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…

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?

Now then thei which take vpō them aucthorite ouer Byshops which receiue cōmission from God touching Religion, which bring home ye arke of God, make holy Psalmes, haue rule ouer priests, builde Tēples, make sermons touching ye worshipping of God, which clēse temples, throw downe hylle altares, set fier on superstious groues, which admonish priestes of their duty, and prescribe lawes wherafter thei shal liue, which put wicked prophets to death, which depriue Bysshops, which call ye assemblies of Bysshops, which sit together wt the Bysshops, & directe them what thei shal doe, which doe condemne an Heretike Bysshop to be punished, which sit in iudgemēt of matters of Religiō, which subscribe, which pronounce their opiniō, they I say yt, doe al these things not at other mens cōmaūdements, but in their own name, and yt vprightly & godly, shal we say yt vnto such doth not appertaine the charge of Religiō? or yt a Christiā magistrate entermedling wt these maters doth other leudly or arrogātly, or wickedly? truly ye most anciēt & most Christiā Emperors & kings, haue entermedled wt these matters, yet were thei neuer therfore noted other to be vngodly or presūptuouse. And who would wishe for either more catholike Princes, or more notable examples?