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
the Emperour in all thinges he shall passe the boundes of his callinge and forgett his profession Thus much briefly of the Emperour Iulians linage his bringinge vp and disposition also howe he came to be Emperour nowe let vs returne to discourse of the ecclesiasticall affayres within that tyme. CAP. II. Of the commotion risen at Alexandria and the death of Georgius IT fell out vpon this occasion at the beginninge that there rose a greate vprore at Alexandria There was a certaine place within the citie which of old time lay all wast and open full of all filth and vncleanesse where the Ethniks with rites and ceremonies done to the honor of Mithra accustomed to offer vp men for sacrifice This platt of ground seruing to no vse or purpose Constantius gaue to the church of Alexandria Georgius purposing with him selfe to founde there a church causeth the ground to be ridd and the filthe to be caryed away Hauing purged the place there was found a chauncell of great heyghth where the Ethniks had layd vp the reliques of their mysteries There was also found therein an infinite number of dead mens skulles both of yonge and olde the which as we are geuen to vnderstande were slayne when the Pagans vsed bowells and intraylls for diuination and deuelish southsaying thereby to dasell and bleare the eyes of simple and ignorant soules When these were found in the vesteryes and secret closets of Mithra the Christians went about to disclose vnto the world their practises to the end their fond ceremonies myght be derided of all men They cary about the bauld skulls of the dead for the people to gaze vpon The Pagans inhabiting Alexandria perceyuing their drift ▪ stomaked the Christians boyled within them selues for anger tooke that which first came to their handes sett vpon them and slewe of them euery kind of way so that some were runne through with swords some other brayned with clubbs other some stoned to death some strangled with halters about their necks some other were nayled to the tree casting in their teeth the death of the crosse In the end as cōmonly it falleth out in such hurlyburlyes they held not their hands no not from their dearest friends one friende fell vpon an other the one brother sought the other brothers lyfe the parents put theyr children to death and to be short the one cutt the others throte so that the Christians were fayne to ceasse from rydding the filth and foule closetts of Mithra and Georgius was of the gentils pulled out of the church by the eares tyed to a camell torne in peeces and burned to ashes together with the beast CAP. III. Howe that the Emperour taking grieuously the death of Georgius rebuked sharply in his letters the people of Alexandria THe Emperour beyng wonderfully moued with the death of Georgius wrote bytter letters vnto the people of Alexandria The reporte goeth that such as conceaued displeasure agaynst him in the quarell of Athanasius committed these thinges agaynste Georgius for to dispatche him out of the way But in my opinion they that be at variance amonge them selues most commonly holde together when necessitie constrayneth them in tumultes and seditions to withstand the violence of desperate and damned persons Wherfore the Emperours epistle chargeth not the Christians seuerally but all the inhabitants of Alexandria Georgius as it is very lyke had diuersly molested and greeued them all and therefore the people was furiously sett on fiery seditiō that the Emperour wrote generally vnto y ◠who le multitude heare out of his epistle as followeth The Emperour Caesar Iulianus Maximus Augustus vnto the people of Alexandria sendeth greetinge Although it falleth out amongest you that there is no reuerence geuen vnto Alexander the founder of your citie or that vvhich is greater if ye stand in no avve of the great and moste holie God Serapis yet doe I greately maruell that you vvere so voyde of common reason naturall affection and honest ciuilitie and that vvhich with modestie I may add therevnto you had so little consideration of our person vvhome not onely the greate God Serapis but also all the other godds haue thought vvorthie to be Emperour of the vvhole vvorlde vnto vvhome it shoulde haue bene your parte to haue had recourse and to haue geuen vs the hearinge of all such iniuries vvhatsoeuer you had sustayned at the handes of levvde and disobedient persons But peraduenture the boylinge heate of anger and the furious motion of the mynde ouershadovved your vvytts and blynded your eyes the vvhich most commonly beynge remoued from the seate of reason is vvont to committe such cruell and haynous actes And though the fonde humour of sedition feedinge on malice vvas hyndered a little yet for all that it brake out to the contempt and ouerthrovve of the lavves You therefore seynge ye are numbred amonge the people and inhabitants of Alexandria vvhome neyther reason coulde persvvade neyther shame vvithdravve from attemptinge the thynges for the vvhich you myght haue iustly detested them I charge you in the name of Serapis tell mee vvhat vvicked fiende hath thus furiously prouoked you to seeke the death of Georgius you vvyll saye peraduenture he incensed agaynste you the most blessed Emperour Constantius that he procured a bande of armed souldiers to be brought into your sacred citie that the Liuetenant of Aegypt ransacked and kept from you the most holie temple of God caryed avvay thence the images the monuments glorious ornature prouided for the solemnitie of seruice and also that vvhen you not digestinge those haynous acts endeuoured and that not vvithout iust cause to maynetayne the quarell of your god yea rather to retayne the glorious ornaments of your greate god the same Liuetenant contrarie to all reason both vniustly and vvyckedly sett vpon you vvith armed souldiers vvho fearing more the displeasure of Georgius the byshop then of Constantius the Emperour thought best in such sorte to saue him selfe For novve of a longe vvhyle he had behaued him selfe more orderly and ciuilly then tyrannically disposed tovvardes you For the vvhich causes you vvere incensed agaynste Georgius the open aduersarie of the godds and haue thus defyled vvith conspiracie and slaughter your holie citie vvhen as you myght haue sued him in the lavve and brought him to his tryall and the sentence of the Iudges In so doinge this haynous offence had not broken out into bloodshedinge and horrible murther but vvoulde haue pacified the matter in aequall ballaunce and preserued you vvithout harme or domage it vvoulde haue sharpely punished the authour of such levvde practises and kept vnder all them vvhich not onely despise the gods but also sette at nought such noble cities and famous assemblies supposinge the crueltie they exercise vpon them to be a furtherance vnto their povver and authoritie Conferre this my epistle vvith that vvhich of late I sent vnto you and weye diligently the difference betvvene them In the former I haue highly commended you but novve
ende it might be vnpossible for any after him to reuiue those olde dregges of Lecherye He fayned him selfe to be in a greate agonye accused him selfe of rashe dealinge and meere madnesse sayinge he was toe vayne glorious and by that meanes weyed not the vtilitye and profitte of the common weale in that he had taken awaye both foolishlye and wythout aduisement so large a tribute begonne so manye yeares agoe and continewed so longe a time not foreseeinge the discommodityes that ensued by reason of the wante thereof the charges for mayntenance of soldiers the strength of the common weale The tribute beinge as a fortresse to defende it the liberalitye risinge thence and turned to vpholde the seruice of God Laste of all makinge no man of his counsell he proclaymed that his will was the tribute shoulde be wholly restored againe therefore he called vnto him the olde receauers he tolde them that he was sorye for the burninge of the recordes that he knewe not what to doe howe to excuse his folly neyther what to deuise seeinge their registeries were consumed to ashes When as they vnfaynedlye and from the very heart bewayled their losse and the want of the ill gotten goods which came thereby into their hands and tolde him playnely that it was in manner vnpossible to restore the tribute againe he requested them to doe all their indeuor and to searche if happely they might finde amonge all the recordes that were in anye place preserued the order of demaundinge the taxe and tribute Wherefore he sent vnto euerye one of them his charges for searchinge the countreys and recordes and commaunded that euerye deede or scrole which made mention thereof where so euer it were founde shoulde be brought vnto him to th ende this taxe might be restored agayne in suche good order that it coulde neuer fall afterwardes into decaye Shortly after when these messengers of trust brought tydings what they had founde Anastasius was wonderfull glad and seemed to tickle at the heart for ioy he reioysed in deede because now he had brought about that which troubled him so muche What sayth he vnto them haue ye founde any recordes where found ye them be they to any purpose doe ye thinke there are any where any more left behinde they aunswered that their trauell had bene greate that they rode about daye and night that they had searched both towne and countrey and swore by the life of the Emperour that there was not left in al the empire of Rome not as much as a patch of any scrole that was not brought vnto him then the Emperour commaunded a pile to be made all the papers registers recordes bills and baudy notes to be set thereon and burned to ashes when the fire had done his part he gaue commaundement they should throwe water vpon the ashes either quite to drowne them or to driue theÌ„ away with the streame purposing fully by this means for euer to tread vnderfoot the scroles of the baudy tribute that neither sparcle neither ashes neither letter neither any memoriall shoulde remaine after the firing of the records But while we commend Anastasius so highly for banishinge this shamefull tribute lest we seeme ignorant what diuers men of old being wedded to their owne affections haue reported of him we thought good here to lay downe their sayinges and conuince them with their owne words CAP. XL. VVhat Zosimus wrote of Chrysargyrum the shamefull tribute and of Constantinus the Emperour ZOsimus one of them that was bewitched wyth the impious rites and abhominable seruice of Paganes beinge incensed against Constantinus because he was the first Emperour whiche forsooke the detestable Idolatrye of the Gentiles and embraced Christian religion reporteth howe that the tribute Chrysargyrum was firste deuised by him and decreed it should be payde euerye fourth yeare With infinite other sclaunders he goeth about to defame the godly and noble Emperour Constantine For sayth he he deuised mischiefes against all sorts of men of what degree or callinge so euer they were that he slewe his sonne Crist us verye lamentablye that he dispatched his wyfe Fausta by shuttinge her vp iâ— a boylinge bathe that when he woulde haue had his priests to purge him by sacrisice of these horrible murthers and coulde not haue his purpose for they had aunswered plainelye it laye not in their power to clense him he lighted by chaunce vpon an Aegyptian whiche came out of Iberia and perswaded him that the Christian fayth was of force to wipe away euerye sinne were it neuer so haynous and that he embraced willingly all what so euer the Aegyptian tolde him Laste of all that he forsakinge his cuntrey religion cleaued vnto impietye as this lewde varlet reporteth but that all these reports be no other then lyes and sclaunders I will immediately declare and so muche in the meane whyle of Chrysargyrum CAP. XII An inuectiue against Zosimus the Ethnick for reuiling of Constantine and rayliage at the Christians THou saist O wicked spirit and fiende of hell that Constantine purposinge to buylde a citie comparable to Rome layde the fundation of an ample and worthye citie firste in the cuntrey of Troie and the pallace of Priamus after the stones were layde and the wall beinge erected on high to haue espyed that Byzantium was a goodlier soyle for his purpose to haue enuironed it with a wall to haue enlarged the olde and auncient citie to haue adorned it with goodly and gorgeous buylding that it seemed not much inferior to Rome which grew by a litle and a litle the space and continuance of many yeares to that perfection she is of Thou saist moreouer that he gaue to the citizens of Byzantium a measure of grame that such as departed this world at Byzantium left him great summes of golde for to build and erect his pallaces Againe thou reportest I will vse thine owne wordes that the Emperiall scepter befell vnto Constantius after the death of Constantine his father and the deceasse of his bretherne that Constantius at what time Magnentius and Bretannio rebelled endeuored to perswade Bretannto to shake of armour that wheÌ„ both armies ioyned together he made an oration and put them in remembrance of the liberality bountifulnes of his father towards them vnder whose banner they had foyled many an host and receaued of him large rewards that the soldiers immediatly after y â— hearing of his oration tooke away the princely robe from Bretannio led him like a priuate man vnto Constantius who for all thou reuilest him with his father did him no hurt at all how it can be that so liberall and so bountifull a prince coulde be so great a karle and pinche peny as to raise of his subiects so wicked a tribute I can not see That he murthered neither Fausta nor Crispus neither was instruâ—â—ed in y â— misteries of our Christian religion by any Aegyptian at all heare I beseeche thee what Eusebius syrnamed Pamphilus who liued the same time
auncient fathers thus much shall suffice fourtene Epistles of Paul are manifest and well knowen but that diuers reiected the Epistle which is vnto the Hebrues alleadging the contradiction of the Churche of Rome that it was not Paules I thinke it requisite to knowe and what our Predecessors hereof haue thought I will lay downe when occasion serueth The Actes which goe vnder the name of Paule were neuer taken as vndoubted And because the same Apostle in his Epistle vnto the Romaines saluteth certayne and amongest others Hermes therefore appoynt they the booke called Pastor to be his which hath bene gaynesayd of many therefore not to be numbred amonge those bookes which are for certayne Others thought this booke very necessary especially vnto them that haue neede of an elementall introduction but we haue knowne him to haue bene publikely reade in the Churche and alleadged of many auncient writers in their workes let this much be spoken of the holy Scriptures as well of the generally receaued as of the doubtfully reiected CAP. IIII. Of the succession of the Apostles THat Paul preaching vnto the Gentyles planted the Churches from Ierusalem vnto Illyricum it is manifest both by his owne wordes and the testimony of Luke in the Actes In what prouinces Peter preached vnto them of the circumcision and deliuered the doctrine of the newe testament it appeareth by his wordes and also by the Epistle whiche of trueth is sayde to be his written to the Hebrues scattered throughout Pontus Gallacia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia But how many and what sincere followers haue fedd the Churches planted by the Apostles it can not be affirmed but as farre forthe as can be gathered out of the wordes of Paul He had many fellowe laborers and companions as he called them whereof diuers haue purchased immortall memorye for so much as he maketh continuall mention of them in his Epistles and Luke in the Actes repeting the most famous remembreth them by name Timothe is reported to be the firste Bishop of Ephesus and Titus of the Churches in Creta Luke by lyne of Antioche by profession a Phisician hauinge his conuersation of purpose for the moste parte with Paule and the reste of the Apostles lefte vs proofes of skyll comprysed in two volumes medicinable for our soules healthe sought out amonge them One of the Gospell whiche he reporteth to haue published accordinge as he receaued of them whiche from the beginninge were behoulders and mynisters of this doctrine so that he searched all from the originall the other of the Actes of the Apostles where he compiled not onely the thinges hearde with his eares but also the thinges whiche he sawe with his eyes And of Paule they saye that he accustomed to mention the Gospell of Luke when he spake as of his owne sayinge accordinge vnto my Gospell Amonge the other fellowes of Paule Crescens is witnessed to haue bene sent by the Apostle him selfe into Fraunce Toutchinge Linus we spake before that he was the firste Byshop of Rome after Peter whome he remembreth to haue bene with him at Rome in his latter Epistle vnto Timothe And Clemens the thirde Byshop of Rome is proued by his testimonye to be Paules fellovve laborer and companion Moreouer Dionysius the Areopagite whome Luke in the Actes reporteth to haue firste beleued at the Sermon of Paule vnto the Athenians preached in Areopagus was the firste Bishop of Athens but an other Dionysius there was Byshop of the Churche of Corinthe In processe of our history we will dilate of the successors of the Apostles in their seuerall tymes succeeding nowe let vs turne vnto that whiche consequently dependeth vpon the historye CAP V. Of the vtter besieging of the Iewes after the passion and resurrection of Christ AFter that Nero had raygned thirtene yeares Otho and Galba one yeare and six monethes Vespasianus was counted a potent Prince in Iudaea amonge the armyes appoynted against the Ievves and being proclaymed Emperour of the hoast that there was forthe with he is sent to Rome committing vnto his sonne Titus the warres in hande agaynste the Ievves therefore after the ascention of our Sauiour because the Ievves besydes the haynous offence committed agaynst Christ had compassed manyfould mischiefes against his Apostles firste stoning Stephen to death next beheading Iames the sonne of Zebede and the brother of Iohn with the sworde and aboue all Iames their first Bishop after the ascention of our Sauiour with the manner afore mentioned and draue out of Iudaea the rest of the Apostles pursuing them to the deathe with innumerable wyles when as nowe they were sent by the power of Christ to preache vnto all nations sayinge vnto them goe teache all nations in my name Yea and the congregation of the faythfull in Ierusalem forewarned by an oracle reuealed vnto the beste approued amonge them that before the warres beganne they shoulde departe the cytye and inhabite a village beyonde Iordan called Pella into the whiche when the Christians leauing Ierusalem had entred and the holy men had forsaken the princely principall citye of the Jevves together with all the lande of Iudaea the heauye hande of God apprehended that wicked generation vtterly to roote them from amonge men whiche had practysed so presumptuously agaynst Christ and his Apostles howe many mischiefes haue happened at that tyme vnto this whole nation and howe they chiefely whiche enhabyted Iudaea were driuen to extreame myserye and how many millions of men throughout euery age together with women and children perished with the sworde with famyne and with infinite other kindes of deathe and how many and what cityes of the Ievves were destroyed to be shorte howe many calamityes and more then calamityes they sawe whiche fledde vnto Ierusalem as the Metropolytane and best fortyfied citye Moreouer the state of the whole warres and the seuerall actes thereof and howe at lengthe the abomination of desolation foreshewed by the Prophetes standing in that famous temple of olde suffered a diuerous destruction and an vtter ouerthrowe by fire he that listeth to knowe let him reade the historye of Iosephus where all these are diligently described I thinke it necessarye to note howe Iosephus writeth that vppon the solempne dayes of Easter there were gathered together at Ierusalem out of all Iudaea to the number of three hundred Millions and there shutte vp as it were in prison saying It vvas requisite that destruction due for their desert dravvinge nighe by the iust iudgement of God shoulde apprehende them vpon those dayes being as it vvere shutte vp in prison in the vvhiche they before had dravvne the Sauiour and benefactor of al men the anoynted of God vnto his passion Omiting those thinges whiche particularly happened vnto them eyther by sworde or by other kinde of misfortune I thinke it expedient to expresse their onely calamityes by famine so that the reader may partely hereby coniecture howe that God not longe after was reuenged on them for their impiety
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
gallowes some as hainous offenders some other farre worse tyed to y e tree with their heads downeward and so long besett with a watch till famyne had bereued them of their liues CAP. IX The constancye of the Martyrs throughout Thebais OUr penne can not sufficiently paynt forth y e punishments and torments endured of the martyrs throughout Thebais there bodies in steade of iagged hoofes vsed heretofore had the skinne rased all of with rugged shells of sea fishe the women tyed by the one legge were lifted into the ayre and their heads downewards with a certayne engine of woode and there hanged all bare and vncouered yelding vnto the behoulders a foule a filthye a cruell and vnnaturall spectacle agayne others ended their lyues vpon boughes and branches of trees They linked together with certayne instruments the topps of the boysterous mightier boughes and tyed them vnto either of the Martyrs thighes afterwards loosing the boughes to speart spring into their growing place sodainly rent asunder the mēbers of their bodyes for which purpose they inuented this paine all these mischieues continewed not a fewe dayes or for a short space but the terme of many yeares some time more then tenne some other time more then twenty were executed one whyle not vnder thirtye an other whyle welnighe threescore agayne at an other tyme an hundreth in one daye of men women and very yonge children after the bitter taste of sundry kindes of tormentes were put to deathe We sawe our selues with our eyes being then present at the execution a greate multitude whereof some were burned others beheaded vntill the sworde became blunt and the tormentor wearyed so that others came in place and executed by turnes where we behelde also the noble cheere and countenance the diuine power and valiantnesse of mynde in such as buylded their fayth on Iesus Christ our Sauiour as soone as the sentence was pronounced and iudgement geuen vpon the former there stepped forth others and stoode at the barre protesting their fayth and publishing them selues to be Christians not fearing at all the bitternes of manifold and sundry torments but with inuincible mindes laying their whole trust and confidence vpon God ioyfully meryly and chearefully tooke the last sentence of condemnation singing Psalmes and hymnes and thankesgeuing vnto God euen to the last gaspe These were truely to be wondred at but especially such as were renowmed for ritches nobilitie honor eloquence and Philosophy yet preferred they before all these the pietie and fayth in our Lorde Sauiour Iesus Christ such a one was Philoromus gouernour of Alexandria of no small accōpt put in trust with weighty matters of the empire being garded after the Romayne dignity and honor with a troope of souldiers to his trayne was dayly sifted and examined such a one also was Phileas Bishop of the people Thmuitae a famous man for the politike gouernment of his contrey for the ouersight of the publicke lyturgies and study of Philosophy ▪ these men though they were entreated of many their kinsfolkes and otherwise their familiar friendas of many the chiefe rulers and last of all of the iudge him selfe that they woulde tender their owne case that they woulde consider of their calling that they woulde pitye their wiues and children yet could not they for all the perswasion of such great personages be brought by preferring this present life to contemne the fayth of Christ to renounce his lawes but with constant and Philosophicall myndes yea rather diuine enduring all the threats and contumelies of the iudge ended their liues with the loosing of their heades CAP. X. The testimony of Phileas toutching the constancie of the Martyrs of Alexandria and the crueltie of the enemies IN so much that we haue reported Phileas to be famous for his skill in prophane literature he shall wittnesse both of him selfe and of the Martyrdomes of his tyme at Alexandria declaring farre more diligently then we vse to doe writing vnto the Thmuitans in these wordes for as much as all these things are published in holy Scripture for paterns exāples monumēts for our learning the blessed Martyrs vvhich liued among vs lifting vp the eye of the minde and behoulding with cleare sight the vniuersall God settled their mindes to endure any kinde of death for the seruice and religion due vnto God and held fast their vocation knowing that the Lorde Iesus for our sake tooke the nature of man vpon him to the ende he might cutt of wholy all sinne and ayde vs to enter into euerlasting life for he thought no robbery to be equall with God but made him selfe of no reputation taking on him the forme of a seruaunt and vvas founde in his shape as man he humbled him selfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse VVherefore the blessed Martyrs of God reposed Christ in their breast being desirous of more excellent giftes endured not once but some of them twise all payne punishments that could be inuented and all the threats of souldiers practised agaynst them either by word or by deede with an inuincible courage excluding feare by reason of the fulnes of loue whose manhoode and valiantnesse in all their torments what man is able with mouth to expresse and because it was permitted laweful for euery man to torment them as him pleased best some smite them with clubbes and cudgells some with sharpe twigges some with whippes some with lethern thonges some other with whipcorde the spectacle was pitiful both for the varietie of torment the and superfluity of malice some with their handes tyed behind them were stretched a long racked in euery ioynt throughout the body as they hong and laye in the racke the tormentors were commaunded to torment all their bodies ouer neyther plaguing them as theeues are commonly handled with the onely renting of their sides but they had the skinnes of their bellies and of their shinnes and of their eye lidds rased all of with rugged hoofes with the talents and clawes of wilde beastes some were seene to hange by the one hande at an hollow vaute and to endure that way farre more bitter racking of the ioyntes and members of the bodie some were tyed to pyllers and their faces wrested quite kame for to beholde them selues their feete standing them in no steede but they violently wagging by the weyght and payse of their bodies were thus greeuously tormented by reason of their stretching and squysing in bondes this they suffered not onely while they were examined and whilest the President dealt vvith them but throughout the vvhole day ▪ and vvhen that he passed from the former vnto the latter he gaue his ministers charge to ouersee them behinde if that peraduenture any of them being ouercome vvith the greeuous torments did yeald He commaunded also that if any vvere in daunger of death by reason of colde that their fetters bondes shoulde speedely be released and they to be layd
of the high sheepherde But if theyr mindes haue bene amazed with the threates of sundry tyrantes neither hath the worde of saluation contemned the cure of them but healinge them notably leadeth them vnto heauenly comforte saying Comfort yourselues you faint harted be strong feare not and because it behoued this wildernes wrought for God to enioy these benefits this our newe and passing Zorobabel endued with that readines of mind he is of to geue eare obeying the sayings of the prophets after that bitter captiuity and abhomination of desolation despised not this deade carcase but before all thinges pacifying God the father with prayers and supplications together with the consente of you all taking him for a helper and fellowe worker which alone quickeneth the deade raised her being fallen after that he had purged and cured the mischiefs which were wrought and gaue her a stole not wherewith she was cladd of old but that which she learned againe of holy scripture which testifieth thus And the later glory of this house shall passe the former Wherefore enlarging this quire with farre greater rowme he hath fortified the outer compasse of the whole buylding with a wall that it might be a most safe hedge of all the whole work next he hath erected a great porch reaching very high eastwardes vnto the sunne beames so that vnto them which stande a farre of without the halowed walls it yealdeth a cleare shewe of the artificiall worke contayned within them and with all turning or entising the countenance of foreyners toutching the fayth vnto the first entrance so that none passe by which is not pricked in minde first with the remembrance of the former desolation past next with the sight of this wonderfull worke vnto such as were hoped and wished for a pricke paraduenture to draw men and by the beholding thereof to entice meÌ„ to enter in them also who already are entred within the gates he suffreth not with foule and vnwashed feete to drawe nigh vnto the inner partes of the most holy places For making a separation with great distance betwene the temple it selfe the first entrance he hath bewtified this place on euery side with foure ouerthwarte porches and after the forme of a quadrangle he compassed them about one euery side with highe pillers the distance whereof he hathe shutte with latice like netts made of wood and measured after the breadeth of the place the open middle he left free that the gorgeous skie mighte be seene and that it might yeld the aere tempered with the bright beames of the sunne Hither hath he referred pleadges of holy purgations to meete welsprings lying ouer against the temple which with great plenty of water graunte licence of purifying vnto such as enter into the holy cloysteres The first exercise for such as enter yeldeth vnto euery one bewty brightnes to were the washing of their handes clensing of their body but vnto theÌ„ that desire the knowledge of the chiefe principles of our religion a fiâ—â—e mansion place to continewe Moreouer when he had wonderfully garnished the sight of these he proceeded on made the entraunces of the temple wide open as yet w t more artificiall porches wrought within side And againe he placed three gates of the one side subiecte to the sunne beames the which he made to excell w t the midd distaÌ„ce of both sids by reason of the biggnesse and breadth thereof the which also he notably sett forth with bowes of brasse linked with iron and sundry kinds of carued worke and substituted them vnto it as gardinge souldiers vnto a queene After this maner he added the same number of porches vnto the galeryes on euery side of the whole temple and ouer theÌ„ from aboue he inueÌ„ted sundry falles of greater lights vnto the whole house the setting out or fronte of theÌ„ he hath diuersly wrought ouer with carued timber But the princely pallace he hath fortified w t more precious more gorgeous stuff vsing for this more pleÌ„teous liberality of expeÌ„ces It seemeth vnto me herein a thing superflous if y â— I would describe the length breadth of this house these gorgeous ornaments the vnspeakable greatnes y â— glistering shew of the worke the height reaching vnto y â— heauens if that I would extoll with speach the precious cedre trees of Libanus hanging ouer the which holy Scripture haue not passed ouer with silence saying The trees of the Lorde vvill reioyce and the cedres of Libanus vvhich the Lord hath planted To what end shall I entreate more curiously of the most wise and chiefe deuised disposition of the building and againe of the excellent ornature of euery seuerall parte when as the testimony of the eyes them selues passeth and excludeth that knowledg which pearceth the eare But this man hauing finished the temple and the most high seates for the presidents honor againe hauinge placed the vnderseates in a passing good order and last of all the most holy place the alter beinge sett in the middest agayne he so compassed these things wyth wooden rayles wrought vp to the toppe wyth artificiall caruynge that many might not come therein yeldinge a wonderfull bewty to the beholders Nether hath he negligeÌ„tly strawed the pauement This he gorgeously bedecked with marble stone now consequently he tooke in haÌ„d the vtter partes of the temple he builded seates and goodly chapels one ether side very artificially and ioyned theÌ„ to the temples side he beat out windowes coopled them to the doores of the middle temple the which things also our Solomon an earnest maintainer of peace builder of this temple hath brought to passe for such as yet want the sacrifice sprinklings done by water and the holy ghost So that the prophecy aboue mentioned consist no longer in words but is accomplished in deede it selfe For as yet as it is most true The later glorie of this house passeth the former For it behoued and most meete it was In so much that the Lorde had bene in agony had once embraced death for her and after his passion the foule body which for her sake he putt on being translated vnto brightnes and glory and the flesh it selfe after dissolution ledd from corruption to incorruption that shee in like maner shoulde enioye the gracious goodnes of our Sauiour Although she had promisses of the Lord himselfe of farre more excelleÌ„t gifts and desireth incessantly to obtaine a greater glory of newe birth at the resurrection of the incorruptible body together with the glisteringe brightnes of the Angelicall quire aboue in the heauens pallaces of God with Iesus Christ him selfe the chiefe benefactor and Sauiour in the world to come yet in the meane space in this present life she which of old was a widowe and solitary nowe adorned by the grace of God with these flowres and become in deede like the lily according vnto the sayinge of
of the tumult and sturre raised amonge the faithfull through the variety and contention of the Gentils they all assembled together they layde downe a certayne holy lawe the which they published vnto the worlde in forme of an epistle deliuering the faithfull from the heauy yoke of bondage from the vayne and friuolous contention rising thereof They haue taught them a sure and a certaine rule for the direction of good life prescribing them onely such thinges as were necessary to be obserued And for all the epistle is to be seene in the Acts of the Apostles yet there is no cause to the contrary but that the reader may find it among these our histories The Apostles ▪ the elders brethren vnto such brethren as of the Gentils inhabite Antioch Syria Cilicia send greetings VVhereas vve are geuen to vnderstand that some which departed from vs haue troubled you vvith vvordes and cumbred your mindes saying ye must be circumcised and keepe the lavve to vvhome vve gaue no such commaundement it seemed therefore good vnto vs being gathered together vvith one accorde for to sende chosen men vnto you vvith our vvelbeloued Barnabas Paul men they are that haue ioperded their liues for the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ Therefore vve haue sent vnto you Iudas and Silas vvho by vvorde of mouth can declare vnto you the same For it seemed good vnto the holy Ghost and to vs to charge you vvith no more then vvith these necessary thinges to vvete that ye abstaine from thinges offred to Idols from bloode from strangled and fornication ye shall doe vvell in keeping your selues vndefiled from these thinges Farevvell These thinges were agreeable with the will of God for so the epistle testifieth It pleased the holy Ghost not to burthen you further then vvith the obseruation of these necessaries But some neglecting these things account of fornication as a thing indifferent yet they contende about holydayes as it were for life and death they despise the commaundements of God and establish them Canons of their owne they set at nought they make no accompt of the law published by the Apostles and so vnaduisedly they put in practise contrary decrees vnto the will of God him selfe Furthermore although I coulde presently discourse more at large of the feaste of Easter and proue with manifest demonstrations that the Ievves them selues obserued not diligently neither as they ought either the time or the maner of the celebration and that the Samaritans a sect of the Ievves kept it alwayes after the Aequinoctiall space yet because it requireth a seuerall title and a long treatise I will here cutt it of Onely this I will adde that whosoeuer they be y t are so much in loue w t y e imitation of y ◠Iewes and so curious in obseruation of types and figures it behoueth them to vary from them ▪ no as commonly we say not the breadth of a nayle for if they addict them selues vnto such precise obseruations of necessitie they must not onely obserue dayes and moneths and yeares but also whatsoeuer Christ did after the Iewish maner for the fulfilling of the lawe or the iniuries he vniustly sustained of the Ievves or the things he vttered in figures and parables to please all generally For example he taught in the ship he commaunded the Passeouer shoulde be prepared in an vpper chamber or parlour he charged them to loose the asse that was tyed he gaue the man bearing the pitcher of water in his hande for a signe vnto such as went to prouide the Passeouer and infinite other such like examples written in the Gospell Yet they that hope them selues iustified by the obseruation of this feaste endeuour not at all to fulfill any of these after the externall maner and literall vnderstandinge Not one of them euer preached out of the ship vnto the people not one celebrateth the Passeouer in a parlour not one first tyeth a she asse then looseth her againe not one of them appoynted the cariage of a pitcher of water for the fulfilling of all circumstances appertaininge vnto these mysteries They thinke that these thinges belonge rather vnto the Ievves then vnto the Christians For the Ievves retayne such ordinances more with the outward and corporall obseruation then with the inwarde and spirituall vnderstanding Wherefore they are helde accursed because they thinke that Moses law consisteth rather in figures and types then in trueth and the thinges them selues Such as fauor the Ievves although they conceaue these thinges after a mysticall and diuine kinde of interpretation yet raise they a foule sturre about dayes and monethes and treade vnder foote nay they drowne of wilfull ignorance the vndoubted and ghostly trueth ingraffed within them and therefore of necessitie they are in this point to be condemned alike with the Ievves for they purchase vnto them selues the sentence of curse condemnation But of these things inough inough CAP. XXII Of the sturre betwene the Arians at Constantinople and howe they were called Psathyriani NOw let vs returne vnto our former purpose and drift mētioned a litle before that is to discourse howe the Churche being once deuided rested not with the first diuision but such as were seuered into sundry sects and schismes fell from their felowes and vpon light and trifling occasions disagreed among them selues The Nouatians as I said before were deuided about the obseruation of the feast of Easter neither yet were they content with one diuision for throughout sundry prouinces they sometymes iarred and sometymes ioyned together not onely about the moneth but also the day of the weeke and other such like matters of small importance The Arians were deuided vpon such an occasion as followeth Continewall arguing and broching of intricate quircks brought their disputations to very absurd and horrible opinions Wheras y ◠church beleeueth that God is the father of the sonne who is the worde they call into controuersie whether God might be called a father before the sonne had his being And because they were of the opinion that the worde of God was not begotten of the father but had his being of nothing erring in the chiefe and principall no maruell though they plunged into absurde opinions Dorotheus whome they had translated thither from Antioch said that the father could be neither in essence neither in appellation if the sonne had no being Marinus whome they had called out of Thracia before Dorotheus time stomacking that Dorotheus was preferred before him supposed now y ◠it was highe time for him to worke his feate set him selfe opposite maintained y ◠contrary opinion Wherfore they were diuided by occasion of the vaine friuolous question proposed among them they parted companies Dorotheus w t his followers continewed in their former rowmes Marinus w t his traine erected them chappels there had priuate meetings their conclusion was y ◠the father was euer a father yea before the sonne had
sundry of his owne crue but specially Theodotus one of them which forsooke Theodosius who then was made Bishop of Ierusalem by certaine sedicious persons at Ioppe and accompanied Iuuenalis to Constantinople CAP. VII Howe Basiliscus fearinge him selfe in the insurrection made by the Monkes through the perswasion of Acacius called in his former letters AGaine the aforesayd autor wryteth howe Acacius Bishop of Constantinople canuased the matter about raised both Monkes and people of Constantinople against Basiliscus as one that was an hereticke made him denye he had wrytten his letters vniuersally vnto all men and decree that such things as he had rashly and vnaduisedly published should be called in againe and to haue also brought to passe that the same Emperour sent euery where vnto all men contrary letters wherein he approued the councell of Chalcedon The same Zacharie shewinge himselfe very partiall throughout his history and led very much with affection omitted the sayde contrary letters they were wrytten as followeth The repelling letters of Basiliscus the Emperour THe Emperours Caesars Basiliscus and Marcus we charge and commaunde that the Apostolicke and true faith from the beginning hitherto retayned in the Churche continewed vnto this our present raigne obserued ofvs this day be embraced for euer in it we were baptized we beleue that the same is only to be embraced firmly vnuiolably being embraced to be continewed throughout all the Catholicke Apostolicke Churches vnder heauen no other besides this to be longer sought for VVherefore our will is that the letters generally wrytten duringe our raygne either vnto all men or otherwise howe soeuer or vvhat beside this hathe bene published by vs be henceforth cancelled and abolished that Nestorius Eutyches with all theyr complices and euery heresie be accursed that no councell be called together neither any decree or reasoninge of the fayth but that suche thinges as are already in that behalfe established remaine vnuiolable that the prouinces whereunto the seae of this royall and noble citie hathe the preferringe of Byshops be restored vnto the moste reuerend and moste holy Patriarch Acacius and that the Bishops alredy placed throughout the prouinces continewe neuerthelesse in theyr proper seaes so that there may rise thereof after theyr desease no preiudice at all vnto the prerogatiue of the holye seae of Constantinople Laste of all let no man doubte but that this our gracious decree is of force agreable vvith the vvill of God Thus were these thinges brought about CAP. VIII Howe Zeno the deposed Emperour recouered againe the royall scepter ZEno as it is reported seing in a vision the holy valiaunt and renowmed martyr Thecla not onely prouoking but also promising him to be restored againe vnto the Emperiall robes led his army towardes Constantinople And hauinge allured with giftes such as besieged him he thrust Basiliscus who had raygned two yeares beside the scepter tooke him out of the sanctuary he had fledd vnto and deliuered him vnto the hand of the enemy For which cause Zeno dedicated at Seleucia in Isauria a goodly temple gorgeously buylded vnto y â— renowmed martyr Thecla bewtified it with many Princely monuments which were preserued vnto this our age But as for Basiliscus he sent him away to suffer at Cappadocia where together with wife and children he was put to death in an Inne called Acouson Immediatly after Zeno made a lawe where he abrogated the decrees of Basiliscus the tyrant comprised in the letters he had generally wrytten vnto all men banished Peter syrnamed Cnapheus out of Antioch and Paulus Bishop of Ephesus CAP. IX Howe after the deceasse of Basiliscus the Bishops of Asia going about to pacisie Acacius who stomached them for condemning the councell of Chalcedon sent vnto him theyr recantation THe Bishops of Asia to the ende they might auoyde the displeasure Acacius had conceaued against them acknowledged theyr faultes and craued pardon sent vnto him theyr recantatioÌ„ and repentance where they protested that they had subscribed not of theyr owne accord but by constraint and compulsion vnto the generall letters of Basiliscus and confirmed with an oth that it was euen so and that they beleeued no otherwise then the couÌ„cell of Chalcedon did beleue The recantation was thus The Epistle or recantation sent by the Bishops of Asia vnto Acacius Bishop of Constantinople VNto Acacius the most holy and most religious Patriarch of Constantinople After a fewe lines VVe haue sente vnto you as it was very meete one for to supplye our rowme In a while after this againe By these our letters we doe protest that not of our owne accord but by compulsion we were brought to subscribe vnto Basiliscus letters and that we haue geueÌ„ thereunto our consents not with hart but only in word For by the grace of almighty God who louingelye accepteth of our prayers we beleue no otherwise then we learned of the three hundred and eighteene famous men and lightes of the wholl worlde and besides them of the hundred fifty holy fathers VVe hold moreouer with the holy acts decreed by the godly fathers at Chalcedon As for the report Zacharie Rhetor made of these bishops whether he sclaundered theÌ„ or whether they lyed theÌ„ selues that they had subscribed against their wills vnto Basiliscus letters I am not able certenly to auoutch CAP. X. VVhat Bishops there were of Antioch about that time AFter that Peter was banished the Church of Antioch StephaÌ„ succeeded him in the Bishopricke whome the people of Antioch dispatched as Iohn Rhetor declareth with litle darts much like sharpe speares After his decease Calandio gouerned the seae who perswaded as many as came vnto him to accurse both Timothee the general letters Basiliscus had sent abrod vnto all Churches CAP. XI Howe the Emperour Zeno spared Timotheus Aelurus because of his gray heare after this Aelurus death Petrus Moggus became Bishop of Alexandria he was deposed Timotheus Basilicus placed in his rowme ZEno although he purposed to banish Timothee Alexandria yet when it was told him that he was a very olde man and ready to lye in his graue he altered his mind Timothee not longe after finished the race of his mortall life immediatly the Bishops of that prouince chose of theyr owne heade Peter syrnamed Moggus to theyr Bishop Zeno hearinge this was very muche displeased gaue forth commaundement that Peter should die the death called home Timothee the successor of Proterius who then by reason of a certaine insurrection made of the people led his life at Canabus Thus Timothee by the Emperours coÌ„maundement recouered againe the bishoprick CAP. XII Of Iohn who crept to be Bishop of Alexandria after the death of Timothee and howe the Emperour deposed him for periurie preferringe Petrus Moggus to the rowme IOhn the Priest Parson of Saynct Iohn Baptists the forerunner of our Sauiour â—ame through some mens perswasion to Constantinople made sute vnto the Emperour that if it fell out the Byshop of
both with Constantine and Crispus and had great familiaritye with them wroâ—e of that matter As for thy selfe thou writest suche thinges thou neuer heardest of and are farre from being true for thou wrotest long after to witte in the time of Arcadius and Honorius or after their raigne Eusebius in the eyght booke of his Ecclesiasticall historie writeth in this sort Not longe after Constantius the Emperour passinge all other throughout his life time in clemencie and goodnesse towardes his subiects singulerly affected towardes Gods worde ended according vnto the lawe of nature the common race of his mortall life leauinge behind him his naturall sonne Constantinus Emperour and Caesar to supplye his rowme A litle after His sonne Constantinus being proclaimed full Emperour and Caesar by the army and longe before by God him selfe the vniuersall king became a follower of his fathers pietie in Christian religion And about the later eude of his storie he writeth thus Constantinus the mightie puysant Emperour beinge renowmed for euery rare vertue and godlinesse together with his sonne Crispus the most godly Emperour like vnto his father in all thinges subdued the East parts of the worlde No doubt Eusebius who liued after Constantine woulde not so highly haue commended Crispus had he bene slaine of his father Againe Theodoritus writeth how Costantine about his later end was baptized at Nicomedia y â— therfore he differred it vnto y t time because he had a great desire to be baptized in Iordan But thou most wicked Zosimus reportest y t since christian religion was published throughout y â— world y â— state of y â— Romain empire decaied came to nought y â— which proceeds froÌ„ thee either of ignorance that thou hast not read ouer y â— auncient writers or of malice For the contrarye is soone proued that the Empire of Rome encreased together with our fayth Remember I besech thee howe about the time of the incarnation of our Sauiour Christ Iesus many of the Macedonians were by the Romaynes subdued Albania Iberia Colchi and the Arabians moreouer the Frenchmen the Germans the Brittanns in the hundred twenty third Olympiade after Caius Caesar had ouercome them with greate and grieuous battaills and made the fiue hundred cities which they inhabited tributaries as historiographers doe wryte vnto the Empire of Rome This Caius was the first which after the Consulls gouerned the Empire alone he made the way sure for the setting vp of the glorious Monarchie and in steede of the populare and common regiment brought into the worlde that kind of raigne No doubt it came to passe through the prouideÌ„ce of God because that the Monarchie of Christ was shortly after to take place All Iudaea besides and the bordering countreyes were annexed vnto the Empire of Rome so that the first taxing where Christ also was to be taxed then firste beganne and Bethleem likewise layde before theyr eyes howe that which of olde was prophecied of her was then fulfilled For thus had the Prophet Micheas foretold of her And thou Bethleem Iuda art not the leste amonge the Princes of Iuda for out of thee there shall come vnto me the captaine that shall gouerne my people Israel When Christ our God was borne into y â— world Aegypt was ioined vnto the Empire of Rome in the time of Augustus Caesar for theÌ„ it was that Christ appeared in the flesh who ouercame Antonius Cleopatra which afterwards dispatched theÌ„selues After their death Cornelius Gallus was by Augustus Caesar made Liuetenant of Aegypt after y t Ptolomaeees decayed he raigned ouer Aegypt What cuntreys were wonne froÌ„ the PersiaÌ„s by Ventidius Curbulon the captaine of Nero by Seuerus Traianus Carus Cassius and Odaenathus of Palmyra by Apollonius and sundry others how ofte Seleucia Ctesiphon were taken howe oft Nisibis was nowe the Romaynes anone the Persians and after what sorte Armenia with other borderinge nations became vnder the Empire of Rome thou thy selfe haste penned it as well as others And yet I had almoste forgotten what thou wrytest to haue bene done by Constantine who by meanes of our religion gouerned the Romayne dominions with valiant minde and noble prowesse also what befell vnto Iulianus nusled vp in thy wicked mysteries what wounds and skarres he left in the common weale As for the prophecies which concerne the ende of the worlde or whether it had a beginninge and whether it shal haue an ending it is an higher matter theÌ„ can sinke into thy braine Therfore let vs see if thou wilt howe the Emperours which were Ethnickes and panyms mayntayners of Idolatry Paganisme and howe of the contrary suche as cleaued vnto the Christian faith ended theyr raygne was not Cains Iulius Caesar the first Emperour slayne by conspiracy did not certen souldiers with naked swordes dispatch Caius y â— nephewe of Tiberius was not Nero murthered by one of his familier deare friends had not Galba the like end Otho Vitellius who all three raygned only sixteen moneths what shall I speake of Titus whome Domitianus poisoned for all he was his owne brother what saist thou of Commodus did not Narcissus dispatch him out of the waye what shall I speake of Pertinax and what of Inlian enioyed not both they one kinde of death what did not Antonius the sonne of Seuerus murther his brother Geta and did not Martialis requite him with the like what shall I say of Macrinus did not the souldiers handle him like a captiue about Byzantium and cruelly put him to death was not Aurelius Antoninus of Emessa murthered together w t his mother was not Alexander immediatly after hiÌ„ together w t his mother likwise put to death what shall I say of Maximinus whome his owne army dispatched Or of Gordianus who through the treason of Philip was in like sorte by his owne souldiers put to death tell me I pray thee thy selfe O Zosimus what happened vnto Philip and after him vnto Decius were they not slaine by the enemy take Gallus and Volusianus with them were they not murthered by their owne armies what of Aemilianus had not he y â— like miserable end what Valerianus was not he taken by y â— Persians in battaill led about of them in triumphe what when Galienus was slaine through treason and Carinus beheaded came not Diocletian to be Emperour whome Diocletian cutte of lest they shoulde raygne with him After these Herculius Maximianus his sonne Maxentius Licinnius dyed with contumely and shame inough But since the time the moste noble Emperour Constantine beganne to raygne since he consecrated vnto God the city he had builte and called it after his owne name looke about I pray thee and speake indifferently was there any one Emperour in that citye Iulian a man of thine owne religion and thy Emperour onely excepted that was murthered either by his owne subiect or by the enemy or any one tyrant that vanquished the Emperour Basiliscus excepted yet
about to restraine thē he did nought els saue heape coales on his owne head Whereupon a certaine magistrate of the East going about to chastise these rebels clapped gyues on their feet for to bridle their violence was led him self through the mids of the city grieuously tormented with fetters Callinicus also lieuetenant of Cilicia whē two Cilicians Paulus Faustinus both murtherers rebelled against him conspired his death because he put in vre y ◠penalty which the law had ordained for such malefactors was him selfe hanged on the gallowes and endured this punishment for his good conscience execution of the lawes Hereupon it fel out that such as were of the other faction being driuen to leaue their dwelling places and could no where be lodged but were shoueled here there as shamefull miscreants fell to assault trauellers to rob to steale to murther euery one y ◠met them vntill it grewe vnto such outragiousnes y ◠all places sounded of vntimely slaughter of spoyling other such like haynous offences Yet at length some good moode was found in him that made him to chaunge his minde and to execute such kinde of men suffering the lawe to take place against them whom he permitted afore time to rage throughout the cities like Barbarians and bloud suckers But to discourse of these things sufficiently time wil not serue neither will my penne be able to paint them accordingly By these few ye may coniecture of the other horrible actes which Iustinian committed CAP. XXXII Of Barsanuphius the Monke THere liued about that time very godly men who in many places wrought great myracles so that their Fame was euery where spred abrode Of which number one was Barsanuphius an Aegyptian borne This man led his life in a monasterie hard by Gaza although he were in the flesh yet bridled he the motions therof in so much that he did many notable myracles It is thought that he shutte vp him selfe in a certen caban and since the time he went in for the space of fiftie yeares and more that he was neuer seene of any neuer tooke sustenance or any other thing on earth When Eustochius bishop of Ierusalem would not beleue it to be true but toke it for a fable he went and digged vp the caban where this holy man had pend him selfe and as report goeth there rose out thence fire which almost burned such as came thither with him CAP. XXXIII Of Symeon the Monke who fained him selfe to be a soole for Christes sake THere was at Emesa a man whose name was Symeon who laying aside all desire of vaine glory although he was wise in euery respect and replenished with the grace of God yet seemed he vnto such as knew him not as if he had bene a starke foole He liued for the most part a solitarie life neither did he make any man priuie either when or what he prayed vnto God neither at what time he alone fasted or refreshed nature by taking of sustenance sometime when he walked in the open streate or market place he seemed farre from the common trade of liuing nay he shewed him selfe as though he had neither witte nor vnderstanding Againe if hunger draue him into a Tauerne he would feede vpon pottage meate and whatsoeuer first came to his hand If in case any did him obeysance and saluted him with the bowing of the head he woulde straight be angrie and gette him thence with speede fearing left the common people would espie his vertue Thus was Symeon wont to doe at his being in the market Yet there were some with whom he made him selfe familier and that vnfainedly Of which number one had a maide that was rauished and gotten with childe and being compelled by her maister and maistresse openly to reueale the father and him that plaid so leud a part made answere that Symeon had secretely layen with her and that shee had conceaued of him that shee would not onely sweare it to be true but also if neede were proue it with plaine euidence Symeon hearing of this sayd it was so in deede that he was a man as other men were and that the flesh was a fraile thing When the rumour thereof was noised abrode and Symeon therefore as it was very likely defamed for euer he gotte him out of sight and made them beleeue he was ashamed When the houre came that she should be deliuered as the maner is she lay in her labour was so grieuous so great and the paine so intollerable that the poore seely wretch was ready to yelde vp the ghost yet was she not ridde of her burthen Wherefore when Symeon who of sette purpose came thither was entreated to pray vnto God for her his answere was that the woman was not like to be deliuered before she confessed truely who was the father of the childe When she had so done and named them the true father immediatly the childe came spraulling out of her wombe and truth played the office of the midwife The same Symeon was seene on a certen time to goe into an harlots house who shutte the doore after him and taried there a long while when none was within but they two Againe was seene to vnlocke the doore and to put out his head looking about whether he could see any the which berely caused great suspition in so much that such as beheld him called the harlot vnto them demaunded of her what busines Symeon had in her house which swore vnto them that for pouertie she had not tasted of any thing in three dayes before saue only water that Symeon had brought her vitailes and a boule of wine that he had shut the dore and couered the table that he had commaunded her to sit downe and to eate her fill and that shee was sufficiently chastised and brought lowe enough with abstinence When shee had made this protestation she shewed them the fragmentes whiche remained of Symeons vittailes Furthermore the selfe same Symeon a litle before the earthquake which shooke in pieces Phoenicia on the sea shore at what time Berytus Biblium and Tripolis were lamentably turned to the ground tooke a whip in his hand and beate many of the pillours which stood in y t market place crying these words Stand fast be sure of your footing ye are like to daunce shortly Wherefore because he was wont to doe nothinge vnaduisedly they that were then present and behelde the circumstance noted diligently what pillours he ouerskipped without stripes whiche verily not longe after were ouerthrowen with the violence of the earthquake Many other thinges are remembred to haue bene done by him which require a peculiar volume if they be sufficiently handled CAP. XXXIIII Of Thomas the monke whiche played the foole in like sort as Symcon did before ABout that time Thomas who had led a very austere life in Coelosyria came to Antioch for the reliefe which was yearely geuen thence vnto his monastery This Thomas had bene in
Iustus and the first Bishop of Ierusalem yet Petrus de natalibus Volaterran and Demochares all which three wrote the catalogue of these disciples doe name no such one Eusebius Clemens Alexandrinus and Paule himselfe doe call him an Apostle and no disciple The 2. is Timothee whome the three aforesayde writers doe not number The 3. Titus The 4. Barnabas so doth Clemens Alexandrinus and Eusebius call him this is that Barnabas which in the Actes of the Apostles as Antoninus writeth was otherwise called Ioses and hauinge land solde it and layde the price downe at the Apostles feete The 5. Ananias The 6. Stephan The 7. Philip Bishop of Tralleis in Asia Volaterran sayth he was Bishop in Thracia Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe say he was Bishop in Thracia afterwardes in Scythia Antoninus saith he dyed at Caesarea The 8. Prochorus whom Volaterran calleth Proculus The 9. Nicanor The 10. Simon Bishop of Bostra in Arabia Demochares Volaterran Petrus de natalibus doe saye he was Bishop of Tyre and Sidon The 11. Nicolas Bishop of Sapria yet say the aforesayd three autors it was Samaria The 12. Parmenas The 13. Cleopas The 14. Silas The 15. Siluanus The 16. Crescens bishop of Chalcedonia in Fraūce Volaterran calleth him Crisces Bishop of Chalcedonia Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe call him Chrysches Bishop of Chalcedonia S. Paule sayth he sent this Crescens into Galatia Eusebius sayth the Apostle sent him into Fraunce whereby it appeareth by some mens coniectures that the Epistle vnto the Galatians was writtē by S. Paule vnto the French men The 17. Epaenetus yet Volaterran hath none suche The 18. Andronicus The 19. Amplias Bishop of Odissa Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe call him Ampliatus and Bishop of Edissa Volaterran saith of Edessa The 20. Vrbanus The 21. Stachys the aforesaide autors doe call him Stateus The 22. Apelles Bishop of Smyrna Volaterran saith of Heraclea Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe say it was of Eradia The 23. Aristobulus Bishop of Brettania Volaterran saith Betania Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe saye it vvas Bethania The 24. Narcissus Byshop of Patrae Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe call him Tarcissus Byshop of Athens and Volaterran sayth he was Byshop of Athens The 25. Herodion Volaterran hath none suche The 26. Rufus The 27. Asyncritus The 28. Plegon The 29. Hermes Byshop of Dalmatia Volaterran Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe saye he was Byshop of Philipolis The 30. Hermas but the other writers haue none suche The 31. Patrobas ▪ Byshop of Nepotiopolis Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe saye of the nation Peli The 32. Agabus The 33. Linus The 34. Gaius Byshope of Ephesus after Timothee yet Origen sayth he was Byshop of Thessalonica The 35. Philologus The 36. Olympas the asoresayde three autors haue none suche Ambrose taketh this Olympas for the sister of Nereus but Origen doth not so The 37. Rodion the other writers remember none of that name The 38. Iason The 39. Sosipater bishop of Iconium Origen taketh him to be that Sopater of Berroea mētioned in the Acts of the Apostles The 40. Lucius whom Origē taketh to be Luke The 41. Tertius bishop of Iconium yet Demochares Petrus de natalibus doe say he was b. of Meiadum Volaterran hath none such The 42. Erastus bishop of Paneas whom Volaterran calleth Erastes b. of Meiadum but Demochares Petrus de natalibus haue none such The 43. Phigellus whom Volaterran calleth Philetus Philegus The 44. Hermogenes The 45. Demas The 46. Quartus The 47. Apollos b. of Caesarea yet Petrus de natalibus saith it was of Connia The 48. Cephas who as Dorotheus gesseth was he whom Paule reprehended at Antioch but it is a fable as it is to be sene in the censure laid downe in Eusebius pag. 15. 16. the aforesaid latine writers haue none such among the disciples The 49. Sosthenes The 50. Epaphroditus b. of Adriana as Demochares saith of Andriaca The 51. Caesar The 52. Marcus the cosin of Barnabas The 53. Ioseph The 54. Artemas whom Volaterran calleth Antomas The 55. Clemens The 56. Onesiphorus or Onesimus yet by the words of Paule they should not be one The 57. Tychicus b. of Chalcedō in Bithynia or as the former autors doe write of Colophonia The 58. Carpus Bishop of Berhoea Petrus de natalibus saith of Beronia and Volaterran saith of Cheronea The 59. Euodius The 60. Philemon The 61. Zenas The 62. Aquila the aforesayde Latine writers doe remember none suche The 63. Priscas whome the Latines doe call Priscus The 64. Iunias Origen and Ambrose doe call him Iulias The 65. Marcus otherwise called Iohn The 66. Aristarchus The 67. Pudas or Pudens The 68. Trophimus The 69. Marke the Euangeliste and the 70. Luke the Euangeliste Besides these 70. I finde others also in holye Scripture vvorthye the notinge namelye Symeon Niger Manahen Iude othervvise called Barsabas Crispus Alexander one that behaued him selfe verye stoutlye at Ephesus Secundus Mnason of Cyprus an olde Disciple Mercurius Nereus Fortunatus Achaicus Syntiches Epaphras Nymphas Archippus Eubolus the Eunuche Baptized of Philippe in the Actes vvhome Eusebius calleth a Disciple vvyth others Other vvryters as Vincentius and Antoninus haue founde out more namelye Sauinianus Potentianus Altinus Cis Maximinus Iohannes Senior Aristion Zozimus Euphrates Martialis Sidonius Lazarus Vrsinus Iulianus and no maruayle for Sayncte Paule vvitnesseth that Christe vvas seene after his resurrection of moe then fiue hundred brethren These be they whom God raised vp to plant the principles of his Gospell and the sounde of their feete was heard throughout the world these be they which fedde with Angelles and became themselues foode for wilde beastes they spared not their liues vnto the death they quenched the heate of fire they turned the edge of the sworde they stopped the mouthes of furious beastes they confounded the tyrants and foyledde the ennemies of the truthe I may say of them as Cyprian speaketh of the true Christians and Martyrs occidi poterant sed vinci non poterant Well they might be slaine but it was vnpossible to ouercome them And yet when the ennemie triumpheth that at lest wise he seemeth to haue brought his purpose about we may comfort our selues with this saying Sanguis martyrum semen Ecclesiae the bloude of the Martyrs is the seede of the Churche Christ him selfe foretolde that whosoeuer woulde be his disciple must take vppe his crosse and followe him These Prophets and these Apostles and these Disciples haue done no lesse Abel was murthered by Cain The children of Israel were oppressed vnder Pharao Elias was persecuted by Iezabel The Prophet Ioath was threatned by Ieroboam and slaine of a Lion Zacharie the sonne of Iehoida was stoned to death Micheas was throwne downe and his necke broken Amos was smitten with a clubbe on the temples of the heade and so brained Esaias was sawed asunder in two partes with a wodden sawe
Martyrs enioyned to kill one an other Auxentius â—orne of wild beasts The gelding of christians PaÌ„philus had his sides maÌ„â—led with â—â—arpe rasors Vrbanus for his crueltie fel into great shame misery in the ende he was put to death A hundreth Martyrs tormented and sent to digging of mettalls 2. womeÌ„ burned Valentina The prayer of Paulus be fore his mar tyrdome Paulus prayed for his persecutors Paulus beheaded 130. Confessors The edict of Maximinus against the Christians Antonius be headed Zebinas beheaded Germanus beheaded Maxis a wicked tribune Ennathas a virgine burned quicke A miracle Ares burned Promus beheaded Elias beheaded Petrê° Apsela mus burned Asclepius a Marcionite burned Pamphilus Valens Paulus 5. Martyrs be headed Galâ—â— 4 Heb. 12. Porphyrius the seruant of Pamphilus after torment was burned to death Seleucus beheaded Theodulus crucified Iulianus burned Adrianus be headed Eubulus beheaded Firmilianus the wicked tyrant was beheaded Cap. 2. Peleê° burned Nilê° burned A minister burned Patermythius burned Siluanus Iohn a blind man of a singuler memory and rare gifts 39 Martyrs beheaded Sabinus vnto the presideÌ„ts through out the dominions of Maximinus Such as fell in persecutioÌ„ repented theÌ„ of their fall Iuppiter philius Three christians deuoured of beasts Siluanus martyrd Petrus b. of Alexandria beheaded Lucianus martyred Maximinus against Christians He coÌ„mendeth the superstition of the Tyrians their cruelty against the ChristiaÌ„s A sclaunder Maâ— 24. The Christiâ—ns alone â—ere enduâ—d with comâ—assion Exod. 14. Psal 7. Exod. 15. Maximinus in the behalf of the Chistians An impudeÌ„t lye he shewed no such curtesie Maximinus wageth battaile with Licinnius Psal 33. Cap 10. in the Greeke Maximinê° in the behalfe of the Christians He dissembleth with his subiects The death of Maximinus the tyrant God plagued Maximinus Famine Inward burning Hewme Blindnesse His last confession The ignominy that befell Maximinê° after his death The executors of tyrannie are plagued Peucetius a wicked magistrate Culcianus a wicked magistrate Theotecnus Inchaunters idolatrerâ— punished Maximinus children and kinsmen receaued theyr deserts Psalm 146. CoÌ„stantinus Licinnius Emperours He begâ—neth with thankes vnto God for the peace after persecution Psalm 98. Psalm 46. Psalm 37. The temples builded agayne Consecrations and the dedications of temples Ezech. 37. An vniforme consent of the Christians He prayseth Paulinus the Bishop Beseleel Solomon Zorâ—babel Psal 44. Psal 48. 1. Timoth. 3. Psal 87. Psal 122. Psal 26. Psal 48. Psal 113. Luc. 1. Psal 106. Psal 107. Psal 136. Psal 105. Esay 53. Satan the enemy of mà kinde worker of all mischiefe Christ aideth the comfortlesse The ornaments of the temple and the meaning thereof Psal 33. Psal 148. Iohn 5. Beselc cl The clensing of the polluted temple Psal Psal 8. Psal 37. Psal 9. Psal 18. Psal 73. Esay 35. Psal 74. Psal 80. Prouerb 3. Heb. 12. Esay 35. The wall of the church The porch A space betwene the Sanctuary the porche Welspringes cockes or cundâ—â—â—s Gates Porches Windowes Psal 104. The floore or pauement Esay 61. The church â—ioyâ—eth Esay 54. Esay 51. Esay 52. Esay 49. 2. Corinth 6. Esay 54. Act. 2. 1. Corinth 2. The copy of the Imperiall edicts traÌ„slated out of the latine into the Greeke out of the Greeke into Englishe ConstaÌ„tinus Licinnius the Emperours vnto Anilinus proconsul of Aphrick ConstaÌ„tinus the emperours vnto Militiades byshop of Rome ConstaÌ„tinus the emperour vnto Chrestus bishop of Siracusa ConstaÌ„tinus vnto Cecilia nê° byshop of Carthage Pholes according vnto Epiphaniê° is a weyght other wise called TalantiuÌ„ and the same is too folde the one containing 312. pouÌ„des six ounces the other weying 208. pence it is vsed of Suidas and Augustine de ciuit Dei lib. 22. cap. 8. for a halfpeny ConstaÌ„tinus vnto Anilin ' gouernour of Aphrick Licinniê° had maried Constantinus sister Socrat. lib. 6. eccl hist cap. 12. Volater li 19. Anthropolog Socrat. li. 7. cap. 47 Theodor. Zuinger Volaterr Socrat. li. 5. cap. 23. Niceph. lib â–ª 9. cap. 13. lib. 11. cap. 14. Euseb lib. cap. 2. Euseb lib. cap. 27. 28 â–ª Euseb lib. cap. 23. Socrat. li. 1. cap. 9. Socrat. li. 2. cap. 30. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 5. lib. 2. cap. 17. Tritenhemius li. de eccl scrip Socrates in this his first booke contayneth the history of 31 yeares being the whole raigne of Constantine and the ende of 340 yeres after Christ Where Socrates beginneth his history Diocletian Maximinian Maximinus Seuerus Constantinê° Maxentius Licinnius The tyranny of Maxentiê° The signe of the crosse was seene of Constantinê° in the aëre Christ appeareth to Constantine in his sleepe Maxentius died about the yeare 318. The godly study of Constantine The death of Diocletian Anno Dom. 318. * Cap. 4. in the Greeke The humanitye of Constantine LiciÌ„nius was put to death for his periurie breakiÌ„g of league Anno Dom. ni 327. Cap. 5. in the Greeke Peter Achillas Alexander Arius contraryeth his Bishop and ordinary The original of Arius heresie * Cap. 6. in the Greeke Two Eusebius the firâ—t was writer of the former historâ— the 2. Bishop of Nicomedia an Arian The blasphemies of Arius and his complices The confutation of Arius Iohn 1. Psal 44. Psal 109. Coloss 1. Heb. 1. Ioh. 14. Ioh. 14. Ioh. 10. Malach. 3. Hebr. 13. 1. Corinth 8. Ioh. 10. Prouer. 18. Arius his complices excommunicated 2. Timoth. 2. Math. 24. 1. Timoth. 4. 2. Iohn The meletiaÌ„ heretickes ioyne with the Arians Meletius why he was depriued by Peter byshop of Alexandria Arians Eunomians MacedoniaÌ„s Cap. 7. in the Greeke Osius a Spaniard byshop of Corduba The epistle of Constantinus vnto Alexander Arius takeÌ„ out of the 2. booke of Eu sebius of the life of Constantine The contention of Philosophers Brethren and christiaÌ„s may not brawle coÌ„tentiously about words Cap. 8. after the greeke The messenger was Osius byshop of Corduba â—n Spaine The first generall councell of Nice â—â—seb lib. 3 〈◊〉 vita CoÌ„st Osius byâ—â—op of Corâ—â—bâ— as I supâ—â—se â—â—e byshop Rome was â—t at the â—â—uncell but â—â—t thither â—â—taine of 〈◊〉 clergie â—â—â— 2. Paphnutiê° b. of Thebais Spiridâ—on b. of Cyprus Euseb Nicomed Theognis an Arian Maris an Arian Athanasius Alexander Ruffinus in his first boke cap. 3. layeth downe the circuÌ„stances of this historie more at large Constantine the Emperour sheweth greate reuereÌ„ce vnto tâ— bishops Constantine exhorteth tâ— vnitie and burneth theâ—â— libells Mat. 18. Euseb lib 3 â–ª de vit Constantini He coÌ„futeth the sclaunderous report which Sabinus made of the bishops assembled in the councell of Nice * this Nicene creede was not founde thus placed in the greeke coppy wherfore the Greeke seemed vnperâ—ect for to what ende â—hold Socraâ—es write The â—niforme doâ—trine of faith â–ª c. is this â—nlesse some â—hing folowâ—d or howe â—oulde he afâ—er all conâ—lude as he â—oth This â—â—th vnlesse â—â—ere were â—â—mewhat â—terlaced we â—â—ue thereâ—ore suppliâ—d the want 〈◊〉 this vnperâ—â—ct place by â—rowinge â—e coppy of â—â—is Creede â—ritteÌ„ truely the same
grots They that like of this doctrine let them note that Euagrius calleth the author there of Balaam and for company take Caiphas he was also such a prophete Euagtius endeth his history Anno Dom. 595. Euseb eccles hist li. 7. ca. 31 Democh. Instit Christ religi Petrus de natalibus lib. 6. de Sanctis Genes 3. Genes 4. 5. 2. Pet. 2. Genes 7. 1. Pet. 3. Genes 11. Rom. 4. Genes 21. 25 35. 47. Exod. 4. Exod. 20. Iudic. 3. 8. 9. 10 12. 16. Act. 13. 3. Reg. 2. 11. 6. 14. 12. 20. 4. Reg. 8. 11. 12. 14. 15. 16. 18. 21. 22. 23. 24. * 1. Esdr 5. 1. Esdr 2. Nicephor Eccl. hist. lib. 1. Iosph an t Iud. lib. 1. cap. 4. Iude Epist Gen. 48. 49 Gen. 50. Act. 3. Anton. Chronic. â—art 1. tit 3 cap. 4. 3. Reg. 18. 1. Pet. 1. Heb. 1. Mat. 10. Ast. 1. Act. 9. Euseb eccâ— hist lib. 2. cap. 1. Anton. chro par tir 5. cap â–ª 18. Part. 1. tâ— 6. cap. 11 â–ª Euseb liâ— 3. cap. 4 â–ª Ambrose in Epist ad Rom. Origen in Epist ad Rom. Act. 13. 15 â—8 19. 20. â—1 â— Cor. 16. Philip. 4. Coloss 1. 4. â— Tim. 1. â— Tim. 4. Epist. ad â—â—ilem â— â–ª Cor. 15. Samuel liued about the yere of the vvorld â–ª 2940. afore Christ was borne 1030. yeres 1. Reg. 1. 2. 3. 7. 8. 9. 10 13. 15. 16. 25. He liued Anno mundi 3009. afore Christ was borne 960. yeres 2. Reg. 7. 12. 3. Reg. 1. 1. Paral. 17. Eccles 47. 1. Reg â–ª 22. 2. Reg. 24. l. 21. 3. Reg. 11. 14. 1. Par. 16. 2. Par. 29. 35. 1. Par. 25. 2. Par. 35. 2. Par. 9. 12. 13 He liued in the yere of the worlde 3069. he died afore Christ about 900. yeres 3. Reg. 12. 2. Par. 11. 12. 3. Reg. 13. 2. Par. 15. 2. Par. 28. He liued in the time of Ala king of Iuda 2. paralip 15. 2. Paralip 16. 3. Reg. 16 â–ª 2. Par lip 1â— 20. He liued Anno mundi 3134 afore Chrisâ— about 840 â–ª yeres 2. Paralip â—â— 2. Paralip 20. Elias liued Anno mundi 31â—â— and was translated afore Christ about 850. yeres 2. Paral. 24. Elissâ—us died about 750. yeres afore Christ was borne He liued Anno mundi 3286 died before Christ about 630. yeres Osee cap 6. 1. Cor. 15. Osee 11. Osee 13. 1. Cor. 15. Mich. cap. 5. Math. 2. Mich. 7. Amos. 4. Cap. 9. Act. 15. Esay was before the incarnation of Christ about 600. yeres Esay 6. Esay 53. Act. 8. Esay 28. 1. Pet. 2. Esay 61. Luke 4. The martyr dom of Esay VVhen the Iewes came for water it ranne when their ennemies were a thirst and sought it it woulde not runne The prayers of Esay while he liued wer auaileable before and after his death Ioel. 2. Act. 2. The widowe of Saâ—epâ—a was the mother of Ionas and he him selfe was the childe that Elias raised from death to life so sayth Epiphanius Sophon 2. Sophon 3. Ieremie was before the incarnation about 510. yeres Math. 27. The martyrdome of Ieremy he was very oft persecuted by Ioachas the sonne of Iosias and imprisoned by Sedechias before his going into Aegypt Ierem. 36. 37 38. Dorotheus talked with some of the posteritie â— Antigonus A propheciâ— of the birth of Christ â— the ouerthrow of a Idols A custome iâ— A Egypt to worship a virgine and an infant This Arke was a cosseâ— made by Mâ—ses in the dâ—sert 5. cubi in length 3. in breadâ— therein weâ— put the table of the olde law the roâ— of Moses part of Maâ—na 2. Paralip 3 â–ª 4. Reg. 22. Abacuk 1. Act. 13. An Angel tooke Abacuk by the heâ—â—e of the head as he had meate â—ottagâ— in his hand and caried him into Babylon where Daniel the prophet was in the dungeon among Lyons after he had sed and relieued Daniel the Angell caâ—â—ed him home the same day Dan. 14. Ezechiel was â—â—ore the inâ—…ion about 500. yeres Ezech. 47. The martyrdome of â—â—â—â—câ—â—â—l Ezech. 38. He was caried to Ierusalem in a vision Daniel liued afore the incarnation of Christ about 500. yeres Daniel 9. Daniel 5. Epiphanius writeth of this prophecie without any great differeÌ„ce betweene Dorotheus and him Ierem. 36. 45. Baruch 1. Ierem. 26. Ioh. 6. Epiphanius sayth he first at that time songe Aleluâ—â— Amen the which was afterwardes retained in the church beinge the hymne of Aggaeus Zacharie Zachar. 9. 13. Math. 26. Malachie was before the incarnation of Christ about 412. â—eares Malachie 1. Malach. 3. Math 11. â—uc 7. Malach. 4. Matth. 12. The booâ— of Psalmo â–ª Daniel The Scribâ—â— as Baruch suche other wrote the bookes of the Prophetes Aâ—oâ—e for tâ— readinge â— the Prophetes 4. bookes of the kinges PeÌ„tateuchus Iosue Iudges Ruth Prouerbes Canticles Ecclesiastes * An error â—e that beâ—eaded â—aâ—nes is called â—erod Agrippa Act. 12. â—ohn beinge 〈◊〉 Asia wâ—oâ—â—is reuelatioÌ„ 〈◊〉 it appeareth by the â— cap. â—â— writeth â—useb lib. 3. â—â—p 16. â—…on preaâ—…ed to the â—…pores â—here he â—…ached is â—…e called â—…barie Simon preached to the Moores Where he preached is nowe called Barbarie Here Dorotheus is deceaued for this Apostle him self was Iames Alphaeus bishop of Ierusalem Coloss 4. Act. 6. Luk. 2. 3. Socrat. eccl hist lib. 5 proem Ioseph Intiq lib. 18. cap. 11. Ioseph Antiq lib. 20. cap. vlt. Socrat. lib. 5. eccl hist proem Euseb eccl hist lib. 2. cap. 1. Aâ—â— 11. Aâ—â—â—n Chron â–ª part â—â—â— 6. cap. 4. â— 1. Euseb eccl hist lib. 3. cap. 1. 4. Ierem. Catalog eccl script Euseb eccles hist lib. 2. cap. 14. 16. Genes 1. 5. Genes 9. Genes 7. 8. Augustine Genes 11. Gen. 21. 2â— Iudic. 3. Iudic. 3. Euseb Gen. 25. 35 Genes 47. Genes 50. Exod. 12. Exod. 7. Deut. 29. Deu. 31. 34. â—…ue â—â— Iudic. 8. Iudic. 9. Iudic. 10. Iudic. 12. Iudic. 16. Act. 13. 3. Reg. 2. 3. Reg. 11. 3. Reg. 6. 3. Reg. 14. 3. Reg. 15. 3. Reg. 22. 4. Reg. 8. Reg. 11. Reg. 12. Reg. 14. Reg. 15. Reg. 16. Reg. 18. Reg. 21. Reg. 22. Reg. 23. Reg. 24. The enâ—… the monâ—…chie of I 〈…〉 sia Eusebius Ierom. Epiphanius Nicephorus Rabini Ludouicus Carettus Carion Phrigio Theodorus Zuinger Cytreus Luther Eliot Eccl. Tigurina Demochares Pantaleon
Rhetorician writeth howe the lieuetenant of Thebais came then to Alexandria saw al the people on an vprore set vpon the magistrates how they threwe stones at the garrison which endeuoured to keepe y â— peace how of force they made y â— soldiers flie vnto y â— temple of old called Serapis how the people ranne thither ransacked y â— temple burned y â— soldiers quick the emperour vnderstanding hereof to haue sent thither imediatly two thousand choseÌ„ soldiers who hauing winde wether at will arriued at Alexandria y â— sixt day after Againe when y â— soldiers rauished the wiues defloured the daughters of y â— citizens inhabiting Alexandria y â— the latter skirmish combat exceded the former in cruelty After al this how the people assembled together at Circus where their spectacles were solemnized there to haue requested Florus who was captaine of the garrisoÌ„ gouernour of their city in ciuill affaires y â— he would restore vnto them y â— priueledged corne which he had depriued them of their bathes their spectacles other things whatsoeuer were takeÌ„ from them because of their insurrection tumults The aforesaide autor reporteth that Florus appeased their wrath with his presence gentle exhortation restored peace for a while but in the meane space the monks which inhabited y â— deserts adioyning vnto Ierusalem could not setle quietnes within their brests for some of them which had bene at the councell dissented from the decrees came to Palaestina coÌ„playned of the forme of fayth deliuered by y â— councell laboured to set other monks on firy sedition but wheÌ„ Iuuenalis returned froÌ„ y â— councell to his byshoprick was coÌ„pelled by such aduersaries as laboured to bring him into y â— contrary opinion to coÌ„fute detest his owne religion had fled vnto the city where y â— emperour made his abode they y â— impugned reuiled the councell of Chalcedon as I said before gathered theÌ„ selues together made an election vpon Easter day chose Theodosius to their byshopp who was the ringleader of the whole mischiefe raised in the councell and the first that certified them of the canons and decrees thereof concerning whome not long after the Monks of Palaestina wrote vnto Alcison how that he was conuicted of haynous crimes by hiw owne byshopp and expulsed the monastery and how that continewing a while at Alexandria he cleaued to Dioscorus was whipped for sedition set vpon a Camell as malefactors are vsed and carted throughout the citie vnto this Theodosius there came many out of the cities of Palaestina requesting him to appoint them byshops of which number Petrus the Iberian was made byshop of Maiuma hard by Gaza â–ª when the trueth of these treacheries came to light Martianus the Emperour commaunded first of all that Theodosius should be brought vnto him with power of armed soldiers secondly he sent thither Iuuenalis to th ende he shoulde reforme the disordered state of the Church and reduce all to peace and quietnes moreouer he commaunded him to depose as many as Theodosius had preferred to y â— priestly functioÌ„ After the returne of Iuuenalis into IerusaleÌ„ many grieuous calamities mischieuous deuices such as most coÌ„monly through the instigation of the enuious deuell and satan the sworne enemy to God and man are wont to raigne in the mindes of mortall men ensued by the meanes of y e contrary factions for the deuell by chaunging of one letter and lewde interpreting thereof brought to passe that it should be pronounced either way for to establish a contrary opinion the which sentence as diuers doe thinke is so repugnant and inferreth such contradictorie sense and meaning that the one seemeth vtterly to subuert and ouerthrowe the other for he that confesseth Christ to be IN two natures saith no lesse but that he consisteth Oâ— two natures for by graunting that Christ is both IN diuinitie and humanitie is to confesse that he consisteth OF diuinitie and humanitie he againe that saith that Christ consisteth OF two natures affirmeth plainly that he is IN two natures for by auouching that he consisteth of diuinitie and humanitie he testifieth him to be in diuinitie and humanitie yet not by conuersion of the fleshe into the godhead whose vniting is inexplicable neither of y â— godhead into flesh so that wheÌ„ we say OF TVVO we vnderstand withall IN TVVO by saying IN TVVO we meane OF TVVO not parting y â— one froÌ„ the other for it is toe plaine that the whole not onely consisteth of the parts but y t the whole is vnderstood in the parts yet for al y â— some men be of the vpinion y t they are farre seuered a sunder because their mindes and heads are so occupied before or else because they maintaine some sulline opinion of God or selfe will that they had leuer endure any kinde of death then yeelde vnto the plaine and manifest trueth by occasion of this subtlety of satan the aforesaid mischieues ensued but so much of these things in this sort CAP. VI. Of the great necessitie of rayne famine and pestilence and howe that in certaine places hardly to be belieued the earth brought forth of her owne accorde ABout that time there was suche scarsitie of rayne in both Phrygia Galatia Cappadocia and Cilicia that men wanting necessaries receiued poysoned nurishment and deadly food vpon this there rose a great pestilence and men after chaunge and alteration of diet beganne to sickenne their bodies swelled the inflammation was so great that it made them starke blinde they had withall such a cough that they died thereof the third day Although there could no medicine be had neither remedy be found for this pestilence yet by the prouidence of almighty God the famine relented for suche as were left aliue for it is reported that in that deare and barren yeare there came downe foode from the aer no otherwise then Manna of olde vnto the 〈◊〉 and the yeare following the earth of her owne accorde brought forth fruite Neither wâ—… this miserie rise throughout Palaestina but also sundry calamities raigned in many and inâ—… regions CAP. VII How Valentinianus the Emperour was slaine Rome taken and ransacked WHile the aforesaide calamities raigned in the East Aëtius was lamentably put to death at olde Rome Valentinianus also Emperour of the West parts of the worlde was slaine together with Heraclius by certen soldiers of Aëtius through the treason of Maximus who aspired vnto the Empire and therefore wrought their destruction because the wife of Maximus had bene deflowred by Valentinianus and forced to commit adulterie This Maximus maried Eudoxia the wife of Valentinianus against her will she neyther without good cause tooke this as a great contumelie and reproche deuised euerie way howe to reuenge her husbandes death for she is a woman exceedinge outragious for stayninge the puritie of her vessell of an intractable minde when her honesty is oppressed
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