A04468:4954
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…
A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to a certain book lately set forth by M. Harding, and entitled, A confutation of &c. By John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury.A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.
Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the sign of the Elephant, by Henry Wykes, Anno 1567. 27. OctobrisImprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Elephante, by Henry VVykes, Anno 1567. 27. Octobris
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If the Number of Doctors have offended you, I do not marvel: A cowardly Challenger would always wish the Defendant to come unarmed unto the fight. If I had alleged, either no Doctors at all, or nothing to purpose, as your wont commonly is to do, ye would have borne it a great deal better. How be it, my Authorities of Doctors, and Councils, be they never so many, yet, as you have used them, are few enough. For of the whole number, by your good skill, more then three parts are left untouched. And in deed this was the wisest way. Children, where they cannot read, think it best, to skip over.
If the Number of Doctours haue offended you, I doo not marueile: A cowardely Chalenger woulde alwaies wisshe the Defendente to comme vnarmed vnto the fighte. If I had alleged, either no Doctours at al, or nothinge to pourpose, as your woonte commonly is to doo, yee would haue borne it a greate deale better. How be it, my Authorities of Doctours, and Councelles, be they neuer so many, yet, as you haue vsed them, are fewe yenough. For of the whole number, by your good skil, more then three partes are leafte vntouched. And in deede this was the wiseste waie. Children, where they cannot reade, thinke it beste, to skippe ouer.
Whereas I examine, and lay abroad all the parts, and branches of your Arguments, and show, how directly ye grow to your Conclusions, that your Reader may see, by what weapons ye seek to master him, this you say is a kind of scoffing. Ye tell me, I rack, and alter, and abuse your ⟨image 388⟩Arguments, and play with shadows of mine own. But, M. Harding, if ye will have your Arguments to pass smoothly without controlment, then learn henceforth to make them better. Ye are over tender, if ye look to speak, what ye list, and yet to hear nothing, but to your liking: and, to send abroad such simple wares, to serve the people, and yet may suffer no man to tell you of it. Verily, where ye say, I have of purpose Changed your Arguments, if ye make them otherwise, then I have made them, having always an eye unto your Conclusion, ye shall be forced to make them worse. Touching the Scoffs, wherewith ye find your self so much aggrieved, doubtless, who so had that grace, that is in you, as may well appear throughout all your Books, might soon deserve to be called a scoffer.