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

If Sir you will not believe me, and conceive I have feigned all this for Diversion and Sport, be but pleased to hear the Honourable Judgment, ⟨p. 173⟩and what the most sacred Faculty of the whole Sorbonne decreed in this case; that, say they, which our Master have said concerning a legitimate Assembly, is, That it is to be noted, that to the legitimate assembling of a Council, it is sufficient that the Solemnity and Form of the Law be solemnly observed: for if any man would bring this in question, whether the Prelates that sit there have a good Intention, and whether they be learned, and whether they have the Knowledge of the Holy Scripture, and a mind well disposed to sound Doctrine, the Process would be infinite; for they it seems who sit as mute as the Statues of Mercury, and know not in the least what Religion is, will yet answer wondrous well and aptly concerning the sum of Religion, and whatever they say, cannot possibly err.

If Sir you will not believe me, and conceive I have fain'd all this for Diversion and Sport, be but pleased to hear the Honorable Judgment, ⟨p. 173⟩and what the most sacred Faculty of the whole Sorbon decreed in this case; that, say they, which our Master have said concerning a legitimate Assembly, is, That it is to be noted, that to the legitimate assembling of a Council, it is sufficient that the Solemnity and Form of the Law be solemnly observed: for if any man would bring this in question, whether the Prelates that sit there have a good Intention, and whether they be learned, and whether they have the Knowledge of the Holy Scripture, and a mind well disposed to sound Doctrine, the Process would be infinite; for they it seems who sit as mute as the Statues of Mercury, and know not in the least what Religion is, will yet answer wondrous well and aptly concerning the sum of Religion, and whatever they say, cannot possibly err.

23.¹