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…

For, where as S. Cyprian saith, Unto the Romans unfaithfulness can have no access, he speaketh not of the Unfaithfulness of Faith, or Doctrine, as you by error have imagined, but only of the Unfaithfulness of report. The cause of writing that Epistle, in short, was this: Certain lewd fellows, refusing to stand to the judgement of the Bishops of their own ⟨p. 440⟩Country of Africa, ¹appealed further, and fled to Rome, with many untrue, and forged tales, to win some credit of their cause. Hereunto S. Cyprian saith, The Romans be godly, and wise men: they will soon be able, to espy their falsehood. For unfaithful reports, and lewd tales can have no access unto them. If ye had considered, either the occasion of the writing, or the whole drift of the letter,² or the very bare words, as they lie, ye might easily have, seen, that this only was S. Cyprian's meaning.

For, where as S. Cyprian saithe, Vnto the Romaines vnfaithfulnesse can haue no accesse, he speaketh not of the Vnfaithfulnesse of Faithe, or Doctrine, as you by erroure haue imagined, but onely of the Vnfaithfulnesse of reporte. The cause of writinge that Epistle, in shorte, was this: Certaine lewde felowes, refusinge to stande to the iudgemente of the Bishoppes of their owne ⟨p. 440⟩Countrie of Aphrica, ¹appealed further, and fledde to Rome, with many vntrue, and forged tales, to winne somme credite of their cause. Hereunto S. Cyprian saithe, The Romaines be godly, and wise men: they wil soone be hable, to espie their falsehedde. For vnfaitheful reportes, and lewde tales can haue no accesse vnto them. If ye had considered, either the occasion of the writting, or the whole drifte of the letter,² or the very bare woordes, as they lie, ye mighte easily haue, seene, that this onely was S. Cyprians meaning.

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