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…

And albeit peradventure hitherto the Popes have had no leisure to think advisedly & earnestly upon these matters, or if now at this day they be letted & encumbered with other business, or if they take these kind of travails to be base & light matters, & to appertain nothing to the majesty of a Pope, yet our cause ought to seem therefore never a whit the worse. Neither, if perhaps they will not ⟨image 7⟩see these things which they do see, but rather fight against the known truth, are we therefore by and by to be taken for Heretics, which do not apply our selves to their will?¹ Truly if Pope Pius had ben the man, I say not, which he desireth to be taken for, but if he were at the least such a one, as had accounted us to be other as his brethren, or at the least as men, he would first have diligently weighed our reasons, both what we have to say for us, and what may be said against us, & not so rashly, only with a blind sentence determined afore hand, in that Bull of his, wherein of late he made a counterfeit show of a Council, have condemned a good part of the world, so many learned & godly men, so many common weals, so many Kings, so many Princes, the persons unheard, the cause not pleaded.

And albeit peraduenture hetherto the Popes haue had no leisure to thinke aduisedli & earnestly vpō these matters, or if now at this day they be letted & encombred wt other busines, or if thei take these kinde of trauails to be base & light matters, & to appertaine nothing to the maiestie of a Pope, yet our cause oughte to seeme therefore neuer a whit the worse. Nother, if perhaps thei wil not ⟨image 7⟩see these thinges whiche thei do see, but rather fighte against the knowne truthe, ar we therefore by and by to be taken for Heretikes, whiche do not apply our selues to their will?¹ Truly if Pope Pius had ben the man, I saye not, whiche he desiereth to be taken for, but if he were at the least suche a one, as had accounted vs to be other as his brothren, or at the leaste as men, he woulde fyrste haue diligently waied oure reasons, bothe what we haue to saye for vs, and what may be saide againste vs, & not so rashely, onely with a blinde sentence determined afore hande, in that Bul of his, wherin of late he made a counterfaite shewe of a Councell, haue condemned a good part of the worlde, so many learned & godly men, so many commō weales, so many Kynges, so many Princes, the persons vnheard, the cause not pleaded.