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. 23. Division. 1.

The Apologie, Cap. 23. Diuision. 1.

And as for us, we of all others most justly have left him. For our Kings, yea even they, which with greatest Reverence did follow, and obey the Authority, & Faith of the Bishops of Rome, have long since found, and felt well enough the yoke, and Tyranny of the Popes kingdom. For the Bishops of Rome sometime took the Crown from the Head of our King, Henry the Second, and compelled him to put aside all his Princely state, and Majesty, and, like a mere Private man, to come unto their Legate with great submission, and humility, so as all his Subjects might laugh him to scorn. More then this, they caused Bishops, and Monks, and some part of the Nobility, to be in the field against our King John, and set all the people at liberty from their oaths, whereby they ought allegiance to their King: and at last, wickedly, and most abominably they bereaved the same King, not only of his Kingdom, but also of his life. Besides this, they Excommunicated, and cursed King Henry the Eight, that most famous Prince, and stirred up against him, sometime the Emperor, sometime the French King: and as much as in them was, put our Realm in hazard to have been a very pray, and spoil unto the Enemy. Yet were ⟨p. 733⟩they but fools, and mad men, to think, that either so mighty a Prince could be feared with bugs, & rattles: or else, that so Noble, and great a Kingdom might so easily, even at one morsel, be devoured, and swallowed up.

And as for vs, we of al others moste iustely haue leafte him. For our Kinges, yea euen thei, whiche with greatest Reuerence did folowe, and obeie the Authoritie, & Faithe of the Bishoppes of Rome, haue longe since founde, and felte wel yenough the yoke, and Tyrannie of the Popes kingdom. For the Bishops of Rome somtime tooke the Crowne from the Heade of our Kinge, Henry the Seconde, and compelled him to put aside al his Princely state, and Maiestie, and, like a meere Priuate man, to come vnto theire Legate with greate summission, and humilitie, so as al his Subiectes might laugh him to scorne. More then this, thei caused Bishoppes, and Monkes, and somme parte of the Nobilitie, to be in the fielde againste our Kinge Iohn, and set al the people at libertie from their othes, whereby thei ought allegeance to their Kinge: and at laste, wickedly, and moste abominably they bereeued the same Kinge, not onely of his Kingedome, but also of his life. Bisides this, thei Excōmunicated, and cursed Kinge Henry the Eighte, that moste famous Prince, and stirred vp against him, sommetime the Emperour, sommetime the Frenche Kinge: and as mutche as in them was, put our Realme in hazarde to haue benne a very praie, and spoile vnto the Enimie. Yet were