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…

Nevertheless we can bear patiently & quietly our own private wrongs: but wherefore do they shut out Christian kings, and good Princes from their Convocation? why do they so uncourteously, or with such spite leave them out, & as though they were not either Christen men, or else could not judge, will not have them made acquainted with the cause of Christian Religion, nor understand the state of their own Churches? Or if the said kings & Princes happen to intermeddle in such matters, and take upon them to do that they may do, that they be commanded to do, and ought of duty to do, & the same things that we know both David and Solomon and other good Princes have don, that is, if they whiles the Pope and his ⟨image 106⟩Prelates slug and sleep, or else mischievously withstand them, do bridle the Priests sensuality, and drive them to do their duty, and keep them still to it: if they do overthrow Idols, if they take away superstition, and set up again the true worshipping of God, why do they by and by make an out cry upon them, that such Princes trouble all, and press by violence into an other bodies office, and do thereby wickedly and malapertly. What scripture hath at any time forbidden a Christian Prince to be made privy to such causes? Who but themselves alone made ever any such law?

Neuertheles we can beare pacientlye & quyetely our owne priuate wronges: but wherfore do they shut out Christian kynges, and good Princes from their Conuocation? why do they so vncourteously, or with such spite leaue thē out, & as though they were not either Christen menne, or els could not iudge, will not haue them made acquaynted with the cause of Christian Religion, nor vnderstand ye state of their own Churches? Or yf the sayd kynges & Princes happen to entermedly in suche matters, and take vpon them to do that they may do, that they be commaunded to doe, and ought of duty to do, & the same thinges that we know both Dauid and Salomon and other good Princes haue don, that is, yf they whiles the Pope and his ⟨image 106⟩Prelates slugge and sleepe, or els mischevouslye withstande them, doe bridle the Preistes sensualitie, and driue them to do their dewty, and kepe them still to yt: yf they do ouerthrow Idols, yf they take away superstition, and set vp again the true worshiping of God, whye do they by and by make an out crye vpon them, that suche Princes trouble all, and presse by violence into an other bodyes office, and do therby wickedly and malepartly. What scripture hath at any time forbidden a Christiā Prince to be made priuey to such causes? Who but themselues alone made euer any suche lawe?