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 as for us, we of all others most justly have left him. For our Kings, yea even they which with greatest reverence did follow and obey the authority and faith of the Bishops of Rome, have long since found and felt well enough the yoke & tyranny of the Popes kingdom. For the Bishops of Rome toke the Crown of from the head of our King Henry the second, and compelled him to put a side all majesty, and like a mere private man to come unto their Legate with great submission and humility, so as all his subjects might ⟨image 126⟩laugh him to scorn. More than this, they caused Bishops and Monks and some part of the nobility to be in the field against our King John, and set all the people at liberty from their oath whereby they ought allegiance to their king: and at last, wickedly and most abominably they bereaved the king not only of his kingdom, but also of his life. Besides this, they excommunicated and cursed King Henry the Eighth, the most famous Prince, & stirred up against him sometime the Emperor, sometime the French King, & as much as in them was, put in adventure our Realm to have ben a very pray and spoil. Yet were they but fowls and mad, to think that either so mighty a Prince could be scared with bugs and rattles: or else ye so noble and great a kingdom might so easily, even at one morsel be devoured and swallowed up.

And as for vs, we of all others moste iustely haue left him. For our Kynges, yea euen they whiche with greatest reuerence dyd folow and obey the aucthoritie and faith of the Byshops of Rome, haue long synce founde and felte well ynough the yoke & tyrannye of the Popes kingdome. For ye Byshops of Rome toke the Crowne of from the head of our Kynge Henrye the second, and compelled him to put a side all maiestie, and lyke a meere priuate man to come vnto their Legate with great submission and humilitie, so as all his subjectes might ⟨image 126⟩laugh him to scorne. More thē this, they caused Byshops and Monkes and some parte of the nobilitie to be in the feelde against our Kynge Iohn, and sett all the people at libertie from their othe wherby they ought allegeaunce to their king: and at last, wickedly and most abhominablie they bereaued the kyng not onely of his kyngdome, but also of his lyfe. Besides this, they excommunicated and cursed Kyng Henry theight, the most famous Prince, & stirred vp against him sometime the Emperour, sometime the Frenche Kyng, & as muche as in them was, putte in aduenture our Realme to haue ben a very praye and spoyle. Yet were they but foules and mad, to thinke that eyther so mighty a Prince could be scared with bugges and rattles: or els ye so noble and great a kyngdome myght so easily, euen at one morsel be deuoured and swalowed vp.