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…

But what should we speak of concubines and bawds? For that is now at Rome a common and an open & no unprofitable sin. For harlots now a days sit there,¹ not as in times past, without the city with their heads covered & muffled, but dwell in palaces, wander in the market place with open face, as though it were not only lawful,² but also commendable for them so to do, what needeth any more? Their lecherous lustinges are now well enough known to all the world. S. Bernard touching the Popes family, & even of the Pope himself speaketh freely and truly.³ Doth thy court, saith he, receive good men? It doeth not: Evil men there go forwards, good men go backwards. And whosoever he was that did write that same Three parted work which is joined to the Council of Lateran: The excess, saith he, ⟨image 25⟩at this day is so great not only in Clerks and Priests, but also in prelates & bishops, that it is horrible to here of.

But what shoulde wee speake of concubines and bawdes? For that is now at Rome a common and an open & no vnprofitable sin. For harlots now a daies sit there,¹ not as in times past, wtout the citie wt their heads couered & muffeled, but dwell in pallaices, wander in ye market place wt open face, as though it were not onely lawful,² but also commendable for them so to do, what nedeth any more? Their letcherous lustinges ar now wel ynough knowē to all the world. S. Bernard touching the Popes family, & euē of ye Pope himself speaketh frely and truly.³ Doth thy court, saith he, receiue good men? It doeth not: Euill men there goe forewardes, good men go backwards. And whosoeuer he was that did write that same Thre parted work which is ioyned to ye Coūcel of Lateran: The excesse, saith he, ⟨image 25⟩