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 where as master Doctor citeth Augustine and Jerome / to prove that in the Churches in their times / there were holy days kept besides the Lords day / he might have also cited Ignatius and Tertullian / and Cyprian / which are of greater auncienty / and would have made more for the credit of his cause / seeing he measureth all his truth almost through the whole book / by the crooked measure and yard of time. For it is not to be denied / but this keeping of holy days (especially of the Easter and Pentecost) are very ancient / and that these holy days for the remembrance of Martyrs / were used of long time. But these abuses were no ancienter then other were / grosser also then this was / as I have before declared / and were easy further to be showed / if need required. And therefore I appeal from these examples to the scriptures / and to the examples of the perfectest church that ever was / which was that in the apostles times. And yet also I have to say / that the observation of those feasts first of all / was much better then of later times. For Socrates (confessing / that neither ¹our saviour Christ nor the apostles / did decree or institute any holy days / or lay any yoke of bondage upon the necks of those which came to the preaching) addeth further / that they did use first to observe the holy days by custom / and that as every man was disposed at home. Which thing if it had remained in that freedom / that it was done by custom / and not by commandment / at the will of every one / and not by constraint / it had been much better then it is now / and had not drawn such dangers upon the posterity / as did after ensue / and we have the experience of.

Nowe where as maister Doctor citeth Augustine and Ierome / to proue that in the Churches in their times / there were holy dayes kepte besydes the Lordes day / he myght haue also cited Ignatius and Tertullian / and Cyprian / whych are of greater auncienty / and would haue made more for the credit of hys cause / seeing he measureth all hys truthe almoste throughe the whole booke / by the croked measure and yarde of time. For it is not to be denyed / but thys keeping of holy dayes (especially of the Easter and Pentecost) are very auncient / and that these holy dayes for the remembrance of Martyrs / were vsed of long time. But these abuses were no auncienter then other were / groser also then thys was / as I haue before declared / and were easy further to be shewed / if nede required. And therefore I appeale from these examples to the scriptures / and to the examples of the perfectest church that euer was / whych was that in the apostles times. And yet also I haue to say / that the obseruation of those feastes first of all / was much better then of later times. For Socrates (confessing / that neyther