In the reign of the Greek Emperor Justinian, and again in the reign of Phocas, the Bishop of Rome obtained some dominion over the Greek Churches, but of no long continuance.  His standing dominion was only over the nations of the Western Empire, represented by Daniel’s fourth Beast.  And this jurisdiction was set up by the following Edict of the Emperors Gratian and Valentinian.—­[1] Volumus ut quicunque judicio Damasi, quod ille cum Concilio quinque vel septem habuerit Episcoporum, vel eorum qui Catholici sunt judicio vel Concilio condemnatus fuerit, si juste voluerit Ecclesiam retentare, ut qui ad sacerdotale judicium per contumeliam non ivisset:  ut ab illustribus viris Praefectis Praetorio Galliae atque Italiae, authoritate adhibita, ad Episcopale judicium remittatur, sive a Consularibus vel Vicariis, ut ad Urbem Romam sub prosecutione perveniat.  Aut si in longinquioribus partibus alicujus ferocitas talis emerserit, omnis ejus causae edictio ad Metropolitae in eadem Provincia Episcopi deduceretur examen.  Vel si ipse Metropolitanus est, Romam necessario, vel ad eos quos Romanus Episcopus judices dederit, sine delatione contendat.——­Quod si vel Metropolitani Episcopi vel cujuscunque sacerdotis iniquitas est suspecta, aut gratia; ad Romanum Episcopum, vel ad Concilium quindecim finitimorum Episcoporum accersitum liceat provocare; modo ne post examen habitum, quod definitum fuerit, integretur.  This Edict wanting the name of both Valens and Theodosius in the Title, was made in the time between their reigns, that is, in the end of the year 378, or the beginning of 379.  It was directed to the Praefecti Praetorio Italiae & Galliae, and therefore was general.  For the Praefectus Praetorio Italiae governed Italy, Illyricum occidentale and Africa; and the Praefectus Praetorio Galliae governed Gallia, Spain, and Britain.

The granting of this jurisdiction to the Pope gave several Bishops occasion to write to him for his resolutions upon doubtful cases, whereupon he answered by decretal Epistles; and henceforward he gave laws to the Western Churches by such Epistles. Himerius Bishop of Tarraco, the head city of a province in Spain, writing to Pope Damasus for his direction about certain Ecclesiastical matters, and the Letter not arriving at Rome till after the death of Damasus, A.C. 384; his successor Siricius answered the same with a legislative authority, telling him of one thing:  Cum hoc fieri—­missa ad Provincias a venerandae memoriae praedecessore meo Liberio generalia decreta, prohibeant.  Of another:  Noverint se ab omni ecclesiastico honore, quo indigne usi sunt, Apostolicae Sedis auctoritate, dejectos.  Of another:  Scituri posthac omnium Provinciarum summi Antistites, quod si ultro ad sacros ordines quenquam de talibus esse assumendum,