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…

Now / that there was no authority of one bishop over an other / and that there was none such / as when controversies rose / took upon him the compounding of them / or any one to whom it appertained / to see the unity of the church kept / and to see that all other bishops / and the clergy / did their duty (as M. Doctor beareth us in hand) it may clearly be seen in divers places of Cyprian / and first of all in that sentence / which he spake in the council of Carthage, where he proceedeth further after this sort / that none of them did by any tyrannical fear / bind his fellows in office / or any fellow bishops / to any necessity of obedience / seeing that every bishop hath for his free liberty and power / his own ⟨p. 101⟩judgement or discretion / as one which can not be judged of an other / as he also him self / can not judge an other. But (saith he) we ought to tarry and wait for the judgement of our Lord Jesus Christ / which only / and alone / hath power to set us over his church / & to judge of our doing. And in the same Epistle whereout the first place is taken by M. Doctor / he saith that unto every one a portion of the flock is appointed / which every one must rule and govern / as he that shall render an account of his deed unto the Lord. And in an other place he ¹saith / we do not use any compulsion or violence over any / nor appoint no law to any / seeing that every one that is set over the church / hath in the government / the free disposition of his own will / whereof he shall give an account unto the Lord. And yet Cyprian was the bishop of the metropolitan or chief seat / and one whom for his learning and godliness / the rest no doubt had in great reverence / and gave great honour unto.

Nowe / that there was no authoritye of one byshop ouer an other / and that there was none suche / as when controuersies roase / tooke vppon hym the compounding of them / or any one to whome it appertained / to see the vnitye of the church kept / and to see that all other bishops / and the cleargy / did their duety (as M. Doctor beareth vs in hand) it may clearely be seene in diuers places of Cyprian / and first of all in that sentence / which he spake in the councel of Carthage, where he proceedeth further after this sort / that none of them did by any tirannicall feare / binde his felowes in office / or any fellow byshops / to any necessity of obedience / seeing that euery bishop hath for his free libertye and power / hys owne