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…

But, for excuse hereof, somewhat to salve a festry matter, ye tell us a long tedious tale, without head, or foot: & that your Reader may think, ye say somewhat, ye cry out aloud, Shameless railing Heretics: We belie Hosius: we belie Sotus: Our false dealing: our shameless lying: we are impudent, and continue in lying. These, M. Harding, be the proofs, and grounds of your Doctrine, and the most savoury, and fairest Flowers in your garland.

But, for excuse hereof, sommewhat to salue a festry mater, yée tel vs a longe tedious tale, without heade, or foote: & that your Reader maie thinke, yée saie somewhat, ye crie out alowde, Shamelesse railinge Heretiques: VVee belie Hosius: vvee belie Sotus: Our false dealinge: our shamelesse lieinge: vvee are impudente, and continevve in lieinge. These, M. Hardinge, be the proufes, and groundes of your Doctrine, and the moste sauerie, and fairest Floures in your garlande.

The substance of your tale is this: The Acts of the Council, where Christ was condemned, were lewd, and wicked: But the Sentence of death pronounced by the Bishops against Christ, was just, and true. And thus by your dalliance in dark words, and by your blind Distinction, between Act, and Sentence, ye seek shifts, to mock the world. Ye should plainly have told us, what were these Sentences: and what were these Acts: and what great difference ye can espy between Act, and Sentence: or, when ever ye heard of Sentence in Judgement without Act: or, of perfect Act without Sentence: or, how the Sentence of the Judge may be true, if the Act be false: or, how the Act may be right, if the Sentence be wrong. For your credits sake, leave these toys, M. Harding. Ye have used them over long. They are too childish for a child: they become not your gravity: they deceive the simple.

The substance of your tale is this: The Actes of the Councel, where Christe was condemned, were lewde, and wicked: But the Sentence of deathe pronounced by the Bishoppes against Christe, was iuste, and true. And thus by your dalliance in darke woordes, and by your blinde Distinction, bitweene Acte, and Sentence, yée seeke shiftes, to mocke the worlde. Yée shoulde plainely haue tolde vs, what were these Sentences: and what were these Actes: and what greate difference yee canne espie bitweene Acte, and Sentence: or, when euer yee hearde of Sentence in Iudgemente without Acte: or, of perfite Acte without Sentence: or, howe the Sentence of the Iudge maie be true, if the Acte be false: or, how the Acte maie be righte, if the Sentence be wronge. For your credites sake, leaue these toies, M. Hardinge. Yee haue vsed them ouer longe. They are too childishe for a childe: they becomme not your grauitie: they deceiue the simple.