A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

And that this election continued in the church / until within a three hundred years / at what time there was more then Egyptiacall / and palpable darkness over the face of the whole earth / it may appear in a Treatise of Flaccus Illir•cus / which he calleth an addition unto his book that he entitleth the Catalogue of the witnesses of truth / of whom I confess my self to have been much holpen in this matter of the choice of the church touching the ministers: especially in the Emperors Edicts which are before cited. For lacking opportunities divers ways / I was contented somewhat to use the collection to my commodity / for the more speedy furtherance / and better proceeding in other matters / which I will leave of / because they may be there red of those that be learned / whom I will also refer to the six and seven books of Eusebius / where both the forms of the elections in those times are described / & where / besides that the customs of the peoples choice is set forth / there are examples of the election of the people and clergy / which were confirmed by the christian Magistrate / namely in the Bishop of Constantinople. And these may suffice for the other that have not that commodity of books / nor ability / nor skill to read them / being in a strange tongue / to know / that besides the institution of God in his word / this manner of election did continue so long / as there was any light of the knowledge of God / in the church of God. I will add only one place / which if it be more bitter then the rest / and cut the quick more near / you shall not be angry with me / but first with those that were the authors of it / and then with him that wrote it.

And that thys election continued in the churche / vntill within a three hundred yeares / at what time there was more then Egyptiacall / and palpable darcknesse ouer the face of the whole earth / it may appeare in a Treatise of Flaccus Illir•cus / whiche he calleth an addition vnto hys booke that he entituleth the Catalogue of the witnesses of truthe / of whome I confesse my selfe to haue bene muche holpen in thys matter of the choyse of the church touching the ministers: especially in the Emperoures Edictes which are before cited. For lacking opportunities diuers wayes / I was contented somewhat to vse the collection to my commoditie / for the more speedie furtheraunce / and better proceeding in other matters / which I will leaue of / because they may be there red of those that be learned / whome I will also referre to the sixe and seuen bookes of Eusebius / wher both the formes of the electiōs in those tymes are described / & wher / besides that the customes of the peoples choise is set forth / there are examples of the election of the people and cleargie / which were confirmed by the christian Magistrate / namely in the Byshop of Constantinople. And these may suffice for the other that haue not that commoditie of bookes / nor habilitie / nor skill to reade them / being in a straunge tongue / to knowe / that besides the institution of God in his worde / thys manner of election dyd continue so long / as there was any light of the knowledge of God / in the churche of God. I will adde only one place / which if it be more bitter then the rest / and cutte the quicke more neare / you shall not bee angry with me / but first with those that were the authors of it / and then wyth him that wrote it.