to him What soever hath bin necessarily done in the holy Synode we refer them to your Godlinesse We desire also that the sentence of the Synode may bee confirmed by your Maiesties writing And as you did honour vs when you called vs hither by your letters so wee desire that of those things which are decreed you would by signing them put an end to all things The third is the Councell of Ephesus called likewise by the Emperours authority 3. Of Ephesus Theodosius the younger Valentinian wherein there is so plaine evidence as in none more plainer For the Councell it selfe confesseth seaven times in seaven Epistles that they came together by the appointment of their authorities And often times they say by their sentence Secundumo raculum man datum rescriptum commandement letters In this Epistle they say wherevpon we all fly to the authoritie of your highnesse be seeching the same that those things which are enacted against Nestorius and those that are gon astray with him may haue their force and strength And that those things whereof Nestorius is autor may be void and disanulled The councell of Chalcedon 4. Chalcedon being the last of the first foure witnesseth as much The Synod was assembled by the decree of the most Godly and faith full Emperours Valentinian and Martian In their Epistle this The holy and great councell was called together by the grace of God and decrees of your highnesse The same words are expressed by them when they relate what was done in the councell And of them that is Et ab illis denique missionē perunt ut Ephesini of the Emperours the Councell craue leaue to depart as those of Ephesus did And Martian saith We confirme the reverend Synod by the sacred decree of our highnesse .. This truth is so strong De conc eccl l. 1. c. 13. that Bellarmine although he purposely intended the overthrow of it yet doth he plainly confesse it He addeth 4 reasons to shew why the first fower Generall councels whereof I spake before were called by the Emperours but he addeth to dawbe vp the matter A Glosse besides the text Our question is by whose authority and not by whose consent councels were called It was with the consent and minde of the Pope whē our question here is by whose authority not by whose consent they were called As if the question were by whose authority is war proclaimed Bellarmine should say It is indeede by the Princes authority but not without the consent of the nobles commons therefore authority of proclaiming warre belongeth not to the Prince Besides the Emperours required the consent of the other Patriarches 4 Reasons of Bellarmine to proue that the Emperours called the first 4. generall councells aswell as of the Bishop of Rome but the Supreame right authoritie remaineth in them But to leaue Bellarmine in his poore excuse to come to his 4. reasons thus they stand 1. Because at that time the ancient law imperiall was in force which did forbidde al assemblies and companies of men without the Emperours authority because the Emperours feared seditions and tumults might haue arisen 2 If that law had not beene in force yet seeing the Emperours governed the world in great peace a councell could not bee held but in some imperiall citty and no reason it is that an assēbly should be made to one citty out of the whole world without the licence of the Lord of that place From hence it appeareth that the Pope had not all temporal Lordship deminion and rule as now they claime for him as now at this day if a councel be held out of the territories of the Pope as in France Spaine or Germanie without doubt his cōsent must be asked in whose citty or province it is 3. Because in those times generall councels were made by the publike charges especially touching the bringing of the Bishops to the place where the councell was For they were carried on horses or in citty wagons without charge of the churches And touching that of Nice during the time of the councell al the bishops lived at the charge of the Emperour This appeareth also out of Theodoret Eccl. hist 2.16 where in the conference betweene Liberius the Bishop of Rome and Constantius the Emperour Liberius for the equity of his cause prayed that a generall councell be summoned answere was made the publike revennues woulde not serue for the bringing of the Bishops 4. Because although at that time the Pope was head over all even Emperours in spirituall things yet in temporall matters The Pope could doe nothing against the Emperours mind hee did subiect himselfe to the Emperours and therefore he could doe nothing without the Emperours goodwil And when he might haue only prayed aide of the Emperour for the calling of a Synod yet because hee acknowledged the Emperour his Temporall Lord he did beseech him The pope beseecheth the Emperour that he would command a Synod to be called But after those times all those causes were changed Factum alterius alij nocere non debet and therefore aske quo iure For that imperiall lawe first spoken of doth not now stand in force and the Pope who is head in spirituall matters is not now subiect to the Emperour in temporall Thus far Bellarmine But O tempora o mores O vnequall times that so many things should be then lawfull whereof not one of them shall bee now lawfull Then the Pope intreated the Emperour now the Pope commandes him or at least not intreats him Then the Pope was subiect to the Emperour in temporall things now he is not so that is to say the Emperour is now no Emperour nor the Pope no Pope But in former times tempora mutantur The Emperour was Emperour indeed Pope Pope indeede that is hee was obedient to the Emperour as he ought Then the Romane Empire stood firme vpright nowe saith Bellarmine Romanum imperium iam ferè deletum est De nom Pon. l. 2. c. 2 § praedicit the Romane Empire is almost extinct A pleasant time for Antichrist Thus haue I proved sufficiently I trust that the first fowre general Councels were called by the Emperours authority that they were confirmed by them not one of them by the Pope nor any of them in Italy all without his command in places far remote from him in Greece where the world knoweth he was little respected Other confirmation of this truth there is out of the Ecclesiasticall histories of Eusebius in the life of Constātine Ecclesiasticall histories omitted in this Socrates Sozomene Theodoret and Evagrius al which do deliver a perfect summme of the churches infancie groth and perfectest estate for the space of 600 yeeres after Christ and in most ample maner shew that that supremacie in Ecclesiasticall matters which wee now seek for was then resiant in the Christian Emperours and not in
kingly and Priestly authority protect those things which appertaine to an holy confession The kings authoritie and Priestly functiō must ioin in one Epist 33. The Churches hope rests vpon the Emperour and he commandeth the Bishops to stand to the Councell of Nice Is not this a part of the Supremacy wee seeke for In the 33 Epistle to Theodosius the Emperour thus he beginneth Your Maiestie hath given vs great hope of quietnesse in al your letters but especially now amongst all those cares which wee sustaine for the faith in condemning the councel of Nice because you will not suffer the Priestes of the Lord to goe from it And toward the ende thus And to the ende that a speedier fuller effect by Gods helpe might be brought to our profitable indeavors by the faith of your clemency I haue sent my Bretheren fellow Bishops to your highnesse whose religion to me is knowne by whom you may as it becommeth take notice They account to the Emperour what their faith is what the substance of our faith is according to those instructions we haue sent that so if the Bishop of Constantinople doe consent with all his heart in the same confession we may reioice in saftie of the Churches peace and that nothing seeme to remaine doubtfull or that peradventure we may nourish vaine suspicions But if any doe dissent from the puritie of our faith and the authoritie of the fathers Let your clemency graunt a generall councell to be held within Italy Leo and his Bishops desire the Emperour for another Councell as the Synode which is met at Rome for the same cause doe desire with me that all meeting together remedies of amendment may bee provided forthose that are fallen evē either through ignorance or feare that henceforth it be free for none so to mention the Nicene Councell The Emperour must see that none violate the Councel of Nice Two religions in one kingdome not to bee suffered as to be found contrary to the faith of it because it is Good for the Catholike Church and this your Empire if one God one faith one mystery of mans salvation be held through the world in one confession The 35. epistle is writtē to Pulcheria the Empresse touching those things Epist 25. Leo the Bishop to Pulcheria the Empresse which he requested before of Theodosius the Emperour wherin after his accustomed due praises given her And his own desire to know what the Bishop of Constantinople helde in that point of the incarnation of the sonne of God as was meet He commeth to this To the obtaining therefore of a staidnes in dispositions I haue sent my brethren and fellow Bishops to offer vnto your clemencie a forme of faith They offer a forme of faith to the Empresse which according to the do of the reverende fathers we preach which messengers after the divine grace it is meete be furthered Next and immediatly vnder God c. by the devout helpe of your godlines least contention trouble the whole church from which faith if some perhaps do disagree Let there be a general coūcell of Priests called within Italie with the consent gf your highnesse whereby all deceipt laide aside it may appeare what things ought to be withstood or amended by a longer handling In the 38. epistle to the Emperour Martianus successor to Theodosius Epist 38. Leo Episcopus Martiano sēper Augusto hee writeth That hee is glad that hee hath received his highnes letters for the good of the church whereof he is so carefull Martianus succeeded Theodosius whō God hath chosen to defend the Catholike faith from the snares of her enemies And this hee desireth his godlines to accept in briefe promising to direct his larger letters in those things which belong vnto his charge touching the affaires of the church the agreement of the priests of the Lord. Epist 39. In which he giveth thankes that she by defending of the faith had overthrowne the heresie of Nestorius and Eutiches The 39. Epistle is directed to the Empresse Pulcheria and beginneth thus Quod semper de sancta pietatis vestrae mente praesump simus id plenissimè experiendo cognovimus c. That which we did ever perswade our selues of touching the good intent of your Godlinesse wee know it fully now by experience which is that the Christiā faith although it be invaded with the many designes of the wicked yet in your presence prepared for defence thereof by the Lord it cannot be confoūded For the Lord doth not forsake the mistery of his loue nor the desert of your labor The Prince thrust out the hereticke and restored the Catholike Bishops that were displaced both which are actions belonging to that supremacy we seeke for wherby ere while you expelled the crafty enimy of true religion out of the bowels of the church This is the second victory you haue gotten in slaying the heresie of Eutiches It is good therefore to be glad with ioy and for the prosperitie of your clemencie to pay my due vowes to the Lord who thorow al parts of the world where the Gospell is preached hath gotten you a double crowne victory Let your clemency know thus much that the whole Roman church doth very much reioice in all the workes of your faith In what regard wee ought to haue the Reliques of the Martyres Read Rainolds de Rom. Eccl. Idol l. 1. c. 9. § 2. c. 2 § 2. Epist 43. Leo Episcopus Martiano Augusto whether it be in that you helped our message with a godlie affection and that you brought back againe the Catholik Priests who were vniustly cast out of the churches Or in that you caused the reliques of the innocent Catholike priest Flavianus to be brought backe with due honour to that church over which hee was set The 43. Epistle is directed to the Emperour Martianus touching the message which in his stead he directed to Cōstantinople for having a councel at Chalcedon and beginneth thus I had surely desired of your glorious clemēcie that the synode by vs requested for recovering of the peace of the East church which you also thought necessary should be a little while deferred till further opportunity that those Bishops also might come thether with freer minds whom the feare of wrong doth withholde But because with a religious care you preferre divine things before humane affaires do religiously truely beleeue that it wil be profitable for the strength of your kingdome if there be no differēce in opinion amongst the priests or discorde in the preaching of the Gospell neither do I withstand your orders wishing that the Catholike faith which can be but one be planted in the hearts of al men The former Ephesine coūcell The 1 Councell of Ephesus did iustly deservedly condemne Nestorius together with his opinion and who soever doth continue in that error can attaine to no hope of pardon
wrangle but by the latter is found a manifest deceiver These and such other quarrels I desire all sorts of Readers whatsoever may bee forborne because the malice of man can never worke the workes of God being neither materiall for our purpose Or if I should manifestly erre in my translation mistaking one place for another or such other of as small consequence Stapl. ut ante pag. 21. mistaketh one place for another as Stapleton himselfe did whē he began to tax others saying Bizancenus Primas the Primate of Bizance otherwise called Constan tinople had been accused Looke the Protestants appeale by D. Morton l. 1. c. 2. Sect. 28. c. where indeed neither had the Primate of Constantinople bin then accused or doth Bizancenus Primas signifie there the Primate of Constantinople for some read it Bizacenus but it is a word taken from Bizaceum a province in Africa and not from Bizantium the cittie of Constantinople Such oversightes as these may alight on any But I leaue these and come to Leos Epistles Leo the Bishop to Theodosius the Emperour Epist 7. THus he beginneth Quontum praesidij Dominus Ecclesiae suae in fide vestrae clementiae praeparavit c. What strength the Lord hath gottē for his Church by means of the vprightnesse of your Maiestie is evē shewed by these letters which you haue now sent vnto me Rex est mixta persona cum Sacerdote insomuch that wee doe reioice that you haue not onely a kingly mind but also a priestlike surely besides the publike affaires of the Empire We place a part of the kings supremacy in this True religion is the roote of all true vertues the stay of all well ordered cōmon weales your Highnesse hath a most Godly care of the Christian religion that amongst the people of God neither schismes nor heresies doe grow quia tunc est optimus regnivestri status because then the state of your kingdomes is in best temper when you are served with the confession of one everlasting and immutable Trinitie of one Deity And so going on certifying the Emperour what had hapned at Constantinople touching Eutiches a priest there whom Flavianus the Bishop had put from the Communion Flavianus put Eutiches frō the communion the cause why the Bishop of Rome yet knewe not He commeth to this Et quia causae meritum And because the necessity of the businesse the respect had to religion and the laudable care of your Godlinesse doth require it It is necessary that a way bee not given to these breaches But first of all wee ought to haue been made acquainted with those thinges whereof Flavianus iudgeth Eutiches worthy of blame that of thinges rightly knowne right iudgement might be given Thus writeth hee to the Emperour because his brother Flavianus Archbishop of Constantinople had not certified him of the businesse touching Eutiches Epist 8. Dilectissimo fratri Flaviano Epis copo Leo episcopus By this it appeareth that the Emperour sate not idle when these businesses were a doing In the next Epistle hee writeth to Flavianus himselfe demaunding why Eutiches was separated from the Communion beginning thus When the most Christian clement Emperour being of an holy and praise worthy faith carefull for the peace of the Catholike Church hath sent vs letters touching those men who with you haue raised tumults I marvell that your Brotherhood whatsoever the offence was would let vs bee ignorant thereof Flavianus inhis 2. epistle to Leo saith he did so much to the Emrour Et ideò quia dilectio tua de tanta causa nos videt necessariò esse solicitos quā plenissime lucide vniversa nobis quod ante facere sestinet I thinke that this sentēce in my booke is vnperfict and not rather haue provided that frō you the first report might haue come vnto vs least wee should doubt of the truth of thinges done After this comming to tell Flavianus howe Eutiches had both delivered his whole declaration of the matter in writing and report thereof beside vnto Leo he commeth in the ende to conclude thus And therefore because your lovingnes doth see that we are necessarily careful of so weightie a matter make hast to let vs knowe all things touching it fully and cleerely as be fore you should least betweene reports we be deceived with some doubt and discord which in the beginning is to bee crushed be nourished seeing that reverence remaineth in our heart God inspiring it that the ordinance of our reverend Fathers which are strengthened from aboue bee not depraved by the naughty dealing of any one The letters of Flavianus to Leo. Flavianus now vpon this according to Leos desire writeth vnto him Of the slights of the Divell in one Chapter 1. Of the craftinesse of heretickes in another 2. Of the blasphemies of Eutiches in the third 3. And of his iust excommunication in the fourth 4. in these words But not to be long least I make a long letter what we haue done formerly we haue sent the businesse to your Godlinesse by letters in which we haue expressed that he is deprived of his Presbytership because he is so deceived Flavianus excommunicated Eutiches before Leo did know it Then be the all the bishops of the world lived not vnder the Pope and we haue commanded him not to meddle with the Monasteries and wee haue put him from our fellowship that your holynes knowing thus much what is done concerning him would vouchsafe to manifest his impiety to all the Bishops who liue vnder your holine least some of them not knowing what hee holdeth they may conferre with him as with a right beleever either by their letters or some other familiaritie Leo vrbis Ro mae Episcop Theodosio semper Augusto The ninth epistle is againe directed vnto Theodosius the Emperour where recounting what he had written vnto him of his detestation of heresie The Pope relateth his faith to the Emperour and his standing firm in the decrees of the Niceene Councell with his accurse given against the impious heresie of Nestorius and of some others he cōmeth to this Vnde si pietas vestra suggestioni ac supplicationi nostrae dignetur annuere c. The Pope desiveth the Emperour that a coūcell may be held within Italie Whervpon if your godlines wil vouch safe to favour our motion supplication that you would commaunde a councell of Bishops to be held within Italie all scandals which are raised in disturbance of the whole church will quickly by the helpe of God be defeated that so wee may reioice when the integrity of the catholike faith thorough all your dominions is kept safe and the Christian peace remaine and your glory with God be increased Caesari Theodosio religiosissmo piissimo Augusto Leo Papa Ecclesiae catholicae urbis Romae Next vnder God the Emperours care preserved religion The 12. epistle is directed to the
ECLOGARIVS OR BRIEFE SVMME OF THE TRVTH OF THAT Title of Supreame Governour given to his Maiestie in causes Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall from the Kings of Israell in the old Testament the Christian Emperours in the Primitiue Church confirmed by 40. Epistles of Leo the Bishop of Rome vnto the Emperours Theodosius Martianus and Leo. Not published before BY IOHN PANKE Gratian decrees Causa 23. Quaest 5. cap. 20. Let the Princes of the world knowe that they of duty shall render an account to God for the Church which they haue taken of Christ to preserue For whether the Peace and discipline be increased by faithful Princes or it be loosed he doth exact of them an accompt who hath delivered his Church to be committed to their power AT OXFORD Printed by Joseph Barnes 1612. TO THE CHRISTIAN REAder whether Protestant or Romish Catholike THE question of late risen since his Maiesties raigne Christian Reader whether Protestant or Romish Catholike are especially now about the oath of allegiance made in Parlament and commanded by his Maiestie and the state to be taken by every Subiect for the security of his Highnes person and life if ought should be intended against him The exceptions against the said oath are iustly none but only a commandement there is from the Pope in his Breues forbidding the Romish Catholike the taking thereof Now because his Maiestie himselfe In his Apologie for the oath of allegiance hath in a Princely care of satisfying his subiects of his intent therein and Priestly iudgement laid open himselfe confuted those Breues Iallude to Constantines Communis Episcopus Euseb de vit Const l 1. c. 37. Pope Paule 5. needles it is for any man after him further to write in defence of what he hath iustified But since the pretence of the Pope in his Breeues and of Bellarmines letter to the Arch-priest Blackwell was to insinuate that vnder colour of swearing to the oath of allegiance they should bee forced that tooke it to sweare something against the Popes supremacie in spirituall matters which being not by that oath intended his Maiestie hath in an holy and painefull regard to satisfie those whom any thing would satisfie set his pen to paper againe acknowledging the former worke to bee his owne and added thereto a premonition to all Christian Monarches free Princes and States containing most sweet doctrine of his owne faith besides many plaine evidences that the Pope is Antichrist holding the same intent in both proveth sufficiently in both that those two oaths haue their contrarie ends and are nothing like each to other and that they who take the one are not therefore charged with the other The like answer againe receiued Bellarmine from the Archpriest Mat. Tortus calling himselfe Bellar. chaplen but was Bellarmine himselfe in defence of his taking the said oath as also Bellarm. vnder the name of Tortus first and of Bellarmine after from the Reverend Bishop of Ely Now because in this conflict betweene the Church of Rome and vs for this later oath of allegiance The oath of allegiance that former of his Maiesties supremacie in spirituall matters should neither lie forgottē as though it were not nor be mistaken through ignorance by those who vnderstand it not I will because perhapps to me is ministred some speech thereof which to others is not shew all men out of the true records of all antiquitie the truth equity thereof That as in this last his Maiestie requireth nothing of the takers thereof but saftie for him and his as by an oath of true allegiance against those that shall seek his life so in the former hee intendeth to vsurpe nothing in spirituall and ecclesiastical matters that is belonging to the Church but to practise that power which the Godly kinges of Israell in their times about the same matters and the most Christian and best Emperors of the world ever practised and vsed in all their daies thereby to exclude all forraine power and iurisdiction which any Prelate Prince or Potentate shal execute or promote in his dominions the safty of taking both oathes and the truth of both being both alike Much labour I confesse hath formerly bin bestowed and many treatises written by worthie Defence of the Apology by B. Iuell part 6. B. Horn against Fecknam B Bridges against Staplet counter blast B. Winchester that now is in his Dialogues D. Rainolds cōference with Hart part ult Tortura Torti Vincent Lyrinensis cont haeres c. 27. Eadem quae didicisti ita doce ut cum dicas nove nō dicas nova and reverend men in this famous kingdome touching the explication and explanation of the said oath some whereof having long since passed and others at this present published in latine the former those it concerneth will not now pervse as breeding forsooth fastidiousnesse the other in latine through their owne disabilitie some of them cannot take any profit by so that I am in good hope onely by a few new collections in few sheets of paper to win both their attentions though not to a new matter yet set downe in a newe maner Further I am taught by the wise that in a time of danger to the Church it is not amisse that many though some of them bee but meanely qualified should write for although they write all of the same things yet may it bee in other forme and words And that it is necessarie that an adversarie should know Bellarm. in the the preface to the reader in his 1 Tom. and 1 controv out of Augustine that in the cōtrary campe there are not one only or two but many that dare incounter with them This commoditie besides commeth of many writing that quicklier and easier our books may come to the hāds of all though not all to every one yet one or other to al and so every man shall bee furnished with some thing And to say the truth I haue a desire to draw on the Papist in this to answer beyond his ordinary glosse Old Testaments warrant For although the history of the olde Testament giue absolute and vnevitable grounds for warrant of what we seeke Ecclesiasticall histories The Ecclesiastical histories for 600. yeares better after Christ in the best times of the most Christian Emperours giue proofe of what his Maiestie doth yet am I willing herein to presse them with a witnesse without exception Leo the great Pope of Rome florished anno 440 In his Epistles to the Emperour Theodosius Martianus Leo to the Empresses Pulcheria Eudocia Eudoxia in folio an 1569. from whom by them lyeth no appeal and doe adiure them by the honour they would seeme to beare to that sea whereof he was Bishop to speake plainely and directly to tell me after they haue considered of the true state of the questiō some other premises whether hee in this ioyne not with vs giue to the Emperors in his time by his letters as much
the Pope Generall councels there are also somewhat be yond the time spoken of in the raigne of Charles the great which might bee here brought in but at this time I will leaue the prosequutiō of any of those authorities of purpose because I hasten to an author of great credit with our adversaries which is Leo the bishop of Rome mētioned before in whom I desire thē but to see what he gaue to the Emperours in his time how fitly his testimonie fitteth our purpose and request of them but this that if they find that he gaue the Emperours as much as we giue his Maiestie and that we giue his Maiestie no more than he giveth them they woulde hence forth surcease to refuse that which is iust or if it be vniust to condemne those pious and godly Emperours of intrusion vpon the Popes right as they doe his Maiestie For the trāslation of the Epistles I must craue pardon of any curious eie that shall compare them with the originals if they find my barren English short in expressing the elegancie of Leos latine stile Leo epist 83. ad Palestinos Monachos Non valentes in Graecum eloquiurn aptè propriè Latina transferre c. since in things of this nature as an vnskilfull interpreter I am not able as he cōplaineth himselfe of some other to put the Latin phrase aptly and kindly into our English tongue seeing in expressing hard difficult things al men cannot do it in their own language much lesse in another But I haue done all that I haue done of a willing minde to better their iudgement who haue not so much as to vnderstand the Latine I knowe the learned knowe them better then my selfe The meaning of my author I trust shal not bee inverted Aucupium syllabarum Tortura Torti fol. 8 9. Melius est ut Grammatici nos reprehēdant◠quam populi non intelligant if any man shall hunt after syllables in so waightie a cause hee shall with the wise bee held guilty of raising a quarrell without iust cause For who doth not know that to every tongue there is its owne proper phrase and maner of speech and that that which is written in one cannot bee so rendred againe in another that at least there shall bee no difference in anie little sentence but that one word must answer another wholy and throughout So the intent be kept it is meere folly to languish about words Vniust taxing In his returne of vntruthes 4. art 117. b. fol. Instigante diabolo an vpright and right meaning heart in these cases should detest that petty kind of reprehension vsed by D. Stapleton against B. Iuell for his translation of Instigante diabolo they were altogether inflamed and led by the divell And thus Stapleton crieth out Lo the cācred words of M. Iuels tender hart instigante diabolo is saith he the divell pricking them and moving them forward Now I appeale to any man but to him that hath indeed a cancred hart to tell mee what difference in substance there is betweene these two altogether inflamed and led by the divell And the divell pricking and moving them forward Stap. ib. 4 art 131. a. fol. Contrary to the minds of the most part of the Bishops And where the Bishop saith that the Imperour Gratian made Nectarius Bishop of Constantinople contrary to the minds of the most part of the Bishops here M. Iuell overreacheth his author saith Stapleton for Sozomene saith many of the Bishops gaine saying it A strong cavill I wisse and a maine difference there is no doubt betweene contrary to the minds of most And many gaine saying it Especially since Christophorson who both for advantage and skill for the Church of Romes cause was as strong as Stapleton translateth the Greeke multis sacerdotibus reluctantibus many Bishops or Priests contending striving strugling or wrastling against it And what is this but contrarie to their minds Neither would I haue any sober minded man cavill at such alleaged sentences as this Where B. Iuell alleageth Liberatus Liberatus alleaged by B. Iuell Brevia cap. 12. alleageth him thus Liberatus saith that Leo the Bishop of Rome with other moe Bishops of Italy fell on their knees and desired the Emperour Valentinian and the Empresse Eudoxia to appoint a Councell and yet could not obtaine it Staplet ut an te pag. 142 In this allegation out of Liberatus two vntruthes are saith Stapleton cōmitted by M. Iuel For neither Leo the Pope fell on his knees to the Emperour Valentinian neither did they desire him to appoint a Councell but to write to Theodosius the Emperour of the East about it Nowe the first vntruth as Stapleton imagineth is that Leo fell not on his knees as did the rest but that he intreated only and other Bishops fell on their knees The second That Leo besought not Valentinian for a Councell as B. Iuell saith But besought Valentinian and Eudoxia his wife that they woulde write to Theodosius about it The Bishops of Italy and the Pope desire the Emperour to call a Councell A marvellous thing it is to see what a wit wickednes hath For what is it to the substance of the matter whether Leo prayed a Councell of Valentinian or prayed him to write to Theosius that a Councell might be called To an Emperour hee wrote It is the more signe that Leo could obtaine the lesse at theodosius hand but was faine to desire the Emperour of the West to entreat for what hee desired And so where B. Iuell made him to entreat but one it appeareth he is faine to intreat one to intreat another in effect two To coma to the first vntruth againe wherewith hee charged the Reverend Bishop of Leos falling on his knees to the Emperour Valentinian I see not in the world how it can be otherwise thought but that he did so Stapl. ut ante Thus the words lie as Stapleton hath set them downe Valentinianum autem imperatorem Eudoxiam vxorem eius ad memoriam beati Petri cum multis Episcoporum genibus provolutis Romanus Pontifex deprecatus est The Bishop of Rome beseeched the Emperour Valentinian and Eudoxia his wife at S. Peters Church with many Bishops kneeling on their knees Can we by this imagine that hee kneeled not aswell as the rest I protest I see it not Leo himselfe made the suit Romanus Pontifex deprecatus est The Romane Bishoppe besought the Emperour with many Bishops falling on their knees And what can wee thinke but this that hee fell on his knees as well as they But what if this keeling bee referred indeed to put the matter out of doubt the B. of Rome himselfe Tortura Torti pag. 167. Genibus provolutus Romanus Pontifex deprecatus est The Bishop of Rome falling on his knees besought the Emperour so readeth it a reverend Bishop of very late daies Howsoever it be Stapleton by his owne evidence doth but
same Emperour wherein hee beginneth thus Quantum rebus humanis consulere provideÌ„tia divina dignetur c. How much the providence of God vouchsafeth to provide for the affaires of men the care of your Maiestie stirred vp by the spirit of God doth shewe which care of yours will suffer nothing in the Catholike Church to be vnappeased or to be vnlike it selfe because the faith which is but one can in nothing bee different froÌ„ it selfe After this he coÌ„fesseth that the Emperour religiously loving the Catholike truth for the suppressing of Eutiches The Emperous called a councell of Ephesus did command a councell to be held at Ephesus to which councell hee sent his deputies in his stead to heare the debating of the questions Epist 13. to the Empresse Pulcheria In the 13. he writeth to the Godly Empresse Pulcheria beginning thus Quantum Praesidij dominus ecclesiae suae praeparavit in vestra clementia multis saepe probauimus documentis c. Princes are protectors of religion against heretikes What protection God hath provided in your highnesse for his church we haue ofteÌ„ proved by many experimeÌ„ts And whatsoever the industry of Priestes hath effected in these times against the withstanders of the catholike truth hath amounted especially to your honour whilest as you haue learned of the holy Ghost you subiect all your authority to him by whose gift and vnder whose protectioÌ„ you rule After this he maketh her highnesse acquainted at large with the points of Eutiches heresie telling her it is a thing worthy of her dignitie that error be abolished he commeth to tel her The Pope would faine haue the day of the councell altered but could not of the time prefixed by the Emperour for the holding of the councel saith Quia ergo multa mihi fiducia est de pietatis tuae syncerissima fide c. Now because I haue great hope of the sincere faith of your Godlines I beseech the glory of your clemeÌ„cie that as hetherto by your indevor the catholike doctrine hath alwaies bin furthered so now you would be an helper thereof which peradventure it hath pleased God to suffer to be shakeÌ„ with this temptation that those who abide in the church might be knowne the regard toward whoÌ„ is not to be neglected least the losse of them become sorrowfull to vs. Indeed the most noble and Christian Emperour desiring assone as might be to compound these troubles in a councell of Bishops which he wil haue to meete at Ephesus The Emperour called the councell at Ephesus hath set a very small and short time for their meeting And theÌ„ telling her that the Emperour looked for his appearaÌ„ce by the day which he excuseth he coÌ„cludeth with exhortatioÌ„ vnto her that according to her accustomed care of Religion the heresie of Eutiches might be rooted out of the minds of al men And that if the heretike himselfe did abiure his heresie he might bee received Epist 15. Leo Episcopus saÌ„ctae synodo quae apud Ephesum The 15. epistle is written to the Bishops assembled at Ephesus wherin he exhorteth them to condemne the blasphemy of Eutiches he saith verum quia etiam non est negligeÌ„da curatio c. But because the healing of such mischiefes is not to bee neglected and the most Christian Emperour verie Godly and religiously will haue a councel of Bishops held The iudgement of a councell of bishops is better then the Popes that by a more mature judgement error might be extinguished I haue sent thither such as I thinke fit who may in my stead bee present at the holy assembly of your brotherhood and who with your commoÌ„ coÌ„sent may ordaine those things which wil be pleasing to God The 16. is directed vnto Flavianus Arch bishop of ConstaÌ„tinople beginneth thus Epist 16. Flaviano charissimo fratri Leo Episcopê° Romae I haue received the letters of your belovednesse together with those things which haue bin done with you in the matter of faith Although there be in his iudgement no need of a councell yet the Emperour will haue one summoned And because the most Benigne Emperour carefull for the peace of the church wil haue a synode called although it evideÌ„tly appeare the busines which is to be dealt in needeth not to be handled in a councel yet my beloved brother I doe certifie you that those will follow whom in this case it pleased me to appoint Epist 17. Leo Episcopus TheodosioseÌ„per Augusco The 17. is to the Emperour Theodosius to the same effect that that before is to the Bishop Having received saith he letters from your clemencie I perceiue that the whole church hath cause to reioice in that you will not suffer the Christian faith by which the Godhead is honoured and worshipped in nullo dissimilem in nullo vult esse discor dem to be in none vnlike or discordant A little after this vnde quamvis ad diem concilij Episcopalis quem pietas vestra constituit c. And although nothing can fall out which may giue me any occasion to meete at the day of the councell which your Godlinesse hath appointed The Emperour will haue a couÌ„cell although in Leos iudgement the cause require none because no example can bee brought of any before me and the leaving of the cittie void will not permit me because also there is such evident reasons that the command of a Councell needed not haue beene yet because the Lord God doth vouchsafe to further it Then hetherto it was a lawfull Councell I haue been carefull that at the time appointed your highnesse commaundements bee obeyed Epistle 18 Leo Episcopus Pulcheriae Augustae The 18. is to Pulcheria the Empresse to the same effect that he wrot vnto her in the 13. before relating what hope the Church had promised to it selfe by her helpe praising the Emperour and her highnesse that they submitted their scepters vnto God by whose power and guift they reigned The Pope acknowledged that kings raign by God now the Pope saith they raigne by him A little after It is a thing worthy of your glory that errour by these meanes be takeÌ„ away And in the ende excusing himselfe for not comming to the councel telleth her whom hee hath sent In the 22 Epistle written to the Clergie Epistle 22. ad Constantino politanos Nobles and people of Constantinople coÌ„plaining of the indirect courses which hee heard was followed in the councell of Ephesus he comforteth himself in this Sed hos ausus pio Christianissimo principi confidimus minimè placituros The Popes hope rests in the Emperour for reforming of abuses in Councels The Emperours constancy a patterne for all Epistle 24. to Theodosius the Emperour But our hope is that those enterprises will little please the most Christian Emperour And in the ende hee perswadeth them to constancie by the example of the Emperour in which hee