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 that this matter should not seem to be don but upon privy slander, and to be tossed to and fro in a corner, only to spite us, there have ben besides wy•ely procured by the Bishop of Rome, certain parsons of eloquence enough, and not unlearned neither, which should put their help to this cause now almost despaired of, & should polish and set forth the same, both in books and with long tales, to the end, that when the matter was trimly and eloquently handled, ignorant and unskilful persons might suspect there was some great thing in it. In deed they perceived that their own cause did every where go to wrack, that their sleights were now espied and less esteemed, & that their helps did daily fail them, & that their matter stood altogether in great need of a conning spokesman. ⟨image 11⟩Now as for those things which by them have been laid against us, in part they be manifestly false & condemned so by their own judgements which spake them, partly again, though they be as false to in deed, yet bear they a certain show and colour of truth, so as the Reader (if he take not good heed) may easily be tripped and brought into error by them, specially when their fine and cunning tale is added thereunto: and part of them be of such sort, as we ought not to shun them as crimes or faults, but to acknowledge & profess them as things well done, and upon very good reason.

And that thys matter shoulde not seeme to be don but vppon priuie slaunder, and to be tossed to and fro in a corner, onely to spyte vs, there haue ben besides wy•ely procured by the Bysshop of Rome, certaine parsons of eloquence yenough, and not vnlearned neyther, whiche shoulde put theyre helpe to thys cause now almost despaired of, & should polyshe and set furth the same, both in bookes and with long tales, to the end, that when the matter was trymlye and eloquently handled, ignorant and vnskilfull persons mighte suspecte there was som great thing in it. In deede they perceiued that their owne cause did euerye where go to wracke, that their sleightes were nowe espyed and lesse esteemed, & that their helpes did dayly fayle them, & that their matter stoode altogether in great neede of a conninge spokesman. ⟨image 11⟩Now as for those things which by thē haue been layed against vs, in part they be manifestly false & condempned so by their owne iudgementes whiche spake thē, partly again, though thei be as false to in deede, yet beare thei a certain shew and colour of truth, so as the Reader (if he take not good hede) may easily be tripped and brought into errour by them, specially when their fine and cunninge tale is added thereunto: and part of them be of suche sorte, as wee oughte not to shunne them as crimes or faultes, but to acknowledg & professe them as thinges well done, and vpon very good reason.