303. volentibus: ----the reference is to 'Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.'
304. i.e. to the Unity of the Church (cf. i, 1 etc.). qui de collegio vestro ad Pacem transitum fecit.
305. in se.
306. et aliud et extra est. Casaubon remarks here that he does not think that St. Optatus meant to say anything more than what no doubt he might have said much more simply; 'That which is seen is very different from that which is heard.' But he adds that, by the word extra, bitter gossip, which is outside of us, and is only heard, may perhaps be here subtly contrasted with the inherent sweetness which truth has in itself, and which we can, if we will, see for ourselves.
307. longe fuerat. Had been a complete misrepresentation.
308. ut lacerares.
309. These two chapters are given both by Ziwsa and Du Pin as the last two chapters (vi and vii) of Book VII, but are evidently an appendix (written later) to Book III. (cf. p. 271).
310. vobis provocantibus, sc. to the Emperor (see iii, 1).
311. non tandem tractandi, quod est Episcoporum. We learn from St. Jerome and from St. Possidius in his life of St. Augustine that in the churches of Africa priests were not permitted to preach in the presence of a Bishop. But Casaubon has no difficulty in showing that Baronius was mistaken in thinking that this custom ----which St. Augustine tells us (Ep. lxxvii) was abolished in his lifetime----was ever universal, or that priests were anywhere forbidden to preach excepting when a Bishop was present. Still preaching the Word of God has always been regarded in the Catholic Church as per se the duty of a Bishop, only per accidens that of a priest.
312. Rom. xiii, 4.
313. Cf. Ex. xxxii, 28.
314. Cf. Num. xxv, 11.
315. Cf. 3 Kings xviii, 40.
316. sumus enim qualescumque iudices in Ecclesia. Qualescumque is written modestly, in comparison with secular judges.
317. duas portare personas.
318. Gen. iv, 9.
319. Gen. iv, 10.
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