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.

If I may work that which (you say I go about, I trust it shall be nothing that dero∣gateth

either frō the glory of God, the honor of the Prince, the peace of the church, the cōmendation of the vniuersitie, or the encrease of godlinesse, & learning. I thank god I neither haue gone about any thing, nor intende to do, whereof I am either ashamed* 1.1 or afrayde to make mine accompt. But who séeth not your greefe? In déede I may not suffer those with whom I haue to do, to disquiet y^e Uniuersitie or Colledge with false doctrine and schismaticall opinions: I may not suffer them openly to breake & contemne those lawes & statutes which they are sworne to obserue, and I to execute: I may not suffer any man against the expresse woordes of his othe, against all hone∣stie and conscience to liue vnder me, least I be partaker of his periurie: these be the things that I haue done, and these be the thinges that I intende to do: whereby as hi∣therto I haue kepte the place where I am, in some quiet and good order, so do I trust to continue it, both to the glorie of God, the honour of the Prince, the great encrease of learning, the edifying of Christes Churche, and the commendation both of the Col∣ledge and the whole Uniuersitie.

And howsoeuer you haue by woorde and writing sought to deface both me and* 1.2 the Colledge: yea the whole vniuersitie for my sake (cōtrary to the expresse woordes of your othe, as I sayde in the beginning) yet are you in act and déede confuted, though I should not speake one woorde: for contrary to your expectatiō and practise of your instruments, and earnest desire of al that be factious, the Colledge was neuer in bet∣ter quietnesse, neuer replenished with more towarde scholers, neuer fuller of stu∣dents of all degrées (I speake it to Gods glory & to deliuer it frō your slaunders) than it is at this presente. A great occasion of all these blissinges of God (as instruments and meanes) is the grauitie, the honestie, the wisedome, the learning, the discrete go∣uernment of those, whom you call non residentes: whom not I but the noble founders statutes, ratified by the Quéenes Maiesties authoritie, and allowed of by the wysest of the realme, for moste iuste consideration, euen for the better gouernment of the Colledge, beyng otherwise full of youth, haue licensed (beyng in the number of the twelue preachers chosen according to statute) to continue in theyr felowships with one liuing besides, to a certayne valewe. If there were the like prouision in other places, and the same furnished with such kinde of men, the state of diuers Colledges in Cambridge, would not be so tumultuous, as it is.

Touching the parties themselues, agaynst whom you so bitterly whette your* 1.3 tongue, vpon the same causes and quarrels you do agaynst me, this I will speake vnfeynedly, as I shall answere before God and the worlde: they are sober, honest, wyse, quiet men, faythfull and learned preachers, and that tyme of absence which is giuen vnto them by statute, they do carefully bestowe in their cures, and other pla∣ces where there is néede, according to their duetie and conscience, except the necessa∣rie gouernment of the Colledge, and publike vtilitie do constrayne them to the con∣trarie. The worste of them and he that is moste negligent, dothe more good in the Churche and common wealth, than you do, or any of your adherentes. I will not speake all that I might iustly, least I shoulde seeme to flatter, and in parte to com∣mende my selfe: but this is the summe, none of vs refuse triall, eyther of lyfe, go∣uernment, learning, liuing, or what soeuer is to be requyred in the ministers of God, and dutifull subiectes towardes theyr Prince.

It is an egregious slaunder when you say, they be pernicious examples of riotous feastinges, &c. I know the contrary: and thinke not you, but God will take due pu∣nishment of this your notorious malice, vttered vpon priuate quarrell, as it is well knowne to al this societie. In déede they loue one an other, agree among themselues, obey lawes, kéepe order, labour to suppresse Schismes, and this is that, that whet∣teth your tongue, and the tongues of other disordered persons agaynst them. I could requite all these your harde speaches, if I were disposed to deale so maliciously: But I will temper my selfe, desiring God not to impute these things vnto you: the Rea∣der I shall desire eyther to iudge the beste, or to suspende his iudgement vntill he haue the triall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hotte and 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣ter 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  The colledge deliuered from the slan∣derous Re∣plie.
• * 1.3

  The fello〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 defended a∣gaynst the poysoned tongue.