The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Unto that I alleged / that things passing by voice in ¹the church of Alexandria, the distinction off bishop from the rest off the elders in the church there, might come in without Saint Marks consent, he saith nothing. And in deed if he had obtained that which he would so fain / that this alteration was made in S. Marks time: yet he shall never obtain this / that S. Mark had his hand in that change: onles he will say / the Apostles / and Apostolical men were authors off all things done in their time / in every singular congregation. Unto that I said / the words (from Saint Mark) may be taken rather exclusively, to shut out S. Mark: he answereth / that none off judgement will grant that: where notwithstanding he that hath any judgement doth easily understand / that the words have many times that signification; and that they are so here: I am content it be tried by the other reasons propounded. I alleged that S. Mark can not be author off that distinction, because he making those things divers, which the holy Ghost made one, should make the story he wrote suspected. He answereth / it is certain thes were no otherwise distinguished, then the holy ghost appointed them: which I have showed how shameless it is. Then / that my collection is ungodly, to imagine so off the gospel written by the Evangelist. As if I did not in plain words / detest all suspicion of the untruth off that Gospel: and therefore caste away his false surmise / which might give occasion thereof. He saith / thereby appeareth at the least that it was ancient. I deny not: but it is manifest also / that there were other corruptions in some places of the church / as ancient.

Vnto that I alledged / that thinges passing by voice in ¹the churche of Alexandria, the distinction off bishop from the reste off the elders in the church there, might come in vvithovvte Saint Marckes consente, he saithe nothing. And in deede if he had obteined that which he woulde so faine / that this alteration was made in S. Marckes time: yet he shall neuer obteine this / that S. Marke had his hande in that chaunge: onles he will saie / the Apostells / and Apostolicall men were autors off all thinges doone in their time / in euery singular congregacion. Vnto that I saide / the vvordes (from Saint Marcke) maie be taken rather exclusiuely, to shut ovvte S. Marke: he answereth / that none off iudgement will graunte that: where notwithstanding he that hath anie iudgement doth easely vnderstande / that the wordes haue manie times that significaciō; and that they are so here: I am cōtent it be tried by the other reasons propounded. I alledged that S. Marck can not be autor off that distinction, because he making those thinges diuers, vvhich the holy Gost made one, should make the storie he vvrote suspected. He answereth / yt ys certeine thes were no otherwise distinguished, then the holy gost appointed them: which I haue shewed how shameles yt ys. Then / that my collection is vngodly, to imagine so off the gospell written by the Euangeliste. As yff I did not in plaine wordes / deteste all suspicion of the vntrwthe off that Gospell: and therfore caste awaie his false surmise / which might gyue occasion theroff. He saith / therby appeareth at the least that yt was auncient. I denie not: but yt is manifeste also / that ther were other corruptions in some places of the churche / as aunciente.