The Pageant of Popes, Book 1

The Pageant of Popes · Book 1

p. 1THE FIRST BOOKE of the Pageant of Popes.

S. Peter not bishop of Rome.

FOR so muche as the Bishops of Rome hauehave claimed, and doo still clayme their vsurped supremacy by right of inheritāce and succession from Peter, because he (as they pretend) was bishop of Rome at the least .xxv. yeares, and so tied all this dignitie and prerogatiue (whiche they fight for) to his chayre for euer: It shalbe therfore nedeful to consider, how likely it is to be true, that Peter continued bishop in Rome according to their boasting. This matter shalbe the better displayed if these three pointes be layde open to the readers eye: that is the yeare that Peter came to Rome, the yeres that Peter sat at Rome, and the death of Peter.

¶ Of S. Peters comming to Rome.

Touching the time of his comming to Rome, their own histories doe wryte so vncertainly that it semeth more certaine that he neuer came there.

First their legendary of saintes liues called Passionale, Passionale.counteth that he came not there till the xiii. yeare of Claudius, and that should be the 55. yeare of the incarnacion of Christe, and 22. yeare after his death.

Platina saith, that in the second yere of Claudius, being the xi. yeare after the death of Christe,Platina in vita Petri. Peter cam to Rome being the head of the worlde, partly because he perceiued that this was a seate pontificali dignitati conuenientem, fit for pōtifical dignitie, partly because of Simon Magus. Thus he maketh that partly ambicion and dignitie drewe Peter to Rome, there to take his ease contrary to the duty and doing of the poore paynfull and godly Apostle, who as he had in charge by Iesus Christe, trauailed stil from place to place, not for the dignitie of a bishop at Rome, but to plant the Gospell throughout the worlde.

Orosius sayth he came soner, euen in the beginning of the raigne of Claudius: lib. 7. cap. 6.

Fasciculus temporum saith, he came not till the fourth yeare of Claudius.

Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 13.Eusebius saithe, that by Gods especiall prouidence he came to Rome. Euestigio sub ipso Claudij imperio. Out of hande vnderunder Claudius his raigne Peter came to Rome because of Simon Magus.

In Claudio.Vspergensis saith, some reporte that he came in the beginning of the raigne of Claudius: some saye, not till the seconde yeare: Other saye, that he came not till the fourth yeare of his regiment: Againe, some thinke that he came in the beginning thereof, but toke not vponupon him to be byshop till the fourth yeare of Claudius: Other thinke that he was bishop forthwith as sone as he came.

Ennead. 7. lib. 2.Sabellicus saith, that he came to Rome altero anno regiminis eius (Claudij): in the second yeare of Claudius his regiment.

Naucler saith, that he came to Rome in the fourth yere of Claudius, and began his bishoprike the same yeare in Rome: in secunda generatione vol: 2.

It were to long to recite all the opinions of Peters cō ming to Rome and his enstalling: but by these it may appeare howe the Romaine Iury can giuegive no certain verdit vponupon suche vnconstant euidence.

¶ The continuance of Peter in his Bishoprike.

p. 2S. Ierome sayth, he raigned xxvii. yeares.

Beda sayth, he sat at Rome xxix. yeares.

Fasciculus Temporum, hitteth it iump and misseth not one daye, saying: he was martyred by Nero after he had bene bishop of Rome xxv. yeres vii. monethes & viii, days.

The moste do agree to this accompt as Vspergensis, Platina, and other, that he raigned not aboue xxv. yeares.

¶ Peters death.

NIcephorus sayth, he was buried in the xxxvii. yeare after the death of Christe.

Of these premisses this is to be gathered that Peter came to Rome at the furthest in the fourth yeare of Claudius, and that is, the xiii. yeare after the death of Christe, and raigned there xxv. yeares at the least: and was put to death there in the last yeare of Nero, being the 38. yeare after the death of Christe. This semeth to be moste probable, and in taking this tyme we shall seme to deale most fauourably with the papiste, who would so fayne deriue this bastard braūche of Romain prelates from the holy Apostle: so that if it can be proued, y^t Peter sat not bishop of Rome these xxv. yeares, then must the Pope seke out a new petagrewe for his succession falsely fathered vponupon Peter: his auncient continuance of hundred yeres, being disproued by the scripture being more auncient, can proue nothing for lawfull regiment, but rather improue him of vnlawefull vsurping for so long time. And therfore for the more euidēt vnderstanding hereof it shalbe moste cōuenient to conferre the yeares of the Emperours with the yeares of Christ his incarnation and death, whiche for the more ease I hauehave set foorth in this table folowing: wherein appeareth that our sauiour Christe suffered death in the 33. yeare of his age, in the 18. yeare of Tiberius, who raigned in all 23. yeares, therof v. yeres after Christes death. The next is Caligula raigning three yeares x. monethes viii. dayes. Then succeded Claudius for 13. yeares 8. monethes and 28. dayes. Last was Nero, continuing 13. yeares 10. monethes and 18 dayes, all whiche time being added together doth make almoste 37. yeares, whiche is the time that Peter lyued after the death of our sauiour:Nicepho. li. 2. cap. 34 as Nicephorus testifieth.

Whether Peter were bishop of Rome before the death of Christe, seing there is no question to be made, it nedeth not to be spoken of: for the time after his death it followeth that for the first yeare after our redemptiō Peter went not to Rome, but cōtinued about Hierusalē (sauing once that hee went to Samaria for a season) till the conuersion of Paule,Act. 8.Acts 8 as appeareth by all the discours of the Actes of the Apostles, till ye come to the ninth chapter thereof: whiche because it is easie there to finde, tedious to be set downe at large, and nothing doubted of, I leaue it to the diligence of the reader, who shall plainely perceaue, that Peter was still in Iudea to the conuersion of Paule, which was in the seconde yeare after the death of Christe, the yeare of thincarnatiō 35. for Niceph. saith, that he preached 35. yeares, lib. 2. cap. 34. and he died in the last yeare of Nero, being the 70. yeare of thincarnacion: from whiche take 35. and the remayne is as muche: so that in the 35. yeare of Christe Paule was conuerted.

¶ Peter not at Rome from the yeare of the incarnation 35. to the yeare 38.

ANno Domini 37. Pilate (as Eusebius lib. 2. cap. 2. and Vspergensis testifie) wrote his letter to Tiberius, concerning Christe, his doctrine, diuine miracles, death, & resurrection: whereupon the Emperour commaunded that Christe should be placed among the Gods of Rome: If Peter nowe had bene bishop at Rome or a yeare before, this had not bene so straunge newes to the Emperour: Neither had Pilates letter preuayled so muche with the Emperour touching Christ, as the doctrine and miracles, whiche Peter would (for confirming of the faithe) hauehave done in the name of Iesus.

The yeare folowing being the 38. was the thirde yeare from the conuersion of Paule, in whiche yeare Paule returned to Hierusalē & founde Peter there, as is testified in p. 4the first to the Galathians: which comming of Paule is specefied in the ninth of the Actes.

¶ From the yeare 38. to the yeare 46.

AFter Paule had bene a whyle in Hierusalem, he was sent awaye to Tarsus. Act. 9.Acts 9And at that time S. Luke sayth, that the churche had peace throughout all Iudea, Galilye, and Samaria. And that Peter did walke ouer all those coū treies, where they proceaded in the feare of God, the beleuing multiplied. Howe many yeares Peter spent in these countreies, it is not euident: but immediatly from thence he did ascende to Lydda, and ther healed Aeneas, who had bene lame eight yeares: the fame of whiche miracle drew thether all the inhabitours of Lydda and Sarona, who by Peters preaching were all conuerted to the lorde: These thinges do argue that Peter made some abode in Lydda also: Immediatly from thence he went to Ioppa, where he reuiued Tabitha, and taried at Ioppa with Simon the Tanner a long season: From thence he went forthwith to Cornelius the Centurion at Cesarea, Act. 10.Acts 10where he preached, and baptized those that were conuerted: and there also he was entreated to tary for a time. From thence he came to Hierusalem, Act. 11.Acts 11where he continued, till he being imprisoned by Herode, was deliuered by Gods Angell, and being set at libertie,Act. 12.Acts 12 shewed him selfe secretly to the congregacion at the house of Mary, and then conueyed hym selfe awaye: And thys was done as appeareth by Luke, the same yeare that Herode or Agrippa hauing raigned 7. yeares,Ieseph. anti. lib. 19. cap. 7 died afterwarde at Cesarea, stricken by Gods Angell: who being as Iosephus saith, released out of pryson, and made king there by Caligula raigned in all seuen yeares:

Caligula would hauehave restored this Agrippa to his libertie,Ioseph. Anti. lib. 18. cap. 8. as sone as he him self came to the Empier, euen the same daye that the solemnitie was kept for the buriall of his predecessour Tiberius. But (saith Iosephus) Antonia the wyfe of Caligula, gaue him counsell that he should noe do so, but pause a while longer, not because she was loth that Agrippa should be at libertie, but because the Emperour by deliuering of him so spedely, should be thought that he did it in despite of Tiberius, who had committed him to pryson, and therefore it was deferred for a season, & at length he was deliuered: then the next yeare Agrippa craued leaue of Caligula to go into Iudaea to his kingdom, whiche was graunted him. So that by this computation it may easely appeare, that whereas Agrippa (as Ioseph sayth) died in the seuenth yeare of his raigne, this seuenth yeare doth arise to the fourth yeare of Claudius, who did next succede Caligula. Thus it is apparent that Herode or Agrippa as Ioseph calleth him, died in the 46. yeare of the incarnation, and that the same yeare Peter was prisoner at Hierusalem as is saide before, and not byshop at Rome.

Another reason to proue that it should be this yere, may be this: S. Luke in the xii. chapter of the Actes saith, that this Herode had conceiued displeasure against the Tirians and Sidonians, whiche was the cause, that after the same Easter that Peter was imprisoned, he went downe from Hierusalem to Caesarea, whether the Tirians and Sidonians came vntounto him, and by the intercession of Blastus the kinges chamberlaine they sued for peace at his hande, because (saith Luke) in the 20. verse of the 12. chapter of the Actes, their contrey was nourished by the kinges contrey: signifiyng that the prouision of king Agrippa ayded their necessitie in the time of the famine being then. This dearth & famin is that, wherof Agabus the prophet did prophecy at Antioch, which saith Luke Actes the xi. came to passe in the raigne of Claudius, and as other authours hauehave noted it was in the fourth yere of Claudius, so saith Vsper gensis: Thus we se that yet to this fourth yere of Claudius by whiche time at the vttermost Peter should not only be at Rome, but begin his regiment ouer the churche, he is p. 5yet at Hierusalem, which is 1600. miles from Rome: But because that Luke saith, after that he was deliuered by the Angell out of pryson, and after that he had signified his deliuery to Mary, he conuayed him selfe away from thence. I will procede to examine, whether he went not now from Hierusalem to Rome, and therfore go to the twoo yeares that ensued next.

¶ Anno 48: and 49.

ANno domini 49. Peter was at Hierusalem: for this yeare the counsell was held at Hierusalem: mencioned in the xv. of the Actes. At whiche synode Peter was present, and made an oration as is shewed in the vii. verse of the said chapter. But nowe it remaineth to be proued, that this Synode was at this tyme: for proofe hereof Saint Paule speaking of his comming to this counsell in the seconde chapiter to the Galathians, saythe: Then after 14. yeares I came agayne vp to Hierusalem, and Barnabas with me &c. by the reste that foloweth it is euident that Paule signified his comming to this counsell, and not any other time of his repairing to Hierusalem: and so also doth S. Hierome vnderstande it, which being xiiii. yeares after the conuersion of Paule, falleth out to be in the yeare of our Lord 49. & the seuenth yere of the raigne of Claudius, as may appeare by the former table: And yet is Peter stil in his Apostelship at Hierusalem: and not in his pontificall dignitie at Rome.

But here it may be fayde, that S. Hierome and diuers other whiche followe him, do recken that this synode was helde Anno domini 51. and do grounde it vpō the foresaid wordes of Paule▪ for where as. Paule speaking of his conuersion at Damasco, sayth: that after three yeares he came to Hierusalem, and then after fourtene yeres he retourned agayne to Hierusalem: this is to be vnderstoode, not xiiii. yeares from his conuersion, but from his former being at Hierusalem, and so cōsequently in the xvii. yere of his conuersion, whiche should be also the ix. yeare of the raigne of Claudius: This is the computation of Hierome: but this is easely disproued: for in the Orosius, li. 7. cap. 6.ninth yeare of Claudius, the Iewes were all banished from Rome, because saith Suetonius, they made tumultes, Impulsore Christo, by meanes of Christe: And at this time Paule was at Athens, as Vspergensis writeth,In Claud. cap. 24. and it appeareth like wyse by the history of the Actes: for Paule departing from Athens, went to Corinth, where he met with Aquila and Priscilla, who (saith the text) were lately come frō Italy,Act. 18.Acts 18 because Claudius had commaunded that all Iewes should depart from Rome: This being euident that Paule was at this time at Athens, it is further to be considered whether he might not be at Hierusalem the same yeare at the counsell or no. Moste certaine it is that Paule was at the counsell, and that it was held before his comming to Athens, and that so long time that the onelyonly consideration thereof might be sufficient to proue, that the same synode was not helde the same yeare: For those questiōs being discussed about which they were assembled,Act. 15.Acts 15 Paule and Barnaba with certaine other returned with letters from Hierusalem to Antioche, where they stayed, and taried preaching and teaching for a tyme, till at the length Paule agreed with Barnabas to go visite the brethren, in those cities wher they had taught the gospell. So that Paule passed from Antioche to Syria, & Cilicia, confirming the churches: Afterwarde he came to Derba and Lystra, Act. 16.Acts 16where he founde Timothie, and hauing circumcized him he toke him with him, and as they passed forth (saith Luke) from citie to citie they gaue vntounto them the institutions of the Apostles and Elders of of Hierusalem, that they should obserue them, so that the churches were confirmed in faith and encreased daily: Also they walked throughout Phrygia and Galacia, and being forbiddē by the spirite to preache in Asia, they went to Nysia, p. 6from thence to Troada, from thence to Samothracia, then to Neaples, and so to Philippis, and stayed there certayne daies,Act. 17.Acts 17 from thence to Thessalonica, where Paule preached three wekes, from thence he went to Beraea, and there preached with great fruite, till the Iewes came thether from Thessalonica to disquiet him, and from this Berea Paule was conueied to Athens: Nowe let the diligent reader cō sider all these iourneies with other circumstances, as continuance of time, and distance of place, and Paules abiding in eueryevery place to preache diligently, and then iudge whether the forsayde synode could be held this same yeare that Paule came to Athens: Waying also that many more notable cities are in these coūtreies Galacia, Mysia, Phrigia, and the rest, visited by Paule but not spokē of in the Actes: Againe considering that the Apostle traueled by lande all moste altogether & that by leasurable iourneyes on foote, he could not finishe thousandes of miles in short time, but y^t it were very harde for him to come to Athens the same yere. Beside al this if it were to be vnderstode as Hierome maketh it, then if ye accompt it in the table, ye shall finde it to be one yeare further, y^t is the yeare 52. and it is plaine to be more vntrue, for then by this time Paule had continued a yeare in Corinthe, and so had not bene in Hierusalē in two yeares before:

The conclusion therefore is, that the said counsell could not be holdē according to the accompte made by Hierome ▪ and therfore S. Paules wordes must be vnderstoode as I sayde before, namely of fourtene yeares after his conuersion: and then it is euident that Peter was yet in Hierusalem in the yeare 49.

But to procede: it may be demaūded, where Peter was from the time of his deliuery out of pryson at Hierusalem to the time of this synode: that is from the fourth yeare of Claudius to the seuenth yere of his raigne. Perhaps Peter went to Rome at some time betwene those yeares. Nicephorus sayth, that in the fifth yere of Claudius Peter was at Hierusalem,Nicepho. li. 2. cap. 21. at the death of the virgin Mary. But if we weigh diligently the history of the scripture, conferring one place with an other, it shall appeare that although it be not specified in the actes, yet Peter was at Antioche in this time. For Paule in the secōd to the Gallathians saith, that Peter came to Antioche, whiche could not be at anye time before this time of his deliuery out of pryson as may appeare by the former part of this discourse. Againe diuerse reasons there are, whiche moue me to thinke that it was before the tyme of this counsell: for first Peter being at Antioche Paule sayth of him self, that he reproued Peter euen to his face, because that he did eate with the Gentils, till certaine came from Iames from Hierusalem, and then Peter being afrayde to offende those circumcised, did shrinke away from the Gentils. And the rest of the Iewes yea and Barnabas also fell into the same dissimulation with them. This dissembling of Peter is one reason to proue that it was before the counsell, for it semed to Peter a doubtfull matter, whether he might be conuersaunt with the Gentils, whiche if it had bene as it was afterwarde by the counsell determined, that circumcision was not necessary, then had Peter bene out of doubt what to do therein, and would hauehave delt plainely according to the truth which he had knowen manifestly: Agayne if it had bene after the counsell, the matter being discussed and agreed vponupon, Peter should not hauehave had any cause to dissemble for feare of offending them in that point, that came from Iames: neyther neded he to hauehave mistrusted that they would mislike of that, whiche should hauehave bene allowed by the churche: neither would Peter hauehave regarded more their vniust offēce, then the decre of the counsell. Last of all in the beginning of the 15. of the Actes Luke maketh mencion of suche that came from Hierusalem and troubled the churche at Antioche about circumcision, and howe Paule and Barnabas p. 7stoode against them, and hereupon ensued the said counsell. And thus it appeareth that Peter was at Antioch at this time, and hetherto therfore to the yeare of the incarnacion 49 he came not within a thousand miles of Rome.

¶ Anno Domini 50. and 51.

IN the latter yeare of these twayne being the ninth yeare of Claudius, Oros. lib. 7 cap. 6.al the Iewes (as is proued before) were vanished from Rome: whiche ouerthroweth the establishing of Peters bishopricke for that yeare.

And as for the former yeare by their owne stories it semeth not to be the time of his comming, for at his first cō ming Simon Magus as Platina reportes, was in suche honour at Rome through the admiration of his sorcery, that he was honoured as a God: for a piller was set vp betwene two bridges, whereupon it was written, Simoni sancto Deo, To Simon the holy God: so that Peter had a great cōflict ere he could roote out the credit of Simon Magus, and plant the Gospell and Iesus Christe in the hartes of the Romaines, whiche by the testimony of Platina he did so effectually ere he left, that in the ende Simon Magus being brought to contempt, Simon Peter was reuerēced and honoured almoste like a God. All this asketh more time & leasure to be brought to passe, then Peter could hetherto obtayne in Rome.

Concerning these former two yeares this may be sayde briefely. Platina and the rest of the Romaine registers doe auoutche that Peter after he left Hierusalem, went to Antioche and continued there byshop seuen yeares, or as some other thinke fiue yeares at the least, or he came to Rome. This being allowed of them for a manifest truthe on the one side, and it being euident by the scripture by the premisses, that this bishoprike at Antioche could not be established at the vttermoste tyll the yeares 49. it foloweth by their accompt, that it is sure, that for these yeares 52. & 53. being within the compasse of the forenamed fyue yeares, Peter was not at Rome but at Antioche, nothing nearer to Rome then is Hierusalem.

¶ Anno 52, 53, and 54.

TOuching the last yeare of these that is the yeare 54. and the twelth yeare of Claudius, it is euident that Peter was not bishop at Rome, for then Paule wrote his epistle thether to the Romains, in the sixtenth chapter wherof he endeth his epistle with particular salutacions to xviii. persones by name, beside priuate housholdes: and amōg those xviii. eight or nine were women, and yet there is no mention made of Peter, surely if Peter had gone thether before the wryting of this epistle, so that Paule might hauehave then thought that he had bene there, Paule would not so hauehave neglected the worthy Apostle among the rest, onlesse he should seme to make lesse accompt of him in the churche then of women: if therfore the epistle were nowe written it is probable, Peter was not nowe at Rome. But it is apparent inough that the epistle was written at this time. Paule in the xv. chapter and the 24 verse to the Romains promiseth that he would come to Rome, but excuseth him selfe that hee came not presently, for nowe (saieth he) I am going to Hierusalē, so that hereby it semeth to be written in his iourney at some time going to Hierusalem. But it is nedefull to consider at what time especially this was because he went thether fiue seueral times as it appeareth, first in the ninth, secondly in the twelfth, thirdly in the xv. fourthly in the xviii. fiftly and last that is mencioned in scripture in the xxi. chapter of the Actes. And touching the first three times, it could not be at any of those voiages, because Paule had not yet met with Timothe, for he founde him not as it is shewed in the sixtenth of the actes, til after his thirde comming from Hierusalem, from the synode: but at the writing of this epistle Timothie was in his cō panie, p. 8for in the ende of his epistle he sendeth commendacions in the name of Timothie. Roman. 16.Then of those two ascendings after his acquaintaunce with Timothie, it is plaine that it could not be that he wrote it at the first time mencioned in the 18 of the Actes, for in the 18. verse of the same chapter, ere Paule returned to Hierusalem it is saide that he departed from Corinthe to Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila, went with him to Ephesus, where he left them and would not stay being thereto requested, because he hasted to Hierusalem, whether he wēt immediatly: At this ascending to Hierusalem, this epistle semeth not to be written, because in the 16. chapiter thereof he sendeth cōmendaciōs to Aquila and Priscilla, who were with him in the moste part of this iourney,Act. 18.Acts 18 and almoste two yeares before continually at Corinthe, who parting from Paule went not to Rome as he knewe, but stayed at Ephesus, where he lefte them promising to retourne thether to them. But if any make this obiection, that because of these salutacions to Aquila and Priscilla this epistle might be written before they came from Rome, at some time of Paules going to Hierusalem, this is aunswered with that whiche I hauehave noted before, that it could not be so, because Paule was not then acquainted with Timothie, with whome he met but euen lately before he came to Corinthe, and went not to Hierusalem, from the time that he founde Timothie till nowe, that he left Aquila and Priscilla at Ephesus: the cō clusion therefore is, that this epistle was written to Rome at the last time that Paule went vp to Hierusalem, and by that time might Aquila and Priscilla he retourned to Rome: Beside all this, in the 19. of the Actes & the 20. verse, Luke sayth that Paule purposed through the spirite after he had walked through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Hierusalem, saying: after I hauehave bene there I must go to s… Rome, here he semeth to be first (that is mēcioned) mindfull of Rome, and this was at his last going to Hierusalē: But conferre this place with his owne wordes in the xv. chapter and 23. verse of his epistle, and it will plaine appeare that the same epistle was written at this time aboue named, his wordes be these:

I hauehave longed many yeares to se you, when so euer I go into Spayne I wil come to you &c. But nowe I go to Hierusalem to minister to the saintes: for it hath pleased Macedonia and Achaia, to imparte somewhat to the poore saintes at Hierusalem, &c. As soone as I hauehave dispatched this &c. I wil go from hence into Spayne.

Finally Paule mistrusting the crueltie of the Iewes against him at this time more then heretofore, and that truly as it fell out, Actes the 21. desireth the Romaines earnestly to praye for him, that God would deliuer him from those rebelles whiche were in Iudea. All the whiche I alleadge to testifie against the iudgemēt of diuers other that this epistle by moste presumpciōs was writtē the last time of Paules going to Hierusalem, whiche was in the twelft yeare of Claudius, the 54. yeare of the incarnatiō: for Luke testifieth that Paule was two yeare there prysoner before that Foelix the president of Iudea departed, & Festus came in his steade: who was sent thether by Nero in the beginning of his raigne immediatly vponupon the death of Claudius who departed in the 14. yeare of his Empier, as Iosephus testifieth Antiquit. lib. 20. cap. 5. Again in the same place Iosephus sheweth that in the xi. yeare of Claudius, Foelix was made Liuetenaunt of Iudea, who as it appeareth by Tertullus oracion against Paule, Acts the 24. had bene in Iudea at the least a yeare ere Paule came thether, so that cōsidering he came thether in the xi. yeare, and taried but to the xiiii yeare of Claudius, and Paule was prysoner two yeares before his departure, it falleth out that Paule came to Hierusalem about the xii. yeare of Claudius, and that the epistle was written to Rome the same yeare, and finally that this yeare Peter had not his prerogatiue p. 9papall at Rome. And of this iudgement is Caluine saiyng, y^t this epistle to the Romaines semeth to be written foure yeares before that Paule came to Rome. Instituti. cap. 8. sectione. 101.

Furthermore S. Ambrose vponupon the Epistle to the Romaines saith, that he hath red in certaine olde bookes that at the sending of this Epistle Narcissus whom with his family Paule saluteth, was then the Seniour of the congregacion at Rome: Ergo not Peter.

Anno. 55.56.57.58.

IN the seconde yeare of Nero, being the 58. yeare of the incarnacion, Paule came to Rome by the testimonie of Vspergensis: In Nerone: & Eusebius li. 2. cap. 21. At which time it is euident that Peter was not byshop according to the Romaine bragge: for whē Paule came to Rome, Luke being then with him saith,Act. 28.Acts 28 that the brethren hearing of vsus came forth to mete vsus &c. but there is no mention made of Peter, neither comming nor sending to Paule. The thirde daye after, Paule sent for the chiefe of the Iewes, reasoning with them about the faith, who aunswered him thus. We will heare what thou doest thinke: for we knowe that this sect is spoken against eueryevery where: When Paule had ended his sermon, the Iewes fell at variaunce about it, for some beleued, and some beleued not. This aunswere and doing of the Iewes sheweth, that they had heard but litle of Christe, till the comming of Paule: nothing so muche as they should hauehave heard and knowen, if Peter beinge (by faith and promise their peculier Apostle) had bene bishop in Rome these twelue yeares since the fourth of Claudius, or but at any time within these foure yeares since the epistle of Paule was sent to Rome. Neither can it be excused to saye, that he might be bishop, and yet not medle with preaching to the Iewes, but exercise him selfe in conuerting the Gentiles, this excuse cannot take place, for if Peter had bene in Rome, he ought chiefly to hauehave conferred with the Iewes: for as Paule saith in the ninth verse of the seconde to the Galathians, that by promise Paule was appointed Apostle to the Gentiles, and Peter to the Iewes, & therefore as we se that Paule discharged his dutie in that point to the Gentiles, so is it to be thought, that Peter did likewyse to the circumsized, as partly appeareth by his firste epistle written namely to the dispersed Iewes in Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, vntounto the whiche thing Eusebius lib. 3. cap. 4. thinketh he did wholly addict him selfe: And therfore it is not likely that Peter hetherto had any suche prerogatiue in Rome as the Pope dreameth of.

Anno. 59. and 60.

Act. 28.Acts 28IT appeareth that for these twoo yeares Peter came not yet to his dignitie, for Paule cōming prisoner to Rome, did continue there as Luke testifieth, twoo yeares, all the whiche time saieth Nicephorus, he liued by the labour of his handes, lib. 2. cap. 3. If Peter had bene at Rome as Platina would hauehave him in Pontificall dignitie, he woulde hauehave prouided so, that Paule should not hauehave bene in suche distresse: But it is manifest, that he was not there all this time: by those epistles that were nowe written by Paule from Rome: For in those epistles there is no menciō made of Peters being with him.Galat. 1Gal 1 In the epistle to the Galathians Paule being compelled to confirme the authoritie of his doctrine and Apostleship, whiche some sought to deface, speaketh muche of former acquaintance betwene him and Peter, howe he came to Hierusalem, Act. 9. to se Peter: And howe he reproued him at Antioche &c. And yet he maketh no mencion of his being with him at this time, especially when Peters testimony by subscripcion or otherwyse might moste hauehave confirmed Paules cause, and hauehave testified his doctrine to be as autenticall, as that whiche the other Apostles taught. Whiche oportunitie if Paule p. 10should hauehave omitted, when it might both hauehave stoode hym in steede, and might best hauehave bene obtained, it should hauehave geuen greater occasion, to encrease the discredit & mistrust of Paules function & preaching: And this would the wise and carefull Apostle hauehave cōsidered, who omitted no oportunitie to the furtheraunce of the Gospell. &c.

Againe by the latter Epistle to Timothie, wrytten at Paules latter imprysonnement in Rome, as Eusebius. li. 2 cap. 21. testifieth, it appeareth that Peter was not with hym at the time of his former captiuitie by these woordes: In my first defence (meaning when he aunswered for hym selfe first before Nero) no man assisted me.Timoth. 2. cap. 4. If Peter had bene there, surely Paule should not hauehave had cause thus to complayne, onles Peters charitie had waxen so colde that he would forsake his fellowe Apostle. Which if it had bene so (as I dare not imagine it) then woulde Paule hauehave noted him by name to Timothie as he did Demas, Hymeneus, and Philetus. If he had succoured him, he woulde hauehave bene mindefull to make thankefull report thereof, as he did of Onesimus and diuers other, Aquila and Priscilla: Furthermore,Tim. 2. 4▪ Rom. 18 y^e Epistle to the Colossians was also written at this tyme as it appeareth by mencion made of Demas, who nowe was with Paule, but afterwarde forsoke hym, as appeareth in the seconde to Timothie. Beside that by Onesimus, (who was with Paule onele in his first captiuitie, and caried these letters to Colossa) it is playne that it was written at this time, and yet among all other that are there named Peter is put vp in silence.

The Epistle beginneth, Paule and Timothie, if Peter had bene there he had bene added also.

Finally, S. Luke being all this time of imprisonment with Paule, and continuing his story till the end of Paules imprisonment, for so he cōcludeth the history of the Actes, saying that Paule continued two whole yeres in a place whiche he had hyred in Rome, receiuing all that came in vntounto him preaching with all libertie, and teaching those things that were in Christ Iesus, and no man forbad him. Thus doth Luke testifie of Paule, and yet he speaketh not one woorde that Peter should thē be there, or y^t he had bene there at any time, neither that he should come thether at any time after. Thus are foure yeares of Neroes raigne passed, and yet is Peter not raigning to this time in his diocesse whereof he toke possession (by the Romishe registers) fourtene yeares since.

¶ From the yeare 60. to the yeare 67.

IN the yeare of thincarnation 60. Paule as is sayde, was prisoner at Rome, who for the tyme of his abode there, so planted the Gospell, that at his departing from thence he left great fruite therof, and suche in deede as if Peter had succeded Paule within two, thre, or foure yeres, and there supplied the roume of a byshop, Cornelius Tacitus speaking of the estate of the Christians in Rome about the yeare 67. being but seuen yeares after Paules departure, should not hauehave had cause so soone to saye as he doth, y^• by that tyme the Christian Religion was repressed: For Vspergensis saith, that in the 67. yere, Nero did set Rome on fier, of the whiche Cornelius Tacitus writing, lib. 15. Augustae historiae, sayth: Ergo abolēdo rumori Nero subdidit reos. &c. Therfore Nero (to stop the rumour of his setting the citie on fier) suborned giltie persons, and executed with strange punishment, those whome the vulgar people detesting for their wickednes, doth call Christiās. That mischeuous superstition being repressed till nowe, brake out againe, &c. Therfore first they were taken that confessed it, afterward by their accusatiō an houge multitude, not so much for that they were gilty of fyreing the citie as for hatred, are condemned, and were put to death with great despite, some encased in the skinnes of wylde beastes, that they might bee torne in peces with p. 11dogges, some crucified, some were burned to giuegive light in the night time. &c. These are the woordes of Tacitus, notwithstanding, as it appeareth he was a blasphemer of the name of Christe. By these woordes of his it appeareth that nowe Christianitie began to reuiue, and that nowe it was quenched: which argueth plaine that from the former time of Paules departure til this time, Peter had not supplied in Rome the place of a preaching pastour and diligēt bishop. And seing this broyle against the Christians, began now to be so hotte not in al places, but especially in Rome, howe could Peter sit quietly in this citie as bishop thereof and not be fyred out with his flocke: but they saye all that he lyued after this tyme about three yeares, for this was done in the eleuenth yeare of Nero, who raigned almoste xiiii. yeares, and Peter was martyred in the last yeare of Nero, as they saye all. If this reuiuing of the Gospel was by Peters meanes, why would Nero spare him being the head: if Peter escaped by flying, then he shewed him selfe to be an hierling and no true shepeherde that forsaketh his flocke when he seeth the wolfe come.

¶ From the yeare 67. to the 70. of thincarnation.

Nowe are we come to the latter tyme of Nero, in which yeres if Peter were not bishop of Rome, then is it certaine that he was not bishop there at all. But to come to the purpose, Naucler. Volu. 2. generat. 2. and the moste writers as Eusebius. lib. 2 cap. 25 Nicephorus li. 2. cap. 34. Sabellicus Ennead. 7. li. 2. agree that Paule died in the yeare of our Lorde 70. the 37. yeare after the death of Christe: But it may sone appeare y^t Peter was not then byshop at Paules last comming to Rome, for after Paule was come thether he sent for Timothie to come vntounto hym, shewing that he had nede of him to come to hym, because he was nowe desolate and had none with hym, Demas had forsaken hym nowe and embraced the worlde, &c. so that if this Epistle were not written at the firste imprisonment of Paule, but at this latter time, then was not Peter yet estalled in his Diocese, for if he had bene in Rome in his pontificall dignitie, I thinke Paule should not hauehave bene dryuen to sende to Ephesus 1000. miles frō Rome for Timothie to bryng Marke to come to minister to him. In the ende of this secōd Epistle to Timothie, Paule sendeth commendations from diuers, but none from Peter.

There are xiiii. Epistles whereof Paule and Seneca beare the name, the one wryting to the other at this later imprysonnement, and yet among them all nothing is saide of Peter, and yet by occasion he might easely hauehave bene mencioned in them, if he had bene then in Rome. But if by this time Peter were not yet Pope of Rome, there is no tyme left for him to come to enioye it during the raigne of Nero, till whose death this present persecutiō of the church endured with all crueltie.

¶ The death of Peter.

TOuching the death of Peter all wryters do not agree as it is sufficiently declared in the Actes and monumentes fol. 56. in these wordes. They that folow the common opinion and the Popes decrees saye that bothe Peter and Paule suffred both in one daye and one yeare, whiche opinion semeth to be taken out of Dionisius byshop of Corinthe. Hierome in his booke De viris illustr. affirmeth that they suffered both in one daye, but hee expresseth not the yeare, so doth Isiodorus and Eusebius. Prudentius in his Peristephano, noteth that they both were put to death vponupon the same daye but not in the same yeare, & saythe that Paule folowed Peter a yeare after. Abdias recordeth that Paule suffered twoo yeares after Peter. Moreouer if it be true whiche Abdias sayth, that after the crucifying of Peter, Paule remayned in his free custody at Rome, mencioned in the 28. of the Actes of the Apostles, whiche was as S. Hierome witnesseth, in the thirde or fourth yeare of Nero, then must it be tenne yeares betwixt the martyrdome p. 12of Peter and of Paule, for as muche as it is by all wryters confessed that Paule suffered in the xiiii. yeare, which was the last yeare of Nero. Vspergensis saithe that they were both executed in one yeare, but he noteth not that they died in one daye. Sabellicus sayth, both in one yeare & one daye. Some say as Ambrose, that they died together both in one place. But Dionysius, saythe otherwyse, that the one bad thother farewel when they were parted asonder goyng to death. Againe, the moste writers saye that Nero was the cause therof: But Linus saith, Agrippa cōmaunded that Peter should be slayne, because that by his persuasiō foure of the concubines of Agrippa refused to liue any longer in suche vnchast life with the king, therefore for anger he cō maunded that Peter should be crucified. Finally S. Hierome and Lyra, wryting vponupon the 34. verse of the 22. chap. of Mathewe: say that Peter was put to death at Hierusalē by the Iewes, and that Christe prophecied thereof saying: Lo I sende you prophetes &c. and some of them ye shall kyll.

Many thinges might be added to disproue this dotage of Peters being bishop at Rome, but because I thinke this to be sufficient, I let passe diuers necessary thinges least I should be ouer tedious. But if any be desirous to se this matter more suffitiently handled, let him reade Vlrichus Velenus, wryting purposely of this in a litle booke called Demonstrationes contra Romani Papae primatus figmē tum. Beside there hath bene of late set forth in Englishe a discours very learnedly and fully entreating hereof, wherin as wel the allegacions of the Papistes for Peters being at Rome substantially confuted, as reasons brought to improue the same. And therefore had it not bene so necessarely appertinent to the argument of this booke, I would rather hauehave referred the reader to their doynges, then hauehave spoken any thing thereof. Nowe it remayneth to leaue Peter, and to come to the bishops of Rome.

The order of this history requirth that euerye byshop should be here placed as eche succeded other: But there is suche confusion amonge them that wryte of them, that no man can certainly tell whome to place first, second, thirde, nor fourth. And least it be thought to be spoken rather of affection then otherwyse, I thought good to shewe out of Vspergensis their owne authour, what wrangling and disagreement there is, for those that succeded Peter, which though it be somwhat lōg, yet is it necessary to be shewed, that it may appeare what certaintie they hauehave of Peter, & those to whome he committed this vniuersall Popedome. The wordes of Vspergēsis in the life of Claudius be these.

Touching the succession of the Romaine byshops, their order, …and the tymes, wherein they raigned from the beginning, diuerse men thinke diuersly: whose opinions I wil here briefly set downe, &c. Some wryte whereunto the ecclesiasticall history agreeth, that after the death of Peter sitting at Rome chiefe of the Churche xxv. yeares. Linus did next take the gouernement vponupon him. And when he had ruled xii. yeares, in the second yeare of Titus, he lefte it to Anacletus, who also after other xii. yeares gaue it to Clement, whiche semeth to be in the xiii. yeare of Domician. Clement after nine yeares suffered vnderunder Traian. After him in the fourth place, came Euaristus, the nexte was Alexander, and then Sixtus, and so forth. But other wryte that Linus and Cletus, were both vnderunder Peter (as his vicars or curates) and that Peter as soone as he had taken the Papacy vponupon him, did appointe Linus in his steade to gouerne the churche, whereby he him selfe might the better folowe his function of preaching: and that he departing after twelue yeres, Peter did substitute Cletus in his place, who also dying after twelue yeres, euen the same yere that Peter suffered vnderunder Nero. Then Peter committed his seate to Clemēt, giuing to him and his successours power to bynde and loose, whome Anacletus succeded in the tyme p. 13of Domician, then folowed Euaristus, &c. But because these accomptes do not agree, let vsus consider wherein they differ, and so trie whiche semeth more credible. Therefore if Linus left Anacletus, and he Clemens, then is Clement thrust out of the beadroll of Popes, whose reuerence is so great among all Churches, that he is not only mentioned among martyrs, but also in the Canon of the masse, and in the Letany or procession, is placed betwene Linus and Clemens. But if after Linus, Cletus be placed, and then Clemens, then Euaristus, then Alexander, &c there is no place for Anacletus to get in. And Beda in his Martyrtologie, that Anacletus was the fourthe after Peter, and suffered vnderunder Domician, making Linus first, Cletus second, Clemens thirde, and Anacletus fourth. But if Anacletus be placed after Clement, and as Beda sayeth, died vnderunder Domician, then cannot it holde that his predecessour Clemens should suffer vnderunder Traian, because it may euidētly be proued that he suffered vnderunder Domician, if his successour Anacletus bee not denied to suffer vnderunder the same Emperoure. Furthermore, if Linus and Anacletus, as some saye, or Linus and Cletus, as other saye: did bothe rule twelue yeares a peece after the death of Peter, dyinge the xiiii. yeare of Nero, then it arysing to 24. yeares, it falleth out that the latter of them should suffer in the xii. of Domician, & so Clemens could not receaue power to binde and loose, neither the seate of Peter. Whiche opinion also is cōfirmed of diuerse: and to this is added that Dionysius Areopagita hasting from Athens to Rome againste the martyrdome of the Apostles Peter and Paule, but comming a little to late, and sone after their deathes, did there finde Clemens his scholefellowe bishop of Rome. &c. Who sent the same Dionysius into Fraunce to preache: But it is saide that this Dionysius was martyred Anno domini. 96 whiche is the xiiii. yeare of Domician, and before his death he had continued long, & had done very muche in Fraūce, and yet it is sayde that Clemens who sent him thether, was made byshop but the twelfth yeare of Domician. Againe, the booke of the passion of Pope Alexander saith, that Clemens was y^e first after Peter, for so it is there written. In the fift place after Peter came Alexander. But if it were the second from Peter, then it foloweth that Cletus being before Clement, and Anacletus after him be pushed out, because Alexander must be the fifte: Namely Peter first, Linus seconde, Clement thirde, Euariste the fourth, and Alexander the fifte: For otherwyse Alexander cannot be the fift from Peter, because if Linus be the seconde frō Peter, and Cletus after Anacletus, be placed before Clement, Alexander shalbe the sixt: But if Cletus be before Clement, and Anacletus after him, then shall Alexander be the seuenth, vnlesse Clement be the second after Peter.

Thus farre doth Vspergensis wander in this maze: and thus it appeareth what certaintie the Churche of Rome hath of her beginning, of Peters being there, & of bequeathing his supremacy, to whome neither they, nor any other for them can tell. But ye se, howe many bishops here wrestle for the first place, and howe they are tossed from the first to the seconde, and an other whyle hoisted to the third and fourth place, yea and some time shoued cleane out of place. So harde a thing it is, to finde a sure man, that for the beginning of this history a man may wel doubt with whome to beginne, but we must be content in this hurly burly, either to cast lottes to finde out the ring leader, or els to take and set an order among them, though perhap not the same wherein they liued, yet as if it were the same. And if any of the good byshops lese his place of senioritie, we must desire him to take it paciently, and to blame the negligence of their parishioners and successours of Rome, who (because nature vseth not to ascende but to discend) so muche regarded them selues, and their children, with the tyme present, that they forgat their forefathers (if these were p. 14they) and the tyme past.

¶ The first face of the Romaine churche vnderunder Heathen Emperours.

FOr the first sorte of Romayne byshops, that is from Linus to Syluester, they liued continually vnderunder persecutions. For as Eusebius sheweth, from the yeare of our lord 67. till the time of Constantine, being about thre hundred yeares, were tenne persecutions. The first by Nero, with al rigour and crueltie that might be, wherof Hierome in his epistle to Cramatius and Heliadorus, saith: that there wer fiue thousand Christians martyred eueryevery daye in the yeare sauing the first daye of Ianuary: For they were persecuted by Nero his commaundement in all places with diuerse & straunge kinde of tormētes, and reprochefull villanies not to be mencioned.

The seconde persecution was moued by the Emperoure Domician, Anno. 96. who was a man so much delighted in killing & murthering, that as the prouerbe went of him, he would not hauehave a flye aliue with him, for being as he coueted moste, solitary by him selfe in his pallaice, he vsed to catche and kill all the flies that came in his waye. Againe he was so hawty aboue measure, that he woulde nedes be counted a God, and therefore it may easely be iudged, what rest the Christians had in his time.

The thirde persecution was raysed by Traianus Anno 100. so bloudely that euen the Heathen Pliny moued with pitie, bewayled it vntounto the Emperoure.

The fourth persecution was styrred Anno. 167. by the Emperour Marcus Antonius, lasting long vnderunder sondrie Emperours vnmercifully.

The fift persecution was caused by Seuerus the Emperour with all seueritie, forbidding that any more should be baptized, purposing so to roote out the name of Christiās, Anno. 205.

The sixth persecutiō was enkindled by Maximinꝰ. 237.

The seuenth was enflamed by Decius the Emperoure, Anno. 250. as terrible as the rest.

The eight was broched by diuerse parsones in diuerse places. As by Galerius Maximus and Paternus, proconsuls in Aphrica, by Emilianus Liuetenaunt in Egypt, beside diuers other great magistrates in Rome & els where, Anno. 259.

The ninth by the Emperour Aurelianus, Anno. 278.

The tenth and last, as the last acte of a tragedy, was brought vponupon the churche with all kinde of saueige cruelty without pity or compassion by the bloudy tyrant Dioclesian, and continued by other till the comming of the noble Constantine. And this was the state of the churche vnderunder the Emperours of Rome for these yeares. Nowe let the reader iudge of what maiestie and countenaunce the prelates in this time were like to be, of what wealth & abilitie to maintaine a pōpous estate. Or what it was, that might moue them to make any suche ambicious decrees as hauehave bene falsely forged on them. And hereby discerne the after age in the Romaine churche to this daye, howe farre they differ from this, as shall appeare.

p. 15THE FIRST COMPANIE OF ROMAINE BISHOPS being in nomber to Syluester the first, xxxij. all whiche were godly and faithfull pastours, farre from all wordly pompe and glory, either in pride of attier, as miter and pall, or of hawty and ambicious title of Christes generall vicar, but paynfull preachers of the Gospell, with all humilitie and constant martyrs in the ende.

1. Linus the first bishop of Rome as some thinke.

THe first bishop was one Linus, a Thuscane borne, a man of pure and godly life, according to the example of the Apostles, who for preaching the Gospell, suffered martyrdome vnderunder Saturninus the Consull, while Vespasian raigned. Diuerse fansies are fathered vponupon this man, as that he decreed by the commaundement of Peter being dead, that no woman should enter into the temple bareheaded: whiche cannot be, for there were no temples in Rome til the time of Constantine the Emperour, for Christian Congregations. And Man…uan Fastor. 1. testifieth that they were fayne for feare of the tyrantes, to forsake towne and City, and to lyue in these dayes in desertes, woodes, and mountaynes, whiche maye bewraye the dotage of Platina and other who charge these first godly martyrs with diuerse supersticions diuised by other long after.

2. Anacletus the first.

ANacletus borne at Athens, by Irenaeus is placed next after Linus. He was of an excellent and feruent spirite, and of great learning, planted the churche of God with daily labour. He was put to death by Domitiā. Anno. 94. Certaine epistles and decrees stuffed full of falsehoode and vntruthes ioyned with ambicion, touching the ordering & primacie of bishops, are counterfaited in his name. But Flaccus Illyricus, in the first Centurie, doth so rip y^e seames of them that eueryevery man may perceiue what botched stuffe it is. Beside Mantuan saith, that he liued long not in any suche estate, to hauehave occasion to wryte of suche matters, but in caues and dennes, among woodes.

3. Clement the first.

THe next was Clement a Romaine, who aduaunced the Gospell by continuall preaching and good dedes. They forge of him that he did deuide Rome into parishe churches who had scant a lodging in it. Againe, they slaunder him that he made orders in Rome for confirmation of children, for masses, apparell, vestures, and popishe ceremonies: and yet he sylly man, was of so smale power and authoritie to establishe these thinges in Rome, that he was a long tyme banished by the Emperour, to hewe marble stones, and at the length with an anchour about his necke, was cast into the sea, Anno. 102. so writeth Mantuan Fasto. 11.

4. Euaristus the first.

EVaristus a Grecian, was especially endewed with the grace of God, whereby in the time of persecutiō he ceased not to encrease the churche of Christe by his diligent preaching, till he was martyred vnderunder Traian. An. 110.

p. 165. Alexander the first.

ALexander a Romaine, did trauayle painfully, both to preache and baptize: He suffered great tormentes till he died thereof vnderunder one Aurelianus president to the Emperoure. Anno. 121.

6. Sixtus the first.

SIxtus a Romaine, did both preache diligently, and did many good workes. He beautified the churche with godly deedes, being euer vigilant and carefull for his flocke, and died for it Anno. 129.

These three good byshops are slaundered with certaine popishe decrees, as touching consecrating of the Clergy, holy water, and holy vessels, but olde verses made of these times, do testifie that they were not at suche leasure to furnishe, or rather disguise the churche with these supersticious ceremonies. Thus do some wryte of these tymes,

Vrbibus antiqui patres fugiere relictis. &c.

The tyrantes did our auncetours compell,

To flye to woodes and not in townes to dwell.

7. Telesphorus the first.

TElesphorus a Grecian, was a worthy man for learning and godly life: He bare witnesse of Christe moste faythfully, both by his wordes and death vnderunder the Emperoure Antoninus, who executed him. Anno. 140.

He is slaundered to hauehave decreed that thre masses should be sayde on Christmas daye: And yet at this time the masse was vnhatched, yea the dame thereof (except Sathan the bell sier) was (as a man maye saye) not yet an egge in the neaste of that vncleane byrde. Neyther was the superstitiō of making difference of dayes yet crepte into the churche being contrary to the doctrine of Paule, Galath. 4. But suche supersticious fasting as afterward choked the churches, was not diuised by this bishop, but rather by Montanus the heretike, who beside this made it lawfull to breake wedlocke, and to dissolue the band of matrimony.

8. Higinus the first.

HIginus borne in Athens, being of a Christian philosopher made a byshop, discharged the dutie of a good pastour and painfull labourer in the Lordes haruest, and at length was put to death cruelly, Anno. 144. It is reported that he wrote out of a caue, where he hid him selfe, an Epistle, touching God, and the incarnation of the sonne of God.

9. Pius of Aquilia.

PIus borne in Aquilia, is reported to hauehave done many godly dedes in the church vnderunder Antonius Verus: And in the end watered the churche of Christe with his bloud in martyrdome, Anno. 159.

10. Anicetus.

ANicetus a Sirian, was a diligent pastour of the churche of Rome till he was martyred, Anno. 169.

11. Sother.

SOther borne in Campania, as the valiaunt souldiour of Christe Iesus, serued vnderunder his spirituall banner in the time of Antonius Cōmodus, He employed him self moste diligently to bring the soules of the baptized to saluation in Christe, both by doctrine and example of life. And in the ende confirmed the Gospell, whiche he had faithfully preached p. 17with his bloud in martyrdome, Anno. 177.

12. Eleutherius.

ELeutherius a Grecian, was also a carefull and vigilant pastour: in his time the persecution of the tyrants did somewhat decreace, & many godly writers bestowed great paynes to wryte sondry learned bookes against diuerse heresies and heretikes whiche then enfected the churche. And among other this Eleutherius did also defende against Titianus, that no vsuall trade of life is to be reiected. But not withstanding that the stormes of persecution were somewhat calmed in his time, because many of the Romayne nobilitie beleued on Christe, yet Masseus saythe, he was beheaded, Anno. 191.

13. Victor.

VIctor borne in Aphrica, did succeade Eleutherius. This man was the first that when the storme of persecution was calmed, vsurping authoritie vponupon straungers, sought to hauehave an oar in an other mans boate. In the former byshops (saith Vincelius) the spirite abounded, but in these y^t folowe the temptacion of fleshe and bloud preuayled. Policrates bishop of Ephesus, and Iraeneus bishop of Lions, did bouldly reproue this Victor, for exempting his bretheren in Asia from the communiō, because in keping Easter day, they folowed not the vse of the churche of Rome: So that the churche was then rent in twayne, by meanes of his obstinacy, He died Anno. 203.

14. Zepherinus.

ZEpherinus was a Romaine borne, a man as writers do testifie, more addicted with all endeuour to the seruice of God, then to the cure of any worldly affayres. Where as before his time the wine in the celebrating the cōmuniō was ministred in a cup of woode, he first did alter that, and in steade thereof brought in cuppes or chalices of glasse: And yet he did not this vponupon any supersticion, as thinking woode to be vnlawefull, or glasse to be more holy for that vse, but because the one is more comly and semely, as by experience it appeareth then the other. And yet some wooden doultes do dreame, that the wooden cuppes were chaunged by him, because that part of y^e wine, or as they thought, the royall bloud of Christe, did soake into the woode, and so it can not be in glasse. Surely soner may wine soake into any woode then any witte into those winie heads, that thus both deceiue them selues, and slaunder this Godly martyr. Who in the yeare of our lorde 220. suffered martyrdome vnderunder Aurelius. In the time of this Zepherinus the Artemonites, were a secte of vaine Philosophicall diuines, who as our late scholemen did corrupt the scripture with Aristotle and Theophrastus, turning all into curious and subtile questions.

15. Calixtus the first.

CAlixtus borne at Rauenna, when persecution began to wexe hotte againe, did like a constant Christian, hide him selfe with many moe in a certaine place on the farther side of Tiber. In these daies saith Platina, al thinges were kept close and hidden, because the persecution was so great eueryevery where, yea, their churches and places of assembly, were in corners and caues for the moste parte. But Anno 226. this Calixtus was apprehended by the commaundement of Alexander Seuerus, and was beaten with coodgiels, pent in prison, afterwarde hurled headlong out of a wyndowe, and then his bodie was drowned in a depe pitte.

16. Vrbanus.

p. 18VRbanus a Romaine, liued vnderunder that moste lasciuious wreatche Heliogabalus the Emperoure, and with his sinceritie of life, and excellencie in learning, he drewe many men on all sides to the Gospell. He was oftentimes banished the citie for the Christian faithe, but being secretlye brought in againe by the faithfull, he was martyred by cō maundement of Seuerus, Anno. 233.

17. Pontianus.

POntianus a Romaine, in the time of the sayde Emperour Seuerus, being one of Christes ministers, and a distributer of Gods misteries, suffered both banishement, & punishement for the Gospell, and the churche sake. For when they ran thicke to him to heare him preache y^e worde, by the princes commaundement, being set on by the Idolatrous priestes, he is caried frō Rome to the Isle Sardinia, where after many miseries and sore tormētes, he was put to death, Anno. 239.

18. Antheros.

ANtheros was borne in Grece, a man of God if any wer: He preached Christe stoutely, euen vnderunder the tyranny of Maximinus the Emperour. This byshop prouided first of all that the actes of martyrs should be diligently writtē by notaries: least the remembraunce of Gods hardie souldiours should be lost with their liues. This Antheros in the yeare 243. did with his bloude beutifie the churche, whiche with his woorde he had fed before.

19. Fabian.

AFter him came Fabius a Romain borne, who (as Eusebius witnesseth) as he was returning home out of the fielde, and with his contrimen present to electe a newe byshop, there was a pygeon sene standing on his head, and sodenly he was created pastour of the churche, whiche he loked not for. While he liued, he him selfe sawe that the recordes of martyrs should be written, and that burying places should be prepared for them: who afterwarde vnderunder Decius (that afterwarde dealt cruelly with his owne brethren) ended his life with most glorious death, Anno. 150.

20. Cornelius.

COrnelius a Romaine, being in the time of Decius, accounted the seuēth persecutour of Christe & his church, had a Godly care ouer y^e safetie of his neighbours. He entertayned curteously, and restored to the churche, as many as hauing denied Christe in tormentes, did yet repent thē of their deede afterward. O the aboōdant spirite of Christ that was in this byshop. O worthy minister of the Gospel, for although this mā of God Cornelius, was caried away into banishemēt, yet he neuer fayled the churche of Christ. But as a valiant champiō in the maintenaūce of the truth, did yelde his necke vntounto the sworde of Decius.

21. Lucius.

LVcius a Romain, being a faithful seruant in the lordes house, and driuen into banishment by Gallus Hostilianus, the persecutour of Christianitie, was comforted of S. Ciprian by his letters. And at the lengthe after Gallus death, euen by Gods wil retourned to Rome, & enriched y^e churche with healthful doctrine, and afterward being purified in the lambes bloud, he pearced the heauenly paradise, being put to death at Valerianus cōmaundement. 255.

22. Stephen.

STephen a Romaine borne, a man in al pointes iuste and p. 19good and one that was counted worthy to hauehave the ecclesiasticall function. Whereupon (as VVicelius saithe) the churche gaue vsus many worthy examples of Prelates, so longe as they were called but bishops of the citie of Rome. While Galienus a wicked Emperor raged, Steuen, Anno 257. after he had cōuerted many of y^e Gētiles to the faith of Christe, loosing his head, was with many other sacrificed to God, receiuing the crowne of iustice.

23. Sixtus the seconde.

SIxtus the seconde was a Grecian, borne in Athens, he being of a worldly Philosopher, become Christe his disciple, and of an earthly man, made an heauenly stewarde, did shine like an ornament of the churche, & as an example worthy to be folowed. This man also enstructing the people in Gods holy woorde, was slayne with many thousands of martyrs, in the persecution of Decius and Valerius, An. 267. S. Laurence claue vntounto this holy byshop vnseperably, euen to the last tormentes of his life, of whiche twoo the one was slayne with swearde, the other burnt to death. Whereof Mantuan in the 8. of his Fast. saith.

These men whose vertues florished by Decius dire decree,

VVere bid with other lockt in chaynes and dungeon darke to bee.

In time of this bishop about the yeare of our lorde. 260. one Paule being terrified with the vnmercifull persecutiō of tyrantes, gat him into wyldernesse and solitary places, and so became the firste Eremite. For at that time, as Eusebius saith,The beginning of Eremities and Monkes. many Christians for feare of death denied their faythe. Upon this Monkery had his beginning, as Hierome shewes in the life of the same Paule the Eremite.

24. Dionysius.

DIonysius was a Grecian, whome Pope Damasus calleth a Monke. He was a worthy man in preaching the faithe, and a notable encreacer of the Christian churche vnderunder Claudius the seconde. Neither did he want other churches, whiche with the doctrine of truthe did reforme heresies that sprange in those dayes. As appeareth by the churche of Antioche, which calling a counsell in the yeare of our Lorde 273. did conuince of errour Paulus Samosatenus, notwithstanding he him selfe coulde not be there present, because he was olde. Dionysius conuerted to Christianitie the daughter of the Emperour Decius, and Triphonia her mother, with 46. thousand other: And at the length was martyred with them & many other at Salarie gate Anno. 277.

25. Foelix.

Foelix a Romain, being a good man and of perfect conuersation, florished in preaching the Gospell, at suche time as Aurelianus did persecute his brethren: While this accursed manslear exercised his tyranny, Foelix among other martyrs, departed moste happely vntounto Christe, that is to saye, from death to life. But to saye that this martyrdome (working their glory) caused temples to be made, & yearely sacrifices to be done therein in their names, it is to open blasphemy. Who will beleue that these holy fathers of the primatiue churche, would so charely hauehave suche regarde to kepe stockes and stones, or dead mens bones, in time of so many persecutions, and heresies, as if they had nothing els to doe. But such forgeries vse our Romanistes to maintayne their idolatry.

26. Eutychianus.

Eutychianus borne in Thuscia, being geuen wholy to Godlynes, and commended to the churche for his learning and vertue, saued many people by preaching the Gospell. p. 20This man (by report) did bury with his own handes, 342. martyrs, and appointed an order for the burying of martyrs, and in the ende he him selfe was made a martyr, Anno. 283. It appeareth that this man did nothing to establishe the fantasticall toyes of our age: but the Papistes foarge of him, that he blessed vponupon the altar grapes and beanes, and that he buried the dead in purple vestimentes, a deede mete for a Christian martyr.

27. Gaius or Caius.

GAius borne in Dalmatia, cosen to Dioclesian the Emperour, succeded Eutychianus in preaching the comfortable Gospell, and was a moste worthy president in the churche of God. Carsulanus and Platina, the Popes claw-backes, reporte of this man, that he encreased the dignitie of the Clergie marueilously, by making difference of degrees among them, so that from one degree to an other, they should arise to the estate of a bishop. Furthermore thei prattell that he commaunded, that a man in holy orders should not be sewed of prophane men, Pagans, or Heretikes. But who is so fonde to beleue that y^e bishops power was so great at Rome at that time, when Pagans them selues bare all the sway, & executed the ciuill lawe? Gaius was in the time of the raigne of the foresayde Dioclesian, vnderunder whome cruell persecution continued, so that for a great time he lurked in caues and hoales vnderunder the groūd, and had no pontificall pallaice or stately temple. And in the ende being plucked out with his brother Gabinius a maried priest, he was slayne with a swoard.

28. Marcellinus.

MArcellinus was a Romaine, who in the tenth persecution after Nero, was cruelly vexed of the tormentours vnderunder Dioclesian and Maximinian, being terrified with feare of the paynes, he offered vntounto the Idols a graine of frankinsens. In those dayes, as Gildas writeth, the scripture where soeuer it was founde, was burnt in the streate, and the chosen shepeheardes of Christes flocke, were slaine with their innocent shepe. But Marcellinus immediatly after his dede, remembring him selfe, reproued Dioclesian to his face, and offred him selfe willingly to death for the truthe of Christe, and striuing valiauntly he preuayled, receiuing the crowne of martyrdome, Anno 303. Hereunto agreeth Mantuan in the life of the sayde Basill.

29. Marcellus.

MArcellus a Romaine, was pastour of the churche, feading it with wisedome and doctrine. And (as I maye saye with the Prophete) a man according to Gods harte, & full of Christian woorkes. This man admonished Maximianus the Emperour, & endeuoured to remoue him from persecuting the sainctes. But the Emperoure being more hardened, commaunded him to be beaten with cogiels, and to be driuen out of the citie, wherefore he entred into the house of one Lucina a widowe, and there he kept the Congregation secretly, whiche the tyrant hearing, made a stable for cattell of the same house, and cōmitted the kepinge of it to the byshop Marcellus. After that he gouerned the churche by wryting Epistles, without any other kynde of teaching▪ being condemned to suche a vile seruice: And being thus dayly tormented with stinke and noysomenesse, at length gaue vp the ghost, Anno, 308.

30. Eusebius.

EVsebius a Grecian, being a very Godly man, a doctour and teacher among the Christiās, gouerned the church in the great storme of persecution. He trauayled stoutly in p. 21the worde of the Lorde, as well at Rome as els wheare through his countrey, in the time of Maxentius that horrible tyrant, vntill he were destroyed by martyrdome, as Massaeus writeth, Anno 309. whereupō as Mantuan writeth an Aungell sayde to Basill.

Of thinges that are reueald to me Ile make the vnderstād,

The ioyful dayes of peace draw on, the time is nie at hand

That tyrants rage shal shortned be: er many years be rōne,

This cruel kind that ioyes in bloud shal wasted be & done,

Rome hath beheld her prelats al ēbrewd in their own gore

Three cruel ones yet shal she se: and then shalbe no more,

The death of next Melchiades shal ende the bloudy age,

His karkas being buried, then peace shal all assuage.

31. Melchiades.

MElchiades an Aphrican, being a man very religious, and a leader of the Christiā flocke, proceaded in preaching the Gospell, and in the affaires of the truthe so farre, vntill he spent his bloud for it vnderunder Maximinianus Galerius: And in the profession thereof died Anno, 314. Reade the Ecclesiasticall history of Eusebius bishop of Caesaria, concerning manifolde and vnaccustomed cruell deathes of the sainctes of that time: Cursulanus, Platina, Stella, and other the Popes flatterers, doe falsely father vponupon these martyrs whole loades of decrees and lyes, that the lewde inuentions of their ceremonies, might be established by the authoritie of these men. For they are not afraide, for the aduauncement of the Popes trone, with these vnclenly dregs to staine the bloud of sainctes, and defile this beautiful face of the primatiue churche, being through continuall persecution euer agreable to Christe the head therof. But what wyse man can thinke that suche simple ministers and pastours of Gods worde as the bishops then were: dwelling in holes, dennes, and corners, and looking for nothing but dayly death vnderunder tyrantes, should hauehave minde of pontificall pompe, stately buildinges, or Papisticall solemnities, when as they had neither churches, nor dwelling houses. The churche as yet obtained no peace: they liued not yet in vnprofitable idlenes, neither had they the chiefe pleasures of the worlde. But those were y^e imaginations which false prophetes, according to their custome, deuised for their bellies sake. But Sabellicus speaking of the saluage persecution of the churche vnderunder Dioclesian, saythe (alleaging it out of Eusebius) that the Christian flocke was plaged at this time by the iudgement of God, because sinne began to growe vp in the churche aboue measure, and the priestes seemed nowe rather to sauour of tyranny, and not humilitie: and therefore when this persecutiō came, it was rather a reformation of the churche (corrupted by ease and peace) then a scattering thereof: Whereby it semeth that euen then God geuing but a pauze of persecution, and whyle tyranny did but staye to breathe it selfe, they began to decline, and growe crooked: yet is it not to be thought that they were caried so farre away, as yet to newe fashiō, and transport with māglinges & addicions the Christian religion as the Papistes dreame they did. And thus is the popishe synagoge groūded on vntruthe. But it were a fond matter to beleue these scoffes & toyes contriued for priestes aduauntage, as our forefathers hauehave done: we should rather trie of what spirites they be, as S. Iohn commaūdeth, whether they be of God or no. Iohn. 4. For many false prophetes hauehave crept into the worlde. Hetherto the pastors were starres shining in the firmament of the churche, as well in life and manners, as in doctrine: and preserued in his right hande, who walked in the middest of the seuen candelstickes. Apocal. 1. Hetherto they were counted Angels, reuealing the euerlasting wyll of almighty God, purely without mans diuices.

p. 2232. Syluester the first.

AFter that Melchiades was put to death, Syluester a Romaine, succeded in the ministery of the woorde: but because that the tyrant Maximinus continued his bloudy persecution against the Churche, Syluester was fayne to hide him selfe, and to lyue solitarily in the hille Soracte. But at the length it pleased God to laye his terrible hand vponupon the persecutour Maximinus, forcing the tyrant to reclaime his cruel decrees against the Christians. Touching the death of Maximinus, who among other tyrantes was a Scorpion to the Christians, it is to be noted that Eusebius writeth first in the eight booke and 28. chapter of his ecclesiastical history thus. First in the secrete partes of his body arose an impostume, then in his bowels grewe a fistulowe, within the whiche a great swarme of woormes and magettes, gnawed and deuoured his guttes, wherof arose a noysome stinke, so ranke that no man could by any meanes abide it, beside the ougly & loathsom sight of the soare it selfe: so that some of his phisicions not able for the horror of it to endure to dresse him, were put to death by his cō maundement. Afterward the disease increasing, all his body was swollen and rankled with it, so that with extremitie of his panges and fainting through honger, he fel down and lay sprawling on the grounde. Then all his body by the hande of God, was terribly enflamed and burned exceadingly odious to beholde, so that the scorched fleshe being by little and little eaten awaye, pyned and consumed, he was so disfigured and deformed, & his feauter so vaded that a man could discerne no resemblance of his former shape. His gastly and naked carkasse was euen as an image of drye bones. And yet the glowing heate boyled more feruently, so that the marrowe fried out of his bones, and his eyes (all moisture being wasted) dropped out of his head. Thus his limmes and members through scalding heate & ranke disease, rotting one from an other, his body laye miserably as it were a graue to the soule: vntil the tormentes thereof wrested out from his cancred harte to acknowledge Christe Iesus, and to repent his bloudy persecuting the cause of this his woful ende, the last persecutour. Eusebius lib. 10. cap. 8. Furthermore it pleased the almighty to woorke so graciously in the hart of the noble Emperour Constantine, that by his procurement the churche at the length obtained peace vniuersally, so that eueryevery mā might safely returne to his owne countrey and citie, whereupon Syluester returned to Rome, and was the firste Romaine byshop that escaped martyrdome. There are many, some indifferent, but moste detestable grosse and fonde decrees, falsely fathered vpō this Syluester, as halowing of Chrismes, geuing of orders, confirming of children, decking of churches, couering of altars, making masse priestes, annoynting and attiring of them: and of making the howsell to be God, called deifying the host, of worshipping and preseruing it. Also touching coyfes, hoodes, corporals, albes, mitars, palles, cloathes, churching kerchiefes for women, rochettes, sacrifices, ceremonies, chappels, anoyling of the sicke, with a rablement of diuers other Iewishe and Heathen ceremonies. Platina, Polidor Virgill, and other the Popes parasites, slaunder this Syluester, that he tooke vponupon him in steade of a golden crowne to weare a mitar, after the Phrygian fashion. Touching certaine miracles whiche are also with like credit, sayde to be done by this Syluester. Mantuan wryteth thus. Fast. lib. 12.

Men talke of many miracles that Syluester hath wrought

But authour yet sufficient hath neuer forth ben brought

Nor witnesse good to proue the same: therfore I let alone

Such things as fables fondly faind: for our religion

Condemneth toyes, and doting dreames: and listeneth not to lyes. &c.

This Syluester died a confessour, Anno domini. 334.

p. 23Mantuan in his thirde booke of the life of S. Blase, bringeth in an Angell talking with the sayde Blase among other martyrs of the Empyre of the foresayde Constantine, and of the estate of the churche for the time folowyng, of the wickednes that should raigne, both among the Clergie and the people, and finally of the vengeance that should ensue. His wordes are these.

¶ The woordes of the Angell to Blase, concerning Constantine.

THe tyrātes being daunted now a gracious prince shal raigne

In Romain empier, vnderunder whō the world shal peace obtaine,

And worship Idols olde no more: the mighty Constantine

Shall kepe his court in Thracia, and to the Lorde diuine

Christe Iesus Italy he leaues, and Rome with mountaines seuē.

Then shal the crosse despised earst aduaunced be to heauen,

And far excel the Romain mace, the …cepter, & the crown. &c.

¶ Of the euels to come vponupon the churche.

But euen vponupon this gentle calme there shal alas ensewe

Destruction, such as wel thou mayst with woful wepings rewe.

And poyson ranke shall surely from the hony swete p…ocede,

The sound of ease, the name of peace, are plesant words in dede:

But out alas more wretchednes, more villany, and vice,

More greuous woūds, more shame & wo, shal to the church arise

Euen of this peace, then did of all the bloudy broiles and warre,

For auncient vertue shal decline: and pleasure vaine shal marre▪

And spoile the bodies chast of mē through wātonesse & welth,

The lazy mide shal quayle, & droupe, neglecting heauēly helth

O leude delightes, O wicked guise, O cursed time: I se

The people of their Lord and Christ forgetful quite to be:

I se their vnbeleuing hartes doth treade down and defie

The faith, & hedlong into sinne by thousandes thick they flie,

I se how men are beastes become, and Rome is now transport

Into a stable. &c.

¶ Of the plagues that folowe.

Then shal we heauēly gostes at length most wrathfully be bent

And God shal frowne against those lādes, whē vp to him is sent

The shew of this their wicked age: heauē shal shut vp his grace,

And al reliefe frō earth, whom hell with horrour doth deface.

At wrath of God the noysome starres shal altogether conspire,

And fling down fearcely frō aboue most fearful flakes of fire.

And heauē shal make his wrath away to daunt & driue to dust,

This saluage kinde of faithlesse folke, and people most vniust.

And mē with grim & grisely lookes, with stern & gastly mind

To rise vp from the Northren poale, shalbe by God assind.

The Hunnes, the Gothes, the Vandals, Turkes rude creatures lacking lawe,

Of God and mā to guide and kepe their saluage hartes in awe.

The Christiās eke amōg thēselues shal wrangle braule & iarre,

And as mad dogges one eate anothers hart through ciuil warre

The Romaynes shal destroy the Greekes, the Almaynes waste the Frenche,

VVith more then deadly hate: that one the others power may quenche.

They shall forbeare the Saracens and Turkes.

And thus muche concerning this matter: Nowe let the reader consider that whiche foloweth, whether it agree not to this that Mantuan hath written: If it be true as Mantuan saithe, that Blase had this reuelaciō, then the estate of Rome folowing this time, was condemned as detestable by the Angell. But if it be but fayned by Mantuan and other, then we se howe they (noting howe farre this latter churche of Rome in her pompe and royaltie swarued from the former in persecution) iudged of it, and yet was Mantuan an Italian Carmelite or whyte Fryar. Thus hath it pleased God, that some of the braunches shoulde both discerne and bewray the loathsomnesse of this wicked tree.

But it shall not be amisse here to adde the saying of Sleidan, talking of this time of Syluester, in his seconde booke of the iiii. Monarches. Then (sayth he) the byshops of Rome began first to be in safetie, for hetherto they were almoste all put to death. From Peter whom they will hauehave to be the first to this time, they accompt xxxiii. Their decrees are set downe among the p. 24generall counsels, but the moste of them are suche trifles, suche toyes, and so diuers from the scripture, that it is credible that they were deuised by other that came long after. But if it were true that they came from these former prelates, saint Paules wordes may be well applied hereunto being veryfied, saying in prophecy. That lost childe and mā of sinne, did euen then beginne to worke the mystery of iniquitie. Coloss. 2.

Anacletus, as some saye, the fourth frō Peter, hath this decree extant in his name, That the Churche of Rome should by the commaundemēt and institution of Christ, be the head of other Churches. Also to Alexander is attributed, that he commaunded that water should be hallowed with salte, to purge the people of sinne, and to dryue awaye the snares of the deuill. But howe muche do these banities differ from the maiestie of the Apostles doctrine, & from the wryting of Iohn the Euāgelist, who liued almost till the time of these bishops. These two decrees may suffise for wyse men to iudge of the reste, being euen of the self same mould, for the moste part bearing with them an open shewe of ambition. But to returne to the purpose, this Cō stantine, for the louelove and zeeale whiche he bare vntounto the Churche, did endewe the pastors thereof with many large benefites, ryches, and possessions, that they might with better oportunitie addicte them selues to preache the Gospel. But where as he gaue them an inche, some hauehave since stollen an elle, fathering vponupon him the forged donacion for their supremacy: But of his liberalitie toward the church, Eusebius wryteth at large. He sommoned the first generall counsell at Nicea, wherein the detestable heresie of Arrius was condemned, though it could not be with all so vtterly quenched, but that it did yet afterward enflame again, so y^t some of the sparcles therof did alight euen in the pontificall seate of Rome sone after, as shall appeare by some of these that follow.

Finis libri primi.