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 it is a world to see, what wiles, & shifts these men can find, to bear out error. First, ye say, these words were spoken of the Priests, Deacons, & Subdeacons, serving the Priest at Mass upon Solemn Feasts. Pardon me, M. Harding, to say the Truth. For verily, notwithstanding this solemn tale, it seemeth, ye know not, what ye say. For it may please you to remember, that your Anacletus, whose forged Authority ye have alleged, was Bishop in Rome in the time of S. Peter, shortly upon the Death of Christ, when the Church was everywhere under persecution, & full of Blood. Now, I pray you, who ever told you, either of any office, that your Subdeacons had in the Holy Ministry, or of any great high Holy Days, of Duplex, or magis Duplex, or principal Solemn Feasts in the Church of God in all that time? May we think, that the Blessed Virgins, and the Apostles days were kept High and Holy, while the same Blessed Virgin, and Apostles were yet alive? Though ye had none other regard, either to God, or to your self, yet shame should force you, to foresee more advisedly, what ye say.

But it is a world to see, what wiles, & shiftes these menne can finde, to beare out erroure. Firste, ye saie, these woordes were spoken of the Priestes, Deacons, & Subdeacons, seruinge the Prieste at Masse vpon Solemne Feastes. Pardonne me, M. Hardinge, to saie the Truthe. For verily, notwithstandinge this solemne tale, it seemeth, ye knowe not, what ye saie. For it maie please you to remember, that your Anacletus, whose forged Authoritie ye haue alleged, was Bishop in Rome in the time of S. Peter, shortely vpon the Deathe of Christe, when the Churche was euerywhere vnder persecution, & ful of Bloude. Nowe, I praie you, who euer tolde you, either of any office, that your Subdeacons had in the Holy Ministerie, or of any greate highe Holy Daies, of Duplex, or magis Duplex, or principal Solemne Feastes in the Churche of God in al that time? Maye wee thinke, that the Blessed Virgins, and the Apostles daies were keapte Highe and Holy, while the same Blessed Virgin, and Apostles were yet aliue? Though ye had none other regarde, either to God, or to your selfe, yet shame shoulde force you, to foresee more aduisedly, what yée saie.

But your greattest folly appeareth in y shifting, & glossing of these words. For you say, this Calixtus, or Anacletus speaketh only of the Priests, the Deacons, and the Subdeacons: and never a word expressly of the Lay people: and therefore ye say, we deceive the unlearned Reader with a lie. Touching your uncourteous speech, I weigh it none otherwise, but as it is. The Truth will be able evermore to bear it self. But that these words of Anacletus, or Calixtus, touch not the Lay people, but only the Priests, and the Ministers, the very Glosser him self was never, either so unskilful, or so impudent, so to say. For, whereas the words be these, Let them all Communicate, onlesse they will be removed out of the Church, he setteth there to this Exposition, Hoc antiquum est: Nam hoc hodiè relictum videtur arbitrio cuiuslibet: