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. 5. the. 20. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 97. Sect. 4.

And here I will note another cause which brought in this pompe, and princely estate of By∣shops, wherein although I will say more in a worde for the pompous estate, than M. doctour hath done in all his treatise: yet I will shewe that although it were more tollerable at the fyrst, nowe it is by no meanes to be borne wyth. * 1.1 In the Ecclesiasticall Storie we reade that the inscriptions of diuers Epistles sent vnto Byshops were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. * 1.2 We reade also of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 house of salutations, which Ambrose Bishop of Millayn had. As for the tytle of (moste honourable Lordes) it was not so great, nor so stately, as the name of a Lorde or knight in oure Countrey, for all those that knowe the maner of the speach of the Grecians doe well vnderstande, howe they vsed to call euerie one of any meane countenance in the common wealth where he lyued 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is Lorde, so we see also the Euangelists turne Rabbi which signifyeth master by the Gre〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ke worde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Lorde, as lykewyse in Fraunce they call euery one that is a Gentleman, or hath any honest place Monseur, and so they wyll say also, sauing your honour. Nowe we know this worde (Lorde) in our Countrey is vsed otherwise, to note some great personage, eyther by reason of birth, or by reason of some high dignitie in the common wealth, which he occupieth, and therefore those tytles although they were somewhat excessiue, yet were they nothing so swelling and stately as ours are.

Io. Whitgifte.

The wise man sayth, Let not thine owne mouth prayse thee: but you for lacke of* 1.3 good neighbours, or else for tootoo much selfe loue, oftentymes forget this lesson, as in this place.

Howsoeuer the Grecians vsed to call euery one of any meane countenance in the common* 1.4 wealth, where he lyued 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Lorde, yet did they not vse to call him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 most honourable Lorde, for that tytle was onely giuen to such as were of great dignitie and authoritie: as it is in the place of Theodorete (by you quoted) giuen to Bishops: and therefore you haue made an obiection, which you cannot answere. This worde Lorde, doth signifie preheminence and superioritie, and hauing this title (most honou∣rable,) ioyned with it, it cannot but signifie some greate state and degrée of au∣thoritie.

The same I answere to that, which followeth. And yet Rabbi was a name gy∣uen primarijs hominibus, & honore aliquo praeditis: to the chiefe men, and those, which were* 1.5 indued with some honour: and in that the Euangelistes do translate it Lorde, it is ma∣nifest that this name, Lorde, signified then a degrée of superioritie: but hauing (as I sayde) this tytle (most honourable) added vnto it, as it is in that place of Theodorete, it cannot but signifie some especiall preheminence, and therefore equiualent with the titles now vsed. Master Caluine vpon the. 20. of Iohn. verse. 16, sayth that (Rabboni)* 1.6 which is there interpreted (master) is nomen non modò 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉onorificum: not onely an honou∣ble name, but also, quod professionem continet obedientiae, such as conteyneth a profession of obedience.

But doe the tytles of honour, and degrée giuen vnto Bishops so much trouble your hawtie stomacke? Surely you are not then of that spirit, that the olde auncient* 1.7 fathers were, who disdeyned not to call Bishoppes by as honourable tytles as wée

doe: looke in Atha. his. 2. Apol you shall there find the Synode gathered at Ierusalem, writing to the Priestes of Alexand call Athanasius sundrie tymes Dominum, not as by* 1.8 a common tytle, but a tytle of dignitie, quum vobis restituet pastorem vestrum & dominum comministrum nostrum Ath〈1 line〉〈1 line〉nasium: VVhen he shall restore vnto you your Pastor and Lorde our fellow minister Athanasius. In the same Apol. Bishops are called domini preciosissimi, most excellent or worthie Lordes. And it is euident in the same booke, that there was no other tytle gyuen to the Emperoure himselfe, for there hée is onely called (Lorde) and so were other of his Nobles in like maner. So that in those dayes it was not grudged at, to giue vnto Bishoppes the same ty〈1 line〉〈1 line〉les of honour, that was giuen to the Emperour & other Nobles. The name of (most reuerend) is as much as the name of most honourable, and yet was that name also giuen vnto Bishops in A∣thanasius tyme, as appeareth in the same booke in sundrie places. For Athanasius him selfe is called by his Priestes and Deacons reuerendissimus Episcopus.

Eusebius Nicomed. wryting to Paulinus Bishop of Tyrus vseth this style, Do∣mino meo Paulino, &c. To my Lorde Paulinus to. 1. con. But what shoulde I labour to proue the antiquitie of such tytles, which cannot be vnknowne to such as be learned? I had more neede to declayme agaynst the pryde and hautinesse of such, as do disdaine to vse them: but I will not spende paper in wordes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Theo. li. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 cap. 8.
• * 1.2

  Li. eodem cap. 18.
• * 1.3

  Pro. 27.
• * 1.4

  The tytle of most honou∣rable Lorde.
• * 1.5

  Rabbi.
• * 1.6

  Caluine.
• * 1.7

  Uerie honou∣rable titles gi∣uē to bishops.
• * 1.8

  Atban. Apol 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉