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…

Surely, to have the principal stay, and effect of all matters committed wholly to these mens hands, who neither know, nor will know these things, nor yet set a jot by any point of Religion, save that, which concerneth their belly, and riot, and to have them alone sit as Judges, and to be set up as overseers in the Watch tower, being no better then Blind Spies: of the other side, to have a christian Prince of good understanding, & of a right judgement, to stand still like a block, or a stake, not to be suffered, neither to give his voice, nor to show his judgement, but only to wait, what these men shall will, and command, as one, which had neither ears, nor eyes, nor wit, nor heart, and, whatsoever they give in charge, to allow it without exception, blindly fulfilling their Commandments, be they never so blasphemous, and wicked, yea, although they command him quite to destroy all Religion, and to Crucify again Christ him self, This surely, besides that it is proud, and spiteful, is also beyond all right, and reason, and not to be endured of Christian, & wise Princes. For why, I pray you, may Caiaphas, & Annas understand these matters, and may not David, and Hezekiah do the same? Is it lawful for a Cardinal, being a man of war, and delighting in Blood, to have place in a Council: and is it not lawful for a Christian Emperor, or a King?

Surely, to haue the principal staie, and effecte of al maters committed wholy to these mennes handes, who neither knowe, nor wil knowe these thinges, nor yet set a iote by any poincte of Religion, saue that, whiche concerneth their belly, and riot, and to haue them alone sitte as Iudges, and to be set vp as ouerseers in the Watche tower, being no better then Blinde Spies: of the other side, to haue a christian Prince of good vnderstandinge, & of a right iudgemente, to stande stil like a blocke, or a stake, not to be suffred, neither to geeue his voice, nor to shewe his iudgemente, but onely to waite, what these menne shal wil, and commaunde, as one, whiche had neither eares, nor eies, nor witte, nor harte, and, whatsoeuer they geeue in charge, to allowe it without exception, blindely fulfilling their Commaundementes, be they neuer so blasphemous, and wicked, yea, although they commaunde him quite to destroie al Religion, and to Crucifie againe Christe him selfe, This surely, bisides that it is proude, and spiteful, is also beyonde al right, and reason, and not to be endured of Christian, & wise Princes. For why, I praie you, maie Caiphas, & Annas vnderstande these maters, and maie not Dauid, and Ezechias doo the same? Is it lauful for a Cardinal, beinge a man of warre, and delitinge in Bloude, to haue place in a Councel: and is it not lauful for a Christian Emperoure, or a Kinge?