The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Another cause off this scarcity was / that as they provided / that there should be no bishops where were none before: so they ¹decreed / that in dioceses where there were / if after the death of the bishop / the people of that church had rather yield them selves subject unto another bishop / then choose a new: that it should be lawful for them so to do. And thereupon / it is very like that divers churches (when good bishops began to be rarer / then wedges of gold) seeing any one which behaved him self more tolerably: yielded them selves unto him. Not much unlike those times off the Lords indignation / which the Prophet speaketh of / wherein a number of women laid hold off one man. Beside that it is not unlike / but the stately pomp off bishops having ²taken deep root) the people did not unwillingly quite the estate of a bishop: and as off an evil neighbour / and one which lay to heavy upon them / were glad to be rid off him. it might be also the peoples fault / which (as our experience teacheth to much) rather then they would beat the charge of maintaining a sufficient ministry off their own: were content to yield up their privilege off having a bishop / to receive with abatement off their charges / a ministry they cared not what.

Another cause off this scarcitie was / that as they prouided / that there should be no bishops where were none before: so they ¹decred / that in dioceses where there were / if after the deathe of the bishop / the people of that church had rather yelde them selues subiecte vnto another bishop / then chuse a newe: that it shoulde be lawfull for them so to doo. And theruppon / yt is very like that diuers churches (when good bishops beganne to be rarer / then wedges of golde) seing any one which behaued him selfe more tolerably: yelded them selues vnto him. Not muche vnlike those times off the Lordes indignacion / which the Prophete speaketh of / wherin a nomber of weomen laide holde off one man. Beside that it is not vnlike / but the stately pompe off bishops hauinge ²taken deepe roote) the people did not vnwillingly quite the estate of a bishop: and as off an euill neighbor / and one which laie to heauy vpon them / were glad to be rid off him. yt might be also the peoples faulte / which (as our experience teachethe to muche) rather then they woulde beat the charge of mainteining a sufficiente mynistrie off their owne: were contente to yelde vp their priuiledge off hauing a bishop / to receiue with abatement off their charges / a mynistrie they cared not what.