King's Majesty, and the whole body of this realm,
before the swearing of the same, why should we not likewise understand the
discipline mentioned in the oath to be that which was practised in this
realm before the swearing of the same?

3. This is further proved by the word _continuing_. We are sworn to
continue in the obedience of the doctrine and discipline of this church;
but how can men be said to continue in the obedience of any other
discipline than that which they have already begun to obey? This the
Bishop seems to have perceived, for he speaks only of defending and
obeying, but not of continuing to obey, which is the word of the oath, and
which proveth the discipline there spoken of and sworn to to be no other
than that which was practised in the church when the oath was sworn. 4.
Whilst we hold that he who sweareth to the present discipline of a church,
is not by virtue of this oath obliged to obey all which that church shall
ordain afterward, both the school and the canon law do speak for us. The
school teacheth, that _canonicus qui jurat se servaturum statuta edita in
aliquo collegio, non tenetur ex juramenta ad servandum futura_;(1292) the
canon law judgeth, that _qui jurat servare statuta edita, &c., non tenetur
ex juramento ad novitur edita._(1293)

_Sect._ 8. But we are more fully to consider that ground whereby the
Bishop thinketh to purge himself, and those of his sect, of the breach of
the oath. He still allegeth,(1294) that the points of discipline for which
we contend are not contained in the matter of the oath. Now, as touching
the discipline of this church which is spoken of in the oath, he
questioneth what is meant by it.(1295)

_Ans._ 1. Put the case, it were doubtful and questionable what is meant by
the word discipline in the oath; yet _pars tutior_ were to be chosen. The
Bishop nor no man among us can certainly know, that the discipline meant
and spoken of in the oath by those that swear it, comprehendeth not under
it those points of discipline which we now contend, and which this church
had in use at the swearing of the oath. Shall we, then, put the breach of
the oath in a fair hazard? God forbid; for, as Joseph Hall(1296) noteth
from the example of Joshua and the princes, men may not trust to shifts
for the eluding of an oath. Surely the fear of God's name should make us
tremble at an oath, and to be far from adventuring upon any such shifts.

2. The Bishop doth but needlessly question wh