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 least peradventure you should have this hole to hide your self in / saying that it might be procured / that in every church or parish through out either the province or diocese / the consent of the people might be asked / and they tarry in their places where they dwell / Cyprian in the next epistle / doth put the matter out of all question / saying that the priest (whom he after calleth bishop) is chosen in the presence of the people / & in the eyes of all / so that Cyprian's bishop / whom you will needs have an archbishop / had neither province nor diocese / as we call a diocese / but only a church or congregation / such as the ministers and pastors with us / which are appointed unto several towns. Which may further appear / in that Cyprian sayeth / that out of one province there were. 90. bishops / which condemned Privatus. Now / if there were. 90. bishops in one province which met / and yet not all that were in that province (as may appear out of the same Epistle) all men do understand that the scope that Cyprian's bishop or archbishop (as you will have him) had / was no such thing as a diocese or a province. I could bring infinite testimonies out of Cyprian / to prove that the bishop in his time / was nothing else but S. Pauls bishop / that is / one that had cure and charge of one flock / which was so placed as it might be taught of him / and overseen by him / and governed by him / and of whom in matters pertaining to God / it might depend.

And least peraduenture you shoulde haue thys hole to hide your selfe in / saying that it might be procured / that in euery church or parishe through out eyther the prouince or diocese / the consent of the people might be asked / and they tary in their places where they dwel / Cyprian in the next epistle / doth put the matter out of all question / saying that the priest (whome he after calleth byshop) is chosen in the presence of the people / & in the eyes of all / so that Cyprians byshop / whome you will needes haue an archbyshop / had neither prouince nor diocese / as we call a diocese / but only a church or congregation / suche as the ministers and pastors wyth vs / whych are appoynted vnto seuerall townes. Which may further appeare / in that Cyprian sayeth / that out of one prouince there were. 90. bishops / whych condemned Priuatus. Nowe / if there were. 90. byshops in one prouince whych met / and yet not all that were in that prouince (as may appeare out of the same Epistle) all men do vnderstand that the scope that Cyprians byshop or archbyshop (as you will haue him) had / was no suche thing as a diocese or a prouince. I coulde bring infinite testimonies out of Cyprian / to proue that the byshop in his time / was nothing else but S. Paules byshop / that is / one that had cure and charge of one flocke / whych was so placed as it might be taught of hym / and ouerseene by him / and gouerned by hym / and of whom in matters pertaining to God / it myght depend.