Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…

¹And now to return again to the order of bishops of Rome intermitted: after Eleutherius afore mentioned, next in the bishopric of Rome succeeded Victor, who as Platina saith, died quietly in the days of Severus. But Damasus Supplementum, Lib. 8. and such as follow the common Chronicles, affirm that he died a Martyr, after he had sitten x. or as some say xij. years. This Victor was a great styrre• (as partly before is signified) in the controversy and contention of Easter day. For the which he would have proceeded in excommunication against the churches of Asia, had not Irenaeus then bishop of Lions, with the counsel of other his brethren there assembled, repressed his intended violence. As touching that controversy of Easter in those dais of the primitive Church, the original thereof was this, as Eusebius, Socrates, Platina, and other record. First, certain it is,² that the Apostles only being intentive and attendant to the doctrine of salvation, gave no heed nor regard to the observation of days & times, neither bound the Church to any ceremonies and rites, except those things necessary mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, as strangled and blood, which was ordained then of the holy Ghost, not without a most urgent and necessary cause, touched partly in the history before. For when the murdering and blood of Infants was commonly objected by the Heathen persecutors against the Christians, they had no other argument to help themselves, nor to refel the adversary, but only their own law, by the which they were commanded to abstain not only from all mens blood, but also from the blood of all common beasts. And therefore that law seemeth by the holy Ghost to be given, & also to the same end & continued in the Church, so long as the cause, that is the persecutions of the Heathen Gentiles continued. Beside these we read of no other ceremonies or rites, which the Apostles greatly regarded, but left such things free to the liberty of Christians, every man to use therein his own discretion, for the using or not using thereof. Whereupon, as concerning all the ceremonial observations of days, times, places, meats, drinks, vestures, and such other, of all these things neither was the diversity among men greatly noted, nor any uniformity greatly required.

¹And now to returne agayne to the order of bishops of Rome intermitted: after Eleutherius afore mentioned, next in the bishoprike of Rome succeded Victor, who as Platina sayth, died quietly in the dayes of Seuerus. But Damasus Supplementum, Lib. 8. and such as folow the common Chronicles, affirme that he died a Martyr, after he had sitten x. or as some say xij. yeares. This Victor was a great styrre (as partly before is signified) in the controuersie and contention of Easterday. For the which he would haue proceded in excommunication against the churches of Asia, had not Irenaeus then bishop of Lions, with the counsaile of other his brethren there assēbled, repressed his intended violence. As touching that cōtrouersie of Easter in those dais of the primitiue Church, the originall thereof was this, as Eusebius, Socrates, Platina, and other record. First, certain it is,