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…

Whether your Fathers, in the Chapter at Trident, sate there six whole Months, debating, and reasoning about the Trinity, or no, of certain knowledge, I cannot tell. But certainly, what thing else they did, either in all that time,¹ or long after, you can hardly show us. Therefore, if they did not this, for as much, as nothing else appeareth of their doings, we must imagine, they sate mute in a Mummery, and said nothing. Notwithstanding, Cassander saith, they bestowed one whole Summer in great, and holy Disputations about meaner matters, then the Trinity: I mean, only about the Communion of the Cup. Martinus Kemnitius saith, They held Disputations there, and kept great stir Seven whole Months together, about the Justification of Faith & Works:² & yet in the end left it worse, then they found it. We say, You your selves have espied many disorders in your church of Rome, as it is plain by your own Confessions. To reckon them all in particular, it were too long. I have partly touched them heretofore. Albertus Pigghius confesseth, there be Abuses in your Mass: ³The French Kings Ambassador, at your lay Tridentine Chapter, saithe thus, Vel Praefectorum Ecclesiae incuria, vel etiam (ne quid gravius dicam) praepostera Pietate, irrepsisse in Ecclesiam res nonnullas Antiquatione, Abrogatione, vel Moderatione dignas, fateamur necesse est: We must needs confess, that either by the negligence of the Bishops, or by some disordered opinion of Holiness (for I will say no more: he meaneth falsehood,⁴ and Mockery, and Wiltal Avarice) certain things are brought into the Church, worthy either to be put away, and abolished, or at least, to be qualified.

Whether youre Fathers, in the Chapter at Tridente, sate there sixe whole Moonethes, debatinge, and reasoning about the Trinitie, or no, of certaine knowledge, I cannot telle. But certainely, what thinge els they did, either in al that time,¹ or longe after, you can hardely shewe vs. Therefore, if they did not this, for as mutche, as nothinge els appeareth of theire dooinges, wee must imagine, thei sate mute in a Muminerie, and saide nothinge. Notwithstandinge, Cassander saithe, thei bestowed one whole Sommer in greate, and holy Disputations aboute meaner maters, then the Trinitie: I meane, onely about the Communion of the Cuppe. Martinus Kemnitius saithe, Thei helde Disputations there, and kepte greate sturre Seuen whole Moonethes togeather, about the Iustification of Faith & Workes: