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…

I will not here tell you, M. Harding, how lewdly ye have demeaned your self towards her, whom it liketh you so often, and so scornfully to call the Lady Interpreter: a Lady, I will not say, of what Learning, virtue, and gravity: but certainly, as far from all unwomanly Presumption, wherewith ye so rudely touch her, as you are from all manly modesty: and for ought, that may appear by these toys, and trifles, ye have sent us over, as full of wisdom, as you of folly. I beseech you, call your words again to mind, if you can without blushing: So roughly to handle so soft a Creature. This Phrase of speech your very friends have much misliked, and, as it is in deed, so in plain words they call it Ruffianrie, a virtue, although much agreeable to your Profession, yet unmeet for a man, either of learning, or of sober wisdom. But this fault, •mong many others, as I have said, I will dissemble. Although your whole Book be utterly void of Divinity, yet at the least some sense of Humanity had been commendable.

I wil not here tel you, M. Hardinge, how lewdely ye haue demeaned your selfe towardes her, whom it liketh you so often, and so scornefully to cal the Lady Interpreter: a Lady, I wil not saie, of what Learning, vertue, and grauitie: but certainly, as far from al vnwoomanly Presumption, wh•rwith ye so rudely touch her, as you are from al manly modestie: and for ought, that maie appeare by these toies, and trifles, ye haue sent vs ouer, as ful of wisedome, as you of folie. I beséeche you, cal your woordes againe to minde, if you can without blushing: So roughly to handle so softe a Creature. This Phrase of speeche your very frendes haue mutche misliked, and, as it is in déede, so in plaine woordes they cal it Ruffianrie, a vertue, although mutche agreable to your Profession, yet vnméete for a man, either of learning, or of sober wisedome. But this faulte, •mong many others, as I haue saide, I wil dissemble. Although your whole Booke be vtterly voide of Diuinitie, yet at the least some sense of Humanitie had benne commendable.

But the Prelates of this New Clergy (you say) have foully falsified both the words, & the sense of Fulgentius. And wherein, M. Harding? Forsooth in stead of these words, The Form of Man, &, The Form of God, for y better understanding of the unlearned, they have used these words, as more commonly known, Godhead, and Manhood. If this be so fault, wherefore then is the Old Father,