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…

To conclude, we have forsaken him, to whom we were not bound, and who had nothing, except it were only a certain fond imagination of preeminence of the place and succession, that he could say for himself. And yet we of all other nations had most just cause to depart from him, for our Kings, even those also which most carefully inclined themselves to obey the Authority and faith of the Bishops of Rome, have felt sufficiently now long ago the yoke & tyranny of the Popes kingdom. For both from our king Henry the second of that name, the Romaine Bishops did pluck the Crown from his head, commanding him, all his Majesty laid a part, and in a private array, to the intent he should be a laughing stock to all his people, to present himself as an humble petitioner and suitor before his legate: And also against our king John, armed the Bishops and Monks, and some part also of the nobility, and discharged all his subjects of the oath of their ⟨p. 67⟩allegiance, whereby they were bound unto him, and last of all, most wickedly they spoiled him by traitorous means, not only of his kingdom, but also of his life. And upon king Henry the eight of that name a most noble Prince, they thundered out their curses and lightnings of excommunication, and stirred up against him sometimes the Emperor, sometimes the French king: & so much as was in them, gave over the whole Realm to the pray and to the spoil: doubtless very mad and foolish men, that could believe that either so great a king might be made a gast with bugs and with clickets: or that so mighty a kingdom might be so easily devoured, as it were at one morsel. And as though all these things had not been enough: they would have had the whole Realm, also to be tributary unto them: and out of it most unjustly they did exact an yearly rent. So costly forsooth was the friendship of the City of Rome unto us. But in as much as by crafty means and with lewd sleights they wrested out these things from us: there is no cause why the same again by lawful means and good laws might not be taken from them. Yea if our kings in those times of darkness, led by some opinion of their counterfeit holiness, of their own accord and liberality, gave them those things for Religion sake:

To cōclude, we haue forsaken him, to whom we were not bounde, and who had nothing, except it were onely a certaine fonde ymagination of preeminence of the place and succession, that he coulde saye for hymselfe. And yet we of all other nations had most iust cause to departe from him, for our Kinges, euen those also which most carefully inclined themselfe to obey the Authorite and faith of the Bishops of Rome, haue felt sufficiētly now long agoe the yoke & tiranny of the Popes kingdome. For both from our king Henry the second of that name, the Romaine Bysshops did plucke the Crowne from his heade, commaunding him, all his Maiestye laide a parte, and in a priuate arraye, to the intent he shoulde be a laughinge stocke to all hys people, to present himselfe as an humble petitioner and suter before his legate: And also against oure king Ihon, armed the Byshops and Monks, and some parte also of the nobilitie, and discharged all his subiects of the othe of their