Chap. 2. the. 35. Diuision.
Augustine in his first booke de moribus ecclesiae Catholicae, maketh mention of* 1.1 Deanes, and their offices.
As for the office of a deane, as it is vsed with vs it is therefore (*) 1.2 vnlawfull, for that he being minister, hath (*) 1.3 noseuerall charge or Congregation appointed wherein he may exercise his mini∣sterie, and (*) 1.4 for that he is ruler and as it were master of diuers other ministers in his Colledge, which likewise haue no seuerall charges of congregatiōs, and for that (which is most intollerable) both he himselfe oftentimes hauing a seuerall Church or benefice (as they call it,) is vnder the co∣loure of his deaneship absent from his Church, and suffereth also those that are vnderneath him, to be likewise absent from their Churches. And whereas M. Doctor alledgeth S. Augustine to proue this office to be auncient: indeede the name is there found, but besides the name, not one pro∣pertie of that deane which we haue. For Augustine speaking of the monks of those dayes, saythe that the money which they gate with the labor of their hands, they gaue to their deane, which did prouide them meate and drinke and cloth and all things necessary for them: So that their monkes shoulde not be drawen away from their studies and meditations, through the care of worldly things: So that this Deane which he speaketh of, was seruaunte and stewarde and cater to the Monks, and therefore only called Deane, bycause he was steward and cater to ten Monks. Now let it be seene what Augustines deane maketh for the deane which is theirs, and what faith and trust M. Doctor vseth, in reciting of the old fathers.
All thys is but your owne sansies taken for principles and groundes. For fyrste it is vntrue that euery Minister muste of necessitie haue some seuerall* 1.5 charge, as I haue declared before. Secondly it is as vntrue, that a Deane hathe no seuerall charge or congregation, wherein to exercise his ministerie. For there is no Cathe∣drall Churche withoute a congregation and charge. The third that followeth, is buil∣ded of the same groundes that these two fyrste be, and may as well be spoken a∣gaynste the masterships of suche Colledges in the vniuersities, wherein any prea∣chers or ministers bée maynteyned. Whyche argueth that you meane the same to Colledges that you doe to Cathedrall Churches, and that you woulde haue ministers frée from subiection. Last of all, that whyche you say is most intel∣lerable, you speake withoute any tolerable reason: For Master Deane and hys Prebendaries do more good both in the Churche of Englande generally, and in