Another of the famousest councels, called the Councel of Constantinople, which was gathered vnder Theodosius ye great (as it is witnessed by the Tripartite story) in an epistle which it wrote* 1.1 to Damasus the Pope, and Ambrose and others, saith thus: we haue ordeyned Nectarius the By∣shop of Constantinople with the whole consent of the Councel, in the sight of the Emperoure The∣odosius beloued of God, the whole citie togyther decreeing the same. Likewise he saythe that Fla∣nian was appoynted by that Synode byshop of Antioch, the whole people appoynting him.
The words in that epistle both as the Tripartite histo. and as Theodoret himselfe reporteth them lib. 5. cap. 9. signify, that the whole citie was well pleased, that Necta∣rius was chosen to be their Byshop, and consented vnto it: But it dothe not therefore follow that the whole citie did choose him. In Theodoret I find these words. Reueren∣dissimum* 1.2 & dei amantissimū Nectarium episcopū praeposuimus in generali nostro Cō〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ilio, & prae∣sente amantissimo dei Imperatore Theodosio, cum omnium clericorum, ac totius ciuitatis approbatio∣ne. VVe haue placed or ordeyned the most reuerend, and louing Nectarius, in our generall Councel, both Theodosius (the Emperoure most beloued of God) being presente, and also with the approbation of all the Cleargie and the whole citie.
They saye we haue placed or ordeyned Nectarius. &c. and they whiche say so were Byshops. Moreouer Theodoret in the chapter that goeth before, saith plainly that the Pastors and ministers did choose him Byshop. But be it that the whole citie did giue their voyces: that is no proofe, that at all times it must of necessitie be so.
The same answer I make to your example of Flauianus.