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…

But we truly, seeing that so many thousands of our brethren in these last twenty years have borne witness unto the truth, in the middest of most painful torments that could be devised: and when Princes desirous to restrain the Gospel sought many ways but prevailed nothing, and that now almost the whole world doth begin to open their eyes to behold the light: we take it that our cause hath already ben sufficiently declared and defended, and think it not needful to make many words, since the very matter saith enough for it self. For if the Popes would, or else if they could ⟨image 13⟩weigh with their own selves the whole matter, and also the beginning and proceedings of our Religion, how in a man ner all their travail hath come to nought, no body driving it forward, and without any worldly help: and how on the other side, our cause, against the will of Emperors, from the beginning against the wills of so many Kings, in spite of the Popes, and almost maugre the head of all men, hath taken increase, and by little and little spread over into all countries, and is come at length even into Kings courts and Palaces. These same things me thinketh might be tokens great enough to them, that God him self doth strongly fight in our quarrel, and doth from heaven laugh at their enterprises: & that the force of the truth is such, as neither mans power, nor yet hell gates are able to root it out. For they be not all mad at this day, so many free Cities, so many Kings, so many Princes which have fallen away from ⟨image 14⟩the Seat of Room, and have rather joined themselves to the Gospel of Christ.

But we trulye, seeing that so many thowsandes of our brethren in these last twenty yeares haue borne witnes vnto the truth, in the middest of most painfull tormēts that could be deuised: and when Princes desirous to restraine the Gospel sought many wayes but preuayled nothinge, and that now almost the whole worlde dothe begynne to open theyre eyes to behold the light: we take it that our cause hath already ben sufficiently declared and defended, and thinke it not needfull to make many wordes, since ye very matter saith inough for yt selfe. For yf the Popes woulde, or els if they could ⟨image 13⟩weigh with their own selues the whole matter, and also the beginning and procedinges of our Religion, how in a mā ner al their trauail hath com to nought, no body driuing it forwarde, and without any wordely helpe: and howe on the other side, our cause, againste the will of Emperoures, from ye beginning against the willes of so many Kynges, in spite of the Popes, and almoste maugre the head of all men, hath taken encrease, and by little and little spredde ouer into all countries, and is com at length euen into Kings courtes and Palaices. These same thinges me thinketh might bee tokens greate ynough to them, that God him self doth strongly fight in our quarrel, and doth from heauen laugh at their enterprises: & that the force of the truth is suche, as neither mans power, nor yet hell gates are able to roote it oute. For they be not all mad at this day, so many free Cities, so manye Kynges, so manye Princes which haue fallen away from