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. XVIII.* 1.1

ƲƲhen the councell of Sardice decreed that Athanasius and Paulus should be restored to their bishoprikes, and Constantius the Easterne Emperour woulde not admitt them: The Emperour of the VVest threatned him with warrs, so that Constan∣tius was therewith affrayde, wrote for Athanasius and sent him to Alexandria.

AFter that both the Bishops assembled at Sardice, and also the bishops assembled at Philip∣pi a citie of Thracia, in their seuerall councells had decreed such things as seemed good vn∣to them selues, they returned euery man to his owne home. The East & west churches were* 1.2 now deuided, the space or distance seuering their communion asunder, was the mount betwene Il∣lyrium and Thracia called Tisueis: for so farre euery of them among them selues, though they dif∣fered about the faith, yet the quarell being layde aside, they communicated together, beyonde that, there was no communion of contrary parts. such a confusion, such a sturre, and such a diuision raig∣ned then in the church. Immediatly after, the Emperour of the West parts of the world, certified his brother Constantius, of the things decided in the councel of Sardice: & requested him to see Pau∣lus & Athanasius placed in their bishoprikes. But when Constantius differred from day to day his brothers desire: the Emperour of the west gaue his brother in choise, either to restore Paulus & A∣thanasius, & so accompt of him as his friend: or else to heare the proclamation of open warre, and so find him his deadly foe. The letters he sent by the embassadour vnto his brother were these: There* 1.3 remaine here with me Athanasius & Paulus, who as I am credibly geuen to vnderstand, are per∣secuted for pieties sake. If that thou vvilt promise me to restore them vnto their seaes, & to pu∣nish seuerely such as haue iniuried them, I will send the parties them selues vnto thee: but if thou wilt not accomplish this my vvill & pleasure, knovve for suertie that my selfe vvill come thither & maugre thy berde, restore them to their proper seaes. * 1.4 When the Emperour of the East had vnderstoode of this, he was wonderfull pensiue and sadd, he assembleth together many of the Ea∣sterne bishops: layeth before them y^•. choice his brother gaue him: demaundeth of them what was best in this case to be dōe. They make answere that it was farre better to restore againe Athanasi∣us, then to rayse deadly and mortall warrs. Wherefore the Emperour being constrayned of neces∣sitie,

sent for Athanasius vnto him. In the meane while, Constans the Westerne Emperour had sent Paulus honorably, together with two Bishops, with his owne letters, and with the letters of the councell for the more suretie, vnto Constantinople. When Athanasius feared & doubted, whe∣ther he were best goe or no vnto Constantius (for the false reports of sclaunderous persons trou∣bled him very sore) the Easterne Emperour Constantius by name, sent for him not once, but the se∣conde and the thirde time, euen as his letters turned out of the latine into the greeke doe declare, and by translation as followeth.

The epistle of Constantius the Emperour vnto the exiled Athanasius.

Constantius the puysant & noble Emperour, vnto Athanasius the bishop sendeth greeting▪ our singuler & wonted clemency vvill no longer suffer thy fatherhoode, to be turmoyled and tossed vvith the surging vvaues of the seas▪ the pietie vvhich vve haue alvvaies in greate price, vvill no longer permitt thy holines, novve banished out of thy natiue soyle, bereaued of thy substance, barred of all prosperitie, to vvander through crooked and crosse vvaies, through desert & daun∣gerous contries. Although we haue lingered now a great vvhile, from sending our letters, wher∣by vve might signifie vnto thee the concealed secretie of our minde, hoping that of thine ovvne accorde, thou vvouldest repaire vnto vs, & vvith humble sute craue remedie & redresse of thine iniuries: yet neuerthelesse (feare peraduenture dismaying thee of thy purpose) vve sent present∣ly our gracious letters vnto thy grauitie, that vvith all celeritie thou come vnto vs: in so doing thou shalt satisfie thy longing desires, thou shalt haue triall of our vvonted clemency, and be re∣stored to thine ovvne seae & natiue soile▪ for to this ende I haue entreated my Lord and brother Constans, the puysant & noble Emperour, that he vvould licence thee to returne vnto vs, vvher∣by thou mightest by the meanes of vs both, enioy thy contrie, & haue this token for triall, of our singuler clemencie & good vvill tovvards thee.

An other epistle vnto the sayd renowmed Athanasius.

Constantius the puysant & noble Emperour vnto Athanasius the Bishop sendeth greeting. Al∣though by our former letters, vve haue signified vnto thy vvisedome after the plainest maner, that with secure mind & safe conduyte, thou shouldest come vnto our courte, because we were fully determined to restore thee vnto thy former dignitie: for all that, vve haue sent these letters also, vnto thy holines, that thou hire a common vvaggon, and remouing all timorous thoughts from thy mistrustfull minde, thou speedely repaire vnto vs, to the ende thou mayest the sooner enioy thy long vvished desires.

An other epistle vnto the sayd renowmed Athanasius.

Constantius the puysant and noble Emperour vnto Athanasius the Bishop sendeth greeting. Being of late at Edessa, vvhere there vvere also of thy priestes then present, it seemed good vnto vs, to send one of them vnto thee, that thou shouldest hasten vnto our court, and after thy com∣ming into our presence, vvithour delay returne into Alexandria. And for as much as it is novve a greate vvhile agoe, since thou receauedst our letters, and hast differred thy iourney: therefore novv also vve thought good to putt thee in remembrance, that vvithout delay thou come vnto vs, and so thou shalt possesse the libertie of thy contrey, and thy long vvished ease and quietnes. To the ende thou mightest fully persvvade thy selfe of all the premises, vve sent vnto thee Ache∣tas the Deacon, of vvhome thou shalt vnderstand, both vvhat our purpose is, and also hovv that thy harty desires shall preuaile. Athanasius bing at Aquileia (for he had remoued thither from Sardice) receaued these letters. thence he went in post to Rome, shewed the letters to Bishop Iuli∣us: and recreated very much the Church of Rome. for Constantius the Easterne Emperour seemed to be of the same fayth and opinion with them, when he sent for Athanasius home. Iulius certified the clergy, and layetie of Alexandria in his letters of Athanasius as followeth.

The epistle of Iulius Bishop of Rome, vnto the Priestes and people of Alexandria.

Iulius Bishop of Rome vnto the priestes, deacons & people inhabiting Alexandria, welbelo∣ued brethren, sendeth greeting in the Lorde. I doe greatly reioyce vvith you (vvel beloued bre∣thren) that henceforth you may behold with your eyes, the frute of your faith. that truely is to be

seene in my brother & fellowe Bishop Athanasius: whome God hath restored vnto you, partly for his syncere & godly life, & partly also by the meanes of your prayers. hereby it may easily be coniectured vvhat pure and feruent prayers, you haue alvvayes poured vnto God. For when you called to remembrance the heauenly promises, & the entire affection you beare vnto them, all which you learned of my foresaid brother: you vnderstood plainly & through the right faith in∣graffed in your mindes, you were fully persvvaded, that Athanasius (whome in your godly min∣des you behelde present) shoulde not alwayes be absent, and continually be seuered from you. VVherfore I neede not vse many words vnto you, for whatsoeuer I say, the same hath your faith preuented: & whatsoeuer commonly you all hartely desired, the same through the grace of God is now fully come to passe. And that I may repeate the same againe: I doe greately reioyce vvith you, that you haue continevved so firmely and so stedfastly in the fayth, that by no meanes you could be vvithdravven from it. Moreouer I doe no lesse reioyce at my brother Athanasius, vvho, notwithstanding the manifold calamities & sundry miseries he endured, yet remembred almost euery houre, your entire loue & great longing for him. & although for a season he seemed to be absent from you in body: yet liued he alwayes as if he had bene present with you, in the spirite. I thinke verily (welbeloued brethren) that all the temptations & paines he endured, are not voyd of their praise & commendation. for by this meanes both your faith & his, hath bene knowen & made manifest vnto the whole worlde. If he had not bene tryed with such great and lamentable temptations, who euer would haue thought so stayed a censure to haue rested in your minds, or so feruēt loue & affection to haue fastened your minds vpon so notable a bishop: or that he was the man that excelled in such rare gifts, by the meanes whereof he is made partaker of the hope which is layd vp for vs in heauen. VVherefore he hath attayned vnto a notable testimony of his faith, not only in this life but in the life to come. For by the pacient sufferance of much aduersi∣ty, by sea & by lande, he hath trampled & trodd vnderfoote, all the malicious treacheries of the Arians. Oftētimes by reasó of the aduersaries spite, he stood in great hazard of his life, yet made he no accompt of death: but for all that, through the grace of almighty god, & the power of our Lord Iesus Christ, he escaped their hands: wherby he conceaued good hope, that in the ende he should quit him of his aduersaries, & be restored to the comfort of you all, & beare away toge∣ther with you the victorious garland; of good workes & well doing: in that he is already famous euen to the endes of the world: highly cōmended for his good life: renowmed for his free & con∣stant perseuerance, in the defence of the christian & heauenly faith, & registred by the censure of you al to immortall memory, for the singuler loue & affection he shewed towards you. VVher∣fore he is returned vnto you, bedecked with greater excellēcy & renowm, thē before his depar∣ture. If the fire accustomed to try exquisitly the purity of fine & precious mettall, as of golde or siluer: what can be spokē of so notable a mā, in respect of his worthines, who after the quēching of so many fiery flames of sedition: after the recouering of so many daūgerous perills & greuous downfalls, is now restored vnto you & foūd innocent not only by our determination, but by the decree & cēsure of the whole councell? Entertaine therfore (welbeloued brethren) your bishop Athanasius, & also such as haue bene partakers of his affliction, with all reuerēce, ioy & gladnes. Reioyce in that you haue obtained your desires: in that you haue as it were fed, & quēched with your letters the thurst, of your sheepheard, hūgering & thursting in his absence, after your godly zeale. for in so doing, during his abode in foraine & farre cōtries, you comforted him not a litle: & while he was tossed toe & fro, with the stormes of persecution, & intangled with the snares of his malicious aduersaries, you mitigated his grief & sorow, by sending vnto him tokens, of your faithful & feruent minds towards him. VVhen that I thinke with my self, & cast in my mind the cōceaued ioy of you all, at his returne: the flocking multitude ful of religion & godlines: the so∣lemne feast of sage persons assembled together: what kind of day the returne of my brother vn∣to you is like to be: I can not chuse but conceaue wonderful ioy. specially for that the schisme & discord which raigned heretofore is now plucked vp by the rootes: for that his honorable return according vnto your owne harts desire, hath replenished you with incredible ioye & gladnes. so that the ioye for the greatnes thereof, hath reached vnto vs, to whome it is geuen from aboue, to haue acquaintāce & familiarity with so excellent a man. It seemeth good that we end our epistle with a prayer▪ god almighty, & his sóne our lord & Sauiour Iesus, geue you alwaies of his grace, & graunt you of his mercy the rewarde of so noble a faith, the which you haue shewed towards your Bishop, with so worthy a testimony: that both you and yours, may, not only in this world,

but also in the life to come, enioy farre more excellent giftes, vvhich neither eye hath seene, nei∣ther* 5.1 eare hath heard, neither the hart of man conceaued the things that God prepared for them which loue him, through our Lorde Iesus Christ, to whome vvith the Almighty God, be glorye for euer and euer Amen. God haue you in his tuition vvelbeloued brethren.

Athanasius hauing gott these letters, came into the East. Constantius the emperour, although at that time he receaued him not vnwillingly: yet geuing eare vnto the crafty sleights of the dispitefull Arians, went about to begile him, reasoning with him in this sort: For all thou art restored vnto thy bishoprike by the* 5.2 decree of the councell & our ovvne determination: yet because there are in Adexandria certaine people differing in opinion from thine, & seuering them selues from thy communiō, my request is that thou permitt them one church for them selues. Athanasius made answere vnto his request very wittely & sayd: O Emperour it lieth in thee to do as pleaseth thee best: to commaunde & to execute the commaundement. I also vvil craue of thee an other thing for recompence, my hum∣ble request is that thou graunt it me. When the emperour made answere, that with most willing minde he woulde condescende thereunto, Athanasius immediatly sayd: Mine humble sute is that I may obtaine that vvhich thou vvouldest haue had at my hands, to vvete: that thou vvilt graunt one Churche throughout euery citye, for such as communicate not vvith the Arians. The Arians perceauing that the request of Athanasius was not vnreasonable, made answere y^t it behoued them to differre that matter vnto an other time, and consider better of it. they hindred not the emperour, but suffred him to do that which pleased him best. Wherefore the Emperour restored Athanasius, Paulus, Marcellus, Asclepas bishop of Gaza, and Lucius Bishop of Adrianopolis, euery one to his owne bishoprike againe. these two hindemost were admitted by the councell of Sardice: Asclepas for that he shewed records, wherby it appeared that both Eusebius Pamphilus & sundry others, vn∣derstood fully of his case, and restored him to his dignitie: Lucius for y• his accusers fledd away. by the emperous edict they all receaued their owne seaes, the cities were commaunded to entertaine them wt willing & cheerefull mindes. At Ancyra there was no small sturre, by reason that Basilius was remoued and Marcellus restored in his place, so that the aduersaries tooke therby occasion, to sclaunder Marcellus againe. The citizens of Gaza receaued Asclepas willingly. At Constantino∣ple, Macedonius for a season gaue rowme vnto Paulus, & had seuerall meetinge & conuenticles at a certaine church of the city. But as toutching Athanasius, y• emperour sent letters vnto the bishops, vnto the clergie and laytie of Alexandria, that they should receaue him both louingly & willingly. he commaunded moreouer by his letters y^• such acts as were recorded agaynst him in their courts and synods, should be blotted out▪ his letters in the behalfe of both the aforesayd are these.

The Epistle of Constantius in the behalfe of Athanasius the Bishop.

Constantius the puysant, the mighty & noble Emperour, vnto the Bishops and Priestes of the catholike church sendeth greeting. It appeareth euidently, that Athanasius the reuerend bishop, vvas not destitute of the grace & goodnes of God. although by the iudgment & censure of men he vvas iniuriously dealt vvithall, & vniustly condemned for a litle vvhile: yet the diuine proui∣dence of almighty God, the beholder of all things, pronounced of him the iust sentēce of inno∣cency, so that by the vvill of God and our decree, he recouered both his natiue soyle, and proper church, vvhere the holy Ghost had assigned him gouernour. He is to receaue at our handes, such things as our clemency, being led by right and reason shall think conuenient for him, so that all vvhatsoeuer hath bene heretofore decreed against such as communicated vvith him, be hence∣forth quite forgotten: that all suspicion raised of him, be henceforth remoued: & that his clergy (reason so requiring) may enioy such liberty, freedome & priuiledge as they haue done in times past. Moreouer of our soueraigne benignity tovvards him, vve haue thought good to adde this also, that as many as are allotted into the sacred senate of the clergy, may vnderstande of trueth, that vve haue graunted safety & good leaue, to as many as cleaue vnto him, be they Bishops or vvhat other degree soeuer of the clergy. euery ons firme & sure consent in this behalfe, shalbe a sufficient signe or token of his faithfull minde & purpose. VVe haue commaunded that such as embrace his communion, addicting them selues vnto the sounder opinion & better sentence, all alike novv, by our permission, as heretofore by the prouidence of God may enioye the benefitts bestovved vpon them from aboue.

Another epistle vnto the people of Alexandria.

Constantius the puysant, the mighty and noble Emperour, vnto the people of the Catholike

church of Alexandria sendeth greetinge. In as much as vve laye alvvayes before our eyes your good and politike gouernement, as a marke to shoote at, or looking glasse to behold our owne estate, and seinge that you were bereued of your Byshop Athanasius, a man approued both for sounde learninge, and honest liuinge: we determined with our selues, to sende him vnto you a∣gaine. Receaue him therefore honorably, after your accustomed maner: ioyne him with you as an helper in your prayers vnto God: endeuer alwayes to retayne amongest you cōcord & peace both fit for your owne persons, and gratefull vnto vs, accordinge vnto the sacred decrees of the church. For it is not requisit that dissentiō & debate should molest & disquiet the peaceable e∣stat of these our prosperous dayes. Our desire is that such a plague be purged farre from amōgst you: our request is (welbeloued people of Alexādria) that in your prayers, where you craue (af∣ter your wōted custome) the aid & asistance of the spirit of God, you take Athanasius for chiefe, or (as I sayd before) an helper: to the end, according vnto your happy & prosperous successe, the Hethenishe nations as yet snared with the erroneous seruice of Idols, may hasten with most wil¦linge mindes to embrace the profession of our most holy fayth. VVe counsell you this also, that you perseuere in the things we rehearsed before: that you entertaine willingly your Bishop, sent vnto you by the mighty power of God & our louing pleasure: & that you count him worthy all curteous salutatiō. For a of surety this is comely for you & cōuenient for our highnes. VVe haue also charged the iudges & gouernours of those prouinces by our letters, that they should weede all the tares of spite & cōtention, out of the minds of malicious persons, & punish seuerely sedi∣tious & busy bodies. wherfore seing that you vnderstād all these circūstances, that our pleasure is agreable with the will of God: that we haue care ouer you for the maintenance of concord & vnity: that we haue assigned punishmente for troublesome and seditious persons: obserue dili∣gently the things whiche are correspondent vnto the ordinances of the church, & the seruice of God, embrace this Athanasius with all honor & reuerēce, & poure out prayers vnto God the fa∣ther, who gouerneth all thinges, both for your selues & also for the concorde & quietenes of the whole world.

An epistle for the abrogating of the things that were decreed against Athanasius. There is extant also an epistle in the same forme vnto the gouernours of Augustomnica, Thebais, Libya and Licya.

Constantius the puysant & noble Emperoure vnto Nestorius sendeth greeting. If any thing be founde decreed and recorded heretofore, to the preiudice, hurte, or damage of suche as comu∣nicate with Athanasius the Bishop, our will is that the same wholly be abrogated & dissanulled. Our pleasure is moreouer that his clergie shall enioy the like franchesse & liberty, as in times past: we will haue this cōmaundement put in vre, as that Athanasius the bishop is restored to his seae: so all the clergie of his communion, may recouer and possesse the like libertye, with other ecclesiasticall persons, and so beinge, liue at hartes ease.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 22. in the Greeke.
• * 1.2

  The diuision of the East & West chur∣ches.
• * 1.3

  The letters of Constan•• the Empe∣rour vnto his brother Constantius
• * 1.4

  Cap. 23. in the greeke.
• * 5.1

  1. Corinth. 2.
• * 5.2

  The confe∣rence of Con¦stantius and Athanasius.