A brief apology of Thomas Cartwright against all such slanderous accusations as it pleaseth…A brief apologie of Thomas Cartwright against all such slaunderous accusations as it pleaseth…

IF thou be desirous (good Reader) to see the right portraiture of Innocency truly laid forth unto thee in her proper lineaments, then read this discourse which is not long. Being thou seest thus provoked as she is, or rather, to speak the trueth, thus violently drawn into th'encounter by the wretched assaults of an unleavened mouth, yet mark, I pray thee, how she caries her self, and how she comes armed into the field, Patience, Mildness, Trueth, and a good Conscience. This is her armour, these be her weapons, and with these only she fights, repelling and striking back all the bitter darts that are thrown against her, only with, The Lord rebuke thee, and none otherwise. Far unlike to that babbling declaimour who left us this lesson of olde: Si quam maledicendo voluptatē coepisti, eam malè audiendo amittes, &c. That is, If thou have taken any pleasure in speaking that thou shouldest not: Thou must loose it again by hearing that thou wouldest not. Well knew the defender, that howsoever this might be pleasing to the flesh, or keep descant with our corruption, yet he that sayes, Mihi vindicta, had taught him another lesson, namely, That it could in no sort suit with the sincerity of the Gospel, to give check for check, and rebuke for rebuke: And therefore it is that in his whole Apology he hath not given his adversary so much as one glance of reproach.

IF thou be desirous (good Reader) to see the right pourtraiture of Innocency truely laied foorth vnto thee in her proper lineaments, then reade this discourse which is not long. Beeing thou seest thus prouoked as shee is, or rather, to speake the trueth, thus violentlie drawne into th'encounter by the wretched assaultes of an vnleauened mouth, yet marke, I pray thee, howe shee caries her selfe, and how shee comes armed into the fielde, Patience, Mildnesse, Trueth, and a good Conscience. This is her armour, these be her weapons, and with these onely shee fights, repelling and striking backe all the bitter dartes that are throwen against her, only with, The Lord rebuke thee, and none otherwise. Farre vnlike to that babling declaimour who left vs this lesson of olde: Si quam maledicēdo voluptatē coepisti, eam malè audiendo amittes, &c. That is, If thou haue taken any pleasure in speaking that thou shouldest not: Thou must loose it againe by hearing that thou wouldest not. Well knewe the defendour, that howsoeuer this might be pleasing to the fleashe, or keepe descant with our corruption, yet he that sayes, Mihi vindicta, had taught him another lesson, namely, That it could in no sorte sute with the sinceritie of the Gospell, to giue check for check, and rebuke for rebuke: And therefore it is that in his whole Apologie he hath not giuen his aduersarie so much as one glaunce of reproche.