The Apologie, Cap. 1. Diuision. 1.
BVt peraduenture they wil saie, it was trea∣son, to attempt these maters without a sacred General Councel: For that therein consi∣steth the whole force of the Churche: there Christe hath promised, he wil euer be a pre∣sente assistant. Yet they themselues, without tarrienge for any General Councel, haue broken the Commaundementes of God, and the Decrees of the Apostles: and, as wee said a little aboue, they haue spoiled, and disanulled almoste al, not onely the Ordinaunces, but euen the Doctrine of the Primitiue Churche. And, where they saie, It is not lawful, to make a chaunge without a Councel, what was he, that gaue vs these Lawes, or, from whence had they this Iniunction?
M. Hardinge.
If general Councels continewe in that estimation, and Auctoritie they haue euer had, theire pri∣uate conspiracies, and false conueiances in corners be like to be dasshed. Nowe pri••keth foorth theire Secretary, who thinketh him self a fresh souldier in Rhetorike, and geueth the onsette vpon vs, with a blinde peraduenture. But Sir, what so euer you imagine vs to saie, touchinge a General Councel, we are not so simple as to graunt (whiche your Peraduenture semeth to surmise of vs) that your Heretical, and moste vngodly matters, whiche you speake of, might without blame be attempted by licence of any Councel. Sutche wicked changes in religion, as ye haue made, neither is it lawful to make with a Councel, nor without a Councel.