History of the First Ten Persecutions, History 6

History of the First Ten Persecutions · History 6

p. 1CENTVRIE VI.

CHAP I. OF EMPEROVRS.

Anastatius.

AFTER ZENO succeded ANASTATIVS, and gouerned 27. yeeres. Hee was a patrone of the heresie of Eutyches. He banished Euphemius B. of Constantinople, because hee would not redeliuer vntounto him that letter which he had subscribed before his Coronation, wherein he was bound to attempt nothing against the true faith, & na…ely against the Council of Chalccdone. In like maner hee banished Macedonius the successour of Euphemius for the same cause (for he had the custodie of the hand-write of Anastatius) and the Emperour gaue secret Commandement to make him out of the way at Gangra the place of his banishment. Xenoeas B. of Hierapolis, a firebrand of Sathan stirred vp the Evagr. lib. 3. …ap. 3.Emperours minde to great rage, partly by gathering a Councill at Sidon, wherein they damned the actes of the Councill of p. 2Chalcedon, & partly by stirring vp the Emperor to wrath against good men, such as were principall defenders of the true faith: …mely Flavianus B. of Antiochia & Helias B of Ierusalem. The people of A…chia were very friendly to their Pastor, & finding that a great number of Monkes fauouring Eutyches errour, had assembl…d in the towne of Antiochia to compell Flavianus their bishop to accurse and abiure the Councill of Chalcedon: they set vponupon the Monkes, and sl…we a number of them, others leaped into the riuer of Orontes, where they found a meet buriall for seditious Monkes. On the other part a great number of the Monkes of Syria Caua, came to support the troubled estate of Flavianus. For these things, as if he had bene a contentious E…agr. lib. 3. cap. 32.man, he was banished, & Seuerus a notable Eutychian heretique was placed in his roome: this is he, of whom I hauehave mentioned diuers times that Alamundarus prince of Saracens deluded his messengers, and sent them backe ashamed and confounded. The next attempt was against Helias B. of Ierusalem, against whom this quarrell was forged, that he would not subscribe the Synodicke letters of Seuerus, and damne the Council of Chalcedone, and by the Emperours commandement Olympius his captaine came to Ierusalem, expelled Helias, and placed Iohn a familiar friend of Seuerus in his roome. This Iohn by the perswasion of Sabas a Monke of Palestina forsooke the fellowship of Severus, & was cast into prison by Anastatius the Emperours captaine: but when he was brought foorth out of prison againe, he disappointed the expectation of Anastatius the captaine: for hee openly auouched the foure generall Councills, and anathematised the followers of Arrius, Macedonius, Nestorius and Eutyches. In doing whereof he was mightily assisted both by the people, and the Monks: so that Anastatius the Emperours captaine fearing popular commotion, fled and returned againe to the Emperour, but Severus B. of Antiochia moued with wrath against Hist. Magd. …. 6 cap. 3.the Monks of Syria, set vponupon them, & slew 300. of them, & gaue their carcases to the foules of the heauen, and the beastes of the earth, such merciemercy was, and is to bee found in headstrong heretiques. In all this desolation the courage of Cosmas B. of Epiphania, and Severianus Bishop of Arethusa is to be admired, who wrote a booke conteining a sentence of deposition of p. 3Severus B. of Antiochia, which booke Aurelianus a deacon of Evagr. lib. 3. cap. 34.Epiphania clad in a womans apparrell deliuered vntounto him in Antiochia, and afterward conueyed himselfe away secretly. The Emperour was highly offended against Cosmas, and Severianus, and he wrote to Asiaticus gouernour of Phoenitia, that he should eiect them out of their places: but when answere was returned to the Emperour, that it could not be done without blood, the Emperour left off further pursuing of them. Many counted Anastatius a peaceable Emperour, because he would hauehave setled controuersies in the Church, as ciuile controuersies at some times are settled, namely by a lawe of obliuion, but there is no capitulation betwixt darknes & light, but darknes must yeelde vntounto the light of GOD. In Africke moe than 900. were crowned with martyrdome vnderunder the reigne of Anastatius as the Magd. historie recordeth out of the first booke of Regino, de Anastatio. Platina writteth that he was slaine with thunder.Platin. de vit. Hermisd…

Justinus the elder.

AFTER Anastatius succeeded Iustinus a godly Emperour, and gouerned nine yeeres, 3. dayes Hee restored the Bishoppes whome Anastatius had banished. Hee banished also Arrian bishoppes, who were found within his dominions. Severus bishop of Antiochia a vilde Eutychian heretique, and a bloody Foxe, hee displaced, and caused him to be punished by cutting out his tongue, as some affirme. Theodoricus Evagr. lib. 4 cap. 4.King of Gothes obtaining dominion in Italie, persecuted true Christians with great hostilitie, and sent ambassadours to the Emperour Justinus to restore the Arrian bishoppes whome hee had banished: else hee would persue the bishoppes who were in Ital…e with all kinde of rigour. And because the ambassadours returned not backe againe with such expedition as he expected, hee put hand to worke, and slewe two noble Senatours, Symmachus, and Bo…tius. Likewise when the ambassadours were returned, he cast in prison Ivannes Tuscus Bishop of Rome, and his companions, whom he had before imployed p. 4Hist. Magd. cent. 6. cap. 3.to goe in message to the Emperour Iustinus. The bishop of Rome died in prison for lacke of sustentation, but the LORD suffered not this barbarous cruelty of Theodoricus to be long vnpunished: for the LORD strake him with madnesse of minde, so that when he was sitting at table, and the head of a great fish was set before him, he imagined it was the head of Symmachus, whome hee had slaine, and was so stupified with feare, that incontinent after he died. In the dayes of this Emperour Iustinus, was a terrible earthquake, the like whereof hath not bene heard Euag. lib. 4. cap. 5.at any time before, wherewith the towne of Antiochia was shaken & vtterly ruined. With the earthquake, fire was mixed, consuming & resoluing into ashes the remnant of the towne, which the earthquake had not cast downe. In this calamitie Euphrasius B. of Antiochia perished. The good Emperour mourned for the desolation of A…tiochia, & put on sackcloth on his body, & was in great heauinesse, whereof it is supponed that hee contracted that disease whereof he died. When hee found his disease dayly Chron. Funct.increasing, he made choose of Iustinian his sisters sonne to bee his collegue, who gouerned foure monethmonth in coniunct authoritie with his vncle, and then Iuslinus ended his course.

Justinianus.

AFTER the death of Iustinus, Iustinianus his sisters sonne gouerned 38. yeeres. He would suffer no faith to be openly prosessed, except the faith alowed in the foure general Councills. Notwithstanding the Emprice Theodora his wife was a fauourer Evagr. lib. 4. …ap. 10.of Eutyches heresie. This Emperour was bent to recouer all that was lost by his predecessours in Asia, Africke & Europe, & he had a good successe through the vertue & valour of his captaines, especially Belisarius & Narses Belisarius first sought against the Persians who had ouercome not onelyonly Mesopotamia, but also many parts of Syria, Antrochena & Caua. He ouercame them in battell, & compelled them to go backe beyond Euphrates. Next he was employed to fight against the Uandales in Africke, who possessed a great boundes of the Romane dominion, euer since p. 5the dayes of Gensericus King of Vandales. And it is to be marked that the time is now come, whereinto the LORD will declare that the blood of his Sainctes is precious in his eyes. For since the daies of Dioclesian, that bloody persecuting Emperour, no race of people persecuted GODS Saincts with so barbarous crueltie as the Vandales did, for zeale they had to the Arrian heresie, wherewith they were infected. After Gensericus, Hunericus, and Amalaricus, and Trasimundus, who closed the doores of the Temples of Christians, and banished their bishops to Sardinia. Childericus would hauehave shewed some fauour to Christians, & reduced their bishops from banishment: for this cause the Vandales did slay him, & gaue his Kingdome to Gillimer. Now the LORD remembred the grones of his own prisoners, & wold not suffer the rod of the wicked perpetually to lye vponupon the lot of the righteous. Belisarius fought against the Vandales prosperously, recouered Carthage, & al the bounds pertaining to the Romane Empire possessed by the Vandales. Also he tooke Gillimer their King, & caried him captiue to Constantinople. It is worthy of remembrance, that Iustinian would not receiue into his treasure the vessels of golde, which the Emp. Titus (when hee burnt the Temple of Ierusalem) transported to Rome. These same vessels Gensericus King of Vandales when hee spoyled Rome transported Evagr. lib. 4, cap. 17.to Carthage, & Belisarius after he had conquessed Carthage againe he brought them to Constantinople, but Iustinian sent them to Ierusalem to be disponed vponupon according to the wisdome of Christian bishops in those bounds. The third warfare against the Gothes, for recouering Italie out of their handes was greatest of all the rest, and indured longest time, to wit, 18. yeeres, whereinto Belisarius and Mundus, and after them Narses all valiant captaines were imployed. It was brought on vponupon this occasiō, Idem lib. 4. cap. 19.as Evagrius following Procopius (in whose time this warfare was intended) doth record. Amalasunta the daughter of Theodoricus Platin. de vit. Ioan. 1.John 1had the gouernement of Italie. Astalarichus her sonne before he came to perfect age, died. Theodatus a kinseman of Theodoricus had the gouernment by the mariage of Amalasunta, but he Funct. chron.rendered vntounto her euill for good and thrust her into prison, & slew her. In Theodatus time came Belisarius to Italie to fight against the Gothes, but seeing Theodatus was more meet for p. 6philosophie than for warfare, hee gaue place to Vitiges to hauehave the gouernment Belisarius recouered the Isle of Sicile, hee came to Rome, and the ports were opened to him, and he was gladly Ev…gr. lib. 4. cap. 21.receiued: hee tooke Vitiges King of the Gothes, and caried him captiue to Canstantinople. Mundus another captaine ouercame the Gothes in Dalmatia, recouered the countrie to the Romanes: but in the mids of his victorie he was slaine through too hastie & furious persuing of his enemies, who had slaine his sonne. In absence of Belisarius (for the Emperour had sent for him to fight against the Persians) the Gothes choosed Theudebaldus, and after him Attaricus, who continued but short time. Finally, Totilas was chosen to bee their King, who recouered againe the towne of Rome, & the most part of all the principall townes of Italie. Belisarius, albeit he was sent backe againe to Italie, & recouered Rome the second time, yet the Persian warre continually was the cause of reducing him backe againe from Italie. In end, Narses a valiant man was sent to Italie, who ouercame the Gothes, draue them out of Italie, & brought it again vnderunder the soueraignity of the Romans. What good recompense for great seruice was rendered to Belisarius, & Narses, many writers hauehave recorded, I passe it ouer with silence. Narses mooued with indignation against the Emprice Sophia the wise of Iustinus the younger, the successor of Iustinian, hee sent for the Longobards. who came out of Pannonia, and possessed themselues in that part of Italie, which is vntounto this day called Lombardie.

It is one of Iustinians chiefe praises, that he caused the great Ocean sea of the Romane lawes to bee abridged into a short compend, & to bee comprised within the compasse of 50. books, vulgarly called Pandectis or digestis, hauing short titles prefixed vntounto Tom. 2. Con…il.them, rather than prolixe and tedious commentaries subioyned vntounto them. Also he gathered a generall Councill in Constantinople about the 14. yeere of his reigne, to pacifie if possible were, the contentious disputations that were moued anent the writings of Origen, T…eodorus and Ibas, but this I referre to the owne place.

p. 7Iustinus the younger.

IVSTINVS was nephew to Iustinian. He gouerned 16. yeeres. He gouerned himselfe alone 12. yeres, and with Tiberius, whom Evagr. lib. 5. cap. 23.he associated 3. yeeres, 11. months. All things succeeded vnprosperously in his time. Alboinus King of the Longobards possessed himselfe and his people in Italie. Cosroes King of Persia with his captaine Adaarmanes tooke the towne of Apamia, and burnt it Evagr. lib. 5. cap. 10.with fire, & the towne of Circesium, and put garisons into it, and miserably wasted the bounds of the Romane dominions. When these things were reported to Iustinus, hee who would credite no true information before, now he is stricken with madnes & astonishment of mind, being grieued for this, that the estate of the Romane Empire should hauehave decayed in his time, & through Idem lib. 5. cap. 11, 12.his default. For remedie whereof Tiberius a wise & valiant man, by the aduise of Sophia was associate to Iustinus, to gouerne the affaires of the Kingdome, Evagrius describeth at length the oration of Iustinus to Tiberius, when hee clothed him with all Emperiall ornaments, & how hee exhorted him not to bewitched with the splendore of those garments, as he had bene, but with vigilancy & wisdome, to gouerne the estate of the Kingdome. This hee spake after he was recouered of his disease, & in presence Evag. lib. 5. cap. 13.of all the noble men of his Court so that they were compelled to shed aboundance of teares, when they heard at one time so cleare a confession of his owne miscariage, and so prudent a counsell giuen to his associate.

Tiberius.

TIBERIVS reigned 3. yeeres, 11. moneths in coniunct authoritie with IVSTINVS, and after his death hee reigned foure yeeres himselfe alone: so all the time of his gouernment was seuen yeere, eleuen moneths. In his time COSROES King of Persia, was puft vp with such insolencie, in regarde of his former victories, that he would not admit the ambassadours of TIBERIVS to his presence, but commanded them to followe him to Caesarea of Cappadocia, p. 8there to receaue their answere, for he had taken Daras a towne of Mesopotamia in the borders of the Romane Empire, builded by the Emperour Anastatius, and called Daras, because about this place Darius had his last ouerthrow by Alexander of Macedonia. Evagr. lib. 3. cap. 37.After the taking of Daras, hee marched toward Armenia in the Summer time, and from thence intended to addresse toward Caesarea Cappadocie, expecting none encounter or resistance of the Romane armie. But Tiberius had prepared a well appointed armie, consisting of moe than an hundreth and fiftie thousand men to resist Cosroes, whose forces when Cosroes could Evagr. lib. 5. cap. 14, 15.not match, hee fled: and for very heart griefe hee died, and gaue aduise to the Persians, not to make warre against the Romane Empire in any time to come. The estate of the Church was the more peaceable vnderunder his reigne, because the Vandales in Africke, and the Gothes in Italie were alreadie vtterly subdued. The Longobards, whom Narses brought out of Ponnonia to Italie, were the more insolent to afflict Christians, because Tiberius was occupied in the Persian warfare against Cosroes. The nation of the Gothes had as yet full swey in Spaine, & they were miserably Hist. Magd. cen. 6 cap. 3.addicted to the Arrian heresie, insomuch that Lemugildus King of Gothes, caused his own naturall sonne Elmingildus to be slaine, because he forsooke the Arrian faith. Also their number Matin. de vit. Gregor. 1was augmented by returning of many Vandales to Spaine, who had escaped the hands of Belisarius.

Mauritius.

MAVRITIVS was captaine of the armie of TIBERIVS, to whome Tiberius gaue his daughter in marriage, with his kingdome: for he found himselfe sicke vntounto the death. He reigned 20. yeeres, hee fought against the Persians, & prospered …. lib. 5 cap. 22.in that warfare: and after that peace was bound vp amongst them. Chaianus King of Auares, Hunnes, and Slauonians fought against him, and caried away many captiues and prisoners. In redeeming of the captiues, Mauritius was too niggard, wherby it came to passe, that Chaianus slew 12. thousand prisoners, which might hauehave bene ransomed for a small summe of money. p. 9This ouersight of the Emperour not onelyonly stained other his noble vertues, but also purchased the hatred of the souldiers against him, whereby it came to passe, that they set vp Phocas to be Emperour in his steade. Of this calamitie it is thought that: Mauritius was foreseene in his dreame, & that he choosed …. Funct. lib. 8.rather to be punished in this world for his faults, than in the world to come. Alwayes hee was brought in bands to Phocas, his wife, and fiue children were cruelly slaine in his owne presence, and finally, bloodie Phocas slew himselfe, of whome it is reported, that when he saw his wife and children put to death, he gaue glorie to GOD in his greatest calamitie, and said, Iust art thou, O LORD, and righteous in all thy Iudgements.

CHAP. II. Of Pastors and Doctors.

Patriarches of Rome.

TO GELASIVS succeeded ANASTATIVS 2. and gouerned 1. yeere, 2. moneths, 24 dayes. Hee ministred in the Anastatius.dayes of the Emperour Anastatius: he was hated of the Clergie, because he admitted to his f…owship Photinus a deacon, whom Foelix and Gelasius had excommunicated as a friend to Acatius B. of Constantinople. Platina writeth of him that he ended his life, as Arrius did, and that his bowels gushed Platina de vitis pontif.out, when he was doing his secret busines. The very flatterers of the bishops of Rome are compelled to say, that some of them were fauourers of heretiques, and for that cause punished by God with extraordinare iudgements: but I ground no thing vponupon the words of Platina, but so much as maketh against them, whom he intendeth to flatter.

To Anastatius succeeded Symmachus in the dayes of the Emperour Anastatius, and when Theodoricus King of Gothes reigned Symmachusin Italie great sedition was amongst the people at his election, p. 10the one part of the Clergie & people choosing Symmachus, the other Laurentius to be B. of Rome, but with cōmon consent a Synod was appointed at Ravenna & there the electiō of Symmachus was ratified. He cōtinued in office 15. yeres, 6. months, 22 daies.Platin. de vit. Pontif. Hormisda.

Hormisda the successour of Symmachus ministred 9 yeeres, 18. dayes, who by commandement of Theodoricus king of Gothes, and reigning in Italie gathered a Councill at Rome, and damned the errour of Euty…hes of new againe. Likewise ambassadours were sent to the Emp. …, & to Iohn B. of Constantinople to exhort them to forsake the wicked errour of Eutyches, and to acknowledge two natures in CHRIST, to wit, the diuine & humane nature, but Anastatius answered with proud words, Nosimperare volumus, nobis imperari nolumus: that is. We will command, but we will not be commanded Likewise the bishop of Constantinople puft vp in pride by the assistance of the Emp…rour despised the Councill of Hormisda. Moreouer against the law of nations they dealt inhumanely with the ambassadours of Hormisda, and thrust them into an old and lecking shippe, with straite Platin. de …it. Pontif.commandement that they should not arriue at any harberie in Graecia, but keepe a direct course toward Italie. Notwithstanding by the prouidence of GOD, the snip arriued safely at the coastes of Italie. The errour of the Mamcheans begannne againe to be ouerspred in Rome, but Hormisda tooke their bookes, & burnt them in the porch of the Church called Constantiana.

Iohn 1. gouerned the Church of Rome in the dayes of Iustinus the elder, to whome also he was sent ambass…dour by Theodoricus, Ioan… 1.John 1to craue that the Arrian bishops, whome he had banished out of his dominions might be restored to their places againe, els the Catholicke bishops of Italie should expect all kinde of rigour at his hands. The bishop Iohn with many reares perswaded the Emp. Iustinus to condescend vntounto the petition of The… doricus. Neuerthelesse when hee returned backe againe to Italie, hee was cast in prison, where hee ended his life, after he gouerned the Church of Rome 2. yeeres, 8. moneths.

Foelix 4. the succ…ssor of Iohn 1. continued in office 4. yeeres, Foelix 4.2. moneths, 13. dayes. He excommunicated Athanas…s Patriarch of Constantinople for heresie, as Platina recordeth. Hee ordained that Christians before their departure out of this life should p. 11be annointed with oyle. This custome is now kept in the Romane Co…t. Funct. lib. 7.Church, and is called the Sacrament of extreme vnction.

To Foelix 4. succeeded Bonifacius 2, whom the Graecians called Bonifacius. 2.Agathon, but both names soundeth to one and the selfe same thing. The schisme that was among the people at his election ceased, by the death of his competitor Di…scorus: he ministred 2 yeeres, 2. dayes. In his time Eulalius B. of Carthage, submitted himselfe vntounto the chaire of Rome: whereupon Bonifacius took occasion of insolent insulting, in so far, that hee is not ashamed to writ of Aurelius B. of Carthage, Augustine B. of Hippo, & of the rest of the fathers, who were present at the 6. Councill of Carthage, that through the instigation of the deuill they swelled in pride against the Roman Church, & ag…inst his predecessors Bonifacius 1 & Coelestinus whom his predecessors most iustly had excommunicated: but now (saith he) Eulalius hath confessed the fault of Hist. Magd. cent. 6. cap 10.Aurelius, & of the Councill of Carthage, & submitted himselfe in humble maner to the chaire of Rome: therfore he & the Church of Carthage are receiued againe vntounto the peace & cōmunion of the Romane Church. Marke here how they who would impaire a iot of that supremacie whereat the Church of Rome aimed, were forthwith deliuered to the deuil, how holy, modest, & learned so euer they had bene & a vaine, timorous & beastly body Eulalius is preferred to Aurelius B. of Carthage, to Augustine B. of Hippo, & to a graue Councill of mo than 200, Fathers, only for this, that he submitted himself to the chair of Rome. The time is now approaching, whereinto it will be clearely manifested, that supremacie was the very aple of their eye, & touch that once, there is nothing but curses to bee thundred out of mount Tarpeius, euen against Augustine hims…lf, & against reuerent Councills.

Iohn 2. was successor to Bonifacius: he ministred in the time of Ioannes 2.the Emperour Iustinian, 2. yeeres, 4. moneths: he was called for his eloquance Mercurius, or …ntius Iovis.

Agapetus the successor of Iohn 2. vnderunder the reigne of Iustinian, had scarcely libertie to attend vponupon his owne stocke: for immediatly Agapetus.after hee was ordained B of Rome, he was sent to the Emperour Iustinian by Theodatus King of the Gothes, to pacifie his wrath: for the Emperour intended to make warre against him, for the cruell slaughter of AMALASVNTA p. 12his wife: this was an vnhonest cause and an vnseemely message to the B. of Rome to vndertake. It is affirmed by Historiographers, that Iustinian secretly sollicited Agapetus to the errour of Eutyches, and that Agapctus answered vntounto him couragiously, that hee supponed hee was sent to a most Christian Emperour, but he found him to bee Dioclesian. This libertie is thought to Platina de vit. pontif.hauehave done good to Iustinian, and that hee embraced the true faith more seriously than before, and deposed Anthemius B. of Constantinople, an Eutychian heretique, and placed Menas a bishop professing the true faith in his roome. Alwayes Agapetus died at Constantinople, after hee had beene chosen B. of Rome 11. moneths, 21. dayes, and his body was put into a chest of lead and transported to Rome.

Siluerius the sonne of Hormisda, sometime B. of Rome, was successor to Agapetus. Theodatus King of Gothes compelled the Siluerius.Clergie to subscribe to his election: he gouerned the Church of Rome at that time when Iustinian sent Belisarius to fight against Vitiges. Theodora the Emperour Iustinians wife, sent to Siluerius, desiring him, that hee would condescend to the restitution of Anthemius an Eutychian heretique, and to the deposition of Menas B. of Constantinople. Siluersus refused to obey such impious commandements. Therefore Theodora sendeth a commandement to Belisarius to banish Siluerius, and to appoint Vigilius B. of Rome, who had promised to fulfill her desires. Thus was Siluerius banished to the Isle of Pontia, after hee had ruled the Church of Rome one yeere, 5. moneths.

Vigilius succeeded to Siluerius, and ruled 17. yeeres, 26. dayes. His entrie to this office is inexcusable: for by open force, secret Vigilius.bribes, and promises to performe the impious desires of the Emprice, he obtained the chaire of Rome: so that Onuphrius cannot finde out an excuse for his vnlawfull entrie. Theodora the Emprice vrged him to performe his promise, & to restore Anthemius. But Vigilius, as appeared, repenting of his great temeritie and rashnes, answered, that euill promises were not to be keeped: for this cause he was led away violently to Constantinople, and a cord was fastned about his necke, & he was drawne through the streetes, and cast into prison: hee indured all this contempt the more patiently, because hee confessed, that for p. 13his sr…nes he had deserued greater punishment at the hands of GOD than this was. In end he was deliuered out of prison by the earnest request of Narses captaine of Iustinians armie in Halie, … de …is ….but he died by the way: and he whom so many cares could not destroy, the sicknes of the grauell destroyed him at Sicile, & his body was transported to Rome, and buried there. But now let vsus consider the ineptitude of Baronius, who keepeth no measure in his historie, but as the Poet speaketh of a ship tossed with a vehement tempest.

Tollimur in coelum sublato gurgite, & i…dem.

Subducta admanes imos descendimus unda.

When Baronius speaketh of the entrie of Vigilius, he calleth him athiefe, a brigand, a man who entred not by the doore of the …. …. 7. …. 538sheepe-fold, a false bishop, an Antichrist: yet soone after he calleth him the Vicar of Christ as though by the crueltie whereby he draue his predecessor Siluerius to death hee was incontinent worthy of the name of the Vicar of Christ. Albeit hee restored not Anthemius, according to his impious paction with Theodora, yet hee wrote vntounto the heretiques, Anthemius, Theodosius and Severus, and confirmed their errour by his secret missiue letters, as Morneus in his booke called Misterium iniquitatis, Proueth. His cariage in the fift generall Councill, he beeing present in the towne of Constantinople, shall be declared, God willing in the owne place, the cord that was lapped about his necke, and drewe him through the streetes of Constantinople, could not draw out of his proud stomacke the conceate of supremacie: for he sent his opinion in write to the Councill, but would not be present to sit in a lower place than Eutychius B. of Constantinople and moderator of the Council.

AFTER Vigilius succeeded Pelagius 1: hee ruled the Church of Rome 11. yeeres, 10 moneths, 28. dayes. In a very perilous time Pelagins. 1this charge was committed to him, namely when the nation of the Gothes had chosen Totilas to be their King, who was a fierce and cruell man, and was called for his fiercenes Flagellum Dei, that is, the scourge of GOD: he led a great armie from Taruisium through Italie, destroying and wasting the countrie whithersoeuer he went, but he set his face chiefly against Campania. By the way hee addressed himselfe in the habite of a simple p. 14souldier to mount Cassinates where was S. Benedict the father of Monkes, not because he inuented the Monasticke life, but because the most part of Monkes adhered to the forme inuented by him: he was but lately sprung vp in the dayes of the Emperour Iustinus the elder, and of Pope Iohn the first, yet was his name in great account, so that Totilas in a disguised habite went Platin. de vit. Ioan. 1.John 1vntounto him, and conferred with him. Platina writeth that S. Benedict knew him, notwithstanding of his deepe dissimulation, and with terrifying words disswaded him from vsing cruelty against Christians. The Counsell was good, but Totilas was not obedient vntounto it. He was slaine in battell by Nases neere to Brixellum: and Teias whome the Gothes choosed in his rocme was slaine in battell at Nuceria: so the Kingdome of the Gothes in Italic was vtterly vndone by the valour of Narses. After the first comming of Theodoricus into Italie, they reigned in Italie 72. yeeres. Now their name, dominion, and all their might is vtterly quenched. Pelagius depended much vponupon the friendship of Narses. And when Macedomus B. of Aquileia died, Honoratus B. of Millan ordained Paulinus to be his successour. Pelagius B. of Rome grieued at this. Neuerthelesse hee compl…ineth not to Narses that Paulinus was made bishop of Aquileia without his consent, but rather, because this was done without the foreknowledge of the most noble Emperour Iustinian, who like as he had deliuered Istria and Venice from the grieuous bondage of Pelag. 1. Epist. 3.Totilas, so likewise it became them to expect the Emperours answere, before they had appointed a bishop in Aquileia. Mark the hypocrisy of the bishops of Rome vnderunder colour of obedience to the ciuile Magistrate secretly creeping to their owne soueraignity, the chiefe marke whereat they continually aimed.

Iohn 3. succeeded to Pelagius, & gouerned 12. yeres, 11 months 26. dayes. In the dayes of Iustinus the younger, who was successor Ioannes 3.to the Emp. Iustinian, did he minister in the Romane Church, & at that time when Alboinus King of Longobards came into Italie with a great armie, with their wiues & children, & setled their abode in that part of Italie which lieth about the riuer Padus. The Emprice Sophia had irritate Narses that valiant captaine with contumelious Platina de vit. Pon…f.wordes, and he gaue both to her & to the estate of the Empire this hard meeting, that hee possessed the Longobards in p. 15Italie, weauing a web vntounto her (according as he promised) which she w…s not able all her time to vndoe againe. The Deputie of the Emp. of Constantinople, kept a part of Italie which was not conquessed by t…e Lombards, & this was called Exarchatus Ravenna, & the B of Rome with assistance of the countrie kept Rome free from the dominion of the Lombards for a short …ime. At this time did Iohn 3. gouerne the Church of Rome. He brought …n newe constitutions in the Church, that Chorepiscopi, otherwise called Vicar… Episcoporum should hauehave no power at all of imposition H…st. Ma…d. c…nt 6. cap. 10of hands, which constitution he confirmed with a fool…sh reason, because none of the 70. disciples whom Christ adioyned as helpers to the Apostles, had power by imposition of hands, to cōfer the gift of the holy Spirit. Now the time is come, whē eueryevery man endeuoureth with some nouelty, and new toy, which hath not bene heard before to goe beyond his predecessorsBenedictus 1.

Benedict 1. continued in his charge, 4. yeres 1. months 28 dayes. Hee had great griefe in his time, because the preuailing power of the Lombards oppressed the countrie of Italie, & the town of Rome was sore pinched with famine. The heart griefe he conceiued for the calamitie of the country is thought to hauehave hastned his death. Neuerthelesse he had this comfort, that the Emp. Tib…rius 2. in whose time hee ministred, sent shippes loadned with cornes frō Aegypt to support the distressed estate of the Romans. Tiberius was indued with many good qualities & princely gifts, he was valiant, godly and liberall, and the more bountifull hee was to the poore, his riches so much the more abounded: for Platina de vit. Pontif.beside the treasures of Narses that were brought to him from Italie, when Narses died, he found also in his owne palace vnderunder a crosse of marble (which he commanded to be raised and not to be tread vnderunder feet any longer, but to be set in a more honorable place) there I say, he found an infinite treasure of siluer & gold Finally when he ouercame the Persians, such quantitie of gold, siluer & precious things were atchieued, as none of his predecessors had obtained the like: so that the prouerbe, hee who soweth largely, shall reape largely, had viue performance in the person of the noble Emperour Tiberius.

After Benedict succeeded Pelagius 2. and ministred vnderunder the Pelagius ….reignes of Tiberius & Mauritius 10. yeeres, 12. months 10. dayes. p. 16Hee was elected without the foreknowledge of the Emperour, contrare to the custome obserued in those dayes, but he excused himselfe to the Emperour Mauritius, by sending Gregorius ambassadour vntounto him, and declaring that the towne of Rome was besi…ged by Lombardis, so that no messenger could bee sent from Rome to Constantinople, to acquaint the Emperour with his election. The forme of the siege of Rome was this: The Emperour Mauritius had hired Sigibertus King of France to make warre against the Lombards, and to driue them out of Italie, but his armie was ouerthrowne by Eucharis King of Lombards: with this victorie the Lombards were puft vp, and they besieged the towne of Rome, they had also taken it, if they had not bene hindered by great inundation of waters. The inundation of Tiber was extraordinarie, it ouerflowed the walles of the towne of Rome, and brought with it a multitude of Serpents, which afterward putrifying, corrupted the aire, whereof arose a vehement pest in Rome, and Pelagius 2. in this contagious sicknes ended his life.

Gregorius 1. called Magnus succeeded to Pelagius 2, and ministred Gregor. 1.13. yeeres, 6. moneths, 10 dayes. He was chosen with consent of the Clergie, and people, but he was vnwilling to accept the office. And hee wrote to the Emperour Mauritius, that he should not assent neither to the desire of Clergie nor people, but his letters were intercepted by the gouernour of the towne Platina de vit. Ponus.of Rome, and rent in pieces. And other letters were written vntounto the Emperour, requesting him to condescend, that Gregorius might hauehave the office, whom both Clergie and people had elected. The Emperour agreed willingly to his election, for he had beene acquainted with him in Constantinople, when he came ambassadour from Pelagius 2. to excuse his ouersight in accepting the office of the bishop of Rome before the Emperour was foreseene of that purpose. He brought into the Romane Church the forme of the Greeke Letanies, and ordained that in their prayers foreign should bee nine times repeated. This prayer is thought to hauehave beene vttered by multiplied repetitions in the dayes of the Emperour Iustinus, when Antiochia was terribly shaken with a vehement earthquake, the few number that were aliue, saide, LORD hauehave merciemercy, LORD hauehave merciemercy, which in p. 17Greeke Kyrie Eleison, hee borrowed also from the Liturgie of the Iewes Allelu-iah, and added these wordes vntounto the Latine seruice, Diesque nostros in pace disponas, that is, in peace dispone our dayes. He was the first that deuised the stile of Seruus servoram Dei, that is, the seruant of the seruants of GOD: taking occasion (as appeareth) so to doe, by the arrogant attempt of Iohn Patriarch of Constantinople called foreign, or iciunator, who had vsurped the stile of Oecumenick, or vniuersall bishop to whom Pelagius 2. and Gregorius 1. mightily opponed themselues, and called him the forerunner of the Antichrist, who durst vsurpe Lib. 6. P… dies. 16. Epist. 30.such an arrogant stile. But marke now, I pray you, how farre ambition preuailed both in the chaire of Constantinople, and in the chaire of Rome. The humilitie of Christ was now laide aside, notwithstanding of their humble stiles, servus servorum Dei, and the first occasion that was presented vntounto them of vsurpation of the stile of vniuersall bishop, it was greedily embraced. First Iohn called Ieiunator, Patriarch of Constantinople saw that the Emperiall seate was in Constantinople, and that the towne of Rome was besieged by the Lombards. Now he thought it was time to stirre and to aduance his owne chaire aboue all chaires. And incontinent after Bonifacius 3. finding himselfe in fauour with the Emp. Phocas, gladly accepted that same preheminence in his owne person, which his predecessors had damned in the person of Ioannes Ieiunator: so they were all for the most part a nest of ambitious Prelats, preaching the humilitie of CHRIST, but hunting for the supremacie foretold of the Antichrist Read the Epistles which Gregorius writeth to Mauritius detesting, and abhorring this supremacie whereat the Patriarch of Constantinople aimed. Amongst other things, he saith, Exclamare Gregor. lib. 4 Epist. 32.compellor, ac dicere, O tempora ô mores: ecce cuncta in Europae partibus, barbarorum iurisunt tradita. Destructae urbes, euersa castra, depopulatae prouinciae, nullus terram cultor inhabitat, & tamen sacerdotes, qui in pavimento, & cinere flentes tacere debuerunt, vanitatis sibi nomina expetunt, & novis ac prophanis vocabulis gloriantar: that is to say, I am compelled to cry out, O times, O maners: beholde, in all the parts of Europe, all things lye vnderunder the reuerence of barbarous people: townes are destroyed, castles are ouerthrowne, provinces are spoyled, no labourer inhabiteth the lande. p. 18Notwithstanding the Priests, who should lye in ashes vponupon the ground weeping, they are seeking vntounto themselues n…n…s of vanitie, and they glory in prophane stiles. Nowe apply these wordes of Gregorius 1. to Bonifacius 3. and it shall be found, that hee embraced the name of vanitie, and the glory of prophane stiles, at that same time, when it became him better to be lying in sackecloth and ashes, and to be mourning for the preuailing power of barbarous people, and for the barbarous butcherie of Phocas the Emperour who conferred vntounto him that eminent stile to bee called bishop of bishops. Gregorius flattering epistle written to Phocas, after hee had traiterously murthered his master Mauritius, his wife and children, will bee a perpetuail blot to the name of Gregorius: but of this I hauehave spoken in the treatise of supremacie. The constitution he made anent prohibition Hist. Magd. cent. 5 cap. 10of mariage, to men in spirituall offices, he was compelled in his owne time to abrogate againe, because it was not only the occasion of vncleannes, but also of secret murthers of innocent babes, & whereas the Apost. PAVL said, It was better to marie than to burne, Gregorie was compelled to say, It was better to marrie than tomurder. The sending of the Monks, Augustine, Melito, and Ioannes to Britanne, was not so much to conquesse them to Christian religion, which they had embraced in the dayes of Lucius King of Brittons, and of Eleutherius bishoppe of Rome, as hath beene declared in the second CENTVRIE cap. 2. as to conquesse them vntounto the ceremonies and rites of the Romane seruice.

Gregorius was the first, of whome we read, that writeth of sacrifices to be offered for relieuing of soules tormented in Purgatorie, and hee leaneth vponupon such ridiculous fables, which hee heard of one Foelix B. of Centumcellae, as it is a shame to rehearse them, but seeing they are not ashamed of lyes, let the dung of Hist. Magd. con. 6. cap. 10. Greg lib. 4. …al. cap. 55.th…ir owne inuentions be cast into their owne faces: he writeth that a Presbyter of Centumcellae went to the bath house to wash himselfe, where he found a man vncouth & vnknowne to him, but very humble and seruiable, and after hee had serued him sundrie dayes, the Presbyter to requite his kindnesse, brought vntounto him two consecrated hostes as a blessing and a reward to him who had serued him so duetifully, but the man with sad p. 19countenance, answered, This bread is holy, and I am not worthie to eat it. I was sometime master and proprietare of this house, but nowe for my sinnes I am appointed to this seruile occupation: if thou would doe a benefite to me, offer them to the Almighty GOD, as a sacrifice for my sinnes, & thinke that ye are heard of GOD, when yee cannot finde me in this place any longer. Surely Popish Purgatorie, and soule Masses are first grounded vponupon foolish fables, and afterward confirmed by dreames of foolish Monkes.

Patriarches of Constantinople.

EVPHEMIVS before he would annoint Anastatius to be Emperour, Euphemius(who came to that honour, by Ariadne the wife of the Emperour Zeno, whom he maried) hee craued a confession of his faith, with a promise sealed by his hand-write that hee should make no nouation in religion during his time. The Theod lector. lib. 2.Emperour craued his hand-write againe, which seeing that Euphemius refused to render backe againe, the Emperour procured his deposition, and banished him, and placed Macedonius in his roome.

To Euphemius succeeded Macedonius, to whose custodie the hand-write foresaid was committed by Euphemius: which when Macedonius. Hist Magd. cent. 6. cap. 10. Timotheus.hee would not render, the Emperour banished him also, and commanded to slay him at Gangra the place of his banishment.

To Macedonius succeeded Timotheus an vnconstant man, and justly compared to the narrow Firth that runneth betwixt Baeotra and Calchis, which floweth and ebbeth seuen times in 24. houres, so was this bishop wauering minded, and more bent to please men, than to bee approoued of GOD. In witnesse where of I hauehave set downe one example. The Abbot of the monasterie called Studitum, refused to bee ordained by imposition of his handes: for hee saide, the handes of that man, who hath damned the Councill of Chalcedone, shall not be laide vponupon me: whereunto Timotheus answered, whosoeuer accuseth, or damneth the Council of Chalcedone, let him be accursed, & when this was reported to the Emperour Anastatius, to eschew his indignation, he said the contrare, whosoeuer accepteth the Council of Chalcedone, and alloweth of it, let him be accursed.

p. 20Iohn of Cappadocia is not worthy that his name should be insert in this Catalogue, a proud, avaritious, and ambitious heretique, Ioaannes Cappadoxwho could neuer behaue himselfe duetifully, neither in a ciuile, nor in a spirituall calling. He was first the Emperour Anastatius his Deputie, and was deposed, for aspiring to an higher place. Next, hee became Patriarch of Constantinople, and aspired to the dignitie of Oecumenicke and vniuersall bishop. It is true, that Ioannes foreign vsurped the title of preheminence, therefore this Ioannes Cappadox was laid aside as an Eutychian heretique, and the great inuectiues against this vsurped authoritie are chiefly set against Ioannes Jeiunator. But marke how Pelagius 2. ere Gregorius tramped vponupon this pride, with a proud mind, as Diogenes did vponupon the couering of Plato his bed, he is not content to damne the decreet of the Councill of Constantinople, but also hee affirmed that it was not lawfull to him to assemble T…. 2. Concil.a Councill without libertie first obtained from the bishop of Rome, which thing no man spake before him: so Sathan wrought mightily in them both, as he doth in the children of pride, and disobedience.

After him succeeded Iohn called Scholasticus, and continued not aboue one yeere. Evagrius calleth him Ioannes Sirmiensis, lib. 4. Ioannes Scholasticus. Epiphae…ius.cap. 39.

To Iohn succeeded Epiphaenius, in the dayes of Iustinian, who blessed his armie which went to fight against the Vandales vnderunder the conduct of Belisarius: he ministred 16. yeeres, as Chytreus writeth.

The name of Anthimus is worthy of the rolle of obstinate Anthimus.heretiques. He was bishop of Trapezus, but by the meanes of Theodora the Emperour Instinians wife, hee was promoted to be bishop of Constantinople. Theodora was too busie in Church affaires, and Sophia the wife of Iustinus 2. was too busie in civile affaires. The estate both of Church, and Kingdome had beene in better plight, if both of them had bene lesse busie.

Anthimus beeing deposed and banished for herefie, succeeded Menas.Menas, who kept the true faith, and gouerned the Church of Constantinople 16. yeere. Evagrius reckoneth Basilides in the rolle of bishops of Constantinople, and Anthimus to be bishop of Lib. 4. …. 9.Alexandria.

p. 21To Menas suceeded Eutychius, of whome occasion will be Eutyc…ius.offered to speake in the fift generall Councill, wherein he disputed iuditiously in the question, whether or not it was lawfull to excommunicate heretiques after their death. His opinion anent the bodies of the Saintes after their resurrection, that they should be subtle, like vntounto the aire and winde, and not solide and palpable, was refuted by Gregorius I. who proued by the example of CHRIST his body after his resurrection, that the bodies of the Saintes should not be like vntounto the aire, and the winde: for CHRIST saith, Handle me, and see: for a spirit hath not Luc. 24. vers. 39.Luke 24:39flesh and bones, as ye see me hauehave.

After Eutychius followed Iohn called foreign, or Ieiunator: this Ioannes Ieiunator.name he obtained by the sobrietie, and temperancie of his life. Notwithstanding when his stomacke was emptie of meat, his heart was full of pride, and he followed the footsteps of Joannes Cappadox, and would bee called vniuersall bishoppe, against whome Gregorius 1. contended mightily, euen as Lactantius of olde contended against the Pagans, impugning the error more Gregor. 16. 4 Epist. 32. usque ad epist. 40. Cyriacus.mightily, than solidly confirming the trueth. It is supponed that he ministred 13. yeeres, vnderunder the Emperour Mauritius. To whom succeeded Cyriacus.

Patriarches of Alexandria.

AFTER Iohn called Tabennesiota, succeeded another Iohn, who kept the true faith, and was banished by Anastatius, because Ioannes.he would not damne the Councill of Chalcedone.

To John succeeded Theodosius an obstinate defender of the errour Theodosius.of Eutyches. He was familiarly acquainted with Severus of Antiochia, and Anthimus of Constantinople, whereby the miserie of these dayes may bee easily espied, whereinto three notable heretiques gouerned principall townes, such as Constantinople, Alexandria and Antiochia. He was so obstinate in his errour, that he was rather content to be banished vnderunder the reigne of Iustinian, than to renounce his errour.

After him succeeded Zoilus, and after him Appollinarius, who p. 22Zoilus. Apollinarius.was present at the fift generall Councill. To whome succeeded Eulogius, and after him Petrus, who ministred vnderunder the reigne Eulogius, Petrus.of Mauritius.

Patriarches of Antiochia.

AFTER Palladius succeeded Flavianus, who suffered great troubles for the true faith, namely by the cruell persecution Flavianus.of the Emperour Anastatius, and the calumnies of Xenaeas B. of Hierapo…is (a stranger indeed from the couenant of GOD, as his name importeth) for hee blamed Flavianus most vniustly of the heresie of Nestorius, but when Flavianus both by worde and write had cleared himselfe of that calumnie, the malice of Xenaeas ceased not: for he brought with him to Antiochia a great number of Monkes to compell Flavianus to abiure the Councill of Chalcedone. The towne supported their bishop against a raskall number of seditious and hereticall Monkes. Notwithstanding the Emperour Anastatius infected with the heresie of Eu…yches, counted Flavianus, who was most vniustly persecuted, to be the author of this tumult, and banished him, and placed Severus in his roome.

The Emperour Iustinus the elder displaced Severus, and punished him, and appointed Paulus to be bishop of Antiochia.Paulus.

To Paulus succeeded Euphrasius, who died in that feareful calamitie Euphrasiusof the towne of Antiochia, when it was shaken and ouerthrowne with earthquake, as Evagrius witnesseth.Lib. 4. cap. 5

Euphraimius was a ciuile gouernour in the East parts, who Euphraimius.pitied the decayed estate of the towne of Antiochia, & furnished all necessarie things for the repairing of the towne of Antiochia: for which cause the people was so affectioned to him that they would hauehave him to bee their bishop. So Euphraimius becomes bishoppe of Antiochia, or Theopolis, for at this time it had both th…se names. Evagrius writeth, that hee vndertooke the charge of the Apostolicke chaire, in which wordes, it is manifest, that Lib. 4. cap. 6not onelyonly the chaire of Rome, but also the chaire of Antiochia was called the Apostolicke chaire. The towne of Antiochia at p. 23this time was taken by Cosroes King of Persia, set on fire, and many of th… people were cruelly slaine. Euphra…us their bishop Evag. lib. 4. cap. 24.at this time left the towne, a perilous example, except the people had beene in safetie, and he onelyonly persecuted, yet he left behinde him so much as might redeeme all the Church goods.

AFTER E…phraimius followed Domnius. And after him Anastatius. He ministred vnderunder the Emperour Iustinian, at what time the …mperour fell into the errour of them, who saide, that our Domnius. Anastatius.LORD IESVS in his very conception adioyned vntounto his diuine nat…e an immortal body, which was subiect to no humane infi…mities. Anastatius opponed himselfe to the Emperours opinion, & the bishops followed Anastatius, & not the Emperour: for this cause Iustinian was purposed to hauehave banished him, but he escaped this trouble, by the Emperours death. Neuerthelesse h…e was banished by Iustinus the younger, for some alleadged cause of dilapidation of Church-gooods, and Gregorius was placed in his roome.

Gregorius ministred in Antiochia 23. yeeres vnderunder Justinus 2. Tiberius and Mauritius: hee was in great account with Mauritius, Gregorins.to whome he foretolde that he would be promoted to the Imperiall dignitie. And Mauritius imployed him in great and weightie businesse, such as in pacifying the tumult of his armie, which made insurrection against Germanus their captaine. Also hee sent him ambassadour to Cosroes King of Persia, who was Evag. lib. 6. cap. 18.astonied at the grace that was in his speaches. Notwithstanding he was accused by Asterius a Deputie of the East, of the filthie sinne of incest: but he cleared his owne innocencie so euidently, that his accuser was with ignominie scourged and banished. Hee died of the gowtes infirmitie & after his death, Anasiatius, whome Iustinus banished for dilapidation of Church-goods, Euphemiusbeeing yet aliue, was restored to his owne place againe. To whom succeeded Euphemius.

Patriarches of Jerusalem.

AFTER MARTYRIVS succeeded HELIAS a feruent Helias.defender of the true faith. Neither would hee condescend to the banishment of EVPHEMIVS p. 24bishop of Constantinople, nor to the admission of Severus to be bishop of Antiochia: therefore the Emperour Anastatius banished him.

To him succeeded Iohn, of whose politicke dealing in circumueening Ioannes.Anastatius the Emperours captaine, I hauehave sufficiently declared in the preceeding historie.

To John succeeded Peter, & after him Macarius, & after Macarius Petrus. Macarius. EustochiusEustochius, who impugned the bookes of Origen & draue out of his bounds the Monks of Nova Laura, defenders of the opinions of Origen. Theodorus Ascidas B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia, tooke this in an euill part. The Emperour Iustinian caused a generall Councill to bee gathered at Constantinople, whereinto not only the bookes of Origen were damned, but also Theodorus himselfe the defender of them. This displeased the Emperour Iustinian, because hee loued Theodorus dearely: therefore hee procured that Eustochius B. of Ierusalem should be remooued, and Macarius restored againe. After whome succeeded Ioannes, Neamus and Isieius.Ioannes. Neamus. Isi…ius.

In this Centurie, whereas I pretermit the names of other Pastors and Doctors in the Church, I hauehave done it vponupon this consideration. I find in this Centurie, that by the irruption of barbarous people, such as the Gothes, Uandales, Hunnes, Auares, Schythians, Lombards, youth was hindred from studies, many memorable bookes were burnt, ancient languages were vtterly spoyled, learning was greatly diminished, flatterie of preuailing powers increased, ambition in the West, heresie in the East turned the estate of the Church vpside downe, so that scarcely could men of good giftes, and keeping integritie of faith, be furnished vntounto the principall Apostolick chaires. Now after a maner the sunne is going downe, the shadowes waxe great, the darknes approacheth, the Antichrist is at the doore, worthy to bee welcomed with darknesse, and decay of knowledge. What shall I now write of other Pastors and Doctors? shall I followe the foolish conceates of Historiographers, in whose opinion the gift of miracles increased, when the gift of knowledge decayed: but the contra…e is knowne by Scripture, Act. 2.Acts 2that the holy Apostles, whome CHRIST induced with extraordinarie giftes of working miraculous workes, hee indued them p. 25the departure of Valerius: he was B. of Hippo: his vncessant trauels in teaching GODS people, and in stopping the mouthes of Heretiques and gainsayers of the trueth of GOD, specially Donatists, Pelagians and Manichean Heretiques, his learned writings doe testifie. When hee had liued 76. yeeres, he rested from his labours, before the Vandales had taken the towne of Hippo, which in time of Augustines sicknesse they had besieged.

In this Centurie flourished worthie preachers in France, such Bishops of France.as Eutherius B. of Lions. Saluianus B. of Marseill, who liued at that time when the nation of the Gothes oppressed France, and many beganne to doubt of the prouidence of GOD, in respect that wicked men had so great vpper-hand. Salvianus in his godly and learned bookes doeth declare that it is a iust thing with GOD to punish men, who knowes their dutie best with greatest punishments, in respect that oft times they are most negligent doers of it. Claudianus Mammertus B. of Vienne is praised by Sidonius with excessiue cōmendations, as if all the graces of Ierom, Augustine, Basilius, Nazianzenus, and many other fathers had beene in corporated into his person. Hilarius first bishop of Arls, and afterward (as appeareth) of Vienne, opponed himselfe directly to Leo B. of Rome, and would acknowledge no iurisdiction, nor domination of the B. of Rome ouer the Churches Leo ad Gal. Episcop. epist. 77. & epist. 89.of France: for this cause Leo accused him as an vsurper of supremacie, onelyonly because hee would not stoupe vnderunder his feete: but H…larius came to Rome, nothing regarding the anathems and cursings of the Romane bishop, and in his face affirmed, that neither did CHRIST appoint Peter to bee h…ad of the rest of the Apostles, neither had the B. of Rome a soueraignitie ouer the Churches of France. All the grandure of Leo his speaches, who doth talke of those few words: Tues Petrus; & super hac petra, &c. that is, thou art PETER, and vponupon this rocke &c. as if Matth. 16.Matt 16CHRIST had breathed vponupon him, and had bidden him receiue the holy Spirit, so confidently did hee affirme that in these wordes was allotted a supremacie to the bishops of Rome the successors of PETER. But this grandure (I say) of his proud conceats, & vaine interpretation of Scripture made not men of vnderstanding incontinently to stoup vnd…r the feet of a proud Prelat. Vincentius Lirinensis a mighty impugner of her…sies. p. 26PROSPER AQVITANICVS. SIDONIVS Bishop in some part of Ouerme. MARTINVS TVRONENSIS is commended for the Hist. Magd. co…t. … cap. 10gift of many miraculous workes that were wrought by his hands. He compared virginitie, marriage, and fornication to a medow, a part where of was eaten by the pastoring of beastes, another part was holled by the rudenes of wourting swine, and the third part was vntouched, but flourishing in the perfect growth of grasse neere to mowing time. Fornication hee compared to the part of the medow that was holled, and misfassioned with swine. Mariage to that part of the medow that was p…stored, so that the herbes had their rootes, but wanted the beautie of their flowres: but virginitie is like vntounto that part of the medow that is vntouched, flourishing with roote, blade, flowre, and all kinde of perfection. In counting mariage good, but virginitie better, hee followeth the doctrine of the holy Apostle PAVL. Reon gius B. of Rhemes, by whom Clodoueus the 1. Cor. 71 Cor 7first Christian king of France was baptized, & the whole countrie of France was purged from Paganisme and Arrianisme, whereby it was miserably polluted by the Gothes, and Vandales, was a man of great account.

Concerning Aurelius and the bishops of Carthage, Memnon, and the bishops of Ephesus, some occasion will bee offered to speake of them in the head of Councils, neither will the nature of a Compend and breuitie whereunto I studie, permit me to write of eueryevery worthie man of whom I read in this Centurie.

CHAP III. Of Heretiques.

PELAGIV…, BRITO and his followers, IVLIANVS and Coelestius maintained damnable heresies in the dayes of Arcadius and Honorius: their pernicious heresies may be easily knowne by the learned writings of Augustine, who directly impugneth the Pelagians, & by the Councils of Arausio in France, & Milevitanum in Numidia, which damned the error of the Pelagians. They affirmed that men by nature were able to fulfill the whole Law of GOD, howbeit more easily & better if they were supported by the grace of GOD. They denied Originall p. 27sinne, and said, the posteritie of ADAM were sinners by imitation of ADAMS sinne, but had not receiued sinne by carnal propagation. They said moreouer, that children had not need to be baptized for remission of sinnes, and that godly fathers in Scripture, when they confessed their sinnes, they did it rather for example of humilitie, than for necessitie and guiltinesse of sinne. This pestilent heresie was spread abroad in many places, but chiefly in the Isle of Britaine, because Pelagius being driuen from Rome came to the Isle foresaid, and infected it with his errour, but by the diligent trauelles of Germanus Altisidorensis and Palladius sent from Coelestinus B. of Rome, both England and Scotland were freed from that errour.Nestorius.

Nestorius B. of Constantinople liued in the dayes of Theodosius 2. He was an eloquent man, but his head lacked braines when he spake against the personall vnion of the divine and humane Nature in CHRIST. He denied that the Virgine MARIE could 6 Euagr. 1…. 1. cap. 7becalled foreign, or Deipara, that is, the mother of GOD, but only foreign, that is, the mother of CHRIST He was damned as an hereticke in the Councill of Ephesus, and banished by the Emp. Theodosius, to the wildernes of Thebaida, & was plagued by GOD with extraordinare iudgements, as other heretiques had bene before: for his blasphemous tongue was consumed with Euagr. ibid.wormes, & rotted in his mouth, and so he ended his wretched life most miserablie.Eutychiani

Eutyches was an abbot in Constantinople: he fell into an errour farre different from the heresie of Nestorius: for Nestorius would not grant the personall vnion of two natures in Christ, but Eutyches confounded the natures, and would hauehave the humane nature so swallowed vp by the immensitie of the diuine nature Evagr. lib. 1. cap. 8.in CHRIST, that there was not two natures in CHRIST, but one alanerly, to wit, the diuine nature. Hee was damned in the Council of Chalcedon, as wil be decla ed hereafter (Godwilling) This heresie much perturbed and troubled the Church in respect of the fautors, and fauourers thereof, both in policie and Church. Chrysapbius a principal ruler in the Court of Theod…sius 2. Basiliscus and Anastatius Emperours, were fauourers of this heresie, and of bishops not a few, such as D…scorus B of Alexandria, Timotheus Aelurus who entered into the chaire of Alexandria p. 28like vntounto a Wolfe with shedding the blood of Proterius the true shepheard, and Petrus Moggus B. of Alexandria, and Petrus Gnapheus B. of Antiochia: all these maintained the heresie of Eutyches a long time. And now appeareth the fruit of humane wisdome, who chused Patriarches to s…ppresse heresies and yet they are the principal maintainers of it. Like wise a multitude of wicked men, specially Monks cried out against the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon (which was assembled by the authoritie of the Emp. Martianus) these were called foreign, because they had no principall head vponupon whom they depended: all these countenanced the heresie of Eutyches, whereby it became the more pernicious to the Church.

It is to be vnderstood that old heresies, such as the heresie of the Manicheans, and the heresie of the Donatists sprung vp of latter time, were in vigour and strength as yet, whereby it came to to passe that Augustine is compelled to write in his time against many Manicheans, such as Faustus, Fortunatus, Felix, S…cundinus, & against Donatists, such as Gandentius, Parmenianus, Emeritus, Ticonius: so that it is euident that the Church in this Centurie, & in the former was chiefly perturbed with the multitude and diuersitie of heresies.

CHAP. IIII. Of Councils.

COncerning Councils gathered in the dayes of Arcadius and Honorius by Epiphanius in Cyprus, and Theophilus in Councils at Constanti…ople against Iohn Chryso…ome.Alexandria, vnderunder pretence of damning the bookes of Origen, and in Constantinople first & last by the malice of Eudoxia the Emperour Arcadius wife, to procure the deposition of Iohn Chrysostome B. of Constantinople, I hope I hauehave not need to make a new declaration of things which are amply declared in the preceeding historie.

About the yeere of our Lord 419. a great number of bishops were assembled in the towne of C…thage, whose names are particularly The 5. Coun…l of …age.expressed in their Synodicke letter sent to Innocentins I p. 29B. of Rome. In this assembly they damned the opinions of Pelagius & Coelestius (which hath bene aboue rehearled) as hereticall. August. epistol. 90. & 91.The answere that Innocentius returned to the Councill is intermixed with words of swelling pride, as if no decreet could bee firme, vntill it had allowance of the Romane chaire: yet the fift Councill of Carthage had pronounced Anathema against the opinions of Pelagius and Coelestius before they sent their letter to Innocentius.

Amongst the canons of this Councill the two last are to bee remarked: namely the 14. and 15. canon. The one declareth that no Church was consecrated without the reliques of the Martyres: the other declareth that adoration of reliques at this Canon, 14. Canon, 15time was the custome of Ethnickes: supplication is appointed to be made to the Emperours, that reliques which are found in Images, groues or trees, or such other places should be abolished.

The first Councill of Toledo in Spaine was assembled vnderunder the The first Councill of Toledo.reignes of Arcadius and Honorius: the yeere of our LORD wherein this Councill was gathered is much contrauerted: therefore I ouerpasse it, contenting my selfe with some notice of the time of the Emperour in whose time the Councill was gathered. It seemeth to hauehave bene assembled for confirmation of the Nicene Councill, and refutation of some errours. The canons anent prohibition of marriage to some persons are foolish and the Canon 17admitting of a man to the communion, who wanteth a wife, and contenteth himselfe with one concubine allanerly, is foolisher: so perilous a thing it is, in a iot to depart from the certaine rule of the written word of GOD.

Mileuitum is a towne of Numidia: in it many bishops were The Council called Mileuitanumassembled vnderunder the reigne of Arcadius, whose names are particularly expressed in the letter sent from the Councill to Innocentius B. of Rome, which letter is insert in the Epistles of Augustine, Epist. 92. & 93.together with the answere of Innocentius I. Two principall causes mooued them to assemble together. First, to finish the worke they had begunne in the fift Councill of Carthage in condemning the heresies of Pelagius and Coelestius, by whome as yet many were deceiued and peruerted from the true faith. Augustine B. of Hippo was not onelyonly present, but also president. p. 30The opinions of Pelagius and Coelcstius anent the power of mans nature not supported by the grace of GOD, and the free will of man to doe good of it selfe, is so solidly refuted, and that by arguments taken out of holy Scripture alanerly, that it is to bee wished that other Councils had followed the example of this Council whereinto Augustine was president. The other cause of the meeting of this Councill was to constitute canons anent ecclesiasticall discipline, specially that no man should make appellation from his owne bishop to bishops beyond sea, but incace his own bishop did him wrong, then he should appeale vntounto Canon 22,an assembly of African bishops, but he who wold needes appeale to bishops beyond sea (meaning chiefly of the B. of Rome) let him bee secluded from the cōmunion of all African bishops. The cause of Apiarius, & his B. Vrbanus Siccensis seemeth already to be wakned, & the fathers of this Council foresmelled that he was to appeale to the B. of Rome, like as hee did indeed to Zosymus the successor of Innocentius: & therefore likewise men in due time they made this constitution. Innocentius receiued the Councils letter frō a brother named Iulius, & approued the condemnatorie sentence pronounced against Pelagius & Coelestius: but marke the words of Innocentius letter, Frater, & Coëpiscopus noster Iulius dilectionis vestrae literas, quas ex Milevitano cura fidei propensiore misistis, mihi inopinanter suggessit. that is to say, Our brother and fellow bishop Iulius brought vntounto mee vnawares your brotherly letters, which yee sent vntounto me from the Councill Mileuitanum, with a care very bent for the faith. The word inopinanter declareth that hee receiued their letter before hee knew that any such Councill was gathered, for the bishops of Rome as yet tooke not vponupon them that authoritie to be the only appointers of generall and nationall Councills. P…lagius after this Councill compeared before a Councill in Palestina, and seemed to renounce his errours, but hee spake deceatfully as heretiques are accustomed to doe: but he set foorth nothing in writ to destroy the errour hee had builded, and to procure the safetie of them whome hee had intan…led with the snares of deceatfull August. Opist. 95.errours, as the Epistle of Aurelius, Alipius, Augustinus, Euodius and Posstdius written to Innocentius doth declare. Obscure Councils I hauehave both ouerpassed with silence, & do mind Godwilling, to keepe the like order in time to come.

p. 31In the yeere of our LORD 420, and vnderunder the reignes of Honorius The sixt Councill of Cart…age Hist. Magd. …. 5. cap. …and Theodosius 2. a great nationall Councill was assembled in Carthage: two hundreth and seuenteene bishops were present at this Councill, and it continued for the space of sixe yeeres. Aurelius bishop of Carthage was moderator. Three bishops of Rome, to wit, Z…symus, Bonifaecius 1. & Coelestinus endeuoured with all their might to perswade the Africane bishops that they were vnderunder the soueraignitie and iurisdiction of the bishops of Rome: but all in vaine as the issue of this Councill will proue. The ground of the great controuersie betwixt the bishops of Rome, & the 6 Councill of Carthage, was Apiarius Presbyter Si…censis, a wicked man, and iustly excommunicate not onelyonly by his owne bishop Vrbanus, but also by a Synode of other neere approaching bishops. Hee appealed to Z…symus bishop of Rome, a citie of refuge to all villanous men, as appeared by the insolent forme of his cariage toward his brethren in Africke: for before he had heard the causes wherefore they had excommunicated this wicked man Apiarius, he absolued him, and admitted him to his communion. Moreouer vnderstanding that a Councill was to be conueened in Carthage, he sent thither ambassadours to plead the cause of Apiarius, to procure the excommunicatiō of Vrbanus, & incace this suc…eeded not, to desire that this question might be remitted to the determination of the Romane bishop as vndoubted iudge of appellations, according to an act of the Councill of Nice. The Fathers of the Councill of Carthage answered with great modestie that they remembred no such act to hauehave beene made in the Councill of Nice. Alwayes time is granted to the B. of Rome to proue that such right belonged to him by an act of the Councill of Nice. Zosymus the first alleadger of this false act continued short time in office: for he ended his course within the space of one yeere, and few months. Bonifacius …. lib. 7 cap. 11the successour of Zosymus serioysly vrging the same prerogatiue to be iudges in all causes of appellation, according to the act of the Councill of Nice. When all the actes were read both in the Latine & Gre…ke exemplares, & no such act was found, the ambasadours of Bonifacius returned to him with this answere, that the principall registers be…oued to be sighted, which were to be found in Constantinople, Alexandria and Antiochia, and in the p. 32meane time no man should be challenged for appealing to the bishoppe of Rome vntill this question had an end by sighting of the authenticke registers. Cyrillus B of Alexandria, and Atticus B. of Constantinople sent to the Councill of Carthage, the iust copies of the actes of the Councill of Nice: but no such act was found, as was alleadged by Zosymus and Bonifacius: and by this time Bonifacius also ended his life: for hee ministred not aboue Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 11.three yeeres. The Epistle sent from the 6. Councill of Carthage, declaring that they found the act foresaid alleadged by the ambassadours of the B. of Rome to be supposititio us and false, this Epistle (I say) was directed to Bonifacius: but seeing heehad ended his life, it came in the hands of Coelestinus the successorof Bonifacius, who insisted by the same ambassadours who were employed before, to wit, Faustinus a bishop, and Philippus, and Asellus two presbyters, to hauehave Apiarius receiued in fauour, and the Africane bishops to be subiect to the bishoppe of Rome: but their trauelles were bestowed in vaine. The last period of this controuersie was this, that Apiarius despairing of helpe from the bishops of Rome, confessed his faultes, and humbly submitted himselfe to the Councill of Carthage. And the Ambassadours of Coelestinus returned with this answere, that the B. of Rome had none authoritie ouer the bishops of Africke, but hee Hist. Magd. …. 5. cap. 9who thought himselfe to bee wronged, let him complaine to a nationall Councill, and if the nationall Councill also did him wrong, then let him complaine to the generall Councill, but none appellation to bee made in time to come from Africke to the bishops of Rome.

VnderUnder the reignes of Arcadius & Honorius, & about the yeere of our LORD 400. The Donatists assembled thēselues in a town of The council called ….Africk called Bagaia in frequent nūbet: for they are counted 310 who were present at this Council. The principal purpose of their meeting was for deposition of Maximianus B. of Bagaia, who fell from their societie, and drew many others from their heresie: him they deposed and accursed. I hauehave made mention of this vnhappie Councill for two causes: first to declare the vncessant diligence of heretiques in aduancing a doctrine of lies, for it was a strange thing, that for the deposition of one man, so many should assemble themselues in one towne: seldome p. 33were so many present at aecumenicke Councils, as were at this conuention. Secondly to declare the effronted peartnes of heretiques, when they are met together, all that they doe is ascribed to the holy Spirit: for in their definitiue sentence against Maximianus, they borrow the words of the holy Apostles, Act 15.Acts 15Placuit Spiritui sancto qui in nobis est. that is, it hath pleased the holy Spirit, who is in vsus. Yet were they guided by Sathan and not by the holy Spirit in all the actions of this Councill.

In the 8. yeere of the reigne of Theodosius 2. was a generall The first Councill of Ephesus generall.Councill assembled in Ephesus against the heretique Nestorius bishop of Constantinople, of whom Socrates writteth that the first ground of his heresie was the speaches of a Presbyt…r in his Church called Anastatius, whome he had in reuerent accompt. This Anastatius vponupon a time teaching in the Church, said, let no Socrat. lib. 7 cap. 32man call the vi…gine MARIE the mother of GOD, whereupon ensued great trouble in the Church, for they w…re assured of the diuinitie of CHRIST. And Nestorius not willing that the man should be disesteemed whom he so much regarded: he chopped oftin his Sermons vponupon the word foreign, not willing to giuegive vntounto the blessed Virgine so great an honour. When the Council of Ephesus was assembled, cōsisting of the number of 200. bishops & aboue, & Cyrillus B. of Alexandria was appointed Moderator by the ordinance of the Emperours, who cōmanded the Councill to be gathered, Cyrillus began to embarke, and to agitate the question, ere Iohn Patriarch of A…tiochia, and his companie could be present at the Councill At the first meeting Nestorius being present in the towne of Ephesus vtterly spoyled his cause, and added to his former opinion borrowed from Anastatius, that hee thought it an indignitie done to the onelyonly begotten Sonne of GOD, to speake of foreign and foreign, and the wordes foreign, were all reproachfull Acta Synode Ephes….wordes to be spoken of the Sonne of GOD, that is, that hee was nourished vponupon milke, that hee was borne of a maide, that hee was two moneths, or three moneths olde all these words he counted to be reproachfull words to be spoken of the Sonne of GOD. The Fathers of the Councill were all highly offended at these words, & warned him to be personally p. 34present at the Councill, but he refused to compeare, vntill the time that John Patriarch of Antiochia, should b…e present at the Councill. Cyrillus B. of Alexandria, was a man prompt, & sordward in all causes both good and bad, & hee would not linger vntill the comming of …ohn Patriarch of Antiochia, and his companie, but foorthwith hee caused his bookes and writings to bee examined, wherein it was clearely sound, that hee sa…e the Son of the Virgine MARIE was not God but only that God was with him so hee denied the personal vnion of the diuine & humane Nature The Fathers of the Council vponupon this ground damned Neslorius as an hereticque, and Nestorius on the other So…at. lib. 7. cap. … 2.part gathered the bishoppes of his owne faction, and damned Cyrillus B. of Alexandria, and Memnon B of E…hesus. After this Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia came to E…hesus, whose comming rather increased than diminished the schisme: for hee was to angrie against the precipitation and hastines of Cyrillus, that he would not adioyne himselfe to the Councill: hereupon followed mutuall excommunications: Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia excommunicated Cyrillus, and Memnon: and they on the other part excommunicated him, and his retinue who came not to the Council: yet in the merciemercy of GOD this schisme that fell out last amongst good men was cured, & they were reconciled, & the heretique Nestorius was banished to Oasis.

Before Theodosius 2. had ended his life, Flavianus bishop. of Constantinople had gathered a particulare Councill, and damned The 2. Council of Ephesus.Eutyches an abbot of Constantinople, because he affirmed that in CHRIST after the vnton of the diuine and humane natures, there was no longer two natures, but one allanerly composed of both the natures. This absurd Opinion Flavianus damned as hereticall. Notwithstanding Chrysaphius the chiefe gouernour of the Emperours palace was a friend to Eutyches, and a fauourer of his heresie. And hee procured at the Empe…cuts hands, that Eutyches cause should be iudged in a more frequent assemblie to be gathered at Ephesus, and wherein Dioscorus B. of Evagr. lib. 1. …p. 9, 10Alexandria should be moderator. In this assembly Dioseorus dealt imperiously, like vntounto an head-strong heretic…e He called vponupon Eutyches, & required a consession of his faith, which when hee had giuen, not expecting the votes of others, who were p. 35present, with clamour and outcrying he gaue allowance vntounto it, as if no more were requisit in a Councill, except onelyonly the suffrage and vote of the moderator. Likewise hee suffered not the letters of Leo B. of Rome sent to the Councill to be read. Thirdly Hist. Magd. …. 5. cap. 9he absolued Eutyches, and 300. Monkes all intangled with this heresie, whom Flavianus had iustly excommunicated: & last of all, he excommunicated Flavianus, & caused him by the tumult of his factioners to be so rudely and vncourteously intreated, that he was trode vnderunder soot, and was so wounded, that within three dayes after he ended his life: for this cause this Councill was called a Councill of brigandrie.

The Councill of Berytus in Phoenicia, whereinto the cause of Ibas B. of Edessa (whom Dioscorus had deposed) was wakned and The council of …erytus.he was iustified and absolued, I purposely passe by, because the controuersie against Ibas will be discussed in a greater assembly. And the Councill called Agathense in France, wherein albeit The Council called Agathen….there be a great number of Constitutions, yet nothing is more remarkable in it than this, that they grant they had libertie to meete together by commandement of Alaricus King of Gothes, who at that time had soueraignitie in that parte of France called Gallia Narbonensis where the Councill was gathered: so that in all Countries, Councils both generall and nationall were conueened by the authoritie of Princes.

In the yeere of our LORD 454 & in the 3. yeere of the reigne of the Emp. Martianus a general Councill was assembled at Chalcedon The generall Councill of …. Funst. chro…a towne of Bythinia lying directly ouer against Constantinople. Martianus the Emperour was in person present at the Councill, and of Bishoppes, and reuerend Fathers from all partes of the world sixe hundreth and thirtie. The like whereof hapned not in any generall Councill preceeding this Euagr. lib. 2. cap 4time. The Patriarches were all present at this Councill either in proper person, or by their ambassadours. Anatoli…. B. of Constantinople, Dioscorus B of Alexandria, Maximus B. of Antiochia, … B. of Ierusalem: and in stead of Leo B. of Rome his ambassadours Pascasianus a bishop, Lucentius, Bon…facius, and Basilius Presbyters, with a Christian brother …ulianus.

Martianus entreated all the Fathers of the Councill to thinke that he gaue his presence to the convention, not for ostentation p. 36of his power or vertue, but only for desire that the true faith should be confirmed and established, and that by his authority all tumults of men disobedient to the Councill, might b…e …epressed. Aboue all crauing of them, or rather charging and commanding them, that they should decerne nothing repagnant to the actes of the Councill of Nice.

The ambassadours of Leo B. of Rome craued that Dioscorus B. of Alexandria should not sit in the Councill as a …udge, but that he should stand and answere to things that were to be ob…ected Evagr. lib. 2. cap. 4.vntounto him. Which petition beeing granted, E…sebius B. of Dorileum stood vp and accused him of three things. First, that hee had beene an aduersarie to the true faith in absoluing Eu…yches a notable here ique in the second Councill of Ephesus: Secondly that he was a murderer of Flavianus B. of Constantinople a constant defender of the true faith: and thirdly that hee had done himselfe wrong in deposing him without a cause, and herewith he desired his letter to be read. The Councill not only read his letter accusatorie, but also read all the acts of the 2. Councill of Ephesus & heard the reports of bishops, who were present at that Councill of Brigandrie, and had consented against their hearts to the deposition of Flavianus, because Dioscorus had bands of souldiers sent by Chrysaphius in name of the Emp. Theodosius 2. to compell simple men to obey all his desires. All this beeing considered, together with his vnmanerly rudenes. who would not suffer the letter of Leo B. of Rome to be read in the Councill foresaid, and finally that hee had most vniustly and vnaduisedly excommunicate Leo B. of Rome.

The Councill of Chalc…on cited Dioscorus, the ground of this controuersie, but he compeared not: therefore he was damned as an heretique, together with Eutyches and Juvenalis B. of Jerusalem, …and it was ordained that men should beleeue that the natures of CHRIST, albeit they were vnited, yet were they not confounded, as Eutyches heretically had affirmed. Likewise all the actes of the second Councill of Ephesus were abrogated and rescinded, except the doposition of Domnus B. of Antiochia, and substitution of Maximus in his place. Moreo…er Th…odoretus B. of Cyns, and Ibas B. of Edessa, who had bene vniustly deposed in the second Councill of Ephesus, were both restored to their p. 37places, after they had clearely damned the heresies of Nestorius, and Eutyches. In the cause of Bassianus and Stephanus, who contended both for the bishopricke of Eph…sus, it was ordained that both of them should bee remooued from that dignitie, as men who by vnlawfull meanes had aspired to ecclesiasticke offices, and a third person should hauehave the office. Finally, it was statute and ordained in this Councill, that Anatolius B. of Constantinople, and his successours should hauehave the chiefe dignitie next vntounto the chaire of Rome. It is to bee marked that Prot…rius B. of Alexandria, to whom the place of old belonged. albeit he was present in the Councill, yet hee made none obstacle vntounto this ordinance: but the ambassadours of Leo B. of Rome spake against it, fearing lest the increasing magnificence of such an Emperiall towne should in ende bring Constantinople to the preheminence of the first seat. Supremacie was long agoe the very aple of their eye, and they could not abide that afarre off a diminution of this should be once pointed a…. Neuerthelesse this ordinance had alowance of the Councill notwithstanding of the contradiction of the Romane ambassadours. In codice Romano Myster… imquitatis.saith learned Morneus, all this action is lest out.

In the sixt Session of this Councill the Emperour Martianus with Pulcheria the Emprice, were both present, and craued of the Councill, that ordinances should bee made for restraining the filthie Iucre, and ambition of Monks and Clergie men who intangled themselues with seculare businesse for desire of gaine Canon 6.and riches: whereupon followed this constitution, that men who hauehave addicted themselues either to the Monasticke life, or the Clergie, they should not bee promoted to other dignities, meaning, ciuile offices, because that is a distraction of them from their calling.