The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Furthermore / in another council which confirmeth the canons off this / it appeareth plainly / that that canon was made especially for the African churches / for the provinces off Numidia / ¹Mauritania / and Tripolis. For Aurelius / and Musonius presidents off that Council / in their Epistle to the Bishop off those provinces / charge them that they had not kept those canons: and show how some covered them selves by ignorance off ⟨p. D⟩them. And not only the council off Carthage / holden somewhat more then 400. years after Christ / forbiddeth thes lofty titles: but the council off Carthage whereat Cyprian was / within 200. and odd years after Christ / is found off the same judgement with this / that no bishop should be called bishop of bishops So that to avoid this argument / the Answ. must be compelled to say / that the bishop of Rome claimed the title off universal bishop / within about 200. and 50. years after Christ: which although he dare much / I think he dare not answer. Again / he may understand that he hath the bishop for party. For he alleging out off Origen / that the ministers in the very time off ²persecution whilst he lived / passed the outrage off worldly Princes: addeth that for that cause / this canon of the Council of Carthage which I have set down / was made. Giving plainly to understand / that it was to kill the itch off ambition in the whole order off ministry: not as he beareth us in hand / only in respect off one person. And if there be any credit to be given unto Gregory / there were nigh 600. years at the least run out / or ever the bishop there / made claim unto this title. For he saith / no bishop off Rome until his time, had taken to him self that ³title off singularity, or would ever consent to be called by so profane a name, off universal bishop.

Furthermore / in another councell which confirmeth the canons off this / it appeareth plainly / that that canon was made especially for the African churches / for the prouinces off Numidia / ¹Mauritania / and Tripolis. For Aurelius / and Musonius presidents off that Councell / in their Epistle to the Bishop off those prouinces / charge them that they had not kept those canons: and shew how some couered them selues by ignorance off