An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state…An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state…

Nevertheless as though this were but a small matter:¹ they stick not also to burn up the sacred scriptures, as in time paste wicked king Aza did: or as Antiochus or Maximinus did: and these they are wont to call heretics books: wherein they seem to intend the same practise, which Herod in time paste, for the maintenance of his estate, went about in Jury. For he, whereas he was an Edomite, a very stranger to the stock and kindred of the Jews, and nevertheless coveted to be taken for a Jew, to the intent he might the rather establish for him and his posterity his kingdom over them, the which he had before obtained at the hands of Augustus the Emperor: commanded all their enrolments of pedigrees, which even from the time of Abraham unto that day had been diligently kept amongest their records, and by the which it might, with out all error, easily be perceived out of what kindred every man was descended, to be burned and utterly to be defaced. only to this end, that nothing hereafter should remain in record, whereby it might appear that he were a stranger. Even so do these men in all points, when as because they would have all their devises to be had in as great price as though they had been delivered from the ⟨image 40⟩Apostles or from Christ, lest that any thing should at any time remain, that might reprove such dreams and lies, other they burn the holy scriptures, or craftily convey them from the people.

Neuerthelesse as though this were but a smal matter:¹ they sticke not also to burne vp ye sacred scriptures, as in time paste wicked kyng Aza did: or as Antiochus or Maximinus did: and these they ar wonte to cal heretikes bookes: wherein they seeme to intende the same practise, whiche Herode in time paste, for the mayntenāce of his estate, went about in Iury. For he, wheras he was an Edomite, a very straunger to the stocke and kinred of the Iewes, and neuerthelesse couetid to be taken for a Iewe, to the intent he might the rather establish for him and his posteritie his kingdome ouer thē, the which he had before obtained at the handes of Augustus themperour: commaunded all their enrolments of petigrees, whiche euen from the time of Abrahā vnto that daye had bene diligentlie kepte amongest their recordes, and by the which it might, with out al error, easily be perceaued out of what kinred euery man was descendid, to be burned and vtterly to be defaced. onely to this ende, that nothing hereafter should remayne in recorde, wherby it might appeare that he were a stranger. Euen so doe these men in all pointes, when as bicause they would haue all their deuises to be had in as great price as though they had bene deliuered from the