The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

The election off ministers / committed to the bishops alone / is made off custom / that is twice a year at the least / if any come: at the entreaty off some in authority of tentimes: and not upon any need off the church. For when almost / is the request of such as be in authority / refused in that election? In deed there is no extreme suit / the door is not so hard locked: there needeth but the lifting up off the latch. And it is also I grant without contention, For how can the bishop contend with him self? Unless he and his conscience sometimes fall out / which contention is to be wished / that it were greater. And set me all the boroughs / and cities together in the whole realm / where elections pass by voice: you shall find / they can not all afford / so many unworthy officers: as have swarmed ministers / from the sole election of the most part off the bishops in England. If your affirmations be so clear / that you dare commit them so barely without proof / to the judgement of men: I dare with better reason / let these go: which are done before the sun / in the conscience off all men: which the brute beasts them selves would witness / if they could speak.

The election off ministers / committed to the bishoppes alone / is made off custome / that is twise a yeare at the least / iff any come: at the intreaty off some in authoritie of tentimes: and not vpon any neede off the churche. For when almoste / is the request of suche as be in authoritie / refused in that election? In deede there is no extreme sute / the doore is not so harde locked: ther neadeth but the liftinge vp off the latche. And yt is also I graunte withowt contention, For howe can the bishope contende with him sele? Vnles he and his conscience sometimes fall owte / which cōtention is to be wisshed / that it were greater. And set me all the borowghes / and cities together in the whole realme / where elections passe by voice: yowe shall finde / they can not all afforde / so many vnworthy officers: as haue swarmed ministers / from the sole election of the moste parte off the bishopes in Englande. Yf yowr affirmaciōs be so clear / that yowe dare com̄itte thē so barely withowte profe / to the iudgemēt of mē: I dare with better reason / let these goe: which are donne before the sonne / in the conscience off all men: which the brwte beastes them selues woulde witnes / iff they coulde speake.