1583 Edition | Book 1 | Page 41 
Close(271x273 - 337) [H. A. Pohlsander www.roman-emperors.org]
Roman emperor in the West (306 - 37); defeated Maxentius, rival emperor, in 312
Sole Roman emperor (324 - 37)
Constantine took three legions with him out of Britain, thereby weakening its defence. 1570, p. 148; 1576, p. 109; 1583, p. 108.
Maximian plotted to have Constantine killed; the plot was detected by Fausta, Constantine's wife and daughter of Maximian. 1570, p. 118; 1576, p. 85; 1583, p. 84.
The citizens and senators of Rome appealed to Constantine to rid them of Maxentius. 1570, p. 118; 1576, p. 85; 1583, p. 84.
Constantine, preparing for battle against Maxentius and fearing his magical powers, saw the sign of a cross in the sky. He then had a dream with a vision of the cross and of Christ. He took a cross into battle with him as a standard and defeated Maxentius at Milvian Bridge. 1570, p. 119; 1576, p. 86; 1583, p. 85.
[Back to Top]After the defeat of Maxentius, Constantine no longer sacrificed to the Roman gods, but he deferred baptism to his old age. He issued edicts restoring church goods and bringing Christians back from exile. 1570, pp. 139-41; 1576, pp. 103-04; 1583, pp. 101-03.
Constantine wrote to Anulinus, his proconsul in Africa, instructing him to restore goods to the Christian churches and to ensure that Christian ministers were freed from public duties. 1570, p. 141, 1576, p. 104, 1583, p. 103.
Constantine wrote to Pope Miltiades, instructing him to set up a synod to examine the cause of Cæcilian of Carthage, and sent letters to other bishops, issuing instructions and encouraging the ending of schisms. 1570, p. 141, 1576, p. 104, 1583, p. 103.
Initially Constantine and Licinius were on good terms, and Constantine gave Lucinius his sister in marriage. 1570, p. 122; 1576, p. 88; 1583, p. 87.
Licinius and Constantine issued a joint edict authorising freedom of worship for Christians. But Licinius began to turn against Constantine and the Christians, instigating a new, more surreptitious persecution. 1570, pp. 120-21, 122; 1576, pp. 86-87, 88; 1583, p. 86, 87.
Constantine defeated Licinius. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 31; 1583, p. 31.
He wrote to Alexander of Alexandria and Arius, urging them to end their disagreement. 1570, p. 142, 1576, p. 104, 1583, p. 103.
Constantine built churches and schools and provided books of scripture. 1570, pp. 142-43, 1576, p. 105, 1583, pp. 103-04.
Constantine wrote a letter to Shapur II, asking him to treat the Christians in Persia well. 1570, p. 137; 1576, p. 100; 1583, p. 99.
Constantine renounced the Roman gods and was baptised. 1563, p. 8.
Constantine fulfilled St Cyprian's vision of a time of peace for the church. 1570, p. 144; 1576, p. 106; 1583, p. 105.
ClosePeripatetic philosopher of Mytilene, contemporary of Cicero
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 22; 1576, p. 18 1583, p. 18.
Close(c. 305 - 384) [Kelly]
Pope (366 - 84) His election was followed by a disputed succession and violent riots; he was opposed by antipope Ursinus. Promoted Roman primacy. Wrote briefly on the martyrs and saints.
Damasus said that Pope Anterus caused the accounts of the martyrs to be written and as a result was himself martyred. 1570, p. 86; 1576, p. 59; 1583, p. 59.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 4, 23, 77, 93, 133; 1576, pp. 3, 18, 52, 65, 97; 1583, pp. 3, 18, 52, 57, 65, 96.
Close(359 - 383) [W. E. Roberts www.roman-emperors.org]
Western Roman emperor (367 - 83) Supported Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism. Son of Emperor Valentinian I
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 23; 1576, p. 18; 1583, p. 18.
Close(d. 352) [Kelly]
Pope (337 - 52); involved in the Arian controversy
Appeals for judgement were made to Julius I. 1570, p. 23; 1576, p. 18; 1583, p. 18.
CloseLeading Arian proponent C4 [Catholic Encyclopedia sub Julius I]
Head of Arian representatives to Julius I
Macarius sought the judgement of Julius I. 1570, p. 23; 1576, p. 18; 1583, p. 18.
Close(d. 308) [Kelly]
Leading presbyter; pope (306 - 308)
Exiled by Maxentius and died in exile.
Marcellus confirmed Maurice, Roman soldier and martyr, and his troops in their Christian faith in Rome. 1570, p. 113; 1576, p. 81; 1583, p. 80.
Marcellus refused to sacrifice to the gods and was exiled. He gathered the Christians in the house of the widow Lucina. Maxentius turned the house into a stable and placed Marcellus in charge of the beasts, whereupon he died of the stench and rough handling. 1570, p. 133; 1576, p. 96; 1583, p. 96.
According to Platina, Marcellus died at Rome during the reign of Maximinus Daia. 1570, p. 117; 1576, p. 84; 1583, p. 83.
Close(c. 106 - 43 BCE)
Orator, statesman, Latin prose stylist; opposed Mark Antony after Caesar's death
Camillus and Cicero defeated the conspiracy of Catiline. 1563, p. 599.
Close(d. 314) [Kelly]
Pope (311 - 314) Presided over the Lateran Synod at Rome in 313
Miltiades received a letter from Constantine, instructing him to set up a synod to examine the cause of Cæcilian of Carthage. 1570, p. 141, 1576, p. 104, 1583, p. 103.
Close(d. 380) [Gams]
Patriarch of Alexandria (373 - 80)
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 23; 1576, p. 18; 1583, p. 18.
CloseLeading C4 Arian [Catholic Encyclopedia sub Julius I]
Bishop of Singidunum, deposed by the Council of Sardica in 343; made a formal recantation to Julius I; reinstated
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 23; 1576, p. 18; 1583, p. 18.
CloseLeading C4 Arian [Catholic Encyclopedia sub Julius I]
Bishop of Mursia, deposed by the Council of Sardica in 343; made a formal recantation to Julius I; reinstated
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 23; 1576, p. 18; 1583, p. 18.
so thereof is deriued by a metaphor, to what man or thing soeuer nature or condition hath giuen the greatest excellēcie, of gifts and properties aboue other partes or mēbers, the same societie to be called of the said parties, Caput, or Princeps, head or Prince. And yet the same head or Prince so called, hath not alwayes dominion or iurisdictiō of the rest. So we call in our vulgar speach the head or chiefe men of the parish, who for their riches, wisdom, or place, are most specially noted: After like phrase of speach we call the head man of the Inquest, him that hath the first place. And yet neither they nor these haue any dominion or iurisdiction vpon the residue. In a schoole the chiefest Scholer in learning, is not therefore the maister or gouernour of his fellowes. Neither hath M. Cicero any title thereby to claime subiection and seruice of all other Oratours, because he is named Princeps eloquentiæ, and goeth before them in that kind of phrase. The same Cicero. Lib. 1. offic. calleth Cratippū principem huius ætatis Philosophorum:MarginaliaHow Peter is Princeps Apostolorum. Princeps eloquētiæ Cicero. Princeps Philosophorum Cratippus.as Homerus also may be called Poetarum Princeps
CloseNot translated
John Wade, University of Sheffield
The Prince of eloquence . . . the leading Cratippus of the philosophers of this age, as Homer also may be called the Prince of Poets.
Quare quamquam a Cratippo nostro, principe huius memoriae philosophorum, etc.
Foxe has 'aetatis' rather than 'memoriae', but the passage is correctly cited and translated.
And what if S. Peter the blessed Apostle be called and counted of the old auncient Doctours, as head and Prince of the Apostles, which is as much as Coryphæus Apostolorum,MarginaliaPetrus Princeps & Coryphæus Apostolornm.for his excellent faith, for his deuine confession & singular affection to the Lorde Iesus: yet what Interest or charge either hath he to chalenge ouer the Apostles, or the Pope after him ouer all other bishops & the whole church of Christ, although the Pope haue the like excellencie of Christes faith which Peter had, as would God he had? As concerning these allegations therfore out of the Doctors, two thinges are to be obserued: First, that neither these names and titles though they be geuen to Peter, doe geue him any state or dominion aboue other Apostles: nor yet the succession of him doth further any whit this celsitude and regalitie of the Pope to aduance him aboue his fellow Archbishops, as he now doth.
[Back to Top]And if our aduersaries would needs prouoke vs to the numbring of testimonies, & deuiding the house (speaking of the writers and Counsels of the Primitiue age) for these aforesaid testimonies alleaged on their side, I could on the contrary part recite out of the witnesse of Doctours, out of the examples of Councels, & practises of Emperors, no lesse then 60. voices, much more repugnant against their assertion, then there is for the Pope. The tractation wherof for this present I do refer, either to them that haue more laisure at this time to discourse them, or els omit it to an other time, if the good pleasure of the Lord shall be, to graunt me further laisure in an other Booke to intreat thereof at large, in such order, as (if the Lord so graunt) shal appeare sufficient matter, to proue by the Doctors, general Councels, examples and histories of time, that the Bishops of Rome during the first 500. yeres after Christ, although for the greatnes of the Empire, were some what more magnified then the other, and therfore were sought of many, and were flattred of some, and they themselues diuers, did set forth themselues more then they should: yet by the commō consent of churches, were stopped of ther purpose, so that by the consension of the most part, within the compasse of that age the Bishops of Rome had not this regall state of title, iurisdiction, and fulnes of power, which now they vsurpe, but were taken as Archbishops, of equal honour, of equal merite with other Archbishops & rulers of þe church. And if any preferment was giuen vnto them some thing aboue the rest, yet neither was it so giuen of all, nor of the most part: secondly, neither was it so giuen of them for any such necessitie of Gods worde, aut iure aliquo diuino, as which did so bind them thereunto, nor yet so much for the respect of Peter, & his succession: as for certaine other causes and respects, as may be gathered to the number of 13.MarginaliaCauses 13. of aduauncing the sea of Rome.
[Back to Top]Marginalia1.Of which, the first is the greatnesse of the citie and Monarchie of Rome.
Marginalia2.The second, is the authoritie of the Emperor Constantine the great, first of the Emperors conuerted to the faith, and ruling in the same citie, by whom the vniuersal libertie of the church was first promooted; and the causes of the bishops being then at variance, were committed partly to the bishop of Rome, partly to other bishops nere by, to be decided, as appeareth Euseb. lib. 10. cap. 5.
[Back to Top]Marginalia3.The third, was the Councel of Nice, which confirmed the preeminence of that church to haue the ouersight of the churches bordering about it.
Marginalia4.The fourth cause of aduauncing the church of Rome, was the vnquiet state of the Greek church, much troubled in those dayes with sects, factions, and dissentions, wherof we may read, Socrat. lib. 2. cap 15. Sozom. lib. 3. cap. 8.
Marginalia5.The fift, when Synodes were called by other Metro-
politanes, then if it chanced the bishops of Rome to be absent, and their sentence being absent to be required, by the occasion therof, they began at length to take their sentence for a Canon or rule Ecclesiasticall, & thereby to refuse other Synodes, where their decree or sentēce was not required.
Marginalia6.An other cause was, that when any common matter was in hand in other places, whatsouer was done, commonly the maner was to write to the Romaine bishop for his approbatiō in the same, for publike vnitie and consent to be had in Christes church, as appeareth Lib. 10. Epist. 78. Ambrosij ad Theophilum.
[Back to Top]Marginalia7.Item, for that the testimonie somtimes of the Romain bishop was woont in those dayes also to be desired, for admitting teachers and bishops in other churches, whereof we haue example in Socrat lib. 4. cap. 37.
Marginalia8.Moreouer, this was a great setting vp of that church, when as their sentence not only was required, but also receiued diuers times of other bishops. And when Bishops of other prouinces were at any dissention among thēselues they of their owne accord appealed to the bishop of Rome, desiring him to cite vp both parties, and to haue the hearing and deciding of the cause, as did Macarius and Hesychius send to Iulius, the bishop of Rome, &c.
[Back to Top]Marginalia9.Item, in that certaine of the Arrians returning from their Arrianisme, offered vp and exhibited vnto the bishops of Rome their libels of repentance, and were of them receiued againe, as Vrsatius and Valens did to Iulius. . Socra. lib. 2. cap. 24.
Marginalia10.The x. cause was also, for that Gratianus the Emperour made a law, that all men should retaine that religiō which Damasus bishop of Rome, and Peter bishop of Alexandria did hold. Sozom lib. 7. cap. 4.
Marginalia11.And also, if it happened the bishop of Rome to disalow the ordering of any minister or ministers; the Popes perceiuing how diligent and redy they were to seeke their fauour, and to send vp their messengers to Rome for their purgation, tooke therby no little maner of exaltation. Theodoret. lib. 5. cap. 23.
[Back to Top]Marginalia12.Besides these aforesaid, the bishops of Rome had also an other artificiall practise, that in sending out their letters abroad, as they did to many, in all their Epistles (if the Epistles be theirs, and not forged) euer they were harping of the greatnes of their name, and of their Apostolike sea, and of the primacie of S. Peter, their predecessor and prince of all the Apostles, &c. And this they vsed in euerie letter, when so euer they wrote to any, as appeareth in all their letters decretall, namely, in the letters of Miltiades, Marcellus, and Marcus, &c.
[Back to Top]Marginalia13.Againe, if any of the East church directed any writing to them, wherein any signification was conteined of neuer so little reuerence giuen vnto them (as learned men commonly vse for modesties sake) that was taken by & by and construed for plaine subiection, and due obedīce, as declareth the letter of Damasus, written to the bishops of the East Church, beginning thus: Quod debita reuerentia, &c.
CloseQuod debita reuerentia &c.
but that your charitie yeldeth dew reuerēce to the Apostolicall sea, you in so doynge (deare children) do much for your selues &c.
Quod vestra charitas debitam sedi apostolicae reverentiam tribuit, filii honoratissimi, etc.
The Latin text has been severely truncated.
Thus haue ye the first and originall groundes, by the meanes wherof, the Archbishops of the Romish Sea haue atchieued to this their great kingdome and celsitude ouer Christes church; first beginning the mysterie of their iniquitie, by that which was modestly and voluntarily giuē them. Afterward by vse and custome claiming it ambitiously vnto them, of dutie & seruice; & lastly holding fast (as we see) that which once they had gotten into their possessiō, so that now in no case they can abide the birdes to cal home their fethers againe, which they so long haue vsurped.
[Back to Top]And thus much concerning the life, iurisdiction, & title of the Romain bishops: In all which (as is declared) they and not we, haue fallen from the church of Rome.MarginaliaThis latter Church of Rome differing from the first Church of Rome, in forme of gouernement.To these I might also ioyne the maner of gouernment, wherin the said Romish Bishops haue no lesse altered both from the rule of Scripture, and from the steps of the true church of Rome, which gouernment as it hath bene, and ought to be only spirituall: so hath the bishop of Rome vsed it of late yeres no otherwise, thē hath an earthly king or prince gouerned his realme & dominiōs, with riches, glory, power, terror, outward strēgth, force, prisō, death, executiō, lawes policies, promooting his friends to dignities, reuenging his affections, punishing and correcting faults against his person more then other offences against God committed, vsing and abusing in all these things the word of God for his pretext & cloke to worke his worldly purpose withall:
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