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…

¹Bernard the Abbot above four hundred years past writeth thus: Nothing is now of sincerity and pureness amongst ⟨image 68⟩the Clergy, wherefore it resteth that the man of sin should be revealed. The same Bernard in his work of the conversion of Paul, It seemeth now saith he, tha• persecution hath ceased:² no no, persecution seemeth but now to begin, even from them which have chief preeminence in the Church. Thy friends and neighbours have drawn near▪ & stood up against thee: from the sole of thy foot to the crown of thy head, there is no part whole. Iniquity is proceeded from the Elders, the Judges and deputies which pretend •o rule thy people. We cannot say now, Look how the people be, so is the priest. For the people be not so ill as the priest is. Alas, alas o Lord God, the self same persons be the chief in persecuting thee, which seem to love the highest place, and bear most rule in thy church. The same Bernard again upon the Canticles writeth thus. All they are thy friends, yet are they all thy foes▪ all thy kinsfolk, yet are they all thy ⟨image 69⟩adversaries, being Christs servants, they serve Antichrist, Behold in my rest, my bitterness is most bitter.

¹Bernard ye Abbot aboue foure hundred yeares past writeth thus: Nothinge is nowe of sinceritie and purenes emongest ⟨image 68⟩the Cleargie, wherfore it resteth that the man of sin should be reuealed. The same Bernarde in his worke of the conuersion of Paul, It semeth now saith he, tha• persecution hath ceased:² no no, persecution seemeth but nowe to beginne, euen from them whiche haue chiee preeminence in the Churche. Thy friendes and neighbours haue drawen neere & stoode vp against thee: from the sole of thy foot to the crowne of thy heade, there is no part whole. Iniquitie is proceeded from the Elders, the Iudges and deputies which pretende o rule thy people. Wee cannot saye nowe, Loke how the people be, so is the priest. For the people be not so ill as the priest is. Alas, alas o Lorde God, the selfe same persons be the chiefe in persecutinge thee, which seeme to loue the highest place, and beare moste rule in thy church. The same Bernard again vpon ye Canticles writeth thus. All they are thy friendes, yet are they all thy foes all thy kinsefolke, yet are they all thy