M. Hardinge.
VVe maie lesse wonder at your iestinge in other thinges, sithe now wee set you scoffe and ieste in thinges touchinge God him selfe. Syr, set you so lighte by the Holy Ghoste.* 1.1 as thus vnreuerently to talke of his flight and runninge to Rome, of his doubtinge, and stickinge, of his vnablenesse to declare doubtfull cases, of askinge counsell of an other spirite? VVho euer vttered suche vile talke of the Holy Ghost, but some vile caitife, quite voide of his grace? Can not you conceiue that reasonably the determinations of Councels be referred to the Pope Christes Vicare in Earthe, onlesse ye vtter suche vnreuerent and prophane scoffes? It had become a wicked Celsus, a Porphyrius, a Iulian, thus to talke, rather then any Christian Hickescorner. You should at leste haue looked on your square Cappe, and your white rochet, if you haue any: if nothinge els, they woulde haue tolde you, that suche prophane lightnesse became not your person.
Concerninge the pointe it selfe, you touche,‡ 1.2 although the Pope haue that Priuiledge, whiche Christe‡‡ praied to his Father for to be geuen vnto Peter,* 1.3 as beinge Peters Successour, that his ‡ Faith faile not, and that be confirme his Brethren, and therefore be an ‡ assured iudge in matters of Faithe: yet this notwithstandinge, councels be not assembled togeather in vaine. For the Fathers of the Councell doo* 1.4 helpe the Faithe and Doctrine of the highest Pastour. VVherefore in the firste coun∣cell at Ierusalem,* 1.5 when as a greate question rose, and Peter had saide his iudgement, not propped with any testimonie of the Holy Scriptures, Iames approued it, addinge thereto the testimonies of the Prophetes. For Gods prouidence so tendereth the Churche, that the chiefe‡ 1.6 members, though they depende of the ‡ Head, yet defende and healpe the Head.
VVherefore Seda admonisheth discretely,* 1.7 that Paule conferred the Gospel, which he had Preached amongest the Gentiles, with the other Apostles, seekinge warely to be resolued, whether he Preached rightly of the ceassinge of the obseruances of the Lawe. Not that he doubted ought thereof himselfe, (saithe he) but that the mindes of them, that were in doubte, might be confirmed by the Auctoritie of that Apostolike Councell.
To that you alleage secondly, as a greate inconuenience, wee tell you, that forasmuch as the Pope is at euery generall Councell laufully assembled, either in person, as sundry Popes haue benne, or by his Legates:* 1.8 neither it is an vnlaufull dealinge, nor suche tossinge, as you terme it, matters maturely de∣bated in the Councell, to be referred to the Pope head of the Councell, not so muche for a newe triall, as for finall confirmation. The Fathers of the Nicene councell besought S. Syluestes••, that what they had ordeined, he would confirme and ratifie. And Leo what thinges the Councell of Chalcedon had decreed, touchinge matters of faithe, saithe, that he approueth them. And the Councel it selfe spea∣kinge to Leo, saithe thus: Decretis tuis nostrum honora Iudicium: VVith thy Decrees honour our Iudgement. Likewise the Fathers of other councels, required their constitutions to be strengthe∣ned by confirmation of the Popes auctoritie.
And sir, finde you faulte with the Pope, because he hath not yet put in his answeare? I praie you,‡ 1.9 who accused him? VVhere, when, and whereof? In what laufull Courte? Before what laufull Iudge? O you saie, he hath not yet put in his answeare. Be it that Hicke, Hob, and Hans of your sectes haue impudently accused him. How would ye haue him bringe in his answere? To what seate of iudg∣mente, to what Consistorie can ye cite him, that is by Christe appointed* 1.10 to be the Supreme iudge of all his Churche▪ the Sheepeherde of all his Flo••ke? It is not for him you know, to bringe in his answere in VVeshminster Haull, nor in Sterre Chamber. VVill ye haue him appeare before your high Commissio∣ners in the longe Chappell at Powles, or in M. Crindalles chamber thereby, where ye haue saide and donne your pleasure, and depriued many honest menne of their benefices? Or will ye rather haue him