The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And where as you say / that it is certain that there was no trial, because they were sufficiently known: first / it appeareth not by any words in the text / that they were sufficiently known. And considering that (as it cometh commonly to pass / in a persecuted church) there were by all likelihood some / lately come to the church they might be well unknown to them / although they were well known to others. Then the question is not / whether they were examined or no: but whether they were set up to be tried: so that if there were a proffer off trial / although no trial followed: the place is aptly alleged. For albeit they were known to the whole company / so that there needed no inquiry into their behaviour / or other things which are in the compass off the church / to judge of: yet that is no cause / why they should not be offered to the examination. Nether is it reason / that the known ability off some one / or two: should break an ordinary law / in the church off God. And you that have served your self / more than once / or twice / without cause (as shall appear) off the manner of civill elections / to overthrow the Ecclesiastical: might here by the consideration off them / have been delivered / from this abusing off your self / and others. You know in the election off follows / ⟨p. CXXIII⟩and scholars / where the law commandeth an examination before the election although the parties to be chosen be never so sufficient / and there sufficiently never so well known / to all to whom the choice belongeth: yet the offer of themselves to be examined / is so necessary / that if that be not: they can by no means be chosen. If therefore mans law / in such small elections / hath such force / that it will give place to no mans excellency / or singularity: how much more ought the law of God / which biddeth generally without exception / that they should be tried which are promoted to the ministry, in so great / and weighty an election / ¹to keep her force?

And vvhere as yow saye / that yt is certaine that there was no tryall, because they were sufficiently knowne: first / yt appeareth not by any wordes in the texte / that they were sufficiently knowē. And considering that (as yt comethe comōly to passe / in a persequuted churche) there were by al likelihood some / lately come to the church they might be well vnknowne to thē / althowghe they vvere well knowne to others. Thē the questiō is not / whether they vvere examined or no: but vvether they vvere set vpp to be tried: so that iff there vvere a proferr off tryall / althowghe no tryall folowed: the place ys aptly alledged. For albeit they were knowne to the vvhole companie / so that there needed no inquirie into their behauiour / or other thinges vvhiche are in the compas off the churche / to iudge of: yet that ys no cause / why they shoulde not be offered to the examinaciō. Nether is yt reason / that the knowne habylytie off some one / or twoo: shoulde breake an ordinary lawe / in the churche off God. And yow that haue serued your selfe / more thē once / or twyce / vvithowt cause (as shall appeare) off the manner of ciuill elections / to ouerthrowe the Ecclesiasticall: might here by the consideration off them / haue bene delyuered / from this abusinge off yowr selfe / and others. Yow knowe in the election off followes /