But touching the forgery of this Council of Nice, the very beginning of the quarrel, and the whole story standeth thus: One Apiarius a Priest of the Church of Sicca in Africa, as it appeareth, a very il man, being justly excommunicate, both by his own Bishop, and also by a great number of other Bishops together in the Council there, appealed from them all unto Zosimus then Bishop of ⟨p. 236⟩Rome. Zosimus without further knowledge of the cause,1 never hearing the other party, pronounced Apiarius to be innocent, & restored him to the Communion. And understanding there was a Council gathered in Africa touching the same, sent thither Faustinus the Bishop of Potentia, with two other priests of Rome, Philippus, & Asellus, not only to see, that the said Ap•arius without any further trial might be restored unto his right, but also to make plea in the open Council, that it should be lawful for any priest to appeal from his own ordinary, or Metropolitan, or Council, unto the Apostolic See of Rome. The Bishops of Africa answered,2 there was no law it should be so. Faustinus laid forth this Canon of the Council of Nice, not made by the authority of the Bishops there, but only devised by the Bishop of Rome. The Bishops there, among whom was S. Augustine that famous learned Father,3 thought it was a forged matter, & therefore said,4 they would send unto Alexandria, Antioch, & Constantinople, for the very Original copies of the said Council,5 and desired the Bishop of Rome to do the same:6 and said, that in the mean while they would do, as they had done before. Upon this Message, and return of the answer with the true Authentic copies from Cyrillus the Bishop of Alexandria, & Atticus the Bishop of Constantinople, it appeared plainly unto the world, that the Canons were corrupted, & that the Pope had falsified the holy Council: and to the intent to advance his Apostolic See of Rome, had devised Privileges, and Prerogatives of his own. Here might• M. Harding well bestow his terms: Here might he truly say, The Pope coggeth and foisteth the die, The Pope bombasteth the Canons of Councils, and the Decrees of holy Fathers with his counterfeit stuffing. The Bishops in the Council of Africa,7 having thus throughly examined the trueth hereof, wrote unto Coelestinus being then Bishop of Rome, in this wise: Decreta Nicena &c.
But touchinge the forgerie of this Councel of Nice, the very beginninge of the quarel, and the whole storie standeth thus: One Apiarius a Priest of the Churche of Sicca in Aphrica, as it appeareth, a very il man, beinge iustly excommunicate, bothe by his owne Bishop, and also by a great number of other Bishoppes togeather in the Councel there, appealed from them al vnto Zosimus then Bishop of ⟨p. 236⟩Rome. Zosimus without further knowlege of the cause,1 neuer hearinge the other partie, pronounced Apiarius to be innocent, & restoared him to the Cōmunion. And vnderstandinge there was a Councel geathered in Aphrica touchinge the same, sent thither Faustinus the Bishop of Potentia, with twoo other priestes of Rome, Philippus, & Asellus, not onely to sée, that the saide Ap•arius without any further trial might be restoared vnto his right, but also to make plea in the open Councel, that it should be lawful for any prieste to appeale from his owne ordinarie, or Metropolitane, or Councel, vnto the Apostolique See of Rome. The Bishoppes of Aphrica answeared,2 there was no law it shoulde be so. Faustinus laide foorth this Canon of the Councel of Nice, not made by the authoritie of the Bishops there, but onely diuised by the Bishop of Rome. The Bishops there, emonge whome was S. Augustine that famous learned Father,3 thought it was a forged mater, & therfore saide,4 they woulde sende vnto Alexandria, Antioche, & Constantinople, for the very Original copies of the saide Councel,5 and desired the Bishop of Rome to doo the same:6 and saide, that in the meane while they woulde doo, as they had done before. Upon this Message, and returne of the answeare with the true Authentique copies from Cyrillus the Bishop of Alexandria, & Atticus the Bishop of Constantinople, it appeared plainely vnto the worlde, that the Canons were corrupted, & that the Pope had falsified ye holy Councel: and to thintent to auaunce his Apostolique Sée of Rome, had diuised Priuileges, and Prerogatiues of his owne. Here might• M. Hardinge wel bestowe his termes: Here mighte he truely say, The Pope coggeth and foisteth the die, The Pope bombasteth the Canons of Councelles, and the Decrees of holy Fathers vvith his counterfeite stuffinge. The Bishoppes in the Councel of Aphrica,
- 1The Pope a forger.
- 2Concil. Carthaginen. 6. Ca. 3.
- 3Ca. 4.
- 4They would not thus have done, if they had thought, all the Originals, and Copies had been burnt.They would not thus haue doone, if they had thought, al the Originales, and Copies had been burnte.
- 5Ca. 7.
- 6Concil. Aphrican. Ca. 102.
- 7Concil. Aphrican. Cap. 105.
