CAP. XXVII.
Of Philip a Priest, bred and brought vp in Sida.
PHilip of whome we spake before was borne at Sida a citie in Pamphilia, where also Trophi∣lus the Sophist had his original, of whome Philip boasted not a litle that he was his kinsman. This Philip being a Deacon and of great familiaritie with Iohn, the Bishop was as it were driuen to bestowe great labour and diligence in the study of good learning, so that he wrote many bookes of diuerse sortes. his stile was asiaticall, proude, and lofty, and to the ende he might confute the workes of luhan the Emperour, he compiled a volume and intitled it The Christian historie, the which he deuided into six and thirty bookes, euery booke hath sundry tomes, the number of all mounteth very nigh to a thousande, the argument prefixed to euery one is in maner as bigge as the tome it selfe. this worke he entitled not the Ecclesiasticall but the Christian historie, where he patched together many matters for to let the worlde vnderstand that he was seene in Philosophy. Wherefore he alleadgeth very oft precepts and rules of Geometrie, Astronomie, Arithmetick & Musick. Moreouer he describeth Isles, mountaines, trees, with other thinges of smal importance, so that it grewe to a huge volume full of bumbast and vayne ostentation. In my simple iudgement it is a worke that is prositable neyther for the learned neyther the vnlearned. For the learned will condemne the often repetition of the same wordes which is ri••e throughout the booke: the vnlear∣ned haue not the capacitie to comprehende the insolent stile and affected sentences of his arrogant minde. but let euery one iudge of his owne doings as he shall thinke good. I dare affirme that the order he followed in laying downe of the times is both confuse & farre from good order. for when he had runne ouer the raygne of Theodosius, back againe he getts him to discourse of Athanasius the Bishops tymes▪ the which I note to be his vsuall maner. but of Philip so farre. Now to the hi∣story of Sisinius tyme.