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…

Men say that Sophocles the tragical Poet, when in his old days he was by his own sons accused before the Judges for a doting and sottish man, as one that fondly wasted his own substance, and seemed to need a Governor to see unto him: to the intent he might clear him self of the fault, he ⟨image 19⟩came into the place of Judgement, and when he had rehearsed before them his Tragedy called Oedipus Coloneus, which he had written at the very time of his accusation, marvellous exactly and cunningly, did of him self ask the Judges, whether they thought any sottish or doting man could do the like piece of work.

Men say that Sophocles the tragicall Poet, when in his oulde dayes he was by his own sonnes accused before the Iudges for a dotinge and sottishe man, as one that fondelye wasted hys owne substaunce, and seemed to neede a Gouernour to see vnto him: to thintent he might cleere him selfe of the faulte, he ⟨image 19⟩came into the place of Iudgemente, and when he had rehearsed before them his Tragedye called Oedipus Coloneus, which he had written at the verye tyme of his accusation, maruelous exactly and conningly, did of him selfe aske the Iudges, whether they thought any sottish or doting man could do the like peece of worke.

In like manner, because these men take us to be mad, and appeache us for heretics, as men which have nothing to do neither with CHRIST, nor with the Church of GOD, we have judged that should be to good purpose and not unprofitable, that we do openly and frankly set forth our faith wherein we stand, and show all that confidence which we have in CHRIST IHESV, to the intent all men may see what is our judgement of every pa•te of Christian religion, and may resolve with them selves, whether the faith which they shall see confirmed by the words of Christ, by the writings ⟨image 20⟩