A04458:87
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…
An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state of religion used in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and now translated into English.An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state of religion vsed in the same. Newly set forth in Latin, and nowe translated into Englishe.
Londini: printed by Reginald Wolf, 1562
The Apology of the Church of England.The Apologie of the Churche of Englande.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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 and because heaven and earth were not in two beginnings, but in one? wherefore hath he and all of his mark, like to the Anabaptists and Libertines, to the intent they might the more loosely and safely range in all mischief, shaken of the yoke of obedience, and exempted themselves from under all civil authority? wherefore hath he his legates, that is to say, most crafty spies, to lie as it were in a wait, in the courts, in the councils, in the chambers of all kings? Wherefore doth he, when it liketh him, set christian princes together by the ears, and to serve his own lust, turmoileth the whole wolrd with seditions? ⟨image 29⟩why doth he excommunicate and command him to be taken for an Heathen man and a Pagan if any Christian Prince do refuse to obey him? and moreover promiseth so liberally his Purgatory pardons to any man that by any means doth kill his enemy? Doth he I pray you maintain Empires and Kingdoms, or hath he any desire at all, that common weals should be at rest and quiet? Thou must pardon us good reader, if we shall seem to utter these things with more vehemency and bitterness then should become divines. For the matter of it self is so shameful, and the desire of dominion is so great, and outrageth so far in the Pope, that with other words it can not be uttered or after any more quiet manner.