An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief…An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe…

Yet truly we do not despise Councils, assemblies, & conferences of Bishops and learned men: neither have we done that we have done altogether above ⟨image 97⟩Bishops or without a Council. The matter hath ben treated in open Parliament, with long consultation, and before a notable Synod and Convocation.

Yet truely wee doe not despise Councelles, assemblies, & conferences of Bysshops and learned men: neyther haue we done yt wee haue done altogether •boue ⟨image 97⟩Byshops or without a Councell. The matter hath ben treated in open Parliament, with long consultation, and before a notable Synode and Conuocation.

But touching this Council which is now summoned by the Pope Pius, wherein men so lightly are condemned which have ben neither called, heard, nor seen, it is easy to guess what we may look for, or hope of it. In times paste when Nazianzene saw in his days how men in such assemblies were so blind and wilful, that they were carried with affections, and laboured more to get the victory then the trueth, he pronounced openly, that he never had seen a good end of any Council: what would he say now if he were • live at this day, and understood the heaving and shoving of these men? For at that time, though the matter were laboured on all sides, yet the controversies were well heard, and open errors were put clean away by the general voice of all parts: But these men ⟨image 98⟩will neither have the case to be freely disputed, nor yet how many errors soever there be, suffer they any to be changed. For it is a common custom of theirs, often and shamelessly to boast that their Church cannot err, that in it there is no fault, and that they must give place to us in nothing. Or if there be any fault, yet must it be tried by Bishops and Abbotes, only because they be the directors & Rulers of matters, and they be the Church of God. Aristotle saith, that a City cannot consist of Bastards: but whether the Church of God may consist of these men, let their own selves consider. For doubtless neither be the Abbots legitimate Abbotes, nor the Bishops natural right Bishops. But grant they be the Church: let them be heard speak in Councils: let them alone have authority to give consent: yet in old time when the Church of God (if ye will compare it with their Church) was very well governed, both Elders