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 admit it were an offence to deliver their country ⟨p. 28⟩from the rule of strangers, specially when they were arrogantly and tyrannously overpressed: yet were it against all right and reason either to burden us with faults that appertain nothing unto us, or than with the offences of their forefathers.

But admit it were an offence to deliuer their coūtrie ⟨p. 28⟩from the rule of straungers, specially when they were arrogantly and tirannously ouerpressed: yet were it agaynst all right and rayson eyther to burden vs with faultes that appertayne nothing vnto vs, or thē with the offences of theyr forefathers.

But o merciful God,¹ will the Bishop of Rome accuse us of treason? will he teach the people to be obedient & subject unto magistrates? or hath he any regard to magistrates at all? why then doth he at this day, the which thing none of the ancient bishops of Rome ever did? suffer himself, even as though he would have at Kings and Princes whosoever or where so ever they be, to become his servants,² of his parasites and hirelings to be called lord of lords? why doth he avaunt himself to be king of kings, and that he hath over them as his subjects, a kings authority.³ Why doth he compel all Emperors and princes to promise by their oath true obedience unto him: why doth he boast that the imperial majesty is a thousandfold inferior to his estate, grounding him self chiefly upon this reason, that God made two lights in Heaven,⁴