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…

For we give thanks unto our God,¹ to whom alone this cause doth appertain, that in all the kingdoms, Jurisdictions, countries and Commonweals which have received the Gospel, hitherto no such example hath ben at any time. For we have overthrown no kingdom, we have diminished no mans rule or right of possession: we have disordered no common wealth. They remain yet in their place and in their ancient dignity. The kings of our country of England, of Scotland, of Denmark, of Suetia, the Dukes of Saxony, the Earls of Palse, the Marquesses of Brandenburg, the Landgraves of Hess, the common weals of the Helvetians and of the Grisons, the free cities, Strasbourg, Basil, Frankfurt, Ulm, Augusta, ⟨image 28⟩Nuremberg: all these I say remain in the same right, in the same state wherein they were before, or rather, by reason that for the gospels sake they have the people more obedient, in a much better estate. Let them go hardly into those places, whereas now through the goodness of God the gospel is heard: where is more Majesty? where is less ostentation and tyranny? where is the prince more honoured? where doth the people less rise into uproars and tumults, where was there ever any common weal, where any Church more calm and quiet?

For we giue thankes vnto oure God,¹ to whome alone this cause doth appertayne, that in all the kingdoms, Iurisdictions, countrays and Commonweales whiche haue receaued the Gospel, hytherto no such example hath ben at any time. For we haue ouerthrowne no kyngdome, we haue deminished no mans rule or right of possessiō: we haue disordered no cōmon welth. They remayne yet in their place and in their auncient dignitie. The kynges of our country of England, of Scotlande, of Denmarke, of Suetia, the Dukes of Saxonie, the Erles of Palse, the Marqueses of Brandeburgh, the Lantgraues of Hess, the common weales of the Heluetians and of the Grysonnes, the free cities, Strausborough, Basile, Francforde, Ulme, Anguste, ⟨image 28⟩Norinberge: all these I say remayne in the same right, in the same state wherein they were before, or rather, by rayson that for the gospels sake they haue the people more obediēt, in a much better estate. Let them goe hardely into those places, whereas nowe through the goodnes of God the gospell is hearde: where is more Maiestie? where is lesse ostentatiō and tiranny? where is the prince more honored? where doth the people lesse ryse into vprores and tumultes, where was there euer anye common weale, where any Churche more calme and quiet?