IF it be needful to know who ought to pressed in this assembly, for together the voices, and to govern all the whole action of the council. It is well known what order was set among the bishops, at the first council at Nice, abut it appeareth by the history that at that time there was no certainty of this preeminence to preside or be chief, but voluntarily the bishop of Alexandria did pressed among the bishops, as it appeareth by the acts of ⟨image 111⟩the first council of Nice, and of the first and second Council of Ephesus. And as concerning the Bishops of Rome, his Vicars had not out the fourth place in the Council of Nice. And where as he pressed in the Council of Chalcedon, it was of favour. As it appeareth by the request, which Leo bishop of Rome made to Martion the Emperor, and yet the successor of Leo, s••yned not for the first place, in the fifth council of Constantinople, against Menas Bishop of the said place. And also at the Provincial Council of Carthage, Aurelius presided without contradiction. There being present the Vicars of the bishop of Rome, who at the same council was condemned of falsehood, in the presence of Saint Augustine. But notwithstanding, Reason and Experience teacheth, that to give this degree to one certain place, without respect of the person, is a thing of it self most unreasonable. Although it were that the elections of the eccl[…]sticall pastors were done in ⟨p. 90⟩such order as appertained. For as it ought to be he who is most meet as far forth as man may judge, ought to be preferred before all others, as we see y• in the general council of Aquileia, S. Ambrose governed without any mention making of the Bishop of Rome. Who shall assure us y• the greatest towns hath always the best learned Pastors although they had respect (in choosing them) to learning and godly life? If reason do not content us, come to experience, yea, namely in a time far better without comparison then this our time. Let them read the Acts of the four first synods, and they shall find what disorders be happened of such Prelators of high pontifical s• ges, let them join to it the falseho•• of Boniface the. xl. Bishop of Rome, discovered & revealed in the third council of Carthage, about the year of God. iiij. C xxi.
IF it bée néedefull to knowe who ought to presede in thys assemblie, for togather the voyces, and to gouerne all the whole action of the councell. It is well knowen what order was set amonge the bishoppes, at the first councell at Nyce, abut it appeareth by the historye that at that tyme there was no certentie of this proheminence to prefede or be chiefe, but voluntarily the byshoppe of Alexandria did presede amonge the byshoppes, as it appeareth by the actes of ⟨image 111⟩the first councell of Nice, and of the first and seconde Councell of Ephesus. And as concernyng the Bishoppes of Rome, his Vicars had not out the fourth place in the Counsell of Nice. And where as he presed in the Councell of Chalcedon, it was of fauoure. As it appeareth by the request, which Leo bishop of Rome made to Martion the Emperoure, and yet the successour of Leo, s••yned not for the first place, in the fifth councel of Constantinople, agaynste Menas Bishop of the sayde place. And also at the Prouinciall Councell of Carthage, Aurelius prefed without• contradi••ion. There beeing present the Vicares of the bishop of Rome, who at the same councell was condemned of falshoode, in the presence of Sainct Augustine. But notwithstandyng, Reason and Experience teacheth, that to giue this degree to one certayne place, without respect of the person, is a thyng of it selfe moste vnreasonable. Althoughe it were that the elections of the eccl〈…〉sticall pastours were done in ⟨p. 90⟩such order as appertayned. For as it ought to be he who is most méete as far forth as mā may iudge, ought to be preferred before al others, as we see y• in the generall counsell of Aquile, S. Ambrose gouerned without any mencion making of the Bishop of Rome. Who shall assure vs y• the greatest townes hath alwaies ye best learned Pastors although they had respect (in chosing them) to learning and godly life? If reason do not content vs, come to experience, yea, namely in a time far better without comparison then this our tyme. Let them reade the Acts of the fowre first synodes, and they shall finde what disorders be happened of such Prelators of hye pontyficall s• ges, let them ioygne to it the falseho•• of Boniface the. xl. Bishop of Rome, discouered & reuealed in the third counsell of Carthage, about the yeare of God. iiij. C xxi.
- a6. Canon. 7.
