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.

True it is, that in times past there was in euery citie, Collegium presbyterorum cui* 1.1 praeerat Episcopus, a Colledge of ministers ouer whom the Bishop bare rule, the which le∣rome calleth Senatum Ecclesiae, the Senate of the churche: and the same is now called a collegiate or Cathedrall churche. It is also euident that these Presbyteri, were all Priests, & that they with the Bishop had the deciding of al cōtrouersies in doctrine or ceremonies, & the directiō of diuers other matters in al those places that were vnder that citie, that is in all that shyre or Diocesse: & therfore sayeth M. Caluine (speaking* 1.2 of the primitiue church) Euery citie had a colledge of Seniors which were Pastors & Do∣ctors, for they all had the office of preaching to the people, of exhorting, and of correcting, the which office S. Paule doth commit to Bishops: and this is that Seigniorie, wherof the auncient writers speake so much, & which you vntruly & without consideration say to haue bene in euery parish, and to consist as well of other as of Priests, & Mi∣nisters of the worde, and although that kinde of gouernment, which these churches had, is transferred to the Ciuill Magistrate, to whom it is due, and to such as by him are appointed, yet is it not so cleane blotted out, as you would make vs beleeue. For* 1.3 the Bishop who was then, and is now the chiefe of that colledge or Church, keepeth his authoritie still, & may if he please call to gither those ministers or Priestes of the Cathedrall Church to consult of such things as are expedient, & in diuers p〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tes he can do nothing without them. Moreouer diuerse of the same churches, some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 office, and some appointed by election, are bounde to attende vpon prouinciall 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so oft as the Archbishop at the cōmaundement of the Prince doth call the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ame. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣wise they be places wherein are nourished for the most parte, the best, the wise〈1 line〉〈1 line〉, the learnedst men of the Clergie in the lande, whiche not onely, in the respect of their soundnesse in religiō, profoundnesse in learning, diligēce in preaching, but wisedome also, experience, & dexteritie in gouerning, are not onely an ornament to the realme, profitable to the Churche, honour to the Prince: but also a stay from barbarisme, a bridle to sectes & heresies, & a bulwarke agaynst confusion. Wherefore as the vse of* 1.4 them then, for those times & states was good and godly: so is the vse of them now in this age and state no lesse conuenient, godly, and necessarie, whiche you nor all your fautors shall euer be able to disproue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In euery citie a colledge of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  Institut. cap. 8. Sect. 52.
• * 1.3

  Our Cathe∣dral churches not much dif∣fering from those of aun∣cient time.
• * 1.4

  The hse of Cathedrall churches as necessarie now as afore 〈◊〉〈◊〉.