To Cyprian I haue answered before: the people gaue their consente in his time:* 1.1 but yet was he bolde sometime to elect clearks without them, as it appeareth lib. 2. epist. 5. which he writeth vnto the Cleargie and people, signifying vnto them that it was not necessarie to haue their cōsent in choosing one Aurelius a Clearke: his words be these: In ordinandis clericis (fratres charissimi) solemus vos ante consulere, & mores ac merita* 1.2 singulorum communi consilio ponderare. Sed expectanda non sunt testimonia humana, cum praece∣dunt diuina suffragia &c. In the election of Clearks (beloued brethren) we were wont to take your aduise before, and to weigh with common aduise euery mans manners and de∣serts: But the testimonies of men are not to be loked for, when diuine suffrages haue gone before. In these words also it appeareth, what interest the people then had in electiōs,* 1.3 euen to beare witnesse and to testify of the good life and cōuersation of such, as should be admitted into the Cleargie.
Ierome himselfe (whatsoeuer your counterfeyte Ierome dothe affirme) agréeth with me.
Did not Illiricus tell you where Augustine speaketh these words, neither in what tome, nor in what booke, nor in what epistle? Surely Augustines works are farre larger, than Musculus common places. But the treatise you meane of, is in his seconde tome among his epistles, in number 110. I would wish the learned reader to peruse it, then shall he soone perceiue, how little it maketh for your purpose, and how aptly* 1.4 it serueth mine. First he doth not shew that it was the approued right and custome, that the whole Church should eyther choose, or consent of their Byshop: if he do, lay downe his words: if you cannot, then hath Illiricus his collection deceiued you. Secondly, although it may there appeare that the people vsed to giue their consents, yet Augustine both by his owne act, and by the act of Seuerus byshop of Milleum; declareth that not to be so ne∣cessary, or such a right, but that it may be, vpon iust considerations, altered. Last of all, the words of Augustine be playne, which I will only set downe and leaue them to the consideration of the reader. Augustine shewing his reasons why he did appoint Eradius to succéede him, saith thus: scio post obitus episcoporum. &c. I know that Churches* 1.5 vse after the deathes of Bishops, to be much troubled through ambitious or cōtentious per∣sons: and it is my duetie (so muche as lyeth in me) to prouide for this citie, least that thing (whereof I haue often times had experience to my greefe) should happen. Then he she∣weth* 1.6 what a stirre there was alittle before in the Church of Milleum about their By∣shop, at what time he was sent for vnto them, to appease the controuersie, and decla∣ring how in the ende, they willingly imbraced him, whome Seuerus their Byshop,* 1.7 whilest he was aliue, appoynted vnto them, he saith, minus tamen aliquid factum erat, vn∣de nonnulli. &c. Yet was there somewhat lesse done, whereby diuers were offended, bycause my brother Seuerus thought it sufficiente to appoint his successor in the presence of the Cleargie, and spake not thereof vnto the people: by occasion whereof some greefe was cō∣ceiued. But what needes more words? it pleased God, the greefe was expelled, ioy came in place, and he was admitted Byshop, whome the predecessor had appointed. And it follo∣weth immediatly, Ergo ne aliqui de me querantur, voluntatem meam, quam credo dei esse, in omnium vestrum notitiam profero, presbyterum Eradium mibi successorem volo. &c. Therefore least anye shoulde complayne of me, I doe heere signifye vnto you all my will (whyche I thynke to bee the wyll of God) I will haue Eradius the myni∣ster to bee my successoure. &c. Lastlye he sheweth howe he hymselfe was