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. 42. Diuision.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 65. Sect. 5.

Whether that the name of Prelate of the Garter, Earle, Coūtie Palatine, Honor, high commissioner, Iustice of peace and Quorum,* 1.1 being necessary offices in this common weale, partly for the honour of the Prince and Realme but especially for good gouernment of all estates and degrees of persons, be Antichristian, let those consider to whom God hath committed the sworde of gouernment: such insolent audacitie against states and lawfull regiment, is rather to be correc∣ted with due punishment, than confuted by argument.

T. C. Page. 74. Sect. 6. 7. 8.

As for Prelate of the Garter, if it be a needefull office, there are inowe to execute it besydes the Ministers, which for as much as they be appointed to watche ouer the soules of men, purcha∣sed with the bloude of Christ, all men vnderstand that it is not meete that they shoulde attend vpon the bodie, muche lesse vpon the legge, and least of al vpon the Garter. It is not vnlawfull for Prin∣ces to haue Ministers of their honor, but also it is not lawfull to take those that God hath appoyn∣ted for another ende, to vse to such purposes.

Thou seest here good reader that M. Doctor kepeth his olde wont, of (*) 1.2 manifest peruerting of the wordes and meanyng of the authors of the Admonition. For whereas they saye that the name of Erle, Countie Palatine, Iustice of peace and Quorum, Commissioner, are Antichristian, when they are giuen to the ministers of the Churche, whose calling wil not agree with such titles, he concludeth simply, that they saye they be altogether vnlawfull, and simply antichristian, as if I should reason, that it is not meete that the Queenes Maiestie should preache or minister the Sa∣cramentes, therefore it is not meete that there shoulde be any preachyng or Ministring of the Sa∣cramentes.

Nowe letting passe all your hard wordes and vnbrotherly speaches, with your vncharitable prognostications, and colde prophesies, I will come to examine, whether you haue any better hap in prouing the office, than you haue had in prouing the name.

Io. Whitgifte.

I sée no cause why he that is prelate of the garter, maye not also sufficiently discharge his duetie in watching ouer the soule, for I thinke the garter dothe not re∣quire such continuall or great attendance. Those that are appointed to watche ouer y^e soule are not exempted from bodily seruice to their Prince, excepte you will take from the Prince, not onely authoritie in Ecclesiasticall matters, as you haue done, but ouer Ecclesiasticall persons also, as by this and such other lyke assertions you séeme to doe▪

But here of more in place. I peruert not the wordes of the Admonition, as appeareth by their manifest wordes: what their meaning is God knoweth. But how little autho∣ritie these offices should haue, if your plat forme were framed, shall be declared when I come to your seigniorie: neyther the names nor offices that come from a Christian Prince, that detesteth Antichrist, can be called Antichristian, vpon whom soeuer they be bestowed. Wherevnto this your example tendeth of the Quéenes Maiestie, wise men may easily coniecture. It smelleth of that Papisticall cauillation, Scilicet that we giue to hir Maiestie authoritie to preach and to administer the sacramentes, bycause we acknowledge hir lawfull authoritie in Ecclesiasticall causes.

I pray God my prognostications be not to true: the more I consider of your booke, the more I am driuen to suspect it. My hard speaches be within the bondes of modestie, but yours may better beséeme the order you talke of, then a man of your profession.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ciuill offices giuē to eccle∣siasticall per∣sons.
• (*) 1.2

  Vntruthe.