The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Then he must understand / that as those stories / and writers he allegeth / make nothing to prove that antiquity which he ⟨p. CCCCLXXXVII⟩supposeth: so they being further from the Apostles times / and nearer unto the time off Antichrist / are not off so good credit / to prove the lawfulness off that ether office / or name / as if they had had testimony of the purer times. moreover off thes six authors which he maketh mention off / two wrote after 400. years: all the rest wrote from about 350. years / unto the prick off 400. And although he hath brought out so small a number: yet he must be fain to cut off half off them / as those which make no mention off the archbishop. for nether Chrysostom / nor Jerome / no not Ambrose (as shall appear) in their so great works / make any mention off him. Where I showed that as the ced•• off Liban can not be hidden amongest the Box trees, so the archbishop could not have been hidden in the ancient writings amongest the other Ministers: and further / that if he were, he was contemned off them, which once would not defile their pen by writing off him: the Answ. as though thes pertained not to the matter / under colour of calling them frumps, passeth by them whereas a few such frumps vvill break the archbishops back / if they be not better looked unto.

Then he must vnderstand / that as those stories / and writers he alledgeth / make nothing to proue that antiquitie which he ⟨p. CCCCLXXXVII⟩supposeth: so they being further from the Apostles times / and nearer vnto the time off Antichrist / are not off so good credit / to proue the lawfullnes off that ether office / or name / as if they had had testimonie of the purer times. moreouer off thes sixe autors which he maketh mention off / two wroote after 400. yeares: all the rest wrote from abowte 350. yeares / vnto the prick off 400. And althowgh he hath browght owt so smale a number: yet he must be faine to cut off halfe off them / as those which make no mencion off the archbishop. for nether Chrysostome / nor Ierome / no not Ambrose (as shall appeare) in their so great workes / make any mencion off him. Where I shewed that as the ced•• off Liban can not be hydden amongeste the Box trees, so the archbishop coulde not haue bene hydden in the ancient vvritinges amongest the other Mynisters: and further / that if he vvere, he vvas contemned off them, vvhich once vvoulde not defyle their pen by vvriting off him: the Answ. as thowghe thes perteined not to the matter / vnder coulor of calling them frumpes, passeth by them wheras a few such frumpes vvill breake the archbishops backe / if they be not better looked vnto.