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

THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE EC∣CLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF SOCRATES SCHOLASTICVS. (Book 7)

CAP. I.

Howe that after the death of Arcadius the Emperour who left his sonne Theodosius of the age of eyght yeares, Anthemius the Lieuetenant tooke the gouernment of the Empire.

AFter the desease of Arcadius the Emperour, being in the moneth of May and the Consulship of Bassus and Philip. his brother Honorius tooke the rule of the West* 1.1 parts of the empire, and Theodosius the yonger the sonne of Arcadius being eyght* 1.2 yeare olde gouerned the East parts of the world by the direction of Anthemius his chiefe Magistrate. This Anthemius was Nephewe to Philip, which in the tyme of Constantius thrust Paulus the Bishop out of the Churche and placed Macedonius in his rowme. The same man compassed the citie of Constantinople with a strong wall: he seemed and was veri∣ly a man accompted among the wisest sort of that age: he neuer tooke any thing in hande without good aduisement: he woulde conferre with some of his familiers of the busines he went about, but* 1.3 aboue all others he vsed the aduise of Troilus the Sophist, a man very wise, of great experience and singuler pollicie: he was nothing inferior to Anthemius, and therefore Anthemius retayned him of his counsell in all his affayres.

CAP. II.

Of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople,

WHen the Emperour Theodosius went on the eyght yeare of his age, the thirde yeare of Atticus bishop of Constantinoples consecration the which he enioyed with great com∣mendation was expired: a man he was (as I sayd before) of meane learning yet in life godly and of great wisedome and therfore the Churches in those dayes encreased and florished ex∣ceedingly. He reconciled not onely such as were fauorers of his owne faith but also made the here∣ticks to haue his wisedome in admiration: whome he would in no wise molest but after that he had ratled them againe he woulde shewe him selfe louing and amiable towards them. He was a pain∣full student for he bestowed great labour, he spent the greater part of the night in reading ouer the works of auncient wryters, in so doing there was no grounde of philosophy, no quirck in sopistrie that coulde blanke or astonish him. He was gentle and curteous vnto such as conferred with him, and with the sorowfull he seemed to sorowe him selfe, In fewe wordes, he became (as the Apostle* 1.4 writeth) all vnto all men. First as soone as he was made Priest, the sermons which with great la∣bour he framed together, he learned out of the booke and pronounced in the Churche. In processe of tyme by dayly exercise and greate diligence he so boldned him selfe that he preached ex tempo∣re, his maner of teaching was very plaine. his Sermons were so simple that the auditors thought them not worthy the bearing away, neyther the writing in paper to the knowledge of the posteri∣ty following. Thus much of his conditions, behauiour, learning, and gift of vtterance, now to the history of that tyme.

CAP. III.

Of Theodosius and Agapetus Bishops of Synada.

THeodosius Bishop of Synada a citie of Phrygia pacatiana was a sore scurge vnto the here* 1.5 ticks (for in that citie there were many of the Macedonian sect) he banished them not onely the towne but also the contrey. Neyther did he this according vnto the rule of the Catho∣licke Church, which accustometh not to persecute men neyther with zeale of the right and sincere fayth, but in hope of fifthy suere and foule gayne for to wringe money from the hereticks. Where∣fore there was no way that might grieue the Macedonians left vnassayed: he mayntayned his owne clergie against them: there was no deuise but he practised for to afflict them with: he sticked not to bring them in fetters to holde vp their handes at the barre, but aboue all others he plagued

their Bishop Agapetus with sundry griefes and vexations. And when as he perceaued that the* 1.6 chiefe Magistrats within that prouince were not of autoritie sufficient and that their commission ertended not to the punishment of the Macedonians, he gott him in all the hast to Constantino∣ple and sued out a commaundement of the Lieuetenant of that prouince for the sharpe correction of them. Whilest that Theodosius the Bishop made friends at Constantinople for the furtherance of his sute: Agapetus whome I tearmed the Macedonian Bishop was conuerted and fell to em∣brace the right and sound faith. For after he had assembled together all the clergie and layty with∣in his iurisdiction, he perswaded them to receaue the faith of one substance. This being done he went with speede together with a great multitude, nay with the whole citie, into the church where after prayers and solemne seruice he gott him into the seate of Theodosius. Immediatly after the linking of the people together in the bonde of loue and vnitie, thenceforth he maintayned the faith of one substance so that he obtayned the gouernment of the Churches belonging vnto the diocesse and citte of Synada. Shortly after Theodosius came home to Synada, and brought with him auto∣ritie from the Lieuetenant whereof he bragged not a litle, and being ignorant of all the thinges that were done in his absence straight way he gott him into the Church, there he founde but small welcome for the dores were made fast against him, and after that he vnderstoode of their dealing, againe he posteth to Constantinople. There he be wayled his state before Atticus the Bishop, and openeth vnto him how that he was iniuriously thrust beside his bishoprick. Atticus vnderstanding that all fell out to the great profitt and furtherance of the Church of God, beganne to pacifie him with milde and curteous languages, exhorting him thenceforth to embrace a quiet life voyd of all trouble and molestation and not to preferre his owne priuate gaine and lucre before the profit and commoditie of the whole Church: he wrote moreouer vnto Agapetus willing him to enioy the bi∣shoprick and not to feare at all the displeasure of Theodosius.

CAP. IIII.

Howe a lame Iewe being baptized of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople recouered againe his lymmes.

EƲen as the aforesayde circumstance which fell out in the florishing dayes of Atticus was a great furtherance to the church of God: so likewise miracles with the gift of healing which raygned in those times turned to the glory of God and the profitt of his people. for a certayne* 1.7 Iewe being helde the space of many yeares with a paulsey was faine to keepe his bed, and hauing tried all the salues and medicens, all the practises and prayers of the Iewes, was not a iote the bet∣ter, at length he fled for refuge vnto the baptisme ministred in the Churche of Christ, perswading him selfe for suertie that by the meanes of this being the true phisicke of the soule, he might reco∣uer the former healthe of his bodye. Atticus was immediatly made priuey vnto this his deuoute minde and godly disposition: he instructed the Iewe in the principles and articles of Christian re∣ligion, he layd before him the hope that was to be had in Christ Iesu, he bidds that Iewe bed and all shoulde be brought vnto the font and place appoynted for the ministration of baptisme. This Iewe being grieuously taken w^t the paulsey was no sooner baptised in the faith of Christ and taken out of the font, but his disease left him, so that he recouered his former health. This gift of healing be∣ing* 1.8 wrought by the power of Christ preuayled in the worlde amonge the men of these our dayes. Many of the Gentils hearing the fame of this miraculous power receaued the faith and were ba∣ptized: but the Ievves for all they sought after signes and wonders, yet could they not with signes be brought to embrace the Christian faith.

CAP. V.

Howe that Sabbatius a Iewe borne, being Priest of the Nouatian Church fell from his owne sect.

FOr all that Christ the sonne of God, bestowed the aforesayd graces and benefitts of his sin∣guler loue and goodnes towards mankinde: yet the greater part weying not thereof (more is the ptty) wallowe still in the pudle of sinne and incredulitie, neither were the Iewes onely they which made light accompt of the signes and wonders wrought among men: but others also which are proude of their rites yea and are proued to be no lesse then plaine Iewes in faith and re∣ligion. Sabbatius of whome I spake a litle before coulde not quiet him selfe with the inferior de∣gree* 1.9 of priesthoode but coueted to clime vp vnto the rowme of a Bishop: tooke occasion then of the Iewishe obseruation of the feaste of Easter, and seuered him selfe from the Nouatian Churche.

Wherefore as he frequented seuerall and priuate conuenticles from his Bishop Sisinius in a cer∣taine place of the citie called the drie Hillock, where nowe the market of Arcadius is kept, he pre∣sumed so haynous an offence that hanging might seeme to be to small a punishmēt for his labour. For on the daye appointed for the celebration of the communion as he reade a certaine peece of the Gospell which beganne with these words: The feast of sweete bread drewe nigh which is cal∣led* 1.10 Easter, he added of his owne that which was neuer founde written, neuer hearde of before in these wordes: cursed be euery one that keepeth Easter without sweete breade. Which wordes sticked in the mindes of many mē, so that diuerse of the simpler sorte of the Nouatian laiety being thus drawen from the fayth adicted them selues vnto his fonde opinion. But this his craftye and* 1.11 subtle forgery fell otherwise out then he hoped, for such as presume to corrupte the worde of God haue euer an ill ende and an vnfortunate successe. For shortly after when as he kept the feaste of Easter accordinge vnto the corrupte opinion conceaued in his mynde: when as manye flocked vnto him after the wonted maner and solemnized throughout the wholl nighte the accustomed vi∣gills, they were all sette on a furious and frentike kinde of tumulte. They imagined with them selues that they sawe Sisinius theyr Bishoppe sette vpon them with an infinite multitude of men. Wherefore the thronge beinge greate, and as it is very like in the nighte season, beinge shutte vp in a narrowe rowme smothered one an other, so that there dyed aboue threescore and tenne persons. This beinge done manye shrinked from Sabbatius but diuerse others for all that, clea∣ued earnestlye vnto the foolishe and fonde opinion they had conceaued of that celebration of Ea∣ster. But howe this Sabbatius forswore him selfe a litle while agoe, and aspired vnto the calling of a Byshop we will declare hereafter.

CAP. VI.

Of such as were the captaines and ringleaders of the Arian opinion.

DOrotheus an Arian Bishop whome we haue remembred before to haue bene translated by the Arians from Antioch to Constantinople, departed this life when he had liued a hun∣dreth and nynteene yeares, the sixt of Nouember in the seauenth Consulship of Honorius and the seconde of Theodosius Augustus. After his desease the Arian sect chose Barbas to theyr bi∣shop* 1.12 in whose time the Arians had amongest them two notable men by whose meanes theyr here∣sie beganne to reuiue againe: the ones name was Timotheus, the other was called Georgius, but priests both: Georgius excelled in prophane literature, Timothee of the cōtrary gaue himselfe whol¦ly* 1.13 to the reading of the worde of God. Georgius was neuer seene without Aristotle or Plato in his hand, Timothee againe was a great mā in Origen and as he expounded holy Scripture he shewed him selfe to be well seene in the Hebrew tōgue. Timothee was aforetime of the Psathyrian sect and Georgius was made priest of Barbas. I my selfe by conferring with Timotheus perceaued howe re∣dy he was to satisfie and resolue euery doubt that was demaunded of him and plainely to set wide open the obscure places of holy Scriptures: he was euer wont to cite Origen for a witnesse to te∣stifie that his sayings were no other then true. Wherefore I can not verily but maruell why these two men continewed Arians seing that the one was a great reader of Plato, the other euer a per∣using of Origen. For Plato affirmed that the seconde and thirde cause (so he was wonte to tearme them) had no begininge of essence: Origen likewise confesseth euerye where the sonne to be coe∣ternall with the father. And althoughe they perseuered in theyre Churche yet priuelye, and by a litle and a litle they reformed the Arian opinion and purged theyr doctrine of many pernicious & pestilent blasphemies of Arius. Of these men so farre. Shortly after when Sisinius the Nouatian bishop had departed this life in the aforesayd Consulship Chrysanthus (of whome I mind to speake more hereafter) was chosen to be theyr Bishop.

CAP. VII.

Howe that Cyrillus succeded Theophilus in the Bishopricke of Alexandria.

SHortly after Theophilus bishop of Alexandria being fallen into a lethargie departed this life y^e nynth Consulship of Honorius, the fift of Theodosius & y^e fifteenth of October. Then ther rose a great stur & contentiō about y^e electiō of a bishop. some would haue Timotheus y^e archedeacō, some other wold haue Cyrillus, Theophilus brothers sonne preferred to y^e bishoprick. while y^e people

were thus at variance for all that Abudatius captaine of the garrison in Alexandria labored for* 1.14 Timothee and furthered his sute: yet three dayes after the desease of Theophilus, Cyrillus was cho∣sen Bishop and enioyed the bishopricke: and withall he challenged vnto himselfe more authoritie then euer Theophilus had before him. From that time forth the Bishop of Alexandria besides the ouersight and iurisdiction of his clergie and ecclesiasticall matters tooke also the gouernement of temporall affayres. Wherefore Cyrillus immediatly after he had shutte vp the Nouatiā churches within Alexandria he not only rified them of all the treasure but also bereaued Theopemptus their Bishop of all his substance.

CAP. VIII.

Of Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia and howe that by his meanes the faith of Christ tooke great increase in Persia.

IT fell out in those dayes that the faith in Christ florished in Persia and that vpon such an occa∣sion* 1.15 as followeth. Betwene the Romaines and the Persians there doe commonlye passe manye Embassadours, sundry causes doe cōstraine ech of them to send in Embassie vnto y^• other. That very instant did require that Maruthas bishop of Mesopotamia (of whome I made mentiō before) should be sent from the Emperour of Rome vnto the king of Persia. The king perceauing by him y^• he was a godly man had him in greate reuerence, was ruled by him as by a rare & singuler man. This grieued the Magicians which were much made of and in great credit with the king of Per∣sia. For they were wonderfully affrayd lest the king through the counsell of Maruthas would be∣come a Christian. Maruthas by the meanes of prayer, had rid the king of his cōtinewall headach which the Magicians and Sorcerers could not doe. Wherefore they deuise a certaine sleight for to delude the king withall. And because the Persians worship the fire for theyr God, the king is al∣wayes accustomed to adore in a certaine house fire which continewally burneth: vnder the ground they conuey a man, whome they make to rore and to crie out as followeth when the king is at his prayers: The king must be thrust out of his kingdome, He behaueth himselfe lewdly in taking the Christian priest for a godly person. Isdigerdes (for so was their king called) hearing this dreadful* 1.16 voice for all that he reuerenced Maruthas, yet purposed he to sende him awaye. Then Maruthas being a right godly man gaue himselfe wholly to prayer whereby he found out the fraude and de∣ceate of the Magicians. Wherefore he reasoneth thus with the kinge. Be no longer deceaued O king, but get thee into the house, cause the earth to be digged vp & thou shalt easily perceaue theyr guile. For the fire speaketh not, it is a certaine deuise inuēted by men for y^• purpose. The king yel∣deth vnto the counsell of Maruthas, in he goeth againe vnto the house where the fire continewally burned. As soone as the voice was heard the second time, he commaunded the earth should be cast vp, and there was he founde which spake, and cried out the which clamor they tooke to be the com∣maundement of God himselfe. The kinge when he espied theyr lewde treachery was exceedinge wroth, and gaue forth charge that euery tenth of the Magician kinred shoulde be executed: he tur∣ned* 1.17 him to Maruthas and willed him to buylde churches where pleased him best. Upon this occa∣sion it fell out that y^• faith in Christ florished exceedingly in the kingdome of Persia. For that time Maruthas left Persia and tooke his voyage to Constantinople. Shortely after he went againe in embassie into Persia, by that time the Magicians found out other deceytfull deuises, and a freshe they fall a forging to the end the kinges mind might be alienated from him. Of sette purpose they infected the ayer of a certaine place where the king was wont to frequent, with a stinking sauour and with all they sclaunder the Christians that it was scattered by them. But the kinge hauinge iust cause to suspect the Magicians for theyr former wiles, made great inquire who should play so slutush a parte, at length by longe sifting it was knowen that the Magicians themselues had cau∣sed this corrupte odour for the nonce to be spred all ouer the place, wherefore againe he executed many of them, but Maruthas he had in greate estimation. Thence forth he loued the Romaynes entirely & embraced thē in league of peace & friendship. The king was almost become a christian, when Maruthas together w^t Ablaatus the Persiā bishop published vnto y^• world an other experimēt* 1.18 or triall of the Christian faith, for they both beinge continewally geuen to watch and to pray cast a Deuell out of the kinges sonne which tormented him out of measure. But death preuented him* 1.19 and abridged the raines of his mortall rare ere he coulde fully be instructed in the Christian faith. After his desease his sonne Bararanes enioyed the crowne, in whose dayes (as it shallbe hereafter

more plainely declared) the league betwene the Romaynes and the Persians was broken.

CAP. IX.

The succession of Bishops in the Church of Antioch and Rome.

ABout that time when Flauianus Bishop of Antioch had departed this life Porphyrius was* 1.20 chosen in his rowme, and after Porphyrius, Alexander was made Bishop of that seae. In the Churche of Rome when that Damasus had gouerned the Ecclesiasticall affayres the space of eighteene yeares, Siricius succeeded him in the Bishoprick. Againe after that Siricius had continewed there the tearme of fifteene yeares & departed this life, Anastasius was Bishop three yeares: after his desease Innocentius (who firste droue the Nouatians out of Rome and depriued them of many Churches) was made Bishop of that seae.

CAP. X.

Howe that Alarichus tooke Rome and made it subiect vnto the Barbarians.

IT fell out in those dayes that Rome was taken of the Barbarians. For one Alarichus a Barba∣rian* 1.21 being in league with the Romaynes and sometime ayded the Emperour Theodosius in the battaill agaynst the tyrant Eugenius and therefore was aduaunced into great honour by the Ro∣maines, when he could not paciently content him selfe with the prosperous sayle of fortunate suc∣cesses, although he aspired not vnto the Emperiall seepter, yet left he Constantinople and posted in all the hast into the Weste partes of the worlde. He was no sooner come into lllyrium but he subdued vnto him all that contreye. As he went forewardes on his iorneye the Thessalians with∣stoode him aboute the entries of the riuer Peneus, the readye waye by Mounte Pindus vnto Ni∣copolis a citie of Epirus: the sielde beinge there pitched the Thessalians slew aboue three thousand men. After that bloody s kirmishe the Barbarians which accompanied Alarichus ransackinge and spoylinge both towne and coutrey as they went, tooke at length the citie of Rome. They rāsacked the citie: They defaced and fired many worthie monuments: they violently spoiled the citizens of theyr money, they executed many of the Senatours with sundry kindes of tormente. Alarichus to the ende he might bring the Royall porte and maiestie of the Emperiall scepter into contempt and derision, proclaymed Emperour one whose name was Attalus: this man by his procuremc̄t* 1.22 walked abroade the space of one wholl daye with a garded troope of souldiers, the next day after, in the attyre and habite of a seruant. When these things preuailed then in suche sorte as you heare Alarichus tooke his heeles and ranne away: for the reporte that was bruted abroad of Theodosius y^• Emperours great power marching to geue him battaill, astonied his mind and put him in great feare. Neither was it a fable or a forged rumor but for moste certaine trueth that the Emperours host made expedition to wage battaill with him. He when as he coulde in no wise away with that fame gaue him selfe to flight. The reporte goeth that as he went towardes Rome a certaine monk* 1.23 met him which admonished him not to delite him selfe with perpetrating of such haynous and hor¦rible offences neither to reioyce in committing of slaughter and bloodshed. Whome Alarichus an∣swered in this sorte. I God knovveth doe take this voyage agaynst my will. There is one which molesteth me dayly, nay he compelleth me by force and sayth thus vnto me: goe on thy iorney, destroy the citie of Rome. So farre of Alarichus,

CAP. XI.

Of the Bishops which in those dayes gouerned the Church of Rome.

AFter Innocentius, Zosimus gouerned the Churche of Rome the space of two yeares, after* 1.24 his desease Bonifacius was Bishop three yeares whome Celestinus succeeded. This man ba¦nished the Nouatians out of Rome, depriued them of their Churches and constrayned Ru∣sticula their Bishop priuely to rayse priuate conuenticles. For vnto that time the Nouatiās flori∣shed at Rome, enioyed many churches & had vnder thē great cōgregatiōs. but they were thē hated out of measure whē as the bishop of Rome (no otherwise thē the bishop of Alexandria) passing the boundes of his priestely order presumed to chalenge vnto him selfe secular power and authoritye. Therefore those bishops permitted not such as held w^t thē y^• faith of one substāce freely to frequēt

their wonted assemblies: and although they commended them for theyr vniforme consent as tout∣ching the faith, yet they depriued them of all theyr substance. But the Nouatians which inhabited Constantinople were not so dealt with all. For the Bishops of Constantinople besides that they embraced them for theyr vniformity in faith, they suffred them (as I sayde before) to haue theyr Churches within the citie.

CAP. XII.

Of Chrysanthus Byshop of the Nouatian Church in Constantinople.

AFter the desease of Sismius, Chrysanthus the sonne of Marcianus, who was the predecessor of Sismus in the Nouatian Bishopricke, was in maner compelled to be their Bishop. This man almost from his youth vp was a souldier in the Emperours court: afterwardes in the raigne of Theodosius Magnus, Liuetenant of Italie: againe the Emperours vicegerent in the I sles of Bryttaine where he purchased vnto him selfe greate commendation for his politicke gouerne∣mente. Beinge well strucken in yeares he came to Constantinople and labouringe to be gouer∣nour or Magistrate rather in that citie, then in farre and forayne contreyes, he was constrayned against his will to be bishop of the Nouatians. For when Sisimus being at the point of death, made mention of him as a sitte man to succeede him in the rowme: the Nouatian people taking the cen∣sure of Sisimus as a canon or lawe compelled him to be their Bishop. But when Chrysanthus had conueyed him selfe out of the way least he should take vpon him y^• function: Sabbatius thinking ve∣rily y^• nowe he had found fit opportunitie for to creepe into the bishops seae: despised the dreadfull protestations he had solemnly auowed, and the oth he had taken: got him a company of obscure bi∣shops to consecrate him, and forth he steppes a Bishop. One of the consecrators was Hermogenes whome he him selfe had afore time excommunicated for the blasphemous bookes which he publi∣shed vnto the worlde. But all the fetches of Sabbatius framed not aright. For the people detesting his corrupt and intollerable ambition (there was no waye vnassayed of him for to attaine vnto the bishopricke) sought out both coast and contrey for Chrysanthus, when they had found him lurking in Bithynia they forced him thence and stalled him Bishop. He was a man that excelled all others not onely in politicke wisedome, but also in modest behauiour: by his meanes the Nouatian chur∣ches in Constantinople florished exceedingly. He was the firste that of his owne substance gaue Golde vnto the poore: He tooke nothing saue onely two loues euery sundaye of the blessed breade: he was a man that was very diligent in his ecclesiasticall function: he tooke Ablabius the Rheto∣rician a very wise man of the Nouatian Church, out of Troilus the Sophists schoole and made him minister. There are extant notable and excellent sermons of this Chrysanthus. Ablabius was af∣terwardes made Bishop of the Nouatian Church at Nice, where also he professed Rhetorick.

CAP. XIII.

Of the sturre at Alexandria betwene the Christians and the Iewes: of the contention betwene Cyrillus the Bishop and Orestes the Liuetenant.

ABout that time the Ievves were banished Alexandria by Cyrillus the Bishop vpon suche an occasion as followeth. The people of Alexandria aboue all other men are prone to schisme and contention: for if that any quarell at any time rise amonge them, immediatly hainous & horrible offences are wonte to ensue, the tumult is neuer appeased without greate bloodeshede. It fell out that y^• greate throng and multitude of people contended among themselues not about any* 1.25 necessarie matter, but who coalde approche nerest vnto the dauncers, which lewd custome is now crept into all cities. For a great multitude assembled together on y^• saturday to pastime thē selues with the beholding of a certene dauncer. And because the Iewes spent not that daye in the hearing of their lawe being theyr sabaoth day, but gaue them selues wholly vnto the bearing of comedies and enterludes, to the beholdinge of showes and spectacles, that daye was the occasion of greate schisme and dissention among the people. And though the tumult was partly appeased by y^• Liue∣tenant of Alexandira yet neuerthelesse the Iewes gaue not ouer theyr quarell nor the spite they owed vnto the one parte of the faction. For the Iewes as they were alwayes found deadly foes vn∣to such as prosessed the Christian faith: so then aboue all other times they were incensed against them because of the dauncers. Wherefore when as Orestes the Liuetenante of Alexandria had

nayled vpon the theatre the wrytte of politicke gouernance (for so doe the people of Alexandria tearme the publicke proclamations of the Liuetenant) some of Cyrillus y^• Bishops familier friēds stepped forth to examine what the Liuetenant had wrytten. Of which number one was Hierax a schoolemaister and professor of grammer, a dligent auditor of Cyrillus the bishop and one that was greatly delited with his sermons. The multitude of the Iewes seeing this Hierax vpon the stage exclaimed immediatly against him y^•he came thither for no other cause, but onely to set the people together by the eares. Orestes although heretofore he enuyed y^• authority of Bishops because that* 1.26 the credit and power which the Emperours graunted the Magistrates and Liuetenantes was by reason of them abridged and cut short: yet thē he spited him aboue all other times because that Cy∣rillus would prie into his wrytings and curiously sift out the contents & meaning thereof. There∣fore he caused Hierax openly to be apprehended in the midest of the theatre and to be punished ex∣tremly. Cyrillus vnderstanding of this warned the chiefe of the Iewes to appeare before him, tolde them plainely if they woulde not geue ouer their rebellion and traiterous conspiracie agaynst the true Christians he would punish them according vnto theyr deserts. The Iewes stomakinge the Bishops threates, fretted the more and boyled within them selues for anger, they fell to deuisinge of sleights for to mischiefe the Christians, which in the end caused all the Iewes to be banished A∣lexandria. The circumstance was in such sort as followeth. The Iewes after consultation layinge downe a signe for ech of them to knowe the other to wit: the carieng of a ring made of the rinde or barke of the palme tree, purposed to set vpon the Christiās in the night time. Wherefore on a cer∣taine night they sente abroade throughout the wholl citie suche as shoulde crie fire, fire, and where should it be but in the church called Sainct Alexanders, The christians hearing of this rose vp, left theyr houses, ranne to saue the church from burning, some out of this streete, & some out of that. thē the Iewes stepped forth sodainely from vnder the pentises, set vpon y^• Christiās & slewe them. And as they endeuored to keepe theyr hands y^• their rings might not be seene: so they dispatched out of the way as many christians as met them. When the day appeared & y^• sunne was vp the authors of this horrible murther were knowen well inough. Cyrillus vnderstanding of y^• circumstance was wonderfully incēsed against them: got him straight with great power into y^• synagoges of y^• Iewes (for so were their churches called) & executed presently some of the Iewes, some other he banished the citie, other some he bereaued of their substance. Wherefore the Iewes which inhabited Alexā∣dria since the raigne of Alexander king of Macedonia, were then banished the citie & dispersed o∣uer all contreyes. Adamantius a phisicion one of the scattered Iewes got him vnto Atticus Bishop* 1.27 of Constantinople, became a christian & dwelled afterwards in Alexander. Orestes the Liuetenāt of y^• citie tooke in very ill part y^• deede of Cyrill: was very sory y^• so noble a citie should be depriued of so great a multitude of men. Wherefore he certified the Emperour of all the doings there: Cy∣rillus like wise painted forth in paper the traiterous conspiracy of y^• Iewes & sent it in wryting vn∣to the Emperour: yet neuertheles he laboured to become friends w^t Orestes, for so y^• citizens of A∣lexandria did aduise him. But when Orestes woulde not as much as once heare the motion of recō∣ciliation betwene them, Cyrill reached into his hand y^• newe testament supposing verely he would reuerence the booke & remember himselfe the better. When y^• the mind of Orestes could not be tur∣ned neither any good moode found in him but y^• deadly enmity grew betwene thē such a calamity ensued thereof as I mind hereafter at large to declare.

CAP. XIIII.

Howe the monkes inhabiting the deserts of Nitria came to the citie of Alexandria for to defend Cyrill, & of the stur that rose betwene them & Orestes the Liuetenant.

DIuerse of the Monkes inhabiting the mounte Nitria being feruently disposed & lately also tried when as Theophilus the Bishop had armed thē against Dioscorus & his brethren gaue themselues contentiously to partakinge & purposed of theyr owne accord to maintaine the quarell of Cyrill. Wherefore to the number of fifty Monkes leauing their monasteries, came to* 1.28 Alexandria, compassed the Liuetenant as he rode in his charriot, conferred with him, called him a sacrificer, an Ethincke, with sundry other contumelious languages. He supposing with himselfe y^• Cyrill had wrought this conspiracy against him cried out that he was a christian & that Atticus, bishop of Constantinople had baptized him. But when as the Monks weyed not his words one of them whose name was Ammonius tooke the Liuetenant on the heade w^t a stone. The Liuetenant

being sore wounded with the blowe, the bloode ranne about his cares. The sergeantes and such as garded the person of the Liuetenant seeing the stones flie about their eares fled away, fewe onely excepted and held downe their heads among the multitude. In the meane while the people of Ale∣xandria came about them and in the Liuetenantes behalfe set vpon the Monkes, in the ende these Monkes ranne all away Ammonius onely excepted. Him they tooke and brought before the Liue∣tenant. He openly according vnto the lawes, reasoneth w^t him of the matter, pronounceth against him the sentence of Iustice and tormented him as longe as breath remained in his body. All these circumstances shortly after were opened vnto the Emperours, Cyrill also certified him of the same matter though in an other sorte. He tooke the corps of Ammonius and buriedit in a certaine church calling him not Ammonius but Thaumasius. In the church he extolled the noble courage of this mā the great combat he endured for godlines and commaunded he shoulde be called a martyr. But the modest and grauer sorte of christians allowed not of Cyrills doings herein, for they knew y^t Ammo∣mus died not in torment because he would not deny Christ, but suffred dewe punishmēt for his rash enterprises. Wherefore Cyrill him selfe suffred at length this hainous offence by a little and a litle to fall into the dust of obliuion, Neither was the cōtention & quarel betwene Cyrill and Orestes put vp as yet, for there ensued an other calamytye not much vnlike this the which I am nowe about to declare.

CAP. XV.

Of Hypatia a woman which excelled in Philosophie.

THere was in Alexādria a womā whose name was Hypatia y^• daughter of Theon the Philo∣sopher* 1.29 which profited so much in profound learning, y^• the excelled all the Philosophers of y^• time: and not onely succeeded in Plato his schoole the which exercise Plotinus continewed, but also expounded vnto as many as came to heare her the precepts & doctrine of all sorts of Phi∣losophers. wherefore as many as gaue their studie to the knoweledge of philosophicall discipline flocked vnto her lessons from euery contrey. Moreouer for her graue courage of minde the which she gathered out of the fountaines and bowells of philosophicall literature, for her modest and ma∣tronlike behauiour she sticked not to present her selfe before Princes & magistrates. Neither was she abashed to come into the open face of the assembly. All men did both reuerence and had her in admiration for the singuler modesty of her mind. Wherefore she had great spite & enuy owed vnto her, and because she conferred oft and had great familiarity w^t Orestes, the people charged her that she was the cause why the Bishop & Orestes were not become friends. To be shorte certen heady & rash cockbraynes whose guide and captaine was `Peter a reader of y^• church, watched this woman cōming home frō some place or other: they pul her out of her chariot: they hale her into the church called Caesarium: they strip her starke naked: they rase the skinne and rent the flesh of her body w^t sharpe shells vntill breath departed out of her body: they quarter her body: they bring the quarters vnto a place called Cinaron and burne them to asses. This hainous offence was no small blemishe both to Cyrill and to the church of Alexandria. For the professors of christiā religion should be no fighters, they ought to be farre frō comitting of murther & bloodshed w^t other such horrible offē∣ces. These things came thus to passe the fourth yeare of Cyrills consecratiō, the tenth consulship of Honorus and the seuenth of Theodosius in the moneth of March and on the ember dapes.

CAP. XVI.

Howe the Iewes conspired againe against the Christians and were foyled.

SHortly after, the Iewes for their horrible practises against the professors of the christiā faith suffred punishment dewe for their desert, in a certaine place called Inmestar betwene Chal∣cis and Antioch in Syria. At the time of their playes and enterludes they committed many absurd and shamefull acts: at length through frensie and furious motion they remoued reason out of her seate, much like madd men they contumeliously derided in their playes not onely the Chri∣stians but also Christ Jesus him selfe: they scoffed at the crosse and mocked as many as put theyr trust in him that was crucified thereon. The maner was as followeth. They lay hold on a child of* 1.30 the Christians, they nayl him to a tree and lift him vp on high. When they had so done, First they deride & laugh at him: immediatly after like madd mē they scurge him as lōg as breath remained in his body. For this haynous offence there was muche adoe betweene them and the Christians. Moreouer the Emperours were certified what an horrible acte the Ievves had committed, which

wrote againe vnto the Liuetenante and Magistrates of that prouince, that they should make dili∣gent search and inquisition for the authors and workers of so greate a mischiefe and punishe them seuerely. Where the Ievves inhabiting that region, for the shameful act they had committed in iest were punished in earnest.

CAP. XVII.

Of Paulus the Nouatian Bishop and the miracle wrought at the baptisinge of the deceatfull Iewe.

ABout that time Chrysanthus the Nouatiā Bishop after he had gouerned such congregatiōs* 1.31 as were vnder him the space of seauen yeares departed this life in the Consulship of Mo∣naxia & Plyntha the sixt and twentieth of August, whome Paulus succeeded. This Paulus a* 1.32 good while ago was schoolemaister and reader of the Latine tongue, afterwards he left that kind of studie and framed himselfe to the Monasticall life. He founded a monastery of such men as gaue them selues to the study of vertue and godlines, not vnlike vnto the Monasteries of the Monkes inhabiting the deserte. I knewe the man my selfe to be suche a one as Euagrius wryteth the religi∣ous men liuing in y^• wildernesse ought to be. For he imitated his precepts, he gaue him selfe to cō∣tinewall fasting: he spake litle: he accustomed to abstaine from liuing creatures & oftentimes from wine & oyle: he was very carefull in relieuing of the poore: he visited cōtine wally such as lay in fet∣ters and close prison: he was a great futer vnto temporall magistrats for the afflicted and succour∣lesse, which alwayes with willinge mindes graunte him his request for the greate reuerence, and singuler opinion of godlines they cōceaued of him. But what neede I vse many words in the reci∣tall of his vertues? one notable act of his I am nowe about to declare which shall sufficein steade of many, & worthy it is to be printed in Marble to y^• memorie of all posteritie in time to come. A certē dissembling Iewe, fayning he would embrace the Christian fayth was often baptised, through the which wiles he got much money. After that he had guilefully deceaued many men of sundry sects and opinions (for he had bene baptised of the Arians & Macedonians) he had no more whose eyes he might bleare, at length he commes to `Paulus the Nouatiā Bishop and protesteth vnto him that gladlye he woulde be baptised and prayeth him that he may obtaine it at his hande. Paulus liketh well of his sute, but he sayd vnto him that he woulde not baptise him afore he had learned the arti∣cles and principles of the fayth, and geuē him selfe to fasting the space of many dayes. The Iewe against his will was constrained to faste, he called vpon them euerye daye to be baptised. `Paulus seeing that he was so earnest and would needes be baptized thought best not to displease him with delay, made all thinges ready for baptisme. When he had prouided for him a white garment and caused the font to be filled with water, he sent for the Iewe thither to be baptized. But all the wa∣ter by a certen diuine power & secret operation which the outward eye could not attaine vnto, was sodainely dried vp. When as neither Bishop neither such as were also then present perceaued the maner howe it was gone, but thinkinge that it ranne through the hole in the bottome of the fonte (where at other times they were wont to let the water goe) filled the fonte a fresh and stopped all the holes and chinkes on euery side. But when the Iewe was brought the second time and hanged his heade ouer the fonte, the water againe vanished away euery drop. Paulus seeing this sayd vnto y^• Iewe O man either thou dissemblest egregiously, or else thou hast bene baptised vnwittingly. In the ende when as the rumor and report of this miracle caused many to runne vnto the place, one by chaunce amonge the rest knewe the Iewe by his fauour and affirmed that he sawe him baptized of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople. This miracle was wroughte vnder the handes of Paulus the Nouatian Bishoppe.

CAP. XVIII.

Howe that after the desease of Isdigerdes king of Persia the league was broken betweene the Romaines and the Persians and howe that the Persians in the ende were foyled and the citie preserued.

AFter the desease of Isdigerdes kinge of Persia which in all his life time persecuted not the Christians inhabitinge his dominions, his sonne Bararanes beinge crowned in his fathers steede, was driuē thereunto through the perswasion of Magicians and southsayers, so that he vexed the Christians out of measure and punished them with sundrye torments after the maner

of Persia. wherefore y^• christians which dwelled in Persia were cōstrayned to flie vnto y^• Romains for refuge, they humbly craue of them that they will pitie theyr case, that they will not suffer them in such sorte lamentablye to be oppressed. Atticus the Bishop entertained those suters curteously: furthered their sute as much as in him laye, and opened vnto the Emperour Theodosius their case. The Romaines at the same time were offended with the Persians for an other matter, the quarell was as followeth. The Persians had borowed of the Romaines certaine searchers and diggers of gold mines, these men they would not only not deliuer backe againe but spoyled also the Romaine marcha••••rs of theyr wares and marchandise, the refuge of the christians augmented the vnkind∣nes and increased the displeasure. For immediatly after theyr flight the kinge of Persia sent Em∣bassadours requiring them backe againe as fugitiue persons. The Romaines because they ranne vnto them for succour would not restore them: nay they purposed not onely to aide thē which were simple suters but also with all might possible generally to maintayne the quarell in the behalfe of christian religion. Wherefore they chose rather to wage battaill with the Persians then suffer the christians so miserably to perish. To be shorte the league was broken & open warres proclaimed, but in mine opiniō it shall not be amisse briefly to runne ouer some things thereof. The Emperour of Rome first of all sent an host of armed souldiers a parte, one from the other against the Persiās, whereof Ardaburius was generall captaine: he passinge through Armenia entred with force into the Persian dominions & destroyed the prouince called Azazena. Narsaeus the king of Persias cap∣taine went forth to meete him with great power of Persian souldiers: they ioyned together: y^• field was fought: Narseus was foyled and fled away to saue his life. Afterwardes when he sawe his tyme he determined to enter vnlooked for into the Romayne dominions throughe Mesopotamia where there was no power to resiste them and purposed so to reuenge him of the Romaynes. But the Romayne captaine was quickely made priuey vnto the pollicie and fetche of Narsaeus, for he sacked and rifled Azazena with all speede and got him in post hast to Mesopotamia. Wherefore though Narsaeus had gathered a wōderfull great power together, yet could he not inuade the Ro∣mayne contreyes. When he came to Nisibis a citie of Persia, yet situated iuste in the middest be∣twene the Romayne and Persian dominions, he sent vnto Ardaburius that he would gladly come to parle with him, toutchinge the time and place, when and where the battaill shoulde be foughte. Ardaburius answered the legats in this sorte: tell Narsaeus from me that the Emperours of Rome vse not to wage battaill at Narsaeus his pleasure. Wherefore the Emperour of Rome vnderstan∣ding that the kinge of Persia had gathered a greate army together for to wage battaill with him, put his wholl trust & confidence in God: he sent of the contrary a great host against him. And here∣by it will euidently appeare vnto the wholl worlde that the Emperour enioyed immediatly a sin∣guler benefitte for casting his care & affiance vpon God. For when as y^• citizens of Constantino∣ple were very sad & heuy, mistrusting the doubtful end of the variable chaunces incident to warrs, a company of Angells appeared vnto certen in Bithynia, whose necessary affayres constrained to trauell into Constantinople & willed them to salute the citizens of Constantinople & bid them be of good cheare: exhorting them to pray & to put theyr trust in God: that the Romaines should foyle the enemy & become conquerours and that God had sent them as gouernours and soueraigne cap∣taines of the warres. this being heard not only the citie was recreated, but also y^• souldiers harts were lighted & the more encouraged to fight. Whē the campe was remoued & y^• warres trāslated out of Armenia into Mesopotamia, the Romaines got the Persian souldiers into the citie of Nisi∣bis and there besieged them: they set to the walls wodden turrets resembling ladders rolled vpon wheeles and winded vp: they slewe many of them whiche fought on the walls, defended theyr citie & withstood their skaling. Bararanes king of Persia vnderstāding that his contrey Azazena was destroyed and that his souldiers were shutte vp of the Romaynes and besieged within the citie Ni∣sibis, wente him selfe with all his power agaynste the Romaynes. But because he feared great∣ly the force of the Romayne souldiers, he craued ayd of the Saracens, whose gouernour then was Almundarus a man of valiaunte courage and noble prowesse, whiche broughte with him an in∣finite multitude of Saracens and encouraged the kinge of Persia and promised moreouer that in a shorte while after he woulde not onely conquere the Romaines, but also take Antioch and Syria & deliuer it into his hands. But his promise was not performed, it preuayled not accordinge vnto his desire, for God vpon a sodaine so terrified & astonied the Saracens that they imagined the Ro∣maine souldiers were vnawares come vpō them: & whilest that they besturred thē selues for feare & knewe not where to flie they cast thēselues headelonge as they were all in armour into the riuer

Euphrates, where the number of one hundred thousand was drowned. such a misfortune befell vn∣to the Saracens. The Romaines which layde siege to Nisibis, hearing that the king of Persia was comming against them with a great number of Olyphants, were wonderfully afrayde, gathered together all the engines they had prepared for siege, and burned them, afterwards returned backe to their cōtrey. But what battailes were afterwards fought: how Areobindus an other captaine of the Romaines, slew a mightie Persian dealing with him hand to hād: how Ardaburius dispatched through wiles and stratagemes seuen of the nobilitie of Persia, and how that Vitianus a third cap∣taine of the Romaines, foyled the remnant of the Saracens power: I thinke it my duty to ouerskip them with silence, lest I seeme to make toe long a digression from the purpose.

CAP. XIX.

Of Palladius the poste, and his swiftnesse.

THe aforesayde newes were quickly brought vnto the Emperour Theodosius, but howe he coulde so soone vnderstande of matters done in contreyes so farre distant, I am now about to declare. He had a man whose name was Palladius, one that had rare gyftes bothe out∣wardly in bodie, and inwardly in minde. He was able in three dayes to ryde in such poste, as was to be wondered, vnto the furthest places and boundes of the Romaine and Persian dominions, and backe agayne in so many dayes to Constantinople. Moreouer he went with maruelous greate speede throughout the worlde whyther so euer the Emperour had sent him, so that a wise man sayde once of him: This fellowe with his celeritie maketh the Empire of Rome, which is very wyde, to be narrowe and strayght. When the king of Persia heard the same of him, he coulde not chuse but wonder. So farre of Palladius.

CAP. XX.

Howe the Persians were agayne vtterly foyled by the Romaines.

THe Emperour of Rome abydinge at Constantinople, and vnderstanding for trueth of the victory that was geuen him, behaued him selfe so graciously, that he desired greatly the en∣ioyinge of peace and quietnesse, for all that his souldiers had suche prosperous successe in all their aduentures: Wherefore he sent Helion, one that was in greate creditte with him, in em∣bassie vnto the kinge of Persia for to conclude a league betweene them. Helion comminge to Me∣sopotamia, and the place where the Romaines had trenched them selues, sent Maximinus a va∣liaunt man, and felowe captayne with Ardaburius, as Embassadour to entreate for peace. As soone as he had presented him selfe before the kinge of Persia, he sayde that he came not from the Emperour, but from his captaines, to see whether it woulde ple••••e him to make truce: that the Emperour was ignorant of all the circumstance and euents of that battaile▪ and if peraduenture it were told him, he would make but small accompt of it. The king as he purposed with him selfe to receaue this embassie with most willinge minde (for his army was almost famished to death) the order of the souldiers whome they call Immortall (the number moūted to tenne thousand of most stronge and valiaunt men) came and perswaded the kinge that he should not confirme any league, before that they firste of all had assaulted and sodainly sett vpon the Romaines, who nowe as they thought, were vnprouided. The Kinge yeelded vnto their aduise and councell: deliuered the Em∣bassadour in the meane while to be kept in holde: and sent those Immortall souldiers for to assault the Romaines. They went on their voyage, and deuided their cōpany into two armies, purposing to beset and compasse some part of the Romaine host. The Romaines when as they might see but one onely army of the Persians, set vpon them: for the other had not as yet appeared, but sodainly rushed in vpon y^• Romaines. But as they skirmished together, a Romaine captayne y^• was sent by Procopius for the purpose, looking downe (as God would) from the top of a hill, behelde his felow souldiers in great peril, went behinde the Persians and kept them in: so y^• they which a litle before besett the Romaines, were now besette them selues. Wherefore the Romaines when as in shorte space they had foyled these foremen, they turned them selues backe towards them which rushed in vpon them through wyles, and in like sort dispatched them euery one. Thus it came to passe that they which called them selues immortall, proued them selues mortall: and thus Christ reuenged him of the Persians, because that they had executed many godly men and holy saints which serued him deuoutly. The king of Persia vnderstanding of this slaughter and ouerthrow, fained he knewe of nothing: accepted of the embassie and reasoned thus with the embassadour: It is not for the Ro∣maines

sake that I now assent vnto peace, but only to gratifie & pleasure thee whome I have tried by experience to be for pollicie and wisdome of the chiefest among the Romaines. To conclude by this meanes the warres which the Romaines held with the Persians in the quarell and defence of the persecuted Christians, were ended in the thirteenth Consulship of Honorius, and the tenth of Theodosius, the fourth yeare of the three hundreth Olympiad: and also the fiery flame of persecutiō kindled there against the Christians, was wholly quenched.

CAP. XXI.

Of the pitie and compassion which Acacius bishop of Amida had on the captiues of Persia.

ACacius bishop of Amida, was renowmed and much spoken of for a notable worke of mercie which he wrought in those dayes. When the Romaine souldiers purposed in no wise to re∣store againe vnto y^• king of Persia such captiues as they had takē at y^• winning of Azazena, (there were of them about a seuen thousande, to the great griefe of the kinge of Persia) all which were almost starued for foode: Acacius lamented their state and condition, called his clergy toge∣ther, and sayd thus vnto them: Our God hath no neede either of pottingers or of cups, for he nei∣ther* 1.33 eateth neither drinketh, these be not his necessaries. wherfore seeing the church hath many precious Jewels both of gold & of siluer, bestowed of the free wil & liberalitie of the faithful, it is requisite that the captiue souldiers should be therwith redeemed & deliuered out of prison & bondage, & that they also perishing with famine, should with some part therof be refreshed & relieued. When he had used these & other such like reasons, he cōmaunded that the treasure should be cast & trāslated, he made money therof, & sent the wholl price partly for to redeeme the captiues out of prison, and partly for to relieue thē, that they perished not w^t famine. Last of all he gaue thē their costage, to were necessary prouision for their voyage, and sent them back to their king. This notable act of y^• renowmed Acacius brought the king of Persia into great admiration, that the Ro∣maines endeuoured to winne their aduersaries both w^t warrs and w^t well doing. The report goeth moreouer y^• the king of Persia desired greatly y^• sight of Acacius, & coueted y^• presence of his persō: & that the Emperour Theodosius cōmaūded Acacius y^• bishop to gratifie the king therin. When y^• so famous a victory was geuē from aboue, many notable writers layd penne to paper, & published vnto y^• world y^• praises & vertues of y^• Emperour, extolling his name vnto y^• skies, The Empresse also being y^• doughter of Leontius the Athenian sophist, instructed of her father, & trained up in all kind of good literature, set forth a poë••e of the same argument in heroicall verse. Whē the Em∣perour* 1.34 tooke her to his wife, Atticus the bishop which christened her, in steede of Athenais called her Eudocia at the time of baptisme.

CAP. XXII.

Adiscourse in commendation of the vertues of Theodosius the yonger.

ALthough many writers as I sayd before, published abroade the praises of the Emperour, of which number some endeuoured by y^• meanes to crepe into his fauour, some other desired thereby to blase abrode in the world the fame of their skill and knowledge, lest the doctrine which they had gottē w^t lōg study should be trodē in the dust of obliuiō: I of mine owne part which desire not the acquaintāce & familiaritie of the emperour, neither couet arrogātly to geue y^• world a tast of my doctrine, have determined w^t my selfe simply without the glorious & painted shewe of Rhetoricke to publishe abrode the bertues of the Emperour. For if that I should passe them over with silence, being as they are both noble & frutefull, containing many examples for the amende∣ment of life, I shoulde in my opinion iniurie not a litle the posteritie in time to come. Firste of all though he was borne & brought up in y^• very pallace of the emperour, yet was he nothing geuē for* 1.35 all y^• trade of life vnto light & idle behaviour: but so wise & discrete, y^• he seemed vnto such as had cō∣ferēce w^t him, to be a mā of great experiēce. Againe he was a mā of such hardines & sufferāce, both inwardly in minde and outwardly in body, that he could endure with great pacience the pinching* 1.36 colde of winter, and the parching heate of sommer. He was wont often to fast, but specially on the wensdayes & fridayes, this did he to the end he might liuely expresse the Christian trade of liuing.* 1.37 His pallace & court seemed uo other then a religious house. For at the dauning of the day his ma∣ner was to singe hymnes and psalmes interchaungeably together with his listers. He was able to repeate holy scriptures out of the booke, he reasoned of thē w^t the bishops, as if he had bene a priest of great continewance, he was more earnest & far more diligent in gathering together the bookes

of holy scripture, & the works of the auncient fathers, then me reade of old of Ptolomaus Philadel∣phus.* 1.38 Furthermore he excelled all men in pacience, curtesie & clemencie. The Emperour Iulian for all he professed the study of philosophie, yet coulde he not put up the hatred of such as reuiled him at Antioch, but punished extremely one of them whose name was Theodorus: as for Theodosius, he layd aside the subtilities & quircks of Aristotle, & practised dayly in life the profession and study of* 1.39 true philosophie. He learned to bridle anger: to take griefe and sorow paciently: to reuenge him of none that did him iniurie, nay there is not the man that euer saw him angry. When that one of his familiars had demaunded of him, why he neuer executed any y^• had done him iniurie, his answere was: I would to God it laye in me to reuiue them that be dead. Unto an other that demaunded of him the like, he sayd: It is no hard matter to bereaue a man of his life, but when he is gone, there* 1.40 is no man be he neuer so sory for him, that can restore him to life againe, saue God alone. He was alwaies of y^• mind, that if any cōmitted treason, he would not suffer him to go as farre as the gates of the citie towardes the place of execution, but of his clemencie he called him backe againe. The same man againe, when he published spectacles on a certaine time at Constantinople, w^t the bic∣kering and fighting of beasts in cōpasse of the theatre, and the people shouted vnto him requiring that one of the strōgest men should be turned vnto the sauadge beast which rainged about, his an∣swere was in this sort: Doe not you know that we can not away with cruell spectacles? When the* 1.41 people hearde this, they learned thenceforth to refraine from cruell showes. Moreouer he was so religious, that he honored all the priests of God, but specially such as he knew did excell in godle∣nesse.* 1.42 The report goeth, that he made searche for the sackcloth which the bishop of Chebrū wore that died at Constantinople, aud being found, they say he more it how homely soeuer it was, thin∣king verely to gett vnto him selfe thereby some of the deade mans holinesse. As he soleminzed on a certaine tempestuous and stormie tyme of the yeare, (the people requiringe the same) the vsuall and wonted spectacles and showes in the place called Circus, enuironed with a wall and galeries round about, when the rowme was full of people, and the tempest waxed sore, there fell vpon them sodainly a great cloude of snow, then the Emperour renealed vnto the worlde what affection and* 1.43 zeale he bare towards God: he willed the bedells in his name to say thus vnto the people: It is far better for vs to lay aside these sowes and pastime, and with one voyce to fall a praying vnto God that he will deliuer vs out of this present storme. The words were no sooner spokē, but all ioyntly fell downe to the ground, and poured out earnest & zealous praiers vnto God, so y^• the whole citie* 1.44 was become like one church. The Emperour him selfe in the middest of the assembly, arrayed in cōmon & vsuall attire, began the hymnes, neither failed he of his purpose. For the wether became faire, againe the great derth and scarsitie was turned by the goodnes of God into plenty and abū∣dance of all things. If warres at any time were proclaimed, he followed the example of Dauid, he* 1.45 made God his refuge, perswading him self for certaine that God ruled and gouerned all battails: and by the meanes of prayer, he obtayned euer a prosperous successe.

CAP. XXIII.

Of Iohn, who after the desease of the Emperour Honorius playd the tyrant at Rome, & how God deliuered him through the prayers of Theodosius into the hands of the Romaine souldiers.

OCcasion is presently ministred to discourse howe Theodosius being ayded frō aboue, foyled the rebell and tyrant Iohn, immediatly after the Persian battaile & the desease of Honoritu, in y^• cōsulship of Asclepiodotus & Marianus, y^• 15. of August. In mine opiniō y^• acts of those dayes are worthy y^• writig, & such they are as of right should be recorded to y^• knowledge of the posterity in time to come. For the like thigs which hapned vnto the Hebrewes vnder Moses as they passed through the red sea, new befell vnto the emperours captaines being set against y^• tyrāt, the which I mind briefly to rūne ouer, leauīg y^• large discourse because it requireth a seuerall volume vnto others. Although Theodosius knew that Honorius y^• Emperour had departed this life, yet cō∣cealed he his death frō others, so y^• an other deuise which hereafter shalbe spokē of, begutled many therin. He sent priuely a souldier vnto Salonae a city of Dalmatia, to geue warnig y^• if any nouelty were attēpted in y^• west parts of the world, there should be such preparatiò as might quickly sup∣presse y^• authors therof. Whē he had brought y^• about, he opened vnto all men y^• death of his vncle. In y^• meane while Iohānes one of y^• Emperours chiefe secretaries, being not of setled disposition to beare y^• saile & bāner of prosperity, chalēged the empire, & sēt embassabours vnto y^• emperour The∣odosius, requiring him to proclaime him emperour. Theodosius tooke his legats, layd thē in hold, &

sēt vnto Iohn Ardaburius y^• captaine, who of late had behaued him self valiātly in y^• battaile agaīst the Persians, he cōming to Salonae, sailed into Aquileia, whence (as it is thought) he tooke a wrōg course. the chaunce was as followeth. Being in the surging waues of y^• maine seae, y^• winde blewe against him, & brought him ere he was ware into y^• tyrāts clawes. The tyrant laying hand on him was now in good hope y^• Theodosius would be brought of necessitie (if he tendered y^• life of his cap∣taine Ardaburius) to create & proclaime him Emperour. whē these thīgs came to light, both The∣odosius him selfe & his army also, which marched forwardes against y^• rebell, were wonderfull sory lest Ardaburius should take any harme at y^• tyrāts hāds. Aspar also y^• sōne of Ardaburius seing both his father taken captiue, & also hearing for certainty y^• an infinite power of Barbariās wēt to ayde the rebell, knewe not what to doe, he was at his wittes ende. To be short y^• prayers of y^• godly Em∣perour thē also proued thē selues againe to be very effectuall. for an Angell of God in y^• forme of a shepherd guided Aspar on his iourney, & led his army by a lake adioyning vnto Rauēna (for there it was that the tyrant kept captaine Ardaburius in hold) which way as fame goeth, there was ne∣uer man y^• found passage. But God opened a way vnto Aspar where as it is thought others coulde not goe. He led then his armie through the lake, which then as it fell out was dryed vp by the han∣dy worke of God: he rushed in at the gates of the citie which lay wide open, & dispatched the tyrāt. At what time the most godly Emperour vnderstanding of the tyrāts death, as he celebrated those showes and spectacles in Circus, made manifest his singular zeale & pietie godwards, for thus he spake vnto the people. Let vs geue ouer this vaine pastime and pleasure: let vs rather repaire vnto the church and serue God deuoutly, pouring vnto God zealous prayers, & yelding vnto him harty thankes, who with his owne hande hath bereaued the tyrant of his life. He had no sooner made an end of speaking, but ther gaue ouer their spectacles and showes: they set all at nought: they passed throughout the theater sounding out thanks geuing with one voyce together with the Emperour: they went straight to the church, and spent there the whole day, so that all the citie seemed to be as one church.

CAP. XXIIII. Howe Theodosius the Emperour after the execution of Iohn the tyrant, proclaimed Ʋalentinianus (the sonne of Constantius and Placidia the Aunt of Theodosius) Emperour at Rome.

WHen the tyrant was dispatched out of the waye, Theodosius began to consider with him selfe whome he should proclaime Emperour of the west parts of the worlde. He had to his kinseman one Valentinianus a very yong gentleman, begotten on Placidia his aunt, for she was the doughter of Theodosius Magnus the Emperour, and sister to Arcadius and Hono∣rius the Emperoures. Constantius that was made Emperour by Honorius, and gouerned the em∣pire with him a very shorte space (for he dyed immediatly) was the father of Ʋalentinianus. Theo∣dosius made this his cosin Caesar, sent him into the west, and put his mother Placidia in truste with the emperiall affaires. Afterwards whē he determined to go him selfe into Italie for to proclaime his Cosin Emperour, and in his owne person to counsell the Italians that they shoulde not lightly geue eare vnto tyrants and rebelles, he came as farre as Thessalonica, and there he was hindred with sicknes, so that he could goe no further. Therefore he sent the emperiall scepter vnto his Co∣sin by Helion the Senatour, and returned him selfe backe againe to Constantinople. But of these things thus much shall suffice.

CAP. XXV. Of Articus bishop of Constantinople, & how he gouerned the churches. Also howe he caused that the name of Iohn Chrysostome should be canonized among the saincts of that church.

ATticus the bishop was a great furtherer of the ecclesiasticall affaires, for he gouerned with great wisdome, and exhorted the people diligently with heauenly doctrine to vertuous and godly liuinge. When he sawe the church deuided, and that the Iohannits vsed their priuate meetings and conuenticles, he commaunded that the memoriall of Iohn shoulde be solemnized at seruice time as the maner is of other Bishops that are deseased. for by that meanes he hoped very∣ly it woulde come to passe that many of them woulde returne vnto the Church. He was so bounti∣full and liberall that he prouided not onely for the pouerty of his owne Church, but also sent mo∣ney vnto the next Churches for to supply the want of the needy. for he sent vnto Calliopius minister of the Church of Nice three hundreth peeces of golde and withall letters contayning this forme.

Aiticus vnto Calliopius sendeth greeting in the Lord. I am geuen to vnderstand that there is an* 1.46 infinite number in your city ready to perish with famine & stand in neede of the almes & cha∣rity of godly & weldisposed persons. VVhere I write an infinite number, I meane a great multi∣tude, the certayne nūber wherof I do not readily knowe. Therefore seeing I receaued money of him which bestoweth aboundance and plenty of ritches vpon them which vse it a right: seeinge also dayly experience teacheth vs that some do want to the end that such as be welthy & mini∣ster not vnto them, may throughly be tryed: my will is (welbeloued brother) that thou receaue from me these three hundreth peeces of golde, and distribute them at thy discretion among the poore people of thy parish, see that thou deale the same not among such as respect only the bel∣ly, & make a liuing or trade throughout their life time of begging, but among such as are asha∣med to begge. Neither vvoulde I haue thee herein to respecte any opinion o•• sect vvhatsoeuer, neither to preiudice them which practise in doctrine a contrary faith vnto vs, but onely to haue consideration of this, that thou relieue them which hunger & thurst & haue not vvherevvithall to helpe them selues. Thus was he carefull of the pouerty of such as dwelled from him in farre & forayne contreyes. Againe when he vnderstood y^• such as seuered them selues from the Nouatians* 1.47 about y^• keeping of Easter, had translated the corps of Sabbatius out of the Isle Rhodos (for there he died in exile) buried it solemnly and praied vpon his tumbe: he sent certaine thither in the night time, charging them to remoue the corps of Sabbatius & bury it in an other sepulchre. such as vsed to frequent the place when they saw the graue digged vp, ceassed thenceforth to honour the tumbe of Sabbatius. The same Atticus did passe in assigning of proper names to things. for the rode in y^• bosome of Pontus Euxinus which of old was called poyson, he called Medicen, lest he should there raise an assembly & appoynt thereunto a place called after a foule name. Moreouer he tearmed a peece of the suburbes of Constantinople, Argyrople vpon such an occasion as followeth. Chryso∣ple is a rode in y^• head of the sea Bosphorus. Many auncient writers make mention therof, namely Strabo, Nicolaus Damascenus & the famous writer Xenophon, who both in y^• sixt booke of Cyrus ex∣pedition & in the first of y^• famous acts of y^• Grecians remembreth the said towne, y^• Alcibiades wal led it about & how there is a place therein assigned for y^• paiment of tyth & tribute. for such as loose out of the maine sea & ariue at y^• place doe vse there to pay tyth. Wherfore Atticus seeing the place ouer against him had so worthy a name, procured this rode thenceforth to be called Argyrople. As soone as he spake y^• word, the name was immediatly chaunged. Againe when as some men said vn∣to him y^• the Nouatians should not haue their conuenticles & assemblies w^t in the walls of the citie, what do ye not remember (saith he) what troubles & vexations they endured, when we were tossed w^t the grieuous storme of persecution in y^• raigne of Constantius & Valens, & howe y^• at sundry other times they testified together w^t vs the true faith which we maintaine? Moreouer for all they were of old deuided from the church, yet attempted they to establish no noueltie as toutching y^• fayth. A∣gaine this Atticus being at Nice about the ordayning of a bishop, & seing there Asclepiades a No∣uatian bishop who was a very old man, he asked of him how many yeares he had bene a Bishop? when the other had answered fifty yeares: thou art truely a happy man (saith he) in y^• God graun∣ted thee to enioy so worthy a function, so long a time. he said againe vnto Asclepiades: verily I doe commende Nouatus, but I allowe not of the Nouatians. Asclepiades maruelling what he shoulde meane in so saying, replyed: how so O bishop? Atticus made answere: I do commend him (saith he) for refusing to communicate w^t such as had sacrificed to Idols, for I would haue done no lesse my selfe. But I like not of the Nouatians, because they exclude from the communion such as of y^• lay∣ty haue lightly offended. Asclepiades replied againe vnto these things: besides y^• sinne of sacrificing vnto Idols there are (as holy Scriptures do witnes) many other sinnes vnto death: for the which you depriue onely the clergie & we the layty of the communion, referring vnto God alone y^• pow∣er of remitting their sinne. The same Atticus had the foreknowledge of his death. for taking his leaue of Nice he sayd vnto Calliopius the minister of that Church: make haste to Constantinople before Autumne that thou mayst againe see me aliue, for if thou linger & make delayes thou shalt see me no more in this world. In vttering these wordes he hitt the trueth on the head, for he depar∣ted this life the one and twentieth yeare of his consecration, the tenth of October, in the eleuenth Consulship of Theodosius, and the first of Valentinianus Caesar. Theodosius the Emperour returning from Thessalonica came short to his funerall, for Atticus was buried the day before the comming of the Emperour into Constantinople. Shortly after, the creation of Ʋalentinianus the yonger was proclaymed, to wit the three and twentieth day of the same moneth.

CAP. XXVI.

Of Sisinius the successor of Atticus in the bishoprick of Constantinople.

AFter the desease of Atticus there was great contention in the Churche of Constantinople about the election of a Bishop▪ for some woulde haue Philip a minister, some other Proclus who also was a minister preferred to the rowme: but all the people with vniforme consent desired Sisinius. He was like wise a priest, not of any of the Churches within the walls of Constan∣tinople, but of Elae a Church in the suburbes ouer against the citie, where all the people of Con∣stantinople are wont to celebrate the feast of our Sauiours ascention. All the laytye laboured by all meanes to haue him to their Bishop, partly because he was counted a very godly man, & part∣ly also for that he endeuored to relieue the poore beyond the reach of his substance. To be short the layty got the vpper hande and Sisinius was consecrated the eyght and twentieth of February in the twelse Consulship of Theodosius, and the seconde of Ʋalentinianus Augustus the yonger. Philip the minister seeing that Sisinius was preferred before him, stomacked the matter wonderfully and in∣ueyed bitterly agaynst his consecration in the worke which he wrote and intitled the Christian hi∣story. While he inueyeth against Sisinius that was consecrated, agaynst the Bishops who were consecrators, and especially agaynst the laytye who were electors, he wrote such thinges as I am loth to report, for I can not chuse but blame him greatly that euer he durst be so bold to lay downe so rash and vnaduised reasons. yet in my opinion it will not be amisse presently to say somewhat of him.

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.

CAP. XXVIII.

Howe that Sisinius made Proclus Bishop of Cyzicum, whome the Cyziceni woulde not receaue.

AFter the desease of the Bishop of Cyzicum, Sisinius appoynted Proclus to be their Bishop. The citizens vnderstanding of his comming preuented him and chose Dalmatius a religi∣ous man to gouerne the bishoprick. This they did neglecting the lawe & canon which com∣maundeth that no Bishop be appoynted and ordayned without the consent and autoritie of the Bi∣shop of Constantinople. They made no accompt of that canon because it commaunded namely (as they thought) that the sayd autoritie shoulde be geuen vnto Atticus alone. Wherefore Proclus being not admitted to execute the function of a bishop in the Church where he was ordayned, con∣tinewed at Constantinople, where he occupied him selfe in preaching, and purchased vnto him

selfe thereby great fame and commendation. but of him I shal haue occasion of speake more here∣after. Sisinius had scarse bene Bishop two yeares when he died, it was in the Consulship of Hierius and Ardaburius, the foure and twentieth of Decembre. He was a man highly commended for tem∣perancie, for godly and vertuous life, and to be shorte for his liberalitie bestowed vpon the poore. He was a man both gentle and familier, playne without fraude or guyle, and therefore he neuer molested any in his life. he was a great enemie to busie bodyes and to quarellers, and therefore ta∣ken of many for a cowarde.

CAP. XXIX.

After the desease of Sisinius Bishop of Constantinople Nestorius was sent for to Anti∣och for to enioy the bishoprick, who immediatly reuealed him selfe what kinde of man he was.

IT seemed good vnto the Emperour after the desease of Sisinius because ofdiuers vaine glorious persons to chuse none of that Church to be bishop (though many made sute for Philip, and many againe for Proclus) but determined with him selfe to send for a straunger out of Antioch. there was in those dayes there a man whose name was Nestorius, by birth he was a Germaine, a loude voice he had and an eloquent tongue, and therefore as it was thought a fitt man to preach vnto the people. They put their heades together, they sent for Nestorius and brought him from Antioch to Constantinople three moneths after: who though his temperance was highly commended of ma∣ny, yet the wisest sort and sagest people perceaued well inough his other conditions when he first beganne to preach. for immediatly after his stalling in the bishops sea the tenth day of Aprill & the Consulship of Felix and Taurus, he gaue forth in the hearing of all the people such a saying as fol∣loweth, at the pronouncing of his oration before the Emperour: Restore thou vnto me O Empe∣rour the earth weeded & purged of hereticks, and I will render heauen vnto thee: ayde thou me in ••oyling of the hereticks and I will asist thee in the ouerthrowing of the Persians. Although such as detested the hereticks tooke these words in good part: yet such as by his outward behauiour ga∣thered the inward disposition of his minde, could not chuse but espie his hautie stomacke, his hasty & running braine, his foolish feeding on vaine glory, specially seeing y^t by and by he bolted out such rash & vnaduised sayings. Nay we may say (as the common prouerbe goeth) that the citie had not drunke before he beganne to blowe the smoke and the burning flame of persecution. for the fift day after he was chosen bishop, when he determined with him selfe to ouerthrowe the church of the A∣rians where they had their seruice priuely and by stelth, he so troubled and disquieted their mindes that when they saw their Church must needes downe, they put to their owne hands & fired it them selues, the which fire fell vpon the next houses and burned them to ashes, so that there was much adoe in the citie, and the Arians rose vp to reuenge them of their enemies. But God the defender and conseruer of the citie suffered not that pestilent infection of rankor & malice to runne any fur∣ther. from that time forth not onely the hereticks but such as were of his owne faith and opinion called Nestorius a firebrande. Neyther rested he with this but destroyed as much as in him lay the whole citie while he went about to mischiefe the hereticks. Againe he fell a molesting of the No∣uatians onely because Paulus their bishop was famous and much spoken of for his zeale and god∣lines. but the Emperour bridled and withstoode his enterprise with sharp admonitions & nipping words. I thinke it best to runne ouer with silence the vexations and iniuries he did vnto such as ce∣lebrated the feaste of Easter the foureteeneth daye of the moneth throughout Asia, Lydia and Ca∣ria, and how many were cast away in the sedition which he raysed at Miletum and Sardis. But as for the plague and punishment he suffered partly for the aforesayd causes, and partly also for his malapert tongue, I will lay it downe in an other place.

CAP. XXX.

Howe that in the raygne of Theodosius the yonger the Burgonions receaued the fayth in Christ.

NOwe am I about to declare a worthy historie which happened at that time. there is a cer∣taine barbarous nation inhabiting beyond the riuer Rheyne whome we commonly do call Burgonions. these people leade a life farre frō magistracy & gouernment of y^• cōmō weale, for they are all carpenters and thereby get their liuinge. The people called Hunni breaking often

tymes into their regions, haue destroyed their contrey and dispatched very many at sundry tymes out of the way. Wherefore they determine w^t them selues not to fly for refuge and succour vnto any mortall man or liuing creature, but to yeld themselues wholly vnto some god or other. And when they called to mind y^• the God of the Romaines neuer sayled such as feared his name and put their affiance in him, ioyntly with one hart and minde they turned them selues to embrace the fayth in Christ: they tooke their voyage into a certayne citie of Fraunce, and there they require of the Bi∣shop to baptize them in the Christian faith. The Bishop hauing enioyned them to fast seuen daies, and instructed them in the principles of Christian profession, did baptize them the eyght day fol∣lowing and bid them farewell. They put on valtant courage and went on boldly to encounter with the tyrants, neither was their hope frustrate neither did it fayle them in the ende. For the Burgo∣nians (when Ʋptarus King of the Hunni crommed him selfe with vittaills on a certayne night vn∣till he burst in the midle) set vpon the Hunni nowe wanting a heade and captaine, fewe of them a∣gainst many of the other, to witt three thousande against tenne thousande, they fought valiantly & gott the victory. From that time forth the sayd nation was a zealous maintayner of the Christian fayth. About that tyme Barbas the Arian Bishop died, it was the thirtienth Consulship of Theodo∣sius. the thirde of ••alentinianus, and the foure and twentieth of lune, in whose rowme Sabbatius suc∣ceeded. So farre of these thinges.

CAP. XXXI.

Howe Nestorius vexed the Macedonians.

NEstorius insomuch he practised many things preiudicial vnto the quiet state of the church, procured vnto him selfe great hatred euen as the ende of his doings proued sufficiently vn∣to vs. Antonius Bishop of Germa a citie in Hellespontus, feeding the humor and crueltie of Nestorius in the rooting out of hereticks, beganne to vexe the Macedonians out of all measure, and for to cleare him selfe he fayned that the Patriarck to wete, the Bishop of Constantinople had commaunded him the same. Wherfore the Macedonians although they suffered for a while griefs and vexations, yet seeing that Antonie kept no meane but exceeded in crueltie, they coulde no lon∣ger beare the weight of so intollerable a burthen of iniuries, but in the mad furye of their minde preserring the rashe motion of reuengement before all right and reason, procured the death of An∣tonie to be done by such men as they had sent for to worke the feate. This haynous offence which the Macedonians committed was an occasion to kindle and sett on fire the crueltie of Nestorius. for he perswaded the Emperour to depriue them of their Churches. Wherefore the Macedonians were put by one church which lay without the olde walls of Constantinople. by an other at Cyzi∣cum, besides many others throughout Hellespontus, so that many of them returned into the Church and embraced the faith of one substance.

CAP. XXXII.

Of Anastasius the Priest who was the occasion that Nestorius fell into such extreame impietie.

COmmonly we say that such as are geuen to drunkennesse are neuer to seeke for the cupp, and busie bodies neuer want woe: Nestorius who endeuored with might and mayne to be∣reaue others of their Churches was by chaunce thrust out of the Churche him selfe, the oc∣casion was as followeth. Anastasius the priest who came with him thither from Antioch: kept him* 1.48 alwayes companye: was highly esteemed of him and his chiefe counselour in all his affayres, taught on a certaine tyme in the Church that none ought to call Marie, the mother of God, be∣cause that she was but a woman and that God could not be borne of a woman. These words of his disquieted out of measure the mindes both of clergie and laytie. for they had learned of olde that Christ was true God and not to be seuered because of the misterie of his incarnation, as man alone from his diuinitie, and that according vnto the minde of the Apostle where he sayth: Although we* 1.49 haue knowen Christ after the fleshe, yet novve doe vve knovve him so no more. Wherefore for this cause let vs ceasse to reason any longer of Christ, but let vs endeuer to attayne vnto his perfe∣ction. When as schisme and contention was hereof risen (as I sayd before) in the Church, Nesto∣rius going about to confirme the opinion of Anastasius (for he woulde in no wise haue him whome he made so much of to be rebuked as one that had vttered blasphemies against Christ) discoursed very oft of that matter as he preached in the Churche: layde downe very contentiously certayne

positions and condemned vtterly the clause that signified the bearing of god. And because that di∣uers men to a diuers ende & purpose disputed of this question, the church was deuided & the mem∣bers parted asunder. for much like blind folded persons & men brawling and fighting in the darke they were caried here and there, now they affirmed this, anone they sayd that, and loke what they auoutched a litle before, the same they denied immediatly after. Many thought that Nestorius was of the opinion that Christ was but onely man and that he went about to reuyue and to rayse vp a fresh the heresie of Paulus Samosatenus and of Photinus. there was so much adoe about this matter that the summoning of a generall councell seemed needefull for the deriding of the controuersie & the appeasing of the people. I of mine owne part by perusing the works of Nestorius, doe finde the man ignorant and altogether vnlearned, I speake this from the hart and vnfainedly. far it is not of hatred I owe him that I fall a ripping of his crymes and infamie, neyther haue I determined by flattery and feeding of some mens humors to report lesse of him then I founde true. Nestorius in mine opinion followeth neither Paulus Samosatenus, neither Photinus, neither thinketh he that our* 1.50 Lord Iesus Christ is onely man: but onely auoideth this clause the mother or bearing of God as a sraying ghost. This befell vnto him for his palpable error and ignorance. for though of nature he had a smoth and an eloquent tongue and therefore was thought learned, yet to say the trueth he was altogether vnlearned. Moreouer he disdained to peruse the works of the auncient fathers. he so vaimted him selfe with his rolling congue and eloquent speach, that in maner he contemned the olde writers and preferred him selfe before them all. Againe he was ignorant of that which was* 1.51 written in the olde coppies of S. Iohns Catholick epistle: euery spirite which deuideth Iesus is not of God. As many as went about to seuer the diuinitie from the humanitie of Christ, sticked not to rase and blot this sentence out of the auncient coppyes. Wherefore the olde writers signified no lesse then that certaine men had corrupted that epistle, to the ende they might deuide the humani∣tie of Christ from the diuinitie of God. his manhoode is ioyned with the godhead, neyther are they two but one, in which sense the aūcient writers were not affraid to call Marie, the mother of god, Euen so wrote Eusebius Pamphilus in his third booke of the life of Constantine. God among vs was* 1.52 borne on earth for oursakes, & the place of his natiuitie is called of the Hebrewes after a proper name Bethleem. VVherefore Helen the most holy Empresse hath set forth the trauailing of the mother of God with goodly ornaments, & bedecked that hollowe rocke with sundry notable monuments. Origen hath written no lesse in the first come of his commentaries vpon the epistle of S. Paul vnto the Romaines, where he discourseth at large of this matter, and alleadgeth the cause why Marie was called the mother of God. Therefore Nestorius seemeth neuer to haue read the wor••s of the auncient fathers, and therefore he inueyed only (as I said before) agaynst this clause the mother of God. For he saith not that Christ is onely man as Photinus and Paulus Samosate∣nus affirmed: neither taketh he away y^• subsistencie of the sonne of God but confesseth euery where that he hath his being and that he is in the trinitie: neither denieth he his essence as Photinus and Samosatenus did (so did also the Manichees and Montanists) as it appeareth by the sermous which he published vnto the world. But though I finde that Nestorius was of that opinion, partly by his bookes which I haue perused, and partly by the report of his familier friendes, yet his foolish and fonde doctrine disquieted not a litle the whole worlde.

CAP. XXXIII.

Of a haynous offence committed by certaine fugitine seruants at the altare of the great Church, & of the former councell summoned at Ephesus for the hearing of Nestorius opinion.

WHen these thinges were done in such forte as I sayd before, a certaine haynous offence was committed in the open church and face of the whole people. for some noble mans seruants, by birth Barbarians, when they had tasted of their Lord & maisters extreame truelty and coulde not paciently away with the rigor thereof, ranne for refuge vnto the Church, and got them vnto the altare with swordes hanging by their sides. being requested to depart they woulde not in any wise but disturbed and hindred deuine seruice. Moreouer for the spare of many dayes they held their naked swordes in their hands ready to dispatch whosoeuer came vnto them. Wherefore when they had killed one of the Priests and wounded an other, in the ende they slewe them selues: with the sight hereof one of them that were present sayde that the profanation of the Churche prognosticated some calamitie to ensue, and repeated two Iambick verses out of some olde Poete to iustifie his saying.

Men see full oft such signes before and vvonders eke: VVhen haynous crimes the holy Church to stayne doth seeke.

Neither was he in a wronge boxe that vttered these Iambicks, for it prognosticated as it see∣med vnto vs diuision to rise among the people, and depriuation of him that was ringleader of the whole mischiefe.* 1.53 Shortly after the emperour gaue forth his commaūdement that the bishops out of all places should meete at Ephesus, where they came together, whither also Nestorius tooke his voyage immediatly after Easter holy dayes together with a greate multitude of people, where he found the bishops assembled▪ but Cyrillus bishop of Alexandria came thither in a while after, it was about VVhitsontide. The fift day after Pentecost Iuue••alis Bishop of Ierusalem was come. But while Iohn bishop of Antioch lingered by the way, the Bishops which were already come thither called the matter into controuersie. Cyrillus bishop of Alexandria to the ende he might molest Ne∣storius (for he thought very ill of him) vsed certaine preambles of disputation. When many confir∣med* 1.54 that Christ was God, Nestorius pleaded for him self: I verily (sayth he) will not call him god who grew to mans state by two moneths and three moneths and so forth, therfore I wash my han∣des from your blood, and from henceforth I will no more come into your company. Immediatly after he had spoken this he went aside & ioyned him selfe with the Bishops which held with his o∣pinion▪ so that the bishops then present were deuided into two parts▪ such as of the councell held w^t Cyrillus, called Nestorius before them, he came not but answered that he would differr the hearing of his cause vntill the comming of Iohn bishop of Antioch. Wherfore Cyrillus together with the o∣ther Bishops of the councell after they had read ouer the Sermons of Nestorius the which he had preached vnto the people and gathered out of them that in good earnest he had vttered open bla∣sphemies against the sonne of God, deposed him of his bishoprick. This being done the Bishops which helde with Nestorius assembled together seuerally by them selues and deposed Cyrillus and Memnon Bishop of Ephesus. Shortly after Iohn Bishop of Antioch was come, who vnderstan∣ding of all circumstances, blamed Cyrillus greatly, as the autor of all that sturre, and because that vpon a head, he had so soone deposed Nestorius. Cyrillus taking Iuuenalis on his side for to reuenge him of Iohn, deposed him also. When the contention grewe to be very trouble some, when also Ne∣storius perceaued that the poysoned infection of discorde was scattered farre and nighe amonge the common ••orte of people, he as it were recanting his folly called Marie, the mother of God, his wordes were these: Let Marie be called the mother of God, and I pray you conceaue no longer displeasure. But no man thought that he spake this and repented from the hart, there∣fore as yet he dwelleth in Oasis, both deposed of his bishoprick and banished his contrey. Thus was the councell of Ephesus at that tyme broken vp, it was in the Consulship of Bassus and An∣tiochus the eyght and twentyeth of Iune. Iohn Bishop of Antioch after his returne vnto his pro∣per seae, called many Bishops together and deposed Cyrillus who nowe was gone to Alexan∣dria. Shortly after for all that, they layde aside all spyte, grudge and enmitie, they became friendes and restored eche to other their bishoprickes againe. After the deposition of Nestorius, there rose a greate schisme in the Church of Constantinople, for the vayne and foolish doctrine of Nestorius parted the people asunder. All the Elergie with vniforme consent accursed him o∣penly, for so we Christians doe call the sentence which we pronounce against the autor of blasphe∣mie, whereby we minde to make it so manifest vnto the worlde as if it were ingrauen in a table, and nayled to an open post.

CAP. XXXIIII.* 1.55

How that after the deposition of Nestorius, Maximianus was chosen Bishop of Constantinople.

AT Constantinople there rose an other schisme about the election of a Bishop▪ for some* 1.56 would haue Philip (of whome I spake a litle before) some other would haue Proclus chosen bishop. Proclus verily had preuailed had not some of great autoritie bene his back friends: and signified playnly that the canon of the Church forbad any should be nominated Bishop of one city and translated to an other▪ the which saying being alleadged was of such force that the people were therewith appeased and satisfied. Wherfore three moneths after the deposition of Nestorius, Maximianus was chosen Bishop, a man he was which led a monasticall life, by degree a Priest, one that of late had purchased vnto himselfe a good name and was thought to be a godly man, because he had buylded vpon his owne costes and charges the sepulchres and tumbes where

godly men shoulde be interred▪ he was a man altogether vnlearned, who determined with him self to leade a quiet life void of all care and molestation.

CAP. XXXV.* 1.57

Socrates proueth that it is not forbid but that there may be a translation of Bi∣shops from one seae to an other.

INsomuch that some by reason of the Ecclesiasticall Canon which they allendged for them sel∣ues haue inhibited Proclus intitled Bishop of Cyzicum from being placed in the Bishops ••eae of Constantinople, I thought good presently to say somewhat thereof▪ such as tooke vpon them to iustifie that saying, in myne opinion did not reporte the trueth: but eyther of enuie against Pro∣clus forged such a decree or of wilfull ignorance considered not then of the canons and other con∣stitutions oftentimes established for the profitt and commoditie of the Church of God▪ for Eusebi∣us Pamphilus in the sixt booke of his Ecclesiasticall history reporteth that one Alexander Bishop of some citie in Cappadocia, taking his voyage towards Ierusalem, was of the citizens of Ierusa∣lem caused to tary and stalled Bishop in the rowme of Narcissus, where he continewed vnto the ende of his life. It was an indifferent matter of olde time among the auncient fathers as oft as the Ecclesiasticall affayres so constrayned to translate bishops from one seae vnto an other. If it be a∣ny thing auaileable to annect the canon decreed in this behalfe vnto this our present history, let vs see howe shamelesse these men were who therefore thrust Proclus besides the bishopricke of Con∣stantinople, and how vntruely they reported of the canon, for it is read as followeth. If any Bishop* 1.58 be assigned to gouerne any Church whatsoeuer, & goeth not thither, the fault being not in him selfe but either that the people repelled him, or some other necessary cause doe staye him: vnto him be it lawfull to enioy the honour & the priestly function, so that he be not troublesome vn∣to the Church whereof he is appointed Bishop, but approue whatsoeuer the prouinciall coun∣cell shall determine of the matter called in controuersie. These be the wordes of the Canon. But that it may appeare more euidently that many Bishops were translated from one citye vnto an o∣ther vpon necessary and vrgent causes, I wil here lay downe the names of such as were remoued. Perigenes being chosen bishop of Patras in Achaia and refused by the citizens of that place, was by* 1.59 the commaundement of the Bishop of Rome placed in the Metropolitane seae of Corinth to suc∣ceede* 1.60 the late deseased, where he continewed all the rest of his life. Gregorie Nazianzene was first bishop of Sasimum a city in Cappadocia, next of Nazianzum, afterwards of Constantinople, last of all he went back againe to Nazianzum. Meletius was chosen Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia,* 1.61 but afterwardes remoued to Antioch. Dositheus Bishop of Seleucia was by Alexander Bishop of Antioch, translated vnto Tarsus in Cilicia. Berentius Bishop of Arcae in Phaenicia was brought thence into Tyrus. Iohn was sent from Gordus a city of Lydia to gouerne the bishoprick of Proco∣nesus.* 1.62 Palladius was translated from Helenopolis to Aspunis: Alexander from Helenopolis vnto Adrian: Theophilus from Apamea in Asia to Eudoxopolis, which of old was called Salabria: Po∣lycarpus from Sexantapristae a city in Mysia, vnto Nicopolis in Thracia: Hiero•• hilus from Trape∣zupolis in Phrygia vnto Plotinopolis in Thracia: Optimus from Andagamia in Phrygia, vnto Antioch in Pisidia: and Siluanus bishop of Philippopolis in Thracia was translated vnto Troas. but these many shall suffice in steede of many others who were translated from their proper seaes vnto other bishopricks.

CAP. XXXVI.* 1.63

Of Siluanus who being Bishop of Philippopolis was remoued to Troas.

NOwe I thinke it not amisse to write a fewe lynes of Siluanus whome we sayd a litle before to haue bene translated from the bishoprick of Philippopolis in Thracia vnto Troas. This Siluanus first studied Rhetorick in the schoole of Troilus the Sophist: who though he was an earnest embracer of Christian religion and exercised the monasticall trade of liuing, yet wore he still the philosophicall habit. In processe of tyme Atticus the Bishop sent for him and made him Bishop of Philippopolis. who hauing continewed in Thracia the space of three yeares when he coulde no longer away with the pinching colde of that contrey (for he had a thinne and a weake bodye) he requested Atticus to substitute an other Bishop in his rowme, protestinge that he left Thracia for no other cause but onely to auoyde the extreame colde. Siluanus then hauing procured

an other bishop to succeede him, remayned at Constantinople and exercised continewally the mo∣nasticall trade and discipline▪ he was so farre from pride and hautines of stomack that often times in the thick assemblies and solemne meetings of the citizens he wore scandals and bus kin•• of twi∣sted haye Shortly after the Bishop of Troas departed this life, and immediatly the people Troes came to Constantinople for to seeke a Bishop. Atticus muzing with him selfe whome he might prefere to the rowme, Siluanus by chaunce came by: as soone as Atticus espied him, he ceassed to bethinke him selfe and turned vnto Siluanus with these wordes: thou mayst no longer excuse thy selfe but of necessity thou must take vpon thee the gouernment of the Church, for in Troas there is no chilling colde, beholde God hath prouided for the infirmitie of thy body a delectable and plea∣sant soyle, make no more adoe brother but in hast get thee to Troas. To be short Siluanus went thi∣ther. Here I thinke very well to lay downe the miracle which he wrought. A greate ship or hulke (for the bredth thereof called plate) being fraighted and laden with great pillours & newely made vpon the shore or rode of Troas, could not be drawen from the land to take sea, no, for all the Pilote together with a greate multitude of men drewe her with cable ropes she woulde not moue. When they had the space of many dayes assaid what they could doe and nothing preuayled, they thought verily that some deuill helde the hulke from mouing. Wherefore they went vnto Siluanus the Bi∣shop and request him to pray in that place, for so they hoped it woulde come to passe that the ship might be drawen into y^• sea▪ but he excused him self very modestly, sayd that he was a sinner, & told them that he could not helpe them, that it was the office of a iust man. But seeing they were so im∣portunate vpon him that they woulde not be answered, he came to the shore, there he prayed vnto God, tooke the rope by the ende and bad the rest doe their endeuour. The ship being shaken with a litle violence was brought by a litle and a litle into the mayne seae. This miracle which Siluanus wrought allured many of that prouince to embrace with feruent zeale the christian faith. Siluanus also expressed no lesse in other acts and dealings of his the good motion of his godly mind. When he perceaued that the clergie respected nothing but gaine in deciding the controuersies of their clients, he suffered thence forth none of the clergie to be iudge, but tooke the supplications and re∣quests of suters: appoynted one of the laytie whome for certainty he knewe to be a iust and a god∣ly man: gaue him the hearing of their causes and so ended quietly all contentions and quarells▪ for the aforesayd causes Siluanus became renowmed and famous among all men. Thus farre of Sil∣uanus, & though we may seeme herein to haue digressed, yet haue we remembred such things as may tende to the profitt & commoditie of the reader. But now let vs returne where we left. When Maximianus was chosen Bishop of Constantinople in the Consulship of Bassus and Antiochus, the church enioyed peace and quietnes.

CAP. XXXVII.

Of the Iewes in Crete how they were deceaued, and in the ende perceauing their folly, embraced the Christian faith.

ABout that time many Ievves inhabiting Crete, receaued the Christian faith being brought thereunto by such a calamitie as followeth. A certayne Iewe being a subtill knaue fayned himself to be Moses and said that he came downe from heauen for to leade the Ievves which inhabited that Isle through the seae into the firme and mayne lande: that he was the same who of olde did safe conduyte Israel through the redde seae. For the space of one whole yeare he did nothinge else but wander from one cytye to the other throughout the Isle, vsinge all meanes possible to perswade the Ievves which dwelled there to creditt him, and exhorting them to leaue all their wealthe and substance behynde them▪ for he promysed to brynge them through the seae drye footed into the lande of promise. When that he had bewytched them with suche vayne and deceatefull hope, they left their worke and trade of life: they sett nought by their wealthe and substance: and they gaue lycence to him that lysted for to possesse them. When the daye ap∣poynted of the false Ievve for the voyage was come, he led them the waye, all the rest beganne to followe after together with women and children▪ he brought them to a certayne mountayne whiche laye as it were an elbowe into the seae warde and thence he bad them caste them selues in∣to the seae. Wherefore such as firste came vnto the fall did so, wherof some were crushed tumbling downe the hyll, some other were drowned in the seae and dyed immediatly, it woulde haue cost many more theyr liues had not the prouydence of God prouyded better for them. For as God

would there were nigh them many Christians whereof some were fishermen, and some other mar∣chants, they drewe vp some which were almost choked vp with water & saued their liues who be∣ing in this lamentable plight acknowledged their folly: they stayd others frō plunging thēselues in the waues of the seae, laying before their eyes y^e death of the Iewes which leade them the daūce. They perceaued then the guyle, they blamed them selues for being so credulous, they went about to kill the counterfait Moses. But they could not catch him for he conueyed him selfe priuely from among thē. Whereupon diuerse men did coniecture that it was a deuell, which endeuored by boro¦wing the shape of man to destroy y^• natiō, & vtterly to roote the Iewes from of the face of the earth. Wherefore y^• calamity schooled the Iewes which inhabited Crete, made thē for sake Iudaisme, and cleaue vnto the Christian faith.

CAP. XXXVIII.* 1.64

Howe the Church of the Nouatians was set on fire.

SHortly after Paulus the Nouatian bishop although aforetime counted a very godly man, yet* 1.65 then specially it fel out y^• men conceaued a farre better opinion of his piety thē euer they did before. At Constātinople there happned such a fire y^• like whereof was not remebred before. For the greater parte of the citie was consumed to asses, the famous graynard, the market house called Achilleus were quite burned. Last of all the fire crept into the Nouatian church which ad∣ioyned vnto the signe of the Storck. Wherefore Paulus as soone as he perceaued the churche to be in great daunger, fell prostrate before the Altare, referred vnto God in his prayer the preseruatiō of the church, neither ceassed he to inculcate as well the remembrance of the citie as of the church. God as it proued in the end gaue eare vnto his prayers. For all y^e fire flashed into the church both by dore and by windowe, yet was there no harme done: nay though the buylding round about was on fire, though the church was inuironed w^t burning flames by the power of God the church was preserued and ouercame the furie & rage of the fire. It was not quenched the space of two dayes & two night,s the citie burned all that while, In the end though many partes of the citie were vtterly come to nought, yet the church (as I sayde before) escaped that lamentable ouerthrowe. And that which was more to be wondred at, no signe of the smoke, no scorching of the flame, no parching of the heat could be seene vpon the timber, beames, or walls. This came to passe the seauenteenth of August in the fourteenth Consulship of Theodosius and the first of Maximus. The Nouatians since that time doe yearely keepe holyday the seauenteeneth of August in remembrance y^• their church was then miraculously preserued from fire, at what time they render vnto God harty thankes: all men doe reuerence that church for the miracle, and not only the Christians but also y^e Ethniks doe honor it as an holy place. So farre of that.

CAP. XXXIX.* 1.66

Howe that Proclus succeeded Maximianus in the Bishoprick of Constantinople.

WHen Maximianus had peaceably gouerned the church the space of two yeares and fiue moneths. He departed this life, in the Consulship of Areobindus & Asparis, the twelf of Aprill. It was the ember weeke next before Easter and on good fridaye. At what time Theodosius the Emperour plaid a very wise part. For lest that tumult & dissention should be raised againe in y^e church, w^tout any further delay, while as yet y^e corps of Maximianus was aboue groūd he procured the bishops then present to stall Proclus in the Bishops seae. To this end the letters of Celestinus bishop of Rome were brought vnto Cyrill bishop of Alexandria, vnto Iohn bishop of An∣tioch & vnto Ruffus bishop of Thessalonica, certifieng them that there was no cause to the contra∣ry but that one either alredy nominated bishop of some certaine citie, or stalled in some proper sea might be translated vnto an other bishopricke. As soone as Proclus then tooke possession of the bi∣shoprick, he solemnized the funerall of Maximianus and interred his corps.

CAP. XL.

Of Proclus Bishop of Constantinople and what kinde of man he was.

NOwe fit oportunity is offred to say somewhat of Proclus. This Proclus from his youth vp was a reader, he frequented the schooles and was a great student of Rhetoricke. When he came to mans estate he had great familiarity with Atticus, for he was his scribe. Atticus

seeing his forewardnes in learning & good behauiour in life made him Deacon. But whē he was thought worthy the degree of a priest, Sisinius (as I sayd before) made him Bishop of Cyzicum. But these things were done a good while before. At that time as I saye he was chosen Bishoppe of Constantinople. A man he was of a maruelous good life, for being trained vp vnder Atticus he became an earnest follower of his vertuous steps. As for paciēt sufferāce he farr excelled Atticus. Euen as Atticus as time and place required could terrifie the heretickes: so he behaued him self tractable towardes all men & perswaded him selfe that it was farre easier for him by faire meanes to allure vnto the Churche then by force to compell them vnto the faythe. He determined to vexe no secte whatsoeuer: but reserued and restored vnto the Churche that renowmed vertue of meeke∣nesse required in Clergie men. Wherein he imitated the Emperourē Theodosius. For euen as it pleased him not to execute the Emperiall sworde agaynste suche as committed haynous crimes and wrought treason: so Proclus made no accompt at all of suche as were of the contrary fayth and opinion.

CAP. XLI.* 1.67

Of the clemencie of Theodosius the Yonger.

THeodosius the Emperour did highely commende Proclus for the aforsayde vertues. For he counteruayled in pacience y^• holy pryests of God: he could not away w^t persecutors, yea ••o say the trueth he passed all the priestes of God in modesty and meekenes of spirite, euen as it is wrytten of Moses in the booke of Numbres: Moses was the mildest man vpon earth, so may it nowe be sayd of Theodosius that he is the mildest man in the world, for which cause God subdued* 1.68 his enemies vnto him without slaughter & bloodshed, euen as the victory he got of Iohn the tyrant and the ouerthrowe of the Barbarians did manifestly declare vnto the worlde. For God bestowed such benefittes vpon this most holy Emperour as he did of olde vpon the righteous and vertuous liuers. Neyther truely doe I wryte these thinges in the waye of flattery, but I will heareafter de∣clare vnto the world more plainely that they are as true as I reporte them.

CAP. XLII.

VVhat calamity befell vnto the Barbarians which ayded the tyrante and rebell Iohn.

AFter the desease of the tyrante, the Barbarians whome he had gathered together to wage battaill with the Romaynes purposed to ouer runne certaine dominions that were subiecte vnto the Empire of Rome. The Emperour hearing of this referred vnto the wisedome of God after his wonted guise the wholl matter, he gaue him selfe altogether vnto prayer and in the end obtayned his desire. It shall not be amisse presentely to laye downe the miserable endes of the Barbarians. First of all theyr captayne Rugas was slaine with a thunderbolt. Next there ensued a* 1.69 plague which dispatched the greater parte of his souldiers. Neither seemed this a sufficiente pu∣nishment, but there came fire also from heauē & consumed many of them that remained, the which thing did greatly astonish y^• Barbariās, not so much because they presumed to take armour against y^• fierse & valiaunt Romaynes as when they saw y^• Romaynes asisted by the mightie arme & inuin∣cible power of God. At that time Proclus the Bishop repeated some parcell of Ezechiels prophe∣cy, expounded it in the Churche and applied it with singuler commendation to haue bene foreshe∣wed of God and then to haue taken place to the welth of y^• Romayne Empire. The prophecy was as followeth: Thou sonne of man prophecy against Gog the prince of Rhos, Misoch & Thobel.* 1.70 I will visite him with pestilence and blood: I will cause stormy raine and halestones, fire and brimstone to fall vpon him and all his hostes, yea & vpon all that great people that is with him. Thus will I be magnified, thus will I be sanctified and knowen in the eyes of many nations and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde. For this sermon, Proclus (as I sayd before) was highely commended.

CAP. XLIII.

Howe the Emperour Ʋalentinianus the yonger maried Eudoxia the daughter of Theodosius.

THeodosius the Emperour besids sundry other graces for his singuler modesty and mildnesse had this one benefitte which followeth bestowed vpon him by the goodnesse of God. He had a daughter on his wife Eudocia, whose name was Eudoxia. Valentinianus the yonger his cosin whome he had made Emperour of the West partes of y^• world requested he might haue her to his wife: Theodosius the Emperour yelded vnto his request. And when as they deliberated with them selues and thought vpon a place that was situated iumpe in the midest betwene Rome and Constantinople where the mariadge mighte be solemnized and agreed that it shoulde be at Thessalonica: Valentinianus wrote vnto Theodosius requestinge him not to trouble him selfe any thing at all therein, that he would come to Constantinople. Wherefore after he had set all things in order in the West dominions he tooke his voyage towardes Constantinople for to be maried. When all the royall solemnitye was accomplished, in hast he returned together with his wife to∣wardes* 1.71 the West. It was in the Consulship of Isidorus & Sinator. Thus had the affaires of Theo∣sius happy and prosperous successes.

CAP. XLIIII.

How Proclus Byshop of Constantinople perswaded the Emperour to translate the Corps of Iohn Chrysostome out of exile and burie it in the Apostles Church.

SHortly after Proclus the bishop reconciled vnto the Church such as had deuided them selues because of Iohns deposition, and with his graue wisedome, and pollicy he remoued out of their mindes the offence and displeasure they had conceaued. But howe he brought that to passe I will now declare. When he had first perswaded the Emperour, he caused the corps of Iohn bnried at Comanum, to be translated to Constantinople fiue and thirty yeares after his deposition and solemnly with great pompe and reuerēce to be iuterred in the Apostles Church. By this meanes such as for the affection they bore vnto Iohn, raised priuate and seuerall conuenticles, were coopled vnto the congregatiō of the faithfull. This was done in the sixteenth Consulship of Theodosius the Emperour, the eight and twentieth of Ianuary. Yet I can not chuse but maruell greatly, what the occasion might be of so great a spite and hatred owed vnto Origen that was dead (for he was excō∣municated* 1.72 by Theophilus Bishoppe of Alexandria two hundred yeares after his desease) when as Iohn fiue and thirtye yeares after his departure was of Proclus receaued into the companye of the faythfull. But Proclus was a fayre conditioned man in respecte of Theophilus. Wise and di∣screete men doe perceaue well inough howe these thinges bothe haue fallen out in times past and nowe also dayly doe come to passe.

CAP. XLV.

The death of Paulus the Nouatian Byshop and howe Marcianus was chosen to succeede him.

NOt long after they had interred the corps of Iohn in the Apostles church, Paulus the No∣uatian departed this life, it was in the aforesayd Consulship y^• one & twentieth of Iuly. His hearse reconciled in maner vnto y^• church all the varieng sects & opinions. For all came to∣gether to his buriall & brought his corps to y^• graue w^t singinge of psalmes. He was the man that was greatly beloued throughout his life time for his sincere and vpright behauiour. And insomuch he did a worthye acte a litle before his departure I thoughte good to penne it in this our presente historie to the profitte of the studious reader in time to come. That he vsed his wonted dyete of the Monasticall discipline all the while he was sicke, without any chaunge or alteration thereof, that he ceassed not to praye continewallye I haue determined to runne ouer with silence, leaste while I linger aboute the recitall of these I maye seeme anye kinde of waye to deface the Acte of his bothe worthye (as I sayde) of memorye and the profitte of the Reader. It was as followeth. Paulus beinge ready to departe out of this life called the Priestes within this iurisdiction before him, and sayde thus vnto them: prouide you a Bishoppe while as yet there remayneth breath in my bodye lest after my departure the Churches be sette on tumultes and dissention. When they had answered, that the election of a Bishop was in no wise to be referred vnto them (for they sayd, one of vs is of this minde, an other of that mind, and therefore it is vnpossible we should agree vpō

one man, but we would haue thee to name him whome thy pleasure is we shoulde chuse) after the hearing of their reason he replied▪ why then deliuer me this your promise in wryting, that you wil elect whome soeuer I shall nominate. When the bonde was made and subscribed vnto with theyr hands, first he lifted him selfe a litle out of his bed, nexte he wrote secretelye within the bonde vn∣knowē vnto thē that were present the name of Marcianus who was a priest, and had bene trained vp vnder him in the Monasticall discipline, but then as it fell out was not presente. Laste of all he sealed it, he willed y^• chiefe priests to doe the same, he deliuered it vnto Marcus the Nouatiā bishop of Scythia who thēwas in the citie & sayd vnto him as followeth▪ If it please God that I may reco∣ner and lengthen my dayes yet a while longer in this world, deliuer me this bond which I geue thee to keping, but if his pleasure so be that I must needes depart and finish the race of this frail & transitory life, thou shalt finde his name written in this bonde whome I haue nominated to be my successor in the bishoprick. These words were no sooner vttered but he gaue vp the Ghost. Three days after his departure out of this life the bond was opened in the presence of a great multitude, when they found that Marcianus was therein nominated, all with one consent lifted theyr voices & sayd he was a fit man for the function, and immediatly they sent to seeke him out. When they had happely met with him at Tiberiopolis a citie in Phrygia, they take him and bring him thence, in y^e end he was placed in Paulus rowme y^• one and twentieth day of the aforesaid moneth. But of these things thus much shall suffice.

CAP. XLVI.

Howe Theodosius the Emperour sent Eudocia his wife to Ierusalem.

FRom that time forth Theodosius the Emperour beganne to offer praises and thankesgeuing for the benefits he receaued of God and to ex••oll w^t diuine laudes the name of Christ. More∣ouer he sente Eudocia the Empresse to Ierusalem, for he promised y^• she should performe this vowe if he might see his daughter maried. But she both at her going and at her returne bewtifled with sundry ornaments not onely the churches of Ierusalem, but also throughout all the cities of the Easte.

CAP. XLVII.

Of Thalassius Byshop of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

PRoclus about that time in the seauenteenth Consulship of Theodosius, tooke in hand a marue∣lous enterprise suche a thinge as none of the bishops of old haue at any time brought about. After the desease of Filmus bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the Caesareans came to Con∣stantinople for a bishop. When Proclus mused with himselfe whome he should assigne to be theyr bishop, by chaunce on the sabbaoth day as he sought a fit mā for the rowme all the Senators came to the church for to see whome he woulde elect, of which number Thalassius was one, Liuetenant & gouernour of the nations and cities throughout Illyrium. Who as reporte goeth being commaū∣ded of the Emperour to gouerne certen contreyes of the East, was consecrated of Proclus, and in steede of a Liuetenant made bishop of Caesarea. And thus y^• Ecclesiasticall affayres of those times enioyed peace and tranquility. But here I will cut of and make an end of my history prayinge for the continewance of peace and prosperous estate of all churches vnder heauen, for the wealth of all people, for the cōcord and vnity of all cities and contreyes. For when peace preuayleth there is no matter for an historiographer to occupie his pēne. for most holy Theodorus which hast inioined me this taske, nowe at length performed in these seauē bookes of the Ecclesiasticall history: there would haue bene no matter ministred for my penne, if such as set theyr minds on seditiō & discorde had bene at peace and vnity among them selues. This seauenth booke contineweth the historye of two and thirty yeares, our wholl history being deuided into seauē bookes compriseth the compasse of one hundreth and forty yeares, begining at the first yeare of the two hundreth and first Olympiad when Constantine was proclaimed Emperour, & ending the second yeare of the three hundreth &* 1.73 fift Olympiade, being the seauenteenth Consulship of Theodosius the Emperour.

The ende of the seauenth booke of the Ecclesiasticall historie of Socrates Scholasticus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Honorius.
• * 1.2

  Theodosius. Anthemius.
• * 1.3

  Troilus
• * 1.4

  1. Corinth. 9.
• * 1.5

  Theodosius a couetous Bishop.
• * 1.6

  A••••petus •• M••••••doni∣••n ••••ll to em b••a•••• the ••aith of one substance.
• * 1.7

  A Iewe trou¦bled with the paulsey.
• * 1.8

  The gift of ••e••ling in he dayes of Socrates.
• * 1.9

  Sabbatius a Nouatian ••••••est.
• * 1.10

  Luck. 22.
• * 1.11

  The corrup∣ters of Gods word haue ill endes.
• * 1.12

  Barbas.
• * 1.13

  Georgius. Timotheus.
• * 1.14

  Cy••illus Bi∣shop of Ale∣xandria An∣no Dom. 418 The Bishop of Alexan∣dria bothe a Bishop and a magistrate.
• * 1.15

  Anno Dom. 418.
• * 1.16

  Isdigerdes ••ing of Per∣sia.
• * 1.17

  The M••gi∣••ians doe ••uffer.
• * 1.18

  bl•••••••• b. Persia.
• * 1.19

  ararancs 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Per∣••••••
• * 1.20

  Flauianus. Porphyrius. Alexander. Damasus. Siricius. Anastasius. Innocentius.
• * 1.21

  Alarichus.
• * 1.22

  Attalus.
• * 1.23

  Alarichus (as it is sup∣posed) is cō∣maunded frō aboue to de∣stroy the citie of Rome for theyr greate sinne and ini¦quitie.
• * 1.24

  Innocentius. Zosimus. Bonifacius. Celestinus. The bishop of Rome fell to chalenge vnto him self seculer po∣wer.
• * 1.25

  Daūcing vsed in Alexad••ia on the sat∣turdayes.
• * 1.26

  Temporall and worldly Magistrats are grieued that the Church shoulde haue any authori∣ty or preemi¦nence.
• * 1.27

  Adamantius. Orestes.
• * 1.28

  Ammonius the Monke wounded the Liuete∣nant of Ale∣xandria with a stone.
• * 1.29

  Hypatia a woman of great lear∣ning.
• * 1.30

  The Iewes crucified a boye in deri∣sion of all Christians.
• * 1.31

  Chrysanthus
• * 1.32

  Paulus.
• * 1.33

  Acacius. b. of Amida.
• * 1.34

  Eudocia the Empresse was learned.
• * 1.35

  Discretion. sob••etic. Hardinesse.
• * 1.36

  Fasting.
• * 1.37

  Deuotion. Singing of ••almes. Memorie. Knowledge. ••tudie.
• * 1.38

  Patience. Curtesie. Clemencie.
• * 1.39

  Good life.
• * 1.40

  Mercie.
• * 1.41

  Humanitie.
• * 1.42

  Religion.
• * 1.43

  Zeale and feare of God
• * 1.44

  Humilitie.
• * 1.45

  Prospetitie & good suc∣cesse for well doing.
• * 1.46

  Atticus b. of Constantino ple vnto Cal¦liopius mi∣nister of Nice.
• * 1.47

  Atticus en∣deuored to bring the Nouatians from Idola∣try.
• * 1.48

  Anastasius.
• * 1.49

  2. Corinth. 5.
• * 1.50

  The opinion of Nestorius the heretick.
• * 1.51

  1. Ioh. 4.
• * 1.52

  Euseb. lib. 3. de vit. Const.
• * 1.53

  Cap. 34 in the Greeke. The councel of Ephesus. Anno Dom. 435.
• * 1.54

  Nestori{us} de∣nieth Christ ••o be God.
• * 1.55

  Cap. 35. in the greeke.
• * 1.56

  Anno Dom. ••35.
• * 1.57

  Cap. 36. in the Greeke.
• * 1.58

  A canon of the Church.
• * 1.59

  Perigenes.
• * 1.60

  Gregorie Nazianzene.
• * 1.61

  Meletius. Dositheus. Berentius.
• * 1.62

  Iohn. Palladius. Alexander. Theophilus. Polycarpus. Hierophilus. Optimus. Siluanus.
• * 1.63

  Cap. 37. in the Greeke.
• * 1.64

  Ca. 39. in the Greeke.
• * 1.65

  Anno Dom. 437.
• * 1.66

  Cap. 40. in the Greeke.
• * 1.67

  C••p. 42. in the greeke.
• * 1.68

  Numb. 12.
• * 1.69

  Rugas sl••ine with a thun∣derbolt. Pethlence. ••••••e from heauen.
• * 1.70

  ••••••••h▪ 38.
• * 1.71

  Anno Dom. 440.
• * 1.72

  O••igen was excommuni∣cated two hundred yeare•• after his death.
• * 1.73

  Socrates en∣deth his hi∣••tory Anno Dom. 440.