23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;



Ver. 23. These many years] The Romans were converted to the faith betimes. Some of them were "in Christ before Paul," Rom_16:7. Christ made haste also to convert England, whose religion before was tristissimum superstitionum chaos (as Camden hath it), a most sad chaos of superstitions. Sabellicus testifieth that Brittany was the first of all the provinces that publicly professed Christ. And as we were the first that took upon us the yoke of Papal tyranny (so that England was called the Pope’s Ass), so were we the first that shook it off again.