An ansvvere to a certen libel intituled, An admonition to the Parliament, by Iohn VVhitgifte, D. of Diuinitie

Answere.

The firste thing you mislike in matrimonie is the ring, whiche you call a sacramentall signe, and vn∣truly say that we attribute the vertue of wed∣locke therevnto: I knowe it is not materiall whether the ring be vsed or no, for it is not of the substance of ma∣trimonie, neither yet a sacramentall signe, no more than sitting at Communion is, but only a ceremonie, of the which, Master Bucer (writing his iudgement vppon the first Communion booke set out in the time of King Ed∣ward) saith on this sort: Subijeitur alius ritus, vt annulum. &c. There is another rite and ceremonie vsed, that the bridegroome should lay vpon the booke the ring, or any

other signe or token of vvedlocke, be it golde or siluer vvhich he vvill giue to his vvife, and from thence the mini∣ster taking it, doth deliuer it to the bridegrome, and he de∣liuereth the same to the bride, vvith a prescript forme of vvords conteyned in the booke: this ceremonie is very pro∣fitable, if the people be made to vnderstande vvhat is ther∣by signified: as that the ring and other things first laide vp∣pon the booke, and aftervvard by the minister giuen to the bridegrome to be deliuered to the bride, do signifie that we ought to offer all that vve haue to God before vve vse thē, and to acknovvledge that vve do receiue them at his hand, to be vsed to his glory. The putting of the ring vppon the fourth finger of the vvomans lefte hande, to the vvhich as it is saide there commeth a synevve or string from the harte, doth signifie that the harte of the vvife ought to be vnited to hir husband, and the roundnesse of the ring doth signi∣fie, that the vvife ought to be ioyned to hir husband vvith a perpetuall bande of loue, as the ring it selfe is vvithoute ende. Hitherto Master Bucer.

The seconde thing you reproue is, bycause (saye you) we make the married man (according to the papisticall forme) to make an Idoll of hys wife, saying, with my body I thee worship &c. And yet S. Peter .1. epist. cap. 3. speaking to the husbands saith. Likewise ye husbandes dwell with them as men of knowledge, giuing honor vnto the woman. &c. S. Peter wold haue the man to giue honor vnto his wife, & yet his meaning is not that a mā shold make an Idol of his wife.

Last of al you like not that the married persons shoulde be enioyned to receiue the Cōmunion. Truly I maruell what you meane, so wickedly to re∣uile so godly, and so holy a lawe. Well, I will onely set downe Master Bucers iudgemente of this thing also in the booke before of me recited: his wordes be these,

Est & illud admodum pie ordinatum, vt noui coninges vna quo{que} de mensa Domini communicent, nam non nisi in Chri∣sto Domino debent christiani inter se matrimonio iungi. That is also godly ordeyned, that the newe married folkes should receiue the Communion, for Christians ought not to be ioyned by matrimonie, but in Christ the Lorde.

Other pettie things (you say) out of the boke, which you call in the margent abuses accidentall, as women to come bareheaded, bagpipes, fidlers, comming in at the greate dore. &c. you will not speake of: Truly neither will I speake of them, bycause being out of that booke and meare trifles, they are not within my compasse. But in the meane time, this is a sore reason: The ring is vsed in matrimonie, the man saith to his wife, with my body I thee worship, the newe married persons receiue the Communion togither: therefore you will not sub∣scribe to the booke of common prayers. But this argumēt cannot be aunswered: women come to the Churche bareheaded, with bagpipes and fidlers, at the great dore of the Churche, and these things bee not in the booke, therefore you will not subscribe to the booke.