Divers Forgeries contained in Isidore's Collection, mentioned in particular.

I sidore, as he now standeth set forth by Merlin, has 50 Canons of the Apostles for pure and good Records; many Decretal Epistles, made, as he pretends, by the first Martyrs and Bishops of Rome; very long, and full of Popery.

He has two Epistles of S. Clement written to S. James Bishop of Jerusalem, that was dead before S. Clement came to the Chair: one to the Brethren dwelling with S. James, and two others in his name.

He has four Epistles in the name of Anacletus, who lived in the time of Trajan, and sate in the Roman Chair, An. 104. In the last of which the Counterfeit Anacletus feigneth, ‘That all the Primacies and Archbishopricks in the World were divided and setled by S. Peter, and S. Clement; that the Church of Rome is the Head and Hinge of all the Churches; and that all the Patriarchal Sees were made such by vertue of S. Peter: Antioch, because he sate there, before he came to Rome; Alexandria, because S. Mark came to sit there from S. Peter: but Rome especially the first See, because it is sanctified by the death of S. Peter, and S. Paul. As if our Saviours Death were nothing able to sanctifie Jerusalem, as S. Peter's death was to sanctifie Rome: though besides the Death of Christ, Jerusalem hath this advantage, that it is the first Church, and the Mother of us all.’

That you may a little discern the dealings of the Papists, note here, that Anacletus his first and second Epistles are cited by Bellarmine for good Records, in the very same book where he confesseth them to be Counterfeits: For though in one little passage they be confessed for the present satisfaction of a stiff Opponent; yet where men are minded to be corrupt, they may serve the turn in an hundred other places, by a Pious Fraud, and the Confession being over-skipped, they may still seem Authentick, especially if the place happen to be unseen where the Confession was made, as it often cometh to pass in voluminous writings.