A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

The Apology, Cap. 8. Division. 1.

The Apologie, Cap. 8. Diuision. 1.

But now, sithence none of us may be suffered so much as to sit, or once to be seen in these mens meetings, much less suffered to speak freely our mind: and seeing the Popes Legates, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, and Abbots, all being conspired together, all linked together in one kind of fault, & all bound by one oath, sit alone by them selves, and have power alone to give their consent: and at last, when they have all done, as though they had done nothing, bring all their opinions to be judged at the will, and pleasure of the Pope, being but one man, to the end he may pronounce his own sentence of him self, who ought rather to have answered to his complaint: sithence also the same Ancient, and christian Liberty, which of all right should specially be in christian councils, is now utterly taken away from the council: for these causes, I say, wise and good men ought not to marvel at this day, though we do the like now, that, they see, was done in times past in like case, of so many Fathers, & Catholic Bishops: which is, though we choose rather to sit at home, and leave our whole cause to God, then to journey thither, where as we neither can have place, nor be able to do any good: where as we can obtain no audience: where as Princes Ambassadors be but used as mocking stocks: & where as also all we be condemned already before trial: as though the matter were a forehand dispatched, and agreed upon.

But nowe, sithence none of vs maie bee suffered so mutche as to sitte, or once to be seene in these mennes meetinges, mutche lesse suffered to speake freely our minde: and seeinge the Popes Legates, Patriarches, Archebishoppes, Bishoppes, and Abbates, al being conspired togeather, al linked togeather in one kinde of faulte, & al bounde by one othe, sitte alone by them selues, and haue power alone to geeue their consente: and at last, when thei haue al donne, as though thei had donne nothinge, bringe al their opinions to be iudged at the wil, and pleasure of the Pope, being but one man, to thende he maie pronounce his owne sentence of him selfe, who ought rather to haue answeared to his complainte: sithence also the same Ancient, and christian Libertie, whiche of al right shoulde specially bee in christian councelles, is nowe vtterly taken away from the councel: for these causes, I saie, wise and good menne ought not to marueile at this daie, though we doo the like nowe, that, thei see, was donne in times past in like case, of so many Fathers, & Catholique Bishoppes: which is, though we chuse rather to sit at home, and leaue our whole cause to God, then to iournei thither, where as wee neither can haue place, nor be hable to doo any good: where as wee can obteine no audience: where as Princes Embassadours be but vsed as mockinge stockes: & where as also al wee be condemned already before trial: as though the mater were a forehande dispatched, and agreed vpon.