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…

¹Roger Bacon also a man of great fame, after he had in a vehement Oration touched to the quick the woeful state of his own time, These so many errors saith he, require & look for Antichrist. Gersō con plaineth how in his days all the substance & efficacy of sacred divinity was brought into a glorious contention & ostentation of wits, & to very sophistry. The Friars of Lions, men as touching the manner of their life, not to be misliked, were wont boldly to affirm, that the Romish church (from whence alone all counsel & orders was then sought was the very same harlot of Babylon, & rout of Devils, whereof is prophesied so plainly in the Apocalypse. I know well enough the authority of the foresaid persons is but lightly regarded amongest these men. How then if I call forth those for witnesses whom themselves have used to honour? what if I say ye Adrian the Bishop of ⟨image 69⟩Rome did frankly confess, that all these mischiefs burst out first from the high throne of the Pope Pighius acknowledgeth herein to be a fault, that many abuses are brought in, even into the very Mass, which Mass otherwise he would have seem to be a reverend matter. Gerson saith, that through the number of most fond ceremonies, all the virtue of the holy Ghost, which ought to have full operation in us, & all true Godliness is utterly quenched and dead. Whole Grecia and Asia, complain how the Bishops of Rome with the marts of their Purgatories & Pardons, have both tormented mens consciences, and picked their purses.

¹Roger Bacon also a man of great fame, after he had in a vehement Oration touched to the quicke the wofull state of his owne time, These so many errours saith he, require & loke for Antichrist. Gersō cō plaineth how in his daies al ye substāce & efficacie of sacred diuinitie was brought into a glorious contention & ostētatiō of wits, & to very sophistrie. The Friers of Lions, mē as touchīg ye maner of their life, not to be misliked, wer wōt boldly to affirm, yt the Romish church (frō whence alone al counsel & ordres was thē sought was the very same harlot of Babylon, & rowt of Diuels, wherof is prophesied so plainely in ye Apocalyps. I know wel enough ye authoritie of ye forsaid persōs is but lightly regarded amōgest these men. How thē if I cal furth those for witnesses whō themselues haue vsed to honor? what if I say ye Adryan the Bysshop of ⟨image 69⟩