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. VI.

The Epistle of the Synode contayning their decrees, and the expulsion of Arius* 1.1 with his complices, sundry epistles of Costantine the Emperour.

THe councell it selfe by generall consent wrote these things which followe vnto the churche of Alexandria, and vnto the inhabitants of Aegypt, Lybia, and Pentapolis.

Vnto the holy (through the grace of God) and the renowmed church of Alexandria, & to the beloued brethren throughout Aegypt, Lybia, & Pentapolis, the bishops assembled at Nice, and summoned to the greate and sacred senate sende greeting in the Lorde.

VVhen as by the grace of God and the commaundement of the moste vertuous Emperoure* 2.1 Constantine, vvho gathered vs together from diuers cities and prouinces, the great•• and sacred councell of Nice is summoned: it seemed expedient that letters from the vvhole sacred assembly should be sent vnto you, wherby you might be certified as vvell of the thīgs called into questiō

and exquisitely decided: as also of the canons therein cōfirmed. First of all the things which did concerne the impious & peruerse opinion of Arius & his complices, were fully handled in the presence of the most godly Emperour Constantine, whervpon it pleased the councell by cōmon consent of all, to pronounce his wicked opinion to be helde for accursed, and the execrable words and blasphemous sentences he vsed, ••aying: that the sonne of God had his beginning of* 2.2 nothing: that there was a time vvhen he vvas not: That the sonne of God vvas of free vvill incli∣ned to vertue & to vice: that he was a creature, and that he vvas made, all vvhich the holy coun∣cell did accurse, nay it may not be permitted that his impious opinion, his insolent madnesse, his blasphemous vvordes shoulde come within hearing. Moreouer you haue heard or at least∣vvise ye shall heare of vs toutchinge him and his ende, lest that vve seeme rashly and vvithout cause to insulte and inueye against a man vvhich receaued dew for his desert. His impietie grew to that passe, and so preuayled, that he lead Theônas bishop of Marmarica, and Secundus of Ptolemais, together vvith him into perdition. for they vvere partakers of the same punishment vvith him. After that the grace of God had deliuered vs from that peruerse opinion, from that impietie and blasphemie, and from such people as presumed to sowe discorde and debate in the middest of such as leade a peaceable and quiet life: there remained as yet toutching the cō∣tumacie of Meletius, and such as he had aduaunced vnto ecclesiastical orders to be determined of vs, and vvhat the councell decreed toutchinge him thus vnderstande vvelbeloued brethren. The councell beyng bent to deale vvith more clemencie tovvardes Meletius then he deserued,* 2.3 (for by iust iudgement he was worthy of no pardon) decreed that he should remaine in his pro∣per city, that he should haue no authoritie to make ministers, no authoritie to aduaūce any vnto the ecclesiasticall function, neither to appeare or present him selfe in any other region or in any other citie for that purpose, but onely to retayne the bare name and title of his office and digni∣tie: they decreed farther toutching such as were entred into holy orders by his laying on of hāds, that they after confirmation vvith more mysticall laying on of handes should be admitted into the fellovvship of the church, with this condition: that they shoulde enioye their dignitie & de∣gree of the ministerie, yet that they be inferiour vnto all the pastors throughout euery prouince and churche, the vvhich the most honorable man and our college Alexander hath ordayned. Moreouer that they haue no authoritie to elect the ministers approued by their censures, no not so much as to nominate thē which are to execute the ecclesiasticall function, nor to intermedle with any thing toutching thē that are within Alexanders iurisdiction, without the cōsent of the bishop of the catholicke church. But they who through the grace of God & the meanes of your praiers were found no maintayners of schisme, but cōtained thē selues within the bounds of the Catholicke & Apostolicke churche, voyd of all erroneous blemishe, let these haue authoritie to consecrate ministers, to nominate such as shalbe thought vvorthie of the cleargie, and in fine freely to do all according vnto the rule & canon of the church. If in case that one of them which presently enioye the ecclesiasticall dignitie, chaunce to finishe his mortall race, thē one of them lately admitted into the church (so that he be found worthy, & the people chose him, so that the bishop of Alexandria consent thervnto and confirme his election) may succeede in the place of the deseased. our will is also that, that liberty be graūted vnto all others. But of Meletius name∣ly it is otherwise decreede, to wete, that both for his insolent boldnes, wherewith heretofore he molested the quiet estate of the church, and also for his temeritie and wilfull ignorance openly shewed, he shoulde haue neither power, neither authoritie geuen him, for in that he is a man, he may agayne vexe the churche with the like disorder. And these decrees properly and seuerally do concerne Aegypt, and the most holy churche of Alexandria. But if any other thinge besides this be decreed and concluded vpon vvhylest that the most honorable lorde our fellovve mini∣ster and brother Alexander is present vvith vs, he beynge both president and priuye to our do∣inges, vvyll in presence of you all more exactly recite the vvhole vnto you. VVe sende you gladde tydinges of the vniforme consent and agreement toutching the celebration of the most* 2.4 sacred feaste of Easter, that by the meanes of your prayers the sturre raysed in that behalfe vvas quietly appeased. so that all the brethren vvhich inhabite the East, obseruinge heretofore the maner of the Ievves, novve vvith vniforme consent do follovve the Romaines, and vs, and you, vvhich of olde tyme haue retayned vvith vs the selfe same order and maner of celebration. VVherfore reioyce partly because of these prosperous affaires, and partly for the peace and vni∣forme agreement of all, & partly also that all heresies are abādoned & plucked vp by the rootes,

and embrace vvith greater honor & more feruent loue our fellow minister Alexander, but your bishop. whose presence was a great pleasure vnto vs, who in those yeares tooke great paynes & labored exceedingly to reduce the affaires of your church vnto a quiet & peaceable state. powre vnto God harty prayers for vs all, that the things rightly decreede & established may continewe for firme & inuiolable through God the father almighty, & our Lord Iesus Christ together with the holy ghost, to whome be glorie for euer & euer, Amen.

It is euident by this Synodicall epi∣stle, that they accursed not onely Arius and his complices, but also the sentences of his peruerse opinion, moreouer that they agreed among thē selues toutching y^• celebration of Easter: that they receaued y^• graūd hereticke Meletius, graūting him licence to retaine his episcopall dignitie, yet* 2.5 depriuing him of all authoritie to execute the functiō as a bishop vseth. for which cause I suppose the Meletians in Aegypt vnto this day to haue bene seuered from the church, because that the coun∣cell tooke away from Meletius all authoritie. We haue moreouer to vnderstād, that Arius wrote a booke of his opinion, the which he intituled Thalia, the style & phrase of the booke is both wan∣ton and dissolute, resembling in all poynts the bawdy ballets and rymes of the wanton poet Sota∣des. the which booke also the councell then dyd condemne. Neyther was the councell onely care∣full by writinge to certifie of the peace established, but the Emperour also signified the same by his letters vnto the church of Alexandria.

Constantinus the Emperour vnto the Catholicke church of Alexandria.

VVe wishe you health in the Lord welbeloued brethren. A great & a singular benefite of the* 3.1 deuine prouidence of God is conferred on vs, in that all errour and deceate beinge quite put to slight, we acknowledge one & the selfe same faith. For henceforth there remayneth no refuge for the sleyghts of the deuill intended agaynst vs, vvhatsoeuer through fraude he pretended, the same is vvholly taken avvay. The bright beames of the trueth according vnto the commaunde∣ment of Christ, ouercame those dissentions, schismes, those tumults (& as I may so terme it) that deadly poyson of discorde. one God therfore all we both in name do adore, and in faith do be∣leue to be. And to the end the same through the forewarning of god might be brought to passe, I haue called together a great cōpany of bishops vnto the city of Nice, with whome I also beīg one of your n••ber, & most willingly addictīg my selfe wholly together with you vnto the same busines, haue endeuored that the trueth then in cōtrouersy might throughly be tried out. wher∣fore all things that seemed to breede occasion of discord or dissention, vvere narrovvly sifted & sought out. How great & what horrible blasphemies (God of his goodnes be mercifull vnto vs) haue some vnreuerently vttered against our great sauiour, against our hope and life, and impu∣dētly not only blased things cōtrary vnto the scriptures inspired from aboue & the sacred faith, but also affirmed they beleued the same? For vvhen as three hundreth bishops and aboue, men of great fame both for modestie of minde & sharpnesse of witt, had confirmed one & the same faith, which was founde to be a true faith by the trueth it selfe, and playne testimonies of holie scripture sought out for the purpose: Arius alone was found (beyng ouercome with the power and fraude of the deuill) to fall from the same: and beynge prone therevnto through the per∣uersitie of his minde, scattered and sovved first of all amongest you, aftervvardes amongest vs, this poysoned errour of perdition. VVherefore lett vs embrace that doctrine vvhich almightie God, the father of heauen hath deliuered vnto vs: let vs returne vnto our dearely beloued bre∣thren vvhome the wicked & impudēt minister of Satan hath seuered asunder: let vs vvith might and mayne, and (as commonly vve say) vvith all the vaynes in our hart, go home agayne vnto the generall societie and body of the church, and vnto our ovvne naturall members. This aboue all other things behoueth your wisdome, your faith & holines, after the remouīg frō your minds the cākred poysō of the aduersary, who set him selfe opposite against the trueth: that without all delaye ye haue recourse vnto the grace and goodnes of almightie God. For that which seemed good vnto the three hūdred bishops, is no othervvise to be taken then for the sentence of God, specially in as much as the holie Ghost vvas resiant in the mindes of so vvorthie and so notable men, inspiring them vvith the deuine vvill of God him selfe. VVherfore let none of you stagger at the matter, let none of you make any delay at all, but all ioyntly vvith most vvillinge mindes returne vnto the most perfect way of trueth: that as soone as I my selfe come amōgst you, I may together with you rēder dew thāks vnto the god whose eye nothīg doth escape: because that he

hath not onely reuealed vnto vs the true & syncere faith, but also geuen vnto vs most graciously the loue and charitie which vvas to be vvished of vs all. God keepe and preserue you vvelbe∣loued brethren.

This the Emperour wrote vnto the people of Alexandria; signifying in playne words that the finall conclusion & definitiue sentēce of the faith was not layde downe vnaduisedly, neither came to passe by happe hazard: but after great labour & industrie, after diligent searching and sifting out of the trueth, to haue bene published by the councell: and not some thinges to haue bene handled, some other things to haue bene omitted: but all whatsoeuer seemed necessary to be entreated of, toutching the confirmation of y^• doctrine of faith, to haue bene sufficiently discoursed: neither to haue bene firste vnaduisedly decreed, before all were curiously handled, in so much that all what so euer seemed to breede occasion of controuersie or discord, was quite plucked vp by the rootes. But (that I may vtter all in one word) Constantine calleth the censure of the whole assem∣bly, the sentence of God him selfe, neither doubted he but that so great a company of bishops was vnited & linked together in one mind & in one opinion by y^• motion & instinct of the holy ghost. Yet for all this, Sabinus who is the ringleader of the Macedonian heresie, wilfully and of sett purpose impugneth these thinges: yea moreouer he termeth such as mett at Nice, vnlearned and doultishe idiots: neither is he ashamed to charge Eusebius bishop of Caesarea with the reprochefull spot and blemishe of ignorance, neither weyeth he this with him selfe, that such as were present at the coū∣cell, though they were vnlearned men (as he reporteth) yet being inspired from aboue, & endued with the grace of the spirite of God, could in no wise straye from the trueth. But let vs heare what the Emperour layde downe in other letters against the opinions of Arius and his complices, the which also he sent abroade vnto the bishops and congregations throughout christendome.

An other Epistle of Constantine.

COnstantinus the puyssāt, the mighty & noble Emperour vnto the bishops, pastors, & peo∣ple* 4.1 whersoeuer. Inasmuch as Arius traceth the stepps of detestable & impious persons: it is requisite that he be partaker with them of the selfe same infamie and reproche. For as Porphyrius the svvorne aduersarie & deadly foe of deuine seruice, vvho lately published levvde cōmentaries, in the cōfutation & defiance of Christian religion, vvas revvarded according vnto his desert, and so recōpenced that within the cōpasse of these fewe yeares he was not only grie∣ued with great reproche, & blemished with the shamefull spot of infamie, but also his impious & blasphemous works, perished & vtterly were abolished: euen so now it seemed good vnto vs to call Arius & his complices, the vvicked broode of Porphyrius, that looke vvhose maners they haue imitated, they may enioye also the priuiledge of their name. Moreouer we thought good, that if there can be founde extant any worke or booke compiled by Arius, the same shoulde be burned to ashes, so that not only his damnable doctrine may thereby he vvholly rooted out: but also that no relique thereof may remaine vnto the posteritie. This also we straightly cōmaunde & charge, that if any man be found to hyde or conceale any booke made by Arius, and not im∣mediatly bring forth the sayd booke, & deliuer it vp to be burned, that the sayde offender for so doing, shall die the death. For as soone as he is taken, our pleasure is that his head be stricken of from his shoulders. God keepe you in his tuition.

An other epistle of Constantine.

COnstantinus the Emperour vnto the churches throughout christēdome sendeth greeting.* 5.1 VVhen as I perceaued by the florishing & prosperous estate of the publicke weale, how greatly we are beholding vnto the goodnes of almightie God conferred vpon vs: I dee∣med that aboue all things it behoued me of dutie to foresee, that in the most holy and sacred as∣semblies of the Catholicke church vnder heauen, there shold one faith, syncere loue & charitie, vniforme consent & agreement toutching the religion & seruice of almightie God, vnuiolably be retayned. But sithence that the same could by no other way or meanes be compassed, neither in any other sure or certaine place be setled, vnlesse that either all the bishops, or at lestvvise the greater part of them assembled together, & layde downe their seuerall censures concerning the most holy religion & seruice of God: therfore when the greatest company that coulde be gott, mette together, I my selfe as one of your number, vvas present vvith them. Neyther tooke I in scorne (vvhereat novve I greatly reioyce) that I coupled my selfe vvith you in those affayres.

VVe proceeded so farre in the premisses, and handled all thinges so exquisitely, vntill the sen∣tence vvhich seemed gratefull and acceptable vnto God the ouerseer of all thinges, for the con∣corde and consent in religion vvas openly pronounced, so that there remayned nothinge here∣after to be concluded vpon, vvhich seemed to tende or grovve either vnto discorde or disagree∣ment toutchinge the faith. VVhen as there at that tyme vve reasoned of the most sacred solem∣nitie and feast of Easter, it seemed good by vniforme consent of all, that all men, in all places shoulde celebrate it, vpon one and the selfe same daye. for vvhat vvas there more auaylable? vvhat could there be more glorious, then that this feast (vvhereby vve retaine and holde fast the firme hope of immortalitie) shoulde, after one and the same order, and after the same manifest trade, vvithout noueltie or alteration be obserued? and first of all it seemed altogether contrary to order, that in the celebration of the sayd most sacred feast, we should imitate the rites & ma∣ner of the Iewes, who in as much as they haue defiled their hāds with an hainous offence, reason it is as impure persons their minds should be helde snared in blindnesse. It remayneth therefore that vve lay aside theyr custome, and publishe for a remembrance vnto the posteritie in tyme to come the celebration of this feaste after a truer & more syncere institution, the vvhich vnto this present time from the first day of the passion we haue obserued. VVherfore let vs haue nothing common, with that most odious broode of the Iewes, for we are taught by our sauiour to tread an other way the which we must cleaue vnto. there is layde downe a race & a limite both decēt and lawfull for our most sacred religion. let vs ioyntly retaine this with vniforme consent (most honorable brethren) & withdraw our selues from that despitefull nation. For in very deede it is the greatest absurditie that can be, for them arrogantly to vaunt that we can in no wise obserue these things without the ayde and helpe of their discipline. VVhat is it whereof they are able to sauour aright, who after they had put the Lord Iesus to death, hauing remoued the right sense of their minde out of his quiet seate, vvere caryed not vvith the vveyght of reason, but vvith an in∣tollerable vvilfulnesse of rashe enterprises, vvhither so euer the frensie and madnesse that vvas ingraffed in their mindes did leade them? And in this poynte it is apparent they see not the ma∣nifest trueth, (no maruell then they erre in many things) in that they besides the appointed time for the celebration of this fest, within the compasse of the selfe same yeare do celebrate a second Easter. VVhat cause then shall moue vs to imitate these men, vvhome vve see thus manifestly infected vvith the grieuons maladie of errour? vve vvill in no vvise permit the same feast in one and the same yeare the seconde time to be solemnized. If that I had bene carelesse and busyed my selfe herein nothinge at all, it had bene your parte and duetie to haue imployed both your diligence, and also with earnest and continewall prayer to haue craued that the right rule and synceritie of your minds should in no wise participate, neither in any thing haue felowship with the vvicked vvayes of levvde persons. Besides all this, vve may easily perceaue hovve shamefull and detestable a thinge it is to dissent and disagree about so vveyghtie a matter, and about so hygh and so religious a feaste. One festiuall daye of purchased freedome, to vvete, of the moste blessed passion & bloodsheding hath our sauiour commended vnto vs, one catholicke churche he would haue to be collected of all, whose mēbers though they be many & in sūdry places dis∣persed vnder heauē: yet do they knit & close together in one spirite, that is in the will & pleasure of almighty god. I would that of your wisdome & holines, you deepely weyed with your selues how disordered & vndecent a thing it is, vpō the selfe same dayes, for some religiously to fast, & for some others ryotously to feaste it out: and after Easter holidayes, for some to feast, and yeld them selues to fullnesse of pleasure, for others to abstayne, and obserue the prescribed dayes of fastinge. VVherefore this is to be reformed, and reduced vnto one maner and custome, this (as I am sure you doe all, knowe very vvell) is the pleasure of God him selfe. And in as much as the same is ryghtly to be redressed, that vve haue nothinge common vvith murtherers of fathers, and such as haue putt theyr Lorde and mayster to death: In as much as agayne that orderly, and comelie maner retayned of all the churches throughout the vvorlde, inhabiting either the VVest, the South, or the North, and in sundrie places also of the East, vvas to be ob∣serued of vs: therefore it is that presentlie all haue thought ryght vvell thereof. I my selfe also haue taken vpon myne ovvne person, your tractable vvisdome, that looke vvhat cu∣stome soeuer vvith vniforme consent, is of force in the citie of Rome, in Italie, & Aphtick, in all Aegypt, Spaine, Fraunce and Bryttaine, Libya and all Greece, in the prouince of Asia, Pontus, and Cilicia: the same also vvith vvilling and gratefull minds, should be ratified and approued

of you all. Considering of this carefully vvith your selues, that not onely the greater number of congregations lyeth in the places before mentioned: but also that it is a most godly purpose for all men ioyntly with one harte and voyce, to desire that established, which right and reason re∣quireth to be done, which also hath no fellowship with the damnable periurie of the despiteful Iewes. but that I may vtter the whole in fewe wordes, it seemed good by common assent of the whole assembly, that the most sacred feaste of Easter, shoulde be celebrated vpon one, and the selfe same daye. for it may not be that variance and dissention shoulde raygne about the cele∣bration of so holy, and so high a feast, yea moreouer it is very commendable to condescend vn∣to this sentence, which is farre from all error that doth preiudice the faith, & from all fellowship with shamefull sinne. VVherefore the matter being brought to this passe, embrace this decre with willing mindes as an heauenly & most godly commaundement. for whatsoeuer is decree∣ed in the holy councels of Bishops, the same is to be attributed to the will of God. VVherefore when you haue certified al our welbeloued brethren, of the canons of this councel, the sentence already layd downe, & the maner of celebrating the most holy feast, it is your parte to approue the same, and duely to obserue it: that as soone as I can perceaue the right disposition of you all, the vvhich of long tyme I haue desired, I may vpon one, and the selfe same daye, together vvith you all, solemnize this most sacred feaste, and ioye for your sakes: the vvhiche shall come to passe, if that I may vnderstande, that not onely the spite and outragious dealing of the deuill, through your vvell doing, ayded from aboue, is vvholly put to flyght and abandoned from a∣mongest you: but that also our fayth by reason of peace, and concorde, doth euery vvhere nota∣bly florishe. God preserue you vvelbeloued brethren.

An other Epistle vnto Eusebius.

COnstantinus the puysant, the mighty, & noble Emperour, vnto Eusebius sendeth greeting.* 6.1 Euen as (welbeloued brother) I haue learned of a truth, and am fully perswaded, that all Churches from the fundations, are either through negligence gone to decay, or through feare of the daūger that was like to ensue haue bene lesse repayred then they should haue bene, yea vnto this present daye, by reason of the grieuous maladye of spite, and great tyrannye exer∣cised vpon the Sainctes of God, and the seruants of our Sauiour Iesus Christ: so now liberty be∣ing restored vnto all men, and that dragon, and persecutor Licinnius being foyled, & the directi∣on of ecclesiasticall affayres remoued from the disposition of the vulgar sort, by the prouidence of Almighty God & the vigilant labor of our ministery, I suppose that the power and might of God is made manifest vnto all men, & that they which fell by reason of feare, or incredulitie, or other infirmitie whatsoeuer, in as much as nowe they acknowledge the true God in deede, will repent and returne vnto the true and right way. VVherefore what Churches so euer thou doest gouerne, or other places, where other Bishops, Priestes & Deacons, of thy acquaintance, doe o∣uerse, our will is, that thou admonish them all, that with watchful eye, the buildings of the chur∣ches be looked vnto: to the ende that such as stande may be repayred, and also be enlarged, or else vvhere necessitie so constrayneth, they may be erected all new from the foundation. Looke what thinges are necessarily required for buildinge, see that either thou thy selfe, or some other in thy name, demaunde them of the Lieuetenants, or rulers of our prouinces. for vve haue signi∣fied vnto them by our letters, that vvith all celeritie and promptnes of minde they shall supplye the vvante of such thinges as thine holines doth prescribe. and thus vvelbeloued brother I com∣mitt thee to the tuition of Almighty God.

These thinges the Emperour wrote for the buylding of the Churches, vnto the Bishops of euery prouince, and what seuerally he wrote vnto Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina for the coppying of holy Scripture it may easily be gathered by these letters of his as followeth. Constantinus the puysant, the mighty, and noble Emperour, vn∣to* 6.2 Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea, sendeth greeting. In so much that in the * 6.3 citye, vvhich is called after our name, there inhabiteth a greate multitude of men (our Sauiour Iesu, and God the father, of his prouidence sending encrease thereunto) vvhich embraceth the most holy Church, to the ende all the Ecclesiasticall affayres, may in the same place dayly encrease more & more, vve haue thought good, that more Churches shoulde be erected, and buylded there. VVhere∣fore accept vvith louing harte, vvhat our vvill and pleasure is. VVe haue thought good to sig∣nifie vnto thy vvisedome, that thou shouldest prepare fyftye volumes, or coppies of holy Scrip∣ture,

written in parchment, which shalbe both legible, hādsome, & portable, & that thou com∣maunde moreouer, that they be written of skilfull scriueners, exercised in the arte of penning. our will is, that the volumes comprise those bookes of holy Scripture, whose penning, and vse, thou thy selfe shalt thinke most necessarily to auaile for the edifying of the Church. Our highnes hath sent letters vnto our heade treasurer, that he shoulde minister all necessaries for the prouisi∣on of these bookes. It is thy part then, to ouersee with speede, that these vvritten coppies be made ready. Moreouer by vertue of these our letters (as right requireth) we geue thee liberty to take vp tvvo common vvaggons, for the conueying of them thither, for so the vvritten coppies shal the sooner be brought vnto vs, and so much the better if one of thy Deacons, be put in trust therewith. who when as he commeth in place, shall find the proofe of our liberality. God keepe thee in health welbeloued brother.

An other epistle vnto Macarius.

COnstantinus the puysant, the mighty, and noble Emperour, vnto Macarius Bishop of* 7.1 Ierusalem, sendeth greeting. So bountifully vvas the goodnes of our Sauiour, shevved towards vs, that no tongue is able for the worthines thereof, sufficiently to expresse this present miracle: that the pleadge or monument of his most blessed passion, which of late laye hidd in the bovvells of the earthe the space of so many yeares, shoulde at length be reuealed vnto the seruants of God being set at libertie, after conquering of the common and generall e∣nemie: it farre exceedeth all humane sense, and capacitie of mans vvitt. For if all the sages, and vvisest sorte of men throughout the vvorlde, assembled them selues together, and purposed to reason and entreate hereof, without doubt they coulde not, for the worthines thereof, satisfie with any circumstance, no, not the least point thereof the fayth annexed vnto this miracle is of such force, and so farre exceedeth the sense and capacitie of mans nature: as celestiall, and di∣uine thinges, doe passe humane and worldly affaires. VVherefore this is alwayes my principall and onely marke to shoote at, that euen as the true fayth reuealeth her selfe dayly, by newe and straung miracles: so all our mindes with all modestie, and vniforme readines, shoulde be fixed, and more prone, to the obseruation of the most holy and blessed Gospell. besides this, that also (the vvhich I thinke euery man knovveth full vvell) I vvoulde haue thee fully assured to be my chiefe care, that the sayd holy place, (the which by the commaundement of God, we haue pur∣ged from the foule weight of the filthy Idols, ouerlayed therevvith as it vvere vvith a most grie∣uous burthen: the vvhich place also vve knowe to haue bene recounted holy in maner from the beginning of the vvorlde, and aftervvards also to haue yelded more euident proofes of holines, by sturring vp againe the faith of the passion of our Sauiour, as it vvere from out of darkenes in∣to light) be bevvtified vvith goodly and gorgeous buylding. It is requisite that thy vvisedome doe cast vvith thy selfe, and sett in order this work••, and carefully prouide necessaries for all cir∣cumstances to the ende that not onely the sanctuary may excell for bevvtie, all the rest vvhere∣soeuer: but that also the other partes thereof may be such, as shall farre passe in excellencie of buylding, all the principall Churches throughout euery citye. I certify thee moreouer, that tout∣ching the making vp of the vvalls, and the curious vvorkemanship thereof, I haue charged our friende Dracillianus (who gouerneth diuers other coasts) and also the ruler of that prouince, our grace hath charged them, that what artificers, what workemen, what other thinges soeuer shall seeme expedient for the buylding, they shoulde learne of thy wisedome, and forthvvith be sent thither for the prouision thereof. Concerning the pillers, & other parts of the temple to be made of marble, looke vvhat thou supposest fittest, both for the maiestie of the workmanship, & con∣tinewance of the buylding, taking vvith thy selfe good aduisement therein, that thou certifie vs thereof by thy letters, to the ende that we vnderstanding by thy letters what you haue neede of, may from euery vvhere conuey the same thither vnto you for it behoueth vs to garnishe, & sete forth vvith great maiestie, the heade, and chiefe place of the vvhole vvorlde. our vvill is besides, that thou certifie vs, vvhat thine opinion is, vvhether it vvere better to haue the roofe of the san∣ctuary embovved vautvvise, or vvrought after some other kinde of artificious cunning▪ if em∣bovved vautvvise, then may it finely be gylded all ouer. It resteth then that thy holines, vnto vvhose prudent consideration (as it is premised) we haue referred the whole, do certifie vs vvith all speede, what vvorkemen, vvhat artificers, vvhat prouision ye shall haue neede of: & also that

thou signifie vnto vs thy minde, toutching the marble, and pillers to be made thereof, and the embovved roofe, if that kinde of vvorke please thee best. God keepe thee in health vvelbeloued brother.

The Emperour wrote also solemne and large epistles against Arius, and his complices, the which he caused euery where, and in euery citie, to be blased abroad: taunting him bitterly for his follye, and skoffing wise grieuing him to the gutts. besides he wrote letters vnto the Nicome∣dians, where he inueyed agaynst Eusebius, and Theognis. He charged Eusebius with subtle treache∣ry* 7.2 and lewde behauiour: and not onely that he had infected him selfe with the noysome filth of A∣riamse, but also in the* 7.3 tyrants behalfe, wrought treason agaynst him, and after the maner of a re∣bell resisted his enterprises. Wherefore he exhorted them to choose an other Bishop in his rowme. The which Epistles of his, because that they are somewhat longe, I thought good presently not to trouble the Reader withall, in so much as, such as are desirous thereof, may easily, and at pleasure, both finde, and peruse them. And of these thinges thus much.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 9. in the Greeke.
• * 2.1

  The synodi∣••all epistle of ••he councell ••f Nice.
• * 2.2

  The blasphe¦mous opini∣ons of Arius that cursed hereticke, toutchinge the blessed sonne of God.
• * 2.3

  This Meleti{us} as Socrates sayde before cap. 3. in time of persecutiō denyed the faith, & sacri∣ficed to idols: therefore he was excōmu∣nicated, and being in this takinge he tooke part with the A∣rians: who for cōpanie together with A••••••s in this councell is cōdemne••
• * 2.4

  The questiō of Easter cō∣cluded vpon in the coun∣cell of Nice
• * 2.5

  VVhy the Meletians are seuered from the churche. The wanton booke which Arius wrote and intituled Thalia.
• * 3.1

  Cōstantinus Magnus vnto the church of Alexādria.
• * 4.1

  Cōstantinus vnto the bi∣shops & peo∣ple, &c.
• * 5.1

  Cōstantinus the Empe∣rour vnto the churches, &c
• * 6.1

  The epistle of Constan∣tine vnto Eu¦sebius Pam∣philus.
• * 6.2

  The epistle of Constan∣tine vnto Eusebius.
• * 6.3

  After the name of Cō∣stantinus Bi∣zantium was called Con∣stantinople.
• * 7.1

  The epistle of Constan∣tine vnto Macarius, concerning the sepul∣chre of our Sauiour feūd there, & the buylding of a Churche in that place.
• * 7.2

  Eusebius ••. of Nicome∣dia and The∣ognis were Arians.
• * 7.3

  Lic••••••us.