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 will these men (I say) reform us the church, being themselves both the persons guilty and the Judges to? Will they abate their own ambition and pride? Will they overthrow their own matter, and give sentence against them selves, that they must leave of to be unlearned Bishops, slowbellies, heapers together ⟨image 102⟩of benefices, takers upon them as princes and men of war? Will the Abbots the Popes deer darlings judge that monk for a thief, which laboureth not for his living? and that it is against all law, to suffer such a one to live and to be found either in city or in country, or yet of other mens charges? Or else that a monk ought to lye on the ground, to live hardly with herbs and peason, to study earnestly, to argue, to pray, to work with hand, and fully to bend him self to come to the ministry of the church? In faith, as soon will the Pharisees and Scribes repair again the Temple of God, and restore it unto us a house of prayer, in stead of a thievish den. There have ben, I know, certain of their own selves which have found fault, we many errors in the church, as Pope Adrian, Aeneas siluius, Cardinal Poole, Pighius & others, as is afore said, they held afterwards their Council at Trident in the self same place where it is now appointed. ⟨image 103⟩There assembled many Bishops and Abbots and others whom it behoved. For that matter they were alone by themselves, whatsoever they did no body gainsaid it: for they had quite shut out and barred our side from all manner of assemblies, and there they sat six years feeding folks with a marvellous expectation of their doings. The first six months, as though it were greatly needful, they made many determinations of the holy Trinity, of the Father, of the Son, and of the holy Ghost, which were godly things in deed, but not so necessary for that time. Let us see in all that while of so many, so manifest, so often confessed by them & so evident errors, what one error have they amended? from what kind of idolatry have they reclaimed the people? What superstition have they taken away? What piece of their tyranny and pomp have they diminished?

But wil these men (I say) refourme vs the churche, beinge themselues both the persons guilty and the Iudges to? Will they abate their own ambitiō and pride? Wil they ouerthrow their owne matter, and giue sentence against them selues, that they must leaue of to be vnlearned Byshoppes, slowbellies, heapers together