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

8. POPE Leo, a Man sufficiently kind to himself, and who did not in any thing neglect the Authority of his See, did yet most humbly supplicate Martian the Emperor, that he would be pleased to call a Council in Italy, because that Country did then seem most convenient for that purpose; his Words are these: All the Priests do most earnestly beseech your Clemency, that You would be pleased to command a General Synod to be celebrated in Italy. But this Emperor, that he might show that he had the Right of calling Councils, and none but he; commanded the Council to meet at Chalcedon in Bithynia, and not in Italy, where the Pope did most violently desire it should have been held. And when Ruffinus, in the Contest which he had with St. Jerome, alleged a Synod, tell us (said St. Jerome) what Emperor commanded it to meet; St. Jerome did not think a General Council of any great Validity, except some of the Emperors called it. Now I do not inquire what Emperor commanded the Bishops to meet now at Trent; but only whether the Pope (who takes so much upon him) hath consulted with the Emperor about holding this Council, and what Christian King or Prince has he prae-acquainted with his Will? Now to break in upon the Rights of another, and to assume to a mans self what belongs to another man ⟨p. 153⟩by Fraud or Force is injurious, and for him to abuse the Clemency of Princes, and to command them as if they were his Servants, is a superlative and intolerable piece of Injury and contumely, and it would be an equal Injustice in us to confirm and allow that Injury and Insolence of his by our Compliance; and therefore if we should only reply, That this Council of yours at Trent is not lawfully called, and that nothing relating to it has been rightly and orderly managed by Pope Pius, no man can with any Justice blame our Absence.

8. POPE Leo, a Man sufficiently kind to himself, and who did not in any thing neglect the Authority of his See, did yet most humbly supplicate Martian the Emperor, that he would be pleas'd to call a Council in Italy, because that Country did then seem most convenient for that purpose; his Words are these: All the Priests do most earnestly beseech your Clemency, that You would be pleased to command a General Synod to be celebrated in Italy. But this Emperor, that he might shew that he had the Right of calling Councils, and none but he; commanded the Council to meet at Chalcedon in Bithynia, and not in Italy, where the Pope did most violently desire it should have been held. And when Ruffinus, in the Contest which he had with St. Jerome, alledged a Synod, tell us (said St. Jerome) what Emperor commanded it to meet; St. Jerome did not think a General Council of any great Validity, except some of the Emperors call'd it. Now I do not inquire what Emperor commanded the Bishops to meet now at Trent; but only whether the Pope (who takes so much upon him) hath consulted with the Emperor about holding this Council, and what Christian King or Prince has he prae-acquainted with his Will? Now to break in upon the Rights of another, and to assume to a mans self what belongs to another man