The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And where he saith / all men may know that limitation off Parishes, and dioceses could not be made but off men in authority, and thereupon concludeth / that it could not be made by the Apostles: it is very true touching the precise limitation. but how is he so blinded that he can not also thereby see / that it is an idle dream that he so greatly striveth for / that Denis limited dioceses, parishes, &c? considering that the Denis he supposeth / living about An. 266. had no authority / but was a poor Bishop under persecuting Emperors. And if the Emperors had been Christian then / as they were heathen: yet how cometh it to pass / he doth not understand / that in going about to make men believe / that the Bishop off Rome at that time had authority to limit dioceses / parishes / &c. in the church off God: he setteth ⟨p. CCCLX⟩up a Pope / and armeth him with that authority which he never came unto four hundred years after. Finally if this Monk were off any credit / he is directly against him even in this cause. For off the words before alleged it is clear / that he appointed unto every elder a several parish: wherein he should keep him self: which is against the plurality off benefices / that he so greatly striveth for.

And where he saith / all men may know that limitation off Parishes, and dioceses could not be made but off men in authoritie, and theruppon concludeth / that it could not be made by the Apostles: yt is very true towching the precise limitacion. but how is he so blinded that he can not also therby see / that yt is an idle dreame that he so greatly stryueth for / that Denis limited dioceses, parishes, &c? considering that the Denis he supposeth / lyuing about An. 266. had no authoritie / but was a poore Bishop vnder persequnting Emperours. And if the Emperours had been Christian then / as they were heathen: yet how cometh yt to passe / he doth not vnderstand / that in going about to make men belieue / that the Bishop off Rome at that tyme had authoritye to limite dioceses / parishes / &c. in the church off God: he setteth ⟨p. CCCLX⟩vpp a Pope / and armeth him with that authoritie which he neuer came vnto foure hundreth yeares after. Finally if this Monke were off any credite / he is directly against him euen in this cawse. For off the wordes before alledged yt is cleare / that he appointed vnto euery elder a seuerall parish: vvherin he should keepe him selfe: which is against the pluralitie off benefices / that he so greatly striueth for.