. He
came to Rome when Nero was not fully confirmed in the empire, and Nero
hearing that there was disputing and questions made between Paul and the
Jews, he, recking not much thereof, suffered Paul to go where he would,
and preach freely. Jeronimus saith in his book, De viris illustribus,
that the thirty-sixth year after the Passion of our Lord, the second
year of Nero, St. Paul was sent to Rome bound, and two years he was in
free keeping and disputed against the Jews, and after, he was let go by
Nero, and preached the gospel in the west parts. And the fourteenth year
of Nero, the same year and day that Peter was crucified, his head was
smitten off. Haec Jeronimus. The wisdom and religion of him was published
over all, and was reputed marvellous. He gat to him many friends in the
emperor's house and converted them to the faith of Christ, and some of
his writings were recited and read tofore the emperor, and of all men
marvellously commended, and the senate understood of him by things of
authority.

It happed on a day that Paul preached about evensong time in a loft, a
young man named Patroclus, butler of Nero, and with him well-beloved,
went for to see the multitude of people, and the better for to hear
Paul he went up into a window, and there sleeping, fell down and died,
which when Nero heard he was much sorry and heavy therefor, and anon
ordered another in his office. Paul knowing hereof by the Holy Ghost,
said to them standing by him that they should go and bring to him
Patroclus, which was dead, and that the emperor loved so much. Whom when
he was brought, he raised to life and sent him with his fellows to the
emperor, whom the emperor knew for dead, and, while he made lamentation
for him, it was told to the emperor that Patroclus was come to the gate.
And when he heard that Patroclus was alive he much marvelled, and
commanded that he should come in. To whom Nero said: Patroclus, livest
thou? And he said: Yea, emperor, I live; and Nero said: Who hath made
thee to live again? And he said: The Lord Jesu Christ, king of all
worlds. Then Nero being wroth said: Then shall he reign ever and resolve
all the royaumes of the world? To whom Patroclus said: Yea, certainly,
emperor; then Nero gave to him a buffet, saying: Therefore thou servest
him, and he said: Yea, verily, I serve him that hath raised me from
death to life. Then five of the ministers of Nero, that assisted him,
said to him: O emperor, why smitest thou this