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…

For the mourning apparel / the admonition sayeth not simply it is evil because it is done of custom / but proveth that it is hypocritical oftentimes / for that it proceedeth not from any sadness of mind / which it doth pretend / but worn only of custom / there being under a mourning gown of ten times a merry heart. And considering that where there is sorrow in deed for the dead / there it is very hard for a man to keep a measure that he do not lament too much: We ought not to use those means whereby we might be further provoked to sorrow / and so go a great way beyond the measure / which the apostle appointeth in mourning / no ¹more then it was well done of the Jews in the gospel to provoke weeping & sorrow for their dead by some doleful noise or sound of instrument / or then it was lawful for Mary Lazarus sister to go to her brothers grave / thereby to set the ²print of her sorrow deeper in her mind. Seeing therefore if there be no sorrow / it is hypocritical to pretend it / and if there be / it is very dangerous to provoke it / or to carry the notes of remembrance of it / it appeareth that this use of mourning apparel were much better laid away then kept. And here M. doctor threaps a little kindness of the authors of the admonition / & saith that they know it is very ancient / whom before he denieth to have any knowledge of antiquity. In deed it is very ancient / but M. doctor is afraid to show the ancienty of it / for Cyp. and Aug. inveigh ³vehemently against it / condemning it as unlawful and undecent.

For the mournyng apparell / the admonition sayeth not simply it is euill because it is done of custome / but proueth that it is hypocritical oftētimes / for that it proceedeth not from any sadnes of minde / whych it dothe pretende / but worne only of custome / there being vnder a mourning gowne of tentimes a mery heart. And considering that where there is sorow in deede for the dead / there it is very hard for a man to kepe a measure that he do not lament too much: We ought not to vse those meanes whereby we myght be further prouoked to sorow / and so go a great way beyonde the measure / whych the apostle apoynteth in mournyng / no ¹