1There were some amongest them that espied out divers errors in the Church, as Pope Adrian, Aeneas Siluius, Cardinal Poole, Pighius, and others as we said before. They held afterwards a Council at Trent, even in the same place, where it is now holden. There assembled divers Bishops & Abbots, and others to whom the matter appertained: they were alone, whatsoever passed among them, there was no man to gainsay it: for as for our men, they had utterly shut them out from all conference. There they sat in great expectation of the world six years: the first six months, ⟨p. 55⟩as though the matter had been very needful, they decreed many things of the holy Trinity, of the father, of the Son, of the holy Ghost: good things in deed, although for that time not very necessary. Nevertheless in all this mean time amongest so many errors, so evident, so oft by their own mouths confessed, so manifest, what one error did they ever correct? from what kind of Idolatry did they wtdraw the people? What superstition did they take away? What part of their pomp and tyranny have they abated? as though forsooth that now also the whole world might not perceive that this is a very conspiracy and not a Coū cell, and that these Bishops which the Pope hath called unto him at this time, are not by their oath and affection utterly addicted unto his name, and will never do any thing but that which they shall perceive to agree with his pleasure, to make for the advancement of his power, and to be according to his will: or that amongest them every mans reason and sentence were not rather numbered, then weighed: or that the better part were not oft times oppressed with the greater. Whereupon we know that oft times it hath come to pass, that many good men and Catholic Bishops, what time such Councils were summoned, wherein factions and parts were openly maintained, knowing that they should only leese their labour, in as much as the minds of their adversaries were bent upon evil, and therefore not possible to do any good, have tarried at home. Athanasius being called by The Emperor to the Council of Caesarea, when he saw that he should present himself to the deadly hatred of his adversaries,2 he refused to come.
1There were some amongest them that espied out diuers errors in the Church, as Pope Adriane, Aeneas Siluius, Cardinall Poole, Pighius, and others as we saide before. They helde afterwardes a Councell at Trente, euen in the same place, where it is now holden. There assembled diuers Bishops & Abbots, and others to whome the matter appertained: they were alone, whatsoeuer passed among them, there was no man to gainesay it: for as for our mē, they had vtterly shut thē out from al conferēce. There they satt in great expectation of the worlde sixe yeares: the first sixe monethes, ⟨p. 55⟩as though the matter had been very nedefull, they decreed many thinges of the holy Trinitee, of the father, of the Sonne, of the holy Ghost: good things in deede, although for that time not very necessary. Neuerthelesse in all thys meane tyme amongest so many errors, so euident, so oft by their owne mouthes confessed, so manifest, what one error did thei euer correct? frō what kynde of Idolatry did they wtdraw the people? What superstition did they take away? What parte of theyr pompe and tyranny haue they abated? as though forsoothe that nowe also the whole worlde myght not perceiue that this is a very conspiracy and not a Coū cell, and that these Byshops which the Pope hath called vnto him at this time, are not by their othe and affection vtterly addicted vnto his name, and wil neuer do any thing but that which they shal perceiue to agre with his pleasure, to make for the aduaucement of his power, and to be according to his will: or that amongest them euery mans reason and sentence were not rather nūbered, then wayed: or that the better parte were not ofte times oppressed with the greater. Whereupon we know that ofte times it hath come to passe, yt many good men and Catholike Bysshops, what time such Councels were summoned, wherin factions and parts were openly maintained, knowing that they should only leese their labour, in as much as the mindes of their aduersaries were bent vpon euill, and therfore not possible to doe any good, haue tarried at home. Athanasius beyng called by Themperour to the Councell of Cesarea, when he saw that he shoulde present himselfe to ye deadly hatered of his aduersaries,2 he refused to come.
- 1The Papists though they acknowledge their errors, yet will they not amend them.The Papystes though they acknowledge theyr errors, yet wyll they not amende them.
- 2Theodoreius Li. 1. ca. 28.
