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…

And yet for all those fathers had such malicious and stiff necked enemies, yet if they had come, they should have had free speech at least in the Councils. Butte now sithens none of us may be suffered so much as to sit, or once to be seen in these mens meetings, much less suffered to speak freely our mind, and seeing the Popes Legates, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, and Abbots, all being conspired together, all linked together, ⟨image 105⟩in one kind of fault, and all bound by one oath, sit alone by themselves, & have power alone to give their consent: and at last when they have all done, as though they had done nothing, bring all their opinions to be judged at the will & pleasure of the Pope, being but one man, to the end he may pronounce his own sentence of himself, who ought rather to have answered to his complaint, sithens also the same ancient & Christian liberty which of all right should specially be in Christian Councils, is now utterly taken away from the Council: for these causes I say wise and good men ought not to marvel at this day, though we do the like now, that they see was don in times past in like case of so many Fathers and Catholic Bishops, which as though we choose rather to sit at home and leave our whole cause to God, then to journey thither, whereas we neither shall have place, nor be able to do any good: whereas we can obtain no audience, ⟨image 105⟩whereas Princes Ambassadors be but used as mocking stocks, and whereas also all we be condemned already before trial, as though the matter were a forehand dispatched and agreed upon

And yet for all those fathers hadde suche malitious and stiffe necked ennemies, yet if they hadde come, they should haue hadde free speache at least in the Councelles. Butte nowe sithens none of vs maye bee suffered so muche as to sitte, or once to bee seene in these mennes meetinges, muche lesse suffered to speake freelye oure minde, and seinge the Popes Legates, Patriarches, Archebyshops, Bysshoppes, and Abbottes, all beinge conspyred togeather, all linked together, ⟨image 105⟩in one kinde of fault, and all bounde by one othe, sit alone by themselues, & haue power alone to giue their consent: and at last when they haue all done, as though thei had done nothing, bringe all their opinions to be iudged at the wil & plasure of ye Pope, being but one man, to thend he may pronoūce his own sētēce of himselfe, who ought rather to haue aunswered to his complaint, sithens also ye same auncient & Christian libertie which of al right shoulde speciallye bee in Christian Councelles, is now vtterly taken away from the Councel: for these causes I say wise and good men ought not to maruaile at this day, though we doe the like now, that thei see was don in times past in like case of so many Fathers and Catholike Byshops, which as though we chuse rather to sit at home and leaue our whole cause to Gode, then to iorney thither, whereas wee neyther shall haue place, nor bee able to dooe anye good: whereas wee can obtaine no audience,