And if any can shew me one man in these tymes, of whom we may be assured, that he will pro∣nounce* 1.1 the truth of euery question which shall arise, he shall make me somwhat more fauorable to the Archbishop, than presently I am. For although there were found one such as could not erre, yet I could not consent that the matter shoulde lie only vpon his hande, seeing that the Apostles which could not erre in these matters, would not take that vpon them, & seeing that by that meanes the iudgement of the Church should be contemned, and further, for that the iudgement of one man in a controuersie, is not so strong to pull vp errors that are rooted in mens minds, as the iudgement and consent of many. For, that the iudgement of many is very apt either to confirme a truth, or to confute falsehoode, it is euident that S. Paule doth holde forth, as it were a buckler agaynst the frowardnesse of certaine, the authoritie of the Church.
You take great paynes in fighting without an aduersarie, and bicause otherwise (as it should séeme) you lacke matter to lengthen your booke, therfore you deuise mat∣ter of your owne to striue agaynst. For who hath affirmed that, which you so ear∣nestly séeke in this place to ouerthrowe? It hath bene tolde twise alreadie, that ney∣ther of our Archbishops taketh vpon him to compounde controuersies in doctrine by himselfe alone, neyther is it their office so to doe. The Archbishops authoritie in this* 1.2 Church is, to prouide by lawfull and ordinarie meanes that vnitie be obserued in the Church: that contentions and schismes be cut off: that the religion and orders of the Church, by the whole consent of the Church agréed vpon, be mainteyned: that euery Bishop in his prouince doe his duetie according to the same: this is his principall charge (as I take it) agaynst the which you haue not as yet spoken any thing, but de∣uise with your selfe, to improue that which no man affirmeth: this is but verie shif∣ting and dallying.