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…

Surely to have the principal stay & effect of all matters committed wholly to these mens hands, who neither know ⟨image 107⟩nor will know these things, nor yet set a jot by any point of Religion, save that which concerns their belly and Riot, & to have them alone sit as Judges, and to be set up as overseers in the watch tower being no better then blind spies: of the other side, to have a Christian Prince of good understanding and of a right judgement, to stand still like a block or a stake, not to be suffered: neither to give his voice, nor to show his judgement, but only to wait what these men shall well and command, as one which had neither ears nor eyes nor wit, nor heart, and whatsoever they give in charge, to allow it without exception, blindly fulfilling their commandments, be they never so blasphemous and wicked, yea although they command him quite to destroy all Religion, & to crucify again Christ him self. This surely besides that it is proud and spiteful, is also beyond all right and reason and not to be endured of Christian and wise Princes. Why ⟨image 107⟩I pray you, may Caiaphas and Annas understand these matters, and may not David and Hezekiah do the same? Is it lawful for a Cardinal being a man of war and delightius in blood, to have place in a Council, & is it not lawful for a Christian Emperor or a king? we truly grant no further liberty to our Magistrates, then that we know hath both ben given them by the word of God, and also confirmed by the examples of the very best governed common wealths. For besides that a Christian Prince hath the charge of both Tables committed to him by God, to the end he may understand that not temporal matters only, but also Religious & ecclesiastical causes pertain to his Office. Besides also that God by his Prophets often and earnestly commandeth the king to cut down the groves, to break down the Images and altars of Idols, and to write out the book of the law for him self: and besides that the prophet Isaiah saith, a ⟨image 108⟩king ought to be a patron and nurse of the Church: I say besides all these things, we see by histories and by examples of the best tunes, that good Princes ever took the administration of ecclesiastical matters to pertain to their duty.

Surely to haue the principall staye & effecte of all maters commited wholy to these mennes hands, who neyther know