The reply of the most illustrious Cardinall of Perron, to the ansvveare of the most excellent King of Great Britaine the first tome. Translated into English.

Of the difficultie touching the epistles that are at the end of the African Councell. CHAPT. IX.

THERE remaines one last difficultie, which is represented vpon the matter of the Councells of Africa, touching the Epi∣stles annexed to the end of the century of the African Canons; to witt, whether the latine text of these Epistles which wee haue at this daie in our Libraries, haue bene translated from the Greeke translation, and added to the collection of Dionisius, the ancient latine originall being lost: or whether the ancient latine text, being come to our hands, it haue bene corrupted by the Schismatickes of West the whether it were in the tyme that the Church of Aquilea, and that of Grada were in Schisme, and that the Popes held for the Church of Grada, and the Lumbards for the Church of Aquilea or whether it were afterwards. For that it hath bene familiar with the Schismatickes of the West, to abuse these Epistles to the fomenting their rebellions, it appeares by the mocke∣Councell of Rheims, holden for the cause of Arnulphus Bishop of Orleans, where the principall piece that the Schismatickes made vse of, was the Epistle of the Africans to Pope Celestine, I haue said, the mocke-Councell of Rhemes, for as much as the very Centuriators that caused it to be prin∣ted, confesse it to haue bene a tyrannicall Councell, holden at the instance of Hugh Capet, to oppresse Arnulphus, bastard Brother to the king Lotharius, Legitimate and innocēt Bishop of Orleans; And besides that it was disannulled three yeares after by the authoritie of the Sea Aposto∣licke, and of Seguin Archbishop of Sens, and with the consent of Hugh Ca∣pet himself. Then whether the Latine text of these Epistles be a translatiō of the Greeke edition; or whether the ancient latine originall being come to our hands, hath bene corrupted, be it by the ignorance of the Book∣binders, or by the malice of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, is the thing in question.

And the causes of this doubt are, that whereas in the copie of the Afri∣can Canons, the latine edition is much more correct then the Greeke, in the copie of the Epistles; contrarywise, the Greeke edition is very cor∣rect, and the latine most depraued and corrupt; and the corruptions are such: as seeme to proceede from the ambiguitie, and misunderstanding of the Greeke wordes: I will alleadge fiue patterns.

The first patterne shall be taken from the Epistle to Pope Boniface, where the Greeke text, speaking of the canons that Pope Zozimus had sent into Africa, vnder the title of the Canons of the Councell of Nicea, saith; These things haue bene rigistred in the Acts, till the more certaine Copies of the Councell of Nicea shall come, in which if they be couched in the same forme, as they are contained in the instruction, that our Bretheren haue shewed vs sent by the Sea Apostolicke, and that they be obserued in the same fashion by you in Italie, we will make no more mention thereof, nor further contest of the not suffering them: which is the true sence of the African Bishops, who had newly before be sought the Pope, that he would cause them to obserue in the like case, what should be found in the copies of the Coūcell of Nicea, which should be brought out of the Eact; And which is the sence also, that hath bene followed by the Protestants of Germanie in the last impression, that they haue made of the Councells of Africa. And the latine text contrarywise saith; These things haue bene inserted into the Acts, vntill the coming of the more certaine copies of the Councell of Nicea, which if they be there contained, so as they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the instruction, as our Bretheren sent by the Sea Apostolicke haue allea∣ged, and were kept in the same forme amongst you in Italie, we shall be no waie con∣strained to tollerate things, such as we will not now call to memory or to suffer them intollerable. Wordes that besides the impertinencie of the construction; in the alternatiue whereof, there is no antithesis, are directly repugnant to the sence and intention of the Epistle; which is, contrarywise to saie, that if the clauses intended by the Popes instruction, were to be found in the copies of the Councell of Nicea, which should come out of the East, they would not so much as open their mouthes to speake of it, and would not contest of the not suffring them: and whereof the corruption seemes to proceede from the ambiguitie of the two Greeke verbes whereof the one signifies, to make mention or to commemorate; and the other, to bee con∣strained and to contest.

The second patterne shall be taken from the exordium of the Epistle to Pope Celestine, where the Greeke text speaking of Apiarius saith; For first he hath mainely resisted all the Councell, charging it with diuers contumelies, vnder pretence of pursuing the priuiledges of the Roman Church, and willing to cau∣se himselfe to be receiued into our communion, because your Holynesse beleeuing that he had appealed to you, which he could not proue, had restored him to the communion. Yet this did not succeede with him, as you shall more at large vnderstand, by reading the Acts; Which is the true sence of the wordes of the Epistle; and which also the Protestants of Germanie haue followed in the last impression that they haue made of the Councell of Africa. And the latine text contrary∣wise importes, referring these wordes to Faustinus the Popes Legate. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 how much he hath resisted all the Assemblie, Charging it with manie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnder colour of pursuing the priuiledges of the Roman Church, and willing to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him to be receiued into our communion, because your Holynesse beleeuing he had appealed to you, which could not be proued, had restored him to the commnnion, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was not lawfull, as you shall better discerne by reading the Acts; which are three deprauations, one in the neck of an other: the first in this that the latine text referrs to Faustinus that which the Councell saith of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as it appeares by these words: For first, which shew that it

speakes of him, of whom it had begun and continued to speake of in the following periods; and by this subsequent clause, when we examine the cri∣mes that haue bene obiected to him, which could not be vnderstood but of Apiarius. And this seemes to proceede from the ambiguitie of the Greeke pronowne, which being taken in a reciprocall signification signi∣fies, himselfe, and obligeth the Readers to translate, willing to make him∣selfe be receiued, which is the sence that the new editions of the Prote. stants of Germanie haue embraced; and being taken in a direct significa∣tion, signifies, him, and obligeth the Readers to translate; willing to cause him to be receiued. The second in this, that insteede of these words of the Greeke text; Notwithstanding this hath not succeeded to him, which are spoken of the Action of Apiarius the latine text setts downe, which yet was not lawfull, and referrs it to the action of the Pope against the credit of this remitment, as you shall better discerne by the reading of the Acts: which shewes that the Councell speakes of the issue of Apiarius his cause, and not of the Popes action; and this seemes to haue proceeded from the Ambiguitie of the Greeke verbe, which signifies to succeede, and to be lawfull, And the third in this, that insteede of the aduerbe, greatlie, which is in the greeke text, the latine edition reades, how much, a thing which de∣priues the construction both of sence and verbe, and makes the speeche suspence and defectiue.

The third paterne shall be taken from the beginning of the request of the same Epistle, where after these words, Premising then the office of a due salutation, we beseech you affectionatly that henceforward you will no more, so easily admitt to your eares, those that come from these partes, nor restore to the commu∣nion, those that haue bene excommunicated by vs; for as much as your Reuerence will easily discerne, that this hath bene defined by the Councell of Nicea; the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 text adds, for although it seeme, that there should only mention bee made of Clerkes and laymen, by how much stronger reason, should this be obserued of Bishops, that those which haue bene depriued of the communion in their prouince, might not ap∣peare to be restored rashlie and duely to the communion by your Holynesse? And the Greeke text contrarywise makes two diuers clauses of this traine, whereof he referrs the first to the Pope, and not to the Councell of Nicea, and distinguisheth them by the word, then, which is an aduerbe of illa∣tion, in these termes; For if it appeare that he hath had care to extend his cau∣tion, euen to clerkes and laymen, by how much stronger reason would he haue is to be obserued in regard of Bishops? Let not those then that haue bene suspended from the communion in their owne prouince, appeare to be hastilie, and otherwise then is fitt, restored to the cōmunion by your Holynesse. Now that the reading of the Greeke edition be the true one, it appeares by the branch following, which is; Likewise also the impudent flightes of priests and inferior clerkes, let your Holynesse as a thing worthie of you, reiect them; Which supposeth, a precedent prayer to the Pope particularly made for the Bishops.

The fourth patterne shall be taken from the middle of the same peti∣tion, where the Greeke text contayning, the grace of the holy Ghost shall not want to euery prouision; the latine exemplifiers of the Greeke word, which fignifies there, prouision; some of them haue made, prouidence; and other some, prouince. For that there it must be read prouision, and not pro∣uince, it appeares by the clause that followes, which saith; And principally since it is permitted to euery one if he finde himselfe agreeued at the sētēce of the iudges to appeale to the Synod of his prouince. The fifth patterne shalbe taken frō the end of the same Epistle, where the Greeke text saith; For as for the wretched Apiarius, hauing already bene for his infamous crimes cast out of the Church of Christ, by our brother Faustinus, we are no more in care; for as much as by the meanes

of the approbation and direction of your Holynesse, for the preseruation of brotherly Charitie, Africa will suffer him no longer: which is the true sence of the Bpistle, where the Fathers intend to expresse, that the Pope will noe lon∣ger permitt, that Apiarius (to whom by the first iudgement of Faustinus his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & of the African Bishops reuiewing the cause with him, it had bene granted to remaine in Africa, and so exercise there in anie place he could or would, the office of priesthood, prouided it were not at Sicca; hauing bene by the second iudgement, condemned and excommunicated, yea by the very month of Faustinus his Holinesse legate;) should remaine in Africa, and exercise anie priesthood there; which sence also the prote∣stants haue followed, as well in the Greeke, as in the latine, of the last impression of the Councells of Africa, which they haue made in Germany. And the latine edition contrarywise saith, transferring the speech to 〈◊〉〈◊〉; For as for our Brother Faustinus, Apiarius hauing bene already cast out of the Church for his enormious crimes; we are assured sauing the probity and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of your Holynesse, that brotherly Charitie will not permitt, that he be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 longer borne with, in Africa. Now this translation is both against the Greeke text, which referrs the speeche to Apiarius, and not to Faustinus; and against the expresse intention of the Councell, which might well & cōueniently desire the Pope, not to permitt anie longer, that Apiarius should remaine in Africa, but not desire him no more to keepe a Legat in Africa, & principally according to the opinion of those that will haue it, that the Councell of Carthage where Genetlins presided, was celebra∣ted vnder the Empire of Valentinian the third who begun to be Empe∣ror, but the yeare after the Consulship of Uictor and Castinus, vnder the which, according to them, this letter was written, and that Faustinus the Popes Legate assisted at it; And against the testimonie of Leo the first, who was created Pope eight yeares after the death of Celestine, who makes mention of a Bishop called Potentius, who was his Legat in Africa. For as for the clause, wee are no more in care of it which wants in the Greeke printed copies, it is in the ancient greeke copies commented by Zonara and by Balsamon; And as for the word probity which is read in the latine text, it may be it is a deprauation of the Greeke word, which signifies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which also the Germans haue retained in the new edition as well Greeke as latine of their Conncells. But it is alreadie a longe while since this digression began, to exceede the proportion of the other partes of my worke; And therefore the feare to abuse the Readers patience, obli∣geth me to conclude and to pray them to excuse me, if I haue suffered myselfe to be carried beyond what was my purpose at the beginning of the chapter. The importance of the matter shall recompence the defect of the proportion, which perchance in these kindes of searches, will not be displeasing to spiritts curious of antiquities.

Notes

• Cōc. Carth 3 c 47.
• Aug. de do∣ctr. Christ. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. c. 8.
• Contur. 10 cap. de. Syn
• Aim. seu 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gest. Frāce l. 5 c. 46.
• Edit. Graec. Cōc. Carth cap. 138.
• Conc. dict. Afric. c. 101
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Can Concil. Vi∣teberg. 1614.
• Conc. dict. Afric. c. 105.
• Edit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cartb cap. 138.
• Edit. Ioan. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1525. & 〈◊〉〈◊〉. im∣press. Paris apud Abrah. Pacard. 1615.
• Edit. or. din. Cōci∣lior. ex Isi∣dor Mer∣cat
• Edit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Carth cap 138.
• Cōc. dict Afric. cap. 101. & 105.
• Edit. Cōc. vviteberg. Ann. 1614.
• Leo ad Episc.
• Afric. ep. 85.