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…

Ye say, we read neither the Old Writers, nor the New, but are utterly ignorant, and void of all learning: and, in respect of the Beams of your knowledge, know nothing. It were a very ambitious, and a childish vanity, to make vaunts of Learning. For as much as ye seem desirous of the same of great Reading, ye shall have the whole praise, and glory of it, M. Harding, without contention. We will rather say with S. Paul, We know nothing, but only Jesus Christ Crucified upon his Cross. Yet notwithstanding we are neither so ignorant, nor so idle, but that we are able, and have leisure to read, as well the Old Doctors, & the Fathers of the Church, as also your light uncivil Pamphlets, and blotted Papers: which, God wot, in all respects are very New. And for either of them, we are much ashamed in your behalf: For the Old Doctors, & Fathers, to see them of your part, either of wilfulness, or of forgetfulness, or of ignorance, so foully misused: of your own Papers, & Novelties, to see them with untruth, and other uncourteous speech so fully freighted.

Ye saie, wée reade neither the Olde Writers, nor the Newe, but are vtterly ignorante, and voide of al learninge: and, in respecte of the Beames of your knowlege, knowe nothinge. It were a very ambitious, and a childishe vanitie, to make vauntes of Learninge. For as motche as ye seeme desirous of the same of greate Readinge, ye shal haue the whole praise, and glorie of it, M. Hardinge, without contention. Wée wil rather saie with S. Paule, Wee knowe nothinge, but onely Iesus Christe Crucified vpon his Crosse. Yet notwithstandinge wée are neither so ignorant, nor so idle, but that wee are hable, and haue leasure to reade, as wel the Olde Doctours, & the Fathers of the Churche, as also your lighte vnciuile Pamflettes, and blotted Papers: whiche, God wote, in al respectes are very Newe. And for either of them, wee are mutche ashamed in your behalfe: For the Olde Doctours, & Fathers, to see them of your parte, either of wilfulnesse, or of forgeatefulnesse, or of ignorance, so fowly misused: of your owne Papers, & Nouelties, to see them with vntruthe, and other vncourteous speache so fully freighted.

But, touching Hosius, ye condemn us utterly, either of ignorance, or of malice. For the words, wherein we find such fault, were uttered by him, as you say, not as any part of his own Judgement, but only, as in the person of the Heretic Zuenkfeldius. Therefore, ye say, we charge him wrongfully with the allowing of that thing, which he expressly, and plainly reproveth.