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 to rehearse no more examples out of the old law, let us rather consider since the birth of Christ, how the Church hath ben governed in the Gospels time. The Christian Emperors in old time, appointed the Councils of the Bishops. Constantine called the Council at Nice, Theodosius the first, called the Council at Constantinople. Theodosius the second, the council at Ephesus, Martian ⟨image 109⟩the Council at Chalcedone: and when Rufine the heretic had alleged for authority, a Council which as he thought, should make for him: Hieroin his adversary to confute him, Tell us (quod hee) what Emperor commanded that Council to be called? The same Hierome again in his Epitaph upon Paula, maketh mention of the Emperors letters, which gave commandment to call the Bishops of Italy and Grecia to Rome to a Council. Continually for the space of five hundred years, The Emperor alone appointed the ecclesiastical assemblies, and called the Councils of the Bishops together.

And to rehearse no more exampls out of the old law, let vs rather cōsider since the birthe of Christ, howe the Churche hath ben gouerned in the Gospels time. The Christian Emperours in old time, appoincted the Councelles of the Bysshops. Constantine called the Councell at Nice, Theodotius the first, called the Councell at Constātinople. Theodotius the second, the councel at Ephesus, Martian ⟨image 109⟩the Councell at Chalcedone: and when Rufine the heretike had alleadged for authoritie, a Councell whiche as hee thought, shoulde make for him: Hieroin his aduerrsarie to confute him, Tell vs (quod hee) what Emperour commaunded that Councell to be called? The same Hierome againe in his Epitaphe vpon Paula, maketh mention of the Emperours letters, whiche gaue commaundement to call the Bysshoppes of Italie and Grecia to Rome to a Councel. Continuallye for the space of fiue hundreth yeares, Themperoure alone appointed thecclesiasticall assemblies, and called the Councelles of the Bysshops togither.

We now therefore marvel the more at the unreasonable dealing of the Bishop of Rome, who knowing what was the Emperors right when the Church was well ordered, knowing also that it is now a common right to all princes, for so much as Kings are now fully possessed in the several parts