Upon the Death of _Marcellinus_, the See remained vacant somewhat above Three Years and an half; that is, from the 24th of _October_ 304. to the 19th of _May_ 308. when _Marcellus_ was chosen in his room. Thus says the Pontifical of _Bucherius_, where, instead of Seven Years, which is a Mistake of the Transcribers, as is manifest from the Consulships mark’d there, we must read Three[503]. [Sidenote: Marcellinus _and_ Marcellus _confounded by some Writers_;] The Similitude of the Two Names has misled some Writers to confound _Marcellinus_ with _Marcellus_; for _Eusebius_, as well as St. _Jerom_, only mention the former; and _Theodoret_, omitting both _Marcellus_ and _Eusebius_, who succeeded him, names _Melchiades_ as the immediate Successor of _Marcellinus_[504]; which has made Dr. _Pearson_ doubt, whether _Marcellus_ was ever Bishop of _Rome_[505]. [Sidenote: _but distinguished by others_.] But _Marcellinus_ and _Marcellus_ are evidently distinguished in the Pontifical of _Bucherius_, by the different Times, in which they governed, and the different Consuls, under whom their Government began and ended[506]. They are, besides, distinguished both by _Optatus Milevitanus_[507], and St. _Austin_[508], who speaks of _Marcellus_, not only as a Presbyter of the Church of _Rome_, but as Bishop of that See. To these Testimonies I may add the Epitaph of _Marcellus_ by Pope _Damasus_, supposing him to have been Bishop of _Rome_[509]. _Damasus_ flourished about the Year 366. Many things are said of _Marcellus_; but they are all founded either on his Acts, or the modern Pontificals, and consequently have no Foundation at all. Pope _Damasus_, in his Epitaph, tells us, that his Steadiness in keeping up the Discipline of the Church, and obliging such as had fallen, during the Persecution, to give due Satisfaction, stirred up against him a general Hatred, which, not confined to private Disputes and Invectives, ended in Tumults, Bloodshed, and Murders[510]. [Sidenote: Marcellus _is banished_.] _Damasus_ adds, that _the Crime of one, who had renounced the Faith, while the Church enjoyed a profound Peace, induced the Tyrant_ Maxentius _to send_ Marcellus _into Banishment_. But of these Transactions the Antients either have not thought fit to give us a more particular Account, or, if they did, their Writings have not reached our Times. _Marcellus_ died on the 16th of _January_ 310. having held the Pontificate One Year, Seven Months, and Twenty Days[511]; but whether he died in Banishment, or was recalled to _Rome_, is uncertain. [Sidenote: _His Acts are fabulous._] The Church of _Rome_, upon the Authority of his fabulous Acts, has added him, with many others, to the Number of her Martyrs: but _Maxentius_, who reigned at _Rome_ during his Pontificate, and under whom he is said to have suffered, had no sooner made himself Master of that City, than he put an End to the Persecution, as we are told, in express Terms, by _Eusebius_[512].