This challenge (saith the Learned Dr. Heylyn) being thus published in so great an Auditory, startled the English Papists both at home and abroad, but none more than such of our Fugitives as had retired to Louvain, Douai, or St. Omers, in the Low-Country Provinces belonging to the King of Spain. The business was first agitated by the exchange of friendly Letters betwixt the said Reverend Prelate and Dr. Henry Cole the late Dean of St. Pauls; more violently followed in a Book of Rastal's,1 who first appeared in the Lists against the Challenger, followed herein by Dorman and Marshall, who severally took up the Cudgels to as little purpose; the first being well beaten by Nowel, and the last by Calfhill, in their Discourses writ against them; but they were only Velitations, or preparatory Skirmishes in reference to the main encounter, which was reserved for the Reverend Challenger himself, and Dr. John Harding, one of the Divines of Louvain, and the most Learned of the College. The ⟨p. 28⟩Combatants were born in the same County, bred up in the same Grammar School, and studied in the same University also:—Both zealous Protestants in the time of King Edward, and both relapsed to Popery in the time of Queen Mary; Jewel for fear, and Harding upon hope of Favour and Preferment by it. But Jewel's fall may be compared to that of St. Peter, which was short and sudden, rising again by his Repentance, and fortified more strongly in his Faith than before he was: but Harding's like to that of the other Simon, premeditated and resolved on, never to be restored again (so much was there within him of the gall of bitterness) to his former standing. But some former Differences had been between them in the Church of Salisbury, 2whereof the one was Prebendary, and the other Bishop, occasioned by the Bishops visitation of that Cathedral; in which as Harding had the worst, so was it a Presage of a second foil which he was to have in this encounter. Who had the better of the day, will easily appear to any that consults the Writings, by which it will appear how much the Bishop was too hard for him at all manner of Weapons.
This challenge (saith the Learned Dr. Heylyn) being thus published in so great an Auditory, startled the English Papists both at home and abroad, but none more than such of our Fugitives as had retired to Lovain, Doway, or St. Omers, in the Low-Country Provinces belonging to the King of Spain. The business was first agitated by the exchange of friendly Letters betwixt the said Reverend Prelate and Dr. Henry Cole the late Dean of St. Pauls; more violently followed in a Book of Rastal's,1 who first appeared in the Lists against the Challenger, followed herein by Dorman and Marshall, who severally took up the Cudgels to as little purpose; the first being well beaten by Nowel, and the last by Calfhill, in their Discourses writ against them; but they were only Velitations, or preparitory Skirmishes in reference to the main encounter, which was reserved for the Reverend Challenger himself, and Dr. John Harding, one of the Divines of Lovain, and the most Learned of the Colledge. The ⟨p. 28⟩Combatants were born in the same County, bred up in the same Grammar School, and studied in the same University also:—Both zealous Protestants in the time of King Edward, and both relapsed to Popery in the time of Queen Mary; Jewel for fear, and Harding upon hope of Favour and Preferment by it. But Jewel's fall may be compared to that of St. Peter, which was short and sudden, rising again by his Repentance, and fortified more strongly in his Faith than before he was: but Harding's like to that of the other Simon, premeditated and resolved on, never to be restored again (so much was there within him of the gaul of bitterness) to his former standing. But some former Differences had been between them in the Church of Sarisbury, 2whereof the one was Prebendary, and the other Bishop, occasioned by the Bishops visitation of that Cathedral; in which as Harding had the worst, so was it a Presage of a second foil which he was to have in this encounter. Who had the better of the day, will easily appear to any that consults the Writings, by which it will appear how much the Bishop was too hard for him at all manner of Weapons.
- 1Rastal was a common Lawyer, and published his Book in 1563.
- 2Harding was then Prebendary when Mr. Jewel was elected and gave his vote for him. Humf. p. 140.
