I find nothing else in the antient Writers concerning _Damasus_ worthy of Notice, besides his generously undertaking the Defence of _Symmachus_, who, being Prefect of _Rome_ in 384. the last Year of _Damasus_’s Life, and a _sworn_ Enemy to the Christians, was falsly accused to the Emperor, as if he had with great Cruelty persecuted and oppressed them. But _Damasus_ had the Generosity to take his Part, and clear him, by a Letter he writ to the Emperor, from that Charge[1198]. [Sidenote: Damasus _dies_.] This was one of the last Actions of _Damasus_’s Life; for he died this Year on the 10th or 11th of _December_, being then in the Eightieth Year of his Age, after he had governed the Church of _Rome_ for the Space of Eighteen Years, and about Two Months[1199]. He was buried, according to _Anastasius_[1200], near his Mother and Sister, in a Church which he had built at the Catacombs, on the Way to _Ardea_; whence that Place, though Part of the Cœmetery of _Calixtus_, is by some called the Cœmetery of _Damasus_[1201]. He proposed at first being buried near the Remains of St. _Sixtus_, and his Companions; but afterwards changed his Mind, lest he should disturb the Ashes of the Saints[1202]. He caused the Church of St. _Laurence_, near the Theatre of _Pompey_, probably that which his Father and he himself had formerly served, to be rebuilt, inlarged, and embellished; Whence it is still known by the joint Titles of St. _Laurence_ and _Damasus_[1203]. In that Church his Body is worshiped to this Day. But, how or when it was removed thither, nobody knows[1204]. [Sidenote: _The Decrees ascribed to him suppositious._] Several Decrees are ascribed to _Damasus_ by _Gratian_, _Ivo_ of _Chartres_, _Anastasius_, and others, but all evidently forged by some Impostor blindly addicted to the See of _Rome_, and quite unacquainted with the Discipline of the Church in the Fourth Century. In one of them a Canon is quoted from the Council of Nice, forbidding the Laity to eat or drink of any thing that was _offered to the holy Priests_, because none but the _Jewish_ Priests were allowed to eat of the Bread that was offered on the Altar. We know of no such Canon; and besides, it is not at all probable, that the Council of _Nice_ would have restrained the Clergy from sharing at least with the Poor what was offered them. In another of these Decrees the Paying of Tythes is commanded, on pain of Excommunication; whereas it might be easily made appear, that, in the Fourth Century, the Offerings destined for the Maintenance of the Clergy were still voluntary. Another Decree supposes, that, by an antient Custom, all Metropolitans swore Fealty to the Apostolic See, and could ordain no Bishops till they had received the Pall from _Rome_. For the Sake of this, _Baronius_ admits all the rest: but of such a Custom not the least Mention, or distant Hint, is to be met with in any antient Writer. [Sidenote: _His Writings in Prose and Verse._]