The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And therein I will refer my self to the judgement of the reader / how absurdly the D. saith afterward: all the people of a province or diocese, might meet then without peril, or inconvenience. And where he saith there were such meetings at Synods in those times: he is abused / considering that the churches met not / but their governors: and not all / but certain out off every quarter / as he might easily know by the practise off all times. For although it was not denied unto private men to be present at Councils: yet it was very rare that they were found there in any number / unless upon some notable controversy: and that not by appointment or order taken / as in the election of their bishop / but only at their pleasure.

And therin I will refer my selfe to the iudgemēt of the reader / how absurdly the D. saith afterward: all the people of a prouince or diocese, might meete then withowte perill, or inconuenience. And where he saithe there were suche metinges at Synodes in those tymes: he is abused / considering that the churches met not / but their gouernours: and not all / but certeine owte off euery quarter / as he might easely knowe by the practise off all times. For althowghe it was not denied vnto priuate men to be presente at Councells: yet yt was very rare that they were found there in anie number / vnles vpō some notable controuersie: and that not by appointmēt or order takē / as in thelectiō of their bishop / but onely at their pleasure.

And if yet the D. be off that boldness / that without any proof out of antiquity / he will expound this word all, by some, or (as he doth in the next divis.) by many: and whole by part, and that the smallest part: and people by citizens, to the open violence off Cyprian's words: yet that all his starting holes may be stopped / let us further examine the place of Cyprian / out of which he would confirm the office off the archbishop. Neither have heresies, or schisms risen of other occasion, then of that the priest of God is not obeyed, nether one priest for the time in the church, and one judge for the time in stead off Christ thought upon: to whom if the whole brotherhood would be obedient &c. To shape an archbishop / or bishop such as is with us / out of this place / the D. is compelled to expound this word church,