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…

In Oxford likewise there be Colleges some greater some smaller, to the number of four and twenty, the names whereof be as followeth.

In Oxford likwise there be Colledges some greater some smaler, to the number of foure and twentye, the names whereof be as followeth.

The Cathedral Church of Christ, wherein also is a great company of students. Magdalene college. New college. Marten college. All souls colledge. Corpus Christi colledge. Lincolne college. Oriel college. The Ovenes college. Baptie college, or Balliol college. S. Johns college. Trinity college. Exeter college. Brazen nose college. The University college. Gloucester college. Brodega•e hall. ••aete hall. Magdalene hall. A•borne hall. S. Mary hall. •hyre hall. •ewe I••e Edmond hall.

The Cathedrall Churche of Christe, wherein also is a great company of studentes. Magdalene colledge. Newe colledge. Marten colledge. All sowles colledge. Corpus Christi colledge. Lincolne colledge. Anriell colledge. The Ouenes colledge. Baptie colledge, or Bailioll colledge. S. Iohns colledge. Trinitie colledge. Excetor colledge. Brasen nose colledge. Thuniuersitie colledge. Glocetor colledge. Brodega•e halle. ••aete halle. Ma••alene halle. A•borne halle. S. Marie halle. •hyre halle. •ewe I••e Edmonde halle.

And besides these Colleges that be in the Universities, this Realm hath also certain collegiate churches, as Westminster, Windsor, Eaton, and Winchester. The two last whereof do bring up and find a great number of young Scholars, the which after they be once perfect in the rules of Grammar and of versifying, and well entered in the principles of the Greek tong and of Rhetoric, are sent from thence unto the universities: as thus. Out of Eaton college they be sent unto the Kings college at Cambridge, & out of Winchester, unto the New college at Oxford.

And besides these Colledges that be in the Vniuersities, this Realme hath also certein collegiate churches, as Westmynster, Windesour, Eaton, and Wynchester. The two last whereof do bring vp and fynde a greate number of yong Scholers, the whiche after they be once parfect in the rules of Grammer and of versifieng, and well entred in the principles of the Greeke tong and of Rhetorike, are sent from thence vnto the vniuersities: as thus. Out of Eaton colledge they be sent vnto the Kynges colledge at Cambrydge, & out of Wynchester, vnto the New colledge at Oxford.

In Trinity college at Cambridge, ⟨image 136⟩and in Christs college at Oxford, both which were founded by King Henry the Eighth of most famous memory, are at the least found four hundred Scholars: and the like number well near is to be seen in certain other Colleges, as in the Kings College & S. Johns College at Cambridge: in Magdalene college and New college of Oxford: besides the rest which we now pass over.

In Trinitie colledge at Cambrydge, ⟨image 136⟩and in Christes colledge at Oxford, both whiche were founded by Kyng Henry theight of most famous memorie, are at the least founde foure hundreth Shollers: and the like number wel neere is to be seene in certen other Colledges, as in the Kynges Colledge & S. Iohns Colledge at Cambrydge: in Magdalene colledge and New colledge of Oxford: besides the rest which we now passe ouer.

Every one of the Colleges have their Professors of the tongues and of the liberal Sciences (as they call them) which do trade up youth privately within their Halls, to the end they may afterward be able to go forth thence into the common schools as to open disputation, as it were into plain battle, there to try themselves.

Euery one of the Colleges haue their Professours of the tonges and of the liberal Sciences (as they cal them) which do trade vp youth priuatly whithin their Halles, to thend they may afterward be able to go furth thence into the common scholes as to open disputatiō, as it were into plain battail, there to try themselfe.

In the common Schools of both the Universities, there are found at the Kings charge, and that very largely, five Professors & Readers, that is to say, ⟨image 137⟩The Reader of Divinity. The Reade• of the Civill law. The Reader of Physic. The Reader of the Hebrew tongue. and The Reader of the Greek tongue.

In the cōmon Scholes of both the Vniuersities, there are found at the Kinges charge, and that very largely, fyue Professours & Readers, that is to saye, ⟨image 137⟩The Reader of Diuinitie. The Reade• of the Ciuill lawe. The Reader of Physike. The Reader of the Hebrewe tongue. and The Reader of the Greeke tongue.

And for the other Professors, as of Philosophy, of Logic, of Rhetoric, and of the Mathematicalles, the Universities themselves do allow stipends unto them. And these Professors have the ruling of the Disputations and other school exercises which be daily used in the common Schools: Amongest whom, they that by the same Disputations & exercises are thought to be come to any tipenes in knowledge, are wont according to the use in other universities, solemnly to take degrees, every one in the same science and faculty which he professeth.

And for the other Professours, as of Phylosophie, of Logique, of Rethorike, and of the Mathematicalles, the Vniuersities themselues doe allowe stipendes vnto them. And these Professours haue the ruling of the Disputaciōs and other schole exercises whiche be dayly vsed in the common Scholes: Amongest whome, they that by the same Disputations & exercises are thought to be come to any tipenes in knowledge, are wont according to ye vse in other vniuersities, soleniply to take degrees, euery one in ye same science and facultie which he professeth.

We thought good to annex these things, to the end we might confute & ⟨image 137⟩confound those that spread abroad rumours, how that with us nothing is don in order & as ought to be don: that there is no Religion at all, no Ecclesiastical Discipline observed, no regard had of the salvation of mens souls, but that all is don quite out of order and seditiously, that all antiquity is despised, that liberty is given to all sensuality and lewd lusts of folks, that the livings of the Church be converted to profane and worldly uses, whereas in very truth we seek nothing else but that, that God above all most good, may have still his honour truly and purely reserved unto him, that the rule and way to everlasting Salvation may be taken from out of his very word, and not from mens fantasies, that the Sacraments may be ministered not like a Maskary or a stage play, but religiously and reverently according to the rule prescribed unto us by Christ, and after the example of the holy Fathers which flourished in the primitive ⟨image 138⟩Church: that that most holy and godly form of discipline, which was commonly used amongest them, may be called home again: that the goods of the Church may not be launched out amongest worldlings & idle persons, but may be bestowed upon the godly Ministers and Pastors which take pain both in Preaching and teaching: that there may from time to time arise up out of the Universities learned & good ministers & others meet to serve the common wealth: And finally, that all unclean and wicked life may be utterly abandoned and banished, as unworthy for the name of any Christian. And albeit we are not as yet able to obtain this that we have said, fully & perfectly, (for this same Stable, as one may rightly call it, of the Romish Augias, cannot so soon be thoroughly cleansed and rid from the long grown filth and muck) nevertheless this is it whereunto we have regard: hither do we tend: to this mark do we direct ⟨image 138⟩our pain and travail, and that hitherto (thorough God his gracious favour) not without good success and plenteous increase: which thing may easily appear to every body, if either we be con pared with our own selves in what manner of case we have ben but few years since, or else be compared with our false accusers, or rather our malicious slanderers.

The Lord defend his Church, govern it with his holy Spirit, & bless the same with all prosperous felicity.

The Lorde defende his Churche, gouerne it with his holy Spirite, & blesse the same with all prosperous felicitie.

Amen.

Imprinted at London in Pauls church yard, at the sign of the Brazen serpent, by Reginald Wolfe.

Imprinted at London in Paules churche yard, at the signe of the Brasen serpent, by Reginalde Wolfe.

Anno Domini. M. D. LXIIII,

Faults escaped in the printing. Erase. | Faults. | Correction. B. 4. | such one for heretics. | such ones F. 5. p. 2. | Peter did not this | did not thus F. •. p. 2. | yet bear they | yet bare they• F. 8. | they were a rebellious | they be a rebel. G. 3. p. 2 | pardon• […] | pardons so large••. K. 5. p. 2. | intend bear | intend to bear. N. 1. | have thought so▪ | thought good so.

Faultes escaped in the printinge. Erase. | Faultes. | Correction. B. 4. | suche one for heretikes. | such ones F. 5. p. 2. | Peter did not this | did not thus F. •. p. 2. | yet beare they | yet bare they• F. 8. | they were a rebellious | they be a rebel. G. 3. p. 2 | pardon• 〈…〉 | pardōs so large••. K. 5. p. 2. | intend beare | intende to beare. N. 1. | haue thought so▪ | thought good so.