So many lies, M. Harding, and, as ye say, so far paste shame, and such hot Tragedies, and the cause no greater? What stir would ye have kept, if it had been matter worthy the hearing? what if the Author of the Apology had been overseen in the report of one year, or two, or in some other like Circumstance, the Substance of the Story nevertheless still reserved? If ye had remembered some of your own often oversights, ye could not for shame have been so terrible against others. For it appeareth well, by all that ye have hitherto sent us over, your insight in matters is not so deep, but ye may often, and foully be deceived. You your self, M. Harding, both in this self same place, and in this self same story, and in the report of one poor note, have committed four, foul, and gross errors, with one breathe, altogether. You your self, I say, M. Harding: I speak of none other, but of your self. If ye think, the beams of your knowledge shine so clear, that it can never be overcast with cloud of error, then, I beseech you, consider well your Note specially marked in your Margin.1 Thus ye direct us to the Author of your Story: Sabellicus Decadis 2. li. 1. 1220. In this one little short note, I say, ye have sent us four errors. For first,2 every child knoweth, that Sabellicus never wrote Decades, but only Enneades. And therefore, if I were not better acquainted with your Learning, I might seem to have just cause to say, either ye never saw Sabellicus Books, or else ye never read them. I will not here keep an Audite, as you do, nor say, as you say,3 This is one lie. Further ye say, it is written in the Second Decade: ⟨p. 415⟩But Sabellicus the Author him self saith.4 It is written in the ninth Enneade. I will not say, as you say, There be two Lies. Again you say, It is in the First Book: But Sabellicus him self saith, It is in the Seventh Book. Yet will not I follow you, nor say, There be three Lies. For a surplusage, and more likelihood of your tale,5 ye note also the year of our Lord 1220. with as good discretion, as the rest. For at that time, neither Pope Clemens, nor Francis Dandalus was yet borne. For this thing happened, as it most plainly appeareth by all stories, about the year of our Lord 1310.
So many lies, M. Hardinge, and, as ye saie, so farre paste shame, and sutche hote Tragedies, and the cause no greatter? What sturre woulde ye haue keapte, if it had benne mater woorthy the hearinge? what if the Authoure of the Apologie had benne ouerséene in the reporte of one yeere, or twoo, or in somme other like Circumstance, the Substance of the Storie neuerthelesse stil reserued? If yée had remembred somme of your owne often ouersightes, ye coulde not for shame haue benne so terrible againste others. For it appeareth wel, by al that yee haue hitherto sente vs ouer, your insighte in matters is not so deepe, but yee maie often, and fouly be deceiued. You your selfe, M. Hardinge, bothe in this selfe same place, and in this selfe same storie, and in the reporte of one poore note, haue committed foure, foule, and grosse errours, with one breathe, altogeather. You your selfe, I saie, M. Hardinge: I speake of none other, but of your selfe. If ye thinke, the beames of your knowledge shine so cleare, that it can neuer be ouercaste with clowde of erroure, then, I beseche you, consider wel your Note specially marked in your Margine.1 Thus ye directe vs to the Authour of your Storie: Sabellicus Decadis 2. li. 1. 1220. In this one litle shorte note, I saie, ye haue sente vs foure errours. For firste,2 euery childe knoweth, that Sabellicus neuer wrote Decades, but onely Enneades. And therefore, if I were not better acquainted with your Learninge, I might seeme to haue iuste cause to saie, either yee neuer sawe Sabellicus Bookes, or els yee neuer readde them. I wil not here keepe an Audite, as you doo, nor saie, as you saie,3 This is one lie. Further ye saie, it is written in the Seconde Decade: ⟨p. 415⟩But Sabellicus the Authoure him selfe saith.4 It is writtē in the nienth Enneade. I wil not saie, as you saie, There be tvvoo Lies. Againe you saie, It is in the Firste Booke: But Sabellicus him selfe saithe, It is in the Seuenthe Booke. Yet wil not I folowe you, nor saie, There be three Lies. For a surplussage, and more likelihoode of your tale,5 ye note also the yeere of our Lorde 1220. with as good discretion, as the reste. For at that time, neither Pope Clemens, nor Francise Dandalus was yet borne. For this thinge happened, as it moste plainely appeareth by al stories, aboute the yéere of our Lorde 1310.
- 1Folio. 186. a.
- 2Decades.
- 3Second Decade.Seconde Decade.
- 4Franciscus Dandalus. First Book.Franciscus Dandalus. Firste Booke.
- 5Anno Do. 1220.
