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.

The B. of Sarisburie.

It appeareth, M. Harding is muche s••anted of good Authorities, when he is thus driuen by Tales, & Fables, to coūtreuaile the Tradition of the Apostles: and that, by suche Fables, as he him selfe is faine to cutte of in the middest, and cannot truely reporte without shame. How be it, nothinge commeth amisse, that may serue to a∣stonne the simple. Suche groundes be sufficient for suche Doctrine. The tale, as it is tolde by Innocentius, and Durandus emongst other Fables, is this: Certaine Shepeheardes, hauinge by often hearinge learned the woordes of Consecration, be∣gan to practise the same emongst them selues, ouer their Breade, in the fielde, vpon a stoane. Suddainely the breade was fleashe: the poore men were amased: God was angrie: Fiere came from Heauen, and burnte them vp: not one leafte aliue to tel these tidinges. Hereupon, saithe M. Hardinge, this lawe was made. For viewe of the likelihoode hereof, they say, that the Priest him selfe, be he neuer so holy, onless•• he haue his Aultar, his Superaltare, his Chalice, his Corporesse, his Lightes, his Uestimentes, and al other appourtenances necessary: Onlesse he stedfastly eie, & beholde the Breade: onlesse he pronounce al these fiue woordes with one breathe, without stoppe: and onlesse he haue a special intent, and minde to woorke Conse∣cration, he laboureth in vaine, and can neuer Consecrate. Yet these poore Shepe∣heardes, not beinge Priestes, for ought that wée knowe, nor hauinge either Aul∣tar, or Superaltare, or Uestimentes, or any knowledge of these Cauteles, nor in∣tention, or minde to woorke Consecration, yet notwithstandinge, had Consecrate suddainely before they were ware. By these it may be geathered, that Consecration is easier for a Shepehearde, then for a Priest. But when these Shepeheardes were al slaine in the place, where they stoode, and not one leafte aliue to reporte these do∣inges, M. Hardinge shoulde haue tolde vs, by what Angel, or Archangel, or othe•• secrete Reuelation, this tale afterwarde came to light. His Reader woulde also longe to know, in what Kingedome, or in what Countrie, in what Kinges, or Popes daies these thinges happened: in what Chronicle, in what Storie thei were recorded. Otherwise he wil suspecte, M. Hardinge founde it in the Shepeheardes Calendare. And touchinge this Newe Decree for Silence, and Secresie, M. Har∣dinge shoulde haue taught vs, in what Councel, in what Synode, in what Con∣uocation, in what Di••t••, in what Countrie, and at what time it was determined: who was Legate at the dooinge, who was Referendarie, who was Presidente, who was Presente. Yf he haue nothinge to saie, his tale hath loste his grace, and wilbe thoughte a Shepeheardes Fable.

But hereof, these twoo thinges M. Hardinge might wel haue learned: Firste, that before these strange vnknowen Shepeheardes gaue this attempte, the Conse∣cration was euerywhere pronounced alowde: And farther, that the same Conse∣cration was pronounced in the Common Knowen Mother tongue of euery Coun∣trie: that the Shepeheardes might learne it, and vnderstande it, Onl••sse M. Har∣dinge wil happily saie, They were Gréeke, or Latine Shepeheardes.