For what can be more available for the maintenance of the trueth, then that where Religion is free, there also should all voices be free, and such Councils summoned, which should be lawful, not a stolen Council: where matters might be decided by free voices, not by extort speeches: by upright, and sincere, and freer determinations of the learned, not by procured affections, not by practises of confederates, nor by the forejudgements of men, but by the only authority of God: and where the best approved and ancient orders of the fathers might be observed, that it might be lawful for every person to utter freely what he thought without fear, without peril, not where all must be measured after the lust of one person alone. But now where all men are enforced to swear unto the words of one man, and all voices rack•e to satisfy the appetite of one person, which person so ruleth the roast, that no man shall be admitted to be present, but such as shall think as he thinketh: and that it shall not be lawful likewise for any to determine ought, but which shall be consonant to his will. What success, I beseech you, may any man surmise to be hoped for in such Councils, but such as shall tend to the breach and dissolution of the liberty of the Church? And shall seem not to advance the glory of Christ, but to enhance the only tyrannous loftiness of mans ambitious Lordliness, to the utter ruin, overthrow, and rooting out of all sincere and most pure Religion. By reason whereof it behooveth you, holy father of Rome• to take so much the more especial regard, that veiling ⟨image 117⟩that proud bonnet of greediness to bear sovereignty, and altogether abandoning this strange never heard of novelty of heathenish ambition, ye reclaim your self wholly to that ancient, and more moderate humility of the most ancient, most true Catholic and Apostolic Church. Examples be extant every where, which may endure you to be better resolved. Whether you enter into dew consideration of the life of Christ, what can be more mild? or whether ye behold the plot forms and proceedings of the Apostles, what can be more contrary? more repugnant? and more unlike the course of your Court?
For what can bee more auayleable for the maintenaunce of the trueth, then that where Religion is free, there also shoulde all voyces bee free, and such Councels summoned, which shoulde bee lawfull, not a stolne Councell: where matters might bee decided by free voyces, not by extort speeches: by vpright, and sincere, and freer determinatiōs of the learned, not by procured affections, not by practises of confederates, nor by the foreiudgements of men, but by the onely authoritie of God: and where the best approued and auncient orders of the fathers might bee obserued, that it might bee lawfull for euerie person to vtter freely what hee thought without feare, without peril, not where all must bee measured after the lust of one person alone. But nowe where all men are enforced to sweare vnto the woordes of one man, and all voyces rack•e to satisfie the appetite of one person, which person so ruleth the rost, that no man shall bee admitted to bee present, but suche as shall thinke as hee thinketh: and that it shall not bee lawfull lykewise for anie to determine ought, but which shall bee consonant to his will. What successe, I beseeche you, may anie man surmise to bee hoped for in such Councels, but such as shal tende to the breach and dissolution of the libertie of the Churche? And shall seeme not to aduaunce the glorie of Christ, but to enhaunce the onely tyrannous loftinesse of mans ambicious Lordlinesse, to the vtter ruine, ouerthrowe, and rooting out of all sincere and most pure Religion. By reason whereof it behooueth you, holy father of Rome• to take so much the more especiall regarde, that veyling ⟨image 117⟩that proude bonnet of greedinesse to beare soueraintie, and altogether abandoning this straunge neuer heard of noueltie of heathenish ambicion, yee reclayme your selfe wholy to that auncient, and more moderate humilitie of the most auncient, most true Catholike and Apostolique Church. Examples bee extant euerie where, whiche may endure you to bee better resolued. Whether you enter into dewe consideration of the life of Christ, what can bee more milde? or whether yee beholde the platte formes and proceedings of the Apostles, what can bee more contrarie? more repugnant? and more vnlike the course of your Court?
