The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

7. THERE were some amongst them, who observed that many Errors were crept into the Church. Pope Adrian, Aeneas, Sylvius, Cardinal Pool, Pighius, and others• as we have said: After which, they had a Council at Trent, in the same place where there is one now indicted. Many Bishops and Abbots, and others who ought to be in a Council met; they were alone, and there was no body to disturb them whatever they did; for they had taken care to exclude all that were for the Reformation, and there they sate with a great Expectation six years; ⟨p. 113⟩in the first six months they decreed many things concerning the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, which were pious, but no way necessary for those Times; and yet of all these clear, manifest, confessed Errors which had gotten into the Church, what one single Error or Corruption have they reformed? From what kind of Idolatry have they reclaimed the People? What Superstition have they taken away? What part of their Tyranny and Pomp have they abated or diminished? as if the World were so blind that it could not see and observe that this is a Conspiracy rather than a Council, and that all the Bishops which the Pope have there called together, are sworn and addicted to his Interest, and resolved before hand, not to do any thing but what shall please him, and increase his Power, and which they see he desireth; or that Votes there are not numbered rather than considered and weighed; or that the wiser and better part of the Council, is not often overborne by the greater, but worse part of it. And therefore we know perfectly well, that many good Men and Catholic Bishops, when such Councils were indicted, and they saw clearly that Parties and Factions were served by them, and that they should lose their Pains, and harden the Minds of their Adversaries by their Oppositions, without doing the least Good, have wisely staid at home, and refused to be present in them.¹ Athanasius would not come to the Council at Caesarea, when he was called by the Emperor, seeing he should there meet an enraged parcel of Enemies; and afterwards ⟨p. 114⟩when he came to the Council at Syrmium, and in his mind foresaw from the Fury and Malice of his Enemies, what the Event would be, he packed up his Carriages, and went away immediately.