is vouched by _Bede_, who tells us, that he was beheaded at _Rome_, by _Dioclesian_’s Order; but that Historian is often led into gross Mistakes by a Pontifical, supposed to have been written in the Sixth Century, which he frequently copies, with all its Anachronisms, and other Faults. [Sidenote: _Vacancy of Three Years._] That, upon the Death of _Marcellinus_, there happened a Vacancy of some Years, seems undeniable, since it is marked in the Pontificals, even in that of _Bucherius_[499], and mentioned by all those who, till _Baronius_’s Time, have written the History of the Popes: but what at this time should occasion a Vacancy at least of Three Years, is what I will not take upon me to account for: the Persecution lasted but Two Years in _Italy_, according to _Eusebius_[500], which expired soon after the Death of _Marcellinus_: some pretend that it raged there so long as _Galerius_ was Master of that Country. Be that as it will, it is certain, that _Maxentius_ usurped the Empire in 306. and that he not only favoured the Christians, but pretended to be of the same Religion himself; and yet the See remained vacant, according to the Pontifical of _Bucherius_[501], till the Tenth Consulate of _Maximian Hercules_, and the Seventh of _Maximian Galerius_, that is, till the Year 308. _Baronius_ indeed admits of no Vacancy; but, in Opposition to all those who have written before him, places the Election of _Marcellus_ immediately after the Decease of his Predecessor _Marcellinus_[502]. This I should readily agree to, but for the Authority of the above-mentioned Pontifical, which had not yet appeared in _Baronius_’s Time, and is thought to have been written about the Year 354. As for the Chronicle of _Eusebius_, it can be here of no Weight on the one Side or the other, since _Marcellus_ is there quite left out; and his Successor _Melchiades_ is said to have died before _Constantine_ made himself Master of _Rome_; whereas it is certain, that, under _Melchiades_, a Council was held at _Rome_, by that Prince’s Order, as we shall see hereafter. ----- Footnote 493: Buch. cycl. p. 272. Footnote 494: Aug. de bapt. c. 10. Footnote 495: Theod. l. 1. c. 2. p. 524. Footnote 496: Aug. in Pet. c. 16. t. 7. p. 87. Footnote 497: Bar. ad ann. 303. n. 102. 105. Footnote 498: Cyp. ep. 31. Footnote 499: Buch. p. 272. Footnote 500: Euseb. l. 8. c. 14. Footnote 501: Buch. ib. Footnote 502: Bar. ad ann. 304. n. 26, 27. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- MAXIMIAN, MARCELLUS, GALERIUS, CONSTANTIUS, _Twenty-ninth_ BISHOP _of_ Rome. CONSTANTINE. [Sidenote: Year of Christ 308. ]