CAP. XXI.
Of the controuersie about the kepinge of Easter daye.* 1.1
AT the same time there rose no small contention because that all the churches throughoute Asia, of an aunciente tradition, thought good to obserue the highe feaste of Easter in the foreteenthe moone. on whiche daye the Ievves were commaunded to offer their Pascall Lambe. as muche to saye as vpon what daye soeuer in the weeke, that moone fell, the fastinge* 1.2 dayes finished, and ended. when as the other churches throughout the worlde, accustomed not to celebrate Easter after this manner, but obserued the Apostolicke tradition and custome, as yet retayned, to wete: the fastinge dayes on no other daye to be broken vp, afore the daye wherein our Sauiour rose from death to lyfe. Wherefore synodes and meetinges of Byshopes were summoned, where all with one accorde ordained an ecclestasticall decree whiche they pu∣blished by their epistles vnto all churches: That vpon no other then the sondaye the mysterie of our sauiours resurrection shoulde be celebrated. And that one that daye, and no other, the fasting vsed before Easter shoulde haue an ende. Theire epistle is at this daye extant, who at that tyme for this cause assembled together in Palaestina, whereof Theophilus bishope of Caesarea, and Narcissus bishope of Ierusalem were chiefe. At Rome likewise there was a synode gathered to∣gether for the same cause, the whiche Ʋictor their bishope published. Agayne there was an o∣ther of bishopes at Pontus, where Palmas, as the moste auncient, did gouerne. An other of bi∣shops throughout Fraunce whiche Irenaeus did ouersee. to be shorte an other of the bishopes throughout Ostroëna, and the cities therein contained, and speciallye of Banchillus bishope of Corinth with many others, al which with one and the same sentence, and iudgement, ordained the same decree, and their vniforme assent, was thus made manifest vnto the worlde.