The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Hitherto I trust hath appeared / that there hath been not so much as any footing / or cold sent ether off archbishop / or metropolitan such as ours: it followeth to examine that out off the Nicene Council, which bringeth the first tidings of the Metropolitans. Where we having confessed that there were Metropolitans / denied that they were like ours how truly / resteth to be considered. First / that which the Answ. can most pretend out off this Council / for jurisdiction off Metropolitans over Bishops off the same Province / is the bishop off Alexandria, ought to have power over the bishops in Egypt, Libya, and Pentapolis. Thes are the sounding words / and which carry the greatest noise off Metropolitan authority. If therefore it fall out that thes words to have power / bring more show in the eye / then weight in the balance: then the Answ. is greatly fallen from his hope / which thinketh to reap of this peace / dominion off the Metropolitan over other bishops. The words which the D. turneth ^gto have government, signify in that place nothing but to g have chief dignity, or honour Which is apparent / for that the ⟨p. DLXII⟩same thing being attributed unto Rome / Antioch / and other metropolitan churches / is uttered by the word ^ahonourable reward, the same that ^bdignity in the next canon where be speaketh off the bishop off Jerusalem: as it is also noted off ^cVillerius / where he confirmeth this signification off the word / ^dpreeminence, out off Plato. This may be further understanded / by that Beza writeth upon thes words / he gave all these which believed in him this dignity, or prerogative, that they should be called the children off God.⁶

Hitherto I trust hath appeared / that there hath bene not so much as any footing / or kold sent ether off archbishop / or metropolitan suche as ours: yt followeth to examin that owt off the Nicene Councell, which bringeth the first tydinges of the Metropolitanes. Where we hauing confessed that there were Metropolitanes / denied that they vvere like ours how truly / resteth to be considered. First / that which the Answ. can most pretend owt off this Councell / for iurisdiction off Metropolitanes ouer Bishops off the same Prouince / is the bishop off Alexandria, ovvght to haue povver ouer the bishops in Egypt, Lybia, and Pentapolis. Thes are the sounding wordes / and which carie the greatest noyse off Metropolitane autoritie. Yf therfore it fall owt that thes wordes to haue power / bring more shew in the eie / then weight in the balance: then the Answ. is greatly fallen from his hope / which thincketh to reape of this peace / dominion off the Metropolitan ouer other bishops. The wordes which the D. turneth