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…

So likewise when Se•undus and Palladius rejected the Coū cell at Aquila, because it was not a general and a common Council, Ambrose Bishop of Milan made answer, that no man ought to take it for a new or strange matter that the Bishops of the west part of the world did call together Synods, and make private assemblies in their Provinces, for that it was a thing before then used by the west Bishops no few times, and by the Bishops of Grecia used oftentimes and commonly to be done. And so Charles the great being Emperor, held a provincial Council in Germany, for putting ⟨image 118⟩away Images, contrary to the second Council at Nice. Neither pardie even amongest us is this so very a strange and new a trade: for we have had ere now in England provincial Synods, and governed our Churches by home made laws. What should one say more? of a truth even those greatest Councils, and where most assembly of people ever was (whereof these men use to make such an exceeding reckoning) compare them with all the Churches which throughout the world acknowledge and profess the name of Christ, and what else I pray you can they seem to be, butte certain private Councils of Bishops, and provincial Synods? For admit peradventure, Italy, France, Spain, England, Germany, Denmark, and Scotland meet together, if there want Asia, Grecia, Armenia, Persia, Media, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, and Mauritania, in all which places ⟨image 118⟩there be both many Christian men and also Bishops, how can any man, being in his right mind, think such a Council to be a general Council? or where so many parts of the world do lack, how can they truly say, they have the consent of the whole world? Or what manner of Council, ween you, was the same last at Trident? Or how might it be termed a general Council, when out of all Christian kingdoms and Nations, there came unto it butte only forty Bishops, and of those some so cunning, that they might be thought meet to be sent home again to learn their Grammar, and so well learned, that they had never studied Divinity?

So likewise when Se•undus and Palladius reiected the Coū cell at Aquila, bicause it was not a generall and a common Councell, Ambrose Bysshoppe of Millaine made aunswere, that no man ought to take it for a newe or straunge matter that the Bysshops of the weste parte of the worlde didde call togeather Synodes, and make priuate assemblies in their Prouinces, for that it was a thing before then vsed by the west Bysshoppes no fewe times, and by the Bysshoppes of Grecia vsed oftentymes and cōmonly to be done. And so Charles the great being Emperour, held a prouinciall Councell in Germanie, for puttinge