1583 Edition | Book 1 | Page 61 
Close(d. c. 116) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 109 - c. 116)
Pope Alexander I was said to have raised Hermes' son from the dead and to have cured his maid of blindness. Alexander was imprisoned and cured the daughter of his jailer, resulting in the conversion of the whole household. 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(d. c. 166) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 155 - c. 166)
Anthea sent her son Eleutherius to Anicetus to be brought up in the Christian religion. 1570, p. 66; 1576, p. 41; 1583, p. 41.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 14, 62, 78; 1576, pp. 11, 38, 53; 1583, p. 11, 38, 53.
Close(1389 - 1459) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Dominican theologian; historian. Established the convent of San Marco, Florence, in 1436; archbishop of Florence (1446 - 59)
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 16, 62, 65, 85, 132, 1329; 1576, p. 13, 38, 41, 59, 96, 1133; 1583, p. 13, 38, 41, 58, 73, 95, 1162, 1172.
CloseSaid in Passio S. Alexandri Papae to be a persecuting magistrate at Rome in early C2
Aurelianus was ordered to arrest Pope Alexander I with his deacons and other Christians. 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
CloseSaid in Passio S. Alexandri Papae to be the daughter of Quirinus; Christian convert, virgin; later a martyr
Balbina was cured by Pope Alexander I, resulting in the conversion of the whole household. 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(1421 - 1481) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Humanist author; prefect of the Vatican library. In 1468 he was imprisoned on suspicion of heresy and conspiring against the pope's life. He wrote Lives of the Popes under Sixtus IV.
Sabellico and Platina recorded that Constantine IV decreed that bishops of Rome were to be chosen by the clergy and people, not by the emperor. 1570, p. 5, 1576, p. 4, 1583, p. 4.
He is mentioned by Foxe as a source: 1563, p. 11, 1570, p. 75, 77, 95, 104, 119; 1576, p. 38, 51, 52, 67, 80, 85; 1583, pp. 38, 51, 52, 57, 67, 80, 85.
Close(c. 673/4 - 735) [ODNB]
Benedictine monk at Wearmouth and Jarrow; historian and theologian
Wrote on the use of language, computation, chronology, biblical commentaries, hagiography and biography
Author of Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
Bede entered the monastery at Wearmouth under Abbot Benedict Biscop when he was seven years old. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 124; 1583, p. 122.
Bede was made deacon at nineteen years of age, and priest when he was twenty. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Pope Sergius I sent a letter to Ceolfrith, abbot of Wearmouth, praising Bede's learning and asking that he be sent to Rome. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Bede gave his Anglorum Historia to King Ceolwulf of Northumbria to be approved and amended. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Bede wrote that in his time Easter was celebrated in Britain following the eastern practice. 1570, p. 145; 1576, p. 107; 1583, p. 106.
Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney, in their examination for heresy, said that Bede had translated the gospel of St John into English. 1563, p. 465; 1570, p. 1137; 1576, p. 974; 1583, p. 1000.
Bede died during the reign of Æthelbald of Mercia. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
ClosePope (c. 91 - c. 101) [Kelly]
Leading spokesman of the Christian community at Rome; author of First Epistle of Clement
Clement was banished by Trajan. Later authors recorded that he performed a miracle and was afterward cast into the sea with a millstone around his neck. 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(d. 189) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 174 - 189)
Eleutherius sent two preachers to Britain. 1563, p. 16; 1570, p. 78, 1576, p. 53, 1583, p. 53.
Shortly after Irenæus was made minister, he was commended by the martyrs in Lyons to Pope Eleutherius. 1570, pp. 75, 80-81; 1576, pp. 50, 55; 1583, pp. 50, 55.
According to legend, Lucius, supposed king of Britain during the time of the Roman occupation, was supposed to have requested missionaries from Eleutherius, who sent Fugatius and Damian. 1570, p. 146, 1576, p. 108, 1583, p. 107.
Eleutherius wrote a letter to Lucius in response to his request for Roman laws. 1570, pp. 8, 146; 1576, pp. 7, 108; 1583, pp. 7, 107.
Close(after 310 - 403) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Monk in Egypt; bishop of Constantia (Salamis) (367 - 403)
Wrote on theology, heresies and religious history
Epiphanius wrote condemning the adoration of images. 1563, p. 3.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 62, 74; 1576, pp. 38, 50; 1583, pp. 38, 50.
Close(d. c. 109) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 100 - c. 109)
He ordained bishops, priests and deacons and was said to have been martyred. 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
CloseSaid in Passio S. Alexandri Papae to be an early C2 Christian priest
Eventius was a deacon of Pope Alexander I and was imprisoned with him. 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(d. 1491)[Gary Ianziti,'A Humanist Historian and His Documents: Giovanni Simonetta, Secretary to the Sforzas', Renaissance Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 4 (Winter 1981), pp. 491-516]
of Milan; secretary to the Sforzas (1450 - 79); humanist historian
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1576, p. 62; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(76 - 138) [H. W. Benario www.roman-emperors.org]
Roman emperor (117 - 138)
Hadrian was a persecuting emperor. 1570, p. 54; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
In a letter to Henry VIII, Philip Melancthon referred to Hadrian as an emperor who received the apologies and defences of the Christians kindly and mitigated his cruel decrees. 1570, p. 1340; 1576, p. 1144; 1583, p. 1172.
Close(d. c. 117)
Said in Passio S. Alexandri Papae to have been a prefect of the city of Rome and a convert to Christianity; martyred [www.art.man.ac.uk/cla/samples.htm#symphorosa]
Pope Alexander I was said to have raised Hermes' son from the dead and to have cured his maid of blindness. Hermes was imprisoned at the same time as Alexander. 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(d. c. 142) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 138 - c. 142)
Foxe says that Hyginus did not have authority to decide matrimonial causes. 1570, p. 68; 1576, p. 45; 1583, p. 45.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 62, 78; 1576, pp. 38, 53; 1583, pp. 38, 53.
Close(1434 - 1520)
Chronicler
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 62, 65, 85, 91, 97, 104, 128, 132; 1576, pp. 38, 40, 59, 63, 68, 73, 92, 96; 1583, pp. 38, 58 40, 59, 63, 68, 73, 92, 95.
Close(d. c. 78) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 68 - c. 78)
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. 7; 1570, p. 62; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(1436 - 1506) [Eric Cochrane, Historians and Historiography in the Italian Renaissance (Chicago, 1981) pp. 83-6]
Venetian scholar and historian; curator of San Marco library 1487 Wrote a history of Venice 1485; wrote a history of the world 1504: Rapsodie historiarum enneadum
Sabellico and Platina recorded that Constantine IV decreed that bishops of Rome were to be chosen by the clergy and people, not by the emperor. 1570, p. 5, 1576, p. 4, 1583, p. 4.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 62, 86, 105, 112, 133; 1576, p. 38, 60, 75, 80, 97; 1583, p. 38, 59, 74, 80, 96.
Close(1028 - 1082) [ODNB]
Chronicler; Irish Benedictine monk. Lived in Cologne 1056 - 58, in Fulda 1058 - 69, in Mainz 1069 - 82. Wrote a universal chronicle
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. ; 1570, pp. 62, 84, 86, 133; 1576, pp. 38, 58, 59, 96; 1583, pp. 38, 58, 59, 96.
Close(c. 820 - 867) [Kelly]
Pope (858 - 67) Consolidated papal authority
Foxe includes him in a list of popes who sought confirmation of their elections by the emperor. 1570, p. 6, 1576, p. 5, 1583, p. 5.
Close(c. 1114 - 1158)
Chronicler; fifth son of Leopold III, margrave of Austria, and Agnes, daughter of Emperor Henry IV
Cistercian abbot; bishop of Freising (c. 1136 - 58); went on crusade in 1147
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. ; 1570, pp. 63, 113, 143; 1576, pp. 38, 81, 106; 1583, pp. 38, 80, 105.
Close(d. 155) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 142 - c. 155)
Foxe mistakenly refers to him as Pius II: 1570, p. 11; 1576, p. 9; 1583, p. 9.
Under the influence of Hermas, Pius I changed the day of the observation of Easter to a Sunday. 1570, p. 82; 1576, p. 56; 1583, p. 53.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 62, 78; 1576, pp. 38, 53; 1583, pp. 38, 53.
CloseSaid in Passio S. Alexandri Papae to be an early C2 tribune, the magistrate presiding at Hermes' interrogation. Christian convert, martyr
Quirinus was the jailer of Pope Alexander I. He and his household were converted when Alexander cured his daughter. 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(1451 - 1522) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
b.Volterra; Roman humanist, philosopher, theologian. Established an academy in his house; founded Clarisse monastery, Volterra; wrote an encyclopedia in three parts: geology, anthropology, philology
Volaterran regarded the Donation of Constantine to be a forgery. 1570, p. 144; 1576, p. 106; 1583, p. 105.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. 11; 1570, pp. 6, 63, 78, 86, 96, 105, 1329; 1576, pp. 5, 38, 53, 60, 69, 75, 1133; 1583, pp. 5, 38, 53, 59, 69, 74, 1162
Close(345 - 411) [Alan D. Booth, 'The Chronology of Jerome's Early Years', Phoenix, Vol. 35, No. 3 (Autumn, 1981) pp. 237-259]
Presbyter of Aquileia, Italy; author and translator from Greek to Latin; contended with St Jerome
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 11, 62; 1576, p. 8, 38; 1583, p. 8, 38.
CloseReputed martyr under Hadrian; widow of Valentinus [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Sabina was said to have converted Euphrosina and Theodora. She was beheaded in Rome. 1570, p. 65; 1576, p. 40; 1583, p. 40.
According to Jacobus Philippus Bergomensis, Clepidus was the governor of Rome under Hadrian. He put to death St Sabina and Seraphia of Antioch. 1570, p. 65; 1576, p. 40; 1583, p. 40.
CloseReputed martyr in Hadrian's reign
She is mentioned by Foxe with St Sabina: 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
According to Hermannus, Clepidus, the governor of Rome under Hadrian, put to death Seraphia of Antioch. 1570, p. 65; 1576, p. 40; 1583, p. 40.
Close(d. c. 125) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 116 - c. 125)
Foxe discounts epistles attributed to him. 1570, p. 77; 1576, p. 52; 1583, p. 52.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 62; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(d. c. 174;) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 166 - c. 174)
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 62, 78; 1576, pp. 38, 53; 1583, pp. 38, 53.
Close(d. c. 136) [Kelly]
Pope (c. 125 - c. 136); martyr
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. ; 1570, p. 62, 77; 1576, p. 38, 53; 1583, pp. 38, 52.
CloseSaid in Passio S. Alexandri Papae to be an early C2 Christian priest
Theodolus was a deacon of Pope Alexander I and was imprisoned with him. 1570, p. 63; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
Close(d. 1264) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Dominican friar; French scholar; compiled encyclopedia of all knowledge
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 62, 68, 80, 88, 106; 1576, pp. 38, 45, 55, 61, 76; 1583, pp. 38, 45, 55, 60, 75.
by this it daily appeareth: for when we are slaine, crucified, cast to wild beastes, into the fire, or geuen to other torments, yet we goe not from our confession: but contrary, the more crueltie and slaughter is wrought against vs, the mo they be that come to pietie and faith by the name of Iesus:MarginaliaThe Church increaseth by persecution.no otherwise then if a man cut the vine tree, the better the branches grow. For the vine tree planted by God and Christ our Sauiour, is his people. Hæc Iust.
[Back to Top]¶ To comprehend the names and number of all the Martyrs that suffered in all these ten persecutions (which are innumerable) as it is vnpossible, so it is hard in such varietie and diuersitie of matter, to keepe such a perfect order and course of yeares and times, that either some be not left out, or that euery one bee reduced into his right place, especially seeing the Authors themselues, whome in this present worke we follow, doe diuersly disagree, both in the tymes, in the names, and also in the kynd of Martyrdome of them that suffered.MarginaliaDisagreement in authors touching the liues and tymes of Martyrs.As for example, where the common reading and opinion of the Church, and the Epistles Decretall doe take Anacletus to succeed after Clement, next before Euaristus. Contrary Eusebius, Lib. 3. & Lib. 5. cap. 6. making no mention of Cletus, but of Anacletus, sayth that Euaristus succeeded next to Clement. Likewise Ruffinus and Epiphanius, speakyng nothyng of Anacletus, make mention of LinusMarginaliaLinus Byshop of Rome.and of Cetus, next before Clement, but say nothing of Anacletus, whereby it may appeare that Cletus and Anacletus were one.MarginaliaCletus and Anacletus both one.Sabellicus Ænead. 7. Lib. 2. speaketh of Linus and of Cletus, and sayth that they were ordained helpers vnder Peter, while he laboured in his Apostleship abroad, and so sayth also Marianus Scotus. Contrary Irenæus Lib. 3. contra Hæres. speaketh of Anacletus, making no mention of Cletus. Wherby it may appeare by the way, what credite is to be geuen to the Decretall Epistles whom all the latter hystories of the Popes Church do follow in this behalfe, &c. Moreouer, where Antoninus, Vincentius, Iacobus in Supplemento, Symoneta, Aloysius, with other, declare of Linus, Cletus, Clemens, Anacletus, Euaristus, Alexander, bishops of Rome, that they died Martyrs. Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall history writing of them, maketh therof no mention.
[Back to Top]And first as touching ClementMarginaliaClement Byshop counted a Martyr.(whom Marianus Scotus calleth the first Bishop of Rome after Peter) they say that he was sent out in banishment of Traianus, beyond Ponticus, with 2000. christians, where he opened to them a welspring, whiche in the wildernesse were condemned to the Mines. Afterward being accused to the Emperor, he was throwne into the sea with a Milstone fastened about his necke, and that not long after his body was cast vp & buried (as Platina saith) at the place where the Wel was made. Some say it was found first in the dayes of Pope Nicholas the first, Fascicul. tempor. But forasmuch as I finde of his Martyrdome no firme relation in the auncient authors, but onely in such new writers of latter tymes, which are woont to painte out the liues and histories of good men, with fained additions of forged miracles,MarginaliaThe liues of Martyrs paynted out with fayned miracles.therfore I count the same of lesse credite, as I do also certaine Decretall Epistles, vntruely (as may seeme) ascribed and intituled to his name. Eusebius in his third booke, writing of Clemens, geueth no more of him, but thus: After he had gouerned the Church of Rome ix. yeares, the sayd Clement left þe succession thereof to Euaristus.
[Back to Top]Of which Euaristus next Bishop of Rome,MarginaliaEuaristus Byshoppe of Rome and martyr.thus we find in Irenæus, Lib 3. cap. 3. Peter and Paule (sayth he) cōmitted the charge of that church to Linus. After whom came Anacletus, then succeeded Clemens, next to Clemens followed Euaristus, after whome came Alexander, and then Sixtus the vj. Bishop of Rome after the Apostles. After Sixtus sate Telesphorus, then Higinus, then Pius, then Anicetus. And when Soter tooke the place after hym, then the xij Bishop of Rome was Eleutherius. Thus after Clement followed (as is sayd) Euaristus in the second or third yeare of Traianus as sayth Eusebius, or as Nicephorus sayth, the fourth yeare of the sayd Emperour. But howsoeuer the counte of the yeares stand, little or nothing remayneth of the Actes and Monuments either of this, or of other Bishops of Rome in those dayes. Whereby it may appeare that no great accompt was then made of Romain Bishops in those dais, whose actes and deedes were then either so lightly reputed, or so slenderly committed to history. Notwithstanding certaine Decretal EpistlesMarginaliaThe decretall Epistles.are remayning, or rather thrust vpon vs in their names, containing in them litle substance of any doctrine, but all together stuffed with lawes, iniunctions, and stately decrees, little to the purpose, and less sauoring of the nature of that time then present. Amongest whō are nūbred the two epistles of this Euaristus. And when he had geuen these orders, & had made vi. Priestes,two Deacons, and fiue Byshops, for sondry places (sayth the story,) he suffered Martyrdome, but what kinde of death, for what cause he suffred, what constancy he shewed, what was the order or conuersation of hys life, is nothing touched, and seemeth therefore the more to be doubted that which our new historyes do say: because the olde auncient writers haue no remembraunce thereof, which otherwise would not haue passed such thinges ouer in silence, if they had bene true. Agayne, neyther do the authors fully agree in the tyme of hys martyrdome,MarginaliaNaucl ge. 4 Platina. Volateran Anthropo. Lib. 22. Euseb. Lib. 3. Cap. 24.which Nauclerus witnesseth to be in the last yere of Traianus: but Platina thinketh rather that he suffered vnder Hadrianus: Fascicul temporum, referreth it to the third yeare of Hadrian, Volateranus, to the begynning of the reigne of Hadrian, Contrary, Eusebius comming neare to the simple trueth (as seemeth) doth affirme that Euaristus succeeded Clement in the third yeare of Traianus, and so geuing to him. ix. yeares, it should follow thereby that Euaristus deceased the xii. yeare of Trianus.
[Back to Top]After whome succeeded next Alexander,MarginaliaAlexander Byshop of Rome and Martyr.in the gouernaunce of that Church, of whose tyme & death the like discrepance is among the writers,MarginaliaAuthors disagree.Marianus Scotus, sayth, he was the fourth Byshop from Peter, but that could not be. Some say he was the sixt & some the vii. but they likewise were deceiued. For the most part all do graunt Sixtus to be the vi. Damasus affirmeth that hee was in the reigne of Traiane. And how can that be, when the sayd Damasus affirmed before that Euaristus hys predecessour suffered in the last yeare of Traiane, and then the Byshopricke stood at least a moneth voyde, except hee meane that the sayd Alexander succeeded Euaristus in the last yeare of Traianus? But then how can that stand with Bede and Marianus Scotus, which say, that he suffered vnder Traianus, or with Otto Frisingensis, which sayth he suffered the fourth yeare of Hadrian, whē he had bene Byshop ten yeares, by the generall consent of most writers?
[Back to Top]They which write of the deedes and doynges of thys blessed Byshop, as Bergomensis, Antoninus, Equelinus and such as follow them, declare that he had conuerted a great part of the Senators to the fayth of Christ, amongst whom was Hermes a great man in Rome, whose sonne being dead, Alexander raysed agayne to lyfe, and likewise restored sight to hys mayd being blinde. Hadrian the Emperour then absent hearing this, sent word to Aurelianus gouernour of Rome, to apprehend Alexander, with Euentius and Theodulus, otherwised called Theodorus, as Platina sayth, hys two Deacons, and Hermes, and to commit them to warde with Quirinus the Tribune: whiche being done as their story recordeth, Alexander inclosed in a diuers prison from Hermes.MarginaliaAlexander. Euentius. Theodulus. Hermes with hys houshold. Quirinus with hys houshold Martyrs.Notwithstanding by the guiding of an Aungell through three doores wt three lockes a peece, was brought with candle light to the lodging of Hermes. And so returning to the prison agayne: cured the daughter of Quirinus his keeper, named Balbina. by reason whereof the sayd Quirinus, with his whole houshold were all Baptised, and suffered also for the fayth of Christ.
[Back to Top]Thus then sayth the story, about the second yeare of Hadrian, Aurelianus the ruler tooke Alexander the Byshop, with Hermes, hys wife children, and hys whole houshold, to the number of a M,CC.L. and threw them in prison. And not long after the sayd Alexander with Euentius his Deacon, and Hermes and the rest were burned in a fornace, Theodulus an other Deacon of Alexnder, seeyng and rebuking the crueltie of the tyrant, suffered also the same Martyrdome.MarginaliaEx Platina in vita Alexandri.
[Back to Top]Quirinus also the same tyme (as sayth Antoninus) hauyng first his tongue cut out, then his hands and feete, afterward was beheaded and cast to the dogs. Equilinus saith that he was beheaded and cast into Tyber in the raigne of the Emperour Claudius, but that cannot be. Albeit Platina maketh relation but onely of Alexander with his two Deacons aforesayd. Declaring moreouer, that in the tyme of this Bishop, Saphira of Antioch, and Sabina a Romaine suffred Martyrdome.MarginaliaSaphyra. Sabina, Martyrs.
[Back to Top]Florilegus, the Author of Flores Historiarum,MarginaliaEx Florilego.affirmeth that Alexander Byshoppe of Rome was beheaded seuen myles out of Rome, where he lyeth buried, anno. 105. but that agreeth not with the Chronicles aboue recited. Eusebius recordeth of him no more, but that in the third yeare of Hadrian, he ended his life and office, after he had bene bishop ten yeares.
[Back to Top]Diuers miracles are reported of this Alexander, in the Canon Legends, and liues of Saintes: which as I deny not but may be true: so because I cannot auouch them by any graue testimony of auncient writers, therefore I dare not affirme them, but dd referre them to the authors & Patrons thereof, where they are founde. Notwithstandyng, whatsoeuer is to be thoughc of his miracles. this is to bee
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