The auncient ecclesiasticall histories of the first six hundred yeares after Christ, wrytten in the Greeke tongue by three learned historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina vvrote 10 bookes. Socrates Scholasticus of Constantinople vvrote 7 bookes. Euagrius Scholasticus of Antioch vvrote 6 bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues of the prophetes, apostles and 70 disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue by Meredith Hanmer, Maister of Arte and student in diuinitie. Last of all herein is contayned a profitable chronographie collected by the sayd translator, the title whereof is to be seene in the ende of this volume, with a copious index of the principall matters throughout all the histories

CAP. XVII.

Origen reuoketh Ambrose from the heresie of Valentinus, he professeth* 1.1 diuinitie and philosophie with greate admiration.

AT that tyme Ambrose addicted vnto the Valentinian heresie and 〈…〉〈…〉 by Origen, was lyghtened with the trueth whiche shyned as the sonne beames, and embraced the sounde doctrine of the churche, together with manie other learned men, whiche resorted vnto him. When the rumor was nowe euerie where bruted abrode of the fame of Origen, they came to trye the trueth of his doctrine, and to haue experience of his vtteraunt•• in prea∣chinge. Heretickes also very many and philosophers specially of the moste famous▪ whereof not a fewe gaue diligent eare and attentiue heede, and were instructed of him, not onely in deuine but also in prophane literature. as many as he perceaued towardly and sharpe wi••••e•• 〈…〉〈…〉 them

vnto philosophicall discipline, expoundinge vnto them Geometrie and Arithmeticke, with the o∣ther* 1.2 liberall artes. againste the absurde opinions of philosophers he alleaged philosophers au∣torities, and expounded them, consideringe seuerally of them as by waye of commentarie, so that he was renowmed, famous and recounted amonge the Gentiles for a greate philosopher. he per∣swaded also vnto the studie of the liberall artes, many of them which were dull witted, affirminge they shoulde thence procure vnto them selues great commoditie, and helpe to the contemplation and increase of knowledge in holye scripture, for he was of this opinion that the exercise of pro∣phane and philosophicall discipline was very necessary and profitable for him selfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 18. in the Greeke.
• * 1.2

  Origen rea∣deth the libe¦rall artes ex∣horting both the subtle & simple to studie them.