modus raigned, an. Dom. 167. as Vrsperg. affirmeth, an. 170. as Eusebius witnesseth in his Chronicles the. 7. before the Calendes of February.

MarginaliaAn. 170.
Germanicus
Ex Euseb. Lib. 4. cap. 15. Histor. eccl. Of Germanicus mention is made aboue in the story of Polcarpus, of whom writeth Eusebius Lib, 4. cap. 15. notyng hym to be a young man, and most constantly to perseuere in the profession of Christes doctrine, whom whē the Proconsul went about to perswade, to remember his age, and to fauour him selfe, beyng in the floure of his age, he would not be allured: but constauntly and boldly, and of his owne accord incited and prouoked the wilde beast to come vpon him, and to deuour him, to be delyuered more speedely out of this wretched life. Hæc Eusebius. An. 170.

Thus haue ye heard out of the Epistle of the brethrn of Smyrna, the whole order and life of Policarpus,MarginaliaThe old age of Polycarpus. whereby it may appeare that he was a very aged man who had serued Christ. lxxxvi. yeres since the first knowledge of him, and serued also in the ministery about the space of. 70. yeares.MarginaliaPolycarpus the scholer of Iohn. This Policarpus was the scholler and hearer of Iohn the Euangelist, and was placed by the sayd Iohn in Smyrna. Of him also Ignatius maketh mention in his Epistle which he wrote in his iourney to Rome, goyng toward his Martyrdome, and commended to him the gouernement of hys Church at Antioche, wherby it appeareth that Policarpus then was in the ministery. Likewise Irenæus writeth of the sayd Policarpus after this maner. He alwayes taught (sayd he) those thynges which he learned of the Apostles, leauing them to the Church, and are onely true. Whereunto also all the Churches that be in Asia, and al they whiche succeeded after Policarpus to this day, beareth witnes.MarginaliaThe Epistle of Polycarpus to the Philippians. And the same Irenæus witnesseth also that the said Policarpus wrote an Epostle to the Phillipians, whiche whether it be the same that is now extant and read in the name of Policarpus, it is doubted of some: notwstandyng in the sayd Epistle diuers thynges are founde very wholesome and Apostlelyke: as where he teacheth of Christ, of iudgement, and of the resurrection.MarginaliaIustification by fayth. Also he writeth of faith very worthely, thus declaryng that by grace we are saued, and not by workes, but in the will of God by Iesus Christ.

MarginaliaEx Euseb. Lib. 5. cap. 20.
Irenæus conuersant with Polycarpus. In Eusebius we read in like maner a parte of a Epistle, written by Irenæus to Florinus, wherein is declared how that the sayd Irenæus beyng yet young, was with Policarpus in Asia: at what tyme he saw and wel remēbred what Policarpus did, & the place where he sat teachyng, his whole order of lyfe and proportion of his body, with the Sermōs & wordes which he sayd to the people.MarginaliaPolycarpus conuersant with the Apostles. And furthermore, he perfectly remembred how that the said Policarpus often tymes reported vnto him those thynges whiche he learned and heard them speake of the Lord, hs doynges, power, and doctrine, who heard the word of life with their owne eares, all which wer most consonaunt and agreable to the holy Scripture. This with much more hath Irenæus, concernyng Policarpus.

MarginaliaThe authoritie of Policarpus in the Churches of Asia. Hierome also, writyng of the same Policarpus, hath how he was of great estimation through out all Asia, for that he was scholer to the Apostles, and to them which did see and were conuersant with Christ him selfe, wherby it is to be coniectured his authoritie to be muche, not onely with thē of his own Church, but with all other Churches about him.

MarginaliaPolycarpus came to Rome. Ouer and besides, it is witnessed by the sayd Irenæus, that Policarpus came to Rome in the time of Anicetus Bishop of Rome about the yeare of our Lord. 157. in þ^e raigne of Antoninus Pius, whose cause of his comming thether appeareth to be about controuersie of Easterday: wherin the Asians and the Romanes somthyng disagreed among thē selues.MarginaliaPolycarpus conferreth with Anicetus. And therfore the sayd Policarpus in the behalfe of the brethren and Church of Asia, tooke his long iourney thether, to come and confer with Anicetus.MarginaliaThe East church and Romayie Church, differeabout Easterday
Ex Nicepho. lib. 4. cap. 39. Wherof writeth also Nicephorus Lib. 4. declaryng that Polycarpus and Anicetus somthyng varied in opinions and iudgement about that matter.MarginaliaDifference of ceremonies caused no breache of charitie in the primatiue church And that notwithstandyng yet both friēdly communicated either with the other, in somuch that Anicetus in his Church, gaue place to Polycarpus to minister the Communion and Sacrament of the Lordes Supper for honour sake, which may be a notable testimonye now to vs, that the doctrine concernyng the free vse and liberty of ceremonies, was at that tyme retained in the church without any offence of stomacke, or breache of Christian peace in the Church.

This Polycarpus (as is aboue mentioned) suffered his Martyrdome euen in his owne Church at Smyrna, where he had laboured so many yeares in plantyng of the Gospell of Christ, which was about the yeare of our Lorde 170. as Eusbius reckoneth in his Chronicle, and in the. 7. yeare of Antoninus Verus his raigne:MarginaliaSocrates deceiued in his Tripart. hist. wherby it appeareth that Socrates in Historia tripartita was much deceued, saying that Policarpus suffered in the time of Gordianus.

In this fourth persecution beside Polycarpus and other mentioned before, we read also in Eusebius of diuers other, who at the same tyme likewise did suffer at Smyrna.

MarginaliaEx Eusebio Lib. 4. cap. 17.
Metrodorus.
Pionius.
Carpus.
Papylus.
Agathonica
Martyrs. Ouer and besides in the sayd persecution suffered moreouer Metrodorus a Minister: who was geuen to the fire, & so consumed. An other was worthy Pionius, whiche after much boldnes of speche, with his Apologies exhibited, and his Sermons made to the people in the defence of Christiā fayth, and after much relieuyng and comfortyng of such as were in prisons, and otherwise discōforted, at last was put to cruell tormentes and afflictions, then geuen likewise to the fire, so finished his blessed Martyrdome.

After these also suffered Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonica, a woman, who after their most constaunt and worthy confessions were put to death at Pergamopolis in Asia witnessyng Eusebius Lib. 4. cap. 7.

MarginaliaFelicitas wyth her. vii. chyldren.
Ianuarius.
Felix.
Philip.
Siluanus.
Alexander.
Vitalis.
Martialis
Martyrs. And as these suffred in Asia, so in Rome suffered Felicitas with her. 7. childrē, who vnder this M. Antoninus Verus, sustained also the crueltie of this persecutiō. The names of whose children Bergomensis and other histories do thus recite: Ianuarius: Felix, Philippe, Siluanus, Alexander, Vitalis, Martialis. Of whom her first and eldest sonne Ianuarius after he was whipped and scourged with roddes, was prest to death with leaden weyghtes. Felix and Philippe had their braynes beaten out with maules. Siluanus was caste downe headlong, and had his necke broken. Furthermore, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis were beheaded. Last of all Felicitas the mother (otherwise then the accustomed manner was for such as had borne children) was slayne with the sworde. Ex Supplem.

In the rage of this fourth persecution, vnder the raigne of Antonius Pius, suffered also good Iustinus, a man in learnyng and Philosophy excellent, & a great defender of Christian Religion. Who first exhibited vnto the Emperour and to the Senate, a booke or Apologie in defence of the Christiās, and afterward him selfe also dyed a Martyr. Of whō in the history of Eusebius Lib. 4. cap. 16. MarginaliaEx Euseb. Lib. 4. cap. 16. it is thus recorded: That about what tyme, or a litle before that Polycarpus with other diuers Saintes suffered Martyrdome in Pargamopolis, a Citie of Asia, this Iustinus (as is aforesayd) presented a booke in defence of our doctrine to the Emperour, to wit vnto Antonius, and to the Senat. After which he was also crowned with like martyrdome vnto those, whom he in his booke had defended, through the malicious meanes, and crafty circumuention of Crescens.

MarginaliaCrescens a Philosopher procurer of the death of Iustinus. This Crescens was a Philosopher cōformyng his lyfe and maners to the Cynicall sect, whom for because this Iustinus had reproued in open audience, and had borne away the victory of the truth whiche he defended, he therfore as much as in him lay, did worke and procure vnto him this crowne of Martyrdome. And this did also Iustine him selfe a Philosopher, no lesse famous by his profession, foresee and declare in his foresayd Apologie, tellyng almost all those thynges before hand whiche should happen vnto hym, by these wordes saying: And I looke after this good turne, that I be slayne goyng by the way, either of some of those whom I haue named, and to haue my braynes beaten out with a bat, or els of Crescens, whom I cannot call a Philosopher, but rather a vayne boaster. For it is not conuenient to call him a Philosopher, whiche openly professeth thynges to him vnknowen, and wherof he hath no skil, saying and reportyng of vs, that the Christiās be vngodly and irreligious: And all to please and flatter them, whiche are seduced by errour.

MarginaliaCrescens a railing philosopher, & a malicious rayler. For whether he obiecteth agaynst vs the doctrine of the Christians, which he hath not read, yet is he very malicious, and worse then the vnlearned idiots, who for the most part vse not to dispute or iudge of thynges they know not, and to beare witnes of the same. Or put case that he had read them, yet vnderstandeth not he the maiestie of the matters therin conteined, or if peraduenture he vnderstandeth them, and doth it for this purpose, that he would not be coūted as one of them: then is he so much the more wicked and malicious, and the bondslaue of vyle and beastly, both fame and feare.MarginaliaA slaue of fame & feare For this I testifie of hym, geuyng you truly to vnderstand that for a truth, which I declare vnto you, how that I haue apposed him, and haue put vnto him many questions, whereby I know and perceaue, that he vnderstandeth nothyng.MarginaliaCrescens proued an vnlearned Philosopher. But if so be that this our disputatiō with hym, hath not come vnto your eares, I am ready to communicate vnto you agayne those questions whiche I demaunded of him, whiche thiynges shall not be vnfit for your Princely honour to heare. But if ye know & vnderstand both what thynges I haue examined him of, as also what aunswere he hath made, it shal be aparant vnto you,