A detection of sundrie foule errours, lies, sclaunders, corruptions, and other false dealinges, touching doctrine, and other matters vttered and practized by M.Iewel, in a booke lately by him set foorth entituled, a defence of the apologie. &c. By Thomas Harding doctor of diuinitie.

Iewel.

* 1.1In the Councel holden at Ancyra, it is concluded thus, Diaconi qui∣cunque ordinantur, si in ipsa Ordinatione protestati sunt, & di∣xerunt velle se Coniugio copulari, quia sic manere non possunt, Hi si postmodum vxores duxerint, in Ministerio maneant, pro∣pterea quòd Episcopus illis licentiam dederit. Deacons as many as be ordered, if at the time of receiuing Orders, they made protestation, and said that they vvould marrie for that they finde not them selues hable so to continue vvithout Marriage, if they aftervvard marrie, let them con∣tinue in Ministerie, for asmuch as the Bishop hath geuen them licence. M. Harding, I trovv, vvil not denie, but Deaconship is one of the holy Orders.

Harding.

* 1.2This proueth not, that Deacons did marrie: nor that any Bishop euer gaue them licence to marrie, but onely, that if they would marrie, the Bishops licence therto ob∣teined, they should not be remoued from the ministerie. Whether any with licence married or no, you are not yet hable to shewe. And whereas no deacon might mar∣rie, but such as had made protestation that he would mar∣rie, before he tooke holy Orders, and had obteined leaue of the Bishop so to doo: by this we vnderstand, that for a Deacon to marrie, simply to speake, and of it selfe, it was vnlawful. For otherwise what needed protestation, leaue and licence? What so euer is lawful, may be done with∣out protestatiō or licence, and what may not be done but with protestation and licence, the same of it selfe is vn∣lawful. And so my saying by this testimonie is confirmed, it is not confuted.

Againe it is to be considered, that by this Councel, a Deacons Marriage was not made firste allowable after that he was promoted to the Order of Deaconship, but before he receiued that holy Order. For if he made no protestation that he would marrie, and asked no licence thereto, but helde his peace: by the wordes that follow in the same Canon, it is cleare, that he bound himselfe to perpetual continencie, and might neuer marrie after∣warde, as he that had by taking that Order, professed, and promised chastitie. Those wordes are these, which you should haue rehersed, had you dealt truly and vprightly. Quicunque Diaconi tacuerunt, &c.* 1.3 What Deacons so euer helde their peace (when they tooke Orders) and receiued the laying on of the Bisshoppes hande, so hauing made their profession of continencie, if afterwarde they come to marrie, they shalbe bound to ceasse from the ministerie.* 1.4 He that made his Protestation that he would marrie, and that for necessitie, and had licence of the Bishop: when he mar∣ried in deede, was suffered to remaine in the Ministerie, as they that were admitted vnto holy Orders with wed∣locke. For he seemed already in harte and affecte, a mar∣ried man. And such that Prouincial Councel did beare withal, when for lacke of other worthy menne, the more parte yet remaining in infidelitie, the Bishops were compelled to admitte to the Ministerie of the Churche married menne. Your brethren can not claime by this example. For they neuer made any suche protestation, when they were ordered, neither demaunded they euer any such licence of their Bishops, but eche, as they felt them selues moued with the spirite of luste, vpon warrāt of your Gospel, and their owne spirite, went lustily to

their yoke felowes, and vnder pretence of Marriage con∣cluded a lusty bargaine. If ye haue no better stuffe then this, for the marriage of the Apostates your companions, wel you may receiue your fee of them, verely it is not yet sufficiently defended.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Concil. Ancyran. cap. 9.
• * 1.2

  Ansvver vnto the Canon of the Coū¦cel of An∣cyra.
• * 1.3

  Concil. Ancyran. cap. 10.
• * 1.4

  The case of our Apostates is not like vnto this case.