The auncient ecclesiasticall histories of the first six hundred yeares after Christ, wrytten in the Greeke tongue by three learned historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina vvrote 10 bookes. Socrates Scholasticus of Constantinople vvrote 7 bookes. Euagrius Scholasticus of Antioch vvrote 6 bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues of the prophetes, apostles and 70 disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue by Meredith Hanmer, Maister of Arte and student in diuinitie. Last of all herein is contayned a profitable chronographie collected by the sayd translator, the title whereof is to be seene in the ende of this volume, with a copious index of the principall matters throughout all the histories

THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE EC∣CLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF EVSEBIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALAESTINA. (Book 4)

CAP. I.

VVhat byshops were of Rome, and Alexandria, in the time of Traian the Emperour.

ABout the twelfe yere of the Raygne of Traian after the death of the Byshop of A∣lexandria* 1.1 before mentioned: Primus was placed the fourth byshop, after the Apo∣stles. The same time Alexander (when Euarestus had gouerned full eight yeares) was the eight byshop of the Church of Rome, after Peter and Paul.

CAP. II.

VVhat calamities the Iewes suffred in the time of Traian.

THe doctrine of our Sauiour, & the Church of Christ, so florished, that dayly it encreased, and was more and more furthered. But the calamities of the Ievves, grewe so great that one mischief ensued vpon an other. When the Emperour was nowe come to the eigh∣tenth yere of his raygne, the rage of the Ievves was so stirred that a greate multitude of their na∣tion* 1.2 was destroyed. for at Alexandria, and throughout the rest of Aegypt, and Cyren, the Ievves (as if they were possessed of a raging, seditious, and fanaticall spirite) so bestirred them selues, that they made an vprore among the Gentiles where they abode, & kindled such a firye sedition, that the yere folowing, they waged no small battaile. Lupus then being president throughout Ae∣gypt, In the first battaile the Ievves had the victorie. Then the Gentiles fled to Alexandria, and as many Ievves, as they founde there they tooke & executed. The Ievves which wandred through∣out Cyren, a region of Aegypt being destitute of ayde, spoyled the countrey of corne and cattell, ha∣uing one Lucas to their captaine, against whome the Emperour sent Marcus Turbo, with a great power of footemen and horsemen by lande, and a nauye by sea, who nether in shorte space, nether without long & cruell warres slewe many millions of the Ievves, not onely of them of Cyrene, but also of the Aegyptians, which ayded their King, & captaine Lucas. The Emperour also suspecting the Ievves, which inhabited Mesopotamia lest that they traiterously shoulde ioyne with the o∣ther,* 1.3 commaunded Lucius Quintius, to banish them the prouince, who hauing gathered an hoaste, marched towardes them, and ioyning with them, slewe a greate multitude of the Ievves there a∣biding, for the which facte he was appointed by the Emperour, president of Iudaea These thinges haue the Heathen historiographers then liuing paynted for the knowledge of the posteritie fo∣lowinge.

CAP. III.

Of them which in the raigne of Adrian, published Apologies, in the defence of the fayth.

WHen Traian had raigned twentie yeares, six moneths excepted, Aelius Adrianus succe∣ded* 1.4 him in the Empire. Unto whome Quadratus dedicated a booke, intitled an Apo∣logie of the Christian fayth. for certain spitefull, and malicious mē, went about to mo∣lest the Christians. This booke is as yet extant among diuerse of the brethren, & a coppye there∣of remayneth with vs. By the which we may perceaue, & vnderstande, the markes of this man, to be according vnto the true vnderstanding, and the right rule of the Apostolicke doctrine. That he was of the auncient elders it may be gathered by his owne testimony, where he writeth thus: The vvorkes of our Sauiour vvere manifest, and open, for they vvere true. such as vvere healed, &

raysed from the dead, vvere not onely healed, and raysed in sight, and outvvarde shevve, but they continually, & constantly remayned such in deede. Nether liued they onely the tyme our Sauiour had his abode here on earth, but a longe time after his ascention, yea and a numbre* 1.5 of them, vnto our time. Suche a man was Quadratus. Aristides likewise, a faythfull man, one that laboured for the furtherance of godlines, published an Apologie (as Quadratus did be∣fore) of the Christian fayth, with a dedicatorie epistle vnto Adrian the Emperour, which booke of his, is read in many handes at this daye.

CAP. IIII.

Of the Bishoppes of Rome, and Alexandria, vnder Adrian.

THe third yere of this Emperours raygne, Alexander bishop of Rome, after that he had go¦uerned* 1.6 tenne yeres, departed this life, whome Xystus succeded. And about that time Primus byshop of Alexandria, when he had preached there, twelue yeres, dyed: after whome Iustus succeeded.

CAP. V.

The number, and the names of the Bishops of Ierusalem, from our Sauiour vnto the 18. yere of Adrian.

THe yeares of the bishopes of Ierusalem, I find wrytten no where. It is sayd they liued a shorte time. Onely out of certaine bookes, I haue learned that vntill the destruction of the Ievves vnder Adrian, there were fifteene byshops of Ierusalem, successiuely, all which they say by auncient lyne, to haue bene Hebrevves, and sincerely to haue embraced the word of God and there to haue bene thought worthy to rule, by such as then could well discerne such thinges. The church then stoode, & flourished through the faithfull Hebrevves, which continued from the Apostles vnto y^• Calamity, in the which the Ievves rebelling againe vnder the Romaines with no small warres were ouerthrowne. because that then the byshops of y^• circumcision fayled: I thinke it necessary to name them from the originall. The first was Iames, called the brother of the Lord:* 1.7 the second, Sym••on. the third, Iustus: the fourth, Zach••us: the fift, Tobias: y^• sixt, Beniamin: the seuenth Iohn: the eight, Matthias: y^• ninth, Philip: the tēth, S••nnecas: the eleuenth, Iustus: the twelfe, Leui: the thirteneth, Ephrem: the fourteneth, Ioseph: the fifteneth, & last of all, Iudas. So many bishops were there of Ierusalem, from the Apostles tymes, vnto the sayd Iudas, & all of the circumcision. In the twelf yeare of the raigne of Adrian, after that Xystus had ben bishop of Rome tenne yeares Teles∣phorus succeded him, being the seuenth from the Apostles. After a yeare, & fewe moneths Eume∣nes was chosen byshop of Alexandria, the sixt by succession, when as his predecessour had gouer∣ned that church, eleuen yeares.

CAP. VI.

The last besieging of the Iewes in the time of Adrian.

WHen as the Jewish rebellion waxed vehement, and greuous, Ruffus Liuetenant of Iu∣daea,* 1.8 being sente with a great power from the Emperour, fiercely withstood their fu∣rie. And forthwith, slewe an innumerable multitude, of men, women, & children, de∣stroying (as by law of armes it was lawfull) their regi••s, & contries. The Ievves thē had to their capitain one called Barchochebas which be interpretation is a starre, a man otherwise giuē to mur¦ther & theft. Which alluding to his name, lyed shamefully saying y^• he was come frō heauen, as a light, to shine comfortably, in the face of the Ievves, now oppressed with slauery, and bondage, & afflicted to death. When the warres, in the eighteneth yeare of the emperour Adrian, waxed hott about the towne Beththera (well fortifyed, neither farre distant, & belonging to Ierusalem) & the slege lasting longer then was looked for, and the rash raysers of sedition, by reason of famine, were redy to yelde vp the last gaspe, and the guide of this vngodly dealing had receaued due vn∣to his desert (as Aristion P••ll••us writteth) this whole nation was vanished that towne, and gene∣rally, the whole contrey of Ierusalem, by the lawes, decrees, and specially, the constitutions of* 1.9 Adrian, so that by his commaundement it was not lawfull for these seely soules, to behould their natiue soyle, no not through the least chinke of the dore. This citie then at the vtter ruyne of the Jewish nation, and the manifold ouerthrowe of auncient inhabitours, being brought to confusion

began to be inhabited of straunge nations, and after that it was subdued to the Romaine empire, the name was quite changed, for vnto y^• honour of the conquerour Aelius Adrianus, it was called Aelia. And the church being gathered there of the Gentiles, Marke was first byshop there, after them, of the circumcision. When as the churches of God now shined as starres throughout the world, and the faith of our Lord, and Sauiour Christ Iesu, flourished: Sathan enimie to all ho∣nesty as a sworne aduersary to the trueth, and mans health and saluation, impugneth the churche with all meanes possible, arming himself against hir with outward persecution, then depriued of that vsed the ayde of subtle sorcerers, and sleyghty inglers, as fitt instrumēts, and authors of per∣ditiō, to the destruction of seely soules. Which sorcerers, & iuglers bearing the same name, & ti∣tle, and in shewe professinge the same doctrine with vs (by his subtle inuention) might the sooner snare the faythfull, in the slipery way of perdition, & vnder pretence of reducing them to the fayth, to ouerwhelme them, in the whirpoole, & deepe dungeon of damnation. Out of Menander there∣fore* 1.10 (whome before we termed the successor of Simon) there budded out, a doubtfull, a viperous, & a twofolde heresie, by the meanes of Sathan, hauing two heades or captaynes, varying among themselues: Saturninus of Antioch, and Basilides of Alexādria, whereof the one throughout Syria,* 1.11 the other throughout Aegypt, published hereticall, and detestable doctrine. Irenaeus sayth that Sa∣turninus for the moste parte, dreamed the same with Menander: and that Basilides vnder pretence of more mysticall matters, enlarged his deuise into infinitie, inuenting monstrous fables to the furtherance of his Heresie.

CAP VII.

VVhat heretickes, and ecclesiasticall wryters lyued then.

WHen as many ecclesiasticall persons in those dayes, striued in the behalf of the trueth, and contended with sure, and certaine reasons, for the Apostolicke, and Ecclesiasticall doctrine: some also as forefencers, haue exhibited instruction to the posterity, by their commentaries, leuealing at the aforesayd heresies, of which number one Agrippa Castor, a stout champion, and a famous wryter of those times, published a confutation of Basilides, disclosing all* 1.12 his Satanicall iugling. hauing displaied his secrety, he reporteth that Basilides wrote foure and twenty bookes vpon the gospell, fayning vnto him self prophets, whome he calleth Barcabus, and Barcoph, and certaine others neuer heard of before: Inuenting those barbarous names, to amaze the hearers withall: teaching that indifferently thinges offred to Idols may be eaten: that in time of persecution, the fayth with periury may be renounced: cōmaunding silence after the manner of Pythagoras, for the space of fiue yeares. And such like heresies of Basilides, the sayd writer hathe plainely confuted. Irenaeus wryteth, that in the time of these two: Carpocrates liued, y^e father of that* 1.13 heresie, which the Gnostici hould, who thought good, not to publish the sorcery of Simon priuely, after his manner, but openly. Glorying of charmed loue drinkes: of diuelish, & dronken dreames: of assistent, and associate spirites: with other like illusions. They teach farther, that who so will attaine vnto the perfection of their mysteries, or rather abhominable deuises, must worke such fa∣ctes, by they neuer so filthy, otherwise can they not ouercome (as they terme them, the secular po∣tentates, vnlesse euery one play his parte, after the same secret operation. So it came to passe that Sathan reioycing in his deuelish subtlety, seduced many of thē thus already snared, whome he led to perdition, by the meanes of such wicked ministers, & gaue hereby great occasion to y^e in∣fidels, of blasphemy agaynst the diuine doctrine, and spred a great slaunder in that the fame of* 1.14 them was bruted abrode throughout christendome. By this meanes it fell out often that the infi∣dels of those times conceaued a wicked, absurde, and shamefull opinion of vs, that that we vsed the vnlawfull company, of Mothers, & sisters: that we fed vpon the tender infantes & sucklinges. But these reports preuailed not long for the trueth tride it self, & in tyme folowing shined as the sonne beames. for the sleyghts, and subtleties of the aduersaries turned to their owne confusion, whilest that new heresies dayly sprong, creeping one vpon an other, the latter taking place, the former vanished away, & encreasing into diuerouse, & manifold sectes chaunging now this way,* 1.15 anone that waye, they were destroyed. The brightnes of the catholicke, and onely true churche, continuing alwayes the same, encreased, & enlarged dayly the boundes thereof, that the grauitie sinceritie, liberty, and temperancy of Godly conuersation, and christian philosophie, shined and florished among all the nations, both of the Grecians, and Barbarians. Thus the slaunder slyded

away with the time, and the doctrine famous among as, and forthered of all men, specially for the pietie, and modestie, for the diuine, and mysticall doctrine thereof, tooke place: so that from that time vnto this day, none durst note y^• same of any haynous crime, or ••••famy, as they durst before, which conspired agaynst vs, and the Christian fayth. But the trueth brought forth, many in those dayes which contended and dealt with these Heretickes, some with inuincible arguments, with∣out the Scriptures: some with manifest proofes, and authorities of Scripture, confuting their hereticall opinions.

CAP. VIII.

VVhat notable writers liued the••.

OF the number was Aegesippus, whome we haue before ofte••••ymes 〈◊〉〈◊〉, one ofth•• Apostles tyme, who in fiue bookes wrote the syncere tradition of the Apostles preaching▪ signifying his owne time, and making mention of such as in former times, erected Idols, where he writeth thus: To vvhome they erected Idols, and monuments, and ••alo••••••d temples,* 1.16 it is vvell knovvne. Antinous the seruant of Adrianus Caesar, had a festiual triumphe decreed vnto him, called after his name Antinous vvrastling, celebrated in our daies. They buylded him a city after his name Antinoia; they consecrated Priestes, they appoynted Prophets. At the same tyme Iustinus Martyr, an embracer of the true philosophy, well studied, and exercised in the doctrine of the Gentiles, maketh mention of the same man, in his Apologie vnto Antoninus, writing thus: It* 1.17 shall not seeme impertinent; if that vve propose vnto you, the remembrance of Antinous, and of that vvhich they celebrate in his name. VVhome all doe vvorship as it vvote for feare, vvhen as they knovv vvell inough vvho, and vvhence he vvas. The same Iustinus maketh mention of the warres, helde against the Ievves, saying thus: In the Iudaical vvarres fresh before your eyes, Bar∣chochebas a captayne of the Ievvish rebellion, commaunded the Christians only to be greuou∣sly punished, vnlesse they renoūced Christ, & blasphemed God In the same place he declareth, how that not rashly, but after good aduisement taken, he left p••gauisme, and embraced the true, and onely piety. For I my self (sayth he) delighted vvith the doctrine of Plato, hearing the Chri∣stians led captiues, nether fearing death, nether all the torments most terrible▪ thought it could not be, that this kinde of men, vvas subiect vnto malice, & set on pleasure. For vvhat voluptuous person, or intemperate, or delighted vvith deuo••••ing of mans 〈◊〉〈◊〉: can so embrace death, that he be depriued of his desire, & not rather endeuour▪ that this life may alvvayes ••••ste, that he be able to deceaue Princes, & not betray him self to the death▪ Moreouer this Iustinus writeth, how that Adrianus, receauing letters of Serenius Granianus, a noble President, signifying in the behalf of the Christians, that it was very iniurious for no •…•…e, but onely at the out••ry of the people, they should be brought forth, and executed: wrote agayne vnto M•…•…ius Fundanus, Proconsul of Asia, and commaunded that none, without greeuous crime, and iust accusation, shoulde dye the death. The coppy whereof, obseruing the Latins phrase, as much as in him lay, he added, prefi∣ring these fewe wordes: And vvhen as vve might iustly require, by vertue of the epistle, of the most victorious, & noble Caesar Adrian, your father, that as he graciously commaunded, so sen∣tence should be giuen: yet vve require not this as commaunded by Adrian, but in as much as you knovve, that at the request of the people, iustice is to be craued. vve haue annexed the cop∣py of Adrianus his epistle, to the ende you may vnderstand, vve tell nothinge but that vvhich is true. for thus he vvrote.

CAP. IX.

The epistle of Adrian the Emperour, that no Christian be accused, neither suffer, without iust cause.

VNto Minutius Fundanus, Proconsul of Asia, Adrian fendeth greeting: I receaued an E∣pistle* 1.18 from Serenius Granianus that right vvorthy man, and ••hy predecessor, the occasion vvherof I can not vvith silence leaue vntoutched, lest that thereby, men be troubled, & a gappe left open, to the malice of Sycophants. VVherfore if your prouincialls can proue ought against the Christians, vvhereof they charge them, and iustifie it before the barre, let them pro∣ceede on, & not appeach them only for the name, nether crau•• vvith outcries against thē▪ for it is very expedient, that if any be disposed to accuse, the accusation be throughly knovvne of you, and sifted. Therefore if any accuse the Christians, that they transgressed the ••••vves, see that you

iudge and punish according to the qualitie of the offence, but in playne vvordes, if any vpon spyte, or malice, comense or cauill against them, see you chastice him for his malice, and punish him vvith reuengement. This was the epistle of Adrian.

CAP. X.

VVhat Bishops there were of Rome, and Alexandria, in the tyme of Autoninus.

AFter that Adrian, ruling in the regall scepter, the space of one and twenty yeares, had* 1.19 runne the race of his naturall life: Antoninus called Pius, succeeded him in the empyre. In the first yeare of whose raygne, Telesphorus hauing gouerned the Ecclesiasticall seae, ele∣uen yeares, depar••ed this life, whome▪ Hyginus succeeded. Irenaeus writeth that this Telesphorus was crowned at his death, with martyrdome, and signifieth withall, that in the tyme of the sayde Hyginus▪ Valentinus; the inuentor of his owne heresy, and Cerdon, author of that error which Mar∣cion afterwardes sucked, were manifestly knowne at Rome. For thus he writeth.

CAP. XI.

The report of Irenaeus, toutching the graund heretickes of that tyme, with the succession of the Bishops of Rome, and Alexandria.

VAlentinus came to Rome, in the tyme of Hyginus, ••e flourished vnder Pius, and continu∣ed* 1.20 vnto Anicetus. Cerdon likevvise (vvhome Marcion succeeded) came vnder Hyginus the nynth Bishop from the Apostles. vvho hauing protested his fayth, one vvhile perseuered: an other vvhile taught priuely: aftervvardes confessed his error: Agayne being reprehended for the doctrine, vvhich he had corruptly taught, refrayned the company of the brethren. This he wrote in his third booke, against the heresies▪ Cerdon also sucking error of such as vvere Simons* 1.21 adhaerents, abiding at Rome vnder Hyginus, (the nynth by succession from the Apostles) taught* 1.22 that God, preached of the lavv, and Prophets, vvas not the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ. He said moreouer that Christ vvas knovvne, the father of Christ, vnknovven: Christ vvas iust, the fa∣ther good. After him succeeded one Marcion of Pontus, a shamles blasphemer, vvhich encrea∣sed this doctrine. Irenaeus dilating that infinite profundity of matter, inuented by Valentinus, sub∣iect to many errors, discloseth openly the malice of the Hereticke, being cloked and concealed, as it were a serpent, hid in his denne. After this he remembreth one Marke by name, most expert in inagical artes, to haue bene in that time. for he reuealing their prophane ceremonies, and detesta∣ble mysteries, writeth thus: Some prepare their vvedding chamber, and accomplish the seruice* 1.23 to be sayd ouer them that are to be consecrated, vvith charmed vvordes, and hauing thus done, they call it a spiritual mariage▪ conformable to the celestial copulation. Some bring them to the vvater, & in baptizing say thus: In the name of the vnknovven father of all thinges, in the truth mother of all thinges, and in him vvhich descended vpon Iesus. Some other pronounce hebrevv vvords, to the end the yong conuerts, might thervvith be the more amazed. But omitting these things, after that the fourth yeare of Hyginus was expired: Pius tooke the publicke ministery of y^•* 1.24 church of Rome. At Alexandria Marke is chosen their shepherde, when Eumenes had continued there Bishop, thirteene yeares. After Marke had bene Bishop ten yeares: Celadion succeeded him in y^e church of Alexandria. And at Rome, after y^e death of Pius, which departed the fiftenth yeare: Anicetus was placed minister, vnder whom Egesippus sayth of him self y^• he came to Rome, where he remained vnto the time of Eleutherius. But specially Iustinus at that time, disposing the heauē∣ly doctrine, in a Philosophers atyre, contending by his commentaryes for the faith which he em∣braced: Wrote a booke against Marcion, who at y^• present time liued, & was wel knowne, for these are his words. Marcion of Pontus at this present, teacheth such as harken vnto him, to beleue in a* 1.25 certaine God, greater then the maker of all things, vvho among all sortes of men, (ayded by the subtiltie of Satan) hath seduced many, to blaspheme, and to deny the maker of all thinges to be the father of Christ, and to confesse some other that should be greater then he▪ as many as come of him are called Christians, euen as it fareth vvith Philosophers, though they be not addicted to the same precepts in philosophie: yet the name of a Philosopher is common to all. To these he addeth: VVe haue vvritten a booke against the heresies novv raigning if you please you may reade it. The same Iustinus hath valiantly encountred with the Gentiles, & dedicated Apologies

in the defence of our fayth vnto Antoninus, by syrname Pius, and to the Senate of Rome, for he dwelled at Rome, and declareth who, and whence he was, in his Apologie writing thus.

CAP XII.

The beginning of Iustinus Martyrs Apologie, for the Christian faith.

VNto the Emperour Titus Aelius. Adrianus vnto Antoninus Pius, most noble Caesar,* 1.26 and vnto Verissimus his adopted sonne and true Philosopher, vnto Lucius sonne of the Philosopher Caesar, and adopted of Pius, fauourer of learninge, and vnto the sa∣cred Senate, vvith all the people of Rome, in their behalfe, vvhich among all sortes of men, are vniustly hated, and reprochfully dealt vvithall: Iustinus the sonne of Priscus Bacchius, borne in Flauia, a nevve city of Syria in Palaestina, one of them, and one for them all, doe make this request, &c. The same Emperour receauing a supplication of others, in the behalfe of the bre∣thren in Asia, which were greeued with all kinde of contumelyes practised vppon them by their prouincialls: graciously sent vnto the commonaltye of Asia, this constitution.

CAP. XIII.

The epistle of Antoninus Pius, vnto the commons of Asia, in the behalfe of the Chri∣stians, not to be persecuted.

THe Emperour Caesar, Marcus, Aurelius, Antoninus, Augustus, Armenicus, Pontifex maximus* 1.27 fiftene times tribune, thryse Consul, vnto the communalty of Asia, sendeth greeting. I am sure the Gods are not so secure, but that they disclose hurtfull persons. For these men pu∣nishe such as vvil not vvorship the Gods, more greuously then you doe, vvhich thus vexe them, and confirme the opinion vvhich they conceaue of you, to be Atheists, or godlesse men. It is their desire in Gods quarell, rather to dye, then to lyue. so that they become conquerers, yel∣dinge their liues vnto the deathe, rather then they obey your edictes. It shall seeme very ne∣cessarye to admonishe you of the earthquakes, vvhich haue and doe happen among vs, that be∣ing thervvith moued, ye may compare our estate, vvith theirs. They haue more confidence god∣vvardes, then you haue. you during the tyme of your ignorance, despise other Gods: contemne the religion of the immortal God: banish the Christians vvhich vvorship him, & persecute them vnto the death. In the behalfe of these men, many of the prouinciall Presidentes haue vvritten heretofore vnto our father, of famous memory, vvhome he aunsvvered in vvriting againe, that they vvere not to be longer molested, vnlesse they had practised treason, agaynst the Romayne empire. & many haue giuen notice vnto vs of the same matter, vvhom vve aunsvvered as our fa∣ther did before vs. If any therefore hereafter be founde thus busied in other mens affayres: vve commaund that the accused be absolute, & free, though he be founde such a one, I meane faul∣ty, and that the accuser be greeuously punished. This edict was proclaymed at Ephesus, in the hearing of the greate assembly of Asia, witnesse hereof is Meliton, Bishop of Sardis, (which flo∣rished* 1.28 at y^e time) in his profitable Apologie for our doctrine, deliuered vnto the Emperour Verus.

CAP. XIIII.

Of Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna.

IRenaeus reporteth that while Anicetus was Bishop of Rome, Polycarpus as yet liued, and came to Rome, and questioned with Anicetus▪ concerning the day of Easter. An other thinge yet, he reporteth of Polycarpus, in his thirde booke against heresies, which needefully must here be an∣nexed, Polycarpus (sayth he) vvas not only instructed by the Apostles, and conuersant vvith ma∣ny* 1.29 vvhich savve Christe but also of the Apostles ordayned Bishop of Smy••na in Asia▪ vvhome vve in our youthe haue also seene, for he lyued long, and vvas very olde, and at lengthe fini∣shed this lyfe vvith moste glorious▪ and renovvned Martyrdome▪ vvhen he had continually taught that he learned of the Apostles vvhich the Churche at this daye deliuereth for vndoub∣ted trueth. All the Churches of Asia, and as many vnto this daye as succeeded him in that seae beare vvitnesse that Polycarpus vvas vvorthier of credit, th••n Valentinus, & Marcion, & then the vvhole rabble of peruerse people. For he being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rome, in conference vvith Anicetus, con∣uerted

many of the foresayd Heretickes, vnto the Church of God, preaching the one, and one∣ly trueth, receaued of the Apostles, and deliuered by the Churche. There be yet aliue vvhich hearde him reporting, hovve that Iohn the Disciple of Christ, entring into a bath at Ephesus, to bayne him selfe, and spying vvithin the Hereticke Cerinthus, departed the bath vnbayned, and sayd: Let vs departe hence, lest the bath fall, vvherein Cerinthus, the svvorne enemy of the trueth bayneth him selfe. And Polycarpus on a tyme meeting Marcion face to face, vvhich sayd vnto him, knovve vs, aunsvvered: I knovve thee for the firste begotten sonne of Satan. So zelous vvere the Apostles, and their Disciples, that they communicated not in vvorde, vvith the corrupters of the trueth, according vnto that of Paul: eschevv him that is an Hereticke, after the* 1.30 first and seconde admonition, knovving that such a one is peruerse, and condemned a sinner by the testimony of his ovvne conscience. There is extant an epistle of Polycarpus vnto the Philip∣pians, very profitable for such as are carefull of their saluation, vvhere they may knovve the true character of fayth, and the right rule of doctrine. So farre Irenaeus. Polycarpus in the fore∣sayde Epistle vnto the Philippians (at this daye extant) alleadgeth testimonyes out of the for∣mer Epistle of Peter. When that Antoninus syrnamed Pius, had ended twenty and two yeares, in the Romayne Empire: Marcus Aurelius Ʋerus, and Antoninus his sonne, togither with Lu∣cius his brother, succeeded him.

CAP. XV.

The martyrdome of Polycarpus, and diuers other Sainctes in Smyrna, vnder Verus the Emperour.

WHen Asia was visited with greate persecution, Polycarpus was crowned with martyr∣dome. I suppose it necessary, to penne in this our historye, his ende, which at this daye is published in writing. The Epistle is in the person of the Churche where he was President, vnto the Parishes throughout Pontus, signifying the circumstance about Po∣lycarpus, in this sorte:

The Church of God which is at Smyrna, vnto the Church at Philomilium, and vnto* 2.1 all the congregations of the holy Catholicke Church throughout Pon∣tus, mercy to you, peace, and the loue of God the Father, & of our Lorde Iesus Christ be multiplyed.

VVe haue vvritten vnto you brethren, of such as suffred martyrdome, and of blessed Polycar∣pus, vvho signed, and sealed this persecution vvith his ovvne bloud. And before they make relati∣on of Polycarpus, they rehearse the constancy, and pacience of other Martyrs, saying: The behoul∣ders vvere amazed, seeing the flesh of the Martyrs rent vvith scurges, euen into the inner vaynes and sinovves, so that the most secret entrayles of their bodies, their bovvels, & invvard priuityes vvere piteously to be seene. Behoulding againe the sharpe shells of sea fishe, & pimple stones stravved vnder the Martyrs backes, and brused bodies, vvith euery kinde of torment, that could be deuised. Last of all throvvn to be torne in peeces, and deuoured of vvilde beastes.

Specially they wrote of Germanicus, that he valiantly endured and ouercame through the grace of God* 2.2 that corporall feare of death, graffed in the frayle nature of man. For when as the Proconsull exhorted him to relent, admonished him of his tender yeares, prayed him to pitye his owne case, being nowe in the flowre of his youth▪ He without intermission, enty••ed the beaste to deuoure him, yea constrayned, and compelled, that with speede, he might be dispatches of this wrongfull, and wicked life. Which patience and constancye of the blessed Mar••••••▪ and of the whole Christian nation, the multitude of In••••dels behoulding, sodainly began to sho••••••: ••••••oue the vvicked, seeke out Polycarpus. And when there was a great tumu••••e raysed, by reason of this clamor, a certaine Phrygian, by name Quintus, lately come out of Phrygia, trembled at the fler••e* 2.3 rage of the terrible beasts, and shrinked at the sight of their grimme visage, and betrayd his owne safety, with his slacknes of courage. For the same epistle testifieth of him, that he personally ap∣peared together with the rest before the barre, more of rashues, then of any religion, and being taken, be publickly protested: that none ought to intru••e him selfe, amonge such men, without good deuotion, neither intermedle in m••••••••••s wherewith he hath not to doe. But of these men

thus much. Toutching the renowned Polycarpus, they write, that he hearing the report of this cruell persecution, was nothing therewith moued, but retayned the immoueable tranquilitye of his minde, continued still in the city, vntill at length he was perswaded through the petitions of such a••: prayed him, to goe aside for a season, and to get him to a certayne farme place, not farre from the city, where he abode with a fewe, occupied day and night onely in prayer, making hum∣ble supplications after his vsuall manner: for the tranquillitye, and peace of all congregations throughout the world. Being in prayer, three dayes before he was taken, and now fallen a sleepe,* 2.4 he sa••e in a vision by night, the pillowe vnder his heade set a fire, and sodainly consumed to ashes, when he waked, forthwith he enterpreted this vision vnto them that were then present, playnly progn osticating, that it shoulde come to passe, that his life shoulde be ended, that his bodye shoulde be burned for the testimonye of Christ. They write further, that when the searchers were nowe at hande, at the instant, and earnest entreaty of his friendes, be fleeted thence vnto an other village, where incontinently the pursuers came, which tooke two boyes of that place, and scourged them vntill that one of them confessed the circumstance, and ledde them vnto the lodginge of Polycarpus. When they had entred in, they founde him lying in an vpper cham∣ber, where he might haue escaped, if that it had pleased him. But he sayde▪ The vvill of the Lorde be fulfilled. for he vnderstandinge of their pretence, as the reporte goeth, came downe, commoned with them pleasantly, and chearefully, so that they which knewe him not before, stedfastly eyed his comely age, his graue, and constant countenance, marueyling that such a doe was made, so much labour spent, and that a man of such yeares shoulde be taken. He com∣maunded the table forthwith to be couered, meate to be layde on, requested them to make mea∣ry, craued of them the space of one houre for prayer, that being graunted, he rose vp, went to prayer, so replenished with the grace of God, that such as were present, and prayed, hearing his deuotion, were rauished, and many sorowed, that so honest, and godly a father, shoulde dye. After these thinges the Epistle contayneth in manner these wordes following:

VVhen that he* 3.1 had novv ended his prayer, vvith the remembrance of all such thinges, as euer befell him, vvhe∣ther they vvere small, or great, famous, or infamous, and also of the vniuersall, and Catholike Churche, and the houre novve fully ended: they sett him vppon an asse, and brought him to the citye, being on the greate Sabbaoth daye. There mett him Herode the iustice of peace, and his father Nicetes, vvho receauing him into their chariott, persvvaded him, saying: VVhat harme is it to saye: Lorde Caesar, to sacrifice and so be saued? at the firste he aunsvvered nothinge, but vvhen they vrged him, he sayde: I vvill not condescende vnto your counsayle, they perceauing he vvoulde not be persvvaded, gaue him very roughe language, and tumbled him dovvne out of the vvaggon, to the brusing of his shinnes. But he as thoughe he had bene nothinge hurte, neyther iniuried at all, vvent bolte vprighte, chearefull, and apace to∣vvardes the Theatre. VVhen he vvas come vppon the Theatre or stage, a voyce came dovvne from heauen (vvhiche by reason of the greate tumulte vvas hearde of fevve) Be of good cheare ô Polycarpus, and play the man. The speaker no man savve, but the voyce vvas hearde of many of vs. In the meane tyme the multitude vvas in a rage, seeing Polycarpus brought forthe. The Proconsul demaundeth of him, vvhether he vvere that Polycarpus, beckning that he shoulde denye it, and saying: tender thine yeares, vvith such like persvvasions, svveare by the fortune of Caesar, repent thee of that is past, say, remoue the vvicked. But Polycarpus behoul∣ding vvith vnmoueable countenance, the multitude rounde about the stage, poynting vvith the hande, and sighing, and looking vp vnto heauen, sayde: remoue ô Lorde the vvicked. VVhen the Proconsul vrged, and sayd: svveare, and I vvill let thee goe: Blaspheme, and defie Christ, Polycarpus aunsvvered: foure score, and sixe yeares, haue I serued him, neyther hath he euer offended me in any thinge, and hovv can I reuile my Kinge, vvhich hath thus kept mee? The Proconsul still vrged, and sayde: svveare by the fortune of Caesar. To vvhome Polycarpus: If thou requirest this vayne glorye, that I protest the fortune of Caesar, as thou sayest, fay∣ning thou knovvest me not, Here freely I am a Christian. If thou desyre to knovve the do∣ctrine of Christianitie, apoynte the daye, and thou shalt heare. VVhen the Proconsul sayd, per∣svvade this people, Polycarpus aunsvvered: I haue voutchsafed to conferre vvith thee. For vve are commaunded to giue to Princes, and Potentates their due honour, ordained of God, nether preiudiciall to our religion, but as for this furious multitude, I vvill not deale vvith them. I iudge them vnvvorthy hearers of my purgation. To this the Proconsul sayde: I haue vvilde beastes to deuoure thee, vnlesse thou take a better vvaye. Polycarpus aunsvvered: bring them forthe, for it is determined amongest vs, not to passe from the better vnto the vvorse by repen∣tance: But vve recount it a thinge commendable, to turne from the thinge that is euill, to that vvhich is good and iuste. Agayne the Proconsul sayd: I vvill styll thee vvith fire, if thou vvaye not the beastes, neyther repent. VVhome Polycarpus aunsvvered: Thou threatnest fyre for an houre, vvhich lasteth a vvhyle, and quickly is quenched, but thou art ignorant of the euerlasting fyre, at the day of iudgement, and endlesse torments reserued for the vvicked. But vvhat linge∣rest thou, dispatche as it pleaseth thee. Vttering these, and the like vvordes, he vvas constant, and chearful, his countenance so gracious, that he notvvithstanding vvas nothing moued thervvith, but of the contrary the Proconsul being amazed, commaunded the bedle, in the middest of the theatre, thryse to cry: Polycarpus confesseth him self a Christian. At vvhich saying, the multitude both of Ievves, and Gentiles, inhabiting Smyrna, shouted vvith a great rage: this is that Doctor of Asia, the father of the Christians, the ouerthrovver of our Gods, vvho instructed many, that our Gods are not to be adored. To this they added an other clamor, crauing of Philip President of Asia, that he vvoulde lett loose a lyon to deuoure him, vvho aunsvvered: That this vvas not lavvefull, in so much that the game or stage stryuing of beastes vvas then finished. Then they cryed vvith one voyce that Polycarpus shoulde be burned quicke. It behoued that the vision shoulde be fulfilled vvhiche he savve on his pillovve, and prophecyed of, to such as prayed vvith him at that present, sayinge: I must be burned quicke, vvhiche vvas as soone done as spoken. For the multitude forthvvith caryed logges of vvoode, and stickes out of their shop∣pes, and bathes. but specially the Ievves, serued promptly (after their vvonted manner) for that purpose. The fyery pyle being prepared, he vnapparelled him selfe, loosed his girdle, en∣deuored to pull of his shoes, vvhich before he did not, for that the faythfull contended among them selues vvho coulde soonest touch his bodye, at their farevvell. for his good, and godly conuersation, yea, before his graye heare grevve, he vvas honoured of all men. In a shorte vvhyle all thinges necessarily required for the execution, vvere applyed. And vvhen as they vvoulde haue nayled him to the stake, he sayde: naye suffer me euen as I am. For he that gaue me pacience to abyde this fyre, vvill geue me also an immoueable mynde, to per∣seuer vvithin this fyery pyle, vvithout your prouision, in pryntinge my bodye vvith nayles. VVhen they had hearde that, they cease from naylinge, and fall a byndinge of him. His handes then being bounde to his backe, he like a notable ramme, picked out of a greate flocke, fitte for an acceptable burnte sacrifice vnto Almightye God, is offered, saying: O Father of thy vvelbeloued, and blessed sonne Iesus Christ, through vvhome vve haue knovvne

* 3.2 thee: O God of the Angels, and povvers, and of euery liuing creature, and of all sortes of iust men, vvhiche liue in thy presence: I thanke thee that thou hast graciouslye voutch∣safed this daye, and this houre, to allotte me a porcion, amonge the numbre of Mar∣tyres, amonge the people of Christe, vnto the resurrection of the euerlastinge lyfe, both of body, and soule, in the incorruption of the holy Ghost, amonge vvhom I shall be receaued in thy sight this daye, as a frutefull, and acceptable sacrifice, as thou hast heretofore pre∣pared, often reuealed, and novv fulfilled, most faithfull God vvhich canst not lye. VVherefore for all thinges I prayse thee, I blesse thee, I glorifye thee, throughe the euerlastinge highe Prieste Iesus Christ, thy vvelbeloued sonne, to vvhome vvith thee, and the holy Ghost, be all glory vvorld vvithout ende, Amen. VVhen that he had pronounced this Amen, and finished* 3.3 his prayer, the executioners sette the pyle a fyre. The flame vehemently flashed about, ter∣rible to the sight, shevved no doubt of purpose to suche as vvere preserued to publishe the same to the posteritie. For the flamye fire, framing it selfe after the forme of a vault, or the sayle of a shippe, vvith the blustring blastes of vvinde, compassed the filling bodye of the Martyr vvithin placed, as vvith a vval, and that vvhich vvas in the middes of the same, vvas not as firye, skorched, or burned fleshe, but as golde or siluer tryed in the fornace. For it seemed to our sen∣ses, a fragrant, & svveete smell, as of frankensense, or some such like precious perfume. At length vvhen the cruel persecutors perceaued the fire not to consume his body, they called for a tormē∣tor, and gaue him charge, to launce him in the side vvith a speare, vvhich vvhen he had done, such a streame of bloude issued out of his body, that the fire vvas therevvith quenched, so that the vvhole multitude maruailed, such a preheminence to be graunted (in respect of the Infidels) among the faythfull and elect people of God, of vvhich number this Polycarpus vvas one, a right

Apostolicke, and propheticall doctor of our tyme byshop, of the Catholicke church of Smyrna, for all that he spake, either is alreadye, or shalbe hereafter fullfilled. But the enuiouse, subtle and maliciouse aduersarye of iust men, seeinge the glorye of this Martyr so greate, and his vnblamable conuersation from the beginninge to be crovvned vvith incorruption, and to re∣ceaue an incomparable revvarde: procured that his bodye should perishe from amonge vs, for there vvere manye that endeuored and fullye purposed to haue bene partakers of his blessed bodye by buriall, many pricked forvvardes Nicetes, the father of Herode, and his brother Dalces, to moue the proconsull, not to deliuer vnto the Christians his body least that (sayth he) they leauinge Christ, fall a vvorshippinge of him. This they sayd, vvhen the Ievves egged, and vrged them forevvardes, vvhich continually vvatched vs least that vvee snatched him out of the fyre, beinge ignorant of this, that vve can neuer forsake Christ, vvhich dyed for the sal∣uation of the vvhole vvorlde: that vve can vvorshippe none other. for vve vvorshippe Christ * 3.4 as the sonne of God, the Martyrs vve loue, as disciples, and follovvers of the Lorde, and that vvorthely for the inuincible good loue they beare, to their Kinge, and maister, vvhose compa∣nions and disciples vve desire to be. vvhen the Centurion perceaued the sedition of the levves he caused the body to be layd in the middes after theyr accustomed manner, to be burned. So vve gathered his bones, more precious then pearles, and better tryde then golde, and buryed them in the place that vvas fitte for the purpose, vvhere god vvilling, vve beinge gathered to∣gether, the Lorde vvill graunte that vvith ioye and gladnesse, vve may celebrate the byrth day* 3.5 of his martyr, both for the remembrance of suche as haue bene crovvned before, and also to the preparation, and stirringe vp of suche as hereafter shall striue. Thus it happened vnto Po∣lycarpus that vvas martyred at Smyrna, together vvith tvvelue others out of Philadelphia, vvho onely among all the rest is so remembred, that the Gentiles euery vvhere spredd his fame farre and nighe.

Such was the end of the blessed Apostolicke Polycarpus, published in wrytinge by the brethren of the Church of Smyrna in the aforesayde Epistle, where is also contayned the martyrdome of sundrye others, that suffred then with Polycarpus, whereof one Metrodorus* 3.6 suspected of the heresie of Marcion was burned with fire, and consumed to ashes. And amonge the Martyrs of that tyme, there was one Pionius, very famous, who for his protestations and liberty of speache and Apologies for the fayth bothe in the presence of the people and Magistra∣tes: for his godly sermons, and comfortinge perswasions of such as faynted in persecution: for his consolation vnto suche as were imprisoned: for his exhortations vnto the brethren resorting vnto him: for his constancye in his manyfolde, and greeuous torments and afflictions: for his pa∣cience in the firye pyle flashing about: and last of all for his quiet death: is highly commended,* 3.7 and published to the prayse of God, in that booke of ours which contayneth his Martyrdome, Whereunto I referre the reader. Also there are extant other monuments of certayne Martyrs that suffred at Pergamus, a Citie of Asia. As of Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonica a woman, who after their notable confessions, suffred gloriouse Martyrdome.

CAP. XVI.

Of the martyrdome of Iustinus a Christian philosopher,

AT that time Iustinus of whome we made mention before, when he had dedicated a booke in the defence of our doctrine, to the foresayd Emperours was crowned with martyrdome by the maliciouse meanes of Crescens the philospher, professing in life and learninge the sect of Cynickes, for Iustinus in open disputations, and publicke conference had with this philoso∣pher, bare away the bell which tended to the shortning of his life, and the hasteninge of his ende. This thinge did this famous philosopher in his foresayd Apologie foresee and signifie in these words. I looke for no other thinge then this, but that I be betrayed of some one of thē called phi¦losophers* 3.8, or knockt in the head vvith a clubbe by Crescens, no philosopher in deed, but a state∣ly iangler. It is not requisite that vve call him a philosopher, vvhich of ignorance reporteth that the Christians are impious and irreligious, to the ende he may please and flatter such as are ouer∣shadovved vvith the miste of error and darkenesse. For either he impugneth the doctrine of the Christians vvhich he hath neither readd nor knovven, then is he full of malice & farre vvorse then Idiotes that alvvayes bevvare they reason not of vnknovven matters, least they beare false vvitnesse: or els he readeth them, but vnderstandeth not the mystery and maiesticall meaning

thereof, or if he vnderstande, he dothe it that he be not taken for suche a one, then is he a∣gayne farre more vvicked, and spitefull, the bondslaue of vayneglo••ye, and bruti••he seare: for I vvoulde haue you vvell to vnderstande, and to recount my tale for trueth, that I haue proposed certayne questions, and demaunded certayne interrogatoryes of him, vvherein I haue founde and knovve rightvvell that he knovveth nothing. If that these conferences haue bene neyther bruted, neyther blased in your hearing: I am ready agayne to rehearse the same vnto you. This vvill be a Princely parte and a vvorthye vvorke, for your honour to heare. If you knevve bothe vvhat I demaunded, and vvhat he aunsvvered: you vvoulde soone gyue sentence, that he is altogether ignorant in our doctrine. Or if he knovveth it, he dareth not vtter it for feare of his auditours, and hereby to be proued (as I sayde before) no philoso∣pher, but a flatterer, contemninge that vvhich Socrates highly esteemed. No mans fonde, vayne, or foolish humor vvith flatterye to be fedde. Thus farre Iustinus. And that he peri∣shed through the practise of Crescens, Tatianus a man instructed from his youth vp in pro∣phane literature, and praysed very much for the profit he tooke therein, testifleth in his booke against the Gentiles wryting thus: The famous philosopher Iustinus sayd very vvell, that the* 3.9 philosophers then vvere to be likened to theeues. A litle after he sayth: Crescens being nevvly come vnto that great Citie passed all men, in that vnnaturall, and shamefull sinne of Sodom, de filing himself vvith mankind, inferior to no mā in couetousnes, taught, that death vvas not to be feared, yet he vvas so feareful of it that he procured Iustinus death for a great mischiefe, pouring out the poyson of his malice, bycause that he preachinge the trueth reprehended the philoso∣phers, for gluttonous and deceitfull persons. such was the cause of Iustinus martyrdome.

CAP. XVII.

Of the Martyrs mentioned in the Apologie of Iustinus.

THe same Iustinus before he suffred, remembred in his Apologie, such as were martyred before him, very pertinent for this our purpose, wryting thus: A certain vvoman there* 3.10 vvas maryed vnto an husbande vvholy giuen vnto lasciuious life and leudnes, vvhereun∣to she hir self vvas in times past addicted, vvho vvhen she had learned the doctrine of Christ re∣pented hir of hir former life, and embraced chastitie, and exhorted hir husbande likvvise to repēt, expounding vnto him the doctrine vvhich threatned vnto intemperate, and beastly liuers euerlasting punishment, of endlesse fyre. But he neuerthelesse altogether set vpō the same levvd nesse, separateth by his vnlavvfull meanes his vvife from him. for she sayd that it vvas thence∣forth vnlavvfull for hir, to vse company at bedd, and at borde, vvith that man, vvho contrarie vnto the lavve of nature, beyonde all right and reason, sought meanes to satisfie his filthy luste and therefore vvould be diuorced from him. But through the persvvasions of her frends, she re∣uoked hir sentence, & changed hir mind, vvho counsayled hir, a litle vvhile quietly to liue toge∣ther that there vvas great hope at length of his repentance: refrained hir self and continevved vvith him in vvedlocke. VVhen hir husbande vvas gonne to Alexandria, and there knovven to haue practised farre more levvd factes, least that she should be made partaker of his vvicked fa∣ctes and haynous offences by continevving in his company at bedd and boord, in the bonde of matrimony: she made a bill of diuorce (as vve tearme it) she vvas separated and vvent a∣vvay from him. Then this good man (vvhen he shoulde haue reioyced that his vvife vvhich* 3.11 of olde vvas slaundered of hir seruantes and accused of hir levvdnesse: vvhich of olde vvas giuen to dronkennesse, and all kinde of spite: novve had renounced hir former life, and ex∣horted him to the same repentance vvith hir, vvhome she diuorced because he kept other com∣pany) accused hir that she vvas a Christian. And she gaue vp a supplication vnto thee (ô Empe∣rour) humbly requesting, that she might first dispose hir househould affaires, & after the dispo∣sition and ordering thereof, to aunsvvere vnto that vvhich she vvas accused for, the vvhich thing thou diddest graciously graūt, but he (hir husband somtimes) hauing no colour, nor cloke, to ac¦cuse his vvife: bent his bovve and leueled thus at Ptolomaeus, vvho instructed hir in the Christian fayth, & endured tormēts vnder Vrbicius the Iudge. He had to his frend the Centurion, vvhom he persvvaded to impryson Ptolomaeus: to entreat him roughly vvithall: & to demaund of him if he vvere a Christiā. vvhich vvhen Ptolomaeus, one that vvas zealous for the trueth, no flatterer, no dis∣sembler,* 3.12 had confessed himselfe to be: the Centurion cast him into pryson vvhere he vvas longe

punished. Aftervvardes being brought before Vrbicius, of this onely he vvas examined: if he vvere a Christian, vvhose conscience bearing him vvitnesse of no crime, but in a iust cause: con∣fessed that he had preached the true, and heauenly doctrine of Christ. For he vvhich denyeth himselfe to be that man he is, either condemneth that vvhich is in him by denyall: or knovving him vnvvorthy and estranged from the matter, refuseth to confesse: vvhere of neither is found in a true Christian. And vvhen Vrbicius commaunded that he should be brought forth: one Lu∣cius (that vvas also a Christian) seing the sentence giuen contrary to all reason, sayde to Vrbicius VVhat reason is it (O Vrbicius) that thou shouldest condemne this man for confessing the name of Christ: vvhich hathe committed neither adultery: neither fornication: neither manslaughter, neither theft: neither robbery: neither any vvicked offence, that he may iustly be charged vvith∣all. Thy Iudiciall sentences do become neither Pius the Emperour: neither the philosopher the sonne of Caesar: neither the sacred Senate. Vrbicius aunsvvering nothing to these thinges sayde to Lucius: and thou seemest to me, to be such a one. Lucius aunsvvered: I am so, and he com∣maunded him forthvvith to be brought forth to the place of executiō. For this, Lucius thanked* 3.13 him, & sayd that by this meanes he should be deliuered, from such vvicked maysters, & go vnto a gracious God, his father, and King. After this a third stept forth vvhich suffred the like. In the end Iustinus concludeth with y^• rehersall of that which we remembred before, saying: And I looke for no other, then that I be betrayed by some one of them, that are called philosophers.

CAP. XVIII.

Of the workes and writinges of Iustinus

IVstinus hathe leaft vnto the posterity many monuments, of his instructed minde, and right vn∣derstanding: full of all kind of profitt, vnto the which we referre the studious readers, and withall we will note such as came to our knowledge. first: a supplication vnto Antoninus Pius: and his sonnes: and to the Romayne Senate: in the defence of our doctrine. Agayne: an Apo∣logy vnto y^• sayd Emperours successor, by sirnam•• Antoninus Verus, whose time we presently do prosecute. He wrote also agaynst the Gentiles: where at large he disputeth many questions, both of ours, and the heathenish philosophers doetrinet of the nature of spirites, altogether impertinent for this our present purpose. He wrote an other booke also agaynst the Gentiles, intituled a con∣futation or reprehension. After that of the monarchie of God, collected not onely out of the sa∣cred Scriptures, but also out of prophane wryters. Next one intituled: Psaltes. An other: of the soule, as by way of annotation, alleaging diuers•• questions, and many opinions of the hea∣then philosophers, differring the consutation and his definitiue sentence, vntill an other place. Lastly of all he wrote a dialogue agaynst the Ievves disputing at Ephesus with Tryphon, then a famous Doctor among the Ievves, where he beela••eth how the mercifulnes of God brought him to the knowledge of the true fayth: how he diligently studied philosophie: and earnestly sought after the trueth. In that dialogue of the Ievves, declaring their spite against the doctrine of Christ he inueieth against Tryphon thus: You haue not onely hardened your selues from repentance, but haue sent chosen men from Ierusalem, vvhich shoulde passe through out the vvorlde, and pronounce: that there vvas a certaine Christian Heresie spronge, slaunderinge vs as the rest doe, vvhich knovve vs not, so that thereby you proued your selues authors of falsehood, not onely to* 3.14 your ovvne people but to all other nations. He wryteth also, how that vnto his time the gifte of prophecy flourished in the Church. He remembred the reuelation of Iohn, plainely affirming: that it was the Apostles, he alleageth many places of the prophets, charging Tryphon: that the Ievves rased them out of the Bible. It is reported he wrote many other things, well knowne vn∣to diuerse of the brethr••. His workes of old, were in great reuerence, Ir•••••••••• in his fourth booke remembreth him, saying: Iustinus vvryting agaynst Marcion sayth very vvell. Nether vvoulde I haue beleued in the Lord, if he had shevved any other God, besides the ma•••••• of all thinges. And in his first booke▪ Iustinus sayd vvell that before the cōming of our Sauiour, S••thā durst not blaspheme God, in so much he knevve not certainely of his condemnation before that tyme. These thinges were needfull to be noted: that the ••••••sous might••••••••nestly embrar•• his workes. so farre concerning Iustinus.

CAP. XIX.

The succession of Byshops in Rome, Alexandria, and Antioche.

IN y^• eight yeare of the sayd Emperours raygne, when as Anicetus had bene byshope of Rome eleuen yeares: Soter succeded. And in Alexandria after that Celadion had gouerned fourteene yeares: Agryppas came in place* In the Church of Antioche Theophilus was the sixt from the Apostles: Heros the fift: Cornelius the fourth.

CAP. XX.

VVhat ecclesiasticall persons flourished at that time

IN those dayes Egesippus flourished in the Churche, one of the moste auncient: and Dionysius byshope of Corinthe: and Pinytus byshope of Creta: Philippus: Apollinarius: Meliton: Mu∣sanus: Modestus: but specially Irenaeus. of all which number, there are monuments leaft in wryting vnto the posteritie of their Apostolicke traditions and sounde fayth.

CAP. XXI.

By the reporte of Egesippus he declareth what vniforme consent in relligion, there was in that age, and who of olde were authors of sectes and heresies.

EGesippus in his fiue bookes, left vnto the posteritie a full remembrance of him, where he de∣clareth that comminge to Rome, and conferringe with many byshopes: he founde them all of one minde, and the same doctrine: we haue also to vnderstande of the worthy reporte al∣leaged by him toutching the Epistle of Clemens, wrytten vnto the Corinthiās saying: The church* 3.15 of Corinthe remayned in the pure and right rule of doctrine, vnto the tyme of Primus byshop there, vvith vvhome (meaninge the Corinthians) sayling to Rome, I conferred: and abode many dayes: and vvas conforted very much by reason of them and their doctrine. Being come* 3.16 to Rome, I stayd there vntill that Anicetus vvas stalled byshop, vvhose Deacon vvas Eleutherius vvhome Sother succeded, and after him Eleutherius. In all their successions, and in euery one of their Cities: it is no othervvise then the lavve, and prophets, and the Lorde himselfe preached. The same author reciteth y^• originalles of y^• heresies in his tyme wryting thus: After that Iacobus Iustus, had bene martyred, in such sorte as Christ himself vvas put to death this vncle Simō Cleo∣pas vvas chosen byshope, vvhome all preferred, because that he vvas the Lordes seconde kins∣man, vvherefore they called that church a pure virgin, for as yet the deuell had not sovvne there any corrupt seed of false doctrine. But Thebulis because he vvas not chosen byshop, vvent about to corrupt the same, beinge partaker of the seuen heresies vvhere of one is Symon, of vvhome the Simoniani: and Cleobius, of vvhome Cleobiani: and Dositheus, of vvhome Dositheani: and Gor∣thaeus, of vvhome Gorthaeani: and Masbothaei, of vvhome spronge the Menandrianists: Marcio¦nists: Carpocratians: Valentinians: Basilidians: and Saturnilians, vvhereof euery one hath sett a broche, a proper & seuerall opinion. Of these sprang the false christs: the false prophets: the false∣apostles: renting a sunder the Church vvith their false doctrine directed agaynst God, & Christ our Sauiour. The same author describeth likewise y^t old heresies of the Ievves, saying: There vvere in the time of the circumcision sundry sectes among the children of Israell, varying in opinions, & sett opposite agaynst the tribe of Iuda, and Christ, namely theese: the Essaeans▪ the Galilaeās: the Hemerobaptistes: the Masbothaeans: the Samaritans: the Sadduces, the Pharises. diuerse other thinges he wryteth of, the which haue bene partly remembred of vs before, and applyes to their proper and peculier places. Afterwardes he maketh relation of the Gospell after the He∣brevves, and Syrians, and seuerally of certayne Hebrue dialectes: and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mean••s of the He∣brevves, he attained vnto the Christian fayth: with a recitall of other vnwrytten traditions of the Ievves▪ Moreouer Egesippus, and yet not onely he but also Irenaeus, with the whole assembly and company of the elders •• haue termed the prouerbes of Salomon, wisedome it self, replenished with all kinde of vertue and godlines, and by occasion, reasoninge of the Scriptures called A∣pocrypha he sayde that in his time, diuerse of them were published by Heretickes. hereof thus much, now to that which by order of history we are bounde vnto.

CAP. XXII.

Of Dionysius Byshop of Corinthe▪ and his Epistles.

FIrst we haue to speake of Dionysius▪ who being byshop of Corinthe freely communicated his diuine and godly labour and industry not onely to such as were his charge, but also to stran∣gers, shewing himself most profitable vnto all people, by those, Catholicke epistles which he directed vnto the Churches. of which numbre is that epistle written by him vnto the Lacedae∣monians▪ contayning y^e right institution of christian peace, & vnitie, Moreouer his epistle wrytt vnto the Athenians stirreth the mindes of faythfull men vnto the embracing of the trueth, and e∣uangelicall conuersation of life: rep••en••endeth the gainesayers & despisers thereof: chargeth di∣uerse of them, that they were now in manner fallen from the fayth: although Publius there bishop* 3.17 in their time had there bene martyred. He remembreth Quadratus the successor of Publius (after his martyrdome in the byshoprick) & testifieth of him, that by his meanes they were vnited, and stirred to the fayth. He sheweth moreouer howe that Dionysius Areopagita conuerted vnto the fayth, according vnto that which is wrytten in the Actes of the Apostles▪ was by Paul placed the first byshop of Athens. There is extant also an other epistle of his vnto the Nicomedians, where repugninge the heresie of Marcion: he fortifieth the right rule of fayth. And vnto the Churche of the Gortynenses, together with other congregations throughout Creta he wryteth: commen∣ding Philip there byshope, for that the Church committed vnto his charge was beautified and be∣decked* 3.18 by the proufe of many vertuous properties: warninge withall that they should auoide the wilfulnes of peruerse heretickes. And wryting to the Church of Amastris together with the rest throughout Pontus: he mentioneth Bachilides, and Elpistus, at whose instant motion he wrote:* 3.19 and Galma there byshop: interlacing expositions of sundry places of Scripture. He admonisheth them at large toutching mariage and virginitie•• commaundinge also to receaue after repentance such as fell, how soeuer it happened, eyther of purpose, or by heretical perswasiō. Unto this there is annexed an epistle vnto the Gnosij, where theyr byshope Pinytus is admonished not to charge* 3.20 necessarily the brethren, with the greuous burthen of vowed chastitie: but to haue consideration of the frail imbecillity of many natures. vnto the which epistle Pinytus making answere extolleth & commendeth Dionysius, yet agayne by way of admonition requireth, that stronger meat beinge deliuered, he fead the flocke cōmitted vnto his charge, with more absolute and profound doctrine, least that they lingering in their milkesoppes, and smothe exhortacions, waxe old through negli∣gence, in childish nurture. In the which epistle of Pinytus the right rule of fayth: diligent care for the saluation of his flocke: discretion also & vnderstanding of holy scripture, is liuely set forth. last of all there remaineth an epistle of Dionysius vnto the Romaines, namely vnto Soter their byshop* 3.21 whereof if we alleage some parte it shall not seeme impertinent, where he commendeth the Ro∣maine manner obserued vnto the persecution of our time, wryting thus: It hath bene your accu∣stomed manner, euen from the beginning: diuersely to benefitt all the brethren, and to send re∣lief throughout the citie, supplying the vvant of the poore by refreshing them in this sorte, and specially the vvante of the brethren appointed for slauishe drudgerie, and digging of mettalls, you Romaynes, of old do retaine the fatherly affection of Rome, vvhich holy Soter your bishop not onely obserued, but also augmented, ministringe large and liberall relief to the vse of the sainctes: embracing louingly the conuerted brethren, as a father doth his sonnes, vvith exhorta∣tion of vvholsome doctrine. Here also he remembreth y^• epistle of Clemens wrytten to the Corin∣thians, shewing the same of aunciēt custome, to haue bene read in the Church, for thus be writeth* 3.22 VVe haue this day solemnized the holy sunday, in the vvhich vve haue read your epistle & al∣vvaies vvill for instructions sake, euen as vve do the former of Clemens vvritten vnto vs. The same author reporteth of his owne epistles that they were patched, & corrupted in these words: VVhen I vvas intreated of the brethren to vvrite, I vvrote certaine Epistles, but the messengers of Satan haue sovven them vvith tares, pulling avvay some, putting to other some, vvhose condemnation is layd vp for certaine. no maruell then though some endeuored to corrupt the sacred Scriptures of God, vvhen as they vvent about to counterfett such vvrytinges of so smale authoritie. Yet be sides all these, there is founde an other epistle of Dionysius to Chrysophora a faithfull sister, where, as it was most mete, he ministreth vnto her spirituall foode conuenient for her calling. thus much toutching Dionysius.

CAP. XXIII.

Of Theophilus byshop of Antioche, and his workes

OF Theophilus byshop of Antioch before mētioned: there are found three bookes of Elemē∣tall* 3.23 Institutions, dedicated vnto Antolicus. again an other entitled: Against the heresie of Hermogenes, where he alleageth many testimonies out of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn. there are also certaine other bookes of his, intitled: of Institutions, but there was neuer no grea∣ter plague or pestilence, then the poyson of heretickes: which then infected after the manner of tares, the true seede of Apostolicke doctrine. whome the pastors of the Churches repelled from the flocke of Christ, as if they had bene certen sauadge beastes, partely by adinomtions & exhor∣tations vnto the brethren: partly also by encountring with the heretickes them selues: sometimes disputing and questioning with them face to face, to the vtter ouerthrow of their trifling fantasies & sometimes by theyr wrytten commentaries, diligently confuting by way of reprehension theyr fonde opinions. Among whome Theophilus together with others which then labored against thē, was counted famous, who also wrote a booke leaueling at Marcion, the which we knowe toge∣ther with the rest, at this day to be extāt. after the desease of this Theophilus, Maximinus being the* 3.24 7. from the Apostles, succeeded him in the Church of Antioche.

CAP. XXIIII.

Of Philip byshop of Gortyna, Irenaeus, and Modestus.

PHilip whome by the reporte of Dionysius we haue learned to haue bene byshop of the Church* 3.25 of Gortyna: wrote a most exquisite tract agaynst Marcion. so did Irenaeus, and Modestus which of all others chiefly detected his error vnto the worlde. so did sundrye other learned men, whose bookes are yet to be seene with diuerse of the brethren.

CAP. XXV.* 3.26

Of Melito byshop of Sardis in Asia, and his workes.

ABoute this time Melito byshop of Sardis, and Apollinarius byshop of Hierapolis florished,* 3.27 who both wrote vnto the Emperour of Rome then raygning, seuerall bookes, and Apo∣logies, in the behalfe of our faith: whereof these of Melito his doinges, came to our handes 2. bookes of Easter. of Politicke conuersation, and the Prophets. of the church. of the sundaye. of the nature of man. of the molde of man. of the obedience of fayth of the senses. Moreouer: of the body, and soule. also of our regeneration, or nevvbirth. of the trueth▪ of the faith, and the na∣tiuitie of Christ. likewise a booke of his: of prophecie. of the soule, & body▪ of hospitalitie. And a booke intitled: a key an other: of the deuell. an other: of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn, and of God incarnate. last of all a booke dedicated vnto Antoninus. In his booke of Easter he declareth the time when he wrote it, begining thus: In the time of Seruilius Paulus proconsul of Asia, vvhat time Sagaris suffred martyrdome, and the great sturre vvas moued at Laodicea, tourchinge the* 3.28 Sabaoth, vvhich then by reason of the time fell out, these thinges vvere vvrytten of this booke Clemens Alexandrinus made mention, in a seuerall tracte which he wrote of Easter, and purpose∣ly (as he testifieth himselfe) by occasion of Melito his booke. In his Apology vnto the Emperour he reporteth the thinges practised against the Christians, wryting thus: The godly people gre∣ned, by reason of nevve edictes, published throughout Asia and before neuer practised: novve suffer persecution. for impudent Sycophantes, & greedy gapers after other mens goods, hauing gotten occasion through those proclamations: openly robb and spoile, day and night, such as committee no trespasse at all. And after a fewe lynes he sayth: If this be done through your pro∣curemēt, let it stand for good. for the Emperour that is iuste, neuer putteth in practise any vniust thing, & vve vvillingly vvill beare avvay the honor of this death, yet this onely vve hūbly craue of your highnes, that you (after notice and tryall had of the authors of this contention) doe iustly geue sentence, vvhether they are vvorthy of death & punishment, or of lif and quietnesse. but if this be not your maiesties pleasure, and the nevve edicte proceed not from your povver and authoritie, (vvhich vvere not seemely to be sett forthe agaynst barbarian enemies) the ra∣ther vve pray you, that you despise vs not, vvhich are greued and oppressed, vvith this common

and shamefull spoyle. Agayne to these he addeth: The philosophie novve in aestimation amon∣gest* 3.29 vs, first florished among the Barbarians. for vvhen as it florished vnder the great dominion of Augustus, your forefather of famous memorie, it fell out to be a most fortunate successe vnto your empire. For thence forvvardes vnto this daye, the Romaine empire increased and enlarged it selfe vvith greate glorie, vvhose successor novve you are, greatly beloued: and haue bene long vvished for: and vvilbe together vvith your sonne continually prayed for. retaine therefore this religion, vvhich encreased vvith the empire, vvhich began vvith Augustus, vvhich vvas reueren∣ced of your auncetors, before all other religions. This vvas a greate argument of a good begin∣ning, for since that our doctrine florished together vvith the happie beginning empire: no mis∣fortune befell vnto it from the raygne of Augustus vnto this daye: but of the contrary all prospe∣rous, and gloriouse, and gladsome, as euery man vvished him selfe. Onely of all others Nero, & Domitian, through the persvvasion of certaine enuious, & dispitefull persons: vvere disposed to bring our doctrine into hatred. From vvhome this sclaunder of flattering persons, raised against the Christians sprong vp, after a brutishe maner or custome. but your godly auncetors corrected their blinde ignorance, and rebuked oftentimes by their epistles, their sundry rashe enterprises. Of vvhich number Adrianus your graundefather, is knovven to haue vvritten both vnto Funda∣nus Proconsul, and President of Asia, and to manie others. And your father (yours, I saye, in that you gouerned all thinges together vvith him) vvrote vnto the cities in our behalfe, and vnto the Larissaeans, Thessalonians, Athenians, and to all the Grecians: that they should innouate nothing, nether practise any thing preiudiciall vnto the Christians. but of you vve are fully persvvaded to obtaine our humble petitions, in that your opinion, and sentence is correspondent vnto that of your predecessors, yea and that more gracious, and farre more religious. Thus as ye reade, he wrote in the aforesayde booke. And in his Proeme to his annotations of the olde Testamente, he reciteth the cataloge of the bookes of the olde Testament, then certeine & canonicall (the whiche necessarilie we haue annexed) writinge thus: Meliton vnto the brother Onesimus sendeth gree∣ting:* 3.30 VVhereas oftentimes (you beinge inflamed vvith earnest zeale tovvardes our doctrine) haue requested of me, to select certaine annotations out of the lavve and prophets, concerning our Sauiour, and our vvhole religion: and againe to certifie you of the summe of the bookes, contained in the olde testament, according vnto their number, and order of placinge: novve at length I (beinge mindefull heretofore also of your petitions) haue bene carefull to performe that you looke for, knovving your endeuer, your care and industrie in setting forth the doctrine of faith, marching forvvards vvith loue tovvards God, and care of euerlasting saluation, vvhich you preferre before all other thinges. VVhen that I traueled into the east and vvas there, vvhere these thinges vvere both preached and put in practise: I compiled into order the bookes of the olde testament, suche as vvere vvell knovven, and sent them vnto you, vvhose names are these: The fiue bookes of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leuiticus, Numeri, Deuteronomium. Then Iesus Naue, the Iudges, the booke of Ruth, foure bookes of kinges, tvvo of Cronicles, the Psalmes of Dauid, the Prouerbes of Solomon, the booke of VVisdome, Ecclesiastes, the Canticles, Iob, Esay, and Ieremie the Prophets. on booke of the tvvelue prophets, Daniel, Ezechiel, Esdras. vpon the vvhich vve haue vvritten six bookes of commentaries. Thus farre Meliton.

CAP. XXVI.* 3.31

Of the writings of Apollinarius, and Musanus.

ALthoughe there were many volumes written by Apollinarius, yet these onely came to our* 3.32 handes. A booke vnto the foresaide Emperour. fiue bookes against the gentiles, 2. bokes of the trueth. 2 bookes againste the Ievves. and suche bookes as afterwardes he wrote a∣gainst the Phrygian heresie, whiche not longe after waxed stale, then firste buddinge out, when as Montanus together with his false prophetisses ministred principles of Apostasie. so farre of him.* 3.33 Musanus also spoken of before, wrote a certaine excellent booke intituled: Vnto the brethren, lately fallen into the heresie of the Encratits, which then newely had sprong, and molested man∣kinde, with a strange and perniciouse kinde of false doctrine, the autor whereof is sayde to bee Tatianus.

CAP. XXVII.

Of Tatianus and his heresie.

WE meane that Tatianus, whose testimony a litle before, we haue alleaged toutchinge the renoumed Iustinus, whome also we haue reported to haue bene the Martyrs disci∣ple. The same dothe Irenaeus declare in his first booke against heresies, wryting of him and his heresie thus: Out of the schole of Saturninus and Marcion sprange the Hereticks* 3.34 vvhome they call Encratits (that is to say continent persons) vvho taught that mariadg vvas to be abhorred, contemning the auncient shape and molde of man, framed of God and so by sequel, reprehending him that made the generation of man and vvoman. Againe they haue commaunded abstinence from liuing creatures, for so they call them, shevving themselues vn∣gratefull tovvards God, vvhich made all thinges for the vse of man. They deny that the first man vvas saued and this blasphemie lately spronge vp, Tatianus beinge originall thereof. vvho* 3.35 vvhilest that he vvas the auditor of Iustinus, reuealed no such thinge, but after his Martyrdome, falling from the Church, & being puffed vp vvith presumptuous estimation and selfe opinion of Doctorship, as though he passed all others: inuented a selfe and a seuerall character or maner of Doctrine. he dreamed of certaine inuisible vvorldes, vvith the Valentinians, preachinge of* 3.36 mariadge and corruption, and fornication as Marcion, and Saturninus had done before, calling into controuersie of himselfe the saluation of Adam. This doth Irenaeus write in the place be∣fore cyted, and a litle after thus: One Seuerus reuiued the foresayd heresi, and became an author* 3.37 vnto his follovvers that of him they vvere called Seueriani. These receaue y^• Lavve, the Prophets and the Gospells: they expounde names of holy Scripture, as pleaseth them best: they reuile the Apostle Paul: they reiect his Epistles: they deny the Actes of the Apostles. there first author was Tatianus, who patched together, I wot not what kind of mingle mangled consonancy of the Gospells and termed it Diatessaron, which as yet is to be sene of many. some reporte that he pre∣sumed* 3.38 metaphrastically to alter the wordes of the Apostle, correcting as it were the order of the phrase. He left in wryting vnto the posteritie a great numbre of commentaries, but of all the rest that booke of his, against the Gentiles is recounted famous, and taken for the best, and most pro∣fitable:* 3.39 where mention is made of the former times, with a bold protestation, that Moses and the Prophets among the Hebrevves, were farre more auncient, thē the famous men among the Gen∣tiles, and thus stoode these thinges then.

CAP. XXVIII.

Of Bardesanes a syrian, and his bookes.

VNder the raygne of the same Emperour, when heresies increased, a certaine man in Me∣sapotamia by name Bardesanes, being very eloquent and skilfull in logicke: published in* 3.40 wryting in the Syrian tongue, Dialogues together with other bookes, against Marcion, and other graundeheretickes. the which certaine learned men (whereof he had then a great num¦bre to his disciples, his gift of vtterance did so passe) translated from the Syrian into the Greeke tongue, of which bookes, that dialogue intitled of Desteny, and dedicated vnto Antoninus the Emperour, is of greate force. The report goeth that he wrote many other bookes, by occasion of the persecution raysed in those times. This man was first schooled by Valentinus, but afterwards reprehendinge and condemning his fabulous dreames: transformed and altered himselfe of his owne accord embracing the sounder sentence, and yet scarcely so, washed he altogether away the spotts of the former heresie. About this time Soter byshop of Rome departed this life.* 3.41

The ende of the fourth booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anno Chri∣sti. 111. Primus. Alexander.
• * 1.2

  The rebelliō and tumultes of the Ievves in Aegypt Anno Chri∣sti. 117.
• * 1.3

  The calami∣ties of the Iewes in Me¦sopotamia.
• * 1.4

  Traian rai∣gned 19. yeres and six mo∣nethes. him succeded A∣drian Anno Domini. 119. Quadratus. Apolog.
• * 1.5

  Aristides an Athenian philosopher, wrote an A∣pologie of the christian fayth.
• * 1.6

  Anno domi∣ni. 122. Xystus. b. of Rome. Iustus. b. of Alexandria.
• * 1.7

  15. Bishopes of Ierusalem from the A∣postles vnto the 18. yeare of Adrian all Hebrewes. Telesphorus b. of Rome. Eumenes b. of Alexādria.
• * 1.8

  Ruffus pro∣curator of Iudaea. Barchoche∣basthe Iewes captayne.
• * 1.9

  The Iewes being foyled, Ierusal•• was ouerthrowē and called af∣ter the empe∣rours name Aelia. Marke of the Gentiles the first byshop of Ierusalē. when perse∣cution fayled then heresies sprang.
• * 1.10

  Menander
• * 1.11

  Saturninus of Antioch. Basilides of Alexandria Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 22. 23.
• * 1.12

  Agryppa Ca¦stor confuted Basilides. Barcabus. Barcoph.
• * 1.13

  Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 24. The opiniōs of Gnostici whose father was Carpo∣crates.
• * 1.14

  The here∣ticks were a sclaūder vnto christian re∣ligion.
• * 1.15

  Falsehood vanisheth a∣way the trueth remai¦neth still.
• * 1.16

  Aegesippus.
• * 1.17

  Iustinus A∣polog. pro Christianis.
• * 1.18

  Adrian the Emperour writeth in the behalfe of the Chri∣stians.
• * 1.19

  Adrian the Emperour died Anno Domini 140. him succee∣ded Antoni∣nus Pius. Hyginus b. of Rome. Irenaeus lib. 3 cap. 3.
• * 1.20

  Irenaeus lib. 3. cap. 4. Valentinus. Cerdon.
• * 1.21

  Irenaeus lib. 1 cap. 28. 29.
• * 1.22

  This here∣sy is cōfuted by Origen, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lib 2. cap. 4. 5. Marcion of Pontus.
• * 1.23

  Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 18.
• * 1.24

  Pius bish. of Rome. Marcus b. of Alexandria. Celadion b. of Alexādria. Anicetus b. of Rome. Aegesippus.
• * 1.25

  Iustinus Mar¦tyr.
• * 1.26

  Iustin{us} Mar∣tyrs Apolog. Antoninus was called T. Aelius Adri∣anus because he was ado∣pted of T. Aelius Adri∣anus the Em¦perour.
• * 1.27

  Antoninus the Empe∣rour, vnto the commōs of Asia.
• * 1.28

  Melitō wrot an Apology.
• * 1.29

  Irenaeus lib. 3 cap. 3. Polycarpus the Disciple of S. Iohn be¦ing olde was seene of Ire∣naeus being yonge.
• * 1.30

  Tit. 3. Antonin{us} Pi us died Ann. Domi. 163. & him succe ded Marcus Aurelius Ve∣rus, vnder this Ver{us} the 4. of the tēne persecutions was raysed. Lucius being the sonne of Ver{us} was cal¦led the bro∣ther of Anto¦nin{us} because he vvas ado∣pted togither with him.
• * 2.1

  The epistle of the chur∣che of Smyr∣na whereof Polycarpus was Bishop.
• * 2.2

  Germanicus torne in pee∣ces of wilde beastes.
• * 2.3

  Qulntus vn∣constant in persecution.
• * 2.4

  Polycarpus is forewar∣ned by a visi∣on of his mar tyrdome.
• * 3.1

  The epistle of the Chur∣che of Smyr¦na.
• * 3.2

  The prayer of Polycarp{us} at his Martyr dome.
• * 3.3

  Polycarpus burned.
• * 3.4

  The Chri∣stians wor∣ship God & reuerē ce his Martyrs.
• * 3.5

  Why the pas¦sions of mar∣tyrs are cele∣brated.
• * 3.6

  Metrodorus burned. Pionius bur∣ned.
• * 3.7

  Eusebius wrot a book of Martyrs which is not extant. Carpus, Papylus, Agathonica, martyrs.
• * 3.8

  Iustinus mar∣tyr Apolog. 2.
• * 3.9

  Tatianus lib. contra gen∣tes.
• * 3.10

  Iustinus in his Apology reporteth a certain hi∣story of a mā & his vvife.
• * 3.11

  Ironia.
• * 3.12

  Ptolomaeus martyred.
• * 3.13

  Lucius mar∣tyred.
• * 3.14

  The gifte of prophecye was in Iusti∣nus, and Ire∣naeus time•• Irenaeus li. 5. Irenaeus li. 4. cap. 14. Erasmus no•• without caus•• suspecteth this opinion of Irenaeus in his prolo∣gue to the fif•• booke of I∣renaeus. Anno Do∣mini. 171. Soter b. of Rome. Agryppas byshope of Alexandria. Cap. 20. after the Greeke. Teophilus b. of Antioch Cap. 21. after the Greeke. Egesippus. Dionysius. Pinytus. Philippus. Apolinarius Meliton. &c. Cap. 22. after the greeke.
• * 3.15

  Egesippus.
• * 3.16

  Thebulis through am∣bition be∣came an he∣reticke. Simon. Cleobius. Dositheus. Gorthaeus. Masbothaei. Menandria∣nists. Marcionists. Carpocra∣tians. Valentinians Basilidians. Saturnilians. Essaeans. Galilaeans. Hemeroba∣ptists. Masbothaeās Samaritans. Saduces. Pharises. The Gospell after the He∣brewes, and Syrians. Prouerbes of Solomon. Apocrypha published by heretickes. Cap. 23. after the greeke.
• * 3.17

  Publius a Martyr. Quadratus Dionysius Areopagita 1. b. of A∣thens.
• * 3.18

  Philip.
• * 3.19

  Bachilides. Elpistus. Galma.
• * 3.20

  Pinytus. Vowed cha∣stitie forbid∣den.
• * 3.21

  Dionysius wryteth of the Romains then: if he were nowe to wryte he could tell an other tale.
• * 3.22

  Dionysius readeth in the Churche of Corinthe the epistle of the Churche of Rome, and of Clemens. Dionysius complaineth that here∣tickes corru∣pted his epi∣stles. Cap. 24. after the greeke.
• * 3.23

  Theophilus.
• * 3.24

  Maximin{us} b. of Antioche Anno Domi¦ni 179. cap. 25. after the greeke
• * 3.25

  Philip. Irenaeus. Modestus.
• * 3.26

  Cap. 26. after the greeke.
• * 3.27

  Melito and the cataloge of his bookes
• * 3.28

  Melito in his booke of Ea∣ster. Sagaris mar∣tyred. Apece of the Apologie of Melito vnto the Empe∣rour.
• * 3.29

  Christian re∣ligion began to be made manifest in the time of Augustus, for then Christ was borne.
• * 3.30

  Melito wri∣teth vnto O∣nesimus of the canonical Scripture of the olde te∣stament.
• * 3.31

  These. 2. chapters in the Greeke were one.
• * 3.32

  Apollinarius
• * 3.33

  Montanus the heretick. Musanus. Encratitis. Tatianus.
• * 3.34

  Irenaeus li. 1. cap. 30. 31. Saturniani. Marcionitae.
• * 3.35

  Tatianus.
• * 3.36

  Valentiniani.
• * 3.37

  Seuerus. Seueriani.
• * 3.38

  Diatessaron.
• * 3.39

  Tatianus though an hereticke yet wrote ••e a learned book agaynst the Gentiles.
• * 3.40

  Bardesanes a Syrian.
• * 3.41

  Anno. 179.