1583 Edition | Book 1 | Page 76 
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(d. c. 134) Greek Christian author and apologist [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Aristides presented an oration and an apology in defence of the Christian religion to Hadrian. 1570, pp. 66, 78; 1576, pp. 41, 53; 1583, pp. 41, 53.
Close(d. c. 215) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Greek Christian scholar, theologian; head of the catechetical school of Alexandria; convert to Christianity. Wrote Exhortation, The Tutor, and The Miscellanies
He is described as a man of notable learning, a large number of whose books had been lost. 1570, p. 79; 1576, p. 54; 1583, p. 53.
Clement agreed that the apostles Paul, Philip and Peter were married. 1570, p. 1318; 1576, p. 1127; 1583, p. 1152.
CloseLegendary missionary sent by Pope Eleutherius to King Lucius of Britain
Damian was one of two missionaries sent at the request of King Lucius and who converted him. 1570, pp. 78, 146; 1576, pp. 53, 108; 1583, pp. 53, 107.
Close(d. 231) [Gams; Catholic Encyclopedia]
Patriarch of Alexandria (188 - 231)
Demetrius sent Pantenus to preach to the Indians. 1570, p. 79; 1576, p. 54; 1583, p. 53.
He was succeeded by Heraclas. 1570, p. 87; 1576, p. 61; 1583, p. 60.
CloseReputedly converted by St Paul [Catholic Encyclopedia]
First bishop of Athens
A series of writings, known as Pseudo-Areopagites, was falsely attributed to him: the authorship began to be challenged C15
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 78; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
CloseBishop of Corinth c. 170; ecclesiastical writer [Catholic Encyclopedia]
He wrote epistles to many churches. 1570, pp. 56, 78; 1576, pp. 35, 53; 1583, pp. 35, 53.
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.
CloseLegendary missionary sent by Pope Eleutherius to King Lucius of Britain
Fugatius was one of two missionaries sent at the request of King Lucius and who converted him. 1570, pp. 78, 146; 1576, pp. 53, 108; 1583, pp. 53, 107.
Close(fl. C5-6) [ODNB]
Wrote an account of the defeat of the Britons by the Anglo-Saxons
Gildas was denounced as a false prophet. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Gildas was one of the sources used by William the Conqueror to compile a book of canons and ordinances to govern the clergy. 1570, p. 1302; 1576, p. 1114; 1583, p. 1139.
CloseC2 writer [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Christian chronicler; wrote to refute Gnostic and other heresies
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 41, 66, 78; 1576, pp. 33, 40, 78; 1583, pp. 33, 40, 78.
CloseTaught philosophy in Bologna in (1351 - 52); writer and historian
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 68, 78, 80, 86, 98, 104, 110, 146; 1576, pp. 40, 45, 53, 55, 60, 69, 74, 79, 108; 1583, pp. 40, 45, 53, 55, 59, 69, 74, 78, 107.
CloseC2 Christian writer who wrote commentaries on Acts and the Epistles
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 78; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
Close(fl. C1 or C2) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Author of the book called 'The Shepherd' (Poimen, Pastor), once considered part of scripture
Hermas was said to have been conversant with Pope Pius I. 1570, p. 78; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
He caused Pius I to change the observation of Easter day to a Sunday. 1570, p. 82; 1576, p. 56; 1583, p. 53.
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(c. 1425 - 1510)
German humanist historian; DCL 1450; taught at the University of Basel; rector of the University of Tübingen 1477; chancellor of the university; judge of the Swabian League (1502 -13); wrote World Chronicle
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 64, 78, 83, 96, 143, 174; 1576, pp. 37, 53, 57, 67, 106, 131; 1583, pp. 37, 53, 57, 67, 105, 130.
Close(c. 100 - 165) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
of Caesarea; Christian convert; writer. Studied philosophy, taught in Rome; martyr
Foxe gives an account of Justin's education and early life. 1570, pp. 72-73; 1576, pp. 48-49; 1583, pp. 48-49.
Justin related in his Apology how the behaviour of the Christian martyrs helped to stimulate his conversion to Christianity. 1570, p. 73; 1576, p. 49; 1583, p. 49.
After his baptism, he went to Rome and disputed with Crescens. 1570, p. 73; 1576, p. 49; 1583, p. 49.
Justin presented an apology to the emperor in defence of the martyrs and in opposition to Crescens. He predicted his own martyrdom through the procurement of Crescens. 1570, pp. 46-47, 64, 73-74; 1576, pp. 37, 44-45, 49-50; 1583, pp. 37, 44-45, 49-50.
Close(supp. fl. 185) [ODNB]
Supposed king of the Britains during the time of the Roman occupation; said to have been the first native Christian convert c. AD 180
At the request of Lucius, Pope Eleutherius sent two missionaries, Damian and Fugatius, who converted Lucius. 1570, pp. 78, 146; 1576, pp. 53, 108; 1583, pp. 53, 107.
Lucius received a letter from Pope Eleutherius in response to his request for Roman laws. 1570, pp. 8, 146; 1576, pp. 7, 108; 1583, pp. 7, 107.
Lucius was baptised, built churches, died peacefully and was buried in Gloucester. 1570, p. 147; 1576, p. 109; 1583, p. 108.
Close(d. late C2) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Bishop of Sardis; Christian writer and apologist
Melito wrote an Apology to Antoninus Pius, in which he defended the Christians. 1570, pp. 67, 75, 78; 1576, pp. 41, 50, 53; 1583, pp. 41, 50, 53.
He differed with the popes over the day of the observation of Easter. 1570, p. 82; 1576, p. 56; 1583, p. 53.
CloseC2 Christian rhetorician of Asia Minor; wrote an Apology now lost: excerpts are contained in the work of Eusebius of Caesarea
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 78; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
CloseC2 Christian convert and prophet [Catholic Encyclopedia sub Montanists]
Advocated virginity and fasting
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. 4; 1570, p. 77; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
Close(d. 828) [Gams]
Greek Orthodox theologian and historian; patriarch of Constantinople (806 - 15)
He is cited extensively by Foxe as a source in Book 1.
Close(d. c. 254) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Christian scholar, theologian
Head of a school at Alexandria; banished by a church council held in 231; started a school at Caesarea; imprisoned under Decius
Origen was a pious and scholarly child. He would have suffered martyrdom with his father during the reign of Severus, but his mother hid his clothes. After the death of his father, Origen supported his mother and siblings by starting a school. He then went on to translate scripture from the Hebrew. 1570, p. 79; 1576, p. 54; 1583, p. 54.
[Back to Top]Origen was sought out by his fellow Christians, and many of his associates were martyred. 1570, pp. 79-80; 1576, p. 54; 1583, p. 54.
He was sent for by Julia Mamaea, mother of Emperor Alexander Severus, and he spent some time with them. 1570, p. 84; 1576, p. 58; 1583, p. 57.
Origen wrote his lost martyrology during the persecutions of Maximinus Thrax. 1570, p. 85; 1576, p. 59; 1583, p. 59.
He and Pope Fabian converted Emperor Philip the Arab and his family. 1570, p. 86; 1576, p. 60; 1583, p. 59.
Origen wrote De orthodoxia su? fidei to Fabian. 1570, p. 87; 1576, p. 60; 1583, p. 60
Under Decius, Origen suffered threats, torture and imprisonment. 1570, p. 87; 1576, p. 60; 1583, p. 60
He was banished from Alexandria for sacrificing to the gods. He went to Jerusalem and spent the rest of his life in misery and poverty. He was buried in Tyre.1570, p. 87; 1576, p. 60; 1583, p. 60
Jerome was at times critical of Origen's doctrine, but praised his learning. 1570, p. 87; 1576, p. 60; 1583, p. 60
CloseC2 leader of a Christian school of philosophy in Alexandria [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Pantenus found the gospel of Matthew in Hebrew. 1570, p. 79; 1576, p. 54; 1583, p. 53.
Close(c. 1092 - 1156)[Catholic Encyclopedia]
General of Benedictine order c. 1122; abbot of Cluny; attended the Council of Pisa in 1134 and the Council of Reims in 1147
Writer; adviser to kings and popes
Writing to Bernard of Clairvaux, Peter noted that the Scots celebrated Easter according to the Greek, rather than the Roman, fashion. 1570, p. 145; 1576, p. 107; 1583, p. 106.
Close(d. c. 180) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Bishop of Cnossus, Crete
Pinytus received a letter from Dionysius of Corinth, asking him not to require chastity of the clergy. 1570, p. 78; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
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.
CloseC2 Christian apologist; partriarch of Athens [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Quadratus produced an Apology in defence of the Christian Religion for Hadrian. 1570, pp. 66, 78; 1576, pp. 41, 53; 1583, pp. 41, 53.
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(d. 447/8) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Historian of the Christian church; lawyer in Constantinople
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 56, 78, 135, 1315; 1576, pp. 36, 53, 98, 1125; 1583, pp. 36, 53, 97, 1151.
ClosePatriarch of Antioch c. 200 - c. 212 [Gams]
Theologian
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 78; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
CloseC5 Greek Christian church historian; continued the history of Eusebius of Caesarea
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 62, 77, 113; 1576, pp. 44, 53, 81; 1583, pp. 44, 53, 80.
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(c. 155 - c. 230) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
of Carthage; Christian convert and writer, church leader
Tertullian was a man of learning and eloquence who defended the Christians under persecution. 1570, p. 80; 1576, p. 55; 1583, p. 55.
Tertullian commended Irenæus for his learning. 1570, p. 80; 1576, p. 55; 1583, p. 55.
Tertullian recorded that Christianity came to Britain in the time of Pope Eleutherius in C2. 1570, p. 145; 1576, p. 107; 1583, p. 106.
Tertullian was a married priest, according to Jerome. 1570, p. 1319; 1576, p. 1128; 1583, p. 1154.
Close(d .c. 190) [Gams]
Bishop of Caesarea, Palestine; writer
Theophilus supported Pope Victor I in celebrating Easter on a Sunday. 1570, p. 82; 1576, p. 56; 1583, p. 53.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 78; 1576, p. 53; 1583, p. 53.
Close(Byzantium, Istanbul) [Bizance]
Turkey
Coordinates: 41° 0' 44" N, 28° 58' 34" E
these wordes that followe: In the dayes sayd he, either of Lente, or in the time of other lawfull fastinges, he that abstaineth not as well from the eating meate as also from þe mixture of bodies, doth incurre in so doing not onely pollution, but also cōmitteth offence, which must be washed away with the teares of repentaunce: Agayne, Apollonius, affirmeth that Montanus the heretike, was the first deuiser and brynger in of these lawes of fasting into the Churche, which before was vsed to be free. Euseb. Lib. 5 cap. 18.Marginalia Montanus first brought in the lawes of fasting Ex Euseb. Lib. 5. cap. 18. but especially by Socrates, wryter of the Ecclesiasticall story, who lyued after the daies of Theodosius, maye bee argued, that this vij. wekes fast is falsely imputed to Telesphorus. For Socrates in his first booke, speaking of this time hath these wordes:Marginalia Ex Socrat. Eccles. Iust. Lib. 5. cap. 20. Romani namque tres ante Pascha septimanas præter Sabbatum & Dominicam continuas ieiunant
CloseRomani namque tres ante Pascha septimanas præter Sabbatum & Dominicam continuas ieiunant,
the Romanes (saith he) doe fast three weekes continually before Easter, beside the Sabbaoth and the Sonday.
[Cattley-Pratt 1877, vol. i. p. 150 has Ecc. Hist.]
After Higynus followed Pius,Marginalia Pius Byshop of Rome. who as Platina reporteth was so precisely deuout aboute the holye misteries of the Lords Table,Marginalia The daungers of letting the holy misteries fall from the Lordes Table. that if any one croome therof did fall downe to the grounde, he ordained that the Priest shoulde doe penaunce xl. daies. If any fell vpō the Superalter, he should doe penauuce iij. daies: if vpon the linen Corporas cloth iiij. daies: if vpon any other linnen cloth. ix. daies. And if any drop of the bloude (saith he) should chaunce be spilled, wheresoeuer it fell it should be licked vp, if it were possible: if not the place should be washed or pared, & so being washed or pared, should be burned and layd in the vestry. All which toies may seeme to a wise man, more vaine and trifling, then to sauour of those pure and straight times of those holy Martyrs. This Pius (as is reported) was much conuersaunt with Hermes called otherwise Pastor. Damasus saith he was his brother, but how is that like that Hermes being the disciple of Paule, or one of the lx. disciples, could be the brother of this Pius? Of this Hermes & of the reuelationsMarginalia The reuelation of Hermes. the foresaid Pius in his Epistle decretall (if it be not forged) maketh mentiō,Marginalia The decretall Epistle of Pius. declaring that vnto him appeared the aungel of God in the habite of a shepherde, commaunding him, þt Easter day should be celebrated of al men vpō no other day, but vpon a sonday, whereupon, saith the Epistle, Pius the Byshop, by his authoritie Apostolicall, decreed and commaunded the same to be obserued of al men.
[Back to Top]Marginalia Anicetus. Byshop of Rome and Martyr. Soter Byshop. Elutherius Byshop. England conuerted to the fayth of Christ.Then succeeded Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutharius, about the yeare of our Lord. 180. This Eleutherius, at the request of Lucius king of Britanes, sent to him Damianus, and Fugatius, by whom the king was conuerted to Christes faith, and baptised about the yeare of our Lorde 179. Nauclerus, Lib Chro. Gen. 6. saith, it was, an. 156. Henr. de Erfodia, saith, it was, 169. in the xix. yeare of Verus the Emperour, some say it was in the vj. yeare of Commodus, which shoulde be about the yeare of our Lorde, 185. Timotheus in his storye thinketh that Eleutherius came himself: but that is not like And as there is a variaunce among the writers for þe count of yeres: So doth there rise a question among some, whether Eleutherius was the first that brought the faith from Rome into this lande or not. Nicephorus. Lib. 2. cap. 4. saiththat Symō Zelotes, came into Britaine. Some other alledge out of Gildas de victoria Aurel Ambrosi, that Ioseph of Aramathie after the dispersion of the Iewes, was sent to Philip the Apostle from Fraunce to Britaine, about the yeare of our Lord 63. and here remained in this land al his time, and so with his fellowes laide the first fonndation of christian fayth among the Britaine people.Marginalia Ex Nicep. lib. 2. cap. 4. Ex Gilda de Victor. Aur. Ambros. Whether this land of Brittaine receiued the Gospell before kinge Lucius dayes. Whereupon other preachers and teachers cōming afterwarde confirmed the same & increased it more. And therefore doth Petrus Cluniacensis call the Scotishmen & so doth count them as more auntient Christians. For the confirmation hereof might be alledged the testimonie of Origene, of Tertulian, and the wordes also of the letter of Eleutherius whiche importe no lesse, but that the faith of Christ was here in Englande among the Britaine people, before Eleutherius time, & before the king was cōuerted; but hereof more shalbe spokē hereafter (Christ willing,) when after the tractation of these. x. persecutiōs, we shal enter þe matter of our English stories.
[Back to Top]About this time of Commodus aforementioned among diuers other learned men and famous teachers whō God stirred vp at that time (as he doth at all other times rayse vp some) in his church, to confound þe persecutors by learning and writing, as the Martirs to confirme the truth with their bloud, was Serapion Byshop of Antioche, Egsippus a writer of the Ecclesiasticall historye from Christes Passion to his time,Marginalia Serapion Byshop of Antioche. Egesippus Ecclesiasticall writer. as witnesseth Hierome, & Eusebius Lib. 4. cap. 8. & 22. which bookes of his be not nowe remayning. And those that be remaining (which be 5. de excidio Hierosol.) be not mentioned neither of Hierome, nor of Eusebius MiltiadesMarginalia Miltiades Ecclesiasticall writer. which also wrote his Apology in defence of christian Religion, as did Melito, Quadratus, and Aristides before mentioned. About þe same time also wrote Heraclitus,Marginalia Heraclitus Ecclesiasticall writer. who first began to write annotations & enarrations vpon the newe Testament, and Epistles of the Apostles. Also Theophilus Byshop of Cæsaria, Dionysius Byshoppe of CorintheMarginalia Theophilus Ecclesiasticall writer. Dionitius Corinthius Ecclesiasticall writer. a man famously learned, which wrote diuers Epistles to diuers Churches, & among other writeth, exhorting Pinitus[illegible text] a certaine Byshop, Ne graue seruandæ castitatis onus necessario fratribus imponat, sed multorum sese imbecilitati attemperet
CloseNe graue seruandæ castitatis onus necessario fratribus imponat, sed multorum sese imbecilitati attemperet,
that he would lay no yoke of chastitie of any necessity vpon his brethren: but that he would consider the infirmitie of other, and beare with it.
"not to put on the brethren a heavy compulsory burden concerning chastity and to consider the weaknesses of the many."
Eusebius, The ecclesiastical history, bk. IV, ch. 23, trs. K. Lake (London : Heinemann, 1926), 2 vols., vol. 1, p.381
Ouer and beside these aboue named, about the daies of Commodus, wrote also Clemens Alexandrinus,Marginalia Clemens Alexandrinus. a man of notable and singular learning, whose bookes, although for a great part be lost, yet certaine of them yet remaine wherin is declared among other thinges, the order and number of the bookes and Gospels of the new testament, &c.
[Back to Top]The same time moreouer liued Pantenus, which was the first in Alexandria, that professed in open schoole to reade, of whom is thought first to proceede the order and maner among the Christians to read and professe in Vniuersities. This Pantenus for his excellency of learning was sent by Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria to preach to the Indeans, where he founde the Gospell of S. Mathewe written in Hebrew,Marginalia The Gospell of S. Mathew in Hebrew. left there by S. Bartelmewe, which booke afterward he brought with him from thence, to the Library of Alexandria.
[Back to Top]Duryng all the raigne of Commodus, God graunted rest & tranquility, although not without some bloudshed