IV

PREFACE.

and is equally impartial throughout. It is satisfactory, therefore, tofind that the proportionate space occupied by the letters contained inthis volume—about three-sevenths of the whole—is very nearly the •same as is occupied by the same letters in both those indices. TheEditors must also express their sense of the liberality with whichthe publisher has facilitated this completeness of the work.

The contingencies and anxieties, to which the Editors havereferred, render them the more bound to record their grateful thanksto the contributors and advisers who have continued their supportto them, notwithstanding their own varying and increasing burdens.More especially are they bound to express their warm gratitude tothe Bishop of Chester and to Dr. Salmon, the Begins Professor ofDivinity at Dublin, for the kindness with which they have continuedto read through the proofs of the work to the very last, and to assistihe Editors with their learned counsel. A special acknowledgmentis also due from them to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who, not-withstanding his arduous responsibilities, has found time to complete,even to the smallest name, his treatment of the persons connectedwith St. Cyprian. They find it difficult to single out other nameswhere so many have been generous and unwearied; but one othercolleague claims a peculiar tribute of gratitude. The devotion, theaccurate and thoughtful learning, the generous labour and theunwearying care, of the Rev. Charles Hole, Lecturer in EcclesiasticalHistory at King’s College, London, have conferred incalculableadvantages on this work, and have, it is hoped, rendered a degreeof accuracy practicable which, without such help, would have beenscarcely attainable in so large a work, conducted under such condi-tions. With all these efforts, there must remain much to be desiredin this first effort to furnish a complete Biographical Cyclopaedia ofChristian Antiquity. But the Editors venture to hope that, by thecombined efforts of the contributors, a great advance has been madein this direction, and that the work may materially promote, bothhere and abroad, a fuller comprehension of Church History.