Joseph Hall (1574–1656)

From A Defence of The Humble Remonstrance

IN your next section, like ill-bred sons, you spit in the face of your mother—a mother too good for such sons—the Church of England; and tell us of “Papists, that dazzle the eyes of poor people with the glorious name of the Holy Mother the Church.” If they be too fond of their mother, I am sure your mother hath little cause to be fond of you, who can and dare compare her to those Ethiopian strumpets, which were common to all comers. For your whole undutiful carriage towards her, take heed of the ravens of the valley. As if we were no less strangers than you enemies to the Church of England, you tell the world, that we know not who she is; and that we wonder when we are asked the question, and run descant upon the two archbishops, bishops, Convocation, even what your luxuriant wit shall please; and, at last, you make up your mouth with a merry jest, telling your reader that the Remonstrant, out of his “simplicity, never heard nor thought of any more Churches of England than one.” Ridiculum caput! Sit you merry, brethren; but, truly, after all your sport, still my “simplicity” tells me there is but one Church of England. There are many Churches in England, but many Churches of England were never till now heard of. You had need fetch it as far as the “Heptarchy.” And, to show how far you are from the objected simplicity, ye tell us, in the shutting up, that England, Scotland, and Ireland are all one Church of England. Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixturâ dementiæ.

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