The estate of the Church with the discourse of times, from the apostles vntill this present: also of the liues of all the emperours, popes of Rome, and Turkes: as also of the Kings of Fraunce, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike, Gentleman.

The doings of many Painims of this time.

As for the Gentiles of this time and their superstitions, we will heere touch one word, as we passe by. Certaine it is that Idolatry drew after it all kinde of wickednesse. From the Gods they haue drawne out all that infection: of Iupiter, adul∣terers, rauishments, and stuprations of children: of Venus, the art of whoordome: of Rhea, all filthinesse: of Mars, murders: and so of the other bodies. It is then no maruell if their man∣ner of dooings bee so straunge. In Phenicia women were prostituted before Idolls. Athanasius reciteth it the women

before marriage, being deliuered of proofe to their husbands. Sozo. li. 1. chap. 8. They also accustomed to chastice adultry with an other whoordome and publike constupration. Socrat. lib. 5. chap. 18. The Indians had many wiues. Hierom. lib. 1. contra Iouinianum.

The schooles of Magitians had certaine prayers for the dead; whervnto they attributed so great efficacy, that the pow∣ers of the ayre by them appeased, let soules flye so into Hea∣uen. Arnobius. Lib. 2.

From hence hath Antichrist drawne the hunting of his indul∣gences to set vp his seate and inrich it.

Some Grecians on the dayes they call (Pandemi) that is to say Populary, carried viands and wine to the Sepulchres of their dead. They burnt the meate, and presented the wine, cal∣ling the dead by their names. Rise vp (cried they) and eate, and drinke, and be merry. Epipha. in Ancorato.

And what other thing is this then the offertorie of the Masse for the quicke and the dead?

Many Nations had no marriage nor lawfull coniunction, but rather brutall and common.

And what is that single life which Antichrist would bring in, but a burning fire breaking into all abhominable whoor∣domes?

* 1.1In those dayes men superstitiously obserued the dayes of the Moone, and enterprised nothing the first day thereof. Am∣brose Lib. 10. Epist. 83.

* 1.2When there was a question to know who should raigne after Valens, Ianulicus, and Libanius, Sophisters and true suppor∣ters of Sathan, writ in dust the 24. letters of the Greeke Al∣phabet, and laid vpon euery one of them a graine of wheate and barley. After they caused a Cocke to come, and after the

recitall of certaine charmes they let him goe, to know by the Letters whereon he tooke the graines, the name of the succes∣sor. The Cocke tooke the graines vpon the Letters, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Emperour Ʋalens after hee knew this, made many to be slaine whose names began with these Letters. Zonaras reci∣teth it.

They vsed violence against Christians,* 1.3 with calumniati∣ons and slaunders. The first defence of their superstition was, that it had bene of long time, and that their Elders had alwaies maintained it Arnol. lib. 8. against the Gentiles; and so did Simmachus argue against Prudentius.

The second, that it had alwaies bene profitable to the Ro∣mane Common-wealth, and that thereby the Empire of the world had bene conquered, and therefore it worshipped all the Gods which were adored in the world: yea the vnknowne Gods, Arnob. Lib. 8. And so argueth Maximinus in Eusebi. Lib. 9. Chap. 7.

The third, was of the discommodities that came by leauing the Religion of the Idolls. Maximinus the tyrant, in his Edicts impureth all publike calamities to the chaunging of sacrifices. Euseb. Lib. 9. Chap. 7.

1. And contrary, they calumniated the Christian Religion,* 1.4 that it was new, and that their predecessors were ignorant thereof. Sozom. Lib. 1. Chap. 18.

2. That the Authors thereof were seditious and desperate persons. Arnob. lib. 1.

3. That the Christians were but heapes of poore Idiots, and women that vsed to slie the light, and onely loued night assem∣blies.

4. That by secret and hidde markes they loued before they knew one an other, and that to couer their whoordomes, they commonly called one an other brothers and sisters.

5. That they are without Aultars, without Temples, and without Sepulchres. In the said booke, 8.

The Papists at this day, which shame not to change the truth with the same slaunders, what other thing doo they else but ei∣ther borrow or renew the olde Ethnikes arguments.

The Ethnickes also say of the Christian doctrine that which our mockers and Epicures say at this day, that it is con∣trary to all reason. For to say that God seeth and makes en∣quirie not onty of out affaires, but also of our most secret cogi∣tations,* 1.5 and that he is present euery where: this is not onely impertinent and euill becomming God: but also it is to grieue and trouble him, and to say he is curious and without rest. The same Author.

That to say, God loueth not them who willingly come vn∣to him, but his Elect onely. This say they, is to doo iniurie to God, and to accuse him of iniustice.

That Christians agree not in their doctrine.

This same did the Philosophers obiect in the Councell of Nice against the Fathers.

That the scripture is full of contradiction, and therefore vncertaine. Porphirius and Iulian the Apostate vsed this slaun∣der. Socrat. 3. chap. 23.

That all sorts of calamities came vpon them, and that God punished them because they beleeued that man is God, and af∣ter he was crucified, to say hee liueth and raigneth. Arnob. Lib. 1.

* 1.6Many Princes and Magistrates of this time opposed them∣selues against these Ethnike impieties. And after, Constantine the great and his sonne Iouinian, caused to shut the Idoll Tem∣ples which Iulian had set open, and forbad sacrifices. Socrat. lib. 3. chap. 24.

Valentinian in Europe tooke away the seruice of Idolls. Theodoret. lib. 5. cap. 20.

He forbad that none should learne the Magike Art by the law: Culpasimilis. Cod. de maleficis & mathematicas. Finally the Lord ordained this Emperor Theodosius as a second Iosias, whol∣ly to roote vp all the Idols Temples. Thod. li. 5. ch. 20.

On the other side, the Doctors of the Church were excee∣ding carefull to refute all this false religion of the Painims and Ethnikes. Arnob. Lactantius, Theodoret, and the most part of

them which writ in that time; vnto whose bookes we send them that will know more at large.

Damasus builded certaine Temples, and adorned them with gifts: he gaue fields and possessions, and bathes to the Cleargie. He augmented certaine straunge facions of seruing of God. He approued S. Hieromes translation of the Bible.* 1.7The hearts of the Archbishops of Rome, began to be taken with too much ambition. After this, Damasus as hee could diligently calculate times, to the end that in time to come, in the Romane seate might bee placed Bishoppes of renowme, hee drew briefly in writing the liues and statutes attributed to his pre∣decessors Bishops of Rome, yet this was not without manifest lies.

As for his faith and doctrine Theodoret giueth great wit∣nesse: he had a good opinion of the Trinitie, and by his Epistle to the Bishops, assembled at a Sinode at Constantinople, exhor∣ted them to maintaine the holy doctrine of the sonne of God.

But in his Epistles, although he call the Bishops vnto whom he writ, his brothers; yet he sheweth himselfe too much giuen to eleuate the dignitie of the Romane seate. For he thus be∣ginneth his aforesaid Epistle to them of Constantinople. In the reuerence deare children which you owe to the Apo∣stolike seate, you doo much for your selues, &c. Theod. Lib. 5. Chap. 9.

He had many combats to maintaine the doctrine of the Councell of Nice; especially against Auxentius of Millan. Hee condemned many heretikes, and amongst others, the Apollina∣ries, at a Councell of many Bishops at Rome.

Hee had firme amitie with Hierome, who in his writings gaue great witnesse of him. Virgin, Doctor of the Virgine Church, in his Preface vpon the foure Euangelists, calleth him great Priest. Athanasius in his Epistle to the Bishops of Affrike, calleth Damasus his very deare companion in the Mi∣nisterie, &c. Gregorie Nazianz▪ calleth Damasus (happie) in his Epistle to Clidonius.

Damasus dyed of the age of 80. yeares, in the raigne of

Theodosius:* 1.8 witnesses Hierome and Suidas, after hee had admi∣nistred his Bishopricke 18. yeares, the yeare of Christ after [ 387] Naucle, 385. but after Prosper, the yeare 387.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Obseruation of dayes.
• * 1.2

  Obseruation of Letters.
• * 1.3

  Three argu∣ments against false religion.
• * 1.4

  Slaunders a∣gainst true doctoctrine.
• * 1.5

  Accōmodatiō
• * 1.6

  Such Princes as opposed themselues against Pa∣ganisme.
• * 1.7

  S. Hieromes Translation.
• * 1.8

  Syricius.