demaunded of him the like he sayd It is no hard matter to bereaue a man of his life but when he is gone there is no man be he neuer so sory for him that can restore him to life againe saue God alone He was alwaies of y â mind that if any coÌmitted treason he would not suffer him to go as farre as the gates of the citie towardes the place of execution but of his clemencie he called him backe againe The same man againe when he published spectacles on a certaine time at Constantinople w t the bickering and fighting of beasts in coÌpasse of the theatre and the people shouted vnto him requiring that one of the stroÌgest men should be turned vnto the sauadge beast which rainged about his answere was in this sort Doe not you know that we can not away with cruell spectacles When the people hearde this they learned thenceforth to refraine from cruell showes Moreouer he was so religious that he honored all the priests of God but specially such as he knew did excell in godlenesse The report goeth that he made searche for the sackcloth which the bishop of ChebruÌ wore that died at Constantinople aud being found they say he more it how homely soeuer it was thinking verely to gett vnto him selfe thereby some of the deade mans holinesse As he soleminzed on a certaine tempestuous and stormie tyme of the yeare the people requiringe the same the vsuall and wonted spectacles and showes in the place called Circus enuironed with a wall and galeries round about when the rowme was full of people and the tempest waxed sore there fell vpon them sodainly a great cloude of snow then the Emperour renealed vnto the worlde what affection and zeale he bare towards God he willed the bedells in his name to say thus vnto the people It is far better for vs to lay aside these sowes and pastime and with one voyce to fall a praying vnto God that he will deliuer vs out of this present storme The words were no sooner spokeÌ but all ioyntly fell downe to the ground and poured out earnest zealous praiers vnto God so y â the whole citie was become like one church The Emperour him selfe in the middest of the assembly arrayed in coÌmon vsuall attire began the hymnes neither failed he of his purpose For the wether became faire againe the great derth and scarsitie was turned by the goodnes of God into plenty and abuÌdance of all things If warres at any time were proclaimed he followed the example of Dauid he made God his refuge perswading him self for certaine that God ruled and gouerned all battails and by the meanes of prayer he obtayned euer a prosperous successe CAP. XXIII Of Iohn who after the desease of the Emperour Honorius playd the tyrant at Rome how God deliuered him through the prayers of Theodosius into the hands of the Romaine souldiers OCcasion is presently ministred to discourse howe Theodosius being ayded froÌ aboue foyled the rebell and tyrant Iohn immediatly after the Persian battaile the desease of Honoritu in y â coÌsulship of Asclepiodotus Marianus y â 15. of August In mine opinioÌ y â acts of those dayes are worthy y â writig such they are as of right should be recorded to y â knowledge of the posterity in time to come For the like thigs which hapned vnto the Hebrewes vnder Moses as they passed through the red sea new befell vnto the emperours captaines being set against y â tyraÌt the which I mind briefly to ruÌne ouer leauiÌg y â large discourse because it requireth a seuerall volume vnto others Although Theodosius knew that Honorius y â Emperour had departed this life yet coÌcealed he his death froÌ others so y â an other deuise which hereafter shal be spokeÌ of begutled many therin He sent priuely a souldier vnto Salonae a city of Dalmatia to geue warnig y â if any nouelty were atteÌpted in y â west parts of the world there should be such preparatiò as might quickly suppresse y â authors therof WheÌ he had brought y â about he opened vnto all men y â death of his vncle In y â meane while IohaÌnes one of y â Emperours chiefe secretaries being not of setled disposition to beare y â saile baÌner of prosperity chaleÌged the empire seÌt embassabours vnto y â emperour Theodosius requiring him to proclaime him emperour Theodosius tooke his legats layd theÌ in hold seÌt vnto Iohn Ardaburius y â captaine who of late had behaued him self valiaÌtly in y â battaile agaiÌst the Persians he coÌming to Salonae sailed into Aquileia whence as it is thought he tooke a wroÌg course the chaunce was as followeth Being in the surging waues of y â maine seae y â winde blewe against him brought him ere he was ware into y â tyraÌts clawes The tyrant laying hand on him was now in good hope y â Theodosius would be brought of necessitie if he tendered y â life of his captaine Ardaburius to create proclaime him Emperour wheÌ these thiÌgs came to light both Theodosius him selfe his army also which marched forwardes against y â rebell were wonderfull sory lest Ardaburius should take any harme at y â tyraÌts haÌds Aspar also y â soÌne of Ardaburius seing both his father taken captiue also hearing for certainty y â an infinite power of BarbariaÌs weÌt to ayde the rebell knewe not what to doe he was at his wittes ende To be short y â prayers of y â godly Emperour theÌ also proued theÌ selues againe to be very effectuall for an Angell of God in y â forme of a shepherd guided Aspar on his iourney led his army by a lake adioyning vnto RaueÌna for there it was that the tyrant kept captaine Ardaburius in hold which way as fame goeth there was neuer man y â found passage But God opened a way vnto Aspar where as it is thought others coulde not goe He led then his armie through the lake which then as it fell out was dryed vp by the handy worke of God he rushed in at the gates of the citie which lay wide open dispatched the tyraÌt At what time the most godly Emperour vnderstanding of the tyraÌts death as he celebrated those showes and spectacles in Circus made manifest his singular zeale pietie godwards for thus he spake vnto the people Let vs geue ouer this vaine pastime and pleasure let vs rather repaire vnto the church and serue God deuoutly pouring vnto God zealous prayers yelding vnto him harty thankes who with his owne hande hath bereaued the tyrant of his life He had no sooner made an end of speaking but ther gaue ouer their spectacles and showes they set all at nought they passed throughout the theater sounding out thanks geuing with one voyce together with the Emperour they went straight to the church and spent there the whole day so that
matter It was this Eunomius that Eudoxius preferred to the bishopricke of Cyzicum When as he after his wonted maner fedd the eares of his auditors out of the pulpitt w t sophisticall arguments and reasons of Logick he amazed his auditory so that thereupon there was raysed a great tumult at Cyzicum for the citizens of Cyzicum when they coulde not away w t his arrogant and insolent maner of preaching they banished him their citie Thence he gott him to Constantinople liued with Eudoxius and playd the Bishop no longer Yet lest we seeme in the way of sclaunder onely to report these thinges of him let vs heare the blasphemous wordes of Eunomius him selfe wherewith most impiously after his Sophisticall maner he derogated from the maiesty of Almighty God he sayd as followeth God of his owne essence vnderstandeth no more then we doe neither is the same better knowen or vnderstoode of him then of vs and whatsoeuer we knowe of it the same knoweth he and looke what his capacitie reacheth vnto the same thou shalt finde in vs. These and many other such lewde fallacies linked Eunomius together but after what sorte he fell from the Arians I will hereafter declare CAP. VIII Of the oracle that was founde ingrauen in a stone when the Emperour Valens vpon displeasure ouerthrewe the walls of Chalcedon THe Emperour vpon displeasure gaue commaundement that the walls of Chalcedon lying ouer against Byzantium should be ouerthrowen for he tooke an othe that if he gott the vpper hand of Procopius the tyrant he would do it because y â citizens of Chalcedon tooke Procopius part and reuiled him as he passed by the walls of their citie with spitefull and contumelious languages and shutt vp their gates against him so it fell out that the walls of the citie by the commaundement of the Emperour were throwen downe to the grounde the stones there of were caryed to the common baths at Constantinople called Constantianae In one of the sayd stones there was an oracle founde ingrauen the which of olde lay in secret then first came to light Whereby it appeared that the walls should be taken to the vse of the baths when great pleÌty of waters were seene in the citie and that when infinite of the Barbarian nations inuaded the Romayne dominions they shoulde wonderfully molest the empire of Rome and in the ende be ouerthrowen them selues there is no cause to the contrary but that the reader may haue the oracle layd before him VVhen Nymphs with noyse and royall feasts when mirth in citie raygnes VVhen walls with woe keepe streamy bathes that boyle vp filth and staynes A people strong in number great shall passe Danuby streames Calliro eke the Scythian âse and Misian craggy realmes The Thracian bankes with armour bright all couered men shall see This nation fierce though armour fight in armour foyld shal be The oracle is in this sort for not long after the conduyt which Valens made yelded great plenty of water vnto the citie of Constantinople at the same time also as hereafter shall more manifestly appeare certaine of the Barbarian nations tooke armour against the empire of Rome yet y â oracle may otherwise be vnderstoode for Clearchus the Lieuetenant of the city after y â conueyance of the conduyt made a great pipe in Theodosius market the which was called the plentifull pipe where also for ioye thereof the citie kept a solemne feaste and this peraduenture was it which the Oracle meant when he sayd VVhen Nymphes with noyse and royall feasts when mirth in citie raygnes VVhen walls with woe keepe streamy bathes that boyle vp filth and staynes But these circumstances knowledge of the oracle fel out afterwards When y e walls of Chalcedon were a throwing downe y â citizens of Constantinople made humble sute vnto y e Emperour y t he would not so deface the city of Chalcedon y â like did y â Bithynians Nicomedians Nicaeans who by chaunce then were at Constantinople but the emperour being throughly incensed against them tooke their sute in very ill part to the end he might kepe his othe he commaunded the wal shoulde downe and the foundation should be filled vp with litle pelting stones so that as yet there is to be seene in some places of the wall how sclender and what newe building of no accompt was raised vpon so auncient and substantiall a foundation but of the walls of Chalcedon so much shall suffice CAP. IX How the Emperour Valens persecuted the Nouations who embraced the clause of one substance no lesse then the true Christians How the Emperour Valentinianus begate a sonne and called him after his owne name for his sonne Gratianus was borne before Valentinianus enioyed the empire THe Emperour moreouer ceased not from persecuting such as embraced the creede contayning the clause of one substance but banished them out of Constantinople and together with them the Nouatians who addicted them selues vnto the same opinion their Churche doores he commaunded to be nayled vp their Bishop Agelius a man that led a precise life and ruled the Church euen from the raigne of Constantine he exiled This man all his life tyme went barefoote and according vnto the commaundement of the Gospell he had but one coate At that tune Martianus who sometime was a souldier in the Emperours pallace a zealous and an eloquent man appeased the displeasure of the Emperour conceaued against the Nouatians He was then a Priest of the Nouatian Churche and trayned vp Anastasia and Carosis the Emperours daughters in the precepts of Grammer in whose name the common bathes buylded by Valens at Constantinople were consecrated the which as yet are there to be seene bearing the name of the Emperours daughters Wherefore by reason of his sute and because of the reuerende opinion which the Emperour conceaued of this priest the Nouatian Churches being shutt vp for a while were set wide open and frequented a newe yet were they not ridd of the Arians nor deliuered from their persecution The Arians abhorred them because they loued entirely such as embraced the faith of one substance The state of the Ecclesiasticall affayres then was at this point This one thing we may not leaue vntoutched how the battell betwene the Emperour and Procopius the tyrant was fought about the latter ende of May. in the consulship of Gratianus and Dagalephus In a while after the sayd battell the aforesayd men being Consulls the Emperour Valentinianus had a sonne borne him in the West whome he called after his owne name for his sonne Gratianus was borne before he was crowned Emperour CAP. X. Of the great hayle that fell at Constantinople and the earthquakes which happened in Bithynia and Hellespontus THe yeare following in the Consulship of Lucinus and Iouianus the seconde of Iulie hayle of a wonderfull bignes like vnto stones lighted at Constantinople It is rise in euery mans mouth that God sent that great hayle in token of his displeasure
goeth and rife it is in euery mans mouth that this cruell and horrible act was not longe after vnreuenged For immediatly all Phrygia was plagued with a sore and a lamentable famine so that many of the inhabitantes of that countrey were constrayned of necessitie to flie vnto Constantinople and to other prouinces for necessarie food The city of Constantinople though it find and relieue an infinite multitude of meÌ yet there is great plentie abundance of all things partly by reason that all necessaries are caried thither by seae and partly also that Euxinus is so nighe and conueyeth thither greate store of grayne CAP. XIIII Howe the Emperour wente to Antioch and persecuted all them that professed the fayth of one substance of his doinges at Edessa and the great constancie of a Christianwoman THe Emperour Valens weyed not at all this grieuous famine went forth on his iorney to Antioch and continewing there pursued with deadly hatred such as detested the Arian opinion He deposed of theyr churches for no other crime then because they were enemies vnto y â Arians all that embraced the faith of one substance not onely throughout all the Easterne parts of the world but also not satisfied with this punishemente tormented them with diuerse grieuous deuises and executed a farre greater number then we spake of before with sundry kindes of death but specially with drowninge of them in the surginge waues of the sea Furthermore let vs here call to remembraunce the horrible Acte committed by him at Edessa a citie in Mesopotamia There I meane in that citie there is a goodly a gorgeous temple called Sainct Thomas the Apostles where infinite troopes of men for y â reuerent opinion conceaued of the holy place are wont to frequent Valens being desirous to see it although he knewe full well that all those flockinge assemblies detested his hereticall opinion as the reporte goeth gaue the Liuetenant a blowe with his fist because he had not scattered those conuenticles as he had charged him before When the Liuetenant for all this grieuous contuâely framed himselfe with vnwillinge minde to obeye the Emperours wrath and displeasure gaue notice priuely hereof vnto them it was farre from his mind to fall a murthering of so many godly citizens that none should shewe his face in the temple that none shoulde be founde raysing of any conuenticle but not one made accompt of his aduise nether weyed of his threates for the day followinge all flocked in greate companies to the temple And while the Liuetenant hastened with greate power of armed souldieres vnto the temple to the ende he might delay the boyling heate of the Emperours stomacke which breathed out anger and displeasure a simple woman leadinge a childe in her hande all in hast brake the raye and thrust her selfe in the throng of armed souldiers to passe on her voyage The Liuetenant being moued therewith calleth the woman before him reasoneth with her in this sorte thou fond and vnfortunat woman whether runnest thou so rashly thither sayde she where others doe hasten Hast not thou hearde sayth he that the Liuetenant will execute as many as he finds there I heard it sayd she and therefore I goe thither in all the hast that I may be founde there But whither sayd he leadest thou this childe that he also sayd she may be accompted in the number of Martyrs When the Liuetenant heard this he coniectured thereafter of the rest Thereupon he got him vnto the Emperour and geueth him to vnderstand that all from the highest vnto the lowest prepared them selues to die in the quarell and in defence of their faith he aded moreouer that it was verye rashe and without all reason that so great a multitude in so shorte a space shoulde so soddainely be executed in so saying he fell a perswading of the Emperour so long vntill that his wordes preuayled the Emperour was with reason appeased Thus the Edessaeans auoyded the ouerthrowe pretended of the Emperour towardes them CAP. XV. Howe the Emperour Valens put many to death whose names beganne with TH by reason of certaine Necromancie whereunto he gaue some credit ABout that time a certaine pestilent spirite vsed the tyrannicall crueltye of the Emperour to y t satisfieng of his deuelish lust pleasing mind For he allured certain fond curious kind of people to search and sift out by Necromancie who should succeede Valens in the Empire The deuell after his wonted guise gaue no perfect and plaine but a very darke doubtfull answere vnto the coniurers that his name beganne of foure letters Th E O D which should succeede ValeÌs in the Empire that his name was compound The fame thereof was spred so farre that it came to the Emperours eares He as it fell out neither attributed casualties neither referred the knowledge of things to come neither admitted y â bestowing of scepters to lie in y â power of God whose prouidence ruleth all things but laying aside the principles of Christian religion the which colorably he pretended executed diuers whome he suspected after him should enioy y â Emperial scepter So y t he dispatched out of the way as many as were called Theodorus Theodotus Theodosius Theodulus or after any such like names Of which nuÌber was Theodosiolus a noble man y â sonne of a Senator being brought vnto Valens from Spayne who lost his heade Many for feare chaunged their names which theyr parents had geuen them at theyr comminge into y â world denied themselues theyr owne names being in great perill daunger of their liues But of this matter thus much shal suffice CAP. XVI After the desease of Athanasius Peter became his successor but the Arians by the commaundement of the Emperour clapte Peter in prison and placed Lucius in the Bishopricke HEre we haue to learne that while Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria liued the Emperour through the prouidence of God tempered himselfe from troubling of Alexandria Aegipt because he vnderstoode y t there was a great multitude which would liue die w t Athanasius therfore he feared if AlexaÌdria were set on anvprore for it is a hot a hasty kind of people lest the coÌmon weale should therby greatly be annoyed Athanasius in y â end after many skirmishes endured in the quarel of the church after he had bene bishop six forty years not without great hazard of his life departed out of this world in the Consulship of Probus the second of Gratianus left behind him Peter a godly and a zealous maÌ to succeede him Immediatly the Arians set vp themselues they brag boast of the Emperours religion in all the hast they certifie the Emperour who then continewed at Antioch of Athanasius death Euzoius also the Arian beinge then at Antioch determined with himselfe by reason of the opportunitie of the time in all the hast to ride into Alexandria for to coÌfirme Lucius y
we learne to haue bene the first author of all heresies and they that of him holde this heresie vnto this day fayning through puritie of lyfe the chast philosophie of Christians renouned among all men put in vre agayne the pestilent superstition of pictures from the whiche they seemed once to be free falling prostrate before the pictures and carued Images of Simon his Iil Helena mentioned of before worshipping them with incense and sacrifices and sweete odours They haue as yet certayne more detestable secrecies and him which at the first heareth the same they report to become astonyed and that there is a written oracle amonge them whiche bringeth astonishment True it is these men are full of astonishment ecstasy and meere madnes so that not onely they may not be committed to writing neyther also with modesty be vttered of chaste lippes in so much they ouerflowe in filthines and obscenitie And what so euer may be imagined more fowle then any filthynes it selfe the same hath their damnable heresye surpassed who delude miserable women pressed already with all kinde of impietye CAP. XIIII How Simon Magus after his diuelish dealing in Iudaea gott him to Rome where he was mett of Peter the Apostle THe malicious power of Sathan enemy to al honestye foe to all humane health brought forth at that tyme this monster Simon a father and worker of all such mischieues as a great aduersary vnto the mighty and diuine Apostles But the diuine and supercelestiall grace succored her ministers that by their apparition and presence the kindled flame of wickednes was quenched all pride by them abated humbled which did sett it selfe agaynst the knowledge of God Wherefore neyther the striuing of Simon neyther of any other that then started vp was able to withstand those Apostolike tymes for the brightnes of trueth the diuine word lately shining from aboue preuayling on earth working in his Apostles victoriously ouercame and mightely ouer grewe all thinges But the afore sayd Sorcerer hauing the eyes of his minde lightened with a diuine and some sodayne shining from aboue after that first of all he was manifestly knowne to haue maliciously deale agaynst Peter the Apostle in Iudaea fled alonge iorneye by sea from the East vnto the West thinking to gett by that flight to liue afterwards at hartes ease And comming into the city of Rome he was so ayded by his power whiche preuayleth in this worlde that in short tyme he brought his purpose to suche a passe that his picture was there placed with others and he honoured as a God But this his impietye did not longe prosper for incontinently vnder the raygne of Claudius the wonderfull prouidence of the God of all thinges and carefull ouer mankinde guyded vnto Rome Peter that great and constant Apostle chiefe of all the rest for vertuous fauour agaynst this so greate a corruptor of Christian life who like a valyant Capitayne sensed with the diuine armour of God transported from East vnto West the precious marchandise of spirituall brightnes the wholsome doctrine and light of soules that is the preaching of the glad tydinges of the celestiall kingdome CAP. XV. The foyle of Simon and mention of the Gospell written by S. Marke WHen the heauenly worde came thither Immediatly the power of Simon together with him self came to nought and the flame was quenched But of the contrary such a light of piety shined in the mindes of such as heard Peter that they were not suffized with once hearing neither satisfied with the vnwritten doctrine that was deliuered but earnestly besought Saynct Marke whose Gospell is now in vre that he woulde leaue in writing vnto them the doctrine which they had receaued by preaching neither ceased they vntill they had perswaded him and so geuen an occasion of the Gospell to be written ⪠which is nowe after Marke It is reported that the Apostle vnderstanding of this by inspiration of the holy spirite was pleased with the motion of those men and commaunded this Gospell nowe written to be reade in the Churches Clemens in the sixt of his Hypotiposcon reporteth this story With him agreeth Papias Byshop of Hierapolis in Asia who sayth that of this Marke mention is made by Peter in his former Epistle which he compiled being at Rome and of him the citye of Rome figuratiuely to be called Babilon the whiche is signified when he sayth the Church partaker of your election vvhich is at Babylon saluteth you and Marke my sonne CAP. XVI How that Marke first of all others preached vnto the Aegyptians the knowleadge of Christ MArke is sayde first of all to haue bene sent vnto Aegypt and there to haue both preached the Gospell which he wrote and first to haue setled the Churches of Alexandria and so a greate multitude of beleeuers both men and women At the first meeting was gathered together by a certayne philosophicall and diligent exercise that Philo thought good to commit in writing vnto vs their exercise their conuenticles their dyet and all the other trade of their life ⪠It is reported that this Philo came to Rome vnder Claudius and had conference with Peter who then preached vnto the Romaynes neyther is it vnlike That Commentary whiche we knowe to haue bene compiled by him in his latter dayes contayneth manifestly the Canons hitherto conserued in the Church And in so much that curiously he hath described vnto vs the lyues of our religious men it is very like that he did not onely see those Apostolike men of his tyme by originall Ebrevves and therefore obserued the auncient rites and ceremonyes of the Ievves but also allowed of them as godly and honest CAP. XVII Eusebius reporteth out of Philo the lyues the maners the studyes the habitation the assemblies the iudgement of the interpretation of the Scriptures of the religious mân in Aegypt and there about flourishing in his tyme. FIrst of all this playnely appeareth that he passed not the limites of veritye by reason of him selfe or of any other in reporting those thinges whiche he wrote in that booke by him entituled of the life contemplatiue or vvorshippers saying that the men and women were called worshippers eyther because like cunning Phisitians they cured and healed such as came vnto them of their malitious passions or els because that religiously they worshipped the celestiall godhead with pure and sincere worship But whether he gaue them this name of his proper person for the aforesayde cause or whether at the beginninge they were so called when as yet the name of Christians was not euery where published I thinke it not needefull curiously to shift out Yet first of all this he witnesseth that they renounced their substaunce and their proper goodes they vvhich deuined of philosophye gaue place they seuered them selues from all the secular cares of this life they forsaking the cities solitarily liued in fieldes gardens or Orchyardes they
accompanied them vvhiche follovved the contrary trade of life as vnprofitable and hurtfull vnto them vvhich then liued thus as requisite it vvas to this ende that vvith earnest and feruent desire they shoulde imitate them vvhich ledde this propheticall life For in the Actes of the Apostles whence no doubt this is rehearsed it is written that all the familiares of the Apostles sould their substance and possession distributing to euery one as need required so that none wanted among them For as many sayth the text as had lands or houses sould them bringing the price thereof and laying it at the Apostles feete to this purpose that seuerally euery ones want and necessity might be supplied The like doth the same Philo testifie writing thus In many places this kinde of people liueth for it behoued as vvell the Graecians as the Barbarians to be partakers of this absolute goodnesse but in Aegypt in euery prouince so they terme them they abounde and especially about Alexandria From euery vvhere the best conuaye them selues as it vvere into their natiue contrey into the soyle of these vvorshippers as a most commodious place adioyninge to the lake of Marye in a lovver vale very fitt both for the securitye and temperature of the aëre Afterwardes describing the maner of their mansions he writeth thus of the Churches of that region In euery village there is a religious house vvhich they call Semnion and a Monasterye vvherein they inhabiting do celebrate the mysteries of honest and holy life carying thither nothing nether meate nor drinke nether any other thing necessary for the sustentation of the body but the lavves and the oracles of the Prophets Hymnes and such like vvherby knovvledge and pietye is encreased there are consummated And a litle after he sayth All the space that is from morning to euening is of them spent in godly exercise ⪠for reading the holy Scriptures they meditate thereupon handling allegorically the diuine philosophy of their natiue contrey And they suppose those types of secretye vvhich by figures are signified to be made manifest by the exposition of the Scriptures They haue certayne Commentaryes of auncient vvriters vvho beinge ringleaders of their opinions haue left vnto their posterityes monuments of many thinges Allegorically handeled vvhiche they vsing as principall types do imitate the drifte of their trade These thinges seeme to haue bene vttered by this man as thoughe he had bene an auditor vnto their exposition of the Scriptures It is also very like that the Commentaryes whiche he reporteth to haue bene amonge them were the Gospells and the workes of the Apostles and certayne expositions of the auncyent Prophetes partlye suche as that Epistle vnto the Hebrevves is and also the other Epistles of Paul doe contayne To be shorte that they newely compiled and collected Psalmes thus he writeth They contemplate not only diuine things but they make graue canticles hymnes vnto God in a more sacred ryme of euery kinde of metre and verse And many more thinges he declareth in that booke whiche we here mention But those thinges seemed necessaryly selected of him which paynte vnto vs the sure and certayne notes of their Ecclesiasticall conuersation But if any man suppose these thinges nowe spoken of not properly to appertayne vnto the pollycye of the Gospell but to be applyed vnto others besydes these forementioned worshippers let him at leste wise creditt that which out of his wordes we will alleadge and no doubt if he iudge indifferently he shall finde an infallible testimonye For thus he writeth First of all they place continency in the mynde as a certayne foundation next they buylde thereupon other vertues Not one eateth or drinketh before sunne sett adiudging the diuine meditating of vvisedome to be a vvorke of light the curious feeding of the carkasse to be a vvorke of darkenes geuing vnto the one the daye vnto the other the lesser parte of the night Many thinke not vpon meate no not in vvhole three dayes beinge rauished vvith a greater desire of knovvledge then of foode Many are so delighted and enamoured vvith the foode of vvisedome vvhich aboundantly copiously and plentifully ministreth all kinde of learning that they abstaine from meate tvvise as long scarse in six dayes they receaue their necessary foode These wordes of Philo in our opinion concerne without all contradiction our men But if any man as yet stifly gaynesaye and looke to be further persuaded let him creditt more euident demonstrations whiche he shall not finde amonge any others saue onely the Christians who religiously ⪠rule them selues accordinge vnto the Gospel for he sayth Amonge them of vvhome vve speake there are vvomen to be found vvherof diuers are elderly virgines vovving chastitye not by compulsion or necessitye as the guyse and maner is of holy virgines ⪠among the Gentiles but rather voluntarily for the zeale desire they haue to vvisedome vvith vvhose company these vvomen acquaintinge them selues despise corporall luste desirous not of mortall but immortall children vvhich soly the amiable and godly minde of it selfe begetteth And afterwards he setteth forth the same more playnly for the interpretations sayth he of the sacred Scriptures are among them Allegoricall and figuratiue For vnto these men the vvhole Scripture seemeth like a liuing creature so that the externall shevve of vvordes resemble the superficyes of the body and the hidd sense or vnderstandinge âf the vvordes seeme in place of the soule vvhich their religion began to contemplate by the behoulding of names as it vvere in a glasse obseruing a passing beautye vvith the bright beames of shininge sentences What neede we to adde vnto these how that they gathered together seuerally men and seuerally women haue their conuersation and what exercise they practise among them which as yet are in vse among vs and especially such as we haue bene accustomed to vse in our fastinges vigils and reading of diuine Scripture about the festiuall day of the blessed passion which the aforesayd author hath diligently noted after the same maner as they are obserued among vs and deliuered it in writing but especially describing the vigils of that greate feaste and the exercises thereof with hymnes as the maner is among vs. and how that one singing in verse and the reste geuing diligent eare with silence they all close in the ende and sing with him the last verse of the hynme He hath written also how that in the afore sayde dayes they lye vpon greene pallets casting at all neither wine neither any liuinge creature but their drinke cleare water and their foode bread with salt and Hyssope He writeth moreouer of their gouernment I say of them to whome the Ecclesiasticall Liturgies are committted of their Deaconshippes and of the presidency of Bishopes placed aboue all But if any man be desirous to knowe these thinges exactly let him repayre vnto the history of the afore said author Now that Philo
to be short a theefe for he keepeth this mountayne ouer against the church together vvith his associates the Apostle then renting his garment and beating his heade vvith greate sorrovv sayde I haue left a vvise keeper of our brothers soule prepare me a horse and let me haue a guyde he hastened out of the churche rode in post being come vnto the place appoynted he is straight vvayes taken of the theeuishe vvatch he neither flyeth neither resisteth but exclamâth for this purpose came I hither bringe me vnto your captaine vvho in the meane space as he vvas armed behelde him comminge but eftsones vvhen he savve his pace and knevve that it vvas Iohn he vvas stroken vvith shame and fledd avvay the olde man forgetfull of his yeares vvith might pursueth him flying and cryeth My sonne vvhy flyest thou from me thy father vnarmed and olde O sonne tender my case be not afrayde as yet there remayneth hope of saluation I vvill vndertake for thee vvith Christe I vvill dye for thee if neede be as Christ did for vs. I vvill hazard my soule for thine trust to me Christ sent me ⪠but he hearing this first stoode still turning his countenance to the ground next shoke of his armour anone trembled for feare and vvept bitterly He embraced the olde man comming vnto him aunsvvering as vvell as he coulde for vveeping so that agayne he seemed to be baptized vvith teares the shaking of the hande onely omitted The Apostle vvhen he had promised and protested to procure for him pardon of our Sauiour and prayed and fallen vpon his knees and also kissed his right hande novve clensed through repentance brought him vnto the Churche agayne VVhen that also he had povvred forth often tymes prayers for him and stroâgled vvith him in continuall fastinges and mollified his minde vvith diuers and sundry sermons and confirmed him departed not as the reporte goeth before he had fully restored him vnto the Churche ⪠and exhibited a greate example of true repentance a greate tryall of nevve birth and a singular token of the visible resurrection this haue I taken out of Clemens partly for the history and partly also for the profitâ of the Reader CAP. XXI Of the order of the Gospells NOw we will forwardes and entreate of the vndoubted wrytinges of this Apostle And firste let there be no staggering at his Gospell which is well knowne of all the Churches vnder heauen Why it was of olde placed the fourthe after the other three it shall thus appeare The diuine holy men namely the Apostles of Christ leading a passing pure life hauing their mindes be decked with euery kinde of vertue vsed rude and simple speache yet of a diuine and forcible power which they had receaued of Christ neither knewe they nether endeuored they to publish the doctrine of their ââister with curious paynting of wordes but vsing the demonstration of the holy spirite which wrought with them and the onely power of Christ which brought miracles to perfection they shewed the knowledge of the kingdome of heauen to the whole worlde being nothing carefull at all for the writinge of bookes And this they brought to passe being occupied with a greater worke and in maner exceeding the strength of man Paul the mightiest of all the rest in the setling of wordes and best armed with the power of perfect senses wrote but very short epistles whereas he might haue layd downe infinite thinges yea and secretes being rapt vnto the thirde heauen and behoulding celestiall things yea brought into paradyse it selfe and there thought worthy to heare secrete mysteries neyther were the rest of the Disciples of our Sauiour namely the tvvelue Apostles and the seuenty with other innumerable ignorant and vnskilful herein And yet of al these the Disciples of our Sauiour Matthew Iohn wrote gospels Who as report goeth were constrained therunto for Matthew when he had first preached vnto the Hebrevves now passing vnto other people wrote his Gospell in his contrey language supplying by writing in his absence y â which was desired in his presence When Mark and Luke had published their gospels ⪠Iohn say they in all y â space preached without writing but at length was moued to write for this cause It is reported that when the bookes of the three Euangelistes were through out the worlde and come into his handes he allowed them and yelded of them a true testimonye wishing that the declaration of such thinges had bene printed in their bookes which were done at the first preaching of Christ the Reader may perceaue these three Euangelistes to haue onely sett forth the doinges of our Sauiour one yeare after the imprysonment and captiuitye of Iohn the Baptist which may be gathered by the beginning of their histories for after the xl dayes fasting and the annexed temptation Matthewe sheweth the time of the beginning of his historye saying VVhen he had hearde that Iohn vvas taken he returned from Iudaea into Galilee And Marke likewise after that sayth âe Iohn vvas taken Iesus came into Galilee And Luke also before he had mentioned the doings of Iesu obseruing the same manner Herode saythe he proceeding in his haynous offences shutt vp Iohn in prison Iohn the Apostle beinge for these causes entreated wrote the tyme passed ouer of the former Euangelistes with sylence and therein the Actes of our Sauiour namely which went before the imprisonment of Iohn which he partly signified writing thus this vvas the first of the miracles vvhich Iesus did partly with all mentioning the doinges of Iohn the Baptist who as then baptized in ânon by Salem which is euident when he sayth for as yet Iohn vvas not cast into prison Iohn then in his Gospell deliuereth such thinges as were done of Christ before the coââiââing of Iohn the other three beginne with the mention of Iohns imprysonment vnto him that recoââyleth the Euangelistes thus they shall not seeme discrepant in so much that the Gospell of Iohn contayneth the former doinges of Christe the other the latter lastinge vnto the ende therefore not without cause Iohn passeth ouer with silence the genealogye of our Sauiour accordinge vnto the fleshe being afore amply layde downe by Matthewe and Luke and beginneth with his diuinitie reserued of the holy Ghost for him as the mightier thus much shall suffice concerning the Gospell written by Sainct Iohn The cause why Marke wrote his Gospell we haue declared before Luke in the beginninge of his historye sheweth the occasion of his writing signifying that diuers nowe already had imployed their diligent care to the setting forthe of such thinges as he was fully perswaded of deliuering vs very necessarily from their doubtful opinion why left that he by his Gospell declareth vnto vs the sure and certaine narration of such thinges whereof he had receaued the truthe sufficiently partely by the company and conuersation of Paul partely also throughe the familiaritie
communicated his diuine and godly labour and industry not onely to such as were his charge but also to strangers shewing himself most profitable vnto all people by those Catholicke epistles which he directed vnto the Churches of which numbre is that epistle written by him vnto the Lacedaemonians ⪠contayning y e right institution of christian peace vnitie Moreouer his epistle wrytt vnto the Athenians stirreth the mindes of faythfull men vnto the embracing of the trueth and euangelicall conuersation of life repâenâendeth the gainesayers despisers thereof chargeth diuerse of them that they were now in manner fallen from the fayth although Publius there bishop in their time had there bene martyred He remembreth Quadratus the successor of Publius after his martyrdome in the byshoprick testifieth of him that by his meanes they were vnited and stirred to the fayth He sheweth moreouer howe that Dionysius Areopagita conuerted vnto the fayth according vnto that which is wrytten in the Actes of the Apostles ⪠was by Paul placed the first byshop of Athens There is extant also an other epistle of his vnto the Nicomedians where repugninge the heresie of Marcion he fortifieth the right rule of fayth And vnto the Churche of the Gortynenses together with other congregations throughout Creta he wryteth commending Philip there byshope for that the Church committed vnto his charge was beautified and bedecked by the proufe of many vertuous properties warninge withall that they should auoide the wilfulnes of peruerse heretickes And wryting to the Church of Amastris together with the rest throughout Pontus he mentioneth Bachilides and Elpistus at whose instant motion he wrote and Galma there byshop interlacing expositions of sundry places of Scripture He admonisheth them at large toutching mariage and virginitieâ commaundinge also to receaue after repentance such as fell how soeuer it happened eyther of purpose or by heretical perswasioÌ Unto this there is annexed an epistle vnto the Gnosij where theyr byshope Pinytus is admonished not to charge necessarily the brethren with the greuous burthen of vowed chastitie but to haue consideration of the frail imbecillity of many natures vnto the which epistle Pinytus making answere extolleth commendeth Dionysius yet agayne by way of admonition requireth that stronger meat beinge deliuered he fead the flocke coÌmitted vnto his charge with more absolute and profound doctrine least that they lingering in their milkesoppes and smothe exhortacions waxe old through negligence in childish nurture In the which epistle of Pinytus the right rule of fayth diligent care for the saluation of his flocke discretion also vnderstanding of holy scripture is liuely set forth last of all there remaineth an epistle of Dionysius vnto the Romaines namely vnto Soter their byshop whereof if we alleage some parte it shall not seeme impertinent where he commendeth the Romaine manner obserued vnto the persecution of our time wryting thus It hath bene your accustomed manner euen from the beginning diuersely to benefitt all the brethren and to send relief throughout the citie supplying the vvant of the poore by refreshing them in this sorte and specially the vvante of the brethren appointed for slauishe drudgerie and digging of mettalls you Romaynes of old do retaine the fatherly affection of Rome vvhich holy Soter your bishop not onely obserued but also augmented ministringe large and liberall relief to the vse of the sainctes embracing louingly the conuerted brethren as a father doth his sonnes vvith exhortation of vvholsome doctrine Here also he remembreth y â epistle of Clemens wrytten to the Corinthians shewing the same of auncieÌt custome to haue bene read in the Church for thus be writeth VVe haue this day solemnized the holy sunday in the vvhich vve haue read your epistle alvvaies vvill for instructions sake euen as vve do the former of Clemens vvritten vnto vs. The same author reporteth of his owne epistles that they were patched corrupted in these words VVhen I vvas intreated of the brethren to vvrite I vvrote certaine Epistles but the messengers of Satan haue sovven them vvith tares pulling avvay some putting to other some vvhose condemnation is layd vp for certaine no maruell then though some endeuored to corrupt the sacred Scriptures of God vvhen as they vvent about to counterfett such vvrytinges of so smale authoritie Yet be sides all these there is founde an other epistle of Dionysius to Chrysophora a faithfull sister where as it was most mete he ministreth vnto her spirituall foode conuenient for her calling thus much toutching Dionysius CAP. XXIII Of Theophilus byshop of Antioche and his workes OF Theophilus byshop of Antioch before meÌtioned there are found three bookes of ElemeÌtall Institutions dedicated vnto Antolicus again an other entitled Against the heresie of Hermogenes where he alleageth many testimonies out of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn there are also certaine other bookes of his intitled of Institutions but there was neuer no greater plague or pestilence then the poyson of heretickes which then infected after the manner of tares the true seede of Apostolicke doctrine whome the pastors of the Churches repelled from the flocke of Christ as if they had bene certen sauadge beastes partely by adinomtions exhortations vnto the brethren partly also by encountring with the heretickes them selues sometimes disputing and questioning with them face to face to the vtter ouerthrow of their trifling fantasies sometimes by theyr wrytten commentaries diligently confuting by way of reprehension theyr fonde opinions Among whome Theophilus together with others which then labored against theÌ was counted famous who also wrote a booke leaueling at Marcion the which we knowe together with the rest at this day to be extaÌt after the desease of this Theophilus Maximinus being the 7. from the Apostles succeeded him in the Church of Antioche CAP. XXIIII Of Philip byshop of Gortyna Irenaeus and Modestus PHilip whome by the reporte of Dionysius we haue learned to haue bene byshop of the Church of Gortyna wrote a most exquisite tract agaynst Marcion so did Irenaeus and Modestus which of all others chiefly detected his error vnto the worlde so did sundrye other learned men whose bookes are yet to be seene with diuerse of the brethren CAP. XXV Of Melito byshop of Sardis in Asia and his workes ABoute this time Melito byshop of Sardis and Apollinarius byshop of Hierapolis florished who both wrote vnto the Emperour of Rome then raygning seuerall bookes and Apologies in the behalfe of our faith whereof these of Melito his doinges came to our handes 2. bookes of Easter of Politicke conuersation and the Prophets of the church of the sundaye of the nature of man of the molde of man of the obedience of fayth of the senses Moreouer of the body and soule also of our regeneration or nevvbirth of the trueth ⪠of the faith and the natiuitie of Christ likewise a booke of his of prophecie of the soule body ⪠of hospitalitie And a booke
brethren inhabiting Fraunce layde downe in writing their godly and Catholicke censure of them and withall alleadged sundry epistles of the holy Martyrs that suffered among them which being in close prison they had written vnto the brethren throughout Asia and Phrygia in the which also they called and prouoked Eleutherius then ⪠Bishop of Rome to the defence of the Ecclesiasticall peace CAP. IIII. The Martyrs in Fraunce commende Irenaus Bishop of Lions by their epistle vnto Eleutherius Bishop of Rome THe same Martyrs highly commended Irenaeus minister of the Church of Lions ⪠vnto the foresayd Bishop of Rome as their owne wordes declare in this manner Father ⪠Eleutherius vve vvishe you health in all thinges and alvvaies in God VVe haue requested Irenaeus our brother fellovv laborer to deliuer you these letters vvhome vve pray you to accept of ⪠as a zelous follovver of the vvill of Christ for if vve vnderstoode that any mans degree yelded forth and deliuered righteousnes vnto the graduate namely as being minister of the Church ⪠vvhich this man is vve vvoulde haue chiefly commended this in him To what ende shoulde I now out of the same epistle rehearse the catalogue of Martyrs I meane of them which were beheaded and of them which were deuoured of wilde beastes and of them which dyed in prison and the number of those confessors who then as yet liued for if any man be disposed at large to reade thereof let him take in hande my booke of Martyrs where the collection thereof is imprynted these thinges were after this manner in the tyme of Antoninus the Emperour CAP. V. How that God in great necessity sent rayne at the faithfull Christian souldiers prayers vnto the hoaste of Marcus Aurelius a Heathenish Emperour THe historyes doe recorde that when his brother Marcus Aurelius the Emperour warred against the Germans and Sarmatians his hoast in manner perished with thirste so that he wist not what to do and that the souldiers of the legion called Melitana moued againe againe with faithfulnes towards their Prince bowed downe vppon their bare knees as our accustomed manner of praying is in the middest of the army turning them to the enemyes and made supplication vnto God When as this sight seemed straung vnto the enemies there was shewed a farre more straung spectacle to wit lightening which put the enemies to flight ouerthrowe withall a showre of rayne to refreshe the armye which welnigh perishing with thirst powred out their prayers before the high throne of the maiestie of God This history is reported by such as fauored not the Christian fayth yet were careful to set forth the things which concerned the foresaid persons it is also written by our men but of the heathen Historiographers them selues the miracle is mentioned not expressly to proceede by the meanes of our men yet our writers as friendes and fauorers of the true doctrine haue deliuered simply and plainly the deede as it was done wherof Apollinarius is a witnes of creditt who reporteth that this legion by whose praiers this miracle came to passe was from y â time forth called by y e Emperour in the Romayne tongue after a peculier name the Lightening legion Tertullian also a man worthy of good creditt dedicating an Apology in y â Latine tongue vnto y â Romayne Senate in the defence of our faith wherof we mentioned before hath confirmed this history w t a mightier more manifest proofe for he writeth y â the most prudent epistles of Marcus are yet extant where he testifieth him selfe y â warring w t the Germanes through the scarsitie of water his army welnigh perished but yet was saued through y e prayers of y e Christians he saith y t this Emperour threatned them w t death which went about to accuse them vnto the aforesaid thinges he addeth vvhat maner of lavves are these against vs impious vniust cruell vvhich neither Vespasian obserued although conquerour of the Ievves vvhich Traian partly frustrated commaunding the inquisition for the Christians to cease vvhich neither Adrianus although busying him selfe vvith euery matter nether he vvhich vvas called Pius confirmed but weye of this euery man as pleaseth him we will prosecute that which followeth in order of historye When Pothinus of the age of foure score and tenne yeares had ended this life together with the other Martyrs in Fraunce Irenaeus succeeded him in the Bishoprike of Lions whome we haue learned in his youthe to haue bene the auditor of Polycarpus this same Irenaeus in his thirde booke against the heresies annecteth the succession of the Romaine Bishops vnto Eleutherius whose tymes presently we prosecute and reciteth the cataloge of them as if it were his speciall drift writing in this manner CAP. VI. The cataloge of the Romayne Bishops out of Irenaeus THe blessed Apostles planting and buylding the Church committed vnto Linus the gouernment of the ministery ⪠This Linus Paul remembred in his epistle vnto Timothe ⪠him succeeded Anacletus after him Clemens the thirde from the Apostles vvhich both savve them had his conuersation vvith them and had both the preaching and tradition of the blessed Apostles graffed in his minde and paynted before his eyes neither vvas he yet alone for there liued at that time a great many vvhich vvere ordayned by the Apostles In the time of this Clemens there vvas raysed no small sedition among the brethren at Corinthe vvherfore the church of Rome vvrote vnto the Corinthians a vvorthy epistle reconciling them vnto peace and renevving their faith and tradition lately receaued of the Apostles A litle after he sayth After this Clemens succeeded Euarestus after Euarestus Alexander after Alexander Xystus he vvas the sixt from the Apostles aftervvards Telesphorus vvhich vvas gloriously crovvned vvith martyrdome him follovved Hyginus then Pius after him Anicetus vvhome Soter succeeded Novv Eleutherius vvas the tvvelfe Bishop from the Apostles after the same order the same doctrine tradition of the Apostles truely taught in the Church at this day continevved vnto our time CAP. VII How vnto that tyme miracles were wrought by the faythfull THese thinges Irenaeus agreeable vnto the historyes mentioned before hath layde downe in those fiue bookes which he wrote to the subuersion and confutation of the falsely named science agayne in the seconde booke of the same argument he signifyeth how that vnto his tyme signes and examples of the straunge and wonderfull power of God were seene florishing in certayne Churches saying they are farre from raysing of the deade as the Lorde and his Apostles did through prayer and as many of the brethren many times the vvhole Churche of some certayne place by reason of some vrgent cause vvith fasting and chaste prayer hath brought to passe that the spirite of the deade returned to the body and man vvas by the earnest prayers of the Sainctes restored to lyfe agayne A litle after he sayth But if they say
the Lorde vvrought these thinges phantastically vve vvill leade them vnto the practised examples of the Prophetes and proue out of them that they all prophecied of him after this manner and that these thinges vvere done in deede and that he vvas the onely sonne of God VVherefore in his name they that be his true Disciples receauing grace of him bende their vvhole might to this ende that euery one after the quantitie of the talent receaued doe benefitt the other brethren some soundely and truely expell deuills so that they being deliuered of their euill spirites embraced the fayth and vvere receaued into the Church others haue the foreknovvledge of thinges to come they see diuine dreames propheticall visions others cure the deseased and sickly restore them to their health by their laying on of handes Novv according to our former saying the deade vvere raysed to life and liued together vvith vs many yeares for the gracious giftes of the holy Ghost are innumerable vvhich the Church dispersed throughout the vvhole vvorlde hauing receaued disposeth dayly in the name of Iesus Christ crucified vnder Pontius Pilate to the benefitt of the Gentyles seducing none neither selling to any at any pryce as she hath receaued them freely so freely she bestovveth them Againe in an other place Irenaeus writeth as vve haue hearde of many brethren in the Churche vvhich had the gift of prophecying vvhich vvere able through the holy Ghost to speake vvith sundry tongues vvhich coulde reueale the secretes of men vvhere it so behoued and expounde the darke mysteries of God thus much of the diuersity of giftes which florished among the worthy men vnto that time CAP. VIII VVhat Irenaus wrote of and concerning the holye Scriptures canonicall and the septuagints translation FOr as much as in the beginning of this our treatise we haue promised in their seuerall places to alleage the testimonies of the auncient ecclesiasticall elders and writers which they haue written to our knowledge deliuered to the posteritie toutchinge the canonicall scriptures of bothe the olde and newe testament nowe we will endeuour to performe the same And beginninge with Irenaeus firste of all let vs see what he hath written of the newe testament his wordes are these Matthewe deliuered vnto the Hebrues the historie of the Gospell vvritten in theire ovvne tongue VVhen Peter and Paul preached at Rome and planted the churche after their departure Marke the disciple and interpreter of Peter also deliuered vs in vvritinge suche thinges as he had hearde Peter preache and Luke accompanyenge Paul comprised in one volume the Gospell preached of him After these Iohn the disciple of our Lorde vvhich also leaned on his breaste published a Gospell vnto the posteritie remaining at Ephesus This hath he written in his thirde booke And in the fifte of the same argument he reasoneth of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn and the calculation of Antichristes name These thinges beinge thus vvhen as in all true and auncient copies this numbre is layde dovvne and they also testifie the same vvhiche savve Iohn vvith their eyes and the vvorde it selfe teacheth vs that the number of the beastes name according vnto the numbring of the Gentiles is declared by the letters expressed in the vvord it selfe A litle beneath of the same thus he sayth VVe doubte nothing of the name of Antichrist of the vvhich vve affirme sure certenly for if his name at this present vvere openly to be published no doubt it had bene done by him vvhich pronounced the reuelation ⪠neither vvas the reuelation seene long agoe but vvelnighe in this our age vnder the end of Domitians raigne thus muche he sayed of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn He hath made mention of the firste Epistle of Iohn citing thence many testimonies also of the former of Peter and he not onely knewe but allowed of the booke of Hermes intituled Pastor sayeng That vvritinge hath very vvell pronounced vvhich saithe before all thinges beleue there is one God vvhich hath created and made perfect all thinges c. Hee hath vsed also certaine sentences selected out of the booke of VVisdome of Solomon where he sayeth The sight of God bringeth incorruption incorruption dravveth a man vnto God He cyteth the woorkes of some one Apostolicke elder whose name he passeth ouer with silence yet pronounceth his interpretation of holy scripture Moreouer he remembred Iustinus Martyr and Ignatius alleaging their writinges for testimonies he hath promised to confute Marcion in a seuerall volume but of the translation of the olde testament by the septuagintes heare what he writeth in these wordes God then vvas made man the Lord himselfe hath saued vs geuing vs a Virgine for a signe not as some saie vvhich presume to interprete the Scriptures beholde a damsell shall conceaue and bring forth a sonne as Theodotion the Ephesine and Aquila of Pontus translated vvhich vvere both Ievvish proselytes vvhom the Ebionites folovving haue taught that Christ vvas borne of Ioseph and Marie After a fewe lynes he addeth sayinge Before the Romaine empire grevve to be of suche force vvhen as yet the Macedonians helde Asia Ptolomaeus the sonne of Lagus fullie minded to erect a librarie at Alexandria and to replenishe the same vvith all such good bookes as vvere extant requested of the Ievves inhabiting Ierusalem that they vvould sende him their bookes translated into the Greeke tongue they forasmuche as they vvere as yet subiect vnto the Macedonians sent vnto Ptolomaeus seuentie elders from among them very skilfull in their bookes and both the tongues God no doubt disposinge this thinge after his pleasure Ptolomaeus for tryals sake fearing if they conferred together they vvould conceale the truth reuealed in their bokes commaunded them seuerally euery man by himselfe to vvrite his translation and this in euery booke throughout the olde testament VVhen as they all came together in presence of Ptolomaeus and conferred the translations one vvith an other God vvas glorified and the Scriptures diuine in deede vvere knovven for all they from the beginninge to the endinge had expressed the selfe same thing vvith the selfe same vvordes and the selfe same sentences so that the Gentils then present pronounced those scriptures to haue bene translated by the instincte and motion of the spirite of God neither may it seme maruailous vnto any man that God brought this to passe for vvhen as in the captiuitie of his people vnder Nabuchodonosor the scriptures vvere perished the Ievves returning into their ovvne region after seuenty yeares in the tyme of Artaxerxes King of Persia he inspyred Esdras the priest of the tribe of Leââ that he restored agayne all the sayinges of the former Prophetes and delyuered vnto the people the lavve geuen by Moses thus farre Irenaeus CAP. IX Of Iulianus Bishop of Alexandria and Pantaenus there professor of diuinitie WHen Antoninus had raigned ninetene yeares Comodus tooke the rule of the imperiall scepter in the first yeare of whose raigne
their saynges and vvhat he hearde out of theyr mouthes toutching the Lord of his povver and doctrine recitinge preceptes and all thinges consonante to holy Scripture out of theyr mouthes I say vvho themselues had seene vvith their eyes the vvorde of life in the flesh these thinges at that time through the mercy of God vvhich vvrought in me I diligently marked and paynted it not in papyr but printed it in my harte vvhich continually throughe the grace of God I ponder and meditate And I am able to testifie before God that if that holy and Apostolicke elder had hearde any such thinge he vvoulde haue straight reclaimed and stopped his eares and after his maner pronounced good God into vvvhat times hast thou reserued me that I shoulde suffer such thinges yea and vvoulde haue straight shunned the place vvhere he sitting or standing had hearde such speaches to bee shorte this may be reported for true out of the epistles vvhich he vvrote to the confirmation of the borderinge Churches or out of the Epistles vvhich he vvrote to certaine brethreÌ for admonition and exhortation sake thus farre Irenaeus CAP. XIX The Church enioyeth peace vnder Commodus the Martyrdome of Apollonius a Christian Philosopher THe same yeare vnder Comodus the Emperoure the rage of the Gentiles was mitigated towardes vs so that peace was graunted through the grace of God vnto the vniuersall Churche through out the worlde When as the heauenly doctrine leade the mindes of all mortall men to the embracinge of the true Religion of the onely and vniuersall God so that many of the nobles of Rome brewe neare to their soules health and saluation together with their whole houses and families It was a thinge altogether intollerable for the deuell whose nature is altogether enuious and spitefull therefore he taketh vs in hande againe and inuenteth diuerse snares to entrape vs in he procureth at Rome Apollonius a man amonge the faythfull of that time for learninge and philosophie very famous to be brought forth before the tribunall seate raising his accuser among them that were fitt ministers for so malicious a purpose But the vnhappie man came out of season to receaue the sentence of iudgement because it was decreed by the Emperoure that the accusers of the Christians shoulde dye the death Perennius the Iudge forthwyth gaue sentence agaynste him that his legges shoulde be broken Then the beloued Martyre when the iudge had earnestly and with many wordes entreated him to render an accompte of his fayth before the noble senate he exhibited in the presence of them all a notable Apollogie of his fayth in the whiche he suffred martyrdome Yet neuerthelesse by decree of the senate he was beheaded and so ended this life For the auncient decre was of force and preuayled amonge theym that the Christians whiche were once presented before the tribunall seate and not reuoked their opinions shoulde no more be sette at libertie Wherefore the wordes of Apollonius whiche he answered to Perenius standyng at the barre and his whole Apollogie offered to the senate who lysteth to knowe lette him reade our booke of Martyrs CAP. XX. Of the succession of Byshopes in the moste famous churches IN the tenthe yeare of the raygne of Comodus when Eleutherius had gouerned the bishopricke of Rome thertene yeares Victor succeded him at what tyme also Iulianus after he had continewed tenne yeares in the bishopes seae of Alexandria dyed and Demetrius came in place at what tyme likewise Serapion mentioned a little before was knowen to be the eyght Bishope of Antioche after the Apostles Then was Theophilus bishope of Caesarea in Palestina and Narcissus before remembred bishope of Ierusalem and Banchillus bishope of Corinthe in Hellada Polycrates bishope of Ephesus and an infinite number more as it is verye likelie besydes these excelled at that tyme. but we rehearse theim by name and that iustlye by whose meanes and writinges the catholicke fayth hath bene continewed vnto our tyme. CAP. XXI Of the controuersie about the kepinge of Easter daye AT the same time there rose no small contention because that all the churches throughoute Asia of an aunciente tradition thought good to obserue the highe feaste of Easter in the foreteenthe moone on whiche daye the Ievves were commaunded to offer their Pascall Lambe as muche to saye as vpon what daye soeuer in the weeke that moone fell the fastinge dayes finished and ended when as the other churches throughout the worlde accustomed not to celebrate Easter after this manner but obserued the Apostolicke tradition and custome as yet retayned to wete the fastinge dayes on no other daye to be broken vp afore the daye wherein our Sauiour rose from death to lyfe Wherefore synodes and meetinges of Byshopes were summoned where all with one accorde ordained an ecclestasticall decree whiche they published by their epistles vnto all churches That vpon no other then the sondaye the mysterie of our sauiours resurrection shoulde be celebrated And that one that daye and no other the fasting vsed before Easter shoulde haue an ende Theire epistle is at this daye extant who at that tyme for this cause assembled together in Palaestina whereof Theophilus bishope of Caesarea and Narcissus bishope of Ierusalem were chiefe At Rome likewise there was a synode gathered together for the same cause the whiche Victor their bishope published Agayne there was an other of bishopes at Pontus where Palmas as the moste auncient did gouerne An other of bishops throughout Fraunce whiche Irenaeus did ouersee to be shorte an other of the bishopes throughout Ostroëna and the cities therein contained and speciallye of Banchillus bishope of Corinth with many others al which with one and the same sentence and iudgement ordained the same decree and their vniforme assent was thus made manifest vnto the worlde CAP. XXII By the reporte of Polycrates the churches in Asia celebrated Easter the fouretenthe moone POlycrates moderated the bishops throughout Asia whiche affirmed that their aunciente custome deliuered them of olde was to be retayned This Polycrates in his epistle vnto the churche of Rome sheweth the custome of Asia obserued vnto his tyme in these wordes VVe celebrate the vnuiolated daye of Easter neither addinge anye thinge thereto neither takinge oughte therefro for notable pillers of Christian religion haue rested in Asia vvhiche shall rise at the laste daie vvhen the Lorde shall come from heauen vvith glorie and restore all the sainctes to ioye Philip one of the tvvelue Apostles novve lienge at Hierapolis his tvvo daughters vvho kept them selues virgins all the dayes of their liues the third also after the ende of hir holie conuersation rested at Ephesus Againe Iohn vvho laye on the Lordes breast being a Priest vvore the priestlie attire both a Martyr and a Doctor slept at Ephesus Moreouer Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and a Martyr Thraseas an Eumenian both a Bishop a Martyr slept at Smyrna VVhat shal I speake of Sagaris
him selfe in a certaine place reporteth when as none occupied the rowme of Catechizing at Alexandria because that euery one was fayne to flye away by reason of the threatning thunderbolts of persecution diuers of the Gentils came to him to heare the preaching of the word of God whereof he sayth the first to haue bene Plutarch who besides that he liued well was crowned with martyrdome The seconde was Heraclas y â brother of Plutarch who after he had profited very much and sucked at his lippes the iuyce of christian religion and heauenly philosophy succeeded Demetrius in the bishopricke of Alexandria Origen went nowe on y â eyghtenth yeare when he catechized in the schoole of Alexandria at what time he happely prospered whilest that vnder Aquila Lieuetenant of Alexandria in the heate of persecution he purchased vnto him selfe a famous opinion among all y â faithful in that he chearefully embraced all the martyrs not only of his acquaintance but such as were vnto him vnknowen he visited not only such as were fettered in deepe dungeons close imprisonmeÌt neither only such as looked for the last sentence of execution but after iudgment geuen sentence pronounced he was present with the martyrs boldly accompanying them to y â place of execution putting him selfe in great peril oftentimes boldly embracing kissing saluting them so that once the furious rage of the fonde multitude of the Gentiles had stoned him to deathe if the diuine power of God had not maruelously deliuered him y â same diuine celestial grace of God at other times againe againe so oft as can not be told defended him being assaulted of the aduersaryes because of his noble hardines prompt mind to publish the doctrine of Christ so extremely was he dealt withall of the Infidels that souldiers were commaunded to watch his house in compasse for the banishing of the multitude that came to be instructed of him in the Christian faythe The persecution daily preuailed and was so vehemently bent against him that he could no where passe safely throughout Alexandria but often chauÌging lodgingâ he was from euery where pursued bicause of the multitude which frequented vnto him for instructions sake for his workes expressed moste notable rules of the most true christian philosophie they say as he taught so he liued and as he liued so he taught Wherfore the diuine power of God specially preuayling with him ãâã infinite number were sturred vp by his zeale when he perceaued many Disciples to frequent ãâã to him that the charge of the schoole was now by Demetrius the Bishop committed vnto him alone he supposed the reading of humanitie to be out of season and transformeth the schoole as altogether vnprofitable by reason of profane literature humanitie opposite vnto sacred letters to the exercise of godly discipline againe after good aduise taken for necessary prouision he soulde the profane writers which he had diligently perused lay by him enioyning the buyer to pay him daily foure halfepence of the set price wherwith he contented him selfe this philosophicall trade continewed he y â space of many yeares cutting of from him self all occasion of youthly concupiscence ⪠for throughout the whole day he tooke no small labor in this godly exercise the greater part of the night also he spent in meditating of holy Scripture and in his philosophicall life as much as lay in him he vsed fasting taking his reste at certayne temperate tymes of the yeare not on his bedde but very warely on y â bare ground specially aboue al other places he supposed y â sayings of our Sauiour in the Gospell to be obserued which exhorted vs not to weare two coates neyther shoes neither to care for the time to come with a greedy or couetous desire for he endured colde and nakednesse more chearefully then became his yeares suffered such extreame neede necessitie which greatly amazed his familier friends offended many that willingly woulde haue supplied his want and necessity for the paynfulnes they sawe him take in setting forth the heauenly doctrine of Christ Iesus our Sauiour but he being geuen to pacient sufferance passed many yeares without the wearing of shoes ioyning naked foote to bare grounde and he is sayde moreouer for the space of many yeares to haue abstained from wine other such like necessary sustenance onely excepted so that he ranne in great danger lest that through weakenes of lymmes fayntnesse of body he shoulde destroy cast away him selfe this philosophicall trade of life being wondred at of others stirred vp a great many Disciples to imitate the like trade and study so that of the faythfull vnfaithfull of the learned and wise the same not of the meaner sort a great number became zelous and earnest followers after his doctrine in so much that the heauenly worde of God taking deepe roote in their faythfull mindes florished and continewed stedfastly during the persecution of that time so that some of them were apprehended and suffered martyrdome CAP. III. Of the martyrs that suffered out of the schoole of Origen THe first of them was Plutarchus remembred a litle before whome Origen accompanied to the place of execution not without great danger of his life when as his owne citizens went about to practise violence towards him as being author of Plutarchus death yet the wisedome of God deliuered him then The next of the disciples of Origen after Plutarchus was Serenus who is sayd to be the seconde Martyr which gaue triall and proofe of the faith he receaued that by fire The third Martyr out of the same schoole was Heraclides the fourth after him Heron. of the which two latter the first was a Catechumenist the second lately baptized but both beheaded ⪠as yet out of the same schoole came forth the fift champion a seconde Serenus who after pacience in great torments and greeuous payne was beheaded and of the women also Rhais as yet a Catechumenist baptized as Origen him selfe reporteth in fire departed this life CAP. IIII. The martyrdome of Potamiaena a virgine Marcella her mother and Basilides a souldier BAsilides shal be numbred the seuenth among the former Martyrs which led forth the renowmed virgine Potamiaena to execution of whome vnto this day a great fame is blased abroade among the inhabitants of that prouince how that for the chastitie of her body and puritie of minde she stroue very stoutly with her louers she was endued with ripenes of mind and goodly bewty of body when she had suffered infinitely for the faythe of Christ last of all after great and greeuous and dreadfull and terrible torments to be tould of together with her mother Marcella she is burned with fire and consumed to ashes ⪠the report goeth that Aquila the iudge commaunded her whole body to be scurged ouer and that very sore and threatned her he woulde deliuer her body shamefully to be
abused of Fencers and ruffians and after she had muzed a while with her selfe and they demaunding an answere to haue sayd such thinges as pleased not the Gentiles and therefore immediatly after sentence pronounced to haue bene taken and ledd of Basilides a souldier of authority among the hoast to execution When the multitude molested her sore spitefully handling her with opprobrious termes Basilides repressed and rebuked their rayling speaches pytying her very much and practising great curtesie towardes her she of the other side approued and acknowledged his curteous dealing towards her and bad him be of good cheere saying that after her departure she woulde entreate her Lorde for him and shortly requite the curtesie shewed vnto her When she had ended this communication pitche scalding hott was powred by a litle and a litle ouer all her body from the crowne of her heade to the soule of her foote the which she manfully endured in the Lorde and such was the sore combatt which this worthy virgine sustayned but not long after Basilides being required of his fellowe souldiers to sweare for some occasion or other affirmed plainely it was not lawfull for him to sweare for he sayd he was a Christian and that he woulde in very deede protest the same at the first he was thought to daly but when he constantly auoutched it he is brought before the iudge and there hauing confessed the same is clapt in prison but when the brethren had visited him demaunded of him the cause of his sodaine and maruelous alteration the report goeth he declared them how that Potamiaena three daies after her martirdome appeared vnto him by night couered his head with a crowne and sayd she had entreated the Lorde for him and obtayned her purpose and that not long after he shoulde ende this life after these sayinges and the seale of the Lorde receaued by the brethren he was beheaded and so suffered martyrdome they write that many others in Alexandria embraced plentifully the doctrine of Christ for that Potamiaena appeared vnto them in sleepe called them to the fayth of these thinges thus much The translator vnto the reader for the remouing of suspicion rising of two thinges which Eusebius layd downe in the chapiter going before THere are two things in this former chapiter of Eusebius with good aduisement to be considered The first whether Potamiaena after her martyrdome prayed for Basilides the second whether after her martirdome she appeared vnto him to others as Eusebius by heare say laieth downe Toutching the first if we may credit Augustine The soules of the departed are in such a place vvhere they see not those thinges vvhich are done vvhich happen vnto men in this life he sayth further that they haue a care ouer vs as we haue ouer them although vve are altogether ignorant vvhat they doe Peter Martyrs opinion is this although I could easily graunt that the Sainctes in heauen do vvish vvith most feruent desires the saluation of the elect yet for all that I dare not affirme that they pray for vs in so much that the Scripture hath no vvhere layde that dovvne Potamiaena this holy virgine and martyr seeing the kindnes this souldier shewed vnto her was greatly pleased with him and in the feruency of her christian loue towards him sayde that she woulde entreate the Lorde for him after her departure In the like sorte also I reade that Cyprian Bishop of Carthage moued Cornelius Bishop of Rome that whether of them both shoulde first departe this life the same without intermission shoulde pray vnto God for the other suche was the feruencye of loue betwene them In the like sense men commonly say God haue mercy on his soule which saying the learned and zelous doe not so well like of for though the good motion as they say disposition of the minde be expressed therby yet doth it the dead no good at all when as his soule being already in the hands of God needeth not our prayer God no doubt was as redy to grauÌt Basilides the light of his spirit as Potamiaena was to pray for him Toutching the seconde whether she appeared vnto him after her deathe the godly can iudge Sainct Augustine sayth If the soules of the deade departed vvere present at the affayres of the liuinge then vvoulde they speake vnto vs vvhen vve see them in our sleepe and to omitte others mine ovvne tender mother vvoulde forsake me neuer a nighte vvhich follovved by sea and by lande to the ende she might liue together vvith me God forbid that she shoulde become cruell in the happier lyfe so that if ought at any tyme greeue my harte she comforte not her sorovvfull sonne vvhome she loued entyrely vvhome she vvoulde neuer see sadd but in good soothe that vvhich the sacred Psalme soundeth out is true my father and my mother haue forsaken me but the Lorde tooke me vp If our fathers haue forsaken vs hovve are they present at our cares and busines If our parentes be not present vvhat other of the departed be there vvhiche knovve vvhat vve doe or vvhat vve suffer The Prophet Esay sayth Abraham hath bene ignorant of vs and Israell hath not knovvne vs. God of his greate goodnes promised King Iosias that he shoulde dye and be gathered vnto his people leste that he shoulde see the plagues which he threatned shoulde happen to that place and people Chrysostom sayth the soule that is seuered from the bodye can not vvander in these regions Agayne he sayth It may not be that the soule departed from the bodye can be conuersant here vvith vs a litle after he sayth It may be proued by many testimonies of holye Scripture that the soules of iuste men vvander not here after their deathe and leste any thinke that the wicked doe wander thus he writeth that neyther the soules of the vvicked also can linger here harken vvhat the ritche man sayth vveye vvhat he requesteth and obtayneth not for in case that the soules of men coulde be conuersant here then had he come according vnto his desire and certified his friendes of the torments of hell by vvhiche place of Scripture it playnely appeareth that the soules after their departure out of the body are brought into some certayne place from vvhence at their vvill they can not returne but vvayte for that dreadefull day of iudgement Theophilact also the Summarist of Chrysostome hath the same wordes Origen writing agaynste Celsus is of the same opinion affirming that the soules wander not but suche as wander to be deuills Chrysostome wryteth that the deuill vseth to saye vnto the liuing anima talis ego sum I am such a mans soule ⪠to the ende he may deceaue him Samuell whome the wytch raysed was not Samuell but the deuill in his forme as Augustine writeth Cyprian sayth the vvicked spirites doe hide them selues in pictures and images consecrated these inspyre the mindes of the Prophets
things worthy of memory they reporte of this mans life whereof this is one certaine lewde varletts seeing the constancie vprightnesse of his life could not brook nether away with it fearing that if through his meanes they were attainted there was no other way but execution therefore they in conscience being priuey to infinite lewde practises preueÌt the same and charge him with a greuous accusation afterwards to perswade the hearers y â sooner they confirme their accusatioÌs with othes y â first swore if I lye let me be burned to ashes the seconde if I reporte not the trueth let my whole body be tormented and wasted away with some cruell disease The third if I beare false wittnesse let me be sâitten with blindnesse but for all their swering and staring not one of the faithfull beleued them the chastitie and vpright conuersation of Narcissus so preuailed among all men He tooke greuously theyr despitefull dealing and because that of olde he had bene of the Philosophicall secte he fledd and forsooke his Churche hidd himselfe priuely in the deserte and obscure places for the space of many yeares yet the great and watchfull eye that iustely auengeth woulde not permitt such as had maliciously practised this lewdnes to haue perfect rest but speedely and swiftely compassed them in theire owne crafte and wrapped them in the same curses if they lyed they had craued vnto themselues The first therefore without any circumstance at all in plaine dealinge had a smale sparcle of fire fallen in the night time vpon the house where he dwelt whereby he his house and his whole family by fire were consumed to ashes The seconde was taken with the same disease from toppe to toe which he had wished vnto himselfe before The thirde seeing the terrible ende of the two former and fearinge the ineuitable vengeance of God that iustely plagueth periured persons confesseth vnto all men they re compacted deceate and pretended mischiefe agaynst that holy man and wasteth awaye with sorowefull mourninge punisheth his body and pineth wyth teares so long till bothe his eyes ranne out of his heade and such were the punishmentes of false wittnesses and periured persons CAP. IX Of the succession of byshops in the Church of Ierusalem AFter the departure of Narcissus when it was not knowen where he remained the bishops of the borderinge and adioyninge Churches ordayned there an other byshop whose name was Dios whome after he had continewed but a smale space Germanion succeeded and after Germanion Gordius In whose time Narcissus shewed himselfe againe as if he had risen from death to life and is entreated of the brethren to enioye his byshopricke againe beinge much marueiled at for his departure for his philosophicall trade of life and especially for the vengeance and plagues God powred vpon his accusers and because that for his olde yeares and heuie age he was not able to supplie the rowne the deuine prouidence of God through a vision by night reuealed vnto him prouided Alexander byshop of an other prouince to be Narcissus his felowe helper in discharging the function due vnto the place CAP. X. Of Alexander byshop of Ierusalem and Asclepiades byshop of Antioche FOr this cause therefore as warned by a vision from aboue Alexander who afore was byshop of Cappadocia tooke his iorney to Ierusalem for prayer sake and visitinge of the places there whome they of Ierusalem receaue bountifully and suffer not to returne whome againe and that did they accordinge vnto the vision which appeared vnto them in the night and plainely pronounced vnto the chief of them charging them to hasten out of the gates of their city and receaue the byshop ordained of God for them this they did through thaduise of the bordering byshops constraining him of necessitie to remayne among them Alexander himselfe in his epistles at this day extant against the Antinoites maketh mention of this byshopricke in commen betwene him and Narcissus wryting thus about the later end of an epistle Narcissus greeteth you vvho gouerned this byshopricke before me and novve being of the age of a hundreth and sixtene yeares prayeth vvith me and that very carefully for the state of the church beseacheth you to be of one mind vvith me These thinges went then after this sorte when Serapion had departed this life Asclepiades was stalled bishop of Antioch and constantly endured the time of persecution Alexander remembreth his election writing to the church of Antioch after this maner Alexander the seruant of the Lord and the prisoner of Iesus Christ vnto the holy church of Antioch sendeth greeting in the Lorde The Lord eased lightened my fetters and imprisonment vvhen that I hearde Asclepiades a man vvell practised in holy Scripture by the prouidence of God for the vvorthines of his faith to haue bene placed bishop of your church This epistle he signifieth in the end to haue bene sent by Clemens This epistle I haue sent vnto you my Maysters and brethren by Clemens a godly minister a man both vertuous vvell knovven vvhome you haue seene and shall knovve vvho also being here present vvith me by the prouidence of God hath confirmed furthered the church of Christ CAP. XI Of the workes of Serapion byshop of Antioch IT is very like that sundry epistles of Serapion are reserued amonge others vnto our knoweledge onely such came as he wrote vnto one Domnus which renounced the fayth of Christ in the time of persecution and fell to Iewish Apostasie and vnto one Pontius and Caricus ecclesiasticall persons againe epistles vnto other men and also a certaine booke of the Gospell which they call after Peter wrytten to this end that he might confute the falsehoode specified in the same for that diuerse of the churche of Rosse went astray after false doctrine vnder coloure of the foresayd Scripture it shall seeme very expedient if we alleage a fewe lines out of it whereby his ceÌsure of that booke may appeare thus he wryteth VVe my brethren receaue Peter the other Apostles as messengers of Christ himselfe but their names being falsely forged vve plainely do reiect knovving vve receaued none such I truely remaining amongest you supposed you vvere all sounde and firme in the right fayth and vvhen I had not perused the booke published in Peters name entitled his Gospell I sayd if this be onely the cause of your grudginge and discoraging let it be redd but novve in so much I perceaue a certaine hereticall opinion to be thereby cloked and coloured by occasion of my vvordes I vvill hasten to come vnto you vvherefore my brethren expecte shortely my comming For vve knovve vvell inough the heresie of Marcianus vvho vvas founde contrary to himselfe he vnderstoode not that vvhich he spake as you may gather by the things vvhich vve vvrote vnto you vve might peraduenture our selues laye dovvne more skilfully the grounde of this opinion vnto his successors vvhome vve call coniecturers for
byshopricke sodenly as it vvere by certaine iugglinge feates he stepped forth a byshop this lavvemaker and protector of the ecclesiasticall science vvhen that he presumpteously endeuored to chalenge vnto himselfe the title of a byshop not graunted vnto him from aboue chose tvvo men of a desperate condition to be partakers of his heresie vvhome he might sende to a certaine corner or les ser part of Italy and thence to seduce three byshops plaine simple and countrey men by some crafty meanes auoutching and affirming that they must in all the haste come to Rome fayninge that they together vvith other byshops meetinge for the same purpose shoulde appease and remoue a certaine schisme raised in the Citie ⪠vvho beinge simple men as vve sayde before not knovving theyr craftie and mischieuous fetches aftertheir coming vvere inclosed by such levvde persons that vvere like vnto themselues suborned for the purpose aboute tenne of the clocke vvhen as they vvere some vvhat tipsie and vvel crommed vvith vitayles they vvere constrayned to create him bishop vvith imaginatiue and friuolous layinge on of handes the vvhich craftely and subtlely not compatible for his person he chalenged vnto him selfe One of them aftervvards repented him and returned vnto the Church bevvaylinge his fall and conconfessing his fault the vvhole multitude also intreatinge for him vvhome vve receaued vnto the company and communion of the laytie In the rovvmes of the other byshops vve ordayned and sent from vs such as should succeed them VVherfore this iolly defender of the Gospell vvas ignorant that there ought to be but one byshop in the catholicke church in the vvhich he knovveth for hovve shoulde he be ignorant that there are six and forty priests seuen deacons seauen subdeacons tvvo and forty acolytes tvvo and fyfty exorcists and readers vvith porters vvidovves and impotent persons aboue a thousand and fifty soules vvho all are releaued through the grace and goodnes of almighty God vvhome so great a multitude and so necessary in the Church and by the prouidence of God so copious and infinite yea a number of innumerable people could not coÌuert and turne him to the Church from this his desperate and damnable presumption Againe in a while after he wryteth Novve forvvardes I vvill orderly declare by vvhat meanes by vvhat trade of life he purchaced vnto himselfe the title of a bishop Thinke you that therefore because of his conuersation in the Churche from the begining or because he endured many skyrmishes or conflicts for his name or that he stood in manifolde and greate perills for piety his sake none of all this vvas true in him The occasion of beleeuinge he tooke of Satan vvhich entred into him and made there longe abode VVhen he vvas deliuered by the Exorcists he fell into a dangerous disease and because he vvas very like to dye vvas baptized in the bedd vvhere he laye If it may be termed a baptisme vvhich he receaued For he obtayned not after his recouery that vvhich he shoulde haue done accordinge vnto the canon of the Church to vvete confirmation by the handes of the byshop In so much then he obtained not that hovve came he by the holy Ghost And againe a little after he sayth He beyngè lothe to dye and desirous of life in the time of persecution denyed himselfe to be a priest VVhen he vvas entreated by the deacons and admonished âo come forthe out of the house vvherein he had enclosed himselfe and to minister vnto the necessitie of the brethren vvhich vvanted he vvas so farre from doinge and obeynge the Deacons that he vvent avvay and departed in a chaâe saying that he vvoulde no longer playe the priest but addicte him selfe vnto an other trade of Philosophie and againe to this he annecteth that which followeth this good man forsooke the Church of God vvherein he vvas baptized and vvhere also he tooke priesthoode vpon him by fauour of the byshop vvhich allotted him thereunto through the layinge on of handes and vvhen all the clergye yea and many of the layetiâ vvithstoode the facte that none baptised in bedd as he vvas shoulde be chosen into the ecclesiasticall order yet they all requested that he might be permitted to enter into orders An other insolency of this man passinge all the former he reporteth thus VVhen he distributed the oblation and deliuered to euery maÌ parte thereof he added this vvithall constrayninge the seely soules before they receaued of his oblation to svvere holdinge both their handes together not loosed before they had thus svvorne I vvill vse theyr ovvne vvordes svveare vnto me by the body and blood of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou vvilt neuer forsake me and flye vnto Cornelius The vvretched man tasted not thereof before he had vovved vnto him and in steede of that vvhen he receauinge the breade shoulde haue sayd Amen he ansvvered I vvill not goe vnto Cornelius Againe a little after he sayth Novv thou mayst vnderstande that he is all bare and foresaken reiected and left of the brethren vvho dayly returne vnto the Church vvhome blessed Moses a martyr vvho of late endured amongest vs a maruelous notable martyrdome being aliue and perceauinge his temerytie and arrogancie did excommunicate together vvith fiue other priests vvhich seuered themselues vvith him from the Church In the ende of the epistle he reciteth the catalogue of byshops who at theyr beinge at Rome condemned the madd fantasie of Nouatus wrytinge both theyr names and the prouinces where they gouerned he reciteth also the names and Cities of such as were absent and had subscribed by theyr letters These thinges hath Cornelius signified by his letters vnto Fabius byshop of Antioch CAP. XLIII Dionysius Alexandrinus reporteth of Serapion that fell in persecution howe at his ende he was desirous to receaue the sacrament of the Lords supper DIonysius also byshop of Alexandria wrote to the aforesayd Fabius who in manner yelded to the schisme many thinges in his letters of repentance paintinge forth theyr pacience which lately had bene martyred at Alexandria whereof omitting many things this one straunge acte worthy of memory we haue thought good to publishe in this our history for thus he wrote I vvill certifee thee sayth he of this one example vvhich happened amongest vs. There vvas one Serapion dvvelling among vs a faithful olde man vvhich of a long time liued vvithout repreheÌsion but being tempted in persecutioÌ fell from the faith he entreated very often that he might be receaued again but none gaue eare vnto him for he had done sacrifice falling vnto a dangerous disease lay speachlesse and benummed of all his senses the space of three dayes the fourth day after being somvvhat recouered he called vnto him a nephevv of his his daughters sonne and sayd vnto him hovve longe O my sonne doe ye vvithholde me I besech you make hast and absolue me quickly call vnto me one of the Priestes the vvhich as soone as he had
the blessed Martyrs not vvithout great daunger And yet vnto this day the President ceaseth not cruelly to slay some that are brought forth to teare in pecces other some with torments to consume other with emprisonment fetters commaunding that none come nigh them enquiring daily if any such men be attainted For all that God refresheth the afflicted with cheerefulnes frequenting of brethren These thinges hath Dionysius writteÌ in y â aforesaid epistle yet haue we to vnderstand y â this Eusebius whom he calleth a deacon was in a while after chosen bishop of Laodicea in Syria Maximus whom he calleth a minister succeded Dionysius in y â bishops sea of Alexandria Faustus who theÌ endured coÌfessâoÌ w t him was reserued vnto the persecution of our time ⪠a very ãâ¦ã hauing liued many dayes at length among vs was beheaded and âcowned a martyrsiâââ were the thinges which happened vnto Dionysius in those dayes CAP. XI Of the Martyrs in Caesarea AT Caesarea in Palaestina in the persecution vnder Valerianus there were three famous men for their sayth in Christ Iesu deliuered to be deuoured of wilde beastes and bewtified with diuine martyrdome whereof the first was called Prisonâ the seconde ⪠Malchus the thirde Alexander ⪠the reporte goeth firste of all that these men leading an obscure and contrey life blaââd them selues for negligence and âtouthfulnes because they stroue not for the crowne of martyrdome but despised those maisteries which that present time distributed to such as couered after celestiall thinges and taking further advisement therein they came to Caesarea they went vnto y â iudge âânigyed the iâ ãâ¦ã Moreouer they write a certayne woman of y â same citie in the same persecution with like triall to haue ended her life and as they report one that enclyned to the heresie of Marcion CAP. XII How that peace in the steade of persecution was restored by the benefitâ of Galienus the Emperour NOt long after Valerianus hauing subdued the Barbarians his sonne got the supremacyââ and ruled the empire with better aduisement and forthwith released and stiââed the âerââcution raysed agaynst vs with publike edices and commaunded that the Prisâdeââs and chiefe of our doctrine shoulde freely after their wonted maner execute their office function The coppy whereof faythfully translated out of Romaine letters and interlaced in this our history is read as followeth The Emperour Câsar Publiââ ãâ¦ã Galienus vertuous fortunate ⪠Augustus vnto Dionysius Pinna Demetrius together vvith the rest of the Bishops sendeth greeting The benefit of our gracious pardon vve commaunde to be published throughout the vvhole vvorlde that they vvhich are detayned in banishment depart the places inhabited of Pagans for the execution vvhereof the coppy of this our edict shal be your discharge lest any go about to molest you and this vvhich you novv may lavvfully put in vre vvas graunted by vs long agoe VVherefore Aâârelius Cyrenius our high Constable hath in his keeping the coppy vvhich vve deliuered vnto him There is extant also an other constitution of his vnto other Bishops wherein he permitteth them to enioye and frequent they places called Churchyardes CAP. XIII The famous Bishops of that time ABout this time was Xystus Bishop of Rome ⪠Demetrianus after Fabius Bishop of Antioch Firmilianus of Caesarea in Cappadocia Gregorius ouer the Churches throughout Pontus and his brother Athenodorus familiars of Origen At Caesarea in Palaestina after the death of Theoctistus Domnus was chosen Bishop whome in a short time after Theotecnus succeeded who also was of the schoole of Origen and at Ierusalem Mazabanus being departed this life Hymenâns enioyed the Bishopricke who liued with vs many yeares CAP. XIIII How that Marinus a souldier through the perswasion of Theotecnus sufferedmartyrdome at Caesarea ABout that time when as the Church enioyed peace throughout the worlde at Caesarea in Palaestina there was one Marinus a famous souldier for seates of armes of noble âynage and great substance beheaded for the testimony of Christ The cause was this There is a certayne dignity among the Romayns called the Centurions vine the which whosoeuer doth obtayne is called a Cenâution When the rowme was voyde the company called Marinus to this degree Marinus being preferred an other came before the tribunall seate and accused him affirming it was not lawefull by the auncient lawes for him to enioy that Romayne dignitie because he was a Christian and sacrificed not vnto the Emperours that it was his turne next to come in place the iudge being very much moued with this his name was Achainâ firsto he demaundeth what opinion Marinus was of when he saw him constantly confessing him selfe to be a Christian he graunted him three houres space to deliberate This being done Theotecnus Bishop of Caesarea calleth vnto him Marinus from the tribunall seate taketh him in hande with exhortations leadeth him by the hande into the Churche setteth him downe in the Chauncell layeth his cloke aside sheweth him the sworde that honge by his side afterwards pulleth out of his pocket the newe testament setteth it ouer agaynst the sworde and bad him chuse whether of those two he preferred or liked best for the health of his soule When he immediatly stretching forth his right hande had taken vp the booke of holy scripture holde fast then sayth Theotecnus vnto him cleaue vnto God and thou shalt enioy the thinges thou hast chosen being strengthened by him and goe in peace After he had returned thence the cryer lifted his voyce and called him to appeare at the barre the time graunted for deliberation was now ended standing therefore at the barre he gaue tokens of the noble courage of his sayth wherefore in a while after as he was ledd heard the sentence of condenmation and was beheaded CAP. XV. Of the fauor which Astyrius a noble man bare towards the Martyrs HEre is mention made of Astyrius because of his most friendly readines and singuler good will he bare vnto the persecuted Christians This man was one of the Senators of Rome well accepted of the Emperours in good estimation with all men for his noble stocke well knowne for his great substance who being present at the execution of the Martyr tooke vp his body layed it on his shoulders being arayed in gorgeous and costly attyre and prouided for him a most noble funerall infinite other thinges are reported by his familiers to haue bene done of him whereof diuers liued vnto this our time CAP. XVI Astyrius by his prayers repressed and bewrayed the iuggling and deceate of Satan ANother straung facte is reported to haue bene practised at Caesarea Philippi which the Phaenicians call Paneas at those fountaynes which spring out of the foote of the mount Paneius whence the riuer Iordan hath his originall they reporte that the inhabitants of that place haue acustomed vpon a festiual day to offer some sacrifice or other which through
reprehension of the world the deuell Antichrist promise of the holy ghost adoption of God fayth euery vvhere required of vs euery vvhere the father and the sonne and if throughout all the character of both vvere noted the frase of the gospell epistle shal be found altogether on but the reuelation farre differeth froÌ both resembleth not the same no not in one vvord neither hath it any one syllable correspondeÌt to the other vvrytings of Iohn for the epistle I vvill say nothing of the Gospell neuer thought vpon neither made any mention of the reuelation neither the reuelation on the other side of the epistle vvhen as Paul gaue vs an inklinge or somvvhat to vnder stand in his epistles of his reuelations yet not intitling them so that he vvould call them reuelations moreouer by the frase thereof vve may perceaue the difference betvvene the Gospell the epistle and the reuelation ⪠for they are vvrytten so artificially accordinge vnto the greeke frase vvith most exquisit vvords syllogismes and setled expositions that they seeme farre from offending in any barbarous terme soloecisme or ignoraÌt error at all for the Euangelist had as it appeareth both the gift of vtterance the gift of knovvledge for as much as the Lord had grauÌted him both the grace of vvisdom science as for the other I vvll not gaynsay but that he savv a reuelation but that also he receaued science and prophecy yet for all that I see his greeke not exactly vttered the dialect and proper frase not obserued I find him vsing barbarous frases in some places soloecismes vvhich presentlye to repeate I thinke it not necessary neither vvrite I these thinges findinge fault vvith oughte lett no man accuse me thereof but onely I doe vvey the diuersitie of both vvorkes CAP. XXV The epistles and workes of Dionysius b. of Alexandria BEsides these there are extante other epistles of Dionysius whereof some he wrote agaynst Sabellius vnto Ammon byshop of Bernice ⪠afterwards on to Telesphorus one to Euphranor an other to Ammon and Euporus of the same argument he wrote foure bookes and dedicated them to Dionysius of the same name with him byshop of Rome againe sundry other epistles and volumes in forme of epistles as his Physicks dedicated vnto his sonne Timotheus An other tracte of temptations the which also he dedicated to Euphranor And wrytinge to Basilides byshop of Pentapolis diocesse he reporteth him selfe in the beginninge to haue published commentaries vpon Ecclesiastes he left behinde him sundry epistles for the posteritie But so farre of Dionysius workes Nowe it remayneth that we deliuer vnto the posteritie the history of this our age CAP. XXVI Of Dionysius byshop of Rome of Paulus Samâsatenus the Hâreticke denyinge the diuinitiâ of Christ and the Synode heldâ at Antioch condemninge his heresie WHen Xystus had gouerned the Churche of Rome eleuen yeares Dionysius of the same name with him of Alexandâia succeeded him About that time also when Demetrianus byshop of Antioch had departed this life Paulus Samosatenus came in his place And because he thought of Christ basely abiectly and contrary to the doctrine of the Church to wete that he was by nature a common man as we are Dionysius byshop of Alexandria was sent for to the Synode who by reason of his greate age the imbecilitie of his body differred his comminge and in the meane while wrote his censure of the sayde question in an epistle ⪠the other byshops one from one place an other from an other place hastened to Antioch and mett with the rotten sheepe which corrupted the flocke of Christ CAP. XXVII Of the famous byshops which were present at the Synode helde at Antioch AMonge these as chiefe florished Firmilianus byshop of Caesarea in Cappadocia Gregorius and Athenodorus who were bretherne and byshops of the Churches in Pontus besides these Elenus byshop of Tarsus and Nieomas byshop of Iconium Moreouer Hymenaus byshop of Ierusalem Theotecnus byshop of Câsarea in Palaestina and Maximus byshop of Bostra I might haue repeated an infinite mo both ministers and deacons who mett for the same cause at Antioch but these aforenamed were the most famous amonge them ⪠When all came together at seuerall times and sundry sessions they did argue and reason hereof Samosatenus together with his complices endeuored to couer and conceale the variablenes of his opinioÌ but the rest practised with all might possible âo saye bare and âett wyde open his blasphemy against Christ In the meane while Dionysius byshop of Alexandria departed this life the twelfe yeare of Galienus his raygne after he had gouerned the Churche of Alexandria seuenteene yeares and him succeeded Maximus CAP. XXVIII Of Claudius the Emperour and the seconde Synode held at Antioch where Malchion confuted Samosatenus WHen Galienus had raygned vnder the regall scepter the space of fifteene yeares Claudius his successor was created Empetour This Claudius hauinge continewed two yeares committed the empire to Aurelianus vnder whome was summoned the last the greatest synode of all celebrated of many bishops where the author of that heresie and strauÌg doctrine was taken shorte publiquely condemned of all seuered banished excommunicated the Catholicke and vniuersall Church vnder heauen and among all the rest Malchion a man besides sundry other his gifts very eloquent skilfull in sophistry moderator in morall discipline of the schole at Antioch for his sincere faith in Christ made minister there of the same congregatioÌ reproued him in reasoning for a slippery waueringe and obscure marchant ⪠he so vrged with reasons this Samosatenus and the notaries penned them which vnto our tyme were extant that alone of all the rest he was able to âosse and wringe this dissemblinge and wily hereticke CAP. XXIX The Epistle of certaine byshops contayninge the Actes of the Synode helde at Antioch against paulus Samosatenus and of the heretickes life and trade of liuing WIth vniforme consent of all the byshops then gathered together they wrote an epistle vnto Dionysius byshop of Rome Maximus byshop of Alexandria senâ it abrode into all prouinces in the which they reuealed vnto the world their great labor industry the peruerse variablenes of Paulus the reprehensions and obiections proposed against him his conuersation trade of liuing whereof for memories sake I thinke it not amisse to alleage some part for the posterity which is thus written Vnto Dionysius Maximus and all our fellowe byshops elders deacons throughout the worlde to the whole vniuersall catholicke church vnder heauen Helenus Hymenaeus Theophilus Theotecnus Maximus Proclus Nicomas Aemilianus Paulus Bolanus Protegenes Hierax Entychius Theodorus Malchion Lucius with all the other byshops who with vs inhabite the borderinge cyties and ouersee the nations togetherwith the elders and deacons and holy Churches of God to the beloued brethren in the Lord sende greeting Vnto this salutation after a fewe
inuentions and additionâ of torment this calamitie was extreame and out of measure cruel And when as thenceforth they dispayred of increasing their mischiefe and now were wearied with slaughter gotten their fill of bloodshed voluntarily they mittigate their rage they practise curtesy their pleasure for sooth is henceforth to punish with death no longer It is not requisite say they that the cities shoulde be stayned with blood ishuyng out of our owne bowells that the most noble empire of the Caesars should be blemished defamed with the title of crueltie y â emperour him self being wel knowne for clemencie benignitie yea rather the gracious goodnes clemencie of the Emperours highnes is to be stretched forth and enlarged towards all men that they be no more punished with death They deemed their crueltie asswaged and the Emperours clemencie to shine in that they commaunded our eyes to be plucked out and the left legge to be vnioynted ⪠such was their clemencie and mitigated crueltie towards vs. Wherefore by reason of this cruell curteste it may not be told what number infinite multitude of men hauing their right eyes pulled out and the empty places seared with hott burning yrons their left legges sawed asunder in the hammes and seared likewise were condemned to the quarryes and mynes throughout the prouinces to the digging of mettalls not for commoditie and profits sake but for affliction and misery And besides all this they were ledd forth to sundry kindes of torments which may not be rehearsed whose valiant actes also can not be described when the holye Martyrs shined thus throughout the worlde in these their afflictions the beholders wronded at their pacience and noble courage neyther without cause for they expressed and shewed forth vnto the worlde speciall and manifest signes of the diuine and vnspeakeable power of our Sauiour working by them it were to long yea vnpossible to number them all by their names CAP. XIII Of the famous Bispops and ministers that were martyred TOutching the chiefe rulers of the Churches and them which were crowned Martyrs in the most famous cities Anthymus bishop of Nicomedia was beheaded crowned the first martyr registred in the catalogue of the Saynctes in the kingdome of Christ Of them whiche suffred at Antioch Lucianus minister of that congregation leading a vertous life preached at Nicomedia in presence of the emperour the celestiall kingdome of Christ first vnto vs in exhortatioÌ by way of Apology afterwards in wryting vnto the posteritie the most famous martyrs of Phaenicia were the godly pastors of the resonable flocke of Christ Tyranââân byshop of Tytus Zenobius minister of Sidon and Siluanus byshop of Emisa who together with others in Emisa was throwen to feede wild beasts and is receaued vnto the company of martyrs The other two both at Antioch glorified God by theyr pacient deathes Tyrannion buried in the bottome of the seae and Zenobius an excellent phisician after scurginge bitter torment died most constantly Among the martyrs in Palaestina Siluanus by shop of the Churches of Gaza was beheaded together with nyne and thirty others which were committed to the myne pitts in Phaenos In Aegypt Peleus and Nilus Aegyptian byshops were burned to ashes And here let vs remember the renowmed piller of the parishe of Caesarea Pamphilus the elder the most famous martyr of our time Whose life and noble acts we will at time conuenieÌt declare of them which at Alexandria throughout Aegypt The bais suffred martyrdome y â most famous was Peter byshop of Alexandria a paterne of piety in Christ vnto the godly pastors and together with him Faustus Didius and Ammonius ministers and perfect martyrs of Christ Also Phileas Hesychius Pachymâus and Theodorus byshops of the churches in Aegypt and besids these infinite other famous men whose names are well knowen in the coÌgregations through out the region It is not our drift to describe y â conflicts of such as striued throughout the world we leaue that for others neither exactly to paint forth vnto y â posterity all that happened but only the things we sawe with our eyes and were done in our presence CAP. XIIII The state of the Romayne empyre before and after the persecution and of the raygne of Constantine VNto that which went before I will annexe the recantation or dissanullinge of the thinges practised against vs yea from y â beginning of the persecution which I suppose very profitable for the reader before y â the Romaine empire waged battell against vs in the space the emperours fauored vs maintained peace it may not sufficieÌtly be declared how prosperously the common wealth florished abounded with all goodnes when as the chief magistrats of the publicke weale passed the tenth the twentieth yeare in solemne feasts celebrated gratulatioÌs in times of most gorgeous glorious renowne with constant inânoueable peace ⪠wheÌ as there empire after this sorte encreased without offence daily was enlarged they had ãâã sooner remoued peace from amoÌg vs but they sturred vp such battels as cold not be reconciled ⪠not fully two yeares after this whurlyburly there was such a chaunge happened vnto the whole empire which turned all vpsid downe for no smale disease ouertooke the chief of y â foresayd emperours bereued him of his witts wherefore together with him which was second perâon in honor he embraced the popular priuate life these things then being not fully ended the empire was with all deuided into two parts the which was neuer remembred to haue come to passe before that time not long after CoÌstantius the emperour passing all other throughout his life time in clemency goodnes towards his subiects singularly affected towards Gods word ended according vnto the lawe of nature the common raâe of his mortall life leauinge behind him his naturall sonne ConstaÌtinus emperour Caesar to supply his rowme was first referred of them into y â number of the Gods enioying after his death all imperiall honor dignitie due to his person In his life he was the most benigne and of most bountifull suffrayghtie among all the emperours who alone of all the emperours in our time gouerned most graciously honorably during the whole terme of his raygne shewing humanity and bountifullness vnto all men no partaker by any meanes with any presumpteous sedition âayled against vs he garded the godly about him in security without sentence of gylt without all contumely he destroyed no churches he practised no impiety y â might be preiudiciall vnto our religion he obtayned a blessed life and an ânde thrise happy he beinge emperour alone ended this life both gloriously peaceably in preseâââ of his naturall some and successor who also was most prudent and religious His sonne ConstaÌâââââ beinge proclaymed full emperour and Caesar by the army and longe before by God himselfe the vniuersall kinge he came a folower of his fathers pietie in
alone ouer came the lecherous and lasciuious mynde of Maximinus with the presence of her manly courage This woman for many ⪠thinges was highly esteemed for ritches for kindred for learninge yet preferred she chastitie before all Whome when he had earnestly entreated yet coulde not finde in his harte to putt her to death which otherwise was already prepared to dye being moued more with lust then with anger exiled and depriued her also of all her substance And infinitie other matrons not abydinge no not the hearinge of the threats of abusinge theyr bodies done by the presidents of euery particular nation endured all kinde of punishments torments and deadly paynes These are in deede to be wondred at but in greater admiratioÌ is that most noble most chast matron of Rome to be had in respect of all the rest agaynst whome the Romayne tyrant Maxentius liuely resemblinge Maximinus went about to rage When that she vnderstoode the ministers of tyrannicall lust to be at hand and her husbande she beinge a Christian though he were a Romayne magistrate to be in holde amonge them and for feare of execution to haue consented therevnto she craued a little leasure as if she went to trime her selfe and entting into her chamber and there beinge alone she runne vpon a naked sworde and dispatched her selfe so imediatly by her death she bequeathed her carkasse vn to the tyrantes baudes and by this acte of hers soundinge and pearcinge more then any shrill voyce shee pronounced and printed in the mindes of all mortall men both presente and to come that amonge the Christians alone vertue can with no money be ouercome neither be destroyed with any kinde of death This so great a burthen of impietie was brought into the worlde at one and the same time by two tyrants which helde East and west If any seeke out the cause of these so great mischieues who will doubt to assigne the persecution raysed agaynst vs for cause thereof specially in as much as this confusion finished not before the Christian liberty was first restored for during the tearme of these tenne yeares persecutioÌ there wanted them nothing which might tende to mutuall hatred or ciuill dissention The sea was besett with shippes and therefore innauigable neyther was it possible from any place for any man to arriue and take lande but he shoulde he sifted with all kinde of punishments his sides scourged and himselfe tried with sundry torments whether he were not sent from the enemy as a spie in the end he was either hanged or burned morouer there were prepared for the purpose targets brest plats dartes spears with other warlicke armour galeyes also and other ordinance for shipps were heaped in euery place neyther wayted any man for any other then dayly inuasion by the enemy after these thinges ensued famine pestilence of the which we will entreat hereafter when fit oportunity is ministred CAP. XVII The ende of the persecution and the finall confusion of the tyrant SUch things had they prepared during y â who le time of persecution which in the tenth yeare by the goodnes of God wholy ceased yet after the eight yeare it begaÌne somwhat to slacke relent for after that the deuine and celestiall grace of God behelde vs with a placable and mercifull countenance then our princes euen they which heretofore warred against vs after a wonderfull manner chaunged their opinion song a recantation and quenched that great heate of persecution with most benigne and milde edicts and constitutions published euery where in our behalfe The cause of this was not the humanity or compassion as I may âo terme it or benignity of the princes being farre otherwise disposed for they inuented dayly more and more greuous thinges against vs successiuely vnto that time they founde out sundry sleyghtes and newe puniments one after an other but the apparent countenance of the deuine prouidence reconciled vnto his people withstood the power of mischiefe and quelled the author of impietie and the worker of the whole persecution And yet according vnto the iudgment of God it was behoueable that these things should come to passe yet vvoe vnto them sayth the Lorde by vvhome offence doth rise Wherefore a plague from aboue lighted on him firste takinge roote in his fleshe and afterwards proceeding euen vnto his soule there rose vpon a sodayne in the secret partes of his body an impostume or running sore afterwards in the lower parts of his priueyties a botchye corrupt byle with a fistula whence ishued out corrupt matter eatinge vp the inward bowels and an vnspeakeable multitude of lice swarming out breathinge a deadly stinche when as the corpulency of the whole body through aboundance of meat before the disease came was turned into super fluous grossenes and then beinge growen to matter yelded an intollerable and horrible spectacle to the beholders Wherefore of the phisicians some not able to digest that wonderfull noysome stinche were slayne some other by reason of the swellinge throughout the body there remayned no hope of recouery beyng not able to helpe at all with theyr phisicke were cruelly executed theÌ selues CAP. XVIII An Edict in the behalfe of the Christians the which aduersitie wrested from Maximinus AT length being thus tormented and lying in this miserable plight he beganne to ponder with himselfe the rashe enterprises he had practised against the holy worshipers of God Wherefore returning vnto himselfe first he confesseth his sinnes vnto God whose power reacheth ouer all next calling vnto him such as then were in compasse he gaue commaundement that with al speede they should relent and cease from persecuting of the Christians that by the decree and commaundement of the emperour they should buyld againe theyr churches they should frequent theyr often conuenticles they shoulde celebrate theyr wonted ceremonies and pray for the life of the emperour and immediatly that which by word he coÌmaunded was in dede brought to passe The proclamations of the Emperour were published throughout the cities and a recantation of the practises preiudiciall vnto vs contayned in this forme The Emperoure Caesar Galerius Maximinus puysant magnificent chiefe Lord Lord of Thebais Lord of Sarmatia fiue times conquerour of Persia Lord of Germanie Lord of Aegypt tvvise conquerour of the Carpians six times conquerour of the Armenians Lorde of the Medes Lord of the Adiabeni tvventy times tribune nineteene times generall captaine eight times Consul father of the countrey proconsul And the emperour Caesar Flauius Valerius Constantinus vertuous fortunate puysant noble chiefe Lord ⪠generall captaine and tribune fiuetimes Consull ⪠father of the countrey proconsull Amonge other thinges vvhich vve haue decreed for the commoditie and profitte of the common vvealth our pleasure is first of all to order and redresse all thinges accordinge vnto the aunciente lavves and publicke discipline of the Romaynes ⪠vvithall to vse this prouiso that the Christians vvhich haue forsaken the relligion of
mention of that which Eusebius wrote cap. 14 and cap. 30. he maketh mention of that which Eusebius wrote cap. 2. as wrytten by himselfe therefore it is like Eusebius wrote this fragmente The sixt reason that moueth me to annexe this as parte of the booke is the shortenes of the booke for if we end at the 18. chapiter where the fragmente beginneth the booke may seeme to be no booke but rather an entrance or beginning of a booke Eusebius in the beginning of this 8. booke cap. 2. promised to wryte of martyrs thinkest thou Gentle reader that he woulde be so briefe and make so short a treatise where occasion was ministred to wryte not one booke onely but rather 3. bookes if he were disposed omitting nothing as he promised li. 1. ca. 1. touching the martyrs of his time to write of all the martyr doms suffred vnder Diocletian Maximinian and Maximinus Last of all this fragment endeth in very good order He promiseth to discourse of Maximinus the tyrantes recantation the which Eusebius performeth in the booke followinge For looke howe the. 8. booke endeth with the same the. 9. beginneth Therefore Eusebius was the author of this fragment CAP. XIX Howe the. 4. emperours Diocletian Maximinian Maximinus Constantius ended their liues THe author of this former edict not long after his foresayd coÌfession being rid of that his lamentable plight departed this life He is reported to haue bene the chiefe autor of the cala mity which befell vnto the christians during the time of persecution a good while agoe before y â whurly burly raised by the rest of the emperours to haue gone about to peruert the christians which liued in warefare but aboue all such as were of his owne familye to haue depriued some of their martiall dignity renowne to haue encreated some others reprochefully without al shame Moreouer to haue persecuted some of them to the death and last of all to haue prouoked y â other his fellowe emperours to persecute all christendome the ends of which emperours if that I passed ouer with silence I shoulde greatly offende The empire being deuided into foure parts foure seuerall princes bearing rule they two which were first proclaimed emperours and prefer red in honor before the rest hauing not raigned fully two yeares after the persecution deposed theÌ selues as we haue sayd before led thence forth the rest of their liues priuatly after y â vulgare sorte of men hauing such an end as followeth the first hauing gotten y â chief honor due to y â imperiall scepter primate by creation after long great greuous disseases consumed wasted away by a litle a litle so died The seconde secondarily ruling the empire being priuey in consciâce to many his lewd mischiuous practises committed in his life time hanged himselfe by the procuremeÌt of a wicked spirite which ledd him thereunto The later of them two which immediatly succeeded these whome we haue termed y â author ringleader of y â who le persecution suffred such tormeÌts as we haue meÌtioned before CoÌstantius who weÌt before him by vertue of his prerogatiue in y â imperiall dignity being a most mild curteous emperour as I sayd before led a worthy life during his whole raigne not onely because y t in other things he behaued himself most curteously most liberally towards al meÌ but also in y â be was no partener w t y â enemy in the persecutioÌ raysed against vs nay rather he maintained preserued such as were of y â godly vnder his dominioÌ he neither rifled neither destroied the holy churches neither practised any other mischief preiudiciall to the christian affairs he obtained an end both blessed thrise happy he alone in his kingdome to y â comfort of his naturall sonne successor in the empire a prince in all things both most sage religious enioyed a noble a glorious death His sonne forthwith entring into his raygne was by the soldiers proclaimed chief emperour Augustus who imitated that diligently his fathers stepps as a paterne of piety to the embracing of christian religion such an end at seuerall times had the aforesayd foure emperours of y â which he alone mentioned a litle before together with others his emperiall associats published vnto the whole world by his writteÌ edict the aforesayd confession CAP. XX. Of the martyrs in Palastina IT was the ninetenth yeare of Diocletians raigne and the moneth Zanthicus the which the Romaynes call Aprill the feast of Easter theÌ drawing nigh Flauianus being gouerner of Palaestina wheÌ the emperours edicts were euery where proclaimed in y t which it was commaunded y t the churches should be destroyed that the holy scriptures should be burned y t such as were of creditt should be contemned y t such as led a priuate life if they retayned the christian professioÌ should be depriued of their freedome such were the contents of the first Edict but in the proclamation which immediatly folowed after it was added y t the pastors throughout all congregations should first be imprisoned next withall meanes possible constrained to sacrifice to be short the first of the martyrs in Palaestina was Procopius who before he had bene any while imprisoned stepping forth at the first iumpe before the tribunall seat of the presidents being commaunded to doe sacrifice vnto their gods made answere that to his knowledge there was but one only God to whom as y â selfe same God had coÌmaunded he was bound of duely to sacrifice And when as they commauÌded him to offer sacrifice for y â prosperous state of the foure emperours he recited a certaine verse out of a poet which pleased theÌ not for the which immediatly he was beheaded the verse was this Not many Lordes auayle vs here let one beare rule and raygne This was y e first spectacle exhibited at Caesarea in Palaestina the eight day of the moneth Desius before the seuenth of the Ides of Iune called of the Romaynes the. 4. day of the sabaoth After him there suffred many of the inhabiters of the same citie of the chief gouernours of y â ecclesiasticall affayrs who endured that cherefully most vitter torments gaue the aduenture of most valiaÌt enterprises other some fainting for feare were quite discouraged at the first all the rest tried the experience of sundry torments one scurged from top toe an other wrested vntil y â his ribbs brake a sunder in the squising bonds by reason whereof it fell out that some had their hands strooke of thus together they enioyed such an end as befell vnto them according vnto the secret wisedome iudgement of God one was led by the hand lugged to the altar his hands violeÌt stretched to toutch their detestable sacrifices in the end let go for a sacrificer an other when y â he had neither approched neither toutched such
the misery and lamentable state of such as were thus afflicted but also their owne case and the ignominie redounding therby vnto nature the common parent of all This spectacle of mans fleshe not in one place deuoured but piteously scattered euery where was subiect to euery mans eye rounde about the walls of the towne and exceeded all that thereof may be spoken and euery lamentable and tragicall shewe Some reported they sawe quarters whole carkasses and peeces of bowells within the walls of the citie while this continewed the space of many dayes such a miracle was seene as followeth When the weather was calme aud the ayre cleare and the cloudes vnder heauen which compasseth all banished away the pillers of the citie vpon a sodaine which helde vp the great and common porches swett or rather poured out many droppes of water much like vnto teares the markett place also and the streetes when as there fell not a droppe of rayne I wot not how neither whence soked with moysture and sprinkled dropps of water so that immediatly the rumor was bruted abroad in euery mans mouth that the earth being not able to away with the hainous and horrible offences of those dayes poured out infinite teares after a wonderfull sort and that the stones and senselesse creatures bewayled those detestable mischieues reprouing man most iustly for his stoây heart his cruell minde voyde of all pitie and compassion but peraduenture this story will seeme fabulous and ridiculous vnto the posterity yet not vnto such as then were present and were fully perswaded with the trueth thereof CAP. XXVIII The martyrdome of Ares Promus Elias Petrus Apselamus and Asclepius a Bishop of the opinion of Marcion THe fourteneth daye of the moneth Apellaeâs which next ensued that is about the nynetenth of the Calends of Ianuary certaine godly men trauellers out of Aegypt their iourney was into Cilicia minding to finde some reliefe at Caesarea for the confessors whiche there abode were taken of the watch which sate at the gates of the citie searched incommers Of which men some receaued the self same sentence as they had before whom they went about to relieue to were y â pulling out of their eies the maiming of their lyâââes and left legges Three of them yelding forth a maruelous constancie at the confession of their faith ended their liues with diuers kindes of torments at Ascalon where they were apprehended One of them whose name was Ares was throwne into a great flaming fire and burned to ashes ⪠the other two whose names were Promus and Elias had their heads stroken of from their shoulders The eleuenth day of y â moneth Audinaeus y â is about the thirde Ides of Ianuary Petrus called also Apselamus a worshipper or religious man borne in the village Anea which bordered vpon Eleutheropolis being very often entreated by the iudge and his asistents to remember him selfe to pity his case and to tender his youthly yeares and florishing age contemned their perswasions and cast his whole care vpon Almighty God preferring that before all other thinges yea and before his proper life and at Caesarea tried by fire his faith in Christ Iesu with a noble and valiant courage much like vnto most pure golde together with him on Asclepius a Bishop as men sayd of the heresie of Marcion with godly zeale as he thought but not with that which is according vnto knowledge departed this life in the selfe same burning fire and thus much of them CAP. XXIX Of 12. Martyrs that suffred together in one day with Pamphilus and of the martyrdome of Adrianus and Eubulus TIme now draweth me away to paynt forth vnto the posteritie that noble and glorious theatre of Martyrs which suffred together with Pamphilus whose name I doe alwayes honour and reuerence They were twelue in number and thought worthy not only of y â Prophetical or rather the Apostolike gift but also the number of the Apostles whose captayne and principall was Pamphilus ⪠minister of the Churche of Caesarea a man very famous for sundry his vertues throughout the whole race of his life singuler in despising and contemning this present worlde bountifull for liberalitie bestowed vpon the poore wonderfull in neglecting the care fixed vpon transitory thinges excelling in behauiour and Philosophicall trade of liuing moreouer passing all the men of our age for feruent zeale and earnest desire and study of holy Scripture maruelous constant in all his doings and enterprises and also very ready to ayde and helpe such as were of his kinne and familiar acquaintance other his vertues and well doinges because it required a longer treatise we haue lately and that largely published in a seuerall and peculier volume entitled of his life and deuided into three bookes Therefore such as are desirous to learne more exactly and more exquisetly to knowe his vertuous life we referre thither and presently we minde onely to prosecute such thinges as concerne the Martyrs which suffred persecution together with him The seconde after Pamphilus that came forth to wrastle was the reuerent whore headed Valens Deacon of the city Aelia a graue father in euery mans eye and greatly skilled in holy Scripture if then there was any such in the worlde he was so expert therein that if he hearde any percell thereof by any man alleadged forthwith was he able by rote to repeate it as well as if then he read it out of the booke The thirde was Paulus a man wonderfull zealous and feruent in the spirite borne in the citye Iamnia where he grewe to greate fame before martyrdome he endured the scorching and searing of his fleshe with hott yrons and passed through a worthy combatt at the confession of his fayth the martyrdome of these was differred by reason of their continewance in prison two whole dayes In the meane while came the brethren of Aegypt which suffered martyrdome together with them these Aegyptians when they had accompanied the confessors of Cilicia vnto the place appoynted for the digging of mettals returned home againe in their returne they were taken of the watch which kept the gates of Caesarea which were barbarous and rude groomes and examined who they were and whence they came when they could not conceale the trueth they were layde in holde as if they had bene haynous trespassers and had committed some horrible crime In number they were fiue which were brought before the tyrant and after their examination clapt in prison The thirde daye being the sixtenth of the moneth Peritius after the Romaynes about the fouretenth of the Calendes of March these together with Pamphilus and the rest of his companions mentioned a litle before by commaundement were brought before the iudg This iudge first of all trieth with sundry and manifold torments with new and straung deuises the inuincible constancy and valiant minde of the Aegyptians And with all he demaunded of the chiefe principal in this combat what his name was then
sundry tymes for the holy ornaments and treasure of the Churche what pride and ambicion raygned in many of them howe rashly and vnlawfully they handled diuerse of the brethren what schismes were raysed among the confessors them selues what mischieues certayne sedicious persons of late stirred vp agaynst the members of the Church which were remnants whilest that dayly with might and mayne as commonly we say they endeuored to excogitate new deuises one after an other howe that vnmercifully they destroyed and brought all to nought with the lamentable estate of bitter persecution and to be short heaped mischiefe vpon mischiefe all these aforesayd I minde to passe ouer with silence supposing it not to be our part as I haue sayde in the beginning of this booke eyther to rehearse or recorde them in as much as I am wholy bent and carefully minded to ouerslipp and conceale the memoriall of them yet if there be any laudable thinges any thing that may seeme to set forth the word of God any worthy act or famous doings florishing in the Churche I take it to be my speciall and bounden dutie to discourse of these to write these often to inculcate these in the pacient eares of the faythfull Christians and to shutt vp this booke with the noble acts of the renowmed Martyrs and with the peace whiche afterwardes appeared and shined vnto vs from aboue When the seuenth yeare of the persecution raysed agaynst vs was nowe almost at an ende and our affayres beganne by a litle and as it were by stelth to growe vnto some quiet staye ease and securitye and nowe leaned vnto the eyght yeare in the whiche no ⪠small multitude of confessors assembled them selues together at the myne pitts in Palaestina who freely occupied them selues in the rites and ceremonyes of Christian religion so that they transformed their houses into Churches the President of the prouince being a cruell and a wicked man as his mischieuous practises agaynst the Martyrs of Christ doe proue him for no other made a voyage thyther in all the haste and hearing of their doinges their trade of life and conuersation made the Emperour by his letters priuey thereunto paynting forth in the same such thinges as he thought woulde disgrace discredit and defame the good name of those blessed confessors Whereupon the maister of the myne pitts and mettalls came thyther and by vertue of the Emperours commaundement seuereth asunder the multitude of confessors so that thenceforth some should continew at Cyprus some other at Libanus and others also in other places of Palaestina and commaunded that all shoulde be weryed and vexed with sundry toyles and labour ⪠afterwards he picked out foure of the chiefe of them and sent them vnto the iudge of the which two of them were called Peleus and Nilus Bishops of Aegypt the thirde was a minister the fourth annexed vnto these was Patermythius a man wonderfully beloued for his singuler zeale towardes all men in Gods behalfe all whiche the Iudge requested to renounce Christ and his religion who when they obeyed not and seeing him selfe frustrated of his purpose gaue sentence they shoulde be tyed to a stake and burned to ashes others some againe of the confessors being not fitt for that labour and seruice by reason eyther of their heauye olde age or vnprofitable members or other infirmities of the bodye were released and charged to dwell in a seuerall and solitary place of whiche number Siluanus Bishop of Gaza was the chiefe who liuely expressed vnto all the worlde a godly shewe of vertue and a notable paterne of Christianitie this man from the firste daye of the persecution and in maner vnto the laste duringe all that space was famous for the sundry and manifolde conflictes he suffered after infinite examinations and reserued vnto that very moment to the ende he being the last might seale vp with his bloode all the conflictes of the Martyrs slayne in Palaestina there were released and partakers with him of the same affliction many Aegyptians one was Iohn who also in fame renowne excelled all the meÌ of our time Who although he was blind before yet the tormeÌtors were so truel so fierce so rigorous y â for his great constaÌcy in professing y â name of Christ they maymed with a burning sawe his left legge as the other confessors were vsed before and seared the aple of the eye bereued already of the sight with an hott scaldinge iron Let no man maruell at all at his good conuersation and godly life though he were blinde in so much that his maners deserued not such admiration as his gift of memorie where he had printed whole bookes of holy scripture not in tables made of stone as the holy Apostle sayth neyther in the âydes of beástes parchement or paper which moth corrupteth the time weareth awaye but in the fleshly tables of the hart that is in the prudent memory and sincere vnderstanding of the minde so that when it seemed good vnto him he was able out of the closett of his minde as if it were out of a certaine treasury of good learning to alleadge repeat y â Law the Prophets sometimes the histories at other times the Euangelists and workes of the Apostles I confesse truely that when first I sawe the man stande in the middest of the congregation and assembly and hearde him recite certaine places of holy Scripture I wondred at him For as longe as I hearde his voice sounde in mine eares so long thought I as the maner is at solemne meetinges that one read out of a booke but when that I came neerer vnto him and sawe the trueth as it was all other stand in compasse with whole open and sounde eyes and him vsinge none other but onely the eye and sight of the minde and in very deed vtteringe many thinges much like vnto a Prophete and excelling in many thinges many of them which enioyed their senses sounde and perfect I coulde not chuse but magnifie God therefore and maruell greatly thereat âe thought I sawe liuely tokens and euident argumentes that he was a man in deed not after the outward appearance or fleshly eye of man but accordinge vnto the inner sense and secret vnderstandinge of the minde ⪠the which expressed in this man though his body were mayned and out of fashioÌ greater power of his inward giftes God himselfe reachinge vnto these men mentioned before and continewinge in seuerall places and executinge their wonted trade of life in prayer and fasting with the rest of their godly exercises the right hand of his mercy and succor graunted them through martyrdom to attaine vnto an happy and a blessed ende But the deuell enemy and sworne aduersary of mankinde colde no longer away with them for that they were armed and fenced against him with prayers continewally poured vnto God but went about as he imagined to vexe them and to cut them of from the face of the earth For
life musing this doubtfully with him selfe and taking his iourney with his souldiers I wott not whither a certayne vision appeared vnto him as it was straunge to beholde so in deede incredible to be spoken of about noone the day somewhat declining he sawe in the skye a lightsome piller in forme of a crosse wherein these wordes were ingrauen In this ouercome the which vision so amazed the Emperour that he mistrusting his owne sight demaunded of them that were present whether they perceaued the vision which when all with one consent had affirmed the wauering minde of the Emperour was setled with that diuine and wonderful sight The night following in his slepe he seeth Christ which sayeth thus vnto him frame vnto thy selfe the forme of a crosse after the example of the signe which appeared vnto thee and beare the same agaynst the enemies as a fitt banner or token of victory he being fully perswaded with this oracle commaundeth the victorious signe of the crosse which as yet is reserued in the pallace of the Emperour to be made and therewith proceedeth forewards in his affayres with greater courage and promptnes of minde and ioyning with the enemy right ouer against Rome about the bridge commonly called Bulbia he gott the victory for Maxentius being drowned in the riuer died it was the seuenth yeare of his raigne when y â he ouercame Maxentius after these thinges when as Licinnius his fellow Emperour and his brother in lawe hauing maried his sister Constantia ledd his life in the East Constantinus enioying ample benefitts receaued at the handes of God shewed him selfe gratefull in offering of thankes and prayses vnto the author of all goodnes his practises were these to deliuer the Christians from persecution to call agayne the exiled vnto their natiue soyle to sett at liberty such as were in prison to restore agayne the goods confiscated to build againe the Churches that were ouerthrowen all which things he accomplished with great promptnes of minde in the meane while Diocletianus which had resigned the empire departed this life at Salon a city of Dalmatia CAP. III. How Constantinus fauoring the Christians and Licinnius persecuting them wage battell one agaynst the other COnstantinus the Emperour fixing his whole minde vpon such thinges as sett forth the glory of God behaued him selfe in all things as a Christian erecting Churches from the ground and adorning them with goodly and gorgeous consecrated monuments moreouer shutting vp the temples of the heathens purging and publishing vnto the world in the way of derision the gaye images glistering within but Licinnius famous among them for his fond opinion in gentilisme hated the Christians who for all he durst not openly persecute for feare of Constantine the Emperour yet in secrete he menaced and dispatched many Christians but in processe of time he endeuored openly to afflict them This persecution was prouincial for it was kindled there only where Licinnius made his abode after these things practising in other things also y â part of a tirant being fully persuaded that Constantine was not ignorant here of and knowing full well y â he was greatly offended with him for it he hasteneth to cleaâe him selfe flattering and fayning to ioyne with him in league of friendship binding him selfe with anoth neuer to perpetrate any tyrannicall acte and not onely swearing but with all for swearing him selfe for he ceased not from tyranny neither relented from raising against the Christians the greeuoâs ââorme of persecution he forbad the Bishops by decree that they should not conferre at all with the Gentiles to the ende the religion of the christians might nether take roote nether be raised at al. Then was the persecution riâe in euery mans mouth and in deepe silence secret in worde yet open in deede the persecuted members of Christ endured intollerable paine of their bodies and sustained great losse of their substance Whereby he incensed greatly the Emperour Constantine against him so that they breaking the league of fayned friendship which was betwene them became deadly foes Not long after they waged battel meting oft by sea by lande in the ende at Chrysopolis a city of Bithynia to wete at the docke or hauen of Chalcedon Licinnius was ouercome and yelded him self vnto Constantine He taketh him aliue he dealeth curteously with him he slayeth him not but enioyned him to dwell in Thessalonica and there to leade a quiet and a peaceable life it was but a small time that he liued in peace for immediately after he gathered an host of Barbarians and endeuored by fighting agayne to reuenge his former foyle the which when Constantine had vnderstoode he commaunded that he shoulde be put to death at whose commaundement he was dispatched Constantinus nowe hauing thâ vpper hande and published Emperour King endeuoreth forthwith to amplifie the Christian affaires and that diuersly by his meanes also the Christians liued in great peace and tranquillitye but after this peace there ensued warres and deadly hatred amonge the Christians them selues what it was how it beganne and the maner of it we will declare CAP. III. The contention betwene Arius and Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and how that Alexander depriued Arius with his complices of the ministery AFter Peter Bishop of Alexandria which suffred martyrdome vnder Diocletian Achillas succeeded in the Bishopricke After Achillas Alexander in the time of the aforesayd peace was chosen Bishop who leading a quiet and a peaceable life brought the Church vnto an vnity and on a certayne time in presence of the Priestes which were vnder him and the rest of the clergy he entreateth somewhat more curiously of the holy trinitie and the vnitie to be in the trinitie Arius then being one of the Priestes placed in order vnder him a man very skilfull in the subtelties of sophisticall logick suspecting the Bishop to haue brought into the Church the erroneous doctrine of Sabellius the Aphrick being kindled with the desire of contention seât him selfe opposite agaynst the opinion of Sabellius the Aphrick and as it seemed directly against the allegations of the bishop saying if the father begatt the sonne then had y â sonne which was begotten a beginning of essence hereby it is manifest that there was a time when the sonne was not and the consequent to followe necessarily that he had his essence of nothing When he had with this straung kinde of doctrine concluded layd downe this position he prouoked many to reason hereof so that of a small sparcle a great fire was kindled for this noysome pestilence beginning from the Churches of Alexandria spredd it self throughout all Aegypt Libya the vpper Thebais yea passed moreouer through the rest of the prouinces and cities many others also embraced the pestilent opinion of Arius of which number chieâây Eusebius not he of Caesarea but an other which afore time was bishop of y â church of Berytus but
and by him are all thinges no maruell at all in that they falsely reported the sonne not fully and perfectly to knovve the Father for vvhen they had once determined vvith them selues to vvarre agaynste Christ they vtterly reiected the vvordes of our Lorde vvhere he sayth as the Father knoweth me sayth the sonne so doe I knowe the Father if the Father knovveth the sonne vnperfectly then is it manifest that the sonne knovveth the Father vnperfectly also but if this be impiety and open blasphemye and that the Father knovveth the sonne perfectly and fully then doth it follovve that euen as the Father knovveth his ovvne vvorde so the vvorde knovveth his ovvne father vvhose vvorde he is but vvhen as at sundrye tymes vve conuinced them vvith allegations and expositions out of the sacred and heauenly Scriptures for all that they agayne chaunged them selues like vnto the chaungling diuerously bespotted beaste Chamaeleon vvresting vvith all might possible to light vpon their owne pates the saying of the wise man VVhen the vngodly person commeth to extreame impietie then he disdayneth and though many heresies sprange before their tyme vvhiche exceeding out of measure in impudencye fell out at length for all that into extreame follye yet these men vvhich endeuer vvithal their gloses to take avvay the diuinity of the vvord dravving nerer vnto the time of Antichrist doe in manner declare those heresies in comparison of the impitie of their blasphemous opinion to be in the right trueth VVherefore they vvere excommunicated banished the church and pronounced to be held of all men for accursed And though vve tooke theyr fall heauyly specialy because that sometime they supped the svvete ioyce of the ecclesiasticall doctrine and novve are fallen from the same yet vve maruell not greatly at theÌ For the like happened heretofore not only to Hymenaeus Philetus but also before them vnto Iudas vvhich vvas the disciple of our Sauiour aftervvardes a traytor and an Apostata Neither are vve here of ignorant or vnmindefull For our Sauiour hath forewarned take heede lest any deceaue you For many vvill come in my name saying I am and the time is novve at hand And they wil deceaue many goe not after theÌ Paul vvheÌ he had learned these things of our Sauiour wrote that in the latter times some shall fall from the sounde fayth and shall geue eare vnto spirites of error doctrines of deuells oppugning the trueth Novve therefore in as much as our Sauiour Iesus Christ hath commaunded the same and signified the same also vnto men by his Apostle and vve truely hearing their impiety vvith our eares not vvithout iuste cause haue as vve sayd before pronounced this kind of men for accursed and proclaimed openly that they are cut of from the Catholick church farre froÌ the right fayth And vve haue certified your holynes wel beloued and most reuerende brethren vvhich are ioyned vvith vs in the same fellovvship of the publique ministery that if peraduenture some of them ouerboldly presume to presente themselues before you ye geue no heede vnto them neyther be persvvaded by Eusebius neyther by any other vvhosoeuer that shall vvrite vnto you in they re behalfe For it behoueth vs that be christians to eschevve all such as open theyr mouthes agaynst Christ and suche as are alienated in minde from him as enemyes of God and rotten sheepe corrupting the sense of mans mind and that vve bid not such kinde of men as Saynct Iohn hath commaunded no not so much as God speede lest that vve become partakers of they re offences Salute them vvhich are amonge you bretherne the bretherne vvith vs salute you also When Alexander had wrytten these letters vnto the byshops euery where throughout the seuerall cities this pestilence infection hereby was the more scattered abrode because that these vnto whome these letters were directed beganne to burne amonge themselues with the sparcles of contention and discorde For some condescended and subscribed vnto the letters some others with all might impugned them But specially amonge all the rest Eusebius byshop of Nicomedia was prouoked to the schisme and dissention for that Alexander had often in his letters charged him by name And at that time Eusebius was able to do much because that the emperour then made his abode at Nicomedia where Diocletian a litle before had buylded a princely pallace For which cause many byshops fauored the opinion of Eusebius But he seased not to wryte vnto Alexander that he woulde lette passe the controuersie raysed betwene them that he woulde admitte againe Arius and his adherentes into the churche and others also throughout the cities he exhorted that they shoulde by no meanes condescende vnto the drifte of Alexander whereby theyr rose euery where no smale tumult For then a man might haue seene not onely the presidentes and chiefe rulers of the churches inueying one against an other with spitefull and opprobrious tearmes but also the laye multitude seuered a sunder into two partes the one fauoring the one side the other the other side Wherefore the case became so haynous and shamefull and into so lamentable a plighte that the christian religion was openly derided of all men euen in the publique theatres and solemne spectacles The inhabitors of Alexandria contended very childishely yea without all modestie about the chiefe poinctes of christian religion they sente also legates and embassadours vnto the byshops throughout the other prouinces who seueringe themselues vnto eyther side raysed the like contention The Meletians who not longe before were cutt of from the churche ioyned themselues with the Arians I thinke it expedient to note what kinde of men they are Meletius byshop of a certaine citie in Aegypte besides sundrye other causes specially for that in the tyme of persecution he had renounced the fayth and sacrificed to Idols was depriued of his byshoricke by Peter byshop of Alexandria which suffred Martyrdome vnder Diocletian Who beinge depriued and fauored of many for all his fonde doinges became the ringeleader of the heresie amonge them who in Aegypt of him vnto this present daye are called Meletians and hauinge no iuste cause or cloke to defende his doinges in that he presumed to separate himselfe from the churche made a sleeuelesse answere sayinge that he was greatly iniuryed wherefore he brake out into raylinge speaches and reuiled Peter And as soone as Peter in that heate of persecution had ended his life with Martyrdome he posted ouer his opprobrious tearmes and rayling speaches to the paintinge of Achillas who succeeded Peter in the seae of Alexandria And last of all he leueled the pearcinge dartes of spitefull language at Alexander who after the death of Achillas was there placed byshop While this tumulte and dissention was tossed to and froe the opinion of Arius was called into controuersie then Meletius with his complices tooke part with Arius and together with him conspired against the byshop But they vnto whome the
willing mind This was done in a while after At y â time y â byshops which mett together at y â councell of Nice as soone as they had dispatched both other things also layd downe in wryting y â decrees which also they call canons already concluded vpon euery one returneth vnto his owne cytie I thinke it very expedient to lay downe in this place not only the names of the byshops assembled at Nice which among all y â rest were most famous I meane such as I cold learne by records but also the prouince place where euery one gouerned together with y â time of their assembly There was present at this councel Osius bishop of Corduba Viton and Vincentius priests Alexander bishop of Aegypt Eustathius bishop of great Antioch Macarius bishop of Ierusalem Harpocratio Cynon with others whose names are seuerally exquisitly cited by Athanasius bishop of Alexandria in his booke intitled Synodicus Toutching the time when this councell was summoned as it appeareth by cronicles of record it was in the consulship of Paulinus Iulianus the eleueÌth kalends of Iune to weâe the XX. day of May the three hundreth thirtye and sixt yeare after the raygne of Alexander king of Macedonia Thus was the councell broken vp which being done we haue to learne that the emperour departed into the Easterne partes CAP. X. Howe that Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia and Theognis byshop of Nice being exiled for Arianisme after they had geuen vp a booke of their recantation and repentance were restored to their former dignities EVsebius and Theognis sent a litle booke vnto the chiefe byshops wherein they shewed theire penitent minds for theyr wilfull folly wherefore by the emperours commaundement they were not onely called home from banishment but also restored to the gouernement of theyr churches remouing from their dignities such as were substituted in their rowmes to wete Amphion remoued by Eusebius and Chraestus by Theognis The coppy of the recantation we haue here layd downe as followeth Although it vvas our part heretofore beinge condemned by your holynes not to haue muttered but quietly to haue borne vvhatsoeuer your vvisedom both godly and religiously had decreed yet because it seemed a shamefull thinge that vvith our silence vve shoulde cause others to conceaue an ill opinion of vs and so to condemne vs for deuisers of falshoode therefore haue we signified vnto you our assent toutching the determination of the fayth and hauing diligently vveyed and examined vvith our selues the force and signification of the cause Of one substance vve vvholly adict our selues to the embracinge of peace and vnity neuer henceforth to intaÌgle our selues in the snares of error And partly to the end we might prouide for the peaceable security of the church of God vve haue layde vvide open before you the secretes of our minde partly also that they which to mans seeminge shoulde yelde to our censure and iudgement might in this behalfe setle and confirme themselues vve haue subscribed to the forme of fayth vvhich the holy assembly hath laid downe we protest vnto you moreouer in that heretofore vve subscribed not to the condemnation or accursinge of Arius it vvas not because vve misliked vvith that forme of fayth but because vve coulde not be fully perswaded that he vvas such a kind of felovve as report vvent of him specialy vvhen as by such things as priuatly past by epistles betvvene vs and also by his ovvne protestation pronouÌced vvith his ovvne lipps in our presence we vvere fully persvvaded that he vvas farre from that kinde of disposition If that then that sacred senate holy assembly vvill geue any creditt vnto our words vve haue fully purposed and determined vvith our selues not to impugne by gainesaying but by assentinge and prompt mindes to ratifie those canons vvhich your syncere and religious piety hath already concluded And by this our booke of submission we do seale our consente therein not for that vve are grieued vvith exile and banishment but that most vvillingly vve vvould not onely abandone heresie but also auoide yea the suspicion thereof And if that you vvill voutchsafe vs your presence you shall find in deed as you read by vvord that we vvill subscribe vnto your decrees For as much as it pleased your vvonted goodnes to call before you curteously to entreate the ringleader of this sect it seemes farre out of order wheÌ as he beinge gilty vvas sent for and ansvvered for himselfe that we with silence shoulde condemne our selues let it not grieue you then as it becometh your reuerend fatherhood to put our most religious emperour in remembraÌce of vs to present our humble sute vnto him and speedely to determine vvhat your discreete vvisedome thinketh best toutching this our estate This was the recantation of Eusebius and Theognis by which circunstances I do coniecture though they subscribed vnto the forme of fayth decreed by the councell yet that they would not condescend to the renouncing of Arius and that Arius before this time was sent for And for all that it was so yet was it straictly coÌmaunded that Arius shoulde not tread within Alexandria The which plainly appeareth by the subtle treachery he founde out for to returne vnto the church and to the city of Alexandria through false and fained shewe of repentance But of this hereafter CAP. XI After the dissoluinge of the councell when Alexander had departed this life Athanasius was chosen byshop of Alexandria NOt longe after Alexander byshop of Alexandria hauinge runne the race of his mortall life died Athanasius is appointed to gouerne the church in his place Ruffinus reporteth of him that being a child of teÌder years he plaid a part in an holy playe together with his coaged companions The playe was nothing else but animitation or resemblance of priesthood and of the whole ecclesiasticall order in the which Athanasius plaied the byshop of the rest of the children some plaied y â priests some other the deacons Thus plaied y â children on that day in the which the church of Alexandria accustometh to celebrat the memoriall of Peter there byshop martyred At that time as it fell out Alexander byshop of Alexandria passinge bye behelde the whole order and discourse of the playe He sent for the childrene to come vnto him and demaunded of them what part euery one handled in the playe gatheringe hereby somethinge to be foreshewed and prognosticated vnto them all Which beinge done he charged they should be brought vp in the church and nurtured in good learning but aboue all Athanasius Whome when he came to any ripenes of yeares he made deacon brought him in his company to the councell of Nice for to ayde him in disputation These things hathe Ruffinus wrytten in his histortes of Athanasius neither is it vnlike but that these circumstances might be for it is most true that many such things haue oftentimes heretofore come to passe This much
in meate and serue them her selfe Many things she gaue to churches and to poore people she liued godly and religiously and departed this life being fourescore yeare olde her body was brought to Constantinople called Nevve Rome and buried there with princely funerall CAP. XIIII Howe the emperour Constantine destroying the Idole groues of the Gentiles erected in sundrie places many notable Churches THe emperour after this went about to promote christian religion with greater care industrie to banish the rites ceremonies of the ethnicks to restrayne the lewde combats of fencers and sworde players and to sett vp his owne image in theyr Idolatricall temples And when as the Ethnicks affirmed that the God Serapis was he which made the riuer Nilus to ouerflowe and to water the countrey of Aegypt because that a certaine elle was brought into the temple of Serapis the emperour commaunded that elle to be conueyed into the churche of Alexandria When that it was noysed that Nilus woulde no longer ouerflowe because the God Serapis tooke greate indignation that he was thus abused the yeare followinge the riuer did not onely ouerflowe after his wonted maner and from that time forth kept his course but also thereby declared vnto the worlde that Nilus was accustomed to ouerflowe not after theire superstitious opinion but by the secret determination of the deuine prouidence Although the Sarmatians Barbarians and Gotths at the same time assayled the right of the Romayne empire yet for all that the emperours care and industry for the buyldinge of churches was not slacked but diligently with great aduise did he prouide for both For he valiantly ouercame these nations vnder the banner of the crosse which is the peculiar cognizance of christian profession so that not onely he depriued them of the tribute which the emperours of olde were wonte to pay vnto the Barbarians but also they beinge astonished at this straunge victory yelded themselues then first of all wholly to embrace christian religion by the meanes of the which Constantine had preserued himselfe Constantinus againe applied himselfe to the buyldinge of other churches and one he erected in the okegroue of Mambre where holy scripture reporteth the Angels to haue bene harbored by Abraham When that he was certified that altars were erected at that oke and that the Ethnicks offred sacrifice and incense in that place to theyr fayned Gods he sharply rebuked Eusebius bishope of Caesarea by his letters because that through his slackenes in executinge his office that wickednes was committed He commaundeth therefore the altars to be turned vpside downe and a church harde by the oke to be builded He commaundeth an other church to be builded in Heliopolis of Phoenicia and that for this cause What lawe maker the Heliopolits had of olde I am not able to saye but the lawes and customes of the cytie doe manifestly declare what kinde of man he was By the custome of their countrey they haue all women in common therefore of the children there can no certainty be had Amonge them there is no difference ether of father or sonne They geue their virgins to straungers which come amongst them to be defloured The emperour endeuored wholly to abrogat this old and rotten custome of theirs For when he had taken away this brutishe and beastly kind of behauiour he made a sacred and a seuere lawe that kindreds and families shoulde be knowen amongest theÌ and seuered one from the other To be short when he had buylded churches amonge them he hastened to consecrate them a bishop to ordaine the holy company of clergy men Thus the state of the Heliopolits after the remouing of theire former filth was reformed into modeste behauiour In like maner he ouerthrewe the temple of Venus in Aphaca standing at the foote of mount Libanus and rooted out al the wicked rites and ceremonies which were wont to be done there both impudently vnreuerently What shall I speake of the familiar deuell and the spirite of diuination the which he foyled in Cilicia commaunded the Idole in whose closettes he had craftely hid himselfe to be destroyed furthermore he was so feruent in promoting christian religion that when he should haue warred against the Persians he made him a tente much like the tabernacle of Moses in the desert in forme and figure resembling the churche of God and the same of a chauÌgeable colored vaile the which he caried about with him that in the waste wildernesse and deserte places he mighte alwayes finde readye an holy Churche to singe hymnes and deuoutly to serue the liuinge God But the same battaile wente not forewardes the Persians feared the power of the Emperoure and so all iniuries were putte vp and peaceably ended That the Emperoure also imployed greate laboure and trauell in buyldinge townes and Cyties and that of diuerse peltinge villages he made princely Cyties for example Drepane after his mothers name and Constantia in Palaestina after the name of his sister Constantia I thinke it presently not needefull to committe in wrytinge for the posterity For it is not our drifte to declare the other famous actes of the Emperoure but onely those whiche appertaine vnto christian religion and speciallye the estate of the churches Wherefore in as much as the famous actes of the Emperoure tend to an other purpose and require a proper and a peculiar kinde of handlinge I leaue them for others whiche bothe knowe and can sufficiently discourse thereof I of mine owne parte woulde neuer haue layde penne to paper if the Church had beene at vnitie and concorde within it selfe For where there is no matter ministred to wryte there the wryter seemeth to be fond and his trauell frustrat But in as much as the subtletye of sophisters fonde quirckes and fallacies of Satan depraued in those dayes the Apostolick and syncere Character of Christian religion seuered also and as it were vnioynted the membres of Christ I thought good to saye somethinge of them whereby the ecclestastical affayrs may not fall into the dust of obliuion For the knoweledge thereof is much sett by amonge moste men and settleth for experience the minde of suche a one as is well seene therein For when any vaine controuersie riseth about the signification of a worde it teacheth him to haue a stayed heade CAP. XV. Howe that in the time of Constantine the midle Indians embraced the faith of Christ by the meanes of Aedesius and Frumentius for Athanasius Byshop of Alexandria created Frumentius byshop and sent him to preache vnto the Indians NOwe it remaineth that we declare howe and by what meanes christian religion enlarged and spredd it selfe vnder the raygne of this Emperoure For the nations which inhabited the middle India and Iberia then first of all receaued the faith of Christ and why I haue ioyned thereunto the middle India I will declare in fewe wordes When the Apostles by lot had sorted them selues to trauell vnto certaine
worshiping of God And the name of God is deuoutly and reuerently extolled of the Barbarians them selues who vnto this day were ignorant of the trueth euery man knoweth that he which is ignorant of the trueth is also ignorant of God But the BarbariaÌs through my industrie that as I sayd before am a right vvorshiper of God came to the knowledge of God and learned to serue him in holines whome they perceaue in all thinges with the carefull eye of his diuine prouidence to defende me This thing moued them at the first to tast of the trueth in Christ whome also for the awe and loyaltie they owe vnto our imperiall scepter they serue vprightly but we which woulde seeme I will not say to obserue nay to maintayne the sacred and holy mysteries of his Church doe practise nothing else but that which breedeth discorde and discention and to be short that which tendeth to the vtter ouerthrowe and destruction of mankinde But see that you come vnto vs as I sayd with speede perswading your selues of this that our mind is as much as in vs lyeth first of all to maintayne soundly without corruption all that is contayned in holy Scripture so that no blemish of sclaunder or infamy may redounde thereunto abandoning vvearing avvay and rooting out all the rotten aduersaries of christian religion vvho vnder color of Christian professioÌ haue crept in sovved in the Church of God sundry blasphemous sectes heretical schismes CAP. XXIII VVhen as all the synode came not vnto the Emperour Eusebius together with that crue framed a newe accusation against Athanasius that he shoulde report he woulde stay the carying of corne from Alexandria to Constantinople wherat the Emperour being moued banished Athanasius into Fraunce THe aforesayd letters of the Emperour sett the whole councell together by the eares so that diuers of them returned home to their cities but Eusebius Theognis Maris Patrophilus Vrsacius and Valens gott them to Constantinople they reason no longer of the broken cup or the table that was ouerthrowen or of Arsenius that was sayd to be murthered but they frame them selues to forge out an other accusation They informe the Emperour that Athanasius threatned he woulde cause that no corne shoulde be conueyed from Alexandria as they then vsed to Constantinople and that Adamantius Annubyon Arbathion and Peter that were Bishops hearde it out of Athanasius his owne mouth but then truely the accusation is like to be hearde when the accuser carieth creditt with his person The Emperour was wonderfully moued at this and tooke great indignation against Athanasius exiled him commaunded that he should abide in Fraunce some report that the Emperour did it for this pollicie to see whether with his absenâe he coulde reduce the Church to vnitie and concorde for Athanasius was the man that woulde in no wise communicate with the Arians being exiled he ledd his life at Triuere a city in Fraunce CAP. XXIIII Of Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra and Asterius professor of humanitie THe Bishops then being assembled at Constantinople deposed also Marcellus Bishop of the lesser Galatia for this cause There was one Asterius in Cappadocia that professed humanitie and leauing that embraced the faith in Christ wrote bookes thereof which vnto this day are extant The pestilent doctrine of Arius is proued out of them to were that Christ is no other wise the power of God then the locusts and flyes are sayd in Moses to proceede from the handie worke of God and other such lewde reasons This Asterius kept company with Bishops and specially of the damnable sect of Arius He frequented vnto their assemblies for he longed after some bishoprike or other But because that in the time of persecution he had sacrificed vnto Idols he was not admitted to execute the function of a Priest He wandreth and rogeth throughout Syria shewing the bookes he had written Marcellus vnderstanding of this going about to sett him selfe against Asterius fell him selfe into the contrary heresie for he was not afraide euen as Paulus Samosatenus sayd before to affirme that Christ was but a bare and naked man The Bishops that mett at Ierusalem hearing of this made no accompt of Asterius because he was a laye man but Marcellus who was of the clergie they call to an accompt for the booke he had written When they perceaued that he maintayned the opinion of Paulus Samosatenus they charge him to recante He with shame inough promiseth to burne the booke But when as the councell was dissolued in haste for the Emperour had called the Bishops to Constantinople agayne they reason of Marcellus at Constantinople before Eusebius and the other Bishops then present As soone as Marcellus refused to performe his former promise that is to fire the booke which he had vnaduisedly framed the Bishops then present depose him of his bishoprike sent Basilius in his rowme to be Bishop of Ancyra Eusebius moreouer wrote three bookes against his pamflett and confuted his wicked opinion Marcellus after that recouered his bishoprike againe in the councell helde at Sardice where he sayd they vnderstoode not his booke and therfore suspected him that he had sauored of the opinion of Paulus Samosatenus but what opinion we may conceaue of this man we will declare in an other place CAP. XXV How that Arius being called from Alexandria to Constantinople after the exile of Athanasius for to render an accompt before the Emperour of the tumult he made at Alexandria raised a great sturre against Alexander Bishop of Constantinople In the ende died miserably WHile these thinges were a doing the thirtieth yeare of Constantinus raygne was expyred Arius with his company returning to Alexandria sett the whole citye on an vprore The citizens of Alexandria tooke very grieuously that not onely Arius with his confederats was restored but also that Athanasius their Bishop was condemned to banishment When the Emperour vnderstood of the peruerse minde and corrupted purpose of Arius he sendes for him againe to Constantinople there to render an accompt of the tumult sedition he had raysed afresh At that time Alexander who a litle before succeeded Metrophanes in the bishoprike of Constantinople gouerned that Church This Alexander proued him selfe a religious a godly a deuout man in the quarel then betwene him Arius for when Arius came the people was deuided into two parts a great tumult raised in the citye ⪠whilest that some maintained the Nicene Creede the same to remayne firme stable others affirmed the opinion of Arius to be lawfull agreable with y â trueth Alexander came forth into this great heat of disputation specially because that Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia had geuen out great threats that without all peraduenture he would worke his depriuation vnlesse he would admitt Arius his company to y â communion but Alexander feared not the deposition so much as the abrogation of the Nicene Creede which they
he layeth downe the cause that moued him to repeate at large such things as afore time he had briefly written in his first and seconde booke RVffinus who wrote the Ecclesiasticall historye in the latine tongue was very much deceaued in the tymes for he thought that the perill and daungers which Athanasius stoode in happened vnto him after the death of the emperour Constantine He was ignorant of his banishment into Fraunce of many other miseryes that happened vnto him But we imitating his opinion and censure in discourse of the Ecclesiasticall affayres haue written the first and seconde booke of our historye ⪠from the thirde vnto the seuenth booke by borowing some out of Ruffinus by picking and culling other some out of sundry other writers also by laying downe some thinge we learned of others who as yet be aliue we haue sett forth the historye in a most absolute and perfect maner But after that by meare chaunce the workes of Athanasius came to our handes where both he complayneth of the misery he endured also declareth after what sorte he was exiled through the sclaunderous faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia we thought farre better to attribute more credit vnto him who suffred these things and to others who sawe them with their eyes then to such as coniecture and gesse at them and so plunge them selues in the pitt of error Moreouer by searching diligently the epistles of sundry men who liued at that tyme we haue sifted out as much as in vs laye the trueth it selfe Wherfore we haue bene constrayned to repeate agayne such thinges as we mentioned in the firste and seconde booke of our historye and haue annexed thereunto out of Ruffinus such histories as were agreeable vnto the trueth Not only that but this also is to be vnderstoode how that in the first edition of these our bookes we layd downe neyther the depriuation of Arius neyther the Emperours epistles but explicated in fewe words without figures of Rhetorick the matter we tooke in hande lest the tediousnes of our long historye shoulde tyre the louing Reader When as for the cause aboue mentioned it behoued vs so to doe Theodorus most holy Prieste of God yet nowe to the ende the epistles may be knowen in forme and fashion as the Emperours wrote them selues and the thinges also which Bishops in sundry councells haue published vnto the worlde whylest that they laboured dayely to sett for the more exquisite decrees and constitutions to the furtherance of Christian religion we haue diligently added to this our latter edition such thinges as we thought fitt for the purpose ⪠that truely we haue performed in the first booke and in the seconde nowe in hande we minde to doe no lesse ⪠but nowe to the historye CAP. II. How that Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia endeuored agayne to establishe the doctrine of Arius so that tumults were raysed in the Churche afreshe and howe that Athanasius by vertue of Constantine the yongers letters returned to Alexandria AFter the death of the Emperour Constantine Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and Theâgâis Bishop of Nice supposing now they had gotten a fitt time endeuored with all might possible to wipe out of the Churche of God the creede contayning the clause of one substance and to setle in the rowme thereof the detestable heresie of Arius But this they knewe full well they coulde not bringe to passe if Athanasius came agayne to Alexandria They went about to compasse their drift very craftely vsing the Priest by whose meanes we sayd before Arius returned from exile as an instrument to their purpose But the maner of the handling thereof I thinke very needefull to be layde downe This Priest presented vnto Constantius the Emperours sonne the last will and testament and the bequeathed legacies of the Emperour deseased He perceauing y t to haue bene laid downe in his fathers wil which greatly he desired for byy â wil he was emperour of the Easterne parts made very much of the priest graunted him great libertie charged him to vse his pallace freely and boldly at his pleasure After this libertie was graunted him by the Emperour he forthwith acquainted him selfe with the empresse with the Eunuches and chamberlaynes At the same time there was an eunuch by name Eusebius chiefe of the emperours chamber who through persuasion of this lewde Priest became an Arian and infected also the other eunuches of his company And not only these but the Empresse also through the entisement of the Eunuches and the aduise of the Priest fell into the pestilent heresie of Arius In a while after the Emperour him selfe called the same opinion into controuersie and so by a litle and a litle it was spredd euery where And first the Emperours garde tooke it vp next it occupied the mindes of the multitude throughout the city The Emperours chamberlaynes euen in the very pallace it selfe contended with women about the opinion in euery house and family throughout the city they brawled and went together by the eares This infection spred it selfe quickly ouer other contries and regions and the controuersie much like a sparcle of fire rising of small heate or scattered embers kindled the mindes of the hearers with the fiery flame of discorde and dissention For euery one that desired to knowe why they made such a tumulte by and by had an occasion geuen him to reason and euery one was not satisfied with questioning but contentiously woulde argue thereof ⪠thus the heate of contention turned all vpside downe and troubled the quiet estate of the Churche This sturre and sedition preuailed onely in the cities throughout the East for Illyrium and other contryes of the West enioyed peace and quietnes ⪠for they could in no wise permitt the canons of the Nicene councell to be abrogated and sett at nought After that the heate of contention was blowen abroad and burned euery day more and more the faction of Eusebius tooke this tumult to be a furtherance to their purpose for so they hoped it would come to passe that some Bishop or other woulde be chosen of Alexandria which woulde maintayne the same opinion with them But at the very same time Athanasius by the meanes of Constantine the yongers letters who was one of the Caesars and so called after his fathers name returned to Alexandria the letters were written by the Emperour vnto the people of Alexandria from Triuere a citie of Fraunce in forme as followeth Constantinus Caesar to the people of the Catholicke Church of Alexandria sendeth greeting I hope it is not vnknowen vnto your discreete wisedome that Athanasius the professor of sacred diuinitie was for a tyme banished into Fraunce lest that through the mischieuous dealing of lewde men for bloodesuckers and cruell beastes sought to bereue him of his life his innocent person shoulde of necessitie be constrained to take his deaths wounde VVherfore to the ende he might auoyde the malice of these dispitefull
men he was taken as it were out of their iawes which menaced him commaunded to liue vnder my dominion where though his excellent vertue ministred vnto him from aboue wey nothinge at all the greuous casualties of aduersity euen as in the city he liued before he may haue plenty want no necessaryes for the maintenance of his porte Therefore when as our Lorde and my father of famous memory Constantine the Emperour had purposed in his mind to haue restored him a Bishop to his owne sâae and proper seate the which he enioyed among you that are knowen to beare greate zeale to godlines and being preuented with death as it fareth with mankind before he coulde accomplishe his desire I thought it verely my parte and duety to execute the intent of so godly an Emperoure VVith what estimation and reuerence I haue entertayned the man he shall reporte with his owne mouth after his returne vnto you Neither is it to be maruelled at all that I shewed him such curtesie For me thinkes I sawe in him the great longing ye had for him and I behelde also the fatherly reuerence and grauity of the man himselfe all which moued me not a litle thereunto nay throughly perswaded me God of his goodnes welbeloued brethren haue you in his tuition Athanasius with the confidence he had in these letters returneth to Alexandria whome the people of Alexandria doe receaue with most willing mindes But such as in that citie were infected with the leprosie of Arianisme conspired against him so that many skirmishes and tumultes were raised which ministred occcasion vnto the confederats of Eusebius falsly to accuse Athanasius before the Emperoure that of his owne doinge without the generall consente of the assembly of Bishops he had setled him selfe in that church The accusation was so odious that the Emperoure being therewith incensed against Athanasius draue him out of Alexandria But howe this was compassed I will shewe hereafter in an other place CAP. III. Howe that after the death of Eusebius Pamphilus Acacius was chosen Bishop of Caesarea and of the death of Constantinus the yonger ABout that time Eusebius whose sirname was Pamphilus Bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina departed this life and Acacius his scholer succeeded him in the Bishopricke Who besids sundry other workes of his industrie wrote a booke of the life of his maister Eusebius Not long after Constantinus the yonger so called after his fathers name brother to y â Emperor Constantius inuading by force certaine countreys vnder Constans his yonger brothers dominion by fighting hand to hand with the soldiers was slaine Acindinus and Proclus beinge Consuls CAP. IIII. Howe that Alexander Bishop of Constantinople departinge this life nominated two men Paulus and Macedonius that they shoulde chuse one of them to succeede him in the Bishoprike AT that time there ensued immediately the âedicions mentioned before an other tumulte in the citie of Constantinople and that for this cause Alexander the Bishop of that churche who valiantly encountred with Arius hauing continewed Bishop there the space of three and twenty yeares and liued fourescore and eighteene departed this life He consecrated none to succeede him but charged the electors to choose one of two whome he would nominat vnto them And following his aduise if they would place in the rowme a man sit for to instruct y â people of an vpright conscience of good lise and godly conuersation they shoulde take Paulus whome he had made priest who though he were yonge and of greene yeares yet in learninge olde and of greate wisedome But in case they woulde haue him whome the etymologie of noble prowesse did highly commend they should preferre Macedonius to the dignitie ⪠who latly had bene deacon of the same church and then was farre strucken in yeares Wherefore about the election of a Bishop there was greater sturre theÌ heretofore and the churche was more grieuously turmoyled The people were deuided into two parts the one was egerly set with the heresy of Arius the other cleaued very constantly to the decrees of the Nicene Councell And whilest that Alexander liued they which embraced the creede comprising the clause of One substance had the vpper hand ouer the Arians which dayly striued and contended very stifly in the maintenance of their heretical doctrine But as soone as he departed this life the contention among the people was diuers and variable For such as fauored the clause of One substance chose Paulus to be their Bishop such as of the contrary cleaued vnto Arianisme endeuored with all might to place Macedonius Wherefore in the temple of God called the church of peace next vnto the great church then called great but nowe bearing the name of wisedome Paulus was chosen Bishop in which election the voyce of the desseased did preuaile CAP. V. Howe that Constatinus the Emperoure displaced Paulus that was chosen byshope of Constantinople and translated to that seae Eusebius byshop of Nicomedia And howe that Eusebius caused an other Synode to be summoned at Antioch in Syria where there was an other forme of fayth layde downe SHortely after the election of Paulus moued the Emperoure not a litle at his coming to Constantinople For summoning together an assembly of Byshops which sauored of the filthie sinke of Aruis he procured the deposition of Paulus and causing Eusebius of Nicomedia to be ââanslated thither he proclaimed him Bishop of Constantinople These thinges being done the Emperoure gott him to Antioch Yet Eusebius for all this colde not sette his hart at rest but rolled as commonely we saye euery stone to bringe his wicked purpose to passe He summoneth a councell at Antioch in Syria pretending the dedicatioÌ of the church whose foundations Constantine the father of these Emperours had layd after whose death Constantius his sonne tenne yeares after the laying of the first stone finished the buylding and as I may boldely say the trueth to the ouerthrowe and subuersion of the fayth Of one substance Unto this synod there came out of diuers prouinces Bishops to the number of fourscore and tenne But Maximus bishop of Ierusalem who succeeded Macarius woulde not come thither supposinge verely that if he came he shoulde be constrayned to subscribe vnto the depriuation of Athanasius Neyther did Iulius Byshop of Rome shewe him selfe there neither sente he any to supply his rowme when as the ecclesiasticall canon forbiddeth that any constitution be thrust into the Churche without the censure of the Bishope of Rome To be shorte the councell mette at Antioch in the Consulship of Marcellus and Probinus where Constantius the Emperoure was present It was the fift yeare after the death of Constantine father vnto these Emperours Placitus was then bishop of Antioch for he succeeded Euphronius But the confederacy of Eusebius side imployed their chiefe labour and industry falsly to accuse Athanasius and first they charge him with the violating of their canon to wete
was Siluanus and molested the quiet estat of the coÌmon weale in Fraunce but the captaines of Constantius dispatched him quickely out of the way when these things were come to an end there rose other ciuill warres in the East for the Ievves inhabiting Diocaesarea in Palaestina tooke armour against the Romaines and inuaded the bordering regions But Gallus called also Constantius whome the Emperour Constantius had made Caesar and sente him into the Easte came thither with great power ouer came the Iewes in battell and made the citie Diocaesarea euen with the ground When Gallus had brought these thinges to passe being swollen and puffed vp with the pride of good successe and prosperous affaires could no longer containe himselfe within his bounds but forthwith beinge inflamed with tyrannicall motion turned his minde against Constantius so that Constantius not long after espied him out and perceaued his drift He had executed of his owne absolute authoritie Domitianus who was president of the East and the greate treasurer not making the Emperoure priuey vnto his doings Wherefore Constantius was sore incensed against him He being wonderfully affrayd yet of force came vnto him Constantius hearing of his comminge y â he was nowe in the Westerne partes of his dominions to wete in the He Flauona caused his head to be taken of his shoulders In a litle while after he appointed Iulianus y â brother of Gallus Caesar sent him into Fraunce against y â Barbarians Gallus whose name was also Constantius ended his life the seauenth Consulship of Constantius and the third of his owne Iulianus the yeare following was created Caesar ⪠in the Consulship of Arbition and Lollianus the sixte of Nouember But of Iulianus we will discourse in the third booke Constantius beinge rid of these present mischiefs turned himselfe to wage battell with the church of God Remouinge from Sirmium vnto the princely citie of Rome ⪠he called together a councell and commaunded diuers Bishops out of the East to repaire with all speed into Italy and that the Bishops of the Weste shoulde meete them there In the meane space while they trauell into Italy it fell out that Iulius Bishop of Rome after he had gouerned that churche fiftene yeares departed this life and Liberius succeded him in the Bishopricke CAP. XXVIII Of the heretike Aetius the Syrian the mayster of Eunomius AT Antioche in Syria there stept vp an other hereticke founder of a straunge and forayne opinion whose name was Aetius called also the Atheist He although he maintayned the same things and vpheld the selfe same opinion with Arius yet seuered he him selfe from y e Arians because they admitted Arius into the communion For Arius as I sayd before meant one thing with in and vttered an other thing without being at Nice he allowed subscribed vnto the forme of faith layd downe by the councell deceaued the Emperour which raigned theÌ with his fraude subtltie This was y e cause that made Aetius seuer him selfe from the Arian sect vntil that tyme Aetius was knowen not onely for an hereticke but also for a greate patron of the pestilent doctrine of Arius When he had gott some smacke of learninge at Alexandria he left that citie and went to Antioch in Syria where he had bene borne and there was he made Deacon of Leontius theÌ bishop of Antioch In a short while after he was able to amaze such as reasoned with him with his subtle quirkes of sophistrie This did he by the meanes of Aristotls Elenches for so is the booke intituled for whylest he disputed vnwittingly coulde he frame such captious and sophisticall propositions as his owne capacitie coulde not dissolue the reason was because he had not learned Aristotls dryft of cunninge and learne ⪠Logicians For Aristotle agaynste the sophisters who then derided and abused philosophie wrote such a kinde of reasoninge for the whetting of yonge mens witts displaying their behauiour and ouerthrowinge their sophisticall fallacies with wittie reasons and well couched subtilities The Academikes that comment vpon Plato and Plotinus works doe mislyke very much with such thinges as Aristotle hath so argutely and subtly written but Aetius not procuring vnto him a maister that was an Academicke cleaued vnto these captious subtle fallacies Wherfore he could not deuise how to vnderstand that there was an vnbegotten birth or how to imagine y â the begotten could be coeternall with the begetter so barraine a brayne had he of his owne and so ignorant and vnskilfull was he in holy scripture for he had nothing in him saue a subtle kind of reasoning quarellous and contentious languages such as may easily be found in the ãâã ignorant vnlearned he had read ouer the auncient writers such as published commentaries vpon holy scriptures and condemned Clemens Aphricanus and Origen sage men of singular learning for vnlearned persons the epistles which of set purpose he had patched and stuffed with litigious triflles sophisticall conclusions the same he sent vnto the Emperour Constantius and to sundry others And therefore was he called the Atheist And although he affirmed the selfe same thinges with Arius yet of his owne crue not attayning vnto his intricate and captious maner of reasoning was he counted for an Arian hereticke Wherefore being excommunicated out of the church yet woulde he seeme as though of his owne accord he had seuered him selfe from their communion Of him therefore as originall of this errour the Aetians had their appellation but now are they called Eunomians For in a litle while after Eunomius his scribe who sucked of his filthy sinke of hereticall doctrine became a ringleader to this sect But of Eunomius in an other place CAP. XXIX Of the Councells held at Mediolanum and Ariminum with the Creedes then concluded vpon BY that time there met in Italie not very many bishops out of the East for heauie age long iourneyes were letts so that they coulde not come but out of the West there came aboue the number of three hundred bishops The Emperours ediââ was proclaimed that the councell should be held at Mediolanum When the bishops of the East came thither first of all they require that sentence by their generall consent should be pronounced agaynst Athanasius thinking verily thereby to stoppe all gappes from goinge or returninge of him any more to Alexandria After that Paulinus bishop of Triuere in Fraunce Dionysius bishop of Alba an heade citie of Italy and Eusebius byshop of Vercellae a cytie of the Lygurian Italians had perceaued that the byshops of the East bent all their myght to enact a decree agaynst Athanasius for no other purpose but to ouerthrowe the true faith they stoode vp and cryed out that in so doing the christian religion should be cancelled by the meanes of their deceatfull fraudulent treachery that the crymes layd to Athanasius his charge were false reports meere sclauÌders and y â they had
the things that vvere rightly and reuerently decided but especially to intermedle vvith the canons of the Nicene Councell so exquisitely handled so throughly sifted out by the ayde succour of your father of famous memory the Emperous Constantine the sage doctrine graue censures of vvhich councell pearced the eares hath bene priÌted in the minds of all people by whose only force it came to passe that the heresie of Arius was foyled ouerthrowen by whose meanes also not only this but all other rotten heresies whatsoeuer are rooted out VVhat may well be added therevnto it is doubtfull to take any thinge therefro is daungerous If ere other be permitted there vvill ensue there of such libertie that euery one vvill sovv such levvde doctrine as pleaseth him best VVherfore Vrsacius and Valens beyng of late infected vvith the pestilent here sie of Arius and therefore iustly banished our communion they did not onely repent them of their fond dealing their conscience yelding manifest testimonie accusing theÌ of the same to the end they might againe be made partakers of the same communion but also as their ovvne vvrytinges doe beare vvittnesse they craued pardon vvith humble and earnest petitions so that in the ende all theyr levvde behauiour all their corrupt learning was forgeuen forgotten these things were done at what time the councell of MediolanuÌ was held in the presence of certaine priests of Rome But when we call to remembrance how that Constantine the Prince worthy of noble praise among all posterity imployed great labor industry for the curious sifting true knowledge of the Nicene Creede it seemed vnto vs a thinge contrary to all reason for to renewe any thinge thereof or to innouate any thing preiudicial to the same after his desease who first was baptized then departed this life now resteth in ioy to make light accompt of so many blesled confessors martyrs who framed furthered this doctrine vvho also according vnto the auncient purpose of the catholick church were so perswaded persisted in the same vnto their liues end VVhose faith God the father through our Lord Iesus Christ hath coÌtinewed vnto the yeares of your imperiall raigne by whose helpe your kingdome is enlarged your self become Lord of all these our couÌtries dominions vnder heauen But of the contrary those miserable men bewitched mindes caried away with a furious kind of motion haue gone about to proclayme them selues authors preachers of wicked doctrine vnder colour of well doing to ouerthrowe the right sincerity of the trueth For as soone as the couÌcel at your coÌmaundement met together they laid wide open their coÌcealed fraude couered deceat as soone as also they perceaued Germanius Auxentius Caius who had brought discord dissentioÌ into the church of god to be in all respects like affectioned with theÌ they assayed through wiles wilful asseÌblies to establish some nouelty whose doctrine opinioÌ though but one in name yet in number it farie exceeded the heape of all blasphemies But when as they sawe they would not cleaue vnto their opinion neither condescend vnto their lewde practises they transported them selues into our side as if they had determined to subscribe vnto the contrary doctrine but not long after their cankred minds were knoweÌ well mough VVherfore that the quiet estate of the church may not be tossed with such waues of troublsome disseÌtion that all be not set on tumults vprores it seemed very necessary vnto vs to ratifie the decrees confirmed of olde inuiolably to conserue them to forbid these men our coÌmunion For this cause haue we sent legats with our letters vnto your maiesty of whome you may vnderstand the mind meaning of the couÌcell whome also we haue charged first of all to proue the manifest trueth by autority testimony of old auÌcieÌt lawes wisely decreed to opeÌ vnto your indiffereÌt censure iust senteÌce not as Vrsacius Valens affirmed that quietnes shoulde ensure if the canons lavvfully decreed and aduisedly decided shoulde be ouerthrovven hovv can they pleade for peace which haue pearced through and broke asunder the bonde of vnitie but that discorde and debate shoulde rise thereof not onely in other cities but also in the Churche of Rome VVherefore vve humbly request your maiestie of your gracious fauour and vvonted clemency to accept this our message that you permitt no noueltie to creepe into the church of god to the coÌtumelie of such as already are departed this life but that you graunt vs licence and your lavvfull fauour firmely to perseuere in those thinges vvhich our auncetors haue decreed in as much as it is euident vnto all men that vvhatsoeuer they did it vvas throughe vvell aduised councell prudent consideration and the ayde of the holy Ghost for the innouations of these men doe graffe in the mindes of the faythfull incredulitie in the mindes of the vnfaythfull crueltie Also vve humbly request your highnes that the Bishops vvhich vvander in farre and foraine regions grieuously afflicted by reason of great yeares and the misery of vvant and necessitie may by your safe conduyte returne home from exile to the ende the Churches remayne not desolate destitute of their Bishops being thus farre asunder last of all our humble sute is vnto your maiestie that nothing be either diminished or added vnto the old auÌcient decrees but that all whatsoeuer haue bene obserued vnto this day through the godly procuremeÌt of your father may henceforth be of force strength vertue that hereafter there may rise no molestation vnto vs about those things that you suffer vs not to be banished our churches but that bishops may be resiant with their slocke that they may enioy peace tranquillity for prayers deuout seruice of God that they may pray coÌtinewally for the preseruation of your healthe your empyre and prosperous estate the which God of his goodnes long continewe Our legats wil enforme you of the subscriptions the bishops names they are also of learning sufficient to let you vnderstand by testimonies of holy Scripture all the circumstances of the decrees These things y â councell wrot sent vnto y â Emperour by certaine bishops but Vrsacius Valens preuenting their comming reuiled discredited y â councell w t the emperour shewing vnto him a patched forme of faith which they had brought in their pocket y â Emperour in so much he was afore time infected w t y â Arian opinion began wonderfully to stomacke y â councel to aduauÌce into honor estimation Vrsacius Valens Wherfore y â bishops y â were sent by y â councel wayted very long about his court yet coulde they get no answere of him At length by other messengers the Emperour wrote vnto the councell in this maner The epistle of Constantius vnto the councell assembled at Ariminum Constantius the mighty and triumphant Augustus vnto
all the Bishops assembled at Ariminum sendeth greeting Although it is not vnknowen vnto your holines that vve haue alvvayes great care and consideration of the diuine the reuerend and sacred religion of Christ yet had vve as yet no leasure to talke vvith the tvventy Bishops whome your wisedomes sent in embassie vnto vs. For vve haue hitherto bene vvholy occupied about the expedition we made against the Barbarians And requisite it is as you knovve very vvell for him that vvill deale in matters of religion to be voyde of all care and troublesome affayres Therefore vve haue vvilled the Bishops to vvayte for our comming at Adrianopolis so that vvhen vve haue rightly disposed the common affayres of the publique weale we may then geue care and wey diligently afterwards such things as they shall lay before vs. In the meane vvhile let it not grieue your vvisedomes to expect their returne that after their departure hence and the bringing of our ansvvere vnto you ye may finish and conclude such thinges as shal be for the vse and furtherance of the Catholicke Church When the Bishops had receaued these letters they wrote backe againe vnto the Emperour in this sorte VVe haue receaued your maiesties gracious letters most godly Emperour wherby we gather you had not sufficient leasure by reason of the necessary busines of the common vveale to geue our legats the hearing moreouer that you geue vs in charge to vvayte for their returne vntill that your highnes of your vvisedome hath deepely vvayed the thinges vve haue decreed and layde dovvne agreeably vnto the canons and constitutions of our auncetors But novve by these our letters vve protest and assure your maiestye that vve vvill in no vvise shrinke from our sentence and determination VVe haue also charged and enioyned our legats the same VVherefore vve humbly beseech you of our vvonted clemency to voutchsafe the reading of these our simple letters and to take in good parte such thinges as vve haue enioyned our legats Your clemency moreouer knovveth as vvell as vve hovve heauy and hovve lamentable a case it is so many churches in the time of this your most blessed raigne to be bereaued of their Bishops And therefore vve are humbly to craue againe and againe most holy Emperour that before the sharpe and nipping season of vvinter if it so seeme good vnto your highnes you wil licence vs to returne home vnto our Churches to the ende vve may poure out together vvith the people our accustomed prayers vnto God the father Almighty and to our Lorde and Sauiour Christ his onely begotten sonne for prosperous estate of your raigne euen as we haue accustomed in times past and yet cease not to doe After they had written thus and continewed there a while longer when as the emperour voutchsafed not to answere them euery one returned to his owne home The Emperour because he had purposed with him selfe to sowe the Arian opinion throughout euery Church endeuored with might and mayne euery where to preferre the same tooke hereby occasion at the Bishops returne to bring about his baynous offence and sayd that in contempt and despite of him contrary to his will they had dissolued the councell Wherefore he gaue Vrsacius authoritie freely at his pleasure to practise all mischiefe agaynst the Churches of God and commaunded him moreouer to send into the Churches of Italie the forme of fayth that was read in the councell of Ariminum and such as would not subscribe vnto the same shoulde be deposed and others placed in their rowmes First of all Liberius Bishop of Rome as soone as he denied his hande thereunto was exiled by Vrsacius and Felix Deacon of the Church of Rome addicted vnto the Arian opinion was of the same Vrsacius by mayne force and violence preferred to the bishopricke Wherfore all the Westerne partes of the worlde by reason of these newe deuises were at great discorde and tumults while that some were by force deposed and sent to exile some other substituted in their rowmes these thinges were wrought by vertue of the Emperours edicts sent into the West contries Liberius not long after was called home from exile recouered his bishopricke againâ because that the people of Rome was on an vprore and thrust Felix out of the Church so that the Emperour was constrained against his will to agree thereunto Vrsacius hauing played such prankes in Italie as pleased him best tooke his iourney into the East and got him to the citie of Nice in Thracia There after he had continewed a long while he called a councell and went about to ratifie the forme of faith that was read at Ariminum and translated as I sayd before into the greeke tongue to publishe and sett forth the same with glorious titles as agreed vpon by a generall councell calling it the Nicene fayth to the intent that thereby in vsing the name of Nice he might snare the ignorant the rude and simple people For they thought verily that it was the same forme of fayth which of olde was confirmed at Nice a citie of Bithynia but their forged pretence was no long furtherance vnto them For in a short while after their treachery was reuealed and the authors thereof derided for their labor So farre of such thinges as were done in the West CAP. XXX The crueltie of Macedonius the Arian and tumults raysed by him at Constantinople and elsewhere NOwe that we haue sufficiently discoursed of the West Churches let vs turne our talke and direct our penne into the East and there first beginne with the Arians The Arian Bishops being puffed vp with pride and confidence they put in the Emperours edicts presumed more boldly to bring their purposes to effect but in what sorte they sommoned the councell I will afterwards declare when that first I haue runne ouer their lewd practises before the councel Acaius Patrophilus as soone as they had deposed Maximus bishop of Ierusalem placed Cyrillus in his rowme Macedonius went about vtterly to ouerthrow y â contries bordering cities of Constantinople vsing his seruants ministers as fit instruments to the defacing of the church of God he made Eleusius bishop of Cyzicum Marathonius bishop of Nicomedia who afore time had bene deacon vnder Macedonius him selfe very carefull about the affaires of men women y â were addicted vnto monasticall solitary life But now heare how Macedonius went about to ouerchrow y â contries cities within y â prouince of Constantinople This man aspiring as I said before vnto y â bishoprick plagued infinitely such as were determined to perseuere in y â opinion contrary to his thrust out of the church not only such as in y â councell seemed to vary from him but also y â Nouatians for he knew of suerty that they embraced the creede containing the clause of one substance cruelly tormented them Agelius their bishop was faine to flie away for to saue his life
Many excellent notable men were then apprehended and grieuously plagued because they refused to be partakers of their communion yea after torments they were constrayned by force to communicate with them for they stretched wide open and gagged their mouthes they popped in the mysteries such as were thus handled tooke it farre more grieuous then all the other torments they trayled women children by maine force into their communion if any refused or gaynesayd their doings immediatly they were scurged after stripes imprisoned and in the ende compelled to endure more bitter torments Whereof I will alleadge one or two examples whereby the woodnes and crueltie both of Macedonius and also of others who at that time were renowmed and famous for such lewde feates may euidently appeare vnto the whole worlde Of the women that denied to communicate with them some were layd along in chestes and at the lidds their breastes sawed of some other had their papps burned with searing irons glowing hott and with egges laid therunto that were rosted so harde that they scalded for heate These newe kinde of torments neuer heard of before among Pagans Ethnicks were practised of these men which professed christianitie These things I my selfe haue heard Auxanon of whome I spake in my first booke reporte being a very old man who though he was a priest of the Nouatian Church yet suffred he very much of the Arians before he had entred into orders He reported how that together with Alexander Paphlagon who led a very straict and seuere kinde of life after the same sorte with him he was imprisoned scurged and endured many torments that Alexander after the grieuous lashes of the whipp dyed in prison and was buried nigh the sea shore on the right hand as ye goe to Byzantium hauen called Ceras by interpretation an horne where there is a Nouatian Church bearing the name of Alexander They destroyed at the commaundement of Macedonius not onely other Churches in other cities but also the Nouatian Church within the citie of Constantinople nigh the signe of the storke but why I made mention of this seuerally at this tyme as I hearde with mine owne eares of Auxanon an olde graybearde now I am about to declare By the commaundement of the Emperour and the cruelty of Macedonius it was proclaymed that the churches of such as embraced y â creede containing y â clause of one substance should be throwen downe euen to y â foundations this law being ioined w t y â violeÌce of Macedonius proceaded to y â ouerthrow also of this church such as were appoynted to bring these feates to passe busily occupied their braynes and promptly dispatched them I can not chuse but greatly maruell at the Nouatian secte to see what singuler affection they bare vnto their Churche and what charitable minde such as then were deposed by the Arians but nowe enioy their Churches in peace shewed towards them For as soone as the commissioners for the suppressing of Churches had geuen the onsett immediatly a great number of Nouatians and diuers others which maintayned the doctrine of one substance pulled downe that Church remoued it to an other place and there erected it againe The place is situate right ouer against the citie and at this day called Sycae it is the thirtenth porcion of the prouince of CoÌstantinople The church was remoued in a very short space by reason that so great a multitude of people with great good will and promptnes of minde sett to their helping handes for one caryed the tyles an other the stones the thirde the timber others conueyed other stuffe into Sycae The women also and the children were a furtherance to the buylding for they thought their prayers woulde be the sooner hearde and to profitt them selues very much in that they imployed their labor and industrie to the consecration of buylding vnto the Lorde In that sorte the Church of the Nouatians was translated to Sycae but after that Constantius being dead Iulianus the Emperour commaunded that the place where the Church aforetime had bene buylded shoulde be giuen to the Nouatians The people againe in such sort as before went about the buylding of the Church and the translating of the stuffe into the place where it stoode at the first and being builded farre more gorgeous then it was at the first they called it after the name of the resurrection That Church as I sayd before was the thirde time buylded in the raigne of Iulianus At that time both the true Catholiks and the Nouatians were a like handled And because the true christians abhorred the temples where the Arians frequented they resorted together with the Nouatians vnto three other Churches for the Nouatians had so many Churches permitted them in that city and there they deuoutly serued God together litle there was to the contrary but that they had bene linked together in the bonde of vnitie and concorde had the Nouatians not refused to retayne their olde mind from the which they had fallen But as toutching other matters ech embraced other with such singuler affection entire loue that one was ready to hazard his life for the other They were molested together not onely at Constantinople but also in other cities and prouinces In a while after Eleusius who lately had bene placed Bishop of Cyzicum imitating the steppes of Macedonius armed him selfe against the Christians afflicted them euery where tormented them grieuously he made the Nouatian Church which was at Cyzicum euen with the grounde and Macedonius gaue the last stroke and finall conclusion to the haynous offences which he committed For vnderstanding that there were many both at Paphlagonia and Mantinium of the Nouatian opinion which coulde by no meanes commodiously be remoued by Ecclesiasticall authoritie he procured that foure bands of souldiers at the Emperours commaundement should be sent into Paphlagonia to the ende the inhabitants might be terrified with the great shewe of glistering armour and thereby brought to embrace the Arian heresie But such as inhabited Mantinium being kindled with an earnest zeale towards Christian religion went agaynst the souldiers with chearefull mindes and valiant courage after they had mustred together a greate host they all marched forwards to battell some had taken in their hande long hedging bills some axes some other mett by chaunce with rusty armour When they ioyned together and came to handygriping many of the Paphlagonians were beaten downe the souldiers fewe onely excepted were slaine euery one Although there be many of the Paphlagonians which presently can report y â same yet haue I heard it of a certaine husbandman of Paphlagonia who had bene present him selfe at the skirmishe and borne away many blowes And though Macedonius had wrought many such notable feates as he thought in the behalfe of religion where slaughter and battell and bondage and ciuill dissentions fell out yet that haynous offence of his procured vnto him and that most iustly great hatred not
in the later I take the immortall godds to vvitnesse vvhen that I endeuour as duetie requireth to prayse you the horrible offence vvhich you committed stoppeth my mouth and stayeth my penne VVhat dareth the subiect as a madde dogge pull man in peeces vvith his teeth ought not he be ashamed of so haynous an offence Is this to purifie and clense the handes and to holde them vp streatched vvide vnto the gods as if they vvere not polluted vvith the blemishe and infamie of murther But Georgius had no other then vvas devve vnto his desert and peraduenture I my selfe might iustly haue affirmed that by all ryght he shoulde haue suffered farre vvorse But you vvill say that he deserued it for his dealinge tovvards you and therein I am of your opinion But if you say that it behoued you to punishe him that vvill I in no vvyse graunte You haue lavves the vvhich ought greatly to be honored and embraced of all men both publiquely and priuately But notvvithstandinge though it commonly fall out that manie be founde faultie and seuerall trespassors yet ought vve to fauour the publique state of the common vveale to obey the lavves and in no vvyse to violate the auncient and godlie decrees Thinke your selues happie O ye people of Alexandria that this haynous offence vvas committed by you in my tyme for I can not in maner chuse but embrace you vvith brotherly affection partly for the reuerence I ovve vnto God and the affection I beare vnto my graundfather of the same title vvith me vvho sometyme gouerned both Aegypt and your citie For the prince that vvyll not brynge him selfe vnder the gyrdle of his subiect the discrete and vpryght magistrate may not vvinke at so haynous an offence of the people lest that necessitie constrayne to cure so greeuous a maladie vvith farre greater griefe and more desperate medicine But I for the aforesayd causes doe applie vnto these your sores most gentle and tollerable salues to wete exhortation and curteous language vvhervnto I am certainely persvvaded you vvill yeelde if you be the men I take you for descendinge of the auncient stocke of the Graecians retaining in your breasts that noble valiant courage hauing also all the properties of curteous and ciuill life I speake vnto you my louinge citizens of Alexandria impressed in the secret closets of your mindes This was the epistle of the Emperour CAP. IIII. Howe that after the death of Georgius Athanasius returninge vnto Alexandria tooke agayne the gouernement of the bishopricke of Luciser and Eusebius and howe that Lucifer made Paulinus byshop of Antioche NOt longe after the people of Alexandria receaued with louinge and chearefull mindes their byshop Athanasius returninge from exile at what tyme also the Arians were banished the Christian congregations and the Church restored to the gouernment of Athanasius But the Arians meetinge in priuate houses appoynted Lucius to succeede Georgius in the byshopricke At that tyme thus went the affaires of Alexandria In the meane whyle Lucifer and Eusebius by the Emperours edict were called home from banishment Lucifer was byshop of Caralitanum a citie in Sardinia Eusebius as I sayde before was byshop of Vercellae a citie of the Ligurian Italians Both they returninge from the hygher countries of Thebae consulted together by what meanes they myght recouer their byshoprickes without preiudice to the canon and decree of the churche Wherefore after aduisement taken it seemed good that the one of them I meane Lucifer shoulde goe to Antioche in Syria the other that is Eusebius shoulde take his voyage to Alexandria where by the meanes of Athanasius a Councell myght be called together and the canons of the church therein confirmed Lucifer sent thither a Deacon signifyinge by him that he woulde subscribe vnto the decrees of the Councell He him selfe went to Antioche where he founde the state of the churche very troublesome For the multitude was deuided and the congregations at variance not onely by reason of Euzoius hereticall opinion but also as I sayde before because that the sect of Meletius for the singular fauour they bare vnto him seuered them selues from the faithfull Lucifer therefore when he had ordayned Paulinus to be byshop of that seae departed thence CAP. V. Howe that Eusebius ioyninge with Athanasius called a Councell at Alexandria where the blessed Trinitie was pronounced to be of one and aequall substance AFter that Eusebius came to Alexandria he dealte earnestly with Athanasius for the summoninge of a Councell so that the byshops assembled out of diuers cities decreed very necessarie doctrine confirmed the diuinitie of the holie Ghost to be of one substance in the blessed Trinitie affirmed the sonne of God at his incarnation to haue taken not onely humaine fleshe but also a reasonable soule as the auncient fathers of olde haue deliuered vnto vs. They woulde not establishe neither thrust into the church of God any newe opinion But such things as of old were inioyned by ecclesiasticall decree and layd downe vpon good consideration by such as were wise learned and zelous Christians For thus did the elders of old tyme reason of this matter and deliuer in writinge vnto the posteritie Irenaeus Clemens Apollinarius bishop of Hieratopolis and Serapion byshop of Antioch haue w t generall consent layd downe euery where throughout their works that the sonne at his incarnation was endued with reasonable soule Moreouer y â councell summoned for the hearing of Cyrillus cause who was bishop of Philadelphia in Arabia ⪠signified y â selfe same by their letters vnto Cyrillus Orige likewise who throughout his works teacheth y â the soÌne in takiÌg fleshe tooke also soule yet in y â ninth homily vpoÌ Genesis he openeth this mystery more plainly where at large he discourseth how y â Adam âare y â figure of Christ Eue y â figure of the church Hereof PaÌphilus and Eusebius who of him tooke his appellation are witnesses sufficient for both they imploying their labor ioyntly for to penne in paper the life of Origen and preuenting w t Apollogies in his behalfe the sclauÌderous accusations of the aduersaries haue affirmed y t Origen was not the first that entreated of this matter but y t he interpreted vnto the posteritie the mysticall tradition of the church in y â behalfe Moreouer the bishops which mett in the councell of Alexandria haue discussed the controuersie of the clause of essence and substance For Osius bishop of Corduba in Spaine of whome we haue spoken before being sent by the Emperour Constantine to appease the tumult raysed by Arius in disputinge of essence and substance to the ouerthrowe of Sabellius the Aphricks opinion he ministred occasion to the raysinge of a newe controuersie But at that tyme there was not a worde of this matter in the Councell of Nice for afterwards when diuers contended and reasoned among them selues hereof this councell tooke order toutching the clauses of essence and substance
and decreed that in handling the diuinitie of God there should thenceforth no mentioÌ be made of these words affirming y â the word essence was not founde in holie scripture and that the Apostle in deliueringe the grounde of doctrine was constrayued of necessitie to vse the word substance But they decreed farther that in an other sense to the end the opinion of Sabellius might be rooted out these words were to be admitted lest that through the want of proper wordes we should be compelled to imagine the thinge of three names to be as one but that the seuerall names of the blessed Trinitie signifie and sett forth God to subsist by him selfe in proper substance These were the things decided in that Councell I see nothinge to the contrarie but that presently also we may laye downe what we learned and read of the wordes essence and substance Such as laboured in Greece to sett forth the sage doctrine of the Grecians gaue vs to vnderstande that the worde Essence was diuersly to be taken and had many significations but of the word Substance they made no mention at all nay Irenaeus Grammâticus in his Atticke Dictionarie termeth it a barbarous worde He sayeth moreouer that it can not be founde in any auncient writer and if that perchaunce we lyght vpon it that it was neuer meant in the sense we take it That Sophocles in his Tragedie of Phoenix taketh Hypostasis for wyles or conspiracie and Menander for sauce and resignifyed also lâes or dregges of wyne For though the auncient Philosophers haue not vsed this worde yet we see that the later wryters haue taken it very oft for Essence But we haue spoken before that the definition of Essence was deliuered to haue diuers significations If that Essence may be comprised by definition howe when we entreate of God which is incomprehensible can we properly vse this boyced Euagrius in his booke intituled The Mooke exhorteth vs to refrayne from rashe and vnaduised reasoninge of the God head he forbyddeth the definition of the diuinitie of God because it is a simple thinge For definitions sayeth he are alwayes of concâeââ and compound things not of the abstract and simple His wordes are these Euery proposition as the Logicians doe vvrite hath eyther Genus of vvhome it may be verifyed oâ Species or Differentia or Proprium or Accidens or that vvhich dependeth of these But in the handlinge of the blessed Trinitie none of all thâse is to be required because it can not be layde dovvne neyther expressed by vvordes therefore it is not to be defined but reuerently to be runne ouer vvith silence So farre presently out of Euagrius but here after more at large We of our owne parte although we steme to haue digressed yet in so much these things appertayne vnto the discourse of our present argument ãâã haue thought good to lay them downe here CAP. VI. The Apollogie of Athanasius in defence of his flyght in the tyme of persecution AThanasius at that very tyme read in the hearinge of such as were present an Apollogie the which he had written a litle before in his owne defence when as by reason of the armed souldiers that besett the churche of Alexandria and sought his lyfe ⪠he was fayne to leaue all and runne away Whereof I haue thought good at this present to alleadge some such parcell as may seeme to brynge most profitt vnto the louing reader leauinge the whole discourse beynge somewhat ouer longe vnto the labour and industrie of the paynefull students Beholde âayth Athanasius the lewde practises of vvicked persons Although they are priuie vnto these haynous offences yet for all that they are nothinge ashamed of the contumelyes an dââuell tyrannle they exercised against vs but charge vs in their opinion vvith a foule spott and blemishe of infamie for escapinge the handes of cutthrotes and bloodâuckers yea they beshrevve them selues that they dispatched vs not out of the vvay Moreouer to the ende they may stayne my credite and aestimation they fall to accuse me for faint courage and timorous disposition being forgetfull that vvhilest they blased these thinges to my dispraise they turned the shame to light vpon their ovvne pates For if it be a discredite to slie the handes of the tyrant hovve much more to persecute meÌ vnto the death He that flieth seeketh meanes to saue his life but he that persecuteth goeth about to procure the others death That vve shoulde flie in such cases the scriptures are on our side but in thurstinge after the bloode of our brother the commaundement is broken and the author thereof is founde chiefe cause of the flight If they blame any man for geuinge them the slippe they are vvorthie of farre greater shame and reprehension For lett them ceasse from persecutinge and threatninge of death then vvill the other remaine still and not runne avvay But their spite and malice hath no ende they doe nought else âaue deuise feates to bringe men vnto destruction yea vvhen they knovve full vvell that the flight of the persecuted is a foule shame vnto the persecutours For no man flieth the gentle and meeke but rather the cruell and vvicked man They that vvere greeued and farre indetted vnto others gaue Saul the slippe and fledde vnto Dauid VVherefore these men goe about to dispatche such as conuey them selues out of their vvay lest the levvdnesse of Bishops be manifestly knovven vvithout doubte herein they seeme to be starke blinde For looke hovve euident the flyght is farre more apparent vvyll theyr slaughter and banishmentes seeme vnto the vvorlde If they murther men death no doubt lifteth her voyce and soundeth out their crueltie if they fall a banishinge of them therein they sett vp monuments to the remembrance of their vvicked doinges Had they bene in theyr ryght vvitts they might haue easilie perceaned their ovvne follie and them selues ouerthrovven in their ovvne deuises But in that they are bereaued of their vvittes and beside them selues they fall a persecutinge of others and vvhile they endeuour to mischiefe others they perceaue not their ovvne malice and impietie If they reprochefully charge them which hide them selues from such as seeke their liues and accuse them for strenge the handes of the persecutor what haue they to say I beseche you vvhen they heare that Iacob fledd from the face of his brother Esau and that Moses for feare of Pharao ⪠conueyed him selfe to Madian VVhat haue these contentious quarellers to saye vnto Dauid vvho fledd from Saul vvhich sent of his garde out of his house to slaye him hid him selfe in a caue counterfeited his person vntill that subtly he had past Abimelech the priest and auoyded their layinge of vvaite for him VVhat ansvvere can these rashe bablers geueâ vvhen they see that the greate prophete Elias vvho so deuoutly called vpon the name of God and raysed the dead vvas faine to hide him selfe from Achaab and runne away because of
â Arian in the Bishoprick The same likewise seemed good vnto y â Emperour Wherefore he prepareth himselfe taketh his voyage into AlexaÌdria together with great power from the Emperour There accompanied him Magnus the Emperours treasorer The Emperour sent w t him a commaundemeÌt vnto Palladius Liuetenant of Alexandria that he should ayd the enterprise of Euzoius with armed souldiers Being come to Alexandria they lay hande on Peter clap him in prison the rest of the clergie they banished some vnto one place some vnto an other but Lucius they stalled Bishop CAP. XVII How Sabinus the Macedonian made no mention of the mischiefs committed by Lucius the Arian howe Peter Bishop of Alexandria sled vnto Damasus Bishop of Rome saued his life of the crueltie which the Arians exercised vpon the worshippers which liued in the desert ALthough Sabinus beinge halfe an Arian therefore a concealer of the hainous faltes of his friends made no mention of the horrible Acts committed immediatly after the stallinge of Lucius in y â Bishops seae of Alexandria against such as inhabited the rest of Aegypt by imprisonning of some tormeÌting of others exiling of y t rest yet Peter after he had escaped out of prison signified howe great they were by his epistles wrytten vnto all the Christian churches vnder heauen Who as soone as he got out of prison fled vnto Damasus bishop of Rome Wherefore the Arians though they were fewe in number yet fauored the world theÌ so much that they held all the churches of Alexandria Not long after y â Emperours edict was proclaimed by vertue of y â which as many as helde the faith of One substance were banished not onely Alexandria but all Aegypt Moreouer y â Liuetenant was coÌmaunded to pursue w t power of armed souldiers all such as Lucius should appoint him TheÌ were the religious houses in the desert wildernes spoyled ouerthroweÌ without all compassion turned downe to the grouÌd For the armed souldiers set vpon these seely vnarmed soules which stretched not out as much as the naked hande to their owne defence they were miserably slaine y â maner of the slaughter was so lameÌtable y t it can not sufficieÌtly he painted vnto the world by penne wrytten paper CAP. XVIII Of Ammon the monke and diuerse religious men inhabiting the desert IN so muche that we haue made mention of the monasteries in Aegypt there is no cause to the contrarye but that we maye discourse somewhat thereof The places commonly called religious houses though peraduenture the originall of them was many yeares before yet were they very much augmented amplified by Ammon an holy man Who though in the prime of his florishing youth he disdained of wedlock yet at the entreaty and earnest request of his deare friendes which exhorted him not to inuey so bitterly against mariadge but to take a wife he yelded vnto theÌ was maried Immediatly he led the newe maried spouse by the hand out of the parlour with the woÌted pompe sollemnity into the wedding ved chamber wheÌ their friends were gone he tooke the newe testament in his hand read the epistle of Saynct Paul vnto the CorinthiaÌs expounded vnto his wife out of the Apostle such doctrine as concerned wedlock interlaced many other exhortations borowed out of other wryters layd before her the discoÌmodities of mariadge howe heuye a case was the company of man wife together what bitter panges griping griefs women great with child haue at the deliuerance of their burthen He added moreouer vnto these the care sorow incident to the education bringing vp of childreÌ last of all he rehearsed the vertues coÌmodities annexed vnto virginitie howe the pure life the vndefiled vnstaunched vessell was free froÌ all the aforsayd annoyance cumbrances that virginitie commended vs highly presented vs next vnto God When he had vsed these the like reasons with his wife as yet being a virgine they preuailed so much y t she was perswaded before their coÌming together to forget the wonted familiarity of man wife wherefore both they hauing coÌcluded among themselues toutching the premisses got theÌ immediatly vnto the mounte Nitria where for a season they led a monasticall life in a blind cottage without respect of sex not thinkinge either on man or wife for they were as the Apostle sayth one body in Christ In a while after the new maried spouse the vndefiled virgine reasoneth thus w t Ammon It becometh not you in so much you haue vowed teÌperancie and chastity to haue a woman in your sight in so narrowe and straict a rowine Wherefore if you thinke my aduise any thing to y t furtherance of coÌtinency vertuous life let vs both seuerally lead solitary and monasticall liues Thus they agreed amonge themselues they parted a sunder one from the other and so spent out their dayes bothe abstained from wine and oyle their foode was drie breade they fasted somtimes one whole day somtimes two some other times more Antonie who liued in those dayes as Athanasius bishop of AlexaÌdria wryteth in his life sawe the soule of Ammon after his desease caried vp of the Angells into heauen Wherefore many became earnest and zealous followers of Ammons trade of life so that y â mount Nitria and Scitis were full of religious meÌ whose liues seuerally to penne would require a peculier volume But in so much there were of theÌ many singuler rare men renowmed for their monasticall discipline and partly also for their Apostolicke trade of life famous also for many notable acts and sage sentences worthy of immortall memory It shall not be amisse in my opinioÌ to cut out here lay downe diuers things which may seeme coÌmodious for the profit of y â studious readers The report goeth that Ammon neuer beheld his naked body y t he was woÌt to say that it was a shamefull thing in a monk to delight himselfe with the sight of his bare skinne Of y â same man it is reported y â goinge about by chaunce to passe ouer a riuer and very loth to shift himselfe to haue prayed vnto God y t he might not be foyled neither hindred of his enterprise an Angell to haue come coÌueyed him ouer vnto y â further bank Didymus also an other monke hauing liued fourescore and tenne yeare is sayd in all y t space neuer to haue kept company with man Arsenius of the same vocation was neuer wont to excommunicat y â yonger sort wheÌ they had offended but such as profited very much in y e monasticall discipline his reason was this A yoÌg man wheÌ he is chasticed sayth he with excommunicatioÌ forthwith he will disdaine take the matter in a snuffe but he that profiteth will quickly perceaue the griefe be sore pricked with punishment Pior as he walked was wont to eate and being demaunded why
was greately furthered by them as by two greate lightes it is our parte to say somewhat of them If in case that any will compare Basilius with Gregorie and with longe discourse conferre the life and learninge of the one with the other it will be longe ere he shal be able to discerne whether to preferre of them both They were both equally matched for right trade of life for both kinde of knowledge diuine and prophane Beynge yonge men in the floure of their youth they hearde at Athens the famous Rhetoricians Hymerius and Proaeresius afterwardes at Antioche in Syria they frequented the schoole of Libanius in the ende they excelled in Rhetoricke When they were thought worthie men to deliuer vnto the worlde the preceptes of philosophie and were entreated of many to take that function vpon them when as also others perswaded with them to become Orators they sett nought by both those trades they despised the maner aâd guise of Rhetoricians and gaue them selues vnto solitary and monasticall life Wherefore as soone as they had sufficiently profited in philosophie vnder a certaine reader who then was a professor at Antioche they prouided for theÌ selues the coÌmentaries of Origen who then was famous throughout the worlde and learned out of them to expounde and interprete the holy and sacred scripture beynge exercised in them they valiantly encountred with the Arians And when as the Arians alleaged out of Origen for the confirmation of their hereticall opinion they refuted their ignorance and shewed by plaine demonstrations that they vnderstoode not the minde and meaning of Origen For Eunomius a fauourer of that sect and as many Arians as were of greatest reputation and accompted the profoundest clerkes in respect of all the rest when they disputed with Gregorie and Basil proued them selues starke fooles and vnlearned persons Basil first of all being ordained Deacon of Meletius bishop of Antioche afterwards bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia where he was borne gaue him selfe wholly to the furtherance and profit of the churche of God When he feared greately lest the newe deuise of Arius brayne would creepe throughout the prouinces of Pontus he got him into those parts in all the hast and ordained there the exercise of monasticall life instructed men in his opinion and confirmed the waueringe minde of weakelinges in the faith Gregorie also being made bishop of Nazianzum a meane citie of Cappadocia wherof his father had bene bishop before him did y â like vnto Basils doings As he passed throughout y t cities he coÌfirmed y â faynt weake in the faith by oft visiting of Constantinople he setled with his graue lessons and great learning the minds of all them that embraced the faith of One substance Wherefore in a short while after he was by the voyces and consent of many bishops chosen bishop of Constantinople When the fame of them both was âlased so farre that it came to the Emperour Valens eares in all the hast he gaue forth commaundement that Basil shoulde be brought from Caesarea before him to Antioche He was no sooner come but the Emperour charged he should be brought before the tribunall seate of the president When the President demaunded of him why and wherefore he liked no better of the Emperours religion Basil vnfaynedly and freely spake his minde of the Emperours opinion yet highly coÌmended the faith of One substance When the President threatned him w t present death I would to God sayth Basil it woulde fall out so well of my side that I might leaue this carcasse of mine in the quarell of Christ in the defence of my head and captaine WheÌ the President aduised him againe and againe to remember him selfe better the report goeth that Basil sayde vnto him As I am today so shalt thou find me tomorow but I pray God thou alter not thy minde Then lay Basil in prison that whole daye In a whyle after the Emperour Valens sonne by name Galates of youthly and tender yeares fell to so daungerous a disease that the phisicions gaue him vp and despaired of his recouery whose mother Dominica the Empresse tolde her husband the Emperour that the same nyght she was wonderfully disquieted in hir sleepe with vglesome shapes dreadfull visions of deuells and wicked spirites that the child was visited with sicknesse because of the coÌtumelie and reproche he had done vnto Basil the bishop The Emperour marking diligently the words of his wife muzed a while pondered them w t him selfe at length resolued him selfe what was to be done sent for Basil and because he would know y â trueth reasoned thus with him If thy faith and opinion be true pray that my sonne die not of this disease Then Basil answered If thou wilt promise mee to beleue as I doe and if thou wilt bringe the churche vnto vnitie and concord thy childe no doubt shall lyue When the Emperour woulde not agree vnto this let God sayeth Basil deale with the childe as pleaseth him Immediatly after this conference Basil was sette at libertie and forthwith the child dyed Thus much haue we runne ouer of both these mens doings They both left behinde them vnto the posteritie many notable bookes wherof Ruffinus reporteth him selfe to haue translated some into the Latine tongue Basil had two brethren Peter and Gregorie Peter lead the solitarie life after the example of Basil Gregorie was a teacher and finished after the desease of his brother the CoÌmentaries which Basil had left vnperfect vpon the Six dayes vvorks The same Gregorie preached at Constantinople a funerall sermon vpon the death of Meletius bishop of Antioch There are extant many other notable orations and sermons of his CAP. XXII Of Gregorie byshop of Neocaesarea INsomuch that many are deceaued partly because of the name and partly because of the works attributed vnto Gregorie we haue to learne that there was an other Gregorie borne in Neocaesarea a citie of Pontus who was the disciple of Origen and farre more auncient then the former men we spake of euen now This Gregorie is much spoken of not onely at Athens and at Berytus but throughout Pontus and in maner throughout the whole world As soone as he had left the famous schoole of Athens he gaue him selfe at Berytus vnto the study of the ciuill lawes hearinge there that Origen professed diuinitie at Caesarea got him thither in all the hast When he had bene the auditor of the heauenly doctrine of holy scripture made no accoÌpt of the Romaine lawes but leaned thenceforth vnto that Wherfore hauing learned of him the true philosophie at y â commauÌdement of his parents he returned vnto his natiue contrey Beinge a laye man he wrought many miracles he cured the sicke he chased deuells away by his epistles he conuerted the gentils and Ethnicks vnto the faith not only with words but w t deedes of far greater force PaÌphilus Martyr made mention of him in his bookes written in the defence of
Origen where the oration of Gregorie in the praise of Origen is layd downe in writing To be short there were foure Gregories first this auncient father the disciple some times of Origen next Gregorie Nazianzene thirdly Gregorie the brother of Basil and the fourth of Alexandria whome the Arians after the exile of Athanasius chose to their bishop Thus much of these men CAP. XXIII The originall of the Nouatian hereticks and how that as many of them as inhabited Phrygia celebrated the feast of Easter after the Iewishe maner ABout that time the Nouatians inhabiting Phrygia chaunged the dayes appoynted by the councell of Nice for the celebration of Easter but howe that came to passe I will declare if that first I lay downe the cause originall why so seuere a canon of the Nouatian church preuailed so much with the Phrygian and Paphlagonian nations Nouatus the priest seuered him selfe from the church of Rome because y â Cornelius the bishop receaued into the communion after repentance the faithfull that fell from the church sacrificed vnto Idols in the persecution vnder Decius the Emperour When he had deuided him selfe from y â church for the aforesayd cause first he was made bishop of such bishops as were of his opinion next he wrote epistles vnto all churches euery where that they should not receaue as meete partakers of the holy mysteries such as had sacrificed vnto Idolls but exhort them vnto repentance referring y â forgeuenes and remission vnto God who is of power and authority sufficient to remit sinne when the letters were brought into euery prouince euery one iudged thereof as pleased him best Because Nouatus had signified that such as after baptisme committed a sinne vnto death were not afterwards to be admitted vnto the communion the publishing of that canon seemed vnto some toe seuere vnto others but right reason auailable also for the direction of godly life WheÌ this controuersie was tossed toe and fro the letters of Cornelius were sent abroade signifying that there remained hope of pardon for such as had sinned after baptisme They both wrote contrary letters and coÌueyed them vnto the churches abroade And whilest that both went about to confirme his opinion with testimonies of holy scripture euery man as the maner is looke where affection lead him there he addicted him selfe For such as were geuen to sinne tooke occasion by the libertie and fauoure that was graunted them went forewardes headlonge into euery shamefull crime The Phrygians are a nation farre more temperate and modest then others for they sweare very seldome The Scythians and Thracians are hotter more prone vnto anger For they that are nearer vnto the rising of the sunne are set more vpon lust concupiscence The Paphlagonians Phrygians are inclined to nere nother of these perturbations For at this daye they vse no running at tilte no such warlike exercise neither doe they vse to pastime them selues with spectacles and stage playes Wherefore these kind of men in myne opinion draw neerest vnto the drift disposition of Nouatus letters Adulterie is counted among them for a detestable and horrible sinne It is well knowen that the Phrygian and Paphlagonian trade of lyfe is farre modester and more chast and continent then any other hereticall sect whatsoeuer I coniecture that they shott at the same modest trade of lyfe which inhabited the west parts of the worlde and leaned to Nouatus opinion Nouatus him selfe though he varyed from the church of Rome by reason of a certaine seuere trade of liuing yet altered not he the tyme appointed for the celebration of Easter For he alwayes obserued the custome of the West churches ⪠and celebrated it as they did For such as lyue there since they were Christians kept alwayes that feast after the Equinoctiallspringe And though Nouatus him selfe was putt to death in the persecution vnder Valerianus yet such as in Phrygia are so called of him for all they are fallen from the faith of the Catholicke churche were licenced to become partakers of his communion at what time they altered the celebration of Easter day For in the village Pazum where the springs of the floode Sangarius are founde ⪠there was a Councell summoned of fewe and the same very obscure Nouatian bishops where they decreed that the maner custome of the Iewes who kept theÌ dayes of vnleauened bread was to be obserued and that the time appoynted by them was not to be broken This haue we learned of an olde man who was a priests sonne and present at the Councell with his father whereat Agelius the Nouatian byshop of Constantinople was not neyther Maximus of Nice neither the Nouatian bishop of Nicomedia neyther the bishop of Cotuaium who was of the same opinion with the rest for these were they that chiefely layde downe the canons of the Nouatian churches These things were of olde in this sort Not longe after because of this Councell as it shall be shewed in an other place the Nouatian churche was deuided within it selfe CAP. XXIIII Of Damasus bishop of Rome and Vrsinus his deacon of the greate sturre and slaughter that was at Rome because of them NOwe lett vs returne vnto the affaires of the West that were done at the same time When the Emperour Valentinianus lead a peaceable and quiet life molestinge no kinde of sect Damasus succeeded Liberius in the bishopricke of Rome at what time the quiet state of the Romaine church was wonderfully troubled the cause as I could learne was as followeth Vrsinus Deacon of that church in the vacancie of the seae made sute for him selfe agaynst Damasus to be chosen bishop Who seeing that Damasus was preferred and him selfe put backe seeinge also that all his canuasse was to no purpose fell from the church to raysinge of priuate and particular conuenticles and perswaded certaine base and obscure bishops to consecrate him bishop Wherfore they created him not in the open church but in an odde corner of the cathedrall church called Sicona This being done the people was all on an vprore the tumult was not toutchinge y â faith or heresie but whether of them both by ryght should be bishop The heat of thronging multitudes was so grieuous and the contention so greate that it cost many their liues For which schisme and rebellion many both of the laytie and cleargie were grieuously tormented by the coÌmaundement of Maximmus the gouernour and so was Vrsinus foyled the enterprises of his factioÌ suppressed CAP. XXV After the death of Auxentius the Arian byshop of Mediolanum when there rose a great schisme about the election of a bishop the which Ambrose Liuetenant of that prouince suppressed he him selfe by the voyce of all that were present and by the consent of the Emperour Valentinianus was chosen Byshop ABout that time an other straunge act fell out at Mediolanum When Auxentius whome y â Arians chose to be bishop of
he demauÌds of the bishop what faith he was of when the bishop made answere that the opinion of Arius preuailed not throughout Illyrium that the newefounde inuention of his pestilent braine was not planted in the churches of y â contrey but that all the christians throughout those coasts retained euer obserued continewally y â autentick ancient faith deliuered of the Apostles confirmed by the councell of Nice the Emperour with willing mind was baptized of Ascholius for so was the bishop called A fewe dayes after when that he had somwhat recouered he went towards Constantinople the foure twentyeth of Nouember in his first Consulship and the fift of Gratian. CAP. VII Howe that Gregorie Nazianzen vnderstandinge that diuerse Bishops did stomacke him refused the Bishopricke of Constantinople The Emperour sent vnto Demophilus the Arian Bishop that either he woulde subscribe vnto the faith of one substance or departe the citie the which he did GRegorie being then translated from the citie NazianzuÌ gouerned a certen litle church within y â walls of CoÌstantinople vnto y â which y â Emperour afterwards annected a goodly temple called it the resurrectioÌ Gregorie a famous maÌ excelling in vertue godlines all y â florished in his time wheÌ he perceaued y â some did murmur obiect vnto hiÌ y â he was a coÌtrey bishop a forainer for all y â he reioiced at y â Emperours coming he refused vtterly to continew longer at CoÌstantinople the emperour seing y â church out of square endeuored w t all meanes possible to reduce it vnto peace to establish vnity to enlarge y â churches wherefore immediatly he geueth Demophilus y â AriaÌ bishop to vnderstaÌd of his pleasure in plaine words demauÌdeth of hiÌ whether he wold embrace y â Nicene creed set y â people at vnity eÌbrace coÌcord hiÌself wheÌ he refused so to do y â emperour said vnto him if thou refuse to embrace peace vnity I coÌmauÌd thee to void y â church Demophilus hearinge this aduised himselfe that it booted not for him to withstand the berdure of the higher power he assembled together a great multitud in the church stood vp in the middest brake out into these wordes brethren it is wrytten in the Gospell if they persecut you in one citie flie into an other In so much y â the Emperour banisheth vs the churches I would haue you know that tomorowe you must meete together out of the citie When he had made an ende of speakinge he went forth He vnderstoode not that such as flie the trade of life which worldlinges followe after for so must we take the wordes of the Gospell haue to seeke the higher Ierusalem He meante it otherwise and thenceforth raised conuenticles without the walles of the citie There departed together with him Lucius who us I said before was banished AlexaÌdria enioyned to liue in exile and then lead his life at Constantinople Wherefore the Arians which helde the churches for the space of forty yeares refusinge the vnitie and concorde which Theodosius the Emperour exhorted them vnto departed the citie in the fift CoÌsulship of Gratian and the first of Theodosius the sixt and twentieth of Nouember Then such as were of the fayth of one substance came in theyr rowmes and tooke possession of the Churches CAP. VIII Of the hundreth and fifty Bishops which at the commaundement of the Emperour Theodosius mette at Constantinople theyr decrees and howe they created Nectarius Bishop of that seae THe Emperour without long deliberation summoned a councell of such Bishops as were of his faith to the end the canons of y â Nicene councell might be confirmed and a Bishop chosen of Constantinople And in hope to reconcile the Macedonians with the Bishops which embraced the faith of one substance he cited also the bishops of the Macedonian sect Wherefore there met there of them which embraced the Nicene Greede Tââotheus Bishop of Alexandria Cyrillus Bishop of IerusaleÌ who theÌ after his late recantation addicted him wholly vnto the faith of one substance Meletius who was called thither in a while before to the stalling of Gregorie Nazianzen Ascholius Bishop of Thessalonica with many others to the number of a hundreth and fifty Bishops The chiefe of all the Macedonian Bishops was Eleusius Bishop of Cyzicum and Marcianus Bishop of Lampsacum The number of that sect came to a thirtie and six whereof the greater parte came out of Hellespontus The councell met together in the Consulship of Eucharideâ and Euagrius and the moneth of Maye The Emperour together with the Bishops of his opinion first vsed all meanes possible with Eleusius and the rest of the Macedonians for to reconcile them with the catholick church they not onely bring them in remembrance of the embassy which Eustathius together with many others did in their names to Liberius late Bishop of Rome but also that not longe before without exception they communicated throughout euery church with such as professed the fayth of one substance and that they behaued themselues neyther godly neyther religiously sithence that aforetime they ratified the selfe same opinion and faith with them if now againe they endeuored to ouerthrow such things as they had aduisedly decreed before for all they coulde doe it was neyther faire meanes neyther foule meanes that woulde preuayle They sayde flatly rather then they woulde subscribe vnto the faith of one substance that they would hold with the Arians When they had made this answere they left Constantinople and sent theyr letters abroade into euery citie that they shoulde in no wise consent vnto the fayth of the Nicene councell The Bishops that were of the other side continewing at Constantinople coÌsulted together about the election of a Bishop For Gregorie as I sayde before had refused that seae and returned to Nazianzum There was at that time one Nectarius of noble linage whose auncetors had bene Senators a man he was of good life and godly conuersation who though he were by office a Praetor yet did the people choose him to theyr Bishop in the ende by the consente of a hundreth and fifty Bishops then presente he was stalled Bishop of Constantinople Then was it decreed that the Bishop of Constantinople should haue the next prerogatiue after the bishop of Rome the reason was because that citie was called Newe Rome Agayne they ratifie the faith of the Nicene Councell they deuide prouinces and ordayne Patriarches they decree that no Bishop shall leaue his owne diocesse and intermedle with foraine churches for vnto that time by reason of the greate heat and storme of persecution it was sufferable at euery ones choice and libertie Nectarius Bishop of CoÌstantinople had that greate citie together with all Thracia allotted to his iurisdiction The Patriarckship throughtout Pontus was assigned vnto Helladius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia after Basil vnto Gregorie the brother of Basil who was Bishop of
should be oppressed with tyranny vnder colour of the Emperiall title Therefore he gathered his power together and made hast to Millayne for Maximus was lately come thither CAP. XIII Of the tumult which the Arians raised at Constantinople AT the very same time when the Emperour made all y â expeditioÌ he could to wage this battaill with the tyrant the Arians raised a wonderfull great stur at Constantinople y â maner was as followeth Men commonly are woÌt to fitten and faine leasings of things they know not and if that by chaunce they get hold of any tale forthwith they brute abroade false rumors and reports according to their fond vaine and foolishe desires euer chatting of newes and harkeninge after chaunge The which then was seene in the citie of Constantinople For of the warres that were so farre of they blased abroade of theyr owne braine one this thing an other that thinge hoping in their traiterous hartes that y â godly Emperour had euery daye worse successe then other For although there was nothing as yet done in the warres neuerthelesse they auoutch y t tidinges being coyned in the closet of their gigled braine they knew not to be as true as if they had seene theÌ with their owne eyes they reported that y â tyrant foyled the Emperours power y â there were slaine so many hundreds so many thousands of his souldiers that the tyrant had almost taken the Emperour himselfe The Arians being very much troubled in minde ready to burst for griefe that they whome they persecuted aforetime nowe enioyed the churches within the walls of y â city scattered sundry false rumors abroade And because y â diuers other reports perswaded the first autors of these false rumors that their sigments were most true for others which learned it onely by hearesay affirmed vnto the autors thereof y â it was euen as they at y â first had reported vnto theÌ the Arians plucke vp their hartes they beginne to venter a fresh and they set on fire the pallace of Nectarius y â Bishop of ConstaÌtinople These thinges were done in the second Consulship of Theodosius but the first of Cynegius CAP. XIIII The victory of Theodosius the Emperour and the foyle of Maximus the tyrant WHen the souldiers of Maximus the tyrant vnderstoode of the Emperours comming his great power they coulde in no wise digest the rumor thereof they were taken with sodaine feare they bound the tyrant their maister brought him vnto the Emperoure who presently executed him in the aforesaid coÌsulship the eight and twentieth of August But Andragathius who slewe the Emperour Gratian hearing y â discomfiture of Maximus ranne headloÌg into the next riuer drowned himselfe Wherefore y â Emperoures now hauinge gotten y â victorie tooke their voyage to Rome Honorius of tender yeares went together in their company For his father after the foyle of Maximus had sent to Constantinople for him They solemnized y â triuÌphe at Rome At what time y â Emperour Theodosius yelded forth a notable signe of his singuler clemeÌcy in the trouble of Symachus the consul This Symachus was heade Senator of Rome and for his great skill eloquence in Romaine literature had in great estimatioÌ He had wrytten many books among the rest one in the praise of Maximus the tyrant repeated in his hearing while he liued the which afterwards being extaÌt charged the autor with treason Wherefore he fearing death ranne vnto y â church for refuge The Emperour according vnto the great zeale godly affection he bare vnto the Christian faith reuerenced not onely the priests of his owne beliefe and opinion but also entreated curteously the Nouatians who embraced together with him y â faith of one substaÌce to the end he mighte gratifie Leontius Bishop of the Nouatian church at Rome which made sute for him he graunted Symachus his pardon Afterwardes he wrote an Apologie vnto the Emperoure Theodosius ⪠Thus y â warres which at y â first threatned great calamity to ensue were quickly ended CAP. XV. Of Flauianus Bishop of Antioch AT the same time we haue learned such thinges as followe to haue bene done at Antioch in Syria After the desease of Paulinus the people of that Churche abhorred Flauianus and therefore chose Euagrius a man of theyr owne disposition to their Bishop He liued not many dayes after him there was none chosen to y â rowme for Flauianus through his deuise brought that to passe As many then as detested Flauianus for the breakinge of his othe had theyr priuate conuenticles But Flauianus rolled as commonly we say euery stone put euery deuise in vre to the end he might bring them within his iurisdictioÌ the which not long after he brought to passe For the spite and grudge betwene him and Theophilus bishop of AlexaÌdria was layd aside and by his meanes Damasus Bishop of Rome was reconciled vnto him They had bothe bene offended with him not onely because he forswore himselfe but also for that he had broken the league concluded betwene them and the linke of peace and vnity Wherefore Theophilus being nowe pleased with him sent Isidorus a priest for to appease the displeasure which Damasus had coÌceaued against Flauianus to enstruct him that it was according vnto the vse maner of y â church if respecting the vnitie and concorde to be retayned among the common people he woulde not thinke amisse of Flauianus for so doing WheÌ Flauianus was thus restored vnto the communion of the faithfull the people of Antioch in processe of time were brought to loue and amitie one with another the affaires of Antioch had such an ende as you heare before The Arians then being thrust out of the churches raised conuenticles in the suburbes In the meane space when Cyrill bishop of Ierusalem ⪠had departed this mortall life Iohn came in his rowme CAP. XVI Howe the Idolgroues and temples of the Ethnickes were ouerthrowen at Alexandria and of the skirmish betwene the paganes and the christians ABout y t time there was a lamentable sturre at Alexandria and the maner as followeth By the procurement industrie of Theophilus y â bishop the Emperour commaunded that all the Idolgroues of the Ethnicks within AlexaÌdria should downe to y â ground and that Theophilus should ouersee it Theophilus being thus autorized omitted nothinge that might tend to the reproch and contumely of Hethenish ceremonies downe goes the temple of Mithra his foule closets being full of Idolatricall filth and superstition are clensed and rid out of the way downe goes the God Serapis temple the embrued and bloody mysteries of the God Mithra are publiquely derided the vaine ridiculous practises both of Serapis others are shewed forth vnto the open face of the world he caused such things as among them resembled the yards of men to be caried throughout the market place to their vtter shame ignominy The Ethnikes
Sisinius to succeede him in the bishopricke a priest of his owne church and a man very well seene in prophane literature trayned vp in philosophie together with Iulian the Emperour vnder Maximus the philosopher And when the Nouatians charged Agelius for appoynting them Sisinius and not Marcianus who was a godly man by whose meanes they were rid from trouble molestation in the time of Valens he for to pacifie their heate and to satisââe their minde assigned Marcianus vnto them In a while after although he was very weake yet went he into the church and sayd thus vnto the people Immediatly after my desease you shall haue Marcianus to your bishop after Marcianus Sisinius When he had sayde thus he tooke his leaue of them and not longe after dyed But Marcianus beyng byshop of the Nouatians their church was deuided vpon such an occasion as followeth Sabbatius a certaine Iewe embraced Christian religion whome Marcianus preferred to the function of priesthood notwithstanding his conuersion and preferment he sauored of the old infection and addicted him selfe vnto Jewishe obseruations neither was he onely coÌtented with this but nedes he would be made a bishop Wherfore after that he had gotten of his side a coople of priests men of like disposition and aspiring mindes by name Theoctistus and Macarius he went about to reuiue the time and maner of solemnizing the feast of Easter euen as according vnto our former relation the Nouatians attempted vnder Valens at Pazus a peltinge village of Phrygia And though at the first he seuered him selfe from the church vnder pretence colour of the monasticall trade of life affirminge that certaine men were stumbling blocks vnto his conscience whome he thought vnworthy of the holy mysteries yet in processe of time whilest that he raised priuate conuenticles his drift was manifestly perceaued Marcianus vnderstandinge of this misliked very much w t him selfe that he had not taken better aduisement in geuing of orders y â he had preferred such vayneglorious persons aspiring minds vnto the function of priesthoode he fretted within him selfe for anger and wished that his haÌds had bene set vpon pricking thornes when they were layde vpon Sabbatius heade To be short he summoned a councell of Nouatian bishops at Angaris the mart towne of Bithynia ⪠adioyning vnto Helenopolis he cited Sabbatius to appeare before them and expostulated w t him in presence of the councell the cause that gaue him occasion of offence As soone as he had pleaded for him selfe the variance toutchiÌg y â celebration of Easter to haue layen vpon his stomack for he was of y t opinion y t therein it behoued theÌ to obserue the Jewishe custome and the order prescribed by such as afore that time met for the same cause at Pazus the bishops suspecting that he had enterprised the same in hope of a bishoprick made him sweare that he would neuer take vpon him to be bishop When he had taken his âth they read to him the Canon contayninge a matter of indifferencie that it was not a sufficient cause to part asunder the vnitie of the church about the celebration of Easter and that their assemblie at Pazus was no preiudice vnto the generall canon They sayd moreouer that the elderswhich immediatly succeeded the Apostles varied among them selues about this feast yet brake not asunder y â bonde of vnitie and that the Nouatians inhabitinge the princely citie of Rome for all they neuer retayned the maner of the Iewes but alwayes kept Easter after the Aequinoctiall space yet communicated notwithstanding with such as were of the same faith obserued a contrary custome When they had vsed these and other such like reasons to the same purpose at length they concluded that the canon of Easter was an indifferent matter that it was lawfull thenceforth for euery one to celebrate that feaste euen as he had aforetyme determined with him selfe moreouer there was a prouiso layde downe for the remouinge of dissention that if some varyed about the celebration of Easter notwithstanding they shoulde be at vnitie and concorde in the churche of God These thinges were then in this sort layde downe of them for the rootinge out of variance from amonge them about the celebration of Easter Sabbatius beynge bounde with an oth for all the celebration of that feaste was variable and diuers was before hande with them alone for fastinge and vigils for he kept Easter vpon the saturdaye yet mette he the daye followinge with others in the churche and was partaker together with them of the holie mysteries That dyd he for the space of many yeares and therefore coulde not be concealed from infinite multitudes of men By occasion whereof many simple and ignorant soules especially in Phrygia and Galatia hopinge verylie to be iustified thereby became earnest followers of him and obserued in secrete his celebration of Easter In the ende Sabbatius raysed priuate conuenticles and forgetting the othe he had taken was chosen byshop as hereafter shall more manifestly appeare of suche as addicted themselues to his kinde of discipline CAP. XXI The diuersitie of obseruations in diuers places toutching Easter fastinge mariadge seruice with other ecclesiasticall rites PResently mee thinkes fitte opportunitie serueth to discourse of Easter For neyther had the elders of old neither the fathers of late dayes I meane such as fauored the Jewishe custome sufficient cause as I gather so egerly to coÌtend about the feast of Easter neither weyed they deepely with theÌ selues that when Jewishe formes figures were translated into christian faith the literall obseruation of Msoes law and the types of things to come wholly vanished away The which may euidently be gathered when as there is no lawe established by Christ in the Gospell whiche alloweth of the obseruation of Jewishe rites nay the Apostle hath in playne wordes forbidden it where he abrogated circumcision and exhorted vs not to contend about feasts and holydayes For writinge vnto the Galathians he sayeth in this sorte Tell me you that desire to be vnder the lawe doe ye not heare what the lawe sayeth When that he had discoursed a whyle therof he concludeth that the Iewes were become seruants vnto the law that such as were called vnto the Christian faith were thereby made free he admonisheth vs further not to obserue dayes neither moneths nor yeares And vnto y â Colossians he is as plaine as may be saying that y â obseruatioÌ of such things was nothing but a shadow his words are these Let no maÌ therfore iudge you in meate or in drinke in a peece of an holidaye or of the newe moone or of the sabbaoth which are but shadowes of thiÌgs to come And in y â epistle to y â Hebrewes he coÌfirmeth the same where he sayth In so much the priesthood is traÌslated of necessity there must be a translation of the law Wherfore neither doth y â Apostle nor y â
Marcianus the Nouatian Bishop departed this life in whose rowme Sisinius of whome we spake before succeeded CAP. II. The death of Nectarius Bishop of Constantinople whome Iohn Chrysostome succeeded SHortly after Nectarius bishop of Constantinople departed this life in the Consulship of Caesareus and Atticus the eyght and twentieth of Septembre immediatly there was much adoe about the election of a Bishop And when some thought on this man some on that man after longe aduisement and deliberation in the ende it seemed good vnto them to sende for Iohn a priest of Antioch for the report went of him that he was a profounde Interpretor and a notable Rhetorician Wherefore not long after the Emperour Arcadius with the generall consent both of Priest and people sent for him And to the ende his consecration might be of more authoritie by the commaundement of the Emperour there were present many other Bishops and namely Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria who went about by all meanes to discreditt Iohn and to preferre vnto the bishopricke one Isidorus a Priest of his owne Churche Theophilus made very much of this Isidorus because that for his fake he had taken a perilous peece of worke in hande And what the same was I am nowe about to declare When the Emperour Theodosius waged battell with Maximus the tyrant Theophilus sent presents by Isidorus vnto the Emperour together with two letters charging him with all to present him that had the vpper hande with the gift and one of the letters Isidorus being carefull of his busines went diligently about this feate gott him to Rome and harkneth after the victory but his fetch was not longe ere it was founde out for his Reader that kept him company stole away his letters Wherupon Isidorus being afraide to be taken with the maner tooke his heeles in all the hast to Alexandria this was it that made Theophilus to labour so earnestly for Isidorus but all that were of the Emperours court preferred Iohn to the Bishopricke And afterwards when as many charged Theophilus with haynous crimes and presented vnto the Bishops then present libells and articles agaynst some for this thinge and some for that Eutropius one of the Emperours chamber came by the articles and enditements shewed them to Theophilus bad him chuse whether he woulde create Iohn Bishop or stand at the barre and holde his hande to the crimes that were layd to his charge Theophilus was so affrayde with this that by and by he consented to the stalling of Iohn He was consecrated to execute the priestly function of a Bishop and stalled in the seae of Constantinople the six and twentieth of February the Consulship following when as the Emperour Honorius gouerned the common weale of Rome and Eutychianus the Senator in the Emperours steede ruled Constantinople CAP. III. The linage and education of Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople IN so much that Iohn was a famous man partly for the bookes he penned and left vnto the posteritie partly also for the greate perills and persecution which befell vnto him it seemed very necessary vnto vs not to runne ouer with silence but briefly to rehearse such things as of him might largely be entreated and so to declare out of what contrey he came what parents he had howe he came by Priesthoode and wherefore he was thereof depriued last of all howe that after his death he purchaced more fame and renowme then euer he did in his life tyme. Iohn was borne in Antioch a citie of Caelosyria his father was cleped Secundus his mother Anthusa he descended of the noble race of Senators he was the disciple of Libanius the Sophist and the auditor also of Andragathius the Philosopher When that he purposed with him selfe to apply his minde vnto the lawe and publique affayres of the common weale and perceaued howe lewde and howe vnrighteous a trade of life they leade which busie them selues therein he left that troublesome trade and transformed him selfe vnto a quiet and solitary kinde of life the example of Euagrius as I thinke allured him thereunto who being brought vp vnder the same teachers schoole maisters addicted him selfe a litle before vnto a solitary life voyd of all trouble molestation Immediatly he chaunged both habite and behauiour and gaue him selfe wholly to the study of the sacred Scriptures he deuised with him selfe howe by all meanes possible be might become a profitable member in the Churche of God he perswaded Theodorus and Maximus his fellow students who together with him frequented the schoole of Libanius to forsake that trade of life which was wholly sett on lucre and gaine and to followe that which was satisfied with a litle of these men the one was afterwards Bishop of Mopsiestia a citie in Cilicia the other was bishop of Seleucia in Isauria These men being then wonderfully inflamed with godly zeale and desire of vertue learned the trade of worshipers of Diodorus and Carterius who then were ouerseers of the religious conuenticles but afterwards Diodorus being made Bishop of Tarsus wrote many bookes and while he addicted him selfe onely vnto the bare and naked letter of holy Scripture he erred fouly in the sense and mystical vnderstanding thereof but of these things so much shall suffice Iohn when that he had of a long time accompanied Basil who then was made Deacon of Meletius but afterwards Bishop oâ Caesarea in Cappadocia was made Reader in the Church of Antioch by Zeno bishop of lerusalem being Reader he wrote that booke which he intitled against the Ievves In a while after Meletius made him Deacon at what time he wrote the bookes intitled of priesthoode with them also which he made against Stagirius Moreouer the bookes of the incomprehensible nature with the tracts he made of closely kept vvomen In processe of time when that Meletius had departed this life at Constantinople the election of Gregorie Nazianzene had driuen him thither Iohn forsooke the Meletians left also the communion of Paulinus and for the space of whole three yeares he led a solitary life seuered from all the troublesome affayres of the worlde Agayne in a while after that Euagrius who succeeded Paulinus in the seae of Antioch made him Priest His maner of liuing and behauiour before he was made Bishop as I may vse in fewe wordes was in such sorte as followeth He was a man by reason of his maruelous great temperance in life very austere and as one that knewe him from his youth vp did report more ruled by choler then geuen to curteous ciuilitie A man he was of no great forecast he made no accompt of the worlde and because of his plaine and simple meaning he was soone deceaued He was very copious and free of speach with all such as had conference with him as he was very painfull to the ende by teaching he might reforme the maners and liues of his auditors so againe of such as were not acquainted with
went about but aboue all others he vsed the aduise of Troilus the Sophist a man very wise of great experience and singuler pollicie he was nothing inferior to Anthemius and therefore Anthemius retayned him of his counsell in all his affayres CAP. II. Of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople WHen the Emperour Theodosius went on the eyght yeare of his age the thirde yeare of Atticus bishop of Constantinoples consecration the which he enioyed with great commendation was expired a man he was as I sayd before of meane learning yet in life godly and of great wisedome and therfore the Churches in those dayes encreased and florished exceedingly He reconciled not onely such as were fauorers of his owne faith but also made the hereticks to haue his wisedome in admiration whome he would in no wise molest but after that he had ratled them againe he woulde shewe him selfe louing and amiable towards them He was a painfull student for he bestowed great labour he spent the greater part of the night in reading ouer the works of auncient wryters in so doing there was no grounde of philosophy no quirck in sopistrie that coulde blanke or astonish him He was gentle and curteous vnto such as conferred with him and with the sorowfull he seemed to sorowe him selfe In fewe wordes he became as the Apostle writeth all vnto all men First as soone as he was made Priest the sermons which with great labour he framed together he learned out of the booke and pronounced in the Churche In processe of tyme by dayly exercise and greate diligence he so boldned him selfe that he preached ex tempore his maner of teaching was very plaine his Sermons were so simple that the auditors thought them not worthy the bearing away neyther the writing in paper to the knowledge of the posterity following Thus much of his conditions behauiour learning and gift of vtterance now to the history of that tyme. CAP. III. Of Theodosius and Agapetus Bishops of Synada THeodosius Bishop of Synada a citie of Phrygia pacatiana was a sore scurge vnto the here ticks for in that citie there were many of the Macedonian sect he banished them not onely the towne but also the contrey Neyther did he this according vnto the rule of the Catholicke Church which accustometh not to persecute men neyther with zeale of the right and sincere fayth but in hope of fifthy suere and foule gayne for to wringe money from the hereticks Wherefore there was no way that might grieue the Macedonians left vnassayed he mayntayned his owne clergie against them there was no deuise but he practised for to afflict them with he sticked not to bring them in fetters to holde vp their handes at the barre but aboue all others he plagued their Bishop Agapetus with sundry griefes and vexations And when as he perceaued that the chiefe Magistrats within that prouince were not of autoritie sufficient and that their commission ertended not to the punishment of the Macedonians he gott him in all the hast to Constantinople and sued out a commaundement of the Lieuetenant of that prouince for the sharpe correction of them Whilest that Theodosius the Bishop made friends at Constantinople for the furtherance of his sute Agapetus whome I tearmed the Macedonian Bishop was conuerted and fell to embrace the right and sound faith For after he had assembled together all the clergie and layty within his iurisdiction he perswaded them to receaue the faith of one substance This being done he went with speede together with a great multitude nay with the whole citie into the church where after prayers and solemne seruice he gott him into the seate of Theodosius Immediatly after the linking of the people together in the bonde of loue and vnitie thenceforth he maintayned the faith of one substance so that he obtayned the gouernment of the Churches belonging vnto the diocesse and citte of Synada Shortly after Theodosius came home to Synada and brought with him autoritie from the Lieuetenant whereof he bragged not a litle and being ignorant of all the thinges that were done in his absence straight way he gott him into the Church there he founde but small welcome for the dores were made fast against him and after that he vnderstoode of their dealing againe he posteth to Constantinople There he be wayled his state before Atticus the Bishop and openeth vnto him how that he was iniuriously thrust beside his bishoprick Atticus vnderstanding that all fell out to the great profitt and furtherance of the Church of God beganne to pacifie him with milde and curteous languages exhorting him thenceforth to embrace a quiet life voyd of all trouble and molestation and not to preferre his owne priuate gaine and lucre before the profit and commoditie of the whole Church he wrote moreouer vnto Agapetus willing him to enioy the bishoprick and not to feare at all the displeasure of Theodosius CAP. IIII. Howe a lame Iewe being baptized of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople recouered againe his lymmes EVen as the aforesayde circumstance which fell out in the florishing dayes of Atticus was a great furtherance to the church of God so likewise miracles with the gift of healing which raygned in those times turned to the glory of God and the profitt of his people for a certayne Iewe being helde the space of many yeares with a paulsey was faine to keepe his bed and hauing tried all the salues and medicens all the practises and prayers of the Iewes was not a iote the better at length he fled for refuge vnto the baptisme ministred in the Churche of Christ perswading him selfe for suertie that by the meanes of this being the true phisicke of the soule he might recouer the former healthe of his bodye Atticus was immediatly made priuey vnto this his deuoute minde and godly disposition he instructed the Iewe in the principles and articles of Christian religion he layd before him the hope that was to be had in Christ Iesu he bidds that Iewe bed and all shoulde be brought vnto the font and place appoynted for the ministration of baptisme This Iewe being grieuously taken w t the paulsey was no sooner baptised in the faith of Christ and taken out of the font but his disease left him so that he recouered his former health This gift of healing being wrought by the power of Christ preuayled in the worlde amonge the men of these our dayes Many of the Gentils hearing the fame of this miraculous power receaued the faith and were baptized but the Ievves for all they sought after signes and wonders yet could they not with signes be brought to embrace the Christian faith CAP. V. Howe that Sabbatius a Iewe borne being Priest of the Nouatian Church fell from his owne sect FOr all that Christ the sonne of God bestowed the aforesayd graces and benefitts of his singuler loue and goodnes towards mankinde yet the greater part weying not thereof more is the ptty wallowe still in
the pudle of sinne and incredulitie neither were the Iewes onely they which made light accompt of the signes and wonders wrought among men but others also which are proude of their rites yea and are proued to be no lesse then plaine Iewes in faith and religion Sabbatius of whome I spake a litle before coulde not quiet him selfe with the inferior degree of priesthoode but coueted to clime vp vnto the rowme of a Bishop tooke occasion then of the Iewishe obseruation of the feaste of Easter and seuered him selfe from the Nouatian Churche Wherefore as he frequented seuerall and priuate conuenticles from his Bishop Sisinius in a certaine place of the citie called the drie Hillock where nowe the market of Arcadius is kept he presumed so haynous an offence that hanging might seeme to be to small a punishmeÌt for his labour For on the daye appointed for the celebration of the communion as he reade a certaine peece of the Gospell which beganne with these words The feast of sweete bread drewe nigh which is called Easter he added of his owne that which was neuer founde written neuer hearde of before in these wordes cursed be euery one that keepeth Easter without sweete breade Which wordes sticked in the mindes of many meÌ so that diuerse of the simpler sorte of the Nouatian laiety being thus drawen from the fayth adicted them selues vnto his fonde opinion But this his craftye and subtle forgery fell otherwise out then he hoped for such as presume to corrupte the worde of God haue euer an ill ende and an vnfortunate successe For shortly after when as he kept the feaste of Easter accordinge vnto the corrupte opinion conceaued in his mynde when as manye flocked vnto him after the wonted maner and solemnized throughout the wholl nighte the accustomed vigills they were all sette on a furious and frentike kinde of tumulte They imagined with them selues that they sawe Sisinius theyr Bishoppe sette vpon them with an infinite multitude of men Wherefore the thronge beinge greate and as it is very like in the nighte season beinge shutte vp in a narrowe rowme smothered one an other so that there dyed aboue threescore and tenne persons This beinge done manye shrinked from Sabbatius but diuerse others for all that cleaued earnestlye vnto the foolishe and fonde opinion they had conceaued of that celebration of Easter But howe this Sabbatius forswore him selfe a litle while agoe and aspired vnto the calling of a Byshop we will declare hereafter CAP. VI. Of such as were the captaines and ringleaders of the Arian opinion DOrotheus an Arian Bishop whome we haue remembred before to haue bene translated by the Arians from Antioch to Constantinople departed this life when he had liued a hundreth and nynteene yeares the sixt of Nouember in the seauenth Consulship of Honorius and the seconde of Theodosius Augustus After his desease the Arian sect chose Barbas to theyr bishop in whose time the Arians had amongest them two notable men by whose meanes theyr heresie beganne to reuiue againe the ones name was Timotheus the other was called Georgius but priests both Georgius excelled in prophane literature Timothee of the coÌtrary gaue himselfe wholly to the reading of the worde of God Georgius was neuer seene without Aristotle or Plato in his hand Timothee againe was a great maÌ in Origen and as he expounded holy Scripture he shewed him selfe to be well seene in the Hebrew toÌgue Timothee was aforetime of the Psathyrian sect and Georgius was made priest of Barbas I my selfe by conferring with Timotheus perceaued howe redy he was to satisfie and resolue euery doubt that was demaunded of him and plainely to set wide open the obscure places of holy Scriptures he was euer wont to cite Origen for a witnesse to testifie that his sayings were no other then true Wherefore I can not verily but maruell why these two men continewed Arians seing that the one was a great reader of Plato the other euer a perusing of Origen For Plato affirmed that the seconde and thirde cause so he was wonte to tearme them had no begininge of essence Origen likewise confesseth euerye where the sonne to be coeternall with the father And althoughe they perseuered in they re Churche yet priuelye and by a litle and a litle they reformed the Arian opinion and purged theyr doctrine of many pernicious pestilent blasphemies of Arius Of these men so farre Shortly after when Sisinius the Nouatian bishop had departed this life in the aforesayd Consulship Chrysanthus of whome I mind to speake more hereafter was chosen to be theyr Bishop CAP. VII Howe that Cyrillus succeded Theophilus in the Bishopricke of Alexandria SHortly after Theophilus bishop of Alexandria being fallen into a lethargie departed this life y e nynth Consulship of Honorius the fift of Theodosius y e fifteenth of October Then ther rose a great stur contentioÌ about y e electioÌ of a bishop some would haue Timotheus y e archedeacoÌ some other wold haue Cyrillus Theophilus brothers sonne preferred to y e bishoprick while y e people were thus at variance for all that Abudatius captaine of the garrison in Alexandria labored for Timothee and furthered his sute yet three dayes after the desease of Theophilus Cyrillus was chosen Bishop and enioyed the bishopricke and withall he challenged vnto himselfe more authoritie then euer Theophilus had before him From that time forth the Bishop of Alexandria besides the ouersight and iurisdiction of his clergie and ecclesiasticall matters tooke also the gouernement of temporall affayres Wherefore Cyrillus immediatly after he had shutte vp the NouatiaÌ churches within Alexandria he not only rified them of all the treasure but also bereaued Theopemptus their Bishop of all his substance CAP. VIII Of Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia and howe that by his meanes the faith of Christ tooke great increase in Persia IT fell out in those dayes that the faith in Christ florished in Persia and that vpon such an occasion as followeth Betwene the Romaines and the Persians there doe commonlye passe manye Embassadours sundry causes doe coÌstraine ech of them to send in Embassie vnto y â other That very instant did require that Maruthas bishop of Mesopotamia of whome I made mentioÌ before should be sent from the Emperour of Rome vnto the king of Persia The king perceauing by him y â he was a godly man had him in greate reuerence was ruled by him as by a rare singuler man This grieued the Magicians which were much made of and in great credit with the king of Persia For they were wonderfully affrayd lest the king through the counsell of Maruthas would become a Christian Maruthas by the meanes of prayer had rid the king of his coÌtinewall headach which the Magicians and Sorcerers could not doe Wherefore they deuise a certaine sleight for to delude the king withall And because the Persians worship the fire for theyr God the king is alwayes
accustomed to adore in a certaine house fire which continewally burneth vnder the ground they conuey a man whome they make to rore and to crie out as followeth when the king is at his prayers The king must be thrust out of his kingdome He behaueth himselfe lewdly in taking the Christian priest for a godly person Isdigerdes for so was their king called hearing this dreadful voice for all that he reuerenced Maruthas yet purposed he to sende him awaye Then Maruthas being a right godly man gaue himselfe wholly to prayer whereby he found out the fraude and deceate of the Magicians Wherefore he reasoneth thus with the kinge Be no longer deceaued O king but get thee into the house cause the earth to be digged vp thou shalt easily perceaue theyr guile For the fire speaketh not it is a certaine deuise inueÌted by men for y â purpose The king yeldeth vnto the counsell of Maruthas in he goeth againe vnto the house where the fire continewally burned As soone as the voice was heard the second time he commaunded the earth should be cast vp and there was he founde which spake and cried out the which clamor they tooke to be the commaundement of God himselfe The kinge when he espied theyr lewde treachery was exceedinge wroth and gaue forth charge that euery tenth of the Magician kinred shoulde be executed he turned him to Maruthas and willed him to buylde churches where pleased him best Upon this occasion it fell out that y â faith in Christ florished exceedingly in the kingdome of Persia For that time Maruthas left Persia and tooke his voyage to Constantinople Shortely after he went againe in embassie into Persia by that time the Magicians found out other deceytfull deuises and a freshe they fall a forging to the end the kinges mind might be alienated from him Of sette purpose they infected the ayer of a certaine place where the king was wont to frequent with a stinking sauour and with all they sclaunder the Christians that it was scattered by them But the kinge hauinge iust cause to suspect the Magicians for theyr former wiles made great inquire who should play so slutush a parte at length by longe sifting it was knowen that the Magicians themselues had caused this corrupte odour for the nonce to be spred all ouer the place wherefore againe he executed many of them but Maruthas he had in greate estimation Thence forth he loued the Romaynes entirely embraced theÌ in league of peace friendship The king was almost become a christian when Maruthas together w t Ablaatus the PersiaÌ bishop published vnto y â world an other experimeÌt or triall of the Christian faith for they both beinge continewally geuen to watch and to pray cast a Deuell out of the kinges sonne which tormented him out of measure But death preuented him and abridged the raines of his mortall rare ere he coulde fully be instructed in the Christian faith After his desease his sonne Bararanes enioyed the crowne in whose dayes as it shall be hereafter more plainely declared the league betwene the Romaynes and the Persians was broken CAP. IX The succession of Bishops in the Church of Antioch and Rome ABout that time when Flauianus Bishop of Antioch had departed this life Porphyrius was chosen in his rowme and after Porphyrius Alexander was made Bishop of that seae In the Churche of Rome when that Damasus had gouerned the Ecclesiasticall affayres the space of eighteene yeares Siricius succeeded him in the Bishoprick Againe after that Siricius had continewed there the tearme of fifteene yeares departed this life Anastasius was Bishop three yeares after his desease Innocentius who firste droue the Nouatians out of Rome and depriued them of many Churches was made Bishop of that seae CAP. X. Howe that Alarichus tooke Rome and made it subiect vnto the Barbarians IT fell out in those dayes that Rome was taken of the Barbarians For one Alarichus a Barbarian being in league with the Romaynes and sometime ayded the Emperour Theodosius in the battaill agaynst the tyrant Eugenius and therefore was aduaunced into great honour by the Romaines when he could not paciently content him selfe with the prosperous sayle of fortunate successes although he aspired not vnto the Emperiall seepter yet left he Constantinople and posted in all the hast into the Weste partes of the worlde He was no sooner come into lllyrium but he subdued vnto him all that contreye As he went forewardes on his iorneye the Thessalians withstoode him aboute the entries of the riuer Peneus the readye waye by Mounte Pindus vnto Nicopolis a citie of Epirus the sielde beinge there pitched the Thessalians slew aboue three thousand men After that bloody s kirmishe the Barbarians which accompanied Alarichus ransackinge and spoylinge both towne and coutrey as they went tooke at length the citie of Rome They raÌsacked the citie They defaced and fired many worthie monuments they violently spoiled the citizens of theyr money they executed many of the Senatours with sundry kindes of tormente Alarichus to the ende he might bring the Royall porte and maiestie of the Emperiall scepter into contempt and derision proclaymed Emperour one whose name was Attalus this man by his procuremcÌt walked abroade the space of one wholl daye with a garded troope of souldiers the next day after in the attyre and habite of a seruant When these things preuailed then in suche sorte as you heare Alarichus tooke his heeles and ranne away for the reporte that was bruted abroad of Theodosius y â Emperours great power marching to geue him battaill astonied his mind and put him in great feare Neither was it a fable or a forged rumor but for moste certaine trueth that the Emperours host made expedition to wage battaill with him He when as he coulde in no wise away with that fame gaue him selfe to flight The reporte goeth that as he went towardes Rome a certaine monk met him which admonished him not to delite him selfe with perpetrating of such haynous and horrible offences neither to reioyce in committing of slaughter and bloodshed Whome Alarichus answered in this sorte I God knovveth doe take this voyage agaynst my will There is one which molesteth me dayly nay he compelleth me by force and sayth thus vnto me goe on thy iorney destroy the citie of Rome So farre of Alarichus CAP. XI Of the Bishops which in those dayes gouerned the Church of Rome AFter Innocentius Zosimus gouerned the Churche of Rome the space of two yeares after his desease Bonifacius was Bishop three yeares whome Celestinus succeeded This man banished the Nouatians out of Rome depriued them of their Churches and constrayned Rusticula their Bishop priuely to rayse priuate conuenticles For vnto that time the NouatiaÌs florished at Rome enioyed many churches had vnder theÌ great coÌgregatioÌs but they were theÌ hated out of measure wheÌ as the bishop of Rome no otherwise theÌ the bishop of
clergie we the layty of the communion referring vnto God alone y â power of remitting their sinne The same Atticus had the foreknowledge of his death for taking his leaue of Nice he sayd vnto Calliopius the minister of that Church make haste to Constantinople before Autumne that thou mayst againe see me aliue for if thou linger make delayes thou shalt see me no more in this world In vttering these wordes he hitt the trueth on the head for he departed this life the one and twentieth yeare of his consecration the tenth of October in the eleuenth Consulship of Theodosius and the first of Valentinianus Caesar Theodosius the Emperour returning from Thessalonica came short to his funerall for Atticus was buried the day before the comming of the Emperour into Constantinople Shortly after the creation of Valentinianus the yonger was proclaymed to wit the three and twentieth day of the same moneth CAP. XXVI Of Sisinius the successor of Atticus in the bishoprick of Constantinople AFter the desease of Atticus there was great contention in the Churche of Constantinople about the election of a Bishop ⪠for some woulde haue Philip a minister some other Proclus who also was a minister preferred to the rowme but all the people with vniforme consent desired Sisinius He was like wise a priest not of any of the Churches within the walls of Constantinople but of Elae a Church in the suburbes ouer against the citie where all the people of Constantinople are wont to celebrate the feast of our Sauiours ascention All the laytye laboured by all meanes to haue him to their Bishop partly because he was counted a very godly man partly also for that he endeuored to relieue the poore beyond the reach of his substance To be short the layty got the vpper hande and Sisinius was consecrated the eyght and twentieth of February in the twelse Consulship of Theodosius and the seconde of Valentinianus Augustus the yonger Philip the minister seeing that Sisinius was preferred before him stomacked the matter wonderfully and inueyed bitterly agaynst his consecration in the worke which he wrote and intitled the Christian history While he inueyeth against Sisinius that was consecrated agaynst the Bishops who were consecrators and especially agaynst the laytye who were electors he wrote such thinges as I am loth to report for I can not chuse but blame him greatly that euer he durst be so bold to lay downe so rash and vnaduised reasons yet in my opinion it will not be amisse presently to say somewhat of him CAP. XXVII Of Philip a Priest bred and brought vp in Sida PHilip of whome we spake before was borne at Sida a citie in Pamphilia where also Trophilus the Sophist had his original of whome Philip boasted not a litle that he was his kinsman This Philip being a Deacon and of great familiaritie with Iohn the Bishop was as it were driuen to bestowe great labour and diligence in the study of good learning so that he wrote many bookes of diuerse sortes his stile was asiaticall proude and lofty and to the ende he might confute the workes of luhan the Emperour he compiled a volume and intitled it The Christian historie the which he deuided into six and thirty bookes euery booke hath sundry tomes the number of all mounteth very nigh to a thousande the argument prefixed to euery one is in maner as bigge as the tome it selfe this worke he entitled not the Ecclesiasticall but the Christian historie where he patched together many matters for to let the worlde vnderstand that he was seene in Philosophy Wherefore he alleadgeth very oft precepts and rules of Geometrie Astronomie Arithmetick Musick Moreouer he describeth Isles mountaines trees with other thinges of smal importance so that it grewe to a huge volume full of bumbast and vayne ostentation In my simple iudgement it is a worke that is prositable neyther for the learned neyther the vnlearned For the learned will condemne the often repetition of the same wordes which is riâe throughout the booke the vnlearned haue not the capacitie to comprehende the insolent stile and affected sentences of his arrogant minde but let euery one iudge of his owne doings as he shall thinke good I dare affirme that the order he followed in laying downe of the times is both confuse farre from good order for when he had runne ouer the raygne of Theodosius back againe he getts him to discourse of Athanasius the Bishops tymes ⪠the which I note to be his vsuall maner but of Philip so farre Now to the history of Sisinius tyme. CAP. XXVIII Howe that Sisinius made Proclus Bishop of Cyzicum whome the Cyziceni woulde not receaue AFter the desease of the Bishop of Cyzicum Sisinius appoynted Proclus to be their Bishop The citizens vnderstanding of his comming preuented him and chose Dalmatius a religious man to gouerne the bishoprick This they did neglecting the lawe canon which commaundeth that no Bishop be appoynted and ordayned without the consent and autoritie of the Bishop of Constantinople They made no accompt of that canon because it commaunded namely as they thought that the sayd autoritie shoulde be geuen vnto Atticus alone Wherefore Proclus being not admitted to execute the function of a bishop in the Church where he was ordayned continewed at Constantinople where he occupied him selfe in preaching and purchased vnto him selfe thereby great fame and commendation but of him I shal haue occasion of speake more hereafter Sisinius had scarse bene Bishop two yeares when he died it was in the Consulship of Hierius and Ardaburius the foure and twentieth of Decembre He was a man highly commended for temperancie for godly and vertuous life and to be shorte for his liberalitie bestowed vpon the poore He was a man both gentle and familier playne without fraude or guyle and therefore he neuer molested any in his life he was a great enemie to busie bodyes and to quarellers and therefore taken of many for a cowarde CAP. XXIX After the desease of Sisinius Bishop of Constantinople Nestorius was sent for to Antioch for to enioy the bishoprick who immediatly reuealed him selfe what kinde of man he was IT seemed good vnto the Emperour after the desease of Sisinius because ofdiuers vaine glorious persons to chuse none of that Church to be bishop though many made sute for Philip and many againe for Proclus but determined with him selfe to send for a straunger out of Antioch there was in those dayes there a man whose name was Nestorius by birth he was a Germaine a loude voice he had and an eloquent tongue and therefore as it was thought a fitt man to preach vnto the people They put their heades together they sent for Nestorius and brought him from Antioch to Constantinople three moneths after who though his temperance was highly commended of many yet the wisest sort and sagest people perceaued well inough his other conditions when he first beganne to preach for immediatly after his
of the Nouatians was set on fire SHortly after Paulus the Nouatian bishop although aforetime counted a very godly man yet then specially it fel out y â men conceaued a farre better opinion of his piety theÌ euer they did before At ConstaÌtinople there happned such a fire y â like whereof was not remebred before For the greater parte of the citie was consumed to asses the famous graynard the market house called Achilleus were quite burned Last of all the fire crept into the Nouatian church which adioyned vnto the signe of the Storck Wherefore Paulus as soone as he perceaued the churche to be in great daunger fell prostrate before the Altare referred vnto God in his prayer the preseruatioÌ of the church neither ceassed he to inculcate as well the remembrance of the citie as of the church God as it proued in the end gaue eare vnto his prayers For all y e fire flashed into the church both by dore and by windowe yet was there no harme done nay though the buylding round about was on fire though the church was inuironed w t burning flames by the power of God the church was preserued and ouercame the furie rage of the fire It was not quenched the space of two dayes two night s the citie burned all that while In the end though many partes of the citie were vtterly come to nought yet the church as I sayde before escaped that lamentable ouerthrowe And that which was more to be wondred at no signe of the smoke no scorching of the flame no parching of the heat could be seene vpon the timber beames or walls This came to passe the seauenteenth of August in the fourteenth Consulship of Theodosius and the first of Maximus The Nouatians since that time doe yearely keepe holyday the seauenteeneth of August in remembrance y â their church was then miraculously preserued from fire at what time they render vnto God harty thankes all men doe reuerence that church for the miracle and not only the Christians but also y e Ethniks doe honor it as an holy place So farre of that CAP. XXXIX Howe that Proclus succeeded Maximianus in the Bishoprick of Constantinople WHen Maximianus had peaceably gouerned the church the space of two yeares and fiue moneths He departed this life in the Consulship of Areobindus Asparis the twelf of Aprill It was the ember weeke next before Easter and on good fridaye At what time Theodosius the Emperour plaid a very wise part For lest that tumult dissention should be raised againe in y e church wtout any further delay while as yet y e corps of Maximianus was aboue grouÌd he procured the bishops then present to stall Proclus in the Bishops seae To this end the letters of Celestinus bishop of Rome were brought vnto Cyrill bishop of Alexandria vnto Iohn bishop of Antioch vnto Ruffus bishop of Thessalonica certifieng them that there was no cause to the contrary but that one either alredy nominated bishop of some certaine citie or stalled in some proper sea might be translated vnto an other bishopricke As soone as Proclus then tooke possession of the bishoprick he solemnized the funerall of Maximianus and interred his corps CAP. XL. Of Proclus Bishop of Constantinople and what kinde of man he was NOwe fit oportunity is offred to say somewhat of Proclus This Proclus from his youth vp was a reader he frequented the schooles and was a great student of Rhetoricke When he came to mans estate he had great familiarity with Atticus for he was his scribe Atticus seeing his forewardnes in learning good behauiour in life made him Deacon But wheÌ he was thought worthy the degree of a priest Sisinius as I sayd before made him Bishop of Cyzicum But these things were done a good while before At that time as I saye he was chosen Bishoppe of Constantinople A man he was of a maruelous good life for being trained vp vnder Atticus he became an earnest follower of his vertuous steps As for pacieÌt sufferaÌce he farr excelled Atticus Euen as Atticus as time and place required could terrifie the heretickes so he behaued him self tractable towardes all men perswaded him selfe that it was farre easier for him by faire meanes to allure vnto the Churche then by force to compell them vnto the faythe He determined to vexe no secte whatsoeuer but reserued and restored vnto the Churche that renowmed vertue of meekenesse required in Clergie men Wherein he imitated the EmperoureÌ Theodosius For euen as it pleased him not to execute the Emperiall sworde agaynste suche as committed haynous crimes and wrought treason so Proclus made no accompt at all of suche as were of the contrary fayth and opinion CAP. XLI Of the clemencie of Theodosius the Yonger THeodosius the Emperour did highely commende Proclus for the aforsayde vertues For he counteruayled in pacience y â holy pryests of God he could not away w t persecutors yea âo say the trueth he passed all the priestes of God in modesty and meekenes of spirite euen as it is wrytten of Moses in the booke of Numbres Moses was the mildest man vpon earth so may it nowe be sayd of Theodosius that he is the mildest man in the world for which cause God subdued his enemies vnto him without slaughter bloodshed euen as the victory he got of Iohn the tyrant and the ouerthrowe of the Barbarians did manifestly declare vnto the worlde For God bestowed such benefittes vpon this most holy Emperour as he did of olde vpon the righteous and vertuous liuers Neyther truely doe I wryte these thinges in the waye of flattery but I will heareafter declare vnto the world more plainely that they are as true as I reporte them CAP. XLII VVhat calamity befell vnto the Barbarians which ayded the tyrante and rebell Iohn AFter the desease of the tyrante the Barbarians whome he had gathered together to wage battaill with the Romaynes purposed to ouer runne certaine dominions that were subiecte vnto the Empire of Rome The Emperour hearing of this referred vnto the wisedome of God after his wonted guise the wholl matter he gaue him selfe altogether vnto prayer and in the end obtayned his desire It shall not be amisse presentely to laye downe the miserable endes of the Barbarians First of all theyr captayne Rugas was slaine with a thunderbolt Next there ensued a plague which dispatched the greater parte of his souldiers Neither seemed this a sufficiente punishment but there came fire also from heaueÌ consumed many of them that remained the which thing did greatly astonish y â BarbariaÌs not so much because they presumed to take armour against y â fierse valiaunt Romaynes as when they saw y â Romaynes asisted by the mightie arme inuincible power of God At that time Proclus the Bishop repeated some parcell of Ezechiels prophecy expounded it in the Churche and applied it with singuler commendation to haue bene foreshewed of
God and then to haue taken place to the welth of y â Romayne Empire The prophecy was as followeth Thou sonne of man prophecy against Gog the prince of Rhos Misoch Thobel I will visite him with pestilence and blood I will cause stormy raine and halestones fire and brimstone to fall vpon him and all his hostes yea vpon all that great people that is with him Thus will I be magnified thus will I be sanctified and knowen in the eyes of many nations and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde For this sermon Proclus as I sayd before was highely commended CAP. XLIII Howe the Emperour Valentinianus the yonger maried Eudoxia the daughter of Theodosius THeodosius the Emperour besids sundry other graces for his singuler modesty and mildnesse had this one benefitte which followeth bestowed vpon him by the goodnesse of God He had a daughter on his wife Eudocia whose name was Eudoxia Valentinianus the yonger his cosin whome he had made Emperour of the West partes of y â world requested he might haue her to his wife Theodosius the Emperour yelded vnto his request And when as they deliberated with them selues and thought vpon a place that was situated iumpe in the midest betwene Rome and Constantinople where the mariadge mighte be solemnized and agreed that it shoulde be at Thessalonica Valentinianus wrote vnto Theodosius requestinge him not to trouble him selfe any thing at all therein that he would come to Constantinople Wherefore after he had set all things in order in the West dominions he tooke his voyage towardes Constantinople for to be maried When all the royall solemnitye was accomplished in hast he returned together with his wife towardes the West It was in the Consulship of Isidorus Sinator Thus had the affaires of Theosius happy and prosperous successes CAP. XLIIII How Proclus Byshop of Constantinople perswaded the Emperour to translate the Corps of Iohn Chrysostome out of exile and burie it in the Apostles Church SHortly after Proclus the bishop reconciled vnto the Church such as had deuided them selues because of Iohns deposition and with his graue wisedome and pollicy he remoued out of their mindes the offence and displeasure they had conceaued But howe he brought that to passe I will now declare When he had first perswaded the Emperour he caused the corps of Iohn bnried at Comanum to be translated to Constantinople fiue and thirty yeares after his deposition and solemnly with great pompe and reuereÌce to be iuterred in the Apostles Church By this meanes such as for the affection they bore vnto Iohn raised priuate and seuerall conuenticles were coopled vnto the congregatioÌ of the faithfull This was done in the sixteenth Consulship of Theodosius the Emperour the eight and twentieth of Ianuary Yet I can not chuse but maruell greatly what the occasion might be of so great a spite and hatred owed vnto Origen that was dead for he was excoÌmunicated by Theophilus Bishoppe of Alexandria two hundred yeares after his desease when as Iohn fiue and thirtye yeares after his departure was of Proclus receaued into the companye of the faythfull But Proclus was a fayre conditioned man in respecte of Theophilus Wise and discreete men doe perceaue well inough howe these thinges bothe haue fallen out in times past and nowe also dayly doe come to passe CAP. XLV The death of Paulus the Nouatian Byshop and howe Marcianus was chosen to succeede him NOt long after they had interred the corps of Iohn in the Apostles church Paulus the Nouatian departed this life it was in the aforesayd Consulship y â one twentieth of Iuly His hearse reconciled in maner vnto y â church all the varieng sects opinions For all came together to his buriall brought his corps to y â graue w t singinge of psalmes He was the man that was greatly beloued throughout his life time for his sincere and vpright behauiour And insomuch he did a worthye acte a litle before his departure I thoughte good to penne it in this our presente historie to the profitte of the studious reader in time to come That he vsed his wonted dyete of the Monasticall discipline all the while he was sicke without any chaunge or alteration thereof that he ceassed not to praye continewallye I haue determined to runne ouer with silence leaste while I linger aboute the recitall of these I maye seeme anye kinde of waye to deface the Acte of his bothe worthye as I sayde of memorye and the profitte of the Reader It was as followeth Paulus beinge ready to departe out of this life called the Priestes within this iurisdiction before him and sayde thus vnto them prouide you a Bishoppe while as yet there remayneth breath in my bodye lest after my departure the Churches be sette on tumultes and dissention When they had answered that the election of a Bishop was in no wise to be referred vnto them for they sayd one of vs is of this minde an other of that mind and therefore it is vnpossible we should agree vpoÌ one man but we would haue thee to name him whome thy pleasure is we shoulde chuse after the hearing of their reason he replied ⪠why then deliuer me this your promise in wryting that you wil elect whome soeuer I shall nominate When the bonde was made and subscribed vnto with theyr hands first he lifted him selfe a litle out of his bed nexte he wrote secretelye within the bonde vnknoweÌ vnto theÌ that were present the name of Marcianus who was a priest and had bene trained vp vnder him in the Monasticall discipline but then as it fell out was not presente Laste of all he sealed it he willed y â chiefe priests to doe the same he deliuered it vnto Marcus the NouatiaÌ bishop of Scythia who theÌwas in the citie sayd vnto him as followeth ⪠If it please God that I may reconer and lengthen my dayes yet a while longer in this world deliuer me this bond which I geue thee to keping but if his pleasure so be that I must needes depart and finish the race of this frail transitory life thou shalt finde his name written in this bonde whome I haue nominated to be my successor in the bishoprick These words were no sooner vttered but he gaue vp the Ghost Three days after his departure out of this life the bond was opened in the presence of a great multitude when they found that Marcianus was therein nominated all with one consent lifted theyr voices sayd he was a fit man for the function and immediatly they sent to seeke him out When they had happely met with him at Tiberiopolis a citie in Phrygia they take him and bring him thence in y e end he was placed in Paulus rowme y â one and twentieth day of the aforesaid moneth But of these things thus much shall suffice CAP. XLVI Howe Theodosius the Emperour sent Eudocia his wife to Ierusalem FRom that time forth
world in the end deceaued theÌ selues Iulius Caesar espied a rude an homely maÌ aspiring vnto the kingdome of Cappadocia he reseÌbled very much the fauour of Ariarathes whom al the vvorld knevv to haue bene dispatched by Marcus Antonius this counterfet Ariarathes had vvon al the cuntreis the crovvne vvas going to his head but ere the crovvne came Iulius Caesar tooke his head froÌ of his shoulders so dealt Augustus the Emperour vvith such as had proclaimed a yong man to be king of the Iewes after the desease of Herod because he resembled his sonne Alexander vvhome in his life time he had put to death When Henry the fourth had taken Richard the second that vvas king of England and imprisoned him the Earle of Salisbury vncle of the mother side vnto king Richard either to redeeme the prisoner or to reuenge him of the king or peraduenture both sette vp a priest in princely atyre one of king Richardes Musicians resemblinge his person verie muche and blazed that the Kinge had broken prisone and vvas gone the people hearinge of this ranne after the counterfeite Kinge but Henry came vvith povver and made the priest he coulde signe no more What vvill not al these shiftes auayle vs can vve not face out the matter vvil Abbey gentry helpe at al no doubt antiquity must take place vvil you he are what Lycurgus the lavvgiuer of the Lacedaemonians said somtime vpoÌ like occasion vnto the bragging nobility of Lacedemon O noble citizens saith he the vaunte and glory vve make of Hercules the auncient race and progenie descending of his loines vvilauaile vs not a iote vnlesse that with al care and industry vve practise in ouâ liues such vertuous acts as made him famous and renowmed and moreouer that we learne exercise continually honest noble behauiour Agesilaus king of the LacedemoniaÌs misliked very much with the behauiour of his nobility wheÌ he vttered these words vnto theÌ you see the force strength of the host to be on the side of the Spartane soldier you your selues follow after as a shadow coÌmonly goeth after the corporall substance Theodorus Zuinger reporteth thus of the nobility of his cuntrey They wil be couÌted the best men that take vpon theÌ to maintain encrease the honor of their auncestors they are the most sluggish sort of men they giue them selues to hunting to banqueting to pouling oppressing of the pore people they thinke that onely thing sufficient for their honor that they either through an other mans vertue or through an other mans vice attained vnto the name of nobilitie or vnto auncient armes that thence forth they may without controlement together with such like companions banquet day and night in their pauillions haunt brothell houses and frequent places of beastly pleasure because they are scarse worthie the companie of men they consume the rest of their dayes in follovving after dogges I except them euer and in all places vvhiche liuely expresse in vertuous life the noble fame and great renowme of their auncestors so farre Theodorus But God be praised for it we are able to report farre better of England that there are of the nobilitie valiant men vertuous godly studious politicke zealous of auncient houses and blood neuer stayned There is hope the dayes shall neuer be seene vvhen the prophesie of Chaucer shall take place vvhere he sayth VVhen fayth fayleth in priestes savves And Lordes hestes are holden for lavves And robberie is holden purchase And lecherie is holden solace Than shall the land of Albion Be brought to great confusion And to the end our vvished desire may take effect let vs hearken vvhat exhortation he geueth vnto the chiefe magistrate his vvordes are these Prince desire to be honorable Cherishe thy folke and hate extortion Suffer nothing that may be reproueable To thine estate done in thy region Shevve forth the yarde of castigation Dreade God doe lavve loue trueth and vvorthinesse And vvedde thy folke ayen to stedfastnes Novve that my penne hath ouer rulde me and runne so far vvith the race of mine autors nobilitie I vvill returne vnto Euagrius againe that vve may be the better acquainted with so singuler a man that hath ministred the occasion of so singuler a matter He studied a while at Apamea for so he testifieth of him self in the time of the Emperour Iustinian about the yeare of our Lorde 565. he vvas so carefull ouer the studious reader that he recited vnto him about the latter ende of his fift booke all the histories both diuine and prophane from the beginning of the vvorlde vnto his time He vvas a great companion of Gregorie byshop of Antioche he bare him companie to Constantinople vvhen he vvent to cleare him self he reporteth of himself that he vvas maryed in Antioche vvith great pompe and royall solemnitie vvhen the great earthquake the night follovving shooke the vvhole citie His state and condition I doe gather vvhere he writeth of the pestilent contagious disease which raigned throughout the vvorlde the space of two and fiftie yeares the vvords he vvrote are these The greatest mortalitie of all fell vpon mankinde the second yeare of the reuolution vvhich comprised the terme of fiftene yeares so that I my selfe vvhich vvrite this historie vvas then troubled vvith an impostume or svvellinge about the priuie members or secrete partes of the bodye moreouer in processe of time vvhen this sicknes vvaxed hot and dispatched diuersly and sundry kinds of wayes it fell out to my great griefe and sorowe that God tooke from me many of my children my wife also with diuers of my kinsfolkes whereof some dwelled in the citie and some in the cuntrey such were my aduentures and such were the calamities which the course of those lamentable times distributed vnto me When I wrote this I was eight and fiftie yeare olde two yeares before this sicknesse had bene foure times in Antioche and when as at length the fourth reuolution and compasse was past besides my aforesaide children God tooke away from me a daughter and a nephewe of mine The iudgement that Nicephorus geueth of his historie is in this sort Euagrius a noble man wrote his Ecclesiasticall history the which he continwed vnto the raygne of Iustinus handling especially prophane matters the substance whereof he gathered out of Eustathius the Syrian Sozimus Priscus Iohannes Procopius of Coesarea and Agathus all which were famous orators of that time ⪠and out of sundrie other good autors but the autor reuealeth him selfe in the plainest sort where he endeth his historie writing in this sort Here doe I minde to cut of and make an ende of writinge that is the twelfe yere of Mauricius Tiberius the emperour leauing such things as followe for them that are disposed to pennethem for the posteritie in time to come I haue finished an other worke comprising relations epistles decrees orations disputations with sundrie other matters The
longer refer the sentence vvhich is to be giuen of me vnto the most puisant emperours let me haue iustice it appertaineth vnto theÌ to deale vvith me according vnto their pleasure take these mine aduises as proceeding from a fatherly affection vnto you as my louing sonne If you presently take the matter in dugin as you haue heretofore go on a gods name if reason can not bridle your rage Thus doubted not Nestorius w t letters as with fist foote to kick aswel against y â emperours as their magistrates to reuile them all to nought neither could he be brought to modest behauiour for all his woe misery his ende departure out of this life I learned of a certeÌ writer to haue bene as followeth to wit his tongue to haue bene eaten vp of worms and so by the iust iudgement of God to haue passed from these bodely to ghostly from these temporall to eternall punishments CAP. VIII How Maximianus succeeded Nestorius in the seae of Constantinople after him Proclus and after Proclus Flauianus WHen wicked Nestorius had departed this life Maximianus succeeded him in the byshoprick of the famous citie of Constantinople in whose dayes the Church of God enioyed peace and tranquility After his deceasse Proclus gouerned the seae who when he had runne the race of his mortall lyfe left the rowme vnto Flanianus CAP. IX Of Eutyches the infortunate hereticke how he was deposed of Flauianus byshop of Constantinople and of the councell which assembled there and deposed him IN the dayes of Flauianus the poysoned heresie of Eutyches sprang vp whiche caused a prouinciall councell to be summoned at Constantinople where Eusebius byshop of Dorylaeum being an eloquent Rhetorician called for the records and first of all conuinced the blasphemie of Nestorius When Eutyches was sent for and come he was founde in reasoninge to maintaine the aforesaide error for I confesse saith he that our Lorde consisted of two natures before the diuinitie was coopled with the humanitie but after the vnitinge of them I affirme that he had but one nature he sayd moreouer that the bodie of the Lord was not of the same substance with ours Wherefore he was vnministred yet at his humble sute vnto Theodosus he reported that Flauianus had forged records against him the first councell of Constantinople was called together of the borderinge byshopps to sitte vpon that matter where not onely the councell but also diuers other byshopps sifted out the doinges of Flauianus there the records beinge founde true were confirmed and a seconde councell summoned to meete at Ephesus CAP. X. How by the meanes of Dioscorus byshop of Alexandria and Chrysaphius it came to passe that a wicked councell was called together at Ephesus where Eutyches the hereticke was restored to his former degree DIoscorus who succeded Cyrill in the byshopricke of Alexandria was appointed moderator of this councell Chrysaphius gouernour of the pallace had craftely brought this about to th ende the hatred owed vnto Flauianus might be set on fire thither also came Iuuenalis byshop of Ierusalem who some time gouerned the seae of Ephesus together with many priests of his traine Domnus who succeeded Iohn in the Churche of Antioch met them Iulius also the substitute of Leo byshop of olde Rome besides these Flauianus was present together with his prouince Theodosius commaunded Elpidius as followeth such as in times past gaue sentence of Eutyches the most vertuous Abbot good leaue haue they to be present at the councell but let them be quiet and their voyces suspended my will is that they waite for the generall and common sentence of the most holy fathers seeing that such things as were afore time decided by them are now called into controuersie to be short Dioscorus together with such byshops as were of his opinion in this councell restored Eutyches into his former dignitie as it appeareth more at large in the actes of the sayde councell As for Flauianus Eusebius byshop of Dorylaeum they were deposed of their byshopricks the same councell excommunitated also and depriued Ibas byshop of Edessa Daniel byshop of Carra Irenaeus byshop of Tyrus and Aquilinus byshop of Biblus They layde downe moreouer certaine decrees against Sophronius byshop of Constantinople they remoued Theodoritus byshop of Cyrestes and Domnus byshop of Antioch of whom what became afterwards I doe not learne and thus was the second councell of Ephesus broken vp CAP. XI The Apologie of Euagrius touching the varietie of opinions among the Christians and of the ridiculous vanitie of the heathen godds I Would haue none of al the ethniks which dote ouer their idolatricall seruice to deride vs christians because the latter byshops haue abrogated the sentence of their predecessors and seme alwayes to add some thing vnto the forme of our faith for we of our part though we sifte out with great care the long sufferance of God which may neither in worde be expressed neither in deede be found out yet are we so affectionated though we leane either to this side or to y â side y t we always honor it extol it aboue al other things Neither was there any one of al the heretickes among the christians that of set purpose at any time would vtter blasphemy fal of his owne accord to reuile the maiesty of God but rather perswaded him self in auoutching this or that opinion that therein he was of a sounder doctrine then the fathers that went before him As touching the ground principles of Christian religion whiche alwayes ought vnuiolably be retained we are all of one opinion for the godhead which we adore is the trinitie the persons whom we so highly praise are in vnity the word of God also was begotten before y â fundations of the world were laid we beleeue that in these latter dayes he tooke flesh because of the fauour and compassion he had on the worke of his owne hand If in case that any nouelty be founde out as touchinge other matters they come to passe freely of mans owne accorde seeing it pleaseth God so to dispose of theÌ and to graunt them liberty to thinke as it pleaseth them best to the ende the holy Catholicke and Apostolicke Churche may reforme what is found amisse determine of both sides guyd vnto the true godlines and direct her selfe according vnto the plaine character of sound and sincere doctrine And therfore it was said of the Apostle It must nedes be that heresies doe raigne among you that they vvhich are perfect amonge you may be knovven Herein verily we haue to wonder at the secret wisedome of God which sayth thus vnto S. Paule My strength is made perfect in vveakenesse For looke what the things be which deuide the members of the Churche of God euen out of the same sound doctrine is culled out void of al reprehension polished more curiously laid vp more safely the Catholicke church encreaseth therby more more
feruent that he wrote freely vnto the Emperour Theodosius who had made a lawe that the Iewes inhabitinge Antioch shoulde enioye againe suche synagogs as the Christians had taken from them rebuking him sharply for he feared only God who was his emperour that Theodosius for to please the Christians called in his proclamations deposed the magistrate which put in his head the restoringe of the synagogs entreated this holy man and namely Erius the martyr to pray for him vnto God to make him partaker of his blessing This Symeon leading so austere a life continued his mortal race six and fiftie years for he liued nine years in the monasterie where he was trained vp in the diuine precepts of vertuous life in Mandria so was the place called seuen and forty yeares tenne of these he spent in a very narrowe rowme seuen in straicter pillours and thirtie yeares in a pillour of forty cubits After his deceasse his holy corps was brought to Antioch in the raigne of Leo the Emperour and Martyrius byshop of Antioch vnto that time Ardaburius captaine of the Easterne garison remained in Mandria together with his power keepinge the corps of holye Symeon leste the borderinge cities shoulde by force carie it away Wherefore the holye corps of Symeon is brought to Antioch after the workinge of manye miracles by the way the whiche Leo the Emperour afterwardes requested of the people of Antioch but the Antiochians of the other side made humble sute vnto the Emperour in suche sort as followeth In so muche our citie is not inuironed vvith vvalles the Emperours furious rage had ouerwhelmed them to the grounde VVe haue transported hither O Emperour the holy corps of Symeon that it may be both vnto vs and to our citie in stede of a fortified wall Leo being thus intreated of theÌ yelded vnto their request grauÌted theÌ their sute ⪠many parts of his carcasse were reserued vnto these our days I my self saw his skul at what time Gregorie a man of great renowne bishop of y â church and Philippicus required that the reliques of the saincts for the speedier expedition of his martial affaires in the East shoulde be sent vnto him And that which was greatly to be marueiled at the heare of his heade was not worne away but remained whole as if he had bene a liue and conuersaunt amonge men the skinne of his foreheade beinge onely shronke into wrinkles and withered yet was not consumed many also of his teeth being not pulled out by the handes of the faythfull declared vnto the worlde the shape and stature of holy Symeon moreouer there was laid vp the iron chaine which hong about his neck and with it the corps so much spoken of of all men for enduringe suche great hardnesse and miserie was honored with diuine prayses All which circumstances both for mine owne profitt and the commonditie of the reader I woulde rehearse at large were it not that Theodoritus as I sayde before had sufficiently discoursed of them CAP. XIIII Of the starre that was sene in the porche of Symeons pillour the which Euagrius together with many others sawe NOwe I am about to write a certaine thing whiche I sawe with mine owne eyes I was wonderfull desirous to see the Churche of holy Symeon it standes at the furthest from Theopolis that is Antioch three hundred furlongs set vpon the top of a hill the cuntreymen call that place Mandria borowinge the name as I suppose of the seuere discipline and austere trade of life exercised by Symeon therein the hill riseth in height to a twentie furlongs the buildinge of the Church is after the manner of a crosse notably set forth with porches of fouresquare The porches haue pillours annexed vnto them finely wrought of freestone which lift vp the roufe on high and that very artificially The entire that is to the middes of the temple is wide open very cunningly wrought where the aforesaide pillour of forty cubites standes in the which the earthly and corporeal angel ledde an heauenly life The porches haue as it were lattises on high the which they cal windowes fallinge both towardes the entrie and porches them selues At the left hand of the pillour in one of the lattises I my self together with many cuntrey men assembled together and compassing the pillour sawe a starre of a wonderfull bignesse running and wandringe hither and thither throughout the chinkes and clefte lattises twinkelinge in the eyes of the beholders neither that once twise or thrise but oftener and the same oftentimes fading and vanishinge away afterwardes immediatly appearinge againe the whiche is commonly scene on this sainctes holiday There are which report and verily we haue to belieue the myracle partly for their creditt which testifie the same and partly also for that which we sawe our selues that they sawe the very shape of his person houering here and there in a long berde with a hatt on his heade after his wonted manner suche men as trauell that way may easily goe in and see all and some times they ride about the pillour There is a porter which continually watcheth the porches of the Church that no woman enter in the cause I doe not learne but if any drawe nigh they stand without and beholde the miracle for one of the porches standeth ouer against the bright starre CAP. XV. Of Isidorus the pelusian and Synesius byshop of Cyrene VNder the raigne of the same Emperour there florished one Isidorus the fame of whose sayings and doinges is spred farre and nigh and rife in euery mans mouth he so tamed the flesh with continuall toyle and labour and so fedd the minde with misticall and heauenly doctrine that he led on earth the life of an Angell and commended vnto the worlde the liuely and expresse forme of the monasticall and contemplatiue trade of liuinge he wrote beside many other notable workes of his great labour and studie one vnto Cyrill whereby we gather that he liued at one time with the renowmed Cyrill Nowe that I haue runne ouer these thinges aftermy sclender hability let vs not forget Synesius byshop of Cyrene that the excellencie of his vertues may set forth the simplicitie of our stile This Synesius was so eloquent a man and so profounde a philosopher that he was had in great admiration of suche christians as iudged of him without parcialitie respectinge neither the venome of malice neither the vaine flatterie of friendship Wherefore they perswade him to be baptized and to take vpon him the priestly function though he admitted not the article of the resuâection neither woulde be brought to belieue the same hopinge of him very charitably that these things woulde followe after his other vertues and that the grace of God woulde suffer nothing to want in him that appertained vnto his soules health saluation which hope of theirs was not frustrate for how excellently he proued both the learned epistles he wrote after the receauing of priesthood
against them the whiche as Procopius writeth Martianus performed in deede ⪠but omitting such things as may seeme impertineÌt let vs returne vnto the historie This Martianus as he excelled in pietie towardes God so he passed in iustice towardes his subiects he deemed that to be richesse not which consisted of treasure and raising of tribute but onely that whiche supplyed the want of the needy and yeelded a safe and a secure life vnto suche as enioyed great possessions he was a terror vnto his people not in punishing offeÌdors but in threatening least at any time they should offend and therefore the empire was vnto him no inheritance but the hire of vertue the which he obtained with the generall consent of all both Senatours subiectes and all sorts of people when as Pulcheria the Empresse perswaded them to doe no lesse whom he entertained in his pallace as an Empresse yet knewe her not as man knoweth his wife for she continewed a virgine vnto her last houre These things were done before that Valentinianus the Romaine Emperour ratified the election of Martianus who afterwardes vnderstanding of his vertuous disposition condescended thereunto Martianus laboured with al might possible that all men ioyntly should laude God and the lipps whose languages impietie had confounded shoulde deuoutly nowe at length close together and sounde out with harmonie and concent the prayse of the liuing God CAP. II. Of the councell of Chalcedon and the occasion why it was summoned WHen Martianus was of the disposition mentioned before there came vnto him Legats froÌ Leo byshop of old Rome signifyinge y â Dioscorus had made light of the decree which Leo had laid down in the councel of Ephesus agreeable with the true rightfayth there came others also reporting what iniuries contumelies Dioscorus had done vnto theÌ requesting y â a councell might be called together for the hearing of their causes The which sute as chiefe of all others Eusebuis byshop of Dorilaeum made vnto the emperour followed hard opening vnto him how that both he and Flauianus were deposed of their byshoprickes through the fraude and wyles of Chrysaphius one sometime of Theodosius garde y â Flauianus at what time Chrysaphius sent vnto him requiring golde for his admission into the byshopricke sent vnto him the holy vessell of the Church for to make him throughly ashamed of his demaunde and that Chrisaphius wallowed alike in the hereticall puddle and blasphemous impietie of Eutyches he certified him moreouer that Flauianus was piteously put to death by the procurement of Dioscorus thrust by him violently out of the Church and disdainfully pounced with his feete The councel of Chalcedon was summoned for the hearinge of the aforesaide accusations Legats and posts were sent into euery prouince the holy clergie were called together by letters containing graue and godly matter first of all to meet at Nice so that Leo byshop of Rome wrote vnto them by Pascasianus Lucentius and others whome he sent thither to supply his rowme in such sort as followeth Vnto the byshopps assembled at Nice Leo sendeth greeting afterwardes at Chalcedon a citie in Bithynia where Nestorius was cited to appeare as Zacharie Rhetor doth fauourably report of him But it is plaine it could not be so for Nestorius was commaunded vnder paine of an accurse not to shewe his face in the councell The which thing also Eustathius byshop of Berytum writeth plainely in the letters which he sent to Iohn the byshop to another Iohn the priest of the canons laid downe by that councel his words are these There came to this councell such as diligently searched out for the reliques of Nestorius and with open mouthes they exclaimed vpon the councell what reason and conscience is there that holy men shoulde be accursed So that the Emperour was greatly incensed against them and commaunded his gard they should send them packing with a vengeance Wherefore I can not see how Nestorius after his deceasse should be called to the councell CAP. III. The description of the Temple of the holy martyr Euphemia within the citie of Chalcedon and the miracles wrought therein THe byshops from euerie where mette in the holy Temple of Euphemia the martyr whiche standes in Chalcedon a citie of Bithynia this Temple lyeth from Bosphorus litle more then two furlonges situated in a very pleasaunt soyle rising vpwarde steepe wise so that such as frequent this Martyrs temple may easily mount vp by a litle and a litle without weryââesse and in they come vnwares yea into the body of the Church being there looking downewardes as out of a kenninge towre they see all the fields vnderneath them as euen grounde and plaine valleyes florishing with greene grasse loden with corne and couered with goodly woodes of all sortes very delectable to behold moreouer they see high hills and craggie rocks rising gayely by degrees vp into the skies diuerse sortes of seaes some yeldinge a blewish and skie colour by reason of the cleere wether playing as it were calmely and gently with the shores while the adioyning regions are voyd of tempest some other tossed with blustering blastes of winde and raginge stormes hurling vp pimple stones foming out filth and paultry weedes casting shelfish vpon the bankes with whyrling waues Furthermore this temple stands right ouer against Constantinople so that the beholdinge of so worthie and so noble a citie bringes vnto it great maiestie this temple is of three fortes of goodly and large buylding the first lieng wide open with a long porch receauing the tempered aâr of the skie sett vp with goodly pillours on euery side The second in length and breadth like vnto y â former adornedlikewise with litle pillours differing only in height y â lifted ridge Of the North side of which second building there is a rownd Ile the great windowe vnto the East the pillours within are cunningly wrought bowewise of the same stuff and one biggenes after the forme of a circle Underneath these there is a loft ouercast with the like rouffe where it is lawefull for euery one to pray vnto the Martyr to be present at the holy mysteries Within the I le Eastwards there is a vestry artificiallie builded where the reliques of the holie martyr are chested in a longe coffer cunninglie made of siluer the which some men for the length thereof doe call Longe as if the proper name were so The miracles wrought at certen times by this blessed Martyr are knowen I am sure of euerye Christian For oftentimes either she appeareth vnto the Bishops in their sleepe which orderlye succeede in the gouernemente of that Church or sheweth her selfe vnto some other that are of great fame for their vertuous life and godlines charging them to celebratea feast in that Church of daynty delicate foode The which thing being signified vnto the Emperours vnto the chiefe Prieste and wholl citie all ranne thither both Prince Priest and people to become partakers of
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 ⪠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 âo 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 ⪠for when Dionysius being driuen with the rumor of the horrible practises committed there ãâã 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 ⪠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
other For fleshlye pleasure hauinge once takeÌ place obserueth no meane endeth not in good time but by occasioÌ of one an other is kindled one flame of firy luste flasheth after an other vntill that one hathe gotten either the gouernement of him selfe and geuen vices the ouerthrowe and thenceforth become conquerour or else is ouercome with the tyrannicall slauery of them leade by them vnto the last gaspe and in the end plungeth like a wretch into the deepe pitt of hell CAP. II. Howe the Barbarians inuaded both the East and west contreyes ZEno in the beginning of his raigne leade such a life as I haue described before His subiects throughout the East and West dominions were vexed out of measure and sustayned greate losses for the Barbarians called Scenitae destroyed all places a great multitude of Hunni called of olde Messagetae inuaded Thracia and passed ouer the riuer Danubius without lettor stay Zeno. also was by force after a Barbarian sorte bereaued of the other partes which remained of the Empire CAP. III. Howe Basiliscus the tyrant tooke armour agaynst Zeno and put the Emperour to flight THis Zeno when Basiliscus the brother of Bernia made preparation to take armour agaynst him was of so faynt a courage that he fledde away geuinge vnto Basiliscus the Emperiall honor and victorye without any trauell He was so odious vnto his subiectes who by right detested his abhominable life he had no stomacke at all no shewe of a noble mynde but all luskish and lither of a naughty condition the whiche his sensualitye declared bearinge rule ouer his cowarde minde and slouthfull disposition Wherefore this Zeno together with Ariadne his wife whome he had with him who also had fledde awaye from her mother and if there were any other that bore him good will gotte him into Isauria where he had bene broughte vp and there he was besieged Thus Basiliscus came to be Emperoure of Rome proclaymed his some Marcus Caesar and layde downe a platforme of gouernemente farre contrary both vnto the maner of Zenos raygne and such as were Emperours before him CAP. IIII. Howe Basiliscus called Timotheus Aelurus Bishop of Alexandria home from exile and by his perswasion sent letters into euery Coast wherein he condemned the councell of Chalcedon THis Basiliscus spoken of before at the request of certaine citizeÌs of Alexandria that were sent vnto him called Timothee home from exile where he had continewed eighteene yeres Acacius then beinge Byshop of Constantinople Timothe after his comming to Constantinople perswaded Basiliscus to send letters vniuersally vnto all Priests throughout the Churches vnder heauen and therein to accursed both the acts of the councell held at Chalcedon and the decree of Leo as toutchinge the fayth the whiche letters were wrytten in this forme The Emperoure Caesar Basiliscus Pius Victorious triumphant chiefe Lorde perpetuall Augustus and Marcus the moste noble Caesat vnto Timothe the moste reuerende and moste holye Archebishop of the noble city of Alexandria sendeth greetinge The lawes and canons hitherto compiled in defense of the sincere and Apostolicke fayth by the moste holye Emperoures our predecessors who worshipped aright the blessed eternall and liuinge trinity seeinge they were godly decreed haue euer bene fouÌd wholsom for the welth of the whollworld we will neuer haue cancelled nay rather our will is they should be published for our owne proper decrees for we preferre piety and singular loue towards God our Sauiour Iesus who both made and aduaunced vs to glory and renoune before all the care and trauell that is imployed in worldly affayres and we beleue verely that the fastening and knitting together of Christs flock in loue charitie is both a safety vnto vs our selues and vnto all our subiectes vnto our Empire a fundation that can not be shaken and a wall that can not be battered and throwen downe wherefore being moued with the instinct of the holy spirit we haue determined with our selues to offer for a sacrifice vnto God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ the vniforme coÌsent of the holy church as the first fruites of our raigne and Empire and ordayned that the ground and bulwarke of the blessed life geuen vnto men to wit the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers of olde assembled together in the holy Ghoste at Nice in the which faith bothe we and all our ancestors were baptized shoulde onely be kept and retayned of the faythfull people throughout all the most holy Churches of God for in this one Creede the syncere fayth is so sufficiently decided both to the ouerthrowe of all erroneus opinions and to the establishing of concord vnity throughout the holy Churches of God And moreouer the canons published to the confirmation of the same faith are of no lesse force vertue Againe we doe ratifie the faith of the hundred fifty holy fathers which assembled in this noble city of Constantinople accursed the blasphemers of the holy Ghost In like sorte we approue the acts of the councel called at Ephesus against wicked Nestorius and such as afterwards embraced his opinion As for such decrees as disturbe the quiet estate of the holy Churches of God the peace of the wholl world to wit the decision and decree of Leo all the canons of the councell helde at Chalcedon whatsoeuer they desined toutching the exposition of the Creede interpretation doctrine and deciding thereof to the end a newefound faith might be established contrary to the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene Godly Bishops spoken of before we ordayne and decree that the most holy Bishops both here in euery the seuerall Churches wheresoeuer doe acurse them whersoeuer they are found that they be burned to ashes for so the godly Emperours of famous memory Constantinus Theodosius iunior who liued before our time commaunded as concerning the hereticks bookes and blasphemous pamphlets VVe will haue them so abolished that they be banished for euer out of the one the onely Catholick Apostolicke faithfull church as constitutions which derogate from the whollsome decrees of the three hundred eighteene holy fathers whiche alwayes oughte to be of greate force and vertue and from the canons established in the holy Ghost of the godly Bishops at the councell of Ephesus To be short that it be not lawefull either for Prieste or for people to transgresse that moste diuine canon of the holye creed but that together with all the newe sanctions published in the councell of ChalcedoÌ the heresie also maye be rooted out of suche as confesse not that the onelye begotten sonne of God was coÌceaued by the holy Ghost borne of holy Mary the perpetuall virgine and mother of God truely incarnate and made man but that his flesh came downe from heauen so faine it very monstrously to be figurated in some phaÌtasticall sorte or other we will and commaund that euery erroneus opinion at what time in what sorte or place soeuer throughout
of Syria being perswaded by Xenaias byshop of Hierapolis bordering vpon Antioch syrnamed after the grecians Philoxenus made an insurrection came all vpon a heade to Antioch purposinge to force Flauianus both to accurse the councell of Chalcedon and Leos decree of the faith When Flauianus tooke the matter verye grieuouslye and the monkes vrged him wyth violence The citizens by reason of that greate sturre and sedition made suche a slaughter of the monks that manye of them naye an infinit number in steede of quiet earth and still graue were buryed in the swifte waues of the riuer Orontes There happened an other thinge that was no lesse lamentable then the former The monkes whiche inhabited Caelosyria nowe called Syria Minor bearinge singuler good will and affection vnto Flauiames who some tyme leade a Monasticall lyfe in the Abbeye of Tilmognum came in all the âaste to Antioch for to assiste Flauianus so that there ensued thereof great mischiefe Wherefore Flauianus whether it were for the former slaughter or the later calamitie or peraduenture for both was banished the prouince and inioyned to inhabite the craggie deserts in the furthest part of Palaestina CAP. XXXIII Of Seuerus byshop of Antioch WHen Flauianus was exiled Seuerus was chosen byshop of Antioch in the moneth Dius the fiue hundreth three score and first yeare after the citie bare this name but now that is the time I penned this history the sixe hundreth forty and first yeare This Seuerus was borne in Soxopolis a citie of Pisidia before they made him byshop he pleaded lawe at Berytus But as soone as he was baptized in the Churche of Leontius the holy martyr whom Tripolis a citie lyinge on the Sea cost of Phoenicia doth honor he translated his studye from lawe vnto monasticall life the whiche he led in a monastery lyinge in the middes betweene Gaza and Maiuma Where Peter the Iberian Byshope sometime of Gaza and the companion of Timotheus Aelurus both in sustayninge of banishment and substance of doctrine was muche spoken of Furthermore Seuerus of whome I purpose to entreat conferringe with Nephalius who sometime was of one religion with him to wit that there was one nature in Christe yet afterwardes helde wyth the Councell of Chalcedon and suche as sayde there were two natures in our Lorde Christe Iesus was expulsed the monasterye by Nephalius and his complices together with manye others of his opinion Thence he went straight to Constantinople both for him selfe and in the name of all the rest that were expelled with him and so became acquainted with the Emperour Anastasius as it is reported by him that wrote Seuerus life Wherefore he wrote letters vnto the patrons of his opinion of their mutuall loue and agreement where by name he condemneth the Councell of Chalcedon This whiche I speake of is layde downe by the monks in their Epistle vnto Alcison The Epistle whiche Timothee nowe Byshope of Constantinople wrote vnto the monkes here in Palaestina of mutuall loue and agreement was receaued But the depriuation of Macedonius and Flauianus together with the letters of Seuerus was reiected The messengers that brought the letters were as they deserued contumeliouslye entreated for the citizens and monkes conspired their deathes that they were fayne to runne awaye for to saue theyr lyues And thus it went with vs in Palaestina But of the prouinces of Antioch they were partly ledde into error wyth others namelye Martinus Byshope of Berytus and partly constrayned to subscribe vnto Seuerus letters of mutuall loue and agreement whiche accursed not onely the Councell but also who so euer affirmed there were two natures in Christ the one diuine the other humane But suche as were compelled to geeue theyr consent repented them afterwardes and returned vnto the Churche namelye the Byshopes throughout the prouince of Apamia There were other some that woulde in no wise agree of whiche number Iulianus Byshope of Bostra was sayde to be Epiphanius Byshope of Tyrus wyth other Byshopes The Isaurians after repentaunce condemned theyr former error and follye and accursed Seuerus wyth all that fauored him Other Byshopes and priestes wythin Seuerus iurisdiction forsooke their Churches namelye Iulianus Byshope of Bostra Peter Byshope of Damascus who lyue here wyth vs Mamas also wyth one of the two Dioscorians who affirmed there were two natures from the beginninge whose wilfull frowardnesse made Seuerus whether he woulde or no to condemne them After a few lines The monasteries both here and at Ierusalem God be praysed for it doe holde wyth the right fayth euen so doe manye cities and Byshopes For all which and for vs our selues vouchsafe most holy Lorde and our right honorable father to pray that we fall not into temptation CAP. XXXIIII Howe Cosmas and Seuerianus two Byshopes within the prouince of Antioch sent Seuerus their Archebyshope a depriuation IN so muche the aforesayde letters make mention howe the prouince of Apamia fell from Seuerus nowe we thought good to laye downe a certayne historye deliuered vs by our elders whiche we founde no where recorded Cosmas Byshope of our Epiphania vpon the ryuer Orontes Seuerianus byshop of Arethusa a bordering citie being very muche offended with Seuerus letters of mutuall loue and agreement first of all deuided them selues from his communion nexte sent vnto him a Libell of depriuation for all he gouerned the Byshopricke of Antioch deliueringe it vnto Aurelianus chiefe Deacon of Epiphania who because he feared Seuerus and reuerenced the autoritye of so worthye a Byshopricke at his firste comminge to Antioch arayed him selfe in womans attyre and so got him to Seuerus He behaued him selfe so softlye so effeminatly that they tooke him to be a woman in deede He muffled him selfe and pulled the veyle ouer his heade as farre as his breste He whined wyth a shrill and pitifull voyce he sighed deepelye He crooched lyke a poore suter and as Seuerus passed by he reached into his hand the bill of depriuation when he had so done he priuelye conueyed himselfe awaye from the traine that followed Seuerus and so was out of theyr reach ere Seuerus coulde learne what was contayned in the Libell But Seuerus though he receaued the Libell and perceaued what they had written therein continewed neuer the lesse in his Byshopricke vnto the death of Anastasius the Emperour When Anastasius vnderstoode of the circumstances whiche happened vnto Seuerus I can not chuse but recorde in this place the good nature and clemencie of Anastasius he charged Asiaticus Lieuetenant of Libaeesa in Phoenicia to remoue Cosmas and Seuerianus from theyr Byshoprickes because they sent vnto Seuerus the Libell of depriuation After his comminge into the Easte and perceauinge howe that manye were of Seuerianus and Cosmas opinion and that they defended theyr cityes manfullye he wrote backe vnto Anastasius that there was no displacinge of them wythout slaughter and bloodshed Wherefore there was so muche mercye and pitye in the minde of Anastasius that he signifyed
other waye and that most leudly for looke what he promised that woulde he neuer performe he wonne that citye more with falsehoode and subtletie then by force of armes He sette Beroea on fire he came with violence againste Antioch when Euphraemius gouerned the Byshopricke but lefte at that tyme the citye because none of the espies whiche he had sente forthe were returned vnto him whose politicke foresighte as reporte goeth preserued the Churche and all that belonged thereto For he adorned her with goodly monumentes hopinge that waye to recouer the violence of the enemye The same author declareth with a vehemente stile easie to moue any reader howe the sayde Chosroes tooke Antioch destroyed all with sworde and fire and howe afterwardes he came to Seleucia then to Daphne the suburbes thereof laste of all to Apamia whose Churche gouerned Thomas a man very famous bothe for life and for learninge This Thomas sticked not to accompany Chosroes vnto the Theater and there beholde the runninge at tilte for all the canon of the Churche forbad it to the ende in so doinge he mighte vse all meanes possible to mitigate and aswage his fury The reporte goeth when Chosroes demaunded of him woulde you see me in your city that he answered I speake vnfaynedly and as I beare fayth vnto God I woulde not gladly see you there Chosroes marueled at his liberty of speache and reuerenced the man highly as he deserued for the trueths sake CAP. XXV Of the miracle wroughte at Apamia by the vertue of the reuerende crosse SEinge that by discourse of our historye we are fallen to entreate of this matter it shall not be amisse here to remember a certayne miracle worthye the notinge and wroughte at Apamia As soone as the Citizens of Apamia hearde saye that Antioch was sette on fyre they requested Thomas spoken of before to bringe forthe althoughe it were contrarye vnto order and custome the wholsome and liuelye Crosse and sette it before them all to the ende they mighte beholde and embrace it when theyr laste houre came for therein the onelye healthe of man consisted and nowe takinge theyr voyage into an other worlde they myghte haue the reuerende Crosse for theyr wayefare to safeconduyte them into a better soyle Wherefore Thomas did as they requested him and after the limitation of some certayne time for the preparation thereof he brought forth the liuely Tree of the Crosse that all the neighbours mighte come together and participate of the health that proceeded thereof Thither wente my parentes together with others and tooke me in theyr ⪠hande beinge a childe and then goinge to schoole After we were licensed to honor and embrace the reuerende Crosse Thomas lifted vp his handes and let all see the wood of the crosse whereby the olde curse of sinne was wiped away compassed the Sanctuarie as the vse was vpon high and solemne feasts But as Thomas passed from place to place there followed him a great flame not of burninge but of shininge fire in so muche that to mens seeminge all the place where he stoode and shewed vnto the people the reuerende crosse was inflamed This was done not once neyther twise but oftener when Thomas went about and the people gatheringe together requested him so to doe Whiche sight foreshewed vnto the citizens of Apamia the health and sauegarde that was to ensue after Wherefore there was a picture set in the roufe of the Sanctuarie at the foote whereof this miracle was written for suche as were ignorant thereof This picture was preserued vntill that Adaarmanus and the Persians inuaded that countrey and burned both Churche and citie Thus ended all that circumstance Chosroes in that voyage of his hauinge prophaned the holy league committed at his pleasure other haynous actes agreeable with his light and vnconstant behauiour yet not decent for a man endued with reason muche lesse fitte for a prince whiche hath regarde of his worde and promise CAP. XXVI The expedition of Chosroes made against Edessa FUrthermore the same Procopius hath layd downe in writing the thinges whiche of olde were remembred touchinge Edessa and Agbarus and how Christ wrote an Epistle vnto Agbarus Againe how Chosroes made an other inuasion and determined to besiege Edessa hoping to disproue the report and fame that was spred farre and nigh of that citie to wit that no enemye woulde euer be able to subdue Edessa Which thinge is not mentioned at all in the Epistle which Christe our God wrote vnto Agbarus as it is to be seene in the historie of Eusebius Pamphilus where the Epistle is layde downe worde by worde yet it is not onely noysed but belieued of the faythfull and his pretended euent confirmed the report to be true For when Chosroes went about to take the citie although he made many an assault and raysed a wonderfull great contremure so that he might easily scale the walles of the citie with sundrie other engines yet went he away and coulde not preuayle And howe it so fell out I will declare Chosroes first commaunded his soldiers to carie thither a great pile of tymber how so euer they were for to besiege the citie which was in maner as soone done as spoken The tymber beinge framed rounde and earth heaped in the middest it was set right ouer against the walles and raysed by a litle and a litle with tymber and other fillinge stuffe vntill it came to a great height that the top thereof was higher then the walles of the citie From thence they shotte at the citie and at suche as hazarded their liues in defence of the walles the citizens seeinge this contremure muche lyke an high mountayne to drawe nigh their citie and that by all likelyhood the enemy woulde come in a foote they got them very early and made a ditche ouer against their hillocke threwe fire therein that the flame might take holde of their timber and make their contremure euen with the grounde This beinge done and fire cast in it fell not out as they wished because the fire coulde not breake out and take into the aer for to consume the pile of timber Last of all when as they seemed nowe to yeelde despairinge of their safety they bringe forth an Image whiche God himselfe and not the handes of man had shaped the whiche Christe had sent vnto Agbarus when Agbarus desired to see him This holy picture they drewe through the ditche they had made and conueyed in water of this water they threwe vpon the pile and heape of timber so that by the prouidence of God aydinge and assistinge the fayth of suche as practised the circumstances that whiche they coulde not bringe to passe before is nowe easily coÌpassed For immediatly the vndermost wood toke fire was quickely burned into coales the flame flashed vpwards and set the whole pile on fire The Edessaeans being besieged and espiinge at length that both smoke and flame brake out deuised this sleight which followeth for to
them with greate solemnity into the Martyrs temple and there laid them vp Shortely after Chosroes sent other giftes vnto this holy temple namelye amongest others a dishe made of Gold wherein these wordes were wrytten I Chosroes kinge of kinges the sonne of Hormisda caused these thinges to be wrytten in this dishe not for men to gaze at neyther that the worthines of thy reuerende name shoulde be knowen by my wordes but partely for the trueth therein contained and partly for the manifold benefites and liberality receaued at thy handes For I thinke my selfe happy that my name is ingrauen in thy holy vessels At my beinge in Beramias I made humble sute vnto thee holye Sergius that thou wouldest come and helpe me and that Sira my wife mighte conceaue And thoughe Sira were a christian and I a pagan and our lawe forbade vs to take a christian to our wife yet for the singular loue I bare vnto thee the law in this woman tooke no place and I haue not ceasâed neyther doe I ceasâe day nighte to loue her entierelye amonge the reste of my wiues VVherefore O holye Sergius I thoughte good to beseeche thy goodnes that she might be with child And moreouer I made thee a vowe promised if Sira did conceaue I woulde sende the crosse whiche she weareth vnto thy moste holye temple Therefore I verily and Sira pondering this with our selues and purposing to keepe this crosse for a memoriall of thy name O holy Sergius haue thought good in stâode of the crosse to send the price thereof and because it exceedeth not foure thousande and foure hundred staâârs we haue augmented it and made it vppe fiue thousande And from the time we made this petition and determined this with our selues vnto our comminge to Rhoson Chosâon there were not expired past fourteene dayes at vvhat time O holy Sergius not that I my selfe was worthy but of thine owne goodnes thou didest appeare vnto me in my sleepe and toldest me the thirde time that Sira had conceaued And I also in the same vision answered thee plainely the thirde time thaâ whiche was conuenient and became my person VVherefore because thou graââtest such petitions as are made vnto thee from that daye forthe Sira felt not the common disease of women I of myne owne parte althoughe I caste doubtes with my selfe whether I were best to credit thy wordes or no for all thou arte a graunter of requestes yet seeing that Sira had not the womens disease then was I sure of the vision and that thy wordes were true VVherefore without any more adoe I sente this crosse together with the price thereof vnto thy moste holy temple and commaunded that with the price one dishe and one cup should be prouided for the celebration of the diuine mysteries that againe there should a crosse be made a ceÌsar both of golde to serue the holy table and an vnicon open of either side and gilded ouer last of all that the rest of the summe which remayned shoulde be put vp to minister necessaries for thy holy house that thou O holy Sergius wilt helpe both me and Sira not onely in other things but specially in this request and that that which happened vnto vs through thy intercession by thy mercy goodnes may take prosperous successe and fall both vnto me to Sira as we wish our selues To the end both I Sira and all others throughout the world may * put theyr trust in thy power beleue in thee These presentes of Chosroes seeme to vtter such things as are agreable with the prophecie of Balaam whiche no doubt came to passe by the prouidence of God that pagans shoulde pronounce godly sentences CAP. XXI Of Naamanes the Saracen ABout that time Naamanes tribune of the people Scenetae so wicked a person that he slewe men with his owne handes for sacrifice to Deuells came to be baptised caused the golden picture of Venus to be melted with fire and turned to the vse of the poore he became so zelous that he perswaded as manye as belonged vnto him to embrace the Christian faith Gregorie after the crosses were giuen by Chosroes was commaunded of the Emperour to visite all the Monasteries called Limeta throughout the wildernes but specially where the wicked doctrine of Seuerus raygned so that he expounded vnto them the syncere true faith conuerted many townes villages Monasteries and wholl nations vnto the Church of God CAP. XXII The death of holy Symeon that dwelled in a pillour IN the meane space when moste holye Symeon was so daungerouslye sicke that there remayned for him no hope of longer life Gregorie beinge by me certified thereof made all the speede he coulde to be presente when Symeon gaue vppe the Ghoste But he had not his desire This Symeon for his rare giftes and excellente vertues passed all the men of his time he led in a pillour a seuere life euen from his tender youth in so muche that he chaunged his teeth in that mansion He was perswaded to liue in a pillour vpon suche an occasion as followeth Beinge of tender yeares playinge leapinge and skippinge to and fro about the toppes of hilles and greenes as the maner is of children he lighted by chaunce vpon a Lybard tooke his girdle and tyed him about the necke led the beaste whiche nowe had put of his fierce nature by the girdle as if it had bene a bridle and broughte him home to his Monastery His mayster who ledde his life in a pillour seeinge this enquired of him what he had in his girdle the boye answered it was a catte His mayster gatheringe hereby that he woulde proue hereafter a worthye man trayned him vppe to leade his life in a pillour In whiche pillour together with an other also standinge vpon the toppe of an hill he liued threescore and eyghte yeares replenished with all graces from aboue He caste out Deuells he cured euerye disease and infirmitye he sawe thinges to come as if they had beene presente He foretolde Gregorie that he shoulde not be presente at his deathe and that he knewe full litle of the thinges which were like to ensue after his death And when as I also muzed with my selfe after the losse of my children and examined what the cause was whye the Gentiles whiche had children at will were not visited in like sorte Symeon althoughe I vttered my secretâes to no man wrote vnto me that I shoulde refrayne from suche cogitations that they were suche as offended God Furthermore when the wife of my Scribe hadde her milke after shee was deliuered so stopâe in her breastes that there woulde not a droppe come forthe and therefore the infante was like to dye Symeon tooke her husbande by the hande bad him goe and laye it on his wiues brest This beinge done immediatly the milke came runninge out as if it had bene a streame and wet all the womans garmente Vnto these that wente before we may adde
this also howe certaine trauelers in whose company Symeon was lefte behinde them a childe about midnighte a Lion came and tooke vp the childe on his backe and brought him to Symeons Monastery Symeon bad the seruaunts go forth and take in the childe which the Lion had caried thither He did many other notable actes which haue neede of an eloquente tongue leasure conuenient and a peculiar volume all which are well knowen and rife in euery mans mouth There resorted vnto him of all nations not only Romains but also Barbarians and obtayned there sutes This Symeon in steede of meate and drinke fedde vpon certaine bowes of shrubbes that grewe in the mountaine harde by him CAP. XXIII The death of Gregorie Bishop of Antioch SHortly after Gregorie Bishop of Antioch being sore pained with the gowte tooke a certaine medicen made of Hermodactylus for so was it called the which a certaine phisicion ministred vnto him and after the drinkinge thereof died immediatlye He departed this worlde when Gregorie the successor of Pelagius was Bishop of Olde Rome Iohn of Constantinople Eulogius of Alexandria Anastasius of Theopolis who after twenty and three yeares was restored vnto his Bishopricke and also when Iohn was Bishop of Ierusalem which died shortely after and as yet there is none chosen in his rowme Here doe I minde to cut of and make an end of wryting to wit the twelfe yeare of the raygne of Mauricius Tiberius Emperour of Rome leauing such things as followe after for them that are disposed to penne them for the posterity in time to come If I haue omitted ought through negligence or lightly runne ouer any matter let no man blame me therefore remeÌbringe with him selfe that I gathered and collected together a scattered and dispersed historie to the end I might profitt the reader for whose sake I tooke in hande so greate and so werysome a labour I haue finished an other worke comprisinge relations Epistles decrees orations disputations with sundry other matters The relations therein contayned are for the most parte in the person of Gregorie Bishop of Antioch For the which I was preferred vnto two honorable offices Tiberius Constantinus made me Quaestor Mauricius Tiberius preferred me to be maister of the Rolles where the Liuetenants and Magistrats were registred The relations I compiled duringe his raygne at what tyme he broughte Theodosius to lighte who was bothe vnto him and to the common weale a preamble or entrance to all kinde of felicity The ende of the sixt booke of the Ecclesiasticall historie of Euagrius Scholasticus THE LIVES THE ENDS AND THE MARTYRDOMES OF THE PROPHETES APOSTLES AND SEVENTYE DISCIPLES OF OVR SAVIOVR WRITTEN IN GREEKE by Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus aboue a thousand yeares agoe and nowe translated by M. H. Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling in the Blackefriers 1577. THE LIFE OF DOROTHEVS GATHERED by the Translator DOrotheus vvas a rare and singular man vvell seene in the Latine Greeke and Hebrevv tongues He flourished in the time of Diocletian Constantinus Magnus ConstaÌtius Iulian the Apostata Eusebius Pamphilus one that knevve him very vvell heard his gift of vtterance vvryteth thus of him Dorotheus minister of the Church of Antioch vvas a very eloquent and singular man He applied holye Scripture diligentlye he studied the Hebrevve tongue so that he reade vvith great skill the holy Scriptures in Hebrevve This man came of a noble race He vvas expert in the chiefe discipline of the Grecians by nature an Eunuche so disposed from his natiuitye For vvhich cause the Emperour for rarenesse thereof appropriated him placing and preferringe him to be magistrate in the citie of Tyrus and to ouersee the dieing of purple VVe heard him our selues expounding holy Scripture vvith greate commendation in the Church of God So farre Eusebius Antonius Demochares saith of him that he vvas exiled in the persecution vnder Diocletian and that he returned from banishment after the death of Diocletian and Licinius and recouered his Bishopricke againe vvhere he continevved vnto the raygne of Iulian about the yeare of our Lord 365. And because Iulian persecuted not the Christians openly him selfe but secretly by his gouernours and Magistrates Dorotheus vvas faine againe to flie vnto the city of Odissus vvhere as Petrus de Natalibus vvriteth the officers of Iulian apprehended him and tormented him to death for his testimony of Christ Iesus There he died and vvas crovvned Martyr being a hundred and seuen yere old An. Dom. 366. Of his vvorkes there is none extant saue this treatise contayning the liues and endes of the Prophetes Apostles and seuenty Disciples of our sauiour mentioned in the Gospell after Luke the vvhich he entitled ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã by translation a compendium or briefe tract THE TRANSLATOR VNTO THE READER TOVTCHING DOROTHEVS AND THE LIVES HE WROTE OF BY this short treatise of DOROTHEVS Christian reader we may take occasion to beholde the prouidence of God ouer his Churche scattered farre and nigh ouer the face of the earth and to praise him therefore in so much that of his great care and entire loue the inheritors of the kingdome of heauen his chosen people the Sainctes of God whose names were written in the booke of life were neuer left desolate without guides and teachers Adam in Paradise hearde the voyce of God himself there followed him such as called vpoÌ the name of God erected diuine worship and taught their posteritie the same namely Abel Seth Enos Cainan Malalael Iared Enoch Mathusalem Lamech and Noe whome Peter calleth the eight person after Seth the sonne of Adam and a preacher of righteousnes When as the olde worlde and the first age numbred from Adam to Noe I meane as many as liued in his time were drowned for the sinnes iniquities of the whole world yet saued he eight persons to reueale his will vnto all nations to vphold his Church to multiply and to encrease the world In the secoÌd age of the world after Noe there liued Sem Arphaxad Sale Heber Phaleg Reu Saruch Nachor Thare Abraham vnto whom God rekoned faith as S. Paule saith for righteousnes In the third age of the world after Abraham liued Isaac Iacob otherwise called Israel with the twelue patriarchs Ruben Simeon Leui Iuda Zabulon Issachar Dan Gad Aser Nepthali Ioseph Beniamin Threescore and fiue yeares after the death of Ioseph Moses was borne He gouerned Israel he guided the people God gaue him three signes from heauen to confirme his doctrine to assure him of his vocation ⪠he receaued the ten coÌmaundements the law of God in mouÌt Sina deliuered it vnto the people him succeeded Iosue after Iosue captains Iudges namely Othoniel Aod Debora Barach Gedeon Abimelech Thola Iair Iepthe Abesan AElon Abdon Samson Heli the priest Samuel the prophet iudged Israel After these came in the kings good bad Saule Dauid c. In the fourth age of the
commaunded abstinence froÌ certaine meats as vnlawfull In the end Montanus and Maximilla haÌged themselues Euseb lib. 5. cap. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. The Montanists otherwise callled Cataphrygians pricked a boy with bodkins drewe the blood out of his bodye soked therein the bread and made a sacrament thereof if the boy dyed he was counted a martyr if other wise a greate priest Epiphan haeres 48. August lib. de haeres   Modestus wrote against Marcion Euseb lib. 4. cap. 24.  Iulianus vnto the 10. yere of Antoninus Pius Epiphan haeres 66.    Secundiani of Secundus together with Epiphanes and Isidorus taught the like with Valentinus in lyfe they were beastly all womeÌ amoÌg them were common they denied the resurrection of the fleshe Epiphan haeres 32. 163. Marcus Antoninus Verus was choseÌ Emperour after Pius He persecuted the church of God and raygned 19. yeares Euseb lib. 4. cap. 14. 15 lib 5. cap. 9. Appollinarius wrote vnto Verus the Emperoure against the heresie of Montanus which then began to bud in Phrygia Euseb lib. 4. cap. 20. lib. 5. cap. 14. 15. Dionysius b. of Corinth Pinytus b. of Creta were famous aboute this time lib. 4. cap. 20. There was a synode at Ancyra in Galatia gathered together of the faithfull where the sigmeÌts of Montanus were confuted by Apollinarius Euseb lib. 5. cap. 14. Caius whome Epiphanius haeres 66. doth call Gratianus    Ptolomaeus of whome Ptolomai are called taught the hereticall opinions of the Gnostici of Valentinus addinge therevnto of his owne certaine heathenish doctrine out of Homer he wrote vnto Flora a woman of his faith endeuoured to peruert her Epiph. haeres 33.   Musanus theÌ florished and wrote against the Encratits which then newly spraÌg the author of which heresie was Tatianus Euseb lib. 4. cap. 26. Germanicus martyred torne in peeces of wilde beasts  Symachus     167.  Metrodorus and Pionius burned  Caius 2. vnto the 8. yeare of Verus Epiphan haeres 66. Theophilus was b. of Antioche after Cornelius He wrote of elemeÌtal institutioÌs dedicated them vnto Autolycus also against the heresie of Hermogenes and MarcioÌ Euseb lib. 4. cap. 19. 23. about the 8. yeare of Marc. Antoninus  Agrippas b. of AlexaÌdria aboute the 8. yeare of Verus where he gouerned 12. yeres Euseb li. 4. ca. 19. li. 5. ca. 9.      Iulianus 2.  Soter was b. of Rome after Anicetus anno Dom. 167. and continewed 8. yeares Euseb lib. 4. cap. 19. li. 5 in proem    Carpus Papy lus and Agathonica a woman martyred also Ptolomaeus Lucius Euseb li. 4. cap. 14. 15. 16.  Capito    Marcus of whome Marâoâij Colorbasus of whome Colorbasij and Heracleon after whome the hereticks are called Heracleonits sacrificed with witchcrafte to amaze their auditorie they pronounced Hebrew words they sayd vnto the women opeÌ your mouths prophecie through the power which commeth from vs many women came to the churche vnder colour of prophecie confessed that they were abused of them Marcus ranne awaye with an other mans wise they pour oyle water vpoÌ the head of the departed hopinge so to redeeme them they said that the life generation of man consisted in 7. starres that Christ suffred not in deede but was so thought and that there was no resurrection of the fleshe Epiphan haeres 34. 35. 36. Irenaeus Aug. li. de haeres Alcibiades refrayned the vse of Gods creatures he is reformed by Atalus the martyr Euse li. 5. cap. 3.   Bardesanes of Mesopotamia wrote in the Syrian toÌge against Marcion Euseb lib. 4. cap. 28.  Maximus vnto the 16. yeare of Verus EpiphaÌ haeres 66.    Archontici were heretickes in Palaestina which referred the creation of all things vnto many powers they sayd that the saboth was the God of the Iewes that the deuell was the sonne of the sabaoth Epiphan haeres 40. August lib. de haeres 179. Anno 17. of Verus the Emperour Vegetius Epa gathus marty red Sanctus a Deacon beheaded Maturus beheaded Atalus fried to death Blandina a woman after sundrie torments beheaded Biblis a woman pitiously handeled Pothinus b. of Lions dieth in prison Alexander torne in peeces of wild beastes Ponticus of 15. yeare old martired Euseb lib. 5. cap. 1. The brethren in Fraunce assemble together and lay downe their censure toutchinge the opinioÌs of Montanus writing vnto Eleutherius b. of Rome that he woulde maintayne the peace of the churche against such heretickes Euseb lib. 5 cap. 3. Antoninus Maximinus was b. of Antioch after Theophilus Euseb lib. 4. cap. 23. Eleutherius was b. of Romeafter Soter in the 17. yeare of Verus the Emperour ann Dom. 178. where he continewed 13. yeares Euseb lib. 5. in proëm cap. 20.  Irenaeus was a Chiliast Euseb lib. 3. cap. 35.   Irenaeus was b. of Lions in Fraunce after the martyrdome of Pothinus in his youth he sawe Polycarpus the disciple of S. Iohn He was at Rome with Eleutherius he endeuored to coÌfute Blastus and Florinus the schismatikes and to appease the sâhisme raysed at Rome he sharply reprehended Victor b. of Rome for ex communicating the churches of Asia Eusâb lib. 5. ca. 4. 5. 18. 23. There were helde in Asia sun drye synods in the which MoÌtanus was excoÌmunicated his heresie coÌdemned Euseb lib. 5. cap. 14. Valens  Toutching the puritie of the churche of Rome Egesippus reporting of himself sayth thus When I came to Rome I stayed there vntill that Anicetus was choseÌ bishop whose Deacon was Eleutherius whome Soter succeeded and after him Eleutherius In all theyr successions and in euery one of theyr cities it is no otherwise then the lawe the êphets the Lord himselfe preached Euseb li. 4. cap. 21. Irenaeus also hauing layd downe those 12. aforesayde bishops of Rome coÌcludeth thus now Eleutherius was the 12. bishop from the Apostles after the sam order the same doctrine tradition of the Apostles truelye taughtin the church at this day continewed vnto our tyme. Euseb lib. 5. cap. 6.  Encratits were heretickes after the etymologie of their name coÌtinent The author of their heresie was Tatianus of Mesopotamia the disciple of Iustinus Martyr He abhorred mariadge he forbadde the vse of liuinge creatures he offred water in steede of wine in the Sacrament he denied that Adam was saued The Encratits preuayled in Pisidia Phrygia Euseb lib. 4. cap. 27. Epiphan haeres 46. 47.     Dolychianus vnto the tyme of Comodus Epiphan haeres 66.    Seuerus an Encratite of whome Seueriani maintayned the opinioÌs of Tatianus addinge therevnto of his owne reuiling Paul reiecting â his epistles and denying the Actâ of the Apostles He sayde that â woman was of the deuell and thaâ man from the girdle vpwards waâ of God and beneath of
Alexandria Meletius b. of Pontus florished at one time Euseb lib. 7. cap. 5.   Paulus Samosatenus the heretick succeeded Demetrianus he was excommunicated depriued by the 2. synode helde at Antioche in the time of Valerianus Eus lib. 7. cap. 26. 29. Dionysius was b. of Rome after Xystus An. Do. 265. coÌtinewed 9. yeares Euseb lib. 7. cap. 26. 29.   273. Aurelianus was emperor after Quintilius in the beginninge of his raigne he was well affectioned towards Christian religioÌ so that the hereticke Samosatenus was through his helpe banished the churche but in the end he persecuted the church of God wheÌ as he went about to subscribe vnto an edict against the Christians the crampe tooke him so that he was not able to holde penne in hande ⪠he raygned 6. yeares Euseb lib. 7. cap. 28. 29. Malchion in open disputation confuted Samosatenus the heretick at Antioch Euseb lib. 7. cap. 28. A seconde synod was held at Antioch vnder Aurelianus wher Samosatenus the hereticke was coÌdeÌned depriued the church Euseb lib. 7. cap. 28. 29. Zambdas b. Ierusalem Euseb li. 7. cap. 31. Domnus the sonne of Demetrianus was by the 2. held synod at Antioch appoiÌted to succeede Samosatenus in the seae of Antioch Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. Felix was b. of Rome after Dionysius continewed 5. yeare Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. 31.  Origeniani were hereticks called after one Origen not he that was the great clarke of Alexandria they condemned mariage yet liued they beastly their maner was to haue among them religious women like Nunnes whom they defiled yet vsed meanes to keepe them from swellinge Epiphan haeres 63. From Christ vnto the ende of Au relianus the Empâroure when Manes the heretick liued there are 276. reares after Epiphan hare 66. Taâitus was Emperour 6. moneths Eutro lib. 9. Euseb chron       Origeniani againe were hereticks which so called theÌ selues of Origen Adamantius the greate clerke of Alexandria they taught as Epiphan sayeth haeres 64. that there was no resurrection that Christ was a creature the holy ghost a like that the soules were suste in heauen came downe into the bodyes as it were into prison that in the ende the deuells shoulde be saued Epiphanius as I reade in Socrates eccle hist ⪠lib. 6. cap. 11. was become the enemie of OrigeÌ through the spite malice of Theophilus bishop of Alexandria The deuell bare Origen a displeasure he procured heretickes to father vpon him lewde opinions He complayneth him selfe in a certain epistle how that hereticks corrupted his works PaÌphilus Martyr the great friende familiar of Eusebius wrot an Apologie in his behalfe Euseb lib. 6. cap. 3. 18. 20. 26. reporteth of the famous men that fauoured Origen Socrates eccle hist lib. 6. cap. 12. writeth in his commendation Athanasius gaue of him a notable testimonie Chrysostome woulde in no wyse be brought to condeÌne either OrigeÌ oâ his works Socrat. li. 6. ca. 11. 12. 13. Buddas otherwise called Terebinthus was a litle before Manes the hereticke he taught about Babylon that he him selfe was borne of a virgine that he was bred and brought vp in the Mountaynes He wrote 4 bookes one of mysteries 2. intitled the gospell 3. Thesaurus the 4. a summarie Through witchcraft he tooke his flight into the aâr to offer sacrifice but the deuell threwe him downe broke his necke so that he dyed miserably Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 17. 279. âlorianus was Emperoure 80. dayes Eutrop li. 9. Euseb chron Probus was emperour 6. yeres Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. Anatolius b. of Laodiceaslorished vnder Probus Carus IeroÌ catalog  Hermon b. of Ierusalem the last before the persecution vnder Dioletiam Euse lib. 7. ca. 31 Tim. eus was b. of Antioche after Domnus Euseb lib. 7. cap. 31. Eusychianus was bishop of Rome scarce 10. moneths Euseb lib. 7. cap. 31. Gaius was b. of Rome an Dom. 283. 15 yeares Euse lib. 7. cap. 31.   285. Carus was Emperour scarse 3. yeares Euse lib. 7. cap. 29. The infiite number of martyrs which suffred in the persecutioÌ vnder Dioâletian are to be scene throughout the 8. booke of Eusebius ecclesiasticall history  These a of Ierusalem was alwayes honored and the succession contine wed vnto the daies of Eusebius him selfe Euseb lib. 7. ca. 18. Cyrillus b. of Antioche Euseb li. 7. cap. 31  Theônas was b. of AlexaÌdria after Maximinus coÌtinewed 11. yeares Euseb li. 7. cap. 31.  287. Dioâletian was Emperour and persecuted the church of god In the 19. yeare of his âaigne he began to ouerthrow the churches burne the bibles persecute the Christians When he had raygned together with Maximianus who persecuted with him 20 yeares he deposed him selfe voluntarily and lyued a priuate life FroÌ that tyme vnto his ende he pyned and wasted away with diseases But Maximinia hanged him selfe Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. lib. 8. cap. 2. 3. 14. 19 Socrates lib. 1. cap. 2. Arnobius florished in the time of Diocletian Ierom. catalog There was a councell of 300. bishops called together at Siunessa where Marcellinus b. of Rome was condemned for de nyig Christ and sacrificing to Idols tom 1. concil  Dorotheus b. of Antioche Marcellinus was bishop of Rome about the 10. yeare of Diocletian Anno Dom. 295. Euseb li. 7. cap. 31. He denied Christ offered sacrifice vnto Idols in the persecution vnder Diocletian was condemned of 3. hundred bishops 30. priests afterwardes he repented him and was martyred vnder Diocletian tom 1. concil   307.     Tyrranus b. of Antioch Euseb lib. 7. cap. 31.    Constantius and Maximinus ruled the empire after the deposition of Diocletian Constantius dyeth at yorke in Englande when he had ruled 16. yeares Anno Do. 310. Euseb lib. 8. ca. 14. in chronic LactaÌtius the disciple of Arnobius florished in the time of Diocletian in his olde age he was the maister of Crispus the soÌne of Constantius Ierom. A councel was helde at Ancyra in Galatia in the time of Vitalis wher with certaine conditions such as sacrificed were receaued and the deacons that can not containe suffred to Marie tom 1. concil   Aboute this time Licinia an holie mayde of Rome dying made Marcellus b. of that seae her heire and executor gaue him al her great substance from that time forth sayth Polydor lib. 6. de inuent cap. vlt. the bishops of Rome wer greatly enriched Peter was b. of Alexandria about the 7 yeare of Diocletian where he coÌtinewed 12. yeares he was beheaded crowned a martyr in the persecution vnder Diocletian Euseb lib. 7. ca. 31. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 3. Manes the hereticke whereof the Maniches haue theyr appellation had his originall in persia as Epiphan haeres 66 wryteth about the 4. yeare of Aurelianus he called him self Christ the comsorter Hechose vnto himselfe 12. Apostles He sayd that Christ was
of the virgine but that the worde became flesh Epiphan haeres 76. 77. 365. Iulian succeded ConstaÌtius in the empire he heard at ConstaÌtinople Macedonius the Eunuch Niâôcles the Laconian Ecebolius the sophist CoÌstantius fearinge he woulde fall froÌ christian religion into heathenish idolatrie sente him to Nicomedia charging him nor to treade in the schoole of Libanius yet by stelthe he resorted vnto him and read his heathenishe doctrine When the Emperour suspected his disposition IuliaÌ shaued him selfe and became a reader in a certaine churche yet after the Emperours death the obtayninge of the empire he became an Apostata he banished the Christians out of his court entertained in steede of theÌ philosophers coniurers Not longe after being the third yere of his raigne he was slayne in a battayle whiche he gaue the Persians An arrowe was shot at hiÌ which pearced him in the ribbs and gaue him his deaths wounde Some say it was one of his owne seruants some other that it was a fugitiue Persian some other saye that it was a deuell some doe write that he tooke the daâte out of his side threwe it all bloodie into the ayre cryed O Galilaean meaning Christ thou hast ouercome Socra lib. 3. cap. 1. 9. 10. 18. Sozomen lib. 6. cap. 2. Theodo lib. 3. cap. 25. Iouianus a godly maÌ one that mayntayned the Nicene creede was Experour after Iulian. He raygned no longer then seaueÌ moneths but he dyed Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 19. 20. 22. Macedonius Theodulus Tatianus were broyled to death in the time of Iulian. Socrat lib. 3. cap. 13. Theodorus was sore tormented Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 16. A councell held at AlexaÌdria by Athanasius after his returne from exile in the time of Iulian where the Arians Apollinarians Macedonians were condeÌned Socrat lib. 3. ca. 5. A couÌcel held at LampsacuÌ 7. yeares after the couÌcell of Seleucia wher the AriaÌs were condemned Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 2. 4. A councell of bishops in Sicilia condemned the AriaÌs Soc. lib. 4. cap. 11. Iohn was b. of Ierusalem after Cyrill Socrat lib. 2. cap. 25. Dorotheus Paulinus and Euagrius beig godly meÌ were chosen by the people yet notsuffred to continew  Massiliani were idle monks whome the deuell had possessed they sayde that the bodie of Christ in the sacrament did neither good neyther harme they sayde baptisme was to no purpose Leotius b. of Melitena draue the theeues out of their dennes the wolues from among the sheepe sett their monasteries on fire Theodoreâ lib. 4. cap. 11. these hereticks were called also Euchitae so called because of their coÌtinewaâ prayinge It is a wonder sayeth Augustine to heare what a number of prayers they runne ouer muche like vnto the late mumblinge of prayers vpon beades where Christ sayd Praye alwayes and Sainct Paul Pray without intermission which is deuoutly to be taken for euery day they doe it to much therfore sayeth Augustine to be numbred among heretickes They saye when the soule is purged that a sowe with her pigges is seene to come out of mans mouth and that a visible fire entreth in whiche burneth not these Euchits did thinke that it appertayned not vnto the monkes to get theyr lyuinge with the sweate of their browes but to lyue idlye Epiphanius sayth that wheÌ Luppicianus the Praetor executed some of them for their lewdnesse they called them selues Marryrianos Some of them thoughte that it was they re duetie to worshippe the deuell lest he shoulde hurte them these were called Sataniani If ye called any of them Christ a Patriarche a Prophet or an Angell he woulde answere that he was so They slepte like swine men and women all in one heape August lib. de haeres Epiphan haeres 80. These MassiliaÌs were coÌdemned in the generall councell held at Ephesus in the tyme of Theodosius iunior Cyrill lib. Apologet.   Artemius a noble man beheaded for the faith Theodor lib. 3. cap. 18. The MeletiaÌs esseÌbled at An tioche where they layde down the Macedonian opinion of the sonne of God iump betwene the Arians the true christians where they proued theÌ selues neutrans Ier. chro Socr. li. 3. cap. 8.  Dorotheus tooke possession of the bishopricke the seconde time and coÌtinewed ther a good while Democh. Socrat lib. 4. cap 28.      A councell at Laodicea anno Domini 368. decreed that the laytie shold not chuse the priest that lessoÌs shold be read in the church betwene certen Psalmes that seruice should be morning euening that the Gospel should be reade with other Scriptures on the sunday that leÌt should religiously be obserued without marieÌg solemnizinge the feastes of martyrs That christians shold not daunce at brydehouses c. tom 1. coÌc      367. Valentinianus one whome sometime Iulian banished his court succeeded Iouianus in the Empir he ioyned with him his brother Valens Valentinianus was a true Christian but Valens an Arian the one persecuted the Churche the other preserued the christians Valentinianus dyed Anno Domini 380. after he had liued foure and fiftye yeares and raygned thirteene Valens his brother raygned 3. yeares after him departed this life Socrat lib. 4. ca. 1. 26. 31. Basilius b. of Caesarea in Cappadocia florishedabout this time wheÌ Valens the emperour sent for him out of Caesarea into Antioch he be haued him selfe very stoutly in the defence of the trueth Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 21. Gregorie Nazianzen the maister of S. Ierom liued in the time of Valens dyed in the raygne of Theodosius Magnus Socrat. li. 4. cap. 21. Ierom catalog eccles script A councell of Nouatians met at Pazum and decreed contrary to the Nicen couÌcell that the feaste of Easter shoulde be kept alike with the Iewes Socrat. li. 4. cap. 23. Nepos Meletiê° came the seconde time to be Byshop Democh    368.  Ambrose b. of Millayne beiÌg Liuetenant of the prouince was chosen to gouerne the church by the vniforme consent of the people coÌfirmed by Valentinianus Ierom suspended his iudgemeÌt of him because he liued in his time Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 25. A councell of macedoniaÌsmet at Antioch and condemned the Nicene councel with the clause of one substance Socrat. lib. 5. ca. 4   Damasus was b. of Rome an Dom. 369 after Liberius where he continewed 18. yeres Socrat lib. 4. cap. 17. 24. lib. 6. ca. 9. lib 7. ca. 9. Ierom. chronic   378.   A couÌcel of 90. Byshops called at Rome by Damasur where Arius Eunomius Macedonius Photinus HebioÌ and theyr disciples were condemned where also the holye Ghost was sayd to be of one substaÌce with the father and the sonne tom 1. concil    Peter was b. of Alexandria after Athanasius an Dom. 375 the AriaÌs by autoritie froÌ the emperour clapt him in prison and chose Lucius in his roume Peter got out of prison fled vnto Damasus b. of
heresy of Cerinthus The reuereÌt iudgement of Dionysius toutchinge the reuelatioÌ of Sainct Iohn Apocalip 22. Apocalip 1. 1. Iohn 1. Math. 16. Apocalip 1. Apocalip 22 Act. 13. The difference gathered first by the sense 2. By the words often repeated in both 3. No meÌtioÌ in ether of eache other 4. By the ârase Iohn was both learned and eloqueÌt Cap. 26. after the greeke Cap. 27. after the greeke Dionysius b. of Rome Paulus Samosatenus b. of Antioch and an hereticke Cap. 28. after the Greeke Firmilianus Greg. Nazianz Athenodorus Elenus Nicomas Hymenaeus Theotecnus Maximus Dionysius b ⪠of Alex. dieth Anno Domini 267. Cap. 29. in the greeke Claudius was created emperour anno Dom. 271. Autelianus was crowned emperour Anno Dom. 273. vnder whome was raised the ninth persecution Cap. 30. after the greeke The byshops assembled at Antioch vnto Dionysius b. of Rome and maximus b. of Alexandria The subtleây of the hereticke Samosetenus the hereticke is here painted in his colours 1. Timoth. 6. Such a proud preacher was Herod in the actes 12. * Paulê° Samosatenus was excommunicated by the councell and Domuns placed in his rowme * Aurelianus was not able to subscribe to an edict against the Christians Tacitus was emperour 6. moneths Florianus 80 ⪠daies althogh there is here no mention made of theÌ * Probus was crowned emperour Ann. Dom. 279. Carus began to raigne an Dom. 285. Diocletian was chosen emperour ann Do. 287. vnder whom the tenth persecution of the primitiue churchâ was raysed against the churche of God Cap. 31. in the Greeke About the yeare 281. Euseb in chronic the hereticke Maneslyued Manes the hereticke chose 12. Apostles Cap. 32. in the Greeke Eutychianus b. of Rome Gaius b. of Rome Marcellinus b. of Rome Timaeus Cyrillus Dorotheus minister of Antioch afterwards b. of Tyrus Tyrannus Socrates Eusebius Anatolius b. of Laodicea The pollicie deuised by Anatolius Anatolius b. of Laodicea in his bookes of Easter Betwene the 10. 20. day In springe about the eyght kalends of Aprill In Autumne about the eyght kalendes of October Laââeus 2. Psalm 89. Churches ouerthrowen Scriptures burned Bishops persecuted Psal 107. An. Do. 306. the persecution vnder Diocletian waxed hotte wheÌ as these cruell edicts were euery where proclaimed Cap. 3. in the Greeke The pollicie of Satans messengers * Cap. 4. in the Greeke * DiocletiaÌ Maximian * Galerius Constantius Peter the emperours page after sundry tormeÌts bruiled to death Dorotheus hanged Gorgonius was hanged Anthimê° b. of Nicomedia beheaded A certaine number beheaded A certaine companie burned A number drowned The deade dygged vp All prisons were filled with Christians Brute beastes spared such as meÌ would not spare The constancy of yong men Fiue Martyrs after sundry torments beheaded throwen into the seas Martyrs in Aegypt maymed racked scurged burned drowned beheaded hanged famished to death Martyrs in Thebais their skinnes rased schorched tyed by the on legge their heads downeward Hanged vpoÌ boughes 10. Martyrs 20. 30. 60. 100. Some burned Some beheaded Philoromus gouernour of AlexaÌdria beheaded ⪠Phileas b. of Thmuis beheaded Phileas b. of Thmuis writeth this epistle out of prison vnto his âlocke Philip. 2. 1. Ioh. 4. Deut. 4. Exod. 20. An whole city burned Audactus martyred Martyrs in Arabia Cappadocia Mesopotamia Alexandria Antioche Some dispatched them selues rather A matron of Antioch together with her 2. daughters drowned theÌ selfs rather then their bodies shoulde be abused of the tormentors The Ethnicks drowned 2. virgins of Antioch Martyrs in Pontus The Ethnicks pulled out the right eyes seared the empty place sawed of the left legge of the Christians seared their hames condemned theÌ to the myne pitts all this they counted a gracious pardon Anthymus â of Nicome âia beheaâed Lucianus a martyr Tyrannion b. of Tyrus was drowned at Antioch Zenobius of Sidon scourged to death Siluanus b. of Emisa torne of wild beastes Siluanus b. of Gaza beheaded 39 Beheaded Peleus and Nilus b. of Aegypt burned Pamphilus ⪠Peter b. of Alexandria As longe as the Emperours did not persecute the church so longe did theyr empire prosper * Anno Domini ⪠307. Euseb Chronic Diocletian together with Maximian hauing raygned 20. yeares deposed themselues and liue â a priuate life Constantiuâ and Maximinus rule the Empire Constantiuâ dieth at yoââ in Englandâ Anno Domini 310. Constátinuâ magnus waâ proclaimeâ emperour Anno Domini 311. Cap. 14. after the greeke Maxentius the sonne of Maximinus a tyrante of Rome Flattery Cruelty Lecherie Tyrranny Extorcion Sorcery Inchauntement Famine cauled by Maxentius Cap. 15. in ââe Greeke Maximinus âpocrisie Superstition Persecution ââ¦latrie ââ¦haunteââ¦t Oppression Prodigality Dâsikenesse Surfetinge Lechery The tyrant colde not ouercome the Christians A chast matron of Alexandria confounded the tyrant where fore she was exiled and her goods confiscated A matron of Rome slewe her selfe rather then MaxeÌtius should abuse her The cause of the worldes calamities was the persecution of the christiâs ⪠Cap. 16. in the Greeke * Anno Domini 320. Math. 18. Luk. 17. God plagued Maximinus the tyrante ââeng at Tarsus so that he was in a lameÌ table plight Cap. 17. after the Greeke The Edict of Maximinus in the behalf of the Christians ⪠the which his sickenesse coÌ strayned him to proclaime â In steede of Constantinê° âome doread Constantius which I finde âot in the greeke 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Maximinus his practises * Cap. 14. Diocletian the Emperour pined wasted away with diseases vnto his end Maximinian âhe emperour hanged himselfe Maximinus âormented âo death read âap 17. Constantius âyed godly ConstaÌtinus Anno Domini 306. Procopius beheaded Alphaeus beheaded Zachaeus beheaded Romanus first had his tongue pulled out next tormented clapt ⪠in prison last of all in prison stifled to death Timotheus burned Agapius and Thecla thro wen to wilde beastes but not dispatched Six yong meÌ first imprisoned then beheaded Timolaus beheaded Dionysius beheaded Romulus beheaded Pausis beheaded 2. AlexaÌders both beheaded Agapius beheaded Dionysius beheaded Apphianus Pagas of Lycia The cruell edict of Maximinus The godly and bolde enterprise of Apphianus Apphianus after often imprisoning after sundry horrible torments was throwen into the sea whose carcasse the water threwe vp and layde at the gates of Caesarea A cruell torment An Earthquake Vlpianus wrapped in an oxe hyde together with a dogge a snake is drowned in the sea Aedesius the brother of Apphianus the martyr is drowned in the sea Mat. 10. Mat. 27. In the 21. cap of this boke Agapius is sayd to haue bene beheaded at Caesarea here he is sayde to haue bene drowned so it might be first beheded theÌ drowned but there he sayth it was the 2. yere of the persecution here the 4. which can not be wherefore he must either be an other Agapius or âlie the story lyeth Theodosia drowned Siluanus coÌdeÌned to the myne pitts with others 39. cap. 13. Domninus burned 3.
fathers pryuie members and cast them into the Sea thereof rose a froth and of the froth Venus was borne * Phalli and Ithyphalli vvere the pryuie members of men offered vp in honor of the god Bacchus * Priapus the sonne of Venus gotten in adulterie by Iuppiter and honored vvith beastly sacrifice * Pan was the sonne of Penelope the vvise of vlysses for vvhen as after the battell of Troie she looked still for her husband to returne many vvere suters vnto her and because she delayed them from daye to daye they all abused her and got vpon her Pan. other doe saye that Mercurie tooke the forme of an he goat made Penelope in loue with him and got the god Pan * In Eleusis there vvere sacrifices done in the honor of the goddesse Ceres so filthie that they may not be written Cod. de sum rinit et sid âath tit 1. l. 3. ââ¦ncimus Symeon an anchor Domnus b. of Antioch The spirit of Symeon was tried by obedience It is not a dead corps but the liuing God that is protector of town and cuntreiâ * The greeke worde is Tâara the attyre of Persian womeÌ lerom ad fabâol calleth it Galeâum a hatt the worde is also taken for a Mââe or crowne Isidorus Synesius Anno Dom. 451. some other say 455. Memnonius Zoilus Calixtus Anatolius Claudian the Poet. Cyrus the Poet and pre sident Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 43. It behoued then that these monks should be of one sise Hebr. 11. The monkes of Palaâstina became as beastes Theodosius iunior dyed Anno Dom. 450. Eustathius epist ad Ioh. What iniury was this vnto the deade corps It is better for the faithfull Christian to become partaker of the blood of Christ which redeemed him from death and damnation The supplication oâ Eusebius byshop of Dorylaeum exhibited vnto valentinianê° and Martianus the emperours The censure of the senators in the councell of Chalcedon The senteÌce which Pasca sianus Lucentius and Boniface substitutes of Leo b. of Rome gaue of Dioscorus The actes decrees of the councell held at Chalcedon Against Nestorius Against Eutyches The Nicene creed is confirmed Against Macedonius opinion the creede of the councel held at Constanti nople is ratified The synodicall epistles of Cyrill approued The epistle of Leo vnto Flauianus allowed The creede of the councel helde at Chalcedon Constantinople the secoÌd patriarchship Proterius b. of Alexandria A lamentable sedition at Alexandria about the election of a byshop ⪠The Monâ⦠inhabitinge the deserts bordering vpon Ierusalem were ââreticks c âdemned tâ⦠councell ãâ¦ã Chalcedoâ The behauiour of Theodosius a âoging monke The Aequiuocall âallacy of the deuell lay in those two sylables ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã scarsitie of âine âamine estilence welling âsâammatioÌ coughe âântiniaEmperour Rome was âne Rome was taken by Genzerichus king of the Vandallâ Maximus Auitus Maiorinus Seuerus Anno. 458. Martianus the Emperour dyed Anno Dom. 458. Timotheus Aelurus b. of Alexandria The lamentable death of Proterius the godly archbyshop of Alexandria Rom. 12. Symeon Baradatus Iames. Leo b. of Rome Timotheus âluâus the beâetâââll byshopp of Alexandria Amphilochius b. of Sida The epistle of Symeon that dwellââ in a pâlââââ vnto Basilius Archbishop of Anââoâh Timotheus Aelurus Timotheus Salofaciolus Anatolius Gennadius Acacius Anno Dom. 159. Anthemius Olymbrius Glycerius Nepos Orestes Romulus Augustulus Odoacer Anno Dom. 475. The translator vnto the reader The supplication of Eusebius byshop of Dorilaeum exhibited vnto valentinianê° and Martianus the emperours The heresie of Eutyches The byshops of the East cryed thus against Dioscorus The senators gaue their sentence in these words where it appeareth that laye men were of great autoritie in the councels The sleeuâ lesse aunswââ of Dioscorâ Acacius Dioscorus The conditions of Dioscorus The subsââââââ of Leo of Rome âaue this ââence aââst Diosârus in the ââuncâll of âhalcedon S. Paul sayth that Christ is the rocke fundation to buylde vpon 1. Cor. 3. 10. The depriuation of Dioscorus archebyshopp of Alexandria Cecropius Cyrill archebyshop of Alexandria vnto Nestorius archebyshop of Constantinople and an hereticke The wordes of Iohn b. of Antioch Cyrill vnto Iohn b. of Antioch The wordes of Leo b. of Rome The wordes of Cyrill Heb. 2. Leo. Cyrill Leo. Cyrill The senteÌce of the Senators is layde downe by Euaârius nowe the thirde time The Epistle of Leo is coÌâirmed â Bishops Aegypt A company of cocke-braine and hereticall Monks would be ruled neither by Bishops nor by councell Theodoritus Ibas Basianus Zeno was emperour ânno Dom. 75. Princes and magistrates should be paternes of Godlines vnto the subiects and coÌmon people Basiliscus the tyrant and vsuâper of the Emperiall crowne sent these wicked letters into all churches wherein he condemneth the faith of Leo the godly bishop of Rome and the canons of the holy councel held at ChalcedoÌ B ãâ¦ã coÌdeÌneth Leo and the couÌcell of Chalcedon Timotheus Aelurus Peter Cnapheus Paulus Anastasius 50. Bishops subscribed to heresy for feare The flattering and hereticall Byshops of Asia wrote this vnto Basiliscus the vsurper Zacharias Rhetor. The Monke of Constantinople weâ heretickes Basiliscus the vsuâpeâ is fayne by reason of the commonon âo call in his former letters layde lowne in the â cap. of this booke Peter Stephan Calandio Peter Moggus Peter b. of AlexaÌdria flatâereth Acaâius b. of CoÌâtantinople âith this epistle Idle Monkes âât men together by âe eares The idle monks sowed tares amonge the wheat as the enemy did in the gospell ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Zeno the Emperour vnto Felix b. of Rome âe Church Rome proâânceth â against âer b. of âââxandria Zeno slewe Armatus who saued his life Fronte capillata post hââ oââasio calua Anastasius created emperour Anâ Dom. â92 The monks ãâã Palaestina ânto Alciâân Hereticks are wont to corrupt auncient writers Hereticall monks idle braines all set vpon contention werâ slaine like dogs at Antioch and throwen intâ the riuer Orontes Seuerus bâ of Antioch yet an hereticke The monks of Palaestina vnto Alcison The clemencie of Anastasius Longinus The b. of Apamia a rebell Longinus â ⪠Indus Scenetae Eustathius the historiographer died Anno Doâ 504. Daras a noble câue The sclaâdeâous reports that Zosimus a Ethnicke made of Constantinus magnus useb eccle âst lib. 8. âp 14. âseb lib. 10. p 9. The Empire of Rome encreased with the fayth MacedoniaÌs Albania Ibetia Colchi Arabians Frenchmen Germans Buttanns Indaea Luk. 2. Mich. 5. Math. 2. Aegypt Many cuntreys of Persia Seleucia Ctesiphon Nisibis Armenia C. Iulius Câsar Caius Caliâgula Nero. Galba Otho Vitellius Titus Commodââ Pertinax Didius Iââiânus Antonius Macrinus Aurelius Antonius Alexander Maximinuâ Gordianuâ Philip. Decius Gallus Volusianuâ Aemilianuâ Valerianuâ Galienus Carinus Maximiaââ Maxentiuâ Licinniuâ Iulian. Anno Do. 519. Iustinus was proclaimed Emperour Anno Don 519. In raigne and loue fewe fello are faiths DissimulatioÌ Blood wil be recompeÌced with bloode Seuerus b. of Antioch for reuilinge
by the way of Athanasius CAP. XII Howe that Constantine the Emperoure enlarging the city which of olde was called Byzantium tearmed it after his owne name Constantinople THe emperour after the ending of the couÌcell liued in great traÌquility And as soone as after the wonted guise he had celebrated the tweÌtyth yeare of his raygne without all delay or tariance he turned himselfe wholy to the buylding of churches the which he brought to passe as well in other cyties as in that cytie the which he called after his name but of olde bore the name of Byzantium This he enlarged exceedingly he enuironed with great goodly walls he bewtified with glorious building and made her nothing inferior to the princely cytie of Rome callinge her after his name Constantinople He made moreouer a lawe that she shoulde be called the Second Rome The which lawe is ingrauen in a stony piller reserued in the publique pretory nigh the emperours knightly picture In this cytie he erected from the fouÌdation two churches calling y â one of peace the other of the Apostles He encreased not only as I sayd before christian affairs but altogether rooted out the rites of the Gentiles He caried away the images out of the Idole groues to the end they might sett out the cytie of Constantinople they were to be seene abrode in y â open market place He inuironed about in the open aer the threefooted trestle vpon y â which the priest of Apollo in Delphos was wont to receaue his oracle with a grate Peraduenture some men will count the recitall of these things altogether impertinent specialy in as much as of late in maner all men haue ether seene them with their eyes or heard of them w t theyr eares At that time y â christian religioÌ spredd it selfe farre nigh For vnder the raygne of the emperour Costantine besides the prosperous affairs of many other things the prouidence of God so prouided that the faith in Christ shoulde take great increase And although Eusebius Phamphilus hath sett forth the praises of this emperour with a large and lofty style yet in my opinion I shal nothing offend if that after my simple maner I say something to his commendation CAP. XIII Howe that Helene the emperours mother leauinge Ierusalem sought out the crosse of Christ and founde it afterwardes built there a Church HElene the emperours mother which of the village Drepane made a cyty the which afterwards the emperour called Helenopolis being warned by a vision in her sleepe tooke her iorney to Ierusalem And when as shee founde that auncient Ierusalem lyinge all wast in a heape of stones as it is in the prophet she searched diligeÌtly for the sepulchre of Christ in the which he was layd and out of the which he rose againe and at length although with much adoe through the helpe of God she found it And why it was so harde a matter to finde I will declare in fewe words euen as they which embraced the faith of Christ highly esteemed of that sepulchre and monument after his passion so of the contrary such as abhorred christian religion heaped in that place much earth and raised great hilloks and buylded there the temple of Venus and hauinge suppressed the remembrance of the place they sette vp her Idole This haue we learned of olde to be true But when as the emperours mother was made priueye hereunto shee threwe downe the Idole she digged vp the place she caused the great heape of earthe to be hurled aside and the filth to be remoued she findes three crosses in the graue one I meane that blessed vpon the whiche Christe suffred other two on the whiche the two theeues ended their liues Together with whiche crosses the table of Pilate was founde whereupon he had wrytten with sundrye tongues and signified vnto the worlde that Christe crucified was the Kinge of the Iewes Yet because there rose some doubte whether of these three shoulde be the crosse of Christ for the which they had made this searche the emperours mother was not a litle pensiue The which sorowefull heuynes of hers Macarius byshop of Ierusalem not longe after asswaged For he made manifest by his fayth that which afore was doubtfull ambiguous He desired of God a signe and obtained his sute The signe was this there was a certaine woman of that coast which by reason of her long and greuous disease lay at the poincte of death As she was yeldinge vp of the ghost the byshop layd euery one of the crosses vpon her beinge fully perswaded that she shoulde recouer her former health if that she toutched the reuerent crosse of our Sauiour which in deed failed him not For wheÌ as both the crosses which belonged not vnto the Lorde were layd to the woman she continewed neuerthelesse at the poinct of death but as soone as the third which in very dede was the crosse of Christ was layd vnto her although she seemed presently to leaue this world yet leaped she vp and was restored to her former health After this sorte was the crosse of Christ founde out The emperours mother buylded ouer the sepulchre a goodly and gorgeous church callinge it Nevve Ierusalem righte ouer against that old and wast Ierusalem The one halfe of the crosse she lockt vp in a siluer chest left there to be seene of suche as were desirous to beholde such monumeÌts the other halfe she sente to the emperour The which when he had receaued supposinge that city to be in greate safety where in it were kept compassed it with his owne picture which was sett vp in the market place at Constantinople so called of Constantinus ouer a mighty piller of redd marble Although I commit this to wryting which I haue onely learned by hearesay yet in maner all they which inhabite Constantinople affirme it to be most true Moreouer when Constantinus had receaued the nayles wherewith the naked handes of Christ were fastened to the tree for his mother had founde these also in the sepulchre of Christ and sent them vnto him he caused bitts for bridles helmets and headpeeces to be made thereof the which he wore in battaile The emperour furthermore made prouision for all suche necessaries as were required to the buyldinge of the churches and wrote vnto Macarius the bishop that with all diligence he should further the buyldinge The emperours mother as soone as she had finished the church which she called Nevve Ierusalem buylded a second nothinge inferior to the first at Bethleem in the hollowe rocke where Christ was borne accordinge vnto the flesh also a thirde vpoÌ the mount where Christ ascended vnto y â father Besides she was so vertuous so meeke that she would fall downe to her prayers in the middest of the vulgare sorte of women that she woulde inuite to her table virgines which were consecrated to holy life accordinge vnto the canon of the church that she woulde bring