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 can not also away in our churches with the shows & sales, & buying & selling of Masses, nor the carrying about & worshipping of bread, nor such other idolatrous and blasphemous fondness, which none of them can prove that Christ or his Apostles did ever ordain, or left unto us: and we justly blame the Bishops of Rome, who without the word of God, without the authority of the holy fathers, without any example of antiquity, after a new guise do not only set before the people that sacramental bread to be worshipped as God, but do also carry the same about upon an ambling horse,¹ whither soever themselves journey, as in old time the Persians fire & the relics of the goddess Isis were solemnly carried about in procession, & have brought the sacraments of Christ to be used now as a stage play, & a solemn sight, to the end that mens eyes should be fed with ⟨image 33⟩nothing else but with mad gasinges and foolish gauds, in the self same matter wherein the death of Christ ought diligently to be beaten into our hearts, and wherein also the mysteries of our redemption ought with all holiness and reverence to be executed.

We can not also away in our churches with ye shewes & sales, & byeng & selling of Masses, nor the carrieng about & worshipping of bread, nor such other ydolatrous and blasphemous fo•dnes, whiche none of them can proue yt Christe or his Apostles did euer ordaine, or left vnto vs: and we iustly blame ye Bishops of Rome, who wtout ye word of God, wtout ye authoritie of the holy fathers, without any example of antiquitie, after a newe guise do not onely set before ye people yt sacramētal bread to be worshiped as God, but doe also cary ye same about vpon an ambling horse,¹ whyther soeuer themselues iorney, as in old time ye Persiās fier & ye reliques of ye goddesse Isis were solemly caried about in processiō, & haue brought ye sacraments of Christ to be vsed nowe as a stage play, & a solemne sight, to the end that mens eyes should be fedde with ⟨image 33⟩nothing els but with mad gasinges and foolishe gaudes, in the selfe same matter wherein the death of Christ ought diligently to be beaten into our heartes, and wherein also the mysteries of our redēption ought with all holines and reuerence to be executed.