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…

And therefore we know that divers times many good men and Catholic Bishops did tarry at home, and would not come when such Councils were called, wherein men so apparently laboured to serve factions and to take parts, because they knew they should but lose their travail and do no good, seeing where unto their enemies minds were so wholly bent. Athanasius denied to come when he was called by the Emperor to his Council at Caesarea, perceiving ⟨image 104⟩plain he should butte come among his enemies which deadly hated him. The same Athanasius when he came afterward to the Council at Sirmium, and foresaw what would be the end by reason of the outrage and malice of his enemies, he packed up his carriage, and went away immediately.¹ John Chrysostom, although the Emperor Constantius commanded him by four sundry letters to come to the Arians Council, yet kept he him self at home still.² When Maximus the Bishop of Jerusalem sate in the Council at Palestine, the old Father Paphnutius toke him by the hand and led him out at the doors saying: It is not lawful for us to confer of these matters with wicked men. The Bishops of the East would not come to the Syrmian Council, after they knew Athanasius had gotten himself thence again. Cyril called men back by letters from the Council of them, which ⟨image 104⟩were named Patropassians. Paulinus Bishop of Trier, and many others moe, refused to come to the Council at Milan, when they understood what a stir and rule Auxentius kept there: for they saw it was in vain to go thither, where not reason but faction should prevail, and where folk contended not for the truth and right judgement of the matter, butte for partiality and favour.

And therefore we knowe that diuers times many good men and Catholique Bysshops did tarry at home, and would not come when such Councels were called, wherein men so apparauntly laboured to serue factions and to take partes, bicause they knewe they should but lose their trauaile and dooe no good, seeinge where vnto their enemies mindes were so wholye bent. Athanasius denyed to come when hee was called by the Emperour to his Councell at Cesarea, perceiuinge ⟨image 104⟩