Iosep bell Iud. lib. 6. cap. 1. 2. Their estate was miserable the famyne lamentable the slaughter out of all measure such as came out of the city were hanged on gibbetts such as fledde away were taken of the fugitiues tvvo thousand had their bowels ript to see whether they had swalowed vp any golde lib. 6. cap. 15. report came vnto Titus that from the 14. of Aprill vntill the 14. of Iune there were brought out at one gate of the city fiftene thousande one hundred and foure score Ievves which dyed of famine bell Iud. lib. 6. cap. vlt. The temple is sett on fire the priestes the women and children with other people which hid them selues in vautts in walls and in corners of the temple which also were burnt to ashes came to six thousande lib 7. cap. 11. Titus tooke the citye the souldiours killed vntill they were weary Titus commaunded all that wore armour to be slayne such as were olde weake and feeeble the souldiours dispatched the yong the lusty and profitable they shutt vp in a certayne place of the temple for further consideration Many were solde for a smale price there were many to be solde but few to bye all the theeues robbers and seditious persons within the city he commaunded forth with to be dispatched the chosen yong men of goodly bodyes and tall stature he reserued for triumphe seuentene thousand of elderly yeares he sent bound to Aegypt for slauery druggery â–ª many others through out the prouinces he allotted for spectacles and teeth of wild beastes â–ª as many as were vnder sixtene yeres â–ª of age were solde â–ª of such as were shutt vp in the temple for further consideration during the time of this deliberation and disposed order there dyed tvvelue thousande of famine Iosep bell Iud. lib. 7. cap. 15. 16. The number of the captiues during the tyme of the warres mounted to foure score and seuentene thousande The number of all that dyed during the siedge within Ierusalem came to tenne hundred thousande no maruell at all that the city could comprise so many for at the feast of the Passeouer Cestius being Lieuetenant of Iudaea sent Neroworde that the high priestes had numbred at his request all that came to offer which came to seuen and tvventy hundred thousande lib. 7. cap. 17. and suche was the wofull and miserable ende of the Iewes Iosephus moreouer lib. 7. bell Iud. cap. 18. writeth of Ierusalem that it was taken at sondry tymes before his wordes be these Ierusalem vvas taken the 2. yeare of the raigne of Vespasian the 8. day of September it vvas taken fiue tymes before then agayne destroyed Asochaeus King of the Aegyptians after him Antiochus then Pompeius after these Herode and Sosius tooke the city and kept it â–ª and before that tyme the King of Babylon by conquest destroyed it a thousande three hundred three score yeares eyght moneths and six dayes after the building thereof The first founder of this city vvas the most potent Prince of the Chananits called after his contrey language The iust king â–ª for such a one he vvas in deede â–ª therfore he first ordayned a priesthood vnto God and hauing first buylded the temple he termed the city Ierusalem vvhich afore vvas called Solyma Leobius King of the Ievves hauing vanquished the Chananits deliuered the city to be inhabited of his ovvne people the vvhich vvas ouerthrovvne by the Babylonians foure hundred three score foure yeares and three monethes after From Leobius the King vvhich vvas the first Ievve that raygned in it vnto the ouerthrovv vnder Titus there vvere one thousande one hundred seuenty and seuen yeares Yet for all that neyther did antiquity preuayle neyther great riches profit neyther the fame dispersed throughout the whole worlde fauour them neyther the great glory they put in their religion helpe them at all that the city shoulde not perishe Discite iustitiam moniti non temnere Christum CAP. IX Of Iosephus and his commentaries in the ninth and tenth chapiters folowing BEsides all this I thinke it good not to be ignorant of Iosephus him selfe that hath stoode vs in so great steade for the furnishing of this our present historye whence and of what kindred he came which circumstance he him selfe sheweth saying thus Iosephus the sonne of Mattathias a priest of Ierusalem vvhich him selfe also at the first impugned the Romaynes and vvas necessarily present at the finall ende of their vvofull miseryes because of the Ievves of that tyme. This man was famous not onely among his owne nation but also among the Romaynes so that at Rome he was thought worthy the honor of a grauen picture and the bookes which diligently he wrote were thought worthy of the publike librarye He wrote tvventy bookes of Iudaicall Antiquities he testifieth him selfe therefore worthy of creditt that he gathered in seuen bookes the Romayne vvarres of his tyme and published it both in the Greeke and Hebrewe tongues Certayne others worthy the reading passe vnder his name for example Tvvo volumes of the Antiquitie of the Ievvish nation where he aunswereth Apion Grammaticus and certayne others which at that tyme impugned the Ievves and endeuored to disgrace the natiue lawe of the Iewishe nation In the first he layeth downe the number of the bookes of the olde testament deliuered by tradition and receaued without gainfaying of the Ievves saying as foloweth CAP. X. How Iosephus mentioned the bookes of the old testament and diuers of his owne THe bookes of the holy Scripture sayth he are not innumerable amongst vs disagreeing dissenting one from an other but only xxij contayning the circumstances of all times and vvorthy of creditt fiue of these are Moses vvorkes contayning the lavves the state of man continevved vnto his death the tyme of them contayneth litle lesse then three thousand yeares The Prophetes vvhich liued after Moses comprised in thirtene bookes the famous actes of their tymes from the death of Moses to Artaxerxes vvho after the death of Xerxes vvas king of Persia The other foure containe Hymnes vnto God and admonitions for the amendment of mans life From Artaxerxes vnto our tymes there are continuall bookes yet not of such creditt as the former in so much there is not diligently layd dovvne a continuall succession of the Prophets It is very apparent vvhat affection vve beare vnto our Scriptures because there is novv so much time past and yet none of vs dare presume either to adde any thinge thereto or to diminish anything therefro or to alter any thinge thereof this is engrassed in the sevves from their youth vp that they persvvade them selues this doctrine to be the vvritinges of God and to perseuere in the same and vvillingly if necessity so constrayne to dye in the quarrell these wordes I haue thought commodiously to haue bene by vs alleadged out of his commentaryes this writer hath published one other and no simple volume of the rule of reason whiche some haue fathered vppon
variance so that the dearest friendes stroue among them selues one seely soule depriuing an other of his dayly sustenance and prouision And lest the dying should be thought to vvant the theeues searched them that vvere ready to dye leste peraduenture any had hydd meate in his bosome therfore fained him selfe to dye they vvhich greedely gaped by reason of their vvant vvandred and trotted like madd dogges falling vpon dores like madd men rushinge into the same houses tvvyse and thryse in an houre as men berefte of their vvittes Necessitye made all meate that came to the teethe supplying to be eaten those thinges vvhiche vvere not commodious no not for the fylthyest brute beastes At lengthe they abstayned not from gyrdles and shoes they eate the leathren skynnes that couered their targetts Many eate chopt haye or mynced grasse that vvas vvithered other some gathered svvept and scraped dust dounge selling the least measure thereof for foure pence But vvhat should I rehearse hovve that famyne spareth not thinges that haue no life vnlesse vvith all I declare this vvorke of her vvhose like vvas neuer reported to haue bene done amonge the Gentyles nor Barbarians horrible to be spoken of but true to the hearer I of myne ovvne parte vvoulde gladly passe this calamitie vvith silence leste that I seemed to laye forthe monstrous lyes vnto the vvorlde Vnlesse I had infinite vvitnesses in this behalfe for othervvise I should recompence my contrye vvith colde thanke if I restrayned the rehearfall of such thinges as they smarted for * A certayne vvoman vvhich dvvelled beyond Iordane called Maria the daughter of Eleazar of the village Bathezor vvhich signifieth Hyssope of good kindred and great vvealth sled vvith the rest of the multitude vnto Ierusalem and there vvas besieged the rest of her substance vvhich she had procured vnto her out of the region beyonde lordane and caused to be caryed into the city the tyrantes of the contrye tooke avvay the reliques that vvere left and the prouision for foode the catchpoles rushing in dayly snatched avvay A certayn grieuous indignation inuaded this seely vvoman so that often tymes she prouoked against her selfe by rayling and scolding the cruell rauenners VVhen as none either moued vvith pity or prouoked vvith anger slevve her she labored about seeking vittailes and could no longer finde any and famine had entred into her bovvels and inner partes furious motions more then famine inflamed her mind so that she being ledd vvith the heat of anger pinching or pining necessity offred violence vnto nature for taking her sonne in her armes vvhich vvas a suckling she sayd O vvretched infant for vvhom shall I reserue thee in these vvarres in this famyne in this seditious conspiracy Among the Romaynes if so be that vve shall liue vnder them there shall be bondage this bondage hath famyne for gone these seditious persons do afflict vs more grieuously then both Passe on be thou meate vnto me a fury vnto these seditious men a fable vnto the vvorlde vvhiche yet alone hast not felt the Ievvish calamities And immediatly vvith these vvordes she slevve her childe and boyled him being boyled she eate halfe the rest she saued and hidd secretly Anone these of the conspiracy come in stamping staring threatning present death vnto her vnlesse vvith speade she bring forth vvhat meate she had prepared she aunsvvered that she reserued the better portion for them bringing forth and shevving vvith all the reliques of her litle childe A sodaine horror and traunce of trembling minde tooke them that they vvere astonied at the sight thereof But she sayd this is my naturall sonne and this is the vvorke of myne ovvne handes Eate for I haue eaten be not you more tender then a vvoman or proner to compassion then a mother If you are so godly and mislike this my sacrifice I truely haue eaten in your name and that vvhiche remayneth I reserue for my selfe vvhiche vvhen she had sayde they all trembled at this one horrible fact and scarse leauing this meate for the mother they departed vvith greate feare In a vvhile after this haynous offence vvas bruted ouer the vvhole citye so that euery man behoulding before his eyes this affliction vvas no lesse moued then if the fact had bene committed agaynst him selfe But they that vvere pressed vvith famyne desired death earnestly and happy vvere they accompted vvhome death so preuented that they neyther hearde nor savve the greate misery that happened such were the rewardes of iniquity and impiety committed by the Ievves agaynst Christ and God It shal be thought well if we adde the true prophecy of our Sauiour declaring these thinges after this maner to haue come to passe CAP. VII The prophecyes of Christ toutching the destruction of Ierusalem WOE be to them vvhich are vvith childe and geue sucke in those dayes sayth Christ but praye that your slight be neyther in vvinter nor on the Saboth daye for then shall be greate tribulation suche as vvas not from the beginning of the vvorlde vnto this tyme neyther shall be When the Historiographer had collected the number of them that perished by sword and famine he reporteth that it mounted to * a hundred ten myllions besides the seditious and theeuish reuenners betrayed on by an other and slayne after the winning of the city and yonge men of highe stature and comlynes of bodye that were reserued for their exercise in triumphe of the rest of the multitude as many as passed seuentene yeare olde they were sent bounde to druggerye in Aegypt many were sent into the prouinces that being layde on theatres subiect to the sworde and crueltye of beastes so they might perishe â–ª suche as were vnder seuentene yeare olde were brought vnto captiuitie and soulde the number of these he reporteth to haue mounted to nyne Myriades or millions these thinges happened after this manner in the seconde yeare of the raygne of Vespasian truly according vnto the foreshewed prophecye of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ which by his diuine power as if they had bene then present he foresawe and with the shedding of teares as the holy Euangelistes testifie he be wayled whiche alleadge these his wordes then vttered to Ierusalem If thou hadest knovvne sayth he these thinges vvhiche belong vnto thy peace euen at this daye thou vvouldest take hede But novve are they hidde from thine eyes for the dayes shall come vpon thee that thine enemyes also shall cast a banke about thee and compasse thee rounde and keepe thee in vvith vexation on euery side and make thee euen vvith the grounde and thy children also Then sayth he of the people there shall be greate trouble in the lande and vvrath ouer all this people and they shall fall through the edge of the svvorde and shall be ledde avvay captiue vnto all nations and Ierusalem shall be troden dovvne of the Gentyles vntill the tyme of the Gentyles be fulfilled If any will conferre the wordes of
about the yeare of our Lord 408. in his Epistle to Euxperius cap. 7. and Gelasius the first about the yeare 494. together with seuenty Bishops haue receaued them for Canonicall of this minde is Ierome ad Paulinum Augustine de doctrina Christiana lib. 2. cap. 8. so that from that tyme vnto this day they were generally allowed and receaued for Canonicall Scripture Thus much I thought good heere to note leste that the simple Reader snared by the subtlety of Satan which in these perillous dayes throweth in bones for the true Christians to gnawe vpon shoulde doubt of any part or parcell of holy Scripture that might tende to his confusion CAP. XXIIII How that after Marke Anianus was appoynted Bishop of Alexandria WHen Nero had raygned the space of eight yeares first after Marke the Apostle and Euangelist Anianus tooke the gouernment of the church of Alexandria a man both vertuous and renowmed in all respects CAP. XXV Of the persecution which happened vnder Nero when as Peter and Paul suffred martyrdome at Rome NEro now setled in his seate fell into abominable factes and tooke armour agaynst the seruice due vnto the vniuersall and almighty God How detestable he was become it is not for this present tyme to declare for there be many that haue paynted out his willful malice which may easily appeare if we consider the furious madnes of that man through the which after that beyond all reason he had destroyed an innumerable company he fell into such a sucking vayne of slaughter that he abstayned not from his most deare and familiar friendes Yea he tormented with diuerse kindes of death his owne mother his brethren his wife many of his nearest kinsfolkes as if they had bene enemyes and deadly foes vnto him but it behoued vs to note this one thing of him aboue the rest that he was counted the first enemy of all y â— Emperours vnto the seruice of God of him doth Tertullian in Romayne letters write thus reade your authors there shall you finde Nero chiefely to haue first persecuted this doctrine at Rome vvhen the vvhole East vvas novv subdued he became cruell vnto all men vve boast and bragge of such a famous persecutor for they vvhich knevve him may easily perceaue that this our doctrine had neuer bene condemned by Nero had it not bene passing good This enemy of God wherein he was first espied set vp him selfe to the destruction of the Apostles for they write that Paule was beheaded and Peter crucified of him at Rome and that maketh for the credit of our history which is commonly reported that there be churchyardes vnto this day bearing the name of Peter and Paul In like maner Gaius a Romayne and an Ecclesiasticall person and after Zepherinus Bishop of Rome writing vnto Proclus captayne of the heresye which the Cataphrigaeans helde speaketh thus of the tombes wherein the Apostles were layde I sayth he am able to shevve the banners of the Apostles for if thou vvilt vvalke vnto Vaticanum or the vvay Ostiensis thou shalt finde their victorius banners of such as haue builded this Church And that they were both crowned w t martyrdome at y â— same time Dionysius bishop of Corinthe affirmeth in his epistle vnto the Romaynes And you obtaining so goodly an admonition haue coupled in one the buylding of the Romayne and Corinthian churches for they both enstructed vs vvhen they planted our church of Corinthe CAP. XXVI How the Iewes were wonderfully vexed at Ierusalem vnder Florus and of the sturre in Syria raysed agaynst them LIkewise such as taught together in Italy suffred martyrdome the same tyme and that this history may bring with it the more creditt Iosephus declareth that after the manifolde miseries which happened vnto this nation many and the same innumerable and of them that were among the Ievves in estimation were scorged in the city of Ierusalem by the commaundement of Florus and nayled to the tree He writeth that Florus was Liuetenant of Iudaea when as the warres being begonne of olde encreased the twelfe yeare of the raygne of Nero. Agayne because of the rebellion of the Ievves throughout all Syria there rose such a tumulte that the Gentiles without all compassion as deadely foes destroyed the Ievves which inhabited the cities so that the cities were seene full of sepulchres olde men and yong men slaine in the streetes women lying all along hauing that vncouered which nature commaunded to be kept in secrete and the whole prouince miserably afflicted with vnspeakeable calamityes and greater was the feare sayth he of that which was like to ensue then the harme already committed such was then the state of the Ievves The ende of the seconde booke THE THIRDE BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF EVSEBIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALAESTINA CAP. I. In what contreyes the Apostles preached Christ. WHen as the Iewish affayres thus did stande the holy Apostles and Disciples of our Sauiour were dispersed throughout the worlde Thomas as by tradition we receaue chose Parthia Andrew Scythia Iohn Asia where he made his abode and dyed at Ephesus Peter is reported to haue preached to the dispersed Ievves through out Pontus Gallacia Bithynia Cappadocia and Asia who about his latter time tarying at Rome was crucified with his head downewards which kind of death he him selfe desired What shall I say of Paul which from Ierusalem to Illyricum filled all places with the Gospell of Christ And at the last suffred martyrdome at Rome vnder Nero These thinges are manifestly and word by word declared by Origen in the third tome of his Commentaryes vpon Genesis CAP. II. VVho was the first Bishop of Rome LInus first after the martyrdome of Peter and Paul was chosen Bishop of Rome Paul about the latter end in the salucation of the epistle which he wrote vnto Timothe from Rome maketh mention of him saying Eubulus saluteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia CAP. III. Of the Epistles which the Apostles wrote THe Epistle of Peter which is in number the first hath bene receaued without controuersy The elders of olde without any doubting haue alleadged this in their workes but the latter Epistle we haue learned not to be allowed And yet because it seemed profitable of many it was reade amongest the rest of the Scriptures but the Actes which are called Peters and the Gospell vnder his name and the preaching of his published vnder his name with the reuelation termed his are no where receaued as canonical scripture neither hath any auncient or newe writer alleaged testimonies out of them but in the processe of our history we thought good to signifie together with the diligent annotation of successions what ecclestasticall writers there florished in their seuerall tymes and what contrary allegations they vsed and what writinges they lawfully receaued and what they reiected But of the writinges attributed to Peter whereof we acknowledge one Epistle lawfully receaued and neuer doubted of among the
labour and industry Then shevved they him their hands for testimony that they labored them selues and the hardnes of their bodies and the hard bravvne of their handes grovven by continuall labour and vvhen as they vvere asked of Christ and his kingdome vvhat maner vvhen and vvhere it should appeare they aunsvvered that his kingedome vvas neither vvorldly nor earthly but caelestiall and Angelicall and that it shoulde be at the consummation of the vvorlde vvhen that he comming in glory shall iudge the quicke and the dead and revvarde euery man according vnto his vvorkes After they had thus aunsvvered the report goeth that Domitian condemned them not but despised them as vile and base creatures let them goe free stayed by his edict the persecution then raysed against the church VVhen they vvere gone it is sayde that they vvere rulers ouer Churches in so much that in the ende they vvere martyres and of the line of our Lorde and aftervvardes peace ensuing the report goeth that they liued vntill the raigne of Traian So farre Aegesippus Tertullian also reporteth the like of Domitian Domitian sayth he some time assayed the like practise being a portion of Neroes cruelty but he hauing some humane sense as I suppose forthvvith relented calling home agayne such as he had exiled CAP. XVIII Nerua succeedeth Domitian and Traian succeedeth Nerua in the empire Cerdo succeedeth Abilius in the Churche of Alexandria AFter that Domitianus had raygned fiftene yeares and Nerua had succeeded him the Historiographers of that tyme do write that the Romayne Senate decreed that the honors exhibited vnto Domitian shoulde cease and such as were iniuriously exiled shoulde returne vnto their natiue soyle and receaue their substance agayne it is also amonge the auncient traditions that then Iohn the Apostle returned from banishment and dwelt agayne at Ephesus When Nerua had raigned a litle aboue a yeare Traian succeeded him In the first yeare of whose raigne Cerdo succeeded Abilius which was Bishop of Alexandria the space of thirtene yeares This is the thirde after Anianus of that Churche CAP. XIX The succession of the first Bishops in three Churches Rome Antioch Alexandria AT that tyme Clemens ruled the Churche of Rome beinge the thirde Bishop after Paul Peter the first was Linus the seconde Anacletus And of them which gouerned the church of Antioche the first was knowne to be Euodius the second Ignatius likewise Simeon at the same tyme the seconde after the brother of our Sauiour gouerned the churche of Ierusalem CAP. XX. An history of Iohn the Apostle and a yong theefe conuerted by him AS yet the Apostle and Euangelist whome the Lorde loued remayned aliue in Asia who after the death of Domitian being returned from the I le Patmos gouerned the Churches there in Asia And that he liued at that time the confirmation of two witnesses shall suffice They are worthy of creditt such as haue gouerned the Churche with sounde doctrine These are Irenaeus and Clemens Alexandrinus the former in his seconde booke agaynst the heresies writeth thus All the Elders beare vvitnes vvhich liued together vvith Iohn the Disciple of our Sauiour in Asia that he deliuered these thinges he endured vvith them vnto the tyme of Traian â–ª also in the thirde of his sayde argument he declareth the same in these wordes The churche of the Ephesians planted by Paul confirmed by Iohn vvhich remayned there vntill the tyme of Traian is a true testimony of this Apostolicke tradition Clemens with all signifieth the tyme and also a very necessary historye is by him adioyned for suche as are recreated with honest and profitable thinges whereof also one Sozomenus in his history hath made mention at large in his commentaryes if thou reade it thou shalt finde thus written Heare a fable and yet no fable but a true tale reported of Iohn the Apostle deliuered vnto vs and committed to memory after the desease of the tyrant VVhen he had returned to Ephesus out of the I le Patmos being requested vvent vnto the contreyes adioyning partly to consecrate Bishops partly to set in order vvhole Churches and partly to chuse by lott vnto the Ecclesiasticall function of them vvhome the holy Ghost had assigned VVhen he vvas come vnto a certayn city not farre distant the name vvherof diuers doe expresse and among other thinges had recreated the brethren beholding a yong man of a goodly bodye a gracious face and seruente minde he turned his face vnto him that vvas appointed chiefe ouer all the Bishops and sayd I commend this yonge man vnto thy custody vvith an earnest desire as Christ and the Churche beare me vvitnes VVhen he had receaued his charge and promised diligence therein he spake and protested vnto him the selfe same the second time Aftervvardes he returned to Ephesus but the elder taking the yong man that vvas deliuered vnto him brought him vp at home ceased not cherished him still and in processe of time baptized him he came at length to be so diligent seruiceable that he made him a liuery garment or scrole signed vvith his masters seale of Armes but this yonge man became dissolute out of season perniciously accompanyed him selfe vvith them of his ovvne yeares idle dissolute and acquainted vvith ill behauiour first they bringe him to sumptuous banquetts next they guyde him in the night to steale and to robbe after this they require that he consent vnto the committing of a greater offence but he acquainting him selfe by a litle and a litle through the greatnes of his capacitye much like a horse of a hardned mouth fierce strong and hardy forsaking the right vvay vvith the biting of the bridle bringeth him selfe vnto a bottomlesse pitt of all misorder and outrage At length despayring of the saluation that commeth of God being past all hope of grace â–ª he practised no toye nor trifle once being ouer the shoes he proceeded forvvardes and tooke the like lott vvith the reste of his companions takinge vnto him companions and a rout of theues being gathered together he became a most violent captayne of theeues vvholy bent to slaughter murther extreame cruelty In the meane vvhile necessitye so constrayning the Bishops sent for Iohn he vvhen he had ended and finished the cause of his comming goe to sayth he O Byshop restore vnto vs thy charge vvhiche I and Christ haue committed vnto thy custody the churche vvhereof thou art heade bearing vvitnes the Byshop at the first vvas amazed supposing some deceite to be vvrought toutching money vvhich he had not receaued yet vvas he not able to aunsvvere them for that he had it not neyther to mistrust Iohn but vvhen Iohn had sayd I require the yong man and the soule of our brother then the elder looking dovvne vvith a heauy countenance sobbing and sighing sayde he is deade to vvhome Iohn spake hovve and vvhat kinde of death vvhich aunsvvered he is dead to God for he is become vvicked and pernicious and
ende ye like vvise might receaue from him againe letters of friendly coÌ„sent amitie novv let Paulus vvrite to Artemas let the coÌ„plices of Artemas coÌ„municate vvith him But of these things thus farre Paulus together with his right faith was depriued also of his bishoprike Domnus as it is written before succeeded him being chosen by the synode bishop of Antioch wheÌ„ Paulus would not depart the church neither voyde the house the emperour Aurelianus being besought decreed very well coÌ„mauÌ„ded by ediâ—â— â–ª the house should be allotted for such as y â— bishops of Italic Rome with vniforme coÌ„seut in doctrine â–ª appointed for the place After this sort was Paulus with greate shame vanished y â— church by secular power thus was Aurelianus theÌ„ affected towards vs but in processe of time he so eâ—â—raunged him selfe that welnygh through the lewde motion of some men he moued persecution against vs much talke was blased farre nygh toutching him but wheÌ„ he had raysed persecution against vs now welnygh subscribed to a publicke edict preiudicial to our affaires the iust iudgement of God ouertooke him hindred his purpose craÌ„ping as it were his knuckles making manifest vnto all men that the princes of this world haue neuer any power to practise ought against the church of God vnlesse the inuincible myght of God for discipline conuersion of his people according vnto his deuine celestiall wisdome graunt pardon or licence to bring any thing about in what time it shall please him best When Aurelianus had held the imperiall scepter the space of sixe yeares Probus succeeded him And agayne after sixe yeares Carus came in his place together with Carinus and Nâ—â—erianus his sonnes Againe when these had continewed scarse three yeares Diocletianus was chosen emperour and by his meanes they were promoted vnder whome persecution and the ouerthrow of the churches preuayled a little before the raygne of this Diocletâ—â—â— Diâ—â—yâ—â—â—s byshop of Rome dyed when he had gouerned the church nyne yeares whome Feliâ— succeeded CAP. XXX Of Manes whereof the Maniches are called whence he was his conuersation and heresie ABout that tyme Manes after the etymologie of his name in no better taking than a 〈…〉 man was in armour and instructed in a deuelishe opinion through the peruersitie of his minde the deuell and satan the aduersariâ— of God leading and procuring him to the perdition of many soules He was in tongue and trade of life very barbarous by nature possessed and frenticke he practised things correspoÌ„dent vnto his witte and maners he presâ—â—â—ed to represent the person of Christ he proclaimed him selfe to be the comforter and the holy ghost and beynge puffed vp with this frenticke pride chose as if he were Christ twelue partners of his new found doctrine patching into one heape false and detestable doctrine of olde rotten and roâ—ted out heresies the which he brought out of Persia for no other then deadly poyson into the world whâ—â—â— that abhominable name of the Maniches hath had his originall CAP. XXXI Of the bishops ministers and other famous men florishing at that tyme in the churches of Rome Antioch and Laodicea SVch a fained name of false science sprong vp in those tymes in the which after Felix had gouerned the churche of Rome fiue yeares Eutychianus succeeded who continewinge seares tenne moneths committed his cleargie vnto Gaius in this our time and fyfteene yeares after Marcellinus followed whome also the persecution ouertooke In the churche of Antioch after Domnus succeeded Timaeus after him in our tyme Cyrillus was chosen bishop vnder whome we remeÌ„ber one Dorotheus then minister of the churche of Antioch to haue bene a very eloquent and singuler man he applyed holy scripture diligently he studied the Hebrewe tongue so that he read with great skill the holy scriptures in Hebrewe This man came of a noble race he was expert in the chiefe discipline of the Grecians by nature an eunuch so disposed from his natiuitie for which cause the emperour for rarenesse therof appropriated him placing preferringe him to the purple robe in the citie of Tyrus we hearde him our selues expounding holy scripture with great coÌ„mendation in the churche of God Tyrannus succeeded Cyrillus in the churche of Antloch in whose tyme the spoile of churches was very ryfe Eusebius whiche came from Alexandria gouerned the church of Laodicea after Socrates The sturre about Paulus Samosatenus was the cause of his remouing for whose sake he weÌ„t into Syria where of the godly he was hindred that he coulde not returne home againe because he was the desired Jewell hoped staye of our religion as by the testimonie of Dionysius hereafter alleaged shall manifestly appeare Anatolius succeeded him the good as they say after the good who also was of Alexandria for his eloquence and skill in the Grecians discipline and philosophicall literature he bare the bell among all the famous of our time he excelled in Arithmeticke Geometric Astronomie Logicke physical coÌ„templatioÌ„ and rhetoricall exercises for whiche his excellencie he was chosen moderator of Aristotels schoole by the cytizens of Alexandria They report at AlexaÌ„dria many other famous acts of his specially his behauiour at the slege of Pyruchium â–ª where he obâ—â—yneâ— a singuler prerogatiue of principalitie of whose doings one thing for example sake I will rehearse When vittaile as they say fayled such as were vesieged and famine pressed them sorer then foraine enemies this same Anatolius brought this deuise to passe whereas the one part of the citie helde with the Romaine hoast and therfore out of the daunger of the slege he gaue information to Eusebius who then was at Alexandria it was before his departure into Syria and conuersant amonge them which were not besieged in great estimation and credite with the Romaine captaine howe that such as were besieged almost perished for famine he beinge made priuie to their miserie by the messengers of Anatolius craued pardon of the Romaine captaine for such as left forsooke the enemie â–ª which sute when he had obtained he communicated with Anatolius he forthwith accepting of his promise assembleth together y â— senate of Alexandria first requesteth of theÌ„ all that they will ioyne in league with the Romaines when he sawe them all sett in a rage at this his request be sayd but yet in this I suppose you will not resist if I councell you to permitt such as stand you in no stede as olde men and olde women and children to depart the cytie to repaire whither please them for to what purpose do we retaine these among vs nowe ready to yelde vp the ghost to what purpose do we presse with famine such as are maymed and wounded in bodie when as men onely and yonge men are to be releaued and retayned and prouision of necessary foode is to be founde for them which keepe the citie with contine wall watch and warde when he
after there were other two committed to take their lots among them wherof one by name Agapius had before that time yelded an accompt of his faith by suffring of many bitter and greeuous torments the other by name Dionysius who carefully prouided for the corporall reliefe of the Martyrs All these in number eyght were in one day beheaded in the citie of Caesarea the foure and twentieth daye of the moneth Dystros that is the ninth of the Calendes of Aprill About that tyme two of the Emperours whereof the firste enioyed the prerogatiue of honor the seconde was next which gouerned the Empire embraced a priuate trade of lyuinge after the vulgare sort of men and the state of the publicke weale immediatly beganne to decaye In a while after the Romaine Empire was deuided the Emperours amonge them selues one againste an other fought great and greuous battailes neither was that tumult and sedition ceassed before that firste of all peace was restored and established throughout all the parts of the worlde which were subiect to the Romaine Empire for when as peace once appeared againe much like sonne beames shining after a mistie and darke night the publicke state of the Romaine empire was a gaine established the bonde of amitie linked againe mutuall amitie and concord retained of olde was againe recouered But of these things we will entreate hereafter more at large when more fitt oportunitie shall serue now let vs proceede vnto that which followeth CAP. XXII Of Apphianus the Martyr MAximinus Caesar who by maine force intruded him selfe into the Empire laynge wyde open vnto the whole worlde manifest proofes of his deadly hatred and impietie towards God as it were naturally growing in his fleshe and graffed in his bones persecuted vs more vehemently and more generally then the other his superior emperours wherfore when as trouble tumult no small confusion hanged ouer our heads some were here there scattered endeuoring by all meanes possible to auoide y t perill ensuing that a greuous coÌ„motion had now ouerrunne the contrie no toÌ„gue can worthely declare no speache sufficiently expresse the deuine loue liberty of faith wherewith Apphianus y â— blessed martyr of God yelded an accoÌ„pt of his profession Who shewed vnto y â— citizens of Caesarea asseÌ„bled at their spectacle or sacrifice in y â— porche of the teÌ„ple a liuely signe or tokeÌ„ of the singular zeale he bare godwards when he was not at that time no not xx yeare old he coÌ„tinewed a long time at Berytos in Phaenicia applying his minde to the study of prophane literature for he came of such parents as flowed in worldly wealth It is in maner incredible how he ouercame all youthly affectioÌ„s drowned all his wild otes in so vicious so corrupt a citie how y t neither by reason of his youthly floure lately florishing in his greene body neither by reason of his coÌ„panie and acquaintance with youthly mates he sucked the iuyce neither swallowed the sopps of lewde and wanton conuersation but embracing temperancie led a reuerent life peculier to christian religion in modesty sobrietie godlines If in case we be coÌ„strained to mention his contrey and to honor the same for bringing forth so valiant a champioÌ„ to wrastle in the caÌ„pe of this world vnder the baÌ„ner of Christ truely we will performe the same neither without good consideration for who so euer knoweth Pagas no obscure citie of Lycia it was there that this yong man was borne he after his returne from schoole and the study of prophane literature applied at Berytos not pleased with the conuersation of his father who then gouerned that whole contrey neither with the conuersation of his kinsfolks with whome he liued because they framed not their liues after the rule of piety being pricked with the instinct motion of the spirite of God inflamed with a certaine naturall nay rather celestiall true loue of sincere wisdome cast in his mind to consider of weyghtyer matters then this fayned counterfeite glory of the world beares vs in hande laying aside therfore all the sweete baites of fleshly pleasure he forsooke fled away priuely from his friends and families not weying at all the want of necessary prouision but casting his whole care confidence vpâ—â— God was ledd no doubt by the deuine spirite as it were by a stryng into the city of Caesarea where the crowne of martyrdome beynge the reward of godlines was prepared for him for whilest that he liued among vs he profited in holy scripture during that short terme of his life more then any man coulde thinke and practised such discipline as tended to godly life preparing a perfect way to dye well But toutching the ende he made who is it that beholdinge the same with single eye wyll not be astonyed and howe so euer againe he be disposed which only with fame and hearesay attaineth vnto the knowledge of his setled mind his noble courage his immouable constancie and aboue all his faithfull trust endeuour wherby the tokens of vnfained godlines and feruent spirite appeared which passed all the reach of mans reasons how can he chuse but woÌ„der therat for when as in y â— third yeare of our persecution vnder the raigne of Maximinus the seconde whurlyburlie was raysed against vs and the tyrants letters then first of all were brought to Vrbanus charging all the people of what degree or callinge so euer that they shoulde sacrifice vnto their gods the magistrats also throughout euery cytie busily applying them selues to the same and that the beadells throughout all the cytie of Caesarea shoulde by vertue of the Presidents edict summone the fathers the mothers and their children to appeare at the Idols temple and that the Tribunes shoulde likewise out of a scroule call euery one by his name by reason whereof there was no where but heauynesse sobbinge and sighinge the aforesayde Apphianus letting not one to vnderstande of his purpose vnknowinge vnto vs which accompanyed with him in one house vnknowinge vnto the whole bande of the captayne came cherefully vnto Vrbanus the President as he was a sacrificinge and boldly without any feare at all tooke holde in his ryght hande and stayed him forthwith from doynge sacrifice exhortinge him also both wisely and grauely with a certayne godly protestation and cheerefulnesse of minde thenceforth to ceasse and be no more seduced sayinge moreouer there was no reason that he shoulde despise the one the onely true God and offer sacrifice to idols and to deuells Such an enterprise the yonge man tooke in hande beynge prouoked thereunto as it seemeth vnto vs by the deuine power of God sounding in the eares of all mortall men by this his fact that the Christians which ryghtly do chalenge that name are farre from falling away from the seruice due vnto God the author of all goodnesse so that they not onely suffer and variantly endure threates and plagues
and punishments which commonly chaunce vnto them but thenceforth also pleade more boldly and yeelde an accompt of their faith more freely their tongue neither stuttinge neither stammeringe for feare yea and if it may any kind of waye come to passe they dare reuoke the persecutors and tormentors them selues from their blinde ignorance and constrayne them to acknowledge and embrace the one onely God Immediatly after he of whome I speake as it was moste like to happen vnto so bolde an enterprise was haled of the Presidents trayne as of sauadge beastes furiously raging against him and tormented ouer all his bodie with infinite stripes the which he paciently suffred and for a while was clapt in prison Where for one whole daye and nyght he was piteously tormented with both his feete in the stockes streatched farre a sunder the thirde daye he was brought forth before the Iudge And as soone as they enioyned him to sacrifice he resisted and shewed forth the greate pacience ingraffed in his minde for the suffringe of all terrors and horrible punishments so that the executioners rent his sides with the lashe of the whippe not once and twise but often euen vnto the bone and inwarde bowells lashinge him also on the face and the necke vntill that his face was swollen with the print of the stripes so that they which afore time knewe him well and discerned him by his countenance thenceforth missed of their marke and knewe him not at all When they sawe he woulde not yeelde for all these manifolde and sundrie tormentes the executioners at the commaundemēt of the president wrapped his feete in slaxe oyled all ouer and sette the same a fire whereof howe great and what greuous payne be suffred I am not able to expresse It runne ouer his fleshe it consumed the same and pearced vnto the marowe bredd within the bones so that his whole bodie larded and distilled muche like vnto droppinge and meltinge waxe Yet there was breath left and life remaininge for all these torments the aduersaries and executioners them selues were weryed at his intollerable pacience which farre exceeded the common nature of man after all this the seconde time he is cast into prison Three dayes after he is brought againe before the Iudge and beyng founde freely to confesse the same faith as aforetime although by reason of his woundes he was readie to yeelde vp the ghost yet was he throwen into the surginge waues of the seas If we shoulde make relation of the miracle which immediatly followed peraduenture such as sawe it not with their eyes will giue no creditt at all thereunto and though we perswade our selues that men will hardlie beleue it yet there is no reason to the contrarie but that we committe to memorie and deliuer in writinge the historie as it was indeede insomuch as in maner all which inhabite Caesarea are witnesses to the same There was no not a childe in Caesarea but was present at this straunge spectacle As soone as they had plunged as it pleased them best that holie and blessed martyr of Christ in the deepe goulphes of the mayne sea there rose vpon a sodaine such a storme not after the wonted maner of weather and such a noyse in the ayre not onely ouer the sea but ouer the whole lande whiche shooke both the earth and the whole citie with the violence and force therof and together with this wonderfull and sodaine earthquake the sea caste vp before the gates of the citie the martyrs carcasse as if it had bene of strength not bigge inough to beare so holie a burthen Such were the circumstances toutching blessed Apphianus who suffred martyrdome on good friday that is the second day of the moneth Zanthicus the 4. of the Nones of Aprill CAP. XXIII The Martyrdome of Vlpianus and Aedesius THe same time of the yeare and in maner on the selfe same dayes in the citie of Tyrus there was a yonge man by name Vlpianus who after most bitter stripes and greuous lashes was wrapped together with a dogge and a serpent in a greene oxe hyde and caste into the deapth of the sea And therefore I thought good to place him the next martyr in order of historie vnto Apphianus Not long after Aedesius not onely brother in God but also by birth and blood naturall brother by the fathers side vnto Apphianus suffred like brotherly and in maner the selfe same torments with him after infinite confessions of his faith after long fettering and stocking after sentence pronounced of the president cōdemning him to the myne pitts quarries in Palaestina after his holy trade of life led vnder the philosophicall habite being farre more profounde in prophane literature and better skilled in philosophie then his brother at length hearinge the Iudge giue sentence vpon the Christians in the citie of Alexandria and raging against them beyonde all reason shamefully entreating some times graue and sage and sober men some other times deliueringe chaste matrons and consecrated virgins to brothell houses to the ende they should be beastly abused he enterprised the selfe same thinge which his brother had done before And because he could in no wise away with those horrible offences he went boldly and courageously vnto the Iudge and told him to his face of the filthie and shamefull acts he had done both by worde and deede for which bolde reprehension he suffred sundry bitter torments with great constancie and pacience and last of all he was throwen into the sea enioying the like ende with his brother so farre of Aedesius And these things as I sayd before ensued not long after CAP. XXIIII Of Agapius the Martyr IN the fourth yeare of the persecution which plagued vs sore and the twelft Calendes of December the twentieth day of the moneth Dius beyng the fridaie and in the same citie of Caesarea such an act was committed in the presence of Maximinus the tyrant who then celebrated his birth day with royall spectacles and sumptuous maskes together with the people as may be thought worthy of memory and the printing in marble And because the custome then preuailed that sundry showes how so euer it fell out at other times in presence of the emperours should be exhibited with princely port maiestie to their great delight pleasure and that varietie full of newe and straunge deuises besides the common and vsuall maner should then be ministred so that some times beasts which were fett out of India Aethiopia other places were let loose in cōpasse of the theatre some other times men with lewde and wanton gestures delited the beholders wonderfully and the emperour also him selfe made sport and pastime it behoued that a notable spectacle full of admiration shoulde shine in that gorgeous and princely showe And what thinke you was that A martyr and a witnesse of our christian religion brought to the ringe and readie to wrastle for the sole and syncere seruice of God by name Agapius whome
when as in steede of his proper name he had named himselfe vnto him after some Prophet or other for this was their maner in steede of the Idolatrous names which their parents had geuen them to chose them newe names they called them selues after the name of Elias Ieremias Esay Samuel and Daniel and expressed not onely in worde but in workes them selues the very true God of Israel hidd from the Iewes according vnto the proper etymologie of their names Firmilianus hearing such an appellation of the Martyr weyed not at all the sense and signification of the worde but secondarily asketh of him what contreyman he was he satisfying the interrogatorie geueth a flâ—t name vnto the former aunswere that his contrey was Ierusalem meaning in very deede the selfe same wherof Paul spake that Ierusalem vvhich is aboue is free vvhich is the mother of vs all agayne in an other place ye are come vnto the mount Sion and to the citye of the liuing God the celestiall Ierusalem for it was this that the Martyr vnderstoode Firmilianus being earthly minded enquireth earnestly and curiously where this city was in what contrey it lay and with all tormented him greeuously to the ende he shoulde confesse the trueth â–ª this Martyr hauing his handes wrested and tyed behinde him his feete with certayne newe and straunge kinde of engines stretched asunder auoutched constantly that he had told him the trueth Afterwards when the iudge demaunded of him againe what he was and where that city was situated made answere that it was a contrey which onely belonged vnto the godly that none other shoulde be partaker thereof saue the godly alone and that it was situate eastward where the sunne in the morning spreddeth abroad the bright beames of his light In vttering these wordes he entred into so diuine a cogitation within him selfe that he forgot the tormentors which layd him on on euery side and seemed to perceaue no sense or feeling of the payne and punishment as if he had bene a ghost without fleshe bloode or bone The iudge casting doubts with him selfe and greatly disquieted in minde thought the Christians would bring to passe that the city mentioned by the Martyr should rebell and become enemy vnto the Romaynes he began to search and diligently to inquire where that region by report eastward should be â–ª last of all when he sawe this yong man after bitter and greeuous torments with immutable constancy to perseuere stedfast in his former saying he gaue sentence that his head should be striken of from his shoulders â–ª such was the mortal race of this miserable life which this blessed Martyr did runne The rest of his companions after the like torments ended their liues with the laying of their heads vpon the blocke In the ende Firmilianus although in maner weryed and frustrated of his purpose yet satisfied to the full with these infinite torments and their terrible execution turned him selfe vnto Pamphilus and his companions And although he had experience sufficient heretofore of their inuincible constancy in the defence of their fayth yet agayne he demaundeth whether at length they would obey and yelde vnto him when he was resolued of their definite sentence and last answere which tended to martyrdome he gaue sentence they should be tormented and punished alike with the former martyrs which being done a yong man one of the seruants of Pamphilus so well brought by instructed that he might very well seeme worthy the discipline and education of so worthy a man as soone as he perceaued that sentence was past vpon his maister crieth out in the middest of the throng and requesteth that his maisters carkasse together with his companions after the breath were departed their body might quietly be buried in their graues The Iudge being affectioned not like vnto man but to a beast or if there be any other thing more sauadg tendered not at all y â— yong mans youthly yeares but forth w t demaundeth of him whether he were a christian who when that he affirmed plainly that he was boyled with anger as if his hart had bene stickt w t a knife charged the tormentors they shoulde laye on him the weyght of their handes and the might of their strength after that he was inioyned to sacrifice and had refused the Iudge commaunded that without all compassion he should be scourged vnto the bare bone the inner and secret bowells not as if he were man couered with flesh and compassed in a skinne but a picture made of stone or wood or some other senselesse metall In which kinde of torment continewed a long time when the iudge perceaued that he vttered no language neither gaue forth to vnderstand y â— he felt any paine sawe that his body being in maner senselesse spent with lashes consumed away he tormented him in vayne he continewed still in that his hard and stony hart voyde of all humanitie and decreed forthwith that his body should be burned by a litle and a litle with a slowe and slacke fire This yong man being the last of them which afore the martyrdome of Pamphilus who was his maister according vnto the fleshe entred into this dangerous skirmishe departed this life before him because that the tormentors which executed the rest seemed to be very slow Then might a man haue seene Porphyrius for that was the yong mans name after triall in euery kinde of exercise earnestly and wholy bent with a wonderful desire as the maner is of men to obtayne the valiant sacred victory his body be poudred with dust yet gracious in face and countenance hastening to the place of execution for al his affections with vpright and noble courage replenished no doubt with the spirite of God attyred in the philosophicall habit after his wonted guyse to wete wearing a garment after the maner of a cloke which couered only his shoulders telling his familiars with signes tokens w t a modest mild spirite what his wil was to be done continewing still yea when he was bounde to the stake his glorious gladsome countenance moreouer when the fire flashed about with great distance and waxed extreame hott in compasse of him ye might haue seene him with his breath on eyther side drawing the flame vnto him and after these wordes when as the flame first of all toutched his bodye which with loude voyce he sounded out Iesus thou sonne of God succor and helpe me to haue suffred constantly without any murmuring at al all those maruelous and extreame torments euen to the last gaspe such was the affliction of Porphyrius whose ende Seleucus a confessor and a souldier signified vnto Pamphilus â–ª who as the author of such a message deserued was without delay thought worthy to take the same chaunce together with those Martyrs for as soone as he had certified him of Porphyrius death and taken his leaue and farewell of one of the Martyrs certaine souldiers laye handes vpon him
that sea◠departed this life all was there on an vprore about the election of a bishop and great strife there was whilest that some woulde preferre this man some other that man vnto the bishopricke The tumult beinge raysed Ambrose Liuetenant of the citie who also was a Consull fearing greatly lest that schisme woulde breéde mischiefe in y ◠citie came purposely into the church for to appease the sedition After that his presence had preuayled very much with the people after that he had geuen them many notable exhortations after he had mitigated the rage of the heady and rashe multitude all of a sodayne with one voyce and with one mouth nominated Ambrose to their byshop For in so doinge there was hope that all woulde be reconciled and that all woulde embrace one faith and opinion The bishops that were present thought veryly that the vniforme voyce of the people was the voyce of God him selfe Wherefore without any further deliberation they take Ambrose and baptize him for he was a Catechumenist and stall him bishop But when Ambrose came willingly to the baptisme yet denyed vtterly he would be bishop they make the Emperour Valentinianus priuie to their doings He wonderinge at the consent and agreement of the people supposed that which was done to be the worke of God him selfe and signified vnto the bishops that they shoulde obey the will of God who commaunded they shoulde create him bishop that God rather then men preferred him vnto this dignitie When that Ambrose was thus chosen bishop the citizens of Millayne who aforetime were at discord among them selues thenceforth embraced peace and vnitie CAP. XXVI Of the death of Valentinianus the Emperour AFter the aforesayde sturre was ended when the Sarmatians assaulted the Romaine dominions the Emperour raysed great power and made expedition against them The Barbarians vnderstanding of this and foreseeing their owne weakenes that they were not able to encounter with so great a power sent embassadours vnto the Emperour crauinge of him that he would ioyne with them in league establishe peace betwene them As soone as the embassadours had presented them selues before him and seeynge that they were but abiects and raskalls demaunded of them what be the rest of the Sarmatians such men as you are When the Embassadours had answered yea O Emperour thou seest the chiefest of the Sarmatians before thee Valentinianus was wonderfully incensed against them and brake out into vehement language that the Empire of Rome had yll lucke to fall into his handes vnder whose raygne so beggerly and so abiect a kinde of Barbarians coulde not quiete and content them selues with safetie within their owne boundes but they muste take armour rebell agaynste the Romaine Empire and so boldely proclayme open warre He strayned him selfe so muche in exclayminge agaynste them that he opened euery vayne in his bodie and brake the arteries asunder whereof there gushed out such a streame of bloode so that he dyed in the Castell commonly called Bergitium in the thirde Consulshippe of Gratianus together with Ecoetius the sixtienth of Nouember He lyued foure and fiftie yeares and raygned thirteene The sixt daye after the desease of Valentinianus the souldiers of Italie proclaymed Emperour Valentinianus the yonger so called after his fathers name who was of very tender yeares at Aconicum a citie in Italie The rest of the Emperours vnderstāding of this tooke the matter very grieuously not because Valentinianus who was y ◠ones brother the others brothers sonne was chosen Emperour but because he was appointed without their consent vnto whome it belonged to create him Emperour But both gaue their cōsents that he shoulde be Emperour and thus was Valentinianus the yonger sett in the emperiall seate of his father We haue to learne that this Valentinianus was gott vpon Iustina whome his father maryed for all that Seuera his firste wyfe was alyue and that for this cause Iustus the father of Iustina who a good while agoe in the raigne of Constantius the Emperour was Liuetenant of Picenum sawe in his sleepe that his right side was deliuered of the emperiall purple robe When that he awoke he tolde his dreame to so many that at length it came to the Emperour Constantius eare He thereby was geuen to coniecture that there shoulde one be borne of Iustus which shoulde be Emperour and therefore he sent from him that shoulde dispatche Iustus out of the waye Wherefore Iustina nowe bereaued of her father contineweth a virgine In processe of time she became acquainted with Seuera the Empresse and had often conference with her When that there grewe greate familiaritie betweene them they vsed both one hath for to bayne them selues Seuera seeyng the beautie of this virgine as she bayned her selfe was wonderfully in loue with Iustina she tolde the Emperour also what a goodly mayde she was that the daughter of Iustus passed for beautie all the women in the worlde that she her selfe though she were a woman yet was wonderfully enamored with her sweete face The Emperour printinge in his harte the wordes which seemed onely to pearce but the eare deuised with him selfe howe he myght compasse this beautifull Iustina to his wyfe not diuorcinge Seuera ▪ vpon whome he had gotten Gratianus whome also he had made Emperour a little before Wherefore he made a lawe that as many as woulde myght lawfully haue two wyues the which he proclaymed throughout euery citie When the lawe was proclaymed he tooke Iustina to his seconde wyfe vpon whome he gotte Valentinianus the yonger and three daughters Iusta Grata Galla. Of the which two lead they re lyues in virginitie the thirde Galla by name was maryed to Theodosius Magnus on whome he gotte his daughter Placidia For he gotte Arcadius and Honorius of Placidia his former wyfe But of Theodosius and his children in an other place CAP. XXVII After that Themistius the Philosopher had made an Oration in the hearinge of Valens the Emperour relented from persecuting of the Christians and howe the Gothes in the tyme of Valens embraced the Christian faith VAlens makinge his abode at Antioche although he warred but litle with forayne nations the Barbarian nations kept them selues within their boundes yet pursued he continewally such as helde the faith of One substance and ceassed not dayly to inuent newe deuises and straung torments wherewith he myght plague them ▪ vntyll that his fierce and cruell minde was somewhat mitigated with the Oration which Themistius the Philosopher pronounced before him where he admonished the Emperoure not to maruayle though the Christians varyed amonge them selues in religion that if Christianitie were compared with infinite multitudes of opinions raygninge amonge heathen philosophers sure he was that there were aboue three hundreth opinions and greate dissention about rules and preceptes wherevnto euery sect necessarily addicted them selues it woulde seeme but a very small thing and that God woulde sette forth his glorie by the diuersitie and discorde in opinions to
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
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
constrained to come to the councell helde at Tyrus where he was deposed Socrat. lib. 1. ca 20 Arius borne in Libya yet a prieste of Alexandria hearing Alexander the bishop entreatinge curiously of the trinitie thought verily that he maintayned the opinioÌ„ of Sabellius set him self agaynst the bishop and sayde that the sonne of God had a beginninge of esseÌ„ce that there was a time when he was not he sayde that God was not alwayes a Father that the sonne was not froÌ„ euerlasting but had his beginninge of nothinge Being called before the Emperour he woulde subscribe vnto the Nicene councell sweare toe His deceate was to carie in his bosome his hereticall opinion wrytteÌ„ in a peece of paper and when he came to the booke he woulde sweare that he thought as he had written meaning in his bosome His ende was lamentable for comming from the Emperoure after the oth he had taken with greate pompe throughe the streete of Constantinople he was taken with suddayne feare and withall he felt a laske immediatlye he asked of them where there was any house of office thither he weÌ„t voyded his gutts as manye as went by were wonte to poynte at the place with the finger and say In yonder iakes dyed Arius the heretick Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 3. 25. Epiphan haeres 68. 69.  Alexander b. of Alexandria to Arius the heretick exhorting theÌ„ to vnitie â–ª wheÌ„ he was 60. 5. yeares old he dyed after that he had raigned 31 yeares Euseb li. 8. ca. 14. 15. 16. lib. 9. cap. 9 10. lib. 10. cap. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 2 4. 26. He differred his baptisme vnto his last end purposing fullye to haue it in Iordaine where Christ was baptized It was Eusebius b. of Nicomedia as Eusebius Ierom and Socrates doe write that baptised him for all the trauell that Cardinal pool tooke and the flattering glosses to proue the contrarye The donation that is fathered vpon him is but a meere fable in the iudgement of the best wryters Eusebius Pamphilus bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina wrote the ecclesiasticall historie froÌ„ the byrth of Christ vnto the raygne of ConstaÌ„tine the great he was at the councel of Nice wrote the Nicene creede seÌ„t it to Caesarea condeÌ„ned Arius with his own haÌ„de yet was he thoughte to be an Arian and to cleare him of the suspicion Socrates wrote an Apology in his behalfe whiche is to be seene in his history ConstaÌ„tine had hiÌ„ in greate reuerence Because of his familiaritye with Pamphilus the martyr he was called Eusebius Pamphilus he wrote many notable bookes died in the time of ConstaÌ„tine the yonger Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 1. 5. 18 lib. 2. cap. 3. 17. Ierom catalog Frumentius was made bishop by Athanasius and sent to conuert the Indians Socrat lib. 1. ca. 15. Eusebius Emisenus a godly bishop was a great clerke a profounde philosopher in the days of Constantine Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 18. lib. 2. cap. 6. There was at Rome in the time of Siluester a Councell of 277. bishops whiche ratified the Nicene couÌ„cell coÌ„demned Arius Photinus Sabellius tom 1. coÌ„cil In the time of CoÌ„stantine sayth Marianus Scotus Helen his mother writeth vnto him that he should renouÌ„ce Christ becom a Iewe. To trye the trueth HeleÌ„ brought with her 120. Iewes Constantine brought Siluester b. of Rome with 24. other bishops they disputed of Christ in the ende the Iewes were ouerthrowen to 1. concil  Eustathius was b. of Antioch after Philogonus he was at the councel of Nice But he fel into the heresie of Sabellius and was deposed in a councell held at Antioch Eusebius PaÌ„philus confuted him after his deposition the seae was voyde the space of 8. yeres Socrat. li. 1. cap. 9. 18. Marcus was b. of Rome after Siluester and coÌ„tinewed 8. moneths Ierom.   Alexander b. of Constantinople a godlye father sett him selfe against Arius he trusted not to the quirckes of logick but to the power of Christ helockt him self in the churche and prayd thus vnto God I besech thee o lord if the opinioÌ„ of Arius be true that I my selfe maye neuer see the ende of this disputatioÌ„ but if the faith which I holde be true that Arius may receau due punishmeÌ„t for his blas phemous opinion whiche in deede sell out as it is to be seen in Arius ende Alelexander was 118. yeare olde when he dyed Socrat lib. 1. cap 25. li. 2 cap. 4. Siluester called at Rome 284. bishops in the presence of CoÌ„stantine and Helena his mother where they layd downe canons for the gouernmeÌ„t of the clergie tom 1. coÌ„cil A councell held at Antioche deposed Eustathius b. of Antioche for maintaining the heresie of Sabellius Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 18. A councel held at Eliberis in Spayne in the time of CoÌ„staÌ„tine decreed that the vsurer should be excoÌ„municated that tapers shold not burne in the daye tyme in church yardes that women shoulde not frequent vigills that images should be banished the church that nothinge should be painted on the wall to be worshipped that euery one should coÌ„municate thrise in the yere tom 1. concil    They accused him at ConstaÌ„tinople be fore the Emperour that he should say he woulde stay the cariadge of corne froÌ„ AlexaÌ„dria to ConstaÌ„tinople for the which Constantinus magnus â—an ished him into Treuere a citie of FrauÌ„ce lib. 1. ca. 23. CoÌ„stantine the yonger called him home froÌ„ exile lib. 2. cap. 2. The councel of Antioche charged hiÌ„ that he tooke the bishoprike after his exile without the warrant of a councel they deposed him and chose Eusebius Emisenê° when he refused it they chose Gregorius an Arian who was brought thither with armed souldiers so that A thanaâ—ius fled away to saue his life afterwardes they misliked with him placed Georgius in his rowme whiche had a miserable end lib. 2. ca. 5. 6. 7. 8. 10. lib. 3. ca. 2. he weÌ„t to Iulius b. of Rome and came to enioy his bishopricke by vertue of his letters lib. 2. ca. 11. Againe the AriaÌ„s accused him to the emperor that he had taken the corne which the emperor gaue to the poore and sold it to his owne lucre so that he was faine the seconde time to slye vnto Iulius b. of Rome where he coÌ„tinewed one yeare six moneths vntil the couÌ„ cel of Sardice where he was restored to his bishoprick lib. 2. ca. 13. 16. but CoÌ„staÌ„tius beyng an Arian banished him againe so that Constans his brother threatned him with warres and coÌ„strayned him to doe it lib. 2. ca. 18. after the death of Constans Constantius exiled him againe lib. 2. cap. 21. After the death of Constantius he came to AlexaÌ„dria but he was fayne to flie in the time of lulian the Apostata li. 3 ca. 4. 12. He came hom in the time of Iouianus and fled away in the time of Valens the A rian he was b. six forty yeres