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…

An other thing is / that in these courts (which they call spiritual) they take the knowledge of matters / which are mere civil / thereby not only perverting the order which God hath appointed / in severing the civill causes from the ecclesiastical / but jostling also with the civill magistrate / and thrusting him from the jurisdiction / which appertaineth unto him / as the causes of the contracts of marriage / of divorces / of wills & testaments / with divers such other like things. For although it appertain to the church and the governors thereof / to show out of the word of God which is a lawful contract or just cause of divorce / and so forth / yet the judicial determination / and definitive sentences of all these / do appertain unto the civill magistrate. Hereunto may be added / that all their punishments almost are penalties of money / which can by no means appertain to the church / but is a thing merely civill.

An other thyng is / that in these courts (whych they cal spiritual) they take the knowledge of matters / which are meere ciuil / therby not only peruerting the order whych God hath appoynted / in seuering the ciuill causes from the ecclesiasticall / but iustling also wyth the ciuill magistrate / and thrusting hym from the iurisdiction / whych appertaineth vnto hym / as the causes of the contracts of mariage / of diuorces / of willes & testaments / wt diuers suche other like things. For although it appertaine to the church and the gouernors therof / to shew out of the word of God whych is a lawfull contract or iust cause of diuorce / and so forthe / yet the iudiciall determination / and definitiue sentences of all these / do appertaine vnto the ciuill magistrate. Heerevnto may be added / that all their punishments almost are penalties of mony / whych can by no meanes appertaine to the church / but is a thyng meerely ciuill.

Thirdly / as they handle matters which do not appertain unto the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction / so those which do appertain unto the church / they do turn from their lawful institution / unto other ends not sufferable / which M. doctor him self doth confess in excommunicating for money. &c.

Thirdly / as they handle matters whych do not appertain vnto the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction / so those whych do appertaine vnto the church / they do turne from their lawfull institution / vnto other ends not sufferable / whych M. doctor hym selfe doth confesse in excommunicating for money. &c.