This is a notable argument, there must be some superiour amongst men, ergo one minister must be superior to an other: again ther must be in ye ecclesiastical functions some degrees, ergo ther must be an archbishop ouer ye whole prouince, or a Bishop ouer ye whole dioces. And albert M. Doctor taketh great paine to proue yt which no man denieth, yet he doth it so 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and so vn〈1 line〉〈1 line〉itly, as that i〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 a man had no better proofes than he bringeth, the degrees of ye ecclesiasticall functions might fal to the ground. For here to proue the degrees of the ecclesiastical functions he bringeth in that, that Chrysostome sayth there muste be magistrate and subiecte, him that commaundeth and him that obeyeth.
The argument is good, & foloweth verie wel. For as superioritie & gouernment is* 1.1 necessarie in al other states & degrees of men, so is it in ye ministerie also: for ministers be not angels, nor they are not of yt perfection, yt they may safely be left in their own absolute gouernment. That which Chrysostom in this place speaketh of gouernmēt in the ciuil state, the same doth he speak in the. 13. to the Hebrues of ye ecclesias〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ical in lyke maner: for expounding these words, Parete his qui praesunt vobis. &c. whiche is vn∣derstood of Bishops, he sayth, that there be thrée euils which oue〈1 line〉〈1 line〉throw the church, &* 1.2 all other societies. The first wherof is, to haue no superiour, none to rule: and this he proueth by diuers examples, as of a Quier without a Chaunter, an armie of souldi∣ours without a captaine, a ship without a maister, a 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉locke of shéepe without a shepe∣heard. Now if superioritie be so needfull among the clergie, then why may not one Bishop be ouer one diocesse, & one 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rchbishop ouer one Prouince? Wherfore I con∣clude thus: It is necessary yt among the cler〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ie some should be in authoritie ouer the rest and therfore there may be both Archbishops & Bishops: but I know you wil an∣swer yt there may be gouernment without these degrées: then say I vnto you againe, stand not so much in your owne c〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ceyt, this order is most auncient in the Church, it is confirmed by the best and noblest Councels, it is allowed by the best learned fa∣thers, it hath the pattern from the practise of the Apostles (a〈1 line〉〈1 line〉l whiche hath bin she∣wed before) it is most méet for this state and kingdome: and therfore be no〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 wilful in a new deuise, the triall wherof was neuer as yet, the maner wherof is vnknown to your selfe, and the end no doubt mere confusion. Your welfauoured and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spee∣ches together with your accustomed cōtempt, I omit here, as I doe in other places.