It was in the Pontificate of _Eleutherius_, that _Florinus_ and _Blastus_ first broached their new Doctrine; which was readily embraced by many at _Rome_; for they were both Presbyters of that Church[238]. _Florinus_ was first one of the Emperor’s Officers in _Asia_, afterwards the Disciple of St. _Polycarp_, then famous all over that Province; and, lastly, Presbyter of the Church of _Rome_; but both he and _Blastus_ were degraded on account of their heretical Opinions, and cut off from the Communion of the Faithful[239]. Against _Florinus_, _Irenæus_, then Bishop of _Lions_, wrote a Letter, intituled, _Of Monarchy, or that God is not the Author of Evil_[240]; and another Piece called, _De Ogdoede_, that is, _of the Eight_; meaning, perhaps, the Eight _Eons_, or Persons that composed the chimerical Divinity of the _Valentinians_; for _Florinus_ fell at last into that Heresy[241]. Against _Blastus_, whom _Pacian_ surnames the _Greek_[242], _Irenæus_ wrote a Book, intituled, _Of Schism_[243]. _Ado_[244] and _Bede_[245] tell us, that _Eleutherius_ issued a Decree, ordaining _Easter_ to be kept on the _Sunday_ after the 14th of the first Moon; but as no mention is made of such a Decree, by any Writer of those Times, their Authority is of no Weight. [Sidenote: _The Conversion of_ Lucius, _a_ British _King_.] _Lucius_, a _British_ King, is said, by _Bede_, to have written to Pope _Eleutherius_, intreating him to send a proper Person into _Britain_, to instruct him in the Mysteries of the Christian Religion; which the Pope readily granted[246]. But as this is vouched only by _Bede_, who lived many Ages after him, and by a Pontifical, supposed to have been written about the Middle of the Sixth Century, what Credit the whole History of _Lucius_ may deserve, I leave the Reader to judge. Such a remarkable Event could not have escaped _Eusebius_, who, speaking of this very Period of Time, tells us, that, at _Rome_, many Persons, eminent for their Birth and Wealth, embraced the Christian Religion, with their whole Families[247]. A solemn Embassy from a _British_ King, and his Conversion, surely deserved a Place in the History of the Church. [Sidenote: _The whole Account fabulous._] He informs us, that, in the Reign of _Commodus_, and the Pontificate of _Eleutherius_, the Christian Religion enjoyed a profound Tranquillity all over the World; that it flourished, and attracted, to use his Expression, the Minds of many People[248]. Had he not here a favourable Opportunity of mentioning our Royal Proselyte, who, in the Reign of _Commodus_, is supposed to have written to _Eleutherius_, and by his means to have been converted to the Christian Religion? To what can we ascribe the Silence of such an exact and accurate Writer, concerning an Event which would have greatly recommended both his History, and the Christian Religion? To an invincible Antipathy, says the Jesuit _Alford_[249], which he bore to