A counterblast to M. Hornes vayne blaste against M. Fekenham Wherein is set forthe: a ful reply to M. Hornes Answer, and to euery part therof made, against the declaration of my L. Abbat of Westminster, M. Fekenham, touching, the Othe of the Supremacy. By perusing vvhereof shall appeare, besides the holy Scriptures, as it vvere a chronicle of the continual practise of Christes Churche in al ages and countries, fro[m] the time of Constantin the Great, vntil our daies: prouing the popes and bishops supremacy in ecclesiastical causes: and disprouing the princes supremacy in the same causes. By Thomas Stapleton student in diuinitie.

M. Horne. The 45. Diuision. Pag. 30. a.

Eutyches stirred vp much trouble in these daies: vvherefore he vvas cited to appeare before Flauianus Bisshop of Constantinople, and other Bisshops assembled in a Synode, to ansvveare vnto his heresies: vvho vvoulde * 1.1 not appeare but fledde vnto the Emperour Theodosius, and declareth vnto him his griefe. The Emperour sendeth vnto the Synod vvith Eutiches, one of his chiefe officers Florentius, vvith this mandate: Bicause wee study carefully for the peace of Goddes Churche, and for the Catho¦like Faith, and wil by Goddes grace haue the righte Faithe kepte, whiche was sette foorth by the Nicene Councell, and confirmed by the Fathers at Ephesus, when Nestorius was cō∣demned: wee wil therefore there bee no offence committed aboute the aforenamed Catholique Faithe, and bicause wee knowe the honourable Florentius, to be a faithfull and an ap∣prooued man in the righte faith, wee wil that he shalbe pre∣sent in your Synode, bicause the conference is of the Faithe. He vvas there asistaunt vnto the Fathers and (.132.)* 1.2 examined Eutyches openly in the Synode, (.133.)* 1.3 diuerse times of his faithe, and finally saide vnto him: He that (saithe Florentius) doth not confesse in Christ twoo natures, doth not beleeue aright: and (.134.)* 1.4 so vvas Eutyches ex∣communicate, deposed, and condemned. Eutyches rested not here, but ob∣teined that the Emperour did commaunde a nevv Synode to be had at Con∣stantinople, vvherein to examine the actes of the former, vvhether that all thinges touching the proceding against Eutyches, vvere don orderly and rightly, or no. He appointeth besides Florentius, diuerse (.135.)* 1.5 other of his nobles to be in this councel, to see the doings thereof. But vvhen Eutyches coulde not vvin his purpose in neither of these Synodes, he procureth by friēd∣ship of the Empresse Eudoxia and others, that the Emperour should call a Synode againe at Ephesus: to the vvhich Synode the Emperour prescribeth a fourme of proceding. This Synode vvas a vvicked conuenticle, vvherein the truth vvas defaced and Heresie approued, the Emperour being seduced by Chrysaphius, one of the priuy chamber, and in most fauour vvithe him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He vvas an here∣tik I vvar¦rant you, that vvoulde not ap∣peare be∣fore his bisshop, but fled to the Prince. Liberat. cap. 11.
• * 1.2

  The .132. vntruth. Florētius vsed no examina∣tion at al.
• * 1.3

  The 133. vntruth. He neuer asked hī but one question.
• * 1.4

  The .134. vntruth. Not so. that is not by Florētius, but by the Coū∣cel he vvas cō∣demned, and deposed.
• * 1.5

  The 135. vntruthe, Nicephorus hath no such thing.