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. XII.

A kinde of Apologie in the behalfe of Origen.* 1.1

IN so much that many were drawen headlong through the procurement of malicious sclaunde∣rers, much like a blast of hurlwinde, to reuile Origen, it shall not be amisse to saye somewhat of* 1.2 them. Obscure men, odde felowes, such as haue no pythe or substance in them, to the ende they myght become famous, goe about moste commonly to purchase vnto them selues glorie and re∣nowme by dispraysing of such men as farre excell them in all rare and singular vertues. Of which sort of backebiters first I remember Methodius bishop of Olympus, a citie of Lycia: next Eusta∣thius, who for a while was bishop of Antioch: thirdly Apolinarius: last of all this Theophilus. This messe of raylers (if I may so tearme them) fell a sclaūdering of Origē, neither yet all for one thing. One charged him with this, an other with that, wherby they all seuerally declared vnto the world, that they allowed wholly all such thinges in him as they had not reprehended by name. For in as much they blamed him seuerally for seuerall doctrine, it appeareth they tooke that for trueth in him, which they concealed and misliked not withall: and they approued in very deede that which they denyed not in worde. Methodius though at the beginning he inueyed bitterly against Origen, yet afterwardes as it were by way of recantation he extolled him vnto the skies in that dialogue, which he intitled Zeno. Their reuiling in myne opinion encreased the renowne & fame of Origen.

For while they charged him with haynous crimes, as they thought, and yet findinge no faulte with him as toutching the blessed Crinitie: they are witnesses them selues that he was of y^• right and sound faith. Euen as these men being not able iustly to accuse him, beare witnes w^t him of his true beliefe: so Athanasius voyd of all parcialitie, a zealous maintayner of the clause Of one sub∣stance, alleageth him for a witnesse of his faith in the orations which he wrote to the cōfutation of* 1.3 the Arians, citeth his words for testimonies among his works, & sayth thus of him. That notable man & that paynfull writer Origen, confirmeth in plaine words the faith & opinion we haue of the sonne of God, in that he auoutcheth him to be coaeternall with the father. Wherefore such as goe about to reuile Origen, they vnwares doe sclaunder Athanasius, which hyghly commended him. Thus much by the way of Origen, and nowe againe to the storie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 13. in the Greeke.
• * 1.2

  In the marge of the greeke copie there was written as followeth: VVe haue to learne that the fift generall Councell con∣demned both Origen & his vvorkes. But this historio∣grapher vvas before the thirde.
• * 1.3

  Athanasius testimony of Origen.