A04474:1611
A reply unto M. Hardinges answerA replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare
A reply unto M. Hardinges answer by perusing whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weak, and unstable grounds of the Romaine religion, which of late hath been accounted Catholic. By John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury.A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.
Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the sign of the Black Oliphant, by Henry Wykes, Anno. 1565Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Blacke Oliphante, by Henry VVykes, Anno. 1565
Article 4 › The B. of Salisbury.Article 4 › The B. of Sarisburie.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again the same Athanasius writing unto Felix,1 saith, The Arians had falsified the Nicene Council: but writing unto Marcus of the same matter, as a man that had utterly forgotten him self, he saith, The Arians had burnt the Council of Nice. But if it were burnt, how was it falsified? If it were falsified, how was it burnt? These tales hang not well together. But, for as much as M. Harding would so fain have the Pope to hold by burnt evidence, if it may please thee (gentle Reader) discreetly to weigh the whole circumstance of the matter, thou shalt soon find, that all this great ado was nothing else but a great fable.2 For first it appeareth by Theodoretus, that the whole Acts,3 and Copies of the Council of Nice, were sent abroad unto all Bishops that were away. And Marius Uictorinus writing against Arius, saith, that the same Acts were sent abroad into the whole world, & that many thousand Bishops subscribed and agreed unto them. Which thing being undoubtedly true, it were very much for M. Harding to say, that all these copies, in all parts of the world, could be destroyed upon the sudden: and that altogether in one place, and with one fire, and at one commandment. The Arians neither were so mighty to achieve it: nor so foolish to attempt it. Certainly, the like never happened to any other Council. But what needeth words, where the matter is plain?4 The Bishops of Africa had the very copies of these Canons. Alypius the Bishop of Tagasta, in this conference with Faustinus, saide, Adhuc tamen me movet, quoniam cùm inspiceremus Graeca exemplaria huius Synodi Nicenae, ista ibi nescio qua ratione, minimè inuenimus. But this one thing much moveth me, that conferring, and examining the Greek examples of this Nicene Council, these matters (of the superiority ⟨p. 238⟩of the See of Rome, that is alleged) I know not how, we found not there. And Cyrillus the Bishop of Alexandria, being desired for trial of this matter, to send the true Original of this Council, made answer in this sort, Necesse habui fidelissima exemplaria ex authentica Synodo vestrae charitati dirigere.