Nowe, that it may appeare what great likelihoode there is betwene this Theodoret, and our Lorde Bishops and Archbishops, it is to be considered which he writeth of himselfe in the Epistle vnto Leo, that is, that he hauing beene. 26. yeares Bishop, was knowne of all those that dwelt in those partes, that he had neuer house of his owne, nor fielde, nor halfepenn〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e, not so much as a place to be buryed in, but had willingly contented himselfe with a poore estate, be〈1 line〉〈1 line〉yke he had a verie leene Archbishoprike, and if the fatte morsels of our Bishoprikes, and Archbishoprikes were taken and employed to their vses of maintenance of the poore, and of the Ministers, and of the Uniuersities, whiche are the seede of the ministerie, I thinke the heate of the disputation, and contention for Archbishops and Byshops woulde be well cooled.
We speak〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 of the office and authoritie, not of the liuing, to the spoile of the which,* 1.1 you and most of your fautors haue more respect, than you haue to the office, thoughe you pretende the contrarie: and yet it followeth not, but that Theodorete had ly∣uing sufficient, and might haue béene more welthie, but as it séemeth he professed voluntary pouertie of purpose, for he gaue away that also whiche was left vnto him of his parents, as he in that Epistle testifyeth saying, Sed sponte electam amplexus sum paupertatem: but I imbraced pouertie which I chose willingly. His Bishoprike might be of large reuenues, and yet he poore, séeing that he had chosen, and professed pouertie. But if Bishops be better nowe prouided for, than they were then, it is their partes to be thankefull vnto God and the Prince for it, and to vse it well. It is not your du∣tie to enuie their prosperitie, bicause you are not in case your selfe.