The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

I have no where reasoned, that one should not be rightly chosen ¹bishop, if any be absent that have interest in the election: my reason is / that forsomuch as all the people off Cyprian's Bishop / was by the Ecclesiastical discipline appointed to be present at his choice / and by no good order off discipline the whole diocese / or Province could be so appointed: therefore the whole people off Cyprian's Bishop / was nether the people off a diocese / nor Province. And ⟨p. DXXXVIII⟩where you have (to show the vanity of my assertion) translated almost half a side: let the reader consider to what purpose. For where he noteth that Cornelius was made bishop, by testimony of his fellow bishops throughout all the world: I can not tell for what cause he should note it. Onles it be that because the bishops throughout the world testified their agreement by letters unto his election / occasioned thereto for that Novatus denied it to be lawful: therefore it is not unlike / that the people of a whole diocese / or province were present in proper person / at the choice off the Bishop / and archbishop. And if he meant that: he is far short of his reckoning: nether is it made up by his third note / which I think tendeth to the same end. For where it seemeth that by thes words (and good men) he would have it thought there were other people beside the citizens off Rome / at Cornelius election: the words are / of ancient priests▪ and good men in the college: referring the word college, to good men / as well as to priests. So that by good men he ether meaneth those ancient priests / or some other ecclesiastical company: where the Answ. restraining college unto the Priests only / would have his reader think / that the people off the Province were gathered thither / to choose Cornelius archbishop. But this is a wonderful change / that he which before esteemed it inconvenient / that a several congregation should meet to choose their pastor: is now brought into such straits / that he seeketh to make the whole diocese / or Province assemble / for choice off their pastor. His other note (that Cornelius passed through all ecclesiastical offices, &c. unto the bishopric) is idly put. Whether a preacher was the same with a bishop: belongeth to an other question / and is altogether out of season here. For although an Elder which ruled only / were inferior unto a bishop: