Sal. There is a book lately made by Sir Thomas More which he calleth The Apology of Sir Thomas More, knight, wherein among divers other things he layeth many objections against a book that he called The book of division betwixt the spirituality and the temporality. Hast thou, my friend Bizance, seen that Book of division?
      Biz. I have seen a little book that in the beginning of the book hath this name set upon it, A treatise concerning the division betwixt the spirituality and the temporality, and I suppose that it is the same book that thou meanest of. For, indeed, Sir Thomas More maketh many objections in the said Apology against the said Treatise, and reciteth in many places the very words of some part of the chapters of the said Treatise. Howbeit in some places he misrehearseth it; and in some places he turneth the sentence thereof to another effect than can be reasonably taken to follow of it, as meseemeth.
      Sal. Then I see well, it is the same book that I mean of. Howbeith, I perceive by thy words that Sir Thomas More somewhat varieth from the very true name of it. And, verily, if I were acquainted with the maker of the said Treatise, I would move him to make an answer to the said objections. For methinketh that in many places Sir Thomas More, as thou saith, doth mistake his sayings. And therefore, I pray thee, if thou canst, make me acquainted with him. For if he will not answer to it himself, I trow, I know a friend of mine that will.
      Biz. To that purpose that thou speakest of, it shall not need that you be acquainted, for he hath made an answer to it himself already, although he hath not as yet set the name upon it. And I know his mind so well that I am sure he will be contented that I shall show it to whomsoever I will.
      Sal. Then, I pray thee heartily, let me see it.
      Biz. I shall cause it to be written hereafter in this Dialogue word for word as it is come to my hands, and then thou shalt with good will have it. And, I pray thee, let me then know thy further mind, what thou thinkest in it. And thou shalt understand that his answer beginneth at the beginning of this next chapter hereafter ensuing, and continueth unto the place where I shall show thee that it endeth. And he hath neither made as yet prologue, preface, nor introduction, but beginneth in this manner as followeth.

When I heard first that Sir Thomas More had made a book touching a little treatise that I had lately made Concerning a division that is betwixt the spirituality and the temporality, I was right glad. For I thought verily that he had devised some more convenient way for a good reformation in that behalf than I had done or could do. For I knew right well that he could have done it if he would, and could yet do it if he list. But when his book came to my hands, I perceived well that he had not done so; but that rather to the contrary he had taken many exceptions and made many objections against it, whereof I marvelled greatly. And when I saw that he had named his book an Apology, then I marvelled more than I did before. For apologia in the Greek tongue is as much as to say in Latin, responsio or defensio: that is to say, an 'answer' or 'defence'. Whereby it seemeth that he should mean that I had written something against his works or mistaken some of his works, that he had made in time past, which he therefore purposed to maintain and defend.
      And, verily, I never wrote nor spake anything against him. For I never read his Dialogue [Concerning Tyndale (1528)]; his Confutation [Of Tyndale's Answer (1532-3]; nor yet none other of his works. Howbeit that was not because I would not read his works, but because I have been let by other occasion, and could not. And so I cannot answer to his Apology as an apology against me that nothing have done against him.
      But, nevertheless, that my silence should not make some other haply to think that such objection as he hath made in his said Apology against the said Treatise were good and reasonable, and also that he should not make the said Treatise appear to be made to another intent than it was made for indeed, I have made answer to some of his objections, whereby (as I suppose) it shall appear evidently that his objections proceeded of little charity; and that the said Treatise is good and reasonable; and that it was also made to a good intent, that is to say, to increase peace and quietness through all the realm.
      Howbeit for the avoiding of tediousness to the readers, I intend not to make answer to all his objections, but to some of them. And though I do not make answer particularly to all, yet I suppose it shall appear by the answers and by certain considerations and some declarations that I shall make concerning the same that his objections are little to be pondered if the readers will diligently and advisedly search the grounds and circumstances of the said objections and of the said Treatise together. And I will not make answer to his Apology after the order of his chapters, but as I shall think shall serve best for opening of the truth of the matter as nigh as I can.


1. Chapter I.

	to Christopher Saint-German
	to Sir Thomas More