The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

IT was in some part of this year also, that he had his Conference, and preached his last Sermon at Paul's Cross about the Ceremonies and State of the Church, which he mentioned on his Death-bed. But I cannot fix the precise time of either of them, or give any further account with whom that Conference was. But however this Holy man sought nothing but the Peace and Welfare of the Church, by these gentle and mild ways of Correption: the Dissenters of those times treated him for it with as little respect as Mr. Harding and his Confraternity had before, as Bishop Whitgift assures us; his words are these. They (the Dissenters) will not stick (saith he) in commending themselves, to deface all others, yea even that notable JEWEL, whose both Labour and Learning they do envy; and amongst themselves deprave, as I have heard with mine own ears, and a number more besides. For further proof whereof, I do refer you to the report, that by this faction was spread of him after his last Sermon at Paul's Cross, because he did confirm the Doctrine before preached by a famous and learned man touching obedience to the Prince and Laws. It was strange (saith he) to me, to hear so notable a Bishop, so learned a Man, so stout a Champion of true Religion, so painful a Prelate, so ungratefully and spitefully used by a sort of wavering, wicked and wretched Tongues: but it is their manner, be you never so well learned, never so painful, so zealous, so virtuous, all is nothing with them, but they will ⟨p. 36⟩deprave you, rail on you, back-bite you, invent lies of you, and spread false rumours, as though you were the vilest Persons in the whole earth.

IT was in some part of this year also, that he had his Conference, and preached his last Sermon at Paul's Cross about the Ceremonies and State of the Church, which he mentioned on his Death-bed. But I cannot fix the precise time of either of them, or give any further account with whom that Conference was. But however this Holy man sought nothing but the Peace and Welfare of the Church, by these gentle and mild ways of Correption: the Dissenters of those times treated him for it with as little respect as Mr. Harding and his Confraternity had before, as Bishop Whitgift assures us; his words are these. They (the Dissenters) will not stick (saith he) in commending themselves, to deface all others, yea even that notable JEWEL, whose both Labour and Learning they do envy; and amongst themselves deprave, as I have heard with mine own ears, and a number more besides. For further proof whereof, I do refer you to the report, that by this faction was spread of him after his last Sermon at Paul's Cross, because he did confirm the Doctrine before preached by a famous and learned man touching obedience to the Prince and Laws. It was strange (saith he) to me, to hear so notable a Bishop, so learned a Man, so stout a Champion of true Religion, so painful a Prelate, so ungratefully and spitefully used by a sort of wavering, wicked and wretched Tongues: but it is their manner, be you never so welll learned, never so painful, so zealus, so vertuous, all is nothing with them, but they will