Footnote 5: _John_ XXII. Footnote 6: Direct. Inquis. part. ii. quæst. 51. See also _Antoninus_ in his _Summa theologiæ_, part. iv. tit. ii. c. 7. num. 5. _Petrus Alliacus Cameracensis_; _Continuator Nangii ad ann._ 1333; _Joannes Gerso in Ser. de Fest. Paschat. Longus in Monas. Cicestr. Chronic._ and _Gobelinus Cosmodromii ætat._ vi. c. 71. Footnote 7: _Phocas_ settled himself on the Imperial throne by the murder of _Mauritius_, his lawful sovereign, and the massacre of his six children, and of all his friends and relations. Five of his children he caused to be inhumanly butchered in the presence of their father. Footnote 8: _Gregory_ styles him a most pious and religious Prince; caused his image, and that of his wife _Leontia_, who was no better than he, to be lodged in an oratory at _Rome_; and, congratulating him on his advancement to the throne, ascribes it to a particular Providence. Footnote 9: _Gregory the Great._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] THE HISTORY OF THE POPES, OR BISHOPS of _ROME_ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- _St._ PETER It is out of some Regard to an antient Tradition, that I have placed St. _Peter_ at the Head of the Bishops of _Rome_, though I am well apprised, that this, like most other Traditions, will hardly stand the Test of a strict and impartial Examination. [Sidenote: _That St. Peter was ever at_ Rome, _known only by Tradition._] To avoid being imposed upon, we ought to treat Tradition as we do a notorious and known Lyer, to whom we give no Credit, unless what he says is confirmed to us by some Person of undoubted Veracity. If it is affirmed by him alone, we can at most but suspend our Belief, not rejecting it as false, because a Lyer may sometimes speak Truth; but we cannot, upon his bare Authority, admit it as true. Now that St. _Peter_ was at _Rome_, that he was Bishop of _Rome_, we are told by Tradition alone, which, at the same time, tells us of so many strange Circumstances attending his coming to that Metropolis, his staying in it, his withdrawing from it, _&c._ that, in the Opinion of every unprejudiced Man, the Whole must favour strongly of Romance. [Sidenote: _Tradition not to be depended upon._] Thus we are told, that St. _Peter_ went to _Rome_ chiefly to oppose _Simon_, the celebrated Magician; that, at their first Interview, at which _Nero_ himself was present, he flew up into the Air, in the Sight of the Emperor, and the whole City; but that the Devil, who had thus raised him, struck with Dread and Terror at the Name of _Jesus_, whom the Apostle invoked, let him fall to the Ground, by which Fall he broke his Legs.