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. 2. Diuision.

T. C. Page. 94. Sect. 5.

In the Councel of Antioche it appeareth that the Bishop of the Metropolitane seat, called (a) 1.1 * 1.2 Synodes, & propounded the matters which were to be handled, &c. The archbishop doth not 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ew call Synodes, but the Prince doth, forasmuche as there is no conuocation without a parliament, and he dothe not propounde the matters, and gather the voyces, but an other chosen, whiche is called prolocutor: therefore in the respecte that an Archbishop, and Metropolitane was tyrst or∣deyned, we haue no neede of an Archebishop or Metropolitane. Agayne, an other cause also ap∣peareth there (b) 1.3 whiche was to see that the Bishops kepte them selues within their owne di〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 cesse, and brake not into an others Diocesse, but fyrste this maye be doone withoute an Arche∣bishoppe, and then it is not doone of the Archebishop himselfe, giuing licences vnto the wande∣ring ministers to goe thoroughout not so fewe as a dosen diocesse: therefore the office of an arch∣bishop is not necessarie in this respecte, and if it were, yet it muste be other than it is nowe.

Io. Whitgifte.

There is no Councell more flatte agaynst you, than is that Councell of An∣tioche, nor any Canon that ouerthroweth your assertion more directely than that ninth Canon, the woordes whereof I haue repeated before, but youre vntrue alle∣gation in a manner compelleth me to repeate them agayne, that the Reader may see before his eyes, what truthe there is in your doings. And although it do per∣teyne to the office of the Metropolitane or Archebishoppe to call Synodes, yet is there not one woorde thereof in this Cannon, nor yet of propounding any matters in Synodes, or of seyng Bishoppes keepe themselues within theyr owne diocesse, as you doe here auouche without all truthe: and notwithstanding as I sayde before, those things doe perteine to the office of the Archebishoppe: yet if they were also com∣prehended in that Canon, it were rather a confirmation of that office, than o∣therwyse.

The contentes of that Canon be onely these: firste it sayeth, that it behoueth the Bishoppes of euery countrey or prouince to knowe theyr Metropolitane Bishoppe to haue the care and ouersighte, or gouernment ouer the whole Prouince. By the whiche woordes, the authoritie and name of a Metropolitane or Archebishoppe is moste pl〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ynely confirmed, and proued to be a permanent off〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ce: Secondly, this Canon willeth all those that haue any businesse to doe, to resorte to the Metropolitane citie. Whereby also is giuen to the Metropolitane Bishop greate preheminence: and therefore it followeth immediatly, that he shoulde excell all the reste in honour: and that the other Bishoppes shoulde doe nothing of importance without him: according to the olde rule made by their forefathers, but onely those thyngs whiche perteyne to theyr owne diocesse: and those places and possessions that perteine vnto the same. In whiche wordes who séeth not what preheminence is giuen to the Metropolitane ouer all the Bishoppes in hys Prouince: and what iurisdiction to the Bishop in his owne diocesse and places perteyning vnto it? where also it is to be noted that the Coun∣cell sayeth, secundiòn antiquam à patribus nostris regulam constitutam: according to the auncient rule appointed of oure forefathers. Whyche argueth a greate antiquitie of this office. Then it followeth: for euery Bishop hath authoritie ouer his owne Dio∣cesse, to rule and gouerne it, iuxta reuerentiam singulis competentem, accordyng to the reue∣rence due vnto euerie one of them, and that he hathe especiall care of that whole region that i〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 subiecte to his Citie, so that he maye ordeyne Priestes and Deaeons, & singulasuo iuditio comprehendat. But he may not attempt any other thyng without the Metropoli∣tane Bishop, nor the Metropolitane do any thing without the counsel of the other Priests.

What can bée more playne, eyther for the authoritie of the Arche bishoppe, or iurisdiction of the Bishop? and what one worde of this Canon haue you truely al∣leadged? and yet it is quoted in your margent.

But if we imagine those thinges to be true, whiche you saye, howe will you conclude? forsooth, that the Metropolitane did then call Synodes, and propounded the matters, but nowe he dothe not call Synodes, and propounde the matters: Therefore there is nowe no neede of a Metropolitane. Firste it is vntrue, that Metropolita∣nes did then call eyther all Synodes, or that they called them of theyr owne au∣thoritie without the consente of the Prince, and Ciuill Magistrate: whiche thing is euident when the Magistrates were christened.

The Councell of Nice was summoned by the commaundement of Constantine* 1.4 the Emperoure, Eusebius de vita Constanti. lib. 3. Constantius called the Councell whyche was in Sardica ciuitate. The Bishoppes in the Councell of Constanti. confesse, that they came together by the Emperoures wrytte. Ambrose in the Councell of Aquileia, speaking of him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and of other Byshoppes sayeth, that they were assembled oute at Aquileia, by the commaundemente of the Empe∣roure: The same dothe Hierome testifye concernyng a Councell holden at Rome, In Epita. Pauli. Pope Iulio Epist. 9. ad Theodos. desyreth the Emperoure, that by his authoritie there myghte be a Councell in Italye. Zozomen. libr. 6. cap. 7.

sheweth howe certayne Catholyke Bishoppes intreated the Emperoure, that they myght haue leaue to gather together for the redressing of certaine erroures. But 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉hat shall I neede to labour in a matter moste manifest? No man can be igno∣rant that readeth Ecclesiasticall stories, but that the Emperoures authoritie was r〈1 line〉〈1 line〉quired in summoning Councels and Synodes, not only generall, but prouinciall also. Secondly, it is vntrue that the Metropolitane in this Churche dothe not call Synodes, or propoundeth not the matters in them. &c. For he dothe bothe, althoughe he calleth no Prouinciall Synode, withoute the commaund〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ment of the Prince, no more than other Metropolitanes haue 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉oone in the beste tyme of the Churche vn∣der christ〈1 line〉〈1 line〉an Princes. Laste of all, thoughe all thys were true, that is 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉éere vn∣truely affirmed, yet were the office of an Archebishoppe necessarie, for it dothe not onely consiste in calling Synodes, but in sundrye thinges besyde, as I haue shewed before, and this councell of Antioche manyfestly declareth. And surely yf you would proue any thyng hereof directely, it s〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ould bée thys, that eyth〈1 line〉〈1 line〉r the Archebishoppe dothe not exercyse that iurisdiction whyche he oughte to doe, or else can not doe that whiche perteyneth to his office, and so shoulde you speake for the amendement of the Archbishops iurisdiction.

Agayne, you saye an other cause appeareth there, whyche was to see that the Bishops kepte themselues within theyr owne diocesse. &c. but fyrst thys may be doone without an Arch∣bishoppe. &c. I tell you there is no suche thyng in that nynthe Canon: I say fur∣ther, that it maye beste an〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 mos〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e orderly bée doone by an Archebis〈1 line〉〈1 line〉oppe. Thirdely, I answere as before, that it is but one parte of his office. Fourthely, I saye vnto you, that this is a symple Argumente, the Archebishoppe dothe not kéepe suche olde Canons as bée not in vse in thys Churche, therefore there is no neede of his office. Laste of all, you oughte to knowe, that th〈1 line〉〈1 line〉se whom〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 y〈1 line〉〈1 line〉u call wandering ministers, be fai〈1 line〉〈1 line〉hefull Preachers a number of them: And suche as laboure diligentely in preachyng the woorde, and haue not a little pro∣fyted the flocke of Chryste, so that youre conclusion is not woor〈1 line〉〈1 line〉h a strawe.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  An vnt〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there is no suche thing in that much cano〈1 line〉〈1 line〉▪
• * 1.2

  Chap. 9.
• (b) 1.3

  An 〈◊〉〈◊〉 truthe.
• * 1.4

  Co〈1 line〉〈1 line〉cels sum moned by Princes. Euse de vita Constan lib. 3.