Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum vicesimum primum.

PHILIPPUS, with Philippe his sonne, was emperour the space [folio 224b] of vij. yere. This Philippe was the firste emperour that recey|vede the feithe of Criste, baptiȝede of Poncius martir; whiche was of so grete feithe, that he confessenge his synnes wolde receyve the blissede sacramente in the feste of Ester afore alle peple. Also his sonne was of so constante feithe that he cowthe not be movede to laȝhe in eny wise, stryvenge with

vices and drawenge to vertu. Eutropius. The m^l yere from the edifienge of the cite of Rome was complete in the iiij^the yere of his reigne; wherefore he made solenne thynges, and did sle bestes as innumerable, makenge disportes and playes in a grete felde by iij. daies and iii. nyȝhtes contynually. Fabianus the pope suffrede dethe under Decius consul, whom Cornelius succedede iij. yere; whiche ordeynede that an othe scholde not be re|quirede of the hie pristes but for the ryȝhte feithe of Criste, and that a preste scholde not committe his cause to the iugge|mente of other peple afore that he have appellede to the cowrte of Rome. This pope causede the blissede relikes of Seyntes Petyr and Paule to be taken from theire beryalles at the desire of Seynte Lucina, and the body of Seynte Paule to be sette in [The bodyes of Seynte Petyr and Paule were taken from Rome by Grekes.] the weye Ostiense, and the body of Seynte Petyr in Vatican nye to the place of his passion. In the tymes of thys pope the bodyes of Seynte Petyr and Paule were stollen by men of Grece,

that they myȝhte have theym in to þeire londe. That doen, the develles inhabitenge the ydoles, coacte by the vertu and power of God, cryede, "Ye men of Rome, helpe, for youre goddes be taken awey." The trewe peple of Criste understondynge that to be seide of thapostles, and the unfeithefulle men sup|posenge hit to be seide of þeire goddes, pursewede the Grekes. The Grekes trowblede soore, and dredenge the persecucion of the Romanes, caste the bodies of Petyr and Paule in to a pytte. Whiche takenge furthe, and the bodyes of theym not knowen perfitely whiche were the boones of Seynte Petyr and whiche of Seynte Paule, the trewe peple of Criste preyenge God to be certifiede of the trawthe. Then hit was schewede to theym [folio 225a] by revelacion þat the moore boones were of Seynte Petyr. Philippus themperour was sleyne at Verona thro treason of Decius, and Philippus his sonne was sleyne at Rome. ℞. Hit is redde in the legendes of seyntes that Philippus the elder

sende Decius his myȝhty knyȝhte to subdewe Fraunce, whiche returnede from þat victory did slee the seide Philippe at Verona. The yonger Philippe understondenge that, fledde to Rome, and toke the treasures of his fader to blissede Sixtus the pope, and to Laurence his diacon, that thei scholde distribute theyme to poore men. This Decius made emperour, began to do perse|cucion to the trewe peple of Criste, that hyt scholde be seide he did sle his lorde for ydolatry, and for noon oþer treason; whiche reignede thre yere. This Decius willenge to have in|duede Decius his sonne with a diademe imperialle, the childe refusede hit, sayenge, "I drede that and if y be an emperour y schal forgete to be a sonne, þerfore y hade lever be noon emperour and be a meke sonne, then to be emperour and be a sonne indevoute; þerfore y wylle the fader be emperour; myne empire schalle be to obeye to emperour.