Melchiades counterfeited. Isidore Mercator confessed to be a Forgery. The Council of Laodicea corrupted, both by a Fraud in the Text, and by the False Glosses of the Papists.

The Forgery put out at first in the name of Melchiades, concerning the Primitive Church, and the Munificence of the Emperour Constantine, hath now gotten a clause added to the Title, viz. Falsly ascribed to Melchiades: In Binius, Labbé, and the Collectio Regia. Upon those words, Falsly ascribed to Melchiades, Binius speaketh thus. ‘That this Epistle was ascribed to Melchiades, appeareth Can. Futuram ‘12. q. i. & Can. Decrevit. Dist. 88. which bearing the name of Melchiades, contain for the most part the things which are written here. It appeareth from hence also, that hitherto it was commonly put in the former Edition of the Councils, just after the Decrees of Melchiades the Pope.’ Thus was this counterfeit Epistle placed among their Laws and Councils. ‘But that it was noted with the false Title and name of Melchiades, appeareth from hence; (saith he) because it maketh mention of the Nicene Council: which by the consent of all men happened after the death of Melchiades, and after the Baptism of the Emperour: not under Melchiades, but under Sylvester, in the year of Christ 325. being the 20 year of Constantine, as almost all Historians unanimously do testifie. Perhaps therefore it is more true, that Isidore himself, being a Compiler, rather than a Collector, was the Author of this Epistle: Which it is certain was made out of the third Canon of the Council of Chalcedon, and a certain fragment of the 24 Epistle in the i. Book of Pope Gregory, and the History of the Nicene Council.’ Baron. An. 312. Nu. 80.

Here we come to know the manner how Decretal Epistles were made: Good passages stoln out of the Fathers, are clapt Artificially together, and a Grain or two of Interest, thrust neatly in, makes up an Epistle. This of Binius is plain dealing. Isidore is confessed to be a Compiler, that is, a Forger, rather than a Collector, or Recorder of the Councils.

*Note this well: because Isidore is the Fountain (a muddy dirty one) out of which they drink their waters.