A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.

M. Hardinge. The .7. Diuision.

I wil not let here to recite some, whiche, so farre as I remember, be not founde there, one onely excepted, whiche is of S. Basile, euery one of right good, and aucient auctoritee.

Simeon Metaphrastes a Greeke writer describinge the life of S. Luke the Euangelist saithe,* 1.1 that he made the Images of Christe, and of his Mother Mary. Sainct Ambrose witnesseth, that in his time the Images of the Apostles were vsed in pictures. For where he declareth the maruelouse ap∣pearinge of the Holy Martyrs Geruasius,* 1.2 and Protasius vnto him in a vision, he saithe, that a thirde personne appeared with them, that tolde him, where their bodies laye, whiche seemed like to S. Paule the Apostle, as he vnderstoode his face by viewe of his Picture.

Gregorie Nyssene S Basiles brother, writinge the life of Theodorus the Martyr, bestoweth much eloquence in the praise of the Churche, where his Holy Relikes were kepte, commendinge the shape

of liuinge thinges wrought by the keruer, the smoothenesse of Marble poolishid like Siluer by the Mason, the liuely resemblance of the Martyr him selfe, and of al his woorthy actes, expressed and ex∣cellently sette foorth to the eie in Imagerie with the Image of Christe by the painter. In whiche Images he acknowlegeth the fightes of the Martyr to be declared no lesse, then if they were descri∣bed, and written in a booke.

Paulinus the Bishoppe of Nola in his booke,* 1.3 that he made inverses of the life of Felix the mar∣tyr, praiseth the Churche, whiche the Martyrs Bodie was laied in, for the garnishinge of it with painted Images in bothe sides, of bothe kindes, bothe men, and women, the one kinde on the one side, and the other kinde on the other side. VVhere he speaketh expressely by name of the Images of scab∣bed Iob, and blinde Tobie, of faire Iudith, and great queene Hester: for so he nameth them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A vaine Fabular. He liued about the yeere. 1350.
• * 1.2

  In vita Ger∣••asij & Pro∣tasij.
• * 1.3

  In deci•••• Natali.