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…

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 Abbo•tes, 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 Abbo•tes, 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 ⟨image 98⟩and Deacons as saith Cyprian, and certain also of the common people were called there unto, and made acquainted with ecclesiastical matters.

But touchyng this Councell whiche is now sōmoned by ye Pope Pius, wherin men so lightly are condemned whiche haue ben neither called, hearde, nor seene, yt is easie to gesse what we maye looke for, or hope of yt. In times paste when Nazianzene sawe in his daies how men in suche assemblies were so blynde and wilfull, that they were caried with affections, and laboured more to get the victory then ye trueth, he pronounced openly, that he neuer had sene a good ende of any Councell: what woulde he say now yf he were liue at this daye, and vnderode the heauing and shoving of these men? For at that time, though the matter were laboured on all sydes, yet the controuersies were wel heard, and open errours were put cleane awaye by the generall voice of all partes: But these men