This errour of M. Hardinges grewe of ignorance. For Nazianzenes wordes be very plaine: Meo Patri Mater mea &c. My Mother being geuen to my Father of God, became not onely his helper, for that had benne no great woonder, but also was his leader, and Captaine, both by worde, and by deede trayning him vnto the beste. In Re∣ligion and godlines she doubted not to becomme his Mai∣stresse. Nazianzenus in Epitaphio patris.
Al this, and muche more vttered by the learned sonne of his godly Mother, is to be vnderstanded of the time, when his father was an Infidel. She being a Christian woman, and comme of a Christian stocke, being married vnto her husband remaining yet without beleefe in Christe, vsed al the good meanes of a helper, guide, leader, schoolemaistresse, and teacher, to in∣duce him vnto the Faith. Whiche thing by Goddes grace at length she perfourmed, as the holy wooman Monica S. Augustines mother, did likewise, in win∣ning Patricius her husband, vnto the Faith of Christe, not long before he died, as S. Augustine witnesseth. But that euer she tooke vpon her so to teache him, after that he was chosen Bisshoppe of Nazianzum, for that M. Iewel is not hable to shewe vs so muche as one woorde, or halfe woorde, and yet that doth he con∣stantly affirme in his pretensed Defence. This being so, what maketh it to the iustification of his Vntruthe? It may please thee good Reader to peruse that I say of this hereafter, where I treate of it at large, and con∣fute this impudent Vntruthe of M. Iewels thoroughly. Howbeit I confuted the same also sufficiently in my Confutation of the Apologie.