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…

But if Lieutenants general and noble men might subscribe in the council, might not Emperors and Kings do the same? It was not needful, we confess, to prosecute so largely & in so many words, so clear a matter ⟨image 60⟩if we had not to do with such men as of contention and for desire of victory, are wont to deny all things that are most plain, and even those things which they see and have daily in their eyes. Justinian the Emperor made a law touching the amendment of the manners and bridling of the arrogancy of priests: and although he were a Christian & a Catholic Emperor, yet he was so bold to thrust out of the Papal dignity two Popes, Siluerius & Uigilius the successors of Peter & vicars of Christ.

But if Lieutenāts generall and noble mē might subscribe in the councell, might not Emperors and Kings doe the same? It was not nedefull, we confesse, to prosequute so largly & in so many words, so clere a matter ⟨image 60⟩if we had not to doe wt such men as of contention and for desire of victory, are wōt to denie al things that are most plaine, and euen those thinges which they see and haue daily in their eyes. Iustiniā the Emperour made a law touching the amendemēt of the maners and brideling of ye arrogācy of priestes: and although he were a Christiā & a Catholike Emperor, yet he was so bolde to thrust out of ye Papal dignitie two Popes, Siluerius & Uigilius ye successors of Peter & vicars of Christ.

Now then they which take upon them authority over Bishops which receive commission from God touching Religion, which bring home the ark of God, make holy Psalms, have rule over priests, build Temples, make sermons touching the worshipping of God, which cleanse temples, throw down hill altars, set fire on superstitious groves, which admonish priests of their duty, and prescribe laws whereafter they shall live, which put wicked prophets to death, which deprive Bishops, which call the assemblies of Bishops, which sit together with the Bishops, & direct them what they shall do, which do condemn an Heretic Bishop to be punished, which sit in judgement of matters of Religion, which subscribe, which pronounce their opinion, they I say that, do all these things not at other mens commandments, but in their own name, and that uprightly & godly, shall we say that unto such doth not appertain the charge of Religion? or that a Christian magistrate intermeddling with these matters doth other lewdly or arrogantly, or wickedly? truly the most ancient & most Christian Emperors & kings, have intermeddled with these matters, yet were they never therefore noted other to be ungodly or presumptuous. And who would wish for either more catholic Princes, or more notable examples?