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 if this were lawful in them, being only civil magistrates & rulers of common wealths, what have our Princes offended, which being in the same office, may not also have the same liberty? or what great excellency of learning, of judgement, of holiness is in these men, that contrary to the custom of all the old & catholic Bishops, which were wont to confer in matters of Religion with noble men, they should now reject them from the hearing of such matters, & from their common assembly? But full well do they provide for themself & for their kingdom: which otherwise they see would shortly come to ground. For if they, whom God hath placed in the highest degree, did see and understand the sleights of these men, how by them the commandments of Christ are despised: the light of & Gospel darkened & utterly put out: themselves abused, and at unawares laughed to scorn, & also debarred from the entry into the kingdom of God: they would never suffer themselves to be other so proudly despised, or so shamefully laughed to scorn: whereas now through ignorance & blindness, they keep them under awe, and in their danger.

Now if this were lawful in them, being only cyuile magistrates & rulers of comō welthes, what haue our Princes offended, which being in ye same office, mai not also haue ye same liberty? or what great excellēcy of lerning, of iudgemēt, of holynes is in these mē, yt contrary to the custome of al ye olde & catholike Bysshops, which were wont to conferre in matters of Religion wt noble mē, thei should now reiect them frō the hearing of such matters, & frō their cōmon assēblie? But ful wel do they prouide for themself & for their kingdome: which otherwise thei see would shortly come to ground. For if thei, whom God hath placed in the highest degree, did se and vnderstande the sleightes of these mē, how by them the cōmandemēts of Christ are despised: the light of & Gospell darkened & vtterly put out: thēselues abused, and at vnwares laughed to scorne, & also debarred frō the entry into the kingdome of God: they would neuer suffer thēselues to be other so proudly despised, or so shamfully laughed to scorne: whereas now through ignorance & blindnes, thei kepe thē vnder awe, and in their daūger.