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.

Io. Whitgifte.

Here is much more labour spent than is necessarie. No man denyeth but that the Epistles attributed to Clement are Counterfeyte, neyther do I otherwise alledge him or Anacletus, or any such like, than both M. Caluine, M. Iewell, and many other learned men do, as it is euident in their writings. That testimonie whiche I vse is out of Polidore, and therefore haue I quoted both the booke and Chapter. Poli∣dore wryteth as other doe that intreate of such matters, and for as muche as he was learned, and of purpose gaue himselfe to the searching out of such things, his report is not lightly to be reiected. But (God be thanked) neyther the name nor the an∣thoritie of an Arfhbishop dependeth vpon these witnesses, neyther do I vse them as sure groundes, but as probable testimonies of the antiquitie of the name. You haue cited the Canons of the Apostles thrise at the least in this your booke, and Higinus likewise, and vsed them as proofes, and yet is there as great suspicion in the counterfeyting of them, as there is of this booke of Clements. I pray you therefore giue me that libertie in recyting Authours, that you take to your selfe, and that no man refuseth when they serue to his purpose. For I protest vnto you, that I haue as euil an opinion of many of them, and think as great corruption to be in them as any man doth, and that not only bicause I haue so red in other mens writings of them: but also for that I my self in reading of thē haue noted the same. But I am well assured

that Polidore ment that Clement which is supposed to be the first Bishop of Rome, how he was therein deceyued (béeing so learned a man) I leaue it to others to iudge.

It is not like that Polydore ment that Epistle, for hée knewe what difference there was betwixt an Epistle and a booke: neyther doth the length or the matter of that Epistle giue anie occasion that it shoulde so be called: wherefore it is like that Po∣lydore had it out of some booke attributed vnto Clement vnder that title, thoughe the same be not extant. For there be diuerse woorkes of auncient fathers, whiche bée not now ertant in print, and yet in some places to be had. But I will not stande longer in this matter. The wordes of Polydore be these. Sicut D. Clemens in suo Chri∣stianae religionis compendiario libello perhibet, &c.