all Priests from the accusation of any lay man: as in the first Epistle of Zephyrinus is to be seene, written to the Bishops of Sicilia.Marginalia The first Epistle of Zephyrinus to the Byshops of Sicilia. And likewise the second Epistle of his, to the Bishops of the prouince of Egypt, containing no maner of doctrine, nor consolation necessary for that time, but only certain ritual decrees to no purpose, argueth no lesse but the said epistles neither to sauour of that man, nor taste of the tyme.

Of like credite also seemeth the constitution of the Patines of glasse, which Damasus sayth that the same Zephyrinus ordained to be caried before the Priest, at the celebratiō of the Masse.Marginalia Patins of glasse borne before the Priest. Againe Platina writeth that he ordayned the ministration of the Sacramēt to be no more vsed in vessels of wood, or of glasse, or of any other mettall, except only siluer, gold, and tinne, &c. But how these two testimonies of Damasus and Platina ioyne together, let the reader iudge:Marginalia The ordinaunces of Zepherinus of small credite. especially seyng the same decree is referred to Vrbanus, that came after him. Againe, what needed this decree of golden chalices to be stablished afterward in the Councell of Tybur and Rhenes,Marginalia Golden chalices. Concilium Tiburtinum Rheniense. if it had bene enacted before by Zephyrinus? How long this Zephyrinus sate, our writers do varie. Eusebius sayth, he died in the raigne of Caracalla, and sate 17. yeares; Platina writeth that he died vnder Seuerus, and sate 8. yeares; and so saith also Nauclerus. Damasus affirmeth that he sate 16. yeares and two monthes.

Matthæus author of the story intituled, Flores Historiarū, with other latter Chronicles, maketh mention of Perpetua, and Felicitas, and Reuocatus, her brother, also of Saturninus and Satyrus brethren, and Secundulus, which in the persecution of this Seuerus, gaue ouer their liues to Martyrdome for Christ,Marginalia Ex Florilego. Perpetua. Felicitas. Reuocatus Saturninus. Satyrus. Secundulus. Martyrs. beyng throwen to wild beasts, and deuoured of the same, in Carthage and in Affrike, saue that Saturninus brought agayne from the beasts, was beheaded, and Secūdulus dyed in prison, about the yeare of our Lord, 202. as writeth Florilegus.

Marginalia Seuerus warreth in Brittayne. A wall betweene England builded. 132. miles in length. Seuerus the persecutour slayne at Yorke. An. 215.This Seuerus the persecutor raigned, as the most part of writers accord the terme of 18. yeares, who about þ^e latter tyme of his raigne, came with his army hether into Britaine, where after many conflictes had with the Britains, in the borders of the North, he cast vp a ditche with a mighty walle made of earth and turues, & strong stakes, to the length of 132. myles from the one side of the sea to the other, beginning at Tine, and reached to the Scottish sea; which done, he remooued to Yorke, and there by the breaking in of the Northren men and the Scots, was besieged and slaine, about the yere of our Lord, 214. leauing behind him two sonnes, Bassianus, and Geta. Which Bassianus surnamed Caracalla, after he had slayne his brother Geta here in Britaine, gouerned the Empire alone, the space of sixe yeares. After whose death, he beyng slayne also of his seruaunts (as he had slayne his brother before) succeded Macrinus with his sonne Diadumenus, to be Emperour;Marginalia Baßianus Emperour. Macrinus with hys sonne Diadumenus Emperour. An. 219. who after they had raigned one yeare, were both slayne of their owne people.

After them followed Varius Heliogabalus, in the empire, rather to be called a Monster, then a man, so prodigious was his life in all glotonie, filthines, and ribaudry.Marginalia The monstrous life of Heliogabolus Emperour. Such was his pompe, that in his lampes he vsed balme, & filled his fishpondes with rosewater. To let passe his sumptuous vestures which he would not weare but only of gold, and most costly silkes: his shoes glistering with precious stones finely engraued he was neuer ij. dayes serued with one kynd of meate, he neuer wore one garment twise, and likewise for his fleshly wickednes: some dayes his company was serued at meale with the braynes of Ostriges, and a straunge foule called Phenocapterie, an other day with the toungs of Popiniayes, and other sweete singing birdes. Beyng nye to the sea, he neuer vsed fish: in places farre distant from the sea, all his house was serued with most delicate fishes. At one supper he was serued with 7000. fishes, and 5000. foules.Marginalia A prodigious beligod. At his remooning in his progresse, often there followed him 600. chariots, laden only with baudes, common harlots, and ribaudes. He sacrificed with young children, and preferred to the best aduauncementes in the common weale, most light personages, as baudes, Minstrels, Carters, and such like. In one word he was an enemy to all honesty & good order. And when he was foretold by his Sorcerers and Astronomers, that he should dye a violent death, he prouided ropes of silke to hang himselfe, swordes of gold to kill himselfe. and strong poyson in Iacincts and Emeraudes to poyson himself, if needs he must thereto be forced. Moreouer, he made an high tower, hauing the floore of boordes couered with gold plate, bordred with precious stones; frō the which toure he would throw himself downe, if he should be pursued of his enemies. But notwithstanding all his prouision, he was slayne of the souldiours,Marginalia Heliogabalus slayne of hys souldiours. Ex Eutropio. drawen through the Citie, and cast into Tiberafter he had raigned two yeres and viij monthes, as witnesseth Eutropius, other say foure yeares.

This Heliogabalus hauing no issue, adopted to his sōne and heyre Aurelius Alexander Seuerus, the sonne of Mammea who entring his raigne the yeare of our Lorde, 224.Marginalia Alexander Seuerus Emperour. Anno. 224. cōtinued 13. yeares, well commended for vertuous, wise, gētle, liberal, & to no man hurtful. And as he was not vnlerned himself, through the diligent education of Mammea his mother; so he was a great fauourer of men, wise and learned. Neither did he any thing in the common weale, without the assistance of learned and sage counsailors. It is reported of him, to beare such stomacke against corrupt iudges,Marginalia Against corrupt Iudges. that when he chaunced to meete with any of them, by the commotion of his mind, he would cast vp choler, being so mooued with them that he could not speake, and was redy with his two fingers to put out their eyes. From his court he dismissed all superfluous and vnneedful seruants saying,Marginalia The saying of Alexander to be noted and followed. Idle seruauntes eate vp the bowels of the common weale. that he was no good pupil, which fed idle seruants with the bowels of his common weale.

Among his other good vertues, it appeareth also that he was frendly and fauourable vnto the Christians, as by this act may be gathered: For when the christians had occupied a certaine publike place in some good vse, belike for the assembling and conuenting together of the congregation, the company of the Cookes or tiplers, made chalenge of that place to belōg vnto thē. The matter being brought before the Emperour, he iudged it more honest, the place to serue to the worship of God, howsoeuer it were, then to the dirtie slubbering of Cookes and Skullians.

Marginalia A note worthy to be marked.By this it may be vnderstand, that in Rome no Christian churches were erected vnto this tyme, when as yet (notwithstanding this fauour of the Emperour) no publike house could quietly be obtained for the christians. So that by the reason hereof may appeare the decretall epistle and ordinance of Pope Higynus concerniug the dedication of churches aboue mentioned, pag. 53. to bee falsified. And likewise the ordinaunce of Pius his successour, concernyng the Altar, or Superaltare, to be also false. For what Superaltare was it like, they had in the tyme of Higynus and Pius; when as at this tyme which was long after, no publike place almost could be graunted them for the Christians to assemble together?

Of this Alexander, Platina writeth,Marginalia Platina in vita Pontiane. that as hee was a great hater of all boasters & flatterers, so he was of suche prudence, that no deceit could escape him; and bringeth in a story of one Turinus, who had gotten craftily many great bribes and gifts, in making the people beleue that he was of great authoritie with the Emperour, and that he could helpe them to haue whatsoeuer they sued for. Whereof the Emperour being certified, caused him in the open market to be fastned to a stake, and there killed with smoke, where the Crier stood thus crying to the people: Smoke he sold, and with smoke he is punished.Marginalia Punished with smoke, that sold smoke.

Mammea the mother of this AlexanderMarginalia Mammea the mother of the Emperour. aboue mentioned (whom Hierome calleth a deuout and religious woman) hearing of the same and the excellent learning of Origene, being then at Alexandria, sent for him to Antioche, desirous to heare and see him, Vnto whom the foresayd Origene according to her request, resorted: and after that he had there remained a space with the Emperour, and his mother, returned againe to Alexandria.

And thus continued this good Emperor his raigne the space of 13. yeares; at length at a commotion in Germany, with his mother Mammea he was slaine. After whome succeded Maximinus, contrary to the mynd of the Senate, only appointed by the souldiours to be Emperour. During all this tyme betwene Seuerus and this Maximinus, the church of Christ, although it had not perfect peace, yet it had some meane tranquillitie from persecution. Albeit some Martyrs there were at this tyme that suffred, wherof Nauclerus giueth this reason:Marginalia Ex Nauclero. For although (saith he) Alexander beyng perswaded through the entreating of his mother Māmea, did fauour the Christians, yet notwithstanding, there was no publike Edict or Proclamation prouided for their safegard. By reasō wherof, diuers there were which suffered Martyrdome vnder Almachius & other iudges. In the number of whom after some stories, was Calixtus Bishop of Rome,Marginalia Calixtus Byshop of Rome and Martyr. who succeded next vnto Zephyrinus, aboue mentioned. And after him Vrbanus also, which both beyng Bishops of Rome, did both suffer, by the opiniō of some writers, vnder Alexander Seuerus.

This Calixtus in his two decretal Epistles,Marginalia The decretall Epistles of Calixtus examined. written to Benedictus, and to the Bishops of Fraunce, geueth these ordinances, that no actions or accusations agaynst the Prelates or teachers of the church should be receaued, that no secret conspiracies should be made against bishops. Item, no man to communicate with persons excōmunicate. Also