The defense of the aunsvvere to the Admonition against the replie of T.C. By Iohn VVhitgift Doctor of Diuinitie. In the beginning are added these. 4. tables. 1 Of dangerous doctrines in the replie. 2 Of falsifications and vntruthes. 3 Of matters handled at large. 4 A table generall.

Chap. 2. the. 5. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 50. Sect. 4.

And in the (*) 1.1 seconde tome of the Councels, Damasus in his fourth Epistle likeneth those that set ouer their charges vnto other, vnto harlots, which assone as they haue brought foorth their children, by and by giue them to be nourished of others, to the intent that they might the sooner ful∣fill their inordinate lustes.

Io. Whitgifte.

You are deceyued: it is in the first tome of Councels, and therefore the more like it is, that you take the former Councel to be the first Councel of Nice: But such dealing is vsuall with you: if you had ment playnely, you would haue sayd, the seconde Coun∣cell of Nice, and not simply the Councell of Nice, whiche argueth either that you were deceyued your selfe, or else sought to deceyue others.

This place of Damasus is nothing at all to your purpose, which you might easi∣ly* 1.2 haue perceyued, if you had red that Epistle. For he onely there speaketh agaynst suche as were called Chorepiscopi, who were in degrée inferiour to Bishops, and yet did they despise to be counted no better than Priests. There were certayne Bishops in Damasus time, that gaue them selues wholly to idlenesse and pleasure, and cōmit∣ted their office to suche, as were called Chorepiscopi, as it is euident in that Epistle: neyther dothe he meane any other charge than consecrating of Priests, Deacons, and virgins, imposition of hands, blessings, erecting of aulters, dedicating of Churches, and suche like, whiche were taken properly to perteyne to the Bishop, and yet not∣withstanding was by some Bishops passed ouer to such Chorepiscopi. This negligence of bishops in such matters Damasus cōdēneth, togither with y^e office of Chorepiscopus.

And this is the whole drifte of Damasus in that Epistle, as it is most euident. And therefore sayth Leo (as Gratian reporteth) Dist. 68. Hi (meaning chorepiscopi) propter* 1.3 insolentiam suam, qua officia episcoporum sibi vsurpant, ab ecclesia prohibiti sunt: These men for their insolencie, wherby they vsurpe the offices of Bishops, are excluded from the Church. So that héere is not one worde in this whole Epistle agaynst Curates, and suche as* 1.4 are lefte to supplie the Pastors absence. Moreouer you your selfe in the beginning of this page confesse, that a man béeing absent may leaue his Deputie in his place. But yet heere you haue forgotten your purpose, that is, to proue that one man may not haue moe benefices: in whiche cause also it appeareth that you are destitute of proofes, béeing compelled to vse onely corrupt authorities?

Notes

• (*) 1.1

  An ouersight, for it is in the first Tome.
• * 1.2

  Damasus al∣leaged to a wrong pur∣pose.
• * 1.3

  Distinct. 68.
• * 1.4

  Pag. 50. lin. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉▪