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.

All thys is but your owne sansies taken for principles and groundes. For fyrste it is vntrue that euery Minister muste of necessitie haue some seuerall* 1.1 charge, as I haue declared before. Secondly it is as vntrue, that a Deane hathe no seuerall charge or congregation, wherein to exercise his ministerie. For there is no Cathe∣drall Churche withoute a congregation and charge. The third that followeth, is buil∣ded of the same groundes that these two fyrste be, and may as well be spoken a∣gaynste the masterships of suche Colledges in the vniuersities, wherein any prea∣chers or ministers bée maynteyned. Whyche argueth that you meane the same to Colledges that you doe to Cathedrall Churches, and that you woulde haue ministers frée from subiection. Last of all, that whyche you say is most intel∣lerable, you speake withoute any tolerable reason: For Master Deane and hys Prebendaries do more good both in the Churche of Englande generally, and in

their seuerall Churches particularly, and take more paines in one moneth, than you and your companions (whereof some notwithstanding are contente with∣out doing any dutie at all, to enioy prebendes more than one) in one whole yeare. And if eyther Master Deane or the Prebendaries neglect their dueties, there be superiours and lawes to reforme them.

The place of Augustine proueth the name of a Deane: it proueth a College and societie, whereof he is Deane: it argueth a superioritie and gouernmente, for he saith they be called Decani, ideò quòd sint denis praepositi, Deanes, bycause they are set ouer tenne: it sheweth an office to care and prouide for them, and sée that they haue all thynges necessary: it declareth dayly exercise of praying and teaching: for he addeth thus. Conueniunt autem diei tempore extremo de suis quisque habitaculis, dum ad∣huc ieiuni sunt, ad audiendum illum patrem, & conueniunt ad singulos patres terna ad mini∣mum hominum milia: Nam etiam multò numerosiores sub vno agunt. They come togyther at night euery man from his lodging whilest yet they are fasting, to heare that father: and they* 1.2 come togyther to euery father, three thousand men at the least, for a greate meanie moe liue vnder one. &c.

Now sir if God of his singular goodnesse hathe to the greate and vnspeake∣able benefyte of his Churche, moued the harts of princes and men of wealth, so to indue suche places with possessions and reuenewes, that they hauing thynges necessary prouided for them, may bestow that tyme in studying, praying, prea∣ching, and other godly exercises, whiche these that Sainct Augustine speaketh of, did in labouring with their handes, is Master Deanes name or office euer the woorse? howsoeuer it pleaseth you to terme these companies, that Sainct Augu∣stine héere speaketh of: Yet were they Godly societies, and do very aptly set foorth the vtilitie, and the antiquitie of Churches and Colledges: the Deanes and Masters whereof, haue indéede the chiefe and speciall care of all externall things perteyning to them, whether it be landes, prouisions, or any thing else that is neces∣sary: And therefore the liker to Sainct Augustines Deane, and the place more aptly alledged to proue the antiquitie of this name and office. If Master Doctor should vse no more faith in reciting the Doctors than you do, I woulde he were whipped at the crosse in Cheape.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tractat. 4.
• * 1.2

  Aug. de mori∣bus ecclesiae.