please our Lord the Emperour Iuuenalis the most reuerend Bishop of IerusaleÌ„ Thalassius the most reuerend Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia Eusebius the most reuerend Bishop of Armenia Eustathius the most reuereÌ„d Bishop of Berytus and Basilius the most reuerend Bishop of Seleucia in Isauria who were then of autority and chiefe of the councel should be punished alike deposed of their Bishopricks by the censure iudgement of the councel as the canons of the church do require be at the Emperours pleasure After other things were read the byshops then present beinge demaunded whether the Epistles of Leo were agreable with the fayth of the three hundred eighteene holy Fathers assembled of old at Nice in Bithynia and with the Creed of the hundred and fifty fathers in the councell held at Constantinople Anatolius Byshop of CoÌ„stantinople with all the assembly made answere that the Epistle of Leo was no other theÌ„ the faith of the aforesayd Fathers and subscribed vnto it Immediatly the councell cried we are all content we doe all allowe the same we are all of one faith we are all of one opinion we doe all be leue so Thus haue the Fathers which are present in the councell beleued thus haue they subscribed God graunt the Emperour a long life God graunt the Empresse a long life God grauÌ„t the Fathers of the councell many yeres God preserue the liues of such as are of one faith opinion with the councell VVe wish the Emperour many yeares we wish them that hold with the couÌ„cell many yeres God send the Emperour to see many yeares we haue subscribed vnto the faith this is the opinioÌ„ of Leo this is our opinion Last of all they sayd CoÌ„cerning those things we haue sent vnto y â— most holy our most religious Lord the Emperour nowe we wayt for his highnes answere Againe when some told them in this sorte your reuerence and wisedomes haue to render an accompt vnto God for Dioscorus whome you haue deposed vnknowen vnto y â— Emperours most excellent maiesty vnknowen vnto vs in like sorte and for all the things you haue complayned of for the actes of this councell they cried God hath depriued Dioscorus Dioscorus is iustly deposed Christ hath depriued Dioscorus After all this when the PresideÌ„ts had brought forth Martianus the Emperours answere where he had signified vnto them his pleasure toutching the bishops that were deposed the Bishops requested and sayde we pray you as many as be of one opinion as many as hold with the councell as many as subscribed in the councell vnto the Epistle of Leo come into the councell immediatly in they came and downe they sate The supplicatioÌ„s which the Bishops of Aegypt had exhibited vnto Martianus the Emperour were read which besides sundry other things contayned in them as followeth VVe beleue as the three hundred eighteene Bishops which met at the couÌ„cel of Nice haue deliuered vnto vs we hold with the faith of holy Athanasius and holy Cyrill accursing euery heresie both of Arius Eunomius Manes Nestorius of them which say that the flesh of our Lord came downe from heauen was not taken of the virgine Marie mother of God which coÌ„tinewed alwayes a virgine that the same is like vnto our flesh in all things sinne only excepted Then all y t were in the councell cried why haue not these men accursed the opinion of Eutyches let them subscribe vnto the Epistle of Leo and let theÌ„ accurse Eutyches with his heresie let them condescend vnto the Epistle of Leo peraduenture they goe about to deceaue beguile vs. The Bishops of Aegypt made answere that theyr prouince had many Bishops and that they would not take vpon them to answere for such as were absent they requested of the councell to stay for theyr Archbishop that according vnto theyr maner custome they may vphold his censure and opinion They sayd moreouer that if they would decide ought afore theyr Metropolitane were elected the bishops of Aegypt would make an insurrection against them When they had oft intreated and the councell withstoode them motion was made that the Bishops of Aegypt should haue time vntill theyr Archbishop were chosen Next the supplications of certaine Monks were brought forth the summe whereof was y t not one of theÌ„ would take penne in hand to subscribe before the generall assembly met which the Emperour had determined to call together and before they vnderstoode theyr decrees With the reading thereof Diogenes bishop of Cyzicum remebred that Barsumas was one of them which made an insurrection and murthered Flauianus that he had cried kill him And nowe not hauing his name in the supplicatioÌ„ contrary to order to haue presumed to come vnto the councell All the Bishops cried at this Barsumas hath peruered all Syria raised against vs a thousand Monkes When it was moued that as many as were there should waite the councells pleasure and decree the Monkes required that theyr supplications might be read The effect of them was that Dioscorus the Bishops of his opinion might be present at the councell All the councel was moued with this and cried Let Dioscorus be accursed Christ hath deposed Dioscorus out with these Monkes remoue shame froÌ„ the councel take away force and iniurie let not these impious and levvde sayings come to the Emperours eares let not the councell be discredited away vvith infamy The Monkes hearinge this cried of the contrary take away contumely from the Monasteries When the councel had the second time repeated the former exclamation they consulted that the rest of the supplications were to be reade where it was sayde that Dioscorus was iniuriously deposed and that it behoued them of necessitie seeing the controuersie toutching the fayth was to be decided to haue his presence in the councel vnlesse they would doe this that they would shake of the dust from their feete and forsweare the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the Bishops that were present After they had made an end of speaking Aetius the Archdeacon read them the canon that concerned such as deuided them selues from the Churche Againe when the Monkes would not geue eare neither be ruled by the most holy bishops neither by y t entreaty of Aetius the Archdeacon when the one halfe of the councell woulde needes pronounce Nestorius and Eutyches accursed and the other halfe withstoode them the Presidents thought good y â— the supplication of Fâ—ustus and the other Monkes should be read where they craued of the Emperour that the MoÌ„kes which impugned the true faith and sincere doctrine should not be receaued againe for why Dorotheus the Monke called Eutyches the true professor Agaynste whome there were sundry poincts of Eutyches doctrine tossed to fro and discussed in presence of the Princes In the fift session the Senators commaunded them to set forth the decrees and canons of religion after the playnest sorte Asclepiades Deacon of Constantinople read a certen
other For fleshlye pleasure hauinge once takē place obserueth no meane endeth not in good time but by occasiō of one an other is kindled one flame of firy luste flasheth after an other vntill that one hathe gotten either the gouernement of him selfe and geuen vices the ouerthrowe and thenceforth become conquerour or else is ouercome with the tyrannicall slauery of them leade by them vnto the last gaspe and in the end plungeth like a wretch into the deepe pitt of hell CAP. II. Howe the Barbarians inuaded both the East and west contreyes ZEno in the beginning of his raigne leade such a life as I haue described before His subiects throughout the East and West dominions were vexed out of measure and sustayned greate losses for the Barbarians called Scenitae destroyed all places a great multitude of Hunni called of olde Messagetae inuaded Thracia and passed ouer the riuer Danubius without lettor stay Zeno. also was by force after a Barbarian sorte bereaued of the other partes which remained of the Empire CAP. III. Howe Basiliscus the tyrant tooke armour agaynst Zeno and put the Emperour to flight THis Zeno when Basiliscus the brother of Bernia made preparation to take armour agaynst him was of so faynt a courage that he fledde away geuinge vnto Basiliscus the Emperiall honor and victorye without any trauell He was so odious vnto his subiectes who by right detested his abhominable life he had no stomacke at all no shewe of a noble mynde but all luskish and lither of a naughty condition the whiche his sensualitye declared bearinge rule ouer his cowarde minde and slouthfull disposition Wherefore this Zeno together with Ariadne his wife whome he had with him who also had fledde awaye from her mother and if there were any other that bore him good will gotte him into Isauria where he had bene broughte vp and there he was besieged Thus Basiliscus came to be Emperoure of Rome proclaymed his some Marcus Caesar and layde downe a platforme of gouernemente farre contrary both vnto the maner of Zenos raygne and such as were Emperours before him CAP. IIII. Howe Basiliscus called Timotheus Aelurus Bishop of Alexandria home from exile and by his perswasion sent letters into euery Coast wherein he condemned the councell of Chalcedon THis Basiliscus spoken of before at the request of certaine citizēs of Alexandria that were sent vnto him called Timothee home from exile where he had continewed eighteene yeres Acacius then beinge Byshop of Constantinople Timothe after his comming to Constantinople perswaded Basiliscus to send letters vniuersally vnto all Priests throughout the Churches vnder heauen and therein to accursed both the acts of the councell held at Chalcedon and the decree of Leo as toutchinge the fayth the whiche letters were wrytten in this forme The Emperoure Caesar Basiliscus Pius Victorious triumphant chiefe Lorde perpetuall Augustus and Marcus the moste noble Caesat vnto Timothe the moste reuerende and moste holye Archebishop of the noble city of Alexandria sendeth greetinge The lawes and canons hitherto compiled in defense of the sincere and Apostolicke fayth by the moste holye Emperoures our predecessors who worshipped aright the blessed eternall and liuinge trinity seeinge they were godly decreed haue euer bene foūd wholsom for the welth of the whollworld we will neuer haue cancelled nay rather our will is they should be published for our owne proper decrees for we preferre piety and singular loue towards God our Sauiour Iesus who both made and aduaunced vs to glory and renoune before all the care and trauell that is imployed in worldly affayres and we beleue verely that the fastening and knitting together of Christs flock in loue charitie is both a safety vnto vs our selues and vnto all our subiectes vnto our Empire a fundation that can not be shaken and a wall that can not be battered and throwen downe wherefore being moued with the instinct of the holy spirit we haue determined with our selues to offer for a sacrifice vnto God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ the vniforme cōsent of the holy church as the first fruites of our raigne and Empire and ordayned that the ground and bulwarke of the blessed life geuen vnto men to wit the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers of olde assembled together in the holy Ghoste at Nice in the which faith bothe we and all our ancestors were baptized shoulde onely be kept and retayned of the faythfull people throughout all the most holy Churches of God for in this one Creede the syncere fayth is so sufficiently decided both to the ouerthrowe of all erroneus opinions and to the establishing of concord vnity throughout the holy Churches of God And moreouer the canons published to the confirmation of the same faith are of no lesse force vertue Againe we doe ratifie the faith of the hundred fifty holy fathers which assembled in this noble city of Constantinople accursed the blasphemers of the holy Ghost In like sorte we approue the acts of the councel called at Ephesus against wicked Nestorius and such as afterwards embraced his opinion As for such decrees as disturbe the quiet estate of the holy Churches of God the peace of the wholl world to wit the decision and decree of Leo all the canons of the councell helde at Chalcedon whatsoeuer they desined toutching the exposition of the Creede interpretation doctrine and deciding thereof to the end a newefound faith might be established contrary to the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene Godly Bishops spoken of before we ordayne and decree that the most holy Bishops both here in euery the seuerall Churches wheresoeuer doe acurse them whersoeuer they are found that they be burned to ashes for so the godly Emperours of famous memory Constantinus Theodosius iunior who liued before our time commaunded as concerning the hereticks bookes and blasphemous pamphlets VVe will haue them so abolished that they be banished for euer out of the one the onely Catholick Apostolicke faithfull church as constitutions which derogate from the whollsome decrees of the three hundred eighteene holy fathers whiche alwayes oughte to be of greate force and vertue and from the canons established in the holy Ghost of the godly Bishops at the councell of Ephesus To be short that it be not lawefull either for Prieste or for people to transgresse that moste diuine canon of the holye creed but that together with all the newe sanctions published in the councell of Chalcedō the heresie also maye be rooted out of suche as confesse not that the onelye begotten sonne of God was cōceaued by the holy Ghost borne of holy Mary the perpetuall virgine and mother of God truely incarnate and made man but that his flesh came downe from heauen so faine it very monstrously to be figurated in some phātasticall sorte or other we will and commaund that euery erroneus opinion at what time in what sorte or place soeuer throughout
and gouernours thereof and that our Empire neither hath allowed neither will retayne any other creede or forme of faith then that we spake of euen nowe let vs ioyntly without any more a doe be reconciled and embrace vnity and concorde These things haue we wrytten vnto you not to innouate ought as toutching the faith but fully to satisfie you therein VVe doe accurse whosoeuer hath beleued or doth beleue the contrary either nowe or at other times either in the councell of Chalcedon or in any other councell whatsoeuer â–ª but specially of all others we doe accurse Nestorius Eutyches and their coÌ„plices VVherefore hold with your Ghostly mother the Churche and celebrate therein together with vs the one holy coÌ„munion according vnto that one fayth of the three hundred eighteen holy fathers For your most holy mother the Church groneth after you and desireth to embrace you which are her naturall children moreouer she longeth to heare your sweete voyces Get ye thither in all the hast If ye doe this ye shal not onely purchase vnto your selues the fauour of our Lord Sauiour Christ Iesus but also the coÌ„mendation of our highnes This epistle being read all the people of Alexandria returned vnto the Catholick and Apostolicke Church CAP. XV. Howe Iohn the deposed Bishop of Alexandria gott him to Rome and procured Simplicius the Bishop of Romes letters in his behalfe vnto Zeno toutching the iniuries he had sustayned IOhn of whome we spake before tooke his heeles from Alexandria vnto olde Rome and raised there a wonderfull great sedition For he made reporte that they deposed him of his bishoprick for maintaining the decrees of Leo and the councell of Chalcedon and that there was an other placed in his rowme which impugned the same Simplicius Bishop of olde Rome hearing of this was wonderfully moued and wrote in his behalfe vnto the Emperour Zeno but Zeno answered him againe accused Iohn of periurie and that therefore and for no other crime he was deposed CAP. XVI Howe Calandio Bishop of Antioch was deposed for partaking with Ilus Leo and Pampreps and howe the Bishops of Constantinople Ierusalem Antioch and Alexandria were reconciled one to the other CAlandio Bishop of Antioch wrote vnto Zeno the Emperour and vnto Acacius Bishop of Constantinople that Peter was not onely an adulterer but also had accursed the councel of Chalcedon at his beinge in Alexandria Yet afterwardes this Calandio was banished into Oasis for holdinge with Ilus Leo and Pampreps against Zena Peter sirnamed Cnapheus who was Bishop of Antioch before Calandio Stephan recouered his bishopricke againe subscribed vnto Zenos Epistle of Concorde wrote synodall letters vnto Peter Moggus Bishop of Alexandria Acacius Bishop of Constantinople was afterwardes reconciled vnto this Peter Martyrius likewise Bishop of Ierusalem wrote synodall letters vnto him Yet afterwardes diuers withdrewe theÌ„ selues from Peters communion and therevpon it fell out that Peter openly accursed the councell of Chalcedon Acacius Bishop of Constantinople hearing of this was very sory wrote vnto diuers of his friends for to vnderstand the trueth Peter beâ—nge desirous to satisfie them to the vttermost wrot backe againe to purge him selfe that he had coÌ„mitted no such act yet some doe reporte y â— they knewe certainly that Peter wrote no such thing CAP. XVII Of the thinges which Peter Bishop of Alexandria wrote vnto Acacius who maintayned the councell of Chalcedon THe aforesayd Peter being a wauering person and a time seruer continewed not longe in one mind but nowe accursed the councell of Chalcedon and anone recanted him of his folly approuing in all poynts the same councell Wherefore he wrote vnto Acacius Bishop of CoÌ„stantinople in manner as followeth The most high God recoÌ„pence your holynes for your great trauell and carefulnes who not only your selfe many yeares agoe haue kept the faith of the holy fathers but also confirmed the same by continewall preaching publique sermons For the coÌ„firmation of which faith we see that the creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers hath very well bene framed in it we were baptized in it we haue beleued nowe doe beleue the whiche faith also was confirmed by a hundred and fiftye godlye Bishops in the councell of Constantinople wherefore you leade all men coÌ„tinewally as a guide you bring the holy church of God into vnity last of all you perswade vs with inuincible arguments that nothinge was decreed in the most holy generall councell of Chalcedon preiudiciall vnto these canons of the fathers but that such things as of old were established by the holy fathers in the councel of Nice were confirmed in this councell with vniforme consent of all we of our owne part seing we saw therein nothing innouated as toutching the faith haue coÌ„sented theruÌ„to of our own accord beleued the same Yet are we not ignoraÌ„t that there are certeÌ„ moÌ„kes which enuie at our brotherly loue amity which blase in your hearing sclauÌ„derous reports that can not I am sure so easily displease your holynes first of all howe we should translate into an other place the corps of the most holy and our most reuerend father Timothee the Archbishop which as they say is neyther acceptable vnto God neyther agreable vvith the lawes Agayne they gette them vnto the seconde crime the which as it is forged so is it farre more haynous then the other For howe can it be that we should accurse the councell of Chalcedon seing we confirme the same by our beliefe your holinesse I am sure is not ignorant how both people and monks contende here with vs who can first deuise any fonde noueltie they determined to fall againe from the Church together with certaine other lewd persons and to draw the people after them VVherfore beinge holpen with your prayers we haue deuised these letters as a salue for this mischief which derogate nothing at all from the councell of Chalcedon fully satisfyinge our selues that there was no noueltie established therein This haue we done moreouer partly for to perswade the simpler sort of men partly also for their sakes which remaine here with vs that they may haue somewhat for them selues to stoppe the aduersaties mouth with all and by imployinge in this behalfe our continuall trauell and industrye we haue suppressed in short space the furious disposition of the people I woulde haue your holinesse yet to learne one thinge more howe the monks ceasse not at this houre to sowe tares among the wheate how they linked vnto them certaine men whiche neuer liued in the monasteries as instruments of their wicked practises howe they rogue about and spred false rumors both against vs and the quiet state of Christes Churche howe they suffer vs to doe nothinge decently as the canons of the holy and catholicke Churche of Christ doe require but rather bringe to passe that the people will sooner controle vs then be commaunded of vs naye all their doinge is detestable
the hereticke corrupted Anthimus Byshoppe of Constantinople and Theodosius Byshop of Alexandria but the Emperour deposed them and placed other in theyr rowmes THere are extant Epistles which Seuerus wrote vnto Iustinianus the Emperour and Theodora his wife where we may learne howe that at the firste when he fled from the Byshopricke of Antioch he went not straight to Constantinople but in a good while after that beinge at Constantinople he conferred with Anthimus found him of his owne opinion and perswaded him to leaue his Byshopricke He wrote of the same matter vnto Theodosius Byshop of Alexandria where he glorieth that as I sayd before he had perswaded Anthimus to make more accompt of that opinion then of worldly honor and Bishoplicke dignity There are moreouer to be seene toutching that matter the Epistles of Anthimus vnto Theodosius and of Theodosius againe vnto Seuerus and Anthimus all which I purposely doe omitte lest I seeme to stuffe this present volume with toe many such allegations leauinge them for suche as are desirous to sifte them out them selues Bothe these Byshops when they had withstoode the Emperours edictes and reiected the canons of the Chalcedon councell were deposed of theyr Byshoprickes in the seae of Alexandria Zoilus did succeede and Epiphanius in the Byshopricke of Constantinople to the end from thence forth the councell of Chalcedon mighte openly be preached in all Churches and that none durst be so bold as to accurse it and if any were found of the contrary opinion they were by all meanes possible to be perswaded For Iustinianus published an edicte where he accursed bothe Seuerus and as many as helde with him and enioyned greate penalties for such as maintayned theyr opinion to this ends that from that tyme for the there mighte no dissention take roote in any of all the Churches throughout the worlde but that the Patriarchs of euery prouince mighte hold together and the Byshops of euery city obey theyr Archebyshops and that the foure councells the firste helde at Nice the councell of Constantinople the firste helde at Ephesus and the councell of Chalcedon shoulde be preached in the Churches There was a fifte councell summoned by the commaundemente of Iustinian whereof what shall seeme conuenient I will declare when occasion shall serue In the meane space we haue seuerally to discourse of the worthy actes done about those tymes CAP. XII Of Cabades kinge of Persia and his sonne Chosroes out of Procopius history PRocopius Rhetor who penned the life of Belissarius wryteth that Cabades king of Persia purposed to bequeath the kingdome vnto Chosroes his yongest sonne and that he tooke councell howe he mighte procure the Emperour of Rome to adopte him hoping by that meanes to assure him of the regall Scepter But when he coulde by no meanes bring his purpose about Proclus one that was alwayes conuersante with Iustinian and by office his Quaestor was the cause that there rose greater enmytye betwene the Romaynes and Persians then euer was before Furthermore the sayde Procopius discourseth at large of the Romayne and Persian affayres of the bloodye battaills that were betwene them when Belissarius was captayne of the Easterne power And firste he reporteth howe the Romaynes had the victorye at Daras and Nisibis what tyme Belissarius and Hermogenes were chiefe ouer the Romayne Armyes Vnto these he annexeth the state of Armenia and the mischiefe whiche Alamundarus captaine of the Barbarians called Scenetae wrought in the borders of the Romane Empire how he tooke Timostratus the brother of Russinus aliue together with his soldtours and afterwardes tooke for them a great raunsome and let them goe CAP. XIII Of Alamundarus and Azerethus and the sedition at Constantinople where the people had this watchword Nica that is ouercome THe aforesaid author handleth very learnedly how Alamundarus spoken of before and Azerethus inuaded the marches of the Romaine dominions how as they returned into their countrey Belissarius was compelled of his armie to ioyne with them a litle before Easter day beside Euphrates how the Romaine power for not following Belissarius counsell was vtterly foyled and how Russinus and Hermogenes concluded a perpetuall league with the Persians so that he moueth the reader very much Immediatly he entreateth of the popular sedition raised at Constantinople called Nica by interpretation ouercome For that was the watchword which they had chosen to discerne and know their friend from their foe In which insurrection Hypatius and Pompeius were of the people constrained to rebell yet after the rebelles were ouercome Iustiman commaunded they two should be beheaded and throwne into the sea Procopius wryteth that in that skirmish there were staine thirtie thousand persons CAP. XIIII Of Honorichus king of the Vandals and the Christians whose tongues he caused to be pulled out AGain the said author cōmitting to letters the historie of the Vandals reporteth such stories as are worthy of memorie and the printing in Marble the which I am now about to declare Honorichus the successor of Genzerichus in the kingdom being an Arian hereticke raised great persecution against the Christians which inhabited Libya For such as maintained the sound and sincere faith he compelled to embrace the Arian heresie and such as would not yeelde he burned to ashes and executed with sundrie kindes of lamentable death pulling out from some their tongues Of which number after their flight to Constatinople Procopius sayth he sawe certen of them with his owne eyes and that they spake as if they had had no such mischaunce and for all their tougues were pluckt vp by the rotes yet talked they very plaine and distinctly which was very straunge and in maner incredible Of these kinde of people there is mention made in the Edict of Iustinus two of them sayth Procopius lost their speach for immediatly after they went about to talke to women their voyce was taken from them and the Martyrs gift remained no longer wyth them CAP. XV. Of Cabaon captaine of the Maurusians ANother myracle besides the aforesayd worthy the admiration is remembred of him to haue bene wrought by the power of our Sauiour among men who though they were such men as were not of one opinion with vs yet led they a godly life He sayeth that Cabaon was gouernour of the Maurusians inhabiting about Tripolis This Cabaon I wil vse the proper wordes of Procopius who orderly discoursed heereof as soone as he perceaued that the Vandals tooke armour against him did as followeth First he commaunded all the subiectes within his dominions to refraine from all vnrighteousnes to abstaine from such meates which prouoked to sensualitie and specially to forgoe the companie of women Next he made two trenches pitching in the one his owne tent and pauillion with all his men In the other he shutte vppe the women threatning that who so euer repaired vnto the womens trench should die the death Afterwardes he sent to Carthage a skoutwatch commaunding that as soone as the Vandals made
an Do. 351 coÌ„tinewed 17. yeres he was banished by Constantius the Arian emperour yet restored againe Socrat. li. 2. cap. 27. 29. Damasus in poÌ„tiâ— tom 1. concil Ierom. in chronic catalog eccl script in fortunatianoâ— Ant. chro part 2. tit 9. cap. 4. parag 5. do say that he yelded to the Arians subscribed vnto their here sie recouered his bishoprick again Antoninus sayth he exhorted others to coÌ„staÌ„cie but did not perseuere him selfe  Aëtius the mayster of Eunomius the hereticke was made deacoÌ„ by LeoÌ„tius the Arian b. of Antioch yet sayth Epiphanius by Georgius the Arian b. of Alexandria He was an Arian yet fell he from them because they receaued Arius into the communion after his fayned recantation He was counted a great logician and called anâ— A theiste for reuilingâ— the aunciente Fathers He was excommunicacated yet woulde hâ— seeme of his owne accord to leaue the church he taught that the substance of the father 〈…〉 the sonne were not like one the other Socrat. li â–ª 2. cap. 28. li. 3. cap. 8. Thâ— heretickes of this opinion were called Anâ—mâ—ioi Epiphan haeres 7 â–ª          Eunomius b. of Cyzâ— cum the scribe of Aâ—tius sayde that God hâ— no more knowledge tâ—… man He tearmed 〈…〉 the man of God and 〈…〉 baptized all that caâ—… to him in the name the vncreated god in 〈…〉 name of the sonne 〈◊〉 and in the name of the sanctifyinge spirite created of the created sonne Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 7. Theodor. lib. 2. cap. 29 Epiphan haeres 76. 355.  Didymus Alexandri nus a notable clerk was in his youthtime troubled with sore eyes became blind he left behind him many notable works Antony the monke came out of the desert into AlexaÌ„dria conforted him Socrat lib. 4. cap. 20. A councell helde at Antioche decreed that such as were present at seruice should communicate otherwise depart tom 1. concil A councell held at SirmiuÌ„ in the time of Constantius condeÌ„ned Photinus bishop of that seae which mayntayned the heresie of Sabellius and Paulus Samosatenus this councell was of Arians they scourged among them Osius b. of Corduba in Spayne made him subscribe vnto Arianisme Socrat. li. 2. cap. 24. 26. Hilarius Leontius an Arian succeeded Stephan he gelded him self to auoid the suspicion of a woman whose company he kept wherfore he was by Constantius made b. of Antioch Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 21. Felix was b. of Rome by the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of CoÌ„staÌ„tius the procuremeÌ„t of the Arians one yeare while Liberius was in exile he was an Arian as Socrates writeth lib. 2. cap. 29. IeroÌ„ in chroÌ„ and Ruff. lib. 1. cap. 22. yet Antoninus sayeth he was a godly man  Photinus b. of SirmiuÌ„ maintayned the heresie of Sabellius P. Samosatenus that Christ was not God before Marie bare him He sayde the word was at the beginiÌ„g with the father but not the sonne Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 24. Epiphan haeres 71    A generall councell was suÌ„moned to meete at Mediolanum where the East and west churches brauled about Athanasius and dissolued the councell agreeinge vpon nothing CoÌ„staÌ„tius seeing the countreyes were farre asunder coÌ„maunded the East churches to meete at Nico media in Bithynia and the west at Ariminum in Italic Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 29. The councell of Ariminum coÌ„demned the Arians Socra lib. 2. cap. 29.  Eudoxius b. of Germanicia in Syria crepte through wiles into the bishoprike of Antioch after the desease of Leontius but the couÌ„cell of godly bishops held at Seleuciadeposed him afterwards he gotte to be bishoppe of Constantinople Socrat lib. 2. ca 29. 32. 33.   Aërius an Arian hereticke coÌ„demned saith Augustine the prayer for the dead which Epiphanius doth call the comemoration for the dead He abhorred the prescribed fastingdayes he sayd that a bishoppe was no better then a priest conteÌ„ning therein the canoÌ„ of the church August lib. de haeres Epiphan haeres 75. 363.   A councell of Arian b. mett at Nice in Thracia where in steede of Nice in Bithynia they bleared the eyes of the godly with the sounde of the Nicene Creede Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 29. A councell was helde at Seleucia in Isauria where the Arians were condemned Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 31. Cyrillus who was aboue deposed recouered his bishop rick againe Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 35.    Lucifer b. of Sardinia fell from the church vpon a stomack he beleued saith Augustine that the soule came by transfusion to wit by pourâ—g out from the one into the other moreouer they say that the soule is of the flesh and the substance of the fleshe Socrat lib. 3. cap. 7. August de haeres Theodoreâ— lib. 3. cap. 5. 364.   A councell of 50. Arian bishops was called at Constantinople where they condemned the Nicene creede Eustathius b. of Sebastia in Armenia Cyrill b. of Ierusalem Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 32.  Anianus was by the councell of Seleu cia made b. of Antioch after they had deposed Eudoxiê° the Arian but the Arians exiled him immediatly Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 32.   Audaeus the heretick liued in Caelosyria in the time of Constantius as Ierom sayth in chroÌ„ He thought that God had the shape of man miscoÌ„struing the saying lette vs make man after our image c. Theodoret li. 4. cap. 10. These heretickes in the time of Chrysostome were called Anthropomorphits Donatus of whome the Donatists haue theyr original was in the time of CoÌ„stantius There was an other of the same name immediatly after he fell through coÌ„tention from the church at Carthage and taught through Aphricke that as manye as came vnto him were to be rebaptized that the sonne was inferior to the father the holy ghost inferior to the sonne IeroÌ„ chronic August lib. de haeres   A councell of Arians met at Antioch and confirmed the blasphemie â–ª of Arius They were called Anomoioi and Execoutioi Socrat lib. 2.  Meletius is chosen b. of Antioch after Eudoxius but CoÌ„stantius deposed him for maintayning the Nicene Creede agaynste the Arians â–ª Socrat lib. 2. ca. 34.   Apollinarius the father and the sonne of one name fell from the faith vpoÌ„ a stomacke at Laodicea in Syria they taught that Christ tooke a body but no soule againe seeinge that was absurde they sayde he had no resonable soule Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 36. Ruff lib. 1. cap. 20.      Euzoius the Arianwas by the Emperour made b. of Antioch after the deposition of Meletius Socrat lib. 2. ca. 34.   Dimeritae were hereticks of Apollinarius opinioÌ„ so called because they denyed the thirde part to wit the resonable soule in Christ Some of them sayde that his body was coessentiall with his diuinity some other of them denyed he had any soule at all some agayne of them sayd that he tooke no flesh
company of the religious worshipers and excelled all others in fame if then there was any such in the worlde for continency of mind and chast behauiour to conclude the whole councell then assembled of ecclesiasticall persons yelded vnto the sentence of Paphnutius wholy ending all controuersie that might rise in this behalfe and permitting libertie vnto euery man at his owne pleasure to refrayne as him listed the company of the maried wife so farre of Paphnutius And that I may saye some thinge of Spyridion he was so holye and so vertuous a sheepeheard of cattel that he seemed worthy to be appoynted the sheepeheard of men He was Bishop of Trimithous a citie of Cyprus who when as there he executed the function of a Bishop yet for his singuler modestie he kept also a flocke of sheepe ▪ and although many notable thinges are reported of him yet lest that we seeme to digresse toe farre from the purpose we will content our selues with the relation of one or two of his famous Acts. Theeues on a certayne tyme about midnight brake into his sheepecote and by stelth went about to conuey away some of his sheepe but God who kept the sheepeheard saued also the sheepe for the theeues with a certayne inuisible kinde of force were helde fast bounde vnto the sheepecote At the dawning of the daye Spyridion came to his folde and seeing the handes of the theeues tyed behinde them forthwith vnderstoode the circumstance and by prayer which he made vnto God loosed their handes and exhorted them earnestly to gett their liuing not with the spoyle of other mens substance but with the sweate of their owne browes yet in the ende he gaue to them a fatt wether bidding them farewell in this sorce I geue you this lest it repent you that ye haue labored all night in vayne one of his doings was this the other in this sorce He had to his daughter a virgine endued with her fathers pietie and holines her name was Irene in whose custodie a deare and familiar friende left a precious iewell she weying the charge of this iewell hidd it in the grounde and in a while after departed this life then came the owner and seeing that the mayde was deade he went about to entangle the father sometymes charging and threatning him with foule meanes some other tymes entreating him with fayre wordes the olde man weying the losse of his friende as much as his owne gott him vnto the sepulchre of his daughter praying vnto God that now before the tyme he wil voutchsafe to shewe vnto him the promised resurrection the which hope of his fayled him nothing at all for the mayde reuiued and came to the presence of her father which also as soone as she had reuealed vnto him the place where the iewell laye hidd vanished away out of his sight such men there florished in many of the Churches of God in the tyme of Constantinus the Emperour These thinges I both hearde with myne eares many of the Isle of Cyprus reporting to be true and also I read it in a certaine booke of Ruffinus a Priest written in the latine tongue whence I haue borowed these and sundry other thinges the which I will hereafter alleadge CAP. IX Of Eutychianus the Monke The dissoluing of the councell of Nice The tyme thereof and the chiefe men then present I Haue learned also that Eutychianus a man of syncere religiō florished at that time who though he were of the Nouatian secte yet did he many straunge things nothing inferior vnto the acts mētioned a litle before I will reueale him y ◠reported vnto me his doings neither will I cloke or conceale that at all though therefore I may incurre the daūger of suspicion or the reprehensiū of diuers persons It was Auxanon a priest of y ◠Nouatian church who hauing liued many years went being a very yong man vnto the councell of Nice together with Acesius that told me all the things which happened vnto Acesius of whome I spake before It was euen he y t lengthened his dayes continewed his yeares frō that time vnto the raigne of Theodosius the yonger rehearsed vnto me being a very yong man all the famous actes of Eutychianus And though he ranne ouer many gifts of the grace of God bestowed vpon him yet reported he of him one notable thing which happened in the raygne of Constantine the emperour which was thus One of the garde whome the emperour calleth ordinary as soone as he was ones suspected of traiterous conspiracy fled away The emperour being throughly moued with indignation against him gaue straicte charge commaundement that wheresoeuer he were taken there immediatly he should be executed He was found about Olympus in Bithynia fettered w t cruell greuous bonds in the parts of Olympus then clapt in prison In those parts Eutychianus had his abode leading a solitary lif curing many of their grieuous maladies both outwardly in body inwardly in their mind with him this Auxanon had his conuersation being as then a yong stripling which afterwards liued many yeares learned vnder him y ◠monastical trad of liuing They flock about Eutychianus that he would release y t prisoner entreat the emperour for him for the miracles wrought by Eutychianus were famous being bruted abrode they came to y ◠eares of y ◠emperour he eftsones with a willing prompt mind promiseth that he will take his iorney to y ◠emperour in his behalfe But whilest y ◠y ◠prisoner endured extreame torments by reason of y ◠intollerable fetters wherewith he was fastened y ◠solicitors of his cause informed Eutychianus y ◠death because of his bitter punishment would preuent both y ◠execution inioyned by y ◠emperour y ◠supplication y ◠was to be made for him Eutychianus then sent vnto the kepers of y ◠iayle requestinge thē to loose y ◠man And whē they had answered that the deliuerance of the prisoner would be the great daūger of their liues Eutychianus together w t Auxanon went straight way vnto y ◠prison When as y ◠kepers being entreated would not open y ◠prison y ◠gift of God inclosed in the brest of Eutychianus reuealed it selfe w t greater brightnes in the world For the gates of y ◠prison voluntarily sett themselues wide opē yea when y ◠keyes were absent tied to y ◠keepers girdle Moreouer when Eutychianus Auxanō entred in all y ◠beholders were nowe astonished the fetters of their owne accorde fell of y ◠prisoners feete These things being done Eutychianus Auxanon take their iorney together towards the city which of old was called Byzantiū afterwards Cōstantinople Eutychianus forthwith gott him vnto y ◠emperours court purchaced pardō for y ◠prisoner For the emperour without delay for y ◠great reuerence he owed vnto Eutychianus graunted him his request with a
willing mind This was done in a while after At y â— time y â— byshops which mett together at y â— councell of Nice as soone as they had dispatched both other things also layd downe in wryting y â— decrees which also they call canons already concluded vpon euery one returneth vnto his owne cytie I thinke it very expedient to lay downe in this place not only the names of the byshops assembled at Nice which among all y â— rest were most famous I meane such as I cold learne by records but also the prouince place where euery one gouerned together with y â— time of their assembly There was present at this councel Osius bishop of Corduba Viton and Vincentius priests Alexander bishop of Aegypt Eustathius bishop of great Antioch Macarius bishop of Ierusalem Harpocratio Cynon with others whose names are seuerally exquisitly cited by Athanasius bishop of Alexandria in his booke intitled Synodicus Toutching the time when this councell was summoned as it appeareth by cronicles of record it was in the consulship of Paulinus Iulianus the eleueÌ„th kalends of Iune to weâ—e the XX. day of May the three hundreth thirtye and sixt yeare after the raygne of Alexander king of Macedonia Thus was the councell broken vp which being done we haue to learne that the emperour departed into the Easterne partes CAP. X. Howe that Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia and Theognis byshop of Nice being exiled for Arianisme after they had geuen vp a booke of their recantation and repentance were restored to their former dignities EVsebius and Theognis sent a litle booke vnto the chiefe byshops wherein they shewed theire penitent minds for theyr wilfull folly wherefore by the emperours commaundement they were not onely called home from banishment but also restored to the gouernement of theyr churches remouing from their dignities such as were substituted in their rowmes to wete Amphion remoued by Eusebius and Chraestus by Theognis The coppy of the recantation we haue here layd downe as followeth Although it vvas our part heretofore beinge condemned by your holynes not to haue muttered but quietly to haue borne vvhatsoeuer your vvisedom both godly and religiously had decreed yet because it seemed a shamefull thinge that vvith our silence vve shoulde cause others to conceaue an ill opinion of vs and so to condemne vs for deuisers of falshoode therefore haue we signified vnto you our assent toutching the determination of the fayth and hauing diligently vveyed and examined vvith our selues the force and signification of the cause Of one substance vve vvholly adict our selues to the embracinge of peace and vnity neuer henceforth to intaÌ„gle our selues in the snares of error And partly to the end we might prouide for the peaceable security of the church of God vve haue layde vvide open before you the secretes of our minde partly also that they which to mans seeminge shoulde yelde to our censure and iudgement might in this behalfe setle and confirme themselues vve haue subscribed to the forme of fayth vvhich the holy assembly hath laid downe we protest vnto you moreouer in that heretofore vve subscribed not to the condemnation or accursinge of Arius it vvas not because vve misliked vvith that forme of fayth but because vve coulde not be fully perswaded that he vvas such a kind of felovve as report vvent of him specialy vvhen as by such things as priuatly past by epistles betvvene vs and also by his ovvne protestation pronouÌ„ced vvith his ovvne lipps in our presence we vvere fully persvvaded that he vvas farre from that kinde of disposition If that then that sacred senate holy assembly vvill geue any creditt vnto our words vve haue fully purposed and determined vvith our selues not to impugne by gainesaying but by assentinge and prompt mindes to ratifie those canons vvhich your syncere and religious piety hath already concluded And by this our booke of submission we do seale our consente therein not for that vve are grieued vvith exile and banishment but that most vvillingly vve vvould not onely abandone heresie but also auoide yea the suspicion thereof And if that you vvill voutchsafe vs your presence you shall find in deed as you read by vvord that we vvill subscribe vnto your decrees For as much as it pleased your vvonted goodnes to call before you curteously to entreate the ringleader of this sect it seemes farre out of order wheÌ„ as he beinge gilty vvas sent for and ansvvered for himselfe that we with silence shoulde condemne our selues let it not grieue you then as it becometh your reuerend fatherhood to put our most religious emperour in remembraÌ„ce of vs to present our humble sute vnto him and speedely to determine vvhat your discreete vvisedome thinketh best toutching this our estate This was the recantation of Eusebius and Theognis by which circunstances I do coniecture though they subscribed vnto the forme of fayth decreed by the councell yet that they would not condescend to the renouncing of Arius and that Arius before this time was sent for And for all that it was so yet was it straictly coÌ„maunded that Arius shoulde not tread within Alexandria The which plainly appeareth by the subtle treachery he founde out for to returne vnto the church and to the city of Alexandria through false and fained shewe of repentance But of this hereafter CAP. XI After the dissoluinge of the councell when Alexander had departed this life Athanasius was chosen byshop of Alexandria NOt longe after Alexander byshop of Alexandria hauinge runne the race of his mortall life died Athanasius is appointed to gouerne the church in his place Ruffinus reporteth of him that being a child of teÌ„der years he plaid a part in an holy playe together with his coaged companions The playe was nothing else but animitation or resemblance of priesthood and of the whole ecclesiasticall order in the which Athanasius plaied the byshop of the rest of the children some plaied y â— priests some other the deacons Thus plaied y â— children on that day in the which the church of Alexandria accustometh to celebrat the memoriall of Peter there byshop martyred At that time as it fell out Alexander byshop of Alexandria passinge bye behelde the whole order and discourse of the playe He sent for the childrene to come vnto him and demaunded of them what part euery one handled in the playe gatheringe hereby somethinge to be foreshewed and prognosticated vnto them all Which beinge done he charged they should be brought vp in the church and nurtured in good learning but aboue all Athanasius Whome when he came to any ripenes of yeares he made deacon brought him in his company to the councell of Nice for to ayde him in disputation These things hathe Ruffinus wrytten in his histortes of Athanasius neither is it vnlike but that these circumstances might be for it is most true that many such things haue oftentimes heretofore come to passe This much
church such as defended the creede contayning the clause of One substance flocked to the church as well as the Arian hereticks As soone as the gouernour together with Macedonius was now come nygh the church a maruelous great feare amazed both the multitude and the souldiers them selues There was so great a multitude gathered together that there was no passage for the gouernour to leade Macedonius the souldiers were faine to thrust the people of this side and that side but the throng was so great and the rowme so narowe that they coulde not geue backe neither recoyle The souldiers supposinge the multitude had set them selues againste them of set purpose stopped their walke that the gouernour might haue no passage theraway drewe their swords let flye amongest them and layd on lustyly The report goeth that there fell about three thousande one hundred and fifty persons whereof some were slayne by the souldiers some other styfled in the throng crushed to death But Macedonius after all these famous acts as if he had committed no offence as if he were innocent and gyltles toutching all this haynous and horrible slaughter is stalled in the bishops seate more by the censure of the gouernour then the canon of the church These were the meanes that Macedonius and the Arians vsed to clim◠by slaughter and murther to be magistrates in the church About that tyme the Emperour buylded a goodly churche nowe called The church of wisdome and ioyned it vnto the churche called by the name of Peace the which beyng of small compasse his father afore him had both in bygnes enlarged and in beautie sett forth and adorned Nowe were they both inuironed with one wall and called after one name CAP. XIII Howe Athanasius being terrified with the Emperours threats fled the second tyme to Rome ABout that tyme there was an other sclaunder raysed by the Arians agaynst Athanasius which forged out such an accusation agaynst him as followeth Constantinus the father of these Emperours had geuen a good whyle before certaine grayne for almes to the reliefe of the poore within the churche of Alexandria This they sayde that Athanasius had soulde and turned it to his owne lucre and gayne The Emperoure taketh their sclaunderous reporte for trueth and threatneth him with death Athanasius then vnderstandinge of the Emperours hygh displeasure against him fled away and hidd him selfe in a secrete and obscure place Iulius bishop of Rome hearing the molestation and iniuries the Arians offred Athanasius and nowe hauing receaued the letters of Eusebius who lately had departed this lyfe vnderstandinge of the place where Athanasius hydd him selfe sent for him willinge him to repayre to Rome At the same tyme he receaued letters from the Councell assembled at Antioch and other letters also sent vnto him from the byshops of Aegypt which playnely affirmed that all such crymes as Athanasius was charged withall were meere false Wherefore Iulius by sendinge of contrary letters answered at large the byshops which assembled at Antioche and firste he sheweth what griefe and heauines he conceaued by their letters secōdly that they had transgressed the canon of the church in not callinge him to the Councell in so much the canon commaundeth that no decree be thrust vpon the church without the censure of the bishop of Rome moreouer that they had couertly corrupted the fayth also that they concluded by mayne force and double dealing such things as of late they had lewdely handled at Tyrus in that they of spyte had procured the relations of one side duely to be registred at Mareôtes and that their forged leasinges of Arsenius were meere sclaūders false reports These other such like thīgs Iulius layd downe in his letters vnto y ◠bishops assēbled at Antioch we would haue layd downe here y ◠epistles vnto Iulio his vnto others were it not that the length of their writings and the tediousnesse of their discourse perswaded vs to the contrary Sabinus the fauourer of Macedonius his fond opinion of whome we spake before though in his booke intituled The collection of Councells he omitted not y ◠epistle of the bishops assembled at Antioche vnto Iulius yet layde he not downe the letters of Iulius vnto them agayne It was his accustomed maner so to doe for what epistles so euer were written by any Councells either altogether disanullinge or at lest wise passing ouer with silence the clause of One substance them he carefully cyted and collected diligently looke such as were of the contrary them of sett purpose he ouerskipped CAP. XIIII Howe that the VVesterne Emperour requested his brother to sende vnto him such as were able to iustifie the depositions of Athanasius and Paulus and howe the legats brought with them a newe forme of faith NOt long after Paulus leauyng Thessalonica fayned he woulde to Corinth and gott him straight into Italie there both he Athanasius ioyntly do open their estate vnto the Emperour The Emperour whose dominions were y ◠contries of the West esteeming of their iniuries as his owne aduersitie wrote vnto his brother requesting him in his letters to send vnto him three men that might render afore him iust causes of the deposition of Paulus Athanasius There were sent vnto him Narcissus the Cilician Theodorus the Thracian Maris the Chalcedonian and Marcus the Syrian After their comming they woulde not reason with Athanasius but concealing the forme of faith decreed at Antioche the bishops frame out an other the which they exhibited vnto the Emperour in these words VVe beleue in one God the father almightie creator and maker of all things of vvhome all fatherhoode is called both in heauen and earth and in his onely begotten sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ begotten of the father before all vvorldes God of God light of light by vvhome all thinges vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible who is the vvorde the wisdome the power the life the true light who in the later dayes was incarnate for our sakes vvas borne of the holie Virgine vvas crucified dead and buryed vvho rose agayne the thirde day from the dead ascended into the heauens sitteth at the right hand of the father and shall come againe at the ende of the vvorld to iudge the quicke and the dead and to reward euery man according vnto his vvorks whose kingdome shall haue no ende but shall continew foreuer For he shall sitt at the ryght hande of the father not onely vvhile this vvorlde lasteth but also in the lyfe to come And vve beleeue in the holie Ghost that is in the comforter whome he promised he vvould sende the Apostles whome also he sent after his ascention into the heauens for to informe and instruct them in all thinges by vvhome their soules shall be sanctified vvhich faithfully beleue in him VVhosoeuer then dare affirme that the sonne hath his being of nothinge or that he is of any other substance then of the
inueÌ„ted such things to deface the true and catholicke faith When they had ended these lowde speaches the Councell brake vp The Emperour vnderstaÌ„ding of this coÌ„mauÌ„ded them forthwith to exile banishmeÌ„t determineth w t him selfe to summone a generall couÌ„cell to y â— end after citing of all the easterne bishops into the west contries he might if it were possible bring them all to embrace vnitie and concorde But after better aduisement taken with him selfe he sawe it was a very hard matter to compasse by reason of the farre contries and longe iourney and therefore he commaunded the Councell shoulde be deuided into two partes the bishops then present to assemble at Ariminum a citie of Italie the bishops of the East to meete at Nicomedia a ritie in Bithynia But his purpose tooke no prosperous successe for nere nother of y â— Councells agreed â–ª within them selues both was deuided into sundry factions For neither could the bishops which mett at AriminuÌ„ in Italy agree amonge them selues neyther the bishops of the East among them selues for they raysed a newe schisme at Seleucia a citie of Isauria but howe all this came to passe I will hereafter rehearse in processe of our discourse if that first I say somewhat of Eudoxius In the very same time Leontius â–ª who preferred Actius the hereticke to the degree of Deaconship hauing departed this lyfe Eudoxius bishop of Germanicia a citie of Syria then beyng at Rome thought it high time for him to returne into the East he dealeth doubly with the Emperour forlicence to depart with speede alleadginge for him selfe that the citie of Germanicia stoode in greate neede of his helpe and ghostly counsell The Emperour litle thinkinge what fetches he had in his heade gaue him his pasport He through the sute and furtherance of the Emperours chamberlaynes left his owne citie and crept through wyle and subtletie into the byshopricke of Antioche he endeuoureth to restore Actius agayne into the church and goeth about to summone a Councell of byshops and to make him Deacon agayne But his lewde dryft was longe in brynginge about because the hatred owed vnto Actius was of more force to repell him then the hartie good wyll and furtherance Eudoxius vsed to restore him but of this we neede no more wordes Of them which assembled at Ariminum the Easterne byshops not mentioninge the businesse aboute Athanasius signified that the cause of their comminge was to discourse of other matters Vrsacius and Valens who at the firste were Arians and afterwards exhibited a recantation vnto the byshop of Rome subscribing as I sayd before vnto the clause of One substance stoode them in great stead for these two continewally cleaued vnto the stronger and the surer side There came also to take their part Germanius Auxentius Demophilus Caius In the assembly of bishops then present when diuers men would haue diuers things enacted Vrsacius Vales affirmed y â— all formes of faith layd downe in times past were thenceforth to be caÌ„celled that y â— new forme of faith published a litle before at y â— councell of SirmiuÌ„ was to be coÌ„firmed When they had so sayd they gaue forth a shete of paper which they had in their haÌ„ds to be read The second creede written before at Sirmium suppressed there as I sayd before read also at AriminuÌ„ translated out of the Latine into y â— Greeke toÌ„gue was layd downe in these words This Catholick faith was published at SirmiuÌ„ in the presence of Costantius our liege lord Flauius Eusebius Hypatius renowmed consuls the eleuenth Kalends of Iune VVe beleue in one onely true God the father almightie creator and maker of all things in one onely begotten sonne of God who was before all worlds before all beginninges before all tymes that may be imagined and begotten of God the father vvithout any passion before all comprehensible knowledge by vvhome both the vvorld and all things were made one only begotten begotten of the father alone God of God like vnto the father which begatt him according vnto the scriptures vvhose generation no man hath knovven saue the father vvhich begatt him him vve knovve his onely begotten sonne to haue come dovvne from heauen at the fathers becke to banishe and vvype avvay synne to haue bene borne of the Virgine Marie to haue bene conuersant vvith the disciples to haue fulfilled according vnto his fathers will all his message to haue bene crucified to haue suffred died to haue descended into hell and there to haue disposed all things at whose sight the porters of hell gates trembled to haue risen againe the third day againe to haue accoÌ„panied with his disciples after 40. dates were expired to haue ascended into heauen where he sitteth at the right hand of the father and shall come againe at the last day with the glory of his father to reward euery one according vnto his workes And we beleue in the holy ghost whome the onely begotten sonne of God Iesus Christ him selfe promised to send mankind the coÌ„forter as it is written I go vnto my father I will pray my father to send you an other comforter the spirite of trueth he shall take of myne and shall teache leade you in all things The word Substance being simply layd downe of the fathers vnknowen of the ignoraÌ„t people geuing vnto many great cause of offence insomuch it is not founde in holie scripture vve haue thought good to abandone it and henceforth speakinge of God to make no mention of the vvorde Substance because the sacred scriptures haue not once remembred the substance of the Sonne or of the holie ghost VVe say that the sonne is like the father in all things that because the word of God hath affirmed taught it vs. WheÌ„ these things were read such as were not pleased with the circumstances and contents therof rose vp and sayde We came not hither as though we wanted faith and beleese for we retayne that faith which we learned from the beginning but we are come to withstand nouelties if ought be practised preiudiciall vnto y â— same If those thiÌ„gs which you haue now read neither sauor neither rend to y â— establishing of noueltie accurse renounce the heresie of Arius in such wise as the old auncient canon of the church hath banished all hereticall blasphemous doctrine It is apparent vnto the whole world what tumults troubles the blaspemous opinioÌ„ of Arius hath raysed euen vnto this day in the church of God This offer was not accepted of Vrsacius Valens Germanius Auxentius Demophilus Caius thervpon the bond of vnitie retained in the church of God was broken asunder For these men cleaued vnto such things as the councell of AriminuÌ„ had decreed y â— other confirmed the canons of the Nicene Councell derided y â— contents of the creede y â— was read in their presence but specially Athanasius so y â—
all the Bishops assembled at Ariminum sendeth greeting Although it is not vnknowen vnto your holines that vve haue alvvayes great care and consideration of the diuine the reuerend and sacred religion of Christ yet had vve as yet no leasure to talke vvith the tvventy Bishops whome your wisedomes sent in embassie vnto vs. For vve haue hitherto bene vvholy occupied about the expedition we made against the Barbarians And requisite it is as you knovve very vvell for him that vvill deale in matters of religion to be voyde of all care and troublesome affayres Therefore vve haue vvilled the Bishops to vvayte for our comming at Adrianopolis so that vvhen vve haue rightly disposed the common affayres of the publique weale we may then geue care and wey diligently afterwards such things as they shall lay before vs. In the meane vvhile let it not grieue your vvisedomes to expect their returne that after their departure hence and the bringing of our ansvvere vnto you ye may finish and conclude such thinges as shal be for the vse and furtherance of the Catholicke Church When the Bishops had receaued these letters they wrote backe againe vnto the Emperour in this sorte VVe haue receaued your maiesties gracious letters most godly Emperour wherby we gather you had not sufficient leasure by reason of the necessary busines of the common vveale to geue our legats the hearing moreouer that you geue vs in charge to vvayte for their returne vntill that your highnes of your vvisedome hath deepely vvayed the thinges vve haue decreed and layde dovvne agreeably vnto the canons and constitutions of our auncetors But novve by these our letters vve protest and assure your maiestye that vve vvill in no vvise shrinke from our sentence and determination VVe haue also charged and enioyned our legats the same VVherefore vve humbly beseech you of our vvonted clemency to voutchsafe the reading of these our simple letters and to take in good parte such thinges as vve haue enioyned our legats Your clemency moreouer knovveth as vvell as vve hovve heauy and hovve lamentable a case it is so many churches in the time of this your most blessed raigne to be bereaued of their Bishops And therefore vve are humbly to craue againe and againe most holy Emperour that before the sharpe and nipping season of vvinter if it so seeme good vnto your highnes you wil licence vs to returne home vnto our Churches to the ende vve may poure out together vvith the people our accustomed prayers vnto God the father Almighty and to our Lorde and Sauiour Christ his onely begotten sonne for prosperous estate of your raigne euen as we haue accustomed in times past and yet cease not to doe After they had written thus and continewed there a while longer when as the emperour voutchsafed not to answere them euery one returned to his owne home The Emperour because he had purposed with him selfe to sowe the Arian opinion throughout euery Church endeuored with might and mayne euery where to preferre the same tooke hereby occasion at the Bishops returne to bring about his baynous offence and sayd that in contempt and despite of him contrary to his will they had dissolued the councell Wherefore he gaue Vrsacius authoritie freely at his pleasure to practise all mischiefe agaynst the Churches of God and commaunded him moreouer to send into the Churches of Italie the forme of fayth that was read in the councell of Ariminum and such as would not subscribe vnto the same shoulde be deposed and others placed in their rowmes First of all Liberius Bishop of Rome as soone as he denied his hande thereunto was exiled by Vrsacius and Felix Deacon of the Church of Rome addicted vnto the Arian opinion was of the same Vrsacius by mayne force and violence preferred to the bishopricke Wherfore all the Westerne partes of the worlde by reason of these newe deuises were at great discorde and tumults while that some were by force deposed and sent to exile some other substituted in their rowmes these thinges were wrought by vertue of the Emperours edicts sent into the West contries Liberius not long after was called home from exile recouered his bishopricke againâ— because that the people of Rome was on an vprore and thrust Felix out of the Church so that the Emperour was constrained against his will to agree thereunto Vrsacius hauing played such prankes in Italie as pleased him best tooke his iourney into the East and got him to the citie of Nice in Thracia There after he had continewed a long while he called a councell and went about to ratifie the forme of faith that was read at Ariminum and translated as I sayd before into the greeke tongue to publishe and sett forth the same with glorious titles as agreed vpon by a generall councell calling it the Nicene fayth to the intent that thereby in vsing the name of Nice he might snare the ignorant the rude and simple people For they thought verily that it was the same forme of fayth which of olde was confirmed at Nice a citie of Bithynia but their forged pretence was no long furtherance vnto them For in a short while after their treachery was reuealed and the authors thereof derided for their labor So farre of such thinges as were done in the West CAP. XXX The crueltie of Macedonius the Arian and tumults raysed by him at Constantinople and elsewhere NOwe that we haue sufficiently discoursed of the West Churches let vs turne our talke and direct our penne into the East and there first beginne with the Arians The Arian Bishops being puffed vp with pride and confidence they put in the Emperours edicts presumed more boldly to bring their purposes to effect but in what sorte they sommoned the councell I will afterwards declare when that first I haue runne ouer their lewd practises before the councel Acaius Patrophilus as soone as they had deposed Maximus bishop of Ierusalem placed Cyrillus in his rowme Macedonius went about vtterly to ouerthrow y â— contries bordering cities of Constantinople vsing his seruants ministers as fit instruments to the defacing of the church of God he made Eleusius bishop of Cyzicum Marathonius bishop of Nicomedia who afore time had bene deacon vnder Macedonius him selfe very carefull about the affaires of men women y â— were addicted vnto monasticall solitary life But now heare how Macedonius went about to ouerchrow y â— contries cities within y â— prouince of Constantinople This man aspiring as I said before vnto y â— bishoprick plagued infinitely such as were determined to perseuere in y â— opinion contrary to his thrust out of the church not only such as in y â— councell seemed to vary from him but also y â— Nouatians for he knew of suerty that they embraced the creede containing the clause of one substance cruelly tormented them Agelius their bishop was faine to flie away for to saue his life
Churche of Seleucia they barre the doores and ratisie with their subscriptions the forme of fayth that was read the daye before In their steede which were absent their readers and Deacons subscribed for they had signified before that they woulde by their Deputies approue the aforesayd creede CAP. XXXII Howe that Acacius of Caesarea rehearsed an other creede in the councell of Seleucia also how that he and his complices after the Emperours returne out of the west mett at Constantinople and procured the councell of Ariminum to be ratified adding thereunto of their owne ACacius and his complices founde great fault with the canons of that councell because they subscribed when the Church doores were shutt ▪ for sayth Acacius the thinges which are done in huckermucker as they ought not to be approued so are they not voide of suspicion This he sayde because he caryed in his pockett an other forme of fayth ready to be offred vp he read it in the presence of Lauricius and Leônas that were noble men and bent his whole might to haue onely the same confirmed these thinges were done the seconde daye of the councell and besides nothing The thirde day Leônas went about to call both partes together at what time Macedonius Bishop of Constantinoplē and Basilius Bishop of Ancyra were present When both these men mett together and presented them selues to wete of the contrary side vnto Acacius his consederats woulde not shewe their faces in the councell but sayde that it was requisite they should be banished the assemblie who of late had bene deposed and then also were accused After much adoe when this side had the vpper hande they that were accused left the councell in whose rowmes Acacius together with his company succeded Then Leônas stoode vp and sayde that Acacius had presented vnto him a booke yet knewe they not that it was a forme of fayth which confuted sometymes priuely sometymes openly and playnly the opinion of the contrary side When that all made silence and gaue diligent eare thinking nothing lesse then that it had bene a forme of fayth at length Acacius read his creede or fayth with a certayne preface written before it as followeth VVe vvhich by the Emperours edict mett yesterday that is the fift of the kalends of October at Seleucia in Isauria haue labored vvith all might possible to continevve vnitie agreement in the church of God to dispute reason of the faith according vnto the sacred testimonies of the Prophets euangelists with modest quiet mindes as the most vertuous Emperour Constantius hath geuen vs in charge to conclude nothing for canons of the Church vvhich might be founde contrary to holy Scripture ▪ but seing there were such kinde of men at the councell vvho rayled at some shutt vp some others mouthes forbade these to speake excluded the other from their cōpany ioyned with them out of diuers prouinces certaine deposed expulsed persons entertained them contrary to the old canon of the church the coūcel as Lauricius the most valiant captaine saw more is the pity with his owne eies was all set on tumult grieuous dissention VVe haue spoken these things to this end that you may vnderstand we reiect not the forme of fayth that vvas published confirmed in the dedication at Antioch but vve bring forth the same presently sithence that we knowe for suerty that the fathers then agreed vpon this controuersie which concerned the faith but in as much as the clauses of vnity in substance equality in substance disquieted the mindes of sundry men not onely in tymes past but also at this present so that novve also such as affirme the sonne to be vnaequall to the father are sayd to be authors of noueltie therefore haue vve layd aside the clauses of vnitie and aequalitie in substance as words not agreeing with holy Scripture also we accurse the clause of vnaequalitie and hold all the patrons and fauorers thereof for excommunicated persons VVe confesse playnely the likenesse the sonne hath with the father imitating the Apostle vvhere he saith of the sonne who is the image of the inuisible God VVe protest therefore and beleeue in one God the father almighty maker of heauen earth of visible and inuisible things VVe beleeue also in his sonne our Lord Iesus Christ begotten of him before all vvorlds vvithout affection God the vvord of the only begotten God the light the life the trueth the vvisedome by vvhome all things vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible VVe beleeue that he in the latter dayes tooke flesh of the blessed virgine Mary to the ende he might take avvay the sinnes of the worlde that he vvas made man that he suffred for our sinnes that he rose againe ascended into the heauens sitteth at the right hande of the father and that he shall come againe vvith glorie to iudge both the quicke and the deade VVe beleeue also in the holy Ghost vvhome our Lorde and Sauiour called the comforter promising after his departure to send him to his disciples vvhome also he hath sent by whome he sanctifieth the faithfull in the Churche and such as are baptized in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghost all those that besides this fayth shall publishe any other vve doe excommunicate out of the holy and Catholicke Churche This was Acacius creede whereunto both he and his complices as many in number as I reported before subscribed The creede being reade Sophronius Bishop of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagoma stoode vp and spāke agaynst it in this maner for I will vse his owne wordes If that the nevve deuises and dayly inuention of your brayne be layde dovvne for creedes it can not othervvise fall out but that shortly vve shall be founde vvithout one grayne of fayth These as I haue learned were the wordes of Sophronius In my opinion if that his auncetors and such as liued then with him had so settled their myndes as toutchinge the Nicene councell all this sturre and tumultes had quite bene taken away all this hurlyburly this rashe and vnaduised sedition had neuer raygned in the Churche but to what passe these thinges are nowe come let them iudge that can better discerne and geue sentence thereof When they had reasoned toe and fro of this matter and of them that were accused and brawled together a longe whyle at length the councell brake vp The fourth daye they assemble agayne and a freshe they chide one with an other In circumstance of talke Acacius gaue forthe this verditt as followeth If the Nicene creede was once altered of olde and afterwards often ▪ what can you saye to the contrary but that presently a newe forme of fayth without any preiudice at all may be established of vs whereunto Eleusius made answere We are not nowe come to this assemblie for to learne that which we learned before neyther to receaue the fayth which we haue
of their owne but in so much they haue written and annexed something of their owne braine it is requisite that we rehearse it againe They wrote as followeth VVe beleue in one God the father almighty of whome are all things in the only begotten sonne of God begotten of the father before all worldes before all begininge by whome all thinges were made both visible inuisible the one only begottē begottē of the father alone God of God like vnto the father which begate him according vnto the Scriptures whose generatiō as holy Scripture doth witnesse no man knoweth but the father alone which begat him This only begottē sonne of God vve knovve to haue bene sent frō the father to haue come dovvne from heauē as it is vvritten to haue bene conuersant vvith his disciples after the accōplishing of his message according vnto the vvill of his father to haue bene crucified dead buried to haue descended into hell at vvhose presence the infernall povver trembled to haue risen againe the third day from the dead againe to haue accōpanied his disciples after forty dayes vvere expired to haue bene taken vp into heauē vvhere he sittteth at the right hande of the father shall come at the generall resurrectiō vvith the glorie of the father to reward euery one according vnto his vvorks and vve beleue in the holy ghost vvhom the only begottē sonne of God himselfe our Lord God promised to send mankind a comforter as it is vvrytten the spirit of trueth whome also he sent after his assumptiō into heauē The clause of substāce being of diuers simply layd downe because the ignorant people vnderstood it not gaue greate occasion of offence It semed good therefore in as much as there was no mentiō thereof in holy scripture quite to take it away henceforth not to reason thereof because the word of God hathe no where remembred the substāce of the father of the sonne For the substance or subsistēcie of the father of the sonne of the holy ghost may not be once named or reasoned of we therefore as we are taught by holy scripture doe affirme that the sonne is like the father All heresies whatsoeuer either heretofore condemned or lately sprong vp if they be found contrary to this faith let them be held for accursed These things as you see were then decreed at Cōstantinople Nowe hauing at length runne ouer the confuse multitude of Creeds formes of faith let vs once againe briefely repeate the number of them After the Creede that was laid downe by the Nicene councell the Bishops framed two others at Antioch when they assembled to the dedication of the church the third was made in Fraunce of the bishops which were with Narcissus exhibited vnto the Emperoure Constantine the fourth was sent by Eudoxius vnto the Bishops throughout Italie Three were published in wryting at Sirmium where of one being gloriously intitled with the names of Consulls was red at Ariminum The eight was set forth at Seleucia procured to be red by the complices of Acacius The ninth was geuen abroade with additions at Constantinople there was thereunto annexed that thenceforth there should be no mention made of the substance of subsistencie of God Whereunto Vlphilas Bishop of y ◠Gotthes then first of all subscribed For vnto that time he embraced the faith established by the councell of Nice and was an earnest follower of Theophilus steps Bishop of the Gotthes who had bene at the Nicene councell subscribed vnto the Creed But of these things thus much CAP. XXXIII Howe that after Macedonius was deposed Eudoxius was made Bishop of Constantinople and of Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia ACacius Eudoxius together with their faction made foule tumults greate sturre at Constantinople fully purposing to remoue frō their bishopricks some of the contrary side And here also we may not passe ouer with silence howe that both parts inuēted causes of depriuatiō not for piety religion sake but of priuat malice quarellous spite for though they varied in the faith yet in deposing one an other they charged not ech other with their beleefe but such as were of Acacius side tooke the Emperours displeasure who purposed among diuers other to reuenge him of Macedonius as a fit occasion first they depose Macedonius frō his bishoprick partly for that he had bene the cause of great slaughter partly also because he admitted into the communion a certaine deacon that was taken in adultery They remoued Eleusius Bishop of Cyzicū for baptizing one Heraclius a sacrificing priest of Hercules at Tyrus who was knowē to be a great coniurer preferring him to the order of deaconship they depriued Basilius otherwise called Basilas who was made Bishop of Ancyra in Marcellus rowme for that he cruelly tormented imprisoned a certaine man for because he forged sclaundres discredited diuers persons and lastly for molesting the quiet estate of the churches in Aphricke by his epistles they suspended Dracontius for leauing Gallacia remouing to Pergamus they displaced moreouer Neonas Bishop of Seleucia where y ◠coūcel was held Sophronius bishop of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagonia Elpidius bishop of Satalum in Macedonia Cyrillus Bishop of serusalē many mo for sundry other causes Neither had Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia licence permitted him for to purge himselfe because that a little before he had bene deposed by Eulauius his owne naturall father who was Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia for apparelling himselfe in such weede as was not decent for the dignity order of priesthood In this Eustathius rowme Meletuis of whome I mind hereafter to speake was made Bishop Moreouer Eustathius was afterwards condemned by the councell held at Gangra that was summoned for the hearing of his matters because that after his former deposition in the councell of Caesarea he had attempted many things cōtrary to the canons customes of the church He forbad mariadge set forth precepts of abstuēce He parted asunder diuers that were coupled together in wedlock perswaded suche as refrained the churches publick assembly to raise conuenticles brotherhood in their priuat houses He tooke seruāts frō their maisters vnder colour of religion He himselfe vsed the Philosophers habite constrained his followers to vse a straunge kind of Atyre He caused the women to be shauen He forbad the accustomed prescribed fasting dayes commaunded abstinence on the sundays He abhorted y ◠prayers that were made in maried mēs houses He detested the offring and the communion of the maried priest who when he was a lay man had lawefully coupled himselfe in the bonde of wedlocke This Eustathius when he had taught and set abroch these and many other such lewd precepts was as I said before deposed by y ◠councell held at Gangra in Paphlagonia and his doctrine accursed But these things were done a good while after When that
in the later I take the immortall godds to vvitnesse vvhen that I endeuour as duetie requireth to prayse you the horrible offence vvhich you committed stoppeth my mouth and stayeth my penne VVhat dareth the subiect as a madde dogge pull man in peeces vvith his teeth ought not he be ashamed of so haynous an offence Is this to purifie and clense the handes and to holde them vp streatched vvide vnto the gods as if they vvere not polluted vvith the blemishe and infamie of murther But Georgius had no other then vvas devve vnto his desert and peraduenture I my selfe might iustly haue affirmed that by all ryght he shoulde haue suffered farre vvorse But you vvill say that he deserued it for his dealinge tovvards you and therein I am of your opinion But if you say that it behoued you to punishe him that vvill I in no vvyse graunte You haue lavves the vvhich ought greatly to be honored and embraced of all men both publiquely and priuately But notvvithstandinge though it commonly fall out that manie be founde faultie and seuerall trespassors yet ought vve to fauour the publique state of the common vveale to obey the lavves and in no vvyse to violate the auncient and godlie decrees Thinke your selues happie O ye people of Alexandria that this haynous offence vvas committed by you in my tyme for I can not in maner chuse but embrace you vvith brotherly affection partly for the reuerence I ovve vnto God and the affection I beare vnto my graundfather of the same title vvith me vvho sometyme gouerned both Aegypt and your citie For the prince that vvyll not brynge him selfe vnder the gyrdle of his subiect the discrete and vpryght magistrate may not vvinke at so haynous an offence of the people lest that necessitie constrayne to cure so greeuous a maladie vvith farre greater griefe and more desperate medicine But I for the aforesayd causes doe applie vnto these your sores most gentle and tollerable salues to wete exhortation and curteous language vvhervnto I am certainely persvvaded you vvill yeelde if you be the men I take you for descendinge of the auncient stocke of the Graecians retaining in your breasts that noble valiant courage hauing also all the properties of curteous and ciuill life I speake vnto you my louinge citizens of Alexandria impressed in the secret closets of your mindes This was the epistle of the Emperour CAP. IIII. Howe that after the death of Georgius Athanasius returninge vnto Alexandria tooke agayne the gouernement of the bishopricke of Luciser and Eusebius and howe that Lucifer made Paulinus byshop of Antioche NOt longe after the people of Alexandria receaued with louinge and chearefull mindes their byshop Athanasius returninge from exile at what tyme also the Arians were banished the Christian congregations and the Church restored to the gouernment of Athanasius But the Arians meetinge in priuate houses appoynted Lucius to succeede Georgius in the byshopricke At that tyme thus went the affaires of Alexandria In the meane whyle Lucifer and Eusebius by the Emperours edict were called home from banishment Lucifer was byshop of Caralitanum a citie in Sardinia Eusebius as I sayde before was byshop of Vercellae a citie of the Ligurian Italians Both they returninge from the hygher countries of Thebae consulted together by what meanes they myght recouer their byshoprickes without preiudice to the canon and decree of the churche Wherefore after aduisement taken it seemed good that the one of them I meane Lucifer shoulde goe to Antioche in Syria the other that is Eusebius shoulde take his voyage to Alexandria where by the meanes of Athanasius a Councell myght be called together and the canons of the church therein confirmed Lucifer sent thither a Deacon signifyinge by him that he woulde subscribe vnto the decrees of the Councell He him selfe went to Antioche where he founde the state of the churche very troublesome For the multitude was deuided and the congregations at variance not onely by reason of Euzoius hereticall opinion but also as I sayde before because that the sect of Meletius for the singular fauour they bare vnto him seuered them selues from the faithfull Lucifer therefore when he had ordayned Paulinus to be byshop of that seae departed thence CAP. V. Howe that Eusebius ioyninge with Athanasius called a Councell at Alexandria where the blessed Trinitie was pronounced to be of one and aequall substance AFter that Eusebius came to Alexandria he dealte earnestly with Athanasius for the summoninge of a Councell so that the byshops assembled out of diuers cities decreed very necessarie doctrine confirmed the diuinitie of the holie Ghost to be of one substance in the blessed Trinitie affirmed the sonne of God at his incarnation to haue taken not onely humaine fleshe but also a reasonable soule as the auncient fathers of olde haue deliuered vnto vs. They woulde not establishe neither thrust into the church of God any newe opinion But such things as of old were inioyned by ecclesiasticall decree and layd downe vpon good consideration by such as were wise learned and zelous Christians For thus did the elders of old tyme reason of this matter and deliuer in writinge vnto the posteritie Irenaeus Clemens Apollinarius bishop of Hieratopolis and Serapion byshop of Antioch haue w t generall consent layd downe euery where throughout their works that the sonne at his incarnation was endued with reasonable soule Moreouer y â— councell summoned for the hearing of Cyrillus cause who was bishop of Philadelphia in Arabia â–ª signified y â— selfe same by their letters vnto Cyrillus Orige likewise who throughout his works teacheth y â— the soÌ„ne in takiÌ„g fleshe tooke also soule yet in y â— ninth homily vpoÌ„ Genesis he openeth this mystery more plainly where at large he discourseth how y â— Adam â—are y â— figure of Christ Eue y â— figure of the church Hereof PaÌ„philus and Eusebius who of him tooke his appellation are witnesses sufficient for both they imploying their labor ioyntly for to penne in paper the life of Origen and preuenting w t Apollogies in his behalfe the sclauÌ„derous accusations of the aduersaries haue affirmed y t Origen was not the first that entreated of this matter but y t he interpreted vnto the posteritie the mysticall tradition of the church in y â— behalfe Moreouer the bishops which mett in the councell of Alexandria haue discussed the controuersie of the clause of essence and substance For Osius bishop of Corduba in Spaine of whome we haue spoken before being sent by the Emperour Constantine to appease the tumult raysed by Arius in disputinge of essence and substance to the ouerthrowe of Sabellius the Aphricks opinion he ministred occasion to the raysinge of a newe controuersie But at that tyme there was not a worde of this matter in the Councell of Nice for afterwards when diuers contended and reasoned among them selues hereof this councell tooke order toutching the clauses of essence and substance
councell gott him to Antioch but when he founde Paulinus whome Lucifer had assigned to be their Bishop and the people deuided into two partes for the sect of Meletius had seuerall conuenticles by them selues he was wonderfull sorie because they did not all agree vnto the election of Paulinus for in his secret opinion he condemned the act yet because of the reuerence he owed vnto Lucifer he concealed his sentence and as soone as he promised by summoning of a councell that he would prouide for their quiet state he left them and went his way but first of all when as afterwards he had done his best for the reconciling of the brethren that were at variance yet all was to no purpose for Meletius returning from exile and finding his complices to frequent secret meetings and conuenticles became their superintendent all the other churches that were there abouts were vnder Euzouis the Arian Paulinus had but one litle parish within the citie of the which Euzoius did not depriue him because of the reuerence he owed vnto him Meletius had his conuenticles in the suburbes without the walls of the citie For that time when the affayres went in this sorte Eusebius tooke his leaue of Antioch Lucifer vnderstanding that Eusebius misliked with that election of his tooke it very contumeliously and was altogether impacient He refused therefore to communicate with Eusebius and being kindled with the fiery flame of contention he reiected the canons of the councell these thinges falling out in those heauy tymes and tempestuous seasons for ecclesiastical affayres ministred occasion that many fell from the fayth so that a newe sect called the Luciferian heresie then first sprange vp but Lucifer coulde not haue his fill neyther satisfie him selfe with anger because that he bounde him selfe with his owne promises sent vnto the councell by his Deacon who subscribed thereunto in his name to geue his assent Wherefore hauing agreed though against his will vnto the canons of the church he gott him vnto his owne bishoprick in Sardinia But they which fretted within them selues no lesse then he as yet doe remaine out of the Churche Eusebius passing throughout the contries of the East cured and confirmed like a cunning Phisicion such as were weakelings in the faith restored them to their former health and instructed them in the doctrine of the Church Thence he went into Illyrium comming into Italie in like sort he diligently preached the worde of God CAP. VIII Of Hilarius Bishop of Poetiers in Fraunce HIlarius Bishop of Poetiers a citie of Guyan instructed diligently both the bishops of Italy and also of Fraunce in the canons of the Catholick fayth before the comming of Eusebius for he first after his returne from exile had preuented him in those prouinces but both of them very absolutely confirmed the fayth Hilarius being endued with the gift of eloquence wrote in the latine tonge expounded the canon contayning the clause of one substance proued it sufficiently and confuted the arguments of the Arians but these thinges were done a litle after their returne from exile Nowe we may not runne ouer with silence howe that in the very same tyme the followers of Macedonius Eleusuis Eustathius and Sophronius all these were called Macedonians had their priuate and often conuenticles called vnto them such as were of their opinion in Seleucia and accursed the contrary faction to wete of the Acacians reiected the fayth that was set forth at Ariminum and confirmed the creede that was read in the councell of Seleucia It was the same which a litle before according vnto that we wrote in our seconde booke was established at Antioch These men being reasoned with in this sorte you that are called Macedonians if so be that ye differ in opinion from the Acacians howe is it that you coulde finde in your hartes to communicate with them euer vnto this day as if they had bene of one opinion with you Sophronius Bishop of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagonia in the name of the rest made thereunto this answere the Bishops of the West Churches haue in maner doted ouer the fayth of one substance Aetius also in the East endeuored to corrupt the syncere doctrine he taught the substance of the father and of the sonne were not like one the other both these opinions are absurde They vnaduisedly and without discreete iudgement ioyned in one the distinct and seuered substances of the father and of the sonne linked it not well together vnder the name of coessentiall or one substance but this Aetius parted and deuided the proprietie of nature which the sonne hath together with the father terming it the vnlikenesse or diuersitie of substance And in so much that both these fell into contraries and meare extreamities we thought good to walke in the midd way and holde the meane betwene both to retayne the true and godly opinion that the sonne is of like substance with the father This was the answere of the Macedonians as Sabinus writeth in his booke intitled the collections of the councells exhibited by Sophronius vnto their demaunde In that they charge Aetius as autor of the diuersitie of substance in the father and the sonne and not the Acacians they craftely dissemble and cloke the trueth in so doing they partly oppugne the Arians and partly the opinion of such as maintaine the clause of one substance but they ouerthrowe them selues with their owne wordes for in displaying and opening both opinions they laye downe a newe of their owne So farre of these thinges CAP. IX The hatred of the Emperour Iulian owed vnto the Christians THe Emperonr Iulian although at the beginning of his raygne he was meeke and curteous towardes all men yet in processe of tyme he shewed him selfe not alike vnto all men but when so euer any accusation was brough before him to the discreditt of Constantius then the Christians were hearde at will when that againe he hearde of no such thinge then beganne he to reueale vnto the worlde the priuate grudge and malice he conceaued agaynst all the Christians euery where for he commaunded to buylde vp agayne at Cyzicum the Nouatian Churche which Eleusius the Bishop had pulled downe threatning Eleusius the Bishop of that citie with grieuous punishment if he buylte it not agayne within two monethes vpon his owne costs charges Furthermore he sett vp a freshe the rites of the Gentils he set wide open as I sayd before their temples and offered sacrifice in the Cathedrall church of Constantinople vnto the goddesse of Fortune where her Idoll was sett vp CAP. X. The conference which Maris Bishop of Chalcedon being blinde had with Iulian the Apostata ABout that tyme Maris Bishop of Chalcedon in Bithynia being led by the hande vnto Iulian the Emperour for that he was olde he had a webb growen in his eyes which bereaued him of his sight beganne to rebuke the Emperour sharpely calling him an impious person
Origen where the oration of Gregorie in the praise of Origen is layd downe in writing To be short there were foure Gregories first this auncient father the disciple some times of Origen next Gregorie Nazianzene thirdly Gregorie the brother of Basil and the fourth of Alexandria whome the Arians after the exile of Athanasius chose to their bishop Thus much of these men CAP. XXIII The originall of the Nouatian hereticks and how that as many of them as inhabited Phrygia celebrated the feast of Easter after the Iewishe maner ABout that time the Nouatians inhabiting Phrygia chaunged the dayes appoynted by the councell of Nice for the celebration of Easter but howe that came to passe I will declare if that first I lay downe the cause originall why so seuere a canon of the Nouatian church preuailed so much with the Phrygian and Paphlagonian nations Nouatus the priest seuered him selfe from the church of Rome because y ◠Cornelius the bishop receaued into the communion after repentance the faithfull that fell from the church sacrificed vnto Idols in the persecution vnder Decius the Emperour When he had deuided him selfe from y ◠church for the aforesayd cause first he was made bishop of such bishops as were of his opinion next he wrote epistles vnto all churches euery where that they should not receaue as meete partakers of the holy mysteries such as had sacrificed vnto Idolls but exhort them vnto repentance referring y ◠forgeuenes and remission vnto God who is of power and authority sufficient to remit sinne when the letters were brought into euery prouince euery one iudged thereof as pleased him best Because Nouatus had signified that such as after baptisme committed a sinne vnto death were not afterwards to be admitted vnto the communion the publishing of that canon seemed vnto some toe seuere vnto others but right reason auailable also for the direction of godly life Whē this controuersie was tossed toe and fro the letters of Cornelius were sent abroade signifying that there remained hope of pardon for such as had sinned after baptisme They both wrote contrary letters and cōueyed them vnto the churches abroade And whilest that both went about to confirme his opinion with testimonies of holy scripture euery man as the maner is looke where affection lead him there he addicted him selfe For such as were geuen to sinne tooke occasion by the libertie and fauoure that was graunted them went forewardes headlonge into euery shamefull crime The Phrygians are a nation farre more temperate and modest then others for they sweare very seldome The Scythians and Thracians are hotter more prone vnto anger For they that are nearer vnto the rising of the sunne are set more vpon lust concupiscence The Paphlagonians Phrygians are inclined to nere nother of these perturbations For at this daye they vse no running at tilte no such warlike exercise neither doe they vse to pastime them selues with spectacles and stage playes Wherefore these kind of men in myne opinion draw neerest vnto the drift disposition of Nouatus letters Adulterie is counted among them for a detestable and horrible sinne It is well knowen that the Phrygian and Paphlagonian trade of lyfe is farre modester and more chast and continent then any other hereticall sect whatsoeuer I coniecture that they shott at the same modest trade of lyfe which inhabited the west parts of the worlde and leaned to Nouatus opinion Nouatus him selfe though he varyed from the church of Rome by reason of a certaine seuere trade of liuing yet altered not he the tyme appointed for the celebration of Easter For he alwayes obserued the custome of the West churches ▪ and celebrated it as they did For such as lyue there since they were Christians kept alwayes that feast after the Equinoctiallspringe And though Nouatus him selfe was putt to death in the persecution vnder Valerianus yet such as in Phrygia are so called of him for all they are fallen from the faith of the Catholicke churche were licenced to become partakers of his communion at what time they altered the celebration of Easter day For in the village Pazum where the springs of the floode Sangarius are founde ▪ there was a Councell summoned of fewe and the same very obscure Nouatian bishops where they decreed that the maner custome of the Iewes who kept thē dayes of vnleauened bread was to be obserued and that the time appoynted by them was not to be broken This haue we learned of an olde man who was a priests sonne and present at the Councell with his father whereat Agelius the Nouatian byshop of Constantinople was not neyther Maximus of Nice neither the Nouatian bishop of Nicomedia neyther the bishop of Cotuaium who was of the same opinion with the rest for these were they that chiefely layde downe the canons of the Nouatian churches These things were of olde in this sort Not longe after because of this Councell as it shall be shewed in an other place the Nouatian churche was deuided within it selfe CAP. XXIIII Of Damasus bishop of Rome and Vrsinus his deacon of the greate sturre and slaughter that was at Rome because of them NOwe lett vs returne vnto the affaires of the West that were done at the same time When the Emperour Valentinianus lead a peaceable and quiet life molestinge no kinde of sect Damasus succeeded Liberius in the bishopricke of Rome at what time the quiet state of the Romaine church was wonderfully troubled the cause as I could learne was as followeth Vrsinus Deacon of that church in the vacancie of the seae made sute for him selfe agaynst Damasus to be chosen bishop Who seeing that Damasus was preferred and him selfe put backe seeinge also that all his canuasse was to no purpose fell from the church to raysinge of priuate and particular conuenticles and perswaded certaine base and obscure bishops to consecrate him bishop Wherfore they created him not in the open church but in an odde corner of the cathedrall church called Sicona This being done the people was all on an vprore the tumult was not toutchinge y ◠faith or heresie but whether of them both by ryght should be bishop The heat of thronging multitudes was so grieuous and the contention so greate that it cost many their liues For which schisme and rebellion many both of the laytie and cleargie were grieuously tormented by the cōmaundement of Maximmus the gouernour and so was Vrsinus foyled the enterprises of his factiō suppressed CAP. XXV After the death of Auxentius the Arian byshop of Mediolanum when there rose a great schisme about the election of a bishop the which Ambrose Liuetenant of that prouince suppressed he him selfe by the voyce of all that were present and by the consent of the Emperour Valentinianus was chosen Byshop ABout that time an other straunge act fell out at Mediolanum When Auxentius whome y ◠Arians chose to be bishop of
he demauÌ„ds of the bishop what faith he was of when the bishop made answere that the opinion of Arius preuailed not throughout Illyrium that the newefounde inuention of his pestilent braine was not planted in the churches of y â— contrey but that all the christians throughout those coasts retained euer obserued continewally y â— autentick ancient faith deliuered of the Apostles confirmed by the councell of Nice the Emperour with willing mind was baptized of Ascholius for so was the bishop called A fewe dayes after when that he had somwhat recouered he went towards Constantinople the foure twentyeth of Nouember in his first Consulship and the fift of Gratian. CAP. VII Howe that Gregorie Nazianzen vnderstandinge that diuerse Bishops did stomacke him refused the Bishopricke of Constantinople The Emperour sent vnto Demophilus the Arian Bishop that either he woulde subscribe vnto the faith of one substance or departe the citie the which he did GRegorie being then translated from the citie NazianzuÌ„ gouerned a certen litle church within y â— walls of CoÌ„stantinople vnto y â— which y â— Emperour afterwards annected a goodly temple called it the resurrectioÌ„ Gregorie a famous maÌ„ excelling in vertue godlines all y â— florished in his time wheÌ„ he perceaued y â— some did murmur obiect vnto hiÌ„ y â— he was a coÌ„trey bishop a forainer for all y â— he reioiced at y â— Emperours coming he refused vtterly to continew longer at CoÌ„stantinople the emperour seing y â— church out of square endeuored w t all meanes possible to reduce it vnto peace to establish vnity to enlarge y â— churches wherefore immediatly he geueth Demophilus y â— AriaÌ„ bishop to vnderstaÌ„d of his pleasure in plaine words demauÌ„deth of hiÌ„ whether he wold embrace y â— Nicene creed set y â— people at vnity eÌ„brace coÌ„cord hiÌ„self wheÌ„ he refused so to do y â— emperour said vnto him if thou refuse to embrace peace vnity I coÌ„mauÌ„d thee to void y â— church Demophilus hearinge this aduised himselfe that it booted not for him to withstand the berdure of the higher power he assembled together a great multitud in the church stood vp in the middest brake out into these wordes brethren it is wrytten in the Gospell if they persecut you in one citie flie into an other In so much y â— the Emperour banisheth vs the churches I would haue you know that tomorowe you must meete together out of the citie When he had made an ende of speakinge he went forth He vnderstoode not that such as flie the trade of life which worldlinges followe after for so must we take the wordes of the Gospell haue to seeke the higher Ierusalem He meante it otherwise and thenceforth raised conuenticles without the walles of the citie There departed together with him Lucius who us I said before was banished AlexaÌ„dria enioyned to liue in exile and then lead his life at Constantinople Wherefore the Arians which helde the churches for the space of forty yeares refusinge the vnitie and concorde which Theodosius the Emperour exhorted them vnto departed the citie in the fift CoÌ„sulship of Gratian and the first of Theodosius the sixt and twentieth of Nouember Then such as were of the fayth of one substance came in theyr rowmes and tooke possession of the Churches CAP. VIII Of the hundreth and fifty Bishops which at the commaundement of the Emperour Theodosius mette at Constantinople theyr decrees and howe they created Nectarius Bishop of that seae THe Emperour without long deliberation summoned a councell of such Bishops as were of his faith to the end the canons of y â— Nicene councell might be confirmed and a Bishop chosen of Constantinople And in hope to reconcile the Macedonians with the Bishops which embraced the faith of one substance he cited also the bishops of the Macedonian sect Wherefore there met there of them which embraced the Nicene Greede Tâ—â—otheus Bishop of Alexandria Cyrillus Bishop of IerusaleÌ„ who theÌ„ after his late recantation addicted him wholly vnto the faith of one substance Meletius who was called thither in a while before to the stalling of Gregorie Nazianzen Ascholius Bishop of Thessalonica with many others to the number of a hundreth and fifty Bishops The chiefe of all the Macedonian Bishops was Eleusius Bishop of Cyzicum and Marcianus Bishop of Lampsacum The number of that sect came to a thirtie and six whereof the greater parte came out of Hellespontus The councell met together in the Consulship of Eucharideâ— and Euagrius and the moneth of Maye The Emperour together with the Bishops of his opinion first vsed all meanes possible with Eleusius and the rest of the Macedonians for to reconcile them with the catholick church they not onely bring them in remembrance of the embassy which Eustathius together with many others did in their names to Liberius late Bishop of Rome but also that not longe before without exception they communicated throughout euery church with such as professed the fayth of one substance and that they behaued themselues neyther godly neyther religiously sithence that aforetime they ratified the selfe same opinion and faith with them if now againe they endeuored to ouerthrow such things as they had aduisedly decreed before for all they coulde doe it was neyther faire meanes neyther foule meanes that woulde preuayle They sayde flatly rather then they woulde subscribe vnto the faith of one substance that they would hold with the Arians When they had made this answere they left Constantinople and sent theyr letters abroade into euery citie that they shoulde in no wise consent vnto the fayth of the Nicene councell The Bishops that were of the other side continewing at Constantinople coÌ„sulted together about the election of a Bishop For Gregorie as I sayde before had refused that seae and returned to Nazianzum There was at that time one Nectarius of noble linage whose auncetors had bene Senators a man he was of good life and godly conuersation who though he were by office a Praetor yet did the people choose him to theyr Bishop in the ende by the consente of a hundreth and fifty Bishops then presente he was stalled Bishop of Constantinople Then was it decreed that the Bishop of Constantinople should haue the next prerogatiue after the bishop of Rome the reason was because that citie was called Newe Rome Agayne they ratifie the faith of the Nicene Councell they deuide prouinces and ordayne Patriarches they decree that no Bishop shall leaue his owne diocesse and intermedle with foraine churches for vnto that time by reason of the greate heat and storme of persecution it was sufferable at euery ones choice and libertie Nectarius Bishop of CoÌ„stantinople had that greate citie together with all Thracia allotted to his iurisdiction The Patriarckship throughtout Pontus was assigned vnto Helladius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia after Basil vnto Gregorie the brother of Basil who was Bishop of
dealing of the bishops requireth of them that the accusations may indifferently be examined By that time the seast of our sauiours natiuitie was come on which day y ◠Emperour went not to the church after the wonted maner but sent Iohn this message that he would not communicate w t him before he had cleared him selfe of the crimes layd to his charge And when as the accusers seemed to mistrust them selues that Iohn through the vprightnes equitie of his cause boldened him selfe the bishops then present affirmed they ought not to examine any other offence saue only whether he of him selfe had takē possession of the bishoprick after he was deposed without the sentence admission of a councell When Iohn made answere y ◠he had the consent of fiftie bishops which cōmunicated w t him Leontius replied against him but more saith he in the coūcell withstoode thy admission Againe when Iohn sayd that the canon which cōtained such a clause appertained not vnto their churche but was to be executed where y ◠Arians did raigne for such as assembled at Antioch to roote out y ◠faith of one substance layd downe y ◠canon against Athanasius they neuerthelesse makinge no accōpt of his answere proceeded gaue sentence against him not weying with thēselues that such as were authors of this canon were also deposers of Athanasius These things were done a litle before Easter Then also the Emperour sent vnto Iohn y ◠he had no authoritie to go into the church insomuch he was deposed condemned in two seuerall councells Wherefore Iohn gaue ouer executing of the ecclesiasticall function refrained from going into the church Immediatly also such as fauored him departed y ◠churche they keepe Easter in the cōmon bathes called Cōstantianae together with many bishops priests other ecclesiasticall persons who thenceforth because of their seuerall conuenticles were called Iohannits For the space of two moneths Iohn was neuer seene abrode vntill y ◠by the Emperours cōmaundemēt he was brought to exile so at length being banished the church he was bereaued of his contrey soyle The same day certaine of such as were called Iohannits set the church on fire with that the easterne wind being vp blew the flame into the senatours court cessed not from burning vntill all was cōsumed to ashes This was done the twentieth of Iune in the sixt Consulship of Honorius the which he enioyed together w t Aristanetus For which conspiracie treason what heauy penalties grieuous punishments Optatus gouernour of Constantinople in religion a pagane and therfore a sore plaguer of Christians made them endure I thinke it best to ouerskip them with silence CAP. XVII Howe that after the deposition of Iohn Arsacius was made byshop of Constantinople of Cyrinus byshop of Chalcedon that was payned with the sore foote and of the death of Eudoxia the Empresse ARsacius an old man aboue the age of fourescore yeares who sometime gouerned the bishopricke of Constantinople before the dayes of Iohn was shortly after made byshop of that seae In his time when as the church enioyed greate ease and quietnesse by reason of his singular modestie and meeke behauiour Cyrinus bishop of Chalcedon whose foote Maruthas bishop of Mesopotamia had trode on and hutt against his will had such infortunate successe y t his foote rotted of the broise and therfore of necessitie he was cōstrained to saw it of Neither suffred he that once but twise and oftenner toe For the putrefaction ranne ouer his whole bodie and fell at length into his other foote then was he fayne to lose both I haue therefore remembred these thinges because it was rife in euery mans mouth that Cyrinus suffered this plague or punishment for reuiling of Iohn and terming him as I sayd before a stuburne Bishop Againe when as great haile the bignesse whereof was not remembred to haue bene seene before fell in the suburbes of Constantinople y ◠thirtieth day of Septembre the aforesayd Consulship y ◠report likewise went that it was a token of Gods wrath for the deposition and banishment of Iohn The death of the Empresse which followed immediatly after confirmed this rumor for she departed this life the fourth day after the fall of this haile Some there were also which sayd that Iohn was iustly deposed because that in the voyage when he made Heraclides Bishop of Ephesus he thrust many out of their Churches namely the Nouatians and such as celebrated the feast of Easter the fourteeneth day of the moneth with many others both in Asia and in Lydia But whether Iohn was iustly deposed as they said which bare him ill will whether Cyrinus was plagued for his opprobrious languages and sclaunderous reports last of all whether the haile and the death of the Empresse were signes of Gods high displeasure for banishing of Iohn or whether they happened for some other causes God alone knoweth which searcheth the secrets of mans hart and pronounceth here of the right sentence of iust iudgement I of myne owne parte committed to writing such things as then were rife in euery mans mouth CAP. XVIII Howe that after the desease of Arsacius Atticus was chosen Bishop of Constantinople ARsacius continewed not Bishop very long for the yeare following to wit in the second Consulship of Stilicon but the first of Anthemius and the eleuenth of Nouembre he departed this life When that the election of a bishop fell out to be a troublesome peece of worke and the contention endured a very long time the next yeare after in the sixt Consulship of Arcadius and the first of Probus Atticus a godly mā by birth of Sebastia in Armenia by order a religious man trayned in the monasticall discipline from his youth vp of meane knowledge yet of singuler wisedome naturally ingraffed in him was chosen bishop of Constātinople but of him more hereafter CAP. XIX Howe that Iohn Bishop of Constantinople died in exile IOhn being banished his Churche bereaued his contrey soyle dyed in exile at Comanum situated vpon the sea Euxinus the foureteeneth of Nouembre the seuenth Consulship of Honorius the seconde of Theodosius a man he was as I sayd before more lead with heate of burning choler then ruled by ciuill curtesie and because he was a man of wonderfull boldnes he vsed liberty of speach and had tongue at will I can not verily but wonder at him why he addicting him selfe so much to temperance taught in some sermons that temperance was in maner to be sett at nought for when as by the councell of Bishops there was admission left and pardon graunted for such as had once fallen after baptisme to be receaued againe after repentance into the Church he sticked not to say If thou fall a thousand times repent thee of thy folly come boldly into the Church for which doctrine besides that he was misliked of many his familiars yet was
relations for the most part are in the person of Gregorie byshop of Antioche for the which I was preferred vnto two honorable offices Tiberius Constantinus made me Quaestor Mauricius Tiberius made me maister of the Rolles where the noble men and magistrates were registred The autor endeth his historie about the yeare of our Lord 595. wanting onely fiue yeares of sixe hundred There are many odde thinges in this historie whereby the reader may note the chaunge and diuersitie of times how abuses creepe in by a litle and a litle ▪ who so euer he be that is so disposed to settle his minde and rest vpon the plaine trueth by perusing of these histories he may haue great furtherance In Eusebius he may behold the estate of the primitiue church from the Apostles vnto his time three hundred odd years In Socrates although it follow immediatly he shal find great chaunge his historie is of a hundred and forty years after but in Euagrius being but a hundred forty yeares after him ye shall see farre greater alteration Lastof all if ye weye the thinges which happened since the sixte hundred yeares after Christe then as it is written Qui legit intelligat then came in the Pope then came in the Turke and then came in the deuell for altogether For after the raygne of this Mauricius came in Phocas to be Emperour which first graunted vnto the byshoppe of Rome to be called vniuersall byshoppe This Phocas murthered the Emperour Mauricius obtayned the Empire through treason a fitte man to be founder of so worthie an acte Note I beseeche you howe that in his time God seemed vtterly to withdrawe his blessing Fraunce Spaine Germanie Lumbardie and the greatest part of the east fell from the Empire for euer such a wrecke to the state as neuer had bene sene before Not onely this but there ensued in the temporaltie no feare of God no shame of the worlde no loue towardes the brethren no care of the Churche no consideration of cleargie men in the spiritualtie pryde of prelates pampering of their panches fleshly pleasure they turned deuotion into superstition fayth into fained workes plaine dealing into hypocrisie careful zeale into carelesse securitie in stead of the Bible they brought into the Church legendes of lyes in steade of the true and pure seruice of God they brought in peeuishe and pelting ceremonies wherefore the season requireth that we watche and pray and continewally wayte for the Lords comminge All is nowe in the extreme Nullum violentum perpetuum T. V. THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF EVAGRIVS SCHOLASTICVS CAP. I. The proëme of Euagrius to his historie EVsebius syrnamed Pamphilus a man without all peraduenture as in other thinges profounde so in penninge excellent is of such efficacie in his works y ◠although he can not make the readers perfect christians yet can he so draw them by perswasion that with prompt and willing mindes they will embrace the Christian fayth Eusebius Socrates Sozomenus Theodoret haue written most exquisitly of the incarnation of our most louing sauiour of his ascention into the heauens of the famous acts of the Apostles of the combats and persecutions of y ◠holy martyrs what other thing so euer was thought worthy the noting or otherwise vnto some part of Theodosius iunior his raigne In so much therefore such thinges as ensued after seeme nothing inferior vnto the rest and haue bene hitherto recorded in no perfect order although also I my selfe seeme vnfitt by reason of my smale habilitie to take so great an enterprise in hand yet I take it to be my duetie to imploy what labour and industrie lieth in me for the compyling of this worke and to put my whole trust and confidence in him which indued the fishermen with heauenly wisedome and filed the rough tongue for readie deliuerie and soundinge of euery syllable to th end I may reuiue the famous actes which nowe doe slumber in the duste of forgetfulnesse so sturre them with my penne and print them to immortall memory that not onely euerie man may know what hath happened vntill this our age when where in what sort against whome by what men but also that no worthie act through rechelesse securitie and languishinge slouthfulnesse the sister of obliuion be cleane put out of remembrance Wherefore by the helpe of almightie God there will I beginne to write where the aforesaide writers made an end of their histories when the outragious crueltie of Iulian had sucked his fill of the blessed sainctes and martyres blood when the mad furie of Arius false and counterfeit doctrine was bridled with the sounde canons of the Nicene councell when both Eunomius and Macedonius were sore pricked at Bosphorus with the power of the holy Ghoste and vtterly foyled at the famous Cytye of Constantinople when the holy Churche had purged her of her filthe and infection the whiche she lately receiued and now recouered her former glorie being as it were all layde ouer with glistering golde and gorgeously araid for her louer and bridegrome Satan the sworne aduersarie to all godlinesse because he could not away with these graces and benefites bestowed from aboue raised against vs a straunge battaile contrarie to the course of nature And when he sawe the idolatrie of pagans was trode in the puddle of contempt that the seruile and abiect opinion of Arius was quite banished the Churche although he staggered and staide openly from oppugninge the christian faith specially seeing it was confirmed and fortified by so many auncient and godly fathers for in besieging and assaulting of it his power was very muche diminished secretly and by stelth he wrought his feates he deuised certaine obiections and resolutions and laboured to conueigh the errour after his newe founde inuention vnto the Iewishe superstition forgetting like a wretche as he is that in partaking with them he was lately foyled and ouerthrowen Whereas a foretime he had one aduersarie now craftely he seemed to reuerence and in maner to embrace the same his deuise and endeuour was not to withdrawe the Church generally from the whole faith but to see whether he might possibly corrupt one worde or syllable comprised therein Wherefore being wrapped in his owne malice he craftely went about to alter yea one letter which seemed to appertaine vnto the sense and vnderstanding of the sentence ▪ but how in pronunciation he seuered the tongue from the trueth of the worde so that the sounde and sense of the phrase might not iointly laude God and extoll him with diuine prayses moreouer into what issue neither of them did growe and what ende they enioyed I will declare when I come to entreate of them I will also adde there vnto what other thing so euer may be thought worthie of memorie though therein I may seeme to digresse and there will I ceasse to write where God of his goodnesse will haue the historie ended CAP. II. Howe Nestorius
against them the whiche as Procopius writeth Martianus performed in deede â–ª but omitting such things as may seeme impertineÌ„t let vs returne vnto the historie This Martianus as he excelled in pietie towardes God so he passed in iustice towardes his subiects he deemed that to be richesse not which consisted of treasure and raising of tribute but onely that whiche supplyed the want of the needy and yeelded a safe and a secure life vnto suche as enioyed great possessions he was a terror vnto his people not in punishing offeÌ„dors but in threatening least at any time they should offend and therefore the empire was vnto him no inheritance but the hire of vertue the which he obtained with the generall consent of all both Senatours subiectes and all sorts of people when as Pulcheria the Empresse perswaded them to doe no lesse whom he entertained in his pallace as an Empresse yet knewe her not as man knoweth his wife for she continewed a virgine vnto her last houre These things were done before that Valentinianus the Romaine Emperour ratified the election of Martianus who afterwardes vnderstanding of his vertuous disposition condescended thereunto Martianus laboured with al might possible that all men ioyntly should laude God and the lipps whose languages impietie had confounded shoulde deuoutly nowe at length close together and sounde out with harmonie and concent the prayse of the liuing God CAP. II. Of the councell of Chalcedon and the occasion why it was summoned WHen Martianus was of the disposition mentioned before there came vnto him Legats froÌ„ Leo byshop of old Rome signifyinge y â— Dioscorus had made light of the decree which Leo had laid down in the councel of Ephesus agreeable with the true rightfayth there came others also reporting what iniuries contumelies Dioscorus had done vnto theÌ„ requesting y â— a councell might be called together for the hearing of their causes The which sute as chiefe of all others Eusebuis byshop of Dorilaeum made vnto the emperour followed hard opening vnto him how that both he and Flauianus were deposed of their byshoprickes through the fraude and wyles of Chrysaphius one sometime of Theodosius garde y â— Flauianus at what time Chrysaphius sent vnto him requiring golde for his admission into the byshopricke sent vnto him the holy vessell of the Church for to make him throughly ashamed of his demaunde and that Chrisaphius wallowed alike in the hereticall puddle and blasphemous impietie of Eutyches he certified him moreouer that Flauianus was piteously put to death by the procurement of Dioscorus thrust by him violently out of the Church and disdainfully pounced with his feete The councel of Chalcedon was summoned for the hearinge of the aforesaide accusations Legats and posts were sent into euery prouince the holy clergie were called together by letters containing graue and godly matter first of all to meet at Nice so that Leo byshop of Rome wrote vnto them by Pascasianus Lucentius and others whome he sent thither to supply his rowme in such sort as followeth Vnto the byshopps assembled at Nice Leo sendeth greeting afterwardes at Chalcedon a citie in Bithynia where Nestorius was cited to appeare as Zacharie Rhetor doth fauourably report of him But it is plaine it could not be so for Nestorius was commaunded vnder paine of an accurse not to shewe his face in the councell The which thing also Eustathius byshop of Berytum writeth plainely in the letters which he sent to Iohn the byshop to another Iohn the priest of the canons laid downe by that councel his words are these There came to this councell such as diligently searched out for the reliques of Nestorius and with open mouthes they exclaimed vpon the councell what reason and conscience is there that holy men shoulde be accursed So that the Emperour was greatly incensed against them and commaunded his gard they should send them packing with a vengeance Wherefore I can not see how Nestorius after his deceasse should be called to the councell CAP. III. The description of the Temple of the holy martyr Euphemia within the citie of Chalcedon and the miracles wrought therein THe byshops from euerie where mette in the holy Temple of Euphemia the martyr whiche standes in Chalcedon a citie of Bithynia this Temple lyeth from Bosphorus litle more then two furlonges situated in a very pleasaunt soyle rising vpwarde steepe wise so that such as frequent this Martyrs temple may easily mount vp by a litle and a litle without weryâ—â—esse and in they come vnwares yea into the body of the Church being there looking downewardes as out of a kenninge towre they see all the fields vnderneath them as euen grounde and plaine valleyes florishing with greene grasse loden with corne and couered with goodly woodes of all sortes very delectable to behold moreouer they see high hills and craggie rocks rising gayely by degrees vp into the skies diuerse sortes of seaes some yeldinge a blewish and skie colour by reason of the cleere wether playing as it were calmely and gently with the shores while the adioyning regions are voyd of tempest some other tossed with blustering blastes of winde and raginge stormes hurling vp pimple stones foming out filth and paultry weedes casting shelfish vpon the bankes with whyrling waues Furthermore this temple stands right ouer against Constantinople so that the beholdinge of so worthie and so noble a citie bringes vnto it great maiestie this temple is of three fortes of goodly and large buylding the first lieng wide open with a long porch receauing the tempered aâ—r of the skie sett vp with goodly pillours on euery side The second in length and breadth like vnto y â— former adornedlikewise with litle pillours differing only in height y â— lifted ridge Of the North side of which second building there is a rownd Ile the great windowe vnto the East the pillours within are cunningly wrought bowewise of the same stuff and one biggenes after the forme of a circle Underneath these there is a loft ouercast with the like rouffe where it is lawefull for euery one to pray vnto the Martyr to be present at the holy mysteries Within the I le Eastwards there is a vestry artificiallie builded where the reliques of the holie martyr are chested in a longe coffer cunninglie made of siluer the which some men for the length thereof doe call Longe as if the proper name were so The miracles wrought at certen times by this blessed Martyr are knowen I am sure of euerye Christian For oftentimes either she appeareth vnto the Bishops in their sleepe which orderlye succeede in the gouernemente of that Church or sheweth her selfe vnto some other that are of great fame for their vertuous life and godlines charging them to celebratea feast in that Church of daynty delicate foode The which thing being signified vnto the Emperours vnto the chiefe Prieste and wholl citie all ranne thither both Prince Priest and people to become partakers of
day night to pray for the prosperous state of your empire the coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce of your raigne After these things y â— acts of y â— secoÌ„d couÌ„cel of Ephesus were openly read at y â— request both of Dioscorus Eusebius y â— subtle disputation exquisit discourse therof both written of many others also laid down among y â— acts of y â— councel of ChalcedoÌ„ if I should here pen for y â— reader who peradueÌ„ture wil be desirous to vnderstaÌ„d y â— finall end of al their doings without doubt I should seeme to post him ouer with delayes I will therefore referre it to the ende of this booke where as many as will haue all things after their common saying at their fingers endes may both reade all and carefully committ the whole to memorie But nowe let vs proceede on in the things which we haue chiefely purposed to handle that is to saye howe Dioscorus bewrayed him selfe partly by reiecting the Epistle of Leo byshopp of old Rome and partly also by deposing Flauianus byshop of newe Rome all which he did in one day and craftely deuised that the byshops whiche assembled together should subscribe vnto a blancke where afterwards he caused the depriuation of Flauianus to be written when these thinges were done the senators decreed as followeth The next day after when the councell aduised them selues somewhat better we doe perceiue that they reasoned more exquisitly of the true and catholicke fayth VVherefore seeinge that Flauianus the byshopp of worthie memory and Eusebius the most reuerende byshopp of Dorilaeum were founde not to haue erred in the fayth after we had searched the actes and decrees of the councell and also by the report of suche as were chiefe in the councell and therefore vniustly to haue beene deposed for they confessed them selues sowly deceaued and wrongfully to haue depriued Flauianus and Eusebius It seemeth good vnto vs and no doubt God approueth the same that Dioscorus the most reuerend byshop of Alexandria if it so please our Lorde the Emperour Iuuenalis the most reuerend byshop of Ierusalem Thalassius the most reuerend byshop of Caesarea in Cappodocia Eusebius the most reuerende byshop of Armenia Eustathius the most reuerend byshop of Berytus Basilius the most reuerende byshop of Seleucia in Isauria who were then of autority and chief of the councell should be punished alike deposed of their byshopricks by the censure iudgemeÌ„t of the councell as the canons of the church doe require be at the emperours pleasure Immediatly there were other bils exhibited against Dioscorus both of the crimes he committed and the money he had receaued but when Dioscorus being called y â— second the third time of y â— councel sent fained excuses for him self came not y â— Legats of Leo byshop of old Rome stood vp in y â— councel said as followeth The hainoê° offeÌ„ces which Dioscorus late byshop of the noble city of Alexandria coÌ„mitted against the canons of the councells the ecclesiastical discipline are throughly knoweÌ„ of vs al partly by sifting out such things as were heard in the former session and partly also by examining such things as we decided this day And that we may omit many other things this man of his owne autority coÌ„trary to the canon of the church receaued Eutyches into the coÌ„munion an heretick of the same opinion with him one that was iustly deposed by his owne proper byshop to wit the most holy father and our byshop Flauianus this he did before he shewed his face in the councel which he held with the most holy byshops at Ephesus but the Apostolicke seae pardoned the byshops because they were constrained against their wills to doe that whiche they did who yeelded them selues vnto this present houre both to Leo the most holy byshop to the whole sacred general assembly of byshops therefore as men of one opinion with him he receaued theÌ„ into the coÌ„munion As for this Dioscorus he cesseth not as yet to glory of the things for the which he ought to mourne lament lie groueling vpon the ground in sackcloth ashes not onely this but also he fâ—rbad the reading of holy Pope Leo his epistle written vnto Flauianus of godly memory yea being oft intreated of the Legats naye when he him selfe had promised with an othe he woulde procure it to be read the default in not reading of which epistle hath bene both an offence hindrance vnto the holy churches vnder heauen Although he was priuey to such lewde practises yet haue we asseÌ„bled together to th end we might deale somewhat fauourably both vvith him for all his former leudnes and also in like sort with the other godly byshops which were not of equall autority with him in iudgment but seing that his later misdemenure exceeded his former impiety for he sticked not to excoÌ„municate Leo the most holy and most religious archebyshop of Rome moreouer wheÌ„ shameful bills were exhibited against him he him self being cited once twise the thirde time as the canon of the church hath coÌ„maunded by the godly byshops to appeare before the councel yet would be not come for his owne coÌ„science accused him but entertained coÌ„trary vnto law such as were iustly deposed by diuers councells set at naught sundry coÌ„stitutions of the church condemning as it were him selfe with his owne doings once againe seeinge these are found to be his later practises Leo the most holy archebyshop of great olde Rome by vs and this sacred assembly together with the most blessed Apostle S. Peter who is the rocke the grounde of the Catholicke Churche and the fundation of the true fayth bereaued him of all dignitie that belongeth to a byshop and depriued him of the priestly function â–ª wherefore let this holy councell geue the sentence of Dioscorus of whom we haue hitherto spoken according vnto the canons of the Church When these things were ratified by the councell and certen other things decided y â— byshops that were deposed with Dioscorus at y â— request of the councell the consent of y â— emperour were restored to their byshopricks againe when they had annexed certeÌ„ things vnto their former constitutious y â— conncell pronounced such a sentence as followeth Our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christe going about to confirme his disciples in the knowledge of the fayth saide vnto them my peace I geue you my peace I bequeath vnto you to th ende none should vary froÌ„ his neighbour in sacred religion but that all with one mouth minde should acknowledg the word of trueth Imediately after when they had read y â— creed established by the councell of Nice with y â— forme of faith agreed vpon by a hundred fiftye godly fathers assembled at Constantinople they procede on in these words that diuine holy creed containing the abundance of the grace spirit of god is sufficient both to bring men vnto
was nothing els saue plaine whoredome against the spouse of Christ and the Churche of God whiche had an husband of her owne that celebrated therein the holy mysteries and gouerned the same according vnto the canons of the Churche When they had enterlaced a fewe lines they went on as followeth Blessed Proterius could doe no other then as it is written geeue place vnto wrath to th ende he might escape the furie of such as ranne headlong to dispatche him out of the way he made his refuge vnto the reuerend fonte the whiche place of all others yea the Barbarians and bruitish people being altogether ignorant of the vertue and grace which ishueth thence are loth to prophane yet these men purposing to performe in deede that which from the beginning they had deuised for Timothee saued not the life of Proterius no not in those priueledged places of the temple reuerenced not the religious place honored not the time for it was on the high feaste of Easter stoode in no awe of holy pristhood which is a mediation betweene God and man slew him being innocent and dispatched with him six others for company They brought with them the wounded carcasse they lugged it throughout the citie they set it out piteously to be skorned at they cruelly rent with the lash of the whipp the senselesse corps they vnioynted the members throughout the body neither refrayned they after the manner of bruite beastes to tast of his bowells whome they lately tooke for a mediator betweene God and man last of all that which remained they burned to ashes scattering and hurlinge into the aer the ashes thereof exceeding therein the sauadgnesse and crueltie of bruite beastes â–ª the autor and ringleader of all these mischiefes was Timotheus Zachariewho discoursed in like sort of these thinges being perswaded as it is like with the letters of Timothee which he wrote vnto Leo reporteth many other thinges to haue happened and that through the miâ—demenure of Proterius who made much adoe as he saith and great sturre in Alexandria that the people wrought not all those mischiefs but certaine desperate soldiers and that the Emperour Leo sent thither Stelas to chastice them for their lewdnesse CAP. IX How Leo the Emperour wrote letters throughout the worlde for to vnderstand what was best for him to doe toutching the election of Timotheus Aelurus the councell of Chalcedon LEo the Emperour when he demaunded the aduise of the byshopps throughout the Romaine common weale other godly men likewise that were renowmed for monasticall discipline concerning the councell of Chalcedon and the consecration of Timotheus syrnamed Aelurus he wrote generally vnto all men and sent with all coppies of the supplications exhibited vnto him both by the fauorers of Proterius and the faction of Timothee the letters he sent euery where contayned such a forme as followeth The coppie of the godly letters of Leo the most vertuous Emperour vnto Anatolius byshopp of Constantinople with all other archebyshopps and byshopps wheresoeuer LEo Emperour and Caesar vertuous victorious triumphant chiefe Lord all noble Augustus vnto Anatolius the byshop sendeth greetinge It was euer our desire that both all the most holy Catholicke churches and moreouer the cities subiecte vnto the Romaine dominions should enioy peace and tranquillitie and that nothing should befall them whiche might molest their quiet estate what sturre there was of late risen at Alexandria we are sure thy holines knoweth full well but to th ende thou mayst vnderstand the whole and the occasion of so great a tumult and hurliburly we haue sent vnto thy fatherhood the coppies of the complaints and supplications exhibited vnto our highnesse against Timothee both by the most holy byshopps and priests of the aforesaide citie and prouince of Aegypt after their comming vnto the princely citie of Constantinople as also suche supplications as certaine citizens sent from Timothee out of Alexandria vnto our campe haue deliuered vnto vs to this ende and purpose that thou maist perfectly knowe what Timotheus hath practised whome the people of Alexandria the worthiest personages the citizens shipmasters requested to be their byshop and what other things were contained in the supplications and moreouer touching the councel of Chalcedon a corize vnto diuers mens consciences as the complaints here within inclosed doe declare VVherefore our will is that thy holinesse doe assemble all the religious and catholicke byshopps which presently remaine in this princely citie and with them all the sacred senate of clergie men for our principall care is to deliuer Alexandria from tumults and sedition to peace and quietnes that after the sifting and exquisite handling of all controuersies we may learne what your opinion is of the aforesaide Timothee and the councell helde at Chalcedon laying aside all feare of man all spite and fauour hauinge onely the feare of almightie God fixed before your eyes you remember I am sure that for these thinges you shall render an accompt before the maiestie of God that we beinge certified by your letters of all the premises may publishe suche an edict as shal be agreeable vnto the same These were his letters vnto Anatolius The Emperour wrote other letters differing very litle in style from the aforesaide both vnto other byshopps and vnto other famous men who then as I said before led a poore lyfe and had not wherewith all to maintaine them selues of which number was Symeon aboue mentioned the first that euer made his nest in a pillour and founde out that kinde of mansion the rest were Baradatus and Iames learned men of Syria CAP. X. The censures and answers of diuers byshopps and of holy Symeon vnto the aforesaide letters of the Emperour FIrst of all Leo byshopp of olde Rome wrote in defence of the councell of Chalcedon and dissalowed the election of Timothee as an act contrarie to the canon of the Churche the whiche epistle of Leo the Emperour sent by one of his trustie messengers vnto Timothee byshop of Alexandria to whome Timothee wrote backe againe reprehending both the councell of Chalcedon and the epistle of Leo. The coppie of these epistles is to be seene in the letters which Leo the Emperour wrote generally vnto all men but I omitted them lest I shoulde wery the reader with interlacing toe many of suche kinde of workes Moreouer other byshopps in like sort maintained very earnestly the canons of the councell of Chalcedon and condemned with one voyce the consecration of Timothee but Amphilochius byshopp of Sida alone of all the other byshopps wrote an epistle vnto the Emperour where he inueyed bitterly at the election of Timothee yet approued not the councell of Chalcedon the which things are layde downe in writinge by Zacharie Rhetor together with the Epistle of Amphilochius Symeon also a man of worthie memorie wrote touching the aforesayde controuersies two Epistles one vnto Leo the Emperour an other vnto Basilius byshopp of Antioch of both whiche the Epistle
pray you what maner of canons are now obserued when Theodoritus came in amonge them it is reported the Senate shoulde say that he came in for an accuser and that Dioscorus aunswered he was to take the rowme of a byshop The Senate then replyed that both Eusebius and Theodoritus were to stande in the rowme of accusers no otherwise then Dioscorus was to stande at the barre and to be arrayned All the actes of the seconde councell helde at Ephesus were reade and the sentence whiche they had pronounced against Flauianus and Eusebius vntill they came to a certayne clause at the hearinge whereof Hilarius the byshop beganne to speake The byshops of the East and suche as were of their side cryed Let Dioscorus be accursed In the verye same houre Christe depriued Dioscorus when Dioscorus deposed Flauianus O holye Lorde we beseeche the chastise thou him and thou O Catholicke Emperour be reuenged on him God graunt Leo may liue manye yeares God sende the Patriarche a longe lyfe Laste of all when the actes were reade whiche declared that all the byshops assembled at Ephesus had subscribed vnto the depriuation of Flauianus and Eusebius the most sage and worthie Senators sayde as followeth The nexte daye after when the councell aduised them selues somewhat better we doe perceaue that they reasoned more exquisitly of the true and Catholicke fayth VVherefore seeinge that Flauianus the byshop of worthye memorye and Eusebius the most reuerende byshop of Dorilaeum were founde not to haue erred in the fayth after we had searched the actes and decrees of the councell and also by the report of suche as were chiefe in the councell and therefore vniustly to haue beene deposed for they confessed them selues fowlye deceaued and wrongfully to haue depriued Flauianus and Eusebius It seemeth good vnto vs and no doubt God approueth the same that Dioscorus the most reuerend byshop of Alexandria if it so please our Lorde the Emperour Iuuenalis the most reuerend byshop of Ierusalem Thalassius the most reuerend byshop of Caesarea in Cappadocia Eusebius the most reuerend byshop of Armenia Eustathius the most reuerend byshop of Berytus Basilius the most reuerende byshop of Seleucia in Isauria who were then of autoritye and chiefe of the councell shoulde be punished alyke deposed of their byshoprickes by the censure and iudgement of the councell as the canons of the Church doe require be at the Emperours pleasure When their sentence was reade the byshops of the East cryed That iudgement is iust Then the byshopes of Illyrium sayde wyth lowde voyces VVe haue all done amisse and therefore we all craue pardon When the byshops of the Easte cryed agayne That sentence is iust Christ deposed the murtherer Christ reuenged the martyrs The Senators commaunded that euerye one of the byshopes then present shoulde wryte his fayth seuerallye perswadinge them selues of a suretye that the moste holye Emperour beleeued accordinge vnto the forme of fayth publyshed at Nice by three hundred and eyghteene fathers and agreeable vnto the creede framed at Constantinople by a hundred and fiftye byshops and no otherwise then the Epistles of the holye fathers Gregorie Basil Hillarie Athanasius Ambrosius and the two Epistles of Cyrill reade in the first councell of Ephesus haue directed him and that Leo the most reuerende byshop of olde Rome deposed Eutyches for the contrarye After the breakinge vp of this session in suche sort as you heare when the holy byshops had mette agayne and sate together Eusebius byshop of Dorilaeum exhibited vnto them bils of complaynt both in his owne name and in the person of Flauianus where he charged Dioscorus that he maintayned one heresie and opinion wyth Eutyches and that he had deposed them of their priesthood He added moreouer that Dioscorus had falsified the recordes by layinge downe certaine wordes which were not at all vttered in the councell then assembled together that through wiles and craft he had procured blanks for them to subscribe vnto he made sute vnto them againe that all the actes and canons of the seconde councell helde at Ephesus by their sentence and autority might be abrogated that they would restore them vnto their priestly function that they would accurse the detestable doctrine of Eutyches and last of all he requested that after the reading of the records his aduersary might be brought before the councell when this was graunted Aetius the head notary stood vp and said that he had bene with Dioscorus as with the rest and that Dioscorus had aunswered him that his keepers would not licence him to come vnto the councell It was saide moreouer that Dioscorus was sought for before the councell sate and could not be found that Anatolius byshop of Constantinople should aunswere he should both be warned and come vnto the councell This being done such as were sent vnto him returned saying from Dioscorus My keepers wil not let me come if they will licence me let them speak but when y â— messengers replied y â— they were sent not vnto the maisters of y â— ward but vnto him y â— report goeth he aunswered thus I am redy to come vnto the holy generall councel but I am staid Himerius added vnto these sayings howe at their returne froÌ„ Dioscorus Boâ—tius met by y â— way the maâ—ster of y â— holy offices that byshops accoÌ„panied him againe as he went vnto Dioscorus and y â— they had brought with theÌ„ in paper some part of their conference y â— which notes being read declared y â— Dioscorus made theÌ„ this aunswere when that I ponder this matter with my selfe and perceaue how auaileable it is for me take this aunswere seeinge the most reuerende byshops which sit in the couÌ„cell haue decreed many things after the often coÌ„ferences they had with seueral meÌ„ that I now am called to the secoÌ„d sitting for to reuoke such things as were spokeÌ„ of before my request is that the most reuerend byshops holy Senate which were present at the first session be now also at the second that the same things may now the secoÌ„d time be exquisitly handled The records doe declare y â— Acacius replied vnto him againe in this sort The holy worthy councell hath not therefore commaunded your holines to come vnto them to thend such thinges as were decided in the presence of the most reuerend byshops and holy senate should be called in agayne but sent vs purposely vnto you that you shoulde come vnto the councell and that your holynesse shoulde not be absent from them Dioscorus sayde vnto him agayne as it is recorded You tolde me alreadye that Eusebius gaue vp vnto the councell bills of complaynte well I requeste you once agayne that my cause may throughly be knowen and examined in presence of the presidents and senate After the recitall of other thinges toe and froe wyth other circumstances they sent againe vnto Dioscorus requestinge him to be present at the councell who wrote his aunswere
in paper afterwardes they returned and reade it thus before the councell I signified of late vnto your holinesse that I was sicke therefore I craue that the most worthye presidents and holy senate will be present at the handlinge and decidinge of causes and because my sickenesse increaseth therefore I differre my comminge The recordes doe declare that Cecropius hearinge that aunswere sayde thus vnto Dioscorus Why syr hitherto ye made no mention of sickenesse and will ye nowe be sicke ye shoulde haue satisfied the canons of the Churche Dioscorus turned vnto him I tolde you sayth he once alreadye that the presidents shall be there for me With this Russiâ—s byshop of Samosata sayde vnto Dioscorus looke what so euer is called into controuersie it is decided accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche and therefore he that commeth vnto the councell may speake freely what pleaseth him Dioscorus beinge therein perswaded Iuuenalis and Thalassius came thither Eustathius bolted out suche thinges as were to no purpose whereunto as it is recorded Dioscorus made aunswere and requested of the most religious Emperour that the presidents and suche as had geuen iudgement with him in the councell shoulde be sent for thither The messengers that were sent vnto him aunswered him againe that Eusebius complayned vpon him alone and that it needed not accordinge vnto his motion to cite all to appeare Dioscorus replyed that by right as many as were Iudges with him in the councell shoulde be present that Eusebius had no priuate action against him but onely an accusation agaynst suche thinges as they all had decided and iudged When the Legats vrged him with the same Dioscorus aunswered I tolde ye once what ye may trust toe I knowe not what I shoulde tell you agayne After the relation of the aforesayde Eusebius byshop of Dorylaeum protested that he charged no man with ought saue Dioscorus alone and requested that Dioscorus might be called the thirde time Aetius interrupted him and sayde that there came of late vnto the councell certaine men of Alexandria as they named them selues of the clergie together with some of the laytie and preferred bills of complaynt agaynst Dioscorus and as they stoode at the Churche doores where the councell sate there to haue made an exclamation that first of all Theodorus Deacon of Alexandria gaue vp vnto the councell a bill of invitement after him â—â—chyrianus Deacon of the same churche there followed him Athanasius the priest Cyrills brothers sonne and that last of all Sophronius charged him with blasphemy bribery and extortion Dioscorus was called the thirde time and came not the Legats brought the councell his aunswere in these wordes I haue aunswered your holmes so sufficiently already that I haue now no more to say vnto you When the Legats dealt earnestly with him for to come he would geue them no other aunswere Then Pascasianns said Dioscorus is now the thirde time cited to appeare comes not no doubt his owne conscience doth accuse him what deserueth he I praye you all the byshops made aunswere that he incurred the daunger of the canons of the church Proterius byshop of Smyrna saide when holy Flauianus was slaine through his procurement he was not punyshed accordinge to his deserts Last of all the Legats of Leo Archebyshop of Rome spake in the councell as followeth The haynous offences whiche Dioscorus late byshop of the noble citye of Alexandria committed agaynst the canons of councells and the Ecclesiasticall Discipline are throughly knowen of vs all partly by siftinge out suche thinges as were hearde in the former session and partly also by examininge suche thynges as we decyded this daye And that we may omitt manye other thinges this man of his owne autoritye contrarye to the canon of the Churche receaued Eutyches into the communion an hereticke of the same opinion wyth him and one that was iustly deposed by his owne proper byshop to witt the most holy father and our byshop Flauianus and this he did before he shewed his face in the councell whiche he helde with the most holy byshops at Ephesus but the Apostolicke seae pardoned the byshops because they were constrained against their wills to doe that whiche they did who yeelded them selues vnto this present houre both to Leo the most holy byshop and to the whole sacred and generall assembly of byshops and therefore as men of one opinion wyth him he receaued them into the communion As for this Dioscorus he ceasseth not as yet to glorye of the thinges for the vvhiche he ought to mourne lament and lye grouelinge vpon the grounde in sackcloth and ashes Not onely this but also he forbadd the readinge of holy Pope Leo his Epistle written vnto Flauianus of godly memorye yea beinge oft intreated of the Legats nay when he him selfe had promised with an othe that he woulde procure it to be reade The defaulte in not readinge of whiche Epistle hath beene both an offence and hindrance vnto the holye Churches vnder heauen Although he was priueye to suche levvde practises yet haue vve assembled together to th ende vve might deale somewhat fauourably both with him for all his former levvdenesse and also in lyke sort with the other godly byshopps whiche were not of equall autoritye with him in iudgement But seeinge that his later misdemenure exceeded his former impierie for he sticked not to excommunicate Leo the most holye and most religious Archebyshop of Rome Moreouer when shamefull bills were exhibited againste him and he him selfe beinge cyted once twise and the thirde tyme as the canon of the Churche hath commaunded by the godly byshops to appeare before the councel yet would he not come for his owne conscience accused him but entertayned contrarye vnto lawe suche as were iustly deposed by diuers councells and sett at naught sundrye constitutions of the Churche condemninge as it were him selfe with his owne doinges Once againe seeinge these are founde to be his later practises Leo the moste holye Archebyshop of greate and olde Rome by vs and this sacred assemblye together with the moste blessed Apostle Sainct Peter who is the rocke the grounde of the Catholicke Churche and the fundation of the true fayth bereaued him of all dignitye that belongeth to a byshop and depriued him of the priestly function VVherefore let this holye councell geue the sentence of Dioscorus of whome we haue hytherto spoken accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche When Anatolius Maximus with the rest of the byshops those onely excepted whome the Senators had deposed wyth Dioscorus had confirmed the aforesayde sentence the councell certified Martianus the Emperour of their decrees and sent a depriuation vnto Dioscorus in suche sort as followeth Because thou hast despised the holye canons of the Churche Because thou haste not obeyed this holye and generall councell Because thou art moreouer conuinced of manye other haynous crimes Because thou beinge thrise called of this famous assemblye to aunswere vnto suche thinges as were
the wholl world hath bene either compassed or thoughte vpon within or expressed by worde without as plausible nouelty to the ouerthrowe of this holy Creed be condemned for euer And insomuch the Emperour is bounde of duety with diligent care to prouide that by his prouidente counsell the subiects not only in time present but also in time to come may enioy peace and tranquillity we doe ordayne that the most holye Bishops doe subscribe vnto these our gracious letters generally wrytten vnto all and openly proclaymed to the end they may thereby manifestly declare theyr settled mind in addicting them selues onely vnto the holy fayth of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers the which also the hundred fifty Godly Bishops haue afterwards confirmed and after that againe was ratified of the true professors and holy fathers vvhich mett at the princely citie of Ephesus For it seemeth good vnto vs that the onely Creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers as a perfect platforme of tried fayth shoulde be followed and by accursinge the actes of the Chalcedon councell which may be stumbling blockes vnto the faithfull people that they banishe them wholly the Churches for canons that disturbe the wholl worlde and hinder the successe of our happy raygne Such as after the receite of these our gracious letters published as we perswade our selues by the prouidence of God to the ende concorde and vnitye vvhich is to be desired of all men may be established in the Churches of God doe at anytime goe about to alleadge or name by disputinge teachinge or vvryting in any tyme forte or place that decree published in the councell of Chalcedon contrary to the fayth as autors of tumultes and dissention in the holy Churches of God and vnto all our louing subiects aduersaries moreouer vnto God the safty of our scepter we straictly charge coÌ„mauÌ„d that according vnto the lawes made before our time by Theodosius the worthy Emperour of happy memory against such frensie and madnes presentlye annexed vnto these our gracious letters generally directed vnto all if they be Bishops and of the clergye that they be depriued of theyr dignity priesthood if Monkes or lay men that they be exiled punished with confiscatioÌ„ of their wholl substaÌ„ce other seuere penalties For in so doing the holy coessential Trinity autor and geuer of life vnto the wholl world beinge honored of vs with such homage seruice not onely for the rootinge out of suche tares as we haue mentioned before but also for the true and Apostolicke traditions toutchinge the holy creede established by vs is like to be reconciled and fauorable vnto vs and vnto all our louinge subiects to gouerne the Empire together with vs and to bring peace and quietnes vnto mankind CAP. V. Howe many subscribed vnto the wicked letters of Basiliscus and condemned the councell of Chalcedon TImothee who was newely as I sayde before returned from exile as Zacharie Rhetor doth wryte subscribed vnto the aforesayde letters of Basiliscus vniuersally directed vnto all men Euen so did Peter Byshop of Antioch syrnamed Cnapheus who was at that tyme at Constantinople together with Timothee When these things were brought about in this sorte Paulus was chosen Archbishop of Ephesus It is reported also that Anastasius the successor of Iuuenalis in the seae of Ierusalem subscribed vnto those generall letters of Basiliscus and that many others to the number of fifty did no lesse I meane abrogated the decrees of Leo and the councell of Chalcedon Besides all this there is extante a supplication wrytten vnto Basiliscus by the Byshops of Asia whiche mette together at Ephesus whereof we haue borowed some parte and layde it here downe in suche sorte as followeth Vnto the moste holy and dearely beloued of Christ our puysant Lords Basiliscus and Marcus perpetuall Augusti After a fewe lines this is annexed You haue signified most holy and Christian Emperours that you your selues together with the fayth which is bothe hated and diuersly assaulted were impugned Agayne a litle after The terrible and dreadfull expectation of the day of dome the flame of Gods heuy wrath and your maiesties highe displeasure apprehended the aduersaries immediatly which arrogantly wente about to withstande almightye God to assault your confirmed raygne who moreouer doe not only not ceasse diuersly to affâ—ct and molest our meane calling but continewally reuile vs blase abroade false rumors and sclaunders of vs to wit that we subscribed vnto your gracious and Apostolicke letters generally wrytten vnto all not without compulsion and constraynt whereunto verely we haue subscribed vvith most willing and prompt mindes And againe after a few lines Take heede that in no wise ye laye downe any decrees contrarye vnto your former letters generally wrytten perswadinge your selues for most certaine that in so doing the wholl worlde will be set on hurlyburly and the mischiefs which rose of the councell of ChalcedoÌ„ where there was greate slaughter and blooshed of true professors and innocente persons in respecte of afterclapps shall seeme but trifles Towardes the ende there was wrytten VVe take our Sauiour Christ Iesus to witnesse that the religion and seruice vve ovve vnto God is bothe free and voluntarily and we craue moste humbly of your maiesties that besides sundry others specially the Bishop of Constantinople who is manifestly knowen to haue wickedlye behaued him selfe in his callinge may be condemned and deposed of his dignitye by the iuste canonicall and Ecclesiasticall censure Besides all the aforesayde Zacharis wryteth in this sorte VVhen the letters of the Emperour generally directed vnto all were published abroade the Monkes of ConstaÌ„tinople being infected with the noysome sinke of Eutyches hereticall opinioÌ„ supposing now after the restoringe of Timothee and publishinge of the Emperours letters they had gotten that which they looked for to the vpholdinge of theyr heresie and hopinge nowe they could bringe theyr purpose to passe got them in all the haste vnto Timothee and after Timothee who proued that the worde of God accordinge vnto the flèsh was of one substance with vs but accordinge vnto his diuinitye of one substance vvith the father had confuted them they vvente home againe like fooles CAP. VI. Howe Timotheus Aelurus after he had recouered the Bishopricke of Alexandria rendered vnto the seae of Ephesus the Metropoliticke iurisdiction and accursed the councell of Chalcedon THe aforesayd Zacharie reporteth howe that Timothee left Constantinople and gott him to Ephesus and there restored Paulus who was lately chosen by the Bishops of the prouince according vnto the canons of the Church yet after deposed vnto his former Bishopricke The sayde Timothee moreouer restored the seae of Ephesus as I sayd before vnto her Metropoliticke iurisdiction that was taken away by the councell of Chalcedon Thence he tooke shipping and came to Alexandria there he requested of as many as came vnto him to accurse the councel of Chalcedon There left him as Zacharie wryteth
not truly borne but phantastically Euseb li. 7. cap. 30. Socrates lib. 1. ca. 17. sayth of him that at the fâ—sthe was called Cubricê° afterwards chauÌ„ging his name he went into Persia founde the bookes of Buddas and published them in his owne name he taughte that there were manye Gods that the sunne was to be worshipped that there was fatall destenie that the soules wente from one body into another The king of Persia his son fel sick Manes through sorceâ—y tooke vpoÌ„ him to cuâ—e him killed him The king caused him to be clapt in prison but he brake prison fled into Mesopotamia ther was he takeÌ„ and flayd aliue his skinne filled with chaff and hanged at the gates of the citie 310. ConstaÌ„tinus Magnus the sonne of Constantius borne in Brytayne was there proclamed Emperour after the desease of his father He maketh Licinius who maried his sister his felowe Emperour At the same time Maxentius played the tyrant at Rome and Maximinus in the East He sawe in the aër the signe of the crosse he fully perswaded him selfe to fight agaiÌ„st the tyrants and in the behalfe of Christian religion Pamphilus martyr suffered vnder Maximus Ierom There was a couÌ„cel helde at Neo caesarea where among other things it was decreed that none should be made priest before he were 30. yeares olde tom 1. concil   Marcellus was b. of RoÌ„e after Marcellinus a very short whyle some take hiÌ„ for the former and so it may be for Euseb made no mention of him yet in Damas Pont. I find that he gouerned 5. yeares Achillas was b. of AlexaÌ„dria after Peter Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 3. Hierax taught in Aegypt that there was no resurrection he abhorred mariage he sayd the children that dyed before the yeares of discretion were daÌ„ned he thought that Melchisedech was the holy ghost Epiphan haeres 67. 311. Suidas sayth that from Christ vnto Constantinus Magnus there are 318. yeres the which is true after Eusebius computation if we take the time after the ouerthrowe of the tyrants when heru led alone  Antonie the Monke florished in the dayes of CoÌ„stantine he wrote seuen epistles the which are at this daye to be seene he liued 100. 5. yeares Ierom catalog Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 17. A councell was called by Constantine at Rome in the time of Miltiades to reforme the variaÌ„ce betwen Caecilianus b. of Carthage and his colleges Euseb lib. 10. cap. 5. Macarius was b. of Ierusalem after Hermon he was the meanes with Helena that the crosse of Christ was founde there he was at the councel of Nice Constantinus Magnus wrot vnto him sundry epistles Socrat lib. 1. cap. 6. 9. Vitalis was b. of Antioch after Tyranus Eusebius a Grecian b. of Rome after Marcellus 1. yeare 7. moneths Euseb chro tom 1. concil Alexander was b. of AlexaÌ„dria after Achil las by preachinge of the trinitie somewhat curiously he gaue occasioÌ„ to Arius one of his clergie to fall from the faith Socrat lib. 1. cap. 3. He was at the councel of Nice Meletius b. of some citie in Aegypt sacrificed to Idols in the time of the persecution vnder Diocletian and was deposed by Peter b. of Alexandria he rayled at Peter after his death he reuiled Achillas laste of all he fell to backbiting of Alexander to take part with the AriaÌ„s the true churche was called the Catholike churche but he called his church the churche of martyrs the Councell of Nice condemned him toke from him all authoritie that belonged to a bishop and there vpon the Meletians were deuided from the church Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 3. 6. Ephiphan haeres 68.   Ammon a monke yet maried Didymus Arsenius Pior Isidorus Pambo Petirus Macarius Euagrius were famous about that time Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 18. Osius b. of Corduba in Spayne a graue father was sent by ConstaÌ„tine to reconcile Alexander and Arius he was at the councell of Nice the Arians in the councell of Siâ—miuÌ„ scurged his bare sides because he woulde not subscribe vnto theyr hereticall opinions Socrat lib. 1. ca. 4. 5. 9. li. 2. cap. 26. Constantine called a councell at Orleance to remoue the dissention risen betwene Byshops Euseb lib. 10. cap. 5. Alexander b. of Alexandria called there a councell of many bishops where he condemned Arius accursed his heresie writinge vnto the bishops throughoute christendome what opinions he held Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 3.   Meltiades was b. of RoÌ„e after Eusebiê° in the time of CoÌ„staÌ„tinus Magnus ann Dom. 312. coÌ„tinewed 6. yeres Euseb chron eccle hist lib. 10. ca. 5.         Siluester was b. of Rome after Meltiades an Dom. 314. continewed 20. yeares Euse chron WheÌ„ Constantine offred him a goldeÌ„ scepter he refused it as a thiÌ„g not fitte for the priestly function Sabell   330. He â—oyled Maxentius vpoÌ„ the riuer Tiberis Liâ—â—â—ê° ouercame Maximinê° theyâ—oyntly published edicts in the behalf of the christians In the end â—iâ—imus rebelled against him ConstaÌ„tinus ouercame him ruled alone restored peace vnto the whole worlde gaue money vnto the church deliuered the bishops from paying taxe or tribute he wrote vnto Paphnutius b. of the vpper Thebais had one of his eyes pulled out in the tyme of persecution Constantine was woÌ„t to kisse the emptie place he was presente at the councell of Nice and turned the wholl assemblie from separating maried priestes froÌ„ theyr wiues Socrat lib. 1. ca. 5. 8 Spiridion a man of great fame in in those dayes was at the councell of Nice though he were a bishoppe yet kept he sheepe in the fieldes Athanasius being a yong man was at the couÌ„cell of Nice looke more of him in the colume of the bishops of AlexaÌ„dria A generall couÌ„cell was called at Nice in Bithynia of 318. bishops by CoÌ„staÌ„tinus Magnus as Nicephorus sayeth the 20. yere of Constantine an Dom. 328. some saye 326. some other 324 in the tyme of Siluester b. of Rome where they coÌ„demned Arius debated the coÌ„trouersie of Easter layde downe the forme of faith coÌ„monly called the Nicene Creede ratified the clause of one substance and wrote vnto the churche of Alexandria that they had deposed Arius Socra lib. 1. cap. 5. 6.  Philogonus was b. of Antioch after Vitalis dyed a martyr Nicephor  Athanasius was b. of AlexaÌ„dria after Alexander and the breaking vp of the Nicen councell beinge a heathen boye he played the parte of a Christian bishop in a certeÌ„ play which prognosticated he woulde proue a no table man being deacon he weÌ„t to the councel of Nice and disputed against the Arians Socrat lib. 1. cap. 5. 11. being byshop the Arians falsly accused him of bribery treason that he sent of his clergie into Mareôtes which beate the altare with theyr feete ouerthrew the Lords tablebrake the holy cup and burned the bible they accused hiÌ„ of murther magick and to answere vnto those crimes he was
councel held at Aurelia laid downe many godly decrees tom 2. concil  Domninus b. of Antioch after Euphremius Euagr. lib. 4. ca. 37 Felix 4. was b. of Rome after Iohn and continewed 4. yeares Anton. chronic Bonifacius 2. was b. of Rome after Felix 2. yeres Anton. chronic tom 2. concil Iohn 2. was b. of Rome after Bonifacius 2. yeres tom 2. concil Agapetus was b. of Rome after Iohn 2. one yere Anton. chronic Siluerius was b. of Rome after Agapetus one yere tom 2. coÌ„cil â–ª Zoilus was b. of Alexandria after Theodosius Euagr. lib. 4. ca. 11 Theodora the wife of Iustinianus the Emperour was of Eutyches opinion Euag. lib. 4. cap. 10. Iustinianus the emperor wrot an edict but God bereaued hiÌ„ of his lyfe afore he published it where he affirmed that the bodye of Christ was not subiect to corruption that it was voyd oâ— the naturall affections whiche appertaine thervnto that he eate before his passioÌ„ as he diâ— after his resurrection that his most holy body was nâ— thing chauÌ„ged for all the framing thereof in the mothers womb foâ— all the natural aâ—â— voluntary affectioÌ„ Euagr. lib. 4. cap. â— this is that Iustinâ—â— whose lawes are muche made of throughoute thâ— worlde 557.  Menas patriarche of CoÌ„stantinople florished about this time tom 2. concil The councell of Auergne was held in the time of Vigilius tom 2. conc Macarius was b. of Ierusalem after Peter he was deposed for heresie Euagr. li. 4 cap. 36. Anastasius was b. of Antioche after Domninus he rebuked Iustinianus for his heresie Iustinus 2. deposed him vpon false reports as some say because he woulde not geue him mony for his bishopricke Euag. lib. 4 cap. 38. 39. lib. 5. cap. 5 Vigilius was b. of Rome after Siluerius anno Do. â—39 where he continewed 18. yeares Palmer chron Anton chron â–ª Euag. lib. 4. cap. 37. Pelagius was b. of Rome after Vigilius anno Dom. 557. wher he continewed 11. yeares tom 2. concil Apollinarius was b. of AlexaÌ„dria after Zoilus Euag. lib. 4 cap. 36. Anthimus b. of Câ—â— stantinople was 〈◊〉 Eutyches the herâ—ticks opinion aâ—â— therefore depoâ—â— by Iustinian â—â—â—demned in the â—â—nerall councell 〈◊〉 Constantinople uag lib. 4. cap. 9â— Andreas an 〈◊〉 went about 〈◊〉 trey leading 〈◊〉 hande a blind 〈◊〉 dogge told 〈◊〉 fortunes but 〈◊〉 brought them to great 〈◊〉 by deceauing them with 〈◊〉 fables Eâ—â—â—â— Ab. Vsperâ— â–ª 566. Iustinus the second of that name succeded Iustinianus in the empire he lyued wantonly fared deliciously soulde beneâ—ices vnto ignorant priestes He craftelye compassed the death of Iustinus his cosinâ— In the ende he fell into a frensie vttered lamentable speaches bequâ—athed the empire vnto Tiberius he raigned 12 yeres and 10. monethes Euagr. lib. 5. cap. 1. 2. 3. 7. 8. 11. 13. 23.  The 4. 5. councells of Aurelia were called together in the tyme of Pelagius 1. tom 2. conc A â— councell helde at Tours in Fraunce tom 2. concil   Iohn the 3. was b. of RoÌ„e after Pelagi ' coÌ„tinewed 12. yeres to 2. concil Iohn succeeded Apollinarius in the seae of Alexandria Euag. lib. 5. ca. 16  577. Tiberius became Emperor after that Iustinus 2. fell into frensie he was a godly man he raygned 7. yeres and 11. monethes Euagr. lib. 5. cap. 11. 13. 23.  A councel called at Paris toutchinge churche goods â—om 2. concil A councell was called at Hispalis in Spayne toutching the church goods in the tyme of Pelagius 2. tom 2. concil Eustochius b. of Ierusalem Euagr lib. 4. cap. 32.  Benedictus was b. of RoÌ„e after Iohn 3. ann Do. 576. where he coÌ„tinewed 4. yeres tom 2. concil Palm chron   583. Mauricius the Emperour succeeded Tiberius in the empire  The 3. councell of Toledo condemned the Arian heresie to 2. coÌ„cil The 1. 2. synods called at Lions for the remouing of schisme raysed in the churche tom 2. concil   Pelagius 2. was b. of RoÌ„e after Benedictus continewed 10. yeares tom 2 concil   595. 12. Mauriâ—ij  The 1. 2. synods called at Matiscona reformed ecclesiasticall matters tom 2. concil Iohn b. of Ierusalem Euagr. lib. 5. cap. 16. Gregorius b. of Antioch after the depositioÌ„ of Anastasius Euagr. lib. 5. cap. 6. Gregorius was b. of Rome after Pelagiê° ann Do. 590. coÌ„tinewed 13. yeares to 2. concil Eulogius succeeded Iohn in the bishoprick of Alexandria who as Nicephorus reporteth coÌ„tinewed 25 yeares Euagr lib. 5. cap. 16.  Hitherto gentle reader haue I runne ouer in this Chronographie the principall things vvhich are â—o be considered vvithin the firste six hundred yeares after Christ as farre forthe as these authors â—vhose histories I translated haue continevved theyr times Euagrius the laste of these Historiograâ—hers ended the 12. yeare of Mauricius the Emperour and there I reste vvith him leauing the times â—ollovvinge vvhich are vvonderfully corrupted to such as are disposed to discourse of them This trauell haue I taken that the trueth of the purest age after Christ might appeare and the state of the moste auncient churches might be knovven of such as in these dayes seeke to ouerthrovve the state bring the religion to contempt the Christians to a lavvelesse securitye hopinge that by the vievve of orderlye discipline things vvhich be amisse may be redressed accordingly I vvish thee health knovveledge of the trueth feare of God faith to beleue in him thy soules health saluation in the end Farevvell The Index A. ABacuk the Prophet and his life pa. 528. Abasgi a Barbarian nation receaued the faith pag. 479. Abdias the Prophet and his life pag. 524. Abdus a goutie man was cured by Thaddaeus pa. 17. Abel was murthered pa. 519. Abilius b. of AlexaÌ„dria pa. 46. thirtene yeres 47. Abgatus looke Agbarus Ablaatus b. of Persia pa. 380. Aborigines people so called pa. 501. Abraham talked with Christ worshipped pa. 3 Acasius bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina pa. 255. Acacius the martyr was hanged pa. 376. Acacius bishop of Amida sold the treasure of the church to relieue prisoners captiues p. 388. Acesius a nouatian b. was called to the councel of Nice pa. 223. Achaab the accuser of Athanasius ran away for shame pa. 248. Achillas minister of Alexandria of great fame pa. 144. Achillas b. of Alexandria pa. 217. Adaarmanes a Persian captaine was folled of the Romaines pa. 500. Addaeus a traytor is executed pa. 491. Addo the prophet and his life pa. 522. Adrian looke Aelius Adrianus Adrianus was beheaded for the faith pa. 171. Adulterie is forbid pa. 54. 336. 351. Aedesius a martyr was drowned pa. 163. Aedesius priest of Tyrus preached to the middle Indians pa. 240. Aegesippus liued immediatly after the Apostles pag. 33. he is alleaged pag. 45. 46. 47. 53. 61. 62. 70. Aelius Adrianus was Emperour after Traian pa. 58. he wrote fauourably for the christians pa. 61. he raigned
â—ords by Eusebius Pamphilus and recited towardes the later ende of this chapter by Socrates the which we haue presently layde â—wne in different letters * Arius accursed with his complices * Eusebius Theognis being Arians do recant Eusebius writeth thus froÌ„ the couÌ„cell of Nice vnto the churche of Caesarea in Palaestina whereof he was bishop The Creede which Eusebiê° PaÌ„philus him selfe made exhibited vnto the councell of Nice wherevnto the bishâ—ps added the clause Of one substaÌ„ce Maâ— 28. The Emperour CoÌ„stantine coÌ„mandeth the clause Of one substaÌ„ce to be added vnto Eusebiê° Creede he expoundeth him selfe the meaninge thereof The Creede layd down by 318. bishops in the couÌ„ceâ— of Nice the which Eusebius in thesâ— wordes sendeth to Caesarea Of the substance Begotten not made The sonne to be of one substaÌ„ce with the father Before Arius time the clause of one substaÌ„ce was knowen Cap. 9. in the Greeke The synodiâ—all epistle of â—he councell â—f Nice The blasphemous opinions of Arius that cursed hereticke toutchinge the blessed sonne of God This Meletiê° as Socrates sayde before cap. 3. in time of persecutioÌ„ denyed the faith sacrificed to idols therefore he was excoÌ„municated and being in this takinge he tooke part with the Arians who for coÌ„panie together with Aâ—â—â—s in this councell is coÌ„demneâ— The questioÌ„ of Easter coÌ„cluded vpon in the councell of Nice VVhy the Meletians are seuered from the churche The wanton booke which Arius wrote and intituled Thalia CoÌ„stantinus Magnus vnto the church of AlexaÌ„dria CoÌ„stantinus vnto the bishops people c. CoÌ„stantinus the Emperour vnto the churches c The epistle of Constantine vnto Eusebius Pamphilus The epistle of Constantine vnto Eusebius * After the name of CoÌ„stantinus Bizantium was called Constantinople The epistle of Constantine vnto Macarius concerning the sepulchre of our Sauiour feuÌ„d there the buylding of a Churche in that place Eusebius â— of Nicomedia and Theognis were Arians * Licâ—â—â—us Cap. 10. in the Greeke * A Canon toutching such as in persecution had denyed Christ * Peter Martyr in 2. Sam. cap. 24. noteth howe that Constantine in these wordes â—kofâ—eth at Acesius for his intollerable pride singularitie in that he along with his sect woulde be iâ— heauen * The reporter was Auâ—anon a Nouatian as it cap. 9. following Cap. 11. in the greeke Paphnutiuâ— â–ª * Paphnutius a single man yet a fauorer of priestes mariadges in the counsell of Nice Hebr. 13. * Cap. 12. in the Greeke Spyridion â—â—â—ne the daughter of Spyridion uffinus hist â— 1. cap. 5. ap 13. in â— Greeke Eutychianus though he was a nouatian yet was he a rare maÌ„ both for life and learning Auxanon a nouatian hereticke Osius Viton Vincentius Alexander Eustathius Macarius Harpocratio Cynon * Anno 32â— some say 326. some 〈◊〉 theâ— 328. Cap. 14. in the Greeke The recâ—tation of Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia and Theognis bishop of Nice which were Aâ—â—an hereticks exhibited vnto the chiefe byshops Cap. 15. after the greeke Athanasius byshop of Alexandria Ruffinus lib. â—hist ca. 14. Alexander b. of Alexandria made Athanasius deacon Athanasius beinge deacoÌ„ was at the councell of Nice Cap. 16. after the greeke Constantinople called Newe Rome but of olde Byzantium Cap. 17. in the greeke Helen the mother of Constantine was the daughter of Coel kinge of Englande Helenopolis Psal 78. The Idole oâ— Venus set vâ— where Chriâ—â— was buried The crosse of Christ was founde out by a miracle Newe Ierusalem The nayles were founde The good deedes the vertuous life and godly ende of Helene Cap. 18 in the greeke Serapis had 〈◊〉 his temple 〈◊〉 elle or faâ—â—ome signiâ—inge the â—easure of â—e water in â—epth which â—as thought 〈◊〉 his power 〈◊〉 ouerflowe â—he Barbarians beinge â—â—ercome in â—â—â—aill receaâ—d the faith Christ Gens 18. ConstaÌ„tinus abrogated the most filthie lawes of the Heliopolits and brought theÌ„ to the christian faith The temple of Venus ouerthrowen The deuell was faine to flye out of the Idole The tente of Constantine like the tabernacle of Moses Exod. 33. Cap. 19. in the greeke The increase of christian religioÌ„ vnder Constantine The middle Indians were not christened asore the raygne of Constantine that is 300. odd years after Christ Frumentius was consecrated Byshop by Athanasius and sent to conuert the Indians Ruffinus ecclâ—ist li. 1. ca. 9. Cap. 20 in â—he Greeke The seae Eukinus deuiâ—leth Europe â—om Asia The kinge of the Iberians child is cured The queene of the IberiaÌ„s is healed The kinge of the Iberians was conuerted vnto the â—ayth Cap. 21. in the greeke Antony the eâ—emite * Cap. 22. in the Greeke The manichees blased their heresie a litle before the raygne of Constantine Anno. 281. Euseb lib. 7. cap. 30. The originall and authors of the heresy of the Manichees Buddas otherwise Terebynthus an hereticke dâ—eth miserablie Manes the heretick his detestable opinions The miserable death of the hereticke Manes Cap. 23. in the Greeke Hatred and heresie ioyned togethâ—â— Eusebius Pâ—philus was no Arian * Cap. 24. in the Greeke The councell of Antioche where Eustathius was deposed â—usebius PaÌ„â—hilus reâ—uâ—th to be â—ishop of â—ntioch for â—e which â—e Empeâ—ur CoÌ„stanâ—e did high â— commend â—m â—â—phronius Arian yet â—â—â—hop of â—â—tioch * Cap. 25. in the Greeke Constantine was informeâ— of Arius his recantation when he wrot this * Cap. 26. in the Greeke â–ª The recaÌ„taâ—tioÌ„ of Arius and Euzoiâ— geueÌ„ vp vnâ— the Emperour together with tâ— forme of their faith where they disseÌ„ble boâ— with God man wriâ—iâ— one thing meaning aâ— other as it appeareth the chaptâ—â— following Mat. 28. Cap. 27. in the Greeke Athanasius would not receaue Arius into the church of Alexandria Constantine â—â—rote this to Athanasiê° b. â—f Alexâ—dria 〈◊〉 the behalf â—f Arius the â—ereticke â—ho deceaâ—ed theÌ„ both â—hanasius is â—â—ely 〈◊〉 of extorâ—n â—anasius â—alsely accused of treason Ischyras a false minister forging orders vnto him selfe Athanasius is falsly charged with the misdemeanure of his clergy Athanasius is falsely accused of muâ—thâ—r and magicke * Cap. 28. aâ— ter the gâ—eâ— Macarius â— minister bâ—ing falsely â—…cused by 〈…〉 Arian Meletian herâ— tikes is thâ— shamefull dealt wiâ—â— Cap. 29. after the Greeke * Cap. 30. in â—e greeke â–ª â—he accuser â— Athanas 〈◊〉 ranne aâ—…ay for shaÌ„e Cap. 31. in â—â—e Greeke * Cap. 32. in the Greeke Cap. 33. in the greeke The councel held at Tytê° being most of Arians do depose Athanasius coÌ„meÌ„d in their letters to the Church of Alexandria the heretick Arius Cap. 34. in the greeke The epistle of Constantine vnto the Bishops assembled at the councell of Tyrus Cap. 35. in the Greeke Athanasius is accused by the Arians * Socrat. li. 2. cap. 2. in the epistle of CoÌ„ staÌ„tinus sayth so Cap. 36. in the greeke Asteriê° an arian heretick The error of Marcellus Cap. 37. in the greeke Arius raiseth sedition in Alexandria The prayer of Alexander Bishop of câ—stantinople *
parents of Chrysostome Theodorus Maximus Diodorus Carterius Chrysostome a reader A Deacon â— Priest â— Bishop Here is a lesson for them that pull downe sanctuaries Tribigildus Phrygia sub dued Gainas◠〈◊〉 person and a tâ—â—â—e breaker A comet Constantinople was saued by Angells Gainas was slayne Anno Dom. 404. The heresie of the Anthropomorphits beganne Anno â–ª Dom. 40â— â—â—â—e maketh Theophilus to 〈…〉 him selfe This Bishop â—â—th more â—…s in the world Theophilus to reuenge himselfe of his enemies â—ersâ—â—â—â—ed â—â—s owne opinion this 〈◊〉 a sinne against the holy Ghost This heresie was the originall that God the father hathe â—ene painted the man Anthropomorphits be those heretickes which attribute corpereall substaÌ„ce vnto God the father Chrisostomâ— made Antemnes An. Dom. 404. Ignatius thâ— disciple of Sâ— Iohn was thâ— first author 〈◊〉 Antemnes * Cap. 10. in the Greeke Epiphanius some tyme thought that God had a bodie A Councell held in Cyprus where of spite through the procurement of Theophiâ— the bookes of Origen were cendeÌ„â—ed A Synode at AlexaÌ„dria to â—he same purpose Cap. 11. in the greeke An olde custome to take money for preaching if the gayne were not sweete I warrant you at this day the custome would be lest Heraclides b. of Ephesus Seuerall functions haue seuerall reuerence Cap. 12. in the Greeke Theotimus bishop of Scythia Cap. 13. in the Greeke In the marge of the greeke copie there was written as followeth VVe haue to learne that the fift generall Councell condemned both Origen his vvorkes But this historiographer vvas before the thirde Athanasius testimony of Origen Cap. 14 in the greeke The message which Chrysostome sent vnto Epiphanius The coÌ„tention betwene two auncieÌ„t fathers Epiphanius b. of CoÌ„stantia in Cyprus and Iohn Chrysostome b. of Constantinople Cap. 15. in the greeke Chrisostom made a sermon agains all women The couÌ„cell of ChalcedoÌ„ for the deposing of Chrysostome Chrylostome eâ—â—lâ—d Cap 16. in the Greeke Chrysostome â—turneth froÌ„â—xile Cap. 17. in the Greeke Ecclesiastes 12 Cap. 18. in the Greeke A Councell assembled at Constantinople for the deposition of Chrysostome Such as cleaned to Iohn Chrysostome were called Iohannits Cap. 19. in the Greeke Cyrinus was plagued for reuiling of Chrylostome Great haile in token of Gods wrath Cap 20 in the Greeke Arsacius Atticus Cap. 21. in the greeke Chrysostome dieth in exile Anno Dom. 412 The saying of Chrysostome Cap. 22 in the Greeke Eâ—â—â—â—â—iasieâ— 9. Iuâ—â— 9. Arcadius the Emperour died Anno Dom. 412. Honorius Theodosius Anthemius Troilus 1. Corinth 9. Theodosius a couetous Bishop Aâ—â—petus â— Mâ—â—â—doniâ—n â—â—ll to em bâ—aâ—â— the â—aith of one substance A Iewe troubled with the paulsey The gift of â—eâ—ling in he dayes of Socrates Sabbatius a Nouatian â—â—â—est Luck 22. The corrupters of Gods word haue ill endes Barbas Georgius Timotheus Cyâ—illus Bishop of Alexandria Anno Dom. 418 The Bishop of Alexandria bothe a Bishop and a magistrate Anno Dom. 418. Isdigerdes â—ing of Persia The Mâ—giâ—ians doe â—uffer blâ—â—â—â— b. Persia ararancs 〈◊〉 of Perâ—â—â— Flauianus Porphyrius Alexander Damasus Siricius Anastasius Innocentius Alarichus Attalus Alarichus as it is supposed is coÌ„maunded froÌ„ aboue to destroy the citie of Rome for theyr greate sinne and iniquitie Innocentius Zosimus Bonifacius Celestinus The bishop of Rome fell to chalenge vnto him self seculer power DauÌ„cing vsed in Alexadâ—ia on the satturdayes Temporall and worldly Magistrats are grieued that the Church shoulde haue any authority or preeminence Adamantius Orestes Ammonius the Monke wounded the Liuetenant of Alexandria with a stone Hypatia a woman of great learning The Iewes crucified a boye in derision of all Christians Chrysanthus Paulus Acacius b. of Amida Eudocia the Empresse was learned Discretion sobâ—etic Hardinesse Fasting Deuotion Singing of â—almes Memorie Knowledge â—tudie Patience Curtesie Clemencie Good life Mercie Humanitie Religion Zeale and feare of God Humilitie Prospetitie good successe for well doing Atticus b. of Constantino ple vnto Calliopius minister of Nice Atticus endeuored to bring the Nouatians from Idolatry Anastasius 2. Corinth 5. The opinion of Nestorius the heretick 1. Ioh. 4. Euseb lib. 3. de vit Const Cap. 34 in the Greeke The councel of Ephesus Anno Dom. 435. Nestoriê° denieth Christ â—o be God Cap. 35. in the greeke Anno Dom. â—35 Cap. 36. in the Greeke A canon of the Church Perigenes Gregorie Nazianzene Meletius Dositheus Berentius Iohn Palladius Alexander Theophilus Polycarpus Hierophilus Optimus Siluanus Cap. 37. in the Greeke Ca. 39. in the Greeke Anno Dom. 437. Cap. 40. in the Greeke Câ—p. 42. in the greeke Numb 12. Rugas slâ—ine with a thunderbolt Pethlence â—â—â—e from heauen â—â—â—â—h â–ª 38. Anno Dom. 440. Oâ—igen was excommunicated two hundred yeareâ— after his death Socrates endeth his hiâ—tory Anno Dom. 440. Sabellicus Euseb eccle hist lib. 8. cap. 6. Euseb ec hist lib. 8. cap. 11. Euseb eccle hist lib. 8. cap 11. Euseb lib. 8. cap. 5. Euseb eccle hist lib. 7. cap 15. Socrat eccle hist lib. 3. cap 11. 1. Cor. 1. Socrat. eccle hist lib. 5. cap 8. Socrat. eccle hist lib. 5. cap. 8. Socrat. lib. 4 cap. 25. lib. 6. cap. 3. Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 47. Euagri lib. 6. cap. vlt. Arcadians Ouid. Suidas Aegyptians Ioh. Goropius medic An twerpiens Scythians Ethiopians Brittaines Poggius Phaëton Epaphus Maximinus Herode Themistocles Amasis Smerdes Prompalus An Aegyptian Andristus Equitius Cithaâ—oedus A counterfet Ariarathes A fained Alexander A priest set vp for a king Lycurgus Plutarche Agesilaus Theod. Zuinger Chaucer Euagri lib. 4. cap. 25. Euagrius lib. 4 cap. 28. Nicephor eccl hist lib. 1 cap. 1. Euagri lib. 6. cap. 23. Eusebius Socrates Euagius Math. 24. The polliâ— of Satan â— reuiuing Iewish opon Iohn 19. Mat. 27. 〈…〉 The fonde eason of Anastasius The blaspherie of Neorius The councel Ephesus â—no Dom. â— The sentence of the councell of Ephesus pronounced against Nestorius the heretick Variance betweene Cyrill b. of Alexandria and Iohn b. of Antioch The epistle of Cyrill b. of Alexandria vnto Iohn b. of Antioch Math. 7. Nestorius the heretick excuseth his blasphemoê° opinion in these words God from aboue plagued the heretick Nestorius Nestorius the heretick in his first epistle vnto the gouernour of Thebais Nestorius the hereticke epist 2. vnto the gouernour of Thebais Nestoriê° the â—rayling hereticke had his tongue eaten â—p 〈◊〉 worms and so dyed Nestorius Maximianus Proclus Flauianus prouincial â—â—uncell hol 〈◊〉 at Constantinople Eutyches the hereticke and his opinion condemned An hereticall councell held at Ephesus ergo a councell can and doth erre 1. Corin. II 2. Corin. 12 The wanton nesse of Iuppiter This Phrygian boye was Gâ—nymedes who Iuppiter made his cup bearer in the baÌ„quet which he made the gods Nectar the drinke of the gods * Bacchus the sonne of Iuppiter was an Hermaphrodite * Iuppiter thrust Saturnus his father out of heauen * Saturnê° the sonne of Caellus as the PoeÌ„ts do fayne fearinge lest his father shoulde get more children to inherite cutte of his
we learne to haue bene the first author of all heresies and they that of him holde this heresie vnto this day fayning through puritie of lyfe the chast philosophie of Christians renouned among all men put in vre agayne the pestilent superstition of pictures from the whiche they seemed once to be free falling prostrate before the pictures and carued Images of Simon his Iil Helena mentioned of before worshipping them with incense and sacrifices and sweete odours They haue as yet certayne more detestable secrecies and him which at the first heareth the same they report to become astonyed and that there is a written oracle amonge them whiche bringeth astonishment True it is these men are full of astonishment ecstasy and meere madnes so that not onely they may not be committed to writing neyther also with modesty be vttered of chaste lippes in so much they ouerflowe in filthines and obscenitie And what so euer may be imagined more fowle then any filthynes it selfe the same hath their damnable heresye surpassed who delude miserable women pressed already with all kinde of impietye CAP. XIIII How Simon Magus after his diuelish dealing in Iudaea gott him to Rome where he was mett of Peter the Apostle THe malicious power of Sathan enemy to al honestye foe to all humane health brought forth at that tyme this monster Simon a father and worker of all such mischieues as a great aduersary vnto the mighty and diuine Apostles But the diuine and supercelestiall grace succored her ministers that by their apparition and presence the kindled flame of wickednes was quenched all pride by them abated humbled which did sett it selfe agaynst the knowledge of God Wherefore neyther the striuing of Simon neyther of any other that then started vp was able to withstand those Apostolike tymes for the brightnes of trueth the diuine word lately shining from aboue preuayling on earth working in his Apostles victoriously ouercame and mightely ouer grewe all thinges But the afore sayd Sorcerer hauing the eyes of his minde lightened with a diuine and some sodayne shining from aboue after that first of all he was manifestly knowne to haue maliciously deale agaynst Peter the Apostle in Iudaea fled alonge iorneye by sea from the East vnto the West thinking to gett by that flight to liue afterwards at hartes ease And comming into the city of Rome he was so ayded by his power whiche preuayleth in this worlde that in short tyme he brought his purpose to suche a passe that his picture was there placed with others and he honoured as a God But this his impietye did not longe prosper for incontinently vnder the raygne of Claudius the wonderfull prouidence of the God of all thinges and carefull ouer mankinde guyded vnto Rome Peter that great and constant Apostle chiefe of all the rest for vertuous fauour agaynst this so greate a corruptor of Christian life who like a valyant Capitayne sensed with the diuine armour of God transported from East vnto West the precious marchandise of spirituall brightnes the wholsome doctrine and light of soules that is the preaching of the glad tydinges of the celestiall kingdome CAP. XV. The foyle of Simon and mention of the Gospell written by S. Marke WHen the heauenly worde came thither Immediatly the power of Simon together with him self came to nought and the flame was quenched But of the contrary such a light of piety shined in the mindes of such as heard Peter that they were not suffized with once hearing neither satisfied with the vnwritten doctrine that was deliuered but earnestly besought Saynct Marke whose Gospell is now in vre that he woulde leaue in writing vnto them the doctrine which they had receaued by preaching neither ceased they vntill they had perswaded him and so geuen an occasion of the Gospell to be written â–ª which is nowe after Marke It is reported that the Apostle vnderstanding of this by inspiration of the holy spirite was pleased with the motion of those men and commaunded this Gospell nowe written to be reade in the Churches Clemens in the sixt of his Hypotiposcon reporteth this story With him agreeth Papias Byshop of Hierapolis in Asia who sayth that of this Marke mention is made by Peter in his former Epistle which he compiled being at Rome and of him the citye of Rome figuratiuely to be called Babilon the whiche is signified when he sayth the Church partaker of your election vvhich is at Babylon saluteth you and Marke my sonne CAP. XVI How that Marke first of all others preached vnto the Aegyptians the knowleadge of Christ MArke is sayde first of all to haue bene sent vnto Aegypt and there to haue both preached the Gospell which he wrote and first to haue setled the Churches of Alexandria and so a greate multitude of beleeuers both men and women At the first meeting was gathered together by a certayne philosophicall and diligent exercise that Philo thought good to commit in writing vnto vs their exercise their conuenticles their dyet and all the other trade of their life â–ª It is reported that this Philo came to Rome vnder Claudius and had conference with Peter who then preached vnto the Romaynes neyther is it vnlike That Commentary whiche we knowe to haue bene compiled by him in his latter dayes contayneth manifestly the Canons hitherto conserued in the Church And in so much that curiously he hath described vnto vs the lyues of our religious men it is very like that he did not onely see those Apostolike men of his tyme by originall Ebrevves and therefore obserued the auncient rites and ceremonyes of the Ievves but also allowed of them as godly and honest CAP. XVII Eusebius reporteth out of Philo the lyues the maners the studyes the habitation the assemblies the iudgement of the interpretation of the Scriptures of the religious mâ—n in Aegypt and there about flourishing in his tyme. FIrst of all this playnely appeareth that he passed not the limites of veritye by reason of him selfe or of any other in reporting those thinges whiche he wrote in that booke by him entituled of the life contemplatiue or vvorshippers saying that the men and women were called worshippers eyther because like cunning Phisitians they cured and healed such as came vnto them of their malitious passions or els because that religiously they worshipped the celestiall godhead with pure and sincere worship But whether he gaue them this name of his proper person for the aforesayde cause or whether at the beginninge they were so called when as yet the name of Christians was not euery where published I thinke it not needefull curiously to shift out Yet first of all this he witnesseth that they renounced their substaunce and their proper goodes they vvhich deuined of philosophye gaue place they seuered them selues from all the secular cares of this life they forsaking the cities solitarily liued in fieldes gardens or Orchyardes they
is practised in this levvd fact of theirs ether they persvvade them selues that the holie scriptures vvere not endited by the instinct of the holy ghost so are they infidels or else they thinke thē selues vviser thē the holy ghost vvhat other thing do they in that then shevv thē selues possessed of a deuill they cā not deny this their bold enterprise for they haue vvrittē these things vvith their ovvne hands they can not shevv vs vvho instructed them vvho deliuered them such scriptures vvhence they trāslated their copie◠diuerse of them voutchsafe not to corrupt the scriptures but flattly they denie the lavve and the prophetes vnder pretense of their detestable and impious doctrine of fayned grace they fall into the bottomlesse gulfe of perdition but of them thus muche shall suffice The ende of the fyft booke THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF EVSEBIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALAESTINA CAP. I. Of the persecution vnder the Emperour Seuerus WHen as Seuerus persecuted the churche of God there were noble martyrdomes of suche as suffered for the profession of the true faith ▪ but speciallye at Alexandria whither chosen champions out of Aegypt and all Thebais as vnto a moste notable Theatre of God were brought and after a moste pacient sufferance of simdry tormentes and diuerse kindes of deathe were crowned of God with garlandes of immortalltie Of this number was Leonides called the father of Origen and there beheaded who left his sonne very yonge and of tender yeares howe also he was disposed and affected towardes Christian religion from that tyme forth it shall not be at this tyme vnseasonably written Specially for that he is famous and renowned throughout the whole worlde Some man will saye it is no small peece of worke to printe in paper the lyfe of this man and that it will require a whole volume to it selfe but at this present cutting of many things vsing as muche breuitie as may be we will runne ouer certaine thinges which concerne him selected out of their epistles and histories which were his familiars whereof some lyued in our tyme and reported certaine things of him To be short we will declare suche things as shall seeme worthye of memorie and that were done from his cradell vnto this tyme. Seuerus then had ended tenne yeares Laetus then gouerned Alexandria and the rest of Aegypte ▪ Demetrius lately after Iulianus had taken vpon him the ouersight of the congregations there CAP. II. Origen desirous of Martyrdome was in greate daunger and beyng delyuered he professed diuinitie at Alexandria with earnest studie and led a maruaylous honest lyfe THe heate of persecution was very vehemēt an infinite number of persons were crowned with Martyrdome when as Origen yet verye yonge bare in his minde a feruent desire of Martirdome so that he hazarded himselfe skipped and brake forth and coueted voluntarily to be doyng in that daungerous combatt Yea narrowsie did he escape for it had coste him his life had not the diuine and celestiall prouidence of God stayed him by the meanes of his mother to the further commoditie and profite of many She at the firste entreated him with manye wordes to tender hir motherly affection but perceauing him to be more vehemently incensed and kindled ▪ knowing his father to be kept in close prison and wholly minded to suffer Martyrdome she constrayned him to remaine at home hydinge from him all his apparrell He then being able to do no other thinge more prompte in minde than rype in yeares could not reste wrote vnto his father a letter in the whiche he exhorteth him thus O father faynt not neither imagin◠amisse bicause of vs. Let this be the firste token of the industrie and syncere minde of Origen in his childhood towards christian religiō set forth in this our history ▪ for he beyng of a child trained vp exercised in holy scripture shewed then no small signes of the doctrine of faith his father furthered him not a little to the knowledge of them when as besides the studie of liberall artes he instructed him in these not as the lesser parte For first of all before the exercise of prophane literature he instructed him in holy Scripture and demaunded of him daily a certaine taske of that he learned and rehearsed And this trade was not vnprofitable for him being a child but he grewe therby vnto such facility and promptnes that he contented not him selfe with the bare and casual reading of the words but sought farther searching the perfect and profound vnderstanding therof so that diuers times he would set his father demaunding of him what was meant by this that place of holy Scripture But his father checked him to his face in outward sight admonishing him not to search ought aboue the capacity of his yeares more then plaine letter gaue to vnderstand Yet to him selfe he reioyced greatly yelding vnto God the author of all goodnes harty thankes for that he had made him the father of such a sonne The report goeth that the father often vncouered the breast of his sonne in his sleepe and solemnly kissed it as if the holy ghost had taken there the inner parte for his priuy closset and thought him selfe happy of such an ofspringe These and the like thinges they remember to haue happened vnto Origen being yet a childe When his father dyed a Martyr he was left an orphane of the yeares of seuenteene with his mother and other children his brethren to the number of six his father◠substance was confiscated to y ◠Emperours treasorie y ◠want of necessaries pinched him together with his mother brethren he casteth his care vpon the diuine prouidence of God he is receaued and refreshed of a certain matrone which was very ritch also religious which harbored in her house a certaine man of Antioche an errant heretike of the sect then fresh at Alexandria one that was accepted of her for her sonne and deare friende Origen then of necessitie vsing his company shewed forth manifest proofes of his cleaning fast vnto y ◠right and true faith For when as an infinite multitude not only of heretikes but also of the true faith frequented vnto Paulus so was he called for he was counted a profounde and a wise man he could not be perswaded to be present with him at prayers but obserued the canon of the Church from a childe and detested ▪ as he witnesseth him selfe in a certaine place the doctrine of heretikes he was of his father absolutely instructed in the profane learning of y ◠Gentils but after his fathers death he applied a litle more diligently the study of rhetoricke and hauing before meanely applied humanity now after the death of his father he so addicteth him vnto it that in short space he got sufficiency to serue his turne both tollerable for the time correspondent to his yeares for he being idle at schole as he
by perusing the expositioÌ„s of their doctrine vve haue fouÌ„d many things sauoring of the true doctrine of our Sauiour and certaine other things borovved and interlaced vvhich vve haue noted vnto you Thus farre Serapion CAP. XII Of the workes of Clemens byshop of Alexandria THe bookes of Clemens entitled Stromatôn are in all eight and extant at this daye bearing this inscription The diuerous compacted bookes of Titus Flauius Clemens of the science of true Philosophie There are also of the same number bookes of his intitled Dispositions or InformatioÌ„s where he namely remembreth his maister Pantaenus expounding his interpretations traditions there is extant an other booke of his for exhortatioÌ„ vnto the gentils and three bookes intitled the schoolemaister other thus vvhat ritch maÌ„ can be saued againe a booke of Easter and disputations of fasting and of sclaunder an exhortation to nevvenes of life for the late conuerts The canon of the church or against the Ievves dedicated vnto Alexander the bishop aboue named In the bookes Stromatôn he explicated not onely the deuine but also the heathenish doctrine and he repeating their profitable sentences maketh manifest the opinions both of Grecians and barbarians the which diuerse men highely doe esteeme and to be shorte he confuteth the false opinions of Graunde heretickes dilatinge manye Historyes and ministringe vnto vs muche matter of sundry kindes of doctrine With theese he mingleth the opinions of philosophers fittlye entitling it for the matter therein contained a booke of diuerous doctrine He alleageth in the sayde booke testimonies out of wryters not allowed and out of the booke called the vvisedome of Solomon Iesus Sirach the Epistle to the Hebrvves Barnabas Clemens Iude. He remembreth the booke of Tatianus against the Gentils and of Cassianus as if he had wrytten a Chronographie Moreouer he remembreth Philo Aristobulus Iosephus Demetrius Eupolemus Iewish wryters and howe that all they pronounced in their writings that Moses and the nation of the Hebrevves and Ievves were farre more auncient then the Gentils The bookes of the aforesayd Clemens containe many other necessary and profitable tractes In the first of his bookes he declareth that he succeded the Apostles and there he promiseth to publish comentaries vpon Genesis In his booke of Easter he confesseth himself to haue bene ouer treated of his friendes that he shoulde deliuer vnto the posteritie in wryting those traditions which he hearde of the elders of olde he maketh mention of Melito and Irenaus and of certain others whose interpretations he alleageth To conclude in his bookes of Dispositions or Informations He reciteth all the bookes of y â— Canonicall Scripture neyther omitted he y â— rehearsall of such as were impugned I speake of the Epistle of Iude the Catholicke epistls the epistle of Barnabas the Reuelation vnder the name of Peter CAP. XIII Clemens byshop of Alexandria of the Canonicall Scripture Alexander byshop of Ierusalem of Clemens and Pantaenus Origen cometh to Rome in the time of Zephyrinus THe Epistle vnto the Hebrevves he affirmeth to be Pauls for vndoubted and therefore written in the Hebrewe tongue for the Hebrews sakes but faithfully translated by Luke and preached vnto the Gentils and therefore we finde there the like phrase and maner of speache vsed in the Actes of the Apostles it is not to be misliked at all that Paul an Apostle is not prefixed to this Epistle For saith he vvryting vnto the Hebrevves because of the ill opinion they conceaued of him very vvisely he concealed his name lest that at the first he shoulde dismay them Againe he sayth For euen as Macarius the elder sayd for so much as the Lorde himself vvas the messenger of the almighty sent vnto the Hebrevvs Paul for modesty his sake being the Apostle of the Gentils vvrote not himselfe the Apostle of the Hebrevves partly for the honor due vnto Christ and partly also for that he frely boldly being the Apostle of the Gentils vvrote vnto the Ievves Afterwardes of the order of the Euangelists according vnto the tradition of the elders he writeth thus The gospels vvhich containe the genealogies are placed and counted the first The Gospell after Marke vvas vvritten vpon this occasion VVhen Peter preached openly at Rome and published the Gospell by rote many of the auditors intreated Marke being the hearer and follover of the Apostle a long vvhile one that vvell remembred his vvords to deliuer them in vvryting such things as he had heard Peter preach before vvhich thing vvhen he had signified to Peter he nether forbad him neither commaunded him to do it â–ª Iohn last of all seing in the other Euangelists the humanitie of Christ set forth at large being entreated of his friends and moued by the holy Ghost vvrote chiefly of his diuinitie Thus farre Clemens byshop of Alexandria Againe the aforesayd Alexander in a certaine epistle vnto Origen writeth howe that Clemens Pantaenus were become familiar friends after this manner This as you knovve very vvell vvas the vvill of God that our frendship should continevve and remaine immoueable begonne euen from our progenitors become yea more feruent stedfast vve takâ—â—â—em for our progenitors vvho going before haue taught vs they vvaye to follovve after vvith vvhome after a vvhile vve shal be coopled I meane blessed Pantaenus my Mayster holy Clemens my maister also vvhich did me much good and if there be any other such by vvhose meanes I haue knovven you throughly for my maister and brother So farre Alexander but Adamantius so was Origen called writeth in a certaine place that he was at Rome when Zephyrinus was bishop there for he was very destrous to see the most auncient churche of the Romains where after he had continewed a litle while he returned to Alexandria executing most diligeÌ„tly y â— accustomed office of Catechizing when as Demetrius also bishop of Alexandria vsed all meanes possible together with him to th ende he might profitt and further the brethren CAP. XIIII Of Heraclas Origens campanion in catechizinge WHen Origen sawe himselfe not sufficient neither able alone to searche out the profound mysteries of holie scripture neither the interpretation and right sense thereof because that suche as frequented vnto his schoole graunted no leasure at all â–ª for from morning to nyght in seuerall companies one ouertakinge an other they flocked to his preachinge he ordained Heraclas of all the other his familiers his fellowe helper and Usher a man experte in holy scripture discrete and wise and a profounde philosopher committing vnto him the instruction of the inferiour sort and lately come to the faith reseruing vnto himselfe the hearinge of suche as were father and better entred CAP. XV. Origen studyed the Hebrewe tongue and conferred the translations of holie scripture ORigen had so greate a desire of searching out the deepe mysteries of holy scripture that he studied the Hebrevve tongue and bought the copies vsed
the glorie of God and of the power of his doctrine he returned againe vnto his accustomed schoole CAP. XXI The catalogue of Hippolytus workes Origen beginneth to comment AT that tyme Hippolytus amongest many other of his monumentes wrote a booke of Easter where after supputation of tymes layde downe he sette forth a certayne canon of Easter comprisinge the compasse of sixteene yeares endinge the raygne of the Emperour Alexander in the firste yeare Of his other workes these came to our knowledge â–ª of the sixe dayes creation of the thinges vvhiche folovve the sixe dayes vvorkes Agaynste Marcion vpon the Canticles of Solomon vpon certeyne peeces of Ezechiell of Easter agaynste all heresies with manye others the whiche thou shalte finde extant amonge other men About that time Origen beganne to commente vpon holye scriptures Ambrose diuerslye prouokinge him not onely with wordes and fayre speaches but also â—rginge him with large offers of necessarye expences For Origen had at certayne tymes appoynted for him mo in number then seuen swyfâ—e notaryes euery one supplyinge the rowme by turne and writinge that whiche he vttered vnto them and as many more scriueners together with maydens well exercised and practised in penninge whose necessary expences and charges Ambrose exhibited yea and that abundantly who also together with him bestowed greate diligence in the exercise and studye of the sacred scriptures whereby chiefely he prouoked him to write commentaries vpon holye scripture When these thinges were thus adoynge after Vrbanus had gouerned the churche eyghte yeares Pontianus succeeded him in the seae of Rome and in the churche of Antioche Zebinus succeeded Philetus CAP. XXII Origen is made minister at Casarea AT that tyme when the necessitie of the ecclesiasticall affayres so constrayned Origen beynge sent into Greece was made minister at Caesarea in Palaestina of the bishops there abidinge But what sturre fell out toutchinge that matter in his behalfe and what was decreed by byshops concerninge the controuersies about him and what other thinges he suffred preachinge the worde of God in so much they require a seuerall volume we wyll passe them ouer referringe the reader vnto the seconde Apollogie whiche we published in the defence of him where we haue lyghtly runne them ouer CAP. XXIII Of certaine commentaries of Origen THese thinges are also to be annexed vnto the reste howe that in the sixte booke of his annotations vpon Iohn he declareth the fyue firste to haue bene written by him at Alexandria But all the tracts that came to our knowledge vpon this Euangelist mounted to the number of tvventie and tvvo tomes In his nynth tome vpon Genesis whereof all are tvvelue he signifieth not onely the former eyght to haue bene written at Alexandria but also his annotations vpon the firste fiue and tvventie psalmes Againe he wrote vpon the lamentations of the which we haue seene fiue tomes where he made mention of his bookes of the resurrection in number tvvo He wrote also of principall beginninges afore his departure out of Alexandria and the bookes intituled Stromateis in number tenne he wrote in the same citie in the tyme of the Emperour Alexander euen as all the titles prefixed to the tomes declare the same CAP. XXIIII The catalogue of the bookes of the olde and nâ—we Testament alleaged out of Origens workes IN his exposition vpon the firste psalme he reciteth the bookes of the olde testament writinge thus VVe may not be ignorant that there are tvvo and tvventie bookes of the olde testament after the Hebrevves vvhich is the number of the letters amonge them Agayne a little after he sayeth The tvvo and tvventie bookes after the Hebrevves are these The firste Genesis of vs so called but of the Hebrevves Beresith the title beynge taken of the beginninge of the booke vvhiche is as muche to saye as In the beginninge Exodus in Hebrevve Veellesemoth that is these are the names Leuiticus in Hebrevve Vâ—ikra that is and he called Numeri in Hebrevve Hamisparim or Pecudim Deuteronomium Elle haddebarim that is these are the vvordes Iesus the sonne of Nave Iosue ben Nun that is Iosue the sonne of Nun. Iudges and Ruth vvith them one booke in Hebrevve Sophetim that is Iudges The firste and seconde of Kinges vvith them one booke in Hebrevve Samuel that is called of God The thirde and fourthe of Kinges vvith them one booke in Hebrevve Vâ—hamelech Dauid that is and the raygne of Dauid The firste and seconde of Paralipomenon vvith them one booke in Hebrevve Dibre â—aâ—â—mim that is the vvordes of dayes The firste and seconde of Esdras vvith them one booke in Hebrevve Ezra that is a helper The booke of Psalmes in Hebrevve Sepher tehillim â–ª The Prouerbes of Solomon in Hebrevve Misloth Ecclesiastes in Hebrevve Coheleth The Canticle of Can ticles vve may not reade as some thinke the Canticles of Canticles in Hebrevv Sir hasirim Esaias in Hebrevve Iesaia Ieremias vvith the lamentations and the epistle in one booke â–ª in Hebrevv Ieremia Daniel in Hebrevve Daniel Iezâ—chiel in Hebrevve Ieâ—â—â—chiel Iob in Hebrevve â—â—oâ— Hester in Hebrevv Hester besides these there are bookes of the Machabees intituled in Hebrevv Sarbet Sarbaneel These thinges hath Origen layde downe in the foresayde commentariâ— â–ª And in the firste tome vpon the Gospell after Mathewe obserâ—ing the ecclesiasticall canon he testifyeth there be foure onely gospels writinge thus As I haue learned by tradition of the foure Gospels vvhich alone vvithout contradiction are receaued of all the churches vnder heauen the firste is vvritten by Mathewe vvho vvas firste a publicane then an Apostle of Iesus Christ. he published the same in vvritinge vnto the faithfull Ievves in Hebrevve letters The seconde is after Marke vvho vvrot the same according vnto the preaching of Peter vvho in his catholick epistle calleth him his sonne saying The church vvhich is in BabyloÌ„elected together vvith you saluteth you my vvelbeloued sonne Marke The thirde is after Luke vvritten for their saks vvho of the Gentils turned to the sayth vvhich also vvas allovved of Paul The fourth is after Iohn Agayn in his fyfte come of annotations vpon Iohn the same Origen toutchinge the epistles of the Apostles sayeth thus Paul habled a minister of the nevve Testament not accordinge vnto the letter but after the spirite preached the Gospell abundantly euery vvhere from Ierusalem vnto Illyricum vvrote not vnto all the churches vvhiche he instructed but vnto vvhome he vvrote he vvrote in fevve lynes but Peter vpon vvhome the churche of Christ vvas buylded agaynste the vvhich the gates of hell shall not preuayle lefte behinde him one epistle vvhereof vve are certayne Be it that he lefte an other but this is in controuersie VVhat shall I saye of Iohn vvho leaned on the breaste of our Lorde Iesu vvho vvrote one Gospell and confessed vvithall so many Gospells myght haue bene vvritten that if they had bene vvritten the vvorlde coulde not
byshopricke sodenly as it vvere by certaine iugglinge feates he stepped forth a byshop this lavvemaker and protector of the ecclesiasticall science vvhen that he presumpteously endeuored to chalenge vnto himselfe the title of a byshop not graunted vnto him from aboue chose tvvo men of a desperate condition to be partakers of his heresie vvhome he might sende to a certaine corner or les ser part of Italy and thence to seduce three byshops plaine simple and countrey men by some crafty meanes auoutching and affirming that they must in all the haste come to Rome fayninge that they together vvith other byshops meetinge for the same purpose shoulde appease and remoue a certaine schisme raised in the Citie â–ª vvho beinge simple men as vve sayde before not knovving theyr craftie and mischieuous fetches aftertheir coming vvere inclosed by such levvde persons that vvere like vnto themselues suborned for the purpose aboute tenne of the clocke vvhen as they vvere some vvhat tipsie and vvel crommed vvith vitayles they vvere constrayned to create him bishop vvith imaginatiue and friuolous layinge on of handes the vvhich craftely and subtlely not compatible for his person he chalenged vnto him selfe One of them aftervvards repented him and returned vnto the Church bevvaylinge his fall and conconfessing his fault the vvhole multitude also intreatinge for him vvhome vve receaued vnto the company and communion of the laytie In the rovvmes of the other byshops vve ordayned and sent from vs such as should succeed them VVherfore this iolly defender of the Gospell vvas ignorant that there ought to be but one byshop in the catholicke church in the vvhich he knovveth for hovve shoulde he be ignorant that there are six and forty priests seuen deacons seauen subdeacons tvvo and forty acolytes tvvo and fyfty exorcists and readers vvith porters vvidovves and impotent persons aboue a thousand and fifty soules vvho all are releaued through the grace and goodnes of almighty God vvhome so great a multitude and so necessary in the Church and by the prouidence of God so copious and infinite yea a number of innumerable people could not coÌ„uert and turne him to the Church from this his desperate and damnable presumption Againe in a while after he wryteth Novve forvvardes I vvill orderly declare by vvhat meanes by vvhat trade of life he purchaced vnto himselfe the title of a bishop Thinke you that therefore because of his conuersation in the Churche from the begining or because he endured many skyrmishes or conflicts for his name or that he stood in manifolde and greate perills for piety his sake none of all this vvas true in him The occasion of beleeuinge he tooke of Satan vvhich entred into him and made there longe abode VVhen he vvas deliuered by the Exorcists he fell into a dangerous disease and because he vvas very like to dye vvas baptized in the bedd vvhere he laye If it may be termed a baptisme vvhich he receaued For he obtayned not after his recouery that vvhich he shoulde haue done accordinge vnto the canon of the Church to vvete confirmation by the handes of the byshop In so much then he obtained not that hovve came he by the holy Ghost And againe a little after he sayth He beyngè lothe to dye and desirous of life in the time of persecution denyed himselfe to be a priest VVhen he vvas entreated by the deacons and admonished â—o come forthe out of the house vvherein he had enclosed himselfe and to minister vnto the necessitie of the brethren vvhich vvanted he vvas so farre from doinge and obeynge the Deacons that he vvent avvay and departed in a chaâ—e saying that he vvoulde no longer playe the priest but addicte him selfe vnto an other trade of Philosophie and againe to this he annecteth that which followeth this good man forsooke the Church of God vvherein he vvas baptized and vvhere also he tooke priesthoode vpon him by fauour of the byshop vvhich allotted him thereunto through the layinge on of handes and vvhen all the clergye yea and many of the layetiâ— vvithstoode the facte that none baptised in bedd as he vvas shoulde be chosen into the ecclesiasticall order yet they all requested that he might be permitted to enter into orders An other insolency of this man passinge all the former he reporteth thus VVhen he distributed the oblation and deliuered to euery maÌ„ parte thereof he added this vvithall constrayninge the seely soules before they receaued of his oblation to svvere holdinge both their handes together not loosed before they had thus svvorne I vvill vse theyr ovvne vvordes svveare vnto me by the body and blood of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou vvilt neuer forsake me and flye vnto Cornelius The vvretched man tasted not thereof before he had vovved vnto him and in steede of that vvhen he receauinge the breade shoulde haue sayd Amen he ansvvered I vvill not goe vnto Cornelius Againe a little after he sayth Novv thou mayst vnderstande that he is all bare and foresaken reiected and left of the brethren vvho dayly returne vnto the Church vvhome blessed Moses a martyr vvho of late endured amongest vs a maruelous notable martyrdome being aliue and perceauinge his temerytie and arrogancie did excommunicate together vvith fiue other priests vvhich seuered themselues vvith him from the Church In the ende of the epistle he reciteth the catalogue of byshops who at theyr beinge at Rome condemned the madd fantasie of Nouatus wrytinge both theyr names and the prouinces where they gouerned he reciteth also the names and Cities of such as were absent and had subscribed by theyr letters These thinges hath Cornelius signified by his letters vnto Fabius byshop of Antioch CAP. XLIII Dionysius Alexandrinus reporteth of Serapion that fell in persecution howe at his ende he was desirous to receaue the sacrament of the Lords supper DIonysius also byshop of Alexandria wrote to the aforesayd Fabius who in manner yelded to the schisme many thinges in his letters of repentance paintinge forth theyr pacience which lately had bene martyred at Alexandria whereof omitting many things this one straunge acte worthy of memory we haue thought good to publishe in this our history for thus he wrote I vvill certifee thee sayth he of this one example vvhich happened amongest vs. There vvas one Serapion dvvelling among vs a faithful olde man vvhich of a long time liued vvithout repreheÌ„sion but being tempted in persecutioÌ„ fell from the faith he entreated very often that he might be receaued again but none gaue eare vnto him for he had done sacrifice falling vnto a dangerous disease lay speachlesse and benummed of all his senses the space of three dayes the fourth day after being somvvhat recouered he called vnto him a nephevv of his his daughters sonne and sayd vnto him hovve longe O my sonne doe ye vvithholde me I besech you make hast and absolue me quickly call vnto me one of the Priestes the vvhich as soone as he had
rebaptizing of heretickes THen firste of all Cyprian bishop of Carthage thought the heretickes no other kinde of waye to be admitted and purged from their errour then by Baptisme But Stephan thought good that nothinge shoulde be innouated preiudiciall to the tradition preuaylinge of olde for whiche cause he was greatly offended with Cyprian CAP. IIII. Dionysius writeth vnto Stephan bishop of Rome of the matter in controuersie and of the peace which followed after persecution DIonysius when he had often written vnto him of this matter at length certifieth him that persecution beynge ceassed all the churches enioyed peace embraced vnitie and detested the erroneous nouelties of Nouatus he writeth thus Vnderstand nowe o brother that all the churches throughout the east yea and beyonde are vnited together whiche afore tyme were deuided and at discorde amonge them selues All the gouernours of the churches euery where are at one reioysinge exceedingly at the peace which happened beyonde all expectation Demetrianus of Antioche Theoctistus of Caesarea Mezabanes of Ierusalem Marinus of Tyrus Alexander who is dead Heliodorus of Laodicea which succeeded after the death of Thelymidres Helenus of Tarsus all the churches of Cilicia Firmilianus and all Cappadocia I haue onely recited the most famous Bishops lest my epistle become ouer large and the readinge be ouertedious All Syria and Arabia two wherewith ye are pleased and to whome presently ye write and Mesopotamia Pontus and Bithynia and that I may vtter all in one worde euery one euery where reioyceth glorifyinge God in concorde and brotherlie loue So farre Dionysius Stephan when he had bene byshop of Rome two yeares dyed and after him came Xystus in place And to him wrote Dionysius an other epistle of Baptisme layinge downe the censure of Stephan and the other byshops Of Stephan he sayeth thus He wrote an epistle toutchinge Helenus and Firmilianus and all Cilicia Cappadocia Galatia and the borderinge nations that he woulde not communicate with them for that cause to weete for that they rebaptized heretickes Consider that this is a weyghtie matter For truely as I heare in the greatest synodes of bishopes it is decreed that such as renounce any heresie shoulde firste agayne be instructed then be baptized and purged of the dregges of the olde and impure leauen And hereof I wrote vnto him requestinge him to certifie me agayne and to our welbeloued fellowe ministers Dionysius and Philemon who at the firste gaue their censure with Stephan and nowe they write vnto me to whome at the firste I wrote brieflie but nowe at large So farre presently of this question then in controuersie CAP. V. Of the Sabellian heresie MAkinge relation of the Sabellian heretickes then preuaylinge he writeth thus For as much as manie brethren of both partes haue sente theyr bookes and disputations in writinge vnto me toutchinge the impious doctrine lately sowen at Pentapolis in Ptolemais contayning many blasphemies against the almightie God and the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ and withall muche incredulitie toutchinge his onely begotten sonne and firste begotten of all creatures and the worde incarnate and senselesse ignorance of the holy ghoste Some of them I haue written as God gaue me grace with greater instruction and sent the copies vnto you CAP. VI. Dionysius being warned from aboue read with greate profitt the bookes of heretickes he thinketh that such as returne from their heresies shoulde not be rebaptized DIonysius in his third epistle of Baptisme writeth thus vnto Philemon a Romaine minister I haue read ouer the traditions and commentaries of heretickes not infecting my minde with their impure cogitations but profiting my selfe accordingly that I reprehēded thē with my selfe and detested them vtterly And when I was brotherly and charitably forbidd by a certaine minister whiche feared lest that I wallowed my selfe in the puddle of their malicious writinges whereby my soule myght perishe who as it seemed me tolde the trueth a certaine vision came vnto me from aboue plainlie commaundinge and sayinge Reade all whatsoeuer come into thy handes thou shalt be able to weye to proue and trye all for by this meanes at the firste thou camest vnto the faith I thankfully receaued the vision as agreable vnto the voice of the Apostle speakinge vnto myghtier men Be you tryed stewardes or disposers of the mysteries of God Agayne after he had spoken somewhat of all the heresies before his time he proceedeth on thus I haue receaued this canon and rule of blessed Heraclas our pope Suche as returned from heretickes though they fell from the churche or not fell but thought to participate with them yet betrayde for that they frequented the companie of one that published false doctrine he excommunicated neither admitted no if they had entreated before they had openly pronounced all they had hearde of the aduersaries then at length he gathered them together not requiringe that they shoulde be baptized againe For a good whyle before they had obtained by his meanes the holie ghost Agayne when he had largely entreated hereof he writeth thus ▪ And I am sure of this that not onely the bishopes of Africk haue practised the like but also the bishops our predecessours of olde in the most famous churches and in the Synodes of the brethren at Iconium and Synadis with the aduise of manie haue decreed the same whose sentences to ouerthrovve and raise contention and bravvling among the brethren I cannot awaye with Thou shalt not as it is written alter the bounds of thy neighbours which thy fathers haue limited CAP. VII The same Dionysius of the Nouatian heresie HIs fourth epistle of Baptisme is written vnto Dionysius then a Romaine minister but afterwards there placed bishop whereby we may coniecture howe he was counted wise and famous by the testimonie of Dionysius bishope of Alexandria he wrote vnto him after other things in this manner of Nouatus VVe are not without iuste cause offended with Nouatus vvhiche hath rent a sunder the churche of God and drawen diuerse of the brethren vnto impietie and blasphemies and hath published of God a moste impious and prophane kinde of doctrine charging the moste louing and mercifull God vvith the title and sclaunder of immercifulnesse And moreouer he hath renounced baptisme he hath made shipwracke of his former faith and confession he hath chased avvay the holy ghost vvhat hope soeuer remaines either of the tarying or returning of the holy ghost into them againe CAP. VIII Dionysius reporteth of one that sorowed because he had receaued baptisme of heretickes THe fifte epistle of Dionysius is extant vnto Xystus bishop of Rome where after he had written many thinges againste heretickes he reporteth this one thing which happened in his time writing thus In good sooth brother I stande in neede of aduise and counsaile I craue your opinion for that a certaine thing happened vnto me vvherin I feare lest I be deceaued when the brethren were gathered
the substance of the father God of God light of light very God of very God begotteÌ„ not made being of one substaÌ„ce with the father by whome all things were made both the things in heaueÌ„ the things in earth who for vs men for our saluation came downe was incarnate he was made man he suffred rose the third day he ascended into the heauens he shall come to iudge both the quicke the dead And we beleue in the holy Ghost Therefore they which say that there was a time when he was not before he was begotten or that he had his beginninge of nothinge or that he is of an other substaÌ„ce or esseÌ„ce or that affirme the sonne of God to be made or to be coÌ„uertible or mutable these the Catholicke Apostolicke church of God doth pronounce for accursed â–ª wheÌ„ they had prescribed this forme of faith we ceased not diligeÌ„tly to demaund of theÌ„ how they vnderstoode that senteÌ„ce To be of the substaÌ„ce of the father that to be of one substance with the father wherevpoÌ„ there rose obiectioÌ„s resolutioÌ„s so that the right seÌ„se of the foresayd senteÌ„ces was curiously sought out They sayd that to be Of one substaÌ„ce signified nothing else theÌ„ to be of the father yet not to be as a part of the father This seemed vnto vs very well to agree with the expositioÌ„ of that blessed doctrine which teacheth the sonne to be of the father yet not to be part of his substaÌ„ce VVherefore vve accorded vvith this sentence neither reiected vve the clause Of one substance because that peace vvas placed before our eyes as a marke to beholde and moreouer vve had speciall care not to fall from the faith In like maner vve approued Begotten not made For Made they counted a common vvorde vvith other creatures vvhich vvere made by the sonne that the sonne had nothinge in him vvhich resembled or vvas like vnto them and for that cause he vvas not a creature like vnto those vvhich vvere made by him but of a farr more excelleÌ„t substaÌ„ce theÌ„ any creature is framed the which holy scripture declareth to be begotteÌ„ of the father inasmuch as no mortall nature can either by vvord expresse or by thought comprehende or attaine vnto the maner of his generation In like sort also that clause The sonne to be of one substance with the father vvas sifted and allovved to be vnderstode after no corporall maner neither to haue any likelihoode vvith mortall liuing things neither to be by diuision of substance neither by section or parting asunder neither by mutation of the fathers essence and povver that the vnbegotten nature of the father vvas farre from al these thinges And that To be of one substance vvith the father signified no other thing then that the sonne of God vvas in nothing like the rest of the creatures but altogether like vnto the father alone vvhich begate him neither begotten of any oother then of the fathers substance and essence vnto the vvhich thinge thus sett forth right and reason required that vve should condescende For vve haue knowen for suertie diuers auncient bishops and vvriters of greate learning and renovvne to haue mentioned this clause Of one substance in setting forth of the diuinitie of the father and the sonne so farre of the faith published in the councell of Nice vvhervnto vve all condescended not rashly and vnaduisedly but according vnto the sentences sett forth in the presence of the most godly Emperour which were discussed by common assent approued for the causes afore alleadged And withall we thought good to ratifie the forme of curse published after the exposition of the faith because that it forbiddeth that no man do acquaint him selfe vvith forreyne speaches and vnwritten languages vvhereby in maner all confusion and discord is drawen and crept into the churche vvhen as the sacred scripture maketh mention no vvhere of any such sentences to vvete That the sonne of God had his beginning of nothing and that there vvas a time vvhen he vvas not And such like sentences it seemed not agreable vvith reason either in vvordes to talke of them or in deede to teache them Vnto vvhich notable decree vve haue subscribed although heretofore vve neuer accustomed neither acquainted our selues vvith such speaches These things vvelbeloued vve haue necessarily sent vnto you not onely to certifie you of the censure concluded of vs after our curious sifting and assent but also to let you vnderstande that while at the first the diuersitie of reports written vnto you offended vs not a little we persisted in one the same mind as it was most meete euen to the last houre But afterwards with small adoe we embraced without any disquietnes at all such things as were not offensiue when as we with tractable mind sought out the sense and vnderstanding of the words which vvere then in controuersie and found them altogether agreable vvith the thinges contayned in the forme of fayth published by vs our selfe These things did Eusebius Pamphilus sende in writing vnto Caesarea in Palaestina CAP. VI. The Epistle of the Synode contayning their decrees and the expulsion of Arius with his complices sundry epistles of Costantine the Emperour THe councell it selfe by generall consent wrote these things which followe vnto the churche of Alexandria and vnto the inhabitants of Aegypt Lybia and Pentapolis Vnto the holy through the grace of God and the renowmed church of Alexandria to the beloued brethren throughout Aegypt Lybia Pentapolis the bishops assembled at Nice and summoned to the greate and sacred senate sende greeting in the Lorde VVhen as by the grace of God and the commaundement of the moste vertuous Emperoure Constantine vvho gathered vs together from diuers cities and prouinces the greatâ— and sacred councell of Nice is summoned it seemed expedient that letters from the vvhole sacred assembly should be sent vnto you wherby you might be certified as vvell of the thiÌ„gs called into questioÌ„ and exquisitely decided as also of the canons therein coÌ„firmed First of all the things which did concerne the impious peruerse opinion of Arius his complices were fully handled in the presence of the most godly Emperour Constantine whervpon it pleased the councell by coÌ„mon consent of all to pronounce his wicked opinion to be helde for accursed and the execrable words and blasphemous sentences he vsed â—aying that the sonne of God had his beginning of nothing that there was a time vvhen he vvas not That the sonne of God vvas of free vvill inclined to vertue to vice that he was a creature and that he vvas made all vvhich the holy councell did accurse nay it may not be permitted that his impious opinion his insolent madnesse his blasphemous vvordes shoulde come within hearing Moreouer you haue heard or at leastvvise ye shall heare of vs toutchinge him and his ende lest that vve seeme rashly and vvithout cause to
insulte and inueye against a man vvhich receaued dew for his desert His impietie grew to that passe and so preuayled that he lead Theônas bishop of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais together vvith him into perdition for they vvere partakers of the same punishment vvith him After that the grace of God had deliuered vs from that peruerse opinion from that impietie and blasphemie and from such people as presumed to sowe discorde and debate in the middest of such as leade a peaceable and quiet life there remained as yet toutching the coÌ„tumacie of Meletius and such as he had aduaunced vnto ecclesiastical orders to be determined of vs and vvhat the councell decreed toutchinge him thus vnderstande vvelbeloued brethren The councell beyng bent to deale vvith more clemencie tovvardes Meletius then he deserued for by iust iudgement he was worthy of no pardon decreed that he should remaine in his proper city that he should haue no authoritie to make ministers no authoritie to aduauÌ„ce any vnto the ecclesiasticall function neither to appeare or present him selfe in any other region or in any other citie for that purpose but onely to retayne the bare name and title of his office and dignitie they decreed farther toutching such as were entred into holy orders by his laying on of haÌ„ds that they after confirmation vvith more mysticall laying on of handes should be admitted into the fellovvship of the church with this condition that they shoulde enioye their dignitie degree of the ministerie yet that they be inferiour vnto all the pastors throughout euery prouince and churche the vvhich the most honorable man and our college Alexander hath ordayned Moreouer that they haue no authoritie to elect the ministers approued by their censures no not so much as to nominate theÌ„ which are to execute the ecclesiasticall function nor to intermedle with any thing toutching theÌ„ that are within Alexanders iurisdiction without the coÌ„sent of the bishop of the catholicke church But they who through the grace of God the meanes of your praiers were found no maintayners of schisme but coÌ„tained theÌ„ selues within the bounds of the Catholicke Apostolicke churche voyd of all erroneous blemishe let these haue authoritie to consecrate ministers to nominate such as shal be thought vvorthie of the cleargie and in fine freely to do all according vnto the rule canon of the church If in case that one of them which presently enioye the ecclesiasticall dignitie chaunce to finishe his mortall race theÌ„ one of them lately admitted into the church so that he be found worthy the people chose him so that the bishop of Alexandria consent thervnto and confirme his election may succeede in the place of the deseased our will is also that that liberty be grauÌ„ted vnto all others But of Meletius namely it is otherwise decreede to wete that both for his insolent boldnes wherewith heretofore he molested the quiet estate of the church and also for his temeritie and wilfull ignorance openly shewed he shoulde haue neither power neither authoritie geuen him for in that he is a man he may agayne vexe the churche with the like disorder And these decrees properly and seuerally do concerne Aegypt and the most holy churche of Alexandria But if any other thinge besides this be decreed and concluded vpon vvhylest that the most honorable lorde our fellovve minister and brother Alexander is present vvith vs he beynge both president and priuye to our doinges vvyll in presence of you all more exactly recite the vvhole vnto you VVe sende you gladde tydinges of the vniforme consent and agreement toutching the celebration of the most sacred feaste of Easter that by the meanes of your prayers the sturre raysed in that behalfe vvas quietly appeased so that all the brethren vvhich inhabite the East obseruinge heretofore the maner of the Ievves novve vvith vniforme consent do follovve the Romaines and vs and you vvhich of olde tyme haue retayned vvith vs the selfe same order and maner of celebration VVherfore reioyce partly because of these prosperous affaires and partly for the peace and vniforme agreement of all partly also that all heresies are abaÌ„doned plucked vp by the rootes and embrace vvith greater honor more feruent loue our fellow minister Alexander but your bishop whose presence was a great pleasure vnto vs who in those yeares tooke great paynes labored exceedingly to reduce the affaires of your church vnto a quiet peaceable state powre vnto God harty prayers for vs all that the things rightly decreede established may continewe for firme inuiolable through God the father almighty our Lord Iesus Christ together with the holy ghost to whome be glorie for euer euer Amen It is euident by this Synodicall epistle that they accursed not onely Arius and his complices but also the sentences of his peruerse opinion moreouer that they agreed among theÌ„ selues toutching y â— celebration of Easter that they receaued y â— grauÌ„d hereticke Meletius grauÌ„ting him licence to retaine his episcopall dignitie yet depriuing him of all authoritie to execute the functioÌ„ as a bishop vseth for which cause I suppose the Meletians in Aegypt vnto this day to haue bene seuered from the church because that the councell tooke away from Meletius all authoritie We haue moreouer to vnderstaÌ„d that Arius wrote a booke of his opinion the which he intituled Thalia the style phrase of the booke is both wanton and dissolute resembling in all poynts the bawdy ballets and rymes of the wanton poet Sotades the which booke also the councell then dyd condemne Neyther was the councell onely carefull by writinge to certifie of the peace established but the Emperour also signified the same by his letters vnto the church of Alexandria Constantinus the Emperour vnto the Catholicke church of Alexandria VVe wishe you health in the Lord welbeloued brethren A great a singular benefite of the deuine prouidence of God is conferred on vs in that all errour and deceate beinge quite put to slight we acknowledge one the selfe same faith For henceforth there remayneth no refuge for the sleyghts of the deuill intended agaynst vs vvhatsoeuer through fraude he pretended the same is vvholly taken avvay The bright beames of the trueth according vnto the commaundement of Christ ouercame those dissentions schismes those tumults as I may so terme it that deadly poyson of discorde one God therfore all we both in name do adore and in faith do beleue to be And to the end the same through the forewarning of god might be brought to passe I haue called together a great coÌ„pany of bishops vnto the city of Nice with whome I also beiÌ„g one of your nâ—ber most willingly addictiÌ„g my selfe wholly together with you vnto the same busines haue endeuored that the trueth then in coÌ„trouersy might throughly be tried out wherfore all things that seemed to breede occasion of discord or dissention vvere narrovvly sifted
by the way of Athanasius CAP. XII Howe that Constantine the Emperoure enlarging the city which of olde was called Byzantium tearmed it after his owne name Constantinople THe emperour after the ending of the coūcell liued in great trāquility And as soone as after the wonted guise he had celebrated the twētyth yeare of his raygne without all delay or tariance he turned himselfe wholy to the buylding of churches the which he brought to passe as well in other cyties as in that cytie the which he called after his name but of olde bore the name of Byzantium This he enlarged exceedingly he enuironed with great goodly walls he bewtified with glorious building and made her nothing inferior to the princely cytie of Rome callinge her after his name Constantinople He made moreouer a lawe that she shoulde be called the Second Rome The which lawe is ingrauen in a stony piller reserued in the publique pretory nigh the emperours knightly picture In this cytie he erected from the foūdation two churches calling y ◠one of peace the other of the Apostles He encreased not only as I sayd before christian affairs but altogether rooted out the rites of the Gentiles He caried away the images out of the Idole groues to the end they might sett out the cytie of Constantinople they were to be seene abrode in y ◠open market place He inuironed about in the open aer the threefooted trestle vpon y ◠which the priest of Apollo in Delphos was wont to receaue his oracle with a grate Peraduenture some men will count the recitall of these things altogether impertinent specialy in as much as of late in maner all men haue ether seene them with their eyes or heard of them w t theyr eares At that time y ◠christian religiō spredd it selfe farre nigh For vnder the raygne of the emperour Costantine besides the prosperous affairs of many other things the prouidence of God so prouided that the faith in Christ shoulde take great increase And although Eusebius Phamphilus hath sett forth the praises of this emperour with a large and lofty style yet in my opinion I shal nothing offend if that after my simple maner I say something to his commendation CAP. XIII Howe that Helene the emperours mother leauinge Ierusalem sought out the crosse of Christ and founde it afterwardes built there a Church HElene the emperours mother which of the village Drepane made a cyty the which afterwards the emperour called Helenopolis being warned by a vision in her sleepe tooke her iorney to Ierusalem And when as shee founde that auncient Ierusalem lyinge all wast in a heape of stones as it is in the prophet she searched diligētly for the sepulchre of Christ in the which he was layd and out of the which he rose againe and at length although with much adoe through the helpe of God she found it And why it was so harde a matter to finde I will declare in fewe words euen as they which embraced the faith of Christ highly esteemed of that sepulchre and monument after his passion so of the contrary such as abhorred christian religion heaped in that place much earth and raised great hilloks and buylded there the temple of Venus and hauinge suppressed the remembrance of the place they sette vp her Idole This haue we learned of olde to be true But when as the emperours mother was made priueye hereunto shee threwe downe the Idole she digged vp the place she caused the great heape of earthe to be hurled aside and the filth to be remoued she findes three crosses in the graue one I meane that blessed vpon the whiche Christe suffred other two on the whiche the two theeues ended their liues Together with whiche crosses the table of Pilate was founde whereupon he had wrytten with sundrye tongues and signified vnto the worlde that Christe crucified was the Kinge of the Iewes Yet because there rose some doubte whether of these three shoulde be the crosse of Christ for the which they had made this searche the emperours mother was not a litle pensiue The which sorowefull heuynes of hers Macarius byshop of Ierusalem not longe after asswaged For he made manifest by his fayth that which afore was doubtfull ambiguous He desired of God a signe and obtained his sute The signe was this there was a certaine woman of that coast which by reason of her long and greuous disease lay at the poincte of death As she was yeldinge vp of the ghost the byshop layd euery one of the crosses vpon her beinge fully perswaded that she shoulde recouer her former health if that she toutched the reuerent crosse of our Sauiour which in deed failed him not For whē as both the crosses which belonged not vnto the Lorde were layd to the woman she continewed neuerthelesse at the poinct of death but as soone as the third which in very dede was the crosse of Christ was layd vnto her although she seemed presently to leaue this world yet leaped she vp and was restored to her former health After this sorte was the crosse of Christ founde out The emperours mother buylded ouer the sepulchre a goodly and gorgeous church callinge it Nevve Ierusalem righte ouer against that old and wast Ierusalem The one halfe of the crosse she lockt vp in a siluer chest left there to be seene of suche as were desirous to beholde such monumēts the other halfe she sente to the emperour The which when he had receaued supposinge that city to be in greate safety where in it were kept compassed it with his owne picture which was sett vp in the market place at Constantinople so called of Constantinus ouer a mighty piller of redd marble Although I commit this to wryting which I haue onely learned by hearesay yet in maner all they which inhabite Constantinople affirme it to be most true Moreouer when Constantinus had receaued the nayles wherewith the naked handes of Christ were fastened to the tree for his mother had founde these also in the sepulchre of Christ and sent them vnto him he caused bitts for bridles helmets and headpeeces to be made thereof the which he wore in battaile The emperour furthermore made prouision for all suche necessaries as were required to the buyldinge of the churches and wrote vnto Macarius the bishop that with all diligence he should further the buyldinge The emperours mother as soone as she had finished the church which she called Nevve Ierusalem buylded a second nothinge inferior to the first at Bethleem in the hollowe rocke where Christ was borne accordinge vnto the flesh also a thirde vpō the mount where Christ ascended vnto y ◠father Besides she was so vertuous so meeke that she would fall downe to her prayers in the middest of the vulgare sorte of women that she woulde inuite to her table virgines which were consecrated to holy life accordinge vnto the canon of the church that she woulde bring
he layeth downe the cause that moued him to repeate at large such things as afore time he had briefly written in his first and seconde booke RVffinus who wrote the Ecclesiasticall historye in the latine tongue was very much deceaued in the tymes for he thought that the perill and daungers which Athanasius stoode in happened vnto him after the death of the emperour Constantine He was ignorant of his banishment into Fraunce of many other miseryes that happened vnto him But we imitating his opinion and censure in discourse of the Ecclesiasticall affayres haue written the first and seconde booke of our historye â–ª from the thirde vnto the seuenth booke by borowing some out of Ruffinus by picking and culling other some out of sundry other writers also by laying downe some thinge we learned of others who as yet be aliue we haue sett forth the historye in a most absolute and perfect maner But after that by meare chaunce the workes of Athanasius came to our handes where both he complayneth of the misery he endured also declareth after what sorte he was exiled through the sclaunderous faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia we thought farre better to attribute more credit vnto him who suffred these things and to others who sawe them with their eyes then to such as coniecture and gesse at them and so plunge them selues in the pitt of error Moreouer by searching diligently the epistles of sundry men who liued at that tyme we haue sifted out as much as in vs laye the trueth it selfe Wherfore we haue bene constrayned to repeate agayne such thinges as we mentioned in the firste and seconde booke of our historye and haue annexed thereunto out of Ruffinus such histories as were agreeable vnto the trueth Not only that but this also is to be vnderstoode how that in the first edition of these our bookes we layd downe neyther the depriuation of Arius neyther the Emperours epistles but explicated in fewe words without figures of Rhetorick the matter we tooke in hande lest the tediousnes of our long historye shoulde tyre the louing Reader When as for the cause aboue mentioned it behoued vs so to doe Theodorus most holy Prieste of God yet nowe to the ende the epistles may be knowen in forme and fashion as the Emperours wrote them selues and the thinges also which Bishops in sundry councells haue published vnto the worlde whylest that they laboured dayely to sett for the more exquisite decrees and constitutions to the furtherance of Christian religion we haue diligently added to this our latter edition such thinges as we thought fitt for the purpose â–ª that truely we haue performed in the first booke and in the seconde nowe in hande we minde to doe no lesse â–ª but nowe to the historye CAP. II. How that Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia endeuored agayne to establishe the doctrine of Arius so that tumults were raysed in the Churche afreshe and howe that Athanasius by vertue of Constantine the yongers letters returned to Alexandria AFter the death of the Emperour Constantine Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and Theâ—gâ—is Bishop of Nice supposing now they had gotten a fitt time endeuored with all might possible to wipe out of the Churche of God the creede contayning the clause of one substance and to setle in the rowme thereof the detestable heresie of Arius But this they knewe full well they coulde not bringe to passe if Athanasius came agayne to Alexandria They went about to compasse their drift very craftely vsing the Priest by whose meanes we sayd before Arius returned from exile as an instrument to their purpose But the maner of the handling thereof I thinke very needefull to be layde downe This Priest presented vnto Constantius the Emperours sonne the last will and testament and the bequeathed legacies of the Emperour deseased He perceauing y t to haue bene laid downe in his fathers wil which greatly he desired for byy â— wil he was emperour of the Easterne parts made very much of the priest graunted him great libertie charged him to vse his pallace freely and boldly at his pleasure After this libertie was graunted him by the Emperour he forthwith acquainted him selfe with the empresse with the Eunuches and chamberlaynes At the same time there was an eunuch by name Eusebius chiefe of the emperours chamber who through persuasion of this lewde Priest became an Arian and infected also the other eunuches of his company And not only these but the Empresse also through the entisement of the Eunuches and the aduise of the Priest fell into the pestilent heresie of Arius In a while after the Emperour him selfe called the same opinion into controuersie and so by a litle and a litle it was spredd euery where And first the Emperours garde tooke it vp next it occupied the mindes of the multitude throughout the city The Emperours chamberlaynes euen in the very pallace it selfe contended with women about the opinion in euery house and family throughout the city they brawled and went together by the eares This infection spred it selfe quickly ouer other contries and regions and the controuersie much like a sparcle of fire rising of small heate or scattered embers kindled the mindes of the hearers with the fiery flame of discorde and dissention For euery one that desired to knowe why they made such a tumulte by and by had an occasion geuen him to reason and euery one was not satisfied with questioning but contentiously woulde argue thereof â–ª thus the heate of contention turned all vpside downe and troubled the quiet estate of the Churche This sturre and sedition preuailed onely in the cities throughout the East for Illyrium and other contryes of the West enioyed peace and quietnes â–ª for they could in no wise permitt the canons of the Nicene councell to be abrogated and sett at nought After that the heate of contention was blowen abroad and burned euery day more and more the faction of Eusebius tooke this tumult to be a furtherance to their purpose for so they hoped it would come to passe that some Bishop or other woulde be chosen of Alexandria which woulde maintayne the same opinion with them But at the very same time Athanasius by the meanes of Constantine the yongers letters who was one of the Caesars and so called after his fathers name returned to Alexandria the letters were written by the Emperour vnto the people of Alexandria from Triuere a citie of Fraunce in forme as followeth Constantinus Caesar to the people of the Catholicke Church of Alexandria sendeth greeting I hope it is not vnknowen vnto your discreete wisedome that Athanasius the professor of sacred diuinitie was for a tyme banished into Fraunce lest that through the mischieuous dealing of lewde men for bloodesuckers and cruell beastes sought to bereue him of his life his innocent person shoulde of necessitie be constrained to take his deaths wounde VVherfore to the ende he might auoyde the malice of these dispitefull
men he was taken as it were out of their iawes which menaced him commaunded to liue vnder my dominion where though his excellent vertue ministred vnto him from aboue wey nothinge at all the greuous casualties of aduersity euen as in the city he liued before he may haue plenty want no necessaryes for the maintenance of his porte Therefore when as our Lorde and my father of famous memory Constantine the Emperour had purposed in his mind to haue restored him a Bishop to his owne sâ—ae and proper seate the which he enioyed among you that are knowen to beare greate zeale to godlines and being preuented with death as it fareth with mankind before he coulde accomplishe his desire I thought it verely my parte and duety to execute the intent of so godly an Emperoure VVith what estimation and reuerence I haue entertayned the man he shall reporte with his owne mouth after his returne vnto you Neither is it to be maruelled at all that I shewed him such curtesie For me thinkes I sawe in him the great longing ye had for him and I behelde also the fatherly reuerence and grauity of the man himselfe all which moued me not a litle thereunto nay throughly perswaded me God of his goodnes welbeloued brethren haue you in his tuition Athanasius with the confidence he had in these letters returneth to Alexandria whome the people of Alexandria doe receaue with most willing mindes But such as in that citie were infected with the leprosie of Arianisme conspired against him so that many skirmishes and tumultes were raised which ministred occcasion vnto the confederats of Eusebius falsly to accuse Athanasius before the Emperoure that of his owne doinge without the generall consente of the assembly of Bishops he had setled him selfe in that church The accusation was so odious that the Emperoure being therewith incensed against Athanasius draue him out of Alexandria But howe this was compassed I will shewe hereafter in an other place CAP. III. Howe that after the death of Eusebius Pamphilus Acacius was chosen Bishop of Caesarea and of the death of Constantinus the yonger ABout that time Eusebius whose sirname was Pamphilus Bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina departed this life and Acacius his scholer succeeded him in the Bishopricke Who besids sundry other workes of his industrie wrote a booke of the life of his maister Eusebius Not long after Constantinus the yonger so called after his fathers name brother to y â— Emperor Constantius inuading by force certaine countreys vnder Constans his yonger brothers dominion by fighting hand to hand with the soldiers was slaine Acindinus and Proclus beinge Consuls CAP. IIII. Howe that Alexander Bishop of Constantinople departinge this life nominated two men Paulus and Macedonius that they shoulde chuse one of them to succeede him in the Bishoprike AT that time there ensued immediately the â—edicions mentioned before an other tumulte in the citie of Constantinople and that for this cause Alexander the Bishop of that churche who valiantly encountred with Arius hauing continewed Bishop there the space of three and twenty yeares and liued fourescore and eighteene departed this life He consecrated none to succeede him but charged the electors to choose one of two whome he would nominat vnto them And following his aduise if they would place in the rowme a man sit for to instruct y â— people of an vpright conscience of good lise and godly conuersation they shoulde take Paulus whome he had made priest who though he were yonge and of greene yeares yet in learninge olde and of greate wisedome But in case they woulde haue him whome the etymologie of noble prowesse did highly commend they should preferre Macedonius to the dignitie â–ª who latly had bene deacon of the same church and then was farre strucken in yeares Wherefore about the election of a Bishop there was greater sturre theÌ„ heretofore and the churche was more grieuously turmoyled The people were deuided into two parts the one was egerly set with the heresy of Arius the other cleaued very constantly to the decrees of the Nicene Councell And whilest that Alexander liued they which embraced the creede comprising the clause of One substance had the vpper hand ouer the Arians which dayly striued and contended very stifly in the maintenance of their heretical doctrine But as soone as he departed this life the contention among the people was diuers and variable For such as fauored the clause of One substance chose Paulus to be their Bishop such as of the contrary cleaued vnto Arianisme endeuored with all might to place Macedonius Wherefore in the temple of God called the church of peace next vnto the great church then called great but nowe bearing the name of wisedome Paulus was chosen Bishop in which election the voyce of the desseased did preuaile CAP. V. Howe that Constatinus the Emperoure displaced Paulus that was chosen byshope of Constantinople and translated to that seae Eusebius byshop of Nicomedia And howe that Eusebius caused an other Synode to be summoned at Antioch in Syria where there was an other forme of fayth layde downe SHortely after the election of Paulus moued the Emperoure not a litle at his coming to Constantinople For summoning together an assembly of Byshops which sauored of the filthie sinke of Aruis he procured the deposition of Paulus and causing Eusebius of Nicomedia to be â—â—anslated thither he proclaimed him Bishop of Constantinople These thinges being done the Emperoure gott him to Antioch Yet Eusebius for all this colde not sette his hart at rest but rolled as commonely we saye euery stone to bringe his wicked purpose to passe He summoneth a councell at Antioch in Syria pretending the dedicatioÌ„ of the church whose foundations Constantine the father of these Emperours had layd after whose death Constantius his sonne tenne yeares after the laying of the first stone finished the buylding and as I may boldely say the trueth to the ouerthrowe and subuersion of the fayth Of one substance Unto this synod there came out of diuers prouinces Bishops to the number of fourscore and tenne But Maximus bishop of Ierusalem who succeeded Macarius woulde not come thither supposinge verely that if he came he shoulde be constrayned to subscribe vnto the depriuation of Athanasius Neyther did Iulius Byshop of Rome shewe him selfe there neither sente he any to supply his rowme when as the ecclesiasticall canon forbiddeth that any constitution be thrust into the Churche without the censure of the Bishope of Rome To be shorte the councell mette at Antioch in the Consulship of Marcellus and Probinus where Constantius the Emperoure was present It was the fift yeare after the death of Constantine father vnto these Emperours Placitus was then bishop of Antioch for he succeeded Euphronius But the confederacy of Eusebius side imployed their chiefe labour and industry falsly to accuse Athanasius and first they charge him with the violating of their canon to wete
that he thrust him selfe againe to execut the function of priesthood without the admission consent of a generall councell For they complaine that after his returne from exile he rushed into the church vpon his owne head Secondly that at his returne when the tumult schisme was raised many were slaine moreouer that he caused some to be scurged some other to hold their hands at y ◠barre they alleage also such things as were pleaded against Athanasius in the councell held at Tyrus CAP. VI. Of Eusebius Emisenus IN the meane space while Athanasius was charged with the aforesayd crimes they chose Eusebius first called Emisenus Bishop of Alexandria Who and what he was Georgius Bishop of Laodicea who then was present at the councell sheweth vnto vs. For in the booke he wrote of his life he declareth that Eusebius came of a noble family of Edessa in Mesopotamia from a litle one to haue bene trained vp in holy scripture afterwards to be instructed in prophane literature by a professor which then taught at Edessa last of all to haue sucked y ◠right sense vnderstanding of holy scripture at the lips of Eusebius Patrophilus the one bishop of Caesarea the other bishop of Scythopolis After this to haue gone to Antioch where it fell out that Eustathius being accused of the heresie of Sabellius by Cyrus bishop of Beroea was deposed of his bishoprik Thēceforth to haue accompanied Euphronius the successor of Eustathius and because he woulde not be prieste to haue gott him to Alexandria and there to haue studied philosophie After that to haue returned to Antioch where he acquaynted him selfe with Placitus the successor of Euphronius Thēce to haue bene called by Eusebius bishop of Constantinople to be bishop of Alexandria but sayth Georgius because that Athanasius was greately beloued of the people of Alexandria he went not thither but was sent into the city Emisa Where when there was much adoe made among the citizens of Emisa about the election for he was charged with the study of the mathematicks he fledd away came to Laodicea vnto Georgius who reported many notable storyes of him Georgius brought him to Antioch by y ◠meanes of Placitus Narcissus caused him to be conueyed to Emisa where againe he was accused of the heresy of Sabellius But of the circumstāces of his election Georgius discourseth more at large last of all he addeth howe that the Emperour going into Barbary tooke him thence and that he knewe full well many wonders miracles to haue bene wrought by him So farre of the things which Georgius remembred of Eusebius Emisenus CAP. VII Howe that the byshops which mett at Antioch after that Eusebius Emisenus had refused Alexandria chose Gregorius to be byshop of Alexandria and endeuored to alter and so consequentlye to abrogate the canons of the Nicene councell WHen as at that time Eusebius by the councell of Antioch was chosen bishop of Alexādria feared to goe thither they consecrate Gregorie in his rowme to enioye the seae of Alexandria These things being done they labour to alter the faith who althoughe they colde reproue nothinge of the thinges decided in the Nicene Councell yet verelye wente they about through theyr often assemblyes to peruerte and ouerthrowe the creede contayninge the clause of One substance and otherwise to establishe of theyr owne that by a little and a litle they mighte soke men in the filthie sincke of Arius But of theyr drifte and fetches in the storyes followinge The epistle contayninge the fayth whiche they published was after this maner VVe are neyther the followers of Arius for howe can it be that we beinge Byshops shoulde geue eare vnto Arius beinge but a prieste neyther haue we receaued any other faythe then that whiche hathe beene published from the beginninge but when as vve examined his faith narrowely and weyed it deepely we rather receaued Arius returninge vnto vs then that our selues shoulde hange vpon his opinion The whiche you may easilye perceaue by that whiche followeth For we haue learned from the beginninge to beleeue in one vniuersall God the creator and maker of all things both visible and inuisible and in one Sonne the only begotten Sonne of God who was before all wordes and had his beinge together with the Father which begott him by whome all things both visible and inuisible were made VVho in the later days according vnto the singular good will of the father came downe from heauen and tooke flesh of the virgine mary VVho fullfilled all his fathers will who suffred rose againe ascended into the heauens and sitteth at the right hande of the father shall come againe to iudge the quick and the dead and continewe king and God for euer VVe beleue also in the holy Ghost And if that you will haue vs to add more we beleue the resurrection of the fleshe and the life euerlasting After that they had wrytten these things in theyr former epistle they sente it to the churches throughout euery cytie But continewinge at Antioch a while longer they in maner condemned the forme of fayth that wente before and wrote forthwith a newe one in these wordes VVe beleue as the Euangelistes and Apostles haue deliuered vnto vs in one God the Father almightie the creator and maker of all thinges and in one Lorde Iesus Christ his onely begotten sonne God by whome all thinges were made begotten of the father before all worlds God of God whole of whole alone of alone perfecte of perfecte kinge of kinge lorde of lorde the liuinge worde the wisedome the life the true light the waye of trueth the resurrection the shepherd the dore inconuertible and immutable the liuely image of the diuinity essence power counsell and glorie of the father the first begotten of all creatures who was in the beginninge with the father God the worde as it is sayde in the Gospell and God was the word by whome all thinges were made and in whome all thinges are VVho in the later dayes came downe from heauen was borne of a virgin according vnto the Scripturs was made man and the mediator of God and man the Apostle of our fayth and the guyde to life And as he sayth of him selfe I came dovvne from heauen not to doe mine ovvne will but his will vvhich sente me VVho suffred for vs and rose agayne the thirde daye for our sakes and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the righte hande of the father and shall come againe vvith glorie and power to iudg the quick and the dead And we beleue in the holy Ghost vvhiche is geuen vnto the faythfull for theyr consolation sanctification and perfection Euen as our Lord Iesus Christ commaunded his disciples sayinge goe teache all nations baptizinge them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghoste That is of the father who is the father in deede and of the sonne who is the
sonne in dede and of the holy Ghoste who is the holye Ghoste in deede VVhiche names are not vnaduisedly neyther vvithout good consideration layde dovvne of vs for they plainely sett forth the proper person the order and the glorie of â—â—he of them that are named that there be three persons yet in harmoniacall consente but one God VVherefore vve retayninge this fayth before the maiestye of God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ doe holde for accursed all detestable heresies If that any shall teache contrary to the righte and sounde fayth contained in holy Scripture that there is or that there hathe bene a tyme or a vvorlde and made before the sonne of God let him be accursed If that any shall saye that the sonne of God is a creature as one of the creatures a budde or spring as one of the buddes and not as the sacred Scriptures haue deliuered euery of the aforesayde vnto vs or if that any shall preache or publishe any other besides that vve haue receaued lette him be accursed For vve beleue truely and vnfaynedly all vvhatsoeuer the holy Scriptures the Prophetes and Apostles haue deliuered vnto vs and vve follovve the same zealously Suche were the Creedes of the Byshopes whiche then assembled at Antioch whereunto Gregorius althoughe as yet he was not gone to Alexandria subscribed intitlinge him selfe Byshope of Alexandria The Councell after the finishinge of these thinges and the establishinge of other constitutions was dissolued At the very same time the affayres of the common weale fell out to be very troublesome For the French natioÌ„ so are they tearmed inuaded the Romayne possessions bordering vpon Fraunce then also there were greate earthquakes in the Easte but specially at Antioch where the earth was hoyssed and shaken the space of one whole yeare CAP. VIII Howe that when Gregorius was broughte to Alexandria with armed souldieres Athanasius by flyinge awaye saued his life WHen the aforesayde busines was brought to this passe Syrianus the captaine together with fiue thousande armed soldiers brought Gregorius to Alexandria The Arians that were within the citie came to ayde them But I thinke it requisite to discourse howe Athanasius that was violently by them thrust out of the churche escaped their handes It was then euentide the people spent the whole night in vigils for there was a coÌ„munion the day followinge The captaine drewe nighe he sette his soldiers in battaile araye he besetts the churche Athanasius vnderstandinge of this called his witts together and deuised howe the people might take no harme for his sake He commaunded his Deacon to read the collects vnto the people He bidds him singe a psalme When the psalme was sweetly and harmoniacally songe all the people went forth at one of the church porches While this was adoinge the soldiers made no sturre at all Athanasius through the middest of the singers escaped they re handes safe and sounde He beinge thus ridd out of this perill and daunger he stoode in went in all the haste to Rome Then Gregoriâ— tooke possession of the churche The citizens of Alexandria not brooking their doinges sette Sainct Denys churche afire So farre of that CAP. IX Howe that the citizens of Constantinople after the death of Eusebius chose Paulus againe to be their Byshope the Arians of the contrary chose Macedonius EVsebius as soone as he had brought his purpose to effecte sente a legate vnto Iulius Bishope of Rome requestinge him to be iudge in Athanasius his cause and to take vpon him the pronouncinge of the definitiue sentence But the sentence that Iulius gaue of Athanasius neuer came to Eusebius his hearing for immediatly after the councell brake vp breath wente out of his body and so he died Wherefore the people of CoÌ„stantinople bring Paulus againe to be their Bishop the Arians assemblinge in Sainct Pauls churche chose Macedonius They were authors and chiefe doers in that sturre who a litle before ayded Eusebius that turned vpside downe the whole state of the churche These were they that could doe some thing at that time Theognis bishop of Nice Maris bishop of Chalcedon Theodorus bishop of Heraclaea in Thracia Vrsacius bishop of Singidon in the higher Mysia and Valens bishop of Mursa a citie in the higher Panonia But Vrsacius and Valens repented them afterwardes gaue vp their recantation in writinge vnto Iulius bishop of Rome and thenceforth submitted them selues to the clause of One substance and the communion of the church At that tyme the Arians raysed ciuill warres and dissention in the church of the which one was sturred at Constantinople through the confederats of Macedonius And by reason of these domesticall warres of the christians there were many often skirmishes in that citie at what tyme many were troden vnder foote and crushed to death CAP. X. The death of Hermogenes the captaine and howe that therefore Paulus the seconde tyme was banished Constantinople The Arians translating Gregorius from Alexandria placed Georgius in his rowme THe report and fame of the sedition at Constantinople came to the eares of the Emperour Constantius who then abode at Antioche he commaunded Hermogenes the captaine that was takinge his iourney into the coasts of Thracia to take Constantinople in his waye to thrust Paulus their byshop out of the church He comming into the citie disquieted the people not a little while he went by force about to banishe their byshop Immediately the multitude of the people was vp they prepared them selues to ayde their byshop As Hermogenes proceeded and laboured together with his souldiers to sett him packinge the multitude beynge on an vprore rashely and headyly as it happeneth in such a hurlyburly fell vpon him They fyre the house ouer his heade they pull him out by the eares and putte him to death This was done when both the Emperoures were Consulls to wete the thirde Consulshippe of Constantius and the seconde of Constans At what tyme Constans ouercame the Frenchemen made truse and concluded a league betweene them and the Romaines Constantius the Emperour hearinge of the death of Hermogenes tooke his horse left Antioche and gott him to Constantinople there he thrusteth Paulus out of the churche he mearced the cytie takinge from them so manie measures of grayne as their cytie receaued aboue foure hundred thousande the which was his fathers donation daylie geuen vnto them For vnto that tyme the cytie of Constantinople receaued about eyght hundred thowsande measures of grayne that was caryed thyther from Alexandria The Emperour differred to nominate Macedonius their byshop for he was wonderfully incensed not onely agaynste him in that he was chosen without his aduise and counsell but also in that through the sturre and tumult raysed betweene him and Paulus not onely Hermogenes his captayne but also manie others beside were slayne After he had geuen Macedonius licence to execute his function in that churche onely where he was chosen byshop he returneth to Antioche In
by occasion thereof he wrote vnto his friends after this maner VVhat auaileth it I beseech you vnto the Catholicke church for the furtheraÌ„ce of pietie godlines now to propose questioÌ„s of the faith to intitle their creede with the names of the Consuls which then were in office for Vrsacius Valeus and Gormanius haue wrought that which was neuer done or heard of among the Christians when they had written such things as they thought necessarily to be beleued of them they layd downe the Consulls the moneth and the day that it might easily appeare vnto all vvise men their faith not to haue bene before the raigne of Constantius Euery one of them hauinge respect vnto their ovvne hereticall doctrine haue layde dovvne their seuerall censures Furthermore vvhen they take penne in hand to pronounce vvhat they thinke of the Lorde they name vnto them selues an other Lorde to vvete Constantius for it vvas he that opened them the gapp vnto impietie And vvhile they denied the sonne of God to be aeternall for they fell into such outragious impietie they became deadly foes vnto the Christia faith yet they intitled the Eniperour sempiternall But peradueÌ„ture they tooke example of the holie prophets vvho noted vnto vs the times they lyued in for to intitle their creeds with the names of Consulls If they presume to alleage them as a president to their doynges they are foully deceaued and bevvray very much their owne ignorance and folly For though the Prophets made mention of the tymes they lyned in as vve reade in Esay and Oseas who lyued in the dayes of Ozia Ioathan Achaz and Ezechâ—a as vve reade in Ieremie who prophecied in the dayes of Iosia as vve reade in Ezechiel Daniel who florished vnder the raigne of Cyrus Darius and as vve find in other prophecies reuealed vnto the vvorld at other times yet vvere not they the first founders of the seruice of God sacred religion It vvas long before their times it vvas from enerlasting it vvas before the foundacions of the vvorld vvere layd the which verily God him selfe by Christ hath prepared for vs. The tymes vvhen theyr fayth had her originall â–ª they dyd not signifie for there had bene faithfull men longe before them but those vvere the dayes vvhen such promises of God prophecies of thinges to come vvere preached by them The promises verily concerned chiefly the incarnatioÌ„ of our sauiour the circumstances thereof and such thinges as vvere annexed therevnto signified plainely the thinges that should happeÌ„ both to Iewes to Gentils Moreouer in the aforesayd specified times their faith as I sayd before had not her first foundatioÌ„ beginning but the prophets theÌ„ selues for they liuing theÌ„ foreshewed such things to come But these our fouthsaiers neither writing of stories neither prophecying of things to come do write This Catholicke faith was published adding immediatly thervnto the names of the Consulls the moneth of the yeare the day of the vveeke Euen as the holy men of old haue declared both the times of the matters they wrote of and the yeares of their owne ministerie so these men haue noted vnto vs the dayes when their faith first beganne I would to god they had only vvritten their owne beliefe for now they haue assigned an originall or beginninge of their faith and they fall a reasoninge of it as if it had neuer bene heard of before They vvrite not This is our beliefe but in this fort This Catholicke faith was published VVherfore their bold pressipteous enterprise bewraieth their barren wirles braines and their nevve founde faith is no othervvise in playne vvordes then the Arian heresie So they vvrote then they beganne to beleeue from that tyme forth they determined to reueale theyr faith in no other sense then vve reade in Luke the Euangelist There vvas geuen out then a commaundement from Augustus Caesar that the vvhole vvorlde should be taxed that commaundement vvas not geuen before but then tooke place from those dayes forth and vvas published by him vvhich vvrote it So vvhen these men doe vvryte This faith is nowe published they shevve theyr errour nevvly inuented and not to haue bene before But if they adde the vvorde Catholicke they plunge them selues vnvvares in the hereticall pudle of the Cataphrygians so that they singe after theyr note The Christian faith was reuealed vnto vs The Christian faith beganne of vs. And as they tooke Maximilla and Montanus for theyr Lorde so these men in steede of Christ haue chosen Constantius If the fayth beganne in those dayes in the tyme of theyr Consulships vvhat shall become of the auncient fathers and blessed martyrs VVhat shall become of them vvhome these men them selues instructed in the fayth and departed this lyfe before these Consulls Hovve shall they rayse them from the deade to roote out of theyr mindes their former religion and to plant afreshe their late inuention of faith They are so senselesse and so voyde of vnderstandinge that they can doe nought else saue forge out fayned causes the vvhich beynge as they are both fonde slender vpon slippery foundations may casilie be confuted and ouerthrovven These were the contents of Athanasius his epistle the which he sent vnto some of his familiar friendes the studious may at theyr pleasure examine it with them selues and knowe throughly such thinges as he hath discoursed of both subtly and substantially We haue onely alleadged a portion thereof lest we shoulde seeme ouer tedious Toutchinge the premises we haue moreouer to vnderstande that the Councell deposed Valens Vrsacius Auxentius Germanius Caius and Demophilus because they refused to renounce and accurse the hereste of Arius Wherefore takinge their depasition impaciently they runne vnto the Emperour and shewe him the forme of faith that was read in the Councell The Councell also wrote vnto the Emperour an epistle wherein they signified vnto him what they had decreed the which beynge translated out of the Latine into the Breeke tongue is vsually read as followeth The Epistle of the Councell assembled at Arminum vnto the Emperour According vnto the commaundement of God and the edict of your gracious highnesse vve haue thought good to ratifie vvith our consent such canons as of olde did concerne the Christian faith For vve haue met together out of all the cyties throughout the vvest partes of the vvorld to the ende the faith of the most holie and Catholicke church may be the more famous and the aduersaries thereof the better knovven After deliberation and good aduisement taken it seemed best vnto vs firmely to retayne and in retayninge to holde fast vnto the ende that faith vvhich hath bene continevved hitherto from tyme out of memorie vvhich hath bene preached of the Prophets Euangelists Apostles through the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ vvho is the protectour of your empire the coÌ„seruer of your health It seemed very absurd nay vve thought it an haynous offence to alter ought of
the things that vvere rightly and reuerently decided but especially to intermedle vvith the canons of the Nicene Councell so exquisitely handled so throughly sifted out by the ayde succour of your father of famous memory the Emperous Constantine the sage doctrine graue censures of vvhich councell pearced the eares hath bene prīted in the minds of all people by whose only force it came to passe that the heresie of Arius was foyled ouerthrowen by whose meanes also not only this but all other rotten heresies whatsoeuer are rooted out VVhat may well be added therevnto it is doubtfull to take any thinge therefro is daungerous If ere other be permitted there vvill ensue there of such libertie that euery one vvill sovv such levvde doctrine as pleaseth him best VVherfore Vrsacius and Valens beyng of late infected vvith the pestilent here sie of Arius and therefore iustly banished our communion they did not onely repent them of their fond dealing their conscience yelding manifest testimonie accusing thē of the same to the end they might againe be made partakers of the same communion but also as their ovvne vvrytinges doe beare vvittnesse they craued pardon vvith humble and earnest petitions so that in the ende all theyr levvde behauiour all their corrupt learning was forgeuen forgotten these things were done at what time the councell of Mediolanū was held in the presence of certaine priests of Rome But when we call to remembrance how that Constantine the Prince worthy of noble praise among all posterity imployed great labor industry for the curious sifting true knowledge of the Nicene Creede it seemed vnto vs a thinge contrary to all reason for to renewe any thinge thereof or to innouate any thing preiudicial to the same after his desease who first was baptized then departed this life now resteth in ioy to make light accompt of so many blesled confessors martyrs who framed furthered this doctrine vvho also according vnto the auncient purpose of the catholick church were so perswaded persisted in the same vnto their liues end VVhose faith God the father through our Lord Iesus Christ hath cōtinewed vnto the yeares of your imperiall raigne by whose helpe your kingdome is enlarged your self become Lord of all these our coūtries dominions vnder heauen But of the contrary those miserable men bewitched mindes caried away with a furious kind of motion haue gone about to proclayme them selues authors preachers of wicked doctrine vnder colour of well doing to ouerthrowe the right sincerity of the trueth For as soone as the coūcel at your cōmaundement met together they laid wide open their cōcealed fraude couered deceat as soone as also they perceaued Germanius Auxentius Caius who had brought discord dissentiō into the church of god to be in all respects like affectioned with thē they assayed through wiles wilful assēblies to establish some nouelty whose doctrine opiniō though but one in name yet in number it farie exceeded the heape of all blasphemies But when as they sawe they would not cleaue vnto their opinion neither condescend vnto their lewde practises they transported them selues into our side as if they had determined to subscribe vnto the contrary doctrine but not long after their cankred minds were knowē well mough VVherfore that the quiet estate of the church may not be tossed with such waues of troublsome dissētion that all be not set on tumults vprores it seemed very necessary vnto vs to ratifie the decrees confirmed of olde inuiolably to conserue them to forbid these men our cōmunion For this cause haue we sent legats with our letters vnto your maiesty of whome you may vnderstand the mind meaning of the coūcell whome also we haue charged first of all to proue the manifest trueth by autority testimony of old aūciēt lawes wisely decreed to opē vnto your indifferēt censure iust sentēce not as Vrsacius Valens affirmed that quietnes shoulde ensure if the canons lavvfully decreed and aduisedly decided shoulde be ouerthrovven hovv can they pleade for peace which haue pearced through and broke asunder the bonde of vnitie but that discorde and debate shoulde rise thereof not onely in other cities but also in the Churche of Rome VVherefore vve humbly request your maiestie of your gracious fauour and vvonted clemency to accept this our message that you permitt no noueltie to creepe into the church of god to the cōtumelie of such as already are departed this life but that you graunt vs licence and your lavvfull fauour firmely to perseuere in those thinges vvhich our auncetors haue decreed in as much as it is euident vnto all men that vvhatsoeuer they did it vvas throughe vvell aduised councell prudent consideration and the ayde of the holy Ghost for the innouations of these men doe graffe in the mindes of the faythfull incredulitie in the mindes of the vnfaythfull crueltie Also vve humbly request your highnes that the Bishops vvhich vvander in farre and foraine regions grieuously afflicted by reason of great yeares and the misery of vvant and necessitie may by your safe conduyte returne home from exile to the ende the Churches remayne not desolate destitute of their Bishops being thus farre asunder last of all our humble sute is vnto your maiestie that nothing be either diminished or added vnto the old aūcient decrees but that all whatsoeuer haue bene obserued vnto this day through the godly procuremēt of your father may henceforth be of force strength vertue that hereafter there may rise no molestation vnto vs about those things that you suffer vs not to be banished our churches but that bishops may be resiant with their slocke that they may enioy peace tranquillity for prayers deuout seruice of God that they may pray cōtinewally for the preseruation of your healthe your empyre and prosperous estate the which God of his goodnes long continewe Our legats wil enforme you of the subscriptions the bishops names they are also of learning sufficient to let you vnderstand by testimonies of holy Scripture all the circumstances of the decrees These things y ◠councell wrot sent vnto y ◠Emperour by certaine bishops but Vrsacius Valens preuenting their comming reuiled discredited y ◠councell w t the emperour shewing vnto him a patched forme of faith which they had brought in their pocket y ◠Emperour in so much he was afore time infected w t y ◠Arian opinion began wonderfully to stomacke y ◠councel to aduaūce into honor estimation Vrsacius Valens Wherfore y ◠bishops y ◠were sent by y ◠councel wayted very long about his court yet coulde they get no answere of him At length by other messengers the Emperour wrote vnto the councell in this maner The epistle of Constantius vnto the councell assembled at Ariminum Constantius the mighty and triumphant Augustus vnto
Catholick Church Thus much I thought good to lay downe by way of preface and now to the story CAP. I. How that after the death of Valens when the Gothes marched towards Constantinople the city went out to meete them together with a fewe Saracens whome Mauia their Queene had sent to ayde them WHen the Emperour Valens was dispatched out of the way in such sorte as no man was certayne of the Barbarians marched apace towards the walls of Constantinople and beganne to destroy the suburbs thereof The people being moued with this went forth of their owne accorde to withstand the Barbarian enemy and euery one tooke that weapon which came first to his hand Dominica the Empresse gaue hyre vnto euery one that went forth to battell out of the Emperours treasory as the couenant was with the souldiers Mauia also the Queene of the Saracens of whome we spake a litle before being in league with the Empresse sent of her subiects to ayde them Thus y â— people gaue them battell droue back y â— Barbarians farre from y â— city CAP. II. How Gratianus the Emperour called home from exile the godly Bishops banished the Hereticks and made Theodosius his fellow Emperour GRatianus gouerning the empire together with Valentinianus the yonger condemned the cruelty which his vncle Valens practised against the Christians called home againe such as he had exiled made a lawe that euery sect and opinion should thenceforth freely without any molestation frequent their wonted assemblies except the Eunomians Photinians and Manichees And when he foresaw that the Romaine empire dayly diminished and the Barbarians waxed strong and multiplied exceedingly that he stoode in great neede of a valiant and worthy man to gouerne the common wealth he ioyned with him Theodosius a noble man of Spayne trained vp in feates of armes one that was by the vniforme consent and common voyce of all men thought fiâ—t to rule yea before Gratian him selfe was created Emperour He proclaymed him Emperour at Sirmium a citie of Illyrium in the Consulship of Ausonius and Olybrius the sixteenth of Ianuarye and diuideth with him the charge of the battell against the Barbarians CAP. III. Of the Bishops which then gouerned the Churches AT that time Damasus the successor of Liberius was Bishop of Rome and Cyrill of Ierusalem The Church of Antioch as I sayd before was deuided into three partes for Dorotheus the Arian bishop which succeeded Euzious gouerned the Arian Churches the rest were partly vnder Paulinus and partly vnder Meletius who then was lately come from exile Of the Churches of Alexandria the Arians were vnder Lucius who then was a banished man such as embraced the faith of one substance had Timothee the successor of Peter to their Bishop The Arian Church at Constantinople had Demophilus to their Bishop who was chosen immediatly after the desease of Eudoxius They that detested his doctrine and opinion frequented priuate and seuerall conuenticles CAP. IIII. How the Macedonians who a litle before sent legats vnto Damasus Bishop of Rome for the establishing of the faith of one substance fell againe into their former error THe Macedonians for all the embassie sent vnto Liberius and for all they communicated a good while throughout euery church without difference and exception with such as cleaued from the beginning vnto the Nicene creede yet when the Emperour Gratians law gaue liberty vnto euery sect to frequent their seuerall assemblies they seuered them selues from y â— church Wherefore after that a company of them had mett at Antioch in Syria they decreed that henceforth for altogether the clause of one substance shoulde neuer be receaued and that they ought no more to communicate with the professors of the Nicene faith but their wauering minde attayned not vnto so prosperous a successe as they hoped it woulde for many of their owne sect seeing that they did say and vnsay that they ratified abrogated the selfe same constitution condemned them in their owne opinions fell from them and embraced the faith of one substance CAP. V. Of the sturre at Antioch by reason of Paulinus Meletius how that Gregory Bishop of Nazianzum by the consent of all the Catholick Bishops was translated vnto the seae of Constantinople AT Antioch in Syria about that time there was raised a great tumult and seditioÌ„ about Meletius the occasioÌ„ was as followeth We sayd before howe that Paulinus Bishop of Antioch because he was a graue and a godly father was not exiled y â— Meletius was first called home from banishment in the raigne of Iulian afterwards being exiled by Valens returned in the time of Gratian. After his returne into Antioch he founde Paulinus so olde y â— he seemed ready to lye in his graue Immediatly all y â— friends of Meletius endeuored to ioyne him felow bishop w t Paulinus wheÌ„ Paulinus affirmed it to be contrary vnto the canons of the Church that any being created of Aâ—ian Bishops should be made college in any Bishoprick the people endeuored to compasse it by force In the ende they make preparation to stall him Bishop in a certaine church of the suburbs WheÌ„ it was done all the citie was on an vprore In processe of time the people were reconciled vpon such coÌ„ditions as followe All that stoode for the Bishopricke were six in number whereof one was Flauianus being called together they deposed them vpon a booke that none of them shoulde aspire vnto the Bishopricke during the liues of Paulinus and Meletius and when ether of them departed this life the Bishopricke to remaine vnto the suruiuer of them both When the oth was ministred the people were quiete and thenceforth made no sturre at all The fauorers of Lucifer were offended with this maner of dealing and fell from the church because that Meletius being ordered of the Arians was admitted to the gouernemente of that seae At that time when the affaires of Antioch were thus out of frame Gregorie by vniforme consent of all the Catholick Bishops was translated from the Bishopricke of Nazianzum vnto the seae of CoÌ„stantinople Then Meletius gott him in all the hast to Constantinople CAP. VI. Howe Theodosius the Emperour after the foilinge of the Barbarians came to Thessalonica where being sicke he was baptized of Ascholius the Bishop BY that time Gratianus Theodosius had gotteÌ„ the victorie of the Barbarians whereupoÌ„ Gratianus immediatly made expeditioÌ„ into Fraunce because the Germanes had destroied part of that contrey but Theodosius after the erection of the signe in token that the enemies were vaÌ„quished made hast towardes Constantinople and came to Thessalonica There after y â— he fell into a daungerous disease he was very desirous of baptisme for of old he was trained vp in Christian religion addicted himselfe wholly vnto the faith of one substance Being sore sick speedinge to baptisme he gaue charge that the Bishop of Thessalonica shoulde be sent for to minister the sacrament Being come first
they were spoyled beneath they were made bondslaues and constrained to grind in y t bakehouse most of them were neuer permitted to departe but continewed their life time in drudgery making their friends beleeue they were not in this world It fell out that one of the Emperour Theodosius souldiers was throwen into this hole being in the close bakehouse and couldnot get licence to depart he drewe out his dagger and slewe them which stopped his passage the rest being afraide of their liues let the souldier goe The Emperour vnderstanding all the circumstance sent for the millers and bakers punished the maisters with extreme torment ouerthrewe those blinde houses which were receptacles of theeues and harlots and thus ryd he the princely citie of this one shamefull dealing The other was as followeth If a womaÌ„ were taken in adulterie the Romaines vsed such a kinde of punishment as remoued not the sinne but encreased the vice For they shutt her vp in narrowe stewes and compelled her beastly without all shame to playe the harlott yea they procured ringinge while the deede was adoing that the neighbours might vnderstand of it and that by the sounde of the tinglinge bells all might be made priuie to that filthie and shamefull kinde of correction When the Emperour hearde of this horrible custome he thought it in no wise to be winked at but caused Sestra for so were the stewes called to be ouerthrowen and suppressed and made other lawes for the correction of adulterers Wherfore Rome by the benefit of Theodosius y â— Emperour was deliuered from both these beastly and foule acts After that he had set other things in order he left the gouernment of that citie vnto Valentinianus tooke theÌ„ce his voyage together with his sonne towards Constantinople and came to his iourneys end at that time when Tatianus and Symachus were Consuls the tenth of Nouember CAP. XIX Of the Priests appoynted to heare confession and why shriuing was forbid in the churche ABout that time it seemed good vnto the churche to take awaye the office of such priests as were appoynted throughout euery church to receaue penitents after the confession of their sinnes into the company of the faithfull and that for this occasion Since the time that the Nouatians deuided them selues from the church and refused to coÌ„municate with such as fell in the persecutioÌ„ vnder Decius y â— bishops added vnto y â— ecclesiasticall canon y â— in euery church there should a priest be appointed for y â— admissioÌ„ of penitents to y â— end such as had fallen after baptisme should in hearing of the priest appoynted for the purpose confesse their sinne and infirmitie This Canon is as yet of force among other sects onely the true Christians embracing the faith of One substaÌ„ce together with the Nouatians which therin hold with them haue banished this penetenâ—â—all functioÌ„ out of the church Neither did the Nouatians at the beginninge allowe of this addition yet the bishops which nowe adayes gouerne the churches although they retayned this custome of a longe tyme notwithstandinge remoued it out of the churche in the tyme of Nectarius byshop of Constantinople by reason of an haynous offence committed in the churche in such sort as followeth A noble woman came vnto the Prieste whose office was to heare penitents and confessed orderly the sinnes she had committed after baptisme The Priest enioyned her to geue her selfe wholly to fastinge and continewall prayer that together with her confession in worde she myght shewe forth the workes of repentance in deede As she continewed a whyle longer a shriuinge she accuseth her selfe of an other crime and declareth that a certaine deacon of that church had abused her bodie â–ª for which offence by this meanes come to light the Deacon was banished the churche and therevpon there was much adoe amonge the people They were wonderfully incensed not onely because of the haynous offence that was committed but also that thereby the churche was blemished with reproche and infamie When the priests were sharply rebuked and the aforesayd crime obiected vnto them Eudaemon minister of that churche by byrth of Alexandria counselled Nectarius the byshop to take awaye the function of the shriuinge Priest and graunt free libertie vnto euery one as his conscience serued him to become partaker of the holy mysteries For in so doinge there was hope that the churche shoulde no longer be sclaundered Insomuch that I heard these thinges of Eudaemons owne mouth I doubted not to annexe it vnto this our historie For as I haue often admonished the reader it was euer my dryft and purpose to learne the histories of such as knewe them very well and diligently to syfte out the trueth lest that at any tyme my penne shoulde passe the boundes of a faithfull historiographer I of late reasoned thus with Eudâ—mon Thy aduise and counsell O priest whether it shall auayle the churche or no God knoweth yet I see playnly that thou hast ministred occasion that one may not reprehend an others vice neither obserue the aduise of Paule Haue nothing to doe with the vnfrutefull works of darkenesse but rather rebuke them Of these things thus much shall suffice CAP. XX. Howe that Arians with Arians Nouatians with Nouatians together with other heretickes fell out among them selues This title is specially handled in the 22. and the 23. chapiters followinge I Thinke it necessarie to laye downe in writinge such thinges as fell out amonge others also I meane the Arians Nouatians Macedonians and Eunomians For the church being once deuided rested not vpon one schisme and diuision but men fell out amonge them selues one seuered him selfe from an other vpon lyght and tryflinge occasion they brake asunder the bonde of loue and amitie Wherefore how when and vpon what occasion they varyed I am nowe about to declare Firste of all we haue to learne that Theodosius molested none of all the aforesayde sects Eunomius onely excepted whome the Emperour exiled because he raysed conuenticles at his priuate house with in Constantinople published abroade certaine lewde bookes of his owne and infected many with the filth of his hereticall opinion He disquieted not the rest neither constrayned them to his communion but licenced euery of them to frequent seuerall conuenticles to embrace what opinion liked them best in christian religion And as he gaue leaue vnto all other sects for to erect them churches without the walls in the suburbes so he commaunded that the Nouatians as we sayde before maintayninge together with him the faith of One substance shoulde freely without disturbance and molestation enioy and recouer their former churches within the cities of whome nowe occasion is ministred to vtter a fewe lynes the which I will briefly runne ouer Agelius was byshop of the Nouatian churche at Constantinople the space of fortie yeares that is as I sayde before from the raygne of Constantine vnto the sixt yeare of Theodosius At his last ende he appoynted
Sisinius to succeede him in the bishopricke a priest of his owne church and a man very well seene in prophane literature trayned vp in philosophie together with Iulian the Emperour vnder Maximus the philosopher And when the Nouatians charged Agelius for appoynting them Sisinius and not Marcianus who was a godly man by whose meanes they were rid from trouble molestation in the time of Valens he for to pacifie their heate and to satisâ—â—e their minde assigned Marcianus vnto them In a while after although he was very weake yet went he into the church and sayd thus vnto the people Immediatly after my desease you shall haue Marcianus to your bishop after Marcianus Sisinius When he had sayde thus he tooke his leaue of them and not longe after dyed But Marcianus beyng byshop of the Nouatians their church was deuided vpon such an occasion as followeth Sabbatius a certaine Iewe embraced Christian religion whome Marcianus preferred to the function of priesthood notwithstanding his conuersion and preferment he sauored of the old infection and addicted him selfe vnto Jewishe obseruations neither was he onely coÌ„tented with this but nedes he would be made a bishop Wherfore after that he had gotten of his side a coople of priests men of like disposition and aspiring mindes by name Theoctistus and Macarius he went about to reuiue the time and maner of solemnizing the feast of Easter euen as according vnto our former relation the Nouatians attempted vnder Valens at Pazus a peltinge village of Phrygia And though at the first he seuered him selfe from the church vnder pretence colour of the monasticall trade of life affirminge that certaine men were stumbling blocks vnto his conscience whome he thought vnworthy of the holy mysteries yet in processe of time whilest that he raised priuate conuenticles his drift was manifestly perceaued Marcianus vnderstandinge of this misliked very much w t him selfe that he had not taken better aduisement in geuing of orders y â— he had preferred such vayneglorious persons aspiring minds vnto the function of priesthoode he fretted within him selfe for anger and wished that his haÌ„ds had bene set vpon pricking thornes when they were layde vpon Sabbatius heade To be short he summoned a councell of Nouatian bishops at Angaris the mart towne of Bithynia â–ª adioyning vnto Helenopolis he cited Sabbatius to appeare before them and expostulated w t him in presence of the councell the cause that gaue him occasion of offence As soone as he had pleaded for him selfe the variance toutchiÌ„g y â— celebration of Easter to haue layen vpon his stomack for he was of y t opinion y t therein it behoued theÌ„ to obserue the Jewishe custome and the order prescribed by such as afore that time met for the same cause at Pazus the bishops suspecting that he had enterprised the same in hope of a bishoprick made him sweare that he would neuer take vpon him to be bishop When he had taken his â—th they read to him the Canon contayninge a matter of indifferencie that it was not a sufficient cause to part asunder the vnitie of the church about the celebration of Easter and that their assemblie at Pazus was no preiudice vnto the generall canon They sayd moreouer that the elderswhich immediatly succeeded the Apostles varied among them selues about this feast yet brake not asunder y â— bonde of vnitie and that the Nouatians inhabitinge the princely citie of Rome for all they neuer retayned the maner of the Iewes but alwayes kept Easter after the Aequinoctiall space yet communicated notwithstanding with such as were of the same faith obserued a contrary custome When they had vsed these and other such like reasons to the same purpose at length they concluded that the canon of Easter was an indifferent matter that it was lawfull thenceforth for euery one to celebrate that feaste euen as he had aforetyme determined with him selfe moreouer there was a prouiso layde downe for the remouinge of dissention that if some varyed about the celebration of Easter notwithstanding they shoulde be at vnitie and concorde in the churche of God These thinges were then in this sort layde downe of them for the rootinge out of variance from amonge them about the celebration of Easter Sabbatius beynge bounde with an oth for all the celebration of that feaste was variable and diuers was before hande with them alone for fastinge and vigils for he kept Easter vpon the saturdaye yet mette he the daye followinge with others in the churche and was partaker together with them of the holie mysteries That dyd he for the space of many yeares and therefore coulde not be concealed from infinite multitudes of men By occasion whereof many simple and ignorant soules especially in Phrygia and Galatia hopinge verylie to be iustified thereby became earnest followers of him and obserued in secrete his celebration of Easter In the ende Sabbatius raysed priuate conuenticles and forgetting the othe he had taken was chosen byshop as hereafter shall more manifestly appeare of suche as addicted themselues to his kinde of discipline CAP. XXI The diuersitie of obseruations in diuers places toutching Easter fastinge mariadge seruice with other ecclesiasticall rites PResently mee thinkes fitte opportunitie serueth to discourse of Easter For neyther had the elders of old neither the fathers of late dayes I meane such as fauored the Jewishe custome sufficient cause as I gather so egerly to coÌ„tend about the feast of Easter neither weyed they deepely with theÌ„ selues that when Jewishe formes figures were translated into christian faith the literall obseruation of Msoes law and the types of things to come wholly vanished away The which may euidently be gathered when as there is no lawe established by Christ in the Gospell whiche alloweth of the obseruation of Jewishe rites nay the Apostle hath in playne wordes forbidden it where he abrogated circumcision and exhorted vs not to contend about feasts and holydayes For writinge vnto the Galathians he sayeth in this sorte Tell me you that desire to be vnder the lawe doe ye not heare what the lawe sayeth When that he had discoursed a whyle therof he concludeth that the Iewes were become seruants vnto the law that such as were called vnto the Christian faith were thereby made free he admonisheth vs further not to obserue dayes neither moneths nor yeares And vnto y â— Colossians he is as plaine as may be saying that y â— obseruatioÌ„ of such things was nothing but a shadow his words are these Let no maÌ„ therfore iudge you in meate or in drinke in a peece of an holidaye or of the newe moone or of the sabbaoth which are but shadowes of thiÌ„gs to come And in y â— epistle to y â— Hebrewes he coÌ„firmeth the same where he sayth In so much the priesthood is traÌ„slated of necessity there must be a translation of the law Wherfore neither doth y â— Apostle nor y â—
intollerable for he bouldened him selfe vpon Iohn and inueyed contumeliously without all modestie and shamefastnesse agaynste all men which turned to the encrease of the spite and hatred borne vnto Iohn Moreouer when Seuerianus on a certaine tyme came to the place where Serapion sate Serapion gaue him not the honor and reuerence dewe vnto a bishop neyther rose vp in so doing he declared that he regarded not the person of Seuerianus This contempt and disdayne of Serapion was not taken paciently of Seuerianus for he exclaimed against him in these wordes If Serapion dyeth a Christian then was Christ neuer incarnate Serapion tooke this as a fitte occasion ministred vnto him made Iohn to become his foe whilest that he concealed the firste sentence to wete If Serapion dyeth a Christian and repeated the later to wete that Christ was neuer incarnate affirming y ◠he heard it of Seuerianus owne mouth And to the end he woulde iustifie the reporte he brought forth men of his owne degree and callinge to testifie that they heard the words To be short Iohn without any more adoe banished Seuerianus the citie Eudoxia the Empresse vnderstanding of the circumstance founde great fault with Iohn caused Seuerianus to be sent for out of Chalcedon in Bithynia who came immediately Iohn kept him selfe on t of his companie he woulde not be brought with any mans entreatie and perswasion to become friendes with Seuerianus At length when that Eudoxia the Emperours mother in the Apostles churche had throwen her sonne Theodosius the Emperour who though he were then of tender yeares yet gouerned he y e common wealth with good successe and prosperous ouersight at the feete of Iohn and craued of him with solemne protestations that of all loue and friendship he woulde not denye her request with muche adoe he was wonne to embrace Seuerianus agayne But for all that outwardly they bare a shewe and a countenance of friendship neuerthelesse inwardly they continewed their spite and hatred one towards the other The cause that deuided Iohn and Seuerianus was in such sort CAP. XI Howe that Epiphanius comming to Constantinople celebrated the communion gaue orders without the licence of Iohn therein to gratifie Theophilus SHortly after Epiphanius the bishop came from Cyprus to Constantinople at the request of Theophilus and brought thither with him the decree of the bishops where he had not excommunicated Origen but onely condemned his bookes Wherefore after his comming into the church of Sainct Iohn which was not farre from the walls of the citie he celebrated the cōmunion made a deacon went forth out of the churche and came to Constantinople When that Iohn had inuited him requesting he woulde take a peece of a lodging with him he for to feede the humor of Theophilus refused his curtesie and tooke vp an Inne by him selfe After that he had called together the bishops which then by chaunce were at Constantinople he read in their hearinge the decree where he had condemned the works of Origen Of the bookes I haue nothing to say but thus muche that it pleased Epiphanius and Theophilus to condemne them Of the byshops some for reuerence of Epiphanius subscribed vnto the decree some other denyed it vtterly Of which number Theotimus bishop of Scythia made Epiphanius this answere I of myne owne part ô Epiphanius will not so much iniurie the man who is departed to rest many yeares agoe neither dare I presume once to enterprise so haynous an offence for to condemne the bookes whiche our auncetors haue not condemned specially seeyng I vnderstande not as yet neither read any parcell of the doctrine within contayned And when that a certaine booke of Origen was brought forth he read it and shewed there the interpretation of holy scripture agreeable vnto the faith of the catholicke churche last of all he concluded with these wordes They that reprehende these things doe no lesse then mislike vvith the matter vvhereof these bookes doe intreat This was the answere of Theotimus vnto Epiphanius a man he was of great fame both for sound doctrine and godly conuersation CAP. XII A kinde of Apologie in the behalfe of Origen IN so much that many were drawen headlong through the procurement of malicious sclaunderers much like a blast of hurlwinde to reuile Origen it shall not be amisse to saye somewhat of them Obscure men odde felowes such as haue no pythe or substance in them to the ende they myght become famous goe about moste commonly to purchase vnto them selues glorie and renowme by dispraysing of such men as farre excell them in all rare and singular vertues Of which sort of backebiters first I remember Methodius bishop of Olympus a citie of Lycia next Eustathius who for a while was bishop of Antioch thirdly Apolinarius last of all this Theophilus This messe of raylers if I may so tearme them fell a sclaūdering of Origē neither yet all for one thing One charged him with this an other with that wherby they all seuerally declared vnto the world that they allowed wholly all such thinges in him as they had not reprehended by name For in as much they blamed him seuerally for seuerall doctrine it appeareth they tooke that for trueth in him which they concealed and misliked not withall and they approued in very deede that which they denyed not in worde Methodius though at the beginning he inueyed bitterly against Origen yet afterwardes as it were by way of recantation he extolled him vnto the skies in that dialogue which he intitled Zeno. Their reuiling in myne opinion encreased the renowne fame of Origen For while they charged him with haynous crimes as they thought and yet findinge no faulte with him as toutching the blessed Crinitie they are witnesses them selues that he was of y ◠right and sound faith Euen as these men being not able iustly to accuse him beare witnes w t him of his true beliefe so Athanasius voyd of all parcialitie a zealous maintayner of the clause Of one substance alleageth him for a witnesse of his faith in the orations which he wrote to the cōfutation of the Arians citeth his words for testimonies among his works sayth thus of him That notable man that paynfull writer Origen confirmeth in plaine words the faith opinion we haue of the sonne of God in that he auoutcheth him to be coaeternall with the father Wherefore such as goe about to reuile Origen they vnwares doe sclaunder Athanasius which hyghly commended him Thus much by the way of Origen and nowe againe to the storie CAP. XIII How that Iohn sent for Epiphanius to come vnto him and charged him that he had behaued him selfe contrary to the canons of the church after they had brawled a while together Epiphanius returned homewards IOhn at the first tooke not the matter very grieuously for all that Epiphanius contrary to the canon had made a Deacon in his church but requested him to accept
Alexandria passing the boundes of his priestely order presumed to chalenge vnto him selfe secular power and authoritye Therefore those bishops permitted not such as held w t theÌ„ y â— faith of one substaÌ„ce freely to frequeÌ„t their wonted assemblies and although they commended them for theyr vniforme consent as toutching the faith yet they depriued them of all theyr substance But the Nouatians which inhabited Constantinople were not so dealt with all For the Bishops of Constantinople besides that they embraced them for theyr vniformity in faith they suffred them as I sayde before to haue theyr Churches within the citie CAP. XII Of Chrysanthus Byshop of the Nouatian Church in Constantinople AFter the desease of Sismius Chrysanthus the sonne of Marcianus who was the predecessor of Sismus in the Nouatian Bishopricke was in maner compelled to be their Bishop This man almost from his youth vp was a souldier in the Emperours court afterwardes in the raigne of Theodosius Magnus Liuetenant of Italie againe the Emperours vicegerent in the I sles of Bryttaine where he purchased vnto him selfe greate commendation for his politicke gouernemente Beinge well strucken in yeares he came to Constantinople and labouringe to be gouernour or Magistrate rather in that citie then in farre and forayne contreyes he was constrayned against his will to be bishop of the Nouatians For when Sisimus being at the point of death made mention of him as a sitte man to succeede him in the rowme the Nouatian people taking the censure of Sisimus as a canon or lawe compelled him to be their Bishop But when Chrysanthus had conueyed him selfe out of the way least he should take vpon him y â— function Sabbatius thinking verily y â— nowe he had found fit opportunitie for to creepe into the bishops seae despised the dreadfull protestations he had solemnly auowed and the oth he had taken got him a company of obscure bishops to consecrate him and forth he steppes a Bishop One of the consecrators was Hermogenes whome he him selfe had afore time excommunicated for the blasphemous bookes which he published vnto the worlde But all the fetches of Sabbatius framed not aright For the people detesting his corrupt and intollerable ambition there was no waye vnassayed of him for to attaine vnto the bishopricke sought out both coast and contrey for Chrysanthus when they had found him lurking in Bithynia they forced him thence and stalled him Bishop He was a man that excelled all others not onely in politicke wisedome but also in modest behauiour by his meanes the Nouatian churches in Constantinople florished exceedingly He was the firste that of his owne substance gaue Golde vnto the poore He tooke nothing saue onely two loues euery sundaye of the blessed breade he was a man that was very diligent in his ecclesiasticall function he tooke Ablabius the Rhetorician a very wise man of the Nouatian Church out of Troilus the Sophists schoole and made him minister There are extant notable and excellent sermons of this Chrysanthus Ablabius was afterwardes made Bishop of the Nouatian Church at Nice where also he professed Rhetorick CAP. XIII Of the sturre at Alexandria betwene the Christians and the Iewes of the contention betwene Cyrillus the Bishop and Orestes the Liuetenant ABout that time the Ievves were banished Alexandria by Cyrillus the Bishop vpon suche an occasion as followeth The people of Alexandria aboue all other men are prone to schisme and contention for if that any quarell at any time rise amonge them immediatly hainous horrible offences are wonte to ensue the tumult is neuer appeased without greate bloodeshede It fell out that y â— greate throng and multitude of people contended among themselues not about any necessarie matter but who coalde approche nerest vnto the dauncers which lewd custome is now crept into all cities For a great multitude assembled together on y â— saturday to pastime theÌ„ selues with the beholding of a certene dauncer And because the Iewes spent not that daye in the hearing of their lawe being theyr sabaoth day but gaue them selues wholly vnto the bearing of comedies and enterludes to the beholdinge of showes and spectacles that daye was the occasion of greate schisme and dissention among the people And though the tumult was partly appeased by y â— Liuetenant of Alexandira yet neuerthelesse the Iewes gaue not ouer theyr quarell nor the spite they owed vnto the one parte of the faction For the Iewes as they were alwayes found deadly foes vnto such as prosessed the Christian faith so then aboue all other times they were incensed against them because of the dauncers Wherefore when as Orestes the Liuetenante of Alexandria had nayled vpon the theatre the wrytte of politicke gouernance for so doe the people of Alexandria tearme the publicke proclamations of the Liuetenant some of Cyrillus y â— Bishops familier frieÌ„ds stepped forth to examine what the Liuetenant had wrytten Of which number one was Hierax a schoolemaister and professor of grammer a dligent auditor of Cyrillus the bishop and one that was greatly delited with his sermons The multitude of the Iewes seeing this Hierax vpon the stage exclaimed immediatly against him yâ—he came thither for no other cause but onely to set the people together by the eares Orestes although heretofore he enuyed y â— authority of Bishops because that the credit and power which the Emperours graunted the Magistrates and Liuetenantes was by reason of them abridged and cut short yet theÌ„ he spited him aboue all other times because that Cyrillus would prie into his wrytings and curiously sift out the contents meaning thereof Therefore he caused Hierax openly to be apprehended in the midest of the theatre and to be punished extremly Cyrillus vnderstanding of this warned the chiefe of the Iewes to appeare before him tolde them plainely if they woulde not geue ouer their rebellion and traiterous conspiracie agaynst the true Christians he would punish them according vnto theyr deserts The Iewes stomakinge the Bishops threates fretted the more and boyled within them selues for anger they fell to deuisinge of sleights for to mischiefe the Christians which in the end caused all the Iewes to be banished Alexandria The circumstance was in such sort as followeth The Iewes after consultation layinge downe a signe for ech of them to knowe the other to wit the carieng of a ring made of the rinde or barke of the palme tree purposed to set vpon the ChristiaÌ„s in the night time Wherefore on a certaine night they sente abroade throughout the wholl citie suche as shoulde crie fire fire and where should it be but in the church called Sainct Alexanders The christians hearing of this rose vp left theyr houses ranne to saue the church from burning some out of this streete some out of that theÌ„ the Iewes stepped forth sodainely from vnder the pentises set vpon y â— ChristiaÌ„s slewe them And as they endeuored to keepe theyr hands y â— their rings might not be seene so they
all the citie seemed to be as one church CAP. XXIIII Howe Theodosius the Emperour after the execution of Iohn the tyrant proclaimed Valentinianus the sonne of Constantius and Placidia the Aunt of Theodosius Emperour at Rome WHen the tyrant was dispatched out of the waye Theodosius began to consider with him selfe whome he should proclaime Emperour of the west parts of the worlde He had to his kinseman one Valentinianus a very yong gentleman begotten on Placidia his aunt for she was the doughter of Theodosius Magnus the Emperour and sister to Arcadius and Honorius the Emperoures Constantius that was made Emperour by Honorius and gouerned the empire with him a very shorte space for he dyed immediatly was the father of Valentinianus Theodosius made this his cosin Caesar sent him into the west and put his mother Placidia in truste with the emperiall affaires Afterwards whē he determined to go him selfe into Italie for to proclaime his Cosin Emperour and in his owne person to counsell the Italians that they shoulde not lightly geue eare vnto tyrants and rebelles he came as farre as Thessalonica and there he was hindred with sicknes so that he could goe no further Therefore he sent the emperiall scepter vnto his Cosin by Helion the Senatour and returned him selfe backe againe to Constantinople But of these things thus much shall suffice CAP. XXV Of Articus bishop of Constantinople how he gouerned the churches Also howe he caused that the name of Iohn Chrysostome should be canonized among the saincts of that church ATticus the bishop was a great furtherer of the ecclesiasticall affaires for he gouerned with great wisdome and exhorted the people diligently with heauenly doctrine to vertuous and godly liuinge When he sawe the church deuided and that the Iohannits vsed their priuate meetings and conuenticles he commaunded that the memoriall of Iohn shoulde be solemnized at seruice time as the maner is of other Bishops that are deseased for by that meanes he hoped veryly it woulde come to passe that many of them woulde returne vnto the Church He was so bountifull and liberall that he prouided not onely for the pouerty of his owne Church but also sent money vnto the next Churches for to supply the want of the needy for he sent vnto Calliopius minister of the Church of Nice three hundreth peeces of golde and withall letters contayning this forme Aiticus vnto Calliopius sendeth greeting in the Lord. I am geuen to vnderstand that there is an infinite number in your city ready to perish with famine stand in neede of the almes charity of godly weldisposed persons VVhere I write an infinite number I meane a great multitude the certayne nūber wherof I do not readily knowe Therefore seeing I receaued money of him which bestoweth aboundance and plenty of ritches vpon them which vse it a right seeinge also dayly experience teacheth vs that some do want to the end that such as be welthy minister not vnto them may throughly be tryed my will is welbeloued brother that thou receaue from me these three hundreth peeces of golde and distribute them at thy discretion among the poore people of thy parish see that thou deale the same not among such as respect only the belly make a liuing or trade throughout their life time of begging but among such as are ashamed to begge Neither vvoulde I haue thee herein to respecte any opinion o◠sect vvhatsoeuer neither to preiudice them which practise in doctrine a contrary faith vnto vs but onely to haue consideration of this that thou relieue them which hunger thurst haue not vvherevvithall to helpe them selues Thus was he carefull of the pouerty of such as dwelled from him in farre forayne contreyes Againe when he vnderstood y ◠such as seuered them selues from the Nouatians about y ◠keeping of Easter had translated the corps of Sabbatius out of the Isle Rhodos for there he died in exile buried it solemnly and praied vpon his tumbe he sent certaine thither in the night time charging them to remoue the corps of Sabbatius bury it in an other sepulchre such as vsed to frequent the place when they saw the graue digged vp ceassed thenceforth to honour the tumbe of Sabbatius The same Atticus did passe in assigning of proper names to things for the rode in y ◠bosome of Pontus Euxinus which of old was called poyson he called Medicen lest he should there raise an assembly appoynt thereunto a place called after a foule name Moreouer he tearmed a peece of the suburbes of Constantinople Argyrople vpon such an occasion as followeth Chrysople is a rode in y ◠head of the sea Bosphorus Many auncient writers make mention therof namely Strabo Nicolaus Damascenus the famous writer Xenophon who both in y ◠sixt booke of Cyrus expedition in the first of y ◠famous acts of y ◠Grecians remembreth the said towne y ◠Alcibiades wal led it about how there is a place therein assigned for y ◠paiment of tyth tribute for such as loose out of the maine sea ariue at y ◠place doe vse there to pay tyth Wherfore Atticus seeing the place ouer against him had so worthy a name procured this rode thenceforth to be called Argyrople As soone as he spake y ◠word the name was immediatly chaunged Againe when as some men said vnto him y ◠the Nouatians should not haue their conuenticles assemblies w t in the walls of the citie what do ye not remember saith he what troubles vexations they endured when we were tossed w t the grieuous storme of persecution in y ◠raigne of Constantius Valens howe y ◠at sundry other times they testified together w t vs the true faith which we maintaine Moreouer for all they were of old deuided from the church yet attempted they to establish no noueltie as toutching y ◠fayth Againe this Atticus being at Nice about the ordayning of a bishop seing there Asclepiades a Nouatian bishop who was a very old man he asked of him how many yeares he had bene a Bishop when the other had answered fifty yeares thou art truely a happy man saith he in y ◠God graunted thee to enioy so worthy a function so long a time he said againe vnto Asclepiades verily I doe commende Nouatus but I allowe not of the Nouatians Asclepiades maruelling what he shoulde meane in so saying replyed how so O bishop Atticus made answere I do commend him saith he for refusing to communicate w t such as had sacrificed to Idols for I would haue done no lesse my selfe But I like not of the Nouatians because they exclude from the communion such as of y ◠layty haue lightly offended Asclepiades replied againe vnto these things besides y ◠sinne of sacrificing vnto Idols there are as holy Scriptures do witnes many other sinnes vnto death for the which you depriue onely the
clergie we the layty of the communion referring vnto God alone y â— power of remitting their sinne The same Atticus had the foreknowledge of his death for taking his leaue of Nice he sayd vnto Calliopius the minister of that Church make haste to Constantinople before Autumne that thou mayst againe see me aliue for if thou linger make delayes thou shalt see me no more in this world In vttering these wordes he hitt the trueth on the head for he departed this life the one and twentieth yeare of his consecration the tenth of October in the eleuenth Consulship of Theodosius and the first of Valentinianus Caesar Theodosius the Emperour returning from Thessalonica came short to his funerall for Atticus was buried the day before the comming of the Emperour into Constantinople Shortly after the creation of Valentinianus the yonger was proclaymed to wit the three and twentieth day of the same moneth CAP. XXVI Of Sisinius the successor of Atticus in the bishoprick of Constantinople AFter the desease of Atticus there was great contention in the Churche of Constantinople about the election of a Bishop â–ª for some woulde haue Philip a minister some other Proclus who also was a minister preferred to the rowme but all the people with vniforme consent desired Sisinius He was like wise a priest not of any of the Churches within the walls of Constantinople but of Elae a Church in the suburbes ouer against the citie where all the people of Constantinople are wont to celebrate the feast of our Sauiours ascention All the laytye laboured by all meanes to haue him to their Bishop partly because he was counted a very godly man partly also for that he endeuored to relieue the poore beyond the reach of his substance To be short the layty got the vpper hande and Sisinius was consecrated the eyght and twentieth of February in the twelse Consulship of Theodosius and the seconde of Valentinianus Augustus the yonger Philip the minister seeing that Sisinius was preferred before him stomacked the matter wonderfully and inueyed bitterly agaynst his consecration in the worke which he wrote and intitled the Christian history While he inueyeth against Sisinius that was consecrated agaynst the Bishops who were consecrators and especially agaynst the laytye who were electors he wrote such thinges as I am loth to report for I can not chuse but blame him greatly that euer he durst be so bold to lay downe so rash and vnaduised reasons yet in my opinion it will not be amisse presently to say somewhat of him CAP. XXVII Of Philip a Priest bred and brought vp in Sida PHilip of whome we spake before was borne at Sida a citie in Pamphilia where also Trophilus the Sophist had his original of whome Philip boasted not a litle that he was his kinsman This Philip being a Deacon and of great familiaritie with Iohn the Bishop was as it were driuen to bestowe great labour and diligence in the study of good learning so that he wrote many bookes of diuerse sortes his stile was asiaticall proude and lofty and to the ende he might confute the workes of luhan the Emperour he compiled a volume and intitled it The Christian historie the which he deuided into six and thirty bookes euery booke hath sundry tomes the number of all mounteth very nigh to a thousande the argument prefixed to euery one is in maner as bigge as the tome it selfe this worke he entitled not the Ecclesiasticall but the Christian historie where he patched together many matters for to let the worlde vnderstand that he was seene in Philosophy Wherefore he alleadgeth very oft precepts and rules of Geometrie Astronomie Arithmetick Musick Moreouer he describeth Isles mountaines trees with other thinges of smal importance so that it grewe to a huge volume full of bumbast and vayne ostentation In my simple iudgement it is a worke that is prositable neyther for the learned neyther the vnlearned For the learned will condemne the often repetition of the same wordes which is riâ—e throughout the booke the vnlearned haue not the capacitie to comprehende the insolent stile and affected sentences of his arrogant minde but let euery one iudge of his owne doings as he shall thinke good I dare affirme that the order he followed in laying downe of the times is both confuse farre from good order for when he had runne ouer the raygne of Theodosius back againe he getts him to discourse of Athanasius the Bishops tymes â–ª the which I note to be his vsuall maner but of Philip so farre Now to the history of Sisinius tyme. CAP. XXVIII Howe that Sisinius made Proclus Bishop of Cyzicum whome the Cyziceni woulde not receaue AFter the desease of the Bishop of Cyzicum Sisinius appoynted Proclus to be their Bishop The citizens vnderstanding of his comming preuented him and chose Dalmatius a religious man to gouerne the bishoprick This they did neglecting the lawe canon which commaundeth that no Bishop be appoynted and ordayned without the consent and autoritie of the Bishop of Constantinople They made no accompt of that canon because it commaunded namely as they thought that the sayd autoritie shoulde be geuen vnto Atticus alone Wherefore Proclus being not admitted to execute the function of a bishop in the Church where he was ordayned continewed at Constantinople where he occupied him selfe in preaching and purchased vnto him selfe thereby great fame and commendation but of him I shal haue occasion of speake more hereafter Sisinius had scarse bene Bishop two yeares when he died it was in the Consulship of Hierius and Ardaburius the foure and twentieth of Decembre He was a man highly commended for temperancie for godly and vertuous life and to be shorte for his liberalitie bestowed vpon the poore He was a man both gentle and familier playne without fraude or guyle and therefore he neuer molested any in his life he was a great enemie to busie bodyes and to quarellers and therefore taken of many for a cowarde CAP. XXIX After the desease of Sisinius Bishop of Constantinople Nestorius was sent for to Antioch for to enioy the bishoprick who immediatly reuealed him selfe what kinde of man he was IT seemed good vnto the Emperour after the desease of Sisinius because ofdiuers vaine glorious persons to chuse none of that Church to be bishop though many made sute for Philip and many againe for Proclus but determined with him selfe to send for a straunger out of Antioch there was in those dayes there a man whose name was Nestorius by birth he was a Germaine a loude voice he had and an eloquent tongue and therefore as it was thought a fitt man to preach vnto the people They put their heades together they sent for Nestorius and brought him from Antioch to Constantinople three moneths after who though his temperance was highly commended of many yet the wisest sort and sagest people perceaued well inough his other conditions when he first beganne to preach for immediatly after his
henceforth I will no more come into your company Immediatly after he had spoken this he went aside ioyned him selfe with the Bishops which held with his opinion â–ª so that the bishops then present were deuided into two parts â–ª such as of the councell held w t Cyrillus called Nestorius before them he came not but answered that he would differr the hearing of his cause vntill the comming of Iohn bishop of Antioch Wherfore Cyrillus together with the other Bishops of the councell after they had read ouer the Sermons of Nestorius the which he had preached vnto the people and gathered out of them that in good earnest he had vttered open blasphemies against the sonne of God deposed him of his bishoprick This being done the Bishops which helde with Nestorius assembled together seuerally by them selues and deposed Cyrillus and Memnon Bishop of Ephesus Shortly after Iohn Bishop of Antioch was come who vnderstanding of all circumstances blamed Cyrillus greatly as the autor of all that sturre and because that vpon a head he had so soone deposed Nestorius Cyrillus taking Iuuenalis on his side for to reuenge him of Iohn deposed him also When the contention grewe to be very trouble some when also Nestorius perceaued that the poysoned infection of discorde was scattered farre and nighe amonge the common â—orte of people he as it were recanting his folly called Marie the mother of God his wordes were these Let Marie be called the mother of God and I pray you conceaue no longer displeasure But no man thought that he spake this and repented from the hart therefore as yet he dwelleth in Oasis both deposed of his bishoprick and banished his contrey Thus was the councell of Ephesus at that tyme broken vp it was in the Consulship of Bassus and Antiochus the eyght and twentyeth of Iune Iohn Bishop of Antioch after his returne vnto his proper seae called many Bishops together and deposed Cyrillus who nowe was gone to Alexandria Shortly after for all that they layde aside all spyte grudge and enmitie they became friendes and restored eche to other their bishoprickes againe After the deposition of Nestorius there rose a greate schisme in the Church of Constantinople for the vayne and foolish doctrine of Nestorius parted the people asunder All the Elergie with vniforme consent accursed him openly for so we Christians doe call the sentence which we pronounce against the autor of blasphemie whereby we minde to make it so manifest vnto the worlde as if it were ingrauen in a table and nayled to an open post CAP. XXXIIII How that after the deposition of Nestorius Maximianus was chosen Bishop of Constantinople AT Constantinople there rose an other schisme about the election of a Bishop â–ª for some would haue Philip of whome I spake a litle before some other would haue Proclus chosen bishop Proclus verily had preuailed had not some of great autoritie bene his back friends and signified playnly that the canon of the Church forbad any should be nominated Bishop of one city and translated to an other â–ª the which saying being alleadged was of such force that the people were therewith appeased and satisfied Wherfore three moneths after the deposition of Nestorius Maximianus was chosen Bishop a man he was which led a monasticall life by degree a Priest one that of late had purchased vnto himselfe a good name and was thought to be a godly man because he had buylded vpon his owne costes and charges the sepulchres and tumbes where godly men shoulde be interred â–ª he was a man altogether vnlearned who determined with him self to leade a quiet life void of all care and molestation CAP. XXXV Socrates proueth that it is not forbid but that there may be a translation of Bishops from one seae to an other INsomuch that some by reason of the Ecclesiasticall Canon which they allendged for them selues haue inhibited Proclus intitled Bishop of Cyzicum from being placed in the Bishops â—eae of Constantinople I thought good presently to say somewhat thereof â–ª such as tooke vpon them to iustifie that saying in myne opinion did not reporte the trueth but eyther of enuie against Proclus forged such a decree or of wilfull ignorance considered not then of the canons and other constitutions oftentimes established for the profitt and commoditie of the Church of God â–ª for Eusebius Pamphilus in the sixt booke of his Ecclesiasticall history reporteth that one Alexander Bishop of some citie in Cappadocia taking his voyage towards Ierusalem was of the citizens of Ierusalem caused to tary and stalled Bishop in the rowme of Narcissus where he continewed vnto the ende of his life It was an indifferent matter of olde time among the auncient fathers as oft as the Ecclesiasticall affayres so constrayned to translate bishops from one seae vnto an other If it be any thing auaileable to annect the canon decreed in this behalfe vnto this our present history let vs see howe shamelesse these men were who therefore thrust Proclus besides the bishopricke of Constantinople and how vntruely they reported of the canon for it is read as followeth If any Bishop be assigned to gouerne any Church whatsoeuer goeth not thither the fault being not in him selfe but either that the people repelled him or some other necessary cause doe staye him vnto him be it lawfull to enioy the honour the priestly function so that he be not troublesome vnto the Church whereof he is appointed Bishop but approue whatsoeuer the prouinciall councell shall determine of the matter called in controuersie These be the wordes of the Canon But that it may appeare more euidently that many Bishops were translated from one citye vnto an other vpon necessary and vrgent causes I wil here lay downe the names of such as were remoued Perigenes being chosen bishop of Patras in Achaia and refused by the citizens of that place was by the commaundement of the Bishop of Rome placed in the Metropolitane seae of Corinth to succeede the late deseased where he continewed all the rest of his life Gregorie Nazianzene was first bishop of Sasimum a city in Cappadocia next of Nazianzum afterwards of Constantinople last of all he went back againe to Nazianzum Meletius was chosen Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia but afterwardes remoued to Antioch Dositheus Bishop of Seleucia was by Alexander Bishop of Antioch translated vnto Tarsus in Cilicia Berentius Bishop of Arcae in Phaenicia was brought thence into Tyrus Iohn was sent from Gordus a city of Lydia to gouerne the bishoprick of Proconesus Palladius was translated from Helenopolis to Aspunis Alexander from Helenopolis vnto Adrian Theophilus from Apamea in Asia to Eudoxopolis which of old was called Salabria Polycarpus from Sexantapristae a city in Mysia vnto Nicopolis in Thracia Hieroâ— hilus from Trapezupolis in Phrygia vnto Plotinopolis in Thracia Optimus from Andagamia in Phrygia vnto Antioch in Pisidia and Siluanus bishop of Philippopolis in Thracia
through the procurement of Anastasius his disciple called the blessed mother of God not the mother of God but the mother of Christ and therefore was counted an hereticke In so much that Nestorius who called together against Christ a seconde councell with Caiphas who builded a slaughterhouse of blasphemies where Christ a newe is both slaine and solde who seuered and deuided a sunder his natures that hong on the crosse and had not as it is written no not one bone broken throughout all the members of his bodie neither his vnseamed coate parted of such as put the Lorde to death reiected the clause of the mother or bearing of God framed of the holy Ghost by the meanes of many learned and godly fathers set against it this saying the mother or bearing of Christ leudly forged of his owne braine and filled the Churche of God with sedition ciuill warres and cruell bloodshed I thinke verily my penne can not wante matter to paint and orderly to continue the historie and so to proceede vnto the ende if that first of all through the helpe of Christ the ayder of all men I beginne with the blasphemie of Nestorius the schisme which thē rose in the church had such a beginning as followeth Anastasius a certain priest of a corrupt and peruerse opinion an earnest maintainer of the Jewishe doctrine of Nestorius and his companion in the voyage he tooke from Antioch to be byshop of Constantinople whē he heard the leude reasons and conference which Nestorius had with Theodolus at Mopsouestia in Cicilia he fell from the right fayth and as Theodorus writeth of that matter in a certaine epistle he presumed in the open audience of the Church of Constantinople in the hearing of such people as serued God deuoutly to say these wordes let no man call Marie the mother of God for Marie saith he was a woman and it is vnpossible that God shoulde be borne of a woman when the religious people misliked with his reasons and counted not without cause of his doctrine as of blasphemie Nestorius the ringleader of his impietie not onely not forbad him neither maintained the right opinion but first of all confirmed his sayings to be true and was very earnest in the defence of them Wherefore after he had annexed and lincked thereunto his owne opinion and the deuise of his owne braine when he had powred into the Church of God the venome of his poysoned doctrine he endeuoured to establish a farre more blasphemous sentence to his owne destruction he said as followeth I verily will not call him God who grewe to mans state by two monethes three moneths and so forth euen as Socrates Scholasticus and the former councell helde at Ephesus haue informed of him CAP. III. VVhat Cyrill the great wrote vnto Nestorius the hereticke and of the third◠councell of Ephesus whereunto Iohn byshop of Antioch and Theodoritus came shorte CYrill byshop of Alexandria a man of great fame and renowne confuted the leude opinion of Nestorius in seuerall letters yet for al that Nestorius stiffely withstood his confutation yelded not one iote neither vnto Cyrill neither vnto Celestinus byshop of olde Rome but vomited out the venome of his cankered stomacke vpon the Churche and made sute vnto Theodosius the younger who was Emperour of the East that by his authoritie the first councell of Ephesus might be called together Wherfore the Emperour wrote vnto Cyrill and to all y ◠other ouerseers and byshops of the Churches throughout euerie citie geuinge them to vnderstand that the day of Pentecost was prescribed for their assemblie on which day the liuing and ghostly spirit descending from heauen shined among vs. but Nestorius by reason that Ephesus is not farre from Constantinople was there before them Cyrill together with his company came thither also before the day appointed Iohn byshop of Antioch was absent with his prouince not of set purpose according vnto their report which defend his doings but because he coulde not in so short a space call together the byshops of his prouince for many of their cities were distant from Antioch of olde so called but now Theopolis vnto a swift and stoute goer twelue dayes iourney vnto some others more and Ephesus is from Antioch about thirtie dayes iourney And when as Iohn aunswered plainely he was not able to meete them on the Sundaye appointed for so was the day called all his diocesse sturred not a foote from home CAP. IIII. Howe Nestorius the hereticke was deposed by the councell of Ephesus in the absence of Iohn byshoppe of Antioch When the day appointed for their meeting and fifteene dayes ouer were expired the byshops which assembled at Ephesus thinking verily that the easterne byshops would not come or if peraduenture they came it woulde be long ere they mette together when as Cyrill also moderated the councell in steade of Celestinus who as I said before gouerned the seae of Rome called Nestorius before them and willed him to aunswere vnto the crimes that were laid to his charge And when as the first day he promised to come if the case so required and being afterwardes thrise cited to appeare made light accompt of his promise the byshops that were present called the matter into controuersie and began to reason thereof Wherefore after that Memnon byshop of Ephesus had numbred the dayes that were past since the prescribed time to wit seuenteene after they had reade the epistles of the reuerende Cyrill vnto Nestorius and suche as he wrote vnto Cyrill againe together with the holy epistle of the renowmed Celestiniu sent in like sort vnto Nestorius after that Theodotus byshop of Ancyra and Acacius byshop of Melitina had made relation of the blasphemous sentences whiche Nestorius bolted out at Ephesus and after that many notable sayinges to the iustifying of the sincere fayth were vttered in that assembly of holy and learned fathers interlacing sometimes the vnaduised and blasphemous phrases of Nestorius the holy councell pronounced this sentence against Nestorius in maner as followeth Omitting other hainous crimes of the reuerend Nestorius in so much he was cited and would not appeare neither entertaine the most holy and religious byshops which we had sent vnto him vve were driuen of necessitie to sifte and examine his leude and wicked doctrine And seeinge vve founde him to haue belieued impiously and to haue taught heretically partly by perusing of his bookes and epistles and partly also by the blasphemous sentences he vttered of late in this noble citie we were moued both by the canons of the Church and the graue censure of the most holy father our College Celestinus byshop of Rome yet not without sheding of many teares to pronounce against him this seuere and sharpe sentence VVherefore our Lord Iesus Christ in derogation of whose maiesty Nestorius sticked not to pronounce such horrible blasphemie hath decreed and ordained by this sacred assembly that he shoulde both be deposed of his
specially by suche a one whose crueltie bereaued her husband of his life she sendes to Libya vnto Genzerichus makes him faire promises puttes him in good hope of prosperous successes requests him that vnlooked for he would inuade the Empire of Rome and promised to yeelde all into his handes This being compassed Rome is taken Genzerichus being a Barbarian of behauiour vnconstant and of litle trust â–ª gaue no credit vnto her words set the citye on fire caryed away the spoyle tooke Eudoxia with her two daughters returned got him to Libya and maried Eudoxia the elder daughter to his sonne Honorichus but he sent Placidia the yonger daughter together with Eudoxia her mother accompanied with a princely traine vnto Martianus hopinge thereby to mitigate his wrath and displeasure for he was offended not a litle at the burning of Rome and the abusing of Valentinianus the Emperours daughters Martianus afterwards gaue Placidia to wife vnto Olybrius a noble man and a senator of Rome who when the citie was taken fledd to Constantinople After the death of Maximus Auitus was Emperour of Rome the space of eight moneths when the plague had dispatched him Maiorinus the yeare following tooke the gouernement of the Empire againe when Rhecimerus a Romaine captaine had procured through treason the death of Maiorinus Seuerus became Emperour of Rome the space of three yeares CAP. VIII The death of Martianus the Emperour and the raigne of Leo and how the hereticall faction within Alexandria slew Proterius their byshopp and chose in his rowme Timotheus Aelurus WHile Seuerus continued his raigne in the Empire of Rome Martianus hauing gouerned onely seuen yeares chaunged his kingdome got him to a farre more excellent habitation and left vnto his successors a princely example of rule The people of Alexandria vnderstanding of his death renued their spite with a farre greater rage and furie against Proterius The people are wont vpon light and triflinge occasions to raise tumults and sedition but specially at Alexandria who boldening them selues with often brawlinge beinge in very deede but raskalls and abiectes take vpon them like blinde bayardes great enterprises And therefore they say that euery Iack straw if it so please him may geue the onsett set the citie all on an vprore drawe the people here and there at his pleasure in â—o much they are not ashamed as Herodotus writeth of Amasis to fight diuers times with their shadowes and for matters of no importance at all In such things this is their disposition but in other matters not so The people of Alexandria watchinge the absence of Dionysius captaine of the garrison and his abode in the vpper parts of Aegypt consented together and chose Timotheus syrnamed Aelurus to be their byshopp who lately had bene a monk yet then one of the priests of Alexandria and after they had brought him into the great Church called Caesar they proclaime him their byshop for all Proterius as yet liued and executed the priestly function Eusebius byshop of Pelusium and Peter the Iberian byshopp of Maiuma were present at the election of Timothee the which thinges are remembred of the historiographer who wrote the life of Peter where also he reporteth that Proterius was slaine not of the people but by a soldier â–ª for when Dionysius being driuen with the rumor of the horrible practises committed there 〈◊〉 in post haste to Alexandria for to quenche the firie flame of sedition certen citizens as it was credibly enformed vnto Leo the Emperour through the perswasion of Timothee ranne Proterius through with a naked sworde as he passed by fled towardes the holy font tyed him with a rope and trailed him to the fouresquare porche for all men to gaze at him there with shouting and laughter they reueale the murthering of Proterius Afterwardes they drew his carkasse throughout the citie and burned it to ashes neither abstained they like sauadge and bruite beastes as they were from tastinge of his bowells euen as it is manifest vnto the whole worlde by the complaint which the byshopps throughout Aegypt with all the clergie of Alexandria beholding the circumstances with their eyes made as I said before vnto Leo the successor of Martianus in the Empire of Rome written in maner as followeth Vnto Leo the vertuous religious victorius by the testimony of God him selfe and triumphant Emperour the complaint made by all the byshops throughout your prouince of Aegypt and by the clergie of your chiefest and most holy Church of Alexandria SEinge the diuine and celestiall grace of God most holy emperour hath ordained your highnesse as a levvell and treasure for mortall men you ceasse not we speake vnfainedly imediately and next after God continually to prouide for the safety and profit of the common vveale In a while after they say when the peace which raigned among the godly people both here with vs and with in the citie of Alexandria was remoued out of the Churche of God Timotheus then beinge a priest gott him imediately after the councell of Chalcedon vvas dissolued onely with foure or fiue byshopps together with a fevve monks fell from the fayth and deuided him selfe from the Catholicke Churche These his companions were infected with the pernicious doctrine of Apollinarius the pestilent error of Timothee him selfe al they were then deposed of their priestly dignities according vnto the canon of the Churche both by Proterius of worthie memorie and the councell of byshops helde in Aegypt and also exiled by the Emperours whose displeasure they had procured Againe after a fewelines The same Timothee at what time Martianus the Emperour of famous memorie chaunged this fraile life for blisfull rest in the celestiall paradise sticked not most impudently to reuile him with raylinge and opprobrious languages as if he had bene subiect to no lawe he staggered not like a shamelesse caytiffe at accursing the sacred and generall assembly of byshopps which mett at Chalcedon he ledde after him a multitude of chaungelings and seditious people he set vp him selfe against the holy canons the decrees of the Churche the common weale and lawes he intruded him selfe into the holy Churche of God which had both a pastor and a teacher to witt our most holy father and archbyshopp Proterius as he celebrated the wonted mysteries and offered vp the sacrifice of prayer vnto Christ Iesus the sauiour of vs all for your holy Empire and for your christian and religious pallace Againe they say The next day after as Proterius the most holy father executed as the manner is the function of a byshop Timotheus tooke vnto him two byshopps deposed of their dignities with some banished priests as we saide before and was consecrated byshopp by two of them when as none of all the Catholicke byshops throughout the prouince of â–ª Aegypt as the vse is in consecrating the byshopp of Alexandria was present and so tooke possession as he perswaded him selfe of the archebyshopps chaire but verily it
in the sight of God and man I hope your holinesse will signifie all the aforesayde vnto our most holy Lorde the Emperour and bringe to passe that his highnesse may decree in this behalfe suche thinges as may be for the Ecclesiasticall peace and tranquillitie agreeable with the will of God and the Emperours industrie to thend all men may conforme them selues thereafter CAP. XVIII How Iohn the deposed byshop of Alexandria counselled Felix byshop of Rome to depose Acacius byshop of Constantinople IOhn who fledde to Rome after Zeno had deposed him certified Felix the successor of Simplicius in the Byshopricke of Rome of Peters doinges exhorted him as Zacharie writeth to send Acacius a depriuation because he had communicated with Peter the whiche act of Felix being contrary to the canons of the Church Acacius would not approue The messengers that brought this Epistle vnto Acacius were the paynefull and vigilant monks called Acoimetoi Zacharie is the autor of the premises who as farre as I can see knewe nothinge of the whole circumstance perfectly but hearde it onely as it were ouer the shoulder and so reported it Wherefore I my selfe will now write the stories as they were in deede When Iohn had exhibited accusations and bills against Acacius vnto Felix that contrary vnto the Canon of the Churche he had communicated with Peter and of other haynous offences which he had done against the decrees of the Churche Felix sent Vitalius and Misinus two byshops vnto the Emperour Zeno partly to confirme with his autoritie the councell of Chalcedon partly also to depose Peter of his Byshoprick as an hereticke and last of all to sende Acacius vnto him for to render an accompt and to purge him selfe of such crimes as Iohn of whom we made often mention before layd to his charge CAP. XIX How Cyrill head of the vigilant monks sent vnto Felix byshop of Rome charging him with slacknesse in reuenging suche iniuries as the fayth sustained ERe the aforesayde Vitalius and Misinus came vnto the Emperour Cyrill head of the vigilant monks charged him with slacknesse of duety seeinge so many grieuous practises take place against the true and sincere faith Felix then wrote vnto Misinus that he shoulde doe nothinge afore he had conferred with Cyrill and learned of him what was to be done CAP. XX. VVhat Felix wrote vnto Zeno the Emperour and Zeno vnto him againe FElix wrote not onely vnto Zeno but also vnto others where he brought them into remembrance partly of the councell of Chalcedon and partly also of the persecution in Aphrik in the raigne of Theodorichus He wrote an other Epistle vnto Acacius but Zeno wrote backe againe and tolde him that he fought with his shadowe in geuing eare vnto Iohns report and in contendinge with his aduersaries for he was the man that bound him self with an othe that he would neuer be Byshop of Alexandria yet afterwardes was founde periured and to committe euerye kinde of sacrilege that Peter was aduaunced vnto the priestly function not wythout good tryall of his faythe that he subscribed wyth his owne hande and approued the faythe of the hree hundred and eyghteene holy fathers in the councell of Nice which fayth was afterwardes ratifyed by the councell of Chalcedon These were the wordes of Zeno VVe woulde haue you assure your selfe that our highnesse with moste holye Peter mentioned before and all the Christian congregations doe embrace and reuerence the sacred councell of Chalcedon which councell is one in effect with the Nicene creede There are Epistles to be seene amonge the actes of the aforesayde councell partly of Cyrill mentioned before and partly of other gouernours of the monasteries of Constantinople and of the byshops and clergie within the prouince of Aegypt vnto Felix byshop of Rome against Peter as an heretick and against all them that communicated with him As many of the vigilant monks as came to Felix rebuked Misinus and Vitalis because that vntill their comminge to Constantinople the name of Peter was secretely vsed to be reade in the holy catalogue but since that time continually vnto this present houre Misinus and Vitalis communicated with Peter The Epistle whiche the Byshops of Aegypte wrote signified this muche of Peter and that Iohn was of the true fayth and consecrated accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche that Peter was ordered onely by two Byshops infected with the same exror with him and that immediately after the flight of Iohn he left no punishment vnpractised vpon the true professors All which circumstances are said to haue bene signified vnto Acacius and that Acacius ayded Peter in all what so euer he went about CAP. XXI Howe Symeon one of the vigilant monks went to Rome accused them that came from Rome to Constantinople that they had communicated with hereticks and procured their depriuation THe aforesayd accusations were augmented at the report of Symeon one of the vigilant monks whome Cyrill had sente vnto Felix For Misinus and Vitalis were reprehended of him because they communicated with heretickes specially seeing the name of Peter the hereticke was openly reade in the holy catalogue and that in so doing many simple men were snared of the hereticks who sticked not to bragge that the Byshop of Rome receaued Peter into the communion Symeon sayde moreouer that when certaine interrogatories were demaunded Misinus and his company woulde not conferre with the true catholickes would not receaue their writinÌ„gs neither exquisitly sift out suche thinges as were done and greatly did preiudice the true fayth Syluanus the prieste who accompanied Misinus and Vitalis to Constantinople was broughte forth and he auoutched that the monks allegations were true They reade moreouer the Epistle of Acacius where he gaue Simplicius to vnderstand that Peter was lately deposed and pronounced the childe of darkenesse To be shorte Misinus and Vitalis were deposed of their dignities and cutte of from the holy and vndefiled communion and that by the censure of the wholl assembly which pronounced of Peter as followeth The Churche of Rome doth not communicate with Peter the heretick who was lately condemned by the Apostolicke sâ—ae excommunicated the Church and helde for accursed although there were no other crime to charge him with all yet is this of force sufficient that he can not gouerne the faithful people of God because he was ordered of hereticks In the same decree this also was comprised It appeared euidently that Acacius byshop of Constantinople was greatly to be blamed because for all he wrote vnto Simplicius and called Peter an hereticke yet he would not make Zeno priuey thereunto when as in verie deede if he had borne good will vnto Zeno he should haue done it And rather he should haue pleased the Emperour then prouided for the fayth But let vs returne to discourse of the historie There is extant an Epistle of Acacius vnto the byshops of Aegypt priests monks al the people where he endeuoreth to bring such as raise schisme
other waye and that most leudly for looke what he promised that woulde he neuer performe he wonne that citye more with falsehoode and subtletie then by force of armes He sette Beroea on fire he came with violence againste Antioch when Euphraemius gouerned the Byshopricke but lefte at that tyme the citye because none of the espies whiche he had sente forthe were returned vnto him whose politicke foresighte as reporte goeth preserued the Churche and all that belonged thereto For he adorned her with goodly monumentes hopinge that waye to recouer the violence of the enemye The same author declareth with a vehemente stile easie to moue any reader howe the sayde Chosroes tooke Antioch destroyed all with sworde and fire and howe afterwardes he came to Seleucia then to Daphne the suburbes thereof laste of all to Apamia whose Churche gouerned Thomas a man very famous bothe for life and for learninge This Thomas sticked not to accompany Chosroes vnto the Theater and there beholde the runninge at tilte for all the canon of the Churche forbad it to the ende in so doinge he mighte vse all meanes possible to mitigate and aswage his fury The reporte goeth when Chosroes demaunded of him woulde you see me in your city that he answered I speake vnfaynedly and as I beare fayth vnto God I woulde not gladly see you there Chosroes marueled at his liberty of speache and reuerenced the man highly as he deserued for the trueths sake CAP. XXV Of the miracle wroughte at Apamia by the vertue of the reuerende crosse SEinge that by discourse of our historye we are fallen to entreate of this matter it shall not be amisse here to remember a certayne miracle worthye the notinge and wroughte at Apamia As soone as the Citizens of Apamia hearde saye that Antioch was sette on fyre they requested Thomas spoken of before to bringe forthe althoughe it were contrarye vnto order and custome the wholsome and liuelye Crosse and sette it before them all to the ende they mighte beholde and embrace it when theyr laste houre came for therein the onelye healthe of man consisted and nowe takinge theyr voyage into an other worlde they myghte haue the reuerende Crosse for theyr wayefare to safeconduyte them into a better soyle Wherefore Thomas did as they requested him and after the limitation of some certayne time for the preparation thereof he brought forth the liuely Tree of the Crosse that all the neighbours mighte come together and participate of the health that proceeded thereof Thither wente my parentes together with others and tooke me in theyr ▪ hande beinge a childe and then goinge to schoole After we were licensed to honor and embrace the reuerende Crosse Thomas lifted vp his handes and let all see the wood of the crosse whereby the olde curse of sinne was wiped away compassed the Sanctuarie as the vse was vpon high and solemne feasts But as Thomas passed from place to place there followed him a great flame not of burninge but of shininge fire in so muche that to mens seeminge all the place where he stoode and shewed vnto the people the reuerende crosse was inflamed This was done not once neyther twise but oftener when Thomas went about and the people gatheringe together requested him so to doe Whiche sight foreshewed vnto the citizens of Apamia the health and sauegarde that was to ensue after Wherefore there was a picture set in the roufe of the Sanctuarie at the foote whereof this miracle was written for suche as were ignorant thereof This picture was preserued vntill that Adaarmanus and the Persians inuaded that countrey and burned both Churche and citie Thus ended all that circumstance Chosroes in that voyage of his hauinge prophaned the holy league committed at his pleasure other haynous actes agreeable with his light and vnconstant behauiour yet not decent for a man endued with reason muche lesse fitte for a prince whiche hath regarde of his worde and promise CAP. XXVI The expedition of Chosroes made against Edessa FUrthermore the same Procopius hath layd downe in writing the thinges whiche of olde were remembred touchinge Edessa and Agbarus and how Christ wrote an Epistle vnto Agbarus Againe how Chosroes made an other inuasion and determined to besiege Edessa hoping to disproue the report and fame that was spred farre and nigh of that citie to wit that no enemye woulde euer be able to subdue Edessa Which thinge is not mentioned at all in the Epistle which Christe our God wrote vnto Agbarus as it is to be seene in the historie of Eusebius Pamphilus where the Epistle is layde downe worde by worde yet it is not onely noysed but belieued of the faythfull and his pretended euent confirmed the report to be true For when Chosroes went about to take the citie although he made many an assault and raysed a wonderfull great contremure so that he might easily scale the walles of the citie with sundrie other engines yet went he away and coulde not preuayle And howe it so fell out I will declare Chosroes first commaunded his soldiers to carie thither a great pile of tymber how so euer they were for to besiege the citie which was in maner as soone done as spoken The tymber beinge framed rounde and earth heaped in the middest it was set right ouer against the walles and raysed by a litle and a litle with tymber and other fillinge stuffe vntill it came to a great height that the top thereof was higher then the walles of the citie From thence they shotte at the citie and at suche as hazarded their liues in defence of the walles the citizens seeinge this contremure muche lyke an high mountayne to drawe nigh their citie and that by all likelyhood the enemy woulde come in a foote they got them very early and made a ditche ouer against their hillocke threwe fire therein that the flame might take holde of their timber and make their contremure euen with the grounde This beinge done and fire cast in it fell not out as they wished because the fire coulde not breake out and take into the aer for to consume the pile of timber Last of all when as they seemed nowe to yeelde despairinge of their safety they bringe forth an Image whiche God himselfe and not the handes of man had shaped the whiche Christe had sent vnto Agbarus when Agbarus desired to see him This holy picture they drewe through the ditche they had made and conueyed in water of this water they threwe vpon the pile and heape of timber so that by the prouidence of God aydinge and assistinge the fayth of suche as practised the circumstances that whiche they coulde not bringe to passe before is nowe easily cōpassed For immediatly the vndermost wood toke fire was quickely burned into coales the flame flashed vpwards and set the whole pile on fire The Edessaeans being besieged and espiinge at length that both smoke and flame brake out deuised this sleight which followeth for to