A04468:2388
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…
A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to a certain book lately set forth by M. Harding, and entitled, A confutation of &c. By John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury.A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.
Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the sign of the Elephant, by Henry Wykes, Anno 1567. 27. OctobrisImprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Elephante, by Henry VVykes, Anno 1567. 27. Octobris
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The B. of Salisbury.
The B. of Sarisburie.
Here ye say,1 We lie: we backbite: we slander, &c. For answer whereunto, first we say, It is no new devise, to make light and simple account of your Simple Fornication. 2For Aëtius y• old Heretic used thus to saie, Dormire cum muliere extra Coniungium, non magis est peccatum, quàm aurem scalper: To have the company of a Woman out of Marriage, is no more a sin, then it is for a man to claw his care. 3Likewise the Heretic Prodicus said, Licet palàm, & apertè Fornicari: It is lawful to commit open Fornication. Likewise not long sithence wrote Laurentius Valla, in earnest, or in game, I cannot tell: but thus he wrote: and he wrote it in Rome,4 being him self one of the Canons there: Omninò nihil interest, utrùm cum Marito coeat Mulier, an cum Amatore: Undoubtedly there is no difference, whether a Woman keep company with her Husband, or with her Lover. Richardus de Sancto Victore saith, Paulus praevidebat, multos fore, qui Fornicationis malum non adeò damnabile putarent: S. Paul foresaw, there should be many, that would think, the il of Fornication not to be so damnable a matter. To like purpose Socrates writeth of the corrupt judgement of sundry of his time:5 Scortationem indifferentem esse putant: De Festis verò diebus, perinde atque pro animabus suis dimicant, inuertentes Mandata Dei, &c. They take Fornication, or whoredom to be a thing indifferent, (that is to say, neither good, nor il, but left at liberty): But they fight for the keeping of their Holidays, as for their souls. From these Fathers, as it appeareth, issued out the Pope, and his Romaine Clergy: who have learned so readily to swallow a Camel, and so nicely, and solemnly to strain a gnat.