A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

But,¹ God wot, here followeth a very cold Asseveration. Not Seldom, ye say, the Priest at the Mass, when none other were disposed, received alone. O M. Harding, the world well seethe, your word is no Gospel. It appeareth by your so many Untruths, ye care not greatly, what you say. Thus ye tell us, Not Seldom the Priest received alone. Not Seldom? what is that? why speak you so nicely? what meaneth this cold, and doubtful eloquence, specially in him, that otherwise hath acquainted his voice to speak so big? why say you not, The Priest used daily, and commonly so to do? Or if ye could not avouch so great Untruth for very shame, why said you not, The Priest oftentimes, or at some certain times received alone: at the least at four, or three, or two sundry times, within the space of six hundred years? At the worst, if ye had said, but Once, it had been somewhat. As for, Not seldom, it is too base: it is too simple: it disgraceth the whole course of your pleading, and in plain speech soundeth, as much, as Never. It had rather been your part, taking upon you this countenance of credit, and gravity, to have told us Substantially, and plainly, what manner of man this Priest was: where he dwelt: what was his name: when, and where, and in what Company he said this Mass: who saw it: who heard it: who bare witness to it: by what Record, or Authority it may be proved. The matter being so great, and of such Antiquity, is there no man left behind, to witness the same, but M. Harding? In your Former Answer ye bring us in Boys, Girls, Sick folk, Lay people, and Women: and upon such grounds ye stick not to found your Private Mass. And doubtless these examples might have seemed to stand you in some pretty stead, if in those days ⟨p. 226⟩Boys, ²and Women had been Priests. For Priest, or Bishop, that ever received the Sacrament alone, in the Church, before the people, ye are not yet able to show us one. As for your Leontius, and Amphilochius, & S. Basiles Mass at Midnight, and other like follies, and fables, it seemeth by the silence, ye use in your late Rejoinder, ye are contented wisely, and quietly to give them over.

But,¹ God wote, here foloweth a very colde Asseueration. Not Seldome, ye saie, the Prieste at the Masse, whan none other were disposed, receiued alone. O M. Hardinge, the worlde wel seethe, your woorde is no Gospel. It appeareth by your so many Vntruthes, ye care not greately, what you saie. Thus yée tel vs, Not Seldome the Prieste receiued alone. Not Seldome? what is that? why speake you so nicely? what meaneth this colde, and doubteful eloquence, specially in him, that otherwise hath acquainted his voice to speake so bigge? why saie you not, The Prieste vsed daiely, and commonly so to doo? Or if yée coulde not auouche so great Vntruthe for very shame, why saide you not, The Prieste oftentimes, or at some certaine times receiued alone: at the leaste at foure, or three, or tvvoo sundrie times, within the space of sixe hundred yéeres? At the woorste, if yee had saide, but Once, it had benne somwhat. As for, Not seldomme, it is too base: it is too simple: it disgraceth the whole course of your pleadinge, and in plaine speache soundeth, as mutche, as Neuer. It had rather benne your parte, takinge vpon you this countenance of credite, and grauitie, to haue tolde vs Substantially, and plainely, what manner of man this Prieste was: where he dwelte: what was his name: when, and where, and in what Companie he saide this Masse: who sawe it: who hearde it: who bare witnesse to it: by what Recorde, or Authoritie it maie be proued. The matter beinge so great, and of sutche Antiquitie, is there noman leafte behinde, to witnesse the same, but M. Hardinge? In your Former Answeare ye bringe vs in Boies, Girles, Sicke folke, Laie people, and VVemen: and vpon sutche groundes ye sticke not to founde your Priuate Masse. And doubtelesse these examples might haue seemed to stande you in somme prety stéede, yf in those daies