An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief…An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe…

But if they will say that all these things are worn now out of ure, and nigh dead, and pertain nothing to these present times, yet to the end all folk may understand what faith is to be given to these men, and upon what hope they call together their general Councils, let us see in few words what good heed they take to the self same things, which they them selves these very last years (& the remembrance thereof is yet new & fresh) in their own general Council that they had by order called, decreed and commanded to be devoutly kept. In the last Council at Trident, scant fourteen years paste, it was ordained by the common consent of all degrees, that one man should not have two benefices at one time. What is become now of that ⟨image 84⟩ordinance? is the same to so soon worn but of mind and clean consumed? For these men ye see give to one man not two benefices only, but sundry Abbeys many times, sometime also two Bishoprics, sometime three, sometime four, and that not only to an unlearned man, but often times even to a man of war.

But yf they will saye that all these thinges are worne now out of vre, and nye dead, and pertaine nothing to these present tymes, yet to thend all folke may vnderstande what faith is to be geuen to these men, and vpon what hope they call togithers their generall Councelles, let vs see in few wordes what good heed they take to the selfe same things, which they them selues these very last yeres (& the remembraunce thereof ys yet new & freshe) in their owne generall Councell that they had by order called, decreed and commaunded to be deuoutely kepte. In the last Councell at Trident, scant fourtene yeares paste, it was ordeined by the common consent of all degrees, that one man shoulde not haue two benefices at one time. What is become now of that ⟨image 84⟩ordinaūce? is ye same to so sone worne but of mynde and cleane consumed? For these men ye se giue to one man not two benefices onely, but sundry Abbaies many times, sometime also two Bishoprykes, sometime three, sometime foure, and that not onely to an vnlearned man, but often times euē to a man of warre.