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…

If therefore superiority & domination of one above the rest / have such force to keep men from schisms / when they be in the truth / it hath as great force to keep them together in error / and so besides that one is easier to be corrupted then many / this power of one bringeth as great incommodity in keeping them in error if they fall into it / as in the truth if they are in it. Moreover / if it be necessary for the keeping of unity in the church of England / that one archbishop should be primate over all / why is it not as meet / that for the keeping of the whole universal church / there should be one archbishop / or bishop over all / and the like necessity of the bishop over all christendom / as of the bishop of all England / unless peradventure it be more necessary / that there should be one bishop over the universal church / then over the church of England / for as much as it is more necessary that peace should be kept / and schisms be avoided in the universally church / then in the particular church of England.

If therfore superiority & domination of one aboue the rest / haue such force to keepe men from schismes / when they be in the truth / it hath as great force to kepe them togither in error / and so besides that one is easier to be corrupted then many / thys power of one bringeth as great incommodity in keping them in error if they fall into it / as in the truth if they are in it. Moreouer / if it be necessary for the keping of vnity in the church of England / that one archbyshop should be primate ouer all / why is it not as meete / that for the keping of the whole vniuersall church / there should be one archbyshop / or byshop ouer all / and the like necessity of the byshop ouer all christendome / as of the byshop of all England / vnles peraduenture it be more necessary / that there should be one byshop ouer the vniuersall church / then ouer the church of England / for as much as it is more necessary that peace should be kept / and schismes be auoyded in the vniuersali church / then in the particulare church of England.

If you say that the archbishop of England / hath his authority granted of the Prince / the Pope of Rome will say that Constantine or Phocas / which was Emperor of all christendom / did grant him his authority over all churches. But you will say that it is a lie / but the Pope will set as good a face / and make as great a show therein / as you do in divers points here. But admit it to be a lie (as in deed it is touching Constantine) yet I say further / that it may come to pass / & it hath ben / that there may be one Christian Cesar over all the realms which have churches. What if he then will give that authority to one over all / that one king granteth in his land / may any man accept and take at his hand such authority? and if it be not lawful for him to take that authority / tell me what fault you can find in him / which may not be found in them?