M. Hardinge. The .28. Diuision.
Concerninge the Reconciliation of the Prelates of the Churche, bothe Bishoppes, and Patriarkes to the Bishop of Rome, 114* 1.1 whereby his Primacie is acknowledged, and confessed, I neede not say much, the mater beinge so euident. After that the whole Churche of Aphrica had continued in❧ 1.2 Schisme, and withdrawen them selues from the obedience of the See Apostolike, through the entisement of Au∣relius Archebishop of Carthago, for the space of one hundred yeeres,* 1.3 during which time by Goddes punishement they came into captiuitie of the Barbarous and cruel Vandales, who were Arians: at the length when it pleased God of his goodnesse, to haue pitie on his people of that Prouince, sending them Bellisarius the valiant Captaine, that vanquished, and destroied the Vandales, and likewise Eulalius that godly Archebishop of Carthago, that brought the Churche home againe, and ioined the diuided members vnto the whole body the Catholike Churche: a publike instrument conteininge the forme of their repentance, and of their humble submission, was offred, and exhibited solemnely to Bonifacius the seconde then Pope, by Eulalius in the name of that whole Prouince, whiche was ioi∣fully receiued, and he therevpon foorthwith reconciled. Of this reconciliation, and restoaringe of the Aphricane Churches to the Catholike Churche, the mystical body of Christe, Bonifacius writeth his letters to Eulalius Bishop of Thessalonica, requiringe him, with the Churches there aboute, to geue almightie God thankes for it.
But here, if I woulde shew what Bishoppes diuidinge themselues through Heresie, Schisme, or other enormitie, from the obedience of the See of Rome, haue vpon better aduise submitted them selues to the same againe, and therevpon haue beene reconciled: I had a large fielde to walke in. As inferiour Bishops of sundrie prouinces haue doone it, so haue the greate Patriarkes doone likewise. Amonge them, that, to satisfie the malicious minde of Eudoxia the Empresse, practised their wicked conspiracie against Chrysostome, through whiche he was deposed, and caried away into bannishe∣ment, Alexander Bishop of Antioche, and Primate of the Orient, was one: 115* 1.4 who at lengthe stro∣ken with repentance, for that he had beene bothe a consenter, and a promotour of that wicked acte, submitted him selfe humbly to Innocentius the Pope, and by al meanes sought to be assoiled and recon∣ciled. And therefore sent his Legates to Rome, to exhibite to Innocentius a solemne instrument of his repentance and lowly submission, and to accepte what should be enioyned. By whiche his humble∣nesse Innocentius mooued, graunted to his petitions, receiued him into the lappe of the Catholike Churche againe, and thus was he reconciled. Sundrie the like reconciliations of the Patriarkes of Alexandria, and Hierusalem to the See the Rome in like cases, might easely be recited: whiche for a∣uoidinge of tediousnesse I passe ouer, as likewise of the Patriarkes of Constantinople, whiche, as wee reade in auncient stories, haue forsaken the Churche of Rome twelue times, and haue been reconciled to the same againe.