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…

M. Harding, for that he imagined, these shifts were very unsavoury, & would hardly serve, therefore hath devised to convey him self out some other way. First he saith, We falsify this Holy Father, and allege his words otherwise, then they be. Secondly he saith, It was not the Image of Christ, that Epiphanius found painted in the Veil, but some other pretty thing, he knoweth not what. Lastly he saith, Epiphaniusr reproveth not generally all such Veils, so painted, but only that one Veil, that he found.

M. Hardinge, for that he imagined, these shiftes were very vnsauery, & woulde hardly serue, therefore hath diuised to conueigh him selfe out somme other waie. Firste he saithe, Wée falsiste this Holy Father, and allege his woordes otherwise, then they be. Secondely he saithe, It was not the Image of Christe, that Epiphanius found painted in the Vele, but somme other prety thing, he knoweth not what. Lastely he saithe, Epiphaniusr reproueth not generally al sutche Veles, so painted, but onely that one Vele, that he founde.

For trial hereof, ¹I refer me self to the Original. The words thereof be these: Inueni ibi velum pendens in foribus eiusdem Ecclesiae tinctum, atque depictum, & habens Imaginem, quasi Christi, aut Sancti cuiusdam. Non enim satis memini, cuius Imago fuerit. Cùm ergo hoc vidissem in Ecclesia Christi, contra Authoritatem Scripturarum, Hominis pendere Imaginem, scidi illud: & magis dedi consilium Custodibus eiusdem loci, ut pauperem mortuum eo obuoluerent, & efferrent &c. Quaeso, ut jubeas Presbyteros eiudem loci praecipere, in Ecclesia Christi istiusmodi Vela, quae contra Religionem nostram veniunt, non appendi: Decet enim honestatem tuam hanc magis habere sollicitudinem, ut crupulositatem tollat, quae indigna est Ecclesia Christi, & populis, qui tibi crediti sunt: I founde there a Veil hanging at the entry of the Church, stained, and painted, and having the Image, as it were, of Christ, or of some Saint. For, whose Picture it was in deed, I do not remember. Therefore, when I saw the Image of a man to hang in the Church of Christ, contrary to the commandment of the Scriptures, I tare it in sunder: and gave counsel to the Wardens of that Church, that they should wind, and bury some poor body in it &c. I beseech you, charge the Priests of that place, that they command, that such Veils, as be contrary to our Religion, be no more hanged up in the Church of Christ. It behooveth your reverence to have care hereof, that this Superstition, unmeet for the Church of Christ, and unmeet for the people to thee committed, be removed. Now, judge you, M. Harding, wherein we have falsified this Learned Fathers words. You say, He speaketh not one word against the Image of Christ, or his Saints. I beseech you then, against what other Image speaketh he?