Athanasius to be cited to iudgement, regulariter, after the order of the Canons. He came▪
The false accusers went not to Rome, knowinge right wel, that their forged lye might easily be de∣prehended.
In the cause, and defence of Iohn Chrysostome, these Bishops came from Constantinople
to Innocentius the Pope, Pansophus Bishop of Pisidia, Pappus of Syria, Demetrius of the seconde Gala∣tia,
and Eugenius of Phrygia. These were suiters for Chrysostome. He him selfe treated his mater
with Innocentius by writinge. In his Epistle emonge other thinges he writeth thus, Least this
outragious confusion runne ouer al, and beare rule euery where, write (I pray you) and deter∣mine
by your auctoritie, suche wicked actes doone in our absence, and when we withdrewe not our
selues from iudgement, to be of no force, as by their owne nature truely they be voide, and vtterly
none. Furthermore, who haue committed these euils, 107 put you them vnder the Censure of the
Churche. And, as for vs, sithe that we are innocent, neither conuicte, neither founde in any defaulte
nor proued giltie of any crime: geue commaundement, that we be restored to our Churches againe,
that we maie enioye the accustomed charitie, and peace with our bretherne. Innocentius, after that
he vnderstoode the whole mater, pronounced, and Decreed, the iudgement of Theophilus, that was a∣gainst
Chrysostome, to be voyde, and of no force. This whole tragedie is at large set foorthe by Palla∣dius
Bishop of Helenopolis In vita Iohannis Chrisostomi, who liued at that time. By this Ap∣peale
of Chrysostome, and by the whole handelinge of the mater, and specially by the purporte of his
Epistle to Innocentius, The Superioritie of the Pope is euidently acknowleged. And so is it plainely
confessed by Athanasius, and the Bishoppes of Aegypte, Thebais, and Lybia, assembled in Councel at
Alexandria, by these woordes of their Epistle to Foelix, Vestrum est enim nobis manum porri∣gere
&c. It is your parte (saye they) to streatche foorthe your helpinge hande vnto vs, because we are
committed vnto you. It is your parte to defende vs, and deliuer vs: it is our parte to seeke helpe of
you, and to obey your Commaundementes. And a litle after: For we knowe that you beare the cure,
and charge of the Vniuersal Churche, and specially of Bishoppes, who in respecte of their contempla∣tion,
and speculation, are called the eyes of our Lorde, as alwaies the Prelates of your See, firste the
Apostles, then their Successours haue doone.
Theodoretus that learned Bishop of Cyrus, beside the Epistle he wrote to Leo for succour and helpe
in his troubles, in an other, that he wrote to Renatus a priest neare aboute Leo, sayeth thus, Spolia∣runt
me Sacerdotio &c. They haue violently robbed me of my Bishoprike, they haue caste me foorth
of the Cities, neither hauinge reuerenced mine age spente in Religion, nor my hoare heares VVhere∣fore
I beseeche thee, that thou perswade the most holie Archebishop (he meaneth Leo) to vse his A∣postolike
auctoritie, and to commaunde vs to come vnto your Councel, or Consistorie. For this Holie See
holdeth the Rudther, and hath the gouernement of the Churches of the whole worlde, partely for
other respectes, but specially for that it hath euermore continued cleare from stinche of Heresie, and
that none euer sate in it, who was of contrary opinion, but rather hath euer kepte the Apostolike
grace vndefiled. In whiche woordes of Theodoretus, this chiefely is to be marked, that the holie
See of Rome (as he saithe) hath the gouernment of the Churches of al the worlde, most for this cause,
that it was neuer infected with Heresie, as al other Churches founded by the Apostles were.