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…

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 ⟨image 58⟩of both the tables, to the intent he should understand that not only Civil matters, but also religious & Ecclesiastical causes appertained to his office. Besides that, kings or oftentimes & expressly commanded of God to cut down superstitious groves, to overthrow Images of Idols and altars, to have at hand a copy of the book of the law: and that Isaiah saith, he ought to be a patron and a fosterer of the Church: Besides, I say, all these things, we see by the stories & examples of the best times for government, that godly Princes never thought it a thing estranged from their office, to take the charge of Churches.

Surely yt the waight of all gouernement should be assigned ouer vnto thē only, which nether do know nor will know what appertaineth to these thinges, nor set not a halfpeny by any part of Religiō, further thē as it toucheth the kitchin & the belly, yt they onely shoulde be made iudges, and be appointed as it were blind men to keepe the watche towre: & on the other syde to haue a Christian prince that is well instructed, to stande a very blocke and a post without giuing any voice, wtout vttering his opiniō, only to awaite what they wil appoint or commaunde him to doe, wtout eares, without eyes, without stomacke, without courage, to receiue without exception whatsoeuer these fellowes shall lay vpon him, and at a blinde auenture doe their commaū dements, how blasphemous and wicked soeuer thei be, yea though they shoulde commaunde them to destroye Religion all together, and to hange vp Christ himselfe vpon the Cross: this is surely a matter bothe of great pride, and of great reproch, and of great iniquite, & also vntolerable for Christiā and wise Princes to endure. For what think you? Can Annas and Caiphas vnderstand these matters? and can not Dauid and Ezechias vnderstande them? Is it lawfull for a Cardinal being a man of warre and deliting in blood, to sit in the coū cell? And is it not lawful for the Emperor or a Christiā king? For we doe giue no aucthoritie vnto our magistrates more then yt we know is both giuen vnto them out of gods word, and also approued by the example of the beste gouerned commō welthes. For besides yt God hath committed vnto euery faithfull Prince the charge