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. XVI.* 1.1

VVhen the Emperoure woulde haue an answere of the Oracle of Apollo, the deuell woulde not speake because the body of Babilas the martyr was buried hard by. The Em∣perours displeasure, and of the tormentes which Theodorus the Confessor suffred.

NOwe let vs speake of the iniuries which the Emperoure at that time did vnto the Christi∣ans at Antioch. Whē he had commaunded that the Idolatricall temples of the Ethnicks shoulde be set wide open at Antioch, the Emperoure made haste to the Oracle of Apollo which was in Daphne a litle out of Antioch. But the Deuell whose dwellinge was in that denne* 1.2 trembled for feare of Babilas the martyr (whose corps laye interred not farre from the place)

and woulde geue the Emperoure no answer, the Emperoure perceauing the cause, commaunded that the martyrs tumbe shoulde thence be remoued with speade. When the christians of Antioch vnderstoode of this they assemble together with women and children, they reioyce and are glad, they singe Psalmes, they translate the corps from out of Daphne into the citie of Antioch. The Psalmes which they songe tended to the reprehension of the Heathen Gods, and of such as wor∣shipped* 1.3 Idols and carued images. * 1.4 Then the Emperours disposition which was hid and cloked afore time was made manifest vnto the whole worlde. For he who alitle before was a professor of Philosophie, nowe breaketh out, and fretteth within himselfe at y^• Psalmes that were songe in de¦rision of the Gentils, and determineth to torment the christians as Diocletian had done in a while before. But when his expedition against the Persians permitted no leasure to bring his purpose about, he gaue out a commission vnto Salustius who was Liuetenante of that prouince, for to see that such as had songe the Psalmes in derision of the Ethnikes shoulde seuerely be punished. The Liuetenant althoughe he were a panyme yet was he altogether vnwillinge to execute his com∣mission. But he seing there was no other choice attached many of the christians, sent many to pri∣son. But one that was a yonge man by name Theodorus and appeached of the Paganes, he tor∣mented with sundry kindes of punishments, and rent the fleshe all his body ouer with the lashe of the whippe: and in the ende he commaunded that he should be let loose when in very deede he was thought not possibly able to liue. Yet God restored him to his former health, for he liued many yeares after that confession which he yelded in torment. Ruffinus who wrote the ecclesiasticall hi∣story of his time in the latine tongue reporteth that he had conference a longe time after with this Theodorus and demaunded of him whether he had not felt great payne when the lashe of the whip rebounded from his body: And that he answered him againe that the torments were not so grie∣uous as some men thought: that there stoode by him a yonge man which wiped away all the salte droppes of that swettinge combat, confirmed him in the fayth, and that the houre of torment was vnto him rather a delectable pleasure then a dolefull paine. This much shall suffice of the renow∣med Theodorus. At that very time there came Embassadors from the Persiās vnto the Emperour Iulian, requiringe him to proclaime open warres, he sent them backe againe with this answere. you shall see me shortely in mine owne person and therefore I shall not neede to sende any in em∣bassy vnto you for this matter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 18. in the Greeke.
• * 1.2

  Babilas the martyr.
• * 1.3

  Rust. lib. 1. ec∣cles. hist. cap. 35. sayth the Psalme was this: confoū∣ded be all they that wo••ship car∣ued Images and put their trust in Idols.
• * 1.4

  Cap. 19 in the Greeke. Theodorus a confessor Ruff. li. 1. c. 36.