clergie we the layty of the communion referring vnto God alone y â— power of remitting their sinne The same Atticus had the foreknowledge of his death for taking his leaue of Nice he sayd vnto Calliopius the minister of that Church make haste to Constantinople before Autumne that thou mayst againe see me aliue for if thou linger make delayes thou shalt see me no more in this world In vttering these wordes he hitt the trueth on the head for he departed this life the one and twentieth yeare of his consecration the tenth of October in the eleuenth Consulship of Theodosius and the first of Valentinianus Caesar Theodosius the Emperour returning from Thessalonica came short to his funerall for Atticus was buried the day before the comming of the Emperour into Constantinople Shortly after the creation of Valentinianus the yonger was proclaymed to wit the three and twentieth day of the same moneth CAP. XXVI Of Sisinius the successor of Atticus in the bishoprick of Constantinople AFter the desease of Atticus there was great contention in the Churche of Constantinople about the election of a Bishop â–ª for some woulde haue Philip a minister some other Proclus who also was a minister preferred to the rowme but all the people with vniforme consent desired Sisinius He was like wise a priest not of any of the Churches within the walls of Constantinople but of Elae a Church in the suburbes ouer against the citie where all the people of Constantinople are wont to celebrate the feast of our Sauiours ascention All the laytye laboured by all meanes to haue him to their Bishop partly because he was counted a very godly man partly also for that he endeuored to relieue the poore beyond the reach of his substance To be short the layty got the vpper hande and Sisinius was consecrated the eyght and twentieth of February in the twelse Consulship of Theodosius and the seconde of Valentinianus Augustus the yonger Philip the minister seeing that Sisinius was preferred before him stomacked the matter wonderfully and inueyed bitterly agaynst his consecration in the worke which he wrote and intitled the Christian history While he inueyeth against Sisinius that was consecrated agaynst the Bishops who were consecrators and especially agaynst the laytye who were electors he wrote such thinges as I am loth to report for I can not chuse but blame him greatly that euer he durst be so bold to lay downe so rash and vnaduised reasons yet in my opinion it will not be amisse presently to say somewhat of him CAP. XXVII Of Philip a Priest bred and brought vp in Sida PHilip of whome we spake before was borne at Sida a citie in Pamphilia where also Trophilus the Sophist had his original of whome Philip boasted not a litle that he was his kinsman This Philip being a Deacon and of great familiaritie with Iohn the Bishop was as it were driuen to bestowe great labour and diligence in the study of good learning so that he wrote many bookes of diuerse sortes his stile was asiaticall proude and lofty and to the ende he might confute the workes of luhan the Emperour he compiled a volume and intitled it The Christian historie the which he deuided into six and thirty bookes euery booke hath sundry tomes the number of all mounteth very nigh to a thousande the argument prefixed to euery one is in maner as bigge as the tome it selfe this worke he entitled not the Ecclesiasticall but the Christian historie where he patched together many matters for to let the worlde vnderstand that he was seene in Philosophy Wherefore he alleadgeth very oft precepts and rules of Geometrie Astronomie Arithmetick Musick Moreouer he describeth Isles mountaines trees with other thinges of smal importance so that it grewe to a huge volume full of bumbast and vayne ostentation In my simple iudgement it is a worke that is prositable neyther for the learned neyther the vnlearned For the learned will condemne the often repetition of the same wordes which is riâ—e throughout the booke the vnlearned haue not the capacitie to comprehende the insolent stile and affected sentences of his arrogant minde but let euery one iudge of his owne doings as he shall thinke good I dare affirme that the order he followed in laying downe of the times is both confuse farre from good order for when he had runne ouer the raygne of Theodosius back againe he getts him to discourse of Athanasius the Bishops tymes â–ª the which I note to be his vsuall maner but of Philip so farre Now to the history of Sisinius tyme. CAP. XXVIII Howe that Sisinius made Proclus Bishop of Cyzicum whome the Cyziceni woulde not receaue AFter the desease of the Bishop of Cyzicum Sisinius appoynted Proclus to be their Bishop The citizens vnderstanding of his comming preuented him and chose Dalmatius a religious man to gouerne the bishoprick This they did neglecting the lawe canon which commaundeth that no Bishop be appoynted and ordayned without the consent and autoritie of the Bishop of Constantinople They made no accompt of that canon because it commaunded namely as they thought that the sayd autoritie shoulde be geuen vnto Atticus alone Wherefore Proclus being not admitted to execute the function of a bishop in the Church where he was ordayned continewed at Constantinople where he occupied him selfe in preaching and purchased vnto him selfe thereby great fame and commendation but of him I shal haue occasion of speake more hereafter Sisinius had scarse bene Bishop two yeares when he died it was in the Consulship of Hierius and Ardaburius the foure and twentieth of Decembre He was a man highly commended for temperancie for godly and vertuous life and to be shorte for his liberalitie bestowed vpon the poore He was a man both gentle and familier playne without fraude or guyle and therefore he neuer molested any in his life he was a great enemie to busie bodyes and to quarellers and therefore taken of many for a cowarde CAP. XXIX After the desease of Sisinius Bishop of Constantinople Nestorius was sent for to Antioch for to enioy the bishoprick who immediatly reuealed him selfe what kinde of man he was IT seemed good vnto the Emperour after the desease of Sisinius because ofdiuers vaine glorious persons to chuse none of that Church to be bishop though many made sute for Philip and many againe for Proclus but determined with him selfe to send for a straunger out of Antioch there was in those dayes there a man whose name was Nestorius by birth he was a Germaine a loude voice he had and an eloquent tongue and therefore as it was thought a fitt man to preach vnto the people They put their heades together they sent for Nestorius and brought him from Antioch to Constantinople three moneths after who though his temperance was highly commended of many yet the wisest sort and sagest people perceaued well inough his other conditions when he first beganne to preach for immediatly after his
he graciously commaunded so sentence should be giuen yet vve require not this as commaunded by Adrian but in as much as you knovve that at the request of the people iustice is to be craued vve haue annexed the coppy of Adrianus his epistle to the ende you may vnderstand vve tell nothinge but that vvhich is true for thus he vvrote CAP. IX The epistle of Adrian the Emperour that no Christian be accused neither suffer without iust cause VNto Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia Adrian fendeth greeting I receaued an Epistle from Serenius Granianus that right vvorthy man and â—hy predecessor the occasion vvherof I can not vvith silence leaue vntoutched lest that thereby men be troubled a gappe left open to the malice of Sycophants VVherfore if your prouincialls can proue ought against the Christians vvhereof they charge them and iustifie it before the barre let them proceede on not appeach them only for the name nether crauâ— vvith outcries against theÌ„ â–ª for it is very expedient that if any be disposed to accuse the accusation be throughly knovvne of you and sifted Therefore if any accuse the Christians that they transgressed the â—â—vves see that you iudge and punish according to the qualitie of the offence but in playne vvordes if any vpon spyte or malice comense or cauill against them see you chastice him for his malice and punish him vvith reuengement This was the epistle of Adrian CAP. X. VVhat Bishops there were of Rome and Alexandria in the tyme of Autoninus AFter that Adrian ruling in the regall scepter the space of one and twenty yeares had runne the race of his naturall life Antoninus called Pius succeeded him in the empyre In the first yeare of whose raygne Telesphorus hauing gouerned the Ecclesiasticall seae eleuen yeares deparâ—ed this life whome â–ª Hyginus succeeded Irenaeus writeth that this Telesphorus was crowned at his death with martyrdome and signifieth withall that in the tyme of the sayde Hyginus â–ª Valentinus the inuentor of his owne heresy and Cerdon author of that error which Marcion afterwardes sucked were manifestly knowne at Rome For thus he writeth CAP. XI The report of Irenaeus toutching the graund heretickes of that tyme with the succession of the Bishops of Rome and Alexandria VAlentinus came to Rome in the tyme of Hyginus â—e flourished vnder Pius and continued vnto Anicetus Cerdon likevvise vvhome Marcion succeeded came vnder Hyginus the nynth Bishop from the Apostles vvho hauing protested his fayth one vvhile perseuered an other vvhile taught priuely aftervvardes confessed his error Agayne being reprehended for the doctrine vvhich he had corruptly taught refrayned the company of the brethren This he wrote in his third booke against the heresies â–ª Cerdon also sucking error of such as vvere Simons adhaerents abiding at Rome vnder Hyginus the nynth by succession from the Apostles taught that God preached of the lavv and Prophets vvas not the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ He said moreouer that Christ vvas knovvne the father of Christ vnknovven Christ vvas iust the father good After him succeeded one Marcion of Pontus a shamles blasphemer vvhich encreased this doctrine Irenaeus dilating that infinite profundity of matter inuented by Valentinus subiect to many errors discloseth openly the malice of the Hereticke being cloked and concealed as it were a serpent hid in his denne After this he remembreth one Marke by name most expert in inagical artes to haue bene in that time for he reuealing their prophane ceremonies and detestable mysteries writeth thus Some prepare their vvedding chamber and accomplish the seruice to be sayd ouer them that are to be consecrated vvith charmed vvordes and hauing thus done they call it a spiritual mariage â–ª conformable to the celestial copulation Some bring them to the vvater in baptizing say thus In the name of the vnknovven father of all thinges in the truth mother of all thinges and in him vvhich descended vpon Iesus Some other pronounce hebrevv vvords to the end the yong conuerts might thervvith be the more amazed But omitting these things after that the fourth yeare of Hyginus was expired Pius tooke the publicke ministery of y â— church of Rome At Alexandria Marke is chosen their shepherde when Eumenes had continued there Bishop thirteene yeares After Marke had bene Bishop ten yeares Celadion succeeded him in y e church of Alexandria And at Rome after y e death of Pius which departed the fiftenth yeare Anicetus was placed minister vnder whom Egesippus sayth of him self y â— he came to Rome where he remained vnto the time of Eleutherius But specially Iustinus at that time disposing the heaueÌ„ly doctrine in a Philosophers atyre contending by his commentaryes for the faith which he embraced Wrote a booke against Marcion who at y â— present time liued was wel knowne for these are his words Marcion of Pontus at this present teacheth such as harken vnto him to beleue in a certaine God greater then the maker of all things vvho among all sortes of men ayded by the subtiltie of Satan hath seduced many to blaspheme and to deny the maker of all thinges to be the father of Christ and to confesse some other that should be greater then he â–ª as many as come of him are called Christians euen as it fareth vvith Philosophers though they be not addicted to the same precepts in philosophie yet the name of a Philosopher is common to all To these he addeth VVe haue vvritten a booke against the heresies novv raigning if you please you may reade it The same Iustinus hath valiantly encountred with the Gentiles dedicated Apologies in the defence of our fayth vnto Antoninus by syrname Pius and to the Senate of Rome for he dwelled at Rome and declareth who and whence he was in his Apologie writing thus CAP XII The beginning of Iustinus Martyrs Apologie for the Christian faith VNto the Emperour Titus Aelius Adrianus vnto Antoninus Pius most noble Caesar and vnto Verissimus his adopted sonne and true Philosopher vnto Lucius sonne of the Philosopher Caesar and adopted of Pius fauourer of learninge and vnto the sacred Senate vvith all the people of Rome in their behalfe vvhich among all sortes of men are vniustly hated and reprochfully dealt vvithall Iustinus the sonne of Priscus Bacchius borne in Flauia a nevve city of Syria in Palaestina one of them and one for them all doe make this request c. The same Emperour receauing a supplication of others in the behalfe of the brethren in Asia which were greeued with all kinde of contumelyes practised vppon them by their prouincialls graciously sent vnto the commonaltye of Asia this constitution CAP. XIII The epistle of Antoninus Pius vnto the commons of Asia in the behalfe of the Christians not to be persecuted THe Emperour Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus Armenicus Pontifex maximus fiftene times tribune thryse Consul vnto the communalty of Asia sendeth greeting I am
Augustus was Emperour 56. yeares in the 42. yeare of his raygne our Sauiour Christ Iesus was borne into the worlde Aristobulus his brother deposed him bothe of his priesthoode and princely power    But Pompei ouertooke this Aristobulus and broughte him captiue to Rome    Antigonus Aristobulus and Hircanus raygned 34. yeres by turnes  3970.  Herode an aliene in the 10. yeare of Augustus the Emperour was made kinge of Iudaea In the 34. yeare of his raygne Christe Iesus was borne into the world  Toutching the yeare of the world when Christ was borne diuerse men be of diuerse opinioÌ„s Eusebius in his ChronicoÌ„ layd downe 5199. contrarye to the supputation of the Hebrewes as Ierom noteth reckoninge 2000. for one 1000. Ierom 3965. Epiphanius aduers heres lib. 2. tom 2. 5480. Nicephorus eccl hist lib. 1. ca. 10. 5505. The old Rabins 3759. Ludouicus Carettus a Iewe 3760. Carion 3944. Phrigio 3962. Theodorus Zuinger 3964. Cytreus 3962. Luther 3960. Eliot 3962. The ministers of Tigurine 3974. Demochares 3959. but saith he there be some which couÌ„t 3969. As I herein can gather by supputation of the yeares from Adam to Christ there are 3970. neither do I herein preiudice all the rest neither arrogat singularity vnto my self PantaleoÌ„ a learned chronographer of this our age is of myne opinioÌ„ me thinkes it staÌ„deth with goodreason If ye referre the age of Iohn who beganne to preach wheÌ„ he was 30. yeares old vnto the later nuÌ„ber to wit 3970. it vvill rise iust to 4000. The receaued opinion namely of Augustine Iustinus Martyr quest 71. Irenaeus li. 5. MuÌ„ster Ludouicus Carettus with others is that the vvorld shall last 6000. yeares 2000. before the lavve 2000. vnder the lavve 2000. vndeâ— Messias that is Christ Againe I reade that our Sauiour sayd in the Gospell the lavve the Prophetes to haue ended in Iohn and if the common opinion is true then vvere the 4000. yeares expired From thence let vs beginne vvith Christ as it is in the Chronographie follovvinge A Chronographie THe Hebrewes the Israelits the Iewes were gouerned first by captaines beginning at Moses and his successor Iosua next by Iudges as Othoniel Aod afterwards by Kings beginning at Saul whome Dauid succeeded Last of all by Priests who were also their Princes vntill that Pompeye the Romaine captaine besieged Ierusalem and tooke captiue Aristobulus the Prince and Priest of the Iewes which vnto that tyme had continewed the succession of Kinges from his progenitors together with his sonnes to Rome committing the office of Highpriesthoode to his brother Hyrcanus From that tyme forth the Iewes became tributaries vnto the Romaines Not longe after when Hyrcanus was taken of the Parthians Herode 34. yeares after their siege vnder Pompeye Euseb Chronic. by father an Idumaean by mother an Arabian tooke of the Romaine Senate and Augustus Caesar the gouernement of the Iewishe nation Then the prophecie of Iacob written by Moses Genes 49. was to take place and to be fulfilled which sayde The scepter shall not depart from Iuda neyther a lawegeuer fayle of his loynes vntill the Messias come Then I say at that tyme vvas the scepter taken from Iuda that is from the Ievvishe tribe and geuen to Herode a straunger Then vvas the Messias borne into the vvorlde to vveâ—e our Sauiour Christ Iesu Euseb Eccles Hist lib. 1. cap. 7. THE Acts of Christ and the yeares of his incarnation THE raygne of the Emperoures THE famous men fauorers of the trueth THE Kings of Iudaea THE highpriests of the Ievves in Ierusalem SECTS and hereticks as vvell among the Ievves as aftervvardes among the Christians The promised MESSIAS the annoynted of God our sauiour Christ â–ª Iesus was conceaued in Nazareth and borne in Bethleem from the beginninge of the world the 3970 yeare in the 42. of the raigne of Augustus Caesar Euseb lib. 1. cap. 6. Cytraeus in Genes Epiphan lib. 1. tom 1. AVGVSTVS CAESAR was in the 42. yeare of his raygne when Christ was borne Euseb lib. 1. cap. 6. Epiphan lib. 1. tom 1. The shepheardes had the firste tydinges that Christ was borne Luc. 2. The wise men commonly called the KINGES of COLEN sawe his starre the same nyght in the East Mat. 2. Ioh. Huss HERODE was kinge of the Iewes went on the 34. yeare of his raygne when Christ was borne Eusebius in Chronic. SIMON the sonne of Boethus the father in lawe of kiÌ„g Herode was Highpriest of the Iewes wheÌ„ Christ was borne whom Herode the laste yere of his raigne deposed suspectinge him to be of the conspiracie treason practised for the poysoninge of the kinge Ioseph Antiq lib. 17. cap. 5. By that which S. Paul wrote vnto the Colossians cap. 3. that in Christ Iesu there was neyther Iewe neyther Gentile neyther Scythian neither Barbarian we gather that the nations of old were distinguished and noted one from an other and that for sundry considerations Some time in the good parte as of Heber the Hebrewes were called of Israel the Israelites of the tribe of Iuda the Iewes of Leui the Leuites of Christ the Christians so agayne in the ill parte and worse sense diuers haue had theyr appellation and were called Heretickes after their names whose steps they followed and whose opinion they maintayned The which Epiphanius noteth very well libâ—de haeresibus  Augustus rained 57. yeares Euseb lib. 1. cap. 10. Although others doe write that he raygned but 56. yeares ZACHARIE the prieste the father of Iohn Baptist no highpriest but an inferiour one of the 24. orders meÌ„tioned in 1. Paral. 24. of the eyght lott called Abia Lyra in Luc. Zacharie at the byrth of his sonne Iohn Baptist songe Benedictus Luc. 1. Herode burned the Genealogies of the Hebrwes to make him selfe a geÌ„tleman Euseb lib. 1. cap. 8. MATHIAS the sonne of Theophilus is by Herode appointed to succeede Simon Ioseph Antiq. lib. 17. cap. 5. Amonge the Iewes there were sundrie sectes whiche continewed also the tyme of Christ Euseb Eccles hist lib. 4. cap. 21. allegeth out of Egesippus that in the tyme of the Circumcision there were sundrie sectes amonge the children of Israel varyinge in opinions and set opposite agaynste the tribe of Iuda and Christ namely these the Essâ—ans the Galilaeans Hemerobaptists Maâ—â—oâ—haans Samaritans Sadduces and Pharises Epiphanius besides these numbreth others â–ª to were the Gorthaeans Sebuaeans Dosithaeans Scribes Ossaeans Nazaraeans Herodians  In the tyme of Augustus there was a generall taxing Luc. 2. Zacharias was slayne betweene the temple the altare as Basilias Origen in Mat. hom 26. do write The cause was as they sayde in the defence of the virginitie of Marie The virgins had a seuerall place in the teÌ„ple to pray Marie after the was deliuered knowen to haue had a soÌ„ne resorted thither neuertheles the Pharisies withstoode her Zacharie affirmed she was a virgine therefore was he flame Ioseph bell Iud. lib. 5.
victorie Then the Gentiles fled to Alexandria and as many Ievves as they founde there they tooke executed The Ievves which wandred throughout Cyren a region of Aegypt being destitute of ayde spoyled the countrey of corne and cattell hauing one Lucas to their captaine against whome the Emperour sent Marcus Turbo with a great power of footemen and horsemen by lande and a nauye by sea who nether in shorte space nether without long cruell warres slewe many millions of the Ievves not onely of them of Cyrene but also of the Aegyptians which ayded their King captaine Lucas The Emperour also suspecting the Ievves which inhabited Mesopotamia lest that they traiterously shoulde ioyne with the other commaunded Lucius Quintius to banish them the prouince who hauing gathered an hoaste marched towardes them and ioyning with them slewe a greate multitude of the Ievves there abiding for the which facte he was appointed by the Emperour president of Iudaea These thinges haue the Heathen historiographers then liuing paynted for the knowledge of the posteritie folowinge CAP. III. Of them which in the raigne of Adrian published Apologies in the defence of the fayth WHen Traian had raigned twentie yeares six moneths excepted Aelius Adrianus succeded him in the Empire Unto whome Quadratus dedicated a booke intitled an Apologie of the Christian fayth for certain spitefull and malicious meÌ„ went about to molest the Christians This booke is as yet extant among diuerse of the brethren a coppye thereof remayneth with vs. By the which we may perceaue vnderstande the markes of this man to be according vnto the true vnderstanding and the right rule of the Apostolicke doctrine That he was of the auncient elders it may be gathered by his owne testimony where he writeth thus The vvorkes of our Sauiour vvere manifest and open for they vvere true such as vvere healed raysed from the dead vvere not onely healed and raysed in sight and outvvarde shevve but they continually constantly remayned such in deede Nether liued they onely the tyme our Sauiour had his abode here on earth but a longe time after his ascention yea and a numbre of them vnto our time Suche a man was Quadratus Aristides likewise a faythfull man one that laboured for the furtherance of godlines published an Apologie as Quadratus did before of the Christian fayth with a dedicatorie epistle vnto Adrian the Emperour which booke of his is read in many handes at this daye CAP. IIII. Of the Bishoppes of Rome and Alexandria vnder Adrian THe third yere of this Emperours raygne Alexander bishop of Rome after that he had gouerned tenne yeres departed this life whome Xystus succeded And about that time Primus byshop of Alexandria when he had preached there twelue yeres dyed after whome Iustus succeeded CAP. V. The number and the names of the Bishops of Ierusalem from our Sauiour vnto the 18. yere of Adrian THe yeares of the bishopes of Ierusalem I find wrytten no where It is sayd they liued a shorte time Onely out of certaine bookes I haue learned that vntill the destruction of the Ievves vnder Adrian there were fifteene byshops of Ierusalem successiuely all which they say by auncient lyne to haue bene Hebrevves and sincerely to haue embraced the word of God and there to haue bene thought worthy to rule by such as then could well discerne such thinges The church then stoode flourished through the faithfull Hebrevves which continued from the Apostles vnto y â— Calamity in the which the Ievves rebelling againe vnder the Romaines with no small warres were ouerthrowne because that then the byshops of y â— circumcision fayled I thinke it necessary to name them from the originall The first was Iames called the brother of the Lord the second Symâ—on the third Iustus the fourth Zachâ—us the fift Tobias y â— sixt Beniamin the seuenth Iohn the eight Matthias y â— ninth Philip the teÌ„th Sâ—nnecas the eleuenth Iustus the twelfe Leui the thirteneth Ephrem the fourteneth Ioseph the fifteneth last of all Iudas So many bishops were there of Ierusalem from the Apostles tymes vnto the sayd Iudas all of the circumcision In the twelf yeare of the raigne of Adrian after that Xystus had ben bishop of Rome tenne yeares Telesphorus succeded him being the seuenth from the Apostles After a yeare fewe moneths Eumenes was chosen byshop of Alexandria the sixt by succession when as his predecessour had gouerned that church eleuen yeares CAP. VI. The last besieging of the Iewes in the time of Adrian WHen as the Jewish rebellion waxed vehement and greuous Ruffus Liuetenant of Iudaea being sente with a great power from the Emperour fiercely withstood their furie And forthwith slewe an innumerable multitude of men women children destroying as by law of armes it was lawfull their regiâ—s contries The Ievves theÌ„ had to their capitain one called Barchochebas which be interpretation is a starre a man otherwise giueÌ„ to murther theft Which alluding to his name lyed shamefully saying y â— he was come froÌ„ heauen as a light to shine comfortably in the face of the Ievves now oppressed with slauery and bondage afflicted to death When the warres in the eighteneth yeare of the emperour Adrian waxed hott about the towne Beththera well fortifyed neither farre distant belonging to Ierusalem the slege lasting longer then was looked for and the rash raysers of sedition by reason of famine were redy to yelde vp the last gaspe and the guide of this vngodly dealing had receaued due vnto his desert as Aristion Pâ—llâ—us writteth this whole nation was vanished that towne and generally the whole contrey of Ierusalem by the lawes decrees and specially the constitutions of Adrian so that by his commaundement it was not lawfull for these seely soules to behould their natiue soyle no not through the least chinke of the dore This citie then at the vtter ruyne of the Jewish nation and the manifold ouerthrowe of auncient inhabitours being brought to confusion began to be inhabited of straunge nations and after that it was subdued to the Romaine empire the name was quite changed for vnto y â— honour of the conquerour Aelius Adrianus it was called Aelia And the church being gathered there of the Gentiles Marke was first byshop there after them of the circumcision When as the churches of God now shined as starres throughout the world and the faith of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesu flourished Sathan enimie to all honesty as a sworne aduersary to the trueth and mans health and saluation impugneth the churche with all meanes possible arming himself against hir with outward persecution then depriued of that vsed the ayde of subtle sorcerers and sleyghty inglers as fitt instrumeÌ„ts and authors of perditioÌ„ to the destruction of seely soules Which sorcerers iuglers bearing the same name title and in shewe professinge the same doctrine with vs by his subtle inuention might the sooner snare
as were present affirmed that he had sacrificed departed with silence one being halfe dead was borne away being throwen of them for dead the same was tormēted with bondes reckned among the sacrificers an other lifted his voyce protested that he had not yelded at all the same was beaten on the mouth constrayned to kepe silence by the force of many hands which stopped his breath violētly excluded him when he had not sacrificed at al. so it pleased them well if at least wise they might seeme to bring their purpose to effect but for all their mischieuous deuises the blessed martyrs of God only bare away y ◠victory againe y ◠seuēteenth day of y ◠moneth Dius after the Romaynes the fifteenth of the Calendes of December Alphaeus and Zachaeus after they had bene lashed with whipps mangled with rasors after racking and greuous tormentes therein after sundry questions demaunded of them after they had layen in y ◠stocks many dayes and many nights their feet stretched foure spaces asunder last of all whē they had freely confessed and boldely pronounced that there was but one onely God one kinge captaine ouer all Iesus Christ as if herein they had vttered blasphemy or treason they were in like maner beheaded euen as the martyr mētioned a litle before Moreouer the history toutching Romanus y ◠martyr who suffred the same day at Antioch is worthie of memory He was borne in Palaestina he was deacon and exorcist of the church of Caesarea as it fell out being in Antioch at the ruyne and desolation of y ◠churches beholding with his eyes great multituds both of men women and children flocking vnto the altars and offering sacrifices to the Idols supposed it was his duety in no wise to winck thereat wherefore he being moued with singular zeale of the spirit of God drewe nigh vnto them exclaimed against them and sharpely rebuked them Who for so bold an enterprise was apprehended shewed him selfe a valiāt witnes or testifier if then there was any such in the world of the trueth in Christ For when the iudge threatned him death with flashing fire that consumeth to ashes he of the contrary embraced his offer most willingly with cherefull countenance and gladsome courage and with all is brought vnto the place of execution Being bounde to the stake while the officers threwe fagotts about him and such as were appointed to kindle the fire wayted for the emperours watch worde pleasure who then was presente he shouted vnto them from the stake where I pray you is the fire The whiche he had no sooner spoken but the Emperour called him vnto him to the ende he shoulde suffer a newe and straūge kinde of torment to wete that his tongue might be plucked out of his mouth the which he constantly endured and thereby declared at large howe that the deuine power and grace of God neuer fayleth them which suffer for godlines sake but alwayes ether easeth their labours slaketh theyr griefs or els graunteth courage and might to endure paciently vnto the ende This blessed sainct as soone as he had vnderstoode of their newe deuised torment beinge valiantly disposed neuer staggered thereat but voluntarily put out his tongue yelded the same which was fully instructed in the word of God vnto the tormentors hands After which tormēt he was clapt in prison and there plagued alonge time at length when the twentieth yeare of the Emperours raygne was nowe expired at what time a generall pardon was proclaimed y t all prisoners should be sett at liberty he alone lying in the stockes and his feete stretched fiue spaces asunder had his necke compassed with a haulter and thus in prison stifled to death so that hereby according vnto his desire he was crowned with martyrdome This man although he suffred out of the bounds of his natiue soyle yet being a Palaestinian by birth is worthy to be canonized amōg the martyrs of Palaestina Such were the tragicall affayrs of the church in Palaestina the first yeare of the persecution which was chiefly bent against y ◠presidents of our doctrine byshops of y ◠church of God CAP. XXI Of the martyrs which suffred in Caesarea the seconde yeare of the persecution vnder Diocletian and of the alteration of the Empire THe second yeare nowe being come when the persecution raised against vs waxed hott the proclamations of the Emperours where it was generally cōmaunded that both mē women children throughout euery citie and village should be constrained to sacrifice offer incense to Idols were newly come to the hands of Vrbanus then lyuetenant of y ◠prouince Timotheus of Gaza in Palaestina after infinite torments the which he endured laste of all being boūd to the stake enuironed with slacke slowe fire gaue forth a worthy triall of his zeale godwards through pacient sufferance in all the bitter punishments laid vpon him and in the end bare away the garlande of victory vsually graunted to all y ◠valiant champions which wrastle for piety the seruice of God At y ◠same time Agapius Thecla also which liued in this our age she wed y ◠worthy constancy of their noble minds when as at y ◠cōmaundement of the iudge they were throwen at the feete of wild beasts to be ether deuoured or torne in peeces What man is he that ether beholdinge with his eyes the thinges which ensued will not fall into admiration or lendinge onely the bare eare vnto the recitall of them will not be astonied thereat For when as the Ethniks solemnized their publick feastes and celebrated their wonted spectacles amongst other their mery newes gladsome wishes it was commonly noyced abrode that the christians lately condemned to wild beasts made all the sport and finished the solemnity This report being farre and nigh and euery where bruted abrode yonge striplings to the number of six whereof one was of Pontus by name Timolaus the second of Tripolis a citie in Phaenicia called Dionysius the third by name Romulus subdeacon of the church of Diospolis the fourth Pausis the fift Alexander bothe Aegyptians the sixt Alexander of the same name with him that went before of the citie of Gaza ioyning handes and hartes together signifiyng thereby the feruent loue they owed to martyrdome went with speede vnto Vrbanus who a litle before had let loose the raueninge beastes to rent the christiās in peeces and frely protested the christian faith declaring by this their promptnes and willing minds as it were absolutely furnished to giue the onsett of what aduenture soeuer that suche as glory in the title worshipp and seruice of the great God creator of the whole world haue not to tremble at y ◠fierce rage of furious and sauadge beastes Wherevpon both the president and the people fell into great admiration and the confessors were forth with clapt in prison Not longe
nations Thomas chose Partnia there to execute the function of an Apostle Mathewe Aethiopia Bartholomewe chose India whiche adioyneth hereunto But the midle India inhabited of many barbarous nations varying among themselues also in language was not lightened with the worde of God and the fayth of Christ afore the raygne of Constantine And what drowe them to embrace the faith I am nowe about to declare Meropius a certaine Philosopher borne in Tyrus longed to see was very destrous to trauell into the Indian countrey as I am perswaded he was allured thereunto by y â— example of Metrodorus the philosopher who aforetime had throughly traueled that countrey Meropius theÌ„ taking with him two yong meÌ„ that were his cosins which also were skilfull in the Greeke tonge tooke ship and sayled to the same countrey And when as he had enioyed his full desire nowe againe longed to be at home beinge pinched with want of necessarie foode he arriued at a place where there was a sure a safe hauen It fell out at the very same time that the leage concluded betwene the Romains the Indians was broken The Indians then laid hands vpon the Philosopher and such as sailed with him slewe them all the Philosophers two yonge cosins onely excepted The children they pitied because of their tender yeares being saued they are geuen for a present vnto the King of India The King liking very well of their yong couÌ„tenances made the one whose name was Aedesius his cuppbearer to attend vpon his cupp at the table and the other whose name was Frumentius he made maister of the Kings rolles not longe after the King died leauing behind him a sonne that was very yong the scepter of his kingdome vnto his wife manumising also Aedesius FrumeÌ„tius The queene being very careful ouer this yong prince requested them both to take y â— gard gouernement of him vntill he came to lawefull yeares mans estat These yong men according vnto her request diligently applie themselues about the princes affaires but specially Frumentius who was in chiefest authority This Frumentius enquired earnestly of the Romaine marchants which did trafficke in y â— countrey whether there was any christian in there company When he had found certaine signified vnto them his companioÌ„s estate his owne he praied them to choose vnto themselues seuerall places where after the maner of the christians they mighte poure out prayers vnto the liuinge God In processe of tyme Frumentius builded a churche for prayer And those christians ioyne vnto them certaine Indians whome they instructed in y â— principles of the â—aith when as the kinges sonne came to full yeares Frumentius Aedesius resigne vp vnto him his kingdom y â— which they had prudeÌ„tly gouerned craue liceÌ„ce of him for them to depart vnto their natiue countrey But when as the king his mother earnestlye entreated them to tary cold not preuaile being very destrous to visite their natiue soyle they take their leaue bid farewell Aedesius went to Tyrus for to see his pareÌ„ts kinsfokes Frumentius got him to Alexandria opened the whole matter all the circumstances vnto Athanasius who a fewe dayes before was there stalled Bishop He told him what happened in his iorney that there was good hope that the Indians would receaue the faith of Christ He prayeth him to send thither a Bishop withall other clergie men and that he should not make light accompt of such as might easily be brought to saue their soules Athanasius pondering with himselfe what preparation was fittest for this voiage made FrumeÌ„tius himselfe Bishop sayde that he knewe none fitter for this function then himselfe And the matter was thus concluded Frumentius beinge consecrated Byshop went backe againe into the Indian couÌ„trey preached the faith of Christ builded many churches through the power of God wrought many miracles and cured many both outwardly in body and inwardly in minde These things Ruffinus reporteth himselfe to haue heard with his eares euen of Aedesius himselfe who after that was made priest at Tyrus CAP. XVI Howe the nation inhabitinge Iberia was conuerted into the faith of Christ NOwe am I constrained for the time so requireth that I make relation howe the Iberians at that time receaued the christian faith There was a certaine godly and deuout woman taken captiue of the Iberians These Iberians dwell nigh the seae Euxinus a people they are hauing theyr originall of the Iberians which inhabite Spayne This woman being a captiue hauinge her conuersation with Barbarians gaue her selfe wholly to godlines For she exercised very muche the discipline of continencye she vsed a seuere kinde of abstinence and allwayes aplied her selfe to feruent prayer The which thinge when the Barbarians perceaued they wondered at the straungenes of the Act. It fell out that the kinges sonne of very tender yeares fell into a daungerous disease The queene after that countrey maner sent the childe vnto other women for phisicke to trye if experience had taught them any medicene that might cure that malady When as the nurce had caried aboute the childe vnto euery woman and coulde purchase remedy of none at length he is broughte vnto the woman that was captiue Shee in the presence of many women although she layde thereunto no salue or remedy in the worlde for of trueth shee knewe none yet tooke shee the childe layde her sackecloth vpon him and sayde onely these wordes Christ which healed many will also heale this infante When shee had vttered these wordes and prayed vnto God for ayde and assistance the childe forthwith recouered and thenceforth enioyed perfecte health The fame of this act was bruted abrode amonge all the Barbarian wiues and came at length vnto the queenes eare so that her name was famous and the captiue woman muche spoken of In a while after the queene her selfe fell sicke and this simple woman was sent for Shee refused to goe leste that peraduenture some violence contrary to the modestye of her nature were offred vnto her The Queene then is conueyed vnto her Shee practiseth the like as she had done before vnto the childe Forthwith the Queene is ridd of her disease shee thanketh the woman But the woman answered it is not my doinge but Christes the sonne of God and the maker of heauen and earth She exhorteth the Queene to call vpon him and to acknowledge him for the true God The kinge maruelinge that this malady whiche raygned among the Iberians was so some cured made inquisition who healed his wife and commaunded the captiue woman shoulde be bountifully rewarded Which made answere that she wanted no riches but esteemed godlynes as greate treasure and that the kinge shoulde receaue a precious Iewell if that he woulde acknowledge that God whome she professed With these words she sent backe the rewardes The kinge layde vp these sayinges in his brest The next day after as the
that he thrust him selfe againe to execut the function of priesthood without the admission consent of a generall councell For they complaine that after his returne from exile he rushed into the church vpon his owne head Secondly that at his returne when the tumult schisme was raised many were slaine moreouer that he caused some to be scurged some other to hold their hands at y ◠barre they alleage also such things as were pleaded against Athanasius in the councell held at Tyrus CAP. VI. Of Eusebius Emisenus IN the meane space while Athanasius was charged with the aforesayd crimes they chose Eusebius first called Emisenus Bishop of Alexandria Who and what he was Georgius Bishop of Laodicea who then was present at the councell sheweth vnto vs. For in the booke he wrote of his life he declareth that Eusebius came of a noble family of Edessa in Mesopotamia from a litle one to haue bene trained vp in holy scripture afterwards to be instructed in prophane literature by a professor which then taught at Edessa last of all to haue sucked y ◠right sense vnderstanding of holy scripture at the lips of Eusebius Patrophilus the one bishop of Caesarea the other bishop of Scythopolis After this to haue gone to Antioch where it fell out that Eustathius being accused of the heresie of Sabellius by Cyrus bishop of Beroea was deposed of his bishoprik Thēceforth to haue accompanied Euphronius the successor of Eustathius and because he woulde not be prieste to haue gott him to Alexandria and there to haue studied philosophie After that to haue returned to Antioch where he acquaynted him selfe with Placitus the successor of Euphronius Thēce to haue bene called by Eusebius bishop of Constantinople to be bishop of Alexandria but sayth Georgius because that Athanasius was greately beloued of the people of Alexandria he went not thither but was sent into the city Emisa Where when there was much adoe made among the citizens of Emisa about the election for he was charged with the study of the mathematicks he fledd away came to Laodicea vnto Georgius who reported many notable storyes of him Georgius brought him to Antioch by y ◠meanes of Placitus Narcissus caused him to be conueyed to Emisa where againe he was accused of the heresy of Sabellius But of the circumstāces of his election Georgius discourseth more at large last of all he addeth howe that the Emperour going into Barbary tooke him thence and that he knewe full well many wonders miracles to haue bene wrought by him So farre of the things which Georgius remembred of Eusebius Emisenus CAP. VII Howe that the byshops which mett at Antioch after that Eusebius Emisenus had refused Alexandria chose Gregorius to be byshop of Alexandria and endeuored to alter and so consequentlye to abrogate the canons of the Nicene councell WHen as at that time Eusebius by the councell of Antioch was chosen bishop of Alexādria feared to goe thither they consecrate Gregorie in his rowme to enioye the seae of Alexandria These things being done they labour to alter the faith who althoughe they colde reproue nothinge of the thinges decided in the Nicene Councell yet verelye wente they about through theyr often assemblyes to peruerte and ouerthrowe the creede contayninge the clause of One substance and otherwise to establishe of theyr owne that by a little and a litle they mighte soke men in the filthie sincke of Arius But of theyr drifte and fetches in the storyes followinge The epistle contayninge the fayth whiche they published was after this maner VVe are neyther the followers of Arius for howe can it be that we beinge Byshops shoulde geue eare vnto Arius beinge but a prieste neyther haue we receaued any other faythe then that whiche hathe beene published from the beginninge but when as vve examined his faith narrowely and weyed it deepely we rather receaued Arius returninge vnto vs then that our selues shoulde hange vpon his opinion The whiche you may easilye perceaue by that whiche followeth For we haue learned from the beginninge to beleeue in one vniuersall God the creator and maker of all things both visible and inuisible and in one Sonne the only begotten Sonne of God who was before all wordes and had his beinge together with the Father which begott him by whome all things both visible and inuisible were made VVho in the later days according vnto the singular good will of the father came downe from heauen and tooke flesh of the virgine mary VVho fullfilled all his fathers will who suffred rose againe ascended into the heauens and sitteth at the right hande of the father shall come againe to iudge the quick and the dead and continewe king and God for euer VVe beleue also in the holy Ghost And if that you will haue vs to add more we beleue the resurrection of the fleshe and the life euerlasting After that they had wrytten these things in theyr former epistle they sente it to the churches throughout euery cytie But continewinge at Antioch a while longer they in maner condemned the forme of fayth that wente before and wrote forthwith a newe one in these wordes VVe beleue as the Euangelistes and Apostles haue deliuered vnto vs in one God the Father almightie the creator and maker of all thinges and in one Lorde Iesus Christ his onely begotten sonne God by whome all thinges were made begotten of the father before all worlds God of God whole of whole alone of alone perfecte of perfecte kinge of kinge lorde of lorde the liuinge worde the wisedome the life the true light the waye of trueth the resurrection the shepherd the dore inconuertible and immutable the liuely image of the diuinity essence power counsell and glorie of the father the first begotten of all creatures who was in the beginninge with the father God the worde as it is sayde in the Gospell and God was the word by whome all thinges were made and in whome all thinges are VVho in the later dayes came downe from heauen was borne of a virgin according vnto the Scripturs was made man and the mediator of God and man the Apostle of our fayth and the guyde to life And as he sayth of him selfe I came dovvne from heauen not to doe mine ovvne will but his will vvhich sente me VVho suffred for vs and rose agayne the thirde daye for our sakes and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the righte hande of the father and shall come againe vvith glorie and power to iudg the quick and the dead And we beleue in the holy Ghost vvhiche is geuen vnto the faythfull for theyr consolation sanctification and perfection Euen as our Lord Iesus Christ commaunded his disciples sayinge goe teache all nations baptizinge them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghoste That is of the father who is the father in deede and of the sonne who is the
Churche of Seleucia they barre the doores and ratisie with their subscriptions the forme of fayth that was read the daye before In their steede which were absent their readers and Deacons subscribed for they had signified before that they woulde by their Deputies approue the aforesayd creede CAP. XXXII Howe that Acacius of Caesarea rehearsed an other creede in the councell of Seleucia also how that he and his complices after the Emperours returne out of the west mett at Constantinople and procured the councell of Ariminum to be ratified adding thereunto of their owne ACacius and his complices founde great fault with the canons of that councell because they subscribed when the Church doores were shutt ▪ for sayth Acacius the thinges which are done in huckermucker as they ought not to be approued so are they not voide of suspicion This he sayde because he caryed in his pockett an other forme of fayth ready to be offred vp he read it in the presence of Lauricius and Leônas that were noble men and bent his whole might to haue onely the same confirmed these thinges were done the seconde daye of the councell and besides nothing The thirde day Leônas went about to call both partes together at what time Macedonius Bishop of Constantinoplē and Basilius Bishop of Ancyra were present When both these men mett together and presented them selues to wete of the contrary side vnto Acacius his consederats woulde not shewe their faces in the councell but sayde that it was requisite they should be banished the assemblie who of late had bene deposed and then also were accused After much adoe when this side had the vpper hande they that were accused left the councell in whose rowmes Acacius together with his company succeded Then Leônas stoode vp and sayde that Acacius had presented vnto him a booke yet knewe they not that it was a forme of fayth which confuted sometymes priuely sometymes openly and playnly the opinion of the contrary side When that all made silence and gaue diligent eare thinking nothing lesse then that it had bene a forme of fayth at length Acacius read his creede or fayth with a certayne preface written before it as followeth VVe vvhich by the Emperours edict mett yesterday that is the fift of the kalends of October at Seleucia in Isauria haue labored vvith all might possible to continevve vnitie agreement in the church of God to dispute reason of the faith according vnto the sacred testimonies of the Prophets euangelists with modest quiet mindes as the most vertuous Emperour Constantius hath geuen vs in charge to conclude nothing for canons of the Church vvhich might be founde contrary to holy Scripture ▪ but seing there were such kinde of men at the councell vvho rayled at some shutt vp some others mouthes forbade these to speake excluded the other from their cōpany ioyned with them out of diuers prouinces certaine deposed expulsed persons entertained them contrary to the old canon of the church the coūcel as Lauricius the most valiant captaine saw more is the pity with his owne eies was all set on tumult grieuous dissention VVe haue spoken these things to this end that you may vnderstand we reiect not the forme of fayth that vvas published confirmed in the dedication at Antioch but vve bring forth the same presently sithence that we knowe for suerty that the fathers then agreed vpon this controuersie which concerned the faith but in as much as the clauses of vnity in substance equality in substance disquieted the mindes of sundry men not onely in tymes past but also at this present so that novve also such as affirme the sonne to be vnaequall to the father are sayd to be authors of noueltie therefore haue vve layd aside the clauses of vnitie and aequalitie in substance as words not agreeing with holy Scripture also we accurse the clause of vnaequalitie and hold all the patrons and fauorers thereof for excommunicated persons VVe confesse playnely the likenesse the sonne hath with the father imitating the Apostle vvhere he saith of the sonne who is the image of the inuisible God VVe protest therefore and beleeue in one God the father almighty maker of heauen earth of visible and inuisible things VVe beleeue also in his sonne our Lord Iesus Christ begotten of him before all vvorlds vvithout affection God the vvord of the only begotten God the light the life the trueth the vvisedome by vvhome all things vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible VVe beleeue that he in the latter dayes tooke flesh of the blessed virgine Mary to the ende he might take avvay the sinnes of the worlde that he vvas made man that he suffred for our sinnes that he rose againe ascended into the heauens sitteth at the right hande of the father and that he shall come againe vvith glorie to iudge both the quicke and the deade VVe beleeue also in the holy Ghost vvhome our Lorde and Sauiour called the comforter promising after his departure to send him to his disciples vvhome also he hath sent by whome he sanctifieth the faithfull in the Churche and such as are baptized in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghost all those that besides this fayth shall publishe any other vve doe excommunicate out of the holy and Catholicke Churche This was Acacius creede whereunto both he and his complices as many in number as I reported before subscribed The creede being reade Sophronius Bishop of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagoma stoode vp and spāke agaynst it in this maner for I will vse his owne wordes If that the nevve deuises and dayly inuention of your brayne be layde dovvne for creedes it can not othervvise fall out but that shortly vve shall be founde vvithout one grayne of fayth These as I haue learned were the wordes of Sophronius In my opinion if that his auncetors and such as liued then with him had so settled their myndes as toutchinge the Nicene councell all this sturre and tumultes had quite bene taken away all this hurlyburly this rashe and vnaduised sedition had neuer raygned in the Churche but to what passe these thinges are nowe come let them iudge that can better discerne and geue sentence thereof When they had reasoned toe and fro of this matter and of them that were accused and brawled together a longe whyle at length the councell brake vp The fourth daye they assemble agayne and a freshe they chide one with an other In circumstance of talke Acacius gaue forthe this verditt as followeth If the Nicene creede was once altered of olde and afterwards often ▪ what can you saye to the contrary but that presently a newe forme of fayth without any preiudice at all may be established of vs whereunto Eleusius made answere We are not nowe come to this assemblie for to learne that which we learned before neyther to receaue the fayth which we haue
whose name was Amachius who commauÌ„ded that the Idolatricall temple of the Ethnicks which stood in y t citie should be set wide open that the foule heapes and filthy corners of a long time vnfrequeÌ„ted should be made cleane and fell himselfe a worshipping of the Idols Which act of his pricked not a litle in conscience the zealous christians Wherefore one Macedonius Theodulus and Tatianus beinge kindled with fetuencie of loue towardes the christian fayth coulde in no wise away with such horrible practises but in the burninge zeale of their godly inindes brake in the nighte season into the temple threwe downe theyr Idols and stamped them into pouder Whereat when the gouernoure was wonderfull wroth and purposed to execute diuerse of the citizens whiche were giltelesse and innocente persons the authors thereof presented themselues of their owne accorde before him and chose to dye themselues for the trueth rather then any other for their sakes should be depriued of their liues After they were layde in holde the gouernoure commaunded that they should cleare theÌ„selues by sacrificinge vnto the Idols and threatned them if they refused he would seuerely punishe them They beinge of a noble minde valiant courage set nought by his threats made themselues redy to suffer what tormente soeuer were layde vpon them for they counted it farre better to loose their liues then to defile their soules with those impure sacrifices The gouernour wheÌ„ he had assayd them at all kind of torments last of all set them on the gredyron caused fire to be made vnder broiled them to death And to the end they might valiantly encouÌ„ter vnder the glorious garlande of victory they reason thus with the gouernour If thou longe O Amachius after broyled meate turne vp the other side of vs least in the eatinge we seeme rawe vnto thee and the bloode runne aboute thy teeth This was the ende that these men had CAP. XIIII VVhen the Emperoure Iulian forbad the christians the studie of Prophane literature both the Apollinaruses the father and the sonne fell a wrytinge The profltte that the christians haue in prophane wryters THe lawe whiche the Emperoure made that the christians shoulde not be trained vp in the liberall sciences made bothe the Apollinariuses of whome we spake before to be of farre greater fame For either of them beinge skilfull in suche artes as directed our style and orations the father a grammarian the sonne a Rhetorician profited very much the christians and furthered at that time not a little the churche of God For the father as a profounde grammarian framed the arte of humanitie vnto the furtherance of Christian religion he turned the fiue bookes of Moses into Heroycall verse together with other bookes of the olde Testament which contayne Hystories partely in Hexameter verse and partely after the forme of comedies and tragedies with the fitte application of persons he wrote in all kinde of meter to the ende the christians shoulde not be ignorant and vnskilfull in any rare gifte that excelled among the Gentils The sonne an eloquente Rhetorician broughte the wrytinges of the Euangelistes and workes of the Apostles into Dialogues as Plato vsed amonge the Heathens Althoughe their laboure and industrie seemed auaylable and greatelye to sette forthe the seruice of God in so muche that thereby the lewde drift of the Emperoure was stopped from takinge effect yet the prouidence of God did farre exceede both their carefull studie and dashed also the Emperours wiked deuise For immediatly the Emperours lawe as hereafter it shall more manifestly appeare was abrogated and theyr workes were as muche spoken of as if they had neuer bene wrytten But here peraduenture some man will saye vnto me why then doe ye attribute bothe the aforesayde vnto the prouidence of God As toutchinge the shorteninge of the Emperoures dayes it is knowen well inoughe howe auaylable it was vnto christian religion but in that the Poâ—trye of bothe the Apollinariuses was neglected and that the christians freely applied the Philosophicall sciences of the heathens there is no man will graunte that it furthered the seruice of God and the faith of Christ For it can not be without daunger that the christians maye wade in the doctrine of Ethnickes in so muche it teacheth that there be many Gods Vnto these things which aptely may be obiected vnto vs we will presentely frame suche answers as we can The doctrine of the Gentiles is allowed neither by Christ neither by his Disciples as inspired from aboue neither altogether reiected for daungerous And I take y â— to haue come to passe not without the speciall prouidence of almightie God For there were many heathen Philosophers which were not farre from the knowledg of God such as by publique disputation confuted the Epicures and other contentious Philosophers delited with the quirckes of logicke and ouerthrewe their palpable error and ignorance And thoughe they coulde stande the fauorers of christian religion in greate steade for their furtherance of learninge yet attained they not vnto the grounde principall point of our religion insomuch they vnderstoode not the mystery of Christ which was concealed the coÌ„tinewance of many ages and generations The whiche the Apostle in his epistle vnto the Romanes sheweth plainely in these wordes The wrath of God is reuealed from heauen against all vngodlines and iniquitie of men which withholde the trueth in vnrighteousnesse For the thinge that may be knowen of God is manifest amonge theÌ„ because God hath shevved it vnto them For his inuisible thinges beinge vnderstoode by his workes are seene through the creation of the world that is both his eternall power godheade so that they are without excuse because that when they knewe God notwithstanding they glorified him not as God VVherefore they knowinge the trueth which God reuealed vnto them were worthie of death because that wheÌ„ they knewe God they glorified him not as God Therefore sithence that the Apostle forbadd not the knoweledge of the Gentils doctrine he gaue free licence and libertie vnto euery man at his choice and pleasure to wade in the vnderstandinge of them Let this suffire for one reason to the satisfiynge of the former doubts The seconde is as followeth The holy Scriptures inspired from aboue deliuer vnto vs diuine precepts and mysticall doctrine they graffe in the mindâ—s of suche as heare them true Godlines and the righte trade of liuinge they sette wyde open before such as study them the most sacred faith they teach vs no logicke wherewith we may withstand such as oppugne the trueth although the aduersaries are easiest ouerthrowen when their owne armoure and proper defence is vsed to their foyle and destruction But the christians enioyed not this benefit by the workes of bothe the Apollinariuses This was it that the Emperoure Iulian shotte at when as he made a lawe that the christians shoulde not be schooled in the doctrine of the Gentils He knewe full well that the fables contained in
the works of the Hethen wryters being paised in the equall balance of indifferent iudgement would quickly be founde light and subiect to reprehension and discredit the which fond inuention of theirs when Socrates their principall philosopher had dissalowed the Iudges condemned him as if he had gone about to disproue or destroy their Gods nay rather theyr deuells Besides all this both Christ himselfe and his Apostle commaunded vs to be tried exchaungers to the ende we might examine all thinges holde that which is good We haue also to take heede lest any circumuent vs through Philosophie vayne deceate This we shall not be able to doe vnlesse we possesse the armoure of the enemy and in enioyinge it we turne the whole vnto an other vse For we haue to reiect that which is euell to retaine that which is good and to admit nothing without good trial For that which is good wheresoeuer it is founde appertaineth vnto the trueth For if any be disposed to vrge vs farther herein set him consider with him selfe howe the Apostle did not onely not forbidde the knoweledge of Heathenishe doctrine but is seene not to haue despised them himselfe to the ende he might be skilfull in many of the Ethnicks workes Where I pray you borowed he this sentence The Cretians are alwayes liers euell beastes slowe bellies was it not out of Epimenides a Poet of Creta◠or where learned he this we are also his ofspring was it not out of the Phaenomena of Aratus th◠Astronomer That sayinge also Euell wordes corrupte good maners sheweth playnely that he was well seene in the tragedies of Euripides But what neede I vse many wordes hereof It is knowen well inoughe that the Doctors of the Churche of an aunc ente custome neuer forbid vnto this day exercised themselues from their youth vp euen vnto the last houre in the sciences and doctrine of the Gentils partely for to attayne aswell vnto a fine stile and eloquente phrase as the exercise and whettinge of the wittes and partely also for to confute the doctrine of suche wryters as deliuered vnto the worlde error and falshoode in steede of the manifest and onely trueth These thinges accordinge vnto our simple hability we haue layde downe by occasion of both these Apollinariuses CAP. XV. Howe the Emperoure takinge his voyage to warre with the Persians came to Antioch where the common people derided him vnto whome after his departure he wrote an oration intitled Misopogon THe Emperoure when he had exacted of the christians and heaped together a great summe of money proceedinge on his voyage against the Persians came to Antioch in Syria Being there and desirous to shewe vnto the people of Antioch a tast of his honors title the which he sette much by sette the market lowe made all things very cheape had no consideration of the time he pondered not with him selfe howe that an hoast or armie wheresoeuer it commeth bringeth greate domage vnto the prouincialls and turneth plenty of necessaries to scarsitie of foode Wherefore tauerners and vittayling houses which prouided necessaries for wayfaringe men not able to beare the losse of so weyghty a burthen whereunto they were inioyned by the Emperours edict gaue ouer their trade so that the citie was brought to greate distresse because they wanted necessary prouision The Antiochians an impatiente kinde of people soone prouoked to anger and reuengemente coulde not away with this plague which they tooke for no other without any more adoe they goe to meete the Emperoure they crie out agaynst him they inueye at his doinges and playe with his bearde it was a longe thrumme bearde they bidde him goe shaue his bearde and make halters thereof they bringe him in remembrance of his coyne wherein there was a bull conqueringe the worlde with his hornes For the Emperoure beinge wholly geuen to superstition sacrificed bulls vpon the Idols altare and therefore gaue charge that bothe the Alter and the bull shoulde be ingrauen in his coyne The Emperoure beinge incensed with these skommes threatned he woulde plague the people of Antioch He remoued thence into Tarsus in Cilicia as soone as he had prouided there suche necessaries as he stoode in neede of he went on his iorney Whereupon Libanius the Sophist tooke occasion to wryte the oration intitled of his embassie where he entreated the Emperoure for the Antiochians and also the oration vnto the people of Antioch where he layde before them the displeasure which the Emperoure had conceaued agaynst them The reporte goeth that the Sophist wrote the sayde Orations and yet they neuer were seene abroade and that the Emperoure was appeased not by reuenginge him of such as had flouted his beard but requitinge them with like cōtumelious skommes For he defamed the citie of Antioch for euer in the oration which he entitled Antiochian or Misopogon directed against the deriders of his bearde So farre of these things CAP. XVI VVhen the Emperoure woulde haue an answere of the Oracle of Apollo the deuell woulde not speake because the body of Babilas the martyr was buried hard by The Emperours displeasure and of the tormentes which Theodorus the Confessor suffred NOwe let vs speake of the iniuries which the Emperoure at that time did vnto the Christians at Antioch Whē he had commaunded that the Idolatricall temples of the Ethnicks shoulde be set wide open at Antioch the Emperoure made haste to the Oracle of Apollo which was in Daphne a litle out of Antioch But the Deuell whose dwellinge was in that denne trembled for feare of Babilas the martyr whose corps laye interred not farre from the place and woulde geue the Emperoure no answer the Emperoure perceauing the cause commaunded that the martyrs tumbe shoulde thence be remoued with speade When the christians of Antioch vnderstoode of this they assemble together with women and children they reioyce and are glad they singe Psalmes they translate the corps from out of Daphne into the citie of Antioch The Psalmes which they songe tended to the reprehension of the Heathen Gods and of such as worshipped Idols and carued images Then the Emperours disposition which was hid and cloked afore time was made manifest vnto the whole worlde For he who alitle before was a professor of Philosophie nowe breaketh out and fretteth within himselfe at y ◠Psalmes that were songe in derision of the Gentils and determineth to torment the christians as Diocletian had done in a while before But when his expedition against the Persians permitted no leasure to bring his purpose about he gaue out a commission vnto Salustius who was Liuetenante of that prouince for to see that such as had songe the Psalmes in derision of the Ethnikes shoulde seuerely be punished The Liuetenant althoughe he were a panyme yet was he altogether vnwillinge to execute his commission But he seing there was no other choice attached many of the christians sent many to prison But one that
intollerable for he bouldened him selfe vpon Iohn and inueyed contumeliously without all modestie and shamefastnesse agaynste all men which turned to the encrease of the spite and hatred borne vnto Iohn Moreouer when Seuerianus on a certaine tyme came to the place where Serapion sate Serapion gaue him not the honor and reuerence dewe vnto a bishop neyther rose vp in so doing he declared that he regarded not the person of Seuerianus This contempt and disdayne of Serapion was not taken paciently of Seuerianus for he exclaimed against him in these wordes If Serapion dyeth a Christian then was Christ neuer incarnate Serapion tooke this as a fitte occasion ministred vnto him made Iohn to become his foe whilest that he concealed the firste sentence to wete If Serapion dyeth a Christian and repeated the later to wete that Christ was neuer incarnate affirming y ◠he heard it of Seuerianus owne mouth And to the end he woulde iustifie the reporte he brought forth men of his owne degree and callinge to testifie that they heard the words To be short Iohn without any more adoe banished Seuerianus the citie Eudoxia the Empresse vnderstanding of the circumstance founde great fault with Iohn caused Seuerianus to be sent for out of Chalcedon in Bithynia who came immediately Iohn kept him selfe on t of his companie he woulde not be brought with any mans entreatie and perswasion to become friendes with Seuerianus At length when that Eudoxia the Emperours mother in the Apostles churche had throwen her sonne Theodosius the Emperour who though he were then of tender yeares yet gouerned he y e common wealth with good successe and prosperous ouersight at the feete of Iohn and craued of him with solemne protestations that of all loue and friendship he woulde not denye her request with muche adoe he was wonne to embrace Seuerianus agayne But for all that outwardly they bare a shewe and a countenance of friendship neuerthelesse inwardly they continewed their spite and hatred one towards the other The cause that deuided Iohn and Seuerianus was in such sort CAP. XI Howe that Epiphanius comming to Constantinople celebrated the communion gaue orders without the licence of Iohn therein to gratifie Theophilus SHortly after Epiphanius the bishop came from Cyprus to Constantinople at the request of Theophilus and brought thither with him the decree of the bishops where he had not excommunicated Origen but onely condemned his bookes Wherefore after his comming into the church of Sainct Iohn which was not farre from the walls of the citie he celebrated the cōmunion made a deacon went forth out of the churche and came to Constantinople When that Iohn had inuited him requesting he woulde take a peece of a lodging with him he for to feede the humor of Theophilus refused his curtesie and tooke vp an Inne by him selfe After that he had called together the bishops which then by chaunce were at Constantinople he read in their hearinge the decree where he had condemned the works of Origen Of the bookes I haue nothing to say but thus muche that it pleased Epiphanius and Theophilus to condemne them Of the byshops some for reuerence of Epiphanius subscribed vnto the decree some other denyed it vtterly Of which number Theotimus bishop of Scythia made Epiphanius this answere I of myne owne part ô Epiphanius will not so much iniurie the man who is departed to rest many yeares agoe neither dare I presume once to enterprise so haynous an offence for to condemne the bookes whiche our auncetors haue not condemned specially seeyng I vnderstande not as yet neither read any parcell of the doctrine within contayned And when that a certaine booke of Origen was brought forth he read it and shewed there the interpretation of holy scripture agreeable vnto the faith of the catholicke churche last of all he concluded with these wordes They that reprehende these things doe no lesse then mislike vvith the matter vvhereof these bookes doe intreat This was the answere of Theotimus vnto Epiphanius a man he was of great fame both for sound doctrine and godly conuersation CAP. XII A kinde of Apologie in the behalfe of Origen IN so much that many were drawen headlong through the procurement of malicious sclaunderers much like a blast of hurlwinde to reuile Origen it shall not be amisse to saye somewhat of them Obscure men odde felowes such as haue no pythe or substance in them to the ende they myght become famous goe about moste commonly to purchase vnto them selues glorie and renowme by dispraysing of such men as farre excell them in all rare and singular vertues Of which sort of backebiters first I remember Methodius bishop of Olympus a citie of Lycia next Eustathius who for a while was bishop of Antioch thirdly Apolinarius last of all this Theophilus This messe of raylers if I may so tearme them fell a sclaūdering of Origē neither yet all for one thing One charged him with this an other with that wherby they all seuerally declared vnto the world that they allowed wholly all such thinges in him as they had not reprehended by name For in as much they blamed him seuerally for seuerall doctrine it appeareth they tooke that for trueth in him which they concealed and misliked not withall and they approued in very deede that which they denyed not in worde Methodius though at the beginning he inueyed bitterly against Origen yet afterwardes as it were by way of recantation he extolled him vnto the skies in that dialogue which he intitled Zeno. Their reuiling in myne opinion encreased the renowne fame of Origen For while they charged him with haynous crimes as they thought and yet findinge no faulte with him as toutching the blessed Crinitie they are witnesses them selues that he was of y ◠right and sound faith Euen as these men being not able iustly to accuse him beare witnes w t him of his true beliefe so Athanasius voyd of all parcialitie a zealous maintayner of the clause Of one substance alleageth him for a witnesse of his faith in the orations which he wrote to the cōfutation of the Arians citeth his words for testimonies among his works sayth thus of him That notable man that paynfull writer Origen confirmeth in plaine words the faith opinion we haue of the sonne of God in that he auoutcheth him to be coaeternall with the father Wherefore such as goe about to reuile Origen they vnwares doe sclaunder Athanasius which hyghly commended him Thus much by the way of Origen and nowe againe to the storie CAP. XIII How that Iohn sent for Epiphanius to come vnto him and charged him that he had behaued him selfe contrary to the canons of the church after they had brawled a while together Epiphanius returned homewards IOhn at the first tooke not the matter very grieuously for all that Epiphanius contrary to the canon had made a Deacon in his church but requested him to accept
Hermas whome Paule saluted in his Epistle to the Romaines was Bishop of Philippos  Rom. 16. 31. Patrobas Patrobas of whom Paule made mention was Bishop of Nepoliolis Patrobas was bishop of the nation Peli Rom. 16. 32. Agabus Agabus of whome mention is made in the Acts of the Apostles was endued â—ith the gifâ— of prophecâ—e Agabus who had the gifte of prophecie was one also of the 70 Disciples Aâ—â— 11. 21. 33. Lâ—â—â—s I â—â—â— is remembred of Paule he was the first Bishop of Rome after Peter the chiefe of the Apostles â—â—nus was Bishop of Rome after Peter 2. â—â—m 4. 34. Gâ—â—us S. Paul made mention of Gaius he was Bishop of Ephesus after Timothee Caius was Bishop of Ephesus Rom 16. 〈…〉 â— 1. â—â—â— â— Iâ—â— eâ—â—st 3. Rom. 16. 35. Philologus The Apostle made mention of Philologus Andrewe the Apostle made him bishop of Sinopa Philologus was by Andrewe made bishop of Sinopis  36. Olympâ—s Pâ—â—â— in a certaine place hath remembred Olympâ—s he wâ—â—â—â—headed at Rome together with Peter the chiefe of the Apostles and so dyed a martyr Liphasius was bounde at Rome with Paule and beheaded after his martyrdome Rom 16 37. Rodion S. Paule some where made mention of this Rodion he was also beheaded at Rome together with Peter   38. Iason Iason is remembred in the workes of the Apostle he was bishop of Tarsus Iason was bishop of Tharsus Act. 7. Rom. 16. 39. Sosipater Sosipater is remembred of the Apostle he was bishop of â—â—nâ—â—â— Sosipater as saith Dorotheus was bishop of Iconium but Origen in the firste Glossa saith he was bishop of Thesâ—alonica Rom. 16. 40. Lucius Lucius is also remembred of Paule he was bishop of Lâ—â—dicâ—â— in Syria Lucius was bishop of Laodicea in Syria Act â—â— Rom â—â— 41. Tertius This Tertius wrote the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romaines he was the second bishop of Iconium Tertius who wrote the Epistle to the Romaines as Paule endited it was Bishop of Meiadum Rom â—â— 42. Eraâ—â—â—s S. Paule made mention of Erastus in his Epistle to the Romaines 〈◊〉 he was stewarde of the Church of Ierusalem afterwardes he was made Bishop of Paneas  Act 〈◊〉 Rom 16. â—2 â—â—â—oâ—â— 4. 43. Phigellus S. Paule remembred this Phigellus as if he had taught false doctrine and followed after Simon he was bishop of Ephesus Philetus or Phigellus was bishop of Ephesus â—â— â—â—â— 1. 2. 44. Hermogenes The Apostle made mention of this Hermogenes as one that brought into the church of God false doctrine he was bishop of Megara Hermogenes was Bishop of Megara â—2 Tâ—m 1. 45. Demas Paule wrote of this Demas that he fell from the faith for of these three which went next before he remembred in his second Epistle to Timothee that Phigellus and Hermogenes by sowing of straunge doctrine resisted his preaching that Demas for loue of the present world for sook the trueth of the Gospell This Demas became afterwards an Idole priest of Thessalonica of these thinges also wrote Iohn the Apostle They went saith he out from vs but they were not of vs. Demas became an Apostata Coloss 4. â— Tim 4. Epist ad phiâ—m â— John 2. 46. Quartus There is mention made of this Quartus in the Epistle to the Romaines he was bishop of Berytus Quartus was bishop of Berythus Rom 16.1 Corin. 1. 3. 4. 16. Act. 18. 1â— Tâ—â— 3. It was Peter the Apostle and not Cephas as we reade in the Epistle to the Galathians that was rebuked It appeareth this copy was corrupted for in the other coppie there is no suche thing Philip. 2. 4. Philip. 4. Coloss 4. 47. Apollos S. Paule made mention of Apollos in his first Epistle to the Corinthians he was bishop of Caesarea Apollo was bishop of Connia  48. Cephas This was he whome Paule reprehended at Antioch of one name with Peter he was bishop of Cannia   49. Sosâ—henes S. Paule remembred this Sosâ—henes he was bishop of Colophonia 1. Corinth 1. Act. 18. Sosthenes was bishop of Colophonia  50. Epaphroditus There is mention made in the works of S. Paule of Epaphroditus he was bishop of Adriana Epaphroditus was bishop of Andriaca  51. Caesar Caesar also is remembred of Paule he was bishop of Dyrrhachium Caesar was bishop of Dyrrhachium  52. Marcus S. Paule made mention of this Marcus he was a Cosingermaine of Barnabas and bishop of Apollonias Marcus the Cosingermaine of Barnabas so called because they came both of two sisters as the Glossa saith he was bishop of Apollonias  53. Ioseph Ioseph who also is called Iustus and Barsabas of whome Luke wrore in the Acts of the Apostles that he was in election with Matthias was bishop of Eleutheropolis Ioseph called also Iesus was bishop of Eleutheropolis Act. 1. 18. Coloss 4. 54. Artemas Artemas whome Paule also remembred was bishop of Lystris Artemas was bishop of Lystra Titus 3. 55. Clemens Clemens of whom S. Paule said with Clemens and the rest of my fellow labourers was the firste of the Gentils and Greeks that belieued in Christ he was made bishop of Sardice now called Triadiâ—za Clemens the first that belieued of the Gentiles â–ª was first bishop of Sardice afterwards of Rome Philip. 4. 56. Onesiphorus S. Paule remembred Onesiphorus he was bishop of Coronia Onesimus or Onesiphorus was bishop of Coronis 2. Tim. 1. 4. Coloss 4. Epist ad philem Act. 20. Ephes 6. Coloss 4. 2. Tim. 4. Tâ—â— 3. 2. Tim. 4. 57. Tychicus There is mention made by S. Paule of this Tychicus he was the first bishop of Chalcedon in Bithynia Ticicus Tychicus was bishop of Colophonia  58. Carpus S. Paule made mention of this Carpus he was bishop of Berrhoea a citie in Thracia Carpus was bishop of Beronia in Thracia  59. Euodius Euodius is remembred of Paule he was the first bishop of Antioch after Peter the Apostle Euodius was bishop of Antioch after Peter Philip. 4. 60. Philemon S. Paule wrote an Epistle vnto this Philemon he was bishop of Gaza Philemon vnto whom Paule wrote a peculiar Epistle was bishop of Gaza Epist ad philem 61. Zenas Zenas the Lawier of whom Paule made mention was bishop of Diospolis Zenas was bishop of Diospolis Tit. 3. Act. 18. 1. Cor. 16. 2. Tim. 4. 62. Aquila The Apostle hath made mention of this Aquila he was bishop of Heraclea   63. Priscas Priscilla S. Paule remembred this Priscas he was bishop of Colophona Priscus 2. Tim. 4. 64. Iunias The Apostle remembred also this Iunias he was bishop of Apamia in Syria Aristarchus bishop of Apamia Rom. 16. 65 â–ª Marcus Marke who also was called Iohn of whom Luke wrote in the Acts of the Apostles was bishop of Biblus Marke called also Iohn was bishop of Biblus Act. 13. 15. 2. Tim. 4. 66. Aristarchus S. Paule hath made often mention of this Aristarchus A seconde Aristarchus mentioned in the Epistle to Philemon Act. 19. 20. 27 Coloss 4.