The Apology of the Church of England | Page 4

contention and strife; but that they for their part have changed no
manner of thing, but have held and kept still such a number of years to

this very day all things as they were delivered from the Apostles and
well approved by the most ancient fathers.
And that this matter should not seem to be done but upon privy slander,
and to be tossed to and fro in a corner, only to spite us, there have been
besides wilily procured by the Bishop of Rome certain persons of
eloquence enough, and not unlearned neither, which should put their
help to this cause, now almost despaired of, and should polish and set
forth the same, both in books, and with long tales to the end that, when
the matter was trimly and eloquently handled, ignorant and unskilful
persons might suspect there was some great thing in it. Indeed they
perceived that their own cause did everywhere go to wrack; that their
sleights were now espied, and less esteemed; and that their helps did
daily fail them; and that their matter stood altogether in great need of a
cunning spokesman.
Now as for those things which by them have been laid against us, in
part they be manifestly false, and condemned so by their own
judgments which spake them; partly again, though they be as false, too,
indeed, yet bear they a certain show and colour of truth, so as the reader
(if he take not good heed) may easily be tripped and brought into error
by them, specially when their fine and cunning tale is added thereunto.
And part of them be of such sort as we ought not to shun them as
crimes or faults, but to acknowledge and profess them as things well
done, and upon very good reason.
For shortly to say the truth, these folk falsely accuse and slander all our
doings; yea the same things which they themselves cannot deny but to
be rightly and orderly done; and for malice do so misconstrue and
deprave all our sayings and doings, as though it were impossible that
anything could be rightly spoken or done by us. They should more
plainly and sincerely have gone to work if they would have dealt truly.
But now they neither truly, nor sincerely, nor yet Christianly, but
darkly and craftily charge and batter us with lies, and do abuse the
blindness and fondness of the people, together with the ignorance of
princes, to cause us to be hated and the truth to be suppressed. This, lo,
ye, is the power of darkness, and of men which lean more to the

amazed wondering of the rude multitude and to darkness than they do
to truth and light; and as St. Hierom saith, which do openly gainsay the
truth, closing up their eyes, and will not see for the nonce.
But we give thanks to the most good and mighty God, that such is our
cause, whereagainst (when they would fainest) they were able to utter
no despite, but the same which might as well be wrested against the
holy fathers, against the Prophets, against the Apostles, against Peter,
against Paul, and against Christ Himself.
Now, therefore, if it be lawful for these folks to be eloquent and fine-
tongued in speaking evil, surely it becometh not us in our cause, being
so very good, to be dumb in answering truly. For men to be careless
what is spoken by them and their own matter, be it never so falsely and
slanderously spoken (especially when it is such that the majesty of God
and the cause of religion may thereby be damaged), is the part
doubtless of dissolute and wretchless persons, and of them which
wickedly wink at the injuries done unto the Name of God. For although
other wrongs, yea oftentimes great, may be borne and dissembled of a
mild and Christian man, yet he that goeth smoothly away, and
dissembleth the matter when he is noted of heresy, Ruffinus was wont
to deny that man to be a Christian. We therefore will do the same thing,
which all laws, which nature's own voice doth command to be done,
and which Christ Himself did in like case, when He was checked and
reviled: to the intent we may put off from us these men's slanderous
accusations, and may defend soberly and truly our own cause and
innocency. For Christ verily, when the Pharisees charged Him with
sorcery, as one that had some familiar spirits, and wrought many things
by their help: "I," said He, "have not the devil, but do glorify my Father:
but it is you that have dishonoured me, and put me to rebuke and
shame." And St. Paul, when Festus the lieutenant scorned him as a
madman: "I," said he,