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 hereto some will reply: the Emperor in deed called Councils at that time ye speak of, because the Bishop of Rome was not yet grown so great as he is now,¹ but yet the Emperor did not then sit together with the Bishops in Council, or once bare any stroke with his authority in their consultation. I answer nay, that it ⟨image 110⟩is not so, for as witnesseth Theodorete, The Emperor Constantine sate not only together with them in the Council at Nice, butte gave also advice to the Bishops how it was best to try out the matter by the Apostles and Prophets writings, as appeareth by these his own words. In disputation (saith he) of matters of divinity, we have set before us to follow the doctrine of the holy Ghost. For the Evangelists and the Apostles works, and the Prophets sayings show us sufficiently what opinion we ought to have of the will of God. The Emperor Theodosius (as sayeth Socrates) did not only sit amongest the Bishops,² but also ordered the whole arguing of the cause, and tare in pieces the Heretics books, and allowed for good the judgement of the Catholics. In the Coū cell at Chalridone a Civil magistrate condemned for heretics by the sentence of his own mouth,³ the Bishops ⟨image 111⟩Dioseorus, Juvenal, and Thalasius, and gave judgement to put them down from that promotion in the Church. In the third Council at Constantinople, Constantine a civil Magistrate,⁴ did not only sit amongest the Bishops, but did also subscribe with, them: For saith he, we have both read and subscribed. In the second Council called Arausicanum, the Princes Ambassadors being noble men borne, not only spake their mind touching Religion, but set to their hands also, aswell as the Bishops. For thus is it written in the later end of that Coū cel, Petrus, Marcellinus, Felix and Liberius, being most noble men, and the famous Lieutenants and Captains of France, & also Peers of the Realm, have given their consent, and set to their hands. Further, Syagrius. Opilio, Pantagattus, Deodatus, Cariattho and Marcellus, men of very great honour have subscribed. If it be so then, that Lieutenants, chief Captains and