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…

Your Tinkers, and Tapsters, M. Harding, are ashamed in your behalf, to see your folly. A poor silly jester, to win his dinner, would be loth to scoff so coldly. Certain of our Clergy want the knowledge of Rhetoric, Logic, Philosophy, the Hebrew, the Greek, and the Latin tongues: Therefore ye call them Tinkers, and Tapsters. Such is the Sobriety, and Modesty of your talk. Of what School, or tongue then are your Priests, M. Harding, that, for the more part, can neither Speak Latin, nor Read English, nor understand the Articles of their Faith, nor any portion of the Scriptures: Clouds without Rain: Lanterns without Light: Salt without savour: Blind guides: Dumb Dogs: that, as one saith, seem to have their souls given them in stead of salt, to keep them from stinking? Of what Art, or Occupation was he,¹ that Baptized a child in Latin, in this sort, In nomine Patria, & Filia, & Spirita Sancta? What a skilful Clerk was your Pope Julius. 2. that assigning a warrant, in stead of Fiat, wrote, Fiatur? Your own Doctour, Alphonsus de Castro, saith, Constat plures Papas adeo' illiteratos esse, ut Grammaticam penit ùs ignorent: It is most certain, that many Popes be so unlearned, that they be utterly ignorant of their Grammar. And, being utterly ignorant of their Grammar Rules, I beseech you, for what other profound science of Logic, or Philosophi•, ²can ye praise them? An other of your Doctors saithe, Papa propter defectum literaturae non potest deponi: The Pope may not be deposed for lack of Learning. That is to say, the Pope, though he be never so ignorant, or void of knowledge, yet is as good a Pope, as the best.

Your Tinkers, and Tapsters, M. Hardinge, are ashamed in your behalfe, to sée your folie. A poore seely iester, to winne his dinner, woulde be lothe to scoffe so coldely. Certaine of our Cleregie wante the knowlege of Rhetorique, Logique, Philosophie, the Hebrevve, the Greeke, and the Latine tongues: Therefore yée calle them Tinkers, and Tapsters. Sutche is the Sobrietie, and Modestie of your talke. Of what Schoole, or tongue then are your Priestes, M. Hardinge, that, for the more parte, can neither Speake Latine, nor Reade Englishe, nor vnderstande the Articles of their Faithe, nor any portion of the Scriptures: Clovvdes without Raine: Lanternes without Lighte: Salte without sauoure: Blinde guides: Dombe Dogges: that, as one saithe, séeme to haue their soules geuen them in stéede of salte, to kéepe them from stinkinge? Of what Arte, or Occupation was he,