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…

How say ye, do we devise these tales? Is not this the course of the Councils in these days? are not all things removed from the whole holy Council and brought before the Pope alone? that as though nothing had ben don to purpose by the judgements and consents of such a number, he alone may add, alter, diminish, disannul, allow, remit and qualify what soever he list? whose words be these then? and why have the Bishops and Abbots in the last Council at Trident but of late concluded with saying thus in the end, Saving always the authority of the sea Apostolic in all things? Or why doth Pope Paschal write so proudly of him self as though saith he, there were any general Council able to prescribe a law to the Church of Rome,¹ whereas all coū cells both have ben made and have received their force & strength by the Church ⟨image 100⟩of Romes authority? and in ordinances made by Councils, is ever plainly excepted the authority of the Bishop of Rome. If they will have these things allowed for good, why be Councils called? but if they command then to be void, why are they left in their books as things allowable?

How saye ye, do wee deuise these tales? Is not this the course of the Councelles in these dayes? are not all thynges remoued from the whole holy Councell and brought before the Pope alone? that as though nothing had ben don to purpose by the iudgementes and consentes of suche a numbre, he alone maye adde, alter, diminishe, disanull, alow, remytt and qualifie what soeuer he lyst? whose wordes be these then? and whye haue the Byshoppes and Abbottes in the last Councell at Trident but of late concluded with sayng thus in thende, Sauing alwyes the auctoritie of the sea Apostolique in all thynges? Or whye doth Pope Pascall write so proudelie of him selfe as though saith he, there were any general Councell able to prescribe a law to the Church of Rome,¹ wheras al coū celles both haue ben made and haue receued their force & strength by the Church ⟨image 100⟩of Romes auctoritie? and in ordinaunces made by Councelles, is euer plainely excepted the auctoritie of the Byshop of Rome. Yf they will haue these thynges alowed for good, why be Councels called? but yf they commaunde then to be voyd, why are they left in their bokes as thinges alowable?