Compare 1577 edition: 1 And herevpon by hir maiesties commandement certeine of hir priuie councell declared this purpose to the archbishop of Yorke (being also one of the same priuie councell) & required him that he would impart the same to some of the bishops, and to make choise of eight, nine, or ten of them: and that there should be the like number named of the other part: and further also declared to him (as then was suppo|sed) what the matters should be. And as for the time, it was thought meet to be as soone as possible might be agreed vpon.The persons [...] & the [...]. And then after certeine daies past, it was signified by the said archbishop, that there was appointed by such of the bishops, to whome he had imparted this matter, eight persons, that is to saie, foure bishops, and foure doctors, who were content at the quéenes maiesties commandement to shew their opinions; and (as he termed it) render account of their faith in those matters which were mentioned, and that speciallie in writing, al|though he said they thought the same so determined, as there was no cause to dispute vpon them.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 It was herevpon fullie resolued by the quéenes maiestie, with the aduise aforesaid,Order taken for qu [...]e [...] con|ference, and regard had of the bishops according to their dignitie. that according to their desire, it should be in writing on both parts; for auoiding of much altercation in words; and that the said bishops should, bicause they were in authori|tie and degree superiors, first declare their minds and opinions in the matter, with their reasons in wri|ting: and the other number being also eight men of good degrée in schooles, and some hauing béene in dig|nitie in the church of England, if they had anie thing to saie to the contrarie, should the same daie declare their opinions in like manner. And so ech of them should deliuer their writings to the other, to be con|sidered what were to be improoued therein, and the same to declare againe in writing at some other conuenient daie, and the like order to be kept in all the rest of the matters. All this was fullie agreed vp|on with the archbishop of Yorke, and also signified to both parties. And immediatlie herevpon, diuerse of the nobilitie and states of the realme, vnderstan|ding that such a meeting and conference should be, and that in certeine matters, wherevpon (the court of parlement consequentlie following) some lawes might be grounded: they made earnest meanes to hir maiestie, that the parties of this conference might put and read their assertions in the English toong, and that in the presence of them of the nobili|tie, and others of the parlement house, for the better satisfaction and inabling of their owne iudgements, to treat and conclude of such lawes as might depend herevpon.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This also being thought verie reasonable,The daie for the first meé|ting of this conference appointed. was signified to both parties, and so fullie agréed vpon, and the daie appointed for the first méeting to be the fridaie in the forenoone, being the last of March at Westminster church, where both for good order, and for honour of the conference, by the quéenes maie|sties commandement, the lords and others of the pri|uie councell were present, and a great part of the no|bilitie also. And notwithstanding the former order appointed, and consented vnto by both parts, yet the bishop of Winchester and his colleagues, alleging that they had mistaken that their assertions and rea|sons should be written,The bishop of Winchesters waie of pro|céeding misli|ked but yet in fine followed notwithstan|ding the con|trarie proui|ded. and so onelie recited out of the booke, said their booke was not readie then writ|ten: but they were prouided to argue and dispute, and therefore would for that time repeat in speech that which they had to saie vnto the first proposition. This variation from the order, and speciallie from that which themselues had by the said archbishop in writing before required, adding thereto the reason of the apostle, that to contend with words is profita|ble to nothing but to subuersion of the hearer, sée|med vnto the quéenes maiesties councell somewhat strange: & yet was it permitted without anie great reprehension, bicause they excused themselues with mistaking the order, and agréed that they would not faile but put it in writing; and according to the for|mer order, deliuer it to the other part. And so the said bishop of Winchester and his colleagues appoin|ted doctor Cole deane of Paules, to be the vtter|er of their minds, who partlie by spéech onelie, and partlie by reading of authorities written, and at cer|teine times being informed of his colleagues what to sai [...], made a declaration of their meanings,The maner of their first entrance into this cõference. & their reasons to their first proposition. Which being ended, they were asked by the priuie councell, if anie of EEBO page image 1183 them had anie more to be said: and they said; No. So as then the other part was licenced to shew their minds, which they did according to the first order, ex|hibiting all that which they meant to be propounded in a booke written, which after a praier & inuocation made most humblie to almightie God, for the indu|ing of them with his holie spirit, and a protestation also to stand to the doctrine of the catholike church, builded vpon the scriptures, and the doctrine of the prophets and the apostles, was distinctlie read by one Robert Horne bachellor in diuinitie, late deane of Duresme.Afterwards bishop of Win|chester.