heir own selves which have found
fault with many errors in the Church, as Pope Adrian, AEneas Sylvius,
Cardinal Pole, Pighius, and others, as is aforesaid: they held afterwards
their council at Trident in the selfsame place where it is now appointed.
There assembled many bishops, and abbots, and others whom it behoved for
that matter. They were alone by themselves; whatsoever they did, nobody
gainsaid it; for they had quite shut out and barred our side from all
manner of assemblies: and there they sat six years, feeding folks with a
marvellous expectation of their doings. The first six months, as though
it were greatly needful, they made many determinations of the Holy
Trinity, of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which were
godly things indeed, but not so necessary for that time. Let us see, in
all that while, of so many, so manifest, so often confessed by them, and
so evident errors, what one error have they amended? from what kind of
idolatry have they reclaimed the people? What superstition have they
taken away? What piece of their tyranny and pomp have they diminished?
As though all the world may not now see that this is a conspiracy and not
a council; and that those bishops whom the Pope hath now called together
be wholly sworn and become bound to bear him their faithful allegiance,
and will do no manner of thing but that they perceive pleaseth him, and
helpeth to advance his power, and as he will have it; or that they reckon
not of the number of men's voices rather than have weight and
consideration of the same; or that might doth not oftentimes overcome
right.

And therefore we know that divers times many good men and Catholic
bishops did tarry at home, and would not come when such councils were
called, wherein men so apparently laboured to serve factions and to take
parts, because they knew they should but lose their travail, and do no
good, seeing whereunto their enemies' minds were so wholly bent.
Athanasius denied to come, when he was called by the emperor to his
council at Caesarea, perceiving plain he should but come among his
enemies, which deadly hated him. The same Athanasius, when he came
afterward to the council at Syrmium, and foresaw what would be the end by
reason of the outrage and malice of his enemies, he packed up his
carriage and went away immediately. John Chrysostom, although the
Emperor Constantius commanded him by four sundry letters to come to the
Arians' council, yet