I will not greatly sticke in the defense of those Canons, the fixth & the seuenth Canō do sufficiently verifie all that I haue alleaged out of the other, as is declared not onely* 1.1 by the words of the Canons, but by the iudgement of those, whose learning & Religion was neuer as yet stained. I know that there is no small controuersie about the num∣ber of the Canons of that Synode. In the booke of the Coūcels there are only twentie, in Ruffine. 22. Athanasius in an Epistle that he (as some thinke) with the other By∣shops of Egypt writte to Marcus Byshop of Rome (if any credite is to be giuen vnto* 1.2 that Epistle) writeth that there were first. 80. and afterwards the same brought into 70. Canons. Isodorus in his preface to the Councell, sayth that in the decrées of Pope Iulius, there is mention made of. 70. Canons, so that for the number of the Canons there is great difference in the writers.
Concilium Arelatense the second, Canon the. 24. doth recite a Canon of the Councell of Nice, touching infamous libels, which is not to be founde among the. 20.
Hierome in his preface vpon the booke of Iudith sayth that the Councell of Nice did* 1.3 recken that booke in the number of the holy scriptures, and yet there is no such thing to be founde among those. 20. Canons.
Ambrose Lib. 10. the Epistle. 82. attributeth another Canon to the Councell of Nice* 1.4 concerning second Mariages in clarkes, I could recite more Canons alledged by good writers out of that Councell, which are not to be founde in those. 20. or. 22. but it shall not néede.