down from their
dignities in the Church. In the third council at Constantinople,
Constantine, a civil magistrate, did not only sit amongst the bishops,
but did also subscribe with them. "For," saith he, "we have both read
and subscribed." In the second council called Arausicanum, the prince's
ambassadors, being noble men born, not only spake their mind touching
religion, but set to their hands also, as well as the bishops. For thus
it is written in the latter end of that council: "Petrus, Marcellinus,
Felix, and Liberius, being most noble men, and famous lieutenants, and
captains of France, and also peers of the realm, have given their
consent, and set to their hands." Further: "Syagrius, Opilio,
Pantagathus, Deodatus, Cariattho, and Marcellus, men of very great
honour, have subscribed." If it be so, then, that lieutenants, captains,
and peers have had authority to subscribe in council, have not emperors
and kings the like authority?

Truly there had been no need to handle so plain a matter as this is with
so many words, and so at length, if we had not to do with those men who,
for a desire they have to strive and to win the mastery, use of course to
deny all things, be they never so clear--yea, the very same which they
presently see and behold with their own eyes. The Emperor Justinian made
a law to correct the behaviour of the clergy, and to cut short the
insolency of the priests. And albeit he were a Christian and a Catholic
prince, yet put he down from their papal throne two Popes, Sylverius and
Vigilius, notwithstanding they were Peter's successors and Christ's
vicars.

Let us see, then, such men as have authority over the bishops, such men
as receive from God commandments concerning religion, such as bring home
again the Ark of God, make holy hymns, oversee the priests, build the
Temple, make orations touching Divine service, cleanse the temples,
destroy the hill altars, burn the idols' groves, teach the priests their
duties, write them out precepts how they should live, kill the wicked
prophets, displace the high priests, call together the councils of
bishops, sit together with the bishops, instructing them what they ought
to do, condemn and punish an heretical bishop, be made acquainted with
matters of religion, which subscribe and give sentence; and do all these
things, not by any other man's commission, but in their own name, and
that both uprightly and godly: shall we say it pertaineth not to such m