The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

^aWhere missing the number off the Canon / I alleged out off the Council off Antioch / that the metropolitan had not so much as the casting voice, when the bishops were equally divided: he answereth / there is no mention off equality off voices, as though he were ignorant / that matters in Councils / passed by the more part off voices. Forsomuch therefore as the Council upon the division off the bishops judgements / willeth that other should be called: it is to be esteemed that that was / because the bishops were equally parted. Where he saith / thereby a metropolitan had authority over moe provinces then one, it followeth not. For beside that the canon is of all metropolitans / so that whatsoever any off them might do in an others precinct / that the other might do in his: by this account the elders / yea the Deacons had authority over the bishops: considering that they accused / might call other ²bishops than their own. Where he saith / the authority of our metropolitan and bishops, is nothing increased but decreased, forsomuch as nether he nor all the bishops can deprive a bishop without the consent of the Prince, it is not to purpose / seeing all the bishops in the world may not / nor ever could off right remove a bishop by force / if the Prince would keep him in. Our question is of the ecclesiastical sentence of deposition. And if he mean that a bishop heretic / schismatic / or corrupt in manners / may not be proceeded against by an ecclesiastical sentence off deposition / yea off excommunication (if the case require) onles the Prince vvill consent: beside that his endeavour off / flattery is to manifest: his meaning is to cut out the archbishop so / that he shall do nether more nor less then will agree with his ease / and whereby he may shift the Cross from his shoulders. For all know that Christian princes may be / and sometimes are drawn to favour those / whose pastoral government can not be but harmful unto the church: in which case the Ecclesiastical censures ought not to sleep / to the end that although he can not be removed: yet the church after he be descried / and condemned for such as he is / may fly from him. That the bishop may excommunicate an elder, belongeth to an other tractate: that he may depose an elder, is untrue:

^aWhere missing the nomber off the Canon / I alledged out off the Councell off Antioch / that the metropolitan had not so much as the casting voice, vvhen the bishops vvere equally deuided: he answereth / there is no mention off equalitie off voices, as thowgh he vvere ignorant / that matters in Councells / passed by the more parte off voices. Forsomuch therefore as the Councell vppon the diuision off the bishops iudgementes / willeth that other should be called: yt is to be estemed that that was / because the bishops were equally parted. Where he saith / therby a metropolitan had autority ouer moe prouinces then one, yt foloweth not. For beside that the canō is of all metropolitans / so that whatsoeuer any off them might doo in an others precincte / that the other might doe in his: by this accounte the elders / yea the Deacons had autoritie ouer the bishops: considering that they accused / might call other