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.…

Now to return to Victor again, to show what diversity there was in observing the day of Easter, and how it came, thus is the story: First, in the time of Pius and Anicetus, an. 163. the question of Easter day began first to be moved, at what time Pius, by the revelation of Hermes, decreed the observation of that day to be changed from the wonted manner of the 14. day of the moon in the first month, unto the next Sunday after. After him came Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutherius Bishops of Rome, which also determined the same.¹ Against these stood Melito. Bishop of Sardis, Polycarpus, and as some think, Egesippus, with other learned men of Asia which Polycarpus being sent by the brethren of Asia, came to Rome as is aforesaid, to confer with Anicetus in that matter: wherein when they could not agree after long debating, yet notwithstanding, they did both communicate together with reverence, & departed in peace. And so the celebration of Easter day remained Adiaphoron, as a thing indifferent in the Church, till the time of Victor. Who following after Anicetus and his fellows, and chiefly stirring in this matter, endeavoured by all means and might, to draw, or rather subdue the Churches of Asia unto his opinion, thinking moreover to excommunicate all those Bishops and churches of Asia, as heretics and schismatics, which disagreed from the Romaine order, had not Irenaeus otherwise restrained him from that doing,² as is a foresaid, which was about the year of our Lord .191. in the reign of Commodus. Thus then began the uniformity of keeping that holy day to be first required, as a thing necessary, & all they accounted as heretics and schismatics, which dissented from the Bishop & tradition of Rome.

Now to returne to Victor agayne, to shew what diuersitie there was in obseruing the day of Easter, and how it came, thus is the story: First, in the tyme of Pius and Anicetus, an. 163. the questiō of Easter day began first to be moued, at what tyme Pius, by the reuelation of Hermes, decreed the obseruatiō of that day to be chaunged from the wonted maner of the 14. day of the moone in the first moneth, vnto the next Sonday after. After him came Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutherius Bishops of Rome, which also determined the same.¹ Agaynst these stode Melito. Bishop of Sardis, Polycarpus, and as some thinke, Egesippus, with other learned men of Asia which Polycarpus being sent by the brethren of Asia, came to Rome as is aforesayd, to cōferre with Anicetus in that matter: wherin when they could not agree after long debating, yet notwithstanding, they did both cō municate together with reuerēce, & departed in peace. And so the celebration of Easterday remained Adiaphoron, as a thing indifferent in the Church, till the time of Victor. Who folowing after Anicetus and hys fellowes, and chiefly stirring in this matter, endeuoured by all meanes and might, to draw, or rather subdue the Churches of Asia vnto hys opinion, thinking moreouer to excommunicate all those Byshops and churches of Asia, as heretickes and schismatickes, which disagreed from the Romaine order, had not Irenaeus otherwise restrayned him from that doyng,