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

THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE EC∣CLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF EVSE∣BIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALAESTINA. (Book 10)

CAP. I.

The thankefulnes of the Christians for the peace graunted vnto them from aboue after the great storme of persecution.

MAny and infinite thankes be geuen in all thinges vnto God almightie and kinge of* 1.1 all kings, and to Iesus Christ the sauiour and redemer of our soules, through whome we wishe vnto vs continewally the preseruation of such thinges as concerne peace, both from outward vexations, as also firme and immouable inwardly in our minds. Seeing that hitherto we were furthered by thy prayers, and nowe hauing finished nyne bookes of the ecclesiasticall historie, we annexe the tenth and dedicate it vn∣to thee, most holy Paulinus, sealinge and shuttinge vp the whole worke with the publishinge a∣broad of thy prayse. Justly therfore we place heere in a perfect number the absolute and solemne sermon gratulatorie of y^e repayring of the churches, obeying no doubt herein the holy ghost com∣maunding* 1.2 after this sort: Singe vnto the Lorde a nevve songe, because he hath done maruelous things. with his ovvne ryght hād & with his holy arme hath he gotten him selfe the victory. The Lord hath shewed his saluation: in the sight of the heathen hath he openly declared his ryghte∣ousnes. Insomuch that these words of y^e Prophet require a new song, of duety then we must haue a songe in our mouth, because that after vglesome and darke spectacles, after thunderinge and terrible threates, we haue bene thought worthie nowe to see such thinges, and to celebrate such solemnities, such as I saye before vs manie iuste men and Martyrs of God haue desired to see vpon earth and haue not seene, to heare and haue not hearde. But they passinge very speedely, haue possessed farre more myghtie ioyes, beynge taken awaye into the heauens them selues vnto the celestiall Paradise and to deuine dayntyes: but we confessinge these present thinges to be greater then we deserued, do honor aboue measure the grace of Gods greate goodnesse. We honor him iustly, reuerencinge the same with all the myght of our mindes, and testiflyng truely accordinge vnto the prophecies written where it is sayde: Come and see the vvorkes of* 1.3 the Lorde, vvhat maruelous thinges he hath done vpon earth, he maketh the vvarres to ceasse vnto the endes of the vvorlde. He breaketh the bovve, bruyseth theyr armour, and burneth theyr chariots vvith fyre. Reioycinge therefore together in this sorte because of these thinges which in vs manifestly are fufilled, we wyll ioyne this booke to the other former treatyses. For the whole rable of the hatefull persons and enemyes to God was wyped awaye, and so so∣daynly taken out of the sight of men, that agayne the worde of God was fulfilled, sayinge: I savve the vvicked lyfred vp and exaulted lyke the ceders of Libanus, and I passed by and be∣holde* 1.4 he vvas not, I sought his place and it coulde not be founde. This daye beynge lyght∣some and cleare, caste ouer with no darke cloudes, hath shyned to all the churches of Christ throughout the worlde, with the sonne beames of celestiall bryghtnesse. Neyther dyd any forey∣ner enuie at our ioyfull assemblyes, or at the enioyinge of the same gracious benefites, but all mortall men beynge deliuered from tyrannicall oppression, had libertie to communicate with vs in the thinges gyuen vs from aboue.

CAP. II.

The heathens are gladd of the Christians successe, the churches are repayred, and the Emperours shewe themselues liberall and bountifull.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 heathen being deliuered &〈…〉〈…〉 the only true 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was y^• defender of the god•…•… ioy, which wi•…•… gladnes inspired all, seeing the places a litle before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the tyrants▪ to be raysed vp as it were out of a long and deadly calamitie, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the foundations to be e∣rect••••* 1.5 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an vn••••eas••••able height▪ and to receaue greater 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then euer they enioyed before their destruction. Moreouer the most puysant Emperours by their often 〈◊〉〈◊〉 published in the behalfe of the Christians, haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and enlarged the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 graunted ••e by the ••••ee ••o••••∣tifulnes of God, vnto the Bishops also ••••ere came fauorable letters from the Emeprour, dignities were bestowed, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of money and presents were sent them, the ••oppy of which letters translated out of the Romayne into the greeke tongue, it shall not be amisse in his proper place to annexe it vnto this present history as vnto a certayne piller, to the ende they may be committed to the memo∣rie of all posteritie to come.

CAP. III.

Of the dedication of the temples then euery where celebrated, and their festiuall orations.

THen the wished and desired sight was seene of vs, to we••e the celebrating of the dedications,* 1.6 throughout the cityes, and consecrations of oratories lately buylded: the meeting of Bi∣shops: the comming together of them which being farre seuered asunder, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in forreyne contreyes: the loue of nation towards nation: the knitting together of the members of Christ, clo∣sing into one harmonie. so that according vnto the foreshewing of the Prophet signifying mystical∣ly before, the thing which should come: bone was ioyned to bone▪ ioynt to ioynt, and what so euer* 1.7 other thing the saying of the Prophet though darkly, yet truely foretold vs. One power of the diuine spirite wrought in all the members: all had one minde, and the same readinesse of fayth: the ce∣lebration of the diuinitie amonge all was one: Moreouer the orderly seruice of such as gouerned the Churches and publique ministration of the holy thinges appoynted of them for the purpose: comely rites and ceremonies of the Churches were celebrated, ••••••e, with psalmodies and other songes of praise deliuered vs from aboue, there, with diuine and misticall ministration as the secret pledges of the Lords passion were solemnized, and withall men and women of euery age, with all might that in them lay, with cheerfull minde and will, in prayer and thankesgeuing, honored God the autor of all goodnes. to be short, the gouernours of the Churches as many as were present with solemne Sermons euery one as much as in him lay, set forth and extolled the solemne meeting and assemblies. There went vp into the pulpitt one among all the rest, counted very sage, expert in the words of God, well exercised in preaching, who chose a parcell of Scripture, discoursed at large as it were in the gathering together of the members and vniting of the congregations, whome many learned clerkes and famous Bishops hearde with quiet and atte••ti•••• eare. This preacher there∣fore in the presence of Paulinus a Bishop that passed all other for rare and singuler gifts: by whose meanes and procurement also the famous temple of Tyrus in Phoenicia was buylded with moste gorgeous furniture vttered this Sermon in such sort as followeth.

CAP. IIII.

A solemne Sermon in prayse of the buylding of the Churches, but expressly di∣rected vnto Paulinus Bishop of Tyrus.

OYe friendes and Priestes of the most high God, which are bewtified with holy robes and the heauenly crowne of glory: with the sacred oyntment and priestly atyre of the holy ghost: and thou the ornament of the newe holy temple of God, which art honored of God him selfe* 1.8 with wisedome of auncient yeares, yet hast brought to passe noble deeds and enterprises with fresh and florishing vertue, to whome God him self comprehending the whole world hath graunted this great honor, that thou shouldest build and repairs on earth this house, vnto Christ the onely begot∣ten and his first begotten word, vnto his holy and noble spouse whome one may very wel call ether* 1.9 a new Beseleel, chief builder of Gods tabernacle, or Solomon king of a new and more mighty Ieru∣salem, or else a new Zor••babel: which hast purchaced farre greater glory vnto the temple of God

then it had before: and O you the sucklinges of the holy stocke of Christe, the house of good lite∣rature, the schoole of wisedome, the honest and godly audienc•• of pietye: It was lawefull for vs of olde to laude God with hymnes and songes, which haue he•••••••• out of holy Scripture the maine∣lous wonders of God, and the miraculous bountifulnes of the Lorde shewed towards mankind be∣ing to this ende instructed that we should say▪ O God vve haue heard vvith our eares, our fathers* 1.10 haue declared vnto vs the vvorkes thou hast vvrought in their dayes of olde: but nowe haue we learned it not by hearing, neither by reheatsall and rumor of the high arme, and heauenly hande of our God and high King, but by deedes, and (as I may so say) with the eyes them selues, beholding the thinges of olde to be certayne and true, we may sing an mother hynme of victory and to good pur∣pose shoute and saye: like as vve haue hearde so haue vve seene, in the citye of the Lorde of hosts,* 1.11 in the citye of our God▪ I meane in an other citye, then this lately buylded and exected vnto God, vvhich is the Churche of the liuing God, the piller and grounde of all trueth, of the which* 1.12 a certayne other testimony of holy Scripture thus happely reporteth: Glorious thinges are spo∣ken* 1.13 of thee, o thou citie of God. In so much as then we are gathered by the benefitt of Almighty God through the grace of the onely begotten vnto this Churche, let euery one of vs here present∣ly assembled together prayse and laude God, and with all crye and saye: I vvas glad vvhen they* 1.14 sayd vnto me vve vvill goe vp into the house of the Lorde. and agayne, Lorde I haue loued the bevvty of thy house, and the place vvhere thine honour dvvelleth. And not onely he which sitteth but also altogether, with one spirite and with one minde honoring the Lorde, let vs then singe and saye: greate is the Lorde and vvorthy to be praysed, in the citye of our God, euen vpon his ho∣ly* 1.15 hill. for he truely is greate and his house greate, highe wide and bewetifull in comparison of the sonnes of men. greate is the Lorde vvhiche alone doth vvonderfull thinges, greate is the* 1.16 Lorde doing greate thinges, vnsearcheable things, glorious and excellent things vvhereof there is no number great changing moments and times, remouing and ordayning things, raysing the poore out of the dust, and lifting the needy out of the myre, he hath deposed the mighty from their seates, and exalted the meeke out of the earth, he hath filled the hungry vvith good things,* 1.17 and hath broken the armes of the proude. thus hath he confirmed the memory of the thinges re∣hearsed of olde not onely to the faythfull, but also vnto the Infidels: it is the Lorde of all, the maker of the whole worlde, the Almighty, the moste excellent, the one and the onely God, which doth wonderfull and greate thinges, vnto whome we obediently doe singe a newe songe euen vn∣to him vvhich alone doth maruelous thinges, because his mercy endureth for euer: vvhich smote* 1.18 great Kings & slevv mighty Kings, because his mercy endureth for euer: because that vvhen vve vvere brought lovve the Lorde vvas mindefull of vs, and deliuered vs from our enemies. with these prayses let vs not cease to celebrate God the vniuersall father, but also the seconde person, au∣thor of all goodnes exhibited vnto vs, the bringer of the knowledge of God, the teacher of true pietye, the rooter out of the wicked, the dispatcher of all tyrants, the gouernour of our whole life, let vs (whose case was lamentable) honour him sounding continewally with mouth and minde, I meane our Sauiour Iesu. for he alone the onely most excellent sonne of the most excellent father, according vnto the will of his father, wherewith he loued man, most willingly like a passing cun∣ning Phisicion for the health of the pacients, tooke vpon him our nature whiche laye as it were in a bottomlesse pitt of perdicion, the beholding of whome in this case was very greeuous, and the handling vnpleasant: and of the miseries of others he heaped vnto him selfe greate miseryes, he saued not onely such as were sicke with fore botches and festered woundes: but also such as laye amonge the deade, he him selfe by him selfe hath deliuered vs from the moste darke dunge∣ons of death. there was not so much power geuen to any other in heauen whiche coulde without offence and vndoubtedly minister the saluation of so many castwayes, but he alone tooke vpon* 1.19 him our perdicion, subiect to many greeuous passions, he alone tooke vpon him our troubles, he alone tooke vpon him the punishments due for ourimpietye, and he saueth vs whome he founde not onely halfe deade, but to be abhorted, nowe stincking in the graues and sepulchres them selues, heretofore & presently also with the carefulnesse of his good wil, beyond all other mens expectation, yea and ours to: and deliuereth vnto vs the greate aboundance of his fatherly good∣nes being our quickner, our day starre, our greate Phisicion, our Kinge and Lorde the Christ of God. When all man kinde was then ouershadowed, with the night all cloudy and palpable dark∣nes, with the wilines of seducing deuills, and the working of spirites hatefull to God, he a∣lone appearing vnto vs, loosed with the sunne beames of his heauenly light the knobbye fetters

of our sinnes: but nowe after that for so greate 〈…〉〈…〉 and •…•…lnes, spyte being greeued* 1.20 with all goodnes, and the deuill himselfe busily going about all ••••••ele, onely not b••••sting for grie••e, hath raysed eruell warre agaynst vs with all •…•…ly 〈…〉〈…〉, and fi••s•••• after the maner of a ma••d dogg••, whiche gna••••th with his ••••••••h•• the st••••es flo•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, and p••••reth out the rage of reuengem••••t vpon the dar••s which•• haue no life: he sett vpon the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 o••••s of the oratoryes and the senselesse buylding of the houses with s••••adge woodnes, to the ende he might bring in as he s••pposed a waste desert of Churches: agayns he sent out cruell 〈…〉〈…〉 & and poysored speaches pattly by the threats of wicked tyrants, and partly by the decrees of prophant Princes: moreo∣uer so••••ing out his death he hath i••••••••ted with his ••e••••mous and ••••••dly poys••n the soules which he caught in his snare, and slewe them with the dai••••able sacrifires of dead images, and raysed a∣gaynst vs all sortes of b••astes coueted with m••••s skin••e and all kind•• of 〈…〉〈…〉: agayne the* 1.21 Angell of greate counsell, the greate g••au••d••••ap••ayne of God, after sufficient 〈…〉〈…〉 the whiche the moste valiant souldiers of his kingdome endured throughly with •…•…ible pacience and sufferance, had eftsones shewed him selfe, he destroyed the hurtfull and 〈…〉〈…〉 thinges and brought all to nought, as if they neuer had be••e named, but vnto him selfe he made all acceptable and peculier, aboue all glorye, not onely among all men, but among the heauenly powers them selues, the sunne, the moone, the starres, all heauen and earth together. so that nowe which other∣wise neuer any where came to passe, the most excellent Emperours, considering the honour they receaued of him, haue detested the sight of dead images and troden vnderfoote the vnlawefull ser∣uice of deuills: they haue sett at nought the seducing of olde tyme receaued of the Elders: they haue knowen one onely God, the common benefactor of all: they of them selues consessed Christ the sonne of God supreame Kings of all: vpon pillers they haue intitled him a Sauiour: for euerlasting memorie they fastened his vertues and victories agaynst the wicked in the middes of the citye whiche had dominion vpon earth vnto the imperiall armes, that Jesus Christ our Saui∣our alone of all the men from the beginning of the worlde, yea of the heade Princes of the whole worlde, was honoured not as a common Kinge, treated of men, but adored as the naturall sonne of the ••••••uersall God and God himselfe. and not without iust cause. What Prince of all them that euer were, brought so much power, that by the appeliation of his name he shoulde fill the eares and mouthes of all mortall men throughout the whole worlde? What Kinge hath ratified so godly and so wise lawes decreed by him that they might sufficiently and durable he read to the hearing of all men from the endes of the earth to the boundes of the whole worlde? Who hath wyped away the barbarous and sauadge maners of the Gentiles with his louing and tractable lawes? who euer since the beginning of the whole worlde, being impugned of all men hath she∣wed power passing the reache and strength of man, so that he seemed dayly to florishe and through out all his whole life to waxe yong? who hath ordayned and planted a nation not hearde of from the firste beginninge, not secrete in some corner of the earth, but throughout the whole com∣passe vnder heauen? Who hath so fenced his souldiers with the bright armour of godlines that they were founde in their fighting agaynst their aduersaries of courage harder then the Adamant stone? What King after his desease so gouerneth, and warreth, and trecteth signes of victories a∣gainst the enemyes, and filleth euery place, coast and contrey as will of the Grecians as Barba∣rians with his princely pallaces and consecrated temples? as these ornaments and dedicated ••ew∣ells* 1.22 of this temple are gorgeous, whiche being royall and notable in deede, are worthy of won∣dering and admiration and as it were certayne and manifest tokens of our Sauiour (for nowe al∣so: he spake the vvorde and they vvere done, he commaunded and they vvere created, for who will with stande the beckning of the worde of God the supreme King and gouernour of all) which require speciall rest and conuenient leasure that they may diligently he considered and expounded, wherof also proportionally the readines of the workmen is to be weyed, in presence of him whom we celebrate with diuine prayses, whiche considereth the spirituall temple of vs all, and beholdeth the house builded with liuely and growing stones which being soundly and securely layed vpon the fundation of the Apostles and Prophets hath Iesus Christ him selfe to the corner stone, whome the wicked head builders of mischiefe haue reiected not onely of that building which now is aun∣cient and hath no longer contine wance: but also of that presently consisting of many men. but the father hath alloweded him for heade of the corner of our common Church, both then and now also. Therefore this liuely Churche of the liuing God buylded of our selues, I doc call that chiefe ve∣strye seruing for the worde of God, whose inwarde chauncells not seene of many, holy in deede

and most holy places, who by beholding of them euer durst presume to explicate? yea who coulde beholde the inner parts of the halowed po•…•… but the onely greate high Priest of all to whome onely it is lawefull to searche the secretes of euery reasonable soule? per aduenture it may be possible for some one or other of his equalls to enioye the seconde place next after him to we••e, for the President and Captayne of this warrefare, whome the chiefe and greate highe Priest him selfe hath or••••ayned a shepeherd of this your holy flocke, enioying the seconde honour of these holy thinges, taking in charge your people by lott and appoyntment of the father as his ser∣uant and interpreter, like a newe Aaron or Melchisedech likened vnto the sonne of God, re∣mayning and preferued by him for euer by the prayers in common of you all vnto this man therefore onely be it lawefull next after the chiefe and greatest highe Priest to see and to be∣holde; if not the chiefe thinges, at least wise the seconde closset of the inner contemplation of your soules, when he hath exactly sifted euery one of you by experience and proliritye of time, and when as with his owne industrye and care he hath enstructed all you of the worlde, in ho∣nestye and the doctrine which is according vnto godlines, and hath bene made mighty, aboue all others, to sett forth with workes agreeable to his calling that doctrine, which by aide of the diuine power he hath gotten. the chiefe therefore and our greate highe Priest, the thinges vvhiche he* 1.23 seeth the father doe, the same likevvise (sayth he) doth the sonne: but this man secondarily, e∣uen him selfe, beholding with the cleare eyes of the mynde the firste as a teacher, whatsoeuer thinges he sawe him doe, vsing as it were the first framed paternes, the portracture of them as much as laye in him to the like resemblance, as a workeman he wrought the thinges whiche you see with your eyes, differing not a ••ote from that Beseleel, whome God him selfe endued with* 1.24 the spirite of wisedome and vnderstanding, and other industrye and skylfull knowledge, whome he called and ordayned the workeman of the buylding of the temple by formes of the celestiall types. after this sorte this man, garnishing and bewtifying whole Christ, the worde, the wise∣dome and light in his minde, it may not be tolde with what courage of minde, with what plen∣teous and vnsaciable power of the minde, and with what greate liberalitye of you all and earne∣stly contending with largenesse of giftes, lest by any m••aues you shoulde slyde away from his purpose: he hath ordayned this moste renowned and moste excellent temple of the highe God, as a visible paterne agreable with nature, resembling y^• better inuisible temple. This quyre, wor∣thy* 1.25 to be spoken of, though firste of all it were couered through the wiles of the aduersaries with the sincke of all filthines, he despised not, neyther yealded vnto the cruell spyte of them whiche were authors of that mischiefe, for if his pleasure had bene to haue passed vnto some other place, (a thousande others had bene easily sought in this citye) he had founde greate ease of his labour, and had bene ridd of so much busines. but firste of all he styrred vp him selfe to this worke, next all the whole people being settled with readinesse, and made of all as it were one will, firste he tooke this labour in hande: to the ende that he might specially restore her that was destroyed by the enemye, whiche afore tyme had endured greate trauells, and before our tyme the same persecution whiche we suffered, I meane the Churche like a mother depriued of her chyldren, he thought good that she altogether with vs shoulde enioy the magnificency of our gracious God. for as much as the great shepeherd hath voutchsafed to gather into one folde his children, the bea∣stes and wolues driuen away, and euery sorte of cruell and sauadge creatures put to flight, the* 1.26 iavves of the Lions he hath broken, as the holy Scripture doth testifie, he hath also most iustly restored agayne the very folde of his flocke, that he might still the enemye and auenger, and re∣sist* 1.27 the rebellious enterprises of the wicked agaynst God. and nowe they are not hated of God, no more were they then. but after that in shorte space they molested, and were also molested them selues, they suffered punishment due for their desert, and were vtterly destroyed them selues, their friendes and families, so that the prophecyes written of olde in holy Scripture they haue in very deede confirmed, where among other things the holy Scripture truely pronounceth these things of them: the vvicked haue dravven their svvord, bended their bovv that they may shoote* 1.28 at the poore and needy, and sleye the pure of harte. their svvorde shall pearce their owne harte, and their bovve shall be broken. and agayne: the remembrance of them is perished vvith a sounde, and their name hast thou vviped avvay for euer and euer. and vvhen they vvere* 1.29 in misery they cryed, but there vvas none to deliuer them. vnto the Lorde, and he hearde them not. they stumbled and fell, but vve rose and stand vp. and this that was foretold of them (Lord in thy citye thou shalt bring their likenesse to nought.) is nowe in all mens sight founde true.* 1.30

but they after the maner of the giauntes, goinge about to warre with God, purchased vnto them selues suche an ende as berewed them of theyr liues & but she that was desolate and bewailed a∣monge men, obtained such an ende of her pacience in God, as is nowe to be seene, that accor∣dinge vnto the prophecye of Esay it may be tried vnto her: Reioyce thou drie desert, let the vvil∣dernes* 1.31 be glad and florishe like the ••••••y, the vvast places shall bring forthe and reioyce. You loose handes and dissolute knees ye shall be strengthened. Comforte your selues, you faynt harted, you shall be strenthened feare not. Behoulde our God hathe restored iudgement and vvill requite. He vvill come and saue you. For sayth he the vvaters shall flovve in the deserte and the valleyes in a thyrsty lande, and the dry lande shall beturned into marishe, and the fountaynes of vvaters into drye lande. And these thinges of olde time foretolde by wordes were graffed in holy Scripture, but the things nowe brought to passe, are not onely deliuered vnto vs by hearesay but by workes themselues. This desert destitute of water, this widowe and desolate (whose gates with axes like timber in the woodes they haue hewed downe, For they haue broken her in peeces vvith axes and hammers: Whose bookes they haue destroied, And* 1.32 burned vvih fiere the Sanctuary of God, for they haue throvven to the grounde the tabernacle of his name: vvhose grapes they haue gathered as many as passed this vvay & throvven dovvne her hedges, the vvhich the vvilde bore out of the vvoode hathe rooted vp, and the vvilde beaste of the fielde deuoured) By the wonderfull workes of Christ, presently where it pleased him is* 1.33 become like the lily. For then by his commaundement accordinge vnto the prouidence of the fa∣ther she was chasticed (VVhome the Lorde loueth he chasticeth, he scurgeth euerye childe vvhome he receiueth) and after due measure conuerted, she is commaunded to reioyce from a∣boue & now florisheth like the lily & breatheth vnto all mē an holy sweete smelling sauor. for sayth he the vvater shall flovve in the desert, they to wete which are holy, of the sauinge fountaine of newebyrth. And now that whiche a while agde was desert is turned to marishe, and the well∣springe of the water of lyfe issued out into thyrstie lande. And to say the truthe, the handes before loose are strengthened, these workes also which we presently beholde are greate and famous to∣kens of the wonderfull power and handy worke of God. Moreouer the knees of old withered and weakened, hauinge recouered theyre strength and wounded paces, doe enter the right and highe way of deuine knowledge and hasten vnto the flocke of the high sheepherde. But if theyr mindes haue bene amazed with the threates of sundry tyrantes, neither hath the worde of saluation con∣temned the cure of them, but healinge them notably, leadeth them vnto heauenly comforte, saying Comfort yourselues you faint harted be strong feare not. and because it behoued this wildernes wrought for God to enioy these benefits, this our newe and passing Zorobabel, endued with that* 1.34 readines of mind he is of, to geue eare, obeying the sayings of the prophets, after that bitter capti¦uity and abhomination of desolation, despised not this deade carcase, but before all thinges paci∣fying God the father with prayers and supplications together with the consente of you all: & ta∣king him for a helper and fellowe worker which alone quickeneth the deade, raised her being fal∣len, after that he had purged and cured the mischiefs which were wrought: and gaue her a stole, not wherewith she was cladd of old but that which she learned againe of holy scripture which te∣stifieth thus: And the later glory of this house shall passe the former. Wherefore enlarging this* 1.35 quire with farre greater rowme, he hath fortified the outer compasse of the whole buylding with a wall, that it might be a most safe hedge of all the whole work: next he hath erected a great porch, reaching very high eastwardes vnto the sunne beames, so that vnto them which stande a farre of* 1.36 without the halowed walls it yealdeth a cleare shewe of the artificiall worke contayned within them, and with all turning, or entising the countenance of foreyners toutching the fayth vnto the first entrance, so that none passe by, which is not pricked in minde first with the remembrance of the former desolation past, next with the sight of this wonderfull worke (vnto such as were hoped and wished for) a pricke paraduenture to draw men and by the beholding thereof to entice mē to* 1.37 enter in: them also who already are entred within the gates he suffreth not with foule and vnwa¦shed feete to drawe nigh vnto the inner partes of the most holy places. For making a separation with great distance betwene the temple it selfe & the first entrance he hath bewtified this place on euery side with foure ouerthwarte porches, and after the forme of a quadrangle he compassed them about one euery side with highe pillers, the distance whereof he hathe shutte with latice like netts, made of wood and measured after the breadeth of the place, the open middle he left free that the gorgeous skie mighte be seene, and that it might yeld the aere tempered with the bright

beames of the sunne. Hither hath he referred pleadges of holy purgations, to meete welsprings lying ouer against the temple which with great plenty of water graunte licence of purifying vnto* 1.38 such as enter into the holy cloysteres. The first exercise for such as enter yeldeth vnto euery one bewty & brightnes, to were the washing of their handes & clensing of their body, but vnto thē that desire the knowledge of the chiefe principles of our religion a fi••••e mansion place to continewe. Moreouer when he had wonderfully garnished the sight of these he proceeded on & made the en∣traunces of the temple wide open, as yet w^t more artificiall porches wrought within side. And a∣gaine he placed three gates of the one side subiecte to the sunne beames, the which he made to ex∣cell,* 1.39 w^t the midd distāce of both sids, by reason of the biggnesse and breadth thereof, the which also he notably sett forth with bowes of brasse, linked with iron and sundry kinds of carued worke, and substituted them vnto it as gardinge souldiers vnto a queene. After this maner he added the same number of porches vnto the galeryes on euery side of the whole temple, and ouer thē from aboue* 1.40 he inuēted sundry falles of greater lights vnto the whole house & the setting out or fronte of thē he hath diuersly wrought ouer, with carued timber. But the princely pallace he hath fortified w^t more precious & more gorgeous stuff, vsing for this more plēteous liberality of expēces. It seemeth vn∣to me herein a thing superflous if y^• I would describe the length & breadth of this house, these gor∣geous ornaments, the vnspeakable greatnes, y^• glistering shew of the worke, the height reaching vnto y^• heauens, & if that I would extoll with speach the precious cedre trees of Libanus hanging ouer, the which holy Scripture haue not passed ouer with silence, saying: The trees of the Lorde vvill reioyce, and the cedres of Libanus vvhich the Lord hath planted. To what end shall I en∣treate* 1.41 more curiously of the most wise and chiefe deuised disposition of the building, and againe of the excellent ornature of euery seuerall parte, when as the testimony of the eyes them selues pas∣seth and excludeth that knowledg which pearceth the eare. But this man hauing finished the tem∣ple and the most high seates for the presidents honor, againe hauinge placed the vnderseates in a passing good order, and last of all the most holy place, the alter beinge sett in the middest: agayne he so compassed these things wyth wooden rayles wrought vp to the toppe wyth artificiall car∣uynge, that many might not come therein, yeldinge a wonderfull bewty to the beholders. Nether* 1.42 hath he negligētly strawed the pauement. This he gorgeously bedecked with marble stone & now consequently he tooke in hād the vtter partes of the temple, he builded seates and goodly chapels one ether side very artificially and ioyned thē to the temples side, he beat out windowes & coopled them to the doores of the middle temple, the which things also our Solomon an earnest maintainer of peace, & builder of this temple hath brought to passe, for such as yet want the sacrifice & sprink∣lings done by water and the holy ghost. So that the prophecy aboue mentioned, consist no longer in words but is accomplished in deede it selfe. For as yet, as it is most true, The later glorie of this house passeth the former. For it behoued and most meete it was, In so much that the Lorde had bene in agony & had once embraced death for her, and after his passion, the foule body (which for her sake he putt on) being translated vnto brightnes and glory, and the flesh it selfe after disso∣lution, ledd from corruption to incorruption: that shee in like maner shoulde enioye the gracious goodnes of our Sauiour. Although she had promisses of the Lord himselfe of farre more excellēt gifts, and desireth incessantly to obtaine a greater glory of newe birth at the resurrection of the incorruptible body, together with the glisteringe brightnes of the Angelicall quire aboue in the heauens & pallaces of God, with Iesus Christ him selfe the chiefe benefactor and Sauiour in the world to come: yet in the meane space, in this present life, she which of old was a widowe and soli∣tary nowe adorned by the grace of God with these flowres and become in deede like the lily, accor¦ding vnto the sayinge of y^• prophete she hath put on her weddinge robe & is compassed about with a crowne of bewty & as it were instructed by Esay to daunce for ioy. let vs heare of her how she of∣freth with reuerence, thanksgeuing vnto God the king with the voice of praise when she sayeth: Let my soule reioyce in the Lorde. For he hath putt vpon me the garment of saluation, & coue∣red* 1.43 me vvith the mantell of righteousnes. He hath bedecked me like a brydgrom vvith a crown & like a bryd vvith ornamēts: for euē as the earth multiplieth her flovvrs and like as the gardene shooteth forth her seedes, so hath God caused righteousnes and praises to florishe before all the heathen. With such sayings doth she triumphe, but heare with what words, the brydgrome, the celestiall word, Iesus Christ himselfe doth answere her, the Lorde himselfe saying: Feare not be∣cause* 1.44 thou vvast confounded, neyther be thou ashamed because thou hast bene sett at nought. The Lord hath not called thee as a vvoman forsaken and faynt harted, neyther as a vvoman ha∣ted

from her youth vp, sayth thy God. A litle vvhile haue I forsaken thee, & in great mercyes will I pitie thee: whē I vvas a little vvhile angry I turned my face from thee but in great mercies will I pardon thee sayth the Lord thy redemer. Awake, awake, thou that frō the hād of the Lord hast* 1.45 dronke the cupp of his wrath. Thou hast dronke of, and emptied cleane the cupp of destructiō, the cupp of my wrath. There was not of all thy sonnes whome thou hast begotten not one lefte to cōfort thee, not one vvhich might hould thee vp with the hand behold I haue taken the cupp of destruction out of thy hand, euen the cupp of my wrath & henceforth see thou drinke of it no more & I will putt it into theyr hand vvhich vvrongfully troubled thee & vvhich haue humbled thee to the dust. Avvake, avvake▪ putt on thy strength, put on thy glory. Shake from thee the dust* 1.46 arise & sitt vp▪ plucke out thy necke from the collar▪ lift vp thine eyes and looke about thee & see thy sonnes gathered about thee. Behold they are gathered together & come vnto thee. As truely as I liue sayth the Lorde, thou shalt put them all vpon thee as an apparell, and gird them vnto thee as a bride doth her ievvels▪ as for thy land that hath layen desolate vvasted & destroyed: it shalbe frequented of thine inhabitors & they vvhich haue deuored thee shalbe farre of. For the sonnes vvhich thou hast lost shall say in thine ears: this place is narrovve for me, prouide a place vvhere I may dvvell, and thou vvilt say in thine harte: vvho hath begotten me these? I vvas barrē and a vvidovve, but vvho hath nurished these for me? I vvas left alone, but vvhence come these vnto me? These things hath Esay prophecied▪ these things of old were graffed in holy Scripture cōcerning vs & requisit it was that somwhere we should behold y^• trueth thereof shewed in works thēselues. Wherfore because the bridgrome, the word of God hath thus spoken vnto the spouse his most holy church, very well hath this chiefe solemnizer of the mariadge raised & restored this desert lying after the maner of a dead carcase, destitute and voyd of all hope of man, by the commō prayers of you all & the true hands stretched forth at the commaundement of the vniuersall king & by shewing of the power of Iesu Christ: & beinge raised ordained her such a one as he had learned by the description of holy scripture. This miracle then passeth & is aboue measure to be wondred at, of them specially which only make the shewe of outward things. The chiefe typs & foreshewes spirituall of these do excede all maruelous & miraculous things, y^• intellectual & theologicall pat∣terns, to wete the renewing & repayring of the deuine & reasonable building in the souls, y^• which y^• sonne of God according vnto y^• likenes which he made of him self, made it in all things like vnto God, to wete an incorruptible nature, an incorporeall a rationall, seuered frō all earthly substāce & a selfe spirituall essence▪ which at the beginning ordained y^• it should be of that which was not & made vnto him selfe & to y^• father, an holy spouse & a most sacred temple which he sheweth affir∣ming manifestly when he sayth: I vvill dvvell in them & vvalke among thē. I vvilbe their God &* 1.47 they shalbe me people. And in deede the mind of man was perfect & purged & so prepared frō the beginning, that it might bewtifie the heuenly word and fructifie in it selfe: but it became enuious and by the motion of the malicious deuell, subiect of his owne accorde to passions & sett on malice that it was forsaken of God, and destitute of his helpe, vnarmed, sett forth and left to the snars of them which of old haue spited & enuied at his saluation, ouerthrowen by the terrours & sleyghtes of the ••••uisible and spirituall enemyes: hath fallen with suche a fall as maye not be recouered, so that not one vertuous stone cleaued to an other in it, but lay all prostrate vpon the earth and dead, be re••te of the naturall vnderstanding of God. And beinge fallen which was made after the likenes of God, no wild bore out of the wood as is visible among vs, rooted it vp: but some perni∣cious deuell and spirituall wild beaste which haue sett it a fire with theyr passions as with the fi∣rye darts of theyr malice: burned with fire the true Sanctuary of God: & throwen to the earth the dwelling place of his name & troddē it, thus miserably lying ouercast with a great heape of earth for euer to dispaire of saluation. But the holy word of saluation, carefull hereof, obeing the boun∣tifullnes of his most gracious father, reuenged him of the sinners with punishmente due for their desert. First of all then by takinge away the liues of the most impious and pernicious of all, the moste greuous and hated tyrauntes of God, he purged the whole worlde with the industry of the most godly princes: next he brought vnto the open face of the world; men well knowen of him de∣dicated and consecrated vnto him of olde in godly life and protected by him, thoughe in secrete (the troublesome times then drawing nigh) them againe hath he honored sufficiētly with plente∣ousnes of his spirit, and by the meanes of these hath he wiped and clensed the soules a litle before infected, oppressed with all kinde of filthe, and heapes of impious decrees, with reprehensiue leasons of Discipline as it were with digginge and deluinge instrumentes, as spades, and the

company of your minds garnished and made glorious he hath deliuered vnto this most wise cap∣taine and beloued God: who otherwise preuailinge in iudgemente and industry of inuention kno∣wing and discerning the dispositiō of the soules commited to his charge, beginning as I may say from the first day to build hath not yet vnto this day rested, one while framinge in you all gliste∣ring gold, an other while, tried, and purified siluer and precious stones, to the end he may accom∣plish a fresh, in you by workes themselues the sarred and mysticall prophecy which is thus read: Behold I vvyll make thy vvalls of precious stone and thy fundations of Saphires, thy bulwarks* 1.48 of Iasper thy gates of Crystall and thy borders of chosen stones. Thy children shall be taught of God. I will geue all thy children plenteousnes of peace and in righteousnes shalt thou be groū∣ded. Therefore building in righteousnes he hath proportionably seuered y^• powers of the whole people, by some, comprising the only outward wall, he hath fortified the fayth that is void of error. But this people being many & great in nūber is not fitt to resemble the buylding of a more excel∣lent worke. Vnto some he committed the entrances of the house, geuing them in charge to watch the dores and to guide suche as enter in, who not vnworthely are shewed to be the porches of the temple, Some he hathe firmely sett about the inner court with chiefe pillers after the maner of a quadrāgle and to the chiefe bulwarks he hath referred the Scripture of the foure Euangelists. Againe some he hath coupled with fortresses one eyther side about the princely pallace, which as yet are nouices in the faith they both increase and prosper, yet sett farther of from the inward holy cōtemplation of the faithful. Of these hath he taken the incorrupt soules, purified with the deuine fountaine after the maner of gold, & others hath he sett vp with pillers, farre mightier then those outward, out of the inner wrytings of mysticall. Scripture, and sett them forth liuely to minister light. The glorious doctrine of the high & supreme king, that is, of the one and onely God, hathe adorned the whole temple, with one porche and the same very notable. He hath atributed the se∣conde bewtifull brightnes vnto the power of Christ, and to the power of the holy ghost, and euery where vnto the power of the Father, as for y^• rest he hath expressed the excellency of euery trueth, both plentifull and manifold throughout the whole house, euery way forth and one euery side he hath buylded a great a princely and a noble house full of light throughout, with liuely, seasoned, sure, and chosen stones of the soules. He hathe bewtified the inner and vtter partes with the moste florishing atyre of continency and temperance, in so muche as they consist not onely of soule and mind but also of body. There are also in this temple thrones and infinite vnder seates and recepta¦cles in all those soules, wherein the graces of the holy Ghost haue their abode, such as of olde ap∣peared vnto them which had their conuersation with the holy Apostles, of whom also clouen ton∣gues were seene as if they had bene fire, and rested vpon ech one of them▪ but whole Christ him* 1.49 selfe hath fastened his seate in him which gouerneth all, in others secondarily next after him pla∣ced, rateably as euery ones capacitie can comprise the diuisiōs of the power of Christ and his ho∣ly spirit. The vnder seates are both Angels and soules of certayne men, euen of such as are com∣mitted vnto euery on for institution & custodies sake. The noble, the great and onely altar, what o∣ther thinge is it than the most holy place & y^• sincerity of the priests soule which is common to all, at y^• right hand of which altar standeth the great high priest of all, Iesus himselfe the only begottē sonne of God, which directeth vnto the father of heauen and the vniuersall God, that sweete smel∣linge perfume, the vnbloody, and spirituall sacrifices of prayers, receaued of all with swift eyes and stretched out armes, & first of all he himself with adoration, and alone exhibiteth due honor vn∣to the father and next prayeth, that he wil be vnto vs all pacified and gentle, firmely and for euer? This greate temple, which is in the whole worlde vnder the sunne, the great workeman of al▪ euē the word of God hath ordained: and againe he hath finished vpon earth this spirituall likenes of them which clime ouer the same circular forme of the heauens that the father, might be hono∣red and worshiped through him of euery creature and resonable thinges on this earth: againe he hath made the supercelestial hoste and the shewes of these things there to be seene: to be short that Ierusalem which they call newe, and Sion the celestiall mounte and supernaturall cytye of the li∣uing God, in the which infinite solemne troups of Angels & the church of the first begotten which are wryttē in heauen, do honor with secret and vnsearchable prayses, our maker and the g•…•…ll prince of all whome no mortall man can worthely sett forth. For the eye hathe not seene and the eare hath not heard, neyther hathe the harte of man conceaued the things vvhich God prepared* 1.50 for them that loue him, Whereof we nowe partly beinge thought worthy, both men, women, and children, all together as well smale as great, with one spirit and with one soule, lett vs not ceasse

with thankesgeuinge, to celebrate the author of so greate benefits bestowed vpon vs▪ VVhich hath mercy on all our sinnes, and cureth all our maladyes, vvhich hathe redemed our life from destruction, he crovvneth vs in loue and mercies and filleth our desire vvith goodnes. For he hathe not dealt vvith vs acordinge vnto our sinnes, neyther revvarded vs accordinge vnto our iniquities. For looke hovve farre the east is from the vveast, so farre hath he sett our sinnes from vs. And euen as a father tendreth his sonnes, so hathe the Lorde tendered suche as feare him. Ponderinge therefore in our mindes these thinges alwayes hereafter, and settinge before our mynde the author and solemnizer of this presente feaste, of this ioyfull and renowmed daye, yea daye and night, euery houre and as I may so saye vnto the last gaspe, embracinge and reueren∣ringe him with all the mighte of our minde, and nowe risinge: lette vs humblye beseeche him with the greate voyce of our earnest desires, that he kepe and defende vs in his sheepe foulde vnto the ende, and that he alwayes gouerne the peace, whiche he him selfe hathe graunted, ne∣uer to be broken, alwayes immoueable, in Christ Iesu our Sauiour, to whome be glory world without ende.

Amen.

CAP. V.

The edicts of Constantinus and Licinnius toutching Christian religion and the libertie thereof.

GO to nowe lett vs proceede on & annexe the coppies of the imperiall edicts of Constantinus and Licinnius translated out of the Romayne into the Greeke tongue as followeth: VVey∣inge* 1.51 vvith our selues that of olde the liberty of religion vvas not to be hindered and that euery one had licence after his minde and vvill: vve haue presently commaunded that euery one shall handle the holy affayres at his pleasure, and that the christians shall retayne the fayth of theyre former opinion and vvonted seruice. But in as much as manifolde and differente o∣pinions doe rise by reason of that edicte in the vvhich suche a licence and liberty vvas graunted: vve haue thought good to lay dovvne manifestly the thinges vvhereby paraduenture diuerse of them vvere restrayned from such an obseruation. VVhen as vvith prosperous successe I Constā∣tinus emperour & I Licinnius emperour came to Millayne, and enquired of the thinges vvhich made for the cōmodity & profit of the common vvealth, these amōgst many other thinges see∣med expediēt, yea before all other vve purposed to decree, vvherein the reuerēce & seruice due to God is cōprised, that is to say, by the vvhich vve might graunt vnto the christians alltogether free choise to embrace vvhat seruice & ceremonies pleased thē best, to the end the Godhead of the caelestiall affayres novv euery vvhere receaued might in some parte be reconciled vnto vs & to all our subiects, Thē according vnto this our pleasure vve haue decreed vvith sounde & most right iudgemēt, that licence & liberty be henceforth denied vnto none at all, of choosing or fo∣lovving the christian seruice or religion, but that this liberty be graunted vnto euery one to ad∣dict his mind vnto that relligion, vvhich he thinketh fitte for him, to the ende that God may graunt vnto vs his vvonted care and goodnes. It vvas necessary for vs to signifie vnto thee this our pleasure, to the end the opinions contayned in our former letters sent vnto thy vvisedom in the behalfe of the Christians may altogether be taken avvay, & that the opinions vvhich seeme very foolishe and farre from our elemencies liking may be cutt of, and novve vvhosoeuer freely and firmely is thus disposed to retayne the christian religion, let him do it vvithout all molesta∣tion or greuance. These thinges haue vve determined to signifie fully vnto thy carefullnes, that thou mayst knovve vs to haue graunted vnto the christians free and absolute licence to retayne their ovvne religion, & because that vve haue graunted absolute liberty to vse their obseruance & religion, if so please any it manifestly auayleth for the trāquility of our tymes that euery one haue liberty to chuse and vvorship vvhat God please him best. This haue vve done lest ought of our doinges seeme preiudiciall vnto any seruice or religion: and this besides other specially vve thought good to decree concerning the christians, that they enioy their places vvhere afore time they vvere accustomed to frequent, vvhereof in our former letters sent vnto thy vvisdome, there vvas an other order concerninge the former time: that if any had bought them ether of our treasury or of any other, they should vvithout all delayes or doubtes restore them vnto the chri∣stians, vvithout siluer & vvithout any other demaunde in recompence for it. And if any (hauing obtayned the same by gift graciously bestovved vpon him by our goodnes) demaunde ought

in theyre names for recompence lett, them haue recourse vnto the liuetenante and iudge of the place that consideration be had of them by our benignity, all vvhich, vvithout any delay thou shalt by thine industry require, to be graunted vnto the christian society. And because the sayd christians are knowen, not onely to haue enioyed the place of theyr meetings and assem∣blies but also certaine others peculier, not to euery one priuately, but belonginge by right vnto theyr proper persons: see that thou commaunde all those according vnto the decree mentioned before, to be restored vnto the christians, that is to euery theyre society and Synode, all delay sett aparte, obseruinge in the meane tyme the aforesayd maner, that if any as we haue sayd re∣store thē without receauing of reward they may assure themselues to suffer no domage through our gracious bountifullnes. In all these aforesayd see thou imploy great industry in the behalf of the sayd christian society, to the ende this our decree may speedely take place & that in this be∣halfe we prouide by our clemency for the common & publique peace & trāquility. by this mea∣nes as it is aforesayd the goodnes of God towards vs the which we haue diuersly tried already, shall continewe at all times immoueable. And to the ende the drift of this our constitution and goodnes may be made manifest vnto all men, it shalbe expedient that these our wrytings be e∣uery where proclaimed and brought vnto the knowledge of all our louing subiects lest that the constitution of this our gracious goodnes be hid from any man.

The coppy of another Imperiall constitution, by the which it is signified that this gift concerneth the Catholicke Churche.

VVe greete you welbeloued Anilinus. The order of our gracious goodnes is this. we will that* 2.1 the thinges which belong vnto others by right be not onely not hindred: but also with speede restored. wherefore our pleasure is that as soone as thou hast receaued these letters, If any of the things which belong vnto the catholicke church of the christians throughout euery city or in a∣ny other place be occupied by the citizēs or by any others: thou see the same immediatly resto∣red vnto their churches. we haue already heretofore decreed the same: that the possessiōs belon∣ging vnto the churches afore time should be restored to theyr right. In as much as then thy wise dome perceaueth this to be the manifest cōmaundemēt of our constitutiō, prouide that if other gardens or houses or other possessiōs whatsoeuer haue belonged vnto the title of their churches all the same be speedely restored vnto them againe, to the ende we may vnderstand that thou hast diligently obeyed this our commaundement. Farewell most honorable & our deare friend Anilinus.

The coppy of the Emperours epistle by the which he summoned a Synode of byshops to meete at Rome for the vniting and reconciling of the churches

Constantinus the emperour vnto Meltiades byshop of Rome and Marcus sendeth greeting.* 3.1 In so much as many such epistles are brought vnto me from Anilinus liuetenant of Aphrick, in the which it is sayd that Cecilianus byshop of Carthage is reprehended in many things of diuers his collegs cōmorant in Aphrick, & this seemeth vnto me very greuous, that ther should be foūd in these prouinces (the which the prouidence of God hath allotted peculiarly vnto my discre∣tion) a greate multitude of people prone vnto the worse & disagreeing, & that among byshops there should be variance: it semed good vnto me that Cecilianus himselfe together with the ten byshops which seeme to reprehende him and tenne others whome he thought necessary in the behalfe of his cause, doe sayle vnto Rome: that there in presence of you all, together with Reti∣cius, Maternus, and Marcus, your collegs, whome therefore I commaunded to hasten to Rome he may be heard, to the end you may be enstructed what things agree best with the most religi∣ous lawe. And that you may haue full intelligēce, toutching all these thinges, I haue sent vnder∣neath my letters vnto your sayd collegs the coppy of the letters sente from Anilinus vnto me. The which being read your fidelity may proue how the aforsayd matter may exquisitly be ••if∣ted and ended after the rule of equity. Your industry is not ignorant but that I attribute so much reuerence vnto the catholicke church, that I woulde haue you suffer in any place no schisme or dissention at all. The diuinity of the great God kepe you (most honorable) many yeares.

The coppy of the emperours epistle by the which he commaunded a second Synode to be summoned for the remouinge of the dissention and debate risen betwene the byshops.

Constantinus the emperour vnto Chrestus byshop of Syracula sendeth greeting. Heretofore* 4.1 truely vvhen as some vvickedly & peruersly vvent about to seuer themselues from the religion of the sacred and celestiall povver, and from the catholicke opinion, I purposing that such con∣tentions of theyrs should be cut of, haue wrytten & ordained, that certaine byshops shoulde be cited from Fraunce & againe that they should be called from Aphricke which of the other part contētiously & stifly striue among thēselues (the byshop of Rome also being present) to the end whatsoeuer this dissention nowe raysed seemeth to be, it might in theyr presence with great in∣dustry & diligence be sifted out and redressed. But in so much as, (as it commonly cometh to passe) diuerse of them, being negligent, forgetfull of their owne saluation & the reuerence due vnto the most holy opinion ceasse not as yet to dilate theyr enmytie, & being altogether vnwil∣ling to consent vnto the sentence already geuē, they definitiuely affirme that few of thē brought forth theyr sentences and iudgements & before they had narrowly sifted out all that was to be enquired, to haue stepped forth toe swiftly & to hastely toe geue iudgement. of all these things, this came to passe that they whose part it was to maintaine brotherly vnity & concord, shame∣fully yea vvickedly disagre amōg thē selues & minister an occasiō of moccage vnto men whose minds are farre alienated from the most sacred religiō. VVherefore I must be carefull that, that which should volūtarily haue bene appeased after that iudgemēt was geuen: nowe at length in the presence of many be ended & finished. Because that we haue commaūded diuerse byshops out of sundry prouinces to meete in the Calends of August at the city of Orleance, we thought good to wryte vnto thee that thou (takinge of the famous Latronianus liuetenant of Sicilia, an ordinary vvagan & together vvith some tvvo of them, of the seconde order, vvhome thou shalt thinke good to choose, moreouer vvith three seruants vvhich shalbe able to serue thee in thy iourney) hasten within the compasse of the same days vnto the sayd place, that by the meanes of thy faythfull industry, vvith the peaceable and vniforme wisedome of the rest which there shall meete, this dissention which hitherto wickedly endured with a certaine shamefull winching & repininge (all beinge heard which may be sayd of ether partes varyinge amonge them selues whome we haue likewise commaunded to be present) may novve at length be closed vp with religion, and fayth, and brotherly concorde that ought to be required of vs all. The almighty God kepe thee in health many yeares.

CAP. VI.* 4.2

A coppy of the Emperours epistle by the which h•• graunted money vnto the Churches.

COnstantinus the emperour vnto Cecilianus byshop of Carthage sendeth greetinge. In so much as it pleased vs to minister some thing for expences sake vnto some certaine mini∣sters of the approued & most holy religion, throughout euery the prouinces of Aphricke Numidia & Mauritania: I haue sent letters vnto Ʋrsus the renowmed liuetenant of Aphricke & signified vnto him that he shoulde cause three thousande pholes of siluer to be tolde vnto thy fidelity. Therefore as soone as thou hast receaued the sayd some of money, see the same di∣stributed vnto all the aforesayd, accordinge vnto our writt sent by Osius. If thou perceaue ought to be wantinge, so that our vvill herein tovvardes all may not be accomplished, demaunde of Heraclas our tresoror as much as assuredly thou thinkest lackinge. This I gaue him in charge vvhen he vvas present, that if thy fidelitie required any money of him, he shoulde without any more a doe deliuer the same vnto thee. And for as muche as I vnderstande that some trou∣blesome persons were disposed to peruerte by some lewde corruption, the people of the most holy and Catholicke Churche: I geue thee to vnderstande that I gaue forth such iniunctions in presence of Anilinius the liuetenante and Patricius the gouernoures vicegerente, that a∣monge all other thinges they should specially haue due regarde hereof, and that they should in no wise permitte such a thinge, to fall out. vvherefore if thou perceaue some such men to persist in this theyr folly, without anymore a doe haue recourse vnto the sayde iudges and

make them priuey thereof, that they consider of these as I charged them vvhen they vvere pre∣sent. The diuinity of the great God long preserue thee.

CAP. VII.

A coppy of the epistle by the which he fraunchised the byshops from payinge taxe or tribute.

WE greete you most honorable Anilinus. Because that diuersly it appeareth, if that the* 4.3 religion wherein great estimation of holynes is maintained be sett at nought, greate dangers vvill ensue to the publicke affayres: and againe if the same be orderly hand∣led & maintained, greate prosperity and speciall felicity will followe vnto the Romaine empire and the affayrs of all men, the goodnes of God exhibiting the same: it seemed good vnto vs that those men which labor in this godly religion, with due holynes and diligent obseruatiō of this lawe, shall receaue recōpence of their trauels. wherefore our pleasure is that they of the prouin••e cōmitted to thy charg which in the catholick church where Cecilianus gouerneth, minister in this holy religion, whome we commonly tearme clergie men, be wholy free & exempt from all pu∣blicke burthens, lest by any error or cursed svva••uinge they be withdrawen from the seruice due vnto God. But rather may occupy themselues about theyr profession without any molesting at all, who while they accōplishe the great ministery of the holy seruice, doe seeme to profitt very much the publicke affayrs. Farewell most honorable Anilinus. To be short, such things hath the deuine & celestiall grace of our Sauiour at the appearinge thereof graunted vnto vs: such greate benefits were bestowed by reason of our peace vpon all men: and thus wēt our affayres in ioy and solemnycies.

CAP. VIII.

The ingratitude of Licinnius towards Constantinus, and his cruelty towardes the Christians.

The sight of these things was intollerable for y^• deuel, enemy of honesty, & worker of malice to behold. neither in like sort did y^• things which happened vnto the forsayd tyrants, suffice Li∣cinnius better to aduise him selfe. Who while he enioyed a prosperous raygne & the second honor next after the emperour Constantinus the greate, and was hyghly reuerenced for his affiny∣tye and kynrede with Constantinus, layinge aside the example of good princes, imitated the wic∣kednes and impietie of cruell tyrants: & whose tragicall lyfes he sawe ended before his face these mens censures wold he followe rather then continew in the fauoure and friendship of the better. wherefore being moued agaynst his deare friende in all things with the prycks of enuy, raysed a∣gainst him a wicked and a very sore battaill, neyther tendering the lawes of nature, neither mind∣ful of protested othes, neither of blood, neyther of the couenauntes passed betwene them. Yet the renowned emperour, that he might shewe him the tokēs of true friendship & hartie good will, en∣uied not at his kinred, neither denyed his company in honorable wedlocke with his sister: yea he* 4.4 voutchsafed to make him partaker of his fathers kinred and the emperiall blood: & to be shorte he had graunted him as to his alliance and fellowe emperour authority ouer the whole empire, & cō∣mitted vnto him no small part of the nations subiect to the Romaine empire, for to gouerne and rule. He likewise practising the contrary, inuented dayly all kinde of wiles against him that was of higher power, & deuised all subtle sleyghts to recompence his deare friend euel for good. where fore in the beginning to cloke his conspiracy he fayned friendship, & often in the meane space guil∣fully & deceatfully by his laying of waite he hoped easily to bring to passe y^• which he desired. But God being the friend & fauorer & keeper of Constantinus brought to light the wayte layde for him in secret & in hugger mugger. For truely the power & the strong armour of piety is of great force both to reuenge the enemy and to preserue proper health: so that the most godly emperour beinge strengthened therewith escaped the manifold sleyghts of the cursed enemy. But Licinnius when he perceaued that his secret conspiracy framed not after his mind, for that God reuealed vnto the godly emperour, all his guyle and deceate, when he coulde no longer cloke his rebellion, be ray∣seth open warres: & withall when he purposed to geue battaill vnto Constātinus he went about to impugne almighty God himself, whome he knew to be worshiped of Constātine. Afterward he en∣deuored to impugne by a litle litle & secretly the saincts vnder his dominion, who neuer molested

nor endomaged his empire, neither hurt him any kinde of way at all. and to bring this to passe, he was sore pricked & geuen to do mischiefe of his proper malice ingraffed in him. Wherfore neither laying before his eyes the remēbrance of them which persecuted the christians before him, neither of them whome he had chastized & executed for committing of impietie, but renouncing his right witts he embraced open madnes, and purposed to impugne in steade of him that was holpen, God him selfe the helper of Constantinus, and first of all he banished all the Christians from his court, depriuinge him ••elfe (seely wretche) of their praiers which they made vnto God for him, the which also they were wont to make for all men after their coūtrie discipline. Afterwards he com∣maunded that the souldiers appoynted in the citie should be depriued and spoyled of their honor & dignities, vnlesse they would do sacrifice vnto deuills. These were small things in respect of grea∣ter practises which he committed. To what end should I rehearse the things which the enemy of God cōmitted seuerally and by peeces: howe the most vniust, made vniust lawes, who by his in∣iunctions gaue commaundement that no charitie by any man shoulde be extended towardes them which were afflicted in prison: neither cōpassion should be had on them which in fetters were like to perishe for famine, neither was it lawfull for any to be honest or to practise charitie, which were bound by the lawes of nature to pitie their kinsfolkes? and that lawe was in deede to shame∣full and most cruell exceedinge all paciencie of nature, vnto the which there was a penaltie an∣nexed, that such as had ministred of their charitie, were punished alike with them vnto whome it was ministred, and such as had shewed any kindnes towards them, were fettered, imprisoned, and punished alike with the afflicted. Such were the constitutions of Licinnius. To what purpose shal repeate his practises toutching marriage, and his innouations toutching deade men, whereby he presumed to abolishe the auncient lawes of the Romaines well and wisely ordained: and brought in certaine barbarous and cruell lawes in deede very vniust and vnlawfull, and infinite fained lea∣sings, the which he deuised against the nations subiect to his dominion, sundry taxes of golde and siluer, surueying of lands, gainfull penalties vpon the men throughout the contrey which then li∣ued not, but of olde were deseased: and to be short the enemy of all goodnes, deuised for swearing of the lande to such entent and purpose against them which had done no harme, and doyng away of noble and honest personages, whose youthly & tender wiues being seuered from their husbands he deliuered to seruants of his to be contumeliously and shamefully handled, & many maried wiues, virgines and maydens, hath he shamefully abused (though he being nowe in his latter dayes, and as it were at deaths dore) to the satisfying of his lecherous and beastlie lust. to what end shal I vse many words in this matter, when as the excesse of his later doings, made the former which were small, to seeme in maner noth••g. Wherfore his later madnes assaulted the bishops, he tooke thē in so much they were worshippers of almightie God, to be enemies to his doings, whome he tooke in hand, though not openly, for feare of the superior, yet againe in secrete and deceatfully, and ••lew through wiles diuers of the best approued gouernours. The maner of that slaughter he vsed, was straunge and neuer heard of before, his practises about Amasia & the other cities of Pontus, exceede all that passe in crueltie: where he ouerthrewe some of the churches of God euen to the pauements, shut vp others, lest that any in them should assemble after the wonted maner, and per∣forme the seruice dew vnto God. neither was he perswaded that they in them prayed for him, be∣cause he was of a corrupt conscience, but thought that we made supplicatiō vnto God, and did all for the godly Emperour Constantine, & for this cause he brake out into a furious rage against vs. Moreouer the flattering presidents supposinge in this behalfe to gratifie the mischieuous tyrant, tormented some of the bishops, as lewde persons are punished, led them forth, and punished with∣out cause such as had committed none euill as if they had bene murtherers: wherof some endured a more straunge death, their bodies cutt in many small peeces, as bouchers do vse, and after this cruell and horrible spectacle, throwen into the bottomlesse goulfe of the surginge sea, to become foode for fishes. While these things were a doyng, againe the flight of godly men beganne, and a∣gaine the fieldes, and againe the deserts, the woods and mountaines receaue the worshippers of Christ. When these things in this sort preuailed with the wicked tyrant, he thought thenceforth to rayse persecution agaynst all, and had brought his purpose to passe (for there was nothing to hinder him from this hainous offence) vnlesse that God which fighteth for the soules of his ser∣uāts, had speedely forestopped & preuented his malicious enterprise, and had brought forth with a mightie arme in defence of the quarell his seruant Constantinus a defender of all the godly, as it were a great lyght in a darke and thicke mistie night.

CAP. IX.

Constantinus after that he ouer came Licinnius enioyed the empire alone, fauored the Christians, and restored peace.

GOd from aboue graunted vnto this man, this deserued frute of godlinesse, to wete victorie and triumphant signes againste wicked persons, and brought subiect the vngracious ty∣rant together with all his counsellers and friends euen groueling at the feete of Cōstātine, For when he was fallen into extreme folly, the godly emperour & furtherer of christiā religion, perceauing that he was no longer to be borne withall, weyed this matter wisely, & mingling the seueritie of iustice with the clemencie of his nature, thought best with voluntarie mind, to delider from iniury such as were oppressed by the tyrant. And to the ende he might saue many, he went a∣bout to cutt of a few hurtfull & pestilent persons. For when as Constantinus in times past had vsed clemencie and pitied him, which was worthy of no compassion at all, therby Licinnius enioyed no great commoditie for that he forsooke not his malice, but rather encreased his rage againste the nations subiect vnto him, for them, to wete, being oppressed & wearied by the sauadge beast, there remained no hope of saluation. Wherfore the defender of pietie ioyned the hatred of the euill with the loue of goodnes, & together with his sonne Crispus, the most clement emperour he went forth to battaile, and stretched forth his helping hande vnto all that were oppressed. These therefore to∣gether, the father and the sonne, vsing for guide and helper God the supreme king and the sonne of God the sauiour of the whole worlde, hauinge both on euery side scattered the armies of the ene∣mies of God, and all the aduersaries in that conflict by the power of God, (eden as they wished) being foyled and ouerthrowen: they gott an easie and a speedy victorie. Immediatly then, sooner then the word vttered, they which yester nyght and the day before breathed out present death and threaming thunder bolts of fiery persecution were not afterwardes remembred, no, not as much as once by name, their tytles and honors had deserued shame and ignominie, and Licinnius him selfe suffred the selfe same things a like, the which he sawe with his eyes to chaunce vnto the wic∣ked tyrantes his predecessors. For be admitted no correction, neither aduised him selfe by the stripes of his kinsfolkes, but treadinge with them the same path of impietie, is brought by iuste iudgement into the same downefall. and thus was this man prostrated. Constantinus then beyng renowmed for euery rare vertue and godlinesse, being also chiefe conquerour: together with his sonne Crispus the most godly emperour, like vnto his father in all things, tooke the easterne and the Romaine empire of old time one, & brought subiect to their peace from the East euery where throughout both parts of the world, North and South, euen vnto the farthest place of the VVest. All the feare of them by whome they were afore time oppressed was taken away, and wiped from of the face of the earth, they celebrated solemne and royall feasts. All was replenished with the bryght beames of ioye and gladnesse, and they which afore time full sadly beheld eche other, now they do it with gladsome countenance and cheerefull eyes, they honored before all thinges (for so they were instructed) the supreme kinge, next the godly emperour together with his sonnes be∣loued of God, with daunces and hymnes throughout townes and contries. Moreouer all olde in∣iurie was forgotten, neither was there mention of any mans impietie at all, but the enioyinge of present prosperitie, and the expectation of goodnesse to come. The constitutions of the victorious emperour, full of clemencie and lawes containing manifest tokens of bountifulnesse and true pie∣tie, were euery where proclaymed. Thus therefore all tyrannie beyng rooted out, the empire fitte and dew for Constantinus and his sonnes was preserued firme and free from all enuye, who, wy∣ping away all impietie of their predecessors in lyfe, and enioying meryly all the benefits best ow∣ed from aboue, haue sett forth by their lawes, decreed in the behalfe of the Christians, the study of vertue, and loue, and pietie towards God, with thankfulnesse of minde.

The ende of the tenth booke of the Ecclesiasticall history of Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He beg••neth with thankes vnto God for the peace after perse∣cution.
• * 1.2

  Psalm. 98.
• * 1.3

  Psalm. 46.
• * 1.4

  Psalm. 37.
• * 1.5

  The temples builded a∣gayne.
• * 1.6

  Consecrati∣ons and the dedications of temples.
• * 1.7

  Ezech. 37. An vniforme consent of the Christi∣ans.
• * 1.8

  He prayseth Paulinus the Bishop.
• * 1.9

  Beseleel. Solomon. Zor••babel.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 44.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 48.
• * 1.12

  1. Timoth. 3.
• * 1.13

  Psal. 87.
• * 1.14

  Psal. 122. Psal. 26.
• * 1.15

  Psal. 48.
• * 1.16

  Psal. 113.
• * 1.17

  Luc. 1.
• * 1.18

  Psal. 106. Psal. 107. Psal. 136. Psal. 105.
• * 1.19

  Esay 53.
• * 1.20

  Satan the e∣nemy of mà∣kinde & wor¦ker of all mischiefe.
• * 1.21

  Christ aideth the comfort∣lesse.
• * 1.22

  The orna∣ments of the temple, and the meaning thereof. Psal. 33. Psal. 148.
• * 1.23

  Iohn. 5.
• * 1.24

  Beselc cl.
• * 1.25

  The clensing of the pollu∣ted temple.
• * 1.26

  Psal.
• * 1.27

  Psal. 8.
• * 1.28

  Psal. 37.
• * 1.29

  Psal. 9. Psal. 18.
• * 1.30

  Psal. 73.
• * 1.31

  Esay. 35.
• * 1.32

  Psal. 74.
• * 1.33

  Psal. 80. Prouerb. 3. Heb. 12.
• * 1.34

  Esay. 35.
• * 1.35

  The wall of the church.
• * 1.36

  The porch.
• * 1.37

  A space be∣twene the Sanctuary the porche.
• * 1.38

  Welspringes cockes or cund••••••s.
• * 1.39

  Gates.
• * 1.40

  Porches. Windowes.
• * 1.41

  Psal. 104.
• * 1.42

  The floore or pauement
• * 1.43

  Esay. 61. The church ••ioy••eth.
• * 1.44

  Esay. 54.
• * 1.45

  Esay. 51.
• * 1.46

  Esay. 52. Esay. 49.
• * 1.47

  2. Corinth. 6.
• * 1.48

  Esay. 54.
• * 1.49

  Act. 2.
• * 1.50

  1. Corinth. 2.
• * 1.51

  The copy of the Imperiall edicts trāsla∣ted out of the latine into the Greeke & out of the Greeke into Englishe.
• * 2.1

  Constātinus & Licinnius the Empe∣rours vnto Anilinus proconsul of Aphrick.
• * 3.1

  Constātinus the empe∣rours vnto Militiades byshop of Rome.
• * 4.1

  Constātinus the empe∣rour vnto Chrestus bi∣shop of Sira∣cusa.
• * 4.2

  Constātinus vnto Cecilia n{us} byshop of Carthage. Pholes ac∣cording vnto Epiphani{us} is a weyght o∣ther wise cal∣led Talantiū and the same is too folde the one con∣taining 312. poūdes & six ounces: the other wey∣ing 208. pence. it is vsed of Sui∣das and Au∣gustine de ciuit. Dei lib. 22. cap. 8. for a halfpeny.
• * 4.3

  Constātinus vnto Anilin' gouernour of Aphrick.
• * 4.4

  Licinni{us} had maried Con¦stantinus si∣ster.