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…

We now therefore marvel the more at the unreasonable dealing of the Bishop of Rome, who knowing what was the Emperors right when the Church was well ordered, knowing also that it is now a common right to all princes, for so much as Kings are now fully possessed in the several parts ⟨image 110⟩of the whole Empire, doth so without consideration assign that office alone to himself, and taketh it sufficient in summoning a general Council,¹ to make a man that is prince of the whole world no otherwise partaker thereof then he would make his own servant. And although the modesty and mildness of the Emperor Ferdinando be so great that he can bear this wrong, because peradventure he understandeth not well the Popes packing, yet ought not the Pope of his holiness to offer him that wrong, nor to claim as his own an other mans right.

We nowe therefore maruail the more at the vnreasonable dealinge of the Bysshoppe of Rome, who knowinge what was the Emperoures right when the Churche was well ordered, knowinge also that it is nowe a common right to all princes, for so muche as Kinges are now fully possessed in the seuerall partes ⟨image 110⟩of the whole Empire, dothe so without consideration assigne that office alone to himselfe, and taketh it sufficient in summoning a general Councel,¹ to make a man that is prince of the whole world no otherwise partaker thereof then hee woulde make his owne seruaunte. And although the modestie and mildenes of the Emperour Ferdinando be so greate that hee canne beare this wronge, bycause peraduenture hee vnderstandeth not well the Popes packinge, yet ought not the Pope of his holines to offer him that wronge, nor to claime as his owne an other mans right.

1. 1• pius 4. ••lla sua Imperat. •dinandū.• pius 4. lla sua Imperat. dinandū.