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…

The third reason is / that they which consent in wearing the surplices / consent also in all other points of doctrine / and they that do not wear it / do not consent / not so much as amongst them selves. If this consent in the points of religion be in the surplice / cope. &c. tell us I beseech you / whether in the matter / or in y• form / or in what hid and unknown quality standeth it? if it be in that the ministers use all one apparel / then it is marvel that this being so strong a bond to hold them together in godly unity / that it was never commanded of Christ / nor practised of prophets or apostles / never of no other reformed churches. I had thought wholly / that those things which the lord appointeth to maintain & keep unity with / & especially the holy sacraments of baptism / & of the lords supper / had ben strong enough to have first of all knit us unto the lord / & therefore also to his doctrine / & then one of us to an other / & that the dissenting in such a ceremony as a surplice. &c. neither should nor could in those that pertain unto God / break the unity of the spirit / which is bound with the bond of truth. And although there be which like not this apparel / that think otherwise then either their brethren / or then in deed they ought to do / yet a man may find greater dissent amongst those / which are united in surplice & cope. &c. then there is / amongst those which wear them not / either with them selves / or with them that wear them. For how many there are that wear surplices / which would be gladder to say a mass / than to hear a sermon / let all the world judge. And of those y• do wear this apparel / & be otherwise well minded to the gospel / are there not which will wear the surplice / & not the cap: other ye will wear both cap & surplice / but not the tippet / & yet a third sort / ye will wear surplice / cap / & tippet / but not the cope. It hath ben the manner always of wise & learned men / to esteem of things by the causes / & not by the event / & that especially in matters of religion / for if they should be esteemed of the event / who is there which will not condemn the Israelites battle against Aye / & afterward against ¹the Beniamites? which notwithstanding / the cause which was Gods wist / and Gods commandment justifieth.

The third reason is / yt they which consent in wearing the surplices / consent also in all other poynts of doctrine / and they that do not weare it / do not consent / not so much as amongst them selues. If this consent in the poynts of religion be in the surplice / cope. &c. tel vs I beseche you / whether in the matter / or in y form / or in what hid and vnknowne quality stādeth it? if it be in that the ministers vse all one apparell / then it is maruell that this being so strong a bond to holde them togither in godly vnitie / that it was neuer commaūded of Christ / nor practised of prophets or apostles / neuer of no other reformed churches. I had thought wholy / that those things which the lord appoynteth to maintaine & kepe vnitie with / & especially the holy sacramēts of baptisme / & of the lords supper / had ben strong enough to haue first of all knit vs vnto the lord / & therfore also to his doctrine / & then one of vs to an other / & that the dissenting in such a ceremony as a surplice. &c. neither should nor could in those that pertaine vnto God / breake the vnitie of the spirit / whych is boūd wyth the bond of truth. And although there be whych like not this apparell / that thinke otherwise then either their brethren / or then in dede they ought to do / yet a man may finde greater dissent amongst those / whych are vnited in surplice & cope. &c. then there is / amongst those which weare them not / either wt them selues / or wt them that weare them. For how many there are that weare surplices / which would be gladder to say a masse / than to heare a sermon / let all ye world iudge. And of those y do weare this apparel / & be otherwise wel minded to ye gospel / are ther not which wil wear ye surplis / & not ye cap: other ye wil weare both cap & surplice / but not the tippet / & yet a third sort / ye wil weare surplice / cap / & tippet / but not the cope. It hath ben the maner alwayes of wise & learned men / to esteme of things by the causes / & not by the euent / & that especially in matters of religion / for if they shuld be estemed of the euent / who is there which wil not condemne the Israelites battell against Aye / & afterward against