A04458:19
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…
An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state of religion used in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and now translated into English.An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state of religion vsed in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and nowe translated into Englishe.
Londini: printed by Reginald Wolf, 1562
The Apology of the Church of England.The Apologie of the Churche of Englande.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As for us, inasmuch as within these .20. years last paste, so many thousands of our brethren, in the middest ⟨image 6⟩of their extreme torments, have borne witness to the truth, & Princes coveting to bridle the Gospel, in moiling many ways, have laboured all in vain, and that the whole world in manner beginneth now to open their eyes to behold the light, we think that our cause is already sufficiently pleaded & defended: and that whereas the matter it self speaketh enough for it self, there is no great need of words. For if the Popes themselves would, or rather if they could consider with them selves the whole matter, the beginnings and the manner of the increase of out religion, how that their trash in manner every white when no man touched it, without all help of man sell down to the ground: again how our profession at the first, not withstanding the continual resistance of Emperors, of so many Kings, of Popes & Bishops, of all men in manner, hath increased, and by little & little spread over all the earth, and now also at the length is entered in to the Courts and Palaces of kings: even these things only might be sufficient tokens whereby to understand, that God himself doth fight in our defence, and scorneth from heaven all their endeavours, & that so mighty is the power of truth, that no force of man nor yet Hell gates can withstand it. For be ye sure, so many free cities, so many kings, so many Princes as at this day have abandoned the sea of Rome, and adjoined themself to the Gospel of Christ, are not become mad.
As for vs, inasmuche as within these .20. yeares laste paste, so many thousandes of our brethrē, in the middest ⟨image 6⟩of their extreme tormēts, haue borne witnes to ye truth, & Princes coueting to bridel ye Gospell, in moyling many waies, haue lobored all in vaine, and that the whole worlde in manner beginneth now to open their eies to beholde ye light, we thinke that our cause is already sufficiently pleaded & defended: and that wheras the matter it selfe speaketh inough for it self, there is no great neede of words. For if the Popes themselues would, or rather if thei coulde consider wyth them selues the whole matter, the beginnings and the māner of the encrease of out religion, how that their trasshe in manner euery white when no man touched it, withoute all helpe of man sell downe to the grounde: againe how our profession at the first, not withstandinge the continual resistence of Emperors, of so many Kynges, of Popes & Bishops, of all men in māner, hath encreased, and by litle & litle spred ouer al the earth, and now also at the length is entered in to the Courtes and Palaces of kings: euen these things onely might be sufficient tokens wherby to vnderstand, that God himself doth fight in our defence, and skorneth from heauen all their endeuours, & that so mighty is the power of truth, yt no force of man nor yet Hel gates can withstand it. For be ye sure, so many free cities, so many kings, so many Princes as at this day haue abandoned the sea of Rome, and adioyned themself to the Gospel of Christe, are not become madde.