The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

11. WHAT if our Bishops should now make the same Answers, that they can spare no time from the sacred Ministry, that they are totally taken up in restoring and reforming their Churches, that they cannot be spared from home five, six, or seven ⟨p. 157⟩years, and especially in that place where they can do no good? for our Bishops have not the same leisure with those who luxuriously spend their time in Palaces at Rome, and depend upon the Cardinals, and lye at the catch for rich Preferments; for our Churches are so miserably ruined and perverted by the ill Management of these men, that it is neither a small time nor an ordinary Diligence that can reform them. And now we see plainly that they design a Diversion and mis-spending of our times, that when there is no need of it, we may be drawn from Home, and so may neither promote the Reformation at Home, nor be suffered by them to do it in the Council.

11. WHAT if our Bishops should now make the same Answers, that they can spare no time from the sacred Ministry, that they are totally taken up in restoring and reforming their Churches, that they cannot be spared from home five, six, or seven ⟨p. 157⟩years, and especially in that place where they can do no good? for our Bishops have not the same leisure with those who luxuriously spend their time in Palaces at Rome, and depend upon the Cardinals, and lye at the catch for rich Preferments; for our Churches are so miserably ruin'd and perverted by the ill Management of these men, that it is neither a small time nor an ordinary Diligence that can reform them. And now we see plainly that they design a Diversion and mis-spending of our times, that when there is no need of it, we may be drawn from Home, and so may neither promote the Reformation at Home, nor be suffered by them to do it in the Council.

12. For the Pope indeed does but dissemble with the World (that you may not be deluded) he intends no Council: nor are you to think that he acts any thing sincerely and truly. He that knows not how to dissemble (said Lewis the 11th. to Charles the 8th. his Successor) knows not how to Reign: And much more he that knows not how to dissemble, and conceal his Counsels under the Gravity of his Looks, as things go now, will never be able to act the part of a Pope, for that See is supported merely by Hypocrisy; and is forced to supply the Defects of a natural Strength with pretended Colours and Shows. For if the Popes did indeed think that a General Council was of such wonderful efficacy for the suppressing Schisms, why did they so very long delay so necessary a means of it? Why did they sit still thirty years, and suffer Luther's Doctrine to take root? Why did they