The B. of Salisbury.The B. of Sarisburie.

The B. of Salisbury.

The B. of Sarisburie.

This story is common and known to many. The west Church in keeping of Easter day followed S. Peter: the East Church followed S. John, and kept it otherwise. Hereof grew contention, and brake out into cruel heats. Victor the Bishop of Rome on the one side: and Polycarpus the Bishop of Smyrna on the other side: both godly men, and both Martyrs. Each part would have the other to yield. Victor being a man of a fiery nature, was minded to Excommunicate the whole Church of Asia, and all others what so ever, that in keeping of Easter day would not follow the Church of Rome. Irenaeus the Bishop of Lions hearing thereof, wrote unto him a sharp letter out of France, willing him in ⟨p. 40⟩anywise to proceed no further: for that it might tend to such a breach, as would not afterward be recovered. Among other words he saith thus, as it is here alleged: The Priests, that were (in Rome) before thee, notwithstanding they kept not the Easter as they of Asia do, yet they sent the Sacrament unto the Priests of those Churches, when they came to Rome. Hereof M. Harding concludeth: Ergo, these Bishops did Communicate before they met together: and noteth also by the way in the Margin, that the Greek in Eusebius differeth from the common Translation of Rufinus. And yet is the same Translation alleged and used in the book of Councils among the Decrees of Victor.¹ But if M. Harding had marked the matter well, he should have seen that his own Translation in English varieth also somewhat from the Greek.

This storie is common and knowen to many. The weast Churche in kéepinge of Easter day folowed S. Peter: the East Churche folowed S. Iohn, and keapte it otherwise. Hereof grew contention, and brake out into cruel heates. Uictor the Bishop of Rome on the one side: and Polycarpus the Bishop of Smyrna on the other side: bothe godly men, and both Martyrs. Eche parte woulde haue the other to yelde. Uictor being a man of a fierie nature, was minded to Excommunicate the whole Churche of Asia, and al others what so euer, that in kéepinge of Easter day woulde not folow the Churche of Rome. Irenaeus the Bishop of Lions hearing thereof, wrote vnto him a sharpe letter out of Fraunce, willinge him in