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.

M. Hardinge.

Softe, and fayre, Maisters. Ye shewe more heate then witte, more stomake then learninge, more anger then reason. Ye saie muche, and prooue little. But saie ye, and saie againe, what ye wil: we tel you boldely,* 1.1 that* 1.2 neither Christe euer commaunded, * nor the Apostles ordeined, * nor al the An∣cient Fathers obserued, that the Sacrament be geuen to the people none otherwise, but vnder bothe Kindes onely. If Christe had expressely commaunded it, the Churche (of Rome) had not so longe time receiued, and kepte the vse of one Kinde. The Apostles, and sundry Holy Fathers Ministred bothe Kindes: we confesse. That the one Kinde was not also by them Ministred, and that it is vtterly vn∣lawful, we denie,† 1.3 and the same shal ye neuer be able to proue. Touchinge this whole pointe, and how litle, that ye alleage out of Celasius, maketh for you, and concerninge Masse not to be omitted for lacke of Companie, to communicate Sacramentally with the Prieste:* 1.4 I haue saide yuongh in my answeare to your fellowe M. Iuel his chalenge. Bringe ye other stuffe, and better then this, or els al the worlde wil see your haltinge, and the feblenesse of your side.* 1.5 That we haue violently thruste out, and quite forbidden the Holy Communion, onlesse ye meane your owne Schismaticall, mutable, and polluted Communion, if there were any sparke of shame, or harted of liynge in you, ye woulde neuer impute it vnto vs. God dothe knowe, and the Worlde is not vnwittinge,‡ 1.6 how muche, howe often, and how earnestly the Catholike Churche exhorteth her Children to prepare themselues, to re∣ceiue their* 1.7 Maker. And though the people of Englande of late yeeres resorted not commonly there∣to, yet the deuotion of Christen folke in this Countrie of base Almaigne, in Fraunce, in Italy, in Spaine, and in sundrie other Christen Prouinces, is so feruent in frequentinge the Holy Communion, as if ye sawe it, ye would be ashamed of your sclaunderous reporte. Let wise men, and good men iudge, whether we be Churcherobbers, or ye vnshamefaste liers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cōmunion vnder both kindes not cōmaunded expressely by Christe, nor ordei∣ned by the Apostles.
• * 1.2

  Vntruthes three togeather boldely presu∣med.
• † 1.3

  To prooue a Negatiue, it is a folie. But you shal neuer proue the Affirma∣tiue.
• * 1.4

  Certainely yenough. For in the same tvvoo Articles ye haue vttered three∣score and foure greate Vn∣truthes.
• * 1.5

  An vn∣shamefaste and sclaun∣derouse lie▪
• ‡ 1.6

  Vntruthe, so sensible, and so grosse, that a man maie feele it vvith his fin∣gers.
• * 1.7

  Vntruthe. No Learned Father euer called the Sacramente his God, or Maker.