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

Capitulum vicesimum sextum.

WHILE Constantyn dede [dide, β.; dude, γ.] nobeliche, and bare [bar, γ.] hym stal|worþiliche and myȝtiliche, þe knyȝtes of þe pretorie at Rome

took Maxencius, Herculeus his sone, and cleped hym Augustus. Þanne Galerius Augustus sente Severus, þat he hadde i-made Cesar, wiþ al his oost aȝenst hym to Rome. Severus bysegede þe citee, and was bitrayed by falshede [falsed, γ.] of his owne knyȝtes, and fliȝ to Ravenna, and [there, added in Cx.] was i-slawe. Herculeus, Maxencius his fader, herde [hurde, γ.] þerof, and brak out [out] added from α., γ., and Cx.] of his hydels [hudels, β. and Cx.; huydels, γ.] and wolde be emperour, and fonded [fonded] dyde his best, Cx.] for to prive Maxencius of myȝt and of power. Þerfore he and Galerius comfortede Dioclicianus forto take þe dignitees þat he hadde i-lefte; and he sette [setted, Cx.] nouȝt þerby, but answerde [answherede, γ.] and seide, "Wolde God þat ȝe myȝte se [yseo, γ.] wortes in myn honde in Salon, sikerliche þanne ȝe wolde nouȝt deme þat I schulde take þis aȝe." Þanne Herculeus [Herkulius, α.] for stryf of knyȝtes was openliche sory and aferde, and wente into Fraunce for to reve, byneme, [bynyme, γ.] and take þe empere wiþ tresoun [trayson, γ.] from Constantyn, þat hadde i-wedded his douȝter; but he was i-wreyed [y-wryed, β. and γ.; bewreyed, Cx.] by þe same douȝter Fausta, Constantyn his wyf, and fliȝ to Marcil, [Marsyl, α. and γ.; Marsil, β.; fled to Marselle, Cx.] and was [dede] [From α., β., and γ.; there, Cx.] i-slawe. Þanne Galerius made Lucinius [Licinius, α., γ., and Cx.] emperour at Tarent; þe worste of alle men in covetise, scharpest in leccherie, and most enemye to

lettred men; he cleped lettres comyn pestilence, and [the meyne of þe palys he cleped] [From β.] spadones [that is] [From β.] gilded [the meyne of the palays he called spadones, that is to say, ghelded, Cx.] men and meny [meny] also he cleped hem, β.] moȝtes [and men meyne moȝtes, α.; and men meyne he clepede moȝtes, γ.] he clepede and ratouns of þe paleys. [and also he called hem mowhthes and rattes of the palays, Cx.] Whanne Galerius hadde [i-] om. α.] i-pursewed and [i-] om. α.] i-greved men ten ȝere, þanne his brest roted wiþ ynne, and for [by cause, Cx.] phisicians myȝte nouȝt endure þe stenche [stynch, γ.] of hym, he slowȝ of hem ful ofte. In a tyme a phisician seide hym in [in] þat, β.] þis meschif [sayd to hym that this meschyef, Cx.] was Goddis wreþþe and his [his] om. Cx.] wreche; þanne he sent out maunde|mentȝ, and reconcilede Cristen men þat were exiled, but þo [but þo] and thenne, Cx.] he deide. After Melchiades, Silvester was pope foure and twenty ȝere; he cristened [folled, β.; follede, γ.] þe grete Constantyn, and clensed hym of his meselrie in his cristenynge. [follyng, β. and γ.] Also he delyverede þe citee of Rome of þe pestilence of þe dragoun; by his prayere he rerede [reysed, Cx.] a deed boole to lyve; he overcome þe Iewes in disputacioun; [disputicioun, . and Cx.; dis|puteson, γ.] he made þe firste [furste, γ.] greet counsaille at Nys, [Nicen, β.; Nycen, Cx.] consilium Nice|num, [consilium Nicenum] om. Cx.] þere were þre [þre] four, Cx.] hondred bisshoppes and eyȝtene. [eyȝtetene, γ.] He

hadde þe names of pore men, of wydues, [widewes, γ.] of fadirles and modirles children i-write in a book, and fondede [fonde hem, α., β., γ., and Cx.] what hem [he, α.; them, Cx.] nedede [neodede, γ.] to liflode. [to liflode] om. Cx.] He ordeynede to faste þe Wednesday, [Wondesday, γ.] Friday, and Satirday. Also he ordeynede þat þe Þorsday [Thyrsday, Cx.] schulde be wor|schipped as þe Soneday, for þat day Crist ordeynede þe sacrament of his body, and stigh [ascended, Cx.] up into hevene in a Þorsday, and holy crisme [and oyle, added in Cx.] is i-halwed in a Þorsday. Giraldus, [distinctio] [From α.] prima. Þanne Constantyn in his sevenþe ȝere wente toward a bataille aȝenst Maxencius, and sigh in his sleep the signe of the crosse schynynge in hevene, as it were brennynge leye [layte, Cx.] on [of, α., β., and Cx.] fuyre, [lye of fuyr, γ.] and angels stood by [by] biside, β.; beside, Cx.] and seide, "Constantyn, Thocanatha;" [thoicanata, α., β., and γ.; thoy|canata, Cx.] þis is to menynge, [that is to saye, Cx.] "By þis tokene þou schalt have þe victorie." Þan he wook, [awoke, β. and Cx.] and made peynte þe signe of þe crosse [of the crosse] om. β. and Cx.] and tokene [that he hadde seen in the baners and penons of his knyghtes. Atte laste Maxencius was overcome

atte brydge Pount Milenum, [Milvium, β. and γ.] and Constantine went to Rome, and made peynte the signe and tokene] [From Cx.] of þe crosse in þe riȝt hondes of þe ymages þat senatoures hadde arered [areysed, Cx.] in worschippe of his triumphis and of his victorie, and he made write undirneþe, "Þis is þe signe and tokene of þat God of lyf þat may nouȝt be overcome." Gaufridus et Alfridus. Constantyn wente out of Britayne to þe empere of Rome. Þanne Octavianus, [Octavius, β., passim; Octavius, Cx., et infra.] duke of þe Iewes, [Gewessees, α. and β.; Gewissees, γ.; Jewesses, Cx.] werrede [werride, β.] in Britayne, and took þe kyngdom. Constantyn herde þerof, and sent out oon Traherum, [Trahern, α., β., and Cx.] þe eme [Trahern þe em, γ.; eame, Cx.] of his moder Heleyne, wiþ þre legiouns of knyȝtes aȝenst Octavianus, but hem fil [fille, β.; byfell, Cx.] dyvers happes, so þat in dyvers tyme oon hadde þe maistrie and eft þat oþer, and so Trahern was i-slawe by fraude and by gile, and so Octavianus regnede anon to þe tyme of Gra|cianus and Valentinianus þe emperours. Giraldus, distinctio prima. After þat Maxencius was overcome, Constantyn was i-smyte [smeton, Cx., et infra.] wiþ a strong meselrie. [lepre or meselrye, Cx.] [℞.] [From α. and Cx.] As it is i-wrete [wreton, Cx.] in

Legenda sanctorum, in Silvester his lyf, som wil mene [wil mene] suppose, Cx.] þat Constantyn was i-smyte [smeton, Cx.] wiþ mesellrie for wreche of þe perse|cucioun and tyraundys [tyrauntrie, β.; tarauntrye, Cx.] þat he usede, and pursuede [poursiewed, Cx.] and grevede Cristen men; durynge [duyrynge, γ.] þat persecucioun Silvester among oþer fliȝ [fledde, Cx.] out of þe citee: boþe [bot, α.; but, β.] wiþ oute eny dowte, for what cause it evere were þat he was i-smyte wiþ meselrie, hit is sooþ þat Silvester heled hym of his meselrie. [his meselrie] it, Cx.] Giraldus, ubi supra. By counsaile of þe senatoures, and of þe bisshoppes of mys|byleved men, were i-brouȝt þre þowsand of smal children þat schulde be [have be, Cx. (bis).] slawe, and Constantyn schulde be [have be, Cx. (bis).] wasche in þe hoot [warme, Cx.] blood of the children for to hele hym of his meselrie. [lepre, β. and Cx.] Þan þe kyng sigh þe modres of þe children wepe [weope, γ.] ful sore, [wepe and make grete sorow, Cx.] and make greet deol and sorwe, þanne he seide: "Þe dignite of þe empere comeþ of þe welle of myldenesse, for it is i-demed þat he schulde deye þat sleeþ a childe in bataille." De legenda Sancti Silvestri. "Þanne it were a cruel dede for to doo to oure owne þat we beeþ forbode for to do to straunge men [doo the straungers, Cx.] ; what profit [prouffyt, Cx.] is it to overcome straunge men [and be our self overcome with cruelnes, added in Cx.] [and be us self over|come

wiþ cruwelnesse? Hit is þe vertue of strengþe forto overcome straunge men] [From β. and γ.] but it is þe virtu of þewes for to overcome vices and synne; in þat bataille we beeþ strengere [þan þeyȝ, but in þis batayl we beeþ strenger] [From α., β., γ., and Cx.] þan we us [oure, Cx.] self. Þanne leet [late, Cx.] myldenesse have þe maistrie [in þis doynge, þat we mowe þe bettre have þe maystrie] [From α., β., γ., and Cx.] of oure enemyes; for it is better for us to deie savynge [savynge] and save, Cx.] the children lyf, þan to gete a cruel [cruwel, γ., et infra.; greete cruel, Cx.] lyf by þe innocent children deþ; and ȝit it is nouȝt certeyn þat [we schuld save oure lif þerby, but it is certayn þat] [From β. and γ.; we shal save our lyf, but it is certayne that, Cx.] ȝif it were so i-saved it were a cruel lyf." Þanne þe next nyȝt after Peter and Paul schewed hem [schewed hem] appiered, Cx.] to hym, and seide: "For þow were agrise [agrised, Cx.] and sparedest to schede þe children [chyldern, γ.] blood, take to þe counsaille of hele and of savacioun; sende after Silvester, þat hydeþ [huydeþ, β. and γ.] hym in þe hille [hille] om. Cx.; hul, γ.] mount Sarapt, and make hym come to þee." And whan he was i-brouȝt he schewed [schewide, β.] þe kyng þe ymages of þe apostles Petir and Paule, þat hadde appered to hym in his sleep. Þanne he fasted

seven [a fast seve, γ.] nyȝt, [eyghte dayes, Cx.] and made [hym] [From β. and γ.; him, Cx.] cathecuminus, and was i|cristened [y-folled, β. (quater); γ. (tris).] at þe laste, and knowlechid þat he hadde i-seie [y-seyȝe, γ.] Crist. Trevisa. Cathecuminus is he þat lerneþ [leorneþ, γ.] þe fey of holy chirche, and is in wil to be i-cristned. [y-folled, β. (quater); γ. (tris).] [℞.] [From α. and Cx.] But Ambrose and Ierom in a cronike telleþ þat Constantyn abood wiþ his cristenynge [follouȝt, β.; folloȝt, γ.; bapteme, Cx.] to his laste dayes, þat he myȝte be i-cristened [y-folled, β. (quater); γ. (tris).] in Iordan. Þan whan Constantyn was i-cristened [y-folled, β. (quater); γ. (tris).] he made prisouns [to be, added in Cx.] i-oponed, [and lete the prysoners goo oute, added in Cx.] and temples of [and, Cx.] mawmettes destroyed, [destruyd, γ.] and chirche dores i|sette up [i-sette up] opened, Cx.] ; olde chirches he mendede, [he mendede] amended, Cx.] and new cherches he bulde [he bulde] y-buld, γ.; buylded, Cx.] ; he grauntede to chirches fredom [freodom, γ.] and priveleges, and ordeynede þat þe bisshop of Rome schulde be hiȝest of alle bis|shoppes; and ȝaf þe tenþe [teoþe, γ.] del of al his possessioun to cherches; but at þe repayrynge [reparailynge, β.; reparaillyng, γ.; reparaylynge, Cx.] of Seynt Petres chirche he wente to [to] om. Cx.] wiþ a mattok, and opened [opnede, γ.] first þe erþe, and bare cley to þe work on

his schuldres. [sholders, Cx.] Giraldus, ubi supra. [In γ. the sentence runs thus: "Fram þat tyme forþward þe churche of Rome þe rychchere þat a was y-mad, þe more seculer bysynes a hadde more þan spi|ritual devocion, and more bost wiþoutward þan holynes wiþynne as me troweþ."] From þat tyme forþ|ward [for] [From β.] [bycause of the grete] [From Cx.] þe richesse [ryche, α.] þat þe chirche of Rome hadde he [he] it, β. and Cx.] was i-made þe more [seculer, and hadde [had, Cx.] more] [From β. and Cx.; α. has se|culer besynesse; þey hadde more.] seculer [bysynesse] [From β.] þan spirituel devo|cioun, and more boost [pompe and boost, Cx.] wiþ [wiþ] om. β. and Cx.] outward þan holynesse wiþ ynne, as me troweþ. [as me troweth] as it is supposed, Cx.] Þerfor it is i-write þat whann Constantyn hadde i-made þat ȝifte to chirches, þanne þe olde enemy [olde enemy] awngel of hevyn, α. Itself a correction in MS. Addit., written over an erasure.] cryde openliche in þe ayer, [aer, γ.; yer, Cx.] "Þis day is venym i-hilde [heled, Cx.] and i-schad in holy chirche." Þerfore Ierom in vitis patrum seiþ, [seiþ] om. α. and γ.] "Seþþe [that, added in Cx.] holy chirche encresede [cressede, γ.] in possessiouns it haþ decresed as [as] om. α., β., γ., and Cx.] in virtues." Also þe emperour in þe paleys Lateran bulde [bylded, Cx.] a chirche in þe worshippe of Seint Iohn þe apostel, [þe apostel] om. Cx.] and made þerynne a fount [fonte, Cx.] stoon [fantston, γ.] of a maner stoon þat hatte porphiriticus, and hiȝte [arrayed, Cx.] it wiþ ynne wiþ silver, and in þe myddel þerof was a pyler þat bare a viol [bar a vyel, γ.] of gold with

bawne [bawme, α., β., and Cx.; baum, γ.] brennynge alway. In legenda Silvestri. Silvester halwede þis cherche þe nynþe day of Novembre; þat day was þe ymage of oure Savyour y-peynt in þe wal by Goddes owne work, and by no manis dede; þat ymage was i-seie [seen, Cx.] of alle men, and is þere ȝitte anon to [yet unto, Cx.] þis tyme. Silvester ordeynede to arere in alle cherches auȝtres [auȝteres, α.; auters, β. and Cx.] of stoon; but in þat chirche he stabled [stablysshed, Cx.] an auȝter of tree [treo, γ.] þat was þerynne raþer. [afore, Cx.] Me seiþ [Men saye, Cx.] þat Peter and his successours songe masses uppon þat auȝter, ffor holy chirche was [soo, added in Cx.] strongliche pursuede anon to þat tyme [þat] [From β.] þe [Cx. has "that" at the commencement of the sentence.] bisshop [bischops, γ.] hadde non certayne abidynge in þe citee of Rome; but þey song masses in holouȝ dennes, [caves and dennes, Cx.] where [were, α.] þey myȝte beste, uppon þat [þat] om. Cx.] holow auȝter of tree þat was i-bore aboute. Helene was in Britayne, and herde how [hurde houȝ, γ.] her sone spedde, and sente hym lettres, and preysed hym wel for [wel for] moche bycause, Cx.] he hadde forsake mawmetrie; but sche preysed hym nouȝt in þat [he worschipped and bylevede in a man] [From α., β., and Cx.] þat was i-nayled to þe

cros. Þe emperour wroot aȝen to his moder þat sche [heo, β.] schulde brynge maistres of Iewes, þat þe soþe myȝte be i-knowe [þat . . . i-knowe] om. γ.] by desputisoun. Þanne Helene brouȝt [forth, added in Cx.] seven score of wise men of Iewes, þat þe soþe myȝte be i-knowe, [þat. . .i-knowe] om. α., β., γ., and Cx.] and Silvestre come aȝenst hem; and tweie wise men, þat were no [non, γ.] Iewes noþer [ne, Cx.] Cristen men, were i-ordeyned by comoun assent for to deme þe soþe. Þanne þe Iewes were overcome, and after þat þey hadde longe desputed oon of þe Iewes spak certayne wordes in a wylde boole his ere, [boles eere, γ.] and þe boole deide anon. Þan anon me repreved [repreovede, γ.] Silvestre, and [he] [From γ.] seide: "It [hit, β.] is nouȝt Goddis name þat he haþ i-nempned, ffor God sleeþ and ȝeveþ lyf, as it is i-write 'I shal slee, and I schal make þinges lyve [lybbe, γ.] and be on [α, Cx.] lyve.' But þis haþ nempned [named, Cx.] the develes name, þat may nouȝt but [bote, γ.] slee, and þat [yet not that, Cx.] by suffraunce of God; for lyons [leons, γ.] and wylde

bestes mowe slee, but þey mowe make not [not make, α. and Cx.; nouȝt make, β.; make, γ.] þinges, but þey [þat þey, α., β., γ., and Cx.] sleeþ efte to be on lyve. [efte. . .lyve] lyve agayne, Cx.] Þan ȝif he wil [wole, β.] þat I trowe hym, [trowe hym] byleve on hym, Cx.] lete hym arere [areyse, Cx., et infra.] þe boole from deþ to lyve þat he haaþ i-slawe." [þat he haaþ i-slawe] om. Cx.] And for he myȝte nouȝt arere þe boole þat he hadde i-slawe, þe Iewes byheet [promysed, Cx.] þat þey wolde trow in Crist ȝif Silvester myȝte arere þe boole from deth to lyve. [Here is inserted in the MS. a long passage commencing "Vain liknesse of the crosse. In another time . . .dwellede þere anon to his ende." All but the first word of the passage occurs in chapter xxviii., and has, through some error of the scribe, been wrongly inserted here.] Þanne by prayers of Silvester þe bole was arered [reysed, Cx.] from deth to lyve, and Heleyne the queene [þe Iewes] [From β. and γ.; and the Iewes, Cx.] and þe iuges trowede [byleveden, Cx.] al in Crist. Þan Constantyn sende his moder Helene to Ierusalem, for to brynge þennes Cristis [Cristis] the, Cx.] holy croys. Ambrose seiþ þat þis Heleyne was an hosteler at þe citee [þe citee] om. Cx.] Treverent [Trevere, Cx.] in Fraunce, and Constancius Cesar wedded hir for sche was [so] [From α., β., and γ.] faire. [for her beaute, Cx.] But þe storie of Britouns telleþ þat sche was Coelus kyng [Added from α. and Cx.] of Britayne his douȝter, as it is i-seide to fore honde. Þis Heleyne com to Ierusalem, and dede [dude, γ.] som of þe cros þat was y-founde in an holy place in Ierusalem, [fonde there the holy crosse and departed it and left one part in Ieru|salem, Cx.]

and broȝte to here sone þe oþer del and þe foure nayles, and dede [dede] dyde do putte, Cx.] tweyne of þe nayles [þe nayles] them, Cx.] in here sones bridel, and þe þridde in an ymage of þe roode, and sche [heo, β.] þrewe þe fourþe [feurþe, α.; ferþe, γ.] [nayl] [From α., γ., and Cx.] into þe see Adriaticus, þat was toforehonde a swolouȝ [swolow, Cx.] ful perilous to seille [þer] om. Cx.] þerby. And so seþþe þat tyme hit come up þat þe feste of þe fyndynge of the holy croys was [was] hath ben, Cx.] i-holde. Þanne þe emperour wente from Rome to Byȝancius, [Bysanus, Cx.] and cleped it afterward by [afterward by] after, Cx.] his owne name Constantynnoble, and hiȝted [made fayr, Cx.] þat citee with buldynges, [with buldynges] om. Cx.; booldes, α., β., and γ.] fayre housynge, [howses, Cx.] and chirches, and wiþ dignitee of patriarkes, and brouȝt þeder [þuder, γ.] þe noblest men [men] om. Cx.] of Rome. Giraldus, ubi supra. In þe bygynnynge of holy chirche were but þre patriarches, as it were in liknes of [in stede of, Cx.] Abra|ham, Isaac, and Iacob. Oon was in Antiochia in Asia, anoþer was at Alexandria in Affrica, and þe þridde was at Rome in Europa. Þese þre [þeose þre sedes, γ.] Peter halwed by his owne sittynge; in tweyne þerof he was bisshop hym self, but his disciple Marcus [Marchus, γ.]

hilde þe þridde at Alexandria in Peter his name. After þat [þe] [From α., β., and Cx.] Synodus Nicena hadde i-ȝeve þat privelege to þe bisshop of Rome þat he schulde be above alle oþere bisshoppes, as þe emperour is above [all, added in Cx.] kynges, and þat he schulde be cleped pope as þe cheef fader, and þe riȝt of þe patriark was i|torned to Constantynnoble, as it were [to] [From β. and Cx.] the secounde Rome; þe oþer sees of patriarkes were i-chaunged, þe see of Antiochia to Ierusalem, and þe see of Alexandria to Aquilia; and me troweþ [it is supposed, Cx.] þat cause þerof was for wikked Cristen men schulde be i-take into þe ilond [lond, α., β., and Cx.; hond, γ.] of mysbileved men, and so it schulde folwe þat þey schulde lese þe holy places. Eusebius in Eccle|siastica [historia], libro 10^o. Constantinus dede [to, added in Cx.] God almyȝty his peple [his peple] preestes, Cx.] greet reverence and worschippe; þerfore whanne þe bisshoppis were i-gadired to giders to þe Synodus [in the Synode of, Cx.] Nicena, by heste [commaundement, Cx.] of Constantyn, and by counsaile of Silvestre, for to declare the fey of holy chirche, meny of hem pleyned everich [eche, Cx.] uppon [apon, γ.] oþer, and putte up billes to þe emperour, for he schulde

doo hem [ham, γ.] right everich of oþer. [everich of oþer] om. Cx.] Þe emperour siȝ þat cause of [cause of] om. Cx.] holy chirche, for þe whiche [whoche, γ.] þe bisshoppes were i-come, myȝte liȝtliche be lette by suche pleyntes [peyntes, α.] and stryf, þerfore he sette hem a certeyn day after þe synodus and counsaile for to make an ende of alle þilke [þulk, γ.] causis and pleyntes. But he brend priveliche alle þe [þe] thylke, Cx.] billes of hem þat made playntes, and seide: "God haþ ordeyned ȝow as it were goddes by [by] to be, Cx.] ȝoure owne iuges; þerfore I [ich, β.] holde þat it were unsemely [unfittynge, Cx.] þat we þat schulde be i-demed of ȝow schulde deme ȝow þat beeþ [buþ, γ.; ben, Cx.] goddes. But in holy chirche among ȝour [ȝou, β.] self [sylf, γ.] treteþ [trete, Cx., et infra.] of ȝour errours and ȝour [ȝour] om. Cx.] deffautes, so þat no þing be y-knowe outward þat is unsemeliche to ȝour holynesse. And ȝif ȝe willeþ [wolleþ, α.; wole, β.] nedes stryve, abydeth þe dome of God Almyȝty, as þe psalme seith, 'God stood in þe synagoge of goddes, in þe myddel demynge God.' [in the myddel demynge God] om. Cx.; Godes, α. and γ.; Goddes, β.] Certeynly ȝif I seie [syȝ, β.; y syȝ, γ.] eny [ony, Cx.] of ȝoure ordre synne [synwe, β.] wiþ a womman, I wolde helye [covere, Cx.] hym wiþ myn mantel, ffor [bycause that for, Cx.] noon evel men schulde have occasioun to speke evel of ȝoure religioun. Þerfore, breþeren, treteþ

more of þe fey of holy chirche, for þerfore ȝe beeþ i-come." [ben comen, Cx.] And whanne þis was i-seide, he þrew þe billes in [in] into, Cx.] þe fyre, [fuyre, β.] and brend hem. Þat ȝere Seint Martyn was i-bore, and þanne þe twelfþe [twellyfth, Cx.] ȝere he was i-made cathecuminus, þat is, he þat lerneþ [leorneþ, γ.] þe fey [fayth, Cx., ut semper.] of holy chirche. In þe sixteþe [ȝere] he was i-made knyȝt, and þe eyȝteþe [eyȝteteþe, γ.] ȝere he was [made, added in Cx.] i-cristned, [y-fulled, β.; y-folled, γ.] and was knyȝt two ȝere aftir þat under Iulianus. In þe Synodus [Synode of, Cx.] Nicena were þre hondred bisshoppes and eyȝtene. [eyȝtetene, γ.] Þat ·synodus was i-made sixtene dayes to fore þe monþe of Iuyl, [Iuill, Cx.] in þe citee Nicena in Bithinia, and it was i-made aȝenst þe Arianns, [Arrians, Cx.] Fo|tinos, [Arrians Fotmos, β.; Fotinos, om. γ.] and þe Sabellians. Seint Nicolas [Nycholas, Cx.] was at þat synod. Þo it was i-ordeyned þe Lente [Leynte, β. and γ.] fastynge of Crist, [ordeyned that the fastyng of the lente that tho for hond dured, Cx.] þat durede to forhonde from þe sixte day of Ianyver to þe fifteþe day of Feverer, schulde bygynne and dure as it is [is] om. α.] now i-used, and þat for þre causes: þe first cause for oure fastynge schulde be coupled to þe tyme of Cristes passioun; þe secounde, for we

schulde in þe ende of oure fastynge fonge [resseyve, Cx.] Cristes body in clene lif; þe þridde for oure Lord schulde fynde us fastynge. Hiderto Eusebius and Pamphilius writeþ [writeþ] om. γ.] þe storie ecclesiastica, þat is i-cleped "Historia tripartita;" þanne Ierom writeþ [wryten, Cx.] forþ þat storie anon [anong, γ.] to the ȝonger [yonge, Cx.] Theodocius his tyme; and þanne Theodorus þe bisshop writeþ þat storie al out. Arnobius þe [þe] om. Cx.] rethoricus was in his floures [was flouryng this tyme, Cx.] in Affrica; he was i-dreve [dryve, α.; dryven, Cx.] to the fey of holy cherche as it were by swevenes; and þe bisshop of þe place wolde nouȝt fonge [receyve, Cx.] hym or [ar, γ.] he hadde i-made cleer bookes of þe fey, and i-take [delyvere, Cx.] hem as it were in plegge [as for plegge, Cx.] for his trew [truwe, γ.] fey. Iuvencius [Juvencus, α., γ., and Cx.] þe preost wroot þe gospelles to þe chirche of Rome in vers [versus, β.] of sixe feet. After Silvester, Marchus was pope eyȝte monthes; he ordeyned [ordeynde, α.] þat þe bisshop Hostient schulde [ordeyned the bisshop Hostiensis shold, Cx.] use a pal, and also sacre þe pope. To þis Marchus, Athanasius bisshop of Alexandria, and oþer bisshoppes of Egipte, wrete [writen, β. and Cx.] for seventy chapitres, þat were i-publesched [puplisched, β.; publesed, γ.] in þe Synod Nicena. In þat epistel [epystola, γ.] Athanasius knowlecheþ þat his bookes schulde be i-brend of

þe heretikes Arrians. After Marcus, Iulius was pope sixtene ȝere; he was exciled [exiled, γ.; exyled, Cx.] in þe secounde Constantyn his tyme. Þe boones of Andrewe [Andreu, γ.; Seynt Andrew, Cx.] þe apostel and the boones of Luke þe evan gelist beeþ [buþ, γ.; were, Cx.] i-translated to Constantynnoble. Þe grete Constan|tyne deide at Nichomedia, and Ierom is i-bore. [borne, Cx.] Ierom, in historia tripartita, seiþ þat [þan, γ.] Constantyn in his laste dayes was i-cristned [yfolled, β. and γ.; crystned agayne, Cx.] eft [efte, β.] of oon Eusebius, bisshop of Nichomedya, þat was oon [oon] om. Cx.] of [the, added before Arrians, Cx.] Arrians, and so Constantyn fil to [into, β., Cx.; ful into, γ.] þe evel lore of þe Arrians, but þat is undirstonde [understonden, β.; understanden, Cx.] of þe secounde Constantyn, þis Constantyn his sone nameliche, for Seynt Gregorie in registro suo [his registre, β.; in his regyster, Cx.] writeþ to Maurus [Maurys, α. and β.; Maurice, Cx.] þe emperour, and clepeþ Constantyn þe emperour of good mynde; and in þe storie tripartita his ende is aprevede; [apreoved, γ.; approved, Cx.] and Ambros super psalmum quartum decimum [uppon þe xiiii. psalm, β.; upon the fourten salme, Cx.] seiþ þat he was a man of grete meryt and mede, and allowed to fore God; and Ysodre, [Isidre, γ.; Ysidre, Cx.] in his cronike, seiþ þat he made a

gracious ende; and also þe Grees [Grekes, Cx.] makeþ a feste [feest, β.] of hym þe enlevenþe day of May. [Maii, β. and γ.] Constancius.