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 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?

If you say that the archbyshop of England / hath hys authority graunted of the Prince / the Pope of Rome will say that Constantine or Phocas / whych was Emperor of all christendome / did graunt him hys authority ouer 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 shew therin / as you do in diuers poynts here. But admit it to be a lie (as in dede it is touching Constantine) yet I say further / that it may come to passe / & it hath ben / that there may be one Christian Cesar ouer all the realmes whych haue churches. What if he then will geue that authority to one ouer all / that one king graunteth in hys land / may any man accept and take at hys hand such authority? and if it be not lawful for him to take that authority / tel me what fault you can finde in him / whych may not be found in them?

It will be said that no one is able to do the office of a bishop / unto all the whole church / neither is there any one able to do the office of a bishop to the whole church of England. For when those which have ben most excellent in knowledge ⟨p. 107⟩and wisdom / and most ready and quick / in doing and dispatching / matters / being always present / have found enough to do to rule and govern one several congregation: what is he which (absent) is able to discharge his duty toward so many thousand churches? And if you take exception / that although they be absent / yet they may do by under ministers / as by Archdeacons / Chancellors / Officials / Commissaries / and such other kind of people / what do you else say / then the Pope / which sayeth / that by his Cardinals / and archbishops / and Legates / and other such like / he doeth all things? For with their hands he ruleth all / and by their feet he is present every where / and with their eyes he seeth what is done in all places. Let them take heed therefore / least if they have a common defence with the Pope / that they be not also joined nearer with him in the cause / then peradventure they be aware of. Truly it is against my will / that I am constrained to make such comparisons / not that I think there is so great diversity between the Popedom and the archbishopric / but because there being great resemblance between them / I mean / having regard to the bare functions / without respecting the doctrine good or bad which they uphold / that I say there being great resemblance between them: there is yet as I am persuaded / great difference between the parsons that execute them. The which good opinion conceived of them / I we most humbly beseech them by the glory of God / by the liberty of the church purchased by the precious blood of our saviour Christ / and by their own salvation / that they would not deceive / by retaining so hard / such excessive and unjust dominion over the church of the living God.