OF THE PACIFICATION OF THE CHURCH. 73 



lent, performeth all ecclesiastical jurisdiction as in 

 consistory. 



And whereof consisteth this consistory, but of the 

 parish-priests of Rome, which term themselves car 

 dinals, &quot; a cardinibus mundi ;&quot; because the bishop 

 pretendeth to be universal over the whole world? 

 And hereof again we see many shadows yet remain 

 ing: as, that the dean and chapter, &quot; pro forma/ 

 chooseth the bishop, which is the highest point of 

 jurisdiction: and that the bishop, when he giveth 

 orders, if there be any ministers casually present, 

 calleth them to join with him in imposition of hands, 

 and some other particulars. And therefore it seemeth 

 to me a thing reasonable and religious, and accord 

 ing to the first institution, that bishops, in the 

 greatest causes, and those which require a spiritual 

 discerning, namely, in ordaining, suspending, or 

 depriving ministers, in excommunication, being re 

 stored to the true and proper use, as shall be after 

 wards touched, in sentencing the validity of marriages 

 and legitimations, in judging causes criminous, as 

 simony, incest, blasphemy, and the like, should not 

 proceed sole and unassisted : which point, as I un 

 derstand it, is a reformation that may be planted 

 &quot; sine strepitu,&quot; without any perturbation at all: 

 and is a matter which will give strength to the 

 bishops, countenance to the inferior degrees of pre 

 lates or ministers, and the better issue or proceeding 

 to those causes that shall pass. 



And as 1 wish this strength given to the bishops 

 by council, so it is not unworthy your majesty s con- 



