The councell of Antioch ordeyned, that if the voyces of the byshops were euen, and that if* 1.1 * 1.2 halfe did condemne him, and halfe cleare him, that then the Metropolitane byshop should call of the next prouince some other byshops, which should make an end of the controuersie: whereby appea∣reth that the Metropolitane had so small authoritie and power ouer and aboue the rest, that he had not so much as the casting voyce, when both sides were euen. And therefore it appeareth that be∣sides the names of Metropolitane, there was little or no resemblance betweene those that were then, and those which be now.
You haue written in the margent the. 17. canon of that councell, in the which ther are no suche words, nor any thing tending to that purpose: it is the. 14. canon, that I think you meane, for in that canō it is thus determined: that if a Byshop be iudged for* 1.3 certaine crimes and it happen that the other byshops of the same prouince varie in iudge∣ment, some thinking him to be innocent, some guiltie, for the resoluing of all doubte, it pleased the holy Synode, that the Metropolitane byshop shal call for other iudges out of the next prouince, to end the cōtrouersie, who togyther with the Byshops of the same prouince, shall approue that which is iust and right. Here is no mention of equalitie in voyces, but only of disagréeing in iudgemēt among the Byshops of the same prouince. Like∣wise in this canon it appeareth that a Metropolitane had authoritie ouer moe pro∣uinces than one, for he might cal the Byshops of another prouince to decide the mat∣ter, if the Byshops of the same prouince could not agrée.
I sée not how this canon can any thing help you: for now neyther the Metropoli∣tane,* 1.4 nor all the Byshops in the prouince can depriue any Byshop without the con∣sent of ye Prince: so that in that poynt the authoritie of the Metropolitane is nothing encreased, nor yet the authoritie of the Byshops. For then as it appeareth in the▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 canon of that councell, if a Priest or a Deacon had bin condemned of his owne byshop, o〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 a byshop of a Synode, it was not lawfull for them to complaine to the Emperoure: if they* 1.5 had complayned, it was determined in the same canon, that they should neuer be pardoned, nor haue any place of satisfaction, nor hope of restitution. But now it is farre other∣wise. The. 11. canon of the same councell is much to the same effect. Wherefore the* 1.6 authoritie of the Metropolitane & other Byshops is not encreased as you presēd, but both the Metropolitane and other Byshops had asmuch authoritie then ouer other priests, ministers, and deacons, as they haue now, as appeareth by sundry canons of