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…

If there were such Errors in the Vulgar Translations, ye should have descried them, although not all, yet for your credits sake, one at the least. Ye should have removed the Error, and have restored the Scriptures, to the use, and comfort of the people. But this is it, that troubleth you so sore: that the Scriptures are published in the Common known tongues, and that the simple people of all sorts (whom otherwise ye call Dogs, and Swine, & filthy brute Beasts void of reason) may understand them. This, M. Harding, is that great, and horrible Error: This is the Error of all Errors. Therefore Irenaeus saith, as it is alleged before,¹ Haeretici, cùm ex Scripturis arguuntur, in accusationem vertuntur Scripturarum: Heretics, when they be reproved by the Scriptures, then begin they to find fault with the Scriptures. ²And therefore S. Ambrose saith, Herodes conscius ignobilitatis suae, Scripturas incendit: ne qua Posteris suis, vel de praescripto Veteri quaestio moveretur: existimans, quòd si Indicia de publico sustulisset, nullis alijs Testimonijs clarere posset, quin de Patriarcharum, & Proselytorū Veterum genere emanaret: King Herod, for that he well understood the baseness of his House, therefore he burnt the Scriptures: least that, by mean of such Ancient Records, some doubt might afterward be moved against his posterity. For he thought, if he had once removed such Monuments, it could never be proved by any manner other witness, but that he came by descent from the stock of the Patriarchs, and Old Proselytes: Whereas in deed he was a mere alien, and a stranger to the House of Israel, and a very tyrannous Usurper of the Crown, as being lineally descended, not from Jacob, but from Esau.

If there were sutche Errours in the Vulgare Translations, ye shoulde haue discried them, although not al, yet for your credites sake, one at the least. Ye should haue remoued the Errour, and haue restoared the Scriptures, to the vse, and comforte of the people. But this is it, that troubleth you so soare: that the Scriptures are published in the Common knowen tongues, and that the simple people of al sortes (whom otherwise ye cal Dogges, and Svvine, & filthy brute Beastes voide of reason) maie vnderstande them. This, M. Hardinge, is that greate, and horrible Errrour: This is the Erroure of al Errours. Therefore Irenaeus saithe, as it is alleged before,¹