An apologetical reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of…An apologeticall reply to a booke called an ansvver to the unjust complaint of…

2. Even parents, who themselves do not receive christian Religion, may be content to have their children baptised either for the gifts sake, which are customarily bestowed (by those whom they call Godfathers and Godmothers) upon the children, or for some other advantages & respects, which, in those countries where Religion hath the countenance of the higher powers, may be expected thereby.¹ Have we not read of the Shichemites which were circumcised, yet received not the Religion of the Jews? The Chronicles of our land can tell us how the Danes, being vanquished, propounded to Elfred the 24. Saxon Monarch, in England, for obtaining of their peace, that their king should receive baptism: by which policy he got the country of the East Angles, by the gift of K. Elfred his Godfather. In those times it was usual to make baptism a condition, and to compel men to baptism, as king Edmond did the Danes ⟨p. 164⟩to make them become his subjects, which being done, they did soon cast off, both faith and fealty at once. And are not many of the mind of that Roman pretext, of whom Jerome speaketh, who said scoffingly to Damasus. Facite me Romanae •rbis espiscopum, & ero protinus Christanus. I will conclude this passage with the censure of learned Dr. Whittaker.² Absurdè faciunt ij, qui infidelium liberos baptizant, si parents volunt baptizari, quasi ecclesia, suo arbitrio, quibus vellet, baptismum dare posset. They do absurdly who baptise the children of infidels, if the parents be willing to have them baptised, as if the Church, at their own pleasure can baptise whom they will.

2. Even parents, who themselves doe not receive christian Religion, may be content to have theyr children baptised either for the gifts sake, which are customarily bestowed (by those whom they call Godfathers and Godmothers) upon the children, or for some other advantages & respects, which, in those countryes where Religion hath the countenance of the higher powers, may be expected thereby.¹ Have we not read of the Shichemites which were circumcised, yet received not the Religion of the Jewes? The Chronicles of our land can tell us how the Danes, being vanquished, propounded to Elfred the 24. Saxon Monarch, in England, for obtayning of their peace, that their king should receive baptisme: by which policy he got the country of the East Angles, by the gift of K. Elfred his Godfather. In those times it was usuall to make baptisme a condition, and to compell men to baptisme, as king Edmond did the Danes