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…

They have in deed sometime a peculiar apparel, Crosses, Pillars, Hats, Mitres, Palls, the which kind of pomp the ancient Bishops, Chrysostom, Augustine and Ambrose had never. Now besides these things, what teach they, what say they, what do they, what live they in any point that is comely and commē dabble not only for a Bishop, but also for a Christian man? Is it so great a matter to carry a counterfeit title ⟨p. 57⟩and for only change of garments, to be called a Bishop?

They haue in deede sometime a peculier apparell, Crosses, Pillers, Hattes, Myters, Palls, the which kinde of pompe the auncient Bysshops, Chrysostome, Augustine and Ambrose had neuer. Now besides these things, what teache they, what say they, what do they, what liue they in any point that is comlye and commē dable not onely for a Bysshop, but also for a Christian man? Is it so great a matter to cary a counterfait title ⟨p. 57⟩and for onely chaunge of garmentes, to bee called a Bysshop?

Surely that the weight of all government should be assigned over unto them only, which nether do know nor will know what appertaineth to these things, nor set not a halfpenny by any part of Religion, further than as it toucheth the kitchen & the belly, that they only should be made judges, and be appointed as it were blind men to keep the watch tower: & on the other side to have a Christian prince that is well instructed, to stand a very block and a post without giving any voice, without uttering his opinion, only to await what they will appoint or command him to do, without ears, without eyes, without stomach, without courage, to receive without exception whatsoever these fellows shall lay upon him, and at a blind adventure do their commandments, how blasphemous and wicked soever they be, yea though they should command them to destroy Religion all together, and to hang up Christ himself upon the Cross: this is surely a matter both of great pride, and of great reproach, and of great iniquity, & also untolerable for Christian and wise Princes to endure. For what think you? Can Annas and Caiaphas understand these matters? and can not David and Hezekiah understand them? Is it lawful for a Cardinal being a man of war and delighting in blood, to sit in the coū cell? And is it not lawful for the Emperor or a Christian king? For we do give no authority unto our magistrates more then that we know is both given unto them out of gods word, and also approved by the example of the best governed common wealths. For besides that God hath committed unto every faithful Prince the charge