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 I have showed how little those things which M. doctor bringeth / make for proof of that wherefore he allegeth them: I will for the better understanding of the reader / set down what were the causes why the archbishops were first ordained / and what were their prerogatives / and preeminences before other bishops / and the estate also of the old bishops / which lived in those times / wherein although there were great corruptions / yet the church was in some tolerable estate / to the intent it may appear / partly how little need we have of them now / and partly also how great difference there is between ours and them. Of the names of Metropolitan / it hath been spoken / how that he should not be called the chief of priests / or the high priest / or bishop of bishops: now I will set down his office and power which he had / more then the bishops.

Now I haue shewed how little those things whych M. doctor bringeth / make for proufe of that wherfore he alledgeth them: I will for the better vnderstanding of the reader / set downe what were ye causes why the archbishops were first ordained / and what were their prerogatiues / and preheminēces before other byshops / and the estate also of the old byshops / whych liued in those times / wherin althoughe there were great corruptions / yet the church was in some tollerable estate / to the entent it may appeare / partly how little nede we haue of them now / and partly also howe greate difference there is betweene oures and them. Of the names of Metropolitane / it hath bene spoken / howe that he shoulde not be called the cheefe of priests / or the high priest / or byshop of byshops: nowe I will sette downe hys office and power whych he had / more then the byshops.

In the council of Antioch it appeareth / that the bishop of the metropolitan ⟨p. 122⟩¹seat / called Synods / & propounded the matters which were to be handled. &c. the archbishop doth not now call Synods / but the Prince doth / for as much as there is no convocation without a parliament / & he doth not propound the matters / and gather the voices / but an other chosen / which is called prolocutor / therefore in the respect that an archb. & metropolitan was first ordained / we have no need of an archb. or metropolitan. Again / an other cause also appeareth there / which was to see that the bishops kept them selves within their own dioceses / and brake not into an others diocese. But first this may be done without an archbishop / and then it is not done of the archb. (him self giving licences unto the wandering ministers to go throughout not so few as a dozen dioceses) therefore the office of an archb. is not necessary in this respect / and if it were / yet it must be other then it is now.