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…

Matrimony we say,¹ in all kinds and states of men, in Patriarchs, in Prophets, in Apostles, in holy Martyrs, in Ministers of the Church, in Bishops, is holy & honourable.² And as Chrysostom saith, that it is lawful and rightful to ascend therewith unto the Bishops chair: & as Sozomenus saith of Spiridion, and Nazianzenus of his father, that a godly & a diligent Bishop exerciseth his office in the Ministry never a whit the worse for that cause, but rather better and to more profit. That law which violently taketh this liberty from men, and driveth them against their will to a single life, we say with S. Paul,³ is the doctrine of Devils. And that thereupon (as the Bishop of Augsburg, Faber, the Abbot Panormitanus, Latomus, and the Three parted work which is added unto the second Tome of the Councils, with others of the Popes guard, yea and the matter it self, and all histories do confess) an uncredible uncleanness of life & of manners in the ministers of God, and most horrible mischiefs have ensued. And therefore Pius the second,⁴ a Bishop of Rome said very well, that he saw many causes, why wives should be taken away from the ministers of the Church: but he saw both many moe and more weightier, why they should be restored again.

Matrimony we say,¹ in al kindes and states of men, in Patriarkes, in Prophets, in Apostles, in holy Martyrs, in Ministers of the Churche, in Byshops, is holy & honorable.² And as Chrysostome saith, that it is lawfull and rightefull to ascende therewith vnto the Byshopps chaire: & as Sozomenus saith of Spiridion, and Nazianzenus of his father, that a godly & a diligent Byshop exerciseth hys office in the Ministerie neuer a whitte the worse for that cause, but rather better and to more profite. That lawe whiche violently taketh this libertie frō men, and driueth them against their will to a single life, we saie with S. Paul,