And that it may appeare what superioritie it is, whiche is lawfull amongst the ministers, and what it is that M. Caluine speaketh of, what also the fathers and councels do meane, when they giue more to the Byshop of any one Church, than to the elder of the same Church, and that no man be deceiued by the name of gouernoure, or ruler ouer the rest, to fansic any such authoritie and do∣mination or Lordship, as we see vsed in our Church, it is to be vnderstanded, that amongst the pa∣stors, elders and beacons of euery particular Church, and in the meetings and companies of the mi∣nisters, or elders of diuers Churches (*) 1.1 there was one chosen by the voyces aud suffrages of them all, or the most pare, which did propound the matters that were to be handied, whether they were difficulties to be soluted, or punishments and censures to be decreed vpon those which had faul∣ted, or whether there were elections to be made, or what other matter soeuer occasion was gyuen to entreate of: the which also gathered the voyces and reasons of those which had interest to speake in such cases, which also did pronounce according to the number of the voyces whiche were gyuen, which was also the mouth of the rest, to admonish, or to comfort, or to rebuke sharply, such as were to receule admonishment, consolation, or rebuke, and which in a word did moderate that whole acti∣on, which was done for the time they were assembled. Which thing we do not denie, may be, but affirme that it is fitte and necessary to be, to the auoyding of confusion.
All this is spoken of your owne head, and a deuise withoute proofe or reason as yet, and contrary to the testimonies of all histories, Councels and fathers: affirmed by no learned writer, as it may appeare by that whiche I haue hitherto alledged