Now to prove unto you, that* S. Sylvester assented to the calling of the first Council at Nice, it is to be considered, that he only hath authority to ratify, who hath authority to command, and to give assent and strength from the beginning. For none other difference is between commanding, assenting, authorizing, and ratifying, but that assenting is common to them all, commanding is a thing that goeth before the fact, authorizing is the making of a thing good by present agreeing to it, whiles it is done, ratifying is the allowing of it, when it is done. If then I show, both that the Pope did ratify the calling of the general Councils, and authorize them: I show much more that he assented to the calling of them. The authorizing is proved, by reason he sent his Legates to every of them. As‡ S. Sylvester sent Osius Cordubensis of the province of Spain unto Nice, with Victor and Vincentius, Priests of the City of Rome. Of which the last two, being them selves no Bishops, yet for that they were Legates of the chief Bishop, did in* the first place put unto the decrees of that council their consent and names, writing after thus sort: Pro venerabili vito Papa & Episcopo nostro Syluestro subscripsimus: We have subscribed for the reverent man our Pope and Bishop Sylvester. And at the very‡ same time, that the general council was kept at Nice, S. Sylvester called an other Council in Rome, at the which two hundred seventy and five Bishops were assembled. And it is expressly written in the same Council, Sylvester collegit universam Synodum Episcoporum cum consilio Augusti, vel matris eius: Syluester gathered together the whole Synod of the Bishops with the Counsel of the* Emperor or * his mother. Why his counsel was needful, it appeareth there. Because the Emperor bare the charges of their diet, and carriage. So that his counsel was necessary, not chiefly for Religion, but rather for supportation of the charges of so great a journey. For then neither was the Bishop of Rome, nor other Bishops endowed with so large possessions, as they were afterward.
Now to prooue vnto you, that* S. Syluester assented to the callinge of the firste Councell at Nice, it is to be considered, that he onely hath auctoritie to ratifie, who hath auctoritie to commaunde, and to geue assent and strength from the beginninge. For none other difference is betweene commaundinge, assentinge, auctorizinge, and ratifying, but that assentinge is common to them al, commaundinge is a thinge that goeth before the facte, auctorizinge is the makinge of a thinge good by present agreeinge to it, whiles it is donne, ratifyinge is the allowinge of it, when it is donne. If then I shewe, both that the Pope did ratifie the callinge of the generall Councels, and auctorize them: I shewe muche more that he assented to the callinge of them. The auctorizinge is proued, by reason he sente his Legates to euery of them. As‡ S. Syluester sent Osius Cordubensis of the prouince of Spaine vnto Nice, with Victor and Vincentius, Pr•estes of the Citie of Rome. Of which the last twoo, beinge them selues no Bishops, yet for that they were Legates of the chiefe Bishop, did in* the firste place put vnto the decrees of that councell their consent and names, writinge after thus sorte: Pro venerabili vito Papa & Episcopo nostro Syluestro subscripsimus: VVe haue subscribed for the reuerent man our Pope and Bishop Syluester. And at the very‡ same time, that the generall councell was kepte at Nice, S. Syluester called an other Councell in Rome, at the whiche two hundred seuenty and fiue Bishops were assembled. And it is expressely written in the same Councell, Syluester collegit vniuersam Synodum Episcoporum cum consilio Augusti, vel matris eius: Syluester gathered together the whole Synode of the Bishoppes with the Counsell of the* Emperour or * his mother. VVhy his counsell was needeful, it appereth there. Because the Emperoure bare the charges of their diete, and carriage. So that his counsell was necessary, not chiefely for Religion, but rather for supportation of the charges of so greate a iourney. For then neither was the Bishop of Rome, nor other Bishoppes endewed with so large possessions, as they were afterwarde.
- *Untruth. For Sylvester was dead long before the summoning of the Councel.Vntruthe. For Syluester vvas dead longe before the summoninge of the Councel.
- ‡Untruth, vain, and unadvised. For neither was Hosius Syluesters Legate, nor was Sylvester then alive.Vntruthe, vaine, and vnaduised. For neither vvas Hosius Syluesters Legate, nor vvas Syluester then aliue.
- *Untruth impudent. For they had the fourthe place in the Councel, and subscribed after Eustathius.Vntruthe impudente. For they had the fourthe place in the Councel, and subscribed after Eustathius.
- ‡Untruth. Onlesse a dead man may Summon Councils.Vntruth. Onlesse a dead man maie Summone Councelles.
- *By the Counsel of the Emperor, or of his Mother: wisely: He wotteth not whether. And yet the Emperors Mother was dead before: Sozom. Lib. 2. Ca. 2. &. 3.By the Counsel of the Emperoure, or of his Mother: vvisely: He vvoteth not vvhether. And yet the Emperours Mother vvas dead before: Sozom. Lib. 2. Ca. 2. &. 3.
