Io. Whitgifte.
It will fall out I thinke, that your opinions now in question, tende in déede to* 1.1 confusion: respect neither tyme, place, nor persons: confounde degrées, bring such in contempt as be in authoritie: make the ignorant subiect loftie, & arrogant, take from Princes their due authoritie in Ecclesiasticall matters: when as present experience and the peace and quietnesse of this Church, since the beginning of the Quéenes Ma∣iesties reigne (vntill you and your companie began to broache these youre fantasies) declareth, that the doctrine mainteyned by those whome you counte as your aduersa∣ries, is most agréeable to order, preserueth peace, kéepeth euery man in his degrée and calling. And truly if the gouernment of the Churche nowe allowed by publike authoritie, be compared with your new deuised policie, the differēce of them both wil easily appere. For I pray you tel me, how many of you which haue bin permitted as* 1.2 preachers in seuerall places, haue consented in one kinde of gouernment, nay, which of you haue not troubled, not onely the Towne where you haue remained, but the whole Countrey reunde about also? so that vndoubtedly though you be not Anabap∣tists (as I hope you be not) yet doth this propertie of theirs most aptly agrée vnto you that whersoeuer you come, you make contention, and kindle the fire of discorde, take it as you list, experience doth teache it to be so,
Whether we confounde the Pastors office with the Deacons or no, otherwyse than it hath bene in the Apostles time, and primatiue Church: whether priuate men