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…

¹But inasmuch as he hath now openly slandered us after this sort, lest that by silence we might seem to confess the fault, and specially because that in the open Council, wherein he will suffer no man, but only such as are sworn and addicted unto his usurped power, to have authority, to give a voice or to declare his mind, we can in no wise be heard (for thereof in the last assemble at Trent we had over much experience, what time the Ambassadors and divines of the Princes and of the free cities of Germany were utterly excluded out of all their assembles: neither can we yet forget how that Julius the, 3, ten years past, in his bull straitly did forbid, that no man of our profession should be heard in the council, onlesse peradventure there were any that would recant and change his opinion even for these causes specially we have thought it good to render a reason of our faith by writing, & ⟨p. 7⟩unto such things as are openly objected against us, truly & openly to answer, to the intent the whole world may see the parts and the foundation of that doctrine, which so many godly men have preferred before their own lives, & that all men may understand what man ner of men they be, and what they do think of God & of religion, whom the Bishop of Rome not well advised, hath condemned for Heretics, yea before they were called to plead their cause, without law, without example, only because he heard say they differed from him & from his in some part of Religion.

¹But inasmuche as he hathe now openly slaundered vs after this sorte, leaste that by silence we might seeme to confesse the faulte, and specially bicause that in the open Councell, wherein he will suffer no man, but onely suche as are sworne and addicted vnto his vsurped power, to haue authoritie, to gyue a voyce or to declare his minde, we can in no wise be hearde (for therof in the laste assemble at Trente we had ouer muche experience, what time the Embassadours and diuines of the Princes and of the free citees of Germany were vtterly excluded out of all their assembles: nother can we yet forget how that Iulius the, 3, tenne yeares past, in his bul strayghtly did forbid, that no man of oure proffessyon shoulde be hearde in the councell, onlesse paraduenture there were any that woulde recante and chaunge his opiniō euen for these causes specially we haue thought it good to render a reason of oure faithe by writinge, &