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. XI.* 1.1

Howe that Epiphanius comming to Constantinople, celebrated the communion, & gaue orders without the licence of Iohn, therein to gratifie Theophilus.

SHortly after, Epiphanius the bishop came from Cyprus to Constantinople, at the request of Theophilus, and brought thither with him the decree of the bishops, where he had not excom∣municated Origen, but onely condemned his bookes. Wherefore after his comming into the church of Sainct Iohn, which was not farre from the walls of the citie, he celebrated the cōmunion, made a deacon, went forth out of the churche, and came to Constantinople. When that Iohn had inuited him, requesting he woulde take a peece of a lodging with him, he for to feede the humor of Theophilus, refused his curtesie, and tooke vp an Inne by him selfe. After that he had called toge∣ther the bishops which then by chaunce were at Constantinople, he read in their hearinge the de∣cree, where he had condemned the works of Origen. Of the bookes I haue nothing to say, but thus muche, that it pleased Epiphanius and Theophilus to condemne them. Of the byshops some for reuerence of Epiphanius subscribed vnto the decree: some other denyed it vtterly. Of which num∣ber Theotimus bishop of Scythia made Epiphanius this answere. I of myne owne part, ô Epiphanius* 1.2 will not so much iniurie the man, who is departed to rest many yeares agoe: neither dare I pre∣sume once to enterprise so haynous an offence, for to condemne the bookes whiche our aunce∣tors haue not condemned, specially seeyng I vnderstande not as yet, neither read any parcell of the doctrine within contayned. And when that a certaine booke of Origen was brought forth, he read it, and shewed there the interpretation of holy scripture, agreeable vnto the faith of the catho∣licke churche: last of all he concluded with these wordes: They that reprehende these things, doe no lesse then mislike vvith the matter vvhereof these bookes doe intreat. This was the answere of Theotimus vnto Epiphanius, a man he was of great fame both for sound doctrine, and godly con∣uersation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 12. in the Greeke.
• * 1.2

  Theotimus bishop of Scythia.