they a certaine shewe and coo∣lour of truthe, so as the Reader (if he take not good heede) maie easi∣ly be tripped and brought into errour by them, specially when theire fine and cunninge tale is added thereunto: And parte of them be of sutche sorte, as we ought not to shunne them as crimes or faultes, but to acknowledge and confesse them as thinges wel done, & vpon very good reason. For shortely to saie the truthe, these folke falsely ac∣cuse and sclaunder al our dooinges, yea the same thinges, which they them selues cannot denie but to be rightly and orderly donne: and for malice doo so misconstrue and depraue al our saienges and dooings, as though it were impossible, that any thinge could be rightly spoken or donne by vs. They should more plainely & sincerely haue gonne to woorke, if they would haue dealte truely: But nowe they nei∣ther truely nor sincerely, nor yet Christianly, but darkely and crafti∣ly charge and batter vs with lies, and doe abuse the blindenesse and fondenesse of the people, togeather with the ignorance of Princes, to cause vs to be hated, and the Truthe to be suppressed.

This, lo ye, is the power of darkenesse, and of men, whiche leane more to the amased wonderinge of the rude multitude, and to darke∣nesse, then they doo to Truthe & Light: and,* 1.1 as S. Hierome saithe, doo openly gainsaie the Truthe, closinge, vp theire eies, and wil not see for the nonce. But we geue thankes to the most good and mighty God, that sutche is our cause, where against (when they would fainest) they were hable to vtter no despite, but the same, whiche might as wel be wreasted against the Holy Fathers, against the Prophetes, against the Apostles, against Peter, against Paule, and against Christe him selfe.

M. Hardinge.

The Catholikes doo not burden you with ought, wherein by their owne iudgementes they condemne themselues, as ye sclaunder them not onely here, but oftentimes in your Booke. For if they iudged other∣wise. they would not wittingly do against their iudgemente. That is the special propertie of an He∣retike, whom S. Paule hiddeth al men to a voide, knowinge that he that is suche, is peruerted,* 1.2 and seemeth euen condemned by his owne iudgement.

They shewe bothe your blasphemous Heresies, and your wicked actes. Luther, ye knowe. pow∣red out his Heresies and villanies. &c. Your robbinge of Churches, persecutinge of men for stan∣dinge s••edfastly in the faithe of the Holy forefathers, your incestuous mariages of Monkes, Friers, and Nonnes, your breache of solemne vowes for fleashly pleasure, your prophaninge and abandoninge of Holy Sacramentes, your contempt of auncient and godly ordinaunces and discipline of the Churche, and suche other thinges of like estimation.

For in deede the catholikes doo persecute you, (if suche deserued entreatinge of euill persons maye be called persecution) and al good folk besides, wee gr••••te, and shal so doe, so longe as they love the Truthe, and keepe them in the vnitie of the Churche. Yet with no other minde doo they persecu••e you,* 1.3 then Sara did Agar: then Christ the Iewes, whom he whipt out of the Temple: then ••eter did S••nom Magus.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Yewis, M. Hardinge, it might please you to remember, that Bartholomae∣us Latomus a Doctour of your side confesseth in writinge to al the worlde,* 1.4 y^• our request touchinge the Holy Ministration vnder Bothe Kindes, accordinge to Christes first Institution, is iuste and reasonable:

That Gerardus Lorichius an other of your owne side saithe, Sunt Pse••docatho∣lici, qui Reformationem Ecclesiae quoquo modo remorari non verentur: They be false Catholiques (and this,* 1.5 M. Hardinge, he speaketh of you, beinge one of your owne) they be False Catholiques, that hinder the Reformation of the Churche by al meanes they be hable. He saithe, you be false Catholiques, far contrary to the common opinion: and concludeth in the ende, that the wilful mainteinance and sequel of your Doctrine in this pointe, is, as he calleth it, Haeresis, & Blasphemia pestilens, & execrabilis: An Heresie, and a Blayhemie against God, Pestilent and Cursed;

That others of your ••de confesse, that this your vse of Ministration vnder one kinde,* 1.6 whiche nowe ye cal Catholique, began first, not of Christe, or his Apostles, or any Ancient Learned Father: but onely of the errour, or, as he better termeth it, of the simple Deuotion of the People:

That Albertus Pighius, the stoutest gallante of al your Campe, graunteth there haue benne,* 1.7 and be many Abuses in your Passe, notwithstandinge ye haue tolde vs far otherwise:

That Pope Pius oftentimes graunted, and vsed commonly to saie, He sawe great causes, why Priestes shoulde be restoared to the libertie of Mariage: That Pope Adrian by his Legate Cheregatus confessed openly at Norenherg in the Ge∣neral Diet of al the Princes of Germanie, that al the il of the Churche came firste à culmine Pontificio, From the toppe Castle of the Pope:

And to be short, M. Hardinge, it might haue pleased you to remember, that your selfe in your first Booke,* 1.8 in the Defence of your Priuate Passe, haue written thus: Mary, I denie not, but that it were more commendable, and more Godly on the Churches Parte, if many well disposed, and examined woulde be partakers of the blessed Sacramente with the Prieste.

Al these thinges, M. Hardinge, be they ••ses, or Abuses: Reasonable, or Vn∣reasonable: Right, or Wronge: Better or woorse: Be they neuer so wicked, neuer so Blasphemous, neuer so cursed, yet be they stoutly defended stil, and no hope offered of amendement: With what Conscience of your parte, he onely s••eth, that s••eth the Conscience. You graunte, ye persecute your brethren, where ye haue the Swerd, and maye persecute: but as Sara did Agar:* 1.9 as Christe did the Iewes: and not otherwise. Verily, M. Hardinge, that Christe, or Sara were persecutours. I haue not greatly heard. But I remember Chrysostome saithe thus: Nunquid Ouis Lupum persequitur aliquando? Non, sed Lupus ouem. Sic enim Caim

persecutus est Abel:* 1.10 non Abel Caim. Sic Ismael persecutus est Isaac, non Isaac Ismael: Sic Iudaei Christum, non Christus Iudaeos: Haeretici Christianos, non Christiani Haere∣sicos. Ergo ex fructibus corum cognoscetis eos: What, doothe the Sheepe perscute the Woulfe at any time? No, but the Woulfe doothe persecute the Sheepe. For so Caim per∣secuted Abel, not Abel Caim: So Ismael persecuted Isaac, not Isaac Ismael: So the Iewes persecuted Christe, not Christe the Iewes: So the Heretiques persequute the Christians, not the Christiaus the Heretiques. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ye shal knowe them by their fruites.

S. Augustine saithe,* 1.11 Non eo modo persecutionem passi sunt Pseudoprophetae ab Elia, quomodo ipse Elias à Rege nequissimo: Neither were the Palse Prophetes so perse∣cuted by Elias, as Elias was persecuted by the wicked Kinge. Surely Chrysostome saithe, Quem videris in sanguine persequutionis gaudentem, Lupus est: Whome so euer ye see ••eioicinge in the Bloudde of persequution, he is the VVoulfe.

But yée pretende greate good wil, and saye, Ye persecute and murder your Bre∣thren for Loue,* 1.12 as Christe persequuted the Iewes. So I trowe, Aristophancs saithe, Philippides tooke a cudgel, and beatte his Father, and al for loue. How be it. M. Hardinge, neither are you armed, as Christe was armed: nor was Christe ar∣med, as you are armed. I must saye to you, as S. Augustine saithe vnto the He∣retiques the Donatistes:* 1.13 Hanc formam ne ab ipsis quidem Iudaeis persecutoribus ac∣cepistis. Illi enim persequuti sunt Carnem ambulantis in terra: Vos Euangelium seden∣tis in Coelo: Ye learned not this fourme of persequution, no not of the Iewes. For they per∣sequuted the Fleashe of Christe walkinge in the Earthe: You persequute the Gospel of Christe sittinge in Heauen.* 1.14 Robert Holcote emonge other his doubtes moueth this question An Amor sit odium: VVhether Loue be hatred; or no. Yf he were nowe aliue, & sawe your dealinge, and the kindnesse of your Loue, I beleue, he woulde put the mater out of question, & saye, vndoubtedly your Loue is hatred, it is no Loue. So Moses saithe, Ismael plaied or sported with Isaac. But S Paule saithe, The same plaieinge and sportinge was persecution. For thus he writeth: He, that was after the Fleashe, persequuted him, was after the Sprite.

I doubte not, but you thinke, of your parte it is wel donne. For so Christe saithe, VVho so euer shal Murder you,* 1.15 shal thinke be offereth a Sacrifice vnto God. And your selues haue sette to this note in greate Letters in the Margine of your Decrees: Iudaei mortaliter peccassent,* 1.16 si Christū nō Crucifixissent: The Iewes had Sinned deadly, if they had not hinged Christe vpon the Crosse. Benedictus Deus, qui non dedit nos in captio∣nem Dentibus eorum: Blessed be God, that hath not geuen vs to be a Praie vnto their Teeth.

To al the reste it is sufficient for M. Hardinge to saye, They be Blasphemous Here∣sies: wicked Actes: Lutheres Heresies, and villanies: Robbinge of Churches: Breaches of Vowes: Pleas••ely pleasures: Abandoninge of the Holy Sacramentes: Malices, Sclaunders, and Lies. And bisides these thinges, in effecte he answeareth nothinge. Nowe to answeare no∣thinge with some thinge, it were woorthe nothinge.

The Apologie, Cap. 3. Diuision. 5.

Nowe therefore, if it be leeful for these folkes to be eloquent and finetongued in speakinge euil, surely it becommeth not vs in our cause, beinge so very good, to be doumbe in answearinge truely. For, menne to bee carelesse, what is spoken by them and theite owne ma∣ter, be it neuer do falsely and sclaunderousely spoken, (especialy when it is sutche, that the Maiestie of God, and the cause of Reli∣gion maye thereby be dammaged) is the parte doubtlesse of dissolute and retchelesse persons, and of them, whiche wickedly winke at the iniuries donne vnto the Name of God. For although other wronges, ye oftentimes greate, maye be borne and dissembled of a milde and

Christian man: yet he that goeth smoothely awaye and dissembleth the mater when he is noted of Heresie, Ruffinus was woont to de∣nie, that man to be a Christian. Wee therefore wil doo the same thinge, whiche al Lawes, whiche natures owne voice doothe com∣maunde to be donne, and whiche Christe him selfe did in like case when he was checked and reuiled: to the in••••••t wee maye put of from vs these mennes sclaunderous accusations, and maye defende sober∣ly and truely our owne cause and innocencie.

M. Hardinge.

Yee haue not proued, the Truthe to be of your side, nor euer shal be able to proue, mainteininge the Doctrine of the Lutheras, Zwinglians, and Caluinistes, as ye doo. Nowe al dependeth of that pointe. And bicause yee haue not the Truthe, what so euer ye saye, it is soone confuted: and what so euer ye bringe, it is to no purpose.

The B. of Sarisburie.

This is the very issue of the case: Whether the Doctrine that wée professe, be the Truethe, or no. Whiche thinge through Goddes Grace, by this our confe∣rence, in parte maye appare. I beseeche God the Authour of al Truthe, and the Father of Light, so to open our hartes, that the thinge that is the Truthe in déede, maye appeare to vs to be the Truthe.

The Apologie, Cap. 4. Diuision. 2.

For Christe verily, when the Phariseis charged him with Sor∣cery, as one that had some familiare Sprites, and wrought many thinges by theire helpe: I, saide he, haue not the Diuel, but doo glori∣fie my Father: but it is you, that haue dishonoured me, and put me to rebuke and shame. And S. Paule, when Festus the Lieutenaunt scorned him, as a mad man: I (saide he) moste deer Festus, am not mad, as thou thinkest, but I speake y^e Woordes of Truth & sobrenesse. And the ancient Christians, when they were sclaundered to the people for mankillers, for Adulterers, for committers of incest, for distur∣bers of the common Weales, and did perceiue, that by sutche sclaunde∣rous accusations the Religion whiche they professed, mighte be brought in question, namely if they should seeme to holde their peace, & in manner confesse the faulte: lest this might hinder the free course of the Gospel, they made Orations, they put vp Supplications, and made meanes to Emperours, and Princes, that they mighte defende them selues and theire Felowes in open Audience.

M. Hardinge.

When ye prooue, that ye haue the Truthe, then maye ye be admitted, in your Defence to alleage the example of Christe, of S. Paule, and of the firste Christians. But nowe wee tel you, beinge as you are, these examples serue you to no purpose. And for ought ye haue saide ••itherto, the Ana∣baptistes, Libertines, Zwenkfeldians, Nestorians, Eunomians, Arians, and al other pestiferous He∣retikes might saye the same aswel as ye. Christe was charged of the Iewes with vsinge the power of impure Sprites,* 1.17 blasphemously: Paule was scorned of Festus, as a mad man, without cause: the An∣cient Christians were accused by the Infidels of hainous crimes, falsely. But ye are accused of Here∣sies and sundrie Impieties, by Godly, VVise, and Faithful men, vpon Zeale, by good aduise, and truely. And as for those Auncient Christians, when they made Apologies or Orations in the Defence of the

Christen Faithe,* 1.18 they did it so as became Christen men, plainely and openly. Either they offered them to the Emperours with thei owne handes, or put to their names, and signified to whome they gaue the same. As S. Hilary deliuered a Booke in Defence of the Catholique Faithe against the Arians to Constantius. Melito and Apollinaris wrote their Apologies to the Emperours. S. Iustine the Philoso∣pher and Martyr gaue his firste Apologie for the Christians to the Senate of the Romaines, the seconde to Autonius Pius Emperour:* 1.19 Tertullian to the Romaines. S. Apollonius the Romaine Senatour and Martyr did Reade his Booke openly in the Senate house, whiche he had made in Defence of the Chri∣stian Faithe.* 1.20 But yee doo your thinges, that ought to be done openly, in Hucker Mucker. Ye set foorth your Apologie in the name of the Churche of Englande, before any meane parte of the Churche were priuie to it, and so as though either ye were ashamed of it, or afraide to abide by it. The inscrip∣tion of it is directed neither to Pope nor Emperour, nor to any Prince, nor to the Churche, nor to the general Councel then beinge when ye wrote it, as it was moste conuenient: There is no mans name set to it:* 1.21 It is Printed without Priuilege of the Prince, contrary to Lawe in that behalfe made: allowed neither by Parlament, nor by Proclamation, nor agreed vpon by the Cleregie in Publike and lawful Synode. This packinge becommeth you: it becommeth not the vpright Professours of the Truthe Wherefore your vnlawful Booke,* 1.22 as it is, so it maye be called an Inuectiue, or rather a Famous Li∣bel, and sclaunderous VVrite, as that whiche seemeth to haue benne made in a corner, and cast abroade in the streetes, the Authours whereof the Ciuil Lawe punis heth sharpely.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Howe far foorth these examples maye serue vs, wée remit the iudgement there∣of to the discrete Christian Reader. It is not yenough thus to crie out, Impieties, and Heresies. M. Hardinges bare Woorde in this behalfe is not sufficient to war∣rant an euidence. Certainely emonge other greate comfortes, that wee haue in Goddes mercies, this is one, and not the leaste, that touchinge the Innocencie, and right of out cause, wée maye saye to you, as Christe saide to the Phariseis, Wee haue not the Diuel,* 1.23 but wee glorifie our Father: Or, as S. Paule saide vnto Festus, Wee are not madde (M. Hardinge) as ye reporte of vs: but wee viter vnto you the Woordes of Truthe and sobrietie.

But this is a piteous faulte: The names of al the Bishoppes, Deanes, Acche∣deacons, Personnes, Vicares, and Curates of England are not sette to our Apolo∣gie. It is directed neither to the Emperour, nor to the Pope, nor to the Councel. Neither is it Printed with Priuilege of the Prince. This laste clause is a ma∣nifest Vntruthe, and maye easily be reproued by the Printer. Hereof ye conclude, It is a sclaunderous Libel, and was written vnder a Hedge, and, as you saye, in Hucker Mucker.

Firste, were it graunted, that al, ye saye of Hilarie, Melito, Iustinus, Ter∣tullian, and Apollonius were true: Yet muste it néedes folowe, that al Bookes, that are not Subscribed with the Authours names, were written in a corner? Firste to beginne with the Scriptures, tel vs, M. Hardinge, who wrote the Bookes of Genesis, of Exodus, of Leuiticus, of Numeri, of Deuteronomiū, of Io••ue, of the Iudges, of the Kinges, of y^e Chronicles, of Iob, &c. Who inrote these Bookes? I saye: Who authorized them? Who Subscribed his name? Who set to his S••ale? The Booke of Wisedome by some is Fathered vpon Philo, by some vpō Salomon. The Epistle vnto y^e Hebrewes, some saye, was written by S. Paule: Some, by Cle∣mens: Some, by Barnabas: Some, by some other: & so are wee vncertaine of y^e Au∣thours name. S. Marke, S. Luke, S. Iohn, neuer once named them selues in their Gospels. The Apostles Crede, the Canons of the Apostles, by what names are they Subscribed? Howe are they authorized? To what Pope, to what Emperour were they offered? To leaue others the Auncient Doctours of the Churche, whiche, as you knowe, are often misnamed, Ambrose for Augustine, Gréeke for Latine,

Newe for Olde: your Doctour of Doctours, the fairest flower, and croppe of your garlande Gratianus, is so wel knowen by his name, that wise menne can not wel tel,* 1.24 What name to geue him. Erasmus saithe of him thus, Quisquis fuit, siue Gra∣tianus, siue Crassianus: What so euer name wee may geue him: be it Gratianus, or Crassia∣nus. And againe he saithe, Eruditi negant, illam Gratiani, nescio cuius, congeriem vlla vnquam Publica Ecclesiae authoritate fuisse comprobatam: The learned saye, that Gratians Collection, or heape of maters, was neuer allowed by any Publique Authoritie of the Churche.* 1.25 And againe, Non constat vllis argumentis, quis fuerit Gratianus, quo tem∣pore opus suum exhibuerit, cuius Pontificis, cuius Concilij fuerit Authoritate compro∣batum: It cannot appeare by any tokens of recorde, neither what this Gratian was: nor at what time he offered vp his Booke: nor what Councel, nor what Pope allowed it.

Who subscribed the late Councel of Colaine? Who subscribed the Booke not longe sithence sette abroade vnder the name of the Churche of Colaine, and named Antididagma? To be shorte, who subscribed your owne late Booke intituled the Apologie of Priuate Masse? Where were they written? Where were they Sub∣scribed? By what authoritie, and vnder what names were they allowed? I wil saye nothinge of your late Famouse Volume bearinge the name of Marcus Antonius Constantius. This Booke, as you see, hathe three greate names: Notwithstan∣dinge the Authour him selfe had but twoo: and yet not one of al these three. What, M. Hardinge, would you make your Brethren beleue, that al these be but sclaun∣derous Writes, diuised onely in Hucker Mucker, and vnder a Hedge?

The Decree,* 1.26 the Apostles made in the fiftenthe Chapter of the Actes, it appea∣reth not, it was so curiously subscribed with al theire names. The Protestation of the Bohemiens in the Councel of Basile, the Confession of the Churches of Ge∣neua & Heluetia, for ought that I knowe, haue no sutche Publique Subscriptions. Neither is it necessarie, nor commonly vsed, to ioyne Priuate mennes names to Publique maters: neither in so mightie & ample a Realme, vpon al incident occasi∣ons is it so easy to be donne. Briefely our Apologie is cōfirmed by as many names, as the highe Courte of Parlamente of England is confirmed.

Neither was the same conceiued in so darke a corner, as M. Hardinge ima∣gineth. For it was afterwarde imprinted in Latine at Parise: and hathe henne fithence Translated into the Frenche, the Italian, the Duche, and the Spa∣nishe tongues: and hathe benne sente, and borne abroade into France, Flaun∣ders, Germanie, Spaine, Poole, Hungarie, Denmarke, Sueucland, Scotland, Italie, Naples, and Rome it selfe to the iudgemente and trial of the whole Churche of God. Yea it was Readde, and sharply considered in your late Couente at Tri∣dent, & greate threates made there, that it should be answeared: and the mater by twoo Notable learned Bishoppes taken in hande, the one a Spaniarde, the other an Italian: Which twoo notwithstandinge, these fiue whole yéeres haue yet donne nothinge, nor, I belèeue, intende any thinge to doo. In deede certaine of your Brethren haue benne often gnawinge at it: but sutche as care nothinge, nor is cared, what they write.

But if names be so necessarie, wee haue the names of the whole Cleregie of Englande, to confirme the Faithe of our Doctrine, and your name, M. Hardinge, as you can wel remember, emongst the reste: onlesse, as ye haue already denied your Faithe, so ye wil nowe also denie your name.

To conclude, it is greatter modestie to publishe our owne Booke, without Name, then, as you doo, to publishe other mennes Bookes in your owne Names. For in deede, M. Hardinge, the Bookes ye lende so thicke ouer, are not yours. Ye are but Translatours: ye are no Authours. Yf euery birde shoulde fetche againe his owne Feathers, alas your poore Chickens woulde die for colde.

But you saye, Wee offered not our Booke to the Pope. No, neither ought wée so to doo. He is not our Bishop: He is not our Iudge. Wee maye saye vnto him, as the Emperour Constantius saide sometime to Pope Liberius,* 1.27 Quoia es tu pa••s Or∣bis terrarum? VVhat greate portion art thou of the whole Worlde? As for your Councel of Tridente, God wote, it was a séely Couente, for ought that maye appeare by theire Conclusions.

Wée offered the Defense, and profession of our Doctrine vnto the whole Churche of God: & so vnto the Pope, & the Councel too, if they be any parte, or member of the Churche: & by Goddes mercie, shal euer be hable in al places bothe with our handes, and with our Bodies to yelde an accoumpte of the hope wee haue in Iesus Christe. Whereas it liked you to terme our Apologie a Sclaunderous Libel, I doubt not, but who so euer shal iudifferently consider your Booke, shal thinke M. Hardinges tonge wanteth no sclaunder.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hierony aduer∣sus Rufinum.
• * 1.2

  Tim. 5.
• * 1.3

  Genes. 16. Iohan. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  ••ar. Latonus aduersus Bucerū
• * 1.5

  ••erar. Lorichi∣us De Missa prorogand••. In 7. par. Canonis.
• * 1.6

  Steuin Gard. in the Diuels So∣phist••ie.
• * 1.7

  Albertus ••ighi∣us De Missa P••••uata. Platina in Vio 2. 10. Shidanus Li. 4.
• * 1.8

  M. Harding fo. 22 b.
• * 1.9

  Gene. 16 Iohn 2. Chrysost. in Mat. thae. Homi. 19.
• * 1.10

  Persequu∣tion for Loue.
• * 1.11

  August contra Lite, Pe••ili a. Lib. 2. Cap 19. Chrysost. in Mat∣thae. Homil. 19.
• * 1.12

  In vespit.
• * 1.13

  August. contra Liter. Per••lta•••• Lib. 2. Cap. 87.
• * 1.14

  Holcore in. 1. Sē∣ten. Quaest 3. Arti. 8. Dubi 2. Orig. in Genes. Homi. 7. Gene. 21. Calat. 4.
• * 1.15

  Iohan. 16.
• * 1.16

  Dist. 13. Item: In Margine.
• * 1.17

  Luke. 11. Act. 26. Tertul. in Apo∣log.
• * 1.18

  The Apologies of the olde Fa∣thers vvere lavv∣fully published. Eccles. Hist. Lib 4. Cap. 26.
• * 1.19

  Eccles. Hist. Lib. 5. Cap. 21.
• * 1.20

  The Apologie of the Churche of England for foorthe suspiti∣ously, and vvith∣out due order.
• * 1.21

  Vntruthe.
• * 1.22

  The Apologie •• famous Libel.
• * 1.23

  Iohan. 2. Act. 26.
• * 1.24

  Erasm. In Prae∣sae. in tertiam Seriem quaerti Tom. Hiero∣nymi.
• * 1.25

  Erasm. In Prae∣fatione in. 4. Tom. Hiero∣nymi.
• * 1.26

  Actor. 13
• * 1.27

  Theodoret. in Hist. Ecclesiast.